The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1918, Page 12

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at 9 o’clock and divine service at 11 o’clock. In

12 The Lutheran Pioneer.

Christmas in the Black Belt of
Alabama.

At Midway Place, Ala., the Mount Carmel
School, under the supervision of its principal, Miss
Rosa J. Young, had a Christmas-tree and children’s
service on Christmas Eye. Miss Young writes:
“A short time before Christmas not a child in the
school knew a Christmas hymn nor a Bible-passage
pertaining to the birth of the Savior. While a few
knew that Christmas is the birthday of Jesus, not
one knew why the birth of Jesus should be observed.
First of all, the teachers taught the children the
sweet Christmas Gospel, and when they knew this,
Christmas-hymns and -melodies, recitations, Bible-
passages, and a catechisation were taught them.
A choir of 50 voices was drilled; this choir occu-
pied the platform on Christmas Eve. The children
were seated on the platform and down in front of
it. All the little people were neatly and warmly
dressed, because the good Christians of various con-
gregations had sent them clothes prior to the occa-
sion. Their little hearts were happy. and on every
face shone a sunny smile. All fear had vanished,
and they all seemed eager to tell the audience that
God had fulfilled His promises, and that the Savior
of the world was born. ‘They told the Christmas-
message in song, recitation, and catechisation, and
told it so simply, so plainly, and so distinctly that
all who were present could understand the blessed
truth that a Savior had been born for them. Need
we tell you that these then also rejoiced with the

‘children, and lifted up their hearts in gratitude to

God for His great gift of love? Yes, and some of
the simple souls that were present could not refrain
from voicing what was in them. Expressions such
as the following could be heard: “Thank God for
such a school, where our children learn so much
about Jesus.’ ‘I am so glad that I am here to
hear all this.’

“Their hearts for very joy did leap,

Their lips no more could silence keep.

“Tn one‘corner of the platform stood the Christ-
mas-tree. ‘This tree was decorated as Lutherans
decorate, and you know how. When the service
had come to an end, the candles on the tree were
lighted, and by the light of the candles the presents
were distributed. And we are pleased to be able

to say that not a single hand reached ont but it.

received a gift.
“Qn Christmas morning we had Sunday-school

both the Christmas Gospel was once more told the
children and hearers. And as the sweet story of
God's love once more fell upon our ear, our hearts
went out in prayer:

“Ah! dearest Jesus, holy Child,

Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,

Within my heart that it may be

A quiet chamber kept for Thee.” —

Also at *Possum Bend the children of our mis-
sion-school gave a sacred Christmas program. Con-
cerning this successful service we received the fol-
lowing report: “The new building which is being
erected at this point is about completed. We had
our Christmas-service in one of the two rooms.
From far and near the people came to hear what
the children had learned. Of the large number of
people who crowded the room to its capacity, the
most had to stand, since a number of soap-boxes
were the only available seats. However, from the
very start it was evident that the audience would
not tire of standing; in fact, had the program,
which lasted for an hour and a half, taken again
as mich time, no one would have left.

“These children, two weeks before Christmas,
did not know one Christmas-song. They knew little
or nothing about the Christmas. Gospel. What a
revelation, this children’s service on Christmas night!

~ These little folks sang the beautiful old Lutheran

Christmas-hymns to perfection, went through the
program of questions and answers without a mis-
take, and faultlessly spoke recitations about the
Christ-child in the manger.

“Mattie Williams, a teacher in our school at
Midway Place, played the organ, while Georgia
Marsh, teacher at *Possum Bend, directed. ‘The
people were simply carried away by the service,
and requested that the program be repeated. On
the following Thursday the program was given a
second time before another large audience.”

——

The Importance of Mission-Schools.

In any land and among any people the children
are the most hopeful missionary factors. In North
Africa, for example, great hosts of native Moham-
medan children are attending mission day-schools.
During the past few years the cause of schools has
been pushed with greater vigor than ever, and as
a result the Christian missionaries have gathered
more Mohammedan children in their mission-schools
during the past two years than had been gathered

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