The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1918, Page 44

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

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number of people were in attendance, this. despite
the fact that Palm Sunday is usually a busy day
in Lutheran circles.

The service was opened with a prelude by
Teacher Grote, who presided at the organ for this
occasion. After the singing of the hymn “My
Hope Is Built on Nothing Less,” a collect and
.the 91st Psalm were read. ‘Then followed the bap-
tism of six children. Among these was an infant
> of two months. Another hymn was sung, after
which your missionary addressed the catechumens
on Rey. 2,10: “Be thou faithful unto death, and
I will give thee a crown of life,” in the course of
which he called attention to the solemn exhortation
contained in these words, as well as to the glorious
promise. After this a choir of twelve Sunday-school

Missionary H. Claus and the Children He Baptized
and Confirmed in St. Louis.

Confirmands in Rear Row.

children rendered the beautiful hymn “Jesus, Savior,
Pilot Me.” Singing from the organ-loff, these
children created a profound impression with the
whole-heartedness of their effort. During the course
of the examination on the Catechism which fol-
lowed about 150 questions were asked. All the
catechumens gave good answers, but the only boy
in the class, Eugene Moore, deserves especial men-
- tion because of the unhesitating way in which he
answered. One of the catechumens, an old gentle-
man of eighty summers, was unable to be present
_for confirmation, having been notified on the even-
ing before by his employer that he would have to
work on this Sunday. After the confirmation rite
had been performed, and during the singing of
the hymn “Jesus, Be Our Guide,” a collection was
- lifted, which amounted to $27.30. ‘This collection
flowed into the New Chapel Fund. ‘The service

was brought to a close by the singing of the common
doxology.

When we look back upon the time spent in
instructing these children and preparing them for
confirmation, we do so with a deep spirit of thank-
fulness to the Shepherd of souls, for He only could
have granted these catechumens steadfastness and
willingness to be instructed in His divine Word.
May their future be guided by His will alone!

Since it was necessary for your missionary to
be in Springfield on the following Sunday for a con-
firmation service (nine persons being. confirmed,
and nine being baptized in that place), it was im-
possible to have special Easter services in St. Louis.
However, a pleasant surprise was given to the Sun-
day-school children on this day by the members of
the Mi Sigma Gamma Society of Mount Calvary
Chureh, who presented the Sunday-school with a
Need-
less to say, the children were pleased immensely.
Many thanks! H. C. Craus.

————_—-+ 02 -- ———-

large box of chocolate-coated candy-eggs.

Confirmation in Springfield, Ill.

Easter Sunday, 1918, will go down in the annals
of our Springfield congregation as a red-letter day.
On this day eight persons were admitied by con-
firmation as communicant members of this con-
gregation, and nine children were baptized. ‘The
service, which had been announced in the daily
papers, and had been advertised quite extensively
by individual members, of the congregation, was an
entire success. A goodly number of people were
in attendance. This was contrary to expectations,
as it had rained during a good part of the after-

noon, and shortly before the beginning: of the ser- °

vice a veritable cloudburst had broken loose. None
of those, howéver, who braved the weather to attend,
had reasons for regret. ‘The service was enough to
inspire the most indifferent heart.

After the catechumen class had marched into
the church to the martial strains of “Onward, Chris-
tian Soldiers,” and had taken their places before
the altar, which was beautifully decorated with
palms and cut flowers, the service was opened in

the customary way with liturgy and the singing

of a hymn. On this occasion that rousing Easter-
hymn, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives,” was
sung. Then followed the baptism of three girls
between the ages. of eleven and thirteen, and that
of six younger children. Another hymn followed