The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1918, Page 69

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With the singing of “God be with you till we
eet again” the eighteenth convention of Immanuel
Lutheran Conference came to a close. Much joy
and courage came to us in: these days. May God
give us the men and the means that we may be in
1 position also to gather in the harvest which He
wants to give us in this Southeastern field !

Alabama Teachers’ Institute.

Our annual Teachers’ Institute convened at Oak
Hill, Ala., July 22—26. All the missionaries and
teachers of the Alabama field were present. ‘The
chairman, Rey. N. J. Bakke, in his opening address
based his remarks on 1 Cor. 4,2. In his remarks
the speaker showed what is meant by a steward.
He pointed out that a steward is a servant and not
a master, and that as such he should discharge the
duties of his office in full obedience to the real
Master’s will. ‘Then he also told us that faithful-
ness is the one thing required of a servant, neither
more nor less.

The religious examination of the applicants who
desired positions in our schools then followed. ‘This
examination was based on the Six Chief Parts of
the Catechism.

In the afternoon the teachers were- examined in
the secular branches, and Rey. Geo. A. Schmidt took
up the explanation of the course of study to be fol-
lowed ‘in our mission-schools. ‘Those parts of the
course of study that were read were also profitably
discussed by the members of the institute. In a
subsequent session the further study of the course
was taken up.
Bakke gave to the members of the institute very

carefully worked-out outlines of the first three com--.

mandments, and by means of these outlines the
teachers were given practical hints on the methods
they were to use in teaching the Catechism to their
pupils. :

A number of very instructive papers were pre-
sented to the institute and thoroughly discussed.
Miss Rosa Young read a paper on the subject, “How
to Attain Regular School Attendance from the Be-
ginning to the End of the School Term.” The
members of the institute derived much benefit from
this carefully prepared paper. Rev. Peay presented
a paper bearing the title, “The Way of Salvation
according to Scripture and the Confessions of the
‘Lutheran Church.” Pastor Peay brought out these
points in the course of his discussion: All men are

In several morning sessions Rev. -

The Lutheran Pioneer.

in need of salvation; man cannot save himself;
Jesus came into the world to save sinners; the Holy
Ghost applies the merits of Jesus to the hearts of
sinners through the means of grace, the Word and
Sacraments; finally, the sinner appropriates the
merits of Jesus by faith. In one of the sessions Miss
Mattie Williams read an essay on the subject, “The
Importance of Vocal Music in the School.” Rev.
Schmidt spoke on the importance of properly teach-
ing our hymns, and in his remarks he insisted that
the words of the hymns should be thoroughly ex-
plained to the children. ‘Teacher Montgomery spoke
very interestingly and instructively on “Teaching
Geography to Beginners,” Teacher S. U. Young
presented the reasons why the tuition in our mis-
sion-schools should be raised in our schools, Miss
Chintia Smith gave a very interesting recital of what
she has done to introduce the Bible and church-
papers into the homes of the people, and Miss
Georgia Marsh spoke on the means that should be
employed to improve the home and homé-life of
our people. A paper prepared by Rev. Carter could
not be read because of lack of time, but it will be
heard at a later institute.

On Wednesday evening, at a special service, Rev.
E. R. Berger preached a sermon pased on John 8,
31. 32, and on Friday evening the members of the
institute rendered an appropriate program, con-
sisting of addresses, recitations, solos, and songs.
After the program refreshments were served to the
members of the institute.

The institute was a success in every way and
went far towards helping the laborers in the Ala-
bama field solve the problems that loom up before
them. E. BR. B.

Sad News from Napoleonville, La.

DEAR READERS OF THE “PIONEER” : —

Some years ago, through your missionary love
and zeal for the spread of the Master’s kingdom, a
mission-station was opened, and soon after a little
church was built in Napoleonville, situated. on
Bayou Bafourche, in the sugar-cane belt, about
sixty miles west of New Orleans, La. For a num- ~
ber of years the little church stood the test against
the fury of the raging tempests which frequently
sweep along the lower Mississippi Valley. However,
about four or five years ago, the church, unfortu-
nately, was swept off its foundation by a storm, and
sustained great damage. It was through your

‘liberal Christian giving that it was made possible —