The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1919, Page 12

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12

to hear our choir. These visits give much encourage-
ment to our work and are highly appreciated.

The regular election of officers of the Luther
League of Mount Zion was held on December 3,
1918. The following officers were elected: Mr. C. C.
Bobe, President; Mr. A. Berger, Vice-President ;
Mrs. Helen L. Bailey, Financial Secretary; Miss
Gertrude Fisher, Recording Secretary; Mr. Frank
Rousseau, Treasurer.

Mrs. Rousseau, wife of Mount Zion’s sexton,
has won a decided reputation for making “Creole
Drip Coffee.” » She is highly recommended by the
pastor and the teachers.

Taking everything collectively, a happy atmos-
phere surrounds Mount Zion, a Christian spirit
prevails there, every one is contributing his mite,
and there is a competition to make Mount Zion
a success that almost amounts to rivalry. If things
continue, with the help of God, the way they are
going now, when the final reckoning comes, Mount
Zion will be found decidedly “over the top.”

L. B. Barney.

a

What Are You Going to Do About It?

It was on a Sunday night in August. In an
old, dilapidated store building a few Negro children
and a number of adults had congregated to listen
to the message which told them of Him who came
to die for the sins of all men, to learn of the love
of the Savior. The missionary announced the first
hymn, and the small congregation joined in the good
old invocational, “Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly
Dove.” When the last stanza had been sung, the
minister invited the congregation to join him in
approaching the throne of all mercies and in prayer
to take their needs and wants to the Father above.
But no sooner had he started, than the door opened
and in shuffled and stumbled, and talking loudly,
one who no more had full possession of all his
faculties, but, to judge from his breath and the way
he carried on, was under the influence of liquor.
After he had finally seated himself, the minister
proceeded with the reading of the Scripture-lesson,
only to be interrupted once more, for a rock, thrown
by one intent on revenging himself for some evil
deed, came flying in through the open door. The
Creed was then recited without any disturbance, nor
did anything happen during the singing of the hymn
immediately preceding the sermon. The missionary
then stepped up to the table which seryed as his

The Lutheran Pioneer.

ag ee a i ee eS eee
————————— LL

pulpit, opened the Bible, read his text for the even-
ing, and had gotten well into the introduction of
his sermon, when the door, which had been closed
after the throwing of the rock, was once more thrown
open, and with such violence that it threatened to
take it off its hinges, and in came the partner of
the intoxicated man, —who by this time was fast
asleep, — and roughly aroused his friend out of the
drunken stupor. What this resulted in you can well
imagine. There would haye been a general distur-
bance, no doubt, had not the preacher stepped down
and with determined mien shown those two men the
door. This done, he continued once more in his
discourse; but before he had finished, some ruffian
poked his head through the open window. The
benediction was almost drowned out by the singing
of a rag-time and loud talking on the outside. With
the doxology, “Praise God from whom all blessings
flow,” this much-interrupted service was concluded.
Yes, this actually happened; and not only once,
but several times was this little congregation and
its missionary thus disturbed during divine service.
But where did all this take place? ‘I'he services are
held in the little old building at the intersection of
Nixon Street and Loye’s Alley, in the prosperous
and growing city of Wilmington, N. C. This section
of the city is inhabited by the worst element of
Wilmington’s colored population. This accounts
also for the behavior of the people. They need
a church, no doubt; but as we are trying to estab-
lish ourselves in this city, it need not be done under
such adverse conditions. Our Church being com-
paratively an unknown Church to the Negroes in
Wilmington, we can neyer expect to do any success-
ful work until we change our present location. One
can hardly expect to induce people to attend a ser-
vice where such things frequently happen as we
related above. It is no eredit to the Lutheran
Church to have her headquarters on the corner of
Nixon Street and Love’s Alley. Surely, you will
agree that it is not right to expect a man to labor
under these conditions; nor is it reasonable to think
that just as many people will be gained for Christ
and His saving Gospel under such conditions as
would be the case if conditions were more favorable.
But, then, why not move to enother location?
Why stay here? Cireumstances are such that no
other place can be secured for our services. Our
only possible chance is to buy and build. We have
given you the naked and unvarnished facts about
Wilmington. We are certain that nothing more is
necessary to convince you that the time has come