The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1919, Page 83

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Corporal Austin Saunders.

Corporal Austin Saunders, one of the oldest and
most faithful members of our congregation in
Springfield, Tll., is dead. He departed this life
on Friday, September 12, 1919. His death marks
the passing of one of the best-known and, we dare
Say, one of the best-loved characters of this com-
munity.

“A rehearsal of the experiences of this man’s life
would make interesting reading. However, we can
give here only a brief sketch of his past. Austin
Saunders was born in Campbell County, Virginia,
about 1826. At an early age he was put into the
slave-traffic. Unlike a few fortunates of that ter-
tible period who had kindly masters, Mr. Saunders
nearly always had the misfortune of coming into
cruel and tyrannous hands, Undoubtedly it was
this that led to his every fiber being set in revolt
against the very idea of slavery. “A free man or
a dead man,” was his slogan. Several times in his
early manhood he made attempts to escape, but was
unsuccessful. On one occasion bloodhounds were
set on his trail, and almost to the very last the
aged gentleman would bare his arm with pride and
show where the tushes of the dogs had gripped his
flesh. Several times he was cast into prison-dun-
geons. In Louisiana he was sold on the auction-
block for $1,400 in gold, and then: served in that
State for three years. Following this period he

made another attempt to escape, and this time was -

successful, making his way under many hardships
to the State of Illinois, Shortly thereafter the
flames of the Civil War broke loose. Mr. Saunders
then enlisted in the Union army, and himself fought
for the abolition of that which he so bitterly de-
tested, namely, slavery. At the close of the war he
left the army with the rank of corporal and, what
was more than that, with the freedom of an Ameri-
can citizen, He gloried in that freedom and ‘was
filled with patriotism to his country to the highest
degree. We remember distinctly how he would pace
with slow step the floor of his room and croon with
quivering voice, “The Union forever,” ete,

But here in the North he came to know that -

there is a bondage far more terrible than bodily
slavery — the bondage of sin, death, and Satan.
More than that, he came to know by the Gospel
of Jesus Christ that deliverance from that bondage
was also possible, yea, that deliverance had already
been made for all. By the power of the Holy Spirit

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he accepted that deliverance in faith. ‘To the last
he remained faithful in love to, and trust in, his
God and Savior. To speak of the Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost was his greatest delight. He loved to
tell dramatically how he once turned away in dis-
gust from an acquaintance who ridiculed and cursed
the Bible. He passionately loved his Catechism,
and was filled with the warmest gratitude to the
Lutheran Church — your Church, dear ‘reader —
for having shown him the way to salvation through
faith in the Savior Jesus Christ,

The time to which Corporal Saunders so long-

Corporal Austin Saunders, Springfield, Ill.

ingly looked forward has arrived at last — the time
when he would be permitted to leave this vale of
tears and go to the presence of his heavenly Father.
We mourn this venerable old gentleman’s loss, but
still we rejoice that one more name has been added
to the innumerable list of saints in heaven,

Do you wish more names to be added to that list,
dear friend? Then contribute to the support of our
missions. The above sketch proves that the work is
not in vain, Hersert C. Cravs.

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THE question is not, “How much of my money
will I give to God?” but, “How much of God's
money will I keep for myself?” :