The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1919, Page 91

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The Lutheran Pioneer. 91

tion. His zeal and activity have become contagious,
and — now we all have it. He is all that we could
have hoped for, and far exceeds our expectation.
But do you know that what has been said of Pastor
Gebauer is equally true of his beloved wife? It’s
a fact. Any of our members will corroborate this.

That reception of September 5? Oh, that was
in their honor. And we had a time! Music, ad-

__dresses, refreshments, and then some more refresh-

ments, and all that. And, besides, that character-
istic cordiality. No, Pastor Gebauer, we wouldn’t
like to lose you now.

This reception, as stated, took place on Sep-
tember 5, but we had another on November 7.
This latter was given in honor of Prof. H. Mei-
bohm by the Young People’s Luther League and
the Ladies’ Aid Society of St. Paul’s. ‘The even-
ing was spent similarly to that of September 5.
But something extra happened. Prof. Meibohm
was presented with a handsome gold watch of no
mean value. And I tell you this little token of
appreciation of his faithful service certainly car-
ried with it our hearts. Miss Amelia Burthlong,
chairman of the Ladies’ Aid Society, delivered a
splendid presentation address. Prof. Meibohm re-
sponded in well-chosen words. Pastor Gebauer,
master of ceremonies, made the opening address,
which was followed by other addresses, the speakers
being Rev. Kramer, Prof. Roepe, of Luther College,
and the undersigned. It was another delightful
evening.

But surely you must hear something of our day-
school and Sunday-school. We are holding our
own, and the prospects are very encouraging for

_the future. By Christmas we hope to have enrolled
’ far over 250 pupils in our day-school.

We are
steadily on the increase. Our Sunday-school, too,
is improving nicely. It was never before in such
splendid financial shape. It is, at present, and has
been for the past year or more, under the super-
intendeney of the undersigned. ‘The teachers all
put a shoulder to the wheel, and each one is doing
his bit.

The influenza epidemic hit us somewhat; but
we had a still harder jolt when our beloved co-
worker, 'eacher John Thompson, resigned because
of ill health. Thank God, he has recovered again
and is still at work. He is now teaching out in
Plaquemine, La. Miss Mercedes Tervalon suc-
ceeded Teacher Thompson in our St. Paul’s School.
She is a very diligent worker. Miss Sylvina Ray-
mond and Miss Emma Dunn are crowded to ca-

pacity in the primary grades. Both young ladies
are conscientious and industrious workers, besides
being able. The undersigned — well, he is useful
wherever needed, and that is — “but that’s another
story.”

May God for Jesus’ sake continue to bless our
humble efforts and make us truly thankful! :

We have learned that many of our congregations
have discarded the small hymn-book for the larger
one. We, with an average attendance of 60, are
much in need of these discarded small hymn-books.
Won’t you remember us? ‘We are sure you will.

While advancing thanks for the same, we fur-
thermore give the assurance that we shall be de-
lighted to pay freight charges.

You can make us sing. Do it. You will? —
Thanks! Wm. B. Srrpere, JR.

>2-—>—

An Alabama Mission Festival.

Yesterday we celebrated our annual mission-
festival at Midway and Nyland. When I awoke
Sunday morning, threatening clouds covered the
sky, and I feared that a downpour would spoil the
day for us, a day for which we had been planning

and working for weeks. However, before 10 o’clock -

the sun broke through the clouds, and we had a
pleasant, though extremely warm day. For weeks
I had been preparing our people for the mission-
festival. I spoke about it privately and publicly.
T preached two sermons on mission-work at each
station in an effort to warm the hearts of the people
for the work of spreading the Gospel of Christ.
And not in vain. God blessed our efforts beyond
our fondest expectations. The attendance at Mid-
way and Nyland was fine. We had an overflow at
Nyland, in fact, the largest attendance since the
church was established at that point. At Midway
the attendance was also good. That, of course, is
the main thing, to get the people under the in-
fluence of the Word, which is a power of God. unto

salvation. The collections at both places broke all
records. At Midway we raised $50, at Nyland
$18.43. This is the Lord’s doing, not ours.

Rev. Lynn came to Camden Sunday morning,
and together we traveled twelve miles by auto to
the Alabama River. Here we left the machine,
crossed the river in a skiff, and on “yonder” side
Tob Ethridge met us in a buggy. Four miles more,
and we reach Nyland. Here we are met by Rev.
Berger, who had come from Kingston to preach

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