The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1920, Sheet 79

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

The Lutheran Pioneer.

i |

and chapel. It was a great problem for us to secure
a place in which we might conduct our mission this
year. For a while the prospects of finding a build-
ing looked very gloomy, and we were beginning to
think we would be compelled to discontinue our
work in Plaquemine for the time being. It would
have been too sad if this cireumstance would have
forced us to abandon such a promising field. But
thank God, whose almighty protection and direction
of His Church has made it possible that a place
was secured for another year. The building secured
is not a very commodious one and has no seating
conveniences, boards and old doors serving as desks
and seats, yet by making the best of present cir-
cumstances, with the help of God we hope to con-
tinue our work at Plaquemine. Thus you see, dear
reader, how we are compelled to labor under great
disadvantages, without desks and other school fur-
niture which help to make the comfort of a school-
room; but despite these disadvantages the Lutheran
doctrine is meeting with great success in the school,
and with unswerving courage we will labor under
these difficulties until our Christian friends make
possible with their donations that Plaquemine be
provided with a commodious chapel and school.
We hope that it will not be long before our zealous
Christian friends will raise an adequate fund with
- which to buy a lot and erect a chapel and school
for our mission at Plaquemine for the salvation of
many souls and to the glory of God’s holy name.

May you not forget our missions at Napoleon-

ville and Plaquemine in your prayers and with
"your gifts.

Donations for the chapel funds of Napoleonville
and Plaquemine, should be sent to Mr. Ewald
Schuettner, 323 Merchants-Laclede Bldg., St. Louis,
Mo., the treasurer of the Mission Board, or to the
district treasurer. C. P. Tompson.

Over. the Top.

Mention has been.made ‘several times in’ our
missionary monthlies of the intentions of Grace
Congregation in St. Louis to start a Building Fund
of its own. Among other things, we hoped here-
with to show that we are not leaning back in an
easy-chair, but are thankful for the assistance being
given by the many friends of ‘our work, and are
making sincere efforts to do as much as possible
* ourselves. — We are now able to report on the

execution of our plans. ~ i :

To begin, Sunday, September 12, was set as
Rally Day for the collection of moneys for the pro-
posed fund. We planned prayerfully. Previous to
Rally Day the matter was given thorough publicity
in regular announcements in church and through
the mails. A copy of the August issue of the
PIoNEER, containing an article on the success of
our sister-congregation in Yonkers, N. Y., with
their Building Fund, was sent to each member.
The article in question was marked heavily in red.
A few days later another letter containing words
of encouragement and a request to return the en-
closed envelope, marked “For Building Fund,” on
Rally Day, was sent to the members. A few days
later the final word was sent out in the form of a
card bearing the following: “Sunday is the big
day! You can make it a happy day by doing your
part!” When the roll was called on Rally Day,
a number were absent. A lump began to rise in
our throat. But our fear was dispelled a few mo-
ments later.

On one of the walls of the chapel we had placed
a large picture of a thermometer, which bore figures
from 0 to 100 at the side to indicate the progress
of the collection. Above, the question was placed:
“Tfow warm are the hearts of our members?” En-
velopes were called for, and as they were opened,
the indicator began to rise—from zero to $1.00,
to $5.00, to $10.00, etc., until finally it had gone
over the top and reached $105.04. It is needless
to say that our joy was great. Realizing that it
was God who had made the individuals willing, the
assembled congregation offered a fervent prayer of
thanks for thus having given success to our under-
taking. ,

We wish to remind the reader here that the
above sum was contributed by about 25 communi-
cant members and a number of children. One con-
tribution of $20.00 was received. Several families
gave $10.00. A number gave $5.00. Other indi-
vidual contributions ranged from 25 cts. to $4.00.
The Ladies’ Aid of the congregation gave $10.00.
And we are hoping that we will yet hear from a
number who were absent. We intend to do follow-
up work.

_In order that there might be a continuous flow
into this newly created fund, dime pocket-banks
were distributed among the members. On one side
these banks bear the inscription: “The Bible says:
‘Freely ye have received, freely give’ — “God loveth
a cheerful giver,’ ”-and on the other: “I am saving
these dimes for my church.” We hope to call in