The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1921, Sheet 59

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The Lutheran Pioneer,

A. MISSIONARY MONTHLY.

PousiisHep BY THE EvANGELIcAL LuTHERAN SyNopIcAL CoN¥FERENCE oF NortH AMERICA.

REV. F. J. LANKENAU, EDITOR.
Published monthly by Concordia Publishing House, St. Louls, Mo. Subscription price, SO cts. per annum, payable strictly In advance.

Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at St. Louls, 3

fo., under the Act of March 3, 1879.

Acceptance for malling at special rate of postage provided for In section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 5, 1918,

ST. LOUIS, MO., AUGUST, 1921.

Vol. XLIII.
Jesus Alone.
Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior dear,
Thee only we adore;
. For Thou alone canst give us cheer

That lasts forevermore.

Beloved Advocate on high,

We daily think of Thee;

For where our Treasure is and Joy
Our thoughts would also be,

Oh, may we all rejoicingly
To our great business tend
Of setting troubled sinners free
By faith in Thee, kind Friend!
. H. Ostegius.
>-—Cst—“‘i‘“

A Plain Statement and an Appeal.

A few days ago the editor received a letter from
the Director of Colored Missions which filled his
heart with mingled feelings. In this letter the
Director spoke of the wonderful advance the work
is making, of securing new workers for the expand-
ing field, and of like joy-provoking things. But in
that same letter he also referred to the Board’s
difficulty in meeting its financial obligations and of
the necessity of closing three stations because of the
want of funds.

What saddened the editor’s heart inost of all was
what the Director wrote him concerning conditions

‘in Plaquemine, La., where the work has held forth
such wonderful promises. Our school and congre-
gation have been expelled from the hall where they
have been gathering.. Services are being held in
private homes, as no suitable hall can be rented.
The school is without a home and cannot be opened
~in the fall, if we do not find the means to put up

a building on the lot which the Board purchased,
but has not yet been able to pay for. The situation
is indeed sad and serious, and calls for immediate
help. Unless this help is given, and given at once,
the fine, flourishing mission-school will have to be
abandoned. <A building suitable for church and
school purposes could be erected for about $3,000,
as the teacher, Mr. Thompson, is a practical brick-
mason, and the men belonging to the little flock are
willing to donate their services. Friends, there is
no greater need anywhere in the Colored Mission
field than at Plaquemine. Will you help? Remem-
ber, for us to give up in Plaquemine’ would mean
a shameful retreat of the forces of righteousness
from the powers of darkness and sin!

It is just about a year ago that the Synodical
Conference voted an appropriation of $215,000 for
the coming year’s work. The year is drawing to
a close, and a great year it has been, wonderful in
its results in more ways than one. But not nearly
all that was contemplated could be done, partly
because of the lack of laborers, byt principally be-
cause of the want of funds. However, notwith-
standing the fact that only a part of the year’s
program could be carried ont, the Board has been
obliged to borrow heavily to pay its workers and
do the most necessary building. . Though the year
is practically at an end, the Board has not received
more than one-third of the money that was appro-
priated. It is a serious situation, but by no means
hopeless, if we but arouse ourselves and do our duty
at this eleventh hour.

Gratitude for the blessings of God on our work
in the past, and particularly during the last year,
should move us to sacrificial liberality. So wonder-