The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1921, Page 67

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

67

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the Scriptures and receive their comfort. The com-
muniecant should come to the Lord’s ‘Table because
of Christ’s invitation. He should reverently present
himself before the Lord’s Aliar to receive Christ’s
body and blood and depart rejoicing in the forgive-
ness of sins and the glorious strengthening of his
faith. After the reading of the paper it was profit-
ably discussed by the congregation. A vote of
thanks was then given the author. -

Saturday morning at nine o’clock the brethren
assembled for the day’s work. Before entering upon
the tasks of the day, however, the brethren all gath-
ered around the Lord’s Altar and had their faith
renewed and strengthened by partaking of Holy
Communion. The chairman of Conference, Rev.
Peay, delivered the confessional address, speaking
from the text: “But Jet a man examine himself,
and so let him eat of
that bread, and drink of
that cup.” 1 Cor. 11, 28.
Communion service over,
the work for the day was
cheerfully taken up. The
4) undersigned presented an
} exegesis of Romans 5,
1—8. After the presen-
tation of his exegesis, the
writer read a sermon for
criticism, using Heb. 10,
23—25 as a text. The
other brethren then pre-
sented outlines which were criticized and discussed.
The afternoon session was given over to the dis-
cussion of the general business and welfare of the
field. — ‘The members of conference extend. their
hearty thanks to the good people of Midway Con-
-gregation for their generous hospitality, and pray
God’s blessings to rest upon them and their beloved
pastor. God willing, Conference will hold its
August meeting with the good people of our Rose-

bud congregation (Rev. Carter, pastor).
; July 17 and 24, St. James's, St. Andrew’s, and
Mount Olive congregations, of which the under-
sigued is pastor, held a reunion service in which
the. members pledged anew theirffiithfulness to the
Lord. All the members present partook of the
Lord’s Supper. ‘The members of these congrega-
tions, together with their pastor, gave thanks to
God for His manifold blessings during the past five
years. As we look back over our struggles of the
past five years, we are compelled to say, “Marvelous
are Thy works, O Lord!” ‘The blessings of God

Rev. M. N. Carter.

which these congregations have enjoyed are very
singular, indeed, when we consider all things. Since
their organization five years ago neither congrega-
tion has lost a member by death. Some have moved
away, it is true, and we have lost track of them,
but the sod of the cemeteries remains unturned, not
a single ‘gravestone is to be found. A wonderful
blessing! Five years ago St. Andrew’s Congrega-
tion boasted two members, St. James’s and Mount
Olive had— none. ‘To-day the combined member-
ship numbers one hundred; of this number fifty-
eight are communicants. Who will dare have the
temerity to doubt God’s Word! “My Word shall
not return unto Me void, but it shall accom-
plish that whereto I sent it,” is His promise. Be-
hold the manifestation of this promise! Led
from spiritual ignorance and darkness into the
marvelous light of God’s Word; drawn out of
“shouting” churches and extreme emotionalism;
surrounded by opposition churches and tempted to
the evils of unionism; ridiculed and scorned: by
enemies, and “warned” by so-called friends; from
the storm, dust, and confusion created by howling
and screaming preachers to the- quiet and method- -
ical teaching of the Lutheran Church, — only one
has fallen away! You, however, would have to be
on the field to appreciate what that means. This
is a record of which not only the three congrega-
tions immediately concerned, but the entire Lu-
theran Zion should be proud and lift up grateful
hearts to the Giver of all. good, from whom all bless-
ings flow. May God bless us during the next five
years and in all future time as He has in the past!
A murder was recently committed in these parts,
and the relatives and friends of the slain resorted
to a novel way to catch the murderer. Before bury-
ing the dead man they placed an egg, upon which
two cross marks had been made, in each hand of the
murdered man, closed the stiffened fingers over the
eggs, and lowered the corpse into the grave. These
marked eggs in the hands of the dead, such is the
superstitious belief, will cast a spell or charm over
the criminal so that he cannot escape, but must
circle around the graveyard until caught! Are we
living in the jungles of Africa or in twentieth cen-

‘tury enlightened and Christianized America?

Our mission treasury is empty. Jesus says:
“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers
are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,
that He will, send forth laborers into His harvest.”
The cry from Alabama is, “Come over and help us!”
The Lord says, “Preach My Gospel to every crea-