The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1921, Page 83

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The Lutheran Pioneer. 83

the Ludington Daily News of October 9, tells all
about the dedication and the rare missionary zeal
betokened by Pastor Storm, the founder of the
station : — a :
“Tt may be that the Lord often uses a muddy
road and a balky auto as a means of calling His
servants to a harvest of souls, but if so, the call is
not always heard or heeded. It was by such a com-
bination, however, that Rev. H. Storm, pastor of the
Lutheran church at Pelton’s Corners, Freesoil Town-

- ship, discovered that there was a little colony of

unshepherded Colored people out in the jack pine
country of the township and was led to establish
a mission-chureh for them. He feels that it was by
God’s own leading that he was made aware of the
need of such service.

“While stuck in the mud, as he was for about
two ‘hours, Mr. Storm saw some of the Colored
people living in the vicinity, and, after talking with
them for a little while, they gladly accepted his
offer to come out and hold services for them.

“At first these services were held in a school-
house near Mud Lake, but later the white people of
the Mud Take district decided to dissolve their
school district organization and sold their building
to private parties. This left no building available

for church services, so Mr. Storm said to his little °

flock, ‘We'll build a church,’

“The accompanying picture shows what they
built, a log structure about 18X22, not imposing
in appearance, but affording a comfortable meeting-
place for the little band of worshipers. It was built
at a cost of about $95, the money being advanced
by the courageous young minister.

“When all was ready, it was announced that the

church would be dedicated on a given date.. Word

was sent out to the Lutheran parishes at Manistee,
Arcadia, Pelton’s Corners, Riverton, and Ludington,
nd the response was hearty and generous. A large
crowd gathered, andthe prayers that were raised,
invoking blessings upon the humble little mission-
church out on the barrens, were as earnest and sin-
cere’as any ever raised in dedication of lofty cathe-
dral with far-reaching spires, and who shall say
that they will not bring down as great a shower of
blessings upon both petitioners and listeners?
“When the story was told of the devotion and
faith through which means to erect the building had
been secured, an appeal was made by. Rev. Carl
Schinnerer of-St. John’s Lutheran Church, Luding-
ton, to reimburse Rey. Storm for the money he had
advanced. The response was generous, about $116

being donated within a few minutes. The amount
left after paying the church debt Mr. Storm is
saving as a fund to meet such emergencies as are
likely to.arise, should the winter prove severe and
long. He is also collecting winter clothing, which
the negroes buy at nominal cost, and is generally
advising and helping them to make the most from
their little farms and prepare for the proverbial
rainy day. Should there be pupils enough to war-
rant the effort, he will conduct a parochial school
at the mission.

“The church is located about six miles northeast
of Freesoil, near what is known as Pickerel Lake.
There are about 15 families of Colored people lo-
cated within a five-mile radius. Rumor has it that
many more families are expected in the spring to

House of Worship of Colored Congregation
near Freesoil, Mich.

settle on farms sold them by a Chicago real estate
company. ™

“Many of the negroes now living near Freesoil
are making good money this fall picking apples in
the well-laden orchards of that region.”

News from Immanuel Lutheran College.

Another school-year has begun. Renewed life is
noted wherever one looks. There are reasons for this.

The faculty has been enlarged, thereby giving
each individual member more time for his particular
work. In former years such was not the case. The
three or four professors who-then ‘constituted the
teaching force were overburdened with labor and
anxiety. Naturally, their minds had to be thinking
of too many things at once. In addition to this
college-work, each member of the faculty had a mis-
sion-station to take care of.

The faculty now consists of seven members.