The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1922, Page 10

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

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a large number of whom are still in their teens.
$191.50 was contributed by means of little dime-
banks for a special Emergency Fund. A consider-
able amount was given to the sick and needy. In
St. Louis, $425.15 was given for the congregational
Building Fund. One family contributed about $60
for this purpose. On two occasions approximately
$100 was raised at a single service. For years a
building fund for the erection of a new chapel in
St. Louis has been in the making in our general
mission treasury. The local white Ladies’ Aid for
Colored Missions has diligently collected funds for
this purpose for a number of years. Fifteen months
ago the members of the congregation here deter-
mined to do something on their own account also
for this purpose. And now, after this comparatively
short time, the congregational Building Fund shows
a total of $663.83. The congregation is now deter-
mined to reach the $1,000 mark by the end of 1922.

While these funds have been in process of collec-
tion, a very serious problem has been staring at us,
viz., Where, in the event that sufficient funds are
received, shall we build? St. Louis has three strong
colored sections. One of these is in the western part
of the city, about. three miles distant from our
present location. For some time it has been our
contention that this would be the best location for
a new chapel. But our church is almost totally un-
known in this district. Now we believe that our
problem has been at least partly solved by a recent
decision of the local congregation to start a new
mission (Sunday-school at first) in this territory in
order to gain a foothold there. ‘The most pleasing
feature of this decision is the determination of our
little flock to support this proposed mission them-
selves. While, if present plans are carried out, the
location of our church in this new territory will
virtually mean the starting of our work anew in
St. Louis, still the future of the church will hold
better prospects.

Why have we mentioned all these details? Be-
cause we believe that the friends of our work are
interested in hearing them. ‘The facts which are
brought out here, especially those concerning our
finances, show interest in the work of Christ. They
prove love for the Savior. In’ this connection even
bare figures are interesting. The spiritual life in
a congregation ‘can largely be measured by the spirit
of sacrifice on the part of the members. That this

‘spirit is not lacking in our congregations, at least

on the part of a goodly number of our members, is
conclusively borne out by the-above figures,

May the good Lord Himself maintain, yea, in-
crease this spirit, and in this way also show the king.
friends of our work that their gifts bear bounteous
fruit. “You never lose by giving to God!” What
a truth our brother expressed !

Herbert C. Craus,

Alabama Notes.

The hurry, confusion, and fatigue atiending
and following Christmas celebrations has passed,
and we are glad to get back into the customary
routine where we don’t have to worry whether
Johnny gets one piece of candy moré than Little
Willie, or whether Mary says her “speech” louder
and better than Susan. ‘These worries have been

> =
A mission was started in this shanty.

put to bed together with their father, 1921, and we
don’t have to think of them any more until — but
why anticipate? Let them rest in peace.

On Christmas Day three new souls were received
into the church; two children by Baptism and one
adult by confirmation. Of course, it is a bit out of
the ordinary, but what do you expect when the news-
papers report that June apples and cherries were
picked just before Christmas, and when during the
first week in December the writer enjoyed a water-
melon? — One of the baptisms was an emergency
case. On the way from Tinela, where we had had
our Christmas-tree, to Buena Vista, where the chil-
dren and parents were waiting for theirs, Super-
intendent Schmidt and the undersigned stopped in
the home of a member and baptized a child suffer-
ing with pneumonia. The rite performed, we pro-
ceeded on our way and arrived at Buena Vista,
where, after the children’s service, one child was
baptized and an adult confirmed in the faith. May