The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1922, Page 14

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14 The Lutheran Pioneer.
LL

and in a few months, God willing, we hope to put
it at Dr. Doederlein’s disposal, to the greater glory
and honor of Him in whose cause it is being erected.

Wexcome To Director Branp AND Dr. DOEDER-
LEIN. — For weeks, yea, months, we have looked for-
ward to the proposed visit of the former of these two
distinguished gentlemen ; and for months, yea, years,
India’s cry for the alleviating. hand of the skilful
physician has virtually rent the sky. ‘The public
welcome, therefore, arranged by our Indian Chris-
tians and mission agents, striking as it was, only in
a small degree expressed the joy that surged in our
hearts, the joy born of the knowledge that the official
representative of our Synod was in our midst, and
that a distinguished physician was at last on the
field, ready to use all of his knowledge, skill, and
energy for opening up an avenue for the precious
Gospel to the hearts of the people.

The welcome took place in Rev. Hamann’s com-
pound on the afternoon of November 11, 1921.
Never before had I had the honor to see such a mixed
gathering; for besides the two guests there were
present Mohammedans and Hindus, Pariahs, and
at least one Parsee, American and British and
Indian, believers and unbelievers, officials and pri-
vate citizens, graded from the lily-white complexions
of the ladies to the somber hue of the bandsmen,
a meeting of East and West, garments Western and
garments Eastern of every shade imaginable; and
upon this gorgeous gathering first the sun shed his
lurid light and then the moon her silvery splendor.
The Ambur band enlivened the proceedings with its
“melodious” strains, many speeches, too long to re-
count here, were made, the guests were honored with
the usual wreaths, and after the national anthem
had been sung, the garden party came to an end.
I wish you had been present, dear reader, in order
to see just how worth while it is to embark on
medical mission-work. Try to visualize the scene,
color these dull words with an active imagination,
and you will have some conception of this memo-
rable afternoon, Above all, pray with all your might
that our medical mission may be a success, and God
grant that many, many souls be gained by it!

VANIYAMBADI. — Long before our mission com-
menced operations in this quarter, the London Mis-
sion had occupied Vaniyambadi, which now has a
population of 20,000, exclusive of that of the many
surrounding villages. This mission possessed two
schools in this locality: the Higher Grade Elemen-
fary in the town proper, and a school for Pariah
children in Govindapuram, a suburb of the former.

Long ago our work took us into the latter Place, and
some converts were made. Naturally the question
arose which school the children should attend, and
it was evident that we must either obtain Possession
of the existing school, or build another. ‘The former
course was preferable, and after negotiations had
been made, we agreed to purchase the building and
also to take over the other school.

On October 3 Rey. Harms, under whose super-
vision the schools have been put, and the under-
signed, met the representative of the London Mission
in the elementary school, and during the short pro-
gram submitted by the children the Vaniyambadi
schools were officially handed over to our mission.

A golden opportunity presents itself to us, for
we may now work here without opposition, and
through the medium of two more schools preach the
glad tidings to perhaps hundreds of pupils.

Vaniyambadi, India. i. A. Norrrr,

e+

The Forty-eighth Travancore
Conference.

From the 22d to the 24th of October the Forty-
eighth ‘'ravancore Conference was in session at
Nagercoil. ‘The opening service was held the eve-
ning of the 21st in which the Rev. R. W. Goerss de-
livered a Reformation sermon, basing his words on
Ps. 80. In this service Holy Communion was also
celebrated.

The following morning the regular sessions
began. ‘The morning sessions were devoted to an
exegetical work on Titus, chap.1. The Rev. A. C.
Fritze very ably prepared this work, and for three
mornings Conference had the pleasure of listening
to the instructive exposition of St. Paul’s Epistle to
Titus. The thorough work and the many practical
questions suggested by the text made it impossible
to hear the entire work; nearly ‘half of the portion
assigned had to be postponed until the next con-
ference.

The afternoon sessions were devoted to business
matters. In these sessions many important matters
were put before Conference and were discussed
at length. Among others Conference was asked
whether or not financial help should be given to our
Christians when they patronize native physicians.
This question has become important and has caused
considerable trouble. At the local Government Hos-
pitals, where Western methods are being practised,
our Christians are grossly neglected, especially if”