The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1922, Page 48

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48

The Lutheran Pioneer.

CuurcH ContTRIBUTIONS.

Right giving is a part of sanctification. How
about our Negroes in the matter of giving? It is
generally known that the Negro is poor, very poor,
as arule. But as the widow in the gospel gave her
mite, so does also the Negro Christian. It has hap-
pened that a poor Negro woman has sold her last
hen on Saturday in order that she might lay her
offering on the contribution-plate on Sunday. It
is most gratifying to see how our Colored brethren
and sisters are growing in the grace of giving for
the kingdom of God from year to year. Seven
years ago the contributions amounted to $3,528, last
year they totaled $30,865. This represents an in-
crease of more than $25,000 in seven years. Among
the offerings received last year from our Colored
Christians was the bequest of the late Ellen Brans-
ford amounting to about $11,000. Ellen Bransford
had been a slave in her youth. Years ago she be-
came a member of our mission-church in Little
Rock, Ark. When she entered into the rest of the
people of God a few years ago, it was found that
she had-bequeathed her whole estate to our Colored
Missions. Many a person among us, who never
thought of his Church when he drew up his testa-
ment, may have asked: “Is it really possible to
make a good Lutheran out of a Negro?”. Does not
this example of Ellen Bransford show that among
our Negro Lutherans there are such as have a greater
love for their Church than many white Lutherans?

Though our Colored fellow-Christians have made
such fine progress in the grace of giving, they by no
means feel that they may now stand still and rest
on their laurels. In June past they held their first
general conference at New Orleans and on that
occasion celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the
Synodical Conference. In their anniversary service
representatives from the various fields of the Mis-
sion laid down $2,600 as a thank-offering on the
table. In the business meetings of the conference
the chief topic for discussion was the question:

What can we do to increase our offerings for the
support of the work that is being done among us?
Two things were resolved upon with great unanimity
and enthusiasm: That every congregation should
try to increase its monthly offering by 15 per cent.;
and that every congregation fix a sum that it will
pay monthly towards the pastor’s salary; this latter
fixed sum the Board’s treasurer is to deduct when
he makes remittance of the monthly salary. May
God grant our Colored people the ability to carry
out these resolutions!

STEADFASTNESS OF Our CotorEep LUTHERANS.

Are the Negroes who join our Church faithful
and steadfast? This question is often put, and
generally in a tone of doubt. What is the truth in
the matter? Sad to say, we have to admit that not
all who promise faithfulness at the altar when they
are confirmed remain true to their vow. But after
all, our experience with Colored members is prob-
ably no worse than it is with white members. Our
workers among the Negroes can tell many encour-
aging things concerning the steadfastness and faith-
fulness of their members. The writer once heard
one of our missionaries make the following remark
before a gathering of Negroes at a new mission-
station: “I am the pastor of a Lutheran Negro
congregation numbering almost 400 baptized mem-
bers. If some one should go to my people and point
a loaded pistol at them, saying, ‘You must leave the
Lutheran Church, or I’ll shoot,’ they would say,
‘Shoot? ” :

A girl attended one of our schools. Her father
was a preacher. The girl became convinced that
the Lutheran Church is the Church of the pure
Word and Sacraments, and desired to be confirmed.
To this her father strenuously objected and finally
used force to prevent her from attending services. But
all attempts of the father were of no avail. Despite
all opposition the girl was at last confirmed. She
is now a grown person. Her steadfastness has had
the effect of bringing other members of the family
into the fold of the Church.

In another case two sisters attended one of our
mission-schools and then went home, fifteen miles
distant. While attending our school they had been
confirmed, and upon arriving at home, their cer-
tificates of confirmation were given a place of honor
on the walls of the log cabin which was their home.
Though friends and relatives attempted to cause
them to forget their confirmation vow, these young
Lutherans not only overcame all such temptations,
but even became missionaries for their Church.
With their own hands they made several rude
benches and opened a Lutheran Sunday-school in
an old abandoned hut standing on the plantation.
In the course of time many of their friends and
relatives became members of the Lutheran Church.

In another case the father of a large family died,
leaving a widow and a number of helpless children
behind. ‘To this widow one day came the wife of
the plantation owner on whose property the widow
and her children lived. Said the white woman to
the poor widow: “Barbara, your husband is dead;