The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1923, Page 1

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2 The Lutheran Pioneer.

and such unity of spirit cannot help but bear the
desired fruit, namely, the spreading of the Word
and the cementing of a stronger bond of fellowship
in the faith among those who have been gathered
from the vale of darkness. To attend one session
of our Alabama Luther Conference is worth all thé
labor and money spent here during the last six years
for the spreading of the Word among the Negroes
of this section, for one must leave the conference
with the firm conviction that there has been joy in
heaven, not once, but many times, over those who
have been brought to a true knowledge of their
Savior.

On Sunday, November 5, the hostess congrega-
tion held its annual Harvest Home and Mission-
festival, during which Holy Communion was also
celebrated. ‘The confessional address was spoken
by the local pastor, Rev. E. R. Berger, while the

One of Our New Chapels in Alabama.

harvest sermon was delivered by Rev. Chas. Peay of
Oak Hill, and the mission-sermon by the under-
signed. At the night service Rey. IS. B. Cozart, of
Joffre, delivered an inspiring sermon. All the ser-
vices on Sunday were well attended, the speakers

‘having the joy of speaking to overflow houses. And

the communion service was something to inspire
the heart of him who grows weary in the work of
the Master! Old men and women, bent and gnarled
with age, youths and maidens, young in years, but
strong in faith, dark of skin, but white of heart,
kneeling to receive the body and blood of Him who
knows no race or color, but those only who are “of
the household of faith.’ ‘There, brother, is the
answer to your prayer, “Thy kingdom come!” Rise
and confess once more: “I believe in the com-

-munion of saints; the forgiveness of sins.”

_ On Monday morning, November 6, Conference
was formally opened after a welcome address by:
the pastor of the congregation and the chairman of

the conference, Rey. Berger. Before proceeding
with the business of the morning, the following new
members were received and given the privilege of
the floor: Rey. I. Holness, a native of the West
Indies, Rev. 18. B. Cozart, a recent graduate of Im-
manuel College, ‘Teacher John Thompson, formerly
of Plaquemine, La., Mrs. Hdwards, teacher in our
school at Selma, Miss V. Jenkins, teacher at Tilden,
Miss Cannon, teacher at Vredenburgh, Miss Jones,
teacher at Ingomar, Miss Montgomery, teacher at
Midway, ‘l'eacher S. D. McCants, of Rosebud, and
Student G. Kreft, of St. Louis, Mo. After the re-
ception of ‘the new members Conference was for-
mally organized for the ensuing year. ‘The organ-
ization showed the following results: Rev. Peay,
Chairman; Rey. Montgomery, Vice-Chairman; Rey.
Lynn, Secretary; Superintendent Schmidt, Treas-
urer. Delegates from the various congregations
were seated and given the privilege of the floor.

In the afternoon Conference listened to two
well-written and instructive essays on the subjects
“Winning Souls” and “Children’s Tlome-work,”
presented by the Misses C. M. Smith and L. M.
Stallworth. Much benefit was derived from’ the
reading and discussion of these papers. Both
authors received the thanks of the conference for
their good work on the subjects assigned. At the
evening session of Conference Rev. Chas. Peay
preached an excellent sermon on the theme “The
Uplifted Christ.” After the sermon Superintendent
G. A. Schmidt treated the conference to a very com-
prehensive paper on the timely subject, “Conjuring
and Similar Satanic Arts.” During the reading
and discussion of the paper the devil was given his
due, but it was shown at the same time that more
than ninety per cent. of so-called conjuring is pure
humbug, practised for the purpose of emptying the
pocketbooks of the credulous. The author received

a yery enthusiastic vote of thanks for his excellent

paper.

Tuesday morning’s session was given over to
business. At this session Superintendent Schmidt
read the names of the four teachers making the
highest averages at the Institute held in July; they
were Miss R. J. Young, Miss C. M. Smith, Miss L.
M. Stallworth, and Mrs. Lorena Madison. The dis-
cussion of Christmas programs, bags, etc., was then
entered into. Conference passed a resolution to the

effect that Superintendent Schmidt, in the name of .

the conference, thank all friends who send us
money, ete., to help make glad the hearts of our

children at Christmas-time. At the afternoon ses--