The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1923, Page 5

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6 The Luthe

‘an. Pioneer.

- the lash and carried the weight of servile chains,
can tell! It is a story that fascinates and grips.
But we can give here only the main facts of Uncle
Joe’s life. '

He was born about the year 1850 in Mecklen-
burg, N.C. During early manhood he was taken to
Austin, Miss., where he remained for a period of
two years. From there he was sold into Arkansas
to a certain Major Baldon. His new “owner” was
a slave-trader by profession. According to Uncle
Joe’s story, this trader kept his slaves herded in a
fenced-off pen. When placed upon the auction-
block, his slaves were given orders to help sell them-
selves by looking pleasant. Irrespective of sex,
slaves were stripped and exposed to the gaze of
prospective buyers. Uncle Joe remained in the

Our Latest China Mission Workers.

From right to left: Rey. and Mrs. Carl Schmidt; Miss Helen
Rathert, fiancée of Rev, Max Zschlegner; Rev. and Mrs. A.
Zlegler; Rev. F. Brand, Director of Foreign Missions.

service of this broker in human flesh and blood until
the outbreak of the Civil War. One night he broke
the shackles which held him fast and with three
other slaves escaped in a wood-chopper’s skiff to the
Union Army, which was encamped forty miles down
the Mississippi River. He then enlisted with the
Seventh Illinois Cavalry as a cook, and remained
with this group until discharged. He was present
when Vicksburg fell. In 1864 he reenlisted with
the ‘I'wenty-ninth Illinois Infantry. After , being
discharged at the expiration of one year, he came to
Springfield, Ill. 5

Uncle Joe was more than a soldier for his
country. He was also a “soldier of the @ross, a
follower of the Lamb.” It was in Springfield that
he came, thanks to the everlasting Gospel proclaimed
by the Lutheran Church, to a saving knowledge of
his Redeemer. And of all of ‘our members of Holy

‘not try?

“ago.

Uncle Joe was one of the
the Word. ‘To him age
His weakening

Trinity Congregation,
most faithful hearers of
was no bar to church-attendance.
vision and waning strength caused him, on. several
become his way to church.
Despite his increasing fecbleness, his desire to hear
the Word did not weaken. For nearly a year before
his death he lay sick, first at home,
pital. During this period the Word was brought to
his bedside.

occasions, to lost on

then in a hos-

last visits to this aged man
“Do you believe
what
sins

During one of our
the question was asked of him:
“Yes!” “Do you know

“Yes, He washed my
the Word that you sent
It was this Word
to see

you are a sinner?”

Jesus did for you?”
away!” Oh, dear friend,
to this aged gentleman bore fruit.
that enabled Uncle Joe, like Simeon. of old,
God’s salvation, which He has prepared before the

face of all people. And though Uncle Joe was not

privileged to hold the Christ in his arms, yet, what
is more, he enshrined the Savor in his heart. And

now one more soul has been added to those who are
singing the S
Dear reader, will you continue to lift your heart
prayer and your hand with generous gifts to
rescue others and bring them into the sunlight of
Lord, help us!
Herbert C. CLavs.

Savior’s praise in heaven.

God’s salvation ?

Items of Missionary Interest.

VotumE XLYV.— Did you notice that with this
number the PionEER begins its forty-fifth volume?
There is no doubt that our little paper has done
much good during this long stretch of time, but it
is also true that it could have done more if its cir-
culation -had been larger. ‘The circulation of our
little missionary paper is not keeping up with our
growth in membership. Kind reader, could not you
help to increase its number of readers? Will you
We need your help; don’t refuse us.

Our Oxtpest Lanorer. — Teacher D. Meibohm,
of our Mount Zion Colored School, New Orleans,
celebrated his seventy-seventh birthday a few weeks
He has been laboring in this school almost
thirty years, but his first teaching experience he had
sixty-one years ago in Hannover, Germany, when he
was less than sixteen years old. ‘

Tite St. Louis Lapres’ Atp ror Conorep M1s-
stons. — This association of white ladies is showing