The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1923, Page 27

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

27

righteousness, who formerly would rather have let
their children go through fire than have them
baptized !

It has been raining for some days. ‘The roads
are in a bad condition. And the river is reported
as having gone “over the top.” Since it is Sunday
and the skies have cleared a bit, the missionary sets
out for his congregation, fifty-four miles distant.
About half a mile from the river he finds the roads
under water for several hundred yards. ‘Turning
back is out of the question. “Let’s go!” is the
slogan. So a member who lives near by is asked to
ride through the water. It reaches over the knees
of the animal, but the missionary risks life and car.
Into the gurgling fluid he noses the Ford, and
“although the engine coughed, it brought him safely
to dry land. Farther down the road he encounters
more water. Here his car slips off into the ditch.
Nothing to do but pull off shoes and socks, roll up
trousers, and in the mud and water use jack and
chains to get out of a “tight.” Such are his ex-
periences the rest of the day, until finally, having
taught Sunday-school, delivered a catechization, and
conducted two services, he reaches home completely
fagged out.

And now the question, Does it pay? Does it
pay to give your money for such purposes? Does
it pay your missionary to bring to Jesus a man
down on his sick-bed, who has been discarded by
the Baptist “church” he once belonged to because
he no longer could pay his “dues”? Does it pay
you to send missionaries to feed the souls of such
people as “Aunt” Fanny and “Uncle” Edmund?
Does it pay you to make sacrifices in order that
82 people groping about in sin and darkness may
come to faith in Jesus? Does it pay you to send
men in your place to carry the Gospel through wind,
and water, and rain, and mud to hungry souls?

There can be only one answer: It does pay to
invest my money in Negro Missions, for it brings
the dividends of precious blood-bought souls saved
through faith. Or would you rather invest (?)
your money in “wild-cat” oil stocks and the like?
Tf not, then let not the constant appeals for help
pass you by unheeded. Give! Make a sacrifice,
even though thereby you may have to wait a little
longer for that suit or hat, for that new Victrola
record, for that automobile tire. Give, and know
that it pays to give; “for the Lord loveth a cheerful
giver.” E. A. WeEsroorr.

—_——_> +>

Tr army of Christ must advance upon its knees.

A Few Days’ Work.

Several days ago the Editor received a letter
from Pastor Drewes, the Director of our Colored
Missions. In this letter he speaks of the work that
is being done by the workers, pastors and teachers,
and refers to them as “a band of heroic and faithful
men and women.” ‘Io give the Editor an idea of
the work accomplished by one of these laborers in
a few days, the Director describes a trip that he took
in his company. While we have not the formal per-
mission of Director Drewes to publish extracts from
his most interesting letter, we feel that we shall not
be guilty of an indiscreet act if we give our readers
a few excerpts, provided we respect the great
modesty of the workers concerned by not using
their names. Here follows what Rev. Drewes has to
say about the work of one of the laborers: —

“S. is more than overworked. Let me give you
a little insight into his work. I can do it best,
perhaps, by briefly describing my recent trip in his
company. I arrived at Vredenburgh sawmill, in
Monroe County, on Tuesday night when it was get-
ting dark. S. had told me in New Orleans that he
would have some one there to meet me, because he
would have to be at Buena Vista for services (eight
miles distant). After waiting fifteen minutes, I saw
E. B. in his Ford. His wife and sister-in-law were
with him. ‘They had come down from Tilden, a
distance of thirty-two miles. From Vredenburgh
we rode to Tinela. The road was very bad. At one
place the bridge had been washed away by the high
water. I crawled across the dilapidated bridge in
the darkness. When we arrived at the new chapel
in Tinela, after a ride of eight miles, K. had started
the service. After the sermon by K. I also delivered
a sermon, on ‘sin-offering, and then reported on our
work. After services, we went to McCants’ (post-
office, general store), where S. met us at 11 P. x.
He had come from Buena Vista, sixteen miles away.
McCants’ is the stopping-place of S. and K.— bed
and good breakfast, 75 cents. The next morning
we attended the school at Tinela, which is taught
by Mrs. Mary Bradford. ‘Took some pictures. On
the way to Longmile — oh, the miserable roads ! —
we stopped to take dinner at Cammie Jackson’s.
The distance from Tinela to Longmile is about ten
miles. At Longmile we spent some time in Miss
Anne Mae McBryde’s school, an old log cabin. We
had supper at Simon Bodley’s and then held services:
in the old schoolhouse. The services were very well
attended. S. and I preached, and after the sermons