The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1923, Page 29

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

29

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After writing the above, we received a letter
that contained the following paragraph. From
these lines our readers can easily see that our mis-
sionaries are not “resting on rosy beds of ease.”
Here is the paragraph in point: “L. is more than
a writer; he is quite an adept in nautical arts.
Last night, or rather this morning, after two hours
of futile effort, he succeeded in landing the ferry-
boat on which we tried to cross the Alabama River.
I left Selma with him yesterday morning. Had an
anniversary service at Longmile; another anni-
versary service at Possum Bend; then dedicated
a bell at Tinela. ‘Three services, held miles apart
at places that could only be reached over bad roads!
After “rolling, rattling, and shaking in a Ford” for
125 miles, we reached the Alabama River at mid-
night. As stated above, it took us two hours to
land the ferry-boat, and we finally reached Selma
at five in the morning, more dead than alive.”

FJ. 1.

Zeal.

The readers of our missionary papers have un-
doubtedly noticed the splendid increases during the
last few years in the contributions of the members
of our Colored congregations. ‘The zeal which has
made these increases possible is strikingly exempli-
fied by the incidents described below.

The writer has made ita practise in his work
not only to remind our grown Christians of the duty
of giving, but to give also the little folks entrusted
to his spiritual care special opportunities to con-
tribute for the Savior’s cause. Several times a year
we distribute envelopes among the children enrolled
in our mission day- and Sunday-school in St. Louis
and suggest to the little folks to make a special
offering to the Lord. ‘These special collections
usually net about $15.

Shortly before the last Christmas season, en-
velopes were again passed out among the children
with the reminder that the Son of God was born
a little child to save all people from their sins, and
the suggestion was made to these little folks to show
their love for Jesus by making a special Christmas-
offering. ‘They were advised not to go immediately
to their parents to help them make their offerings,
but first to try to fill their envelopes from their
own savings or from money earned by running
errands, ete.

Sunday before Christmas, after the Sunday-
school service, the children brought their envelopes

forward. ‘The contributions of many were astonish-
ing. The make-up of the gifts plainly showed that
the children themselves had saved the money which
they gave. But it remained for the little boy whose
picture is shown on this page to create the biggest
surprise. His name is “R. C.” Ivory. Yes, “R. C.,”
just that, is his given name. He is seven years old
and entered our day-school last September. As he
brought his offering to the front, he said: “My
envelope warn’t big enough!” In his hand he car-
ried a cloth sack, which he had brought in place of
his offering envelope. ‘This sack, filled with pennies
and nickels, was found to- contain $1.56! — Even
little children may be taught to give for Jesus!

The Little Boy with the Large Gift.

This calls to mind another incident: On Christ-
mas morning the dime-banks were opened which the
adult members and a few children of our congrega-
tion in St. Louis have. ‘The money received in these
banks, which are opened four times each year, is
applied to a fund for the erection of a new chapel.
Each bank is’ supposed to hold about $5. Of the
many banks turned in one was bound together with
twine. It belonged to one of the adult members.
So large was the number of dimes put into this
bank that the catch-lock was broken. ‘The broken
bank was found to contain $6.40! Gladly would we
supply a new bank at each opening to a person
whose container was broken by the multitude of his
gifts. Gladly would we do this, if for no other
reason than simply to maintain that zeal for giving.

There are a number of our people both in

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