The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1923, Page 68

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68 - "The Lutheran Pioneer.

gation, in overalls, spoke a few well-chosen words
of welcome to all.

That day and the next were given over to exam-
inations of the teacliers. In religion especially some
of the answers were remarkable in view of the fact
that these teachers have only a short time ago be-
come members of the Lutheran Church. Those
winning scholarships were Lorena Madison and
Hattie Lee, with the high averages of 90 and
89 per cent., respectively.

Two catechizations were delivered, one on “What
Is the Bible?” by Pastor Montgomery, the other on
“The Forgiveness of Sins,” by Pastor Holness.
During the ensuing discussion the institute went
on record in favor of a simplified Catechism for
our work in the Black Belt. We

August 3 was spent in discussing various papers
and mission-matters. For instance, such topics
were treated as, “The Work of a Parochial School
Teacher and the Importance of Faithfulness in
This Work,” by Percy Dumas; “Why should the
Envelope System be Introduced in All Our Con-
gregations and a Correct Record Kept of All Con-
tributions?” by Miss C. M. Smith; “Report Cards;
Why Issue Them Monthly?” by Mrs. M. 8. Ed-
wards. Another subject was the completion of our
collection for the purpose of raising enough money
with which to build a chapel in some benighted
community in the Black Belt and presenting it to
the mission board as a thank-offering from our
people. We now have $429 on hand, but $400 more
are needed to put up a modest chapel. It was sug-
gested that we conduct reunion services on the
second Sunday in September and take a special
offering, for the proposed chapel. Then there was
the money that had been collected several years ago
and was commonly known as the Normal Fund —

- $737.51. What are we to do with it now that the
mission board is about to build a Teachers’ Train-
ing-school in Selma? The suggestion. was adopted
that we use the above-named sum as a basis for
a new fund to total $4,000, which amount we shall
try to raise through whole-hearted efforts by the
end of 1925, this money to be used for the erection

- of a building in Selma, known as the Alabama

Luther Dormitory. Enthusiastic expressions were
yoiced on both projects. May the Lord bless these
undertakings !

Divine worship was conducted at night, and
several instructive papers were read. As the shack

“serving as chapel was too small, the meetings were
held out in the open. Planks had heen nailed to

chunks of logs set in the ground and a khaki cover-
ing spread overhead.

Sunday, August 5, brought the institute to a
close with three inspiring services of a missionary
character. About forty-five communicants were
guests at the Lord’s Table in the afternoon, and
four persons publicly expressed their desire to be
instructed in the Lutheran doctrine. All are agreed
that this year’s institute was “the best ever.” May
iod bless the people of Holy Ark, their faith and
love and hospitality, and may He imbue us workers
with greater zeal for His kingdom!

* * *

Sidelights. — In conversation with a Methodist
“preacher,” who has belonged to that denomination
for thirty-two years, Superintendent Schmidt asked
him, “Suppose I were lying on a bed in this
room sick unto death, could you give me any hope
or comfort from the Bible?” And the answer was,
“No!” Think of it! This only goes to prove what
“Aunt Mary,” a very old member of the congrega-
tion, often has confessed, namely, that although she
had been a faithful member in the Baptist Church
for forty years, she knew absolutely nothing about
Jesus and salvation by faith in Him until the Lu-
therans came. And another member told the writer
that the Baptist “minister” has a standing bargain
with his people: So much money, so many minutes
of preaching. “Poor pay,. poor preaching; good
pay, good(?) preaching.” And all the “preach-
ing” consists in is that the man on the platform
starts to hum and sway his body until the whole
crowd joins in, and it finally ends in a shouting,
stamping, and clapping orgy. Oh, for more workers
to garner in the oyerripe harvest ! —

The collections during Institute flowed into the
congregation’s building fund. Over $80 was the
total raised. How was it done? By the members’
either giving all or one half of the board they re-
ceived from the teachers. One woman gave $10;

a man with a very large family, $11. Wonderful ’

spirit? Yes! —

We white missionaries “bunked” overnight in
the chapel. A bed in one corner accommodated two
of us, while the third man stretched himself on the
auto cushions which he had placed on the chapel
floor. Exactly sixteen hours’ sleep the latter re-
ceived in four nights. —

While we attended the institute, word came to
us from the most ‘distant point on the field that
a former teacher was at the point of death. So after