The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1923, Page 77

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

1

“T feel that we are not through hearing from
that young man. We have never had a more de-
vout, earnest, and active Christian in the school.
Others also have shown a spirit of generosity and
gratitude. ‘There are many Negro youths at our
very doors and all about us who are begging for
a start and a chance.” F.J.L.

New Missions Opened in New Orleans.

Pastor Wildgrube has opened a new mission at
Pailet’s Land, a new settlement within the cor-
porate limits of New Orleans and lying about two
miles west of St. Paul’s Chapel. He gives the fol-
lowing very entertaining account of the first service
he held there: “I got there at six o’clock and opened
the doors. You know I expected a real big crowd!
But it got to be 7.30 o’clock, and no one was there
yet. At 7.45, Teacher Seeberry came, then ‘Teacher
Berger with Mr. Demouy, and then Mr. Thompson
from St. Paul’s. At cight o’clock, the time set to
begin the service, we were still alone! Mr. Demouy
and'‘I went outside and invited every one that passed
to come in, but though probably fifty persons passed
the door, not one entered the door. Then the
thought came to me, Why not let Teacher Seeberry

play the organ and the rest of us sing? We did so.

Mr. Seeberry played ‘Nearer, My God, to ‘Thee,’
and we sang. Presently. some children came in,
then some grown people, and finally we began our
service.” At this first service there were present,
not counting the above-named workers, nine adults
and seventeen children. The second service was at-
tended by fifteen adults and seventeen children, and
at the fourth service the attendance had increased

to twenty-two adults and seventeen children.
FJ. 1.

The Walther League and Missions.

The Thirty-first International Convention of the
Walther League went on record as a missionary
convention. In every way did our young people
gathered in Detroit show their great interest in the
glorious missionary enterprises of our Church. No
doubt, it is known to our readers that the Walther
Teague has for several years already taken over the
support of a number of missionaries in foreign
lands. At the recent convention it could be re-
ported that twelve districts of the League are now
supporting fourteen such missionaries.

‘The sermon preached by Pastor Paul Lindemann
in the opening service of the convention in Detroit
on the words of Jesus, “Ye are the salt of the earth,”
was in reality a missionary sermon. The inspira-
tional service, held on Wednesday evening of the
convention, in which Pastor C. J. Buenger, of Ke-
nosha, Wis., and the editor of the PIoNEER were
privileged to speak, was held in the interest of mis-
sions, especially Home Missions. And even Pastor
Hertwig’s closing address, the writer thinks, had
a missionary flavor.

The missionary spirit of the convention also
found expression in resolutions such as the follow-
ing: That the Walther League Messenger be sent
to all foreign missionaries; that cordial greetings
and best wishes for continued success be extended
to all workers in the foreign field; that the societies
be urged to give special mission studies a place in
their program; that the societies be urged to ar-
range mission rallies; that the societies be urged
to continue their support of the medical mission
and the mountain home retreats in India and
China; that native pupils preparing for the min-
istry in foreign fields be supported.

However, the most important and far-reaching
manifestation of the missionary spirit that animated
the convention was the enthusiastic, but deliberate
adoption of the following resolution, in which the
Walther League pledges itself as a body to a sys-
tematic effort at missionary service : —

““WHeErEAs, We, as Lutheran Christians, by vir-
tue of our baptismal and confirmation vow, have
pledged ourselves to nurture our _ spiritual life by
a constant contemplation of the great saving truths
of the Bible; and .

“WHEREAS, We are, furthermore, under the
solemn vow to lead lives which are in agreement
with the demands of Scripture ; and

“WHEREAS, It has, moreover, been one of the
fundamental objects of the Walther ‘League to be
of assistance in keeping the young people with the
Church by lending our personal services to our con-
gregations as individuals and as societies; there-
fore be it

“Resolved, That we give expression to this spirit
of consecration and of service, with the consent of
our congregation and under the leadership of our
respective pastors, that is, that we put into exect-
tion a strenuous and sy: stematic missionary endeavor
in the interest of our beloved Church: —

«1. By reaching out for, and leading back to,
the congregation, if St by personal appeal and