The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1924, Page 10

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10

The Lutheran Pioneer.

always deemed it a wise thing to have foreign mis-
sionaries that are home on furlough, as well as home
missionaries, as opportunity offers, tell the Church
of their work, as did Paul and Barnabas at Antioch
upon their return from their first missionary jour-
ney through Asia Minor; but it has always seemed
to us an imposition on these faithful laborers to
expect them to act as bill collectors. “To rehearse
all that God has done with them, and how He has
opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles,” — it is
proper that our missionaries should do this. But
to expect them to go about and ask the Christians
for money to carry on the work of missions, — this
should certainly not be expected of our missionary
workers. -

_ What, now, would be a fair contribution to mis-
sions for each among us? The writer has heard of
Christians whose annual income is less than $1,000,
who give $50 a year; but this may be more than
can ordinarily be expected, since that would repre-
sent five per cent. of a person’s yearly income. How-
ever, do you think that one per cent. would be too
much? By giving in this proportion, some among
us would be contributing hundreds every year; and
I,venture to say that there would be very few among
us whose annual contribution for missions would
not exceed five dollars. Do you think that is too
much? If you do, then just remember that five
dollars represents a pleasure ride in your automobile
of only fifty or seventy-five miles; it is the price
of an ordinary pair of shoes; it is less than many
a young man spends uselessly in a month for
pleasure and amusement. If we have five dollars
‘to spend for the things that perish, should we not
have five dollars a year to bring Christ to those
who will eternally perish without Him?

Several months ago we said that there were about
500,000 wage-earning persons in the Synodical Con-
ference. A very conservative estimate will place the

. average wages of these members at $750 each per
year. If each of these 500,000 Christians would
contribute one per cent. of his i income to missions,
the total contribution would reach the sum of
$3,750,000, a sum large enough to enable our mis-
sion boards to treble their efforts! Just think, kind
reader, what it would mean if all of us would de-
prive ourselves of a few luxuries and pleasures, —
I say, think what it would mean in the way of bless-
ings for many immortal souls! And possibly the
greater number among us would be better off for
aU foregone these luxuries and pleasures.

FJ.L.

Alabama Notes.

On December 25, 1928, there departed from this

life of sin and suffering Afrs. Nettie Moore, who for
several years had been a faithful worker in the
vineyard of the Master. Mrs. Moore first came to
us as a teacher in our parochial school at Oak Hill.
For a year she served as teacher of domestic science
in our training-school at Selma, where she rendered
faithful and efficient service. On October last she
was stricken with illness and was removed to the
300d Samaritan Hospital, where she underwent an
operation, from the effects of which she never re-
covered. For over two months she suffered intense
agony of body as she lay “in the ward of the white-
washed walls”; but during these two months of
suffering her faith never wavered, her childlike trust
in the goodness and mercy of her Savior, who, on
the anniversary of His blessed birth, came to relieve
her of her bodily pains and take her to Himself in
heaven.

On December 27 the funeral of our departed co-
worker in the Lord was held at the home of the
family of the deceased, 1605 Union St., Selma, Ala.
Pastor FE. B. Cozart delivered the funeral address,
basing his words of comfort to the bereaved on
Rom. 8,18. Pastor Peay, Superintendent Schmidt,
and the undersigned also spoke a few words of com-
fort to those who are left to mourn. The deceased
is survived by a mother, brother, four sisters, and
a husband, Sergeant Henry Moore, Twenty-fourth
Infantry, U.S. A. She was laid to rest in the East
Selma Cemetery.

Rest on and sleep, thou weary one;
For thee the day of life is done;
Rest on and mind not us who weep
That thou art gone to rest so soon.
With tender hands we've laid thee down
To sleep and wait thy golden crown,
Which He, thy Lord, shall give to thee
When on that day He waketh thee.

* F *

December 30 to January 2 the Alabama Luther
Conference held its annual sessions at St. James’s
Church, Buena Vista. Rev. E.B. Cozart delivered
the opening sermon on Sunday morning, after which
Pastor W. F. Carlson spoke the confessional. Mem-
bers of conference and the delegates, together with
the congregation, then partook of Holy Chamnmntrn.
Services were also held in the afternoon and evening.

On Monday morning conference organized for
business. Rev. Chas. Peay was elected chairman;
Rey. I. B. Cozart, vice-chairman; the undersigned,