The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1924, Page 13

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

The Lutheran Pioneer. 13

congregation at Springfield, Ill., averages a con-
tribution for each member of no less than $32.
St. Paul’s, New Orleans, is the largest congregation ;
Mount Zion, New Orleans, has the largest Sunday-
school enrolment; Bethlehem, New Orleans, has the
largest day-school enrolment. Pastor Montgomery
baptized most persons, Pastor Beck confirmed most;
and Pastor McDavid had the most funerals. Speak-
ing of funerals, Director Drewes makes the most
interesting statement that the death-rate among our
Colored members is considerably less than the aver-
age death-rate among other Negroes of the United
States.

May He who has so abundantly blessed our Col-
ored Missions in past years continue to favor the
humble efforts we are making in His name!

F.J.L.

A Strenuous Lecture Campaign.

Last year Rev. M. N. Carter, under the auspices
of the Walther League of Nebraska, made a very
strenuous and successful lecture campaign in the
interest of our Colored Missions. Beginning in
May, Rev. Carter spent practically all his time till

the end of October in the good State of Nebraska,
excepting several weeks, when the serious illness of
his wife kept him at home. During this period he
addressed 111 different congregations, the Nebraska
State Walther League Convention, and the student-
body of our Normal School at Seward. Some of
these audiences were addressed several times, so that
the lecturer delivered no less than 122 addresses in
five months, averaging more than twenty-four lec-
tures a month. On many days, practically every
Sunday, Pastor Carter spoke two or three times;
on one Sunday he even delivered four addresses.
In order that our readers may get an idea of the
number of congregations belonging to the Synodical
Conference in Nebraska, let me state that the 111
congregations addressed by the lecturer represent
only forty per cent. of the congregations of the
Synodical Conference in the State.

To reach these various congregations, Rev. Carter
made 2,216 miles by auto and traveled 11,217 miles
by train. The total expense for the whole lecture
campaign amounted to only $371.17, which was
borne by the congregations.

The itinerary was arranged by the active mis-
sionary secretary of the Nebraska State Walther

_ League, Rev. A. W. Brueggemann, of Tilden, Nebr.

The preliminary work which he did was most effi-
cient in every way, and to it, largely, was due the
success of this unique campaign.

The collections gathered at Pastor Carter’s lec-
tures amounted to $5,791.22. Besides these collec-
tions the lecturer received direct donations for the
mission treasury amounting to almost $400. An-
other direct result of this intensive lecture campaign
was that the PronrEr gained 371 new subscribers,
while the Missionslaube added 199 new readers to
its list.

But these direct and immediate results of Pastor
Carter’s lecture tour by no means exhaust the full
benefits of his campaign. These benefits will con-
tinue for years to come. That we have reason to
think so is borne out by two letters which we shall
now let our readers read. Here is the first letter: —

Norfolk, Nebr., December 1, 1923.
Dear Rev. Carter : —

Rev. Brandhorst is sending $5 for me for the
little Colored children in Alabama, whom you told
us about when you were here. I saved this by doing
without candy and other goodies, so I could do my
share to help them. Will you please send it where
it is needed most? Thank you!

Howarp SNYDER, JR.

Does not this letter from little Howard Snyder
bear eloquent testimony to the missionary interest
aroused by Pastor Carter in Nebraska?

And now read the other letter: —
Norfolk, Nebr., October 30, 1923.
Rev. Marmaduke N. Carter,
Chicago, Ill.
Dear BROTHER : —

This Corona is presented to you by the Walther
Leagues of Norfolk, Battle Creek, Battle Creek
Heights, Tilden, Pierce, Madison, and Leigh in
appreciation of your faithful work in our State
during the past summer.

We believe you will be able to find use for this
machine and would appreciate an occasional letter
to the Nebraska Walther Leaguer, Rev. L. Acker,
editor. .

Trusting that your efforts in our State may
bring forth lasting fruits, and wishing you God’s
continued blessings in your future work, we are,

Very sincerely,
M. E. Maver. ae
¥. C. BRANDHonrsT. \ Committes.