The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1924, Page 18

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18 The Lutheran Pioneer.

the throng of men, women, and children that
crowded the church, he prayed: “Lord, as a sign
that this people may know that they should ‘jine’
the church, do Thou ring the bell, O ‘Lordic’!”

Beautiful Alabama River.

Crouching in the tower, the appointed deacon struck
the bell a powerful blow. The iron-tongued mes-
senger in the tower sounded loudly and clearly.
The congregation trembled. ‘There was breathless
' silence. The preacher prayed: “Lord, ring the bell
once more,” and again the concealed form in the
tower struck the bell. The congregation was
amazed. The Lord was speaking. “Lord, that
there be no mistake, strike the bell just one more
time,” prayed the preacher. The faithful deacon
in the steeple finished his work for the night with
another thunderous stroke. And the response? It
was marvelous! Large numbers of “sinners,” old
and young, filled with fear, stepped tremblingly
forward to answer the “call of the Lord.” And
then? Pandemonium broke loose. ‘The yelling,
screaming, moaning, groaning; and stamping of the
congregation could be heard far out in the stillness
of the night. And why this boisterous noise? ‘The
congregation was praising the Lord “for converting
sinners.” ,

Such, dear reader, is the religion of the Negro
here in the Southland. Such is the religion of the
poor benighted people at King’s Landing and on
the surrounding plantations. They are groping
around in darkness, feeling after God, but unable
to find Him. Large families, fathers and mothers
with their children, go to these churches with the
question in their hearts and on their lips, “What
must we do to be saved? How can we be happy in
yonder world?” and are thus misled by blind leaders
of the blind. Surely the Word of God is applicable

here: “Darkness shall cover the earth and gross
darkness the people.” Here at King’s Landing
hundreds of precious souls, purchased with the
blood of Christ, are sitting in darkness and in the
shadow of death.

Praise God, our Lutheran Church has been
called into this community to hold up before dying
sinners the glorious and everlasting Gospel of a
Savior who can and will save to the uttermost. And
not without results. Said one man who attended
a meeting: “I learned more to-night in this one
meeting than during the past forty years.” An-
other declared: “I’m going to join that church.
I came here to find fault, but you can close your
eyes and even then cannot help but sce that this
man preaches the truth.” This was a preacher.
And he added: “I’m going to find a Bible and
try to read it.” Said a third: “If the Lutheran
Church will not come to King’s Latiding, I’m going
to join the Lutheran Church in Selma” (eighteen
miles away). ‘These and many other expressions
were heard at the mectings held there this month.
The Savior is revealing to these people the darkness
of their former state and the glorious light of His
saving Gospel. An old grandfather, a wanton sin-
ner in his earlier days, declared by the preachers
to be labeled and branded for hell and an outcast
in the community, had given up all hope of being
saved. He was living in constant fear of. death.
Hearing about our Lutheran services, he attended
them and there heard of the loving and compas-

Superintendent Schmidt on a Missionary Foot Tour.

sionate Savior. He declared: “Now I know I can
be saved; Jesus will not cast me out. I’m going to
join the Lutheran Church with my children and
grandchildren.” The meetings here are now at-
tended by large numbers, and according to a state-
ment of one of the men not less than twenty large