The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1924, Page 81

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The Lutheran Pioneer. 81

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“Aunt” Mary Dockery. Of her Superintendent
Schmidt writes: “I know of no person who has
a spirit which more closely approaches that of Mary
of Bethany — always anxious to hear the Word of
her Savior. Like many others in our many congre-
gations in the Black Belt, she formerly was a slave.”

37. Zion, Taits Place, Wilcox Co. (Founded
in October, 1919. Missionary I. A. Westcott,*
since September, 1921.) Satan, in the past, gave
our missionary trouble here; but the Lord has
faithfully stood by His servant. The congregation
numbers 86 baptized and 37 .communicant mem-
bers. Pastor Westcott writes: “The outlook is
brighter than at any time.”

388. Our Redeemer, Longmile, Wilcox Co.
(Founded in 1922. Missionary E. A. Westcott,*
since January, 1924.) At the last convention of
the Synodical Conference this congregation with
its 77 baptized and 40 confirmed members did not
yet exist. This congregation, like that at Holy
Ark, was practically born of opposition. A mother
of nine children and her husband attended one of
our first services. When they returned home, they
found their large iron wash-kettle in pieces. Such
underhanded work was done to keep the people from
attending our services. But they continued to
come. And the result is a flourishing congregation
at Longmile. — An old patriarch, “Uncle” Simon,
visited our first meeting about two years ago. On
the way home some one asked him, “Deacon,” —
for a half-century he had been a deacon in a sec-
tarian church, — “what do you think of this new
doctrine?” Simon answered, “I have quit think-
ing; I am already a member of that church.” He
has repeatedly told Superintendent Schmidt, “For
many, many years I have been a church-member,
but if God had not sent the Lutheran Church here
with the true and pure doctrine, I should have gone
to hell. I am thankful to God for what He did
for me in my old days.” When asked about his
hope, his answer is, “I am a poor sinner ;- but Jesus,
God’s Son and my Savior, died for me. That is
my hope.”

89. Mount Carmel, Midway, Wilcox Co. (Founded

.in 1916. Prof. Otho Lynn, since January, 1924.)

This congregation once numbered almost a hundred
baptized members, but migration from the country
to the city was so great that the number of persons
belonging to this charge had dwindled down to only
thirty-six by the first of the present year. During
the spring, howevér, sixteen new members were re-
ceived.

40. Bethany, Nyland, Wilcox Co. (Founded in

1918. Missionary James Montgomery, since Sep-
tember, 1921. Assistant: Prof. P. D. Lehman.)
Baptized membership, 57; confirmed member-
ship, 28.

41. St. Peter’s, Pine Hill, Wilcox Co. (Founded
November 1, 1922. Missionary James Montgomery.
Assistant: Prof. P. D. Lehman.) This congrega-
tion was established since the last convention of
Synodical Conference. To-day we have-here a bap-
tized membership of no less than fifty-four and a
communicant membership of twenty-two. The ser-
vices and school were held till now in a most
dilapidated old log hut. But it has been decided
to put up a plain building here at a cost of $1,000,
though the needed funds are not yet at hand. How-
ever, we hope that we shall soon have them. The
congregations so far mentioned, eight in number,
are all in Wilcox County.

Our Church and School, Pine Hill, Ala.
A new building would cost only $1,000.

42. St. Andrew’s, Vredenburgh, Monroe Co.

(Founded 1916. Missionary Walter F. Carlson,
since July, 1928.) Number of baptized persons, 50;
confirmed, 29. The prospects for growth are not
very promising because the neighborhood is sparsely
settled. — Minnie Bradley joined this congregation
a few years ago. Every Sunday morning she drives
her horse over the four miles of road to Sunday-
school, and in the evening she is present again at —
the service. Jvery Sunday she travels no less than
sixteen miles to hear God’s Word. A good example
for many of us!

48. St. James's, Buena Vista, Monroe Co.
(Founded in 1916. Missionary W. F. Carlson,
since July, 1923.) During the second quarter of
this year the membership grew from 80 to 99 per-
sons and from 37 to 53 communicants. Around
Buena Vista there is a very promising field for us.

44. Mount Olive, Tinela, Monroe Co. (Founded
in 1916. Missionary W. F. Carlson, since July,