The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1924, Page 102

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102

The Lutheran Pioneer.

the Bread of Life to the benighted sons of the
ex-slave. ‘I'o-day these same sons of the ex-slave
have heard the cry from a foreign land, recognized
it as the echo of their erstwhile prayer, and have
‘rushed to succor their dying brother of saffron hue.
From the “Lucas” congregations of this hinterland,
help has gone forth to erect a Yuet-Nam-Sun-T-Ooi
(Justification by Faith Church in China) chapel in
distant Cathay, that henceforth little De De may
not have to disguise himself in the dress of a girl
to deceive the many devils of his homeland.

From September 21 to November 9 the faithful
souls of our little congregations in the Black Belt
brought their savings to the house of the Lord that
the blessed Gospel of Jesus’ love may be wafted to
the teeming millions of ancient China. For eight
consecutive Sundays these faithful souls, who some-
time sat in darkness, trudged to the little green
“T-shaped” chapels and deposited their offerings
upon the altar of the Lord, who has called them
from darkness into His marvelous Light, that this
same Light may shine into the darkest corner of
heathen China. .

Old men, with gnarled and trembling fingers,
counted their nickels and pennies into the treasury
of the Lord; white-haired grandmothers trudged
for miles on rheumatic limbs to sell a basket of
eggs, a pail of syrup, or to launder the clothes of
some “Missus” that they might have the where-
withal to help bring the Gospel to the dying
Chinese, and on Sunday the corner of an old ban-
danna yielded up its treasure of pennies, nickels,
and dimes. Young men, women, and children
worked, horded, and sacrificed for “Mission Day”
that the longings of De De might be satisfied.
From huts nestling in swamps, pine-fields, and
groves these black children of the King came with
their treasures in theit pockets and the songs of
Zion in their hearts. At one place the minister
told them they had done enough, but they insisted
on giving more that a chapel might be built in
China. — From the poverty of these faithful souls

of the Black Belt $865.87 was given for the cause .

of the Gospel in China. Already these sons of Ham
have erected among the hills of India their “Sattya
Sarchi” (‘Truth Witness), and may the day grow
apace when their “Yuet-Nam-Sun-T-Ooi” will
adorn some barren field of ancient Cathay! God
grant it! * * *

During the first ten months of the current year
our congregations on this field collected $3,918.20.
" During the same period 1,647 redeemed souls knelt

around the Lord’s Table and partook of Holy Com-
munion; 289 were received into the “communion
of saints” by Holy Baptism and were confirmed.
Ten years ago the name “Lutheran Church” was
unheard of in these parts; to-day there are 1,322
souls who confess God’s Word and Luther’s doc-
trine pure; 709 of these are communicants. Nine
years ago the first Lutheran missionary limped into
an old shack to proclaim the everlasting Gospel to
men sitting in darkness and the shadow of death;
to-day there are nineteen organized congregations
and three preaching-places. Nine years ago the
first Lutheran parochial school among the Negroes
of the Black Belt opened its doors to the dying
children of this section; to-day there are twenty-
two such schools and one college. Nine years ago
the Negroes of Alabama were crying for the Bread
of Life; to-day they have erected a chapel in India
and have the money in hand for another one in
China. Truly, this is the Lord’s doing, and it is
marvelous in our eyes!
* * ES

On November 1, the pastors of this field met in
conference at Selma and spent a profitable day in
discussing the things pertaining to the kingdom of
God. The forenoon was spent in a careful study
of the first chapter of St. Paul’s Epistle to the
Ephesians; in the afternoon Prof. P. D. Lehman
delivered a confessional address, and the brethren
strengthened their faith by partaking of Holy Com-
munion. very one brought encouraging words

from his field of labor.
* * *

Our Alabama Luther College boasts an enrol-
ment of twenty-four students, all Lutherans, pre--
paring for service in the Church. In spite of the
fact that we were sorely disappointed in not being
able to see our hopes realized in the erection of our
new building this fall, and despite the crowded and
embarrassing conditions, every one seems to be

Items of Missionary Interest.

ALEXANDRIA, a. — Rev. E. R. Berger writes:
“Our services are well attended, both the Sunday
and mid-week services. Our Sunday-school atten-
dance has increased from twenty-five to forty chil-
dren. Our day-school has an enrolment of eighty
pupils. Every day I have to refuse to accept new
pupils. Our mission-plant in Alexandria is an old
shack. A new building is to be erected here as son