The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1925, Page 55

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

5)

rienced true conversion, the heathen are exhorted
to pattern after the Christ-model. That this form

of “Christianity” is merely polished paganism is
apparent.

A Village in Southern India.

Our educational work is gradually being de-
veloped to measure up to the best work done in this
line in India, especially in the primary department.
We still hold that if we can win the child, we have
won the man. But the difficulties attending this
department of our work can scarcely be appreciated
by any one who has not been in the field. In very,
very few instances the school is being given intel-
ligent support and cooperation on
the part of the home.

Higher education in the full
sense of the term has not been
essayed. We have organized schools
for mission-workers in Ambur, Na-
gercoil, and Trivandrum, and our
brethren are straining every fiber to
prepare our students for school- and
church-work; but our real goal is
still far from realization. However,
we thank God for having permitted
us to open the institutions we now
have, and we know that in His own
good time He will hear our earnest
prayers and will permit us to ex-
pand our schools for Gospel-workers
and our seminary into real normal schools, colleges,
and theoretical seminaries.

Our medical work at Ambur is languishing for -

want of a medical head. The nurses on the field
are doing yeomen’s work attending to such cases of

illness as are within their sphere of activity; but
naturally they must turn away many a distressing
case of illness for lack of medical skill.

Our missionaries are laboring with skill and
fidelity. ‘Transplanted as they have
been from our American to Oriental
conditions, it is not an easy matter
for them to accommodate . them-
selves to their changed surround-
ings and to an entirely new kind
of work. But by the grace of God
they succeed. Many of our mis-
sionaries are overburdened with
work. As soon as possible we must
send out new men to relieve those
who are now on the field.

In addition, we need mission-
aries, both male and female, to pass
through the gates already wide
open, which invite us to enter
hitherto untouched fields. Far more
intensive and extensive work should
be done by us. If we lacked the opportunities, we
ought to seek them; but since they are at hand,
is it not our duty to improve them?

Large sections of India are still without a single
Christian missionary; still broader sections, with-
out a Lutheran. What an unsurpassed opportunity
to tell of the riches in Christ Jesus!

Allow me to append a few figures showing the

Students of the Mission Institute, Nagercoil, India.

present status of our work. We have 21 married
missionaries with 47 children. One ofthese mis-
sionaries is in Australia on sick-leave. In addition,
there are three nurses and one zenana worker. The
total number of native helpers of all descriptions -