The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1926, Page 21

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

21

the unusually cold and rainy weather, the confer-
ence was a success.

We are happy to note the fact that the same old
characteristic, enthusiasm, is still quite alive, so
much so, in fact, that it refuses to be dampened
even by incessant rains.

After devotional exercises, Prof. A. Wiley, chair-
man, declared Conference open for its morning ses-
sion. Secretary Peter Robinson quickly took note
of a few absentees, read the minutes of our June
meeting, and conference leaned back attentively to
hear an essay by Miss Eliza Dodson, of Bethlehem
School, on “The Self-training of a Teacher.”

The essayist pointed out many of the essential
requisites of a successful teacher and gave many
good suggestions as to how efficiency might be ac-
quired through self-training, namely: 1. Through
the reading and studying of good professional books;
2. A liberal allotment of time to educational papers
and educational magazines; 3. Occasional visits to
other schools; 4. A pleasing personality and an
exemplary obedience to proper authority; 5. Polite-
ness; 6. Orderliness; 7. Regularity; 8. Punctuality.

The essayist then suggested, lastly, yet the
greatest and most enduring, — God’s Holy Word,
the Bible.

On the following morning, Wednesday, the Rev.
Kramer read a paper on “The Silent ‘Teacher,”
which nicely supplemented the preceding essay.

Miss Ethel Johnson, a teacher of Mount Zion
School, followed with an essay on the subject, “The
Visiting Teacher.” Through systematic and oppor-
tune visiting, the essayist pointed out, a closer re-

“lationship is established between parent and teacher,

the interest of parents is awakened in our churches
and schools, false impressions concerning our work
in general are met and corrected, and a splendid
opportunity for mission-work is presented.

The afternoon sessions of Conference were de-
voted exclusively to business matters pertaining to
our churches and schools in Louisiana.

A service in which the Lord’s Supper was cel-
ebrated was conducted Wednesday evening. ‘The
confessional address was delivered by the Rev. W.
Tervalon, of Napoleonville, La., on the text Hos.
10,12. The sermon for the evening was preached
by the Rev. E. H. Wildgrube, of St. Paul’s Chapel,
on the text 1 Cor. 13, 14.

Owing to very unfavorable conditions of the
weather, the service was not well attended. The
writer has often asked himself: Suppose God’s
blessings were sent upon us only in certain seasons

of the year or according to certain conditions of
the weather — what then? Doubtless we should
murmur against Him—even though He has the
divine right and also the divine power to execute
His wishes. How lame, then, is the excuse of those
who stay away from God’s house in certain seasons
and who falter before the slightest shower. Think
it over!

The congregation at Mansura, La., through its
pastor, the Rev. C. P. Thompson, has invited Con-
ference to convene there next summer. This will
be done, God willing, if all plans materialize
favorably.

Conference welcomed a new member to its ses-
sions, — the Rev. Siegmund Thies, who was in-
stalled as pastor of Trinity Chapel, November 15,
1925. ‘Trinity Chapel, faithfully served by the Rev.
E. H. Wildgrube until it received its own pastor, is
jubilant indeed.

A committee, consisting of the Rev. G. M.
Kramer and the undersigned, was appointed by
Conference to draw up a list of duties incumbent
upon the principals of our schools. This will auto-
matically enjoin the ready recognition of the same
by the principals’ fellow-teachers or coworkers.

We are working jointly and whole-heartedly in
every direction that will tend toward a systematic
development and a proper standard in our Chris-
tian day-schools.

May we always humbly and in childlike faith
direct our prayers to the throne of Him whose:
kingdom here upon earth is our common cause and
courageously follow His guiding hand!

All for Him! W. B. SEEBERRY, JR.

ee

Missionary Interest among Us.

The development. of missionary interest in our
Lutheran Synodical Conference has had a slow, but.
steady growth. Though it has been slow, very slow,
this is probably better than if it had been by leaps.
and bounds, since with the latter kind of develop-
ment there is almost always connected a strong -
reaction. The fact that we have been gradually
increasing our forces from year to year in every
field of missionary endeavor indicates that we are
really experiencing a growth in missionary interest.
in our body and that our work is on a sound basis..
Though many among us would like to see our prog-
ress be more rapid, there is none who. does not
realize that this slow onward march is much better