The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1926, Page 24

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24

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

CHarent at Kings Lanpine. — This building
was the gift of our congregations to the Mission
Board, a token of appreciation for the many deeds
of love and kindness received from our host of sup-
porters. It is to show how deeply we are grateful
to God for His blessings which have come to us
through the Lutheran Church. Is it due to this
that God has particularly blessed the work at Kings
Landing?

To Gop AtonE ALL Guory for the success of
the year just ended! We have in Alabama a fine
and zealous staff of missionaries. But unless God
gives success, those that labor will labor in vain,
regardless of how apt and zealous they may be.
This God teaches us continually. To Him alone all
praise and honor and glory! And may it please
Him in His. grace to bless our professors, teachers,
pastors, members, and children also during 1926!
Yes, may He bless His whole Christian Church in
these last sore and evil days, so that thousands still
outside the fold of Christ be gathered in before it
is too late! G. A. Scout.

Which Is the Better Way?

“The ‘Way of the World or the Way of the Church?

Which is the better way to provide for the needs
of the Veterans of the Cross, the way of the Law
or the way of the Gospel, the way of the world or
the way of the Church?

THE WAY OF THE WortD. — When the soldier
returns handicapped from the war, the world an-
swers with hospital, sanitarium, relief, rehabilita-
tion, pension, and soldiers’ home. Such is the
natural response under the system of taxation,
under the law: ;

Tur Way oF THE CuuRcH. — When the Vet-
erans of the Cross and their dependents appeal to
us in their extremity, what is the answer of the
Church, under the Gospel? Prior to 1917, under
District management, there was no permanently re-
liable nor generally adequate support for the in-
valid’ pastors, teachers, professors, and their needy
widows and orphans. Since 1917 Synod’s answer,
under unified control, was: Systematic and pro-
portionate support for all worthy and needy cases.
It could be such because the answer of the mem-
bership at large was: Contributions by budget,
legacies, personal contributions from many pastors
and teachers, as in the past, to a permanent fund
and, last, but not least, $2,300,000 from the Lu-

. theran Laymen’s League for an endowment fund.

several blind, deaf, and paralyzed?

But, remember, in 1924 the answer of the people
of the Church was: A deficit of $21,168.68, or, in-
stead of $100,000 under the budget, only $78,831.32.
Remember, also, of a projected $3,000,000 endow-
ment only $2,300,000, up to 1923, could be given
to Synod for the Veterans of the Cross. Remember,
such was the answer in the face of the fact that, in
a growing body, since always more men are going
into the fighting lines, more men must also return
incapacitated and at once or in their dying hour
appeal to us in behalf of their loved ones. Unques-
tionably there is need for a larger endowment fund,
a full $3,000,000.

Your ANSWER TO THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. —
Can you, standing in the light of the Gospel, say,
The better way is the way of the world and not the
way of the Church, the way of the Law and not the
way of the Gospel? Is it true that fighting a few
years for your country secures a greater reward for
a man than fighting a lifetime for your Church?
What, accordingly, will be your answer to the ap-
peal of the Lutheran Laymen’s League to add
$700,000 or more to the Permanent Endowment
Fund in support of the Veterans of the Cross?

What ts your word to the Veterans? 'To the
175 invalids and superannuates, former pastors,
teachers, and missionaries, who together represent
about 6,450 years of active service? To the men
who went into the wilderness and frontier, into the
sparsely settled and poor community, into the diffi-
cult mission-field, into the poor section of the city?
To the men who carried the church out of barns
and housed it in consecrated buildings? ‘To the
men who turned their backs to preferment, who
stopped their ears to promises of ambition, and who
counted all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus? What is your word to
the Veteran? Will you pass him by and promptly
forget about the appeal to the endowment fund?

What is your word to the Board of Support?
Reduce your monthly allowance, at present averag-
ing $50 for husband and wife, $25 for widow, and
$10 for a child? Would you authorize your Board
to say to your 1,243 claimants: “We disbursed, in
your behalf, $214,388.13 during 1924, but never
again”? Shall that be the word to 175 servants of
the Word, 120 of whom are over sixty years old,
25 nervous wrecks, ten afflicted with tuberculosis,
Shall the
Board say: “Never again such support” to the 315
widows, the majority of whom are advanced in
years, some stricken with disease, and many of