The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1926, Page 117

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

117

yet the present seems to be a very opportune time
to reach the Jews, for they are rapidly drifting
away from the faith of their fathers and are groping
for something, they know not what. This cireum-
stance makes the outlook more hopeful for the
future and should encourage the Christian forces
to increase their efforts to bring the sons and daugh-
ters of the house of Israel to the fold of the Good
Shepherd.

The Christian forces now at work among the
Jews of our country are utterly insufficient. In New
York, with its 1,600,000 Jews, there are only half
a dozen missionary agencies at work, and in many
large cities of our land there is not a single worker
to be found among Jewish populations numbering
tens of thousands. In passing, we cannot forego
mentioning that we are gratified to hear that the
Missouri Synod will give its missionary among the
Jews of New York a deaconess to assist him in his
labors. F.J.L.

Missions at the Late Convention of the
Missouri Synod.

It is needless to say that missions occupied much
of the time of the late convention of the Missouri
Synod at St.Louis. Space permits us to give only
a passing glance at what was done to further the
work of the various mission enterprises of this
great body of Lutherans. Of the twenty-seven
North American Districts, thirteen Districts are
in need of annual subsidies to carry on the Home
Mission work within their bounds. The two
western Canadian Districts were granted large sub-
sidies, as were the Texas, the California and Ne-
vada, and the North Dakota and Montana District.
The total subsidies granted these thirteen Districts

_for Home Missions amounts to $223,000. To carry
on Home Missions in the Brazil District, Synod
granted a special subsidy. In Brazil Synod has
49 pastors, who preach at 164 places, and in Ar-
gentina there are 15 missionaries.

The Foreign Missions of the Synod are carried
on in India and China. In India 23 foreign mis-
sionaries are working, assisted by 5 foreign workers.
The native staff'in India comprises 2 pastors, 44
catechists, 169 teachers, 8 Bible women, a doctor,
and 2 nurses. In China there are 13 foreign mis-
sionaries, 2 teachers, and 2 nurses. ‘The native
staff consists of 7 student helpers, 32 teachers, and
2 Bible women. Synod appropriated the sum of
$343,300 for its Foreign Missions.

a

The mission among the deaf-mutes conducted
by the Missouri Synod at 147 places by 17 mis-
sionaries was granted an annual subsidy of $43,200,
and $5,000 a year for the erection of chapels.

The missions among the immigrants and sailors
commanded the attention of the convention and
received the proper subsidy. —

Synod’s work among foreign-tongue peoples is
expanding from year to year. Thus missions among
Spaniards, Persians, and Italians have been added
to the foreign-tongue missionary enterprises of
Synod. ‘The Board for Foreign-tongue Missions
was granted an annual subsidy of $25,000.

Synod’s work among the Indians is done by two
ordained men, one of whom is an Indian, and their
assistants. Synod’s field of operation is in Shawano
County, Wis.

The convention also heard a report on the prog-
ress of the work done by the Lutheran Synodical
Conference among the Freedmen. The report was
most encouraging and induced Synod gladly to
grant its share of the required annual subsidy.

Synod appropriated a sum of money to make
possible the publication of: Luther’s Small Cate-
chism, a short Bible History, and a monthly paper
for the blind people within the bounds of Synod.

Finally, Synod passed a resolution to add the
sum of $500,000 to its annual budget for the
Church Extension Fund. / #FJ.L.

Alabama Notes.

In the city of St. Louis there was held, June 13,
a mighty celebration. From far-away corners of
the globe, pilgrims wended their way to the city
that shelters the citadel of sound Lutheranism to
witness, and take part in, an epoch-making sacred
act. From remote sections of the Americas; from
North, South, East, and West other pilgrims got
them up and set their faces towards the city where
tower the bulwarks of Zion; that they might, with
reverent hearts, view the handiwork of God and
confess, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but
unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy and for
Thy truth’s sake.” Standing beneath a veiled sun,
these pilgrims witnessed an act that made hell
tremble and heaven rejoice; they beheld the dedi-
cation of their Seminary to the service of the
Triune God; they saw written into the pages of
church history another chapter of faith’s triumph
over the gates of hell.