The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1926, Page 136

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136

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

“At present the services at the mission are at-
tended by an average of 18 to 20 people. The
Sunday-school has an enrolment of 35 children and
is attended by an average of 15 children every
Sunday. Offerings are taken in the services as well
as in the Sunday-school, and about $3 is thus con-
tributed every Sunday by those who attend the
mission.

“Every Wednesday evening a Bible class is con-
ducted, which has an enrolment of about 15. The
average attendance is 10. Eight of these people
attend with almost unfailing regularity and are very
much interested in the lessons. The Lutheran
Catechism is studied and thoroughly explained.
While these lessons have been held beginning with
the first Wednesday in January, only the first part
of the Catechism has been covered, and lectures are
now being given on the Second Article. So also in
this mission our Lutheran principle of thorough
indoctrination of all its members is being caried out.

“The most flourishing of the activities at the
Colored Mission is the Ladies’ Aid Society. This
~ society has an enrolment of 35 members. An
average of 25 women attend the meetings, which
are held monthly. A most remarkable spirit of
cooperation and zeal prevails in this -society.
Several social affairs have been conducted by these
women in a most successful manner. A mother-
and-daughter party was arranged in May, which
was attended by 48 people. Previous to this there
had been an afternoon tea, at which 25 women were
present. Every woman attending the monthly
meetings brings a donation, consisting of dishes,
kitchen utensils, etc., that the mission pantry may
be filled.

“A Girls’ Club has also been formed, which now
numbers 10 girls, ranging in age from fifteen to
eighteen years. The girls meet biweekly on Friday
evenings and have programs consisting of Bible
study, singing, and social features.

“financially, our mission has fared rather well.
True, the balance in the treasury was never very
great, but sufficient funds were always on hand to
meet all expenses. All congregations have shown
a very fine missionary spirit in supporting and
fostering this undertaking. We are certain that
the increased expenditures will be matched by in-
creased donations from all congregations.

“Our colored student, Mr. Chester Robinson,
has successfully completed his first year of study at
Greensboro and has labored faithfully to prepare

himself for the work among his people. Following

in his footsteps, Howard Stewart, an enthusiastic

attendant at the mission and at present a student
at Masten Park High School, has signified his
willingness to enter Immanuel Lutheran College
this fall and to prepare himself for the ministry
among his people. The Sunday-school of Emmaus
Church has volunteered to defray his expenses, and
Mr. Stewart will also be instructed and confirmed
by Pastor Mueller previous to his departure for
Greensboro.

“Thus the Lord’s blessing is resting upon our
humble efforts in building the kingdom of the Lord
among the colored people of Buffalo. ‘There are
naturally many problems that arise in connection
with its mission, and there are many difficulties to
overcome, as there are in every missionary enter-
prise; but the Lord has hitherto given confidence
and strength to overcome all hindrances, and He
will surely not withhold His blessings in the future,
if we but continue zealously to do His will.”

Returned Students Are a Force.

There are not a few people among us who do
not see the importance of providing girls with
more than an elementary education and giving
them, in addition, instruction in domestic science
and in the art of home-making. We have heard
people criticize the action of missions in having
girls in mission-fields share with the boys the ad-
vantages of a higher education, and we have heard
them say that they are unable to see where the
mission-work comes in in such a protedure. So it
has been said that to give our colored girls a higher
education at Greensboro and Selma (unless they
wish to become teachers in our schools) is a per-
version of missionary funds. ‘These people are of
the opinion that it is beyond the missionary task
of the Church to teach colored girls the arts of
home-making and the duties devolving upon future
wives and mothers.

What a power for good and uplift such returned ~
students can be and are for the communities in
which they live the writer has often seen. He is
fully aware of the fact that not all student girls
make use of their talents as they should, but he
also knows that a sufficient number of them do to
pay fully for all the labor and financial expense
incurred.

What the following clipping tells us is done by
returned Chinese girl students our colored returned
girl students do among their people: —

“A club for returned woman students recently