The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1926, Page 139

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

139

patients every year in a room measuring 8X12
feet. Over 800 native students are studying medi-
cine in mission medical schools.

Mission-educated men were the leaders who
helped abolish feudalism in Japan. Missions have
stood against slavery wherever it existed. They
have taught long-nailed Chinese scholars the sanc-
tity of labor. In India they are lifting the caste
curse. In a South India city a former carrion-eater,
the lowest of the low, is now the Christian mayor of
the community. Of the men ruling China to-day,
7,000 officials, merchants, and scholars are Chris-
tians. Missionaries in Africa are the advisers of
the native chiefs and have been able to abolish
much cruelty and savagery. An honored member
of the court of Siam is an elder of the native
Presbyterian church.

It was by missionary efforts that the first insane
asylum was built in Asia. The first systematic
care of lepers, blind paupers, the deaf and mute
was instituted by missions. The earliest rescue
home for women and the first refuge for poor
opium victims were provided by missionaries.
Missions built the first school for the blind in
China, abolished. the burning of widows in India,
and aroused public opinion against foot-binding,
infanticide, polygamy, and child-marriage.

In parts of Africa where no missions have as
yet been established a wife can be bought with five
glass beads. Instances are known where natives of
Africa have sold their wives and daughters for two
large potatoes. The first school for girls in India
was opened by Baptist missionaries, and Japan and
China also owe their first schools for girls to
missions. :

Missionaries opened the first school in Siam,

and they founded the first industrial training-
schools in many countries. They also founded the
first kindergarten and manual training shop in
South America. The first schools in India were
started by missionaries, and to this day one-third
_ of the college students of India are in Christian
mission colleges. 5 FJL.

Cleveland to Have a Colored Mission.

Here is part of a letter which the editor received
from Pastor A. F. Katt in Cleveland: “Would that
I could take a flying trip to Napoleon, for I should
like to have a good, long talk with you on a subject
near to your heart. ... We are about to establish
a colored mission in Cleveland. St. Peter’s is

‘month.

inaugurating the move, endorsed by the Greater
Cleveland Conference and supported by the Home
Mission Board of the District. Our church is lo-
cated in what is rapidly becoming the center of the
colored section and is in a position adequately to
house the mission. Our spacious assembly-hall,
seating 200 with ease and not in use on Sundays,
is being renovated for this specific purpose.

“A house-to-house missionary canvass, conducted
by about one hundred members of our congregation,
gave us the names of about 350 unchurched colored
persons living in the northern half of our immediate
neighborhood. A similar canvass of the southern
half, to be conducted shortly, will very likely yield
similar results. A St. Louis student has been en-
gaged to conduct services and Sunday-school and
do personal mission-work under my direction during
the next school-year.

“The month of August is to be our publicity
During this month the student, who will
arrive here the end of July, is to look up all the
unchurched, whose names and addresses we have
from our canvass, introduce himself, state the pur-
pose of his mission, and invite them to the opening
service. During the same month our canvassers
will canvass the southern half of the territory,
stressing the same things. Cleveland’s three col-
ored weeklies will carry our advertisements. A large
canvass will be displayed on our premises during
the entire month. On the first Sunday in Septem-
ber we hope to have the opening service, which has
been prepared for in the manner stated. I see no
reason why it should be difficult to fill our assembly-
hall for this occasion. No doubt, many people who
are already affiliated with some church will also
come, prompted by curiosity. If by God’s help we
have a good attendance at this first service, I feel
that much will have been done.” 3

Can the readers blame the Editor that he almost
shouted for joy when he read this letter from Pastor
Katt? The Editor’s joy was not only caused by the
fine mission opportunity offered, but above all by
the wonderful missionary enthusiasm of Pastor Katt
and his people. Read over Pastor Katt’s letter once
more and see how. much missionary spirit it reveals.
Read it, too, and let it admonish you to look about
for missionary opportunities and to pray the Lord
to give you courage to take advantage of the offered
opportunities as our Cleveland brethren did. And,
finally, do not forget to ask God to bless most
graciously this latest Colored Mission venture
among us. ¥F.J.L.