The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1926, Page 151

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

151

Sunday, when I look at the addition (30X36 feet)
which we made three years ago, I am sorry that we
did not make it larger, since it is only too often more
than filled. We are now enlarging the platform and
getting a new carpet for the chapel. The trees
which our men planted last year are doing well.
The men are now intending to plant a hedge.”

When the writer of this report visited the con-
gregation last year, several of the members gave
expression to their thoughts of their Church in the
open meeting. Here are a few of the expressions.

A deacon said: “I love the Lutheran Church,
for here we have God’s Word pure and un-
adulterated.”

Moses Russell, an old member, declared: “I am
proud of my Church; for I know that God’s Word
is preached here.”

“I have visited many churches in past years;
now I ama Lutheran. And this is the best Church
I have ever belonged to.” So said a third.

A fourth man had this to say: “I belong to the
Lutheran Church for fourteen years, and I know
that its teachings are right. ‘The work of our con-
gregation goes on well, and we live together in
peace and unity, serving the Lord.”

A visitor had this to say: “I do not belong to
this church, but I often attend the services, since
I here gain much for my soul. The more I come,
the better I like this church. All of my children,
with only one exception, are members of this church,
and I am earnestly considering the question whether
I should not join it. I like it here because the Word
of God is explained so clearly here.”

Also several women gave voice to their opinion.
Mrs. Zula Parks said: “I have belonged to this
church since I was a little girl. I love my Church,
because it gives me the pure Word of God. We also
try to keep the Word which is preached to us and
live according to it.”

Another said: “We have the Word of God in its
purity. -And our children get such fine instruction
in it in the school. For this sweet Gospel of Jesus
we thank God and the Mission Board. That we
prize it highly we prove by coming and hearing it.”
~ Yes, these colored Christians love their Church.
Let us learn from them!

19. St. John’s, Salisbury. (Founded in August,

1895. Missionary: Carrington March, since June,
1923.) Here the number has increased slightly,
the baptized membership rising from 37 to 39.
Though a very hard field, the services are being
attended by 35 persons, and this circumstance gives
teason to hope that better days are coming. Last

.

!
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‘year the church was repaired and painted, and the

men have put a neat fence around the property.

20. Bethel, Conover. (Founded in 1895. Mis-
sionary: Carrington March, since January, 1924.)
Baptized membership: 7; communicants: 2; 13 pu-
pils in Sunday-school. The Sunday services have
an average attendance of 28, the mid-week ser-
vices of 22.

21. Mount Olive, Catawba. (Rural congregation.
Founded in 1902. Missionary: C. March, since
January, 1904.) Baptized members 17 (gain, 2).
Like the charge at Conover, this congregation has
always been small and will probably remain so. In
April of last year it lost its oldest and most faithful
member, good, pious Sophronia Hull. She had been
a Lutheran all her lifetime, though she was born in
1845. Sophronia was born a slave into a Lutheran
family named Smith, near Conover, and soon after
her birth was baptized in the white Lutheran
St. John’s Church by Pastor Adam Smith. At the
age of fifteen she was confirmed in the same church
with a number of other Negro children by Pastor
Polycarp Henkel. She was well grounded in the
teachings of her Church. On a small table, in the
front room of her house, the Bible, the Book of Con-
cord, containing the confessions of the Lutheran
Church, and the Catechism occupied the place of |
honor. These books she dearly loved, and from them
she daily drew strength and comfort for her soul.
She was in full control of her mental powers till the _
end and went to sleep in Jesus’ arms while praying.

22. Concordia, Rockwell. (Rural charge. Founded
in 1893. Missionary: J. 2. Shufelt,* since January,
1924.) This congregation, together with those at
Rocks and Gold Hill, forms one parish. The children
of the Gold Hill charge attend the school at Rock-
well, which the members built with their own means
in 1924. This station has a membership of 44, a loss
of two in the last two years.

93. Zion, Gold Hill. (Rural congregation.
Founded in 1893. Missionary: J. E. Shufelt,* since
January, 1924.) The baptized membership has
dropped from 50 to 32. No growth is to be ex-
pected, since the gold mines will probably never be
opened again.

24. Mount Zion, Rocks. (Rural charge. Founded
in 1904. Missionary: J. B. Shufelt,* since January,
1924.) Our chapel is really located at a place called
Bostian Cross Roads. This name will in future be
used to designate the location of this congregation.
The baptized membership of this congregation has
also decreased since our last report, falling from
4 to 42. The charge has 28 confirmed and 9 voting

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