The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1927, Page 13

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represents the former field of two German mission
societies. The territory occupied by the lowa Synod
in New Guinea comprises an area about the size
of North Dakota. The work is carried on from
twenty-one main stations and reaches about 90,000
natives, who in their original state are quite savage,
some of them even being cannibals. The missionary
staff is quite large and numbers 28 ordained mis-
sionaries, 18 lay workers, 34 married and 10 un-
married women, and 370 native workers. Up to
the present time 18,454 natives have been baptized,
14,537 of whom are still living in New Guinea.
During the past year almost three thousand were
baptized, most of them adults. In
the 165 mission-schools almost 6,006
children are being instructed by 186
native teachers. Almost 200 young
men are in training at this time as
future workers, and about 6,000 are
preparing themselves for Holy Bap-
tism. ‘The medical mission of the
Iowa Synod in New Guinea was
able to bring physical succor to over
50,000 patients last year.

Foreign Missions of Ohio Synod.
Did you know that the Joint Synod
of Ohio is doing foreign mission
work in India? Its members are
supporting 23 white missionaries,
3 native pastors, and 221 native
teachers and helpers at 10 main and
102 substations, all in a circle of
70 miles. 4,031 heathen of 170
scattered villages have been con-
verted to date. There are 111 com-
mon schools giving Christian train-
ing to 472 Christian and 1,917 heathen children
in all. Besides these 1,104 children are obtaining
higher education at ten other schools. During the
next two years the Synod of Ohio expects to expend
$250,000 on this mission.

Missionary Triumphs in the Panama Jungles. —
On the Isthmus of Panama there is a tribe of In-
dians which up to a few years ago did not live in
permanent houses because they were afraid of
spirits. These spirits, they thought, took possession
‘of every house a short time after it-was inhabited.
A Christian mission was opened among these people,
with the result that they are no longer afraid of these
spirits and consequently live in much better houses.
Their wives, who formerly were no more than slaves,
‘ave now well treated. Schools have been opened

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

13

among them, the men are taking up useful work,
and where drunken brawls were common, the best of
order now rules. Five chapels serve as places of
worship for the tribe. Besides the two white mis-
sionaries there are six native workers. The Gospel
of St. Matthew was recently translated into the
tongue of these Indians and printed for them.
Progress in Porto Rico.—In 1898 there was
only a small, struggling Episcopal church in Porto
Rico. ‘Iwo years later at least four Protestant
denominations had begun activities. ‘To-day eight
or nine denominations are doing extensive work on
the island. The churches have parceled out the

Former Cannibals of New Guinea,

island among themselves, so that each denomina-
tion is devoting all its energies to a certain field.
‘The membership in the various Protestant churches
on the island numbers 12,000, and in the Sunday-
schools there are over 20,000 pupils. Work is being
done at 500 different preaching-stations.

God Cares! Do We?— “Your first and prin-
cipal business as a disciple of Christ is to give the
Gospel to those who have it not. He who is nol a
missionary Christian will be a missing Christian
when the Great Day comes of bestowing the rewards
of service. ‘Therefore ask yourselves daily what the
Lord would have you do in connection with the
work of carrying the news of salvation to the perish-

; ing millions. Search carefully whether He would
have you go yourself to the heathen if you have the