The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1927, Page 59

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

59

real and dear to them. ‘The latter, time and
again, prove to be a light and salt to the section of
the institution to which they have been assigned.

“Secondly, we minister to people who once be-
longed to other denominations, but for some reason
or another receive no spiritual attention from them
now. While eternity alone will reveal the full
extent of our success among them, we see enough
to justify our activity among them. If they already
grasp the heart of the Gospel, redemption through
the blood of Jesus, our work, as a rule, helps
sustain and purify their faith. If, on the other
hand, they know Christ merely as an example in
life and a vague religious force, our task is not so
simple. But in both instances we can point to
remarkable results achieved by the Gospel. Several
months ago I was called to officiate at the funeral
of a lady, the mother of four small children, whom
I had visited for several years. After the service
her father-in-law, a physician, said to me: ‘You
have done more for her than words can tell. She
was a splendid character before she left for the
hospital; but she was infinitely more wonderful in
her faith and patience after she had been there for
some time.
she had done to build up their faith and life.’
Several weeks ago I was called to the room of
another mother to whom I had ministered for some
months. She had but a few hours to live. She
asked me once more to pray with her. When we
had finished, she gave me twenty-three cents, all that
she had, ‘to do for others what I had done for her.’

“Last, but not least, we deal with that by no
means small group of people who are, or at least
profess to be, bitter opponents of religion. Some of
them will in the very face of death spurn any
attempt to talk to them about the Savior or to pray
with them. Others resist at first, but in the course
of time yield to the power of God’s Word. Recently
I was called to the telephone and asked to visit at
once a young man who had been brought to the
hospital in a critical condition. When I told him
who I was, he cursed at me and in his feeble way
let me know that I had no business there. But I
stayed, determined that I would-fulfil my mission,
if it were at all possible for me to do so. Before I
left, I had the opportunity to assure him of a com-
plete forgiveness of sins, pray with him, and wire”
his mother in Canada, informing her of his where-
abouts and his condition. He lived a few days
longer. During that time I visited him repeatedly,
continuing the work begun at my first visit. Words
cannot describe the gratitude of his mother when

Patients repeatedly told me of what ~

she learned of the change that had taken place

in him.

“What about those who recover and return to
their homes and occupations? Certainly, not all
keep the promise made while under the stress of
illness. But we can point to a number who are
more sincere and ‘regular’ Christians than they
were before. We ¢an also cite instances of people
who have abandoned profligacy, etc., and are to-day
Christians in deed as well as in name.

“What do officials of these institutions think of
our work? Not so long ago, when walking along
one of the roads leading to the city, I was picked
up by the superintendent of one of the institutions.
Among others he said to me: ‘I don’t know if you
realize what a change has taken place in the morale
of many of the patients whom you serve. I do,
because I am with them every day,

“Are there any failures and disappointments in
the work? Plenty of them. But they are more
than offset by the successes.”

B., in Lastern District Bulletin.

Items of Missionary Interest.
By the Eprror.

Atmore, Ala. — There is great rejoicing in this |
little congregation over the news that the Mission
Board has purchased a house of worship for them.
Some big-hearted Lutheran in the East provided
all the money for the purchase. The building will
be dedicated as soon as a few changes and repairs
have been made.

Easter Offerings in the Alabama Field. —
Pastors and people are busy at the time of this
writing preparing things for the coming Easter
collection. Circulars have been sent to pastors and
teachers, congregations and schools, by the executive
committee in the hope that the contents may well be
taken to heart. May God work in all both to will
and to do of His good pleasure!

Southeastern Field. — Superintendent F. D.
Alston has sent out a circular letter encouraging the
congregations in his field to make an advance of at
least ten per cent. along all lines of endeavor. Ata
recent conference he was asked by the pastors in his
field to send out this letter. May God give the de-
sired increase!

Kannapolis, N.C.— On Sunday, February 27,
before a congregation of over 125, two young men,
Mr. Ezell Parks and Mr. Curlie Thompson, were