The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1927, Page 118

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118

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

After this service, pastor and congregation marched
into the chapel to hear a splendid and inspiring
sermon by Rey. E. A. Westcott, of Selma, Ala.
Holy Communion was celebrated, the local pastor
delivering the confessional address. Seventy-six
members, after having confessed their sins and
received absolution, partook of the body and bléod
of their Savior for the forgiveness of their sins and
the strengthening of their faith. During this ser-
vice four children were added to the church by
Holy Baptism.

In the afternoon Superintendent G. A. Schmidt
delivered a very impressive sermon, based on
Is. 60,1. Taking for his subject “Shine!” he, in
a clear and forceful manner, impressed on the con-
gregation 1) the possibility of shining, 2) the fact
that God demands that they shine, and 3) the
blessed result of shining in the right manner. The
sermon was enjoyed by all who heard it.

' The new chapel was built on the order of most
of our chapels in the Black Belt of Alabama, on the
T-shape plan. The chapel constitutes the down-
ward stroke of the T and measures 24X42 feet,
while the two schoolrooms, measuring 30X60 feet,
make up the cross of the T. The exterior is of
upright rough boards, stained with green creosote,
with the doors and windows painted white. A very
pleasing effect is given the interior by the brown,
buff, and white colors. When the sliding doors,
which separate the chapel from the schoolrooms,
are opened, the building has a seating capacity of
approximately 250 people.

It is of interest here to note that Christ Church

at Rosebud is the mother of all our Lutheran mis-.

sions in the Black Belt of Alabama. It was from
here that Miss Rosa J. Young sent her letter of
appeal to the Ven. Mission Board; and it was to
this place the Mission Board, having heard the call
for help, sent the late Rev. N. J. Bakke, who, in
1916, unfurled the banner of Lutheranism in the
Black Belt of Alabama. This congregation now
consists of 205 souls, 126 communicants, and
22 voting members.

And now we, pastor and ‘members, unite in
thanking God that, after having for some time wor-
shiped Him in a dingy and dilapidated building,
we are, by His goodness and the kindness of the
Mission Board and our white fellow-Lutherans, now
in possession of a neat and airy chapel. And we
pray God that His blessings may attend us in the
future as they have done in the past.

F. W. Carison.

Church Dedication at Mobile, Ala.

Sunday, June 12, was indeed a day of great
rejoicing for our Faith Lutherans in Mobile, Ala.;
for this was the day on which pastor and congrega-
tion were permitted to dedicate their neat little
house of worship to the service of the Triune God.
When the Lutheran Church came to the colored
people of Mobile a few years ago, services were con-
ducted in the school-hall of the white Lutheran
Church. Professor Lynn, president of Alabama
Luther College, Selma, Ala., was the first mis-
sionary. He traveled to Mobile once a month and
preached Christ Jesus and Him Crucified to one,
two, or perhaps six souls. It was a small beginning,
but with God’s help and blessing the little congrega-
tion steadily grew. Later a hall was rented, and

New Chapel, Mobile, Ala.

here services were held until the present time.
Under God’s blessing the congregation made great
strides forward, and all felt that we ought to have
our own church home. All longed for the time when
Faith Lutheran Congregation would have its own
place of worship. The good Lord did not permit
His children to wait long in vain; He heard
the desires of the humble and granted their wishes.
Due to some of our good fellow-Lutherans in the
Wisconsin Synod, sufficient funds were collected for
a chapel and school here in Mobile.

Pastor Albrecht, President of the Minnesota
District of the Joint Synod of Wisconsin, preached
the dedicatory sermon, basing his jubilee sermon on
Matt.17,1—8. The key-note of the sermon was
found in the words of the inspired Apostle Peter:
“Lord, it is good for us to be here.” “

A second service was held in the evening. Pro-
fessor Lynn addressed the assembly and took as his

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