The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1927, Page 134

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134

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

her. Think of the great number of souls already
entered into their eternal reward that breathed a
blessing upon their beloved church or school cre
they departed this vale of tears. And think of the
goodly number of colored pastors and teachers, able
men and women, who through the power of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ are daily lending their efforts
to the spreading of Christ’s kingdom here upon
earth. Truly, this has been a half century of divine
blessings — and all unmerited.

Sunday, June 19, was the big day, which came
as a climax to the conference, a day to be remem-
bered. A committee, consisting of Rev. G. M
Kramer and the writer, having failed in its efforts

From Half a Century of Lutheranism Among Our Colored People.

Pastor Dorpat and His Pupils at Meherrin.

to secure an out-of-town speaker for this occasion,
reported to conference. “Then Rey. Kramer ‘will
have to preach,” resolved the conference. And Rev.
Kramer preached.

A packed audience made the singing inspiring.
Rey. O. Luecke opened with prayer, Rev. Tervalon
read the Scripture-lesson, and the conference leaned
forward to hear from Rev. Kramer what progress
had been made in fifty years.

Beginning with Rev. John Frederick Doescher’s
advent into Little Rock, Ark., November 7, 1877,
Rey. Kramer pointed out, as peed as possible, the

up-hill struggle our early missionaries experienced

in bringing the Gospel to a people steeped in false
teaching, superstition, and the atmosphere of sus-
picion! that characterized the construction period.
The speaker showed how wonderfully God has
Dlessed fifty years of mission-work in our midst,

_ and earnestly exhorted that we lay our hearts and

service at His feet, so that the celebrants of the next.
fifty years (should the world still stand) will hear

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still greater and more glowing reports on the work
done for the spreading of the kingdom of Christ.
The large audience was duly attentive throughout
the splendid delivery of this inspiring sermon.

Mrs. Emma Falcon, a former teacher of ours,
rendered a most pleasing solo. Mrs. Falcon’s
beautiful voice always receives wide and favorable
comment. After a hymn by the congregation, Rev.
Luecke closed with prayer and benediction.

Came the soft strains of “God Be with You till
We Meet Again,” then cheery and hearty hand-
clasps, greetings, and encouragement. Then we
went home, knowing that God had made our con-
vention and the celebration of our anniversary a
“two-in-one grand and glorious double suc-
cess!” Isn’t this worth working for?

All for Christ’s cause!

W. B. Seeserry, JR.

Norr.— We are sorry that circumstances
prevented the appearance of this article last
month. — Eprror.

Cleveland Colored Mission
Observes First Anniversary.

The first anniversary of the Lutheran
Negro Mission in Cleveland was celebrated
July 31. Fully seventy colored worshipers
were in attendance, and a still larger number
of white fellow-Lutherans had come to join
them to celebrate the joyous event. A special
program had been arranged for the occasion.
The festival service was opened with the power-
ful hymn “Come, Thou Almighty King,” ac-
companied by a three-piece orchestra under the
direction of Mr. Louis Sensel. Twenty-eight col-
ored children, pupils of the Sunday-school, then
recited the Ten Commandments and the Apostles’
Creed and sang the hymn “Jesus, Be Our Guide.”
Missionary Mueller thereupon delivered his fare-
well sermon on Eph.4,15. In a truly inspiring

~manner he held up before the eyes of his parishioners

as their goal — Growth, internal and external
growth, to be gained by continuing in the true
Gospel of Christ, which he likened to a mustard-
seed producing a mighty tree. After the singing
of the hymn “In the Hour of Trial” followed the
catechization and confirmation of four adult cat-
echumens, Mr. and Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Brown, and
Miss Daisy Brown. The examination, which was
very thorough, covering all the chief parts of the
Catechism, revealed a knowledge and understand-
ing of Christian doctrine which fairly astounded

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