The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1927, Page 147

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

147

the
was

The Moravians began their work among
Eskimos of Alaska in 1884. The beginning
hard, since the missionaries were physically poorly
equipped, and they first had to learn the language
of the people among whom they were to labor.
It was on Easter Sunday, while the Easter Gospel
was being recited, that an old man broke the ice
with “I, too, want my badness washed away with
Jesus’ blood. I,
Savior.”” Now the Moravians have three flourishing
stations in Alaska with a membership of more than

too, want to live with the risen

and _half-breeds
stations.

are served at eleven mission-
Nine ordained foreign missionaries and
eighteen natives are taking care of the work. Re-
cently the work was extended to Honduras.

In 1878 the Moravians opened a mission at
Demarara, British Guiana, South America. The
work here is largely among emigrants from Jamaica,
Barbadoes, and other West Indian islands. The field
is supervised by a native of Jamaica. At present the
mission numbers three congregations, with a total
membership of over 1,600.

Zeisberger Preaching to the

1,800 natives. The foreign workers are assisted by
eight native helpers.

As early as 1734 the Moravians began to work
among the North American Indians. The account
of that early work is most thrilling; it is one con-
tinuous story of heroism and self-sacrifice. One of
those early missionaries, David Zeisberger, labored
among the Indians for sixty years. However, as the
years passed on, their Indian Mission stations were
abandoned or turned over to others. At present
they are working at only two places, Banning and
Martinez, Cal., among the so-called Mission Indians.

In 1849 the Moravians entered Nicaragua, and
they have ever since worked there among the In-
dians and half-breeds. At present 8,375 Indians

Indians at Goschgoschuenk.
(Painting by C. Schuessele bearing title, “The Power of the Gospel.”’)

In Dutch Guiana (Surinam) the Moravians first
worked among the native Indians; but for the past
fifty years they have extended their labors to other
peoples. The heroism shown by the early workers in
this field is almost incredible. They became veri- ,
table outcasts for the sake of those whom they
wished to bring the Gospel of salvation. The work
that is being done from twenty-three stations and
outstations among the Bush Negroes in the wilds of
South America by the Moravians possesses features
of particular interest. They are also working among
the lepers of the colony. A native ministry is gradu-
ally being developed and now already numbers
twenty fully trained men. The Moravian Church
has a membership of 27,000 in Dutch Guiana, but