The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1928, Page 140

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

140

they act. This helps to disperse prejudice and bring
many a one into our services, where he hears the
true and saving Gospel-message and is shown the
way to eternal life. Besides, it gives the hostesses
a chance to save making supper at home and gives
them an opportunity to mingle with the conference
people and share in the benefits of Christian,
brotherly intercourse.

Of course, the fish fry goes on after the confer-
ence session, or after the divine service, similarly
as the feeding of the four thousand and the five
thousand was done after the Lord had finished
preaching. It is a fine example of open-air hospi-
tality. L. G. Dorpat.

Items of Missionary Interest.
(By the Eprror.)

Conference of Workers. — The Conference of the
workers in the Southeastern field of our Negro Mis-
sion was held at Kannapolis, N.C., July 26—29.
The first two articles of the Augsburg Confession,
“The Value of Young People’s Societies among Our
Colored Lutherans,” and other timely topics were
discussed.

Are Missions a Failure? — When Mr. Seldon, an
American reporter, was-appointed to investigate
Christian missions, he started out, taking with him,
as he says, a complete outfit of modern Western
man’s preconceived notions, prejudices, and skep-
ticisms concerning missions. And he openly con-
fesses that he thought the missionary enterprise was
futile. After his searching investigation this is
what he has to say: “The missionaries are the one
group of Western people living in the East who are
a credit to the West.”

Attendance More than Membership. —In a
recent report published in Leipzig regarding the
work of the Leipzig Mission in the Mount Kiliman-
jaro field in Tanganyika territory remarkable prog-
ress is noted during the past few years. This is
the field which was held for the German owners by
the American Lutheran Augustana Synod for
several years following the World War. The bap-

‘tized membership of the district is now 13,000, but

an ayerage of 15,000 persons attends services every
Sunday. Three thousand heathen are under bap-
tismal instruction, and 11,000 pupils are being
educated in 126 schools, served by 220 teachers.

‘The’ mission seminary at Marangu enrolls 90

students, who will in the near future be added to
the number of teachers in the schools. — WV. L. G. B.

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

The Decaying Church. — The story is told of an
artist who was once asked to paint a picture of a
decaying church. To the astonishment of many,
instead of placing an old, tottering ruin on the can-
vas, the artist painted a stately edifice of modern
grandeur. Through the open portals could be seen
a richly carved pulpit, a magnificent organ, and
beautiful stained glass windows. Within the grand
entrance was an offering plate of elaborate design.
But — and here the artists idea of a decaying church
was made known —right above the offering plate
there hung a square box bearing the legend, “For
Foreign Missions,” and over the slot through which
the contributions ought to have gone he had painted
a large cobweb. — Australian Lutheran.

Church Growth in New Zealand. — Recently
published religious census returns for New Zealand
show a steady growth on the part of the Christian
churches. The general population during the past
five years has increased 10.3 per cent. The Church
of England increased 7.65 per cent.; the Methodist
Church, 9.5 per cent.; Baptist, 10.2 per cent.;
Presbyterian, 10.37 per cent.; Brethren, 17 per cent.
The Roman Catholic Church increased 5.6 per cent.
The Churches of Christ decreased 7.5 per cent. and
the Congregational churches 8.7 per cent. —
Ministers of religion were asked to report on places
of worship and attendance on an average Sunday.
According to public report the Church of England
averages 10 per cent. of adherents attending church
on a given Sunday, the Presbyterian Church, 19 per
cent.; Methodist, 27 per cent.; the Roman Catholic,
36 per cent. The percentages for the Salvation
Army, Baptists, and Brethren were somewhat
higher. An Australian church-paper declares:
“There are many encouraging features revealed by
the census, but there is a clamant call for renewed
activity in pastoral work and for more evangelical
preaching.” — WV. D.C. B.

How the Deaf-Mutes Give. — At Mitchell,
S. Dak., Pastor Salvner reports that the average
attendance at the deaf-mute services is ten, while
the average collection is $8. One of our Chicago
deaf-mutes earns less than $100 a month. He has
a daughter attending school and a son past school
age and sickly and unable to help in supporting the
family. This man was excused by the deaf-mute
committee from contributing to the building fund
for their chapel. But the man brought $10 for the
fund and insisted that it be accepted. He had laid
the money aside bit by bit until he had acquired
the sum he wanted to contribute. —This year