The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1928, Page 164

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164

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

and many of his dark friends had been clubbed to
death, yet Mackay, the man with a little body, but
a big and courageous heart, was determined to stay.
Though wicked Mwanga turned his eye of death on
Mackay, the little engineer met it with a calm eye
that never winked. Bravely, for twelve years, with-
out ever a complaint, this man labored in Uganda,
and God granted him the pleasure of seeing his
little flock growing larger year by year.

Pilkington, Who Gave the Bugandas the Bible.

The other layman whose name is indelibly
written in the missionary annals of Uganda is that
of George Lawrence Pilkington. To this wonderful
linguist, who learned Luganda, the language of the
Bugandas while on the trip from Zanzibar to
Uganda the Bugandas owe their Bible. In a little
more than five years, in the midst of much -other
work, this remarkable man translated the whole
Bible into the Luganda tongue. Though never
ordained, he was, like Mackay, a leading spirit in
the evangelization of Uganda. A man of extra-
ordinary scholarly attainments, he chose to spend
his life in inner Africa, among an uncultured people,
in order that they might learn of Christ and be
saved. The death of Pilkington’ was singularly
beautiful and edifying.

“Sir,” said his boy, who was standing by when
his master was shot during a mutiny of troops,
“have they shot you?” “Yes, my son, they have
shot me.” Just then the servant saw the pallor of
death spread over his face. “My master,” he cried,
“you are dying.” “Yes, my son, it is as you say.”
“Sir, he that believeth in Christ, although he die,
yet shall he live.” “Yes, my son, he shall never die.”
Who dieth thus dies well! F.J.L.

re

Saving the Lost.

In a book written by Dr. C. M. Zorn there is a
splendid selection of stories setting forth how
wretched souls have been saved for Christ and
heaven. Two days ago we again read one of these

‘stories. It did not fail us. We were again revived

by it. With the prayer and the hope that it may be
helpful in stirring our members to greater love and
zeal for the glorious work of rescuing the lost, we
herewith are retelling it for the benefit of our
readers.

It was in the year 1870 that a doctor and his

family, together with a number of friends, landed at

a wharf in Hamburg after a delightful excursion.

“My God, what a terrible sight!’ exclaimed the
doctor’s daughter, pointing to a number of women
standing on the shore. ‘They were lewd women, who
had given themselves up to a life of vice and shame.
These women made advances to various persons
leaving the boat. The doctor whispered something
to his wife. Doubtfully she shook her head.

But the doctor was determined. Approaching
the group of dissipated women, he warded off their
advances. Addressing himself to the one who held by
the hand a child, he asked her to step aside for a
moment. What a sight this little child, ragged,
filthy, and unkempt! No doubt this little girl of
seven years was the result of the mother’s first step
downward on the road of sin and shame.

Said the doctor to this woman: “If you love your
little girl and do not wish to have her grow up to live
a life of shame and sin, let me take it and find a home
for her. Tl see that it is reared in a good home,
and in addition I’ll give you $25. You may also
have my name and address. You'll need me some
day if you keep up the shameful life you’re leading.”
The harlot agreed to give up the child, and with the
child clinging to his hand, the doctor departed.

Immediately upon reaching his home, the doctor
had the child bathed. Plain, but clean clothing
replaced the rags. The old clothes, as well as the
hair, which had been shorn, were burned in a fire in
the back yard. And the child was turned over to the
eldest daughter until other steps could be taken to
find a Christian home for this poor waif.

It was just about two months later that the
doctor found a kindly Christian lady who consented
to adopt the child and give to it a Christian training.
Hearing this and having become very much attached
to the child, the doctor’s daughter pleaded: “Father,
please, O please, don’t give Viola away. Just last
night again as I put her in her little bed, she threw
her arms around my neck and kissed me so passion-
ately and said: ‘O, I’m so happy here with you, for
youre so good to me.’ Father, let me keep Viola
always, please, I’ll always love and care for her.”

The doctor reminded his daughter that the new-
ness of having the little child to love and care for
would soon wear off, then would come weeks, months,
years of toil, labor, and responsibility. But nothing
the ‘doctor said could make her waver in her deter-
mination to keep the child. The father then acceded
to her wish, Viola remained under the roof of this
Christian doctor’s home.

Eight years later Viola knelt at the altar of the
Lord in a Imtheran church, confessed Christ, and
promised to be faithful to the end. .