The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1928, Page 174

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174

THE LUTHERAN, PIONEER.

This shows the magnitude of a phase of missionary
activity in our Synodical Conference which is often
lost sight of because this mission-work is not done
under the direct management of the Synodical Con-
ference or the individual synods. However, there is
no gainsaying the fact that this inner mission work
is a most important part of the Synodical Con-
ference’s missionary enterprises, and its blessed
fruits should not be minimized.

Protestant Episcopal Mission Expenditures. —
In three years, 1925—1927, this Church spent for
domestic mission-work the following sums: To help
poor congregations, $800,000; to aid mission-places,
about $2,000,000; for work among foreign-born,
$125,000; for rural work, $9,000. During this same
period the following sums were spent in foreign

countries: in Asia and Africa, $3,000,000; in Latin,

America, $600,000. The total expenditure for the
triennium was about $7,500,000.

A Great Mission. — Among the great missions of
our Lutheran Church the work carried on at Wheat
Ridge, Colo., holds an important place. A few miles
from the city of Denver the Walther League has
erected its “Monument of Gratitude,” the Lutheran
Sanitarium, which has become a sheltering harbor
to many who are afflicted with tuberculosis. In this
institution, which takes its place among the fore-
most of the country, not only the bodily needs of the
patients are cared for in the best possible manner,
but above all the wants and necessities of the soul
-are provided for, so that also in the sphere of spiri-
tual needs the institution has been a blessing for
many. The charity account of Wheat Ridge for the
past year amounted to about $60,000, an amount
largely collected by the sale of Christmas Seals
under the auspices of the Walther League. May
the Lord again bless the activities of the friends of
the institution, so that many may be restored to
_their spiritual as well as bodily health! Will you
help by purchasing Wheat Ridge Christmas Seals?

India. — Out of a population of 322 millions in
India less than three million are Protestant Chris-
tians. The great reason why there are not more
Christians is because no one has told them of Christ.
Should not this thought arouse your sympathies,
_call forth your prayers, and cause your gifts to flow?
_ Home: Mission Opportunities. — In the Central
District, one of the four original Districts of the
“Missouri Synod, there are still many home mission
opportunities. In Indiana there are twenty-four
counties having no Lutheran church of any kind,
‘and in Ohio there are eleven such counties! In

Kentucky there are only eight congregations be-
longing to the Synodical Conference; in West Vir-
ginia also only eight. Surely there is still much
undeveloped territory to be found everywhere!

Enlisting the Cooperation of Ladies’ Societies. —
In the Central District a movement is on foot to
interest the various ladies’ aids and other woman
auxiliaries of the District in the work of missions at
home and abroad. At the present writing indica-
tions are that an interest in the movement is taken
throughout the District.

Old Clothes.

' America is the richest county in the world, and
yet — unknown to many — hundreds are suffering
for lack of the necessities of life. Man’s greatest
need is spiritual want, food for the soul. But man
also has bodily needs. How many there are that lack
the bare necessities of life! To-day one of the little
children in our colored mission school here was ab-
sent. Father and mother had no money with which
to buy clothes. The child has to-stay at home.

In the slums of our cities we have seen homes
where children were kept in bed when wintry winds
were blowing because there was no money for fuel.
We recall the case of that little girl far out in the
country who lay for three days with a broken leg.
She received no medical attention, for her parents
had no money, and the nearest doctor lived twelve
miles off. There also comes to our mind the case of
that consumptive man who lived in an unsanitary
home and wasted away, and no one to aid him. His
large family suffered bitterly. There were hungry
little mouths to be fed, and there was no money with
which to buy food. :

Notwithstanding the countless charity organiza-
tions there is still much, very much, bodily need,
much suffering, much anguish, bitter and terrible
anguish.

Jesus, looking down from heaven, sees this.
During His life on earth He was ever ready to help,
and He did help. And He still wants the poor to be
cared for. Therefore He says by the mouth of the
prophet Isaiah: “Is it not to deal thy bread to the
hungry and that thou bring the poor that are cast
out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that
thou cover him and that thou hide not thyself from
thine own flesh ?”

There are in our Lutheran Church, God be
thanked, those who are ever ready to help the needy,
feed the hungry, clothe the naked. The shipments