The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1929, Page 46

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46

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

Items of Missionary Interest.
(By the Eprror.)

An Artist for God. — A former society painter
of Philadelphia, many of whose paintings adorn the
walls of the high and rich, is to-day a street-corner
missionary in New York City. . There, at one of the
busy down-town corners, he attracts the noonday
crowds with a crayon and a blackboard, and when
the attention of the spectators is his, he tells them
the “old, old story of Jesus and His love.” What-

' ever shame or scorn attaches to his humble calling
as a street-corner preacher he takes with a smile and
goes on drawing his sidewalk pictures and telling
the story of salvation.

Eastern Poland.— The United Lutheran Church
in America is doing extensive missionary work in
and about Stanislas, Galicia, in Eastern Poland.
It there has a number of benevolent institutions to
take care of needy children and adults. There are
about 20,000 Protestants in Galicia.

“First” Bibles in the Orient.—The first Japanese
New Testament was completed and printed in 1874.
The cost of ‘translation was $20,000. The Old
Testament was not completed in Japanese until
1889.— A common Chinese translation was made
in 1862. The Foochow colloquial appeared in the
same year. The Mandarin New Testament was
published in 1872 and the complete Mandarin Bible
in 1874.— The first Siamese Bible was published
in 1866 by the Presbyterian missionaries with money

_furnished by the American Bible Society. — The
Laos New Testament was completed in 1913, but
the entire Bible not until 1923.
Missions in China. — The 400,000 deaf in China
received their first instruction from Christian mis-
“sionaries at a school in Chefoo. This school taught
the Chinese deaf for the first time to read and also
to make lace. Carpentry and gardening were also
taught. — A Christian missionary opened the first

_ asylum for the insane of China at-Canton. — The

| first Chinese school for the blind was also opened
_ at Canton by Christian missionaries. The graduates
of this school are now teaching the blind of nine

‘cities in China.

Translating the Bible.— Who can fully appre-

jate. the cane tedious months and years of labor

cd, fee an invalid, worked inces-
Chinese translation of the Bible till

was called to his eternal reward. — Dr. Verbeck
spent seven years on the translation of the Book of
Psalms. This translation is said to be the most
perfect literary gem in the literature of Japan, not
only in that written by Christians, but by the
scholars of the entire country as well.

Mission-Opportunity. — There are thousands of
natives on the land that Henry Ford has purchased
for a rubber plantation in South America. Here
will be a fine opportunity to carry on mission-work
among Indian natives.

Three Millions on the March. — This vast num-
ber of famine-stricken Chinese is on the march from
the province of Shantung to Manchuria, 600 Miles
away. Missionaries are at work among these multi-
tudes, helping them with food and clothing and
bringing them tidings that God cares for them and
loves them. Thus these idolatrous Chinese are being
brought in touch with the message of the Cross.
Gospels and tracts are finding many readers among
the wandering millions. One missionary has dis-
tributed over eighty thousand, and asks for ten
thousand more. Among the migrant hordes are
many blind and lame and not a few old folk.

‘Seeking God.

The railway station was the scene of much
good-natured pushing and jostling. All who could
afford it were leaving the heat of the plains to go
to the coolness of the mountains. To those who
have never experienced this change it will be diffi-
cult to explain the joy the mere thought brings in
its train. Many inconveniences are forgotten in the
thought that ahead lies the wonder of green hills,
little silvery waterfalls, and lovely flowers. The air!
Ah, the sweet, cool air as it kisses cheek and eye of
those wearied and worn out by the heat and glare,
the air that puts new life and color into pale cheeks!

At the foot of the hill it is still intensely hot,
but somehow no one seems to think so because every
heart is filled with hope for the future. Hope
seems to brighten every eye, drooping shoulders
square as if by magic, as every one, laughing and
jesting, scrambles for the first motors, dandies, or
ponies; for the ascent up the hill is too great to be
attempted on foot.

Ahead of us a man is wearily atintinng up-hill.
Each step seems to cause him pain. His eyes do not
look upward, like ours, but are fixed on the ground.
Such a picture of sorrowful despondency and misery
he makes, hopelessness in every line of him.