The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1929, Page 127

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER. 127

—————aoaaaa——_—_—_——_—_—_—_——=—=======S=S==___]_————==_—=_=[_[_—————————————SS>>—S—_—>—>——————=3

ary societies is almost one million. In 3,197 elemen-
tary and ninety-six higher schools 176,848 pupils are
being instructed. The total annual income of these
societies was about $1,500,000 from Germany and
$500,000 from the field and other sources.

German Medical Missions.—At present Germany
is represented in the foreign mission field by thirty
physicians, four of whom are women. Nine of these
are in China, seven in Dutch India, three in British
India, six in East Africa, two in Upper Egypt, and
one each in Southeast Africa, Persia, and Greece.

New Guinea. — At a recent conference held in
Brisbane, Australia, it was to be decided to what
extent the German societies, so extensively engaged
in mission-work among the Papuans before the
World War, should again enter upon independent
work in this field. Since 1919 the work in former
German New Guinea was carried on by the Iowa
Synod of our country and the United Lutheran
Church of Australia. Just recently one of the two
German societies interested in the New Guinea field
was able to send its first larger contingent of work-
ers since the war, eight men and six women. — Mis-
sionary Zahn of Papua directs a most unique band.
The instruments are large shells, each of which
sounds only one note. For this reason there must
be as many shells and players as there are notes in
the piece to be played. Despite this handicap Mis-
sionary Zahn’s native band is able to render four-
part chorals.

East Africa. — The Leipzig Mission Society has
opened a higher school for older girls in Moshi. The
students are given a sane Christian training in home
economics, gardening, care of children, sewing, sing-
ing, and similar useful branches. The natives are
making the greatest possible use of the advantages
offered by this school, and the opening of similar
schools in other parts of the field is contemplated.

India. — The Gossner Mission Society has once
more taken over its work among the Kols of India.
But due to a lack of funds the work cannot be car-
ried on as it was before the World War. Instead of
thirty-six missionaries, only four are in the field,
two of whom have had no experience. The number
of native pastors has grown from forty-four to sixty-
five, and the number of catechists has increased
to 423. The baptized membership has increased to
113,000, and the communicant membership has
grown from 36,000 in 1914 to 50,000. This growth
speaks Well for the native ministry and the members,
since for the long period of fifteen years they were
without any foreign supervision.

Light for the Blind.

Throughout the world, in every race, speaking
every language, there are the unfortunate blind.
For those who cannot see to read ordinary printing
special raised type with dots and dashes, curves and
points, is necessary. For over eighty years the
American Bible Society has been ministering to the
sightless. Six different systems in English have
been developed.

Despite the extent of the service being rendered,
there are many persons throughout the world suffer-
ing from blindness who cannot read the Bible be-
cause their language has never been reduced to
a system for the blind. We know that through these
mechanical means the love of God can be sown in
the lives of those who cannot see or hear. The Light
of the World can light up blind faces with that
peace which the world cannot give. Especially for
them is the psalmist’s statement still beautifully
true: “The entrance of Thy words giveth light.”

BOOK TABLE.

The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel.
Thirty-Nine Evening Lectures, by Dr. C0. F. W. Wal-
ther. Reproduced from the German edition of 1897
by W. H. T. Dau. Concordia Publishing House, St.
Louis, Mo. Black buckkram binding; gold title-
stamping; 426 pages; 614X914. Price, $2.50.

Will English-speaking people show their appreciation
to the publishers and Dr. Dau for giving them this pre-
cious book in the English language? We hope they may
for their own sake do so. It has correctly been called
the most valuable product of American Lutheran theology.
The pastor, teacher, or layman that masters the contents
of this book will have drunk deeply of the precious Water
of Life. Pastors and teachers, if you do not possess
a copy of this English “reproduction.” The value of the
you neglect to buy this English reproduction of Walther’s
classic. And even though you should have the original,
you will profit in more ways than one if you secure
a copy of this English “reproduction.” The value of the
publication is greatly enhanced by a number of indexes
furnished by the indefatigable Rev. E. Eckhardt. The
original German edition is not indexed. The price is
very low.

Concordance to Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book.
By H. Eckhardt. Concordia Publishing House, St.
Louis, Mo. Cloth; 220 pages; 6%4,X8%. Price,
$2.25.

In outward appearance this is a twin of the tune edi-
tion of our English hymn-book. This volume represents
hours upon hours of the most painstaking labor on the
part of the compiler. ‘The least we can do is to show
Pastor Eckhardt our appreciation by procuring 2 copy
of it and using it diligently. The pastor will find this
concordance to be of great value in the selection of the
proper hymns for the services; but it will likewise prove
a great help when working out his sermons. Buy and use!