The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1929, Page 139

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

139

‘dicate it? Ah, friends, what could not be done to
-conquer the heathen world for Christ if we all would
only give one per cent. of our income for this glori-
ous cause!

Do you now perceive how important is your part
in the work of missions? Unless we all awaken to
see the importance of each individual Christian’s
putting his hand to the plow, we cannot expect effec-
tive results to be obtained. Too many of us in the
past have let the few do the work and do the financ-
ing of it. The united contribution of only one per
cent. from each of us for the evangelizing of the
‘pagan world would mean a harvest of souls in
coming years such as was never seen by us before.
And that little one per cent. would be the greatest
and best-paying investment you and I would ever
have made. How about it? F. J. 1.

“Speed Away, Speed Away!”’

Modern science, which annihilates distance, has
not made great inroads in the foreign mission fields.
Yet an experiment is planned for the Iowa Synod
field in New Guinea, which, it is believed, will
greatly enhance the value of the Lutheran mission-
work there. At the suggestion of Rev. J. Flierl,
senior missionary of Finschhafen, a movement is
on foot in the Iowa Synod to provide an airplane
as equipment for that field. The advantages
claimed for it are an improved means of transpor-
tation for the white missionaries in making their
rounds among the preaching-places and in entering
and leaving the field, and a means of carrying med-
ical aid, as well as the Gospel, with greater readi-
ness to the natives.

The Foreign Mission Board of the Iowa Synod
is convinced that a plane would be a great and
welcome help to its missionaries, especially in
visiting and inspecting stations far in the interior
behind swamps and mountains and, aware of the
many difficulties and obstacles confronting the
maintenance of such equipment, believes that the
plan should be given earnest and intelligent con-
sideration. Meantime an experienced pilot has
volunteered his services as missionary in the New
Guinea field, and funds are sought to proceed at
once with the purchase of the equipment. Rev. R.
Taeuber, writing in the Lutheran Herald, proposes
that one wealthy man in the ranks of the synod
could easily finance the entire project, both orig-
inal purchase price and necessary up-keep, and Rev.
A. G. Suechting, in the same issue, proposes that

many small gifts be made toward the project. He
suggests: “Let the clergy set a good example. Who
among our pastors is willing to turn over his per-
quisites for one year or until the amount has been
raised? If we pastors take the lead, the flock will
follow.”

Meantime a private individual interested in the
gold-fields in New Guinea has taken to that country
a hydroglider, or “speed boat,” which he proposes
to use in navigating the Markham River and its
tributaries in record time. Science may yet be
called in to lighten the heavy burden of the mis-
sionary. — V. L.C. News Bulletin.

Items of Missionary Interest.

Immanuel Conference. — At the time’ of this
writing the workers of Immanuel Conference are
meeting, at Spartanburg, S. C. We hope to be able to
report particulars concerning the conference in our
next issue.

Colored Lutheran Orphanage at New Bern, N.C.
At present six children are in this home. Sunday-
school is held here regularly every Sunday, also
services. During the past month the attendance at
services has never fallen below twenty-eight.

Swansboro, N.C. — Work has been resumed at
this place with promises of success. At a recent
service held there no less twenty-eight were in atten-
dance to hear the Gospel-message.

Fayetteville, N. C. — Here, too, regular work
had been discontinued for some time. However, at
a service held there not long ago no less than twenty-
four persons were present, which fact is a strong
argument for opening up the work at this place
again.

Alabama. —In Alabama our colored congrega-
tions are observing the four-hundredth anniversary
of the Catechism with great enthusiasm. Sermons
are preached on the Reformation and on the Cate-
chism; special children’s programs are rendered,
and a united effort is put forth to gain new members.
Of course, special collections are lifted upon these
occasions. At the time of this writing probably
a dozen or more congregations have already cele-
brated. Here is what some of the workers whose
congregations have already celebrated the anniver-
sary have to say about their celebrations: “We
had 180 persons present at our celebration. The
collection was over $70. Seventy persons com-
muned. It was a glorious day.” A teacher writes: