The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1930, Page 41

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER. 41

a night’s lodging at that! There they lay on the
snow, wrapped up in their furs, huddled together for
additional warmth, using the saddle — without
which no one would risk to leave home — for a pil-
low, unmindful of the howling of wolves and the
disturbances of other animals, and rested their weary
bodies from the exertions of the day. In the morn-
ing, of course, their limbs had to be vigorously
rubbed and exercised to coax the sluggish blood back
to normal circulation and take the cold and aches
and stiffness out of the joints.

Nor did the missionary at all times receive
a hearty welcome. Here is an example: It was
evening when Baierlein and his guide approached
a strange Indian village. A narrow, but deep stream
separated them from the other side. On the other
shore stood the Indians, but none would raise so
much as a finger to help them across. So the pastor
and his companion plunged their horses into the
water and, swimming, reached the other shore. But
instead of a friendly greeting, words of welcome,
which they had expected, the chief met them with
sneering contempt. No, he did not wish to hear
their “Gospel of peace.” Whatever Baierlein said
was received with scornful laughter. There was
nothing to do but to leave. Turning away, the
righteously indignant missionary told the chief in
all seriousness: “Be not deceived, God is not
mocked. You will die as your fathers have died and
I as mine. Then we shall both appear before the
judgment-throne of God, and there I shall testify
that I proclaimed to you the way of life, but that
you rejected my message.” The chief answered
curtly, “Talk to my men. They are free men.
They can follow you if they wish.” And the men
answered, “We will think it over.” With a heavy
heart the missionary left the village, and with an
empty stomach and drenched clothes he and his
guide sought the shelter of the woods.

The work to be done was too much for the
strength of one man—those long trips into the
wilds, preaching, teaching, studying the language,
and, in addition, the usual hardships of pioneer life.
It was simply too much for the endurance of one
man. Continually swimming over streams on horse-
back, sitting in the saddle in wet clothes for hours
at a time, lying on the cold ground at night, brought
on one cold after another, and in time this developed
into chronic asthma. An assistant had become an
absolute necessity. ;

A call was again sent to the Dresden Mission
House, which had just been moved to Leipzig. And
the Lord had already provided for this emergency.

Ernest Gustave Herman Miessler, born at Reichen-
bach near Goerlitz, January 12, 1826, had from
boyhood been imbued with the desire to become
a missionary to the heathen. In 1846, the same
year that Baierlein graduated, Miessler entered the
institute. But now, in 1851, he was ready to go and
was anxiously awaiting the call that would give him
an opportunity to preach the Gospel to the heathen.

When the call as assistant missionary at Bethany
was handed to Miessler, he accepted it at once and
in September, 1851, embarked at Havre de Gras
for America. In October he arrived at Saginaw.
Pastor Baierlein was there to receive him, and on
the following morning both started out for Bethany.
For Miessler this ride to Bethany was a revelation.
Born and reared in a city, never before on horse-
back, he could not even have imagined how great
a strain a horseback ride on an Indian trail
would be. But now he knew. Thoroughly ex-
hausted, he finally arrived at Bethany.

The parsonage now had one more occupant.
Baierlein’s family, too, had increased. Another
daughter had been born to him. But there was
room for all — and work for all. Miessler devoted
his efforts chiefly to the school and, besides, learned
the language. He also had charge of the Sunday
afternoon services and the daily devotions and,
whenever Baierlein was absent, also of the regular
services.

But these two able men were permitted to work
together for only a short time. In the year 1853
Pastor Baierlein received a call as missionary to
India. At the time of his graduation, seven years
previous, he had been called into this work, and only
a severe illness had kept him from going there at
that time. The present call to India was submitted
to the proper authorities, and at the synodical con-
vention in Cleveland he was granted a peaceful
release, chiefly because his weakened condition could
not stand the strain of the work af Bethany. But
as the mission board realized that one man could not
do justice to the work, they now gave Pastor Miess-
ler an assistant in the person of Missionary John
BE. Roeder, who up to this time had been the as-
sistant to the Indian missionary in Sebewaing.

’ Baierlein’s farewell to his Indian friends at
Bethany showed that the Indian, who usually ac-
cepts joy or grief in a stoical manner, can feel
deeply. The thought that they never again would

“see their beloved friend broke down the hard shell

of indifference with which the Indian surrounds
himself. In the last congregational meeting, which
was attended not only by the members of the church,