The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1930, Page 58

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58

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

Carolina. The number of baptized colored Lu-
therans in that State exceeds 1,200: More than
double this number is either directly or indirectly
influenced for good by our missionaries. Prof. John
Horine, not a member of the Synodical Conference,
wrote: “It is the rule that the colored Lutherans
are as intelligent and worshipful, as loyal and lib-
eral, as orthodox and moral, as any white Lutherans
to be found anywhere.” C.F. D.

Our Spanish-Mexican Mission
in Chicago.

In a most wonderful way the Lord opened the
door to our Spanish-Mexican mission in Chicago.
It was clearly the hand of Providence that led the
writer to a church the bulletin-board of which con-
tained a message which indicated as clear as day-
light that there the Lord wanted him to begin his
work. He halted and pondered and finally sought
the pastor of that church [F. C. Streufert — D.]
for the purpose of approaching him about the pos-
sibility of bringing the light of the Gospel to his
benighted half-Mexican brethren. Strange to say,
this pastor had just laid aside an article he was
reading in the School Journal relating to the
work of the Evangelical Mission and College con-
ducted by the Rev. Fliedner in/Spain. These inci-
dents finally led to the opening of the mission,
August 16, 1925.

It is true, this was not the first attempt to ap-
proach the Spanish-Mexican people now in America ;
for the Rev. IE. Th. Claus, of Hammond, Ind., had
started a Sunday-school among the Mexicans of

Indiana Harbor, Ind.; but the mission which now

engages our attention was nevertheless a conspicuous
and distinct call from the Lord to us.

It was indeed a day never to be forgotten by the
writer when he was ordained and inducted into his
office. A polyglot service was arranged, in which
eight languages were spoken. Fully 2,000 people
were present, 200 of whom hailed from Spain,
Mexico, Cuba, and Porto Rico.

Like all missionary undertakings our mission,
too, had its ups and downs. It opened with about
thirty attending; but owing to economic conditions
_ in the city many left, seeking a chance to do a day’s
_ work and make a living in the various industrial

‘centers outside of Chicago, which temporarily re-
- duced the number of hearers. But the Lord blessed
the constant and prayerful efforts of the writer, so
that the attendance again increased. :
“Services are held every Sunday morning at

- to another.

10 o’clock in the parish-hall of the Ey. Luth. Peace
Church, 4309 S. Mozart St.

In February, 1926, a Spanish Lutheran mission-
society was organized with twelve members, and it
has continued until now, increasing both in mem-
bers and in usefulness. Besides the raising of
money for the purpose of buying hymnals and other
literature, the aim of the writer is to provide a
wholesome atmosphere for the members, and to de-
velop the youth of the mission along musical and
literary lines. In a very small degree one may find
in this society what a college literary peOcuety pro-
vides for the college students.

Until June, 1926, the mission was conducted
under the auspices of the Mission Board of the
Northern Illinois District of Synod. But by a reso-
lution of the General Body the mission was put
under the direction and supervision of the Board
for Foreign-tongue Missions.

It is needless to mention that the Mexican ele-
ment is unusually transitory due both to economic
conditions and a peculiar frame of mind, which can
best be expressed by the word unstableness. In con-
sequence of this-the mission is visited with period-
ical emigrations, which more or less reduce its num-
bers, scattering some of the members to the four
winds. On the face of it therefore one’s efforts
seem to be in vain; but who knows what the Lord
may be doing with the seed thus scattered? “God
works in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.”

The writer has therefore determined to remain
at his post in spite of these sad experiences and
loyally, faithfully, and as efficiently as possible to
discharge his duties. The day of reckoning will
reveal the results. What the writer and his flock
need, as well as those good Lutherans who by their
loyal financial support are keeping the lights burn-
ing, is coolness and poise. There is great work to
be done here for the Lord; that is the reason why
He has called it into being.

Through our hall haye passed men from all
walks of Mexican life —peons, ex-professors, ex-
captains, and ex-generals of the Mexican army as
well as ex-governors of Mexican states. To be more
specific and quite correct —they have not passed
through our hall; they meet with us Sunday after
Sunday even now. They are men who took a cer-
tain direction in Mexican political life, but they
were on the losing side, and they lost their position
and their wealth. Who can fathom the meaning of
all this? The worker, for one, is glad that they
are here and that they go to his church rather than
J. G. FERNANDEZ.