The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1930, Page 86

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

85

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The Rey. Prof. R. Neitzel of Concordia Theo-
logical Seminary, of Springfield, Tll., delivered an
impressive address on the apocalyptical message:
“T will give to him that is athirst of the fountain of
the water of life freely,” Rev. 21,6. Superintendent
G. M. Kramer conducted the liturgy. The complete
short order of service was used; the children had
been well trained in its use. The hymns “In the
Cross of Christ I Glory” and “Alas, and Did My
Savior Bleed” were sung, and the Bethlehem choir
rendered an appropriate selection. Teachers Aaron
Wiley and Andrew Seraile played the organ.

The children were attractively decorated and ac-
quitted themselves creditably in every way. Teacher
Louis Hamilton directed the marching, ably assisted
by Teachers Osborne Williams, Bernice Craig, R.
Tervalon, Elsie Gilbert, Carry Taylor, and Enola
Thompson.

A banner carried at the head of the long line of
schoolchildren displayed the following Scripture
words in gold upon a purple background: “The
Blood of Jesus Christ Cleanseth Us from All Sin.”
1 John 1, 7.

May the Lord richly bless His Word sown here
to the glory of His holy name and to the salvation
of souls! O. W. L.

Grace-Luther Memorial Church,
Greensboro, N. C.

Grace-Luther Memorial Church, of whose dedi-
cation you may read in another column, is a com-
bination church and school and was erected by
W. B. Hunt, a local builder. Including all equip-
ment, the total cost was $30,000. Plans for the
structure were drawn by Theodore Steinmeyer, of
St. Louis. The church is built of brick and has
a tile roof. A basement and Sunday-school room
extend under the entire structure. Honesty in build-
ing material has been strictly observed. Pine
remains pine. The building contractor repeatedly
made mention of this feature of Lutheran church
architecture.

Since a picture of the church will appear in this
paper, we shall confine ourselves to a brief descrip-
tion of the interior of the church and schoolrooms.
We cannot give measurements since the plans are
not available at this writing. We enter the vestibule
on the ground level through two heavy doors. The
strap-hinges and the door-pulls bear the marks of
the artisan’s hammer. A short flight of stairs lead
into the narthex, which may be thrown open to seat
a large assembly on festival days and on other occa-

sions. Two large doors lead into the nave. Instinc-
tively the visitors who are with us remove their hats
as they behold the beauty and the harmony of the
interior of the nave, with the altar in its silent
grandeur in the distance. They speak with bated
breath, for the mere sight of the interior has be-
gotten an attitude of worship and respect. The
acoustics are perfect. The heavy carpet in the aisle
blends with the square-end pews, which, together
with the pulpit, altar, and lectern, were made
according to the architect’s sketches. The heavy
wooden beams and trusses of thé high ceiling are
exposed and stained. We walk in the direction of
the rising sun to the chancel. We turn around and
find a gallery at the end of the church and over the
narthex. On our left, as we again face the chancel,
and on the same level as the gallery and overlooking
the nave, is the organ gallery and choir-loft. Leading
into the chancel are comfortable steps, with “easy
risers and broad treads. To our right is the pulpit,
which according to Lutheran traditions is built into
the nave. On the left, and projecting a few inches
into the nave, is the lectern, on the same level with
the spacious presbytery. The door to the sacristy is
also on this side. Along the east side of the presbytery
there are two short rails. In front of them are the
kneeling steps where the communicants partake of
the Lord’s Supper. Beyond the rails is the sanc-
tuary with the altar. The altar vestments consist of
two red damask riddle curtains, a dossal curtain
with vertical wide light-green stripes at each end
and with a canopy. Two candlesticks and a crucifix
complete the beautiful picture. Stained-glass win-
dows with churchly emblems shed a soft and subdued
light over all.

The schoolrooms meet every standard of school-
room construction and have all necessary equipment,
such as a complete set of maps, a large suspension
globe, pictures, the nucleus of a library, including
a standard reference set. A feature is the specially
designed ventilating furnace. The modern and ven-
tilated cloak-room closets mark a new departure in
cloak-room construction. Everything has been done
to make the two classrooms models in every respect
also for the special benefit of the students of the
Normal Department of the college who are prepar-

‘ing themselves as teachers in our Lutheran day-

schools.

So far the children take pride in keeping their
books and the rooms neat and clean. ‘To avoid mar-
ring the floors, the children in the upper room for
several days spread newpapers under their feet. One

pupil even removed her shoes from off her feet. «