The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1930, Page 159

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

159

Mr. Horst arranges a meeting in Chicago for the
following day, and the members of the South Amer-
ican Mission Board are invited to attend. A most
interesting session takes place. It is found that
Mr. Burchard is of old and soundly Lutheran stock,
born in Illinois, that he has been in South America
for years, is very competent in Spanish, and has
traveled far and wide in our own country, Mexico,
Russia, ete. Since it has long been the desire of
our mission board to open extensions on the western
coast of South America, the board was delighted to
note the willingness of Mr. Burchard to aid any mis-
sionary who might be called to Chile. It was agreed
that President Huebner of the Argentine District
be written the result of the meeting and be urged
to make contacts with Mr. Burehard after Mr. Bur-
chard reports to Rev. Huebner upon his arrival in
Concepcion; and after he has his bearings, Mr. Bur-
chard will also report to the South American Mis-
sion Board. Mr. Burchard’s intention is to “start
a Bible class anyway until such a time as you send
a missionary.” Some time will necessarily pass be-
fore definite results can be reported. It now seems
quite within the range of possibility that with the
help of God our Church will begin to preach the
Gospel on the Pacific Coast of South America.
When that comes to pass, the first chapter of the
story was written by three laymen.

Not all of us can have the privilege of making
an opening for the preaching of the Gospel in a
foreign land. But should not this example en-
courage us to do our utmost, each in his way, for
the extension of God’s kingdom both here and
abroad ? — L. L. L. Bulletin. °

_A Visit to a Chinese Temple.

On a warm day in the beginning of May my
wife and I went to see a Chinese temple. Our
Chinese language teachers took us outside of the
Shihnan city wall, where we crossed two stone
bridges to get to a large temple. The building is
a large structure, entirely built of stone. This
temple shelters about a dozen idols. Some are of
interest.

One of these idols has wonderful ears. The
figure is man’s size, and the ears are in proportion
with the figure, but these ears are supposed to hear
at a distance of 1,000 li, about 333 miles. Another
idol, also man’s size, has such good eyes that, ac-
cording to his worshipers, he can see for 333 miles.
Another idol is a goddess which sits in the center

of the back wall, with an altar of incense in front
of her. Other idols are near her, and a high railing
is around her place. At her altar, mothers and
fathers pray and beg for children. They pray for
sons because daughters are despised by them. On
her altar a light is burning, which is said to be
burning continually.

Two musical instruments are in this temple.
One large drum, about the size of a small barrel,
with leather heads, is placed high enough for a man
to strike it with full force. A bell about three feet
high forms the other part of the “orchestra” which
serenades the idols. c

As we left the abode of the idols, we almost
stepped on a green-striped snake lying on the steps
of the temple. However, the temple-keeper told us
that the snake would not hurt us. In fact, as the
teachers told us the next day, he said that the snake
was glad to see us, that it was a dragon. In its
regular form it is a large dragon, but because the
dragon knew that we would be afraid of it, it ap-
peared to us in this small form, about four feet
long, and it came out to greet us. He asked us to
give some money for the temple and for this dragon,
which was so glad that it even came out to see us.
However, our support for them amounted to zero,
and we are glad that our three teachers, who were
with us, do not believe any of the gate-keeper’s talk,
but know that Jesus is their Savior.

On the way home we passed an interesting little
idol which eats opium. The people pray for good
crops and other good things at this idol’s altar, and
if their prayers are heard, if their wishes come true,

_ then they bring opium to this idol and spread it

over his mouth. The next day the opium,is gone.
He has eaten it. No one can tell them that the
beggars and poor people who live near there in great
numbers come at night and get the opium and sell it
to get something to eat.

Thus the heathen clings to his idols and wor-

ships them. It is a pity to see so many souls misled ;

but, on the other hand, it is a great pleasure to
know that there are also a goodly number who have
been brought to believe that Jesus Christ is their
Savior and who rejoice in Him and live unto Him.
Shihnan, Hupeh, China. R. J. MUELLER.

a .

Tre minister is a fisherman. As such he must
fit himself for his employment. If some fish will bite
only by day, he must fish by day; if others will bite
only by moonlight, he must fish them by moonlight.

Richard Cecil.