The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1930, Page 182

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182

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

Him for mercy, for forgiveness. Listen! Jesus
heard the prayer of this thief and murderer and
granted him forgiveness of all his sins and promised
him heaven by saying to him, ‘To-day shalt thou be
with Me in paradise.’ ”

“Did He say that to that thief?” quickly asked
the man.

“Yes, most certainly. He has had it written
here in His Bible,” was the reply.

“Then I hope He will have mercy upon me, too,”
was his eager reply.

Then all heads were bowed in prayer to that
Jesus who loved “the other thief.” While the mis-
sionary prayed that our Savior would give the dying
man the assurance of forgiveness and eternal life
through His blood, the prayer was constantly broken
by words of true repentance and trust: “Lord, if
Thou hast had mercy on that other thief, have mercy
on me, too. I know I don’t deserve it, Lord, but
have mercy on me anyway.”

And the Lord did have mercy on him. The heart
of the man became calm and trusting. He knew
He could die without having to fear that his sins
would accuse him before the judgment-throne of
God, because “Jesus will have mercy on me, too.”

The next day the man was still living, much to
the surprise of all. The missionary again spoke to
the doctor upon his arrival at the hospital. The
doctor was enthusiastic: “I don’t see what you did
with that fellow. He has peace of mind now. He is

_no longer terrified at the thought of dying. Why,
this morning he even told me he hoped it would not
be long now because he knows where he is going.
I don’t understand it at all.” ;

But the missionary knew, knew that it was that
peace.of God which passeth all understanding, even
the understanding of wise physicians and other
“Inowing” men, that peace which always comes
when the Gospel of God’s grace is accepted in child-
like faith. The thief had peace, and the missionary
did not need to explain the process.

Not long after this the end came. The thief died
in peace and could now thank Jesus face to face for
the story of the Cross and tell Him of the woman
who wanted to do something for Him because He
had done so much for her.

Initheran Missions and Charities,
quoted in the Missionary Lutheran.

i

CoNSIDER in silence whatever any one says;
speech both conceals and reveals the inner soul
of man.

“The Little Boy Was Dissatisfied
and Unhappy.”’

What little boy? Moses Hunter, age thirteen.
Little Moses Hunter was baptized in our Lutheran
mission when a little tot. Since his baptism he
always attended Sunday-school. When he became
of school age, he entered the day-school, where he
learned the beautiful little stories about Jesus, beau-
tiful little prayers, Bible-verses, and also learned
to sing the blessed Christian hymns in the sweet old
German melodies.

The past year was the time for his confirmation,
and to the surprise of all who knew him little Moses
was taken away from his dear Lutheran Church,
baptized again, and made a member of the Baptist
Church. This was an act of his foster-parents,
who had reared him since his infancy. Our little
Moses knew practically nothing of the Baptist
Church, its Sunday-school, its literature, its hymns,
its order of service, and the like. Such new environ-
ments made it very unpleasant for him. He was
dissatisfied and unhappy, so much so that he be-
came sad. He rebelled. He refused at times to
go to the Baptist day-school. Finally the foster-
parents decided to let him go back to his Lutheran
Church. His foster-father brought him back. He
was instructed on Saturday nights during the past
winter by the undersigned and on Easter Sunday
last confirmed in our mission. He is now happy.
He is always present at church and Sunday-school.
Nor does he forget his contributions; and he
says that he wants to be a preacher.

Rosa Youne.

The Power of Woman in the Church.

Ancient heathen society treated woman as a play-
thing or a plague. Christianity is the only religion
that does not treat her as belonging to an inferior
class, separate from man. It is only the Christian
religion that teaches that “there is neither male nor
female” and that we “are all one in Christ Jesus.”
We need but think of the mother of our Lord, of
Mary and Martha at Bethany, of the relative posi-
tions of Ananias and Sapphira, of Priscilla and
Aquila.

Throughout all the centuries of the Christian era
till to-day woman has exerted a great influence in
the Church and there exercised a wonderful power.
In the mission-field and at home practical Marthas,
spiritual Marys, charitable Dorcases, helpful Lydias,