The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1931, Page 41

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

41

Ernest Jeske.

There died ‘a few months ago
in Fond du Lae, Wis., a man who
served as the very first Lutheran
mission-teacher among the col-
ored people. We refer to the late
Ernest W. J. Jeske, who gradu-
ated from the teachers’ seminary
at Addison, Ill., in June, 1879,
and took up his duties as teacher
of the intermediate grades of the Colored Mission
school at Little Rock, Ark., at the opening of that
school in September of the same year.

Mr. Jeske taught in our school at Little Rock
till February, 1882, when he resigned his post to
accept a call as teacher of the parochial school at
Jackson, Mich. Later Mr. Jeske retired from teach-
ing and entered upon a business career. About
forty years ago he removed to Fond du Lac, Wis.,
where he was connected for a number of years with
the Giddings and Lewis plant. He also served his
fellow-townsmen for a long time as a justice of the
peace. Mr. Jeske died after a serious operation,
having attained the age of seventy years and several
months. ;

Mr. Jeske was born in Germany, September 19,
1860, but came to Milwaukee, Wis., with his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Karl Jeske, when still a child. He
spent his boyhood days in Milwaukee and after his
confirmation entered the teachers’ seminary of the
Missouri Synod, then located at Addison, Ill., grad-
uating from that institution, as stated above, with
the class of 1879. In 1883 he married Miss Louise
Buchholz, who survives him with six children.
Pastor Gerhard Pieper of Fond du Lac officiated at
the funeral. F.J.L.

Ernest Jeske.

About Averages.

The following appeared in the columns of a
recent number of the Jowa District News. While
some of our readers may have*read the story of
Mr. Jones and his dream before, it will do no one
among us harm to read it again and ponder upon
its important lesson.

“In our State, in one of our little towns, there
lived a retired farmer by the name of Jones. He
was an average church-member; attended church as
the average do, gave as the average give, and lived
as the average live. He was strong on averages, es-
pecially when it came to giving.

“One night, after he had again refused to give
more than the average for missions, Mr. Jones had
a singular dream. He suddenly found himself be-
fore the throne of God and was to give account of
his life. ‘Have you been a faithful steward? he
was asked. Somewhat abashed, he replied that he
had always tried to do his duty and that he believed
himself to be as good as the average. ‘How much
property have you? the Judge continued. Mr.
Jones exclaimed that he had 320 acres, but that
there was a little debt encumbering the one eighty.
‘How did you get all that wealth? He was about
to tell the story which he had so often repeated to
his children and friends, how he had come to this
country without a cent and how by dint of hard
labor he had succeeded in acquiring one piece of
land after another, when he remembered the Scrip-
tures and quickly answered: “Thou, O Lord, gavest
me all.’ ‘And how much art thou giving Me for the
building of My kingdom?’ ‘Six dollars a year, dear
Lord,’ replied Mr. Jones somewhat timidly, “Thou
knowest that is the average.’ The Lord looked at
him sternly and said: ‘Your insurance on your car
costs you $35 per year and your license $29; you
spend $25 for tobacco annually, and for Me you can
only spend $6! Do you call that faithful?

“Mr. Jones awoke with a cold sweat on his brow
and was glad to find that it had only been a dream.
He decided that averages were not so good
after all.”

Report of the China Missions.

We are thankful to our Lord that the great war
in the north of China seems to be drawing to a close.
May the Lord grant China peace and also success
in suppressing the Communists! At Hankow con-
ditions were peaceful during this month, although
many Communists were executed there. At Shasi,
which city has Communists on all sides, there was~
quiet during the greater part of the month. For
a few days fighting took place not far from our mis-
sion’s home. At Ichang things were quiet. Also at
Shihnan conditions were quiet, but some bandits
were reported to be north, west, southeast, and
northeast of Shihnan. During this month all mis-
sionaries have returned or are returning to their
stations from Kuling. é

Evangelistic work has been taken up with new
vigor after the vacation. At Hankow Rev. Klein is
in charge of most chapels. He is making a cam-_
paign against the illiteracy of women. He there-