The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1931, Page 74

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74

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

God, ridiculing the believers and the clergy of all
denominations. They will not allow their wives to
attend church except probably on a very special oc-
easion, and their children are rarely baptized, ex-
cept where the baptism was arranged for in secret.
Upon investigation I found that this condition was
due to the fact that many of them were altar-boys
while young and had learned to disrespect the
clergy, with the result that eventually they became
atheists.

“Perhaps a few incidents which occurred to me
during my missionary visits will be gladly read by
such as are interested in missionary endeavor.

“Again and again the Lord proved to me that it
is His Word alone which does the work, and not the
laborer. For more than two years I had made
frequent calls at the home of a prospect. Because
of the mother’s sickly condition I did several little
things for her that she might rest. The children
always looked forward to reading or hearing the
Sunday-school lesson which I usually brought to
them. In spite of all I did I saw no spiritual
change, only a friendly and pleased expression to re-
ceive me as a visitor, which rather discouraged me.
Nevertheless during a more severe attack of illness

I did all I possibly ‘could do to help this sick w oman

and her children.

“One Saturday the house was filled with aaitere
and when I was through with my duties, I decided
to address the entire group, provided I would have
their permission. It was in the Advent season, and
therefore I told the Christmas-story. A man en-
tered the room while I was talking, but I was so
intent upon trying to make this wonderful truth
clear to all that I did not look up. When I had
finished my address, I felt a light touch on my
shoulder, and a gentleman said in a kind voice,
‘Where is this church of yours that I may come also
and hear the Word of God expounded as you have

expounded it?’ After I had explained to him where
the Italian mission was, he promised to come the
next day. Having heard similar promises many
times before which did not materialize, I was some-
what skeptical. To my surprise he did appear with
his family and continued to come regularly.
“Fis daughter, who was about fourteen years
old, also came, but apparently much against her
will. It happened on Good Friday, just before the
“service was to begin, that I noticed tears flowing
down her cheeks. I asked her why she was so sad.
Pathetically she said, ‘Oh, you do not love Mary, the
mother of Jesus” ‘Yes, my dear, I said; ‘we love
her, but we do not idolize her.’ I went to the pastor

and asked him if he would please have the congre-
gation sing a particular Lenten hymn which tells of
Mary’s weeping at the cross of Christ. I shall never
forget the sweet smile of contentment that over-
spread her face as the words of this hymn came to
her ears, which gave her peace of mind at that ser-
vice and ever after.

“On another occasion, as I was inquiring about
a prospect who had suddenly changed her residence,
I happened to enter the home of an atheist. After
I had made my inquiries, it was natural for me to
talk about my Church. As I mentioned the name
of Jesus, our blessed Redeemer, there appeared like
a flash of lightning a man in the doorway who bel-
lowed, ‘Get out of here, faster than you entered!’

“Naturally the surprise almost petrified me;
nevertheless I knew I must not leave this house
without a saving message. I said quietly, ‘God in
His great mercy sent Jesus to die for me that I
might have forgiveness of all my sins. Therefore
I forgive you.? Then I politely excused myself.
The wife of that man told me afterwards that he
stood on that doorstep like one who had been lashed
with a whip. He was thoroughly ashamed of his
rude behavior. When I met him later, he acknowl-
edged my salute. Truly, the Word of God is sharper
than a two-edged sword. God grant that many of
my people and of all other nationalities as well will
see the light of the Gospel truth as it shines forth
with illuminating brightness in our dear Lutheran
Church !”

A First Jungle Trip in Burma.

You can never know the Burman as he is till
you visit him in his jungle villages. “Jungle” sug-
gests wild wastes and thick shrubbery, hence it
would be better to call it “the country,” as we do
in America. Some of the land is idle and waste,
as in the country at home, but much of it is under
cultivation. One looks in vain, it is true, for
farm-houses. You go for miles perhaps without
seeing a house, and then suddenly you come to
a village where for self-protection against the merci-
less robber-bands the Burman farmers have built
their homes in a cluster behind high, thorny hedges.
Thousands of these “country” villages are to be
found in Burma.

The sole means of travel to these villages is
by ox-cart. These carts are springless and worse
than “jolt”-wagons at home; for they are so small
that, after you get your luggage and driver carefully
stowed away, there is no room for you, unless you