The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1931, Page 110

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110

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

Tuskegee Jubilee. — Tuskegee Normal and In-
dustrial Institute observed its semicentennial,
April 10—15. Dr. R. R. Mouton is the present
head of the institution. The school was founded
by the noted Negro educator Booker T. Wash-
ington.

Activities of the Salvation Army. — This ac-
tive body preaches in fifty-seven languages. It con-
ducts 1,025 day-schools in all parts of the world.
The 42,886 bandmen of the Army work without
remuneration. The Army has been at work in our
country for the past fifty-one years. It has over

* 15,000 corps and outposts and maintains 1,547

social-service stations for men, women, and children.
In one year about 50,000 patients pass through its
hospitals and clinics, and more than two million
people are given relief annually. It is at this time
operating in eighty-two countries and colonies. Its
oldest mission-field is India, where it has worked
since 1882. To-day India is covered with a net-
work of Salvation Army stations. In China it has
worked for the past fifteen years. In Java it began
operations in 1894. It operates four leper colonies
and four hospitals in the Dutch East Indies and has
twenty-five day-schools in those islands. In South
Africa it has a number of posts, and in South
America it is also quite active. The officers of the
Army are very willing to identify themselves with
the people among whom they work and in many
lands wear the native costumes and adopt the native
customs.

America as a Foreign Mission Field. — Amer-
ica presents a mighty Foreign Mission problem, for
to our shores have come in great numbers, repre-
sentatives of almost every nation under the sun.
It is said that 1,624 languages and dialects are
spoken in our country at this time. The inhabitants
of foreign nationality in America probably number
about 30,000,000. Wherever you go, you will find
the immigrant. In nineteen of our Northern States
the number of foreign-born and their immediate
descendants exceeds the number of the native-born.
In our larger cities the number is two-thirds and
even three-fourths. The Church should not lose
sight of the fact that these foreigners constitute
a stern challenge, and it should face its duty with
determination, ready to expend means and effort in
an endeavor to bring them the Gospel.

North China’s Frightful Plight: — Overpopu-
lation is not the cause of North China’s famine, as
thas been claimed in some quarters. In Shensi and
Kaneu, where the famine still remains acute, the

population is not dense at all. Kansu has only
forty-seven people to the square mile, while
Kiangsu, with 875 to the square mile, is outside the
famine area. It is also said to be a mistake to
think that the Chinese themselves are indifferent
to the suffering caused by the famine. It is said
that China is giving five dollars for relief for every
dollar that comes from the outside. Finally, it is a
misapprehension to think that the relief funds can-
not reach the sufferers. There is said to be no
difficulty in reaching the hungry and destitute.

India’s Present Population.— Ten years ago
India’s population was estimated at 318,000,000.
To-day it has grown to almost 350,000,000. The
increase during the past decade has exceeded all
estimates. Though the great mass of India is still
in the toils of heathenism, it is nevertheless enjoy-
ing some of the blessings of Christianity in its
greater freedom from pestilence and famine, med-
ical facilities, and somewhat more enlightened liv-
ing generally, which are all direct results of the
coming of missionary forces.

Mohammedanism in India. —In the past fif-
teen years the Mohammedans have increased by
nine millions in India. They are publishing ninety
periodicals in India. India is also the base of
Mohammedan operations in China, where they have
already founded 2,000 mission societies.

Mohammedanism in Africa. — Cairo in Egypt
is the African center of Mohammedanism. No-
fewer than 474 daily papers are published in North
Africa in the interest of Mohammedanism. Islam’s
conquering march is rapidly advancing into Central
and South Africa.

Mohammedanism in Europe.— Even Europe:
is being invaded by the followers of Mohammed.
In London and Berlin they are to be found in con-
siderable numbers. In Berlin there are two Moham-
medan mosques.

Shark-Worship! — Dr. C. E. Fox, the principal
of a mission-school on one of the South Sea islands,.
has found survivals of ancient shark-worship on
some of these islands. Among other customs, these
people bury their dead in the sea, weighting their
feet with stones. The sharks are believed not: to
touch them.

“Ir we want answers to prayers for our own
advantage, we lose them; but if we are truly con--
cerned for the Gospel, our heavenly Father will.
grant us victory.”