The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1931, Page 188

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188

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

Fiftieth Anniversary. — The Publication So-
ciety of the Lutheran Free Church in Germany,
with headquarters at Zwickau, in Saxony, this year
celebrates its fiftieth anniversary. This society has
done much to disseminate good literature through-
out Germany and has been especially active in
spreading the Bible. During these fifty years the
society has done mission-work in the truest and
fullest sense of the word. It deserves the commen-
dation and support of our people for what it has
done in the past and for what it is planning to do
in the future.

Missions in Japan. — There are said to be
500,000 Christians in Japan as a result of the work
of Western missionaries. The number is steadily
increasing. It is a difficult matter to gain Japanese
for Christ and His Gospel; but when once gained,
they are generally loyal and steadfast.

Liberian Missions.—The Episcopal Church has
been working in Liberia, Africa, for some years with
a certain degree of success. The Missionary Bishop
of Liberia, Dr. Campbell, says that the mission
needs missionaries, doctors, and teachers, as the
natives are not furnishing these in sufficient
quantities.

Breklum Missions in India. — The German
missions among the Telugus of South India are
making very satisfactory gains. During the World
War these missions were held by the United Lu-
theran Church, but were given back to the Germans
a few years ago. The number of applicants equals
that of the present membership, and the workers
are unable to answer the calls. In some cases the
inquirers are building chapels at their own expense
to show their strong desire for the Gospel of Christ.

Read and Ponder! — “If we refuse to share
Christ with others, we shall not long keep Christ
for ourselves,” we recently read somewhere. The
thought came to us whether the refusal to share
Christ with others is not actually proof that Christ
has already turned away from those who take this
attitude. ;

Bishop I. B. Scott’s Death.—Bishop Scott, who
died a few months ago, was a leader among the
colored people of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
which he served many years as pastor, college pro-
fessor, college president, editor of the Southwestern
Christian Advocate, and as bishop in Africa. The
editor had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Scott for the
first time a few days after his election to the epis-

_ copate and learned to know him as a humble child

‘of God and a real Christian gentleman. He was

one of the few men we have met of other denomina-
tions who appreciated and respected our view on
unionism and similar questions.

Christian Stewardship. — Two brothers went
into business together as bankers and brokers. One
promised God that, when he had accumulated
$100,000, he would retire from business and devote
the rest of his life to Christian work. He kept his
promise and was a power for good in his Church.
He influenced the lives of many and led not a few
to Christ. He did not leave a great estate behind,
but his memory was blessed by thousands, and he
is still spoken of as one whose life was a benedic-
tion. — The other brother continued to give his
time and talents to the making of money, but all
he left behind was money. His laughing heirs
received the thousands he left behind and used it
to satisfy their selfish desires. Little of it descended
to the next generation. Selfishly gathered, it
seemed to engender selfishness in those who fell
heir to it. No evident print of sacrificial service
was apparent in connection with this second
brother’s riches. — Which of these two served God
and men best, and which one left the best heritage?
And what about you, dear reader? Will you live
a life in Christ’s service, so that, when you are
gone, the words may be applied to you, “His works
do follow him”?

Nothing to Hold On to. — A dying atheist was
very uncomfortable and unhappy. Another atheist
stood by his bedside and admonished him, “Don’t
be afraid. Hold on, man, hold on to the last!”
The dying man replied, “That is what I want to do;
but tell me what to hold on to.” Yes, so it is; only
those who accept the Gospel have anything to hold
on to, and you and I should delight in bringing
the only thing to hold on to to our fellow-men.

Bekale.

We found the following most interesting story
in Woman’s Work.

“Some days stand out unique in the experience
of the missionary who has turned the Gospel light
into the recesses of African darkness and has
watched the changes which the penetration of that
light has produced.

“On one such day in my experience, in one such
corner, among the Ngumba tribe, there were three
men who gave themselves for life to the study and
preaching of God’s Word. They stood before the