The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1932, Page 156

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156

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

ask it, but I want to tell you that we are heartily
thankful. Our congregation has just drawn up a
resolution expressing our heartfelt appreciation for
what has been done for us by our Mission Board.

You say you admire the carpet and both the
pulpit cover and the altar cover? No; they were
not paid for out of the funds given to us for the
renovating and repairing. They were donated to
the congregation by the Bethlehem Ladies’ Aid and
Bethlehem Choir; the former payed one half and
the latter the other half. Good work, you say?*
Thanks! Oh, you remember Miss Bernice Craig?
Yes, she’s still the president of the ladies’ aid. Am
I still directing the choir? Yes, I am both director
and president. The choir is organized, you know.
The altar and pulpit coverings are a beautiful green,
you say? They certainly are. The green velour on
the altar and pulpit matches the carpet perfectly.
The covers were made by Miss Alberta Bloom. This
young lady is a member of both the ladies’ aid and
the choir. Strange I didn’t notice it before, — you
called my attention to it, — that the carpet sinks in
when you walk on it.

I had almost said I could wish this were the first
Sunday in November. Why? Well, you see, that
Sunday has been chosen for the day on which our
choir will, God willing, don their caps and gowns
for the first time. I think it will be the first vested
choir, that is, Lutheran, in the city of New Orleans.
You say that there is a difference of opinion in Lu-
theran circles about the propriety of choirs’ appear-
ing in special vestments when singing in church?
Yes, I know that. But, you see, to my mind it
seems to add to the attractiveness of the service.
That in itself would seem to make it legitimate and
God-pleasing. However, a difference of opinion re-
specting external matters is of little consequence as
long as the Word of God is preached in truth and
purity. The Scriptural correctness of doctrine is
the glory of our dear Lutheran Church. You say
your congregation has a vested choir? Oh, I beg
pardon. I thought you were opposed to them. Our
pastor, the Rev. G. M. Kramer, has just returned
from the Synodical Conference in Minnesota. So
you saw him there? Well, he told us he had seen
a number of vested choirs while up North. Seems
as if our choir will have a lot of company. .

You say our buildings are now a credit to the

_ neighborhood? Yes, people round about, both white

and colored, have made that same remark. —
I noticed that you could easily participate in the

ze service. Oh, it was just like home? That young

soloist with the sweet, rich bass voice? He is Bennie
Harris. His story is interesting. Both of his par-
ents were non-Lutherans. He attended our school,
but his parents were opposed to his becoming a
member of the Lutheran Church. He persisted in
asking them to permit him to join our church, and
finally they consented. He is now one of our most
prominent members and is distinguished for the
sweetness of his voice.

Those two deacons whom you saw taking up the
collection are Mr. William Standard and Mr. Fred
Jackson. They both attended our school in their
childhood, our Sunday-school likewise, one of them
during the pastorate of the Rev. August Burgdorf.
They were confirmed, but drifted away from the
church. After many years, like prodigal sons, they
returned to their spiritual home. They are now ex-
ceedingly active, conscientious, and faithful. You
ask if they mind if I mention their names and re-
late their history to you? No, on the contrary.
They glory in the power of the Word of God, which
they learned in our school and Sunday-school —
that Word which is so powerful that it drew them
back years after they had departed from the way
of life. How true is that word of the Lord spoken
by the mouth of Solomon: “Train up a child in the
way he should go, and when he is old, he will not
depart from it”!

You say our schools are great missionary agen-
cies? Right you are. I myself, with my two
brothers, two sisters, father and mother, and: three
children, are Lutherans to-day, directly or indirectly
gained through our Bethlehem School. I am not
prepared to say to what extent our mission-schools
are functioning in other places, for example, in
North Carolina. I do know, however, that God has
made our mission-schools in the city of New Orleans
powerful agencies through which to gather souls
into the kingdom of His Son and into the Lutheran
Church.

Oh, you must go now? Pardon me. If I were
permitted to write as I now speak of the blessings of
our mission-schools in New Orleans, the. Editor of
the PIoNEER would have no room for any other copy
than what I could write about “The Blessings of the
Colored Lutheran Mission-schools of New Orleans.”

We are so glad to have had you come. May we
have the pleasure of seeing you again? Soon?
Thanks! :

God bless you, and good-by till we meet again.
How do you say that last in German? Oh, yes, Auf
Wiedersehen! A. WILEY.