The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1933, Page 102

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102

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

the only one whom I confirmed in Pass Christian.
It was the thought of their faithfulness that brought
happiness to me. Later another of St. Paul’s mem-
bers residing at Pass Christian came, and finally
a stranger. With these four we had a fine Christ-
mas service. I preached to them in my overcoat
and they, huddled in their overcoats, listened atten-
tively to the joyful message.

“In the months of February and March I made
a house-to-house canvass. I knocked at the doors
of 266 homes (about fifty homes still remain) and
found fifty-six who are connected with no church.
All others claimed to be members of either the
Catholic or the Methodist or the Baptist church.
(Of the 3,001 people living in Pass Christian about
half are colored.) During this canvass I learned
that almost all of the colored people knew about
our Lutheran services. Quite often they would also
tell me, ‘We have often thought of coming after
hearing how impressive they are, but we are, etc.’
Let me here add that those who attend our services
are, with the exception of the three Lutherans,
people who belong to some church, either the Baptist
or the Methodist church, but who have learned to
like our services. Some of these have been baptized
in the Baptist church since I began to preach in
Pass Christian, but, as before their baptism, so after
their baptism they have regularly attended our ser-
vices. Some one once remarked when I wondered
why I could not win them for us: ‘Perhaps you
show yourself too anxious to win them. I admit
that I have shown that I am anxious to serve them,
but I do not believe that is the reason why I did
not succeed in winning them. The very fact that
they were shown that I am anxious to serve them
should, I feel, have encouraged them to come over
to us. But I rather believe the reason why we
cannot gain them is that we cannot serve them
enough. One service a month is too seldom; and
not to have a man constantly among them leaves
them, if I may express myself in this way, as sheep
without a shepherd. One day the good seed is sown,
and twenty-nine days others have a chance to root
it up or choke it.” E. H. WinpGRvsE.

Briefs from Trinity, New Orleans.

Our school is, by the grace of God, rounding out

a year of successful work. In the closing months
_ Our enrolment has held its own. All children at-
_ tending our day-school are also required to attend
our Sunday-school. Those refusing to comply with

this demand are discarded as unfit material for the
future upbuilding of our Church. The great ma-
jority of the children, when induced to remain for
services, responds readily.

The confirmation class of this year was con-
firmed on Palm Sunday. ‘Twelve children and
one adult confirmed and baptized is the record num-
ber for Trinity. Our attendances for both Palm
Sunday and Easter were one hundred and forty-
nine and one hundred and thirty-seven, respectively.
The pecuniary side, considering the economic strain,
was commendable. Our Sunday services for the
past seven months average eighty-two.

Among those confirmed was a little girl who
for three years had been attending catechumen class,
but whose parents were
not favorably inclined
toward Lutheranism.
She declared, “I’m go-
ing to be a Lutheran no
matter what happens.
My parents do not want
to help me to get any-
thing for my confirma-
tion, but I’m going to
be confirmed if I have

to be confirmed in
rags.” Sometimes we
stand in wonderment

and amazement as to
the truthfulness of such
assertions. But God
be Judge. Pray that the risen Savior, who brought
them to faith, may by His grace keep them in the
true faith until the whole Christian Church shall
stand as His temple, fitly framed together.
L. H. Rosrnson.

Rev. L. Robinson.

Alabama Briefs.

Just in Time.

It was a day in March when your missionary
was looking for members who had moved into
a strange neighborhood and saw two old ex-slave
women sitting on their front steps, who conversed
with him as follows: —

“Good evening,” said the missionary.
a widow and three children by the name of
move into this neighborhood ?”

“Good evening,” was the reply.
you @ preacher?” came the question.

“I am,” said the missionary.

“Did

“Yes; ain’t