# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_Januar 1933 ff. masthead not in scan _S346
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

346

and the like. We do not mean by this that our white fellow Christians must follow precisely this example. Circumstances simply take shape differently everywhere. But one thing is important, namely that we serve our Savior with our free time. How this is done, each one must decide for himself. One way would be for people in this jubilee year to read Luther's chief writings for once, which are to be had so cheaply and beautifully in the special popular edition. But especially let people now watch over the young people and see to it that they use their leisure rightly. Where the burden of work is lacking, the craving for amusement quickly gains the upper hand, and where this has once found entrance, the devil very easily scatters his poison into the soul. In short, the question how we are to use our free time is exceedingly important. Let us by all means lay it upon our conscience!

J. T. M.

How the Gospel Is Made a Mockery. A reader asks how one should judge the fact that Aimee McPherson, so much named in the newspapers, is now preaching also in New York in a theater. We cannot agree with the opinion that she does this out of love for the Savior, since she does it for the payment of a high salary, which is said to amount to more than $5,000. Besides, public preaching is altogether forbidden her in God's Word, as one may read further in 1 Cor. 14, 34. 35 and 1 Tim. 2, 12. She ought also to be ashamed before the world on this account; for that her husband, "Brother David Hutton," has left her was partly her fault. Had she conducted herself as a Christian wife, and had she fulfilled her household duties, the marriage would probably not have fallen to pieces so sadly. Moreover it is not fitting that in a theater, where, as the daily press reports, blasphemous plays are evidently performed, a Christian sermon should be delivered as an interlude. During Passion Week our pastors in some places also preach in a theater, to be sure, but at the noon recess, when the theatrical performances are suspended.

We should never cease bearing witness of Christ. Wherever there is an opportunity, the Christian should show himself a missionary. But it also says in Scripture: "For your sakes the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles," Rom. 2, 24, and Christians should be on their guard not to fall under this sentence of condemnation.

J. T. M.

In the Service of Science. Not long ago there died the widely known professor at the medical department of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Dr. F. H. Bätjer. He occupied himself with the study of X-rays before precautions had been taken to protect those who worked with them. What he suffered in the service of science is positively astonishing. He had to submit to over a hundred operations, because he exposed himself again and again to the destructive rays. In the course of time all the fingers on his hands were amputated. One eye also had to be removed. Nevertheless he continued his work from year to year, until at last an incurable illness forced him to give it up. An English exchange paper remarks on this: "Such loyalty to science must put us Christians to shame, who do so little for the glorious cause of JESUS Christ. What else has the service of the Savior brought us but peace and joy? And yet, what sacrifices have we really made for Christ, who was crucified for us? Are the days of the martyrs no longer present?"

To this applies the word of our Savior: "The children of this world are wiser than the children of light in their generation," Luke 16, 8. By this Christ meant to say that the children of the world are wiser in the use of their opportunities than we Christians in the right use of the things that serve for salvation.

J. T. M.

The "Bible Society Record" of September 1933 reports on Bible distributions of the year 1932 and earlier. The great British and Foreign Bible Society (British and Foreign Bible Society) has issued 1,096,976 Bibles, 1,027,720 New Testaments, and 8,492,774 single books of the Bible. This society has existed since 1804 and has sent out since that year in all 442,471,067 volumes and small volumes. The American Bible Society has since 1816 issued 246,046,560 volumes of whole Bibles and parts thereof, while the National Bible Society of Scotland, the third largest in the world, distributed last year 83,113 Bibles, 180,008 New Testaments, and 3,679,170 portions, which brings its total circulation since its year of founding (1861) to 111,777,303.

The whole Holy Scripture has been translated into 173 languages, the New Testament separately into 191, whole Gospels or other whole portions into 481, smaller selected pieces into 90 languages, together 935. That gives, for the whole New Testament, 364 languages. That people have limited themselves to single parts of the Bible for 571 languages comes from the fact that for many peoples or tribes not even an alphabet exists. In addition, certain concepts are completely lacking among many peoples, so that they have no word for them in their language. This refers not only to religious but also to quite earthly things. Thus a woman translator reports that she searched for three years until she found the right word for throne and holy. When the translation of, let us say, a Gospel is completed, it must first be tried out on Blacks, Yellows, or Reds, to see whether the hearers really find in what they hear the thoughts that are to be conveyed by the translation. "Have you understood this rightly?" -- the question does not suffice.

In the principal languages of Europe, Bibles are also produced and distributed by publishing houses. But for the other languages mankind depends for the most part on the activity of the Bible societies, both as regards translation and as regards distribution. That at the Madrid book fair in the spring of 1933 Spanish Bibles, New Testaments, and single Gospels were to be had was provided by the British Bible Society. There were sold 1,013 whole Bibles, 482 New Testaments, and 17,322 single Gospels. -- "Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done!"

R. W. H.

Foreign Countries.

How We Do Not Want to Shape Our Luther Celebration. In August the 450th birthday of Luther was celebrated in a grand manner in the old Luther city of Eisleben. We do not wish to condemn everything about this celebration; for much that was peculiar about it is brought along by our time. But other speeches ought to have been given; attention ought to have been called to what Luther really wanted and what he also did through God's grace in his whole life and work, namely that he brought the Gospel back to Christendom. This was passed over in complete silence. Instead it was said: "The spirit of Luther is not dead. He lives, he arises in the new Germany as well as in the faith movement of the German Christians stronger and more powerful than ever. We German Christians know only one to whom we confess: this Martin Luther. A cry of longing for God breaks forth from millions. We German Christians hear this cry and give it the answer of the German prophet Luther." And again: "We stand together because we believe in the future of our people, because we trust the man whom God has given us, because we have learned to obey and to keep faith."

These are, basically, all empty words. Luther