The Berbice Lutheran Church. 201 



and fifty pupils in their schools, besides hundreds of others who owe 

 very much to the training they have received from the Lutheran Institu- 

 tions of Berbice. 



Many of the old conditions still remain to hold the Lutheran Church 

 back from entering into her larger life. As of old her ministers bad to 

 be presented to the Directors for their approbation and confirmation, so 

 to-day her ministers must be presented to the Government for permission 

 to preach and teach " previous to their departure to the colony." The 

 only restriction that has been removed through all these years has been 

 the one that made the Church responsible for the care of coloured 

 children presented for baptism. 



The hope of the Church is now directed not to Holland, the former 

 " Fatherland," but to America for ministers to carry on the work 

 established in faith (one hundred and seventy-five years ago), carried on 

 in adversity, and yet abundantly blessed by our Master. 



The work is too much for one minister to care for. In America 

 another waits, willing to come and share the burdens of the labor. The 

 one prayer of this community now is that the Government may not hinder 

 this oldest Church in this Ancient County from working out her ap- 

 pointed destiny of ministration to those who hold her ancient faith. 



