The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1929, Page 163

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

163

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to have on Sunday night The committee wanted to
know just how much time we could devote to the
school, in other words, just how much time I could
spend there. I told them that we were willing to do

Superintendent Geo. A. Schmidt.

our utmost. But I also stated that at least for the
time being I preferred to have some time for Ala-
bama. I told them of our work in Alabama, also of
the work expected of me. Then I asked whether it
would not be satisfactory, to begin with, if I would
teach religion in the classes on Friday, work among
the students Saturday, talking to groups and individ-
uals, and take charge of Sunday-school and services
Sundays. Both the committee and Mr. Jones said:
“We'll try that out and leave it to you. If you find
out later that it will be necessary to spend more time
here, that can always be done.” ‘They are very
much concerned about regular preaching on Sunday
morning.

One question asked me in that meeting was:
“Does the Lutheran Church have revivals?” I, of
course, answered in the negative.... But they now
know our stand on this.

Short Talk of President Jones.
Standing out above everything else was the short
talk Mr. Jones had. He said in substance: “All
around us schools have chaplains. One has a Bap-
tist, another a Methodist, etc. Here at Piney Woods
we'll now have a Lutheran. There will be no pros-
elyting. No one will be forced to be a Lutheran.

But some may become interested in the Lutheran
Church. They may wish to study later at Selma or
Greensboro either for the office of minister or
teacher. They may even wish, though they do not
study for one of those offices, to become Lutherans.
That is left to the individual. There will be no
coercion either one way or the other.”

In addition to that Mr. Jones said: “Some of the
students may go home and tell their folks about the
work of the Lutheran Church and interest them and,
for that matter, their community in getting a Lu-
theran church and school.” Do you know I could
not have had my thoughts exposed any more defi-
nitely than Mr. Jones exposed them in that talk?
Every one left the meeting after this talk with the
idea, then, that I am to be spiritual adviser at Piney
Woods School. The secretary took down that phrase
which I happened to use. So much for the meeting
held Saturday afternoon.

Description of the School.

Before telling you about my meetings on Sunday,
let me here add a little about the school. You have
some information, perhaps more than I realize.

In the student-body are all sorts and descriptions
of boys and girls, young mien and young women.
They have at Piney Woods some blind students,

Rev. E. A. Westcott.

about twelve at present. These unfortunate girls
and boys are learning, besides other things, to read
the raised type (Braille). I shall not fail to apply
for literature from our Board for Blind Missions
soon. Of course, these blind students attend Sunday-
school and also the services.