The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1930, Page 38

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38 THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

The Old Shack at Catherine, Ala.

Day-school, Sunday-school, and services were held here
for two years.
the result that a teacher was appointed and instruc-
tion meetings and services were begun.

The picture of the board shack shows the place
where for over two years a day-school was main-
tained, Sunday-school taught, and mid-week meet-
ings and services were held. Can you imagine fifty
live youngsters being put through the paces day by
day in religion, reading, ’riting, and ’rithmetic in
this “building”? In cold or rainy weather the holes
in the walls serving as windows had to be covered
by the shutters, which would have caused well-nigh
' inky darkness if it had not been for such light as
filtered in through the cracks in the roof, walls,
and floor, and for the flickering light shed by the
burning logs in: the yawning fireplace. What pa-
tience and endurance a teacher must have to work
under such handicaps!

Yet in spite of this miserable physical equip-
ment the school was well attended. ‘True, there
was little to choose between our shack and that of
the nearest public school. But the people soon
noticed that our teachers meant business, for their

The New Chapel-School at Catherine, Ala.

Donated by Mrs. J. Firzlaff and her sister, Mrs. A. Heinecke,
in memory of Dr. and Mrs. J. Elfers.

little ones began to recite Bible-verses and prayers
and to sing Christian hymns when they came home
from school, and what loomed big in parents’ eyes,
they were able to read, spell, and “figure.” This
was so much better than the spasmodic and indif-
ferent instruction given heretofore in the other
school, which, at best, lasted only about two months.
And the preaching and catechism lessons also bore
fruit, so that it was not long before a class of adults
and children was formed for baptism and confir-
mation.

After two years of school and services under such
circumstances it was truly a day of rejoicing when
on January 12 the modest two-room building on
the second picture was dedicated to the service of
the Triune God by the writer and the missionary
in charge. A large audience was present and lis-
tened attentively to the sermons in the morning,
afternoon, and evening. May the Lord of the
Church add many more souls to the flock at Cath-
erine and make of this place a haven of salvation
for old and young for years to come!

Finally, this chapel-school was made possible
through the generous gift of two Lutheran ladies
in Wisconsin, who, on falling heir to a sum of
money willed to them by an uncle and aunt, donated
it for the erection of a memorial building. May
their fine example cause others to do likewise !

Epwarp A. WESTCOrT.

An Appreciation.

Superintendent Schmidt writes to C.F. D. on
January 29, 1930: —

“It may interest you to hear a few quotations
from a letter written by one Horace M. Bond of
Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn. He is connected
with the distribution of the Rosenwald money, -
National Department. Recently the State, upon
request of Wilcox County officials, took a census of
educational conditions in that county. Mr. Bond,
a colored man, came South to make investigations.
He says in his letter in part: —

“What I saw of your schools convinced me that
they are doing a most remarkable work, and the
romantic story —to me, as a Negro — of the way
in which the Lutheran Church has come into this
much-neglected territory and done such great things
was, believe me, a heartening and thrilling story.
I know that the work must often be a thankless one,
unappreciated by those for whom it is performed
and attended with great stress and trial. You will