The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1933, Page 70

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70

THE LUTHERAN PIONEER

Pastor Schmidt then continues his letter with
the graphic account of the girls’-dormitory fire
which we brought our readers in last month’s
PIONEER.

We again quote from Superintendent Schmidt’s
letter: “Among the things lost in the fire were Bible
Histories and Catechisms. The girls, some of them
with tears, told me that they felt more keenly than
other losses the loss of these books. I told them
I would see if they could be replaced, but made them
no promise. This loss includes about seventy-five
of each of these books (Comprehensive Bible His-

Two Blind Young Men at the Piney Woods
School, Mississippi.
Confirmed by Pastor G. A. Schmidt (in center).
The Braille literature furnished the missionary by the
Board for Blind Missions was very helpful.

. tory and Schwan Catechism). If the Publishing
House will give me time, I shall personally replace
the confirmation certificates and the prayer-books
which f bought for the persons I confirmed last year.
I also must get a large number again this year for
the large class. This is not a veiled request for
help, but I want you to know that I want to be of
help, too. I also promised Jones (in fact, gave
him) a personal check to help the matter along.
I would possibly have been able to do more but for
the fact that we had over $100 expense in connec-
tion with the arrival of a baby girl at our home.
And the efforts we must put forth to meet payments
on the white church erected here a year ago is an
added expense.”

“It is also necessary that I say a few words
about the work in Jackson. For about fifteen
months now we have had a missionary in Jackson,
but without a place for the little flock to meet.
During the first months — before financial matters
looked as distressingly chaotic as at present — we
had hopes of building. Mr. Steinmeyer and Pastors
Westcott and Gehrke at different times came to
Jackson therefore to look over the situation here.
Then we were asked to look for a place which we
could rent. During the time Student Johnson was
here we looked for such a place, but could find noth-
ing really suitable. Pastor Bates and I have since
been trying to find a place. There are a number
of tumble-down places which can be had at a reason-
able rental. I have advised against renting one of
these, for they are a disgrace and cannot possibly
help the cause here. We even approached the
authorities of Jackson College, asking for a room
and offering rent. We were denied. At present
there is a house in a suitable location for which $18
rent is asked. In addition to this it will take about
$100 to equip the place with furniture with which
to do our work, with seats, etc. But if there is no
hope of erecting a modest building here in which to
carry. on the work in the immediate or near future,
we ought to rent, much as I dislike the idea of
spending money for rent. And we ought to get
a place that is inviting and serviceable. At present
the situation is this: Pastor Bates meets about
twelve persons in a home Wednesday evenings. He
cannot have the home for Sunday; hence there are
no services on Sunday and no Sunday-school. He
visits, distributes tracts, talks to the people about
the Lutheran Church and its message of the Christ,
but has no place to invite them to come. He is now
also doing some work in a hospital here, visiting the
sick, etc., until some final action will be taken in
this matter. At least I should like to know the
Board’s reaction to the idea of spending $18
monthly for rent and the specified sum for equip-
ment.” 5 ny

“I plan again to spend about two weeks this
summer with a quartet to help out Piney Woods.
I would rather not; for it is much easier to rest
than to spend two weeks or three speaking each
night. But an open door has been given to us here
at Piney Woods, Mr. Jones has a big burden, and
so I am willing to help. I believe that I have enough
friends in and around St. Louis to keep a quartet
busy at least two weeks. No guarantee is asked, no
admission will be charged those who wish to hear