The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1933, Page 83

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THE LUTHERAN PIONEER 83

Words of Gratitude.

On Friday night, February 3, the girls’ dormi-
tory of the Piney Woods School was destroyed
together with most of its contents. The girls lost
also their Bible Histories and Catechisms. The
Board for Colored Missions replaced these lost
books, and it is in recognition of this gift that the
letters which follow were written. Even at the risk
of being accused of repeating what we have said
before we shall print all four letters just as they
were received : —

Piney Woods School,
Piney Woods, Miss., April 5, 1933.
Rev. L. A. Wisler,
3558 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, Mo.
Dear Rev. WIstER: —

In behalf of my class, the twelfth grade, I am
writing to attempt to thank’you in a small way for
the books you have sent us from time to time. There
is no other study in school that does us more good
than the study of the Bible; so you can readily see
how keenly we felt the loss when our books were
destroyed in the fire. Nevertheless, God will always
provide a way for those who trust in Him. We
were certainly glad when we received the Compre-
hensive Bible Histories and Catechisms. The truths
of the latter have proved to be very useful to us as
the days pass.

At the time that the dormitory caught fire, the
students were in chapel, and there were only three
students in the building. The fire was discovered
by one of those girls, and she states that there was
a fire around the bulb of the electric light, and there
was also fire up in the ceiling; so it is thought that
the fire was caused by a short circuit in the wire.
A few of the trunks were saved. The matron’s trunk
and all the things that were in her room were lost.

Even though we have lost most of those things
of material value, we have yet one Friend who is of
more value to us than all of those things — Jesus.
We will look to Him as we have always done, and in
the words of the poet we say : — :

Be not dismayed, whate’er betide;
God will take care of you.
Beneath His wings of love abide;
God will take care of you.

Again we extend our hearty thanks for your
kindness.
Gratefully yours,

THE TWELFTH GRADE,
per VIRGINIA WASHINGTON.

Piney Woods School,
Piney Woods, Miss., April 5, 1933.
To the Mission Board.
Dear FRrieNDs : —

Being a selected member of the Junior Class to
acknowledge the reception of the Comprehensive
Bible Histories and the Catechisms, I wish to show
our appreciation by giving many thanks; and most
of all you have our prayer for a more successful and
better mission.

Out of the great loss we had in the fire we con-
sider the loss of our Bible literature one of the
greatest; for it was all pertaining to God’s Word.

We want to extend to you our sincerest thanks
and appreciation for having made it possible for us
to adjust ourselves to a systematic study again.

I will say we have one of the best teachers that
can be found in the country, Rev. G. A. Schmidt,
and it is to him also that we owe an abundance of
thanks and gratitude for having opened the way for
the reception of these books.

I will say the students of Piney Woods School
feel that the study of the Bible History and Cate-
chism is the greatest subject we have in school and
has meant very much to us in our life-work.

Again we’re thanking you for this wonderful
and serviceable gift.

Yours truly,

(Signed.) Arrre Mar DaMperr.

Piney Woods School,
Piney Woods, Miss., April 5, 1933.
St. Louis Mission Synod Society.
St. Louis, Mo.
DeEar FRIENDS : —

I am writing in behalf of the Freshmen College
Class to express our deep and sincere thanks and
appreciation for the replacement of our lost Bible
Histories and other books, which were destroyed in
our recent fire.

We regret, of course, the loss of our girls’ dor-
mitory, but we have been taught not to criticize or
question God’s ways, and so we are content to do ac-
cording to His will and to be only thankful that
our dear Lord has set us free from our sin by send-
ing Jesus to die for us.

Every day except Saturday and Monday Rev.
Schmidt instructs us in the Christian religion
for forty-five minutes. Every one admires Rev.
Schmidt, and he is a tangible example of a real
Christian. We also wish to express our gratitude
for the fine minister you sent us and hope he will