Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 20 (1905)

Lt 23, 1905

Nicola, Brother and Sister C. C.

“Elmshaven,” St. Helena, California

January 17, 1905

Portions of this letter are published in 5Bio 382-383. +^Note

Dear Brother and Sister Nicola,—

I have just read your letter giving the particulars of your loss by fire. We are sorry that you should lose one penny, but the part of the building that burned was objectionable in many ways. When I first saw it, I said to some one, If that part of the building could be taken away, it would be a great blessing. This will have to be done in order for the institution to make a right representation. 20LtMs, Lt 23, 1905, par. 1

I first heard of the fire three days ago. That night I lay awake for hours. All the news we had regarding the matter was a short paragraph in one of our papers, and from reading it I feared that the whole building had been destroyed. A day or two later I received a fuller account, which told us that only the old portions of the building had been burned. 20LtMs, Lt 23, 1905, par. 2

“The Lord is good; praise His holy name,” I said over and over again. He has mercifully saved every life and has taken away an objectionable part of the building. I am glad that it has come about in this way. Had a proposition been made to tear that part of the building down, some would have regarded it as a great waste. 20LtMs, Lt 23, 1905, par. 3

Now you can have a suitable addition put on to the building. It is an unfavorable time of the year to take up this work, but begin to rebuild as soon as you can. Be continually making preparations to this point. If much snow falls, I suppose you will have to wait. 20LtMs, Lt 23, 1905, par. 4

If I could help you financially, I certainly would; but I cannot. I have had to borrow money recently myself. I have written to Brother Gilbert Collins, asking him to do his best for you. We must do our best. There is so much to do, and such a lack of means, that it almost looks as if we had to make bricks without straw. 20LtMs, Lt 23, 1905, par. 5

Talk with Brother Place, and try to get him to show an interest in building up the sanitarium work. I will try to get time to write to him. 20LtMs, Lt 23, 1905, par. 6

I shall pray the Lord to open the way for you to rebuild in a way that will correspond with the rest of the buildings. I pray that God will bless all that you do, that it may be well done. 20LtMs, Lt 23, 1905, par. 7