Page 3, Die Welt-Post, Thursday, December 3, 1923
Letter from Jacob Volz
York, Nebraska, 5 December ---
November 27th was my last day of service with the American Volga Relief Society. President H. Amen and Treasurer J. J. Stroh shook my hand and thanked me in the name of the Society for my service to our people in Russia. Brothers, it was not easy to accomplish this work in the often difficult circumstances. I thank you from my heart for your prayers, donations and moral support. I wanted to be fair in every instance but God only knows if I was able to achieve this goal.
During the last 3 months I have traveled widely across the country reporting about my work in the Volga Region. My experiences and travel in Russia have, up to now, not been published, except for the occasional report in the columns of the Welt-Post. All German language newspapers may print my reports if they find them to be of interest but must credit the newspaper from which they extracted the reports.
Respectfully, Jacob Volz
Frank, 16 October 1923
Much esteemed, dear Mr. Volz:
My thanks for your friendly greetings from London. We were very happy and we often think back to your visits among us here. You brought much love with you and this bond of friendship will never be broken. Cordial greetings to you and your family from me and mine.
Here everything is proceeding as usual. The harvest was less than average and many will have difficulties. Religious life is stirring, in late autumn and winter there will again be various religious meetings to keep us united. How things will go with Confirmation Instruction one cannot predict with any certainty, but I am absolutely confident that God will not leave His work undone.
I have been away from my Parish for 3 months; from the middle of July to
the beginning of October I was working in the main Church in Moscow. The
Pastor there,? General Superintendent Th. Meyer, was called to the
Lutheran World Convention in Eisenach, and then on to Germany. He
appointed me as his deputy during his absence and as such I served the
Peter-Paul congregation. How interesting it was for me to become
acquainted with the Church and other matters. I was also at the station
when the A.R.A. workers left. I also visited the outlying farm area. In a
word, I was pleased to be in Moscow. Now I am again back with mine and
have much to do.
On October 14th I baptized 830 converts and 105 children. Schoolmaster Leonhardt has died; I do not know what is to become of his large family and orphans. Today I drive to Kolb. Tomorrow is a holiday there. During the Reformation Festival which lasts until the 31st, I hope to visit the entire Parish.
In service to God! I affectionately greet you,
yours, A. F. Kluck
(Word for word copy of the original from Jacob Volz, York Nebraska,
December 5, 1923)
Talofka (Beideck), 1923 ----
Much beloved by the Lord, brother Volz:
We received your short letter (postcard?) and we were all very pleased. Little Erta clapped her hands and cried: "Mister Volz has come and brought me something beautiful from Melika." We called out to God in prayer for your happy return to your home. Your wife was ill and it was also dangerous for you in Russia, so one could say as the poet: a benevolent God spread His wings over you in many emergencies.
We just come from the Church when your little letter arrived; my dear wife said: "Today marks a year since Mr. Volz was here with us, on a Sunday."
I remember your tears as the song was sung: "With the Lord in eternity will be my motto." Dear brother, we hope that you will come again with clothing which is of the greatest importance because everything here is too expensive. An Arschin of Gingham costs 200 Rubel. An American Dollar is equal to a Billion Rubel. Since you left we have had no rain. Apples turned out very well. Wheat Flour is 700 and Corn Meal 400 Rubel.
Each and every worker earns his wages. You know well that I took nothing from the gifts and by not doing so I have?injured myself. I should have followed your advice and taken my portion like everyone else. I have already received letters from America wherein you and I are accused of stealing things. I sent a letter to Lukas Dreith to give to you, from which you can conclude that not everyone in America is an idiot.
A letter came from Newark, N. J. from _______________? _____________ (Volz chose not to include the man's name---translator), saying that you and I had stolen his clothing; if you can, confront this man. This is the kind of thanks one receives for working through many entire evenings for the poor, and now they pay the worker his wages: my only comfort is that these are all lies and I say as Stephen did: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them. Good people do not do thus, only the weak."
I was recently in Balzer with your brother-in-law; they are all still well.
If you meet any Beideckers, greet them for me and tell them that our school building has been remodeled into a 4 classroom school. The Altar has been removed from the Church. Church services are no longer being held in the Church because of the lack of heat and also the lack of clothing. Pastor Guenther has gone to Warenburg. In the meantime Pastor Wacker is attending to us. The burden of the "In kind Tax" is heavy. It is more than we have harvested. This winter will again be a difficult one.
The Church Superintendent sends you his cordial greetings. May the good
Lord grant that our letters bring us great joy.
Your loving brother, Conrad
Wurtz, Nr. 117
(Copied by Jacob Volz for the Welt-Post).
Translation courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald