Reidsburg Pa
		   March 1864
Rev G M Spratt
	My dear Bro_ In the absence of the
Secretary of the board of trustees, Bro Myers
new at Washington DC. I am instructed
to reply to yours of the 11th inst
   The Action of  your board in reference
to the aplication for aid to Bro Thompson
we cannot but regard as very Selfish
if not contracted, and dogmatical: And
we are indeed pained to detect, any
disposition to vindicate Such action, on
the part of its worthy [illegible in original] Secty, A man
whome, we as churches and an associ-
ation ever delegated to honor, and
whoes mission we ever desired to encour-
age_ those too often with [illegible in original] and
illiberality. I confess
   Here is a young man whose piety is
evident to all, whoes talents are evidently
above mediocrity, who has reluctantly 
[illegible in original] to deep connections and is looking

forward to the ministry_ His brethren
believe him called to preach_ But he is
poor, and with all has a wife and two
children, He has a good practical English
education_ He would rejoice to  go directly
to our University wer it possible. But
there is An Academy of his own denominati[on?]
taught by an efficient instructor. There
he can prosecute his studdes for the time
being [illegible strikeout] fully one halfe the expense to
which he would elsewhere. By the aid
extended by A Widdowed Mother, he can
complete at least a partial course, provided
                         our
he can get from ^ State education Society. two
thirds, The Amount they usualy grant their
beneficiaries. He is encouraged to apply 
for aid An application is made. But
he is [illegible in original] informed that the onely poss
ible way of Securing $60-aid is by expending
some $40 in traveling Several hundred
miles to and fro in order that he appear
“in person”  “before the board or their author
-ized committee at Lewisburg” who Shall

judge among other things of “the propriety
of Any change in the place of  Study”!!
And withall he his reminded of “the danger of
making the education Society a party in the
distruction, or at least the damage of the Univ
ersity by giving to all Such aplications."
It does not require a Sophomore to under
stand the drift of the above extracts: and
I confess, candedly. to me at least, it Sm-
acks much a Superlative Selfishness! 
We yield, to no one as to our deep
connections of the "Sacredness of the funds" of
the Pa. Bap. Ed. Soct. And the responsibil
ity that “its board occupies as the Servents
of the Baptists of Pennsylvania”
But. My dear Brother, can your board
guard it treasurly. And meet its respons
ibility to the denomination in no other
way than by pursuing the policy aboe
indicated. and then with philosophical 
coolness express a regrett that it Will
make a [martyr?] of Bro Thompson and
Some others whome it were desirable
to Save”!_

Pardon me my Bro when I Say that
Such An array of piety, wisdom and
learning as is found in The executive
committee of your board, would not
be long in devising, and that in full
view of all responsibilities, Some method
to aid our poor, and worthy brother. in
the prosecution of his studdies where he
		          him
is without subjecting^ to [expens?] and incur
Such as you propose, provided they 
were at all disposed to allow one doll
ar of the SocietyS funds to be deverted
from Lewisburg & vicinity. We had
hope that the Pa, Bap. Ed Soc. would have
[illegible in original] then their good wishes, to us in
some tangable form and a limited extent
As do Similar institutions of other denomin
ations to like enterprises
      Be this as it may Bro Thompson
must not be left to fall. Our [illegible in original]
of the Association, are able to and
must Support him independent
of the Pa. Bap Ed Soct. If not in its
name     I am my dear Bro yours 
            by Affecty B H  Thomas