Another post about my grandfather, Rev. Claude W. Warren. He and friends took themselves out with a portable organ to preach the gospel to the lumberjacks in northern Wisconsin in 1926. This is his account of those days.

September 1925 (Tuesday)

After spending the month of August at Salmo Beach in one of Harvey Nourse’s cottages we are now getting ready to return to Ashland.

It has been an ideal spot for a vacation. Mother and Betty are at Aunt Etta’s, leaving Mary, William and Richard to camp here. Deruhie Akkedingian, Armanian girl from Northland is helping us.

We have had some great swims and hikes climbing all over the high hills above the lake and rambling along the shore. William is as brown as an Indian and so am I.

I have outlined my course in Old Testament which I am to teach this year at Northland. For two years I have had Academy Bible but now that Prof. Walker is leaving I am to take the college work as well. I look forward to this new responsibility with real joy. It is a great challenge. It will compel me to do a lot of thorough consistent digging in a scientific study of the Bible that will be stimulating and profitable.

While here we have attended the Presbyterian Church at Bayfield four Sundays out of the five. Preached twice at open air services at “The Birches” the home of Laurie Noursis, the first night I talked on “We’ve Got the Bible Back Again”. It created considerable interest and drew an enthusiastic response which was very satisfying. The second night I preached on “What Christ Means to the World.” Making a plea for church union. About forty were present that night What I said on the Canadian United Church was much appreciated.

Took in the meeting of the State Horticultural Society held at the Community Club House. As a result I got invited to speak there the evening of Labor Day.

The Indian pageant and Log Rolling contest were worth visiting, hundreds attending from other states.

Tonight I have been rereading my diary of two years ago. The month of August will forever be sacred because on August 5th, 1923 mother was translated to the higher realm of eternity. On that date this year I wrote special letters to Lewis, Jessie, Dora and Aunt Hattie, my nearest of kin.

I am convinced that my work at Northland is the type of work that would appeal to Mother as a part of her New England heritage.

How sorry I was not to be able to accept the invitation to speak at Northampton, Massachusetts on Aug. 2, at the union service of the First and Edwards Congregational churches. The First Church is the Solomon Stoddard church and the Edwards church is where the Coolidges attended. I was to have been entertained at the home of Prof. Henry M. Tyler, formerly Dean of Smith College and great grandson of Jonathan Edwards. It would have been a great honor and privilege to speak on such sacred soil consecrated by the prayers of my Puritan ancestors and the blood of my Revolutionary forefathers. Someday I hope to have such a privilege. This summer my duty was to remain with my family for rest study, and recuperation that did us al good.

MARCH 21, 1926

Haven’t written a line since last August. The year since college opened has been unusually busy. I am giving twice as much to teaching since I took over the college class in addition to the Academy work. But I am excused from chapel talks so that is some relief. I miss that contact. It required considerable extra work

It was a great privilege to attend the National Council with Mary and the Brownells. To see Washington was a joy, the White House, Capital Building, Library of Congress, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Ford Theater, the house in which Lincoln died across the street. The New York Avenue Presbyterian church which he attended and the little room downstairs where he used to sit in the dark during prayer meeting to visit Arlington and the home of Lee, the grave of the Unknown Soldier, Alexandria, Virginia and Christ Church where Washington worshipped , the pew in which he sat, then to see Mount Vernon, his home now restored, his library, gardens, trees he set out and the entire arrangement of house and vast estate shows the genius of the man, his organizing ability and what a lover of home and farm life he was. The tomb designed by him a few months before his death is marked by simplicity, dignity and beauty. What a noble and unselfish character! To understand Washington and the greatness of America one must visit Mount Vernon, the home of a rich man who served rich and poor with equal devotion.

Spent a day in Philadelphia, saw Independence Hall, Congress Hall, Christ Church, the grave of Franklin. Went out to Valley Forge where was enacted the awful tragedy of the suffering during the winter of 1777. The headquarters of Washington, the old stone school house are still standing. A beautiful Memorial Chapel, the American Westminster has recently been dedicated.

At the Council meetings no great outstanding spiritual message marked its proceedings. The Fosdicks and Sherwood Eddys did not appear on the program. Budgets and mergers consumed so much time there was no energy left for any great moral note to be struck. The new social creed was adopted after heated discussion. I am glad for this forward move but regret that some of my friends saw fit to oppose it. Labor, the official organ of the Railroad brotherhood calls it a stride in the direction of the Sermon on the Mount.

Greatest of all I met my spiritual father in Christ, Graham Taylor. How he rushed across the platform to meet Mary and me! It was right after the council sermon by Carl S. Patton. When Dr. Taylor heard it he exclaimed “Now let thou thy servant depart in peace.” What a joy it was to go hunting for an oyster soup with him after the sermon and how we did enjoy sermon, soup, and renewal of happy memories of Seminary and Chicago Commons.

What a joy to meet old Seminary pals – Inglis, Stickney, Goodwin.

Of course we enjoyed hearing the President and seeing the gracious lady of the White House, also having our pictures taken with them and several thousand other people on the famous South lawn of the White House grounds. We visited the celebrated East Room, State Dining room and other smaller reception rooms. From a distance we could see the room where Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. I mean we saw the outside window.

As a result of the trip I have delivered a number of talks on Lincoln, Washington, Mount Vernon and Independence Hall.

EVANGELISTIC TOUR

Tuesday, August 2nd, 1926, Davies of Viroqua arrived with his folding organ ready for a second evangelistic tour in villages and lumber camps. Phillips and I had been out the previous week.

Davies was called home for a funeral so we decided to meet on Friday at Medford, a half way point and work from there north. I arrived at 5 p.m., Davies at 6:30. It rained that night, no meeting. Next morning called on the mayor, C.F.Luepke, and obtained permission to hold a street meeting.. The banker, Mr Gibson said we could have it in front of the bank at one o’clock. About fifty people heard us on the street. We passed out 150 gospels to those passing by between 11:30 and 1:00 o’clock. In all gave out 200 gospels. Had a number of interviews before and after. A tourist from S. Dakota, a Catholic was much interested. Several lumber jacks were present,. Called on Prof. Scheve at his father’s law office also Walter Lindatrom surveyor and draftsman for the Lake Superior Dist. Power Co.

A little Polish girl, Valeria Moture, age 12 who lives at Lublin, is staying with Miss Minnie Steffens next door to Rev. Blacks. She is in the fifth grade. Poor schools at Lublin. Population is Russian and Polish. Hire teachers as cheaply as possible. Valeria joined the Congregational Church last Easter and is an enthusiastic member. At home she knew nothing about God or the Bible. Came to our meeting and asked for 25 copies of the gospel to distribute among friends. When told these were paid for by some good people of Ashland she expressed great gratitude. Her friend Miss Steffen said she wished a Sunday School might be established in Lublin. Nothing but Russian and Polish churches, no Bible teaching for the children.

We called on the editors of the two Medford papers and gave them material for a write-up.

Our first stop a success. New friends and 200 gospels given out. It was worthwhile just to meet Valerie Moture. She is a warm friend of the Blacks and in their absence keeps marauders out of the garden. “Watch me take ‘em out” she exclaims and starts for the garden . If our so called 100 of Americans had her zeal for education and religion Wisconsin would soon be redeemed.

Arrived Rib Lake 5 p.m. Saturday. Rev. Stone not at home. Rev. Dale took us over to see J.F.Sisley, Vice President of the Rib Lake Lumber Company who gave us permission to visit the camp on Monday.

Meeting on street that night, gave out 86 gospels. Several mill workers, lumber jacks and farmers spoke to us after the meeting. A farmer and wife expressed regret that they missed most of the service. They came late but said they would drive in for the next meeting at the ME church Sunday night.

Attended Christian Church Sunday morning. J.S. Stone pastor, Edwin Keiswalls was SS Supt here for several years. Otto Steffek, J.J. Volmostek and others remembered the Keiswalls well.

Davies preached on The Master, a fine service. We took dinner at the hotel with Mr. Stone. He has been here 13 years and is just the man for the field. Well adapted. In the afternoon I rested and prepared for the evening service while Stone and Davies attended a Finnish service in the country at a farm house. It was in Finnish but Stone preached in English. Stone is a Norwegian, Davies Welsh, and a Jew from Chicago was present at a Finnish gathering.

We are camping at the tourist park half a mile from town.

Preached Sunday night at ME Church, Rev. A.J. Dale, pastor. Sermon from sixth of Matthew on giving praying and seeking. A fine service. After church entertained at ME parsonage. Davies and Dale are Moody Bible graduates. Dr. Jas.M Gray, S.D. Gordon and others were the topics of discussion theologically speaking. I didn’t have much to say. I love the Moody people but don’t agree with them. Davies went from Moody Institute to Chicago Seminary but was never ashamed of his previous training. The evangelistic zeal of the Moody people is most commendable. .Wish we all had more of it.

Slept that night at the tourist park. Rained hard but the tent was good protection.

Monday we pulled up stakes left our car in the yard of Rev. Stone’s yard and took the logging train for Camp 21 of the Rib Lake Lmg. Co. Chester Curran, engineer and Matthews, conductor, Shepard, brakeman, all fine fellows. They showed us every courtesy. A note from J.F. Sisly, Vice President of the company paved the way.

Eric Neuman, fire warden was in the caboose. I had a chance to study the lumber jack off duty. Eric had been to town, got well blasted with moon shine and had an extra bottle on his hip. He tried to get the conductor to take a drink but Matthews refused. Just had dinner, he explained. Eric took a great liking to us. In fact we had a great old talk on top of the caboose, facing smoke and cinders, rolling through 20 miles of timber land, discussing evolution, the fall of man, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel and many philosophical subjects. “All bunk” said Eric. Used to read the Bible, brought up in Lutheran church. Rejected the whole business. Thinks for himself. When he learned that we do some independent thinking ourselves he was quite impressed. Promised to be at the meeting. But he couldn’t make. The moon overpowered him and it wasn’t in the sky either. I learned that Eric is a very reliable fire warden, seldom gets drunk and then only when it rains. When it rains Eric hears voices calling and he goes to town. Used to be a lumber jack and a good one. His job is to follow the logging train about a half hour later and look for fires started from sparks. Easy job but very responsible.

Arrived at Camp 21 at 3:30 p.m.. Met Nels Nelson the time keeper ( a mason) who gave us a hearty welcome, also the woods superintendent, W.H. Patrick, a mild mannered friendly fellow (I learned afterwards he is hell on wheels when things get jammed he throws his hat on the ground, stamps on it, swearing and cursing like a pirate.) We struck him just right on a lucky day. He invited us to sleep in the office with him and the other camp bosses. Good bunks and fine grub. The cook Sam Smith from Indiana fairly rained grub all round us and came up twice to see if we lacked anything. Nothing but capacity we replied. I learned afterwards that when he goes home with $300.00 a friend has to accompany him beyond Eau Claire when he changes cars or some one will fleece him in a poker game. After supper we put the little organ near the door of one of the bunk houses while I stood outside and preached so that all could hear inside and out. Many were seated on the track outside, the superintendent, who has charge of all the camps the boss of Camp 21, Joe Landlois a French Catholic and a K.C., the time keeper and C.A. Brandt, the Asst. supt. were all seated out side within hearing distance.

After the service which the men greatly appreciated we gathered in the bunk house and with the aid of two lanterns sang old time songs, Scotch, Welsh and Irish, much to the delight of the men. The supt. came and enjoyed it like the rest. He asked for “When You And I Were Young Maggie,” which Davies sang. When he was singing “Roaming in the Gloming:” he forgot the second stanza but one of the lumber jacks piped in and sang it for him. Another one brought in a sheet of songs written by a lumberman who has since gone blind. We did not have the music but I read the words which the men enjoyed hugely. The whole service of secular and sacred music lasted nearly two hours. Nelson moved around the edge of the crowd while I was talking to get the comments of the men. They did not know he was listening with that purpose in mind. He said all liked the talk and they were pleased because I did not condemn those of any other church. I put the threefold message of the great sins mentioned in Math 5, unbrotherliness, untruthfulness and unchastity in such a way that the men recognized that I am not condemning them as a class but appealing to them to fight and overcome every temptation with the power of God. I tell them I have to fight these three great sins as does every man who strives to enter in to life as Jesus concerned it and become the kind of man God intends him to be. This manner of presentation appeals to the men. They like it.

I also refer to lumbermen as comrades of the carpenter Jesus who no doubt knew lumber, was able to fell timber, split wood, trim it for use in building houses and barns, making yokes for oxen, laying foundations, building towers, building the house of character, day by day Jesus is the comrade of the lumberman. He developed health and physical strength in out door life and when he went to Jerusalem and drove the thieves out of the temple it was the whip cord in his hand, the sleeve rolled up exposing muscles of steel with the light of rightness indignation flashing in his eye that convinced his enemies here was no man to truffle with. He got his training from life in the open, in the woods, on the lake, climbing the hills around Nazareth, coming to grips with men in the market places and observing soldiers , seamen, fisherman, vineyard keepers, farmers, shepherds, getting a vision of God in close contact with the busy world of men, preaching a gospel of the good will and brotherhood, with God as the heavenly Father and all men as brothers. He laid aside heavenly glory took upon himself the form of a servant, worked, lived struggled, suffered and conquered and overcame the world called men after his own heart from the fishermen net and the publicans money table, challenged these to follow him to live with him the life of vicarious service to treat all men as brothers with the potential possibilities of Christhood within them. He is the divine comrade of the lumber jack in the woods. May he come their teacher, Saviour, beloved companion of life’s logging road. When the last tree has fallen, the ax returned to its sheathe, the last log ascended the pull chain, the last saw filed, the last car loaded with the jammer, when the ax, the cast hook and the pike pole are laid aside may you meet the smiling face of him who once worked in the woods and labored at the carpenters bench now exalted to the place of power and authority in heavenly places, may you hear his words of welcome. “Well done, good and faithful woodsman, enter thou into the everlasting comradeship of the Lord!”

The above is the basest outline of a book I hope to write some day on “Comrades of the Carpenter,” to be dedicated to the lumber jacks of northern Wisconsin.

I tell the men to be true to their church and I’ll be true to mine. If so we are all brothers in Christ. Worship God and follow Christ according to what light they have and seek further light constantly. It will come with growing experience.

God loves trees, Jesus drew lessons from the mustard seed which grew into a tree so that the birds of the air made their nests in the branches thereof. A good tree cannot bear evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bear good fruit. By their fruits ye shall know.

The Bible opens with a description of a garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It closes with the picture of Paradise and the tree of life whose leaves are for the healing of the nation
How much God has to say about trees and was in the Bible. “Man shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Ps.1.3

“Ungodly like chaff which the wind bloweth away.” Ps.1.4

In heaven a “pure river of water of life, clear as crystal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, on either side of the river was the tree of life and the leaves of the tree even for the healing of the nations.” Rev.22,1,2.

Tuesday morning Mr. Patrick took us in his gas car out to Camp 18 for breakfast. A fine ride through the woods and as appetizer for breakfast. Met the boss, C.R. Peterson, more about him later. Mr. Patrick gave us a fine letter recommendation.

Arrived Rib Lake 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Street meeting Prentice that night, 75 books given out in a village of 588. Good attention. Spoke in front of pool room by side of a beautiful little park. Met Millard Marshall.

Davies drove on ahead to Tripoli 15 miles east of Prentice Wednesday morning and made arrangements with a Bissell Lumber Company to speak at their camp 8 miles from town that night. Left my car at tourist park and took the outfit in Davies car.

Left his car at an old abandoned camp and walked a mile and a half through the woods and a very muddy road to the camp carrying the organ and gospels, a heavy pack and a fierce battle with the mosquitoes. Arrived at camp at 5:30 just as the men were finishing supper. The Supt. and time-keeper (a Mason) gave us a hearty welcome a special supper and an offer to stay all night and carry the organ back on the engine in the morning. We accepted. After supper we gave the service in the larger of the two bunk houses. About sixty men inside and about twenty outside. I gave my new talk on “Comrades of the Carpenter.” It was well received. Several men said they liked what I said about being true to your church and live up to its teachings. They nodded to each other and remarked “That fellow is all right” The time keeper was especially pleased. The close of the talk about the last log going up the bull chain and the ax cant hook and pike poke laid aside and hearing the words of welcome from the divine Companion on life’s logging road made a powerful climax. The reference to the trees and rivers of the Bible and of Christ who was himself a carpenter and woodsman and friend of all who toil. Davies led in singing old popular airs, “Roaming in the Gloaming” & “Silver Threads among the gold” being most popular.

Edgar Tapp a young Frenchman from Montreal asked of I could get him a copy of “The Blazed Trail” as I had told a story from that book. He had been a specialty salesman in Iowa making $50.00 a week selling to farmers when hard times came and he hit the woods for a job. He watched me eagerly as I talked on social purity, drinking in every word.

An old Polish lumberjack came up and asked for a gospel in Polish, also another man wanted one in Krouson (Croatian I suppose). We gave out 90 books.

Met Duffy Cadotte, French from Bayfield. Born on Madeline Island. Knows FR. Ruth of Ashland.

Most of the men in this camp are Polish, Finnish, Swedes and Lithuanians. Mostly Finnish, one or two Norwegians, Scotch and Irish.

S.B. Armstrong the time keeper proved his masonic friendship. Gave us good beds clean socks and underwear, sweaters and shirts and shoes so we could be warm and dry before we ate supper. We were soaked to the knees with mud and water and dripping with sweat from the hard tramp through the woods. Our clothing dried during the night. Next morning he give us names of camp bosses and superintendents of several other camps also a good letter of recommendation.

Malcomb McEachin is the walker (Woods Supt.) Armstrong says he is a brother of Norman Mach, former Chrm. of the Democratic Com.

E.E. Nelson- cook The cook draws $125.00 a month and board and room.

Next morning I took my first hike through a lumber camp where they were felling timber. Of course I had to ask which way the old hemlock would fall. A Finn named John Berg a former minor who used to make $5.00 a day but had to quit because he broke his ankle was sawing and cursing an ignorant Polock who evidently was as green as I was about handling a saw.

A man by name of Walworth from Richland Center knew Mr. And Mrs. A.L. Hatch.

A most interesting interview was with a man named Hawkins from Lake Center (?) Minn. An American and well read. He was making skid ways for piling logs along the track. Said he was not for the Ku Klux and thanked me for my talk appeal for more of the spirit of brotherhood. He told of a conversation that morning after words between an ignorant scoffer who said we had no business. In the camp and Dick Carr the top loader of one of the jammers. Dick shut him up in a hurry and the fellow hung his head in shame. Dick defended me and said I had the right idea and the other fellow was too ignorant to have an opinion worth expressing. Hurrah for Dick! Well I walked back almost a mile over the roughest piece of logging road to see Dick and thank him for his kind words in my behalf. I climbed onto the car where he was working as top loader and said I had hunted him up for that purpose. He again expressed his approval of my talk on brotherhood and said he had helped to quiet some fellows who were talking during the meeting also stopped a card game that was going on. Said he wished I would come again. Lives with his sister in Argone, Wis. An interview such as this is worth all the time, energy and sweat expended. I am glad to know that my message is getting across to the men I want to reach.

Left the camp after dinner on Thursday and returned to Tripoli.
Heddonth, Congregational pastor is a strong clansman, an organizer in fact.

Thursday night a street meeting at Tripoli, 70 gospel, McEachin the woods supt, was the first man to occupy the bench and he invited all the lumber jacks, saw mill workers, pool hall gang and village loafers to sit down or stand around for the meeting which he said was “going to be good”. In spite of a sensational “movie” which was on that night (they have a picture once a week) we had a good crowd. We had one meeting and closed it properly with prayer then went to the movie ourselves as Davies said, to vary the program and get a different atmosphere occasionally.

After the meeting McEachim came up and shook hands warmly and said that speakers with the kind of message we gave should be sent all over the county, a message much needed he said. He is Roman Catholic.

We stayed at the tourist park that night. Next morning I called on Mrs. H.H.Stolle, a sister of Mrs. McLennon of Sturgeon Bay. She also is blind. Was very glad to see me.

We started that morning for Rhinelander, 110 gospels. A lady from Madison member of the ME Church who had listened from a near y auto came over and said she never missed an opportunity to hear the gospel preached. Said I reminded her of Barstow. I told her I didn’t feel bad at all over the comparison. Another lady, Mrs. W.P. Nichols wife of the cook of the Thunder Lake Lbr. Co. near Three Lakes invited me to come there for a service. Sorry I could not accept.

That night we held a meeting on the street at Eagle River, Davies former pastorate, 170 gospels distributed. I was entertained at the parsonage of Rev. T.C. Hargreaves is the pastor. The old church building is remodeled into a beautiful parsonage.

Here I parted with Davies as he had to join his family at Neenah. He made an ideal companion especially for the lumber camps. The organ was even better than the cornet for holding the crowds. And he and I sang duets. Of the twenty songs sent in for our crusade we selected two one by a 16 year old girl, Mary A Hawk of East Bloomfield, New York as follows:

“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the brotherhood to be
A brotherhood that shall extend from sea to shining sea
Divided not by race or creed but all men equal free
Christ’s brothers marching on
Refrain – Glory, Glory,. Hallelujah! Etc.

Today the world seems vanquished by its dread foes Hate and Fear
But listen! Far away a call is sounding loud and clear
And the tramp of loving comrades moving forward we can hear
Christ’s soldiers marching on
Refrain – Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! Etc.

This song was very appropriate for our message of true patriotism and religion. The thought of all men being equal and free is the heart of the Declaration of Independence while freedom of speech the press and assembly voices the true spirit of the U.S. Constitution. The suggestion of the brotherhood of Christ is the great teaching of the Sermon on the Mount.

So I had my wish to set the Sermon on the Mount to music and put it to work.

The other song was sent in by Mr. S.W. Nichols, Jacksonville, IL a Civil War veteran age 82. Because of the extreme of age I chose these two songs out of the twenty submitted. Mr. Nichols sent in 16 stanzas but I selected two for use in the camps as follows –

“My Soul has heard a message from the Blessed One on high
He has bidden me proclaim his love beneath the western sky
To tell the story never old but bid my hearers try
To give their hearts to him”
Refrain – Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! Etc.

“In tourist park in lumber camp the travelers ever heard
Thought oft the seed met stony ground
Sometimes the blessed work found goodly soil in willing hearts
And like the seed of old Produced a hundred fold.”
Refrain – Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! Etc.

Many friends in Ashland and readers of the Congregationalist from Mass. to Minn. Sent contributions from 25 cents up amounting in all to nearly $100.00 to pay for the pocket gospels, gas, oil and other expenses of the trip. One man gave me a $10.00 coupon ticket for gas and oil.

We have given out 1900 copies of the gospel each with a little card telling where the Sermon on the Mount is to be found.

I have the names and addresses of 35 people whom I have met, lumber jacks, camp bosses and cooks, time keepers, logging road brakemen, office men, ministers, school teachers, YMCA secretaries and others with whom I hope to keep up a correspondence this winter. This follow up work will be worth while I hope. Some real friendships have been formed.

It has been a marvelous experience for me. My greatest expectations have been fulfilled . There is a hunger for religion if expressed in terms of brotherhood prejudice and intolerance, creedal controversy and denominational rivalry have had their day. When the churches go to the people in a friendly brotherly spirit the effort will be rewarded and the great revival will be in evidence. But the laymen must take an active part and not leave it to hired evangelists to do the haranguing. Every pastor and every member of the church must catch the vision of the new evangelism and have some share in it. Instead of getting people to “go forward” we must challenge them to study the Sermon on the Mount and put it into practice socially as well as individually. As Gandhi says it will solve all of India’s problems and we might add America’s and the world’s. It will bring peace and joy to the heart. It will save civilization from war and strife.

I had a great time at Land O’Lakes. Mrs. Frank Ferry had written me to come, I thought she was a farmers wife living near there. Imagine my surprise when I discovered she was the wife of a very wealthy man of Winnetka, Ill and a member of the Congregational church. They have a beautiful summer home on Black Oak Lake. Dr. and Mrs. J.O. Ely the parents of Lt. Dinsmore Ely, American aviator killed in France have had a summer home there for 17 years. They are all interested in starting a Sunday school and eventually a church in the village.

I preached at the school house in the morning, about 60 were present. Some young people drove 10 miles to be present. A flourishing Sunday school is started.

Dr. Ely took me to dinner and showed me a sacred shrine in the woods which his son loved. It is an out door cathedral. He plans to erect a wooden pulpit with log seats for occasional religious services. Mrs. Ely presented me with a book of her son’s letters and poems which I prize very highly. When the news came a memorial service was held at the cottage after which his canoe with his gun, fishing rod and camping outfit was taken out into the lake and sunk.

The Ferry’s paid my bill at the Black Oak Resort where Geo. St. Clair is proprietor. They have invited wife and I to come back this summer for a day or two.

Sunday night Aug. 22nd we had a service at Memorial Park, Washburn. About 150 were present . Hansen, the grocer, led the singing. A piano was hauled to the park on a truck and benches were moved providing seats for nearly all. The singing was good. It shows what can be done in a tourist park with a little cooperation. Several children came up at the close and asked for extra copies of the gospels.

Record of First Week with Edwin Phillips of Kewaunee

July 17th – Left Ashland at 2 pm Saturday, stopped at camp near Cable and gave out 20 gospels. The cook, L.A.Vough was married by the same minister, Rev. Geo. B. Pence, who married Phillips, my companion on the tour. Cook said “nobody but Swedes here all Lutherans.” So we left the gospels just the same. Could not stop for a meeting.

Arrived Trego at 6:00. Stopped at Barnetts, parsonage. Met Robert L. Rosche, university student, who is conducting D V B schools in and around Trego. Expects to go to Seminary. Met by former Northland farmer. Had good street meeting in front of post office, just as the evening mail was being distributed. The only disturbance of our whole 16 days tour came this first night. The village constable, a man of great importance feared a traffic congestion and kept mumbling to himself about it so that those standing near could not hear. Finally a lady went over to him and told him to shut up, that these visiting ministers deserved a fair dear. He went off still mumbling but gave no further trouble. I learned afterward that she was a Catholic of the liberal variety.

Rev. Barnett introduced us and helped with the singing. We greatly enjoyed the hospitality of the parsonage.

July 18th – After breakfast at Barnetts we drove to Babcocks at Lampoon and made arrangements for a meeting there on Monday. Arrived at Minong where we held a service in Cong church at 11 o’clock, 12 people present. Pearl Lindgren played. .Dinner at Knights. They were having a family reunion 21 for dinner.

Set up tent in yard, Pleasant Grove Park.

Services on street that night. Used church organ with cornet. Meeting in front of restaurant. Proprietor said it couldn’t do any harm. Gave out 80 gospels. I preached from the sixth Chapter of Matthew. Many young boys and girls were present who do not attend Sunday school. A farmer and wife heard by accident on the phone of our coming and drove in eight miles. It was a fine meeting. The crowd increased in numbers and interest as time went on. Meeting lasted 40 minutes. A high school principal from Mosinee was present.

At the tent I had a long talk with Jerome McCaity, brakeman on the Duluth Iron Range since he was 19. Dissatisfied, wants to try farming or life insurance. Has selling ability. Not a church member. Likes the Salvation Army and our type of evangelism. Believe we did him some good.

Mon. Fish breakfast at Ned Hines, one mile west of Minong. He spends his summer on fathers berry farm, 3 and a half acres of strawberries. In 1924 got.$140. dollars from 2 acres.

Father going blind. Tragedy- Beautiful character. Wife died several years ago. He was worth $65,000. In business at Lodi. Dissatisfied with city life. Greatest ambition to build a log house 20 miles from nearest inhabitant and make a home in the wilderness. Bought 40 acres near Minong and redeemed the wilderness. Used 300 pounds of dynamite the first year to clear his land. Sows soy beans the first year, lets it grow a waist high then plows it under to mulch the soil. Says average farmer of northern Wisconsin does not know how to farm. He kills his land by taking too much off and putting nothing in. If he had a farm of 25 acres he would put 5 acres of soy beans in each year and work the other 20 for crops. This would keep his land always productive. Hines is happy on his 40 acres with strawberries birds and fish. A modern pioneer, he built a home is making a good living and is teaching others how to farm and how to live successfully. I have learned much from him. To build a fine character you must give as well as take. The Greeks said cultivate thyself, the Romans, order thyself, the modern materialist says enlarge thyself, the modern pagan says enjoy thyself, but the message of Christianity is to give thyself. In this sense Mr. Hines is a very successful man. He is rich in friendship, love and loyalty.

Monday morning we went fishing at Lake Pagama. I caught a black bass and a pickerel, Edwin 3 croppies and 2 sun figh.

Back for dinner at 2:30 and chicken dinner at that. Mrs. Hines sister Miss Williams is a nurse at Pres. Hospital Chicago. She knows –Bacon and Hensl from Beloit, Academy pals.

Back to Knights at Minong, arrived at WH Balcocks at Lampson at 6 pm. Met WH and children, Ruth, Kenneth and Gordon. Mrs. B. was away with Donald who hurt his foot in a motorcycle accident. Paul at Lake Geneve, Asst. cook at Y Camp.

Meeting at Town Hall. Gave out 26 gospels. A good meeting on first indoor meeting. Met Ila Green’s father and Alice Haas’ mother. Had a wonderful visit renewing an old friendship. WH and I were association secretaries in Marshalltown 20 years ago. I shall always be grateful for that contact and experience.

The Balcocks have a wonderful home a mile from the little village of Lampoon. Seven years ago they bought 15 acres of land fronting a small lake. They put up a brick house costing $6,000.. It is all paid for. Here the children get the glory of God’s out of doors, swimming, skating, hiking, skiing and tobogganing. Three of the children were at Northland last year, Paul in my Bible class.

WH says he has a grand piano and a second hand Ford which is almost ten years old. He is getting the piano on time. He believes in books, music, culture, art, health, character in a home of his own. How many there are who have a magnificent automobile but whose intellects are starved and moral and spiritual natures destitute. We are poor and weak and blind as the old as the old hymn has it.

Yes, my friend Babcock is a very successful man. I am proud to know him. He believes that an automobile is for convenience not for style.

Mrs. Babcock is a remarkable woman. She was willing to give up their city home in Eau Claire, move to a rural community in order to raise a family in God’s great out of doors. It is 20 miles to the newest doctor. The doctors charge $1.00 a mile so the people cannot afford to be sick. The wives of farmers who are foreigners rarely call a doctor when the baby arrives. The expense is too great. Instead Mrs. Babcock goes and stays for several days until the mother and child are safely card for. Salt of the earth is Mrs. Babcock!. A genuine Christian home, a Half Way House on the road to the Celestial City! We said good by with real regrets cherishing many happy memories.

Lampoon has a religious service every three weeks by a visiting Lutheran preacher who conducts a Sunday school. The people greatly appreciated our services and begged us to stay another night, but we could not do so this time. Kenneth Babcock told me he was going to paste Lincolns picture on the cover of his gospel. A good idea to use in next yours campaign.

Ila Green oldest of five children, Mother died several years ago. She is assistant cook at Phantom Lake Y Camp. A real home manager. She works her way at Northland as cook at girls dormitory. A fine example of pluck. Babcock sent her and Alice Haas to Northland. They are typical students. It was a privilege to visit the home communities of such young people. Three of the leading characters of the Academy play “Seventeen” given last June are from this little village.

Tuesday night Road Construction camp on Whalen Lake where they are building State Highway No. 11, Trego to Minog cutting off seven mles. We hunted up the foreman John Iverson, (home address 5th Ave, Hotel, Duluth), who was directing the operation of the steam shovel. We tramped a half mile down the new road to interview him. He gave permission to speak that night. About 35 men in the camp. Pulled our car up in front of one of the bunk houses while the men sat on the benches. They gave excellent attention. Some joined in singing old familiar hymns. One boy, a graduate of High School in Denver, Colorado came up at the close. He had wandered to Wisconsin with no particular end in view. Hope we gave him push to get out and up. I always like to use the illustration of Edward Schollhauser. It wakes them up with a bang. This was our first experience in a camp. It went off successfully.

We fish for bass in the morning and for men in the evening. They both rise to the bait and seize it eagerly.

Babcock leaned me two books to read. –
Eddy – Makers of Freedom
Curry – Facing Student Problems
Very helpful books

Babcock says Alfalfa in the best crop to kill quack grass with.

Left their home at three p.m. Wednesday for Trego. As we passed the dam where the construction gang are working we asked the boss for permission to speak that night. He refused, Catholic gave us permission to use the school house near by, but not to use the company grounds. We drove to Trego, got Rasche, made a sign advertising meeting at school house, told the camp truck driver who was in town to advertise the meeting when he got back to camp. We drove back to camp and Phillips gave them a cornet solo from the highway at main entrance. A few men came out and we told them to tell the others. About 15 men at the school including children. Mr. Torr (a mason) the time keeper was indignant when he learned that his Catholic boss wouldn’t let us speak. Since most of the men were Protestants, he thought we should have a chance to deliver our message. After the meeting we went back to the office of the boss and asked permission to leave 50 copies of the gospel for distribution by the time keeper, who will perform his Masonic duty as we were later informed..

So we followed the apostolic injunction, shook the dust of the camp off our feet, had the meeting and later returned to distribute our full quota of gospels. The stumbling block became a stepping stone after all, for the furtherance of the gospel as Saint Paul would say.

Thursday morning we took Rascke out to his DVB School at Rocky Ridge nine miles from Trego . Gave the children 13 gospels and asked themn to write me a letter. One 12 year old boy responded. Small school but a good one.

Practically the only distribance of our whole 19 days was at Trego when the village constable, a Catholic tried to annoy us but a Catholic woman shut him up. To paraphase Paul we may say that Alexander the constable tried to do us much harm but the Lord through a Catholic servant rewarded him properly II Tim. 4:14.

The Barnetts took us for a drive over the eastern end of their parish. It is about 20 miles square in all, about 400 square miles, three villages and adjacent territory. At a farm home he has a Bible class every other Tuesday night. The average attendance is 17. It meets eight months in the year.

Mr. Barnett is the representative of Beloit First Church. They pay his expenses to the mid-water conference at Beloit. He conducts chorus singing at Springbrook. He is called upon for everything from getting up a program for Memorial Day to the dedication of a new school building.

Thursday night Barnett and Rasche helped us at our last meeting at Earl on the street in front of the Woodman hall. Cornet duet and singing by Barnett and Phillips. Gave out 87 gospels. This was our biggest meeting. Most of the people were seated on the steps or on the ground or in cars. Several came up at the close and said they wished other members of their family might have been present.

We have had such wonderful cooperation from the people of the local churches that our work has been more successful than it otherwise would have been. Hospitality for itinerant preachers was shown on every hand, meals and lodging were provided the entire first week. We paid for only two meals the first and last on this trip. We put up the tent only one night.

Thursday morning I again drove Rasche out to his school. On the way back stopped at a small cutting milll where 3 or 4 men were working. The fireman Stanley Swearinge asked for 25 copies of the gospel for distribution among farmers near by. He seemed to be much interested.

Thus ended our first weeks exerience.
8 meetings in 7 places
3 street meetings
2 rural School houses
1 Town hall
1 church
1 Road camp
414 gospels distributed

Total Summary
25 meetings in 21 days
1990 gospels distributed
11 street
2 Lumber camps
2 construction camps
3 Rural school houses
1 Town Hall
1 Tourist Park
4 Churches
1 Home
40 Interviews with names and addressed to correspond
2 young men who are considering the ministry

Phillips and Davies with cornet and organ proved themselves ideal companions and evangelists carries of good news.

The experience at Land O’ Lakes seems of providential leading. I did not intend to go there although I had received a special invitation to come. When Davies proposed to go to Eagle River, I said I would go with him and make that our last meeting. He left Saturday morning to join his family at Neenah, while I got in touch with Mrs. Ferry at Land O’Lakes to inquire if she wanted me to come alone to spend Sunday. She said to come on and stay at Black Oak Resort. Arrived Saturday at one o’clock went fishing with the Ferry’s in the afternoon had a long visit at the Ferry Hill Lodge that night and spoke at Sunday school the next morning. Received word of Paul Babcock’s death and started for Salmo in the afternoon. Mary and I went to the funeral Monday, a very sad occasion.

And so at the end of my campaign at a town which I did not intend to visit I was led by the hand of God to Land O’Lakes and brought face to face with one of the greatest opportunities a minister of Christ ever met. I started out to carry the gospel to neglected communities and was led directly to Troas where received the call to Macedonia. Truly it was a venture of faith fully justified.