Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-07-05
the SIMPLE LIFE OF A COMMON[R
AN AUTOBlOG OGRAPnY

BIOGRAPHY
meeting with wholesome adventures
and having some rare experiences.
The long drives in the summer,
through the timber and across the
prairies, were greatly enjoyed by us.
The preachers wife, who was a fine
singer in those days, possessing a
beautiful voice which had been care
fully trained. would sing hymn af-
ter hymn, while I, who knew but
,Nttle about music. would help to
nj the volume of sound. and en-
1.NGMt, l think quite as much as il
I hA Asown more of the science.
One my preaching places
which wax Ayn as the Deep Creek
appointment sassituated about mid
way between this parsonage and Ly-
ons. Near the school house lived
Mr.. and Mrs. Evans, the people
whose butter had bought while in
the store. They were not members OF
our church but they were among
our best friends and their home was
always open to us when we were in
that neighborhood, as indeed were
most Of the homes on the charge and
that without regard to chuch affini-
ty. So free was the hospitality on
Summer Hill circuit that it was ut
terly impossible for us to respond to
all the invitations we received from
our parishioners; not infrequently
would we be gone from home two or
three weeks at a time. making ac-
Quaintences, holding meetings and
visiting among the people.
On the oath of March, 1866, our
second babe was born. 1t was another
eirl, whom in rare burst of state
pride, we named Iowa, though just
why we should have been so patri-
otic at that particular time, am un-
able to say.
The last Quarterly Conference OF
the year met early in September and
recommended the preacher to the
Annual Conference for Admission
on Trial" and the recommendation
presented by the Pesiding Elder.
der, Rev. r. w. Keller. at the ensuing
session. which was held at Iowa City,
September 18th, Bishop E. s.
James, presiding. 1t SO happened
was presented by the Presiding Ell
that mine was the last Of the Quar-
terly Conferences on the district
that year, and at it's close / started
for the Annual Conference in COM
pany with the Presiding Elder. We
were obliged to remain over night at
the home of one of my members.
The chamber assigned to us for a
sleeping apartment had never been
lathed and plastered and as the
house happened to be over run with
rats We had plenty of company most
Of the night. However, as both OF
US were feeling pretty we'll worn out
we soon fell asleep. I do not know
how long we had been sleeping, but
sometime in the night l was sud-
denly awakened by sharp pain in
my upper lip. Instantly raising my
head ! was astonished to discover
monstrous rat which on being
alarmed by my action. at once Jump
ed from the bed to the floor. the
brute had caught my lip between his
teeth and had bitten clean through II.
In the morning discovered that the
bosom Of my shirt was spotted with
blood and that my lip was badly
swollen. Our hosts were greatly
surprised at my appearance and pro-
fusely apologized for the incident
which was only trivial after all and
my face soon recovered its wonted
aspect.
At the Annual Conference in com
pany with ten others was admitted
on trial +, and at the end Of the ses-
sion was read of for Summer Hill
Circuit. for the second year, which
was entirely satisfactory to me and
to my wife and was not, l believe
displeasing to the people on the cir
cult.
/ may say here that the Annua
Conference is composed of all thu
Travelling Preachers within thu
bounds of given territory; of thes'
there are what are termed Effective
Supernumerary and Superannuate'
Preachers; also there are the Ii
centiates or young men on trial II
the conference. Every pReacher !
required to pass an examination on
four years course of study; afte
serving two years on probation he
received into full connection by vot
| OF the conference and ordained Dea
con, then after having travelled
4, -