Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-08-16
CONTINUED from last week.
CHAPTER XXI.

i attended Conference which was
held at Maquoketa that fall, but it
was with many misgivings. The out
look for the future was discouraging ng
to say the least; unable to talk aloud
/ was useless as a preacher. Bishop
Foster, who was the presiding officer,
told me at the opening of the Confer
ence that he would reserve a place
until the close of the session and
then if / thought l would be able to
do the work within a reasonable time
he would give me a charge. / was
told that two churches had asked
for me and were willing to take their
chances on my becoming efficient.
After carefully pondering the matter,
however, | concluded that it would
be wrong to burden any church with
so helpless preacher as | was at the
time, and so at the close of the Con-
ference l concluded to ask for a
superannuated relation, which was
readily granted me.
How to support my wife and six
small children through the winter
was the problem that confronted me.
With nothing to live on save a small
amount which would be exhausted in
a few days. ! was much troubled
over the situation, not knowing what
to do or where to turn my hand. For
seven years had been extolling the
beauties of faith, exhorting my con-
gregations to trust in God in the
hour of trial, and now in my own
case, conditions were such as to call
for the kind of faith that would
move mountains. Such measure of
faith was given not to me alone, for
in those days there was always a
tower of strength right by my side !;
a noble example of patient submis-
sion, splendid courage, bright,
cheerful, happy disposition and bear
ing that, utterly unmindful of self,
sought only to encourage her hus-
band and lead him to put unwaver-
ing trust in God. He Is happy
man, who is blessed with such a
helpmate. We began our super
annuated life by renting and moving
into a cheaper house, as many an
other has done before us, as many
another has since done and as others
will continue to do in future years.
But we got along very comfortably in
our smaller house. The superanuate's
wife was a good manager; she made
everything go as far as possible. We
lived economically, and were quite
happy. There was no danger of ouI
suffering in any way, for we were
hardly settled in our new home be-
fore we were surprised by a visit
from our friends, who, regardless oi
church relations came in great num-
bers and literally filled the house
with such things as were need
ed for the winter, including fuel
food of all kinds, and clothing fol
the family Our hearts were filed with
gratitude to God and to those good
people. But that was not all. Mr.
]. X Bronson, a prominent merchant
of the town offered me a clerkship il
his store. which | thankfully accept
ed, for it promised to place us on oul
feet again. My voice gradually came
back to me and before the winter
was more than half gone l was a!
we'll as ever. One morning Capt A
M. Loomis, dry goods merchan
just across the street, who was {
member of the Presbyterian churcl
and fine singer, came to me ant
said Brother Green, now that yol
have recovered your voice, l have {
proposition to make to you. AL
around Wyoming there are churche
and school houses where, it seems t
me we might do some good work II
the way of revival meetings. Nov
can sing and you can preach.