{Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Canada
Rev. J. Reble, President
104 Hughson St. Hamilton, Ont.
Rev. J. Maurer, D. D., Vice-President
49 Irvin St. Kitchener, Ont.
Rev. H. Schorten, German Secretary
70 Albert Street, Waterloo Ont.
Rev. C. H. Little, D. D. English Secretary
Waterloo, Ont.
Rev. E. Holm, Treasurer
Conostogo, Ont.}
Waterloo, Ont.,
May 13, 1928
Dear Mother:
As I was at home to-day, except for preaching at Bridgeport this morning, I put off my letter to you until to-night. We had an extra fine day to-day – clear and bright, though the wind was quite cool –, and I had a large attendance at Bridgeport. This was the first time I was down there for a long time. Since Pastor Schulte resigned Bridgeport has been under the supervision of Prof. Henkel, President of the Kitchener Conference, and he has been doing most of the preaching down there, both in German and in English. To-day they had me announce that they would have three services a month beginning June 1 and that of these two would be English services. They also asked me to supply them with the English services. I told them that they would have to see Prof. Henkel about that. I infer that they were not enamoured of his English sermons. This afternoon Eileen, Ruth and Catharine begged me to take them to the woods. So we went off to Devil’s Hill. The name isn’t as bad as it sounds, being a corrupt anglicizing of Diebel, the owner of the hill. Diebel is a diminutive of Diebe, which means thief. That is why I said it wasn’t quite as bad as it sounds, a little thief not being quite as bad as the devil. The children enjoyed the outing
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very much, gathering trilliums and other wild flowers; and Eileen had a great string about the trip, which she said I should tell you, but which I cannot recount here. When we got back home I still had time to go down to the lake for a swim. Arthur went in with me, but as both the water and the air were quite cold, he didn’t stay in as long as I did. We had quite heavy frosts the last couple nights. A man at Bridgeport told me this morning that he found an eighth of an inch of ice in a bucket of water left outside his house this morning. Early in the past week we had some nice warm weather and were able to let our furnace go out for a day or two; but the last couple of days have been cool. During the warm weather I put in my garden, planting about everything except tomatoes. It is never safe to set them out till around the first of June. I thought I was late with my gardening this year; but on looking up my note in the calendar I find that I was only one day later than last year. So the seasons don’t vary so much after all. I had Carolus mail you the other day the latest copy of the Cord. The first piece was written by Dr. Potter and is a good sample of his propaganda for Dr. Willison. The Committee from the Board did not have much success in its interview with the Hamilton congregation last Sunday. The Council passed a strong resolution urging the congregation not to release Dr. Willison and calling for a congregational meeting to act upon their resolution to-night. They were hot and indignant, as they had a right to be. Dr. Willison
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resigned his position here, because he was not offered what he wanted; but in his letter of resignation to the Board he declared that he resigned for conscientious reasons and that his resignation was irrevocable. And it was accepted as such. But immediately he and Dr. Potter started agitation for him for the presidency and to put him into the Seminary – for which he has had no training – and to make him the whole thing. And now that the Board has yielded to “the hold up” he wants to accept it so bad that I’m inclined to think that he will do so whether the congregation releases him or not. The congregation, on the strength of his acceptance of their call spent a good deal of money fixing the parsonage up to his liking and were in great expectations over his coming; and to have all their hopes shattered because he is now offered what he wants does not set well with them. I don’t think the Board had any business to call him under the circumstances; and as for himself he had no right to consider or entertain their call. Dr. Willison engineered the thing and largely because Dr. Willison is a member of his congregation and his family helps out with the choir, Sunday School, etc. The Seminary students are to a man opposed to the scheme and were surprized that he was offered the position. Some of them frankly told him that he should not accept it. The Board apparently deals very tenderly with men who seek
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self-advancement and put forth high claims for themselves. Dr. Willison is opposed to separating the Seminary and the College; but if this is not done it will not be long till there will be no Seminary to separate. Already most of the Seminary students are threatening to go elsewhere rather than endure conditions such as they have experienced during the past year. But we should soon find out how things will turn out. I have so far held four of my examinations and have only three more to hold. The boys did very well and I am well pleased with the results so far. I think I will finish up this week. The Parish Hall was dedicated last Sunday and about $700 was realized in collections. They are already starting the entertainment ball rolling and there will no doubt be lots doing at least for a while. The Sunday School held its first session there to-day. They were after me to make a speech for the occasion, but I had previous engagements. Next Sunday I will be going to Sherwood-Unionville again. It is only by working incessantly that I can keep the family ship sailing. But the Lord has blessed me with wonderful health and strength, and I am able to keep going and enjoying it. Bonnie finished house cleaning last week. It nearly killed her with exhaustion, but she is quite satisfied with the result and thinks it worth the cost. We are now settled down to comfortable living again. But I must close. With love and all good wishes, I am
Most Sincerely yours,
[signed] Carroll H. Little.
