{Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Canada
Rev. J. Reble, President
104 Hughson St. Hamilton, Ont.
Rev. C.R. Cronmiller, Vice-President
Williamsburg, Ont.
Rev. H.R. Mosig, German Secretary
New Hamburg, Ont.
Rev. C. H. Little, S.T.D., English Sec'y
170 Albert Street, Waterloo, Ont.
Rev. E. Holm, Treasurer
Conestogo, Ont.}
Dec. 2, 1939.
Dear Mother:
Another Saturday night has rolled around, and I am home and on the job. Thisletter, like the last one, will have to wait on the smaller correspondents, but you will get it in due time, I hope. The weather here continues comparatively mild, and I haven’t as yet been obliged to give up any of my morning swims. So far I have been in 226 times this year, and I made a record over previous years by going in every day in November with the exception of the two days away I was away last week-end. During those days I had to content myself with the bathtub; and I may have to do that even here at home before Christmas arrives, as it is liable to turn cold any day now. We have had no snow as yet to stay on the ground, which is remarkable for its unusuality. I had a very nice trip up north, where I preached last Sunday, and got back home in time for my classes Monday morning, i.e., for all but the first class. I was about ten minutes late for it, and when I went over I found that the students had vamoosed and were nowhere to be found – the dirty rascals! I supposed they wanted a little vacation, and took advantage of the opportunity offered. The parish in which I preached had a meeting for the calling of a pastor on Saturday, the day of my arrival, and extended a call to Rev. Haak of Massey, who was one of the candidates that had preached there recently. The Ayton congregation favoured Arthur and the Neustadt congregation Rev. Haak. The latter won out because they had more members in attendance upon the meeting than the Aytoners. The fact that Rev. Haak was born in Germany carried the day for him. Another candidate who had also preached a trial sermon was left of the running and received no votes. So Arthur is out, as far as that vacancy is concerned.
(page 2)
However, there are still hopes for him. The pastor of the Arnprior parish, up near Ottawa, has recently resigned, his resignation to take effect the 31st inst., and President Reble is recommending Arthur for that parish; and I hope that he will get it, as it would be much better than going away up to Massey, which is even further north than Noranda, where Robert is. Arnprior has another advantage, and that is , it does not require as much German as does Neustadt-Ayton. They would not want more than two German services a month, and probably would be satisfied with one a month. This would make it easier for Arthur, who is still more proficient in his mother tongue. In the meantime, while he is waiting, he still has steady employment at the Brewerywarehouse, which I hope that he will be able to hold until he is permanently settled. Mr. Gunn or “Tom” as we familiarly call him, got back from St. John, N.B. Thursday moning, and lost no time in going down to see Goudie’s in Kitchener, where he got a position as floorwalker and started work yesterday morning. He is getting only a small salary, but is tickled pink that now after about three years of idleness he has a job and something to do. Meda hasn’t landed an organ as yet, and the prospects do not seem to be very good right around here; but she may get something in Toronto and has good prospects of getting an organ in St. John a little later on, if she wants it; but she would far prefer to get located around here, where she could see Bonnie once in a while. We are all enjoying their company very much, and they seem delighted to be with us, though I don’t know why. For once I have some good financial news to send along in my letter. I cleared ten dollars on my preaching expedition; but this is the smallest item. The other is that when I got my cheque Friday, I was surprised to find that it called for $ 250 – the largest cheque I have received at one time in years.
(page 3)
It made me think that the Reformation offerings this year had turned out fairly well, as I hadn’t turned in very much money lately as bursar. They are still back $ 470 on my salary, but this gives me courage to hope that they will catch up on salary someday. Anyway I was enabled to pay up all my town bills for groceries, clothing and the like and to pay Herman $ 50, half of what I owe him, and still had quite a nice surplus to run on. In fact I felt quite rich, not having had so much money at one time in years. We are fast approaching the Christmas holidays now. We close on the 16th, which means that only two more weeks of teaching lie ahead of us till the days of liesure or rest arrive. Dr. Clausen has already extended his invitation to the seminary students and professors, their wives and girl friends to the annual supper or banquet which he and his Frau provide. This event will take place sometime next week. I suppose that Bonnie and I will attend, although neither one of us is very eager about it. I had a letter from Bikle a week or so ago, in which he told me that Herbert was back in the hospital for a second operation on his obstreperous prophylactic gland. I hope to hear that he is at home again and progressing rapidly to complete recovery. If he is there give him my best wishes and Bonnie’s , and assure him of my prayers for his full restoration to health and strength again. He was always so healthy that I can hardly reconcile myself to the idea that he is seriously sick. As I haven’t heard anything about Aunt Carrie, I suppose that she is still holding out, although she must be in great misery. I hope that you are in good condition and are enjoying life at ninety-one. Love from all, Sincerely, [signed] Carroll
