fter my wife published her book,
"Reclaimed Memories," last year she insisted that we take "my writings" and
other pertinent materials, from my files and incorporate them in book form.
You now hold in your hand the printed copy of this miscellaneous assortment,
which is now firmly encased in her computer.
My endeavors in writing have been sporadic. Probably the first thing to be
preserved in written form, with the youthful exception of a few entries in
the "Diary," is the sermon published in the Elkins, West Virginia, daily
newspaper in 1947. I was pastor of the First United Brethren Church in that
city at the time and a sermon for publication was requested by the editor.
Almost all the poetry section was written during the decade of the 40's;
much of it inspired by the Second World War.
It was never my practice to write out my sermons. My pastors' record shows
that I preached over 5000 times and the only ones I typed are to be printed
in this book. My notes for each sermon were printed on half a typing sheet
of paper, which fit inside the Bible I carried. Most of these fifteen were
done after my first light stroke in the late 60's.
It was at the request of my son, Marion, that I typed my memoirs, which comprise
a large section at the front of this book. It is quite a bit different from
what Elizabeth has written, although we recounted some of the same incidents.
I wrote mine almost ten years earlier than she did hers. The manuscript was
placed in my files and we both had completely forgotten that I had produced
about forty typewritten pages. My wife was overjoyed when she discovered
them while searching for materials for this book.
I appreciate the many hours my wife and my son, Howard, have spent compiling
this book. Elizabeth assures me that it has been a labor of love and a partial
payment for the isolation I endured while she was writing her book. This
year it has been my turn to feel guilty because of the long hours she has
spent in front of her computer, on my behalf.
My prayer is that our combined efforts may offer some pleasure to our family
members and to any friends who might read all, or a part of, this book in
years to come.
