A CHURCH ON WHEELS T REV.C.H.RUST T tihrary of t:he ^theological ^tminaxy PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY PRESENTED BY Miss Anne C-. Turnbull Miss Laura S. Turnbull BV 3785 .R9 A3 1905 Rust, Charles Herbert, 1869- A church on wheels ; or, ter years on a chapel car ^J-^^c^i^^Jf f\hr tCti- gl J^^ p JM^ /'/p^ A CHURCH ON WHEELS UKV. C. II. Kl'.ST ( FEB ft 1954 A CHURCH ON WHEELS OR ®i^n ^:^ar3Si on n ©l^^iJi^l ®^r By L^ CHARLES HERBERT RUST PHILADELPHIA Bmerican JBaptiat publication SocicVs 1905 Copyright 1905 by the American Baptist Publication Society Published November, 1905 from tb« 9«cfett'< own prcM WHOSE LOVE FOR AND DEVOTION TO HER GOD AND HER FAMILY HAVE GIVEN TO ME SOME OF THE SWEET- EST AND LOFTIEST INSPIRATIONS OF MY LIFE AND Zo mi? flRotber FOR AND DEVOTION TO I lAVE GIVEN TO ME SOME O FTIEST INSPIRATIONS OF , Zo m^ Steter WHOSE SPIRIT OF PATIENCE AND TRUST DURING THESE YEARS OF HER SUFFERING HAS HELPED ME TO BEAR ALL THINGS AND ENDURE ALL THINGS AS 1 HAVE SOUGHT TO LABOR FOR MY MASTER I AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATE THIS STORY OF TEN YEARS OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE PREFACE In response to a request which has come from some of my friends, I write of God's leadings during ten years of service on " Glad Tidings." Of neces- sity the personal pronoun will be often used in this story, but in all humility. Both Mrs. Rust and my- self ascribe all the glory for what has been accom- plished to our blessed Lord, as he through his Holy Spirit has used us to help many needy souls in the great Northwest. As we have thought of our own weaknesses and failings we have stood amazed be- fore God as he has so evidently blessed the truth when sung and spoken by us. After Paul's first missionary journey he returned to Antioch to the church there and rehearsed all the things that God had done (Acts 14 : 27), so in this volume I shall endeavor to do the same, and I trust the reader will constantly remember that this is a story of what God has done through his appointed agents. It is his work. We want the Christian public, and particularly the Baptist denomination, to know more about the chapel cars. While I am enthusiastic over the pos- sibilities of this form of Christian work, I would not unwisely attempt to place it on too high a plane, but rather ask the reader to calmly consider the vii viii PREFACE facts regarding it. This is surely one of the suc- cessful forms of evangelistic service of the twentieth century. These pages have been written during a few weeks of a very busy season, when I have been holding from forty to fifty meetings a month, there- fore 1 trust the reader will not be too harsh in his criticism of the literary merit of this book. 1 have endeavored to tell the experiences of our ten years of service in simple language for the purpose of en- lightening those who read, regarding the chapel-car movement, and with the sincere prayer that the story of these years may encourage many a heart, and help more than one life onward toward God and righteousness. C. H. R. Minneapolis, Minn., May 31, 1905. INTRODUCTION The chapel car service is a unique method in modern evangelization. The cars have not only awakened the curiosity and interest of the people, but for fourteen years have been great engines for good. They have had the universal approval of the Christian public. Their story is a simple one. The inceptive idea grew in the mind and heart of Dr. Wayland Hoyt through a visit in the West with his railroad brother, Colgate Hoyt, Esq. Boston W. Smith, known as " Uncle Boston," with energy and wisdom brought the idea to an issue in the first car, "Evangel." From the inception in 1890 until now Uncle Boston has been the manager of the chapel cars, and to him the American Baptist Pub- lication Society and the denomination are greatly indebted for the success of this branch of service. But God has given the Society rare men and women as missionaries who have done the most heroic work in the spirit of the Master. There are six cars like this one, " Glad Tidings," and the band of workers on these cars feel that they are a family ; they call themselves "the Chapel-car Family." They have had frequent meetings together for consultation and service, and the influences of these meetings are a perpetual benediction in each heart. God has put ix X INTRODUCTION his seal upon the labors of these his servants. Over fourteen thousand persons have professed conversion in the car meetings since 1891. Dotting the Southern and Western plains stand nearly one hundred and fifty meeting-houses which have grown out of the chapel-car service. Whole communities have been transformed by their evangelistic meet- ings. The railroads have been most generous in their gifts of transportation and many other things which have made the work successful ; the cars have been of great service to railroad men in the shops and elsewhere. Rev. C. H. Rust and wife have been ten years in the service of the Society on the car "Glad Tidings." Their labors have been preeminently successful, and their names are fragrant in the West because of their good deeds in the Master's name. We are glad to give a God-speed and a blessing to this little book which records the expe- riences of ten years, and pray that its reading may stimulate many hearts, not only to help this work and to aid the Society substantially to carry it forward, but to consecrated service to Him whose kingdom we seek to extend. ROBERT G. SEYMOUR, Missionary and Bible Secretary. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE Rev. C. H. Rust Frontispiece Mrs. C. H. Rust 4 Exterior of Car "Glad Tidings" 7 Interior " Messenger of Peace " 9 Car on Special Spur Track /p Ruth and Marjorie Rust 2^ "Danger" ^7 Young People's Meeting at Car 65 Railroad Men Outside the Car 96 Railroad Men Inside the Car 10^ A Churchless Town 755 Laying the Foundation i^g Shingling a Church 142 One of Our Chapels 14^ Rev. D. W. Hulburt Holding up Corner -post of Church 1^0 xi CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. ENTERING THE CHAPEL-CAR SERVICE .... i II. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 12 III. DEPARTMENT OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE .... 22 IV. COLPORTAGE DEPARTMENT 31 V. SUNDAY-SCHOOL AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S DE- PARTMENT 45 VI. DEPARTMENT OF GOOD LITERATURE .... 66 VII. MUSIC DEPARTMENT 81 VIII. RAILROAD DEPARTMENT 96 IX. RESURRECTION DEPARTMENT II3 X. RURAL DEPARTMENT 134 XI. CO-OPERATION DEPARTMENT 153 XII. WHAT OF THE FUTURE? 164 XIII A Church on Wheels ENTERING THE CHAPEL-CAR SERVICE PROBABLY it will be well for me to introduce some of my readers to the origin of the chapel- car movement, before I state how Mrs. Rust and I came to enter it. Many are very familiar with the events clustering around the inauguration of this idea of having "churches on wheels" to aid in modern evangelistic efforts. Dr. Wayland Hoyt, then pastor of the First Baptist Church of Minneapolis, was riding with his brother, Mr. Colgate Hoyt, along a line of rail- road in the West, when he noted the numerous small and churchless towns that they passed. He suggested to his brother that the officials ought to build a chapel car, /. e., a car equipped as a church, with living rooms added, and allow it to be side- tracked in the small towns for religious meetings. The suggestion was acted upon very soon after, and six prominent Baptist railroad men built the first chapel car, really as an experiment, and presented it to the American Baptist Publication A I 2 A CHURCH ON WHEELS Society. Since then five cars have been built and ail are now in service/ No. I, " Evangel," is in Indian Territory. No. 2, '* Emmanuel," is on the Pacific coast. No. 3, " Glad Tidings," the one we have charge of, is in the Northwest. No. 4, " Goodwill," is in Colorado. No. 5, " Messenger of Peace," is in Missouri, and No. 6, " Herald of Hope," is in Michigan. I have learned that previous to the building of our first car, Bishop Walker, of Fargo, North Da- kota, had remodeled a coach into a chapel car, and he, a devout and evangelistic Episcopalian, had gone in it to many towns on the prairies of North Dakota, and given the people in those destitute places the privileges of religious meetings. However, I understand that his car has been taken away from railroad use, and is now serving the purpose of a little meeting-house in some town in the Northwest. I have also ascertained that the Greek Church has five chapel cars on the great Siberian Railroad. Whether they are in continued service or not 1 am not sure. In 1892 I began my Christian ministry as pastor's assistant at the Warren Avenue Baptist Church, Boston, Mass. Dr. Robert MacDonald, now of the Washington Avenue Baptist Church of Brooklyn, N. Y., was then pastor, and I had delightful fel- lowship with him and his church for about two years. Mrs. Rust, who was Miss Bertha Smart at this time, was the Sunday-school missionary at the ' At this writing, May, 1905. ENTERING THE CHAPEL-CAR SERVICE 3 Tabernacle Baptist Church of Boston, Mass. We were married at the Tabernacle Church, in Decem- ber, 1^3, Doctor MacDonald tying the knot, as Doctor Calley, her pastor, was sick, and Mrs. Rust came to help me in my labors with the Warren Avenue people. At a meeting of the deacons which was held the following April it was voted to suggest to the church that it send Mr. and Mrs. Rust to the May meetings at Saratoga Springs, N. Y. We appreciated this very much and enjoyed a delayed wedding trip to Saratoga. ' Chapel Car "Glad Tidings," No. 3, a gift of Mr. Wm. Hills, of New York, had been in process of construction during the winter, and was at Saratoga for dedication. Well do 1 remember our first visit to it. It was a rainy, dismal morning, and, of course, the inside could not present so cheery an appearance as it would on a sunny day. We found Rev. E. B. Edmunds, the faithful Sunday-school mis- sionary from Wisconsin, in charge, and he was trying to cook some oatmeal for breakfast on a stove that did not seem to have any heating power. As we met him he said, " 1 have been over an hour try- ing to get a little lunch here." As we passed out at the other door I exclaimed, "Well, 1 rather pity the missionaries who are to live on that car." Little did we think that in four months we would be the missionaries on that very car. We returned from the meetings to Boston and started in with our work at Warren Avenue. While 4 A CHURCH ON WHEELS 1 was leading the singing and Mrs. Rust was at the piano at the next Friday evening prayer meeting, we were surprised to see Mr. Boston W. Smith and Dr. C. H. Spalding walk in and down to the plat- form, where Doctor MacDonald greeted them. Uncle Boston had some pictures of the chapel car under his arm, and both of them had come for the sole purpose of talking chapel-car work. They whispered to Doctor MacDonald and soon I was called on to speak, the pastor requesting that I tell the church what parts of the May meetings im- pressed me most. I arose and said that foreign missions appealed to me more than any other work which was represented there, and next to that came the chapel car. Others spoke, and were followed by Doctor Spalding and Uncle Boston. After the meeting Uncle Boston, who is now General Manager of the Chapel-car Work, came to us and said he would like to see us and have a talk the next morning. He came to the church study first, and told me he wanted to know if we would consider taking charge of "Glad Tidings." I told him that we had better walk to the house and talk it over with Mrs. Rust. We had a prayerful con- ference together, after which Uncle Boston left us, advising us to consider it from all points of view, giving us three months to settle it in. The last days of the time were fast going. It must be settled. Mrs. Rust went to one room and I went to another. On our knees we told the Lord we would go anywhere he would have us go ; Mk.-. C. H. RlST Page 4 ENTERING THE CHAPEL-CAR SERVICE 5 we only wanted to be sure. One verse, Isa. i : 19, kept coming before me — " If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land." We came together and expressed our mutual convic- tions that God wanted us to go and that we were willing. So we wrote that we would accept the position of missionaries on "Glad Tidings," and plans were immediately made to leave Warren Avenue and sell all of our furniture. We were cosily situated, and the people of Warren Avenue were very kind to us and it was hard to get away. One of the sweetest expressions of love that our beloved Dr. A. J. Gordon ever gave to us, one that revealed the greatness of his heart as he ever sought to do the little act of kindness for those whom he knew, and one that has perfumed with sweet fragrance our entire work on the chapel car, was manifested on our last Sunday night in Boston. Doctor MacDonald had asked me to preach a farewell sermon, and we had enjoyed a pleasant after-meeting with hundreds of our friends. We were shaking hands and expressing our farewell words to them, when to my surprise, Doctor Gor- don stood by us. He had made the special effort after a busy Sunday to get to us that he might take our hands and say " God bless you." To think of his thoughtfulness of us ! Yet he was always great and noble in ever putting forth his hand to touch in truest sympathy and interest those of us who were so small and insignificant. Oh, how we praise God we ever met him ! We have felt that hand-shake 6 A CHURCH ON WHEELS many times since. We have seen the kindly ex- pression in those eyes as he looked upon us when he pressed the hand and said "God bless you," many times in our years of toil on the chapel car. People in Boston told us that we could never en- dure the blizzards and cold of the West. They pictured the sufferings that we would certainly have to pass through. And I confess all was very dark to us, because we had never been west of New York, and while I knew Chicago and Minne- apolis were excellent cities, yet what we might find west of them frightened us. About fifty of our Boston friends, including my beloved mother, came down to the old Boston and Albany station to see us off. There were a few tears, but the greater number were happy, and we were conscious of God's promised blessing and de- termined to follow where he would lead. We had a delightful trip to Chicago, and to our great surprise the trip from Chicago to Minneapolis was made even more delightful, because of the pleasant accommodations and beautiful apartments of that magnificent electric-lighted train on the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railway. This was the only one then between the Twin Cities and Chicago, and we had seen nothing in the East to compare with it. Uncle Boston met us in Minneapolis and piloted us to his home, where a cordial welcome awaited us. We immediately found other friends in Minne- apolis, and all whom we met seemed to be anxious ENTERING THE CHAPEL-CAR SERVICE 7 to make everything pleasant for us. I want to say to any and all who may read these words, that it always pays to say " Yes " to God. He is our Friend, our Father, and it is impossible to conceive of an earthly father doing more for his children than our God wants to do for us. As I look back over these ten years 1 am con- scious that there has been some hardship, some sacrifices, some real hard work, but the compensa- tions of the Holy Spirit have been rich and abun- dant, and God's blessings, like flowers, have been strewn along the pathway. We had no conception of what God was leading us into when we said " Yes " to him. In full con- sciousness of the strenuous life, of the valleys and shadows and the inconvenience of being without a home for years, we can honestly say that if God had revealed all that this life was to mean before we started, we would have said "Yes" much quicker than we did. No amount of money could pay for the experiences of this decade of years nor take the place of the vision that God has given to me of himself, of man, of what man can be, and of the glorious opportunities of Christian service. I was anxious to go down to the chapel car, and therefore Uncle Boston and I went together to look over the church and parsonage in which Mrs. Rust and I were to labor for so many years, and perhaps I had better describe it for the benefit of some of my readers. It is a handsome car and is certainly a worthy 8 A CHURCH ON WHEELS addition to any train. It is seventy-seven feet long and eleven feet wide. On the top of the side you could see the words "Chapel Car," and in the center of the side the name "Glad Tidings," both in letters of gold. There is an eaves-trough on the roof with hose attachment, so that the water tanks can be filled with soft water during the greater part of the year. Under the car you will find boxes to hold thirty- five hundred pounds of coal, storm sash and screens, oil stove and oven, and provisions and books and tracts. You will also find a ladder and a storm door and four screen doors hanging under the floor. As you step into the chapel you are amazed at the size, for there is an audience room fifty-two feet long and capable of seating more than one hundred people. We have often had one hundred and seventy-five children in this room. The seats are arranged for three on one side and two on the other, with a narrow aisle between. Some one asked one of our missionaries why they had it thus arranged for three on one side and two on the other, and he answered, " Because they decided that it was easier to do that than to put two and a half on each side." At the other end of the audience room you would see an excellent Estey organ (the Estey Company donating one to each of our cars), a beautiful brass lectern, a blackboard, and a library belonging to the missionary, and one filled with books to loan in small towns. The aisle is carpeted, rugs are on ENTERING THE CHAPEL-CAR SERVICE 9 the pulpit platform, and the car is wired for electric lighting, has kerosene lamps, and is now fitted with an acetylene gas plant. As we step from the chapel toward the living rooms we find ourselves in a miniature parsonage, eighteen feet long and ten feet wide. In this space we have a bedroom with two berths, a dining room with table, a study with typewriter, desk, and li- brary, a kitchen with range and closet, an ice chest, pantry, wardrobe, toilet room, and heater to heat the entire car with. The chapel car in all its apartments could hardly be improved upon. Nothing is extravagant, yet everything substantial. As one general manager of a railroad said when he saw it, " Just right for its purpose," so I exclaimed more than once as Uncle Boston led me through it. Everything needed for our comfort seemed to be there. Mr. Wm. Hills, who gave the car, is a member of the Mt. Morris Baptist Church, of New York City, W. C. Bit- ting, D. D., pastor, and how fitting and kind it was for this church to pay for all the interior fur- nishings of the car and to promise to keep it fur- nished as long as it should be in use. They have done as they agreed, and whenever any money has been needed to buy rugs or carpets or make in- terior improvements, they have gladly responded through Mrs. E. S. Clinch, the treasurer of the Women's Society of the church. Before leaving the car upon my first visit after arriving in Minneapo- lis, Uncle Boston and 1 kneeled in the little study 10 A CHURCH ON WHEELS and committed ourselves entirely to Him, as we earnestly prayed for God's blessing upon the la- bors of the missionaries who were to work in this beautiful church on wheels. We held a reception in the car during the State Convention, which was then convening in the Emmanuel Baptist Church, of Minneapolis, and met many of the prominent Baptist pastors and laymen of Minnesota. We have since learned that the consensus of opinion among the people was that we would en- dure chapel-car life but a short time. One Minne- apolis pastor told a friend of ours that it was a downright shame that the Publication Society should allow two weak and sickly young people like us to take charge of the car and engage in such arduous labor. I think if he should see us now, with our two children, he would think that we have endured the work very well. Mrs. Rust has gained twenty pounds and I have gained about fifteen. It isn't work that hurts, it is worry. After the State Convention we filled our chapel- car pantry with a good stock of provisions and started on a short trip along the Minnesota division of the Northern Pacific Railway, getting as far north as Crookston, where I am at this minute as 1 pen these lines, just ten years and two months after. That first trip was exceedingly trying. It was all new to us. For a number of days we had been sleeping in the car in the Minneapolis freight yards but the switching engines made it almost impossible to rest. We stopped at Brainerd the next week ENTERING THE CHAPEL-CAR SERVICE II and the switching engines bothered us much there. Then the next week we were sidetracked behind the coal chute at Staples, and as they loaded the engines about all night we could not sleep much there. If this had continued in every town we would have been obliged to get a room outside, but in the small towns we were not bothered much. We returned to Minneapolis after a month's trip to get the car fitted out with storm windows for the winter, and with a consciousness that we had actu- ally begun a life on the car which was to open up many opportunities for service in the Master's name. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THE matter of transportation is very important to the success of chapel-car service. In taking this up with the railroads it necessarily brought us into direct contact with the presidents and officials of our great Western railroad systems, and we are glad to state that, with rarely an ex- ception, we have found them to be courteous gen- tlemen, anxious to do the right thing for their men, for the towns along their lines, and for the general public. We have no sympathy with those who think they are shrewd when they attempt to get the best of a railroad company in the matter of transportation. We fear that much of the dealing with these companies which is called smart is nothing more nor less than stealing. While it is true that the railway companies are far from being perfect, yet they are not soulless corporations in every instance, and many of them are headed by conscientious Christian gentlemen. At times they have been deceived by some who professed to be right and true, and it has been our policy since the beginning of chapel-car work to be perfectly frank and honest with them. We have asked them to look into our work from every point of view and 12 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 1 3 examine every detail of service along the line, giving us no consideration that we are not worthy of. It is the rule of the companies to grant no passes except for some consideration. If the chapel-car work could not show where it really helped the company and its towns we were doomed. We are glad to state that the efficiency and benefit of the service rendered through the chapel car has been almost universally acknowledged in railroad circles. There were many questions in the minds of the denomination when the Publication Society ac- cepted the first chapel car. It was considered by some to be the result of the dreaming of an im- practical mind; by others it was styled a "white elephant," by others " Uncle Boston's Toy," and even the most enthusiastic questioned its perma- nent usefulness under the most favorable condi- tions. It certainly was an experiment. It was one thing to have a car ; it was another to get it hauled. If it could not be hauled at a small sum per mile how could it be used ? And when we consider the fact that the universal price charged by railroad companies for hauling a car is fifty-four cents a mile, and that those who gave the first car, al- though being railroad officials, would not guarantee to use their influence toward getting reduced rates for the car, what could the most sanguine expect ? Very fortunately the matter was placed in the hands of Mr. Boston W. Smith, of Minneapolis, with instructions to ascertain what the railroad compa- nies would do. After much prayer he took some 14 A CHURCH ON WHEELS pictures of the car to the office of the general man- ager of one of the great Western systems control- ling five thousand miles of track, and after explain- ing the purpose of the car and the nature of the work very carefully to this man, asked him what his company could do for it. After thinking it over this official pressed a button ; a clerk came in, and he told him to issue a free pass over all divisions, good for Boston W. Smith and assistant, and car " Evangel," with special instructions to trainmen to make it as pleasant as possible for Mr. Smith. It was difficult for Uncle Boston to find words with which to express himself, as he tried to thank this general manager. As he accepted the pass from the clerk, and walked out of the office, he was overwhelmingly convinced that God's hand was in this. Ever since that day Mr. Smith has proven himself a great help to the entire chapel-car move- ment by his ability to talk with and interest railroad officials in the work. God alone knows how much has been accomplished in the matter of transpor- tation by his prayerful, tactful, personal contact with railroad men. We owe much to him. How- ever, each chapel-car missionary has had much to do with transportation matters. It is well for the missionary to meet the officials and know them and for them to know him. It is also true that much depends upon the per- sonal character of the railroad official with whom he is to deal. If that man is a conscientious Chris- tian, or recognizes the moral benefit derived from DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 1 5 Christ's teachings being inculcated in the minds of his men, he will be much more favorably impressed with the chapel car than one who has no tolerance for religion. Let me add, however, that there has never been a time previous to the present when railroad companies were so free to recognize the demand and need for moral character among their employees as to-day. They are enforcing rules re- garding drinking and frequenting saloons that would not have been tolerated a few years ago. There- fore the power of the chapel-car with their own men is more easily seen. We must not think that this proves that all the railroads of the country have been throwing passes into our hands without being asked and earnestly reasoned with. We generally have to work for what we get in this world. I want to state also that some railroad companies have not understood what basis our work stood on. I was in the office of an official of a very large Western system not long ago. During our conversation he said, "Why you have a great deal of wealth back of your chapel car, haven't you .-' " I answered, " No, sir. We depend entirely upon the contributions from churches and individuals." "Oh, yes," he said, " I recognize that, but there is one particular individual, is there not ? " He believed that a cer- tain wealthy and prominent Baptist was forwarding the money to pay our bills, including transportation. I remember taking two pictures of my car and calling at the office of the general manager of a l6 A CHURCH ON WHEELS "system" whose main offices were in St. Paul, Minn. He was not particularly cordial but was gentlemanly in his manner toward me. After looking at the pictures, and noting my request to have his company haul the car, he turned toward me and said rather abruptly, " I would not have that car on my line for three months for any amount of money." I then said to him, "I think you misunderstand my request and the work of the car when you answer in this way. I appreciate the many calls you have from religious organiza- tions for special transportation, and that this at first thought seems to be an unreasonable request, as the car might be in the way of traffic on your line, but I do not come to you as one who wants something for nothing, but as a man with a reason- able and Christian business project to present to you, and, if after explaining it more fully and answering all of your questions concerning it, you can honestly say that our work is not worthy of your consideration, and your company will not be benefited enough to pay for the hauling of the car, then I do not want you to grant me any special transportation." He called in another official and we had a long, frank talk. I answered all their questions the best I could, and told them of our side-tracking the car at the shops for a noonday meeting for the railroad men. 1 reminded them that the theatre and circus cars stop at the town to take money out, and had, many times at least, a bad effect upon the people DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 1 7 of the town and the railroad men who handled the car, but we stopped in the town to help the people morally and to leave money there in church build- ings, etc. I also told them of the work of the car in a new community where there were saloons and no church. How we had gone to towns like that and stayed until the whole moral atmosphere of the town was changed and a meeting-house was erected and paid for. Then I informed them of our personal touch with their men along all the line ; of the many railroad men whose lives had been changed from sin to righteousness. This general manager finally said, " Well, Mr. Rust, we will think it over, and if you will call to- morrow we will see what we can do for you." I thanked him, told him I would call the next day, and after a pleasant farewell word, left the office. I had left the building and was standing on the corner of the street waiting for a car, when a col- ored man stepped up to me. He asked if I was the young man who had been talking with the general manager. I answered, "Yes, sir." "Well," he continued, " I was behind a door in the office and heard your talk, and I want to tell you that you will git your pass all right, never you fear ; now you see if you don't." His eye twinkled, and he re- vealed a fine set of white teeth as he smiled, and I confess that his words made me hopeful. I called the next day, and sure enough the gen- eral manager gave me a time pass, and as I told him to have his men watch our movements and B l8 A CHURCH ON WHEELS work along his line, he expressed a wish that we might be successful in our undertakings. Since then he has been very kind to us and granted us transportation many times for special trips. Our annual passes read in nearly every instance, " Pass C. H. Rust and assistant." These are good on any train, thus enabling me to get home to see my loved ones without drawing on the " mission- ary fund." The car is moved under special orders each time. Trip passes generally read, " Pass C. H. Rust, car, and party." We are very careful never to abuse our priv- ileges in any way. The railway companies trust us, and we surely want them to continue to do so. We have had people come to us a number of times and ask if they could not ride with us. One man wanted us to put him under the seats. Our answer is always "No." We never make any "demands" as to what train the car is to be hauled on. The division su- perintendent decides which is the most convenient, and we acquiesce. On long hauls we use the pas- senger trains and on short hauls freight trains. DIFFICULTY One matter of transportation has bothered us con- siderably. It is the question of how to get side-track privileges for a number of days or weeks without becoming a nuisance to the company's men, as they are obliged to switch the cars on the house or in- dustry track every day, and there isn't an extra CAI: (IN A SlT,( I Al. SrcK Tkack I'aRe !♦) VdlM. I'KOI'I.K'S MKKIIM. at I a I: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION I9 track to be found in every small town. The fact of hauling the car did not bother the officials much ; it was the question of how they could allow us to be on a side-track for any great length of time with- out seriously hindering them in the prosecution of their business. It is generally known among shippers and those who receive much freight, that the company charges two dollars for every twenty- four hours after the first forty-eight hours that a loaded box car is left on the track, and oftentimes ten dollars for a theatre or circus car. Thus you see that the railroads are very considerate to allow us to stay at all. It is only because of their desire to do all they can to help on a good cause. Noting this difficulty I conferred with the officials, and asked them if they could not have their section men build a short spur from the side-track and run my car on to it, then swing the side-track back into place and leave the chapel car on rails of its own, out of the way of all traffic. In answer to my request orders were given to have it done. It costs the company about eight dollars to build the track and take it up again when we leave town. We have offered to pay for it but they have never sent in any bill yet, and they have done this for us many times. This spur is only built when we stay in a town a long time, in order to erect a church or make the work per- manent. It certainly obviates the difficulty and makes it far more pleasant for the missionaries and the railroad men. 20 A CHURCH ON WHEELS All of this goes to show that if the railroad com- panies understand what our service really is there is hardly any limit to what they will do for us. Many, many times they have contributed much more than transportation to the building up of the new towns on their lines. They have hauled the lumber for the church buildings in carload lots free, a number of times, and in other ways have shown their interest in our work. When we stop to think that for fifteen years they have hauled our cars free, nearly fifty dif- ferent railroads thus assisting us, and also realize how much this would have cost if we had paid mileage even at a reduced rate, I for one feel pro- foundly grateful to them, and I know if we could get into one mass meeting all of the people in the towns where the chapel cars have visited, together with the whole Baptist denomination, they would to an individual arise to vote most hearty thanks to these railroad corporations. We certainly do appreciate it. CONCLUSIONS Our experiences with the railway companies in this matter of transportation reveal much that pleases us. (i) That God is leading, (2) That the railway companies are interested in the moral welfare of their employees and the towns along the line, (3) That the officials of the companies recognize it is a fair business proposition to haul our cars free DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 21 in consideration of the work done. (4) That the railway companies acknowledge the power of the chapel-car service in developing their new towns in the right direction. (5) That practical railway men do not deem our work at all visionary or un- practical. (6) That many of our great transporta- tion companies are manned by men of character and sterling worth who are interested in every good cause. Ill DEPARTMENT OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE IN this department we will endeavor to introduce our readers to something of our home life while on the chapel car. The parsonage on the car is fitted up to live in every day as one would in a home ; it is not simply to travel in. We have given the size of our apartments. The main living room, which is bedroom, study, parlor, and dining room, has just nine square feet of open space. The kitchen is four and one-half feet square, and in this there is a steel range, an ice chest, and a china closet. One will easily see that the parsonage is compressed and condensed into the smallest space possible, so that the audience room could be made as large as possible. Many times we have had visitors from cities come to the car and they have exclaimed, "Oh, how romantic, how delightful to travel like this ! " They have in mind a trip of a few days rather than making the car a home. Nevertheless, when we have been side-tracked in some small town in the Minnesota woods or on Da- kota prairies, and have seen how the people are obliged to live in their small shanties and houses, we have often thanked God for the small yet cozy quarters in our home on wheels. 22 DEPARTMENT OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE 23 At first we found it rather hard to adjust our- selves to the size of our apartments. Everything seemed to be in the way and we were always in each other's way. We were both liable to do everything a little too quickly, and this gave us no end of trouble. We found we did not have room to jump from one thing to another unless we took very short leaps. At the end of the first three months we had numberless bruises, because of our running into sharp corners and things in general. I hit my knee on one door jamb, and my head on one corner so often during the first year that I was never without either a sore head or a lame knee. Once when rushing from the parsonage to the chapel I struck my head so hard on the small closet near the door, that I dropped to the floor like a felled ox and almost lost consciousness. I know it was my fault, I should not move so quickly. I have thought these accidents may have done some good, however, by rousing some lazy brain cells into activity. I do not want to present any darker picture of chapel-car domestic life than I ought, for we have often been exceedingly grateful for our beautiful quarters in the car. However, the parsonage on the car could hardly be called a home. It was more of a business office for the Lord's busy mis- sionaries. We had practically no privacy. A woman would feel this more than a man perhaps. It was exceedingly hard for Mrs. Rust. We were seldom allowed to be alone. Mrs. Rust had no 24 A CHURCH ON WHEELS room or closet she could call her own, no dresser on which to lay pins, ribbons, and numerous other belongings. The only place was my desk, and I needed that for other things. She had no rocking- chair, no sewing machine, etc. It was good dis- cipline for us and tested our religion. We prayed for special grace and wisdom every day in our en- deavor to fit into the demands of the place and the work. When 1 think of all that Mrs. Rust was obliged to pass through in order to stay with me on the chapel car for the first three years, I feel thoroughly ashamed of myself to think that I allowed her to do it. I was young, and perhaps that can partially excuse me for my lack of consideration. All mothers who read this will appreciate what I am about to write. For the first few months we got along very nicely ; the ordinary difficulties en- countered in adjusting ourselves to the car home and its work did not bother us much, but before little Ruth came into our lives Mrs. Rust had much to bear. The constant traveling, the meeting of strangers continually, and the hard work in and out of the meetings made it almost unbearable for her. In less than two months after the coming of our first-born, Mrs. Rust and Ruth were with me in my car work, part of the time living on the car and part of the time in a room outside. We wanted to be together, but we wonder whether we did right or not. It seems as if we did not. The care of a child in such close quarters was very hard on Hum AND Mah.iokik Hi.st Page io DEPARTMENT OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE 25 US and was not good for Ruth. How I ever wrote my sermons I do not know. How Mrs. Rust ever endured the strain of cooking, caring for baby, and helping in the meetings is more than I can explain. At night Ruth slept in a hammock swung between the berths, and Mrs. Rust occupied the lower, while I took the upper. But this could not go on indefinitely. The chapel car was no place to bring up children. So we have had a home in St. Paul and Minneapolis for the last eight years, and the Publication Society has allowed me enough extra money each year to permit my engaging any one whom I may choose to assist me. Mrs. Rust has been at home the larger part of the time, but has assisted me on the car much and in our meetings with city churches during some of the winter months. My life away from loved ones and home has made me sympathize with the great host of traveling men. There was a time when I could stay away much longer than I can now. Home is dearer to me than ever. I am so glad I have one, and that I have children, not only for my own personal joy but be- cause it helps me in my work. I have often said that a young man cannot preach as he ought to until he is married and has children. How can we feel what a father feels until we are fathers ? Oh, how many times I have felt the great throbbing heart of my heavenly Father yearning for his children erring in sin, as I have been conscious of my love and anxiety for my own little ones. 26 A CHURCH ON WHEELS My heart was wounded deeply once after return- ing from a long trip to find my ciiild did not i