Grandpa, while not an
educated man in the sense of formal college training, was by no means uninformed. He knew
the Bible and his knowledge came from reading it and studying the commentaries
on it, by discussing interpretations with many of the visiting ministers, most of
whom he entertained in his home, and in meditation of scripture. I can remember
the long hours he would spend on the porch in the summer time apparently just
smoking his pipe, when all the time he was turning things over in his mind. I fear
we live so fast today with many things to attract our attention that we do not take
the time we should for quiet meditation not only of the scriptures but of the real
values of life. While we have gained much in our modern world I am sure we have
at the same time lost much. I shall never forget his answer to my request one day
to please explain "predestination" to me. "John", he said, "I can not explain it,
but It is in the Bible" and to this day I have not heard a truer explanation.
Grandpa was not fulsome in his praise though I am sure he was pleased over the achievements of his children. I remember one experience which will illustrate my statement. One time when Papa was home on furlough, Uncle Sam's people in Bluefield wanted him to go to Palestine for a visit to the Holy Land. Uncle Sam, with his session's approval, got Papa to fill his pulpit while he was on this trip. One day Grandpa handed me two letters, saying he thought I would be interested in reading them, but told me at the same time to consider then confidential and under no circumstance to let anyone know that I had read them. One of the letters was from Papa and the other one from Uncle Sam. After Papa had been in Bluefield for some time he wrote Grandpa telling him how much the people in Uncle Sam's Church there admired and loved him and what a fine service and ministry Uncle Sam was rendering there. When Uncle Sam got back, he wrote Grandpa to tell him how much the people in his Church enjoyed having Grandpa there and some of the nice things they had to say about Papa's preaching and ministry. I suppose he was afraid that these letters might turn the heads of mature men. I rather believe it was because he felt that doing ones duty was in itself all the a man needed, "that virtue Is its own reward"; therefore words of fulsome praise were unnecessary. Grandpa was a man of conviction. He was not offensive in maintaining his positions but he did not hesitate to do what he thought was right and what he had committed himself to even if it (his position) might not be a popular one. While he was serving on the session at Hopewell, it came to his attention that one of the deacons In the Church, a married man, was not true to his wife and was leading an immoral life, in clear disregard of his marriage vows and his vows as a deacon. He brought the case to the Session; the man was convicted or withdraw on his own decision in any case the man's