A great change came into my life in my early teens. I discovered books - not cheap books but the best in English literature - only the best! I have Dr George Fraser of Parkhill for this discovery. Dr Fraser was our dentist. My teeth had to be straightened. This meant weekly sessions to the dentist that continued over the next couple of years.
He had the only library in the village. How impressed I was with his book lined study. He was interested in my mind and took it upon himself of acquainting me with the classics. We would discuss only books during my weekly sessions with him.
Seeing I was interested he began loaning me those suited to my age. Soon I had advanced to the novels of Charles Dickens. A new world was open to me. I was in my early teens, I believe.
I began quetioning my parents and sunday school teachers on the beliefs and thoughts I was supposed to accept.This proved to be very embarrassing to them. I can remember asking Mrs Mitchell, my Sunday school teacher what happened to Chinese babies who died from starvation before they were christened. She had told me Christianity was necessary to take us to heaven. Many Chinese were still heathens then weren't acceptable to the Lord. She was very embarrsed when I asked her. Finally I asked. " Would they go to Hell?" After some hesitation she answered "I suppose they would".
I held this against the Lord. I thought it was very cruel of him to send babies to Hell who hadn't lived long enough to be saved by our Christian missionaries.
Soon afterwards a Carnegie Library was built in Parkhill. What a momentous occasion that was for me. It turned me into the book worm I am today. I am never lonesome as long as I have books to read. I don't need people, but I need books!
Then I was fourteen and mother and father decided I was old enough to become a member of the Presbyterian church. My sisters Olive and Lloy were already members. Olive, their obedient daughter, joined without a murmer of dissent. Lloy was quite emotional when her turn came and I would sometimes see her in her bedroom praying it all hours of the day preparing herself for the first communion.
My parents weren't prepared for my rebellion. I think I was still holding it against the Lord for those little Chinese babies put in Hell. because they died before they could be christened.
Crassly and Hunter, the great Evangelists had come to Parkhill to hold nightly meetings in the Methodist church. It was quite a social affair. Everyone attended, especially women and children. I went with mother.
It was an emotional experience. After a very emotional sermon on the joys of being saved and the tortures awaiting us in Hell if we weren't, we'd all get down on our knees to ask forgiveness for our sins, and this would open our hearts to the Lord.
When we arose, the organ was playing and the choir led us in a song I still remember. It went something like this.
"I am coming Lord, I am coming;
coming near to thee
Wash me, cleanse me with thy blood
which flows from Calvay"
As if under a spell we marched down the aisle to the front benches and were blessed by messrs Crassly and Hunter. To mother's horror I would not accompany her. I sat in the back row with the sinners. For five nights I went back. Mother insisted but for five nights I sat in the same back of the church. How humiliating to mother!
He had the only library in the village. How impressed I was with his book lined study. He was interested in my mind and took it upon himself of acquainting me with the classics. We would discuss only books during my weekly sessions with him.
Seeing I was interested he began loaning me those suited to my age. Soon I had advanced to the novels of Charles Dickens. A new world was open to me. I was in my early teens, I believe.
I began quetioning my parents and sunday school teachers on the beliefs and thoughts I was supposed to accept.This proved to be very embarrassing to them. I can remember asking Mrs Mitchell, my Sunday school teacher what happened to Chinese babies who died from starvation before they were christened. She had told me Christianity was necessary to take us to heaven. Many Chinese were still heathens then weren't acceptable to the Lord. She was very embarrsed when I asked her. Finally I asked. " Would they go to Hell?" After some hesitation she answered "I suppose they would".
I held this against the Lord. I thought it was very cruel of him to send babies to Hell who hadn't lived long enough to be saved by our Christian missionaries.
Soon afterwards a Carnegie Library was built in Parkhill. What a momentous occasion that was for me. It turned me into the book worm I am today. I am never lonesome as long as I have books to read. I don't need people, but I need books!
Then I was fourteen and mother and father decided I was old enough to become a member of the Presbyterian church. My sisters Olive and Lloy were already members. Olive, their obedient daughter, joined without a murmer of dissent. Lloy was quite emotional when her turn came and I would sometimes see her in her bedroom praying it all hours of the day preparing herself for the first communion.
My parents weren't prepared for my rebellion. I think I was still holding it against the Lord for those little Chinese babies put in Hell. because they died before they could be christened.
Crassly and Hunter, the great Evangelists had come to Parkhill to hold nightly meetings in the Methodist church. It was quite a social affair. Everyone attended, especially women and children. I went with mother.
It was an emotional experience. After a very emotional sermon on the joys of being saved and the tortures awaiting us in Hell if we weren't, we'd all get down on our knees to ask forgiveness for our sins, and this would open our hearts to the Lord.
When we arose, the organ was playing and the choir led us in a song I still remember. It went something like this.
"I am coming Lord, I am coming;
coming near to thee
Wash me, cleanse me with thy blood
which flows from Calvay"
As if under a spell we marched down the aisle to the front benches and were blessed by messrs Crassly and Hunter. To mother's horror I would not accompany her. I sat in the back row with the sinners. For five nights I went back. Mother insisted but for five nights I sat in the same back of the church. How humiliating to mother!
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