rev. richard aspinall, b.a., m.a., b.d.
at the age of twenty-five i went to west virginia wesleyan college with a fairly large amount of worldly experience, very little book learning, and enough money to take me through two terms of school. i was preparing myself for the ministry of the methodist episcopal church, and was willing to preach my way through school. i did not know anyone in the school, nor did i have any definite promise that i would get a charge near the college. incidentally, i might say that i had been in this country only eighteen months at that time. i landed in new york with only six dollars, plus the amount that the immigration authorities require each one to have upon landing on these shores. i did not know a man from maine to california.
after consultation with the dean i found that i needed one year to complete the college entrance requirements. during the next summer i made enough money to pay my few debts; so i returned to the college square with the world. a few weeks after school opened, i went to our conference and was assigned to a circuit in close proximity to the college, which paid me $360 for the year. 6 there were six appointments on the circuit; each congregation wanted me to hold a protracted meeting and i had to hire a horse every sunday, for the average distance for me to travel was twenty miles a sunday.
there was no opportunity to make any extra money, for i held protracted meetings in the vacations and had to do extra pastoral work in the summer, which, of course, had been sadly neglected during the school year. it need hardly be said that there were many trying times. i had much practical experience in a system of bookkeeping; but, somehow, and at very irregular intervals, the bills were all paid at the end of the year.
i was returned a second year. the salary was increased $50.00, and for a time i was passing rich. but troubles were plentiful, sometimes. i was going out on a mission of good cheer, riding thirty miles on sunday—it may be in sleet and snow, and the steward had been able to collect only $3.21, when i needed much more than that to pay my board bills. then when i could succeed in casting these gloomy thoughts from my mind, in would rush the inspiring thoughts of my latin, greek, hebrew and math., all fighting for first consideration. notwithstanding, given good health, one can get through. it has been done and can be done again, is part of my philosophy.
the last two years saw me on another charge, paying much more money, but a much more difficult 7 field, mentally. i was able to graduate, free from debt, though i had seldom been so during the whole five years. i feel as though i have a right to say that i did not slight my work, for i was graduated “magna cum laude” and took a few other honors besides.
taken collectively, the grind of lessons, the worries of a circuit together with shortage of money are not always conducive to optimism, but i felt like i had to get through. the same zest i had then for learning is still with me. i may say that i have no more money than i had when in college, but as much ambition.
madison, n. j.
