rev. roy mccuskey, a.b., s.t.b.
i had a great desire for an education. this desire was the outcome of two strong convictions—that my place in the world’s work was to be in the ministry of the gospel; that i could never render the best service in that capacity without a thorough education. when i was ten years old my mother was left a widow. father bequeathed to his wife and children a noble character, but no estate. i early learned the lessons of industry and frugality, and these combined with some native determination, made the venture of securing a college course at the age of eighteen rather easy. i was not afraid to work, nor to suffer.
i was a stranger to the faculty and student body. moreover, i was a stranger to college ways, so my first step was to borrow enough money to put me through at least part of the first year. i found some janitor work that year. it helped, but not much. the next summer i worked in a grocery store, and when the term opened in the fall, i was back with a little money and plenty of nerve. during the second year more janitor work occupied my spare hours until the spring when i organized a boarding club, 80 and remained as manager of that for the next two years. this partly paid my board, but room rent, tuition, and clothing were to be provided. each summer i sought employment. one vacation was spent in a tin can factory; another in the y. m. c. a., as an assistant secretary; another in doing my first preaching in a schoolhouse in the outskirts of the city of wheeling. i had to do almost three full years of preparatory work, and my work was so irregular that i scarcely had a “class” until my senior year in college. through the kindness of the faculty, i was permitted to do some work during vacation, pass examinations at the fall opening, and receive credits. i thus made my full course in economics.
the first money which i had borrowed was long overdue, although i had kept the interest paid. the note called for settlement, so after i had been in the struggle for four years, i asked for an appointment at the fall conference of our church and was sent to a circuit that paid $500. i served it for one year out of school. i felt more than ever desirous to finish my education, so i made preparations to return to college the next fall. the officials of the churches which i had been serving made it possible for me to return to them while carrying the regular work in my studies. pastoral work was not demanded, and each week i traveled something over two hundred miles on the railroad, going to and from these churches, or rather, the station nearest 81 the churches, and then walking from five to ten miles and preaching three times on sunday. this was hard on the purse and the pulse, so the next year i asked for churches nearer the college. i got them. a job lot of them at that—just eight, with an extra preaching place tacked on! what i lost in railroad mileage, i gained in foot travel, beautiful mountain scenery, and good atmosphere. in june, 1908, i received the bachelor of arts degree, and in september of the same year entered boston university school of theology, from which i was graduated in june, 1911. my expenses were met here by preaching in a small church on the south shore of cape cod. with all my working i needed more money than i could earn, and the only resort was borrowing, which i did from my life insurance company, and from the board of education of the methodist episcopal church. in all, i have spent nine full years in college and seminary work with a fairly good record in studies, and received no help except from my own labor. having the will, i made the way.
shinnston, w. va.
