My dearest Calvin,

It was somewhat of a surprise to receive the news in your letter this morning, tho' I had understood from you at the first that you were just engaged till the beginning of the year, yet the newspaper announcement mislead me into thinking, that it was a permanent appointment just to be satisfied by the annual meeting. I am afraid it was quite a blow to you, for I know how sanguine you are and what plans and possibilities open before you and I think you are apt to over-rate people. Tom considers it a kind providence, that took you out of it. The fact of it is, that the laymen do no work in the churches now-a-days, there are no elders like those of old days who can do some religious work in the congregation, very few now can even make a prayer so the whole thing is left on the minister's shoulders as poor Mr. Ketchen finds, the managers simply manage the money and and [sic] only want large congregations so that they can have plenty to run the church on. So that the only minister, who has any peace at all is the minister of a medium sized congregation, where the people are really able to appreciate a gospel sermon. I do not wonder young men go to the heathen. Things are so difficult in the home churches. They certainly ought to give you a hundred dollars they put you in a very awkward position. I understand Mr. Dowling left because they were wanting a co-pastor. The fact of it is they do not know what they want, they are not right themselves and they want someone else to furnish the enthusiasm and do the work they should do themselves. It looks like the time in our congregation when people were tired of Dr. Fletcher, and our church is not really much better now tho' Mr. Ketchen's preaching is much liked, there is no one to do any work. He is going to Atlantic City next week for a rest. I am only so sorry that you should suffer this disappointment tho' some good will doubtless come of it.

We trust that God is still leading us, we cannot look ahead as He does, but He will make it alright with us. We were thoroughly disappointed to have you settled so far away, we had looked forward to visiting you in your Manse and Edna is so glad of a little change it does her more good than anything. She is so glad to think you are coming and Ruby will be too. With fondest love and much sympathy,

Your loving mother

M. B. McQuesten

[P.S.] Think it altogether too bad that they have put you in this position and something should be done to correct that newspaper report. Those papers are really great trouble makers.