Missionaries Becoming Scarce & Questioned by the Police

August 24/33

Lübbecke i/Westf.
Osnabrückerstr.16

Dear Mother and Dad,

Today is the first day I have been home in a week so I am catching up on my correspondence in an all-around manner.  I have been pretty well on the go since a week yesterday.  Our conference of the Bielefeld District came off last Sunday which necessitated my going into Bielefeld several days ahead of time to help with arrangements and with the making of propaganda for the same. 

The conference was a big success.  We were successful in obtaining one of the most modern buildings of Bielefeld to hold our sessions in, which not only added to the spirit of the conference but which was a drawing card for many friends who were present.  On the program they, naturally, made use of me by having me play a violin duet with one of the brethren in the Sunday School program, and having me sing a duet with one of the brethren in the afternoon and having me play an obligato for Sister Salzner, and lastly having me sing a solo in the evening meeting.  I sang "Wiegenlied" from the Opera "Jocelyn" by Goddard.

Monday, President Salzner held us in a Missionary  Meeting most of the day after which the Bielefeld Branch put on a Program and Dance evening.  I and Brother Hollingshouse remained  until eleven thirty after which we had to walk out into the country for a bed.  We were staying with some of the saints and the streetcars quit running at eleven o'clock so we had to foot it out about six kilometers.  We got in bed at one-thirty.  The next morning I had to get up at six and catch the earliest train for Minden and make arrangements for President Salzner to speak there.  President and his wife stayed over night in Minden and yesterday I had to accompany him as far as Bückeburg towards Hannover where we visited a sister who has been sick for the last fourteen years.  Upon leaving Pres. I returned to Minden and took a train for Lübbecke to hold our regular meeting here last night.  So this morning I am taking time out by writing letters.

Hereafter all the work in the Lübbecke and Minden Branches is going to fall to me alone I guess.  My companion has been put in charge of the District matter which leaves him very little time here in Lübbecke and Minden.  Missionaries are so scarce over here now that every Missionary has to double up.  It may come so far that we will all be sent out alone to work in the different parts of "Deutchland".  I am going to have to draft in one of the local brethren from Stadthagen to help me preach in Minden I guess.  With all the work I have been having to do here in this part of the Lord's vineyard I have been taking off weight right along.  I am now back to where I started from with 165 pounds.  Perhaps not quite that much.

I don't know whether I told you of our experience the other day or not.  While holding our house meeting her in Lübbecke a couple of weeks ago we were disturbed by the police.  We were all sitting around in the room with our thoughts deeply concentrated on the gospel when there came three loud knocks at the door.  We had no more that said come in when lo and behold there stood the police force of Lübbecke before us.  They immediately began questioning us and wanting to know what the nature of our meeting was.  They picked up our books and things and looked them through hoping to find something of political nature.  In that we aren't liked very well in Lübbecke anyway, we weren't surprised to learn that someone had turned us in as being communists and that we were holding a communist meeting. They even looked our suitcases through expecting to find bombs in them.  However, after we convinced them that we were only gathered to discuss the word of the Lord they took our names and left.  During the inspection they demanded a look at my pass which didn't have a visa in it but which they didn't notice.  My visa ran out last July and had they noticed it they would probably have run me out of Lübbecke.  And during the investigation the house was also surrounded by twelve other policemen who had a gun under each arm.

Upon reading the Guardian, I see where the corner Drug Store has been reopened.  More competition!! What??  More power to them if they DON'T effect the business of Crandall's pharmacy.

Well I have got to take my bicycle and make some visits so I'll quit.  Yes, I bought me a bicycle to see if I couldn't save on traveling expense.  I won't be able to use it very much in the Winter but during the summer I can save quit a bit.  I got a good bargain by only having to pay 18 marks for it.

Lots of Love,
Clarence