When the Lord saved me, he called me into the ministry. I knew the ministry
were securing half fare on railroads, but did not know that they had to be
ordained before they could get it. But I did know that the Lord had
ordained me for the Ministry. So I went to the depot agent in my home town,
and asked him if he would sign for me so I could have the benefits of
clergy rates. He had known me for some years, so told me he could if I
would swear that I was a preacher. I said, "No, I can't swear. If you can't
take my word for it, I'll go without a permit." He said, "If you can't
swear, I will sign for you." So I sent in my application to the clergy
bureau, and a few days later I received the permit, but there was a little
slip with it which said, "Are you wholly engaged in gospel work, or do you
do some secular work?" I studied and prayed about it and wrote the clergy
bureau and sent the permit back and said, "When I travel, I do nothing but
gospel work, but when I am home, I preach twice on Sunday and once a week,
and through the week I do whatsoever my hands find to do. I do not want any
railroad bill against me in the day of judgment. So if you find upon this
explanation that I am worthy of your courtesy, I will be very pleased to
receive the permit, and if not, I thank you."
A few days later, the permit was returned to me with a letter saying,
"Please accept our courtesy. We are not afraid of being imposed upon by a
man like that."
When I was ordained, the brethren said, "Now you can get half fare on the
railroads." "Well," I said, "I have had that almost seven years already."
When I explained to them they were astonished.
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