Over My Shoulder

Chapter 16—Teaching in Chico

Dores and I had been married less than a year when Prof. E. D. Sharpe, educational secretary for the California Conference, came to visit us. One of the church-school teachers had resigned, and he was searching for a replacement. Would I come and finish out the year in this emergency? The very existence of the school was at stake. OMS 111.1

When the problem was presented to Grandma, a wave of incredulity swept over her face, and she exclaimed, “What? Ella teach a ten-grade school all by herself? I think you had better go with her, Dores.” OMS 111.2

At this time Grandma was writing steadily on her books, so was traveling and preaching less than in previous years. That meant fewer sermons to record—certainly not more than Mrs. Maggie Hare Bree could handle, she reasoned. Grandma said she could spare Dores for the few months that remained before the close of the school year. OMS 111.3

So Dores and I went off to Chico to teach church school. Father was in the East. When he heard what had happened he was dismayed. He was fully aware of Grandma’s deep sympathy and concern for educational work. But he also felt that her work at this time demanded a larger rather than a smaller staff. Tasks were piling up—copying, duplicating, filing, indexing—enough to keep Dores busy for a long time. My husband was also the chief reporter of Grandmother’s sermons and interviews. But by the time Father’s objections reached Elmshaven we were already in Chico. In fact, we had agreed to stay for the following term. OMS 111.4

The former teacher had used the church auditorium for his classroom. Now, since we were dividing the children, we had to divide the teaching space. This we did by stretching a curtain through the center of the room. OMS 111.5

On one side I taught the first four grades. I had twenty-three children; Dores taught the sixth, eighth, ninth, and tenth grades on the other side. He had twelve students, mostly big boys. He had already been warned that these boys were unruly and that this was what had discouraged their former teacher. OMS 111.6

As might be expected, my students were easier than his to handle, though the older students presented no great problems. All my pupils were lusty singers, but no complaint was ever heard from the class on the opposite side of the curtain. The church members were very cooperative. When school supplies were needed, the good-natured school-board members dipped into their own pockets. Nor did Dores and I ever go hungry while waiting for our monthly check. OMS 112.1

About the beginning of the new year, our pastor C. N. Martin, began a series of Bible lectures in the church. Every day at the close of school the older boys would stack the school desks and chairs against the wall and bring out the benches, ready for the evening service. After the meeting the benches would be removed and the school desks and seats set back in place. OMS 112.2

On the second or third day of school a student, Cecil Urquhart, asked my husband to consider conducting a class in bookkeeping. He was confident that if he could only get his brother, Edward, into the school, he would be converted, and bookkeeping was the only subject in which Ed was interested. Could Professor Robinson offer that subject as an inducement for him to attend? OMS 112.3

Dores asked for a day to think it over. That afternoon the two school-teacher staff held a prayer and consultation meeting. OMS 112.4

“Ella,” Dores said, “I’ve never had a day’s instruction in bookkeeping, nor do I remember ever talking to a bookkeeper about his profession or ever opening a book on the subject. But how can I evade such an opportunity as this to win a soul for Christ?” There could be only one answer. OMS 112.5

My husband sent for a set of lessons and books, then sat up nights studying them. Bookkeeping was one of the subjects taught in the Chico church school that semester. Dores always felt that the results justified the effort, for Ed Urquhart was converted, went on to gain further education in our schools, and finally sailed for Korea, where he and his wife spent most of their lives laboring as devoted and much-loved missionaries. About five o’clock one spring morning Dores and I were awakened by a vigorous shaking that lasted the best part of a minute, but which seemed like hours. It was April 18, 1906, the day of the San Francisco earthquake and fire. OMS 112.6

We dressed quickly and hurried out into the street. The post office was not far from where we were staying. By the time we reached it, we could see that it was already open and filled with people who were anxious to get in touch with friends and relatives living in the earthquake zone. The line for the telegraph window stretched for more than a block. OMS 113.1

A month later we two weary teachers mounted our bicycles and cycled the 120 miles back to Elmshaven and the office with its ever-waiting work. Father freely forgave us for running away, subject to our promise not to do it again. OMS 113.2

That Chico church school was to prove one of the most productive in the denomination in terms of workers sent to foreign fields. Besides Edward and Maud Urquhart, there were other well-known missionaries who came out of that little school. These included Merritt and Wilma Warren, Alfonso and Mayte Anderson, Charles and Fred Landis, Chloe Landis, and Harry and Irene Parker. Altogether some forty-four candidates for foreign mission service obtained at least a portion of their education in the Chico church school. OMS 113.3

We were glad, and so were Father and Grandma, that we had met the emergency and not allowed that school to be closed. We felt assured that God had divinely directed us in making our decision. OMS 113.4