Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 206, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1911 — PASTOR WANTS AUTO FOR CIRCUIT RIDING. [ARTICLE]

PASTOR WANTS AUTO FOR CIRCUIT RIDING.

R«r. Kuonen Asks Aid of Chicago Paper in Procuring Money to Buy Substitute for Dobbin. Rev. E. M. Kuonen, the popular pastor of the Barkley circuit of the Methodist church, is receiving considerable notoriety because of a letter he wrote to the Chicago RecordHerald. The paper gives his appeal front page prominence and the affair has brought attention in other cities. Indianapolis papers are wiring for information to correspondents. Rev. Kuonen’s letter tP the RecordHerald reads: v

“I am pastor of a large Methodist circuit and am traveling an average of thirty five miles a day. I have only a little horse and my salary is per year. I have a family of four to support. “I am trying to raise money to buy an automobile for my charge. Could you give me the names of several manufacturers or other persons who, in your opinion, may be helpful in my enterprise?” He has not misstated the facts. He is a diligent pastor of the Barkley, McCoysburg and Lee churches, and devotes much of his time to driving over the circuit visiting members of the churches and working for the good of humanity. Rev. Kuonen has been pastor of this circuit for two years and has within that time made many friends throughout the county. All will agree that an automobile would be a great aid in his labors. The automobile as a factor in ministerial work in country fields is not a new one in Jasper, county. Rev. W. G. Schaeffer, the young and successful pastor of the Brushwood United Brethren church, uses a machine. With it he can accomplish much more than he could,drining old Dobbin, and he maintains it at less expense. If there are any philanthropists who have any knowledge of the difficulties encountered by a pastor in a circuit field, they could not do better than to come to the aid of men situated as Rev. Kuonen is. The request is a reasonable one and soeqS one should answer the appeal.