Change of Religion
My parents were Greek Orthodox in religion, but since there were no Greek Orthodox churches in Brier Hill I had to attend the Catholic church. The priest was not a very nice person to set examples since he was often seen drunk around town, and several times came to the church in a drunken mood. (I should have prefaced this anecdote by saying that I had a fungus in one ear which made the ear extremely painful. Incidentally, I continued on with this pain until the early 40's when penicillin became available which killed this fungus, and that was the end of my pain). During catechism class the priest asked me a question, and when I had an answer that did not please him he called me a bad name, reached over and grabbed me by that ear that was so sore, and lifted me off my feet. While I was off my feet and, facing the priest I kicked him in his shin as hard as I could with my hob nailed shoes. It was almost humorous to see a long tall priest in a black robe hopping around the church aisle on one foot holding the other shin. In order that he would not pick me up again or beat me, or do something to me, I left the church. After a couple of days mother suggested to Dad that he should talk to me because I did not look as though I was feeling good. It was then that I admitted that I had kicked the priest in the shins. Whereupon Dad said, "come with me", and he grabbed me by the hand and said "we are going to see the priest". I was so embarrassed because I felt that Dad was going to ask me to apologize to the priest as I had apologized just recently to Mr. Higinbotham for stealing his corn. When we got to the priest's house Dad knocked on the door and when the priest came to the door Dad said "If you ever put one hand on my son again, or on any child in this town, or any person that I know of, I'll come over here and punch you hard on the nose, and maybe even break that hand of yours. I don't want my son nor any person that I love to ever attend any of your functions again. Why don't you sober up and start behaving?" I was so proud of my Dad for having the faith and love in his son.
As a result, I still had to go to church on Sundays but there happened to be a new church started by Mrs. Harry Kelly and Mrs. Beck. The church was called the Church of Christ. I went to see Mrs. Kelly and asked her if I could attend church. She said "better yet why don't you come to Sunday school first and then to church, and you will be most welcome". I really was! I attended that church all the time that I was in Brier Hill. Mrs. Kelly gave me the first book I ever owned by myself, a very small New Testament Bible. I read every word of it several times. It was a beautiful gift with such lovely stories. By the time we moved from Brier Hill in 1932 I was already teaching some of the younger students in Sunday school. Mrs. Kelly (I later called her "mom" Kelly), incidentally, at that time was only 34 years old but I thought she was 100. Incidentally, also, Mrs. Kelly did live until she was 103 years old, and I have visited her many times since the Brier Hill days and have been in contact with her every year, by more than just sending her a birthday card.
