Chapter 11

A lady brought her sister who was in the last stages of tuberculosis to the camp meeting at Saint Paul Park, Minn. Wife and I prayed for the sick woman and she was instantly healed. So they insisted that I go to their place and hold them a meeting. I was very busy, so it was sometime before I could go. Finally they wrote asking how much I wanted to hold the meeting. I wrote that my carfare round trip was to be $26.50, and I thought I ought to have that much. They answered that they would give me that much, and that much more. I went and started the meeting on Friday evening. The folks I was to stay with lived six miles in the country and we secured the Methodist Church in town for the services. We had two services on Saturday, three on Sunday, two Monday and two Tuesday. Tuesday night they left me in the church. I had coal enough to keep me warm. As I had no money to go to the hotel, the next morning I walked out to their place in the loose snow, arriving about dinner time. I had dinner and that evening they took me to the meeting and left me again. I have no recollection of how I got away from there. It seems to me a family in town, who knew some of my relatives, kept me for a day or two. My carfare, which I still have coming from them as well as the rest, is the only meeting I had held in 52 years on which I had set a price. A brother belonging to another denomination who often attended the services and who was an agent for the Furges Kalls Woolen Mills, Minnesota, whom I met some years later, asked me, "Did you ever get any money from that meeting?" I replied, "I have it all coming," so he gave me five dollars and a pair of seven dollar trousers. That experience was one of the "all things." This was the only time I ever set any price on my ministry.

PRAYER CHANGES THINGS

Brother Masters and I were holding meeting in Hereford, Minnesota. Brother Masters was doing most of the preaching, and I was exhorting and giving the invitations. One evening after he finished preaching, I dismissed the meeting immediately. As we were going to our room between eleven and twelve, he asked, "Why did you not give the altar call tonight?" Then he added, "You did right, but what was the reason?" I answered, "Too much Masters." He replied, "The Lord help me!" and on his knees he went. He stayed there until between three and four o'clock in the morning. The next night I did not need to give an altar call, for the people flocked to the altar of their own accord.

* * * * *

MY FIRST PREACHING TRIP

I was standing in a wagon driving home from Hawick, Minnesota. The Lord spoke to me and said, "I want you to go to Belgrade next Sunday and preach." I replied, "I do not know what to preach." The Lord answered, "You go and open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." I argued that I did not have the money to go. He answered, "I'll tend to that."

When I arrived home from Hawick, there was a letter from an old brother about 80 years of age living at Norway Lake, Minn. He said, "The Lord has been telling me that you ought to go to Belgrade and hold them a meeting, and I am sending you the carfare." So I went.

Another time I was holding a meeting north of Belgrade and staying with Brother and Sister Andrew Larson. The night before leaving that locality I dreamed that when I came to Belgrade, I saw a man go into the depot just ahead of me, and as he stepped away from the ticket window he said, "Ha, ha, ha, I may as well go home then, since there is no train until three o'clock this afternoon."

Brother Larson was to take me to the depot early in the morning, and it was cold. When telling them my dream they laughed, and we all laughed. They said, "It can't be that bad."

It was about six miles to town and riding in an open buggy, I got cold, and when we got within about a quarter mile from town, I said, "You had better let me out here and I will walk and get warmed up." So he did. When I arrived at the depot a man walked in just ahead of me, and when he turned from the window, he said, "Ha, ha, ha, I might just as well go home since there will be no trains until three o'clock this afternoon."

I walked up to the ticket window and said, "How come the train is so late?" He said, "An old freight train ran off the track and they will have to clean up before the passenger train can come through." I did not wait, but walked home--a distance of twenty miles.

* * * * *

At one time I held a meeting in what was known as Clark school house, fifteen miles south of Cohasset, Minnesota. After the last Sunday morning service, I said, "If there is anyone who will take me to Cohasset after service tonight, my heavenly Father will give him a hundred fold in this life, and eternal life in the world to come." So going down to the door after service to shake hands with the folks, there stood a nice-looking young man who had not been out to the services before. He said, "I'll take you to town tonight." I said, "All right, thank you," and out he went. After a while Brother Goodell, the elder, came and said, "I'll take you to town." I said, "You are too late. You lost your pay this time." He said, "Who is going to take you?" I answered, "The young man who stood by the door when I got there." He thought a while, then he said, "Oh, that was Henry Garber; that will never do. He is not saved. He drinks a little, dances, plays cards and likely smokes." Then he added, "I'l take you. The road is bad" (and it surely was). I answered him, "If he is like that he needs the pay." "Well," he said, "He may not come. Aren't you afraid to go with him?" "No," I said.

He came, and it took us quite a while to get there on account of the road. We talked farming, dancing, drinking, love and salvation. Getting to town, it was still an hour and a half before the train would arrive. He said, "Wouldn't it be good to have a little lunch now?" I said, "That would be fine." "Alright," he said, "you order what you want." "Aren't you going to have some?" I asked; but he said, "no." After lunch he said, "How about a little ice cream now." "Fine," I said.

There were quite a number of young folks in the restaurant and while I was eating he was talking to the young people telling them he had been to two services that day and he added, "They were two of the best sermons I have ever heard in my life." They called out in a chorus, "Henry, Henry, have you sworn off?" Then they asked, "Who preached?" He answered, "Reverend Susag over here."

After I got through eating, he introduced me to all those young people. Then I said, "You had better get me to the depot now, and start for home; the road is so bad." "Well," he said, "I will not start back until you are on the train." And so he did; and when he put my grips on the train, he said, "Good by," and as he shook hands with me he left $3.00 in my hand. As he was leaving me he said,

"When--" but he never finished what he started to say. No doubt he meant to say, "When you pray remember me." I did not hear of him, nor see him for two or three years. Going to Milwaukee one Sunday to hold services for Brother Flint, a young man came to me in the chapel and said, "Praise the Lord Brother Susag." I said, "Amen." I looked at him and he said, "Do you know me?" I answered, "Yes, I have met you somewhere, but I don't remember where." "Think of Cohasset, Minnesota," he answered. I slapped him on the shoulder and said, "Henry, when did you get saved?" "Driving home that night," he said; "thinking how you treated me, almost a stranger, you spoke to me like a father--with such good understanding of everything and you called me brother and I got broken up, and going to my room on the farm, I knelt by my bed and repented and the Lord saved me. It was so good and the Lord made me so happy. I went to see my parents who lived six miles out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin." They all became members of the congregation in Milwaukee, and Henry became a much loved and respected member of the congregation in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and for many years one of the leaders and finally went home to his reward.

One time I was holding a meeting in the neighborhood where a young man lived who was one of our first converts, and he attended my services. One day he asked me if I would go home with him. I said, "Yes." On the way, he stopped me and said, "Have you got grace enough?" I answered, "I think so." Finally we got near his home, and in a little grove he stopped me again and he repeated, "Have you got grace enough?" I answered again, "I think so, but if you think I need more, let us pray that the Lord will give me all that I need." We knelt down in the grove there and prayed. Coming into the house he introduced me to his mother, a fine looking lady. We sat down and had a friendly chat, and before I knew it, I said, "Praise the Lord."

"Oh," she said, "You are one of them are you?" Then she gave me a real tongue lashing. This was because several of her sons and daughters had gotten saved, and they were very much persecuted because they left their church. Sometimes when she would find Olaf on his knees praying, she would grab him by the hair and pull him around in the house.

Finally her husband came in, and she introduced me to him.

"Susag," he said, "are you the husband of that witch over near Paynesville or Hawick, that goes singing and fingering on the strings on that box, getting people to weep and taking them away from their parents?" (Wife played a harp when she sang.) "You get out of this house as fast as your feet can carry you."

I took my hat and started for the door, and as I came near, he stood there with his hatchet in his hand and said, "If you come nearer, I will smash your head," and lifted the hatchet. I realized the man was so angry he did not know what he was saying, so I went back and sat down. "Say, Mr. Erickson," I said, "sit down, and let me tell you how the Lord saved us." "Alright," he answered. His wife said, "Get him out, get him out!" Then he answered, "Let him speak out of his heart. It is the first time he has ever been in our house." "No," she said, "Get him out." "No, no, wife, be quiet." And he sat down and I related how the Lord convicted wife and I. (We used to be of the same faith as they were.) When I had told them our experience, he came over and put his hand on my shoulder, and said, "You can stay with us over night, but don't say anything about your religion."

I thanked him and said, "We have services tonight, and I have to be going."

Later on Brother Peter Peterson of Foboken, New Jersey and myself held a meeting in that neighborhood and went and called on Mr. Erickson, and had a very pleasant visit with him. Brother Peterson had been a rough seaman and he told him of his life, and how the Lord had convicted and saved him. That seemed to impress him.

Years later Olaf bought the farm and his parents moved to another house. One morning Mr. Erickson did not come in for breakfast, and his wife went to his bedroom to see what was the matter. There he was on his knees by the bed praying. The first time she had ever seen him doing so in that position. He got up and said, "yes, I am coming." She went back to the kitchen, but still he did not come; so she went back to call him. Again he was on his knees by the bed. She said, "Aren't you coming husband. The breakfast is getting cold." He answered again, "Yes, I'm coming." But he did not come yet. She went back the third time, and on his knees he was, and this time he was dead. No doubt the man had been calling upon God, and the Bible says, "Whosoever calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Hundreds of prayers had gone up for those folks. After his death Mrs. Erickson went to stay with her oldest daughter at Westlake, Minnesota. After being there for some time she took very sick, and she said to her daughter, "Will you send for the preacher?" Yes, she said, "What is his address?" (thinking she wanted her own pastor). "No," she said, "I want your pastor, Brother Susag." I went and at the end of three days, she got gloriously saved and got well. Later on she took sick again and passed on, and because I was in Europe at the time, my wife conducted the funeral service. What looks hopeless with man can be changed by prayer.

* * * * *

At one time when Olae Christaphersen was selling books in the country between Grove City and Litchfield, Minnesota, he came to a home where quite a number were weeping and he asked why they were so sad. The lady of the house replied, "Our daughter, a young lady, is in the bedroom dying, and husband has gone to town to get the coffin, as she stinks already." (Those days they took the coffin to the homes sometimes). He inquired if he could see her, and she said, yes. After standing looking at her a while, he knelt and laid his hands on her and prayed the prayer of faith, and the Lord raised her up. Years later he was selling books in N. Dakota. He came to a nice farm home and knocking at the door a fine looking lady opened the door. Surprising him, she said, "Come in." Unused to such courtesy, he hesitated a moment, and she said again, "Come in, I know you. I am the lady you prayed for down by Litchfield, Minnesota, whose father had gone to the undertaker to arrange for the funeral. I am married and this is my home."

* * * * *

At one time a sister-in-law of Olae Christaphersen, Bastine Christaphersen, was in childbirth. The midwife said the child could not be born without medical help. Her husband started for Wilmer to get the doctor. At seven o'clock she began to get blue and lost consciousness. They sent for Brother Olae. When he came, he looked at his sister-in-law and walked out into the woodshed, and there among the split wood he knelt down and prayed. A number of times they called for him to come in, but he did not answer. About twelve o'clock he came hurrying in and laid his hands on his sister-in-law and said, "I command in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that this child be born, and that my sister-in-law be made well." Immediately the child was born, and all was well. In a few minutes the doctor arrived and he said it was a wonderful miracle.

* * * * *

HEALED AFTER RUNNING A RUSTY NAIL THROUGH THE FOOT

One time my wife stepped on a rusty nail, running it through the shoe sole and her foot. The next morning Brother Christaphersen came and she asked him to make her a crutch, since I was in Europe at the time. She had to walk with her knee on a chair and he said he would. He went out and in a few minutes he came back and said, "The Lord does not want me to make you a crutch. Let us pray the Lord to heal you." They prayed and she was healed at once.

* * * * *

HEALED OF LOCKJAW

I had my collar bone broken three times; the third time I was in North Dakota holding meetings. It was during July and very hot, being around 85 to 90 degrees in the shade. I was staying with Brother and Sister E. Olson and lockjaw set in. I took chills until they moved me into the kitchen and had the stove red hot. Even then I could hardly quit chilling. I battled with the devil and the pain for a whole day, and finally got the victory. Bless His name.

HEALED OF BROKEN LEG

One time I was plowing and was thrown off the seat onto the plow in such a way that my leg caught between the bars and I was thrown with my weight on my leg, breaking it near the ankle and splitting the bone nearly to the knee. The end of the broken bone protruded under the skin near the knee. The neighbor hearing my scream, phoned to my home, and the folks came and took me home. We sent for Sister Hendricks, (now Sister Mayhre). She and wife prayed for me and as they prayed the bone moved back into its place and the next day I was well as ever and able to go about my business.

* * * * *

MAN SAVED AND HEALED

At one time while I was pastor in Grand Forks, a young man came who had been on crutches for four years. (He was partially paralyzed, and unable to bear his weight on his limbs.) He came at the time of the State camp meeting. He had written to Brother E. E. Byrum to come and pray for him, and he was bringing the answer he had gotten from Brother Byrum which said, "I haven't time to come and furthermore it is so far and expenses would be so great and since the Dakota State Camp meeting convenes in a few days, you might be able to get someone to take you down there. Brother Susag will be there and he does the same kind of work that I do. He will pray with you, and instruct you how to get saved and healed."

He came and went through the entire camp meeting without receiving the faith he needed to get saved and healed, but he remained another day and I had time to more thoroughly instruct him. He did get saved and was perfectly healed.

A DOCTOR'S DAUGHTER HEALED

I was asked at one time to come to a certain city to preach for a certain denomination for a couple of weeks, which I did. On coming I found that I was to stay with a certain doctor who had a daughter five years old. One afternoon she was sitting talking with me and I found her almost as smart as a high school girl. Toward evening I said to her, "Honey, you are sick." She shrugged her shoulders and said, "I'll be all right in the morning." But she became seriously ill that evening, insomuch that the next day her father sent for another doctor, a nurse and a lady to help. About three o'clock the third morning the doctor came up into my room and made a confession which he needed not to have made. Then he said, "I've come to my wit's end; I know of no help for the child. But would you please pray for her? But pray right away, as she may pass away any time." I began to pray right away. I put on my clothes and ran down stairs, praying all the while. When I got down stairs everything was quiet, and when the doctor met me, he said, "Less than three minutes after you commenced to pray my daughter went to sleep, and I believe when she wakes up she will be well." She slept until four in the afternoon. When she awakened, she said, "I want to get up and dress." The doctor said, "No, honey, you can't do that; you have been awful sick. You will have to stay in bed and be quiet until you get stronger." She said, "Where is Brother Susag?" He said, "Do you want to see him?" She said, yes, so they called me and I said, "Praise the Lord, honey." She said, "Can't I dress?" "Sure, you can dress," I said, and so they dressed her. Then she said, "Now I want to get up and run." Again the doctor said, "You can't do that." She said, "Brother Susag, can't I run?" I said, "Sure, you can run," and out of the bed she went, but she stumbled against the wall, and the doctor went to catch her. She said, "Don't touch me. If I need help, Brother Susag can help me." Then through the house she ran with the father, mother and nurse after her. I was standing in the middle of the room praising God. Finally she stopped and faced her father and said, "Can't I run, daddy?" He said, "Sure you can, honey."

Her father came and put his arms around my neck weeping and said, "You saved the life of my child." I answered, "No, I didn't." He said, "Who did then?" I said, "You made a humble confession and asked one of the Lord's servants to pray, and the Lord honored your faith and healed her." "Yes," he said, "but if you hadn't been here she would have been dead now."

A humble confession is a sure stepping stone to faith.

* * * * *

HEALED OF PARALYSIS

Not long ago the Lord said to me. "You go to such and such a church tonight," which I did. After service was over, a man who had been paralyzed from his waist down for a long time, asked me to pray for him. The prayer of faith was offered and he was instantly healed. To corroborate the above, will say that later I met a minister of another denomination who knew the case and he said that this man had retained his healing.

* * * * *

DELIVERED FROM A SINKING SHIP

I wish to rewrite an incident given in Brother E. E. Byrum's book, "Startling Incidents and Experiences in the Christian Life." As it was given to him verbally, and I did not see the manuscript to correct it after it was written. But on reading the article in his book, I discovered that he had forgotten some of the facts. I am rewriting it here, praying that it may prove a blessing.

For the glory of God I desire to relate some incidents connected with my trips to Scandinavia in the years 1904-05. While I was engaged in evangelistic work in North Dakota in the fall of 1904, the brethren in New York City wrote me about making them a visit. After praying earnestly for the Lord to make known his will in the matter, I decided to go, and felt that if I went to New York I also ought to make a trip across the Atlantic to Norway to see my parents and relatives whom I had not seen for twenty-four years.