The ChurchProbably the Wruth family was not what some people might say a religious family but we were good living folks, honored Sunday, believed in God and went to Church. There was very little profane language or swearing around home. Seldom did my Dad swear. One morning the horses would not go into the barn. One horse led the rest right to the barn door then take off and all the horses followed her. This happened a half dozen or more times and Dad lost his temper and let out a few good cuss words. Our young cousin, Dave Moore, who practically lived at our place and although brought up in a home with lots of swearing, did not swear at our place. He was trying to help with the horses. He was so astonished when he heard Dad swear he looked bewildered and said, "Unkie Delbee swore." Another time Dad hired a man, John Hoyle. About every second word he spoke was a swear word. After a few days Dad said to him, "I have never told anyone to quit swearing but it is something we do not do around here. Anytime you feel you have to swear take a half hour off and go across to the bluff and swear. John was never heard swearing after that. One morning he was harnessing horses and one stepped on his foot. He came jumping out of the stall saying "I guess I have to go to the bluff." He did not go to the bluff. On Sunday afternoons and evenings our place was always a gathering place for young folks. We always planned a goodly supply of food ready for extra at supper time. Once chores were done in the morning, we all got cleaned up and did not change back in the evening to do chores as we never milked cows on Sunday night. Thunder Creek had its own Minister and Church service which not all districts had. Ministers boarded at Chas Birch's and Church at 11 a.m. It seemed to be taken for granted that the Minister would go to Wruth's for Sunday dinner. Then he went to Nottingham for 2:00 or 2:30 afternoon service. There was Sunday school too. No one stayed home to fix dinner because the preacher was coming. If we were having soup, he had soup. If it was fried chicken, he had fried chicken - never any fussing. About 1922 or 1923 Ministers started to live in the Manse in Storthoaks so 11 a.m. service was in Nottingham with 2:30 at Thunder Creek. Mother figured he would have dinner in Nottingham district with morning service there. But no, the first morning after Church he inquired about a meal and they just said the Minister always had dinner at Delbert Wruth's. So again we had the Minister for dinner for several years. There was something very pleasant about Church at a country school house. Everyone went, from baby to Grandmother. No one was in a hurry home after service and mostly spent a half hour or more visiting with neighbors. There was no need for a baby sitter something unheard of at that time. Children were taught to behave themselves. One Sunday when Russell was a kid maybe a year old, Mother had him at Church and she was sitting in a school desk. Russell was getting unruly and out of hand. Dad sitting with the men on a plank at the back of the school stood it as long as he could. In the middle of the service he got up, picked Russell up and went outside. In a short time he came in and gave Russell to Mother and all was quiet. I little doubt if Russell ever again kicked up a fuss in Church. Dad did not believe one had to dress like a "Dude" to go to Church. In summer he was clean shaven, put on a good shirt, pants, suit coat and wore a tie. In winter Dad never shaved but kept his beard clipped (with hand horse clippers). He put on a clean pair of bib overalls, a dark shirt, a tie, a suit coat, his felt socks and rubbers and off to Church without perishing with cold. He said he had never been asked to leave Church because he was not properly dressed. In the school books, using the Church for services is mentioned as far back as the turn of the century. Cairns homesteaded Section 10. The father was a Minister. One wonders if he might have been the first Minister. Some earlier Ministers names are: Rev. Mesher, Leo Stutt, Tom Currrant, Sharpley, Crookshanks. In 1915 Rev. Major came and he married a local girl - Pearl Kidd. In 1918 the never to be forgotten Mr. Williams came. Flu struck and he turned his hand to help any way he could. When Dad was so sick with Flu Mr. Williams came to see him. As he was leaving he asked Dad if he had any liquor in the house. When Dad said "yes" he told Dad to get pouring it into him. Dad said Mr. Williams was the only Minister he ever knew who told someone to get drinking. After Williams was Rev. Holdridge, then Rev. Johnson in 1921. Mr. Johnson was the Minister Lizzie Gilchrist was going to marry. He was drowned in Sask.. River and she never married. Mr. Johnson was the last Minister to board at Chas Birch's. After Mr. Johnson came Rev. Unstead, James Watts, W. O. Robinson in 1926. Mr. Robinson performed Beryl and Wes's wedding in 1928. There was a Rev. Thompson, James Watts, H. F. Malcolm and Treffry before Rev. E.P. Johnson in 1938. Rev. Johnson preached Dad's funeral service. His daughter Hilda married Bill Eddy. Later years there was a Rev. Almack from Redvers. Last Church services were held in early 1950s when Tom Walker, a student from Carnduff Baptist Church, came out to the school. Thunder Creek district was, one could say, 100% Protestant with the exception of the Longfees, a Catholic family who lived in the district a couple of years, back about 1915. Also Joe Doyle's for a few years. With the teaching of God so prevalent in the district from early homestead days down through many years, it seemed to leave little doubt but that the Church had some influence in helping to make Thunder Creek |
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