[Envelope addressed: Rev. John A. Cairns, Barney’s River, Pictou Co., Nova Scotia. Return Address: Rev. A. H. Cameron, Palmyra New York. Postmarked: Palmyra N. Y Feb 28 4:30 PM 01. Stamp torn off. Receiving postmark: Barney’s River N.S. Mr 4 01.]
Palmyra, N.Y.
Feb. 28 th 1901
My Dear Mr. Cairns:-
It was with great pleasure that I received your kind letter last evening. It awakened many memories of days long since passed away, some of them pleasant and some of them sad. I have never been at Isaac’s Harbor since I left. For four years I endured Peter but on leaving had a quarrel with him. Though we have had friendly correspondence since that time I never cared especially to see him. Mrs. Sinclair is a very fine woman. In this country she would have long ago brought her cranky husband to his senses either by leaving him or through the divorce court. Among the bright months of those four years were those of your stay. I have often wished that I could see you and compare notes with an exchange of experiences during these intervening years. On my journeys to Nova Scotia time, health, and expense had to be considered. On these occasions I several times planned to call upon my old friends but never felt quite equal to the effort.
Your kind suggestion with regard to Father’s and Mother’s jubilee we would like very much to carry out but find that I cannot go home this summer. We have tried among us to arrange that at least one of us would visit the old home every year. We have thought this plan better than to attempt a family reunion. It is probable that my two sisters will go home and that they will do something in the way of a celebration without George and myself.
I hope sometime to see you up here. If you plan a vacation this summer Mrs. Cameron and I would be greatly pleased to have you spend some time with us. Many from Nova Scotia will want to visit the Pan American Exposition which opens in April. We are on the direct route from Boston to Buffalo and only about 90 miles from Buffalo. We have a very pretty town and there are many objects of interest in the place and vicinity.
Church work here is in some respects more difficult than with you and in others easier. The majority of the people in our towns do not attend church and they care nothing for Sunday except as a day of recreation. It is not easy to interest those outside nor to hold them after interest is awakened. But there is less of unpleasant criticism and fault-finding with reference to the minister and less opposition to his work and his methods. If his congregation do not like him very often a delegation wait upon him telling him plainly that it is better for the church and for him that he resign. If he is reluctant he soon finds himself so uncomfortable that he is glad to move on. This church asked for the resignation of my two predecessors. My turn may come some day but there are no evidences of it yet. Our relations are very cordial and pleasant. The work however taxes my strength and time to the utmost. Between preparing two discourses a week and an endless amount of pastoral work with many special calls I am kept very busy. A minister here is expected to be ready for any emergency, to speak at all sorts of conventions, to conduct temperance campaigns, to hold evangelistic services, to make patriotic addresses and almost anything that no one else will do. The calling is never done. Last year I made more than 1200 calls on families sick and well within my congregation. Just now we are making an effort to close up the liquor saloons in town which the ministers plan and in which they are the moving spirits.
With kindest regards to you and Mrs. Cairns.
Sincerely Yours
A. H. Cameron