In all the sorting I’ve been doing, I recently came across this cane. It belonged to my great-great-great grandfather, Joe Rye, a renowned singer and lay preacher in our family. Joseph is my middle name, a name that has been passed down through his male descendants, and I’ve passed it on to my son. I’ve often wondered if my singing talent and my inclination to preach come from him. Holding that cane is a moving experience. I can almost imagine it as his Haugean crozier. (Which, if you know anything about the Haugeans, is an oxymoron of the highest order.)
Here’s an account of him written by my grandmother:
“Joe Rye was a lay preacher in Norway. He traveled on foot gathering people for meetings in homes. He preached the gospel and sang. He was a most wonderful singer. Many came just to hear him sing. After coming to America he worked in the timberland of Michigan and on steamships. After he brought his family to South Dakota, he again went spreading the gospel. In later years he organized a prayer meeting which was held every Wednesday evening. People would walk several miles to get to the prayer meetings. They would carry their lanterns to light the way. As he grew older, they changed the time to Sunday afternoons. By that time people had horses and wagons so they could ride and take the entire family. I loved those prayer meetings—the singing and listening to the parents talk to God. They had no college education. All their learning was from the Bible.”
It’s a good thing — it seems to me — to appreciate what you’ve inherited, no matter what it may be. It could be a cane, or a song in your heart, or a fire in your belly that compels you to speak the truth as you know it.
If you’ve reached this point, I want to express my gratitude for your friendship. That’s also worth appreciating. May God bless you – wherever you are.
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