ed for many years.

In 1881 he was elected as the first elder of the church, and in 1887 was
appointed a Catechist. Encouraged by these recognitions and duties he
secured a good library of religious books including a Bible dictionary
and a Webster. He read many of them with great profit, and was soon
recognized as an intelligent and valuable instructor of the people. The
Bible and the shorter Catechism, the one containing all of Bible truth
and the other, a brief compend of Bible doctrine, were the two books
that were studied most and proved most helpful.

In 1893 he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Choctaw and
assigned the pastoral care of Beaver Dam and Hebron churches. On Sept.
28, 1895, by the same Presbytery, meeting at Oak Hill Academy, now known
as the Alice Lee Memorial, he was ordained to the full work of the
gospel ministry. He continued to serve Beaver Dam, his old home church,
until Oct. 1, 1912, when, after a pastorate of twenty years, he was
honorably retired from the active work of the gospel ministry. In 1904
he secured the erection of a commodious chapel at Grant that, during the
next five years, served also as the most convenient place for holding
the neighborhood school. After serving Hebron about ten years on
alternate Sabbaths, in connection with Beaver Dam, he relinquished that
field and served Sandy Branch and Horse Prairie, each a short period.

When the Presbytery of Kiamichi met in the new chapel at Grant, in April
1905, he conducted the Bible lesson for the entire Sunday school, as had
been his custom ever since the early days. The writer was pleasantly
surprised and profoundly impressed, by his scholarly and highly
instructive management of it, and the many useful, practical lessons he
endeavored to impress.

THE POWER OF THE BIBLE

Wiley Homer is a good practical illustration of what the Bible is
intended to do for all men. If he were asked, what book, in the process
of his self-education, had proved most valuable to him, he would
unhesitatingly reply, "the Bible." His prayer in regard to it has been
that of David in the 119th Psalm, "Let my heart be sound in thy
statutes," and his testimony, that of David in the 19th Psalm, "The law
of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord
is sure making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart, the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening
the eyes."

If he were to name t