God Is My Landlord

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Text originally published in 1947 under the same title.

© Muriwai Books 2018, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

GOD IS MY LANDLORD

By

RAYMOND J. JEFFREYS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

DEDICATION 4

CHAPTER 1. — The Germ of Dynamic Kernels 5

CHAPTER 2.—The World’s Smallest Wheat Field 10

CHAPTER 3.—Second Year Sees 54.4 Fold Yield 12

CHAPTER 4.—Henry Ford Becomes Interested 15

CHAPTER 5.—Dynamic Kernel Foundation is Born 20

CHAPTER 6.—Biblical Wheat Gains National Prominence 25

CHAPTER 7.—Glamor Hits Fourth Harvest 29

CHAPTER 8.—Another Intimate Meeting with Ford 35

CHAPTER 9.—Historic Threshing Pageant 38

CHAPTER 10.—Plowman’s Folly 41

CHAPTER 11.—Tragedy Stalks the Fifth Year 44

CHAPTER 12.—Perry Faces a Vital Decision 48

CHAPTER 13.—An Anxious Winter for Perry 54

CHAPTER 14.—Ford Shrouded with Mystery 57

CHAPTER 15.—New Plan for Final Harvest 64

CHAPTER 16.—Dynamic Kernels Comes Into Its Own 67

CHAPTER 17.—Sixth Planting Involves the Farmers 71

CHAPTER 18.—Celebration Moves to Fair Grounds 75

CHAPTER 19.—A Little World’s Fair 79

CHAPTER 20.—The Proof of God’s Word 85

CHAPTER 21.—Great Spiritual Climax 91

CHAPTER 22.—Does Tithing Pay? 93

CHAPTER 23.—Last Chapter Can Never Be Written 97

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 102

DEDICATION

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE HENRY FORD

Whose enthusiasm and personal interest in Perry

Hayden’s Wheat Tithing project were largely

responsible for its success.

CHAPTER 1. — The Germ of Dynamic Kernels

I AM going to take God at His word and see what happens! That was the startling statement made by Perry Hayden, a Quaker miller of Tecumseh, Michigan, at the close of a history-making service in the Tecumseh Friends Church, on September 22, 1940.

Perry Hayden, his wife Elizabeth, daughters Mary Jane, Martha and Betty, sons William and Joe, grandmother Malinda Comfort, relatives and friendly neighbors were in their regular pews listening to a sermon being preached by a young student of Cleveland Bible College, Clifton J. Robinson.

The regular pastor, Edward Escolme, was curious as he watched Perry Hayden excitedly making notes during the sermon, which was preached on the text: "Verily, verily I say unto you, Except a corn (kernel) of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."...(John 12:24).

How much fruit? wondered Perry Hayden...And a great demonstration started to germinate....

When the preacher talked about wheat, said miller Hayden afterwards, he was talking directly to me about my own business.

It was wheat planting time in Michigan, and Perry announced, I’m going to plant a kernel of wheat and see what happens...and plenty happened!

Little did Perry dream of the huge problems, momentous decisions and stupendous growth ahead for the idea born that morning. His only immediate objective was a simple demonstration, for the benefit of his neighbors and townsfolk, proving that it pays to give and share with the Lord.

The people of Tecumseh had become accustomed to Hayden’s unique and spectacular achievements, unlimited energies, dynamic personality and religious zeal He had already helped to put Tecumseh on the map with his colorful promotions. Whatever this new idea might be, they knew that he would see it through—but not even Perry could anticipate the millions of inches of publicity which he was to receive in the newspapers and magazines around the world, in competition with the greatest war in history—which created more sensational headlines than any other event on earth.

On that day was born the most spectacular international human-interest story of our generation, and a great dramatic living proof that it pays to work with the Lord, said Tracts Magazine.

In our modern sophisticated and scientific age, we have failed to accept the Lord’s promise and missed the blessings in His work.

Perry was an inveterate tither. He conscientiously paid a tithe from his personal, and company income, to the Lord...so, he wanted to prove to others what he already knew—tithing really pays...not simply in dollars and cents return, but in spiritual blessings, the joy of faithful stewardship.

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10). This was more than a Bible verse to him. It was almost a passion in his life.

Perry was always an adventuresome chap from childhood, but above all, he lived joyously. He came by these characteristics quite naturally. His grandfather, William Hayden, was one of the 49-ers, who went to California in the gold rush, and had many hair-raising experiences. On one stage of the long journey across the desert, William was left behind; he had cholera, and his companions were too eager chasing gold and too afraid of the disease to carry him further. Later he was rescued by his partner, and went on to find a fortune in gold, only to lose it months later in a shipwreck off the coast of southern California.

Everyone was forced to take to the life rafts. William Hayden had strapped his gold around his waist in a money belt, but during the storm he was thrown from the raft and had to unfasten the precious gold, and let it drop into the ocean to keep afloat himself.

After an exciting trip around Cape Horn, William Hayden arrived in New York City, and shortly afterwards went to Michigan to work for his brother Henry. Several years passed, and finally, with the backing of his brother, Henry, William bought the bankrupt Globe Flour Milk at Tecumseh in 1858.

Upon William’s death, his son Levi, assumed control of the mill and continued the business. In 1898 a disastrous fire destroyed the mill, but Levi was able to rebuild it. This particular plant was operated as a small merchant and custom mill until 1927, when the need for railroad sidetrack facilities necessitated removal to its present location in the village of Tecumseh.

A strong vein of seriousness runs undercurrent to Perry’s smile and twinkling eyes. Determined to make a success out of life, he entered the University of Michigan, in the fall of 1920. While there, he was sent with twelve other United States students on a Pilgrimage of Friendship, as a goodwill gesture toward European nations.

All during his busy years in college Perry kept a motto before him on his desk: Organize, deputize, and supervise—words of Andrew Carnegie. They made a lasting impression and explained why he could keep so many irons in the fire at the same time.

He also started the habit of writing a diary, which developed into one of the most complete records of one man’s activities ever seen. He keeps separate diaries on all of his major activities; for his business, personal diaries on his religious activities, health—and who knows how many more! People wonder how he gets anything else done, after all these entries are made...He enjoys it, and this book is possible because of the details therein preserved.

During those four years at the University, from which he graduated in 1925, Perry figured actively in Christian campus functions. He kept friendly connections too, with one—Elizabeth Comfort, a pretty Quaker girl who sat in front of him in history class at high school.

After they were married, Perry says, I suggested that since she was a Quaker and I an Episcopalian, we ought to compromise and both become Presbyterians.

He chuckles about it now, We did compromise—and I became a Quaker.

In 1930, Perry relates, "when I was 29 years old, I attended a Christian Endeavor Conference in the Highland Avenue Friends Church at Columbus, Ohio. Rev. Claude A Roane preached a sermon which seemed directed especially at me. It was a challenge to surrender all I had to the Lord and let Him work in and through me. But I was the sales manager of the flour mill that had been in our family for 95 years. I wanted to be a successful miller. I wanted to make money. How could I serve the Lord in the mill? It was something I could not understand, until after the meeting when I asked Rev. Roane what he would advise me to do. He knew my situation, and gave me some excellent advice. He said, Perry, the Lord needs Christian businessmen as much as He needs anything else. Go home and make all the money that you can earn honestly! Then give all the money you can give, and MIND THE LORD!’

I followed this advice and the years since have been the happiest of my life. Two years later, someone sent me a little booklet written by Rev. James A. Hensey, entitled Storehouse Tithing" I had not heard of it before, but it sounded reasonable and I began to practice it. It brought happiness, health and wealth, just as God promised it would.

In 1935, came the opportunity to take over the entire control of the family business in which I had been working. It was then called the Wm. Hayden Milling Co. I wanted to show the world that a man can be a Christian and a successful businessman at the same time. I had been running this 100-year old business for only a few months when I came to the greatest crisis in my life, Perry testifies.

"I was losing money, and losing it fast. Believe me, it was a humbling experience to realize how incapable I was of stopping the trend that was leading to bankruptcy. But I faithfully tithed my weekly pay check and kept asking God to show me the way out.

In 1936 the firm was placed under the control of a group of creditors. They were a grand bunch of men. I guess they thought it was a little strange when I suggested that we open our monthly meeting with a word of prayer. But none of them doubted my sincerity, even if they did question my ability.

The mill did not fail in the following months. Instead, within one year they had to build a large addition to the mill to care for the expanding business, although the world was still struggling out of the depression years. When the addition was completed, it was dedicated to the Lord. Mr. R. G. LeTourneau, world-known tither and manufacturer of road-building machinery, came to Tecumseh to speak at this occasion.

God did just as He said He would in the third chapter of Malachi, and my faith was stronger than ever, assured Perry.

As a result of this conviction, he uses his business as a means of reaching others for the Lord. For instance, a few years ago he went to Chicago to see a big-time buyer of flour—one, who, as he says, could either make you or break you, depending on how you impressed him.

Too busy with negotiations to go out and eat, the buyer had lunch brought to his office...Perry debated, but only for a moment, and then bowed his head and silently asked God’s blessing on the food. The buyer was uniquely impressed, and his estimation of Perry Hayden sky-rocketed.

Hayden had proved that he was not a religious fanatic, but a practical and devout Christian businessman, so now he had no trouble enlisting local interest in his latest unique venture in proving the Lord by planting a grain of wheat.

The first step was to find a piece of land on which to conduct the experiment. His first thought was to see the largest landowner in the community—Henry Ford. When Perry approached Edgar J. Clark, manager of the 9,600 acre Ford farms, he jokingly replied, I guess we could spare a spot large enough to plant one kernel of wheat.

Perry told Clark about the sermon and his idea of planting a kernel of wheat as an experiment...and when it was harvested, to take out 10% as a tithe for the church and replant the remaining 90%. The second year he would do the same, and repeat the process long enough to show how God multiplied His blessings for those who mind Him and share with Him.

It was obvious that such a program would soon grow so large that it would have to stop somewhere. The answer came when Hayden recalled Leviticus 25:3 and 4—"Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou