Who was Brother Manse, and what did Richard gain from his job with him?

Brother Manse was Richard's neighbor, a janitor turned insurance agent. While working for Brother Manse, Richard gained insight about plantation life and the way its chidren were and families were uneducated and had no hope for a better future. The time Richard spent with Brother Manse was an eye-opener, and it served to make him grateful for his own education.