In the absence of a statute to the contrary, the employment of a broker for the purchase or sale of real estate is a contract for his services and may be by parol. Rathbum v. McLay, 76 Conn. 308, 56 A. 571; Brown v. Eaton, 21 Minn. 409, 528; Friedman v. Shuttle, 85 P. 726 (Ari. Sup. '06, 9 L. R. A., N. S.) 933; Forrester-Duncan Land Co. v. Evatt (Ark. '09), 119 S. W. 282; Hannon v. Prentiss, 124 Mich. 417, 83 N. W. 102; Spengeman v. Palestine Bldg. Assn., 60 N. J. Law, 357, 37 A. 723; McCurry v. Hawkins, 83 Ark. 242, 103 S. W. 600; Hutto v. Stough, 157 Ala. 566, 47 S. 103; Shadwick v. Smith, 143 S. W. 1027, 147 Ky. 159; Womack v. Douglas, 163 S. W. 1130, 157 Ky. 716; Palmer v. Lowder, 83 S. E. 464, 167 N. C. 331; Mustard v. Big Creek Dev. Co., 72 S. E. 1021, 69 W. Va. 713; Estes v. Crosby, 175 N. W. 933, Amend. to Mandate denied, 177 N. W. 512, - Wis. Sup. -; also to sign his principal's name to a contract for the sale of real estate. Ratt-man v. Wasson, 5 Kan. 552; Pringle v. Spalding, 53 Barb. (N. Y.) 17; Callaghan v. Pepper, 2 Ir. Eq. (N. C.) 399; Coleman v. Garringue, 18 Barb. (N. Y.) 60. In some States, the agent, for this purpose, must have written authority. Ballou v. Bergevindsen, 9 N. D. 285, 83 N. W. 10; Mainwaring v. Crane, 22 Quebec Sup. C. 67; Lasher v. Gardner, 124 I11. 441, 16 N. E. 919; Charles v. Arthur, 84 N. Y. S. 284; Power v. Immigration Land Co., 93 Minn. 247, 101 N. W. 161. Contract of employment of real estate broker to sell lands of church, held not within the statute of frauds. Rev. Code 1919, sec. 1249; Stablein v. Gemcinde, 177 N. W. 810, - S. D. Sup. - .