The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-03-03
40 CHAPTER ".

'''2' CHAPTER ".
1t was at the close of the day. and long
after the villagers had ceased. formally, to
mourn for their preacher. that very old
man tottering on his staff, entered the lit
tie village by the road leading past the
church. He paused moment to look at
the wasting sdifce. and tear foil from his
eye as he turned away. A little further
on hs met the old deacon, who also lean.
ed upon staff.
The bible was brought, and on the fly
leaf were written the names and date of
birth of John Cole and Sarah Cummins,
his wife, and six children, the issue Of their
marriage.
''And where are these brothers and sis
ters?' demanded the stranger.
Dead! dead as herrings gone TO king
dom come precious time ago.
Wherefore is that ediice deserted"
asked the aged stranger.
son me alone the curse should fall
for all the sin is mine" replied the aea-
con. .He1Hs.l bsHf se FH
With fearful eyes and mournful voice
the deacon answsred-"It is a long time
since the shepherd quit his flock. He was
faithful, but was perverss. | drove him
hence TO die in the wilderness. Since
then yon door has not once turned upon
its hinges; and all the sin j. mine"
The old deacon took the stranger with
him to his own home, and gave him food
to eat and water to drink, and he told him
many things about the people Of the vii
lage, and about the state of their morals.
And when he was done, the stranger
said your words have grieved me much;
but while there is life there is hope, and |
have come among you to preach the gos-
pei.
When, Sunday come, the village church
was thrown open. and the rank grass in
the path was trodden under foot, and the
fox, the owl, the bat, were frightened away.
On that day there seemed no end to the
coming of the people. nor sex, nor rank,
nor age. nor name, kept no one away,
And every eys was fxod on the aged
preacher, and every ear received his
words. "A new commandment | give
unto you. That you love one another"
Feeble indeed were the tones of his
voice in, the beginning, but as he proceed
ed, they grew fuller and firmer and faster,
until the air above and all around rung
with the music of his eloquencs. Then
his hearers thought Of him they prosecuted
and destroyed, and every heart was melt
ed to tears.
After the service was ended, the elders
pressed around the venerable stranger,
telling him of their: sinfulness and desttu-
ton, and begging him to- forsake an itin-
crate life and spend his few remaining
days with them.
z But he answcrsd-"My friends DO not
deceived, fer am a freemason." na
Then the deacon muttered- --"Yes he
was mason, but he was a good man and
a Christian On me alone the curse should
fall, for all the sin is NINE"
But continusd the preacher, ''there is
no harm in freemasonry. 1t interferes not
in the least with mans duty to God, to his
country, TO his neighbor, to his family, or
to his business. On the other hand it has
been the means of affecting much good in
the world. And appropos Of this-a short
time after | attained my majority, lodge
of freemasons was established in the vii
lags whore resided; and | resolved.
against the will Of my parents to become
amsmber. | had ever been wild, rsck-
less, hsad-strong boy. without vsnsraton
for anything thatwas holy. In truth ! was
an atheist, or tried to be one; but was
compelled to hide the fact in my stony
heart, for dwelt among christians.
when | pstitioned for a fellowship in
fraternity Of freemasons | knew nothing
of the orders through which had to pass
or perhaps should have shrunk from the
undertaking. book was offered met
was the Holy Bible which I had many
times and off pronounced an alarming ia
ibls, butdhe question that accompanied. ]
with truthlalid shame replied is the
word Of God" But when asked in whom
I put 'tt ny trust, I shuddered for Ihad often
spoken Of Jehovah as the fancy Of some
crazy brain. Then was the moment Of