Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-07-20
Anecdotes Of Father De Wees.

savJr Of better name than Father
De Wees. an aged and much beloved
Baptist preacher. who lived two and
a half miles below Brookville, some
40 years ago. During his life he was
often the subject of jeers and perse-
cution, but even then there was n So
crct and unexpressed reverence for
the faithful servant Of God that he
was, but since his death none remem-
Der him but as one who performed well
his part in life. and whose works fol-
low him. IH as
But we began not to write sketch
Of the man. one who is ADLER will do
that for us in few weeks. We wish
to place on record few anecdotes IL
Illustrative Of his character.
HIS sharp rprcofs. He had way
Of reproving that was peculiar. 1t
was unpopular. but It was much af-
ter the plainness of his Master. Some
80 years ago there was no little excite
ment on the subject of Masonry
Some christians ri could in no way
devolope their christian graccs so well
as to abuse all their brethren who
were Masons. Among the members
Of the Little Cedar church about that
time was one who had joined the Ma
sons. This was such an oilenso to
one brother that he preferred charge
in the church against him. For some
cause the trial was postponed u little
while, and meanwhile the accuser was
taken with q curious III and came 10
Brookville and secretly joined the Ma
sons himself, or rather entered as m
apprentice. But secret as II was. II
leaked out. and came 10 Father DIS
ears. He forthwith went to see him,
} but he fatty denied 1t. When after.
wards, the question came up in con.
vcrsation. Father d. assured every
body that the charge was false. But
when the day Of trial came II was
J proven on him. At this Father ID.
arose, and In earnes,ness that those
who know him can easily imagine.
! looking At the accusor no said "Sir, you
have lied. and you have cause me to
lic." The reprcof was whitening and
} from being tho accusor he became the
accused and was expelled hom the
church, for ialsebood, We believe oil
tho parties have long been dead.
At one time, when baptixing some
persons In the river near his house. he
} was annoyed by thoughtless girl
who stood on Tho bank. a little above
: them. pushing parts Of the bank into
tho river. Hc stopped moment, and
! pointed ather saying"You Sallie, -
ifyou don't quit that. I'll expose you
Salllc leh. and never did 40 again.
One Of the ssverest reproofs he ever
} administered. was to ono Of his neigh
bors whom he found one night In biz
} corn crib. llo had htchcd horse "a
! the fence. out side. and when tho old
man came up. no was holding bag
In one hand aud filling Il with the 9th
! or. "lTerc. here p said tho old man
! on hold tho bag. and you can GIL U
better" AT first tho thief hesitated
} but tho old maa said, "Come. come
Gill II up. al itup" Ito filed a whil'
! and stopped. but the old man would
J keep squirting him up, with his sweet
good natured "Come. como. ill on
} until he had II FULL "Now" said he
: III help you on the horse with II. and
let mo request you hereafter. to asl
for corn, whenever you need II. i
. will look so much better"
. Pmetuaiify - Time was wher
preachers and people were not a,
punctual to.the hour appointed a. now
By kind Of common consent each
would wait for tho other. and II wa,
considered carly enough to begin 4
Q o'clock services at i2. But Ibis ncv
. or suited Mr.. De Wees. IIe bad
$ way Of being always just In time. an.
. his apology, In his peculiar style was
: preachers must not lie, II they 50,
0 II theymustnot mean H."
!. lilo was called on to marry y coupl
9 some 30 years ago IN Brookville. jus
!. at san DOM. lie would not have BEEF
|. Eve minutes behind the time for an,
!. thing. hence he reached tho "Yello,
Q Tavern" some half hour before sui
v down. and walked the poarch until tn,
Q sun was just disappearing, wncn h
IS started for the appointed place an,
o reached II Just at sun dozen, mucl, I,
u the qualification of the happy brid
n and bridegroom who yet live to tell 9
IS the old mans punclualily.
70 Marriage Csrsmos ss.--Forty year
:. ago and for many years afterwards, h
J. did nearly all tho marrying that wa
done. His ceremony was short, an
those to whom II was said, say II wa
sweet. TWAS sometimes PECULIAR
IL was not uncommon for him to b
: sent for to go 90 miles or MORE
: Sometimes those who were about
:. marry did not feel able to compensai
y him for long ride, and would preft
- calling on him at home to calling hir
y away from his business for an incor
u siderable fee. One day as he wa
~ Jrivinr b,a nv tam, seatod an ~