Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-10-13
Correspondents of the Manchester Examiner
Muscular Christianity.-A Story OF Bishop
SelWYn.

.. .r.ea SelWyn.
In the autumn of 1867 spent n few
days in a acountry parsonage, and on the
sunday m Drning, ut break fast, the pas
tors wife received letter, which her
tittering told US must be tit-bit. "Ah,
uncle, exclaimed she, "here are cleric-
al doings exactly to your taste.'' The
writer, y lady In a distant country mar
rated that there had lately come into
the next parish a new vicar a very fine
young man, who at school had no supe-
rior either in Greek or in boxing, and
who at the university won honors for
his classics and silver cups for his boat
ing. He was beginning in earnest the
work Of an evangelist among a long
neglected, vicious and brutal people,
He had plan and will; but many
worthy folk were fearing that his zeal
was without knowledge--or wisdom, at
any rate. One of his first measures was
to open school in a remote part OF the
parish, and get the room licensed for
weekday preaching. But all the drunk
ards rose against such upheard OF pro-
ceedings. They would run after him,
cursing and hooting, and discharging u
yolleys OF sods and other missels. Find
ing remonstrance vain, he adopted an
other course on the "Wednesday evening
in the week before heard the story
Making a stand in the middle Of the
road, at the entrance of the hamlet, Just
as the storm arose, and looking the saw
ages in the face, he addressed them thus
In firm, quiet voice, which command
ed their attention: "My good fellows, l
have borne this patiently for some time,
but now must put stop to it; and I'll
do it in your own way. Chose your
best man, and we'll fight it out. If
beat, you'll give up, you know" They
looked mt him unbelicvingly; but
throwing his coat on a bush, he added
arl in earnest; send your man. ~
The ruflians laid their heads together
and then a buriy giant stepped forth,
and stripped, and made a furious dash
ut his reverend challenger, who quietly
parried the unskillful blows, and PLAYED
with them for few seconds. But, then
fist was planted in the peasants chest
and he lay Mt full length upon the
ground. Quickly gathering himself III
however,, he skulkcd away to his com.
panions. Now send your next best
and I'll go through the lot of you. ~
Again their heads drew together, and
another threw down his jacket going
to work, however, with more cautious
energy. Hut at once a stoinachei
/ SIIetCIeu nifil OH ttie ToNI. - } Oul
next" Once more copglomeratc OF
dense patcs was formed "Bin, the,
teck him Bill eyed the hero askance
and shook his head. "Thcc, jim 9
shake of the head from Jim also. "pick
thee'll teck tn parson?" Il shake NOR,
decided, and q stiif" Nay, nay Use sc,
thee hung flst." And now the frs
one who was vanquished stood forward
and, like brave man, called out, d."
say, parson, yo'rc q rare young un, ~
ar. Use tell thee what we're going (,
hear you prcych." And they all fol
lowed him along the little street, sale
the writer, aud heard the Word quietly
adding, Il remains to be seen what vii
come of the fight. What did come O
IL? j heard, u long time afterward
that from that day the men dotted thei
hats, and the women curtsied, and th'
children looked aWe-strickcn, whei
they met or passed him that the churcl
and schools were filed; that the beer
houses Were nearly all shut up; an,
that great moral and religious reform
alton was in progress. That gentleman
had previously been the instrument o
q like change i'm oil equally demoralize,
parish. l may add that few year
back he was deemed the fittcst clergy
man in the church to so out as bisho
to scene of great personal danger in
heathen country.