Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1865-10-13
Muscular Christianity.

I In The Autumn Of 1851 spent few days
an country parsonage. and on the sunday
morning. AZ breakfast. the pastors wife re-
eeived letter. which her i-ittering told Us
must be a tit-bit. ia. uncle. exclaimed
she. . here are clerical doings exactly 10
your taste The writer, a laay in dis
tant country. narrated that there had lately
come INTO the next parish a new vicar-a
vcry hne young man. who a. school had no
superior either in Greek or in boxing. aud
Who AZ the university won honors for his
classics and silver cups for his boating. lie
was beginning in earnest the work Of an
eVangelis; among a long neglected. vicioOs.
and brutal people. lie had a plan and a
vii bat many worthy folk were fearing
that his zeal Sas without knowledge or
wisdom. AZ any rate. One Of his first meas
ures was 90 open a school IN a remote part
Of the parish. and ga the room licensed
Tor weekday preaching. But all the drunk-
ards went against such unhear,l-of proceed
ings- They would run after him. eursing
and hooiing. and discharging volleys of
sods and other missiles. Finding remon-
STRANGE vain. be adopted another course on
the WEDNESDAY evening in the week before
heard the story. Making stand in the
middle Of The road. az the entrance Of the
hamlet. just a. the storm arose. aud look
ing the storm in the face. be addressed
ihem thus. IN a frm. quiet voice which CON-
mandrd their attention: =" My good fcI-
lows, have borne this PATIENTLY for some
time. but nov 1 nust put a stop 70 a.. and
III 10 it IN your own way. Chose your
best nau aud veil fight il oct. II beat.
you give up. YOU know.- They looked
at him unbeiiesingiy bat throwing his coat
on a bush. be added. .' am in earnest;
send your man
IAe ruihaas laid their heads together:
and then a hurley giant stepped forth. and
stripped. and made a furious dash At bis
reverend challenger. who quietly parried
the unskillful blows, and played with them
Tor a few seconds. Bot then a fst "a.
planted IN the peasants chest. and he Law
AZ fall length on the ground Qaickly
gathering himself Up. however. be * ulked
away % his companions. q. Nov send vour
next best. and III 90 through the lot a.
YOU Again their heads drew together.
aud another threw dosn hi. Jacket: going
20 work. h0wever. With a more cautious rr-
erSy. But A. once stomacher stretche.
him on the road. Your next Once
mofe conglomeraie of dense faces vas
formed. '' Bil. thee teck him. BIN evsd
the hero askancc. and shook hi. head.
e. Thee, Jim - a shake Of the be.d from
Jim also '' Dick. theeI teek th' parsons-'
a shake more decided. AM a sfif Way.
nay. lse see thee hung fust- And nov the
hrs' one Who was vs1qlishcd stood forWard.
aud. like a brave man. called out. .. sav.
narson. yo're rare Young 'un. yo'ar. lee
tell you what. we're going % hear yoa
Prcych. And they al followed him sionr
the i;iis street. said THE uriter. aud heard
the Word quietly. adding. IL remains to be
seen What ~ill come Of The feht. Whas dii
cone ofns heard. a long time afteruard.
that FROM that DAY the men doHe,l their hats.
and the women curtsied. and the children
lpfked asr-strickrn vben they met or rs--
sed BAN that the church and schools Sere
hiied that the beer houses we're nearly Al
shut up anl that greas moral and relir-
ious reformation Wa 10 progress That
eeutieman had previously been The ins,ru-
u-rnt Of a IKE change in az equally demor-
Alfred parish. may add that fe~ wears
back be- was deemed the fitest clergyman
in the church % 60 oct a. bishop 20 a scene
% great personai danger in a heathen coun-
try.