Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-01-17
MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY,
GOOD STORY OF stsuop sEwnLL,

In the autumn of 1857 spent few days
In country parsonage, and on the Sunday
morning, at breakfast, the pastors wife re-
ceived a letter. which her titterinp told rs
must be titbit. ''Ha, uncle" said She.
here are clerical doings exactly to vour
taste. The writer, lady in distant
country, narrated that there had lately come
into the next parish a new vicar-a very
line young man who at school had no su-
perlor. either in Greek or in boxing. and
who at the University won honors for his
| classics and silver cups for his boating. He
was beginning IN earnest the work of an
evangelist among long neglected, vicious
and brutal people. He had a plan and a
that his zeal was without knowledge or wis
DOM
One of his first measures was to omen n
| school In a remote part of the parish, and
get the room licensed for weekday preach
ing; But all the drunkards rose against
such unheard Of proceedings They would
run after him, curslng, hooting, and dis
charging volleys of sods and other missiles,
Finding remonstrance in vain, he adopted
another course on the Wednesday evening
in the week before heard the story. Max
ing stand in the middle of the road at the
entrance to the hamlet, just as the storm
arose, and looking the savages in the face,
he addressed them thus. in firm. quiet
voice. which commanded their attention:
My good fellows, have borne this pa
tiently for some time but now must put
stop to it and L Il do it in your own way.
Choose your best man and we Il fight it out
If beat, you'll give up.
They looked at him unoelievingly: but
throwing his coat aside, he added
~ am in earnest-send your man
Ihe rufians put their heads together and
then burly giant stepped forth and made
furious dash at his reverend challenger,
who quietly parrled the unskillful blows
and played with them for few seconds
But then fist was planted in the peasants
chest, and he lay st full length on the ground.
Quietly gathering himself up, however
he skuiked away and joined his companions -
Now send your next best, and I'll go
through b the lot of you. y
Again their heads drew together, and
another drew down his jacket, going to
work however with more cautious energy.
But at once stomacher stretched him on
the road.
Your next!"
Once more conglomerate of dense pates
was formed
Bill, thee teck him." Bill eyed the
hero askance and shook his head.
Thee, jim" A shake of the head
from Jim also
Dick, the IL teck the parson p A shake
move decided, and stiff. NAY, nay, Use
see thee hung fust y
And now the first one who was vanauish- !
ed stood forward, and, like a brave man
called out:
L say, parson, yo're a rare young un,
20 ar. Tse tell thee what, re going to |
hear yeu preych.' And they all followed |
him along the little street. said the writer,
and heard the word quietly. adding, it re-
mains to be seen what will become of the
ight. What did come of it? heard
long time afterward, that from that day the
men dofed their hats and women curtsied
and the children looked awe-stricken when
.hey met or passed him; that the beer
houses were nearly all shut up, and that a
great moral and religious reformation was
n progress. That gentleman had previous
y been the instrument of like changes in
equally demoralized parishes.
L may add that few years back he has
ieemed the fittest clergymen in the church
o go out as a bishop to scene of great
personal danger in heathen country
Manchester Eraminer.