Columbus index. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1869-1893, 1874-05-08

It's record to God and to History.
Ten Commandment HoOsier
AnecdOto.
In the years clustering around
1S45 the Indiana State Elections
were held on Monday, and the Sum
day evenings previous were general
ly observed by the politicians in
holding their caucuses by way of
preparation for the coming battle.
At the time we are speaking of
the Rev. Benjamin Halstead was Of
iiciating as Rector of the infant par
ish at Fort Wayne, which then wor-
shipped in the court house. He
was what was called in those days,
a churchman of the higher sort,
who did not believe in a mutilated
service, aud, of course, always read
the ante-communiOn service.
In the year above mentioned pol
itics ran very high, and one Of the
political parties held a rOusing eau
Gus on Sunday night previous to
the election.
A few days after a wealthy mill
Ter (named EdsalD met the Rector
on the street. wheD the following di-
alogue took place:
MiHeY-"Good morning, sir. If
! it is not too much trouble l would
like you to answer me a plain ques-
ton"
Rect0r-"Very good, sir, proceed.
l will do my best to crafty you"
MiHer-"I noticed at the caucus
on Sunday night that all the church.
es were represented but the Epis-
copal. That thing has been pug
z'ing me ever since, and would re-
| ally like to have your explanation"
RectOr-"Well, sir, I think it ca
silly accounted for. You know l
read the Ten Commandments to my
congregation every Sunday morn
ing. Now, the fourth command
ment begins "Remember the Sab
bath day to keep it holy" etc, aud
the people on their knees respond,
"LOrd have mercy upon us and in
cline our hearts to keep this law"
And, at the conclusion of the COM
mandments they say, "LOrd have
mercy upon us aud write all these,
Thy laws in our hearts, we beseech
Thee"
MiHer-"Ah, l see, L see; that's
all satisfactory. Good morning,
sir"
The next day drayman unload
ed barrel of flour at the RectOr's
door with the miller's compliments,
which ran thus: "This is for the
minister who reads the ten COM
mandments every Sunday to his
people. Indiana ChrchmdR,
-"Grace Greenwood, zone of
simonpure, dyed-in-the-wOol loyal
friends of the cOlOred people, has
got tired of them, and cries Hold!
EnOugh!' She wants to know if
'colored people, ragged to the point
of indecency, and dirty to absolute
filthiness,' are to be longer allowed
the freedom Of the Congressional
galleries, and enjoy the soft cushions
and warm atmosphere for lounging
and sleeping purposes! She also
protests against the same persons
squandering their money by riding
three or four squares in the street
cars, instead Ofsaying the money to
clothe themselves, greatly to the
disgust of the OlfactOries of their
original friends, who evidently think
that distance lends enchantment to
the view Grace has even come to
the conclusion that it would be bet
ter for the colOred people of Wash
ington to go to work and buy them
selves clothes, than to spend their
time in idleness, and sleep in the
comfortable galleries Of the halls ol
Legislation, even while the wrongs
Of their own race are being depicted
in eloquent and heart-rending terms
on the floor. We are really glad
our loyal friends aer.. getting enough
Of the 'warsd Of the Nation They
wanted this state Of affairs to bC
brought about, and they hayeit, yet
they are not happy.