Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-09-10

latter clause of his text-"but the tongue of
the wise is health''-they felt that he had
evinced considerable righteous indignation.
At the conclusion of the service, there was
quite commotion, and great deal of dis
cussion ensued upon the merits of the sermon,
and the women wended their way home in
small groups, talking very excitedly. We
will follow one group, composed of three quite
conspicuous persons-Mrs. Gray, Mrs. Ellery,
and Mrs. Preston.
81 didn't think that there was so much in
him it was real smart sermon anyway, II 1t
was cutting" said Mrs. Gray.
"That's true; why Mr.. Emery was really
eloquent. don't see though where these sto.
ries came from, that the minister is engaged
said Mrs. Ellery. "It's nothing less than
expected. l didn't think any good would
come out of it when you and others talked as
you did about the minister at the sewing.cir-
Gle, and 1 am surprised to hear that one of the
deacons called upon our pastor and advised
him to get married, and | understand further,
that they wish him to take some one from the
society,"
"Well, l am sure if our pastor was married
it would save all this scandal, these false re-
ports, and be much better for Mr.. Emery and
the church don't you think it would, Mrs.
Preston ?" asked Mrs. Gray, interrupting.
1T might be; but that is his business, not
mine, and do not think we have any right
to interfere with his private or domestic af-
fairs. think it very injudicious, to say the
least the poor man must feel very keenly the
modification of having scandalous story cir
culated that he is to marry two of the ladies
of the society,""
Two! Good gracious! I havn't heard
of but one. | heard my sisters name men
toned, am sorry to say but who is the other
party ?" asked Mrs. Gray, anxiously.
"Wby, it is quite current that Miss May is
engaged to him."
"You see that they have my sister mixed
up with the stories !" said Mrs. Elery, slight
ly coloring.
Mrs Gray did not say anything, but was
quite busily thinking. A new phase of the
subject of marrying the minister was opened
to her. Mrs. Ellery was the deacon's wife,
and Miss May was the sister Of Mrs. Ellery,
and, under the circumstances she was forced
to admit that Miss May would stand better
chance, or, in other words, have more influence
than her sister in this contest, and she saw the
visionary scheme that she had arranged ia
ding rapidly away before the new develop
ments in the case She was a little sorry
that she had spoken so earnestly in favor of
the deacon's suggesting to the minister that
he had better take a wife from the society,
but it was too late to recede from the position
she had taken.
About this time the minister came along,
and Mrs. Preston, detachirg herself from her
friends, joined the minister.
81 am very glad that you gave us that
plain, practical sermon this afternoon, Mr..
Emery. Itook portion of it to myself, as |
guess most of the society did"
II am very happy to hear that you were
not dispeased; but thought it was my duty
to preach such sermon, especially as such
scandalous rumors are in circulation"
But Mrs. Preston had reached her home,
and bidding the minister good.day, she enter
ed her house feeling indignant at the course
pursued by the deacons and some of the men,
bers of the church.
The minister wended his way home in a
thoughtful frame of mind, wondering what
would be the result of the preaching of his
sermon. He was fully satisfied that the occa-
sion demanded it, and, satisfied upon that
point, he was willing to leave the result in
the hands of a higher power. There was a
great deal of talk-in fact quite bitter talk
among the members Of the church, but the
deacons and their wives were more fully con-
vinced than ever that something must be
done-that the only way to heal the Difficult
ties was to have the minister married. The
affair seemed to grow worse every day, and it
was the occasion Of much controversy. A
coldness sprang up between Mrs. Gray and
Mrs. Ellery, for each having personal inter-
ests to advance in the marriage Of the minis
ter, as natural consequence they were jeal-
Gus of each other, and the members Of the
church began to divide, until, before many
days the church, formerly united and harmo-
NOUS, became severed and discordant. There
was division-two parties-one called the
Gray wing and the other the Ellery wing, and
under one or the other of these respective d.
visions, or wings, the most of the members Of
the church gathered There were few in
dependent spirits, however, who maintained
strictly neutral grounds Upon one thing,
however, the deacons were united, and that
was that something must be done, that it
would not do to let things remain as they
were. They could not remain so, for every day
the affairs were growing worse. Something
must be DONE A meeting of the deacons
was called and the subject talked over, and
they came to the conclusion that some one
of their number should interview the minister
and endeavor to induce him to marry, and
that party should be member of the society,
and thereby stop the prolific and destructive
discussion, and heal the breach in the church.
AS Mr.. Ellery had been so successful in the
past, he was selected as the most suitable par
ty for the peculiar mission.
The deacon, therefore, the day after the
meeting, started again for the minister's, but
fortunately met the minister on the street.
81 was just on my way to see you, Mr.. Eme-
ry," said the deacon.
"Why, quite coincidence; was going to
call upon you," said the minister.
"Well, as you are nearer my house, suppose
that you go back with meY' said the deacon,
and the minister acquiescing, they walked
slowly along toward Mr. Ellery's house.
81 was coming to see you to-day, deacon,
about church matters. | hear that the state
of things is not very desirable in the church,
but hardly know what it is about-at any
rate it makes it far from pleasant to me. l
hardly know what to do. ! am tempted to
sever my connection
81 hope you will not think of that. You
will remember that suggested to you short
time ago, the propriety of getting married,
and | think that is the only way to solve the
question. Dou't you think it the best thing
under the circumstances ?" urged the deacon.
"Yes, guess it is but where shall get u