Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-09-16
Fl. B. PITILLE0, Editor

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soon be 0usstsoa for halter. Now 30
and strike for freedom, and God 30
with you" And they went. DIX.
! David Caldwell of Pennsylvania, Tor
his zeal and great influence, had his
! house plunderea, his library aud furni-
/ ture burned, while he was hunted like
4 a common felon through the country.
! Thomas Raed, D. D., of the same State,
4 shouldered his musket and, with forty
/ or fifty others, marched TO Philadelphia
Ito defend it, Charles Mcknight of
Shrewsbury was thrown into prison
and treated with such brutality that
his constitution broke down and he
was hurried to his grave. Nathaniel
BARTLETT used to make his parochial
visits with mus!,et on his shoulder to
defend himself from the Tories. who
had sworn to hang him, and kept his
garrett full Of gun powder for his par
/ ishioDers in ease of an attack There
was William Graham of Paxton, who
when the young men Of his parish held
back from volunteering, stepped for
ward and enrolled his own name-thus
shaming them into their duty
\ These, and 3 hundred others might
be mentioned, whose names should live
in the hearts Of their countrymen.
There is one class especially deserving
Of lasting remembrance those aged
! clergymep whose lives We're drawing to
peaceful close, surrounded with all
| needed comforts; to whom all change
J was personally repugnan6 yet rallied
their failing energies for their country
and lost home, church and peace, and
became exiles and prosecuted, that
Cheir children might inherit The boon
denied them. Such man was Eben-
ezer Prime, grandfather Of two of the
Editors Of the New York O5sercer.
| Seventy years old when open hos
tlihes commenced, with no future in
this world. he yet gave his wide and
| powerful influence to the cause of the
colonies. His parish was invaded by
| the enemy, who turned his church into
military depot, tore and burnt up
the most valuable part Of his library,
and compelled him to seek refuge IN a
; secluded corner of his parish. lie was
not permitted to see the promised lard,
except from the heights Of faith, but
died in 1879 just entering on his
: four score wears They buried him
: beside his desoIated church, but such
was his reputation for stern patriotism,
the enemy could not let him alone in
his grave Neither his venerable years
nor sacred calling could shield him
from their curses; not even death it.
self disarm their animosity. A body
: Of troops having quarteged in the
place, they pulled down the church to
build barracks and huts for themselves,
which they erected in the graveyard,
after leyelling the graves to make the
surface even. The commander pitched
his tent at the head Of 1lr. Primes
grave, so that, 50 use his own words,
be ''might tread on the old REBEL every
time he went out and IN But little
F rocked the old patriot Of this insult to
his ashes, for he was ''where the wick
ed cease from troubling ana the weary
are at rest.
A remarkable instance of a pastor
acting as recruiting officer is furnished
by Rev. Samuel Baton, Of II Harps-
burgh, Ne. After the burning of
Falmouth, now Portland, The country
was greatly aroused and men were sent
everywhere to obtain volunteers But
the one who came to Harpsburgh met
with no success. The people seemed
strangely backward and Indifferent.
Discouraged, he at last. one Sunday
? morning, resolved to see the pastor and
ask him to preach on the subject.
Meeting Mr.. Eaton on his way to the
church, he laid his case before him and
made his request. '.Sir," said the
pastor, sit is our communion Sunday,
and [ must rot introduce secular sub
jects during the day. | viii think of
the matter and see what can do.
Perhaps | viii invite the people to as
semble in front of the meeting house
at the going down Of the sun" (the
New England Sabbath was then oVer).
So, after the solemn services of the
Fl day were concluded, ne told the con-
gregation he wished 10 see them on the
church green after sunset. Many were
the surmises at this strange request
but, as the last beams OF the sun were
gliding the wooded heights, men were
seen coming in every direction to the
Westinghouse. Thither the pastor
was also soon seen vending his way
thoughtfally. Advancing to the horse
block (then an indispensable append
age 10 the meeting-douse), he mounted
It, and, after surveying the crowd a
lev moments with solemn look said :
,'Aet US pray" Praying being ended.
he paused a moment, and the shouted
/ IN the ears Of his astoaished people
| Cursed be he thai bespeth tac@ hss
sDord from blood" Jer. IS: le.)
:, Had a thupderbolt suddenly fallen
/ from that August sky thew ~9Hld not
! (0ontnaed on 5oartb Pays1