The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-29

A Glimpse Into the Future. and what strange
ThinRs h KeNenIs,


mouth pews came round In January, 1877, there
was much anxiety among the remaining breth-
rem. Church affairs were not entirelv prosper
GUS The decision OF the great council called
by DIR. Budington and Dr. Storrs In the sum
mer Of the centennial year, declaring Plymouth
Church outside the pale OF CongregatiOnalism,
had been followed by the secession Of more than
half Of the members Of the communicated
society. Itistrue that the church still crowd
ed every Sunday morning and night, and the lee
turo room Oiled to overlooking at every Friday
evening prayer meeting but the crowds we're
no longer crowds Of admiring partisans. People
now went only TO laugh at the tests and Duf
foonery of the capital mimic-iests and buffoon-
cry now grown positively coarse where before
they had boon merely audaciOus And curious
folks went to behold the completest wreck OF
the century.
Tho fears Of the brethren we're realized at the
sale. The bidding was not lively, although the
preacher had prefaced II with speech OF I'M
usual jollity, and although the auctioneer sur
passed himself In cheerful rapidty OF utterance
Gloom hung over the little knot of still faithful
brethren. Brother Shearman's sobs alternated
with the patter, patter OF the big drops that fell
from his overfull eyes. lie was Niobe 10
breeches, surrounded by grieving group.
Brother Ross Raymond bid seventeen hundred
no joy TO tho mourners. They knew too we'll
that Brother Ross had not seventeen hundred
and Mt -four cents To hire his pew with.
A pew was knocked down TO Brother Rob
Raymond for eleven hundred and sixteen dol
lars. The brethren smiled not. They knew
that Brother Bob was, In the language OF the
unregenerate, a capper or roper In for they had
put up the Job themselves.
Pastoral Helper Halliday secured pew At tho
nominal price OF forty-seven hundred dollars.
They also knew that Pastoral Helper Halliday
Yves a capper In a white neckcloth.
The auctioneer had been busy for two hours,
and no bona-nde bids so far.
But what was thls2 why did the brethren
arouse themselves from dolorous inattention
and open eyes and perk ears Why did Brother
shcarman to sob and weep and begin TO
assume the slippery smile by which you may
know the highly pious lawyer in hls lighter
moods
A stranger. up to that time unnoticed by the
brethren, had come forward, and was actually
bidding against ex-Brother Joe Howard.
"Twenty-one hundred dollars" said tho
stranger
Twenty one hundred and nfty," said the
artful ex brother.
"Twenty-one thousand" added the stranger,
quietly.
The ex brother sat down, and invariab iy In
dustrious, began to scribble a scene for a
American drama on the ly leaf Of hymn
book.
"Namef" said the auctloneer to tho stranger,
while the brethren whispered among them
selves.
"You may put II down Cash." said the
stranger. advancing TO the desk and counting
out forty-two crisp new greenbacks OF $500 each.
1T must be the Baron Rothschild," whisper
ed Usher Murray TO Usner Caldwell.
"Or Da souza Cabral." WHISPERED Usher Caid-
well to Usher Murray.
"Or BIZ sharon of Nevada" added ex- Brother
Joe Howard, looking up from his literary labors.
"HalleluJah" CALCULATED Pastoral Helper
Halliday, feTventy.
rs the money good money!" asked the eau
tious Sherman, who always kseps one eye
peeled for the wiles of the wicked.
Each note was carefully examined. Each note
bore the autograph Of Mr.. New, formerly of
indianapolis. Each note worth Its face
value In gold, barring the premium.
Mr. Beechers new anu liberal parishioner
picked out his pew and then left the church.
He was a tall, dark person OF quiet and gentle
manly demeanor. Ho wore an ulster overcoat
which reached down to his heels, and a wide,
queer-shaped velvet skull-cap, quite different
from ex-Brother Joe Towards. His cheok
bones were high, his beard pointed, aud his
moustaches fierce ana horizontal. Most of the
brethren agreed In pronoupoing him a foreigner.
At all events he was an acquisition.
Before long II was evident to the brethren
that this new parlshiOner was a very eccentric
person. His regularity at service won him
much appreciation. lie always came alone. He
ALWAYS entered the church door punctually at
ten minutes before the opening exercise, and
walked decorously up the aisle TO his pew. Yet
side the tabernacle either approaching or
going away. Brother Shearman put a private
detective on his track, but the private detective
failed to learn whence the stranger came or
whittier he went. He invariably attended the
Friday evening prayer meetings, coming and
going IN the same mysterious manner.
The new parishioncr paid his pew rent regu-
larry, nd responded with great liberalitv to all
calls for charitable donations, paying cash down
always, and always In clean new greenbacks
lie could always he distinguished from tho rest
of the congregation by two circumstances: He
never took his ulster and his queer-shaped skull
cap OF during service and he never took his
eyes on Mr.. Beecher, while that divine was
preaching or praying. Indeed, he paid such
close and nattering attention, that Mr.. Beecher
got into the habit of addressing his remarks
directly to the new parshioner, and II came to
be a saying in the congregation that the Ply
mouth pastor no longer preached to Plymouth
Church, but exclusively to pow 40.
At last Henry Ward Deochor and Brother
Sherman privately put their heads together to
determine some means Of ascertlining who this
singular brother was and why he chose to sit I'M
der Plymouth preaching. :" II may be a trick OF
Frank Mouton's," suggested the wary lawyer.
"ltmay be; It may be-" said Beecher. II feel
| that am on the brink OF moral Passalc Falls
We must capture the secret Of his attendance ;
| eh, Shearman2"
SO one Friday evening the sly attorney brought
Gimet, a screw driver, and few inch screws
with him TO prayer meeting lie seated himself
| Immediately behind the mysterious parishioner
and,whlc the congregation was employed at devo
| tons, crafty screwed the hem OF the stranger =
ulster to the back of the bench on which he sat.
A couple Of points in geometry liz par tllol. A
couple Of screws in Plymouth lecture room nx ed
! tue mysterious parishioner. lie was thus fairly
caught In the tolls and, while he was endeavoI-
Ing 20 extrcate himself at the close Of the
meeting, Mr.. Beecher came down and confronted
| him, while the agile Sherman locked the doors
| after the RET rent conpropation The strapgor