The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-10-15
RECONsrRUCrION JIM" Ar WORK
Turning the Tables ON a Naughty beacon


There was no need OF the bell.ringini
to summon the brethren and sisters tina
evening. They had all been warned b!
the cmissaries OF Deacon Bruddcrs tina
their pastor would appear before then
with al explanation, and the church wa
crowded before the bell.rope was touch
ed, Outside the great ungainly wooden
building there was thick fringe Of laugh
ing and sneering darkeys, members Of thu
other colored churches, who had an ink
ling Of what was going on, and who hoped
for sensational amusement. A few care
lcssly.dressed white men, chewing tobacco
vigorously, wandered in aud out among
the dnsky throng. These were the demo
cratic gentlemen in whose interest Deacon
Brudders lad been induced to labor
They also hoped for results from the even.
ing's work, and one or two rubbed theil
hands with glee as they meditated on the
politician preachers approaching disCom'
llture.
Darkness came, and within the church
it seemed to bring supernatural awe up.
on the assembly. The bell was rung
systematically, rs II the man at the rope
was just litsle frightened. The children
looked round.eyed and with open mouths
aud gIistening worries at each other The
aged aunties huddled together and seem.
ed to expect something very remarkable
to happen. There was certainly thunder
in the air Deacon Brudders sat in a cor.
ner where he could scarcely be seen, but
whence he could observe all. There was
un evil smile at his sensual lips. He had
prepared plan which he believed would
procure the immediate downfall Of Recon.
strucion Jim, and he was burning with
impaLienCe to begin. Like the venerable
preacher, he was thoroughly cognizant OF
the inilammable condition OF the crowd
around him, and was anxious to have his
work profit by it.
Suddenl y an old sister in some hidden
nook struck up ahymn in the most dismal
ofcraCked voices, and before she had sung
two verses showed that she was in high.
ly hysterical frame of mind. AS she be-
gan the third verse other voices Joined
and supported hers, and when they had
finished the lines all united in a series OF
shouts and shrieks, interspersed with nu
merous "Amens!' and "Come Lords!"
Then the current Of song swept in again,
and this time hundred voices took il
up, but not loudly enough to drown the
cry oil the hysterical sister, that "De T.ohd
am comm in his chariot OF brass an he's
bOun to make de wicked tremble!"
Deacon Brudders did tremble. It
seemed TO him that the excitement was
eliminating too soon. He hogan 10 think
seriously OF climbing into the pulpit, and
Illuminating his accusations against Re-
construction Jim at once. He rose and
was making his way out of his corner,
when light flashed up in front OF the
platform, and low cry OF astonishment
and Of seeming reverence broke simulta.
neOusly from the hundreds OF waiting
people. The tall figure Of the old preacher
stood erect in the pulpit, and with out.
stretched hands seemed to command,
with resistless authority, the attention OF
every eye. Reconstruction Jim had en-.
tered through a small door at the back OF
the church, and had hastened to his post,
conscious that his sudden appariti0n at
the sacred desk would have salutary
effect. 1t succeeded perfectly, for many
good sisters believed for years afterwards
that he had assembled through the floor.
Even the elders were tremulOus with ex.
Citement, and half OF those who had con.
spired with Deacon Brudders already re.
GREETED it.
The preacher knew the value Of silence
as well as that ofspeeCh, and he remained
in his impressive attitude without utterinp
word, for some minutes. The hysterical
sister continued to scream at intervals,
and to produce anything but u soothing
effect on the nerves Of her neighbors. Al
lust, Just as one or two young girls were
leeblY starting new hymn, in the hope
OF relieving the almost intoleable sus.
pense, Reconstruction Jim spoke in meas,
ured tones, and without the quaver which
was usually so perCeptible In his voice.
Men and women rose in their seats, so de,
slrous were they not to lose the smallest
word which he might utter.
"Dey's n sperlt u walkin' abroad in dc
darkness, my chil'en," said the old man
"a sperit seekin' whom it may deyouah
Dat sperit's groanin' an strugglin' iul
10 git eenside dis Chich! know it!
feel it! l kin see it, My brudders, my
sistahs, let us pray"
A groan of horror arose from the dense,
" packed assembly, and many persons
turned timOrously to look behind them
as il they expected to see the evil spiri
that had been mentioned struggling in
the entry.way with the sexton or scaling
one Of the galleries. Then they listened
to tho prayer, which was longand violent
fi!led with pleading and shouting, anC
with the excltable apostrophes which thu
negroes love so we'll. Never before haC
they seen their pastor in the mood II
which he now manifested himself. HI
prayed as il the church and all its mem
bers were in imminent deadly danger; a
If the foul iend were likely to lurS upon
their paths when they retired to theil
homes that night, and as il nothing coult
save them except most intense supplica
ton, and the casting out from anon
them OF all evil Influences. Their paste
did not seem like one who had com
among them to be accused, but like on
having authority-a mission to save then
from perishing "a divine mandate to keel
them from error. g.,.
Deacon Brudders, who had SUNK bacl
into his seat, began seriously to doubt tn
opportuneness Of the moment for accuse
ton. A curious change was also notice
ablein Deacon Brudders demeanor. H
was troubled, and seemed like one oppres
sed with guilt. More than once he gtanC
ed around him, as II fearful lest suspicion
eyes were fixed upon him.
"Come, Lohd, come an drive de sir
nors outen dy templel" shouted th
preacher, stamping his feet and poundin
upon the pulpit cushion with great Vi,
lence. "Come, Lohd, an purge de cha
outen de wheat Come, Lohd, an max
do guilty tromble Come, Lohd, an NAL
dem dat bears false witness ag'in de
neighbors creep away into de darkness
Come, Lohd, an' sabe de innocent an puI
ish de guilty! Revive de dyin' faith
dis dy Chich-ah! Wake up the bac
slidin' sinnahs-ah, an tell ZEN to kelC
hole tight on 10 de gates OF paradise-al
+ Come, Lohd-ah! Come an deliber 4