The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-11-01
THE PRESIDENTS FATHER.
An Original Anecdote Of His Ser
Day Baptist Interrupts the
Services and the Rev. MIR.
Arthur Drives Him .a.'o
from the Church. ."
From the New York News.

From the New York News.
The late Rev. William Arthur, the father
of President Arthur, preached in the Baptist
church in Hoosack, Rensselaer, county, in this
state, for many years. He belonged to the
denomination known a. the .uard-Sheli
Baptist" In personal appearance he was of
medium size and big bodied. His walk was
noticeable, because OF the fact that he was
club-footed. He was very lively in his dispo
sition, and WAS possessed of determined
spirit. Anecdotes 10 illustrate his character
are told by persons now living who were his
neighoors when he was living al Hoosack. |
On one occasion lie was tho central figure of
an exciting wrangle between rival Baptist Or
ganizatious in the town OF North Pownsl, in
Benningea county, Vermont. For many
years the town had two sects Of Bapti'ts, one
,knewn As the Hard Shell and the other Sew
enth Day Baptists or Sabbatarian,. Neither
of tile sects prospered as we'll as the elders
thought they ought, and it was finally agreed
by them that the tive bodies should unte and
work in harmony with the Baptist cause.
and written articles we're signed, whereby the
two secs agreed to li.e the building every al
lerua,e Sunday for religious services. 1t WAS
also stipulated that if either sect failed TO
worship IN the church OH the Sunday set apart
for it, the property should revert entirely to
the other sect.
Tie arrangement continued to work very
smoothly for considerable time, but at last
dissens!ons arsse among the members OF the
two denominations, which eliminated in an
open quarrel. While the quarrel vas in pro-
cress the Hard-Shell Baptists lot their minis
ter, and found themselves likely to be with
out any one to preach for them on certain
Sabbath. They were threatened by the Sab
batsrians that if they did not hold regular
services on the Gay named, the church would
Le confscated by their adversaries under the
. terms of the contract, and that they would be
A debared from using it thereafter. In this
dilemma he Hard Shell elder. resolved to
II, enlist the services OF the Rev. William Ar
q thur IIoosac, where he resided, was only
- about twelve miles from North Pownal,
=, across the State line. They saw him and lie
consented to preach 'or them on the Sabbath
!. indicated.
r lie got a lay preacher to ill his place in the
e pulpit of his church in EoOsac, and started
@ for North Powual early in the morning Of the
a Sunday specified, akihg with him the cho'r
' of his own church. One of the singers was
Of his favorite daughter named Malvina. When
"a he entered the church at North Pownal he
discovered the choir of the Seventh Day Bay
,o fists in possession of the t1gan-lott. liz
choir WAS con,pelled TO take position III an
-. other pa,t of the church. He assembled The
:, Nh pir and opcun' Tie services with prayer
=, Ther. WAS no interruption until the oPenin4
:. hyun was sung. lie announced as lNa hyml
to te sung, "Jrsus, Lover OF My SN'l''
Simultaneously with the singing OF it by HI
!" choir. the Seveuth-nay BAPTIST choir sang III
Ol1 Doxol,ey. The result was that ther'
IA >5er. two chrirs singing two tunes at Ih
''' same time, v'l.ch were not, OF course, III &C
'0 cord. THE confusion was great. One OF tn
~ choir of the Rev. Mr.. Arthur SAYS his chol
~ almost shouted their words III "rdeF |" drown
'' ,L,. voices of the disturbing choir. The lcN
is ;ta,rpnion of the Seyenth-Day Baptist5 wa
- duriog he sel1nan OF Mr.. AltLur'
~ The sermon was in accordance WITH 'e"e'
90 of he Uard-Shcll Baplist@. Every h'IIe "IHI
" aver Mr.. Arthur had enunci&ted solit" SCUM
ID UarJ->ncIl Baptist doctlne, Sevehth-D"
''' f,,,ov =. WHO had BEEN lFimed for the oCc2
~ sion, would iuterject the remark, "lha'S
lie."in \ tone of voice TO be heard AL o'e
ne n,. chnrch. The remark was repeated seve
Al times TO the evident delight OF the H7'
as entl,-Day Bar fists, who were present, bat
he t,s CONSERVATION of the uard-Sheli consr
oa,inu. Mr.. Arthur, however, went on VII
hi. discourse without showing 10y ms maNh'
NJ thai ha had heard the expression or That l
'as i'm the least annoyed by it. ChAgrinE
ny al hi, failure to have the preacher ho|ce MI
iot the disturbcr finally GOT up from his Scat al
ed walked in . threatening attitude toward Il
nnlni,. Thereup0n Mr.. Arshnr sen ~ uN'
o' A strong hickory cane, VII" when ne gene
ol- sIly walked. fastened from the p'Iri' al
met the intruder i'll the isle. lie seiHeu ii"
of him with the remark I" "u scoun"fe'' :
OIL ont of here" aud ran the folio" oSt Il !
M church. lie gave him three or iour leu
tbumps behind with his cane when ho go
hu- the steps. Mr. Arthur then resumed his pia
in the pulpit, and the services Wsre coma"
lhe ed to the close without any further demo
4 a straion on the part of the Seventh-D
Baptists.
was in the basement of the same chur
,hic that Pres dent Arthur anerWard 'aus