Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-01-03

laer county, in this State, for many
years. He belonged to the denomina-
ZION know as Hard-Shell Baptists.
In personal appearance, he was of medi-
I'M size and big-bodied. His walk was
noticeable, because of the fact that he
was club-footed. He was very lively In
disposition, and was possessed OF de-
termined spirit. Anecdotes to illustrate
his character are told by persons now
living, who were his neighbors when he
was living at Hoosick. On one occasion
he was the central figure of an exciting
wrangle between rival Baptist organiza-
tons in the town of North Pownal, in
bennington county, Vt. For many
years the town had twosects of Baptists,
one known as the Hard-Shells and the
other as the Seventh-Day Baptists or
Sa5batarians- Neither. sect prospered
as well as the elders thought they
ought, and it was finally agreed by
them that the two bodies should unite
and work in harmony with the Baptist
cause. A church was built in
common by the two sects, and
written articles were signed where
by each sect agreed to use the
building every alternate Sunday for re-
hgious services. It was also stipulated
that if either sect failed to worship in
tho cburob M, fba C,,pdox sat ,,,ort Gov
it, the church property should revert
entirely to the other sect.
The arrangement continued to work
smoothly for a considerable time, but
at last discussions arose among the mem
bers of the two denominations, which
eliminated i'll an open quarrel. While
the quarrel was i'll progress the Hard
Shell Baptists lost their minister and
found themselves likely to be without
any one to preach for them on certain
Sabbath. They were threatened by the
Sabbatarians that, If they did not hold
regular services on the day named, the
church would be confiscated by their
adversaries under the terms of the con-
tract, and that they would be debarred
from using it thereafter. In this diem
ma the Hard-Shell elders resolved to
enlist the services of the Rev. William
Arthur. Hoosick, where he resided
was only about twelve miles from North
Pownal, across the State line. They
saw him, and he consented topreach for
them on the Sabbath indicated.
He got lay preacher to fill his place
in the pulpit of his church at Uoosick,
and started for North Pownal early in
the morning of the Sunday specified,
taking with him the choir of his own
church. One of the singers was his IA
vorite daughter, named Malvina. When
he entered the church at North Pownal
he discovered the choir of the Seventh
Day Baptists in possession of the organ
loft. His choir was compelled to take
a position in another part of the church.
He assembled the pulpit and opened the
services with prayer. There was no in
terruption until the opening hymn was
sung. He announced as the hymn to be
sung, ."Jesus, lover of my SOUL" Sim
ultaneously with the singing of it by his
choir the Seyenth-Day Baptist choir
sang the old Doxology. The result was
that there were two choirs singing two
tunes at the same time, which were not,
of course, in accord. The confusion was
great. One of the choir of Rev. Mr..
Arthur says his choir almost shouted
their words in order to drown the voices
of the disturbing choir. The next inter-
ruption of the Seventh Day Baptists was
during the sermon of Mr.. Arthur.
The sermon was in accord with tenets
of the Hard-Shell Baptists. Every little
while, after Mr.. Arthur had enunciated
some sound Hard-Sh Baptist doctrine,
Seventh-Day follower, who had been
primed for the occasion, would interject
the remark, "That's lie p in tone of
voice to be heard all over the church.
The remark was repeated several times,
to the evident delight OF the Seventh Day
Baptists present, but to the consterna-
ton of the Hard, Shell worshipers. Mr..
Arthur, however, went on with his dis
course, without showing by his manner
that lie had heard the expression, or
that he was In the least annoyed by il.
Chagflned at his failure to have the
preacher notice him, the disturber finally
got up from his seat and walked in .
threatening attitude toward the pulpit.
Thereupon Mr.. Arthur, Selling strong
hickory cane, with which he generally
walked, fastened from the pulpit and
met the disturber in he aisle. He seized
hold of him, with the remark, "You
scoundrel, get out of here, and ran the
fellow ont OF the church. He gave him
three or four hearty thumps behind
with his cane when he got him On the
steps. hIr. Arthur then resumed his
place in the pulpit, and the services were
conducted to the close without any fur
ther demonstration ON the part OF the
Seventh-Day Baptists.
1t was In the basement of the same
church that President Arthur afterward
taught school, After he quit the school
the late President Arthur wentthere and
taught writing.