The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-06-16


enc-s, Il wnere TWO or three Worship
pers could be gathered together, be it in
barn or shed, in a crowded dwelling or
beneath Heavens blue vault, there was
to be found the pioneer preacher, ready
TO break the bread of life to all.
Let no one doubt that these men were
true to their profession, or that they were
incapable of inspiring thoughts of holt
ness, il their words and acts sometimes
bordered on the ludicrous. Neither let
1t be understood that / would desire to
ridicule them, but as the pioneers them
selves, while generating and respecting
them, could laugh at them sometimes,
why should not wei
] knew of one minister, a true christian
in the highest sense of the word, who de-
voted his Sundays to the preaching of the
gospel for pure christianity's sake, going
from one distant settlement TO another,
and thus extending his work over a wide
extent Of territory. Let not this work
be moderated when it is told that, during
the week he worked industriously at the
shoemaker's bench, mending shoes for his
WiAViy oCattCiCo par AohiOnCTSy dlu tudt
when he went his Sunday rounds on a
raw-boned pony, he took along his well
mended load of boots and shoes, and that,
after service was through, he distributed
them to their owners just as modern
preachers distribute tracts, and gathered
in another harvest Of soLes for his follow
ing weeks work; nor is it to be supposed
that souls Of a more spiritual character
suffered in consequence. At the death
bed or at the sick-bed, far and near, was
this preacher of the gospel, who mended
shoes on week days and saved souls on
Sundays, sent for as a counselor and con-
soler, and no light cause ever prevented
his obeying the summons. At weddings
and at funerals his faithful, loving SER
vice was required, and if in Heavens
book a record is kept Of mems good acts,
then will the name of many an unpre-
tending and u%nassuming pioneer preacher
hold a foremost place.
Church music was not developed as a
fine art in the new settlements, but at
most meetings a tune could be at least
hummed through, and we have only one
recorded instance of where the preacher
having failed to "start the tune,'' and not
being aided by the congregation, sat
calmly down and uhistled it through from
beginning to end, not needing the sup
pressed giggling of the younger portion
ofthe congregation, after which he gave
out his text and went on and preached his
sermon through, as if nothing had occur
red to mar the harmony Of the meeting or
the dignity of the occasion.
Unlettered as were many Of these men,
their lack Of grammar did not interfere
with their earnestness and solemnity of
purpose. But what shall be said Of the
preacher who, in speaking of some script
ural question upon which there had been
a local controversy, asserted his own view
Of the case as IN undisputable fact, and
to clinch the assertion offered to bet any
man FIVE dollars that such was the case.
A disaffected member Of the congregation
stepped forward, and offering to take the
bet, the money was put up, and the SER
mon went on as smoothly as il nothing
had happened to interrupt.
or another minister it is related that,
being in the midst Of an eloquent sermon,
he CHANGED to look out Of the window and
saw q shower coming up, and in a neigh
boring field q man hurrying to get in his
hay before IL got wet. Said he: "My
friends, christian charity and neighborly
kindness would bid us adjourn our meet
ing and help Neighbor Smith get in his
hay. Shall we do so at the risk of break
ing the Sabbath n A simultaneous ayes"
came from all parts of the house. Imme-
diately all Of the male portion Of the con-
'gregation, together with the minister,
started for the meadow, while the ladies
improved the opportunity for a friendly
visit. The hay was taken care of, and
when the shower came on all the congre-
cation, with the addition Of .Neighbor
Smith," the owner of the hay, returned to
the place Of worship, where the thread OF
discourse was again taken up and contin-
ued through without interruption. And
who shall say that the concluding prayer
was not as acceptable to Heaven as if an
act Of neighborly love and kindness had
not interrupted the sermon2
'The groves were Gods first temples"
Aye, and the purest and hottest. Out in
the free, uncultured realms Of nature,
where God seemed to speak to man in the
whispering breezes, the budding flowers,
the springing grass, in all things fresh,
and beautiful, and natural, where the
pale face, even as poor "Lo," seemed to
read