The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-19
INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE.
How Uncle Billy Found No Promise in the
Bible for COIored People.

J. c. ochiltree, in The Current.
The following anecdote, | have good reason to
believe, has hitherto escaped the scrutiny of the
reportorial "chiel, and hence has never got into
''prent." 1t is a sort of traditional waif, a strag-
Cling relniniscence. as it were, recurring just
often enough among other vagrant recollections
of the past not TO be wholly forgotten. 1t came
up, the other day, in a meandering chat with an
ancient friend, concerning matters of the "auld
lang syne."
Uncle Billy Hamilton will be remembered by
the cider citizens of Rush county, Ind. as an
eccentric old broom-maker, of Scotch-lrish ex-
traction, who had apostatized in middle life from
the Calvinistic faith of mis- fathers, and ''tippled
away" the day of grace, thus wofully pervertlng
the blessed gift of perseverance" and bringing
his early profession 10 an ''open shame"
But if he loved whisky in his latter days some
what better than he did his Maker, he retained
one trait that at least partially redeemed him
if such a condition is conceivable. Through all
his mental vieissitudes he remained leal and
true to old fashioned, iron-hearted, rocked rib
bed, pro-slavery Democracy. And such were
his resources of mother wit, statistics, history
and native impudence that few who knew him
cared TO engage him in a combat that was likely
to call into play the powers that lurked in am
bush behind his ready tongue.
One day, thirty years ago, he was peddling
brooms in the village of Vienna, inow Glenwoodl
and investing the proceeds, as fast as obtained,
in his favorite beverage, when he suddenly
found himself surrounded and beseto by IA we'll
known Abolitionist of the neighborhood, who,
having surprised" him, so to speak, proceeded
to demand his immediate capitulation.
But old Billy, true to his Jacksonian training,
was unterriied, and retorted with characteristic
GOODNESS and ready wit. The subject was the
inevitable and irresistible race question; and
when the ''agitator' presently remarked that lin
heaven all races stand equal before the throne, :"
Uncle Billy shook his head gravely, and replied:
N nagur, sur, can ever enter the kingdom
of heaven"
'What!' exclaimed his opponent, 'do you
mean to assert that a negro has no soul2"
Far from it, sur; the creether may have two
or three, for that natter. l only say the guide
buk vouchsafes the black mon, as such, ma
promise whatever, concernin' the election ac-
cordin' to grace"
At this the Free. soiler' became righteously
indignant, ard demanded with a scowl:
Have you the pagan heartlessness to believe
that all the colored race will be Internationally
turned into perdition-good and bad together?'
THE Lard forbid!' said Billy, with a show of
JUNCTION.
Then, what becomes of the godly and con,
scientious black man who dies in the faith and
service of his divine Masterl-tell me that"
'fWell, said Uncle Billy, demurely, 'he may
sthop in heaven betimes, but not, my mon, until
he has furst been washed white in the blood O
the Lamb"
The champion of the down troddenn reflected,
scratched his head a moment and-bought a
broom.