The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-09-27
A PERSUASIVE PREACHER.


 "Yes, my uncle was a strange man." !" said the Rev. Mir. Hemwick. "He was a minister of the gospel in the early days of Arkansaw, and though his methods of compelling them to come in would be discountenanced now, yet he vas I good man, lover of the truth, hafer of prctention- went to live with him
 when was boy and at quite an early age began the study of theology. In those days we had no great array of books explanatory Of the scriptures. We had the bible and few volumes of ser mons. sulphurousiy intense-the work of some old preacher-pioneer who feared not the hug of the bear, the privations of life nor the knife of the Indian. One of the 6rst traits of my uncle's character that struck me was his disposition to hght for the faith. If anyone disputed an assertion which he believed to be orthodox, he would argue warmly for while and then if the disputer did not come round, why he had to fight. The old preacher was powerful man. He could swing a maui with the best rail splitter in the country, and could handle an ax with wonderful execution. 'John,' he said to me one day, 'you never had a fight, did you:' No, sir I replied. q have never had occasion.' .That's bad he replied. An young fellows who ex- pect to accomplish anything in a frontier country must fight. It is the only way you can establish a character. You never would have heard of George Washington if he hadn't fought. don't advocate rufianism, but l do advocate fighting for principle. It is every mans duty to establish char acter. In old communities, men make character by honesty and refinement standard of gendlity. In country like this, they make character by fighting for what they conceive to be nght-the l stand ard of manhood. Centility in town 1 manhood in the forest. You have doubt | less noticed that my appearance in the | pulpit always commands respect Is it because 1 preach different gospel from l that presented by other men, our friend | Stewart, for instance! No, it is because | every man. in the congregation knows that if he does not behave himself, while am preaching, that he will have me to whip, and bruised experience, let me tell you, has taught many of them that whipping me is tougher job than keep ing the straw back from a ground-hog thYeshins machine. Some time ago, Stewart and l began protraeted meeting over at Red Fork. One day was called to preach the funeral of man who had failed 10 shoot quick enough, and while was gone, the rough fellows began to feel around to see if they could have little fun with Stewart. They met with so much encouragement that after awhile burly fellow, named Ike Moore, arose and said that he had noticed certain errors of the pulpit which he felt himself in duty bound to correct. Brother Stew art had not preached the gospel as i, should have been preached, and to begin the reform he would stand brother Stewart on his venerable head. The quiet members of the congregation were too timid to inter- fere and, Ike Moore, assisted by brawny companion, approached the pulpit, lifted Stewart from behind the shelf as they termed it and actually stood him on his head in a corner of the room. After they had extracted all the fun they could from him, they placed him behind the shelf and commanded him to preach as fast as he could. The old man began at a speed inconsistent with all orasory, but not satisfied with the progress he was making Ike Moore would from time to time yell faster there, git up there! Nov jump the bars, now gin us big word. Give us another saw-log. Nov gin us a slab. Don't throw in so many poles. Now cut an slash. Just about this time, l returned. was shocked when l ea- tered the house, for the expression on poor Stewards face plainly showed that he had suffered. entered the pulpit. Carried away by success, flushed with the enthusiasm of triumph. Ike Moore began to feel of me in not a very gentle { way, either. l let him % on for awhile. Finally he told me to preach fasser. paid no attention to him but proceeded to call for mournerx After awhile he { said that 1t vas about time to stand ne on my head. prseended not to hear him and not to notice him as he ap- proached, bu; just as he was about to lay hands on me. 1 took up an old hrass