The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-04-16
KR'S BANNER.

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"rse never born to go to church, =
tearfully exclaimed little Ike Judd, as
his patient mother combed ont the cur
" looks of her only son and heir, prepar-
atory to his pilgrimage to the Sunday
school. 80, =.
Mr.. and Mrs. Judd lived at L.. a
small town in western Illinois. They
were poor; but in spite of this misfor-
tune, If such it may be termed, they
were decidedly rich in the possession of
afamily heirloom which had been hand
ed down from generation to generation
with unbroken faith. It was an old
saying.
1.-THE Judd family ore noted for their
extreme piety."
TWAS tile oft.repeate5 expression of an
agcd Methodist minister, rugged pio-
tieef in the Church militant, who, in his
journeyings in those carly days. had oft
and again been the welcome guest at
the hearthstone of many arepresenta-
tive of this remarkable family, whose
name. it seems. was legion throughout
the wide scope Of country in which this
patriarch was wont to labor.
And this, .his favorite expression, re-
peated in the experience meeting, on
the camp ground, and around the fes-
tai board, became of history, and as the
Judd family passed from one generation
to another this religious appellation
chung to them, and followed the family
name like benediction.
The grand old prelate has long since
been gathered to his fathers, and ere
Ike Judd. who, this bright Sunday
morning, is receiving his additions with
grief, shall have reached his majority,
four score and ten winters will have
swept the autumn leaves over that old
mans grave.
And thus, early in life, greatly to the
sorrow Of his loving parents, Ike had
sounded the keynote of revolt. he
was never born to go to church or
Sunday school, either, for both were
the same to him. Both were a terror
to his young heart, and even as he grew
older the feeling of aversion to places
OF divine worship grew upon him.
Certainly, here was a break IN the
golden chain. Was 1t possible that Ike
Judd, sole heir to sacred heirloom of
generations, would cast away and ig-
more his birthright?
But Ike was a dutiful son. and.
though he regarded Sunday-schools and
churches with terror, nevertheless at
tended with mediocre regularity.
At school he was fairly bright. sur
passing many of his older companions
in their studies. At work or play he
was earnest or diligent. Taking it all
in all, Ike was far from being q "bad
boy" But he Twas never born to 60
to church."
As he grew older his distaste in this
regard seemed to grow upon him. He
could not bear to hear tho teacher tell
the same old stories of how bad little
boys were punished, while good little
boys died early and, of course went to
Heaven. He once took a book from
the Sunday school library Which was
30 full Of horrible stories that he could
not sleep for whole week without hav-
ing dreadful dreams. But q too gen.
erons portion of fruit cake may have had
something to do with them. We don't
exactly know.
The long sermons made his bones
ache" as he often said. So his parents
at last gave up trying. and Ike was free
to go or not, as he chose. But it was
sore affection to these worthy people.
At last the time came for Ike to leave
his home and seek his fortune else
where. To how many thousands of
other boys has this time come? So one
bright September evening Ike babe the
old home and his parents an affection
ate farewell.
"You will write to me, Ike, and I
know you will be good; but won't YOU
promise me to go to church or Sunday
school sometimes ?" whispered his moth
or.
Eyes, mother I'll write often, and
we'll, I'll 60 to church. too, sometimes.
Good-bye!"
And he was gone, and out into the
world.
It is needless for us to follow our he
70 through the sundry and manifold
vicissitudes he encountered in his pill
grimage, His battle with the world
differed little from that of other young
men who started just as he did.
First, an odd job here; another there
then a menial's position at a menials
salary; then something higher and bet
ter, till in few short years we find that
Ike is an experinced telegraph Opera
tor on great line of railway Running
through the West.
The place at which Ike was stationed
was an important railroad centre, and
his position was one Of Importance and
trust. He soon became quite popular
with his employers, and especially with
large number of railroad men who
made the city of G., their headquar-
ters.
In all these years that Ike had been adj
sent from home he never forgot his mo-
thor. He often wrote to her, and his as
surance that he occasionly attended d.
vine worship, together with tho report
that he wa" doing we'll, filled the hearts
OF his parents with great joy. How little
did they know that their most earnest
prayers were, in time, to be answered!
One bright Sunday morning, as Ike
was strolling over the beautiful city,
his attention was attracted to q process
sion composed of young people, who
were marching into church near by.
Their leader bore in his hands staff
from which foated gorgeous banner
of white silk exquisitely embroidered,
and which bore these words: "Be ye
faithful unto DEATH" Instinctively join
ing the throng of children that was
pouring into the church, Ike also en-
tered and took quiet seat in corner.
The exercises were of no unusual in
terest to him, however, and he was
rather glad when the closing hymn was
sung. He was about to leave the church
when an announcement from the super
intendent arrested his attention. It