Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1885-03-06

service to begin, one lone brothe
rode up slowly, fastened his horse
and stood and gazed at me for som,
/ moments, bnt he did this at saf,
i distance. He then sat down on thi
root of tree and looked down as j.
he were in deep meditation. Lltherl
came slowly and greeted each othel
pleasantly but they could not un
j rayel the mystery Of my identity anc
| presence. / could see them look Al
me and then talk, and knew that
they we're talking about me, but il
did not lembralrass me. After .
while the pastor, Elder Jehu t. Rod
man came. and seemed to feel thai
he was the hero of the gathering
saints at Slow creek church that day.
He also gave me few side glanees
and passed on and left me wish my
own thoughts, and l was very busy
and in good company.
After many salutations and the
usual inquiries of the health of all
at their homes and in their sections,
they slowly marched ~lnto the
house. Theysnever came to me and
asked me WhetherI was saint or a
sinner, nor did they seem to care
whether possessed a soul or not. /
f1l<,r.,o~1 kf,.,,, 1-..l -, !. -,
and determined to abide my time
and do my duty that day, for saw
pretty soon that they were q COM
pany of weak disciples.
After song and prayer the pastor
spoke to his dear people, about
Peter walking upon the water and
his sinking and rescue. Then they.
came to business, and this was my
time. The main item OF interest
was the pastor salary, or rather his
want Of his salary. He had served
them five years, held four extra
meetings of ten days each, baptized
119 and the church had grown re-
markabIy. They Lad promised him
$125 for each year, and this would
make the neat little sum of S625 in
five years. He had received $3S.46,
and he stated that the church owed
MIN s4s6.54 for past services, and
really seemed to be scared out of
his wits at the mere mention of mon
ey. The brethren admitted that they.
promised the amount and we're ready:
to promise it again, but they did not
suppose that brother Rodman ex-
pected to collect the enormous sum
now due him. The pastor was poor
and some members there were we'll.
to-do and quite rich. He stated
that be needed it then. owed some
and had no other way for raising it;
and would like to have q part of it if
he could not get all of it. They
smiled in triumph as they thought
how they could thus rob this poor,
man of his just dues. One WELT
dressed brother handed over q one.
dollar bill as his part toward raising.
the amount. They called for others
to follow, and those sixty-seven.
members raised $500, with which.
to pay debt of $4S6, and seemed
as well satisfied as If they had paid
every cent of it with interest.
I felt that my time had come and
could restrain my righteous indigna-
tion no more, and rose to the dignl-
ty of my high mission. suddenly
came to my feet and stepped rapid
ly to the front and stood IN their
very midst, and my very looks be-
tokened my feelings and purpose.
There was a pause in the business
and all gazed ON me in amazement.
i spoke freely to them after the fol-
lowing style: "My brethren. and
such 1 venture 70 call you, although
it is a great cross to recognize you
as sustaining such relation, yon
claim to be Baptists, and am one,
and am sent forth on a high and
noble mission among the weak saints
of the Lord, and such l pfocfaim ye.
to be this day. I have grown aged
and wise in the service, and / do
know right from wrong, and I have.
come to condemn the wrong in my
brethren. Ye claim to be Baptists.
What right have ye to this high
claim? Ye had better put in the plea
that We are frauds and thieves.
Here We keep this man Of God toll
ing and working for you for years.
and as professed christians ye have
promised to compensate him for his
labors among you. How have ye
kept your werd2 Ye have broken
every promise, and that before God.
Ye are truly guilty Of falshood-a
dark crime in Gods sight. Ye have
robbed this mau of what is his own,
and We withhold it when God has
given ye the ability to pay 1t. Get
your Bibles and read what is said in
the good book against fraud and
withholding the wages Of q laborer.
And now, when this man comes here
and presents bis claim and tells you
of his needs, ye smile, and with q
bare pfttance We mock him in his suf
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