St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-08-12

had IN the way OF words of cheer, thanks
and praise, they gave to him, and some
of their lives testified that they had
found the way.
Still the pastor grew thinner and
thinner until his flesh and blood in the
WEAKNESS of starvation revolted. Then
1T was that the Inspiration was given
him by which all the good things of life
came to him, and if he lost some of the
spiritual gifts by it no one was the
wiser.
This one fashionable lady parishioner
OF his was the widow of deceased pork
packer. In dying her husband had left
her wealth, fine house, Jewels and
plate, but lie had mot been able to be-
queath to her position in the ''best"
society, nor a standing with the ''elite"
such as her soul hungered and thirsted
for.
Having courage and ShrewdneSs she
determined to make society come to
her, and her first move in this direction
was to join the church of our poverty
stricken pastor.
though her robes swept the dust shaken
from the feet of beggars, and her head
was sometimes bowed beside that of a
hod carrier, she commenced her cam
paign with no fear as to the end.
-
Securing the confidence of the pastor
she insisted on his taking vacation.
and the check she gave him enabled
MIN TO do so. Thanks to her clevernesS
the newspapers announced his depart
ufe Tor the Pacific coast and ''SOciety"
paused to wonder for a moment as to
now SO poor congregation could
afford such a luxury. Next, our lady by
a careful manipulation Of the aged
deacons of the church, had the edifice
cleaned, painted. ornamented and made
gorgeous. Stained glass windows,
cushloned seats, carpets. high back
Veivet chairs on the pulpit, new organ :;
all these changed the house of poverty
into one of comfort and comparative
elegance.
Inc newspapers teemed with notices
OF the changes, carefully emitting all
dollars that was accumulated.
A new parsonage was secured in a
lashlonable quarter Of the city. nicely
furnished, and when the pastor returned
he was duly installed there.
His wonder at the changes did not
cease when his Scheming but devout
parlshioner told him that his salary had
been raised, the old board of directors
replaced by wealthy friends of hers,
several church societies been organized
and a new deal inaugurated all around.
-
One Dade him grow fat and be merry.
and when he saw his new congregation
he wondered why he should not. The
Deggar. the bod carrier, the day laborer
were gone. In their place sat people
VINO had never joined with any church,
and yet who lOnged for society" They
had money and influence, but the ma
ture of their callingS or the lack of
polish" had hitherto barred them.
Our lady knew their desires. Was
she not the widow of a deceased pork
packer? She called them together and
told them that they must make a So
clety of their own, and that then the
great and good society," they sought
would recognize them. But how were
these innocents to do this?
All, the church! Happy thought!
Madame unfolded her plan, and as they
were people prone to understand the
commercial side of things (even to re-
lgloO they appreciated her wisdom.
They rushed upon this church of
poverty and this pastor of no flesh. but
much grace, and poured their gold over
all.
The lame and the halt, the sick and
the blind fled before the chill of these
well-fed, comfortably dressed saints.
Misery and want could not abide with
! them, but they had some hopes that the
pastor might follow them.
Not he! The spirit of the change
came over him, and while religion
drlfted from him he yet grew rotund in
form, full of face, and his wife had op-
portunity TO snub the wife of the dea-
con who had formerly clothed her.
Faith went out of the back window.
while bread and cheese entered the
front door.
The pastor preached less Christ and
more worldly philosophy. The '.isms''
were not so bad after all, and if con-
science did twinge at times it was al
ways silenced when he stroked his
| broadcloth.
He became Fashionable, and so did his
sermons. He preached to the indlvid-
ual no longer but at generalities. The
lntoXlcation OF stained glass windws, a
congregation that dressed in silk. a
chnrch eXchequer that never lacked his
salary, seized him.
~
Thus it was that the widow of the de.
ceased pork packer, and all her hitherto
questionable friends, and the poo1
pastor and the neglected old church, be.
came fashionable. Society recognized
their efforts by coming to them, and
when the two commingled, hozannas
| arose.
The beggar having lost his house OF
refuge became thief; the hod-carrier
no longer held by his. pastors voice,
took to drink; and the laborer, philo.
Sophically remarking, THAT religion
was humbug anyway" proceeded to
beat his wife who had asked him to 90
| to church.
But as these people are not recognized
by society" and have only themselves
to blame for their general badness, no
body wondered at all this, or cared.
NATIONAL PRESS,
| Signa1ly Failed.