The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-28

the duties OF which could hardly have
been agreeable. But then, as now, there
were men whose capacities and tempera'
ment5 adapted them to all the legal Of
fees. The tithing man was the terror Of
all the little boys and the Sabbath.break-
ers. 1t was his special duty TO see that
all the members of each family attended
public worship, and to mark all violations
of the Sunday laws. Some OF these Off
GERS delighted in the legal espionage with
which their appointment clothed them,
and never lost an opportunity to use
their power to annoy their fellow citizens.
The Office and the officer at length be-
came SO obnoxious that the duties we're
narrowed down to simply keeping order
among the boys and girls during divine
service; and at length the office was sbol-
ished, and the vexatious annoyances OF
the man with the long white wand, with
ball at one end and a fox-tsil at the
other. have passed away forever. When
the sermon became tiresome, and men
find themselves rudely awakened by q
rap from the ball in the hands of that
soft footed man, whose feet were muf-
fled that his approach might be like that
OF the thief in the night. To the ladies
he was little more considerate. Their
awakening was secured by the brush of
the fox-tail drawn gently under their
noses. Many relics of tyranny and pa
ganism were reproduced in our New Eng
land habits and customs by the men who
had scorned to submit to them in another
land. Several generations passed away
before all those offensive Offices and
rules were abolished, and the pure free
dom of thought and action which we en-
Joy to-day was established.
But there was humorous side to this
annoyance, which would sometimes crop
out in the characteristics of the man
who filed the office. Here is an Illus
tration: Capt. Joseph Wheat was tith-
ing man during the early portion OF his
fathers ministry. The old elder, when
once he had settled into his two-hours
labor, was oblivious to all outside occur
rences. On one occasion Capt. Jo.,
Selling his wand, started out to quell
riotous disposition ong several lit
tie children, whose guardians had ceas-
ed from their labors, and gone to sleep.
AS he cast his eyes about the house, he
was much astonished to perceive the
whole congregation nodding, wholly un-
conscious and careless of the thunders
that resounded from the pulpit. He was
qnick-witted and eccentric, particularly
when seized with a profane sentiment.
On this occasion he never said word,
but jumped up and jerked both his solid
feet down square upon the floor. The
conclusion brought the whole astonish-
ed congregation to their feet. The old
man stopped preaching also-lost his
balance, in fact-but rallied in a moment,
and sternly demanded, 80, why do you
disturb this meeting? Is that the way
you keep order?" "Sir," says Capt. Jo,
sit lies between you and me to entertain
and instruct this congregation. You've
been telling them awful truths for more
than an hour, and they all went to sleep;
gave one solid jump and they reused
up as il Satan was already shaking his
spread wings to carry them off. Your
arguments are very persuasive, but you
see mine are powerful. ~ William Allen
Wallace, IN the Granite Monthly.