St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-09
REV. EPHRAIM DOWNEY.
a Query as to the Real Reason
Why He Left the Ministry.


Waterbury heard that Rev. Ephrain
Downey had descended from the pulpit
of Annex, and had mounted the driver:
seat on cart filled with cheap tin anc
a miscellaneous assortment of trife:
which could be exchanged for rags
they shook their learned heads with
disgust untempered with mercy.
HE was always mean-spirited, said
the president who rejoiced when the
Waterbury men sat in the high places
OF the earth. He took the first chance
he had after his graduation.
Yes (" said DR.. Popham; '.his name
has never been mentioned in connec-
ton with any church of standing.
Every other man in his class now liv-
ing is a d. D."
Only DR.. Strong. who had been re-
tired. had word of excuse for him;
but as the doctor was ''o1d," his opin-
ion did not count. And thereafter no
documents were sent to Ephraim from
Waterbury, save such as related to it's
material upbuilding. and requested
testimonials, y etc. To make up one s
mind not to give honors to a mean
spirited man is one thing, but to re-
solve to refuse such moneys as he may
have to bestow, requires buckram prin-
.ciples not to-be expected from college
needing funds.
At the age of fourteen, Eph-
rain had believed himself called to
preach the Gospel His father was
poor, and an education could only be
won by his own efforts, but he set him
self patiently ut it He did chores for
a kindly doctor, and earned his board.
BY filling the post of janitor at the
village a ademy, he had his tuition
free. He was not what is called bril-
liant student, but he easily prepared
himself to enter Waterbury in the
Sophomore year; and if he scrimped
his food. and dressed regardless of
fashion, he carried off the prizes
for Latin and mathematics for two
years, and the coveted Greek prize in
the third. One pleasure alone was his
during this toilsome, though soul-con-
tented, period; he walked home every
holiday vacation forty miles across the
.snow-coyered hills that shut his native
town from the college. At last he was
as ready as man may be to do his
Masters business.
Father Downey was not member of
any church. As family, the Downeys
were of small account, and had mar
ried into families of small account.
No one ever thought OF them in Moss
vile when enumerating ''our best citi-
zens;" SO it happened that in all the
numerous, blameless tribe there was
not man who could speak a good
word for Ephraim with chan,e of be-
ing heard; and as he belonged to a sect
not bound together by formal organi-
cation, he was without settlement
long after every man in his class was |
placed. Even Twacker. the Ounce. |
was established over fourish1ng flock |
in Hoppleton. whose great business
interest, mailing. was in the hands of
Pfzenmeyer, his maternal uncle. Per-
haps if Ephraim had been self-assert-
ing, and had clamored at the doctors
of Waterbury, they would have helped
him. But he was modest, and they
were busy. The Lord would direct
where he could best labor, he believed:
so when old Farmer Sprague came
down from Blue Rock hills, and asked
him to preach in the school-house at
Smyrne, a tiny village in the center of
the Blue Rock region, he went. with
out thought of the possible effect of
the step upon his future. Among the
granite rocks the grass grew sweet
and thick, and the farmers round about
were rich in herds and fiocks, but
they had so long been accustomed to
their preaching for nothing
from neighboring pastors imbued with
o missionary spirit, it was difficult
task to convince them that they should
have church to support IS well as to
enjoy. But in fifteen months after
Ephrain . arrival there was an organic
ed body of one hundred and two menu
bers at Smyrne, and the next year the
stately elms that shaded the school |