Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1890-11-06
Ct Door neonIe's souls.

ct poor peoples souls,
II don't know about that The Lord
will fix the soul business all right"
The church was crowded. Montgom-
cry Peel stepped forward on sort Of
platform, still majestic, but with
sprinlzling of gray in his beard. A hymn
was sung, a prayer was offered, and then
the preacher thus began:
'sMy friends, will not explain why
have erected this church other than that
have taken it upon myself to preach
the word of God. I do not come before
you claiming to have been directly called
to deliver the word unto you-that is, |
heard no voice telling me to preach, but
I did feel that could do much good,
and that it was my duty to spend the
rest Of my life in this service I shall
attempt no revolution, and those of you
that have come expecting to hear a new
doctrine, or even q new explanation of
an old doctrine, will be disappointed. |
believe that immortal fruit grows upon
the tree of sincere repentance. believe
that each of us owes to God life of
simple purity and honesty. Our allotted
time on earth is but few days, and
what should we gain though we were
placed in high position among men, for
high positions soon crumble into the
dust of forgetfulness and men soon pass
away. 1t is not enough simply to declare
that we love the Lord, for love is often
selfish; it is not enough simply to praise
the Lord, for praise is sometimes the off
shoot Of fear. While protesting to love
the Lord, and while showing that we
praise him, we must look with tender
ness upon the faults Of others, we must
speak no evil word Of a neigllbor, naithez
shall we bear tales, for the man who
comes and tells US that sone ono has
spoken in our dispraise may profess that
he took our part and hushed the mouth
Of slander, yet he destroys our happiness
for an entire day Every Sunday here
after-that is, 50 long as | am able-l
shall preach in this house, urging re-
pentanco and kindness of heart. Many
people haze wondered ass tise grcst cli=nEe
that has come over me. This was 4 nat
ural result Of 50 unexpected an action.
Bear with ne-come aud commune with
me, and do not think that any one viii
ever regret that this humble house was
placed here among the trees.
Many years passed. grew up and
wandered in foreign countries. My
father passed away. and still, letter
from an old friend told me, Montgomery
Peel continued to preach. returned
home, and on the following Sunday went
to the log church, now almost covered
with moss. The congregation was sing
ingahymn when my friend and entered.
Where is the preacher:" asked when
we had sat down.
Hasn't come up yet. He lives in
cellar Immediately under the aoor, and
has grown so old and infrm that we
sometimes have to wait for him.
The hymn was finished and still he did
not come. Another hymn was sung and
then man arose and said that he would
go down and see if anything had happen
ed to the preacher. The man soon re-
turned. Brethren, said he, "the old
man is dead, Those of you who desire
to do SO may come down and see him."
Nearly every one shrank back, but
went down into the cellar. The old
man, shIiveled and white with age, lay
upon a bed Of straw. The place was
dark, and when VIC held candle near
his face we found paper pinned to the
bosom Of his shirt. Written OF the out
side of the paper were these words,
Read this to the congregation.
We went up stairs, and the man that
had found the dead preacher thus adj
dressed the awestricken congregation:
Brethren and sisters, we have a comnu-
nication from the old gentleman whose
voice you shall never again hear" He
then read as follows:
THE hand of death is upon me, and
feel that it is my duty to say a few
words to you, my dear people. You
have been 50 good, SO patient and
so kind that | love you with all
my soul. | have loved you ever
since | needed your love will tell
you when ! first needed your love and
sympathy: Many years ago was walk
ing along a lonely road. Night hawks
7 could not have heard the voice Of an
angel had it shouted at me. met
man; | knew that he was coming that
way. Hold, said l. He stopped and
asked what wanted 1 want you,
said |. What do You want with me:
i want you to give me something.
What do you want me to giyey Your
life. Why Because you ruined my
home years ago sprang on him there
in the moonlight. l cut out his heart
and wiped his face with it. That man
was David Q. Cahoon. r-Opie Read in
Arkansaw Traveller.