Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1891-12-30
ParSOn Arney.

before the Michigan Methodist Con-
ference last summer, charged with the
grave crime (?) of owning and driving
a good horse, and where he ''beat the
entire field;" and now, glory be to his
pluck, he is engaged in training SIN
ners on Sundays to go the straight
and narrow path" and on week days,
trotters to go around the circle in
2:3O. 1t seems that some of the good
church people, that would let him
starve if he became decrepit, are still,
with pious airs, criticising his health
full, good hearted and lucrative horse
pursuits. We see no reason why
christianity and good Workmanship
can't go hand in hand. We know a
good man, living not hundred miles
from Morris, that is a deacon of a
church and drives a trotting-bred
horse to prayer meetings.; but his
heart is as big as his body, and when
sickness and death comes to rich or
poor, with its dark oppressive cloak OF
sadness, he is the first to offer help
ing hand and comforting words, and
it makes us feel like saying, give us
more "horsey" christians. We here
reproduce Parson Arney's replies tc
his complaining brethren, taken from
Michigan papers, as we believe they
will be interesting and should be ben
eficial.
| PARSON ARNEY'S POSITION.
Detroit Tribune: The following letter wal
written by Rev. ]. W. Arney, the Saranat
pastor who created such q furOre in church
circles because Of his love OF fast horses anC
races, to his brother. D. L. Arney, of Detroit
Mich:
"You noticed what a chastisement I re-
ceived at the conference. 1t did not sour mt
at all, and blame no one, not even myself
and the Lord is nearer and dearer than be-
fore. Don't you believe 1 am SO notorious
that am offered big money to give exhibi
ton drives with my horses at fairs, but cal
not do so. did, however. give an exhibition
one half mile at our fair at Ionia which wa
not prearranged and for which I was no
paid. 1 drove Monte Patohen, my fin
blooded two-year-old stallion. The exhibi
ton was fine as far as the colt was concerned
and so far as 1 was concerned I was cheereC
to the echo. also took first on my gentle
mans driver. He is fine fellow. am nov
negotiating with five different parties wh'
want him at 5000. l refused $500 for my two
year-old. also own two very fine yearlinl
FLIES, for which have refused $500 cash.
$50 far as horses are concerned, they hay,
only been my pastime, my recreation. moth
ing more; handling horses hos proved some
what profitable to me, and would have beer
very much so had l not held to q very differ
ent course than horsemen generally pursue
No man never did more honorable bushes
than I. 1 have even to-day refused offer
that would speedily take me above financia
want; but have proceeded slowly and yer!
cautiously, never asking but small margin
OF profit. 1 found 1t pleasant and far NOR
agrseatl6 as o means of recreation to chang
often and, as have for the past year beer
foode;H with buyers. have not kept on
horse long, Ihave sold eleven to one maj
and three to another One sold for $3.50
She was soon sold for $4,000 and then 70
81, 600, and made mark of2:22. sold spar
for $3.50, for one OF which the man who own
them (Gen. Hart) told me he refused $1,000
I sold another for $500, that IL very fast ant
81, 900 would not touch him. have two nov
that could get $4,000 for If 1 would put then
in races. Yesterday drove my four-year
old his first fast mile. He drove 1t easily II
2:44, the last half in 1:19. For some unknown
reason am able TO tell almost to certaint.
q good and fast horse when see 1t undevel
l oped. and this faculty, as YOU see, would be
fortune to me were 1 not @ preacher, ant
what Is more, my notoriety has brought TIL
fact to the notice Of horsemen, so that re
ceived an offer from California OF wha
would mean my fortune II would consen
to CO. Take all these faet& into consideration
in making judgment Of 10y character. Asl
not men 100 miles away Of my character, bu
come to my home and inquire. am not
horse jockey as some suppose. am sim
ple-hearted preacher OF the gospel of Jesu
Christ, and In His name alone do glory.
am thirty-six years old and past and have N
|
we'll now. III do as the ehaKDh wants me to
and as feel sometimes inclined TO. viz: Gu
myself Off from handling horses. know o
nothing TO prevent the shortening OF m
days. With lots of labor Of that kind ] an
fairly well. With exclusive aedentary habit
L go down rapidly. Every little boy NEE
can tell nae how to do, and may take tn
liberty to do SO. but know better than then
all; but no, that way is wicked, because Their
is a horse connected with It. a 800 horse 1
good, and a saint can own one and he count
ed holy; $500 horse Is questionable bHt
81, 900 one-O. my!
| "1 can sleep, read newspapers, swing Il
Ih&mmoohs, gossip or cut brackets all da.
long Cor 10 cents. or in fact, anything, and al
Is lovely. but o horse-O, my! Consistency
thou art o geSsilt And, too, a worn-ou
preacher with no Heaps OF support is desptc
able, beggar, as know. especially in tn,
minds OF those who are most forward I,
criticise me. Your loving brother.
| j. w. ARSES.a
| A Grand Rapids, Mich, special says: Par
son Arney, of Saranac. dined in Crane
Rapids hotel some days ago with Don j
LeaA4aTs, the owner OF the colt Monbars
The next issue of the Michigan Christian Ad
vscate said: 1.-THE Methodist Parson Arney
who has such Penctaat for race horses and
horse racing, dined at 2 city hotel recently
with a noted sport" 10 THIS az. Afney has
| made this teyse reply: II know no man SO
sport. But, as Christian minister, know
men only to love them. Christ himself was
] likewise criticised by the Pharasees, who
80 III. trhfS man racpivnth siuuapS md osattV
WITH them Had some of the good people
whom Hlet there as courteously invited me
to i RorslG 90 willingly have dined with
them. AS for ipoGaes. often find 1t quite q
relief to turn from alae braying of sancti-
monious asses to the frienAstip of an intelli-
gent and honest horse"
X 81
NJ. C1,n e.E N.allox- C.4z. L.,<.