Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-04-20
HOW THEY LOST A PASTOR.

The first church at Brandon wa
= seeking a pastor, an occupation tha
2 had engrossed it's energies for some tim
: past. For it was fully seven month
since the pulpit had been declared va
cant. Mr.. Barnes had labored faith
fully in their service for five long years
During this time he had preached
good, if not brilliant sermons; attend
ed regularly at the prayer meeting; anC
made all the pastoral calls that Ont
mortal man, without a horse and bug
gy, could reasonably be expected tt
make.
And yet his congregation was moi
satisfied. Intimations finally reached
the ears of the good man that his re-
signation would be resignediy accept
ed. He sent it in, and the papers next
day announced the grief of the First
church at the resignation of their be
loved pastor, Mr.. Barnes, whose wife's
health forced him to seek a more salu-
briOus climate. Whereupon it devolved
upon the orphaned congregation to
choose for themselves pastor-a man
after their own hearts; one who should
possess all the virtues of their late pas
tor as well as those he lacked. s.
! They proceeded to search for hiIi4 in
Ia truly orthodox way, namely, by en-
tertaining candidates. Sabbath after
Sabbath beheld a different divine in the
pulpit. They came, we know not
whence, and went, we know not with
er. They embraced every known type
of man, from the venerable DID. of
three score and ten, to the immature
theological student of twenty-one sum-
mers.
At length, when expectation was
well nigh exhausted a cheering ray
penetrated the gloom of their despond-
ency, and in their minds eye they could
see as their own established pastor the
brilliant young preacher who was hold
ing audiences spell-bound in a Western
city A delegation was dispatched to
treat with him. He had graciously con-
sidered the matter, and the whole situa-
ton was as encouraging as it well could
be. He was to preach for them, on
trial, on the first Sabbath in December,
and on the Saturday evening previous,
Deacon Gilkey and his wife were re-
turning from days shopping in Chica-
go. Just as the cars were starting.
Mr. Ames, another pillar in the church,
hurried in and seeing Mr.. and Mrs.
Gilkey, dropped into the seat behind
them, the other half of which was Occu-
pied by a strange gentleman in a fur
l
| Getting chilly remarked Mr.. Ames
to Mr.. Gilkey, as an introduction to
conversation, meanwhile buttoning up
his coat.
| The remark recalled the fact to Mr..
Gilkey, and he buttoned up his coat
and replied:
| Yes; looks a little like storm
| Suppose you'll be out to church to-
morrow said Mr. Ames
| Yes, | presume sO,' assented Mr..
Gilkey, and Mrs. Gilkey said, Yes,
certainly with a glance at the band
box at her feet, which suggested the
idea that milliner had made ''assur-
ance doubly sure in her case, but, of
course, suggested no such thought to
Mr. Ames, who observed:
l L guess people will turn out pretty
| generally to hear our new man.
| They ought to- said Mr.. Gilkey, for
he seems to be about our last chance,
and | say we'd better take him if he
suits us at ALL we might as we'll shut
up the church if we don't get some one
before long, said Mr.. Ames, gloomily.
| There wasn't a bakers dozen out last
Sabbath, and the Halls and McAllisters
have given up their pews. Hall says
he won't pay pewrent for the sort OF
1t needn't make any difference to
htm what kind of preaching we have;
he's never there, remarked Mrs. Gilkey,
severely.
What does Mr.. Williams have to say
about this Mr.. Grant that's going to
preach tomorrow inquired Mr..
Gilkey.
He won't take auy stand at all, said
Mr.. Ames, says it's none of his funeral
who they get. He's put out because
they wouldn't call Mr.. Otjin, but we
never could have made the thing work
He preached good sermons, said Mr..
Gilkey, reflectively.
He talked through his nose said
Mrs. Gilkey, conclusively.
Then the Whites said Mr.. Ames
They want that Eastern man with the
long hair. He's sort of cousin to
Whites wife. The West End are al
united ON that man from Washington
And DR.. GlOver's got a man down South
that he's been trying to run in this
long time. Mr.. Ames paused for breath,
and Mrs. Gilkey took up the burden OF
his complaint.
Yes she said, 'and the Georges say
they won't vote for anybody but that
Mr.. Paine, from Ohio. He stayed with
them while he was here, and they say
he is just as agreeable and entertaining
as he can be. You'd never suspect thai
he was minister
At this stage, Mr.. Ames, happening
to look up, saw surprised and amused
smile on the face of the stranger who
shared his seat. L beg your pardon,
said that gentleman in answer to Mr.
Ames' stare, L could not help overhear
ing your conversation
No harm DONE returned Mr.. Ames
affably. We're pretty much interest
ed in getting the right sort of man fol
our church. We know what keeps the
thing going, you see.''
He ratified, significantly, some coins
in his pocket, and the stranger intimat
ed that he saw.
Isn't it the general opinion that we
are paying too steep price for oul
preachers? inquired Mr.. Ames, EN-
phatically, and | say we've just got tc
drop off $500 a year on our next man
Why, when | was a boy, a minister
didn't get over $400 or $500 year, ant
managed to live on it somehow. They
didn't throw their money around ON al
sorts of extravagances, I'll be bound
People say we have these things our
selves began Mr.. Gilkey, mildly.
| don't care if we do retorted Mr.
Ames. | earn my money, and | know
where it comes FROM
Mr. Ames had by this time worked
| himself into quite vehement state o.
mind. He Ostensibly addressed Mr.
Gilkey. but it is not strange that the
consciousness that the stranger was al
interested listener caused him to elab
crate his argument with the distinct
ness and precision of one who feels tha
} he is making a good point. He nov
glanced for approval of his sentiment
from Mr. Gilkey to the stranger, ant
the latter seemed encouraged to ven
ture remark
What particular style of man d.
you want for a pastor?
we want a first class man. said Mr.
Ames with the air of reciting a well
learned lesson. Some one who Cal
hold hisown with the other minister
in the place. Now, you see'-becomin!
. there's certain set il
/ our church that are strong on doctrine