Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-01-15
A Bird S-Eye View by Man Of
the World
OF Perfect Unity and Christian
Charity in Ashley.

Charity in Ashley.
Last autumn our village was
blessed by the arrival in our midst
Of two brand new ministers. One a
dapper littleGerman who took charge
of the NJ. Z. church, the other a
business like, earnest appearing man
who took charge of the Congre-
gational church, between whom
there seemed to exist very friendly
feeling. These gentlcmenly ministers
arranged union revival on the fol-
lowing terms: Services to be held
alternately, week at time in each
church, at the close of which, and
not before, each were to open the
doors Of their respective churches to
receive as members such as wished
to join them.
This being arranged, a gentleman
(?) Of color was invited from Jack
son TO take charge of the singing.
About $50 converts came forward
and declared themselves on the
Lords side. AT this stage of the
work the man of color imagined
himself agrieved and retired into a
secret council with the NJ. (. pastor,
whereupon in the midst of a week
OF service at the Congregational
church they retired TO the NJ. K.
church and proclaimed:
I'm here pillar in thy temple
Strong as rock,
A guide, buckler, an example
To a the flock
And proceeded to arrange an in.
dependent revival on their own &C
count with very poor success, disre'
garding their promises, the Nj. +.
church doors were opened to receive
recruits. From the new converts they
found II who were willing to cast
their lot with them, which result
caused the Elder and the colored
gentleman (?) much chagrin. They
fain would say.
Lord bless thy chosen in this place,
For here thow hast chosen race;
But COD confound their stubborn face.
And blast their name,
Wha bring thy elders to disgrace,
And public shame
Meantime their congregation
dwindled to a mere handful while
the Congregational church was
crowded to overlooking and over sc
came forward and joined that church
in full fellowship. The situation be-
came desperate. The pious danes
and pillars of the NJ. K. church
"went into the by-ways and hedges
to compe, them to come," and did
not hesitate to attribute to some who
had joined the Congregations
church lack of brains and good
judgement. The rapidly increasing
throng at the Congregational church
caused the M. + church to become
desperate, something must be done;
'Name but the devil and he'll appear.
Old satan in a trice was near,
With smutty face ana hRnre,
But spotless spirits OF the skies,
Unseen TO evn his saucer eyes,
Could watch the fiendish niger"
Who declared the Congregational
minister hypocrit? That he had no
family worship at his house, and did
not ask the blessing at the table? In
fact that his reputation was very bad
and further stated that he received a
sealed letter which was to be de.
livered to the Congregational min
lister in private. Said letter purpor.
ted to have come from female. This
was to much for one of his race and
he felt like saying:
But yet c Lord confess must,
At times I'm fash'd WI ieshly-,
And sometimes. too, wi worldly trust,
Vile self gets In
But thou remembers we are dust,
Def1led In sin"
And instead of delivering the per-
fumed epistle he opened and read it,
and called in the good NJ. K. pastor