The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-03-21
REVELATIONS OF A DIARY.

| Some one has unearthed an old diary
Of Parson Emerson of Conway, Mass.
The parson lived about one hundred
years ago. He preached a sermon Dec.
-. 1882 ON the death of Cen Washing
ton from the text. How are the mighty
fallen"
The reverend gentleman is described
by the North Adams Oiass) Democrat
as a real Christian minister Of the olden
time lie preached for ffty-seven years
to the Same congregation. which was
rather a remarkable occurrence. The
old gentleman's diary reveals the pres
ence throughout of that same old human
nature which seems to have its innings
with every people and with every age
one of his congregation wanted 10 be inn
mersed and he called it IAN error"
Here is the record in his diary:
IAN. ot-After service LemueI Billings
read a paper containing reasons why he
can no longer commune with our church.
Spent a long time to convince him Of
his error and to dissuade him from be
ing dipped and joining the baptists. but
to no purpose
Temperance, or at least total absti-
nence, seems to have made bat little
Roadway in Massachusetts at the then
fin de steele Extracts from the diary
show a shocking use of cider and rum.
From July to Aug. he bought three
bottles of rum and IN October Of that
same year, 1899, he slowed away thirty
eight barrels of cider for winter use"
to use his exact language. Here are the
extracts from the diary on the drink
question:
July Bot rum at Bardwen's store,
80 cents.
Aug. 1.-Two quarts rum Williams's
store, $3.50. Paid for killing hogs II
cents.
use thirty-eight barrels of cider. Value
Cider was either awfully weak or
awfully cheap those days. Thirty-eight
barrels for $50 was less than 81 per
barrel. 1t must have waxed very stall
wart by the following new year.
Much of the diary makes very interest
ing reading, as witness the following ex-
tracts:
Jan. 1, -Endeavored TO begin this
year in a piOus manner, imploring for
giveness for many offenses and begging
for grace to live better in the future.
BY profession | am a Christian minister,
but Q, how, how unworthy this honor
and how inconsistent has my department
been with that high and sacred character.
Jan. 5-Attend marriage. Fee, H.25,
Jan. 19-Went to Shelburne to attend
the ordination Of Mr. Packard. Counc,.
sat until o'clock at night.
April Went to Greenfield on bust
ness. Lodged at Mr.. Newton's. A fire
in the night and saw Mr.. Chapman's
house destroyed by the raging elements.
Thank God, no lives were lost
May 2S-Set out on horseback for a
journey to Boston. The country was in
an alarming condition and some means
must be devised TO suppress infdelity.
Was gone from home near two weeks.
Expenses to and from Boston S2l6. Gle
staid with brother ministers on the Way
Nov. "A baptist minister was or
dained in town. l did not attend. CNo,
of course he did rot. The fences were
very high in ye olden time)
Dec. 3-Went to Charlemont to the in
stallation Of my son-in-law, Joseph
Field.
1t is we'll Parson Emerson was taken
to heaven before Mr.. Field became a
Unitarian minister. which he did later
on. a church was built for the new
denomination and Parson Field preached
the sermon from the text, THE glory
Of this latter house shall be greater than
Of the for10er''