Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-08-19
Wri,ten FOR ne Sunday Register.
A RURAL EPISODE.
BY ETHEL KILDOW.


wife: ne tall, slender, placid, attired In
rather rusty black; she gorgeous as a
female Solomon, in ruStling purple
gown, that royal color being divided
into huge checks by lines OF green. She
was short woman With pale, dry hair
and dull eyes, whose ruliag passion was
n love Of display. Aa odd companion
for a minister Of the Methodist Church,
thought his flock, bat the minister him
self was blissfully unconscious OF any
ipcongruity in the match. He was de-
voted 10 his wife, wnOm be considered
the most perfect of her sex.
Shortly after the entrance OF Rev.
and Mrs. Baggett Deacon Lowe and his
wife came in, the latter lady affording a
decided contrast 10 Mrs. Baggett. Mrs.
Lowe might once have cared for pretty
clothes. but the uncultivated taste had
died. and she wore, this Sunday morn
ing, plain and cheap black dress and
a mOnstrosity Of a hat, most nearly re-
sembling a burnt pancake, perched
above her thin, meek face.
Outside Lee Baggett, the ministers
only son, ana Alice Lowe, the deacoa's
only child, strOlied round among the
trees and out 10 the flower decked
graveyard. They were known 10 De at
tached 10 each other, aud 10 was guessed
that they were engaged. He had walt
ed outside the church 10 assist her from
tha spring wagon, and just before the
'Tsss cell" they came IN and SAT TO-
gether, leading the singing.
Now. nothing more aggravated the
good church memberS-whO disap-
proved OF Mrs. BagsetJ's excessive love
OF display-than for the Rev. B2ggett
10 DO made the mouthpiece for the
trumpeting forth OF his wife's no
lions" Seeing no fault 10 his beloved,
at her instigatiOn he advocated meas
ures utterly al variance with the estao-
lisned ideas held by the Old members.
There had been a clash more than
once, notably over tae purchase or an
organ and the holding OF church So
cials. Both OF these innovations had
met wiUu favor among the young people
bus the majority Of the older members
could not ba recOnciied. When tue
organ came TWO of the trustees were de-
termined 10 keep the instrument out OF
the church. Failing in this Deacon
Lowe, one of the opposition, never per-
United us use when ne conducted class
and prayer meeting.
The woman In the case had to bear
the blame, the minister being stigma
tIzed as a noodle" And in this case
the woman was certainly the ruling
power.
This morning IL was some time before
the congregation saw MRS. BaggettS
hand In the discourse or recognized las
motive.
The bible reading was the second
second chapter OF Second Chronicles,
the text being the.ifth verse there from.
"And tho house which l build Is great,
for great is our God above all gods.
Well. the Rev. Baggett was an intelll-
gent man, and this sermon was very IN
teresting aud historically helpful IL
contained a fervid and epithet-aOOund-
ing description OF the ancient temple,
and the audience listened delightedly 10
the picture drawn Of all that magnit-
eence. Then the pastor, fOrSak'ng the
result, looked after the means. lie
smoke In terms OF high eulogy or the
devotion OF the Jews to their temple.
OF the gifts they brought, the sacrifices
they made, that the house they built 70
their God might out view the temples OF
the heather deit.es.
Then the minister proceeded to point
q moral. He called their Affection to
the baroness and unattractiveneSS OF
their sanctuary. The ci2tter OF leet
over the bare tOOr often Interrupted
his discourse, he said, aud truly. There
was no grace nor beauty ABOUT this
church home OF theirs, that anyone
should be drawn to II, but the naunts
Of vice were adorned and illumlned,
the eve was pleased. the hearing de
lighted. and those who should 0e led
heayepward, were seeking these at
tractive dens Of iniquity. And now he
besought his people 10 find remedy.
To give of their means 10 the adorn-
ment Of this house Of the great God.
You have been prOspered In material
ways" be sad IN conclusion. our
harvests have been plentiful, your
wants well supplied. Even were this
not so, could you not deny yourself?
Sell some OF their stored grain, your
meat YOUR boarded products, aud
br!ng an Offering 70 the temple. ask
now for an EXPIRE SSiOn Of your opinions,
that we may know upon what TO rely.
There was blank silence when the
minister concluded. Like chidden Chill
dren. the hearers looked down, and de-
hated the question with themselves. 1t
WAS relief 10 most when Deacon Lowe
rose and began 10 speak, though across
Aice's face flashed An expression Of
dread.
Il don't speak for no one but myself,
said the deacon, whose hostility was at
once evidenced. But for myself, 1
will say that am surprised a. the im-
portance oar parsOn gives 70 external
matters. Our religion, I've allayS be-
hevad was not built on outward appear
ances, nor ceremonial forms. II Solo
mons tine temple is TO be ANY reason
for such display at present, We kin jest
As reasonably establish the ceremonies
OF me synagogueS. like 70 see a neat,
pIaip. clean church, and for what / be-
leys In. / give liberia. AS 10 hOardin'
my produce, I've no mOre'n enough
poark 10 meat till KILN time. nor
wheat 10 bread me Ill. my next crop is
ready for grindin'. l believe in Sacri-
fee though, aud IL 1 thought proper, I
could allowances myself. But
there are others who OFT TO
be stintin' themselves in other ways.
NV women folks is not trgEed out in
purple and fne raiment which the gOdiy
sbhOr. Look at Sister BSgGett, all
tuckered mp before, aud puckered up
behind, an shown carnal-mindednesS
IN her false flowers, and hair CurIed on
no, tongs, and her earrings, which is
bv name forbid in the Scripters Look
70 the ways Of your house.
But here the deacon's fierce mono
logue was interrupted by audible sobs
from Mrs. Baggett. Mrs. Lowe was
TREMENDOUSLY and eagerly plucSinG at
her husbands coat, and across the aisle
Lee and Alice Gazed in dismay at the
scene. The decon paused and regarded