Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-17
PRINCE OF cHARlTAeLENess.
Rev. Jason Penroyal Found Something
 Good to Say of old Bat FIuracy.


 When 1t comes to downright charity, the sort that thinks no evil and says no evil, Rev. Jason Penroyal had few equals and no superiors throughout the entire Virginia belt where his ministra- tions extended. Because of this most amiablc quality and not for any special excellence in preaching he was con- stantly in demand upon funeral occa- sions He always contrived to discover some good qualities in the dead which the ncighbors had failed to find, and if the departed was not too bad he made it duty to land him in Heaven. He was sent for here, there, and every where, oftcntimes having to make dis tances across the country as great as fifty miles or more. Mir. Penroyal never complained; indeed, he seemed to find mournful pleasure in this kind of work, although he never received any compensation for his services, which could not but seriously interfere with his regular duties as circuit rider Nothing was permitted to in terfere with the discharge of what he appeared to think a paramount duty, and bereaved ones seemed to find solid comfort in what he said upon these sad occasions.
 A time came, however, when his friends thought he had been given task beyond his capabilities. Indeed. several of the irreligious of the com munity actually made bets that he would never be able to say single word in eulogy of old Bat Flurney, who had been shot and killed by Andy Hollowell while trying to escape one night from the latter's smoke-house. The spoils of the raid were in his arms, the evidence of his guilt positive. This, however, was but one of ten thousand transgressions of Bat, who had stolen from his boyhood up. He was drunk ard, a gambler, 0 horse racer and a pro fanc swearer. His brutality had driven his wife to suicide and his three chil- dren to the devil. His name was syn onym for all wiclsedness, and the entire community breathcd free for the first time in twenty years when it learned that Bat was no more. So well satisfied were the neighbors that they desired to give Andy 0 public testimonial in the shape of big dinner at the Wayville tavern, but he modestly declined it on the ground that the pleasure he found in tho act of ridding the people of such pest was ample compensation and he could not think of accepting any fur. ther reward.
 Bat hnd numerous relatives, who, whatever qualification they may have felt in his death, knew it would be reproach to them if they did not give him respectable funeral. So all the necessary preparations were made and the services of Mir. Penroyal were sc- cured, for the simple reason that every other preacher refused point-blank to bear any part in the mockery of giving Christian burial to such an unmiti- gated wretch.
 Because of the difficulties that beset Mir. Penroyal and to satisfy the bets ing turnout at the funeral. Expecta- ton was at the highest pitch and the preachers admirers were nervously anxious on his account.
 When he arose and fixed his eyes upon the coffin he did not appear to be ia the slightest degree overcome of his task; on the contrary his homely yet kindly face wore the same sympathetic look 1t had when he officiated at the funerals of saints. He started off brisk ly enough, telling of the suddenness, awfulness' and certainty of death, for which 1t was proper that all persons should hold themselves in readiness. Then he directed his gaze upon the relatives, who were grouped together near the coffin, and began slowly:
 "We are told to forget the failings of the dead and look for their virtues All of us have faults, and the dead man before us was no exception, I sup pose. But is there oue among us who would wish when he was dead that the preacher should single out his weak nesses and follies to bold up to reproba- ton? Let us be equally charitable with our deceased neighbor and remember only the good that was in him. 1 have this to say, and I am borne out by the testimony of at least two credible wit nesses of whom I have inquired. that Bartholomew Flurney could patch Q shoe better than any other man in Lunenberg. Economy is virtue that .all of us will do well to practice. A patched shoe is not as good as new one, but it is far better than a ragged one, and our deceased friend had his place in our social system when he pro traoted the utility of footgear. It is very gratifying to be able to bear this testimony to the merit of Mir. Flurney, and trust that you will all remember it to his credit when you think of the departed"
 The bets were unanimously decided in favor of those who staked on MT. Penroyal's ability to acquit himself creiitably, while his fame spread farther and wider than ever.--Chicago