The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-05-07
PARSON CHEEKS ROD
HE LAYS IT ON THE BACK OF WAY
WARD SINNERS OF HIS FLOCK.

Saws He Ia an Agent Of the Deity-Reads
List of the Wicked Ones Every Sunday
and Chastises Them Publicly-His A"-
tbority Never Questioned.
George Washington Cheek, colored
Hardsbell Baptist preacher of Waycross,
Ga is a character. He literally be-
lieves in controlling the spiritual well
fare of his flock, not with rod OF iron,
but with buggy whip-that ls' ne
tbrashes the wandering sheep into sub
mission to his teachings whenever the
wicked spirit in them rebels HIS au-
tbority for this comes from original
sources. He believes himself the chosen
agent of the Almighty in that locality,
and has ordered that all disputes among
the members shall be referred to him as
sole arbitrator His Judgment is the
Judgment of God.
This idea at first made him a butt for
scoffers. The white trash roundabout
regarded it as a joke. But the jocose
stage has now passed, and the stern
reality Of his conviction is every way
apparent. He is religious despot as in
exorable as any sultan.
Personally the preacher is not the
kind of man that would be expected to
WELD SO complete an influence over a
band of ablebodied men. Not a male
member of his congregation but could
thrash the old preacher with one hand.
Yet his authority is as unquestloned as
if backed by a standing army. Cheek is
small in stature and measures two
! inches and fraction over five feet. His
sixty odd years have whitened his beard
and hair and Slapped the vitality OF
once powerful frame.
It is his custom on each Sunday to
read list of members who during the
week past have strayed from the path OF
rectitude. He then adds that he will
meet the backsliders in the lot back OF
| the church after the conclusion of the
services. The congregation is invited to
remain and witness the chastisement,
probably for the salutary lesson it will
be for them. A strong wooden post has
been sunk firmly into the ground, and
to this the sinner clasps his hands. He
is never tied, but is merely told to bare
his back and grasp the post. The pas
tor does the rest.
Before laying on the lash the Rev.
Mr.. Cheek explains the culprit's pecul
! lar offense and makes plain the fact
that the sin should not have been com
mitted Then he says that the Lord con
siders ten lashes of the whip sufficient
punishment for the crime, and he pro
ceeds to lay them Oh. Enfeebled as he il
with age, the blows lack the usua.
strength of whippings of this kind, but
the venerable pastor has found this
| heroic method of correction an admira
BILE one.
The victims could easily pick up the
minister and toss him bodily over the
neighboring fence, but SO great is theil
veneration and their belief that he is ir
truth an intermediary specially appoint
ed by the Lord that no revolving spirit
has yet cropped out.
In a SINH lar way family disputes ant
petty differences are settled. Both sides
are heard, the Judgment is rendered
and the whip applied upon him who
deserves it. For years the same blind
implicit faith has been reposed in thu
Rev. Mr.. Cheek.
He does not possess any supernatural
power. He has never performed any
miracles Or done anything that would
awaken in his congregation the venera
tion born of superstition and fear, bu,
he has simply gathered about him {
flock of devout negroes whose religion
is almost fanatical, and he rules them
as a king rules his kingdom. New
| York World