The record-union., 1896-01-02


f1rmed. The next morning started out
to pay some visits alone. About 10
o'clock I persuaded him to go with me
to call upon some families. Instead of
taking me to private houses as I de-
sired, he took me first to the new Ma
sonic Temple, opening the front door
with pass-key. He very kindly and
with great pride and satisfaction
showed me over the whole building.
After awhile I laid my hand gently
upon his arm and said: MY dear
brother, this is all very nice, indeed, but
it does not bring men into the church. !"
He paid no attention to my remark, but
went on talking and showing me every
thing that was to be seen. At last we
left the building together and walked
to Judge Irwin's residence, where we
had a pleasant call on the lady of the
house. Then we went to Mrs. Hoff-
meisters, and then to Mrs. Hardy's,
and then TO the hotel, where we both
sat down to lunch together In a few
moments he excused himself, and a lit
tie after the porter called, "All aboard
for Sacramento" and / went immedi-
ately to the depot, expecting to see Mr..
Pierce there to say "Good-by," but I
had to leave without seeing him again.
December Sth / received postal card
addressed: u. H. d. Wingfield-1st
Timothy, 3 Ch. 3 verse No striker.
Titus l Ch. verse. No striker" No
neme was signed, but recognized the
handwriting to be that of Mr.. Pierce.
A few days later came the following
letter in the same handwriting: THE
(Nrv, rre ~f - 1af-
That of the thousand in California of
an occupation called sacred We are
the only who cannot behave ourselves.
oh! like that worthy citizen we had
lived membership with the noble, kindly
fraternities, wherein is good breeding,
of harmony, respect for others and self
control. Then we would not have abid-
ing in us a contemptuous. abusive dis
position, showing itself in rowdy-like
fstics. Then one after another would
not say: rs it possible!' or Why is a
man like that allowed in such position?'
Then we would not have before us
through the coming year the prospect
of being amongst the most uneasy resi-
dents of California For we would not
have made as our enemy the eternal
law: Whatsoever man soweth that
shall he also reap Oh! not here, my
boy"
Then came a copy OF the "El Dorado
County Republican" of December 18th,
containing the following article:
A STRIKING RELIGIOUS INCL
DENT.
"A visitor in Plaeerville and a long
time resident, both engaged in re-
ligious work and members of the same
church, were lately passing the new
Masonic Temple. Visitors are often
asked to go in and see the neat new
spoken pleasantly of the good judgment
and enterprise shown. This case was
and strikingly different.
when in the hall the visitor was
seized with a spasm of excitement and
wrath, first exclaiming, 'Ah, this is
what keeps men out of the church
They are here when they ought to be
in the church Then he came to the one
who had invited him in and said, Hey,
my boy! Not here, but in the church,
sir!' and he struck a strong, 'soggy'
blow on the three e-score-and-ten years
boy which Jared severely on both the
bodily feeling and the astounded mind.
The assaulting blow was followed by
the sneer and threat, Not here, but in
the church, my boy!'
Human nature in nineteen out of
twenty men would at once have met
the frantic abuse with blow and epithet
When 'chivalry' habits ruled sometimes
life had to pay for offenses less outrage
ous
This insulting violence was by one
supposed to be a conspicuous example
Of religion and decency. The person at
tackled with fist and tongue has walked
over $4,000 miles in pilgrim circuits
Ell Dorado County at all hours
from daybreak to midnight and never
before was threatened or struck
''The boy will keep grateful and
faithful membership in the kindly, gen.
tlemaniy fraternities which have cared
for him in sickness and brought broth
erly and instructive influences to better
and brighten life.
Those unfortunately outside of
churches will not be drawn to them by
the perverted, diseased, religious spirit
that shows itself in attempt to threaten,
drive and pound a fellow church mem
Der out of his good Samaritan, frater-
nifty home and work
Members and supporters of an Or
ganization injured by an unworthy rep
must find some means of
mending or ending his disgraceful
course
Although in the same church fe1-
lowship, our old resident will have to
guard hereafter against the aggressive
piety of the visitor When
kept on him. abusive action of fist or
tongue will be at once stopped, and the
religious visitor will be compelled to
conform to the decently behaved style
of conduct established in our well-or-
dered community
Then on the 10th was received a copy
of the Mountain Democrat" repeating
the above article and commenting on
the same as follows: From our local
cotem. we get the shadowy outlines of
what recently occurred in the lodge
room of the Masonic Temple. We vent
ure a brief comment. The Rev C. G.
Pierce was assaulted and insulted by
Bishop Wingfield as stated in the arti-
Gle republished. It is too late for US to
pose in the capacity of peacemaker, but
not of Plug-Ugly. The scandalous af-
fair made US long for one day of old
Peter Cartwright, the double-fsted,
fighting evangelist of Western notori-
ETY.. But the good Methodist frontiers
man, who never struck a cowa.rd1y
blow, is in Heaven, and high church
man holds the belt by a FOUL For the
living bruiser neither church militant
nor mystic order can have any use, and
they should subject him to discipline,
etc" This caused me to break my ST.
lence and to send the following letter:
BENICIA, Dec. IT, 1894