Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-07-24
AHYpocRIrIc spo1rER
And He Prayed the Lord to Break the Neck Of
Mrs. G00daIe.

New York. July eff there Is any
thing that Deacon Sandford J. Young
can detect almost at first sight ii Is a
hypocrite. He says so himself. He is
one of the pillars of the Utica Avenue
Pentecostal Tabernacle in Brooklyn,
and is a sincere, plain-spoken man.
Mrs Ralph +. Goodale declares that
She. too. is something of an expert on
hypocrites. But there the similarity
between her and Mr.. Young ceases,
ana the matter becomes painfully per
sonal Indeed, Mrs. Goodale is filed
with indignation.
And, indeed. what Brooklyn woman
could stand with equanimity what was
placed upon Mrs. Goodale's plump
shoulders-or more accurately speak
ing, her neck? For, besides calling her
4 hypocrite. the deacon invoked Divine
aid to break her neck. which she car
tied with such a degree of rigidity as
t. cause him much distress.
MIR. and Mrs. Goodale live in a cozy
cottage at No. S26 Herkmer street. and
have attended the church for several
years. She has "A will of her own. and
when she speaks her eyes snap in a
manner that shows determination.
Folks who know her agree that she is
a sincere. ine-minded woman. And
20 be called hypOcrite at this time of
life. Think of it, That there is the
least ground for the accusation she in
dignantly denies; that there is, Deacon
Young AYERS with solemn emphasis.
Justice Hartman of the Gates ave
rue police court could scarcely grasp
the subtletles of the question when 1t
was brought before him. The deacon
had invoked the law to keep the Good
8les from further attending the church
services. They had been regularly eX-
lelled, he explained. but insisted upon
coming. The justice thought a per-
son should be free to worship where
he or she felt impelled To by the spirit,
and Mrs. Goodale accepted the opinion
with a fervent "Amen,"
Deacon Young. however. explained
that the attendance of the Goodales
threatened the unity of the church.
that MI. Goodale had spoken i'll of the
pastor. the Rev. DR.. Hoople. and was
little short of hereto. The justice
was perpleXcd, but looked relieved
hen Mr.. and Mrs. Goodale promised
l,ot to enter the church again.
"Ameni' said Deacon Young
But the matter is not settled yet
There is a division in the church. for
many of the members consider that
he Goodales have not received fair
treatment. The pastor has been alb
sent for several months, but Mrs
ioodale has already written him of
nor grievance.
She objects to being eXhortcd by
Deacon Young, though the deacon is
eloquent. 1t is customary for many of
the congregation to kneel at the altar
and pray after service. Mrs Goodale
for several Sundays failed to do SO:
why. she says. was merely matter
Of her own spiritual and mental con-
Gition. She was intensely mortified.
Sunday. when the deacon stood up.
and looking straight at her, said:
"Oh, Lord, break that poor sinners
stiff neck Soften her pride, O Lord
and bring her to grace,"
Everybody else turned and looked at
her and Mrs. Goodale felt very uncom-
Portable. But she was in no mood for
prayer. The deacon. nevertheless. did
aot relax his endeavors in what he
onsidered a good work on the last
occasion in the course of an address.
he looked at her and said:
Il can tell a hypocrite. o Lord, 1
know one everywhere,"
Here it was that Mrs. Goodale was
moved almost to tears. but they were
lot tears of penitence
Deacon Young mentioned no
names,' said she. yesterday, but he
cooked directly at me. 1t was embar-
RAISING. to say the least, Hypocrite.
Well. | declare. l know hypocrite
when l see one. too. DR.. Hoople has
hoen away for some time. and | think
Mr.. Young acted solely on his own au-
thority"
Deacon Young said, yesterday. that
he had only the kindliest sympathy
for the Goodales. I'VE sincerely pity
them.' he said, land are sorry that
they should have thus strayed."
II have not acted on my authority
alone.' he continued THE affair was
fully discussed, and it was finally de-
cided to eXpel the Goodales. as deroe
atory remarks had been reported as
coming from them. They were read
out, the following Sunday. Their con-
duct. however, necessitated the calling
OF another meeting, and Brother Els
ner and myself were appointed a COM
inittee to handle the affair Then / re-
sorted to the police court l was au-
thorized to act fully as 1 did, and am
confident of being fully sustained"
But you called Mrs. Goodale a
hypocrite, did you not?"
Il did admitted the deacon eau
tiously. but according to the Bible
definition of the word"
How does that differ from that usu-
ally accepted definition?''
1t has a deeper spiritual meaning
l knew just what I was saying. too.
The congregation is awaiting the re-
turn of the pastor. to whom the mat
ter will be appealed.