Kansas City journal., 1897-11-15

who DO not know him-to invoke dlv1ne
blessings. Only few people know. the ST.
ice News says. how he acquired the title
of "parson." supposing that at one time in
his career he was a minister of the Gospel.
Such is not the case. for although the.
editor of the Barnard Rustler has been en-
gagged In nearly every other legitimate cali
ing known to civilization. from selling silk
dress goods to breaking mules, he has
never been a preacher. That Is, he has
never been licensed to deliver sermons to
congregations at salary that has been
fixed but Is not always paid.
Five or six years ago." said Harry Aus
tley, of this city. there was a revival at
Bernard and p. j. Hainey rendered all the
assistance he could in rounding up the sim
ncrs in the neighhorhood. He doomed the
meetings in his newspaper and printed
handbills free Of charge when they were
wanted. He did not attempt to preach {.
sermon. in the strict meaning of the word.
but his actions were sermon in them
selves. He worked on the outer edges-in
tic highways and byways, 1t may be said.
In other words he 'ruStled' for the meet
ings, and there was a great gathering OF
the unredeemed. In the course of time
many of them were brought to see the err
ror of their ways. and they left the sinful
paths they had been pursuing.
1T has been said by some unregenerate
linquent subscribers to his paper. and did
his best to jam them full of religion. but
that is probably a SANDER. If he did any
thing of the kind. 1t was in the hope that
they would pay their subscription. and es-
cape the wrath to come. 1t is generally
| known that the other place is supposed to
be full of delinquent subscribers. and Hal
| ney is not to be blamed for looking after
the spiritual welfare of the readers of his
hic int IN
the amount due him by having them turn
| from sinfulnesS. the act is very commend
able.
Anyhow. the meetings went on. night
after night. and the mournerS bench was
crowded. Powerful sermons were preached.
ard some reference might have been made
| once or twice to the sinfulnesS of not pay
irg just and legal debts. If any hint Of
| that kind were thrown out by the preach
ers. it was not any more for the benefit of
| Hainey than for others who had accounts
| against those who had been herded into
| the meetings by him. At last it was an
nounced that a number Of converts would
be baptized on certain day. as the end
of the protracted meetings had been
| reached.
1T might have been that there were still
scme unpaid subscriptions on Editor Hal
| ney's books. for it is a fact that he stayed
with the new converts until the last-or he
| tined to, at least. The day of the baptizins
| he came on in his best clothes. and was a
| conspicuous figure in the vast assemblage.
| The multitude gathered on the bank Of the
| creek and watched the preparations for the
| immersion. Hainey and others crossed over
the bridge and stood on a high place. where
| Trey could get good view of all that was
| being done. Hainey walked out on some
| boards over the water. and stood there
calculating mentally. perhaps. the amount
| due him from each person as they wer1
| put under the water. and wondering how
lcng it would be before they paid up. Per-
| haps he hoped to get a year in advance
from some of them.
| IN the midst Of the solemn ceremony
there was a loud splash on the other side
| of the creek-the side on which Hainey
| had taken his stand. The startled multi.
tLde looked up and saw the body of a
large. we'll dressed man shoot downward
| and plunge beneath the waves. He disap-
| peared from sight just as shout of horror
| went up from that vast throng.
1T was Editor P. ]. Hainey! The board
| had broken.
"He came to the surface and swan
ashore. while the baptizing went on. From
that day forth he was known as 'Parson
Hainey. and it was declared that he hat
baptized himself. That is how he got the
name, and that is the reason he was elect
ed chaplain of the press association"