Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-02-03
THE DEACON'S PIETY.
IT WAS EQUAL TO ALL OCCASIONS AND
LASTED OVER EIGHTY YEARS.

IT WAS EQUAL TO ALL OCCASlONSA AND
LASTED OVER EIGHTY YEARS.
Suspended Religious Services Indefinitely
to Nurse the Victims Of q Smallpox Epi- !,
demic-An Example In This as He Was
In Devotion to the Flag.
Deacon William Trowbridge was a
small farmer living near Sheboygan
Falls. He went there over so years ago.
Besides tilling little patch of ground
the deacon, who was indeed the very
soul of honor and ever had the respect
and confidence of all in that commu-
nifty, was in the habit, before regular
preachers were sent there, Of reading
sermon or exhorting. There was no
sham about Deacon Trowbridge's piety.
He was sincerity itself.
Fifty years ago the little village was
visited by a smallpox epidemic-an old
fashioned, widespread and spreading
epidemic-and they didn't know how
to scotch it as we'll as they do now.
The first Sunday after the dreaded
disease made its appearance the deacon's
congregation was quite large. At the
end of the services he made an announce
ment in about these words:
"These services will be postponed un-
til after the smallpox disappears from
the community. From this on I shall
give my services to the stricken fam
lilies. shall minister to their wants,
help to nurse them, and when they die
follow them to the grave. 1t may be
| long term or it may be short term,
but, however long or however short, it
is my plain duty to help my distressed
| neighbors.
! The word was well suited to the &C
ton which followed. The good old dea-
con hurried to his home, changed his
clothes, babe his family goodby and at
once began his work Of mercy. What a
| work it wasl The epidemic lasted near
" all winter Large numbers died. Few
| in the village escaped the disease The
deacon's example was followed by 9TH
ers.. Men went to their homes, told their
wives and children what the deacon had
said and was doing, arranged their bust
ness, provided fuel and provisions. kissed
their dear ones and went to the aid OF
the unfortunate Like the deacon they
went without reward or hope of reward.
Like him they spent weeks and some OF
them months i'll that service without
daring to go home lest their dear ones
catch the disease.
The strangest of all this strange ex-
perience is the fact that neither the dea-
con, the good souls who initiated his ex
ample nor their families were overtaker
by the malady, notwithstanding the fac
that the watchers, helpers and nurses
were almost constantly in the presence
of the suffering patients and notwith
standing the fact that they laid out ant
helped to bury the dead.
Nearly half Of the deacon's congrega
| ton had disappeared when, the mex
} spring, be resumed services in tn
schoolhouse. 1t was a sorrowful Sun
day. Those in the audience who had no
lost members of their family had los
neighbors and dear friends. When th
good old Christian had read chapter
prayed and talked practical sermon
he referred feelingly to the scene
8 through which the community ha
passed. think every man, woman an
child in the room, including the deacon
wept At the close of the talk he aske
$ all present to join him on their knee
in, asking that the community Nigh
: escape such visitations for all time t
Q come. It was most earnest appeal.
: believe that that prayer has been an
:, swered There may have been fey
d cases of smallpox there since then, bu
? there has never been an epidemic.
: The Sunday after Sumter was fire
n upon, ard while Deacon Trow bridg
d was conducting services in the Baptis
= church. the denomination to which b
! belonged for over so years, he and hi
@ congregation were disturbed by gres
y commotion in the street right in fror
/ Of the church There were beating c
i drums and sounds Of fife much out {
y tune. It was SO uncommon thing thu
/ most of tho congregation walked
% ran out of the church. Finally the DEF
con closed the Bible and slowly follow
y ed his fleeing flock. When outside, b
l. asked the cause of "this unseemly di
n turbanee Oh the Lord s day. :" Some or
E. told him that the president had Gale
d for soldiers to uphold the honor and tt
y flag of tho nation and that they wei
L going to raise company right the
8. and there.
t. The old deacon eyes flashed as /
l. walked cut into the street, where
IS young fellow was irregularly poundir
q bass drum, and said: "Nathan,
n know it is Sunday and that all but tt
IS Lord g work should be abandoned, bl
re the saving Of our country and IL
10 shielding CT its flag from dishonor
81 the Lords work. Give me that drum.
IL And that model Of piety strapped {
ct the big drum and went to pounding
1T greatly outdoing Nathan in two L
Id spects-he made more noise and kel
a. perfect time. He drummed as no Oh
OF before had never drummed i'll the lit
s. village. AS if it had gone On lightnir
l. wings, word flew through the comm
l. nifty that Deacon Trowbridge had left h
le pulpit to beat drum, and on Sunds
j. too.
Within half an hour nearly every OF
in town and many from the outskir
had gathered around the old drumme
L., Cr7r,rt low n