The Republican journal., 1899-09-14
The Parsons Experiment.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

The members We're nearly all farmers,
and they had not much money to bestow
npon the support of clergyman; yet
they were willing to pay for anything
that could promise them any due return
OF good. In the course of time it happen
ed that the Rev Abraham Surely visited
Fallowdale, and as a Sabbath pass dur
ing his sojouIn, he held a meeting in a
small church. The people were pleased
with his preaching, and some of them
proposed inviting him to remain with
them and take charge of their spiritual
welfare.
Upon the merits of this proposition
there was long discussion. Parson
Surely had signitied his willingness to
take a permanent residence at Fallow-
dale, but the members of the parish
could not so readily agree TO hire
him.
Il don't see the use of hiring par
son, said MI. Sharp, an old farmer of
the place. He can do US no good.
If We ve got.any money to spare, We d
better lay it up for something else. A
parsOn can t learn me anything
To this it was answered that stated
religious meetings would be of great
benefit to the younger people, and also
sou" " Ac''i oONi"4 Soot W g.
Vol | hHo" oout lA"t' sdlU 9haiP,
after lie had heard the arguments against
nm olaIp was one Oh Tue "eaithlesl
men III me PARISH ana consequently one
oI t4e most lhhuehtlaI. We nearo
tell" he continued, "of parson that
could pray tor rain and have it come at
any time. Now if we could hit upon such
a palson as tn I, l would 60 in for hiring
nm.
ms opened ne" lGea TO the IN
sophisticated minds al falloWdaIe. Inc
farmers often suffered from long 0roughts,
ana after arguing while longer, they
agreed to hire Parson Surely upon the
condluo that he shoulC give them ram
~ 19lieiY 10 ,s ',net ~, + +n
a. - ~ 'a'50
l"-' "e"| cay II Nnen iequae7u t -;1
3in5-H . ~ NV nseu" Nele Uet,"'!AeU ~
!ndNe 'llis a u, sno"n " the
Pais-h' "n9 .ne peopIe lel"lneu III tne
eLi'.'n me 'll0'' iiiesSenseis N0i'' upon
'n VII eliahu' NJ. o.,u
" ren tne oe"eohs Ig'''snel NJ s.lGls
AllVlH EaI4eu tnehI' nc sliIleu Wien ne
Tn1eleC tne cnuIcn' anu VIII sIdteiui
10" saiGteu lne people lneIe assenlolee;
VEN my lIIenos' ne saIu' as ne
,l- - I,,.o o.,,l 1900, .,,.......+ :. =. 49,,
ieoN. n"se ilealu YOU ie40s ~ iiie,
aii', 81 at'se as II may appear, | nave ooie
49, plGlosai' 80 49,, C"u " ~ -.
Only On ope Cohultioni anu tnat - .hal
!ou1 e'ieso ~ d >, o""nse u weather
II ~ ~. oe ui lIl.li o.,., -,-
LIS @ppeaisd very IeaSoh hnG S since
every memoer 81 the parlsh nae deep
Ions il was arranged that Mr. Snrei.
,Lnnld become the pastor Of Fallowdale
ana t6at he shouId rive the 1eonlt, rain
whenever tb4v ASKED for if
When MI SnrAIv retnrnad ro his 1odp-
mos his wife was nt+aTlv astonnded mon
l45rninr the nat1re of the contract her
hnshaT5 6ad enTs s' into. hnr The nastor
MN. sn]i1ar md hado ha, 1ai+ fI, ia
ras,I1t
.1ts'-+ war, l-,.,t, ,.o,, ,,,o,o+ ,,,al-a u
,,ai,, :, ,a,sisrad Mrs Snrei1 ..anG yo,,
i-11, ina +i,s+ ~ far,,,,,,s j,ero VIII La
.,,.-,,.l T' En- 'f+a, 1,-ba,1 +%ara
~, ~ III W., {;so,,.,oal :,
,T +,.jIl +aaah +ha1, - 7oSso,, = ,l',iotl ~,
,..-,,,..,,.i 4,.1. ,--..''I I-N''
~ -,-.- -'.,' ..,,,,,.,+ ~, dc .r,,d .s
,,g, ana cbo o''. IoI, i',, 5'1oG+ IL
l'-,' ,I t tlqn "a i-'e 'i1 y
5T5,i :, H ( y
1. %,,- ~ 'l''l +-,s. . . - lIS
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noe. ....,,l Gov, i,;.. --if, IN .l,..is+
''- l1t ''l' ~ w. ,;'p'
al,d orr.. 1heIe .'i'-- VI ''-' -