The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-21
TEE ONLY PASTORS STRIKE
-" minors Town Where Many Queer
Things Have Happened

Nioih the chicago foSt)
congressman Robert Roberts Hit mad,
speech in little church out in Palmyra
township the other day. The church was
the particular edifice in which the only
preachers strike chronicled in history took
place. The church. the occasion Of the
speech, and some incidents of the imme-
dlate county surrounding furnish material
icr a story OF more than usual interest
congressman Hit had been invited to
speak at the dedication of a graveyard Thu
United States Government had recognized
the occasion by sending a big cannon to ba
placed within the enclosure OF PALMYRA
Cemetery. Besides Mr.. Hit, other Gov
eminent officials took part in the exercises
In the cemetery rested all the pioneers
of the township. The burying ground had
been furnished up and rearranged. with a
ereditable attempt at landscape art In one
corner great granite block marks the
grave Of Charles Page. who during the
civil war became a war correspondent of
| an Eastern paper and was finally appoint
ed consu: to Switzerland by President Lin
| coin. While Page was abroad he learned
the process OF condensing milk He sent
| for two or three of his brothers. all of
whom took advantage of the opportunity
married Swiss wives. and came back to
America to make Lee county famous in
/ 1000 article now known
throughout the world The Pages became
Immensely wealthy. and some OF them lie
| buried in this little resting place One of
the Page family was the first male child
born in the county.
The church in which the speeches were
made is neat two-story building, he
frst floor being used as district school,
mouse and the second, or upper part, a sub
stantially furnished church room. This
was the scene of the famous strike of the
preachers, which occurred only few years
ago. The congregation was one of the
union order. in which Methodists. Bap-
lists, Presbyterians, and Congregational
lists were cOncerned-i. preacher of each
denomination rotated in preaching, the
compensation being So Sabbath.
One fateful day the preachers came to-
sether, and after earnest discussion sign
eu an agreement not to preach for less
than $40 Sunday. The matter on being
communicated to the congregation, compcs-
ed of wealthy farmers. raised a commotiou
1t was at once determin ed that the increase
should not be countenanced. The four
preachers were obdurate, and in conse-
quence the church was closed for a year.
An inquisitive stranger who happened in
the neighborhood during this interregnum
was told the story by one of the former
worshipers. who added: 1T simmered
down to question of hell or So and we
wouldn't give up the ten
Not far from this church is the former
abode Of William Meyers. known to ev-
erybody in Lee county as Prophet" Mey-
ers, who had become impressed with the
belief that he owned the earth He made
and set UP in his dooryard number of i'm
ages, including Adam. Eve. and the SER |
pent. 1t is said to have been a motley |
collection. People would drive twenty-five |
miles TO see the prophets display. When |
Hayes was inaugurated President the |
prophet suddenly appeared in Washing |
ton He called at the White House and |
demanded the keys of the Executive Man
sion, saying that the whole of il belonged |
to him. He was hustled off to Jail. but
not before some one from Lee county had
seen and recognized him. He was quietly
liberated and sent off to his home in PAL
myra township.
Some time ago a postal inspector was
sent out here to go over a route selected
for rural free delivery The old Sterling
ROAD forms part of the route. The off,
cial was at loss TO know what had bro
ken loose in the neighborhood. He saw
people walking along on stills, woman |
wheelbarrow and innumerabIe
ragged and emaciated bicyclists Where
IN earth are all of these people coming |
rom and what are they doing?'' he asked
oh. this is an everyday occurrence
was the answer. These are freaks going
around the world. This is the great pub
&c highway across the State, and they all
'ome this way"