New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-14
A PLACE WHERE THINGS HAPPEN.
AN ILLINOIS TOWN WHERE THE PASTORS
STRUCK FOR A RAISE OF SALARY
Is
Correspondence of The Chicago Post.


Correspondence of The Chicago Post.
Congressman Robert Roberts Hit made speech
In little church out in Palmyra Township the
In which the only preachers strike chronicled in
history took place. The church, the occasion Oh
county surrounding furnish material for story OF
Congressman Hit had been invited to speak at
the dedication of a graveyard The United states
ing a big cannon to be placed within the Enclosure
Of Palmyra Cemetery Besides Mr. Hit; other
township The bHrving ground had been furnished
up and rearranged with creditable attempt at
landscape art. In one corner great granite biock
marks the grave of Charles Page, who during the
Civil War became a correspondent of an East
ern paper, and was finally appointed consul TO
Switzerland by President Lincoln: While Page was
abroad he learned the process OF c0ndensns mix
ne sent Lol Two or thrSt OF ms ,,arried
Swiss wives, and came back to America to make
known throughout the world The Pages became
immensely wealthy, and some of them lie buried
was the first male child born in the county
pee a orY 6d the tb Ts o"r being used
as district scho0lhouse and the second or upper PIPER
was the scene Of the famous strike of the preach
ers, which occurred only few years ago. The
Methodsts Baptists Presbyterians and Congrega-
tiOnalistS concerned-a preacher of each de
pomination rotated in preaching. the compensation
after earnest discussion signed an agreement not
to preach for less than $40 SUNDAY The ;o matter
posed OF wealthy farmers. raised a connection;
1t at determined that the increase should
not be countenanced The four preachers were OBJ
durate, and in consequence the church was closed
for year An inquistive stranger who happened
in the neiShborhood during this interreSnum was
told the story by of the former worshippers,
who added 1T simmered down to a question of
hell $40. and wouldn't give up the TEN"
Not far from this church is the former abode Of
William Meyers. known to everybody in Lee County
with the belief that he owned the earth. He made
and set UP in his dooryard number of images. in
Guiding Adam, Eve and the serpent. 1t is said to
have been a motley collection. People would drive
twenty-five miles to the prophets display When
Hayes was inaugurated President the prophet
suddenly appeared in Washington. He called at
the White House and demanded the keys of the
Executive Mansion, saying that the whole of it be-
Ionged to him. He hustled off to Jail, but not
before some one from Lee County had seen and
recognized him. He quietly liberated and sent
off to his home in Palmyra Township.
Some time ago u postal inspector sent out
here to go over route selected for rural free
livery. The old Sterling road forms a part of the
route The official was at loss to know what
mad broken loose in the neiShborhood. He peu-
pie walking along on stills, a woman wheeling a
WheelbarroW and tnnumerable ragged and emaciat-
cd bicycilsts. Where on earth all of these
people coming from and what they doing?" he
asked "
oh. this is an everyday occurrence" was the
answer. These are freaks going around the world
rms Is the great public highway across the State
and they all come this way