The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-01

besides Mr.. Lee will have voice"
"Oh. I'm not denyin that" said Silas.
And if L may be permitted to put in a |
word" observed the pastor in smooth, |
round tones, II would say that if the con- |
siderations are to be of an entirely pc
cuniary and financial character. without |
due appreciation of the higher and more |
lofty motives which should animate US, |
there is member of our congregation, |
not here this evening. who would have a
better right to pass judgment than any of
those now assembled"
"An who be he?" inquired Silas, testify
II am referring to Miss Wightman who
since and also before the lamented decease |
of her much respected father has done
more TO"
"Oh, aye, we knaws abaat 'er," added
Silas. but she's a wumman, an doan't
count"
Hold hard bit" interrupted the chem
list, slowly pulling himself to his feet, that
isn't fair. We aren't here to talk about
Miss Wightman, but were here to con-
slider whether the way Mr.. Wigram con-
ducts the service is agreeable to US or not"
That's it, that's it," said old Abel Green
with the joy of man in the dark seeing a
light at last.
'An' amt that just what I've been argu-
ing all along?" put in Silas Lee.
I'VE never heard YOU"
"Well. I've thought it, an it's all tn
same. Yer see, it's like this ere"
Whatever criticism" said Mr.. Wigram,
there is to be passed on the manner | have
discharged my high duties as your pastor
had better be explicitly and clearly formu-
lated"
:" Ear, carr some one observed, and
Slas Lee. feeling he was not the man. sub
sided, muttering that some folks must have
their own way.
The chemist explained the difficulties of
the situation. Sias jerked his head once
or twice to give approval. but felt that
Tredwell not as severe as he should
be. Abel calculated "Oh, ave." at several
irrelevant points and was then confused at
discovering he had made an exclamation.
The miller gave an occasional tug at his
tight-fitting cotton collar over his gray
| flannel shirt and rubbed his hand on his
unshaven chin in some perplexity. The
lawyer, who saw amusement in the pro-
ceedings, leant his arms over the chair back
and smiled.
The pastor pretended to be perfectly I'M
| concerned. He put his elbows on the top of
the harmOnium and seemed intent on draw
ing geometrical designs with his pencil on
slip of paper bearing the numbers of last
| Sundays hymns.
Il doan't knaw as I've owt ter say my
sen," put in SiIas Lee, as soon as the chem
list had finished. Sure there's one or two
things 1 do think Mester Tredwell mi't
hev put more strong, but what they be's
| just now furget. Anyways, what's
meants clear emo, as unless theirs a hall
! iteration 1 dunno see how as theirs any
! other course but fur Mester Wigram ter
resign!"
But the Rev. Walter Wigram was neither
| inclined to resign nor give way. They talk
| plain, do the chapel folks at marlborough,
and although the pastors remarks were in
| terlaid with much that was verbose, there
! was no installing what he meant He re-
called the histories of his three predeces-
sors, and alluded, with sarcasm, to the
starvation method of getting rid of a min
lister.
Silas WINGED and Abel opened his eyes
in mute establishment at the awful accu-
sation.
"'Tain't tn thing, Mester Wigram, that
yer should talk fer tn deacons like this
ere Silas at last found an opportunity
to say.
The retort of the pastor was cutting,
and the draper swayed himself on his chair
and puckered up his lips like a man who
wanted to whistle but could not.
1T is not said Mr.. Wigram, that 1
have an antipathy TO a full and friendly
consideration of how the worship in this
chapel should be conducted it is not that
L deny there two sides the question,
but l protest against and combat the per-
sistent pastor-baiting that has become the
| custom with this congregation. 1t is a
large congregation, much too large for our
little chapel, and time might better be
spent in getting together funds to build
new. a more handsome and more endurable
edifice."
Aye" laughed Silas. AN hev tower
an peal O. bells an maybe incense, eh?'
No one took any notice of the Interrupt
ton. They were all too much struck with
! the determined attitude of the pastor
"And l." he added Intend to proceed
on my way as l think best l have set my
mind on a new chapel in marlborough.
Let those who wish to hinder me do so;
let those who care stop their subscriptions
but come what will L am not to be bullied
And now l think we had better dispense"
The meeting was dumfounded but every
body stood up and sang:
Lord, now we part in Thy blest Name
In which we have here together came"
Old marlborough during the next few
weeks was reused from its drowsiness by
the turn things had taken at the Cask-lane
Chapel. Everybody knows everybody else's
business in the town, and when the trades
men met in the evening, as was their wont
from time immemorial, in the bar-parlor of
the White Hart Hotel, half a dozen YER
sions were given of what had happened at
the meeting. The popular version was that
the parson told old Silas that if he didn't
like it he could lump it, and that if there
was any more nonsense he would take him
by the scruff of the neck and pitch him
into the street.
The consequence was that for the follow
ing few Sundays the chapel was packed
Sias Lee kept away to show his indigna-
ton. He suggested to Abel Green he should
do the same, but Mrs. Green would not lis
ten TO such proposition.
81 dunno whether pastor be reight or no
hevin them anthem-like things an him
wearin' a black petticoat in tn pulpit an