The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-01
CORN CRACKERS MUSINGS.
Highly Original Remarks About sanctifea-
tionists and N ormons
G.. E. LURWELL.

Especial to News and Observer)
Cherry Mountain, n c., August 81
This is the season when dogs have their
days, Col. Amos Owens makes brandy, the
unregenerate make cider, while the min
listers Of the respective orthodox churches
conduct revivals. The Methodist, Baptist
and Presbyterians have been fairly sue
cessful as fishers of men, and now we
have the Holiness people at work in our
midst They scorn church buildings, dis
card even tents, but regard the groves as
Gods first temples.
On last Saturday one cavalry and two
infantry sanctitied fishers of men came by
Poikville, claiming that they were the
vanguard of the Army of the Lord, and
inquired for Sheriff Geo. r. baltimore.
AS the sheriff is a Baptist without var
ableness of shadow of turning, people be-
gan to think he had become q proselyte
to sinless perfection. Later he made ver
bal affidavit that he was still a deep
water Baptist but that he had a tenant
who had been preaching holiness since
laying by time, and the sojourners were
hunting him. The brethren likewise gave
out for publication at Polkville that they
had received a Macedonian cry from Wal
ter S. baltimore, who is q Baptist deacon
On being interviewed Walter entered an
emphatic disclaimer, but deposed without
being sworn. that NJ. II. Ledford ex-
mayor of Polkville, had felt scales fall
from his eyes, and wanted higher life
Ledford claims that he is welded to the
faith Of the Methodist Protestant church
and pleads not guilty as charged in the in
dictment. Later the report obtained cir
culation that Corn Cracker had sent a
walking delegate for pair of corn-fed
Mormon elders, who are sojourning in the
State of Polk. Well, | never sent for
them, but never could disprove charge
OF any kind and shall attempt no denial
l never heard a Mormon preacher but il
competition is the life of trade | am
willing for them and the holiness people
to try conclusions. The best way to get
rid of holiness people and Mormons is to
not go about them Persecution adds fuel
to the flame and have observed that the
most extreme opponents of such things
sometimes go to scoff and remain to pray
One year since / heard a very able mind
ed minister state in the district conference
at Shelby that the holiness people with
their rant and fanaticism received many
accessiOns to their number, because minis
ters and influential church members failed
to give the POOR class proper recognition.
Is there not a great deal of truth in this
statement? From Methodist standpoint
do our ministers always give the poor
and humble the kind treatment that
characterized the Son of Man, who trod
the burning sands OF Galilee? | am not a
theologian nor yet doctor of ethics, but
it occurs to me that in this phase of the
subject there is food for reflection | don't
know how our holiness friends are getting
on but I learn that they have a goodly
audience and that their stand is in one
half mile of Methodist church. South
and in one mile of a Protestant church
building. 1t is further rumored that the
leading minister of this holiness contin-
gent opposes the institution of marriage
Such being the case it would not be a bad
plan to march in my Mormon elders. The
Latter Day Saints want too much marriage
and if the sanctified people are marriage
abolitionists, one could neutralize the
other like whiskey does snake bite.
learn that one of my old friends came
to grief not long since in the Palmetto
state while sounding the loud timbrel over
Egypt's dark waters as a fisher OF men
FOR the tenets of holiness. He was noted
~ horse jockey and retailer of hens.
Those familiar with either of these crafts
would not regard them as stepping stones
for the ministry. He had no scruples
against matrmony. for he had one wife,
and when he received a call to preach
holiness he married another and left
number enc at home as a back number.
She did not pine and die with words of
sweet forgiveness on her lips, but sware
out '4-- --"~~ants: one for bigamy and the
ether for non support When the off,
Gers arrived at the holiness meeting, the
erring ex-hen-peddler and horse Jockey
was attitulinizing in the pulpit, and with