The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-06-14
A Ministerial Surprise
How Young Clergyman Captured
His Parishioners.
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Observation-Disclosures; .
Green Island is away out west. \ few
miles beyond anywhere, and it is, or was
tired Of itself. Every one in it wondered
why any one else had moved there ond
rather suspected that it was for reasons
which were best kept quiet. If any ono
at Green Island showed any talent. ev-
cry one else was quick to proclaim thot II
was quite inferior, else why sbould tbo
person be at Green Island? The town
was without social pleasures. 80 ono
thought to ask any one else to dino In
the strict sense of the word indeed no
one at Green Island dincd The folks
ate when the table was set; that was tbe
fact of the case. Schooltcachcrs who
went there had Il melancholy time and
usually broke down and had to 90 homo
Their complaints bore various namns.
but, as matter of fact, they were per
is0.ut of homesickness. 1t would not
have done for Green Island girl TO have
taH-.t. No one would have confidence in
her, Even the town physician was re-
garlri with constant distrust, and his
successful cases We're accounted occi-
dea.+ OF the work Of nature, while his
Ul u~stul ones were remembered with
uu euiug tenacity. The attorneys
alone enjoyed something like a reputa
ti9n d they had Il great deal to do.
IN t"', Litigation was one Of the few di-
yer- ms Of the folk at Green Island.
In town had its religion, of course.
1t lj thrce different hrands-alI blown
in og '.c bottle. And the one display Of
courtesy in the place was the ohligation
generally recognized, of everybody to at
tend au ice cream social or an ovstnr
Suph"r regardless of views about fore
onliaation or immersion. BY such con
trra"o~ were the clorgymcn paid their
salaries those microscopical salaries 50
4 srHa-.H4ly bestowed, SO complaisantly
\ ecoll'rtpd by the congregation as if sat
estimating whether or not it was getting
its moury's worth None of the three
churches had been able to secure a resi-
. dent D.argyman, but each divided its
preacher with certain other congrega-
\ tons un an itinerary and enjoyed ser
mon euee in three Sundays. But that
Sunday might not be passed without
/ worship il was the custom of the Green
ISland folk to attend en- masSe whatever
meeting house was open. This. it will
be perceived, caused Il systematic rota-
ton
No" u happened that the clergyman at
one ot these churches. having gathered
* olive branches about him, found it
MconTouicnt to live on $3.50 a ycar-he
was said by all to be an cxtravagant man
and he gave up his position, aye, turn.
gd ms back on his calling, and taught
Latn IN certain high school That vas
now 1t came about that the Beth Eden
cohSif-atou and the two other churches
ol laai itinerary stood in need of Il new
Preacher One offered himself He came
from tAa middle west. And he gave ii
9at that he was going to live at Green
Island This was really Il feather in the
cap Of Green Island, but the people did
not tlle ID 50. They wondered what was
4e BATTER with him. Was there any
reason WHY he preferred an finland" TO
railway town? 1t was curious.
Nu'n j" appeared. it seemed still more
elEo1s. He was different. No matter
"NaJ amy one else was like, he was diff,
iUeht' He walked along with biz
s"ln- ani stride and seemed to think all
Ue Pe"p.e liked him. What imperti-
uvAce. He was dressed in an elegant
sAt .. SHOT gray. Was it not known that
1e ua.Hrn Of a Green Island preacher.
No. maor what his denomination. was
4.ay N.a-Et His hat was an inch and Il
l"I lo" iar ON the back of his head for
UelHI di-uty, and from the edge pro-
T.Ned % fringe Of handsome red curls
=" r5"S were red brown, large and
"'-N."-' his heavy, auburn eyebrows
wv a.aEo his nose; he was smooth
-"'a 'Hd had dimplc in his chin; he
,'N J',' the right height for his Shout
Aarh We're two inches broader
l'' lAe average; he had dark tan shoes.
"h'' no umbrella, no smrk. no rub
D- p. re hands, no whine. no attitude
n.y. And powers above, when
~ fence he vautcd over.
a.I evidently made up his mind to
l t"t Ae began his activities, not by
- 'h hlS pariShioncrs, but by pur-
'"NAs barn ut the end Of peculiar
>'a.I all beautiful old lot and he
lo TT it up into a most pictut-
dhg place. People came around
Sr what he was doing, and he put up
e1Gw the trees ana talked and told
n. they forgot to 30 home. But
wa. IN the evening If they called
u daT, he won't right on with his
mi, or painting or gardening
VI '"i them to take Il hand
ro, 's' te came to preach his first ser
.l f' Hh"dy was agog.
n Il iunk he'll 20 into the pulpit
NJ. De.e spccklod sutE' Mary Fen
an 4t Cora Belle Harmon They
r,l ' jler sirls were intensely inter
fmT H#t he was in black of couycn-
arm.. 7. and he gave Il good gospel
an ".'1 no personalities. He didn't
M the sins Of Green Island or
N. 'a-iaas Indifference of the comnu-
Ne other preachers had been in
'.' II doing He appeared to be
r-.f aH"ut these subjects. Appar-
emmy ''oN the religious interest Of a
ga,,. with three churches for
sDg..." ne made good deal Of the
ta,. WY ihe prayers, and he had the
to .'Ian respond in the reading of
som.l .'llfcS Altogether, the service
liam. 'Nreodingly short. but the eau
f., insulation Of watches showed it
Tbo O'.n Of The usual length.
oPie had expected to be greeted
ps,, "sceoding sort Of way by their
bonn, ouch was the custom. But this
te , llan-his name, by the way, was
thbL ty Thomas Kite appeared to
e ought to be greeted by them