Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-10-23
Rev. John Trenchard'S
Wrestling Match

The sun was declining when Rev.
John Trenchard passed up the village
street. He mad just stepped IRON the
train and his travelling bag was In bis
hand. He looked about him inQuiring-
ly as he walked along. Rev. John
Trenchard was tall and slender and he
walked with swinging stride that
carried him rapidly from the little
railway station. He didn't know
where he was going. He didn't care.
Rev. John Trenchard was running
away IRON himself.
when Judge Thomas Atwater. the
wealthiest man In Rev. Johns very
well.to-do congregation, had said to
him: Where will you spend your va
cation, Mr.. Trencnard? the young
shepherd had told him he didnt know.
Il should be pleased" said lac Judge,
with his heavy air OF courtesy, ito
have you spend a part OF II. at least.
al my summer home on the Sound
John had thanked him and then
added that he believed he would take
a complete rest, quite away from all
temptations that society might put
forth. He thought, perhaps he would
go into the woods and stay there for
a month or so and give both mind and
body a complete change. The judge
looked n little astonished at this but
was too well bred to express any sur
prise or 10 endeavor to argue MIN out
of this peculiar resolve. The Iact is,
John Trenchard was looked upon by
the leading men OF the church rs a
irife eccentric. Not unpleasantly 10.
but just enough to stamp him rs some.
thing of n genius. They all liked John.
He gave them Sunday after Sunday
Just what they wanted. and just what
they had been accustomed to getting
They paid him well, too Not toe
much, for II was very conservative
and a somewhat selfish church, but
Just enough to give weight to his
presence when some peculiarly press
, ing public emergency enlisted his. at
fen'ion.
But all this did not satisfy Rev. Johi
Trenchard. He was dissatisfied mos
. nj all with himself He felt that b,
was merely machine. He was re
pressed, throttled, gagged. He longe'
to cut loose from tradition, to fly II
loe lace OIL precedent. TO preach as hi
soul longed to preach. He told him
sell that he was coward 20 continu
In the gilded collar that ,hey had sliI
ped about his neck. He liked them
he was grateful to them: he was loya
to the hampering restrictions of hi
denomination. and he hesitBted. A
last he made up his mind that h
would seek some quiet place and hav
II out with himself where no disturb
ing influence would shake his resolt
tion. He would wrestie with himself
and whatever the outcome he woul
be guided by II. II IL directed him L
D cut loose entirely from his churcn an
mis- denomination he would make tn
sacrifice. II It babe MIN hold last L
his present pulpit he would go bac
without n murmur.
And so when MS vacation came h
quickly picked up a daily paper an
jabbed with his pencil at random q
the column OF railway time tables. II
found a time table OF - road he ha
thus selec,ed. and jabbing again q
:. random he had struck the station Z
Eastchester. It was village hui
o. dred miles or more from the city. Q
% the foot OF mountain group and quit
on the main line of travel. job
Trenchard liked the idea of proximit
OF the mountains with their forest-cla
SUBMITS. He felt that here would
ample room and privacy for the wres
, ling process.
He looked up at these pine.covere
heights now as he strobe through tn
single street of the village. How bea,
tlful. how soul-elevating they were!
Then his eyes returned to the con
moner level and ne discerned an In
of an old.fashioned type. Enterin
this he met with a mild and indiffe