The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-11-26
JOHN CHANGERS
OPPORTUNITY
a8sa BY w. r.. ROSE
sAAaAAAAAAA&AsaaaAaaaass

Dunwood was not a promising field for
an ambitious young pastor. 1t was an old
town, conservative, dull, nonprogressive.
1t was particularly unpromising field
for John Granger, pastor of the dullest
and most conservative congregation in all
Dunwood. John Changers hands were
tied, so to speak. He knew what was ex
pected of him, and he knew that he
mustn't overstep the lines. Tradition
and precedent governed his board of trus-
tees. They had selected him because a
safe man had recommended him, and
John had gladly accepted the offer.
He had been the assistant of an aged
pastor who had persisted in holding fast
to all his privileges, keeping John care
fully in the background. And John had
come to Dunwood in the belief that here
he would be his own master; that here he
could cut loose and try his wings. Never
was a man more mistaken
1--WE might as well have a clear under
standin' at the start" Deacon Blodgett
had said to him as they walked up from
the railway station. "We are a quiet
people, and we think our fathers ways of
dom things was just about as near right
as they could be. We want straight Cos
pei sermons on the good old texts, and
we want 'em without frills. And we
want 'em carefully prepared, too, and
written out word for word, and read just
as written. That's what we're payin'
you seven hundred dollars year to do,
and that's what Dr. Skimmerhorn as
sured us you would do"
"And of course if l don't suit" said
John, 'you will drop me at onceW
"Rut you will suit" said the deacon.
at would never do for you to have US
drop you without a reference. You'll fall
right into our ways soon enough. My
uncle Ichabod Rogardus, is commonly
reckoned one Of the most upliftin of all
the preachers we've ever had. I've got Il
stack Of his sermons at home, and I'll let
you take some of 'em to look over for
models, if you like"
1t was a very dull position for a hope
full and energetic man of twenty nine.
Yet John held on. Perhaps he felt that
it was moral discipline that he needed.
No doubt he realized that it was wrong
to throw up one position until he was GER
tain of another Then. again, it is quite
possible that the bright eyes of Mary
Dillworth had something to do with his
spirit of resignation.
Mary was a teacher in the town high
school, and John boarded at her mothers
home Perhaps if the board of trustees
knew how much of his time-that time
for which they paid so liberally-was
spent in Mary Dillworth's company they
would have called him to account in short
order In short, it was Mary who finally
reconciled him to his surroundings.
No doubt she soon began to realize this,
and the thought worried her.
"You mustn't let yourself vegetate
here" she said to him one evening.
There's something in the atmosphere
that acts like the tabled lotus and makes
the Dunwoodite quite forget that there
is an outside world. You mustn't breathe
it too long"
''But | can't hold my breath much
longer" said John. 81 feel that I'm be-
coming a fixture here"
"This will never do" said Mary. "You
are wanted and needed elsewhere. I'm
sure of it.
"Alas," said John. with little smile at
her vehemence, I'm afraid that those
who want and need me will have difficult
ty in finding the talents that are hidden
beneath the Dunwood bushel!"
Mary was silent for q moment.
81 think 1 see a way to help things
first partner in business was Richard
Carmody, the manufacturer. He is
leading member of one of the foremost of
the city churches He would gladly do
me q favor, and Pm going to write and
ask him to let you fill the pulpit there one
! Sunday They have sent their old pastor
abroad and he may not return, and the
pulpit is being supplied during the spring
by such talent as can be secured here and
there. l will write to Mr.. Carmody at
once, and you shall post the letter"
Johns eyes spanked.
ooh. that would be fne!" he said.
Then he hesitated. But how can you
explain your-your confidence in meT
A little blush tinted Mary's rounded
cheek.
81 am not writing the letter in my own
way," she langhingly said, "and the
man who is to receive it is a friend who
has known me since I was a very little
girl | am sure that he will be glad to
trust me and favor me and ask nc ques-
tons"
And John had watched her as she bent
over her writing. her gentle eyes intent
upon the work, and new ambition crept
into his heart = the ambition to prove
worthy of this dear girls trust and con-
fdence.
So the letter was sent and in due time
John received an invitation to fill the pull
Dit of the city church for certain Sun
day. The trustees had no objection to his
going as long as he arranged to fill his
place during his brief absence They
even felt little battered in their slow
way at this mark of recognition from the
city church.
"At the same time" said Deacon Blodg-
ct, sit is an unusual thing for one of our
pastors to go gallivantin' round the coun-
try. And should judge it might not be
a safe thing, neither. 1t could happen
that the congregation would take a fancy
to the substitute and forget all about the
regular"
But John laughingly said he'd take his
chances on that for Just this one time.
That evening he told Mary that he
didn't intend to write out his city sermon.
'T'm going to try my hand at the unn-
numbered STYLE" he said. 1T may mean
breakdown, but don't expect il"
Good" said Mary. "Of course you
will not break down. You will be toe
we'll prepared end TOO anxious to succeed
to fear any such catastrophe You are
not only to please on your account but at
excellence of my judgment"
So John set forth on his brief pilgrim
age and preached his sermon and did not
break down. Trey were kind to him and
said pleasant things to him, and Mr.. Car
mody was especially agreeable. And they
all hoped to hear him again. So he came
back quite elated and shared his citation
with Mary, who shook her fair head in
manner that plainly indicated that she
had said so all along.
1t was the second week after Johns re-
turn that a startling tragedy shocked the
town One of the oldest and most proml-
nent citizens was killed in a brawl in the
disreputable section of the place familiar
ly known as the Inlet. He was not
man of the strictest morality. He had
/ periods of overindulgence in intoxicants,
! and he had fallen ir with the gang of
rowdies who made the Inlet notorious.
The assault on him. however was entire
~ unprovoked. and this fact, together
/ with his prominence, made the affair the
greatest sensation of many years.
4 A memorial meeting was called by
bumbcr of citizens, headed by the editor
of the leading local journal, and a pro-
/ gramme of speakers was carefully ar
ranged. The last speaker in the list was
John Granger. He had been chosen be
cause he represented a leading denomina-
ton and not through any belief that bis
eloquence would add to the success of the
meeting.
/ The citizens assembled in the great
wareroom of the agricultural works and
long before the meeting opened the seats
/ were filed and there were many stand
4 ing. 1t was rather long meeting and
the great audience grew a little uneasy
during the closing addresses. They were
crowding about the doors when the chair
man briefly introduced the Rev. John