Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-08-13
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
The Holly )
8pt:Ag SPOONS
6 Copyright, 1909, by E. O. Martin.
Observation-Disclosures
By EDWIN G. MARTIN.

But unfortunately the congregation
had not come under the spell of the
pastors moving judgment and prayer,
and divisions Of such magnitude ensu-
ed that the laymen of the session for
got their good resolutions and the ses-
sion itself became seat OF war. Mr..
Holt had served in his present pas
torate ten years. Ten years service
in no office lessons the number of a
mans critics unless he be man Of
supreme talent, and that Mr.. Holt was
not. From his installation there had
been in the congregation a dissatisfied
minority, and it had grown with the
passage of time more numerous and
more outspoken. 1t now found in his
vote against having the Wamplers be-
fore the session what unconsciously 1t
had long been waiting fora point of
union and onset. The pastors friends,
however, were in the main stanch, and
open opposition only intensified their
ardor. The session divided again about
evenly, but the opponents of the pas
tor were the cunninger faction and
finally persuaded two of his supporters
to disregard personal preference and
join them in voting a request to Mr..
Holt for his resignation.
With his session thus become practi-
cally unanimous against him and a
good third of the congregation fiercely
urging the session on, the poor minister
would gladly have yielded up his
charge and fled away, but this, 1t seem
ed to him, would be moral weakness,
clear violation of his duty to the
larger faction who devoutly besought
him to stay, SO he refused to comply
with the sessions request. Appeals
followed to higher bodies, and tedi-
GUS, complex, exhausting contest re-
suited, ending in defeat for the oppos-
ing minority which thereupon with
drew from the church in a body and
organized new society.
And this is the origin of what is since
known in Osceola us the New church,
the church which in recent years has
been SO maryelously blessed. But it
had a hard struggle in the beginning.
1t began to prosper only after the Rev.
Mr.. Holliwell took charge. He is a
natural pulpit orator, a man thorough.
ly abreast Of the times. He began by
prefacing his sermons with familiar
talk on current topics, and every three
months he preached sermon exclu-
siyely for men and another exclusive
ly for women and one for the young
people, and by these and other novel.
ties he soon awakened an interest
which has continued until now the New
church congregation is much the lar.
gest and wealthiest in the town. Then
Andrew Jarboe, a rich old bachelor
farmer, died and left the church &c..
600, and that was great help to 1t.
In life Andrew had not been a notable
supporter Of churches, but Mr.. Holt
had once rebuked him sharply for fail
ing to supply due weight of but.
ter, and 1t is supposed that this had
somewhat to do with determining his
surprising bequest to the New church.
Poor Mr.. Holt after the New church
began to come up SO conspicuously suf.
l 4GASo u VILLAIN oSSllAe Ill lue ItkuEu VI
his congregation. The members were
still free in expressions of devotion t.
him, but it became evident that in theil
feelings they had little cooled, an6
Mr.. Holt finally sought another charge
And his departure is not the least i'm
portant item in general change which
has now made Osceola wholly differ.
ent town from what it was at the time
when Hamlin Wampler disinterret
Mrs, Luther Gears holly sprig spoo1
from the turkey stuffing. Winter at 1T
yisitations is still profuse, but thu
householder and shopkeeper now SWEEP
and shovel the snow from their walk
down almost to the last flake, and bu
a slight moisture under foot deters tn,
ablest bodied men from going abroad
without their rubber shoes.
Even the REVEALS are not what they
were. So much have they suffered IL
their old time fervor that to the ont
church in which they still maintain
their former lustihood people now re
sort in crowds out of mere curiosity tt
view the spectacle. Here Us regularly
MS winter comes the best known repro
bates Of the town are brought undel
tumultuous conviction. But when com,
the spring thaws, little by little theil
new virtue relaxes, and rs the year ad
vances and all nature grows jocunt
and yoluptuous they slip back for til,
most part into their old wild ways
Thus one winter opens with no les!
occasion than another for stentoria1
evangel. Last winter, however among