Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-03-12
His First Sermon
in Morning Dew

trembling. When the youthful
''theologue" receives his first call, y
and sets off to preach his trial SER
mon among strangers in distant
town, he is sometimes q very anxious
and lonely youth. The annals of the
clerical profession contain amusing
accounts of the various trying cir
cumstances under which such ser
mons have been delivered.
In the west, in mining-camp days,
itinerant clergymen sometimes adj
dressed crowds in queer places and
in unconventional garments. 1t is
safe to say, however, that no clergy
man, young or old, ever began his
pulpit career in such strange attire
as did a classmate of mine at Bloom
ingvale seminary, who had accepted
call to go to Morning Dew, Mont.
For he preached his first sermon
there in coat of tar and feathers!
1t came about in this way. And /
may add here that Marvin-that was
my classmates name-afterward be-
came one of the most popular and
most respected ministers in the west.
Moreover, he was made a doctor of
divinity and a bishop, honors to
which few men attain there, under
the itinerant system, unless pos
sessed of sterling character. The
events of my story occurred q years
ago, when Marvin was not quite %
years Of age.
At that time he lacked a full term
of his ordination, in the usual course,
but the bishop and professors got
over the difficulty, as is sometimes
the case, on the ground of expedien-
CIV. Marvin, himself the son of an
itinerant minister, had been earnestly
asked to go to Morning Dew by d
venerable itinerant, who had been Ia
boring hard to improve the miners
there and at Sink-or-Swim, another
embryo Getty" on the other side of
the butte" three or four miles dis.
tant.
Like sire like son." the veteran
preacher wrote. 81 knew your ia
Their well. He was an earnest, fear
less soul, and hear that you are like
him. If so, the Lord needs you here
and needs you greatly"
Marvin read this appeal, consulted
with his instructors, and wrote to
say that, God willing, he would
preach in Morning Dew on the fol
lowing Sunday, five days later.
He set off on the following day
and reached Sink-orSwim late or
Saturday afternoon. The old minis
ter, Mr.. Hendricks, received him with
enthusiasm, and after supper sat
down to tell him the kind of an audi
ence to which he would have tC
preach on the next day.
"By the way" he added, "you viii
have to preach in a saloon. They
have no Westinghouse yet"
The evening was bright, and before
retiring Marvin went out for a wall
through Sink-or-Swim, to think over
his sermon and to rearrange some
points in it. in order to meet sugges
tions made by his venerable FRIEND
and mentor.
There was nearly full moon, anC
he proceeded along the road lead
ing to Morning Dew Presently hi
met a man on horseback, riding at {
mad gallop; and he had gone on fol
no more than half a mile when the
same man passed him, riding bacl
toward Morning Dew, accompanied
by eight or ten others, apparently
recruited at Sink-or-Swim. They
were in furious haste; and as Marvin
strolled on he began to hear distan
shouts, and soon after saw the CLEAN
of fire in the direction of the scene
of his prospective pastOrate.
Curiosity led MIN to hasten tina
way, and as he drew near he fount
that the whole "city" was astir. Tn,
fire. however, proved but bonfire
in the street, made of the debris O
some rude dwelling which the mol
had demolished. Over the embers tn
energetic citizens were heating ket
tie, containing a dark liquid whicl
diffused the odor of tar.
The intent of the crowd was sool
! disclosed. "Haul him out here!
I shouted burly fellow, who appeare'
to be the master of ceremonies; AM
Immediately a trembling, implorini
wretch, who had lost most of hi
: clothes, was dragged forth into tn
street.
'Who's got feather pillow?" erie
a hoarse voice. "Fetch it out and ri
: it open!"
These picturesque exclamation
made the purpose of the proceeding
so apparent that Marvin, in his char
!. acter of moral guardian to the place
felt called upon to say something. FL
:, spoke from impulse. There was lii
! tie time for reflection. The frs
ladleful of hot tar was already bein
applied to the luckless victim.
= "For common decency's sake, don
do thatl" exclaimed the young cler
gyman, pushing resolutely forward
Don't treat a fellow-man in thf
D disgusting wayl 1t is inhuman!"
whats that?" shouted the leadt
of the mob. "Who are you?"
"No matter who / ami" cried Ma
S hin. 81 protest against such abu'
T of = fellow beingl 1 protest againi
y it in the name of humanity"
z. A roar of hoarse laughter an
g oaths interrupted him. "a tende
D footl A tenderfootl" was the or
"Give him an introduction to Nor
e ing Devil Give him dose out
n the same bottle!"
q Before my impulsive classmate hs
= time even to realize his danger or
a make himself known, a dozen roue
e fellows tore off his outer clothiI
o and splashed him from chin to hee
% with the overwarm tar. Others sho0
le cred feathers on him with equal C
lie lerity. Within a minute from Il
70 time nv classmate had opened b