The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-10

with a single furrow, we had to run six
fuIrows.
Nor would I go back to the old log
meeting house, our fathers and mothers
woIshipped in. nor to the old log school
house. Nor do l wish to return to the
olo-time way OF travelling, nor to the
oldtime way of cooking, before stoves and
ranges came into use. No. | do not wish
to turn the wheel of progress backward.
hut Old memories are very sacred to us
all the same. even though we had fewer
comforts and put on less style. An old
time log meeting house with open cracks
and no window, save the one back of
the pulpit, that let in the cold AIR on
the preachers neck, while preaching
would hardly be considered fit for a to-
bacco barn now; yet, there are very
tAany precious memories that linger with
us connected with that old place of
worship.
Speaking of the old-time log meeting
house brings up funny incident that I
viii tell as finale to this article. 1t
happened one cold winter day, when the
only place about that meeting house was
out doors, on the sunny side of the house
Inside was intolerably cold for the wind
no. only came through the cracks be
tween the logs, but through the floor as
well. The circuit preacher had not come
and the congregation, outside, was shiV,
enng and stamping and becoming impa-
tlent. y local preacher was there, and
| ii any one had even suggested it, he
would have been preaching all the time
they had been waiting, but, no one had
made the suggestion. At last however,
some one said We had as well go home
unless Brother Jones (meanlng the local
preacher), will try to give us a talk"
Come in then" said Brother Jones, as
be promptly made his way up into the
old-fashoned, barrel-like pulpit. As soon
as he sat down he began to sing. "How
Firm a Foundation" and the congrega-
ton with teeth chattering, followed him
through the seven stanzas. Then he read
the 18th Pslam containing 10 verses,
and gave out hymn with six stanzas,
which. the now, almost frozen congrega
ton couldn't sing, but cnattere6. Al
ter which he prayed loudly and earnestly
Tor about twenty mlntes. Rising from
his knees he took for his text: "Whatso-
ever thy hand findeth TO do. do it with
thy might" etc, and went on TO impress
tho idea, that whether hot or cold, com
Portable or uncomfortable religious SER
iices should not be curtailed, but should
| be performed as if though the conditions
were pleasant And warming up to the
| subject he preached for an hour and
quarter loud enough to be heard half
| mile, forgetting all about the frigidty
| Of the congregation Two hours and
| hall in that cold house had we'll nigh
| frozen the crowd, but they all We're
bound to admit it was a great sermon.
Going out one man said: Br-Br Brethren,
HI th-think we o-o-ou-ought to PIP
put a sto-stop-stove in t-th-this ch--chur-
church" lin o-op-posed ito t-th-
that" said another; 'w-We o-ou-ought
tito b-bu build a n-ne-new chch-church."
And so, when they got outside, in the
sunshine, they chartered and shivcred UNI
| til they made up money enough to build
| a new church sure enough The local
preacher said afterward. he didn't
know, for certain, what spirit it
was that prompted him to sing
those long hymns, read that long
| Psalm, pray that long prayer and
preach that long sermon; but, OF one
thing he was certain, that long service
| iroze the stinginess out of that crowd
aid resulted in the building of new and
comfortable church"
Those old log meeting houses were not
| only uncomfortable in winter, but equal
| " so to the women at least, in the sum
ner, for red-headed scorpions would fire.
queEtly make their appearance, and al
most scare the lives out of some Of them.
| In Tact. the cry of fire wouldn't run
crowd of women out of a church quicker
thar one little fleet footed rcd-headed
| Scorpion prancing about under the bench
| os. Women don't like them and, to tell
| the truth | don't blame them. | am glad
| tht, the old log meeting house has gone
with it's redheaded scorpion. Now, ff
| we could keep the dogs out of our new
churches, we'd be all right