The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-18

each other and smiled. while he was
busy making the change
I used to hear of strange charac-
ter in my young days, a gentleman
with whom 1 had no personal ac-
quaintance, though / sometimes saw
him. He was a deacon and occupied
large place in church situated not
far from where I lived; and, that his
position and importance might be
seen of men, and women as well, he
always sat we'll up to the front and
faced the audience. He had an ex-
allied opinion of himeslf, generally,
and especially Of his picty and has
knowledge OF the scriptures; notwith-
standing it was generally believed by
his most intimate friends and nearest
neighbors, he didn't have a Bible in
his house. This opinion was strength
ed by the fact that in speaking of his
acquaintance with scriptures he would
often say: I've read 'em all from
Generations to Revolutions, even the
Axes of the Possuls.'
In an argument on doctrine or
church polity. he was an oracle in
deed. and could prove anything he
said by the Bible; for he made texts
whenever needed to carry his point.
and fatty denied the existence of all
which contradicted him and his texts.
He didn't believe in foreign missions,
but, like a great many of this day and
time, maintained that we ought to
look after and try to save the heathenS
right around home first; that when
they were all saved, if we had any time
and money left We might eXpend them
upon "furriners," as he called the
heather; for he would say, char
ity begins at home and the Saviour
expressly told the 'PosSuls'' to begin at
Jerusalem, and I'm q Jerusalem man.
My doctrine is: save them that's near
est the shore first; then launch out af-
ter them that's sinking further off.
Begin at Jerusalem!"
This man whom l will call Snipes,
and brother of the same church
whom 1 will call Jones' had frequent
arguments on the subject of foreign
missions, and he always fortified his
opposition thereto by repeating as
pr|yerbs: Charity begins at home.
Save them nearest the shore. first
But, the other man Jones, would
say: God is no respector of persons.
and wants all saved, and all can be
saved if the gospel plan is worked
right. That sinking man farthest
from the shore is just as dear TO God
as those nearest the shore. and we
should try to save him also"
No, no., Snipes would say: sSave
them nearest the shore first. That's
what the good book means when it
says charity must begin at home"
And thus he continued to argue until
a thing happened that weakened his
faith in his own doctrine. 1t might
have been a happen-so. but a happen
so is as good as a providence, especial
~ when ii opens the eyes of a fool to
his folly
rTl,io a MT ,,,;cein,,a,,- ,,,at, ~, q. rl.l1
day. just before Christmas. started to
market with q load of turkeys. on
his way he had TO cross a creek, the
bridge over which being old and frail
broke in, and he. horse and wagon and
turkeys fell into the stream The
horse managed to get near the shore
where the water was shallow, 50 that
horse. wagon and turkeys We're in no
very great trouble or danger when
neighbor Jones, before mentioned
happened to ride up. But the anti
missionary man was in n sad plight
When the bridge gave way he sprang
into the creek. and not being q swim
mer. he was saved from drowning by
catching hold of an overleaning limb
of a tree that hung near the water
The limb was too weak, in fact too
small for him to climb out by it, but
served the very good purpose of enab-
ling him to keep his head above the
water. When he saw his neighbor ride
up he cried out. while his teeth chat
tered: Brother Jones. do for Gods
sake, get pole and shove it TO me
and pull me out to where / can touch
bottom, for I'm mighty nigh frozen TO
death.
''All right, brother Snipes: III do it
just as soon rs | get this horse ami
wagon out and save the turkeys from
being drowned, responded Brother
Jones.
%. Brother Jones, let the horse and
turkeys alone! they aint suffering like
! am. Get me out first and then III
help you to get the horse out
Cant do that. Brother Snipes. be-
cause | must begin at Jerusalem"
you know--'saVe them nearest the
shore first When I've got the horse
and wagon out, then I'll sec if j can
find pole long enough to reach you
But | can't according to your doc
trine. help YOU until | have done that
"B-b-b- ut-b-b-r-other J-J-Jones, thu
the h-h-horse a-and w-wWagOn are in
sh-sh shallow wa-wa- water; b-b-but
I-I-Im w-w-way ou-ou-out he-here in
de-de-deep Wa-wa-Water and ca-ca-
can't sw-sW-sWim a f-l-lick."
Just so it is with the heather