Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-01-03
Mistellansuas 8saains.
PREACHER TO cowsoYs.
Congregation Was Tough, But Always
Considerate of the Parson.

Congregation Was Tough, But Always
considerate Of the Parson.
my first appointment by consid-
crate conference was in the lair Of the
bad men Of the West" remarked the
Rev. w. B. Wheeler. formerly pastor
here Of the Methodist Episcopal church,
(South), to a Gallatin correspondent
Of the Kansas City Times. II guess
they thought because I was big and
brawny 1 could learn to shoot and
fight when necessary to enforce peace
at meeting. Los Cerrillos, N. NJ, in
1883 and 1884 was town Of about 500
strenuous Inhabitants, most Of whom
1idn't know what a preacher looked
like till came. There were two sa-
looms, which ran twenty-four hours a
lay, including Sunday. chartered a
schoolhouse for services and began to
get acquainted. Among my first
friends were the proprietors Of the
'wo saloons. The cowboys would ride
In on pay day and Shoot up the town.
On one Of the occasions was passing
iown Main street and received bull
let hole through my hat. took 1t
off, examined 1t and went on. A JUS
tice suggested that might swear out
a warrant, but told him It was an old
hat and I didn't care about going to
law over triies. Somehow the bad
men began to evince a sort OF desul-
tory interest in the services. They
would always bring their guns along,
but would never shoot 'em during
meeting. never succeeded In get
ting more than four members, but the
congregations were fair.
II remember one day during services
there was a little commotion in the
back end. A tall fellow, Stewart by
name. who had splendid record as
a dead shot, arose and said:
"'Just stop a minute, parson. If
you please
"Then he and another man led fell
low out. Presently they returned.
"'All right, brother said Stewart;
Toms just drunk a little, but he
won't bother you any more.
"They had taken him across to the
tavern and locked him up in his room.
wv. E. Willis, one Of the most des-
perate men In the camp. came to me
one day and said he wanted to be
Steward I exclaimed. What
would steward do?'
why he said, sit In the amen
an take up the collection. Give
me the job. parson, an you'll find a
healthy ante in the plate every Sum
day.
$50 made him steward. He was
as proud Of his job as he could have
been over a brand new Winchester.
The collections were made in his pira-
teal looking sombrero, and he always
got results. 1 could hear his hoarse
whisper as he went from pew to pew.
Damn you, shell out!' he'd say If
a worshipner- didn't show. -ltspe.-t.r9Es
to contribute promptly.
Sometimes q man would throw In
a dime or a quarter. and II my stew
ard didn't think he had put up as the
Lord had prospered him he'd reach
toward his hip pocket and
whisper something that resulted In
material addition to the church's rev.
enue. Collections by the stewards
persuasive system were always good,
much better than I've ever had them
since I returned to Missouri, and he
demonstrated his fitness
for the Office.
"One day the presiding elder hoti-
fed me he was coming to Los Cerril-
los. / knew he had never been up
against the sort of moral atmosphere
that blew over our valley, and hustled
around to get things in shape for a
serious minded shepherd who might
not appreciate the broad spirit Of the
citizens. I went first to BIZ and Ike
who ran the two saloons and poker |
rooms, and said:
Boys, the boss Is coming over to
pr .ach Sunday, and I'd sorter feel
,ooi II you fellows closed up during |
services and come out with your fam
lies
THE two men eyed each other cur
ously a minute, and Bill said as he
nit his big fist down hard on the ta-
Die:
Damned If don't do it. parson!
What say you, Ike?'
"Tm in replied Ike, you can't get
he bulge on me when 1t comes to
ligion!'
"They were both there, clean shaved
md primped up like dandies. Every
eat was occupied, and the steward
rade a collection that did him proud.
After the meeting was over the elder
old ne he had never addressed bet
er behaved and more attentive crowd.
lie added the opinion that the reports
# lawlessness out our way were great
y overrated. A committee Of the best
itizens, saloonkeepers, bartenders,
,oker dealers and others accompanied
lin to the depot the next day and
ave him a send-off that would have
,een an honor to a Grand Duke.
ould see it tickled him immensely:
Within ten minutes after his train had
one the card tables and bars were
n full blast again.
Next year 1 was removed to Wat
Gus, 100 miles away, and only visited
1os Cerillos once month to preach.
)ne rough night when melting snow
vas coming down In great sheets /
ras waiting for the Santa Fe train
o take me home. The train was late.
here was no operator In the little
tation, and no place to go except the
aloons to get warm. The train was
omewhere down the line, only the
;inds and shelterless coyotes. knowing
Ia location. So walked up and down
he streets shivering. Once when
assed Bills saloon he spied me.
"'Come in and get warm, parson,'
e said.
"T can't, Bill: you know why
"'Yes, know, but they shan't both
r you; you come in and I'll flx 1t all
ight,' and he grabbed my arm and