The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-01-19
PREACHED TO COWBOYS. !,

PREACHED TO COWBOYS.
Congregation was Full Of Bad Men, but They
We're Always Considerate.
my first appointment by considerate
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.) 81
guess they thought because I was big and
brawny I could learn to shoot and fight
when necessary to enforce peace at
meeting. Los Cerrillos, N. NJ. in 1888
and 1884 was town OF about 500 strenu-
ous inhabitants, most of whom didn't
know what a preacher looked like till I
came. There were two saloons, which
ran "a hours day, including Sunday. I
chartered a schoolhouse for services and
began to get acquainted. Among my first
friends were the proprietors of the two
saloons. The cowboys would ride in on
pay day and shoot up the town. On one
of these occasions I was passing down
Main street and received q bullet hole
through my hat. Itook it off, examined
it and went on. A justice suggested that
I might swear out warrant, but I told
him it was an old hat and didn't care
about going to law over trifes. Somehow
the bad men began to evince sort Of
desultory interest in the services. They
would always bring their guns along, but
would never shoot 'em during meeting. I
never succeeded in getting more than four
members, but the ongregations were fair.
II remember one day during services
there was little commotion in the back
end. A tall fellow, Stewart by name, who
| had splendid record as dead shot,
arose and said:
"Just stop a minute, parson, if you
please 2
Then he and another man led q fellow
out. Presently they returned.
s"tAll right, brother, said Stewart;
Toms just drunk q little, but he won't
bother you any more
aThey had taken him across TO the
tavern and locked him up in his room.
aW. E. Willis, one Of the most desper.
ate men in the camp, came tome one day
and said he;wanted to be q steward. as
a.steward I exclaimed. What would
steward dor
~'Why, he said, sit in the amen corner
an take up the collection. Give me the
job, parson, an you'll find q healthy ante
in the plate every Sunday s
$50 I made him steward. He was as
proud of his job as he could ,haye been
over q brand-new Winchester. The coll
lections were made in his piratical. look
ing sombrero, and be always got results.
I could hear his hoarse whisper as he
went from pew to pew. ssz{F
"'Damn you, shell outp he'd say if 9
worshipper didn't show disposition to
contribute promptly.
| "Sometimes man would throw in q
dime or quarter, and if my steward
didn't think he had put up as the Lord
| had prospered him, he'd reach significant
ly4 toward his hip pocket and whisper
something that resulted in a material ad-
dition to the church's revenues. Collec.
| tions by the stewards persuasive system
were always good, much better than Pve
ever had them since I returned to Mis-.
souri,, and he incontestabiy demonstrated
his fitness fer the Office. ST
/ aOne day the presiding elder notified
me he was coming to Los Cerrillos. ]
knew he had never been up against the
sort of moral atmosphere that blew over
our valley and I hustled around to gel
things in Shape for serious-minded
shepherd who might not appreciate the
broad spirit Of the citizens. ! went hrss
to .Bilr and Ike, who ran the two saloons
and poker rooms, and said:
"'Boys, the boss is coming over e
preach Sunday. and I'd sorter feel good i
you fellows closed up during service and
come out with your families
aThe two men eyed each other curious
lily minute, and Bill said as he hit his
big fist down hard on the table:
a.Damned if don't do it, parson! What
say you, Ike?'
apm in replied Ike, you can't get the
bulge on me when it comes to 'igionp
aThey were both there, clean-shayed
and primped up likedandies. Every seat
moo cccun;ed and the steward made col