The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-03
FRAUDS WHO QUOTE PAUL.
BY REV. X. III. WHITAKER.


ask: .sDidn't Paul tell Timothy to take
a little wine for his stomach's sake;
while the other will harp on what
Paul said about being "overtaken in
fault"
Many years ago 1 happened to be at
a church on Saturday, and sat in, while
conference was being held. There
We're four cases to be heard all for.
drunkenness, and before the trial
commenced l learned that the four
brothers were chronic cases.
Being astranger, / knew none of
the men on trial, but l picked them
out before they were put on trial, by
their very peculiar looks and move
ments. They bore the marks of men
who were having a hard time trying to
out-rum something, and l could tell
from the cut of their eyes they were
not much alarmed. Their expressions
said, as plainly as words could: We've
been in this box before and got out
all right"
What amused me was the penitent
look each one put on when his case
was called. If / had not already, in
my mind, written them down as first
class frauds, l certainly would have
been moved to tears when the first
one put on his look of penitence,
while the Conference was hearing the
report of the committee. That was to
the effect that the brother had been
seen beastly drunk. on a certain oc-
casion; but the committee in consider
alton of the fact that he was very PEN
itent, and had made a most solemn
promise that he would never do so
again, recommended that the brother
who had been "overtaken in a fault,
be forgiven this time.
Brethren" said the preacher, Il
am bound to say that the brother is
mighty poor runner, for. to my certain
knowledge, this is the fourth time he
has been "overtaken" by the same
enemy | am afraid addressing the
brother on triaD. you don't try to es-
cape; on the contrary, l have a sus-
picion that instead of being overtaken,
you do the overtaking; you run after
the demijohn instead of the demi
johns running after you"
About then the penitent pulled out
his bandana and wiped his eyes vigor-
ously, and, dropping his head down
between his knees, began to shake as
If he were overwhelmed with peni-
tence and Cody sorrow as well. He'd
played that game before and felt sure
that was the best move to make. And
it was. as was shown by two or three
brethren, rising at the same time and
saying: Good old Paul said: Restore
in the spirit of meekness, considering
Whereupon, the vote was taken the
brother was restored and the next Of
fender was brought forward looking
if possible, a little more penitent than
the first one. He also plead guilty and
threw himself upon the mercy of tbs
court; he used his bandana, to wipe
away penitent tears, and groaned
heavily while on the penitent stool.
His seeming agony of soul touched the
l,<D< Of I, SC. hrn in n
time, by vote of the Conference, he
was forgiven and restored notwith-
standing the preacher expressed the
opinion. in his case, as he did in the
first one, that if he'd let the demijohn
alone it would let him alone. After so
long time two more were brought UP
and made their confessions. going
through about the same routine as to
looking sorry, shedding tears and
using the bandanna. They, too. were
forgiven and restored, and by that
time the hour for preaching had ar
rived.
The preacher. who was venerable
man of God looked tired out, and, |
thought Disguised, with the farce that
had just ended; for, he as well as the
-'-hole church. felt confident that those
four forgiven and restored brethren
,,vuld get caught the very first time
a demijohn got after them.
He remarked. as he entered the pull
pit. he didn't feel at all like preaching.
and would gladly pay q man twenty
five cents to preach for him. | was
very much afraid that somebody
would tell him | was present; but, no
one did, and, SO, he preached. That
preacher was no other than old Father
Hoggard, and the church in which he
preached was down in Northampton
County. Afer the sermon was ended,
somebody told the preacher of my
presence, and 1 was introduced to him.
Brother he said in complain
ing sort of way, why didn't you LEI
me know you were here, and preach
for ~
You didn't offer enough" I said
jocularly IF you had said fifty in
stead of twenty-five cents, l might
have accepted.
He smiled but said: Brother, you
ought to have preached for me. You
saw how tired l was worrying over
those poor weak brothers.
That was the only time ! ever saw
Father Hoggard, but l heard of him.
He has gone up to receive his crown,
no more to be troubled and made
weary of heart by the conduct of un-
faithful brethren.
The reason why the "demijohn," in
stead of the jug or the bottle was men,
toned, was because just at that time,
some people, near that church, who
loved whiskey, while they were posing
as temperance men, had it shipped to
them in demijohns and the demiJohns
were packed in nail kegs. l heard
that. almost every day. somebody
would be anxiousl" looking for the ar
rival of "keg of nails?' he'd or
dered from Norfolk. And when the
keg came. the fellow would shoulder
it and hurry home with it. Of course
1t was a demijohn of whiskey.
Father Hoggard had heard of that;
hence his allusion to demijohns. or
course the nail keg brethren had a
fellow feeling for each other, very
kindly lending to one, when his nails
gave out; and, as a keg was expected
by one or the other of the brethren
every day. they always had a supply
of nails on hand.
All this happened years ago. l sup
pose the nail keg business has long
since ceased and the brethren
who had such time of keep
ing ahead of the fault that
would sometimes overtake them,
may be in the glory land with their
faithful old pastor who Strove so hard
to keep them from falling.
Yes, when fellow wishes to justify