The daily Alaskan., 1905-09-08
Ny Brother
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NuuEAt VI Alt tatelAt VI ANhN9 ~.
church building. II was my duty to
20 from point to point preach a ser
mon on the work and receive col
lection. one day while on a train on
my way to G. with this object in view
a young man got up from his seat near
by and took the vacant place beside
me-
81 see by your dress" b. said, that
you are one Of us, and would like to
make your acquaintance. am Theo-
dore Beardslee, graduate Of -- sem.
mary. have not a church yet, but
am expecting an especial call soon"
Happy 20 meet you" | said cordial
Iy and gave him my name and the
work was engaged In. He asked me
II was to preach the next day, which
would be Sunday, and when l told him
that was TO preach az G., he said he
got or at q. himself. We chatted for
an hour, during which was surprised
at his information, depth and spiritu-
allty. He wore no marks OF his call.
ing, but he told me that he did not do
so because ne preferred not to make
known his profession to strangers tn
he had church. He complained Of his
enforced idleneSs and asked n there
was not some way in which he could
assist me-without salary regu-
larry employed. l promised to think
the matter over. Then he asked me
very modestly II l would not permit
him to preach for me the next day. I
demurred TO this, but he seemed so
hurt at my refusal that before we
reached our journeys end k0h con
scented.
wus met at the station W the
Buckley family. at whose house was
10 be entertained during my stay al
G. | introduced Mr.. Beardslee and he
took occasion TO inform them that he
was TO preach for me the next day.
I thought that he should have waited
for me to make this announcement,
and was further chagrined that II
brought him an Invitation, TO stay al
their house. was frightened that on
my introduction they should have
taken up a stranger. but It was now
too late to help II and | was not sure
that wished TO help IT,
Mr.. Beardslee captivated my friends
completely. Anna Buckley, aged
eighteen. from the moment she. first
saw him came under the spell Of his
soft musical voice. his spiritual ap-
pearapce. We all passed a very
pleasant evening together, though
Beardslee and Anna spent most Of II
at the piano, both having musical
tastes aud Beardslee a fine tenor voice.
Before we retired I called upon him
to read prayers. and the earnestness
with which he did so confirmed me In
the opinion had formed that / would
not be ashamed Of him IN my place In
the pulpit
The next morning leaned Mr..
Beardslee a clerical waistcnat, and we
went 10 the church. on the way |
asked him n he had a written sermon
IN his pocket, and he rPlicd that he
had not-that he proposed TO accustom
himself 10 speak extemporanSously.
His sermon was 10 the point there
was no repetition, no need Of condensa
ton. Indeed, his ideas and the words
In which they We're expressed flowed
as smoothly and as modeStly as twin
rivulets through a gently inclined
meadow. His effort was FAR more sue
cessful than any l had ever made, the
collection the largest taken during the
year waited after the service TIL II
had been counted, while prominent
members Of the congregation were be
Ing presented to Mr.. Beardslee and he
was deluged with compliments. Then
we went home with the Buckleys.
Beardslce tawdllng behind with Anna
In the evening the regular minister
held service, which we all attended
and, after listening TO a delicious rendi
ton Of Nearer, My God, 10 Thee by
Mr.. Beardslee, accompanied by Anna on
the piano. we all went to bed. went TO
sleep feeling that had been given a
rest that | greatly needed while the
work had gone bravely on.
On opening my eyes the next morn.
ing they rested on my suit case lying
open IN the middle Of the floor. l
sprang out Of bed and put my hand
on the place where had left the col
lection. 1t was not there. I ran across
the hall to see II Beardslee was In his
room. He was not. and his bed gave
no sign OF having been slept In. Re
turning to my room, noticed for the
arst time a paper pinned to a cushion.
| II read:
Tho collection Just pays my fee for the
| EFFORT / made yesterday In your behalf.
You viii be pained at your discovery, bvt
yours Is nothing 10 the rcmorse / feel
when am myself.
l went downstairs to meet the fam
fly at breakfast, covered with chagrin,
modification, dread. lest the man had
introduced had robbed them as well
as me. announced his flight with the
collection and told them that II they
had lost anything would be respon.
HIble. They would not admit that they