Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-06
CHATTER XIX.
The Dare.

The topic most discussed and wrangled
over. In Eureka, apart from the themes re-
lated to daily work. was. strange as 1t may
seem. religion. Nor was this as strange
as It seems. The virtues which religion IN
misunderstanding, patience. faith--are the
virtues of the miner. The rewards It has to
effer-support here consolation hereafter
appeal especially to him. In the constant
presence of danger a man Is not able to
forget his own soul even II he would in the
continual endurance of hardship he is
driven to face the great questions Of life.
IT destiny, OF the relations of man to God
and God to man. So. when 1t CHANGED that
prominent lawyer of well-known atheis.ic
tendencies. publicly, in the columns of the
newspapers, wagered a large sum that no
clergyman in the United States would read
aloud In church certain chapters of the
BOOK designated as Holy and declared to he
inspired, the challenge was taken UP and
talked about In Eureka as IL it were per-
sonal affair
Particularly In Jack Perry's saloon was
argument rife. Every one acknowledged
tnat Haverford would not read those chap
lers; neither would Mumford, the Presby-
terrain minister, nor Father OKeefe, the
Romanfst OF Vaughan they were less sure
At he thought the Old Gentleman put them
there for him to read. he'd read emf in
sisted Jack
But, Jack" returned Barker, who had
scented argument afar of. a war-horse
scents battle. and had hurried in, that 5
the point. This man who writes for the
newspaper contends that the Old Gentle
man, you call Him, didn't put In those
chapters; he thinks twas the york of the
Other Fellow.
Then it's no Gods Book" declared a
gray-hafred miner sadly.
Barker shrugged his shoulders. Jack
whispered in the ear Of boy who stood
near. The boy disappeared and soon re-
turned with Vaughan in. tow.
'Parson,' said Jack, as the young Meth
odist hurried into the saloon, wondering
what had happened or what was about to
happen. for he had received only the mes
sage to come down to Jacks, 'Parson, l
want to ask you some questions"
Vaughan glanced hastily around the room
saw Barker, saw 10 and several other
miners in the habit of attending his church,
saw Winslow, who had just come in; noted
the unsettled look on JOS face Barker S
Qufzzical smile, Winslow's satirical twitch-
braeed himself. Go on he said.
do you swallow the Bible whole?' in
quired Jack earnestly.
Il swallow 1t whole, Jack" Vaughan an
swered. Have you heard me preach all
this time not to know that?
You don't throw out none of it?''
Not a word!' declared the young preach
err stoutly.
Jack turned In triumph to the group OF
cavilers and doubters.
"Why?" pursued Vaughan.
Cos this ere boomer of inf1ddle-ism
who writes for the papers says there aint
a preacher in the United States but throws
out lot of 1t that amt fit for a decent
man to read or decent folks to hear. !
thought there was one preacher in the
United States that would take his dare !"
Jack plumed himself like turkey cock
Let me see the paper" said Vaughan
quietly. He read over the list of chapters
referred to by the challenger and saw at
vNJt ,,,{1 L
could hear Jack say, Il told you so. /
knew he'd stand to it," Jacks acquaint-
ance with The Book was limited to what
he heard read in church.
Well, Parson, what do you think OF the
list?" inquired Barker
Winslow laughed.
Not for worlds would Vaughan now re-
tract or hedge. He temporized. II sup
daughters to hear me9' he queried
"Cer-tain." said Jack. He had neither
chick nor child, and good old Martha, his
honest Wife was deaf as post.
We'll, hardly said Barker. Louise
Barker was one of the pfettiest girls In Eu-
reka and one of the best beloved.
Oh, it's to be all men; very weH,' said
Vaughan. He had gained one point.
And you will bring your Bibles to see
that / read the chapter word for word?'
he pursued.
Sure" said Jack He wasn't positive
there was a Bible in the house, but there
ought TO De. naTUild PROBABLY nad one.
And I shall be allowed to make what
ever. personal application 1 please?"
Vaughan continued.
You bet" said Jack. No one demurred !:
that would be confessing too much
And you shall hear me through :"
Vaughan. concluded. I'm not going to have
any one of you go away and misinterpret
or half interpret what I've said. The door
will be locked"
To this also every man agreed. and an
evening was set for the reading of the
chapter
With long, earnest thought and many
prayers did the young preacher prepare
himself for the encounter. The evil with
which he meant to grapple armed with the
text afforded by the chapter, was one which
he had avoided until now. With every nerve
in his sensitive body he shrank from the
mention of 1t. And yet he had realized
from the outset that some day, somehow
he must cleanse the Augean stables OF Eu-
reka dance halls and dens. He shared with
most men the instructive feeling that a
mans personal habits are his own concern
The privileges of his profession thus far
had failed to warrant his prying too deeply
Into his neighbor's private affairs On the
other hand, there were boys and young men
In Eureka who must be prevented from
holding lightly the sacred mysteries of life
and sex. And there was Mary Flynn's sis
ter Ellen. the pretty little blue-eyed Irish
lassie-he could not see her go the way of
the flaming courtesan!
So he said within himself and pondered
planned and rejected his plans, wrote out
sermons and destroyed them. more confused