The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-01-30

1t was Springtime in Butchers
Bsr-radiant, rollicking March! But
with the bursting of the buds, the
ringing melodies of the birds and
the dawning of the first bright vernal
suns, there came a rude awakening
to the little church of Butchers Bar
Having grown from a mere min
ing camp of red-shirted, hairy citi-
ssns to the dignity Of a prosperous
town, Butchers Bar had changed its
name to Paradise Vale, built a
schoolhouse, courthouse and a
church, and was now in the throes of
calling minister to save its pioneer
soul.
The Reverend Paul Henry PEN
nington, late from the States" had
flled the pulpit several Sundays on
trial, and had promptly convinced
the younger and more progressive
contingent of the congregation of his
especial fitness for the place.
Then the Reverend Ezra Broad
side, Brother Broadside, as the old
er-fashioned faction called him, had
preached to them on trial And the
''old fogy" faction, as Miss Sallie
Salisbury called it, had unanimously
declared in his favor. The fact that
Miss Sallie, the organist and leading
soprano, had not been consulted by
the official board ranked deeply in
that young persons heart. For,
as she explained Indignantly, when
/ have to be there three times a week
and listen to six prayers and two
and a half sermons. | would like at
least TO have voice in the matter"
Dr. Paul Pennington. every one
was ready to agree with her. was an
Interesting speaker, to say nothing
of his very attractive personality.
Added to this, Sallie was always sure
of being properly escorted home
after the evening services when he
filed the pulpit, which made his in
stallation a matter of vital impor-
lance to the fair young soprano.
Brother Broadside, on the other
side, was of the good, old hell-hre-
and-damnation school OF theology
He preached the necessity of sud
den conversion from the sinfulness
of sin, of being born again into the
Kingdom OF Heaven, and receiving
therefrom a new heart Also he
preached the wickedness OF dancing
card-playing, theater-going, Sunday
excursions, horse-racing, always end
ing with heated and intimate de-
scriptions of the tortures OF hell
and, for the unregenerate, eternal
and inevitable damnation.
To the oli-timers in the congrega-
ton, this good old doctrine came
like an echo of their lost youth.
For, they sighed, the churches
are getting SO worldly you can hard
ly tell the sheep from the goats. And
il is many long day since We have
heard such rousing, soul-stirring
sermons" Moreover, Brother Broad
side proposed TO inaugurate, should
Ae be installed as pastor of the con-
gregation, sweeping, soul-saving re-
yival.
With this gratifying announce
ment, the sentiment in favor of Mr.
Paul Pennington began 10 turn, leav-
ing the younger, more liberal mem
sers OF the congregation clinging to
aim alone.
Thereapon, the congregation that
had struggled SO yaiiantly together
raising money with strawberry festi.
walls, bed-Quilt raffles, and holiday
bazaars, now split into two opposing
factions. Each faction, moreover
gathered recruits from the lukewarn
outsiders until every man, woman
and child was holly either for Oh
against one Of the candidates. Tn,
feeling ran so high, as Is usual II
such cases. that there was no hope o
a compromise.
1T Is only because you have heart
Mr. Broadside last" the Pennington
faction argued. that you prefer him
You forget how we'll you liked hin
at first
But when the gray-heads bent to
gether to consider the question, tn
liberality and progressiyeness Of tn
younger man counted against him a
shortcomings.
Mr.. Pennington is a very pleasan
speaker" the Broadside tactic
agreed, 'but he is too easy in hi
doctrine After all the sermons h
preached to us we do not evea kno,
his position on hell"
Perhaps he doesn't believe in he
Inn IL