The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-08-19
An Evangelist
BY OLIVE EDNA MAY
Copyright. 1870 by American Press
Association.
BY OLIVE EDNA MAY

makes me TO De IN the fol0 ana nave
my busban' out of it"
"what's an evangelism
IAN evangelist is one of them minis
ter's the Lord sends onct In a while
to stir up the feelln's o. them as can't
be teched by ordinary means"
"One of whom am which"
'Yes, you be, Elijah I'm sorry to
cay It. ! hope you'll go and hear this
holy man and mebbe he'll tech your
heart"
Mahulda Dunkers sighed and walked
away. Her efforts to bring her hus-
band under the influences that guided
her always proved abortive. He was
matter of fact man, while she was
emotional. BY some he was called
scoffer, though no one ever heard him
speak disrespectfully of religion. he
disliked cant and those disposed to
cant called him a scoffer because he
was not of their ilk. The couple lived
In the far west where extremes were
in vogue. This had made the wife an
extremist in matters of religion. II
in the manifest presence of the devil
who seemed to guide both the good
and the bad In Nuggetville.
Sunday morning came and few
minutes before service time n man In
clerical garb was seen descending the
trail. He walked with firm step and
carried prayer book in his hand. The
Coft NH
10 a single person In Nuggetville. He
had sent word that he would preach
there on that Sunday morning and
hoped that he would move every un-
Christian man, woman and child In the
, camp TO repentance.
Elijah Dunkers saw the evangelist
coming and watched him descend the
canyon.
what makes ye scowl 80, ElijahT
asked his wife. ut seems that every
thing holy has a contrary effect on ye.
Can't you look at man Of God with
out shown the impiety there is in ye7
1t isn't you that's scowlin' at this
servant of the Lord; It's the devil
that's got a holt on yer heart"
"Jes you go to meetin', Mahulda.
What We got to put in the haiti"
II got four ounces O. dirt"
"Ye goin' to give four ounces O. dirt
to that
"Forbear, Elijah! Forbear! Don't
speak impiously of the Lords anoint-
ed"
Elijah turned away. His wife made
one more effort TO induce him to ac-
company her to the grove that was
one Of Goods first temples" but he
paid no attention to her.
The evangelist found the people OF
Nuggetville assembling and taking
seats on the boards ranged in front Of
a stump to which a piece of scantling
supporting an inclined bit of timber
for book rest was fastened. Mount
ing the stump he said:
my friends. wish before beginning
the service to ask II any one Of you
have brought to this place consecrated
10 the Lords service any Of those
hellish machines used to kill your fel-
low men. IL so please so and deposit
them at the foot of that tree over
yonder"
He waited while several of the men
present. awed by his impressive tone,
deposited their revolvers and knives as
he directed. When they were again
seated the evangelist asked II any
other person was desecrating the
place and called down the wrath OF
heaven upon them II they were. This
resulted In the deposit of two more
weapons. after which the service pro.
ceeded
Mr.. SANITY proved to be one OF
those men who have the faculty Of
pouring forth a torrent of words work
ing on their hearers more by their
personal intensity than by what they
say. Excitable himself, he excited 9TH
ers. His word pictures of the terrible
damnation In store for those who did
not do what he told them to do were
lurid as an approaching tornado, Mrs.
Dunkers. the most emotional woman
in the congregation. became hystericaL
The evangelist finished his exhortation
with the following words;
sand now. my hearers. wish you
TO plant on this holy ground church.
] desire that one OF your number pass
around the hat to receive your contri'
buttons. and remember that as you
give 30 shall you be received at the
last day into heaven"
A white headed man arose. passed
around hat. and when he had finish
ed ret It down, overhowing with gold
dust and coins, AT a point indicated by
the evangelist. Then the good mar
dismounted from the pulpit stump
walked up to the hat. faced the con
gregation. drew a AZ caliber revolver
covered those present, picked up tn,
hat and said:
"You're the easiest plucked lot O. ga
loots ] ever relieved O. their dust"
He was turning to walk away witt
the plumber when shot knocked hi
revolver out OF his hand. and befor
he could recover Elijah Dunkers ha,
downed him.
gpnmoI ,,a aat1 IrIttah go. aoo