Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1910-02-11
THE DEACON'S BACKSLIDING.

hAo ASSN vi a OOlO lliOinlnk lIllS
week, and said: Il was reminded
when l read your account OF Ed
Buchanan's experience with a steer
he was trying TO drive, of an Incl
dent that occurred in my community
many, years ago before / moved to
TazewelI. One OF my neighbors, "A
deacon in a Baptist church, and one
OF Its leaders, and who stood hieh
up, had an experience which finally
came near breaking up the church.
The church was one OF the strictest.
and the pastor one OF the old-timers.
They would haul young girl up
for dancing, and unless she repented
and promised TO do SO no more she
would be fired" out, unless she
could prove that she didn't cross her
rect. At every "Sad-day church
meetin, " one or more OF the breth
rem or sisters would be before the bar
TO answer for high crimes or misde-
meanors OF more or less Importance.
This monthly meeting was always n
great day. The church kept a"Stand-
ing Committee on Discipline, Wv hose
duty IL seemed TO be To act ms sort
OF Detective Bureau, and TO report
any and all obstreperous members
who wandered from the fold, and
upon the report OF the Bureau" al
each monthly meeting, another com
mittee would be appointed TO see the
offending member and Labor with
him." and II he-or she-repented
and promised TO do SO no more, 8"
and went UP promptly and asked
" forgiveness OF the Church, " which
they always did, the incident was
closed in the usual way which was
like this: The restored member
would take his stand In front OF the
pulpit looking us solemn and sancti-
fed rs possible. Some brother would
start hymn, generally, "BIest be
the tie that binds,'' or SOME other
suitable hymn, and the brethren and
sisters would file by and give the
culprit the right hand OF fellowship.
Sometimes a sister or two OF an emo
tional nature, would get happy and
Stout, and fall on the restored BROTH
ers neck, and slap him in the back
hard enough to knock the breath out
OF him. l remember / got a thrash
ming when boy by, laughing right
out at one of these meetings. Moth
er and Father use TO make me 90 on
Saturday, because they were afraid
If they left me at home | would hurt
myself or somebody else, OF get into
some kind OF devilment, and so thew
always took me along to drive the
old carry all" and take care OF
the horses. And one day, they had
up Hank Simpkins for trial, chare.
ed with the same old ofrense, par
taking OF intoxicating liquors, other
wise than as a medicine" Hank nj
ways said that he never took nc
much as some Of the old members
nor as often, but the trouble was
that it took so little to "fiinp him. -
and that if he had pain which
called for soothing In the usual wav
that even spoonful or lone swaI-
low would lily to his head" and
then there was certain TO be "troubIe
at next meetin', " SO, they had
Hank yanked up, and as usual. for
the one hundredth time he confessed
and acknowledged himself before the
whole church "a poor, weak. mis-
cradle sinner" and the usual pro-
gram was carried out. Hanks moth
er, large, led faced, joviaI woman.
who could cry when she wanted IN.
and always wanted to" when she
was at church, and one of the lead
ing women" in the flock. was
among the first 10 leave her seat To
welcome back her erring but peni-
tent son. When she reached Hank
her arms outstretched and her ewes
running over with tears she shouted
thank the Lord" and aimed to
throw her arms around him. when
something happened, and right then
lost out. Mother" Simpkins hung
her foot In a torn place In the old