Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-01-03
"CAR OF MERCY" CAUSES RIOT.
Pastor Buys Auto on Salary Of $50
Per Week.

| pulpit III inc WOfluly realms or DuS1-
! ness, have caused as much excite
ment in the little village o. West
wood, n. j., as If the Erie railroad,
| which carries tho better part Of the
population to and from New York
city every day, had boosted the price
of commutation tickets.
Rev. Carl Ahren, who brought
matters to a crisis recently, when in
the pulpit Of the Calvary Baptist
| church in Westwood, he character.
lied those in his congregation "who
have been opposed to tho march Of
progress" as modern Ewes" and
Judas lscariots," according to SEX ;,
said ne contemplated an appeal to
the courts against the "calumniat-
ors.' Hitherto the hand Of the law
has been shown in the affairs Of tho
church only in the attendance Of vigil
liant constables at meetings and SER
vices.
The pastors newly acquired second
hand automobile, the latest addition
to his stock Of modernistic parapher-
MALTA, has played a big part in the
strife. The pastor says there has
been gossip to the effect that the
$500 paid for the machine, which he
! calls "car Of mercy" had been left
with him in trust for his 14-year-oId
nephew. He accuses Mrs. j. Herbert
Bate, until recently one Of the lead
ing members Of the congregation, Of
having expressed this opinion, and
plans action against her for SANDER
The hornets nest has been stirred
up in church and village, but has not
discouraged the businessman pastor
| with life Of labor In the vineyards
Of the Lord. He told reporter for
The Post in periods of respite from
his eXertion Of cranking up the
cranky "car Of mercy" that he is feel
ing much stronger than ever the call
which led him to give up a $5O-a-
week position to become a $15-a-week
minister.
eff l had been minister all my
life | probably shouldn't have been
able to buy this automobile" sal
Rev. Mr.. Ahrens, drawing a pair Of
fuzzy gauntlets as the motor began to
bark
Until I was thirty years old
which was about five years ago-I
was business man. l had raised
myself in life until I was looking at
things from the right side OF roll
top desk as assistant superintendent
OF The National Valve Company's
plant at Bridgeport, Conn.
Although there was every indica-
ton that the future would bring fur
ther advancement in tho world Of
business, l could not resist the call OF
the ministry. When l was a child 1t
was my mothers prayer that l be-
come preacher of the Gospel. l
wasn't able to acquire the necessary
education in the regular way, for we
were poor. From early youth have
had to support myself.
81 tell you, a business man who
has been successful business man is
better fitted for the pulpit than any
graduate or any theological seminary.
or course, wish / had the technical
knowledge one receives in the con-
vcntional training for tho ministry,
but if | had to prepare myself over
again | should do it in business.
Did | have myself and my per-
sonal comfort particularly in mind
when | bought that automobile? No,
sir; | procured 1t to bo used as a car
Of mercy. With it | have brought
happiness into tho lives Of poor peo-
pie who might otherwise have never
tor car.
Every Sunday / have carried an
invalid woman to church and during
the week my machine has been at the
disposal Of many deserving families.
OF course there are only three or four
members Of the congregation who
have motor cars, and that has caused
a certain amount Of jealousy to form
in worldly minds.
when | caused punk sticks to be
distributed among tho congregation
last summer because the MOSQUITOES
were thick, was criticised by somo,
but that same act caused mo to be
blessed by many. | showed moving
pictures in tho church to sol a. larger
attendance, and that made fow peo-
pie who get all tho entertainment
they want at card parties and dancing