The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1913-05-22
THEIR SILVER
WEDDING.
By EDNA BURKE


some Of them grOwn-were well behav-
ed. and no member Of the congrega
ton had fault to find with any one
f them.
Mr.. and Mrs. Brooks had been mar
ried the day Mr.. Brooks entered upon
his pastorate Of the First - church.
Consequently the anniversaries Of both
the wedding and his engagement as
pastor were coincident. When he en-
tered upon the twenty-flfth year Of his
ministry, so great was the affection of
his congregation that they decided to
give him a handsome silver wedding.
One year Of the twenty-five remained
and measures for the celebration began
to be talked over.
One morning Miss Taller. aged forty
seven, called upon Mrs. Prime osten-
sibly for the purpose of asking for a
donation Of old clothes for a mission
ary box she was about to send to In
dia, but really as beginning-a wedge
in an effort she had decided upon to
displace Mr. Brooks from the pastorate
Of the church and put in candidate
Of her own. Considering the good
mans faithful service, the reverence in
which he was held by his parishioners
and his intellectual endowments. 1t
must be confessed that Miss Tatler's
effort did not give promise Of success.
by the by, Mrs. Prime" she said.
have you noticed how deaf Mr.. Brooks
is becomingT
mo. Is his hearing impairedY
Dear me. Haven't you noticed it.?
It's the talk of the congregation. Mr..
Brooks Is a dear. good man, and we
all love him and Mrs. Brooks, too. but
at the rate he Is going on he'll soon be
deaf as a post, and there Is no church
that can be kept up with deaf pas
tor; 1t Is q constant interference with
bis duties"
Mrs. Prime said that she would be
sorry to lose Mr.. Brooks, and for her
part she would prefer him to any one
else, even If he couldn't hear thunder.
But before Miss Taller left she had
convinced her friend that II they
didn't get rid of him the church would
run right down. Miss Taller made a
dozen calls during the day, and at ev-
cry call she put in her wedge. In the
evening she counted up her converts.
Four persons had pledged themselves
to try to get rid Of the pastor before
the matter became any worse. Three
simply listened and expressed no opin-
ion. Five stood up def1antly for Mr..
Brooks. Miss Taller was well salts
fed with her days work. She resolved
to devote two days each week to driv-
ing in the wedge.
1t soon began to be noised about that
there was trouble in the First -
church. whats the matter" asked
one. Its about the pastor" was the
reply. why. l thought they adored
him." $50 did I. They say it's his
hearing. He's getting deaf" "You
don't mean it. What are they going to
do about it," "Why, hear that there
is a party for him and party against
him and likelihood Of split"
Miss Taller. having ignited the kin
ding, as soon as the fame burst forth
withdrew from the struggle. Her
name was never mentioned as its orig
inator. Indeed. she was quoted as ION
the fence" But when more fuel was
needed she supplied it Some think"
she said to Mrs Brown. prominent
advocate Of the pastor. that Mr..
Brooks is growing deaf. 1t seems to
me that a far greater drawback is his
throat. Did you notice how husky his
voice was last Sunday?"
mo. Was it,"
why. I couldn't hear half he said"
Then came those to whom 1t sud-
denly occurred that church couldn't
stand still. 1t must go forward or
retrograde. The First - church had
gained nothing in ten years. 1t must
get a man who will bring in persons
Of influence in the community. 1t
needs a larger organ and quartet
choir. Those things cost money. l
understand there's movement on foot
to get this big preacher that's been
electrifying the people of N.
This big preacher was Miss Tatler's
candidate, but his bigness had been
created by the lady herself.
But her modesty-So it was supposed
always led her to say: Don't quote
me. l have nothing to do with this
matter. yield to the will Of the ma
jority."
Three months after Miss Taller put
in her wedge the fact that there was
dissatisfaction with him first reached
Mr.. Brooks ears. Great was his as
tonishment 1T is my duty" he said.
under the circumstances. to place my
resignation before the congregation for
acceptance or rejection"
Don't" said his supporters; ut will
give these malcontents an advantage"
"Good," said Miss Taller to herself.
1T is not yet time for resignation.
We need more on our side for ma
L., -