Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-21
WHEN FATHER WENT TO CHURCH.

When boy breaks out in protest
against going to church his elders, if
they are elderly enough. gaze on him in
establishment. Going to church now
adays is a different, very different
thing from going to church when your
father was boy, young man.
Why son. your father doesn't remem-
Der when he first went to church. His
earliest recollection is of church and
wooden pew that ran half way across
the building to sort # line fence
which divided the sheep and goats ac-
cording to sex; for in those days wom
en- sat on one side and men on the
other. Sometimes some city fellcr who
had come out in a livery rig to see
some farmers daughter. who was go
ing TO school in town and putting on
airs. came in and sat with MS girl: but
that was unusual and he didn't know
any better anyway. There We're no
cushions on that pew seat and some
times a silver worked up with the grain
of the wood and brought with it
smothered exclamation from the per-
son who hitched sidewise and met il
nall way. In winter two stoves, mid
way of the building. roared with a COZ. =
wood fire and strove. generally without
avail, 10 overcome the morgue-like
chill Of the room which had gathered
lhru week Of zero weather. AT night
kerosene lamps shot uncertain rays
here and there from their tin refiectors.
Ihey had built the church on the high
est and most exposed place in the
country, at the cross reads Ii was
treeless and barren of all excep, the
building itself, the populous church
yard with its chilly marbles each re-
citing names, dates, virtues and the
eternal hope that even the churchyard
can not destroy. Around it during
church services stamped and shivered
a score Of horse teams. some of them
planketed, some covered with buffalo
robes or quits and occasionally with
out covering OF any kind. Even then
1t was Whispered that man who could
pray while his team shivered unshel-
tered might have hard work getting nv
Fe'er to place on the throne. Figure
II out. Include the trip to church from
one TO five miles and thsn conlpare
Your short Walk down to the weu
warmed building you worship inf
You DO worship.
The preacher was nearly always old
There was common impression
among the younger people that a
preacher arrived On earth old and stern
and theologicaliy equipped as that
NEUROLOGICAL warrior sprans fu,, arn,aa
ana active into being. They all be-
ileVed in hell" not the modified hell of
your day but an honest conAaeratio,
reeking with birthstone whore the draf.
was always up and the blowers on. He
stood IN his pulpit before the sound
ing board like an eagle He proclaimed
MS theories Of punishment as with
trumpet. When he had finished with
Tue STATE CT man and the prospects of
eternity and the thoughtful and i'm
questionable child CT that cav took ,,
NehtorE OF himself the boy couldn't
see glimmer Of light or a cat hole Of
escape You knew you deserved 70
scorch' And sometimes after a long
s'Fe'ch OF quarterly nee,ing you went
nome that night and covered uD yn,,r
mead under the bed clothes and won
dered whether YOU would die that ,i.,,
aao wake up where the worm dieth
not and the fire is not ouenched Tia.
was some going TO church. two solid
fi0urs OF good old hell fire sermon no,
the thirty minutes Of kindly effort Of
the pulpit Of the present.
You didn't duck your SUNDAY scboo,
either in those days. To play hockey,
from sunday school and go skating
would have been scarcely less disgrace
iul personally and to the family than ?
short term in the peoi-anfisrv r,
Jou we're IN Your place bright
ana early You parrotted from five to
Hi'een verses Of scripture" that Won
oidnt know anything about excent bv
rote and got card, badly worn and
the worse for its previous ownership
winch on the system now pursued in
cigar stores and premium shops might
IN sufficient quantities be exchanged
Tor bible or story book dealing with
the sad fate of bad boy and his broit-
ing future and the earthly advance
znent and final heavenly fn;sb
Oh fellow that you wouldn't take fish
ing with you here below. And young
man, we got our verses 1t was the
easiest and least painful way out of If
we oldh nave sweet young thing to
COAX US to learn our lesson and to rule
Wy love. Old Rector or mis- like had
our class. He said get il. He called
parental attention to deralic,s TIL.
superintendent bawled us out right nv
name before every one, smiled a smile
that ought to hang any man and honed
mat his little friend would do better
next time. His little friend did Not
because Oh the superintendent so much
a. thru certain nerSuaei,,a ...