The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-08-10
WHEN JOE DOBSON
PUT UP A PRAYER

Joe Dobson, local contractor. former
city marshal of Prineville. who last
week attended sessions of the Grand
and Supreme Lodges of the Knights OF
Pythias. when he first settled in the
Northwest was ranch hand and later
foreman for e. N. White. Crook
county sheep man.
Mr.. Dobson, a native Englishman
and one time q quartermaster OF the
first rank in Great Britain's navy, ac-
cording to local Pythian brothers who
accompanied him, told the following
interesting story Of border days in
eastern Oregon to a party Of fraternity
men from all parts of the country.
One day, shortly after Mr.. Dobson
had been made foreman. according to
the story teller. his ranch owner. hav.
ing just returned from The Dalles.
presented him with bottle of fine
whiskey.
81 was just leaving the corral to take
the whiskey up to my bunk and hide 1t
and maybe have q nip" says Mr.. Dob.
son. when two strange horsemen rode
up and dismounted. The night before
had been rainy and the drizzle had fol-
lowed through the morning. The
strangers seemed cold, and according
to the hospitality of the country
asked them if they wouldn't 4ake
drink with me. They both refused,
and thought it strange.
"But | had forgotten all about it.
going about my morning duties. when
old man White. came down to where |
was and said:
Joe, you played hi this morn
ing
" Huh | asked, wondering just
what he meant. 1t was then that he
told me the two men were itinerant
preachers. Mr.. White announced that
they were going to spend the rest of
the day and night with US. He stated
that they would probably return thanks
at noon and the evening meal and
would probably say something to the
Lord in my behalf.
''Sure enough at noon they asked
that ranch foremen mend their ways
and that the Lord take care of them.
well, that night after supper. when
we all got round the fire, those preach
ers took out good big plugs of tobacco
and all of US had good splitting match.
The fact that they used tobacco gave
me an idea. Just before bedtime, the
ministers broached the subject of pre-
bedtime prayer. They asked Mr.. White
il he would say a few words. but he
replied that he never did it. and two
sheep herders said they couldn't.
perhaps because they thought l
was heather they were not going to
ask me to pray, but broke in just
before the meeting adjourned and re-
quested to be allowed short prayer.
Then said:
+" Supreme Ruler of the Universe,
we bumbly ask that thy blessings de-
scend upon the two brothers visiting
with US tonight. Help them to see the
error of their ways and inspire them to
quit the use of chewing tobacco, but
about the time they do quit, help 'em
to buy box, so that they may present
it to me with their blessings an then
III have tobacco for long. long, time.
And when they reach that bourne
from whence no traveller returns and
enter that celestial temple, that house
not made with hands, provide them
each with a golden harp and golden
crown | wasn't able to get any fur
ther, for Mr.. White laughed out loud
at this point.
"The next day the ministers on leav-
ing told Mr.. White that his foreman
could put up pretty good prayer, but
that they did not believe he was much
of a Christian"