The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-03-07
- AA0 ~ ~ A0AA N -
!. CHURCH POLITICS =
Z BY ESTHER VANDEVEER. -
YAA u ~ ~ ~ nh 80 ~
Copyright, 1917, Western Newspa per Union

I
Exit" said the rector of st. Jane,
, to his daughter. II have found q Gu
rate to take the place Of young Rob
erts, who goes to another field. yh,
man who relieves Roberts Is Mr.
kinsley, who left the seminary onl.
last spring, and has been much sough
after since, because he promises to b,
shining mark in the profession.
am indebted to the bishop for securin,
him as my assistant. You know mi
dear that l am not as strong as form
erly. and this young man can be in
trusted with great deal of my work
would not like to lose him through
iany-well-"
! "All right papa DEAR" said Kit, put
ting her arms around her fathers
neck, II promise, you to let Mr., Kius.
ley alone"
This was promising a great deal, fol
Mr.. Roberts was the third curate who
had fallen in love with Kathryn Ire
vOr, and when refused by her had con.
sidered it necessary to seek another
field.
Every we'll, my DEAR" replied the
rector to his daughters promise; If
Kinsley falls in love with you and pro-
poses I shall expect you to accept
him."
| Kathryn made no reply to this. Her
confidence in herself was not Of the
strongest. She loved her father and
was anxious that he should be re-
| lieved of his arduous duties; she in
tended to give the new curate wide
berth
The new curate fulfilled in every re-
spect what was expected of him. He
spoke without notes, and this enabled
him. to lead his congregation readily
In the many things outside his ser
mons that are required Of clergyman.
What he said and did was always to
the point. As to relieving the rector 1t
was not long before he was able to do
almost anything required Of his sppe-
rior better than that superior himself.
The day after he entered upon his du-
ties Kathryn went upon a three
months visit to friend living in a
distant city. Those Of the congrega-
ton who knew the real reason of her
fathers not being able to keep q Gu
rate were very much pleased at her
conduct in keeping out Of Mr.. Kins-
Iey's way. 'How noble Of her!'' said
Mrs. Ba1linger to Mrs. Smythe. "Splcn-
did," was the reply. "And how nice
for poor Mr.. Trevor, whose health is,
so poor"
beautiful :" rejoined Mrs. Ballinger.
The third Sunday after Mr.. Kinsley
assumed his duties. the rector was Ill,
and the curate conducted the services
and preached. Mrs. Ballinger and Mrs.
Smythe walked home from church to-
gether. "What a beautiful sermon r.:
remarked the former. IS -
Hes a born orator." was the reply.
Hell be our dear rector's successor"
"1ndeed he will, and the sooner he
takes the first place the better it will
be for the parish"
Mr.. Kinsley continued in such favor
that within sixty sdayseafter he began
to Officiate as rector Mrs. Smythe, who
ran the affairs Of the congregation,
had her plans laid for getting rid of
the rector and putting the curate in
his place. TIE only difficulty In her
way was that the congregation loved
the old doctor, and never would have
dreamed Of putting him aside had 1t
not been suggested by Mrs. Smythe.
AS It was, the lady engineered the mat
ter 30 we'll that all was ripe for hint.
Ing to the rector that his resignation
would be acceptable to some persons
In the congregation.
One day Kathryn appeared at home
having cut short her visit month.
Coming out Of church the Sunday af-
ter her arrival, she saluted Mrs.
Smythe:
"How lovely" said the latter "that
your dear father has such q prop in
his old age"
1T is indeed; hear the new curate
will now get some rest"
Kathryn had been at home a month.
The curate had called upon her on her
return, and that was all. Her,father
supposed he had every reason to be
satisfied with her behavior towards his
assistant, but he was not thinking of
that; he had heard Indirectly that
there was movement on foot to dis
place him. He was much worried, but
said nothing to his daughter about the
matter.
One morning the postman called at
the rectory as usual at breakfast time
and among the letters he left were two
Of Importance. The doctor opened the
first and looked with surprise and sus.
Ticion at his daughter. It was the Gu
rates resignation. However, the old
man said nothing, but turned to the
other letter. 1t informed him that
certain wealthy members of the con-
gregatiOn who were relied on to keep
up the church were in favor Of putting
the curate in his place. His resigna-
ton would be financial benefit to the
church.
The doctor laid down both letters