Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1887 — Giving a Parson Points. [ARTICLE]

Giving a Parson Points.

A young man who recently graduated from an Eastern theological school went out to Murray, in the Coeur d’Alene country, to take charge of a church. The largest gambling-hall in town was cleared for his accommodation the first Sunday, one table on which Spanish monte was usually dealt being left for him to stand behind. A large stock-register book was laid on this, which was supposed to represent the Bible. The whole town turned out and the young divine preached a powerful sermon. In it he strongly denounced gambling, horse-racing, drinking, and profanity. That afternoon he was called on by a committee of leading citizens, one of whom said: “Pardner, thar’s a little matter we’d like to talk over with ye. I am the Chairman uv the Vigilance Committee.” “Is it possible?” “Mighty poss’ble, Captain; the cussedest possible thing ye ever seed. Wot we come here to say is that we don’t approve o’ your preachin’. ” “I am very sorry that such is the case, but I can’t see how I can change it.” “Can’t, hey? Well, I reckon you’ll hev to. Ye’ve got to let up on hollerin’ again gamblin’, an’ horse racin’, an’ swearin’, an’ liker. Them things air all Towable here, an’ air highly recommended by the leadin’ citizens, an’ the clergy has got ’er fall inter line. As a committee we moseyed up here to warn ye, an’ ’taint our style to warn more’n once.” “But, my dear sir what can I preach against—l must denounce something.” “What can ye ] reach ag*in? Well, I swar! Hain’t there wickedness’nough in this country ’thout goin’ outer yer way to jump onter sich things? Preach ag’in hoss stealing and jumping mineral claims, uv course. Rip ’em up the back an’ tramp on ’em. Then there’s original sin—tech that up once in while, Jes’ confine yerself to these things, and the boys will jes’ crowd in to hear an’ cheer yer every time yer make a good p’int.”— Omaha Republi' can. A door-knob lantern, on which is the number of your house, is new.