THE DEACON OF DOBBINSVILLE

A Story Based on Actual Happenings

_By John A. Morrison_

Publisher's Preface

This narrative, written and first printed some 45 or 50 years ago, depicts the contrast in that day between the nominal religiousprofessors on the one hand, and on the other the individuals who hadbeen soundly converted, made new creatures in Christ, filled with theHoly Spirit and rejoicing on the "highway of holiness. " There is adistinct line of demarcation "between him that serveth God and him thatserveth him not. "

The Apostle Paul warned: "For the time will come when they will notendure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap tothemselves teachers, having itching ears; and THEY SHALL TURN AWAYTHEIR EARS FROM THE TRUTH, and shall be turned unto fables. " 2 Tim. 4:4, 5. The religious world has apostatized much more since Paul's day, even to the extent in this modern age that professors of Christianityare proclaiming the blasphemous "God is dead" philosophy. 

The author, John Arch Morrison, kindly granted this publisher hispermission to reprint this book. Here are his words in his ownhandwriting dated October 26, 1965: "Dear Bro. In Christ, I have noobjection to you printing any number of 'The Deacon of Dobbinsville. 'Cordially, John A. Morrison. "

Then hardly two months later, on December 23, 1965, and before this bookwas printed, the author was taken suddenly from this life by a heartattack at Anderson, Indiana in his 73rd year. 

Time is rapidly bearing us all on to eternity. How all-important it isthat we remember constantly the words of the Psalmist: "So teach us tonumber our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. " The Wise Manwrites: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, andkeep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. " Eccl. 12:13. 

March, 1966--Lawrence D. Pruitt, Publisher

The Deacon of Dobbinsville

By John A. Morrison

CHAPTER I

Mount Olivet church at the time of which I am about to write hadreceived the zenith of her glory. She was possessed of a full measure ofthe denominational pride and prejudice common to the day and thecommunity in which she existed. Since Mount Olivet church is to occupyso conspicuous a place in my narrative, it is fitting that I should taketime and space right here to describe her. I must also give my readersan idea of the community of which Mount Olivet church formed the hub andcenter. 

Well, to begin with, Mount Olivet church was old. And like, all otherthings old she had a history, partly respectable and partly otherwise. The date of her organization reached back into the fifties, before thedays of the Civil War. Some great notables had lived and died in thischurch. Tradition had it that one of the charter members of this churchwas a candidate for president of the United States against JamesBuchanan. Of course he was not elected, as you know, and I suppose youhave noticed nothing in our national history about this particular manrunning for president, but you recall that the history of a nation andthe history of a local country district have a way of readingdifferently. 

But this aspirant to the presidential office was not the only great manwho had been a member of Mount Olivet church. The older citizens told ofa certain Preacher Crookshank who was pastor of this church during andprior to the Civil War and was also a member of the State Legislature;and, according to these biographers, he was the sole cause of the Stateremaining in the Union. It seems from all reports that PreacherCrookshank was not only a statesman of renown, but also a masterfultheologian of Mount Olivet's particular faith. It is reported how hedefended his theology with his splendid oratory, and how when thisfailed he resorted to his fists. His oratory was said to be simplyoverwhelming. They recounted how, in his oratorical frenzies, he used tofling his homespun coat in the air and crack the heels of his red-toppedboots together with an emphasis that would stop the mouth of the mostimpudent gainsayer. They told how by this masterful eloquence opposerswere silenced, heretics were brought to orthodoxy, and infidels wereconverted. Preacher Crookshank flourished contemporaneously with JohnBarleycorn. To be frank, he and John were bosom friends. In fact, it wasreported that Crookshank was never at his best in preaching except whenhe had an infilling of the "spirit" of the Barleycorn type. He had acertain long-tailed coat, said to have been given to him by a fellowmember of the Legislature. This coat had large pockets in the tailwherein was carried a bottle of whiskey. This was a source of muchinspiration to Crookshank throughout his long and eventful career. 

But I must leave off any further description of this notable. Those whoare further interested I refer to the blue-grass cemetery just back ofMount Olivet church, where a tombstone is to be found bearing thisinscription: "Rev. John Crookshank--Statesman, Preacher, Orator. DiedJune 6, 1867. "

As before stated, Mount Olivet church flourished. She was nestled amongthe picturesque Ozark Hills, about midway between Ridgetown andDobbinsville. Everybody in the community, almost, who had any religiousinclination, and some who had none, belonged to Mount Olivet. Sheboasted in being the largest church in all Randolph County--the churchesat Ridgetown and Dobbinsville not excepted. When I say that Mount Olivetchurch flourished, I do not mean that she flourished in spiritualthings. Indeed, her candle of vital religion had well-nigh flickeredout. Scarcely a member could be found who would testify to a realexperience of salvation from sin. There were three things for which themembers of this particular church were remarkable, namely, they weregreat sticklers for the faith of their church, they were allholiness-fighters, they all used tobacco in some form. 

CHAPTER II

Deacon Gramps sat on his plow-handles. The sultry August day was drawingto a close. The sun was just ready to roll its bright red disk behindthe western horizon. The Deacon seemed to be in a deep meditation. Hecast a glance at his beautiful farm as it stretched itself out for amile toward the river on the one side and nestled snugly against thefoot of the limestone hill on the other side. The large white farmhousewith green trimming cozily planted on a blue-grass knoll across thebrook seemed to bid him be at rest. The large red barn just back of thehouse stood out in sharp contrast against the green-foliaged mountain. The gold-colored balls on the lightning rods glistened in the farewellrays of the receding sun. Mount Olivet Church reared her white wallsmodestly from the brow of the blue-grass knoll a quarter of a mileeastward. Deacon Gramps was, at the close of this peaceful summer day, indulging in a mental congratulation of himself on being so favorablysituated in life. Everybody recognized Farmer Gramps as being thewealthiest man in all Spruce Township. He owned the finest and fattesthorses that were driven to Mount Olivet Church. His cattle roamed theforests for miles around, and his hogs cracked acorns on every hillside. 

Apart from his worldly wealth he was the most distinguished member ofMount Olivet church. For years he had been deacon in said church, andwas president of the official board. In fact, he was as truly a part ofthe Church as was the pulpit on the platform or the bell in the steeple. No meeting was complete without him. He was an indispensable part of theservice. He always sat in the same pew, and none coming into the Churchpreviously to Deacon Gramps ever dared sit in his pew any more than theydared to monopolize the preacher's chair in the pulpit. He alwaysenjoyed the double pleasure of chewing his tobacco and hearing thesermon simultaneously, and this necessitated his occupying a pew nearthe window, as you may well suppose. This window was known to roguishboys as "Deacon Window" and not even the bravest of these boys daredpeep through this window during services as was their custom in thecase of the other windows. 

Perhaps it is needless to say that the uninterrupted presence of Grampshad a profound influence upon the service. No preacher dared to fail torecognize his dignity. As well as being an officer in the church he wasthe heaviest contributor to its collections. He had a very curious habitof twitching his right ear when the preacher said something that did notjust set well with him, and it naturally followed that every pastor whoever served Mount Olivet fell into the habit of watching Gramp's ear, and of course the sermon was governed accordingly. Thus "According tothe deacon's ear, " came to be a by-word through the community. 

Well, as I have already said, Deacon Gramps sat on his plow-handles. Just as he turned to unfasten the trace-chains from the plow to drivehis horses to the barn, he saw two men climbing over the whitewashedfence that led from the barn toward the Church on the hill. Seeing thesemen were coming towards him, he resumed his position on the plow-handlesand waited for them. As the two men drew near, he recognized in them thefamiliar features of Deacon Brown and Deacon Jones. 

CHAPTER III

Jake Benton was a member of Mount Olivet Church and had been fortwenty-seven years. Jake was a man of ordinary natural intelligence, butlike most of his neighbors was utterly ignorant as far as literarytraining is concerned. He naturally had deep religious sentiments. Underproper teaching he doubtless would have pressed his way into a genuineexperience of salvation and would have lived a consistent Christianlife, but under the unwholesome teachings of Mount Olivet he had givenhimself over to a mighty religious drift and had drifted far away fromGod and was completely destitute of redeeming grace. Oh, to be sure, hetestified regularly at the church services and gave of his limited meanstoward the church's support, but he was a man of uncontrollable temperand was well versed in the art of old-fashioned fist-fighting. But hisprofession had become a burden to him, and he had often wondered ifthere were no possibility of extracting some joy out of the juicelesslemon of his profession. 

Now, it so happened one summer that Deacon Cramps had a large drove ofcattle ranging on the hills about thirty miles to the southeast of MountOlivet community. This drove of cattle consisted of a thousand head, andit became necessary that the Deacon employ some trustworthy person toherd the cattle and prevent them from scattering, or being stolen bycattle-thieves who sometimes visited that section. Since Jake Benton wasknown as an upright man and was a brother in the church, Deacon Crampsoffered him the position. Out of pure financial necessity Jake accepted. 

This was some years before the rubber-tired automobile had invaded theflint hills of this section and thirty miles meant hours of toilsometravel. Thus it was necessary that Jake take along a camping outfit andremain all summer. This he decided to do. Many and long were the hoursthat Jake spent in this lonely mountain retreat. For miles around therewas little sign of human activity. No sound of woodman's ax was heard. The stillness of the long summer afternoons was broken only by thetinkling of the bells on the hillsides. A lone log cabin lifted itsmud-chinked walls from the brow of a hill from under which flowed ababbling stream of clear water. In the attic of this lone cabin JakeBenton was regularly lulled to sleep by the evening lullabies of thekatydids as they sang in the tops of the postoak trees with which thecabin was surrounded. 

One August afternoon when Jake returned from his regular roundup of thecattle, he found, seated on a log near the spring, two men. At the sightof the men Jake's heart leaped into his mouth. For two months he had notlaid his eyes on a human form. He had heard no human voice save his own. Needless to say, he was as much pleased as surprised to find companionsin his lonely abode. Jake neared the log where the men sat. One of themarose and advanced toward him. "I trust, " he remarked, "that you willnot think we are trespassing on your premises. We have been travelingall day; our horses were tired and we were thirsty, and the springinvited us to be refreshed. " For a moment Jake stood speechless, andthen in almost forgotten terms he made his unexpected visitors feelwelcome. 

The three men conversed for some time, and in the course of theconversation Jake explained to them the reason for his lonely life andthe circumstances that caused him to be thus engaged. The strangersexplained that they were driving across the State, and that, in order tomake their journey fifty miles shorter, they had been instructed to takethis untraveled road through this expanse of wooded hills. 

"I should think, " remarked one of the men, "that this would be asplendid place to meditate on the goodness of God. Loneliness oftenbegets meditation, and God loves to be the companion of thecompanionless. Then, too, there is all this nature with which you aresurrounded. These flowers and trees and birds all speak of the goodnessof God. I was remarking to my fellow traveler of how these beautifulscenes remind us of God's goodness. Pardon a frank question, but may Iask, Are you saved?"

This was all new language to Jake and he scarcely knew how to answerthis rather blunt question. "Wu-wu-well, ye-yes, " he answered. "I try tobe a Christian. I belong to the church and have belonged fortwenty-seven years and accordin' to the preachin' we have I think I'llget to heaven. I s'pose you fellers must be preachers. "

"Yes, we are preachers, " remarked the other. "We have consecrated ourlives to the blessed service of Christ and our greatest delight is inpreaching his gospel and telling others of the wonders of his grace. There can be no higher calling than that of telling of the saving graceof God. For fifteen years I was a cold professor of religion, but Ilacked vital salvation. I belonged to the church and paid the preacher, and somehow I thought I would get through all right. I sinned more orless every day and did not know that I could be saved from sin. In fact, I never had been converted. I tried to live a Christian life, but I waspowerless. After fifteen years of this miserable existence I got a newvision of things. God removed the scales from my eyes and I saw my lostcondition. I saw myself in an entirely new light. I wept before Godbecause of my sins. I was made very conscious that unless I was savedfrom my sins they would damn me in hell forever. My churchianity and myself-righteousness and my morality looked ridiculous when I saw myself asinner in the sight of God. I came to God and poured out my soul inbitter repentance, and said, 'Save me, or I perish. ' I promised him thatI would forsake my sins, make my wrongs right, and walk in the light. Iread in 1 John 1:9, 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just toforgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ' Well, I confessed my sins and forsook them, and God for Christ's sake pardonedall my sins. Praise His name. The joy and peace that filled my soul wereunspeakable. I was a new man. I loved everybody, even my bitter enemies. Christ, in all his blessed reality, came into my heart as an abidingcompanion. Some time after my conversion, through a holiness paper, which fell into my hands, and through reading the Bible, which hadbecome a new book to me, I learned that it was possible for me to bewholly sanctified and to have the Holy Spirit as an abiding comforter. Oh, the joy of this blessed life. Its glories are untold. "

Poor Jake stood amazed. He had never heard anything like this before. He burst out, "If that's religion, I confess I hain't got none; and tobe plain, I ain't much inclined to believe such stuff as that. I havebeen a member of Mount Olivet Church for twenty-seven years and I neverheard such preaching as that. That must be some new religion that'sgoin' around. Talk about bein' saved from sin, why there's our dear oldBrother Simms, who was our last pastor at Mount Olivet. He died lastMarch and since then we ain't had no pastor--why I heard him say more'nonce from the pulpit that folks can't be saved from sin till they get toheaven. "

All this Jake said and a great deal more. He talked himself hoarse andused up all his choicest terms in extolling the name of Mount OlivetChurch and all the pastors she had had since he had been a member. Allhis arguments were quietly and lovingly answered by the ministers, whoread to him many passages of Scripture. 

By this time the large elm cast a lengthy shadow eastward. The sun waswell-nigh set, and it was evident to the ministers that they should haveto prevail on their new acquaintance to lodge them overnight. 

"Well, my dear brother, " remarked one of the ministers, "we are farapart in faith, but I trust we are all honest in our views and I praythat God may lead us all in the way we should go. The day is gone, andto get out of these hills tonight is unthinkable. I wonder if you couldarrange to keep us overnight, Mr. Benton--I believe that's the name? Ifyou will, we shall be a hundred times obliged and shall be glad to payyou whatever you suggest. "

Jake was big hearted, if he was a sinner. "Sure, I'll keep ye, think I'dturn anybody out in these woods at night? Not me. I've kept preachersall my life, but I confess I never kept sanctified ones before. "

The three men went up the hill to Jake's cabin, and the two ministersbusied themselves writing letters while Jake prepared the evening mealfrom his scant pantry. When they had gathered around the large goods-boxthat served as a dining-table, one of the preachers thanked God for thefood and asked his blessings upon it. When the evening meal wasfinished, the three men sat in front of Jake's cabin until a late hour. The preachers expounded the Scriptures to poor, ignorant Jake and toldhim of the wonders of God's grace. Finally, when the big silvery moonstood in mid-heaven and the sound of cow-bells on the hill had diedaway, Jake suggested that they retire for the night. By the light of themoon one of the ministers read his Bible. It so happened that he openedit at the 12th chapter of Hebrews. These words as they fell from thisman's pious lips affected Jake deeply. He surely had read that samechapter himself many times, and doubtless during the twenty-seven yearshe had been a member of Mount Olivet Church he had heard his pastor readit. But there was one verse that sank right to the center of Jake'sheart. It was the 14th: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. " Jake had always had a hope inhis breast that he should some day see the Lord. He had had more thanhis allotted share of troubles in life, and deep in his heart he had alonging to go where "the wicked cease from troubling and the weary be atrest. "

Soon all was silence in the cabin attic, where the three men lay. Therestless surgings of man's inner soul are invisible to all eyes, saveGod's, and silence is not always a proof that everyone is asleep. Jakelay on a bag of dried leaves, having given his own bunk to his guests. But his eyes refused to sleep. The music of the katydids had lost itspower to soothe his troubled breast and bring him sweet repose. His mindtook a voyage over the past. Memory, according to her wonted wayscarried him again to his mother's knee. He recalled the sound of hervoice as she sang, "When I shall see Him face to face and tell the storysaved by grace. " But that scripture, "Without holiness no man shall seethe Lord, " took the sweetness out of that long-remembered song. Jakeknew he was not holy. His heart was defiled by sin. His lips wereunclean with blaspheming God's name. He remembered all the goodresolutions he had made and broken the past quarter of a century. Andduring these midnight musings he seemed to see two lily-white handsbeckoning him to come somewhere; he knew not where. These hands hereadily recognized as the hands of his own baby Rose, who had gone fromhim one day near the close of her fifth summer. Mentally he foundhimself again at the bedside of his darling Rose. He saw again her ruddycheeks glow with fever and heard the tremble of her voice as she said, "Daddy's Rose is going to heaven. Daddy come some day. " Again he saw thedeath-glare in the sky-blue eyes when the little soul flitted away. Hesaw himself again as he sat and looked into the sweet and lifeless faceof his darling girl, and he remembered how he resolved on that day tolive in such a way as to be reunited with his child. But his resolveshad all been unfilled, and he saw the path of his past strewn withbroken vows. In reality, God was speaking to the man's soul. Jake sawhimself in his true condition, a lost sinner. His sins seemed likehorrid black mountains rearing themselves eternally between him and hischild. His profession of religion and his church-membership seemed tomock him rather than to comfort him. 

But Jake was silent. He said not a word with his lips; but how hisbleeding heart did talk to God. Hot tears flowed from his sleepless eyesand dampened the dry leaves that formed his pillow. He supposed the twoministers asleep. Their opinion of him was the same. Finally Jake wasastonished to see, in the glimmering light of the moon that stolethrough the cracks in the clapboard roof, the two preachers slip fromtheir bed, and kneel on the floor. His ear caught their whisperingprayers that were heard in heaven. As nearly as he could hear, theprayers ran something like this: "O Lord, thou didst have a purpose insending us through these wooded hills. May we be instrumental inbringing light and salvation to this lonely cabin. Lord, talk to theheart of this Mr. Benton, who sleeps on his bag of leaves. Bringsomething before his mind that will break up his heart; disturb him evenin his sleep, Lord. "

Jake's emotions overwhelmed him and he could keep silent no longer. Hebounded from his bed, crying, "O my God, save me, save me, save me! Oh, do pray for me now! I am lost! lost! lost!"

Needless to say, the preachers were somewhat shocked, as people oftenare when their prayers are answered sooner than they expect. Theconvicted herdsman prostrated himself on the floor before the preachersand poured out bitter tears of repentance. He wept and groaned, andbegged God to save him. But he seemed slow to grasp God's promises. Heprayed till the morning dawned. The preachers prayed with him. Finally, just as the first grey streaks of the new day began to creep between thelogs, Jake's faith was anchored in God's promises, and the glory ofheaven flooded his soul. In the twinkling of an eye he was made a newman. His joy knew no bounds. He leaped and shouted, sang and whistled, and laughed and cried, all for the joy of his new-found treasure. 

When breakfast was over and the two ministers had bidden their newconvert a happy farewell, Jake sat down to read his Bible, which thepreachers had given him. His eyes fell upon these words, "Weeping mayendure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. " (Psa. 30:5). 

CHAPTER IV

The anteroom of the post office in a little Ohio town was crowded. Thetrain had arrived from the west, but it went as soon as it came, for itdid not stop. A scream of the whistle, the rumble of the wheels, and themighty monster dashed through the peaceful town at fifty miles an hour. But the inhabitants were not so interested in the train, for they hadseen it pass in just this fashion year after year. But from the baggagecoach there came each evening a bag of mail, and this was the cause ofthe gathering at the post office. While the postmaster and his assistantwere opening and distributing the mail behind the closed window in thepost office, the restless townspeople occupied themselves in social chatdiscussing the local happenings of the day, or in reading the notices onthe bulletin board. 

Everybody was at the post office at this hour. School children, happy atthe close of an irksome day of school, shouted boisterously at eachother in the street. Laboring men, with empty dinner pails in hand, satrestfully on the curbstone just outside the post office door, and talkedof the happenings of the day. The village blacksmith wiped the honestsweat from his brow, closed the shop door, and came down to the postoffice, where he was met by his flaxen-haired girl of three summers. Sheclasped her pink arms about the smith's grimy neck and told him Mama waslooking for a letter from Grandma, who had gone to California for herhealth, and that she had come down to see how many kisses Grandma hadsent her. The town doctor, with a dignified air, leaned against the sideof the post office door and read the Chicago paper that a previous mailhad brought to him. The schoolmaster had finished grading some testpapers and had come down to the post office just in time to be the thirdparty to an interesting fist fight in which two sixth grade boys wereengaged with great zest, in the street. Two out-of-town strangers, whowere guests at the hotel just across the way, came over and, seatingthemselves on a bench in front of the post office engaged inconversation. 

Finally the task behind the window was done. The mail was sorted andplaced alphabetically in the proper boxes. The postmaster flipped upthe window, and there was a mighty rush and a scramble--for who is noteager to get a letter? Some received several letters and papers; someonly one letter; some only a paper; some only a catalogue. Some weredisappointed altogether, judging from facial expressions; some receivedglad messages, some sad messages, some indifferent. 

When the crowd was dispersed, the two strangers who had been seated onthe bench appeared at the window and called for their mail. Thepostmaster handed to one of them a letter addressed, Evangelist Blank. The address was written in almost an unreadable hand. The evangelistopened the letter. It ran thus:

Dobbinsville, ----, Aug. 29----

My dear Evangelist brother:

i am saved and sanctified praise God O how i rejoice in this wonderfulsalvashun i was a member of Mt. Olivet church fer 27 yrs. But i neverknowed what it was to be saved from sin this summer i was herdin cattledown in the hills about 30 mi. From here and a most wonderful thinghappened. To preachers came along and told me that Christ could save andsanctify me i fought them at first but God would not let me rest until igave him my heart, then he sanctified me holy o how i rejoice my wifeand oldest son is also saved now but say bruther how the people of myown church persecute me they say I am crazy and that a man cant be savedfrom sin in this life o if i had only found this salvashun when i was ayoung man but now i am middle aged but by god's grace i aim to do all ican to save my neighbors, i see in the holiness paper that you are aevangelist and that you go about preachin this wonderful salvashun so iwant to now if you will come down here and preach to the people we can'tget Mt. Olivet church but we can build a brush arber. I am sending you$20. This part of the money i urned herdin cattle for deacon gramps ipromised the Lord when he saved me that i would give him part of thismoney so here it is so i hope you can cum your brother saved sanctifiedand happy

Jake Benton

CHAPTER V

As I have said before, Deacon Gramps sat on his plow handles at theclose of an August day. He fairly rejoiced when he saw Deacon Brown andDeacon Jones coming toward him. 

"Good evening, Brother Gramps, " shouted Jones and Brown simultaneously. 

"Good evening, my good brethering, " responded Gramps, "I am so glad tosee you. I have a great burden on my mind and I was just planning to goto your house, Brother Brown, as soon as I had unharnessed my team andeaten supper. "

Brown and Jones looked at Gramps with an expectant gaze, and continuedsilent. Gramps went on, "It's high time we was doin' somethin' toprotect our church. I have been a deacon in this church fer many a year, but to my mind this is the most dangerous time Mount Olivet has everseen. "

Brown and Jones nodded a candid assent to what was being said. Grampscontinued, "For many years our church has been the strongest church inthis county and everybody has counted it an honor to belong to thischurch, but you know, brethering, ever since our pastor died lastspring, and we have been without a pastor we have been gettin' weakerand weaker. And since old Jake Benton has gone crazy over this newreligion of hisen he is trien to get everybody else to go crazy. Youbrethering knows how I sent him down in the hills this summer to mindcattle. Well he seemed to kinder git overbalanced in his mind down thereand he's found a new religion. You know how he testified in meetin'tother night. He said he was saved from sin and he said he wassanctified, and whole lot of other stuff like that. And I believe hesaid, didn't he, that he was just as good as Jesus Christ and gettin'better ever' day, or something like that. "

"Yes, something like that, " added Brown. 

"Yes, " said Jones, "I was there myself and heard him. I have alwaysthought Jake Benton was a pretty good man; but when a feller gets sogood as all that, then he's too good for this world. You know the Biblesays there's nobody good but God. "

"Yes, I've heard the best preachers that was ever pastor of Mount OlivetChurch and they all say we sin a thousand times every day, " remarkedGramps. 

Jones spoke next: "I knew a bunch of them holiness people back in SouthCaroliner where I come from. They was the most outrageous bunch ofpeople I ever saw. Why, they claimed that they couldn't sin, and thatthey was just as good as Jesus Christ and that nobody would get toheaven but them. I'll tell you brethering we must not let them get thestart here. If they do, Mount Olivet Church is ruined. They tear downchurches just as fast as they come to 'em. Old Jake Benton ought to berun out of the country or else sent to the asylum. He ain't fit to runat large. Why, he told Aunt Sally Perkins that he was wholly sanctifiedand that his heart was just as pure as that of his little baby that diedyears ago when Jake lived over on Persimmon Ridge. He talks a whole lotnow about goin' to meet his baby and his mother and he seems to get sohappy every time he talks about it. " Jones's voice trembled slightly ashe went on to say, "But brethering, it makes me feel most wonderfullyqueer when I hear Jake talk about meetin' his little girl. He seems tohave no doubt at all about meetin' her, and say, you remember my littleboy died the same fall as Jake's little girl, and to tell the truth I'mjust a little fearful at times about bein' ready to meet little George. "

Deacon Gramps listened to all of this from Jones rather restlessly. Hespoke next with great gravity. "Brethering, since I am president of thisBoard of Deacons I feel it my duty to take steps to see that this newreligion is stopped and that Mount Olivet Church is not torn to pieces. As I said, I have been deacon here for many years and I have never seenthe church so in danger. Something must be done. I'll tell you what weneed, we need a preacher--one of our very best ones to come here andfight this devilish holiness stuff. "

"That's what we need, we must wipe holiness out, " responded Brown, as helet go a sluice of tobacco juice. 

Gramps continued, "Just today I had a letter from a cousin of mine backin Kentucky. He says they have a wonderful preacher back there by thename of Preacher Bonds. He says this Preacher Bonds feels a special callto fight holiness. I tell you, brethering, if we could get him here wewould make it hot for old Benton and his bunch. "

"We would that, " Jones chimed in. 

"Brother Gramps, why don't you write and ask Preacher Bonds to come?"suggested Brown. "Although the other two members of the Board are nothere, I think we just as well go ahead. "

"Better bring it before the church, " said Gramps, "because we've got toraise some money to get him. "

Brown and Jones both agreed that Gramps was right in this respect. Withthe understanding that Deacon Gramps was to call a meeting of the churchat the earliest possible date, the three men separated. 

Gramps spent the entire following day riding about the community givingevery member of Mount Olivet a personal notification that a specialmeeting of the church would be held on the following Wednesday eveningfor the purpose of considering grave problems concerning the church. Wednesday evening came; practically the whole church responded. When theappointed hour arrived, Gramps was on the spot. On every face waswritten expectancy. Deacon Gramps presided of course. He arose from hisseat, flung his quid of tobacco out of the window, squared himselfagainst the pulpit, adjusted his eyeglasses near the point of his nose, and looking over them he addressed the assembly thus: "My brethering andsistern, we have met as members of the grand old Mount Olivet Church. Here in this church our fathers met. Here in this church our mothersmet. Here in this church our grandfathers met. Here in this church ourgrandmothers met. Here in this church, my brethering, we have met. Andlet me say to you, my dear people, that we have met here tonight in thischurch for a purpose. There are certain people in this community whoseaim is to tear up this church; certain people, I say, whose aim is totear down this church. There is a certain doctring--the doctring ofholiness--getting into this community. This holiness doctring, myfriends, is a devilish doctring, my brethering, and must be wiped out. "(Amens all over the house. )

All this the Deacon said, and much more. He began his speech withconsiderable warmth of utterance, but as he progressed in praises ofMount Olivet and her faith he waxed hotter and hotter until hisspellbound hearers were fairly deluged in a mighty avalanche of hisrustic oratory, and he wound up with the sweeping statement that thedoctrine of holiness must be abolished from the face of the earth. 

When the Deacon had finished, and regained breath enough to put thematter to a vote, it was unanimously voted that Preacher Bonds should besecured at the earliest date possible. 

CHAPTER VI

A year had rolled around since Jake Benton had been converted down inthe hills. By this time it was plain to all unbiased minds that Bentonwas indeed earnest. Even his most bitter enemies were obliged to admitthat a mighty change had come over him. His life had undergone a realtransformation. His life was an entirely new life. He had unshaken faithin the God of his salvation. In his home he established a family altar, where he worshipped God as regularly as the sun rose and set. In hisbusiness relations he literally followed the Golden Rule. At church heunflinchingly declared what his new-found religion had done for him. Hedeclared that God had saved him from his sins and had subsequentlysanctified him wholly. He even waxed bold enough to tell in meeting howGod had healed him of physical ailments in answer to prayer. All thisgreatly incensed his fellow church-members. They insisted that he hadgone crazy and was no longer fit to belong to the church. Accordingly hewas put out. Jake took it all in good part and rejoiced that he wascounted worthy to suffer for Jesus' sake. 

But Jake was not long obliged to stand alone in defense of hisprofession. His simple life of trust soon began to have its effect inthe community; during the year his faithfulness had been rewarded by thesalvation of a number of persons in the neighborhood. Old Grandma Grayhad come out boldly on Benton's side. She said that for fifty years shehad been living as best she could, but that she had all this time had alonging for the fulness of the blessing, such as Jake Benton testifiedto, and she arose right in the public meeting and declared herself aseeker for just such a blessing. This set Mount Olivet church all in astorm. Deacon Gramps was furious. He said Jake Benton had a legion ofdevils and that Grandma Gray was bewitched. 

But when Grandma Gray took her stand for full salvation, the cause forwhich Mount Olivet stood suffered a mighty blow. Nolan Gray, a son withwhom Grandma Gray had made her home for years, had been a stanch memberof the church since he was a child. In fact, he had always said he hadgrown up in the church. Nolan Gray was a very upright man of undoubtedintegrity, and he stood for high moral ideals, but under the type ofpreaching to which he was accustomed he had never experienced a changeof heart. When he saw what a change had come over his mother, he refusedto be comforted with his religious profession. Jake Benton was a tenanton Gray's farm, and from daily contact with Benton, Mr. Gray wasconvinced beyond a doubt that Benton's religion was real. One night at aprayer meeting held at Jake Benton's humble home, Mr. Gray became soconvicted that resistance was impossible. He fully surrendered himselfto Jesus and obtained an experience that was marvelous even in the eyesof Grandma Gray. 

The news of Gray's conversion spread like fire on a dry prairie. He wasa heavy contributor to the finances of Mount Olivet. On this account itbecame a matter of conjecture as to whether or not he would beexcommunicated. However, Mr. Gray relieved all minds of any anxiety whenon the following week he quietly withdrew his membership from thechurch. 

The day following the night of Nolan Gray's conversion there occurred anincident that meant much to Jake Benton, as well as to Deacon Gramps. Benton was walking along the road that led around the fence from his ownhome to the large, white house occupied by Nolan Gray and his family. Hewas on his way to milk Mr. Gray's cow. He commonly went through thefield on such occasions, as it was much the shorter route, but on thisparticular morning he had a mysterious disposition to take the longroute around the road. When he had reached a point about a quarter of amile from his home, to his astonishment he met Deacon Gramps, accompanied by Gramps' hired hand. He saw at once that the Deacon was ina most surly mood. So in a pleasant tone of voice Benton said, "Goodmorning, gentlemen, nice mornin', " aiming with salutation to pass on. 

Gramps was not in any sense a brave man, as you may have guessed by thistime, but he always manifested great boldness where he was sure therewas no physical danger. 

"They say Gray got your kind of religion at the prayer meetin' lastnight, " he said. 

"Well, I guess it ain't my kind, " answered Benton, "but he sure did getBible salvation. "

Then the Deacon let loose in all his fury. "Jake Benton, " said he, "thisreligion of yours has got to be stopped, it's got to be wiped out, it'sdoin' more harm in this community than all the saloons in the State. It's tearing up our church. Nolan Gray and old Grandma Gray was goodchurch-members and have been for years and years and now they are takenin with this crazy holiness stuff, and you are the hul cause of it. Itell you it's just got to be stopped and I'm going' to stop it and I'lljust begin right here. " With this he advanced toward Benton and struckhim a terrific blow on the side of the cheek with his open hand. At thisBenton only replied, "God bless you, Mr. Gramps. " This served only toincense the enraged Deacon all the more, and he literally flew at Bentonand easily pinned him to the ground and sat upon his chest and beat himin the face most unmercifully. Poor Benton struggled and groaned, butdid not endeavor to hurt his antagonist. The Deacon's hired hand was allhis time a looker-on, but he finally mustered up courage, and with greatdifficulty succeeded in pulling the enraged Deacon off the poor man. When the hired man had finally persuaded Gramps away from the scene, Benton, bruised and bleeding in body, but victorious in soul, struggledto his feet and went home, glad that he was counted worthy to suffer forJesus' sake. 

CHAPTER VII

The community was stirred, no doubt about that. These were stirringdays. Not since the days when Union and Southern marauding partiesscattered terror in these woods had public excitement run so high asnow. The gossip of Benton's beating was on everybody's lips before thesun went down that day. Everybody talked about it. Jake's friends werewarmer friends and his enemies were hotter enemies. Those who had beenneutral were neutral no more. There were just two parties now, thoseagainst and those for holiness as taught and lived by Jake Benton. Asfor old Jake, he kept sweet in his soul and talked little and prayedmuch. His victory was complete. 

In the midst of this excitement Jake received a short but significantletter from Evangelist Blank. It ran thus:

Dear Brother Benton:

In accordance with my promise to you nearly a year ago, I am now in aposition to hold your revival. I will arrive in Dobbinsville August 2. Please meet me at the train. 

Your Brother in Christ, --Evangelist Blank. 

Jake read this scanty letter through tears of joy. He was unspeakablyhappy. He had prayed for a year, and now his prayers were on the vergeof being answered. A holiness preacher, mysterious being, was actuallyto set foot on Mount Olivet soil. The doctrine of full salvation was toinvade the precincts of sin-you-must religion. 

But where was Evangelist Blank to preach? Not in Mount Olivet, to besure. About a quarter of a mile from Mount Olivet Church was a sectionof land known in that country as Public Land. Here in the center of anold, unused, unfenced field was a thick clump of post oak sapplings, with heavy foliage. This spot was to be the scene of many an interestinghappening, a few of which shall be mentioned before this story closesand many of which shall not. As soon as Jake was sufficiently recoveredfrom the beating administered by the Deacon, he, in company with NolanGray and several others who were either friends or embracers of thedoctrine of full salvation, went to this spot and worked for a number ofdays building a brush arbor, which was to serve the purpose of ameeting-house. Long poles were tied from tree to tree to make aframework. Then other poles were laid across from the frame-poles tofurnish a support for the brush, which was thrown on top. A sort oftabernacle was thus effected which served the purpose well. Oil torcheswere hung on the upright poles to furnish light. Long boards werebrought from a sawmill near by and fastened on stakes driven into theground; these served for benches. The arbor would seat about fivehundred people. 

Everything was in readiness for the long-expected meetings. All therewas to do was to wait for the 2nd of August to come, and that was hardto do. Finally it came. That afternoon when the two-coached train rolledup to the little red station at Dobbinsville, Jake Benton stood on thedepot platform. His heart beat a rat-a-tat-tat against his chest. As thetrain slowed up and Jake saw through its window the face of a mancorresponding to the picture he had seen in his holiness paper, hisemotions refused to yield to control. He jumped high in the air, andshouted at the top of his voice, "Hallelujah!"

The train being a few hours late, the afternoon was far spent. On theroad from the station, Jake told Evangelist Blank as best he could ofthe happenings of the year just preceding--how he had been converted inthe woods and subsequently sanctified, of his persecution andexcommunication by the church, and of his recent beating at the hands ofDeacon Gramps. Evangelist Blank had had many long years of experience inthe field of evangelistic endeavor, yet when Jake Benton poured allthese startling things into his ears, there came a feeling over him thathe was entering into an entirely new experience. This feeling wasverified before he left the neighborhood a few weeks later. 

When the old-fashioned wagon rattled up to the front gate of the humblehome, Evangelist Blank expressed to Jake the belief that in coming tothis place he was in the center of the will of God. This made poorJake's heart leap for joy. He sprang from the wagon to the ground and, bidding his good wife see to the comfort of the Evangelist and thecorps of singers who accompanied him, set himself diligently to doingthe evening chores in order that everything might be in readiness forthe evening meeting. 

CHAPTER VIII

When the afternoon shadows began to lengthen there began to gatheraround the new-made brush arbor on Post Oak Ridge a number of men andboys. These were mostly idlers of the community, who had nothing inparticular to do, so had come early to the arbor. But when the lastfaint streaks of the dying day were fading, the more substantialcitizens of the community began to gather at this spot of interest. Theycame from every direction. Every path seemed to lead to the arbor ridge. Some came in wagons, some in buggies, some on horseback, others walked. 

Everybody, almost, was there. Grandma Gray was there. She sat serenelyin her big willow rocker, which Nolan had placed just in front and tothe left of the speaker's stand. Her age-wrinkled face was all aglowwith the joy of full salvation. Aunt Sally Perkins was there. Poor oldAunt Sally. She was notorious as a shouter and a hypocrite. Nobody hadany confidence in her as a Christian, but she was much given to sittingin the "amen" corner, and on this particular night she came into the bigarbor and deposited her scanty self right on a front bench. And thereshe sat, wrapped in her old grey shawl, peeping out from beneath her oldblack bonnet. Old Brother Bunk was there. For a quarter of a century hehad been a true and tried member of Mount Olivet Church, but of late hehad been much wrought upon by the holiness agitation. "Spooky" Crane wasthere. Crane was a harmless half-wit who lived alone in a shanty at theback of Deacon Gramps' field. He always made it a point to attend everyreligious service far and near, of whatever faith, and he had thecapacity for adjusting himself to his surroundings to such an extentthat he joined every religious movement with which he came in contact. Roguish boys found great amusement in giving him pennies to sing forthem. Jim Peabody was there. But that was to be taken only as a matterof course, for Jim always went to church. He went, not because he wasreligious, but because he was otherwise. He made loud boast of hisinfidelity. He had given himself extensively to the reading of BobIngersoll and other authors notorious for things other than goodness, soin his own vain imaginations he was a masterful scholar. He said therewas no God, and that any man who prayed was a fool. But the cause ofinfidelity had suffered a terrific blow when one time Nolan Gray, as hewas going to Dobbinsville, saw a huge wagon-box turned bottom side up, with the wagon on top, in a ditch by the side of the road. As he drewnear he heard coming from under the box the low muttering tones of aman's voice. As he stood near the box and listened he heard a mosteloquent prayer. He took a long pole from a fence near by and pried oneedge of the box up, and who should emerge from beneath but Jim Peabody. 

When the hour of service arrived, Jake Benton and the evangelistic partydid not arrive with it. Owing to the lateness of the train, Jake hadbeen unable to get around at the appointed hour. Finally the familiarrattle of Jake's wagon was heard, and now all was breathless expectancy. When the party arrived at the arbor, all eyes were fastened upon theEvangelist. If he had been a ghost moving about in the twilight of thatsummer evening, he would have been regarded with no more superstition bythat rustic people. There was nothing whatsoever extraordinary in thephysical appearance of Evangelist Blank. He was a man of average heightand scant weight. His rather pallid face was covered with a scantywell-trimmed beard. His deep-set blue eyes sparkled with a pleasantearnestness. Any lack of physical attractiveness was amply atoned for bythe splendid qualities of the man's soul. He was a mighty man of God. Hehad an unusual grip on the upper world. He had large capacities formoving God on his throne. A heavenly atmosphere pervaded the realm ofhis personality. 

When this man stepped onto the platform of the large brush arbor thatsummer evening, and took his seat and faced that audience, there was astillness that was painful. The awful stillness was broken when theEvangelist arose and said, "Praise God for his matchless salvation. " Hemade a few preliminary remarks and the corp of singers began to sing. And such music seldom issues from human lips. It was not overwhelming inpoint of its artistic qualities. The compositions were of the simplestsort. But the singers sang from out of the abundance of redeemed souls, and there was a heavenly inspiration accompanying the songs that simplyoverwhelmed the hearts of sinners and overjoyed the hearts of saints. One song that especially gripped the audience ran thus:

"Do you triumph, O my brother, over all this world of sin?In each storm of tribulation, does your Jesus reign within?"

 CHORUS:

"I am reigning, sweetly reigning, far above this world of strife;In my blessed, loving Savior, I am reigning in this life. "

When this and several other hymns equally inspiring had been sung, Evangelist Blank arose and said, "Let us pray. " At this the audiencebegan to make arrangements to stand, for it was the custom in MountOlivet Church in those days to stand while the preacher "made" hisprayer, as Deacon Gramps expressed it. But the Evangelist had the notionthat when the heart is humbled before God the body should be in a likeposition, so he reverently and unpretentiously knelt beside the roughboard pulpit. The four singers on the platform knelt simultaneously withthe Evangelist. This placed the members of Mount Olivet in a ratherembarrassing position. They disliked the idea of being so unreligious asto sit erect during prayer, and they could not bear the humiliation ofkneeling at a holiness meeting. A few of them under the press of thecircumstance did kneel. A few stood up. Most of them sat with bowedheads. "Spooky" Crane easily adjusted himself to the situation andpromptly knelt in the straw, and with his face in his hands peepedbetween his fingers at the Evangelist. Jim Peabody, the infidel, satarrogantly erect with an impish snarl on his lip. To him the wholebusiness of praying was a huge piece of foolishness--except, of course, when under the wagon-box. Aunt Sally Perkins knelt beside the frontbench and clapped her hands hysterically during the prayer. And DeaconGramps had slipped under the outer edge of the arbor, where he sat on alow bench with his elbows on his knees and chewed his tobacco mostvigorously. 

Evangelist Blank, himself, led in prayer. His prayer, like himself, wassimple, but mighty. It ran something like this:

"O Lord of heaven and earth, we thank thee for this hour. We have comehere in thy name; we plead no worthiness and no efficiency of our own. Thy blood and thy grace is all our plea. We would not thrust ourselvesinto thy holy presence on any human merits. But in thy name and throughthe blood of Christ our Saviour we come boldly before thee. We praisethee, Lord, for thy great salvation, by which thou dost save us andsanctify us. O Lord, make thyself mighty in the salvation of this peopleamong whom we have come to labor. Let thy matchless power be manifestedand thy righteous name be exalted. Be thou lifted up before the people. Lord, we rededicate ourselves at this hour to be used of thee in thesalvation of men. Come into these temples of clay afresh at this hour, OLord, and let the fire of thy holy presence consume all the dross thatmay be in us. Anoint our feeble lips to speak the unsearchable riches ofChrist . . . Hear us, Lord, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. "

This prayer made a profound impression on the audience. When it wasfinished, a few other songs were sung, and then Evangelist Blank aroseto address the audience. There was something about the preaching andpersonality of this man that made him a unique figure in the field ofpreacherdom. In the first place, he was masterful in his knowledge anduse of the Holy Scriptures. He knew God's Book. By patient study andlong practice he had brought himself to the place where he could readilybring to his defence an impregnable line of Scriptural proof to sustainthe propositions that he held. He was not only proficient in theScriptures, but he had a thorough training covering the whole range ofministerial and theological thought. He had the happy and unusualcombination of those qualities of mind that make for forceful oratoryand clearness in theological thought. And last, and far from least, hewalked with God. He had a yearning for the lost of earth's millions. 

On that evening when he faced for the first time his brush-arboraudience, it was plainly to be seen that he did not lack for somethingto say. He did not let his sermon get in the way of his message. He wentright to the heart of his subject, which he announced as Salvation. Hetook for his text Titus 2:11, 12: "For the grace of God that bringethsalvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denyingungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, andgodly in this present world. "

His sermon ran partly thus: "My friends and brethren, we are here thisevening to conduct this service in the fear of God. Almost a year ago Ireceived a letter from Brother Benton urging me to come to his place tohold a revival. Owing to my many calls, I was unable to come until thepresent time, and now at last we are here in the name of God. We expecthim to give us a gracious out-pouring of his Holy Spirit. The text thatI have read in your hearing introduces my subject, the subject ofSalvation. I feel the burden of this message pressing upon my heart. Since Jesus saved me from a life of sin I have had a consuming desire toget others to press their way into this grand experience. I shall notpromise to keep within the bounds of homiletical order tonight, but I dopromise to keep within the bounds of God's Holy Word and the leadings ofhis Spirit. " These introductory remarks were stated with a simpleearnestness born of a desire to see men saved. 

The Evangelist first proceeded to show what salvation is. He said it isa divine work of grace in the heart, wrought by the blood of JesusChrist. He explained that it means deliverance from sin. He said that ifthe Bible teaches anything at all, it teaches that the individual musthave a vital connection with Jesus Christ. 

Next the Evangelist set forth the conditions of salvation. "First, " hesaid, "a man must be sorry for his sins; secondly, he must repent of hissins; and, thirdly, he must forsake his sins. "

He dwelt at great length on the effects of salvation in the heart. Hesaid that if a man's religion did not have any effect on him, it wasworthless. A man's religion must make him a new creature, he argued. Hedeclared that salvation makes a man love even his enemies. He saidsalvation cleanses a man from inward and outward filth. 

By the time Evangelist Blank had illustrated and amplified all hispoints he had consumed the major portion of an hour and a half of time. During this time the entire audience was held spellbound by his simpleand earnest eloquence. 

All this was strange theology to the members of Mount Olivet Church. Itwas a stinging rebuke to their crooked and hypocritical lives. 

CHAPTER IX

It was about the fifth night of the big holiness meeting at the arbor onPost Oak Ridge. The country was stirred for miles around. People fromDobbinsville and Ridgetown and neighboring villages were in regularattendance. Scores of people had been converted. Many had beensanctified. Numbers had been healed. The forces of sin were enraged. Wicked men, grim with age, had melted like frost at noonday under themighty preaching of the Spirit-filled Evangelist. Old women with lyinghearts and gossiping lips had been stricken down in mighty and pungentconviction for their sins. Young men, roguish and rough andstout-hearted, had come to the old split-log altar and on penitent kneeshad sobbed out before God the awful sins of their hearts and had goneaway happy with the new-found treasure of full salvation. Young ladies, vain and haughty, had melted under the gospel messages and had come tothe feet of Jesus. Sweet children not yet in their teens had wept theirchildish transgressions away and in their simple faith had acceptedJesus as their Savior. Oh, grand and glorious gospel! How matchless isits power. 

Well, as I said, it was about the fifth night of the meeting. PreacherBonds was there, and had been the two nights preceding. He had regardedall the manifestations of God's power in the meetings with affectedindifference. He said he hated holiness and would hate it as long as helived. On being asked what he thought of the miraculous conversions thathad taken place in the meeting, he remarked that he would not believe inholiness even if Beelzebub himself were converted in the meetings. 

Evangelist Blank said he thought this would be a splendid time to have atestimony-meeting. So they had one, and he conducted it himself. GrandmaGray was the first to testify. She stood trembling, and balanced herselfagainst the back of the old willow rocker. Around her saintly face thereseemed to circle a halo of glory. At first she only stood and wept. Whenshe had gained control of her emotions sufficiently to speak, she said, "Oh, the love of God is unspeakable. How can I praise him for what hehas done for me? He saves me and sanctifies me and heals me. I praisehim for sending Evangelist Blank here. I would not say a word againstthe people of Mount Olivet church, but for thirty-some years I lived inthat church an up-and-down life. God knows I wanted to live for him allthat time but my experience was not sufficient to keep me. But since Ihave learned of the more perfect way, how my heart rejoices in this fullsalvation. Since this meeting began, the good Lord has been showing megreat light on the church question. I see the one body of Christ, whichis the church. I have just learned that I was born into the real, truechurch thirty-some years ago. O brethren, the day is dawning, the lightis shining. How glad I am that I have lived to see this day. "

When Grandma Gray had well-nigh exhausted her feeble strength inexhorting the people to come to Jesus and accept his truth, she sankinto her big willow chair and silently prayed. For a brief period therewas a deathlike stillness over the audience. 

For years Grandma Gray had lived a life that could not be gainsaid. True, she spoke in her testimony about her up-and-down life, but whencompared with the average professed Christian's life in that community, hers was above reproach. In her extreme age she spoke as one from theborder-lands of eternity, and her words naturally had a profound effect. 

Jake Benton was next to testify. He was simply overwhelmed with joy, andspoke at some length of his hope of someday being reunited with hisdarling girl in the skies. Jake's testimony scattered enthusiasm allthrough the congregation of the saints and there was rejoicing andpraising God that was doubtless participated in by the angels around thethrone. 

Little flaxen-haired Eva Gray, eleven-year-old daughter of Nolan Gray, arose and said that Jesus had saved her and that she aimed to spend herlife for him, as had Grandma Gray. Thus we see a godly life is fruitfulof influence even on the lives of little children. 

Probably the most remarkable testimony given was that of Squire Branson. Branson spoke thus: "Friends and brothers: I stand before you a redeemedman. I am washed and made white in the blood of Jesus. I am as a brandsnatched from the burning. I am now in my eighty-third year. You knowthe manner of my life up until this meeting. I have had absolutelynothing to do with religion. As you know I have lived a life of greatwickedness. I have been a drunkard, a gambler--a mighty sinner. Forfifty-three years I had not gone near a church service until thismeeting began. I have been thoroughly put out with the type ofChristianity exhibited in this community these past years. But whenthrough sheer curiosity I came into this arbor, I was made as consciousof the presence of the Holy Ghost as if I could have seen him with mynatural eyes. There at that altar night before last I unburdened myheart of the sins of nearly eighty years, and I stand tonight a witnessof the redeeming grace and love of Christ my Saviour. Oh, how can Ipraise him enough? Here I stand right at the threshold of death with along and wasted life behind me and an eternity of bliss before me. Whatbut the mercy of an infinite God could bring about this wonderfulchange?"

"Spooky" Crane said in his testimony that of all the churches he hadever belonged to this one was the best. Aunt Sally Perkins shouted. 

Evangelist Blank was just ready to close the meeting when he wasinterrupted by Preacher Bonds. Bonds' face was red with rage and hiseyes gleaming with anger when he burst forth in this unceremoniousmanner; "I thank God for a sensible and reasonable religion. I have beena Christian for thirty years and a minister for twenty years and I havenever experienced any of this wonderful joy that these people speak of. This sanctified holiness doctrine is the most damnable doctrine thatever struck this country, or any other country. I knew a group of theseholiness people back in Kentucky where I came from. They said they couldnot sin and that they were just as good as Jesus Christ himself. Theywere given to all sorts of fanatical projects. They claimed to havegreat faith and went so far as to say they were healed, as some of thesepeople have said tonight. One of them even said that by faith he hadcaused an iron wedge to float on the water. Talk about living free fromsin. There never could be a more crooked doctrine preached. The Bibleplainly says, 'There is none good, no not one. ' It also says that 'If aman liveth and saith he sinneth not, he is a liar and the truth is notin him. ' I believe the Bible. When I was in college old ProfessorThorndike used to give us an occasional lecture on the Hellish Heresy ofHoliness. He knew all about the doctrine and the harm it is doing thesedays. I am bold to say right here that God has called me and raised meup to fight holiness, and I have dedicated my life to this cause. I aimto use every means, fair and foul, to stamp this doctrine out of thiscommunity (Deacon Gramps, "Amen. "). I want to warn Preacher Blank andevery one of his dupes right here that if he continues to preach in thiscommunity he does so at his own peril. You people have no right, legalor moral, to come here and disturb the peace and tranquility of MountOlivet church, a church that has stood standpat for nearly half acentury in defence of the truth. I here and now call upon every loyalmember to come to the defence of the faith of your fathers. Those whowill pledge their united support to the cause of stamping out holinessrise to your feet. "

At this a score and a half of rustic mountaineers boldly stood up. "Letthose who have made this solemn pledge meet me at the back door of thearbor, " said Bonds as he sat down. 

CHAPTER 10

During the time that Bonds was on the floor, Evangelist Blank leanedagainst the pulpit with his face in his hands as if in prayer. WhenBonds sat down the Evangelist calmly faced the audience. Just at thistime he seemed to possess the meekness of a lamb and the boldness of alion. He seemed perfectly composed, as he remarked, "Well, brethren andfriends, I am indeed sorry to see this splendid testimony meeting end inthis way. I am sorry the ministerial brother feels as he does toward thetruth we have preached, and I hope after prayer and reflection he willsee his way clear not to hinder the progress of the meeting. However, ifGod sees fit to allow the hand of persecution to fall upon us, we bowsubmissively to his will. But we will not, we dare not compromise God'struth. We will preach the Bible regardless of consequences. " With theseremarks Evangelist Blank closed the service. 

After the service was closed everything seemed to be as usual except fora few whisperings around in regard to what Preacher Bonds had said. Aswas usually the case at the close of such meetings, the saints gatheredin little groups about the front end of the arbor and talked freely oftheir common faith and love. Mothers began to arouse sleepy-eyedchildren from their dreams and break to them the sad news that they werenot at home in bed. Bushy-headed, bearded farmers and woodsmen beganramming their grimy hands into the hip pockets of their "blue drillin'overhauls, " in which sequestered quarters were prone to hide their "longtwist" and homemade cob pipes. After injecting an ample amount of "longtwist" into the cob pipe's empty stomach and lighting a match theretoand sending a few initiatory puffs into the air, these mountaineers madeoff in the darkness toward their homes in different directions. Somewent in groups, some by twos, some singly. Seen from a distance in theblackness of the night these companies resembled a regiment ofglow-worms in a potato patch. From over the flint hills in the distancecame the familiar rattle and rumble of old-fashioned lumber wagons whoseoccupants had come far to hear the much-discussed preacher from "overeast. " Now and then the night air was pierced by hideous yells andwhistles from roguish boys dashing along on horseback, whose popularitydepended on the amount of noise they made. 

Is the offense of the cross ceased? Nay, verily; they that "live godlyin Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. " So say the Scriptures, and sothought Evangelist Blank as he lay down to rest that night after he hadclosed the testimony-meeting. Evangelist Blank slept in a tent, whichhad been pitched near the brush arbor. Several such tents had beenpitched by Jake Benton and other neighbors, who, finding it illconvenient to go to and from the meeting each night, had decided to runit somewhat on the camp-meeting plan. 

On the particular night of which we have been speaking, Evangelist Blankfrom some cause unknown to him was awakened shortly after midnight. Notbeing able to resume sleep, he thought to improve even the midnight timeby musing on the goodness of God. As he lay thus gazing through the thincanvas of his tent at the moon, which was now a two hour's journey inthe sky, he was startled by the sight of a man's shadow on the side ofthe tent. He lay still and listened. Soon he heard low muttering voicesa few rods from his tent. Still he listened. They drew nearer andnearer. Finally the mutterings became whisperings. Still he listened, and prayed. They came nearer. Soon several shadows were cast on thecanvas. He saw the winding shadow of a rope as it dangled from the armsof one of the men. Still he listened. Still they whispered. 

"No difference about Benton, we want the preacher, " he heard one say. 

"Are you sure this is his tent?" whispered another. 

"Yes, I saw him sitting in this tent's door reading this afternoon, "whispered a third. 

"We must get the rope on him and make away with him before the camp isaroused, " someone said. 

"What shall I do?" thought the pious man. "Does it mean that I mustsuffer death at the hands of this mob, simply because I have preachedthe truth? Will they hang me? Will they choke me? Will they stone me?Will they drag me over these awful rocks until life is dashed out? Whatmeant the gleam in Bonds' eyes last night in the service? What willbecome of my dear wife and boy in Ohio? Will I recant? Will I deny myLord? Will I shun to declare the whole counsel of God?" All thesequestions and many others flashed across the Evangelist's mind likeangry streaks of lightning across a black cloud. 

Through the thin canvas he saw in the moonlight half a dozen husky menseize hold of one end of a rope, the other end of which was arranged ina slip-loop. 

"Now when I get the rope on him, make for the hills, " said one man as hebegan to untie the strings that held the door of the tent. Just at thisinstant Evangelist Blank slipped under the edge of the tent on theopposite side from where the men were planning their diabolical feat, and under the edge of Jake Benton's tent, which stood just about twofeet from his own. With a quickness of mind that was almost miraculous, he donned a dress and shawl and bonnet belonging to Sister Benton, andstole out of the tent and across the ground toward the arbor in fullview of the enraged men as they came out of the tent that he had justvacated. 

The men were as much astonished as enraged at not finding their prey. They ransacked Jake Benton's tent and demanded that he reveal thewhereabouts of the preacher. Jake flatly refused. Except for histrembling, he stood like a stone wall and faced that score of maskedmen, thirsty for righteous blood. Really they appeared as so manythoroughbred devils right from the pit. They were masked in a way, notonly to conceal their identity, but in a way to make them appear ashideous as possible. The leader of the mob shouted, "Jake Benton, yousanctified hypocrite, if you don't tell us where that preacher is we'llhang your carcass up for the crows to pick. "

"Maybe you will, but I'll hang there, before I'll tell, " shouted poorJake in a trembling voice. 

"Who was that ole lady left your tent and went across the ground a whileago with a bonnet on?" shouted one of the mob. 

"I never saw an ole lady going across the ground, " replied Jake. (Inthis he was telling the truth, you know. )

"Hang him up to a tree boys, hang him up, if he won't tell, " shouted oneof the gang. "Bring the rope, " shouted another as he took hold ofBenton's arms. 

Just at this juncture the leader of the mob suggested to Jake that if heand his comrades would break up camp and leave the ground immediately, they would not hang him, but would continue their search for theEvangelist. To this Jake and the whole party of campers readily agreed. In the light of the moon, the whole ground of campers, consisting ofmore than a dozen families, hitched their teams to their wagons and madetheir way over the hills homeward. Before any wagon was allowed to leavethe ground, it was carefully searched by the mob to ascertain whether ornot Evangelist Blank were there. He could not be found. 

When old Brother Bunk and his family arrived at their home, which wastwo miles from the campground. Sister Bunk and the Bunk children wereafraid to go into the house until Brother Bunk should unharness the teamand go with them. When the Bunk family came to the yard, they wereastonished to see in the moonlight somebody sitting under the old silverpoplar-tree. They were scared to say the least. Sister Bunk and the Bunkchildren hovered closer and closer to Brother Bunk, while fear increasedas the distance to the poplar-tree decreased. Imagine their surprise andrelief when the person under the tree shouted, "Praise God, BrotherBunk, many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereththem out of them all. " It was Evangelist Blank. He explained to themthat he had walked the whole two miles from the camp through the woods, guided by the sound of the wagon, thus avoiding the possibility of beingapprehended by the mob in case they should attack the wagon. He hadarrived at the Bunk farm about the same time as the wagon had, but nothaving the inconvenience of a team to attend to, had sat down under thetree to rest. 

The mob naturally supposed that Evangelist Blank would somehow make hisway from the campground to Jake Benton's. Benton and his family arrivedhome from the camp about three o'clock in the morning. They had beenthere only half an hour when they were aroused by the shout of the mob, who demanded that the preacher should be yielded up to them. Not untilthey had thoroughly searched Benton's home would they believe Jake'scontention that Evangelist Blank was not on the premises. Finally, whenthey were convinced that Benton could not or would not tell them wherethe preacher was they withdrew to a clump of woods a short distance fromBenton's home and, the morning air being chilly, built a fire. 

It was here that their identity became known. As they chatted around thefire they removed the masks from their faces. Of course, Jake Benton wascurious to know who they were, and when he saw their fire in the woodshe resolved to find out, even at the expense of much trembling. Hethought he had recognized some of them by their voices when they talkedto him at the camp, but now he determined to make sure. He crawled onhis hands and knees for nearly a quarter of a mile along an old railfence until he came within a distance of twenty rods from where the menwere gathered, Indian fashion, around the fire. He was not at allsurprised when he saw in the group the familiar face of Deacon Crampsand Reverend Bonds. And he observed from certain parts of their maskswhich they still had on that these two men were the fellows who took theleading part in the affair at the camp. Jake recognized that the groupwas made up mostly of men who were prominent members of Mount Olivetchurch. A few non-church-members and young men of the baser sort werealso in the group. Benton watched them until nearly daybreak, when theydisbanded and started for home. Jake lay quietly in his clump ofbuck-brush until he was sure that they were at a safe distance, then hecrawled out and went home, informed much and scared more. 

Shortly after sunrise, old Brother Bunk came over to tell Benton thatEvangelist Blank was at his house safe, and happy in the Lord. This newsgreatly relieved Benton and his good wife, for they had not seen theEvangelist since he left their tent during the night, and they did notknow just how he was faring. Evangelist Blank had suggested that it beannounced that as this was Sunday there would be services held that dayat Old Brother Bunk's. This idea pleased Benton, and he joined BrotherBunk in scattering the news among the saints. Accordingly at eleveno'clock the saints gathered at the Bunk home, where a blessed meetingwas held. Great power and victory prevailed. The awful persecution haddriven the saints to their knees in prayer. The very atmosphere roundabout seemed to be charged with the Holy Spirit's power. EvangelistBlank started to preach, but found it impossible. The saints shouted himdown. A number of sinners who were present melted under the influence ofthe Holy Spirit and yielded their hearts to God. "Great grace was uponthem all. "

That night the meeting at the arbor was resumed, and it continued fortwo weeks with greater victory and power than before the molestation. The mob never bothered again, and the reason was this: A dozen or moremen in the community who were sinners, and professed to be sinners, butwho believed that men should be allowed to serve God according to thedictates of their own consciences, simply made it plain that the firstfellows masked or unmasked who should disturb the meeting would be dealtwith in a most uncomplimentary manner. The mob saw the situation in itstrue light and decided that for their own safety they would stay away. 

When the meeting finally ran its natural course and came to a close, Evangelist Blank bade the band of saints a loving and tearful farewelland betook himself to other fields to suffer and rejoice in the greatwork with which God had entrusted him. 

CHAPTER XI

Five years had flitted by since Jake Benton was converted down in thehills. The battle between holiness and sin-you-must religion had waxedhotter and hotter. Masked mobs had scoured the country at differenttimes, threatening the very lives of enemies. The sin-you-must group haddecreased in number, but had increased in wickedness. It couldtruthfully be said that every member of Mount Olivet church was at thistime a positive force for evil. The membership had dwindled toone-fourth its former size. Somebody is responsible for the statementthat the blackest deeds known to the world have been done in the name ofreligion, love, and liberty. Mount Olivet Church did her blackest deedsin the name of religion. She was determined to crush her adversaries, and she was not particular as to the means she used. Every member whohad even the tiniest spark of God's love in his heart had either casthis lot with the holiness movement or given up his religious professionaltogether. Preacher Bonds had grown more and more zealous in his fightagainst holiness. 

Deacon Gramps had preached his doctrine everywhere, in his home as wellas in the church, and he had already seen its fruits manifested right inhis home. One of his sons who had now become of age had built a sort ofphilosophy of life on his father's teaching. He had reasoned somethinglike this: "Since Father sins, and Mother sins, and the preacher sins, and everybody else sins, and nobody can keep from sinning, then itfollows that one is not responsible for the sins he commits whether theybe large or small, few or many. Then why not have a good time in thislife? Why not go the full length into sinful pleasure?" And go the fulllength he did. He had become involved in one criminal scrape afteranother, and he would have landed in the penitentiary before this timehad it not been for Deacon Cramps' financial backing. And by this timeit had come to be common knowledge in the community that the son'sprofligacy was almost certain to involve the Deacon in financial ruin. It was a fact much discussed in inner business circles at Dobbinsvillethat Mr. Gramps' farm was heavily mortgaged, and that unless some crookor turn unforeseen favored him he would soon face bankruptcy. He hadbeen unable to pay the interest on the notes he had been obliged toobtain in order to keep his son from going where he really belonged. 

As for Jake Benton, during these five years since his conversion, hispoverty had stuck closer to him than a brother; but thanks be to hispersecutions, he had grown immensely rich in spiritual resources. He hadbecome a mighty man in prayer. The sick were healed in answer to hisprayer of simple faith. And it seemed only a natural thing for him topray for his enemies. And as for love, Jake loved everybody andeverybody had found it out. If anybody in the community wanted a favordone them, all that was necessary was to mistreat Benton and he would dothem a favor. He had also developed into quite a preacher. Ever sincethe meeting closed in the brush arbor he regularly gathered the saintstogether on Sunday in the school house, and encouraged them in thethings of the Lord. His life was simply exemplary, and even hisbitterest enemies were compelled to acknowledge that God was with him. 

One Sunday morning when Preacher Bonds stood before his meager audience, the familiar face of Deacon Gramps was absent. His unusual absence fromthe Church was very noticeable, and Preacher Bonds suggested in theintroductory remarks of his sermon that unquestionably Brother Grampswas sick, and that it would be an act of brotherly kindness if when theservice was over a number of the members would call at the Gramps' homeand see the sick brother. 

When Preacher Bonds had finished his sermon, a song had been sung, andthe benediction had been invoked, a dozen or more of the members withBonds in the lead started for the Gramps' home, which, as will beremembered, was plainly visible from the church. 

"I believe, " said Bonds, "that Brother Gramps' barn is on fire. " At thisthe whole group began to rush toward the beautiful red barn that stood aquarter of a mile away. By the time they reached the spot, black cloudsof smoke and angry flames were shooting from doors and cracks in thebarn. Mrs. Gramps and the three children who were still at home were inthe barnyard wringing their hands and crying in a heart-rending manner. It was plainly to be seen that the visitors could do nothing to save thebarn, and all that remained to do was to stand and watch the flamesdevour the building. 

"Where is Brother Gramps?" said Preacher Bonds to Mrs. Gramps. 

"Wasn't he at church? No? Well, I don't know where he can be. He leftthe house just at church-time and I hadn't noticed but what he was inthe crowd that came from the church, " she replied. 

Preacher Bonds looked serious as he said, "He could not have been in thebarn, I suppose. "

"Oh, certainly not. I suppose he must be at some of the neighbors', perhaps Deacon Brown's--was Deacon Brown at church?" "No, Deacon Brownwas not at church, " replied Bonds. "Possibly he remained at home andBrother Gramps went to see him on some business pertaining to thechurch. But I don't understand why they did not meet at the church totransact their business. Brother Jones, will you run over to DeaconBrown's and tell Brother Gramps about his awful accident?"

"Certainly, " responded Jones, who stood near the barnyard gate talkingwith Gramps' hired hand, from whom he was endeavoring to learn thedetails as to how the fire started. 

"Try to tell him, " remarked Bonds, "in a way that will not be too muchof a shock to him. "

Jones mounted a horse and hurried off to Deacon Brown's and was soonback with the news that Gramps had not been seen at Brown's, and thatBrown was sick in bed, which fact accounted for his being absent fromthe service that morning. 

When it was learned that Gramps was not at Deacon Brown's, considerableanxiety began to be manifested on the part of neighbors. Some suggestedthat it was possible that Gramps could have been in the barn when itburned. Of course, care was exercised that such remarks should not reachthe ears of Mrs. Gramps. Messages were sent to all the neighbors insearch of Gramps. Someone had the idea that possibly he had gone toDobbinsville or Ridgetown, but searchers sent to these places reportedthat he had not been seen at either place for several days. PreacherBonds consoled Mrs. Gramps with the suggestion that doubtless he wouldshow up before night. However, when night came with no signs of DeaconGramps the whole community took an attitude of real alarm as to thelikelihood that he had been burned to death. It was announced that therewould be no meeting services at Mount Olivet Church, and Jake Bentondismissed his services and joined heartily in the search for the Deacon, who had dealt him so many grievous blows while Mrs. Benton dideverything in her power to console Mrs. Gramps. 

The search continued all through the night with no results. By earlyMonday morning there was general excitement for miles around. Scores ofpeople came that morning from Dobbinsville and Ridgetown, and gazed onthe mysterious scene of the former beautiful barn, now an ash heap. Officers came down from the county-seat and joined in the search for thelost Deacon. About the middle of the afternoon on Monday it was decidedthat the ash-heap should be searched for any evidence that the man hadburned with the barn This search had not gone far when the countysheriff found in the ashes the steel back-springs and blades of apocket-knife. Near by were found some pieces of enamel resembling aman's teeth. Next was found a small melted mass of something whichseemed to have been a suspender buckle. Preacher Bonds picked up threepieces of silver which proved to have been so many silver dollars. Several pieces of bones were found, but these were so nearly charred todust that it was impossible to determine whether they were bones of aman or bones of some of the many animals that perished with thebuilding. However, all these articles mentioned were found within a veryclose proximity to each other, and in the minds of most people presentthere was now no doubt as to the fate of Deacon Gramps. On Monday nightthe coroner rendered a verdict that the Deacon met his death by beingaccidentally burned to death. Mrs. Gramps swooned away and had to havethe attention of old Doctor Greenwich from Dobbinsville. In the event ofthe illness of Mrs. Gramps, it devolved upon Preacher Bonds to makefull arrangements for the funeral, in which affair Jake Benton and hisgood wife showed every disposition to help where help was possible. 

Preacher Bonds went to Dobbinsville and sent a telegram to each of theDeacon's five sons, two of whom lived in St. Louis, and three inChicago. He also sent a telegram to a minister in St. Louis to come topreach the funeral, as, he said, he did not feel that he could officiateat the funeral of such a worthy brother as the departed. This St. Louispreacher had been a college chum of Preacher Bonds, and was full of theMount Olivet persuasion. 

Those were in the days before undertakers and other such modernconveniences had been introduced into that country. Jake Benton, goodsoul, went to Dobbinsville after the coffin and hauled it back in thesame old lumber wagon he had hauled Evangelist Blank in five yearsbefore. 

The funeral was arranged for Wednesday afternoon at two o'clock. Ahandful of ashes, together with the pocket-knife and other articlesfound in the ash-heap, was taken and wrapped in a napkin and placed inthe big new coffin. 

On Wednesday afternoon, when two o'clock arrived, the two front rooms ofthe Gramps farmhouse were crammed full of people. The yard was full, too. The St. Louis preacher began and spoke thus: "My friends andbrethren, we have met on this sad occasion to pay our last respects tothe honored dead. Within the narrow confines of this casket lie theearthly remains of a man whose spirit yet lives. It was not my happyprivilege to know this excellent man, but I am informed by his pastor, Preacher Bonds here, of his manifold excellencies. When a great mandies, the people mourn. I am informed that our departed brother was agreat man. First, he was a great man in business. When I behold thisbeautiful well-kept farm, I see its wide, extending fields, its runningbrooks, its whitewashed fences, its excellent buildings, in the burningof one of which our brother met his death--when I behold these things, Isay, I am made to exclaim that God hath blessed him in basket and store. Yes, a great man in business. 

"Secondly, he was a great man in his home, and by the way, there iswhere the true greatness of a man is tested. In the death of ouresteemed brother the home is the loser. It loses a loving husband. Itloses a considerate father and an efficient bread-winner. 

"Thirdly, our brother was a great man in the community. I am told thathe was a public-spirited man. He believed in schools, in good roads, andin all other things that make for the welfare of a community. In hisdeath the community is a heavy loser. 

"Fourthly, he was a great man in the church. (Preacher Bonds, "Amen". ) Iam told that for upwards of thirty years our brother has been aconsistent member of Mount Olivet Church and a regular attendant at itsservice and a heavy contributor to its funds. I understand that he was amighty defender of the church's faith. He fought bravely on. He stoodlike a rock. He weathered the storm. He finished the course. Heconquered. 

"But, my friends, our finite minds cannot fathom the profound mysteriesof the infinite. We cannot understand. Why would a just God permit sucha noble man to meet such a tragic death? It is not ours to reason why. We simply bow our hearts to the will of the divine. "

"And now, to the bereaved I would say, Weep not as those who have nohope. (Mrs. Gramps weeps aloud. ) Brother Gramps is just gone on before. He has crossed over Jordan, where he waits on the sunny banks of sweetdeliverance. Just a few more days and we shall join him. He has gonewhere the wicked cease from troubling and the weary be at rest. Let uspray. Brother Bonds, lead us. "

CHAPTER XII

Twelve moons had rolled by since the Gramps funeral. The blue-grass sodhad already grown quite snugly over the year-old mound in the cemeteryback of the white church on the hill. The rose-bush at the head of themound had bloomed once and the June breeze had sprinkled its pink petalsover the green carpet. A more or less expensive tombstone stood modestlyat the head of the mound and silently announced to the passer-by whatany tombstone is supposed to announce, namely that somebody sleepsbeneath this mound. During the year many persons had stood with baredheads and read through tears this inscription: J. D. Gramps, Born April21, 1856--Died June 13, 18--. "They rest from their labors; and theirworks do follow them. "

The Gramps premises began to show signs of decay. The fences were inneed of repair and the hillside portions of the farm had been washed ingullies by the spring freshets. A large ash-heap surrounded byjimsonweed and burdock marked the sight of the once beautiful red barn. The front-yard gate had been torn from its hinges, and it lay upon theground. 

It was well known that Widow Gramps had received ten thousand dollarsfrom an insurance company in New York City, but what she had done withthe amount was only a matter of opinion. Along about this time it becameknown in the community that the Widow had leased the farm and wasplanning to go to a Western State as she said, for the sake of herhealth, which had been declining since the day of the Deacon's funeral. 

One day when Mrs. Gramps was in Dobbinsville making preparations for thetrip West, she called at the People's State Bank and presented a checkdrawn on a Western bank and signed by James Duncan. When the cashier hadcashed her check and she had left the bank, he turned to his assistantand said, "Jim, do you know what Deacon Gramps' name was?"

"J. D. Gramps, " responded the assistant. 

"I know J. D. Were his initials, " said the cashier, "but what does J. D. Stand for?"

"Oh, I don't remember, " answered the assistant. "I suppose we couldfind out by looking up some of his old papers that we still have in thevault. "

"Look up that old mortgage that Gramps had on the Widow Smith's littlefarm, " ordered the cashier. 

A ponderous file was pulled from a shelf in the vault and the two menbegan to search the musty and dusty old documents of bygone days. Atlast they found the mortgage. There they found the Deacon's name writtenout in full--James Duncan Gramps. The cashier of the People's State Bankhad a curious twinkle in his eye as he looked at his assistant. "Jim, doyou know, I have a suspicious feeling about this here Grampsproposition, " he remarked. The assistant looked astonished. He hadsupposed all this time that the cashier was interested in the Deacon'sfull name from some official standpoint. The cashier went on: "WidowGramps was just in here a few minutes ago and cashed a check drawn by aman by the name of James Duncan. I have a suspicion that Deacon Grampsis still living and that this James Duncan is no other than James DuncanGramps, and he is checking out of a Western bank money which Mrs. Grampsreceived from the insurance company in New York. "

"Surely that could not be, " responded the assistant. "Suppose we comparethe handwriting on the check that you just cashed with the handwritingon these old papers. " After a close comparison of the two specimens ofhandwriting, the men decided that their resemblance was not sufficientto prove anything. 

"At any rate it will do no harm to investigate, " remarked the cashier ashe closed the heavy door of the vault. "I shall turn the evidence overto the insurance company in New York. " That evening at sundown whentrain Number 29 pulled out from the station at Dobbinsville and spedeastward, it carried in its mailcoach a letter of much significanceaddressed to the president of a large insurance company in New YorkCity. 

The following week one day when the west-bound noon train stopped atDobbinsville, a well-dressed stranger stepped from the platform of thecoach and made inquiry as to the location of a hotel. A lanky-lookinglad who leaned against a pole directed the stranger to the DobbinsvilleInn, across the street. A person of this man's evident rank andimportance was not a familiar sight in the streets of Dobbinsville. Hismysterious presence set a peaceful town all agog. He became the subjectof much exaggerated conjecture. Every fellow was overly eager to tellprecisely what he did not know; namely, where this stranger came fromand what his business was. Uncle Hezekiah Evans, the sixty-year-oldnewsboy who peddled the Post around over the village, said this strangerwas evidently a rich man from the East who had come to buy the wholetown out. "Fatty" Jones, whose chief employment was that of sitting on abaggage truck at the depot, had the opinion that this stranger was theson of a St. Louis millionaire who, having much time and money, had comeout to an up-to-date country to spend both. It was the candid opinion ofold "Doc" Greenwich that this stranger had committed a crime somewhereand was lounging around in this secluded nook to evade the officers ofthe law. "Dad" Brunt, the honored proprietor of the Dobbinsville Inn, had an advantage over his fellows, as the stranger was staying with him. He was sure that this man was interested in timberlands in the MountOlivet neighborhood, as he had known the man to make two trips out hereduring his stay at the Inn. 

The stranger spent a week in Dobbinsville, during which time he madefrequent calls at the People's State Bank. When he had gone, thecashier, to the great relief and surprise of his fellow townsmen, explained to them that he was an officer of the law whose business wasto investigate the circumstances connected with the burning of DeaconGramps' barn. 

Just about one month from this time Uncle Hezekiah Evans did aflourishing business selling papers. The Post came out with thisstartling headline: "DEACON HEARS OWN FUNERAL PREACHED. " Greatexcitement prevailed. Everybody in Dobbinsville who could read and somewho could not bought a paper from Uncle Hezekiah. He sold all he had, and wished for more to sell. Not only were the people of Dobbinsvilleinterested in this remarkable newspaper headline, but in every town andcity that fell within the limits of the Post's rather metropolitancirculation, people were startled at the unusual thought of a manhearing his own funeral. The article in the Post read like this:

The little town of Dobbinsville, snugly tucked away in the peacefulfolds of the far-famed Ozark hills, is coming into its share ofpublicity. There has lived for many years in the vicinity of thisvillage a substantial farmer by the name of Gramps. Until a couple ofdays ago Gramps was supposed to have been dead and buried. In fact, atombstone in the churchyard near the Gramps homestead plainly statesthat Gramps is dead. Though tombstones sometimes say, "They have gone torest, " the truth is otherwise and Gramps has turned up very much alive. According to an officer interviewed by a Post correspondent yesterday, Gramp's story is somewhat on this wise:

A little over a year ago it became known in the neighborhood ofDobbinsville that Gramps, who for years had been a well-to-do farmer anda diligent deacon in a local church, was becoming involved in financialembarrassment. In order to save himself from bankruptcy, the Deacon, according to his own confession, resorted to very unusual means. Grampscarried heavy life insurance. About thirteen months ago he burned hisbarn and feigned to have burned with it. While his neighbors were at thechurch one Sunday he went into his big barn and after depositing in apasteboard box his false teeth, his watch, his pocket-knife, and somepieces of silver coin, he placed the box in the manger and lighted thehay in the mow with a match. After making sure that the fire was in goodway, he jumped from a window in the barn and ran, without detection, tohis house and hid himself in the attic. Neighbors, missing Gramps, madea diligent search for him which resulted only in finding the moltenremains of the pocket knife and other articles in the ash-heap where thebarn was burned. Amid much mourning loving hands gathered ashes from thetragical spot and tenderly laid them in an expensive casket. The nextday at the funeral in the parlor of the Gramps home, a minister from St. Louis delivered an empassioned eulogy, extolling the manifoldexcellencies of the honored dead (?). Through an open stairway doorGramps heard the eloquent words of the clergyman and the heart-rendingsobs of his own wife and children. 

After seeing his funeral done up in proper style, Gramps went toColorado, where for a year, going under an assumed name, he conducted aSunday School and took active part in other religious enterprises. Through the cooperation of his wife, who remained on the homestead atDobbinsville, he came into possession of $10, 000 from an insurancecompany in New York City. At the end of a year he planned for his wifeto join him in Colorado, where, according to his statement, they were tobegin life anew. But their plans were upset when the Deacon sent hiswife a check signed with his assumed name, which name consisted of thefirst two words of his real name. Gramps and his wife are both in jail, where they await the action of the court and where they have a splendidopportunity to meditate upon the interesting happenings of the pastyear. Whether or not Mrs. Gramps was an accomplice has not yetdeveloped. 

CHAPTER XIII

"Twenty years ago I came to this country. During these twenty years Ihave done my utmost to preserve and defend the faith of Mount Olivetchurch. " The person who spoke was Preacher Bonds. The place where hespoke was in his own pulpit. The persons to whom he spoke were histwenty members, who were the fragments of the once thriving and powerfulrural church. Bonds was at his best on this particular Sunday morning inApril, and he had planned to give his hearers a sort of history of theevents during his twenty-years pastorate at Mount Olivet. 

The morning was a most beautiful one. All nature wore a smile. Onlythose who have experienced the rare joy of taking a stroll through thewooded dell in the famous Ozarks on a spring morning can fullyappreciate the scene. Spring had made her long-delayed journey from thesouthland and by the strength of her warm and winning ways had forcedgrim old winter to a hasty retreat northward, and now exulted in herunchallenged sway. All the birds on this morning seemed to have come outto help her in her celebration. A red-bird, perched on the tip-top twigof the venerable oak which stood near the church, bathing his crimsonfeathers in the morning sun, warbled his sweetest notes to his mate in ahawthorn thicket across the field. Rollicking robins were vying witheach other in their quest of worms in the meadow east of the church. Agray squirrel chattered in a hickory-tree near by and scatteredparticles of bark all around. A red-headed woodpecker sat in the rounddoor of his cozy house in an old snag and seemed perfectly content inhis utter inability to sing. Frolicsome spring lambs amused themselvesby butting each other off a low stump down in the old Gramps cowpasture. 

The Church itself showed signs of dilapidation. The belfry on the roofhad been torn away and the old rusty bell, silent for many years, stoodexposed to the ravages of summer and winter. Its only purpose now seemedto be to afford a shelter for the wasps which from year to year builttheir nests in its dome. The brick chimney, which projected from theroof near the rear of the building, had lost its crowning bricks andpresented a very jagged aspect. For the accommodation of the squirrelswho were accustomed to take up winter quarters in the attic of thechurch, the wood-peckers had pecked numerous holes in the paintlesswalls. The eaves were daubed with mud carried by the pewees in thebuilding of their yearly nests. Bats, at their own good pleasure, camein and out through the paneless windowsashes and found daytime repose ontop of the sagging beam which, just above the windows, spanned the room. 

The physical condition of this Church house formed a fitting counterpartto the spiritual condition of the people who worshipped (?) there. Physical, spiritual, and moral spelled the trinity of its decay. 

Preacher Bonds' sermon that morning ran something like this: "Twentyyears ago I came to this country. Well do I remember the first fewmonths after landing here. Some of the older members will recall themighty religious fight that was just beginning in those days between theholiness heresy and the doctrines of the Bible as believed in by thischurch. Those few who are here this morning who have known me and havebeen my co-workers throughout these years, I am sure, testify to thesteadfastness with which I have stood by the work. I said when I camehere that God had sent me here to fight the doctrine of holiness. Istill hold to my mission. I have stood four-square against that doctrineand all its advocates, and I still stand. I have used every means to putit down. But strange as it seems, this heresy appears to have grown fatupon our opposition, and the more we have fought the more it hasflourished. Even at this very hour not a mile from here, in theschoolhouse, there is a group of people five times as large as thisaudience worshipping the Lord in what they call the "beauty ofholiness. " They have for a preacher, as you know, old man Benton, whotwenty years ago was cast out of this church for teaching crookeddoctrine. He has had no preparation whatever for ministerial work, butin some way he has been able to keep his bunch together for nearlytwenty years; and now since he is an old man, it seems that they stillpersist in following him. 

"In the early days of my pastorate here my strongest supporter andco-laborer was Deacon Gramps. This name will sound familiar to some ofthe older members. Gramps owned the beautiful farm just to the west ofthis Church. A good many years ago through some play, fair or foul, Gramps was charged with a criminal act and was convicted and sent to thepenitentiary, where three years ago he died. His wife went to St. Louisto live with her son, and departed this life shortly after moving there. You are all more or less familiar with the Gramps story, so I shallleave it, as it is not at all a pleasant topic to discuss. 

"It may be of interest to some of you to know just how the doctrine ofholiness ever got started in this community. Well, this old man Bentonwhom you all know as the leader of the holiness movement used to be amember of this church. For many years he lived a consistent Christianlife in this church, so they tell me. About twenty years ago he spent awhole summer herding cattle down in the hills about thirty miles fromhere. While he was down there in the woods all alone with nothing tooccupy his mind, he fell to musing on the death of his little girl whodied a good many years previously to that time and it seems that hebecame mentally unbalanced, at least on religious matters. According tothe information given me, he came in contact at this time with areligious paper teaching strange doctrines, and he embraced thesedoctrines and began advocating them with great zeal. As I said before, he was excommunicated from this church for teaching such doctrines, butin leaving the church he took a number of our most trusted and triedmembers, for instance, the Gray family. Those were the days of greatexcitement in this community. It was about this time that I was calledto the pastorate of this church. A few months after my coming Benton andhis bunch got an evangelist from over east, somewhere, to come here, andhe made a mighty stir along heretical lines and many of the bestcitizens of our community were drawn into the delusive net. Some of us, in those days, stood firm in the faith and employed every thinkablemeans to stamp out the nefarious cult; and allow me to humbly say thathad it not been for Deacon Gramps and me and a few other faithful ones, our cause at that time would have been completely lost. 

"But I stand today, my brethren, as I have always stood--unalterablyopposed to the program of the holiness movement. First, I opposeholiness itself--the doctrine that a man can live free from sin in thislife. How foolish, how utterly ridiculous, the idea. We all sin. Ourfathers sinned, we sin, and our posterity will sin. Do you see thatstreak of sunshine that comes in at the window and falls upon the floor?See in the sunlighted atmosphere a million dust particles. Let the airrepresent our lives and let the dust particles represent our sins, andyou will have an idea as to how many sins we commit. Away with theholiness doctrine. 

"Secondly, I stand opposed to the doctrine of divine healing as taughtby Benton's outfit. The days of miracles are past. They ceased with theapostles. Jesus Christ has no more power to heal me of sickness todaythan has the horse which I rode to church this morning. In these days ofgreat learning, when men are able to cure diseases by medicine andsurgery, there is no need of divine healing, and every man who claims tobe healed by divine power makes himself an ignoramus and a liar. Awaywith this doctrine. 

"Thirdly, I stand opposed to the doctrine of oneness, or unity, astaught by Benton and his disciples. They lay great stress on thisdoctrine. They say there is but one church and that when a man isconverted he becomes a member of this one church. Brethren, I do notbelieve this new doctrine. I still hold to the faith of our fathers. Ibelieve that according to the Scriptures we become members of the churchby water baptism and by no other method. 

"Brethren, let us stand by the faith of those who have gone before. Wemay be few in number, but let us be unmoveable. Let us refresh our faithwith thoughts of those whose lives have left sacred spots on the fieldof memory. Let us think on such men as Preacher Crookshank and DeaconGramps, who were noted for their courage in defending the faith. 

"As the noon hour is drawing near, I must bring my sermon to a close. Tonight at seven-thirty I shall preach on a favorite subject ofmine--the Hellish Heresy of Holiness. But, in conclusion, let me saythat I still feel heavily the burden of fighting old man Benton and hisgroup. I am growing somewhat gray, but I'm still in the fight. I aim topush the battle. I believe that in defending his faith a man isjustifiable in using almost any means imaginable. Let us pray: Lord, wethank thee for this hour in which we have defended thy cause. Lord, bless this church and curse those who seek its harm. Smite any person orpersons in this community who seek to propagate false religion. And nowmay the grace of Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion ofthe Holy Ghost rest and abide with us now and forever, amen. "

So closed a service a picture of which today still hangs on the walls ofthe memory of those present. 

How hidden is the path of one's future. When Preacher Bonds mounted hissorrel horse at the church that noon-day, just as he had done for many, many years, little did he think that the same sun which afforded him achance to illustrate in his morning sermon the multiplicity of his ownsins would, before setting that day, shine upon his lifeless form. 

It so happened that day that Preacher Bonds invited one of his brethrenhome with him to dinner. As he and this member, who was a pillar in thechurch, rode along the country road to Bonds' home, Bonds gave themember a full outline of his intended sermon on the Hellish Heresy ofHoliness. When the two men had reached the barn of the Bonds' premisesand had fed their horses they started for the house. They were justpassing in at the yard gate when Preacher Bonds staggered and fell tothe ground. He was carried into his house and placed on a cot, and adoctor was called; but within a half-hour from the time he fell at thegate his breath ceased and he began his eternity. The doctor pronouncedhis death due to heart trouble. There was no sermon at the church thatnight on the Hellish Heresy of Holiness. The following day Bonds'remains were started on the journey to Kentucky, where burial took placeat the old boyhood home. 

With the passing of Bonds the last candlestick was removed from MountOlivet church. Bonds' sermon was the last one of the sin-you-must typepreached there. The church was entirely disbanded and the dilapidatedbuilding finally fell into the hands of those who came after JakeBenton. In recent years the old church has been torn away and replacedby a beautiful white building surpassing even the former beauty of theold one. Over its door were written these words: The Church of God--thePillar and Ground of the Truth. Over the pulpit this motto hangs:"Behold how good and how pleasant for brethren to dwell together inunity. " To the left on the wall are these words: "Who forgiveth all ouriniquities and healeth all our diseases. "

CHAPTER XIV

Harry Benton was a successful business man, there was no question aboutthat. He was not known in the commercial world as a "big" man, and hecould not write out a check for a million dollars and give it to somecharitable institution as some of the multi-millionaires can do, but hewas regarded by all who knew him as a successful business man. He had abusiness in Chicago that was thriving if not colossal. From the incomefrom this business he was able to own and maintain a beautiful andcomfortable home in one of the residential districts of the great city. It was his pleasure and privilege to give each year a few thousanddollars to the cause of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Harry was the second son of Jake Benton, the backwoods holiness preacherof the Ozarks. At the age of twenty-one he had become the husband of EvaGray, who was two years younger than he. This union had been a blessedhappy one. If all of Chicago's homes were like that of Harry Benton, itmight well be nicknamed the Paradise of America. Thrice the angel ofblessings had visited this home, decorating it each time with one ofheaven's jewels in the form of a baby. Nolan Benton, the twelve-year-oldboy, had the name of his Grandfather Gray, and he also had all thereligious indications of his Grandfather Benton. Blanche was two yearsyounger than Nolan. She fell heir to the blue eyes, the ruddy cheeks, the flaxen hair of her mother. Little Jake, the baby, was five yearsold. He inherited his Grandfather Benton's name and his GrandfatherGray's red hair. 

One Sunday morning when this happy family gathered around the breakfasttable, Harry Benton's appetite was absent. He could not eat. Hesteadfastly gazed through the east window of the beautiful dining roominto the park which spread itself over several acres of ground justacross the street from his home. 

"Harry, dear, why do you not eat?" remarked his wife. Harry Bentonsmiled, but as he did so a tear glistened on his cheek. 

"For some reason, " he answered, "I awoke an hour before day this morningand memory insisted on taking me on a journey over the past andcarrying me on a ramble through the scenes of my childhood, and as I sithere the sight of those trees in the park remind me of old Ozark's grandforests. I like to think of those old scenes, and by the way, wife, cometo think about it, it is three years this month since we were down homeon a visit. It doesn't seem possible that it is so long. We get soabsorbed with our business here in this big wicked city that the yearsflit by like dreams and we do not realize how long we have been away. Ishould like to take a stroll this morning along the old creek where weboys used to swim. I'd like to visit the old schoolhouse in the walnutgrove where we used to spend so many idle hours. Three years ago when wewere down there I visited that old schoolhouse. It looked just aboutlike it did twenty-five or thirty years ago, when you and I were there. I sat on the old limestone rock beneath the old locust-tree where weused to play dare base. The old play ground is just the same. There wasthe ballground where we used to play 'town ball. ' The same old stone wasthere that we used for second base. "

As Harry Benton thus spoke his wife and children listened intently, andwhen the meal was finished and the Bible was brought for the morningworship, the whole family was in a serious frame of mind. Benton went onto say, "And when we talk of home scenes, I always think of father andhis godly influence upon my life. As I look across the years, I seemyself an ignorant awkward country boy; but there is one thing for whichI shall always thank my God, and that is that I was blessed with aChristian father. Throughout the years his saintly life has been abenediction to me. The most sacred picture that hangs on the wall of mymemory is that of my father with the big family Bible on his lap and allthe children gathered around him and Mother for the worship of his God. Well do I remember when he used to pray for us, naming us out one by oneand asking God to make us useful men and women. And oh, how he used tobe persecuted by the Mount Olivet people. Well do I remember how onemorning when Father was on his way to milk your father's cows he was metby Deacon Gramps, who beat him so shamefully. That night in familyworship Father prayed so fervently and asked God to forgive Gramps andsave him from his wicked ways. The impressions I received during thosestirring days never will leave me. I tell you, Eva, it meant somethingfor Father to stand true as he did, and I think heaven will beespecially sweet to those who have suffered as he has suffered. "

When he had left off speaking and the family knelt in prayer, HarryBenton's voice trembled with emotion as he prayed for all those backhome whom he remembered, and especially for his father. 

When the morning chores were done and Harry Benton started to the FullSalvation Mission, which mission he had superintended and supported fora number of years, he was met on his front porch by a Western Unionmessenger boy, who took from beneath his blue cap a slip of yellow paperand handed it to him. This is how it read: "Come, Father very low. "

Benton telephoned one of his brethren to take charge of the Mission, andafter earnestly beseeching the Lord to spare his father until hisbedside could be reached, he and his wife made hasty arrangements tostart, and were soon speeding across the fertile fields of Illinois. They crossed the mighty Mississippi, changed trains in St. Louis' bigUnion Depot, and after a few hours' ride their train was gliding pastold familiar scenes of bygone days. 

"Dobbinsville, Dobbinsville, " shouted the porter as he thrust his facein at the door of the coach. Three short jerks at the signalcord--swish, swish, swish--back from the engine--t-oot-oot-oot--a suddenlet-up in speed, a screech of the airbrakes, a bang of the door, and theTexas Canon-Ball made one of its seldom stops at Dobbinsville and HarryBenton and his family stepped to the platform. 

A thirty-minute ride through the country in a neighbor's automobile andonce more in life Harry Benton stepped foot upon the premises of hischildhood. His prayer had been answered. His father seemed to be dyingduring the night, but with the coming of morning he revived and regainedconsciousness. When Harry and Eva entered the room where his father lay, the old saint seemed as happy as a child and much rejoiced at seeingHarry and Eva and their babies, who were the last of a great flock ofsons and sons-in-law and daughters and daughters-in-law andgrandchildren and great-grandchildren to arrive. 

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. " SinceJake Benton's conversion, more than a quarter of a century previously tothis time, his life had been one continuous sermon--a sermon moreeloquent than any ever preached from a pulpit. But if the sermon of hislife was eloquent, that of his death was more so. According to hissimple philosophy, life was just a sort of lodging-place beside the longroad to eternity, and death, to him, was not a leaving home, but rathera starting for home. 

When he gathered his loved ones about his bedside on the day followingthe arrival of Harry and his family, to say goodbye, it was not thegoodbye of one who was entering upon a dark and perilous journey toparts unknown, but that of one sustained by an unfailing faith that hewas entering upon an abode in the eternal mansion, where he should waitbut a brief period for the coming of those he loved. 

Just as the purple shadows of the October evening were lengthening, theend was drawing near. The hoary patriarch called his children all byname--Harry and Eva, Joe and his wife, Albert and his wife, Nancy andher husband, Hannah and her husband, and Hattie, the unmarried daughteryet at home--and they all gathered in the room where death was to be aguest. The grandchildren, happy and care-free, unconscious of what lifeis and of what death means, were called in from their places of play, and told that Grandpa was leaving them. The little tots, bless them, came in and stood around the old-fashioned bedstead all unmindful of thesignificance of a meeting of time and eternity. They gathered around andgazed into the old saint's face, where death and life alternately wrotetheir names. As they passed around one by one by the head of the bed, the old man laid his withered hands upon each little head and pronouncedhis blessing. Then he began to talk. 

"If this is death, " he said, "it is a blessed thing to die. The way hasbeen long and the road rough, at times, but now it is all over. I havesuffered a few things for Jesus' sake, but how unworthy I have been ofall the love He has shown me. I have only one dying request to make ofmy loved ones, and it is the same as my living request has been, thatyou all live for God and meet me over there. Oh, I am so happy. How Ilove Jesus, and on His bosom I shall rest forever. " His voice grewfainter. "Just one more step and I am there. " The loved ones hoverednearer. A soft white hand was laid upon his brow. It was the hand ofHattie. Subdued sobs were heard about the room. "Don't weep, dearchildren, " he faintly murmured: "I am just passing into--I see thedarling's hands--no pale cheeks--how sweet--about my neck--thisRose--Rose's Savior Papa's Savior too. Let's go--. " He was dead--andblessed are the dead which die in the Lord. 

THE END.