The herald and news. (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, January 31, 1908, Page SIX, Image 6
*e8S.*@*@ee
+ THE UNDOING
"
* By Mrs. Et
It was Christmas night-the night
for regular prayer meeting services
in the little Baptist church in a cer
tain cotton mill --illage in South Ca
olina. Just a iew yards away was
a handsome school building with a
large hall upstairs, which was used
for various purposes. On this par
tieular night the Devil had it rented
and had made greait preparations for
a fashionable dance.
For a long time he had been plot
ting and planning how he might best
manage the little band of worshipe-s
who so faithfully attended the littFe
church every Wednesday night. He
had been trying with all his might to
disband them, but while there were
some whom he could approach with
impunity, there were a few-two or
three good sisters, two or three
brethren 'and especially one old gray
haired deacon, whom the Devil was
actually afraid to tackle. -
This old dsa,on was one of .th"r
Devil's most powerful enemies. For
years and years he had been night
watehman for the mill and seldom
missed a church service. Many of
the church memibers could be tempt
ed to stay at home, and were often
absent from serviceas, offering the
flimsiest kind of excuses. But this
old man who had more reasonabl.
excuses, offered none, and nearly al
ways and qt his own expense hired
some one to take his plae3 an hour
or two, whenever the Baptist church
bell rang for services.
To-night the Devil had prepared
for a great display of his power. He
had 'ex-ted all his energies to make
the dance a great suecess, his one
chief ambition being to so disturb
the church services that any thing
like worship would simply be impos
sible,
He had been all over the village
wirth invitations to the dance; some
were a little (ba&ward at first aibout
accepting, but having left his hoofs,
horns and tail a~t home and being in
the guise of a handsome young man,
ithe D)evil soon persuaded them th'at
a little recreation was aIbsoluteLly nec
essary to their well b.eing; that if
they persisted in dragging out such
a dull slow, dead existenee-all work
and no play-that they would soon
be physical wrecks and fill premature
graves. "To live long, one must en
joy living,'' he argued.
,In this w&y ibers of t)he dlif
'farent churches were canight lika flies
.in a spider's web, and persuaded to
sanction the dance by their presience,
while tihe Devil laughed triumph,ant
ly. Ah ! woudn't he show thase
canting Christians 'who had most pow
er on' earth, light or darkness?
Wouldn'-t he eloth'e the ehurches in
sack cloth and ashes and make that
saintly parson across the street hang
his head in shame? Ha! ha.! Would
n 't it be nice if a prayer should hap
pen to bhe offered by that stubbor
old dieacon, to drown his voiee in the
noise of fiddling and dancing and thre
calls for eotillion!
But-. In his great amibition to
make the dane a crowm1ng success
and to make himself recognized as
the greatest .power on earth, the Devil
made the very common mista.ka of
over reaching himself. He had dis-.
tributed lots of medicine that was
labeled "O-:be-joyful,'' a well-known,
trie'd and true remedy, recommended
for fain!t heants and pricking consei
'enees; in his haste he failed to give
proper directions for use, with the
result that the 'fddlers took an over
dose and instead of playing the part
assigned them, were quietly sleeping
at home; while the Devil in his rage
and disa.ppointm'ent used some vaery
indiscreet language. Many left the
hall thoroughly disgusted and went
back home. or to church, thankful
for a narrow esc.apa; while some
stav'ed con, not caring to do ?ither.
Recognizing his defeat, the Devil
decided to at-tend prayer meeting
himself. It might ha that he could
find somnething to do threre, and he
was anxious to know what would be
said about him. any way'. So he
started to the church soliloquizing:
"If it had all turned out as I had
planned; if those fool fiddlers had
not gone beyond the bounds of reas
on and decency; if I only could have
sueceeded in interesting more of the
leading church members-the kind
that go deep down in their pockets
for the, ehurches' 'benefit--the publie
would not have denounced mre so em
rnhatically.' You see that the Devil
Si,eceZ hke some soft fairy veil
Covers thre deeds of mnen.
It mae te ugliest wrong look well
6
LW THE DFYIL.
I
iel Thomas.
4
The dark seem fair again."
Entering the church and slipping
into a seat near the door so that hE
.could get out easily if the atmos
phere happened to be toc spirituall
warm for comfort, the Devil was dis
agreeably surprised to -find a l.argei
congregation than usual. But out
side a crowd of youngsters wer<
keeping up a most terrible racke
with baby-wa'kers, cannon-eracker.
pop-sticks and so on, and he smiled
triumphantly as he listened. Surel3
such a disturbance would distraci
and confuse this preacher and peo.
ple, and put them to flight. He wa:
decidedly uncomfortable as the peo
pie sang:
"There were ninety and nine tha'
safely lay
In the shelter of the fold,
But one was out on the hills away
Far off from the gates of gold-'"
A tramp was passing and pause
to listen. "God!" he exclaimed
"that's me ! That was mother's fa
vorite song, too," and strangely af
feeted he peeped in at a window
seeing some vacant seats near the
door he pulled off his dirty cap ani
softly walked in, taking a seat 'di
rectly in front of the Devil.
Another song was sung: "Glor3
to God in the Highest, On Eartl
Peace and Good will to Men," whicl
made tire Devil restless. The trami
listened with throbbing heart, won
dering what was the matter witl
him, and why he had come into thi:
house of worship. No one earei
whether he went 'to heaven or hell
no one ever had eared except a lit.
tle woman in a far off State who be
lieved him dead-his' mother. Wh3
had he left her he wondu,;ed.
To look at him now, his face
veritable signboard proclaiming hi
dissipation, his eyes bleared and rest
less, his clothes ragged and filthy, i:
was hard to realize that hie was onca
an innocent baibe, held in the arms o:
a loving 'Christian mother and per
haps cradled -in the lap of luxury
Just another prodig'al! What hat
caused him to roamrii Had he travelei
so' far and at such 'break-neck speei
down the hill toward destruction
that now it was impossilble t<
'throw on the brakes '' Who b-e
sides himself was to iblame?7 Who wa1
his mother? Where was his hoie'
Could it be that he had once beer
a shining light in some chureh an(
in the -exu.b'erance of youthful spirits
coniitted some act of indiscretion
and had lying and tattling tongue!
magnified the fault to an unpardon
able sin? Had he been thrust ou
from a fold that should have hedge(
him in with brot.herly love and
wrapped hin) in a manitle of charit:
-had his name been voted from th4
church roll. .had he 'been stoned b:
others more guilty? If so. God pit:
him! But of one thing only c'ould wi
be as.sured'-,hre had once been somi
mother's darling-now he was on th'
road to destruction. Guilty of man:
dark and loathsome deeds perhaps
beek with sin, an outcast or an out
law: yet. Christ died for such as h
and we so often forget it and ''pas
by on the other side.'' instead o
'trying to help them to a better an
hiher life.
The Devil was a little uneasy ove
'the tramp's attitude and leaning ove
he whispered in his ear:
''"Ain't this a sanetified lookini
show? 'They come here every Wed
nesdy night and rais-e cain. Tha
pious looking wvoman over there o1
'the front sea>t, is t;he biggest tattle
in town. She's done some wond'erfu
things in the way of raising disturb
'anes, and teading down character
You just ought to hear her religiou
experience and her high-flown senti
ments concerning 'sanctification,'
which she claims. Her life is suel
'that to have her get up and 'testify
is enough to give one chills.'
"They are all hypocrites.'' sneer
ed the Devil.
''I hope not.'' pleaded the tramr
''Oh. I hope not.''
''Well, my friend. suppose we pui
them to the test, and give you th
proof of my' assertions. That bi;
book that the parson pretends t
love so much, is said to be th
Christian's lamp to guide him in th
niht way. It says 'Be not forgetfrv
to enterztain strangers.' And agait
Rememb~er ihem that are in hon:i
~- ~n'' h h\21~ em: and thiem whie'
put your SM' inl }i plac'e?' TTav
vo vr read this scriptuire ? ' M
L")rd .('lSUS ('hi.S]t, tl(" Lrit, 4 1 .
W!1 ire'et of persolls. For if tilllrc'
come unto vour ass'em)ly a m:an wil it
a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and
there come in also - a poor man in
vile raimen.t; And ye have respect
to him tha.t weareth the gay clothing,
and say unto him, sit thou here in
a good place; and say to the poor,
stand thou there, or sit under my
foot stool: Are ye then not partial in
yourself in his place?' Have you
evil thoughts? And - again: 'If
ye fulfill the royal law, according to
the scripture, Thou shalt love
thy neighbor as thyself, ye do wall;
But if ye have re-pect to persons ya
commit sin, and are convinced of the
law as transgressors.' Now you know
very well that if the mayor of the
city had come in here and t n a
back seat. t.hat. parson would uav.
come straight after him and taken
him to the front. Now you are a:
tough looking customer, and you can
sit here if you will behave yourself
but they would aid rather you had
stayed out:No one will speak to you.
wish you a merry Christmas or care
what becomes of you after you get
out of here. You are no 'Spring
chicken '-that's plainly evident
and you know all that I say is true.
From your looks I think you had the
proof 'ere this."
"What's my looks to you?"
growled the impatient tramp. "I did
n't come in here to be noticed, and
don't wish or expect it. Let me
alone now; it's the first time -I've
been in church for years and I don't
know what made me come in here.
'But I am and I propose to see and
hear the whole performance," and
the Devil sarw it would be no use to
say more.
The song was finished and the
young preacher rose with a welcom
ing smile shining from his eyes, and
for ar moment looked over the large
congregation, his face glowing with
-a spiritnal light that awed one and
I all into breathless silence and rever
ance.
He had only been pastor of this
litta'e church a short time, but the
people were not slow to understand
tha.t he was unusually full of the
Christ-like spirit and possessed great
magnetic influence.
Meek, gentle, ipatient, tender and
ontewhola armour of faith, with
more of the f.orgi,ving spirit and
brotherly ilove; ever ready to look
with charity on .the fallen, and still
more ready to lift them up; preach
ing the gospel in all its purity, living
it in all its beautiful simplicity; pie
.turing .the ideal life in such attraet
ive coloring, explaining its beauties
in such a persuasive and winning
way that none could hear without
[oIg~'ing to get upon a higher planr
Iof 'Christ-ian living-and with every
sriehis .congrega.tion was grow
ig. Trudy this was a man of God
alled to preach H1is Gospel- and was
directed by His Holy Spirit.
If he saw t'he Devil back there near
IIthe door. he gave no signs of re.cog
nition. He made no reference to the
dance aceross the street, or to any
other work~ that the Prince of Dark
ness was directing, he spo-ke entirely
on 'The love of God and his idea as
to how best to defeat the Devil seem
ed to be to shine him out. He n*ever
Sone time mentioned the Devil. but
soed ,forth ithe beausiies and the
g~reat peace which were the fruit
f pure and undefiled religion, anc
in such a way that any other thar
Sthe right way, was awful by con.trasi.
This was new. Th-e Devil was non.
plus'sed. iTo be shined out was the
worst and most dreaded defeat. Tru.
'dy h-are was a pre-acher depending
more on~ the power of Godi than or
Sthe gift of gaib.
After the preaclrer had talled~
Sawhnile -and knew that the hear.ts of
Sthe people were in a receptive atti
~tude. hra turned to the second chap
Iter of Luike and read from the Sth
-to the 20th verses, and spoke esp&
ially from the 10th and T1th verses.
" And :the angels said u'nto tirem.
-Fear not; for behold, I bring yov
good t.iding~s of great joy. whicl
1shall he to all peopile. For unto ye
is horn this day. in the city of Da
vid, a Savior. whieh is Christ the
-Lord."
Oh the beautiful Christmas story
read and s-tudied in thousands of1
hoaw and churches 'every blessed
tChristmnas day. The Devil could noi
SIbear to listen and slipped out like
whipped cur.
The tramp listend and trembled.
Memories of homre and mothrer causec
ehiis eyes to grow dim. Oh if he conid
Ionly call back the years of hiu
wated life! Oh. if he could h'ava
c-lean heart and a clear conieCne'.
befor 0 e (od ! Oh. for that swel
trtion of believer.Di he h. elieve
Yes he believed it alil; Chri..t hi
. omt arth arid had lived am;on;
40 Years Old.
"Old Line" Company.
ROBERT NORRI
This grand old company has just announced
cessful year in its history, which extends way 1
Eve-y well informed and honest Insurance r
ance Company is the strongest Insurance Co
of at least $50,000,000.00 and the assets of $
500,000.00 of substantial backing-in other w
This Company pays the largest cash divid?n
holder how he is pleased with his dividends
cash and paid-up values. Every policy conta
This means that, if you hold a poli: in this 'C
disabled, you will receive in cash. $ 100.00 en
insurance; and curing this time you will not h;
miums. For the time you lose on account of
we shall pay you 55.00 a week per $1,000.00
You will find bl...' the ra.es oi some of ou
Term Poli ies.
Age. Rate.
21 $10.05
22 10.15
23 10.20
24 1.0-30
25 10 40
26 s 10.45
27 10.55
28 10 65
29 10.75
30 10.90
31 11.05
32 11.20
33 "1.35
34 I1.50
35 11.70
36 . 11.90
37 12.15
38 12.40
39 12.65
40 12.95
41 13.30
42 1370
43 14.15
44 14.65
45 1520
461-5
47 . 6.60
48 17-45 -
49 . 18.40
50 19-50
51 20.70
52 220oo
53 2350
54 25-15
55 27.00
THE STANDARD
WARElHOUSE CO. Th___
BEGST ANNOUNCE:
1. Its warehouse receipts are regarded
2 If money can be borrowed' on any -________
thing it can be borrowed on the receipt
of The Standard Wareflouse Company.
3 Banking institutions are familiar
with the methods and strict business I
principles and financial standing (of The - bait
StnadWarehouse Company, and seek l
its receipts as a basis of loans.
in. The identical cotton that you place l Iem O0
ithe warehouse is returned upon sur
render of receipts. s O
5. In case of fire your cotton is paid .ho
frat market value, and you have no find E
difficulty as to insurance, the full in- d a
surance being maintained by The Stand-d R
ard Warehouse Company.
6 All insurance on cotton is main- gle it{
taned at full value in the highest class ao
English and American Insurance Com- 10
panes.
7 The Standard Warehouse Company C S
is absolutely independent of any other .ie
organization and conducts its affairs uponVCa
strict business methods.
8. The paid up capital stock of The y u
Standard Warehouse Company is $350,- y u
ooo.oo, and the company is absolutely
safe, and its warehouse receipts come
ahead of the stockholders.
9. By having a number of Standard
Waiehouses constructed so as to comply .
with insurance regulations and econo
mies in general management The Stan
dard Warehouse Company offer the cheap-lag
est rate compatible with sound business
methods, ample insurance and the full-a da
est protection of its receipts.1
ro. The Standard Warehouse Company Oli
is anxious to have all cotton of farmers h v
and others storea, and offers the most hv
comple te protection and encouragement ~ b
forfavmers desiring to hold their cotton.
11. Rates will be furnished upon ap- dollal
plication to Mr. J. D. Wheeler, local
manager Standard Warehouse. Company,
Newberry, S. C.
LICENSE TAX DUE.
Notice is hereby given that city
5,:ises for. the year 190S are nowI u
defl an mut he paid at once.I
Bv order of city c.onnell- g.J
J. J. Langford, 3
~Eugene S. Werts, Mayor.
Cerk and Treasurer.
Mutual Life.
Over $100,00,000.00
business in force.
S, General Agent.'
the fact that the year 1907 was the most suc
back to 1868.
nan knows that The Pacific Mutual Life Insur
mpany in America. The stockholders' liability
14,500,000.00 gives the Co pa- y about $64,
ords about $5 00 to every $1.00 of liability.
ds of any Life Company. Just ask any policy-v
The policies ?re most liberal, providing large
ins the To:al and Permanent Disability Clause.
-)mpany and become totally and permanen ly
ch year, for ten y-ars, to every $1,00 00 of
tie to s a y money to th; Company for pre
sickrness (_ny jease) or on account of accident,
of Insuranc .
r policies:
Non-participating Policies.
Age. Rate. Age. Rate.
20 $15.40 20 $22.80
21 15.70 21 23.15
22 16.05 22 23.55
23 16.45 23 23.95
24 16.85 24 24.33
25 17.25 25 24.80
26 17.65 26 25.25
27 18 10 27 25.70
28 I8.6o 28 26 15
29 19.10 29 26.65
30 19.60 30 27.20
31 20.15 31 27.75
32 20.75 32 28.30
33 21.35 33 28.90
34 22.00 34 29.50
35 22.70 35 30.15
36 23.45 36 30.80
37 24.20 37 31.50
38 25.00 38 32.25
39 25.85 39 33 05
40 26.75 40 33.85
41 27.70 u 41 34.70
42 28.75 42 35.60
43 29.90 43 36.55
44 31-10 44 37-55'
45 32 35 45 38.60
.46 33.65 46 59-70
47 ' 35-05- ' 47 40.85
48 36.55 48 42.10
49 38.20 49 43.45
50 39.90 - 50 44-90
51 41-70 51 ~ 46.45
52 43.65 '52 48.05
53 45.75 53 49-75
54 47.95 54 51.60
55 50-30 55 .53.60
56 52.85 56 .55.75
57 55-55 . 57 58.00
58 58.40 58 60.40
59 61-45 59 63-00
6o 64.70 60 65-80
;is Worth
EADING...
is not our policy' to hand you out a
for breakfast and follow it with a
n for dinner and supper. Shoddy,
worn goods-such as you generally
it "Special Bargain Sales"- are too
t any price.' There is not one sin
m in our line on which there is not
ter price than any other firm can
stently offer. We mean honest ser'
ble goods at 'Bargain Prices'. Study
own interest-come-if we don't
Show You a Clean Cut Saving
y every purchase pass us bv. The4
trade~ we command was not built in
~or by "Special Bargain Sales."
by persistent hard and honest toil
we gained the confidence of the
c. Spend your money where the
gives the best results.
Yours for Bargains,
(LETTNER
The Fair and Square Dealer.