the use and need of the life of carrie a. nation-第15节
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priest。 I was very much astonished for he had on a common suit with a
red necktie。 I then knew he was in trouble somewhere。 He told me he
had no money。 I told him he was welcome to stay as long as he wished。
I gathered up some clean garments and did for him all I could。 I felt
glad to have this catholic priest in my house。 I resolved to ask him
concerning
their faith。 He was one of the saddest man I ever saw and it made
my heart ache to see him。 I knew so well what it was to have 〃a heart
bowed down with grief and woe；〃 and I saw in this poor creature desolation。
I asked him if he should die； what sin he would have to repent of。
He said： 〃I may have sinned in trying to fix up a home for poor priests
who come into disfavor with the bishops。〃 His words were： 〃There is
no one so helpless as a catholic priest sent adrift。 A boy ten years old
knows as well how to make a living for himself。 I have been from a boy；
in a Jesuit College； St。 John's； near New York。 You do not know the
sorrows of a catholic priest。 Few know that so many priests are dying from
heart disease。 I am trying to get to San Antonio； for a priest there may
help me some。〃 He stayed at the hotel five days。 One evening he came in
the parlor where there was quite a company； and I was astonished to see
him so changed。 He was no longer the shrinking； crest…fallen man； but he
seemed bright and joined in conversation； sang and played on the piano。
I soon found out he had been drinking。 I wanted to shield him from the
scandal and made an excuse to call him from the room； and told him what
I did this for。 Next morning he came down as 〃sad as night〃。 I said：
〃Are you going to leave？〃 〃Yes；〃 he replied。 I wrote a note to the
conductor； whom I knew well； told him the condition of this poor man； told
him to pass him to San Antonio。 I had just three dollars； this I gave to
him。 Oh； the gratitude in the face of this poor man。 He raised his
hands and asked 〃Christ； and his mother； the holy martyrs； and the angels
to bless me。〃
In a few days I heard of a priest from Cleveland； Ohio； who through
gambling and drinking； had spent thirty thousand dollars of the church's
money and he was sent adrift。 The name of this priest was John Kelly
and on our hotel register the name of this priest was written 〃John Kelly。〃
CHAPTER VI。
WHY MY NAME IS NOT ON A CHURCH BOOK； AND WHY THE MINISTERS WITHDREW
FROM ME。CLOSING THE DIVES OF MEDICINE LODGE。CORA BENNETT；
AND WHY SHE KILLED BILLY MORRIS IN A DIVE IN KIOWA。HER
RESURRECTION。RAIDING A JOINT DRUGSTORE。
I soon saw that I was not popular with the church at Medicine
Lodge。 I testified to having received the 〃baptism of the Holy Ghost；〃 and
the minister； Mr。 Nicholson； took occasion to say that I was not sound
in the faith。 This church at this time had a board of deacons and elders；
who I knew to be unworthy； some of them addicted to intoxicating drinks
and other flagrant sins。 There was one man whose sincerity I never questioned；
Mr。 Smith； who had a good report from those in and out of the
church。
Mr。 Nicholson； the preacher； used to go to a drugstore kept by a noted
jointist and infidel。 He would sit with him in front of his drugstore。 I
would rebuke him for 〃sitting in the seat of the scornful and in the way of
sinners。〃
Whenever I went visiting； I went where I felt I could do some
good for Jesus； and at Thanksgiving and Christmas I invited the poor；
crippled and blind； to a feast at my house as Jesus said to never invite
those who were able to make a feast。
There was a Mrs。 Tucker； who was quite young and married to an
old man。 She worked hard； washing； to care for her five children。 I
would take her to church and it was not long before she joined。 There
was rejoicing in Heaven； but none in the church at Medicine Lodge。
For two years she attended church； and not an officer or member ever
called to see her。 I would visit her； and often take her clothes for
her children； also read the Bible； and prayed with her。 I did not wish
her to notice the lack of all Christian fellowship； but she saw the
cool way in which she was treated and she stopped going to church。 A
false report of treachery was told to this minister by her unfeeling； jealous
husband； and without going to see this poor woman； it was decided to take
her name from the church book；
One Lord's Day morning； before Mr。 Nicholson commenced his sermon；
he said： 〃It is the painful duty of the church to withdraw fellowship from
Sister Tucker； 〃who had been living in open adultery。〃 I was sitting in
front； and I rose to my feet。
Mr。 Nicholson said： 〃You sit down； the elders will attend to this。〃
I said： 〃No； the elders will not； but I will。 What you have said is
not true about this woman。 She has been a member of the church for two
years； and neither you nor the elders or any member of this church but
myself have been in her home。 I do for that woman what I would want
some one to do for me； under the same circumstances。 These elders never
reclaim the erring or pray with the dying； but this poor little lamb has
come in for shelter； and they are pulling the fleece off of her。〃
All this time Mr。 Nicholson was telling me in angry tones to 〃sit
down〃。 He then called on the elders to take me out； came down from the
pulpit； took me by the arm intending to put me out himself； but he could
not move me。 I turned to the audience； told them what the preacher said
could not be proven。 The Normal was in session and there were many
strangers present。 I sat down as calmly as if nothing had happened out of
the usual； and waited until the close。
Mr。 Nicholson came to me after service and said： 〃We will settle
your case。〃
I said： 〃Do your worst and do your best。〃
That afternoon the elders met in the church； and withdrew from me
because I was a 〃stumbling block；〃 and a 〃disturber of the peace。〃 This
was a grief to me； for my beloved father； mother； brothers and sisters
belonged to this society of Christians； and I had； since I was a child ten
years of age。 I wept much over this； but I went to church as usual； not
so much to the Christian church； but the Baptist； where they were very
kind to me。
Bro。 Wesley Cain had charge of that church and this man and his
wife were a tower of strength to me。 What this man and wife did for the
people of Medicine Lodge will receive approbation on 〃That Day；〃 at the
resurrection of the just。
Mrs。 Cain was local president of the W。 C。 T。 U。 and she was at her
post； was self…sacrificing； and had such a sympathizing heart。 The poor
never applied to Bro。 Cain and his noble wife in vain。 I have much to
thank them for。
I was Jail Evangelist at this time for the W。 C。 T。 U。 and I learned
that almost everyone who was in jail was directly or indirectly there from
the influence of intoxicating drinks。 I began to ask why should we have
the result of the saloon； when Kansas was a prohibition state； and the
constitution
made it a crime to manufacture； barter； sell or give away intoxicating
drinks？ When I went to Medicine Lodge there were seven dives
where drinks were sold。 I will give some reasons why they were removed。
I began to harass these dive…keepers； although they were not as much to
blame as the city officials who allowed them to run。 Mart Strong was a
noted joint…keeper。 He and his son； Frank； were both bad drinking characters；
and would sell it every chance they got。 Mart had a dive and I
was in several times to talk to him； and he would try to flatter me and
turn things into a joke。 When he saw I did not listen to such talk；
treated me very rude。 One Saturday I saw quite a number of men
into his place； and I went in also。 Saloons in Kansas generally have a
front room to enter as a precaution； then a back room where the bar is。
I didn't get farther than the front； for Mart came hastily； taking me by the
shoulders and said： 〃Get out of here； you crazy woman。〃 I was singing
this song：
Who hath sorrow？ Who hath Woe？
They who dare not answer no；
They whose feet to sin incline；
While they tarry at the wine。
CHORUS：
They who tarry at the wine cup
They who tarry at the wine cup。
They who tarry at the wine cup。
Who hath babblings； who hath strife？
He who leads a drunkard's life；
He whose loved ones weep and pine；
While he tarries at the wine。
Who hath wounds without a cause？
He who breaks God's holy laws；
He who scorns the Lord divine；
While he tarries at the wine。
Who hath redness at the eyes？
Who brings poverty and sighs？
Unto homes almost divine；
While he tarries at the wine？
Touch not； taste not； handle not：
Drink will make the dark； dark blot；
Like an adder it will sting；
And at last to ruin bring；
They who tarry at the drink。〃
I continued to sing this； with tears running down my face。 When I
finished the song there was a great crowd； some of the men had tears in
their eyes as well。 James Gano； the constable； was standing near the door
and said： 〃I wish I could take you off the streets。〃 I said： 〃Yes； you
want to take me； a woman； whose heart is breaking to see the ruin of these
men； the desolate homes and broken laws； and you a constable； oath…bound
to close his man's
