Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > the story of a pioneer >

µÚ20½Ú

the story of a pioneer-µÚ20½Ú

С˵£º the story of a pioneer ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




ard¡¡the¡¡support¡¡of¡¡the¡¡church£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡weeks¡¡he

remained¡¡away¡¡from¡¡our¡¡services£»¡¡returning¡¡under

conditions¡¡I¡¡will¡¡mention¡¡later¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time£»

however£»¡¡his¡¡attack¡¡helped¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡hurt¡¡me¡£¡¡

At¡¡the¡¡regular¡¡meeting¡¡the¡¡following¡¡Thursday

night¡¡no¡¡personal¡¡criticisms¡¡were¡¡included¡¡in¡¡the

prayers£»¡¡and¡¡eventually¡¡we¡¡had¡¡peace¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡many

battles¡¡were¡¡lost¡¡and¡¡won¡¡before¡¡that¡¡happy¡¡day

arrived¡£



Captain¡¡Sears's¡¡vacant¡¡place¡¡among¡¡us¡¡was

promptly¡¡taken¡¡by¡¡another¡¡captain¡¡in¡¡East¡¡Dennis£»

whose¡¡name¡¡was¡¡also¡¡Sears¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡few¡¡days¡¡after¡¡my

encounter¡¡with¡¡the¡¡first¡¡captain¡¡I¡¡met¡¡the¡¡second¡¡on

the¡¡street¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡never¡¡come¡¡to¡¡church£»¡¡and¡¡I

stopped¡¡and¡¡invited¡¡him¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡replied¡¡with

simple¡¡candor¡£



¡®¡®I¡¡ain't¡¡comin'£»''¡¡he¡¡told¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡®¡®There¡¡ain't¡¡no

gal¡¡that¡¡can¡¡teach¡¡me¡¡nothin'¡£''



¡®¡®Perhaps¡¡you¡¡are¡¡wrong£»¡¡Captain¡¡Sears£»''¡¡I¡¡re¡­

plied¡£¡¡¡¡¡®¡®I¡¡might¡¡teach¡¡you¡¡something¡£''



¡®¡®What£¿''¡¡demanded¡¡the¡¡captain£»¡¡with¡¡chilling

distrust¡£



¡®¡®Oh£»''¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡cheerfully£»¡¡¡®¡®let¡¡us¡¡say¡¡tolerance£»¡¡for

one¡¡thing¡£''



¡®¡®Humph£¡''¡¡muttered¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡¡®¡®The¡¡Lord

don't¡¡want¡¡none¡¡of¡¡your¡¡tolerance£»¡¡and¡¡neither

do¡¡I¡£''



I¡¡laughed¡£¡¡¡¡¡®¡®He¡¡doesn't¡¡object¡¡to¡¡tolerance£»''¡¡I

said¡£¡¡¡¡¡®¡®Come¡¡to¡¡church¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡can¡¡talk£»¡¡too£»¡¡and

the¡¡Lord¡¡will¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡us¡¡both¡£''



To¡¡my¡¡surprise£»¡¡the¡¡captain¡¡came¡¡the¡¡following

Sunday£»¡¡and¡¡during¡¡the¡¡seven¡¡years¡¡I¡¡remained¡¡in

the¡¡church¡¡he¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡my¡¡strongest¡¡supporters

and¡¡friends¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡needed¡¡friends£»¡¡for¡¡my¡¡second¡¡battle

was¡¡not¡¡slow¡¡in¡¡following¡¡my¡¡first¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was£»¡¡in¡­

deed£»¡¡barely¡¡time¡¡between¡¡in¡¡which¡¡to¡¡care¡¡for¡¡the

wounded¡£



We¡¡had¡¡in¡¡East¡¡Dennis¡¡what¡¡was¡¡known¡¡as¡¡the

¡®¡®Free¡¡Religious¡¡Group£»''¡¡and¡¡when¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the

members¡¡of¡¡my¡¡congregation¡¡were¡¡not¡¡wrangling

among¡¡themselves£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡usually¡¡locking¡¡horns

with¡¡this¡¡group¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡years£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡told£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the

prime¡¡diversions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡¡®¡®Free¡¡Religious''¡¡faction

was¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡dance¡¡in¡¡our¡¡town¡¡hall¡¡on¡¡the¡¡night

when¡¡we¡¡were¡¡using¡¡it¡¡for¡¡our¡¡annual¡¡church¡¡fair¡£¡¡

The¡¡rules¡¡of¡¡the¡¡church¡¡positively¡¡prohibited¡¡danc¡­

ing£»¡¡so¡¡the¡¡worldly¡¡group¡¡took¡¡peculiar¡¡pleasure¡¡in

attending¡¡the¡¡fair£»¡¡and¡¡during¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡in¡¡getting

up¡¡a¡¡dance¡¡and¡¡whirling¡¡about¡¡among¡¡us£»¡¡to¡¡the

horror¡¡of¡¡our¡¡members¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡they¡¡spent¡¡the¡¡re¡­

mainder¡¡of¡¡the¡¡year¡¡boasting¡¡of¡¡the¡¡achievement¡£¡¡

It¡¡came¡¡to¡¡my¡¡ears¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡follow

this¡¡pleasing¡¡programme¡¡at¡¡our¡¡Christmas¡¡church

celebration£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡called¡¡the¡¡church¡¡trustees¡¡together

and¡¡put¡¡the¡¡situation¡¡to¡¡them¡£



¡®¡®We¡¡must¡¡either¡¡enforce¡¡our¡¡discipline£»''¡¡I¡¡said£»

¡®¡®or¡¡give¡¡it¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¡Personally¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡object¡¡to¡¡danc¡­

ing£»¡¡but£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡church¡¡has¡¡ruled¡¡against¡¡it£»¡¡I¡¡intend

to¡¡uphold¡¡the¡¡church¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡allow¡¡these¡¡people¡¡to

make¡¡us¡¡ridiculous¡¡year¡¡after¡¡year¡¡is¡¡impossible¡£¡¡

Let¡¡us¡¡either¡¡tell¡¡them¡¡that¡¡they¡¡may¡¡dance¡¡or¡¡that

they¡¡may¡¡not¡¡dance£»¡¡but¡¡whatever¡¡we¡¡tell¡¡them£»

let¡¡us¡¡make¡¡them¡¡obey¡¡our¡¡ruling¡£''



The¡¡trustees¡¡were¡¡shocked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mere¡¡suggestion

of¡¡letting¡¡them¡¡dance¡£



¡®¡®Very¡¡well£»''¡¡I¡¡ended¡£¡¡¡¡¡®¡®Then¡¡they¡¡shall¡¡not

dance¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡is¡¡understood¡£''



Captain¡¡Crowell£»¡¡the¡¡father¡¡of¡¡my¡¡dead¡¡friend

Mrs¡£¡¡Addy£»¡¡and¡¡himself¡¡my¡¡best¡¡man¡¡friend£»¡¡was¡¡a

strong¡¡supporter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Free¡¡Religious¡¡Group¡£¡¡

When¡¡its¡¡members¡¡raced¡¡to¡¡him¡¡with¡¡the¡¡news¡¡that

I¡¡had¡¡said¡¡they¡¡could¡¡not¡¡dance¡¡at¡¡the¡¡church's

Christmas¡¡party£»¡¡Captain¡¡Crowell¡¡laughed¡¡good¡­

humoredly¡¡and¡¡told¡¡them¡¡to¡¡dance¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡they

pleased£»¡¡cheerfully¡¡adding¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡get¡¡them

out¡¡of¡¡any¡¡trouble¡¡they¡¡got¡¡into¡£¡¡¡¡Knowing¡¡my

friendship¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡I¡¡even¡¡owed¡¡my¡¡church

appointment¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡the¡¡Free¡¡Religious¡¡people

were¡¡certain¡¡that¡¡I¡¡would¡¡never¡¡take¡¡issue¡¡with¡¡him

on¡¡dancing¡¡or¡¡on¡¡any¡¡other¡¡point¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡made¡¡all

their¡¡preparations¡¡for¡¡the¡¡dance£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡with

entire¡¡confidence£»¡¡and¡¡boasted¡¡that¡¡the¡¡affair¡¡would

be¡¡the¡¡gayest¡¡they¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡arranged¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡people

began¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡me¡¡with¡¡sympathy£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡a¡¡time

I¡¡felt¡¡very¡¡sorry¡¡for¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡sufficiently

clear¡¡that¡¡¡®¡®the¡¡gal''¡¡was¡¡to¡¡have¡¡more¡¡trouble¡£



On¡¡the¡¡night¡¡of¡¡the¡¡party¡¡things¡¡went¡¡badly¡¡from

the¡¡first¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡an¡¡evident¡¡intention¡¡among

the¡¡worst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Free¡¡Religious¡¡Group¡¡to¡¡embarrass

us¡¡at¡¡every¡¡turn¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡exercises¡¡with¡¡the

Lord's¡¡Prayer£»¡¡which¡¡this¡¡element¡¡loudly¡¡applauded¡£¡¡

A¡¡live¡¡kitten¡¡was¡¡hung¡¡high¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Christmas¡¡tree£»

where¡¡it¡¡squalled¡¡mournfully¡¡beyond¡¡reach¡¡of

rescue£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡young¡¡men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡outside¡¡group

threw¡¡cake¡¡at¡¡one¡¡another¡¡across¡¡the¡¡hall¡£¡¡¡¡Finally

tiring¡¡of¡¡these¡¡innocent¡¡diversions£»¡¡they¡¡began¡¡to

prepare¡¡for¡¡their¡¡dance£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡protested¡£¡¡¡¡The

spokesman¡¡of¡¡the¡¡group¡¡waved¡¡me¡¡to¡¡one¡¡side¡£



¡®¡®Captain¡¡Crowell¡¡said¡¡we¡¡could£»''¡¡he¡¡remarked£»

airily¡£



¡®¡®Captain¡¡Crowell£»''¡¡I¡¡replied£»¡¡¡®¡®has¡¡no¡¡authority

whatever¡¡in¡¡this¡¡matter¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡church¡¡trustees¡¡have

decided¡¡that¡¡you¡¡cannot¡¡dance¡¡here£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡intend

to¡¡enforce¡¡their¡¡ruling¡£''



It¡¡was¡¡interesting¡¡to¡¡observe¡¡how¡¡rapidly¡¡the

men¡¡of¡¡my¡¡congregation¡¡disappeared¡¡from¡¡that¡¡hall¡£¡¡

Like¡¡shadows¡¡they¡¡crept¡¡along¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡and¡¡vanished

through¡¡the¡¡doors¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡preparations¡¡for¡¡the

dance¡¡went¡¡merrily¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡to¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of

the¡¡room¡¡and¡¡raised¡¡my¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡always¡¡listened

to£»¡¡for¡¡my¡¡hearers¡¡always¡¡had¡¡the¡¡hope£»¡¡usually

realized£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡get¡¡into¡¡more¡¡trouble¡£



¡®¡®You¡¡are¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡dance£»''¡¡I¡¡began¡£¡¡¡¡¡®¡®I

cannot¡¡keep¡¡you¡¡from¡¡doing¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡can¡¡and¡¡will

make¡¡you¡¡regret¡¡that¡¡you¡¡have¡¡done¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡law

of¡¡the¡¡State¡¡of¡¡Massachusetts¡¡is¡¡very¡¡definite¡¡in¡¡re¡­

gard¡¡to¡¡religious¡¡meetings¡¡and¡¡religious¡¡gatherings¡£¡¡

This¡¡hall¡¡was¡¡engaged¡¡and¡¡paid¡¡for¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Wesleyan

Methodist¡¡Church£»¡¡of¡¡which¡¡I¡¡am¡¡pastor£»¡¡and¡¡we

have¡¡full¡¡control¡¡of¡¡it¡¡to¡­night¡£¡¡¡¡Every¡¡man¡¡and

woman¡¡who¡¡interrupts¡¡our¡¡exercises¡¡by¡¡attempting

to¡¡dance£»¡¡or¡¡by¡¡creating¡¡a¡¡disturbance¡¡of¡¡any¡¡kind£»

will¡¡be¡¡arrested¡¡to¡­morrow¡¡morning¡£''



Surprise¡¡at¡¡first£»¡¡then¡¡consternation£»¡¡swept¡¡through

the¡¡ranks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Free¡¡Religious¡¡Group¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡denied

the¡¡existence¡¡of¡¡such¡¡a¡¡law¡¡as¡¡I¡¡had¡¡mentioned£»¡¡and

I¡¡promptly¡¡read¡¡it¡¡aloud¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡leaders¡¡went

off¡¡into¡¡a¡¡corner¡¡and¡¡consulted¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡this¡¡time¡¡not

one¡¡man¡¡in¡¡my¡¡parish¡¡was¡¡left¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hall¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡a

result¡¡of¡¡the¡¡consultation¡¡in¡¡the¡¡corner£»¡¡a¡¡committee

of¡¡the¡¡would¡­be¡¡dancers¡¡came¡¡to¡¡me¡¡and¡¡suggested

a¡¡compromise¡£



¡®¡®Will¡¡you¡¡agree¡¡to¡¡arrest¡¡the¡¡men¡¡only£¿''¡¡they

wanted¡¡to¡¡know¡£



¡®¡®No£»''¡¡I¡¡declared¡£¡¡¡¡¡®¡®On¡¡the¡¡contrary£»¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡have

the¡¡women¡¡arrested¡¡first£¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡the¡¡women¡¡ought¡¡to

be¡¡standing¡¡with¡¡me¡¡now¡¡in¡¡the¡¡support¡¡of¡¡law¡¡and

order£»¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡siding¡¡with¡¡the¡¡hoodlum¡¡element

you¡¡represent¡£''



That¡¡settled¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡girl¡¡or¡¡woman¡¡dared¡¡to¡¡go

on¡¡the¡¡dancing¡­floor£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡man¡¡cared¡¡to¡¡revolve

merrily¡¡by¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡whisper¡¡went¡¡round£»¡¡how¡­

ever£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡dance¡¡would¡¡begin¡¡when¡¡I¡¡had¡¡left¡£¡¡

When¡¡the¡¡clock¡¡struck¡¡twelve£»¡¡at¡¡which¡¡hour£»¡¡ac¡­

cording¡¡to¡¡the¡¡town¡¡rule£»¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡closed£»

I¡¡was¡¡the¡¡last¡¡person¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡locked¡¡the

door¡¡myself£»¡¡and¡¡carried¡¡the¡¡key¡¡away¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡¡

There¡¡had¡¡been¡¡no¡¡Free¡¡Religious¡¡dance¡¡that¡¡night¡£



On¡¡the¡¡following¡¡Sunday¡¡morning¡¡the¡¡attendance

at¡¡my¡¡church¡¡broke¡¡all¡¡previous¡¡records¡£¡¡¡¡Every

seat¡¡was¡¡occupied¡¡and¡¡every¡¡aisle¡¡was¡¡filled¡£¡¡¡¡Men

and¡¡women¡¡came¡¡from¡¡surrounding¡¡towns£»¡¡and

strange¡¡horses¡¡were¡¡tied¡¡to¡¡all¡¡the¡¡fences¡¡in¡¡East

Dennis¡£¡¡¡¡Every¡¡person¡¡in¡¡that¡¡church¡¡was¡¡looking

for¡¡excitement£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡time¡¡my¡¡congregation¡¡got

what¡¡it¡¡expected¡£¡¡¡¡Before¡¡I¡¡began¡¡my¡¡sermon¡¡I

read¡¡my¡¡resignation£»¡¡to¡¡take¡¡effect¡¡at¡¡the¡¡discretion

of¡¡the¡¡trustees¡£¡¡¡¡Then£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡presumably¡¡my

last¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡the¡¡people¡¡and¡¡the¡¡place¡¡what¡¡I

thought¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡I¡¡spent¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡and¡¡a¡¡half¡¡in¡¡fer¡­

vidly¡¡doing¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡my¡¡study¡¡of¡¡English¡¡I¡¡had¡¡ac¡­

quired¡¡a¡¡fairly¡¡large¡¡vocabulary¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡used¡¡it

all¡¡that¡¡morningcertainly¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡to¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡ever¡¡an

erring¡¡congregation¡¡and¡¡community¡¡saw¡¡themselves

as¡¡they¡¡really¡¡were£»¡¡mine¡¡did¡¡on¡¡that¡¡occasion¡£¡¡¡¡I

was¡¡heartsick£»¡¡discouraged£»¡¡and¡¡full¡¡of¡¡resentment

and¡¡indignation£»¡¡which¡¡until¡¡then¡¡had¡¡been¡¡pent

up¡£¡¡¡¡Under¡¡the¡¡arraignment¡¡my¡¡people¡¡writhed

and¡¡squirmed¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡ended£º



¡®¡®What¡¡I¡¡am¡¡saying¡¡hurts¡¡you£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡your¡¡hearts

you¡¡know¡¡you¡¡deserve¡¡every¡¡word¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡high

time¡¡you¡¡saw¡¡yourselves¡¡as¡¡you¡¡area¡¡disgrace¡¡to

the¡¡religion¡¡you¡¡profess¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡community¡¡you

live¡¡in¡£''



I¡¡was¡¡not¡¡sure¡¡the¡¡congregation¡¡would¡¡let¡¡me

finish£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡did¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡hearers¡¡seemed¡¡torn¡¡by

conflicting¡¡sentiments£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡anger¡¡and¡¡curios¡­

ity¡¡led¡¡opposing¡¡sides¡£¡¡¡¡Many¡¡of¡¡them¡¡left¡¡the

church¡¡in¡¡a¡¡white¡¡fury£»¡¡but¡¡othersmore¡¡than¡¡I¡¡had

expectedremained¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡to¡¡me¡¡and¡¡assure¡¡me

of¡¡their¡¡sympathy¡£¡¡¡¡Once¡¡on¡¡the¡¡streets£»¡¡different

groups¡¡formed¡¡and¡¡mingled£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡day¡¡the¡¡little

town¡¡rocked¡¡with¡¡arguments¡¡for¡¡and¡¡against¡¡¡®¡®the¡¡gal¡£''



Night¡¡brought¡¡another¡¡surprisingly¡¡large¡¡attend¡­

ance¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡expected¡¡more¡¡trouble£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡faced¡¡it¡¡with

difficulty£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡was¡¡very¡¡tired¡£¡¡¡¡Just¡¡as¡¡I¡¡took¡¡my

p

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ