The Deacon of Dobbinsville: A Story Based on Actual HappeningsMorrison, John Arch
Religion
The Deacon of Dobbinsville: A Story Based on Actual Happenings
Morrison, John Arch
Christian life -- Fiction
How hidden is the path of one's future. When Preacher Bonds mounted his
sorrel 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 a
chance to illustrate in his morning sermon the multiplicity of his own
sins would, before setting that day, shine upon his lifeless form.
It so happened that day that Preacher Bonds invited one of his brethren
home with him to dinner. As he and this member, who was a pillar in the
church, rode along the country road to Bonds' home, Bonds gave the
member a full outline of his intended sermon on the Hellish Heresy of
Holiness. When the two men had reached the barn of the Bonds' premises
and had fed their horses they started for the house. They were just
passing in at the yard gate when Preacher Bonds staggered and fell to
the ground. He was carried into his house and placed on a cot, and a
doctor was called; but within a half-hour from the time he fell at the
gate his breath ceased and he began his eternity. The doctor pronounced
his death due to heart trouble. There was no sermon at the church that
night on the Hellish Heresy of Holiness. The following day Bonds'
remains were started on the journey to Kentucky, where burial took place
at the old boyhood home.
With the passing of Bonds the last candlestick was removed from Mount
Olivet church. Bonds' sermon was the last one of the sin-you-must type
preached there. The church was entirely disbanded and the dilapidated
building finally fell into the hands of those who came after Jake
Benton. In recent years the old church has been torn away and replaced
by a beautiful white building surpassing even the former beauty of the
old one. Over its door were written these words: The Church of God--the
Pillar and Ground of the Truth. Over the pulpit this motto hangs:
"Behold how good and how pleasant for brethren to dwell together in
unity." To the left on the wall are these words: "Who forgiveth all our
iniquities and healeth all our diseases."
CHAPTER XIV
Harry Benton was a successful business man, there was no question about
that. He was not known in the commercial world as a "big" man, and he
could not write out a check for a million dollars and give it to some
charitable institution as some of the multi-millionaires can do, but he
was regarded by all who knew him as a successful business man. He had a
business in Chicago that was thriving if not colossal. From the income
from this business he was able to own and maintain a beautiful and
comfortable home in one of the residential districts of the great city.
It was his pleasure and privilege to give each year a few thousand
dollars to the cause of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account