Our Past Is Present October 4, 2017

October 4, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            In the fall of 1901, a local clergyman once exchanged pulpits with a younger minister, who was well known for his aggressiveness.  Before the service, the resident pastor told his substitute that the window behind the pulpit was broken. However, the pastor asked the substitute not mention it to the congregation, since it had already been mentioned several times in the past without any progress to get the window fixed.  The resident pastor also stated that the hymn books were badly torn, but there was also no need mention this to the congregation, because this issue had been discussed before and no action taken. The young substitute minister promised he would refrain from commenting on the broken window and the badly torn hymn books. 

            After the service began, the younger minister found the draft from the broken window unbearable.  So, he quietly stuffed his overcoat through the hole in the window.  The deacons of the congregation became uneasy and inwardly resolved to remedy this at their earliest possible moment.  When the minister announced the second hymn, he found the last two stanzas from HIS book were missing.  So, he told the congregation that if their books were complete – just keep on singing without him. 

            Without even saying a word about the broken window and the concern about the torn hymnals – as he had promised – both issues were resolved before the return of the elder clergyman the next Sunday.

            Well, that’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.