“Amen!” shouted a Methodist brother and the speaker gained courage.
“I’d like,” he went on, “to jine hands and pull together again, and don’t meddle with each others’ beliefs, till some one’s deeds shows that his creed is the best. I’d like not to worship any longer in meetin’-houses that ain’t as snug as a barn ought to be. All of us together can keep one building painted and the roof tight and the windows sashed. I’d like not to have a hand in starvin’ or freezin’ any more preachers, but to make one preacher comf’table right here in Junaluska—we done it once and we done it without any outside help too—and we can do it ag’in. I’d like to have him always right yer on the ground to christen our children, to bury our dead, and to marry our young folks. For myself, I ain’t carin’ what college turned him out so’s he’s a sure-’nough Christian and cares more about right livin’ than he does about beliefs.”
By the wall, the only occupant of a bench with legs of assorted lengths and easily tilted, sat Deacon Higgins who here put in a demurrer. Jolting back and forth, bringing the bench legs and his feet resoundingly upon the floor to mark his time, he sang, his eyes fixed upon a rafter and his heart upon opposition:
“‘I’m Meth’dis born an Pres’terian bred,
But Meth’dis will I die!’
“I’m a shoutin’ Meth’dis.”
“Well, you could continue on a shouting Meth’dis!”
“La, yes;” Colonel Ledbetter’s plan had won some enthusiastic supporters among the women. “Deacon Higgins you could take an amen corner for you and your folks and we-all wouldn’t object to your shoutin’ in once in a while.”
“And if the Piscopals wants to stand up and stretch their legs and try a readin’ match with the preacher now and then, why we could accommodate ’em with some Bible-readin’ ‘long with the singin’ and preachin’; the Bible makes good readin’ for any ’casion.”
“I’m tired,” said a weary-eyed woman. “I’m tired of the everlastin’ scratchin’ round to git ahead of some one else; I’m tired of runnin’ our church with one eye onto four other churches to see that they don’t come out a step ahead.”