Everything passed off well; the children were pleased, and the parents greatly encouraged. The opposition could see nothing to condemn, but Mr. Steele and a few others laughed at the “simple thing,” and hooted at the idea of sending their children.
According to arrangement, Mr. Mason came with his horses and wagon for the purpose of taking the missionary to the other settlement. It had been announced to the people that an effort to organize a Sunday-school would be made on the afternoon of this day. By 3 o’clock many had come together; some for the purpose of taking part in the enterprise, and others merely to look on. The school was started, though under less auspicious circumstances than the one at Clear Creek; yet it was a beginning. The result was in God’s hands.
During the week that followed, the missionary visited the families of the settlement, urging the parents either to take or send their children to the Sunday-school. His kindness and persuasive address won him more friends than promises. The force of public opinion against the school made many fear to take part in it; the most of the people, however, began to treat him with respect.
On Thursday evening he again preached. He was prepared for the occasion, not by a written sermon with rounded paragraphs and beautifully-finished sentences, but by constant, fervent prayer, and thoughtful meditation. He had contemplated the state of the people, and the weight of immortal souls lay heavily upon his heart; and, above all, he remembered his commission and his great responsibility, for the Almighty had said: “If the watchman see the sword come and blow not the trumpet, and the people are not warned; if the sword come and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”
The opponents found that they had an earnest man to contend with; a man with the whole armor on, and one who could wield the “sword of the spirit” with power; that he was not only “mighty in the Scriptures,” but “full of the Holy Ghost;” and they saw that if they did not immediately “do something,” he would be “master of the situation.”
So they went to work, as is usual in such cases, to misrepresent his language and misconstrue his meaning; to change the truth into falsehood, by adding, distorting and detracting. His character, too, was assailed, and scandalous stories invented and circulated in order to ruin him; but he heeded them not; for the Saviour had said: “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake; rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven.”
Whilst the missionary was still in this neighborhood, he was called to the bedside of a dying woman. Now that the hour of dissolution was rapidly approaching, she began to have misgivings about her fitness for Heaven. She had been in the Church for a number of years, but was not a lively stone in the building. After conversation and prayer with the missionary, her faith was strengthened, and she felt ready to go at the Master’s call. Thus did this servant of God do good upon every possible occasion. Having learned that a local preacher, who lived a few miles distant, was opposed to Sunday-schools, he determined to call upon him and talk over the matter.
The missionary, upon reaching the home of the preacher, found him ready to start out to fill an appointment at a place about six miles distant. He treated the missionary coldly, and boastingly told him that he and his people had gotten along for many years without Sunday-schools, and he guessed they were as good as those who had them, and reckoned they could still make out without his services; and to tell those who sent him “to attend to their own business and let other people’s alone.” Not waiting for a reply, the preacher gave his horse a cut with the whip, and was off. There was consequently no alternative left the missionary but to retrace his steps. This he did, and attended to the duties set apart for the day.
Notwithstanding opposition, the work went on; and the friends of the Sunday-school became daily more respected by its enemies.
