THE DEACON OF DOBBINSVILLE
A Story Based on Actual Happenings
_By John A. Morrison_
Publisher's Preface
This narrative, written and first printed some 45 or 50 years ago,
depicts the contrast in that day between the nominal religious
professors on the one hand, and on the other the individuals who had
been soundly converted, made new creatures in Christ, filled with the
Holy Spirit and rejoicing on the "highway of holiness." There is a
distinct line of demarcation "between him that serveth God and him that
serveth him not."
The Apostle Paul warned: "For the time will come when they will not
endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears; and THEY SHALL TURN AWAY
THEIR EARS FROM THE TRUTH, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Tim.
4:4, 5. The religious world has apostatized much more since Paul's day,
even to the extent in this modern age that professors of Christianity
are proclaiming the blasphemous "God is dead" philosophy.
The author, John Arch Morrison, kindly granted this publisher his
permission to reprint this book. Here are his words in his own
handwriting dated October 26, 1965: "Dear Bro. in Christ, I have no
objection to you printing any number of 'The Deacon of Dobbinsville.'
Cordially, John A. Morrison."
Then hardly two months later, on December 23, 1965, and before this book
was printed, the author was taken suddenly from this life by a heart
attack at Anderson, Indiana in his 73rd year.
Time is rapidly bearing us all on to eternity. How all-important it is
that we remember constantly the words of the Psalmist: "So teach us to
number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." The Wise Man
writes: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and
keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Eccl. 12:13.
March, 1966--Lawrence D. Pruitt, Publisher
The Deacon of Dobbinsville
By John A. Morrison
CHAPTER I
Mount Olivet church at the time of which I am about to write had
received the zenith of her glory. She was possessed of a full measure of
the denominational pride and prejudice common to the day and the
community in which she existed. Since Mount Olivet church is to occupy
so conspicuous a place in my narrative, it is fitting that I should take
time and space right here to describe her. I must also give my readers
an idea of the community of which Mount Olivet church formed the hub and
center.
Well, to begin with, Mount Olivet church was old. And like, all other
things old she had a history, partly respectable and partly otherwise.
The date of her organization reached back into the fifties, before the
days of the Civil War. Some great notables had lived and died in this
church. Tradition had it that one of the charter members of this church
was a candidate for president of the United States against James
Buchanan. Of course he was not elected, as you know, and I suppose you
have noticed nothing in our national history about this particular man
running for president, but you recall that the history of a nation and
the history of a local country district have a way of reading
differently.
But this aspirant to the presidential office was not the only great man
who had been a member of Mount Olivet church. The older citizens told of
a certain Preacher Crookshank who was pastor of this church during and
prior to the Civil War and was also a member of the State Legislature;
and, according to these biographers, he was the sole cause of the State
remaining in the Union. It seems from all reports that Preacher
Crookshank was not only a statesman of renown, but also a masterful
theologian of Mount Olivet's particular faith. It is reported how he
defended his theology with his splendid oratory, and how when this
failed he resorted to his fists. His oratory was said to be simply
overwhelming. They recounted how, in his oratorical frenzies, he used to
fling his homespun coat in the air and crack the heels of his red-topped
boots together with an emphasis that would stop the mouth of the most
impudent gainsayer. They told how by this masterful eloquence opposers
were silenced, heretics were brought to orthodoxy, and infidels were
converted. Preacher Crookshank flourished contemporaneously with John
Barleycorn. To be frank, he and John were bosom friends. In fact, it was
reported that Crookshank was never at his best in preaching except when
he had an infilling of the "spirit" of the Barleycorn type. He had a
certain long-tailed coat, said to have been given to him by a fellow
member of the Legislature. This coat had large pockets in the tail
wherein was carried a bottle of whiskey. This was a source of much
inspiration to Crookshank throughout his long and eventful career.
But I must leave off any further description of this notable. Those who
are further interested I refer to the blue-grass cemetery just back of
Mount Olivet church, where a tombstone is to be found bearing this
inscription: "Rev. John Crookshank--Statesman, Preacher, Orator. Died
June 6, 1867."
As before stated, Mount Olivet church flourished. She was nestled among
the picturesque Ozark Hills, about midway between Ridgetown and
Dobbinsville. Everybody in the community, almost, who had any religious
inclination, and some who had none, belonged to Mount Olivet. She
boasted in being the largest church in all Randolph County--the churches
at Ridgetown and Dobbinsville not excepted. When I say that Mount Olivet
church flourished, I do not mean that she flourished in spiritual
things. Indeed, her candle of vital religion had well-nigh flickered
out. Scarcely a member could be found who would testify to a real
experience of salvation from sin. There were three things for which the
members of this particular church were remarkable, namely, they were
great sticklers for the faith of their church, they were all
holiness-fighters, they all used tobacco in some form.