CHAPTER 10


During the time that Bonds was on the floor, Evangelist Blank leaned
against the pulpit with his face in his hands as if in prayer. When
Bonds sat down the Evangelist calmly faced the audience. Just at this
time he seemed to possess the meekness of a lamb and the boldness of a
lion. He seemed perfectly composed, as he remarked, "Well, brethren and
friends, I am indeed sorry to see this splendid testimony meeting end in
this way. I am sorry the ministerial brother feels as he does toward the
truth we have preached, and I hope after prayer and reflection he will
see his way clear not to hinder the progress of the meeting. However, if
God sees fit to allow the hand of persecution to fall upon us, we bow
submissively to his will. But we will not, we dare not compromise God's
truth. We will preach the Bible regardless of consequences." With these
remarks Evangelist Blank closed the service.

After the service was closed everything seemed to be as usual except for
a few whisperings around in regard to what Preacher Bonds had said. As
was usually the case at the close of such meetings, the saints gathered
in little groups about the front end of the arbor and talked freely of
their common faith and love. Mothers began to arouse sleepy-eyed
children from their dreams and break to them the sad news that they were
not at home in bed. Bushy-headed, bearded farmers and woodsmen began
ramming their grimy hands into the hip pockets of their "blue drillin'
overhauls," in which sequestered quarters were prone to hide their "long
twist" and homemade cob pipes. After injecting an ample amount of "long
twist" into the cob pipe's empty stomach and lighting a match thereto