This narrative, written and first printed some 45 or 50 yearsago, depicts the contrast in that day between the nominal religiousprofessors on the one hand, and on the other the individuals whohad been soundly converted, made new creatures in Christ, filledwith the Holy Spirit and rejoicing on the "highway of holiness."There is a distinct line of demarcation "between him that servethGod and him that serveth him not."
The Apostle Paul warned: "For the time will come when they willnot endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall theyheap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shallturn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned untofables." 2 Tim. 4:4, 5. The religious world has apostatized muchmore since Paul's day, even to the extent in this modern age thatprofessors of Christianity are proclaiming the blasphemous "God isdead" philosophy.
The author, John Arch Morrison, kindly granted this publisherhis permission to reprint this book. Here are his words in his ownhandwriting dated October 26, 1965: "Dear Bro. in Christ, I have noobjection to you printing any number of 'The Deacon ofDobbinsville.' Cordially, John A. Morrison."
Then hardly two months later, on December 23, 1965, and beforethis book was printed, the author was taken suddenly from this lifeby a heart attack at Anderson, Indiana in his 73rd year.
Time is rapidly bearing us all on to eternity. How all-importantit is that we remember constantly the words of the Psalmist: "Soteach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts untowisdom." The Wise Man writes: "Let us hear the conclusion of thewhole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is thewhole duty of man." Eccl. 12:13.
March, 1966 --Lawrence D. Pruitt, Publisher
Mount Olivet church at the time of which I am about to write hadreceived the zenith of her glory. She was possessed of a fullmeasure of the denominational pride and prejudice common to the dayand the community in which she existed. Since Mount Olivet churchis to occupy so conspicuous a place in my narrative, it is fittingthat I should take time and space right here to describe her. Imust also give my readers an idea of the community of which MountOlivet church formed the hub and center.
Well, to begin with, Mount Olivet church was old. And like, allother things old she had a history, partly respectable and partlyotherwise. The date of her organization reached back into thefifties, before the days of the Civil War. Some great notables hadlived and died in this church. Tradition had it that one of thecharter members of this church was a candidate for president of theUnited States against James Buchanan. Of course he was not elected,as you know, and I suppose you have noticed nothing in our nationalhistory about this particular man running for president, but yourecall that the history of a nation and the history of a localcountry district have a way of reading differently.
But this aspirant to the presidential office was not the onlygreat man who had been a member of Mount Olivet church. The oldercitizens told of a certain Preacher Crookshank who was pastor ofthis church during and prior to the Civil War and was also a memberof the State Legislature; and, according to these biographers, hewas the sole cause of the State remaining in the Union. It seemsfrom all reports that Preacher Crookshank was not only a statesmanof renown, but also a masterful theologian of Mount Olivet'sparticular faith. It is reported how h