THEY DIVIDED TIME -- BESTOW & RICE

RICE, BESTOW, CLEVELAND

Posted By: David (email)
Date: 12/9/2004 at 12:40:47

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa
Thursday, January 24, 1907

At the recent memorial service of the late Lieut. Gov. BESTOW, stress was
made by one of the speakers on his consideration for the rights of others
and his kindly way of solving the conflicting problems of every day
occurrence. This is illustrated, and was published at the time, by a little
circumstance which happened in Washington Township when the writer was a lad
at the old farm home. It was during the first campaign of Grover Cleveland
for the Presidency. MR. BESTOW had come out boldly for him, he also being a
native of Erie County, New York, fully endorsing his tariff views and
speaking words of commendation for his ability, being then in full use of
his vigorous manhood.

On a certain Saturday night the local committee had billed him to make a
speech at the Greenville School House, and unknown to them the Christian
Church people had also previously announced a preaching service there the
same evening. The result was that Elder RICE and his congregation showed up
in full numbers, and MR. BESTOW and his crowd were on hand, each demanding
that their respective gospel must be preached. Neither audience seemed
entirely willing to give in, so MR. BESTOW and Elder RICE got together in
one corner and "arranged matters." They agreed to "divide time."

The Elder's turn came first and he preached a short but powerful sermon and
the democracy accepted him as their chaplain for the occasion.

Next MR. BESTOW's turn came and the Elder and his congregation did the
courteous act by listening. The speaker defined democracy as it had never
been propounded in that community before, in chaste but vigorous terms and
the meeting closed with the singing of the Doxology. This arrangement did
not detract from the religious service in the least and the lay members of
the church got the benefit of a broad lesson in tolerance and old case
hardened democrats were penetrated by the shafts of eternal truths from a
religious standpoint which they otherwise would have missed. This was the
first time the writer saw MR. BESTOW and heard him speak.

Good, old Elder RICE still lives in Wayne County but is daily nearing the
glory shore.
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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
November 26, 2004
iggy29@rnetinc.net