Friday, April 9, 2010

A Missouri Lover & an Arkansas “Dream” Girl…Part 5.

Wrapping It All Up...Somewhat.
In wrapping up this story from public records, this is the one of the last I could find.




Recalling a time more than seventeen years ago when he left Springfield for a ride around the world on horseback except where water could be used as an aid to travel, T. Allen McQuary of Chicago, head of a plant by that name which makes a specialty of rebinding county records, was in Springfield yesterday-visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. McQuary of Galena, Stone county.

McQuary left Springfield on July 4, 1897, for a trip around the world, taking with him some post cards and an English greyhound, a gift of the Springfield fire department. The dog was remembered by many of the pioneer firemen as "Old Dan."

McQuary made the trip in eighteen months, just fourteen days within the time limit. His success won for him a wager of $2,000, placed with a cotton planter of Little Rock.

In every city that he visited Mr. McQuary secured the cancellation of a stamp at the post office. This record showed positively that he had been in the cities designated at the end of his travels. From Springfield he went to New York, returning the westward route.

All of McQuary's journey was made on black' horses which he purchased at intervals along the route. He rode one horse from Springfield to New York. "Old Dan," the greyhound, was given at New York to a regiment just forming to go to war with Spain in Cuba. The dog was killed in Cuba.

Mr. McQuary returned to Chicago last night. He was formerly a resident of Galena, his parents being owners of Camp Clark, an attractive summer resort on the James River.

Mrs. McQuary, is a victim of a nervous breakdown and will be treated in local hospital.

End of Article
Introspection
So now the truth has been revealed, all facets of the heart have been exposed.
Is the Ozarks’ History unique unto itself?
No.
Is Mr. McQuary a fiend for all eternity…never to be forgiven or turn to repentance?
No.
He merely exposed the corruptible seed in our own hearts.
We all have the potential to let this seed spring up in our fallow hearts.
We all have the taint of sin & error in our hearts, and we are all doomed to repeat our past failures without a Deliver.

Let’s Review.
We have a man that was a beautiful lecturer & gifted orator.
His looks were uniquely dashing & charisma was flowing.
He was a wordsmith of diction and a crafter of fantasies.
His stories thrilled the passions and made the listeners yearn for noble aspirations.
His stories were moving, and the public embraced him as genuine.
His façade was a total package.
Yet, behind it all, money was the goal.
In advertising, this is called the “Halo Effect.” The perpetrator displays an image, the audience looks at him as an angel, and the halo encompasses his every move and being.
Sound familiar?
This reminds me of a verse I was taught as a kid in Sunday School.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14 KJVR)

Now I ask you, Dear Reader. Have you used the “Halo Effect?”
Has it ever been used on you?
Or, is it occurring in your day?

I fear its’ deadly & numbing effect has slowly encompassed our nation over the past decades, and we have sold ourselves to an angel whom holds no allegiance to our values & morals. Unfortunately, we walk to the tune of the piper, death vexing our souls, while we believe ourselves enlighten.

Am I talking about a fallen man or fallen angel?
You be the judge.

No Party will save us. If you're thinking it will, you’re too late.
Only true repentance will bring about the cure.
There is only one Savior who has triumphed over this enemy.

WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS
Written by: Isaac Watts, 1707

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

To Christ, who won for sinners grace
By bitter grief and anguish sore,
Be praise from all the ransomed race
Forever and forevermore.


Works Cited:
“Trip Around World Recalled.” Neosho Daily Democrat 11.259 (24 Nov. 1915) 1. Access Newspaper Archive. Baxter County Library, Mountain Home, AR. 1 Dec. 2009 http://www.access.newspaperarchive.com.

Watts, Isaac (1707). When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.

2 comments:

Christi @ A Southern Life said...

Great story and a great message by you at the end. Keep up the good work!

Christi @ A Southern Life

Unknown said...

Interesting epilogue to this fascinating story, and you are probably aware, but Allen McQuary committed suicide by bullet on July 27, 1948 in Galena, MO. He was postmaster there, and was under investigation for embezzlement.