Fear   -   April 15, 1958
Fear grips the minds of men more than anything else. We fear a depression, and our fear of Russia as a potential enemy and rival is great.

Yes, fear has had its effect upon the human mind since the days of Adam when he disobeyed God's command and hid himself from God.

Jacob feared his brother, Esau. Joseph's' brothers feared him and sold him into Egypt. Then the rulers of that country feared the children of Israel and put them in bondage, as seem in our Sunday School lesson last Sunday.

Yes, fear is a fearful thing.

What is the cure for fear? The Bible tells us that perfect love casteth out all fear.

B. C. Money Union Cross

Children are listening and watching   -   February 5, 1959
We are indeed a pleasure loving people. Much of our leisure time is taken up by all kinds of athletic games, shows, radio and television programs that portray the horrors of fighting, wrestling, shooting, and all kinds of silly advertisements, with many parents sitting at the card table playing cards while the children are left to their own or perhaps watching while you play and listening to your conversation, absorbing every act or word which is recorded on the tender brain that sometime it may be recalled and be used either for good or bad.

All this brings to mind the tragic ending of a young man that spent his life in gambling and drinking which ended in murder, paying the penalty of death with his life. On the day of execution his mother standing near him wringing her hands and weeping, cried out to her son saying, “Why have you brought this punishment on yourself and shame and sorrow on your mother?” His reply was “Mother when I was a child prattling around your knees and stepping on your toes, you were sitting at a card table playing cards with your friends, leaving me to my own resources. My mind being keen and alert to the things around me I soon began to watch you as you seem to get so much pleasure out of card playing and as I grew older I remembered many of the tricks you used and I soon became an expert player with gambling and drinking which leads to shame and murder so now I have to pay the penalty with my life.” This sad tragedy soon brought this mother to her grave.

Yes, the child is much smarter than we give it credit for. He watches our foot steps, listens to what we say and may be remembered in years to come. Many times we teach our children the bed time prayer and to grace our tables while they never hear their parents pray or ask a blessing at the table. Sometime they will remember this and wonder why their parents did not pray or ask the blessing.

By B. C. Money

Rapidity of life   -   Thursday, July 16, 1959
As we think of so many that have accidents and misfortunes and are confined in hospitals, shut-ins who are unable to get out and for those who have lost loved ones, we extend our sympathy. Yes, we are surrounded by troubles and events that mar the beauty of life until it is hard to see beauty that is all about us. Isaiah tells us that “He (God) will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on God and put his trust in Him, “ and as we meditate on the rapidity of life it only seems a few days since our 83rd birthday, but as you read these lines today (Thursday, July 16) we will have reached the 84th mile stone. I remember so well the beautiful cards and letters I received from so many of my friends last year and as we re-read them today our hearts are warmed toward everyone for all the pleasant words written which will sustain and help us as we near the close of life. We have enjoyed our “Meditations” with you so much and wish for everyone the best in life and remember us in prayer that the last days of our life may be our best.

By B. C. Money

Why are we so fearful?   -   November 8, 1962
Do we as a professed Christian nation really believe the Bible and God? If so, why are we so fearful? Did God deliver the children of Israel from under the bondage of Pharaoh bringing them safe across the Red Sea on dry land leading them through the wilderness for 40 years and bringing them into the land he had promised their forefathers many years ago? Did David actually slay the giant Goliath by the might and power of the God he served? Did God send his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save us from eternal punishment? Did Jesus feed a multitude of 5,000 with the five loaves and two small fishes and while praying on the mountain side that night looking across the storm tossed waters saw his disciples in a boat tossed by the boisterous waves, their lives in jeopardy, while fear gripped their heart and sore afraid, did He go to their rescue walking on the water and saying “It is I be not afraid” and did the wind cease and the sea was calm? At another time as he and his disciples were crossing the sea while he was asleep there arose a great storm and the waves filled the ship so that they were afraid and woke the master saying “Carest thou not that we perish?” Did He arise and rebuke the wind saying to the sea “Peace be still” and the sea was clam an said to them “Why are you so fearful, don’t you have any faith?” If we sincerely believe in God and that these things were accomplished through His power, why can’t we believe in Him that spared that city of Nineveh because they repented in sackcloth and ashes. (Written November 8, 1962)

By B. C. Money

Thankful for life   -   November 22, 1962
As we come into the fall season and the Thanksgiving holiday we have much to be thankful for. We are thankful for life, for living peacefully with one another, for serving God with a true heart as laid down in the New Testament, for the bountiful crops and for the lovely scenery that has been displayed by the coloring of the leaves on the trees. It seems they have never been more beautiful and as they fall to the ground and die.

Many of use are living in the evening shadow of time and will soon return to earth to await the resurrection morn. Yes, we are thankful for loved ones and for friends. We are so glad for the little squirrels that we can watch from our window as they run and play and feed on the food we provide for them. We spend much time watching them and the many different kinds of birds that also come for their feed and sing their melody of song and to hear the call of the quail as the day fades. We plead with the gun man to spare the lives of these sweet little creatures.

We are also glad and thankful that the 1962 election is over. And hope everybody will get settled and perhaps by the time another election comes the candidates will apply the golden rule to guide their campaign.

By B. C. Money

The garden of sorrow   -   April 11, 1963
Tis midnight and on olives brow, a star is dimmed that lately shown, tis midnight in the garden now, the suffering Saviour prays alone. As we see our Saviour as he makes his way to the garden of sorrow where he left his three trusted disciples asking them to watch with him while he went a little farther falling on his face pouring out his soul in agony until his sweat became as great drops of blood. Forsaken by his disciples that he had so recently prayed for that they be kept from the evils of the world. Peter, that had so recently pledged his loyalty to him saying that he would never forsake him and would even die for him could not watch one hour and let Judas betray him with a kiss and while Jesus’ enemies falsely accused him he denied him three times and when the cock crew his Lord turned and looked at him and then he remembered and went out and wept bitterly.

By B. C. Money

Good time for reflections   -   February 27, 1964
As we have been housed in during these cold snowy days it has been a good time for reflections and “Meditation.” I found an old record book of the Union Cross Sunday School covering the period from 1901 to 1907. As I studied the contents it brought back memories of pleasant occasions and those I had associated with. It records the activities and management of the school. It lists the names of those that served as officers with a complete record of those attending. The roll was called every Sunday and those present and absent were marked. The following persons served as officers during this period: Superintendent, Gurney Hobson, three years, W. B. Money, Mrs. E. C. West and B. C. Money; secretary, Miss Collie Groce, Nannie Groce, Julius Williams and Miss Pearl Choplin; choir leader, B. C. Money and Charles Williams until he married and moved to Deep Creek Friends Community. There was no organ in our church at that time and the choir leader used a tuning fork to get the pitch of the song. The school operated several years prior to 1900 and Uncle Daniel Adams was Superintendent and Uncle Tommie Vestal led the singing. Some of the adults attending the Sunday School during this period were Uncle John Bovender, Uncle “Bake” Hobson, W. E. Bovender, James and Franklin Williams, Joel Bovender, Stephen Brown, Boyd Vestal and many others. Many of the “Ripple” family living in different parts of the country remember those days of long ago when they attended Sunday School at Union Cross.

By B. C. Money

Sweet fellowship   -   May 21, 1964
I remember during the turn of the century that the third Sunday in May was special occasion for the membership of Union Grove Baptist Church. It was a day set apart when the Lord’s Supper was observed and people from far and near would gather at the church for the “May Meeting” traveling in carriages, wagons, buggies, on horseback and on foot.

The church would be overflowing with people who had come to hear the man of God as he proclaimed the words of truth and soberness. Everyone enjoyed the sweet fellowship and spiritual atmosphere that those dear old saints whose faces shown with a radiance of love and sunshine as the partook of the “Lord’s Supper.” They all looked forward for the next “May Meeting” as they parted one by one.

People enjoyed life back in those years even though they did not possess the luxuries that are today. Churches were wooden structures with simple furniture, no musical instruments, heat derived from wood stove and lights from kerosene lamps.

There is quite a contrast between those days and the present as we worship in beautiful brick churches furnished with modern furniture, restful pews, a trained singing choir with piano and organ, electric lights and up-to-date heating systems and a well educated pastor that preaches every Sunday.

How fortunate we are to live in a land where we can worship God according to the dictates of our conscience and living a life that is well pleasing to our Lord.

By B. C. Money

Hospital   -   Undated
In our short stay at the Lula Conrad Hoots memorial Hospital last week a warm feeling of kindness and appreciation was born in our heart that still lingers because of the mutual friendship and good will that permeated. The friends that met there on account of sickness and suffering . They reminded me of the first Pentecostal sermon that Peter preached and it was said “all that believed were together and had all things common” and again when Jesus said “As oft as you have done these good deeds to the least of these my Brethren you have done it unto me.” Yes how true that as we meet in the hospital it seems that we share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens, and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear. There is that spirit of unity and fellowship that exists in our hospitals that is seldom found elsewhere and we cherish the memory of the friendship and kindnesses shown us and will remember the many kind expressions for “Meditations” and for all the beautiful cards we received while in the hospital.

Mother's Day   -   Undated
We will be celebrating Mother’s Day Sunday, and we are wishing for every mother a most joyous happy day. We think Easter and Mother’s Day are two of the greatest days we celebrate, as they are so closely related. We know that mothers were the first at the tomb on Easter morning and first to see their risen Lord and carried the first message from him to his disciples. We realize that the father is the head of the home but when the child gets hurt or sick who is the one that binds up the wounds or soothes its fevered brow? It is the mother and our plea to all children that have living mothers is to love and be kind to them and listen to their counsel and you will never regret it. Yes, all honor to the good mothers of our country. Pastor Jim Murphy preached a good sermon Sunday at Union Grove Church. His subject was “Failure of the Church.” He did not say the church had failed but that it is slow to take firm stand on many vital issues that confront us today.

By B. C. Money

Reminiscences of Bovender Village, Part One   -   The Yadkin Ripple, July 26, 1945
There is so much that could be said and written about Bovender Town that it is hard to decide on a beginning. First of all it was nestled among the hills on Forbush Creek. Sherrill Adams is the present owner of the home place of Bill Bovender. As we have said, Mr. Bovender manufactured Plug tobacco in summer employing from 12 to 25 hands, mostly young folks. In the cool of the evening when the day’s work was done they would group together for fun and recreation and those hills and valleys would resound with laughter and song, for their activities were restricted at night. Later we might list the names of many of these workers.

In those days Mr. Bovender made coffins for the community. He also gathered and housed ice from his mill pond during the late Fall and Winter for use the following summer. The aching fevered brow of many sick persons was cooled with ice from his ice house.

He was successful in all his undertakings except the perfecting of perpetual motion.

His distinction for being a brother to ten half sisters was unusual. Their names follow: Mary, Bet, Lid, Lute, Till, Kate, Bid, Fatima, Irene, and Rachel.

He owned one of the finest and fastest traveling horses in the country. The devotion between himself and the horse, Charlie, was almost human.

In connection with all the other businesses carried on in this town, a large dry goods store was operated for some time by Messrs. Caleb Warden, a Methodist preacher, and Joshua Hobson, noted school teacher of his day and veteran of the war between the States. One would never get tired of listening to the thrilling experiences he had in the war, and his hearty laughter was a tonic for any chronic complainer.

The Republic Post Office served a large territory until it was discontinued about 1902.

This article would not be complete without a word of praise and gratitude in behalf of Mrs. Bovender, mother of ten children, six living today, making a good contribution to their county. In all our ten years of contact with her, we have never seen a more even tempered, kind and gentle wife and mother than she was, a woman loved by all who knew her. [To be continued.}

By B. C. Money

Reminiscences of Bovender Village, Part Two   -   Published in The Yadkin Ripple, August 9, 1945
More About the Bovender Village. In the previous article I spoke of the children of the late Mr. and Mrs. Bill Bovender, and have since been asked to name them. There are seven living instead of six as stated before. They are: Mrs. Cora Norman, of Yadkinville; Mrs. Dora Hutchens, wife of Dr. Hutchens of North Wilkesboro; Willie and Early Bovender and Mrs. Henry Shore, all of Winston-Salem; Mrs. Arthur Williams and Mrs. Wesley Adams, of the Union Cross community.

A grandson of Bill Bovender, and son of the late King Bovender, is a well known State Highway Patrolman A. C. Bovender, and Yadkin is now in his territory.

Ervin Norman was head salesman for the processed tobacco, most of which was sold in South Carolina and Western North Carolina. It was transported from factory to merchants and jobbers by means of a two horse covered wagon, taking from one to two weeks to make the trip. Other salesmen employed were Tyre Adams and John A. Wiseman (all deceased), and D. Gray Hobson.

I have always looked back with pride on the years that Will Hinshaw and I worked together. He plowed the “wild mare” and I plowed “Charlie.” Believe me, when you followed those horses from sun up to sun down you felt like sitting down in one of those famous “Inscore chairs” and resting. Now, Mr. Hinshaw is helpless but his many friends and neighbors remember him as a man of usefulness and wonderful personality. Perhaps in his almost helpless condition, he may be able to commune with his Unseen Friend which can bring sunshine and hope into his life that otherwise might not have been so real.

I also remember the time when the father of the now noted Methodist minister, Rev. W. L. Hutchens, and I labored together on the farm. Many the cold early morning we would be in the bottoms, grubbing, when the sun showed its face in the East. We hope that brother Hutchens tackles sin in all its alluring forms as he did those briers and grubs. He was an outstanding boy.

Another outstanding person [I’d] like to mention was “Uncle” Jot, the Negro hired man. He was liked by all his white friends. It was his happy privilege to spend his declining days in the home of the beloved Rev. T. C. Myers.

Another outstanding personality of this village was “Granny” Ann Bovender, who lived alone much of the time, but whose doors were always open to those who sought her council and advice. Her knowledge and skill as a home doctor made her services in great demand far and wide. She was a great favorite with boty old and young. She was the mother of “Aunt” Lou Williams, her only living child.

There is much more that could be said and written about this village as it is rich in romance and personality, but for the present we will close the book and dream of the sweet memories of by-gone days and enjoy our declining years with our companion and loved ones, hoping that some sweet day we will be transported to that land of never fading glory.

B. C. Money