02271cam a22003013u 4500 12512 UtSlPG 20260610133310.0 m cr n 260607r2004||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Morrison, John Arch, 1893-1965 The Deacon of Dobbinsville : A Story Based on Actual Happenings Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2004 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Release date is 2004-06-01 Produced by Joel Erickson, Christine Gehring, Michel Boto and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. "The Deacon of Dobbinsville" by John Arch Morrison is a narrative based on actual events, likely written in the mid-20th century. The work explores the spiritual dilemmas and conflicts within a church community, particularly focusing on the contrasting experiences of nominal believers and those who seek heartfelt salvation. Central characters include Deacon Gramps, a prominent yet hypocritical member of Mount Olivet Church, and Jake Benton, a more earnest but misunderstood churchgoer struggling with his faith and personal transformation. The opening of the narrative sets the stage with a description of Mount Olivet Church, emphasizing its historical significance and the moral decline of its congregation. As the story begins, we meet Deacon Gramps, who embodies the church's superficial piety, contrasted against Jake Benton, who yearns for a deeper spiritual experience. The narrative swiftly establishes the community's tension surrounding differing beliefs and the potential for conflict as Jake seeks true salvation among the old traditions dominated by Gramps and others resistant to change. The early chapters hint at the broader themes of redemption, persecution, and the genuine pursuit of faith amidst societal pressures. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Christian life -- Fiction https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12512 53930 53930