WASH & WEAR PREACHER

My grandfather, Reverend Henry Ingraham (H.1.) Cook during all of his ministry wore suits that were different from ordinary business suits and were specially made for the ministerial occupation. The lapels were quite narrow and the suits were always very conservative. This was a time when dry cleaning establishments were non-existent in that part of the country. While others were content with a brushing and an occasional pressing with an flat iron heated on the stove by the wife, grandmother, Amanda Jane Meadows Cook, took great pride in the fact that she periodically washed his suits in soap and water. Now he was always neatly dressed and the suits did not shrink. This has always been a mystery to me as to how she prevented the shrinking. I guess it will always be a mystery and perhaps she employed some secret passed down by her Cherokee great grandmother.

When I was quite young, even before starting school, I visited grandmother and grandfather in Sophia, West Virginia where he was pastor. After attending Sunday School and Church and having lunch, we traveled to a river where grandfather was holding Baptisms.

After the usual ceremony required, he went into the river, dressed in suit, tie and the usual dress up attire for Sunday. He baptized those who required it and now, we have ceremony, complete with robes, heated baptismal pools and modern conveniences. Baptist ministers have had to adapt to many circumstances throughout the years. One learned preacher and seminary graduate once told me that a baptism does not have to be in water, if water is not available. His example was someone hurt in a logging accident who lay dying in the forest, in the eyes of God, the man could be baptized with leaves and it would be perfectly acceptable in the eyes of God.

My grandfather was a Missionary Baptist and believed John 3:16 meant "Go out" and did not mean for you to wait until they came to you.

When he was a Justice of the Peace and a moonshiner was brought in for trial, with the moonshine as evidence and the trial was over, he took it down and dumped it into Widemouth Creek. Other justices were known to wink and take the evidence home.

Musings of Henry T. Cook, Lt. Col., USMC (Ret.)