The Travels of Increase Joseph: A Historical Novel about a Pioneer Preacher

9. Henry and Abigail

Chapter 9 Henry and Abigail Henry Bakken and his wife ran the newly organized Link Lake Gazette. Bakken, with his neatly trimmed red beard and an ever present striped vest, was easily identified in the growing village of Link Lake located on the far south end of the lake. Bakken's wife, Abigail, spent much of her time in the newspaper office. She was a short, thin woman, who wore her blond hair in braids and had a most pleasant way about her. She was in charge of selling advertising for the newspaper, a task that she did well. About once a week she made the rounds of the new businesses in Link Lake trying to convince them that it was important to advertise. She even managed to pry a small ad out of Increase Joseph, who used the space to announce the title for the coming week's sermon. Henry and Abigail's daughter, Henrietta, was the same age as Increase Joseph's son, and the two children often played together. The Bakkens were not only members of the Standalone Fellowship, but they considered Increase Joseph and Elwina friends. When Increase Joseph was severely criti- The Travels of Increase Joseph 61 cized by church people back in Plum Falls, New York, Henry Bakken stood up for him, and never once wrote anything critical about him in the newspaper . Even though his support for Increase Joseph was unwavering, he often didn't understand the spiritual leader. Occasionally Bakken wondered if the lightning had indeed seared Increase Joseph's brain. And some days he wondered if Increase Joseph simply liked to hear himself talk, period. Sometimes Increase Joseph's preaching wandered here there and everywhere. But other times the message was clear and compelling and certainly provided a spiritual alternative for those who were put off by traditional churches with their message of hell and damnation. There was no question that Increase Joseph wanted people to know about him. Why else would he name the village, the lake, and the stream coming out of the lake after him? Yet, Bakken, thought, he does care about the rest of the community . He preaches for no pay, and makes his meager living farming alongside the rest of the Fellowship's members. Then there was the matter of the Red Book. Increase Joseph carried it with him always, and claimed loudly and convincingly that it contained the foundation for everything the Fellowship stood for. Yet, no one in the Fellowship, not even Henry Bakken, ever had a glance inside the book. The Red Book had become even more mysterious than Increase Joseph Link. Finally, there was the matter of the tonic, which was even more secret than the Red Book. Increase Joseph seemed to have an ample supply of this 62 Apps mystical drink, but he only brought it out when someone in the Fellowship took ill, or was injured. Word had gotten around that Increase Joseph carried a bottle of the tonic with him at all times, and when he thought no one was looking, took a long deep drink. Bakken's curiosity - his newspaper experience provided that - resulted in far more questions than answers about Increase Joseph Link. Henry and Abigail Bakken had of course attended the dedication ceremonies for the new Standalone Church. Henry was quite taken by Increase Joseph's message, which was clearer than usual that day about what the Red Book said, and what the Standalone Fellowship stood for. Increase Joseph had gone on at length about the threefold relationship of people, God, and the land. The message was simple, clear, and elegant. Every person had the right and the responsibility to develop his or her own personal relationship to God, but should also be mindful that any relationship must include a connection to the land, and to other people. It was a freeing message, yet one with boundaries as the land and God were givens, never to be doubted in importance, never to be omitted from consideration. On the following Monday morning, after careful thought, Henry Bakken had summarized what Increase-Joseph said in a front-page story, with the headline: "Standalone Preacher Proclaims New Religion. Advocates Relationship to God, Community And The Land." When the paper came out on Tuesday, its regular day of publication, Bakken sent a copy to the Milwaukee Sentinel, a newspa- The Travels of Increase Joseph 63 per that had...