Cleansing of the Temple

I'm just going to toss this out, not dwell on it. There are only a few things all the gospels agree on. For example, Jesus knew John the Baptist, and (if we read between the lines in Gs John) all four say he was baptized by John. All the gospels agree Jesus was crucified. They don't agree on the DAY, but they agree he was crucified.

There are lots and lots of things the gospels do not agree on. They don't agree on the name of Jesus' mom, because it is never mentioned in John. They don't agree on the list of disciples.

But all agree on the broad outlines of an odd event called "The Cleansing of the Temple", familiar to all sword-and-sandal movie buffs by the spectre of the whip-wielding J chasing the cowering animal-sellers and money-changers from the temple precincts.

Though modern scholars such as E .P.Sanders have more than a few problems with the specifics, all that I have read anyway, up till now, consider the Cleansing of the Temple to be a genuine historical incident in the life of the historical Jesus.

Having just finished the commentary of Prof. Bultmann's wonderfully astute student Ernst Haenschen I am here to report this stunning fact:

Prof. Haenschen does not credit the historicity of the Cleansing of the Temple. He very patiently, using fairly high-powered archaelogical evidence as well as historical argument, shows that no event remotely like that depicted in the gospels could have happened. In fact he makes it plain that for the most part the story if considered a report of a real event, is absurd.

So this view will now be able to play a part in the thinking of Matthias (who of course was in the vicinity at the time).

Gospel of Matthias- Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Then Jesus left the district of the Gadarenes, and set sail in a boat and returned to his city. They brought him one sickened with contractions, that is a paralytic, and Jesus was moved by their faith and said, “Be of good heart, and have courage my son. It is by faith in God that your sins have been forgiven.”

Some of the scribes were thinking in their hearts: this one blasphemes. Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? Which is easier to say: your sins are forgiven or arise and walk?” They answered not, but to inform them of his authority he said to the paralytic, “Arise, take your bed, and walk.” The man arose, and went to his house and the crowd saw and praised God who had given power to men to do such things.

It came to pass that the scribes and the Pharisees who esteemed themselves righteous and experts in the law of Moses were more and more observing Jesus narrowly, and criticizing him at every turn, for his fame among the people was spreading and consequently their own authority, it seemed to them, diminished. Andrew, who had been a disciple of John the Baptizer warned Jesus of the enmity of the scribes, who were often small village lawyers and jealous of their station, but Jesus said to him that no more than John turned aside from the path could he.

On one occasion when Jesus was eating out of doors with some followers and others some Pharisees asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher sit and eat with violent and evil men?” Jesus heard this and said, “It is not the healthy who need healing is it, but rather the sick? Go and learn what is written: I desire kindness not sacrifice, I have come not to restore the righteous, but the wicked.”

After he had spoken thus to them a leader of the synagogue named Jairus approached him and bowed down to him saying “My little daughter is at death’s door. I beg you to come and lay hands upon her that she might be saved.” So Jesus went with him accompanied by a great crowd that pressed all around him.

Behold a woman suffering for twelve years from hemorrhages was in the throng. She had been to many physicians and had spent all her money on treatments but nothing availed and she had become worse rather than better. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd, and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she had said to herself, “If I only so much as touch his garment God will heal me.” As she touch his cloak then and there the flow of blood ceased and she knew in herself that she was healed. Aware at once that power had gone out from him Jesus asked, “Who touched my clothes?” His disciples wondered at this question and said, “Master, the crowd presses in on all sides and you ask who touched your clothes?” But he kept looking around for the one who had touched him, and there saw the woman, trembling with fear for she knew what had happened. Jesus turned to he and said softly, “Courage, my daughter, be not afraid, through God, blessed be He, your faith has healed you. Go in peace free from your affliction.”

When they reached the house of Jairus there were many people outside weeping, and they told Jairus, “Your daughter is dead”, but Jesus quieted them saying “Be not afraid, have faith.” And he made all the crowd stay outside the house, taking inside with him only Peter, James and John. As they entered the house more friends and relations were loudly wailing lamentations, and Jesus said to them, “Why all the commotion? The child is not dead but merely sleeping.” Then he made all leave except for the child’s parents and his companions, who he took into the chamber where the child lay. Jesus knelt beside her and held her hands, saying “My child, arise”, and this she did immediately.

Gospel of Matthias- Chapter Six

Chapter Six

When Jesus and his disciples came down from the mountain and entered into Capernaum, a centurion of the auxiliaries, a captain of hundreds, came to ask his help, and implored him saying, “Sir my son lies in my house with a paralyzing illness and is racked with pain". Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.” The centurion replied, “Sir, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. Just make the decision that he will be healed and I know it will be so, for I am a man under authority with horses and riders under me and if I say to one of them go, he goes. And if I say to another come he will come, and to my servants when I say do this, it is done.” Jesus was amazed and said to his companions, “Truly I say to you I have not found a greater faith in Israel. Many will come from the east and the west to feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, but many born to the kingdom will be cast into the outer darkness where there will be great gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion “Go and as you have believed it has been done for you.” At that moment the lad was cured.

The disciples asked Jesus about the Kingdom of Heaven he spoke of and Jesus said the Kingdom was spread out in the land and the children of the promise did not see it. Even as the demons of Satan were defeated, sin overcome by grace and forgiveness, disease cured, and wondrous deeds performed, even as the life of the righteous will triumph over death, the Kingdom of God is at hand.

And again he said, “Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and it shall be opened to you. Enter by the narrow gate of life, for broad is the way that leads to iniquity and death. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is burned in the fire, therefore it is according to their fruits -- that is, their deeds-- that you will know them. Not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do the will of the Heavenly Father. When the day comes many will say ‘Did we not prophecy in your name and in your name cast out demons, and perform miracles in your name?’ Then I will tell them plainly: ‘Out of my sight, I never knew you, depart from me all you workers of iniquity.’”

“Whoever hears my words and acts on them is like the wise man who builds his house on a foundation of rock. The rains come and the winds beat against his house, but it does not fall because it is built upon rock. Everyone who hears my words and ignore them is like the foolish man that builds his house upon sand. The winds and rains come and the house collapses with a great fall because it was built on sand.”

It came to pass that Jesus and his followers crossed over the sea and came to that region beyond the sea, of the Gadari, and there encountered a man possessed of an unclean spirit. He dwelled in the area of the tombs and raged so that no one could pass by that way. As Jesus approached he shouted in fear, “Favored One of God, what do you want with us? Have you come to torment us before our time?”

Jesus was already demanding the name of the unclean spirit and ordering it out of the possessed man. The demon replied “Our name is Legion for we are many.” The demon begged Jesus not to send it out of the district, but to let them go from the possessed man into a herd of pigs that was grazing on a hillside nearby. And Jesus said, “It is fitting” and gave them leave to go from the man into the swine. The demons went out from the man and into the swine and all the herd went in sudden haste and slipped off the cliff and were drowned in the water. Those who were feeding the pigs feared, and fled, and told everything in the city, so the whole city was frightened. The leading men went out to meet Jesus and saw him and entreated him not to pass over into their border.

Fox Writes a Letter

(Fox Speaking.) Among the chief hearers and followers of priest Lampitt, was one Adam Sands, a very wicked, false man, who would have destroyed the truth and its followers, if he could. To him I was moved to write on this wise:

Adam Sands,

To the light in your conscience I appeal, you child of the devil, you enemy of righteousness; the Lord will strike you down, though now for awhile you may reign in your wickedness. The plagues of God are due to you, who hardens yourself in wickedness against the pure truth of God. With the pure truth of God, which you have resisted and persecuted, you are to be threshed down, which is eternal, and comprehends you. And with the light which you despise you are seen, and it is your condemnation. You as one brutish, your wife as a hypocrite, and both as murderers of the just, in that which is eternal are seen and comprehended; and your heart is searched, tried, and condemned by the light. The light in your conscience will witness the truth to you and let you see you are not born of God, but are out of the truth, in the beastly nature. If ever your eye sees repentance, you will witness me a friend of your soul, and a seeker of your eternal good.

George Fox

Practicing As He Preached

(Fox Speaking.) The people were quiet, and heard me gladly, until this justice Sawrey, (who first stirred up the cruel persecution of Quakers in the north), incensed them against me, and set them on to hale, beat, and bruise me. But now all of a sudden the people were in a rage, and fell upon me in the steeple-house before his face, knocked me down, kicked me, and trampled upon me. So great was the uproar, that some tumbled over their seats for fear. At last he came and took me from the people, led me out of the steeple-house, and put me into the hands of the constables and other officers; bidding them whip me, and put me out of the town. They led me about a quarter of a mile, some taking hold by my collar, some by my arms and shoulders, who shook and dragged me along. Many friendly people being come to the market, and some to the steeple-house to hear me; several of these they knocked down also, and broke their heads, so that the blood ran down from several; and judge Fell's son came running after to see what they would do with me; they threw him into a ditch of water, some of them crying, 'Knock the teeth out of his head.' When they had haled me to the common moss side, a multitude following, the constables, and other officers gave me some blows over my back with their willow rods, and thrust me among the rude multitude; who having furnished themselves with staves, hedge-stakes, and holm or holly bushes, fell upon me, and beat me on my head, arms, and shoulders, until they had deprived me of sense; so that I fell down upon the wet common. When I recovered again, I saw myself lying in a watery common, and the people standing about me, I lay still a little while, and the power of the Lord sprang through me, and the eternal refreshings revived me; so that I stood up again in the strengthening power of the eternal God and stretching out my arms among them, I said, with a loud voice, 'Strike again; here are my arms, my head, and my cheeks.' There was in the company a mason, a professor, but a rude fellow, who with his walking rule-staff gave me a blow with all his might just over the back of my hand, as it was stretched out; with which blow my hand was so bruised, and my arm so benumbed, that I could not draw it to me again; so that some of the people cried, 'He has spoiled his hand for ever having the use of it any more.' But I looked at it in the love of God, (for I was in the love of God to them all that had persecuted me), and after awhile the Lord's power sprang through me again, and through my hand and arm, so that in a moment I recovered strength in my hand and arm in the sight of them all.

Some Activities of George Fox

One:

(Fox Speaking.) I went into the Abbey Chamber, and there came in a mad woman that sometimes was very desperate. And she fell down of her knees and cried, "Put off your hats, for grace, grace hangs about thy neck." And so the Lord's power ran through her that she was sensible of her condition, and after came and confessed it to Friends.

Two:

And I came to another place in Cumberland, where a man's wife was distracted and very desperate, attempting at times to kill her children and her husband. But I was moved of the Lord God to speak to her, and she kneeled down of her bare knees and cried, and said she would work on her bare knees if she might go with me. And the Lord's power wrought through her and she went home well.

Three:

And in Bishoprick, whilst I was there, they brought a woman, tied behind a man, that could neither eat nor speak, and had been so a great while. And they brought her into the house to me to Anthony Pearson's. And I was moved of the Lord God to speak to her, that she ate and spoke and was well; and got up behind her husband without any help and went away well.

Four:

And as I came out of Cumberland, one time, I came to Hawkshead, and stopped at a Friend's house. Young Margaret Fell and William Caton were with me. Since it was a very cold season, we stopped, and the servant-girl there made us a fire, her master and his wife being gone to the market. There was a boy about eleven years old, lying in the cradle, which they rocked. He was swollen to almost double normal size. I cast my eye upon the boy; and seeing he was dirty, I told the girl to wash his face and his hands, and get him up and bring him to me. So she brought him to me, and I told her take him and wash him again, for she had not washed him clean. Then I was moved of the Lord God to lay my hands upon him and speak to him, and then told the girl to take him again and put on his clothes. And after we passed away.

And sometime after I called at the house, and I met his mother, but did not stop. "Oh! stay," she said, "and have a meeting at our house, for all the country is convinced by the great miracle that was done by you upon my son. For we had carried him to Wells and the Bath, and all doctors had given up on him, for his grandfather and father feared he would have died and their name have gone out, having, but that son; but soon after you were gone," she said, "we came home and found our son playing in the streets. Therefore," she said, "all the country would come to hear," if I would come back again and have a meeting there. When she told me of this, it was about three years afterwards, and he had grown to be a straight, full youth then. So the Lord have the praise.

From His Journal, Raises a Dying Woman:

When we came to Baldock in Hertfordshire, I asked, 'If there were nothing in that town, no profession?' It was answered me, there were some Baptists, and a sick Baptist woman. John Rush of Bedfordshire went with me to visit her. When we came in, many tender people were around her. They told me 'she was not a woman for this world; but if I had anything to comfort her concerning the world to come, I might speak to her.' I was moved of the Lord to speak to her, and the Lord raised her up again, to the astonishment of the town and country. Her husband's name was Baldock. This Baptist woman and her husband came to be convinced; and many hundreds of people have been at meetings at their house since then.

Raised From Dead:

(Fox Speaking.) While we were at Shrewsbury, an accident occurred, which for the time was a great exercise to us; John Jay, a Friend of Barbados, who came with us from Rhode Island, and intended to accompany us through the woods to Maryland, took to riding a horse which fell while running and threw him down upon his head, breaking his neck; as reported by the people. Those that were near him picked him up as dead, carried him a good way, and laid him on a tree. I got to him as soon as I could; and, feeling him, I concluded he was dead. As I stood pitying him and his family, I took hold of his hair, and his head turned anyway, his neck was so limber. Upon which I took his head in both my hands, and setting my knees against the tree, I raised his head, and saw nothing out or broken that way. Then I put one hand under his chin, and the other behind his head; and raised his head two or three times with all my strength, and brought it in. I soon perceived his neck began to grow stiff again, and then he began to rattle in his throat; and quickly after to breathe. The people were amazed; but I told them have a good heart, be of good faith, and carry him into the house. They did so, and set him by the fire. I told them get him something warm to drink, and put a robe on him. After he had been in the house awhile, he began to speak; but did not know where he had been. The next day we left and traveled (and he with us, pretty well) about sixteen miles, to a meeting at Middleton, through woods and bogs, and over a river, where we swam our horses, and got over ourselves upon a hollow tree. After this he traveled many hundred miles with us.

A Quaker Trial in New-England

Rawson. Is not your name Wenlock Christison?
Wenlock. Yes.
Endicott. Were you not banished upon pain of death?
Wenlock. Yes, I was.
Endicott. What are you doing here, then?
Wenlock. I have come to warn you, that you shed no more innocent blood; for the blood that you have shed already cries to the Lord for vengeance.

Being handed over to the custody of the jailer, he was then taken to prison. On the same day on which William Leddra was put to death, he was again placed at the bar, the magistrates presuming that the circumstance of his companion's execution would terrify him into submission; but, as will be seen, they greatly mistook the character of their prisoner. On this occasion, both Endicott and Bellingham endeavored to shake his Christian firmness. Unless he would renounce his religion, they said he should surely die. But undismayed by their menaces, he replied, "No, I shall not change my religion, nor seek to save my life; neither do I intend to deny my Master; but if I lose my life for Christ's sake, and the preaching of the gospel, I shall save it."

The prisoner's reply touched the hearts of some of the magistrates, and being divided in sentiment about putting him to death, they ordered him to be remanded until the next General Court. Endicott, it appears, was so disconcerted with the conduct of those on the bench who took the more humane view, that for two days he refused to preside again.The time having arrived, Wenlock Christison was brought from his prison-house, and being placed at the bar, the Governor asked him what be had to say for himself, why he should not die?

Wenlock. I have done nothing worthy of death; if I had, I would not refuse to die.
Endicott. You are come in among us in rebellion, which is as the sin of witchcraft, and ought to be punished.
Wenlock. I did not come among you in rebellion, but in obedience to the God of heaven; not in contempt to anyone of you, but in love to your souls and bodies; and that you shall know one day, when you and all men must give an account of the deeds done in the body. Take heed, for you cannot escape the righteous judgments of God.
Major-General Adderton. You pronounce woes and judgments. Those, who have died before you, also pronounced woes and judgments; but the judgments of the Lord have not come upon us yet.
Wenlock. Be not proud, neither let your spirits be lifted up; God only waits till the measure of your iniquity is filled up, and you have run your ungodly race; then the wrath of God will come upon you to the fullest. And as for your part, his wrath hangs over your head, and is close to being poured down upon you, and it shall come as a thief in the night suddenly, when you don't expect it. By what law will you put me to death?

Court. We have a law, and by our law, you are to die.
Wenlock. So said the Jews of Christ, we have a law, and by our law he ought to die. Who empowered you to make that law?
Court. We have a patent and are patentees; judge whether we have not power to make laws!

Wenlock. How! Have you power to make laws repugnant to the laws of England?
Endicott. No.
Wenlock. Then you have gone beyond your bounds, and have forfeited your patent, and this is more than you can answer. Are you subjects to the king, yes or no ?
Rawson. What will you infer from that, what good will that do you?"
Wenlock. If you are, say so: for in your petition to the king, you desire that he will protect you, and that you may be worthy to kneel among his loyal subjects ?
Court. Yes.
Wenlock. So am I, and for any thing I know, am as good as you, if not better; for if the king only knew your hearts, as God knows them, he would see that your hearts are as rotten towards him as they are towards God. Therefore seeing that you and I are subjects to the king, I demand to be tried by the laws of my own nation.
Court. You shall be tried by a bench and jury.
Wenlock. That is not the law, but the manner of it; for if you will be as good as your word, you must set me at liberty, for I never heard or read of any law that was in England to hang Quakers.
Endicott. There is a law to hang Jesuits.
Wenlock. If you put me to death, it is not because I go under the name of a Jesuit, but a Quaker; therefore I appeal to the laws of my own nation.
Court. You are in our hands, and have broken our laws, and we will try you.
Wenlock. Your will is your law, and what you have power to do, that you will do; and seeing that the jury must go forth on my life, this I have to say to you in the fear of the living God: “Jury, take heed what you do, for you swear by the living God, that you will make a true trial, and give a just verdict, according to the evidence. What have I done to deserve death? Keep your hands out of innocent blood.''
A Juryman. It is good counsel.

The jury retired, but not before "they had received their lesson." They soon returned, and either from a fear of offending the Court, or from a prejudice against Quakers, brought the prisoner in guilty.

Wenlock. I deny all guilt, for my conscience is clear in the sight of God.
Endicott. The jury has condemned you.
Wenlock. The Lord justifies me, who are you that condemns?

Thanksgiving

Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.

I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Vatican Still Silent about Visions in Malta

According to Angelik Caruana, the visions began two years ago. While on Borg-in-Nadur Hill in the Malta town of Birzebbuga, he reportedly saw the Virgin Mary. She told him that she was appearing in Malta because she "wants people to accept her son again", to say the Holy Rosary, and to fast. Since that time, Caruana has reported numerous appearances by Mary accompanied by religious ecstasy and speaking in tongues. IN one reported instance, Caruana was seen rolling in the Borg-in-Nadur dirt, "stuffing his mouth with grass, reeling from stigmata and clutching at his throat, where one of Christ’s thorns is now believed to be lodged". Despite allegations of fraud and an official dismissal by Malta's Archbishop, busloads of believers continue to flock to Borg-in-Nadur to listen to Caruana and be present at one of the Virgin's appearances.
Medical concerns have also been raised due to Caruana's insistence that it was safe to look at the sun while the Virgin was present (since the sun resembles a communion host) but devout attendees frequently risk damaging their eyesight during their pilgrimages. Caruana had previously come to public attention through his claim to possess a statue of the Virgin in his Birzebbuga home that sheds blood. (two investigations by the Maltese Church failed to substantiate this claim). While the Vatican has acknowledged Marian visions in other locations, Pope Benedict has called for new guidelines for the acceptance of visions to avoid "excesses and abuses". The Malta Curia is still awaiting a Vatican response on Caruana's visions.

Prochorus

Acts 6:5: And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Proch'orus, and Nica'nor, and Ti'mon, and Par'menas, and Nicola'us, a proselyte of Antioch.

That's then end of information on Prochorus within the Bible. Yet he is traditionally said to be the secretary of the Apostle John. Here are some candid snaps of him at work. Nice halos, huh? Hey, how come John doesn't always get one?? Notice also the interesting office furniture, taken even into the wilderness it would seem. The scene in the icons is meant to be Patmos, where in Orthodox tradition St. John wrote both his gospel and Revelation. This was after Emperor Domitian found he was unable to kill John with poison or boiling oil, so he exiled him to Patmos. This last detail is provided to excuse John from failing to get martyred: he tried, but without success. Nerva freed him from Patmos and he died aged 100 or so.

Leather-Britches

I happened to be looking through the classified in a rural Appalachian weekly newspaper. Most of the ads are along this line:

PEACHES & CREAM CORN FOR SALE. Call 276-523-2599.

FOUND IN STRAWBERRY PATCH- Black, tan and white Beagle with collar. Please call 276-523-2599.

Big Stone Gap-Sat.(8 am-Noon): tomatoes. green peppers, FALL BEANS, honey, CORN, eggs, CUCUMBERS, sourdough bread, bird house gourds, fresh cooking HERBS, painted signs, PORCH LOVESEAT, eggs, peaches, cut flowers...HOMEGROWN & HOMEMADE!

NICE CLEAN 2-BR MOBILE HOME. No pets. Deposit & references required. 276-523-3378.

2-BR APARTMENT in Appalachia. Electric heat, front porch & yard. 276-328-5107.

Okay, fine. There are also swell jobs down at the Dollar General and other jobs driving hillybilly seniors to their medical appointments. That one is tax free since it is officially a 50 cents per mile reimbursememt.

But then there is this ad:

BOOK FOR SALE: Leather-Britches, By: Beulah Duff Bobrosky. Cost $15, Address: P.O. Box 53, Keokee, Va. 24265.

First, a little demographic info. Keokee is a tiny hamlet roughly between Appalachia, Va. and Pennington Gap, Va. It has a population of 310 with median income less than $15,000. There are very few renters, but of those the highest rent anyone paid was $400, with something less than $300 being typical.

So what the heck is "Leather-Britches"? Who in the world is Beulah Duff Bobrosky?

WISE – Deward David Duff Sr., age 77, passed away Sunday evening, May 23, 2004,at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital, Norton.He was born in Lee County, Va., at Johnson’s Mill, and lived most of his life in Wise. He was a graduate of Keokee High School and was a U.S. Navy World War IIveteran. Mr. Duff was a retired employee of Apple Tree Mining, Whitesburg, Ky.He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, Norton.He was a son of the late Melvin S. and Flossie Hobbs Duff and was also preceded in death by a son, Deward David Duff Jr.Survivors include ... a sister, Beulah Bobrosky, Keokee, Va....

Well anyway. I don't think I'll be shelling out $15 for "Leather-Britches".