I am sitting on the sofa, smoking some fine flake in an old Wally Frank while considering the immediate future of The Churchwarden. My thoughts rest upon a recent letter from Dennis Nichols, current president of the Tri-State Pipe and Tobacco Club (Fort Wayne, Indiana). Therein he declares satisfaction over my refusal to scuttled the CW--a possibility I had mentioned last November. Such kindness is greatly encouraging, giving me a sense of being on the right track, of doing something useful for the kingdom of heaven.
Indeed, The Churchwarden exists solely for the glory of our triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Although there's always been a slight tilt towards entertainment, the primary objectives continue to be evangelism and edification. By pure sovereign grace the CW has borne fruit in both spheres, enough anyway to warrant publication for another year despite my anticipated difficulties of maintaining a regular schedule for 2003. Mr. Nichols' sentiment, coupled with other sympathetic "fan mail," conveys the distinct impression this newsletter might be sorely missed in the event of an untimely demise. For a periodical devoted to politically incorrect subjects like Gospel witnessing, pipes, tobacco and fly fishing . . . well, hopefully human appreciation indicates divine approval.
Pray often, if you would. I want The Churchwarden to strengthen saints, convict sinners, honor the Lord above all, and stay in print. Truly, those goals are impossible to achieve without His constant blessing. From the side of human responsibility, however, I've made a one major change in order to keep the CW on the internet. Rather than attempt bi-monthly issues, there will be a single page for the entire year listing articles as they get posted. Personally, I'm not satisfied with such restructuring, but necessity requires a less demanding format style at least for awhile. With two parents smitten severely by health problems, my own 50 to 70 hour work weeks, plus involvement in building a new Reformed church in Springfield, not to mention the responsibilities of marriage, fatherhood and friendship; time will be the rarest of commodities for a long time to come.
By the way, the aforementioned flake is Dark Stoved, an exceptionally noteworthy Royal Vintage product from Butera. The leaf is slow-stoved lemon Virginia, and you couldn't ask for a more delightful flavor. Sweet and spicy, but neither cloying nor biting, Dark Stoved is a curl up by the fire, read a good book blend of the highest order. Top to bottom, it retains a taste so enjoyable as to make the final draw a source of genuine sorrow. Recommended without reservation.
Flakes and cakes will be featured frequently this year. They require a little more work than ready-rubs. Yet, if you enjoy the ritual of preparing, packing and puffing quality "pipe weed" the trouble should be a welcome part of the pleasure.
Since there is no shortage of tins at The Churchwarden headquarters, brands for review are plenteous. Three shall come under scrutiny for now, namely: Dunhill's Light Flake, Cornell & Diehl's Bow-Legged Bear, and Alfred & Christian Petersen's Original Navy Cut No. 499 from their Caledonian series.
January and February are months specially designed by the Creator for introspection. They're too moody for anything else except, maybe, fly fishing in the Swift River during a record snow storm (thus invoking legitimate questions about one's sanity). Why not light up a bowl of, say, Bow-Legged Bear and spend an hour some chilly evening in brutal self examination? And then kill yourself. Ha! Just kidding. Nevertheless--just in case--have an attorney write me into your will beforehand, please. I'm not greedy; the bamboo and briar would be quite sufficient.
On to the reviews before you hire a lawyer for another reason. First a couple not mentioned above which, unfortunately, can be dispatched rather quickly. Ever try Robert McConnell's Scottish Flake? Don't! In the tin it smells like the cow barn at a state fair, on the tongue it approximates the source of that aroma with distasteful accuracy. Enough said. Next is Butera's Penzance, touted as the "finest English mottled flake." Falsely advertised, here's a flake which reminds me of the theologian, Clarke Pinnock. Penzance starts off Reformed and robust, but finishes Arminian and anemic. Frankly, both of these blends are so bad I'm willing to give what's left of each in exchange for a really terrible poem on pipes. Write the worst haiku verse ever, and I'll judge the winner.
Now click on the next page and you'll bring up reviews of the better stuff by Dunhill, Cornell & Diehl, and ACP.
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©copyright 2003, Perry S. Fuller
