# XV: The Church of the Best Licks explained — The Hoosier Schoolmaster

> Chapter companion for The Hoosier Schoolmaster by Edward Eggleston.

## What happens

Bud Means returns to Ralph Hartsook and confesses his desire to escape the low-lived ways of Flat Creek. He recounts his failed attempts at finding religious guidance, including a revival where a preacher's hellfire sermon drove him away. Ralph shares his own spiritual struggle, and Bud asks if Jesus could help a poor, unlearned Flat Cricker. Ralph assures him that Jesus was like a backwoodsman himself, and they form a simple church of two, vowing to 'put in their best licks for Jesus Christ.' Their moment is interrupted when Shocky bursts in with news that a mob plans to tar and feather Mr. Pearson, who has taken up his flintlock to defend himself.

## Themes in this chapter

### Religion and Hypocrisy

Bud's negative experience with a preacher who preached hell in an insulting manner contrasts with Ralph's simple, compassionate faith, highlighting the difference between genuine spirituality and religious hypocrisy.

### Courage and Resilience

Bud's determination to change his life and Mr. Pearson's refusal to flee from the mob both demonstrate courage in the face of adversity.

### Community and Gossip

The mob's plan to tar and feather Mr. Pearson illustrates the community's tendency to take justice into its own hands, driven by gossip and collective action.

## Character check-ins

### Bud Means

Confesses his desire to reform and seeks spiritual guidance from Ralph, leading to his decision to 'put in his best licks for Jesus Christ.'

### Ralph Hartsook

Shares his own spiritual struggle and offers Bud a simple, personal faith, forming a two-person church.

### Shocky

Bursts in with urgent news about a mob threatening Mr. Pearson, interrupting the religious conversation.

### Miss Martha Hawkins

Mentioned as having informed Shocky about the mob planning to tar and feather Mr. Pearson.

### Mr. Pearson

The old basket-maker who is threatened by a mob and refuses to flee, armed with his flintlock.

## Key lines

> I wanted to git out of this low-lived, Flat Crick way of livin’.

I want to escape the rough and immoral lifestyle of Flat Creek.

_Bud expresses his desire for personal reform._

> I think he was a sort of a Flat Creeker himself.

I believe Jesus was like a backwoodsman himself.

_Ralph makes Jesus relatable to Bud's experience._

> Let's you and me have one right off. Two people that help one another to serve God make a church.

Let's start our own church right now. Two people helping each other to serve God constitute a church.

_Ralph and Bud form a simple, personal church._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xv-the-church-of-the-best-licks
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters