The mandate for a minister is to go out among the people and provide them a path to salvation, often to those who need it most. Whether it means ministering to convicts in prison, or to those in halfway homes, ultimately the calling of a saintly person puts them in direct contact with those whom society finds irredeemable.
This is a powerful episode that portrays a minister seeking to bring Christian salvation to Comanche living on a federal reservation in Kansas. The Comanche are most known for their activities in New Mexico and Texas, but significant numbers lived in southwestern Kansas.
This episode bravely illustrates the social prejudices and animosities prevalent not only during the time period in question, but also the time that Gunsmoke aired. So desperate were the people living in the nearby Kansas town to thwart the minister's efforts, that they many times violated the tenets of their faith by their actions.
The way the episode unfolds shows both excellent writing and acting.
Ken Curtis had more than a few Gunsmoke episodes where he got the lion's share of the acting, and the veteran never disappointed. This was another fine turn by Curtis, and a tour de force by David Wayne, as the resolute minister who's sense of duty carried him through to the end.
The main message is that people all share a common sense of humanity, including the ability to be, in various degrees, charitable, honorable, as well as dishonest and even evil. People are best seen as individuals, and not according to social stereotypes or group prejudices.
As the Gunsmoke series neared its twenty year end, it was nice to see quality episodes such as this one bring it to a close.
This is a powerful episode that portrays a minister seeking to bring Christian salvation to Comanche living on a federal reservation in Kansas. The Comanche are most known for their activities in New Mexico and Texas, but significant numbers lived in southwestern Kansas.
This episode bravely illustrates the social prejudices and animosities prevalent not only during the time period in question, but also the time that Gunsmoke aired. So desperate were the people living in the nearby Kansas town to thwart the minister's efforts, that they many times violated the tenets of their faith by their actions.
The way the episode unfolds shows both excellent writing and acting.
Ken Curtis had more than a few Gunsmoke episodes where he got the lion's share of the acting, and the veteran never disappointed. This was another fine turn by Curtis, and a tour de force by David Wayne, as the resolute minister who's sense of duty carried him through to the end.
The main message is that people all share a common sense of humanity, including the ability to be, in various degrees, charitable, honorable, as well as dishonest and even evil. People are best seen as individuals, and not according to social stereotypes or group prejudices.
As the Gunsmoke series neared its twenty year end, it was nice to see quality episodes such as this one bring it to a close.