Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-03-28


More than once he determined to aban.
don his purpose-tArow away his books
of divinity, and TO the axe and auger.-
But his mothers influence was still po-
tent, and, in spite of himself, he became
minister at last.
Twenty years. in the swift fight Of
time, had passed away since the two boys
stood together in the work shop, gazing
at the model of the schooner.
In one of the maratime suburbs of Bos-
ton, near an extensive shiPyard, in which
were four immense clipper slips on the
stocks, stands a small, dingy church,
bearing the most evident signs Of neglect.
But it is a small society, and the few who
worship there End it exceedingly difficult
to pay the Rev. John Emerson, the pas
tor, the mesgre salary Of Eve hundred
dollars year. Mr.. John Broadley the
wealthy and enterprising shipwright who
owns the yard near the church, it is said,
pays considerable moro than half this
sum, for the pastor is an old friend, and
he earnestly desires to sustain him.
The church is i'll most unproperous
condition. 1t has been running down for
several years. One by one the society
are leaving it, preierring TO walk half a
mile to another church.
There was reason for every thing. and
there was reason why the Rev. John
up the society over which be presided
His preaching was so insupporLably dull
and insipid that it was severe penance
to listen to him. People said he was no
more fit for preaching than Beelzebuh
was for u saint, and they would not hear
him. They said he did not seem to care
anything about his profession, and was
SO gloomy, so dull, that they could not toI.
crate him. either in the pulpit or out Of it;
and if il had not been for the fact that
Mr.. Broadley, with all his influence, went
to meeting there. the pews would have
been entirely deserted.
The Rev John Emerson was broken
down minister. In his better days, he
had been settled in the pastoral charge
of an extensive and wealthy society in the
city. But after the first year he 'fatened
out,'. as the folks called it, and most of his
influential parisheDers Igaye him hint
that he had better ask dismission.
He had tried several places with no
better success; and finally, after years oI
inactivity, had been coRpeled to accept
a call from the feeble society where lie
now of1iciated. His father and mother
were both dead, and he had already ex.
pended his inheritance in supporting his
expensive family while waiting CALL
He was poor, his spirits were broker
down, as we'll as his reputation.
Harrassed by financial embarrassment
there seemed to be no hope for him, bu
the hope beyond the grave. What won
der that, weighed down by trials and sor
rows, he was unable to preach TO the Sa
tisfsction of his people ?
i To cap the climax, his society in spit
of the influence of Sir. BrOAdley, voted a
last to request him to ask a dIsmiRsion
Even the poor plttiance which had barei.
been sufficient to support him, was to b
Withdrawn, and the most ahject POyert
stared him in the face.
In The loneliness Of bis study, be she
great seaIding tears over his unhappy loi
r The world had been full of griefs 70 hirr
i Misfortune upon misfortune had been hi
\ portion, and now, helpless servant in tb
vineyard. he was to be cast Out, a beg
When he lad sufficiently vested hi
). anguish, he left the house, and wake
/ down to the ship yard. Joseph BfOadIs
had ever been his eonstsntfiend, aud
Is his extremity, he feW TO him for couas
3 and assistance.
r 4 at is of no use, Joseph, . said he sa,
II. as he wiped tear from hiSs sunk'
e eye II never was aafOr a minister, 81