The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1858-03-25

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"Observe,'' said the angel, "ihat
those pray ers which come from the heart,
and which alone will ascend on high, will
seem to be uttered aloud. They will be
more or less audible in proportion to their
esrnestness; when the thoughts wander.
the sounds will grow faint, and even
cease altogether. tdls.a
This explained to me why the organlst'
though apparently playing with all his
might produced no sound, and why pres
emily after, when the services began, al.
though the lips of many moved, and all
appeared attentive, only few faint mur-
murings were heard.
How strange and awful it is to note
the death.lke silence that prevailed in
whole pews, in which, as was thus evil
dent, no heart was raised in gratitude to
heaven. Even in the 2e Dea'n and JA6i'
late, the voices sometimes sank into total
silence. After the Greed there was low
murmurng in the versiclcs, and then dis
tinct above all other sounds, sweet
childish voice softly and reverently re.
peated the Lords Prayer. | turned in
the direction OF the sound and distin-
guished among the CHI dren, q very little
boy. His hands were clasped, together
as he knelt, his eyes were closed, his
gentle face composed in reverence. and as
the angel wrote on his tablets the words
that fell from those infant lips, his smile,
like q sunbeam, Illuminated the church
for moment, and remembered the
the words OF holy David, where he says,
"Out of the mouths Of babes and suck
lings Thou hast perfected praise"
Presently | was again reminded Of a
Scripture passsge---tho prayer OF the
publican, A wretched looking man, who
swep. The crossing near the church,
came niU tie center ais 6 during theread-
ing Of the lessons, his occupation for the
hour being suspended. The second les
son was the 24,h chapter Of St. Matthew,
some verses attracted bis attention: he
listened with more seriousness, until he
a, length put his hand over his face, and
exclaimed aloud, "What will become Of
me at the day Of judgment. Lord, have
mercy upon me sinner" That prayer
mas inserted upon the angels tablets
Oh, may it not stand alone, but be an
awakening Of better things. May God in
deed have mercy on such poor. neglect
ed ones as he, and raise up some to teach
them, and care for their immortal souls.
After this, growing accustomed 10 The
broken murmurs and interrupted sounds,
/ followed many en- humble Christian
through large portions Of the Ls5any;
though often while 7 was listening with
hopeful attention sudden and total
pause showed but too plainly that the
thoughts of che kneeling suppliant had
wandered away. and that he who had
appeared so earnest in his devotions had
become lauguid like the rest Of the con
gregation. ~, a" PRS
"Thou art shocked at what thou hast
Observed" said the angel, II will show
thee greater denominations than these
God is strong and patient; he is every
day provoked. Listen now and thou
shalt hear the thoughts Of all these peo-
pie, SO thou shalt have some faint idea
Of the forbearance God continually ex-'
ercses toward those who draw near to
Him with their lips while their hearts
are far from him."
AS the angel spoke my ears were
deafened with clamor which would
have been very shocking at public meet,
ing, but which here, in Gods holy house,
was awfully profane. The countenances
remained indeed as serious and composed
as before, the lips moved with the words
of prayer, but the phrases they uttered
were Of this world and its occupations.
elbow shamefully late Mrs. Slack al
ways comes," said one woman, who,
looking over the edge of her Prayer
Book, saw her neighbor and a train of
daughters hustle into the next pew.
"What an example to set her family;
thank goodness no one'can accuse me of
that SIM" f .s,.r a 4... b. v.-
rtfNou bopnofo oo,;n o1roodot,, nv.