The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-04-23

Ihs sermsa which followed Vas neither Ais
poorest nor beet but about au average one.
he got through IL much better than he bad
feared A. be descended the stairs, DE was
met BY tie superintendent 81 the Sabbath
school, who wac earnestly sDiic.toua that he
should make some remaHSs 10 The children,
Refusal Was out Of the question, tur however
Nell hG could address adults, " he was not
rh.ldreHS minister he would not answer for
rhem 30 Mr. Dobson opened the school
With prayeT, and made q bHei address % the
children,
10 the afternoon, the church had become
20 heated that the DIR was uuWhnlsome.--
The sexton was afraid some Of the old ladies
might take cold, and did not open any " do
windows. The consequence was, that MI
Dobson, by the time be Was ready 10 COM
mence his sermon had severe headache.
Though the sermon wa6 really better one
than that delivered 10 the morning, he could
not deliver Il with ANY life lie therefore
hurried through with the utmost rupldy.-
lie retired from the sanctuary convinced
that he had preached bis last sermon 10 that
place, Ahsr pruyeT meeting 10 he evening
he went 20 pass tho night With Deacon Is,
The deacon was pleased With bis sermons,
and With all the parts Of service, 30 iar
from feeling that be had made failure, he
,ras satisfied, sgd WIs anxious 10 have hltl
remain for one or two SibbathE longer lie
however admitted that there was little hope
tia; he could be settled there,
I'VE ore a very rise people here, We
consider ourselves excellent judges Of preach
ing. You are acquainted with Rev, d.
--, prcaume, You must know him, a.
least, by reputation, Several years ego, be-
fore ! moved 10 town, the pulpit was vacant.
Ian. q. ~ Tf1l B.
tod to preach, as candidate for settlement
lie came. when a ehurch-meetug Was held
TO see whether they would make out coll
the vote was decided IN the negative,
"On what ground (" asked Mr., Dobson
"Simply on the ground that the wseaeres
here considered him q man Of too little tai
rnt fjr this place, lie wczt out Of New
England, and settled 10 neghborng State,
and wkie ho las preached regularly % thou
sands on the Sabbath, be has, by his writings
preached o. millions Of others
NJ Dobson replied, 1T cannot always he
forpsecn what young men men may become.
They sometimes appear very promising, and
soon cone to nought while others ave 30
f1rbildug IN exterior, aud uucouth in man
ugrs, that one wouk scarcely hazard Bis re-
putitian Ne o prophet IN iorclcllng that
they will ever become extensively known
There IL another thing 10 be regarded, II
often happens that men are. made or may
90 spcak) by the positions they occupy 90
Certain Il is that they are Judged 10y this
criterion, rather tlan byStheir intrinsic mer-
ia. Sometimes men are placed, by the Proy.
ilcncc Of God, in positions where they mutt
exert themselves OF fail They use Ill their
strength and in using H. grow strong An
other man Of equal talent, naturally, il cast
in the Providence Of God, into % small field,
where he il oVcrshidowcl by his brethren ia
more favored parishes, The stimulus is ne.
very great On account Of bis obscure posi-
ton, he - not invited to deliver ordination
sermons, nr make platform speeches, and so
he soon settles down into tile ordinary rou'
tine Of tho country pastor. lie feels bus lit
tic motive TO great cXertion, and ~ he makes
but little Had he the same stimulus, he
would have made greater man, and have
done more for the cause Of Christ in The
world, than some accounted bis supcH3rs.'
When ministers look over n triennia.
catalogue Of the Theological Seminary, and
note the positions filed by those who were
cntcmporary with them, they find them oecu'
pying oil kinds Of fields. from tho best 20 the
pgersst, but they do not And that these fields
era, while men who forget every day more
theology than others ever knew, are buried
in profound obscurly.'
For NV part Mr.. Dobson, | should be
happy TO feel that you were 20 be our minis.
tcr,but fear that there would not be entire
unanimity.'
Mr. Dobson thanked him for his kindness
and then stated the experience Of the DAY.
lie plao added that not having very strong
expectation Of pleasing the people in that
place he had made an engagement to supply
another pulpit the next Sabbath.
On Monday Mr.. Dobson took his leave
for home. SMApA.