Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-03-21
- CHAI}I ESIOWN THURSDAY, MARCH D. 1867. -
POETICAL.
No Sect in Heaven.

Taking Of sccts III, late one eve,
OF the various doctrines the saints believe,
That night stood in a troubled dream,
By the side o. darkly owinfg stream.
And a "Churchman" down to the river came,
When heard strange voice call ON his na,ne,
Good father, stop; when you cross this uoe;
You must leave your robes ON the other side.
Blu: the aged father did not mind,
And his long gown floated out behind,
As down the stream his way he took.
Ills pale hands claspng gilt-edgcd book.
am bound for Heaven and when I'm there,
shall want my book of Common Prayer;
And though put on a starry crown,
should feel quite lost without my gown
Then he fixed his eyes ON the shining track,
But the gown was heavy and held him back;
And the poor old father tried In vain,
A single step in the food to gain.
saw him again on the other side.
But HE silk gown hoated on the tide;
And no one asked him in that blissfu spot
Whether he Selonged 10 ''ths Church or not
Then down the river Quaker strayed,
Ills dress OF a sober hne was made;
"My coat and hat must be all of gray,
cannot go any other way
Then he buttoned his coat straigl up to his chin
Aud staidly, solemnly waded in,
And his broad brimmeG hattie pull down tight
Over his forehead so cold and white.
But strong wind carried away his hat;
A moment he silently sighed over that
Aud then, as he gained the farther shore,
His hat slipped of and was seen no more.
As he entered Heaven, his suit of gray
Went quietly sailng-away-away;
And none of the angels questioned him
About the width OF his beavers brim.
Next came DR.. Watts with bundle of Psalms,
Tied nicely up in his aged arms,
And hymns as many, a very wise thing,
That the people in Heaven, call round, might
sing.
But thought that he heaved an anxious sigh,
And he saw that the river run broad and high,
And looked rather surprised as, one by one,
The Psalms and Hymns to the wave went down.
And after him with his MSS,
Came Wesley, the pattern of godiiness,
But he cried, "Dear me, what shall do|
The water has soaked them through and thro'."
And there on the river, far and wide,
Away they went down the swollen tide,
And the saint astonished passed through alcne,
Without his manuscripts, up to the throne.
Ihcn graYcly waking, Two SAINTS W nSniet
Down 10 the stream together came,
But as they stopped at the rivers brink,
saw one saint from the other shrink.
"Sprinkled or plunged, may ask you, friend,
How you attained to life's great end y
"Thas, with a few drops ON my brow"
"But have been dipped, as you II see me now.
And really think it will hardly do,
As l'm "close communion to cross with you !;
You're bound / know, 10 the realms of bliss,
But you must 60 that way, and II! 60 this.
Then .traghtway plunging with all his might,
Away 20 the left--his friend 10 the right,
Apart they went from this world of sin,
But at last together they entered in.
And now when the river was rolling on,
PRESBYTERIAN church went down.
Ofwomen there seemed an nnumerable throng,
But the men could count az they passed along.
And concerning the road they couldne agree
The Old OF the ne,e way, which il would be.
Nor ever a moment paused think,
That both would lead TO the rivers brink.
And sound Of rnurmuring loud and long
Came ever up from the moving throng
'.You're in the old way, and I'm in the new,
That is the false, and this Is the true,
Or 'rm in the old way, and you're in the new,
That is the false way, and hi, is the true"
But the brethren only seemed to speak,
Modest the sisters walked, and meekys
And if ever one of them chaneed to say
What troubles she met with on the way,
How she longed to pass to the other side.
Nor feared 10 cross over the swelling tue,
A voice arose from the brethren then:
"Let no one speak but the holy men;"
For have We not heard the words Of Paul,
ooh, let the women keep silence oil.
watched them long in nv curious dream,
TIL they stood by the borders of the stream,
Then, just ~ thought. the two ways met,
But all the brethren were talking yet,
And would talk on, till the hcayiHg tide
Carried them over, side by side,
side BY side, for the way was one,
The toilsome journey life was done,
and all who in Christ the Saviour died,
Came ont alike on the other side
No forms, or crosses or books had they,
No gowns OF silk, or suits Of gray,
No creeds to guide them. or MSS,
For all had put on Chrsts righteousness.