The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-06-10
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
When Mr.. Percival first became
rector Of Chri.t's Chapel, in the town
Of Millwood, hs found an .rdaous duty
before him. The old minister. whose
death gave Dir. Percival the appoint.
msnt, had been for ysars sursrannuated
and unequal to the labor Of his respou.
sible position ;yet he> did not resign,
and his congregation never thought Of
removing him. They had beenso long
accustomed to Mr.. Hiltou's want OF
energy, that bis increasing languor was
not perceptible; all they required was
weekly sermon Of some kind, 4 fe~
parochial visits, small class catechised
for annual confirmation, aud his vener.
able presence, in gown and surplice, to
ot'ciate on occasions Of baptisms, we'd
dings and funerals.
In fact, there was utter stagnation in
the church. Earnest preaching, chari-
table meetings, fairs and mite societies
gained members and built new church.
es Of every faith in and around Mill
woodruff the little Episcopal chapel
remained the Same.
Mr.. Hilton was not alone to blame
for the discouraging state Of the con-
gregation under his charge -; it w,s
partly owing to the people themselves.
They were composed Of two distinct
classes. rich end poor; the natural
tendency Of rural communities when
large landed estates. are in the hands Of
a fow families. Both classes attended
church regularly, and. rose, together at
the first solemn words of=the service {;
yet they were separated by a gulf
neither ever dreamed Of crossing. The
rich swept into their cushioned pews 10
front; the poor took their place in the
rear-both listened without apparent in-
terest to the monotonous service, varied
with Gregorian chants, badly sung and
accompanied by the tunelesa old organ,
followed by a dry: uniotsreating dis
course that left no impression on the
hearers, who returned home, we'll salts.
fed that the Sundays task was over.
Mr.: Percival was . Christian in tho
highest sense Of the word; benevolent
in heart, ardent in feeling, eager to
work wherever the Master called him.
The church in her evangelical purity
was dear to him as the apple Of his
eye; his great desire was to administer
rightly her holy saoraments, aud hold
high the beacon light Of the cross, to
guide sioners within it, h.llowed fold.
He saw at once, with deep regret, the
condition Of his now parish ; he saw
the apathy that prevailed in the ehurcb;
the .sel6sbness, the want of charity, and
determined, if possible, to awaken
their hearts to a sense Of their duty to
God and each other. =.
There was Z mesmerism in his elo
quence that paved the way for future
good-an. earnest tenderness in hi
manner that drew educated and iguo
rant unconsciously under his influence
He painted sin, judgment and eter
nifty in language that brought oonvio
tion to their awakened minds; b.
plainly and tesrlessly e1horted them t,
repent, and pointed out the duties the!
had not performed ; he preached hu
mility to the proud aud contentmeu
to the humble while he besought both
BY the love Of God, to have charity 70
each other. 3d.
! These vigorous and powerful reason
attracted many who had not for year
taken an interest in religion, till tb
little chapel Was filed with attentiv
listeners; = fact which encouraged NJ,
Percival to suggest something to brinj
the congregation together in social i,
we'll q devotional; intercourse. 'o*t
Mrs. PercivI, his helpmate in ever
respect, approved the plan J; and the
decided on forming = society, to / NEE
At the different houses il the villac,,,
commanding With the parsonage.
~@ It should be / mite society. Mr.
Peiciva1 said, aud the proceeds Of q, enc
meeting 10 devoted to charity !; yh
1already knew where aims might we'll I
bestowed, even in prosperous Millwoo'
n'' The next Sunday, II The close
tho services, Mr: Percival read the II
lowing announosment:1 l"Ths WHO
g oongregaties is cordially invited to ,
= tand. .tka firat vaekl 10 sniha.aooi.Avy vh;.