The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-06-11
A FIVE DOLLAR BLESSING.


How low folks are in their minds, said prO'
Smith to Bro. Brown, as the two sat BY the
stove In the vestry on THURSDAY afternoon
waiting for people to gather to the monthly
conference. "HOw the church Is iailins INTO an
unseemly disregard OF Its oriinanees' 'ney are
negiecuui OF SOCIAL n'ee's' :,
table, and Sabbath preaching am quHe us
appointed In the results OF 'ne ao0rs Vi our
new minister. lie seemed when he came among
us man Of capacity, with good share OF the
Spirit, and there were indications OF revival
for time. But all that has passed by, and
church and minister seem to have gone in a
body to Egypt Ii Is most deplorable state
Of things. 1 wish the brethren and sisters
nigh, sec il in this light and be,ake themselves
toprayer and heart-scarching'. that the cause
Of our spiritual barrcnness might Dc ferre'eu
out. and. through repentance inc Lo'u any,
appeased, 50 that ms hana n''s" "
forth toward us In pardon ana mercy
Bro Brown is'enea 10 Tue speaAer WIN
tention, and made answer In sim'iar s''ai"'
bewailins the lowness OF Zion anu wishing ior
better days
what can we do to bring about these better
dsysl' asked Bro. Smith, putting few more
sticks Of sogcy wood into the stove. This is
very poor fuel he added. Ill warrant me
Bro. Dix don't burn any such in his own
bouse.'
He sells his marketable wood at six dollars
the cord,' said Bro. Brown, burns tree limbs
Mt home, and picks up wet stuff for thechurch.'
That is not treating Gods house with proper
respect said Bro. Smith;-'no wonder Bro.
Dix is in q low state Of mind, backslislden,
lukewarm state. lie should supply the church
with rs good fires as he has at home, to say the
least
lie says he can't find wood for the meeting
house. and paw money tax to the minister, too
1T is too heavy dram upon him, so he sells
his best wood to get money to meet the tax re
marked Bro. Brown.
This is but subterfage to hide his narrow
ness" SAID Bro. Smith. BRO. Dix Is able to
do much more than he does for the support Of
the gospel wish had the money ut interest
tina, he has. But to return to the point from
which we have wandered, what can we do to
improve our spiritual health and vigorP
Il have thought upon this point considerably
said Bro. Brown, and have about come to the
conclusion that We shall never accomplish much
IN spiritual things with our present minister.
He seemed to run well for season, but now oil
Is at stand-still-nay, even going backward.
Our converts Of a year ago-where are they
You can't lay your finger on one out Of three
of them. One Of the regular prayer meetings
has died out, the other is just ready to expire,
and here we two sit to represent the monthly
conference. The minister is not in his place,
the church members are engaged in their world
ly affairs. We need man who shall be able TO
ret M a grand awakening
But whom can we gctr asked Bro. Smith.
with our means we can't command the first
talent, you know. Our minister is aprtty fair |
sort of a man, II he but had more Of the Spir-
it, though regret to say he is becoming rather
cold and liseless. Think of his neclecting the
nop,bly meeting. How can we expect the men,
her, will be otherwise than backward IL the min
lister sets the exampler
Il never knew him absent BEFORE said Bro.
Brown. and think he must be unexpectedly
called away, or something unusual det"ins him
at home
Il should have thought he would have sent