Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-08-20
VOL. XIII.
NO SECTS IN. HEIpE.N.

Talking OF sects TIL late one eve,
CO the various doctrines the sam peIIeFe'
That night stood. in troubled dream,
By The side of a darkly flowing stream.
and Churchman " down to the river came.
When heard strange voice call his name,
Good father, stop; when you cross TINS tlde:
You must leave your robes on the othel siue'
But the aged father did not mind;.
And his long gown hOated ont behind,
As down 10 he stream his way he TOOK,
His pale hand clasping his 9ilt-edged DOCK.
sFm bound for heaven; and when I'm there,
/ shall want my book of Common Prayer;
And though / put 4 starry crown, .
should feel quite lost without my gown
Then he fixed his eye on the shining track,
But his gown was heavy. and held him back;
And The poor old father tIiedi in vain,
single sep in the flood TO gain.
I saw him again on the other side,
But his silk gown fioated on the tide.
And no one asked in that blissful spo:,.
Whether he belonged to the Church" or not.
Then down to the river Quaker strayed;
His dress of sober hue was made.
:. My coat and hat must be all OF gray
cannon go any other way"
Then he buttoned his coat straight up to his chin,
and staidly, sOemnly, waded in.
And his broad-bimmed hat he pulled down tight
Over his forehead 80 cold and white.
But q strong wind carried away his bat:
moment he silently sighed over that;
The coat slipped of, and was seen no more
As he entered heaven, his suit of gray
Went quietly s2ilingaway. away;
And none OF the angels questioned him
About the width OF his beavers bfim.
Next came DIR. Waits. with a bundle of Psalms
Nicely lied M in his aged arms,
And hymns n many-a yeryw wise thing
That the people i'll heaven all ound . might sing
Bui 1 thought that he heavcd an anxious sign,
As he saw that the liver ran broad and hi5h,
And looked IA her sutpflsed- rs one by one;
The Psalms and Hymns IN Inc wave went down.
And af.er him, with his MSS.
Came Wesley, the pa,te n OF GOODNESS,
But he cried Deer me wla shall do?
The water has soaked hem though and through.
And there on The river flr and wide.
Away they went down the swollen tide;
And The saint as Onished passed through alone,
Without his manuscripts, up 10 The throne.
Then gravely walking two saints by name,
Down 20 The stIeam tOgei he" came;
But a. hey stopped at the ivers brink,
saw one saint non The other shrink.
'.Spiinkled or plunged, may ask you friend,
How you aitained to life's great end?''
. Thus. with few drops on my brow.
But have been dipped, as you'll see me now"
s. And really think it win hardly do,
As I'm close communion 10 cross with you;
4 Ire bound know TO the realms of bliss,
Bnt you must go that way. and I'll go this
Then stIaightway plung;ng. with all his might,
Away TO the lett his friend 10 The right,
Apart they went ON this world OF sin.
BuI at last together they entered in.
And now. when the river was rolling on,
A PlesbyteI ian chuich went down;
OF women there seemed an inuUmeIable throng,
But tho men l could count as they passed along.
And. concerning the road they could never agree,
The OLD or the NEW way which it could be,
Nor even a moment paused to think
That both would lead 10 the rivers brink.
Aud sound of murmuiing long and loud,
Came ever up rom the moving crowd:
= You re in the old way, and M in The new:
That Is tbe false, aDG this is he true; -
Or, = I'm in the old way, and yOu'Ie in tue new;
THAT IL the false, ana This is the tue"
Boz the BRETHREN only seemed to speak;
Modest The sisters walked, End meek,
And ii ever one of them CHANGED 10 say
What troubles she met with on the other way,
HOwisbe longed 10 pass 10 the other side,
Nor feared TO cross over the swelling tide,
4 voice arose from the brethren then.
= Let no speak bat the holy men:
For have We not heard the words of Paul.
Oh, let the women keep silence allI"
/ wac hed them long in my culious dream,
Til hey STOOD by the borders or he stream;
Then just as 1 Thought, the two ways met;
Bul all The brethren We're talking yet,
And would talk On till the heaving tide
Carried them over side by side
Side by side. for the way was one;
The toilsOme jOuiney of life was done;
And liwhO in Christ the Saviour died
Came out alike on the other SIDE.
No forms or crosses or books had they,
No gowns OF silk. or suits of gray;
No cieeds 10 guide them. or MSS;
For all had put on Christ : righteousness.