Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-08-29
iYLAND, FRIDAY MORNING. AUGUST 20, 1873.
31oetifol.
NO sECTs IN HEAVEN.
A DREAM FROM AN ENGLISH poEa


Though the following lines were published
many years ago in the Christian Observer, they
will doubtless be read by many with as great
interest as ontheir first appearance
Talking Of sccts till late one eve
OF the various doctrines the saints believe,
That night stood in troubled dream,
by the side OF a darkly flowing stream.
And 'Churchman' down 10 the river came,
When heard a strange voice call bis name,
GOOD father, stop; when you cross this tide,
But the aged father did not mind,
And his long gown foatcd on behind
AS down TO the stream hi5 way he tooi
His pale hand clasping gilt-edgcd book.
"I'm bound for heaven, and when Z m there,
] shall want my book of Common Prayer
And though put on starry crown,
shall 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 tried in vain
A single step in the food to gau.
saw him again on the other side,
lsut his silk gown iloated on the tide
And no one asked in that hlissful spot,
Whether he belonged to The Church or not.
Then down TO the river Quaker strayed,
His dress Of a sober hue was made;
"My coat and hat must be all of gray,
cannot go any other way"
Then he buttoned his coat straight up to his
chin,
And staidly, solemnly waded in;
And his broad hrirnnlcd hat ha. ,uiIad do "a, N
tight
Over his forehead so cold and white.
But strong wind carried away his hat;
a moment he silently sighed over that,
And then, as he gazed on the further shore,
His coat slipped of, and was seen no more.
AS he entered heaven his suit of gray
Went quietly sailing away--away,
And mono of the angels questioned him
About the width OF his beavers brim.
And aftor him with his MSS,
Game Wesley, the pattern OF godlness,
But'he cried, "Dcar me, what shall do?
The water has soaked them through and
through
And there on tho river far md wide,
Away they went down the swollen tide,
And the saint astonished passed thro' alone,
Without bis manuscripts, up TO the throne.
Then gravely walking, two saints by name,
Down the stream together they came,
But MS they stopped at tile rivers brink,
saw one saint from tho other shrink.
Sptnklod or plunged, may ask you, friend
Have you attained to lifc's great end p
Thus, with few drops on my brow,
But I've been dipped as you II see me now.
And really think it will hardly do,
40 Pm close communion, 10 cross with you;
You're bound, know, 10 the realms Of bliss,
But you must go that way, and I'll go this.
Then atraightway plunging with all his
might,
Away 10 the left, his friend to 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,
A Presbyterian Church went down
OF women there seemed an innumcrnblt
throng,
But the men could count 40 they passed
along.
And concerning tho road, they could ncvel
agree,
The old or the neo way, which It could be
Nor ever moment paused TO think
And sound of mnrmuring long and loud
Came mp from the moving crowd,
''You re in tho old way and 7 NJ in the new
That Is the false and this is the true"
But the brethren only seemed 10 speak,
Modest the sisters walked and meek,
And if ever one of them chnnced to say
Whist troubles she met with on the way,
How she onged to pass to the other side,
Nor feared 10 cross over the swelling tide,
a voice arose from the brethren then
"Let no one speak bu, the holy men
For have you not heard the words of Paul
''Oh, let The women keep silence ali ~
watched them in my curious dream,
Till they stood by the borders OF the stream
When, just as thought, the two ways met
But all the brethren were talking yet,
And would talk on, till the heaying tide
Carried them over side by side;
Side by side, for the way was one,
The toilsomc journey Of life was done.
And all who ia Christ the Savior died,
Came out alike on the other side
No forma, or crosses, or books had they
No gowns ofsilk, or suits of gray
No crecds to guide them, or MSS,
For all had put on Christs righteousness.