The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1873-02-06
Select Miscellany.
NO SECT IN HEAVEN.

Talking of sects till late one eve
OF the various doctrines the saints believe
That night stood in a troubled dream,
By the side of a darkly flowing stream.
And "churchman" down to the river came.
When I heard a strange voice call his name,
"GOOd Father, stop; when you cross this tide,
You must leave your robes on the other side" {"
But the aged father did not mind,
And his long gown fioated out behind,
As down to the stream his way he took
His pale hands clasping gilt-edged book.
'T'm 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 fix'd his eyes on the shining track;
But the gown was heavysan 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, a.
But his silk gown hoated on the tide;
And no one asked in that blissful 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 all be of gray,
cannot go any other way"
Then he buttoned his cost straight up to the
chin,
And stsidly, solemnIy, waded in,
And his broad brimmed hat he pulled down tight
But strong wind carried away his hat,
moment he silently sighed over that,
And then, as he gazed ON the further shore,
The coat slipped eff, and was seen no more.
As he entered heaven his suit of gray
Went quietly sailing, away-away,
And none of the angels questioned him
About the width of his beavers brim.
Next came DR.. Watts, with bundle of Psslms
Tied nicely up in his aged arms,
And Hymns as many, very wise thing,
That the people in Heaven, ''all around might
sing"
But thought he heaved an anxious sigh,
As he saw that the river ran broad and high,
And looked rather surprised as, one by one,
The Psalms and Hymns in waye went down.
And after him, with his MSS,
Came Wesley, the pattern of godliness,
But he cried "Dear me, what shall do2
The water has soaked them through and |
through"
And there on the river, far and wide,
A ,rav fbav x,-a,,t do,r-, 4l,a e,,.oIla,, 4fJn
And the saint. astonished, passed through alone,
Without his manuscripts, up to the throne.
Then gravely walking, two saints by name,
Down to the stream together came;
But they stopped Just at the river brink,
And saw one saint from the other shrink.
'Sprinkled or plunged, may ask you, friend,
How you attained to life's great end7"
'TAus, with few drops on my brow"
'But have been dipped, as you'll see me now,
And I really think it will hardly do,
As I'm close communion to cross with you;
You're bound, I know, to the realms of bliss,
But you must go thGtway, and I'll go this"
Then straightway, plungiHg with all his might
Away to the left-his friend at the right,
part they went from this world of ain,
sut at last together they entered in.
md now, when the river was rolling on,
Presbyterian Church went down;
# women there seemed an innumerable thrnng,
ant the men I could count as theY passed along :
nd concerning the road they could meier agree,
he old or the new way, which it should be,
Tor ever a moment paused to think,
hat both would lead to the rivers brink.
md sound OF muTmuring long and loud, ,
ame ever up from the moving crowd,
You're in the old way, and I'm in the 'letu,
hat is the false, and this is the true"
r, 'Tm in the old way and yOn're in the new,
lat is the false, and this is the true" s
ut the brethren only seemed to speak; c
Oldest the sisters walked and meek,
nd If ever one OF them chanced TO say
hat trouble she met with on the way, L
ow she longed TO psss to the other side, a
or feared to cross over the swelling tide, 4
voice arose from the brethren then,
.et no one speak but the holy men, I
Or have We not heard the words of Paul? +
let the women keep silence all7"
watched them long in my curious dream,
Il they stood by the borders of the stream,
len, just as 1 thought, the two ways met, n
IT all the brethren were talking yet,
nd would talk on till the heaving tide
Irried them over side and side 10
de by. side, for the way was one, a
lie toiisome journey of life was done, =
I'd all who in Christ the Savior, died,
me ont alike on the Vlher side. O
} fOrns, or crosses, or books had they, "
gowns of silk or suits of gray, II
creeds to guide them or MSS,
r all had pat Oh chTist's righteousness. a