Middletown transcript., 1873-09-20
Srlctt Storp.
THE NEW MINISTER AT THORN
DALE.
ny MRS. II II. EDISON.

The Tkorndale first parish had been
w,hou, a shepherd SOMETHING like a year
and half IL was very hard to sui,
every one in that parish, and previous ex-
pcrcncc had tuugh, ,hcm the utter fulfill
ty Of expecting to keep a man against
whom any one member could bring the
faiutest shadow Of objection, either per-
sonal or professional For some reason
they had been very unfortunate in their
previous engagements. each Of the many
who had filled their pulpit failing to give
entire satisfaction to everybody. For in
stance
The Rev. Mr.. Daily was too practical.
and dwelt altogether too much on such
subjects rs personal integrity. sweetness
Of spirit, and holy living. TO the neglect
Of the doctrines doctrines were what
they hired him to eSpound. Some of
them vcnturci to sugges, little different,
course to him. but, alas when he com.
piled with tho suggestion, he found he
hud opened n door TO score more of the
same sort Deacon Potter believed in
frccwill aud Deacon Smith in Divine
sovereignty. and 80 on al infnitnm
The hulf-distrae,cd parson tried 10 har
monizc the discordant elements. leaning
fret u little one way aud then little the
other. TO the infinite disgust Of first one
and then the other wing OF tha differing
members, according TO which side he in.
clincd And so the last state of the man
was worst than the first. for the differing
sections we're unanimous upon onr thing
A minister should be, above all thing
else. rigidly independent They had one
weather-saue to their church and that was
enough Aud So Mr.. Dnly resigned.
After this came Mr. Gordon. lie was
everything ,hat could be asked eloquent.
gracefully uniting theory aud practice in
a enc subtle way tha, offended no one :
prcju Ices, but. nlas. somebody awoke IL
the fac, that this same subtlc,y Of grace.
full gcneralixing WIS undermining and
sapping the foundations Of their faith
and heads were shaken wisely. and
= 'twout do was said more and more EN-
pha,irally. and-well, Mr., Gordon had a
call from some where abou, thu, time--and
it was accepted
The parish determined 10 be cautious il
the selection Of Mr. Gordon's successor
aud each member generally. aud til,
"ieading' members particularly. had +,
nicely prepared code Of qualifications
including theoretical. practical. intellect.
ual, social and domestic qnaliiics--thc,
had seyerally resolved he must come NJ
to, IN order to olt,in their suffrage
Strangely enough, their ideas on ,hes,
matters didn't perfectly agree, ans
il was perhaps stranger still how
many faults and imperlcctions the clcrg,
we're possessed Of.
I'D no idec," said Deacon Stone
what miserable lot o workmcn tn
Lord had 10 his vineyard. II seems
pity that he couldn't had littlc o tn
wisdom and judgment Of the Thorndal
parish before he give 'em call !"
But Deacon Stone was terribly ola-fash
ionei in his ideas. aud not at all keen il
sccnting nut blemishes, especially in min
listers. OF course an old fogy like ,hi
could have very little weight in so veri
intelligent and discriminating a parish a
tho first Thorndale After eight or Tel
months Of caudidating they at last settle,
upon Mr.. Wilmot. man who at leas
had not the faults of his immediate pre-
decassors. for one look in his face tsld yol
that be was fearless and independ, mt, an,
would both preach and practise what hi
own conscience believed TO bc right an,
that while not possessing the talent o
Gordon be stood firm and strong on tn
simple foundations Of Christianity, - re
vealed in the Scriptures. AT last,
thought this perfect people. I'VE have
workman worthy Of our hire" And a
they gave him . parish party. and intro