New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-22

out of Improbable members"
One Sunday when was about eight years OF age
heard sermon predicting the speedy arrival OF the
Day of Judgment 1t was "Milerite" sermon.
How tho minister who delivered 1t obtained
hearing in our church know not He proved the
nearness of the end from the books OF Dahiei ana
Revelation. Certainly he proved 1t to me. l was
frightened saw already the universe IN names
and heard the sounding of the last trump Horrible
was the fear endured. Ionged for that sermon TO
close wanted to get away anywhere from those
threatenings which had before so tortured my child
ish consciousness, and which now seemed coming to
n speedv realization But egress from the church
gave me no relief. Bright and beautiful as was that
Summers afternoon yet everything seemed pallid
by earih's impending doom. The words OF
the preacher followed me. l had no APP
petite for food that evening. How my parents
could hear these terrible predictions and
then go home as they did and eat their
suppers with any relish ut all was TO me
MYSTERY Why could the usual routine of life go
as ever the succeeding day: why did my father as
ever continue to be absorbed in his business; why
was not something other done in view Of this great
catastrophe; why should Mr.. Bills this Judgment
Day minister sink into the comparative week day
obscurity; why did not the leading people OF our
village, or at least Of our congregation apply to
him, seeing that he was the only visible authority
in this matter, and get him to do some
thing, which in despairing state of mind still
hoped might avert the disaster. All this and far
more occupied my mind for days. All this was suf-
fered and dreaded in silence Never did my parents
dream that for weeks aftcrward their child was I'M
dergong this mental agony, an agony, too, which so
completely possessed me that feared the sight OF
Mr. Bills in the street, and trembled when his voice
was heard in the Sundayschoo lest there he should
again threaten us with the day of judgment.
It was with great sense of relief when, one day
in nv fathers store, this subject being canvassed
over by knot of worthless there assembled, that
heard old Deacon Talmadge, who ranked next to
any minister as a theolOgian, give utterance TO an
opinion which implied that, in his estimation, the
earth would not burn up, at least so soon as MIR.
Bills had predicted That was as great ray OF
comfort shining on me. In secret and for long
time aftcrward | leaned on Deacon Talmadge. l
dared to hope that his authority might be as trust
worthy as that of Mr.. Bills. He gave me hope. He
stood with me as the champion and supporter of the
worlds safety. Mr. Bills was the representative of
its present destruction. AS time wore on, and the
day fixed for the final dissolution passed and
Others succeeded / rejected Mr.. Bills entirely
and became a confirmed Talmadgeitc Deacon
Talmadgc was cool, practical Christian.
old man, with prominent squeak in his voice But
there was moderation, kindness, and consideration
in his manner even to boys. lie would hear boys
opnion with respect, not with that air of conde
scension which made you feel that whatever hear
ing YOU might have was mere form, and that the
verdict was certain to go against you. What gave
me Great confidence in him was that when he meas
urcd out the potatoes we bought of him he filled the
busbel with Scripture measure, pressed flIil and
running over" Even now can see that good, DID,
long, lank dcacons body, ever clad in snufi-colored
suit picking the potatoes which would not remain
stationary Oh the oil the ground and iiIng-
ing them into my basket. That with me weighed as
much "a the Confession of Faith and the Thrtynino
Articles.
Not long after this my father died was riding
out one day after his death and had stopped
for moment near the parsonage, when the minister
came out and walked across the street toward me.
Instantly OWNED his purpose. He was coming to
"tal religion" / was afraid of that man. lie had
tried to speak with Inc many times would get on
the other side of the street dodge around corners
when saw him coming. He kept me in . state of
perpetual uneasiness. He visited our family and
never knew when was All the terrors
which Old Rome held over the heads of her subject
kings that man held over mo- lie was not Il refined
man. ! used occasionally to hear the members OF
the Sewing Circle crticise his domestic habits
They said che ate butter By the pound ana slapped
great chunks inside of hot mnce pies IS If the crust
had MT shortnin enough already" When his wife
demonstrated with him he argued that "thc Lord
sent us these good things and had right to use
them we saw fit"
He held the bride of my horse and talked to me
for half an hour. lie adverted frequently to "my
poor dead father" Intutively | recognized his
motive in doing. He was trying, as the phrase
ran, to "sofen my heart" But he aroused only
silent indignation. He asked me many questions
eff did not wish to be saved" if 81 did not love
the Savior" if 81 did not feel myself great
sinnerW said Eyes" to all these queries because
thought he expected that reply. He made me prom
Use to attend the o'clock evening prayer meetings.
| did so without tho least intention Of going |
would have promised anything and everything
that could only get away from him. This gentle
man was doing what he deemed his duty. My own
conscience condemned me for The instructive fear
with which regarded him. held him as
nearer the Throne than others almost as who
had the keys to bind or loose. But his system of
conversion, the threatened prayers and sermons,
indeed any degree of contact with the feryid, en-
thusastic, but rather nncultivatcd men and women
most active during revival seasons to me most
distasteful.
About this time certain boys from to II years of
age held praycrmeetings at one anothers houses in
garrets and Easements. They prayed. sang,
horted and conducted their meetings altogether as
was customary at the regular gatherings of their
elders There was one boy by name John Piper,
who was the most active and influential at these
assembages. He could pray and cxhort with
greater fuency than any one else. At other seasons
John Piper had very little moral weight with us.
He was sort of half apprentice to carpenter and
half housemad to the carpenters wife. lie was
boy, good-natured not wOrldly-wsc, moro simple
than KEEN and cverybOdys butt. His employer
dressed him in his own cast-Oif suits. That old