The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-02-23
DEACON LEE.

WdlIeu upOu Cy IeSIloSoS duUlIIouo,
worldly church member, who was labor
ing to create uneasiness in the church,
and especially to drive away the min
lister.
The deacon came in to meet his visit
or, who, after the usual greetings, began
to lament the low state Of religion, and
inquire as to the reason why there had
been no revival for the last two or three
years past.
"Now, what do you think is the cause
OF things being dull herel"
The deacon was not ready to give his
opinion; and after little thought frank
" answered: 81 don't know"
"Do you think the church are alive
to the work before themi"
"No, l don't"
"Do you think the minister fully re-
allies the solemnity of his work ?"
mo, I don't.
A twinkle was seen in the eye Of the
troubler in Zion, and taking courage, he
asked:
"Do you think Mr.. B. very estraor-
dinary manF
"No, don't"
"Do you think his sermons in their
eyes are held anything wonderfully
create"
mo, I don't r"
Making bold, rail- this encourage
ment in monosyllables, he asked:
Then don't you think we had better
dismiss this man and hire anothera"
The old deacon started as if shot with
an arrow, and in tone louder than his
wont, shouted:
s.No, I dontl"
"Why," cried the amazed visitor,
"you agree with me in all 1 have said,
don't youa"
"No, don't"
"You talk so little. sir" replied the
questioner, not little abashed, "that
no one can find out what you do mean. "
L" I talked enough once" replied the
old man, rising to his feet, "for six
praying Christians. Thirty years ago l
got my heart humbled, and my tongue
bridled; and ever since that I've walked
softly before God. I then made VOWS
solemn as eternity; and don't you tempt
me TO break them.
The troubler was startled al the earn.
estness of the hitherto silent Immovable
man and asked:
"What happened to yoL thirty years
agoi"
"Well, sir, I'll tell you. was
drawn into scheme just like this OF
yours, to uproot one of Gods servants
from the field in which he had planted
him. In my blindness, fancied it
little thing to remove one OF the stars
which Jesus holds in his right hand. il
thereby my ear could be tickled by more
flowing words, and the pews filled with
those who turned away from the SIM
plioity Of the Gospel. I and the men
that led me-for admit that I was
dupe and fool-hattered ourselves that
we were doing Gods service when we
drove that holy man from the pulpit and
his work, and said we considered his
work done in B., where I then ived.
We groaned because there was no re.
vival, while we were gossiping aboutand
criticising and crushing him, instead of
upholding his hands by our efforts and
our prayers, the very instrument at
whose hand we harshly demanded the
blessings.
"Well, sir, he could not drag on the
chariot of salvation with half dozen
of US taunting him for hi weakness,
while we hung as dead weight to the
wheels; he had not the spirit, as We
thought, and could not convert men;
so we hunted him like deer, till, worn
and bleeding, he fed into q covert to
die.
Scarcely had hegone when God came
in among us by His Spirit, to show that
he had blessed the labors of his dear re-
jected servant. Our own hearts were
broken, and our weyward children con-
vertea and I resolved at convenient
season to visit my former pastor and
cnnfess my sin, and thank him for his
faithfulness to my wayward sons, which
Ike long buried seed had now sprungup.
But God denied me that relief, that He
might teacl me lesson that every child
of His ought to learn-that He who
toucheth one of His little ones toucheth
the apple of His eye.
~ heard my pastor was i'll, and taking
my oldest son with me, set ont on a
twenty five mile ride to see him. 1t
was evening when I arrived, and his
wife, with the spirit which any woman
ought to exhibit toward one who had SO
wronged her husband, denied me ad-
mittance to his chamber. She said (and
her words were like arrows to my souD
He may be dying, and the sight Of
your face might add to his anguish. ,
Had it come to this, I said to myself,
that the man whose labors had, through
Christ, brought me into His fold, who
had consoled my spirit in terrible
bereavement, and who had, till designing
men alienated us, been to me brother
that this man could not die in peace
with my face before him. GOD pity
me!' I cried; what have 1 done z
1 confessed my sins to that meek woman,
and implored her for Christ's sake to let
me kneel before His dying servant, and
receive his forgiveness.
"What did care then whether thea
pews by the door were rented or not
I would gladly have taken his whole
family to my home forever, as my flesh
and blood; but no such happiness was in
store for me.
Gas entered the room of the blessed
warrior, whose armor was falling from
is limbs. he opened his languid eyes,
and said: Brother Lee Brother
Leel' I bent over him, and sobbed
out. MY pastor! my pastor Then
raising his white hand, he said, in a
deep, impressive voice: Touch not
mine annointed, and do my prophets no
harm
II spoke tenderly to him, and told him
i had come to confess my sin, and bring
some of his fruit to him calling my