The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-05-15
THE ELDERS SERMON.

L. Il SIT 1i iivs------------} a1CiC 5os .
la'I really wish, deacon, that you
would tell me what your candid opin'
ion Of our minister is?' - s9-Ffr-
Deacon Brown looked meditatiyely
at the speaker, small, wiry-lookin2
man, whose features were almost as
sharp as the sharp black eyes fixed so
intently upon him. ss'g. -'-,5
Il don't know, Brother Quimby. as
my candid opinion of our minister
would do him any good
Il dare cay not.' responded Mr..
Quimby darkly /; but then it would
do me great deal of good to hear it.
Il don't know as to that either
There is no one in the church
whose opinion 1 think more Of con-
tinued Mr.. Quimby. mot that ap-
prove of giving it to everyone. But
you needn't be afraid of saying just
what you think to me, deacon, for it
won't 60 any further, and it might
serve to clear up some doubts that
trouble me. Bg en- - -'tssssi,. ---'}.'i
What doubts -. -,
Well-about various things. But
you haven't told me what your opin.
ion is, deacon
have only one opinion of Elder
Wakeman, and that he is q man that
tries to do his duty in all the relations
of life.'
This was evidently something that
Mr.. Quimby neither expected nor de-
sired to hear, and he stared blankly at
the speaker. But quickly recovering
himself, he said: a'-.i.-
Hail think I understand you,
deacon. What you say is very well
put-very we'll put indeed. 1 have
thought that he might be little more
willing to take advice; but there is no
question in my mind but what he tries
to do his duty, as you say. But is he
sound
Perhaps not. Some ministers are
all sound.'
The merry twinkle in the good dea-
cons eyes found no reflection in the
solemn visage opposite him. -,f. 2 I.
'It's no laughing matter, deacon
responded NE. Quimby, with q re-
buking shake ofthe head. Il am sur
prised that you should speak on so
serious a subject with such unseemly
levity. referred to being sound IN
doctrine. 1 have been q good deal ex-
cited in my mind in regard to this ever
since I heard his sermon on Justifica.
ton, which is no justification at all, as
I understand it, and az good old DR..
Seaver used to lay it down. Dear old
man ! I wonder what he would say,
If he could come back and hear the
new tangled ideas that are taught from
the pulpit where he preached such
good, old.fashioned doctrines nigh on
to twenty years.
IF he's where I think he is, he don't
want to como back. i only hope that
some things he used to preach about
are clearer TO him now than he ever
succeeded in making them to me-
iTheres no merit in. believing
where everything is made clear. There
are mysteries Of faith, deacon, that
nobody has any business trying to un-
derstand. Now, Elder Wakeman is
forever preaching about what we
ought. to do. as though such poor,
weak creatures as we are can do any
thing toward effectlng our salvation.
As for me. am free to own that l
don't consider anything have done.
or am doing, of the least account
Whatever
"A man ought to know better than
anyone else the quality OF his own
works, Brother Quimby, go I won't
dispute you on that score. So far as
I am concerned l feel that the Lord
will have quite enough to do in effect.
ing the work you allude to, if 1 help
Him all can.'
well, deacon, 1 could have my
mind cleared up in regard to Elder
w 6hcIu0us W uoI ulu yOu tuIuA Vi
his sermon last Sabbath morning3'
sThere is one thing l might say
about it, if thought it prudent
thing to do. We can't be too careful
in speaking, especially If it is anything
that is likely to effect the character
and usefulness of a man like Elder
Wakeman.'
'Very true. Deacon. But you need
mt be afraid of my telling I'm not one
of the leaky sort. 1 knew, as well as
l wanted to, that man of your sense
couldn't approve of such doctrine az
that
ooh, I've nothing to say against the
sermon it was very good discourse
You won't often find q better. But
the fact is, every word it contained