Daily globe., 1879-04-27
THE ELDERS SERMON.
81 really wish. deacon, that you would tell
ne what your candid opinion OF our minister

81 really wish. deacon. that you would tell
me what your candid opinion Of our minister
is?'
Deacon Brown looked meditatively at the
speaker, small, wiry-looking man, whose
features were almost as sharp as the sharp
black eyes fixed so intently upon him.
III don't know, Brother Quimby, as my
candid opinion of our minister would do him
any good"
"Idare say not" responded Mr.. Q,imby;
darkly; "but then it would do me great deal
of good to hear it,"
81 don't know as to that either"
'There is no one in The church whose opin-
ion think more Of continued Mr.. Quimby.
mot that approve of giving it to everyone.
But you needn't be afraid OF saying just what
you think to me, deacon, for it won't go any
further, and it might serve to clear up some
doubts that trouble me-"
"What doubts?"
"Well-about vari.us things, But you
haven't told me what your opinion is, dea-
CONF
81 have only one opinion of Elder Wake
man, and that he is a man that tries to do his
duty in all the relations of life"
This was evidently something that Mr..
Quimby neither expected nor desired to hear,
and he stared blankly at the speaker. But
quickly recovering himself, he said:
''Ha! think I understand you, deacon.
What you say is very well put-very we'll put
indeed have thought that he might be
leetle 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 deacon's
eyes found no reflection in the solemn visage
opposite him.
"Its no laughing matter, Deacon" respond.
ed Mr.. Quimby, with rebuking shake of the
head. II am surprised that you should speak
levity. referred to being sound in doctrine.
have been good deal excited in my mind in
regard to this ever since heard this sermon
on Justification which is no justification at
all, as I understand it, and as good old DR..
seaver used to lay it down. Dear old man!
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 think he is, he don't want
to come back. 1only hope that some things
he used to preach about are clearer to him
now than be ever succeeded in making them
to me-"
''There's no merit in believing where every
thing is made clear. There are mysteries of
faith, deacon, that nobody has any business
trying to understand. Now, Elder Wakeman is
forever preaching about what we ought to do,
as though such poor, weak creatures as we are
can do anything toward effecting our saliva
ton. AS for me, Pm free to own that don't
consider anything I 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, so won't dispute you on that score
will have quite enough to do in effecting the
work you allude to, if help Him all I can y
"Well, deacon, wish could have my mind
cleared up in regard to Elder Wakeman.
What did you think of his sermon last Sab
bath morning?"
"There is one thing might say about it, il
l thought it a prudent thing to do. We can't
anything that's likely to effect the character
and usefulness of man like Elder Wakeman. .
"Very true, Deacon. But you needn't be
afraid of my telling; Pm not one of the leaky
sort. | knew, as well as 1 wanted to, that q
man of your sense couldn't approve of such
doctrine as that"
"Oh, I've nothing to say against the sermon
it was very good dscourse-you won't often
find better. But the fact is, every word il
contained-1 really don't know that ought
to mention it, though, if it should get about
| it might make trouble"
"Pll never lisp q syllable of it to any living
soul,' was the eager response.
"Well"-here the deacon lowered his voice
to an impressive whisper-"I have book al
home which has every word of it in"
Here the train for which Deacon Brown
was waiting came rushing up to the depot.
"Is it possible?" calculated Mr. Quimby
with uplifted eyes and hands. "But vol
haven't told me-"
Deacon Brown was already up the steps
smiling. and waving his adieux from the plat
form of the rear car, which rapidly disap
peared around a curve in the road.
! lie was absent nearly week. When he
returned, he found not only the church bu
the whole village in state of excitement anG
commotion.
He had not been no me more than an houl
| when Elder Wakeman called on him, anC
! in the course of the day he was waited upor
| by two deacons and several church members
to say nothing of being interviewed by va
rious OF his acquaintances and neighbors, all
| OF whom were anxious to ascertain if there
| was any truth in the rumor of the grave
charge he had brought against his pastor.
Deacon Brown, though evidently some.
what startled at first by result so little an
ticipated, took all this with his usual calm.
ness and serenity. He was very reticent or
the subject. asserting that he had said moth
prove when the proper time came to do so
His interview with Elder Wakeman was {
private one, but it was noticeable at its close
that the countenance of the latter had {
serene, almost smiling aspect But as the
elder took no measures to prevent the meet
| ing of investigation that had been called, NJ
particular Importance was attached to this
He did not seem disposed to talk much about
it, merely saying that he thought the deacor
ought to have an opportunity to prove or ex
plain what he had every reason to believe h,
| had said about him.
The meeting in question was held at tn
vestry, which was filled to its utmost capaclt,
before the two chiefly interested, Elder Wake
man and Deacon Brown, entered, and VIII,
| appeared to be the least excited ones present
Mr.. Quimby was there, full of importance
and with an exutation of look and name
only thinly yelled by the gravity that over
spread his countenance. He was standing b
the stove, the center of an interested an,
curious circle, when the two entered, but b.
avoided meeting the eye of either.
At the motion Of Elder Wakeman, one O
the deacons called the meeting to order, brief
explained its object, the serious nature Of tn
imputation under which their pastor rested
and appealing to deacon Brown to put sto
to the talk it had occasioned by either deny
ing or proving his assertion.
Rising to his feet, Deacon Brown locke
around upon the excited and curious faces tha
were directed toward him.
Behold brethren, how much mischief tn
tongue can do! said a few words to one c
you, under pledge OF secrecy. l think
was under a pledge of secrecy, Brothe
Quimby?"
81 considered it to be my duty to tell wha
you told me-" said the Individual addressed
turing very red.
''You are to be commended for having pei
formed your duty SO thoroughly" continue
the deacon; "a very painful duty, as it is cas-
to see! l understand you have said that
told you Elder Wakeman stole his sermo
from a book in my posse. .sion, are you sur
that fused the word stole, Brother Quimby ?
You said that you had a book that ma
every word of it in! Where's the ditferenc
I'd like to know?" was MIR. Quimby's prong
and triumphant rejoinder.
There might be none at all, and, agail
there might be a good deal" responded til
deacon.