The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-03-27
No Sect in Heaven.

Talking of sect, TIL late one eve,
Ot the yarious doctrines the saints believe,
That night stood in troubled dream
iy the side of darkly flowing stream.
And a -churchman- down to the river came
When heard n strange voice call his nHrne-
-t'ood father, stop, when yon cross this tide,
lou must leave your robes on the other side "
But TIE agrd father did not mind.
And his long-gOw fOated out behind
As down TO thc stream his way he took
Ills pale hands clasping gilt-edgcd bo,k.
I'm bound for Heaven, and when I'm there,
shall W ant my book of common PRAYER
And tho pur on starry crown.
should feel qTits lost without my gown"
Then he fixed his eye on the shining track.
.int his gown was heavy snd held him back,
And the poor old fa'her tried in vain.
single step in the flood to gain.
sew him aglin on the ctLer side,
But his gown hal )ated off on ihe ii e,
Aud no one asked in that hlissful spot
Whether he belong ii To -The Church or not.
Then down the river Quaker strayed
His dress OF a sober hue male;
Ny coat and hat must be all OF gray,
| cannot come another way.
Then he buttoned his cuat straight IN 10 his chin.
And steadily. sOennly waded in,
And his broai-b immed nat he pulled down tight
Over his forehead, 80 cold and white.
But a strong wind carried away his hat
monien. he silently sighed over that
And Oh, as he gaZed 10 the farther shore
Ills coat slipped oft and seen no more.
As he entered Heaven his suit Of gray
Went quietly ailing-away-away
And Zone OF the angels questioned him
About the breadth of his beavers brim
Next came DIR Watts with bundle of psalms
Tied nic' ly up in his sgcd arms,
And hymns many-a very wise thing
That the people in Heay n all around might sing.
But thought that he bcaved an anxious sigh,
As be saw that the water raa broad and high,
And looked rather surprised ~ one by
The psalms and the hymns in the waves went dowr
And after him. with his manuscripts,
Cam Wesley, the pattern OF godlines-.
But he cried. Dear mc, what shall do?
The water has soaked III, m through and through.
And then the river far and wide
Away they went dowu the swollen tile
And The saint, astonished, passed through alone,
Without his manuscnp,s-up TO the throne.
Then gravcly walking. two saints. by name
Down 10 the stream I, gr.Eer came,
D. as they stopped ~ the rivers brink
4 saw ore SAINT from The either shrink.
"snrinked or piungcn, may ask you fri, nd
How you attained io life's great cIdg-
~ hus with lew drops ON my brow.
But have plunged. ns you svc me now
And really think ii VIII hardly do
As I'm close communion 10 with you,
\ cure bound, know 10 the ralins OF bliss,
BCi you must 20 tLdf way II 60 this.
Then stra'ghtway plunsing with al ii- might.
AWAY 10 she ieit-his friend 10 the tight,
A,art they went IRON The word of sin
but at iast together they entered IN,
And new when the river was rolling on,
A Presbyterian church vert down;
Of women there seemed AN innuincgable fhrong.
But ihr men could CONT as they passed along.
he old, or the new way which II should b.,
Not even u moment paused to think
Ih-i both womb lead To The risci's brink.
Aud sorDd of murmrr'rg long and loud
Came ever up from the moving crowd,
.'Y ou' re in Tie old way-l'm in the HP,r,
] hat Is the false and this Is ilie 'rde.''
-.ir I'm in fhc old way aud your. IN the the new
That is the false this is the true"
isuf the brethren only seeinsd 10 speak.
Modest the sisters walked and me.k.
And II ever one OF them Glanced 10 eay
" ha, iroubl. she mt with on.the way
Low she iongcd TO ps-s 10 the other eide.
Nor feared 10 cross over the swelling tide.
A voice arusc frora the brethren then.
LET B0nc sls-lk but the holy rccu;
For have ye not b .ari thr wor.ls oi faul,
Ga i. let ihe woman Keep silence all
1 watched them a.; IN my curl Us drrsTn
Iil they siocd by the b n Ter OF TIE stream,
hen insf a. thought, the two ways met,
But all the breihrea were talking YET.
And would talk on TIL the booming tide
Carried them over side ny side.
Side by side for the way was one
The ioilsome journey OF lie was done.
Apl Priest and QiaS and all who died
Came cut alike on the ether s'd-,
No gown of silk suit OF gray.
10 or eds to guide them ON their way.
--EiizabeB. n. JocelyR.