River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-05-01
THE ELDERS SERMON.

| 81 really wish deacon. that you would tel
me what your candid opinion of our ministei
| isp'
| Deacon Brown looked meditativey at the
speaker, small, wiry-looktng man, WHOSE
features were almost as sharp as the sharp
/ black ewes fixed so intently upon him.
81 don't know, Brother Quimby, as my
candid opinion of our minister would do him
| any good"
| Il dare say mott responded Mr.. Quimby;
darkly; but Thea it would do me great deal
of good to hear it."
~ don't know as to that either"
"There is no one In .he church whose opin-
| ion think more off, continued MIR. Quimby.
Not that approve of giving it to everyone.
But YOU needn't be afraid OF saying just what
you think to me, deacon, for 1t won't go any
further, and it might serve to clear up some
doubts that trouble me-"
"What doubts"
"Well-about various things, But you
haven't told me what your opinion Is, dea-
CONF
q have only one opinion Of Elder Wake.
man, and that he is man that tries TO do his
duty in all the relations OF life."
This was evidently something that Mr..
Duimby neither expected nor desired to hear,
and he stared blsnkly at the speaker. But
quickly recovering himself, he said;
"Ha! think / understand you, deacon
What YOU say is very well pnt-very we'll put
indeed. have thought that he might be a
leetle more willing to take advice; but there
is no question in my mind but what he tries
to 0 his duty, as you say. But is he sound Z.
"Perhaps not. Some ministers are all
sound
The merry twinkle in the good deacon's
ewes found no reflection in the solemn vlsage
opposite him.. ,s
ed Mr.. DUMMY, with a rebuking shake OF the
head. Il am surprised that you should speak
on so serious a subject with such unseemiy
leyity / referred to being sound in doctrine.
have been a good deal excited in my mind IN
regard to this ever since | heard this sermon
on Justification which is no justification at
all, as | understand it, and as good old Dr.
Seaver used to lay i. down. Dear old man! l
wonder what he would say, II ne come Dack
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. only hope that some Things
he used TO preach about are clearer 10 MN
now than be ever succeeded in making them
10 me-
There's no merit in believing where every
thing is made clear. There are mysteries of
faith, deacon. that nobody has any business
irving to understand. Now, Elder Wakeman Is
| forever preaching ABOUT WEdl VIC ouSho W W.
as though such poor weak creatures as we are
can do anything toward effectlng our saliva
| ton AS for me, I'm free to own that don I
consider anything l 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
Ouimby, so won't dispute you on that score.
| So far as am concerned feel that the Lord
will have quite enough to do in etfectlng the
work you allude to, If l help Him all | can. !
''Well, deacon, wish could have my mind
cleared up in re gard TO Elder Wakeman.
/ What did you thipE OF his sermon last sac
bath mornipg?n
There is one thing | might say about it, il
thought it prudent thing to do. We can
be too careful in speaking, especially II lts
anything that's likely 10 effect the character
and usefulness of man like Elder Waterman
Very true, Deacon. But you neednf be
afraid of my telling; I'm not enc OF the leaky
sort | knew, as well as | wanted to, that
mar of your sense couldn't approve OF sucf
doctrine as that
"Oh, I've nothing to say against the sermon
it was very good discourse-you won't Otter
| find q better. But the fact is, every word il
eontained-I really don't know that ougn
to mention it, though, if it should get about
| it might make trouble"
.T'li never lisp a syllable OF it to any living
soul,n was the eager response.
| "Welln-here the deacon lowered his yoct
home which has every word of it in"
| Here the train for which Deacon Brown
was waiting came rushing up to the depot.
rs it possibleg' calculated Mr.. Quimby
with uplifted eyes and hands. But yot
| haven't told nc"
Deacon Brown was already up the steps
smiling aud waving his adieux from the plat
| form of the rear car, which rapidly disap
| peared around curve in the road
He was absent nearly week. When h'
returned he found not only the church bu
the whole village in a state of excitement ant
commotion.
He had not been home more than an hou
when Elder Wakeman called on him, ant
in the course of the day he was waited upol
by two deacons and several church members
to say nothing of being interviewed by va
rious OF his acquaintance and neighbors, al
OF whom were anxious to ascertain II there
was any truth in the rumor OF the graY'
charge he had brought against his pastor.
Deacon Brown, though evidently some
| what stal tied 1t first by a result so little an
tieipated tool. all this with his usual calm
ness and serenity he was very reticent on
the subject, asserting that he had said moth
ing that he was not both allie and willing tc
prove when the proper time came to do so
His interview with Elder Wakeman was &
rriy ato one, but it was noticeable at its close
that the countenance Of the latter had &
serene. alIcost smiling aspect But as the
. /
ing of investigation that had been called, NJ
particular importance was attached to this
He did mt seem disposed to talk much about
it, merely saying that he thought the deacon
ought to have au opportunity to prove or ex
plain what he had every reason to believe ht
had said about him.
The meeting in question was held at thu
vestry which was filled to lis utmost capaclt,
before tlig two chiefly interested, Elder Wake
man and Deacon Brown, entered, and wit
| appeared to be the least excited ones present
| Mr. QuimhT was there, full of Importance
and with an exultation of look and manne
only thnly yelled by the gravity that over
spread his eountenance. He was standing b.
the stove, the center Of an interested ant
curious circle, when the two entered, but HI
avoided meeting the eye OF either
Al the motion OF Elder WakemaD, one O
the deacons called the meeting to order. brief
explained its object, the serious nature OF tn
imnutaGion under which their pastor rested
and appealing to deacon Brown TO put stol
to the talk it had occasioned by either deny
ing or proving his assertion.
Rising to his feet, Deacon Brown looke'
around upon the excited and curious faces tina
were directed toward him.
sBehold brethren, how much mischief tn
tongue can dol said aiew words to one {
YOU, under a pledge of secrecy. think
) wss under a pledge Of secrecy, Brothe
Qdinbv."
Il considered ii to be my duty to Tell wha
] you told me- said the individual addressed
turing very red.
you are to be commented for having pei
formed your duty so thoroughly continue
the deacon; "a very painful duty, as il is cas-
TO sees understand you have said that
told you Elder Wakeman stole his sermo
} from d book in my possession, arc you sur
that fused the weFd stole, Brother Qulmby
lyon said that you had a book thai ha
every wCrd 81 II IN. Where's the difference
I'D ike to knows' was Mr. Quimhy's prom
and Triumphant rsjoinder.
! There might be none at all, and, again
! there might be 4 good 1eals' responded I'll
eeacun.
II did use the the language ascribed to N
: ny Ar Quimhy,f continued Deacon Brown, al
dressing the rest OF the assemblage; move
thereto By his evident desire that | shoal
!, say something To our pastors discredit, az
! Without 4 thought that il would lead To a
this trouble and excitement. / declart
: furthermore. that have seen book contain
irg every word of his sermon in Elder Wax
: mans own library. j have taken the libert
Of sending for IL. and will offer Il Is evideng
Is 70 the truth pf nx statement
Taking ! ponderuus volume from the hare
& Of his son, Wh0 had just entered, Deaeo
L Brown laid Il on the table before the presic
! ing officer, who. carefully adjusting his spe'
: tieIes, opened IL
GlsIr one glance st lis outspread pag,