St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-02-13

ueTe. lucst OuSnt yc W nave uOnC,
and not to leave the other undOne ~
The best thing one can do sometimes,
the most productive of good results, is
''to cast the net on the other side" If
you have been wont always to fish on
the left side of the ship, why not do the
unusual thing, and cast the net on the
right sideP Possibly the draught en-
closed would both encourage and sur
prise you. Many of the unusual things
we do yield the surest and quickest and
most satisfactory returns. And are they
any the less important because unusual 7?
Here is Mr.. A. who always attends
public worship on the Sabbath he has
followed this most excellent custom
from childhood but he seldom or
never calls upon the sick, or ministers
to those in want and sorrow. Almost
invariably he "passes by on the other
side" Suppose he should do the unu-
sual thing for once, and go with warm
heart and full hands to some sorrow
stricken home | have seen those whose
usual practice it is, and practice most
rigidly adhered to, never to welcome
the contribution box. They always
give the head shake which declares
more strongly than words could do {:
"Nothing to give" Every benevolent
appeal meets with the same cold recep-
ton. Some old habits are more honor
ed in the breach than in the observance
and this is one of them. How the
streams of benevOlence would swell if
those unaccustomed to do so would
turn over a new leaf, and, doing the I'M
usual thing, give something to the Lord
aud his cause
Bro. BIS usual way is to sit silent in
the social meeting from January to
January. The pastor and brethren long
to hear his voice, and sometimes they
wonder that he can be so selfish as to
make them do all the talking and pray
ing, he only consumer, they the pro-
ducers. What an inspiration and help
to the meeting, and what an encourage
tire of their own voices, if these silent
ones would occasionally let their voices
be heard An unusual experience, but
who can say it is not just the experience
needed to secure larger spiritual growth
and to do away with the stereotyped
forms the meeting has unconsciously
taken on?
To speak to strangers at church is a
very unusual thing with many excellent
people. Would any harm arise if they
should depart from this custom and
show little more of the social element,
and give cordial grasp of the hand
and speak pleasant word? Even if
it be Il little hard, and sometimes awk-
ward, if the brother | have quoted is
right, we should be willing to do the
most familiar and unusual things. That
teacher in the Sabbath school who
simply asks the questions of the lesson,
by getting outside and beyond this mar
row limit-calling upon his pupils at
their homes, inviting them to his own
home, writing friendly letter to them,
now and then, and showing a general
interest both in their temporal and
spiritual welfare. Let him do these, to
him unusual things, and who can doubt
that bountiful reaping would soon
follow 2 Those who are accustomed to
move always in the same circle in soci
ETY. can make themselves very useful by
calling upon those not belonging to
their particular circle, though they are
attendants at the same church. The
unusual event of a call would bring
sunshine into the home where your
presence had not been seen before, it
may be.
The pastor, whose heart is often
panied in view of the apathy and ir-
religion he sees about him, possibly
needs to step outside his ordinary course
in order to win those not reached by
the usual methods. The routine of
pastoral work is not sufficient to meet
the demands of the hour. Some unusu-
al methods are called for. Happy the
pastor who is wise to see what he ought
to do in this direction; and seeing it,
cheerfully does it, even though the I'M
usual efforts cost him great sacrifice.
There is no Christian whose life
would not be made more beautiful and
useful by doing these unusual things.
And there is no church, the tone of
whose piety would not be wonderfully
deepened, and whose power would not
be multiplied many fold, should its
members band together to do something
more than they have been wont to do.
While the old doors still stand open,
new doors also are open, calling upon
us to enter. Unusual things-shall we
not begin to do them as we cross the
threshold of the new year ?-Congrega-
tiOndlist.
Our Puzzle Corner.