Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-04-08

as whether it would be right and safe
to recommend him as pastor to the
people of Berkton. These doubts, how
ever, departed after the matter had
rested upon his mind for few days
owing. in good measure, to the fact
that for some time after that letter
came, avision of Raymond in the soberer
aspects of his college life was constantly
before him. And then the letter was an
appeal that he could not disregard read
ing between the lines he came to the
conclusion that Raymond was very anx-
ious to get the position he had asked
for. Rankin said nothing to eny one
until he had deliberated the matter
thoroughly, and the outcome of his
thoughts was confidence of consider
able strength in the Rev. John Ray
mond. Then he submitted that gentle
mans application to some of the officers
of the little church. of the place. The
officers decided to permit the applicant
to preach two Sabbaths on trial.
How Iona it would have been before
the bell of that church would again
have been heard, calling the people of
Berkton to worship, if minister had
not offered himself, is uncertain The
| humble building had been so long
webs and mold were seen inside of it,
and outside briars and small trees
half hid the lower windows, while
grass was growing in the path
way to the door. And yet within
sight of the old-fashioned structure
there were score of new cottages and
more stately dwellings, owned by the
| people from the city who spent the
| warmer months in Berkton. There
were signs of thrift in everything except
| the church. The tavern even had
spruced up while the church was closed,
and was able to make quite respect
| able appearance among the stylish
dwellings of the village. But before
the first Sunday of the two that were to
settle whether or not the Rev. John
Raymond was to be called to preach in
Berkton came, the church received quite
thorough dusting and brushing inside;
and the brush and weeds around it were
cleared away.
The audience that awaited the new
minister, and that filed the house that
first Sabbath morning was motley one,
made up of city and country people.
There were those in the height of fash
ion as to dress; and there were many
who had worn the same dress, or bon
net, or coat, for quarter of century,
and were not aware that their garments
were out offashion until they were worn
out.
As the Rev. John Raymond came in
and took his seat upon the ancient
looking sofa back of the pulpit, two
things in his personal appearance were
noticed; these were an indescribable
sadness in his handsome face, and his
hair, which was very gray for man less
than forty. His sermon was a powerful
one; the impression left upon the minds
OF nearly all his hearers was favorable
Alter he had preached two Sabbaths,
he was asked to settle over the church.
1t was not necessary for George Rankin
to say anything in his favor to secure
the place for him, and he did not; but
his failure to do so was not owing to its
not being necessary, but to the fact that
when he saw Raymond enter the church,
he thought he discovered in that per-
sons melancholy face and his somewhat
sunken e jes, ,unmistakable evidences that
he was victim to that appetite which,
if rumors had been true, he was doing
all he could to fix within himself DUR
ing the last year of his college life. But
Rankin, like all the rest, became a great
compelled after a while to dismiss from
his mind what he came to consider his
groundless fears. Where before the
Sabbath had been looked upon as q tire
some, dull day, by the fashionable peo-
pl. of Berkton,. it was now thought to
be almost equal to any of the other six
days. To the old inhabitants of the
town the sermon on Sunday was great
treat
If the Rev. Mr.. Raymond was not
very much in earnest he succeeded in
giving the impression that he was; and
the result was an increased religious in
terest among all classes. Persons that
had never or seldom been to church be-
came regular attendants. The church
became uncomfortably full, and there
was some talk of a new building.
Church matters had now come to the
front in Berkton.
And yet, though as preacher Mr..
Raymond was all that could be desired,
there was some dissatisfaction at the
stand he had taken in regard to a GER
tain matter. When he accepted the
call to settle in Berkton, he stated that
his circumstances were such as to make
it impossible for him to call upon his
parishloners or receive callers at his
home. Dissatisfaction at this existed
among both the old inhabitants of the
place and the sojourners from the city.
1t seemed a strange thing to the former
that the minister should not visit them,
and to the latter that he forbade them
visiting him. Curiosity sprang up as
to the cause of such remarkable state
of things. And that curiosity was not
lessened by the fact that, instead of
occupying the parsonage small house
near the church-the new minister had
rented large mansion that was built
by a once wealthy gentleman who, by
the reverses of fortune, was at present
unable to keep it up himself. 1t would
seem as though a person who was able
to live in such place might bear the bur-
den of entertaining at least those of his
parish who telt disposed to call upon
him. No one, however, attributed the
course of the pastor to an unwillingness
to bear the expense of entertaining, for
though he did ask for salary all he
could get, it was known that he gave
for the benefit of the church and in ways
of charity as much as lie received for
his services. 1t was out of the question
also to accuse him of pride, for although
always dignified he was always humble.
Diffidence had nothing to do with the
stand he had taken. He was self-pos-
sessed and agreeable, and yet grave.
He isolated himself to the extent men
toned, and neither gave nor showed