The Press., 1883-04-26
DEACON LEES OPINION.

upon Dy TeSueSs, amDlC1OuS, worldly church member, who was laboring to cre- ate uneasiness in the church, and especial ly to drive away the preacher.
 The deacon came in to meet his visitor, who, after the usual greetings, began to lament the low state of religion, and in- quire as to the reasons why there had been no revival for two or three years past 1 "Now, what do you think is the cause of things being dull here? Do you know ?" he persisted in asking. .s M
 The deacon was not ready to give his opinion, and after little thought frankly answered
 "No, I don't" s.-
 ''Do you think the church is alive to the work before it?''
 "No, I don't.'
 s'Do you think the minister fully realizes the solemnity of his work ?''
 ssNo, I don't.'
 A twinkle was seen in the eye of this troubler in Zion, and taking courage, he asked: ...n eyes were holden, any thing wonderfully great?"
 "No, don't"
 Making bold, after all this encourage ment in monosyllables, he asked: ''Then, don't you think we had better dismiss this man and hire another?' The old deacon started as if shot with an arrow, and in tone louder than his wont, shouted:
 "No, don't.'' ....
 "Why," cried the amazed visitor, "you agree with me in all I have said, don't you?"
 "No, don't" .... ... ., T "You talk so little, sir,'' replied the guest, not little abashed, 'that no one can find out what do you mean"
 ''I talked enough once," replied the old man, rising to his feet, "for six praying christians. Thirty years ago got my heart humbled and my tongue bridled, and God. l then made VOWS solemn as etern- ity, and don't you tempt me to break them p
 The troubler was startled at the earnest ness of the hitherto silent, immovable man and asked
 "What happened to you thirty years ago?"
 'Well, sir, I'll tell you. I was drawn into scheme just like this of yours, to up root one of Gods servants from the field in which he had planted him. In my blind ness, I fancied it little thing to remove one of the stars which Jesus holds in his right hand, if thereby my ear could be tickled by more howery words, and the pews filled with those turned away from the simplicity of the gospel. and the } men that led me-for admit that was 8 dupe and tool-fattered ourselves thai we were conscientious. We thought we were doing Gods service when we drove that holy man from his pulpit and his work, and said we considered his work I Iol Sv, IT %1ar, yoI groaned because there was no revival while we were gossiping about, and criticis- } ing and crushing instead of upholding by our efforts and prayers, the instrument at whose hand we harshly demand the bless ings. Well, sir, he could not drag on the chariot of salvation with half dozen of us taunting him for his weakness, while we hung as a dead weight to the wheels he had not the power of the spirit and could not convert men, so we hunted him like a deer, till worn and bleeding, he fled into a covert to die. Scarcely had he gone, when God came among us by his spirit, to show that he had blessed the labors of his dear rejected servant. Our own hearts were broken and our wayward children convert ed, and resolved at convenient season to visit my former pastor and confess my sin, and thank him for his faithfulness to my | seed, had now sprung up. But God de- nied me that relief, that he might teach me 8 lesson every child of his ought to learn, that he who toucheth one of his servants touches the apple of his eye. I heard my pastor was ill, and taking my oldest son with me, set out on 8 25 miles ride to see him. It was evening when I arrived, and his wife, with the spirit which any woman ought to exhibit toward one who had so wronged her husband, denied me admit } tance to his chamber. She said, and her words were arrows to my soul, He may be dying, and the sight of your face might add to his anguish '
 'tHas it come to this, said to myself, that, the man whose labors had, through Christ, brought me into his fold, who had consoled my spirit in 2 terrible bereave ment, and who had, till designing men had alienated us, been to me as 8 brother-tha1 this man could not die in peace with my face before him ? God pity me ! cried : what have done? I confessed my sins , to that meek woman, and imploring her r for Christ's sake, to let me kneel before his dying servant, and receive his forgiveness What did care whether the pews by the door were rented or not? would gladly ], have taken his whole family to my home l forever, as my own flesh and blood, but nt !. such happiness was in store for me.
 "As entered the room of the blessed 2 warrior, whose armor was falling from hi limbs, he opened his languid eyes, ant s said, Brother Lee l. Brother Lee' I ben over him and sobbed out, My pastor m, pastorp Then raising his thin, whit ! hand, he said, in deep, impressive voice Touch not mine amounted, and do m, prophets no harm ]! spoke tenderly t him, and told him had come to comics my sin, and bring some of his fruit to him ,, calling my son to tell him how he Ina. found Christ But he was unconscious 0 \ all around; the sight of my face ha, brought the last pang of earth to hi # troubled spirit.
 .'I kissed his brow, and told him ho, dear he had been to me; I craved his pal
 don for my unfaithfulness, and promise
 to care for his little ones but his only rs ply, murmured as if in troubled drean