The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-08-15
THE DEACON'S WEEK.
BY ROSE TERRY COOKE.

The communion service of January was
just over IN the church at Sugar Hollo ,snd
people were waiting for NJ Pa5kes to give
out the hymn, bus he did no. give it out;
he isid mis- book down on the table, and
looked about on bis church.
He wss a man Of simplicity aud sincerity,
fully in earnest to do his Lords work and
do It with all his might, but ne did some-
times feel discouraged. His congregation
Wss a mixture OF farmers sad machanics. for
Sugar Hollow was cus into by S1zar Book.
= brswling, noisy stream tina. iurnel the
wheel o. many mill and msnufse .ory, vet
on tie hills around it there was still scat
tered population eating their bread in the
tull perception OF the primsval curse. So
ne had 20 contend with the keen brsin aud
skepticsl comment OF the men who oiuuei
Themselves on power 10 hammer 81 theolog-
zeal problems as well as hot iron, with the
Jealousy and repulsiou and bitter feeling that
has bred the commuRistic hordes abroad and
at home; while perhaps he had still harder
task 10 awaken the sluggish souls Of those
who used their days 20 struggle With barren
hillside and rocky pasture for mers fo)i
clothing and their nights % sleep the doll
sleep OF physical fatigue and mental vacuity
1t seemed sometimes 20 liz. Parkes that
nothing but the trump Of Gabriel could
arouse his people from their sins and make
them believe on the Lord and follow in His
footsteps To-dRy-nO-R long time bsf)rs
to-day he had unused and PRAYED till An idaa
took shspe Ia bis tloucht, aod now ne Wa
to put Il INTO practice; vet he felt peculiarly
responsible ard solemnizsd as he looked
about him and forebOded the successes Of MS
experiment. Then there flashed across him.
as words Ct Scripture VIII come back 70 the
haoitUal Bible reader, tie nObls uttersncs of
GamslIel onceIDing Peter shd his b.ashren
when they stood before the council: "If this
council or this work be OF men, it will coma
70 LoUght; but if it be Of Gcd ye can no.
overthrow it."
So with q sense OF strength the minister
spoke: My dear friends he Eaid, "you all
know, though 1 did no: give any notice to
that effect, that this week IL the Weak Of
Frsyer- 1 have mind TO ask you 10 make
1t Tor this once week Of practice instead.
tnlnk we msy discover some things, some
OF the things Of God, in this manner TIA. a
SUCCESSION OF prayer meetings would not per-
hsps 10 thoroughly reveal to us. Nov when
say TINS don't mean 20 have you 90 home
and vaguely endeGyor to walk straight in the
old way 1 want you to take topics, az thew
are called, for the prayer meetings. For in
stsnee, Monday Is prayer for the temperance
work. Try all that day 10 be temperate in
Speech IN act, IN indulgence of any kind that
IL hurtlui TO you. The next day is for Sun
dsy-scbColsi 60 aud visit yourscholars. such
OF you as are teachers, and try 20 feel that
they have living souls to save. Wednesday
is day fer fellowship meeting; we are cor
daily invited to attend a union meeting of
this sort at BAntsm. Few Of us can 90
twenty-five miles to be with our brethren
tnerei let Us go and see those who have been
cold to rs for some reason, heal up our
breeehes Of friendship, confess our short
ccmlngs enc to another, and acs ss if in our
Masters words, 'all ye are brethren"
Thursday is the day to pray for the fani-
~ relation; let US each try TO be to our fsni-
lies en- that day in our measure what the
Lord lie TO His family, the Church. remem.
berlDg the words, Fathers, provoke not your
children 10 anger Husbands, love your
wives, and be not bitter against them These
are texts rarely commented upon. I have
noticed, IN our conference meetings; we ara
more spt 70 speak of the obedience due from
children, and the submission and msekpess
our wives owe us, forgetting that duties are
always reciprocal
Friday the Church is 20 be paid for. Lst
us then each for himself try to act tina. dav
just IS We think Christ, our grest Exemplar.
would nave acIed IN our places. L9t us try
to prove 10 ourselves aud the world about us
that We have not taken upon US His name
lightly or in vain. Saturday is PRAYER day
for the Heather and foreign missions.
Brethren, you know and l know that there
are hesthens at our doors here; let every one
of you who will, take that day 10 preach the
gospel 70 some one who does not hear it any
where else. Perhaps you will find work that
ye knew not OF lying in your midst. And
let "a sn on Saturday evening meet here
again and choose some one brother to relate
his experience Of the week. You who are
willing to try this method, please to rise."
Everybody rose except old Amos Tucker,
who never stirred, though his wife pulled at
him and whispered to him imploringly.
de only check his grizzled bead aud sat i'm
movable.
LET Is sing the doxology." said Mr..