The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-06-20
The DeacOn's Week.

The communion service of January was
lust over in the church at Sugar Hollow,
and people were waiting for Mr.. Parkes
TO give out The hymn, but he did not give
il out he laid his book down on the ia
BILE, and looked about on his church.
He was man of simplicity and SINGER
ity. fully in earnest to do his Lords work
and do it with all his might, but he did
sometimes feel discouraged. His congre-
cation was a mixture of farmers and me-
chanics, for Sugar Hollow was cut in two
by Sugar Brook, brawling, noisy stream
that turned the wheel of many mill
and mandatory, yet on the hills around
it there was still a scattered population,
eating their bread in the full perception
of the primeval curse. So he had to con-
tend with the keen brain and skeptical
comment of the men who piqued them
selves on power to hammer on theological
problems as we'll as hot iron, with the
jealousy and repulsion and bitter feeling
that has bred the communistic hordes
abroad and at home; while perhaps he
had still harder task to awaken the
sluggish souls of those who used their
days to struggle with barren hillside and
rocky pasture for mere food and clothing,
and their nights to sleep the full sleep of
physical fatigue and mental vacuity.
1t seemed sometimes to Mr. Parkes that
nothing but the trump of Gabriel could
arouse his people from their sins and
make them believe on the Lord and fol-
low his footsteps. To-day-no-a long
time before to-day, he had unused and
prayed till an idea took shape in his
thought, and now he was to put it in
practice; yet he felt peculiarly respon-
sible and solemnized as he looked about
him and foreboded the success of his ex-
pertinent. Then there flashed across him,
as words of Scripture will come back to
the habitual Bible reader, the noble ut
terance of Ganaliel concerning Peter and
his brethren when they stood before the
council " If this counsel or this work be
of men, it will come to nought; but II 1t
be of God, We cannot overthrow it,"
Sc with a sense of strength, the minis
ter spoke: "My dear friends" he said,
"you all know, though l did not give
1 any notice to that effect, that this week
is the week of prayer. have mind
to ask you to make it for this once
a week of practice instead. think we
may discover some things, some of
the things of God, in this manner that
succession of prayer-meetings would
not perhaps so thoroughly reveal to us.
Now, when l say this, | don't mean
to have you go home and vaguely en-
deavor to walk straight in the old way
want you to take TOPICS as they are
called, for the prayer-meetings For in.
stance, Monday is prayer for the temper
ance work. Try all that day to be tenn
perate in speech, in act, in indulgence OF
any kind that is hurtful to you. The
next day is for Sunday-schools 60 and
visit your scholars, such of you as are
teachers, and try to feel that they have
living souls to save. Wednesday is a day
for fellowship meeting we are cordially
invited to attend union meeting of this
sort at Bantam. Few of US can go twenty.
five miles to be with our brethren there
let us spend that day in cultivating our
brethren here let us 60 and see those
who have been cold to us for some reason,
heal up our breaches of friendship, con-
TESS our shortcomings one to another, and
act as if, in our Masters words, all ye
are brethren
"Thursday is the day to pray for the
family relations let us each try to be tc
our families on that day, in our measure
what the Lord is to his family, the church
remembering the words, Fathers, pro
woke not your children to anger 'Hus
bands, love your wives, and be not bitter
against them. These are texts rarely
commented upon, have noticed, in oul
conference meetings; we are more apt tc
speak of the obedience due from children
and the submission and meekness oul
wives owe us, forgetting that duties are
ALWAYS reciprocal.
"Friday the church is to be prayed for
Let us then each for himself try to &C,
that day as we think Christ, our great
Exemplar, would have acted in our places
Let us try to prove to ourselves and the
world about US that we have not taker
upon us his name lightly in vain. Satur
day is prayer day for the heather and for
eign missions. Brethren, you know ant
l know that there are heather at GU
doors here; let every one of you who will
take that day to preach the gospel to SOM
one who does not hear it anywhere else
Perhaps you will find work that you know
not of, lying in your midst. Aud let US al
on Saturday evening meet here again an'
choose some one brother to relate his ex
perience of the week. You who are will
4 ing to try this method, please to RISE"
Everybody rose except old Amo
Tucker, who never stirred, though hi
wife pulled at him and whispered to him
imploringly. He only shook his grizzle'
head and sat immovable.
Let us sing the doxology," said Mr.
Parkes, and it was sung with full fervoi
The new idea had reused the church fully
it was something fixed aud positive t
do; it was the lever-point Archimede
longed for, and each felt ready and stronI
to move a world.
Saturday night the church assemblies
again. The cheerful eagerness was gon
from their faces; they looked downcas,
troubled, weary--as the pastor expected
When the box for ballots was passe
about, each one tore bit of paper iron
the sheet placed in the hymn books 70
the purpose, and wrote on it name. TIL
pastor said after he had counted them
"Deacon Emmons, the lot has fallen o.
you"
"Pm sorry fort" said the deacon, ris
ing nm and taking off hia ovarcoat