Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-06-20
(From the Congregationallst.]
THE DEACON'S WEEK

he did not give it out ne laid his book
down Oh the table, and looked about 90
his church.
He was man If simplicity and sim
cerity, fully in earnest to do his Lords
work, and do It with all his might, but
he did sometimes feel discouraged. His
congregation was a mixture Of farmers
and mechanics, for Sugar Hollow was
cut in two by Sugar Brook, a brawljng,
noisy stream that turned the wheel CT
many mill and manufactory; yet on the
hills around it there was still a scattered
population eating their bread ia the full
perception Of the primeval curse. So he
had to contend WI; h the keen brain and
skeptical c1mment of the men who
piqued themselves on power to hammer
at theological problems, as we'll as hot
iron, with the jealousy and repul
sion and bitter feeling that has bred the
communistic horce s abroad and at home:
while perhaps he had still a 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 dull 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 ard
follow His footsteps. To day-Do-a
long time before to-daJ-be had unused
and prayed till an idea toe shape in his
thought, and now he has put it in prac-
tice; yet he felt peculiarly responsible
and solemnized, as he looked about him
and foreboded the success of his exp RI
ment. Then there flashed across him,
as words of scripture will come back to
the habitual Bible reader, the noble ut
terances of Gamaliel concerning Peter
and his brethren when they stood before
the council: "lf this counsel or this
work be of men, it will come to nought;
but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow
it."
So, with sense of strength, the min:
lister spoke: my dear friends. he said,
'.you all know, though Ibid not give any
notice to that effect, that this week is the
Week of Prayer. I have a mind to ask
you to make il for this once, week of
practice instead. think We may dis
cover some things; some of the things
of God, in this manner, that succession
of prayer meetings would not, perhaps,
SO thoroughly reveal to rs. Now when
I say this, I don't mean to have you 20
home and vaguely endeavor to walk
straight in the old way; want you to
take TOPICS as they are called for the
prayer meetings. For instance, Monday
is prayer for the temperance work. Try
all that day to he temperate in speech,
in act, in indulgence Of any kidd that is
hurtful to you. The next day is for
Sunday schools; go and visit your schol-
a1s, such of you as are teachers, and
try to feel that they have living souls to
save. Wednesday is day for fellow
ship meeting: we are cordially invited to
attend meeting of this sort at Bantam.
Few Of us eau go twenty-five miles TO be
with our brethren there; let US spend
that day in cultivating our brethren here ;
let us go and see those that have been
cold to us for some reason, heal up our
breaches of friendship, confess our short
comings ono to another, and acS as if in
our Masters words, AL ye are breth
rem
Thursday is the. day to pray for tine
family relation; let us each try to be
to our families on that day, in our
measure, what the Lord is to His fam
lily, the church, remembering the words,
Fathers, provoke rot your children to
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
are more apt to speak of the obedience
due from children, and the meekness our
wives owe us, forgetting that dnties are
always reciprocal.
''Friday, the church is to be. prayed
for. Let US then, each for himself, try
to act that day just 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 taken upon us His name
lightly or in vain. Saturday is prayer day
for the heather and foreign missions.
Brethren, you know and 1 krow tbat
there are heather at our doors here let
one of you who will, take that day to
preach the gospel to some one who does
not hear it anywhere else. Perhaps you
will find work that We know not of lying
in your midst. And let us all on Satur-
day evening meet here again and choose
some one brother to relate his expert
ence of the week. You who are willing
to try this method, please to rise."
Every body rose except old Amos
Tucker, who never stirred, though his
wife pulled at him, and whispered to
him imploringly. He only shook his
grizzled head, and sat immovable.
Let us sing the doxology," said Mr..
Parkes, and it was sung with full fe1vor.
The new idea had reused the church
fully; it was something fixed and posi-
tive to do; it was the lever-point Ar
chimedes longed for, and each one felt
ready and strong enough to move the
world.
Saturday night the church assembled
again. The cheerful eagerness was gone
from their faces; they looked downcast,
troubled, weary-as the pastor expect
ed. When the box for ballots was pass
ed about, each one tore bit of paper
from sheet placed in the hymn books
for the purpose, and wrote on it name.
The pastor said, after he had counted
them: "Deacon Emmons. the lot has
fallen on YOU" 1870.
"l'm sorry FORT" said the deacon
rising and taking off his overcoat. IL
ha,nt got the best of records, MIR Parkee,
now I tell ye."
&c That isn't what we want" said Mr..
Parkes. I'VE want to know the Whole
experience Of some one among us, and
We know You will not tell us either more
or less than what you did experience"
Deacon Emmons was short, thick.set
man, with q shrewd, kindly face, and
gray hair, who kept the village store,
and had well-earned reputation Tor
honesty. Ia, ''.zss55.aaaa Sz=sss
"Well, brethren" he eaid, ST dono
why shouldn't tell it l, am pretty
we'll ashamed of myself, no doubt, but I
ought to be, and maybe shall profit by
what I've found ont these six days back.
III tell You just as it come. Monday I
looked about me to begin with. an
amazing fond Of coffee, and it amt good