The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-03-02
POETICAL,.
NJ SECT IN HEAVEN.

Talking OF sects TIL late one eve,
OF the various doctrines the saints believe,
That night stood In troubled dream,
BY the side OF a darkly flowing stream.
And "Churchman" down to the river came;
When heard strange voice call his name,
"Good father, stop; when you cross this tide,
You must leave your robes on the other side"
But the aged father did not mind,
And his long gown foated out behind,
As down to the stream his way he took,
His pale hands clasplng gilt-edged book
"Im bound for heaven, and when I'm there,
! shall want my book OF Common Prayer:
And though | put on a starry crown,
should feel quite lost without my gown"
Then he fixed his eye on the shining track,
But his gown was heavy and held him back,
And the poor old father tried in vain,
A single step In the flood to gain.
saw him again on the other side,
But his silk gown foated on the tide:
And no one asked in that blissfu spot,
Whether he belonged to "the Church" or not.
Then down to the river a quaker strayd,
His dress OF sober hue was made
''My coat and hat must be all Of gray,
cannot go any other way"
Then he buttoned his coat straight up to his chin
And staidly, solemnly, waded in;
And his broad brimm'd hat he pulld down tight
over his forehead, so cold and white.
But strong wind carried away his hat;
A moment he silently slghd over that
And then as he gazed to the farther shore,
the coat slippd off and was seen no more.
AS he enterd heaven, his suit of gray
Went quietly ng-away-away,
And none of the angels questlon'd him,
| About the width of his beavers brim.
Next came DIR. watts with bundle OF Psalms
| Tied nicely up in his aged arms,
| And Hymns as many, a very wise thing,
That the people in heaven, "all round, might sing
| But thought that he heaved an anxious sigh,
| AS he saw that the river ran broad and high,
| And loook'd rather surprised as one by one,
| The Psalms and Hymns in the waves went down.
And after him, with his MSS,
Came weeley, the pattern OF godllness;
But he CRIED 'Dear me, what shall do?
| The water has soak'd them through and through
And there on the river, far and wide,
Away they went down the swollen tide;
And the saint astonlsh'd passed through .alone,
| NlluOuJ Ills up W Iuc lHlOuc.
Then gravely walking, two saints by name,
| Down to the stream together they came,
But as they stopp'd at the rivers brink,
| ! saw one saint from the other shrink.
"Sprinkled or plunged may ask you friend,
| How you attained to lifes great end?"
"Thus, with few drops on my brow"
"But have been dipped, as you'll see me now"
"And really think it will hardly do,
As Pm close communion to cross with you,
You're bound, know, TO the realms OF bliss,
| But you must go that way, and I'll go this"
And straightway plunging with all his might
| Away to the left-his friend at the right,
Apart they went from this world OF SIM
But at last together they entered In.
And now when the river was rolling on,
| A Presbyterian church went down;
OF women there Seemd a wOndrous throng
But the men could count as they passd along.
And concerning the road they never could agree,
The old or the new way, which 1t should be;
Nor ever moment paused to think
That both would lead to the rivers brink.
And a sound of murmuring long and loud,
Came ever up from the moving crowd:
You're in the old way, and I'm in the new,
That is the false, and this is the true,"-
Or, "Im In the old way, and you're In the new,
That is the false and this Is the true"
But the brethren only seemed to speak,
Modest the sisters wal1d, and meek;
And never one OF them chanced TO say,
What troubles she met with on the way,
How she longd TO pass to the other side,
| Nor feard to cross over the swelling tide
| A voice arose from the brethren then:
"Let no one speak but the holy men,
| For have ye not heard the words Of Paul,
ooh, let the women keep silence all !"
watched them long In my curious dream,
TIL they stood by the borders of the stream,
Then, just as l thought, the two ways met,
But all the brethren were talking yet,
And would talk on till the heavlng tide
Carried them over, side by side;
Side by side, for the way was one,
The tollsome journey OF life was done,
And Priest and Quaker, and all who died.
Came out alike on the other side
No forms or crosses, or books had they,
No gowns OF silk, or suits OF gray;
No creeds to guide them, or MSS,
For all had put on Christ's righteousness