The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-09-17
Religions sMisrsllanw.
The Weed In the Wheat.

| town OF Je tferSon as that OF John Thomas |
Galley, LII. ID. He was buried with all
the honors which Christian people could |
show to one of the most eminent laymen |
in the sect to which he belonged. The |
clergymen of every Protestant denomina-
ton went to the funeral in a body, char
liable organizations throughout the state
sent resolutions of sympathy, learned and |
scientific bodies in this country and in
Europe noted his death as a loss to hu.
manity.
"There is no REFORM" said DR.. Finlay,
when he preached his funeral sermon, " in
which this sincere and Jealous man had
not been leader, whether 1t was in
church government, in sanitation, in in
temperance, or in the management of pau
pers, criminals, or the wronged red man.
All the weak and helpless children of God
have lost friend to-day who will not soon
be replaced"
distinction who had come to the funeral.
They crowded the aisles of the Second
church to hear the sermon. Doctor Fin
lay preached with fervor. There was
something elevating in the mere recital of
such great services to the cause OF reli-
gion and, besides, the young clergyman
| "
consciousness that all these dazzling vir-
tues had belonged to one of his own flock.
1t was gray, murky day, and, as he
led the procession to the grave, he re-
buked himself sharply that his feeling
was not also depressed. In his secret soul,
while he was pronouncing the eulogy on
his chief helper, he had remembered the
countless little traits " hich had made him
- kha If
De mortuis, he reminded himself again
and again. What would have become
of prison reform, of the temperance
them MI nisi bonum, he whispered,
even as he leaned over the grave.
Yet in spite of his horror at his own
thoughts, there could be no doubt that he
heard the harsh thud of the earth on that
coffin with sigh of relief. He fanoied
that the pall-bearers Gall leading members
in the church, walked out of the grave
yard with lighter steps, as if some heavy
yoke had been loosened from their neck S.
One of them, Mr.. Mansil, who had been
also the legal adviser of DIR. Galley, joined
the clergyman on his way home. They
- both walked with measured pace and
downcast faces, as if controlled by the
gloom within them.
| al can tell you, confidentislly, doctor,
! said the lawyer, in a low voice, " that the
church will lose nothing, pecuniarily, by
this death. drew up our friends will
you know. His yearly contributions viii
remain the same"
DR.. Finlay's heart gave sudden tbump
One-third of his salary had been paid By
this wealthy member and, really, to los,
| co youoh ;uet pouu with tho houu of colla0
and the girls to educate"
"No. The church." continued tn
lawyer in a carefully composed voice
"will only lose his personal presence ant
counsel"
There was profound silence. Neithe
man looked at the other. AS they passe,
3 the church which old Fowler, the sexton
n' was closing, they both paused involuntar
rs lily. There was nobody now to forbid th
ne alterations which they both had bee
Of urging for two years. A square tower O
gray stone-now? The tower was i
:. both their minds, but they did not say
Y word.
i Fowler locked the gate and locke
back, shutting one eye, meditatively.
Fittings is likely to be tore up thi
spring, considerable, reckon? The COZ
gregation was all set on building ez
cept"-
that, Fowler" said Mr.. Mansill, sharpl,
!, "That's true. In the midst of life "
l., are in DEATH" the sexton replied with
groan, which he felt to be proper to tn
occasion. But the old man went home
his dinner with good appetite indeed
he bought some tarts on the way maxim
30 60
folks. The death of such great man was
.. sort of holy day, and, besides, there woul
be nobody now.to nag and bully him, pc
the sweeping and the coal bills. "a ma
A'A "don't like to be watched as if he'd be
Ma thief soons he was left Alone"
II CDR. Galley was very kind, Joshus
! he paid the rent the winter you had lur
bago," she ventured.
"Yes, and all the congregation knowe
of it !" 'l'n pay your rent, my goo
man 7 he says right out loud in the bus
ness meetin'. Il pay DR.. Finlay's, al
it's the same landlord; and, by the wa!
he says to the minister, go down to n
tailor to-day, Finlay, and be measured f
a new suit at my expense | pitied Il
minister; but that was MS way.
thought every man poorer than himse
was beggar that he could throw
penny to-"
Hush-h He's dead, Joshua"
Joshua was silent, and devoted himss
to his tsrts, but with sense of comic
new to him.
To tell the truth, DR.. Finlsy felt som
thing of the same novel sense of freedo
as he sat down to his larger board.
Three or four of the visiting clerl
dined with him that day. DR.. Gall
had always made it rule to be prese
when the clergyman had guests, and hi
led the conversation, bringing in some
- his ponderous, infexible ideas of Il
IN tional reform, as man might produce
in elephant in a barn-ysrd. They occupi
IVA all the space there was, putting to fig
all the domestic little parochial plans
hobbies of the others. He was dominet
ing, irritable and intolerant astride of b
>. great hobby. How could DR.. Finlay,
young and unknown man, oppose Il
gray reformer whose praise was in
the churches On such occasions, tc
Nos DIR. Galley had been in the habit of orde
ing from the caterers course of gan