The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-08-29
Selerteo Storp.
The Elders Sermon.


man, whose features were almost as
sharp as the sharp, black eyes fixed so
intently upon him.
81 don't know, Brother Quimby, as
a candid opinion of our minister would
do him any good"
81 dare say not" responded Mr..
Qumby, darkly; " but then it would do
me a great deal of good to hear it."
@ ! don't know as to that, either"
There's no one in the church whose
opinion l think more off, continued
Mr. Quimby. "Not that | approve of
giving it to every one. But you needn't
be afraid of saying just what you think
to me, deacon, for it won't 90 any
further and it might serve to clear up
some doubts that trouble me-"
What doubts ?'
Well, about various things. But
you haven't told me what your opinion
is, deacon"
l have only one opinion of Elder
Wakeman and that is that he is man
who tries to do his duty in all the rela-
tions of life"
This was evidently something that
Mr.. Quimby neither expected nor de-
sired to hear and he stared blankly at
the speaker But, quickly recovering
himself, he said:
Ha! / think | understand you,
deacon. What you say is very well
put indeed. l have thought that he
might be little more willing to take
advice; but there is no question in my
mind but that he tries to do his duty,
as you say. But is he sound ?''
Perhaps not. Some ministers are
all soundn
The merry twinkle in the good dea-
cons eyes found no reflection in the
solemn visage opposite him.
It's no laughing matter, Deacon"
responded Mr.. Quimby, with a rebuk-
ing shake of the head. 81 am sur
prsed that you should speak on so Sc
rious subject with such unseeming
levity. / referred to being sound in
doctrine. | have been a good deal ex-
ercised in my mind in regard to this
ever since heard his sermon on Jus
tification,' which is no justification at
all, as / understand it, and as good old
DIR. Seaver used to lay it down. Dear
old mani | wonder what he would say
if he could come back and hear the
new-fangled ideas that are taught from
the pulpit where he preached such
good, old-fashioned doctrines nigh on
to twenty years."
If he is where | think he is he
doesn't want to come back. / only
hope that some things he used to preach
about are clearer to him now than he
succeeded in making them to me-"
There is no merit in believing
where everything is made clear. There
are mysteries of faith, deacon, that no.
body has any right to try to understand.
Now Elder Wakeman is forever preach
ing about what we ought to do, as
though such poor, weak creatures as
we can do anything toward effecting
our salvation. AS for me, am free to
own that l don't consider anything /
have done or am doing of the least &C
count whatever"
8" A man ought to know better than
any one else the quality of his own
works, Brother Quimby, so l won't
dispute you on that score. So far as
am concerned | feel that the Lord will
have quite enough to do in effecting
the work you allude to if l help him all
/ can"
Well, deacon, wish 1 could have
my mind cleared up in regard to Elder
Wakeman. What did you think of his
sermon last Sabbath morning."
There is one thing l might say
about it, if thought it prudent thing
to do. We can't be too careful speak
ing, especially if it's anything that's
likely to affect the character and USE
fulness of a man like Elder Wakeman."
Very true, deacon. But you
needn't be afraid of my telling; I'm
not one of the leaky sort. l knew as
well as | wanted to that a man of your
sense couldn't approve of such doc
trine as that"
ooh, I've nothing to say against the
sermon; it was very good discourse
you won't often find better. But the
fact is, every word it contained-I
really don't know that l ought to men
ton it, though; if it should get about
it might make trouble
"l'll never lisp syllable of it to any
living SOUL" was the eager response.
" Well"-here the Deacon lowered
his voice to an impressive whisper" 1
have a book at home which has every
word of it in."
Here the train for which Deacon
Brown was waiting came rushing up to
the depot.
Is it possible?" calculated Mr..
Quimby, with uplifted eyes and hands.
But you haven't told me -
Deacon Brown was already up the
steps, smiling and waving his adieu
from the platform of the rear car,
which rapidly disappeared around the
curve in the road.
He was absent nearly week. When
he returned he found not only the
church but the whole village in state
of excitement and commotion.
He had not been home more than an
hour when Elder Wakeman called Oh
him, and in the course of the day he
was waited upon by two deacons and
several church members, to say nothing
of being interviewed by various of his
acquaintance and neighbors, all OF
whom were anxious to ascertain il
there was any truth in the rumol
of the grave charge made against his
pastor.
Deacon Brown, though somewhat
startled at first by result so little an