Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1889-08-09

II / should Qle before | wake,
pray the Lord my soul to take.
THE DEAC0N'S WEEK.
The communion service of January Was
just over in the church at Sugar Hollow,
and people were waiting for Mr.. Parkes to
give out the hymn; but he did not give it
out-he laid his book down on the table
and looked about On his church.
lie was man of simplicity and sincerity
fully in earnest to do his Lords work, and
do it with all his might; but he did some
times feel discouraged His congregation
was a mixture of farmers and mechanics,
for Sugar Hollow was cut in two by Sugar
Brooll-a brawling, noisy stream that turn
ed he wheel of many mill and manufac-
tory; yet on the hills around it there was
still scattered population, eating their
bread in the full perception of the primeval
curse. So he had to contend. with the keen
brain and skeptical comment Of the men
who piqued themselves on power to ham
mer at theological problems as well as hot
iron. with the jealousy and repulsion and
bitter feeling that has bred the com
munistic hordes abroad and at home: while
perhaps he had a still harder task to
awaken the sluggish souls of those who
used their days to struggle with barren
hill side 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 and follow his
footsteps. Today-no-a long time before
today-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 pc
culiarly responsible and solemnized as he
looked about him and foreboded the sue
cess of his experiment. Then there flash
ed across him, as words of Scripture will
come back to the habitual Bible reader,
Peter and his brethren when they stood be
fore the council: '1f this council or this
work be of men it will come to naught;
but if it be of God he cannot overthrow il"
So with sense of strength the minister
spoke.
my dear friends" he said, "you all
know, though / did not give any notice to
that effect, that this week is the Week Of
Prayer. | have a mind to ask you to make
it for this once week of practice instead.
| think we may discover some things, some
of the things of God, in this manner that a
succession of prayer meetings would not
perhaps so thoroughly reveal to US. Now
when | say this don't mean to have you
go home and vaguely endeavor to walk
straight in the old way; | want you to take
topics as they are called, for prayer
meetings. For instance, Monday is prayer
for the temperance work. Try all that
day to be temperate in speech, i'll act, in
indulgence of any kind that is hurtful to
you. The next day is for Sunday Schools;
y
are teachers, and try to feel that they have
liviD" souls to save. Wednesday is day for
fellowship meeting; we are cordially in
vited to attend a union meeting of this
five miles to be with our brethren there;
let us go and see those who have been cold
to us for some reason, heal up our breaches
of friendship, confess our shortcomings one
to another, and act as it, in our Masters
words, 'all ye are brethren.
Thursday is the day to pray for the
family relation let US each try TO le to
our families Of that day in our measure
what the Lord is to His family, the church,
remembering the words, Fathers, provoke
not your children to anger; Husbands, love
your wives, and be not bitter against
them These are texts rarely commented
upon, | have noticed, in our conference
meetings; we are more apt to speak of the
obedience due from children, and the sub
mission and meekness our wives owe us,
forgetting that duties are always reciprocal.
Friday the church is to be prayed for.
Let us then, each by 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
wor'l about us that we have not taken
upon us His name lightly or in vain.
Saturday is prayer day for the heathen and
and foreign missions. Brethren. you know
and know, that there are heather at our
doors here; let every one of you who will
take that day to preach the Gospel to some
one who does not hear 1t anywhere else.
Perhaps you will find work that ye knew
not Of lying in your midst. And let us
all. on Saturday evening, meet here again,
and choose some one brother to relate his
experience of the week. You who are will
ing to try this method please rise"
Everybody rose, except old Amos Tuck
er, who never stirred, though his wife pull
ed at him and whispered to him imploring-
ly. He only shook his grizzled head and
sat immovable.
LET us sing the doxology," said Mr..
Parkes; and it was sung with full fergor
The new idea had reused the church fully;
it was something fixed and positive to do;
it was the lever-point Archimedes longed
for, and each felt ready and strong to move
a world.
Saturday night the church assembled
again. The cheerful eagerness was gone
from their faces; they looked downcast
troubled, weary, ballots were passed about;
each one tore bit of paper from the sheet
placed in the hymn books for that purpose,
and wrote on il a name. The pastor said,
after he had counted them:
deacon Emmons, the lot has fallen on
you"