Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-01-10
THE DEACON'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.
He 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
BroOk-a brawling, noisy stream that
turned the wheel of many mill and man
ufactory; yet on the hills around it there
was still a 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 10 hammer at theological problems
as well as hot iron, with the jealousy and
repulsion and bitter feeling that has bred
the communistic hordes abroad and at
home; while perhaps he had still harder
task to awaken the sluggish souls of those
who used their days to struggle with bar
ren hill side and rocky pasture for mere
food and clothing, and their nights to sleep
the dull sleep of physical fatigue and men
tai 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 mused and prayed till an
idea took shape in his thought, and now he
was to put it in practice; yet he felt pecu-
liarly responsible and solemnized as lie
looked about him and forboded the success
of his experiment. Then there flashed
across him, as words of Scripture will come
back to the habitual Bible reader, the noble
utterance of Gamaliel concerning Peter
and his brethren when they stood before
the council: IF this council or this work
be of men it will come to naught: but if it
be of God he cannot overthrow it, Sc
with a 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 mind to ask you to make
it for this once a week of practice instead.
think we may discover some things, some
of the things of God, in this manner that q
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, in act, in
indulgence of any kind that is hurtful Il
you. The next day is for Sunday Schools
go and visit you scholars, such of you a,
are teachers and try to feel that they have
living souls to save. Wednesday is day
for fellowship meeting; we are cordially
invited to attend union meeting of thi,
sort at Bantam. Few of us can go twenty
Ave miles to be with our brethren there
let us go and see those who have been colo
to us for some reason, heal up our breaches
of friendship, confess our shortcomings on,
to another, and act as it, in our Master
words, all ye are brethren
Thursday is the day to pray for tn,
family relation; let us each try to be TO Oul
families of that day in our measure wha
the Lord is to His family, the church, re
membering the words, Fathers, provoke
not your children TO anger; Husbands, low,
your wives and be not bitter against them,
These are texts rarely commented upon,
have noticed in our conference meetings
| VIC uAN hAblN uFN " oBNhh " Nho bbNhAChA'
due from children, and the submission ant
meekness our wives owe US, forgetting tina
duties are always reciprocal.
Friday the church is to be prayed for
Let us then, each by himself try to ac
that day Just as we think Christ, our grea
exemplar, would have acted in our places
| Let us try TO prove to ourselves and tn,
world about us that we have not takeI
upon us His name lightly or in vain. Sat
urday is prayer day for the heathen and
| foreign missions Brethren, you know anC
| | know, that there are heather at ou
doors here; let every one of you who vii
take that day TO preach the Gospel to som,
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 al
on Saturday evening meet here again, an,
choose some one brother to relate his expe
rience of the week. You who are willinl
to try this method please rise. "
Everybody rose, except old Amos Tucker
who never stirred, though his wife pule,
at him and whispered TO him imploringly
He only shook his grizzled head and sa
| immOvable.
Let us sing the doxology," said Mr.
Parkes; and it was sung with full fervor
The new idea had reused the church fully
it was something fixed and positive to dc
it was the lever point Archimedes longe
for, and each felt ready and strong T.
move a world,
Saturday night the church assemble'
again. The cheerful eagerness was gon
from their faces; they looked downcast
troubled weary; ballots were passed about
each one tore a bit of paper from the shee
placed in the hymn books for that purpose
and wrote on it name. The pastor said
after he had counted them:
Deacon Emmons, the lot has fallen o
you
"I'm sorry fort, said the deacon. risin
up and taking off his overcoat. II hahn
got the best of record, Mr.. Parkes, now
tell ye.
THAT isn't what we want" said MI
Parkes. "We want TO know the whole ca
perience Of some among US, and we kno'