The Press., 1891-09-03
THE CHURCH IN 'oo.


 | 1870 to 1880, filled to-. the brim with all the schemes and methods of his time. He was now, in 1899, an energetic rector, whose principal thought, day and night, was for the parish and the church he served. By his side sat his curate, young man with puzzled and hunted expres- sion of countenance, and on the opposite side of the room another young man-the organist-sat before small harmenium, turning over heap of music. The three appeared to be discussing @ harvest thanksgiving for the following week:
 "We begin at the Lords prayer, of course" said the rector, "then Venite, one psalm-I think it had better be Psalm cxvii.-a lesson (and, Smith, shall only read two verses), the Te Deum, hymn, the Creed harmonized, an anthem, one collect. and a hymn. Will make note of it, Brown?
 "You will not introduce 8 sermon !? asked the curate.
 ..Better not, said the rector Don't you remember what fuss they made when you preached on Good Friday p 4$
 ''It was not more than five minutes" :" said the curate humbly.
 ''But," said the rector, "they said it was the thin end of the wedge, and that it took all the brightness out of the se1- vice; and you know it is of the last inn portance to get the young men to church. :"
 ''There was young man at church last Sunday" said the organist hope fully.
 "It was Gubbens, and he yawned, "said the curate.
 "Yawned" said the horror stricken rector, "that must not occur again. We must leave out the collect or something. What can we do to amuse him /? He must be amused. Brown, can yon suggest any thing?"
 II did stand on my head on the organ stool at the end of the lesson," said the organist, rather aggrieved; "but some of them didn't notice me, and some of them said they had seen it better done. I can't think of anything else at the moment"
 "You are always kind," said the rector warmly, land you know how difficult it is to keep up the interest. When I was curate, the banjo was one great means of obtaining influence in parish, but now, even the infant school refuses to listen to it."
 'Still a few men used to come occa- sionally," said the organist. Robinson, for instance"
 'I'm afraid Robinson isn't as steady as he was," said the rector. 'tHe is not as regular at billiards and the bi-weekly dances as he used to be-"
 The three young men looked at one an- other wearied and cast down.
 Fl spoke to him about it, said the curate, land he explained that billiards and dancing were too stale; but he would join balloon club if we started one.''
 "Yes," said the rector, ,''I wish we could; but balloons are so frightfully ex- pensive, and the duchess won't help, be- cause, she says, she had given G10O to the choir excursion to the West Indies, and she was perfectly certain they were not satisfied, because they heard Parkin- son took his choir to Khiva!"
 "It was the society for sending every body to Homburg for a fortnight that spoiled our choir treat," said the organ ist. Before the &. E. H. F. they were quite contented with Boulonge for day or two." ..-. e' .-. "And you must remember" said the curate, "that the duke was not encored when he sang comic song in character at the Half Hourly Amusement Club. '"
 "Well," interposed the .organist, Che of the Free Clothing Guild complains that the women will not wear dress which is not imported from Paris !''
 "And," continued the rector, "there was row at the 'Free-Board' to-day, be- cause you put clear turtle on the menu two days running D
 The curate hesitated.
 Suppose" said the curate, diffidently, five were to try little religion?"'