St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-10-08
MISCELLANY
AND SANCTIFICA-
TON DISTURB THE MEETING"

Editor of Herald
In conversation with a gentleman
lately, a local option man, he asked
me this question in a sarcastic way:
What do you women expect you
are going to do anyway? | replied,
] think YOU will be obliged to wait
and see what we shall do. | don't
know but we shall put Frances E.
Willard in the presidential chair, for
am sure she could fill that office as
honorably and acceptably to the best
class of citizens as the present in
cumbent has.
In reading some Of Gen. BOWS
writings the other day, | thought
how | wish that man was 81 years
of age, instead of 81, and hoped he
had sons following in his fathers
footsteps, for we sadly need men fear
less and bold in these present evil
times, bold to denounce evil whether
found in pulpit, pew or press. May
God permit him to live to see this
nation purified, this curse which now
blights this fair land Of ours removed
into the depths of the sea. There
never was, not even IN revolutionary
times, a greater need of men and
women too, who are willing and
dare do right, and leave the result
with God, than at the present time.
We need Daniels" we need Eli
iahs," we need "Stephens," we need
F'Deborahs," we need Joan of Arcs"
we need "Maids of Saragossa. Oh,
how much we need such, for we are
living in perilous times, times that
try not mems souls only, but every
power in their being.
1t is matter to rejoice over that
some of the pulpits are sounding an
alarm, but it may result in this fact,
(as a gentleman remarked to me,
when speaking of the bold preaching
lately given from some pulpits) they
will be called upon to take their de-
parture. Well, if it has come to this,
that a servant of God cannot preach
His word without such a result, let
that servant shake the dust off his
feet as a testimony against them.
God has place for him, and use him.
The old command was, Thou shalt
not muzzle the OK that treadeth out
the corn but how many put muz-
zle on their pastors, if forsooth he
hasn't one when he comes to them.
We are glad there are those who
never wore them. May the Lord
help them to keep them off.
There is great day of reckoning
coming. How many forget this 1t
is solemn thought that these pas
tors and their congrega tons must
meet face to face at the judg
ment AS these pastors stand each
Sunday between the living and the
dead, how dare they but preach the
whole counsel of God, whether man
shall hear or forbear, and how dare
the people even attempt to close the
mouths of their pastors on some of
these subjects of so vital Importance
If were a pastor, [ would prefer to
go to the far west" and preach
Jesus and Him cruci6ed to the miners
and taineers, than to be called
eloquent and learned, and be petted
and praised, but seemingly compelled
to preach to please my hearers,
while my conscience was accusing me,
and my God was not reconciled.
l heard recently of a Methodist
preacher in northern Maine with d
family of five, who was surviving on
a salary of less than three hundred
dollars per year. But, do you know,
l believe that minister enjoys that
peace of conscience that many city
pastor, who seeks not to please God,
such pastors read PauPS eXhOrta-
ton to Timothy, 2 Tim. 4: 1-5, and
also Jer 1929
A member of one of our city church
es said to me a little while since,
eve are requested by our pastor not
to mention the subjects of temper
ance or sanctifcation in our social
church meetings." I inquired why !?
The reply was, "He thinks it has a
tendency to deaden or kill the meet
ings." l thought, and think so still,
there is not much to kill, if those
subjects introduced will kill them.
Here we see the clergy putting the
muzzle upon the children of God, and
in so doing, taking upon themselves
a fearful responsibility. If after one
has offered the prayer, open Thou
my lips and my mouth shall show
forth Thy praise" and arises to
speak, what right has any pastor to
say what such lips shall utter? All !
there are "Uzzahs" in the pulpits to-
day! Oh, how great are the needs
of the churches
In the pulpits we need Peters and
Pauls, in the pews we need Aarons
and Hurs When shall His Kingdom
come. and His will be done ?-[ Mrs.
Wheatley in the Portland, Me-, Her
aid.