The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-01-20
Selected Storp.
How They Lost a Pastor.

ngrossed their energies for some time
past. For it was fully seven months
since the council bad assembled to for
mally dismiss MIR. Barnes, and had de-
clared the pulpit vacant.
Mr. Barnes had labored faithfully in
their service for five long years. Dur
ing all this time he had preached good
if not brilliant sermons, attended regu-
larry at the prayermeeting, and made
all the pastoral calls that one mortal
man without horse and buggy could
reasonably be expected to make. And
vet his congregation were not satisfied.
Intimations fiually reached the ears of
the good man that his resignation
would be resignedly accepted. He sent
it in, and the papers the next day an
nounced the grief of the First church
at the resignation of their beloved pas
tor, Mr.. Barnes, whose wife's health
forced him to seek more salubrious
climate.
Whereupon it devoly, d upon the
orphaned congregation to choose for
themselves pastoral man after their
own hearts; one who should possess
all the virtues of their late pastor, as
well as those which he lacked.
They proceeded to search for him in
a truly orthodox way-namely, by en-
tertaining candidates. Sabbath after
Sabbath beheld different divine in
the pulpit. They came, we knew not
whence, and returned we knew not
whittier. They embraced every known
type of man from the venerable ID. d.
of three score-aud-ten to the immature
thu illogical student of twenty-one sum
mers.
The doctrine preached to that people
during the season of candidatiug was
as vaiiegated as the patchwork silk
quit which they presented to their late
PASTORS wife on her birthday. 1t
branched out into every known ism"
There was the "old school " and the
"new school, >" old-fashioned orthodoxy
and modern free thought. There were
sermons with strong leanings toward
liberalism, and there were others oOz-
ing orthodoxy at every pore. And
there were scientific sermons without
end, and poetical and philosophical
ones. But in all this variety the people
found not the man they sought. There
were some insurmountable objections
to every candidate.
Rev. Mr.. Abercrombie gave them
declared that his gestures were "eXe-
CRADLE" and would demoralize their
own " style"; and they came en- mdSSe
to the church meeting and voted him
down.
Rev. j Erwin Smith was youthful
and handsome, and the young ladies
shed tears of regret when he church
decided not to call him. But Deacon
~. l.,
"froth," and he hoped they wouldn't
in his day get down to a man who
parted his hair in the middle.
Rev. Mr.. Loring was too dramatic,
and threatened to convert the staid old
church into theater, while good Mr..
Bakesley, who despised show, was re
iected because he didn't" draw" One
candidate was too solemn, another toe
frivolous: one was too reserved, another
too " common"
And so the spring and summer came
and faded away, and fall was fast meIg-
ing into winter; and the people were
growing weary of their search, and
longed for settled pastor, but he still
eluded them. AS old Mr.. Grove aptly
summed up the situation: We've had
close to hundred men here to preach
for us, and we've given 'em all fair
show, and there ha'n't been perfect
man among 'em."
AT length, when expectation was
well-nigh exhausted, cheering ray
penetrated the gloom of their despOnd
ency, and in their minds eye they coulC
see as their own established pastor the
preacher who was holding audiences
spellbound in a Western city. A dele
CATION was dispatched to treat with
him. He had graciously consented t.
consider the matter, and the whole
situation was as encouraging as it vel
could be. He was to preach for then
on trial the first Sunday in December
and on the Saturday evening previous
Deacon Gilkey and his wife were re
turning from days shopping in Chi
cago. Just as the cars were starting, Mr.
Ames, another pillar in the church
hurried in, and seeing Mr.. and Mrs
Gilkey, dropped into the seat behint
them, the other half of which was oc
cupied by strange gentleman in a fur
trimmed overcoat and sealskin cap.
Getting chilly" remarked Mr.
Ames to Mr.. Gilkey, as an introduction
to conversation, meanwhile buttonin!
up his overcoat. The remark recalled
the fact to Mr. Gilkey, and he buttonet
up his coat and replied:
Yes; looks little like Storm
"Shouldn't WONDER" said Mr.. Ames
"They've had five inches of snow u
north"
Is that so? They have pretty tougl
winters up there" and Mr.. Gilkey CAV
his coat-collar another jerk.
"Suppose You'll be out to church to
morrow" said Mr.. Ames.
Yes, presume So" assented MI
Gilkey; and Mrs. Gilkey said, " Yes
certainly" with a glance at the band
box at her feet, which suggested tn
idea that Chicago milliner had mad
assurance doubly sure " in her case
but of course suggested no such though
to Mr.. Ames, who observed
81 guess people will turn out prett
generally to hear our new man."
"They ought to-" said Mr. Gilkey
for he seems to be about our las
ah and I xua1l Tab IA IL