The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-07-08
rHr pEAUoN,s WEEK.

was lust 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 SINGER
ity. fully in earnest to do his Lords
work, and do it with all his might, but
he did sometimes feel discouraged. His
congregation was mixture of farmers
and mechanics, for Sugar Hollow was
cut in two by Sugar Brook, braWling,
noisy stream that turned the wheel of
many mill and mandatory, 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
piaued themselves on power to hammer
at theological problems as well as hot
iron, with the jealousy and repulslon and
bitter feeling that has bred the com
munistic hordes at home and abroad;
while perhaps he had still harder task
to awaken the sluggish souls of those
who used their days to struggle with
barren hillside and rocky pasture for
mere 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. To-day-no-a
long time before to-day he had unused
and prayed till an idea took shape in his
thought, and now he was to put it into
practice; yet he felt peculiarly RESPONSE
Bile and solemnized as he looked about
him and foreboded the success of his ex-
pertinent. 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 counsel: IF this council or
this work be of men, it will come to
naught; but if it be of God, ye cannot
overthrow it.
So with sense of strength the minis
ter 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 week
of practice instead. think we may dis
cover some things, some of the things OF
God, in this manner that succession OF
PRAYER meetings would not perhaps so
thoroughly reveal to us. Now, when l
say this l don't mean to have you 60
home and vaiDly endeavor to walk
straight in the old way. 1 want you to
take topics, as they are called, for the
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 to you. The next day is for
Sunday schools; go and visit your schol-
ars, such of you as are teachers, and Try
to feel they have living souls to save.
Wednesday is the day for fellowship
meeting. We are cordially invited to at
tend union meeting of this sort at Ban
| tam. Few of us can go twenty-five
miles to be with our brethren there; let
us spend that day in cultiyating our
brethren here; let us go and see those
who have been cold to us for some rea-
son, heal up our breaches OF friendship
confess our shortcomings one to an
other, and act as if in our Master
words, ''all we are brethren"
Thursday is the day to pray for the
family relation; let us each try to be to
orr families on that day in our measure
That The Lord is to his fanny, tho
church. remembering the words
Fathers. provoke not your children tc
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 ODE
dience due from children, and meeknesf
our wives owe us, forgetting that duties
are always reciprocal.
"Friday, the church is to be prayed
for. Let us then, each for himself, try
TO act that day just as we think Christ
our great exemplar, would have acted IL
our places. Let us try to prove to our
selves and the world about us that w
have not taken upon us His name light.
or in vain. 4,
Saturday is prayer day for tn
heather and foreign missions. Brethren
YOU know, and l know, that there ar
heather at our doors here; let every on
of YOU who will take that day to preacl
the gospel to some one who does no
hear It anywhere else. Perhaps you vii
tind work that We know of lying in you
midst. And let us all on Saturday even
ing meet here again, and choose on
brother to relate his experience OF tn
week. You who are willing to try TIL
method, please to RISE"
Everybody rose except old Amo
Tucker. who never stirred, though hi
wife pnlled at him and whispered to hiI
imploringly. He only shook his grizzle
head and sat immovable.
"Let us sing the doxology," said MI
Parkes, and it was sung with full fevol
The new idea had reused the churc
fully: it was the lever point Archimede
longed for, and each felt ready an
strong to move world.
Saturday night the church assemble
again. The cheerful eagerness wa
gone from their faces; they looked dow
cast, troubled, weary-as the past(
expected. When the box for balloLs VIZ
passed about. each one tore bit
paper from the sheet placed in the hym
books for the purpose and wrote on 1T
name. The pastor said after he ha
counted them, Deacon Emmons, Il
lot has fallen on you"
"Tm sorry fort" said the deaco
rising up and taking off his overcoat,
ha'n't got the best of records, Nj
= Parkes, now / tell ye."
''That isn't what we want" said Nj
Parkes. 1--WE want to know the who
e experience of some among us, and
! know you will tell us neither more n
: less than what you did experience"
n Deacon Emmons was short, THO
n set man with a shrewd, kindly face al
ot gray hair, who kept the village store al
. had a well earned reputation for honest
"Well brethren" he said, 81 dono WI
N shouldn't tell it, am pretty W,