Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-11-19

-"would get strong there"
"Ah. my dear" said his wife, 'it is
too tempting. | am afraid to hope. But
am sure when once they hear you they
will like you. Now let us think; what
sermons will you talkc?"
CHAPTER II.
The 'lctter to follow" came by n
late post, but it was only fuller and
politer version of the telegram. 1t
! hoped that Mr.. Murray would be able
to give the Upton congregation the
pleasure of listening to him, it apollo
gizcd for the short noticc lit was then
Friday. and it invited the minister to
dine with the writer on Sunday. 1t
thus gave no hint that the eye of the
Upton congregation might be on Mr..
Murray, but at the same time it did not
! completely dash the hope that it might
| be.
| On Saturday the minister sat down
| and wrote one sermon expressly for the
occasion. and with that and another in
his pocket he set off on Sunday morning
to fulfill his engagement with some
trcpidation.
| The aspect of the Upton chapel was
itself cheerful and inspiring. 1t was
nearly new, and it was large ard hand
some in a scmi-Gothic, open-raftered
| stylc; moreover. it was we'll filed, with
out being crowded. 1t was complete
contrast to the place where Mr.. Murray
usually ministcrcd, where most of the
high backed musty pcws were quite
empty, where a kind of fog hung per-
| I, t,tpt
perchcd aloft in the pulpit, was as "a
voice crying in the wilderness" Then,
in the Upton chapel there was n fine
organ and good singing by we'll
trained choir. When the minister,
therefore. rose to preach his sermon
it was with sense of eSaltation and
inspiration which he had not felt for
wears lie delivered hirasclf with effect
and he was listened to with wakrful
attention and apparent appreciation.
When the service was OYER and one
leader OF tho congregation after another
came to the vestry to shake him warm
|, by the hand and TO thank him for
his sbcautiful discourse" he thanked
God and took courage. and wished that
his Mary were with him instead of sit
} ting lonely and anxious in their little
: lodging with their sicl; boy,
He went in good spirits to the home
of his host, who was a merchant in the
city, and he sat down with the family
to the ample Sunday dinner. He sat
next his hostess, Il gentle, motherly
lady, who asked him if nc was married
and If he had any children; and he told
her OF Mary ard the child His host
was n shrcwd man of middle age, who
had clearly read much and thought a
rood deal and all his fumily three
! grown sons and two daughtersl were
l. intelligent ard cultivated and took a
modest but sufficient share in the con-
vcrsution OF the table, and all listened
to such opinions rs the minister uttered
with attention and understanding. MIR.
2 Murray, therefore, felt he was in a
. sociable, frank and refined atmosphere,
and he thought within himself: What
a place of brightness and pleasant en-
deavor this would be after mr rude and
stormy experience Of the north ana this
terrible year in London! And, oh! what
q haven of rest and health for my dar'
ling wife and boy"
So it was with unaffected JOY, wher
he walked round the large garden witt
his host after dinner, that he heard hin
say:
81 think, Mr.. Murray, absolute frank
ness in these matters is best. Let M
= ask you, if you were invited to bccom
, our minister, would you be willing
Would you like to come to us?'
=, "As frankly as you put the question,
.Is IN thrt frnf
ue all know and have seen of the Upto
-N congregation, | should like to be you
,v minister. OF course it would be plea!
antcr for me and for all If the invitatio
were as nearly unanimous rs may be-
"Outc so," said his host. 81 ought
say that, though am the chairman,
have at present no authority tn spea
for any but myself and my family. ~
= we have heard II good report of you NJ
Murray, and know that many OF OIL
people have been much impressed L
you this morning" Then, unconsciou
ly. he went on to dash somewhat IL
minister's lively hopes. ''Tllere is
young man-Mr. Lloyd; you may kno
him. No? Wcll---somc of our poop
arc very much taken with him He is
brilliant, popular sort of a young IL
low, but he is young-he has only be-
Y some two years or SO minister-al
= he is unmarried, und-and well. doI
want to say anything against him-b
M he is just Il little ilighty, and we old
[ID folk doubt how we should get on wi
him. am glad. however, to have yo
assurance that you would come If y
were asked"
He put his arm within the ministc
and thus they returned into the hou
And-as if that had been sign OF &C
J.. sent agreed upon--all the company Ia