The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-30

est boy ran away and wont to sea, and
tothcr one went to Alaska to git Just rs
far away from me rs he could, and my
gal threw herself away marryin' q
good-for-nuthin' Teller, to have IL home
of her own, and that my wifc's all
broke down with her trouble. Sam,
you'll lay it on thick, and shan't
blame yc none, neither"
The deacon jumped up, picked up his
fallen mantlcs and passed them over to
his wife, saying, in n voice whose gen.
tlencss startled her: Here, Reny,
you'll obligc me by foldin' these up and
putin 'cm away. shan't want 'cm
no more. It's CROWN lcctle warmer
Yes, Sam, you may tell Dca Turner I'll
take charge of the mectin' to-morrcr."
"All right, deacon you'll do fust rate,
don't doubt. Every body knows you've
got more ability than any other man
in the parish"
can hold on, Sam. don't want
none o yer soft soap bout ability but
do want You to come tomorrow an
hear me. I've got q special reason"
by George! 1 will I've had a new
mcetin' coat for most year, and there
haint nobody asked me to wear it.
Now's my chance. I'll be there"
A deacon's meeting in the town of
Pcachblow had never been q very wild.
ly exciting occasion, and such services
were thinly attended, but it was under.
stood that brand-ncw candidate, Par.
son Peters, was to set forth his claims
to orthodox soundncss that day-and
soundncss in doctrine was Il far more
potent key to the kingdom than sound.
ness in living, in the Pcachblow cstimn.
ton of valucs-and all the inhabitants
had turned out to hear him. Their disap-
polntmcnt was not very we'll concealed.
The deacon saw it and felt it as he
gave out the opening hymn, but he had
anticipated it and was strong in his
purpose. The Scriptures were read.
the prayers offered, the notices given,
and again the deacon cleared his throat
and rose upon the low platform in front
of the pulpit. He had no book of ser.
mons from which to read.
MY friends" he said, and his voice
had slight trcmor, I've been dca.
con for thirty years. I've prayed with.
in these walls for the outpourin' of the
Spirit, for the upbuildin' of the church.
conversion of sinners and for the sane.
LITIGATION OF believers. Now l want to
ask We oil to pray for mc-for the sal.
vation of my soul. I've been decciv.
in myself, and amt got one claim to
bein' called child O. God. I've really
cared great deal more for the clcarin'
up O. my farm than have for the puri.
fyin' of the church. I've all along been
willin' to do more an go further for the
carryin' out of my own mad temper
than have for the spreadin' of the
gospel. I've prayed for the outpourin'
of the Spirit and I've been shuttin'
my heart against it all the while.
When it told me was a-doin' wrong |
said twas other folks, and not me.
When it told me want actin n Chris.
tan, thought back O. the time when I
see kind of light, and heard sum.
thin speak TO me when there want no
body round, and was sure that was
conversion, and as for stayin' convert.
cd, want no Methodist. I'd always
heard say 1t was dishonorin' to God not
to believe that He'd keep grip on a
man when He once got it. And so here
be, an obstinate, selfish, worldly old
man that my own children can't live
WITH" and something very like n sob
choked further uttcrancc. brethren,
pray for me-" at last he gasped, and sat
down.
There was u prolonged silence. The
surprise, the sympathetic mood of self.
accusation, the awakening voice of con.
science in each heart produced deer
impressions. No soul felt itself pure
enough to respond to the pathetic
appeal.
AT length the other deacon arose,
read few verses from the Fifty-firsl
Psalm and pronounced the meeting
closed. ~ business meeting was held
during the week at which Dca Crabbc
insisted upon resigning his office, and
in recommending rs his successor n
quiet young man whose life of sclf-de-
NAL and loving sacrifice for his invalid
parents had won the love and conf.
dcncc of all.
The spirit of self condemnation went
round. There had been no such deer
spiritual carncstness manifested in the
parish for years. Little comment was
ever heard upon the dcacon's words.
All knew that as much might be said
of their own fruitless lives. There was
a humble seriousness, n faithful effort
at quiet righteous living, that had not
been known in all the history Of the
church, and yet there was no revival
and no extra meetings. When people
accuse each other there is n rebound of
resistance which foils all attempts at
lasting impressions, but when ones
own heart and conscience are the &C.
cnscrs there is none to rise up and de.
fcnd, and the voice must be heard.
We'll, Rcny," said the deacon, a
twclve-month later, Its the first of
May, amt it? DO you want should