Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-04-14
No Sect in Heaven.

No DcCt III ncdstus
Talking Of seets till late one eve.
OF the various doctrines the saints believe.
That night stood 10 troubled dream,
By the side OF a darky flowing stream.
And "Churcbman" down to the river came
" hen heard strange voice call his name;
&c ocd father. stop; v hen YOU cross this tide.
GU must leave YOUR robes on the other side"
But the aged father did not mind:
And his long gown fioated out behind
As down 10 the stream his way he took
His pale hands cla,ping gilt-edged book
Pm bound Tor heaven and when I'm there.
/ shall amt my book OF Common Prayer:
And. though put on a starry crown,
! should feel quite lost without my gown"
Then he fixed his ewes on the shining track.
But hi, gown was heavy and held him back,
And the poor old father tried in vain
A single step id the food 10 gain.
| saw him again on the other side.
But his silk gown floated on the tide,
A nd no one asked in that blssful spot.
Whether he belonged to 1.-THE Church or not.
Then down to the river a Quaker -trsyed,
His dress OF a sober hue WAS made.
My cost and bat must be all gray:
| cannot 20 anv other WAY"
Then be huttoned bis coat straight up to his
chin.
And staidly, solemnly wsdediu.
Aud hi PREDETERMINED hat he pulled down
tight
over hi. forehead 30 cold and white.
But strong wind carried away his hat;
A moment he silently sighed over that.
And then. as be gazed to the farther shore.
The coat slipped of. aud was seen no more.
As he entered heaven, his suit of gray
Went quietly sailing away. away;
And none OF the angels questioned him
About the width of hi- beavers brim.
Next came Or. Waits, with bundle OF psalms,
Tied nicely up. in his aged arms,
And HYMNS a. many very wise thing
That the people in heaven, "al round" might
sing.
But thought that be heayed an anXious sigh
A. he saw The river ran broad aud high.
And looked rather surprised. n> one bs one.
The psalms and HYMN. in the waves went
down.
And after him, with his MSS,
Came Wesley, the pattern of godline>s;
But he cried. ''Dear me, what shall doS
The water has soaked them through and
through
And there on the river. far and wide.
AWAY they went down the swollen tide.
And the saint, astonshed, passed through
alone.
Without hi manuscripts, up to the throne.
Then, gravely walking. TWO saints by name
Down 10 the stream together came.
But, IA, they stopped al the rivers brink.
| saw one saint from the other shrink.
">priuAled OF plunged. may AN YOU friend
How gu attained to ifc'- great end
- IhDs. with few drops on my brow.
But Ihave been dipped. You'll see mt now
And really think it viii hardly do.
4. I'm close communion to cross with YOU
! cure bound. know. to the res ms of bliss
But You must 20 that way, and III 20 this.
Then >traishtwsy plunging with al hi mi BIT
Away 20 The left hi friend 10 the right.
Apart they Went from lhi. world Of lin.
But al last together they entered in.
And now. when the river Wa, rolling on.
Presbyterian hurch went down:
OF women there seemed an inuumerable
throng,
But the men could count a, the, passed
along.
And. concerning the road they could never
agree.
The nd or the ne'r way. which it could be.
Nor ever a moment paused TO think
Tina, both Would lead 10 the rivers brink
sound Of mufmuring. long and loud
Game ever up from The mos inr crowd
You're in the old WAY. ana l'm IN the nea
That i the false. ana hi, J., the true:"-
or. I'm in The Old WAY. and you're in the new
That i tbe false, aHG MI> j. The true
But the brethren only seemed To speak
Modest the sisters walked and meek
And # ever one OF them CHANGED to >ay
" hat troubles she met v tn on her way
How -he !oused to pass TO The other sid,
Nor feared 10 cross over the swelling tide
\ voice arose from the brethren then:
Let no one >pe.k hnt The 'hoiy men
For have V not beard the words OF Paul
oh. Let the women Keep silence al:"
! watched them long in my curi0u, dream.
TIL they stood hy the border uf the stream.
lben, Just a. thought. the two way. met:
But all the brethren were TALKING vet
And would iaik on, till the hessin tide
Carried ;nem over side hy side
SIDE by side. for the way WAS one:
] ht to'l>ome journey Of life was done;
And all no IN Christ the SAVIOUR died
Came out alike on the other side
10 forms or crosses or books had they;
No gowns of sllk. or suits OF gray;
No creed, 10 guide them. or Mss
For all had III on thri-t'> righteousness.