The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1894-09-27
NO SECT IN HEAVEN.

Talking OF sects till late one eve,
the various doctrines the saints believe,
That night I stood, II a troubled dream,
BY the side Of a darkly flowing stream.
And a "Churchman,' - down to the river
came;
when I heard n strange voice call his name,
.'Good father, stop;when you cross this tide,
You must leave your robes on the other
slde.'
But the aged father did not mind;
And his long gown tioated out behind,
AS down to the stream his way he took,
His pale hands clasping a gilt-edged book.
"I'mb bound for heaven; and when I'm there,
shall want my book Of Common Prayer;
And, though | put on II starry crown,
should feel quite lost without my gown
Then he fixed his eyes on the shining track,
But his gown was heavy and held him back.
And the poor old father tried in vain
A single step in the food to gain.
saw him again on the other side,
But his silk gown foated on the tide;
And no one asked, in that blissful spot,
Whether he belonged to 1.-THE church, or
not.
lntn uONU 10 lnt river u QuHhtT SlTbA tui
His dress Of Il sober hue was made;
my coat and hat must be all of gray:
l cannot go any other way"
Then he buttonned his coat straight up to his
chin,
Then staidly, solemnly waded in,
And his broad-brimmed hat he pulled dowr
tight
over his forehead so cold and white.
But a strong wind carried away his hat;
A moment he silently sighed over that;
And then as he gazed on the further shore,
The coat slipped of and was seen no more.
AS he entered heaven, his suit of gray
Went quietly sailing, way, away.
And none of the angels questioned HIM
About the width Of his beavers brim.
Next came DR.. Watts, with a bundle OF
psalms
Tied nicely up in his aged arms,
And hymns as many, a very wise thing,
That the people in heaven, ''all round -
might sing.
But I thought he heavcd an anxious sigh,
As he saw that the river ran broad and high
And he looked rather surprised as, one b.
The Psalms and Hymns in the wave went
down,
And after him with his MSS,
Game wesley, the pattern of godliness,
But he cried Dear me! what shall / do?
The water has soaked me through and
through -
And there on the river. far and wide,
Away they went down the swollen tide;
And the saint astonished passed through
alone,
without his manuscripts, up To the throne.
Then gravely walking. two saints by name
Down to the stream together came;
But, as they stopped at the rivers brink,
| saw one saint from the other shrink.
''Sprinkled or plunged, may | ask you,
friend,
How you attained to lite'> great end?''
''Thus, with a few drops On my brow
But | have been dipped. as you'll see me
now
''And | really think it will hardly do,
As I'm close communion, to cross with you;
You're bound, l know, to the realms of
bliss,
But you must go that way and I'll go this
Then s~traightway plunging with all his
might,
Away to the left-his friend to the right;
Apart they went from this world of sin,
But at last together they entered in.
And now when the river was rolling on,
Presbyterian church went down;
or women there seemed an innumerable
throng,
Bat the men | could count as they passed
along.
And concerning the road they could never
agree,
The old or the new way, which it could he,
Nor ever a moment paused to think
That both would lead to the rivers brink.
And a sound of murmuriug, long and loud.
Came ever up from the moving crowd;
you're in the old way; and I'm in the new;
That is the false, and this Is the true;''
Or, ''I'm in the old way and you're In the
new;
That is the false, and this is the true
But the brethren only seemed to speak;
Modest the sisters walked, and meek,
And If ever one of them Glanced to say
What troubles she met with ON the way,
How she lunged to pass to the other side,
Nor feared to cross over the swelling tide,
n 'iN VI NV pItNnIfH NHflf
Let no one speak but the holy men;
For have We not heard the words of Paul,
'Oh, let the women keep silence allf'
/ watched them long in my curious dream;
Till they stood by the borders Of the streams
Then just as | thought, the two ways met;
But all the brethren were talking vet,
nd would talk on, till the h%caving tide
Carried them over side by side
Side by side. for the way was one;
The toilsome journey of life was done;
And all who in Christ the Saviour died,
Came out alike on the other side.
No forms, or crosses, or books had they;
No gowns of silk, or suits of gray;
No creeds TO guide them, or MSS.;
For all had put on Christ's righteousness.
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