The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-21

the dust" Deacon Muncie was some little
time collecting his thoughts sufficiently tc
speak them.
81 am afraid, Sister Cox" he said, "that
you are adding the sin of envy to thai
of spiritual pride. If it has pleased the
Lord t'bless me, his servant, in worldly
way, | am but a humble instrument ir
his hands, and receive his mercies as
would his Christening, in meekness anc
gratitude of spirit
This is very serious. Sister Cox" CRIED
the elder. "The views you advance are
heterodox-I may say schismatic in the ex
IRENE. The matter is serious, very seri
lous"; and his large, Loose cheeks sucked
in portentously.
foor Martial She had never before beer
charged with advancing views, and the
elders meaningful words struck dismay tc
her soul. She stammered forth her protes
tations until Deacon Graves was moved tc
say tenderly: There, there; we know
Marthy. It's only misconception OF
terms" The little deacon had heard this
phrase at the May meeting and repeated il
with JUNCTION: "a mere misconception Of
terms. We're sure you trust the Lord, an
accept chastisement as from him."
But here again Martha all unwittingly
tore down the refuge offered her. "a
maven ueSerVeu any CnastlSeIHeDt, she
said doggedly. ~ don't b'lieye the Lord
means it as such. 1t is Jest as things i,
happened to me, an my luck S been heap
worse'n some Others | couldn't help it.
an neither could he, without altering the
face o. nature. / amt complainin' of my
lot, l only say faint reasonable to hold
God responsible for it,
Heresy so rank could not be overlooked
even by Deacon Graves, and argument ex-
h.Or% - / L. - e
divinity, all fell fast and furious upon
Martha's devoted head. Not even the
season of prayer" with which the elder
closed the visit. served to bring peace to
the erring sisters heart. They left her at
last and she returned to her hauling OF
dust, cast down but still obdurate.
This was but the beginning. From that
time "Marthy Cox's case" was the chief
subject of conversation in Dilworth. 1t
was discussed at the sewing circle and
talked over at the postoffice.
Singly and in squads Martha was visited
by the various pillars of the one church in
Dilworth. Each and all, however, failed
to share her position, and when Mrs. Num-
Gle finally declared IN the sewing circle her
belief that Martha Cox was little better
an infidel, there was scarcely dissenting
voice.
Matters grew from bad to worse until the
QOol eCl'J odCIdAcIL outlay ~ idu
been reported during the week that Elder
Bray would preach that day on unbeliei
and general feeling prevailed that the
occasion would be noteworthy.
The little church was crowded on Sun
day morning when Martha, prompt as
usual, took her place. She wondered some
what at the large congregation, but hers
was serene soul despite her troubles and
perhaps, of all in Dilworth she had been
the least disturbed by the stirring events
of the past few weeks.
There could be no doubt, however, but
that the sermon that evening was ''reach-
ing her." Elder Bray, finding all argu.
ment unavailing, had at last become con-
WINGED that this erring soul must be
afforded glimpse of the rod of the AL
mighty's wrath, and he shook it faithfully
before her shrinking gaze.
He reasoned of righteousness and oil
wrath to come, of dogma and doctrine, oil
the sin of unbelief and of the dangers oil
schism, the awfulness of spiritual pride
and the peril of grieving the Holy Spirit