Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-05-09

lIle ldllu. nave IlSCIl W u IpSIllpA
OF eminence in the ministry of our ma
tional church-that church whose
meaneSt office better men than | are
unworthy to fill. have been offered
still greater honorS, the office of bishop
and the dignity of spiritual pcerage,
as YOU all know; nor was it till now
my intention to decline this promotion.
| have been much before the public in
other ways. which it were unbecoming
to mention in this holy place. Such
dignitieS as have been mine, my
brothers, since | am still Gods child,
and only desire to return to Him by
the way of penitence-such dignities
are based upon the assumption not
only of moral rectitude, but OF decided
piety, and neither of these has ever
been mine. My beloved brothers, hear
me, and Jake warning, and oh! pity me,
for | am the most miserable of men.
Like those against whom Christ pro-
nounced such bitter woes, | have de-
sired to wear long robes, to receive
greetings in the market-place, to &C.
cupy the chief seat in SynagogueS:
these things have been the very breath
of my nostrils, and for these l have
sinned heavily, heavily. The favor Of
men has been dear to me, therefore |
offer myself to their scorn To no man,
| think, has mans favor been dearer
than to me. All, my brothers, there
is no more bitter poison to the soul
than the sweetness | loved with such
idolatry! Well does our Saviour warn
us against it,
lie spoke all this with quiet an
SuiSh StIa light from his heart, his
manuscript being closed; while at this
point tears came and dimmcd the blue
luster of his large deep eyes, and
coursed quietly and unhccdcd down his
cheeks. The congregation still listened
with wide-eyed wonder, not knowing
how to take these extra ordinary utter
ances, ana half suspecting that they
were the victims of some stage effect.
But the premiers face Wore startled
gaze, and he looked round uneasily.
The idea Suddenly entered his head.
that his recent elevation ami the
Strenuously toilsome life he led had
been too much for the dean, and driven
him mad Nor was he alone in his be-
lief, which was shared by the deans
doctor amongst others.
The bishop was terribly moved, and
half doubtful whether it would not he
well to persuade the preacher to leave
the pulpit as quietly as possible; he
too thought the dean mad, and trcm-
bled lest the gossip his own son had
repeated might have driven niS scnsi-
tive organization off it's balance. Tears
sprung to his eyes, and he lOathed
himself for the petty feelings he had
suffered to enter his heart that very
day.
what confess now, in the presence
of God and OF this congregation,
against whom | have sinncd," contin-
ued the preacher, II shall confess
shortly before the civil tribunals of this
land, the laws of which have broken.
Nineteen years ago, when in dcacon'S
orders, led an innocent young woman
aStray." Here his voice broke with a
heavy sob Il was the temptcr-1, who
fell because | deemed myself above
temptation. My brothers. since then
l have not had one happy hour. Mark
that, you who perhance stand on the
verge Of tranSgression. But that Is not
all. With a heart still stained with
that iniQuty. which | vainly tried to
cxpiate by bodily penance, took upon
IN fhiS 70 thnlpnl tho flII
responsibilities of the priesthood, and
fell into new temptation.
The father of this poor girl GiScov-
cred my iniquity, and, justly angcred,
fell upon me with violence. In the
struggle, know not how, | killed him.
Yes, my brothers, look upon me with
the honest scorn you must feel when
you hear that these hands, which have
broken the bread Of life and sprinkled
the waters of healing, are red with
the blood Of the man wronged. But
even that is not the full measure Of my
iniquity. had friend; loved him
| loved him. | tell YOU" he echoed,
paSsionately. more than any mortal
man. He was a man Of noble charac-
ter and spotless life; he had gifts
which gave promise of glorious and
benefcent ckeer. Suspicion fell upon
him through my fault but not my de-
liberate fault He was tried for my
crime, found guilty, and sentenced to
twenty years penal servitude.'
Here the preacher trembled exceed
ingly, and was obliged to pause, while
people looked from one TO another
with horror-stricken eyes and blanched
faces. and the very air seemed to pal
plate with their agitation. Two days
ago" continued tie unhappy man, che
came, fresh from the prison, to wor-
ship in this holy place. | was preach
ing-I. the traitor, the hypocrite: | who
had lived III palaces while the friend
Of my youth pjned In the prison had
deserved-I saw him; recognized him
through all the terrible changes that
awful misery had wrought upon him.
I could not bear the sight. and fed
from Il like another Cain. But | did
not even then repent.
"Afy brothers. this man wrote TO me