Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1897-01-29
TAzEWELL. va. FRIDAY. JANUARY %. 1897

"~~ 'oAy AhtorestiuHt anu In hiB heart
pc wished that reason might show him
how to be as happily satisfied with the
priests teachings as were these.
III miracle could be enacted in
those old duys, why should not one be
performed now2" he inquired inwnrtlly.
'Oh, no. 1t Is all opposed to sense and
science. Faith?"--for he had arrived
ln time to hearenough Of the sermon To
know that the priest had disconrsed on
hith-"yes, by miracle oonld havu
faith. but"
His self-oommunion was interruptcd
by the sound OF n silynry voice cn,,.inr
from the gallery above his head
20 salutaris!" the hail rose pure and
sweet--such voice as the agnostic had
hever before heard. 20 salu,ar!s," and
The church was filled with the wonder
Sf n music which caused him to think
that an angel sung. quite ignoring the
.act that according to his philosophy
NO such thing us au angel could exist.
lie listened az one cntrnnccd, and he
,eft the church with his very soul tr!m.
ming with the JOY of that hrnvrnly so
prouo.
hN PN Nv ''HhNtf ut NtiNtN up WV
track again, hn, only little way. The
section foreman's boy had invited him
ms before 10 accompany him, but Ken
hedy he8itated, and. hcsi,ating. wns not
sose Now. however, ms hcS gain looked up
at the checry hoil of the happy pnSscn-
t,crs of the handcar. he hcstnted ugnin.
and this hesitation sent him churchwar,l.
He took his former seat In the rear un-
Ter the odd little choir loft. and to-day
new priest tnlkcd. and, strangely
enough, Of the Miracle OF Faith" As
though answering II question Of Ken
hedy's the Clergyman Suid: "Who are
the bclicvere2 The greatest OF NIL tho
great In learning. stntccrnft md mn
icrinl advancement Presidents, prime
ministers, mon Of mighty mind accept
the divinity Of Chrlst-and II these
men. wise enough to be great. md great
enough to he honest, accept by faith,
why should yon or cry ort for u
miracle to be enacted for our apccinl
behoof. There are many millions OF
people In the world"
Kennedy could have told him how
mnny.
"--nnd whnt right has one man 10
risk God to miraculously perform for
him 40 that he might be bndgcred unl
forced reluctantly into accepting what
worthier, more learned men and NOR
of infinitely greater responsibility and
enster temptation gladly and gratefully
take rs bOon?"
This" thought Kennedy. Sounds
reasonable, but cannot blindly accept
their belief on unsupported. nnwi:.
messed sentiment" And ms he thought
rpon It the voice of the soprano rose
In gIorification. It was what he hal
waited for. II filed him with grca;
happiness. The undescrved miracle
was beginning Of performances.
Every Sunday after this he ramc In
after the Others and took his back seat. :.
Tier voice had SING him almost into the
acceptance toward which the rrasoning
Of the priest was powerlcss 10 persuade.
He seemed 10 purtnke OF the feeling OF
the singer. He cxulted with her In the
Latin prnise Of the Rcdcemer. Tie
learned the words and they rose nlmost
10 his lips ms she sung. What woman
She must bel What heart OF purity
10 well up In such witness OF the might
Of Christian love and Christian mercy!
He Ind never seen her. for lc wns IN
ngnostic. and he could not yield the
rtubborness OF his unbclicf to nsls nbout
her or to even wait In the church to
watch her. He came into church late
nnd he left early. He was an gnostic.
md she
But was he?
One day nftcr the services were con-
ciudcd he advanced past the bnlf-hup-
dred humble worshipcrs. and, greeting
the priest. snid: "Father. want to
rome into the church" IIis heart
ienped with that acknowledgement. nnd
the little edifice seemed filed with the
riorv OF the Shepherd OF the lost sheep
Suddenly. from the organ loft. which
now for the first time was visible TO
his eyes. came the swelling sound Of
that heavenly voice IN some song OF
praise.
He looked for the singer II was tho
section foreman's boy
And this wns his miracle. le.--Chicago
Record.