The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-01-29

Inc heN. henry Virgin hau peeh DIS
sistant rector in II city church for year
and was about to assume charge of his first
independent parish, its nucleus being in a
small country village.
The clergyman had visited the place
once and had been so favorably impressed
that he was eager to enter upon his new
field Of labor.
So secluded and quiet was the village of
Bradlawn, so great was the beauty in and
about it, that it seemed not unlike a
modern garden of Eden, without any ser
pent to create a disturbance. Mr.. Wright
was confident that the people would prove
to be guieless and kindly
One Sunday in the early fall he began
his duties as rector He preached a CHEEKY,
sympathetic sermon, telling his hearers
what he purposed to do for them and ask
ing for their hearty cooperation. Many
shook hands with him after the service and
promised to aid him.
During the next month the Rev. Henry
Wright pursued his work with zeal. He
called on his parishiOners and sought to
become we'll acquainted with them. He
preached sermons that were interesting,
even if not filled with deep thought, and
he received frequent compliments.
He noticed that the maiden ladies, Of
whom there were goodly number some
rather old and sedate, others young and
him, but his modesty ond inexperience |, d
him to believe that they sought his PIE
sence for spiritual guidance rather than for
any worldly reasons.
But his tranquil days were numbered
When Miss Charlotte Lacey and her
widowed mother came from city to
Broadlawn to reside, the rectors interes +
in life was no longer strictly confined to his
clerical duties
Miss Lacey was one OF those sweet, spir-
itual beings whose effect on susceptible and
romantic young men is that of angels
walking upon the earth. The young cler
gyman, taught to reverence good women
felt that his heart was smitten and began
to show her timd attention not vouchsafed
to other female members of his flock.
Miss Lacey joined the choir, and all the
men declared that her singing was beauti-
full beyond anything that had ever been
heard in the church. As he listened to her
voice it was with great difficulty that the
Rev. Henry Wright could prevent his
thoughts from wandering into channels not
suited to the sacredness of the occasion,
and that his eyes, in spite of his caution
wandered in Charlotte's direction too often
was the verdict of more than one closely
watching spinster in his congregation.
One morning Miss Almira Thorough
wheat, daughter of Simon Thoroughbred,
first vestryman of st. Johns Church, met
Mr.. Wright at the store and in gracious
manner invited him in behalf of her father
and herself to take tea with them in the
evening.
The tea was somewhat austere affair
in spite of the efforts of entertainers and
guests to make themselves agreeable. NJ.
1horoughwheat's grave, cold face was in
hospitahe to smiles. Both he and his
daughter had long, thin noses and grim,
&Iuale jaws.
b, their imperious methods they had
conquered the weak and incurred the el.-
nifty OF the strong As most of the mem
heIs of st. Johns Church were possessed OF
moderate personality, Mr.. Thorough
wheat and lis daughter by virtue of their
masterful natures, had naturaiN ntcome
the rulers of the congregation, their will
being regarded as law.
Already aware of this fact, the new
rector was haunted wish for, bodiug that
if he insisted on his full rights he would | e
likely to offend his naughty parishioneis
and bring upon himself much trouble.
On the one had, Mr.. Thoroughbred and
Miss Almira suspected that Mr.. Wright
had mind of his own; that he might not
consent to be under their thumbs, as had
been the case with his predecessor, an old
clergyman devoid of force of character.
II hope," said Mr. Thoroughbred after
WV ""ho h"H oeeli pasSeu anu tne eating
was that of perso Is who have already par
taken of enough, that you will be careful
not to depart in your preaching from the
sound doctrines OF the church. | thought
detected rather dangerous tendency to-
ward the so called liberal ideas Of the day
in voul last sermon
81 believe in maintaining the regular
doctrines of the church. But you must
know that nowadays our thoughtful clergy
men favor IA broader and more intelligent
Interpretation of the Scriptures than that
which was permitted in a less enlightened
age"
THE faith OF my fathers is good enough
for me, and it is good enough for other
people too. | do not believe in newfan-
gled notions"
But you believe in progress. You use
moving machine and hook and tackle
for removing hay from the cart to the NOW
OF your barn. Your father used scythes
and pitchforks.