The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-18
Deacon Nathan Newton.

heart: but he had never been able Ii
believe that his Creator could hear the
still, small voice of man. So, when he
prayed-and he prayed mueh-he shouted
with great sh0utings. There had been
times in the days of his youth when he
had led the camp-meetings. and had roar
ed in his pious orgy till the solemn hymn
of the pines and the oratorio of the lake
seemed inadequate TO drown his voice
Years did not diminish his ptety nor his
enthusiasm. In the village where he
lived he was counted for Smany years the
| foremost man IN matters religious and
benevolent. The preaching was left TO
the pastors. but the practical application
of the Christian faith was expected of
| Nathan Newton 1t was he who apprais-
ed his fortune annually. and, mindful of
| biblical injunctions, paid his fun 1.-THE.
1t was he whose mighty voice vibrated
| at love-feasts and protraeted meetings
with exultant "amens''
No young convert felt himself secure
in his happiness till Deacon Newton had
talked and prayed with him; no penitent
was at peace till the mighty shoutings
Of the deacon had driven the tempter TO
| his black retreat.
In the course of time the deacon's only
| child, Thomas. grew 10 mans estate, and,
! taking TO himself a wife, moved TO a GER
| tain great city. The deacon, who was
| a widower, moped about his desolate
! home for time, and then settled up his
business sold his town house, led his last
( prayer meeting amid a lachrymous con.
gregation and the church was left with
out its chief pillar.
1T will be sort O. queer to set down
in strange pew, Thomas said Deacon
Newton the first Sabbath morning after
| his residence. But l reckon my soul
will have profit. I am looking forward TO
listening to the teachings OF man great
/ in Israel"
He looked with interest at the throngs
/ of church-goers in their fashionable at
! tirs.
Folks seem plenty prosperous here"
| he commented. And you and Jenny are
right smart yourselves, Thomas
Thomas wife permitted her pretty lips
| to twitch with irritation. She was fond
| Of the old man, but she would have been
able to think of him with much more
| tenderness if he had remained in his ma
/ tive village. There was something ag-
gressively simple about the personality
of Deacon Newton. And this simplicity
did not seem to fit into the complex or
der of the city at all.
The hymn which opened the service was
one with which Nathan Newton was ac-
quainted, and ne Joined in it vociferous-
ly, creating part of his own which fol-
lowed the treble score an octave below
the written 7notes. 1t was harmonious.
| but startling, and the color deepened in
the cheeks of Thomas wife.
In the prayer the deacon took the keen
est interest, regreting only the made
quacy OF the supplaHts voice-for it new
er occurred to him hiatt anything save
vocal defect could cause such temper
ate incubation in one who was making
an appeal to divinity. With an impulse
born of pure friendliness he became I'M
usually emphatic in his vocal encourage
ment.
GLORY! Glory! Amenl Hallelujahr"
These calculations rang out above the
heads of the scandalized audience. But
the silent disapprovaI of the multitude
did not touch the consciousness Of the
one who was communing with the Most
High.
That afternoon two Of the leading gen.
tlemen of the church dropped in on the
NewtOns in a casual way.
rs Deacon Newton going to remain
long with your" they asked of Thomas
HE is going to remain with me till the
day of his. death, 1 hope and believe"
said Thomas stoutly- The gentlemen
hemmed and hawed.
eaTn6St0eSS
and demonstration, one of them remark
ed. Thomas saw his wife's face turn
scarlet, but he was loyal to The old man
whom he revered.
Fainter is like the rest of u.s." he re-
piled. He worships according to his
own ideas. I suppose he thinks that is
one Of the privileges of the American cii-
zen"
The gentlemen left, but three weeks
later, after the fervent old leader had
made the walls of the church resonant
at prayer-meeting, and cIass-meeting, and
Sunday service, committee waited upon
him.
They preferred their request respectful
ly. but they were firm in their demand
that he conform to the custom and sit
silent in meeting. The old deacon arose
and faced his visitors his rugged coun-
tenance filed with righteous anger
Il have long made my song anT wor-
SHIPPED with a loud noise,' he said Il
have cried out in the days of my trouble
and 1 have been heard, and in the days
of my joy l have not forgotten my salu-
tation. Shall keep silent In the pres
ence of Him who is my strong tower?
Nay. in my youth I did not desert him
and in my old age I shall not hold my
voice"
But the committee was firm.
TT grieves us, Deacon Newton" said
their spokesman, but so many Of our
congregation have complained to US that
unless you comply with outr request and
keep silent in service it will be our I'M
happy duty to request that you do not
worship with us"
The old man stared hard at the wall for
d moment. He. the old and tried serv-
ant, turned from the house of his Mas
rn~f ~
held them there and would not let them
fall A serious and lofty dignity envel- /
5ped him He held out his hand TO his
visitors one BY one
Brethren" he said gently. II bid you
good-day."
They went, rejoicing to be through with
their unwelcome task.
The next morning Thomas found his {
father packing his belongings into an old 4
fashioned trunk.
What does this mean?" he inquired
There's a many noises IN the town,
son Thomas" said be, "A Changing and a Z
clamoring al day and half the night and I
nobody complains-not for the footing
nor the ruulblng nor the roar For It's 4
all by way OF serving mammOn, as you i
know. But for one voice a shouting for
Him who made Us all. they enter pro-
test Thomas. They are offended II ]
hurts their nerves. For lions sake I viii I
not hold my 2eace-so I must 60"
But where. dear father7''
I've a cabin IN the pine grove back
Of the farm. Tommy. that the lessee ain't
a using. Your ma and ne lived there
e long ago and gave praise With al cur
strength. The trees shout their psals4s.
too: around about that spot ard the
waters. they rear % the goodness Of Hin
who unieosed them from the bowels n
the earth Now. don't you try 70 stop
ne. Tommy. What ! am doing f. for
,-cur hzupfness TOO