The Forrest City times., 1900-03-09
OLD DEACON NEWTON

orr WAS conceivable to Nathan Newton ,bat man could hear the still. GmaQ of his Creator whispering within has vS but he had never been able to be- .bat bis Creator could hear the still, -,u ,o;ce of man. So, when he prayed-- ss ss ho rraved much-he shouted with great I.,;,rs There had been times in the days esb;s youth when he had led the camp meet .-s and had roared in his pious orgy till .L soIemn hymn of the pines and the ora .n.,o .ns of the lake seemed inadequate to drown
 Years did not diminish his piety nor his .,.bnsasqn. In the village where he lived ba was counted for many years the foremost
 o, in matters religious and benevolent. The nreaching was left to the pastors, but .be practical application of the Christian sa;,b was expected of Nathan Newton. It ,r,. he who raised the money for the new church. It was he who appraised his for ,une annually, and, mindful of Biblical in- sanctions. paid his full tthe. It was he rbose mighty voice vibrated at love feasts and protracted meetings with exultant "ameps.
 No young convert felt himself secure in his hannipess till Deacon Newton had talked and prayed with him; no penitent was at neace till the mighty shoutings of the dea- con had driven the tempter to his black re- treat. says the Chicago Tribune.
 Tn the course of time the deaeon's only child. Thomas, grew to mans estate, and, taking to himself wife, moved to a certain great city. The deacon, who was widower, moped about his desolate home for a time, and then settled up his business, sold his town house, led his last prayer meeting amid lachrymose congregation, and the church was without its chief pillar.
 'It will be sort O queer to set down in strange pew, Thomas, said Deacon Newton the first Sabbath morning after his change ofresidence. But reckon my soul will have proft. I am looking forward to listening to the teachings of man in Israel"
 He looked with interest at the throngs of church-goers in their fashionable attire.
 The Sabbath morning was pleasure to him, for 1t took him to the house of his Creator, where he could raise his voice in His praise.
 Folks seem plenty prosperous here" he commented. And you and Jenny are right mart 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 native village. There was something aggressively simple about the personality of Deacon Newton And this simplicity did not seem to fit into the com plex order of the city at all.
 The hymn which opened the service was one with which Nathan Newton was ac- quainted, and he joined in it vociferously, creating part of his own which followed the treble score an octave below the written notes. It was harmonious, but startling, and the color deepened in the cheeks of Thomas wife.
 In the prayer the deacon took the keenest interest, regretting only the inadequacy of the suppGants voice-for 1t never occurred to him that anything save vocal defect could cause such temperate meditation in one who was making an appeal to Divinity. With an impulse born of pure friendhness he became emphatic in his vocal encourage ment
 Glory! Gloryl Amen! Hallelujah" These ejaculations rang out above the heads of the scandalized audience. But the silent disapproval of the multitude did not touch the consciousness of the one who was com muning with the Most High.
 That afternoon two of the leading gentle men of the church dropped in on the New tons in a casual way.
 "Is Deacon Newton going to remain long with you?" they asked of Thomas.
 He is going to remain with me till the day of his death, hope and believe" said Thomas, stoutly. The gentlemen hemmed and hawed.
 He has the old-fashioned earnestness and demonstration" one of them remarked. Thomas saw his wife's face turn scarlet, but he vas loyal to the old man whom he revered
 Father is like the rest of us" he replied. He worships according to his own ideas. l suppose he thinks that is one of the priv ileges of the American citizen"
 The gentlemen left but three weeks later, after the fervent old leader had made the walks of the church resonant at tprayer meet ing, and class meeting, and Sunday service, committee waited upon him. [ They preferred their request respectfully, 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 countenance filled with righteous anger.
 T have long made my song and worshiped with loud noise," he said. 'I have cried out in the days of my trouble and have been heard, and in the days of my joy have not forgotten my salutation. Shall keep silence in the presence of Him who is my strong tower? Nay, in my youth did not desert Him, and in my old age shall not hold my voice."
 But the committee was firm.
 Tt grieves us, Deacon Newton," said their spokesman, "but so many of our con gregation have complained to us that unless you comply with our request and keep silent in service it will be our unhappy duty to request that you do not worship with us. 1" The old man stared hard at the wall for a moment. He, the old and tried servant, turned from the house of his Master! Big tears came to his eyes, but hs held them there and would not let them fall. A seri- eous and lofty dignity enveloped him. He held out his hand to his visitors one by one.
 Brethren" he said, gently, T bid you good-day'
 They went, rejoicing to be through their unwelcome task.
 The next morning Thomas found his fath-