The Newtown bee., 1901-07-12

much to its interest, but it may serve
 as an outline of the history of this an.
 cient building which has filled so large
 place in the life of the church.
 SUPPOSE THE OLD PARSONAGE COULD SPEAK FOR ITSELF,
 what story it could tell!
 It could tell story of earnest work
 TOT modern church life is in sympa thy
 with all life about it, and is intense in
 US activities and exacting in its de
 mands for varied service. So the par.
 sonage has it's place with the store,
 the shop, the office, in the activities o1
 progressive age. Sundays may seem
 Tar apart to many workers, but in the
 parsonage they often seem very neal
 together.
 The work performed there is so va. Vled, is so often interrupted, is so ire quently, suddenly increased, that a week is gone almost before it seems to have begun. The parsonage could tell story of facing, and trying to solve the mightiest problems that con. front the human intellect.
 We live in time of vast undertak- lngs among men, of expansion of na- tlons, of consultations of great busi- ness enterprises, of marvellous inven- tlons and discoveries; but are any of these to be compared with the renova- tlOn Of a human life or the salvation Of an immortal soul? To these vital and imperative duties most men are strangely indifferent, and are prone to delay in the performance of them.
 The problem that confronts the par sonage IS how to arouse men from this indifference, and urge them to seek their highest good.
 Every Christian worker can appre- clate this statement, for his own duty IS along the same line. The great prob lems that occupy the thoughts of men in busy life, are apt to belittle the pre- eminent importance of all that belongs to this inner life. A great mission of this church is to bring these matters, in every human life, into their right relation.
 Oh, the pathos of the parsonage, The door bell rings, and one stands at the door who can hardly speak, strangle his'tears; for death, that great source of sorrow has entered, his home, and it seems to him that there can never be joy in that house again. Or there may be great sickness and God will yet stay the hand of the destroyer, and prayers are sought for the recovery of the loved one. Again, the sad and lonely seek the parsonage for advice and sym pathy and help.
 How natural it is for those troubled ones to turn to the church, or any, thing that stands for the church, for the church is the representatio on earth Of Him who is ever the comfort er Of the sorrowing. What thrilling 'tory any old parsonage could tell of after all, too tender to be old to any one, and how many scenes md interviews does our parsonage 'ring to mind to members of this con- 'regatiOn, matters that will never be orgotten.
 HE PARSONAGE IS OFTEN SORT OF
 PROTESTANT CONFESSIONAL where troubles and temptations and lns are brought, perhaps with the ceiling that somehow here may be ound a nearer access to God, or that ere the will of God may be interpret d more clearly. Would that all such roubled souls might find what they eek, for this very seeking shows that hey believe in God and in his church. he parsonage has listened to many a ontidence that we may believe God lso heard and regarded for the con- )rt and relief of a troubled soul.
 One of the most precious associa- ons of the parsonage and one least pit to be forgotten, is it's connection | ith the beginning of Christian life. | he interviews held there when ( hristian faith was trembling in the [ dance or when light was sought up- S way that seemed very dark; the o lstor's classes, where the duties and I 'ivileges of church membership Q ere taught; all these things have c