News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-04-01

got to my study it was after 10 o'clock.
1t is Wednesday, and only a part of
my next Sunday morning sermon is
completed. | have not even selected a
text for the evening sermon. The sub
Ject of my prayer meeting is Best Meth
DDS of Modern Bible Study / have part
ly prepared the service. / have three
committee meetings tomorrow after
noon and an address in the evening on
the Duty of Good Citizens In the Com
ing Municipal Campaign This is be-
fore the mass meeting arranged by the
committee Of fifty. There are five or
six families in my parish in great need
of my personal visitation, and two
deaths occurred yesterday, which
means funeral services tomorrow. My
assistant has been on the sick list for
nearly a month, and the church, of
course, cannot well supply his place,
although volunteers are doing some of
his work. l am not complaining, Cor
don. l have some of the best men and
women in the city in my church men,
bersh1p. They are loyal and true, and
any man might well be proud Of their
friendship.
Il am not complaining either about
the beWlldering number of calls on my
time and sympathy from strangers and
people entirely outside of my parish. 1t
is a compliment to the ministry that
the un-Christian part of the community
turns to the church and the preacher
for comfort and help. All these things
l accepted when 1 entered the profess
sion. | would be a fool to act the baby
now that heavy burdens of trouble i'll
other peoples lives are rolled upon me.
1t is all part of the profession which
l deliberately chose. A doctor might
as well complain that his work brings
him face to face all the time with
physical pain as the minister complain
that his work brings him constantly
into the presence of sin sickness and
spiritual ruin. This is what every true
ministry means and always will mean,
and the man who wants to shirk all
that had better never enter the bust
ness of preacher and pastor. But the
NOuDI that IGllClJ Has DCSu " lOIIlGllI
me is the doubt that all this that l am
doing in and through the church is
worth while doing through that organ
ization. My ideals are constantly disap-
pointed. With the exception of the
minority that can be found in almost
every church | am obliged to confess
that my views of the real work a
church ought to do are not accepted by
my people, and | am going on with the
pressure On me of all this miscellane-
Gus machinery of service tOrmented
with the question, Is the church, after
all, the best organization for doing
work for humanity, or is the church
even approximately doing the things
that most need TO be done? 1t is not
the service that | shrink from. | am
only filled with a great longing to
serve in the place where it will amount
to something"
you are tired out" John Gordon
laid his hand affectionately on Paul
FalmOuth's arm. He did not know
just what else to say. His thought of
the church had conceded too closely
with the minister's to enable him to
come to the defense of the church as it
seemed to need defense in the face OF
FGImouth's doubts.
The minister smiled at Gordon rather
sadly.
Il may lie tired at present, but that
does not account for my present posi- !
ton. Don't let it vex you" lie added
quickly. Il ought not to have del,v- |
cred my little woe here. This house is
the center Of it's own peculiar sorrows.
God forbid that should introduce into
it my own selfish egot.sm or even my
personal struggles fer light in my own
darkness.
always room for one more, | am |
sure" Gordon protested, but Falmouth |
shook his head and refused to continue
the discussion. He had risen to so |
when Miss Andrews entered with n
glow on her face that struck both men |
as a new look.
Read thatr' she said, putting a let |
ter into Gordon's hand.
The letter was from Mrs George Eff |
fingham.
My Dear Miss Andrews-Pardon my de-
lay in answering your beautiful letter. |
My grandson has been very i'll, and the |
care of him has confined me constantly at |
his bedside. l am not quite as young as
[ used to be and begin to feel the weight
Of my years on my body, though my soul
Is still fresh and vigorous. thank God.
TO he eontinued)