The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-06-13


meditively at the speaker,
small wiry-looking man, whose
features were almost as sharp as the
sharp, black eyes fixed so intently
upon him.
II don't know. Brother Quimby, as
my candid opinion Of our minister
would do him any good"
Il dare say not" responded Mr..
Quimby, 'but it would do me a great
deal Of good to hear it,
Il don't know as to that, either"
There's no one in the church whose
opinion l think more Of" continued
Mr. Qulmby. mot that approve Of
giving it to every one. But you
needn't be afraid of saying Just what
you think to me, deacon, for it won't
go no further, and it might serve to
clear up some doubts that trouble me-"
What doubts?'
"Well, about various things. But
you haven't told me what your opin-
ion is, deacon"
Il have only one opinion of Elder
Wakeman, and that is, that he is a
man that tries to do his duty in all
the relations of life'
This was evidently something that
Mr.. Quimby neither expected nor de-
sired to hear, and he stared blankly at
the speaker. But, quickly recovering
himself, he said:
"Ha! think understand you, dea-
con. What you say is very we'll put
very we'll put, indeed have thought
that he might be a leetle more willing
to take advice; but there is no ques-
ton in my mind that he tries to Go
his duty, as you say. But is he
sound?"
Perhaps not. Some ministers arc
all sound"
The merry twinkle in the good den
cons eyes found no reflection in the
solemn yisage opposite him.
ITS no laughing matter, Deacon re-
sponded Mr.. Quimby, with rebuking
shake of the head. II am surprised
that you should speak on so serious a
subject with such seeming levity. I
referred to being sound in doctrine
l have been good deal exercised in
my mind in regard to this ever since
heard his sermon on Justification, ,
which is no justification at all, as /
understand it, and as good, old Dr.
'esseaver used to lay it down. Dear, old
man! | wonder what he would say, if
ne could come back and hear the new
tangled ideas that are taught from the
pulpit where he preached such good
old-fashloned doctrines nigh on to
twenty yearsr
If he's where think he is, he
doesn't want to come back. only
hope that some things he used to
preach about are clearer to him now
than he ever succeeded in making
them to me-"
There's no merit in believing yAhere
everything is made clear. There are
mysteries of faith, deacon, that no
body has any business to try to under
stand Now, Elder Wakeman is for
ever preaching about what we ought
to DO, as though such poor. weak
creatures as we are can do anything
toward effectirg our salvation. AS
for me, I'm free to own that I don't
consider anything have done, or am
doing, Of the least account whatever"
"A man ought to know better than
anyone else the quality Of his own
works, Brother Quimby, so won't
dispute with you on that score. So
Tar as l am concerned, 1 feel that the
Lord will have quite enough to do in
efecting the work you allude to- if
help Him all can"
'Well, deacon, wish could have
my mind cleared up in regard to Elder
Wakeman. What did you think of
his sermon last Sabbath morning?"
There is one thing | might saw
about it. If / thought it d prudent thing
to do. We can't be too carful in speak
ing, especially If it's anything that
likely to affect the character and use
tuiness of man like Elder Wake
man."
Very true, deacon. But you needn't
be afraid Of my telling; I'm not one of
the leaky sort. knew. as well as
wanted to, that man Of your sense
couldn't approve of such doctrine as
that
'Oh, I've nothing to say against the
sermon; It was very good discourse
you won't often find a better But the
lact IS, every word it contained-I
really don't know that ought TO mem
ron 1t, though; ii it should get about.
It might make trouble
I'll never lisp syllable Of il to
any living soul,1 was the eager re-
Spouse.
"WelP-here the deacon lowered his
voice to an impressive whisper--.I
nave q book at home which contains
every word OF it,"
Here the train for which Deacon
Brown was waiting came rushing Is
the depot. y
rs It possible~ calculated Mr.. Quinn
BY, with upIifted eyes and hands
but you haven't told me"
Deacon Brown was already IN the
steps, smiling and waving his adieux
from the platform of the rear car,
which rapidly disappeared around
curve in the road
he was absent nearly week. When
ne returned, he found not only the
church, but the whole village in a
state Of excitement and commotion.
re mad not been home more than an
hour. when Elder Wakeman called on
MIN, and in the course of the day he
nvag yvaifad x.y&r~, VI,