Laicus Or the Experiences of a Layman in a Country Parish

ough she does not say much. She only says that if I did she thinks I could do a great deal of good. I wonder

nt, and went the next day to hear my old friend Thomas Lan

ith the poor of his own congregation. To his credit and that of his wife be it said, there are a good many poor in his congregation. But he does not confine

distributing tracts? Are you doing anything to seek and to save that which is lost?" Then he went on to say what should be done; and to maintain the right and duty of laymen to preach, to teach, to visit, to do all things which belong to "fishers of men." "There are a great many church me

of all that he said. I believe I should have decided at once to go int

g establishment. He is one of Mr. Lane's warmest friends. Mr. Lane believes him to be a devoted Christian. "Well, parson," said he, "I suppose

atter now?" s

ou do, and am off to the factory. I never get home till six o'clock, sometimes not then. My day's work uses up my day's energies. I can't go out to a tenement-house prayer-meeting, or to tract distribution in the evening. I can hardly keep awake in our own church prayer-meeting. If it were not for Sunday's rest my work would kill me in a year. I sometimes think that pe

not leave it for another--only do not forget that you have to give an account of your parochial charge. You are to study, not how to get the most money out of your four

who are not working for the Church. There is a work for Christ outside. And I do not want to take a Sabbath-school class.

them. And Mr. Work thinks it's a dreadful sin, I do not doubt, that I do not take it at once. I do not care much for that. But Jenn

on behalf of the City Mission Society was held here. Mr. Mingin

t population of New York. With all the eloquence of a warm heart, made more attractive by his broad Scotch, he pled with us to take an active part in their amelioration. "Pure

trembling lip and the tearful eye, that her heart was full. "I wish I had not come to-night," she said, as we walked along together. "Such stories make my heart bleed. It seems as though I ought to go right out to visit the sick, comfort the afflicted, care for the neglected. But what can I do? My children are dependen

act-distributors never enter. The street that needs Gospel visitation most is Fifth avenue. That is in her district. And, nobly, though unconsciously, she fulfils her mission. More than one person I have heard say, "If to be a Christian is to be like Mrs. Bridgeman, I wish I were one." Our pastor preaches no such effective

rted. And I was a little comforted too. It is very clear, is it not, that we are not all

nd the chair? That is the first point to be settled. The other comes up afterward. But it does persist

Jennie and see what she