to familiarize themselves with the people, and to overcome the jealousies of some who have regarded them as intruders. This having been to a very great extent accomplished, the way has been cleared for future action, and with God's blessing, and the largely increased support of his people, the committee hope that a grand and noble future is in store for the Society.
Various plans have from time to time been suggested, with a view to augment our funds, so that more laborers may be sent into the vineyard. An officer of the church has recently offered ten shillings a year, per man, for any number not exceeding twenty, and suggests this plan to the committee as a practical and efficient means of promoting the interests of the Society.
The committee commend the work as one worthy of the sympathy, prayers, and cooperation of all who are anxious for the extension of the Master's kingdom, and they trust that such material aid will be speedily forthcoming, as will enable them to multiply the number of their agents, until they shall be found in every part of our land.
magic rod, An heir of heaven and child of God! Oh, what a very wondrous man
The priest must be indeed, who can Accomplish in so shot; a space The highest act of Sovereign Grace ! And on such cheap and easy refills, Confer that gift on mortal worms, Which (in some simple people's view).
No one but God himself can do. What wonder that he feels so proud, And claims such homage from the crowd; Assumes such consequential airs,
And something "more than mortal stares "?. While the poor sponsors standing by Pronounce the customary lie, Repeated o'er and o'er for years, Till all its grossness disappears, As if a falsehood was no crime
When told the hundredth thousandth time; Or that the sternest, strongest vows, The language of the land allows, Made to our Maker and our Judge, Were all mere moonshine, flash, and fudge. Their sanctions of as little away As old wives' chat, or children a play;
Their sanctity a Cheap Jack's joke,
Just "made like pie-crust to be broke;" Though promising to God and mini .What mortal never did, or can;
With neither strength nor wish, nor will, Their stern engagements to fulfill As reckless oft of right and wrong As it they hummed a come song; While, if not blasphemy, their sin Is something very near akin
A fact, which matters not a straw.
While countenanced by Prayer-book law ;. The outrage is no consequence On Scripture truth, or common sense.
Nor ought the parson to be freed;
As an accomplice in the deed.
Tis right that those who set the snare, The culprit's punishment should share; Aug God will surely in this way. Deal with the case some future day;
Though his long-suffering patience still Spares those who thus transgress his will And when that Child in after years Before his Catecni t appears, The simple, unsuspecting youth
Is taught t' insult the God of truth; When to the question, "cut and dried,"
The lying answer is supplied, Bearing upon its front, the sin
Of falsehood "burnt and branded in" Combining in its impious claims The highest and the holiest names; Forging the work of the Most High,. To countenance the daring lie, Which rises at a single stretch As high as finite sin can reach; Ascending to the throne of God Through paths by common sins untrod-Like Titans, in their fury driven, It scales the battlements of heaven, By mountains, in confusion wild, Of falsehood upon falsehood piled; Asserting things already done Which never yet have been begun, An.1 surely never will unless
A greater power than priests posses-s; Does for the glory of his name What they so arrogantly claim.
Next comes the confirmation day, With one more wicked farce to play
For which good Mother Church prepares. To show her most imposing airs, Decked out in all her best array To celebrate the gala day.
Her proudest trappings — alter all Picked up on some old Pagan stall, On which both Jew and Gentile bags Have poured their second-handed rags — Brought out to dramatize again, The ancient scenes of Dura's plain;
While organs peal, and bells ring out,
And white-smocked urchins scream and shout; And parsons gather "smart and slick" As "leaves in Vallombrosa thick," From rectors in their plumpest trim, To leanest curates, spare and slim. Which altogether form a band Just as contemptible as grand,
When 'tis considered how much brass And lead are molten in the mass;
Which makes the little gold, in fact, Scarce worth the trouble to extract; Or to remunerate their toil
Who pale the "precious from the vile."
All joint performers in the play
When Mother Church gets up to-day. When sponsors are to have their backs Eased of their self-inflicted packs; From those engagements set at large They ne'er attempted to discharge,
Which those on whose account they "stood Have made as heavy as they could. Who now are told that they with zeal Must put their "shoulder to the wheel ;" Avoid all Satan's sinful snares,
And come to church and say their prayers, Since all those sins which heretofore Were placed at their, God-parents' door, Stand henceforth to their own account. However awful the amount.
Advice which they will doubtless rate At its own proper estimate
And now with all the pomp dud show
That pride and priest craft can bestow,. Forth comes the bishop to review His regiment ranked in order due, Who at the signal of command
Are taught to bow, to kneel, or stand,. To catch what grace, by rule of art, Prelatic fingers can impart; Which, if results are any test, Is a small
modicum at best.
The blind, unconscious dupes and tools Of blinder dupes, and. guiltier fools; Some mere uncultivated dolts; Some wilder than wild asses' colts;
Some as fit fuel for the fire, As Satan can himself desire:
Though young in yearn. mature in sin; Steeped in transgression to the church, All which, compounded in the lump, Are held at one conclusive jump. Without inquiry or research,
True genuine chickens of the church — Whom how their careful parent brings Beneath her fond maternal wings, And strews a feast of poisonous food Before her thankless, careless brood.
When haunt led the graceless blades — -
Through all probationary grades, Relieved the sponsors of their vows, As far as Prayer-book law allows —
A yoke, it must be owned, whose touch Has never oiled their shoulders much — And thanking God for having done
A work that never was beau.
And blandly complimented heaven For having all their sins forgiven.
The church her finished sons invites
To join and share her holier rites — Howe'er "unworthy," or unfit, Of course it matters not a bit —
So they but at her "altar" meet And make the mockery complete;
Their own "damnation" to secure, And make perdition doubly sure.
So ends the confirmation day, An empty show and vain display,
Which every truth taught Christian must Contemplate with confirmed disgust.
THE SWORD AND THE TROWEL
NOVEMBER, 1868.