cold except for him.  The little boys always greet him with a “How do you do Deacon,” and always get a smile, and a nod, and sometimes a stick of candy or a little book in return.  His over-coat pockets are always full of some little books or tracts, and always of the bright and cheery description.  Always full, I said; but that is a mistake; when he gets home at night they are generally empty.  For he goes out literally as a sower went out to sow, I do not believe there is a child within five miles of Wheathedge that has not had one of the Deacon’s little books.

I suspected that the Deacon had come partly to talk with me about that Bible class, and I resolved to give him an opportunity.  So I opened the way at once.

Laicus.: 

—­Well Deacon, how are church affairs coining on; pretty smoothly; salary paid up at last?

Deacon Goodsole.: 

—­Yes, Mr. Laicus; and we’re obliged to you for it too.  I don’t think the parson would have got his money but for you.

Laicus.: 

—­Not at all, Deacon.  Thank my wife, not me.  She was righteously indignant at the church for leaving its minister unpaid so long.  If I were the parson I would clear out that Board of Trustees and put in a new one, made up wholly of women.

Deacon Goodsole.: 

—­That’s not a bad idea.  I believe the women would make a deal better
Board than the present one.

Dr. Argure:  [(with great solemnity).]

—­Mr. Laicus, have you considered the Scriptural teachings concerning the true relations and sphere of women in the church of Christ.  The apostle says very distinctly that he does not suffer a woman to teach or to usurp authority over the man, and it is very clear that to permit the female members of the church to occupy such offices as those you have indicated would be to suffer her to usurp that authority which the Scripture reposes alone in the head—­that is in man.

Laicus:  [(naively).]

—­Does the Scripture really say that women must not teach?

Dr. Argure.: 

—­Most certainly it does, sir.  The apostle is very explicit on that point, very explicit.  And I hold, sir, that for women to preach, or to speak in public, or in the prayer-meeting of the church, is a direct violation of the plain precepts of the inspired word.

Laicus.: 

—­I wonder you have any women teach in your Sabbath School?  Or have you turned them all out?

Mrs. Laicus,:  [(who evidently wishes to change the conversation).]

—­How do affairs go on in the work of your church.

Dr. Argure,:  [(who is not unwilling that it should be changed).]

—­But slowly, madam.  There is not that readiness and zeal in the work of the church, which I would wish to see.  There are many fruitless branches on the tree, Mrs. Laicus, many members of my church who do nothing really to promote its interests.  They are not to be found in the Sabbath School; they cannot be induced to participate actively in tract distribution; and they are even not to be depended on in the devotional week-day meetings of the church.