the deacons of a church in Vermont. He was a stout, thick man, and had a round, plump, florid face, with a very blunt nose. He was a man of very kind spirit, and always appeared as if something had happened to make him particularly pleasant and cheerful. He was always very courteous in his behavior, and was consequently regarded as a dignified and affable gentleman. His neighbors looked upon him with much respect, as he was known to be honest and honorable in all his business transactions. He was considered as an ornament both to his profession as a Christian, and to his office as a deacon, because he was so consistent in his walk and conversation. His heart was filled with benevolence; and as to charity, he gave all he could, but his left hand never knew what his right hand did. He was rather poor in the things of this world, but so rich in faith that he could almost remove mountains. In the church, he was diffident and unassuming, and was always willing to yield (save where principle was concerned) to the opinions and wishes of his brethren. He was never known to make any trouble for his pastors, but was invariably ready to assist them, and do all he could for them, when they were in trouble with any one else. He abominated that feeling which takes delight in torturing the pastor, and was always cheerfully doing something to strengthen his hands and encourage his heart. He could not feel to rest, when there was any thing like angry discussion in the church, and always opposed the introduction of any subject which would provoke such discussion. As he was not a fickle man he never supported but one side of a question. He was a plain, straight forward, consistent abolitionist, a firm and actice temperance man, and he felt interested in every good cause. Every one could tell, when any subject was brought before the church, on which side deacon Drake would be found, from knowing the side he had formerly espoused; and all knew, that let the subject be what it might, if he spoke, he would speak low, short, and mildly. The brethren always were sorry if he were out of town, or if any thing happened to detain him at home on church meeting evening. If he were sick they always hoped that he would be well before that evening came, because his kindness, and mildness, and good counsels were always desirable at that meeting. We might go on still farther, and in a sim ilar style of writing, show the striking contrast between these two deacons. But we have already written sufficient to give a hint of the character of each, and that is all that is necessary. The reader can easily imagine, how each of these men would act in the different relations of life, and if he is a minister, he can quickly decide which of the two he would choose for a deacon of his own church. 10 CHAPTER XIII. REV. JAMES JENKINSON JENKINS. "Himself he view'd with undisguised respect, It was in 18-that the Rev. J. Jenkinson Jenkins, (as he wrote his name) resigned the pastoral care of the large church in the city of somewhere between Maine and Geor gia. The reason why he very good one. It was this much dissatisfied with him. resigned was a the people were The reason why the people were much dissatisfied with him, may, perhaps, be gathered from what is contained in this chapter. Mr. Jenkins was a man of acknowledged as talent. He could write as good a sermon most any other minister, and his discourses invariably afforded the evidence of much thinking and study. They gave ample proof that he possessed a clear and discriminating intellect; and they were couched in language chaste and strong; and their reasoning was always consecutive and convincing: if they were lacking in any thing, it was in the imaginative. Perhaps the brilliant "coruscations" of a fertile imagination, flashing a little here and there in his sermons, might have relieved them of a sort of cold stateliness, which was somewhat apparent in them. This might have improved them, in the estimation of some. However, they were sterling coin, just as they came from his mint. But, notwithstanding his good sermons, Mr. Jenkins did not move along very comfortably as a pastor. He did not seem to have the tact of winning the affections of his people, indeed, he did not desire it, for he often remarked that he would much rather have their respect than their love. Once conversing with a young ministering brother about mingling with the people, he said, "it is best always to preserve your dignity among them, for although they may not love you as much, they will respect you the more, and that is what ministers should desire; they should wish and strive to be respected.' He had imbibed the erroneous idea that he |