A PARABLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1082, 5 April 1913, Page 4

A PARABLE.

The Rev. J. M. Thomson, M.A., in his speech at the Methodist social on Wednesday night, gave a strikingly oiiginal and suggestive little parable anent the characteristic qualities and services of the different branches of the Christian Church. He forwarned his hearers that the parable was nothing like complete or exact, and, if it is to apply at all, it must be interpreted very liberally and charitably, otherwise it would be worse than meaningless.

A rag is in the gutter. Many leave it there, not appreciating its possible value or caring to touch it where it lies. Many, indeed, do not even approach near enough to find it or see it. But the Salvation Tassie, with pure heart, has no fear or shame; she willingly descends to the lowest and rescues it forth. The Baptist catches sight of it now. “Oh, what a dirty rag. Bring it here, and let us wash it.” And wash it he does most thoroughly. It is no half-and-half process with him. And so in it goes lor full and complete immersion—nothing short of that. He heard the other day of a little girl who fell into a water race It was a very deep one, too, for a little girl, and the only dry thing left on her was her hair ribbon. The Baptist does not leave even that dry. The little girl, later on, when she had been dried, and warmed, and rehabilitated, wanted to have a look at her “poor, drowned clothes. ” And so the Anglican comes along, and has a look at the “poor, drowned rag.” “My dear fellow, you can never stay like that, you know, all dripping wet. You do not look respectable. You could never go into society like that. Come along to the church, and we’ll set you up.” And so they do. They squeeze him and wring him just as dry as a wringer can do it, and then peg him out on the line with a lot of other pegged clothes. And there they hang all in a row as near uniformity as pegs can bring them. But the Methodist is not satisfied. All looks very neat and respectable, and in good form. But the Methodist sniffs round. This stillness and stiffness is deadly. So he gets the clothes prop, and sticks it under the line, and hoists it for all he is worth where the “rag” will get all the breezes and sunshine of heaven. “Oh, that's better, he exclaims, as he sees it flapping in the wind. He does love stir and movement in the clear open. “That will freshen him up a bit.” And the Methodist thinks he is all right. But dear no. The “rag” could not be all right yet. What would the world do without the Presbyterian to complete and perfect the process ? The “rag” is greatly improved, we grant you; it is cleaner, whiter, drier, fresher, and one can see now what the “rag” really is. It is a gentleman’s high-necked collar, good and handsome, of the very best quality, design and make. But who would wear it like that, limp and wrinkled and crumpled ? So into the Presbyterian laundry it must go to be sprinkled, starched and ironed ; to have the wrinkles, creases and ridges smoothed out with the heavy weight of doctrine and discipline which the Presbyterian wifi give to produce that orderly procedure ip teaching, learning, governing, and living so essential if the utmost and highest is to be attained in any or all pf these; and further, apd more important, still, to have the starch and stiffening put into it of sound principle—just sufficient to let it bend to serve its good purpose, for we may, and should, give way in such things, but also to make it unyielding absolutely where it is a matter of real principle, of truth or duty, conscience or God. How can you do without that gloss and finish, that smoothness and stiffness, that order and bone which the Presbyterian Church gives ! Now the “rag”' is fit for the King to wear.