Confusion In The Work Shop

Yes, sad to relate, there is confusión in the clerical workshops. Toolsdesigned to work together in harmony were, instead, grumbling and fault-finding, iL not, indeed, actually set by the ears. Bishop Blacksmith smote his forehead in despair, as he looked on his diocese, and heard the angry clatter of discussion concerning the great questions of the day; while all Carpenterdom was engaged with equal violence upon the methods of individual labor. "I contend," exclaimed the profound Kev. D. D. Augur, "that Brother Plañe is superficial in his work. He makes a great flourish of shavings, but does not go beneath the surf ace! I have no patience with him! I believe in going to the depths of thingsl" "Yes, you do bcre oue so!" whispered a stupid little blockhead, with a yawu. "I acknowledge," said the Kev. For cible Hammer, "the depth of your wisdom, and I admire your peiietrationbut you must confess your powers of influence are limited to a very small circle." "Stop, stop, Brother Hammer, cried Deacon Tenpenny Nail, "I grant you made a great noise in the world, but my experience is that your performance affects only the head after all." "Little Giinlet, a preacher of very sinall calibre, here put in a feeble protest Bgainst the surface work so sadly preval ent. Iledid not think there was much heart-work accomplished by all this excitement and noise. A couplo of old saws put their heads together ominously, while one mumbled to the other through lus broken teeth : "I have long been dissatisfied with the state of thiugs in this workshop. In my day the motto was. 'Slow and sure.' I went to work on a, log of woxl, uot oxpecting to convert it in a minute into a pile of lumber. Back and forth, through and through, I tore away, until every fibre yielded, but it was tough work, and very slow. Howa-days it seems to me, you just turn a crank, hear a shriek, see apuff, and the thing is done." "Well now, Father Saw, we are not talking about old times," said pert bright Brother Chisel. "We have heard all you have to say on that subject over and over agaio. The question to-day is, 'Which is the best mode of workingl' or rather, 'What is it that is lacking in our most active instruments ?' The Rev. Mr. Hammer has been severely criticised, but I have worked under his direction a great deal, and I must say that his syle is powerful, and his arguments convincing. Every blow tells. ' At this juncture, Horseshoe, a lay member of St. Anvil church, stepped in, and entered into the contest: "I bave feit the full power of Mr. Hammer's argumenta, but I acknowledge I have been more beneflted by the influence ef Brother Bellows. It is warmth that is required to melt the heart which will not yield to force. Where should I have been were it not for the fire and favor whicli he brings to the work ?" There aróse a general cry for Mr. Bellows, which pulled up that f unctionary consklerably. Forgetting where he was, and the inflammatory nature of his audience, he cried out with enthusiaem : "Ah yes ! Could we but have a Forge in every workshop, could the flie of zeal but spread, what might we not accomplish! Wannth, warmth, is all that is needcd!" Prof. Grindstone, who had been listening with a somewhat contemptuous expression, turned around slowly upon this, and addressed the company. He had been engaged in sharpening the intellects of a class of young Hatchets, of different grades of capacity. The dullness of some of these had exhausted his patience, "Excuse me, gentlemen ! Warmth is not all ! If thoroughly effective work is to be done, more thau mere fervor is required. I have had large experience, and have seen many sparks fly which did but light a little tinder. Acuteness, polish, culture, in its widest sense, must contribute to the qualificatian of evcry truly competent instrument. The times demand culture." Upon this, örolher Screw, a circuit rider, turned signiücantly upon Brother Vice, who was totally unpolished, but a faithful and successful worker. "My plan," said Brother Vice, rather roughly, "is to get a goodgrip andthen hold fast. I sieze upon everybody that comes in my way. As I draw them in, Brother Screw just turns round and keeps them from slipping away. We work together. 'Yesl" - eagerly broke in Brother Plane, who had been taken aback by the remarks of the Right Keverend at the beginning, and now saw an opportunity to say a word lor himself - "Yes! We believe in co-operation. When I see a subject in the grip of Brother Vice, I kuow that it is my time to work. You must confess that in smoothing away difficulties, none of you excel me." Friend Rule and Frieud Compass, who had kept their places on the bench in silence hitherto, now expressed a concern that none in undue zeal should go beyond proper bounds. As far as their memory served them, there was no instance on recojd of work prospering that was not in the line of duty. It must be clearly marked out. "I am sure," soliloquised Brother Hammer, ''I have fastened a nail in a sure place many a time without any such restrictions." He seemed to forget for the moment the hand of the master builder that had con trolled him. Just at this juncture the "Carpenter's Son" entered his workshop. The talk among the tools ceased. No work had been going on during the discussion. But now, strange to say, the presence of their master brought vigor and harmonious activity. It was a model of a temple upon which he was engaged; and as it grew under his hand, each iu turn, without remonstrance, took his part in the work assigned him. Saw and hammer, plane and chisel, vise and grindstone, dropped all distinctions, and yielded each to the other as[his turn of service came. And thus, in time, under the skilful guiding and forming hand, the temple grew in beauty and strength unto