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AFTER CHURCH UNION

We want, we want, a preacher for the churches in Covehead,

A man inclined to godliness and not to money wed,

A minister to fill the place where clergymen have stood

And fasten with a close embrace our fractious neighborhood

We want a classic scholar with Greek and Latin fraught

Well posted in the doctrines that both Knox and Wesley taught

And such a one as Paul describes — mild, patient, apt to teach

Who will constrain the stay-at- homes to go and hear him preach

His walk and conversation must be the very best —

Abstinence from tobacco, gossip, frolic, song and jest;

To show the people how to live above all grime and smirch

And forbid the whiskey bottle to the members of the church.

We want a faithful pas tor who ’ll

exercise his care

Over the church and Sunday School by calling everywhere,

I f any of the fold are sick he must divine the fact,

I f any stray from virtue ’s path he must rebuke the act.

Preaching three times on Sunday, prayer meetings through the week

A bible-class and Epworth League at which of course he ’ll speak

Some weddings and some funerals engagements such as these

Will keep a man quite busy and not leave him too much ease

His wife must be an organist, able to sing and pray

And conduct the women’s meetings in a strictly business way,

And if he suits in other things be- sides these mentioned here

We ’ll pay $600 without dunning, every year.