The day succeeding Phil's death was Sunday, and the little church at
Viking was full. Many fishers had come over from Sunburst. It was evident
that people expected Roscoe to make some reference to Phil's death in his
sermon, or, at least, have a part of the service appropriate. By a
singular chance the first morning lesson was David's lamentation for Saul
and Jonathan. Roscoe had a fine voice. He read easily, naturally--like a
cultivated layman, not like a clergyman; like a man who wished to convey
the simple meaning of what he read, reverently, honestly. On the many
occasions when I heard him read the service, I noticed that he never
changed the opening sentence, though there were, of course, others from
which to choose. He drew the people to their feet always with these
words, spoken as it were directly to them:
"When the wicked man turneth away from the wickedness that he hath
committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save
his soul alive."
I noticed this morning that he instantly attracted the attention of every
one, and held it, with the first words of the lesson:
"The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the
mighty fallen!"
It seemed to me as if the people at first almost tried to stop breathing,
so intense was the feeling.
Pages:
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322