A "DEAD" MEMBER.

Waiapu Church Times, Volume I, Issue 1, 1 July 1907, Page 13

A "DEAD " MEMBER.

"Oh, yes, I am a member of the Episcopal Church," replied a bright woman upon whom the curate called to see why she was not taking an active- part m the work of the parish. " .Yes., I 'was confirmed m S. — : — 's Church, New York. My family were old Episcopalians." - " Well, are you not willing to help us m the work of the parish?" "Xes, I should like to ; but the trutli of the matter is, I did sp

much church work m the last parish I was m that I simply can't force myself to get into harness again." "•But I thought you said • you were a member of the Episcopal Church?" " Well, so I am," replied the lady with a controversial air. "I told you I was brought up as an Episcopalian." " Yes," replied the curate, who had made a number of similar, visits during the week upon " members "of the Episcopal Church. " Will you please tell me what you mean by the word ' member ' ?" •"• Why, of course, the word 4 member ' means any particular part of the body." " Exactly," said the curate. " Now niy arm is a member of the body ; but if my arm were paralysed, what would you say of its ' membership ' ?" " I would say it was a dead member," laughingly replied the woman. " And the fact that it has been a good strong working arm m years gone by would not prevent it from being, a dead member now," continued the curate, pressing, his point home. " And its membership now, instead of being helpful to the body, would be a positive hindrance." " I guess that's right," replied the woman. " The truth is," said the curate, " the Episcopal Church is so full of members that either can't or won't work, that the body is pretty nearly paralysed sometimes." "Well,"- said the woman, "I guess lam a dead member. You may call on me for anything I can do to assist you."—." Parish Messenger," U.S.A.