Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1844-12-25

| tons IN regard 10 large audience "eIS
more than realized. The crowd was i'm
mense. Every nook and corner of the
courtroom was occupied, and was
pleased to see that the fair sex of the vii
age were numerously represented; the
press for admission had evidently been so
great that the doorkeeper had abandoned
his post, for saw no one acting in that
capacity.
assembled to the Judges seat, and my
two attendants took their seats in the
clerks place beneath.
bent down my head behind sort of
screen that was in front Of me, to call TO
my recollection the words of my first song.
| had not been in this situation but few
minutes, when my ears were greeted with
the following words, uttered by one OF
the pous looking gentlemen beneath me:
"Let as commence our rOrshiP by sing
ing the one hundredth psalm, long metre"
If | had been struck with thunderbolt
could not have been more astounded,
unless utterly annihiated. Before could
recover from my stupefaction, the reading
of psalm had been gone through with,
and the whole audience commenced sing
ing it to the tune of Old Hundred.
raised my eyes to the desk before me,
and found there bible, by mn-book, and
glass of water. The landlord being
near, beckoned him to me, and asked
him, in a whisper, what was expected of
me. "Erpected of your" he answered
with glistening and expecting eyes, seq
pected Of you? why, we expect a first rate,
right up-and down Orthodox sermon, and
don't expect we'll be much disappointed,
either"
The murder was QUIT saw through it
all; but what could dol TO gain time,
(the singing being concluded,) | leaned
forward and requested one of my DeacOnS
to go ahead with prayer, during which
time called my thoughts about me, and
most sincerely prayed for happy deIlve-
rance from my singular situation. Before
the conclusion of the prayer, had made
up my mind to "try my hand" al preach
ing-and did ii.
had no time to select a text, but OPEN
ing the bible at haphazard, read the follow
ing words, which | announced as the
groundwork of my discourse:
ave are perplered, but not in despair"
ID Corinthians, ", s.
will not attempt 10 give even an out
line of my discourse. | spoke with the
utmost sincerity, and soon found that taxi
ing TRUTH for my guide, there was no
great difficulty in my new undertaking.
| will not say anything of the orthodoxy
of my sermon, but | trust there was no.
thing advanced from that temporary pulpit.
by that temporary preacher, calculated to
lea any of that crowded congregation out
OF the path 10 Heaven.
At the conclusion Of my discourse .
hymn was sung, during which heard a
considerable of a Gathering which sounded
very much like coin falling into plaiters,
and with strong voice pronounced the
benedicion, dismissing the congregation
TO their several homes.
The landlord and my deacons reported
that they had collected forty-odd dollars
which, to their great surprise, ! directed
them 10 apply to charitable uses" At 5
O'Clock the next morning, Squire Jones
was ready with his wagon and team. The
landlord would not take any thing for my
dinner, supper, and lodging, declaring him.
self more than paid by what he was pleas
ed to term my excellent discourse.
Let not bigots and the regular clergy
accuse me of making a mock of religion,
or SOOTHING at its forms. spoke not
word, during my forced ministry of one
night, that | did not religiously believe 10
be TRUE and should ever leave my pre-.
sent profession for the pulpit, (Which |
shall certainly not do unless under a So
lemn conviction of Duty shall remember
without any feeling of regret NY FIRST
AND LAST SERMON.
l arrived in Memphis in time to CON-
mence my theatrical engagement on the
night following, and was greeted by large
audience, though by no means so grounded
a one as that which witnessed my first
appearance in the pulpit.