Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-09-11
The Public Rebsakp.
ANEcDoTE OF JUDGE WHITE

scenes Of his youthful sports and the com
panions Of his boysh days. Rarely has
a young man, continuing in his own coun-
trv among his own kindred. so soon at
tained such literary and political pre-en
neuce From his youth. the Judge was
characterized by profound reverence tor
the ordinances Of the gospel. lie was
REGULAR attendant at the house Of worship.
And while he was a Presbyterian, that be-
ing the church Of his fathers and the
church Of his choice. he was benevolent
and generous towards other branches Of
the great Christian family lie gave 70
the Methodist church at Knoxville the
ground on which their house Of worship
was built-and occasionally he would ap
pear in the congregation, and Join with
them in their worship.
Now, in those days, there was a nota-
bic presiding Elder in that region, called
Father Axley. pious, laborious. uncom
promising preacher Of the gospel. who
considered il his duty 10 rebukc sin where
ever it should presume TO lif up its de
formed head within the limits Of his dis
trict And while Father AHlcy was man
of respectable talents, unloub'cl piety,
and grea, ministerial fidelity. he had more
over. a spice Of humor, ollity, and droll
erv about him, that rarely failed 10 impart
q characteristic tingc 10 his performances.
The consequence was. that amusing an
ccdo,es Of the sayings and doings Of Faith
er Ax!cy abounded throughout the coun
TRY.
On a certain day, number Of laws crs
and literary men were together III the
town Of knoxv le. and the conversation
turned on the subject Of preaching and
preachers Dnc and another had express
sod his opinion Of the performances Of
this and that pulpit orator. IT length.
Judge White spoke np-W Well. gentle
men on this subject each man IS Of course.
entitled to his own opInon--but | must
confess. that Father Axlcy brought me t.
a sense Of my evil deeds-at least a por-
ton Of ,hcm-inore eilrctually than any
,reachrf | have ever heard. IT this. cv
ferv eve and ear was turned--ior Juig"
w bite was known never 10 speak lightly
-. religious subjects. and. moreover, he
was habitually cautious and respectful III
his remarks concerning religious men.-
The company now expressed the most nr-
gent desire that the Judge would give the
particulars. aud expectation stood on tip
toe
Il went up said the Judge, one even
ino. 10 the Methodist church. 4 sermon
was preached by a clergyman with whom
was not acquainted - but Father axelv
was in the pulpit \, the close of the Ser
mon he arose. and said to the congrega
tion. Il am not going 10 drtain YOU bv de-
Ilivctinr an exhortation. have risen si,np
Nv 10 administer a rebuke for improper
conduct. which have observed here to
night This. OF course, walked up the
entire assembly: and the stiffness was
most profound while Axlcv stood and
look ed for two or three seconds over the
congregation. Then. stretching out his
large. long arm. and pointing with his fin
GER steadily in one direction. .Now.' said
he. Il calculate that those two Young men.
who were talking and laughing in that
icornrr ot the house. while the brother was
preaching. think that I'm going 10 talk
about them Well. il is true that il looks
very bad. when well dressed Young men.
who YOU would suppose. from their ap-
pearancc. belonged 10 some rcntael. re-
spectacle family. come to the house of
God. and instead Of rcverencinr the ma
leStv Of Him that dwelleth therein. or at
tending 10 the message Of his everlasting
love. get together in one corner Of the
house. (his finger all this time pointing
straight and steady as the aim Of a rifle
many 'and there. through the whole solemn
service. keep talking. tit'ernC. laughing.
giGgllng; thus annoving the minister, dis
tnrbing the congregation. and SHINING
against God. IN sorry for the vounr
men. I'm sorry tor their parents. I'm
sorry they have done so tonight. | hone
they'll never do 50 again. Bur. however
that's not the thing that | was going to
talk about. II is another matter and 50
important. that thought it would lie wrong
% suffer the congregation 10 depart with
out administering a suitable rebukc-
Now. Sad he. stretching his huge arm
and pointing IN another direction. per
hap> that man who was asleep on the
bench out there. while the hrother was
preaching thinks that am going to talk
about nun Yell. must confess. il looks
very bal Tor man 10 come into a wor-
shPing assembly and. instead of taking
his seat like others. and listening 10 the,
blessed gospel. careesslv stretch himself
out on a bench. and 20 to sleep II not
only proof Of great insenSiaility with
regard 70 the obligations which We owe
70 our Creator and Releemer but it shows
a want of genteel breeding 1t shows
that the poor man has been so unfprtun-
ate IN his bringing up. as not to have been
taught good manners. He don't know
what is polite and respectful in a wor ship
ping assembly. among whom he comes 10
mingle. I'm sorry for the poor man
I'm sorry for the family to which he be-
longs. I'm sorry he did not know better
hope he will never do so again. But
however, tha, is not what was going to
talk about. Thus Father Axley went on.
for some time. boxing the compass and
hitting number Of persons and things
that he was not going to talk about and
hitting hard till the attention and curiosi-
ty OF The audience were raised 10 the high
est pitch. when. finally. he remarked -
.Ihn thinr nf uh;nh 1 u-,s .A:,. - Ill