Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-01-09
HE PUBLIC REBUKE.
Arroporn OF Iupqr wHIrr.

ANEcDoTE OF JUDGE WHITE. I
The late famented Judge Hugh L.
White, of Tennessee, became cOnspic-
uous at very early period in life, as a
jurist and a statesman. He fixed his
permanent home at Knoxville, amidst |
the scenes of his youthful sports and
the companions of his boyish days.
Rarely has young man, continuing
IN his own country and among his own
kindred, so soon attained such literary
end political pre-eminence. From his
youth. the Judge was characterized for
profound reverence for the ordinances
Of the gospel. He was regular atten-
dant at the house of worship. And
while he was Presbyterian, that being
the church of his fathers and the church
OF his choice, he was benevolent and
generous towards other branches of the
great Christian family: He gave to the
Methodist church at Knoxville the
ground on which their house of wor-
ship was built-anG occasionally he
would appear in the congregation, and
Join with them in their worship.
Now, in those days there was nota-
bic president Elder in that region, called
Father Axley, a pious, laborious, un-
compromising preacher Of the gospel,
who considered it his duty to rebuke
sin wherever it should presume to lift
up its deformed head within the limits
of his district. And while Father Ak
lev was a man of respectable talents,
undoubted piety, and great ministerial
fidelity, he had, moreover, spice of
humorous oddity and droIlary about him,
that rarely failed to impart character
istic tinge to his performances. The
consequence was, that amusing anec-
doies of the sayings and doings of Fa-
ther Axley abounded throughout the
country:
On a certain day, number OF law
yers and literary men were together in
the town of Knoxville, and the CONVEX
sation turned on preachers and preach
ing. One another had expressed his
opinion of the performances of this and
that pulpit orator. At length Judge
White spoke up--"Well, gentlemen,
on this subject each man is, of course,
entitled to his own opinIon-but L must
confess that Father Axley brought me
to a sense of my evil deeds-at least a
portion of them-more effectually than
any preacher that | ever heard" Al
this, every eve and ear was turned-for
Judge White was never known to speak
lightly on religious subjects, and more
over, he was habitually cautious and
respectful in his remarks concerning
religious men. The company now ex-
pressed the most urgent desire that the
Judge would give the particulars, and
expectation stood on tiptoe.
Il went up said the Judge, zone eve
ming. to the Methodist church. A SER
mon was preached by clergyman with
whom was not acquainted-but Father
Axley was in the pulpit At the close
OF the sermon he arose, and said TO the
congregation: Il am not going to detain
you by delivering an exhortation, have
arisen merely to administer a rebuke
Tor improper conduct, which l have OBJ
served here tonight This, of course,
walked up the entire assembly; and the
stiffness was profound, while Axley
stood and looked for three seconds over
the congregation. Then, stretching out
his large long arm, and pointing with
his finger steadily in one direction,
Now said he, q calculate that those
two young men, who were talking and
laughing in that corner of the house,
while the brother was preaching, think
that 1 am going TO talk about them.
Well it is true, that it looks very
bad, when well dressed young men,
who you would suppose, from their
appearance, belonged to some re-
spectacle family, come 10 the house
Of God, and instead of reverencing
the majesty Of Him that dwelleth
therein, or attending to the message
Of his everlasting love, get together
in one corner of the house, (his fin
ger at all times pointing steady and
straight as the aim OF a ri1eman)
and there, throughout the whole SOL
emn service, keep talking, tittering,
laughing,and giggling, thus annoying
the minister, disturbing the congre-
CATION and SHINING against Cod
l'm sorry for the young men. Pm
sorry for their parents. Pm sorry
they have done so tonight | hope
they will never do so again. But,
however, that's not the thing was
going to talk about. Its another
matter and so important, that |
thought it would be wrongto to suffer
the congregation to depart without
administering "a suitable rehuke.-
Now, said he, stretching his huge
arm, and pointing in another direc-
tioh, perhaps that man who was
asleep on the bench out there, while
the brother was preaching, thinks
that I'm going to talk about him.
Well, must confess it looks very
bad for man to come into a wor-
Shipping assembly and, instead Of ia
king seat like others. and listening
to the blessed gospel, carelessly
stretching himself out on bench,
anil Ia =