Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-03-10
Borrowed Sermons.

America would contain curious chapt,
in relation to what have been really, or
reputation, stolen compositions delivere
from the pulpit. Two or three cases
this kind now occur to our recollection
Some twenty years ago, there lived ,
Bristol, England, a very able and popula
preacher, the Rev. William Thorpe
Commanding il person and manner, witt
4 voice blending the peal Of the thunde
with the softness of the zephyr, and Will
pathos and JUNCTION which, in his bes
seasons, were almost unrivalled, he wa
everywhere popular No man, when h,
brought out his powers, could make :
better sermon; but he was naturally
indolsnt, and having most extraordinary
memory, he never made secret of the
fact that not few of his sermons were
composed by others. The practice placed
him sometimes in an awkward position,
which, however, he occasionally turned to
good account. His week-eyening sermons
were generally extempore, and cost him
but half an hours tkought in his yestry,
which he usually reached so long before
the commencement of the services. One
Wednesday evening, on ms arrival at
church, he found on the table some fifty
copies of Il printed sermon, sent by poor
neighboring minister for sale Thorpe
sat down, read and admired the sermon
and went into the pulpit and delivered it
His hearers were delighted, and went
almost in crowds into the vestry to express
their qualification. The worthy pastor,
wishing perhaps to test the sincerity of
these compliments, and no doubt desiring
to benefit his neghboring brother, said to
his people, ooh yes, the sermon you have
heard tonight is a good sermon, very
good sermon; but do not thank me for it
it is none Of mine. There it lies printed
on the table; pay your shillings and take
home the cepies, and so refresh your
memories, and send a few loaves of bread
to the family of its author need
not add that the sermons were all sold.
When Mr.. Thorpe was settled in
London, before he removed to Bristol, he
peeachcd from memory the whole six
volumes of Saurin' S sermons, on successive
Sabbath evenings When he had reached
the end, the late Samuel Bagster, the
biblical publisher, a personal friend Of
Thorpe's, sent him handsomely bound
copy Of Saurin, with note kindly hoping
that his friend would accept new copy
of Saurin, as he thought the old copy
must be worn out. Thorpe most pleasant
ly accepted the present, and told Bagster
that he hoped he had been great y.prolited
by the labors Of the best preacher which
France ever produced
There lived in Thorpe's days (and we
hope yet lives) in city ten or twelve
miles from Bristol, one Of the most popu-
lar preachers of the day. He and
Thorpe had been engaged to preach on
occasion of the dedication of a new
church, and travelled great part of the
journey on the preceding day together.
On the way, Thorpe acknowledged that he
had made no preparation for the service,
and indeed was not even provided with a
text For this his companion severely
blamed him, little thinking of what the
result was to be. Arrived at the end of
their journey, they were put to sleep in a
double -bedded room. II the night, j.,
Who was at that time exceedingly careful
Ct his delivery, awoke, and, supposing
Thorpe to be asleep, he carefully repeated
aloud the sermon he had to deliver in the
morning. !
Thorpe lay ard Heard it, and formed
lis plans respeetingit. When they arose,
he entrcated j. to exchange services with
him, chiefly pleading that he did rot feel
Quite comfortable IN the idea of following /
tie finished sermon that, no doubt, J.
would deliver in the morning, besides
which, by Car the largest congregation
would be in attendance in the evening |
The bait took. The unsuspecting J. gave
up; and when he went to church, it was
to listen to his own sermon prepared with
so lruch care for the evening. And
what added to his modification was, that
whenever Thorpe had delivered ore of the
finest passages, he would pause for
moment 10 lock into Us face to see how
it took
This vas by no means iae only sermon Of
J.'s that had been stolen from him indeed,
We hayo heard him say, that in travelling
he has sometimes gone into 8 strange
church, and had an opportunity Of listen
ing to a stranger of another denomination
delivering ard sometimes iaardcriny one
of his own printed sermons aud once in.
troduced himself to one Of those preaching
4. q, -