Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-04-16
BORROWED SERMONS.

England, q very able and popular preacher, the
Rev. William Thorpe. Commanding in person
and manner. with VOICE blending the peal of
the thunder with softness of the zephyr, and
with pathos and JUNCTION which, in his best sea-
sons, were almost unrivalled, he was everywhere
popular No man, when he brought out his
powers, could make better sermon but he was
naturally indolent, and having a most extraordi-
nary memory, he never made a 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 occa-
sonally turned to good account. His weekly
evening sermons were generally extempore, and
cost him but half an hours thought in his ves-
try, which he usually reached so long before the
commencement of the service. One Wednes-
day evening, on his arrival at church, he found
on the table some fifty copies of printed ser
mon, sent by a poor neighborng minister for sale
Thorpe sat down, read and admired the sermon
and then went into the pulpit and delivered it,
His hearers were delighted, and went almost in
crowds into the vestry to express their gratfca
ton. 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, "Oh yes, the sermon you have
heard tonight is good sermon,a rerg good ser
mon; but do not thank me forit it is none of
mine. There il lies printed on the table pay your
shillings and take home the copies, and so refresh
your memories, and send a few loaves of bread
to the family of the author" We need not add
that the sermons We're all sold.
When Mr.. Thorpe was settled in London, be-
fore he removed to Bristol, he preached from
memory the whole six Volumes of Saurin's SER
mons, on successive Sabbath evenings When
he had reached the end, the late Samuel Bagstcr,
the biblical publisher, personal friend of
Thorpe's sent him handsomely bound copy Of
Saurin, with a note kindly hoping that his friend
would accept new copy of Saurin, as be tho't
the old copy must be worn ont. Thorpe most
pleasantly accepted the present, and told Bags
ter that he hoped he had been greatly profted by
the labors Of the best preacher which France had
ever produced.
There lived in Thorpc's days and we hope yet
lives, in city ten or twelve miles from Bristol,
one of the most popular preachers Of the day.
lie and Thorpe had been engaged to preach on oc-
cason OF the dedication of Il new church, and
travelled great part of the Journey on the day
proceeding, together On the way, Thorpe ac-
knoWIedged that he had made no preparation for
the service, and indeed was not even provided
with text For this his companion severely
blamed him, little thinking of what the re-
suit was 10 be. Arrived at tire end of their Jour
ncy, they were quito sleep in doubIe-bcdded
room. In the night, j., who was at that time
exceedingly careful of his delivery, awohe, and
surprising Thorpe TO be asleep, he carefully re-
peated the sermon he had to deliver in the morn
INC.
Thorpe lay and heard it, and formed his plans
respecting it. When they arose he cntrcated J.
- exchange services with him, chiefly pleading
that he did not feel quite comfortable in the idea
Of following the finished sermon that no doubt
J. wond deliver in the morning, besides which
by Tar the largest congregation would be in at
tendance in the evening. The bait took. j.
the unsuspectiug J.-gave up; and when he
went to church, it was 10 listen to his own ser
mon prepared with so much care for the evening.
AMI what added to his modification was, that
whenever Thorpe had delivered one Of the finest
passages, he paused moment to look into j. 5
face TO see how il took
This was by no means the only sermon Of j. 5
that had been stolen from him. indeed we have
heard him say, that in travelling he has some
times gone into strange church, and had an OPP
portunty Of listening to a stranger Of another
denomination delivering, and sometimes murder
ing one Of bis own printed sermons and once
introduced himself TO one OF those preaching
there's. to rcprove him for the manner in which
he lad SposI,d his sermon.
On one OCCASION, a living minister heard J in
London, when he delivered plain, practical ser
mon, which could not be we'll got rid Of by any
one that heardit As the minister arrived al his
home very late in the week, and had not time 10
prepare two sermons for the Sabbath, he deliver
ed in the evening, entirely from memory sub
>,antally the same sermon he had heard from j.
Ga going his rounds among his friends on Mon
day morning, he found his people in a state OF
excitement, such as he never had witnessed be-
fore. Every one contended that he had been
personal, and every man contcnded that the
preacher meant him The pastor got through
for the time quietly as he could, expecting how
the matter would end, In a few days his church
met on Gheir general business, and the pastor
took an opportunity of stating the whole of the
facts and laid on the table printed copy of
the sermon delivered by J. reported for the
pulpit a London publication devoted to SER
mons
One fact moro, and we viii relieve the attcn-
tion Of the reader |: relates 70 J. himself
One Lords day he was absent from his pulpit,
which was occupied by young man with whom
he had recently become acquainted and who
had delivered sermon which had greatly charm-
ed him. In the evening Of the day the young
supply delivered the sermon he had before preach
"a az fAtHtAiNt - ttli l''9'' ~ tit ga
not conceal their pleasure that he had stolen
a sermon from their pastor, who hal preached it
10 them rer5a..m, only the proceeding Lords
day evening The young minister asserted his
innocence, but no one believed him. lie did not
feel At liberty 10 state the facts OF the case, hut
determined not to leave the city till Mr. }. re-
turned, and some explanation could be given
On the following Lords day he adverted in his
pulpit 70 the circumstances Of the same sermon
from the same pulpit on two successive Sabbath
evenings, and added very significantly 1T is
quite true there was Stealing in the case; bat
my friend did not steal il from me; stole Il from
hun. | heard him preach il; il did me good; |
thought il exactly adapted for you, and 80 |
preached il; my brother thought that you need
cd i, and gave It to you again. Ii blame rests
anywhere it is with your pastor, and not with
your visitor"
ORIGIx OF TIE DANcE.-The dance which at
the present day is so much admired as a diver.
sion, was in It's origin sort OF mystery and GER
emony. The Jews. 10 whom God himself gave
laws and ceremonies, introduced il in their tes-
rivals. and the Pagans after them, cansccrated il
to their dtvinities. After the passage Of the Red
Sea, Moses. and Miriam, his sister, 10 return
thanks TO the Almighty for the preservation OF
the people, and the defeat OF the Egyptians
drowned in the Red Sea, arranged two great dam
ces, with music, One was for the men, and the
k1rf fha A1sf,. .