The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-10-28
THE PuaLIr pEnirKi,.


hsed his permanent home amidst the scene
Of his youthful sports and the com mpanions @
his boyish days. Rarely has young mar
continuing ia his own country and anon
his own kindred, SO soon attained such Lit
ersry and political pre-eminence. From hi
youth the Judge was characterized for pro
found reverence for the ordinances of the Cos
pei. He was irregular attendant at the hous
ofworship. And while he was presbyterian
that being the Church Of his father and tn
Church OF his choice, he was benevolent an
generous toward other branches Of the grea
Christian family. He gave to the Methods
! Church at Knoxville. the ground on whicI
their house of worship was built; and occas
ionally he would appear in the congregation
and join with them in their worship.
Now, in those days there was notable pre-
siding elder in that region, called father Axley
pious laborous, uncompromising preacher
of the Gospel, who considered it his duty to
rebuke sin whenever It should presume to lif,
up its deformed head within the limits of bis
district. And while father Axley, was man
! Of respectful talents, undoubted pety, and
great ministerial fidelity, he had moreover q
spice of humor, oddity, and drolery about him
that rarely fuiled TO impart characteristic
tinge to his performances. The consequence
was, that amusing anecdotes of the sayings
and doings of father Axley abounded through.
out the country.
On certain day number of lawyers and
literary men were together in the town Of
Knoxville, and the conversation turned on
preachers and preaching. One and another
had expressed his opinion ofthe performances
of this and that pulpit orator, when at length
Judge White spoke up:
"Well, gentleman. on this subject each man
is, of course, entitled to his own opinion; but
| must confess that father Axley brought me
to sense of my evil deeds, at least portion
of them, more effectually than any preacher
| ever heard"
At this. every eye and ear was turned, for
Judge White was never known to speak lightly
on religious subjects, and, moreover, was
habitually cautious and respectful in his re-
marks about religious men. The company
now expressed the most urgent desire that the
Judge should give the particulars, and expec-
tation stood on tip-toe.
81 went up" said the Judge, "one evening,
to the Methodist church. A sermon 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; I
have risen merely to administer rebuke for
improper conduct, which have observed here
tonight This of course walked up the en-
lire assembly, and the stiffness was profound,
while Axley stood and looked for several sec
onds over the congregation. Then stretching
out his large, long arm, and pointing with his
inger steadily in one direction, he said, Now,
calculate that those two young men, who
we're talking in that corner of the house, while
The brother was preaching, think that am
going to talk about them. Well, it is true,
It looks very bad, when well-dressed young,
men, who you would suppose, from their ap-
pearence, belonged to some respectable fam
ly, come to the house of God, and instead of |
reverencing the majesty o! Him that dweleth
therein, or attending to the message Of his
everlasting love, get together in one corner of
The housc'-his finger ut all times pointing as
steady aud straight as the aim of arfieman-
and there, during the whole solemn service,
Keep talking tittering laughing and sggling,
hus annoying the minister, disturbing the
and SHINING against God. Pm
'orry for the young men. Pm sorry for their
parents. I'm sorry they have done so tonight. |
hope they will never do so again. But, how
ever, that's not the thing was going to talk |
about. 1t is another matter, 30 important
hat thought it would be wrong to suffer the
to depart without administering
suitable rebuke.' Now said he, stretching
,ut his huge arm, and pointing in another d.
'ection, perhaps that man who was asleep on
he bench out there, while the brother was
preaching, thinks that l am going to talk |
lbout him. Well, must confess it looks
very bad for man to come into worslipng |
assembly, and, instead of taking seat like
,thers, and listening to the blessed Gospel,
,arelessly stretching himself out on a bench,
md going to sleep. 1t is not only proof OF
,reat insensiblity with regard to the obliga-
ions which we owe to our Creator and Re- |
leemer but it shows a want Of genteel bree.
ling 1t shows that the poor man has been
30 unfortunate in his bringing np, as not to
nave been taught good manners. He don't
know what is polite and respectful in wor-
Shipping assembly, among whom he comes to
ningle. I'm sorry for the poor man. I'm
sorry for the family to which he belongs. I'm
sorry. he did not know better. hope he will
never do so again. But, however, this is not
What was going to talk about Thus father
Axley went on, for some time, boxing the
hitting number of persons and
hings that he was not going to talk about,
and hitting hard, till the attention and Curl
osity of the audience were faised to the high
:st pitch, when finally he remarkedi
The thing of which was going to talk
vas chepins tobacco. Now, do hope, when
my gentleman comes 10 church, who can't
Keep from using tobacco during the hours Of
worship, that he will just take his hat and use
/ for spit-box. You all know we are Meth
odists. You all know that our custom is to
kueel when we pray. Now any gentleman
may see, IN moment, how exceedingly in
it must be for well-dressed
Methodist lady to be compelled to kneel down
in puddle oitobacco spit