Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-01-07

heV. HENRY WARD BEECHER is a wit ms
well as divine. He does not consider !,
beneath his dignity and station to tell CAN'T.
al story lie evidently enjoys good, rich Juice
lun, and is also ready, on the shortest notice
TO contribute bis part Of it. AT the anniver.
sary festival OF the landing of the Pilgrims,
at the Astor House, a toas; in honor of the
New England Clergy called out BEEcnER r.
Tie put himself and the COMPANY in excellent
humor by starting off with the following:
HENTLEMEN: find myself in an unusual placc
and under such circumstances that find It
dilhcuIt to speak am somewhat like the
deacon, who, when asked 10 lead in PRAYER
at Conference meeting, declined to 60 SO
lie was expostuIated with by his venerable
pastor, who assured him he had the ability,
and he ought 10 exercise it; 70 which the
deacon meek'y replied, that he knew be could
pray, but he always hated it..
The habits aud peculiarties of New Eng.
land Clergy are thus graphically and humor
ously described.
low much the people valued their min
lsters. IN their new country--in Massachusetts
ana ConnectIcut--you Can imagine, when il
is known that they could not get along with
out two ministers to each Church. In the
hrst SIX Chur' his of Connecticut there were
ten preachers Every Church if possible
had teacher and pastor The teacher
was Professor of Theology and hi, business
was to lndoctrinate. The other was the reyi
val minister, as we understand the term
The doctor put the powder down and the
other man touch it off Applause and
laughter In those granI old times, besides
BIS Sabbath sermons and week day lectures
the business Of the minister was to 20 from
mouse to house. and lecture the inmates.
Now however, that bus ness is entirely trans.
!erred to women. Renewed applause and
laughter 1t was expected, too, that he
would address himsefso thoroughly to every
individual that each would stand in fear O.
TOD and the minister. However, let it moi
be supposed because cergymen were earnest
and devout religious ministers, that they
were men devoid of humor. The man is moi
half OF a man who has no. streak Of that in
m. Applause and laughter recoIlec,
even SO late as in my day that the old SORT
oil ministers OF Connecticut could crack Joke
and smoke tobacco in an ACCOMPLISHED man
ner. recollect that when they used to meet
at my fathers house, pipes and tobacco were
SET Out aud other creature comforts in pro
PORTION, which were never seen there at any
other time. Laug liter. In those times i |
is to be supposed that Providence winked a,
those things, for certainly they did not know
any better recollec,, too, the explosion Of
human thunder called laughter wi ich coul
De heard IN the room filed with smoke, and
where il was supposed the ministers were
and If any of you had been listening, as was,
you would have said that every mothers son
OF them was Dutchman. Applause and
lau9hterI When the service were all over
for which hey had met, they were accustom-
ed, not nnfrequently, not only to run each
other with their jokes, but with their horses. |
Laughter have mentioned that that |
was not altogether their fault, for it is said
mat minister's sons were accustomed TO ride
the horses OF c rgymen wishing their fathers
houses. The horses were not of poor
breed, either, and the horses getting into
bad habits under the tutilage Of the BOYS,
would keep up the habit with their master ON
their backs II was doubtless the boys fault |
and no the clergy mems. Laughter recol- |
lee once that DR.. Backus. of Bethlehem, on
returning from my fathers hou to his home
was attempted to be passed by man. The
doctor had no idea OF being beaten, end ifl
he was, he meant that man should do il |
well The man finally saw that it was i'm.
possible to overtake him, and halioed al The |
top of his voice. "Dr. Backus; you run as i,
The devil was after you" The doctor, look
ng around over his shoder at the man, said |
in reply 81 believe he is" [Greal applause
and laughter