The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-08-28
Il witty Preacher.

Tin. Rev. DIR. Sprague, in his visits to g Earc-
p"an Crlrbri-i"s," give anecdotes OF tn" Reverend
Matthew lEik<, a celebrated London Preacher:
There was nothing for which he had a more
rpIdaI adherence than exhibition OF daE dl j, m
in Young minister ard nothing Of this kind
.y-r came coniact with him without meeting
srrukr. On occasion, young mirisier Of
. COED drnl Of prerensen and parade, went from
The country to London, and carried Mr.. Wi.k$ Il
!"rrrr, designed to procure from hin, an invitation
&n preach.
Well, young man. said Matthew, with Il ma.
sal lwang, that is p -i"cily undesirable, but which
nobody who has once heard can ever ,org"', 'w,,i
young man, you want 10 preach ia LoHIon don't
your
Il am going to pass few days here. Sir, AMI
il ii should suit Mr.. W,lks' cenvenIcncc, should
he very happy indeed 10 give his people sermon
while am here
Well replied Matthew, you can preach
sou preach; come along next Wcdncsd y
morning TO tie Tabernacle, and I'll rnrrt 1ol
there, aud you can take my lecture fer ,hsI mori-
ing.
The young man agreed to 30 So, md was on
the ground at the appointed hnur. Mat lew mt
him at The door, dI~gu>ied ..-4,nd irru b, lor'.
with his dandy airs, and address, d hin, 'Eus:
Go along into the pulpit, young mar, and |
aviii he below and lock al y"u. and shall irar every
a,"rd y'u say
Tic young preacher LnrtcI through the aisle
INTO the pLlpir, IN manner that med D. tier T."
!b"tit ball room than place of worship. IL"
reformed The introductory service wiLiI air Of
in>Ullerabc s'lfcomP Iaccncv, and in due lime
opened the Bible and read his text. " hich was the
last verse OF the fr>r chaper of John Hereafter
ye shut see Heaven Cp"n, AMI iiI angels q & d
ascending AMI Discerning upon the S"n If Man.
lie had written his sermon, and committed 1t al,
IN m rs he Il ,r1 LAM,
fortunately lac had Ie., his mpnusrrip: hrh,ud-
When he had read his t,Xf he found T. impossible
:" remember the first sentence. lie hes;a:cI and
hemmed, and began thus
You perceive. my brehrcn-ynu PERCEIVE
Ihni The angels Of God-are here rrpr, scnied-a
asccndng-anG drscrnding.' He then set up
good stout cough. in the hope that his memory
might get To work in the meantime; hui The cough
was uuProducDive it was ar,ifc al. and he
could do nothing but 90 right over again wi. H..
absurd sentence with wLi.h he had started II
;"ughed az lin AMI ag lin, bUi his memory ia
Too profound s'umbcr Ia be al:nkcued by -
After three or four minutes, during hirh h.
spectacle Ia the congregation, and especially T.
VI rIIhew, who all the time watching ana lis
;'ning, according 10 his promise, he shut his BaIr
IN perfect con srrnaiion, and abruptly clos d the
Oh course he came ou' of the pplpit with
very different air from TINT with which ne had
entered u. But the worst 10 come-hc had
10 meet Matthew and hear his scarhnu com.ncnfs
WILL well said he .vou,, ~. v,,,vo
orenched in London-h.v'ni vou? Eve heard
Ion; I've heard every word you We said, and I've
tnly one comment 70 mako i vor had nscopdcd
>. Won descended ,hcn ro -pi,I,, L,vc ,;cs.cn,.d
as YOU a. crndcd'
- Il is netd 'css TO saw Hal the zonrr man was b,.
ihis i'm" completely cur,d q! his am5ltion 70 preach
in the Ia bernnclr
Another young minister Of simiI.r character
paid him vi.i and Matthew observed he ,norrcd
what he thought a very Indecent number OF v.,,cb