The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-04-05
Faithful Preaching.


Rev. w. II. Millburn, to illustrate the
peculiar faithfulness Of some of the early
Kentucky clergy, said in recent lecture:
IAN incident related by Ewell White,
himself a man of note. will Illustrate this.
1t happened at one time that meeting
was appointed In --, In old Simon
Kenton's county. A preacher named old
James Axley, familarly called Jenny
Axley, by his friends, and very popular,
was expected. But when he came be
brought another with him, who spoke
first. This disappointed the people, and
there was a good deal of noise and confu-
sion, and great inattention on the part of
the audience. 1t is customary when two
ministers are present, for both to address
the meeting if one drives in nail Of
truth, the other clcnches it. When Axley
arose, all was still, everybody was dis
posed to listen.
"'My friends said he, looking round
with keen obseryant glance, 1T is per-
haps painful, but always necessary
duty Of your minister to reprove sin,
wherever found, and be assured l shall
not shrink from it on this occasion. Now
said he, that sandy headed man, standing
BY the door, that went out while the
brother was speaking, staid as long as he
wished, got his boots covered with mud,
came in and made such a noise cleaning
them as to disturb everybody, and pre-
vent their hearing scarcely word, that
man thinks | mean him. And well he
might think so, for it vas disgrace to
Kentucky to say he was raised here and
had no more manners. Now, my friend,
l advise you to 60 home, and learn how
to behave when you come to the house of
prayer. But I don't mean lem.
"'That little girl about the middle of
the floor, with flowers inside her bonnet,
that was giggling and laughing and chat
tering ali tie time the brother was speak
ing, thinks l mean her. And she ought
l am sorry for her pareuts, who have raised
girl to fifteen, without learning how to
behave modestly and properly, and they
are to be piticd. Little girl, before you
come again, learn to be quiet and reVer-
end in theshouSc of God, and respectful
to the ministers He has sent But I do
not mean her.
"'Aud noR that man on the bench
towards the corner, that's looking up as
bright and wide awake as if he had nev-
er been asleep in his life, and never ez-
pected to be, but who was nodding and
boEing all through the preaching, and
snoring so as to disturb all around him
he thinks I mean him. And indeed be
well may. My friend, the house of God
is not intended for sleeping-room.-
When you want to take nap, go home
and go to bed and take it regularly; but
you come here for another purpose. But
[ don't mean him.
"'And thus be went Oh, fixing bis dark,
piercing eye on each offender, singing
him out in such a manner that he could
not be mistaken, till be had nearly gone
through with all who had made any dis
turbaDce, ending each reproval with, But
| don't mean bin, or her. White, mean
while, was sitting on a bench in front of
Axley, enjoying the fnn am azingly, laugh
ing, rubbing his hands, chewing more lus-
tily, and splitting more vigorously and pro-
fusely than before, as each new offender
was brought, till the aisle before him was
a puddle.
"Now,' said AxIey, darwing himself
up, and with severe look, 4 calculate you
want to know who 10 mean,' pointing d.
rectly to White-I mean that nasty, dir
ty, filthy tobacco cbewer Look at the
filthy, brown puddle before him; toad
wouldn't hopin it, and to think of the sis
ters dresses having to 90 through it,
White was thunderstruck. He ney-
er again was known to chew tobacco in
meeting"