The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1857-04-22
Pulpit Gravity.

A minister was preaching to large congre-
gntion in one of the Southern States, on the
certainty of a future judgement. In the gallery
sat colored GIRL with awhile child In her arms
which she was dancing up and down with COM
mendable effort, to make the baby observe the
propreties of the place. The preacher was too
much interested in bis subject to notice the oc-
casiona noise of the infant; and at the right
point in his DISCOURSE threw himself into an
interesting attitude as though he had suddenly
heard the first note of the trump of doom, look
ing towards that part of the church where the
girl with the baby in her arms was sitting nc
asked in a low deep voice: 9
'What is that hear?n
Before he recovered from the oratorical
pause, SO as to answer his own question, the
colered girl responded in mortified tone OF
voice, but loud enough to catch the ears OF the
entire congregation:
'TNlon'no sa,' / spec it is dis here chile; but
indeed, sa.Y has been doin' all could to keep
him from 'sturbing you
1t is easy to imagine that this unexpected
reioinder took the tragic out of the preacher in
the shortest time imaginable, and that the So
lemnity of that judgement day sermon was not
little diminished by the event
Another instance. equally confounding to the
minister, happened we believe, in Richmond
Virginia. A large congregation had assembled
TO hear q stranger of some notoriety. Soon
after he had introduced his subject, the cry OF
''flre! fre!'' in the street very much disturbed
the congregation, and many were about to retire
when an elderly lay brother rose and said:
"If the congregation will be composed, will
step out and see if there is any fire near, and
report"
The congregation become composed. and the
minister proceeded. Taking advantage OF the
occurrence, he called attention to n fire that
would consume the worldi-a fire that would
burn forever in the lake that is bottomless; and
had Just concluded sentence OF terrible import
and not without manifest impression on hi:
audience, when voice from the other end Of
the church, as if in flat denial of all he had said
bawled out:
'Hs a false alarm!"
The effect was ludicrous in the extreme The
old man had returned; but his inopportune re-
sponse spoiled the force of the eloquent appeal
| from the pulpit and even the preacher could
scarce refrain from joining in the universa
smile that passed over the congregation.
Rev. Mr. S. was preaching in one of the Meth
odist Episcopal churches in the city, and there
was in attendance good old Methodist brother
very much given to responses. Sometimes these
responses were not exactly appropriate, but
they we're always well meant. The preacher
usually lucid, was rather perplexed and felt it
himself He labored through his first part, and
then said
Brethren, have now reached the conclusion
of my first pointW
"Thank Godl" piously calculated the old
man, who sat before him, profoundly interested;
but the unexpected response, and the suggestive
power of it, so confused the preacher, that it
was with difficulty he could rally himself to a
continuance of his discourse. Methodist Protest
ant.