The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-05-01
Pulpit Gravity.

! oApAs SAosAsy.
A minister was preaching to larg
congregation in one of the Southern States
on the certainty of future Judgment
In the gallery sat colored girl with
white child in her arms, which she wa
dancing up and down with commendabl
effort, to make baby observe the pro
prieties Of the place. The preacher wa
too much interested in his subject t.
notice the occasional noise of the infant
and at the right point in his discourse
threw himself into an interesting attitude
as though he had suddenly heard tn
first note of the trump of doom, and look
ing towards that part of the church wher,
the girl with the baby in her arms wa
sitting, he asked, in low, deep voice
"What is that hear?"
Before he recovered from the orator.
cal pause, so as to answer his own ques
ton, the colored girl responded, in 8
mortified tone of voice, but loud enough
to catch the ears of the entire congrega.
ton:
81 dom no, sa; I 'spect' it is dis here
chile but, indeed, ss, has been doin,
all could to keep him from 'sturbin'
YOU"
Iii easy to imagine that this unexpect-
ed rejoinder took the tragic out of the
preacher in the shortest time imaginable;
and that the solemnity of that judgment
day sermon was not little diminished by
the event.
Another instance equally confounding to
the minister, happened, We believe, in
Richmond. Va. A large congregation
had assembled to hear stranger of some
notoriety. Soon after be had introduced
the subject, the cry of 'Fire fire p in
the street, very much disturbed the
congregation, and many were about to
retire, when an elderly brother rose and
said;
'.lf the congregation will be composed
l will step out. and see if there is any fire
near, and report" ... ... ~. ..
The congregation became composed,
and the minister proceeded, Taking ad-
vantage of the occurrence, he called at
tention to fire that would consume the
world-a fire that would burn forever
In the lake that is bottomless; and had
Just concluded a sentence of terrible
import, and not without manifest impress
sion on his audience, when voice from
the other end of the church, as If in fiat
denial Of all he had said, bawled out:
Its false alarm p ....#... a.
Ihe effect was ludicrous in the extreme.
Tie old man had returned; but his mop
Fortune response spoiled the force of the
eloquent appeal from the pulpit, aud even
the preacher could scarce refrain from
joining in the universal smile that passed
over the congregation. ) 1r-.-
Rev. Mr.. S. was preaching in one of
the Methodist Episcopal churches in this
city, and there was in attendance good
old Methodist brother, very much given
to responses. Sometimes those responses
were not exectly appropriate, but they
were always we'll meant. The preacher
usually lucid, was perplexed and felt it
himself. he Lborsd through his first part.
and then said: .... ..s
"Brethren, l have now reached the
conclusion of my first point!
THANK God J. piously calculated
the old man, who sat before him, pro-
toundly 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 con-
tinuancs Of his discourse.-MetAoaist
Protestant