Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-01-16
ernn1nA1, ANECDOTES.

r,..o ,ros one which remember about the
49, aiaouont and excellent Dr. Rice lie excel
ioS IN tbs fervor and junction. of his public pray
~ In b;s congregation was an ageu negro
verv mons and very cxcita0ie' ne mus "|.o
Wy p,no,aod nm under Methodist influence, ior
h. would always shout "Amen when any pe''-
,;on was nut up which touched hts ieehnSS-
This AZ length became quite annoying TO Dr'
Rice. though he was not so seriously NeNeu US
was Young Presbyterian clergyman Wnom l
Voc Lnew. bv similar occurrence. Tic like
J ~" Rice was "gilted in prayer" 1t happened
,bot he was once called upon TO perform funeral
scrv;ce in Methodist family, and while praying
,bo room was vocal with shouts of "Amen !"
Not being aware Of the meaning OF this, he
sunposed that it was intended as hint for him
re- come to "Amen" as quickly as possible; or
in vulgar language, 10 "dry up" This he did as
soon as possible. Shortly after he complained
to one Of his friends OF the dscourtesy which
he had experienced, and was relived as well as
astonished at being told that the "Amcns" indi-
Gated that the audience were joining fervently
in his applications.
That phrase "dryup" which just slipped from
me. puts me in mind of an anecdote which
>>nust tell, though it has nothing to do with
'Ministers' meetings" Theate B. +. Butler mot
the present General of the same name) was
truly excellent man, though he tCaS politician.
Everybody remembers that famous letter Of
his in which he mentions enjoying "staed
preaching at Sandy HILL" In New York Mr.
Butler took deep interest in religious enter
prises among the poor and destitute, especially
in the meetings at the Five Points for the ben
eft of the neglected children in that quarter
One Sunday he went down to address the boys.
He was always precise in dress and methodcal
in manner "Now, boys" said he, in COM
mencement, ave come to say few words to
YOU. have only ten minutes out
his watch and laying it on the desk" and
want you to pay particular attention to what
say"
Every eve was turned to the desk, over which
hung a clock Not sound-interrupted the
discourse save the ticking of the clock, slowly
counting off the seconds, until the longer hand
indicated that ten minutes had passed. The in
slant this was done, one of the boys shouted
"Dry up, old Sandy Hill Times up" There
was nothing to be done but to bring the remark:
to q speedy close.
Old Caesar, of whom was speaking in con
nection with DIR. Rice, did not "dry up" quite
so readily, as the anecdote shows. When the
Doctor was fervent in his petitions, as he al
WAYS was, CAESARS hearty amens filled the room
At length the Doctor told him that his shouts
disturbed the congregation. who were not ac-
customed to them and if he could restrain
them. it would be great favor. The good
negro was shocked to learn that he had distur-
bed any one, and faithfully promised silence in
future. But it happened the very next Sunday
that the Doctor was unusually earnest in hi
supplications to the Throne of Grace. He fairly
''wrestled in prayer" In the gallery, as usual
sat Caesar, writhing sympathetcally with the
emotion which he could not suppress and would
not utter More and more fervent waxed The
prayers deeper and deaper grew CAESARS emo
ton more and more violent his struggles tC
avoid giving vocal utterance to them. Natur,
at last could hold out no longer. "Amen !!
shouted Caesar. "Massa Rice, | had to say i
or bust r'-Ha,pers Magazine.