Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-11-17
MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY STO-
ny OF BISHOP SELWYN.

RY OF BISHOP SELWYN.
In the autumn of 1851 | spent few days
in country parsonage, and on the Sunday
morning at breakfast, the pastor wife re-
ceiyed letter, which her tlttering told Us
must be tIt-bit. ''Ah, uucle, exclaimed
she, here are clerical doings exactly to- your
taste. The writer, lady I'M a Instant coun-
try, narrated that there had lately come into
the next parish a new vicar-a very hne
young man, who at school had no superior
either in Greek or in his boxing, and who at
the university won honors for his classics
and silver cups for his boating. He was be-
ginning in earnest the work of an evangelist
among long neglected, vicious and brutal
people He had plan and will; but
many worthy folks were fearing that his zeal
was without knowledge-or wisdom, at any
rate One of his first measures was to open
a school in remote part of the parish and
get the room licensed for week day preaching
But all the drunkards rose against such un-
heard of proceedings. They would run af-
ter him cursing and hooting, and discharg-
ing volleys of sods and other missiles. Find
ing rem0nstrance vain he adopted another
course on the Wednesday evening in the
week before [ heard the story. Making
stand in the middle of the road at the en-
trance of the hamlet just as the storm arose,
and looking the sayages in the face, he adj
dressed them thus in firm, quiet voice
which commanded their attention: My
good fellows, | have borne this patiently for
some time but now | must put stop to it;
and ii do SO in your own way. Choose your
best man, and we II fight it out. lfl beat
you i give up you know. They looked at
him unbelievingly; but throwing his coat on
L.,.-l, L. al1ol ktI N,
your man,, The rufians laid their heads
together; and then burly giant stepped
forth and stripped and made furious dash
at his reverend challenger, who quietly par
ried the unskillful blows, and played with
them for a few seconds. But, then, a fist
was planted in the peasants chest, and he
lay at full length. on the ground. Quickly
gathering himself up, however, he skulked
away to his companions. Now send your
| next best and III go through the lot of you. =
| Again their heads drew together and another
threw down his jacket; going to work, how
| ever, with more cautious energy. But at
once q stomacher stretched him on the road
g Your next Once more conglomeIate
| of dense pates was formed. "Bill thee teck
| him. Bill eyed the hero askance, and
shook his head. Thee, jim; shake of
l. 4
| tn parson?'' shake more decided, and a
stiff Nay, nay; Use see thee hung fust.
And now the first one who was vanquishe,
stood forward and, like brave man, called
out, II say, parson, yo're rare young un,
70 ar. Use tell thee what; we're going tc
hear yon preach. And they all followed
him along the little street, said the writer
and heard the Word quietly, adding, it re
mains to be seen what viii become of thC
/ fight. What did come of it? Iheard, along
time afterward, that from that day the mel
doffed their hats, and the women curtsied
and the children looked awe stricken, whel
they met or passed him; that the church anC
schools were filed; that the beer-houses wer,
nearly all shut up, and that great mora
and religious reformation was in progress
That gentleman had previously been the in
strument of like change in an equally de
moralized parish / may add that fey
years back he was deemed the fttest clergy
4 man In the church to 60 out as bishop to'
scene of great personal danger in heather
| country.