Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-09-22
Muscular Christianity.
A .roRY oT RIsHoP sELwrN.

In the autumn Of 1857 81 ent few days
in a country parsonage, and on the Sunday
mornin: ~ h-er kfast the pastors wife re-
c,iycd letter. which her titteTing told US
must he a tit-bit "Ah. uncle, exclaimed
she. here are clerical doi1gs exactly To your
taste" The writer, lady in distant coun-
try, narrated that there had come into the
next parish town new yicar-a very fine
young man. who at school had no superior
either in Greek or in boxing, and who at
the University won honor tor his classics and
silver cups for his boating. lie was beginning
in earnest the work Of an evangelist among a
long neglected. vicious and brutal people.
He had plan and a 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 school IN a
remote part of the parish. and get the room
incensed for weekday preaching. But all
the drunkards rose against such unheard-oi
proceedings. They would run after him,
cursing and hooting and discharging volleys
OF sods and other missiles. Finding remon-
STRANGE vain, he adopted another course on the
Wednesday evening before heard the story.
Making a stand in the middle of the road. at
the entrance Of the hamlet, Just the storm
arose. and looking the savages in the face, he
addressed them thus, IN n firm quiet voice,
which commanded their attention " My
good fellows, have borne this patiently for
some time, but now must put a stop to it
and ] will do it in your own way. Choose
your best man, and we'll fight 1t out. If
beat you II give up. YOU know" They look
ed at him unbelievipgly but throwing hi:
hnsh he atHaf Il in sar
send your man."
The rufians laid their heads together and
then bIrly giant stepped forth and stripped
and made furious dash at bis reverend chal.
lenger, who quietly parried the unskIllful
blows, and played with them for few sec-
onds. Bat, then, fist was planted on the
PEASANTS chest, and be lay at full length or
the ground Quickly gathering himself up
be skulked away to his companions.
Now send your next hest, and III &
through the whole lot of you"
Again their heads drew together, and an.
other threw down his Jacket; going to work
however, with a more cautious energy But
at once a stOmacher stretched him on The
road
Your next
Once more conglomerate Of dense pates
was formed =. Bill, thee tcek him." Bill
eyed the hero askance. and shook his head
=. Thee. Sim - shake of the head from
Sim also =. Dick. thee1 ,eek tn parson -
4 shake more decided. and a stiff :" Nay
nay Is zee thee hung fust."
And now the FIRST one who was vanquished
stood forward. and, like brave man, called
out, - saw. parson, yor a rale young 'un,
yo' ar. fse tell thee what. we're going
to hear thee preach"
And they all followed him along the little
street, said the writer. and heard the Word
quietly. adding, it remains to I've seen what
will become Of the fight. ia''
What did come Of it? heard a long time
afterward, that FROM that day the men do6ed
their hats, and the women curtsied, and the
children looked rive stricken. when they me,
and passed him that the church and schools
were flied that the beer houses we're nearly
all shut up; and that great moral and re-
ligious reformation was In progress. That
gentleman had previously been the Instru-
ment OF like change in an equally demon
allied parish.
| may add that few years back he was
deemed the fittest clergyman in the church
to 20 out as bishop to a scene OF great per-
sOnal danger in heather country.