The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-09-07
Muscular ChrisIian1Gy-A Good Story
OF Bishop SeIwyu.


Muscular ChrisIian1Iy-A Good Story
Of Bishop SeIwyu.
Correspondence of the Manchester Examiner
In the autumn of 1857 1 spent a few
days In q country parsonage, and on the
Sunday morning, at breakfast the pastors
wife received a letter, which her tittering
told us must be a tit bit. aha, uncle" ex-
claimed she, "here are clerical doinss ex-
actly to your TASTE" The writer, a lady
in q distant country, narrated that there
had lately come into the next parish q new
vicar-a very fine young man, who at
school had no superior either in Greek or
in boxing, and who at the university won
honors for his classics and silver cups for
his boating. He was beginning in earnest
the work of an evangelist among q long
neglected, vicious, and brutal people. He
had a plan, and a will; but many worthy
folks were fearing that his zeal was with.
out knowledge-or wisdom, at any rate.
One of his first measures was to open q
school in q remote part of the parish, and
get the room licensed for weekday preach
ing. But all the drunksrds rose against
such unhesrd of proceedings. They would
run after him, cursing and hooting, and
discharging volleys of sods and other mig
1AACos GAhAAhk AnACO hin no
adopted another course on the Wednes.
day evening In the week before /
heard the story. Making q stand in
the middle Of the road, at the entrance
of the hamlet, just as the storm arose, and
looking the savages in the face, he address
ed them thus, in q firm, quiet voice which
commanded their attention: my good
fellows, I have borne this patiently for
some time, but now l must put a stop to
it and I'll do it inyour own way. Choose
your best man, and we'll fight it out. fl
beat, you'll give up, you know" They
looked at him unbelievingly but, throw
ing his coat on q bush, he edded, al am
in earnest; send your nan" The %ruflans
laid their heads together, and then q burly
giant stepped forth, and stripped, and
made a furious dash at his reverend chsl-
lenger, who quietly parried the unskilful
blows, and played with them for q few
seconds. But, then, q fist was planted in
the peasants chest, and he lay at full
length IN the ground. Quickly gathering
himself up, however, he skulked away to
his companions. sNoR send your next
best, and I'll go through the lot of you"
Again their heads drew together, and an
other threw down his jacket; going to
work, however, with q more cautious en-
ergy. But st once q stomacher stretched
him on the road. /" Your next" Once
more q conglomerste of dense pates
was formed. 1Bill, thee teck him" Bill
eyed the pastor asksnce, and shook his
head. "Thee, Jim" a shake of the head
from Jim also. "Oiek, thee1l teck the
parson 2" a shake more decided, and a stiff
may, nay; Use see the hung fust," " and
now the first one who was yanquished
stood forward, and, like brave man, called
out, az say, parson, yo're q rare young I'm,
20 ar. Use tell thee what: we're going to
hear you preach" And they sll followed
him along the street, said this writer, and
heard the Word quietly-adding, it re-
mains to be seen what will become of the
fight. What did come of it2 I heard, 3
long time sfterwhat, thRt from that day the
men dotted their hats and the women
courtesied, and the children looked awe
stricken, when they met or passed him;
that the church aud schools were filed
that the beer-houses were nearly all shut
up; and that q great moral and religious
reformation was in progress. That gen.
tleman had previously been the instrument
of a like change in an equally demoralzed
Imay add that q few years back
was deemed the fttsst clergyman in the
church to go out as bishop to a scene of
great personal dang er in a heather coun
try. Il.