Smyrna times., 1866-04-18
The Minister and the Quaker.

An amusing story under this title has long
been current in various forms, among good
people. An authentic statement of it, with
name and place, is given in the Presbyterian
Standard, by the Hon. j. r. Snowden. He
says that the minister in question was Rev.
Robert Smith, whose fame as a learned and ell
oquent divine has been oveTshadowed by that
of his sons, John Blair Smith, and Samuel
Stanhope Smith, President of Princeton Col
lege.
DIR. Robert Smith, before he became Presi-
dent of Hampton Sydney College, was princi-
pal of very successful classical academy at
Pegua, Pa. While here he had a near neigh
boz, Friend, whom Mr.. SnOwden, having for
gotten his real name, calls William Jones'
Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Jones were very good
friends, and often visited each other. One day
DIR. Smith said, Friend Jones, l notice that,
although we are good friends and neighbors,
yet have never seen you at my church, or
Westinghouse, as you call it.
THAT is very true, friend Roberts, but thee
knows the reason. We Quakers, as we are
called, are not in favor of hireling ministry,
who are educated especially for that purpose.
We favor those only who preach by the Spirit. 3"
"Well, says the Doctor, without enter
ing upon the first point of your objection at
| present, / think ] can say that we Prcsbytcri-
ans follow the teachings Of the Spirit in our
| sermons TO the people.
ooh, no, friend Robert, thee knows very
well that thee prepares thy discourse before
thee enters the pulpit"
| THAT is quite true to some extent, but new
ertheless l can preach without such previous
preparation.
"Well, then," says the Quaker, 1 will try
| thee; will 90 to hear thee preach on this con-
dition, namely, that will give thee a text
which thee must not see until thee goes into
the, pulpit. "
- accept the offer" says DIR. Smith.
l"Fery well, then, will 60 to thy meeting
house next first day, and will send up the text
by the sexton after thee has made the long
prayer which learn thee makes"
"That is not quite what | expected when
you made the proposition, says DR.. Smith,
but l accept it, and will expect to see you at
the Pegua Church next Sunday morning"
DIR. Smith entered his pulpit the next Sab
bath with some little anxiety A glance over
the congregation showed him that his Quaker
neighbOr was there, and at the appointed time
he expected the text. He commenced his SER
vices in his usual manner, and after the ' long
prayer, he commenced very long Psalm
believe it was not the 10th Psalm throughout,
but it was quite long Psalm.
AS soon as the preceptor or fine singer rose,
the sexton came up the aisle, and handed the
preacher the text. 1t was from the book oi
Ezra, lst chapter and latter clause Of the ninth
verse :, Nine and twenty knives" A SHARP
as well as hard one, thought the Doctor
The singing of the long Psalm gave him a few
minutes for reflection; when that was done, he
arose and announced his text, and noticed
many smile upon the faces of his cOngrega-
ton; even some venerable elders could not pre-
serve the usual solemnity of their eountenan-
ces. But the preacher proceeded with his dis
course. He spoke briefly Of the captivity OF
the Jews in Babylon, of their condition there,
the proclamation OF Cyrus, of the wonderful
preservation of the. utensils of the Temple,
which had been taken from Jerusalem by the
conquerors Of Judah, none Of the knives which
were used for staying and preparing the sacri-
fees were lost, mislaid or destroyed. They
were, said DR.. s., under the special care and
protection Of God, and were in due time res.
tOred to the Temple. He then enlarged upon
the special providence Of God. Not spar.
row falls without his notice." and "the very
hairs Of our head are all numbered " "Tht
Lord knows them that are his, and none 81
them shall perish The Quaker was not only
pleased, but he was amused and delighted.
The next day he sent for DR.. Smith to dine
with him. After the dinner he invited DIR. 8
to take walk around his farm, and coming tC
a pasture field in which were his cattle, be
stopped abruptly and said, I" was much pleas
ed with thy discourse, friend Roberts, last first
day. Now, thee knows, we follow our leader,
George Fox, who bore his testimony against a
hireling ministry: we never pay our public
friends, but we sometimes give them presents
wish to give thee present. ! have many
| good mich cows Iwish thee to select one fol
thyseE H.. -. =. M. ~. g.
i Mr.. Smith wished to decline the, gift, bu
the Quaker insisted, and said, II viii be Of
Tended at thee if thee refuse" ..a.
II The Doctor having noticed a small and iii
looking COW, said, Well, ifI must take ONT
, of the cows, | will take the small red COW,
| pointing to the one he had noticed, and whicl
he supposed to be the least valuable. s.s..
: "'Well, l do profess" says friend Jones
} thee does not only preach by the Spirit, bu
+ thee can choose by the Spirit; that little re-
I cow is the best one L have; my wife would no
! sell it for 800, but thee shall have il. s..
And accordingly the same evening the ittl
+; COW was driven to the "manse," and proves
Idiarv - - t.''f l'' = 20 rt