The weekly Butte record., 1866-05-26
The Minister and the Quaker; or, the
Little Red Cow.

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 Presbyteridn Standard,
by the Hon. ]. R. Snowden. He says
that the minister in question, was Rev.
DR.. Robert Smith, whose fame as a
learned and eloquent divine has been
over-shadowed by that of his sons,
John Blair Smith, President of Prince
ton College.
DR.. Robert Smith, before he became
President of Hampden Sydney Col
lege, was principal Of very successful
classical academy at Pegus, Pa
While here, he had near neighbor, a
Friend, whom Mr.. Snowden, having
forgotten his real name, calls William
Jones.
DR.. Smith and Mr. Jones we're very
good friends, and often visited each
! other. One day, DR.. Smith said:
s'Friend Jones, notice that, although
we are good friends and neighbors, yet
| have never seen you at any church,
or meeting house, as you call it,
"That is very true, friend Robert,
but thee knows the reason. We Qua
kers, as We are called, are not in favor
of hireling ministry, who are educa-
ted especially for that purpose. We
favor those only who preach by the
Spirit
"Well," says the Doctor, 'wi,hout
entering upon the first point of your
objection at present, think l can say
that we Presbyterians follow the teach
ings of the Spirit in our sermons to the
people"
''Oh, no, friend Robert, thee knows
very we'll that thee prepares thy dis
course before thee enters the pulpit"
"That is quite true to some extent,
but, nevertheless, can preach without
such previous preparation"
"Wcll, then," says the Quaker, 81
will try thee; Twill 60 to hear thee
preach on this condition, namely, that
| will give text, which thee must not
sec until thee goes into the pulpit"
81 accept the Offer" says DR.. Smith.
every well, then, l will go to the
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 l expected
when YOU made the proposition" says
DR.. Smith, "but | will accept it, and
will expect to see you at the Pegua
Church next Sunday morning"
DIR. Smith entered his pulpit the next
Sabbath with some 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 services 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 precentor or fine sing
er, rose, the sexton came up the aisle,
and handed to the preacher the text.
1t was from the book of Ezra, 1st chap
ter and latter clause of the 9th verse,
''Nine and twenty knives" A sharp
as we'll as a hard text thought the Doc
tor. The singing of the long psalm gave
him few minutes for reflection when
that was ended, he arose, and announced
his text. and noticed many smiles upon
the faces of the congre cation; even
some venerable elders could not pre-
serve the usual solemnity of their coun-
tenances. He spoke briefly of the
captivity of the Jews in Babylon; of
their condition there; the proclamation
of Cyrus of the wonderful preserva-
ton of the utensils of the Temple, which
had been taken from Jerusalem by the
conquercrs of Judea none of the knives
which were used for Staying and pre-
pairing the sacrifices were lost, mislaid,
or destroyed. They were, said DR.. S.,
under the special protection of God, and
were in due time restored to the Ten
pie. He then enlarged upon the spe-
cial providence of God. Not a spar
row falls without his notice." and ''the
very hairs of our heads are numbered"
"The Lord knows them that are his,
and none of them shall perish"
The next day he sent for DR.. Smith
to dine with him. After dinner, he in
vited DR.. S. to take a walk around his
farm, and coming toa pasture field in
which were his cattle, he stopped alb
ruptly and said, Il was much pleased
with thy discourse, friend Robert, last
first day. Now thee knows, We follow
our leader, George Fox, who bore his
testimony against hireling ministry !;
we never pay our public friends, but
We sometimes give them presents. l
wish to give thee present. / have
many good milk cows, wish thee to
select one for thyself."
DR.. Smith wished to decline the gift,
but the Quaker insisted, and SAID, 81
will be offended if thee refuse"
The Doctor having noticed a small
and ill-looking COW, said, "Well, if
must take one of the cows, will take
that small red COW :" pointing to the