The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-06-06
SENTIMENT AND FUN.
A little nonsense, now and then,
LIS relished by the wisest menu
A Good Story.

AAdI pC1p drawer LOT June con-
tains the following The Rev. William
Cravens alluded to, was the father of
Hon. james I'LL. Crayens, once mem
Der of Congress from this District:
Among the celebrated divines who
have long since passed away, and
whose eccentricities were of re-
markable type, was Rev William Ora
vens, of the Baltimore Annual Con-
ference Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, He was better known by the
familiar sobiquet of Old Billy Cra-
vens" The wonderful incidents which
marked his life would fill volume.
Many years ago Mr.. Cravens travel
ed circuit which embraced in its
limits the then small, but now large
and, prior to the war, furnishing
town of Staunton, Virginia He was
an inyeterate enemy to the Institution
of slavery, and omitted no opportu-
nifty, in public or private, to denounce
it in the most pointed language. In
his public ministrations particularly
would he expose the cruelties of the
system, and dwsll upon its certainly
fatal consequences. The Episcopali-
ans had just completed the erection of
a handsome church in the town of
Staunton, and the sale of pews was
announced to take place on a certain
day. lTsua Hfagls Use u -liu08 III
To possess a pew was considered an
Indispensable adjunct to the social
status of those aspiring to be called
the f. E. VS. Of that community.
Mr.. Waite was citizen once In affiu-
ent circumstances, but his estate had
recently beenreduced to the possession
of few slaves. He had large family
of daughters, and they could not
brook the idea of compromising their
responsibility so far as to be without
their pew in church So Mr.. w! was
compelled to purchase a pew, and to
raise the money for such purpose he
sold one of his slaves Shortly after
this occurrence Mr.. Cravens had an
appointment to preach in the town of
Staunton, and the above incident be-
ing made known to him, he made
public erpOse of the affair from his
pulpit. haG HoiihH.lsh
1t was at once reported ON the
streets, and produced great excite
ment Mr. Waite threatened to
prosecute the offender, and with this
view consulted Judge Baldwin, of
the Circuit Court. Mr.. Cravens hav-
ing left the town to fill an appoint
ment elsewhere, friend wrote to him,
advising him of the excitement the
sermon had caused, and that Mr.. w.
intended to prosecute him. Mr. era
yens promptly replied not to prose-
cute him; he would preach an apollo
getic sermon. "a
This arrangement being satisfactory,
Mr.. WaiteL consented, to- waive the
prosecution, and day was duly fixed
for the preaching of the apologize
sermon, The church was crowded
Every class and condition of society
was represented Judge Baldwin was
there. Mr.. Waite occupied chair
Immediately in front of the pulpit; for,
be it remembered, the sermon was to
be addressed to hiaei 5afsG -d 4
Presently Mr.. Cayens entered, and
passing rapidly down the aisle ascend
ed the pulpit, and opened the exercises
IN the usual manner with singing and
prayer. He then rose with the utmost
gravity, and stated that he believed he
was here to preach an ''apologetic +"
sermon emphasizing the Adjective
He had searched the. Bible through,
from Genesis to Revelation, for
suitable text, and not being able to
find one, he was driven to the neces-
sity of making text. And it was
this; F" Sell a Niger, and buy pea0."
(Sensation. -
Then fixing his eye on the injured
Mr.. Waite, proceeded to deliver a
scathing rebuke to the aforesaid indi-
vidual for his inhumanity in bartering
aslave for the privilege of cushioned
seat in the House of God. The audi
ence was thunder-struck and so was
Waite, who, being unable to stand the
pressure, sprung from his seat and beat
a hasty retreat from the church, "Old
Billey crying out to him as he de-
parted, 9 Hold on, honey, and IN fill
your other pocketE
The effect of the sermon was mag
zeal. Public opinion Immediately in
clined to Mr.. Cravens, and he was not |
prosecuted
H0TWTnN MY ADDC