Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-04-16
SIisnbet9 Daily a 9
PUBLISHED AT 155 BROAD STREET, BY
J. MADISON DRAKE.
CLERICAL ANECDOTES.

lowing pointed and amusing auecdote ::
The famous Robert Hall was of an in.
dependent spirit, and WINGED, naturally
enough, under the control exercised, or
attempted to be exercised, by English
Dissenters over the preaching of their
pastors. A member of his flock, pre-
Stunning on his weight and influence in
the congregation, had called upon him
and took him to task for not more fire.
quently or more fully preaching Pre-
destination, which he hoped would in
future be more referred to. Hall, the
most moderate and cautious of Smen on
this dark question, was very indignant;
he looked steadily at his censor for a
time, and replied, ''Sir, perceive that
you are predestined to be an ass and
what is more, | see that you are deter
mined to make your calling and cleo
ton sure p
Few open air preachers have George
Whitetield's lungs, and still fewer his
talent, and it is surprising what twad-
die is listened to from itinerant divines
under the impression of its being Sim
proving" There was famous preach
er of this sort in Somersetshire, whose
repute on one occasion brought large
party of "the quality" of the county to
hear him but the poor man. confused
at seeing so unusual number of hearers
of the higher rank before him, got
quite confused, and wiping his fore
head in his agitation, could only bring
cut in his Somersetshire dialect, La
dies and gentlemen, be aal in puz-
element p
A Somersetshire preacher-a collier
adopted very strange device to gain
the attention of his hearers, who per-
haps were of sporting turn. He gave
out for q text, 81 can do all things"
He then paused, and, looking at the
Bible keenly, said in his own Somer-
setshire dialect, Whats that thee says
PAUL. can do aal things ?" I'll bet
thee half crown o that" So he took
half a crown out of his pocket, and put
it on the book. However,, he added
"let's see what the apostle has to say
for himself" So he read GU the next
words, Through Christ that strength
eneth me-" ''Oh," says he, ''if that's
the terms of the bet, I'm off And
he put the half crown in his pocket
again, and preached his sermon on the
power of Christian grace.
The other may have had an irreverent
way with him but after all the thing
most needed by our modern divines is
the secret OF interesting their congre-
cations. Even John Wesley found it
sometimes necessary to arouse nodding
heads and half-shut eyes with the cry
of "Fire. fire." and when his alarmed
people cried out, "Where, sir ?-where
he would earnestly and solemnly reply,
''In hell, for those who sleep under the
preaching of the word" Swift, taking
the misfortune of Eutychus for his ar
gument, began sermon with, Il
have chosen these words with design,
if possible, to disturb some of this au-
dience of half an hours sleep, for the
convenience and exercise whereof this
place at this season OF the day is very
much celebrated. Then he goes on, in
allusion to Dutychus sleeping in the
window 1.-The preachers now in the
world, however they may exceed st.
Paul in the art of setting men to sleep,
do extremely fall short of him in the
power of working miracles-th erefore,
hearers have become more cautious, so
as to choose mora safe and convenient
stations and postures for their repose,
without hazard of their persons, and
upon the whole matter choose rather to
trust their destruction to Il miracle
than their safety"
In Crabbe's time it seems people some
times slept in church, for he describes
the effects of the vehemence of GER
tain preacher thus
He such sad coil with wonders of ven
geance kept,
That our best sleepers startled as they
slept;
a couplet which Dean Ramsay happily
illustrates by reconnaissance. An old
clergyman, who had got strong lung
ed helper, observed that one of his
hearers was becoming rather irregular
in his attendance at church. OF course
the divine felt it his duty to visit the
backslider, and he accordingly went to
the house bnt the guild man was not
in. He inquired of the wife why John
was SO seldom at church now. ooh in
deed, minister" she replied, without
the least hesitation, ''that young
man we've got roars sac loud that John
Gamma sleep sac comfortable as he did
when preachin yerself, sac peaceab'y."
The Dist Regiment, q. S. Infantry,