The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-05-05

The Minister and the Quaker.

ment 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 the Rev. Dr. Robert Smith,
whose fame as a learned and eloquent di-
vine has been overshadowed by that of his
sons John Blair Smith and Samuel Stan
hop Smith, President of Princeton Col
lege.
DR.. Robert Smith, before he became
President of Hampden Sydney College, was
principal of very successful classical
academy at Paquea, Pennsylvania. While
here, he had near neighbor, Friend,
whom Mr.. Snowden, having forgotten his
real name, calls William Jones.
DR.. Smith and Mr.. Jones were very good
friends, and often visited each other. One
day DR.. Smith said, Friend Jones, 1
notice that although we are good friends
and neighbors, yet have never seen you
at my church, OF Westinghouse, as you
call it," "That is very true, friend Rob
ert, but thee knows the reason. We
Quakers, as we are called, are not in favor
especially for that purpose. We favor
those only who preach by the Spirit"
"Well, says the Doctor, "without enter
ing upon the first point of your objection
at present, think l can say that we Pres
byterians follow the teachings of the Spirit
in our sermons to the people," go, no,
friend Robert thee knows very well that
thee prepares thy discourse before thee en-
ters the pulpit" "That is quite true to
some extent, but nevertheless l can preach
without such previous preparation. -
"Well, them" says the Quaker 81 will
try thee will go to hear thee preach on
this condition, namely, that will give
thee text, which thee must not see until
thee goes into the pulpit" "I accept the
Offer" says DR.. Smith. every well, then,
will go to thy Westinghouse next first
day, and will send up the text by the sex
ton after thee has made the long prayer,
which learn thee makes" "That is not
cutie what / expected when you made the
proposition" says DIR. Smith, "but ac-
cept it and will expect to see you at the
Pequea 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 ap-
pointed time he expected the text. He
commenced his services in his usual man.
ner, and after the "long prayer" he COM
menced very long psalm. l believe it
was at the 10th Psalm throughout, but it
was quite a long psalm. AS soon as the
precentor, or fine singer, rose, the sexton
came up the aisle, and handed to the
preacher the text. 1t was from the book
of Ezra, 1st chapter, and latter clause of
the 9th verse Nine and twenty knives"
A sharp, as we'll as a hard text, thought
the Doctor. The singing of the long psalm
gave him few minutes for reflection
when that was ended he arose and an
nounced his text, and noticed many a
smile upon the faces of his congregation,
even some venerable elders could not pre-
serve the usual solemnity of their counte-
nances. But the preacher proceeded with
his discourse. 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 uten-
sils of the Temple, which had been taken
from Jerusalem by the conquerors of Ju-
dea none of the knives which were used
for Staying and preparing the sacrifices
were lost, mislaid, or destroyed. They
were, said DR.. Smith, under the special
care and protection of God, and were in
due tirue restored to the temple. He then
enlarged upon the special providence of
God. "Not sparrow falls without his
notice y "and the very hairs of our head
are numbered" "The Lord knows them
that are his, and none Of them shall per-
ish." The Quaker was not only pleased,
but he was aroused and delighted.
The next day he sent for DR.. Smith to
dine with him.. After dinner he invited
DR.. Smith to take walk around his farm,
and coming to pasture field in which
were his cattle, he stopped abruptly and
said, "Iwas much pleased with thy dis
course, friend Robert, 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 pres
ents have many good milk COWS. wish
thee to select one for thyself. DIR. Smith
wished to decline the gift, but the Quaker
insisted and said, "I will be offended at
| thaa ~ thee refuse The Doctor having