Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-10-14
DAY WITH BISHOP JOINS.

The recent death of this venerable
and beloved "man of God" has vividly
recalled most delightful day which We
enjoyed together many years ago.
rhe writer was at that time pastor OF
the Prts1yteriln Church in Christians
burg, Va, just on the summit of the
Allegheny mountains. There are but
two churches in the town, but quite a
numoer OF Episcopal families were scat
tered through the county OF Montgom.
cry, OF which Chrislansburg is the conn
ty-seat, Quite number of these desir-
ed an Episcopal visitation, for the
ordinances of baptism. continuation and
communion. Receiving \ very kind let
ter from Bishop Whittle, asking the
Use OF my church during some week
nights for snch purpose, / had writ
ten most ordialinvitalion. asking him
to occupy the pulpit on any Sabbath hs
might select, both morning and night.
This he was compelled To decline on
account of previous appointments, and
when the set time came, Bishop Johns
came in the place of his assistant, Bish.
op Whiltle.
| met him at three o'clock in tho
morning at the depot, and rode with
him TO my house, where he retired aud
slept soundly the rest of the night.
The lady who led my choir was an
Episcopalian, and had been the leader
of choir in her own chulch. The or
ganist had, also, in her girlhood, wur-
SHIPPED alternately in the Presbyterian
aud Episcopal churches OF her native
village. In this way it was but small
matter for them TO practice, with tho
other members of the choir, all the mu-
sic that was necessary for the occasion.
But the good Bishop knew nothing of
! this. and his admiration was unhonndrd
when, after robing himself in my study,
he walked up the aisle, opened the ser
vice, ,and found all The chants aud hymns
and responses as handsomely rendered
as if he had been in one OF his own
! churches.
In the meantime lis wife and several
young ladies had come mp from the Al
leghcny Springs, ten miles distant, To
attend the service and expecting TO take
him back Immediately after it had clos.
ed. But instead OF this, our parsonage
was thrown open To them all, The best
dinner we could prepare was ready tor
them. Various ministers of my own
church, who were sejournng for the
summer, were glad to share the hospi-
talltics of the occasion, and / am sure
none us will forget the solemn sermon,
the delightful seryicc,and the social cuu.
versation that followed.
But the most enjoyable part of it all
to me was 10 see what unspeakable
gratitude and surprise our little kind
nesses had awakened in the Bishops
heart He seemed almost us playful
as a child, us he kept alluding to the
church, the music, the entertainment.
And after several hours OF delightful
intercourse, he took both hands ot my
wife in his, and SAID "Good bye, my
dear sister you have treated MT 70
kindly that il had not known that
you were a Presbyterian preachers
wife, Id take you to be an Epscopali-
AN" To this, my wife pleasantly re.
torted Good bye, Bishop YOU have
acted so much like our preachers, and
preached so much like them, that, ii |
did not know you to be bishop Johns,
d take You to be Presbyterian" At
this he laughed heartily, aud went
away. When we meet again, il will be
where there is zone told and one Shep.
herd. ."