, 1876-01-01
.Locus,circus and 'Pisoopus Preachers

LOCUS circus ana BiscOpus Pfeacners-
Away out West in - State, in the
valley Of the Mississippi, at a time not
very remote, when men were more intent
on 'raking in the filthy than in securing
an interest in the bank Of glory eyerlast-
ing, a jealous missionary of the persua-
sion aforesaid found himself in a commu-
nifty whose religious views were no less
manifold and contradictory than was to
be expected from persons representing
every phase Of denominational life.
Finding out the three or four communi-
eants belonging to his church, the mis-
sionary gave notice Of an Episcopal ser
vice" for that evening in the school house
and invited everybody to attend. Of
course to the large majority Of the in
habitants this was something entirely
novel-indeed, the passage Of circus
through the village, or the actual halt of
a minstrel troupe, could not have created
profounder sensation-and at an early
hour they commenced gathering in knots
Of two or three, discussing aas to what
kind Of durn'd thing it was agoin' to
be-
Prominent among the female portion of
the throng was an aged sister, who en-
lightened the others by stating it was a
reglar sarmint they were agoin' to have,
and no confounded nigger tnmblin' But
the "sarmint" was to be after the "'Pisco-
| paln fashion, of which she had hearn tell
when girl, but had never seen; and as
it was something bad, she believed, she
was there to interrupt him if he didn't
preach orthodox.
Seating herself on the front bench, she
eyed the preacher closely, and Just before
he commenced the service, and while ar
ranging his robes, she beckoned him to
her, and informed him that she was there
to interrupt him if he didn't preach or
thodox.
"Well, madam, he replied, ''you won't
interrupt me if do preach orthodox
"0h mol that Lwontn she earnestly
exclaimed, "but If you don't though, III
interrupt and expose you for surer
Now, to make the exercise 90 of with
some degree Of Episcopal decorum, the
congregation wis literally supplied with
prayer-books, and the few communicants
were instructed to circulate among the
people, "hnd the places for the uninitiat-
ed, and lead the responses.
Fhen rose the minister and with the
prodigal's resolve, II will arise and 20 to
my father" etc., commehced the service
and won the old lady'a heart, for it was
her favorite passage, read and prayed over
often because Of WayWard boy. Next
in order was the "exhortation,r in which
she heard nothing Objectionable, and then
came the confession Of sins. Right be-
hind heroine of the colnmunicani5 afofc.
l said united his voice With the mln'1Icr'|
and had gotten as far a. "Uc have erred
and strayed from Thy ways ike lost
sheep - etc., when the old lady turned.
and in an audible whisper said, ''Hushl
hush that's all right; let the man have
chance to speak !" Lowering his voice,
he kept comparatively quiet until the
creed was reached, and here be thought,
aIn the Credo I must set an example and
confess Christ before men in the magnih-
cent yet simple 4 believe Of all the
Christian centuries
By this time the self-appointed con-
servator Of orthodoxy was in no mood to
be trifed with, and 50, while her hand
firmly grasped her umbrella, she said, in
tones sfenly emphatic, "Look a-hyar,
you durn'd cuss. didn't tell you that
was all rightl an hyar you have been a
chatterin' every blessed mint since. Now
you ought to be ashamed Of your
self, an don't want you to jaw any more
tonight. That's orthodox enough for
anybody"
The minister took in the situation, and |
being a practical man, pitched in" and
gave them red-hot extempore discourse,
which the old lady, before she was aware,
had indorsed with a whole series Of
amens.
At the conclusion she felt bound to
apologize for her conduct before and dur
ing the service, and 50, seizing both his
hands, she thanked him for his Gospel
sermon in language as unique as her man
ner was hearty: "You see, mister, we
warnt sure Of you; we only bad hearn
tell Of you 'Piscopals afcre, an we were
kind OF skeered like; but it's all right 1
now, an want to tell you that / had
nothing to dc with those rowdies back |
there who interrupted the service. Now
we've had Locus preachers here, an we've
had Circus preachers here, an we've never
had anyof you 'Piscopus preachers afore
an do you preach orthodox, an preach
all night If you choose-if you do wear
your shirt outside your breeches. "-Rar-
49, f,. nere.ahes