Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-10-20
clerical Anecdotes.

gregational church in Thetford, Vermont,
was one day officiating as moderator OF
the Orange Association of Ministers, OF
which he was member, and, toward
evening, while the brethren were engaged
i'll criticising an essay which had Just been
read by one of their number, tea was
brought in and passed around. One OF
the Juniors at once arose and said Mr..
| Moderator, shall we continue our criti-
cisms while we are eatingy" The old
Doctor pithily replied young man,
let your victuals stop your mouth.
A young minister once preached for the
celebrated DIR. Emmons, of Franklin,
Massachusetts, and, as he was about COM
mencing the service, he said to the Doc
tor: 81 will be glad If you will offer the
long prayer before the sermon" The
Doctor testify calculated "Whet your
own scythe."
DIR. David Parsons, the old-time pastor
of the church in Amherst was noted for
his eccentricities, and, among other vaga-
ries, used to have plate set ut his table
for favorite cat. One day, while ask
ing blessing at the morning meal, he
was taken with a fit of coughing and be-
fore the paroxysm was over the cat new
ed. As soon as the parson could speak,
he turned to the cat and exclaimed ''Shut
up ! can get along without your help y
and then struck in where he had left oil
and finished the blessing.
"Father Marshall" )" as he was familiar
ly called, an early missionary i'll Vermont,
was generally regarded as II very godly
man, and it is said used to pray aloud,
with closed eyes, rs he rode On horseback
from one town to another. He was in
the habit of mentioning his horse in his
petitions and the nksgivings, and tradi-
ton reports that, having spent night at
New Haven, Vermont, mt the home of
Father Bushnell" he oficated at fami-
ly prayers in the morning, aud, in emu
merating his mercies, thanked his Heav-
enly Father that his servants horse did
not fall the day before-'for he is n poor,
stumbling old toad, o Lord, thou know
est'-and gave thanks also for n comfort
able nights rest "Albeit the bed was
shorter than that man could stretch
himself on it, and the covering narrower
than that he could wrap himself in it. y
The old gentleman was once present at n
meeting of the Northwestern Association,
at st. Albans, and was invited to preach
the sermon at the public service. He ac-
cepted the invitation, but broke down
when half through his discourse, and
called on q brother minister to dismiss
the meeting. The next morning he took
an early walk, and met one of the minis
ters, who shook hands with him and ask
ed him how he felt. First rate. First
rate !" was the hearty reply. 81 took a
good dose of modification last night, and
il 'corked wcU."
If | am correctly informed, Father
Marshall offered the installing prayer at
DIR. Benjamin Woosters settlement in
Fairfield, Vermont. 1t is said that this
petition occurred in the prayer SO
Lord, bless Brother Wooster Give him
wisdom give him discretion for, q
Lord, thou knowest he will take sledge-
hammer to knock fly off mans nose
when feather would do II great deal
better"
Father Lyon, pastor of the church Oh
Grand Isle, was reputed to be man ol
considerable means and close -fsted withal
The Rev. Mr. Dorman, of Swanton, ac
companied by younger brother in the
ministry, one morning called on Father
Lyon on some ecclesiastical business, and
their errand accomplished, they were in.
vited to dinner. When seated at the ia
BILE, Father Lyon looked around, ant
said: I'VE don't seem to have anything
to-day but roast potatoes but suppos,
that is rs good as we deserve" Mr.. Dor
man shook his head, and said at il
better than we deserve at the hand of the
Lord but it isn't SO good as we deserv,
at yo,U hand, Father Lyon"
Some forty or fifty years ago, when Mr.
Burchard was itinerating as an evangel
ist in Vermont, he had four days meet
ing in Burlington, and, on one occasion
Immediately after the sermon, he left til,
pulpit, as was his wont, and went up ant
down the church aisles, catechizing tn
congregation. Stepping up to Prof. Far
rand Benedict, he said Are you pro
fessor, sir?"
"Yes, sir. am professor Of mathe
matics and civil engineering" was tn
cool reply.
, "You'll go to hell, sir,
, demonstrate that, if you please, sir.
Mr. Burchard apparently conclude
the enemy carried too many guns for hin
and passed on.
Several years ago there was youn
man in the Theological Seminary a
Princeton who, was real good fellow
but liked to hear himself talk. We vii
3 call him Jones. because that isn't hi
name. One day, as the students wer
finishing their noon.day meal in the re
fectory, Jones arose, and, rapping wit
his knife on the table, said:
' 81 have Just received letter from MI
! Frederick A. Packard, secretary of tn
: American Sunday school Union, VIII
@ wishes me to give notice that he will b
in town next Tuesday, and will be happ
l to meet in the oratory, at o'clock p. IN
. oil tb.,o ot,,lon1, a. ,,,o,, ,,,;,l, b. 1,