Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1884-06-12
In the Wrong Pulpit.
[Erom Eyerv saturaay.l

oOue years hSO Iue phSGO- VI Guc
Universalist Church in Arlington be-
ing absent from his post on Sunday,
requisition was made upon Tufts Col
lege for supply. In response, young
man whom we will designate as Mr..
X. was asked to conduct the serv-
ices. Taking an early start from the
college on the Heights, X. walked
down to the village and entered the
first meeting house that came in his
way, supposing it to be the Universal
list Church. He had been informed
that the Sunday-school held its ses-
sions. prior to the morning service, and
his early start had been made with a
view to participating in its exercises
Entering the church he was surprised
to see no one present but the sexton.
this dignitary met him very pleasantly,
however, inquiring ii he was the gen
tleman from the college who was going
to preach that morning. Mr.. x.
responded in the affirmative, and asked
if itwere not about time for the Sun
day-school to meet.
ooh, no." said the sexton, "the Sun
day-school meets after morning serv-
ice."
"Well, that's strange" said X; 81
was quite sure they told me that it met
in the morning. However, will go up
into the pulpit and select my hymns
and pass the time in some way"
X. assembled the pulpit, chose his
hymns with great deliberation, and wait
ed patiently for the gathering of the
congregation. By and by the people
began to come in, and in little time
the church was comfortably filed. X
was just thinking about commencing
the service, whenh he observed gentle
man of rather youthful appearance ap-
preaching the pulpit. Thinking him to
be the organist, he arose and with q
hasty good morning, said:
"Here is list of hymns for the serv-
ice. They are all quite familiar, you
will notice."
"Oh," said the new conner with a
puzzled air, "you mistake. I am not
the organist. There is something very
strange about this too. Will you tell
me If You expect to preach here this
morning?"
"Why certainly do," said Mr.. X.
"You don't mean to teil,m that you
are here on the same errand.n
But l do though" said the stranger
quickly. "Can it be possible that I
have made a mistake in the place? Isn't
this the Baptist Church?"
No, indeed" replied X. laughing,
imagining he saw through the whole
matter, "this is the Universalist Church: !:
and if you are going to preach for the
Baptists, you had better be making
now."
With word of apology for this in
trusion, the Baptist student turned
hastily away and started for the door.
In the vestibule he met lady who
stopped him.
Why, Mr.. f., where are you going III
such hurry 2" said she.
Going" said f., "I am going to find
the Baptist Church, where I've engaged
to preach this morning. I came here
by mistake"
But you have made no mistake" re-
sponded the lady, "that is the right
place."
"That can't be-" said F., there's a
gentleman in the pulpit at this moment.
'AtN octA AiiS eLitV plllS WIS GuG UnlVGf-
salist Church, and that he was going to
preach here"
"Well," said the lady, unable to sup
press her merriment, I: am the Baptist
minister's wife, and 1 ought to know my
husbands church. The other gentle
man is the one who has got into the
wrong place"
e. was quickly in the pulpit again.
and moment sufficed to explain the
situation to X, who, seizing his MS,
lost no time in hurrying down the street
to the Universalist Church, which he
reached just as the uneasy audience.
tired with long waiting were about to
disperse.
1t only remains to say that the Bap-
tist minister also being absent from
home on the same day, the faculty of
Newton Theological Seminary had dis.
patched Mr.. F. to fill the vacant n1ace
Hence the meeting.