, 1885-10-11
HARD TRIALS.
The First Sermons of Some Chey-
enne Clergymen.
An Interview With the Reverend
Gentlemen on the Subject.

A few days ago a LEADER reporter took
it iuto his head to ask n minister in this
city how he felt when he arose to preach
his first sermon, knowing that most men
suffer ~dreadfully from what is known as
'stage-fnght' when they first attempt to
say anything before an audience, even II
they know what they intend to say ''by
heart" and that the greatest orators
the world has ever produced, among them
the immortal Clay, of Kentucky, made
ridiculous failures in their maiden..e efforts.
Ihis is somewhat strange, too, especially
when it is considered that the speaker
nearly always intends to say something to
please his audience and not to anger il,
and it is probable that if they would only
think that nobody is going to throw stones
or shoot at them, or pelt them with indis-
posed eggs, or dead cats, or melted vege-
tables, they would have more courage.
However, it is a good sign, even when
nervousness continues many years after
ones induction to public speaking, for it
is a certain evidence of conscientiousness.
Some of the oldest, most experienced and
able actors in the world have informed
this writer that they have never known
the time when they were not trembling
before going on the stage to perform a
part, because of the responsibility that
stared them in the face. But like Il bat
tie, the worst is over after the first fire,
for n looses all thought of fear in the
excitement of the engagement. The first
gentleman, ofthe cloth referred to. whom
The LEADER reporter talked to, was Rev.
Il. w. Brady, the army chaplain at Fort
d, A. Russell, and his replies gave the
scribe encouragement to see other clergy
men on the SAME subject. Mr.. Brady in
reply to the questions asked, said
The first sermon I ever preached was on
a Sunday evening, 1856, in the NJ. Il.
church, in West Wheeling, in Belmont
county, Ohio. then lived in the city Of
Wheeling, Virginia, and was well ae-
quainted on both sides of the Ohio river.
1t was announced in the morning Sunday
school that | would preach my first SER
mon that evening. | took that plan so
that the news of my first effort at preach
ing would not reach very far, but the
church was packed to its utmost capacity,
isles and all, many standing. | entered
the church late and wended my way up 10
the pulpit, with every fiber Of my being
trembling with fear, feeling this was the
most tremendous emergency in which
mortal nan could be placed. | reached
the pulpit at last, feeling there was not
enough air for breathing, when the color
ed population which filed up the amen
corner" at the right Of the pulpit, struck
up, Am | a Soldier of the Cross, the
congregation Joining in the singing ofthat
hymn, and, as it strains fell upon my ear.
| began to breathe with more freedom and
as they closed | was on my feet, and with
trembling voice announced and read the
first hymn of the service. After singing
the hymn led in prayer, the colored part
OF the congregation ''amening" me
through, which inspired me with courage,
and self possession. Then, after reading
a scripture lesson, and the singing of an
other hymn, | announced the text-Gal-
l~atians, 4th chapter, 18th verse: But it
is good to be zealously affected always in a
good thing, and spoke for forty minutes,
'endeavoring to show by argumest and
illustration that Christianity was good,
first, as to its origin; secondly, in its de
signs; thirdly, in its effects, and that its
power was adequate to the carrying of its
designs out to their legitimate ends. The
sermon ended and the service closed, |
stepped out of the pulpit, feeling | had
succeeded beyond my expectations whether
anybody else did or not, when an old col
ored woman, black as the ebony scepter of
death, stepped up aud took me by the
hand and said: Go on, child, d%ispencen
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