The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-28
Hannington's Saints.

''Sir, if we don't mind, we shall die
of dignity!" said DR.. Chalmers to one
who was maintaining that clergymen
should "stand upon their dignity"
When James Harrington became
the clergyman of Hurstpierpoipt, he
determined to win the men, women
and children, of the village to Chris
tian life. If he could do it, and "stand
upon his dignity,n very well; if not,
he would appear as undignified as the
occasion demanded.
One day he was walking in the vii
lage street with very dignified
ecclesiastic, and WHO was attired in a
clerical dress, which Mr.. Harrington
seldom wore. Suddenly he felt a tug
at the skirt of his coat. He stopped
and looked around, and saw blusing
little girl.
'Please, sir" said she, timidly, for
she was afraid of the dignitary,
haven't you got bull's-eye for me?''
1t was his habit to walk the streets
in an old faded doating-coat, the pock-
cts of which were filled with goodies
for the children he might meet. He
would stop child, give to it a brief
lesson on "sneaking," telling lies and
using bsd language, and then dismiss
the child with a cake or bulPs-eye.
The next time the minister and the
child met, Harrington would ask,
"Now, then, what were the three
things you were not to do, eh?" If the
answers were correct, the rewarding
candy was never wanting. ..
The wild boys were hunted for and
caught. The faithful minister would
find out what interested a bad boy
and then show himself to the boy as
interested in that pursuit. If a boy
had a liking for curiosities or natural
history, he was invited to the rectory
and allowed to examine the parsons
cabinets.
One boy fancied himself a young
Mozart. Harrington offered him the
use of his own harmonium.
"But when shall I begin, sir?" asked
the boy.
"Oh, WE'LL" answered Harrington
looking at him with quizzical smile
II shall be out on Tuesday"
The lads loved him the workmen
called him among Themselves
Jenny" But to no one in the
country did they raise their caps more
respectfully than to their ''own
Jenny"
He gathered lads and young men to-
gether into a Bible-class and temper
apce association. The members were
nicknamed "Hanningtons saints"
but they greeted the scof as compli-
ment.
He was fond of riding, and would
gallop for miles over the downs, or
ride straight across the country, clear
ing everything in his way. But one
day, needing money for some benevo-
lent purpose, he sold his horse, knock
ed the stable and coach-house into one,
papered, carpeted, and hung lamps in
the large room, and turned it into a
mission hall.
A boy was seized by the smallpox.
His people were forsaken by their
neighbors. The parson visited the
cottage, supplied the inmates with the
necessaries of life, and prayed with
the boy. The people of the village
were excited.
An officer called to warn the pastor
not to go near the place. AS the man
went out of one door, the parson went
out of the other and called at the in
fected house.
He would take lad for his servant,
transform him by his own example
and instruction, and then pass him on
to something better. He had in this
way q good many servants, all of
whom turned out we'll.
1t was the possession of these ster-
ling qualities that fitted him to be the
missionary bishop OF Central Africa
to which continent he carried the same
zeal he had shown as young rector
and his body now fills martyrs
grave.