The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-12-06
mlssovsNIuRss IN. CHURCH.
An Engiish Clergyman Il R=Iates some Crsr-
ical Haps and ETfshaps.


| The cozy squire's pew of the eight
..eenth century, saws the Arqosu. was
an elaborate structure, luxuriously
furnished, and surmounted by crimson
curtains. 1t often contained the only
fireplace in the church, and was never
complete without a square table.
During the reign of George I. color
ed footman would enter with tray of
light refreshment just before the SER
+. mon. Ensconed in one of these retreats
Ernst duke of Cumberland, wasroused
from doze by the exhortation, s.Let
us pray" by all means" shouted
the duke: 81 have no objection.
: The poor were accommodated i'm
: narrow pews, very high aud stiff in the
back. No wonder timid child re-
marked that a man in velvet breeches
had sat her on a pantry shelf and
shut the door. Not so little johnnie.
who, ''on the promise to be dood.m was
taken to church. He kept very still
till the last prayer. by which time he
had grown-so tired that he got up, on
the cushion of his seat, and stood with
his back to the pulpit. When the lady
In the seat behind bowed her head for
prayer. Johnnie thought she was cry
ing. so he leaned over and said in too
audible whisper: s.Poor dear lady.
what ee matterP Does 90 tum,nr.
ache?"
Very formidable must have been the.
pew with the lattice around it, in which
that red-haired vixen, Queen Bess sat
to criticise the court preachers. They
had to be as particular in their allu-
sions as the chaplains of Louis XIV.
'.We must all die," exclaimed the
preacher. The king frowned fiercely-
"Au, 1 mean, save your majesty"
added the subtle courtier When 8
bishop or other cleric made mention Of
anything which did not please the vain
old woman, the lattice was ratified
with terrible energy and distiuctness.
to the discontinue of the unfortunate
ecclesiastic. Sometimes she spoke
outright. as when the bishop of St
Dayid's veutured upon statistics which
the queen could not follow: You
keep your arithmetic to yourself; the
greatest clerks are seldom the wisest
men,
How different was the appreciation
of asermon delivered by my eloquent
incumbent in Bosley church, Cheshire.
At the conclusion the kind vicar, leap
ing through the paper.hoop as rubrieal
restrictions, exclaimed: my good
people, before wesing the hymn Think
we cannot do better than heartily
thank Mr.. Hughes for his most excel
lent sermon"
In that same church a local land
owner, the earl of Harrington, placed
a stained glass window containing.
figures of the Virgin and st. John.
Some friends of mine. being shown
over the building, asked the venerable
clerk the subject. They" said he,
'.are meant for Mr.. and Mrs. Harring-
ton, but l can't say as they are mulch
loike."
My. first incumbent. Mr.. Hughes.
was very absent minded. A WE'LL
known member of the congregation
had enlivened dull December by bring
ing home bride, and the ladies were
on the tip-tOe of expectation on the
following Sunday to see what she was
like. An involuntary smile was caus-
ed by the text, Behold, the bride !:
groom cometh." By no means diff !,
dent was the young lady who extracted.
a promise from her vicar that he would
preach an appropriate sermon when
she appeared at the church on the
Sunday following her marriage. The
bCAl was cOiuch Hat d SuTpIlSts = 68, I.
and abundance of peace so long as the
moon endureth."
Speaking of marriages. how anus
ing is the following incident: The in :
cunbent of a popuIous parish in the .
midfands who never failed to have i,
publication of numerous banns look j,
ed for the banns book, as usual
after the, second lesson. Feeling as
sured of finding it he commenced: Il :
publish the banns of marriage 5
An awkward pause, during which he ?
looked beneath the service books,
.'but could not see my little friend.
because he was not there" 81 publish
the banns." repeated he, still fumb-
ling, .'between-between- '.Be- :
tween the cushion and the seat, sir"
shouted the clerk, looking up and
pointing to the place where the book
had been mislaid.