Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-12-09
CYMRIC HUMOR.
The WIT AND ELOQUBNCB OF THE WELSH
PULPIT.
nGactsristes Unfamiliar to American Readers
The Happy Gift Of Controlling as We'll as
Exciting the Feelings Of an
Audience


the characteristics of the Welsh pulpit.
These ara sslf-pos9ess;on, adaptabihty, pas
Eior, illustration, information, bibliCism and
kumor. The Welsh preacher possesses the
happy but almost unattainsble gift of con-
trolling SIS well as of exciting the feelings
of his audience. he will not, however, a.
low the emotions to overflow their banks
until he has enlightened the judgment and
informed the undes Standing. Tie humor-
oas element constitutes one Of thu CHIEF
charms Of the Welsh pulpit. DuIiog my
rscert psrambul4tions through Wales,
oficiated at TsbsrneCls Welsh Baptist
Church, Cardiff, where first txer-
cistd my gifts for tia Christian ministry.
In this church thu immortal Christmas
Evans once ministeIe1. He was kooWn
as the "One-eyed orator Of Anglesea," an
eve Of which R. bart Hsll facetiously re-
marked, that could ligt an army through
3 wilderness" He possessed the wonder
irl faculty of tOuc hing the lachrymal chord
simultaneously with the disabilities of the
people. Despite It's anschronis ms, the
following extract is fair sample Of his
witty and entertaining style TIE subject
under discussion is the "Irg1iIy Core rn-
ing the Yourg Chill" The nsgi, &C
cording to instructions, Immediately pro-
ceeded to ascertain tie whereabouts Of
the yoapg child. l sea shsm ap-
proach sOne village, and reaching
tie turnpike gate they Ssk, Do
you know anything of thR young
child that has Just been born?' The gate
keerer, supposirg that they were asking
the amount Of the toll, replies: 20! three
half pence aRass to pay We co not ak
the charge of tie toll, but do You know
anything Of the young child" Ne Ie-
plies the gstsuap, but there i5 black
smiths shi p O little furth:r on; inquire
there. and you are likely TO obtsin the
needful information TIE wise men pro-
csei, and lie: ching the blacksmith shop
they csN cut: Do you know anything here
of young chilG?' A hIrsh voice answers,
Gentlemen, t. ere is no CHAR C to have your
asses shod now; call in about two hours. ,
we dorO! ask you oshce the asses; We have
simply come to Inquire concerning the
yourg child that has just been born in
these parts. Do you know anything Of
him?' Beg your pardon, stranGers,' says
the Tubalcain, L am sorry that l cannot
help you, bat Inquire at the nearest tavern
on your way, al d probably you msy learn
somstt ing there SO on they journey till
tEey reacn The door Of the tavern. They
yocjfsrate: Do You know anything If the
child that has re:n lately boiu? Think
ing they are cali2g for porter, the land
lord bids tie bIrmsid to wait en- them
&c, girl, take q quart of porter to the
strarg4rs.' We DO not ask for porter, nor
ale, either. We have come to seek infor-
nation of the yourg Child 4 know
nothing about the yourgster,' said the
landlord, but turn to the store GA the
left side OF the street; tie stOrekeeper
reads sll the newspapers; you will be like
" there to Learn all ebout Kim They
proceed accordingly toward the store, and
repeat the anxious inquiry concerning the
young child. The storekseFer, turning to
his apprentice, slys: Reach half quart ar
Of tobacco to the gentlemen We don't
ask fer tobacco. nor snuff, either, but
wish some information from yOl about
this little child that has lately been born.
& know nothing at all of the affair re-
plies the StOrskeeper; there's an old rabbi
liviIg in The upper end OF the village;
call on him, end very likely he will far
nish you with the desired information
They strsightWay direct their way
to the rabbits residence, and, reach
ing il, they knock at the door. Tue rabbi
epotars. When asked concerning the
yOurg child, the ysners b e Hebrew teacher
says, Step IN, strangers and IT f7rring to
the Chronicles, he adds: There is some
thing remarkable about to take place at
this time. Some wonderful person has
been CT is about to be born. The best
thiag for you to do is to 90 down yOnder
street; there you will find by the rivers
bank the son Of en- old priest, X'caariah,
where you are likely to learn all about
him Having babe ths rabbi q respectful
adieu, onward they trOt. Reaching the
rivers side, they inquire Of the bystandeTs
for the cd priests son, John the Baptist
He ia pointed cut 30 them. he has Oh him
raiment of cancels hlic and 3 leathern
girdle arouni his l1ins. They salute him,
ard ireUire If he has any knowledge OF
this youGg child. 'Yesn is the instan-
taneous e4pOuc9: there he il: Behold lhs
Lamb Of Cos, who taketh away the sin
o! the world; there He is. He will bruise
the old drag ms head and bring in ever
lasting TighteOusEe e to all who believe in
him.
Oace be met the cele brated Rev. Johr
Herrirg on the brow Of mountain, on his
way to a preaching appointment. well,
we'll, y says Mr.. Herring, chow strange to
see Christmas in July" 'Yes, it is strange
isn't it," replied tie noted evangelist,
but il ia a great deal more strange to see
q live herring on dry soil"
Olce, when travelling on his fine horse,
named Jack, ne WAS met by several theO-
logic i students OfLampeter College Hav-
ing accosted Christmas Evans, they tsntal-
iZsd him about his fine hCrSs. They
wanted him to reconcile his practice with
the Profession. The Scriptures declared
that the disciple was not above his mas
ter, nor the servant above his lord. Why
was it that he must have ine horse while
his master was content TO ride on an ASST"
"Ob, see your ficulty," replied Mr.
Evans, "hut I can easily explain it. The
country where hail from is very scarce OF
asses, snd when they happen to fine one
they send him right of to Lampeter CO..
lege to make a plrsOn OF him." They
never tessed tie old itiaerant after thas in
terview.
Another remarkable prescher in his day
was the late Rev. Rses Davies, the wooden
legged preacher, He belonged to the
Congregational Church. He was q very
demCns'rstive speaker. I passed by his
home few weeks ago.
ODcs Re preached IN the top of sugar
Cask 6etOTe the market house at Msrthyr
TydyiL Thousands were present. H
text was: Yet little while and We
shall see Ne, sn1 yet little while and ye
shall rot SEQ Me-" In the course of his |