The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1888-11-09

How the HumOrfst Takes HOns
Ors From the Baptist AsSOci-
mhIRma-
Philadelphia Press.

Philadelphia Press.
On reaching Bob Burnett's pretty
home near Bryn Mawr last evening, I
reporter gave the well.known humoris
the first intimation that he had beer
elevated by his Baptist brethren tc
the dignity Of the ministry at their
convention near BustIeton.
"Did theyH" SAID Mr.. Burdette
musingly; "did they do that1 Well
you see, | am not exactly an ordained
minister. It's ouIy a sort of honor
you know-a recognition of those who
have the gift of continuance, or
rather, those who know how to talk
I've been a deacon for about a year il
the lower region church. What do
do2 Oh, deacon does lots of things
passes the hat and looks after the
coal. | look after the coal"
"And you looked after the coal SC
carefully that now you're advanced to
the ministry"
"WelI, yes; but you should moi
joke with me. did once preach il
a Baptist church. 1t was about three
years ago, l think, and it was up n
the North creek region Of the Adiron
dachs, at the Second Johnsburry
church. was up there for the sum
mer, and the church deacons came tc
me and asked me to preach, as they
were without a pastor.
II told them that / wasn't gooC
enough to preach, but they wouIdn'
take mo for an answer.
II preached all summer, and had al
the experiences of a preacher, from
pastoral visits to a donation party.
II didn't want the donation party
but they gave it to me gratis.
II wouldn't take salary. So they
said; 'WelI, we'll give you a dona
ton party. But all took away oil
the donation party, which was a gooC
sized party, was round silver dollar
as momcnto of the first money
earned as a preacher.
Gas | am licensed now, | suppose
will preach occasionally, but am moi
regular minister"
Mr.. Burdette will not lecture much
this year, and after Christmas expects
to take long rest and engage only
in literary work at his desk. Tho
Lower Merton church 10 a very ancien
Baptist church. 1t has recently beer
remodeIed, and Mr.. ChIlds has giver
the church a fine window to tht
memory of Charles Thompson, th,
secretary of the first congress, and I
member of the church. The pastor il
Rev. d. MacMackin. Robert J. Bur
dette, known to most people as The
humorist, is known among the Bap
lists as member of the great Baptis
family. One Of his brothers is a Bap
tist minister in India.
One of BoBs earliest preeeptors anc
friends before he came well known al
the Burlington Hawkeye man was Rev
DR.. Weston, of the Grocer Theological
Seminary. He takes recent honor
very meekly, apparently Indifferent tc
the probability that his former friend
may mildly inquire whether or no
Saul is among the prophets.
The finding of Brother Burdette'
house is attended with difficulties
as dark roads, deceptive paths and OBJ
trusiye tree trunks wsyIay the un
wary. So difficult is the labyrinth
that reaches to his door that every
since his brother, whom be has no
seen for many years, and whom b.
will not zee for many more, spent hal
the night IN vain hunting for him
Brother Burdette thinks seriously o
printing diagram of the road to hi
house on the back of his visiting card
for the protection of the occasiona
caller.