The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-19
BURDITrE NOW A PREACHER.
How the Eumorist Takes Bonors
F ON the BAPTIST Associations.
Lion, The Ph iIndeIrhin press


From the Philadelphia Press
On reaching Bob Burdettes pretty home,
near Bryn Mawr, last evening, reporter
gave tie well-known humorist the first
intimation that he had been elevated BY
his Baptist brethren 20 the dignity Of the
min .strv at their convention near Bustle-
ton.
did they" said Mr.. Burdette, muslngly
''did they do thati Well, you see, am not
exactly an ordained minister. It's only a
sort of honor, you kuow-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 year in the lower
Merton church. What do | dol o., a
deacon does lots of thing5-pas5es the hat
and looks after the coal | loo6 after the
COAL
land you looked after the coal SO care
fully that now you're advanced to the
Ministry
"Well, yes: but you should not joke with
me. | did once preacd in Baptist church.
1t was about three years ago, | think,
and it was up in the North creek region
of the AdirondacEs, at tie Seconu johns
bury church. ] was up there for the sum-
mer, ami the church deacons came to me
and asked me to preach, as they were with
out pastor
Il told them that l wasn't good enough to
preach, but they wouldn't take no for an
answer.
u preached all summer, and had all the
experiences of a preacher, from pastoral
visits to donation party.
~ didn't want the donation party, but
they gave it to me gratis.
II wouldn't lake a salary. SO they said:
We'll, we'll give you a donation party.
But all | took away of the donation party,
which was a good lied party, was round
silver dollar as memento of the first money
| earned as preacher.
"As | am licensed now, | suppose | will
preach occasi onally, but an not regular
minister"
Mr.. Burdette will not lecture much this
year, and after Christmas expects TO take a
long rest and engage only in literary work
at his desk. The Lower Merton church is IA
very ancient Baptist churca. 1t has re-
Gently been remodeled and Mr.. Childs has
given the church q fine window to tie
memory of Charles Thompson, the secre-
tarv Of the first congress, and member of
the church. The pastor is Rev d. Mac
Mackin. Robert J. Burdette, known TO most
people as the humorist, is known among the
Baptists as a member of the great BIptist
family. One Of his brothers is a Baptist
minister in India.
One Of Bobs earliest preceptors ard
friends before he came we'll known as the
Burlington HdtUkeye man was Rev. DR.
Weston of the C.ozer theological seminary.
He takes recent honors very meekly,
apparently Indifferent to the probability
that his former friends may mildly in-
quire whether or not Saul is among the
prophets
The finding of Brother Burdette's house is
not unattended with difficulties, as dark
roads, deceptive paths and obtrusive tree
trunks waylay the unwary. So difficult is
the labyrinth that reaches 20 his door that
ever since his brother, whom he has not
seen for many years, and whom he will not
see for many more, spent half the night in
vain hunting for him, Brother Burdette
the road 10 his house on the back of his
visiting cards for the protection of the oc-
| casional caller.