Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-05
Stories of EngIsn Parsons.

! Bishop Wilberforce was magnifi-
cent instance of perfect cOmposure of
mind under agitating circumstances.
He was to preach at the opening of a
! school chapel at which a royal party
was expected. As was his won't, lie
| dawdled about on his arrival, but was
at last induced to put his robes on
and on arriving at the rObing-room.
where half a hundred clergy were
| hustling about and adjoining them
selves, asked for ink and pen and a
chair, and cooliy produced from his
pocket an unfinished manuscript. In
vain they told him that the rOyalist
party had taken their places-with an
| impenetrable smile he wrote in a
slow, stately hand several pages of the
sermon, blotted it with the utmost de-
| liberation, and then announced that
he was ready to start. The head mas
ter had imagined that at least there
would be some traces of confusion and
| hurry in their composition when these
penultimate pages came to be de-
! livered, but no. one after another the
great periods unfolded themselves.
The most delicate subjects were
touched and handled not only in a
finished but in a deeply emotional
manner. No one would have guessed
that the sermon had not been labor
iously and sedately composed in the
solemn quiet of Cuddesdon.
1t is not only the great preach
ers who have need of self-possession.
The writer of this was sitting one sum-
mer evening in a quiet church in a re-
mote country district, hearing a
moderate sermon run its course in a
thoroughly unexceptionable manner.
| The dav had clouded over, and it be-
came obvious that the manuscript was
| becoming momentarilv more difficult
to decipher; there were no lights in the
pulpit. Suddenly tall figure started
up IN the squre's pew. ''Calvert," it
said in a soldierly tone. You can't
see." the clergyman quietly suspend
ed his ministratons. Indeed, Sir
John, can" mo, you can't, you
can't, indeed; it has become quite
dark" Il shall do very we'll, Sir
John, thank you" mo, no, no; you
must have a light. James Ito one of
the footmen in back sea), where is
my 1ady's lantern?" ''In the porch,
Sir john" Get it at once and light
it." A long pause ensued; the foot
man left the church and the painful
striking of safety matches was heard
outside in the deathly stiffness. To
nv intense relief no one present
seemed even to feel that the scene had
its ludcrous side at all. Presently he
emerged bearing a lantern. ''Giye it
to Mr.. Calvert" The footman went
up tie pulpit stairs and the lantern
was adjusted close to the manuscript.
Now | think we shall do" said Sir.
John sinking back with the air of a man
who has done his duty. ''Thank you
very much, Sir John; it is relief after
all" said Mr.. Calvert, and the SER
mon continued.
The late bishop of London having
just read the striking anecdote of John
| Wesley cutting out every word of a
new discourse that was unintelligible
to servant maid, whom he called in to
assist in the process, determined to
preach a country congregation as SIM
| pie sermon as he could compose.
He chose an elementary subject, tax
| inc as his text: 1.-The fool hath said
in his heart there is no God" On
leaving the cnurcn he Sald TO the parish
clerk, who had been listening with
mute attentions: 'Well John, and
what do you make of the sermon?"
''Oh, my lord, it was very fine every
fine and grand. I've been talking it
over with Mr. Beard, and we said how
fine it was but. after all, we can't help
thinking that there is a God" What
wonder after this is there in the shrewd
comment of the old verger of st.
Marys, Oxford, who being congratu-
lated by preacher on his appear
ance of perennial youth, replied; Yes,
sir, and there are other things to be
thankful for; I've heard every sermon
that has been preached from this pull
pit for the last fifty years, and, thank
God, Pm Christian still!'-MHrTGy's
A0gaSine.