The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-01-29
AMEN AT THE WRONG TIME


in all religious duties, but the follow
ing incident may go to show that will
this, as with all others, there is time
Not long ago some plain and vel
meaning citizens of one of the Parishes
of Louisiana had been brought to Sc
rious reflection upon the subject of re
ligion by the efficient services of {
Jealous minister of the Gospel. Fl,
had concluded his labers and gone tt
another part Of his circuit. The deel
interest he had aroused prompted these
new converts to call a prayer meeting
There was large attendance, and af
ter one or two had offered prayer, &
third or fourth was called upon. III
began to invoke the Divine mercy
upon those in attendance, and was
proceeding very we'll and with becom.
ing solemnity, when, unexpectedly te
him, one Of his fellow worshippers ut
tered the usual Amen in a very audi,
bic and distingnishable voice. Why
it was, no one present seemed ablo to
understand, but as soon as it was said
it confused the praying brother, and
he fonnd himself unable to recapture
the thought he was giving expression
to. He paused for a moment endeav,
oring to regain it, but unable to do so,
the evil one gained the ascendancy
over him, and yielding to his domin-
ion he arose from his knees and in-
quired who had said Amen while he
was praying2 No one readily res
pended, and every one being startled
by this sudden change in the conduct
of the brother, it may we'll be mag
ined what CONSERVATION followed. The
brother was not to he deferred from
escertaining who had said Amen. The
brethren attempted to appease bis in
dignation by assuring him that no harm
was meant, that it was usual to say
amenin token ofapproval Of expressions
falling from the lips of speakers en-
gagged in Divine worship. All this
did not satisfy the brother, who by this
time had the old Adam so aroused in
him that he vociferously declared he
could whip the s. Of b-h that had
said Amen while he was praying. AS
some OF the audience knew who twas,
the individual justly concluded that
brother L. would fud him out sooner
or later and, therefore, resolved to fur
nish the information called for. A
fight ensued in which several of the
friends of both parties took hand.
Some blood was shed and the crowd
but without reconciling the
belligerents. Bro. l.. and the author
Of the Objectionable amen met some
lime after and exchanged shots, by
which one was wounded. Information
vas given to prosecuting officer who
placed the matter before the Grand
Jury. A bill of Indictment was re
urned into the 18th Judicial District
Court. The parties were arrested, ar
aligned and tried for shooting with in
ent to kill and murder, and one was
convicted Of minor offsnse. The
rial occapied several days, many wit
lesses were brought in from a remote
section of the Parish of R., and the
Parish put to heavy expense, and
III because the brother, in his inexpe-
isnced zeal, had said amen at the
wrong time,
Whether another prayer meeting
vas ever held where this untimely ut
erauce was given the writer is not in
ormed, but, if SO, it may be we'll i'm
gined the worshippers were more
,uarded than the unfortunate brother
ad BEEN E. N. G. in St. Landry
Democrat.