The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-05
"Mini.ter. Nelson preache..

Col. 7. H. Nelson, ex-United States minister
to Chile and Mexico, as elector-at-largs on the
the republican state ticket. says the Indian
apolis Nelcs, was posted to address a mass
meeting at small town on the Indianapolis
and Vincent railroad on Saturday in the last
campaign, and was to rest there over Sunday.
There was large crowd and Col Tom held
them IS 5ellboundn for Two hours. The aud
fence was much pleased with his speech, and
after the meeting two venerable members of
local church approached the chairman of the
county republican committee, who mad charge
OF Col Nils ms meeting, and said:
They say Col. Nelson was minister to South
America as well as Mexico"
Yes, responded the committeeman.
well, wonder if he would not preach for US
tomorrow. We have no preacher and our
people would Ike to hear him preach"
The committeeman had no doubt of il and
turned TO Col Nelson AMI introduced the veneer
bic member of the church. who said:
Col. Nelson, we hear than you we're q. minis
ter 70 South America as we'll as Mexico
Il had that distinguished honor, replied the
colonel, with the regulation obelsance.
We'll then, we came to ask you if you would
De KIND enough TO preach for us tomorrow: we
nave no regular preacher and our PEOPLE would
De much Pleased il you would do so, as we sell
dom get an opportunity to hear so gre at
preacher as you are"
Tom discovered that his friends were greatly
amused at what taey supposed was his dtscom-
nture, and he assumed an air of great cordality
toward the venerable ehurchman and said:
You will Perceive cat my voice is almost
wreck from constant speaking in the open cir.
but YOU have been so kind as to invite me and
in such complimentary terms that it will afford
me much pleasure to comply with your request
to morrow (Sundayl evening"
That night word was sent TO all the neighhor-
hoods that Col. Nelson would prea h at the
Methodist meeting house Sunday night.
pretty large per cent. of the people had never
heard or suspected that Col Nelson was a
preacher, but supposed it was posi- BILE that he
was local preacher and turned out en-
masse. In the meantime Col Nelson's friends
we're exceedingly nervous and inquired of each
other, What Kind of a predicament are we in
II Col, Nelson, who is not an ordained minister
does preach? He will do it just 10 have /. o
laugh on US, but they were in for it, and de-
termined to see it throug. The evening came,
and the church was not only ful. but large
numbers were standing outside, looking Ia the
windows the leader of the choir waited on Col
Nelson and, handing him a hymn-book asked
MN 10 select the hymns, but the colonel said:
sing such hymns as the audience is most
familiar with. You will oblige me by attending
10 that part of the service" When the time for
prayer came the minister" waived this pre-
rogatve by gallantly calling on the committees
chairman. Then Nelson stepped on the plat
form in front of the pulpit and said:
kind friends, instead of a text and preaching
a regular sermon, have thought you would be
more interested in hearing something about the
people and religious customs of tae Spanish
american countries" about which he talked
two hours 10 the delight of all