The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-08-07
Stuffed Lions as Pulpit Ex.
hlbitS.
Puch and Judy Theology.

The startling innovation in pulpit
methods made by Parson G. a.
Tyndall. of the Broome Street
Tabernacle, who illustrated one Of
his sermons by suddenly producing
wooden lion which roared aad wag-
ged his tail when the clergyman
pulled the string, has insured him
big congregation Students of natu
raj history want to see him strength
en- his theology with stuffed giraffes
and human skeletons. They are on
the tiptoe of expectation awaiting his
next iaove.
The reverend gentleman has start
ed in for a serious crusade on the
lines of the object lesson. He ex-
plains that the stuffed lion was In
tended to give some idea to the
younger members Of his flock of the
king of beasts and his terrible ways.
It vas not his fault that the thing he
took with him into the pulpit looked
more like a what.is-it than a lion.
He ordered real wooden lion, and
he understood that the contract had
been carried out until the fatal mo-
ment when he removed the covering
from the model.
Many of the experienced pewhold
ers complained that the thing was
misleading, as it did not look like a
lion When the parson pulled the
string the tin trumpet-like squeak
that came from the animal created
laughter instead of terror. Inside
the lion. it seems, there was pair
of bellows which supplied air to the
squeaker, the latter being operated
with lever.
"Listen to the awful roar Of the
king Of beasts said Mr. Tyndall
impressively Then lie pulled the
string and the tin trumphet emitted
it's feeble note. 1t was very disap-
pointing.
WHO STARTED IT!
Realism in the pulpit. it is said,
was first invented by Mr.. Spurgeon,
of London, England, who, in the
presence of big crowd, slid down
CREASED pole to show how easy was
the descent to the lower regions.
Then, to demonstrate the difficulty of
getting to heaven, he put sand on
bis fingers and tried TO shin up the
pole. lie stuck half way and flop
ped down again, thoroughly fatigued,
his object lesson being dismal
failure. Most of his people resolved
that it was impossible to get to
heaven at all and made arrangements
to go elsewhere.
Mr.. Tyndall, though, has no greas-
ed pole IN his church. His realism
takes another turn. When he wants
to dllate on the sins Of whiskey drink
ing he pulls quart bottle from his
hip pocket and waves it in the air
with not little dramatic effect. {.
But the Broome Street Tabernacle
people have a treat in store of
which at present they know moth
ing. Their pastor, it is said,
with determination to keep them
informed, is having a papier
mache devil made that wags his
tail, brandishes pitchfork in ter
rifying manner and spits electric
sparks from his eyes. If this
realistic devil won't frighten the
boys into being good nothing will.
1t is but fair to the pastor to say
that he does not acknowledge the
truth of the reports about tbs
wonderful devil. But there is lot
of mystery around the Tabernacle.
it is dnerstood that in addition to the
imitation Satan there is to be model
Of a hippopotamus and stuffed
turkey buzzard. but everything is
kept so secret that the real facts can.
lot be got at.
There won't be any tin trumpet
business about the papier mache
devil, because powerful second
hand fog horn has been located in
his abdomen that is warranted to
carry five miles 1t belonged origi.
nally to a Sound steamboat. When
it is blown the devil will clap his
hands together in threatening fash
ion. Immediately the wicked will
forsake their evil ways, drunkards
will sign the pledge and men will
become reconciled to their mothers
in-law
EXPANDED REALISM.
These models will participate in
,,o clearwater dramas hnt UraIuallV