New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-11
CLERGYMEN's STORIES.
CURIOUS AND HUMOROUS EXPERIENCES
SOME or THE NETWORK CLERGY INDULGE ~
REMINIsCENCEs-DIsTRE AC-
CIDENTS IN CHURCH

MOI Few cIergymen have a keen sense Of humor.
ana IN spite Of the serious nature Of their calling.
'iiey see many funny things in the course OF their
professional He Indeed they themselves are fire.
quehuy the chief actors in udicrous mishaps, and
though at the time they may not fully appreciate
the huinor Of the situation they are pretty certain
TO do so after It Is all over and they even enjoy
'ehns joke AT their own expense. Herewith arc
given few humorous experiences OF clergymen.
most OF whom in this city:
A young Episcopal clergyman who painfully
difident had occasion shortly after his ordination
TO hold service In a rural schoolhouse. II is. per-
haps not easy at best to make a liturgcal servl,e
| Impressive In edifce not Intended for worship.
ana with congregation most OF whom are either
| ignorant Of or Indifferent to such service. The
Young man was keenly Of this but at the
same dine, being good churchman he espec-
! Tally DESTROYS OF conducting the service in such
way as to impress the n-Epscopaan, Indeed.
With that unconscious egoism pardonnble In youth
ne rather felt that the future Of the Church In that
neighborhood depended tho way IN which he
acquitted himself
Nervous before he began at ALL an untoward In
cidont occurred that added his unhappiness.
There Was. of course robing-room in the school.
But one OF the good ladies with the love of the
Church in her heart had tried to make tempo
rary robing-room by stretching a sheet across one
OF the corners. Behind this sheet he retired. and
started TO take off mis- and waistcoat in order
n
large man. and the three-cornored space very
small. The result that in stretching his arms
he struck the sheet, and tho fastening being weak
II fell down. revealing him TO the congregation d.
vested of his coat and wastcoat in ALL the glory of
bright red flannel shirt with white "dckey' In
front.
There was audible smoker In the congregation,
In which IT is needless TO say that the poor fellow
did not Join. And the merriment increased by
the loud, piping remark Of little boy. Ma, what
is tho minister undressn' hisself for? With face
almost scarlet his unfortunate shirt. he hur-
ried on his robes ard out to begin the service
But his troubles were not yet ended. For kneel-
inc stool tho ladies had provided orc OF those little
low benches the ends Cf which extend quite dis
lance beyond the legs. He proceeded 10 kneel on
this bench Tor his opening silent prayer but In his
disturbed state OF mind he miscacu.ated. and knelt
! too far toward end The result was. OF course
that the other end tilted NJ. and he fell ingo
riously the ground. whereat several ungodiy
youths near the door laughed loudly. Such series
! Of mshaps might have disturbed the equanimty II
the most seasoned public sneaker. and II is not
strange that this poor fellow reduced almost
20 the verge OF collapse He is now distinguished
man and a charming and elfpossesse. speaker
But he says that he recalls that dreadful in
/ cident without feeling SILVER 81 stage fright