The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-26
CLERICAL AMENITIES.
Sharp Speeches Of Two Old Time Virginia
Preachers to Each Other.

sharp Speeches Of Two old-Time yirsiala
Pra.chers to Each Other.
The revival in the Baptist church. n.
Gently closed. and one now being corr
Quoted by the Methodists, have both
been attended by remarkable success.
The amity and fellowship between these
denominations are in striking contrast
with the feeling displayed in the begir-
ing of the century, e.s manifested then
by the leading exponents Of those
churches. Then there were very few
churches in this section OF the country
and the preachers rode long distances
and held services on Saturdays and Sun
days, rarely getting TO any one church
oftener than once month. The old
men of to-day recall this period with
great pleasure and never tire OF relating
their recoilections of those good old
times. The most noted expounders of
the Gospel in northern Virginia then
were Reys. Roszell. of the Methodist
church, and Gilmore, of the Baptist
They were rigid and unyielding be-
levers. each in the tenets and doctrines
of his own faith, and advocates Of tho
church militant, considering it theft
duty to thew TO the line, let.the chips
fall where they may" In upholding
their doctrines they not only attacked
the opposing principles OF the other
church, but these two. being almost the
only preachers of their respective de-
nominations in Ioudouu and Fauquier.
they frequently INDUCED in sharp and
vigorous personalities in the pulpit and
elsewhere, which at this day would be
apt to begst an unending luminosity.
On one occasion they both had aP-
pointments in Leesbury on the same
Sunday, and, as was the custom in those
DAYS. they received new members into
the church at the close OF each series
Of meetings. Returning to their homes
sitter church the two congregations met
on opposite sides of the same street.
The Methodist divine, thinking 10 de-
liver q smarting thrust in the hearing OF
almost the whole of both hecks, called
across the street TO the shepherd OF the
,Beptist fold:
How dye do, Brother Gilmore: one
Of your members joined our church to-
day"
"Ah, ha, that's all right" replied The
placid immcrsionist, "back-sliding Bap-
lists make very good Methodists."
Constant themes of difference be-
tween them, upon which an opportuni-
ty TO cross swords was never suffered
to pass unnoticed, were close commun-
ion on the one side and the insuf:iciency
of infant baptism on the other. One
communion day in the Baptist church
Rev. Mr.. Roszell made it point TO be
present, having no service at his own
church on that day. He bad eeat on
one OF the front benches. Mr.. Gilmore
spread the communion table with great
care lust in front of where the Netho-
dist divine was sitting, and when al
was ready he cleared his throat and with
great solemnity said in powerful and
impressive voice:
Brother Roszell, II this table were
my table / should invite you to partake;
but being my Fathers. / dare mott"
Instead of sinking through the foor,
| Mr.. Roszell calmly replied:
Brother Gilmore. il this were your
| table 1 should await your invitation;
but being my Fathers, shall help my
self" and, suiting the action 10 the
words, reached over and with greet seri'
business and soiemnity, took bread and
vino without molestion, to the intenss
amusement Of the congregations
They were both great lights In theii
churches, dearly beloved by their peo-
pie, and possessed of a vigorous Chris
tan fervor that made itself felt and re
suited IN great good wherever their
ministrations were carried on.-Wash
ington Star.