New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-11

The mishaps Of clergymen who arc slaves TO their
manuscript would M several volumes II they were
record ID Some years ago er Episcopal clergyman
in q certain city was unable prepare Easter
sermon owing 20 the press OF Lenien work. and
decided 10 preach one % his old Easter sermons
That the congregation had no, heard. Before going
to the church on Faster morning he put It in his
pocket, A. he thought: but when he took It out IN
the vestry- roo n he discovered. 10 hts horror that
he had brought a Christmas sermon by mistake.
The situation was truly desperate. The service
vas abou, begin. He did not have time 10 90
back 70 his home. and nobody ois" could find the
sermon he wanted while. LAST OF all, he was un-
able utter a single consecutive sent"nc" w'hon;
a manuscript before him.
But in his extremity he saw way out. way
not altogether free from possibilities Of danger.
bu, he was IN no position 20 pick and choose As
he hurrieGly turned the leaves Of his scrr1on
no saw that nv substituting risen" for born" and
modifying other words and phrase tho sermon
might be made fairly well adapted for Easie-. He
would have been wholly AT ease T. he could have
made these changes with MS pencil. bat he I'D not
have tine for that All he could do was 10 cross
out the text write in its place the first sentence ~
the epstle for the day and draw his pencil through
A few sentences that ho saw could no, possibly b.
used on Easter with this he was forced 20 be
content and trust the event 20 al-uisa Prov
dcnce
IN his heart. however. he feared that Providence
: no. dsposed 20 help those who get into trouble
through their own carelessness and II was Win
/ ouayerins voice therefore. that he r'ad the ser
vice preliminary to the sermon. As he uttered W"
stately words OF the liturgy bis mind was busy re-
forming and modifying the sentences OF thdt
Christmas sermon. Sometimes ne thousht ne had
IL IL properly recast ia his mind. but " bile STRIVING
TO retain the consciousness OF II II suddenly van
ishAd and his mental vision saw only the thrls'-
mas sermon What II he should get ratified ana
preach az written, The thought threw him into an
agony Of fear - 90
A. FIRST he got along very well. BY changing
barn" and birth" 10 risen and 'rfsurreclion.
and modifying clauses here ana there. ne iounu
himself delivering most excellent Easter as
course and he began TO feel himself master or the
Situation But he soon made n dreadful. break For
,et,ing the necessity Of constantly getting ms copy
Ic reod one sentence IL was As We stand this
,ruir,g with the wise men around tho inanGtr OF
R.fh hem and Join In the hymn. Harki the Her
ala Angels Sing - That was as far as Nc got
Great drops OF pcrspiration stood out on MS ton
oles and his voice failed him. \ s'nsation 81
smazement ran through the congregation. Finally
70 retrieve himself. he read The sentence owe
| ,e,ain changing Il to As We stood on Christmas
Yrnrning' etc and ended IT, he never knew how
,rbis huudar made him lose his head, ana IN the
remainder Of the sermon he several times forgot 10
ssv risen" where he had written born IN"
seTrnon was the talk Of IN" parish for weeks; bu
4, y-os a good lesson lor the clergy man. lie sci
ahout earning 70 speak without notes. ana b" i
now a fO-cibe cxtemporaneous speaker