The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-18

no matter how solemn the occasion or
what his surroundings" said an Eng
lish clergyman. a visitor in Washing
ton, the other day, when the cs4Tersa-
ton turned on the funny experiences
Of clergymen and the humor that
creeps nto matters connected with
the church.
Il was assisting an old friend OF
mine. the rector of a church in Ire
land one Sunday. and before the ser
vice We were in the yestry room put
ting on our robes. with the old sexton.
a shr-Tele1 lP ---SaGan- OF tie perfect
type. assisting. Ny friend, who was
somewhat old, was a little testy that
morning and somehow the sleeve OF
his surplice got mixed up.
standing the aSSiduous efforts OF the
Old sexton TO direct his arm TO the
right hole the two would not nne
Finally, losing patience. my friend
said sharply: "Ach. the divifs in the
thing.
The old sexton Frightened up. and
looking over at me with a twinkle in
his eye, said as quick as lightning,
Not yit, your r~iverince-
"A good story is told on the OF
side of the late Bishop BrcA.--4. =
Georgia, which I do not think a go.
into print, though some OF the wlIty
sayings Of that immensely popular
and most excellent prelate of the Epis-
copal church have been retold. Some
years ago the Bishop visited England.
During his stay there he was for a
house in the middle counties. A large
number of people We're in the party.
as the shooting season had just COM
menced.
"On the morning the Bishop left he
was driven to the station with a young
man, who was also taking his depar-
ture from the hoSpitable mansion.
Bishop Beckwith ~ensconced himself
comfortably, IN a nrSt-cldSS clrTlage
and waited for the tram 10 staIl.
Leaning back in his seat he became
aware of loud and angry talking just
outside his window, and looking out
saw his young companion standing
with a hand on the carriage door, while
he used strong language to n porter,
who, it seemed, had miSlaid a gun
case and it could not be found. The
u gentleman was angry and en-
pressed himself in unparliamensary
language. Just then the sign was
given and opening door, the young man
jumped into the carriage and seated
himself i'm front of the Bishop. He was
shocked to find himself confronted by
his reverend companion, who he had
supposed was somewhere else on the
train. He at once apologiZed for the
language he had used.
- really beg your lordship's par
don,' he said, but / am a very plain
sort of a fellow and call a spade a
spade"
Indeed, SIR questioned the Bish-
OPP, with uplifted eyebrows, L should
have thought from what you ave just
said that o woul have called it a
damned old shovel"
"The only time l ever heard a con
gregatiOn laugh unrestrainedly dur
ing the regular services in a cathedral
was back in the eighties, when 1 was
a resident of dear, dirty Dublin. On
one Sunday morning the Bishop of
Cork preached. He was a splendid
man, an Irishman to the backbone, and
possessed of as much fine brogue as
ever distinguished a son of Erin. His
congregation was made UP of the very
essence of fashion in Dublin, which,
in those days was one of the greatest
social centerS of the world. Notori-
ouSly, people were living beyond their
means, and the income from the land
ed estates of Ireland had taken a big
tumble. But that made no difference,
n good dressing went as a matter
of course, and vas one of the smallest
of the extravagances. The Bishop
preached on the subject of eXtrava-
gence and spoke particularly of over
dressing. His sermon was a bitter
arraignment of the sin of debt and the
wickedness of setting the heart on
fashion and dress. He attacked the
overdressed women, and wound up
this particular reference this way:
Now, SuppOSing every one of ye-
every one, man and woman should
stand up in this church, take off the
clothes we have not paid for, just walk
49, ~-4 r-s@l 49, $500
We have paid fora pretty lookin' lot
of scare crows ye'd be-
There was a pause until the real
significance of the suggestion had per-
colated through the members of his
congregation, then someone smoker
ed. Every n was picturing to him
and herself the real scene that would
occur should the Bishops idea be car
ried int effect, while wife looken at
husband and members of each family
nudged one another. The ludicrous
side was irresistible N the laugh was
general.
a little village on the borders of an
cashire and Yorkshire. in England.
The church. which had been a part Of
the old abbey. was built in the year
1866 and is today one Of the most inter-
esting ediices in Great Britain. The
3SSSSA "oS q Xm WlllAdhSIs very OlQ
very stout, and very deaf. He had oc-
cupied the living for 80 years, and
while he generally appeared in church
n took some part in the services, he
was able to afford the luxury of a Gu
rate and was always glad to secure the
services Of a friend to preach. On one
occasion a gentleman I knew very
we'll was to officiate. It was his GUS
tom to limit his sermon to 20 minutes
preaching extempore, and always took
out his watch and his pocket handker-
chief, placing them beside him before
commencing. This he did as usual,
and. finding a very convenient little
round receptacle, stuffed the handker-
chief into it, laid the watch on top and
fired away.
THE congregation was surprised to
see h old rector, who was sitting at
the bottom desk OF the 'three-decker'
erection. which I suppose, still stands
right in b centre and half way down
the aisle-not in the chancel. as in
modern churches1become very uneasy