The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-05-09
CHATS AND SKETCHES
About Town and Elsewhere.

The city council. "Behold how good
and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell
together in unity u
A Scotch preacher prayed, lord
bless the council, and grant that they
may hang together" "Amenl SAID
one of his hearers; "with all my heart,
and the sooner the better; and I'm
sure it's the prayer of all good people"
Said the minister, IL don't mean that,
but pray that they may all hang togelh-
er in accord and concord" "No mat
ter what cord,' said the hear, r, $50 it's
strong oneP"
-
In England it used to be the custom
to keep the jury 'without food, fire, or
candle" until they agreed. How would
it do to apply this rule to our city coun-
cl2
The shortest sermon on record is
Dean Swift's charity-sermon. He as
cended the pulpit and told his congre-
cation that this was mere matter OF
business, and as such he would talk of
it. They knew, he said, as well as he,
that they had certain roor to provide
for, who looked to their purses for sus-
tenance. Then he announced the text:
HE that giveth to the poor, leDdeth to
the Lord; and only added, eff you like
the security, down with the dustW
With this he sent round the plates for
the collection.
A not over devout clergyman was at
sea in a storm. The tempest increas-
ed, till at last the captain announced to
the terrified passengers, 1--WE shall all
be in heaven in fifteen minutes" To
which the trembling clergyman replied,
"The Lord Forbid"
~.
Spurgeon used to tell this story of
certain parish which friend of his
supplied one Sunday. AT the close Of
the service he was urged to come again,
the collection having been unusually
large. dear mel" said the minister,
"what might your ordinary collection
amount to?" "Last Sunday it was
pence-hslfpenny." "What is it
to-day, thep?" asked the minister, ex-
pecting to hear large sum. eight
pence-halfpenny," was the reply. "Woe
is mel' moaned the minister, "for l
gave the sixpence myself"
~.
Rev. Rowland Hill once secured
large collection in this way: During
his appeal, the sexton bro't up paper
on which was written, "Is it right for
one in failing circumstances to con-
tribute?" To this the clergyman
ssed,s reading the question and his
answer to the congregation. If we
may judge by the plates there was
never more Solrent congregation in
any church than on that Sunday
-
Bishop Bloomfield, when a young
man, preached sermon in which he
tried to prove the existence of God
In mis- discourse he was quite free in
stating the objections of infidels and
skeptics. Anxious to know how he
had succeeded, he asked one of his con-
gregation, on his way home, how he
liked the sermon. Well, Mr.. Blom-
field" replied the man, ''it was good
sermon, but can't say l agree with
you. think there be God, after ALL"
III IuOIndo CCOlJ was tuO duIuOI vi
once celebrated commentary on the
Scriptures. One day be asked Scotch
farmer how he liked it. "Vera weel,
vera weel"-said the farmer. eye did
right to put the chapters over the
'notes'-it helps me to understand
your observations ~
Mr.. - was always non-committal.
Being asked if he believed in the ex-
istence of God, he answered, "Some
say there is, and some say not. AS for
myself, take middle course. There's
something to be said on both sides.
An unlearned parisbioner hearing
the preacher say in sermon the com
mentators did not agree with him, sent
him next day a sack of the best pota-
toes he could pick out, expressing the
hope that he would find these more
digestible!"