The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1902-07-03
BILL ARPS LETTER
Barlow Man Rsproduoes Humor-
GUS Sermon Preached Years Ago.
HARANdUE OF A "FLAIBOAr" PARSON
Expounded From Uncertain Text Of
"tle Played on the Harp Of a
Thousand Strings-SPerlts Of
Jest Men Made Perfeck."

have had an occasional request to
reproduce and save from oblivion a
sermon that went the round Of the
southern press some fifty years ago
and was known as the Harp OF a
Thousand Strings" Not long ago l
quoted paragraph from 1T, and a
friend writes me from East Feleciana,
La, and says that the author Of that
quaint sermon lived and died in that
parish, and his daughters and grand
children live there now, and are his
near neighbors. Strange to say, the
author was q minister of the gospel,
sober serious, solemn and devoted to
his calling, and for long time II was
not known that the humorous writings
over the signature Of "Zedekiah the
Scribe" came from his gifted pen.
But preachers can't help seeing and
enjoying the ludicrous side of human
nature. Sidney Smith, the famous
English divine, was as solemn as the
grave on solemn occasions, but he in
hailed a great deal Of merriment with
out a smile. He provoked others to
the most convusive laughter. hut gave
no sign, save in the twinkle Of his
eyes. Judge Longstreet, the eminent
iurist, the learned preacher, the ligni-
fed president Of two colleges and a
university, and the author Of "Geor-
gia Scenes" was Of similar type.
met him often during my youth, and do
not recall that he INDUCED in humor-
Gus anecdote The last time met him
was during the war in the Office OF
the Columbus Enquirer, when he in
dulged in bitter sarcasm against some
Georgians, whom he allied traitorous
agine that 1t was he who nodded the
inimltable characters of Ned Brace
and Ramsey Sniffle. Johns Hooper
was not a preacher, but always a Sc
date and very dignified gentleman,
He was secretary of the embryo con.
federacy tat assembled in Montgom,
cry, and there was no sign Of "Simon
saggs" of Taking the Census" In his
solemn department. My observation
has been that the best story tellers
and conversstionalists have the least
inclination to publish their own
scintillation, II was common to
say of my old partner, "ohl rare Judge
Underwood" but could never in.
duce him to put pen to paper in that
line. He said that a good story or a
fash Of wit and humor lost its relish
by writing 1t, for the tone Of voice, the
accent the piquancy, the facial ex-
pressions could not be recorded.
When the Rev. ]. T. Lewis wrote
this sermon 1t was not uncommon for
amateur preachers to perform up and
down the western rivers and thus adj.
vertlse their business, which was prln.
cfpally fat boating and peddling their
produce. Lorenzo Dow took continen-
tai journeys from Maine to Texas, hut
he was pretty good orthodox preach.
er.r These fiat boat preachers were a
rough and tumble lot, and tangled up
the scriptures awfully, but they could
draw the crowds and their whiskey
was good card. II was an orthodox
produce then and preachers and the
people were as fond of 1t as old Father
Noah, who was preacher Of right.
eousness. Rev. Mr.. Lewis does not
give this preachers name, hut his ser.
mon has Leen sent me by my friend
and give II to your readers as II was
given to me, When 1t first came forth
we thought 1t inexpressibly fur ny. It
is not so funny now to the old people,
but the younger generation are more
easily amused than the veterans and
for their sake | append 1t. A pretty
school girl recited it last week at the
commencement exercices OF our pub
lie school and she did 1t well and
brought down the house.
This sermon was sad to have been
preached at Port Hudson, where the
amateur divine had tiled up" for the
double purpose OF observing the Sab
bath and selling whisltey.
| may say to you, my brethering,
that | am not an edicated man, an
am not one of them as believes that
edication is necessary for a gospel
minister, for believe the Lord edl-
Gates His preachers Jest as He wants
EN- to be edicated; and although say
1t that oughtn't to say 1t, yet in the
state of Indianny, where l live, thar's
no man as gifts bigger congregations
nor what gifts.
Thar may be some here today, my
brethering. as don't Ak1cw what per-
suasion Ian Nv. Well, must say to
you my brethering, that I'm a Hard