The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-06-19
BILL ARP REVIVES A SERMON,
HliMOR or THE LONG AGO
"And He Played on II Harp of
Il Thousand Strings Spirits of
Just Men Made Perfectly

"And He Played on Il Harp of
Il Thousand Strings Spirits of
just Men Made Perfect"
Atlanta Constitution:
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 "IIarp of a
Thousand Strings" Not long ago
quoted paragraph from it and friend
writes me from East Fcliciana, La,
and says that the author of that quaint
old sermon lived AMI died in that par
iah, and his daughters and grand chill
drcn live there now and are his near
neighbors. Strange to say the author
was Il minister of the gospel, sober, sc.
rlous, solemn and devoted to his call
ing, and for long time it was not
known that the humorous writings over
the signature of "Iodeklah the Scribe :"
came from his gifted pen. But some
preachers can't help seeing and en- Joy
| ing the ludcrous side of human ma
turc. Sidney Smith, the famous Eng
| lish divine, was as solemn as the grave
on solemn occasions, but he inhaled n
great deal of mcrrimcnt without a
smile. lie provoked others to the
most convulsive laughter, but gave no
sign save in the twinkle of his eyes.
Judge Longstreet, the eminent ju-
rist, the learned preacher, the digni-
fled president of two colleges land a
university, and the author of "Georgia
Scenes," was of similar type. l met
him often during my youth, and do not
recall that he indulged in a humorous
anecdote. The last time | met him
was during the war in the Office of The
Columbus Enquirer, when he indu lgcd
in bitter sarcasm against some Gcor,
gians whom he called traitorous OBJ
structionists. l could hardly imagine
that he il was who nodded the lnlmita.
BILE characters of Ned Brace and Ran.
scy Snitlle.
Johns Hooper was not preacher
but always a sedate and very digniiicd
gentleman. lie was secretary of the
embryo Confederacy that assembled in
Montgomery aud there was no sign OF
"Smon Suggs'' or "Taking the Cen
sus" in his solemn department. My
observation has been that the bost
story tcllers and conversatiOnalsts
have the least inclination TO write on
publish their own scintillatiOns. Ii
was common to say of my old partner
"Ohr rare Judge Underwooh," but |
could never induce him to put pen tC
paper in that line. lie said that q
good story or a flash of wit and humol
lost it's relish by writing it, for the tone
Of voice, the accent, the plquancy, the
, facial expressions could not be record
cd.
i When the Rev. j. Il. Lewis wrote
this sermon it was not uncommon fol
amateur preachers to perform up ant
; down the Western rivers and thus al
vertise their business, which was prin
cipally flat boating and peddlng THEN
produce. Lorenzo Dow took cont
mental journeys from Maine to Texas
but he was a pretty good Orthodo,
preacher. These flat boat preacher.
, were rough and tumble set and tan
gicd up tho Scriptures awfully, bu
) they could draw the crowds and thei
whiskey was good card. 1t was NJ
: orthodox product then and preacher
, and the people were as fond of it as
OW FuIhCI NOau, WIZ "uo PiCoChCl
. of righteousness. Rev. Mr.. Levi
does not give this preachers name, bu
, his sermon has been sent mo by my
friend and give it to your readers ~
it was given to mo. When it frs
r came forth we thought it inexpressibly
funny. 1t is not 80 funny now to thu
old people, but the younger generation
+ are more easily amused than the vet
Grams, and for their sake | append it
Apretty school girl recited it last wccl
at the commencement exercises of on
} public school, and she did it ell ant
. brought down the hOuse.
This sermon was said TO have beer
preached at Port Hudson, where thu
amateur divine had "ti,d up" for th'
double purpose of observing the Sab
, bath and selling whiskey.
] may say to you, my bretherihg
, THAT / am not an edicated man, an