The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-27

in the very act OF. forming the opening
sentence, Here %beginneth, when-anotheP
psalm was commenced by the orRanist,
The future Archbishop had been a little
premature, and it is quite safe to say that
not one Of the many portraits published Of
his Grace gives the slightest approximation
of the expression his face wore.
There is the possibility of going to the
other extreme, and not being prepared
when the moment comes. In a church not
many miles from the one last mentioned a
very nervous curate stepped out to reada
lesson.
The place was not found; the lesson
was from the Lamentations so short
a book that it is very easy for a nervous
man turning tho pages rapidly to miss
it altogether. He did miss it-badly--and
every fresh miss added to his consterna-
ton and to the panied intensity Of the
silence.
h vicar came to the rescue by finding
the place in a small Bible and handing
1t to the ourate, but by that time the poor
man was reduced to such a state that he
could not utter a word. OF course, parsons
suffer from nightmare; who wouldn't under
the circumstances?
There is a certain much advertised
volume Of excellent outline sermons which
a certain young clergyman, distrustful Of
his own resources, determined to use.
He gave out his text boldly, as it was
printed, Proverbs xviii, %" A look OF
interest came over the faces Of the young
ladies' Of the congregation.
The preacher repeated the reference in
sonorous tones, and then looked at his
Bible to read it out. The interest was ex-
planned; the words confronting him We're,
whose lndeth a wife, findeth a good
thing"-a bold subject to choose for a first
sermon! Now that book is still in print,
the error still remains, and if young clergy
men would avoid raising false hopes they
had better verify their texts,
The disconcerting Incidents of clerical
life, however, are not confined to services
in church. A few years ago a clergyman OF
very solemn aspect and most serious in
tentions was ministering to one whom We
will call Jones, who lay upon a sickbed
seriously i'll.
Now Jones had not been a model oharac-
ter, and the parson knew it. Ii was clearly
necessary to bring Jones to n repentant
frame Of mind, but it was equally clear that
the sick man did not intend to "give him
self away AZ last he replied to his spirit
ual adviser: Nov, look ere, sir; l tell .
straight l amt got a sin on my mind"
The clergyman looked at Jones search-
ingly. Il wish | could say that, but / am
afraid ] can't" he observed solemnly.
Jones viewed him with a rev interest.
"Ahl l shouldn't wonder he remarked
after a pause, you he out and about, but
here be / what can l do?'
One more sickbed "Reminiscences TO illus
trate a Parsons p%erpleXity, A certain
ancient dame in a country village had lis
the ex~hortations OF her vicar. She was
devout and attentive, but limited more than
once that she had something on her mind.
There was a question she wished to ask.
She hoped to have it answered before she
died, but she wasn't quite sure whether
the vicar could do SO.
1t was quite clear from the ~clergyman's
encouraging manner that whether he could
or not he meant to try, but when the question
came it was a little disconcertinG-"OuRht
pass'ns to swear?'
Anxious TO gain fuller knowledge Of the
reasons behind this extraordinary question,
the vicar inquired why she askedit.
The old lady was quite serious, quite in
earnest; 1t was a question she had wished
answered ever since she was a little girl,
and now-weu, perhaps she could get her
answer at last. Her nasonY Yes, she
would tell the reason, which she did in the
following words:
when I was a little maid the rector OF
= was a terrible fine preacher. Tor sure.
When he did come TO preach at our church,
glad enough we was, | reckon. Now, the
pulpit was n girt high place as big as ever
you did see, and pass'n used to go, up the
steps wearing his spurs, just as he had
ridden over, and a ent gownd. One day,
when ! was in the front seat Just by the
foot Of the pulpit stairs, Pass'n - was
to praich. Up the steps a went, as fine a
figure Of a man as ever l did see; but when
a raiched the top step. the spur did catch
in his gownd and down IA fell, topsy-turvy
like. Well, sir, / du assure you twas a
proper mux up. You couldn't see pass'n
FOR the gownd that had rolled round and
round 'un.
"By and by his spur did tear a hole;
where he did kick and scrummage, and [
don't know for sure, but / thought as out.
OF thicoy hole there come a word a pass'n