The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-02-03
PREACHERS AMUSING BLUHDERs.


Each profession has its stock Jokes,
its stories innumerable, and to each
belongs flavor all its own. That the
point of jest lies not in the tongue
of him who makes it, but the ear
that hears, is the testimony of the
great dramatist. The doctor on his
rounds and the judge upon the bench
have both an audience ready and will
ing to accept as the highest wit the
bon mots Of the speakers and there
is no club gathering of men that does
not acclaim one of its members as
supreme in this respect, and are
ready to yield due recognition of the
gift.
There is, however, vast amount
of unconscious humor always floating
about, and to those who perceive it
the world is ever very amusing. 1t
must be admitted that the blundeFs
and jests clerical stand for some rea-
son preeminent both in number and
in mirth producing qualities. The
reason, of course, is not far to seek
the very surroundings in which they
occur the very upsetting of ones
preconceived notions OF reverence
all tend to cause reaction in the or
binary mental equilibrium, and the
simplest mistake or accident under
such circumstances assumes the pro-
portions of huge comedy.
The divine who in drawing the at
tention of his congregation to a spe-
cial communion service on the follow
ing Sunday informed them that "the
Lord is with us in the forenoon and
the bishop in the evening" is chroni-
cled with praying for the children of
his parish in these words: "And
now, o Lord, bless the lambs of this
fold, and make them meet for the
kingdom of heaven" While a
Scotch minister innocently, perhaps,
hit the mark by telling his people :
"Weel, friends, the kirk is urgently
in need of siller aud as we have
failed to get money honestly we will
have to see what bazaar can do for
u.s.
There is a certain amount of ex-
cuse to be made for the young cur
ate who, remarking that some people
came to church for no better reason
than to show off their best clothes,
finished up as he glanced over his au-
dience 81 am thankful to see, dear
friends, that none of you have come
here for that reason" !"
An Irish clergyman is credited with
having concluded powerful Grafton
in this fashion: "My brethren, let
not this world rob you of a peace
which it can neither give nor take
away" Which is coupled with the
remark of fellow country colleague
who, in reasoning with woman who
had lost her faith in Christianity told
her: "Well, you will go to hell, you
know and shall be very sorry, in
deed, to see you there"
But what can be said of the negro
student who, conducting the prayers
at one of the great missionary COL
leges, said: Give us all pure hearts,
give us all clean hearts, give US all
sweet hearts, " to which the entire con-
gregation made response, amen"
The giving out of church notices has
often proved pitfall for the unwary.
During Lent" said rector lately,
several preachers will preach on
Wednesday evenings; but / need not
give their names as they will be all
found hanging up in the porch
1t was a rector who gave out
hymn beginning, Awake, my soul,
stretch every nerve" before his SER
mon, and curate who read in the
lesson for the day: "He spake the
the words, and cathoppers came and
grasspillars innumerable, f" but it was
at young woman's Bible class that,
when asked what hymn should be
sung at the close they all with one
accord chose Where is my wander
ing boy tonight? ?'-ChGm6eys IOay-
nnL