The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-01-18
AMUSING BLUNDERs
Stories Told Of Mistakes Made by Minis
ters In the Pulpit.
(Chambers's Journal

ters In the Pulpit.
(Chambers's JournaL)
Each profession has it's stock Jokes,
Its stories innumerable, and to each be-
longs flavor all its own. That the
point of a jest lies not in the tongue OF
him who makes it. but In 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 willing to
accept as the highest wit the bon mots
Of the speakers, and there is no club
gathering of men that does not ac-
claim one OF its members as supreme
In this respect, and are ready to yield
due recognition of the gift.
There is, however, a 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 blunders and tests
clerical stand for some reason pre-
eminent both in number and in mirth-
producing qualities. The reason, OF
course, is not far to seek; the very sur
roundings in which they occur, the
very upsetting of ones precOnceived
notions Of reverence, all tend to cause
reaction in the ordinary mental equi-
librium, and the simplest mistake or
accident under such circumstances as
sumes the proportions of huge COM
edy.
Lie uiNiHc WHO III drawing the at
tention of his congregation to a special
communion service on the following
Sunday informed them that 1.-The Lord
Is with us in the forenoon and the
Bishop in the evening" is chronicled
with praying for the children Of his
Lord, bless the lambs of this fold, and
make them meet for the kingdom Of
heaven" While q Scotch minister in
nocently, perhaps, hit the mark by tell
ing his people: "Weel, friends, the kirk
is urgently in need Of silier; and us we
will have to see what a bazaar can do
for u.s."
There Is certain amount Of excuse
| to be made for the young curate 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 audience: Il am
| thankful to see, dear friends, that none
of you have come here for that rea-
son."
| An Irish clergyman is credited with
having concluded q powerful grafton
this world rob you Of peace which It
can neither give nor take away" Which
Is coupled with the remark Of a fellow
country colleague who, in reasoning
| with a woman who had lost her faith
in Christianity told her: well. you
be very sorry, indeed, to see you there"
But what can be said Of the negro
student who, conducting the prayers at
one Of the great missionary colleges,
said: "Give us all pure hearts, give US
all clean hearts. give US all sweet
hearts," to which the entire congrega-
ton made response. amen"
| The giving out Of church notices has
often proved a pitfall for the unwary.
| During Lent" said a rector lately,
several preachers will preach on
Wednesday evenings; but I need not
give their names, as they will be all
found hanging up in the porch
1t was a rector who gave out a hymn
beginning. Awake. my soul, stretch
every nerve" before his sermon. and q
curate who read In the lesson for the
day: "He spake the words. and cat
hoppers came and grasspillars innum-
erable," but 1t 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 IL
My Wandering Boy To-night?"