The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-08-01
A SHORT SERMON ~
A sRoTHER-IN-LAW

icAt. DC HOt lOISclIul u entertain
strangers: for thereby some have en-
tertained angels unaware.-Heb 49,.
A few years before the civil war
two men were prominent in Ohio poll
tics. one of whom gained a national
reputation. They were know as Sam
Cox, democrat, and Sam Galloway, re-
publican. They were both bright,
smart and witty. stumped the Colum-
bus congressional district together.
and were personal friends. People Of
all parties went to hear the debates,
not only for the political effect, but for,
the amusement from the humor of the
speakers which was better than a min
strel show. In the campaign the for
mer gained. the sobriquet of Sunset
Cox. He was elected to congress. il l
am not mistaken, two terms. He after.
wards moved to New York City and
was elected from that city several
times. He became known as the wit
of the capital
The following story was told of him.
Once his business required him to
stop in Philadelphia. He decided to
81 " duu " ucl near Tic lllllC
walked leisurely along the street when
he came to an imposing structure that
proved to be an Episcopalian church.
He entered, and the usher being en-
gagged, or not at hand. took a seat at
the inner end of one of the best pews.
Soon stylish gentleman came to the
entrance. looked upon the occupant as
if a serious mistake had been made
and took his seat at the end next the
aisle. The intruder was neither we'll
nor fashionably attired. but seemed
perfectly at his ease. The gentleman
took a card and penciled on it, This
is my pew. John Ingham." and hand
ed it to the interloper. The intruder
took the card. read it. leisurely took q
pencil from his pocket and wrote on
the same card, 1T is d. good pew.
What do you pay for it. Samuel S.
Cox
Astonishment gave way to sociabil-
ity and the men became friends.
In January 1864, was in New Or
leans, a soldier in the Federal army
an exchanged prisoner of war, waiting
to be sent to my regiment then sta
toned in Matagorda, Texas. One Sun.
day attended one of the principal
churches; when l entered the usher
gave me a seat well back. though. be-
ing early. the auditorium was nearly
empty; but Federal soldiers were ex-
pected to take back seats. Soon after
l was seated there came a soldier
wearing a soiled officers overcOat and
he was given a seat in the last row
back. He was a fine looking fellow
with a large head of brown hair, and
smiled az he took the designated seat.
The church was filled to about two
thirds of its capacity. The tempera'
ture rose and the bushy haired sol.
der removed his overcoat when there
were displayed shoulder straps with
two stars. The usher asked me who
that officer was. I told him that was
Maj-Gen. N. p. Banks, commander OF
the army in the southwest.
The usher went forward in the
church, had hasty conversation with
those who were evidently church OH
Gals when two of them went to the
general and asked him to take seal
further forward. He declined saying
he preferred to stay where he was
Apologies were gracefully offered and
graciously accepted.
The following occurrence took place
at Champaign. ILL.,. about 1885. The
aristocratic church of the city wal
the Presbyterian of which the write'
| was a pew holder and brother-fn-law
One Sunday a good looking stranger
came and was given a seat towards thu
| back part of the church in one of thu
news set apart for visitors. The mex
sunday he came again: and 1t was no.
ticed that he sang hymns as only ont
could who had q good voice, was wei
versed in music and interested. Again
he came and was given a seat mex
the paid pews. The members asket
each other who is the Stranger bu
no one seemed cordial enough to con
verse with the gentleman. Thepreach
er shook hands with him formally a
the chcurch door. This confined TO
several weeks.
| Meanwhile it was learned that tn
stranger had bought lot on Greer
| street WucTS LAG PAOpoSCu ~ ~N~
location where the majority were me
chanics. This was, of course, agains
the stranger.
The newcomer ceased attending tn
Presbyterian church and stopped on
square away at the Congregational
Meantime q goodly house, which over
Swallowed those in the immediate vi
cinity, began to show its proportion
and architecture. 1t then becam
known that the strangers name wa
lKimbsll--that he was the professo
who, the next Fall. would take prom
linent place in the University of Ill
lnois-that he had been an estimabl
member of the Presbyterian church
1.-THE place from whence he came-tha
he had a family, some of whom wer
grown. and all were, in modest way
musicians.
As soon as this became known tn
church officers met the professor an
asked him to unite with the Presbytel
liam church. He declined and withou
lgiving u reason stated that he had q
Inflated with the Congregationaiists.
Professor Kimban became the LEAF
err of the Congregationalist choi
which rose to be the best in the cit,