The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-17
WIT IN THE PULPIT
Preachers With a Sense of Hu-
 nor or the Gift of Repartee.
A DUEL BETWEEN PUNsTERS.

Walker and Rev. Mir. Read-Brother Moore's Grim Reeort.
 When the march of pulpit orator. and humor was less advanced than at present a number of pious parish, toner's resolved to compliment their beloved pastor with a horse. After 8 great deal of scraping together they accumulated funds sufficient to pur- chase a saddle, which was forthwith
 dispatched to the minister. with an intimation that the horse would be sent at a more convenient season.
 Week after week. however. passed on, and no word of the minister's nag. This dilatoriness would never do, thought the re serend gentleman. and accordingly one Sunday afternoon he took occasion to introduce the sub ject in winding up a discourse on the unspeakable loveliness of charity.
 Now. nay friends" said the preach ar. If that said horse be na nipping grass yont by at the nanse in a day or twa, I ken what I'll do''
 Here the minister smote the pulpit in manner that made the hearts of the congregation melt within them like wax. while he. stern man. continued his appeal to their pecuniary feelings so long. and repeated the fearful threat. ''I ken what I'll dov' so often that one frightened nearer said:
 And what wull you do, sirf'
 .'Why. man, said the minister cooily 'I'1l just sell the saddle.''
 The Rev. MT. Walker of Connecticut saw his friend, the Rev. MT. Read. sitting in one of the pews on & Sun day morning and. leaving the pulpit. went to Read and urged him to preach for him. Read begged off, as he was providentiaIly detained in town over the Sabbath and had no "preparation' with him. But Walker was pressing. and at length his friend yielded to his importantly and entered the pulpit. But he had no text. and after some re- fection pitched upon Job i, z. Then Satan answered the Lord and said. From going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it.
 From this passage he drew the doc Urine and announced it boldly. that the devil was a great Walker. He rung the changes on the name of his friend till the people signifed their notice by a general smile.
 Walker took the pulpit in the after noon and returned his friends. compli- ments by taking for his text Matthew xii, z, "A reed shaken with the wind" ''The doctrine of the text" he said. 'is the instability of Reads On this theme he discovered till Read wished that he had never ventured his wit in the pulpit at the expense of his friend Walker
 In the south of New Jersey some years ago there travelled over some of the hardest counties a good. faithful, hard working brother named. James Moore. He was devoted to the itfner- ancy and a true loyal Methodist. plain. pointed and sharp in all his preac ching and exhortations. He had been labor ing year on one of his circuits, and. before leaving for his new field. he gave his people his farewell sermon. At the close he said:
 My dear brethren. this is my last address to you. I am going from you, and you may never hear the voice of James Moore again.
 -'Amenr' came loudly from the seat before him.
 surprise; but, thinking it was mis- take, went on. My days on earth will soon be numbered. I am an old man and you may not only never hear the voice of James Moore, but never see his face again."
 'Amen!' was shouted from the same seat, more vigorously than before.
 There was no mistaking the design now. The preacher looked at the man. He knew him to be a hard. grinding man, stingy and mercfless to the poor. He continued with his address: May the Lord bless all those of you who have done your duty. who have hon. pred him with your substance. who have been kind to the poor. and," paus- Ing and looking the intruder straight In the eye and pointing to him with his finger. may his curse rest on those who have cheated the Lord and ground the poor under their heels! Say amen to that. brotherr'
 He was not interrupted again.
 It was the Rev. Rowland Hills habit to ride to church in an old family carriage. practice too aristocratic in the judgment of one of his flock, who determined to rebuke it. It was cus- tomary in his chapel for notes to be sent to the pulpit. requesting prayers for various objects. and one Sabbath Hill was proceeding with the reading of these requests as usual when he found himself in the midst of one to the following purport:
 Prayers are requested for the Rev. MT. Hill. that he may be more humble and. like his divine Master who. i'm stead of riding in carriage. was con- tent to be borne on an ass"
 Having read the notice. he lifted the speetacles to his forehead and. looking around the house, observed that it was quite true he had been guilty of the fault alleged. but if the writer would step around to the vestry door after service. saddled and bridled. he wouid have no objection to ride home. after his Masters example, on the back of an ass. George Ban- lcroft Griffith in New York Tribune.