Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1913-11-21
bulls" by CIergymen Arouse
Mirth of Their Hearers.
Bad Judgment Sometimes Displayed
by Preachers In the Selection Of
Their Texts-Curate's Odd
Exordlun.

New York.-It was DR.. Cosmo Cor
don Lang. archbishop of York. who.
when ne was bishop of Stepney, re-
marked. apropos Of the children of the
east end: "They are doing a great
deal to rebuke the tendency of the
clergy to become middle aged in spir-
it-duH, morose and superior" And
he told one Of his favorite stories OF
an east end cleric, who was feeling
hfeless and disconsolate on setting out
on his daily round of visits, when q
little street urchin looked up at him
with cheerful eye and knowing smile
and said:
AUllo, young mani"
That creating quite reassured the
parsDn for the rest Of the day." DR..
Lang declares.
And it was DR.. Ingram, bishop OF
London. who once declared that
sense of humor Is essential to sue
cess. II young man has no sense OF
humor I would keep him at college
until he got one."
But. although many clergymen seem
to lack that sense Of humor which is
SO essential If their work Is to be sue
cessful and popular. there are occa-
sions when they themselves are the
cause, unconsciously. of much amuse-.
mert to others. The Rev. w. Cowan
tells. for instance, how the bull" at
tfmey arouses the risibilities of the
congregation and plays havoc with the
solemnity Of the occasion
Brethren. beg of you to take hold
Of your heart and look it straight in
the face"
The following is said to have been
a preachers peroration: I'VE pursue
the shadow: the bubble bursts. it
leaves the ashes In our hands" A
London preacher short time ago In
vited young men and women Of all
ages to attend his meetings, which re-
minds one of the memorable exordium
Of the nervous curate: Young ladies,
or perhaps should say young women.
for I wish to embrace you all" Nerv-
BUSINESS is, indeed. accountable for
some curious mistakes and laughable
Incidents. The preacher must have
been nervous who gave out this text:
"Heaviness may endure for joy. but
night cometh in the morning"
Apparently 1t is dangerous for the
young clergyman to fish for compli-
ments. There is story Of reverend
divine who once asked a sexton how
be liked the sermon. 'sI didn't like it
at ALL" candidly answered that worthy.
why. pray?" inquired the preacher.
First, because you read It; secondly,
because 1t was not worth reading"
And there was another young man
very vain Of his accomplishments as
q, preacher, who, after officiating at
certain service for Scottish minister
who occasionally had to avail himself
Of the assistance of probationers, was
met by the old gentleman with extend
ed hands as he descended from the
pulpit. Expecting high praise, he said.
mo compliments, pray" NAY, nay,
my young friend" said the parson.
nowadays I'm glad o. anybody"
Mr.. Cowan points out that preach
ers have remarkable lack of COM
mon sense when choosing their texts.
He has heard of an Edinburgh minis
ter who preached sermon on mis-
erly brother cleric from the words.
"And the beggar died" Another cleric
In preaching to society of physicians
announced as his text: "a certain wo-
man had suffered many things
Of many physicians and had spent all
that she had. and was nothing better.
but rather grew worse"
This is a story, too. told Of an old
evangelical clergyman who had SON
In orders. The young man became a
full blown ritualist. On one occasion
the father paid visit to his son, who
asked him to preach In his church.
For some time the old man refused,
but pressed to do SO, he at length