The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-11-15
Bulls" by Clergymen Arouse
Mirth of Their Hearers.
Bad Judgment Sometimes Displayed
by Preachers in the Selection OF
Their Texts-Curate's Odd
Exordium.

III.
don Lang, archbishop of York, who.
when he was bishop OF Stepney, re
marked, apr0pos 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-dull, morose and superior. And
he told one of his favOrite stories OF
an east end cleric, who was feeling
lifeless and disconsolate on setting out
on his daily round of visits, when a
little street urchin looked up at him
with a cheerful eye and knowing smile
and said:
"Ullo, young mani,
THAT greeting quite treasured the
parson 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. If young man has no sense OF
humor l would keep him at college
until he got one"
But, although many clergymen seem
| 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-
ment to others. The Rev. w. Cowan
/ tells, for instance, how the bull at
times 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, 1t
leaves the ashes in our hands. A
London preacher a 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 l should say young women,
for 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 a story of reverend
divine who once asked a sexton how
he liked the sermon. II didn't like 1t
| hot
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
a preacher, who. after officiating at a
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.
NO compliments. pray" Nay, nay
my young friend" said the panson,
nowadays I'm glad O. anybody"
Mr.. Cowan points out that preach
ers have a remarkable lack OF com.
mon sense when choosing their texts
He has heard OF an Edinburgh minis
ter who preached a sermon on a mis-
erly brother cleric from the words
And the beggar died" Another cleric
in preaching to a society Of physicians
announced as his text: "A certain wo
man had suffered many things
Of many physicians and had spent al
that she had. and was nothing better
but rather grew worse"
This is story, too. told Of an ole
evangelical clergyman who had a sol
in orders. The young man became {
full blown ritualist. On one occasion
the father paid visit to his son. WHIT
asked him to preach in his church
For some time the old man refused
but pressed to do so, he at length