The daily Alaskan., 1913-01-06
IN THE PULPIT
Preachers With a Sense of Hu-
 nor or the Gift of Repartee.
A DUEL BETWEEN PUNSTERS.

ne ENchange or NomPllWoUNa '"~N
 spieed the Sermons of Rev. Mir.
 Walker and Rev. Mir, Rsad--srOthsr
 Moors's Grim Retort.
 When the march of pulpit oratory and humor was less advanced than at present a number of pious parish toners resolved to compliment their beloved pastor with horse. After 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 more convenient season.
 Week after week, however, passed on. and no word of the minister's nag. Th.s dilatoriness would never do, thought the reverend gentleman, and accordingly one Sunday afternoon he took occasion to introduce the sub feet in winding up a discourse on the unspeakable loveliness of charity.
 Now, my friends" said the preach CT. If that said horse be na nipping grass yout by at the manse in day or twa, ken what m 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 Tu do" so often that one frightened nearer said:
 And what wull you do, sirT'
 "Why, man" said the minister coolly. "I'U just sell the saddle"
 The Rev. Mir Walker of Connecticut saw his friend. the Rev Mir. Read, sitting Iu one of the pews on a Sun day morning and, leaving the pulpit went Co Read and urged him to preach for him Read begged or, as he was providentially 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- hection pitched Ipon Job f. [, 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 lt boldly, that the devil was great Walker. He rung the changes ou the name of his friend tin the people Signifed their notice by a general smile
 Walker took the pulpit in the after noon and returned his friends comph- ments by taking for his text Matthew xii. .. "A reed shaken with the wind. ' ''The doctrine of the text" he said, "is the instability of Reads" On this theme he discovered tin Read wished that he had never ventured his wit In the pulpit at the expense of his friend Walker.
 Tn 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 Co the itiner- ancy and a true loyal Methodist plain, pointed and sharp in all his preaching and eyhortations He had been labor ing a 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.
 He looked at the man with a little surprise; but. thinking 1t was a mis- take, went on, My days on earth will soon be numbered. l am m old man and you may not only never hear the voice of James Moore, but never see his face again"
 "Amenw was shouted from the same seat. more vigorously than before.
 There wus no mlStakiug the design now. The preacher looked at the man. He knew him to he a hard, grinding man. stingy and merciless to the poor. He continued with his address: May the Lord bless all those of you who have done your duty, who have hon. ored 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, brother"
 He was not interrupted again.
 It was the Rev Rowland Hil's habit to ride to church in an old family carriage. a practice too aristocratlc, In the judgment of one of his flock, who determined to rebuke 1t. It was GUS 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:
 ssprovars orn rpuupstpd for the Rev.