Pastoral Sketches

Pastoral Sketches

by Beverly Carradine

First Fruits Press Wilmore, Kentucky c2016

Pastoral Sketches. By Beverly Carradine First Fruits Press, © 2016 reviously published by the Pentecostal © ISBN:

(print),

mpany

(digital),

(kindle)

Digital version at http://place.asburyseminary.edu/firstfruitsheritagematerial/11 / First Fruits Press is a digital imprint of the Asbury Theological Seminary, B.L. Fisher Library. Asbury Theological Seminary is the legal owner of the material previously published by the Pentecostal Publishing Co. and reserves the right to release new editions of this material as well as new material produced by Asbury Theological Seminary. Its publications are available for noncommercial and educational uses, such as research, teaching and private study. First Fruits Press has licensed the digital version of this work under the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/us/. For all other uses, contact: First Fruits Press B.L. Fisher Library Asbury Theological Seminary 204 N. Lexington Ave. Wilmore, KY 40390 http://place.asburyseminary.edu/firstfruits Carradine, Beverly, 1848-1931 Pastoral sketches [electronic resource] / by B. Carradine. -- Third edition. -Wilmore, Kentucky : First Fruits Press, ©2016. 1 online resource (317 pages, [1] leaf of plates : portrait) : digital. Reprint. Previously published: Louisville, Ky. Pentecostal Publishing Co., 1899, ©1896. ISBN - 13: 9781621714477 (electronic). 1. Sermons, American. 2. Pastoral theology--Anecdotes. 3. Methodist Church--Sermons. I. Title. 6eb Cover design by Kelli ierdorf

First Fruits Press The Academic Open Press of Asbury Theological Seminary 204 N. Lexington Ave., Wilmore, KY 40390 859-858-2236 first.fruits@asburyseminary.edu asbury.to/firstfruits

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THE

did

INDEFINITELY POSTPONED

tell you of this before because I

not

you would not

But

come.

know 3

we

fluence with Mr. Rich, and you

hope. you

Doctor, don't forsake

can,

51

>L\RRIAGE.

are

was

0U

now

afraid

have in our

only

but do the best

us,

and God will bless vou."

To say that this cool announcement knocked

almost breathless is

Here I had

me

speak extravagantly. expecting a brilliantly lighted

come

not

to

mansion, smiling servants, flower-adorned hall,

family welcome background, and lo !

cordial

and

the

I

forward

as

blushing bride in unexpectedly thrust

a

am

mediator and intercessor in

a

delicate matter, where the father a man

of his

own

a

was

a

most

known to be

will, and where the family had

right to feel that they had been deeply wronged in the past by the individual by my side. every

The house mind

at

this

been deceived an

inner

was

dark, but

moment. rose

not

The

darker than my

feeling

that I had

up in my heart, and there

debate for

a

moment

as

was

to whether

I

explain the matter to the family if necessity compelled it, or whether I should beat a hasty retreat. would go in and

But the divorced a

pleading

man came nearer

and said with

voice,

Doctor, please stand by

me

to-night.

We

5

PASTORAL

want to

again.

marry

S

My

ET

wife is

present parted relation, and I And

cannot but

we

lent and allow of the

family

us

to

am

unhappy in our a changed man.

that her father will

marry.

can

help

get the

we

by

us "

What could I say, and what could I do course

in the interests of

all

consent of Mr. Rich.

this time and stand

us

re

One other member

is in the secret with us, and

think that you

Won't yo-u

hope

HES.

humanity

Of

and to make

hearts

happy, I consented. I told him to pull the doorbell. He did so, and we stood listening to the heavy clang in a distant part of the house. The clang" had a mourn ful sound and seemed drearily unlike a marriage two

"

bell, but two on

the

After in the

more

a

like

a

funeral knell, to

one

of the

light

struck

gallery.

full minute

parlor,

or

so, we saw

a

and then the hall door

opened

and

we were

ushered in

b ' a servant. In a few min utes more after taking our seats the bride and a lady member of the family came in. There was a hurried conversation, and it was agreed that I should go at once to the private office of Mr. Rich

the basement floor, where in company

on

with his

son

and papers.

he

busy with his bridegroom in

was

The

business books the

parlor

and

THE

INDEFINITELY

the other two

P0STP0N1' D

elsewhere

were

to

53

MARRIAGE.

develop

await

legiUmately into the following syllables, Dev-il-up-meant. I was conducted by a servant through a long hall, down a staircase, along a narrow corridor to This last word

ments.

the office. with

As I

pleasant

a

asked with

The cordial as

be divided

ushered

in, the father

smile and cordial

a warm

wind had blown

ing

was

can

me

arose

greeting

shake of the hand what

and

good

there.

greeting

made my heart sick, feel

I did that my welcome would not be

so

glad

when he heard the nature of my errand.

polite commonplace remarks, and noticing the interrogative expression on the eye Ir. Rich, that he was still pu led to brow s of After

a

know the "

for

few

ob ect

of my

Mr. Rich, I a

hope

night visit,

you will hear

few minutes in behalf of

ly related

to

I said,

some

me

who

patiently are

close

you." nothing,

Mr. Rich said

but looked

steadily

at

me.

I continued, ' '

You remember doubtless yonr son-in-law who

left this "

city

several years

I have every

the ominous

reason

reply.

ago." to remember

him,"

was

5

PASTORAL "

I want to say

a

S

ET

HES.

word about him."

At this

uncture the son, Mr. Rich, r., who was sitting near by engaged in writing, arose and went into a small side room, feeling doubtless that the interview was to be of a private nature. I am glad to tell you," I said, that your sonin-law has become a changed man, and is trying to redeem the past." I have not the slightest confidence in his change," replied the father-in-law. '"I know "

"

"

him too well." I felt that I on

bravely

was

to

making

poor progress, but

pushed

the end, and'told Mr. Rich that the

son-in-law wanted him to know that he had

formed, that he wanted the past

rectify the wrongs his daughter, and

to

that he still loved

would be

happy to have his ing upon their marriage. The effect of this speech remarkable.

He

then

He sat for

purple.

astonishment,

"Marry

became a

re

of he

consent to and bless

at

upon iNIr. Rich

first

moment

crimson, in

was

and

speechless

and then blurted out

my

daughter again!

Marry

her after

he spent her money, broke her heart, and sent my own never

wife to

a

premature grave

while I live !

"

never,

never,

THE INDEFINITELY TOSTPONED

''But consider his "You

know

how

youth men

AL\RRI.\

at the

time,"

changed

are

grace."

. .

55

I said.

under

He has got no grace," was the retort. You don't know him you don't know what you are asking for." "

"

Then followed in of the

w

family by the

man

until my heart "

"

"

' '

heaped

"

who said

a

I

was

advocating

history.

his wife still loves him and is

replied.

When and where me

word of it," exclaimed Mr. "

so

He said so," I

"He told

"

was

with his

Do you

mean

to tell

the

own

study." "

brief recital

upon him and his

cause

the

at

a

be remarried."

I don't believe

Rich "

to

sentences

whose

sank,

But," I urged,

willing

rapid

rong and insults

me

uick uestion. lips to-day in my

that he is in the

"Yes, sir." "

"

Where is he now "

Upstairs

If

a

ploded more "

city "

in your

parlor.''

bomb had fallen before the father and

ex

it could not have startled and shocked him

than the

What !

"

simple

sentence I uttered.

he thundered.

"In my house !

In

5

PASTORAL

the house where he

and

we can

S

ET

brought misery, insult, In my house !

say death, too.

The infuriated

HES.

wrong, "

starting interrupted by his son, Winwood Rich, r., rushing in, as full of fury as his father, crying out, toward the

"

door, when he

Where is my

coming

of his as

man was on

I

can

In

get

into

dered

a

The villain!

house !

To think

I'll kill him

as soon

he had secured the

moment

dash for

him in

at

our

was

at him."

another

and made

pistol!

his feet arid

a

side door.

vain,

he broke

pistol

His father thun

through

the door

and to my

surprise

detaining

grasp of several females of the

whom, it

seems,

and his he found himself in the had

family,

been silent auditors if not

spectators of what had transpired in the office. The door

was

man, and I

heard the excited

"

banged

behind the angry young

outcry of

the women,

Winwood, don't do it! don't do it!

And his

you !

reply

"Let

me

go!

let

go, I tell

I will kill him."

Then

came

the sound of

struggling,

tell that he had loosed himself and

toward the where sat,

groom

me

"

and I could

running steps to ascend to the parlor unconscious of his danger, the waiting back

was

THE

INDEFIMTEL

Two of the ladies

ing, led

directly to

into the

room,

MARRlA

pursued Winwood,

while the third flew up

more

ing

POSTPONED

the

i- .

5

scream

stairway that parlor, and, suddenly rush a

small

cried to the man, who

was

al

ready excited by the loud cries downstairs, "Run for

kill you ! Run!

life I

your

You have

not

Winwood is coming to a

single

moment to

spare I

'

The divorced

Stopping

not

needed

man

no

other

bidding. parlor,

for his hat, he flew out of the

hall,

across

the

along

the front walk,

out

the

on

swiftness that

gallery,

down the

steps,

and out at the front gate

ama ing as it was well-timed. As he dashed panic-struck out of the gate he ran up against a Methodist preacher who was returning from a pastoral round at this late hour. Recogni ing him, the fugitive said in gasps, Dr. Blank, run in there uickly and save Dr. they are about to kill him." The preacher with a cool nod and dignified with

a

was

as

"

,

of his hand said, "Dr.

wave

take

care

of himself."

fugitive stopped not fact, but sped on through

But the this

ing to

is well able to

his fate the

man

to be reassured of

the darkness leav

whom he had made

a

goat of, led into the wilderness, and left there

scape to die.

5

PASTORAL S

Meantime

voices and

screaming footsteps

ond to hear the crack of fall of had in

a

human form

of Mr.

and

a

pistol

distant

r.,

Rich,

running,

the

and looked every

the floor.

on

disappeared through

pursuit

HES.

I stood in Mr. Rich's office down

as

stairs I heard the

ceding

ET

and the Mr.

re

sec

heavy

Rich, Sr.,

galleries

and halls

and I had been left

alone. After

a

few moments I ascended to the upper

hall where the center of

be, and where all the

gathered

agitation

actors

of

saved the divorced, who

now

the

by

seemed to

night

were

this time

was

city. The hall presented a scene that for excitement, loud talking and natural groupings would have far away up the

done honor to

some

dramas.

The females

were

frightened and fluttered. Winwood, pistol in hand, after lamenting aloud that he got upstairs a min ute too late, and, vowing fearful vengeance upon the man on the earl - morning, disappeared down Meantime the father paraded up and down stairs. rav the hall going through what is known as ing." He called on things above and below to He spoke witness to things on the right and left. of gray hairs,' broken hearts, and dead people. He threw up his hands toward the ceiling and "

THE

brought that

INDEFINITELY

ottered

raving,"

scene

if the father had

females.

would have been

been

the waistband of his black

were

refused

He

dressing

was

impressive

costumed for on

a

a

little white

pantaloons,

and

of broad dimensions, the attire and

not

chairs

that descended onlv two inches below

coat

man

He

properly happened to have

raver," but he

a

5

MARRIAOE.

and could not afford to sit down.

The whole

sack

again. him by the

down

them

were

POSTPONED

melodramatic. gown

or

being figure

If he had

anything

that

it would have been well.

only had on a scraped the floor,

But that unfortunate

bobtail garment detracted much from the pdwer

ravings. So the more he raved, the more the women exchanged glances, and the more I shook of the

with amusement in

a

chair in

a

distant

corner.

Maybe the shaking was misunderstood and re garded as heart emotion and so produced addi tional inspiration for more dramatics. ust as once in a church a lady took a violent chill and shook throughout the entire sermon. The preach er observed it and construing it to be the effect of his sermon upon her conscience felt great liberty and surpassed himself. How

we

left the house

only that when

the

we

parental

do not remember

caldron

ceased to-

0

PASTORAL

boil

furiously,

SO

fort

his part to say,

on

paring

we

as

"

It must have taken

again," evening. ome

"

the circumstances of the

At ten o'clock

HES.

speeches

common

withdrew.

we

ET

and the dramatist could descend

from heroics to such

night,"

S

reached home and

Good ef

an

in view of

were

pre

thundering rap came on the front door. Redressing and going forth we found the divorced standing on the gallery in the starlight. With considerable dignity of manner I retire, when

to

a

said, "

Good

"

I

"I

am

dry "

that

I

I do for

can

you "

gotten home."

here," I replied. hurt

they

you "

asked the divorced.

alive and well, I thank

am

you,"

the

was

response. I

was

they

"I

stop

what

if you had

came to see

"Did "

evening

killing you." surprised," I said,

were

am

to

afraid from all the noise in the house

help

me,

or see

if I

"that you

was

did not

dead, if that

was

the case." "

O," responded my visitor,

down town to

arm

"

I

hurried

off

myself."

I did not tell him that while he

self I could have been killed

a

was

arming

him

thousand times.

INDEFINITELY POSTPONED

THE

After

a

r

MARRIAGE.

spake again.

pause he

\\niere is young Rich " ''At home."

Well, Doctor, I

''

never

am

the

on

and will

stop until I have tliat man's blood."

The memory of this man's the house, and his most too

much for

calling me,

it

a

but I

"

rapid

retreat from

warpath

"

was

ah

replied,

You need not waste time

"

r.,

for he will be Did he

"

the

warpath,

out

say so

"

looking for Mr, Rich, early looking for you." uickly asked the man oi

warpath. Yes, that

was

the last

to-night

before I left

kill you

on

sight

thing

I heard him say

that he would find you and

in the

morning.

So my advice

to you is that if you do not want to be killed you

morning." deeply thoughtful for a evidently determined to give up the

had best take the first train west in the The divorced

minute, and

warpath a

man

and try

very

night

and

towpath

instead.

He uttered

waiting for the day with possibilities, boarded a train that departed for regions distant and

hasty farewell,

all its unknown

a

was

and not

unknown.

And

so

this

was

nitely postponed.

how the

wedding

was

indefi

HAPTER

iy

HE

funeral

eminent

trust

we

solemnity

For

among

S

FUNERAL

SOME

is

ENES.

peculiar

to this world.

sadness it

and

many

.

other

sad

stands pre and

solemn

things. Whether it is the burial of a child or aged person, whether the company gathered at the grave be small or great, composed of the up per

or

choly and

lower classes, yet silence, awe, and melan

like

m

trol the

an

spiritual statuary are felt to influential way preside over

be there, and

con

scene.

The writer has buried hundreds of his fellow-

village in the spring. Some in

Some in the

creatures.

flowery scenes of graveyard in full view

midst of the the country

of the autumn fields with

ha e-covered hills in the distance, and

ing in

over

the

the

air.

golden

cornfields

Some have been in

cemeteries in the midst of tombs and

or

pillars,

a

crows

fly

cawing high up the large city

wilderness of marble

with lines and groups of cedars

waving magnolias. But all were impressive,

and

and

the

voice

of

SOME FUNERAL

S

prayer and the word of God

with

peculiar

power

3

ENES.

failed to

never

funeral

silent

the

upon

come

throng. The

yet

loses its

never

ushered into and other into

is familiar, is often

scene

a

more.

our

repeated,

The

power.

life

expressions

oy,

of

has

now

gone out

unknown world, to return

new

and

And

as men

knows, and how

was

world and welcomed with smiles

no

for the last look at the

gather

still face, and think of what its

pale,

that

and

far he is in distant

owner

now

spheres

and

how fixed in character forever, there cannot but

solemnity.

be

What

a

scene

it is, the silent

ered heads, the voice of the

throng, the uncov preacher breaking the

silence with the memorable and

ever

solemni ing

words, "

I

the resurrection and the life."

am

Then

falling of the first clod on the patting of the earth with the spades,

comes

coffin lid, the the

laying

of

a

the

few flowers at the headboard, the

mental

good-bye,

pause,

the

persing

of the crowd lest

and the

sight

from the

we

the

noiseless

waken the

carriage

dis

sleeper,

window of the

fresh-made grave in the distance, left in loneliness and

to

the darkness of the

coming night.

PASTORAL

S

ET

HES.

Out of many of these funeral

few de

scenes a

peculiar recognition history connected with

tach themselves and call for because of

some

scene

or

them. We

burying

were

a

poor

in

man

of the New

one

He had died, said the doc

Orleans cemeteries.

general debility, but the face was suggestive of hard living and

tor, from death

even

poor

in or

insufficient food. At the door of the tomb stood the wife and two

children, the youngest being was

little

boy

rapidly closing

opening

up the

but the click of the

trowel

of the

deposited.

vault into which the coffin had been

Nothing

of about

brick, and

The sexton with trowel,

three years. mortar

a

was

heard,

fifty red-shirted firemen stood mo The eye tionless or uietly whispered in groups. went from the black-robed figure of the wife to the little boy who stood by her with his face while

forty

or

turned toward his father's tomb.

attention wandered for

ing boughs as

of

or

the

outspread

neighboring magnolia trees, Avas concluding his melancholy

ust as he completely closing

broken cry

moment to

our

some

the workman

labor.

a

From them

laid the last up

the

brick

vault, such

in

place,

a

heart

wail went up from the little

boy

as

SOME

melted

every

FUNERAL,

heart

S

5

ENES.

drew every

and

eye

upon

him. It

seems

that the child had

kept

his eye riveted

the workman and the whole

proceeding. De voted to his father he was anxiously watching to what was being done with him, thinking see doubtless he would be released by and by. But when he saw the last brick put into place, and his father shut out from sight, the complete loss and final separation seemed to break upon him for the first time, and uttering that peculiar cry of dis on

tress

that moved

us

all, he turned

to

buried his face in her black dress,

ly

I want my

again

city.

bitter

papa."

The writer could

ited

weeping

saying,

and "

his mother,

that poor little

It eased him

to the little

not rest

some

fellow, and

to

night until he vis dwelling in the great bring some sweetmeats that

kneel down with them

to

all in prayer and commit them to the One who said that he would be

widow and

a

father to the

a

keeping

of

husband to the

orphan.

Another funeral memory is connected with

icksburg. sub ect was a lovely

our

pastorate in The over

twenty-four. 5

She

was

young

woman

both wife and

of not

mother,

PASTORAL

losing

S

ET

HES.

her husband, however, several 3'ears before.

She faded away from the world rather than died.

We visited her

ripen

number of times and

a

for the fields of

sible to look

at

and the little

girl,

light.

the face her

the room, and think of

ing

the two, without

so

Yet it

saw

was

her

impos

young and beautiful,

only child, prattling about death taking her and part

great pang of the heart.

a

morning she closed her eyes, and the gen tle spirit winged its flight to the bosom of God. The body was taken by' rail twelve miles west across the Mississippi River into the State of Louisi One

ana, and

we

buried her in the afternoon

of her childhood

The grave

was

on

at

old Southern

an

the home

plantation.

in full view of the house at the

edge

of the grove of trees that surround the home and that

leafy song over her when she was now sighed a re uiem over the young

had sung their a

child, and

wife and mother who had down to

sleep

forever

at

come

back, and lain

the feet of the

grand,

shadowy, friendly old woods. After the simple funoral, the neighbors scattered, the colored people went back to the uarters and the It

family was

a

returned still

heart filled with

to

the house.

summer

afternoon, and with my

pensive reflections,

I sat at the

SOME

FUNERAL

S

ENES.

window of my bedroom from which I could

the newlv made

ing

their

A few locusts

"rave.

drowsy

were

see

sing-

song from the tops of the trees,

broad, cultivated country of cotton and corn stretched away in the distance, and on the hori on a

rested

a

beautiful

Hearing

pink

cloud.

voices I withdrew my attention from

woods, fields, and crimson cloud, and afar off

saw

playing around the grave of the young mother her As her prattling little girl of four years of age. voice came floating to me on the bree e through the window, all unconscious of her great loss, while at

the

same

time

knowing

underneath the sod,

a

that her

"

mamma"

sudden mist veiled my

was

sight

literally We have seen many tenderly beautiful pictures in nature and on canvas, but a more pathetically and the heart swelled until it

lovely

one

window

on

we

never

that still

uiet fields, sighing grove

The the

saw

ached.

than the view from the

summer

evening.

the crimson cloud in the south, about the

house, the locusts'

under the trees containing song, the fresh grave the silent form of the lovely young mother, while

about the

simple

mound

played, laughed

and prat

tled in the sunset the motherless child, who

happy

in the

fancy

that the mother

was

close

was

by.

PASTORAL

ust

Yes

Anyhow unseen

ET

HES.

May

few feet away under the grass.

a

be, for all

S

we

we

know, the mother

was

still

nearer.

angels were walking about guarding the prattling inno

felt that the

under the trees

cent.

give to the reader. We were sitting in the parlor at icksburg when lady of our ac uaintance called to say good-bye to A third memory

a

my mother and

trip

down the

She had

we

myself,

as

she

was

about to take

Mississippi River to the

enpaged

passage

on

the

ill-fated steamer, Robert E. Lee.

rescent

a

ity.

magnificent but While she spoke

parting words to us her child about eighteen months old played on the carpet at our feet. It was a child of striking beauty and several of the family commented on his appearance. some

These two, mother and child, took passage on the steamer that afternoon at five o'clock. The

husband,

a

young merchant, had

a

vague forebod

ing of ill, and in a few last anxious words to the captain said, Take good care of my wife and baby." The captain with a hearty, reassui'ing laugh told "

the young husband he had made many

landed many

a

a

trip,

and

passenger, and all would be well.

The mother that

night

sat up until

midnight

en-

gaged in conversation with a lady while slept peacefully near by in a stateroom. A Httle to fret.

alter

twelve the child awoke and

The mother

begging

saying good-night robed and lay down by

retired

ments

At

stifling som

looking

down the

long

was

halfway everywhere,

ward.

was

In

few

a

aroused

mo

by

the

coming through the tran Springing to the door and

room.

that the boat

were

baby. asleep.

fumes of smoke

into the

were

her stateroom, dis

to

o'clock the mother

began

be excused and

to

the

the little fellow fell one

the child

on

saloon of the cabin she fire and the flames

down the cabin. and it

was

As she stood for

the dreadful

sight,

she

already

Smoke and fire

impossible

to

go for

paraly ed

moment

a

saw

at

lady with whom she had conversed so lately running along through the cabin, turn and give a wild look at her and then disappear in the smoke. Her body was found several days afterwards. The mother the fire

was

saw

coming

saw

the young

that she had in such

no

time to dress,

frightful rapidity.

So

taking a life preserver she fastened it about her body, and next placed the baby between her body and the preserver. the back

guards.

In

The

a

minute

more

night was

she stood

dark.

on

The boat

PASTORAL

S

ET

HES.

Mississippi,

at

this

point nearly a mile wide, flowed a dark, cold fully forty feet beneath her. The fire There was but one thing to do.

tide

was

out in

the stream.

The

cut her off from the forward

had

part of the boat, and

She had

was

rapidly approaching.

leap

that forty feet down into the dark river be

She had but

neath her.

Standing

the

on

guards,

a

to

burn up

few seconds to decide.

she steadied herself

noment, and then sprang out into the

down with

came

an

great, and

course was

unconsciously

she loosened her hold

so

the little

one

night,

slipped

out

great that

on

the

baby,

from under the

known to the mother, who battled with the one

hand and

and

so

preserver and floated away in the darkness

with

a

arrowy rush into the river.

The shock of

and

or

thought

that

she

un

waves

embraced

child and life preserver with the other.

Some

one

heard her cries, and several

men

in

a

skiff

picked her up out of the dark flood as she was drifting downstream. When they drew her into the skiff and she saw at a glance that the chfld was gone, no mother need to be told of the agony of that moment, and

the wild cry of The

anguish that rang along the banks. telegraph clicked the news next morning

SOME

icksburg

to

FUNERAL

ls

ES.

and the world of the

boat, the loss of life, and the

ing

S

of the child

ditional fact that

burning of the history of the drown

already narrated, with the ad the body had not yet been found.

as

It would be hard to describe the horror that

felt all

over

the

city

as

troubled faces and low, We doubt

not

body of the little

the

news

grieved

told with

voices.

that thousands one

was

was

prayed

that the

migrht be found.

Day followed day. The young mother was brought back to the city and was prostrated in her room with a grief so deep that all felt that the effort to console would be a mocker '. O if the body could be found ! So felt and wished and prayed thousands. Pa pers were scanned eagerly, and people asked one another continually "Has the body of the child been'found Mothers all over the city pressed their little dar lings closer to them at night, as they thought of the sweet little dead child floating about some where in the yellow current or driftwood of the Mississippi. The writer among others prayed many times, "

"

O Lord, if thou wilt,

found."

let the

little

one

be

PASTORAL S

ET

One the

morning fully ten days telegraph flashed the news,

"The child's

Many

body

HES.

after the accident,

has been found!

"

day as the short dis patch was read and many lips thanked God for the recovery of the body though the little spirit had long ago taken its flight to heaven. Later intelligence revealed that the body was discovered forty miles below the scene of the ac cident,

eyes

and man

thought

he

baby. was

that

slowly floating downstream. was standing on the bank when

saw

river.

That

a

wet

A

was

colored

out in the

were

portion

the flutter of

Rowing

which of the

had

a

out

white garment far he found the dead

attracted

night

he

his

attention

dress that still

clung

to it.

It

was

the burial of this child that made

one

of

the funerals which the author has said he could never

forget.

We recall tains

to-day the sunny parlor stirred gently by the morning

the lace bree e

cur

the

song of the birds outside and the odor of the flow from the

garden. The parlors were thronged with ladies and gentlemen who sat per fectly still, or if moving did so noiselessly. Not a single whisper could be heard. The mother was ers

front

SOME

invisible. another

S

luiggard,

The child

marble-topped

was

center

in

baby

had

the way it had

come

fragrant

home, but

departed.

It

awaken in this world

Thought

table rested

silver-plated.

within the white casket, that

itself half buried under

never

sat

room.

little white coffin, satin-lined and

The

3

ENi s.

The father, white and

On the white a

FUNERAL

was

was

so

was

of

white flowers. different from

asleep

and would

again.

busv with all about that fearful

burning boat, the awful leap in the flood, the lonely struggle in the waves by the little innocent, and then the ten days' drifting on the All were glad to broad bosom of the Mississippi. get the child back even though the soul had fled and the body had to be buried. The preacher's voice was low and tremulous as he read the service for the dead and prayed. He remembers to this day that as he recited the beau night

the

tiful and solemn words of the ritual there a

dry

eye in the

room.

was

not

HAPTER HOIR.

THE

nTf HE choir

is

an

I.

As such it demands

institution.

recognition, and re uires skillful and delicate handling. As it is desired that it should be com posed of the finest voices in the congregation, it is not

always

a

spiritual

instead musical

art

collection of individuals, but

and taste tower

fre uently

above

piety. Intended

at

help, and kind of mu preacher and congregation, it

first to be

sical servant to the

a

years ago became inflated with the abun

some

dance of wind in the organ loft, "threw the tea

overboard,"

city

many

tion and

declared

churches

independence,

its

to-day

the world

with the

from heaven to

ship lied

under

God

to save

God relies

on

the

Hoh' Ghost

sent

down

convict, subdue and

save

men.

preaching

that should on

pleased

through preaching.

preached

Hence

congrega

preacher.

The Bible says that it has word

rules both

and in

is the feature of

ever

hrist

others that God is

be as

using

religious

kept prominent,

wor

and

re

the instrument above all for the salvation of

men.

TH

So whenever

the

5

HOIR.

church

truly scriptural,

is

spiritual powerful, emphasis and prominence are given to the preach ing hour. Whereas, on the other hand, it is a mark of decadence, decay, formality and spiritual

it is noticeable that great

and

death when the

sermon

becomes

an

essay of fifteen

minutes, and the choir monopoli es the

better

part

of the hour.

We would

underestimate the value of

not

sing

religious wor ing. recognition ship shows it to be a desirable, powerful and blessed ad unct of the gospel. Nor does the author desire this chapter to be construed into an indiscriminate attack upon choirs, as if all were worldly and Its

in all ages in

hurtful.

On the contrary devout souls who

know many beautiful and

we

in that part of divine

help

ice, and whose voices God delights who

sing

that

power

makes

as

men

irkpatrick

gospel

gospel

the

to

our

souls with

hearer reason

honor, and

a

to

better

a

tender

man

or

thank God for

Sankey, BHss, Phillips, Sweney,

and

a

host of others who have set the

music and sung it around the world.

We likewise bless the

singers

to

We all have

woman.

such

the

to

serv

of the

Holy

One for the

hristian

hurch who have banded themselves

PASTORAL

together song

Still it is well

ligion

was ever

ing.

No

remember that

to

secured

days

wa3 s, and will

ever

importance

should

never as

to

bring

revival of

no

re

protracted sing thing. While we

of

a

of faithful

significant

relative

It is

rehgious

preaching

has al-

down the divine power

the revival.

secure

simply pulpit.

by days

dreams of such

one

This is

HES.

sermon.

all know that

and

ET

add the charm and power of

to

prayer and

to

S

help

such

us

at

once

the

of the two, and that the choir

given preeminence,

be

a

and teaches

and

places

kept

but

subservient

used

to

the

and instances where the choir

has swept out of its true orbit, where it has ceased to be

that

sub ect

a

we

and taken the throne,

Being

call attention.

number of unconverted

so

to

speak,

formed often of

people, they

a

have taken

the greater part of the hour that should be devoted to the

exposition

introduced

.spiritual We

is

style of music that so operatic and worldh'.

once

a

sat in

low-preacher organ

series of

of the Word of God and have

in

uaver,

the

ust

pulpit

such

a

with

far from

a

suffering

fel

church, and heard the

rumble, s ueak, and

nothings

being

from five to ten

roar

minutes

out

a

while

THE

HOIR.

the pastor and his flock sat motionless until the

"nothing" was ended. Organ oluntary."

It

was

called the

"

It seemed to the writer to be the

untary," never

as

it

was

heard before and that

we are

random

confident

all

outspread

over

the

hands and

we

were

the part of the per

certain that

keyboard fingers.

of

we

could

by striking

much music, yes more,

as

Invol

made up of sounds that

entirely unpremeditated on former. We feel absolutely make

Organ

'

an

at

organ with

Then followed the "

hoir

In this for

oluntary." fully ten minutes

the

singers

shrieked

and bellowed, called to each other and answered

back, and then fought with invisible antagonists, and all shrieked at once together three times, and died, moaning to

tell in

in

guttural

a

low voice, except

tones

something

one

that

who lived

no

I for

derstood, and then he died also.

one one

un

was

glad, and listened to the organ that was mourn ing to itse apart," with a sense of relief to ear and heart, when suddenly the organ gave a start as if something had umped out of the bushes and "

life, and

sent

instantaneous and contemporaneous

yell

scared it, and all the dead forth

an

came

to

PASTORAL

that

fairly

lifted

ensued

kind

a

ET

HES.

from my chair and raised my

me

hair ! Then

S

of

musical

s uabble

in

which the whole

uartet took part, all very red

in the

the rooster-tail feathers in the

face, while

hat of the her ran

lady soprano fairly stood on end, and eyebrows disappeared in her bangs, as she screeching up and down the leger hues above

the staff.

Meanwhile the female alto

swooped

owl circles around the soprano, hoo"

"

hoo-hoo-hoo."

crying

help

that sounded

terms

The bass about

something Finally after ten

down

we

men men was

"

was

pulled

n-n-n." and

all

running up and bawHng screeching to each met in the garret and yelled "Ah-

out

and

thought why not

longer

The last "Ah-

than the others and

thus, "Ah-h-h-h-h-h

To which I

being cruelly

kept grunting

minutes of

four times

One could

the skies for

like, '"Mare-see!"

"Ah-men" four times.

"

hoo-hoo-

could not understand.

stairs, and

other, they

on

lost in the cellar and

was

hovering

"

The tenor ascended to

the comb of the house and called in

in

not

men-n-n-n-

mentally responded

"

Yes I

"

Ah-women too

but feel that the mascuHne

struck at under

cover

of the

sex was

hymn.

THE

HOIR.

After all this the preacher said, and

we never went

thankfulness. That

our

down

only hope

stunned and

almost

down

knees.

on

our

Let

pray

"

time to pray.

was

So with

in prayer.

was

us

knees with greater

on our

We felt that it

"

despairing feeling

a

went

we

The choir and most of the

congregation sat upright. While we praved the choir behind us were turn ing over the leaves of their song books and getting ready for another musical parade or escapade. They, as we have said, sat up, for it is not expect ed of choirs to kneel. They do the singing for some

churches at

hardly divine

be

expected

worship,

sermon, without

much

so

to

month, and could

a

take part in other parts of

kneeling and listening to corresponding rise in their

like a

the sal

aries. As the prayer lasted

singing

thus far

After this

was

came

but with such

a

only

seventeen

hymn

a

new

three

minutes, the

minutes ahead.

with

a

famihar name,

arrangement of

half notes that the choir had the whole self for five minutes Then there to

which

no

uarter and

thing

to it

more.

four-minute

Scripture

lesson

was

a

one

seemed to pay any attention.

Then another five-minute

hymn,

that had

a

faint

o

PASTORAL

resemblance

ET

"Arlington."

HES.

Afterwhich followed

minutes of announcements.

seven

ust

before

mentarily

the

fifteen-minute

compli-

essay,

called the sermon,

magnanimously

and

the

came

"

to

S

ocal Solo."

generally

This lasts utes,

from twelve" to fifteen min

and is sung either

voice sounds

as

by

if his mouth

a

gentleman

were

whose

full of mush

or

by a small-si ed lady who sings soprano. She is usually uite homely and has been selected for the position on account of her marvelous musical powers.

She

begins

with

a

little, thin,

keeps

almost nasal, which she the she

piece

uavering

up for

voice

two

pages of

which she holds in her hand.

ust as uavering

settled for the hour in the

seems

business and the uninitiated

ing else, eeeee

!

she '

an

This of

ical

"

course

the musical water

begin to expect noth suddenly springs aloft with a Whoopoctave and a half higher.

nerve

suddenly

man,

has

a

and world what

dashed

on

uite startling

We recommend it to

culty

in

arousing

It is in fact to

fine effect.

their

the

a

bucket of cold

body

is to the

exhilarating. preachers who find

phys

and

audiences.

diffi

Simply

go

TH

HOn ..

along through commonplaces without

giving

the

crowd

a

1

lor

awhile and then

moment's

warning

screech out, "

Whoop-eeee

!

Will it not produce an effect If Why not Whoop-eeee's and yells are allowable in music If in the choir why not in why not in sermons If the soprano can give a sudden yell the pulpit why cannot the preacher Brethren of the pulpit, stand up for your rights. Act on the suggestion, and astonish your congrega "

"

tion

and then turn round and astonish the choir.

They have made you ump many a Why not time why not make them leap and s uirm After the female soloist had given the sudden war whoop, she returned to walks of peace again, and meandered around without any tune at all

far ble the

So

as

udge. She seemed to be in trou about something, at least we feared so from notes, for the words we could not distinguish. she uavered and whip-poor-willed and Wil-

as we

could

liam-a-trimble-toed, and sobbed "

Pee-tee-mee,"

Which I did from my very heart. ers

in the audience, for I

about the age of the soloist

saw two

wiping

So did oth young ladies

their eyes.

PASTORAL

After the service

S

ET

HES.

of them embraced her and

one

said

" larinda, you

must

O child,

voice of yours.

strain that

not

I heard you

as

heavenly to-day I

thought I was floating above the earth and listen ing to the angels." Upon which larinda cooed, showed her teeth and tapping her on the arm with her fan said, "

Flatterer!

"

A little later she said, "

My

voice

was

in wretched trim

brought light to me. We, listening to a classic piece, The singer also had earth. ' '

We had

Now all

was

thought

anything on that uavering

the

that very

day

this

was

of '

"

in

from the start.

"earth" like it before.

And

"

knew

her

was

whoooop-eeeee

doing

strained her voice

so

"

notes.

we

effort with

straining

only once. must have been weeping over With this thouglit we spoke ed in

not

never

we

trimmed voice and with "

was

been

had

clear

heard

all

and it

"

had admitted her voice

herself

poor trim.

larinda

and

it seems, had

' '

and she

to-day.

lady

The remarks of the young

"

to

an

un-

rise up to

She had succeed Her friends, then, her failure. to

a

female relative

who understood music and ow ned

3

HOIR.

THE

upright piano. But she said very warmly that the piece had been perfectly rendered, and divine ly sung, that Miss larinda had never done better, an

and

so we were

After the

all in the dark, again.

sermon

the

came

oluntary

Offertory. again, and the collectors kept involuntary time, and dipped their plates at the people with a regular, rhythmic, har ollection

"

The organ

"

or

alone this time

was

monious movement. eeping time, time, time, With

a

sort of Runic

rhyme.

they were well able to do, as the organist in this piece did nothing but practice his notes and run the scales. We had heard our little girls do it many times at home and so instantly recogni ed This

it.

But when

mentioned this fact

we

the ladies of the

family,

all of whom

al, they cried

out at

what

talking about,

was

we were

the scales

was

once

that

we

at

home to

are

music

did not know

that what

we

Prof. Shimmermoon's

thought Sym "

phony of the Spheres I Upon this we collapsed again. "

In addition to all the voluntaries and the two

hymns there

and the Gloria at the end of the prayer,

was

a

third

hymn

after the collection.

As

S

PASTORAL

we

the

famihar

name

our

mouth to

begin

read

puckered

ET

HES.

of

"

Hebron

"

somebody

but

we

had

fooling with the notes again, and while we were Hebron," yet we persuaded it must be saw it afar off, only now and then, from the hill been

"

tops of rest

few musical notes

a

of the

country

afraid to risk the

spair

was

we

changed

so

ourney,

and

The

remembered. that

were

we

sat down in

so

de

this side of Hebron and let the choir go up

and take the land.

Up

this time the

to

organist

fifty minutes of the for morning service. came the doxology.

taken up allowed Then

have known not

told

"

It

us.

was

we

had what

on

we

came

the

a

never

some

as

semi uavers

first made its

After this

We

three times

semi uavers patched

uartet had

hour and

Old Hundred" if

with any number of in which

and

long

uarter would

one as

had

usual

and hemi-demi-

original garment ac uaintance.

to

the

benediction, and then

we

suppose is called the

oluntary." parting shot from the organist into the confused and retreating ranks of the audience. It was a medley made up of fragments of a horn pipe, ig, a irginia reel, and a regular negro "

It

Farewell was a

TH

cabin

5

HOIR.

"break-down."

Under its

influence

tlie

congregation was literally skipped, walt ed, and flung out of doors. Divine morning ser\ice was overl And the feeling now was. To your tents, O Israel! We have kept to the last the description of an Organ \ oluntary we heard some months since. "

Wearied from havinii held

ings,

and

being

free

tend service where church of We

sat

prayerful

would,

morning

we

went

to at to

the

sister denomination.

a

down

in

mood.

The church

were

number of meet-

Sabbath

one

we

Our heart

was

the seats

pew in

a

windows of the soul

carpeted,

a

w ere

stained, the pulpit

erusalem.

were

thickly

cushioned, the windows

was

ere

and

melted and the

the aisles

gan towered up behind the

ing and the people w filling the building.

was

meditative

open toward

large, were

a

carved, the great

pulpit

or

toward the ceil

noiselessly slipping in

and

gallery and the organist followed by the uartet composed of two males and two females entered in single file The organist, and took their respective seats. who was a pale, thin-faced man with moustache goatee and eye-glasses, got upon his stool, careSuddenly

a

side door

opened

in the choir

PASTORAL S

ET

HES.

fully spread out some sheets of music, began pull ing out stops, refixed his eyeglasses, straightened his coat tails as though he meant business, laid his fingers lightly on the keyboard and proceeded to give us the Opening Organ oluntary." "

This is what the spot.

It

we

can

heard.

be relied

We took it down on

as

on

being perfectly

correct. "

Tweedle!

This

was a

"

fine little note, awa

fine it was, and faint, that

so

one

up in the treble

could

ust

hear

udging from the dimensions of the organ, and the preparation of the organist, the si e of the first sound was a little disappointing. We had ex pected to hear a lion roar at least. Tweedle ! Long pause. "Tweedle! tweedle!" Long pause. it.

"

"

"Tweedle! tweedle! tweedle!"

Now,

we

organist ciples.

the

said,

we

will have it, when

suddenly prin

backslided and fell back to first

"Tweedle!" We then when lo!

began looking

he left the treble and went down into

the bass and the organ said, "

for another tweedle,

Doodle!

"

TU

'Doodle! doodle! '

"

Doodle! doodle! doodle!

four

We down

fall back to

or

thought

"

Would the Doodles be increased

next to

HOIR.

one

of the time when

ueer little holes

we

had put straws

we

ground,

had found in the

placing our mouth close to the earth had mournfully as taught by the colored people,

and

'

Doodle-bug! doodle-bug! doodle! doodle!

doodle!

"

Sometimes did

not.

memories.

caught them and sometimes we We were getting affected over these The heart was stirred. The organist we

with skillful hand had swept

happv

hours when in

had mourned

fess to

being

over

the

moved.

our

us

back

from the

''

childhood's

yard

holes. We

doodle-bug

Doodles." and

set

were

down in

con

peculiar

When with that we

we

a

lifted

nest of

Tweedles." How

fell

they s uirmed, twisted, got tangled

over

each other.

"

Twe-e-e-e-e-e-e

Then

came a

and

In and out, up and down,

they went, fifty Tweedles one long Tweedle, thus

here in

to

mother's back

suddenness of the musical world

"

sung

in

del-1-1-1-1-1 !

a

minute, ending

"

line of Doodles, all

tangled

up to-

PASTORAL

gether,

and

ily,

long

one

ending

"

Doo-o-o-o-o

It

was

of

was

keep

of the fam

back the tears here. It

mournful.

so

The

like the call

was

evening, when, lost in the echoing

in the

cows

by distance,

softened

HES.

patriarch

with the

for lost

a woman

ET

dul-1-1-1-1-1."

difficult to

doodle call

S

the cry is

hills, "

Doo-o-o-o-o

dul-1-1-1-1."

After this there turned

was a

organist eye-glasses,

page of his music, reset his

a

restraightened his "

when the

pause

Tweedles

"

tails

coat

and the

"

Doodles

ilkenny cat fight. pen, pencil or brush

brought the

and

together

"

in

a

regular No

could

ustly

describe

what followed in the next five minutes.

Here and there were

had

paired off "

one

who up

were

flying

was

and down

they

went.

yonder

but

Tweedle

"Tweedles"

"Tweedle"' and "Doodle"

a

"

down

chasing

a

The

Doodles

Here and there, up round

and

darkened, the

was

"

yonder a do en single "Doodle"

a

keyboard, sun

"

and

for his life.

the

do en

round moon

turned to blood, the earth trembled and shook, the stars

roaring,

a

falling, cyclone met

were

the an

sea

and

earth uake

waves

were

and cloud-

THE

Niagara

burst at

0

HOIR.

when suddenly !

Falls

midst of it all the organ wdiich had seemed

reeling, staggering, moaning, groaning, lang

"

Bang

"

evervthin i ice.

My

that all

was

out at

eyes that

what

ever\'

had

dreadful

more

It must be done.

and to

And

ha ard.

humanity.

so

we

must

lifting

We

If any

get them

our

anxious see

hurt !

sitting calmly in his chair uartet were in a row as uiet as if nothing happened, and the organist was slowly turn preacher

And

so

it

piece. came

"Tweedles" some

on

on

was

leaves of the music before him in his search

after the next

we

I felt

have courage to look

we

left

was

organist

no one was

ing the

ers

beat!

stood bewildered and ama ed to

we

The the

ould

was

left alive in the choir

was

and

lost.

owed it to the body

"

m - blood turned

over me

heart almost ceased to

than the noise. see

went,

rash-h-h-h !

The silence which followed

up and

be

to

still.

as

The cold chills went to

the

in

and

planks

pass

some

of

that us

some on

of

us

on

"Doodles,"

of remembered strains,

and oth

pieces of the " oluntary," escaped safe to land.

broken

had all

to

lol

HAPTER STREET

HEN

churches

Ghost,

n.

PREA

HING.

get filled with the

and have uncontainable

Holy blessings,

it is certain to manifest itself in field and street

The river overflows its banks

preaching. cannot

man

flying

sends the locomotive

steam

keep still,

and

so

the

the fire-filled

sweeps

over

the

land.

So

flamed

the

Luther and his

Wesley

to

the

adherents in the

and his followers in the

When

ing

in

apostles

first

century,

sixteenth, and

eighteenth century.

hristians obtain the uncontainable bless

that Malachi

speaks of,

then it is

they

go forth

seek for souls and cannot be restrained. man

ever

hedges, the

or

market

they go, whether in highways, places the burden is on them,

message of fire is

they

are

ways

to

be delivered, and ho v

straitened until the work is done.

adopted

ular, and are

is found

not

Wher

may be unusual, the methods

such

as

all will approve, but

The

irreg people

reached, the warning and invitation delivered

and salvation flows.

0

STREET

Nevertheless, the forth with

pardon

pr

acuin

sailing

1

.

Going

is not smooth.

loving heart, and with invitations to purity, yet many mock, and hindrances

a

and

and difficulties of

every

kind arise from the very

saving. Organ grind play against our sing ing, praying and preaching, the popular, catchy songs of the day. Dogs are provoked to fight in people ers

we

are

desirous of

hired and made to

are

and vehicles and horses

the outskirts of the crowd are

ridden

furiously past

exasperate the leaders

More than

of the movement. a

to

once we

have

seen

sitting on the edge of the uietly listening to the sermon,

person who had been

speaker's platform suddenly spring to hands with away.

a

his

feet and

howl that could be heard

At first

one

would have

supposed

viction had struck the party, but that he rubbed his

leg

led to

in uire

and discovered that

as

we

a

his

block

that

con

observed

beating his breast, improper language, we

instead of

and used fervent and most were

throw up

the secret of the excitement a

small

boy

hidden under the

pin almost up to the head in the calf of the exclamatory individual. These are only a few of the pranks played, and platform

but air

had thrust

a

glance at the difficulties that beset openpreaching. Yet all is cheerfully endured by a

brief

S

PASTORAL

the

HES.

who loves souls better than his

man

sonal

ET

ease

own

and comfort.

A revival

spirit

had broken

out

in

a

certain

and the churches, animated with

district,

per

saving desire,

at once

inaugurated

a

a

citysoul-

series of street

delegation of workers, and so moving point point, it was trusted that in a few months the entire city Each church sent

services.

chosen

a

from

to

would feel the effects of the work.

happened

It was

moved to

city.

It

ment

one

was

one

on

meeting

of the most difficult parts of the

uite populous,

predominated

happened pointed to

occasion that the

and it

was

that the writer open the

but

notorious.

was

meeting

hoodlum ele

a

preacher

the

in this

It also

peculiarly

ap

hard

field. If

and

ever

there

numerous

was a

time when

workers, it

was

we

needed choice

that first

night

in

spiritually benighted uarter. When we came on the had ground we found that the "help" arrived before us. This "help" consisted of a thin young man dying of consumption, tw o lads of

this

about seventeen years of age and

lady As

to

a

timid young

operate the organ.

we

took

our

places

observed the thousand

upon the

or

platform,

and

fifteen hundred dark.

STREET

unsympathetic

PREA

faces that

and then looked at the

gathered

were

help

"

3

HING.

there

"

about us,, consid

w as

erable misgiving of heart.

The to

platform

was

illuminated

post that shot up from

a

crowd

itself

around

us was

light

like

surged

revealed

we

feeling going to

was

great billows all

were

mustering

while the

uavered

consumptive

electric

an

rods away

little company

difficult time, but

a

up faith and courage

little, asthmatic organ

hymn,

have

some

our

upon

the

corners

clearly by

more

a

lantern swung

a

of the

one

in the middle of the s uare

There that

that

by

we

The

began.

under the

opening

brother with

a

very

weak and scarcelv audible bass, and the two

boys

with

gosling ginning.

sopranos assisted in the feeble be

While the

onsumptive

obserA'ed that his umbrella his

side

Without

slowly

was

losing

a

reached down and

property by the

unseen

a

but

note

the

stopped

grasp that

further progress of his

was

individual who

around the

general

firmer than that of

trying to abstract it. the hymn was utterly

was

The prayer that followed lost in the

doing his best, he lying on the floor by surely disappearing. onsumptive uietly

was

conversation that went

platform by

the

great throng.

on

all

Then

S

PASTORAL

ET

HES.

followed another

uavering hymn by

while the young

lady

whee y, Many ture

Avere

passed

her task

bent to

the

a

upon

a

appearance

our

as we

went

in the service.

on

It

would

preacher instead

have

been

had selected took

we

a

preached

at

We

eggs.

came

night if gospel sub ect, that

our

this

an

hour.

our

head

place

to

came

the

place

few inches.

some

more

doing

saw an

Some flew wide of the mark,

laughter greeted

man

a

we

came

one

rumblings.

raising

the hair

the post that held the lantern.

was

We had not

sub ect a few seconds to remon peculiar attack, and then re

of the head, while another broke and

there

but

After this

very near,

The eggs

the

and made Mt. Sinai

topic

nearly

sumed the Mt. Sinai more

tender

It missed

us.

stopped in strate against

better

than five minutes when

more

egg thrown

a

dark

rock and groan for

to

A

on

the back

spattered

on

great shout of

this decided hit, but

we

from different directions

went

on.

Either

throwing them, or the pelting was moving about from keep from being recogni ed. than

one

flying egg made a curious missile. It could plainly seen the instant it arose above the heads

The be

on

galley slave to the oar. most uncomplimentary na

little organ, like remarks of

goslings,

the

STREET

of the

like

people,

being light if

felt

one

so

dodge,

not to

giving but

anxiety

At the

time

same

onsumptive

the

to

light and

one,

velocity opportunity to dodge

came

with less

We determined, however,

to trust

as

toward

wav

an

one

inclined.

from every missile. mental

its

in substance it

stone,

a

in tlie electric

appeared

making

white ball

a

than

and

5

1'Ri aciiinc .

So

the Lord to

we

preached

keep

on

us

safe

w ith much

the linal outcome. we

noticed that

our

"

Goslings,

and the two

help,"

were

all

affectionately hugging their seats and so keeping out of the range of the eggs. As we were in the meteoric belt or one of flying eggs we felt a growing desire for private life, or at least the end most

of

our

sermon

and

a

lower down with the

seat

Goslings. going on, bantering inter ected from

While all this of

was

had

we

a

great deal

various individuals

sermonically, always facetiously, with every theologicallv, point we made. Among these gainsayers was a tall, gangling fellow who tried to entangle us in in the crowd who differed with

us

and

our

At

talk in various ways and

one

put

time he desired to know

the crowd out there to be

which

so

we

a

"

us

confusion.

whether

set of

gave the sudden retort

to

we

took

monkeys,"

to

PASTORAL S

"No, but

ET

if you do not

I will take you of animals." At this there

HES.

keep

uiet

and

lay

low

the father of that entire breed

to be

big guffaw in the crowd, and our oker was decidedly discomfited. But while he stood before the platform evidently meditating another verbal

was a

attack,

the rear, described

right

one

of the eggs

arc

an

between the eyes.

from

came

oker

and struck the

The egg

promptly

burst

and its contents filled the eyes and streamed

the face of the were

amusing.

man.

He

he had been shot

His ama ement and

was or

when

we

streaming

fright

in doubt at first whether

struck

by

minute he did not doubt that it and brains

over

over

a

was

stone.

For

his

blood

own

his countenance.

a

And

mention the fact that the eggs thrown

exceedingly mature, the apprehen sion of the man was heightened by that very fact for he mistook the odor for gunpowder or his own corruption. At this moment a friend approached and took him by one of his outstretched hands and led him away looking like a small-si ed Saul of The loud laugh and eer that followed Tarsus. this ridiculous sight gave us a breathing moment that

night

and

we

our

were

then resumed the much-broken thread of

discourse.

STREET PREA

HING.

fly,

But the eggs continued to

striking

of the last

one

the music rack of the organ and

its contents

player.

the fair

over

It seemed, however, that unknown to

woman

covering we

was "

hurled

great cry

Then followed

"

of voices

was

here he is !

Here he is

a roar

was

a

So she watched while

preached.

and a

had

who set herself to the task of dis

the egg thrower.

prayed

us we

and among them

friends in the audience colored

splashing

a

Suddenly

as

an

egg

raised, "

great surge of the crowd, and

saying

We've got him."

After this the multitude like certain

rolled toward

a

that direction

we saw

mighty

uarter, and

sea

on

that the colored

billows

looking

woman

in

had

spotted the individual, had pointed him out to a policeman who had caught him in the act, and now in spite of the surging throng was not only holding on to him but bearing him away to one of the city lockups. Two-thirds of our congregation promptly forsook us, to see the culprit borne away in the station.

and

lodged

the

first service

nouncement that next

evening

at

So in much confusion

ended with the vociferated we

the

would hold forth

same

hour.

again

an

the

PASTORAL

We

ing

down

went

.S

! T

IIES.

the PoHce

to

ourt next

intercede for the egg thrower, but the

to

of Police asked

plainly how

us

allow

culprits

punished

be

to

hief

he could protect

in the future from similar disturbances if not

morn

after

we

us

would

being

ar

rested.

The young al hours'

ty-five

man was

imprisonment

dollars.

time,

the identical spot to

opened

we

proached by

and the

His eggs

A week after that

before

finally released

a

be

to

went

was

to

see

around the him

a

of the

Goslings

went around

awaiting "

he us

If

out

on

A few

man

corner

man

punished

for

was

a

trying re uest,

and found the egg thrower

His re uest that

that line I

night shpped

one

of his limbs.

was

kept,

was

to

that

call

able and

on

him, and

willing

to

help

"

weeks after this

knocked

ap

summoned up his fortitude and

that

storm

was

in the dark and wanted

This

w anted order

the

was

the

him.

we

corner

to

ust

who told him that the

moment.

Goshng

but the

costl -. again

down

that had thrown the eggs and been

it,

twen

hold another service.

one

man

sever

payment of

proved we

after

one

of the disturbers of

and fell from

a

roof and broke

A few days after that

a corner

off of

a

building

a

wind

that had

STRE

furnished

PREA

IIIN

.

number of tlie peace violators of that

a

evening

hrst

T

service.

who had been

our

The

old colored

woman

friend through the whole af-

fair heard of the accident to the man, and

saw

the end of the building go down under the wind.

placed

She

gwine

was

out

her

What I tole

"

akimbo and cried

arms

you

to cuss

I

Didn't I tole you de Lawd

dis poor white trash

ness

I'

nay-borhood, and kill for dey own owdacious-

dis whole

"

edge of the city looking for Nineveh to be destroyed. All this was an apparently unfavorable begin ning of a gospel work. But out of it all came a Mission that has never gone down, but has gathHere

ered

was

scores

onah again

on

the

of children from the street, led many

steadily resting upon protection of Heaven.

souls to God, and has

smile, favor, and

it the

HAPTER A

HERE

REMAR

ABLE MISSIONARY.

city Germany,

number of missionaries in the

are a

They far-away

of New Orleans.

France, Italy,

ni.

are

from

lands.

and other

of these workers

are

males, but

a

few

are

Most of the

gentler sex. Some are sent out and supported hurches, others are kept in the by powerful field by individuals, and still others go out to labor looking for support to Him who feeds the spar rows and clothes the lily, and who says we are of much

more

plan

any concerted

they

agreement, strange

or

to

say

have distributed the work among themselves

in such

a

mind the

ing

Without

value than many sparrows.

manner

thought

Head of the

aries labor in the houses of

plead street

with corner

watch the

100

of the great

spiritual

their

and

inmates

and

incoming

a

once

presiding,

hospitals,

death where

preaching

at

to

the

direct

Some of these mission

hurch,

prisons

bles and tracts

suggest

to

as

others visit

they

others

are

pray and

given

to

still others distribute Bi

few

fre uent

the

wharves,

vessels and strive in various

A

Avays lor the

the

RHMAR

AnLE

lONA

MIS

spiritual good

.

lOI

of the bron ed

sons

of

ocean.

Our

Methodist missionary from the front

own

large gospel wagon which was drawn from point to point in the city, used to discourse nightly to hundreds concerning righteousness, temperance, and udgment to come. et there was still another in this missionary field of

a

''

"

Avho attracted my attention, So

constantly. called him ter

a

impressed

according

and grew upon

was

to the

the writer that he

caption

of this

chap

remarkable missionary.

EyerA-thing necessary to be said about him explanation and description would be counted many elements of weakness.

so

begin with,

then he

Moreover he nary

gift

was

or

was

He

him

or

This

talent.

and yet he

was one

a

than

a

seems

slender

remarkable mis It is the

for all that.

half-do en others who

and sent forth to the work of up

by great

him.

extraordi

firm belief of this writer that he achieved

good

as

work,

supporting

certainly

material out of which to fashion

sionary

in his

poor, and yvithout an

in

negro to

was a

sell-appointed

commissioning

hurch

no

me

saving

are

more

ordained

men,

backed

ecclesiastical power.

Our remarkable

missionary

was

a

tin

peddler.

PASTORAL S

I0

He

went

around with

ET

HES.

little hand cart

a

disposing

his stock in trade, and while

city

in different parts of the

containing

of his

wares

would feel moved to

sing and speak for hrist. The singing and talk ing were the main thing the business f eature com ing in parenthetically and indeed often omitted or forgotten. It is not easy to say how many exhortations he

had

on

perhaps

hand

not

onference officer has His song sword

presented

However he The

I

to David not

was

annual

"

there is

alone here

on

none

trip.

like the like it."

the song solo.

he sung is called "A Poor Sinner

hymn

Like Me."

sermons on an

General

a

but true and tried

one,

was

than

more

being

The first stan a

was once

And

as

far away from my

vile

as a

I wondered if

ould

save a

Saviour,

sinner could

hrist,

the

be,

Redeemer,

poor sinner like

me.

The

hymn has six or seven stan as, the words full of gospel truth, strangely move the heart, while the melody is plaintive and soul melting. Our missionary, like many of his race ,

with

a

musical voice.

heard for s uares, and

Trundling

was

blessed

lear and sweet it could be

always

his hand cart up to

assembled

a

some corner

crowd.

where

A

Streets of

and

RI

MAR

populous

commence

ABLE

.-MISSIO

character meet, he would stop

men, women

lie tore he had

singino- his liymn.

finished he would have about him of

and

children,

was

this all

slight opening

gathering uite a va complexion.

mixed

a

and with

riety of national, social and individual Nor

IO3

ARY.

the observant

took in the

eve

setting a ar

of window blinds,

of

doors and the convenient arrangement of slats and shades and lo ! the invisible audience than the assembly

was

greater

the pavement.

on

After the

hymn came the exhortation. It was the writer's privilege to hear him one summer afternoon. The speaker was striking that time at Gwine around," as he sarcastically hypocrisy "

said,

"

tences

wid were

points.

two

faces under

one

his

like hot shot at times

Again

and

again

responded.

'

a

two

faces under

text,

one

hat

"

points

there w ould be

cided sensation among his auditors home and conscience

His

hat."

as

The

a

sen

had de

he struck

expression

served the purpose of

and he would return to it,

uote it, and

rally from it as though it had inspired him with new thought and strength and courage. The speaker after a number of telling hits, and after speaking with great fervor for fifteen min make verbal

utes

concluded with

an

exhortation to all

to con-

S

PASTORAL

I0

fess their sins and pray

He sis

ET

HES

.

forgiveness. then resumed his song, laying special empha on the last stan a, which he repeated several to

God for

times And when life's

ourney

is

over

And I the dear Saviour shall see, I'll

praise

For

him forever and ever,

saving

sinner like

a

me.

As he finished the last line, this obscure

servant

of God

suddenly grasped the handles of his cart and turned off, forgetting to cry his wares and sell his goods. The crowd dispersed, while we, turn ing up another street, had the feeling that we had been to church, and that God and

Truly,

sermon.

I

was

said, this is

that has carried about the ark and

As for the effect of

our

in both service not

the first cart

blessing of God.

missionary's

the hearts of thousands who heard him suppose

we

could form

no

ust

estimate.

song

on

daily, In

I

some

instances I have known of ladies rooms

who would

affected.

on

hearing

the

sitting in their h min be deeply

One whom I know and who is not

affected, bowed her face before her and wept like

a

Let the reader of this

containing melody and

the

hymn,

on

easily

the little work table

child.

chapter

secure

a

bc ok

read the words and hear the

he will be

ready

to

admit that such

a

A

hymn is

RlOIAR

sung up and down the

compelled

exercise

to

a

the hearts and consciences On at

certain occasion

a

corner

a

and

profound

them

a

great cit '

inlluence

on

missionary stopped

our

oblivious of his presence and

a

all who hear.

c>t

gambling on the pavement. engaged in their game, and templating

of

streets

six white

saw

IO5

MISSIONARY.

ABLl",

men

They bent

and

were

over

our

deeply

their dice After

scrutiny.

few moments,

negro

a

con

friend of the

hand cart commenced his song I

was once

far

The first stan a unmistakable

signs

awav

from my a

was

stan as were

the game

effectually a

hasty

etc.

shot, producing The second

bombshells, breaking up

the fourth increased their

confusion, while the fifth

beating

center

of discomfiture.

and third

blers

Saviour,

stan a

retreat.

beheld the gam

They

could

not

con

gospel was being sung in The negro gambler was the only their hearing. To him our missionary addressed him one left.

tinue in sin while the

self

as

follows

"As for you, you yaller nigger, I have I've nothin' at all to say word to say. white as

men no

uit

your

to

more'n what I said in my song.

one

them But

yaller nigger, if you don't repent gamblin', you sho' gwine to hell."

for you, you

and

ust

I0

PASTORAL S

ET

HES.

Here the

"yaller nigger" beat our missionary was left

treat, and

puted

precipitate

a

re

alone the undis

victor of the field I

ohn

"And

viii.

convicted

which heard it,

they

being by

conscience, by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last." By and by we heard him farther down the street. The rich mellow voice, the moving words of the hymn, the plaintive melod ' and the still summer afternoon air blended peculiarly and agreeably to gether. their

I wandered

Not

on

ray of

a

There's

no

light

could I see

filled my heart with sadness

hope

for

But then in that dark

A voice

Saying, To

his

a

lonel '

save a

and

No

our

we

longer

For the And

now

me.

hour to me,

poor sinner like thee."

walk up the street, but

last note of his song.

figure,

sinner like

whispered sweetly

at the next block to obtain

and

a

hrist the Redeemer hath power

"

We resumed

one

in the darkness

thought

And the

went out

own

could

a

Far in the distance

ust

light

now

How He saved

a

walking

shining

unto others I'm

was

catch the words,

in darkness I'm

is

stopped

last look of the man,

on

me,

telling

poor sinner like

me.

We turned down another street, and

soon were

ri markablk

A

10

missionary.

in the midst of the rusli and

roar

of cabs and cars,

witli hum of voices and tread of multitudinous feet.

But

over

through

all and

all the strain seemed to

sounding in the ear and lingering in the Especially the last verse would come back the singer was so fond of repeating, be

And when life's

ournov

is

heart.

which

over

And I the dear Saviour shall see

I'll

praise

him forever and

For savin"-

a

Somehow while the strain

hymn kept ringing world looked very and

ever

sinner like

in m '

ears

me.

and words of that

that afternoon, the

little, and heaven felt very

near

precious.

We drew several lessons from the whole

history.

suggested along the line of hristian sac Our missionary often forgot to sell his rifice. goods. If we, as the people of God, were so de voted to soul saving that we would forget our little One

was

hand cart and tinware commodities it would exert

a

most

now

healthful effect

on

and then, ourselves

skeptical world, hrist absorbed in his work forgets to eat. Paul, I doubt not, often laid aside the tentmaking to tell the people of enduring tabernacles in the skies. and

And

convincing

influence

on

a

here is another, away down in the

social

io

PASTORAL

S

ET

HES.

scale, but away up in the spiritual grade, who teach

hristian sacrilice.

lessons in the line of

us

The trouble with many is that risk

or

lose

anything

little hand carts of dise

retailing

ours,

they

hrist.

for

to

supported with

a

we

negro, able

single hymn

Here

break up

to

ofhce, how come

our

a wicked

h3'mns,

stands

aghast

and

the

streets

Scripture

but

teaches

consecrated a

could chase

life,

land.

And

heart, that

inwardly one

man

hurch

history

not

only

3'et the a

defeated of God

thousand and two put ten thousand went

down into the

the Midianites and revealed the state of are

conclave

that such is the power of

and such the

wicked a

entire

us

flight. missionary

they

un

silent, while per

the

Our

poor

and all the

of all kinds to possess

to

the

missionary

was a

mitting ini uity

of

to

achievements, and all the promises of di

vine support

state

O,

article.

while oftentimes the

with all its prayers and of past

to

drew from

hristian courage.

of

precious

do work for the Master.

Another lesson that was one

an

ding '

hard it is to leave them in order or

to

care

full of tinware merchan

that tobacco-stained store, that

house of God

do not

O, those

fifteen cents

at ten to

can

already whipped

!

camp of

things

Now then for Gideon

A

REMARKABLE

Let but lanterns of truth

and his three hundred ! flash in their eyes,

lO^

MISSIONARY.

trumpet-toned proclama

let

tions of God's word be sounded in their ears, and let

a

few human vessels be broken in the cliarge

against wickedness and the world will see the flight and downfall. Mr. Wesley used to say he wanted only one hundred devoted men in order to pull

ramparts of sin and

down the

kincrdom of God

A final lesson was

concerning

for it:

people! cying that wandering

earth.

gathered

human

from

our

accessibility.

us

and while

access

we

to

missionary

How

we

pray

the hearts of the

continue to do this, fan

the prayer is not answered and that the

favor

to

we

Lord, give

"

"

time

on

up the

set

Zion is not

yet

ďż˝

behold !

poor

missionary sings simple little gospel truth ; and consciences are

negro

hvmn full of

a

a

stirred and hearts melted in every direction.

yet gather enough to make the eyes become dim, and the heart swell with desires for a better life on earth, ness men

passing along,

Busi

unable to stop,

And ladies

sitting behind doors and window blinds, suddenly soulswept by an influence that we know to be the Spirit and

an

eternal rest hereafter.

of God vehicled in

a

human voice

heads and weep in secret.

ďż˝

bow down their

AS

no

ORAL SKE

HES.

Every Sabbath we continue to pray, "Lord, give us access to the hearts of the people!" and many days God sent the answer in this daily re curring circumstance, and the answer was always the same,

"

Lo, I have done

so

say of ourselves after this but of heart

to

believe."

!

"

"

What

can we

O fools and slow

HA ER

AIN E

ER I

RESSIONS AN L

I

RON

AN

traditional:

now

and will

ment

ďż˝

"

IA

IONS

IN

others

popular, are still flourishing

once are

pass away.

never

Among

N

EW.

^ 'OME pulpit e pressions

aE

.

the

former

here will be

we

recall

preaching

the

announce

to-night at pronounced

here

candlelight." Sometimes it was ve - y candlelight." here was considerable ambiguity about this notice, as people lighted their candles at different We udge however, that hours. early or yerly candlelight" referred to the twilight hour. earlv "

"

Somehow the heart grows tender and the eyes It brings back moist as we recall this e pression. to

memory

parted.

class of faithful

a

hey

were

and mothers, and of have

passed

who have de

preachers of our fathers people farther back still, who the

away to the silent country.

heir

gravely and reverently to all announcements. hey were good men, and

flocks used their

men

to

listen

AS

ORAL

SKE

HES.

after devoted lives have gone to the no

candle, neither light of the

Another

e pression

we

was an

uest of the preacher directed

knowledge

musical

lease raise the tune."

At

once

throat,

a

to

earnest

some

pretended

re

invisible to

some

to

"

there

needs

sun.

recall

brother in the audience who

city that

the

was

clearing

of

somebody's

moment's pause, and then somehow it

something else was raised beside the tune as evidenced by sounds worthy of a cracked trumpet with nasal accompaniments reaching out or toward "Heb in the direction of "Arlington seemed

as

if

"

ron."

Once trust

knew of

a

preacher

who in utter dis

of himself, and of the audience

ac uit asked tote

we

themselves a

brother to

creditably "

lease

in

raise

a

being

able to

musical way,

the tune and then

it."

Without

a

tuning

fork to

regulate the

"

raisings"

singer, e ceedingly high regions, which brought forth a perfect screech together with sympathetic uplift ing of eyebrows and great redness of countenance from the faithful ones who held on to the skyward song. Invariably when this was the case^ the of the

sometimes the tune

was

elevated to

K

RESSIONS

hymn

ne t

all, but

AN

RON

N

IA

II

IONS.

being started was hardly raised at begun so low that it seemed to come

in

was

from the very boots of the brother.

Not less remarkable and memorable fort to lower the

high.

irst the

when it

tune

singer

was

felt to be too

would try to

so

after three

er or

sister who in

the vocal

pitch,

them up to such

be effected

to

trying, fully degree,

throat and elevated the

perpetuated volume.

so

broth

some

lower

to

an iety keyed constricted the

voice, that they

not

the shriek but

he whole

actually added proceeding reminded

interesting history' of ily." It re uired much the

take his

and

by

intended

but whose very a

te t

after

note,

one

four vain efforts, he would

or

leave the deliverance

down,

come

but the throat seemed to be set to that and

the ef

was

one

the

to

its

me

of

wist-Mouth

'

grace for

only

am

preacher performances

of these

a

to

in

the pew.

A Methodist

preacher

once

told the author that

when in the absence of the musical and where the burden of

raising

lay brother,

the tune devolved

upon him, that he had the most unfortunate way,

after announcing

sing ing repeating the to

it to

a

a

common

long

last two

meter

meter tune.

syllables

or

hymn,

of

try

He said that

saying

"

by

tum-

AS

ORAL

SKE

tum," he got through but rassment

is

"

Gos-

not without

e pression dropping

.

once

have

we

ministerial brethren say,

gos-^ ,"

after the

or

lining

the word

on

ringing

I

"

the

heard am

our

ashamed of

not

hymn

of

some

would accent

gos-^ill's charming

sound.

wonderful to note how their voices bore

was

down

pulpits

some

manner.

same

How sweet the

It

from

"

More than

the

great embar

perspiration.

and considerable

Another

HES.

accent,

as

the hearers that it used and not

"

pill,"

left

no

was

the word

As

"pel."

that the brother who thus

salvation

more

like

and with such

a

pill

a

clear,

doubt in the minds of

a

rule

"pill" we

that

was

have noticed

mispronounces,

makes

than like the clear water,

dripping honey, the heavenly manna, the sparkling wine, and other striking and agreeable figures with which the prophets and apostles clothed the gospel truth and life. or many years the

owing the

to

the

way it

was

presented

and

lived,

hristian

religion was to the writer like a pill." inally he discovered that it was the way certain people rolled the bread of life, causing it "

to look

unappeti ing,

that the

same

medicinelike and

bread of life

forbidding;

could be offered

by

E

RESSIONS

RON

AN

another hand, and it would be

N

so

IA

II

IONS.

fresh and warm,

dainty lump of the honeycomb that avid speaks of upon it, together with some of the butter that another prophet alluded to, that the struggle was not to get away from it, but to get away with it, in other words, to partake of the nu tritious and delightful spiritual food. with such

a

Still another word

to

comes

mind that

we

have

heard incorrectly accented, and often by ministers.

pulpit." infre uently we have heard a preacher say to the congregation that he ne t Sabbath would With that remark as usual. occupy the pulable accenting of the second instead of the first syllable the pit appeared. No allusion is here made to hell ; but not the less does the platform and Bible stand seem to be a "pit" to some It is the word Not

"

"

people. We have heard the word drawn

remarkably ing placed seems

to

into on

"

p-u-l-l-pit,"

arena

strong

men

walk into it

with swords,

as men

looking

more

accent

ought to sunshiny spot

be intensified, and where most

even

be

hus the agony

both syllables.

brightest, happiest and church is a "�full-fit.'" Some

a

out

used

be the in the

to enter

the

for gore, conflict and

Il

SKE

AS ORAL

HES.

preacher told the writer that whenever he entered the pulpit he became sick with nervous It was a "pull" to him from beginning dread. Now to end, and a "pit" from top to bottom. A

death.

then for the te t:

I

"

am

not

ashamed of the

^gos-

together. �pill.'''''' Agos-pill and a pull-pit We have seen intelligent laymen looking on the go well

sometimes, and could discover from their

scene

they had taken the pill and were now in the pit." urning to the pew we find e pressions and pronunciations there that seem to belong peculiar countenances that "

ly

they

felt

"

"

to that

part of the church.

sayings are not heard in all places, Still and are accentuated according to locality. there are few preachers but have listened to the e pressions we now mention, eelingly and sensibly near." Of

course

the

"

his

was

once

an

utterance of

fire, but the fire

has receded in most cases, and it is e tinct crater.

It has

now

like

an

done great service in its

timei, but the brother who

now

uses

it most in

his prayer is not most remarkable for

spiritual

warmth

himself; and under the mechanical words

there is

no more

It is

only

one

of

heat than is felt in a

a

moonbeam.

number of other prayer

phrases

K

RESSIONS

which in the

course

AN

hey

they

And

" eelingly

prayer. once,

vary.

twice

the mental

or

N

A I

of time he has

strung- together. never

RON

ONS

picked

all have their

all

and

of

them

sensibly"

thrice in the prayer

up and

place

and

make

one

is

repeated

according

furnishing

of the

e pression

from the pew is

one

II

.

who is

to

supplica-

ting. Another

'" he bended knee of his

uite

awed

youthful days

;

a

perishing humanity."

when I first heard it in my

me

but in addition it

sical roll which made

hearing. rarely heard

one

possessed a mu feel like repeating it after

the first It is

pushed it will

it into remote

soon

he colleges have days. regions, and like the Indian

these

be gone forever.

Still another is "

En oying religion." men give up e perimental piety,

As es

become formal, this utterance of

comes

rare.

Yet it is

a

strong

and

hurch

course

one, and

be

one we

speak and hear spoken. We have listened to godly men and women as they uttered it with shining faces and moistened eyes until our soul burned within us, and the spiritual palate streamed love to

moisture.

ii

AS ORAL

Sometimes

SKE

HES.

neighborhoods

in remote

have

we

heard it

pronounced 'En- aw-'mg rehgion." And we confess to hking "

the term,

thus

as

ac

he brother looked like he

cented, still better.

chewing on something good was En- 'aw-ing religion." lieves in a religion that affects

was

when he said he he

"

author

be

" aw." O how that member works when the fire is burning in the soul, and the honey of the gospel is drip ping all over and through the spirit. Recently in a Southern State we heard the e pression the

�

�-tire sanctification." he brother who thus

tire, did

that his cup am

tion." the

the

writer

a

there

he accent

described the In

than

better

pronunciation

self.

blessing

of

Somehow that little

heart, and while soul.

a

was

en oying

ruly

the word

beaming face. All could running over when he said

with

so

pronounced

'

�-tire

syllable

"en."

'

on

a

the

e perience

see "

I

sanctifica

"in" suited

It went

smile sprang to the was

en

lip

to at

the the

pleased feeling in the first syllable somehow

better than the word it

it is w-tire sanctification."

another Southern State not

long

since

we

E

heard "

AN

kiv brother in

a

In-v' he

RESSIONS

-ence of the

emphasis

Italici ed, and

was

so

it

RONL'

public Spirit."

was

flew: let it

through

us

to

on

II

NS.

ask tor the

er

the second

syllable

as

transformed into "lle N ."

We liked it and cried once

praN

a

laid

lIA

out

Amen !

keep flying,

let it

the whole world.

he

lly

in

gospel

us,

and

Yes, Lord, send

gospel. strange e pressions was reached in our hicago meeting, when some lay brother dropping in every other night during the prayer service tacked, in a most astonishing way, down the in-Zft-r.

But

a

-ence

the

clima

series of

r"s

Every

second

of the

of

"

or

on

the words of his prayer.

to

third

word

adorned with this verbal

was

interloper

betailed

"

r."

and

He

meeting-ur, might be blessedur, and that-ur, the gospel-ur, might be blessedur, to the good-ur, of every body-ur, and that the preacher-ur, might-ur, be clothed-ur, with powerur, that night-ur," etc.

prayed

that

"

this

We felt much moved to tefl him that

r

"

be

longed to the haldees, and if Abraham left it, he might afford to do so. Moreover we felt like say ing to him "that-ur, if he did not uit-ur, using haldee words-ur, in his prayer-ur, that the peowould not understand him-ur, and might

ple-ur,

SKE

AS ORAL

I

get

and

laughing-ur,

to

HES.

produce-ur,

so

good

a

deal of harm-ur."

Surely statement

brought

by

two

there

was

that

the

a

ark

beautiful

erusalem

up to

in the Bible

deep meaning o

on an

of

God

cart and

was

drawn

cows.

Another memorable here

was

a

time

saying is "getting through." in

dark, unconverted

our

laughed at this e pression, which was most fre uently used by the colored people. When mention was made of a penitent or seek er of religion, the uestion sometimes asked was We ob ected " id he or she get through " in our ignorance of the term, saying that it con veyed the idea of one getting out of the woods, or through a hedge or wall. days

that

we

he time

came

reali e who seek wall

or

tangled

setments and

and that

when

pardon

difficulties not

distracted and

hedge

purity,

were

a

out of the woods in

a

all about the soul,

through suddenly appeared

an

flowery

hedge, spiritual be-

that the

thousand

them

fainting soul,

smiled with

revealed

a

over

But when the Saviour the wall

or

woods of

we were

discovered what all

we

nor

them. to

the

and under his touch

open gateway, and the

gap, and

we

stood clear

boundless, sunlighted plain

E

hristian

of as

RESSIONS

never

oy

and

lA

RONl'N

liberty,

IONS.

luuK-rstood then

we

before the power of the words,

get through O yes, not

AN

id you

'

'

we

got through!

Ami

to-day

we

can

think of it without wanting to shout.

So the blessed fact remains that there is velous richness of

and

constantly

a

thought,

a

world of

a

mar

suggestion,

unfolding meaning in certain

gospel words and religious sayings, and in the way they are accented, whether pronounced by prince or

pauper.

here

are

e pression "

kaleidoscopic

turns

and twists in the

ďż˝

Bless the Lord.""

As it falls from the

of different

speakers

it

ine haustibility on the part of the words, brings a constant pleasure to the spiritual

shows

and

lips

an

hearer.

So with the word

"Glory!

"

mighty shout soul-cry has been wept, laughed, whispered, "Who

can

count the diverse

ways this

ed and thundered forth.

solitary cannon; it becomes the rapid-fire Gathng gun and corresponding damage to the kingdom of

Sometimes it booms forth like then

does

a

AS ORAL

darkness.

SKE

variety

With innumerable

while it is the

same

word, yet is it

Still another is the shout "

HES.

Hallelu ah!

of utterance,

ever a new

word.

ďż˝

"

susceptibility of this word to new and un e pected twists of sound and meaning is simply ama ing. Every modulation of voice, every ris ing and falling inflection of speech, in connection with the word, sends a thrill of pleasure through us. Some stress the first syllable "Hal" in a he

way that is

bring

benediction to the soul, and others

a

the

syllable lu rous, buglelike note that charging an army of devils. out

We

lived in struck

a us

single

or

uite

it.

But

a

holy

thought

scarce

in

makes

woman

round,

a

one

feel

sono

like

say that she had

Scripture for a week. It as a very surprising state-

the bread must be ver ' stale

a verse

surprise

our

with

of

verse

the time

at

We

^ment.

we

heard

once

"

"

has

have learned that the

after

long

living

a

week upon

ago vanished, and

woman was

speaking the

words of truth and soberness. So far from to be

life "

narrow

itself,

Hallelu ah

a

single

of

verse

Scripture

accommodation for the soul and the

we "

finding have for

been

seven

dwelling

years.

It is

in the word a

marvelously

E

RESSIONS

room ' word, with

RON

AN

N

IA

IONS.

I

dehghtful apartments of the upper-room order, and a glorious observa tory at the top from which the golden-paved ity of God is alwaA in

S

for

head is over.

he

end of

in full view.

it, white robes

pared

no

are

So long

provided,

and

in the presence of

us

daily anointed Hallelu ah ! last e pression

our

with oil and

of the kind

a

live

as we

table is pre

enemies;

runs

cup

our

our

mention is

we

the word

'�Amen.' What

deeper

a

word it

dcwn

we

he

word,

as

it

fected

by

a

how it grows

sea

has not

lights the lips,

and beautiful

comes

from

as

the

on one

hrist, and the

get in

draw to heaven.

ing, changing

is, and

nearer we

many strik

and tints

as

this

colored and af

hundred different emotions of the

spir

itual heart. We could not count the different ways that

have heard it uttered, but

ciation that ways of tears to

comes

we

of

Some

always bring make us laugh

the word

the eyes, other ways

religious laugh

like every pronun

from the child of God.

pronouncing

course.

we

ďż˝

the the

Still others make the

hearer feel like he wants to go to heaven and

hrist, and others still bring

a wave

of

see

strength

AS

heart, and

ihe

over

lonely

ORAL

one

H

iS.

standing

feels like

big

the

comes.

Sometimes the word is accented a

on

of earth until the

picket posts

and difficult

Saviour

SKE

".

"

and

little

a

so

"men,"

make

to

as

follows:

as

"A-men."

he whole force of the voice is put

in the first

letter, and the last part of the word is

scarcely

heard.

Sometimes this method is reversed, and a

little

"

a" and

a

big

"

!MEN,"

as

we

have

instance,

for

"a-MEN."

Both

good and we heartily commend them to the hearing of the hurch. Recently we heard the word uttered by Eastern are

and Western Methodist brethren. that

we

We had thought

understood the word up to the time that

these two

men

of God in

widely

the country got hold of it. and greater

We

different parts of saw

at

once

new

depths.

he brother in the East with

glowing

face would

say "A-men-n-n-n-n ! lable

as

if he

"

never

and hold

intended

to

on

to

the last

let go.

Garden of Eden to him; he had walked and

was

latch

at

the gate

hating

to

go.

leaving; We thought then, but held

It

syl

was

a

through, on

to

the

this pro-

E

nunciation

never

can

ROM'N

AN

RESS ONS

IA

surpassed

be

I

IONS.

lor swci'tness

and fervor.

lately

But while in the West brother

sav

"Amen

the soul with

''

pleasure

He threw the accent

"A-a-a-a-a-men !

we

heard

an

old

another way that filled

in

and admiration. on

syllable

the first

and said

"

It would be difficult to describe how the heart

impressed

melted and

was

he voice of the old

Iv

unctuous ;

that tremulous

saint

on

man was

"

honey

an

rapidly and slowly for he did lingered, one at

to

dripping "

came

on

it,

as

from the

word, while

leave the

he first

left

slowly;

not want to

one

went

in

into the

the second entered

leave at all.

Both

the back gate, the other at the

both in love with what

;

got

deep-

wet, and

Epicurean delight lingered

it after he entered.

front

and

platform.

he first brother hated

word

was

A- a-a-a-a-a-men

the

the second with

utterance.

trembling

and somehow the eyes

the heart felt like

aged

with that

they

saw

and felt in

the word "Amen."

At the close of

a

camp

meeting

this

summer

which the author had conducted, among those who came

Good-bye was a religion to overflowing.

to

full of

say

"

"

German

She

was

woman

low in

AS

ORAL

stature, and broad in my hand, with

a

SKE

and

bright

rich and fervent she said "Amen! I

thought

she

was

but the word that

Again "Amen!

said

she

going

came

aking

lateral direction.

face all

a

HES.

to

forth

"

say

was

it, and still

a

voice full,

"

Good-bye,"

"Amen." more

fervently,

"

A third time she shook my hand and with tuous voice and

"Amen !

in her eyes she said

tears

again

"

impossible

It would be

to

put in print the pecul

iar influence and power that honest soul with the can

unc

only

came

forth from the

word "Amen."

repeated

say that at the fourth

repetition

I

I found

myself laughing and crying e ual to the woman and saying "Amen" with her. he cab driver was standing near by waiting for me to get into the carriage, and doubtless thought that he had struck two lunatics in a couple of people who did nothing but laugh, cr ^ shake hands, and say "A.nien." what

in the

was

how much So with

riage

we a

good

and

word, what it

we were

said "Amen

sweet

oy

was

But he had

"

getting

driven

rapidly

idea

meant to us, and out

of it.

several times

in my soul I

no

slipped away.

more

into the

and car

K

RESSIONS

N

K

May

of grace

we

all say it

sweet will of

God,

trial, speak it

in death, shout it in the

again

ďż˝

Now

so

on

we

it in every

entering

sorrow

and

morning

heaven

of

say it

of Zion,

thought, that if these mono and portions of religious speech

full of grace and power here, what will

remaining part

shall be restored, and the clear

glory land falling upon them er meanings in them all. raise God for what

and

tlie whole

offer t ie

be in heaven when the tence

to

"Amen I

syllables be

utter

resurrection, and

the

^

NS,

Blessed word of the Bible and the

"Amen."

kingdom

RON

AM

hallelu ah

for what

hereafter in the world Let all the

people

we

we

of the

light

shall reveal still

they sen

of the

deep

know of them here, shall know and feel

to come.

say "Amen,"

HA HOW

O

REA

likes

one

pleasant.

first that

thing;

be

"

ARE

a

"

or

IN."

AKEN

in,"

taken

he mocked

goes. not

HERS

to

.

ER

as

the

saying

fooled sensation is

One has several regrets about it: fellow-creature

second that

we

should do

a

wrong

should have that in

our

gullibility,

and

appearance which would suggest should be

gulled. general opinion that preachers are the he preachers easily duped of all classes.

third that

we

It is the most

themselves say that it is not so; that their vocation has

taught

them to

study

and

recogni e character;

and that constant contact with all kinds of has

given

them

rare

powers

of

people

discrimination.

one of our reported bishops can But what if tell a fraud by looking at his shoes. where then the impostor should be barefooted could the bishop look for proof of duplicity

Indeed it is

that

We have heard ministers say that

they

had

no

reading men. In fact we have said so ourselves, although every time we made the re mark in the presence of a certain lady who bears trouble in

REA

HOW

our

name,

have

we

amused look that

We doubt about

es

glance

not

discovered

kinds

relish.

speech through at a

and

that it would be

One is that there

remember.

to

and

it sounds very well, these

reading people through are two things us

."

roguish

a

altogether

did not

we

" AKEN I

ARE

but there

:

well for

all

HERS

are

credulity, and here are every species of impostor. takings in of a simple nature and some are compound: some are run on the ocular, some on the lachry mose and still others on the ntil religious line. of

assaults

upon

our

"

"

we

have been fooled well

hardly to

be said to be

each one,

on

sufficiently

wise and

we

can

knowing

udge thing to remember is that the impostor he generally a udge of men and character. pose

as

of such matters.

a

Another is

tramp who is considered class is

a

peculiar

at

demonstration of this fact,

by help yourself."

walk in and

citi ens lost his

highway pocket book . lish

In it

mation for his class was

accustomed to

with the

as

is

marks and characters he leaves

and doors, that translated "

the bottom of this

vords

ďż˝

"

as

was

Soft

as

knowing

pocket

by

gates