Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1882 — A Congregation of One. [ARTICLE]

A Congregation of One.

(.Detroit Free Pres*.] The following anecdote is related as having actually occurred not many months ago in a large northern seaport city in England: It was Sunday, and it was raining as it never did rain but in the vicinity of mercantile shipping on the first day of the week. The docks boasted a little church, or bethel, which hoisted the union jack every Sunday morning, in token that services wonld be held there chiefly for sailors. The clergyman who officiated weekly at the bethel happened to be rather later than usual on the Sunday morning in question, owing to the difficulty he had in getting a cab, the rain having caused, those vehicles to be in great demand. He arrived, however, a few minutes before eleven, and hurriedly bidding the driver wait for him till the service should be over, he entered the sacred edifice—to find himself alone there. Probably sea-faring people are not more prone to church-going in wet weather than their- fellow-sinners who live on shore; anyhow, every seat was vacant. The clergyman was a very zealous man, so he resolved to wait a quarter of an hour, on the chance of some waif turning up. His patience was not left unrewarded, for, after the lapse of a few minutes, one very wet man came slowly in and seated himself with some hesitation on one of the back benches. Even he, probably, had only put into that haven under stress of bad weather outside, sll the public houses and other convenient places of shelter being closed. Now our pastor was not only a zealous but a conscientious man—not always the same thing—and he resolved that had he but one solitary unit instead of a congregation, he would pursue the service in full to the bitter end for that unit’s benefit—at least as long as that unit would bear it—and he proceeded to do so, and accomplished it. At the end of the liturgy, touched probably by the patient endurance of his auditor, he condescended to address him personally, telling him that since the inclemency of the weather—we are not in receipt of information on the point, but we feel sure he said inclemency—bad prevented the usual attendance at the church, he would forego the sermon be bad prepared, and would content himself with a few remarks.

This, however, his hearer begged him npt to do, and expressed a great desire to hear the sermon. So pleased with this evidence of intelligence among the lower orders, and gratified by the effect his eloquence was producing, he took his victim at his word and let him have it. The text duly chosen, blossomed in firstly, secondly, thirdly, fourthly, and lastly; “in conclusion” was followed by “one word more,” and still that unit sat on undismayed. After it was all over the preacher came down and shook hands with him, thanking him warmly for his attention, his gratification being somewhat diminished When he discovered the enraptured listener to be his cabman, the sum total of whose “half a crown an hour for waiting” had been materially augmented by the length of the worthy divine’s discourse.