Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1889 — A DRUMMER IS CHURCH. [ARTICLE]

A DRUMMER IS CHURCH.

■ How a Clerical Traveling Man Won a Bet. The Sunday School Convention 'held here, says the Lewiston (Me.) 'Journal, has brought hither some !of the brightest and most interesting ■ministers in New England. And it was not surprising to find that among I these earnest and successful preachers were some unusually good story tellers ’ —for a man who can’t tell a story well !at the dinner table can’t reach people well from the platform. One brilliant conversationalist and story teller, who took an important part in the convention, was Rev. A. B. Dunning, D. D., manager of the Congregationalist Publishing House and Sabbath-school 'work, and one of the busiest men in 'Boston. Dr. Dunning is an off-hand, approachable man, with a bright, winlning face, easy manner, and personal magnetism that contributes much to his success. He has none of the outward signs of the clerical calling, but looks more like a business man. He travels nearly all of the time, and he i generally passes as a drummer, and is recognized by the fraternity as one of 'their number. On going into Minneapolis one Saturday evening, a smart young fellow approached him in a free-and-easy way: “Going to ■stop over Sunday?” “Yes,” replied the Doctor. “Stop at the Blank Hotel, I suppose?” “No, I am going to stop with a friend.” “Come round to the hotel to-morrow afternoon. Quite a number of the boys will beothere.” “But to-morrow is Sunday.” “I know :it, _and that’s why we can have such a [good time.” “Oh, I think that we feldo ws who are traveling all the time ought to £eep Sunday,” said the Doctor. “Yes,” assented the drummer, 'good-naturedly, “but I’ll bet you won’t.” “I’ll tell you what I’ll do; I’ll go to church to-morrow if you will. ” “I’ll do it. Where shall we go?” “To the First Congregational.- It’s the best church in town. ” # “A11 right. I’ll be there, but I’ll bet you won’t.” The drummer was there, according to his promise, and could hardly believe his eyes when he saw his friend of the night before ascend to the pulpit. Dr. Dunning tried to find him after the sendee, but he had fled. One of the Doctor’s stories was that of a quaint old townsman who once said to a wellknown divine: “Parson, the Bible says that the Lord made the world in six days; do you believe it?” “Yes.” “Now, do you think that He finished the whole thing up in that time?” “Yes.” “Well, all that I can say is that He could have put in one more day to mighty good advantage right here in this town. ”