Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1901 — Warning to Preachers. [ARTICLE]

Warning to Preachers.

“I thought it would be easy enough to convert the lay people of the town, but realized, of course, that the ministers would be a harder task. I remember one of the first sermons I preached with that Idea before me. It was a hot summer day, aud a gentleman very much under the influence of liquor slid into the rear part of tin* church and went to sleep. It was somewhat disquieting at first, but I soon warmed up to the subject and forgot him. What happened has always been a warning to me against very loud preaching—l waked him up. My vehemence so disturbed him that he arose, walked unsteadily up the aisle, and stopped in front of the. pulpit. I was dreadfully embarrassed, I remember, but I retained sufficient presence of mind to take what I thought was an efficient and brilliant means of bridging over the gap, for, of course, I had stopped preaching when he stood still and looked at me. Leaning over the pulpit I remarked suavely; “ ‘l perceive that my good brother is ill. Will some ’ “Before any one could move, however, he lifted his head, and, fixing his blinking eyes upon me, remarked In perfectly distinct tones beard throughout the church: “‘I sh’d think such preachin’ ’ud make everybody 111!’ Cyrus Townsend Brady, In New Lippincott.