Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1909 — A Mild Reproof. [ARTICLE]

A Mild Reproof.

A clergyman was recently annoyed by some persons in the congregation who were talking and giggling. He looked at the disturbers and said: “I am always afraid to reprove those who misbehave, for this reason: Some years ago as I was preaching, a young man who sat before me and was constantly laughing, talking and making uncouth grimances. I paused and administered a severe rebuke. After the close of the sermon a gentleman said to me, ‘Sir, you made a great mistake; that young man is an idiot.’ Since then I have always been afraid to reprove those who' mlßbehave in chapel lest I should repeat this mistake and reprove another idiot.” During the rest of the service there was good order.