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Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 841, 13 June 1910, Page 5

A telling anecdote was used by the Eev. E. H'. Sugden, M.A., B.Sc, of Melbourne, in an address on "Methodism and psalmody," during the Methodist General Conference, to illustrato how greatly attached to some of the "grand old hymns" of the Church were some of its adherents. Years ago, he said, there was a dear old lady, who was so bad with an attack of rheumatism that she could hardly sit or staad for the pain. To cheer her, however, she had a hymn-book, and remarked concerning her favourite verses, "Thank Ood for that good old hymn." One lino reads: "Jesus, regard tlie joint complaint." (Laughter.) Mr. Sugden also spoke of an old pedlar who stood up among the congregation half-way through- the sermon while ho was preaching about heaven in a Yorkshire church. At first Mr. Sugden thought he was going to object to something in the pulpit utterance, and "fired away" at top speed, determined that the pedlar should not havo a chance to get a word in. No interruption came, however, and from subsequent inquiry he learned' that the old'man was not actuated by hostile motives, but had stood up, as he customarily did during the preaching, because he became so tired out tramping about the country that ho otherwise would go to sleep, and he did not want to lose, any of the sermon. (Laughter.)