A MANŒUVRING CLERYMAN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3485, 7 September 1882, Page 4

A MANŒUVRING CLERYMAN.

A Cincinuatti paper tells the story of an eccentric clergyman, who not being a very animated and interesting preacher, was often deserted by niosfc of his llock on the Sabbath. The old gentleman finally adopted rather a novel niothod of keeping tbe delinquents up to the point of duty. When any family was absent two or three Sabbaths iv succession, Mr S. would publicly state to the congregation that, as M r ' a family had been for some time absent from public worship, hz presumed there was sickness or trouble in the household, and would appoint a prayer meeting at their house on the next Tuesday afternoon. The old gentleman, also, on one occassion, caught tho wanderers by the following piece of c guile.' On a Sabbath afternoon he told his people that he would take care that some person should come from Boston and supply his desk the nexfc Sabbath. On the nexfc Sabbath morning tho meeting house was filled. Tbe whole town turned out to see the Boston minister. They waited a a while in oager expectation of his entrance, when in marched the Rev. Mr S,, and

walked up the broad aisle, as he had been accustomed to do many years gone by. Upon ascending his pulpifc he smiled graciously upon his large andience, and said, I am glad, my dear brethren, that I have you out. You are here as you ought to be, and I hope your minds are prepared to receive instruction. 2" came from Boston yesterday myself.