MRS JORDAN AND THE CHESTER PREACHER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1293, 10 December 1886, Page 3

MRS JORDAN AND THE CHESTER PREACHER.

The warm and generous nature of Mrs Jordan, the celebrated actress, is well illustrated by an anecdote by Mr Jonn Galt in “Lives of the Players ” When Mrs Jordan was at Chester a widow was thrown into prison by a creditor for a small debt, which with, expenses, amounted to LB. This Mrs Jordan paid. On the afternoon of the same day the poor woman was liberated, and as her benefactress was taking her usual walk the widow with her children followered, rnd jest as Mrs Jordtn had taken shelter in a porch from a shower of rain, dropped on her knees to thank her. The children, beholding the emotion of their mother, by their cries made the scene so affecting that Mrs Jordan, unable to contr >1 her feelings, stooped to kiss the children and, slipping a pound into the mother’s hand requested, in her playful manner, that she would go away. Another person who had taken shelter under the porch, and witnessed the transaction, came forward and said: “Lady, pardon the freedom of a stranger, but would to the Lord the world were all like thee 1” His figure bespoke his calling, and she immediately retreated a little, and said: “I wont shake hands with you! “Why” “Pecause you are a Methodist preacher, and when you know who I am you will send me to the devil.” “The Lord forbid ! I am, as you say, a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Ch’ist, who tells us to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and relieve the distressed; and do you think I can behold a sister fulfil the commands of my great Master witha out fueling that spiritual attachment which leads me to break through wordly customs, andb>fferyou the right hand of friendship and brotnerly love 1” “Weil, you are a good old soul I daresay, but 1 don’t like fanatics, and you’ll not like me when I tell yon what I am. “I hope I shall” “Well, then, lam a player.” The preacher sighed. “Yes, lam a player, as you must have heard of me—Mrs Jovdan is my name.” After a short pause, he extended his hand, and, with a complaisant countenance, replied the “ Lord bless thee, whoever thou art. His goodness is unlimited. He has bestowed on thee a large portion of his spirit; and as to thy calling, if thy soul upbraid thee not, the Lord forbid that I should.” Tims reconciled and the rain abated, they left the porch. The offer of his arm was accepted, and they proceeded arm

in arm together. At parting the preacher shook hands with her saying “Fare thee well,sister,! know not what the principles of people of thy calling may be—thou art the first I have ever

conversed with—but if their benevolence equal thine, 1 hope and trust at the great day the Almighty will say to each Thy sins are torgiven thee.