A CLERGYMAN’S LAPSE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1928, Page 1

A CLERGYMAN’S LAPSE

Th e clergyman’s residence is in close proximity to his church. It is his usual custom to assume his canonicals in the privacy of tlie home, to make a .short detour fi the building, and to go up the front steps to his place. Consulting his watch lie assumed that lie was due, and so he slipped by a back way into the church, deeply Immersed in thoughts of the service and his sermon, and solemnly took his place. Raising his eyes to the front he found, to his astonishment, a “beggarly array of empty benches,” except for a single ardent parishioner, who was arranging hymn books in the pews. “Good gracious, where are all the people?” he asked with a catch in his rich voice. Then it occurred to tlio reverend gentleman that he had put his clocks and watch on an hour instead of putting them back sixty minutes. This perfectly true story is seconded by a, suburbanite, who tells of a. lady who dropped into a neighbour’s for a little chat, and who suddenly, referring to her wrist watch exclaimed: “Gooif gracious. I must fly; I haven’t put the lunch on yet,’ and accordingly prepared to fly. “You don t hate lunch at ten in the morning, do you?” asked her friend with a smile. Like the clergyman, the lady had pushed on the cjock instead of putting it back.