A CLERICAL ANECDOTE OF OLDEN TIMES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 195, 17 August 1881, Page 4

A CLERICAL ANECDOTE OF OLDEN TIMES.

An old clergyman, once upon a iime, whilo his wife was absent from home, was invited by one of his parishioners to dine with him, which invitation he accepted. The first proposition made, on entering the house, was that they 'take something, 1 to which the minister.assented. The liquor furnished was old Jamieia rum, and the visitor had drunk as was bis-, wont — as he would- have drunk the rum he usually purchased of his deacons, both of whom sold it. Just before sitting down to dinner, the host produced the decanter aaam and again the twain partook. The meal was eaten, pipes were smoked, and by and by before setting forth into the chill autumnal air for the afternoon meeting, the host offered the decanter once more. The good old clergyman thought he knew his own capacity, aud I he drank accordingly It made him feel good. The rum was excellent — t-mooth as oil — the best ho ever drank. And, on his way to the church, in the j chill bracing air, he was all right. But alas ! upon sitting down in his pulpit, with the great box-stove at the head of the broad aisle, directly below him sending up its heat of old hickory wood, the strong rum began to take serious effect — so much so, that the poor clergyman could not deliver his sermon ! His friend with whom he had dined saw the trouble at once ; and having explained to the congregation that the good man had complained of feeling very unwell at his house, he summoned the assistance of the deacons, and helped the unfortunate man out into the open air. . . ; Of course tiiie made a stir land the

good deacons, feeling themselves called upon to uphold the morals of the people, proceeded forthwith to make complaints against the minister, and to summon him before the church for trial. The clay appointed for the trial arrived and the minister was called upon to con* fess find if ho wished, to explain. He did so, as follows : " Brethren — I confess my misfortune ; but let me assure you, I was led into it through a misconception of facts. I took dinner with our good brother Arnold. He, as usual, offered me the friendly cup; and I imbibed as had been my custom. As many of you.are aware, I have been in the habit of drinking spirits as furnished by our worthy deacons ; and I knew not, at the time, that brother Arnold had another article entirely. He has explained to rue, however, that the Jamaica rum which he furnished on that occasion was procured by him directly from the importer ,• you will remark, I measured ray allowance in the belief that it had passed through the hands of the deacons ! I can only say that I have learned a lesson which, I trust, will be a profit to me. ' You can imagine, I fancy, the appearance of those two deacons on that occasion. Suffice it to say they did not press the complaint any further.