HIS ONLY ERROR.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2067, 13 January 1898, Page 2

HIS ONLY ERROR.

An ; eccentric clergyman in Cornwall had been muoh annoyed by the way the members’ of his congregation had got into, of looking around to take stock of late-comers. After enduring tho annoyance for some time, he said, on entering, the desk one day ; ‘ Brefchern, I regret to say that your attention is called away from your, religions duties by your very ; natural desire to see who comes behind you 1 propose, henceforth',! to save you the trouble ■ by naining each person wh‘o pay enter, and X Hope'that the service will then be-allowed to proceed without interruption.’ ij \ He then began if Dearly beloved,’ but paused half way to interpolate, * Farmer Btubbins, with his wife and daughter.’-: ; - Farmer Stubbing looked rather surprised, but the minister, with perfect gravity, resumed his exhortation. Presently he again paused : ‘ Sam Curtis and William DigghJ«... The abashed congregation kept their ®y o ß studiously bent on their books. The service proceeded in the most orderly manner, the parson interrupting himself every now and then to name some new arrival. At last he said, still with the same gravity. ‘Mrs Symons, of the Red Xiion, in a new bonnet. ■ ; '

In a moment he felt his mistake, but it was too late. Every -feminine head in the congregation had turned round.