A SMART REPORT.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3837, 16 April 1881, Page 4

A SMART REPORT.

A good story is told of the .wily Bishop Wilmer,: of Alabama, who was,' it seems, as ready with retort in his youth as now: He had'but a little while been in charge', >f his first parish: in Goochland County, Virginia, when he was one of a company at dinner, which included all the gentlemen of the neighbourhood. Among them was a man noted for his infidelity as to Christianity, and for the roughness of his manner and speech, to those' by whom it was professed. The young parson soon discovered that the old infidel was talking at him, and prudently,made ( no reply. .At last the enemy became more aggressive, and addressing him ..directly, said, "Mr Wilmer, you don't seem to like to talk about religion." " Yes, sir," he replied, " I do like to talk about it with people who are earnest and respectful in their treatment of it." ,'• Well," rejoined the assailant, " if you will answer me one question I will let you off." , "Sir," said Mr Wilder, "I do not know that I care to be let off from anything; but ask me the question, and if it is a proper' question', and,l know the answer, I will give it to you." " Well, sir, I've asked all the preachers I have ever seen, and none of them could tell me, and now I ask you, what became of the body of Moses when the devil and the archangel had a contest over it ? " It was a trying question for a young theologian, and a trying" occasion j for the •assembled company all silently awaited his reply. He quickly rose up from his chair, walked.,across the room, stood directly in front of his antagonist, and said, firmly and respectfully, " Sir, that question does not concern you in the least."

"Why not, sir?" " Because it's perfectly certain that no archangel will ever have any contest with the devil over your body." ' The infidel confessed himself whipped, arid joining in the loud' laugh at his ex-' pense, said that he would bet fire hundred dollars on his parson every sermon , against any other preacher in the country.