YORKSHIRE LOCAL PREACHERS OF THE PAST GENERATION.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4498, 5 June 1883, Page 2

YORKSHIRE LOCAL PREACHERS OF THE PAST GENERATION.

A jocose and amiable clergyman was proceeding to supply "duty" at a church some miles distant from his own home. Cantering leisurely along on his galloway, he overtook a local preacher trudging on foot to a Tillage where he was to hold forth in a barn. The clergyman entered into conversation with the preacher, whom he knew well; and being a wit himself, he was an awakener of wit in others. "My friend," said he, "lam afraid you are poorly paid for your zealous exertions. Now, I get a guinea for my sermon this morning; what may you get?" " Whaa!" answered the preacher, " Ah dnnnat. expect' * mich at t' present tahme, bud, when mah greeat Maister cums ti reckon wi'hir,jeri vantsatt'lastahhooap. if ahbefoondfcith« ful to get a croan !" The local preachers, being for the most part men of humble f> social position, did not always receive «■ * the consideration from the chapelkeewurs accorded to their travelling brethren.~ls|e happened to reach a vestry, wet and tired/* accosting the old lady in attendance, said: ,* I am very weary, Mrs——, and wet through; could you find me a glass of wine?'' She did not reply like the old Scotchwoman,. " Get up into the pulpit ' wi'ye, you'll be dry enough there ;" but, with a sly twinkle in her eye, as if she perfectly knew the meaning of her blunder, she said, •' A've got nooa , port wine for you, you locust preachers have drunk , it all up." The sermons of thejV most retnarkablo of these self-taught ;, evangelists were sometimes bizarre, grotesque, and even ridiculous; bat .there were specimens among them, never re* duced to writing, the memories of which yet live in the breasts of aged Yorkshire* men. They might compare with Dante . for sublimity and gloom, or with the rude but impressive sculpture on and around the portals of a mediaeval cathedral for bold word-painting. With a voioe of high-pitohea recitative, sometimes approaching a scream, with, wild and vehement gesticulation, they laid firm grasp, through the power of sympathy and the spell of imagination, of their bucolic auditory. There was no denying one thing —they believed, and therefore, they spoke. One of them went by the familiar name of "Our Billy." He has been known to take a pair of scales into the pulpit, and literally to weigh in the balance the several characters he described. He once summoned a lost spirit from the grave, to give an account of the manner of his life, solemnly inviting him to take his place hi the front seat of the gallery behind the clock, that he might be better seen and heard: The people in the pews started and turned pale, as if they were really conscious of the presence of a de« parted soul. Discoursing on David'slaying the Philistine giant with sling and stone, he paused for a moment, as though contemplating Goliath's prostrate form, when a burly farmer, sweating with excitement and heat—for the chapel was crammed— leptrtd contain himself no longer, but rose and stood on the seat, shouting at the top of his voice, " Off with his head,: Billy; off. with hißchead':!'^^.V;■.v•-"::■.-■::•■:^.i--•%l.'!^fe■■: .'•■■ -