A Congregation of One.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4892, 13 September 1884, Page 1

A Congregation of One.

It was Sunday, and it was raining Tery heavily in a large northern seaport city. The docks of the place boasted a little church, or Bethel, which hoisted the Union Jack every Sunday morning, in token that services would be held there chiefly for sailors. The clergyman who officiated weekly at the Bethel happened to be rather later than usual, owing to the difficulty he had in getting a cab, the rain having caused those vehicles to be in great demand. He arrived, howerer, a few minutes before eleven, and, bidding the driver to wait for him till service should he over, he entered the sacred edifice—to find himself alone there. The clergyman was a zealous man, so he resolved to wait „ > iv »-t^l^x- - ~e oa imur, ou me" cuance ot some waif turning up. His patience was not unrewarded, for, after the lapse of a few minutes, one very wel man came in slowly, and seated himself with some hesitation on one of the back benches. The clergyman was a conscientious man, and he resolved that, had he but one solitary unit instead of a congregation, he would perform the service to the end for that person's benefit. At the end of tho liturgy, touched probably by the patient endurance of his auditor, he condescended to address him personally, telling him that, since the inclemency of the weather had prevented the usual attendance at the church, he would forego the sermon he had prepared, and would content himself with " a few remarks." This, however, his hearer begged him not to do, and expressed a great desire to hear the sermon. So, pleased with this evidence of intelligence among the lower orders, and gratified by the effect his eloquence was producing, be complied. The text duly chosen blossomed into firstly, secondly, thirdly, fourthly, and lastly ; "in conclusion " was followed by " one word mere," and still that unit sat on undismayed. Ifter it was all over, the preacher, who was very short-sighted, came down and shook hands with him, thanking him warmly for his attention, his gratification being somewhat diminished when he discoverfd the enraptured listener to be his cabman, the sum-total of whose " half a crown an hour for waiting " had been maierially augmented by the length of the worthy dirine's discourse.