A CLERICAL ANECDOTE OF THE OLDEN TIME.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3096, 31 May 1881, Page 4

A CLERICAL ANECDOTE OF THE OLDEN TIME.

An old Connecticut clergyman, once upon a time, while his wife was absent from home, was invited by one of the parishioners to dine with him, which invitation he accepted ? The first proposition made on entering the house, was, that they ' take something, to which the minister assented. The liquor furnished was old Jamaica rum, and the visitor drank as was his want—as he would have drank the rum he usually purchased of his deacons, both of whom sold it. Just before sitting down to dinner the host produced tho decanter again, 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 lie knew his own capacity, and he drank accordingly. It made him feel good. The rum was excellent —smooth in oil—the best he ever drank. />. nd on his way to the church, in the chill, bracing air, he was all right. But, alas! upon sittir 0 uo.\n in his pulpit, with the great box stove, at the head of the broad aisle, directly below him, sending up its heat of old hicory wood, the strong rum began to take serious effect —so much so, that the poor old 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, this made a stir; and the good deacons, feeling themselves called upon to uphold the morals of the people, proceeded forwith to make complaint against the minister, and to summon him before the church for trial.

The day appointed for the trial arrived, and the minister wa3 called upon to confess, and, if he wished, to explain. Ho 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 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 spirit as furnished by our worthy deacons ; and knew not, at the time, that Brother Arnold had another article entirely. He has explained to me, however, that the Jamaica rum which he furnished on that occasion was procured by him directly from the importer; whereas, you will remark, I measured my- allowance in the belief that it had passed through the hands of our deacons! I can only say, that I have learned a lesson, which I trust will be of 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. But those were things of the past. In those days a wedding without wine would have been no wedding at all ; and yonr total-abstainer was as rare in the pulpit as he would have been in regimentals !