"MR SMITH FROM NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE."

Evening Star, Issue 11779, 8 January 1903, Page 1

"MR SMITH FROM NEW-CASTLE-ON-TYNE."

Dean Hole relates in his entertaining volume ' Then and N ow ' that a clergym-.m in the North of lingland, afterwards a dignitary of the church, told the story following in a sermon to a Large congregation, chiefly composed of ladies, with a request that, wives would repeat it to (hose husbands who were not present on that, occasion :—*'There are." he said, "in this parish many gentlemen who seem to V* under the impression that if their 'rives, go to church on Sunday they are tliereb'relcased from any obligation as to their own attendance. T had a sort of vision the other day about these nominal Christians, who prefer, after the manner of some foreign countries, to send their women to work while they smoke or slumber in the shade. I thought that, one of them was summoned to another world, and. not bcint: able on this occasion to procure a delegate! be was constrained to go. He came to the gates of Paradise, and St. Peter, who stood by with the keys, inquired rather ronghlv • 'And who are yon?" 'Oh, St. Peter, I'm Mr Smith, from Newcastle-on Tyne ' ' I don't know yon.' 'Oh, if von please, St 1 eter, Tm the husband of 3irs Smith who went regularly to church, and taught in the Sunday school, and was kind' to 't>o. S-' '% &i you not do likewise?" Uh uSt. leter, I was in bnsiness all t'.e week and very tired on Sunday, and I thought jf Mt S Smith went to church regularly it would <k> for both of u* ' 'Your wife Pa id St. Peter, •wa a true, faithful bnnrtuvn. She caine to these gates three years' ago, and she has gone in for bath of.jou."