THE “BULL” IN THE PULPIT

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1695, 24 August 1904, Page 75 (Supplement)

THE “BULL” IN THE PULPIT

The Rev. William Cowan, in his book “The Humorous Side of the Pulpit" just published (Treherne), tells many amusing anecdotes about preachers. The "bull' has sometimes got into the pulpit, and some instances of this—not, however, new —are given. An Irish Roman Catholio priest, enjoining upon liis hearers certain duties, said, “If you don't obey your spiritual father you will go to the bottom of the bottomless pit." A sermon on grace ended with the words, “My brethren, if. you have in your hearts wan spark of heavenly grace, wather it, wather it continually." Another preacher exclaimed, as he proceeded with his discourse, “My friends, let not this world rob you of a peace which it can neither give nor take away." ‘Here is an exhortation which an impassionedl brother addressed to his congregation:—“While in the world, let us not be of it, let us mount with cur 'Aug? to the skies, even while our feet still Maig to the mire of earth/' It is said of tiie eloquent Bishop of Ripon that he made the following appeal from the pulpit: “Brethren, I beg of you to take hold of your heart and look it straight in tuo face." . . .. , Among other anecdotes m the nook, which is very readable roughout, are some relating to long and short sermons. A Scots minister, being asked if lie did not feel tired after preaching such long

sermons as he did, answered, “Na, na, I’m no 5 tired,” to which he added, however, with much pawky naivete, “But, losh! hoo tired the folks are whiles!” One who had preached a very long sermon, as his custom was, asked a friend his opinion of it. “It was very good,” replied he, “but it spoilt a dinner worth two of it.”