“AMEN" DOGS.

Southern Cross, Volume 7, Issue 34, 18 November 1899, Page 10

“AMEN" DOGS.

Scotch sheep dogs are as prompt as their masters in getting ready to leave the church during the benediction. In his ‘Autobiography,’ the Rev. Newman Hall describes a scene be once witnessed on a Communion Sunday in the Highlands. The churchyard where the service was held was crowded with shepherds accompanied by their dogs, which lay quietly asleep at the feet of their masters. The sermon was finished, the psalm had been sung, the final prayer was being offered, and there was no sign of impatience on the part of the dogs. But the moment the benediction began every devotional doggie roused himself, and before the ‘ Amen ’ they were all in marching order. Doctor Hall once had an amusing experience with a dog which had learned that ‘ Amen ’ marked the conclusion of worship. The dog belonged to a family who were membersot Doctor Hall’s church. At their family prayers doggie always occupied a certain seat, and remained as motionless as a devoutly-behaved dog should until the ‘ Amen.’ On one day Doctor Hall was invited, being a guest, to conduct the family worship. He read the sth Chapter of Revelation, and when he came to the 14th verse, ‘ And the four beasts said, Amen !’ the dog jumped from his chair, and began barking as usual, as if the worship were over. Clergyman, host, hostess, and servants blended their laughter with the barking, and the gervice ended.