SENSATIONAL PREACHERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXV, Issue 4253, 29 June 1895, Page 3

SENSATIONAL PREACHERS.

A Dunedin correspondent writes : — In one of Crockett's recent noyels the tale is told of a Scotch minister, who being scandalised by the smuggling and drinking that went on in his parish, proceeded to, " ience ih§ tables " with such vigor that he was left without a congregation. It is far from my wish that the Rev. Mr Waddell should have a similar fate ; but I question both the wisdom and utility of inducing a whole congregation to suddenly pledge itself. In the present instance the whole church pledged itself to shun the Forbury and disregard " tips ; v hut 1 fear me one really straight tip of a dead certainty would spoil many of the reverend gentleman's flock. However, as an ecclesiastical novelty, the idea ■was a good one, and the field for similar surprises is unquestionably a wide one. For instance, Mr Waddell might sermonize on the evils of flirtation and ask the congregation of St. Andrew's as a body to abstain from waist embracing or osculation ; or he .might call ihat favored, body to sudden temperance, or. to abstain. from exacting more than six per cent, from their debtors. In short, St. Andrew's might.be brought to such a pitch of moral perfection that the other churches would torn green from envy. Two somewhat similar " sensations " occur to me. Jn the one instance the minister on reaching hie pulpit proceeded to laboriously and painfully wriggle up the rail of the steps, and when he reached the top he said to his shocked'eohgregation: " Brethren, the way to heaven is beset with difficulties s" and then, suddenly sliding down again, he said : " But the way to hell is easy." Another minister on reaching his place in the pulpit felt his pockets and turned over the books before him, as if he had mislaid something, and then, looking his congregation squarely -in the face, uttered a round " d aJ " After a pause, he told his horrified hearers that 1 he had heard that expression osed that night by a youhh'and proceeded to deliver an eloquent' sermon^on the evils of swearing. These illustrations .are not patented, and -may jt»p useful to up-to-jrtate pastors.

A Fair Wages Bill, requiring local bodies' and Government contracts to contain a clause providing for the payment of current wages ruling in the district, will tie introduced early in l.he,Bepsion, r ''