An Adroit Reproof

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 2, 1872

An Adroit Reproof.

A PRESIDING elder of the United Brethren Church was preaching in Minnesota, and was much annoyed by persons talking and laughing. He paused, looked at the disturbers, and said: “I am always afraid to reprove those who misbehave in church. In the early part of my ministry I made a great mistake. As I was preaching, a young man who sat before me was constantly laughing, talking, and making uncouth grimaces. I paused and administered a severe rebuke. After the close of the service, one of the official members came and said to me: ‘Brother, you have made a great mistake. That young man whom you reproved is an idiot.’ Since then I have always been afraid to reprove those who misbehave in church, lest I should repeat that mistake, and reprove another idiot.” During the rest of that service, at least, there was good order.—Herald and Presbyter.