A COURTEOUS CLERGYMAN

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 31, 1860

A COURTEOUS CLERGYMAN.

SOME years ago, a young man, a bricklayer by trade, removed from New Hampshire to work in the city of Lowell. He cherished at heart a strong prejudice against professed Christians, considering them as proud and supercilious, and ever ready to say to him, "Stand by thyself; we are holier than thou!" His feeling of repugnance was so deep-seated, and had such a controlling influence over his intellectual nature, as to generate skeptical thoughts, and lead him to question the truth of the Bible. One day, as he was going to his work, he saw a gentleman approaching, who had been pointed out to him as Rev. Mr.—, and represented as one of the most affable and courteous of his profession. "Now," said he, "I will put this matter to the test. Here I am in my work-day clothes. If this man notices me, I will think there is, after all, something good in religion."

They met. The clergyman raised his hat, bowed, smiled, and looked as if he would say, "I should be happy to become acquainted with you." The young bricklayer passed on to his labor, but could not forget his promise. The next Sabbath, he went to hear that "gentlemanly minister," and an acquaintance of the most agreeable and salutary kind ensued. His skeptical notions melted away before kind treatment, like snow in an April shower; and he soon became an honest inquirer after truth and mercy. Now he is the beloved pastor of a flourishing church.

How clear does the fact prove that a kind and courteous attention to young men is a very cheap and effective mode of usefulness. No man ought practically to study the apostolic injunction, "Be courteous," more than the minister of Christ.