A Blunt but Practical Reproof.
Mr. Henry T. Durant, the philanthropist who gave to Wellesley College its largest endowment, was in early life a lawyer, but at fifty retired from practice and became a "lay preacher." He brought to the latter calling wide experience of affairs and no small knowledge of human nature. He saw through people and through things. One day, during a religious meeting in which he was much interested, he listened to a preacher whose eloquence had profoundly impressed his audience. Behind his eloquence, however, Mr. Durant saw the self-consequential bearing of the young clergyman. When the latter came down from the pulpit Mr. Durant said to him:
"That was an eloquent sermon. What was your purpose in it?"
"Why," answered the preacher with surprise, "to hold up the vivid personality of our Lord."
"I thought that was what you intended; but do you know," observed Mr. Durant, bluntly, "you stood so distinctly and directly in front of Him that nobody saw any one but you."