Transactions. 49 



the interest of the hearers often flagged, and a soporific ten- 

 dency stole over the greater part of the audience. The 

 sudden physical change of the body from a state of activity 

 to that of rest, the quietude of the place, and the recumbent 

 attitude often assumed as the text was announced, assisted 

 in no small degree the influence of the drowsy god, to the 

 great annoyance of the preacher. Various methods were 

 adopted to put an end to the evil, with more or less success, 

 but the effect was only temporary, as a Sunday or two after- 

 wards showed the habit as inveterate as ever. 



The Relief Minister of Auchtermuchty was one day 

 preaching for his brother minister in Kettle after the com- 

 munion there. The day was very hot, the church crowded, 

 and a considerable number of the hearers were either nod- 

 ding or fast asleep. The preacher felt this annoying, and 

 had recourse to the following plan to rouse them. He took 

 occasion to introduce the word hyperholical into his sermon, 

 and immediately stopping short as if he had used an im- 

 proper word, he said, — "Now, my friends, as some of you- 

 may not understand this word liyperholical, I will explain it. 

 Suppose I were to say that the whole congregation in this 

 church was asleep at the present time I would be speaking 

 hyperholically, because I don't believe much more than the 

 half of you are asleep." This had the desired effect, for 

 every one was roused, and the speaker went on as if nothing 

 particular had occurred. 



A former minister of Terregles was much annoyed by his 

 people sleeping in church, and he resolved one day to put an 

 end to the habit if possible. When he had reached the 3rd 

 head of his sermon, he stopped suddenly in the middle of a 

 sentence, and shut the Bible forcibly, saying " he had not 

 composed his sermon when he was sleeping, and he did not 

 mean to throw it away upon sleeping folk." 



The Rev. Walter Dunlop of Dumfries did not mince the 

 matter in rousing the sleepers of his congregation. One day he 

 paused in his sermon and said, " I see some o' ye hac taen owre 

 mony whey porridge this morniu' Sit up and shake it aff ye." 



