RELIGIONS

When Bishop Phillips Brooks sailed from America on his last trip to

Europe, a friend jokingly remarked that while abroad he might discover

some new religion to bring home with him. "But be careful of it, Bishop

Brooks," remarked a listening friend; "it may be difficult to get your

new religion through the Custom House."



"I guess not," replied the Bishop, laughingly, "for we may take it for

granted that an new religion popular enough to import will have no

duties attached to it."





At a recent conference of Baptists, Methodists, and English Friends, in

the city of Chengtu, China, two Chinamen were heard discussing the three

denominations. One of them said to the other:



"They say these denominations have different beliefs. Just what is the

difference between them?"



"Oh," said the other, "Not much! Big washee, little washee, no washee,

that is all."





A recent book on Russia relates the story of the anger of the Apostle

John because a certain peasant burned no tapers to his ikon, but

honored, instead, the ikon of Apostle Peter in St. John's own church.

The two apostles talked it over as they walked the fields near Kieff,

and Apostle John decided to send a terrible storm to destroy the just

ripe corn of the peasant. His decision was carried out, and the next day

he met Apostle Peter and boasted of his punishing wrath.



And Apostle Peter only laughed. "Ai, yi, yi, Apostle John," he said,

"what a mess you've made of it. I stepped around, saw my friend, and

told him what you were going to do, so he sold his corn to the priest of

your church."





The priest of a New York parish met one of his parishioners, who had

long been out of work, and asked him whether he had found anything to

do. The man grinned with infinite satisfaction, and replied:



"Yiss indade, ycr Riverince, an' a foine job too! Oi'm gettin' three

dollars a day fur pullin' down a Prodesant church!"





A man addicted to walking in his sleep went to bed all right one night,

but when he awoke he found himself on the street in the grasp of a

policeman. "Hold on," he cried, "you mustn't arrest me. I'm a

somnambulist." To which the policeman replied: "I don't care what your

religion is--yer can't walk the streets in yer nightshirt."





The friendship existing between Father Kelly and Rabbi Levi is proof

against differences in race and religion. Each distinguished for his

learning, his eloquence and his wit; and they delight in chaffing each

other. They were seated opposite each other at a banquet where some

delicious roast ham was served and Father Kelly made comments upon its

flavor. Presently he leaned forward and in a voice that carried far, he

addressed his friend:



"Rabbi Levi, when are you going to become liberal enough to eat ham?"



"At your wedding, Father Kelly," retorted the rabbi.





The broad-minded see the truth in different religions; the narrow-minded

see only their differences.--_Chinese Proverb_.