Preacher's Illustration Turns On Him, Jan. 17, 1920

From the Monroe Journal, as reprinted in The Hickory Daily Record, January 17, 1920

Illustration That Hurt

The Methodist preacher and his fondness for chicken have long been the butt for good-natured thrusts, but the best joke on the shepherds of the dock is related on a certain Baptist preacher in one of the rural communities of this county by a Monroe man. This gentleman says it is true, avering that he heard the sermon in question while visiting a friend one Sunday in a rural community.

The minister announced he was going to preach on denominationalism, and held up a hickory nut, which he said he was going to use as a concrete illustration.

“Brethren, the outside hull which you see on this hickory nut represents the Methodist denomination. They are good folks, and have their place in the world, just like this hull has in the life of this hickory nut.

“Now friends I tear off the hull and we come to the shell. It represents the Presbyterian denomination. Like the Methodists they are good folks, and they have their place in our destinies.

“We now come to the real meat of the nut—the substance protected by both the shell and the hull. The meat of the nut represents the Baptist denomination, and I am going to remove the shell so you can see how Baptists compare with the Methodists and Presbyterians.”

When the preacher removed the shell he found the contents decayed—absolutely rotten. Consternation was written all over his face when he realized the failure of his illustration to convey his meaning.