American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1826-08-29
DIR CHALMERS.
The following letter written from Scotland, is from
the pen OF Mr. N CARTER Of New York.

Gretna- Green. Sd .Norember, 1925.
Without the benefit Of fore knowledge, and by q
most lucky accident we arrived at Glasgow. on The
morning Of the 26th ut, just in lime to hear DR..
Chalmers preach his great charity mon. in aid
of the funds Of the Roman Catholic Free School,
winch is noble institution, conducted on liberal prin
cples. and affording the advantages of education TO
1900 poor children. 1t was necessary to go an
hour before the service commenced in order Sc
cure seat, although the discourse was delivered
at O'Clock in the afternoon, the mos, busy part OF
The day in a great commercial metropolis. Soon
alter leaving the hotel, current OF people coud be
observed setting towards the chapel OF ease in Al
bon ST. at the dis ance of half mile and hrow
ing ourselves into the vortex, we swept along
without the trouble Of inquiry. At the outer gates
Of the chu' ch, large plates were placed in the open
air for The reception Of contributions, which appear
ed to be liberal A mite from each individual 10
such multitude sooH sweled 10 heavy aggre.
gate.
Ii was our good fortune to find seats in front Of
the gallery. bein. the most advantageous position
both tor seeing and hearing. Az we once more
found ourselves in company with our two New
England friends, and the variety of dress and man
ners in such audience presented field for silent
observation, session OF an hour worn away
without much tedium. Long before it expired The
church had been filled, aisles and all, with as mary
d. ew near, the eyes Of the immense concourse
were directed to the pulpit with much anxiety
as is manifested Tor the curtain to rise, when some
distinguished actor is TO make his appearance upon
the stage.
Precisely at o'clock. the Dr. ascended the desk
Ele is apparently at the age OF about Fifty five.
with short. thick set, clumsy form. and heavy,
pock broken lace, exhibiting few external ndica
ions Of talent. The first sentence he uttered
shaue ed haf aEns poc. -,
diyested his pronunciation of ;he broad Scotch ac
cent, which is sometimes so marked, render his
language scarcely Ineligible to an English ear.
II is not improbable that these national pecularitIes
OF dialect have added somewhat to his popularity
with the lower classes although he has much
more substantial foundation for his fame.
Alter the usual preparatory exercises he com
mehced his exposition OF a passage in the Epirtle
of James," For the wrath of man workcth not
The righteousness Of God.'' His great obiec, wa,
to censure ecclesiastical pride and intolerance and to
incucate the mos, liberal principles Of christian
charity. The peculiarly Of his tenets is probably
well known TO many OF my readers He has no
other creed than the Bible, and processes to belong
TO no particular denomination Of christians
Slave to no par y--bgnt to sect.'
His charity Is as wide as christendom, ard his phi
lan1hropy embraces the whole human family. ri
believe The DIS Iberality impressed upon the
minds OF others by the Influence Of his command
ihg talents, has been productive Of much positive
good
10 him was assigned on this occasion the diff
cult task OF addressing audience composed of
about equal proportions of Roman Catholics and |
iisid presbyte'ians. There is amalgama,on OF
the two sects in the board of Trustees, Who have
The management OF the institution. When he be- |
gan to speak with perfect freedom OF all sects, and
denounce the eternal collisions between them, | as
unable to perceive how he would escape the poin, |
10 which his doctrines were tending, without giving
serious offence TO one or the other party Of his hear
ers. But he held the balance with an even hand |
and where his ingenuity could not unite, his bold |
ness severed the Gordian Knot--That neither sec,
might complain of Partially, he censured the de
tects Of both.
DIR. Chalmers has none Of the graces of ora,ory,
either as II regards his elocution or his gestures
Both OF these are positively bad.-The effect of
MS preaching arises from yigor of thought, bold
ness OF conception, and earnestness of manner. |
lie throws himself forward, as if he would pitch |
headlong from the pulpit he clenches his white
pocket handkerchief firmly in his fist. and brings
down his hand as u smlting some one al his feet
This gesture is Uniform, answering fully to what
Hamle, calls saving the air. and nothing bur The
conviction that it is wholly involuntary can recon
cilc It TO the hearer the orator seems conyulsed
With the throes OF thought, and the grandeur OF
MS periods, rolling out one after another in raoid
succession. leaves the mind little time for dwelling
IN minor considerations.
His manner approaches very nearly to what in
aur country would be called me,hodistical For
some minutes he continues to kinde gradually, and
het OF his voice grow louder and louder, ill
ne fairly thunders. As he ascends these climaxes
u what is sublime in imagery, violent in gesture,
he listener sits as,ounded at the bolts which are |
allng around him The audience are silent as |
ieath, and the bodes holds his breath for time"
rhcc comes respite--a break in which the Ian |
suage of the speaker is in an under tone SO low
IS to be scarcely audible. canno, illustrate his
manner better. than BY comparing him to torren.