Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1842-12-01
von fnk silsInlt rnrr FnE1,
TEE Rival nEfIIgTnRs.

TIE RIVAL nnNIgTnRs.
- a. Rsy. THOMAS n. srocKfON. end
shs Rev. JOuEP. DrnDrs.
- ,.s1, me .sskS. cheer he piIzrin's psth
H.st<ssrsss marx, md tesP hitses' 70 view
tEiEcox.
ltras ! sabbath morning Of unusual bright
Hess ncd bca6y. Tbs sun had aFissn II cloud
is.s nljesly sad splea11rl snd vas pouring
decd u lighl upoo ne Ereep earth and azure
sEy.t Ne cioa1 dIs1 suld The hrmamenl, rea.i
- shads4 npon ths i,pdsesPe Every hing
sore 81 hspsct u purity and peace. No sotntA
stggied ne ssrs bet those " Innocenes The
1esshsfy sonfssfs sers piping Their merry ma.
sins 6l pfsise. uhsts the losing herd, = d.
tln1e s<sa. brgwsed slsag the s4ssi-sessted
g4esdDw. kstufs bad sssaped her ioyelssss
llFefy, sbd seemsd 20 m5ek The maEnincsbes Of
An. Tie iesfs grove san Ne luxuFlsnl follsge
and shady trlfssis he segdaid valley elethsd
10 The rich garasIare Of golden sgmnsr, The
paTlfng sfrc4dss di,eSorsing sefiest musle aud
he refreshing breeze laden with frsgi sne. and
fslish, 6ppesfed - vie ith each other 10 *
ptes,iobs u eistlude 20 the AlI-ctealIre Arch.
secg Of she Unpegse
lathe midst Of such q scene. Row irresisiti-
ply i nan Induced 10 consider himssI n striking
ard singular sperimea " unlhankf1iEess Ia so
mary ingfbte amid the vast cTeaiIoD Of Cop
While fmmersed ~ these serious and sslltsr,
aediIalfons, she solemn chimes Of fhes church
hell sling sIong the welkin fell upon III ear.
snd. iHyiied me 10 the temple Of prayer! Sfasfeu.
ing 20 nlingie with The crowd, I was soon tsheFed
inte : spaeiou1 SANCTUARY. An immehse T. con-
course Of M FELLOW beings had already assem-
hlcd. UouSual stlllness and saxiety prevailed
These eiFcHmstsnces convinced NE 81 the sx.
traoftiasFy character Of the OCCASION Some
thing uncommonlt interesting was about q
transpife. Else why this deep aud manifest So
lieiIpde imprinted upon the conntenanees or ths
people Why this splendid array Of fashion
beauty, talent, and wealth Every conjecture
Of the klndr4s hushed BY tbessppearsnce Or the
Minister whose. duty il was 10 offcipte. He
wssyorihiui, and 10 his general cir uneommonlJ
prcpossessing Ills entife temeanor eYlnced
ihteliec,uaiily, and devotion TO hispacred work
lis sPProsch 10 the pulsh was very dignifed
Unaffected simplicity, spd deep-toned Eeve-
renee marked his manner. As be raised his
tremulous voice 10 solemn supplication to The
Thrpne Of Grace, there was a~splrii Of sympa
thy diansed throughout the congregation
Though extremely feeble, there was ~ his ac-
cents PensIye sweetness, that disposed the
taind 10 pious meditation. After a pFs4et Of
thssmost earnest and impoftunale tendencies
and1llich seemed 10 suduse q sacred serenity
over every heart, the herald Of The cross arose
The occasion was one Of such thrilling in.
lerest that the texI is stii wildly alive 10 me-
mory-"Who Is he that overeometh The world
but be that beleseth that Jesus Is the Son OF
Go5sp The topics Of the discourse were arrang-
ed withahat admirable precision which always
denotes persPicaciiy Of intellect and they were
sustained By q process OF argumenlation the
most cogent and conclusive. Attirst, his intoua-
lions were husky and sepuchral, but az his
heart kindIed with The subject, they became as
tonishiagly clear aud harmonious. His modu-
Iation assumed birdIike melody His reason
ing was most lucid and satisfactory. and his H.
lpstrstions not only novel but evidently original
approaching the sublime doctrine OF MINIS inn
mortality, his whole nature appeared 10 be en-.
vsloped 10 hame Of heavenly enthusiasm.
Ills soul was wrapped in 4 conaagration Of ioy
His eye, which like that Of the iilustrious
Chalmers, generally wears sofl and melan.
eholy expression, now sparkled with a diamond
briliiaHey. His sentiments ever chssie, aud
The islels on 'isns'
md hts arceniualion assumed an unearlhls me-
lodsousness. His soul, inaamed With HOLY de-
sire, and swelling with ardent aspirations for
celestial raptlres, seemed to soar skyward upon
the wings Of his inspired oraioty.
Z Ths impression produced was profound be-
you'd description. One electric thrill OF delight
ran through the sslonished audience with emf,
demie rapidiiy. The wrinkled yisage Or cid
are Frightened d the Representation or M
fading life, and longed for departure from
this aorfow-strieken scens The fall.blown
cheek Of seiats and vigorous manhood became
beautifully red with tbs desire Of the heavenly
siaheritance, aud glowsd with the re6eelion Of
The fires that had been kindled 10 The heart;
he r.. RI
though embiematic Of Content, assumeda fresher
loneliness, anda more sacred charm
lwaa apprehsnsise OF failure. as the kif.ed
preacher attempted TO return from the mount Of
iofay contemplation 10 which he had carried
The minds Of his hearers, down 10 the dry ola IN
ol regular ard s. stemalic illustration. Il was.
however, only IN additional evidence Of his to-.
telleelall power, and hi, versatility of talent.
Ills descent was ~ graceful. AZ hi. ascent MAS
sublime, u waa - stately aui commanding A.
the swo,p Of the eagle from his mopatsiu ehti
Logically adhefiag to his various ptopos itloRs
he addlced with ease aud appS<nsaes. j series
OF the most eaRS tncing arguments. He inter.
snerssd occasionally alsers nf rhetoric pf tie
richest hue, and then sssAted the heart with
the bodies strokes Of The lnast eaptiv ..ing and
inpassioaed oeatory. His resstlt IS reasoning
Removed ihs objections Of the candid Inquirer.
sod established the totleriag coniienee 81 the
-taasIetdy bsiiev yer upon frmer aud more dara-
bic basis. To.he literary ePicure, the disqai-
sition was grateful repsst, aud 10 The hnmbls
chFislian fruitful source Of spiritual corsola.
tion.
: Nov shroagh the West. where sinks The crimson
sIesl twilight slowly sails, and wave, her banners
gray"
Il was The evening ns he same sacred day
The blue hills ID the distances became gradually
more undecided, as their submits were yelled 10
s.uskla<ss. aad their tail dim shadows rose dark
ling up the SKY. The pointed spires had reflect
"a the last beams Of The feiiring sun. The
streets wefE brilliant With lhe light u LAMPS. and
alive with The rushing Of the church going crowd
lmpcllse By curiosity, if nota better motive,
repaired 10 q neighboring Sanctuary, 10 witness
the ofatofieal abilities q celebrated Divine
III diaefenl denomination. The capkeioas
house vas splendidls illuminated. and filled with
persons Of etefyrank. sex, and condition ia life
The modest malfon and the .blushils maid, the
hoary sire and his gallant sons were there, A.
waiting 10 anxious expectancy The aFfifaI Of
The preacher. Immediately theY wefe efati6ed.
The nncourseaas stir, The sidelong glaoct, and
the hall suppressed whisper, denoted bis en-
trance. iEfeotsa By the prevailing malta.
locked towards The sacred desk, and beheId .
reverend gentieman ascending The steps appa-
really feeble. and aelieaisly slender. Ffom an
observation necessarily Imperfect, Il aaineged
him station 10 he path of life, somewhat 10