Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1844-12-25


tons in regard TO large audience were
more than realized. The crowd was i'm.
mense. Every nook and corner Of the
courtroom was occupied, and / was
! pleased 10 sec that the fair sex Of the vii.
Iage were numerously represented; the
press for admission had evidently been so
great that the doorkeeper had abandoned
his post for | saw no one acting in that
capacity.
assembled TO the Judges scat, and my
two attendants took their seats in the
clerks place beneath.
bent down my head behind sort Of
screen that wos in front Of me, to call to
my recollection the words of my first song.
had not been in this situation but few
minutes, when my ears were greeted with
the following words, uttered by one OF
the plous looking gentlemen beneath me:
"Lct as commence our w0rShip by sing
ing the one huHdredh psalm, long metre"
If / had been struck with thunderbolt
could not have been more aslounded,
nness utterly annihiated. Before could
recover from my stupoaction, the reading
Of psalm had been gone through with,
and the whole audience commenced sing
ing it to the tune Of Old Hundred.
raised my eyes to the desk before me,
and found there bible, by mn.book, and
a glass Of water. The Landlord being
near, beckoncd him to me, and asked
MIN, in whisper, what was expected of
me. "ErPected of you?" he answered
with glistcning aud expecting eyes, seq
Pcctcd Of youl why, we expect a first rate,
right up.und.down Orthodox sermon, and |
don't expect we'll be much disappointed,
either"
The murder was oul! saw through it
alb but what could dol To gain time,
(tho singing being concIuded,) | leaned
forward and requested one of my DeacoAS
to 60 ahead with prayer, during which
time / called my thoughts about me, and
most sincerely prayed for a happy delIyo.
rance from my singular situation Before
the conclusion Of the prayer, had made
up my mind to "try my hand" at preach
ing-aad / dd it,
hadno time to select text, but open
ing the bible at haphazard, read the follow.
ing words, which | announced as the
grouud-worI, OF my discourse:
"We are perpiered, bit not IN despair"
ID Corinthians, w, s.
! vail not attempt to give even an out.
inc Of my discourse. spoke with the
Utmost sincerity, and soon found that taxi
ng TRUTH for my guide, there was no
treat difficulty in my new undertaking.
will not say anything Of the orthodoxy
f my sermon, but ! trust there was no.
hing advanced from that temporary pulpit,
~ that temporary preacher, calculated TO
ca d any Of that crowded congregation out
# the path to Heaven.
AT the conclusion of my discourse q
yum was sung, during which heard a
considerable Of a Gathering which sounded
,ery much like coin falling into pIaucrs,
md with strong voice | pronounced the
dismjssng the congregation
0 their several homes.
The landlord and my doacons reported
nut NlCN UNN tbUNGlGu lpIlN -ouu uplhI5
which, to their great surprise, | directed
hem 20 apply to "charitable uses" At 3
'clock the next morning, Squire Jones
vas ready with his wagon and team, The t
landlord would not take any thing for my
Inner SUPPER and lodging, declaring him !
elf more than paid by what he was pleas /
ID to term my excellent DISCOURSE 5
Let not bigots and the regular clergy (
ccuse me Of making a mock OF religion, I
# scofing at its forms. | spoke not a
,ord, during my forced ministry Of one I
light, that did not religiously believe to ,
g TRUE and should ever leave my pre- I
ent profession for the pulpit, (Which l q
hall certainly not do unless under a So
emn conviction of duty) | shall remember d
'ilhoul any feeling Of regret MY FIRST d
Nd LAST SERMON. q
arrived in Memphis in time to COM c
,enco my theatrical engagement on the S
light following, and was greeted by Il large e
udIence, though by no means so cropded a
one as that which witnessed my first II
ppedraace ia the pulpit
So IT CoEs,-The wings are mourning ',
ycr the ignorance and depravity Of the