The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-09-01
Pen and Ink Sketches,

Pen and Ink Sketches.
Pulpit portraits Of Popular Preachers. ROWLAND
mn, James Sherman, and EdLCdrd IriRg.
Since the publication Of my Pulpit Portrait of Il OBJ
ERT HALL, have received, from different parts Of
the country, letters in which have been requested
to furnish "reminiscences Of of the most popular
occupants of the British pulpit As am at all times
willing to crafty the wishes of my renders, whom
have the happiness TO call with truth "nufner-
ous,' shall in the best manner ! can, Introduce to
their notice few reverend gentlemen, some of whom
perhaps, they have heard Of, either in consequence
of their connection with literature their popularity as
orniors, or their having been the opponents of new
creeds and modes Of faith
have been from a child somewhat; of an oddly
hunter, and also enthusiastic lover Of pulpit clo-
quence; in consequence Of this it has been my good
fortune TO have and heard most of the eminent
preachers who have Aourshod during the last quarter
of a century. was especially Fortunate too in hav-
ing been brought up and educated in a city, where at
one time some of the brightest pupit lights of mod.
days shed forth the brilliant corruscatons of their
genius. The son Of one who bore office in Chris
tian Church, was favored with many opportunities
Of coming personally into contact with eminent min
listers, who occasionally made my fathers house their
home; and in this way, and from frequently meeting
them at the residences of friends, their personal ap-
penrances and domestic manners became perfectly ia
miliar TO me. was blessed, fortunately with good
memory and still retain perfect images Of all whom
| in childhood. in my minds eye. Indeed it is
my belief that we forget any thing; for my own
part, can, by closing my eyes and mentally recalling
long ago scenes, again behold them just as they
were when they first greeted my view
oil : thc
heard, on the occasion of visits such as have alluded
to, that first derived any literary impressions In
deed, very well remember that my first poetica or
rhyming production very unpoetical subject
IL this;
When twelve years Of age, Whereabouts, the or.
dinance Of baptism administered, at the Chapel
which attended, and of the candidates for in
mersion was a man with wooden leg. Now had
quick perception of the ludicrous and when ben.
over the pew, on the border Of the Baplistry, and
saw, as the Rev. Mr. Il plunged the head Of the
good beneath the water, the point OF the wooden
leg pop up like the top Of the Of sunen Boat
! burst out into an immoderate fit of laughter The
Mortified look Of the mnister--the awkward appear
Of the soused candidate--and the abashed face
ofmy SIRE who stood near me- only serv ed to pro-
long my ordinations, Bnt reflection came, and
SUNK down into the pew from which was removed
and taken home in disgrace. Now the who had
been baptiscd though very good was very stupid,
heavyheaded mar, and to deprecnte the wrath of my
parents, perpetrated the following which secured
PARDON
You ask why laughed all in vain you conjecture
Twas at one Illustration in H-ll-y's lecture:
For all of us know It's by every one said,
That the candidates Uranium is heavy lend
It's gravity quite upset mine, the limb
Showed how metal would float and how timber would
swim.
So much by way OF preface and promise not to
be again egotistical, If can help il.
believe that few persons will peruse this number
of my Sketches, who do not know ROWLAND HILL,
by repute and who have not heard of his esaeutric
department and actions, never remember to have
heard him preach more than once and that when
he drawing TO the close of his long and
ful career. think this must have been abon; egh-
teen hundred and twenty seven or eight but l do
not precisely remember the year, and l am not
who would cry ga fig for dates, ~ will
nit myself by mere guess" When heord him,
it the occasion Of his paying his last visit to
Bristol accompanied my mother, Sunday
morning, TO Zion Chapel, or it is better known, in
Bristol Mr. Hare's Chapel, that gentleman having
built it, TO and hear the celebrated After
we had been seated in the Chapel for little time,
the vestry door opened and Mr. Hill emerged from it,
and with a very slow and feeble step assembled the
pulpit stairs
And, thought I, as looked at him, that be he
Of whom have heard such quaint anecdotes who
has given birth to many conceits, and whose very
name had como to have something comieal associa-
ted with il? Could that be the man whom some pro
fame and heartless sciibDer had called The Merry An
drew Of the pulpit Yes-it even sc-but let
me describe him
He appeared to be of the middle height, and as his
old wrinkled hand nervousy clutched the railing of
the staircase, could see it trombe that the bnus
trade shook, as if in sympathy. There was con-
siderable stoop in his shoulders, and his knees
scarcely able TO support the weight of his broken
down, almost out body. His head was thinly
covered with grey, wiry, standing up hair, combed
directly backward from his forehead, which was COW
cred all over with deeply furrowed lines, and from
his temples. The nose was long and aquine, the