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

from their angles little streams Of rheum down in
to the channels which time had made round the once
keen orbs. From the of his mouth, TOO, the
saliva flowed nvoluntariy-in other words, the poor
gentleman dryoled, and he helped into
high chair, for he could not stand and prench, |
thought it almost pity that he should encounter the
fatigue OF going through the pulpit exercises
lie was assisted in tho preliminary portions Of the
service, by tho regular minister of the chapel and at
ter they had been gone through he commenced his
discourse-hut they who were present, aud better
qualified to judge than ], who had never heud him
heforc, all agreed that the preacher Of was not The
Rowland Hill of other days II waste me, almos
painful to see that deouyed old murtering almost
uninielligbIe sentences aud compelled, nearly every
five minutes TO remove with his handkerchief the
accumulated saliva from the corners orhis mouth
His eye hnd paled lis fires, and only once they light
ed up with something Of the former blaze in them
he said ono or two queerish things, and many Of the
audience began to smile and hustle about in their
soats,as if they hoped more was coming--ond people
would turn to each other and nod much as to say
That's il, row he's going to be funny-just ms il
they had gone there to see Grimadi in Mother Goose
and when the feeble old preacher sank back hall ex
hausted, in his chair, they looked ms disappointed as
If they had Taid out half n crown FOR u pnntomimc
and been cheated ont Of the clown. For my own
part, felt, the whole gratiied at having looked
the remains, for it could be considered Moth
ing more, Of gea, and good man, who had almost
done his generation work. and was soon to be garner
ed in his masters house. He died, not very long ar
terward, ''fuy ripe"
Although not exactly in the order Of recollection
this will, perhaps, be the most appropriate place for
SIX ech Of Rowland Hills in the pastorship
of Surrey Chnpel-the Rev. JAMES SHERMAN
one Of the most attractive pulpit orators in London
and even IN England, and whom no visitor from this
country to London should fail hear, il he would in
deed ''Iisten to the voice Of charmer."
Mr. Sherman, in the early days OF his ministry was
very requcn guest ut my father table ;und almost
INV first recollection of him is his taking me on his
knee when was pert little fellow, and faneied he
my school mistress had patted the head and
pettrd me, that knew every thing. al can spell
any word in the dictionary" said l. one evening" to
Mr. Sherman, he holding my hand in his
aye. indeed. my little man, - said he with a smile
"Can YOU spell phiegmf"
''Ohyes, Sir ''sad quite pleasantly --and F-l-e-m
tippcd over my tongue in no time.
"Ah that's not quite it, he observed quietly
"Try again"
And so did; but double m didn't make matters
beter-nnd the nearest got TO IT,, at last, was
"phlem," and there stack, hlushing, and beaten.
Ir Mr. Sherman's eye should ever light on this a6ec-
doe he will remembert the circumstances and its wri-
who little thought then that he should he penning
in the pleasant paror of friend, in Brooklyn
whilst the Bay of New York is in view from where |
sit, and a green and golden humming bird is busy
in tho hell Of trumpet flower, just outside my win
dow.
Without having claims to the character OF pro-
found thinker Mr. Sherman is Of the most popu-
lar, and at the time, useful preachers Of the
day. With tho young he is an especial favorie
and remember the time, when to have heard hunI
would cheerrully have walked miles with unboiled
peas in my shoes Fancy, reader, that you are in
Surrey ChApel-better, well known, as Row
land IIill's Chapel, in the Bluckfria-s road. It is
spacious, circular buiIdng-or, rather, think oc-
tagona. Two tiers of galleries run all around the
walls-and these together with the body of the chap
e!, are crowded to sutfhca,ion. The service of the
Church Of England, slightly modified for Mr. Sherman
belongs to the connection named after the Countess of
Huntington, who founded il, is read and whilst
hymn is being gloriousy sung, and the notes Of the
organ are resounding beneath the domed roof, the
preacher nscends 10 the pulpit, behind which is bust
in marble, of Rowland Hill Thus the imagcd face
Of him, "who, being dead, yet speakelh,' and the
living features ofhm who is about to address them.
arc both seen at glance The PAST and the PpEs-
EMIT are pictured on the mental retina-and the in
vitntons of him, who has passed into the promised
land seem to blend with the exhortations OF his
cessor that they be followers of those who, through
patience. are now inheriting the promises.
The preacher tall, and clad in pulpit hnbiliments
his figure is graceful and disnied His head is ola
rotund formation and is covered with dark curly hair.
Seen from the pulpit, there is inexpressble sweet
ness in countenance, the features Of which taken
separately would be almost plain. exceptthe eyes,
which are dark brilliant and expressive of any feeling
which sooihes agitates the mind OF their owner.
He commences his sermon by reading the text in n
distinct musical voice, and then, without tho aid Of
notes he proceeds in discourse to which the atten
ton of the mos. careless hearer becomes riveted
til terminates. AS apt quoter OF scripture, he
SURPRISES every one Of whom have ever heard His
action in the pulpit is remarkably graceful and unal,
fected, and never saw amy one who so completely
demonstrated what will venture to call the eoquence
of the hand BY of this oro.orcal aid he fire.
quently produces the startling effects, and The
happiest results-bu he does not depend on such ad-
ventitious resources His eoquence is tho eioqnence
of truth clad in its mos: attractive DRESS proceeding
directly from the heart, and TO the hearts Of hearers