American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-05-05
For the American Telegraph.

PULPIT. T.,ELOQUENCE
Of the late Rep.. John N. Duncan, ID. d., Of Bal
hnore, from a sketch IN the DISCOURSE Of Reu.
John C. Smith, deliuered in this city on Sabbath
morning, Aay 4th, 1851. ~ n.
AT this point my heart prompts me to notice
an event that occurred in the past week. Death
came on Wednesday, and dissolved the relations
to this life Of the Rev. John M. Duncan, D. D.,
Of Baltimore. In introducing this name, / can
best set forth the man in the language Of the
text: IAN eloquent man and mighty in the
Scriptures" may speak Of him, for he was
the pastor OF my mother and family;, and, en-
phatically, my pastor To him, in the days Of
my boyhood, / recited the Shorter Catechism
and Bible Lessons under him united with
the Church Of God, and afterwards taught in
and spperintended the Sabbath School con-
nectedr with the church. was his student in
almost the whole Of my theological course-in-
deed the whole except few months in Princeton
seminary. remained a member Of that church
until ! was licensed to preach the gospel.
speak what I know, when / say he was San
eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures"
To commanding person were added all those
rare qualities which make pulpit orator, in
the highest and best sense A voice of peculiar
softness combined with great fulness, and its
every tone was music When he spoke there
was the deep pathos that moved and melted to
tears the very large congregation that always
assembled and hung upon his lips. 1 have
never known any man who possessed and pre-
served through a long ministry such power al
he. The last service he rendered (at which
was present) was over the remains of my sister,
some three years ago. 1t consisted simply of n
prayer at the house, over the coffin, and another
at the grave, in Grcenmount Cemetery. But
such praying-it seemed as if the very heavens
were opened around me- and had been caught
up and permitted to hear unutterable things.
In the brief space of five or ten minutes he said
everything: he prayed for every interest, and
touched upon associations past and present. We
had the retrospect and prospect set vividly be-
fore us, in words of living light, and every spirit
seemed to be in communion with God and the
spirits Of those whom we had loved in life, and
who had gone before us. Even now | seem to
hear him and live over again the influence OF
that solemn and deeply affecting scene
With such a man the power was not in the
voice, nor in the grace and majesty of his deli
very alone, but in the exhibition of truth in
scripture array and combination The morn
ing of every Sabbath in all his ministry was
devoted to expository discourses on the word
of God, in regular series of lectures on one of
the gospels as written by an Evangelist, or an
episte by one of the Apostles. In this way he
went through the New Testament, and over
some epistles more than once. He was mighty
in the scriptures.
/ always heard him preach-for my princi
Piles never allowed me to leave the church
when service was rendered there-and am pre-
pared to say that | have never seen or heard
(take him all in all) his superior; at this mo
ment ! cannot remember his equal. There
was such thought, 80 clothed, so uttered, Sc
anointed, that all present heard, and but few
without emotion. He had sympathy in al
that he did aud said which reached every hear
and mOistened many an eye.
|
The memory of such pastor is blessed, ant
will be cherished by all who knew him in lif
and enjoyed his ministrations He deserve,
well of his people, and afectionate and faithful
we're they to him to the end. When stricken
down by disease they gathered around him in
sympathy; and when at length his shattere,
health compelled him to resign his charge, they
settled a most liberal annuity upon him.
By his departure they are involved in the
deepest gloom; cloud now hangs over them,
but cannot but hope that the bow of the cove