Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-27
SHERIDAN KNOWLES IN THE PULPIT,

An Islington Eng correspondent Of
the London Advertiser, writing On the
9th of March, says: Some years ago, as
the readers Of this journal at the time were
informed, this celebrated dramatist and
author of "works of fiction" became the
subject of very deep and serious religious
impressions, which induced him, even.
tually, to retire from profession in which
he had attained very high position, and
to connect himself with the Nonconform.
lists of the Baptist order. Since that time
MIR. Knowles has preached occasionally
in various places, and last year he deliv.
cred very interesting and instructive
series of lectures on the Oratory of the
Pulpit, to the students of Stennev (Bap-
tist) College. Yesterday morning be
preached a sermon in Cross street Bap
tist Chapel, Islington, in aid of the mis-
sion to Roman Catholics. 1t is almost
superfluous to inform the reader that the
place was full. Every seat was occupied.
every inch of standing room was really
taken possession of, and long before the
sermon commenced some hundreds had
gone away, being utterly unable to get
within the walls of the building. OF Mr..
knowles's pulpit style we may remark
that it was characterized throughout by a
deep tone of earnestness and solemnity:
his action was graceful and appropriate,
though necessarily somewhat fettered by
the fact that the discourse was written
With regard to the tone of voice, be call
ed in the aid of all those graces of modu-
iation, and availed himself of all the ad-
vantages he had derived from his previous
profession, without in the slightest de-
gree, by any exaggeration, gesture, or un-
due emphasis of expression, giving to
those who knew him not the slightest clue
to his antecedents.
He selected for his text, Genesis i, &C,
"And God said, let us make man in our
own image" The sermon was a clear,
forcible, and polished elucidation of the
great and fundamental doctrines of Chris
tianity. He set forth the province of
reason, with respect to revelation, and
INDUCED in many sharp commentaries on
the Papal apostacy; for, said he, while
the Pope, who is mere man, claims in
fallibility and demands submissive obe-
dience, Jehovah has said to us, Come.
now, and let us reason together" The
major part of the discourse was demon
strative Of the reasonableness of revealed
religion; the style was clear, pungent,
and elegant, and every way suited to the
solemnity of the subject, and worthy the
author of those brilliant creations of ge-
MUS which so early gained for Mr..
Knowles his nigh position as a writer
and the numerous gems which have
passed into household words in the home
circles of this country, and which are
now, and will for ages yet to come, be
cited perpetually by writers of every
grade, ''to point moral or adorn tale. )
A correspondent of the Sunday Times
says: Next month, Che was born on the
18th of May, 17s4,l Knowles will be
seventy years old. His health is better
than it has been for some time, and mod
Grafton in food and drink has caused this
result. He has no scruple in continuing
to receive the handsome income accruing
to him from the performance of his plays
-Bulwer act of Parliament giving our
dramatic authors the right to charge for
the use of their compositions. Besides,
knowles has pension Of f200, from the
Parliamentary grant, and his clerical
labors are also fairly remunerated.
should say, therefore, and his transatlan- :
tic friends may like to know, that
Knowles has never been so well off. in a
pecuniary sense, as at present. His in
come, realized with very little trouble,
cannot now be less than f700 year.
A STORY OF CIRCUMsTANTIAL EVIDENCE.