Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-07-01
PULPIT 2poRTRAITUREs.

/ + X
Dr. WILLIAM A. SMITH OF VA. There are some
men who not only great indeed, but who look
great. Such man. we presume, was Martin Luthef'
1t is impossible to conceive OF the great reormeI q
/ q puny little man, with narrow chest and cracked
/ voice He must have been broad shouldereo gi-
ant stood upon legs of brass, with voice Wnicn
shook the old German Cathedrals like the roll OF as
tant thunder, and face luminous with 1ntelect anu
crowned by q brow on which authority sat enthron-
ed No other would have dared to lay ms
hands upon the pillars of the church OF Rome whcn
then bestrode the world like Colossus ana snake
down the proud arches which they supported; or II
he had, the world would have laughed at him Tor
his presumption.
Just such a man is Dr. William A. Smith, of Fir-
pinia He is only about five feet and half high,
but the frame is large and knit together with mus
cles of steel He is the embodiment OF strength,
and looks if he defed the wear of labor. His face
and forehead are broad and massive, and his clear
blue eve has an undaunted look. He stands erect
upon his feet, with his head thrown back, and looks
out upon nature and up to the heavens with SUCH
unbenching bravery, that one is almost led to think
that his mind has struggled with all mysteries ana
his heart wrestled with all powers, and found moth
ing above his capacities. Yet time has left its mark
upon him. He is slightly lame and lmps in his walk;
his light hair has fallen from his brow, but their de-
fects do not in the least impair the majesty OF ms
presence they but the of the veteran. ADD
to these rare gifts loud, oretund voice, which VI
brates upon the air like the pcals of an organ, and
YOU have before you the intellectual giant OF Metho
dism, and the beau ideal OF Anglo-Saxon manhood.
H..
a merchant, but died insolvent while he was boy
He was bound apprentice to shoemaker, but was
soon after released from the articles by Mr. Rus
SELL who had received great favors from his father
and sofered place in his store. This offer he de-
clined, having embraced religion and determined to
devote himself to the gospel ministry. His early
educational advantages limited, but by digent
application and the force Of native intellect he has
made himself scholar and is now the successor OF
Dr. DIN in the Presidency Of Randolph Macon Col
lege, Va and it is very general opinion that the
College has suffered no detriment by the change.
The Methodist connection have long known and
appreciated the lofty intellect of this gifted man.
but he was known to the country at large I'M
til the fnatca sr;rit of the North upon the SUBJECT
of slavery brought the North AMI the South In col
lisnn in 1914. lie then stood forth the champion
of the South in the defence of Harding, and bore
prominent part in all the debates OF the General
Conference which effected the division of the church
His intellectual developments bear close resem-
blance those Of Calhoun, of whom he IS evident
" disciple and it is believed by many that he is
in respect inferior. Our readers have had the
pleasure of reading in previous issues OF this journal
an abstract of two lectures delivered by him IN this
city on the subject of slavery. They were charac-
terized by great depth and originality Of thought,
comprehensveness of view, and thorough analysis
of principles. He at once into the heart of a
subject and has the remarkable faculty OF making
the most abstrusc reasoning palpabe to the COM
monest comprehension. 1t is to be regretted that
he has not long since published his discourses upon
slavery We satisfied that they are the most
mastery defence of Southern institutions which have
ever been delivered. We pleased to announce
that he will give them 10 the public at his earliest
convenience.
1t may astonish our readers that a man so eminent
was not elevated the Bishopric by the last Gener
al Conference. This will not surprise US when we
lecolect that Calhoun Webster and Clay, were pass
ed by to make room for inferior men by the Ameri-
can people. Intellect is imperious, and scorns to
conciliate when it cannot convince Besides, little
mon are not able to comprehend great men, and are
sure to misntcrpret them, and therefore fear them
Columbus (Ga) Times and Sentinel