Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-05-21

ANDREW MARSHALL, THE NEGRO PREACH
ERA correspondent of the n Y. Recorder,
writing from Savannah, says =
ION Sabbath morning l attended Divine
service at the PRESBYTERIAN Church, Of which
the Rev. DIR. Preston is pastor he was alb.
sent, ard his place was supplied by New
England minister. The building is very hle,
OF granite brought from Maine, and the inte-
rIor is a noble temple. In the afternoon de-
tennined to hear the renowned Andrew Mar
shall, the veteran pastor Of the African Bap-
tst Church. This soldier of the cross has a
world wide fame, and very interesting ac-
count of his pulpit services nav be found in
Sir Charles LyelFs Travels. MIR. Marshalls
church is fair old building, and in its inte-
rior very much resembles New England old
country meeting house.
looked round upon the congregation, and
noticed that the audience; without exception,
was we'll dressed the womea wore chiefly
head dresses Of Madras handkerchefs, though
many had bonnets, and most Of the men wore
gloves. Mr.. Marshall, l should observe, IS
in his Tooth year, his hair is white as snow.
his countenance mild, without any wrinkles
to mark decrcpitude or decay. His voice is
one Of great sweetness and power; he read
his hymn without spectacles, and such read
ing In sober truth, l know no Northern
Doctor who can read as well. 1t was read as
Staughton used TO read, and those who re-
member that style Of giving out psalmody,
Will long to hear Andrew Marshall l came
to church expecting to hear a wreck of
preacher-a negro preacher. !, found in the
pulpit master in Israel. Age has not touch
ed his faculties, his mind is as vivacious, and
lG workings are as true and faithful as are the
lutellprtS of men of 2O or An ,,oo,, 81 ,.o
lie preached for an hour an expostory SER
mon on the man out of whom Christ expelled
the devils that were permitted to go into the
herd OF swine.
Mr.. MarshalPs sermon will remain in nv
memory associated with the discourses of great
men. The exposition was scriptural argu-
mentative, full Of imagination. and abound
Ing III wit, yet all in keeping with the place.
was reminded all through the sermon of
three great preachers in the old country. each
eminent in his peculiar way. refer to Row
land Hill, Christmas Evans, and William JAY.
Marshall has much Of the wit which corrus-
Gated from the desk Of Surrey Chapel, while
the graphic sketching oil the Welch Demos
themes, and the admirable colloquial style of
Jay are found all through his sermon. The
noble preacher made more points Of power in
that hour than | have heard i'll any sermon
ava nv gS'bAo9 ltsdlu lltll as the most as
tonishing preacher have ever listened to,
when his age, his social position, and his Hit
eracy, are all considered No pulpit in New
York or Boston but would have been honored
by such a sermon
The limit of letter will not permit ne to
give an outline of The sermon, but it will live
IN my memory, and its illustration would have
been stock i'll trade for tyro in theology,
and many sprig in divinity. Mr. Marshalls
voice is euphonious, his manner dignifed.-
Nothing but his white hair indicates his age,
and should never have supposed him more
than siXty.hve, had not been informed [
must not forget his prayer. 1t was man talk
ing with God, reyerently wrestling with God.
lie saw the portals of the city-he had been
often at its gates, and it seemed as If he knew
the holy ones. Among the hearers were sew
eral white ladies and gentlemen, and l was
glad to meet there with the Hon. Francis
Granger and his daughter. They both unite
with me in my high appreciation Of the preach
er, and Mr.. Granger told me that he thought
that the reading Of the hymn was one of the
most impressive exhibitions of sacred oratory
he had ever witnessed.
Mr.. Marshall drove Gen. Washington from
Virginia to Savannah, and he observed that
during the cntire journey he never saw him
smile"