The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-09-29
Biographical.
George WhitefeId.

W hittficld was the prince OF English
preachers Many have surpassed him as
sermon makers, but none have approached
him us pulpit orator. Many have out
shown him in the clcarncss of their logic
the grandeur of their conceptions, and the
sparkling beauty of single sentences: but III
the power Of darting the gospel direct into
the conscience he cclipsed them all. With a
lull and beaming cOuntenance, and the frank
and easy port which the English love-for it
is the symbol of honest purpose and friendly
uSsurance-hc combined voice of rich COM
PASS which would equally thrill over Moore
fields in musical thunder, or whisper its ter
lble secret in every private ear; and to this
calmly aspect and tuneful voice he added a
most expressive and eloquent action. Inn
l'rovtd 10y conscientious practice, and III.
stinct with his earnest nature, this clocution
was the acted sermon. and by its pantolnimic
portrait, enabled the eye to anticipate each
rapid utterancc, and helped the memory to
treasure up the pal pable ideas. None ever
used so boldly. or with more success. the
highest styles ofinpersonatinn. His 'llurk.
hark!' could conjurc up Gcthscrunc with
its falterinS moon, and awake again the cry
Of horror stricken innocence: and an apostro-
lhc to Peter on the Holy Mount would light
from the opening heaven. His thoughts
were possessions, and his feelings were trans
formations, and If he spoke because he felt,
his hearers understood because they saw
They wCIe not only enthusiastic amateurs,
like Garrick, who IAN to weep and trmblc
ut his bursts of passion, but even the colder
critics Of the WalpOlc school were surprised
into momcntary sympathy and reluctant
wonder.
Lord Chesterfield was listening in Lady
liuntington's pew when Whitciicld was COM
tnring the bcnightcd sinner to blind beg
gar ON a dangclous road. His little dog gets
away from him when Skilting the edge of a
pre- cipicc, and he is left to explore the path
with his iron shod staff. On the very verge
If the cliff this blind guide slips through his
fingers and skins away down tie abyss. All
Unconscious, the owner stopped down to re-
gain it, and stumbled fnrward-"Good God
JIG is gore!' shouted Chesterfield, who had
been watching with brcathlesS alarm the
blind man S ottmcnts, and who jumped
from his scat to save the catastrophe But
the glory Of Whtcficld's preaching was. its
h,art.kindlng and heart melting gospd.-
But for this all his bold strokes and brilliant
surprises might have been no better than the
rhetorical triuimphs of kirwan and other
pulpit dramatists. lie was an orator. but he
only sought to be an evangelist. ike a vol
ca,io, where gold and gems may be dartcd
forth MS we'll rs common things, but where
gold and molten granite flow al. alike in fiery
fusion, bright thoughts and splendid images
might lie projected from its flaming pulpit,
hut all were merged in the stream which
bore along the gospel and himself in blended
fcrvor. Indeed. 50 simple was his nature,
that glory to God and good will to men filled
it, there was room for little more.
Having no church to found, no family to
enrich, and no memory to immortalize, he
was the mere ambassador of God: and nslir.
I'd with it's genial pitcous spirit-so full OF
heaven rccohcied and humanity restored
lie soon himself became a living gospel. -
Radiant with its btnignity, and trembling
with its tenderness by sort of spiritual in
ducton vast audience would speedily be
brought into frame Of mind-thc transiusing
of his own: and the white burrows on thciI
xooty faces told that kingswood golfers were
weeping, or the quivering ofan ostrich plume
bespoke its elegant wearer's deep emotion
And coming to his work direct from com,
m,nion with his Master, and IN all tho
strength Of accepted prayer, there was al
elevation in his mind which often paraIyZed
hostility, and a self possession which only
made him. amid uproar and fury, more sub
lime. With an electric bolt, he would bring
the Jester in his fools cap from his perch on
The tree, or galvanzc the blick-bat from the
Rkulking miscrepnt's grasp, or sweep dowi
in crouching submission and shame'facco
silence the whole of Bartholomew Fairs whilst
revealing flash of scntcntious doctrine, Oh
viyifcd Scripture, would disclose to awe
struck hundreds the forgotten veritics of an
other world, or the unsupported arcana o
their inner man. IL came TO break your
head, but through you, God has broken my
heart" was a sort Of confession with which
ne was familiar; and to see the deaf old gen
tewoman, who used TO mutter imprccatlons a
him as he passed along the street. clamberine
up the pulpit stairs to catch his angelic word
was sort of spectacle which the triumphant
gospel often witnessed in his day. And whel
/; is known that his voice could be heard b,
twenty thousand and that ranging all the en-
pire as we'll as America, lie would often prcaci
thrice on working day, and that he has re-
ccivcd in one week as many as THOUSAND
letters. from persons awakened by his ser
mons: if no estimate can be formed of the
results of his ministry, some idea may b
uggcstrd of its vast extent md singular ct
fattiycncss. -N0rM Rui,sh Rcrier.