American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-09-29
A REMARKABLE PREACHER.

Recorder and Register gives the fol-
lowing account of wonderful old
colorcd preacher in Savannah:
On Sabbath morning [ attended di-
vine service at the Presbyterian Church
of which the Rev. DR., Preston is the
pastor he was absent and his place
was supplied by New England min
ister. The building is very fine, of
granite brought from Maine, and the
interior is II noble temple. In the af-
ternoon | determined to hear the re-
nowncd Andrew Marshall, the veteran
pastor Of the African Baptist Church.
This soldier of the cross has world
wide fame, and very interesting no
tice Of his'pulpit services may be found
in Sir Charles Lyoll's travels. Mr..
Marshalls Church is fair old building
and it's interior much resembles New
England old country meeting house.
looked around upon the congrega-
ton, and noticed that the audience,
without exception, was well-dresscd !;
the women chiefly wore head-drcsscs Of
Madras handkcrchicfs, though many
had bOnnots, and most of the men wore
gloves. Mr.. Marshall, l should OBJ
serve, is i'll his Tooth year, his hair as
white as snow, his countenance mild,
without any wrinkles to mark decrcpi-
tude or decay. His voice is one Of
sweetness and power; he read his hymn
without spectacles, and such reading
In sober truth, | know Of no Northern
doctor who can read as we'll. 1t was
read as StaughtoE used to read, and
those who remember that style Of Civ
ing out psalmody, will long to hear
Andrew Marshall | came to church
expecting to hear wreck Of a preach
er--l found in the pulpit master in
Israel. Age has not touched his fac
ulties, his mind is Us vivacious, and it's
workings are as true "1d faithful as
arc the intellects of men of thirty or
forty years of age. He preached for
Nj houl',an expesitory arigaon cn shs.
man out Of whom Christ expelled the
devils who were permitted to 90 into
/ the herd Of swine. Mr.. Mmshall's
sermon will remain in my memory as
sociatcd with the discourscs of great
men. The exposition was scriptural,
argumentativc, full Of imagination, ,and
aboundng i'll wit, yet all in Keeping
with the place. | was reminded, all
through the sermon Of three great
preachers in the old country, each en-
incnt in his peculiar way. refer to
Rowland Hill, Christmas Evans and
William Jay. Marshall has much Of
the wit which corruscatcd from the desk
Of Surry Chapel while the graphic
skctching Of the Welsh Demosthencs,
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
in any sermon for five years. ] re-
gard him as the most astonishing
preacher [ have ever listened to, when
his age, his social position. are all con-
sidcred. No pulpit in New York or
Boston but would have been honored by
such sermon. The limits Of letter
will not permit me to give an outline Of
his sermon, but it will live in mymem-
ory, and its illustrations would have
been q stock in trade for a tyro in the
ology, and many sprig of divinity
Mr.. Marshall $ voice is cuphonious, his
manner is djgniiied. Nothing but bis
white hair indicates his age, and !
should never have supposed him more
than siXty-iiyc, had | not been Inform
cd. | must not forget his prayer; it
WIS man talking with God, rcvorcnuy
wrestling with God. lie saw the por-
tails Of the city---hc had been often at
its gates, and it seemed as if he knew
the holy ones. Among the hearers
we're several white ladies' and gentle f.
men, and / was glad to meet there with |
the Hon. Francis Granger and his
daughter. They both unite with mo in
my high appreciation Of the preacher,
and Mr.. Granger told me that he tho't
thc reading Of the hymn was one of
the most Impressive exhibitions of sa-
cred oratory he had ever witnessed.
Mr.. Marshall drove General Wash
ington from Virginia to Savannah and
he observed that during the entire jour
ney he never saw him smile.
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