American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-11-22
NEW rsERIEs---VoL. 8 NO.. 2S:

al and disagreeable.e His figure was tall,
burly, massive, and seemed even more ~
gsntic thantbe reality, from the browning
foliage ofluxuriant, coat black hair wreath
ed into long curling ringlets, Hdd,a head
that looked as large as 4 halfbushei. beet.
ling brows, rough and craggy as fragments
ary granite, irradiatcd at the base BY eyes
of dark fire; small and twinkiing, l!ks ;dia.
monds ina sea-they were diamonds of
the soul, shining in measureless sea of
humor7-a swarthy complexion. as if en-
Drowned by a southern sun; rich rosy lips
always slightly parted. as wearing a per-
petual smile; and you have lifo.like por-
trait of the far famed back-woods preach
err Ggcr"f q A0s nrn 9'E'.s fNA's-i 's
Though I heard it all. from the text 10
the amen. l am forced to despair any at
tempt to eonveyan accurate idea of either
the subject or manner of the sermon which
followed. There are different sorts of SER
mons-the argumentary, the dogmatio, the
postulary, the persuasive, the punitive, the
eombatiVe, Gin orthodox blows and
knocks, the logical, and the poetic; but
thir specimen belonged to none Of these ca
tagories. II was sNiyensris and of anew
species. .ztys oOg
lie began with loud and beautifully
modulated tone, in voice that rolled on
the serene nightair like successive peals
Of thunder. Methodist ministers are cele-
brated for sonorous voices; but his was
tnatchless in sweetness as well as power.-
For the first ten minutes his remarks, be-
ing preparatory, were commonplace and
uninteresting;. but then, all of a sudden, his
face Redeemed; his eye frightened, his
gestures grew unlimited is abe wsfIhgs of
a tGtch, and his Whole countenance chan
ged into an expression of inimitable hum
or; AMI now his wnI, wasgish. peculiar ell
oauence poured forth Ikea mountain tor
rent. Ghncihg arfb@s, With shafts Of ridl
icule, bon mats, puns aud side-Fplitting an
ecdotes sparkle.l, flashed snl ttw like hail
tilllhe vast auditory Was conyiilsed with
laughter. For . While heascce;ic trovs to
resist tho current Of their own spontate-
GUS emotions, These; however, soon dis,
covered that they had undertaken an i'm
possible achievement in thinking to with
stand his facetie. His every sentence Vas
like warm finger, tickling tile ribs Of the
hearsr.} Itis-very. looks incited 10 miftIi
far more than other people 'sjokes. so that
the effolt to maintain ones equilibrium
only increased the disposition to burst out
into loud explosions, as every school-Goy
has verified in similar cases. .,-....,,
:. Al length tho encampment was. in a
roar, the sterncst features relaxed into
smiles, and the coolest eyes melted into
tears of irrepressible ,merriment This
continued thirty minutes, While the orator
painted the folly of the sinner, which was
his theme. / looked ON and laughed with
the rest, but finally began to fear the re-
suit as to. the speaker 4 q. .siG,i,a.,f s., w. d,
!"How," 1 exclaimed, mentally, "will he
| ever be able to extricate his audience from
that deep whirlpool ofhunior? If he ends
thus, when tile merry mood subsidies, and
calm rejection supervenes. %illnot the re!
vulsion of feeling be deadly to his fame?-
Will not every hearet realize that he has
been trifed with in matters Of sacred and
eternal interests? At all events, there is
no prospect Of d revival tonight; for even
though the orator were magician, he
could not change his subject now, and
stem tile torrent ofheadloug laughter :
Bdt the shaft Of MY ihferehce fell short
Of the mark; and even then he commenced
to change, not all at once, but gradually,
as the wind of thunder cloud. His fea-
tdtes lost their comicalt ltinge Of pleasantry;
his voice grew first earnest, and then sol
einn, and soon walled out in the tones .oi
deepest pathos; his eyes were shorn of theil
mild light. and yielded stteshis Of ftears,as
the fountain Of the hill yielded watet.->
The effect was indescriBable, and the re-
bound of feeling beyond all conception
He descanted on the horrors Of he'll, till ev'
cry shudderipg face was turned downward
as ifexpedting to see the solid globe rem
asunder, and the fathomless, frey gull
yaIn beneath. Brave mon, moaned, and
fair fashionable women, covered with
silken drapery and bedight with gems
shrieked as il a knife wero working among
their heart-strings.
Again he changed the theme; sketched
they Joys of a righteous death--its faith
| its hope, its winged raptufes, and angel
attending the spirit to its happy home
with such force, great and evident belief
that all eyes were turned towards Hea3
en-, as the entire congregation started t
their feet, as If to hail the vision Of angels
at which the finger Of the preacher seem
ed to be pointed, elevated as it was on higl
to the full length Of his arms .&S -
He then made call for mourners to tn
altar, and five hundred, many Of them VI
that night in6dels. rushed forward ahJ
prostrated themselves on their knees. Th
meeting was continued for two Weeks, anj
J more than thousand converts were add
; ed to tho church. 3, From q that time, hj
success was unparalleled and The fa6t i
chiefly. due to his inimitable wit and mast
erly eloquenceS that Methodism is NOW th
prevailing religion inc Iiiinciss A - lcp
4 He was distinguished by one very un
cleribal observation-disclosures Hi
battles, although always apparently in tn
defensive, were as numerous as the cele
: brated Bowie. The only difference wa
: this; that Bowie fought with deadly weap