Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-02-07
EVENING STAR.
Brother Crafford's Farewell Sermon.
REPORTED BY BILL EASEL.

During my sojourn in Mississippi, (shortIy
after heard the great sermon, which was
played on harp of a thousand strings) 1
had occasion to visit friend in the neighbor-
hood of Port Gibson. The next day being
Sabbath, l accompanied him to Zion Chapel
A new minister had been called to that
neighborhood, and this was to be his salutatory
sermon.
Zion Chapel was some hundred yards from
the main road and surrounded by forest trees
Having arrived rather too early for the ser
wee, myself and friend sauntered about the
woods rather actively employed in brushing
away the cloud of mosquitoes that surrounded
US. AT length a strange specimen Of the se,,us
homo made hls appearance on horseback; it
was brother Crsfford.
dis dress was decidedly peculiar On his
head ho wore an old fashioned beIl-crown
beaver, several sizes too large. To remedy
| this defect cotton bandana Handkerchief
was stuffed between the hat and forehead.
Hls coat was OF most ancient pattern; blue
with brass buttons, short waist and long swsl-
| low. The collar came within an inch of hid
ing the back part of his head. His vest was
extremely long, and his pants ditto short.
Ihe latter were held down by leather strap
passed under a huge pair of brogans of an
untanned leather color. Altogether his pres
ence strongly suggested Dan Marble in his
Yankee character of Jonathan Homespun
but 10 the sermon-or al least portion of
t--for it was utterly impossible to report the
whole.
The congregation was large, as it had been
" norated'' abroad that new servant of the
Lord was to make his debut at Zion,
Brother Crafford skunk into the pulpit with
more than ordinary humility, and after de.
voting few moments to silent prayer, he
rose.
Gingerly pushing up the sleeves of his store
coat, whereby he displayed pair of large,
long, bony hands of a beet.red color, he
grasped the handled of an earth pitcher and
poured into a tin cup a draught Of water
which he drank with inimitable gusto.
bis appearance in the plIpit was a study
for an artist. His face was long and lank,
eyes pale grey, nose aquiline, complexion
sandy, hair greyish sandy, head bald on the
top, with the exception of a small patch on
organ of reverence, las if to shade it. and,
altogether the picture of Greeley whilst in,
dieting FreesOil Abolition document for the
benefit of his Southern subscribers
lie began alphabetically, as follows:
=" 1Ou don see me to-day in the dress |
alters wear; come among you as a stranger
and AIN now tricked out in my store clothes:
| am not proud man, but thought it would
be more becoming before strangers" ="
After this he raised hymn in which the
congregation joined. He then began his SER
mon:
My dear brethren and sisters, first and
foremost, Tine gwine to tell you about the
affecting partin' had with my congregation
at Bethel Chapel Arter L had got through
with my farewell sermont, as came down
outen the pulpit, the old gray-headed breth-
ern and sisters who had listened to my voice
for twenty years crowded around me, and
with sobbing voices, and fearful eyes, said
Farewell, brother Crafford
AS walked down the aisle, the young la
dies, tricked out in their fnery and brass Jew
ely, gewgaws, jincracks, paint and founces,
looked up with their bright eyes, and pro-
nouased with their rosy lips-Farewell, bro
ther Craffordl
The young men in their tight patent leather
boots, high collars and fashy waistcoats-
smelling of pOmatum and cigar smOke-with
their shaaghi coats, and striped zebra pants
they, too, said-Farewell, brother Crafford
The little children-iGmbsi in the feld-lifted
up their tiny hands and Sic all voices and with
one accord, said-Farewell. brother Crafford
The colOred brethern of the congregation
now came eforward-(black sheep who had been
admitted to the field under my ministery,)
with tears rolling down their sable cheeks,
they, too, said-Farewell, brother Crafford!
As got on my horse and bade adeu to my
congregation forever, l turned to take last
look at the old church where L had preached
the unsearchable riches of Christ for NOR n
twenty JedIS-dHu dS SdZeu dI uellpl-
dated walls and moss covered roof, it too,
seemed to say-Farewell, brother Crafford
As rode down through the village, the peo-
pie who pOked their heads outen the winders,
and the servants who leant on their brooms,
all seemed to say-Farewell, brother CraffOrd,
As passed along down the highway, through
the forest, the wind as it sighed and whistled
through the tree-tops, playing on the leaves
and branches, the burden Of salvation, it, too,
seemed to say-Farewell, brother Crafford.
Crossing little creek lat was gurgling and
singing over its pebbly bed, as it rejoiced on
its way to the great ocean of eternity, it too,
seem to say-Farewell, brother Crafford
As rode along down a hot, dusty lane, an
old sow that was asleep in a fence corner
jumped out of a suddent, with loud broo-oo,
broo oo-she, too, seemed to say-Fsrewell,
brother Craford
My horse, he got frightened and jumped
from under me, and as he curled his tail over
his back-kicked up his heels, and ran Off
he, too, seemed to say-FarewelI, brother
Crafford.