Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-11-21
THE REV. GEORGE G. GOODMAN.

THE REV. GEORGE G.. GOODMAN.
Many Of our readers doubtless remember the
Rev. Mr.. Cookman, the talented Methodist
minister, who was chaplain Of the United States
Senate. and subsequently lost in the steamer
Z" President ..
The following sketch from the "reminiscences
Of the Hon. o. II. Smith, published in the In
dlanapolis Journal, will be highly interesting
10 ali who remember the eloquent preacher and
sterling man:
/, WAS Sabbath morning. The last of the
city church bells was ringing as left my board
ing house on Capitol Hin, at Washington city,
FOR Wesley Chapel. Itwas quarterly meeting
The prsschsr had closed his sermon, when there
arose az the desk, q slender spare man, about
FIVE feet eight, dark complexion, black hair fall
ing esrslessly over bis high forehead, lean bony
fsee, wide mouth, round breasted black coat
with velvet falling collar, black vest and panta-
looms Addressing the congregation, he said ::
"a We desire to take up small collection for
the relief OF destitute, worn out Methodist
preachers and their families. We appeal to-
day to the hearts of the congregation" and
took his seat. A large collection followed.
whispered to Patrick g. Good, of Ohio, who sat
by me, 4" Who is that9r "Don't YOU know
him. It is George G. Cookman"
The next Sabbath I was at the chapel again
Mr.. COokman preached. / returned satisfied
that he was ordinary man. The election
for Chaplain Of the Senate came on few days
after. and without the knowledge Of Mr.. Cook
man, privately suggested his name to the
heard him preach. He was elected Chaplain
BY decided vote over the Rev. Henry Slicer,
against whom there was not the least objection;
but We wanted to bring Mr.. COokman more
prominently before the public. The next Sab
bath he preached his first sermon in the hall of
the House, To very large congregation, from
the text; The sword of the Lord and of
NfI1aOn Ha ada n nd innp
his hearers that day, which seemed 70 increase
with every succeeding sermon. Ed.
Ii is not my purpose 10 sketch the many SER
mons Of Mr.. CoOkman during the time he was
Chaplain Of the Senate, the most Of which /
heard. he was a clear, distinct and powerful
preacher. The remarkable clearness Of his
mental vision enabled him to see and describe
whatever he touched 50 as almost to make Paul,
Stlas, Peter, Mark and John stand before you
as he named them. His tone of voice, az he
warmed with his subject and the tear stealing
down was irresistible. As pulpit orator, take
MIN IN al, he had few equals and no superiors,
that ever heard. There was no place for a
choir where COokman sang. His voice was
melody itself. / heard him in the Senate
Chamber on the funeral occasion of Senator
Belts, OF Connecticut. The Chamber was
crowded ThePresident, Departments, Foreign
Ministers, Senators and Representatives were
there. distinctly remember one of his figures
Of speech.
As the human family come upon the great
stage of lite, they fnd at every fork of the road
the fnger-bosrd distinctly pointing to the grave
to the grave. There is no other road to travel
from infancy to old age, and death but the road
that leads to the grave"
There was not dry CT . in the Chamber when
ne closed his sermon of one hour, he sang alone
the singte verse of the hymn
And must this body die ..r
This well-wrought frame decay1
Aud must these active limbs Of mine
Lie mouidering In the clay,
The session of Congress was about 10 close
upon the administration of Mr. Van Buren.
The Inauguration Of General Harrison was soon
10 take ptacs. Mr.. COokman had all his ar
ransements made TO visit England on the
steamer President. The first dispatch from the
new Administration was TO be cOnfidsd to bis
Charge The next Sabbath be was to take
leave OF the members Of Congress in his fare
Uell sermon The day came. An hour before
ths usual time the crowd was seen filling the
pavsments Of the Avenue and pressing mn the
nil to Representative Hall, which was soon
nlled TO oVerfowing, and hundreds unable to
get seats went away disappointed / obtained
seat early In front of the clerk desk John
0ulnsy Adams sat in the speaker chair, facing
Mr. Cookman. The whole space ON the ros.
trum and steps was filed with Senator'S and
Representatives. The moment had come. Mr..
Cookman evidently much affected kneeled in
thrilling prayer, and rose with his ewes blind
ed With tears. His voice faltered with sup
pressed emotion, as he gave out the hymn
When mar.halled on the nightly plain,
The glittefing hosts bestu6the sky
one star alone Of all the train
Can tI the sinners wandering eve
Hark hark. to God the chorus breaks,
from every host, from every gem,
sIt one alone, th- saviour speaks,
It's the Star Of Bethlehem.
Once on the raging seas rode,
he storm was loud, the nj 2 bit was dark-
ne ocean yawned, and rudely blowed
The wind that tossed my laundering bark -
The hymn was sung by Mr. Cookman alone.
can yet IN imagination hear his voice as il
filled the large hall, and the last sounds. with
their echoes, died away in the dome.
" And saw great white throne, and him
that sat on II, from whose face the earth and
heaven ned away; and there was no place for
them.
And saw the dead, small and great, stand
before God, and the books were opened, and
another book, which is the book Of life, and the
dead were judged out Of those things which
were written in the books, according to their
works.
Mr.. Cookman was more affected when h.
gave as the text, than had ever seen him be-
fore be several times passed his hand kerchief
over bis eyes before he began. The first SEN
tsnoss are fresh in my recollection:
hhsn Msssiiion, one Of the greatest diyines
that France ever knew, was called to preach
ths funeral sermon Of the departed King, in the
Cathedral at Paris, before the reigning King.
the royal family, the chambers, and the gran
dees Of France, he took with him to the sacred
desk little golden urn, containing q lock of
hair VI the late King. The immense congregs.
lion uss seated, and the silence of death
TGgnsd. MasillOn arose, and held the little
urn IN his fingers, his hand resting upon the
sacred cushion All eyes were intsntly fixed
upon the King. As bis hand was returned to
the sacred cushion, the loud and solemn voice
oi A.s'illOn was heard in every pert of the
eathedral, God alone IS great So say
TO you, to-day, my beloved hearers, there is no
human greatness, God alone IS great ''''
The subject was the Day Of Judgment. I
bad heard 1t preashed many times, but never a
heard 10 then. The immense congregation
was held almost breathless with the most beau
tful, sublime and powerful sermon / ever
hsarl La snoka of The final sen hion In H.