Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-10-01

preachers, at ConwelPs store, IN Decatur
county. They were on their way to Con-
ference. Our horses were feeding, dinner
not ready, and we took short walk TO the
spring, under the shade of some spreading
elms Father Morrow proposed that l
should make speech. The motion was
seconded by all the preachers, and | ad-
dressed them for about two hours, with as
much sound as If l had been speaking to
thousands. At the close, father Morrow
remarked that he liked the speech, but it
was little too long. All. Father Nor
row, | thought it was my last chance to
punish YOU a little for what have suffered
under your long sermons" L he other
preachers smiled. and [ was told the re-
mark was ike seed sown on good ground.
John 2. Durbin was a young, ardent
preacher, but as may notice him again, /
will pass him by and come to James Ha-
vens, the Napoleon Of the Methodist preach
ers of Eastern Indiana. / knew him well.
He seemed to have been made for the very
work in which he was engaged. He had
good person. a strong physical formation,
expanded lungs. clear and powerful voice,
reaching to the verge of the camp ground,
the eye Of the eagle. and both moral and
personal courage that never qua'led His
powers as preacher were of very high
order. | never heard but one man that was
like him IN his meridian days, and that was
father Newton, who visited this country
years ago, from England, as the delegate
to the American Conference. The great
ohor
was his good common sense. He could
distinguish an audience so as not to throw
his pearls before swine He could feed
his babes with the "milk of the word, :"
and hurl the terrors of the law at old sim
ners. He seemed TO know that old blood
never runs in young veins, which SO many
preachers and presidents of colleges too
often forget Mr.. Havens was one OF the
most powerful preachers ever heard, and
have no hesitation in saying that the
State of Indiana owes him heavier debt
of gratitude, fer the efforts Of his long,
valuable life. TO form society upon the ba
sis of morality education and reli igion.
than any other man. living or dead.
Aaron Wood was young as a preacher
when | knew him. but lie was of high
promise. He had good mind, happy
elocution, and zeal without bounds.
thought the last time that heard him in
the Court House in ConuersviIle, that his
work would soon be over, as lie preached
with Ill his power until he tainted and fell
into the arms Of a brother. The last time
| saw him. however, he was in good health
with green old age upoa him.
Elijah Waisten was one of the most en-
erge.ic an ardent preachers that ever trav-
eled the White Wa.er country. He was
strong in doctrine, but thought his great
forte was in exhortltion. No man l ever
heard could bring more mourners to the
al ar than he could He was highly re-
spec;ed as a preacher, and have no doubt
d;d great good in his day.
have now briefly sketched our pioneer
i-inerant Methodist preachers. 1t is in-
tended to be the best portrait | can draw,
but still, no doubt, their relatives and
friends may be able to discover many de-
fects that have overlooked in my sketch.
| hope, however, that the general physiog-
nomy of each may be recognized.