Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-03-26
DR.. Chalmers in the Pulpit

We remember well our first he airing DR.
Chalmers. We were in a moorland dis
trict, in Tweeddale, rejoicing in the coun
try, after nine months in the High School
We heard that the famous preacher-was to
be at a ne ghooring parish church, and of
we set, cartful Of irrepressabie youngsters
Calm was all nature as a resting wheel.
The c<ows.instea6 of taking wing, were
impudent and sat still; the cart horses wert
standing, knowing the day, at the fe:c
gates, gossipping and gazing, idle and hap
py; the moor was stretching away in the
pale sunlght-vast, dim, melancholy. like {
sea; everywhere were to be seen the gath.
erlng people, '.sprinklings of blythe compa
ny;' the country SIDE seemed moving tt
some centre. AS we entered the kirk we
saw a notorious character, who had much
of the brutal look of what he worked in,
with the knowing eye of man of the city
a sort of big Peter Bell ts..
s'He had a hardness ia his eye.
He had hardness in his cheek"
He was our terror, and we not only won
dered, but we were afraid when we saw him
going in. How different in looks to brisk
town congregation! There was a fine leis.
ureliness, and vague stare; eyebrows rails
ed and mouths open, as is the habit with
those who speak little, and look much at fan
off objects. The minister comes in, home.
ly in dress and gait, but having great look
about him, like mountain among hills
The High School boys thought him like big
one ofourselves.' He looked vaguely round
upon his audience. We shall never forget
his smile! its general benignity; how he let
the light Of his countenance upon US. He
read few verses quiet ly; then prayed briei-
ly, soemnly, with his eyes wide open all
the time, but not seeing. Taen he gave out
his text, we forget it. but its subject was.
Death reigns.' He stated slowly, calmly,
the simple meaning Of the words, what death
was, and how and why it reigned; then sud-
denly he started, and looked like man who
had seen some great sight, and was breath
less to declare it; he told US how Death
reigned-everywhere, at all times, at all
places; how We all know it; how We would
yet know more of it. The drover who had
sat down in the table seat opposite; was
gazing up in state stupid excite ment he
seemed restless, but never kept his eyes
from the speaker. The tide set in-every-
thing added TO its power, deep called 10 deep,
imagery and illustration poured in; and ev-
cry now End then, the theme--the simple,
terrible statement, was rel Gated at some lu-
cid interval.
After overwhelming US with proofs of the
reign of Death, and transferring TO US his
intense urgency and emo iyn; and ltter
shr skiing as If in Despair, these words,
Death is a tremendous necessity he sud-
denly looked beyond US, as if into some dis
tant region, and cried out, 'Beho ID nigh
tier! who is thisl He comelh from Etom,
with dyed garments from Bozrah, glorious
in his apparel, speaking in Righteousness,
travelling toward men in the greatnes, o;
his strength, mighty to save Tnen in i
few plain sentences, he stated the truth as
to sin entering, and death by sin, and death
passing upon all. Then he took fire once
more, anJ enforced, with redoubled energy
ana richness, tne HeeutS>, tuc siElpllClty-
the security of the great method ofinstiiica-
ton. How astpnished and impressed we
all were! He was at the full thunder-.he
whole man was in an agony of earnestneSs.
The drover was weeping like a child, the
tears were running down his ruddy, coarse
cheeks; his face opened out and smoothed
like an infants, his whole body stirred with
emotion We all mad insensibly been drawn
out of our seats, and we've converging to-
ward the wonderful speaker And when he
sat down, after warning each one of us to
who it was that followed death
on his pale horse, and how alone we could
escape, we all sunk back into our seats
How beautiful to our eyes did the thunderer
leok-exhausted, but sweet and pure. How
he poured out his soul before his God, in
giving thanks for sending the abolisher ei
Death! Then a short psalm, and all was
ended.-N B. Rsvie,U.