Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-10-22
THE REV. GEORGE G. GOODMAN.

THE REV. cEOfktE ". tOVhHaNs
Ii was Sabbath morning The last o.
the city church bells was ringing as | lief
my boarding house on Capitol Hill, at
Washington city, for Wesley Chapel It
was quarterly meeting. The preachef had
closel his sermon, when there arose at the
desk, a slender, spare man, about hive feet
eight, dark complexion, black hair falling
carelessly over his high forehead, lean, bo-
nv face, wide mouth. round breasted black
coat. with velvet falling collar, black vest
and pantaloons. addressing the congre-
CATION he said,-"We desire to take up a
small collection for the relief. Of destitute,
worn out Methodist preachers andf'theu
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, "Who is that?v f"Don't you know
him? 1t is George G.. Cokman." The
next Sabbath | was at the chapel again.
Mr.. Goodman preached j returned salts
feel that he was no ordinary man. The O.
lection for Chaplain of the Senate came on
a few DAYS after, and without the knowl-
edge of Mr. Cookman, privately suggest
Ell his name to the Senators around me
The most of them hal heard him preach.
Tie 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.. Goodman more prom
incntly before the public, The, next Sab
bath he preached his first sermon in the
Hall of the House. to very large congre-
CATION. from the text, 1.-The sword of the
Lord and of Gideon" lie made pro
f. and impression OH .hi; hearers that day,
which seemed to incrcas, with every sue
ceeding sermon.
1t is not my purpose to sketch the many
sermons of Mr. Goodman during the time
he was chaplain Of the Senate, the NEST OF
which | heard He was clear, distinct,
and powerful preacher. The remarkable
clearness of his mental vision enabled him
to see and describe Whatever he touched so
as almost to make Paul Silas, Peter, Mark
and John stand before you as he named
them. His tone of voice as ne warmed
with his subject, and the tear stealing down
his cheek, were irresistible. Us pulpit
orator, take him all in all, he hal few G.
auals and no superiors, that L ever heard.
There was no place for choir where Cook
man sang. His voice was melody itself
heard him in the Senate Chamber on the
funeral occasion of Senator Belts, Of Con-
nccticut. The Chamber was crowded.
The President, Departments, foreign Min
listers, Senators and Representatives were
there. distinctly recollect one of his fig
ures of speech. '.As the human family
come upon the great stage of life. they find
at every fork of the road the 6nger-board
distinctly pointing to the grave-to the
gravel 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 a dry eye in the Chamber when he
closed his sermon Of one hour, and sang a
lone the single verse Of the hymn
sAnd must this body dc
This well wrought fame dccay1
And must these active limbs of mine
Lie mouldering in The clay7"
The session Of Congress was about to
close upon the administration of MIR. Van
Buren,. The Inauguration of General Har-
rison was soon to take place. Mr.. Cook
man had all his arrangements made to WIS
/ IL England on the steamer President The
| first dispatch from the new administration
was to be conf,led to his charge. The next
sabbath he was to take leave Of the mem
bcrs of Congress in his farewell sermon
sEbc day came. An hour before the usua
ltime the crowd was seen filing the pave
ments of the Avenue, and pressing up tin
hill to Representative Hall. which was soo1
filled to OVERLOOKING. and hundreds nnabl'
10 get seats went away disappointed.
lobtsined seat early in front OF the clerk
desk. John Quincy adams sat in tn
lSpeaker's chair, facns Mr.. Goodman
1.-THE whole space on the rostrum and step
was filed with Senators and Representa-
lives. The moment had come. Mr.. Cook
! man. identity much affected. knee!ed IN
ltbrilling prayer, and rose with ms eye
blinded with tears. His voice faltered wit
4 snppressed emotions, as he gave out I'd
4 hymn ffTT
.Wben msrshallcd on &c nightly plain,
I The rIittering hosts 3 stud the sky,
One star alone Of all that train,
Il Can fix the sinners wandering eye
4 Hank. Hark. to God the chorus breaks,
II From exsfy host, fiom very GEM -
But one alone, the Savior sp<akEs isff1
It's the star Of Bethlehem
II