Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1857-03-21
Gbe 1Dolpnesian.
From Harper's Magazine for Februay.l
The Witt Of the Pnlpis.

The Wits Of the PaIpis.
David Austin was one of the most singular min
isters OF the last generation. He was for time
pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth
town, New Jersey and his successor, the Rev.
Nicholas Murray. DID,, has gathered some curious
recolectlons Of Mr.. Austin from the old people
who knew him well. Mr.. Austin was a man of
splendid eloquence, but he ran wild among the
prophecies, and broke his neck theologcally in
trying to bring about the second advent before the
appointed time. He set the day on the fourth
Sabbath in May, 1896. On the previous evening
the people from all the country side came together
and listened, with tears and sobs and groans to his
stirring appeals to repent for the day of the Lord
was to come with the rising of the sum- But like
the Milerites of our day, he and his followers
were doomed to be disappointed. The next day
was one of more than usual brightness and beauty.
The sun rose and set it had done the day before
Austin was chagrned took the vow of Nazar-
lte ; lost the confidence of his people, and was
compelled to retire. He went to New Haven, and
there spent his property in buildings and wharves
for the accommodation of the Jews, in whose lit
eral return to the Holy Land he now embarked
with zeal and money. His operations plunged him
into debt, and then into Jail. Having the liberty
of the yard" he amused himself by setting on the
piazza of the County House, and having his ser
want bring his elegant pair of horses daily for him
to look at and caress. One afternoon of Saturday
as he was playing with the horses he mounted one,
and was soon out of sight upon the Hartford road.
The sheriff issued reward of fifty dollars for his
apprehension. Two men started in pursuit. They
followed him through Hartford, and overlook him
at Lebanon, just as he was entering the meeting
house of Mr.. Ety. his classmate, in the afternoon.
Mr.. Austin made his way directly into the pulpit
his pursuers took pew below.
Brother Ety." said he, % / want to preach"
"No, Mr.. Austin,' said Mr. Ely, 81 must
Drp0ch mvSalf. iS, bau
with the one which delivered in the morning
can not let you preach"
"Very WE'LL" Mr.. Austin replied, "preach if
you must, but shall preach too :" and forthwith
he took the desk and named his text" Whittier
go, ye can not come.'
After preaching discourse appropriate to his
pursueTs, he came down, and with good grace sur
rendered himself The two men mounting him on
one of their jaded horses, brought him down
through New London. He complained that the
gait of the animal was unpleasant, and that he
rode uncomfortably. After they had crossed the
ferry at Saybrook
"Now," said he, gentlemen, you have the
river behind you; let me ride my own horse"
They granted the indulgence. Mounted on his
courser, and getting the length of him ahead, he
cheered them with "goodby, gentlemen" and
was quickly out of sight. Taking the first turn to
the right, he made great headway for a while,
when, arriving at tavern, he dashed off to quench
his thirst. On the table lay the advertisement,
" Fifty dollars reward for David Austin, debtor,
who escaped from the Jail in New Haven" Seiz-
ing the paper, he bent his with all speed to
the city, presented himself to the sheriff before the
arrival of his escort, and demanded the reward.
Alter his release he took fancy 10 advertise
himself to deliver an I" Grafton on the Conquest of
Canaan in the Stone Chapel, across the brook XII
drOn. three miles east of the city of Jerusalem"
But shortly afterward, seeing that Dr. Ives was to
lecture before the Phi Beta Kappa Society on
Chemistry the same evening, he changed his ad- |
vertlsement to the same place, and actually at |
tempted to supplant the Doctor. Failing in this, |
he begged the people to remain after the lecture |
was over, and ascending to the desk with winning
face and voice he said, {" | have given public no
tice that Grafton would be delivered here this
evening perhaps, however, the occasion may be /
better employed by preaching. We have had a |
little treat of Chemistry-if you please, we will |
try our hand to a small experiment in spiritual
Chemistry. After ten minutes, if you will be in
your seats, will preach sermon" Seeing the |
multitude beginning to move, he exclaimed, "If
you will drop into you positions to hear, will COM
mence the services Immediately. Not to be tedi-
ous, we may well dispense with the pleasant
services of prayer and singing, and enter at once
upon the sermon" Forthwith he gave out his /
text: Kings, vii. 25-' It stood upon twelve OK
en-, three looking toward the north, and three look
ing toward the west, and three looking toward the
south, and three looking toward the east and the
sea was set above upon them and all their hinder
parts were inward" In his Introductory remarks
he described the speaker I" am the last charge
shot out of that great gun Of the Gospel, DR.. Bel
amy"
The preacher then entered upon the subject of
MS text. "This brazen sea upon the backs of the
welve oxen, we may regard as a great mirror-the i
Atlantic Ocean, if you please-Empire and Sci
oaJ kt,o A.4a C.,,,I.
Liberty. civil and religious, have travelled from the
East to the West. From the West to the East,
hey, vastly improved. shall travel back. Yes,"
laid he, casting his eyes up to the boys of the Col
epe, if my recollection of optics serves me, the
lRgle of incidence is just equal to the angle Of re-
lection. Light has come from the Alps and the
Appenines, struck the great mirror and glanced
en-fold brightness, it shall glance back again upon
he European glaciers" After this flight, and
many others like it, he rounded off his discourse
ipon spiritual Chemistry by saying: " | under
stand that the Society has gone over to the Court
House to eat some bread and cheese, and perhaps
We can not do better than to follow them-Amen."
procession of such members of this Literary
Society as had remained to hear him, led by him,
repaired to the Court House. He took his seat
lmong the dgntaries; and, made, by the excite
nent of the occasion, unusually spnghty and volu-
Die even for him, he electrified the assembly by his
conversation. In the midst Of his torrent of drol
cry, colored man advanced with waiter of wine.
Stop, stop" said Mr. Austin, Z" behold, Ethiopia
Itretcheth forth her hands'' The gentlemen took
,ff each his glass. Mr.. Austin, said Mr.. Good
ich, the President of the Society, I'VE will wait
IN YOU for a toast" No, Sir,' was the reply.
Judge Dsggett repeated the Presidents request,
,u, got the same answer. Yes" said DR.. Dana,
Mr.. Austin, give US toast-you are one of the
,rators of the evening" Instantly, David raised
lis glass and said, "a Dr. Dana, the shadow of
yood things to come" The allusion to the almost
Jbosty appearance Of the cadayerous divine was