M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1857-08-20
Mlisttaanrpus 9rtitltse
BROTHER .CRAFTORD'S
FAREWELL SERMON.
REPoRTED BY BILL EASEL.

q bhOuoohu sum So h1h ONSoolOn "
visit a friend in the neighborhood O
Port Gibson. The next day being
Sabbath, l accompanied him to ZioT
Chapel. A new minister had been
called to that neighborhood, and this
was to be his sAlutatory sermon.
Zion Chapel was some hundred
yards from the main road and sur
rounded by forest trees. Having ar.
rived rather too early for the sermon,
myself and friend sauntered about the
woods, rather actively employed in
brushing away the cloud ofmosquitoes
that surrounded us. At length a
strange specimen Of the genus homo
made his appearance on horseback; -
itwas brother Craford.
His dress was decidedly peculiar
On his head he wore an old fashioned
bell.crown beaver, several sizes too
large. To remedy this defect, cot
ton bandanna handkerchief was stuff:
ed between the hat and forehead. -
His coat was one Of the most ancient
pattern; blue, with brass buttons, short
waist and long swallow. The collar
came within an inch of hiding the
back part of his head. His vest was
extremely long, and his pants ditto,
short. The latter were held down by
a leather strap, passed under huge
pair of broganS Of an untanned leath-
er color. Altogether his presence
strongly suggested Dan Marble in his
Yankee character of Jonathan Home
spun. But to the sermon-or at least
a portion Of it--for it was utterly i'm
possible to report the whole.
The congregation was large, as it
had been narrated" abroad that a
new servant of the Lord was to make
his debut at Zion.
Brother Craford skunk into the pul,
pit with more than ordinary humility,
and after devoting a few moments to
silent prayer, he rose.
Gingeriy pushing up the sleeves of
| his store coat, whereby he displayed a
pair OF large, long, bony hands Of a
beef red color, he grasped the handles
of an earthern pitcher and poured into
a tin cup a draught of water, which
he drank with inimitable gusto.
His appearance in the pulpit was
study for an artist. His face was long
and lank, eyes pale gray, nose acquiline,
complexion sandy, hair greyish sandy,
head bald on the top, with the excep.
tion ofa small patch on the organ of
reverence, Gas if to shade it, and alto
gether, the picture OF Greeley, whilst
inditing a Freesoil Abolition docu-
ment for the benefit Of his southern
subscribers.
He began apologetically, as fol-
lows:
"You don't see me to-day in the
dress | alters wears, come among you
as stranger, and | am now tricked
out in my store clothes ; am not a
proud man, but thought it would be
more becoming among strangers"
And after this he raised a hymn
in which the congregation joined
He then began his sermon:
"My dear brethren and sisters, first
and foremost, Pm gwine to tell you
about the affecting parting had with
my congregation at Bethel Chapel
After had got through with my fare
we'll sermon, as came down outen the
pulpit, the old grey-headed brethren
and sisters who had listened to my
voice for twenty years crowded around
me, and, with sobbing voices and tear
full eyes, said-Farewell, brother Graf
ford
AS l walked down the aisle, the
young ladies, tricked out in their fine
ry and brass jewelry, gewgaws, jim.
cracks, paint, and founces, looked W
with their bright eyes, and pronounced
with their rosy lips-Farewell, broth
er Craford
The young men, in their tight pat
ent leather boots, high collars, ant
fashy misunderstanding of poma
tum and cigar smoke-with thei
shanghai coats, and striped zebrt
pants-they, too, said - Farewell
brother Crafford |!
The little children-lambs in tn,
feld-litted up their tiny hands anc
small voices, and with one accorc
said-Farewell, brother Crafford!
The colored brethren of the con
gregation now came forward-(blacl
sheep who had been admitted to the
fold under my ministry, with tears
rolling down their sable cheeks, they
too, said-Farewell, brother Crafford
AS l got on my horse and badt
adieu to my congregation forever,
turned to take last look at the ole
church where | had preached the IN
searchable riches of Christ for mort
twenty ycarS-and as | gazed at it