The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-07-10
Misrrlllna0n5.
From Rsr Dr. TanOR'' "Toiss and Taiki7g'."
The Eloquent Negro Preacher.

1uC EAO4ASAt 1sNoAO %ASSNA'
The next day we were all ca route for
where we arrived just rs the
sable orator arose to oiieiate. took my
seat with the congregation, and scanned,
with no small interest, the occupant OF the
.'stand." He was light-colored mulatto,
aged about fifty, little corpulent, mouth
large and well.iormed, eyes rather small,
chestnut colored, looking q little dull, but
lighted up with FIRE as he became excited =
His brow was square, prominent and retreat
ing. In word, his form was symmetrical,
and countcnance more Intellectual than any
one of his race | had ever seen nor have
since. in this respect, ever met his equal,
either indicatiyely or in fact, SOlemnity,
simplicity, dignity and sincerity marked his
progress through the preliminaries. Hepos-
scssed but an imperfect knowledge of letters; I;
read with hesitancy and inaccuracy; SEEM
ing To depend less upon the text TO guide
him, than his memory. He spoke in the
true negro dialect, but seemed to employ
r.Ened. if you please classic species. 1t
rolled from his lips with sharpness of out
line and distinctness of enunciation that
seemed to impart to ita polish and charm,
transforming it into the language OF beauty.
Some sentences in his pnyer are noteworthy,
as furnishing Il fair specimen of that artlcss
eloquenco that flowed as natural from his
lips, and as fresh and sparkling, and SEEM
insly as exhaustless. us a mountain cascade.
30 Lord thou art very great all else but
thee is as nothing, and less than nothing !;
thou TOUGHEST the mountains and they smoke:
thou holdest the great and mighty sea in tho
hollow of thine hand, and takes up the isles
as very little thing, and ut thy rebukes the
pillars of heaven shudder, aud at thy purity
the angels turn pale" ,"&c. 40 Lord, send
the Star OF Bethlehem to shine in all lands,
and the angels Of the manger cradle to sing
in all countries, that the world may be full
Of the light Of love, and the music of silva.
ton, and be 50 nightly like heaven, that
when the souls of the good come back again
TO the world they may scarce know the diff
ference, " etc. 30 Lord gather all classes
and colors to the cross, bind the parted ma
,;,ns together in DO nd Of love, strong o.
the chain of thine eternal DEGREES, anC
lasting as all ages to come" HIS sermon,
which followed, was Jowelled with sentences
of similar. aud even surprising merit, ut
tered with well controlled and musica
xo,c,. with brimful eyes, and pathos anS
mower which it is less difficult to rememN e.
than not to envy. One would forget tn
visit Of an angel as soon Us the blazing coun
,enancc and magic mission OF the orato
who plays u, wall with his heart strings
Lis,euins to the preacher. my delight Wa
only excelled by my as,on'shment' Lo'in,
.irht of color, and the degradation OF hi
race, | reyerenccd in an unlsttcrei atriea
slave. the genius Of an Apollos and the fore
of an apostle. At the close OF each ot hi
pcr,ods Of Gre, volley of .' ameus." iror
y, u,,,,fhi, eS,.;pl, audience pealc
nm 20 heaven until the pendan, boushs owe
oar heads seemed to wave IN the ascend'n
costs OF devotion. 0f the length OF u
sermon I have no recollection. Ot the SCI
mon itself have the most distinct reco