The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-07-31
The Pulpit and the Knife.
A HUNTED PREACHER.


In the winter Of 1886, the population of
Howard county, Missouri, were thrown in
to state of extraordinary excitement by
cause that seemed wholly inadequate to the
production of such effects, especially in
latitude situated so far towards the setting
sun. The phenomenon which attracted
universal attention was neither more or Tess
than the appearance of a new Methodist
preacher-a circuit rider, rs the name goes
III the west, but one of remarkable per-
| son, and of powers that tho superstitious
| deemed almost supernatural
llo was youth who had not scon more
than twenty summers of about the me.
dunn height, although he looked much tal-
Ter, from the slightncss of his make, anna
rently feeble and dclicatcly moulded as the
form OF woman. But all his movements
oven to the flash Of his eye or the wafture of
his finger is gesticulation, wore ineffablv
quick. lie was possessed ofmany of the
graccs which are usually supposed to con-
stitutc feminine beauty. His slender fig
urc was model for tho arts Of sculpture
and painting. Ills face was an admirable
oval, soft and sweet in its expression while
in state ofreposc, although, when arous-
ed Sy any strong emotion, it could assume
look OF stcrnncss or Of passion absolutely
appalling. Ills eyes were large, beaming
and piercing, SO that when on fire with sud-
den wrath, not many of even the bravest
would feel at ease while cncountering their
fierce flashes of inexpressible defiance, for
they plainly dared all things, not leaving
out death itself. One drawback must be,
made from the exquisite character of his
portrait its complexion altogether lacked
color, when not illuminated by some excite
ment capable Of pouring the blood from the
heart in boiling torrents. His features, it is
true, did not have the unnatural and sub
dued hue of il-health, but rather that trans
parent palcness, SO rare and delicate, which
indicates lofty thoughts, such as "wander
through eternity" persevering and studious
viSils over the rays of the midnight lamp,
and infinite longings, such as no human
language can hope to express, for the ideal
of all, the immense, the unknown, the faith
omless mystery which We seek for ever, but
never find.
shall never forget, even should my life
be protracted for ages, the first time that
had an opportunity Of seeing and hearing
this western prodigy. 1t was at the town
OF Fayctte, in the county previously men,
toned. The large court house was used as
a place of temporary worship, and long be-
fore the appointed hour it had been crowd
ed to its utmost capacity, while hundreds,
unable to gain admission, hung around the
doors and windows, determining to get a
glimpse, or catch at least tone of the won
derful orator, whose fame was on every bo-
dy's tongue.
Several preachers were on the platform,
and among the dense throng arose the low
murmur, made up of a thousand eager whis-
pers-"Which is Ellis?" (which is tho
new Whitfield :" (Which is he?-which
is he?" And the general conclusion of
those who had never seen the object of their
curiosity appeared to be that finely form
ed, middle aged person, with ruddy COM
plexion and shining bald head, was heanan.
This inference grew stronger when the indi-
vidual described arose, gave out hymn,
and kneeling, uttered an extemporaneous
prayer of considerable Auency and unbound
ed fervor. However, upon the whole, the
congregation felt keen disappointment
The effort did not in any degree correspond
with the grandeur of their preconceived
idea. Nor was this at all strange, as the
performer in this case happened to be only
the elder in charge of the district; and sucl,
clerical officers in the Methodist denomina-
ton are commonly chosen with reference to
their steady and solid talents for govern,
ment, and their unimpeachable orthodoxy
more than from any manifestations of log
,ical acuteness or political genius.
The petition to heaven was ended. Those
who had bowed to tho earth in real or sim
ulatcd alteration resumed their seats, and
for five minutes afterwards there prevailed
a solemn silence, the profound calm of ex.
pectation. Then suddenly a slender figure
that nobody had observed before, ascended
the platform, and pale yet luminous face
shining with two earncst, starry eyes, glanc
cd slowly around tho vast assemblage, as il
silently measuring theita capacity for the
reception Of the truths about to be enun
ciated.
SHE did not open the Bible--he did no
formally take any text but all at once hs
cried out, in .tsuihpet tones, which caused
every hearer p .staft on his seat, "Behold
Im6ke alEehtngs new,l" Add then HI
spread all fRe sails Of Imagination; ant
launched boldly forth into an iIlimitabI,
ocean OF Seioquenee. The burden of fis dis
course, in itsfirst division, was the suscep
l tibility of the material molecules compo
J sing the visible. and tangible universe 70
! endless transformatiohss6 6f utility and trans
cendental beauty throughout the endIes
ages of eternity. HeSdemonstrated, from
the latest discoveries of;chsmistry, and tn
best established truths Of air physical sGl
ence, that matter: Is nokthst gross. tlisoustin,
thing which the atheistics philosophers an.
some superstitious ahs6iogisns would bag
us to believe it, but that all its,espects q
} rePulaivenesa. Of sWestness Of spblimity an,
q terrer, depend :upon the arrangenenta !
: its atoms and The Composition Of .sts.sis
ments. Il ~. & 8
As the speaker went 6iss saf "a ssncine III nj
: the beart Of his subject, The, palepess eysdn
lally left his face, whiehsst lSsk gi6Neds iik
IN shsry furpacS ind asurs tiS sSYsa
him s. s., ssis y ss sblassh h Il Il
Z eitpao tossb
ri anio oSea IN stilssaAy zen dsaat6 Z tH