The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-08-26
GbalsbiIls Daily Sonrnal,
Early Indiana Trials and Sketches.
"REMINISCENCES BY HON. o. Il. SMITH.
TIE REV. GEORGE G. oooKNAN.

THE REV. GEORGE G. GOODMAN.
1t was Sabbath morning. The last OF
the city church bells was ringing as LEFT
my boarding house on Capitol Hill. at
Washington city, for Wesley Chapel
1t was quarterly meeting. The preacher
had closed his sermon, when there arose
at the desk, a slender, spare man, about
five feet eight, dark complexior, black
hair falling carele say over his high fore
head, lean bony face, wide mouth, round
breasted black coat, with velvet falling
collar, black vest and pantaloons. Ad
dressing the congregation he said, =
1--WE desire 10 take up small collection
| for the relief OF destitute, worn out Me
thodist preachers and their families. We
appeal to day to the hearts of the con
gregation," ard took his seat. A large
collection followed. / whispered to Pat
rick G Good, of Ohio, who sat by me
"Who is that?' "Don't you know him?
1t is George G.. Cookman." The next
Sabbath | was at the chapel again. Mr.
Goodman preached. l returned satisfied
that he was no ordinary man. The elec-
ton for Chaplain of the Senate came on
few days afte;, and without the know
ledge of Mr.. Cookman, | privately sug-
gested his name to the Senator's around
me. The most OF them had heard him
preach. He was elected chaplain by de-
cided vote over the Rev. Henry Slicer,
against whom there was not the least
objection; but we wanted to bring Mr.
Goodman more prominently before the
public. The next Sabbath he preached
his first sermon in the hall of the House
to very large congregation, from the
text, "The sword of the Lord and Of
Gideon He made profound impress
sion on his hearers that day, which
seemed to increase with every succeed
ing sermon.
1t is not my purpose to skeIch the
many sermons of Mr. Cookman during
the time he was chaplain ofthe Senate,
the most of which | heard. He was a
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, Peter, Mark and John stand
before you as he named them. His
tone of voice. as he warmed with his
subject. and the tear stealing down his
cheek, were irresistible. As a pulpit or
ator take him all in all, he had few e.
quais, and no superiors, that ever heard
There was no place for choir where
Goodman sang. His voice was melody
itself. / heard him in the Senate Cham
Der on the funeral occasion of Senator
Belts, of Connecticut. The Chamber
was crowded. The president, DEPART
ments, Foreign Ministers, Senators, and
Representatives were there. distinctly
recollect one Of his figures of speech
"As the human family come upon the
great stage of life, they find at every
fork of the road the finger board distinct
There Is no other road to travel from in
fancy to old age and death but the road
that leads to the grave" There was not
dry eye in the Chamber when he clo-
sed his sermon Of one hour, and sang a.
lone the single verse Of the hymn
allu nliSb lillS DouN ult---
This well wrought frame decay
Ana must these active limbs of mine
Lie mouldering in the clay!"
The session of Congress was about to
close upon the administration Of Mr.. Van
Buren, The Inauguration Of General
Harrison was soon to take place. Mr..
Cookman had all his arrangements made
to visit England on the steamer Presi-
dent The first dispatch from the new
administration was to be confided to his
charge. The next Sabbath he was to
take leave OF the members ef Congress
in his farewell sermon. The day came
An hour before the usual time the crowd
was seen filling the pavements of the Av-
enue, and pressing up the hill to Repre-
sentative Hall, which was soon filled to
overfowing, and hundreds unable to get
seats went away disappointed. l obtain
ed seat early in front of the clerks
desk. John Quincy Adams sat in the
Speakers chair, facing Mr. Cookman.
The whole space on the rostrum and
steps was filled with Senators and Rep
resentatives. The moment had come.
Mr. Cookman, evidently much affected,
knceled in thrilling prayer, ard rose
with his eyes blinded with tears. His
voice faletred with suppressed emotions,
as he gave out the hymn
''When marshalled on he nightly plain,
The glittering hosts bestud the sky,
One star alone of all the train,
Can fix the sinners wandering eve.
Hark. narkl to God the chorus breaks,
From every host. from every gem;
But one alone, the Saviour speaks,
Itis the star of Bethlehem.
Once on the raging seas rode.
The storm was loud the night was dark
The ocean yawned, and rudely blowed
Thewind that tossed my foundering bark.
The hymn was sung by Mr.. Goodman
alone. can yet in imagination hear his
voice, as it filled the large hall, and the
last sounds, with their echoes, died away
in the dome.
"And saw great white throne, and |
him that sat on it, from whose face the |
earth and the heaven fed away; and |
there was no place for them.
"And saw the dead, small and great |
stand before God. and the books were |
opened: and another book was opened.
which is the book OF life, and the desd /