Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-04-12
North The Scottish spurgeon.
An Amdteur Piryactor and Sportsman Turned
Clergyaaa--His Crime, and His Preuching
Ills GodLg .serganl.
Of the Presbyterian Herald.

GLASGOW, March 8, 1853
In the carly part of the year city enjoyed
the ministrations of Mr.. Brownlow North, lay
gentleman of independent means, who has de-
voted himself to the preaching of the gospel
He is an Episcopalian, but addresses all who
choose to listen to him wherever he finds an
open door His object is to deliver the simple
gospel message, which he does with overpower-
ing earneStneSs. He speaks with huency and
even elegance, makes no attempt at exegetica
preaching, says that he has but ono doctrine to
expound aud enforce, aud disavows the minis
terial character and authority. But such is the
iervor OIL earncstness, that the largest editice
in town was not capable of containing the mul
titudes who fioCked to hear him, from the high
est TO the lowest, nor were two addresses on
Sabbath sufficient to meet the demand upon his
mlnlStratlons, which were continued throughout
the week. Our Presbyterian ministers of the
Free Church and United Presbyterian Church.
and one of the Established clergy, admitted him
to their pulpitS; and the ministers of all our
churches received from the example of this good
man lesson on the Importance of earnest
preaching. Many inQuirers who had been
awakened by the address of Mr.. North, visited
and conversed with him during the week. His
visit, there is reason to believe, was productive
of much spiritual good. This gentleman few
years ago, was a terrible reprobate He had a
shooting lodge in the Highlands, where he indul-
ged in very loose and profiigate practices At
|
Christian man exclusively to those districts wher
he had formerly rendered himself most notorious
and obnoxious by his prohigacy. In his ex-
presSions of self-reproach, which of course must
be taken with considerable limitation he has re-
peatedly declared that he had been guilty of all
the sins IN the decalOgue except murder Mr..
North is no fanatic. He is calm.minded man
thoroughly imbued with Christian principle.
and profoundly impressed with a sense of the Clu.
ty laid upon him of making known the great
salvation. / heard him address about three
thousand people, who were admitted by ticket
to the City Hall, and the effect of his simple
and earnest pleadings was very impressive and
memorable. No preaching, 1 dare say, since
the days OF Whitfield, has produced such
powerful effect upon the popular mind as this
remarkable mans address,; and their power
lies not IN their logical structure, but in their
earnestnesS A friend of mine, who has seen Mr.
North in his wild days on the stage as an anna
teur player, once dined in his Highland lodge
along with gay party. The wine was circling
freely, and Highland boy, whom Mr.. North
had engaged as domestic servant, entered with
fresh supply of liquor, and setting it before
his master, whispered something to him, upon
which North instantly withdrew from the table
and took cigar, refusing to indulge longer in
his cups. Turning to my informant, he said.
p, that boy is a Christian: could trust
him with untold gold" Whether that moor
Highland boys humble influence as a child of
God was instrumental in touching the wicked
heart of his master my friend could not tell
But on the occasion referred to- his warning
whisper arrested North in his bacehanaIian ca
Teer, and probably he was in the habit of using
the same liberty with his master on other fes-
tive occasions.