The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-11-18
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT.
The Great Preachers Of London.
MR.. PUNCHEON, METHODIST.

MR.. PUNCHEON, METHODIST.
Mr. Puncheon breaches at different chap
els, and is what is called circuit preacher.
His appearance does not indicate talent or
energy. He is too fat, and looks as though
the stock of roast beef and London porter
would be sensiby diminished wherever he
goes. His voice is strong, but rather harsh
his action is energetic and appropriate.
with the exception of some tremendous
humping On the Bible. He breaches with
out notes, but his sermons have evidently
been carefully prepared, and divided into
firstly, secondly, &C., according to the most
approved theological formula. His hearers
very soon become interested, anil before he
has been speaking many minutes, they feel
the roots of their hair stifien, and p.easu-
rable sensation which all experience in
describe him fully. Mr.. Puncheon is one
OF Natures orators, and few men have the
power to make the strings of the human
heart vibrate to their touch in equal degree.
He is decidedly the most eloquent man |
have heard in London.
JOHN CUMMINGS, D. D. SCOTCH PRESBYTERIAN.
There is no place of worship more fash
ionable in London than Dr. Cummings
Chapel He is precisely the preacher to
make people feel entirely satisfied with them
selves, and with their theology those, at
least, who have imbibed or inherited the
belief that they are among the favored few
whose entrance into Heaven was decreed by
Omnipotent power, which created them "a
spiritual aristocracy, giving them all the
advantage of royalty hereafter. DR.. Cum
mings is, undoubtedly very learned man,
and means that his hearers shall know it.
He tells them how the Scriptures read in
Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and what the
manners and customs of the people were
when they were written. He instructs them
in the sciences, and draws bis illustrations
from the sublime and beautiful creations of
ancient and modern poetry. His voice is
good, his manner persuasive and pleasant
His theology is OF the dry, hard, gristly
kind, that none but those who are educated
to it are fascinated with but his persua-
sive eloquence and learning are admired by
all. I never heard man who could make
tough, knotty theological question so in
teresting as DR.. Cummings does.
HENRY MELVILLE, EPIsCoPALIAN.
BY far the most magnificent structure in
London is St. Pauls church. 1t was de-
signed by Christopher Wren, and occupied
forty years in building. The immense dome
is said to be equal to any in the world, ex-
cept ST. Peters at Rome. Monuments to
the memory of England's great men are
erected around the walls and against the
massive columns The decorations are ST.
perb, and, as specimen of gigantic archl-
lecture, st. Paups exceeds all [ ever saw
before but, as place of worship, there
are many school houses in our country with
much more comfortable accommodations
The space occupied for public worship does
not embrace one eighth part of the ground
floor and the seats for the public are mar
row benches, without cushions, and some of
them without backs. There are half a
dozen or more rectors attached to the
Church, and they preach alternately, a
month each.
Usually the congregation find ample room
in the small place occupied for worship F.;
but when Mr. Melville breaches, every foot
of standing room within hearing distance is
occupied, and hundreds of people are in the
building who can neither see nor hear him.
He belongs to the Edward Everett school of
oratory, and every sentence is rubbed down,
polished, and vanished until no ingenuity
could make it smoother. He has mag
nifcent voice, not as strong as Srurgeon's,
but quite as musical. His manner is grace
fu and commanding, but with little action,
and as his finished sentences roll out in rapid
succession, imagine its resemblance to the
preaching of Paul, when he made the Re-
man Governor tremble. If his hearers are
not made better, and consequently happier
by such preaching as Mr.. Melville's, it will
be because sound orthodox views of Chris
tiaDity are not presented to them in the
most fascinating manner.-New York Cen
tury.