Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-23
THE GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY MORNING.. NovtNpra .. 1859
PREACHING WHILE ASLEEP.

inc, hut Of talking in sleep, which occurred
within "A few miles of where | resided not
long ago As no record has ever been made
of the circumstance, that | am aware Of |
deem il sufficiently fresh and interesting 10
constitute brief article for the Waterman
aud Reflector.
4 respectable old gentleman, Of the name
ofN-, who, though laynai, had spent the
greater part If his life in proclalmins the
Gospel 10 a perishing world. and whose
character for piety and good works was &c.
knowledged BY all classes Of the community
in which he lived, had fallen into the
habit Of singing praises TO God in the dead
hour of the night. while he himself, rs well
rs all around him, was wrapt III the most
profound slumber. lie would sit up in bed,
turn over the leaves of an imaginary hymn
book give out the verses, pitch the tune, and
90 through the while piece As accurately
if he were awake and perfectly conscious Of
what he was doing.
Toward the latter period Of his life he not
only sang hymns during those nocturnal ex-
ercises, but would 20 through the entire
service Of the sanctuary. reading and sing
ing alternately, making cxtemporaneous
prayer reading chapter IN the Bible, and
even selecting a text, anu pr aching ser.
mon therefrom, in most connected aud IN.
pressivc manner, referring 10 corresponding
portions of the Scripture with an accuracy
truly astonishing to all who witnessed 1T
His daughter and son-in-law, now residing
not many huurs's ride from tins city, per
SOFAS Of intelligence and unioubted veraciiy,
have assured the writer OF this article. that
they often stood hy the bedside oi their Ven
cradle parent aud followed HIM III his
reference to Scripture texts aud contents,
and never knew him to fail III making quo
tatiOn.
There was one occasion in particular, in
which they undertook to sit up all night, aud
watch him IN those extraordinary exercises.
III order to satisfy their curiosity IA Ia how he
acted, AZ we'll before as after the singular
performance Ii proved To be- one Of the most
complete exhibitions Of the phenomenon that
they had ever witnessed III hun; aud such Was
the awe and solemnity, the almost super
natural aspect of the whole proceeding, that
they we're painfully affected by il for some
time after The clock had Just struck twelve,
when the venerable man, still fast asleep.
began to show signs Of restlessness. He
turned over in the bed two Or three times,
cleared his voice as if about 10 speak, took
of his night cap, and laid it aside upon
the pillow, and finally sat upright. lie then
adjusted the bed-clOthes rs he would have
done a pulpit-cushion, settled his imaginary
book before him. turned down the leaves Tor
the appointed lesson, aud 80 on. and then
when all was In due order, and IN strict az
cnrlance with his usual form and practice
when actually in the pulpit, he commenced
the service by giving out the hymn, naming
the identical page on which 1t was to be
found, and sang it through without flaw
or iater. lie next proceeded with the pray
er, which was one Of the most powerful
they had ever heard him make. The CON
fession of sins-the intercession-the thanks
giving---tle supplication i'll behalf OF sinners
ofhis own and every other congregation then
assembled. surpassed anything they had ever
heard. During the prayer the old man
wcpt freely, using u handkerchief for his
tears, which his daughter had quietly placed
beside him.
Next came the sermon. The text was Ia
ken from one Of the four Gospels, the writer
forsetS which, bu. twas on experimental re-
lision. And such u discourse. The old
mans lips seemed touched with living fire.
while he disclosed the workings Of the hui
man heart. aud showed the operations Of
the Holy Spirit on the inner man. twas \
season OF heart searching and sell condemns
ton even To the worthy and virtunus pair
who formed the only congregation ON that
solemn night-a cold, starlight Winters
night by the way. with no sound stirring,
save an occasional flap OF the shutters by
the passing wind.
The sermon concluded. there was then u
hymn, and finally the benedlction. prnnoun-
ced with out-stretchei arms. and with all the
feryor Of fond parent over his departing
children The old man. rs If conscious ot
having discharged his duty turned round,
and resumed his rest. On the morrow
not IA trace Of the event was left on his
memory.
On another occasion, such was his vehe
mence in prayer, that fearing the rupture
of blood vessel, his friends awoke him, but
the interruption affected him so much that
he became alarmingly i'll for some days, and
on his learning the probable cause OF his sick
ness. ne mplored them never 10 awaken hlm
again under such circumstances, tor that
his experiences both OF mud and body had
been indescrbably painful ever since
These phenomena occurred stately, TO
the close of his life, which was prolonged TO
the advanced period of over fpurscore years
Mp. Willis, in letter gracefully descrlb-
ins visit nc recently paid to Washington
Irving. in company with ex-Secretary Ken
edv, mentions that at the dinner table there
was some passing discussion of the wearing
Of boards; Mr. Kennedy having made that al
terati,n in hisph ysiognomy since they had met
and Mr. Irving closed playful comment or
two upon the habit by saying that ne could
scarce afford the luxury himself, involving as
would do, the loss Of the most ehet tual quiet
us Of his nerves. To get pand shave, when
tired Of lying awake, sure OF gong 10 sleep
Immediately after, had long been habit OF
his. There was an amusing exchange OF
sorrows, also, between him and MIR. kenne-
DIV, as 10 persecution by autograph-hunters,
though the ex.Secratary gave rather the
strongest instance, mentioning an unknown
man who had written to him, when at the
head If the Navy Department. requesting, as
one Of his constituents, to be furnished with
autographs of all the Presidents, Of himself
and the rest Of the Cabinet, aud OF any other
distinguished men with whom he might be
in correspondence.
E.s- JOHN A. FIELD begs leave 10 remind
his friends, that be is candidate Tor the "u'e :"
Sheriff Of Alexandria City aud County. at the
,..ll.. .l.n,f3 thatr t..s