Des Arc citizen., 1859-06-01
From the New York Observer.J
 CHALMERS, WHITFIELD. WESLEY |: The Secret of their Success and Power.
BY REV. NICHOLAS MURRAY, D. D.

I was present in the General Assembly of Ireland in the year 1851, and when the deputalion from Scotland, headed by Dr. Duff, addressed that venerable body sat by the side of a member of the dep. utation when one of his brethren made an address in manner the most excited. He was very large man; and when he let out his voice to its full pitch. suited the action to the word by a heavy stamp with his foot upon the platform, 1t would seem as if the building and audience trembled together. When, dripping with preparation, he concluded, asked my neighbor whether that was fair specimen of the manner of their Scottish ministers. He replied that Dr. Chalmers went, often as far beyond that as that went beyond or dinary tameness; and then gave me an ac- count of speech delivered by him in the General Assembly of Scotland during the heated controversies which led to the dis rupton. It is doubtless, the same speech to which his eloquent son-in- law and biog- rapher Dr. Hannah, alludes in the ll4th page of the 4th volume of his life. The decision of the courts of law were pro- nounced against the party headed by Chalmers: and the ablest men of the Moderate party were there to sustain them. All eyes were turned towards the coming Assembly. It met; and the day for the great discussion was fixed. It arrived aud the big hear! of Scotland was beating it's strongest pulsations. The debate opened at noon in a house densely packed. The Moderates, clerical and lay, present. ed their case logically and powerfully When they concluded, who was to reply Every eye turned to Chalmers. As If in prayer for divine aid he bowed for few moments in his seat, during which the vast audience was breathless. He rose; and the cheering which greeted him was as the sound of many waters. And the mag nficent oration in which he met the Courts of law, and questioned their decisions-in which he met his opponents, and gave their arguments to the wlnds-in which he maln,ained the independence of the Church, and the doctrine of non-intrusior in which he asserted. if there is Queen in the State, there is King m the Church -occupled three hours III delivery. The crisis was a great one, and he nobly mel it Never was Demoslhenes more elo. ouent-Paul more fearless-never was Whitfield more successful. Under his all but inspired period the vast assembly swayed like field of grain before the winds of summer. When he concluded he was wrapt up m cloaks and shawls and taken to an adjoining house, 50 exhausted as to render the attention of friends neces' sary for several hours. The vote was taken; and Chalmers carried with him the Assembly. And the Free Church sprang into being--and Scotland felt that new and powerful impulse was given to oul Christianity, which will be felt for thous and ages. o, when, the mlnd of grea man fully bathed in the light of heaven and the heart of great man filled witt the love of Christ, are thoroughly reused they can almost turn the world upside down. And any ordinary man, fully il earnest in his work, may accomplish won ders.
 Since my mind has been able to form | true estimate of the character of Whilfiel' and Wesley, they have commanded m. highest admiration. Were hero wor shiper, they would be of those before who's altars would bow down with proiount homage, and upon which would offer m
 costly incense. Were pope, wou
 canonize them; as they have done nor
 for the world than all the Monkish an
 Jesuit saints crowded into the Calender by that veracious compiler of lying legends
 Alban Butler. Intellectually, they wer
 not the greatest men of their day; but
 simple preachers of ihe gospel, they ha
 no soperiors in any age of tke Churc
 since the days of Paul With great pow
 CTS of mind-wish large hearts-wl.h tn
 most expansive benevolence-wiih tn
 highest estimate of the value ot the sol