New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-02
THE REV. II. GRATrAN GUINNESS.

THE REV. n. GRATTAN GUINNESS. 4
Much assiduity has been lately expended 10 adver-
Using the public Of the arrival fro Ireland of the Rsv.
H. Crsttau Guinness, and his commencement Of rslig-
ious minstratOns in a New-York pulpit. By means Of
the distribution Of hundreds of printed circulars and
liberal employment of the advertising columns Of the
daily Pres the intelligence has been 80 perSisently
disseminated that the public ear has been indaced TO
listen The church of the Rev. Or. Borchsrd, in Fair.
teenth street. has, for the past three weeks, been
nightly crowded with anxious throngs to hear the ser
Of the Irih preacher. so much hss been said
Of the reverend gentleman in private circles and in the
public journals that description o, the man and the
orstorcs means by which he has set large part OF
this irrepressible metropolis blaze of excitement
will, perhaps be interesting.
Ga last Friday night ths customary crowd as.
ssmblcd, the pulpit s'eps being occupied BY esger
Beteners, and some of the aises being hlled
with lscies, who were content 70 stand because
Tiers were 10 more seats. After the throng had
become some what uneasy and impatient, and q
little time after the hour announced for the opening
exercises Mr.. Guinness appeared, and slowly ebowed
his way through the closely packed audience to the
pulpit. He carried heavy overcoat swung over his
arm aud his hat in hs hsnd and came in with eager
hurry az he had but jest arrived from late train of
cara. Reaching the speakers place, he sat down on
the sofa, glanced over the audience, then closed his
eyes, and appeared absorbed in prayer for several
minutes.
In person, Mr.. Guinness is not remarkable He Ia Of
medium hight good figaro, and bro ad shoulders The
astonishing powers OF mind claimed for him, have
given characteristic impress to his face which does
not seem specially attractive. His eyes are dark his
large with disposition TO turn up his lips rather
thick and heavyi and his forehead neither unusually
broad nor high. His hair is dark, with sight ten
dency TO curl and is won long, and brushed behind
the ears. He is semi-besrded-s crisp, close-cut
whsker, extending from the to the point of the
chin and joining the beard which protects the throat
His hands are large. He wears the customary clerical
dress-s suit of black, with the orthodox white
neckcloth.
Having accomplished his silent devotons, and the
little hum attendant hs entrance having subsided
he and read the opening hymn. His voice is mel
low and pleasant with little cspability, however, we
imagine, for great elocutionary effect. TIE hymn
was read in manner peculiar to himself He first read
Ii through, and then remarked This is hymn that
Christian has more right TO sing than unconverted
persons" after which be again read it, liniog it out
two lines at time, and then these sung, read
two more Mr. GoiDness assists the choir, joining in
the singing with some degree of earnesness, at the
Eame time closing his eyes, thro wing back his head in
attitude of ecstssy, and slightly swaying his boay
In tine to the music. He then read chapter from
the New Testament, making frequent pauses to ex-
plain and comment on the various texts. He accom-
panied the reading with many motions Of the head,
bowiDgs, shakDgs, and emphatic trembliDgs. His
gestures are for the most part made with the hands
rather than with the arms Tne hands constantly
in motion; sometimes the fists clossd sometimes the
fingers are spread, occasionally the whole hand is
poised in perpendicular position on the book before
him. the extreme tips Of his fogers only touching the
page In making prayer, ne first delieately places
the tips of bis fugers against each other, then ne
clasps them with Increasing fervor, till finally he
tends his arms at length above his besdh0se restless
hands are never quiet.
In his utterance the slightest taste Of the brogus
IL occss ionaIy pereePible, Ihe Irish Eagu1 Pse7-
GaIities being noticeable Il s1ca wor1s a.
"hiveBly," Everlasting ana some osasrs- Beside
thee be has peculiar pronunciation Of certain other
words. such as "heah, feah," wahds," " 70
SethAh," for here, fear words, together. In
manner Of delivery, Mr.. Guinness is sDguary quiet,
aue be might even be taought monotonous- His voice
Is generally reised fAseto, but occasionally passes
into an information of plsintive pstbos AS In eocu
ton 20 in dicdon hc possesses few rhetorical grsoes
His language is simple, and free from prttentous
hthts and his mOs noticeable characteristic is a coz
santseraton d phrases expressive of some axiom OF
religious faith Tue doctrines which he teaches are,
Of course in general terms, those known as Calvnisc
orthodox, and evangelical; and his most frequent
appeal TO his hearers is drawn from the awful punish
res of the wicked, sud the blessed condition of the
regen.rate in the future world. AS specimen Of his
manner in this respect, quote the following sen
fences from the conclusion Of Friday nights sermons
"Tbe greater part Of mankind sha9 never De con
yerAo; the greater part of mankind shall never be
saved; the greater pant Of mankind shall never be
turned Cod the greater part OF mankind are surely
nne direct road to hell. firmly believe all this
On evening there none of the usual features
O. revival meetings. No extraordinary excitement
seemed to prevail in the audience; there was no
anxious seat, no Fpstms of sgOnzed grief no over
p.weIng conviction Of SIM no declaration OF mracn-
Ions conversion. The audience, after quiet and
deoept attention TO the sermon, went peacefully
ard calmly from the church.
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