New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-28
spRAGUE's AMERICAN PULPIT.

ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN PULPIT BY WiLIias D..
sPR,GrE, d. ID. Vol. VII 8vor PIP eii. Robert Garter Il
Brothers.
The indefatigable labors Of DR.. Sprague in the
department OF American biography to which he
has devoted much of his time and studies for
many years, lose nothing of their value, aud GER
tainly nothing of their interest in the progress OF
his great work. Every page, as it issues from
the press, bears tho marks Of conscientious dill
eence in the pursuit of materials, aud OF rare
kill in their arrangement and elaboration. DIR.
Sprague has relied on the most Trustworthy
sources for information, has collected an inn
mepse store Of curious and important facts, has
combined them in 4 series OF admirable sketches,
and has never suffered his impartiality and can
dor 10 be yitated by the influence of personal
fayoritism or sectarian bias. His own style is
model of lucid simplicity, always chaste aud ee-
CANT, rising with the demands of the occasion
into vigor and graphic effect and pcryaded by
m air of genial frankuess which wins Mt once
the confidence of the reader. The numerous let
ters which arc introduced from the friends of
the subjects Of the biographies, form character
istic feature of the work, and are sometimes not
little amusing in spite Of tie grave nature OF
the theme, from the illustration which they pre-
sent of the personal qualities of their writers.
DIR. Sprague had probably no choice between
printing these letters as they were written, or
rejecting them altogether, and they consequently
exhibit whimsical compound OF sense and non
sense. sincere affection and ludicrous egotism,
nroc,npd reverence for moral worth and misera-
bic personal vanity. In several instances they
afford fine specimens Of charac.er-drawng, and
Of earnest aud unaffected composition, though nu-
merous examples are not wanting OF the exact
reverse of these qualities. The present volume,
10 which the remarks just made are not intended
particularly to apply, is devoted to ministers OF
the Methodist denomination, and embodles tho
lives Of the celebrated pioneers OF that faith in
the United States, as wei as Of several distn-
guished cergymen whose moro recent deaths
have not yet ceased to be lamented.
The following description Of tho first American
Bishop Of the Methodist Church, by DIR. ID. NJ.
Reese, presents ON interesting picture of that ven
cradle and most excellent man:
Tho nersonal appearance Of Bishop Asbury wac re-
marknble When knew him be was past sixty. His
hair was perfectly white bis face very mitch winklrd
and yet his eye had lost none of its user though re-
,neDer that he used glasses when he read the chapter
M our family deyol,ns. His voice was firm and COM
manding his demcanor grave and digliiied; and,
though below the ordinary stature he stood very erect
esrecially in the pulpit The solemny Of hid connt,
nance and utteraace when preaching, and especially
when performing the ceremony OF the Ordination cf
ministers, which witnessed u number OF times, OK
cceded sny example Of the kind which ever came m
der nv jseryation He VIA earnest aud lervent in
ali hi. public exercises, but In the administration OF
Iiapii IN and the Iods Supper, and i'll tho Ordination
snyice he often exhibited extraordinary emotion and
on ,hse OCCASIONS he would sometimes melt the whole
congregation. | bad a younger, brother named after
him Frlncis Apbary and, Mt the request OF my pa
ren,s Le was baptized by tho Bishop in the church.
lie was deeply affected on the OCCASION aud tho more
en- donbtless. IA there were two other children pre-
sented hearing lis ycneracl name.
la the social circle Bishop Asbuy was highly agree
able and pulice,tly familiar. though he always ~
menbered, and kept others in remembrance OF, The
digpty that pertaned to his character ant station
On pIblic occasions-as when presidins IN Confer
oneeIhs grave and eoemn expression OF conntenhnee
his deliberate manner II ntterunce and the authority
Win wi icb he sed himself in urging the preach
ers 70 fulfil .Leir appointments, in that spt OF sell