The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-02
A REPENTANT PASTOR RETURNS TO HIS
FLOCK.

heehoe, Whioh we ciip iroll Iiie NC"
Orleans Times OF recent date, contains
the text for q most interestino and in
str,o+;,,o L;,4on;oaI ,,;.oa
Yesterday was quiet and pleasant-a Sabbath Of tn
Da',ns 'ne '0renoon mere was hhe preeA
sky, tempered the heat which might otherwise have bee
oppressive The churches we noticed were very Target
attended particularly the First Presbyterian Church
o,her aDr ~, l, 80 ao"S 'sr ms sloqsenpe =,
wanderinRs to become again a teacher and a Guide.
was apparent that during his absence the Doctor had
lost none Of those powers which gave such charm to his
tsnps O,aoy ms sss 70 Is n', w v
humber hope he looked up to the bow of promise which
SPAWNED the sky and with gentler he called
Tor renewal OF the covenant Of grace He eelinsiy al
ua ,ns , s"ne ta. S,a ~. ~ "pps u'S'su
perepces would he 50 far sanced os 70 fl him hette
than ever before for the responsible duties of gospel
minister He then told how. in the general affection the
sasel =, uea,a naa 's,,ea ms household ana as ne ai
ters susbea fortos from ,ha .m,t,s rocS A. for the
dead past he for one was anxou. to hide it away in the
solemn tomb HeneefOrth no word should escape his
np e '"Sn a. was NEE. l0r an humble M u'
%, =, ,s land n m n,r,b and ofhi, we he Womb ann.
late the oyape OF Paul the Apostle by preaching Christ
and him cruched and his song be the song of the
'nssls- fs"'S 0n s'''n' anu eO'u Will '0"''a n'en
we can ASSERT Wlthout rear Oh pelhg
contradicted, that no man In the en-
TIRE South-orator, editor, pohtician or
oivlne-was more actiVe In bringing
about the rebellion, or ana more Tor tine
cause" than DR.. 3. M. Palmer; and we
Will undertake to prove this assertion
py q simple statement OF facts. Inc
doctor, though youthful In years and
green III experience, became famous
some years ago In his native State OF
south Carolina as pulpit orator. He
was learned and eloquent, and his repu-
ration Tor piety was above reproach.
The congregation OF the First Fresoy-
terrain Church OF New orleans was the
most wealthy ana aristocratic OF any
protestant denomination In the crescent
city. Inc celeorateo Dr' Scott was then
pastor; but ne having received louder
call from the golden shorcs OF the "a
cine, where SINNERS were more slhiui
ana ABUNDANT, ana the laoorers IN the
vineyard OF the LORD received better
wages, he left there to accept a position
in San francisco. Dr. scotts desertion
OF his sheep and lambs on Lafayette
Square, was sorely felt; but it was not
irreparable: they soon began to look
about them for an Elijah worthy to
wear his mantle, and their choice fell
upon Dr. Palmer. This youthful divine
came, saw, and conquered. Himself and
family were soon installed in an elegant
mansion on Prytania street, and he took
charge of the pulpit of the finest church
in the South, with the wealthiest con-
gregation, at salary of not less than
six thousand dollars year. His flock
was largely composed of gentlemen and
ladies of Northern birth, who had made
tho Southern metropolis their adopted
home. All things went well; their new
pastor pleased them, and soon became
so much an idol, that 1t was diff
cult to say who they worshipped
most-their crucified Saviour, or their
eloquent preacher. He grew to be so
popular that the people flocked in to
hear him from all parts of the country,
and, though large the church edifice is
and capacious its galleries, still there sell
dom was room enough to accommodate
those who came to sip the honey from
his eloquent tongue. AS we recollect
him, he was not prepossessing man in
personal appearance, being small of
stature ana Informed, while his large
lips protruded to degree only excelled
by those OF the real Congo, and his low
forehead was covered by thick, bushy
hair.
Harmony prevailed between the congre-
CATION and their new preacher: he alb
stained from political discussions, and
appeared content to preach the words Of
his crucified Master; his popularity
increased, and what Beecher was to his
flock in Brooklyn and the people of the
North-that position held Palmer il
New Orleans and the South. Well TO
him, and perhaps for the South, had h