Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-21
For The Union and Amerieau.g
n r II

y tnink that he has had tolerably good OPP
Portuniiies for making the necessary obser-
Faiions On which 70 base his Judgment, stands
unnYaied as pulpit orator on this .conti-
nent. And he occupies the proud eminence
. which his genius has elevated him, with
the engaging simplicity and modesty Of de-
meanor that found in a child. renders il
IN object OF attraction TO its acquaintance.
The incident occurred with the Rev.
slr. ---, of the Reformed Presbyterian
church IN Nashville, and the writer will en-
deavor 70 reproduce his exact language.
The brother minister % whom the Incl
dent was related, was in a feeble state Of
health and reclining on a lounge, the hour
beng about P. NJ, one pleasant, lazy,
dreamy evening in October. The reader
now has the parties, in Imagination. before
him; and they shall now proceed.
LHuolid-"B Brother --. am in feeble
health, this evening, and feel happy al the
prospect OF having pleasant chat with one
whose genial disposition and good humor
know will win me away from broodinc over
my malady, and do me more good than
many doses Of medicine, so please COM
mence at once, and relate some agreeable
recollection Of your ministerial experiences"
Mr. - -"Well, b=csler, whilst am
not vain enough TO imagine that l shall be
able to afford You the amount Of entertaiL.-
ment your Partially induces you TO promise
yourself, still am too willing TO exert my
self for your pleasure not 10 make an effort
TO oblige you in the manner you have sug-
gested; and, by the way, il seems as Il i was
proyidentially directed here this evening
for the express purpose of relating to Won
What s.nnrrrsroI NIL, L. Gil
II ] shall only be able to tell it as / would
like, l know you will be interested.
Last Sabbath evening, just after tea, l
was in one Of those peculiar, distracted
moods that sometimes comes over gentlemen
Of our cloth, and felt sort Of aversion for
anything like close mental application. l
was likewise in state Of restlessness, and
felt an irresistible impulse 70 be in motion.
Accordingly donned my hat, and stepping
out into the street turned, unconsciously, as
far as l now know, towards the Public Square.
Finding myself promenading towards the
Suspension Bridge, 1 concluded to take
stroll through the village Of Edgefeld, the
white, neat residences Of which saw smiling
among the trees just across the Cumberland.
Having crossed the bridge, / continued to
stroll about the forest-lined streets until l
AOAuA lyHNA ADJlgdlHAAk VIM HIlAAIA W
be a church. IL was brilliantly lighted, and
there being a few persons congregated near
the entrance, made up my mind that the
object Of the assembling was religious ser
vice. concluded "to drop in" and hear ser
mon. Having entered, tookaseat, and looking
around, saw about a dozen persons among
the pews. In few minutes the number in
creased to about thirty; then felt impelled 10
try my ingenuity in judgingof persons by en-
deavoring to identify the preacher; saw an
elegantly dressed and Unlocking gentle
man enter the room, and said to myself: 81
rather think he's the man, he looks like a
preacher" He took his seat IN enc Of tie pelrs.
In a minute or two another gentleman came
IN, from whose appearance was pretty well
satisfied he must be the preacher. Again l
was az fault in my Judgment Concluded to
try no more but still continued TO observe
those entering. In few minutes saw
man enter, under the medium heighth, not
prepOssessing, by lamp-light, in appearance,
somewhat bent forward, broad square shoul-
ders, large and somewhat bald head, care
worn expression of face, and Of rather un-
graceful appearance. Hadn't the most dis
tant idea that he was the man 10 minister in
holy things for our edi6cation; but saw an
Undesirable something about him that
fixed my attention until Sag him palk zap
into he pulpit Horrible" said /, solilo-
auizing mentally. 81 imagine we are
doomed TO be considerably bored = but
being minister myself couldn't think
Of retreating. Laboring under a strong
impression that we were destined to
have our patience sorely tried, / set
tied back into my seat and set my
mind to work, to fasten il on some topic Of
interest, so as to become measurably unc0n-
scious Of what might transpire. just at
this iuncture, the preacher arose and COM
menced reading, or rather repeating the
hymn, for his deeply seated eyes, peering
out from beneath a pair of massive olym-
plan brows. nDw all the while straying on
the audience, instead of the lines of the
hymn. There was subdued tenderness,
aRd a softly thrilling melody in his enunci-
alton, that made my nerves tremble, and
my blood Jingle in a manner that was
strange, new, and peculiarly delightful to
me. The singing ended. The audience
knelt and the prayer commenced. l don't
know how long the preacher continued TO
supplicate the Throne of Grace; but this l
do know, that when the prayer was over,
and again on my seat, / felt as II would
have considered myself amply, most richly
rewarded il / had walked even long fa-
tiguing journey on purpose to hear it. L
can now realize that / was only happier
when passed from nature TO grace, than
was at the conclusion Of the prayer. The
effect, thrilling, subduing, elevating and
everything else that could rouse, expand,
refine" comfort, cheer and beautiiy the
Christian, will linger ia my memory, and
thrill upon my heart until it shall lose all
sensibility in death. How thankful l
felt 20 the Lord. that had been
directed, providentially as It were, to what
had proved SO Car a vel spring of Christian
Joys to my soul.
"In accordance with Methodist custom, an
other hymn was sung Then the sermon
commenced, and II proved such sermon
rs l had never heard before and have no
hopes Of ever hearing again, unless | should
hear the same man. Before he had spoken
half dozen sentences i was 80 charmed
and captivated, that found myself forget
ting the proprieties of the place and elbow
me nv neighbor. saving 10 him: "Just listen
"A That Have YOU ever heard anything
equal 70 itT ] now remember that l
perpetrated several such inIproprieties, and
then became so completely absorbed in the
grandeur, boldness, and matehless range OF
his mental excursions and tie almost super
human splendor Of his diclion, that l was
totally oblivious to everything save the
preacher and his theme. From the time
OF my mental enchantment, 10 the eonciu-
sion OF thediscourse, therewas oneunbroken,
majestic, broad, deep, exhaustless Hood Of
unrivaled eloquence flowing from his lips,
and thrilling upon the ears Of his audience
in tones as ravishing as the best notas ever
produced by the greatest master from the
most superior organ the world ever saw
His sermon was a grand epic Christian poem
in blank verse, Of the soitest cadence, the
most harmonious numbers, the ioitiest con-
ception. the most magnificent excursions
az fancy. the most narrowing and startling
niciure Of the "Infernal World and the
grandest Christian prospect that ever rolled
IN beauty and splendor from the lips oil man
Leaving the church with feelings the mos
felicitous that had ever known, made my
wav home, almost unconsciousiy, medita1lnA
All the while on what had heard, and send
ipg M many silent thanksgiving prayers <
Con. that il bad been my good --sftune, n
his Providence, 70 be exc Of the number
those preae-. al Tulip Street Church that
..;,-i,t. Much, / wondered too, who th'
wonderful man could be Of whose dazzling
and splendid genius had never heard any
thing. and occasionally would ma mysei
saving. III could only preach like thar mar
/ would give The better half OF my Aitel