Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-05-09

led an unprachced eye In judging OF his
character. A stranger WouId never dream
that that rugged coIntenance could soften
into beauty, grow radiant with hu.nor and
beam with magnetic love; but as the
brightest waters gush from among the
craggy rocks, and the sweetest flowers
bloom amid the thorns, so he could With
er with his rebuke and petrify with his
frown and awe with his dignity and
startle with bis voice of authority. He
was, both by nature and by grace, gentle
SIS nurse cherishing her children, soft
as dove cooling to its mate, meek as
Christian praying for his enemies.
AS a husband, and father, and host,
there was the most harmonious blending
of authority and love, connubial respect,
with the most genial tenderness, parental
government with the most affectionste
intercourse, an open, hearty hospitality,
with the most informal politeness. He
was independent, without defying pubic
opinion; free to express his thoughts,
without waiting TO see how the wind
would blow; respectful to all, without
subservience to any. Indeed, all the ele-
ments of noble manhood met and min
gled in him in beautiful proportion.
There was about him strange accord
and concord of contrast, if l may so ex-
press il, an equilibrium of antagonism,
strong and tender, firm yet sympathetic,
stern but always accessible. That man,
who, on trial without accusation in 1914,
lauded as saint, but rejected as 8 bishop,
commended for his wisdom and purity in
official ministratiOn, wronged in his rights
aud outraged in his feelings by a
foul conspiracy, as one of the
actors in it has lately confessed and
published, and thus made the inno-
cent occasion of great ecclesiastical
catastrophe-thatm man who could stand
up before that General Conference, and
with brow unblanched, demand, ia the
tone of a master, that the debates should
come to an end, and that the foregone
conclusion should be settled by final
vote, that man in the Chamber where
appointments are made, could sigh and
grOsn and suffer over the minor trials of
his humblest brother. | have known him
to toss the liVelong night in sleepless I'M
rest, and to go burdened all the day, be-
cause his sense of duty constrained him,
by some hard assignment of work, 10 i'm
pose burden upon some good brother
in his family. He who could wither an
| offender as simeon, when meanness or
| hypocrisy provoked his scowl of indigna
tor, could cheer the desponding and
soothe the wounded spirit with the fittest
word and with the gentlest breath.
Intellectually, Bishop Andrew was in
many respects great man. His mind
was broad, comprehensive in its sweep,
rapid in its operation, intuitive in its
perceptions. His judgment was sound,
strong, free, independent rarely warped
either by favor or affection, disCrimi-
hating amid many perplexities with won
derful accuracy. Hence, he was always
wise and safe counsellor. He was a
great reader, though not much fastudent.
For lack of early training he was never
very methodical. He thought much, but
discursively. The material which he
gathered he passed through his mind by a
| process of his own, and it always came
out stamped with his own image and SUI
prescription. He wrote with crest ia
cility. His conversation was rich in
thought, fluent in language. He was
cheerful in spirit, fond Of humor, ready
in Tepartee, and yet do not believe l
ever saw him betrayed into levity, and
his speech was well RICH always sea-
soned with grace.
As a preacher he was somewhat unique.
He had no model He stood alone. He
was original, not SO much by Gre
alive power as by his peculiar
| style Of appropriation. He pever welt IN
| propositions; he had nothing to do with
divisions, firstly, secondly, thirdly and
lastly. He dealt with one great leading
idea, and that idea he made to revolve
upon its own axle, until every spot Of its
surface was batbed in sunlight. His pow
ers of ampliication were amassing; and
on some OF his favorite themes, when his
mind was full, the opening of his mouth
was like the letting out Of many waters,
nor was it a thin sheet turned into
spray and descending in mist, but thun.
dering volume that rushed aud roared and
swept on resistlessly. Those who heard
him only in the latter years of his life will
regard what am saying as extravagant,
but know whereof affirm. Making hin
bishop ruined him as preacher SooI
after his election, he conceived the idet
that he must be an example of extreme
simplicity, for the benefit OF the youngs
brethren in the ministry, lest,
suppose, by undertaking to initiate
him, they should render themselve!
ridiculous; and hence he changed hi:
style; he compelled his mind to work I'm
naturally; he cut off the inspiration thai
used to bear him up and carry him along
quite above the level of common men. II
his palmiest days there was always pc
culiarity in Bishop Andrews preaching
that distinguished him from all others
The first half of his sermons was always
the best-often lefty, grand, imperial il
the range of thought, the sweep of imagin
alton, the wealth of words. The lattel
half was commonly collOguial, simple
and sometimes commonplace. 1t seemed
10 me that in prayer and meditation an(
communion with God he had ascendel
some lofty elevation, some bright noun
of vision; and when he entered the pulpi
and announced his text, he launched on
ON bold, broad pinions, like an angel fig
ing through the midst of the heavens; an(
by and by he grew weary and commenced
to descend by gradati0ns, until at las
he walked upon the earth like an oTdins
~ mortal. Here is the explanation q
the comparative ieebleness OF his latte
years. His mental action depended upor
his muscular energies, and when the high
wrought tension of his system gave way
his mind let down, and, like motive
power in machinery, ceased to operate
because the fuel was consumed. Blu
those to whom he ministered in the day
of his strength will never forget it. NJ
man in his day had warmer friends o.
more of them. His converts were nu
merOus; the church always flCuTished un
der his ministrations. The rich and tn
gifted welcomed him to their fellowship
the poor and the afflicted received him a
ministering angel. His devotion t,
children grew with his years; he take,
to them in private; he addressed them i
public; he invoked their prayers in hi
behalf; he lavished upon them the affeC
tions of his age; and next to his last ser
vice upon earth, believe, was for thei
benefit.
Our venerable father, before he ha
been called hence, had well nigh reaches
his four score years, beyond at least hi
three score and ten. Converted at tel
years of age, he had long experience o
the grace of God. Through a protract
ed ministry he realized, by turns, tn
SORROWS and victories, the honOrs an,
disappointments peculiar to faithful
preachers life. His religion was dee
and quiet; he was never demonstrative
He walked in the light, and saw with tn
eyes of that faith which is the evidenc
of things unseen. There never was an,
chasm in his itineTacy. He never loca
ted, or farmed, or pursued any secula
calling. For him TO live was Christ. H
was q man of one business; he loved tn
Master and the church and the worl
which Jesus had given him to do; an,
even on his dying bed, when the check
cred past all rose up before him in solemn
review, he affirmed that, if he coulC
live his life over again, he wOull
be a Methodist preacher still-the onl.
change, greater fidelity. In the lapse o