The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-12-06
A "REMINISCENCES OF REV. JAMES
TURNER.

sACu hOtNo as 1t. EOOle OketCuto VI VII
ginia, or "Dr. Sprague's Annals of the
American Pulpit, or The Life Of Dr.. Al
exaDder," need nothing more to tell what
Presbyterians in Virginia know about " Faith.
er Turner Of Bedford" And here let it be
remarked that this same county of Bedford
has more than Its peaks of Otter" to give
1t celebrity. 1t has been singularly prolific
in distinguished men. If it had no other
sons Of marked eminenee in political life, the
single name Of John Thompson Brown would
mark it for distinction above many of its
fellows. Cut down in the prime of life, before
it had numbered forty years, his fine intellect
and modest worth had, by universal consent,
given him position as the first man of his
age in the State.
But Bedford is still more remarkable for
the number of its eminent preachers. In
the Episcopal Church are the names of Bish
OPS Cobb and Otey; il the Methodist, Bishop
Early, in the Baptist, the Rev. DR.. Jeter,
and the two brothers, Rev Jesse Witt and
Rev Daniel Witt, D. D. In the Presbyte
rian Church there is a cluster peculiarly
rich; David Rice, Of Kentucky, James Tur
ner, James Mitchell, Samuel Brown, Conrad
Specie, D. D., John H. Rice, D. D., and
his brother Benjamin H. Rice, D. D., and
Samuel L. Graham, d. D. 1t is probable
other names not now recOllected are equally
worthy Of mention in all these denominations.
But for the present we wish to speak OF
"Faiher Turner" in some respects by far
the most remarkable Of all. DR.. Alexander
who, as was mentioned few weeks ago, had
heard our great Patrick Henry, aud felt the
magic power of his speech, did not hesitate
in the opinion that Father Turner for
every one called him so-was, in all that be-
longs to genuine eloquence, very little, if at
all inferior to that matehless orator whose fame
fills the land. Judged by every proper test,
the correctness Of this estimate can not be
doubted. Mr.. Turner probably produced
deep and Oyerpowering impressions upon
large assemblies more frequently than did
Patrick Henry. And, like the eloquence of
Henry, indeed ike all true elOquence, it took
effect equally upon all classes. For example,
at the meetings of the Synod of Virginia,
lawyers, judges, physicians, ministers, elders,
farmers, in word every sort and descrip
ton Of people were moved and melted as the
heart Of one nan.
The last meeting of the Synod which he
ever attended was in Lynchburg, about the
year 1927, and when he was far advanced in
life. As if moved by some foretoken that
they "ne'er should look upon bis like again,
there was a universal desire to hear him for
"the last tines in fact it turned out to
be. Entreaties pressed upon him were long
vithstOOd, but only in the spirit of that child
ike simplicity and humility which ever made
him "esteem others better than himself,
and therefore reluctant to preach upon such
an occasion. At last his consent was OBJ
tanned, and the sermon of that day will long
be tradition in Virginia. Who that heard
viii ever forget it? 1t was only few weeks
ago, during the late meeting of the Synod in
Lynehburg, that lady now living there
spoke of the impressions it produced upon
her, then but a little child. We can only
tell it as it was told to us in those days, and
deeply fixed among the memories of our
youth.
The text on which the discourse was
founded was that great promise of the de
parting Redeeuer to his disciples in Matt.
xviii: 20, "Lo am with you Away, even
to the end of the world" Real eloquence is
always natural, and the arrangement of the
sermon was under two propositions, and Was
simply this-but, as the reader will see, it
covered the whole ground
1. That the Lord Jesus Christ had been as
good as his word up to the present time.
This proposition was cOpiously and power
fully illustrated by select references to the
history Of the Christian Church. The de-
vices Of the devil in trying to destroy it were
graphically sketched. His first plan was to
burn up the Christians But finding the
more he burned the more they were multi
piled, he changed bis policy, and corrupted
them by an unhOly alliance with the state;
and in this crafty plot seemed for long and
dark ages to have nearly succeeded. The
means by which the faithful and true
Church Of God as preserved on the earth
were pointed out, and the great Reformation
under Luther, Calvin and others, was brought
under rapid review-all these and other par
tieulars establishing the truth of this his first
head.
?. The second proposition was, that if the
Saviour had been able to keep his promise
till the present time, there was no cause to
fear he would break it in the future, but
every reason to believe he would make it
good "even unto the end of the world"
The considerations By which this part Of
the sermon was enforced we cannot relate
in detail. We are aiming to reach our spe-
eial end by introducing one only. Father
Turner enlarged upon various indications of
modern times, as demonstrating the purpose
of the Head of the Church concerning the
future. Among these, special mention was
made of the great revival of a missionary
spirit then BEGINNING to pervade the Church.