Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-17
An OId.Time Albany preacher


We find the following interesting sketch Of
one of the old kind of preachers in the Albany
Argus:
| "Many of our citizens remember the old,
square, block-lke church, with its angular sides,
| dusty and faded in appearance on the RAILROAD
| track up few rods north of the Delayan house,
| called the Albany Bethel, with u glaring sign
| announcing when services would be held, and
that Strangers were cordially invited to attend
| The building, its location, interior and surround
| iags, were not more peculiar and eccentric than
| the pugilistc-looking pastor, the Rev, John
Miles, who died a year or two ago near Science
tady. The pastor was reformed gambler, who
had seen all of the low lands of ntamy aud
sin, and reformed, or, as he quantity expressed
it, 'about-ship and stood square up to heaven
He was n man of great natural power, with
ieverish burning energy, Il harsh grating voice,
and q wild startling Imagination, handling the
most stupendOus themes with a reckless iamil-
iarity that alternately shocked aud fascinated
The listener. The subjects of his diScourses were
always pre-announccd through the papers, like
the following: The Eleventh hour, and Last
Train Heayenward;' THE Storm Of He'll begun;
The World on Fire and so forth; all Of fear
fully sensational character. Many prominent
citizens would drop in as occasional listeners to
these sermons, (aithough they were intended
particularly for boatmen.) There was a remark
able genius or fire about this rough, unculti-
waited man. About the year 1S-, a young En-
glish nobleman, wild, reckless, and dissipated,
but a mau of some talent, paid visit to Albany
and was invited by the late John Van Buren,
(whose guest he was) to 90 down TO the Bethel
and hear John Miles on 'SavatiOn's Express
Train, Through without Change 1t was
stormy afternoon and few were out. The pastor
was in a particularly gloomy mood. Shaking
hands all round as was his custom, Prince John
thought it would be a good joke to tell the pas
tor who his distinguished auditors were-ac
cordlngly in maJestia way (which he could as
sumo with such ease as 10 almost beWilder a
common MANI he announced that he was John
Van Buren,, sou Of the president, aud that his COM
panion was the heir of one OF the nobeSt fami-
lies in England. With a Self-possession fully
equal to Prince Johns dignity, the pastor shook
them both by the hand, and hoped they would
all meet on the other shore, beyond all diStinc-
tons of earth and time; then walked into the
pulpit, sang hymn, prayed teryently for them,
and commenced his sermon. With more than
wonted vehemence, his imagination painted
murky pictures of earth as great dingy rail-
road station, damp, cold, uncomfortable and
cherries, every one waiting for the train; trains
coming aud going at all times, but few getting
on; hardly any one inqniring where the trains
20, and great many taking owl trains, wood
trains, construction trains, emigrant and way
trains, &C., which are less attractive Then he
compared salvation to an Express through
tram without change-and applied it in wild ,
startling manner, to each nearer. The sermon
ended, the pastor rushed down from the pulpit,
and grasping his two distinguished bearers by
the hand, feryently urged them to get aboard
that train at once. Prince John aud his lordship
were both serious, and left in a thoughtful mood.
And now comes the sequel, not particularly
startling or strange, but it exhibits the power
not often seen of single thoughts turning the
entire destiny of life. A prominent citizen Of
Albany was travelling in England last summer
and spent Sunday in Manchester. Attend
ing church be was SO much pleased by the
clear eloquent sermon Of the pastor that he
went forward aud thanked him for ii after
service. In the conversation that followed the
name Of Albany was mentioned, Said the pas
tor: All my religious training and preparation
for the ministry date from a sermon !
heard there by an eccentric sailor preacher
He then detailed the facts mentioned above, say
ing very impressiyely, Il think Mr.. Van buren,
was more seriously affected than | was, and il
he could only have heard another sermon from
that man, he might have been preacher as
am This clergyman was no other than the
nobeman who had thrown away all honors and
titles to become minister Of the gospel. He
had probably heard the most eloquent diyincs Of
the age-but not one. of them touched his
heart like the obscure pastor Of the Albany
| bethel"