The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-07-26
The PRAYER Of The Righteous.

The personal magnetism whereby /
one man is enabled TO move another man,
or masses of men, to his will, certainly !
loses nothing by the refnements OF educa'
ton and gentle manners but can as Ger
taiuly exist without them If dehnable IN
words at all. il probably means strong, |
self.reliant individuality, in thought ana IN
action. having its effect as much through
originality of manners and unconventional
assnciation of ideas as through any eXcep- |
/ tinnal higher resources. Novelty and en- |
/ ergy of character combined always have a
strong attraction and influence for the
masses of mankind whether in politics, the
pulpit. or business and when they are dl-
rected 10 "a self-indicating moral purpose,
the most polished intellect may be affected
by them no less surprisingly than the
rudest. Illustration of such magnetic
mower is found in what the Albany Argus
tells ia this wise Years ago the late well
known jurist and statesman, John Van
Buren,, then resident of the above named
city, extended private hospitality to
Young English nobleman at that time trav-
cling in this country. His guest had the
reputation of being a rather wild specimen
of foreign aristocracy; and, not without re
gard TO this fact, perhaps, the son OF the
[ then President of the United States per
{ suaded him 10 90 one Sunday TO Bethel
. church not far from the present site of the
Delavan House. where preached with
great effect an eccentric exhOrter called
e the Rev. John Miles. Formerly common
0 sailor. and very hard character at that,
b the preacher in question had pulpit style
B in which the quaint, grotesque, and sub
t lime were strangely commingled and, un-
I calmly as was his aspect, and uncouth his
1 demeannr and voice, there was a certain
+ tremendous power about the man that few
, minds could either analyZe or resist. Con
# Quoting his English friend to the rude
c aquatic tabernacle in which this earnest
/ natural genius held his crowded convent
e cles, Mr. Van Buren, took occasion TO III
n troduce him to the preacher before the lat
e ter mounted his pulpit, thinking, perhaps
y that Mr.. Miles might be thereby induced
y 20 refrain from some of the embarrassin!
T. personalities wherewith he was wont a
n times To apply his discourse to his hearers
n Ii this was the intention it awaited not
~ however for the opening prayer of tn
re meeting was pointedly and particularly II
n, behalf of the President son and hls title
IN companion. Then came a characteristic
). sermon on what the eXhorter styled sal
r. vation'S Express Train and, wild an
~ extravagant as il was il yet appeale
ed 10 the Imagination with a power movin
er the whole congregation alternately to de
te SPAR and Joy. When descending from hi
OF pulpit at the termination of this effort, tn
- ex- sailor shook hands with both MIR. "A
ot Buren, and the Englishman, saying 10 tn
II latter as they departed, My prayer
ne shall follow you, young sir On thel
=. way home both host and guest exhibited
ne seriousness of aspect of which they WEI
ny by no means unconscious and the latte
he confessed, almost with irritation that th
", rant of that unsanctimoniouS mount,
n bank had produced upon him an etie,
he which he could not shake off. The feelin
nd seemed to pass away at last though, an
m, John Miles ~ be torgDtteu-but here
an the sequel 4 citizen of Albany, no
en- travelling in Europe, writes thence TIL
Try having passed Sunday recently, and a
ne tended church, in Manchester, Englan
he the peculiar excellence aud earnestness
Ter the sermon which he there heard induce
pie him IN seek an interview with the oficia
nd Ing clergyman. Happening to mention
Ter the ensuing conversation that he can
ar from Albany, the capital Of New York,
= was greatly surprised to hear the revereI
lad gentleman affirm, with signs of emotiO
9TH that his own first sensibility to sacr,
me things had been developed within him by
ew sermon delivered in that city. The sau
me speaker then related all the above story
IN for he was no other than the young mob
her man going with Mr.. Van Buren, u the A
her bany Bethel, and had resigned title al
rer fame to become a minister of the gospD
ON All my religious training and pTeparat
IN tor the ministry. concluded he. ''dl
Ter from that sermon by the American sailc
nd preacher and my only wonder i that VI
led Van Buren, was not also made a preach
ten by it. Here was a highly educated, kee
lily and experienced man Of the world, vi
ng had listened unmoved, if not contempt
q 5 ously, tn the most eloquent utterances
I'M the greatest pulpit orators of the worl
mt yet changed the course and spirit of b
Jaw whole life at the unPrammatical pray,
d and rambling exhortation of foreign It'll
ent terant