The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-09-10
Rev. W. 4. Millburn- The Blind Man.

The gentleman whose name stands at the
head of this article, having lately visited this
city and delivered two sermons with such
matchless eloquence. that the inquiry has nat
urllly arisen, sswlo is this remarkable man ~
| We now undertake in brief way to give TIE
outline of his history. He was born IN the Clty
Of Philadelphia Sept. 26th. 1926 is nov near
ly 5l-years Of age. In early childhood he was
deprived of one eye by being struck with q
piece Of glass in the hands OF 4 playmate, and
for two years was not permitted to see the
light. At the expiration Of that time he was re-
leased from his dark abode with the sight OF
the injured eye entirely gone and
his other very much injured by inflammation,
and from that day until he was about SO years
Of age he lived nearly but notquite blind.some-
times able to read, painfully and slowly, indeed,
but yet to read. Even that small amount OF
reading has been a comfort and blessing, tor
many lesson of wisdom from the printed page
has the little corner Of that wounded eye let in
to feed and stimulate the apt and quick-seeing
soul behind it! but OF the brilliant beauty OF
the fair earth, that every day life affords to ev-
ery-day-eyes, the Crimson, the purple and the
gold of the evening sky, the pale light OF stars,
stufltling the deep azure, the violet. the purple
and the emerald of garden and field, and mead
ows, of all these he knows nothing except by
recollection and Imagination.
For the past fifteen years of his life he has
been totally Hind. At the age of IA years he.
| with his parents, went west and settled in u
| linois, where he struggled to earn livelihood,
| and sought every opportunity to gain knowl-
edge, and kind friends aided him by reading to
him in his leisure time from his daily employ
ment In 1913 ne commenced the arduous and
responsible life of Methodist itinerant preach
er, and for two years suffered incredible hard
ships among the cabins of the west. In De-
cember 1S45 he was elected Chaplain to Con-
gress, which election was brought about by
the boldness with which he reproved a num-
Der of members of Congress for their profanity
on a Steamboat on the Ohio rivef,on which he
himself was passenger His reproof coming SO
boldly as it did from a STRIPPING, then scarcely
twenty-five years of age, had a startling effect.
When Congress met he was nominated by one
of those on the boat, and elected. which posi-
ton he filled ably for two years, when from de-
| clining health and a hope OF fecuperation he
Joined the Alabama Conference. Methodist
| Church South. and labored faithfully and with
| great acceptability in Mobile and Montgomery
] for six years. III four years Of that time he
I preached 1.500 times, and travelled over 10000
miles. In all his different spheres OF minister
al work. he was Jealous and devoted. In 1853
he was again elected as Chaplain to Congress,
and retired in 1855 Since then he has not
taken any regular ministerial york, his blind
ness being an mpediment to the faithful full
fllment OF the pastoral functions,
He has nine persons dependent on him, in
GLIDING has aged parents, and bis only means
are derived from hi: lectures, and the free will
contributions OF the congregations to whom he
may be invited to preach. His providcntia1
physical indfmities appeal to the public in his
behalf, while his sermons and lectures in pa
thos and eloqaenee, as in mipicry and wit, arr
] Unsurpassed.