New-York tribune., 1874-03-07
The LATE ELDER KNAPP.

The death Of Elder Jacob Knapp, the noted
revIyalst. his nome near Rockford Ill., Is announced
He was born In Otsego County " Y. Dec. Z, 1893. His
funeral TO take place Rockford the stu INST. MI
Knapp experienced ro ion early In life, and In 1871 he
became student for ministry the Theological
Institution at Hamilton " Y such the character
OF his mind. however, that clustered study did not
remarkably develop his powers and his success as
student gave little promise OF what he afterward
became. lie was for action. aud IN that alone
could faculties like his gain preeminence. His body
was the type OF his mind in this respect His frame
short, compact, and capable OF great endurance. He
was methodical and energetic, managing for years
farm OF 100 acres Illinois though absent nearly six
months Of each year in holding prOracted meetings
Business enterprise betrayed him. he afteTward
thought into occupations which he hnauy abandoned as
unsuted to holy calling His first settlement was in
sprng gield, " " where he embarked more or less Ia
farming dong good service hs church Removing
thence 10 WATERFOWL N Y. he enlarged his sphere Of
action pastor and farmer and was the object of
some scandal as a worldly, trading minister Any
one knowing the vast amount OF surplus energy IN the
man would not wonder that II sought vent in diversified
occupations and II would be hard 20 convince him that
these scandals had any foundation in fact Mr. Knapp
was as conscientious as lac was shrewd He began 10
feel the convictions that made him evangelist IN ls2.
after he had been eight years pastor aud farmer.
Then he what lac used often TO Oi his
second conversion, giving up his worldly occupations,
and consecratng the whole wealth OF his energy, both
OF body and OF mind upon the great work OF persuadng
man 10 be reconced to God Thisihe did, not pas
tor but evangelist, going about as Providence
opened the way. and sometimes remaining IN particu
lar place weeks for months performing an lncred
ble amount OF labor night and day. often IN circum
stances OF the greatest excitement and among enemies
on the one hand but surrounded other by friends
His zeal energy and power pulpit increased with
the growing excitement, and 20 his own expression,
he could shake sermons from his soeves," The daily
and nightly incidents occurring around him supplying
matter argument ana Illustration. The greater the
tuut the reader his wit and the greater hs oooines-
He had master hand IN ruling mob and suppresslng
ATTEMPTED acts OF violence On al such occasions Mr.
Knapp IN his element, being ready at every emer
gcncF 70 say nst the right thing at the ugh time ana
defeat the many attempts when were mace 10
break M meetings. II his career had been mill
tary would have been the greatest captain ot hs
age. The umut oi battle, suitiD2 his genus would
have intensified his euerges and made Inn cooler and
wiser IN action than ne could nave Deem ia SOVuue ana
retirement.
sermons that power aud effectiveness has rarely been
exceeded by the pulpit More than O hundred thousand
years OF evangelism. Like HIS Master, harots publ
cans, aud sinners Of the lowest grade were III many
cases 20 feel the power OF his appeals aud 10
gather around him. Many or uen were genuinely re
formed while perhaps the majority fc away, but still
will carry their the i'm or Eider knapps
rermons. Let suppose that these results do
pended upon rant aud noise His sermons were, many
OF them models OF reasoning and eoquonce The mort
gifted felt the impression well as the rabDle
DR. Mott President OF Union College, used w that
could publish series OF them that would do credit 10
our abest preachers They delivered in the cur
rent language OF the people, with familiar illustrations
that appealed alike to learned and unearned 10 the wise
and 10 the ignorant.
In becoming evangelist Mr. Knapp had great
trial as 20 his means OF support for growing family
lie cut loose from all stated sources OF supply farm
salary and ALL and relied the voluntary contribu-
uous of people who. a the 0est were accustomed 70