Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-08-15
Rev. Alpheus W. wilson, D. D.

Rev. Alpheus W. Wilson, D. ID.
TIE above named gentleman has many
friends among our readers who viii be graft
Gej by perusal Of the appended notices of
sermon preached on Wednesday of last week
at Emory Grove Camp Meeting M. f. Church,
North near Baltimore This is the era Of
f-atcrnal feeling. though not Of organic union
Of the two great Methodist bodies. The Cor
respondent Of the Baltimore Gazst'e says:
"Thc congregation was much larger than it
was Tuesday. Rev Alphcus w. Wilson. ID. d.,
oi the " T. Church, South, preached at 10
A. ST.. cu philippians iN. 10: The fellow
shin of Carst- suffering, dc. The speaker
dvc't at considerable length on the terms en-
p.Uyc.i by cine Apostle. especially the word 20
know. Pau. h.t furnished the world with a
Christian vocabulary. as he bad with Chris
uan phl snpay lt was word biz with
meaning n the sense n which il is used by
Paul. The two main thougnts in The sermon,
which WAS one ot surprising beauty ood ele-
rance. were. FIRST. the Importance ot knowing
Ch1ists sudcin-s, anil second, The results OF
:hoss suaednss, making us coutormable % HIS
Death Tie end to hc accomplished was our
resurrection. The chief ambition Of Paul was
to attain Oh the resurrection of the dead IL is
impossible Oh Give a synopsis Of Dr. Wilson's
discourse lt was q masterly production OF a
master Uinl
Rev. dr. Wilson is the son of Rev. Norval
Wilson of Winchester and before the war
was d member of the o'd Baltimore inference.
On the organization of the Baltimore
Conference ol the Methodist Episcopal
Church. South. De united with that b1dy, Of
which DE IS uow one of It's most prominent
members His health falling few years since,
he was admitted t0 the Bar, aud became an ac-
tive LAWYER on Faye,te street near st. Paul.
Some five years since be again entered the
ministry. and is present pastor Of Mt. Vernon
Place Church. Washington City. lie Is about
thirtv-fye years Of age. with a black piercing
eve and au agreeable countenaucc which light
ensup with peculiar radiance under the inSpi-
ration ot his sermons His position at the
last General Conference of the VI. E. Church,
South. OBJ Louisville. kentucky. WAS Chairman
oa Fmioral Relations wish the ~ L. Church,
and made thercport o. that body ou that sub
iect. oud also a number 90 speeches OF marked
ability and forensic power. Asa speaker, DR..
Wilson Is distinguished tor great dehberation
and thought. His utterance is Slow and meas
ural each word ami sentence forming gem
de flow of eloqnence which distinguishes him
as one of the finest speakers IN the Church.
There 4, q marked rugseiness manifested in
his stye. showing that bis natural character
remains intact. though be BIAS passed through
that routine oi study preparatory to entering
oa the work &C the Christian ministry. The
peromtion OF the speaker surpassed anything
vet heard ou the ground. Unlike Dr. Guard,
be reserves his strength and the climax OF
thought until the last utteuuccs of his subject,
when has beauty OF imagery and flights Of I'M
a.iustiau carry the Audience away IA whlrl-
wind of religious ecstasy.
Tie Correspondent Of the Baltimore Sun
writes
"TIe congregation at hl'fpast ten o'clock
was very large. many ot whom were Doubtless
a,,rc,e by the announcement that Rev. Al
p1eas 49, Wilson. ID. d., pastor of Mt. Yer
uou VI j Church South ol Washington, ID G.
would preach The opening exercises consist
cd cf singing. aul prayer by Rev ThoS Guard.
The speaker ,hcn announced rs h'' text. Phil
rppln. 30: lO.o II. "That may know Him
and tlc power 90 Ills resurrection. &c. No
adequate iitt o, thc sermon could hccolyeyed
even by tle fullest report chat could be given,
much less by mere outline.
His first th1ugbt was ihe knowledge OF
Christ Obtained ly Paul. and the means 10y
Which ile knowledge was acquired. There
are twu factors u kuo0icise-the man who
knows ana tLo man that Is known. 10 was
necessary o. .1 jlto Che mujcacics Of life 20