The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-09-23
A CHRISTIAN CLAIRyOYANT,
OR THE SLEEPING PREACHER.
Delivering Sermons and Singing
Hymns While in the Trance State.
EARrHY AND ETHEREAL.

| FIJI, MANIFESTATIONS TOO NUMEROUS t
| MENTION.
| The subicined singular story appears il
print on the authority of the Nsshvill
American: In these days OF spiritual mani
/ lestations and naturalization Of shadows,
NAV be Of interest to our readers to learl
| there is a first-class medium in the neigh
boring state of Alabama, who Far outdoes al
the Fosters, Humes or Roses, and yet clalin
nothing for his extraordinary powers bn
the great misfortune of 81 attack OF sickness
that, by it's peculiar effects upon the brain
has enabled him ever since 10, az Il were
diseucage his soul from mis- body and send il
on an exploring expedition. Not only that
but. under chain OF favorable clrcum'
stances, even while in state OF utter uneon.
sciOu sness, he is transported TO Tar distant
places. and either writes or tells TO those
around all he witnesses; and the single In
stance has vet to occur in which
he mas failed correctly TO relate actual cii-
eumstances and facts. Marvellous as this
NAV SEEM he facts can be sttested by hv-
ing. reliable Witnesses sucn Is no ona "ouIu
for q moment question. Nor does this party
seem to be aware OF his extraordinary pow
ers or TO properly appreciate tnem. Tor he
deems il a signal punishment OF heaven
one that he would gisdly escape He
scOrns toe idea of ever receiving money Tor
anything he tells or does. lie j. 81 humble
minister of the Cumberland Presby tsrian
Church, and always feels humbied and hui
initiated alter one of his frances. He IS in
middle age, and in ali respects healthy. He
is a married man, and lives II North Ala
barna aud though wo withhold his name,
as a notoriety of this kind is never grateful
to him, we nevertheless feel it due to society
TO tell them of this extraordinary man, who
could, IL he wished,
PRODUCE \ NUMBER ONE SENSATION
as a spiritualist, and yet is content to pursue
his humble path as a Christian and not i'm
pose mis- nlisfortunes on the community IS a
aft. Yet there are those travelling all
through the country exhibiting every phase
Of brain disease, epilepticism, catalepsy, etc,
etc. ss odic force, naturalization and other
kindred impostures, and thus attributing
the singular il IS true, but well known at
tributes Of certain nervous meladies, to The
action Of spirits. How often is the asylum
peopled with inmates from the powerful Of
iecis of supposed spiritual visitation, and
even giant inteilectS have succumbed TO the
powerful influence of superstition. Robert
Dale Owen, one of the most powerful think
ers America has ever produced, after reign
ing over the minds OF all, by his deep and
pungent reasoning on all scientific sub
jects, at last succumed to the in
raves in q mad-hOuse. III we bring this
case properly and fully before the public
one argument to dethrone this dragon of
society can be deduced and the subject of
this sketch will, we hope, pardon the use
made of his acts in this service to the world.
We have been unable to gather, as We would
like, any facts connected with his parentage
but we are disposed to believe there has
been, either lstely or recently, some predis-
position to cerebral disorders in his family.
One thing is well known, that In every case
Of so-called spiritualists this faint exists in
The immediate kindred. In the case OF the |
subject of this notice he had no evidence of
unusual powers until after his youth. Then |
liter marriage he had severe attack of
ever, with congestion of the brain, and |
arge quantities of quinine were used. So |
DON as recovery took place this condition |
,egan. He is familiarity
KNOWN as THE 'sLEEPING PREACHER"
nd great curiosity is felt wherever he goes |
o witness one Of these sleeping perform |
noes. We can not better describe this pc
uIiarity than repeat graphic description
iven of sermon heard by our informant /
-one of the leading ministers of the Cum
erland Presbyterian church, and resident
f Williamson county. 81 and my wife
we're in Mooresville, Ala, at protracted
Meeting, and MIR. - came to assist. We
IL felt a great curiosity to see and hear him,
aying heard SO much about him. He
topped at DIR. Thack's, we at Miss Walton's.
We made DIR. Thsck agree to let us know
he got into one of his spells. Mr.. -
reached at night a very fair sermon, but
othing unusual, and his voice was
ather harsh and grating. After
be congregation dispersed, we were
itting in the front portico of Miss
Valton's house, when a negro came
Il, r1..1&
3nt for us to hear Mr.. -. We rushed
yer, entered the parlor, and Mr.. was
ttiDg in rocking chair apparently sound
:leep, eyes closed, and head resting back on
ne chair. He, however, was singing, in
w semi-tone OF voice, hymn, and while he
ing the room gradually filed up until not
q inch of space was unoccupied. His voice
adj altogether changed from Its usual loud,
arsh character, and was low, soft and mu-
cal to degree never heard surpassed. In
ct, it reminded me of angels whispers.
nd then il had a tone OF inexpressible mel :
lcholy about it that reached the hearts of
7ery one present, and when he ceased to {
ng there was scarcely dry eye in the s
'om. At the conclusion of his song he be- 6
IN one of the most feeling, earnest prayers !,
ever heard, and in so piteous, besseching a |
amer that nothing could resist him. This I
epared us to expect some rare treat, and I
3 were not disappointed.
he TOOK HIS TEXT FROM PAUL'5
ter on faith, and you know have heard
od preaching, but never did hear his SER =
on surpassed. 1t may have been the pc a
liar circumstances under which it was de- s
Tered, and the charm that would naturally Y
lster around one in his condition that
ded interest to it, but certainly L never i,
W a greater effect produced. It fell "a :,
ntly and pure as the snow. Still, in the y
me melodlous voice, and the only gesture =
vs. cluck Of the fingers when he wished n
emphasize point. To say It was elo- N
ent does not express it. 1t was simply I,
,rious, chaste and intellectual. He de- v
ibed faith as a golden chain connecting n
'th to heaven, and man to his God. He N
sached thus for about thirty minutes, v
ZEN at once his face, hitherto calm n
unruffied, became perfectly livid, IL
brow corrugated, until you could h
ve laid your finger in the de- r.
'ssion, and he clutched his left side with "
right hand "a IL q xinlent main had as a.