Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-09-29
THE sLEEPING PREACHER.

Iho Nashville imertcan Of Sept.
l4th contains two columns reconnting
tho marvellous phenomena connected
with preacher of the Cumberland
Presbyterian church, stationed at a
place not given any moro definitely
than that it is in Northern Alabama,
The 1nacrican withhOlds his name, as
notoriety is intensely unpleasant to
him. 1t ascribcs his peculiar powers
to diseased condition OF tho brain ;
he gave no indication OF thcm until
he was married, aud had a severe at
tack of fever, with congestion Of tho
brain. during which large quantities
Of quinine were given. A loading
minister of the Cumberland Prcsby-
terrain church describes one scene as
follows:
81 and my wife were in Mooresvile,
Ala. at protracted meeting, and
Mr. came TO assist. We all felt
great curiosity to see and hear him,
having heard so much about him. He
stopped at DR.. Thach's, VIC at Miss
Walton's. We made DR.. Thach agree
to let ns know if he got into one of
his spells. Mr. preached at night
a very fair sermon, but nothing I'M
usual, and his voice was rather harsh
and grating. After the congregation
dispersed, we were sitting in the front
portico OF Miss Walton's house, when
negro came running to US, saying
the Doctor had sent for us to hear
Mr.. We rushed over, entered the
parlor, and Mr. was sitting in a
rocking chair apparently sound asleep,
eyes closed, and head resting back on
the chair. He, however, was singing
in low. eemitone of voice a hymn,
and while he sang the room gradually
filled up until not an inch of the space
was unoccupied His voice had alto
gether changed from it's usual loud,
harsh character, and was low, soft and
musical to q degree 1 never heard sur
passed. In fac, it reminded me of
angels whispers, And then it had q
tone of inexpressible melancholy about
it that reached the hearts of every one
present, and when he ceased to sing
there was not a dry eye in the room.
At the conclusion of his song he began
one of the most feeling, earnest prayers
l ever heard, and in go piteous be-
sceching manner that nothing could
resist him. This prepared us to ex.
pect some rare treat, and We were not
disappointed. He took his text from
Paups letter on faith, and you know
have heard good preaching. but never
did hear his sermon surpassed. 1t
may have been tho peculiar circum-
stances under which it was delivered,
and the charm that would naturally
cluster around one in his condition
that added interest to 1t, but certainly
| never saw a greater effect produced.
1t fell as gentle and as pure az the
snow. Still, in the same melodious
voice, and the only gesture was the
cluck of the fingers when he wished
to emphasize point. To say it was
eloquent does not express 1t. 1t was
simply glorious, chaste and intellectu-
al. He described faith as a golden
chain connecting earth to heaven, and
man to his God He preached thus
for about thirty minutes, when at once
his face, hitherto calm and unruffled,
became perfectly livid, his brow cor
rugated, until You could have laid
your finger In the depression, and he
clutched his left side with his right
hand as il u violent pain had asssiled
him. This paroxysm lasted several
minutes, when gradually it began to
abate, and he exclaimed, ooh! what
arc all my sufferings here, If, Lord,
thou find'st mo meet?" And then his
brow relaxed, his form again assumed
its easy posture, a sweet smile passed
over his face, and he slept on quietly
aud calmly, and the crowd quietly
withdrew from tho presence of the
unconscious preacher"
When questioned about these som.
noihings! sasfinnt ffeim:: not even " dream
of it has left its shadowy trace behind.
This is not the hnly result of his sleep.
II he is sitting at table writing when
this "spell' comes on, he continues to
write, but not on the subject that en-.
gagged his thoughts, and he awakcs to
find sometimes the strangest revela-
tions-several of which tho american
gives an account of, but which wo
omit for lack OF space. We append,
however, one or two illustrations of
his clairvoyant ability.
"Hc had a daughter attending school
at DIR. Wards in this city, (Nashville.)
On the night of the commencement he
he went into one of his seanses-we
know not what else 10 call them-at
his far away home in Alabama. All
at once he sprang forward and ex-
claimed, excitedly, "There, we are in
the dark" His wife said to him he
was mistaken, the light was burning.
"Ohi mean at Wards. was at
tending the examination, and now its
all dark When his daughter return
ed, she told them of the accident OF
the gas going out while the commence
ment exercises were In progress leav-
ing them all in darkness.
"One day he carried Miss Walton's
mail from the Office. Handing her a
letter, he says, This is from Brother
Med No; this is from his wife
He only backs her letters for her. NO
this is from him, and he writes to You
about SO and so'-and he repeated to
her its contents. At another time he
said to his wife: "a letter directed
to me from Nashville,pa passed on to-day
by mistake, and it contained 80 and
so, and he repeated the contents of the
letter, as was seen on its return from
the other direction.
But the most singular of all his per.
formances, and equal to the pretensions
of the best Spiritualists, is the last cir
cumstance we will relate. There are
thousands of others, but We deem 1t
only necessary to give representative
case in each branch of his power. The
Methodist Conference year had closed,
and the new minister Of Mooresville
had come. On Saturday Mr. fire..
quently spoke of his curiosity to hear
the new preacher. He was sick all
Saturday night, so much so that he
could not sleep. After breakfast, Sun
day morning, he told his wife he would
take a nap. and then 60 to church. He
was sleeping so sweetly at the regular
church time that his wife would not
wake him. just as the congregation
began to pour out he raised up, and
his wife said: "You were sleeping 60
soundly did not disturb You to go to
the Methodist Church, and so you
missed hearing the new preacher"
No, heard him."
Glow could you hear him, when l
know you have been asleep all the
time 2"