The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-08-05
MATTHEW R. BULL.
BRIEF GEOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
The following biographical notice of con-
splcuous citizen OF Indiana is fur.
nished to the Sentinel by
correspondent with request to publish: To
the tens of thousands of citizens OF Indiana
who have, at times sat under the facetious
and rich eloquence of Matthew r. Hull, the
sad news of his death VIII, doubtless, be re-
ceived with many regrets. IA died at Al
quiria, Fsyette county, on Monday, the 18th
of July, 1915, in the 9Th year OF his age.
Mr.. Hull, believe, was born "a vl.einia.
December l, 1909, and came to this state
when he was but a small boy, and v7as rsiseI
and educated by his uncle, kind aud be-
nevolent Christian gentleman and farmer
by the name of Matthew r. Jbinson, of Fays-
cite county, whose name he bore. Even in
the earlier years of his life Mr.. Il ul evinced
more than ordinary talents, and though
limited in education and Injured TO labor.
he still cultivated his mind, and in the course.
OF years succeeded 10 making himself q man
of marked intelligence sud mitch more than
an ordinary speaker; indeed, in many in
stances, he displayed power OF fascinating
orasory which held the thousands OF his
listeners as If bg soma influence OF euchant-
ment. Educated among religious people,
his mind partCOk OF decided moral cast
and hence it was not strange that he dis
tirguished himself as a leading adj
vocaSe on the moral suasion prin-
ciple, a. temperance orator and
also as an uucompIomising sbolitionist.
So apt Was be in bis hits in both these roles
that be not untrequently stirred up the
wrota OF unbelievers in his audience. aud
hence be was Cf:or cersu-sd IL the ssverest
terms by those who did not
"see themselves as Others see tlrem.v
For number of years Mr.. Hull served as an
efficient agent oil the American Tract Society,"
He was then q member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. 1t is probable that he
might have remained a member of that
church during life, if he had nos, through
PREJUDICE and constructive guilt, been ex-
PEELED therefrom by some circuit riders who
had more zeal than knowledge. Mr. Hull
explained the matter of his expulsion once
to the wife Of a Methodist preacher AZ er the
following: He happened TO call at the par
sonage to see the preacher, and found that
he was absent, but being politely invited to
remain TO dinner be tarTied. Seated AZ the
table the good sister asked him to say grace.
" Excuse me, sister," said he, Z" am not tit
TO ask blessings any more" The good wo--
mar, OF course, was embarrassed because Of
what she conceived to be her blundsr, and
after pouring out the coffee, she asked
" What's the matter, Brother Hull?
thought you were Methodist?" Il was,
madam" said he, but they have turned
me out of church." Why, what for?'' 40.
for lying" he responded. Had such dis
pensation Of left-handed grace happened TO
him at an earlier stage of his life
be would have felt, no doubt, thai rs was
very sadly injured. But he was then in
middle life, and was proud to stand on what
he deemed 10 be his principles OF reform,
and in their advocacy and defense he always
felt conscious OF bis integrity and ready for
any obloquy. But thus ended bis church re-
lationship, and ever afterward during life, as
be often said, he fought the devil on
BROAD AND LIBERAL PLATFORM.
Possessing large share of public spirit it
was not remarkable that he, like most of the
American people was, at times, consider
able politician. In the whig cause he stood
up for many years for Henry Clay, because
he greatly admired the grand Kentucky
as being one of the greatest meh
of his age and time. So netme during the
war, however, he resumed the side ofthe de-
mocracy, because. as he used to say IN his
speeches, he was opposed to the ems, ave-
ment of anyclsss of people; and. tn 3rtfore, he
was opposed to white slavery as well as
black" AS political canvasser he was no
ordinary power, for ne was ready ia organ
izatlon, keen in sarcasm, and abounded often
in wit and repartee, which not unfrequently
cOnvulsed his audiences with peals OF laugh
ter. He was once, we believe, a mem Der of
the Legislature, and, perhaps, acted a while
as magistrate, and, with these exec ptiSns, il
was his fortune never to be an Office holder.
He was too independent to seek or fawn
for office, and he was too radical TO
be a man OF the people. and yet he
had many friends who priced him as
a man of integrity, and as a gentleman
of honest desires and useful purposes
Ever ardent and warm-hearted. he was
both genial and generous, and by the i'm
pressive expressions of his friendship he
IA fri wi ha rant
rs firm and positive as he was in his express
sOns and positions could not well help max
ing enemies, especially among those who are
always ready TO prescribe where they are
not able to convert or govern. But personal
abuse never deferred him from duty, nor
did prescription ever make him coward.
He felt himselfin some sense Feformer in
life, and, on this account, his charity was
ever ready to forgive the ignorance and big
otry that was behind him, while his won
derful self.possession always enabled him to
preserve his good humor no matter what
people said to him. That he had his faults
and his foibles we may very frankly admit,
but these are common failures and are emf
nently characteristic of our race, for even the
most pious have their weaknesses, and the
inner life, if once revealed, would show that
perfection falls to the lot of only the few.
We therefore honor the memory of Mat
thew r. Hull, for he had many traits of
goodness as well as OF humanity, and now
that he has gone, his earthly race run, we
offer this brief tribute to his integrity, as
one who respected him while living, and
now mourns him as friend of his race, and
rs one VINO all his life stood IN
As an ardent sympathizer in the weak
nesses and wrongs of humanity. H.
THE Oldest living college graduate in this
country is Judge Ebert Herring, of New
York, who celebrated his ninety-ninth
the Sth inst. Judge Herring grad