Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-12-06
BISHOP MARVIN.

Since the death Of this much es-
teemed christian Bishop, which oc-I
cured in st. Louis, last week, we
have concluded, for the benft Of his |
many numerous friends in this sec
ton, to give short sketch of his |
sventful career.--ED. p
Young Marvin joined the Methodist
church in August, 1889; and he at
tributed his conversion more to the
religious influence of his mother than
any other agency.
We learn that he began to. preach
i'm 1841, having been admitted by the
conference that met in Palmyra that
year. He did not attend that confer
ence, but was admitted upon the rec
ommendation Of his pastor and class
the rules of the church at that time
not requiring him to be present in or
der to be admitted. oHsA & "A
His first sermon was preached near
Flint Hill, in St. Charles county, in
old Bethlehem church, his text being
Isaiah, Sd chapter, 10th andol 1th
verses--'.Say yet to the righteous,
that it shall be well with him: for
they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
Woe unto the wicked! it shall be i'll
with him: for the reward of his hands
shall be given him." This seFmen1
was preached at the request Of Rev.
ID. L. Sherman, who is still connected
with the itinerant ministry in, this
State. Having an appointment at
Bethlehem, and being unable to fill il,
he requested Marvin to take his place.
The following extract gives an ac4
count of the sermon delivered ON that
occasion: II
Att was young Marvin's first SER
mon. People who were present say
that his appearance was that of an
awkward country boy, ill home-spun,
home-cut, homemade and weH-worn
clothes. The Bishop says his panta-
looms were of blue cotton when new,
but many washings had largely re-
lieved them of the original indigo col
or. They were sadly faded, and worn
into holes at the knees; and, to hide
the openings, tender mothers hands
placed patches over them, with pieces
of original blue. Said he: The
pale was very pale, and the blue was
very blue" With little OF no thought
of his parti-colored pantaloons and
other faded and worn apparel, the
young preacher entered the church
and pulpit, and did the best he could.
Mr.. Ben. Pierce remembers that he
said: When man came from the
plastic hand of his creator That is
all he recollects of that first sermon,
and it is probably the only relic of it
that survives in the neighborhood in
which it was preached. The preacher
was neither greatly embarrassed nor
over-confident. He was earnest and
boisterous, without much of the emo
tional. ~---.--
AS the service closed, John .E Al
len took John B. Allen by the arm,
and gave il severe grip by way Of
emphasizing his whispered words, as
he said: That youth had better quit
preaching and continse to work on
the farm. He will never make a
preacher John B. replied: He
may be a bishop yet 'ao4 -
The service ended, the people re-
tired, and no one was thoughtful
enough to invite the young stranger
to dinner. He mounted his horse and
started homeward. He had left hom'
early in the morning and eaten bu
little, 'was very hungry and was de
termihed not to stand on formnlities
III no one would invite him he wouls
invite himself. f-fa
He soon rode up beside Warrel
Walker, who was travelling the sam
way, and said to him: ''Brother
how far do you live from heres' o
being told the distance, he said, 'WeH
1 am going home with ycu to get m
dinner Certainly said Mr.. Walk
er; Il would be glad to have you d
so.' And to Mr.. Walkers he wei
and was cordially entertained.
The inhabitants of that region wel
certainly hospitable, and any one u
them would have been pleased to hay
him go home with them and get dir
ner, but MS he came to church wit
Mr.. Walker, it was supposed that; i
was his guest and would be entel
tanned by him. This treatment WI
not an intentional slight, but an owe
sight resulting from thoughtlessres
and SO the young preacher regarde
il.
After he was married and had b,
come a famous minister, he agai
preached at Bethlehem, attended b
his wife. When the services wei
over, many persons crowded aroun
ant. invited him and his wife to dir
ner, and among them were sewers
who had heard his first sermon. RI
cognizing them, with merry twink
in his eye, he said: s'The first tim
came here got no invitation to dir
ner, but now / have the pick an
choice Of the neighborhood, an
am going to the nearest place wher
\ a