The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-01-09
FoR rHE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
"REMINISCENCES OF PRESBYTERIAN
MINISTERS.
BY AN OCToGENARIAN.
No. q.


AGks GOf1N mASONe
Years have gided away since the writer
spent couple of months in Manhattan City /;
but after its capture by the English it has
been called New York. The reputation of
DR.. Mason had then reached its acme, for
he was then preaching to crowds in Cedar
street. Let US then forget his connection
with Columbia and Dickinson Colleges, and
try to find out the causes of his immense
popularity.
This great divine was rather stOutly built,
with countenance highly indicative of moral
courage. Nor was he deficient in that eOur
age which is natural. Except for his sacred
calling he might have made as brave Gene
raj as Lee or SsOnewal Jackson. So far as
his voice was concerned, it kept the most dis
tant hearer at ease, for it was sure to reach
the drum of his ear. 1t was not like ''an in
strument of ten strings" but distinct and
foreible rather than melodious. Aud yet
there were no harshness or grating in its
tones. When be read the chapter 10 which
MS text generally lay, he used an emphasis
that made the chapter truly impressive
About 1901 he otHciatsd at Washington in
Congress Hall. He was heard in every part
of that structure, lObbies and all. His text
was, For che poor have the gospel preach
ed to them, and it was an able discourse, as
mentioned in the "Latters of Incbiquins," by
Ingersoll, who was member of the House.
In his prayers DR.. Mason was always rev.
erentisl He sought to glOrify his Maker in
all his works of creation, providence and re-
demption. He acknowledged his eternity,
admired his wisdom, adOred his mercy, feared
his Justice, msgni6ed his power, and sscribed
infnitude to each one of bis attributes. His
mind whilst in the act of supphcatiOn seemed
to crave the wings of Gabriel that he might
wind around the circle of the Divine Perfec-
tiOns. Whilst engaged in converse with his
Maker, the earth became reduced to a di.
minutive ssteroid. Planets grew dim, and
consultations lost their lustre before the
splendors on which he was called to gaze in
the character of the great Supreme. Such
We verify believe was the type Of DR.. Ma
sons piety, not derived from ChsrnOck or
Saurin, but from his profound devotion to the
Bible, which ne read by day and on which
he meditated by night. As the ambassador
of God, he felt that he must honor the Tri-
me Being, by whom be was commissioned
an 4 sent to a fallen race.
Fus how did he preach? Well, he was not
tbs n. an to entertain prOmisouOus assem-
blv vi, b a critical dissertation, an elegant
sssav. a ~ philosophical discussion, or even
poem O.. the Immortality of the soul, like
the one re, ,ently delivered by Upper in a
BROOKLYN pu, pit. Such was not the charac-
ter of his sanct uary services. His discourses
were awakening, spiritual and scriptural.-
His eagle-Ike u ind was always hOveriDg
over the book of vi books. The Bible wa;
the nest in which he fed and nurSed his con-
verts and from which he sent them forth
into an atmosphere of ynmingled grace. He
did not deal in fault finding about the trans
lation of the Bible. People could not under
stand learned criticism. he may have talked
Of such things with the stu dents of his Sem
inarv but not to the people who we're hun
,yry after righteousness. No man ever car
Tied about him more thorough and life
long belief iu the divinity of cur Lord, tn
Offices of the Holy Spirit in applying tn
Sayiour's oblasion, the necessity of regene
ration, and the nature of that progressive
holiness which results from the diligent US
of means. In his morning service be alWay
expouuded a large portion of the Scripture
but at night his texts were more insulate
Messages. He was always more interestin
when mis- subjects lay in the Epistle to th
Hebrews, portion of the Bible which h
had studied with untiring industry. ID
NAV have used Oven on the Hebrews, br
s,jIl his views we're often original. His OpiI
ions on the Old and New Testament wei
always very decided. He could not discar
the fall of the first, that his Aock might r
ioice in the advent Of the second Adam
He believed in all that G d had wrought
the f ID Of z an and among the waters
the Red Sea- Like a famished Jew he d
Voured the Mama Of she wilderness, al