Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-01-15
Marvin, A Rough Diamond.

Marvin, A Rough Diamond.
In the Nashville Advocate there is a
contribution signed L., lin all likelihood
DR.. Leftwich, formerly of st. Louis, Jon
Bishop Marvin as icentiate in the
We copy it'll
He was brought up in obscurity, and
of humble parentage. He" had very
limited education and social advanta-
ges !; so that when he entered the min
istry he was very unprepossessing, and,
to the common eye, very unpromising.
Ills personal appearance, his dress, his
manners, were of the toughest class.
1 have heard him say that on his first
Circuit he received $6.4O. and on the
next $14 and suit of clothes, consist
ing of jeans coat and "copperas breech-
es." Missouri is full of personal in
cidents and "reminiscences of his early
days, illustrating his awkward habits,
unpromising appearance, and peculiar
dress. One or two will sample the
whole.
After travelling one year, and on his
way to Conference at Jefferson city, he
struck a Camp-Meeting, conducted by
w. G. Caples. The preachers, with
one consent, began to excuse them
selves from preaching on Saturday at
P. M. Some one suggested to Caples
to put up young Marvin.
''Where is he?" asked the Presiding
Elder.
Behind yonder tent, by the fire,
smoking"
Caples soon found man, bony, awk-
ward, rough-looking, with calico,
hunting shirt on, "copperas breeches,"
redleatber shoes, without strings, an old
wool hat, with half the brim gone. the
! crown torn so that the thick, black, un-
combed hair stood up through it, his
mouth half open when the pipe-stem
was not in it, and apparently innocent
of everything that could put him in
sympathy with the surroundings and
the occasion.
"Is your name Marvin ?''
eyes" 80 '
care you preacher %
| .'Yes.n
will you preach at o'clock ?'
Eyes"
All the time with his mouth halt
open, and ready to close over the pipe
stem, which he held not two inches dis
tant. Caples turned away, as L have
often heard him say, questioning in his
mind whether the young man had sense
enough to know what he meant He
never rose from his seat, but continued
his smoke and meditations. until the
horn blew, when he arose, entered the
pulpit, threw his old hat under the
bench. and proceeded with the service
In strong, deep, rich voice, in great
contrast with the thin, haggard appear
ance of the youth. Caples said-"He
had not been preaching long until he
had my mouth half open in wonder at
the marvellous language and original
thought of the STRIPPING"
From there he went on to Confer
ence. 1t so happened that shrewd,
good-natured Presbyterian Elder had
J asked the preacher in charge to. send
him the shabbiest preacher in the Con-
ference. He sent Marvin.
When stationed in Jefferson city, af-
, ter Marvin had become famous, this
! Presbyterian Elder was very fond of re-
lating this circumstance. He gave this
description of his appearances: "He
was a tall, raw boned, angular, awk'
!, ward. thin. haggard- faced young man
dull eye, large, unsightIy mouth, long
hair, hanging over his forehead and
, ears, through which he wouid OCCASION
ally pass his long bony fingers.-His
dress consisted of calico hunting shirt
with large faded flowers. and a string
, around the waist with band, 'copperas
breeches,' patched up and down the
, legs in front, aud lacking two inches O
reaching the red leather shoes which
; were tied on his large feet with tow.
, strings, and one of which was run dowr
t at the heel. His shirt was Of coarse
Il domestic, and his hat had lost half thu
e brim, while the other half Topped bro
ken and dispirited as if in disgust at thu
crown, which had parted in severa
$ places allowing the hair to press its way
, up into the sunshine.
Mr.. P. Z. Miller, the Presbyterian
Elder, saw in Marvin the promise OF {
great man, told the preachers that TIT
; day would come when the Church woult
be proud of him. and made him up a
3 good suit of clothes, and encouraged
him with many kind words.
In the early days of his ministry h
went into an adjoining county to that il
which he was brought up, to preach in
l school house. After preaching the
people went home. some in fine car.
AidSCS; SoHlS ia WdSSIo, Sotac oH uofSS-
: back; but nobody invited the young
5 preacher to dinner After all were gone
negro woman living near by saw hin
standing in the door, went up to him
4 and said
Honey chile! nobody ak you to &C
home Wid 'em to dinner?'
e mo. Aunt Sukey."
"Den vcu jes' come long wild you
Aunt Sukey. and hegiye you your din
: ner.'
He went with Aunt Sukey AID goi
his dinner.
, After he was made Bishop he had oc
, oasion to preach in that same neighbor.
hood; many of the same people were
present and many were the pressing in.
vitations to dinner. all of which he de
clined, saying: 81 an. going to dine
| with Aunt Sukev y