St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-07
Bishop Simpson.


Bishop Simpson.
SOME THINGS CONCERNING THIS METHo-
DIST golden MOUTH" oRATOR-HIs
CALL TO A CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
1t will be of interest to the many ap-
preciative friends of Bishop Simpson in
this community to read the following
extract from the Troy (N.Y.) Daily
Times, contributed by regular corre-
spOndent.
THIS GREAT ORATOR is GROWING OLD.
Bishop Simpson is nearly 68 years
old. Within the past ten years he has
grown old and gray fast. He has been
bright and shining light in the church,
but he is also fast burning out. His eye
has lost somewhat of that kindling en-
thusiasm and fire that was wont to flash
and flame in former days, and his voice
has lost something of its thrilling and
fearful pathOs and power with which he
was wont to stir and sway his enwrapt
audiences by his lofty themes and emo
tional and sweeping eloquence IN his
palmiest days. He is still the pet bishop
of the people he serves, and in spite of
age and infrmities has but few peers in
the pulpit or on the platform, as a pop
ular speaker, in the church or on this
continent. His eloquence, fervent life
and eminent services have greatly ton-
ored the Methodist ministry and church,
who give him as earnest love and high
honor as any minister or bishop be-
longing to the history of American
Methodism.
HIS NATIVITY.
Bishop Simpson is an Ohioan by birth.
At the age of % he graduated at AL
legheny (Meadville) college, Pa. In
1882 he received his first degree, NJ. D.,
from the medical department, but the
ministry and not medicine, was to be
his life work. His has been an active,
useful and honorable life. He has been
professor in his alma mater, president
of Indiana Asbury university, editor of
the Cincinnati Christian Advocate, and
since 1852, bishop of the Methodist
Episcopal church. His travels in Eu-
rope and Asia, experimenting the Meth
Odist missions in Syria, Turkey, Ger
many, Switzerland and Scandinavia,
and his representing his own church in
the British Wesleyan conference, as well
as his rare oratOry, have given him an
extensive acquaintance and world
wide and enviable reputation. His res
idence is at Philadelphia.
HIS CALLTo A CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The circumstances of his call to a
Congregational church greatly amused
his brethren in the Methodist ministry.
1t was at st. Albans, VT, where several
years ago he was holding an annual
conference. On Sabbath morning he
preached his wonderful sermon on the
''Victory of Faith" in the Congrega-
tional church. 1t is an elegant, capa-
ciOus, and very convenient church, both
for the orthodoxy and for ordaining
Methodist ministers. The Congrega-
tionalists very cordially offered its con-
stant use to the conference, who CRATE
fully accepted it for their more crowded
congregations. Bishop Simpsons Sab
bath sermon was one of his grandest
successes. He stirred the souls of his
hearers to their profoundest depths
swept away all prejudices, and swayed
his audience with his logic and elo-
quence to unusual emotions and en-
thusiasm, that filled the house at times
with Congregational sObs and Metho-
dist shouts that were really refreshing
and marvellous. From sublunary scenes
he carried his enthusiastic audience
heavenward, high in thought and feel,
ing, and finally in Imagination, he seat
ed them on star ON the furthest verge
of the universe, and left them there al
the best that science could do for the
soul, while faith took it to the ''throne
of God" and the ''lamb for sinners slain.
The effect was electrical, and SURPRISING
any portrayal of pen or painter. Your
correspondent sat in the side gallery
above and opposite the speaker, where
as best he could, at times through blind.
ing tears, he beheld the faces of the
hearers below and saw one of the
sublimest scenes of life time. The
elite and dignity of st. Albans were il
that congregation in robes of silk, satin
and ermine. DeacOns, doctors, editors
lawyers, judges, ministers and gov
ernors, with their intelligent wives and
fair daughters, were there, and in tears
too. Down in the broad aisle we saw
Judge A. o. Adds, seated not in a chail
OF state, but with streaming eyes and
look entranced, the same as weaker
mortals, swept out of themselves by the
pathos and power of Methodist min-
lister over the minds and emotions OF
| AiS hOoiOio. oolu OuuSC Ai1iS, III SuU-
stance, afterwards, 81 had heard good
deal about the Methodist Bishop Simp-
son, and how he made people cry /; and
| went to hear him, fully determined
that he should not stir my feelings.
listened to a few sentences, and grew
interested; soon 1 felt a cold twinge
run up my spine, and Strengthened up
and said, stop that p Soon felt an
other cold chill, and 1 braced up again
The next moment 1 felt a strange
warmth at my heart and filling of my
eyes, and dashed the tears away and
said, none of that But the next SEN
tence OF the speaker started the tears
again, and soon the fountains of feeling
were opened at flood tide, and 1 gave
up and let them hOw.n And SO the
fountain was at flood tiden when we
saw the tears flowing down the fine
manly face of Judge A. o. Adds thai
memorable Sabbath.