Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-01-10
DR.. WaddtlI owned tract Of land of

DR.. Waddtll owned tract of land of a
thousand acres in central Virginia, and
here. near the angle of Louisa, Orange and
Abemarle, he built house, and called his
estate "Hopewell.'' But he was not to
rest. His tolls we're only increased, and
his last years were the busiest. Once
again he brought the surrounding country
under his voice. He preached in tt sd
So church near Charlottesville, in log
church at Clarksville, in the Brick church
at Orange c.. H., and not content wifi
this. he built another meeting house fol
his use near his home. Once more, too
he became a teac' er.. He had p ssion
for instructing youth, which burned
brightly to the end of life. A few boys
were taken IN 0 lis family, fron which
they all went forth to usefulness, some in
deed, to distinction. Gov. Barbour, of
Virginia, was. one of these pupils.
-..aI Mould seem as if at some time. of his
life, he must have held this relation to An
drew Jackson; yet the closest search fails
to discover how it could have happened.
One day. when jackson was PRECEDENT, in
conversation with foreign minister he
spoke of the ''deuil ope-aaent" of the States.
The well-bred diplomat evinced no sur
prise, but took immediate occasion to say
that he considered the deuel. cpenae1at of our
country unparalleled. The old hero's por-
cupine-like hair bristled at once. He sci
zed the first opportunity to bring the word
in again, laying particular stress on his
pet pronunciation. Once more the cor
rection was gracefully made. This was
too much for the president. Excuse me, y
he roared OUT You may call it derel-op-
maent if you please; but say devil-ope-1aent.
and aoizl say devil opement as long as /
revere the memory Of good old DR.. Wad-
dell.o
1t was in the little church of his own
erecting near the town of Gordonsville and
in the depths of a vast forest, that this
man S matches oratory reached it's height.
The eloquence Of the preacher and the
vivid pen of William Writ have made this
humble house of God immortal Here for
twenty years he employed his wondrous
gifts. People came from distant parts to
hear his voice. Under his minlstrations
sat many of the wise and great. Montpel
Ter, the seat of james Madison, was bu-
seven miles away, and MadisoI's mother
devout Christian, was always in her place
at the log church, and often accompanied
by her son. Mr.. Madison had the highest
reverence for the preacher, and frequently
came to him for counsel in the affairs of
the country. AS the years crept over the
aged saint, 1nfrmties gathered thick upon
him. He grew partially paralyzad and
blind. Yet Lis mind lost none gifts vigor
his soul none of its fire, and his resistless
eloquence remained. 1t was in 1903; when
he had now been blind many years and
death was approaching, that the famous
description of his preaching appeared in
the British Spy" Thousands who have
read those glowing words Lave never i'm
agined they were ought but fiction. Yet
abundant testimony shows that the de-
scrption was not over wrought. The
preacher himself was little pleased when
the account was published, although Will
liam Writ was one of his dearest friends,
and in reply h. dictated the words, ''Haud
inertia laus, opprobium est. "-unmerited
praise is reproach. e
The eloquence Of James Waddell was of
an order now nearly extinct. That it was
of marvellous power is indubitatle. Pres
ident' Alexander, the Blind Preachers SON
in law, saws Mr.. Writ told him that so far
from exaggerating in his description, he
had fallen below the truth; that, in a diff
ferent species Of oratory, he believed him
fully equal to Patrick Henry. Patrick
Henry himself was wont to say that Wad
dell and Davies were the greatest ortors
he ever heard. The personal presence of
the Blind Preacher was an aid to his pow
er of speech. He was tall, stately, straight
as an arrow. His movements we're full of
grace even when violent, and he was at all
times digni1ed. There was ever joyful
s ,lemnity On his countenance; he appeared
to be walking with God. In youth the Wig
or and charm of his personal beauty moved
his hearers; but In old age, when this had
passed away, an influence even more pow
erful went forth from his presence. For,
as he rose in the pulpt,-the rowing ligh'
of approaching eternity in his face. the
limbs trembling with palsy, the sightless
eyes uplifted,-all felt him to be messen
ger from the very throne of God. When
he began to speak, one secret of his power
was instantly revealed,-his marvellous
voice. The hearers were f1oated upon its
tones; borne up and down, hither and
hither, as leaves on the wind. With sud
he electrified vast assemblies. He fused
the multitude of souls into one, which be
then moulded at will. In picturing sacred
scenes he was unequalled. His audience
saw the form of Christ, heard his footballs
as He walked the earth, and the rustling
the preachers emotions constantly played.
They grew indignant at the insults to the
Son of God, and sorrowful over His suf-
ferings. Such power was irresistible: the
spirit of God was in it, and rich harvests
were gathered for the eternal life
In private intercourse James Waddell
was as marked man as in the pulpit His
conversation was wonderful. There was
the same soul of fire and of tenderness; the
same deep thought; the same rich melody
of voice. The greatest men of his time
sought him out and sat beneath the spell
Of his words. His learning was deep ard
wide, and skilfully wrought into all he
said. Yet he was never ostentatious, His
modesty humbled the vain; his courtesy
inspired the timid. To an earnest seeker
for truth his heart was full of love, his
manner full of tenderness; but when