Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1879-03-08
TFrom tie Nelc Krk OJserrr.]
Y. Y. z.
Or the Sleeping Preacher.

Truth IS not uufre1uently stranger than he
ton. The supernatural cannot he explained
bv science. What the writer is about to state
are facts. and if human testimony from the very
best Of men is worth anything, they are be-
vopd disputatiou. The subject Of this short
skeich is the Rev c. b. Sanders, now living
at Maysville. eleven miles east OF Huntsville,
Alabama. aud for % years, highly esteemed
minister Of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church. He utterly refuses to be called a
spiritist. clairvovaDt, or that be Is subject OF
mesmersm, or animal magnetism, but SIMPLY
saws of himself, am vessel OF mercy
whom the Lord hath chosen to this end and
further says. Ny peculiar Developments VIII
not he explained from a scientific standpoint,
at leas, so long as it is assumed that my physl-
cal sufferipcs are the cause Of my mental phe-
pomena" He is indeed wonder to himself
and TO the many whohaye both seen and heard
while in his peculiar sleeps ior tue last twenty
or more years.
The developments Of Mr. Sanders com
menced in 1854. and continued more or less
until 1876. Ia 1854 be was attacked with
typhoid fever, during which he was taken
with violent convulsions, affecting bis whole
body, especially bis arms. chest, throat aud
tongue The suture Of the skull separated To
such an extent that oue could bury The little
finger 10 the opening. His head aud lungs
seemed to be the seat Of the most intense pam.
In extreme cases, respiration would be sns-
pended far such a length Of time that II seemed
impossible ever t. rctarn, the pulse beating
feebly but 50 rapidly as 10 be beyond counilng
These paroxysms continued until 1859; but be
still suffers from violent pains IN the head and
lungs.
He is called the " Sleeping Preacher for
want OF better name, by all who know or
have heard Of him, and the writer heard hun
thus called eighteen years ago. Sometimes he
sleeps. and get seems % be wide awake, The
ewes wide open bat without winking, and 10
this state will talk, answer questions, walk g.
a considerable distance, and in this respect
seems somnambulistic md yet has 40 Suowi-
edge when 10 his normal state Of what he has
said or done. Sometimes when the pain Is
severe in bis head, he has il bsndsged heavily,
covering the eyes, will pass into one OF hls
sIecrs. which may continue Tor 40 hour, or
day. or several days. and in this condition VIII
call Tor pencil and paper. and with bis hands
under the cover will write letters to friends
moral esssys, or report sermons AZ tha' uWe
being preached miles sSay. GLOWING the lines
as closely as Il awake. not emitting The dottiDg
of an or crossing of st. lie thus reported,
during one Of his sleeps sermon preach
ed by the Rev. Dr. F. \. Ross, Of Huntsville,
Alabama. in 1874, twelve miles away, giving
text, subject, in fact the whole sermon com
plete. and read it the next morning TO his
friends. Dr. Ross was written to, and vouch-
es for the correctness Of the sermon. 10 1876
Mr.. Sanders was 10 Tullahoma, Tennessee,
couversing with Dr. Cowan. between IL and
AZ niaht Mr.. Sanders being in one Of his EeT-
vOus sleeps The passenger usin for Chatta-
nooga was heard coming. Mr.. Sanders began
telling DR.. Cowan Of passenger 90 board
who was suffering from disease OF the heart
describing bis condition; Suddenly he excla'm-
ed. There, that man dropped silver com.
When asked who, he replied, " 4 man On The
platform Of the cnr, wearing cap. The CON
is silver. with en- advertisement on orc side,
which is up" Search was made that night,
by the aid of a lantern Mr. Sanders directed
the exact spot to look. The advertisement
read as follows: