Connecticut western news., 1880-05-19
An English Divine.
SOME CHARACTERISTIC STORIES TOLD OF
 THE REV. ROWLAND HILL.

Rowland Hill was certainly one of the most indefatigable laborers that ever spent his life in the service of the Chris tian pulpit. It is supposed that before the close of his long ministry of sixty six years he had preached at least 23, 900 sermons, being an average of nearly $50 year, or at the rate of about one for every day. Many of these discourses were delivered in the fields and streets. He presents an example not only of rare assiduity in his sacred calling, but of those personal qualities which form the charm and fragrance of social life. In bis habitual touches of eccentricity there was nothing grotesque or ludicrous. He often raised laugh, but never at his own expense. He had 8 profound sympathy with the comic side of life, but still more with its serious and sol emn aspects. Of the most austere re- hgious principle, he never lost his natu- ral cheerfulness and even gayety of heart. He exhibited the gravest dignity of de- portment' on all suitable occasions, but there was no tinge of severity in his dis position his freedom in society was as noticeable as his earnestness in the pull pit; and the lighthearted vivacity of youth, which he preserved to the last, softened the "dark and unlovely" fea- lures of old age.
 On one public occasion Dr. Chalmers was invited to preach at his chapel, and MT. Hill, in common with some of his leading friends, was somewhat alarmed when they heard the broad dialect of the distinguished northern divine. MT. Hill placed himself in the front gallery that he might note the temper of the congregation as the sermon proceeded. His apprehensions were soon removed. The attention of the people was riveted and strange murmur ran through the assembly when the preacher paused at the end of paragraph. MT. Hill could not contain himself for delight. He dumped loudly on the book-board be- fore him and exclaimed, quite loud: "Well done! We'll done! Thomas Chal- mers p On announcing the amount of a liberal collection to his own people, he remarked: "You have behaved so well on this occasion that we mean to let you have another collection next Sunday. l have heard it said of a good COW that the more you milk her the more she will give"
 A lady once requested him to examine her son as candidate for the ministry, remarking, ''I am sure he has talent, but it is hid in napkin" At the close of the interview with the young man, MT. Hill said, "Well, madam, have shaken the napkin, and cannot find the talent" He could not endure anything like vanity in a minister. A very fine dissenter, with doctors degree, fresh from the north, once paid him a visit
 he fidgeted about all the time he was talking, and when he left the room Mr. Hill lifted up his eyes and said, in his most comic tone of voice, "Only thinl that D. D. should ever be converted into a pedestal for puppy A rather talk
 ative woman one day said to him, "-
 have been a good deal of late with some
 papists, and they have sadly tempted
 me to change my religion. "Indeed
 ma am, y he replied, "I was not aware
 until now that you had any religion t'
 change" On one occasion when Mir
 and Mrs. Hill were on visit to frien,
 in the country, the evening conversation
 turned upon review of the character
 of many personal friends and acquain
 tances MT. Hill remained silent mem
 Der of the group, and when he foun
 that the verdicts pronounced were no
 in strict accordance with either truth o
 charity, he rose and rang the bell. Tn
 servant appeared, and he inquired
 they had at hand hear th-brush and
 dust-pan. Being answered in the afirms
 tive, he begged to be favored with the1
 for a few minutes. When they wer brought in, he took them and commence
 sweeping the carpet, saying that pro
 digious quantity of dust and dirt ha been scattered that evening, and he wa anxious it should be removed. The hin
 was taken, and the conversation wa
 directed to other topics.
 GoLD AND SILVER. Discoveries of gol, and silver have created quite an excite II