The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-08-04

udu vi Iue OlLuc.
OF the English preachers who most in
terested me- l may mention DR.. Dykes, of
the Regent Square Presbyterian church;
DR.. Parker of the City Temple church,
and Canon Farrar
DIR. Dykes may not have the literary
culture of his predecessor, DIR. James
Hamilton, but he is better preacher
He has strong emotional nature, held
under perfect control; he is intellectual,
but the fine thought of his discourse is so
imbued with the spiritual, and so per-
vaded with atactio1a, that his hearers are
reminded of something superior to mere
mental gifts, and his prayers are especial
ly edifying, being characterized by fer
vor, humility, and a sweet flavor of scrip
tural atIus1Oa, as well as quotation, which
gives them sacred charm.
You know all about Dr. Parker, of the
city Temple church, with his vagaries
and eccentricities. But for all that, he
is a man of real, original force, and 1
doubt not he influences for good large
class of hearers who would probably not
attend any other ministry.
l suppose the classical and accomplish
ed Canon Farrar would not fancy being
called Universalist preacher-but that
is just what he is. The sermon heard
from him was Just such discourse as DIR.
Chaplin, of New York, would have been
delighted to preach in his best days. DIR.
Farrar has rather plebeian face, and
very sing-song, monotonous manner, but
his style is polished atsque ad auaquene,
and his discourses enriched with the cream
of both ancient and modern literature.
The afternoon l heard him, the church
was crowded, pews, aisles, and vestibule.
Heis one of the acknowledged leaders of
a popular school of divines at the present
day, whose vocation is to prophecy smooth
things, and whose preaching is an endorse
pent of the celebrated line
1--WE never mention hell to ears polite"
During my eastern tour, and since my
return to Europe, few things have graft
fed me more than the arrival of the Gen.
tTGI Presbyterian. l am sorry to have
missed any of the numbers. The pub
ication of such paper is noble contri-
button to Christian literature, and I trust
your subscription list is steadily increas-
ing In one of the June issues, it was
stated in an editorial note that was ex-
pected to return home during the month
of July. That was my intention, for on
many accounts I am anxious to be with
my family and church again, and I had
engaged my passage on the Galllo which
sails on the 18th of this month. But
early in July [ began to receive letters
from Richmond advising me to defer my
coming, and last week | received four by
the same mail, from officers and members
OF my church. all of them urgent and en-
phatic In the expression of the opinion
that | ought not to return during the ex-
cesslve heat of summer to recommence my
work in Richmond This week other let
ters have come, all of the same tenor, and
| am much impressed by this new evi-
dence of the solicitude the members of nv
church manifest in my health and com
fort, in so urgently advising me to stay
still longer in Europe, even after so pro
tracted an absence, rather than risk the
loss of the advantage [ have gained by
too early return. Accordingly wrote
to Liverpool requesting the Cunard agent
to transfer my ticket for the GaZsa Of
the 18th of this month to the same steam
er of the 2lst of next month"; but was in
formed that every berth on the Gallia for
August was already taken, but that l
could get one on the OlympuS, which
sails on the same day. So now am
booked for the Olympus, one of the slow
est boats of the line, and far less comfort
able than the Gallia. But it nearly al
ways happens that some persons who
have engaged their state-rooms are pre-
vented from going by one cause or an
other, at the last moment, and as have
some friends in Liverpool who will be on
the look out for me in case any vacancy
occurs, may yet get place on the
Gallia, and so reach home by the last OF
August. For the present I am staying
on the coast of Wales, in place where
have both mountain and sea breezes and
salt baths. After the great fatigues oi
eastern travel, this life is most healthful
and invigorating The middle of the
day is comfortably warm, but little fire
is pleasant in the morning and evening
and blanket at night is necessary.
1t may interest you to learn that I have
received several letters asking me to re-
publish my correspondence with the CEN
/ trail Pres6yteio,, with such additions as
| choose to make, in book form, after
my return home In such a correspond
ence l had to omit all mention Of many