The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-04-06
g Miscellaneous.
4 PATRIARCH AND APOS.
TIE.
New York Observer.

New YORK observer.
- the elements were
So mixed in him, that Nature might stand
up
And say to all the world, THIS WAS MAN
No other man so completely
filled my ideal of one of the an
cient patriarchs as the late DR..
Plumer. If Michael Angelo had
carved him in marble for Moses or
Abraham, the world would have
admired the genius that could in.
vent such a model for a hero OF
the early ages.
He was an old man when young.
knew him when be was fifty,
and then thought him to be seven
ty. Not because of in6rmity. He
was strong when the "strong
men" are wont to "bow them
selves" But his dignity, gravity,
solemnity, impressed you with a
sense of the venerable, and made
you feel his presence as that OF a
father.
remember when be first ap-
peared in the General Assembly
with his great white beard. DR..
Robert J. Bre ckinridge, mem
Der also, said to me with his over
flowing humor: 'Plumer ought
to have given US notice that he
was going to bring that beard
with him ; then we might have
been ready for him-why, that's
good for twenty votes" 1t was
a splendid beard. Long, soft, fine,
silky, kemp with elegant care, at
once an ornament and a defence
against cold, it seemed to become
him as natural and necessary to
complete his figure.
Majesty was the word that l
would apply to him, as the most
expressive term. When he rose
in the pulpit, or appeared on the
platform, or in the midst of a great
assembly, his personal appearance
struck to the heart Of the au
dience. They sat wondering what
could be said worthy Of such
source. And his first words were
always chosen with great care
Perhaps it was an epigram. Per
haps an incident. AS when
heard him in Pittsburgh com
mence his sermon in words like
these q sermon Of consolation tc
those in affiiction: Il am told that
seven young mothers arc lying
dead in this city! On how many
in this house are the badges O.
mourning! And, oh how many
hearts are breaking that hang ouI
no signals of distress!" Aud ther
be said: ave are all sinners, anC
therefore are all sufferers" Thu:
having fastened the attention o
all, he poured the oil of the Gospe
into their wounds ard bounc
them up with the promises o
God.
He was wonderfully appropriate
in his preaching. 1t is probable
that he often decided on the sub
ject after coming into the pulpit
but his discourses we're carefully
elaborated, and he had hundred
at his command which be could de
liver with or without a moment
notice. | was with him in the ante
room Of a church in Brooklyl
where he was to preach for me
We had selected the hymns ap
propriate to the sermon he in
tended to preach. After goin!
into the pulpit he surveyed tb
audience, and turning to me, b
said: Il have determined t.
, change my subject: PRAY Fol
ME-"
And then he preached witt
such fervor, freedom and force
that one who had often hear
him, said 10 me, Il never heard
better discourse.
His stores of anecdote for th
illustration of divine truth wer
abundant and always ready to
use. Only DR.. Guthrie equalIe
him in this. In his letters an
essays for the press he vas happ:
in a story that fitted the place
He would often relate them fo