New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-12-14

ivclprVrs or rfnrR SWANS cARtrR

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the bate Elrr tnhr1 swan n the unisiry ~ The bap-
tls' rhnfrh ror.rsi u.rltl uf hair century e bats
ti,l neir than iuuul renrrfis The slHr" siar'nent
bf tHs ni.t shsrs he trna,R-br srepsi thi attended
HE rtan-raiip W1,h tn- Npd ~ Ma ii bfs wa hishlt
continued ~ titAeetfs ani Ssr'h 'fH saw fafR 80
N-9a s.D'ina h- iHslpi thA stHH sn'itih sHll fsai
| sius rh,,, imt q aiWars fasHHAlli a Ala HHriii aHl
| ~u.f ha h,i esra haln successful hs hlTsf iaiai
| tHaitiarHfanuiIs win hatFH ani is*, ha Woo lnss
auli5 tban ihHaa nIui et.A-iilsi, 1hii ien.Hsr 1919
nnvai fign eha1a "a q RiFFGFaf er,ia Whenever ihs
riar ant haaFP conducted fa'1as t1saihaf iho Fai-
dltt ALWAYS thIt the lorrr .surplssGl the Latter Ia
ba power 10 aWls ~ ani sustain deep religious ierVoi
Elder swan inherited his gifts oi oxh0rtatlnn aud
prayer small extern from his mother nhe CAME Oh
Oil Baptist stock woman OF pranlunoed pety' ana
always dd more than her share OF talking AMI praying
In the conference meetings 40 'toulng)n Conn, where
the Elder was born and spent his o}hooL Her hus-
bsl Joshua swan, dill NOT share her religious views
AMI looked with much dsfayor her active participa
ton in church affairs 1t Is related that one evening
when the wife had exhorted long anl earnestly ut
prayer meeting without giving any sign that she ever
intended to her seat Joshua pulled neryousiy at
her gown and said in voice that could Dc distinctly
heard all tie conference room: NiEcy, Tor
Heavens sake sit down" You mini your business
Joshua swan retortel the good woman after which she
| resumed her train OF thought. without showing the
slightest discomposure
Many are the Anecdotes well authenticated too show
the Elders originality ami pee lttruc. NucN NJ
WAS conducting Of his greatest reyivals in this city
fruits OF which than LOO conyersions
the deacons church waited upon him and said thar
much falt found with the style OF his sermons
they too radical in tone and TOO oIspoken; and
they sucs ID that he should draw It miider." The
Elder heard them through and de then this reply
Wei. brethren, 1t may be you say Now. want yon
20 let me preach one sermon nj ;ht ia my
harness. aud II that doesn't suit You viii preach here
after in The regulation style, Or Will leave the pulpit Tor
somebody else The deaoou agreed and the next sun
day evening Elder took his subject the combat be
tween David aud Goliath. lie sketchel the Ph5tine
aut who clad in his Of brass deae tle armies Of
the living Cod rs like unto minister clothed with the
Theology OF Princeton and Anoyer Then he intro iuced
DAVID a. a rosy-cheeked farn-b)y who hai come 10
camp u bring crackers AMI cheese" for his elder
brothers. who serving In tue army OF israel He
gave a quaint and original version OF the conversation
between David AMI the King wlen the former proposed
10 become the champion % the hosts OF Israel aud accept
The challenge Of Goliath The King lie represented rs
looking with unlsguisel contempt upon tine 'on oil Jesse
anI saving YO1. you little brat! You hght Goliath!
what are you talking about, He'd make mince meat Of
you ill., no time" Then he described the putting Of the
Kings suit " David u prepare him % do battle
with the Phlistine. Why" said the Elder. when no
xot that Princeton and Andover paraphernia on David
felt a. though he in strlit-acket If ripped the
whole thing OF and told the King I've got to fight in
my own harness." When he came to the point where
Elder gave such realistic picture OF the that when
he raised hs long and vigorously over his
head AZ IN the hurting the smooth stone that laid
the giant low, nearly every one in the congregation
lodged 1t struck him. straight between the eyes,
shouted the Elder and killed him deader than ham
! mer" Then he capped the climax aad pointed the
moral Of his discourse follows: Brethren Tm Ike
David. Let me nght In my harness. rs ho dd. AMI
II don't drive the devil AMI all his imp. ont Of New
LONDON inside of three months III pack MP and 20 my
self" $50 it, Eller' Goft Elder" with volley Of
Amcns." heard from al parts of the churcl and
after that the deacous were never known TO take any ox
captions to the pastors style
Elder swan believed in od-tye, outdoor cold water
immersion and could never hnl words strong enough to
condemn the modern innovation ~ hipistee7 supplied
with warm water Giving vent to h' feelings Oh this
subject at time, he said that he found abundant
authority I'm the Bible for haptfg converts but he hml
meyer teen able though he had made a most cnrfuI
srarch to iiid any authority for pafn llmk then.
Candidates for immersion. when any discretion was
oierol them AWAY ltei'r'd 30 tu., 81 ,ag
nrprtee hal made him perfect ia the ar Of admui,tor
iug tho blptitmal rite without putting One converts To
unnecessary torture or tu1o'ng them To tho dantrro
nnlng drowned. Oucn ho went FROM The church 10 the
bnuu Of the lhlm'a long altcr minl-nt AM hlpt@pd
the copvcr'a OF the evening low the st OF me moon or
of lanterns aud torohca. ON the morning ntor one ~
tle.o midnight hapu'mal scene, = pHln ~ tnn louns
LNllc' sh school asked ihnprlAr.pn Ilo"''9 relnH
worth. nrlcrwnld Tor many SnarN Posmaftor h Tnp"h
kausat Why u was that baptism ,o.oH'l 30 close Hion
Elder afraid some OF the convert" would not keep
once when speaking of the wonderful power OF COD A.
shown during periods Of great religious awhkonns the
strongest po,slho illustration turned his oyo 90 the
gallery of tho church. and fastened II on Vol hhoMn
member OF New Lon ton bar who was rather nara
case from rcl ol' point OF ylew ana l'eh eohthueu;
Why IN recent revival ht Whlrl ass tr' the sL,ce
~ Cod even found equal 10 the aversion OF three
me- WA, passing along the street one day a drunken
man stlg-ercl dp To- HIM. AMI pltng ont hs mana sai
Elder. don't you know me why. you converted me-
rhc Elder gazed At him. more in sorrow than IN amer
and replied WE'LL its pretty suIe the Lord never con-
yertrl you AMI all can SAY i that II h, made al
In the pulpit tho Elder often INDUCED in the arm,
n,e,,tun I'D horineg, Among 5ns deacons Of tue GA
Unce Harris. good old soul and one o. tue 0st
thorough going Bap5t- that ever believed IN the doc
trne OF Immersion Oncle l-aac ran inca. H'rAeI az
tme AMI beng of thrifty turn Of Mind Ie INTO Tue
habit OF keeping II open on sunday other deacohs OF
the church too were gny OF W"ry paci.Ge' tAal Ille
Elder ahhOrre. ~ them even gong 10 The point OF
the Elder hlIoi worse than he ala the Univ, lst |
Church 1t was liquor selling. 80 one sahay mt, ne !
at the DescnS sins 0i The several Geacous A.
that ntt, ike glove. Uncle Isaac called ont from his
Dew. That you, Deacon again the I.llcI
loaded and fred and VITA unerrlng ain brought down
y0u Deacon - said Uncle Isaac in -tcntOrn tones
Then the Elder fully warmed up 20 his task denounced
Who. satisfied with working SIX dtys Of the week. IN
his easerno'' 10 PIC up money rooDe th' l.pu u POI
lion o We seventh day and came To the sanctuary Ireah
from this sacrIleSe Uncle Isaac gre" purple IN the race
as bee recognized bis portrait but he was equal u
the emergency, and when the climax came responded.
though a somewhat suDdnrd tone ihtt iucah1 ne.
The ,erllln struck AOuo ald the deacou- 10 longer
furu sued cause Tor scandal among the brethren
Long after he hat retired FROM active labor IN the MN
i-try the Elder WAS frequently invited % onciate 40
funerals Funeral service. when under his charge we're
often The case, or a nature %
harrow up souls OF relatives OF The deceased and IN
vest death with fresh horrors His prayers at funerals
were a. balm wounded soul. always full 70 over
flowing with tenderness ud -ympatny,-lnd II De male
funeral address 10 rarely failed 90 no the occasion Only
"A few Years ago he askei % take charge OF the
services tue funeral ~ man ot brilliant parts. who
owing the Oblqulty of his moral vision, had made
sn!pwreck OF his lc. Tho Rider dumurrcd. used %
think great deal OF him when he Vas lad. said The
old evangelist. AMI II could cOu-centoasJ say one
gbol thing OF him at bis grave would 20 with al my
heart but tell you, that he has cleaned out the
entire dccalOgue.'
Mir .Nnn. na.sinn Tor hnr.anaah wns VOL known |