The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-04
YOUNG mArTHEw srmrsoN.



Sermon Preached at an Indiana Camp
Meeting More Than Sixty Years Ago.
Rev. Aaron Quincy in N. W. q. Advocate.
On Sunday morning the love-feast was a melt
ing time; the shout of king was IN the camp,
and at its close hundreds of shining Methodist
races, whose eyes were dewy with tears that
had no bitterness told that God was in the midst
OF his people. And now the great congregation
IS gathering. The rude slab benches are pre-
empted at once by those who are hungry to hear
every word of the II o'clock sermon. Rev Rich
ard Hargraye, then in his prime and prince
home of brother in the neigh
oorhood the night before He Is
expected on the ground every moment The
older brethren say he will certainly preach,
though no announcement has been made as to
the occupant of the pulpit; and all eyes look ex-
pectant as from the door in the rear Of the
stand the presiding elder, Rev VIM. H. Goode,
enters upon the platform. He looks over the
throng, gives some directions about seating the
vast congregation, and asks the brethren to
sing. And such burst of song-not artistic,
but grand with the junction from on high
As that song rolls, an ocean of melody out
through the forest, through that open door enter
upon the platform John Il. Smith, Samuel Fl.
Brenton, Aaron Wood Richard Hargrave and
several other well-known circuit preachers.
Along with them very young looking man,
smooth shaven, ruddy face, low forehead. a
shock of brown hair almost red growing very
near to his eyebrows; dressed in suit Of blue
jeans such as farmers of that day made and wore.
be does not look to be over twenty-five, but is
past thirty. This plain young man attracts no
attention. All eyes are fastened on the great
men so well known so much loved who come
with him. They bow in prayer, rise, take their
seats, and the presiding elder hands to this
young stranger the Bible and hymn-book Lis
ten, little hum of a whisper goes like ripple
through the throng Who is hel Do you know
him2 We turn to our friend class-leader, say
ing, ''Who is thatla II don't know him
He hain't a travelling preacher. I know all the
preachers of the conference. He is q local, /
reckon.
'sW:ll they put him up to preachls
Certainly not; the elder has more sense /
think Brother Hargraye will preach They are
going to let this local preacher open the service
think. to save Brother Hargrave's strength for
q grand effort
Now the stranger rises, reads the hymn and
they sing again; then he prays and Brother j.
Ia. Smith reads the Scriptures; again they sing,
and now the stranger looking like farmer
with his Sunday suit of blue jeans, rises, and
the hope that had been general that Brother
Hargrave would preach is dashed away as this
| young-looking stranger announces as his text
Hebrews xiii, IL: Wherefore Jesus also, that
he might sanctify the people with his own blood
suffered without the gate
He began with simple, plain description of
the Jewish sacrifice which, at the very hour Of
the crucifxion, was being offered in the temple
AS he warmed up with his theme he seemed to
|
realistic terms he described and pointed out the
gorgeous beauty of the temple the smoking and
blood-stained altar, the slain lamb upon
it, the golden altar of incense, the
sprinkling priest within the veil, the white
robed Levites informing the silvery psalms, until
the congregation seemed to see the imposing
rites of the Jewish ritual atonement in action
before their very eyes. Then he changed the
scene, and took them to Golgotha, without the
gate, and contrasted the Christian sacrifice
without the gate, the true Lamb of God
offered on Calvary's mountain altar, the
offering Of that body prepared by the divine
high priest of our confession SO real was his
description that we seemed to be gathered
around the cross, to hear reyiling jews and in
sulting mobS; we saw the gambling soldiers and
parted raiment; then the awful horror of great
darkness; the earthquakes heaye the bursting
rocks; the convicted centurions apt confession.
Then at the cry from the sufferers pallid lips:
1T is finished, he turned and pointing to the
spot where he had placed the temple, he said
iSeel see its vail is rent; its holy of holies is
| uncovered. The Jewish priests we need no
more, for our great High Priest the only Chris
tan priest, has entered Though death into the
unseen holy, having obtained eternal redemption
| for u.s.
This is but dim outline Of that grand sermon
remembered from my boyhood. Its effect on
| the audience can never forget The surprise
and power of the contrast between what they
/ expected from that boylsh stranger and what
/ they received from that prince Of preachers
heightened its effect Again seem to see their
eyes kindle, their faces brighten, as the eye of
| the preacher burns with light from heaven
and his glowing periods roll like a river Of
| fire in an unbroken tide of pathos and
power on their hearts They swayed to
and fro in sympathy with his move
ments, they rose and fell to the rythm
| of his gestures; they sobbed. they wept, they
| shouted, as the theme unrolled before them the
| agony of the sacrifice and transformed that
vision of the cross into the vision of the throne
mid oh S,,I
monarch of Calvary was depicted as bringing
many sons into glory" the preacher sat down
and the service ended
who is hea What preacher is thatg flew
from lip to lip as they broke up, and the answer
was That is Matthew Simpson, the new presi-
dent of Indiana Asbury University