The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-12-05
BOB INahRSOL'S FATHER.

Madison Wis.) C IT, Philadelphia Times l In he year I847 R.v. onn Ingersoll the father of Coi0net R )bert C lugersoll, vas called to the First Congreg ationai church, ot this place, where ne preached for about three years. The church is one of the oldest in the state ot Oaio. having been established in the year 1874 The meeting to organize the church society was held in barn near Madison, thirty miles 8: fro n 0 .veland. For twenty years after the society was organized the sturdy pioneers of Madison, of whom there were at that time but few, wor. shiped in barns or houses, as best suited their convenience. until the year I834 when church ed fee, frame bu ld,us 90 fee, wide by 100 feet deep and capable of seating 800 persons, was erected n North Madison, and in it, from that time to the present day, the society has wor
 shiped. It was in this edlfce that Mir
 Inger oil preached. The building was nearly new at that time, quite an impos- ing building for that day and generation
 and place, with its tall stee pie and the iron fish that swuog at its top. an orna- ment and weather-vane comoiped, and a big bell which for moro than half cen tuy has called the villagers to worship
 ln those days not many societies could afford so great an exrsvagance as bell
 and hence this building became known IS and is still called the E: ell mee ing house"
 It stands there just the same as it did 6ty years go, C cep tic steeple is changed ana ,0e oiA weather-vane at which young Bob lngersoll used ts shy stones, and the lightning TO upon which he used to execute gymnastics, are both gone The principal change that has been made in the interior of the church since Mir. Ingersoll thundered anathemas atinfdels and in6deiity in general during his three years pastorate there is in the pulpit. At that tune it occupied place at the rear of the church, between two windows, and was perched high upon the wall, a square paneled box with moldiugs around it, which looked like small fort ress built to protect the person of the minister and which was ascended by a stair which led up on either s,de. It was made with narrow alcove, in which tue preacher stood faciug the congreg Ation while preaching and so contrlved as to admit of none of that theatrical gesture and posing At which Colonrl Ingersoll is 50 skillful and which constitutes one Of the chief chsrms of his oratory. The in terior arrangement of the average coun- try Presbyterian church of ha f a cen- tury ago was emiuentIy suggestive of the doctrinal beliefs and dogmas to which the church held. it.was plain, severe, stiff cold. Once seated in a narrow pew with its h,gh, perpendicular back, there vas nothing to do but to lift ones eyes h he wished to see the face of the preach CT, whose head and shoulders, if he was cf average height. would barely rise above the Bible which lay on the pulpit desk before him.
 Do you remember Mir. lngersoll2" was asked of an old lady who lives near the church.
 Yes, indeed" she replied. "He was tne smartest man that ever preached here. shall never forget him"
 It was not much that she could tell me ot his methods and manner of preaching That he was forcible logical, eloquent, aern, incorporating in presenting his views, there is no doubt. In pc sonal appearance, though much stouter R ,bert rese mbles him very strongly; the same raddy face, smoothly shaven the same full. large, round head Mir. iugeisoll ot'n preached exten p "a ,eously, bu usually from notes ms manner was nervous, quick, impassioned. In the middle of sentence he would place his glasses on his nose, and giving a q1icx giance at hrs notes would snap them of again. and dropping or tossing them on Inc desk, would pass from one point to another in his discourse without break. ing the flow of words. He had a way, also, when deeply interested in his sub !ect, of quickly throwing his coat collar back ana thiusting his thumbs in the arm-holes of hts vest, as if he iel, re- straint and waited gNater freedom This was the signal of the oncoming storm of imprisoned eloq uence that swept over his he arers.
 At the tune he preached in Madison Mr. ingersoll was living with his thrd wise. He h Id five children, two daugh. ters and three sons, by his fist wife
 John was a physician; R 'bert and . 'enexer became eminent iawyers in Peoria, Ill, long be'ore R ,bert gained ais present notoriety. Ebepezer sut- eseded Oven Low. joy in Congress. He d,ei few years since, and the touching address which Robe delivered at his grave is familiar to many. When R " Ar. lngersoll came to Madison R ,oert sas about nine years ot age. He at- tended Sunday school at the old church, and 1t is presumed received early religious training and instruction. There gre those who attribute his extreme anti feiisioas views to over-teachipg and the seveze orthodox opinsons Cf his tather At that time R 'bert had taste for dis- Snssioas and oebate. and it Is recorded in she memory of an old resident that Rob- et at this early age organized debaing 0ob among the neigho boring boys The 0ird vie of MT. lngessoil made the ereacher . great deai of trouble. She esseer1ed charges against him in the sAssch, sad nial vas had winch lasted