The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-11-14
HENDERSON. NC. Oct. 81. 1889


And tender in address, as we'll becomes
A messenger of grace to guilty men,
HENDERSON. y. C.. Oct. 81. 1889.
EDITOR GOLD Leaf went to hear
the great Evangelist Rev. Robert CANA
liel Pearson last night.
| had heard much Of his personal ap
pearancc. his discOurscs, delivery, and
thorough knowledge Of the Bible.
Some had said that he was awkward,
and Others that his delivery was un-
pleasant.
Mr.. Pearson, it must be admitted,
could not pose successfully as an Apollo
Bclyiderc nor as an AdoniS, nor could
Alexander II. Stevens, John Randolph,
John e. Calhoun and many OF the great
est men whose names illuminate the
pages of history and whose deeds, like his,
will shine like stars thrOug h rernOtest ages.
MIR. Pearson to me, seems far from awk-
ward, but if he is, the atmosphere OF III
tense holiness, beautiful conservation,
purity and brotherly love that ever sur
rounds him should render him in the eyes
of all. as graceful as il Grecan gladiator
or as IL flower kissed by the South wind.
Iexpected to find his voice stridcnt and
unpleasant, but while it is rather pccu-
liar at first, it grows upon one, and Is cX-
ceedingly clear, and beyond doubt the
softest and most persuasive voice that |
ever heard.
am sure that it is to its winning soft
ness, intense pleading, and the deep
pathOs that runs through it and thrills
along every chord, that he owes much OF
his wonderful Success When he address
es his audience and saws, "POOr dying
man." Sinner" his voice sounds like
some sad melody in the distance that is
so plaintive and mournfully sweet that
it forces one to draw near and still
nearer, to catch it's last wailing cadenccs.
| had been informed that Mr.. Pearson
was not eloquent. When | heard him,
said to myseIf-not eloquent, Why
could liseen to this man for hours and
never grow weary. He deals but little in
figures and the ornaments OF rhetoric
but when he does use them, they are
beautiful and wonderfully simple and APP
DrOpriatc.
What is eloquence? 1t is the power to
put another mind and heart iii perfect
accord with your own. This may be
always accomplished by combination
of learning, logic simplicity and earnest
ness. Mr.. Pearson possesses to an emf
nent degree all OF these characteristics
He is eloquent in the same way that
many of the greatest orators of the world
have been elOqucnt-man who dictated
the policies OF nations, and played upon
the heart strings OF millions. He is clO-
quent because he presents the Truth, and
the Truth is always eloquent, whether ut
tered by Weakling or colossus,
whether we see it in the pebble that lies
at our feet, or imaged by the Alpine peak
that lifts its snow covered brow toward
the God who made it; whether we see it
mirrOred i'll the rain drop, or hear it in
the awful roar OF the ocean, as it beats
upon the shore; whether il comes to US
from the tiny throat OF the golden breast
ed warbler on the twig, or comes rushing,
and signing, and laughing with Joy, from
the pipes of the mighty organ, that
thrills all about it with melody that tells
of Heaven.
1--WE search the world for truth: We Gull
The good, the pure, the beautiful
From craven stone and written scroll
From all old flOWer-feldS of the sou!
And, weary seekers of the best,
We come back laden from the quest,
TO find that all the sages said,
Is in the Book our Mothers read
His power of Analysing and elucidatino
the Word of God, SURPRISES that of anv
one ever heard, or whose writings have
read. | think he is the superior in this
regard of either Talmage, Moody or
Sturgeon.
ale breaches as if never sure to preacl,
again,
And as dying man, to dying men,
His illustrations are of the simplest
character, Yet so powerful, and eloquent
that fallacies, sophistries, and doubts are
utterly overwhelmed and Reason and
Truth ascend in triumph the throne OF
the Mind
His prayers are childlike in their sim
plicity, but beautiful in thei: earncstnpss.
and powerful in their faith. They are in
deed
The motion of hidden fire,
rIl,nt from Il IL, L.. L..