The Delta independent., 1889-02-12
Whittier as Po.tsPrsacher.

Whittier as PoetsPreacher.
Daniel Ricketson in New Bedford
Mercury: In sketch of Ebenezer FL
lott, written many years ago by the
late William Hewitt in his journal,
there is ii picture given of an outdoor
preacher, standing under the broad
spread branches of tree, addressing a
large number of both sexes, who are
represented as being deeply intereste
"a mother with a baby in her arms,
ana young woman bowed over with
her hands on her face as if in tears,
others with clasped hands and upturned
faces as deeply affected by the words of
the preacher.
have interpreted this scene as rep
resentati"e OF the effect upon the pub
lie from the stirring poems of 1.-The
Corn Law Rhymer," by which name
Ebenezer Elliott was known. A greater
preacher, however, to the people Of our
own and other lands in the great cause
of human freedom and godliness have
we in our most original and highly
gifted New England poet-preacher,J John
G. Whittier. AS son of the soil, feel
thankful that we have so noble and de-
vout spirit endowed with the devine
gift Of song, whose ringing and beauti-
full productions have done so much in
the higher culture OF tie time for what
ever Is good and precious in our land.
Well may New England rejoice and
thank God for so great a prophet and
teacher. Well may the Society of
Friends feel proud of him, and better
would it have been if his noble senti-
ments of liberty OF conscience had been
more needed. The time will yet come,
and is, we trust, near at hand, when out
of the fragments of this once strong and
united body OF Christians shall be gath
cred together new body, and the god
like work so bravely undertaken by
Fox and Penn revived, and the beauti-
full name of Friends" in spirit and in
truth, embrace within its fold all who
are seeking for a practical exemplifica-
tion of the Golden Rule"
We have had in our time, that is, in
that of the writer, who passed his
threescore and ten years, some excel
lent teachers and preachers of the pure
gospel of Christianity, among whom in
our earliest days stands prominently
the late DR.. William Ellery Charming,
the pioneer In the broader and more
liberal and humane exposition Of the
doctrines of the New Testament. Since
his time Theodore Parker, James Free
man Clarke, and our own fellow-towns-
man of Quaker birth, William James
Potter, and other cO-workers have still
further extended the sphere of pure
and practical religion, the outgrowth
of deeper Interpretation of the teach
ings Of Christ and his apostles.
Doubtless, also those great sensational
pulpit orators. Beecher and Talmage,
have awakened many TO n higher view
of Christian truth; but to the mind OF
the writer, no teacher or preacher OF
the great moral and religious
principles of the Old and New Testa-
ment has touched the great public
heart OF our people for the beautiful
and true in God and nature deeper
than our own Whittier. No trumpet
rang louder than his against oppression
and wrong OF whatever kind in our
land, and none of our poets has SO
sweetly sung OF rural lie, nor has any
one, whether in verse or prose, among
our most highly gifted sons and
daughters, so employed the muse in the
sacred cause of that religion which
teaches 'peace on earth and good will
to men," Truly, like the great bard of
"divine verse" Milton, our Whittier
has drank of ..Silva's brook, that flows
fast by the oracle OF God"
That years may yet be spared to our
poet-preucher, wherein he may enjoy
the calm and beautiful course of nature
through the rich resources of his we'll
stored life experiences, is the desire OF
his friend and traveller toward
the sunset hour.