St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-15

NASHVILLE Advocate, no mean cOmpli.
ment to any writer.
bis latter years were saddened and
Swallowed by bodily affection. Nor is it
amiss to say that he suffered from other
causes that we do not care TO dwell
upon. To his dying day he retained the
affection and confidence of thousands
who trusted implicitly in his ministerial
and personal integrity, believing him to
be the victim of persecution. He died
and is buried at Mobile, Ala, much
loved and honOred in that center of Ala
BANJO MethodiSm.
Mr. Maffit left several sons, one of
whom was gallant captain of our Con-
1ederate navy, aud a bosom friend of
that old ''sea lion.' Admiral Semmes,
and of his right bower, Capt. Kell, the
adlutant general of Georgia. Another
or ms sons. now dead, was the husband
or Mrs. Maffit, of this city. That late
NOBLE Christian woman, Mrs. B. b.
Grew, was his granddaughter. One of
Dr. MaffltS daughters was the wife of
Mirabeau B. Lamar, the second presi-
dent of Texas. Others of Atlanta and
Mobiles wOrthiest citizens are related
10 this eminent minister by marriage or
consanguinity.
l had hoped to find IN the book to
which | alluded in the outset some
specimens of his pulpit productions,
but 1t was written while he was quite
y0ung-twenty-tive years of age-and
still we detect in his pious reflections
scattered throughout the volume tie
buildings of that genius which in after
years made him most attractive and
able minister of the gospel.
In his youth he seems at intervals to
have paid court to the "tuneful nine.''
Some OF the first fruits are found in
several short poems, which constitute
an appendix to his autobiography. They
remind Us of the earlier poems of Hem
ry klrke White, having about them the
same religious fervOr and flavor. AS
they are the immature products of his
younger years, they are not to be tried
by the canOnS of Sterner criticism.
They, doubtless, would have a charm
for many readers.
Henry Biddleman Bascom was a
sharp contrast to the eminent minister
Just sketched. He was native of New
York. but from an early age was identi-
fled with Southern Methodism.
When mere STRIPPING he entered the
ministry, first in Ohio, afterwards in
Kentucky, where his ministerial fort
uneS were Strangely checkered He
was, when still young, man of majeS-
tic features and figure, with JOvi an
brow and an eye to threaten and co M
| mand." He affected fine clothes, which
amongst not few of his clerical con-
tempOrarieS was esteemed a grevous
fault. His style of speech in the pulpit
subjected him to cenSare, and not a few
'plaln packstatf MethOdiSts" amongst
the lalty and goodly number of the
| Old-fashiOned elders in the ministry
| greatly feared that the youthful orator
frO uaIf
1t was, therefore, considered a wise
| policy TO send the young preacher to
mountain circuits, where the rough and
tumble experiences of itinerant life
would take the starch out of his cleric al
| veStments. But young BdscOm had 1.-The
| root of the NATTER in him and came
/ forth from the ordeal strengthened in
purpose and in far better repute with
| preachers and people.
1t was lucky chance for BascOm that
brought him to the knowledge of Henry
| Clay. Mr.. Clay was charmed with his
! conversation and preaching, and is
credited with saying that he had no
| equal in the American pulpit. This
| Endorsement of the Kentucky giant
| gave BascOm the entree to the best
| circles and the foremost positions in the
| Methodist church.
In a few years he was chosen as a
| delegate to the general conference,
where he was destined to win greater
| distinction.
In the memorable conference of 1914
he was iii some respects the most con-
| SpieuOuS Of the Southern delegates in
| that BODY of representative men. As a
| debater he made no considerable figure,
being Overshadowed by such trained
| disputantS as WinanS, of Mississippi :;
| Capers, of South Carolina; Smith and
| Early. Of Virginia, and Paine, of Ten
! nesSee, But when 1t came to the ap-
pOintment of some one to prepare the
protest of the Southern minority, Bas-
com was selected for that purpose, and
discharged that duty with marked
ability.
In the Louisville convention of the
next year 1S45), which organized the
Nj. E. church South. on the basis of the
plan OF separation adopted the previous
year by the general conference, his val
liable services were again in reQuiSitiOn
tie 1t was that prepared a paper setting
forth the reasons for separatiOn-a doc
ument which, in clearneSS of statement
and vigOr of argument, compares favor
ably with WebSter'S letter to Baron
HulSeman.
DIR. BascOm. because of his scholarly
attachments, was at different times made
president of TWO or more colleges and
universities.
AT the second general conference held
at st. Louis III 1850, DIR. BaScom was
elected to the eDiscOpacy. Contrary to
immemOrial custom he was designated
to preach his own ordination sermon.
That grandeSt effort of his ministry
gave assurance that in his new and
responsible position he would be bless
ing to the church which had so highly
hOnOred him. But his episcopal career
was cut short by an untimely death,
having, we believe, presided at but
single session of an annual conference.
Leaving these brief biographical de-
tails, we proceed to speak of his char
acteristicS as a pulpit orator.
We have already rewarded that Maj
fit and BascOm were sharply cOntrasted
in their pulpit styles. The former had
large share of the ''suaviter in mOdO."
and with more fancy had less of the
MiltOnic imagination. BascOm. in con-
sequence of his better educational ad-
vantageS, was more classical and more
logical. But we question if he was the
equal of Maffit in the ability to melt
and move vast assembly. LII BaScom
there was more of that majestic bearing
and Intellectual sweep which was seen
in Thomas Chalmers when he thur
dered from the pulpit of the loon
church. and in some wise shook Scot
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