The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-07-13

I
heads of his discourse upon the
paper which he called "Blazing it
OUT" then in the order of this skel-
eton on the paper he cOnned the
subject over and over until he was
possessed with all it's parts. This
habit, necessity at first, became
choice so that he preferred to study
a serm IN on horse back or pac-
ing his room to any other method.
His tall commanding per-
son, Che measured in height gift. 2in)
his appropriate. and impressive ges-
lures, his sweet musical and pow
erful voice, his wonderful earnest
ness, vivid delineations, his solemn
and sometimes lawful appeals, so
absorbed the attention and inn
pressed the minds and heart that
the nearer was unconscious of the
lapse of time.
Said one who knew him well: "He
was not only eloquent but a labori-
Gus and successful preacher"
Besides many extensive tours
of preaching through various
portions of the United States,
his vacations in the Academy
aud College were uniformity spent
in travelling from place to place
often preaching night and day
and suniformly followed by weep
ing, wondering and admiring au.
diences, where ever he went; and
during the session of his schools
often have l known him
mounted on horse back on Friday
afternoon, to dash off 10, 20 and
even 80 miles, preach four or five
times, administering the commun'
ion on the Sabbath, and return on
Monday morning, to be in his chair
in the lecture room at 8 o'clock
Very many were converted under
his ministry, and many churches
were planted and watered by his
indefatigable labors."
Such a man was more than what
Thomas Carlyle calls "silent great
men," Gideon Blackburn was
great though he would not be silent
He was more than vOiceless
brilliant star;.he had power to sci
the world in motion.
He was great Intellectually fol
no ordinary man could make such
sermons as he preached and sup
port his family by manual labors.
He was great because of his in
cessant and various labors.
He was great because of his emf
nent success in the school and ir
the church.
He was great because he planted
schools and colleges which will
f ever be his monuments.
He was great because all lik'
him who lays foundations deep ant
broad, must be the most important
builders of christian civilization.
, He was great because he mad
this greatest work to build TIL
greatest structure ever erected OF
= this planet,vi to found and:to grow
and to complete human charac
ter, which will stand in eternal in
tegrity in the City of God.
He was great because he: was al
+ ways sacrificing himself in
p holy unselfish ambition to bless an.
, creature of God, and, finally, h
was great because he was veste'
, with power to to summon God t
his aid in all of his labors of love.
! What was an Alexander or
, Napoleon by the side of such a ma
!, as Gideon Blackburn? Who's
a name will be SO fair when tn
q book of God shall be opened
q whose name will stand 50 high OF
the walls of the eternal City
Whose the deeds that will glitte
f in the never fading diadem? VIII
q will walk robed in splendOr wit
g the eternal prince of peace alon'
the streets of gold, to ctlebrat
, great victories, but the men VIII
. conquered their own selfish ma
lures and gave themselves to hero
ic deeds through love to their fl
low men and to Him who died t
disenthrall the nations!