The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-08
OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
A Preacher Who Is Fresh From
Its Sacred Memories.
HE HAS COME HERE TO LOCATE.
Rev. b. ID. Sinclair's "Reminiscences OF
the Historic Building in Which He
Preached Four Years.

Rev. and Mrs. B. D. Sinclair and family are
stopping al the Arlington. Mr.. Sinclair has Tor
the past four years been pastor OF the historic
Old South Presbyterian church, at Newburyport,
Mass, and has come to Washington 10 locate.
He breaches this morning ct Calvary Presbyte-
rian church on "The Prodisal's Brother" Mr..
Sinclair was mem Ter OF the general assembly
last year aud the Detroit Free Press spoke OF him
as follows:
One OF the younger members of the assembly,
who mas had 4 history aud who is rapidly COM
ing 10 the front man o. superior parts. is e
Kew Brevord ID. Sinclair. pastor OF the Old
south church of New buryport Mass. Mr. Sin
clair Is u nne appearing man with a strong, reso-
beard, and has been an ed tor, a lawyer. and is
now q minister OF the Gospel. Ee Was born N
Charlotte. y. c.. ant published daily paper
there st the age OF H. He SUBSEQUENTLY, moved
to O1io. studied -aw, anu was admitted 70 prac-
iIce III the United States supreme court. Be-
coming converted he abandoned the law, en-
tered upon theo og cal course and stuffed at
Allegheny CITY, Hartford aud Princeton, where
ne graiu ted. He has been q remarkably sue
cessIul preacher.
The chGr"h whica Mr.. sinclair has just ef: is
one o: the Oldest. well one o. the most cc.e-
bra;cd in New E gland. l; was founded IS the
renownei GeoIge Whitfield I, April :, l74i, and
the original church bu!.dinc, ir&me structure,
is still being used. much OF the quaint Old iurui-
ture remaining in il.
"My pulpit" said Mr.. Sinclair, sis the orig
iual one used by the iir,t pastor, and stands
about sixteen feet above the congregation. The
church was a. one ME the finest in New Eng
land, and was the twelfth pastor OF the con-
sregation, many of my predecessors being
among the most eminent divines OF their day.
Jonathan Parsons, the first pastor, led a regl-
ment at Bunker Hill. have had the honor OF
preaching the funeral sermons OF three OF my
predecessors. The great lecturer John B.
Cough, al tina. time booSbiudsr in NewoUry-
piyf- nod tba nv n
church through the medium OF its sunday
school wora. In the rear OF the church is the
o!d-iashioned fraue house in which the noted
abolitionisg, William Lloyd Garrison, was born
"Tae church contains the only whispering
gallery besides the Mormon tabernacle in Salt
Lake City in America, and Is has been pro-
nounced by eminent critics to be superior 70
that OF 81. Pauls IN London. Icould distinctly
hear in the pulpit the ticking OF watch in the
choir az the other end. But the church is his
toric being founded By the eminent Whit.
f=ld, and as now being his rlausoleun. When
ne died he requested that his remains be- laid
beneath the pulpit The church lie a Mecca for
the great preachers disciples and admirers
throughout the world. register is kept for
visitors names and some OF the most dis
tinguished people in the world have there
placed their signatures. It may seem lfreverent
to speak of it but have laid my hands upon
Whiitield's skull, and one time the noted Joe
Cook wears pretty large hat ana feels con-
siderable pride i'll the fact. He TOOK of his silk
tile and placed it upon Whitheld's skull, over
which it slipped very easily, wnereupou Cook
said: WELL who'd thought it!'
"In one corner OF this church is a ceno:aph Of
italian marble bearing upon its face this in.
scription:
"1his ceno:aph is erected with affectionate
veneration to the memory o; the Rev. George
Whitfield. born al Gloucester, England. Deem
Der Ii, IVA; educated at Oxford university:
dalned 1856. In II ministry OF thirty -four years
he crossed the Atlantic thirteen times and
preached more than 1900 sermons. As u soldier
OF the cross, humble devout, ardent, he put
the whole arlnor OF God. pEeierring the honor Of
Christ 10 his own interest, purpose, reputation
or life As Christian orator mis- deep piety.
disinterested zeal anu vivid Imagination gave
unexampled energy 20 his look, action and at
terance. Bold, ferveIt, pungent and popu ar in
his eioquence, no other uulnsplred man ever
preached 10 SO large ascend lies or enforcsd the
simple truths OF the Gospel by motives SO per-
suasive and awful and with influence so
powerful on the hearts OF his hearers. tie died
of asthma September 30. 1-7o. suddenly ex-
changing his life OF unparalleled labor Tor
eternal rest"