The age-herald., 1900-03-04

feriorg to him. It is Bishop Wilson's brain and stores of knowledge and his profound earnesthess that combine to make his preaching eloquent and all-compelling. Here is the test I have been present when Bishop Wilson has preached to a very plain Congregation a congregation of intelligent men and women but far from scholarly. The building was packed, but I think it is safe to say that not ten people in the house knew anything of the language or terms of text books The bishops discourse was marvellous effort, but 1t was far over the heads of uncultured people, one might have thought. And yet so clear did the preacher make his points that the congregation was spellbound and would have gladly listened for another hour. It was really a meta physical discourse, but being free from the confusing terms of the schools, the plain folks "took it in."
 Bishop Randolph
 One of the most persuasive preachers in the Protestant Episcopal church, according to my judgment, is Bishop A. M Randolph of the southern diocese of Virginia. He knowb how to preach long or short. He Is a past master in short, pathetic sermons. He Is also past master in elaborate dis courses. An eighteen minute sermon he delivered one Christmas was beautiful gem. The last time heard Bishop Ram dooh the discourse lasted over one hour, and il was able and eloquent. For his text he used an epitaph which he had once read in a French graveyard: "He was born a mani he died a grocer" The bishop pro- tested that he had high respect for the hon. est grocer; but some grocers never rose above their worldly business. It was so in all tho vacations of life. Some men have no imagination and go through the world, without any spiritual aspirations. The Subscription would be true on many a grave in France in England, in America: ''He was born a man: he died grocer"
 What about T. Dewitt Talmage? He is still popular with certain class of church. goers, but he does not draw as he once did The Presbyterian church in Washington in which Talmage breaches seats about 2,000. It Is usually filled. But if it were third larger there would be many empty seats. Fifteen years ago in the Brooklyn taberna- cie Talmage attracted more people than even Beecher. He has had larger follow ing Through the press than any preacher who, ever lived. For many years his ser- mons have been widely syndicated in Eu- rope and America Every one in Alabama who reads this paragraph Is almost certain to be familiar with Talmage's sermons as they appear in the newspapers. Talmage is college -bred but he is not a scholar in any nigh sense of the term. He is a sensation alist and his sermons are often grotesque. But there is much poetry in his makeup l andf much homely wisdom in what he | says His voice is nasal and his gesticua- | fioni is comical. Talmage has been car tooned on account of his ugly face, but the | last time I saw him in the pulpit he had ''spFuced up'' and looked anything but a l scare crow His new wife had evidently had something to do with his improved ap- pearance. He looked so we'll that but for l his twangy voice and his ludierous ges- l lures and his mountebank poses, I would | not have recognized him as the same man | who had held forth in the Brooklyn taber- | nacle.
 pr. Charles Berry, the Congregationalist l of Liverpool, Hugh Price Hughes the Wes- | leyian leader of London, Webb-Peploe. rec l tor of St. Pauls church, Hyde Park and a 1 prebendary of St. Pauls cathedral. are | three, interesting preachers'to whom have l listened frequently. but will save the for 1 eIgners for another time.