The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-01
DR.. KINGSBURY WRITES
OF GREAT PULPIT ORATORS
And Discourses Delightfully."- of Doub Deems, Moran,
Reid, Gloss, Burton, Archer, Wilson and
Others He Has Known

lovable and great. 1t is an axiom that
the truly great men are always simple
and unpretending. But how do some
men strut and perform when .'clothed
with little brief authority" They make
angels weep" / have heard preachers
from Brooklyn and New York to Mem
phis, and of several denominations
Among Baptists / heard Fuller, J. A.
Broadus, Curry, Sam Ford, Wingate and
other eminent preachers, and one very
distinguished from Boston, in 1868, but
| do not recall his name now 1 have
heard Moses Hoge, Vaughan, Wilson
and dozen other able, we'll finished
PresbyteriaEs. I have heard Hawks,
Ives, Atkinson, Balch, and other eminent
Episcopal divines in both sections.
have heard Bishops Pierce, Duncan, Will
son, Keener Parker DR.. James "A. Dun
can and other preachers of fame and
force, but none equalled the sermons /
heard from Wilson and Burton.
But there may be now just as much
talent and eloquence and reflective power
among the Methodist preachers in this
State as in the time before the great
war. But if so, then l am not properly
or sufficiently informed. L do not gain
say the fact.
l heard DIR. N. +. Reid preach sermons
in Beaufort and Salisbury quite forty
years ago that / recall with great de-
light. They We're very striking and
tender and heart moving. 1 remember
them more distinctly now than do near
ly all of the sermons l have heard in the
last twenty-five years | might cite
some others.
Rev. William Gloss, d. D., was a Vir-
gilman by birth. 1 think his entire min
isterial life was given to North Carolina
I never met him until 1859, when I heard
him preach fairly good sermon. Later
about 1864, l heard a better effort from
him at Weldon. 1t was decidedly inter
esting, and abounded in more of impress
sive diction than l anticipated. My i'm
preston is, that he was not as able in
the pulpit as he was on the floor as a
debater. I heard long ago description
of him that was amusing, if not pre-
cisely accurate. There was camp
meeting. A brother of DR.. Gloss was
journeying towards it when he met a
countryman. He inquired of him if he
had been to the camp meeting, and if so,
what was the news? The reply came:
"Yes, I'm just from there. There is
mighty good prospect. When l left a
preacher was going it strong. He had
got but one side Of his mouth open and
was doing wonders What will happen
when he gets the tother side open, I can't
tell" The brother was satisfied as to
who it was. l never heard DR.. Gloss
make an elaborate speech, but / have
heard enough to judge of his clearness,
acuteness and vigor. When he died and
that great preacher, Bishop George F.
Pierce, of Georgia, heard of it, he said
Or. Gloss was the greatest debater in
the General Conference"-at that time, of
course By the way, the Bishop was
grandson of North Carolina. His father,
the eminent, wise and very great preach
er, DR.. Lovick Pierce, was born in Hall
fax county, n. G.. 1 asked Dr. Deems
once: "Who is the greatest preacher you
ever heard?" / expected him to name
that marvellous Methodist orator, the
president of Dickinson College, Pa, at
which Deems was educated. l forget just
now his name. The answer I recall pre-
cisely: when Lovick Pierce is at his
best, 1 never heard greater" 1 believe
DR.. Deems regarded him as superior to
his eminent and eloquent son. l heard
the Bishop but once, but he was not elo-
quent in the least that day. The birds
do not always sing their richest notes.
Homer sometimes mods. The harp is not
always strung. The orator often reposes
upon his laurels gained. suppose DR..
Gloss was not strictly an eloquent man.
I
and was, l think, wise, safe man, an
excellent counsellor and true friend. He
long served God and humanity, and died
a true, unfaltering believer in the dear
Son of God, the adorable Savior Of
sinners. He died at his son-in-laws
home at Enfield in 1881, believe it was,
about "A years of age. / had gone to
Enfield to deliver an address at the re-
quest of the thousand and more Metho
dists on the Oldest of circuits in the con-
ference, Roanoke, upon the late Rev.
Thomas G.. Lowe. DR.. Gloss was i'll when
1 arrived at Enfield. 1 called to see him,
found him apparently not hopelessly sick.
He was cheerful, genial, gracious, as was
his wont. | saw him some two days
later, and regretted to see that he had
declined somewhat. ! met in his room
Rev. Mr.. Arnold, Rev. G. M. Cooke, and
a very pleasant, promising young minis
ter who died within two years of con-
sumption, but whose name escapes me.
shall never forget that meeting and the
parting for all time. The venerable divine
said this: IF it had been my Heavenly
Fathers will / would have been glad to
have lived a few years longer that
might serve Him further and do some
good to my fellow men. AS to
my future life, l attended to
that long ago." When We made
him goodbye. the three preachers each
shook his hand with words of blessing.
was last and he almost broke my heart,
for when came to him and extended my
hand for final parting, he threw his arms
around my neck, drew me to his bosom,
and gave me his fatherly benediction.
was not anticipating such demonstra-
tion of affection: for whilst he had been
ever kind and genial towards me, l did
not know he loved me So / shed tears
of regret and sympathy then, knowing
that in this little life / should never be-
hold him again, and / thanked God in my
heart for such manifestation of partial
ity and friendship. Many time since
r