The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-08


wise then, if they are exceeding
sorry" when trials come. and great
aud grieVOuS calamitieS befall them
They should be reconciled to Goa, ana
like the Apostle Paul rather glory
in trbulations," trusting that through
Gods sovereign grace they viii unite
together for their good" and should
strive that they may bear all things
unmurmuringly, ana do so by their
patient continuance in we'll doing"
There have been many authors in
England of the past who were not
among the foremost, but who were
gifted, sane, beautiful. Their utter
Ings are to be obtained, and often in
new editions. Among them is Miss
Louisa Parr, who wrote thirty years
ago a novel entitled Dorothy Fox,
and it has merit and interest. 1t is
clean and engaging. Among other
writer's, but of greater fame, some of
whose stories are published i'm mex
pensiVe convenient form. is George
Eliot's little masterpiece. ''Sllaa
Marner.f 1t is really of high merit
and of it's length one of the best novels
i'm our language. II / was to try |
could not ind more than two or three
short novels | would name with it.
Some four years ago an
edition of the novels of the famous
Bronte sisters published i'm several vol
umes including Il number of poems.
1t is known as the Temple edition,
and is carefully edited. A new edition
Of the works Of Edward Fitzgerald,
the friend of Tennyson, in seven vol
umes is accessible. 1t has Il full BIZ
ogra ply of an unique genius, and in
trodution, written by Prof Edmund
Goss, SO admirably equipped and a dis
tinguished English critic. Fitzgerald
was of uncertain qualities and came
to his own years after he had died
He was little known, not much read
While living, but all men of culture
know of HIM now and read some of
his productions, posthumous and
others. He and Tennyson were great
friends. The poet addressed one or
more little poems to him. He was
much of a hermit and lived far
from the madding crowds ignoble
strife
The Methodists in Wilmington must
be highly gratified With the preachers
in charge of the four churches, with
a membership of over 1900. The
new presiding elder, Rev. \. Brad
ehaw. comes With a fine reputation
for service, devotion to duty and abili-
ty. / have heard him but once, and
it was most judiciOus, earnest clear
cut and impressive sermon. and gave
much satisfaction to the congregation
at Market Street NJ. e. church. He
made an excellent impression by his
gracious kindly manners at once cor
dial and simple. Rev. A. T. Watson,
pastor of Grace, made an enViable
reputation during his first year With
that church of $50 members as a de-
cidedly strong. Jealous, faithful
preacher Rev. A. McCullen is a
superior minister and very popular
with his people in the Fifth Street
church. | have heard him three times
and his handling of the end of life
was impressive, felicitous and aggres-
| siVe. one of his sermons was espec-
| tally vigorous and soul lifting. a very
capital effort. The only new preacher
| of the Methodist churches is Rev.
Marvin Culbreth. who was sent TO
| Market street His reception has been
moss cordial. and the membership
Iare delighted and with mucl
cause at the succession. He is a very
| loVable, engaging young man who
comes not with worldly wisdom but
with cody simplicity to administer TO
! his people. He seems to be
| full of the mix of human
| kindness and sympathy for the IN
jured, and the afflicted. AS to
! his gifts let me write after hearing
him but four times He has Il tine,
| Intellectual head. sis voice is soft,
sweet toned, without climatric Voci-
| Iteration and pulpit-beating accom-
paniments, is elevated, at times. but
never strong. 1t is in striking
contrast TO a sharp shill, high Pitched,
raucous. screaming voice that PUSHES
| through you like steam pipe. His
| preaching is of a high grade. He is
eminently intellectual. He is scriptural
| and thoughtful. persuasive. replett
with JUNCTION and Vigor and is stamped
Throughout with sincerity. earnest
ness of conviction, manly indepen>
| dence and cumulative force. Unless
am mistaken. he is a young man
! OF but twenty-four with extraordinary
| promise. ! write as / believe. /
don't recall that in sixty years of
hearing sermons / have ever listen
! ed to one of his preaching ability
| by one of his years. 1 can say-with
caudor of cOnviction-that his dis
course ON Christmas morning was
| indeed quite mastery as to thought
Repression, felicity, beauty and interest.
| If it had been preached by some
grave, eminent dignitary in the church
who came well heralded. it would
| have been easily accepted as a great
| sermon" ! do not hesitate to indorse
the view of a New York State Metho-
| dist Of some Y years, a man of de-
| cided intelligence, who spanking to
| others. declared: 1T was a great SER
mon" | do not wish to exaggerate.
| That sermon really impressed me as
one of the best twenty sermons l
| perhaps ever heard. He delivered an
address before the Y. M. 9. A. to q
good congregation, but | did not hear
| it. 1t is much praised by men who
| were present, and the wide-awake,
progressive Evening Post, very credit
| ably commended it as able and ele-
| ouent. He delivered also an 'ad-
dress by invitation Of the pastor before
| Grace Church EpWorth League
| have not heard from it as | write.