The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-23
ny HUGH ~. HUDSON

About 100 years ago there lived neG.
Gordonsvtile. Va. wonderfully gifted.
oUr blind, Presbytarian preacher Iiis
name was James Waddel tnew spelled
Waddcil). While living here he
preached IN Presbyterian church
about one-halt nila northeast OK tho
present town ot Gordonsvule. called
Belle Grove aad which later be-
came commonly known "a "rhc Church
ct the Blind Preacher'
Near the beginning OF the aireteenth
century, william writ. she American
5urist ana author vas jourueyins
through tina County OF Orange IS
he travelled along one Sunday. his
eye caught sight OK number OF
horses TIED near rninous old house
not car from the roadside. He knew
at once what L meant This was 4
meeting house Moved m part "by'
the curiosity 10 heHr the PREACHER OF
such wilderuess,' the statesman
stopped ana entered the old building
II WIS The Church % tho Blind
Preacher Tho Oil preacher himself
was IN tho pulpit. or him and Of the
services Mr. Wirr. writint, IN rhs
British SPY says. Cn entering.
VAS struck by his preternatural APP
it1Llilts. re WI - Ll4l ana spare QlLi
man Ills hair wA!ch was covered with
I white cap hts shriveled hands. and
his voice. We're al shaking under yhe
nHUunce OF palsy. aHO Jew minutes
1sccrt1lned TO ma that NJ was blind.
THE first emotions which touched
my breast were those OF mingled pity
and vencrouon- But an. sacred Cod
now soon were all ms feelings changed
The lips OF Plato we're never more
worthy ut 3 prognost!c swarm OF bees
than were the lips OF this holy man
II WAS day OF the administration or
the sacrament. aud his subject, OF
course. was the passion of our Savior
7 had heard the subject handled
thousand times + had thought II ex
hausted long ago Little aid I sup
pose that IN the wild woods OF America
I WAS 70 meet u mun whose eioGuencs
would give 20 rhis topic new ana
more sublime pathos than had ever
before Witnessed.
As he descended from the pulpit to
distribute The mystic symbols. there
was Il peculiar, Il more than human
solemnity in his air and manner, which
made my blood run cold. and my whole
frame sniver
"Hc then drew a picture OF the sur
;erings OF our Savior; his trial before
PLATE his ascent up Calvary; his cruel
hxtion. and his death. knew the
whole history but never. until then.
lectcd. 80 arranged. so colored! II was
All new. and [ seemed 10 hear II FOR
the irst time in my life. His enuncia-
ton was so deliberate that his voice
tremblcd on every syllable. ana every
heart in tho assembly trembled in
unison His peculiar phrases had that
force OF description. that the original
scene appeared to be. at that moment.
before our eyes We saw the very
faces OF the Jews. the staring. fright
full distortions OF malice and rage
we saw the buffet: my soul lSindled
with flame OF Indignation. and my
hands We're fnvoluntarily and convul-
sively clenched. But when he came to
touch on the patience, the forgiving
meekness OF our savior; when ne drew
TO the life. his blessed eyes streaming
in tears 10 hoaven his voice breathing
to God . soft and gentle prayer OF
pardon on his enemies. Father for
give them. for they know not what they
do, tho voice OF the preacher. which
had all along fattered grew fainter and
fainter until his utterancc being en-
tirely obstructed by tho force OF his
feelings he raised his handk erchief TO
his eyes and burst into loud and ir-
repressible flood OF grief. The effect
is inconceivable. The whole house
resounded with the mingled groans ana
sobs AMI shrielis OF tho congregation
1T was some time before the tumuit
had subsidized 80 far as 10 permit him
10 proceed Indeed. Judging by the
usual; bur failacious standard OF my
own weakness. | began TO be very UNI
easy for tho. situation OF TIM peracher.
For could not conceive how he would
he able to let his audience down from
thc height TO which he had wound
them without impairing tho soiemnity
and dignity OF his subject or. perhaps.
shocking them by the abruptness of
tho tall. But no: the descent was rs
beautiful and sublime the elevation
had been rapid and enthusiastic.
The nrat sentence with which no
broke the awful silence was II quota
ton from Rousseau; Socrates died like