Year: 1878

A PICTURE OF THE GREAT BAPTIST MINISTER.


Imagine man still on the morning side of
45, little below the ordinary height, solidiy
built, with large, and, as the phrenologists
would say, round, and well-balanced head,
covered with strong growth of black hair,
closely cut, full beard, and a face more home.
ly than handsome, yet expressive of great ear
nestness and sincerity, and at times even
beautiful, when his soul is stirred with sym
pathy for his fellow-men-and you will have
tolerably correct idea of the man as he ap-
pears in the Metropolitan tabernacle. When
he is standing at side or profile view, am
constantly reminded of DR.. Hovey. This re-
semblancs to the honored Newton professor
has, an, told, been noticed by others also.
In the street, wearing soft hat, which some
times is drawn down pretty well over his face,
and very plainly dressed, he passes among
strangers as an ordinary man, attracting to
himself no special attention whatsoever. In
private life he is warm hearted and genial ;
moving among his people freely, and as an
equal, always, with his brethren in the minis
try. He is fond of the young, and easily un-
bends in their society; and indulges often,
with them, in their innocent recreations and
pastimes. He is endowed with plenty Of
wit and humor, which he rarely employs in
the pulpit, but which he can use, with telling
effect, upon the platform, and at anniversary
gatherings.


His chief bodily trials are gout and rheu-
matism and he is seldom free from the pain
of one or the other of these trying maladies.
It therefore happens, frequently, that he is in
the pulpit when it would seem that he had
better be in bed. I saw him once enter the
tabernacle from the rear of the platform upon
which he breaches Che has no enclosed pulpit,
but platform, surrounded by railing, ex-
tending quite out into the audience room,
upon which is his chair and table, with his
Bible and hymn book, so weak in body that
he could hardly stand. Advancing to the
front, and partly reclining upon the railing,
with one foot supported by the chair, he
prayed thus:


blessed Master, we are very weak this
morningl Our poor limbs have hardly been
able to bear US hither, yet, Dear Lord, we
have go longed for thee as pilgrims in dry
and thirsty land, that we could not stay away
from thy courts, and the place where thine
honor dwelleth. Now in our weakness, be
thou our strength. Without thine aid, we
shall utterly fail in all our attempts to serve
thee to-day"


And then it seemed to me there came an
instantaneous answer to his prayer, and out
of his weakness he triumphed gloriously. He
has superb voice, full Of strength and melo-
'dy. Take him for all in all, l never knew
better reader. When he is we'll, he deacons
out his hymns, one verse at time. A. broth
er stands by his side who gives the pitch to
the tune, when the whole congregation, rising,
unite in singing, producing at times wave of
harmony inspiring and grand in the extreme
I would willingly walk mile at any time to
hear him read, "Jesus, lover of my SOUL" or
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me-" or Call hail the
power of Jesus name" These masterpieces
of Christian Psalmody fairly glow and burn
under his magical and almost inspired render
ing of them.


He Is said to-,hs growing more mellow us-
he grows in years; and that he does not take
so much pleasure, as he did in his early min
istry, in using his sharp and well-polished
weapons of defense and attack. While, there
fore, he is not less faithful in declaring the
whole truth, its enemies do not so array them
selves against him as formerly. Indeed, there
are but few sober minded people who Go not
now speak of him in terms Of high respect
and commendation.- F. WAsEBURN, in
the Watchman.