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EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

JULY, 1809.

ANECDOTES

OF

THE LATE REV. T. PENTYCROSS.

MR. EDITOR,

As you have, not long since, inserted, a Memoir of my late much - respected Preceptor, the Rev. T. Penty cross, a few slight Anecdotes of that Gentleman may not be unacceptable to your Readers, espe cially as they are characteristic of the man, and may be relied on as authentic. Iam, Sir, yours, &c.

C. B. A.

MR. PENTYCROss had a happy method of fixing the attention of his congregation, by occasionally making a sudden pause ia his discourse, followed by a short and impressive sentence, of which the following is an instance; which will also exemplify his method of improving little occurrences in a strik ing manner.

One Sabbath morning Mr. P. who, like other extemporary preachers, experienced many varieties of frame, was so entirely ingrossed with the importance of his subject, that he exceeded his usual time, and the clock struck one. After pausing a mɔment, he exclaimed with great energy, "Time reproves me,but Eternity commends me!"-and then resumed the discourse with much earnestness, continuing to preach for a considerable time longer in a very impressive manner.

Mr. P. possessed, in an eminent degree, that spirit which ought to distinguish every Minister of the Gospel; namely, an ardent desire of being useful to the souls of men; occasionally evidenced in a way which discovered also somewhat of an adventurous or romantic turn of mind, as will appear by the following anecdote : Being in London, and not having an engagement to preach, he resolved to go to one of those offices where Clergymen are furnished with employ (hoping that he might thus get admittance into some pulpit, where the gospel was not preached); and on asking the gentlemen at the office if he could procure any, he was answered in the affirmative, but that the spot was distant: "And how much will you give me?" said Mr. P. We can only

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afford five shillings.' "That is very little," resumed Mr. P. "but if I take this, you must give me another job in the afternoon." Well,' answered the good man, I believe I can.' Every thing being thus agreed, the next morning Mr. P. went to the church, where he found a numerous and genteel congre gation; and as he was ascending the pulpit, he beheld in the desk an old friend, engaged to read the prayers, who immedi◄ ately recognized him: Mr. P. held up his finger to enjoin silence. Prayers being ended, Mr. P. began his sermon in a strain of elevated animation, natural to him, but very unusual in that congregation. The novelty, warmth, and eloquence of his address (for he was occasionally very eloquent) at first rivetted general attention; but as he got into his subject, and unfolded his peculiar views of divine truth, a great restlessness succeeded in many of his congregation, which encreased as he continued ; but he had reason to believe that his sermon was made the means of converting two of his hearers.

Elated with his success, Mr. P. applied again, previously to the following Sabbath, for further employment; but, no! he had sufficiently stamped his character, he was a Methodist; and therefore not to be permitted to preach there again.

A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE REV. S. OCCOM.

SIR,

IN A LETTER TO THE EDITOR.

OBSERVING a portrait of Mr. Occom in the Evangelical Magazine, without any account of his life, I transmit the fol lowing brief particulars, which may probably be agreeable to your readers.

Mr. Occom was one of the Mohegan tribe of Indians, in Connecticut, North America. He was admitted into the Rev. Mr. Wheelock's school at Lebanon, when a youth, where he learned Latin and Greek, with a view to the exercise of his ministry among the Indians. He married an Indian woman, by whom he had seven or eight children; and kept a school on Long Island, where his wife and family tilled the ground.

He was ordained a Preacher by the Suffolk Presbytery; and was sent on a mission to the Oneida Indians, one of the six na、 tions, and afterwards to several other tribes.

Mr. Occom was the first Indian preacher that ever visited Europe. He came to England with the Rev. Dr. Whitaker, to collect for the support of the Indian Charity Schools. It appears from accounts, afterwards published, that they collected the great sum of 94941. 7s. 74d.

Mr. O. was rather under the middle stature, of a broad make, with long straight hair, tawny complexion; and had a good voice,

There was an original simplicity in his conversation, which rendered it agreeable. He slept two nights at my house when tra, velling with Dr. W. to collect, in March, 1767. A clergyman and a dissenting minister had some conversation with him, who said that he understood the Greek Testament very well.

A friend of mine removed to America in 1788, and settled at Greenburgh, in the Jerseys. In a letter, dated Sept. 24, 1791, he says, he heard Mr. Occom preach at the White Plains. He had then the care of two Indian congregations, about 300 miles distant from the White Plains; and he was informed, that since his settlement with them, they had left off their frolics and their hunting every family had a farm, by which they supported themselves with as much regularity as the white people. They also paid great attention to the education of their children; and a school was established among them for teaching the English language. Mr. Occom was said to be very happy with his people, and they with him; and he hoped that real religion was advancing among them. Yours, &c.

Kettering.

N. C.

A sermon preached by Mr. Occom at New Haven, at the execution of Moses Paul, an Indian, who had been guilty of murder, was printed there, in 1788, and reprinted at London in the same year, by Dr. Rippon. It is a plain, affecting discourse, suited to the awful occasion, on Rom. vi. 23, The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

66

MEMOIR

OF

MR. STEPHEN HALLETT GOLDING.

Ir appears very desirable, that a larger portion of religious biography should be occupied by the lives of pious and exemplary laymen. Though an account of excellent ministers is very instructive, yet several circumstances conduce to render it less generally useful. As they move in a sphere peculiar to themselves, the nature of many of their duties precludes universal imitation; and their superior attainments and zealous exertions, like the skill of a physician, or the bravery of a soldier, are rather admired and applauded than followed. Even their piety is too frequently regarded with a kind of professional reverence only; as the sanctity of a hermit was formerly venerated by the neighbouring multitude, who imagined themselves to be under no obligation to conform to his self-denying example.

We are therefore particularly pleased when we have an oppor tunity of exhibiting the lives of those excellent persons who have appeared in the midst of secular engagements. Short in

deed was the career of the amiable subject of the following Memoir; but he has left behind him a testimony to the power of religion, which will long, and we hope with advantage, be remembered.

Mr. S. H. Golding was born of respectable parents, at Bridport, in the year 1784. Almost from his childhood he discovered an ardent thirst after knowledge; and he possessed, in a greater degree than many, the means of gratifying this laudable desire. He enjoyed the advantage of a classical education, and made some proficiency in mathematical studies. After quitting school he devoted himself to the law; but still embraced every opportunity which his professional engagements allowed for acquiring general knowledge. He frequently rose several hours before day in winter, and pursued his studies with an ardour and perseverance, which enabled him, with a remarkable facility of execution, to accomplish more than most other young personɛ. Many proofs of his industry and application remain in his various analyses of works, and several manuscripts, which his relatives possess.

But it is not our intention to fill this Memoir with an account of the vigour of his understanding, his singular diligence, the extent of his knowledge, or the refinement of his mind and amiableness of his manners. "We could," to use the words of one of his friends," adduce numerous proofs of the warm affection, tender sensibility, and extreme delicacy of his disposition, and of the integrity and disinterestedness which distinguished his cha racter. He discovered a conscientious regard to duty in all his transactions, and exemplary and consistent conduct in every relation."

Our young friend, for the sake of improving himself, corresponded on literary subjects with Mr. J. Clernent, of Weymouth. This excellent youth, who is since dead, was distinguished by his superior acquirements, and was rendered more illustrious by the piety of his life, and the happiness of his death. A Memoir of him is expected from Mr. Cracknell. We have before us copies of Mr. Golding's letters to Mr. Clement; from the first of which we shall extract the questions which he proposes for dis

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1. Which has been productive of most evil to mankind, Superstition or Infidelity? 2. In what consists the difference between instinct and 3. To what are we to attribute the superior stability of the Chinese Government? 4. I have heard that there are particular periods, in which the constitutions of men undergo a material change. What are those periods, and what is the opinion of nosologists concerning them?'

• The two first of these questions,' says he, are moral and philosophical; the third is historical; and the latter, you see, is medical, and is proposed from a desire of information on that head, which perhaps your professional studies may enable you to give.’

Were young men to employ their leisure in such correspondence, it would at least be passing innocently those seasons of particular danger; and, as it would be a powerful stimulus to investigation and reflection, it would enlarge the understanding, and might singularly tend to mutual improvement.

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