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256

Observations on the "Fine Man," or Popular Preacher,

[VOL, 2 bing them of the only sure dependence tone of supplication, he delivered one of which nature and reason can possess, the admirable collects of our church, for consolation under the infirmities of which he concluded with the Lord's the one and the uncertainties of the oth- Prayer-There was a certain petitesse, er. Religion, thought I, was given to however, in his delivery of both, that apman to make him happier by making peared to me to fall very short of the him better, by improving his nature and dignified composition of the one and the assisting his reason-but here is a "fine sublime character of the other. I began man" who makes both the source of an to suspect that this "fine man" was inevitable misery that disqualifies both somewhat more of the fine gentleman from reaping the benefits of that Faith which supplies the defects of each.

than becomes the preacher, or befits the pulpit. The text consisted of two By this time I had reached the words" Jesus wept"-it was deliverand found myself too late for a seat in ed with a pause before and a pause after, the body of the chapel: I, therefore, which gave me some idea of his having ascended the gallery, and took possession borrowed from one of our tragedians of the end of a form which happened to the idea of giving effect by suspense. be unoccupied. Here, however, I found At length he began his exordium, with no room for kneeling, and therefore was a pathos of voice that prepared me for compelled to sit during the prayers. a violent attack upon my compassionate While the psalm was singing, I was ac- sensibilities-It was duly interspersed costed by an elderly lady, who assured with common-place remarks upon the me that she had come all the way from afflictions of our mortal condition, which Lisson Green to hear Mr., he was were introduced with a proportionate so fine a man. Did you ever hear accompaniment of Ohs! and Ahs! and him, madam ?”—-On my replying in the the whole enforced with sentential refernegative, she declared I should be quite ences to our own every-day consciousdelighted. As delight was a sensation ness of the instability of human affairs, which I certainly had not experienced in the brevity of life, and the certainty of my first devotional attempt, I was glad death. After a long apostrophe to the to hear that my mind would be recom- grim King of Terrors, he went on to pensed for the discomfiture it had al portray the despotism of the Tyrant, ready undergone. The psalm finished, but totally omitted the power and wiswhich was very properly sung by the dom of his Conqueror. This portraiture objects of the institution and as properly he attempted to strengthen by the mod joined in by the congregation, I looked ulation of his musical voice and the towards the pulpit,and beheld a complete sweetness of its cadences-until he came contrast in the preacher to him whom I to the great fact to which the text referhad just left. He was, in the true sense red-Here he drew a full-length picture of the word, a fine man: there were no of the different members of the dead marks in his countenance of that mortifi- man's family assembled around the tomb, cation and dejection which filled every with all the minute delineation of a porline of Mr. F's. He was tall, and trait painter-and evidently for the purin good plight, and his face bore the pose of practising upon the feelings of marks of good health, and his air was his hearers-passing by the divine and that of a man quite at ease, and upon gracious intervention of the Saviour. very good terms with himself. With My elderly informant burst into a flood much deliberation, he took out his white of tears, and told me that she had very handkerchief, passed it across his mouth, lately lost a dear friend. I had also sufand throwing a general glance of com- fered a like calamity: but the affectaplacency around the congregation, he tion of voice and gesture which pervaded seemed to request they would pray-for the matter and manner of this "fine I could not distinctly hear the whisper man" convinced me at once that he had in which he spoke, and therefore judged no comprehension of those properties of only by his manner. In a soft under- real grief which shun the studied display

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Observations on the "Fine Man," or Popular Preacher.

257

--------------““ those foppish airs And histrionic mumm'ry, that let down The pulpit to the level of the stage," and by which, he justly adds,

"The weak perhaps are mov'd, but are not taught."

of it, and meditate in silence upon the man, but have nothing to do with the cause. His discourse, to me appeared convictions of the Christian. And all more calculated to wound than to tran- such preaching belongs to Cowper's quillize the heart: and I considered it description, when he speaks of more in the light of an impertinent intrusion upon its hallowed sorrows than the gentle condolence of a friend. He certainly was fine in his form, fine in his face, fine in his voice, fine in his phrases, fine in his manner, but he was too fine in all. There was too much study in all-and there was nothing that bespoke I retired from this exhibition fully a personal sympathy in the sentiments, satisfied that the gentleman whom I which he professionally delivered-and in these sentiments there was no religion had heard was a "fine man," a very fine -the calamities of life were heaped one man, too fine for the spiritual office upon another with a merciless confusion, but the consolations of religion were altogether left out. It seemed that this "fine man" thought his work done when he had torn open the wounds of grief which the healing hand of time had nearly closed, and when the tears of his auditory had been made to flow, from a painful feeling of melancholy reminiscence. As the former "fine man" had stripped the soul of hope, so this gentle

which he filled.

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As I left the chapel, I recognized an old acquaintauce, who joined me, and invited me to dine with her. "You are a long way from home," said she, "and I must request you to favour me with I readily complied. your company." My kind friend made some remarks upon my having wandered so far from my parish-church, and rallied me upon my following this popular preacher, who, slie observed, was a "fine man." As this observation was made in an ironical

man robbed the heart of all comfort. The congregation went away with a similar sensation to what a surgeon would tone, I thought myself quite safe in make his patients suffer, who, having ap; which she perfectly concurred, with this telling her my real sentiments of him, in plied a blister to a diseased limb, should tear it off just at the point when the in- remark-"I cannot for the life of me flammation had increased to its highest find out the propriety of leaving one's degree, and should leave the sufferer parish-church for the purpose of hearing without any lenient application to asa man who is called a popular preacher suage his anguish. This style of preach--for I think, in general, such a preacher's ing I considered altogether contrary to pretensions are usually found to depend what constitutes in my mind a fine more upon the partialities of the ignorant preathan cher; there is too much manner, and any genuine claim of his own to pretoo little matter; more of trick than eminence of talent. As to the name of truth in it-it is the language of a a popular preacher, which is so industridramatist delivered with the deciamation ously sought after by most of our junior of a player-it is the man who performs, clergy, I fear it is seldom obtained not the minister who preaches ;-and without some important sacrifices of There is all such pulpit efforts prove pretty plain- principle and spirituality. ly, that the attempt is made more for the something almost suspicious in the character: a man with a good and flexipurpose of shewing off the extrinsic qualifications of the former, than fulfil- ble voice, and a respectable exterior, who ling the solemn duties of the latter, has the art of writing pretty nothings, whose functions are too sacred, and his rounding inflated sentences, and forcing responsibilities too solemn, to be comtears from the eyes of half-a-dozen women, prised in such addresses to the outward insinuates himself into the reputation of man, and such attacks being "a fine man"--because he conwhich men of more manly minds and descends to use a species of trickery profounder reading reject, as unworthy

upon those sensibilities which are most easily excited, and which betray the sorrows of the K2 ATHENEUM. Vol. 2.

258 Visit to the Lake of Killarney and the Ancient Abbey of Irrelagh. [VOL.2

of their exalted function. As to doc- taught and enforced not as his own trine, he is generally very shallow and word, but His whose servant he felt uncertain-hear him in one pulpit, and himself to be, and whose glory he was he is a Calvinist; in another, and you anxious to promote.-Here, then, was a would call him an Arminian; but hear popular preacher, although not "a fine him when you will, you will easily dis- man"-He was more than either; he cover the principal point of his credenda was a sound divine, a truly spiritual that he believes himself to be "a very guide, and a conscientious pastor.-Ah! fine man." thought I, this is just fame, because it is I took my friend's advice; and leav- true character-energy is here the result ing her early, proceeded to St. -'s of conviction, and pathos is the feeling of church. If I had been shocked by one the heart-while both are blended in an "fine man," and disgusted by another, I eloquence which Conscience and Nature was fully recompensed for the mortifica- produce, and Education and Intelligence tion that I had endured from both, by regulate. Well would it be for ministers, the excellent sermon which I now heard who so far forget the dignified station delivered in the purest style of pulpit which they hold, as to court popularity oratory-it was a sermon that St. Paul at all risks, to make this gentleman their might have preached-it was spiritual standard-they would then preach to without mysticism-it was plain with the credit of their profession, to the out familiarity-and it was pathetic satisfaction of the judicious, and to the without affectation-His manner was honour of religion-they would then dignified without assumption, and easy preach their divine Master, and not without flippancy-the tone of his voice themselves-they would then find, that was steady and impressive, and its in- the only popularity worth possessing is flections natural, because his own heart the estimation of the wise and the love acknowledged the truths which he de- of the good-and that to be a fine livered-he commanded attention be- preacher, it is not sufficient to be a cause he deserved it, and the congrega- "fine man," but a sincere Christiantion felt that it was their interest to pay they would, in short, establish their claim it-there was neither presumption in his to the likeness which Cowper draws of doctrine, nor pretence in his piety, and such a preacher as I had just heard. the impressions of which they were conscious were those of an earnest desire to

believe the one and to practise the other. No one who heard him could be sensible of any other disposition of the mind than that which admitted the truth and expediency of all that he taught; and which he enforced with a pious firmness that argued the conviction of his own mind, and with an unaffected humility which proved that he considered what he thus

"I would express him simple, grave, sincere,

In

doctrine uncorrupt, in language plain,

And natural in gesture :---much impressed
And plain in manner, decent, solemn,---chaste
Himself, as conscious of his awful charge;
And anxious mainly, that the flock he feeds
May feel it too."

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THE ABBEY OF IRRELAGH,

NEAR THE LAKE OF KILLARNEY. BY THOMAS STRINGER, M. D.

From the European Magazine.

KILLARNEY may be ranked gers.

The remoteness of the town from

among the neatest of the small the Lake occasions much trouble to towns of Ireland; the streets are of a strangers; and so far from being of any commodious breadth, and well paved; advantage to the inhabitants, exposes and on each side there are raised flag- them to inconvenience by placing them ways, for the convenience of foot-passen- beyond the immediate reach of an object

VOL. 2.]

Visit to the Ancient Abbey of Irrelagh,

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259

of prime necessity-soft water. The proportion. In this respect it is that population of the town has been estimat- Killarney appears so much less attractive ed at five thousand persons. The town than the lakes of the North of England; contains many shops of different kinds. it affords none of those delightful retreats It is also the seat of some manufactures, which abound in the latter country, and The principal one is that of tanning, which invite the passing stranger to tarry which is favoured by the contiguity of and examine the surrounding scenery the extensive woods of oak along the more at leisure; on the contrary, while shores of the lake. A species of strong the eye is allured by the charms of simple coarse linen is made there, called bandle nature, the mind is distressed and perlinen, from an old Irish measure of plexed by the difficulties which are infourteen inches, of that name, by which terposed to the enjoyment of the scene it is commonly sold; and also probably by the neglect and indolence of the by its breadth being regulated by the inhabitants. same standard. In some parts of the The Lake consists of three distinct county of Cork there has been a great bodies of water. The first, which is demand for this narrow linen for expor- called the Upper Lake, lies embosomed tation to the West Indies, where it is among the mountains; the other, situatemployed in making cinctures for the ed at the exterior base of the chain, are slaves. Killarney is the residence of a bounded on one side alone by mounRoman Catholic bishop: his chapel is tains.-The first mountain in the chain spacious, and mass is celebrated in it is Turk; the next Glena; Toomies with much pomp. In its vicinity stands mountain the next, and last in succesa convent for nuns, who appear to devote sion,-now deprived of their venerable the greatest part of their time to the trees.-Begins the domains of Mucruss. education of their own sex. Irish is The entrance is in a decayed village. very generally spoken in the town: En--The house stands near a grove, not glish, however, is becoming every year many yards from the lake.--The cottage more prevalent. There are three inns at is built after the ancient English style, Killarney; but the accommodations, on and is entered by a porch with a flat the whole, are not calculated to induce pointed arch. The architecture is simple strangers to remain beyond the period and pleasing.-The Cascade of Turk is that is absolutely necessary to gratify situated at a short distance from the their curiosity. As the inns are not cottage, at the bottom of a deep chasm sufficiently spacious to admit the great in the side of the mountain. number of strangers who resort to the The old abbey of Irrelagh, or of town during the summer months, the Mucruss as it is now called, stands on an proprietors of private houses find it their eminence in the richest part of the dointerest to have apartments to hire; and main, at a short distance from the road those who reside in them can have every that conducts to the mansion-house. A necessary for the table supplied with few years ago, it was generally lamented, tolerable neatness and regularity, and at that the effect of these ruins in the landa moderate expense, from the inu. It is scape was lost, from their being so much to be regretted that there is no thickly enveloped by trees. The woodplace of public accommodation, nor man has lately been employed to open even a single house, on the confines of them to view on the side of the church, the lake, where apartments can be pro- and now, perhaps, too much is seen. cured; for, independent of passing and The Abbey of Mucruss is a very picrepassing with frequent inconvenience, turesque object from several points of some disgust is liable to be felt from the view. It is seen to most advantage from sudden transition from the rural and the south and west, within the precincts sequestered scenery of the lake to the of the grove. The whole length of the hurry and bustle of a noisy town, which church is about one hundred feet, its is always crowded with idle people, of breadth twenty-four. The steeple, whom beggars, as in every place of built upon four lofty pointed arches, public resort in Ireland, form a large under which there is a free communica

260

Visit to the Ruins of the Abbey of Irrelagh.

[VOL. 2.

-In

to the effect of the ruin; and, combined with the stillness and solitude of deep retirement, the fragments of monumental grandeur, and the frightful spectres of mouldering mortality, form an association highly calculated to inspire the mind with visionary fears.

tion, stands between the nave and the a ruin is likely to inspire.chancel. The principal entrance is at the centre of the cloister grows a the west end, under a large pointed arch remarkably large yew tree. It rises to of blueish marble, embellished by several the height of fourteen feet, with a straight plain mouldings, which are well wrought and smooth bole, and then throws out and in good preservation. From this several large arms, which mount above entrance a very pleasing view opens of the highest walls, and overshadow the the great eastern window, which, is seen greatest part of the building. Such is through the arches of the steeple; and the gloominess diffused over the cloister also of the large portal of the transept on by its thick and dusky foliage, that the the south side of the nave. The cloister bat is frequently seen flitting the vaulted was the best executed part of the whole arches at noon-day. This tree, it may fabric; and it is still perfect. It con- be supposed, was long a favourite with sists of a quadrangle of forty-six feet, the monks; but much as they might encompassed by a walk six feet wide, have rejoiced in its flourishing state, had whose pillars and arches are finished they continued to occupy the monastery exactly alike, and are formed of blueish to the present day, they must have conand pale red marble. At two of the sented, however reluctantly, either to contiguous sides the arches are of the strip it of its honours, or to relinquish sharp pointed kind, commonly known the studies of their darkened cells. by the name of Gothic, and are ten in The vaults and winding passages of number, the corresponding sides contain the abbey are still more gloomy than twelve semicircular arches. At two of the cloister. This obscurity adds much the opposite corners of the cloisters there are stair-cases leading to the cells over the vaulted walk, and to the chief apart ments of the abbey. The latter are in a very dilapidated state; but several of the cells remain entire; and under the little grates by which they were lighted, one may still see the broad flat stones upon which the monks offered up their orisons, worn and polished by the pressure of many a holy knee. Around the summit of the building there is a safe walk, defended by an embattled parapet. The lake from hence is just visible through the trees; and were a few of the intervening branches removed, the view would be delightful; it is impossible not to extol the taste which the monks displayed in choosing a situation for their abbey. The remembrance of what this abbey Once was is fresh in the minds of the country-people, and many a pious devotee, impressed with its sanctity, may be seen before the tombs and ancient shrines in deep and earnest prayer. The appearance of these poor people, clad in russet garments of considerable length, prostrated on their knees, and counting their beads with all the enthusiasm of devotion, is quite in character with the solemnity of the scene, and calculated to increase the solemnity and religious awe which the contemplation of so venerable

This abbey is a common and favourite place of burial; the limits of the cemetery are small; the depth of the soil inconsiderable. The consequence is, that coffins with their mouldering contents are not unfrequently removed to make place for others, long before decency can warrant such a measure. A day scarcely happens without a burying at Mucruss Abbey; and disagreeable as it must be to the proprietor of the domain, especially in this country, where such a concourse of people attend the ceremony of interment with cries and howlings, yet it is not thought expedient to oppose it. The attachment of the Irish peasantry to their family burying-places is boundless. Bodies are not unfrequently brought from a distance of twenty miles across the mountains to be interred at Mucruss Abbey; men, women, and children, following in multitudes: and were any attempts made to prevent future buryings in the abbey, it probably might, even in this peaceable neighbourhood, be the occasion of alarming disturbances.

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