The life of Samuel Bradburn, the Methodist Demosthenes.

313 Pages·1870·4.09 MB·English

by  Thomas W. Blanshard

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THE
LIFE OF SAMUEL BRADBURN.
11.MOT MOCK, LONDON.
The Life
OF
Samuel Bradburn,
The Methodist Demosthenes.
BY
THOMAS W. BLANSHARD.
"During forty years Samuel Bradburnwasesteemedthe 'Demosthenes
of Methodism.'"—AbelStevens,LL.D,
"He was considered one oftk*«*iq^jreachers in the land for all the
higherpowersofpersuasive elojirainetj>rJVwsofConference.
ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW.
1870.
Xto.J, 3<?o.

PREFACE.
THOUGH the name ofSamuel Bradburn has long
been a household word in Methodist circles,
yet comparatively few possess any authentic infor
mation respecting him. A considerable number of
second-hand anecdotes of him are in circulation,
which, in another generation will be forgotten, or
retailed in mutilated forms by professional story-
mongers—those social bores, who will doubtless
infest society until the Millennium. A man who was
considered "one of the first preachers in the land,
for all the higher powers of persuasive eloquence,"
certainly deserves a better fate.
Shortly after his death a volume of Memoirs* was
published by his daughter, in which he was repre
sented as a man of very ordinary intelligence and
piety, whose life was a long conflict "with strong
* Memoirsof thelateRev. Samuel Bradburn; consisting prin
cipallyofA NarrativeofhisEarlyLife, written by himself; and
Extracts froma Journal, which he keptupwardsofForty Years.
By ElizaWeaverBradburn. London, 1816.
vi PREFACE.
natural passions, with adverse fortunes, and often
with the dark demon of insanity itself." Little or
nothing- was said of his sparkling humour and im
passioned oratory,—the heart and soul of his great
popularity ; hence the book failed to give a just
impression of his character and abilities, and con
sequently disappointed and displeased even friendly
readers.
In the following-pages an attempt has been made
to remedy these defects, and present an impartial
likeness of the veritable Samuel Bradburn, of whose
sayings and doings we have so often heard our
fathers tell.
The stones of this biographical structure—to use
an architectural simile—have been fetched from many
quarries, and have been fitted together with as little
mortar as possible.
To the friends who have aided him with kindly
counsel, copies of original letters, &c, the compiler
tenders his grateful acknowledgements.
T. W. B.
December2gth, 1869.