CHAPTER VI
Visited my Relatives in Batavia, Ill.—My Brother's Letter Describing the Meeting.—Other Visits Made there.—His Estimate of Dr. Hopson.
As yet Dr. Hopson had never seen any of my relatives, and concluded to visit them at this time. I will let my brother, M. N. Lord, describe his visit to Batavia, and my family:
Dr. Hopson's first visit to myself and other relatives of his wife then living in Batavia, Ill., occurred the last of April, 1851. I was very favorably impressed at our introduction upon his arrival. His personelle pleased me. His dignified, manly and erect figure; his splendid physique; his gentlemanly, courtly and pleasing address; his frank, open and kindly way of approaching one, not only challenged one's admiration and commanded respect, but it compelled one to give him a warm place in one's heart. This much for my first impression.
"At the time I was baptized, there was an understanding between the Baptists and myself, that I would worship with them until I found a people who took the Bible, and the Bible alone, as their rule of faith and practice. In accordance with such understanding, I remained with them until this visit of Bro. Hopson's. My position with the Baptists opened the way for him to preach in the church. In fact, at that time I controlled the house. Another fortunate circumstance occurred to make the enterprise easy. The Baptist minister was away on a vacation of two weeks; hence no opposition from that quarter. The arrangement was made immediately after Bro. Hopson's arrival, to speak several nights, as well as on Lord's day. I had notices circulated throughout the town and neighborhood, and the people who had never heard a Christian preacher came together to see what new doctrine this man had to teach. Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Universalists, religious and irreligious people were all represented.
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"What my sister had written and said to me about Bro. Hopson's ability as a preacher and teacher, had aroused my curiosity and given me quite an exalted idea of his power. It is almost thirty-six years since that night, memorable to me. His themes selected for the occasion, as I now remember, were as follows: `The Sonship,' in which he proved that God had selected `His Son,' through whom he spoke to man. Those who have listened to his logic and eloquence when presenting the claims of the Son of God, and especially when he was at the summit of his fame as a preacher of the gospel, can well imagine that the mass of people before him on the first night were spellbound. His simple but clearly stated propositions; his proof adduced; his logical and masterly arguments; his summing up his case on the ends of his fingers-presenting the whole in such a way that all could see the structure in all its parts, and comprehend and understand it. Added to the matter presented was his manner as a speaker. All were pleased; but when, at the close, he made his appeal to the people, all hearts were captivated. They wanted to hear more.
"The next night the house was crowded long before church time. His theme was `The Inauguration.' As it was the first night, so it was the second. When we separated for the night, we all agreed upon one point-and that was, we must hear more of the new doctrine.
"The third night, as I sat in that large and silent audience, giving him my profound attention as I listened to his discourse on the `Exaltation and Coronation of the Son of God,' I thought then, and still think, it was the greatest subject ever presented to men or angels. I thought then, and still think, it the most sublime theme that ever challenged the attention of sinners or saints on the earth. I thought then, and still think, that the effort made by Bro. Hopson that night has never been excelled, and seldom equalled. The intellectual structure reared by him that night, founded upon the sublimest of all themes, was the grandest and most solid that mortal man ever gazed upon. That speech, as all the others he preached at that time, although thirty-six years have intervened, is as fresh in my mind as the night I first heard it. The impression made was deep, indelible and lasting. I can repeat the sermons today; so with all I ever heard him preach. They were all uniform. Since I listened to those discourses I have had the pleasure of hearing Alexander Campbell and all of
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our distinguished men-and, we have had, and now have preachers of great ability-but of them all, Dr. Winthrop H. Hopson, taken as a whole, is my model preacher.
"His fourth speech was on `Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth.' This was the one subject, of all others, I most needed. Eternity will not be long enough to blot out the impression made upon my mind. The Bible, from that night, was no longer mysterious in any of its parts. It was plain and simple. From that date I felt competent to instruct others in the way of life. To this, the many hundreds whom I have baptized will bear testimony. How little do they realize that, under God, they are indebted to Bro. Hopson, who was my instructor in the Word!
"His meeting closed with two confessions and baptisms, although no particular effort was made at that time, as there was no Church of Christ in Batavia, or nearer than Chicago. However, the impression made upon the minds of his hearers, in a short time brought forth fruit. I soon had a church organized, and the work was continued. Bro. Hopson returned in August, 1853, and held another meeting, which resulted in ten additions. His stay was short.
" In October, 1858, he again visited us, and delivered seven or eight discourses and had fifteen confessions. I was in business in Chicago, and not present at this last meeting.
"From Batavia he came into Chicago. The church in Chicago was then worshiping in their new church, which I had caused the brethren to build on Monroe Street, Brethren Honore and Major furnishing a large portion of the means. Here Bro. Hopson held a meeting of ten days, with about twenty additions.
"Touching my impressions of Bro. Hopson, I deem it proper to stag, in conclusion, that for thirty-six years I have looked upon him as one wholly devoted to the great interests of the kingdom of Christ. The resurrection and exaltation of the Son of God gave inspiration and impulse to his loyal, loving and generous heart, while every instinct of that heart was interwoven with his love for his Master and his desire to save sinners; it was always filled with sympathy for the erring, who had alienated themselves from human love as well as divine favor. The victories of the Gospel to him have been grander in achievement, more glorious in results, and far greater in magnitude-because victories of peace-than all the victories of this world's wars have been to its heroes.
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"Bro. Hopson's rare gifts as a Christian orator; his clear, incisive and logical way of stating his propositions; his convincing proofs and his demonstrative reasoning, made him conspicuous everywhere he preached. His loyalty to the `Word of God'; his fidelity to the truth, and his unfaltering determination to stand by both; his boldness and frankness of character; his energy and force of manner, and his zeal in the advocacy of the claims of Christ and Christianity, classed him among the ablest speakers in or out of the Christian Church.
"His earth work, in all probability, is finished. He is no longer a conspicuous figure among his peers, in the restoration of the `Gospel and Church of Christ'; his voice will he heard no more in the councils of the brotherhood: but his fidelity to Christ, his example in the church and before the world, with the great work he has done, will be cherished in the loving hearts of thousands of his brethren and sisters in Christ, who remember him in the strength of his manhood.
"M. N. Lord.
"Glen Lord, Mich., February, 1887."
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