A Widow in the Pulpit.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 2, 10 November 1869, Page 2

A Widow in the Pulpit.

New York lias had a new scns-it ion in tlio pulpit—the appearance of a woman who has boon licensed to preach as a local preacher. The World says;- -The widow, Maggie Van C'ott, the celebrated female Methodist preacher, fully licensed and commissioned by the evangelical powers that be, has at last made her appearance in the metropolitan field. Last night, 11 1 • widow, blooming and blushing as a newly made bride, mounted the pulpit of the Duauene-strcet Methodist Church, which, by a theological anachronism, is situaie.l in Hudson, near Spring street.- The widow looked her very, very best. Her hair wa> lived and frizzled in the most becoming fashion. Her face glowed with a modes* but conscious splendour as she, stood before the congregation in her rich, hut tasteful, black dross of bombazine. She wore a neat black jot ornament at her throat, and a handsome gold chain peeped from the black belt around her waist. Her large blue eyes were filled with a holy light, and her massive and finely-formed head was lifted as she read the Gospel of Mathew with self-satisfaction and oratorical etfeei.

Every word that she uttered was delivered with unction and telling force. There is considerable, power and attraction in tie: manner in which the widow lifts her smooth white hand and nicely-rounded fingers to the ceiling, and then brings them down with energy on the wooden shelf of the pulpit. When warmed to her subject, her face seems lighted up and full of stirring animation. Her face in happy moments contracts and expands, and her handsomely-shaped body sways to and fro with the excitement. Her elocution is natural and florid, and her sentences are uttered in a bass tone of voice. Her illustrations of the Scriptures were remarkable for their force, and sharply to the point in discussion. The widow is about twentysix years of age, and bears her ago well.