Michael Faraday: Third Edition, with PortraitGladstone, J. H. (John Hall)
Science
Michael Faraday: Third Edition, with Portrait
Gladstone, J. H. (John Hall)
Faraday, Michael, 1791-1867
Let us now suppose that it is a Sunday on which we are watching this
prince among the aristocracy of intellect, and we will assume it to
be during one of the periods of his eldership, namely between 1840
and 1844, or after 1860. The first period came to a close through
his separation both from his office and from the Church itself. The
reason of this is unknown except to the parties immediately concerned,
but it will be readily understood how easily differences may arise
in such a community as that of the Sandemanians between an original
and conscientious mind and his brethren in the faith. He, however,
continued to worship among his friends, and was after a while restored
to the rights of membership, and eventually to the office of elder. In
the morning he and his family group find their way down to the plain
little meeting-house in Paul's Alley, Red-cross Street, since pulled
down to make room for the Metropolitan Railway. The day's proceedings
commence with a prayer meeting, during which the worshippers gradually
drop in and go to their accustomed seats, Faraday taking his place
on the platform devoted to the elders: then the more public service
begins; one of a metrical but not rhyming version of the Psalms is
sung to a quaint old tune; the Lord's Prayer and another psalm follow;
he rises and reads in a slow, reverent manner the words of one of the
Evangelists, with a most profound and intelligent appreciation of
their meaning; or he offers an extempore prayer, expressing perfect
trust and submission to God's will, with deep humility and confession
of sin. It may be his turn to preach. On two sides of a card he has
previously sketched out his sermon with the illustrative texts, but the
congregation does not see the card, only a little Bible in his hand,
the pages of which he turns quickly over, as, fresh from an earnest
heart, there flows a discourse full of devout thought, clothed largely
in the language of Scripture. After a loud simultaneous "Amen" has
closed the service, the Church members withdraw to their common meal,
the feast of charity; and in the afternoon there is another service,
ending by invariable custom with the Lord's Supper. The family group do
not reach home till half-past 5; then there is a quiet evening, part of
which is spent by Faraday at his desk, and they retire to rest at an
early hour.
Again on Wednesday evening he is among the little flock. The service
is somewhat freer, for not the officers of the Church only, but the
ordinary members are encouraged to express whatever thoughts occur to
them, so as to edify one another. At these times, Faraday, especially
when he was not an elder, very often had some word of exhortation,
and the warmth of his temperament would make itself felt, for he was
known in the small community as an experimental rather than a doctrinal
preacher.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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