A few days ago, for the first time in my life, I enjoyed the pleasure of hearing a sermon from the celebrated Elder John Leland. Passing through the village of C_____, I learned that he had arrived in the place, and was soon to preach a lecture. A desire to hear the man who carried the mammoth cheese to President Jefferson, the story of which was matter of grave history in my earliest childhood, prevailed over my previous determination to stop but a few moments, and I gladly availed myself of the opportunity. I was much surprised to witness the vigor and elasticity of his step, the strength of his voice, and the vivacity of his conversation. He appeared no less gratified than myself with an interview, and asked many questions relative to his old acquaintances in Boston and elsewhere, some of whom he learned for the first time were numbered among the dead. In replying to a question relative to one who is regarded as among our aged ministers, "Oh," said he, "he is nothing but a boy." "Well, Father Leland, how old are you?" "Eighty-six: that is, they tell me so; for I cannot remember the time when I was born, just as some people cannot remember their baptism. However, I think they tell the truth, for I can remember almost eighty-six years ago." "How long is it since you began to preach?" "Sixty-six years, and in that time I have preached about fourteen thousand times. Some years I have averaged as many sermons as there are days in the year. I have become acquainted with eleven hundred Baptist ministers, one hundred and thirty of whom have the christian name John."Punctual as the clock to the hour appointed, he walked to the Meeting-house, and soon commenced his discourse, which was listened to with attention and generally with solemnity, although the occasional singularity of his language would sometimes provoke a smile. He spoke without interruption or apparent weariness for nearly an hour, in a voice of sufficient distinctness and power to be heard with ease. He enjoys a remarkably green old age. His countenance has a delightful expression of cheerfulness, good humour, and oddity, particularly when he is about to give utterance to some of his peculiar combinations of thought. He was at this time at some distance from home on a preaching tour, with an appointment for each day in as many different towns. His influence has been very extensive and powerful through a long series of years, and covers a wide region of country.
========= [From The Baptist Reporter and Tract Magazine, London, January, 1843, pp. 152-153. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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