Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/373

 KIRWAN. S69 is better policy to puzzle the lower with mystical disser tations upon abstruse biblical texts, than open their minds to the equalizing doctrines of christian charity, and teach them to grumble at the oppressive conduct of those towards whom the catechism teaches them to order them selves lowly and reverendly. But although this was a way of thinking by no means generally applicable to the established clergy in Ireland, still to encourage extempore preaching, accompanied with a l l the graces o f action, force o f eloquence, and labour o f mind i t would introduce, was a n innovation b y n o means palatable t o the cloth. The manner o f the eloquent proselyte Kirwan, was therefore highly obnoxious t o jealous criticism. With one, “it savoured o f popery,”—with another, “it was downright methodism,”—with a third, “it was theatrical and indeco rous,”—with a fourth, “he preached himself and not the Gospel,”—with a fifth, “by abandoning the established usage o f reading his sermons, h e affected evangelism and inspira tion, s o long discountenanced b y the reformed church,” and, i n short, with all, i t was by n o means t o b e counte nanced o r encouraged i n the rising theologians, although i t was politic t o exempt Mr. Kirwan a s a singular instance. Amongst the students i n divinity then a t Trinity College, there were some who saw nothing i n the cultivation o f energetic eloquence incompatible with the sanctities o f the cassock; and who possessed taste enough t o admire and t o emulate a divine, whose pulpit orations had obtained for him s o much celebrity. Amongst these was a young gentleman named Dixon, whose scholastic acquirements had honourably distinguished him a t college, and who had cultivated oratory with assiduity and success. This young gentleman, about the year 1789, obtained deacon's orders, and was t o preach his first sermon i n the parish church o f St. Catherine, Dublin. But unfortunately, a t least for ecclesiastical views, h e thought f i t t o adopt Mr. Kirwan a s his model, and t o deliver a n extempore discourse t o his congregation i n a stile o f eloquence and action, s o much i n the manner o f his prototype, a s t o obtain the high WOL. 11, B B