334 History of Methodism 



friends thought that he was much better, and expressed 

 the hope that he might be able to preach on the next 

 Sunday. "Before next Sabbath," said Russell, "I 

 shall be in paradise." 



In person, Mr. Russell was of ordinary stature, and 

 perfectly symmetrical form; had a well - developed 

 head, keen blue eyes, dark hair, prominent cheek- 

 bones, a nose slightly aquiline, and a rather large but 

 handsome mouth. His voice was highly musical, and 

 admirably adapted to effective speaking. In original 

 powers of mind he had no superior. His perceptions 

 were clear as the light; his imagination glowing and 

 fertile even to exuberance, and his power of reasoning 

 such that it was a rare thing that he left it to the 

 choice of his hearers whether or not to receive his 

 conclusions. His temperament was unusually san- 

 guine, making him confident where others would 

 doubt, and resolute where others would falter. As a 

 minister, his zeal seemed to have no limit; the con- 

 version of the world was the great object upon which 

 his thoughts, his desires, his exertions, were concen- 

 trated. He began to preach without the semblance of 

 an education — scarcely able to read or spell — trusting 

 entirely to his native powers and the grace of God, 

 and his circumstances after this were by no means 

 favorable to a high degree of intellectual culture. But 

 his desire for knowledge of every kind was so intense 

 as to render it impossible for him to lose any oppor- 

 tunity for attaining it; he made himself a well-in- 

 formed man, and there was nothing in his appearance 

 to indicate his entire lack of early advantages. The 

 secret of Mr. Russell's power in the pulpit, said one 

 of his brethren in the ministry v was this: " He copied 

 no man — he was a perfect original — and he was pre- 



