LP-21-John Steele Sweeney

John Steele Sweeney

THE subject of this sketch was born near Liberty, Kentucky, September 4, 1832. His father, G. E. Sweeney, was of Irish descent, and a Baptist in his younger days, but, "when he became a man, he put away childish things" and has since been an earnest advocate for the primitive order of things. His mother, whose maiden name was Campbell, was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and was brought up under Methodist influence, but, for more than thirty years, has been a member of the Christian Church. His parents were poor, and lived in a country not very well supplied with good schools; consequently, his early education was greatly neglected. After he was fully grown, however, he acquired a respectable education.

Having begun the study of the law, he left Kentucky, in 1854, and went to Illinois, where he continued to prepare himself for his chosen profession, and, just as the most flattering prospects were opening up to him as a lawyer, he became convinced that it was his duty to preach the Gospel. Acting under this conviction, in 1856, he entered actively upon the work of the ministry, and has been constantly engaged in this calling ever since. His labors have been chiefly confined to Illinois, though he has preached considerable in Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. During this time, he was located two years in Chicago, and a little over one, in Cincinnati. Most of his labor has been in the general field, and his success there has been all that could be desired, having received into the Church, by immersion, about two thousand two hundred persons. With Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Universalists, and Soul-sleepers, he has held twenty-five public discussions, two or three of which have been published. For one so young, this is a rather pugnacious record; but when the fact is stated that he has declined equally as many discussions as accepted, and that he never challenged nor sought debate but once in his life, we may be inclined to alter our opinion somewhat. He is not afraid of discussion, but does not seek it. He thinks that honest investigation is the most certain way to elicit truth; hence, he has generally accepted all fair propositions that would be of public interest. His debates have always been largely attended, and have never failed to gain new trophies for the cause of Christ. His home at present is at Winchester, Illinois.

Brother Sweeney has, in some respects, a peculiar mind. He can not be called a hard student of books; in fact, if you were with him awhile, you would think he never studies them at all. And yet his brain is never idle. He does not read much, but he thinks. He is forever working at some problem in theological polemics, or arranging Davis and arguments for use in preaching the Gospel; hence, his sermons abound in apt and forcible illustrations. His style of preaching is well adapted to the masses. Every argument is brought out with the utmost clearness, and, however we may be disposed to differ from him, there is never any excuse for misunderstanding him.

While his mind is eminently logical, he has, nevertheless, fine descriptive powers, and is capable of producing superior word paintings. He has seen much of the world, not that he has traveled so extensively--though he has traveled considerable--but he has actually experienced about what is the aggregate of human life, and this experience enables him to form very correct judgments of men and things.

He is six feet high, has dark hair, light hazel eyes, and weighs about one hundred and seventy pounds. He has, naturally, a powerful physical constitution, though it is somewhat impaired by ill-usage. He is social and fraternal in his intercourse with men, but somewhat reticent as to his plans of life.