, gave it up in a year to two maiden sisters of their father, the Misses Isabella and Wilhelmina Cochran. Mr. Cochran always tenderly and regretfully remembered his young mother. In a letter written nearly twenty years later, he^peaks of the difference there might have been in his character "had I known, as I never have, a mother's love and a mother's care. These I have only known from the want of them, and the thought of that want, of how much better I might have been with them, makes my heart and throat full. But God knew best when He took away father and mother and sent me forth to fight the battle alone — not leaving me alone, but giving me His own strong arm to lean upon. Blessed be His name that He has not forgotten me! I have done everything I could to make Him leave me, refused His Spirit, forgotten His mercies, despised His love, rejected His grace, broken His covenant, wandered from His way, Early Days. 3 provoked Him to wrath in ways that He alone can understand to the full, and yet, forever bless- ed be His holy name, I can rejoice, this morn- ing, in the forgiveness of sin, and I, even I, the chief of sinners, can hope to-day for eternal life. How unsearchable is His goodness ! How won- derful His patience ! Yet, in spite of all this, the heart longs for human affection, forgetting, more than it ought, that that longing may be met in Christ." The tenderness which his childish heart crav- ed was abundantly bestowed by his father, who tried to be father and mother both to his be- reaved little ones. He exercised the most watchful supervision overall their varied needs, their schools and lessons, their sports, and their religious education. He heard them recite their lessons every evening for the next day, saw them to bed, and tucked them in as a mother might have done, with many a tender word and kiss, and prayer. He never left the house in the evening till they were settled in bed, and then only to visit relatives. He gave up all other society for their sake. Though at this time not very well off pecuniarily, he hired French and German and music masters, and was very desir- ous for thorough education for them all. He often visited their schools and talked over plans 4 A Memorial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. and methods with their teachers, being spe- cially anxious that, while carefully instructed, they should not be unduly pressed. His own excellent education made him especially com- petent to direct that of his children. His son afterward passed on this same watchful super- vision and exceeding tenderness to his own children. Williams was prepared for college at the Polytechnic Institute in Brooklyn, where his successful scholarship is abundantly testified to by his school reports. He greatly enjoyed his school life, and thoroughly respected his prin- cipal, Dr. John H. Raymond, and used to like to tell how astonished he was when, long after-* ward, he called upon him at Vassar College, of which he became President, to find he was quite a small man. He had so looked up to him at school that he fancied he must be tall, and was quite unprepared to look down upon him from his own manhood's height, six feet one. His parents were members of the Second Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, whose pastor during Mr. Cochran's childhood was Dr. I. S. Spencer, so well known as the author of A Pas- tor s Sketches. All his life he treasured a Bible with Dr. Spencer's autograph, given him for committing to memory the Shorter Catechism. Early Days. 5 He was converted in the spring of 1857, under the preaching of Dr. Willis Lord, then pastor of the Second Church, afterward Professor of Theology in Chicago Seminary. Of this event he writes : " My surrender of myself to Christ occurred as I was listening to a sermon from 1 John iv. 10, 'Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.' As the min- ister spoke of the love of Christ in dying for our sins, I was moved to realize my sin in not loving the Saviour, and to pray for pardon then and there. Of course my pious training and the Christian privileges I had enjoyed had their effect in bringing me to this state, but I believe this was the turning-point. I afterward learn- ed that Dr. Lord was particularly downcast after that sermon, and went home mourning over the unprofitableness of his ministry. " Though I had decided the great question of my salvation, I kept the matter to myself for nearly a year, and did not unite with the Church until April, 1858, when I was received, with nearly thirty others — the fruit of the ' revival of 1857,' as it was called. There was no special interest in the church when the change came to me, however. The reverse, rather, was the case." For several years he went to Brooklyn on the anniversary of his first communion, and ob- 6 A Memorial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. served it in his old church there, with renewal of his first consecration. After his death his pastor, Dr. Lord, who soon after followed him to his reward, writes : " I wish I could express, at some fitting length, my impression of your now sainted brother as he was when a boy, and one of my flock in Brooklyn. I am, however, too feeble to write. I can only say that I thought him one of the finest boys I ever knew. His quality was golden, and that beneficent and beautiful life which he afterward lived was the proper unfolding of the clear and sure promise of his childhood. In his case the child was the father of the man." The following is his own account of his call to the ministry: " From my earliest years I felt that I ought to be a minister. The conviction came to me, I think, through the consecration and the wish of my parents, and my knowledge of that wish. The idea seemed to form a part of my natural feeling and expectation in regard to the future, without ever coming to me with any special force." The friends of his youth testify that he seem- ed born to be a minister, that his choice of any other profession would have seemed incongru- ous, while that of the ministry just fitted him. It was because, in the combined strength and Early Days. J beauty of his character, he so resembled Him who came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. The "Let me serve" carved upon his monument may well be considered the motto of his life, adopted in its earliest years, and faithfully lived up to till its close. He entered the New York University in the fall of 1858. He was an earnest and successful student, always maintaining the highest stand- ing, both in scholarship and conduct. He was loved and respected, both by professors and students. His journals bear testimony to his anxiety for the conversion of his young friends, prayerfully naming those to whom he spoke about their souls, recording appointments made for conversation on religious topics, and occa- sionally making joyful mention of some one for whom he had been praying and working, who had been hopefully converted. On the morning of April 28, 1859, his father read at family prayers the fifth chapter of II Corinthians, beginning, " For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dis- solved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." That afternoon the father and son met in New York, and attended to some necessary errands. They parted, the son going home, and the father to 8 A Memorial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. his country house at Sing Sing to make arrange- ments for the removal of the family there for the summer. They never met again in this life. Mr. Cochran, while walking over the grounds with his faithful and efficient gardener, felt suddenly ill, and ordered his. carriage that he might be driven to the doctor's. When the carriage was ready, the maid knocked at the bedroom door to announce it. She got no re- sponse, so told the man to bring the doctor, as Mr. Cochran seemed to be asleep. When the physician came, Mr. Cochran was found lying dead upon the bed. The news was a terrible shock to his children, who loved and rever- enced their father in an unusual degree. Doubt- less the sore affliction had its effect in develop- ing their characters, and making them more self-reliant than they otherwise would have been. Williams at once felt the responsibility of an eldest son, and endeavored to take a father's place to his brothers and sisters, but it seemed as if their earthly all had been taken; and for months — he testified in after life — he moved about as one in a dream. Mr. James B. Cochran was very tender and lovable, all his friends bearing witness to his kindliness. To quote the words of his Sing Sing pastor, Dr. Phraner, at his funeral : " He Early Days. 9 was just the man on whom a pastor could lean — sensible, cheerful, cordial, hopeful, ever ready to sympathize with and aid every good cause, efficiently but modestly doing his work without cither giving or taking offense; ready, indeed, to occupy any place or to do any work if it was for Christ. The cause of his Master seemed equally dear to him, whether in city or country, and for this reason we always looked with much pleasure for his return among us, confident that the next Sabbath would find him in his accus- tomed place, both in the sanctuary and in the Sabbath-school. He lost no time in this trans- fer of his residence, hence notice was given to his class on last Lord's day that on the ap- proaching Sabbath they might expect the beloved teacher with them again." For nearly forty years he labored in the Sunday-school as teacher or superintendent. The day before his death he was with his class in Brooklyn, instructing them in the Word of God. He was of a most benevolent nature, always giving with a free hand. Indeed, his pastor testifies that he had often to stand between his generosity and the disposition of some to im- pose upon him more than his share, both as to contribution and labor. Faithfulness, unselfish- io A Memorial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. ness, and generosity marked his character, as they afterward did that of his son. He was very fond of singing, loving to have music in his home, and his son delighted to sing to his own children the hymns his father sang — "A Poor, Wayfaring Man of Grief," " Poor and Needy Though I Be," and " I Heard a Father Crying." A few months after the death of Mr. James B. Cochran, his brother, Mr. Samuel Cochran, of New York, died, leaving his widow alone and childless. It was thought best for the two be- reaved families to unite and make a home together, and in the fall of 1859 Mr. James Cochran's family, including the two aunts, went to live with Mrs. Jeannette S. Cochran, 34 West Twenty-first Street, New York. They became connected with the Scotch Presbyterian Church in Fourteenth Street, then under the pastoral care of Dr. McElroy. Mr. Cochran and his sister Mary at once took classes in the church Sunday-school, and also in the mission school for colored children, which was supported by the church. In the latter school especially, it being the most needy, he labored earnestly, and his journal bears record of his constant visitation of his scholars, and of his attendance at the sick and dying beds of several of them. Early Days. 1 1 The superintendent of the colored school writes of this period : " I have few things in the retro- spect of work in this school more pleasant to me than that of visiting among the scholars with Mr. Cochran. We did this a great deal together, on our Lord's plan of going in twos; and no more delightful companion in such work could well be imagined. He was also our chorister on the Sabbath, and in every way in his power sought to promote the welfare of the school." Even at this early period, when he was but nineteen years old, an incident occurred that showed he had already begun to develop those qualities which made him so acceptable a vis- itant to those who were sick or in trouble. A Christian gentleman in mature life, one who was not an especially intimate friend, was taken suddenly ill, and went down to death with but a few hours' warning. The day before he died he was told his condition, and asked if he would not see a minister; he replied, "I would rather have Will Cochran come and pray with me than any one else." The young man came to his side ; they talked quietly and peacefully for a little while of the bright home that was awaiting the dying one in heaven, and of the Friend that was taking him there, and then Mr. Cochran knelt with the wife and 12 A Memorial of Rev. L W. Cochran. mother and commended him to the Saviour. This was the first of many whose paths into the dark valley were smoothed by his ministra- tions. After this he was often sent for by the dying, even before he entered into the active work of the ministry. He was a "son of con- solation " by virtue of his own experience of sorrow, of his ready sympathy with the sorrow- ing, and of his unusual tact in saying just the word that was needed in every case. His strong faith, "as seeing Him who is invisible," enabled him to strengthen the trust of those who listened to his words. His gift in prayer was even then remarkable, enabling him to voice the needs of those whose supplications he led. His family retained their Sing Sing residence as a summer retreat even after the Brooklyn home was broken up. The four young people greatly enjoyed it, as it preserved their inde- pendent life as a family, and their youthful spirits found free vent there after being held a good deal in check in their winter home in New York by the age and afflicted condition of their aunts. They had very lively times at Sing Sing, filling the large house all summer long with their young friends. There was constant hilarity, and many good-natured tricks were played off on each other. Early Days. 13 He graduated at the New York University, June, 1862, with the valedictory honors, and entered Princeton Theological Seminary in September of that year. In both college and seminary he won the love and respect of his fellow-students in a marked degree. A distin- guished classmate said of him while he was still in active work, " He was the holiest man in Princeton Seminary while he was there." An- other classmate writes, " My life will never lose the impress made by his deep and true Chris- tianity. He spoke a word of cordial invitation to me at college which I never forgot, and at Princeton, again, his presence was singularly helpful to me." Another who was with him at school and college writes : " He took a leading stand in class from the very first term until he received the appoint- ment as Valedictorian. While a hard worker, he was no mere plodder, but a man of broad brain and earnest purpose. He was a universal favorite. He won the respect of his teachers not by fawning and flattery, but by honest work and irreproachable deportment. He never en- tered into any of the political scheming which always divides classes into cliques, but was the friend of everybody. He was a thoroughly hon- est friend, ready to withstand you to your face, 14 A Memorial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. but his rebukes were always given without acri- mony. We always understood that he was a high-toned Christian man. " I remember a little argument we had one day about the use of ' ponies.' I thought it not amiss, and bought a Bohn for every Tauch- nitz. He called me to account for it, and gave his experience, which I think was unique in our class, of a man who had walked every step of the weary way through the classics. " I remember well his able exercises in college prayer-meetings, and in the Young Men's Chris- tian Association, where he was always ready to confess his Master. " I was never at his house, except when the class was so hospitably entertained at the Sing Sing mansion the week we graduated. That was a red-letter day in college life; we did enjoy it hugely. I have pictures of all its scenes hung up in memory. " In conclusion, let me say that I never had a friend who, boy and man, has left on my heart such an impression of noble, exalted manhood. Courageous yet gentle, brave but not pugna- cious, conscientious, studious, pious, he would have been a martyr had he lived in the days of the stake and the scaffold; as it was, he walked with God, and in his earthward conversation was a laborious, useful servant of the Crucified." Still another, a seminary friend, writes: "After the interval of twenty years since I saw him, my recollections are more of a general char- Early Days. 15 acter than of particular impressions, more a sweet fragrance of precious memory that cannot be precisely defined or measured than anything that can be brought into formal expression in words. There was no one of the students in the seminary, among many noted men, who com- manded to a higher degree the respect and esteem and, I may add, the admiration of all. Certainly I can say for myself that no other made so deep an impression upon me as he did, and the remembrance of what he was as a model Christian gentleman, a sincere and earnest man of God, has been to me an inspiration whose influence for good I have, as a minister of the gospel, often felt, and still feel. I recall one instance in particular in which he has been in my thoughts many times in all these years. The Sabbath afternoon conference in the ora- tory is an institution peculiar to Princeton Seminary, I believe. The professors, two or three of them, speak in turn to all the students on some previously announced topic. These meetings are very greatly esteemed by the students, and they are often peculiarly precious in their seasonable instructions and the spiritual privilege which they furnish. I think the topic at the time referred to was 'The Holy Spirit,' and the addresses were so tender, and the minds of all were so under the influence of the theme and the occasion, that it seemed at the close as if a word, even a prayer, from another voice would mar the delightful harmony and grate upon the feelings. Dr. Hodge called upon Mr. Cochran to offer the closing prayer, 1 6 A Memorial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. and his first words of address to the Holy Spirit, 'O Thou Spirit of all grace,' just seemed to be the fitting expression of pent up feeling, while the prayer that followed completed the impres- sion of the Spirit's nearness, of His abiding presence and power. I have never had a more decided conviction of its being the right man at the right time than when Cochran offered that prayer. He was a man among a thousand, and I have often thought of him as an illustration of those words. His very face was a benedic- tion, and, as it seems to me, his life in any community would be a blessing to them, and a forcible preaching of the gospel, even if he had never entered the pulpit. He was a preacher of no mean intellectual force, but pre-eminently all who knew him would pronounce him a true man and a good man, and I know of no higher praise than that. Of a singularly lovely spirit, he was withal a thoroughly manly man. His piety was not only of that true and sterling stamp which admits of no question, but he was also endowed with good strong common sense and a well-balanced judgment, which made him a wise counselor, as I have personal reason to remember. His prominence among the students was due entirely to his force of character and personal worth. In many ways, and in many places, and to many hearts it is emphatically true that the charming and blessed influence of his beautiful life will long remain, and that he, being dead, yet speaketh." On July 22, 1863, his only sister, Mary, mar- Early Days. 17 ried the Rev. Thomas Carter, and went to live at Pluckamin, N. J. The house at Sing Sing - was then sold, severing another tender tie. In the summer of 1864 Mr. Cochran and his two brothers, with some young friends, went to the Adirondack's to spend some weeks camping out, hunting and fishing. A week or two passed delightfully, when suddenly the youngest broth- er, Samuel, eighteen years of age, was taken with very severe hemorrhage of the lungs. They were at a distance from any physician, but removed him, as soon as he was able, to a hotel, where there was a doctor from Boston who made lung troubles a specialty. But they had to send ninety miles through the woods when a prescription had to be put up. Twenty years afterward a friend and classmate, visiting the Adirondacks, and seeing Mr. Cochran's famil- iar writing in a presentation inscription in a Bible in the hotel parlor, spoke of him to the hostess, and found that, though in the interven- ing years hundreds had come and gone, she retained a very definite remembrance of him, and was enthusiastic in his praises. Though the lad lived nearly five years from this time, his life was a constant struggle with ill health. Mr. Cochran's love for this young brother was very tender. He regarded him as 1 8 A Memorial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. "brother at once, and son," and the boy looked upon him as taking to some extent the father's place. He used to call him " Old Bill," with a very tender undertone beneath the boy- ishly familiar name. In the fall Mr. Cochran accompanied this brother to the West Indies, whither he had been ordered by his physician. In this journey they were accompanied by Mr. Frederick Hosford, an intimate friend, who had been with Mr. Cochran in school, college, and seminary, who was also in failing health, and who died the following year. This absence in the West Indies necessitated leaving the sem- inary for a year, and the interruption to his stud- ies was a great trial to Mr. Cochran, but he was ever ready to sacrifice his own interests to the good of others, and the duty in this case seem- ed imperative. They spent the greater part of the winter in a resort among the hills of Ja- maica, and then visited Cuba and the Barba- does. He was too earnest a student not to spend much of his time over his books, but he greatly enjoyed the tropical scenery, fruits, and flowers. His own class in Princeton graduated before his return to the North, but the follow- ing fall he entered the next class, and grad- uated with it in 1866. On October II, 1865, he was licensed to preach by the Second Pres- Early Days. 19 bytery of New York, and in December of the same year he became engaged to Annie, only daughter of Mr. Robert Carter, publisher, of New York, whose eldest son, Thomas, had been married three years before to Mr. Cochran's only sister. This double connection was pro- ductive of the greatest happiness. He was received as a son and brother into the family, and the tie of adoption became in time as strong as that of blood. There was entire community of thought and feeling between him and his betrothed wife. The union only grew stronger and more tender with passing years, a union which death itself could not sever. There is nothing more beautiful in romance than his letters, both before and after marriage, letters in which his whole soul shone forth. In Mr. Carter's family a patriarchal fashion obtained for a quarter of a century, which was unique in its way. He had two sons and a son-in-law in the ministry, and during their vacations he took all his descendants to some pleasant summer resort among the hills or by the shore. Twenty of these annual summer holidays were spent among the Berkshire hills at Stockbridge and South Egremont, Mass. Sometimes the party was increased by intimate friends until it num- bered nearly forty. All depended upon and clus- 20 A Memorial of Rev. I. W. CocJiran. tered around the aged couple, who found so much of their happiness in making the happiness of others. These were bright and sunny days to all, and will furnish happy memories to the young people till their locks are gray. None entered more heartily than Mr. Cochran into the spirit of these gatherings, both before and after his marriage, and he was always foremost in games and straw-rides, and merry-makings of all kinds. Sometimes the ministers would send off the clergyman of the village for his well-earned vacation, supplying his place in the pulpit and prayer-meeting, and always taking a large part in all the religious gatherings of the neighborhood. Mr. Cochran graduated from the seminary in the spring of 1866, and in October of the fol- lowing year went to Europe, accompanied by his aunt, Mrs. Samuel Cochran, and his young- est brother, both of whom were in delicate health. His trip was a source of immense plea- sure and profit to him. His cultivated mind reveled in the scenes of ancient and modern history, and his religious nature was quickened by a further extension of the journey to Egypt and Palestine. The latter part of the journey was of especial value to him in his ministerial work. As he went he preached, not only in Early Days. 21 frequent public services, but in words dropped by the way, to fellow-travelers, guides, sailors, sometimes in French, Italian, or German. A few extracts from his letters and journals find appropriate place here. The first was writ- ten just after his landing - from the Scotia, and gives his earliest impressions of a foreign land. " Like many others, we found ourselves, on awaking in the harbor of Liverpool, in the friendly embraces of a fog. Cold and clammy, like a great snake's, were its folds, but we were more fortunate than many, for it soon released us, so that we could begin to see objects at a distance of a few yards, and finally it lifted en- tirely, and disclosed the white stone quays, the forest of masts, the piles of stone buildings, the puffing of ferry-boats, all, in fact, that can be seen in one of the largest ports in the world. On shore I was delighted with almost every- thing I saw. I expected to see a dingy, dirty- looking town, with narrow streets and heavy, gloomy-looking houses; and I was not prepared for the air of perfection and completeness which seems to surround everything here. The buildings look as if they were intended to last forever; some of the old ones almost as if they had lasted forever. The same thing may be said of the docks, and even the pavements of the streets. We left for London at 4 o'clock, and had just enough of daylight left to receive our first impressions of English scenery. 22 A Memorial of Rev. I. IV. Cochran* " Again I was astonished and delighted. To see the whole country like a garden — for fields and hedges were still green; to see every spot of ground cultivated; to dash through little vil- lages with their quaint-looking old houses and their pretty, ivy-grown churches; to see atten- tion paid to the architectural beauty of even the most common buildings — such as railway sta- tions and engine-houses; to see the hardness and smoothness of the roads, and the regularity of the fields — all these things were new to me, and produced an impression such as I had never received from any other landscape." He thus describes a service at Spurgeon's church: " It is almost worth a trip across the At- lantic to attend a service at the Tabernacle. I do not say, to hear Spurgeon — for more won- derful far than the man, wonderful as he is, are the circumstances under which he preaches. We arrived at the door just at the right time. We were not aware of this, however, and our hearts sank within us when we saw the crowds on the steps reaching out to the sidewalk. We soon perceived that there was an onward movement, however, and learned that the doors had just been opened to the outsiders. Being on the outskirts of the crowd, we escaped a pressing. Gradually we made our way in at the side door. Two pairs of stairs confronted us. Wishing to take those to the lower gallery, we got upon those to the higher, and on entering the build- ing were almost made dizzy by the height at Earfy Days. 23 which we were standing. The building was already crowded; the aisles were full of people. We were fortunate enough to secure good seats opposite the preacher, and a place from which we could see almost every person in the house. But, opposite to the preacher, I could hardly see him, and gained no idea at all of his per- sonal appearance. I was so far away, and the atmosphere of the building was so foggy, that I could hardly see him gesture. The building is in the form of an ellipse; Mr. Spurgeon stood near one end, and I at the opposite. But Mr. Spurgeon rose; there was a little bustle of ar- rangements for a few minutes, and then all that vast multitude was still. I shall never forget the impression made upon me as I looked upon them. Every available spot was occupied. There were no aisles, no seats, no steps, every- where were people, people, people. I could not but think what a terrible commotion an alarm of fire would cause in such a place. But Mr. Spurgeon is beginning to read the hymn. I can hardly see him, but I can hear him; not one word, not one syllable is lost; all is clear, dis- tinct, and natural. And then came the perfec- tion of congregational singing. There was no organ, but I did not know it until- afterwards. There was hardly any leading, but excellent time was kept. All arose, and all sang, and such a volume of sound and volume of praise I never before heard. It may have been worse music, but was certainly better worship than the singing at St. Paul's in the afternoon. The only thing to which I' can compare it is the 24 A Memorial of Rev. I. IV. Cochran. singing of the ten thousand times ten thousand in the Apocalypse. After the singing Mr. Spur- geon prayed; and it was a beautiful prayer, simple, reverential, natural, earnest, and calm. It went right to the heart. Then he read part of a chapter, and commented on it, and then we sang again; then he gave out the text, Mai. iv. 2: ' But unto you that fear my name shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings.' In his introduction he spoke of the different senses in which the coming of Christ was represented in the Bible. He then gave a somewhat extended explanation of the expres- sion, 'Unto you that fear my name,' and then showed how Christ was, like the sun, the source of life and the source of growth. From this he passed to speak of and to young converts, of whom there have been a good many added to his church lately. His sermon was rather an expository and hortatory address than a ser- mon. His power, I think, lies in three things: First, and mainly, he preaches the gospel. Nothing but this could account for the masses of people flocking to hear him, for he does not excite the feelings: he reaches the heart through the intellect. The second source of his power is, doubtless, the way in which he presses the truth. There is nothing abstract about it, everything is simple and connected; he appeals often to experience; every truth is made prac- tical. The third, and not the least, source of power is his perfect oratory. It is distinct ; in the vast building each person, I think, could Early Days. 25 hear every word. And then the emphasis was natural and the manner earnest. " But whether I am correct or not in naming these as his sources of power, one thing is cer- tain, that every Christian must rejoice that so many people can and do listen to the truth from the lips of one man. Who can limit the power for good of a man 'full of the Holy Ghost and of faith' ? " On inquiry, after the service, we were told that the building would seat five thousand. There are three thousand six hundred mem- bers, and the Communion is administered after service each Sabbath evening in the lecture- room to a certain number of communicants. All meet together once a year in the church for the same purpose. If every Christian could only exercise the influence which this man does, the world would soon be Christian." Mr. Cochran spent some delightful months in France and Italy. Early in March, 1867, he started with two companions for Egypt and Palestine, stopping on the way in Sicily and Malta. From Catania he ascended Monte Rossi, an extinct crater of Mount ^Etna. He writes: " From its summit we had a fine view of ^Etna on the one side, snow-capped, and, for a won- der, without a cloud; and on the other, the whole plain stretching down to the sea, from 26 A Memorial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. acres of lava black and desolate to a broad green belt of vegetation in the distance. One of the most striking things in the landscape is the number of extinct craters to be seen. There are as many as eighty about the mountain. While I was at the top, I had quite a talk with my guide in Italian. I obtained from Rev. Mr. Buscarlet, in Naples, portions of the Scripture in Italian, and I have been giving them away as I found opportunity on my journey. I have seldom, however, ventured to add any words, my stock of Italian being small, but I found that I had enough to point these men to Christ, and to Christ alone. This has opened to me a way of doing more practical good as I go along. No one knows what fruit such poor little dry seeds, dropped by such unworthy hands, may bring forth. Sometimes I think that it is al- most hypocritical in me to urge others to be good, and I cannot help thinking of the text, ' Lest having preached to others, I myself should prove a castaway.' Pray for me lest that should happen. # * * ■* # * "The moment we landed in Alexandria we were introduced into a new world. Everything is different — faces, dress, customs, building, scenery, and associations. The turbaned heads and loose and flowing garments of the men, the veiled faces of the women, are a never-failing source of interest and pleasure. I have had already many interesting illustrations of Bible customs, and, indeed, almost the whole book Early Days. 27 seems new to me, and will, no doubt, appear more and more so as I go nearer the scenes of its principal events. « * * * * * "At length the hopes of many days have been realized: ' Our feet stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.' My eyes have seen that city of which all Christians have read and thought so much, which is, for her past if not her pres- ent position, 'the joy of the whole earth.' I do not see how any one can help being disappoint- ed by their first view of it. However much one may try to restrain his imagination, knowing that her glory is departed, that a curse is rest- ing upon her, that she has been trodden under foot of the Gentiles — the vivid and inspired descriptions of the Psalmist styling it 'the per- fection of beauty ' — the imaginings of a lifetime, connected with the great events of which it has been the theatre, cause one to hope, in spite of one's self, that it is better than it has been represented. I must acknowledge that I was disappointed in my first view of the city. We came in sight of it yesterday afternoon about 4:30 P. M. We had been riding almost all day, having only rested for three-quarters of an hour. The road was exceedingly rough, leading through the ravines of the mountains of Judea, sometimes, apparently, over the dry beds of streams. The place was pointed out to me where I would get the first view of the city. Some domes appeared over the brow of the hill, a long white quadrangular building next came 28 A Memorial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. in view, and while I was meditating whether that could possibly be the mosque of Omar, my guide informed me that it was the Greek con- vent. It was by far the most prominent object in the landscape, and seemed, from this point, to cover about as much ground as the city itself. This was very provoking — to see a thing of such small importance thrusting itself forward in such an impertinent way. The interior of the city did not disappoint me. I was prepared to find it like any other Eastern city, and I did find it so. ****** "In the afternoon I went out alone to the Mount of Olives. My thoughts were subdued, but pleasant, as I walked up the hill. There is little doubt that the Saviour's feet trod many times the same road. My heart was full, and yet to walk in His footsteps is really to follow His example. I walked over the top of the hill until I could see Bethany, and had a fine view of the city and the surrounding country. I felt now more than satisfied of the truth of David's expression, ' Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north.' I had seen it before from the west, I now saw it from the northeast. In my walks during the day I went about once and a half around the walls of the city. Yesterday morn- ing we spent in the valleys. We went down into the valley of the Son of Hinnom, on the south of the city, formed by Zion on the east and the hill of Evil Counsel on the west. In Early Days. 29 the valley are the upper and lower pools of Gihon, now dry reservoirs, and on the side of the hill, among numerous tombs, is shown the Aceldama, or potter's field. It is a deep pit, where bodies have evidently been thrown, as scores can still be seen at the bottom. The tree is shown, too, on which Judas hanged himself. If this be the neighborhood where it occurred, the fact of his falling headlong may be explained, as there are many trees overhang- ing the precipitous sides. But this is not neces- sary, as the Greek has it, 'falling down, or flat.' "They had communion yesterday morning in the English church, and I partook with them, the first time that I ever did so in the Episco- pal form. The novelty of the form and the circumstances could not but make a deep im- pression upon me, partaking of the Supper where it was first instituted, hearing the words which were spoken over eighteen hundred years ago. After dinner I read over the gospels of Matthew and Mark, in order to fix in my mind the main events in the life of Christ. I have felt more the personal existence of Christ, as a man, since my stay here than at any other time in my life, except, perhaps, just after my conversion, and the different stages of my feelings have been somewhat similar to my experience then. Oh, pray for me, that I may experience a new con- version here — that the Holy Spirit here prom- ised by the Saviour, and here descending first according to the promise, may come and dwell in my heart, and fill me with zeal and love for His service. 30 A Memorial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. " I had a delightful walk to Bethany with Mr. Porter in the afternoon. The day was bright and beautiful, with loose clouds floating about the sky, and a cool breeze. It seemed like a September day at home. There are three roads to Bethany, two going right over Olivet, and one around its shoulder. Stanley thinks that the triumphal entry was by the latter, and gives very good reasons for his opinion. The fullest account is that of Lukexix. 38, and you will no- tice that there is a sort of division. In verse 37 it speaks of coming nigh, and in verse 41 of coming near. This suits the situation very well, as a small portion of the city is seen at a point farther off, and then it bursts on the view as one comes around the shoulder of the mount- ain. We knew, however, as we trod the stony road that the feet of the Saviour had often trodden it. We spoke of the first Christian Sabbath — the joy of the apostles over the res- urrection. We thought of the two disciples who went that day to Emmaus, who were joined by a third person. We sat down on a stone to enjoy a view of the city. From this point it appeared covering a peninsula of mountain, cut off from those about it by the valley of the Cedron on one side and of Hinnom on the oth- er. The path was full of loose stones, and the whole country was very rocky. How vivid seemed the words addressed to the Pharisees, ' If these should hold their peace, the stones would cry out.' The road winds around the Mount of Olives, and after crossing the valley by a sort of ridge, winds round a second hill. Early Days. 31 "This was right over Bethany, and it may have been from it that Christ ascended, as the ac- count says that he led his disciples out 'as far as to Bethany.' It may have been from it, too, that he cursed the fig-tree, and then how vivid become the words, 'Ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou cast into the sea.' A por- tion of the Dead Sea can be seen from here. " The village of Bethany is on the side of the hill facing the east, and has a beautiful view of the mountains of Judea, of an arm of the Dead Sea, and of the mountains of Moab on the other side. We did not go to see the traditional cave of Lazarus, but, passing through the village to get rid of the importunities of the children who made a din with their cries of 'Backsheesh!' we sat down near the mouth of a cave, perhaps the one in which Lazarus was buried, and with that view before us — which had, no doubt, often refreshed the eyes of the Saviour when he re- turned to rest after teaching all day among a perverse and disbelieving people — we read that beautiful eleventh of John. Never before had it such meaning to us. The house was here, the sisters and brother had been here, the Jews came here to weep with Mary. Christ came here, the sisters met him near here, and it was within sound of my voice, as I read, that the very prayer I read, and the command 'Lazarus, come forth,' was uttered. It was to look again on that beautiful view that he came forth. Do you wonder that we were deeply impressed ? What an argument for the truth of the gospel that a stranger from a land thousands of miles 32 A Memorial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. off should bear witness to the truth of the words, 1 1 know that Thou hearest me always ' ! When we consider this, can we doubt that He will ask of God, and He will give Him the heathen for His inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession ? ****** " For five days I have been a dweller in tents. I had a little of the experience of those who, by contrast, were taught to seek a city having foundations. But our tents were certainly very different from theirs. At the close of each day's journey we formed our encampment of three tents. Hanna (Anglice, John), our waiter, welcomed us and offered lemonade. We enter- ed the largest tent. It was circular, as they all are, supported by a pole in the middle, having a light iron bedstead on each of two sides, and a table standing close against the pole. This was already spread for dinner, which was soon brought in from the other large tent. Our fare was excellent, as good as in most of the Italian hotels. After dinner we read a little — but were almost too tired to do much — and then retired. The weather has been delightful, the mode of life agrees with me, and my appetite grows better every day. You would hardly know me if you should meet me as I ride along here, a white covering on my hat, a light umbrella over my head, a revolver buckled on outside of my coat. I have the only weapon in the party, but am glad that I brought it, as showing it does away entirely with the necessity for using it. Early Days. 33 The American flag floats over the tent, so that the soil becomes in a sense our own land. We have prayers together every night, which is very pleasant, especially as our thoughts and feelings are generally quickened by the associa- tions about us. "We left Jerusalem last Tuesday morning, and, passing over the plains of Rephaim, south of the city, where David defeated the Philis- tines, stopping to look at the building which covers the tomb of Rachel (admitted by all to be such), we arrived about noon at the head of a valley where there are three great reservoirs, called Solomon's Pools. They once supplied the Holy City with water, and are thought to be the pools mentioned in Ecclesiastes. After resting a while, we took the road, still to the south — the road which Abraham took to Moriah to offer up Isaac, the road which David after- ward took when he reigned in Hebron, the road which perhaps the Magi took on their return, and which the flying parents took to Egypt. When we were near Hebron we made a detour to the right, and were soon amid vineyards and olive groves, and came before long to the oak which is pointed out as the one under which Abraham sat. From here we turned into the valley of Eshcol, still wine-growing and fertile, and were soon at our tents opposite Hebron. There, on the hill-side over against us, was the cave of Machpelah, where still, perhaps, rests the embalmed body of Jacob, as it was brought from Egypt. "The next morning, after a view from the 34 A Memorial of Rev. I. IV. Cochran. hill to the south, we entered the town. Here Abraham lived for a long time, sent out Hagar, received the angels. Here David reigned seven years, and perhaps over the very pool which we passed this morning he hung the murderers of Ishbosheth. Guided by some boys we got a look into the mosque area, and excited thereby the ire of the Moslems. We returned to the Pools of Solomon, passed along the beautiful Vale of Ethan, and soon came in view of Beth- lehem on the hill-top. As we rode through the fields where shepherds watched their flocks on that eventful night, these words naturally came to mind, ' And suddenly there was with the angel,' etc. We visited the Church of the Nativity, and the grotto which may or may not have been the stable, before we went to our tents. In the evening we read the stories of Ruth and David, and were satisfied with the thought that, whether the particular locality is known or not, this is the place where the Sav- iour of mankind was born. The next day we visited what is called the Cave of Adullam. It is certainly well calculated for concealment and defense. We spent the night at Mar Saba. Here in a wild gorge in the wilderness is a Greek convent founded by a monk of the fourth century. From here, on Friday, we rode to the Dead Sea and encamped at Jericho. I did not find the region of the Dead Sea so devoid of beauty as I had expected, though the scenery is peculiar. We bathed in the lake, and I found it almost impossible to keep my feet under the water in swimming. We Early Days. 35 were not long out of the water before we felt as if we had been standing- in a barrel of salt- petre, and were glad about an hour after to wash off the salt in the Jordan. This is a muddy, rapid stream, something like the Tiber, though not so wide. Mounds of rubbish mark the site of old Jericho, but a spring is still pointed out as the one which Elisha healed. Going up from Jericho over that lonely road which recalled so vividly the parable of the Good Samaritan, we passed Bethlehem about 4:30, and soon after were looking down on the Holy City from Olivet." Mr. Cochran's journey through northern Palestine was most enjoyable. He saw the Samaritan passover on Mt. Gerizim, visited the cedars of Lebanon, and Baalbec, and had a delightful time with the missionaries at Beirut. Dr. Jessup accompanied the party on a portion of the tour, thus beginning a friendship which lasted through life. Mr. Cochran was at one time very anxious to join the Syrian mission, but was prevented by circumstances beyond his control. The Syrian field was always es- pecially near his heart, and when he had a home of his own he enjoyed frequent visits from the Syrian missionaries. His interest in missions was always deep and heartfelt. He could not have been more faithful and devoted in a foreign field than he was at home, a work- man needing not to be ashamed. IN THE MINISTRY. An extended tour through Greece, Germany, France, Switzerland and Great Britain came to an end in November, 1867. The following winter was spent in New York, and Mr. Coch- ran preached very regularly while awaiting a permanent settlement. One of his Sabbaths was of great interest to him as being spent in the home of ex-President Buchanan, in Lancaster, Pa., whom he described as being a most court- ly and agreeable old gentleman. They sat late together each evening, and the ex-Presi- dent gave his views at great length on matters of Church and state, politics and theology. Mr. Cochran about this time received a num- ber of calls, having three under consideration simultaneously, but decided to accept one to a church in Carmel, Putnam Co., New York. He was ordained and installed there on July 13, 1 858, Rev. Dr. McElroy preaching the ordi- nation sermon. He was married on Thursday, October 29, of the same year, by Doctors McElroy and Sutphen, then associate pastors 36 In the Ministry. 37 in the Scotch Presbyterian Church. Dr. McEl- roy remarked that he had never, in his long ministry, performed a ceremony where the prospects of happiness were brighter — promises most fully realized. Light and shade were mingled on even this happy occasion, as Mr. Cochran parted upon his wedding day from his two brothers, one of whom he never saw again. A few days after the wedding his brother Thomas and his wife went to St. Paul, Minn., he having been ad- vised to live in that climate on account of deli- cate lungs, while the younger brother, Samuel, still in search of health, sailed upon the same week for Europe, and died in Rome, Italy, the following March. These separations were keenly felt by Mr. Cochran, whose loving heart clung to relatives and friends to an unusual de- gree. Mr. Cochran entered upon his ministerial life with all the ardor of his earnest, vigorous na- ture, an ardor which never abated as he grew older, but became more intense as years went by. He never spared himself, but was ready to spend and be spent for the Master. To all remonstrances about overwork he would reply that he never meant to rust out. He was through life exceedingly active physically. In 38 A Memorial of Rev. I. IV Cochran. figure tall, slender, and agile, he was always more ready to spring over a fence than to go around to a gate. He excelled in manly exer- cises, and his graceful, erect bearing was so marked that a lady, a perfect stranger, ex- claimed, on seeing him on the street, " There goes a gentleman! " He was always extremely courteous in word and deed, a thoroughly well- bred man, a Christian gentleman, because his Christianity was a power in his whole life. Carmel, the scene of his first pastorate, was a beautiful place situated upon a lovely little lake surrounded by hills. The people were kindly and intelligent ; the parsonage a bower of beauty nestling among the trees. One of these, a magnificent oak, was deservedly famous the country round. Dearly he loved the people, and dearly they loved him, and it was a great sorrow to both that the connection was severed after a pastorate of only eighteen months. While visiting at his sister's in Pluckamin, during his vacation in the fall of 1869, he was requested by the people of the First Church of Mendham, New Jersey, whose pulpit was then vacant, to administer communion to them on the first Sab- bath of November. Mendham people have often said since, that when they heard his first prayer at the Preparatory Lecture on Saturday they /// the Ministry. 39 quickly concluded, "That is just the man we want."' It was indicative of his spirituality that his prayers even more than his preaching drew people to him, but as a preacher he was always acceptable, both at home and abroad. His great desire was to "feed the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made him overseer," and once when he was told that one of his elders had characterized him as a "teaching preacher," he remarked that no commendation could have been more acceptable to him. He had refused to allow himself to be looked upon as a candidate for the Mendham pulpit, having no desire to leave Carmel, where he was very happy, useful, and beloved; but when a unanimous call came he felt that it must be considered prayerfully. He had reason to fear that the climate of Carmel was too severe for his health, and when he consulted the family physician in New York, Dr. James R. Wood, he told him that he should by all means accept the call. He said that there was some tendency to lung trouble, which might never be developed in a favorable climate, but that Carmel was un- suited for him, and that disease would be very likely to develop there, while Mendham had the best climate east of the Alleghanies for delicate lungs. This decided the matter, and Mr. Cochran 40 A Memorial of Rev. I. IV. Cochran. called his session together and presented his resignation. It was a sore trial to both parties. Mr. Cochran entered upon his work at Mend- ham on Christmas Day, 1869, but was not in- stalled until June 15, 1870. Rev. Dr. Fewsmith, of Newark, preached the installation sermon; Rev. Dr. Hastings, of New York, a former pastor, gave the charge to the people ; Rev. Dr. Aik- man, of Madison, the charge to the pastor ; and Rev. Thomas Carter, the installing prayer. Mendham is an historic church, mentioned in the lives of Whitefleld, Brainerd, and Tennent under its Indian name Rocksiticus. Doctors Samuel Hanson Cox and Thomas Hastings were among the long line of honored pastors. In Revolutionary times its church building was used as a hospital, and among the many old graves of the hill-top cemetery are the tomb- stones of soldiers who fell in the War of the Revolution. In the neighborhood are vestiges of a camp occupied by a part of the army while Washington wintered in Morristown. In an ante-Revolutionary stone house of the village are still treasured some autograph letters of Washington, written during this winter. Wash- ington Irving borrowed these letters when he was writing the life of his namesake, and re- turned them with a courteous letter of thanks /;/ the Ministry. 41 to the venerable owner, which she treasured as of almost equal value with the letters of Washington himself. Now began a pastorate each year of which drew pastor and people together with a closer and tenderer tie. Mr. Cochran never had a di- vided vote in his session. His elders were men of strong character and intelligent views, who would sometimes come together with different opinions in regard to some course of action to be decided upon, but they always talked mat- ters over in a kindly and Christian spirit until some decision was reached in which all could unite. Of the six elders who composed the ses- sion when Mr. Cochran came to it, only one re- mained at his death. The youngest in 1879 was the oldest in 1887. On two different occasions three new elders were ordained to take the places of those who had "gone over to the majority." They were all men of like spirit, in whom the pastor's heart could safely trust. There are no happier homes in our land than in country parsonages, no happier men than country pastors. Often as Mr. Cochran drove over the beautiful hills of Mendham he would say, "What a terrible wrench it would be to be parted from this dear people!" and after failing health compelled him to seek another climate 42 A Memorial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. in the West, he often said: "We had to be pushed out of the nest. I never could have left it of my own accord." There was not a year of his ministerial life when he had not opportunity to take another charge, but he never seriously considered doing so. His love for Mendham was much like that of the old Jews for Jeru- salem. He took great interest in his lawn and garden, and little farm of seven acres, enjoying his fruit and flowers, laughingly saying that if he ever broke down as a minister he would go at fruit farming. Often, as he drove in at the par- sonage gate and looked admiringly at the smooth-shaven lawn and brilliant flower-beds, he would exclaim, " What a beautiful home we have!" He loved to gather his friends about him in his home, and one of his favorite texts was, " Use hospitality without grudging." Many entertain strangers from a sense of duty, feeling it a task, but to him it was a genuine pleasure, and even when tiresome and disagreeable people were received, he never would accept commis- eration. He was constantly thinking of some one who needed a little rest and change, and in- viting them for longer or shorter visits, and friends would laughingly give the parsonage the name of " The Sanitarium." When he went away for a vacation, he frequently invited some over- In the Ministry. 43 tired worker, a broken-down teacher, or invalid missionary to accompany him on a little trip to the mountains or the sea. To him a pleasure shared was more than doubled. During his first year in Mendham be greatly enjoyed the neighborhood of his dear and only sister, Mary, the wife of Rev. Thomas Carter, of Pluckamin, twelve miles away. The brother and sister were very much alike in many char- acteristics, notably in their unselfishness and hospitality. All was cheer and happiness in her home, she was so bright and energetic, so ready to sacrifice herself for others' happiness. She used to gather a large circle under her roof, and endeavor to make them have a good time, and with marked success. The double connection between the two brothers-in-law, the entire con- geniality of tastes between them and their wives, and the unity of all their interests, made it seem more like a union of four than a union of two distinct couples. Frequent visits were interchanged between the two families, and they were looking forward to long years of hap- piness together, when suddenly one evening a message came to the Mendham parsonage that Mrs. Carter was dying. Mr. Cochran and his wife started at once to drive through the pitchy darkness, hoping to be in time to see the dear 44 A Memorial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. one, dreading what they might find when they reached her home. Once Mr. Cochran spoke, referring to the subject of his prayer-meeting address the night before: " My cry came before Him, even into His ears." He had said then that God could interpret even our inarticulate cries when our hearts were too full for utterance. Now he said, "We can do nothing but cry now." As they crossed the bridge by the mill, near her home, he said: " How often have we walked here together! How full everything seems of her presence!" When they reached the house a neighbor came out and destroyed all hope by the announcement, "She is dead!" Those were days of overwhelming sorrow. To the husband and four helpless little ones the loss was unspeakable. The people of her hus- band's charge loved her dearly, and had been accustomed to follow her cheerful, energetic leadership with perfect love and trust. On the day after her death her brother was standing, with a friend, by his side, when the undertaker came in to perform some duty, and they step- ped aside. Presently Mr. Cochran whispered, " That is a sight seldom seen — an undertaker turning away from a coffin to weep." Her work in that humble little village will not soon be forgotten. /;/ the Ministry. 45 The brother ministers who took charge of the funeral were warm and loving friends, and spoke from the heart and most impressively to the crowded and weeping assembly in the church. One of them alluded to her graceful hospitality,and said that, as he had looked upon her as she lay so beautiful in death, with her lovely smile upon her lips, he had thought that she had welcomed her Saviour with the same sweet smile with which she had always wel- comed her friends. Another quoted the words: " Jesus said unto her, Mary! She turned her- self and said unto Him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master." It is hard even to begin to speak of Mr. Coch- ran's labors for his church, they were so varied and incessant. People have frequently remark- ed that they did not believe that there was a man or woman in the township to whom he had not spoken about their souls. Even Roman Catholics felt he was a true friend to them, and many of them have shown their affection for him. A year after his death the priest of the village sent a large bunch of very beautiful roses to Mrs. Cochran, who was stopping in the neighborhood, with the message that he had noticed that she liked to lay flowers on her hus- band's grave, and he would like to have these 46 A Memorial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. laid there. A little Catholic girl says that Mr. Cochran took her into his buggy one day, on her way home from school, and talked to her about studying, and developing into a noble, God-fearing woman. She said, " Nobody ever talked to me so before." He always visited the entire congregation every year, praying in every house, and when there was sickness or sorrow, he was a frequent visitor. He was most tender and sympathetic. He had known much sorrow himself, and he knew how to comfort those in affliction, always seeming to know just what to say to them. An old lady in his congregation relates that once, when she was in sore trouble, she said to him: "O Mr. Cochran, I wanted to see you so much, and thought you had for- gotten me. I was beginning to feel hardly tow- ard you." " Whenever you feel hardly toward me just get down on your knees and pray for me." She said it was just what she needed, and she often had thought of it since when tempted to judge others harshly. A ministerial brother says that there was nothing he envied Mr. Cochran so much as the power of giving rebuke. He never shrank from duty in this respect, his wounds were faithful, but he rarely gave offense by the plainest speech. It was so evident that he spoke from love and for the good of the cul- /// the Ministry. 47 prits that they were ready to feel, " Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness." He did not hesitate to reach down to the most depraved and vicious, and his native dignity always protected him from insult. He had a remarkable gift in prayer, often ex- pressing people's needs better than they could themselves. At family prayers he seemed never to forget anyone — even the servants, who could not be present on account of their creed. His constant prayer for them was probably one reason that he was blessed with such faithful and affectionate service. He always remembered tenderly " the mother with her burdens and cares," and after the birth of each child, gave thanks in the church " for a valuable life that had been spared." Many of the congregation felt that they owed the lives of friends to his fervent prayers for them in church. He often spoke of one night when his wife was at the very gates of death, and he went down to the study after the most imme- diate danger was passed, and prayed with an earnestness for her life which he had never felt in any petition before or afterward. He thought her life was given to him in answer to that prayer. Surely no life was ever prayed for more fervently and continually than his was, and yet 48 A Memoi'ial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. it was taken. Truly, God's ways are not as our ways. He took a great interest in the Sunday school, always visiting it for the opening exer- cises, making great use of the blackboard, and encouraging the children to learn verses by the offer of reward books. At Christmas fes- tivals he always got up the programmes him- self, and made them novel and interesting, while at the same time some useful and spirit- ual lesson was taught. The very last Christ- mas festival of his pastorate gathered in a social way in the parsonage parlors. It was in the interest of the Indian school at Albuquer- que, New Mexico, and the children brought offerings for that object. Four young men were dressed as Indians, and made speeches which had been originally spoken by some In- dian chiefs who had visited the Albuquerque school. The offerings were taken up by two young ladies prettily dressed as Indian maidens. Somebody said that they ought to be named, and Mr. Cochran quickly said, "Call them Wild Rose and Bright Eyes." He took a warm in- terest in the young, and his winning ways drew them to him. One of the first in Mendham whom he was privileged to welcome into full communion with the church was a boy nine /;/ the Ministry. 49 years old. On the day that Presbytery dis- solved the pastoral relations between the Mendham church and Mr. Cochran, it ordained that boy as a missionary. From his Cresarea home that same boy sent these words of sympathy to Mr. Cochran's wife after his death : " I can only try to tell you how I love Mr. Cochran, and what hard work it was for May and me to get through yester- day's letters that told us all about it, how you did reach the New York home, and how he went quietly from there to the better home, the home that is never broken up. I wrote home that I felt as if I had lost another father, and one, indeed, whom I knew better than my own father, and of whom I shall have more memories. How much he has done for me, from the time when I joined the church in Mendham, a month after he came there, through all these years, I can never tell. I remember the very spot in the study where we sat when he talked with me about uniting with the church, and where he kneeled down to pray with me. May all the blessings that I have received through him come back on you and on his children for his dear sake!" Those about him learned to lean upon his judgment, which seldom erred. Though very 50 A Memorial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. prudent in avoiding offense, he never shirked responsibility when he felt it to be a duty. He would laughingly say, " My shoulders are broad," and go on to do what he thought right, let who would blame. He frequently felt it a duty to preach on topics of the day, as he thought that the pulpit should instruct in mat- ters of public morality, but he always did it in a non-partisan spirit. A hearer who did not know to which political party he belonged would never have found out from his preaching, for he preached on these questions from a higher standpoint than that of politics, and did not hesitate to expose the false positions of either party. As an illustration of his ready judgment we relate the following incident : When Garfield was elected to the Presidency, a committee waited upon him to ask if he would not illuminate his house on a certain evening. He at once replied, " No, this house belongs to the congregation, Democrats and Republicans alike. I cannot use it for any party purpose." But when Garfield died the parsonage was the first house in the village to be draped in mourning. There was then no question of party; it was a tribute due to the honored President of the United States. His tender sympathy and wise counsel, and In the Ministry. 51 his gentle voice and manner, made him a very acceptable visitant at the bedside of the sick. He was a born nurse, and would smooth and arrange pillows, and make suggestions as to ventilation and rearrangement of the sick- room which were often of great advantage to the sufferers. He gave much thought to his funeral services, for he considered that there were often people who went to funerals who rarely attended church, and he tried to drop a word that would reach their hearts. He re- membered, too, that the mourning friends were in a condition to be easily reached by the blessed truths of religion. When the weather was favorable he often had brief, varied, and beautiful exercises about the open grave, quot- ing a short, appropriate text, and frequently ending with the benediction, " Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead the Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleas- ing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen." He attended the funeral of two of his elders in one week. They had been born the same year, had lived on adjoining farms, had gone to 52 A Memorial of Rev. I. W. Cochran. school together, had united with the church the same Sabbath, and were ordained to the eldership the same day. Each had lived sev- enty-six years on the spot where he was born, and died in the same week. The funeral of one was upon a perfect spring day, and after laying the venerable form in the dust Mr. Cochran repeated the lines : " E'en down to old age all my people shall prove My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love; And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn, Like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne. "The soul that to Jesus has fled for repose, I will not, I will not desert to his foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake." Mr. Cochran believed in paying every respect to the dead. He thought it was one way in which " the living shall lay it to heart." At the same time he disapproved any extravagant display of the trappings of mourning. His tenderness to those in trouble was very marked. Having known sorrow himself, he knew how to sympathize with others; but not all those who have had trials have — ' ' a heart at leisure from itself, To soothe and sympathize." /// the Ministry. 53 After his death several people to whom he had written letters in times of sorrow sent them to his wife, saying that they could find no words more comforting than his own, and add- ing the request that they be returned. The fol- lowing is one which might well have been writ- ten of himself : Mendham, Ap. 2, 1878. My Dear Mrs. : I cannot forbear expressing my sympathy with you in the sad affliction which has recently fallen upon you. It seems impossible to realize that we shall not meet your husband if we are permitted to be with you again this summer. He was so young, so bright, so active, so cheerful, so full of life, so earnest, that it seems contradictory to think of him as still in death. But we need not, and we must not, think of him thus. God had better work for him — a higher life, better enjoyments, and fuller oppor- tunities; as the " place " was prepared, and he was prepared for it, so Jesus came to receive him unto Himself. But we feel that the place which he filled here is empty — the place of son, brother, friend, Christian worker, Sunday-school superintend- ent, father, husband. There is only one that can fill the void in the heart and in the world. " Thy Maker is thy husband," more loving, strong, and full of tender sympathy than any human friend can be. "We have not an High 54