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 £ibrarj? of t:he theological ^eminarjo 
 
 PRINCETON . NEW JERSEY 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 Prof. J.G. Hibben 
 
 BX 9225 .B755 W5 ~^ 
 
 Williams, David Riddle. 
 James H. Brookes i 
 
^pr^^l.^*..^^^ y/yV^V^^r^^NT 
 
 {From his last photograph.) 
 
/ 
 
 James h. Brookes: 
 
 A MEMOIR. 
 
 BY y 
 DAVID RIDDI^E WILLIAMS. 
 
 WITH AN APPKNDIX. 
 
 PUBLISHED FOR DR. BROOKES' FKHiLY, BT J W. HLLEn. D.D,. Mhmhger 
 ST. LOUIS DEPOSITORY, 
 PRESBYTERIAN BOARD op PUBLICATION. 
 
 BUSCHflHT BROS. PRINT ST. LOUIS. H0» 
 .•••1897.... 
 
Copyright, i897. 
 by s. o. brookes and d. r. williams. 
 
I.OVINGI.Y DEDICATED 
 
 TO 
 O. B. W. AND S. O. B. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Chapter I. ' 'The Child is Father of the Man. ' ' 
 
 II. The Youth. 
 
 *' III. The Collegian. 
 
 " IV, At Princeton Seminary. 
 
 V. The Settled Pastor. 
 
 VI. Called to St. Louis. 
 
 •' VII. Troublous Times. 
 
 " VIII. The 16th and Walnut Street Church. 
 
 " IX. The Washington and Compton Ave, 
 Church. 
 
 X. The Preacher and Pastor. 
 
 " XI. "How I Became a Pre-millennialist." 
 
 '' XII. The Bible Scholar. 
 
 '' XIII. The Author. 
 
 " XIV. The Editor. 
 
 XV. Side-Eights. 
 
 " XVI. '' Captain Greatheart." 
 
 " XVII- Looking Backward. 
 
 " XVIII. Pastor Emeritus. 
 
 •• XIX. Translated. 
 
 '* XX. Appendix. 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 James H. Brookes. (From_^his last photograph.) 
 
 Dr. Brookes as a young man. 
 
 Dr. Brookes in middle age. 
 
 The Washington and Compton Avenue Church. 
 
 Fac-simile of an interleaved page in one of Dr. 
 Brookes' Bibles. 
 
 Fac-simile of a page of Dr. Brookes' Bible notes. 
 
 Dr. Brookes' Librar>^. 
 
 The Children and their Chosen Playfellow. 
 
 Auditorium, Washington and Compton Avenue 
 Church. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 This memoir of my father-in-law, Dr. James Hall 
 Brookes, the world-honored preacher, author, editor, 
 — and great and good man, — was written at the re- 
 quest of his family and intimate friends. 
 
 That the facts of his life should be preserved for 
 all time, in some such form, was patent. And as no 
 one older and abler stepped forward to do the work, 
 the writer undertook it, with natural hesitancy; yet 
 gladly as a labor of love. 
 
 The layman author fully recognizes his limita- 
 tions in such a memoir, and has studiously avoided 
 getting in an inch beyond his depth. No philosophi- 
 cal analysis of character is attempted — the facts are 
 presented: Those facts have been laboriously gleaned 
 and are correct, coming from first sources. 
 
 Nor is any effort made to discuss Dr. Brookes' 
 theological beliefs (it is needless to add). His own 
 words are quoted. 
 
 As a presentation of facts, in plain English, this 
 work is offered, and as such should be judged; that, 
 and nothing more. 
 
 It is but fair to the author to add that every line 
 was written in the heat of the past St. Louis summer 
 and fall, after long and unremitting days' duties on a 
 city newspaper's staH. 
 
 It is hoped, however, that not too often it may 
 appear to be the work of a tired man. 
 
 St. Louis, Nov.. ^^97' 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 This is the plain record of the life and works of 
 one who was a fatherless boy, earning his food and 
 garret bed when eight years old; of a needy youth 
 who secured his college education ' 'by the sweat of 
 his brow," and who lived at times, literally, on bread 
 and water while a student; of an unknown minister, 
 poor and without influence, who won his way among 
 strangers solely on his worth, and who came through 
 crucial tests in the troublous times of the 60' s such 
 as this generation wots not of. 
 
 And then it tells of a city pastor, for thirty-nine 
 years the head of a large St. Louis church; and of 
 an author of a score of books (one read in five lan- 
 guages); and the editor of a widely-known magazine. 
 
 And then it tries to picture the every-day life of 
 the man; whose intellectual and moral stature was 
 like that of his physical — head-and-shoulders above 
 the rank and file of us. 
 
 With middle age came world-wide fame to this 
 Bible scholar, preacher and author. 
 
 Old age drew on, and crowned with richer hon- 
 ors the head of the soldier who had fought the good 
 fight. 
 
 And then, on Easter Sunday, 1897, at sunrise — 
 peacefully as a tired infant in its mother's arms — he 
 fell asleep. 
 
a 
 
 The Child is Father of 
 the Man." 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 THE -FATHER OF THE MAN." 
 
 ^7^ HE early life of James Hall Brookes re- 
 \^ minds one of the opening pages of some 
 old-fashioned book of romance. 
 He had in him the recognized character- 
 istics of the self-made hero of a work of fiction. 
 A strikingly handsome lad, strong and of 
 magnificent physique, he entered the lists in 
 the contest of life alone, unaided — and he won. 
 Throughout this early life, as later days 
 have proven, "the child," indeed, "is father of 
 the man." 
 
 The little town of Pulaski, Tennessee, 
 was the birthplace of James H. Brookes. The 
 27th of February, 1830, was his natal day. 
 He was the son of Rev. James H. Brookes, 
 Sr., and Judith Smith Lacy Brookes. His 
 father was born in North Carolina; his mother's 
 home was Prince Edward County, Virginia. 
 
 11 
 
12 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 He was in the line of Presbyterian and 
 ministerial descent, and came of an ancestry to 
 be proud of, on both maternal and paternal 
 sides, though he disliked to hear any one 
 boast of kin, and never did so himself. His 
 mother's father. Rev. Dr. Drury Lacy, was a 
 well-known Virginia Presbyterian. His grand- 
 father, John Ward Brookes, was a Methodist 
 layman, who had taken for his wife that staunch 
 Presbyterian lass, Margaret Houston, of Edin- 
 burgh, Scotland. 
 
 James H. Brookes, Sr., was educated at 
 old Hampton Sidney College, of which his 
 noted father-in-law, Dr. Lacy, had been an 
 honored president. He received his theologi- 
 cal training at Union Seminary of that State, 
 and his first charge was in Virginia. 
 
 A short time before the birth of his famous 
 son, he had become pastor of the Presbyterian 
 church of Pulaski, Tennessee. This town is 
 in a beautiful section of the State, a region of 
 rolling plateaus. Here was one of the strong- 
 est Presbyterian congregations of its southern- 
 central portion. In that spot young James 
 Brookes passed his infancy and early years. 
 
 Dr. Brookes, the father, was an honored 
 missionary servant of the Presbyterian General 
 Assembly, and did much to establish and nur- 
 
THE "FATHER OF THE MAN." 13 
 
 ture new churches. In 1831 he was request- 
 ed to leave Pulaski, for a short time, to or- 
 ganize and take charge of a new Presbyterian 
 church in Cincinnati. He labored in that 
 city for two years, but the climate not agree- 
 ing with his wife, the family returned to 
 Pulaski. 
 
 The pastorate there had not been dis- 
 solved. In the interim, Rev. W. S. Lacy, a 
 brother-in-law, had filled the absent pastor's 
 pulpit. The work was again taken up in 
 Pulaski, but it was destined soon to be ended 
 for all time. 
 
 The faithful minister died suddenly ''in 
 harness/' in June of 1833, from cholera. That 
 dread disease was then epidemic in the 
 vicinity. 
 
 On his last Sunday on earth. Dr. Brookes, 
 Sr., had preached three times, and then had 
 gone to minister to parishioners sick of the 
 malady. From them he took the fatal sick- 
 ness, and died, after an illness of about eight 
 hours. 
 
 James Hall Brookes, the son, was then 
 three years old. 
 
 His mother had been bequeathed many 
 slaves by her father, but these her husband, 
 with her full consent, had set free, before he 
 
14 JAMES H. BROOKKS: A MEMOIR. 
 
 had removed to Cincinnati. The reason for 
 this general manumission was two- fold. 
 First, Dr. Brookes had always held views 
 which were considered outre concerning slave- 
 holding; he never thoroughly approved of it, 
 though a bred-in-the-bone Southern gentle- 
 man. And, second, he knew it was impossible 
 to take his slaves to the modest Cincinnati 
 parsonage. 
 
 There were two courses before him: he 
 must sell his slaves, or rent their services. 
 
 The first was utterly abhorrent to him, and 
 not considered for a moment; and his exper- 
 ience with the latter custom had disgusted him; 
 (a female slave of his was once hired out and 
 came home with marks of cruel beatings on her 
 person.) So he cut the Gordian knot by free- 
 ing them all. 
 
 But he did not turn them loose as helpless 
 children; money was provided to care for them 
 all, for at least a year. One old "aunty" posi- 
 tiv^ely declined to be "free," and on the return 
 of the family to Pulaski attached herself to the 
 household for life. 
 
 THE FATHERLESS LAD. 
 
 The loss of the husband and father left 
 
 the widow in very straightened circumstances. 
 
 When her son James was eight years old 
 
THE "FATHER OF THE MAN." 15 
 
 he became a semi-member of the family of a 
 friend, a retired judge, who had turned farmer. 
 
 This man, who had been an elder in Dr. 
 Brookes' church, offered to take James to his 
 farm, about a hundred miles distant, and give 
 him a home, with a chance to study, in return 
 for what he could do. 
 
 His treatment there was no doubt well 
 meant, yet it was anything but what he had been 
 accustomed to. His bed-room was a corner 
 of a dark garret. There he sobbed himself to 
 sleep — for he was but a child and missed his 
 dear mother sorely — on the first night in the 
 new ''home." 
 
 (As soon as his mother learned of his sur 
 roundings there, a year later, — for he was too 
 brave to complain, — she sent for him.) 
 
 On this farm James had fixed tasks to 
 perform, and fully earned his daily bread and 
 garret couch. But he also had time for study. 
 
 A long stage-coach journey had been 
 necessary to reach the new home. On the way, 
 alone, the boy met a man who was destined to 
 play an important part in his life. That man, 
 later, became Governor Neil Brown, of 
 Tennessee. At the time of the lonely journey 
 on the stage coach, he took a great fancy to 
 
16 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 the brave youngster who was beginning so 
 early to solve life's problems. 
 
 So, at eight years of age, our hero — for he 
 was a hero — began to support himself. Even 
 in old age, Dr. Brookes could not forget that 
 pitiful first night. So great was his loneliness 
 during those times, he used to say, that he 
 finally begged one of the young slaves about 
 the place to share the garret with him, 
 
 Do we not again see the likeness to the 
 opening chapter of some hero of romance? 
 There seems to be no element lacking. And 
 yet this is simply an exact statement of the 
 facts of his life, and in no way the play of 
 fancy. 
 
 THE DRY GOODS CLERK. 
 
 When twelve years old he was an errand 
 boy and under clerk in a general store. In 
 later life Dr. Brookes enjoyed telling of his 
 first experience in selling calico. 
 
 A lady came in to buy some of that cloth, 
 and while he waited upon her she asked if 
 the colors were ''fast." 
 
 "Wait till I go and ask," was the young 
 clerk's reply. He went to the proprietor's 
 son with the query. 
 
 "Yes, of course," was the quick response, 
 which James promptly repeated. 
 
THE "FATHER OF THE MAN." 17 
 
 The goods were wrapped up and the 
 purchaser was just passing out, when the 
 aforesaid son added, with a laugh: ''Yes, the 
 colors are fast — fast fading." 
 
 The customer had not heard, but young 
 Brookes had. Shocked and indignant, he rush- 
 ed after the retreating buyer, much to the dis- 
 gust of the aforesaid son, and made known the 
 truth. 
 
 The "errand boy" evidently made the 
 best possible use of his limited facilities for 
 learning. While under fourteen years of age. 
 Governor Neil BroAvn, of Tennessee, (who 
 had shared that stage-coach ride,) selected him 
 as eligible for an appointment to the United 
 States Military Academy at West Point. 
 
 But his mother's heart was set upon his 
 becoming a minister, and she persuaded him, 
 much against his will at first, to give up the 
 idea of the military career which had fascinated 
 his young mind. For some time after this he 
 was very despondent. 
 
 This Governor Brown had been a great 
 admirer of Dr. Brookes, Sr. Some time later 
 he freely offered James a home with him, and 
 an education, both free of any expense to the 
 mother, or to her son. But the kind offer was 
 declined, much as the education was longed 
 
18 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 for, and sadly as the means to obtain it were 
 lacking. The young man could not bring 
 himself to accept such aid when he had a fight- 
 ing and working chance to pay his own way 
 through college. He fully intended to plunge 
 through the swift rapids of life in his own 
 canoe; or his own raft, if he could not afford 
 the first craft. 
 
 When about fifteen years old, he entered 
 the Academy at Ashewood, Tennessee. His 
 preparation had been chiefly by his own efforts, 
 amply stimulated by his mother, a woman of 
 exceptional ability, sweetness and strength of 
 character. She did much of the teaching her- 
 self; and her pupil was an extraordinarily apt 
 one. 
 
 Ashewood was a veritable "nest of Pres- 
 byterianism," with a strong church and denomi- 
 national school of high standing in that region. 
 
 Young Brookes had been a pupil there 
 but a short time when the news of a dangerous 
 illness which had befallen him brought sorrow 
 to the Pulaski home. The m^other hastened 
 to his side and nursed him back to health. An 
 incident in connection with that sickness be- 
 came a piece of family history. 
 
 THE OLD slave's REMARKABLE PROPHECY. 
 
 At the time of the manumission of the 
 
THE "FATHER OF THE MAN." 19 
 
 family slaves, one of them, old ''Mammy 
 Hannah," referred to before, the devoted 
 guardian of the children, had positively declin- 
 ed to accept the proffered freedom, and had 
 announced her unalterable intention of living 
 and dying as their nurse. 
 
 The faithful old servant was bowed in 
 sorrow at the tidings of the severe illness of 
 ''Young Marser Jeems," at the Ashewood 
 Academy. 
 
 She helped to nurse him with untiring de- 
 votion through his dangerous illness. Once, 
 when her place at his bedside was pre-empted, 
 the old negress took herself to the woods, 
 where she spent the entire night in prayer for 
 the recovery of her young master. She re- 
 turned calm, hopeful, and positively assured 
 that he would recover. 
 
 "Ah's seen a vishun in de woods," she 
 declared; and nothing could shake her belief. 
 
 "Ah wrestled all de nite in prar, and de 
 good Lord dun hear dis ole nigger, sho'. 
 
 "He shown me Marser Jeems a-standin' 
 in a pulpet a-preachin' de everlasten Gospel." 
 
 Her young master at that time had 
 planned to be a soldier — or anything but a 
 preacher. He was no canting, impossible 
 Sunday-school book prodigy, who is too good 
 
20 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR.' 
 
 for this earth; and fortunately, generally dies 
 in the last chapter. He told her that *'it must 
 have been some other fell6vv you saw standing 
 in that pulpit." But the more earnestly did 
 she insist on the truth of her *'vishun." And 
 time soon bore her out. 
 
 JAMES H. BROOKES, SCHOOLMASTER. 
 
 At the age of sixteen the young man be- 
 came a molder of the minds of the young in a 
 country school, about two miles from Pulaski. 
 Some of his pupils were older than himself; 
 most of them were of his own age. 
 
 He walked to and from his scene of duty. 
 It was before the day of the "little red school 
 house" and the public school teachers. It was 
 his own school, and every cent of his meagre 
 emolument per capita that could be spared, 
 was religiously laid aside towards his college 
 education. 
 
 He taught there until he was eighteen 
 years old. At the close of his teaching exper- 
 iences he was employed as a census-taker, 
 and at that odd occupation doubtless delved 
 deeply Into the book of human nature. 
 
 All this time he was preparing himself for 
 college. Time was passing, he recognized, so 
 he must ''catch up," by entering Junior instead 
 of Freshman year. This, we will find, he did. 
 
The Youth. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE YOUTH. 
 
 |OST fortunately, there have been found 
 two old diaries kept by Dr. Brookes 
 when a youth. The earliest of these 
 begins on Feb. 26, 1849. 
 
 These records give a remarkable insight 
 into his environments — spiritual, mental and 
 mundane. 
 
 There should be noted, first, the dark 
 background of family bereavement in the death 
 of his father, and beloved older brother, John. 
 Then came financial and other sorrows in the 
 home. The young mind was early forced 
 into a serious mould. 
 
 l^he high hopes and earnest endeavors 
 
 to secure the longed-for collegiate training is 
 
 touchingly shown; the practical question of 
 
 ways and means; the pride and sensitiveness 
 
 of the poor young student; the alternations of 
 
 hope and fear. A few lines here, and there, 
 
 23 
 
24 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 point out the complete picture for the careful 
 reader of these selections which follow. 
 
 Dr. Brookes rarely spoke of himself, 
 either In youth, middle age, or towards his 
 latter end. But to these diary pages he con- 
 fided much. It Is, Indeed, fortunate that they 
 have lately been found. These selections 
 well supplement the brief outline sketch of his 
 early days which has preceded. 
 
 Quotations from the diaries follow: 
 
 "February 27, 1849. 
 
 '*'" "^ The history of our family has been a 
 strange one. Though a family walking in the 
 ordinances of the Lord, not many temporal 
 blessings have attended them. Father was 
 cut off in the vigor of life. In the very midst 
 of his usefulness. Then my brother, just in 
 the act of attaining the object of his hopes, of 
 mother's prayers, to follow In the footsteps of 
 father in proclaiming God's will to man. '"' ''' 
 
 "Mother's life has been a continued scene 
 of trials and sorrow. And time. Instead of 
 smoothing her pathway to the grave, has only 
 heaped higher the troubles before her '" "^^ 
 but 'whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth.* 
 * ■^''' He intends putting our faith to the test, 
 
THK YOUTH. 25 
 
 trying its strength on the fierce conflicts, that 
 the path to glory shall not be strewn with 
 tiowers." 
 
 ^''Tuesday Jiight, February 2y, ^^49- — My 
 nineteenth birthday has come. To this 
 day I have been looking forward with feelings 
 of peculiar interest. Whenever, within the 
 past two months, I have beheld its sure and 
 swift approach, it has been with unavoidable 
 sadness and bitter regret that I have lived so 
 long, yet to such little purpose. ■^' * With my 
 poverty, my only hope of rising to any emi- 
 nence in the scale of intellectual existence de- 
 pends on my single exertions; and the loud 
 calls from the family are before me. ^'* "^ 
 
 "With what careless indifference have I 
 let golden opportunities slip. '" ''" Others 
 have labored under circumstances equally un- 
 favorable and have triumphed by their own 
 unaided exertions. '''' '' But especially have I 
 regarded this day with feelings of deep interest 
 on account of things of a spiritual nature con- 
 nected with it." 
 
 In the next entry the kind offer of the 
 Governor of Tennessee to educate him is 
 recorded. The struggle which follows, and 
 the determination not to put himself under any 
 such obligations, is vividly set forth. 
 
26 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 ''March 2^.— This has been a week more 
 full of joy to me than usual. Doubtless the 
 cause is partly owing to a piece of intelligence 
 I received. '^ ^'' It was the kind offer of Gov. 
 Brown for me to reside with him in Nashville, 
 and go to College. College life I have so 
 earnestly longed for '" '" the road to high 
 usefulness and honor that I had thought 
 blocked with almost unsurmountable difficulties 
 is made smooth. '" '"' 
 
 "It was a most strong temptation to lay 
 aside my foolish independence. I had almost 
 yielded, but the almost sure prospect of making 
 money sufficient to bear me through College, 
 by taking the census, next year, decided me. 
 I had much rather labor a little longer and a 
 little harder, and be the builder, by God's 
 help, of my own fortune. '" '" 
 
 "But this news caused emotions I never 
 felt before. '" '"' How merciful, how full of 
 loving kindness my Heavenly Father has been 
 to me." 
 
 ''Tuesday night, March 28.— ^ '"' My Chris- 
 tian energy and devotion were more aroused 
 by reading at home, last Sabbath, the bio- 
 graphy of James B. Taylor, than for some 
 time. What an example is here of piety, what 
 Paul-like fervor! 
 
THK Yotri'H. 27 
 
 *'A man whose ideas are absolutely in one 
 pervading idea, whose heart's best affections 
 gush out in one powerful, onward, ceaseless 
 flow, bearing on his bosom the cause of his 
 Master. What proof here of the divinity of 
 our religion." 
 
 ''April 12.— " '" Would that I felt a deeper 
 interest in these friends who are still 'without 
 God in the world.' " 
 
 Here is shown an insight into fierce 
 spiritual battles, which had to be fought, and 
 won. It is because Dr. Brookes had been as- 
 sailed by doubts in youth, that he was such a 
 grand leader of young men's gatherings. He 
 knew their spiritual experiences. 
 
 ''April 26. — Assailed by unbelief more 
 fiercely and constantly than usual. The 
 tempter has been trying to persuade me that 
 religion is a principle of our natures, as ex- 
 hibited in the worship of the most savage men; 
 and that the Christian religion is but a sub- 
 limer superstition; the invisibility and mystery 
 of our Deity making Him more awful than the 
 ridiculous objects of heathen adoration. 
 
 '''The tempter is continually whispering 
 such doubts in my ear. Were it not for the 
 hope that when my perseverance is tested and 
 * I faint not,' the clouds will be rifted and the 
 
28 JAMES H. BROOKKS: A ]\IEMOIR. 
 
 'Sun of Righteousness' will illumine my path, I 
 would give up in despair. '" ''• 
 
 "I fight daily with 'this desperately wick- 
 ed' heart. May the time be hastened, and 
 may I hold out until the 'end.' " 
 
 Then there must have followed another 
 struggle as to the acceptance of the kind offer 
 of the friend of his father. Governor Brown. 
 He evidently came to the conclusion that he 
 made a mistake in refusing it — though, a little 
 later, we will see that the offer in question 
 never was accepted, 
 
 ''April 26. — Have written to Gov. Brown 
 again, thanking him for his noble offer, and ac- 
 cepting it. 1 am anxiously awaiting the ar- 
 rival of his letter which will finally determine 
 me how to act. I hope that the Lord will, if 
 it be in accordance with His pleasure, '^ ^ 
 make use of me as an instrument to do His 
 purposes." 
 
 Here we see an expression of despon- 
 dency in the yearning hope of that college 
 education: 
 
 ''May J. — Got my letter from Gov. Brown. 
 I was disappointed. Instead of a light steadily 
 fixed in the future, which I so earnestly long- 
 ed for, my mind is prey to the same gloom and 
 uncertainty. A//er all, I viay 7iot get to Colleger 
 
THE YOUTH. 29 
 
 But — joy came with the morning, soon: 
 
 ''May 14. — How manifold are the mercies 
 of God. He seems to have granted me every 
 opportunity I could wish, to obtain the object 
 of my desires — to bear me on with scarcely a 
 struggle. 
 
 •*In fact, so many ways are opened to me 
 I do not know which to enter. On Saturday 
 I was offered a situation in the Male Academy. 
 And another, still better, offer conies to me; 
 one in which I can make much more money — 
 decidedly preferable to my present situation 
 in every respect, perhaps. 
 
 ''So God may have some ivork for me to do, 
 * '^ May it awaken a deeper gratitude and 
 love." 
 
 Here the dominie rejoices that his salary 
 is to be raised to the princely sum of $170 a 
 term — of which he hopes to save $160! 
 
 "May 16. — ''^ '"'■ My friends are unwilling 
 that I should leave this neighborhood. They 
 have at once raised my salary surprisingly. It 
 is now increased to $170; and these generous 
 friends only charging me $10 board for next 
 session, it will leave me $160. '"' '^ 
 
 ''It is, and has long been, evident tome 
 that God was and is specially directing my 
 ways. *'^ *"' How else can I so have succeed- 
 
30 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 ed ? I know how deficient I was in education 
 and in almost every other quality requisite for 
 the schoolmaster, yet I have astonished my- 
 self. 
 
 "Here lies the secret: / asked God's assist- 
 ance and He granted it. ' ' 
 
 The melody turns to minor, again: 
 
 ''Friday noon, /7me I.— This, to me, is one 
 of the saddest days imaginable. ''^ *^ In the 
 distance is just visible my birth-place, the 
 home of my joyous childhood, over which so 
 many sad, most sad changes have come. '"* *"' 
 But I should cast the feeling off. It is not 
 manly." 
 
 [And manliness was his key-note through- 
 out life.] 
 
 A tender tribute to his father is here 
 paid: 
 
 ''June <?.— Sixteen years ago to-day my 
 father died. Though I have no recollection 
 of him, I have been taught to cherish a sacred 
 love for my departed father, and have often 
 deeply regretted that memory would not bring 
 up the faintest look or action of his." 
 
 School is almost "out," we see, and the 
 youthful master is soliloquizing over a very 
 successful ten months' session. Evidently he 
 had the farmers' boys well in hand, and could 
 
THE YOUTH. 31 
 
 doubtless "lick" them in a bunch, if necessary: 
 
 ''June 14. — One day more and my labors 
 for this session are over. How anxiously I 
 have looked forward to this time. For ten 
 months have I toiled. I know if I had been 
 left to my own unaided exertions I should 
 have failed. ''" '"'" 
 
 "In all this time no serious difficulty 
 has occurred, and I have been enabled to go 
 forward." 
 
 And now another term begins. He is 
 delighted over an attendance of thirty-three: 
 
 ''July J, 184^. — I began school again yes- 
 terday, under circumstances peculiarly flatter- 
 ing. My school already numbers thirty-three 
 — nearly twice as many as I had the whole of 
 last session — and doubtless will increase. ''^ ''" 
 I know I am under His guidance in every 
 action, but it has struck me that He has es- 
 pecially upheld me in my school." 
 
 1850's RECORD. 
 
 It is easy to trace the maturer mind and 
 the firmer chirography in the new diary of 
 1850, selections of which are now given. The 
 first entry of the new year shows deep fervor 
 of spirit: 
 
 "First Sabbath night oJiS^o.—^ have been 
 engaged all evening in reading the 'Memoir 
 
32 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 of the Rev. Robert McCheyne/ What a 
 noble, enviable man was he. Filled full of 
 love to Christ — his only desire seemed to 
 be to glorify Him — his highest ambition to do 
 good. How peaceful and joyous his life, how 
 calm and triumphant his death. Oh ! that I 
 were like him. Reading the history of his 
 burning love and devotedness to the Saviour 
 discovers to me more clearly my own coldness, 
 deadness and worthlessness. 
 
 "Would that I were filled more with zeal; 
 would that it were the one great purpose of 
 my life, my chiefest aim, to labor unceasingly 
 for my blessed Master. I thought of the 
 mercies of God unto me, His wonderful good- 
 ness, His continual kindness and how little I 
 had done to repay them; how ungrateful and 
 useless 1 had been; and I there besought Him 
 to make me more diligent in His service, more 
 holy, more useful, more devoted to Christ. 
 
 "Here would I renew my petition, be- 
 seeching God that it may be done in a proper 
 spirit. My Father Who art in heaven ! 
 How good, how merciful, how forbearing hast 
 Thou been unto me ! Unworthy as I am. 
 Thou hast ever been mindful of me, visiting 
 me in loving kindness, surrounding me with 
 
THK YOUTH. S3 
 
 Thy parental protection. Day after day and 
 night after night show forth Thy goodness. 
 
 "* ^^ Accept this unworthy consecration 
 of myself to Thee for this year and for life. 
 May I do some good each day; may I grow 
 much in grace and the knowledge of truth; 
 use me to effect Thy holy purposes; give me 
 entire submission to Thy will in all things, 
 and after a life of great usefulness to men and 
 of honor to Thee, receive me into Thy 
 heavenly kingdom. I earnestly entreat for 
 Christ's sake — Amen." 
 
 ''Jajmary //.—To-day I again began my 
 life of labor. Ah ! mostly it is a toilsome, sad 
 life to me, but for all that it is a strengthening, 
 pleasant, toilsomeness, a sweet sadness. Be- 
 cause I feel that I am doing something, that I 
 am living an earnest life, that I am laboring, 
 actually working. ''* *'^ 
 
 ''My life is not without its joys. I can 
 leave the noisy gladsomeness of the school- 
 boys, and seek my favorite woods; there amid 
 the stillness of the deep forest — 'God's first 
 temples' — I can commune with Him and hold 
 converse with my own thoughts. 
 
 "There the world with its trading, selfish- 
 ness, money-making, is forgotten, and with 
 the spirit elevated by the silent, sacred influ- 
 
34 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 ences about me, I verily believe it lives for the 
 time in a purer atmosphere." 
 
 He pays high tribute to teachers here: 
 
 ''January 21. — Had a fair excuse to-day 
 not to teach. Owing to the heavy rains the 
 creeks was immensely swollen. The booming 
 waters went surging by, threateningly; for half 
 a mile my horse was in the water, sometimes 
 nearly to his back, but I determined to go. 
 
 "There is something strengthening to me 
 in performing duty against inclination. I feel 
 better. Have been reading 'The School and 
 School Masters,' a most useful, practical book. 
 I shall ever feel grateful to it for the instruc- 
 tion and wise hints it gave me. 
 
 ''More and more am I convinced that 
 next to a preacher of the Gospel, the teacher 
 is living the noblest of all lives. His is the 
 vastly important, but quiet, duty of laying the 
 foundations of Society." 
 
 Here is a striking example of his char- 
 acteristic independence: 
 
 ''January 28. — Met with some opposition 
 to one of my rules of school on the part of 
 one who intended sending to me. It annoyed 
 and excited me considerably, during one day — 
 damped my enthusiasm somewhat — but I have 
 forgotten it now. Convinced by my own ex- 
 
THE YOUTH. 35 
 
 perience, and the observation of others, that I 
 was pursuing decidedly the better plan, I de- 
 termined to go calmly forward, independent of 
 the wishes of one who has no conception of 
 true education and its end. 
 
 ''Was up this morning an hour and a half 
 before daylight, writing. I could not finish my 
 letters before twelve o'clock Saturday night, 
 and I thank God I had no disposition to vio- 
 late His Sabbath by writing on yesterday. '" '"* 
 
 '' February 4. — Read last week 'The Theory 
 and Practice of Teaching,' by D. P. Page. 
 The author is a man of high standing and long 
 experience as a teacher, and though much of 
 his theory is impracticable in our poor country 
 schools, the book is a valuable assistant to the 
 educator. 
 
 "Heard on yesterday an unusually excel- 
 lent sermon from Mr. Caldwell. It was one 
 of his times to exhibit earnestness, eloquence, 
 power. '" '" 
 
 ''February //.—Had a pleasant time in 
 school last week. All went smoothly, quietly. 
 I am daily receiving tokens of God's goodness. 
 Read during the week, 'Todds' Student 
 Manual,' a book full of faithful advice and one 
 1 highly prize, for it showed to me many of my 
 
36 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 own faults and errors, the attempt to conquer 
 which has already been of benefit to me. 
 
 *'0h! that I were freer from imperfection! 
 How miserably inferior I am morally and in- 
 tellectually, to a true man, to what I might 
 have been. Lord ! teach me. Read last 
 night the biography of Jonathan Edwards. 
 He was a true man, a strong man, a 'proper 
 man. 
 
 And the young schoolmaster must have 
 read that "true man, strong man, 'proper 
 man,' " into his own life for all time. 
 
The Collegian 
 
CHAPTKR III. 
 THE COLLEGIAN. 
 
 ¥ouNG Brookes Started for Princeton college, 
 but arrived at Miami University. 
 Interesting is the history of the events 
 which led up to that sudden change in his life 
 plan. The hand of Providence can clearly be 
 seen through it all. He was sent to Miami. 
 
 There he met and loved the one woman 
 who was meant to be his wife, and who, 
 through their long, loving, ideal life together, 
 was ever one with him in Christian service; 
 his constant stimulus to the fulfillment of noble 
 purposes; who ever shielded him from petty 
 cares; who made his interests paramount; and 
 who received from him all through his married 
 life the constantly expressed devotion of a 
 youthful lover, coupled with the highest re- 
 spect for her piety, her intellect, her attain- 
 ments, and her splendid store of sound sense. 
 
40 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 When the way at last was opened that 
 led to the college door, the young man left 
 Pulaski for the East, via Cincinnati. In his 
 pocket he carried a letter of introduction to 
 Rev. Dr. N. L. Rice, of that city. He had 
 learned to greatly admire Dr. Rice, through 
 reading his famed debate with Dr. Alexander 
 Campbell, which had taken place some years 
 before. 
 
 (It is a striking coincidence that young 
 Brookes, the ex-country school teacher, was 
 destined, a few years later, to be the noted 
 successor of this same Dr. Rice, in the pulpit 
 of the Second Presbyterian church of St. Louis.) 
 
 On his arrival in Cincinnati, Brookes 
 learned that Dr. Rice was out of the city, but 
 was expected soon to return. As he was anx- 
 ious to meet the Doctor, he decided to wait a 
 few days. 
 
 HOW HE FOUND *'A FRIEND IN NEED." 
 
 While waiting, a peculiar incident occurred 
 which the Dr. Brookes of later years never 
 forgot. 
 
 He was a total stranger in the city and 
 was nobody's guest, save a hotel's. His ready 
 money having run out, he went to a bank to 
 cash a draft which represented about all of his 
 worldly wealth. The cashier politely said that 
 he must be identified. 
 
THK COI.LBGIAN. 41 
 
 ''But I don't know a soul in the city," re- 
 plied Brookes. 
 
 ''Well, Tm very sorry, but I cannot cash 
 your draft," was the response. 
 
 Here was a predicament, surely. If Dr. 
 Rice's return should be delayed a few days 
 longer, what would he do? The hotel proprie- 
 tor would not cash the draft. As he pondered, 
 he walked about, seeking to find work of any 
 kind to relieve his temporary needs, and con^ 
 sidering ways and means. 
 
 Suddenly, he glanced up and noticed a 
 name over a store. It was an odd Jewish 
 name, and seemed strangely familiar. 
 
 The next moment Brookes was in that 
 store, and its proprietor, with joyful counte- 
 nance, was counting out gold for the face of the 
 draft, and assuring him, meanwhile, that any- 
 thing in sight which he wanted was his for the 
 asking. 
 
 "When my wife lay sick," said the mer- 
 chant, "your mother was the only woman in 
 the whole place who came to help her." 
 
 "You can have anything there is in this 
 store. I can never forget her kindness to my 
 family — strangers in a far land." 
 
 That Jewish family had come to Pulaski in 
 Dr. Brookes' boyhood. They had met with a 
 
42 JAMES H. BROOKE.S: A MEMOIR, 
 
 frigid reception and soon left. Pulaski, evi- 
 dently, did not foster Jewish immigration. Only 
 one person had shown the strangers any cour- 
 tesy. That was the mother ot the boy who 
 was walking the streets of Cincinnati, wonder- 
 ing how he could get that draft cashed; and 
 what would happen if he could not. 
 
 After the heartfelt welcome, scenes of his 
 extreme youth flashed before his mind. He 
 recalled the arrival of the Jewish family; how 
 the children of the strangers were shunned by 
 their schoolmates; of how indignant his mother 
 was when he told her that the Jewish little 
 ones were mistreated by the others. 
 
 At that time was implanted firmly by his 
 mother, the fact that the "J^^^ were God's 
 people." She told him and his sister that they 
 must be kind to the young strangers, and then 
 she practiced what she preached, by going to 
 see the new family herself. 
 
 Those lessons were never forgotten. In 
 later life Dr. Brookes was a strong ally of vari- 
 ous Jewish Missions. He thoroughly believed 
 in attempts to convert the Jews to the recep- 
 tion of Christ as their Messiah. To his moth- 
 er's precepts and practice that tendency can 
 doubtless be traced. And in his study of the 
 
THE COIvI^EGIAN. 43 
 
 Scriptures, this feeling^ was deepened to a pas- 
 sion. 
 
 And, verily, even in this world, her kind- 
 ness to that Jew bore fruit. Her son might 
 have carried off the contents of that Cincinnati 
 store, had he desired to. 
 
 STRANGE CITY SIGHTS. 
 
 The strain on the exchequer having been 
 hghtened, the young man determined to see 
 the sights. 
 
 He had never traveled, and the first 
 glimpse of the Ohio river awed him, he used 
 to say. It was an ocean, almost, compared to 
 his Tennessee rivers. 
 
 The market, too, fascinated him. But he 
 was astounded by the 'iadies he saw there." 
 He wrote home that he thought Cincinnati must 
 have "the homeliest lot of women in the world!" 
 The simple-hearted country lad had mistaken 
 the stall-keepers for wives of prominent citi- 
 zens! (At his home the "quality" ladies all 
 went to market, with a colored boy and a bas- 
 ket.) 
 
 At length Dr. Rice returned. A pleas- 
 ant interview was held. The minister at once 
 took a deep interest in the young man — as 
 did all who met the tall, remarkably handsome, 
 intellectual-looking Tennesseean — and began 
 
44 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 to Strongly urge him to go to Miami Univer- 
 sity at Oxford, Ohio, instead of Princeton. 
 What arguments were used are not known. 
 But the result was, that Brookes took the stage 
 coach for Miami, "to look it over, anyhow," 
 before starting for the New Jersey seat of 
 learning. 
 
 The beautiful campus and the scholarly 
 atmosphere of Miami, together with his pleas- 
 ant reception from the President, Dr. W. C. 
 Anderson, very favorably impressed him. He 
 decided to secure there his longed-for, strug- 
 gled-for, saved-for, and now finally opening 
 college education. 
 
 Another turning-point in the highway of 
 his life had been reached. 
 
 So thorough a preparation had the young 
 student given himself, and so able was he, that 
 he successfully passed an examination which 
 admitted him at once to Junior year classes. 
 Recognizing that time was short and that he 
 had been "handicapped" — to borrow the one 
 fitting word — by poverty and circumstances 
 that would have long since discouraged others, 
 he hastened matters. So he "experienced" 
 Freshman and Sophomore years by means of 
 examinations which occupied a few hours. 
 
 Thus he "caught up" with time, and con- 
 
THE COIvLKGlAN. 45 
 
 quered circumstances. A lesson of encourage- 
 ment to ambitious young men of all ages and 
 countries is to be found in this plain statement 
 of facts of the college career of the great man. 
 
 He clearly recognized that he must *'hus- 
 band his resources," and live cheaply. As 
 was often the custom in those early days, he 
 began to "batch it," i. e., he cooked his own 
 food— what little there was of it — and was 
 his own housekeeper. 
 
 Often he lived, literally, on bread and wa- 
 ter. It was not his poverty alone that led to 
 such a regimen, but partly through a natural 
 dislike for culinary pursuits and the unpleasant 
 ''washing of dishes," which would necessarily 
 follow. 
 
 Finally, his splendid physique must have 
 shown signs of his improper dietery. An in- 
 fluential friend came to the student and made 
 such a vehement argument against his contin- 
 uing in that mode of life which was endanger- 
 ing his constitution — and thereby his future 
 usefulness — that some arrangement was soon 
 made by which Brookes gave up his ''batch- 
 ing," and took his meals in the college refec- 
 tory. 
 
 There was, it is believed, one, only one 
 (and the accent should be placed on "only,") 
 
46 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 attempt to '*haze" the stalwart young South- 
 erner. And a sorry "hazing-bee" was that. 
 The conspirators were most decidedly hoisted 
 by their own "petard." 
 
 One night, while Brookes was studying in 
 his room, two of the upper classmen unwisely 
 decided to "haze" him. But the first thing 
 they knew, he had their respective heads un- 
 der his strong arms, and they were being 
 dragged, protesting and kicking in vain, to the 
 nearest pump. There, each was soused. 
 Hazing operations on the new Junior from 
 Tennessee stopped then and there — according 
 to all information obtainable — with a sudden 
 jolt. 
 
 Soon he met Miss Susan Oliver, the ex- 
 ceptionally beautiful and gifted daughter of Dr. 
 Oliver, a retired Ohio physician of prominence, 
 who had removed to Oxford for the purpose 
 of educating his children at the college and 
 seminaries there. Providence seemed clearly 
 to have brought this removal about. 
 
 The decision as to whether the family 
 should go to Cincinnati, or to Oxford, was 
 practically left to Miss Susan, a ruling spirit in 
 the household. Naturally, a young lady who 
 had finished her education, and who, because of 
 her remarkable beauty and gifts, might have 
 
THE COLIyEGIAN. 47 
 
 shone in society circles of any city, anywhere, 
 would have chosen to go to Cincinnati. Such 
 a choice ninety nine young ladies out of a 
 hundred, in similar circumstances, would have 
 made. 
 
 But she was the one-hundredth — then, as 
 all through her life. With the rare unselfish- 
 ness that has always sunk herself and her nat- 
 ural inclinations, she urged her parents for 
 the sake of the younger children (who could 
 then be properly educated and at the same 
 time enjoy their home) — to go to Oxford. 
 
 And soon, no doubt, it might be added, 
 she was very glad that she had made that de- 
 cision. 
 
 THE LOVERS MET. 
 
 The first glimpse James H. Brookes had 
 of the girl who was predestined to be Mrs. 
 James H. Brookes, was under decidedly thrill- 
 ing circumstances. 
 
 A gentle stream had become, suddenly, a 
 raging torrent, and through that stream Miss 
 Oliver, an expert horsewoman, was riding. 
 There was danger that the animal and its 
 fair burden might any moment be swept away, 
 but the young lady was bent upon fording 
 that stream then and there— and ford it she 
 did. 
 
48 JAMES H. BROOKEvS: A MEMOIR. 
 
 She knew it not, but near by a handsome 
 collegian was watching her with intense inter- 
 est. From that time she had an ardent suitor. 
 A near relative of Miss Oliver's desired to 
 know something of the young suitor's family, 
 naturally. Told of it, the lover said: "Tell 
 him that most of my ancestry have gone to 
 the skies." 
 
 A classmate's recollections. 
 Rev. Dr. Thomas Fullerton, of Cincin- 
 nati, a college classmate of Dr. Brookes', thus 
 wrote under date of September i, 1897: 
 
 ''What I recall most readily of Brookes 
 as he was forty-five years ago, is the mingling 
 of elements in his nature which made him so 
 dear to us. 
 
 ''What he was in after life he was in col- 
 lege. 
 
 •'He was mature when he came to Ox- 
 ford — I think the oldest man of our class ex- 
 cept McMillan. He had passed through 
 varied experiences, and knew human nature. 
 He had some acquaintance with literature. (I 
 wonder if he always delighted in Longfellow 
 as he did in 1852!) His mind was active and 
 vigorous. He was a model of manly strength 
 and beauty. He was naturally eloquent. He 
 had a rich humor. He did not laugh loud him- 
 
THE COLLEGIAN. 49 
 
 self, but liked to make others laugh till the 
 halls rar-g. 
 
 ''I well remember some of his grood stor- 
 ies. I try at times to repeat them. But they 
 are not droll on my lips, as they were on his. 
 
 ''He was a leader; I may say the leader 
 of the college. No other man had such a fol- 
 lowing. It was not because he sought to be 
 the head. There was no trace in him of the 
 school demagogue, nothing of a 'Steerforth' 
 nature. (I may say in passing that I can recall 
 his enjoyment of David Copperfield, which we 
 read at the same time.) 
 
 '"He was, I repeat, the leader of the col- 
 lege. Yet, among his contemporaries were 
 David Swing, Harmer Denny, Milton Saylor, 
 Benjamin Harrison, and among the younger 
 men Whitelaw Reid, Henry (now Chancellor) 
 McCracken, and other brilliant stars. 
 
 *'It is scarcely worth while to give names 
 from our own class. Alas! the most promis- 
 ing among them were soon to be read on grave- 
 stones: Hibben, Holmes, Lowe, Carson, 
 McNair, Ustick, McNutt — how early they 
 finished their race! We who linger, remember 
 them with admiration, and shaking our grey 
 heads say: Ah! if they had lived, the class of 
 
50 JAMEvS H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 1853 would have been heard from! But 
 Brookes led all these. 
 
 "Not, perhaps, in scholarship, though he 
 was a faithful student. But in the gifts which 
 make men forces and foremost. He was our 
 Captain and we were proud of him. 
 
 "The more so, because he was a man of 
 God. The man of God is himself humble. 
 But others may be proud of him with thank- 
 ful glorying. Brookes' piety was deep. No 
 one would have dared to whisper a doubt of it. 
 There was no cant in him. At times despon- 
 dent — a remarkable thing in one so sane in 
 mind and body — he never put on a long face 
 for appearance sake; never spoke unreal 
 words." 
 
At Princeton Seminary. 
 
Dr. Brookes as a Young Man. 
 
 [Rejiwducedfroin an old Dagnentoiype.) 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 AT PRINCETON SEMINARY. 
 
 Tames H. Brookes, B. A., arrived at Prince- 
 ^^ ton Seminary with ninety-six cents in 
 his pocket. But he was there to com- 
 plete his theological training — the call ''woe is 
 me if I preach not the Gospel" ringing in his 
 ears — and finish it he did. 
 
 He secured a loan of fifty dollars from a 
 relative in Baltimore, and proceeded to fit up 
 his room— with a fivG dollar bill. (He was 
 never an aid-receiver from any individual or 
 any Church Board of Education.) 
 
 He secured a room, in the basement of 
 one of the dormitories, so undesirable as to be 
 given free to needy students. It was a sec- 
 tion fittingly dubbed "The Tombs." With 
 the five dollar bill mentioned he bought some 
 meagre second-hand furniture. Then he se- 
 cured board in the refectory. 
 
 Between the unhealthy bed room and a 
 limited dietary, Brookes was metamorphosed 
 
54 JAMEvS H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 from a sturdy, ruddy young giant into a pale, 
 wasted cleric; and all in a few months. But 
 for the kind ministrations of a quaint old negro 
 woman, "Aunt Betsey," who forced upon him 
 many a basket of good food, daintily prepared, 
 he used to say that he could hardly have lived 
 through those few months in New Jersey. 
 
 He came to know "Aunt Betsey" through 
 a Sunday-school for negroes, which he imme- 
 diately sought out and thereafter regularly 
 taught in. He "understood" negroes, and 
 they loved him, there, at Oxford, St. Louis 
 and everywhere else. This "Aunty" referred 
 to was a character, and deserves mention in 
 view of what she did for Dr. Brookes. She 
 was very intelligent and had spent much of 
 her life as a missionary in the Sandwich 
 Islands. She had been a slave of Admiral 
 Stockton's. Dr. Brookes always said that she 
 "saved his life," and her picture was carefully 
 preserved in his study. 
 
 HIS MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 In connection with the foregoing refer- 
 ence to his labors among the Princeton negroes, 
 a fellow seminary student, Rev. Dr. R. C. 
 Galbraith, of Chillicothe, Ohio, wrote in Sep- 
 tember, 1897, for this book, a very amusing bit 
 of memorabilia, which is here quoted: 
 
AT PRINCETON SEMINARY. 55 
 
 ''When he went to Princeton the student 
 who had been looking after the Sunday-school 
 in the colored Presbyterian Church had not 
 yet arrived, and by some lucky happening 
 Brookes was invited to superintend the school 
 and preach to the congregation, on the first 
 Sunday after his arrival. 
 
 "In the school a little boy was making 
 some confusion when Mr. Brookes said, 'Boy, 
 you must behave yourself, or I'll spank you!' 
 
 "This was amusing to the boy, and to the 
 whole school; such a thing as spanking a boy 
 in Sunday-school being an unheard-of thing. 
 
 *'The boy grew more demonstrative and 
 Mr. Brookes walked down, turned him over 
 his knee and convinced the whole school that 
 he had meant what he said. He certainly did 
 what he had threatened. 
 
 "After school he preached, and captured 
 the congregation with the sermon, as he had 
 the school boy with the spanking, and so long 
 as he remained at Princeton, the colored peo- 
 ple wanted no other preacher. 
 
 "As we know, he proved when he went 
 out to work that he could as easily interest and 
 profit men of vastly greater culture and promi- 
 nence. He was a good steward of the mani- 
 
56 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 fold grace of God, — 'a householder bringing 
 forth out of his treasure things new and old.' " 
 
 In the Junior year at Miami, Mr. Brookes 
 began his theological training by combining 
 his college work with the regular course at the 
 United Presbyterian Seminary at Oxford. He 
 was abundantly able to do the double work. 
 Dr. Claybaugh, the professor who chiefly in- 
 structed him, was considered one of the finest 
 scholars in his church. 
 
 He spent the greater part of the summer's 
 vacation following his graduation, at Prince- 
 ton; going there a few weeks after receiving 
 his degree. A short summer trip intervened; 
 a trip which cost much more than was antici- 
 pated, and which led up to the ninety-six cents 
 condition of things. 
 
 Of his daily life at Princeton, his favorite 
 studies, his friends, his mode of recreation; of 
 all such there is, unfortunately, no record at 
 hand. But it is the man we are studying, 
 and from his own lips are recorded events of 
 those days which show clearly the under-strata 
 of his make-up; inclinations, feelings and sen- 
 timents which can be traced out in later years 
 of Christian activity. 
 
AT PRINCETON SEMINARY. 57 
 
 HIS VIEWS ON STUDENT AID. 
 
 Brookes had a friend at the Seminary who 
 was always exceptionally well dressed, and the 
 occupant of a luxurious room. The youn<^ 
 Tennesseean naturally supposed his friend to be 
 the scion of some wealthy family, judging from 
 the appearance of things. 
 
 This supposedly wealthy young man re- 
 monstrated, one day, concerning Brookes' cel- 
 lar-like room. 
 
 "Why don't you have a better room than 
 this?" inquired the friend. 
 
 "It is as good a room as I can afford," 
 answered Brookes. 
 
 "Then why don't you ask the Board of 
 Education for aid. '^ They give me help." 
 
 Brookes was dumbfounded. It was the 
 Board, then, that helped to pay for those natty 
 clothes, and that handsomely-furnished room. 
 
 "I intend to go through on my own re- 
 sources," replied Brookes, "or I won't go 
 through at all." This was said frankly, but 
 with no criticism of the views of the other. He 
 then went on to explain his ideas on "student 
 aid." 
 
 He believed that the student of push and 
 "gumption" would find a way, as he did; if the 
 way seemed too hard to find, and the student 
 
58 JAMES H. BROOKKS: A MEMOIR. 
 
 was unwilling to toil for an education to fit him 
 for the ministry, then the church would be 
 the better off without the services of such a 
 man. 
 
 He recognized that there were excep- 
 tions, of course; and he would not quarrel 
 with any one who gave aid or took aid. But, 
 on principle, he was against student aid. 
 
 He was often an outspoken critic against 
 the luxury of too many of the American Theo- 
 logical seminaries. He held that they did not 
 train men to battle in struggling fields. Un- 
 questionably, his Princeton experiences led to 
 that belief. Yet in the kindness of his heart 
 he could wish no theologue to be driven to a 
 basement room. It was the happy mean he 
 advocated. 
 
 In this belief he has been upheld by many 
 ministers and laymen. There is, today, a cry 
 that the seminary graduates hang back, in too 
 many instances, from the hard pioneer posts. 
 They want established churches. The style 
 of seminary living, these critics assert, has 
 much to do with such a state of things. Dr. 
 Brookes simply antedated, by many years, such 
 in their views. 
 
 He also held that the Theological semi- 
 naries did not make enough of the English 
 
AT PRINCETON SEMINARY. 59 
 
 Bible. He, the English Bible's Champion, 
 often spoke out and spared not when discuss- 
 ing that point. He said the average seminary 
 graduate "knew too much about the Bible, but 
 not enough of the Bible." He may not always 
 have pleased men in so speaking. But that 
 made not the most infinitesimal difference to 
 him. He was speaking his convictions. 
 
 To revert to the subject of student aid, it 
 can be truthfully said, that all young Brookes 
 needed to do was to make a simple request to 
 the Board, and aid would have been forthcom- 
 ing. He really needed help. His poverty, 
 and mean quarters, almost ruined his health. 
 His was certainly one of those exceptionally 
 deserving cases. But he fought it out alone 
 for ten months in "The Tombs," and paid 
 that borrowed $50 back, out of the first quar- 
 ter's salary as a settled pastor. 
 
 By the fellow seminary student, already 
 quoted in this chapter, the following testimony 
 was written: 
 
 ** James H. Brookes was an independent, 
 generous, noble, high-minded gentleman, with 
 manners so naturally easy, and with such 
 kindly feeling, that I was attracted to him at 
 once, and found it a most easy lesson to learn 
 to love him. 
 
60 JAMES H. BROOKKS: A MEMOIR. 
 
 ''He hated all pretense and sham; saw most 
 clearly what he did see; was very certain that 
 he was right. Often, to hear him speak of 
 those who did not agree with him, one might 
 suppose him harsh and unloving. But those 
 that knew him well did know that, having the 
 strength of a man, he had also the tenderness 
 and love of a woman; a love that drew him to 
 his friends and held him to them even though 
 he miofht know much of their unworthiness. 
 They were his friends, and that made atone- 
 ment for much. He stuck to them through 
 evil or good report. 
 
 "He was impulsive in thought and action; a 
 friend of the poor, a helper of the oppressed; 
 ready to work where he saw that work was 
 needed, and in such cheerful, hearty manner, 
 that the most suspicious could see no trace of 
 condescension on his part, or ever thought of 
 accusing him of a patronizing air." 
 
 THE YOUNG ICONOCLAST. 
 
 While at the seminary he stormed in- 
 wardly against the cut of the average theo- 
 logue's coat; his white necktie; his "holy tone." 
 
 All that smacked of churchly professional- 
 ism he loathed. As a relief, he frequently 
 stuck his trowsers mto his boots and paraded Pi'inceton'' s 
 
AT PRINCKTON SEMINARY. 61 
 
 streets. (His own words are the authority for 
 this statement.) 
 
 That was his silent protest against embry- 
 onic clericaHsm. 
 
 How he must have shocked some of 
 those dapper Httle theologues! They doubtless 
 pointed a finger of scorn at the brusque young 
 Southerner, and shaking their locks over him, 
 predicted his dire end. 
 
 But what of the record of that Southerner 
 they criticised? 
 
 It is easy to trace the dislike which Dr. 
 Brookes always had, and always showed, for 
 ministerial uniforms and clerical "favors," back 
 to those days. Others might use all such; 
 many of his respected confreres did so. He 
 did not judge them. But as for him — he was 
 through life the Tennesseean who tucked his 
 trowsers into his boots, for a protest. 
 
 And it was, in part, because he was such 
 a man among men, that he had the tremendous 
 influence he did over "all sorts and conditions" 
 of them. There can be no question as to that. 
 The farmer, the dry goods clerk, the school 
 teacher, the census-taker — Dr. Brookes had 
 worked faithfully as each. He had been a 
 graduate in the College of Life and sat in 
 many of its post-graduate clashes, A profound 
 
62 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 Study of human nature had followed, of neces- 
 sity. 
 
 He did not look out on life, and the strug- 
 gle in men's minds and souls, in the bland man- 
 ner of the typical young scholastic who goes 
 direct from his seven years of book study into 
 his pulpit; then to learn, from bitter experi- 
 ences often, to know men and things — if ever 
 he does learn. 
 
 Dr. Brookes had studied men first, and theol- 
 ogy afterwards. 
 
 And it might be said, in passing, that no 
 one ever heard him deliver a "discourse" on 
 the ''nobility of man." His firm belief was 
 that man was "a poor critter," to use the 
 homely phrase. 
 
 One day, in later life, a learned guest 
 asked Dr. Brookes if he did not think that 
 ''self-esteem was a most noble attribute of the 
 human mind?" 
 
 "Do you really want to know what I think 
 of self-esteem, and of man?" responded Dr. 
 Brookes. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 "Well, ril tell you. I think man ought 
 to have a third leg, to kick himself over Crea- 
 tion with." 
 
The Settled Pastor, 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE SETTLED PASTOR. 
 
 Y^^RESiDENT Anderson, of Miami University, 
 1^-^ brought the name of the young Timothy, 
 James H. Brookes, before the session 
 of the First Presbyterian Church of Dayton, 
 Ohio, when the pulpit of it was vacant through 
 the resignation of Rev. Dr. Gurley. A special 
 meeting of the Presbytery was called to grant 
 the necessary license to preach. 
 
 He evidently pleased his Dayton hearers 
 greatly, for, after two sermons, the young man 
 received an unanimous call from that strong 
 and influential church. 
 
 He then gave a striking example of a 
 noted characteristic: his power to quickly de- 
 cide on a course of action. For, within one 
 week, he was ordained, installed and — married. 
 Miss Susan Oliver became Mrs. James H. 
 Brookes, at her home in Oxford, on May 2, 
 1854. The honeymoon was spent in Ten- 
 
 65 
 
66 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 nessee. A month later, the young couple took 
 up their life together at Dayton. 
 
 The work of the young pastor, begun un- 
 der such auspicious circumstances, was most 
 successful. Soon every seat in the church 
 auditorium was filled and there was a crying 
 need for a larger buildmg. Without seeking 
 the slightest particle of publicity, the work of 
 the preacher attracted attention from an ever- 
 enlarging circle. 
 
 FROM A FELLOW PASTOR, OF DAYTON. 
 
 Rev. Dr. James S. Kemper, now in his 
 83rd year, was a fellow pastor and neighbor of 
 Dr. Brookes at Dayton. He moderated the 
 congregational meeting of the First church, 
 which unanimously called Dr. Brookes. 
 
 A warm intimacy sprang up between them, 
 which never cooled. Not long before Dr. 
 Brookes' death, letters full of affection passed 
 between them. Dr. Kemper had baptized the 
 oldest daughter of his friend, Etta Olive 
 Brookes, who died, a beautiful girl of rare 
 promise, in her sixteenth year. 
 
 Dr. Kemper has shown his kindly interest 
 in this collection of memorabilia, by sending 
 the following letter from Dayton. It is full of 
 historical facts of interest; and it also paints a 
 striking portrait of the young pastor. 
 
THE SETTLED PASTOR. 67 
 
 **In the winter and spring of 1854," writes 
 Dr. Kemper, ''Rev. P. D. Gurley, D. D., the 
 able and beloved pastor of the First Presby- 
 terian Church of Dayton, Ohio, after at first 
 declining, eventually accepted a call and re- 
 moved to Washington City. The best peo- 
 ple he left in the church were in dismay. 
 Many said their church was undone, and could 
 never recover from its loss. 
 
 "A young man from Pulaski, Tenn., had, 
 the year before, pursued the studies of the 
 Senior year in Miami University^ at Oxford, 
 Ohio, while studying theology under Dr. 
 Claybaugh, a professor of theology there, in 
 the United Presbyterian Seminary. On grad- 
 uating, he had gone to Princeton Theological 
 Seminary; had been there five months. He 
 was heard of by the Dayton First Presbyterian 
 Church, and was asked to visit and preach to 
 the people, which he did. 
 
 When — within two weeks after Dr. Gur- 
 ley's removal — the congregation, and more or 
 less the town, was saying the church's loss 
 was irreparable, Mr. James H. Brookes was 
 unanimously called to be the pastor, by the 
 largest congregational meeting ever held in 
 the church, and with the utmost enthusiasm. 
 
 **The writer of these lines moderated the 
 
68 JAMES H. BROOKKS: A MEMOIR. 
 
 congregational meeting that voted the call, 
 and knows; he is not writing on report, or at 
 random. 
 
 "The congregational attendance was 
 materially increased from the start, and so con- 
 tinued. Members of the Session, gray-haired 
 men, who had become so in the eldership, were 
 heard saying that they had secured a pastor 
 'who was to be the first man in the church.' 
 
 "The call was presented to Miami Pres- 
 bytery in April, 1854, at Monroe, Ohio. By 
 that body, it was presented to Mr. Brookes, 
 already a licentiate, and accepted by hirn. He 
 preached his trial sermon, was ordained, and 
 arrangements were made which in due time 
 culminated in his installment as pastor of the 
 First, then the oldest and largest, Presbyterian 
 church in Dayton. 
 
 "Mr. Brookes was a positive man from 
 the first, and a positive Presbyterian. He 
 was earnest to win souls. As far as this writ- 
 er knows, the harshest things he ever said in 
 the pulpit were in impatience with obdurate 
 neglecters of Jesus Christ and His Gospel. It 
 is simple truth to say that he faithfully labored 
 on in Dayton, honored and beloved, until 
 ICS57; when, called to St. Louis, he was with 
 sincere regret released. Since then, there 
 
THK SETTI.KD PASTOR. 69 
 
 has been his field, and others will tell of his 
 work. His record is on high, and now he 
 knows even as he is known. 
 
 ^'His (probably) last photograph, sent by 
 special solicitation, stands over the writer's 
 desk; the same face known and loved for more 
 than forty years." 
 
 A PASTORAL INCIDENT. 
 
 An interesting incident of the experience 
 at Dayton naturally comes to mind here; it 
 was an anecdote of the Dr. Brookes of later 
 life. 
 
 There had been some trivial trouble be- 
 tween the volunteer choir and certain mem- 
 bers of the congregation. Feelings had been 
 sorely ruffled, and the choir— ^'struck," liter- 
 ally. With woebegone faces came some of 
 the church officers to their pastor's study for a 
 "council of war." 
 
 ''Oh, is that all.^" said he. ''Then never 
 mind. If the choir refuses to sing, I will lead 
 myself!" 
 
 And lead he did, the next Sunday, and 
 thereafter, in clear, strong tones, till new choir 
 arrangements were made. Some of the old- 
 fashioned members said the singing had never 
 been so hearty and so satisfactory to them as 
 when the young pastor "led off." 
 
70 JAMKS H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 CALLED TO LOUISVILLE. 
 
 It was to be expected that a city of Day- 
 ton's size could not long hold James H. 
 Brookes as its own. Very soon a flattering 
 call from a large Presbyterian church of Louis- 
 ville, Kentucky, came. 
 
 Against the acceptance of this invitation 
 the Dayton congregation arose in its might. 
 Their pastor's announcement of the call to 
 leave them, and his doubtful state of mind as 
 to what was his duty, has fortunately been 
 found. 
 
 It shows clearly the remarkable growth of 
 this first charge of the young pastor's; having 
 every pew filled, and other worshipers seeking 
 entrance. But it is, moreover, worthy of study 
 as a striking presentation of the thoughts of a 
 conscientious minister concerning a call to him, 
 a settled, successful pastor, to become the 
 head of another church. It might well have 
 been published, years ago, as a "Treatise on 
 Calls," to be read by all ministers and congre- 
 gations. 
 
 Selections from this pastoral letter of 
 August 5, 1857, follow: 
 
 ''To the congregation of the First Presby- 
 terian Church: 
 
 "You have met to-day to decide the ques- 
 
THE SETTI.ED PASTOR. 71 
 
 tion, whether you will consent to the dissolu- 
 tion of the relation now existing between us 
 as pastor and people. 
 
 *'You not only have a right to your own 
 opinions, as Presbyterians, and a right to ex- 
 press those opinions freely; but you are re- 
 sponsible to God, for the decision you now 
 make, and you are under the most solemn 
 obligations to view the whole matter simply 
 and solely as a question of duty. I hold that 
 no minister is justifiable in trampling down the 
 affection, the hopes, and judgment of his peo- 
 ple, in order to carry out his convictions of 
 duty, unless those convictions are so clear and 
 profound, that nothing whatever can change 
 them; and unless it were a more manifest 
 wrong to disobey his own sense of what he 
 should do, than to come in conflict with their 
 calm, thoughtful, well-matured views of what 
 duty demands at his hands. 
 
 ''If circumstances are such that the argu- 
 ments in favor of leaving a charge are over- 
 whelming to his own mind, and if his people 
 cannot place themselves in a position where 
 they, too, may weigh the arguments^where 
 the light he has cannot reach them— he is, of 
 course, obliged to consult only his convictions. 
 But if all, or most, of the facts in the case are 
 
72 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 within their reach, he is not a true Presby- 
 terian if he ignores their right to call in ques- 
 tion the correctness of his conclusion, or the 
 propriety of his contemplated proceeding. 
 
 "Light, free light, from the Throne of 
 God, is what both parties should earnestly 
 strive and pray to obtain. The people, under 
 God, are the source of power and the final 
 court of appeal in our Church, as much as they 
 are in a Republican or Democratic civil gov- 
 ernment. No spiritual despot can consult his 
 own will, and require them silently to acquiesce 
 in his decisions. No Presbyterian minister 
 has breathed in the Spirit of his Church who 
 will, except in the most extraordinary case, set 
 up his own judgment as infallible and utterly 
 beyond the influence of the feelings, the de- 
 sires, and the opinions of his people. 
 
 "No pastor has a right to ask a congrega- 
 tion to consent to a dissolution of the relation 
 existing between them on the ground, alone, 
 that he so wishes it. He is bound to act with 
 reference to the glory of Christ, the best inter- 
 ests of His Kingdom and the good of souls, as 
 these high ends appear to his mind; they are 
 bound to act with the same grand objects, as 
 they shall appear to their minds. 
 
 "He is answerable, at the bar of God, for 
 
THE SETTLED PASTOR. 73 
 
 the conclusion to which he comes. They are 
 answerable for the manner in v^hich they treat 
 those conclusions, and for their own convic- 
 tions, whether they conflict with his or not — for 
 their own decisions, whether they chime with 
 his or not. 
 
 ''What do the interests of Christ's Kingr- 
 dom demand of us, in our present posture? If 
 you believe that those interests will be better 
 secured by the removal of your pastor to 
 Louisville, you must have the nobleness and 
 Christian spirit to give him up, even if the sep- 
 aration should painfully tear asunder precious 
 ties, and wound bleeding, affectionate hearts. 
 I have confidence in you to think that you will 
 make the sacrifice, if need be, for Jesus' sake, 
 and that your willingness to do what will ad- 
 vance His Kingdom, shall call down upon you 
 a blessing that will richly compensate for any 
 pain you may feel in consenting to break up a 
 mutually tender and pleasant relation. If, how- 
 ever, you do not believe that my removal will 
 be for the interest of the church, as a whole, 
 you are under imperative obligation to say so, 
 even if I desired to make the removal. But 
 it is needless to assure you that I have no such 
 desire in itself considered; that I have no wish 
 
74 JAMES H. BROOKES: AMEMOIR. 
 
 to leave you, save the wish that springs from 
 a sense of duty. 
 
 "Let me briefly lay the facts before you 
 that have produced the conviction, in my mind, 
 that I am called in the Providence of God to 
 leave you, and labor in another part of His 
 vineyard. 
 
 "First, then, I have feared that my work 
 here is almost done. I have reached almost 
 all that I can hope to reach, without enlarged 
 means of usefulness. Already fully one hun- 
 dred families are crowded in some seventy 
 pews, and, as the Trustees inform me, two- 
 thirds of these pews are occupied by two, and 
 very often by three, families. Room for other 
 families that wish to attend our church, room 
 for strangers, room to receive those who might 
 with little effort be induced to put themselves 
 within reach of the means of grace, room for 
 God's poor, room for the perishing in the 
 streets and lanes of the city, is exceedingly 
 hard to obtain, if not almost wholly out of the 
 question. 
 
 "As a natural result of this state of things, 
 the members of my church do not and cannot 
 exert themselves to secure continued growth, 
 to bring others within the sound of the Gospel, 
 
THE SETTLED PASTOR. 75 
 
 and to see to it that all the flock are gath- 
 ered in. 
 
 "That field is a large and important one. 
 The room for growth is unlimited, and with 
 God's blessing, we may reasonably expect im- 
 mense good to be achieved by faithful labor. 
 
 "Dayton has my heart, but the treasure 
 seems to be in Louisville; and though our 
 Savior says where the treasure is there will 
 the heart be also, the heart, in this case, is in 
 Louisville only for the souls that may there be 
 brought to Jesus. Here I am hampered; there 
 the Lord will bring me into a large place. 
 Here I can hope to reach but few; there num- 
 bers stand to be urged to the Cross. Here a 
 little m^y be done; there much fruit may be 
 expected as the result of diligent, prayerful 
 effort. 
 
 "Weigh the whole matter, my dear peo- 
 ple, as a question of duty; inquire seriously and 
 prayerfully what you and I owe to the church 
 and to our Redeemer; and may God in His 
 infinite mercy lead you to such a conclusion as 
 shall promote the best interests of His King- 
 dom and call down upon us His favor which is 
 life, His loving kindness which is better than 
 
 life. 
 
 "Your affectionate Friend and Pastor, 
 
 "James H. Brookes." 
 
76 JAMKS H. BROOKES: A MKMOlR. 
 
 THE CALL DECLINED. 
 
 The Dayton church was thoroughly 
 aroused and strongly resisted the call to Louis- 
 ville. The matter was taken to Presbytery. 
 Mr. Brookes told the representatives of his 
 church there, very frankly, that he loved his 
 Dayton charge, and desired nothing better 
 than to remain as their pastor indefinitely; he 
 reiterated that '*his heart was in Dayton." 
 
 But, with equal frankness, he pointed out 
 that it was unfair to them, to him, and to the 
 cause he labored for, to expect him to continue 
 in the overcrowded building which practically 
 barred out new members. 
 
 The fairness of his words appealed to all. 
 No one could expect such a man to continue 
 long in a church which was then so filled 
 that further growth was impossible. What 
 was practically a compact was then made. 
 The representatives of the Dayton church at 
 Presbytery said that if he would continue as 
 their pastor, that they would enlarge the 
 church, and give it a fair chance for future 
 growth and extended influence. 
 
 "Then," replied their pastor at once, 'T 
 will stay with you all the rest of my days." 
 
 So the flattering call to the large city 
 
THE SETTLED PAvSTOR. it 
 
 church was declined, and the work at Dayton 
 went on with unabated zeal. 
 
 But the second call to a larger field, which 
 soon came, could not, under the circumstances, 
 be declined. What these circumstances were, 
 will be shown in another chapter. 
 
Called To St. Louis 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 CALLED TO ST. LOUIS. 
 
 O^HE Second Presbyterian Church of St, 
 \^ Louis was, in 1857, without a pastor; 
 Dr. Rice having accepted a call to 
 Chicago. (This same Dr. Rice was the Cin- 
 cinnati friend of James Brookes, the collegian.) 
 
 The manner in which the name of Rev. 
 James H. Brookes was brought before that 
 church is an interesting bit of history. 
 
 One of the pastoral committee of the 
 church had taken a long pilgrimage to hear a 
 certain noted preacher of that day. But he 
 was not pleased, and so reported on his return 
 to St. Louis. The congregation knew not 
 exactly where to turn. 
 
 It so happened, as we would say — though 
 Dr. Brookes would say, -'there are no happen- 
 ings" — that the father of one of the elders of 
 the present Washington and Compton Avenue 
 Church, while en route from his Virginia home 
 to St. Louis, had been obliged, against his 
 
82 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 will, to Stop off for a Sunday at Dayton, Ohio. 
 He "happened" to enter Mr. Brookes' church, 
 knowing absolutely nothing of him. 
 
 The stranger was simply captivated. He 
 brought such a glowing report to his son in St. 
 Louis, that immediate plans were laid to have 
 the remarkable young Dayton preacher come 
 to St. Louis, "on trial," so to speak. 
 
 A letter inviting Mr. Brookes to come and 
 preach one Sunday, was sent. It was imme- 
 diately declined. 
 
 Later, when a proposed visit to his moth- 
 er in Tennessee, was about to be made, a Sun- 
 day stop at St. Louis was arranged for, after 
 many urgent invitations. 
 
 It was considered on neither side as "can- 
 didating." Dr. Brookes never was a "can- 
 didate" for any pulpit. In the following Jan- 
 uary, the brief visit to the Second church was 
 made. 
 
 His preaching, his personality — every- 
 thing, must have pleased the St. Louis congre- 
 gation, for on February 15th, the unanimous 
 call was sent. 
 
 The steps which led to the prompt accep- 
 tance of the call were simple. According to 
 the Dayton church officers, the hard times had 
 prevented the fulfillment of their plan for the 
 
CAIvLED TO ST. LOUIS- 83 
 
 necessary rebuilding of the church. It was 
 on that hope that the call to Louisville had 
 been declined. 
 
 There seemed to be no immediate likeli- 
 hood of any enlarging of the Dayton church, 
 and he felt that the great field and wider 
 opportunities which again were opened before 
 him must not a second time, for merely per- 
 sonal reasons, be disregarded. 
 
 With kindest feeling toward the member- 
 ship as individuals, he read his resignation 
 from the pulpit, the following Sunday. 
 
 *'You need not oppose it," he said; "I do 
 not intend to remain. You have not fulfilled 
 your pledge." 
 
 THE FIRST PRAYER-MEETING. 
 
 Dr. Brookes began his St. Louis pastor- 
 ate informally, on a cold Wednesday night, 
 February i8, 1858. 
 
 From the train, he was taken at once to 
 the home of Judge Gamble, an officer of his 
 new church, where a warm welcome and many 
 creature comforts awaited the ''new minister." 
 From the comfortable home the energetic 
 guest went, accompanied by his host, to the 
 church to attend prayer-meeting. I hey were, 
 necessarily, somewhat late, and found the con- 
 gregation at prayer. 
 
84 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 Dr. Brookes said it was *'a good begin- 
 ning." 
 
 And so it proved to be. For the new 
 pastor immediately began to conduct protracted 
 evangelistic services, which were carried on 
 for some time with most encouraging results. 
 
 At his first communion service, soon after 
 his arrival, he had the pleasure of welcoming 
 into church fellowship forty-five new mem- 
 bers, a large proportion being young men, and 
 all, it is understood, being adults. 
 
 He referred, on that communion Sunday, 
 to the work of his predecessors. Dr. Potts and 
 Dr. Rice. With a sense of modesty which 
 well became a young man, he gave the glory 
 for the very auspicious beginning of his city 
 pastorate, first, to his Maker, and then to his 
 predecessors. 
 
 His words were: "I am but reaping the 
 harvest sown by that saintly man, Dr. Potts, 
 who ministered to you of the Word of God; 
 and of the loved Dr. Rice, so lately with you." 
 
 So his work in St. Louis was begun most 
 hopefully. 
 
 Among those who were received at the 
 first communions were young men destined 
 to be upholders of Dr. Brookes' hands through- 
 out the whole of his thirty-nine years' pastorate 
 
CAI.I.^D TO SI*. I.OUIS. 85 
 
 in St. Louis some of whom are still honored lay 
 officers of the Washington and Compton Ave- 
 nue Church of that city. Their pastor grew 
 old with them, and he has gone beyond. 
 
 It was his custom, in those days, to fre- 
 quently meet with his young converts, to in- 
 struct them and strengthen them. Such 
 meetings are looked back to with special ten- 
 derness by those who were a part of them. 
 
 THE COLONIZATION PLAN. 
 
 The Second Church was strong and pros- 
 perous when the young minister came to it. 
 He would have preferred, doubtless, in many 
 ways, a weak or run-down church which need- 
 ed a young giant to build it up. The next 
 best thing, he held, was to urge colonization. 
 
 Dr. Brookes was always an advocate of 
 the church colonization plan, and he soon made 
 known his ideas among his St. Louis friends. 
 He believed that the strong Second Church 
 should send out a branch into a home of its 
 own, free from debt. 
 
 He laid before his church officers his argu- 
 ments in telling fashion. He showed them 
 that in a church so thoroughly filled with mem- 
 bers there was little chance for bringing in 
 strangers, and as a young minister he wanted 
 plenty of growing room. The lesson he had 
 
86 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 learned in his first pastorate was doubtless 
 always before him. 
 
 His plan, in brief, was this: The Second 
 Church should buy a suitable site, in the proper 
 locality for future usefulness, and erect upon it 
 a complete new church. His idea met with 
 approval, and a lot at i6th and Walnut street 
 was bought. 
 
 There a large chapel was erected. The 
 history of that edifice, and the great Presby- 
 terian church Dr. Brookes made of it, is told 
 in other chapters. 
 
 It is needless to say that when the idea of 
 the colony was conceived and carried out, 
 there was no thought in the minds of either 
 Dr. Brookes or the congregation of the Second 
 Church, that he was to go out with any colony. 
 But untoward and unexpected circumstances 
 developed, and he was urged to lead out that 
 colony and to occupy the pulpit of that very 
 church, then roofed over, but not finished. 
 
 To one looking back upon those days, the 
 workings of Providence are most plainly seen 
 in this colonization plan of the brilliant young 
 pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church. 
 When there was sudden and urgent need of a 
 new church home, that home was ready. 
 
CAI.I.ED TO ST. I.OUIS. 87 
 
 THE FIRST EUROPEAN TRIP. 
 
 In 1 86 1, Dr. Brookes suffered from a se- 
 vere throat trouble. For months he preached 
 when every word he uttered was an effort, and 
 a painful effort. The trouble was the result of 
 severe cold taken while on a journey. 
 
 Waiting, on the way, in a junction depot 
 for a late train, he was driven from the room 
 by the oaths of a crowd of alleged men. Tired 
 and worn out, Dr. Brookes fell asleep in the 
 open air, on the prairie sod. A cold resulted, 
 which developed into the throat trouble. 
 
 Finally, it reached the stage that the 
 urgent wishes of his physician, that he go to 
 Paris and consult the leading throat specialist 
 of the day, had to be carried out. He arranged 
 for a six months' respite, and was soon in 
 Paris. 
 
 The specialist's diagnosis of the case was 
 alarming. "Dr. Brookes," said the learned 
 medico, "you will never be able to speak above 
 a whisper again!" 
 
 The state of mind of the young minister 
 can be imagined. He determined to hear the 
 opinions of others before giving up the strug- 
 gle for the winning back of his voice. 
 
 A younger Parisian doctor, but one who 
 was rapidly forging ahead in his calling, was 
 
88 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 then seen. He made a thorough examination 
 of the delicate organs, whereas the other had 
 done so cursorily. His verdict was far more 
 hopeful. He pointed out that the muscles of 
 the throat had been sadly over- taxed, when 
 tired. But a rest, with certain exercises, he 
 predicted, would result in a cure. 
 
 His ''certain exercises" astonished the 
 minister, and more yet the minister's wife. 
 For the physician ordered Dr. Brookes to box 
 regularly with a certain famous prize-fighter, 
 who conducted a gymnasium. A demurrer 
 was entered, naturally. 
 
 "Well, then," was the response, "go to 
 some country where you cannot speak the 
 language. There you must climb mountains, 
 and row." 
 
 There was no objection offered to that 
 prescription; and soon the tall, athletic young 
 St. Louisan was climbing, rowing and keep- 
 ing silent in the Swiss tongue, conscientiously, 
 in and about Santa Clair, at the head of Lake 
 Geneva. 
 
 The throat muscles were strengthened by 
 the vigorous play of the others. One bright 
 day Dr. Brookes discovered that his voice 
 had returned, and he made the shore of the 
 
CALLED TO ST. LOUIS. S9 
 
 lake ring with song (for he was a magnificent 
 singer in his youth.) 
 
 The young Parisian specialist had proved 
 himself a true prophet. 
 
 RUMORS OF WAR. 
 
 Then came the astounding news that *'the 
 dogs of war" had been let slip in the United 
 States. Alarming rumors reached that quiet 
 spot on Lake Geneva. At once Dr. Brookes 
 made up his mind to cut short his vacation and 
 take chances as to the completion of the cure 
 of his throat. 
 
 "My people are in trouble and I must go 
 home," he said; and "stayed not on the order 
 of his going." 
 
 One of the startling reports that reached 
 him, and which was found later to have been 
 true, was that of a riot between citizens and 
 soldiers which occurred at the very church cor- 
 ner, 1 6th and Walnut street. Glass was bro- 
 ken in the church windows and in those of the 
 parsonage adjoining. 
 
 Another — on which Dr. Brookes could 
 have proved an "alibi" of a good many thous- 
 and miles had it been necessar)- — was that ' a 
 big, tall man" (Dr. Brookes, thought the mob. 
 knowing not that the Doctor was in Switzer- 
 
90 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 land) **was seen firing a gun from the parson- 
 age window"! 
 
 As he passed through New York on his 
 way home, he was secured to supply the pulpit 
 of a leading Dutch Reform church. The ex- 
 tent to which he must have pleased his audi- 
 tors can be imagined from the fact that, the 
 next day, he was politely * 'sounded" as to 
 whether he would "consider a call." 
 
 His answer was an explicit "No." His 
 duty was to get back home to his troubled peo- 
 ple at once, he held. That was no time to 
 even think of leaving them, he felt. So that 
 very flattering overture to the young West- 
 erner was cast aside, and no one but his imme- 
 diate family knew anything about that first step 
 towards a call to a great New York pulpit. 
 
 The same thing happened many times 
 afterwards. Pastoral committees from many 
 cities came to St. Louis to "lasso" Dr. Brookes. 
 At one time seven officers of the First Presby- 
 terian Church of Indianapolis, suddenly 
 appeared (among them U. S. Senator, after- 
 wards President, Harrison) on such an errand. 
 But such call proffering committee all received 
 the same answer. No one outside of his 
 own church — and in numerous cases not 
 
CAtt^D to St. totris. 91 
 
 even its members — knew anything of those 
 calls, or polite "soundings." 
 
 According to century-end notions of so 
 many ministerial lights, what a sad waste of 
 self advertising material was that! 
 
Troublous Times. 
 
Dr. Brookes in Middle Age, 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 TROUBLOUS TIMES. 
 
 HERE were "troublous times" in St. Louis 
 Presbyterian circles in the sixties. Good 
 men and true differed, and suffered. To 
 hear the personal histories of some men of 
 those days set forth, brings vividly to the mind 
 of the imaginative man or woman of these 
 ''piping times o' peace" the thought of the 
 Scottish Covenanters. 
 
 No correct record of the life of Dr. 
 Brookes can be made without recalling the 
 part he played in those days. It was Dr. 
 Brookes' firm stand for what he held to be 
 right in the soul-trying time, that opened 
 the way to the sudden forming of the power- 
 ful ''Sixteenth Street," later known as the 
 Sixteenth and Walnut Street Presbyterian 
 Church; the parent of the grand old Washing- 
 ton and Compton Avenue Church. 
 
 On the horns of a dilemma is any recorder 
 of St. Louis Presbyterian history. He would 
 
96 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 not Stir up any unhappy recollections; yet he 
 cannot overlook or slur over "the things 
 which are behind," and at the same time write 
 truthful coherent accounts. It is obvious that 
 a few succinct facts must be given, "with malice 
 towards none." No man or woman of proper 
 mental poise will be offended thereby. 
 
 Before the war, during the war, and ever 
 after the war — from his first sermon to his 
 last — Dr. Brookes held firmdy that the affairs 
 of God and the affairs of Csesar should be 
 unalterably separated. 
 
 Therefore, as a pastor, he did not pray 
 for the success of this army or that army; 
 though he prayed always that the war might 
 cease. And whatever might have been the 
 wishes of this church member or that church 
 member, Dr. Brookes went on immovable in 
 the course which his conscience dictated. 
 
 He was but a young minister to be at the 
 head of one of the great city Presbyterian 
 churches; and displeasing elderly "pillars of the 
 church," who conscientiously felt that this 
 army or that army should be publicly prayed 
 for, might have meant a serious set-back in 
 his earthly career. 
 
 But the young Timothy never wavered. 
 It was a way he had. 
 
TROUBLOUS TIMES. 97 
 
 And when word came to him that, from 
 one pair of lips, at least, open disapproval of 
 his course had come, he immediately resigned 
 the pastorate of the Second Presbyterian 
 Church. It might have seemed a great risk, to 
 many — that resignation. But there never was 
 a bolder, more independent man in his church 
 relations than Dr. Brookes. 
 
 It was his intention to leave St. Louis at 
 once. He read his resignation on Sunday. 
 On the following Monday a deputation of the 
 church called on him and urged him to remain, 
 as their pastor, in a separate church edifice. 
 He accepted the call, after prayerful delibera- 
 tion; and the Wednesday following the Six- 
 teenth and Walnut Street Church, which after- 
 wards became the Washington and Compton 
 Avenue, began its useful career. Of that 
 movement other chapters will tell. 
 
 MISUNDERSTANDINGS SET STRAIGHT. 
 
 It is well, here and now, to set many 
 erroneous views straight. 
 
 Dr. Brookes was a Southerner, born and 
 bred, but he was not a Secessionist, His sym- 
 pathies were with his friends in the South, but 
 he thought their course of action ruinous. 
 
 He was never, as many Southern admir- 
 ers have supposed, and have frequently as- 
 
98 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR, 
 
 serted, a member of the Southern Presbyterian 
 Assembly. He was a member, and a leading 
 member, of the Independent Synod of Mis- 
 souri; a large division of which was eventually 
 absorbed by the Southern Assembly. 
 
 When the Northern Assembly seemed to 
 him to set itself right on certain lines of policy 
 which he had vigorously disagreed with — and 
 because of his outspoken disagreement had 
 been cut off from that body — he returned to it. 
 That was the course his conscience and judg- 
 ment dictated. 
 
 The intermingling of the things of God 
 with the things of Caesar; of Presbyterianism 
 with politics on the part of certain members 
 of the Assembly, had led Dr. Brookes to take 
 the protesting stand just referred to. He was 
 simply consistently carrying out the principles 
 which forced him to tender his resignation, so 
 suddenly, to his first St. Louis congregation. 
 
 The writer was not born until after the 
 War. Naturally, he cannot discuss these mat- 
 ters. He simply presents, in the above, and 
 the following paragraphs, carefully-gleaned 
 historical facts. He goes down to bed-rock 
 records, and lets them speak for themselves. 
 "the spring resolutions." 
 
 To such actions as the ''Spring Resolu- 
 
TROUBLOUS TIMES. 99 
 
 tions^' of 1861, adopted by the Northern As- 
 sembly at Philadelphia, did Dr. Brookes refer; 
 with such, he heartily differed. And when 
 he heartily differed with anybody, or any- 
 thing, that fact he made known, sometimes 
 
 forcibly. 
 
 One of those resolutions adopted at Phila- 
 delphia was: 
 
 ^^ Resolved: That this General Assembly, in 
 the spirit of that Christian patriotism which the 
 Scriptures enjoin, and which has always char- 
 acterized this Church, do hereby acknowledge 
 and declare our obligation, to promote and per- 
 petuate, sofaras in us lies, the integrity of 
 these United States, and to strengthen, uphold 
 and encourage the Federal Government in the 
 exercise of all its functions, under our noble 
 Constitution; and to this Constitution, in all 
 its provisions, requirements and principles, we 
 profess our unabated loyalty. And to avoid 
 all misconception, the Assembly declares that 
 by the term Federal Government, as here 
 used, is not meant any particular Administra- 
 tion, or the peculiar opinions of any particular 
 party, but that Central Administration which, 
 being at any time appointed and inaugurated 
 according to the forms prescribed in the Con- 
 stitution of the United States, is the visible 
 representative of our national existence." 
 
100 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 "''From that '"it will be perceived that a 
 Court of the Lord Jesus undertakes to settle 
 authoritatively, by a single resolution, a great 
 political question which had divided the minds 
 of eminent statesmen, North and South, since 
 the very foundation of the Government.' " 
 
 Dr. Charles Hodge and fifty seven others 
 entered their protest: 
 
 **We, the undersigned, respectively pro- 
 test against the action of the General Assembly 
 ■'' *"' "'^ because we deny the right of 
 the General Assembly to decide the political 
 question, to what Government the allegiance 
 of Presbyterians, as citizens, is due, and its 
 right to make that decision a condition of 
 membership In our church. That the paper 
 adopted by the Assembly docs decide the 
 political question just stated, in our judgment, 
 is undeniable. 
 
 '*It is, however, a notorious fact, that 
 many of our ministers and members conscien- 
 tiously believe that the allegiance of the citi- 
 zens of this country Is primarily due to the 
 States to which they respectively belong. 
 ""''''' The paper adopted by the Assembly virtu- 
 ally declares, on the other hand, that the allegi- 
 ance of citizens Is due to the United States, 
 
 =■.-• "Memoir of Dr. S. G. McPheeters." 
 
TROUBLOUS TIMKS. lOl 
 
 anything in the Constitution, ordinances or 
 laws of the several States to the contrary not- 
 withstanding. ''■ '''■ ''^ * It is the 
 allegiance of the Old School Presbyterian 
 Church to the Constitution and the Federal 
 Government which this paper is intended to 
 profess and proclaim. It does, therefore, of 
 necessity, decide the political question which 
 agitates the country. This is a matter clearly 
 beyond the jurisdiction of this house. 
 '' ^- "" '' The General Assembly, 
 in thus deciding a political question, and in 
 making that decision practically a condition of 
 membership of the church, has, in our judg- 
 ment, violated the Constitution of the Church 
 and usurped the prerogative of its Divine 
 Master.'' 
 
 ''declaration and testimony." 
 Dr. Brookes was one of the prominent 
 signers of the "Declaration and Testimony," 
 and played an important part in the councils 
 which produced it. This document was drawn 
 up by the Rev. Samuel R. Wilson — who was 
 ''neither a Southerner by blood nor a Seces- 
 sionist by principle," it should be noted. Dr. 
 Wilson's home was in the North, and no one 
 ever doubted his loyalty to the Northern cause. 
 This document reviewed the entire course 
 
102 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIft. 
 
 of the political events of the five General As- 
 semblies from 1 86 1 through 1865. 
 
 '"* ''A solemn Declaration and Testimony 
 was accordingly drawn up by Rev. Samuel 
 R. Wilson, D. D., against the entire political 
 action of the five Assemblies, from 1861 to 
 1865, inclusive. This Declaration was numer- 
 ously signed, particularly in the Synods of 
 Kentucky and Missouri, and was largely cir- 
 culated through the bounds of the Old School 
 Church of the North. It was also formally 
 adopted by the Presbytery of Louisville, on 
 the 2nd of September, 1865, and became a 
 solemn covenant by which all the signers 
 pledged themselves to each other to use their 
 best endeavors to bring back the church of 
 their fathers to her ancient purity and integ- 
 rity; and, if finally compelled to withdraw 
 from those who have departed from the truth, 
 to go bearing with them the true Presbyterian 
 Church, with her doctrine, order, worship and 
 freedom, as they have been given her by her 
 Divine Head, and transmitted from genera- 
 tion to generation by the hands of saints, con- 
 fessors and martyrs. 
 
 ''As late as 1862 a Presbyter could quietly 
 dissent from the acts of the Assembly and yet 
 
 * "Memoir of Dr. S. G. McPheeters." 
 
TROUBI.OUS i^ime:s. 103 
 
 be allowed to pursue his ministerial avocations 
 free from interruption and intolerant persecu- 
 tion. He was not required, under penalty of 
 arrest and excommunication, to accept the 
 doctrines of 'freedom and loyalty,' and to lend 
 himself to the execution of ecclesiastical de- 
 v^ices which judgment, unbiased by fanatical 
 zeal, could not honestly approve/'" ''' 
 
 ''These words were uttered in 1862; 
 but in 1865 the aspect of affairs had changed. 
 In the meantime the Assembly had taken won- 
 derful strides. Every minister was now re- 
 quired not only to accept the deliverance, but 
 to co-operate actively in the execution of every 
 doctrinal and ecclesiastical decree. No option 
 remained. One must either go forward with 
 the multitude or else, pausing at the voice of 
 conscience, protest before the world; while the 
 issues of the conflict were confided to that 
 God whose judgments are impartial and whose 
 purposes shall stand." "'"' "'" 
 
 "If history, therefore, at this point, is prop- 
 erly considered, it will be clearly perceived 
 that neither the author of the Declaration and 
 Testimony, nor those who sympathized with 
 his views were peace-breakers or schismatics; 
 but, impelled by the irresistible logic of con- 
 science, they sought not simply, to 'render 
 
104 JAMEvS H. BROOKES: A MEMOlfe. 
 
 unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, but 
 also unto God the things which are God's.' " 
 
 SESSIONAL RECORDS. 
 
 Next in order, without endeavoring to 
 recall all the records of local Presbyterial and 
 Synodical debates which centered on Dr. 
 Brookes and his church, the most important 
 sessional acts naturally follow. 
 
 The subjoined paper, unanimously adopt- 
 ed by the session of Dr. Brookes' church on 
 July lo, 1874, sets forth clearly the attitude of 
 the pastor on some of the grave questions of 
 those days of reconstruction — in Presbyterian 
 as well as in National existence. 
 
 It should be noted, in passing, that some 
 of the honored laymen who subscribed to this 
 paper did so most unselfishly. Some of them 
 had offered their very lives to the cause of the 
 Southern Confederacy. Yet, because they 
 believed it was for the "greatest good to the 
 greatest number" of their beloved Church, and 
 especially because Dr Brookes led the way, 
 they cheerfully signed a statement which prac- 
 tically cut them (ecclesiastically) aloof from 
 many dear friends in the South. 
 
 A.11 honor to those laymen who put the 
 good of their Church and pastor above their 
 natural inclinations. 
 
TROUBI.OUS TIMES. 105 
 
 This is the statement: 
 
 "The Session, having fervently sought 
 the guidance of Divine Wisdom, cannot see 
 the way opened at present to represent this 
 church in a Presbytery connected with either 
 the Northern or Southern General Assembly. 
 Our conviction is very clear that duty to the 
 entire number of brethren over whom the 
 Holy Ghost has made us overseers, requires 
 us to remain practically independent until the 
 Lord shall more distinctly indicate to us His 
 will concerning our future ecclesiastical rela- 
 tions. 
 
 ''We stand, therefore, precisely where we 
 stood previous to the action of the Old School 
 Synod of Missouri in October 1873, deter- 
 mined to know neither North nor South in the 
 Church of God; refusing to consult our natural 
 inclinations in seeking to promote the inter- 
 ests of His Kingdom; and anxious to avoid 
 even the appearance of being controlled by 
 political prejudices or sectional sympathies in 
 our association with other Christians. 
 
 ''We furthermore declare that the recent 
 unanimous action of the Northern General 
 Assembly, in frankly and fully accepting and 
 adopting the principles for which we have tes- 
 tified and suffered during the past eight years, 
 
106 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 ought to be and shall be the end of our con- 
 troversy with that body; and we hereby ex- 
 press our desire to co-operate with all in the 
 Synod of Missouri and in the Southern Assem- 
 bly who are disposed to meet this action in a 
 fraternal spirit, and are ready to receive it as 
 the removal of any barrier to the closest broth- 
 erly intercourse with those from whom we 
 have been separated; and forgetting the things 
 that are behind, are willing to unite with faith- 
 ful witnesses for the truth throughout the en- 
 tire Presbyterian family, in earnestly contend- 
 ing for the Faith once delivered to the Saints. 
 "Meanwhile we give to every one from any 
 part of the country or of the world, who may 
 choose to worship with us, assurance of a sin- 
 cere welcome and of free participation with us 
 in the joy of fellowship with our common 
 Lord." 
 
 THE ASSEMBLY OF 1 867. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Thomas Fullerton, of Cincin- 
 nati, a college classmate of Dr. Brookes', 
 whose kindly interest in this work has been 
 most valuable, has sent these personal recollec- 
 tions of the General Assembly of 1867. It is 
 pleasant to have such exact, unbiased records: 
 
 '*I saw much of Dr. Brookes during the 
 General Assembly of 1867," writes Dr. Fuller- 
 
TROUBLOUS TIMES 107 
 
 ton. '*He had been one of the signers of the 
 •Declaration and Testimony' against certain 
 coercive acts and orders of the Assembly of 
 1865. He came to Cincinnati in obedience to 
 a call to give account of himself. 
 
 ''He was not in a meek frame of mind. 
 All of his thundering and lightning was ready 
 to leap. Two or three of us — his classmates — 
 undertook to quiet him. We kept him away 
 from his excited set as much as we could. We 
 saw that he met, socially, representative men 
 on the other side. Personal contact with those 
 from whom he differed in opinion almost 
 always made him gentle. He was too human 
 to resist the appeal of another human heart. 
 
 '*I had no faith in the policy to which the 
 General Assembly committed itself in the awful 
 storm of passion which swept the land after 
 the death of Lincoln. I had no faith in the 
 logic by which it was argued that the Assem- 
 bly could summarily try and cut off ministers 
 without the intervention of the Presbytery. 
 But I thought that the Gurley resolution might 
 be regarded as being proceedings of the nature 
 of what is called in courts ^citation for con- 
 tempt'; and that when viewed in that light 
 they were constitutional. I wrote an explana- 
 tory resolution expressing this idea, and 
 
108 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 showed it to Dr. Gurley. He said that the 
 theory on which he had framed his resolution 
 was precisely that which I held. But he asked 
 me not to introduce my paper, as 'the Assem- 
 bly was not composed of men accustomed 
 to legal forms and distinctions, and trouble 
 might arise.' 
 
 '*I yielded reluctantly. But I told Brookes 
 what my idea was. He caught at it as a great 
 relief. He was ready to 'purge himself of 
 contempt,' forthwith. He was aware that 
 much of the language used in the 'Declaration 
 and Testimony' was 'unnecessarily severe and 
 not respectful in tone.' 
 
 ''He gave our friend Dr. Gurley, and my- 
 self, a full account of that remarkable docu- 
 ment — a history rich in drollery, as it was full 
 of his own characteristics, and those of other 
 men who had been concerned in the move- 
 ment. 
 
 "The next day beseemed tired. He told 
 us that he had been awake most of the night 
 'getting up another speech.' He had dis- 
 missed his indignation, and meant to say the 
 things which would make peace. 
 
 "He kept his word. People who heard 
 him wondered if this was the lion who was to 
 roar and rend things. 
 
TROUBLOUS TIMES. 109 
 
 "Then he bade us good-bye. *I am go- 
 ing home. I shall not enter the Southern 
 Church. I love you fellows too well. But 
 there are men who have stood with me in this 
 fight, who are not ready to come back as I am, 
 this very day. I shall try to hold them steady, 
 and some time we shall all be together again.' 
 Other things he said, too tender and sacred to 
 write. 
 
 "I have seen Brookes only three times 
 since. The last time was four years ago. I 
 met him on a railway train, and we rode to- 
 gether from Asbury Park to Philadelphia. It 
 was a blessed hour. He was just the same 
 old fellow that he was at Oxford, the same 
 that he is always to me in recollection, the 
 same that I shall find him, one day, soon. 
 
 ** Massive brain! Big heart! Majestic 
 presence! Great believer, helper, man of God! 
 The life has been worth living that has given 
 to me such a friend to be my friend forever, 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord." 
 
 In the Assembly which met in St. Louis 
 in 1874, Dr. Brookes was pressed to cast his 
 lot in with the Northern branch — he feeling, as 
 has been set forth, that the body had practi- 
 
110 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 cally acknowledged that he had been right. 
 He was again joyfully received as a member. 
 Yet he ever had the warmest feelings for, and 
 enjoyed the respect of, his brethren of the 
 South. 
 
The 16th and Walnut Street 
 Church. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE SIXTEENTH AND WALNUT 
 STREET CHURCH. 
 
 WITHIN one week occurred the resignation 
 of Dr. Brookes from the Second Pres- 
 byterian Church, and the preaching of 
 his first sermon in his new St. Louis charge 
 ''The Sixteenth Street Presbyterian Church." 
 
 This body was organized on Monday eve- 
 ning, July 4, 1864, by a committee of the St. 
 Louis Presbytery, consisting of Joseph F. 
 Fenton and James A. Paige, ministers, and 
 Wyllys King, ruHng elder. One other elder, 
 selected, was not present. 
 
 The original membership of the colony 
 which urged Dr. Brookes to become its spirit- 
 ual guide at the time he resigned his charge 
 at the Second Presbyterian Church, was 149. 
 These had all been members of the Second 
 Church, and they sought out Dr. Brookes. 
 He did not turn over his hand, nor utter a 
 
 113 
 
114 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 single word to Induce them to come out. It 
 had been his intention to shake the dust of St. 
 Louis from his feet at the time of that resigna- 
 tion, but these friends earnestly plead with 
 him to remain. 
 
 And there was another argument when 
 it was clear to him that these members would 
 not be happy in their church environment of 
 that time, owing to the peculiar circumstances 
 of the day. This argument was the desire of 
 Dr. Brookes always for planting and nourish- 
 ing church colonies. Here was just such an 
 opportunity forced upon him by peculiar exi- 
 gencies of the times. He accepted the chance, 
 and the history of his long and remarkable 
 pastorate over his self-made St. Louis church 
 began. 
 
 Only the angels can give record of its 
 spiritual harvests. The world knew of it as 
 one of the leading Presbyterian churches of 
 any land or clime. 
 
 NEW CHURCH WORK BEGINS. 
 
 The ruling elders chosen on that mem- 
 orable Fourth of July for the new church were: 
 E. Anson More, William S. Woods, Samuel 
 W. Barber, Luther T. Woods, James L. 
 Sloss and William C. Bean. On July 6th, fol- 
 lowing, these were selected as deacons: 
 
SIXTEENTH AND WALNUT STREET CHURCH- 115 
 
 Samuel Murdock, George P. Roberts, Joseph 
 B. Fenby and James R. Lake. 
 
 These having been properly organized as 
 a church, the formal call to a pastor was ex- 
 tended. To quote the sessional records: 
 
 ''Unanimous call was extended to Rev. 
 
 James H. Brookes, who at the time was 
 
 preaching at the Second Presbyterian Church 
 
 of St. Louis, which he had been serving in 
 
 pastoral labors for about six and a-half years.' ' 
 
 On Wednesday evening, July 6th, 1864, 
 
 the pastor-elect preached his initial sermon, in 
 
 the lecture room of the new church's home, at 
 
 Sixteenth and Walnut street, from the text 
 
 found in Psalm cxxvii: i, ''Except the Lord 
 
 build the house, they labor in vain that build it." 
 
 After this stirring sermon, the trustees 
 
 were elected. These were: Edward Bredell, 
 
 Robert Campbell, John B. S. Lemoine, Charles 
 
 Gibson and William H. Matthews. 
 
 On the following Sabbath evening, July 
 loth, after the service, the deacons were "sol- 
 emnly set apart and ordained." On Monday, 
 August 8th, eighteen new letters applying for 
 membership were received by the Session. 
 And from that time on, at every communion 
 service, there were additions by letter and ex- 
 amination. 
 
116 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 There was absolutely no proselyting 
 among the membership of other churches, by 
 Dr. Brookes. From the beginning of his long 
 ministry to the end, Dr. Brookes despised that 
 type of so-called "pastoral" work. He once 
 told his people that he would rather be ''a dog 
 and bay the moon," than do it. 
 
 The members of other churches often 
 came to hear him, Sunday after Sunday; but 
 it was his rule that not until they rented pews 
 and handed in their letters did they receive 
 calls from the young pastor whose earnestness 
 and eloquence had led them to his doors. He 
 was even too backward in this matter, some of 
 his lay officers felt; but he so preferred to be. 
 
 From this time on there was a steady and 
 remarkable growth in the membership in the 
 Sixteenth and Walnut Street Church. The 
 young elders worked hand-in-hand with their 
 zealous young captain. In the Sessional 
 records is to be seen, often, such a sentence 
 as this, quoted from the record of the gather- 
 ing in the pastor's study, Monday evening, 
 October 24, 1864: "The Moderator reported 
 70 visits, Elder W. S. Woods, 15; Sloss, 26; 
 Bean, 33; Barber, 27." 
 
 On October 6, 1864, Elders S. A. More 
 and W. S. Woods were appointed delegates 
 
SIXTEENTH AND WAI.NUT STREET CHURCH. 117 
 
 to the meeting of St. Louis Presbytery, held 
 on the loth of that month, and were authorized 
 to secure the deed of the church property from 
 those members of the Second Presbyterian 
 Church in whose names it stood. The church 
 at Sixteenth and Walnut street, it should be 
 recalled, was built for a colony of that body. 
 It was Dr. Brookes' expressed plan, as has 
 been shown, at the very beginning of his St. 
 Louis ministry, to build up such a colony. 
 
 A MISSIONARY CHURCH. 
 
 A feature of the work of the Sixteenth 
 and Walnut Street Church was its successful 
 Sunday-school effort. It would cheer the 
 heart of the modern city Sunday-school super- 
 intendent to see the hundreds of children which 
 used to flock to this church on the first day of 
 the week. 
 
 There was a large morning school, and 
 another great gathering, presided over by Mr. 
 Shepherd Woods, in the afternoon. The 
 former was especially the school for the chil- 
 dren of the church, while the latter was more 
 of a mission school. 
 
 There were also, as always in the history 
 of Dr. Brookes' pastorate, outposts established 
 in various sections of the city. At those points 
 
118 JAMES H. BROOKKS: A MEMOIR. 
 
 faithful workers, young and old, conducted 
 mission Sunday-schools. 
 
 The ladies' societies were strong and 
 active. Interest in missions was always notice- 
 able, and this church had the honor of furnish- 
 ing the first president of the noble Woman's 
 Southwest Board of Missions. That position 
 was held by its incumbent for twelve consecu- 
 tive years. 
 
 It is interesting to recall atypical "annual 
 report" of this church. That of February 7, 
 1877, for the preceding year was: 
 
 "Number of members January i, 1876, 
 803. 
 
 "Received by profession, ']']\ by letter, 
 50. Lost by dismission to other churches, 29; 
 by death, 13. Membership, January i, 1878, 
 888. 
 
 "Baptisms, adults, 7; infants, 15. 
 
 "Visits, by the pastor, 600; by the ses- 
 sion, 600." 
 
 WESTWARD HO ! 
 
 The church at i6th and Walnut street 
 gradually became hemmed about by factories 
 and stores. Many of the membership had 
 moved westward, and it was believed that the 
 church should follow them, for the best good 
 of the greatest number of its communicants. 
 
SIXTEENTH AND WALNUT STREET CHURCH. 119 
 
 The minutes, under the date of December 
 28, 1876, tell the tale: 
 
 ''Resolved: That we, the members of this 
 church, now commonly called the Walnut 
 Street Presbyterian Church, do hereby author- 
 ize '"' "^ the trustees in whom the legal title 
 to the lot and church building is vested, to- 
 wit, by a certain deed from Carlos S. Greeley 
 and Edward Bredell to Robert Campbell, 
 Charles Gibson, Edward Bredell and John 
 B. S. Lemoine, dated July, 1864, to take steps 
 to sell said lot and church building at the best 
 prices and on the best terms they can in their 
 judgment obtain, and to hold the proceeds of 
 said sale, subject to further orders of the mem- 
 bers of this Church, for the purpose of aiding 
 in the erection of a church building on a lot of 
 ground situated at the southwest corner of 
 Washmgton and Compton avenues." 
 
 A secondary reason for the removal to 
 the West End should be recalled. It was the 
 sending out of a colony of about seventy-five 
 members to form the now strong Lafayette 
 Park Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Dr. Brookes is largely responsible for that 
 church, which is so firmly rooted under Dr. 
 S. C. Palmer's lead, that not even the memor- 
 
120 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 able tornado of May 27th, 1896, could scat- 
 ter it. 
 
 Dr. Brookes felt that there should be a 
 strong Presbyterian Church on the South Side, 
 and told his people so. Several churches had 
 been started in that section, but none were 
 able to obtain a good foothold. Again the 
 desire to plant colonies showed itself in the acts 
 of the pastor of this church. He practically 
 formed a strong colony by inducing some of 
 his most important lay helpers to join in it; 
 and then turned its face southward. 
 
 The following sessional record is of inter- 
 est in this connection: 
 
 ''Monday evening, April 15, 1878. 
 
 "Session met at the pastor's residence 
 and was constituted by prayer. Present, J. H. 
 Brookes, Moderator, and Elders Butler, Sloss, 
 Wood, Woods, Lemoine and Barber. 
 
 "The clerk reported having issued the fol- 
 lowing letters of dismission to members of this 
 church intending to unite with others in the 
 organization of a new church, to be called the 
 Lafayette Park Presbyterian Church, to- wit: 
 
 "D. C. Jaccard, Edward Bredell, William 
 Burg, Given Campbell, Dr. Wm. A. McCand- 
 less, Henry M. Noel, Thomas G. Russel, Dr. 
 Robert C. Atkinson, Louis Matthews," and 
 others. 
 
The Washington and Comp- 
 ton Avenue Church. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE WASHINGTON AND COMPTON 
 AVENUE CHURCH. 
 
 HE LAST sermon Dr. Brookes preached at 
 
 the Sixteenth and Walnut Street Church 
 
 was on April 27, 1879. On May 4th, 
 
 of the same year, he delivered his first sermon 
 
 in the lecture room of the Washington and 
 
 Compton Avenue Church. 
 
 The first service in the church, as it is to- 
 day, was held on December 5, 1880. 
 
 Steadily the work advanced. Dr. Brookes 
 was in his prime, and his fame as a preacher, 
 a scholar, and an author, was world-wide. 
 
 The great auditorium was filled with lis- 
 teners every Sunday. Practically all the pews 
 on the main floor of the vast room were 
 rented, and some of those in the gallery as 
 well. 
 
 ITS MANY-SIDED WORK. 
 
 The Washington and Compton Avenue 
 
 123 
 
124 JAMKS H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 Church has always been 2l gi'ving church, pre- 
 eminently. The ladies of the church alone, 
 one year, gave to missions $3,500. The morn- 
 ing Sunday-school, a few years ago, took up 
 the largest single collection to missions of any 
 Presbyterian Sunday-school in the United 
 States that year. 
 
 Systematic giving has always been incul- 
 cated from the pulpit. 
 
 The work of the Washington and Comp- 
 ton Avenue Church, too, has always been 
 many-sided, and all have been blessed. 
 
 The women of the church, from the first, 
 were active in behalf of home and foreign 
 missions, and also gave liberally of time and 
 money in the interest of the ''heathen" in St. 
 Louis, so to speak. The pastor's wife proved 
 herself to be a splendid executive head in their 
 various societies. 
 
 The ladies labored for the quondam Pres- 
 byterian Home (now merged in Mrs. Roger 
 Haynes' great work of faith, the Bethesda 
 Homes.) They assumed also a remaining part 
 of the church's debt, and refitted and refur- 
 nished the lecture-room. Their missionary 
 society, and working band, have been models 
 in many respects. Their large gifts have been 
 referred to. Much of the money came from 
 
WASHINGTON AND COMPTON AVENUE CHURCH. 125 
 
 those who had to plan in order to give so gen- 
 erously. Missionaries are supported in the 
 foreign fields, and great boxes go yearly to 
 help out the meagre salaries of Home Mission- 
 ary laborers on the frontier posts. Boxes go, 
 also, to foreign lands. Gifts to the various 
 Boards of the church are encouraged through 
 the Deacons' Fund. 
 
 Mission Sunday-schools have always been 
 a marked feature in the work of this church. 
 Among these is a chapel for colored Presby- 
 terians, a work in which Mr. W. L. Green, Jr., 
 has long been especially interested. 
 
 The roster of the church's officers to- 
 day — some of whom were in similar offices 
 when the joint history of Dr. Brookes and the 
 Washington and Compton Avenue Church 
 began to be — is as follows: 
 
 Elders Samuel W. Barber, William T. 
 Barron, F. L. V. Brokaw, Wallace C. Butler, 
 William L, Green, Jr., Edwin S. Lemoine, 
 Edgar McClelland. 
 
 S. W. Barber is the Clerk of the Session. 
 
 The Deacons are: James M. Carpenter, 
 Dabner Carr, Arthur A. Eddy, Ben F. 
 Edwards, James E. Fogg, James I. McClel- 
 land, Ewing M. Sloan and Geo. J. Whitehead. 
 
 The personnel of the Board of Trustees; 
 
126 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 Elmer B. Adams, James M. Carpenter, 
 William T. Barron, John D. Davis and Geo. 
 D. Markham. 
 
 These gentlemen all have the best inter- 
 ests of the church deep at heart. During the 
 past year some of them have spent generously 
 of money, and their equally marketable time — 
 stolen from their business — for the church's 
 good. They stand, to-day, united in its ser- 
 vice. 
 
 '^A STUDY OF THE MINUTES. 
 
 To many the reading of the church min- 
 utes is an unheard of proceeding. They hold 
 that no one can read them and keep awake. 
 
 But there are records in the minutes of 
 this church which are of intense interest to the 
 lovers of Dr. Brookes' memory, and the great 
 church he led. 
 
 For such, there are here reproduced care- 
 fully-gleaned extracts — 'iest we forget." 
 These will touch, here and there, on events 
 which many will recall with interest. 
 
 Those who care little or nothing for "the 
 things which are behind" in the history of the 
 Washington and Compton Avenue Church 
 
 *Th)s entire chapter, it may be frankly stated, is intended, practi- 
 cally, only for the eyes of the jnembership of the Washington and 
 CowptoB Avenue Presbyterian Church, St. Louis. Minutiae is set forth 
 here which., naturally, the general reader may not be greatly inter- 
 setedin. P. R- W. 
 
WASHINGTON AND COMPTON AVENUE CHURCH. 127 
 
 are respectfully urged to begin to ''skip,'* right 
 here and now, in this chapter. 
 
 A study of the minutes of the church gives 
 evidence of a steady accession of new mem- 
 bers. 
 
 Faithful search has not shown a single 
 communion Sunday, in Dr. Brookes' active 
 pastorate, when there were no additions to the 
 membership, by examination or letter, (gener- 
 ally both.) 
 
 Fearing that their hard-working pastor 
 would break down, the church kindly took the 
 following action, as quoted from the minutes 
 of February 8, 1884. Sincere testimony is 
 borne to his zeal and faithfulness. 
 
 "St. Louis, February 8, 1884. 
 
 "Whereas, It is evident that our pastor's 
 health has not been re-established during the 
 past winter, and that his present physical con- 
 dition is such that it is desirable that he should 
 soon have entire rest from obligatory labor, 
 and that he should even now be saved from 
 all labor external to this church, and that in 
 order to his relief a supply should be provided 
 for the pulpit, to commence his service as soon 
 as may be agreeable to our pastor, and to con- 
 tinue for such period as may be necessary to 
 
128 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR, 
 
 enable him, with the blessing of God, through 
 complete rest from labor, to recover his health 
 and resume his duties as pastor of this church, 
 with the prospect of maintaining such con 
 firmed health for many years; 
 
 ''And, whereas, our beloved pastor has 
 given the flower of his life and the best of his 
 energies and ability to the service of this 
 church, and has never spared himself, but with 
 unswerving fidelity has ever sought to pro- 
 mote its highest interests, it is our earnest wish 
 and desire to do whatever may be in our pow- 
 er to bring about the restoration of his health." 
 
 At this time Dr. Brookes was in a serious 
 state, through insomnia. A trip to Europe 
 was taken, from which the pastor returned 
 greatly refreshed, and strengthened for his 
 work. 
 
 A previous record (of November 5, 1882,) 
 recalls the life, good works and peaceful death 
 of an elder very dear to Dr. Brookes, James 
 L. Sloss. The two had been most intimate. 
 It is quoted: 
 
 "The following minutes on the death of 
 Elder James L. Sloss, were adopted and 
 ordered to be recorded: 
 
 **On the T7th day of August, 1882, James 
 L. Sloss was absent from the body and pres- 
 
WASHINGTON AND COMPTON AVENUE CHURCH. 129 
 
 ent with the Lord. He was elected a ruling 
 elder of this church at the date of its organiza- 
 tion, July 4, 1864; and for a period of more 
 than eighteen years he conscientiously and 
 wisely discharged the duties of the important 
 office to which he was chosen by his brethren. 
 
 ** During the whole of that period he was 
 also the superintendent of the Sunday-school, 
 or the teacher of a Bible class, and through 
 the last few years of his mortal life he was 
 president of the Board of Trustees. In all of 
 these positions he was singularly faithful to his 
 trust, and never, unless absent from the city, 
 or confined to his home by sickness, was his 
 place vacant in any appointed meeting of the 
 church. Often, indeed, in declining health, 
 when it seemed rash to expose himself to in- 
 clement weather, he insisted on the privilege 
 of attending the regular services of the sanc- 
 tuary. 
 
 "It is not, therefore, an empty form of ex- 
 pression, when the session record their deep 
 sense of personal bereavement, and of the 
 great loss sustained by the church in the de- 
 parture of their beloved brother." 
 
 Here are two typical ''Reports to Presby- 
 tery," selected at random. 
 
130 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 "Report to Presbytery, April 17, 1882. 
 (For the year ending March 3I; 1882.) 
 
 "Number of Elders, 5; number of 
 Deacons, 11. 
 
 "Added on examination, 35; added on 
 certificate, 51. 
 
 Total communicants, 588. 
 
 "Baptized, adults, 9; baptized, infants, 25. 
 
 "Sunday-school membership, 830. 
 
 CONTRIBUTIONS. 
 
 Home Missions .5^2,065 00 
 
 Foreign Missions 733 00 
 
 Publication 89 00 
 
 Ministerial Relief 100 00 
 
 General Assembly 66 50 
 
 Congregational 10,799 00 
 
 Miscellaneous 3>i52 00 
 
 "Report to Presbytery. (For year ending 
 March 31, 1885.) 
 
 "Number of Elders, 5; number of Dea- 
 cons, 9. 
 
 "Added on examination, 28; added on 
 certificate, 17. 
 
 "Total communicants, 664. 
 
 "Baptized, adults, 5; infants, 12. 
 
 "Sunday-school membership, 1,116. 
 
WASHINGTON AND COMPTON AVENUE CHURCH. 131 
 
 CONTRIBUTIONS. 
 
 Home Missions $i ,902 00 
 
 Foreign * ' 820 00 
 
 Church Erection 690 00 
 
 Congregational 9,980 00 
 
 Miscellaneous 5^863 00 
 
 Relief Fund 256 00 
 
 General Assembly 76 44 
 
 In November, 1885, the need of additional 
 elders and deacons was felt, and on November 
 25th the following were chosen to assist in 
 the management of the great church: 
 
 William T. Barron, Dr. W. L. Brokaw 
 and James B. Sharpe. 
 
 New deacons were elected by the congre- 
 gation two evenings later, but of those, only 
 two, Benjamin F. Edwards and George J. 
 Whitehead have been serving of late. 
 
 THE FUTURE. 
 
 And before the church, spreads the future. 
 
 Dr. Brookes' mantle has fallen on Dr. 
 Frank W. Sneed's broad shoulders. 
 
 This young pastor has left a noble record 
 behind at Columbia, Mo., and Minneapolis. 
 That past is an earnest of his future useful ~ 
 ness. 
 
 His reverence for the whole Bible, and 
 for the Premillenial hope which Dr, Brookes 
 
132 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 championed, is strong. He has proven him 
 self, already, a man who shuns no hard work, 
 and who has able executive ability. He is 
 possessed, too, of winning graces of mind and 
 body; and knows how to make those useful 
 people — friends. 
 
 His sermons are doctrinal, strong and 
 forcibly delivered. 
 
 His fund of sound sense is refreshingly 
 large. 
 
 The church has every reason to take cour- 
 age and press on, shoulder to shoulder, as 
 their late beloved pastor would tenderly urge 
 them to do were he alive to-day. 
 
The Preacher and Pastor. 
 
T/<e Gosp'/ ,,. -Es/fr,>. 
 
 
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 Fac-similc of an interleaved page in one of Dr. Brookes* Bibles. 
 
 Each division i.« an entire sermon . In the Bible in question there are 800 such 
 sermons. They stand complete; he never wrote an additional 
 line on them. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE PREACHER AND PASTOR. 
 
 ^R. Brookes entered the ministry because, 
 as he often said, in the language of 
 Scripture: ''Woe is me if I preach not 
 the Gospel." There was no youthful cant in 
 James Brookes, the boy. He had not the 
 slightest desire to become a minister then. 
 That has been pointed out. He had hoped to 
 be a soldier, and it took all his beloved moth- 
 er's eloquent arguments to keep him out of 
 West Point, when the doors there swung out- 
 ward to him. 
 
 Only after a long struggle did he feel that 
 the call to preach had been heard clearly and 
 very loudly; and right here it is fitting to say 
 that Dr. Brookes often questioned whether all 
 young men who entered the ministry searched 
 their very souls enough in ascertaining whether 
 the "calls" were really heard by them; whether 
 they did not, in fact, sometimes strain their 
 ears for them. las 
 
136 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 Brookes went into that highest calling as 
 he would have gone into West Point. He 
 prepared to fight, and to stand fast forever 
 against any one, or every one if necessary, for 
 what he held to be true. 
 
 As a minister he was often the same icon- 
 oclast that had caused the shaking of numerous 
 heads at the seminary. There was no minis- 
 terial livery on his person, no intonation in his 
 utterances. He demanded respect for himself, 
 not because his was a sacred calling. He 
 asked **no benefit of clergy." 
 
 OPPOSED TO THE PULPIT POLITICIAN. 
 
 Early he showed by a remarkable pulpit 
 utterance that his convictions as to the pulpit 
 politician were deep and real. Later, during 
 the trying days of the early 6o's, he was sim- 
 ply carrying to a logical conclusion those same 
 convictions. 
 
 In a lecture on the "Life of Dr. Nettleton," 
 delivered at Dayton in 1856, concerning that 
 famous preacher of a day that is gone, he 
 pointedly said: 
 
 *'He did not then present to the world, as 
 is the case in all portions of our country, the 
 sad and shocking spectacle of the sacred pul- 
 pit turned into a political rostrum, from which 
 savage denunciations and fierce harangues are 
 
THK PRKACHKR AND PASTOR. Iwi7 
 
 Uttered to stir up strife, and lead men's thoughts 
 away from the contemplation of heavenly and 
 Divine themes. He felt that the Bible pre- 
 sented subjects enough to occupy his time and 
 challenge the mightiest efforts of his intellect, 
 and that the one business of ministers as min- 
 isters is simply to present the message of God 
 to a perishing world. 
 
 **He saw, as doubtless you have seen, as 
 certainly I have seen, that when preachers 
 lose the spirit of their station and descend to 
 dabble in the mud-pool of politics, they invari- 
 ably get dirtier than any other men. 
 
 ''They are more furious in their utter- 
 ances, more relendess in their severity, more 
 uncompromising in their prejudices. 
 
 **He had his own opinions on all proper 
 occasions, and at all proper times, no doubt, he 
 freely avowed them; but he protested, as all 
 good men should, against devoting God's day 
 and God's house, and God's desk, to any other 
 purpose than the mission which we are sent to 
 accomplish." 
 
 A NATURAL ORATOR. 
 
 From his earliest pulpit experiences. Dr. 
 Brookes was a natural orator. 
 
 He was tall and of an exceptionally hand- 
 some and commanding presence. His voice 
 
138 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 was clear and strong. His gestures, never 
 studied, gave, naturally, force and emphasis to 
 his utto^rances. He v/as the very embodied 
 antithesis of pulpit afTectation of any sort or 
 condition. And he never preached a sermon 
 without impressing his hearers, at once, with a 
 deep sense of his tremendous earnestness and 
 sincerity. 
 
 While in the earlier years of his ministry 
 it was his habit to write out in entirety his ser- 
 mons (a custom he gave up many years ago), 
 yet he never read them in the pulpit. 
 
 His memory was marvelous. He was 
 famed for his absolute command of the lan- 
 guage of the Scriptures, and his sermons 
 abounded in copious quotations. Yet in his 
 earliest ministry he was not the strictly Biblical 
 preacher that he soon became; that is to say, 
 he quoted also the science and literature of the 
 day. 
 
 But soon, while still keeping fully abreast 
 of science and literature, he ceased to quote 
 such works in his sermons, and drew his audi- 
 tors' thoughts only to the Book of Books. 
 
 He actuary struggled, too, against his 
 natural bent as an orator, fie held hiiusclf 
 under; it was his wish to do nothing, to say 
 nothing, that could in the slightest degree de- 
 
THK PREACHER AND PASTOR. 139 
 
 tract from the plain, strong, Gospel message. 
 
 As to his splendid oratorical gifts, the fol- 
 lowing anecdote is apropos. A certain man 
 of intelligence and taste, though not a Chris- 
 tian, frequently heard Dr. Brookes preach. 
 This man was a constant attendant at the 
 theaters of St. Louis, and was considered an 
 eminent critic. 
 
 One Sunday, at the close of one of Dr. 
 Brookes' sermons, he thoughtfully said, re- 
 ferring to the greatest American tragedian: 
 "In that man Brookes the stage has lost a 
 Booth." 
 
 There are those who may have supposed 
 that Dr. Brookes, in late days, did not stoop — 
 so to speak — to read the current literature of 
 his day; because, forsooth, his pulpit utter- 
 ances were not tinged with references to such 
 works, as is so general in modern sermonizing. 
 
 But that was a great mistake. He did 
 read them; he was a wonderful reader, with a 
 wonderful memory for what he read; but he 
 did not "stoop" to quote "such stuff," (as he 
 would dub it) in his sermons. 
 
 Many of his most wonderful sermons are 
 contained in a few notes in the margin of one 
 of his many marked Bibles. Generally, per- 
 
140 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 haps always, of later years, the sermons fell 
 into seven heads, — the sacred number of the 
 Scriptures. 
 
 These sermons were first of all Scriptural, 
 logical, constructed in lucid English, carefully 
 planned, abounding in striking illustrations; 
 smiting and sparing not the sinner, but at the 
 same time urging him to cease from sin; full 
 of fire, and frequently enlivened by a delicious 
 bit of humor. 
 
 But it is needless, and also futile, to dis- 
 cuss Dr. Brookes' preaching. No written 
 words can describe it adequately. 
 
 Those who heard him preach know, — and 
 can never forget. It cannot be explained to 
 others now. 
 
 He was in the class of the Great Preach- 
 ers of the World. Even those who criticised 
 him, in and out of the ministry admit that. 
 (Being a great man he had, as a matter of 
 course, a great man's enemies and fault- 
 finders.) 
 
 THE PASTOR. 
 
 As a young pastor he was most popular 
 with all classes. 
 
 He was of a marked social disposition. 
 In his earlier years, and in middle age, before 
 ill health came upon him, he was fond of mak- 
 
THE PREACHER AND PASTOR. 
 
 141 
 
 ing "pastoral calls." It was not done from 
 any sense of duty, and he never forgot that 
 such were pastoral calls. They were used as 
 occasions for sowing seeds that resulted in 
 soul-winning. 
 
 His many-sided experiences among men, 
 and his utter freedom from clerical habiliments 
 and formalities, opened the way for him to 
 many young men's hearts. He loved to hear 
 and tell of comical events. His sense of humor 
 was strongly developed. 
 
 That gift of being "good company" (in the 
 true sense of that expression) to all sorts and 
 condition of men — though always in a dignified 
 manner — was a marked feature in the pastoral 
 work of Dr. Brookes. He was what modern 
 politicians would call a "good mixer" among 
 men. 
 
 One of the stories handed down in his 
 family was a palpable hit against the anti-cler- 
 ical clothes he wore when a young man; from 
 heedlessness, not from any design. 
 
 At a hotel he was once approached by a 
 professional gambler, who knowingly invited 
 the tall, handsome young stranger of some- 
 what dashing — and anything but clerical — ap- 
 pearance, to join him in a joint raid upon the 
 pocket-books of other guests. 
 
142 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 The ''black-leg'' actually took Dr. Brookes 
 to be a fellow gambler! 
 
 When a young pastor in St. Louis, after 
 leaving the Second Church, he was surrounded 
 by a number of young elders and deacons, 
 among whom he was an earnest, helpful broth- 
 er. The relation between pastor and lay offi- 
 cers was an ideal one. They met together 
 for counsel as members of a family might. 
 And when the formalities were finished the 
 session meeting partook of the nature of a 
 happy reunion. 
 
 On one memorable occasion there were 
 so many good stories to be told that there were 
 a number of distracted wives, who sat up won- 
 dermg and waiting till the "wee sma' hours." 
 
 As years were added, and ill health, with 
 accompanying depression of spirits, came, the 
 pastoral duties could not so frequently be 
 attended to. Yet to the last Dr. Brookes was 
 a "home-going pastor," who made "a church- 
 going people." Hundreds of visits were made 
 by him even during his last years. 
 
 It was at times when death entered the 
 home of one of his dear people that he was at 
 his best as a loving shepherd of his flock. 
 
 His power to comfort bruised hearts was 
 
THE PREACHER AND PASTOR. 143 
 
 God-given. Hundreds testify to this. Many 
 who were led to accept Christ through him 
 had the way opened by the tenderness and 
 helpfulness of his ministrations at the death- 
 bed of those near and dear. 
 
 He had suffered as no pen can describe, 
 in the deaths of his two beautiful daugh- 
 ters. Having supped the cup of woe to its 
 dregs, he could truly "weep with those who 
 wept." 
 
"How I Became a Pre- 
 lennialist." 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 '*HOW I BECAME A PRE-MILLENNI- 
 ALIST." 
 
 lO RECORD of Dr. Brookes' life and works 
 would be complete without careful ref- 
 erence to his advocacy of the pre-mil- 
 lennial belief. Far better than any attempt of 
 another to tell the history of his life from this 
 stand-point, is it to quote his own words: 
 
 ''HOW I BECAME A PRE-MILLENNIALIST." 
 
 "Friends have asked me to print the story 
 of my conversion to pre-millennial truth. 
 During the first years of my ministry the sub- 
 ject had never occupied my attention. There 
 was a vague and indefinite idea in my mind 
 that after a long interval, probably many thous- 
 ands of years, there would be a general resur- 
 rection and a general judgment; but even then 
 there was no thought of our Lord's personal 
 return to the earth. It was supposed that at 
 some place, perhaps in the air, all would to- 
 
 147 
 
148 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 gether, or one by one, hear the sentence that 
 must fix their eternal destiny. 
 
 ''Apart from this no sermon had ever been 
 preached in my hearing about the coming of 
 the Lord. No allusion was ever made to it in 
 the course of my imperfect theological training. 
 No book concerning it had ever been read. 
 In my boyhood people had heard, even in the 
 distant and obscure part of the South where 
 my mother lived, that Mr. Miller, of New 
 England, had fixed upon the day of Christ's 
 appearing, and it caused considerable excite- 
 ment. But the day passed without any unus- 
 ual occurrence; and those who looked for His 
 coming were regarded as cranks, if not actually 
 crazy. 
 
 "The 'l^heological and Literary Journal,' 
 edited by Mr. D. N. Lord, of New York, was 
 taken, but his articles on Eschatology were 
 skipped in reading. In fact, the entire theme 
 was utterly distasteful to me, and even offen- 
 sive. My eyes were closed and my heart 
 sealed to the plain testimonies of God's Word; 
 and the plain references to the second coming 
 were either passed over, or at least they made 
 no impression whatever. 
 
 "At last a morning came when it was 
 necessary to read the book of Revelation in 
 
HOW I BECAME A l>RK-MILIvKNNIAI.IST. 149 
 
 family worship. It has always been my habit 
 to assemble the members of my household im- 
 mediately after breakfast for reading the Scrip- 
 ture and prayer, each one reading a verse in 
 turn. On that particular morning, discovering 
 that the book of Revelation was before us, 
 some other place in the Bible was found; and 
 when the family went out of the study the 
 question was put to my conscience and heart. 
 Why did you omit the last book God has giv- 
 en us? 
 
 ' ' The reply made to myself was. Because 
 I do not understand it. The book is so full of 
 strange beasts and mysterious symbols, it does 
 me no good. But did God make a mistake in 
 putting that book into the canon of sacred 
 Scripture? That it had a right there was as 
 clear as the inspiration of John's gospel or the 
 Epistle to the Romans; and after all might it 
 not be my fault that it was so meaningless? 
 
 "Convicted and condemned at the bar of 
 my own conscience, I opened the book and 
 read it through at a single sitting. My mind 
 was engaged and interested in an unusual de- 
 gree; and my attention w^as arrested by a state- 
 ment in the very beginning, 'Blessed is he that 
 readeth, and they that hear the words of this 
 prophecy, and keep those things which are 
 
150 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 written therein.' (Rev. i. 3). It struck me 
 that the Holy Ghost had said nothing about 
 understanding it, but, 'Blessed is he thatread- 
 eth.' 
 
 "Enough was known about the prophecies 
 in general to remember that the book of Daniel 
 and the book of Revelation bear a close resem- 
 blance to each other; and so the former book 
 was read with intense interest, and then the 
 latter book again, at one time; and in an hour 
 or two it was seen that in Daniel the Spirit of 
 God explains some of the symbols, as the 
 great image of Nebuchadnezzar and the four 
 wild beasts, representing the four mighty world 
 powers. This gave a little light upon my path- 
 way through the book of Revelation. 
 
 "Then it occurred to me to commence 
 with the Old Testament prophets and the 
 whole of the New Testament, with a lead 
 pencil in my hand, marking every passage and 
 verse that bears upon the future of the church 
 and the world. That there were many other 
 prophecies before reaching the book of Isaiah 
 was unknown to me in my ignorance; but the 
 four greater prophets and the twelve minor 
 prophets, togetr.er with the entire New Testa- 
 ment, were carefully and prayerfully perused. 
 Probably a month passed in the investigation, 
 
HOW I BECAME A PREMILI«ENNIALIST. 151 
 
 and not a single human book nor comment, 
 nor exposition of any sort, was touched. 
 
 ** Having gathered up the marked pas- 
 sages and brought them together, three con- 
 clusions were definitely reached. First, Jesus 
 Christ is coming back to this world as truly, 
 bodily, visibly, personally as that He was born 
 in Bethlehem of Judea. Second, things shall 
 not always remain as they are now, but 'nation 
 shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither 
 shall they learn war any more' (Isa. ii. 4); 
 'The wolf shall dwell with the lamb and the 
 leopard shall lie down with the kid' (Isa xi. 6), 
 *The inhabitants shall not say, I am sick; the 
 people that dwell therein shall be forgiven 
 their iniquity* (Isa. xxxiii. 24); 'The earth 
 shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory 
 of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea' (Hab. 
 ii:i4). Third, this glorious change shall not 
 precede, but succeed that glorious coming. 
 
 "This was many years ago, and the con- 
 clusions then reached have been deepened by 
 every day's study of the Word of God, and by 
 the actual condition then and now of the 
 church and the world. It has made me a 
 lonely man, but it has been an unspeakable 
 blessing to my soul, especially in times of sore 
 affliction and discouragement. It has uproot- 
 
152 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 ed selfish ambition and a desire for human ap- 
 plause, and caused me to aim at least in bear- 
 ing true testimony for our now rejected 
 Lord, with a longing to be well pleasing to 
 Him at His coming. Especially does 'that 
 blessed hope' throw a gleam of glory upon the 
 graves of my beloved dead. It frets me no 
 longer because many of my dear brethren can 
 not see this precious truth, which shines like 
 the sun at noonday from the Word of God, and 
 which is a veritable key to unlock the mean- 
 ing of the Scriptures. John the Baptist was 
 a faithful witness when he said, *a man can 
 receive nothing except it be given him from 
 heaven' (Jno. iii. 27). God forbid that a poor 
 sinner should judge them, for to their own 
 Master they stand or fall." 
 
 The last article Dr. Brookes ever wrote 
 on this subject, so dear to him., appeared in the 
 May (1897) number of The Truth. It was 
 finished but a few weeks before his death. 
 
 It clearly sets forth his views, and should 
 settle all doubts as to any mistaken statements 
 that he had changed his fixed principles as to 
 the Rapture of the Saints previous to the great 
 Tribulation, (see italics in following quota- 
 tion), or any other phase of the subject. The 
 article is: 
 
HOW I BKCAMK A PRK-MILLKNNTAUST. 153 
 
 "WHO SHALL BE CAUGH f UP ? 
 
 "This question is distinctly answered by 
 the testimony of the Holy Ghost. 'This we 
 say unto you by the word of the Lord' — not 
 the word of Peter, or James, or John — 'that we 
 which are alive, and remain unto the coming 
 of the Lord, shall not prevent* — precede or go 
 before — 'them which are asleep. For the Lord 
 Himself — not death, nor the Holy Spirit, nor 
 any providential event — 'shall descend from 
 Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an 
 archangel, and with the trump of God; and 
 the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we 
 which are alive and remain, shall be caught up 
 together with them in the clouds, to meet the 
 Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with 
 the Lord,' i Thess. iv. 15, 17. 
 
 "There are many beloved brethren who 
 think that only pre-millennialists shall be 
 caught up, claiming that the promise is *unto 
 all them that love His appearing,' 2 Tim. iv. 8; 
 'unto them that look for Him,' Heb. ix. 28. 
 But there are tens of thousands, now sleeping 
 in the grave, who were, beyond all doubt, earn- 
 est and faithful Christians in life, and yet they 
 never heard of our Lord's personal return, or 
 at least never grasped its meaning. They 
 surely are in Christ; and 'the dead in Christ 
 
154 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 shall rise first.' If they come forth from the 
 slumber of the tomb, whether they were pre- 
 or post-millennialists, it is certain that there 
 can be no partial rapture. 
 
 " 'Every man in his own order,' band or 
 cohort; 'Christ the first fruits; afterward they 
 that are Christ's, at His command,' i Cor. 
 XV. 23. If they are Christ's by faith in Him 
 as their Lord and Redeemer, they shall be 
 His at His coming, even though they have 
 not looked forward to His advent with hope 
 and joy. 'Behold, I show you a mystery: we 
 shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed 
 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the 
 last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and 
 the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we 
 shall be changed,' i Cor. xv. 51, 52. Here 
 there is obviously no difference between those 
 living and those sleeping, when the Lord 
 comes again. Whether changed or raised, 
 they all share alike in the glory of His second 
 advent. 
 
 " 'Our enrollment as citizens is in heaven; 
 from whence also we look for the Savior, the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change the body 
 of our humiliation, that it may be fashioned 
 like unto His glorious body, according to the 
 working whereby He is able to even subdue 
 
HOW I BKCAMK A PRE-MILLKNNIALIST. 155 
 
 all things unto Himself,' Phil iii. 20, 21. It is 
 evident that all believers are here included, 
 without reference to their attainments in knowl- 
 edge, and all will have part in the resurrection, 
 and in the splendid transformation that shall 
 then be experienced. 
 
 'But the thought that only pre-millenni- 
 alists are caught up to meet the Lord in the 
 air, plainly implies some superior merit on 
 their part, either of acquaintance with the truth, 
 or faithfulness in conduct. Thus a self-com- 
 placent and self-righteous spirit is uncon- 
 sciously fostered, which is in every way most 
 injurious. There are many who believe in 
 Christ's pre-millennial coming as a doctrine, 
 and yet are living far from Him practically; 
 sometimes, at least, being surpassed in their 
 devotedness by post-millennialists — w^ho know 
 nothing, or care nothing, for the truth concern- 
 ing His second advent. 
 
 "So there are all degrees of faithfulness, 
 from those who have scarcely more than a 
 'name to live,' to those who are consecrated, 
 loving, obedient children of God. What meas- 
 ure of faithfulness must be achieved in order 
 to entitle us to look for the reward of being 
 caught up at the Lord's return? Alas! any 
 who have a proper estimate of themselves will 
 
156 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 be the last to boast of meriting reward, and 
 will gladly attribute all they are, all that they 
 have, all that they hope to be, and shall have 
 forever, to free, sovereign, unmerited grace. 
 They are ready to listen to the rebuke of the 
 Holy Ghost: 'Who maketh thee to differ? and 
 what hast thou that thou didst not receive? 
 Now^ if thou didst receive it, why dost thou 
 glory, as if thou didst not receive it'? i Cor. 
 iv. 7. 
 
 "There is another fact to be considered in 
 pondering this question, and that is the unity 
 of the church. 'For as the body is one, and 
 hath many members, and all the members of 
 that one body, being many, are one body; so 
 also is the Christ. For by one Spirit are we 
 all baptized into one body,' i Cor. xii. 11, 12. 
 'The church, which is His body, the fullness of 
 Him that filleth all in all,' Eph. i. 23. It does 
 not seem according to Scripture that our Lord 
 would have one part of His body asleep in the 
 grave, and another part raised in glory; one 
 part amid the entanglements of the great trib- 
 ulation on the earth, and another part caught 
 up to meet Him in the air. Hence it is im- 
 possible to sympathize with many dear breth- 
 ren in their view of a partial rapture. 
 
 ''It is equally impossible to accept the teaching of 
 
HOW I BECAME A PRE-MII.I.ENNIAI,IST. 157 
 
 many other excelle^it brethren, that the church, the real 
 church, the regenerated ones, those washed in the blood 
 of the Lamb, and the children of God by faith in fesus 
 Christ, must pass through the great tribulation, or 
 
 that there is no perceptible difference between 
 the coming the 'Lord for His saints, and His 
 appearing ^Hh them. There will doubtless be 
 a vast multitude calling themselves Christians, 
 over whom the tribulation judgments will roll; 
 but to the true believer the promise of the 
 coming Lord is addressed with sweet assur- 
 ance, 'Because thou hast kept the word of my 
 patience, I also will keep thee out of the hour 
 of temptation which will come upon all the 
 world, to try them that dwell upon the earth,' 
 Rev. iii. lo. 
 
 "These brethren are in the habit of quot- 
 ing such passages as, 'This gospel of the King- 
 dom shall be preached in all the world for a 
 witness to all nations,' and 'After a long time 
 the Lord of those servants cometh, and reck- 
 oneth with them,' Matt. xxiv. 14; xxv. 19; but 
 it is difficult ot see the bearing of the texts 
 upon the tribulation. The Holy Spirit certi- 
 fies in many places that when the Lord Jesus 
 Christ finally appears in manifested majesty, 
 all the saints will appear with Him, Zech. xiv. 
 5; I Thess. iii. 13; Jude 14, etc. There must 
 
158 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 be, therefore, an interval longer or shorter be- 
 tween His coming for His people, and His 
 coming with them. 
 
 "Besides, it cannot be denied that He said 
 again and again to His disciples, 'Watch, there- 
 fore; for ye know not what hour your Lord 
 doth come,' Matt. xxiv. 42; 'What I say unto 
 you, I say unto all, Watch,' Mark xiii. 2>T^ 
 * Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, 
 when He cometh, shall find watching,' Luke, 
 xii. 37; 'If I go and prepare a place for you, I 
 will come again, and receive you unto myself, 
 that where I am, there ye may be also,' John 
 xiv. 3; 'Surely I come quickly,' Rev. xxii. 20. 
 There is not an intimation that we are to ex- 
 pect any other event to precede and signal 
 His advent, but to keep our eye intently fixed 
 upon Himself, and our ear attentively listening 
 for his approaching footsteps. If 'we postpone His 
 retur7i until after the tribulation, it is useless to watch 
 now; and all the hopes, and joys, and glories, 
 and the meeting with our dead, and the cessa- 
 tion of sorrow, and the sweetness of satisfied 
 desire, must be put off to a future time." 
 
The Bible Scholar, 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE BIBLE SCHOLAR. 
 
 |ANY and many a time Dr. Brookes has 
 been asked: "How did you obtain 
 your mastery of the Scriptures?" His 
 answer was to the point: 
 
 "By studying it." 
 
 His idea of Bible study, however, was 
 very different from that of most men. So 
 familiar was he with the Scriptures, that it has 
 been said in all seriousness by admirers: "If 
 all the Bibles were destroyed, Dr. Brookes 
 could produce one from memory." 
 
 On one occasion, while preaching at a 
 conference in Asbury Park, New Jersey, the 
 editor of a New York semi-religious publica- 
 tion was present. He had heard of Dr. 
 Brookes' marvellous power of quoting the 
 Scriptures, and he determined to test it. 
 
 On a note book, during the sermon, he 
 lotted down every verse quoted. Utterly 
 
 161 
 
162 
 
 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 amazed, the man went to Dr. Brookes after 
 the sermon, and pointed out that he had quoted 
 verb, et lit., almost a hundred separate Bible 
 texts; glvHig not only the words, but the chap- 
 ter and verse. 
 
 From his earliest youth Dr. Brookes was 
 a Bible student. 
 
 As a child he had been expected to learn 
 and quote much Scripture; and his mother was 
 scrupulously careful that the quotation was 
 faultlessly exact. She held that to misquote 
 in the slightest degree was something almost 
 a sin. It was God's Word, she said, and must 
 be studied, and repeated exactly, or not at all. 
 
 (Alas, how would her soul be torn if she 
 heard some of the wretched misquoting of the 
 Scriptures — where any is quoted at all — in 
 many pulpits, even Presbyterian pulpits, to- 
 day! A sermon was heard by the writer in a 
 St. Louis Presbyterian church, in 1897, ^^ 
 which the Savior was "quoted" as saying cer- 
 tain words which no man, even with a magni- 
 fying glass, can find in any portion of the New 
 Testament.) 
 
 The influence of that training was marked 
 throughout Dr. Brookes' career. The Bible 
 was his vade mecum. He pored over it. He, 
 so to speak, absorbed it. He knew it, and he 
 
THK BIBLE SCHOIvAR. 163 
 
 knew everything worth knowing that had 
 been written about it. 
 
 He kept himseh" thoroughly posted, too, 
 as to the work of the destructive German crit- 
 ics (and their servile American ''Men Fri- 
 days") whose hope of recognition and worldly 
 success, in the former country — and to a grow- 
 ing extent in our own — lies in their power to 
 win notoriety, and gather about them a follow- 
 ing. 
 
 There have been certain deluded men 
 who have ignorantly implied that Dr. Brookes 
 knew litde but the English Bible. 
 
 It would not be charitable, though doubt- 
 less true, to say that he could have taught 
 them Hebrew, Greek and Latin. But it is 
 only a simple fact to state that he was an ex- 
 pert scholar in ancient languages. While in 
 German and French he laid no claims to a 
 profound study, as in ihe ancient tongues, yet 
 he could easily read both those languages. He 
 studied the German theological professors' 
 •'sensation"-seeking utterances in the original, 
 something which (let it be said under the rose) 
 it is to be doubted if many of their subservient 
 followers in American seminaries can do, with 
 all their Fm-holier-than-thou air of philologic 
 eruditeness. 
 
164 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 This acknowledged champion of the Plain 
 People's English Bible knew all that they did 
 concerning the Bible in the original, and a 
 great deal more, in numerous Instances. Hav- 
 ing delved deeply into the roots of words, and 
 the textual study of men and times, he was 
 fully equipped to battle with the destructive 
 Biblical critics in their own camp. He saw 
 through the pretensions of many alleged great 
 textual scholars, and despised their lofty and 
 exclusive assumption of sacred learning. 
 
 His editorial utterances concerning some 
 of them necessarily imply a deep and sincere 
 feeling that they were untrue to their trust, 
 and capable of doing great harm to the souls 
 of simpler men and women, in whose eyes they 
 seemed to be throwing dust by baseless as- 
 sumptions. 
 
 On blank pages of his Bibles, and 
 on the margins of the printed pages, in 
 small, perfect penmanship, he wrote down with 
 the utmost care the rich results of his life-long 
 labors. Only a photograph can adequately 
 describe those marvellous "notes," and only 
 the multitudes who "heard him gladly," and 
 the greater multitudes who have read his books 
 in many languages, know the value of them. 
 
 To make himself certain as to the use of 
 
• Selieeei>s protpeH leuoiid^Jeaa: 2 fcOKIKTU. V. ' Mnu^lnj of the Apoalla. ^ ■ 
 
 /J,"a ■' / / " "-" according 
 
 3ti ■„,JO^s,,J It Ucve.andt 
 
 Belieeei's protveHleyiMdeaa: 2 CO KIN 
 
 ■ 'i ■' 10 Always bcaiing" about in the body 
 
 ' Ihc dying of tho Lord Jesua that the life' 
 
 '^ abo of Jcsua might be made mauifest in 
 
 H.iltit M^(j(..-,k,/3r,i jj y^^ ^^ which live arc' alwny dcU- 
 
 ^ ' vcrcd unto death for Jcpus' sake, that Ihc 
 
 >''""'' life also of Jesus might be made manifest 
 
 ' '-^ in our mortal flesh. 
 
 »-'' 12 So then death/ worlieth in uj, but 
 i* , life in you. 
 
 f .-. J 13 ^g having the same spiint' of faith, 
 „ as it ia written, 1' bcliered, 
 therefore hare I efiokon ; we also be- 
 lieve, and therefore 6pcak ; 
 //o/^iV^/-/ja,-v^ 14 Knowing' that he which raised up 
 .Q^i/>,^^<,:it . pa£^ (he Lord Jcpus, shall raise up us also by 
 JcsuB, and Fhall present iu with you. 
 ; 15 For all thmga" are for your sakes, 
 that the abundant grace* might, through 
 the thanksgiving of many, redound to the 
 pr; f ,r .-d i,^ ^ gloryofOod. 
 
 ■ ^. Iti For whiih csu^e we' faint not; but 
 i though our outward man perish, yet the 
 s»inward» man is renewed day by day. 
 
 17 For OUT' bgfat offliction, which is 
 but for a moment, workclh for us a far 
 more exceeding and eternal weight of 
 glory; 
 
 18 While we look not at the tilings which 
 are seen, but at the things i\luch arc not 
 
 "''seen:' lor the things wluch arc eccn are 
 temporal ; but the things whi< h are not 
 ; seen are eternal 
 -p CHAPTER V. 
 
 •^ / -, J y ,, J-* OR we know, that if our cartlily house 
 
 If ;(»l)i.^l.d ,l»ikJ£of i^^ tabcmjclc' were dissolved, wc 
 » »!../ 4-frhave a building of God, an house • not 
 • •''(•'"'J'madc with hands, eternal in the heavens. 
 iflff'i'c /»«*_y • • 2 For in this wo groan,* earnestly dC' 
 ;1if oj» »*•*>, o 'J siring toiie clothed 
 .. r(..y>.^. f f which is froi 
 
 "" ! that bejnif'cT 
 
 j^, ly.,,, r I . ■ .. , . 4 For »e that are in thu tabernacle 
 fJiittsli'-uJ*''' fr^Kroau^ being burdened: not for that wc 
 eJTi-r if-i: rl/:, would be unclothed but clothed upon, 
 (1, /'ir' r^i '*»t'< *•- that mortality^ mi^ht be awaUowed up 
 Jl/Ki/,T /•<■/'./»'.•,-.. -of life. /»,■/•■» I' /^ t '- ^I'.j 
 li^,. -I '% -./ TL .-• /• .'i Now he fliat hath wrought* us for 
 t,? 6^' «'!'.' "'"' Vf»"™e thing w God, who aUo h^th 
 
 .r..,^»:. 
 
 
 heaven f-^,';2'A-"'f/.-:>;rf/.-,t^?^.' 
 
 K3, ...if ^.^■■■■_f. 3 If 80 bo that bein? clofta we ahall ./„"»• 
 •if'"*.''...'"'"" >-^ not be found naked. 'J7...£y 
 
 
 -, , ■ . given unto us the earnest ' of the Snirit. r<oi. 
 yfj'ir'itrr g Therefore toe oTT always confident, 
 ictielit knowing that, whilst we arc at homo in 
 \}t V • '''■ Wm., tlic body, we are absent from the Lord : 
 
 ^hs»i>'-p '\ It ut'jt rather to be absent from the body, and I0 
 ■iif.yi-. 1 ■ I'l, i. v-4.be present with the Lord. H- (.., • :i, ., <,7, . 
 y/tare ytuhihrus, 9 Wherefore we ilnbour, that, whether 
 *"*"'** . . may be accepted of 
 
 
 ,1. % b-J., 
 
 present or absent, ■ 
 
 in For wc' must all appear before the 
 I t scat of Christ; that every one 
 fejvc^ the things done in his body, 
 
 jrding to that he liath done, whether 
 
 e good or bad. Se 
 
 il be good or bad. Se n ,„ . ^iio '»>>; ' '_^ 
 W Knowing therefore" the terror" "^f 
 '"'« "tu . the Lord, we persuade men; but wo* are 
 :•■! '3 — />' made manifest unto God; and 1 trust aUo 
 4'^'- y(* »!,*.< are made manifest m your consciences. 
 • idjc'* »*. 12 For wc* commend 
 
 
 am unto you, but give you occasim 
 
 iiu- behalf, th^ 
 
 which gjo; 
 
 ga_to-[-#i 
 
 13 For whether we be beside" ourselves 
 ' i* to God : OT whether we be sober, it 
 r for vour cause..'?' -' /.: (-> ■' 1 U 
 "•II for the love of Clmsl* coostrainelli 
 
 /ch.p.13.1 
 
 Col. l.'za'. ' 
 1 CoJ.21,22 
 
 • clwp. 9. 1 
 » Ro.3.24, 
 
 0». 3. ». 
 1 Pe Z.22,M 
 
 
 M Co. 4.1. 
 /cli.ll.23,i 
 for, in ton 
 
 
 l\ Co. IS 63 
 
 "'^fi! 10.' 
 
 • Ep. 1. 14. 
 » cluip. 4. !. 
 ' 1 Co. 2. 4. 
 
 • Ep.6.11,*c 
 ■ Bo.8.24,2^ 
 ■•.lolin?.l2,4J 
 
 r De. 7. 2, 3. 
 1 Co. 7. 3». 
 
 lCo.3.13,17 
 
 8. ig. 
 Ep.2.21,I2 
 
 .H,o/.eJ,//> 
 
 sir!/ 0/ the Aposllet 
 us ; becatise wc thus judge, that if 1 
 died for all, then' were all dead: ^Uj . .< 1 i.uj!t rSe nl e>>ei . 
 
 15 And iliat he died for all, that thcy'ai'tj.^j. /^w i,,c 
 which bre should not henceforth hvo ^,„^^ (,„,„, -,/[' 
 unto themselves, but unto him whicl^ died ■ . \,',„r 
 for them, and rose again. ^^ ''o te"j-.'' • i ■' ■ di •ii.dnd. atjje 
 
 16 Wherefore henceforth know .we oo'^' ^i^J 'loi """■ 
 man after the flesh: ye^ though we have-*.* ^Jp^'s irG**'f^ttt 
 known Christ after the flesh, yet now'J' 2' t'. " nrrr ' 
 henceforth know we him no more*^ '^^ "'■'" t*-e"C-ircstSi- Hi. 
 
 17 Therefore if any man be in Clirht,-^^^ "'-''■''" '■""^ ■ 
 
 passed away; behold,' all things are be- s'''«-» -'-•■» '!«V^^. 
 come new.>".v> }'■■.-. r ,, , ?;,t ; ,, : r^.'-^<!«"".ii^'»'"*t 
 
 18 And all things are of God, who hath "u «"rc->-e Ji'4 
 reconciled' us to himself by J&ius (ilhrist,** 
 and hath given to us the minister of re-i- 
 conciliation ; i:l/l_*w of » eci^-c. t » j r ^j, j^r j*^ /,,,, j /.^ * t /* 
 
 19 To wit. That God was in Christ, re- llr<. e, j.«,- "■« . 
 conciling the world unto himselli not im- \^fj2^ tfreeni= 
 
 Co 16'68 puting their trcsijasses^ imto them; and cll.' » hn^^*li^^e/' 
 iu__ -Wlr-rcommitted unto us tho word of re- '■/ w, &•_•••• , 
 ^ l(»uciUation. 3 . . / c ■...-.' j . J. , r S-,^ r„r "'^ ? '- o 
 
 20 Now then wo are amba'^sadors ' ior-^-'in.'jj/.itM'oJtf* ' 
 Christ, as though God did twseech yauof'Aj'ht'fttitT^i: 
 by us: we pray vok in Christ's st«Bd, be*f"' ^"~ 
 ye reconciled to God-b"'*""* /"'»"' ^**f'*v'"> ' 
 
 21 For he' hath m»de him io is sin iarOI't af m_tvi 
 us, who knew no sin; that we mi^ht be.f"< .w^ be^Zt*t^ 
 made' the righteousness of God in hnn. ri'a/iirnir,,,,, ,„}4'iii 
 „j CHAFTER Ml. "■ 
 
 We then, at workers' together m(hCo-i 
 
 ,i.-rin 
 
 
 ■ wi/t: 
 
 
 ech you also tlmt ye receive wA/S^^. "?ct '" / 
 
 ofGodinvain.'«vi".n7lavT„(./erx;x°>«« 
 
 he sailh, I' have hearf thee mTii^tjA<inst". 
 
 patience, in amictiDns, m necessities, in ' ^ 
 distresses; ,/'»■"■'"'"■' ^ /■■ '^ ...— J iT< ,/iti c /i„}i< 
 S In stripes,/ in imprisonments, fin tu-7 .' 
 
 ?, by kindness, by the iloly iitiMlj^O ^ i he tt-i-^ -. 
 by love unieigned,<'J Ivj/»', .. ^.j, Oi Tjs li',,,tju)T>iie t,rsi 
 
 7 By the word of truth,* J>y the pc"veTt,o A /.<; w /« J.= f . 
 of God, by the Armoor" of righteotunewfcj^,,,^ rutin,. - 
 on the right hand and on the left, , 7^, i^,-^,J , - , , -* 
 
 8 By honour and dishonoai, by evil^,,,,, j'l^',,..,, 
 report and good report: as deceiyer8,*»j /, .','-', j/, ^. ,. 
 andyrftmo; 1 7li^ >/../ a'^i i: 11 ^,. , ./,,(/,,,,,./. 
 
 9 As unknovm,* and' i/e' *weU known;//* i-v»,'^j .r/r..//, 
 as dying, and behoi'l, we bve : aj chast- 'v p^n/, oiGcL 
 ened,' and not killed ; v Wi ■..*».Vy:' 
 
 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; v. f-! r,,c , i /<- 
 as poor, yet making many rich: as having^,, 7- 
 nottiing, and yet possessing all things.' f- 
 
 U-0 ye Corinthians, our mouth ijpp«^ 
 
 12 Tc a 
 are straitened in your own bowels. 
 
 , .. ^^it^ "' ' 
 
 heart' IS enlarged. . 
 
 straitened m us, 1)01 y^, ^ ' 
 
 13 Now for s recompence in tho 8sm«;^P''''7'"'^ 1 
 (I speak as unto mw childrenj be ye ako^.' •'£_"»'* /v./, < 
 
 
 npence in 
 childrenj 
 
 Be ye» not tmeqnally yoked togelhfr « ^- 
 with unbtlievwfl: for what faJlowship'if y^ix^^. JJ^i.t' 
 hath righteousness with iinright^ousneBs?-,^,, ^ ,, -^ * , , 
 and what communion h«;'a ,bght wit&^v" )jViT;^M; '/' 
 
 15 And what concorilKhath Christ witlb't:^'".,^,,^ a. /-,..• 
 BcUfll ? or what part hath he that beliCT-^ ,, 1 as m 3 
 eth with an infidel? jr.?/',,. a.s u^.b, I , c^ t^ iTiVfr//. 
 
 16 .And wHaBTgreemenl hath the t«n-,^ ,,- ,,, ,,■> ' 
 
 pie of God with idoU? for ye' are the"-'""'-'^^' / 
 
 Fe/ievrrs I,, //i,Jiil^,.,e,.f Vlc,-K,>^,.^.^ 10. ' , ,,- ,.■ 
 
 
 Fac-simile of a Page of Dr. Brookes' Bible Notes- 
 
THK BIBI.K SCHOLAR. 165 
 
 any one word, he thought nothing of reading 
 the entire Bible through for that particular pur- 
 pose. If the word appeared three times that 
 fact he established for himself. He believed in 
 being his own concordance. (It should be added 
 here, that he was urged scores of times to 
 write a concordance.) 
 
 It was often his custom to read the Bible 
 through three or four times during a summer 
 vacation. 
 
 When he wished to fortify himself as to 
 any doctrine from the Bible, he, of course, 
 read the Bible through with such especial end 
 in view. The passages were carefully marked. 
 When he reached the end of Revelations, 
 every text bearing on the topic was at his 
 tongue's end. He had gone to the court of 
 last resort, and all was settled. 
 
 The results of that tremendous labor 
 would then be written down, briefly and beau- 
 tifully, in a portion of his Bible. 
 
 Dr. Brookes was constantly urging men 
 to study first the Bible itself, and then the 
 books about the Bible. 
 
 He believed too many preachers, young 
 and old, held the books "about the Bible" to 
 be far too important. 
 
 Yet he was a great bookman, and his 
 
166 JAMKS H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 library was a ''thing of beauty." The four 
 walls of his large study were crowded with 
 theological lore, and to the day of his last ill- 
 ness he kept close watch on new works, and 
 secured all the worthy ones. 
 
 THE NIAGARA CONFERENCE. 
 
 In natural connection with the study of 
 the Scriptures, and the championing of pre- 
 millennial views, came Dr. Brookes' promi- 
 nence in the Niagara Conference movement. 
 
 This gathering began in a small informal 
 meeting of evangelists who had planned to 
 spend their summer outing in the same place. 
 They wished to meet with Dr. Brookes when 
 he was at leisure, and take counsel with him. 
 Soon after, others asked for the same privilege. 
 The success of that gathering was remarkable 
 from the first. Meetings were held at differ- 
 ent resorts. Finally, Niagara-on-the-Lake 
 was chosen as the permanent rallying point. 
 
 Dr. Brookes was president of the associ- 
 ation which of necessity grew out of the infor- 
 mal gathering of a few kindred spirits. Special 
 arrangements were made for the accommoda- 
 tion of the friends who met there togeth- 
 er, and a suitable pavilion was erected by the 
 local hotel company on a hill overlooking 
 Lake Ontario. Here representative minis'ters, 
 
THE BIBLK SCHOLAR. 167 
 
 evangelists, professors and learned laymen 
 met and discussed Biblical themes. 
 
 As Dr. Brookes often said and printed: 
 "Men*s views are not wanted; we are here to 
 study God's Word." 
 
 Those who attended held in common the 
 pre-millennial belief; and the discussion of the 
 many phases of ''That Blessed Hope" was 
 always a leading feature of the summer's ses- 
 sion. Yet there was no hard and fast rule, 
 and all hearers were gladly w^elcomed. De- 
 nominational barriers were leveled. Men and 
 women of every creed met on one common 
 ground — that of love for the searching of the 
 Scriptures. 
 
 Many warm friendships were made at this 
 charming spot. Among those near and dear 
 to Dr. Brookes in this conference work were 
 Dr. William G. Mooreheadof the Theological 
 Seminary at Xenia, Ohio; Dr. H. M. Par- 
 sons, of Toronto; Dr. W. J. Erdman, Dr. 
 C. I. Scofield, J. M. Stifler, Robert U. Garrett, 
 Major Whittle, G. C. Needham, and many 
 others. 
 
 Special memorial services were held dur- 
 ing the summer of 1897, in honor of the dead 
 leader. Friends present wrote that it was an 
 occasion not to be forgotten. 
 
168 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR, 
 
 BIBLE WORK AT SUMMER SCHOOLS. 
 
 With his work at Niagara Conference, his 
 many books, addresses and published articles 
 on the Bible, there is naturally recalled the 
 work in the Moody Summer School at North- 
 field, and similar labor in the west, at the 
 Young Men's Christian Association at Lake 
 Geneva, Wis., in Kansas, and elsewhere. 
 
 Mr. Moody and Dr. Brookes renewed 
 their acquaintanceship a short time before Dr. 
 Brookes' death. The last time Dr. Brookes 
 appeared in a public assemblage other than 
 his own church, was at an afternoon Moody 
 meeting in St. Louis. He led in prayer. 
 Those who heard that prayer say they never 
 heard anything like it. Mr. Moody referred 
 to it touchingly in a letter he wrote to the 
 stricken family after Dr. Brookes* translation. 
 
 At Northfield, at Geneva, or wherever he 
 was, he was always a lion among the young 
 men. 
 
 He was so manly, so vigorous, such a 
 **hard-hitter" at men and things he held to be 
 wrong; so gifted, so finished, so positive of 
 what he said concerning the Bible, that he took 
 them by storm. 
 
 To say that he delighted them would be 
 hardly expressing it strongly enough. He re- 
 
The B181.E SCHOLAR. 16^ 
 
 celved ovation after ovation. There was even 
 an effort made once to haul him about in a 
 carriage by young men power. 
 
 His influence on college youth met in 
 those summer schools, cannot be estimated. 
 A leading College Young Men's Christian 
 Association official once told a member of the 
 family that to Dr. Brookes' Bible readings 
 during a certain summer, he laid the cause of 
 a great revival of religious interest in a num- 
 ber of the largest colleges of the land during 
 the following fall. His own quickening, too, 
 for greater service, the officer laid to the same 
 influence. This young man now has a world- 
 wide influence in the College Association work. 
 
 Dr. Brookes was especially happy in con- 
 ducting the ''question box" at such gatherings. 
 His marvellous memory then showed forth in 
 all its might. With never a look at the Bible 
 he would answer questions as fast as they could 
 be read; quoting one, two, three or five verses 
 to ''clinch" each answer. 
 
 His manly defense of the Inerrant Bible, 
 and the multitudinous reasons he gave ''for 
 the faith that was in him," powerfully influ- 
 enced the young men. He "straightened out" 
 hundreds of picked young men who had gone 
 astray under the enervating influences of pro- 
 
170 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 fessors and ministers whose knees were weak, 
 and whose minds were foggy on the question 
 of Inspiration of the Scriptures. 
 
 It is Impossible to do more than hint at all 
 Dr. Brookes did as a Bible student; and as 
 preacher, teacher and author, who made the 
 Bible his summa sum^narum. 
 
 His whole life must be viewed from the 
 stand-point of Bible study, to obtain anything 
 like an adequate conception of Dr. Brookes. 
 
The Author, 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 R. Brookes was urged into authorship. 
 It was in 1864 that his first work, ''How 
 TO BE SAVED," appeared. 
 
 The circumstances which led to the 
 launchino- of that modest little craft on the sea 
 of literature, makes interesting reading to-day. 
 
 Miss Susan McBeth, a noted missionary 
 among the Indians and soldiers, who was 
 laboring among the regular army men (**my 
 boys" she called them,) at Jefferson Barracks, 
 near St. Louis, went one day to Dr. Brookes 
 with a request: 
 
 "I came here to-day as an inquirer. I 
 am constantly asked puzzling questions by the 
 soldiers concerning the way of salvation. I 
 am troubled, often, to know how to make my 
 answers clear and plain enough. Now I 
 have come to you to repeat the questions put 
 to me, and to listen to your answers." 
 
 J73 
 
174 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 Dr. Brookes willingly granted her request. 
 When she had run the gamut of the queries, 
 and had heard the clear, unhackneyed, unpro- 
 fessional — so to speak — answers, she begged 
 to be allowed to bring ''some of her boys" to 
 hear him go over those questions and answers 
 again. 
 
 He agreed to do as she wished; and in a 
 few days the study was filled with young- 
 soldiers, accompanied by Miss McBeth and J. 
 W. Mclntire, a St. Louis publisher of that 
 day. The lady had brought him along with 
 an "ulterior motive" which did her credit. 
 
 At the close of the informal gathering 
 Mr. Mclntire said that he wanted the speaker 
 to write out what he had said, and he would 
 make of it a book. Dr. Brookes demurred, 
 but finally, after argument, the publisher secur- 
 ed an affirmative answer. 
 
 Soon after, "How to be Saved," "by J. 
 H. B." appeared. It was a marvellous success 
 from every standpoint, including the publish- 
 er's. Edition after edition was sold. It was 
 translated into German, Portugese, French 
 and Spanish. It was widely circulated among 
 the soldiers of both armies during our late 
 war. The good it did cannot be reckoned up 
 in this world. 
 
THE AUTHOR. 175 
 
 In the preface of this, the first of his long 
 list of published works, the author showed the 
 clear, practical thinking and lucid writing 
 which marked all his books. 
 
 Selections from it are here quoted; for 
 this book marked an epoch in Dr. Brookes' 
 career. Heretofore the pulpit had been his 
 sole field of labor. But from now on he was 
 continually forced to write, and the world has 
 been enriched thereby. 
 
 *'My friends," he wrote, "I have some 
 things to say to you richly worthy of your at- 
 tention, and full of interest and happiness to 
 you, if cordially received. 
 
 "By the help of the Divine Spirit, I pro- 
 pose to address you on the all-important sub- 
 ject of religion, and to tell you how you may 
 be saved. I propose to address you in plain 
 and simple language; for I have learned from 
 my own experience that, notwithstanding the 
 instruction we may have received in the family 
 and in the sanctuary, concerning the great 
 truths of the Bible, when we come to feel a 
 personal interest in those truths we need some 
 one to expound unto us 'the way of God more 
 perfectly.' 
 
 "We may be convinced that in some man- 
 ner we are to be saved by the Lord Jesus 
 
176 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 Christ, if saved at all, and that we are requir- 
 ed to believe on Him; but what it is to believe 
 on Him, and why we must believe on Him, 
 and when we must believe on Him, are ques- 
 tions about which we may be entirely ignor- 
 ant." 
 
 A little later is a bit of striking reminis- 
 cence of his own youth: 
 
 •'I felt that I would be willing to seek 
 Jesus if He were only on the earth, as He was 
 1800 years ago; but I read in my Bible that 
 He *is passed into the heavens,' and I was 
 constrained to cry out like Job, 'Oh, that I 
 knew where I might find Him ! that I might 
 come even unto His seat! I would order my 
 cause before Him, and fill my mouth with 
 arguments.' I felt that I would be willing to 
 go beyond the sea, and to visit the City of 
 Jerusalem, and to kneel on the very spot 
 where the cross was erected, if it could be 
 pointed out; but I was satisfied that this would 
 not make me a Christian; and so many 
 months passed away in perplexity and distress, 
 because there was no one whom I met to 
 direct me to the 'Lamb of God, which taketh 
 away the sin of the world.' 
 
 **Now, I want to avoid as much as possi- 
 ble, all figurative language *^* ""' *^* and to ex- 
 
THE AUTHOR. 177 
 
 plain the plan of salvation clearly:* * '^ " 
 
 How little the author of this modest pre- 
 face, written, as he supposed, for a few ignor- 
 ant but earnest soldiers, knewof the thousands 
 and tens of thousands who w ere to read those 
 lines ! 
 
 **The Way Made Plain," was his second 
 work, which was issued in 1871. The manu- 
 script and copyright were given outright to the 
 American Sunday-school Union. Edition 
 after edition was issued. The prefatory 
 words to *'The Way Made Plain" are very 
 characteristic: 
 
 "Those who carefully read the first thir- 
 teen verses of the tenth chapter of Romans 
 cannot fail to perceive the logical order 
 and marvellous clearness with which the Holy 
 Ghost there sets forth the Way of Life. It is 
 the aim of this little book to follow that order, 
 and in some feeble measure to reflect that 
 clearness. Hence the Scriptures are closely 
 followed at every step of the argument, be- 
 cause they alone can guide our feet in the path 
 of prayer. 
 
 ''Frequently has the author, when dealing 
 with inquiring souls, undertaken a simple ex- 
 position of this instructive and interesting 
 
178 JAMKvS H. BROOKES: A MRMOIR. 
 
 passage and often has the Lord been pleased 
 to own it in imparting light to the darkened 
 understanding and comfort to the troubled 
 heart of the anxious sinner. To His blessing 
 and favor it is now commended, with the ear- 
 nest prayer that, as sent forth by the Ameri- 
 can Sunday- School Union, it may be more 
 greatly owned in his service." 
 
 HIS VOLUMINOUS WRITINGS. 
 
 From this time on, almost to the close of 
 his life, Dr. Brookes continued to reach a 
 great audience by means of the printed page. 
 It requires care to guard against the omission 
 of any of his works, so numerous were they, 
 and little more can be done here than to name 
 them all. 
 
 "The Blble Under Fire Series," con- 
 sisted of "Fifty Reasons FOR Believing the 
 Bible"; "Historical Evidences as to the 
 Truth of the Bible " ; "The Bible Iner- 
 rant " ; "It is the Word of God " ; "Christ 
 AND the Bible Stand or Fall Together." 
 
 "Chaff and Wheat; a Defense of Ver- 
 bal Inspiration." 
 
 "Coming and Appearing of our Lord." 
 
 "May Christians Dance ?" 
 
 "Outlines of the Books of the Bible." 
 
 "Stumbling Blocks Removed," a "book 
 
THK AUTHOR. 179 
 
 designed to meet the doubts and perplexities 
 frequently found to exist in the minds of 
 honest inquirers after the Truth as it is in 
 Jesus." 
 
 "From Death unto Life, or The Sinner 
 Saved." 
 
 ''The Holy Spirit.". 
 
 ''Did Jesus Rise ? " 
 
 Among the later and larger books were 
 these: 
 
 "Israel and the Church." 
 
 Concerning this book the editor of the 
 Episcopal Recorder wrote: "Dr. Brookes has 
 conferred many benefits upon the church by 
 his writings, and he has in this book done 
 good service by emphasizing the Biblical dis- 
 tinction between the Jews, as the peculiar peo- 
 ple of God in their national capacity, and the 
 Church consisting of the whole body of be- 
 lievers united with Christ by a living faith." 
 
 "Is^^the Bible True?" 
 
 Of ^this a well-known Western minister 
 said: "I can only say that I know of no more 
 forcible and convincing work of its size, in vin- 
 dication of the Word of God and the divinity 
 of the character and work of the Son of 
 Man." 
 
 Especially noted was his "Maranatha; 
 
180 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 OR THE Lord Cometh," a work of 554 pages. 
 Among books of the pre-millennlalists it stands 
 facile princeps. Edition after edition has been 
 demanded on both sides of the Atlantic. 
 
 The late Henry Morehouse, the noted 
 English evangelist, said of it publicly: "In 
 no book outside the New Testament have I 
 seen this truth more sweetly or clearly shown 
 forth than in Maranatha, by Dr. Brookes." 
 
 ''Till He Come." This book is held by 
 many pre-millennialists to be one of the strong- 
 est, as well as simplest, representations of the 
 Scriptures on the Second Coming of the Lord 
 obtainable. It was designed especially for the 
 inquirer and the doubter. 
 
 "Mystery of Suffering." Its publish- 
 er has stated: "No record has been kept 
 of the letters and messages received from the 
 suffering children of God who have been com- 
 forted and strengthened by this little book. 
 One lady who has spent years upon a bed of 
 pain, writes that next to her Bible she prizes 
 it above all the books she has ever read, and 
 commends it most earnestly to sick and sor- 
 rowing souls." 
 
 Having been sorely and peculiarly afflict- 
 ed himself. Dr. Brookes knew how to comfort 
 others compelled to drink of the cup of sorrow. 
 
THE AUTHOR. 181 
 
 A later book, and one of especial promi- 
 nence, was **The Christ; A Study of His 
 Person, Works and Claims." It is interest- 
 ing to glance at a few from' the many words of 
 praise which representative editors lavished 
 upon this book. 
 
 ''The Spirit of the Master," says one, 
 * 'breathes on every page." 
 
 Other expressions are: "It is an impres- 
 sive representation of a great theme." 
 "Worthy of warm commendation." "Sure to 
 do good work in presenting the unanswerable 
 proofs of the Divine Redeemer of a lost 
 world." 
 
 "Well named, for the Christ and nothing 
 but the Christ is its theme from cover to cover. 
 The earnest Christian Bible student and min- 
 ister alike will appreciate it." 
 
 "We rejoice that so clear a statement 
 has been put forth in a form so popular, and 
 hope it may be blessed to many in helping 
 them to apprehend the person and work of 
 our Lord." 
 
 "If it be true, as has been charged, that 
 modern sermons have too little of Christ in 
 them, then this book ought to be in the hands, 
 and its truths and sentiments in the heart and 
 head, of every preacher of the age. It is a 
 
182 JAMES H. BROOKKS: A MEMOIR. 
 
 Christ-full book. The first chapter is worth 
 the price of the whole." 
 
 THE LAST BOOKS. 
 
 Three books appeared within the past 
 three years. Of these, Dr. Brookes wrote: 
 ''These three books contain the last testimony 
 which the author wishes to leave to the 
 thoughtful considerations of those who believe 
 in the Word of God." 
 
 These books were: "God Spake all 
 THESE Words;" a defense of the Inerrant 
 Bible. 
 
 "He is not Here." (Written to establish 
 the literal and physical resurrection of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, and to prove that the 
 denial of the fact so essential to Christianity 
 is a denial of every fundamental truth of the 
 Gospel. Such denial, whether made by 
 Strauss, Renan, Ingersoll, or a certain class of 
 Higher Critics, is sheer infidelity." — />• 
 Brookes, ) 
 
 The third was a revised and enlarged 
 fifth edition of ''Till He Come," renamed "I 
 am Coming." This work was published in 
 Glasgow, Scotland. 
 
 Concerning "God Spake," the Neiv York 
 Observer s2\dL\ "The Rev. J. H. Brookes, D. 
 D., of St. Louis, Mo., is a devout student of 
 
THK AUTHOR. 183 
 
 God's Word and has published a number of 
 volumes helpful to the true understanding of 
 its truths. '"'■ '"' This book tears a good many 
 high-flown criticisms of the Bible to tatters. 
 It is definite and clear in its statements, terse 
 and straightforward in style, and simple and 
 convincing throughout." 
 
 The Herald and Presbyter ^ of Cincinnati, saw 
 fit to say of it: "The name of the author is a 
 sufficient guarantee of its worth. No man is 
 more able and constant in the defense of the 
 truth. The book deserves a wide circulation, 
 especially among the rank and file of the 
 church, who have not time nor facility for 
 critical study. It is a simple, clear and ringing 
 defense of the Scriptures." 
 
 Literally hundreds of other such critiques 
 of Dr. Brookes' works might be quoted. But 
 it is needless. Those who read his books — 
 and they are numbered by tens of thousands — 
 long ago made up their minds that his deep 
 thoughts, expressed in pellucid, straightfor- 
 ward English, made them volumes to be 
 eagerly sought and kept at hand. 
 
 Dr. Brookes was a poor financier in liter- 
 ary matters. The money made on his books 
 went into other pockets than his. The copy- 
 
184 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 rights of some he freely gave away. He wrote 
 to do others, not himself, good. Had he 
 troubled himself overmuch about profits and 
 royalties, he might not have been able to write 
 as he did. His eye was single. 
 
 It v^^ould take a whole page to write down 
 simply the titles of his hundreds of published 
 and tremendously circulated tracts. 
 
 One man, W. W. Waters, 706 Penn 
 avenue, Pittsburg, Pa., always keeps large 
 editions of 140 different tracts of Dr. Brookes' 
 constantly in stock for sale or free distribution. 
 The plates of others have been lost through a 
 change of publishers. 
 
 At a low estimate, he has written from 
 250 to 300 complete tracts, averaging six 
 pages. 
 
 His tracts are as different from the ordi- 
 nary dreary tract, as his sermons were from 
 the ordinary sermon. That is high but just 
 praise. 
 
The Editor. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 THE EDITOR. 
 
 FToR '1 WENTY-THREE years Dr. Brookes edit- 
 r^ ed a monthly magazine, The Truth. 
 
 He issued it because there was a de- 
 mand for such a means of reaching his ever- 
 widening circle of listeners; some far overseas. 
 
 There was (to use a colloquialism) "no 
 money in it" for him. In twenty-three years 
 of editing he never collected twenty-three 
 cents in salary. He was actually out of pocket 
 for manuscript paper and postage used. He 
 gave his services to the journal gladly. 
 
 The steps which led up to the founding of 
 the magazine, in 1874, are fully set forth in the 
 salutatory. This "Introduction" shows the 
 intense and far-seeing convictions Dr. Brookes 
 had, at that early day, against those who were 
 then beginning the assault on the inerrancy of 
 the Scriptures. 
 
 The assailants of the Bible were compar- 
 atively modest in these days, but he anticipa- 
 
 187 
 
188 JAME.S H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 ted what was coming, and prepared to buckle 
 on his armor. 
 
 Alas ! what a true prophet he was. 
 Several years before Dr. Brookes' death, 
 Union Seminary, founded on the money of 
 those who honored the whole Bible as the 
 Word of God, was led off to dishonor by a 
 Brig-gs; previous to his translation Dr. Brookes 
 heard Presbyterian weaklings squeak their 
 little second-hand tirades against Moses and 
 Isaiah; he was not spared the knowledge of an 
 Abbott who shook his cap of motley and 
 chimed his jester's bells as he "preached" 
 (save the mark ! ) in a Brooklyn pulpit — or 
 should it not be called a Brooklyn circus? 
 
 And Dr. Brookes lived to read — occasion- 
 ally, from curiosity — a New York periodical, 
 an alleged Presbyterian journal, as it frothed 
 at the mouth in its impotent rage against good 
 men and true who believed that those who 
 gave the lie daily to the Standards of the 
 Presbyterian Church to which they had sub- 
 scribed, had no right to be teaching in, and 
 drawing fat salaries from, Presbyterian Theo- 
 logical seminaries. 
 
 This ''Introduction" also explains and 
 justifies his straight-from-the-shoulder style of 
 editing, shown through the twenty-three years 
 
THK EDITOR. 189 
 
 of journalistic labors. To quote from The 
 Truth, Vol. I, No. i: 
 
 "After much anxious reflection and ear- 
 nest prayer, it has been determined by a few 
 Christian friends to publish a paper under the 
 title here announced. The name has not 
 been selected as indicating an arrogant as- 
 sumption of special acquaintance with the 
 truth, but simply as expressive of our aim in 
 seeking to set forth the manifold glories of 
 Him who alone could say, 'I am the way, 
 THE TRUTH, and the life.'— John xiv. 6. 
 
 •'Alas ! too well do we know that the 
 rays of divine light coming from the Sun of 
 Righteousness never reach the human mind 
 without more or less refraction from their di- 
 rect course by passing through the dense 
 medium of 'the flesh'; and the humiliating dis- 
 coveries of our own ignorance, that are daily 
 made in the study of the sacred Scriptures, 
 exclude all boasting in the attempt to teach 
 others even 'the first principles of the oracles 
 of God.' Heb. v. 12. 
 
 "Not a step, therefore, can we take, ex- 
 cept in the entire dependence upon One of 
 whom our Lord said to His disciples, 'When 
 He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will 
 guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak 
 
190 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that 
 shall He speak: and He will show you thing-s 
 to come. He shall glorify me: for He shall 
 receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.' 
 John xvi. 13, 14. 
 
 ''But just because of this dependence upon 
 the Holy Ghost, we cannot shrink from the 
 work to which we have been summoned in the 
 face of our own desire, whatever our sense of 
 personal unfitness for the task. It is a sure 
 sign of being occupied about self, Vv-hen we de- 
 cline a service forced upon us, as this has 
 been, as the plea of inability. Blessed be 
 God, He does not call us to serve Him upon 
 the ground of our strength, but of His suffi- 
 cient prace; and unless w^e are filled with 
 thoughts of ourselves, or with distrust of His 
 promised aid, we need not refuse to stand in a 
 place of testimony or at a post of duty, how- 
 ever arduous the labor it may require, or how- 
 ever serious the responsibility it may involve. 
 
 Hence we go forth unaffected by the 
 hope of success, unmoved by the fear of 
 failure, to join other witnesses of Jesus wlio 
 are using the press to make known The 
 Truth. If He is pleased to own the paper 
 He will raise up friends to carry it forward lo 
 the accomplishment of its mission; if He does 
 
THE EDITOR. 191 
 
 not need it, gladly will we retire into silence. 
 Many, no doubt, will regard it as rash to ven- 
 ture upon a new periodical at present, when it 
 is well known that a number of the journals 
 already established throughout the church at 
 large are struggling for bare existence, and 
 when the financial condition of the country is 
 so disturbed that there is a general complaint 
 of poverty, mingled with a general apprehen- 
 sion of still greater reverses. None, however, 
 who are informed, will deny that publications 
 of an infidel and grossly immoral character 
 are increasing to an appalling extent; and the 
 call is urgent upon all who love our Lord to 
 resist promptly and resolutely these agents of 
 Satan, and to stand, having their 'loins girt 
 about with truth,' taking in their hand 'the 
 sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of 
 God.' Eph. vi. 17. 
 
 "Never before, perhaps, were the servants 
 of the evil one more busy and zealous in dis= 
 seminating positive error, and, what is equally 
 or even more dangerous, perverted truth. It 
 would be painful enough if these efforts were 
 confined to the avowed enemies of Christ; but 
 we are shocked by the indubitable proofs, 
 constantly furnished, that infidelity is not only toler- 
 ated, but cherished and opeiily advocated by those zvho 
 
192 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 are followed as burning and shining lights of the 
 Church. 
 
 "A recent number of a paper conducted 
 by 'the most popular preacher in America/ 
 obtaining by the fame of his name an immense 
 circulation, and wielding by the force of his 
 genius a potent influence over tens of thous- 
 ands, speaking of the sacred Scriptures, does 
 not hesitate to affirm that 'if anything in them 
 does not approve itself to the reason and 
 moral sense as true, it is to be rejected/ The 
 boldest skeptic can not say anything more than 
 this, and the most determined skeptic, who re- 
 tains a decent respect for the opinions of Chris- 
 tians, can not say anything worse than this. 
 Sentime7its no less impious are heard with ijicreasing 
 frequency from pulpits that have been regarded as 
 evangelical^ itt derogation of the supreme authority of 
 God's Word, doubt of Christ's true and proper 
 divinity, or in contempt of His atoning death 
 and imputed righteousness as the sole ground 
 upon which we can be saved. Even where 
 such sentiments are not openly proclaimed we 
 may easily learn by a little inquiry that they 
 are held by multitudes in the church, whose 
 faith has yielded to the claims of shallow 
 humanitarianism, and fled at the first approach 
 of 'Science, falsely so-called'. Tim. vi. 20. 
 
 "It is not the time, therefore, for a trum- 
 
THE EDITOR. 
 
 193 
 
 pet lifted for The Truth to give an uncertain 
 sound. And it is proper to inform our readers 
 that we shall maintain, according to the meas- 
 ure of ability God may impart, the plenary 
 and verbal inspiration of the sacred Scriptures; 
 the divine dignity of the person of his eternal 
 Son; the utter ruin and death in sin of the 
 whole human race, as born into the world; 
 our indispensable need of the Holy Spirit to 
 produce the new birth, to impart faith, to 
 dwell in the believer, to unite him to our risen 
 Lord in the heavenly places; and a full, free, 
 present salvation, founded, not upon our works 
 and feelings to any degree, but entirely upon 
 the finished work of Christ, who 'by Himself 
 purged our sins.' Heb. i. 3. 
 
 *'We shall also strive to comfort doubting 
 and desponding Christians by leading them 
 into the assurance of their acceptance, not 
 through the fancied discovery of some good- 
 ness in themselves, but through belief of God's 
 testimony; urging them to a higher practical 
 holiness by walking in the light of unclouded 
 fellowship with the Father, and with His Son, 
 and by 'looking for that blessed hope, and the 
 glorious appearing of the great God and our 
 Savior Jesus Christ,' Titus ii, 13. 
 
 •'As it is our aim to encourage diligent 
 
194 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 and devout study of the Word of Life, brief 
 and plain expositions of Scripture will be giv- 
 en, with special reference to the elucidation of 
 passages commonly regarded as obscure in 
 meaning, or difficult of comprehension. When 
 to this is added that the little ones will not be 
 forgotten; that inquirers will be entreated to 
 believe on the Lord Jesus Christ without a 
 moment's delay, or preparation of any kind, 
 and that unbelievers will be reminded of One 
 who is willing to save instantly and completely, 
 and able to send them 'away Into everlasting 
 punishment,' Matt. xxv. 46, our purposes will 
 be readily understood." 
 
 HIS ASSOCIATES. 
 
 Edward Bredell, deceased, then an active 
 Presbyterian layman, was the proprietor. 
 Their office was at 212 North 5th street. 
 There a complete stock of Dr. Brookes' and 
 similar books, Bibles and tracts were kept- 
 Later, the periodical was removed to Chicago, 
 when it was issued for a time by the Gospel 
 Publishing Co. Finally, it was secured by 
 Fleming H. Revell, who issued it up to the 
 number following Dr. Brookes' death. 
 
 It was then sold by Mr. Revell to the 
 '•Watchword,'' the magazine the late Dr. 
 Gordon, of Boston, founded. 1 he twin pub- 
 
THE EDITOR. 195 
 
 lication has since appeared under the title of 
 ''The Watchword And Truth.'' owned and edited 
 by Robert Cameron, 
 
 On almost every line of The Truth Dr. 
 Brookes' striking personality was in evidence. 
 He wrote the larger part of each number, 
 though he had valued contributing editors: 
 W. J. Erdman, D. D., Prof. W. G. Moorhead, 
 H. M. Parsons, D. D., Rev. C. I. Schofield 
 and Rev. G. C. Needham. 
 
 A number of pungent editorial para- 
 graphs, in which he smote and spared not was 
 a feature of each issue. Whea stirred up to 
 righteous indignation by what seemed to be 
 an assault on the Bible, he would pen lines of 
 rebuke that glowed. 
 
 But in the very same issue there would, 
 almost always, appear some tender piece of 
 writing from the same pen, full of comfort to 
 many bruised hearts. He was a many-sided 
 editor, as he was a man. 
 
 DR. BROOKES AND HIS CRITICS. 
 
 Those brediren who criticised Dr. Brookes' 
 editorial utterances as being too sharp, and 
 who occasionally remonstrated with him pri- 
 vately, were sometimes told by Dr. Brookes 
 the following homely old tale: 
 
 ''There was once a mild-mannered old 
 
196 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 farmer, who saw some boys in his favorite 
 apple tree, stealing fruit," Dr. Brookes 
 would say. "He ran out and sought to rea- 
 son with them, and politely invited them to 
 dismount. They laughed at him. 
 
 ''The old man then got a trifle vexed and 
 began to throw grass, in handfuls, at the de- 
 predators. 
 
 ''But they did not mind grass, and still 
 laughed at him. 
 
 "Then he began throwing soft clods. 
 
 "But that didn't 'phase' them. 
 
 "Then patience ceased to be a virtue — 
 and stones began to fly. 
 
 "In a moment the boys were down and 
 making tracks for the pike." 
 
 Dr. Brookes would then add that he was 
 sick and tired of seeing the defenders of the 
 inspired Bible using soft words and feebly 
 tossing grass at the semi-infldel seminary pro- 
 fessors and writers who, with their silly flock 
 of human sheep, were striving to vie with the 
 beer soaked agnostics who labeled themselves 
 " Theologians" in German University towns; 
 and whose only hope of preferment is to stir 
 up a sensation by going a little farther towards 
 atheism than the next "Professor of Divinity." 
 
 Dr. Brookes asserted that such men were 
 
THE EDITOR. 197 
 
 ruining souls. Towards such he felt it his 
 Christian duty to hurl stones — not soft clods. 
 And he hurled them straight, and with all the 
 force of his strong right arm. 
 
 His critics were also reminded as to what 
 the magazine stood for and always had fought 
 for: clear-cut conservatism. If they did not 
 like it, they did not have to buy. He did not 
 force it on any one. There were plenty who 
 did want it. 
 
 He never could see the justice of allow- 
 ing the ultra liberal press to have full sway in 
 its attacks on orthodoxy and ridicule for the 
 orthodox; and then to see certain of the ortho- 
 dox themselves holding up their hands in holy 
 horror, because ^ihe Truth lunged back at the 
 scoffers with an equally sharp sword. 
 
 Evidently the magazine suited his wide 
 following; and certainly its fearless editor 
 never changed his ways because of criticism, 
 mild or sharp, both of which, like the poor, 
 **were always with him." 
 
 Many of the pages of ^^he Truth were de- 
 voted to the propagation and defense of the 
 cause of pre-millennialism. Profound articles 
 and series of articles were prepared by the 
 editor on that theme so dear to him. 
 
 It was, in a sense, too, the ''organ" of 
 
198 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 the Niagara Conference. One number, each 
 year, was devoted to a complete report of the 
 addresses and papers of that gathering. 
 
 A large number of the yearly issues were 
 also bound, and are, to-day, cherished parts of 
 many libraries in the land. 
 
 THE truth's wide FIELD. 
 
 The field of the magazine was a wide 
 one — the world. Though no "circulation 
 swearer" was ever employed — no commercial 
 advertising being printed — there was a goodly 
 list of readers. Everywhere Dr. Brookes 
 went, in the United States or England, he in- 
 variably met people who said: 'T know you 
 well through The Truth. \ have taken it from 
 Vol. I., No. I." 
 
 A study of the circulation list showed a 
 unique clientele of every denomination, and 
 of every clime. Many of the "United Breth- 
 ren" (that is, more or less "United" ) read it; 
 many Presbyterians, Baptists, Reformed 
 Episcopalians. The Roman Catholic Arch- 
 bishop, Dr. Ryan, formerly of St. Louis, and 
 Dr. Brookes were good friends. They often 
 spent hours together in the editor's study. 
 He greatly admired Dr. Brookes' editorials 
 and other writings, and even circulated some 
 of the books among his people. 
 
THE EDITOR. 199 
 
 (When on one occasion, certain Catholics 
 tried to keep Dr. Brookes from the bedside of 
 a dying man — a nominal Romanist, who had 
 learned to know and love Dr. Brookes, and 
 had sent an urgent request for his presence 
 when he wished to make his peace with God — 
 the Archbishop rebuked them, and the dying 
 man's wish was granted.) 
 
 There was no one to carry on The Truth 
 as a distinct publication after its founder was 
 taken. It was a part of his personality. With- 
 out him, it would have been nothing. 
 
Side- Lights. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 SIDE LIGHTS. 
 
 HOSE WHO knew Dr. Brookes only in the 
 pulpit, knew him as an eloquent preach- 
 er, who stirred men's souls as few of the 
 world's divines have ever done. 
 
 They knew him as a valiant defender of 
 the Inerrant Bible, who hurled thunderbolts at 
 the destructive Higher Criticism of the cen- 
 tury's end. 
 
 And they recognized him as a leader in 
 Old World circles as well as New, in the pre- 
 millennial school of thought. 
 
 But unfortunately, such did not know the 
 man, and often seriously misjudged him. Few 
 men have been more misjudged. Many sup- 
 posed him to be always engaged in thundering 
 at some one. 
 
 Yet, in fact, he was as tender-hearted as 
 a woman. As a parent he was indulgent to a 
 
204 JAMKS a. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 fault. To the wife of his youth he was an 
 outspoken lover throughout the span of his 
 life. Those who were so fortunate as to see 
 Dr. Brookes in his home life, can never forget 
 it, and will always be the better for it. In 
 weal and woe, in sickness and in health, he was 
 the same patient, gentle, always affectionate 
 husband and father. No thoughtless words 
 that hurt were spoken. In "little things" he 
 was always careful. This is the testimony of 
 the writer who lived in that home. It is the 
 testimony of scores of others. 
 
 His treatment of his servants was that of 
 a model master. He never forgot that they 
 had hearts and souls. 
 
 One prominent St. Louisan testified in a 
 letter, at the time of the good man's transla- 
 tion, that through Dr. Brookes' ''practicing 
 what he preached" in his treatment of his 
 servants, he had been led to believe in and ac- 
 cept Christianity. An ex-servant of Dr. 
 Brookes' had borne testimony of the life in his 
 home to this man, 
 
 Reference is made elsewhere to his rare 
 sense of humor. His stock of comical tales, 
 gleaned from actual experience, was remarka- 
 ble. And these were not kept for other rare 
 
SIDE-LIGHTS. 205 
 
 spirits en route to Synod, or as a relief after 
 the serious work of the day at Northfield 
 Summer School, or the Niagara-on-the-Beach 
 Conference. He was at his best in his home 
 circle. He was a born mimic. Perhaps he 
 excelled when recounting negro tales in the 
 dialect. 
 
 Probably no pastor in the Presbyterian 
 Church ''understood" so well the negroes. 
 He had been brought up among them. When 
 he began to walk, in his Tennessee home, a 
 little dusky toddler was at his side. His first 
 sermon was preached to the colored people at 
 Oxford, Ohio, while a college student. And 
 such was his work for that race throughout 
 his long, laborious St Louis pastorate, that 
 after his death a special memorial service was 
 held by the colored Presbyterians, and heart- 
 felt testimony as to his labors in their behalf 
 was borne. 
 
 A LOVER OF CHILDREN. 
 
 Dr. Brookes was the friend of every 
 child. Babies seemed to turn to him naturally 
 for protection and amusement. A photograph 
 reproduced in this volume shows him sur- 
 rounded by a bevy of little ones, during a 
 summer's outing at North Manitou Island, 
 Lake Michigan. 
 
206 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 It was always so. His grandchildren idol- 
 ized him. He had almost resented the 
 ''growing up" of his daughters, for he was al- 
 ways their best play-fellow. The sight of the 
 learned Dr. Brookes down on his hands and 
 knees, ''playing bear," was the edifying pic- 
 ture often presented to distinguished callers at 
 the pastoral residence. 
 
 And rare pranks were sometimes played 
 on him by his children. One of these, of 
 which his youngest daughter was the perpe- 
 trator, deserves to be recorded, such was its 
 originality and daring. 
 
 One day, while the Doctor was asleep on 
 a lounge, the little girl daintily braided his 
 beard into a number of separate pieces, each 
 one gaily decked out with a piece of narrow 
 but strong blue ribbon. She gazed with deep 
 satisfaction upon her handiwork, and departed. 
 
 A noted Southern editor, it so happened, 
 was passing through St. Louis the very day, 
 and called at that moment to pay his respects 
 to Dr. Brookes. 
 
 The Doctor awoke at the sound of the 
 door-bell, and greeted his guest, all uncon- 
 scious of the dazed look of wonder in tne face 
 of the visitor, whose eyes seemed fascinated 
 by the beard. The Doctor did not happen to 
 
SIDK-LIGHTS. 207 
 
 Stroke that portion of his face, and so did not 
 discover the cause of his guest's pre-occupied 
 air — not to speak of incoherent words. 
 
 Only when after the guest, still in a sort 
 of a trance, had departed, did Dr. Brookes 
 discover the true state of things. He always 
 suspected that the man, who had not seen him 
 before, supposed him to be an habitual beard- 
 curler. 
 
 In his younger days he was accused of 
 caring too much for his personal appearance 
 in the pulpit, and of being too particular about 
 the cut and set of his coat. It is needless to 
 say that these innuendoes were made by 
 strangers. The carelessness he always show- 
 ed concerning proper clerical habiliments was 
 often a cause of distress to his young wife. If 
 he looked ** well-groomed" in the pulpit it was 
 because she had kept a watchful eye upon him, 
 and for no wish of his own. 
 
 THE RED-WHEELED BUGGY. 
 
 The young wife was often surprised and 
 amused too, at the frequency with which Dr. 
 Brookes ^^^-^ ^^ot taken for a minister. Here is 
 one instance during the early life in St. Louis: 
 They often drove out together, and she noticed 
 with considerable wonderment how her hus- 
 band always took from the livery stable a cer- 
 
208 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 tain fast, rakish-looking horse, attached to a 
 buggy with bright red wheels. She thought 
 it anything but suitable (for in those days, she 
 said, to drive in a buggy with red wheels was 
 a sign of depravity.) Yet, rather than hurt 
 her husband's feelings, she submitted resigned- 
 ly to the carmine hue and the fast ''trotter." 
 
 But finally, she felt for his sake she 
 must enter a protest. The complaint was 
 passed on by the minister to the liveryman. 
 A light broke on the latter, who hastened to 
 explain: 
 
 "Why, are you Dr. Brookes, the preacher? 
 
 I thought you were that gambler, Capt. . 
 
 That is a dangerous horse, and might have 
 killed you. I thought it would be a good rid- 
 dance if he did run off again and did kill , 
 
 so I let you have it." 
 
 Thereafter a fat and sleepy old horse 
 sedately jogged along before the sombre- 
 hued vehicle in which sat the young minister 
 and his fair wife; and sometimes, it must be 
 confessed, the pastor had to smother a sigh as 
 he thought of that other, tabooed steed — for 
 Dr. Brookes loved to drive a spirited horse. 
 
 SOME STORIES HE TOLD. 
 
 Some of the bon-mots of this prince of re- 
 counters should be kept for the lovers of real 
 
SIDK-LIGHTS. 
 
 209 
 
 humor, through the ''art preservative," and 
 therefore are here reproduced. 
 
 One summer, during the Pre-millennial 
 Conference at Richfield Springs, N. Y., be- 
 fore the day of the Niagara gathering— a 
 Presbyterian minister of a New York town 
 was studying the tenets of pre-millennialism. 
 He lay awake one night in a room opposite 
 two occupied by Dr. Brookes and a well- 
 known evangelist. 
 
 It so happened the day before that Dr. 
 Brookes had expected to receive copies of the 
 current issue of his magazine, The Truth. But 
 they had been delayed. Suddenly, about 
 midnight, he was awakened by the minister 
 across the way knocking at his door and 
 shouting exultingly. 
 
 The light of pre-millennialism had dawned 
 upon him in the silent watch of the night, and 
 he felt that he must tell his mentor of it. 
 
 "Oh! Dr. Brookes, it's come; it's come. 
 I've got it; I've got it," he cried. 
 
 Dr. Brookes arose and, but half awake, 
 said: 
 
 "What have you got ? " 
 
 "The truth." 
 
 Dr. Brookes, still half asleep, supposed 
 his friend referred to the delayed periodical, 
 and asked, wonderingly: 
 
210 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 "How did it come, by mail or express ? " 
 The evangelist in the next room had been 
 awakened, and was in a convulsion of laughter. 
 Meanwhile the poor convert stood with- 
 out in open-mouthed astonishment. 
 
 HIS FIRST SERMON. 
 
 He loved to tell of his experiences with 
 negro preachers and congregations. The 
 work he did among the colored congregation 
 of Oxford, Ohio, is memorabilia of interest. 
 While a college student there, he accosted a 
 colored man^^one day, and desired to know if 
 his people had any means of worship ? 
 
 " 'Deed we hasn't, boss," was the re- 
 sponse. 
 
 'Tf I offer to preach to you will you 
 gather your friends to hear me?" then asked 
 young Brookes; adding, doubtless, that he was 
 from the South. 
 
 '' 'Deed ah will," was the delighted ans- 
 wer. 
 
 The young student then obtained per- 
 mission to use a school house on the out- 
 skirts of the town for his service. The color- 
 ed friend, meanwhile, had been putting in a 
 good part of his time telling about the young 
 Southerner who was going to preach to *'us 
 niggers.'* 
 
SIDE-LIGHTS. 
 
 211 
 
 On the appointed Sunday evening Mr. 
 
 Brookes found the room packed. His hearers 
 
 had gathered from miles around. After the 
 
 singing cf old-time hymns a simple Gospel 
 
 sermon was preached. In the midst of the 
 
 sermon some of the old-time ''bredren an' 
 
 sisters" began to ''get h ippy"— ''shoutin' 
 
 happv." 
 
 Their mood, which was at once recognized 
 
 by the young Tennesseean, was just beginning 
 to be contagious when the young preacher 
 leaped to his feet and commanded them to 
 ''stop their nonsense and behave themselves." 
 They quieted down — for he knew how to 
 manage them— and the meeting soon dispers- 
 ed in an orderly manner. 
 
 The next morning, seated by an open 
 window in his college room, Mr. Brookes over- 
 heard two ancient ''aunties" of very dusky 
 hue talking over the meeting of the night 
 before. 
 
 ''Didn't we jes' have a gran' time, sis- 
 ter?" said one. 
 
 " 'Deed we did. But what ah'm a-study- 
 in' 'bout is, why didn't the young marser let 
 us niggers holler ? Tell me ?" 
 
 "Sho' honey," her friend replied, to the 
 listener's intense amusement, "dat's jes' his 
 ign'ance. He's so young." 
 
212 JAlVrES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 Years after Dr. Brookes had another ex- 
 perience among colored friends which amused 
 him greatly. He was visiting at the planta- 
 tion of a friend in Louisiana. As was his 
 custom., he inquired concerning the colored 
 churches thereabout. Learning of one not far 
 away, he visited it on a Sunday. He was in- 
 troduced by the planter to the worthy but 
 rather pompous pastor, who immediately 
 changed his plans for the day and besought 
 Dr. Brookes to preach for him. The invita- 
 tion was accepted. 
 
 But when the time came for the sermon 
 the visitor could hardly restrain his laughter 
 and proceed. For in these words the colored 
 minister made him known to the admiring 
 flock: 
 
 '*Ah interduce de Rev'ren' Dr. Brookes 
 of St. Louie, who is a gvvine to preach ter- 
 day. 
 
 ''Dey sholy grows great men en ole 
 Missury. Brudder Brookes is from Missury 
 — ah'm from Missury." 
 
 THE WEDDING HE BROKE OFF AT THE LAST 
 MINUTE. 
 
 Dr. Brookes' house, in the early days, 
 when he lived in what is now the heart of the 
 business district, was a Mecca for young 
 
SlDli-I.IGHTS. 213 
 
 couples who wished a quiet marriage. His 
 experiences were sometimes very amusing. 
 He used to tell of one marriage which he broke 
 off ''for cause," five minutes before the time 
 set for it; and when the bride and groom were 
 in his parlor. 
 
 The groom was a beardless boy of weak 
 countenance; the bride-elect a grim-visaged 
 lady of uncertain years and beady eyes. Dr. 
 Brookes grasped the situation; it was a leap 
 year affair he saw at a glance, and might en- 
 tail life-long sorrow for the boy. 
 
 ''Come here a minute," said Dr. Brookes 
 to the youth. 
 
 They adjourned to the hall. 
 
 "Look here, boy," said Dr. Brookes, "do 
 you know what you're doing?" The boy 
 grinned feebly and said he " 'lowed he did." 
 
 "Do you really want to marry that woman, 
 who is almost old enough to be your mother, 
 and as ugly as sin ? " 
 
 "I don't much care one way or 'nother; 
 but she's sot on marryin' me." 
 
 "Don't you know that if I marry you to 
 her you will have to swear to love her and 
 support her till death ?" the doctor thundered. 
 
 The youth turned pale, wavered, and said 
 "he hadn't thought of that." 
 
214 JAMES H. BROOKEvS: A MEMOIR. 
 
 **Boy, you should get out of this match, or 
 you'll be sorry. Speak quick. Shall I tell 
 her you will not marry her ? " 
 
 ''Yes/ please do, boss," answered the now 
 terrified groom-elect. 
 
 And the marriage was * 'declared off" at 
 once. 
 
''Captain Greatheart. 
 
 5? 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 -CA.PTAIN GREATHEART." 
 
 HOW DR. BROOKES CURtD A WIFE-BEATER. 
 
 ©NCE A weak, trembling woman came to 
 him and said that she was in mortal 
 terror of her husband, a river pilot. 
 (This was in the ''palmy days" of steamboating 
 on western rivers). She said he was kind to 
 her generally; but at the end of his trip he 
 always got drunk, and then he would beat her 
 until he was tired. 
 
 He had given her one beating too many, 
 and the ''worm had turned." But before 
 seeking a lawyer to draw up a petition for 
 divorce on grounds of cruelty, she decided — 
 as hundreds of other St. Louisans did when 
 in dire distress — to consult with Dr. Brookes. 
 
 After she had told him her sad story, he 
 said: 
 
 "Where is your husband's boat now ? " 
 
 "He will be at Cairo on his way up, day 
 after to-morrow," she replied. 
 
 217 
 
218 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 *'A11 right; you have a letter there to 
 meet him. Don't do anything more until I 
 see you again. 
 
 ''Tell him Dr. Brookes says that before he 
 beats his wife again he wants to be informed 
 as to the time. He has never seen a man 
 beat a woman. It will be a new experience. 
 Tell him that Dr. Brookes intends to be pres- 
 ent the next time the beating takes place." 
 
 A few days later a shamefaced man 
 called at the pastoral residence and meekly 
 requested to see Dr. Brookes. 
 
 'T got the letter, Doctor, and I have come 
 to tell you that I will never beat my wife 
 again." The pilot was kindly met. 
 
 "You see, Doctor," he said, 'T never 
 would beat her if I wasn't drunk, and I'm 
 going to quit drinking. I never felt so mean 
 in my life as when I read that letter." 
 
 A long, serious talk followed. Soon after, 
 that pilot was a sincere convert of Dr. Brookes'. 
 The Bible was never out of his pilot-house; 
 and he sought to master its contents as he had 
 the channels of the Mississippi. Within the 
 past three years a Mississippi pilot bore tes- 
 timony to Dr. Brookes as to the sincerity of 
 this quondam wife-beater and drunkard's con- 
 version. He told Dr. Brookes that the man 
 
CAPTAIN GRKATHEART. 219 
 
 never drank again, gave up swearing, and was 
 known and respected as a sincere Christian 
 all along the river. 
 
 His widow, who was a member of the 
 Washington and Compton Avenue Church, 
 bequeathed the bulk of her estate — having no 
 children — to the church, at her death, a short 
 time ago. That was her expression of grati- 
 tude to Dr. Brookes. 
 
 WAR-TIME MEMORIES. 
 
 During the troublous times in St. Louis 
 in the early 6o's — referred to in another 
 chapter — there were many amusing recollec- 
 tions for Dr. Brookes, paradoxical as it may 
 seem in view of some of the very trying ex- 
 periences he had. 
 
 An honored officer in the Washington 
 and Compton Avenue Church to-day was 
 then a young Major at the front, in the Con- 
 federate army. He was a member of the 
 Second Church under Dr. Brookes' pastorate. 
 A certain fellow member of the church, now 
 deceased, was an ardent Northern man. He 
 advocated a trial before the session of Mr. 
 
 , because of his connection with the 
 
 Southern army. 
 
 One of the session, who possessed a fund 
 
220 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 of common sense only equalled by his dry 
 humor, gravely remarked: 
 
 ''All right; we will try him before the 
 session. But he must be 'personally served' 
 with a notice. I move that our friend who 
 suggests the trial be appointed to serve the 
 notice on the young officer, by passing 
 through the Rebel lines." 
 
 Pictures of flying shell and shot flashed 
 before the said complainant. He turned ashy 
 pale, and the "churching" stopped then and 
 there, as when a rapid bullet strikes an oak. 
 
 Another story he told was of a Presby- 
 terian minister who at the opening of the war 
 lived in St. Louis. This gentleman was a 
 strong Northern man. One day an alarming 
 rumor came of the approach of a certain much- 
 feared Southern officer with his band of 
 roughs. This pastor took quick leave astride 
 of an old white mule. 
 
 "The last view of him," Dr. Brookes used 
 to say, "was a rear view. His long legs al- 
 most touched the ground. But he tried to 
 spur the old mule at every step." Had the 
 gentleman waited he would have found that 
 his panic was a needless one. 
 
CAPTAIN GRKATHKART. 221 
 
 BROOKES VS. BRIGGS. 
 
 One of the most striking events of the 
 Briggs case, before the General Assembly at 
 Washington, was an impromptu debate Dr. 
 Brookes and Prof. Briggs had in the elevator 
 of a Washington hotel, which would have 
 made a good newspaper ''story" at the time. 
 
 By chance Dr. Brookes went to the hos- 
 telry which was later recognized as the head- 
 quarters of the Briggs' following. Dr. Brookes 
 was about the only orthodox Presbyterian in 
 the hotel. It was inevitable that the two 
 noted men would meet. Sure enough, one 
 day, they almost ran into each other in the 
 elevator. There was a courteous though 
 formal exchange of greetings, and then Prof. 
 Briggs said, at once: 
 
 "Look here, Brookes, why are you always 
 attacking me in your Truthf' 
 
 Dr. Brookes gave his reason boldly. He 
 felt that Briggs was assailing the foundations 
 on which the Bible rested, and he said so. 
 He then proceeded to prove his charge by 
 quoting word for word — giving page, and 
 number of lines from the top of the page — 
 the most heterodox sentences from Briggs' 
 book. (The professor then learned some- 
 thing of that famous memory.) 
 
222 JAMES H. BROOKKS: A MEMOIR. 
 
 There could be no reply, so Briggs took 
 an ad hominem tack: ''Well," he replied, ''I 
 do not attack you because of your pre-millen- 
 nialism." 
 
 '*Look here, Briggs," replied the St. 
 Louisan, "I want you, and everyone, to know 
 that the minute the Presbyterian Church says 
 that pre-millennialism is in the slightest de- 
 gree a heresy, I and the Presbyterian Church 
 at once part company. And no trial will be 
 necessary, I assure you." 
 
 That was a palpable hint and thrust, for- 
 sooth. 
 
 Then the party left the elevator. 
 
 There certainly was no doubt about Dr. 
 Brookes' assault on the teachings — never the 
 personality — of Briggs and his satellites. His 
 Truth editorials, and many pages of *'God 
 Spake all these Words," flayed them. And 
 the sturdy blows long stung, as the elevator 
 incident showed. But there were no assaults 
 on the man or the men. 
 
 Figuratively, Dr. Brookes, the attorney 
 for Orthodoxy, had too good a "case" for that. 
 It is admitted that, moved to righteous indig- 
 nation, he smote the liberals hip and thigh. 
 
 Pie did not waste time in palaver and 
 
CAPTAIN GRKATHEART. 223 
 
 tossing handfuls of grass. He hurled rocks 
 where rocks were needed. 
 
 His conscience and his judgment justified 
 him, and man's criticism, therefore availed 
 nothing. 
 
 A LOVER OF NATJRE. 
 
 All his life Dr. Brookes loved nature and 
 "sought the open," though he did not find 
 ''sermons in stones," and ridiculed scientists 
 who said they did. 
 
 He was a hunter and fisherman of marked 
 prowess when a young man. While he gave 
 up hunting during his early ministry, he al- 
 ways was a keen fisherman. 
 
 During the earlier years of his ministry in 
 St. Louis his vacations were short and far 
 between. He rarely took but a month. And 
 the summer when the cholera plague raged in 
 St. Louis, he refused to leave his people. He 
 bore the "burden and the heat" of those 
 deadly days until he was threatened with the 
 dread malady himself, and was not more than 
 able to travel. He then was prevailed upon 
 to save his useful life by seeking country 
 air, 
 
 And, to return to the subject of summer 
 outings, it was always his desire to seek green 
 trees and running brooks, or the sea. He 
 
224 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 detested hotel life, and fled from crowds. Yet 
 eager pulpit committes always managed to find 
 him immediately after his arrival ''for his sum- 
 mer rest," however quiet and secluded the 
 spot; and by means fair or foul finally argued 
 him into preaching here or there for them, 
 despite his family's protests. It was that 
 which led his dear ones to take him, one sum- 
 mer, to an almost inapproachable island, where 
 steamers rarely landed, in Lake Michigan. 
 
 During the summer of 1882, in St. Louis. 
 Dr. Brookes was overcome by the heat, while 
 making a pastoral round of visits. He lay 
 unconscious during one night. Since that 
 summer heat affected him greatly. He was 
 forced to take longer rests in order to escape 
 the trying summer weather of his chosen field 
 of life-labor. When he worked there, after 
 June I St, he was in constant danger of another 
 heat prostration. Yet work at that risk he 
 often did. 
 
 A S\VORD-CANE EPISODE. 
 
 Dr. Brookes had an experience on his re- 
 turn from his bridal tour which affected his 
 whole life. 
 
 The young couple had entered a crowded 
 car en route to Dayton. One vacant seat 
 was found — vacant except for a small package. 
 
CAPTAIN GRKATHKART. 225 
 
 "Is this seat engaged?" asked Dr. Brookes 
 of the persons just behind it. 
 
 "No," they replied. 
 
 He laid the bundle down and Mrs. 
 Brookes and he seated themselves. 
 
 A moment later a man hustled into the 
 car, went to the seat in question and said, 
 angrily: 
 
 "Didn't you see that bundle. This is my 
 seat. You are no gentleman to have taken 
 it." 
 
 Dr. Brookes had been seated in a crouch- 
 ed down attitude. The insulter evidently 
 thought him a small man. Near at hand was 
 a sw^ord-cane which had just been presented 
 to Dr. Brookes by an uncle. 
 
 In an instant he leaped to his full hei^rht. 
 His face was white with rage; his eyes were 
 blazing. 
 
 "Sit down, you scoundrel," thundered 
 Dr. Brookes at the then terrified intruder. 
 
 The young wife laid her hand on her 
 husband. In a moment he was calm. (The 
 intruder had meanwhile slunk out of the car.) 
 Dr. Brookes often said that but for his 
 wife's action he believed he might have run 
 the insulter through with his weapon, for his 
 temper was quick and fiery. He felt deeply 
 
226 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 humiliated by his public display of rage, and 
 never forgot the lesson. From that day, for 
 forty-three years, his wife never heard him 
 give way to temper and raise his voice in 
 anger. 
 
 A MEMORABLE HUNTING TRIP. 
 
 Once in his early pastorate he was out 
 camping with a party of hunters. At bed- 
 time, in the m.idst of the general laughter and 
 confusion — without any ostentation — the 
 young St. Louis divine began to read his 
 Bible, and when he was through he politely 
 requested silence for a short time while he 
 knelt in prayer. 
 
 The men of the world — for it was not a 
 party of ministers by any means — were hush- 
 ed in a moment. 
 
 The scene made a great impression on 
 one young man. He was so attracted by the 
 manly young minister-woodsman's consistency 
 that he asked to be allowed to join in the Bible 
 reading the next night. The others did 
 likewise. Soon the question ''What shall I 
 do to be saved ? " was asked, and the one who 
 had first been allowed to join in Dr. Brookes' 
 devotions became a Christian. He always 
 said that Dr. Brookes' practice of his preach- 
 ing under those trying circumstances led him 
 to take this step. 
 
CAPTAIN GREATHEART. 227 
 
 Once while walking on the porch of a 
 hotel in Colorado, Dr. Brookes was accosted 
 by another guest, also a St. Louisan. 
 
 ''Dr. Brookes," said the man, ''that wo- 
 man over there made me swear," (pointing to 
 an acquaintance.) "A fly was bothering her; 
 she kept brushing it away in vain. So I 
 swore for her, as she couldn't, being a lady." 
 
 "My friend, I have a little black book in 
 my pocket which I would like to read to you, 
 if you will permit me." 
 
 "Certainly." 
 
 Dr. Brookes then took out of his pocket a 
 copy of the New Testament which he always 
 carried with him, and read a few verses to the 
 St. Louisan. 
 
 The next day the two men met again. 
 
 "Have you got that little black book with 
 you now, Doctor? " 
 
 "Yes, I always carry it." 
 
 "Well, I wish you would read some more 
 of it to me." 
 
 Dr. Brookes did so, and the man's eyes 
 filled with tears. 
 
 Not long after this man died in St. Louis. 
 
 He was a member of a prominent Roman 
 Catholic family. But at his last moment he 
 commanded them to vSend for Dr. Brookes, 
 
228 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 and with him at his side made his peace with 
 God. 
 
 Such experiences of Dr. Brookes might 
 fill this book. These have been given to 
 throw light on his many-sided life and work. 
 Like St. Paul, he was ''all things to all men." 
 
 HE HAD BEEN A DOUBTER. 
 
 Dr. Brookes went through deep waters in 
 his early Christian experiences. His diary 
 shows that. At times the foundations of his 
 faith were shaken, and he went through all 
 that the infidel does. But he came out victor- 
 ious, never again to be troubled himself, and 
 a bulwark to all who were in such perplexity. 
 
 His bitter experiences were used to great 
 good in later life. He knew the workings of 
 the minds of the skeptics he reasoned with. 
 Many of them testified that he only, of all the 
 ministers they ever talked with, could appeal 
 to them. Scores were led to faith by him. 
 
Looking Backward. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 LOOKING BACKWARD. 
 
 N February 18,1883, Dr. Brookes preach- 
 ed a striking sermon on i Cor. ii. i, 2. 
 Its title was ''Twenty-five years in 
 the Master's Service." This was preached 
 at the Washington and Compton Avenue 
 Church. 
 
 In the discourse he reviewed his long 
 years of duty in St. Louis. Fortunately, it 
 was printed, being one of the few sermons of 
 later years which he wrote out. 
 
 It recalls in an interesting manner the 
 facts of his St. Louis pastorate up to that 
 time, and also presents an outline picture of 
 the city's general religious history. . 
 
 ''twenty-five years in the master's 
 
 SERVICE." 
 
 "And I, brethren, when I came to you, 
 came not with excellency of speech or of wis- 
 dom, declaring unto you the testimony of 
 God. For I determined not to know anything 
 
 231 
 
2^2 JAMKS H. BROOKES: A MKMOIR. 
 
 among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him cruci- 
 fied." — I Cor. ii. 1-2. 
 
 ** Precisely twenty-five years ago this text 
 suggested the theme of my first sermon in St. 
 Louis, on the Lord's day, as pastor-elect of 
 the Second Presbyterian Church. Arriving 
 in the city the Friday evening previous, and 
 impatient to end a long and wearisome journey, 
 I left the omnibus at the corner of Fourth and 
 Market, and walked down the icy street to the 
 residence of Judge Gamble, who had kindly 
 invited me to become his guest. Well do I 
 recall the oppressive sense of loneliness, of 
 conscious insufficiency for the pastoral charge 
 of a church that had enjoyed the ministry of 
 the sainted Dr. Potts, and of Dr. Rice, who was, 
 in my estimation, 'the prince of preachers;' 
 and the sadness was increased by the thought 
 that I had left a people who were very near to 
 my heart. But these melancholy reflections 
 were scattered by the unexpected appearance 
 of Gen. Edwards, Mr. Joseph Powell and Mr. 
 Charles D. Drake, who met me in the street 
 with the welcome intelligence that prayer had 
 been offered in my behalf; that an unusual in- 
 terest pervaded the congregation; and that 
 service had been appointed for that evening. 
 After supper we proceeded to the church 
 
I.OOKING BACKWARD, 233 
 
 building, which then stood on the corner of 
 Fifth and Walnut; and those assembled Avere 
 addressed from the words, 'Grieve not the 
 Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed 
 unto the day of redemption,' Eph. iv. 30. 
 
 ''At the close of the service all who de- 
 sired to be saved were invited to remain for 
 prayer and conversion, and three persons ac- 
 cepted the invitation. 
 
 "Three of our present session and a 
 number of others worshipping with us to-day, 
 are the fruits of the revival which followed 
 that first meeting. 
 
 "On the succeeding Lord's day the text 
 was selected which is chosen this morning, 
 because it embodied the aim of my ministry 
 and the purpose of my coming to St. Louis: 
 'And I, brethren, when I came to you, came 
 not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, 
 declaring unto you the testimony of God. 
 For I determined not to know anything among 
 you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.' 
 How poorly this aim has been accomplished; 
 how feebly and imperfectly this purpose has 
 been executed, no one can understand as well 
 as myself. Indeed, it is with unaffected shame 
 and sorrow my thoughts run over these twenty- 
 five years, reviewing so many failures; so 
 
234 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 many mixed and unhallowed motives; so many 
 words which should never have been uttered; 
 so many hours of idleness; so many doubts 
 and fears and seasons of unbelief and of sore 
 spiritual conflict with the world, the flesh and 
 the devil; so many weak and unworthy at- 
 tempts to preach the Gospel, that memory 
 alone would drive me from the pulpit into 
 silence and despair were it not that God's 
 sovereign and inexhaustible grace shall be 
 glorified in my personal humiliations. Truly, 
 in my case, the treasure has been committed 
 to an earthen vessel, that the excellency of the 
 power might be of Him, and not of me." 
 
 HIS PULPIT IDEAL. 
 
 ''But He is my witness also that it has 
 been my wish to keep that first text constantly 
 in view; not seeking to please men, but Christ; 
 not striving to be popular, but to preach the 
 truth; not laboring to exhibit excellency of 
 speech or of wisdom, but declaring the testi- 
 mony of the written Word in all simplicity and 
 sincerity. Let me add that just so far, and 
 only so far, as I have foolishly yielded to 
 temptation to depart from the text, are the 
 recollections of my ministry bitter and painful; 
 and let me express the conviction, which is far more 
 profound than it was a quarter of a ceyitury ago^ that it 
 
I.OOKING BACKWARD. 235 
 
 is the one absorbings eiitire, and exclusive duty and 
 privilege of the preacher of the Gospel to declare the 
 testimony of God plainly , boldly a7id faithfully, and to 
 k?iow 7iothi7ig among his people ^savefesus Christ, a?id 
 Him crucified.' 
 
 " '"* ^^ Let me briefly trace the history of 
 this church through the twenty-five years now 
 closing. During the greater part of this long 
 period it has been a somewhat turbulent his- 
 tory, for we have lived in stormy times. First, 
 after a year or two of unparalleled political 
 excitement, the civil war began in 1861; and 
 nowhere did it burst with greater violence than 
 in this State and city. Scarcely had it ceased 
 before the singularly unwise action of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly in 1865 led to the publication 
 of a vigorous protest, known as the ' Declara- 
 tion and Testimony.' This paper was regard- 
 ed by those in ecclesiastical authority as schis- 
 matical in its tendency, and wanting in proper 
 respect to the highest court of the church; and 
 the General Assembly which met in St. Louis 
 in 1866, after a fierce discussion of many days, 
 excluded those who had signed it from their 
 seats in that body, and passed upon them a 
 severe sentence. The action of the Assembly 
 was followed by the formation of the Indepen- 
 dent Synod of Missouri, with which our 
 church became identified, although several of 
 
236 JAMKS H. BROOKKS: A MEMOIR. 
 
 our members who were In warm sympathy 
 with the Assembly in its political legislation 
 withdrew from our connection. The church 
 remained in this independent attitude until 
 1874, when the Assembly, that again met in 
 St. Louis, unanimously adopted the principles 
 for which we had contended, and acted in a 
 manner so Christian and generous that the great 
 body of our people felt that the strife ought to 
 end. There were some, however, who pre- 
 ferred to be in the Southern Assembly; and 
 when the church finally united with the North- 
 ern Presbytery these withdrew.* '"'" 
 
 SOME FACTS AND FIGURES. 
 
 *'Amid all these commotions God has 
 never left Himself without a witness that His 
 Spirit was with us, although it was of the 
 Lord's mercies that we were not consumed. 
 There has never been a communion season — 
 which occurs every two months — when we did 
 not receive one or more into our number. I 
 find from a printed sermon of mine, delivered 
 on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the organi- 
 zation of the Second Presbyterian Church, that 
 from the i8th of February, 1858, to April, 
 1864, there were received 184 by confession of 
 faith and 154 by letter, making a total of 338. 
 The Walnut Street Church was organized 
 
tOOKING BACKWARD. 237 
 
 July 4, 1864, and at the same meeting called 
 me to be the pastor. My last sermon in the 
 Second Church was preached July 8, 1864, 
 and the following Wednesday evening my 
 ministry began in the Walnut Street Church. 
 From that time until the delivery of my last 
 sermon in the building on the corner of Six- 
 teenth and Walnut streets, April 27, 1879, 
 there were received 869 upon confession and 
 604 by letter, making a total of 1,473. T"he 
 ground upon which this building stands was 
 broken for the foundation July 4, 1877; the 
 corner stone was laid October 27, 1877; our 
 first service in the lecture-room was held May 
 4, 1879; and our first service in the room in 
 which we are assembled to-day, December 5, 
 1880. In the period of less than four years 
 since we came to our present place of worship 
 we have received 173 upon confession and 157 
 by letter, making a total of 330, or 2,141 in all, 
 showing an average increase of nearly two for 
 every week during the twenty-five years. 
 
 "While we met for public worship on the 
 corner of Sixteenth and Walnut the church 
 raised for building purposes ^^84,987, for cur- 
 rent expenses $132,082.54, and for benevolent 
 work $47,571.79. To this should be added 
 nearly $40,000 raised by the l^die? for the 
 
238 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 support of the Presbyterian Home. Since the 
 occupancy of this building we have raised in 
 cash $65,278 for current expenses and the 
 payment of the church debt, and given away 
 $4,906 to help forward the work of the Lord 
 in other places. To this must be added 
 $8,511.97 made or contributed by the ladies, 
 who have labored faithfully and continually. 
 
 "We have always sustained mission Sun- 
 day-schools, three of which are now conduct- 
 ed by our people; and for much of the time 
 city missionaries have been supported to carry 
 the Gospel to the poor. Two of our members 
 are now laboring in the foreign field among 
 the heathen, and about twenty young men, 
 during the twenty-five years, have gone forth 
 to preach the Word as pastors or evange- 
 lists. * ^'' 
 
 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 "One of the most impressive lessons 
 learned in these twenty-five years is the little- 
 ness of every man's life. 
 
 "Of all the pastors who were here when I 
 came to St Louis but two remain. Those of 
 most note were Dr. Nelson, of the First Pres- 
 byterian Church; Dr. S. J. P. Anderson, of 
 the Central Church; Dr. McPheeters, of the 
 Pine Street Church; Dr. Porter, of the Union 
 
LOOKING BACKWARD. 239 
 
 Church; Dr. Boyle, of the First Methodist 
 Church; Mr. — afterwards Bishop — Marvin, of 
 the Centenary Methodist Church; Bishop 
 Hawks, of the Episcopal Church; Dr. Post of 
 the Congregational Church; and Dr. G. Ander- 
 son, of the Second Baptist Church. 
 
 **I have attended about 500 funerals, and 
 among them the obsequies of distinguished 
 citizens, as Thos. H. Benton, Gov. Gamble, 
 Joseph Charless, Gen. Blair and others; and, 
 although a great crowd thronged the streets 
 as the procession moved on to the dirge of 
 martial music, or followed the sable plumes of 
 the hearse, it often recalled the words of the 
 Psalmist, * Behold, Thou hast made my days 
 as an hand-breadth, and mine age is as noth- 
 ing before Thee. Verily, every man at his 
 best state is altogether vanity. Selah. Surely 
 every man walketh in a vain show; surely they 
 are disquieted in vain; He heapeth up riches 
 and knoweth not who shall gather them. And 
 now. Lord, what wait I for ? My hope is in 
 Thee/ 
 
 •'The session of the Second Church was, 
 in some respects, a remarkable body twenty- 
 five years ago. Judge Gamble, a man of rare 
 wisdom, and simple faith, and sustained con- 
 secration, who bound me to him with hooks of 
 
240 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 Steel; Archibald Gamble, who was an earnest 
 believer in the pre-millennial coming of the 
 Lord before I saw 'that blessed hope' shin- 
 ing through the gloom; Wyllis King, so bright 
 and genial, and gifted in prayer; Joseph Powell, 
 full of gentleness and kindness; John Simonds, 
 who, as if with a premonition of death, tender- 
 ly shook hands with every member of the 
 session the evening preceding the collision on 
 the Iron Mountain Railroad by which he was 
 instantly killed Thos. H. West, Gen. Ed- 
 wards, Chas D. Drake and Eustace H. Smith 
 were the ruling elders. Mr, Drake is Chief Jus- 
 tice of the Court of Claims, in Washington City; 
 and Mr. Smith resides in Peoria, 111. Of the 
 session chosen at the organization of the Wal- 
 nut Street Church none have been called up 
 higher except our beloved brother, James L. 
 Sloss, whose absence my heart keenly feels 
 this morning. But, oh ! how many have been 
 removed from other circles. There is scarcely 
 a pew occupied by those who have been with 
 us for even a few years, from which some one 
 has not gone out to return no more. From 
 one pew a father, from another a mother, 
 from another a husband, from another a 
 precious child; and heaven is growing richer 
 and earth poorer so fast. 
 
I^OOKING BACKWARD. 241 
 
 ** * They' re gathering homeward from every 
 
 land; 
 As their weary feet touch the shining strand 
 They rest with the Saviour, they wait their 
 
 crown, 
 Their travel-stained garments are all laid down; 
 They wait the white raiment the Lord shall 
 
 prepare 
 For all who the glory with Him shall share. 
 One by one, one by one, fording the river one 
 
 by one. 
 Gathering home, gathering home, yes, one by 
 
 one/" 
 
The Pastor Emeritus. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 THE PASTOR EMERITUS. 
 
 HERE has been found among the papers 
 ^ of Dr. Brookes the following, which was 
 attached to the memorial sermon quot- 
 ed in the preceding chapter. 
 
 This datum shows the results of Dr. 
 Brookes' labors in his church from February 
 i8, 1883, to October 16, 1894. 
 
 It is reproduced in full: 
 
 **The sermon" (that which has just been 
 quoted), "was preached February 18, 1883. 
 Up to that date there had been received into 
 connection with the church 2,141 persons, and 
 during the last ten years, including April 
 I, 1893, there were received 613 by confes- 
 sion and letter, makinga total of 2,754. 
 
 •* During the period we worshipped in the 
 building on the corner of Sixteenth and Wal- 
 nut streets, and up to the date of the preach- 
 ing of this printed sermon, there was contri- 
 buted and disbursed the sum of $383,334. 
 
 245 
 
246 JAMES H. BROOKKS: A MEMOIR. 
 
 Within these past ten years the people have 
 given to various objects at least j^20o,ooo, 
 making a total of $583,334. 
 
 "Within these last ten years the pastor 
 has edited ten volumes of The Truth, and writ- 
 ten and published 'The Mystery of Suffer- 
 ing,' 'Till He Come,' 'Chaff and Wheat,' 
 'The Bible under Fire,' and 'The Christ.' 
 
 *'James H. Brookes." 
 
 Dr. Brookes struggled against ill-health 
 during the final years of his pastorate. But 
 he kept up to his full work, never sparing him- 
 self, until, one Sunday morning, he gave evi- 
 dence of being on the verge of an immediate 
 physical break-down. 
 
 A severe attack of la grippe had prostrat- 
 ed him, and left behind the seeds of a fatal 
 malady. 
 
 For the first time in his life, this Sunday 
 morning, he found that the Scriptural texts did 
 not flow as readily from his tongue as air from 
 his nostrils. 
 
 That was, indeed, an alarming sign to his 
 church officers. One of them hastened up to 
 him at the close of the sermon, and said: 
 
 "This won't do, Doctor; you must stop 
 and go away for a rest." 
 
THK PASTOR KMERITUS. 247 
 
 '4 must wrait until the communion, next 
 Sunday/' 
 
 **No, you must not wait for anything; you 
 must stop right here." 
 
 A very short time after, Dr. Brookes was 
 in Asheville, N. C, where he spent some 
 time during the winter. He had pleasant 
 companions, did not work, and was out of 
 doors most of the time — frequently riding 
 horseback. 
 
 He returned to St. Louis greatly strength- 
 ened, and plunged into his work again. 
 
 But it soon became evident to all that he 
 must have relief, and plans were made to se- 
 cure an assistant pastor. 
 
 Rev. George T. Eddy, a young pastor of 
 Beverly, N. J., was chosen to do this work. 
 
 He was a faithful, consecrated and schol- 
 arly young preacher. He assumed all of the 
 burdens upon his shoulders that Dr. Brookes 
 would let him bear. During the summer he 
 did the entire church work. The relation be- 
 tween the old and young minister was as that 
 of a father and son. 
 
 Later, circumstances led to Dr. Brookes' 
 resignation from the pulpit he had honored so 
 many years. 
 
 At an enthusiastic meeting of the congre- 
 
248 JAMKS H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 gation, Dr. Brookes was made "Pastor Emeri- 
 tus," and Mr. Eddy was named as Stated 
 Supply of the pulpit. 
 
 This arrangement was continued for some 
 time, Dr. Brookes preaching in the morning 
 whenever his health permitted. Occasionally 
 he conducted both services. In addition to 
 his regular church services, he was also called 
 on for many other duties — special sermons, 
 Bible readings, and the like. He frequently 
 went to such meetings when not physically 
 able. It was always hard for him to say *'no'' 
 when asked to give a Bible reading. 
 
 A true story which is apropos, is part of 
 the family history. He had gone abroad for 
 a change, to soothe some very tired nerves and 
 seek respite from insomnia. After some re- 
 cuperation he attended the Mildmay Confer- 
 ence. There he was continually surrounded 
 by eager questioners, Bible in hands. ^ Then 
 he went over upon the continent, to Kissingen. 
 Here, at last, thought his anxious wife, there 
 will be no Bible students to tire him and coun- 
 teract the good effect of the trip. 
 
 But, alas, she soon saw that she had 
 reckoned without her host. Dr. Brookes' fame 
 had preceded him, and numerous English visit- 
 ors had gathered about him; and the usual 
 program was being carried out. 
 
THE PASTOR KMERITUS 249 
 
 Then and there the loving, gentle wife 
 rebelled. She declared that she would pack 
 her trunks and go right back to St. Louis if he 
 did not promise instant reform. 
 
 He ''reformed. '* 
 
 LAST EVANGELISTIC SERVICES. 
 
 After he became Pastor Emeritus, Dr. 
 Brookes was able to accept invitations to do 
 evangelistic work in various sections of the 
 land, which heretofore his stated duties in the 
 pastorate had made impossible. 
 
 While his health was not good, yet he 
 seemed to enjoy the work, and there was a 
 stimulus in the meeting of so many new, zeal- 
 ous friends which seemed more beneficial 
 than medicine. So, charging him to be care- 
 ful, his family consented to his accepting some 
 of the many invitations that came to him. 
 
 He conducted special meetings on the 
 Pacific Coast, in Michigan, in Kansas City, in 
 Minneapolis, and elsewhere, with marked suc- 
 cess; all within the two years preceding his 
 death. He came home the better, if anything, 
 for this work. 
 
 What seemed to wear him out was night 
 work of various kinds in his own city. He at- 
 tended many special services in inaccessible 
 parts at great cost to his physical well-being. 
 
250 JAMES H. BROOKKS: A MEMOIR. 
 
 Just previous to the break-down which caused 
 his sojourn at Stafford Springs, Miss., he had 
 preached for ten nights; then he had held a 
 special service in East St. Louis. He was in 
 the midst of other evangelistic work in his 
 city when he became ill and was forced to stop 
 all work for a time. 
 
 HIS BURDENSOME CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 Another duty which he faithfully, con- 
 scientiously and laboriously performed, was 
 answering daily from six to a score of letters, 
 some of them often demanding lengthy ans- 
 wers. 
 
 These letters came from all parts of the 
 world, chiefly from those who had learned to 
 know Dr. Brookes through hearing him at 
 conferences, or by the reading of his books, 
 or The Truth, 
 
 Many letters came from young preachers 
 who wanted light on knotty points. Carefully 
 and fully the letters would be answered. 
 Sometimes this task took a good part of the 
 day. 
 
 It actually seemed as if anyone who had 
 anywhere heard anything in the nature of an 
 uncommon attack on the Bible at once ran for 
 paper and pen to tell Dr. Brookes of it, and to 
 
THE PASTOR EMERITUS. 251 
 
 ask for the proper answer with which to anni- 
 hilate the skeptic who propounded it. 
 
 Often Dr. Brookes would be asked to 
 "outline" sermons and addresses for ministers 
 in all parts of the land, "because he knew so 
 much about the Bible," while their ignorance 
 of the special subject in hand would be frankly 
 confessed. In this respect some startling 
 facts might be told, 
 
 Masses of manuscript on works requiring 
 expert knowledge of the Bible were frequent- 
 ly brought to him for revision or criticism. 
 (Had he ever asked any remuneration — on the 
 scale which "experts" in all other professions 
 are paid — his income would have been co- 
 lossal. But a "thank you" was all he ever ex- 
 pected, and occasionally that was lacking. All 
 he had to will away were his books and his 
 prayers for his grandchildren.) 
 
 He was deluged, too, with correspondence 
 of a private nature on almost every conceiva- 
 ble subject. Everything seemed to be hurled 
 at him via the U. S. mails — that is, every- 
 thing but stamps for the reply. 
 
 His family believe that what helped 
 largely to hasten his final collapse was his 
 conscientious desire to answer all calls for 
 
iSi JAMIBS H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 duty in the local field, and to respond promptly 
 to his daily mass of correspondence. 
 
 He did both up to the week before his 
 death, contrary to their earnest wishes. 
 
 They understand, of course, that no one 
 knowingly would have burdened him so sore- 
 ly. They understand equally well that his 
 life and health were dear to thousands besides 
 those of his own home circle. 
 
 DR. BROOKES' LAST SERMON. 
 
 The outline notes of the last sermon Dr. 
 Brookes ever preached are here reproduced 
 from a leaf in his Bible. 
 
 It was delivered with wonderful fervor, on 
 Sunday morning, April ii, 1897. T^his is the 
 only "manuscript" he had of it: 
 
 *'THEY SHALI. NEVER PERISH." — JNO. X. 28. 
 
 I. Atonement: Matt. xx. 28; xxvi. 28; Rom. 
 V. 6; 1 Cor. xv. 3; 2 Cor. v. 21; Gal. i. 4; 
 Hi. 13; Eph. i. 7: 1 Peter ii. 24. 
 II. Forgiveness: Luke v. 20; vii. 48; Acts x. 
 43; Col. ii. 13-15; 1 John i. 7; ii. 12; Ps. ciii. 
 12: Isa. xxxiii. 17; Micah vii. 19. 
 III. Intercession: Luke xxii. 32; John xvii. 20; 
 Rom. viii. 34; Heb. iv, 14, 15; v. 20; vii. 
 24-26; 1 John ii. 1; Rev. viii. 3. 
 IV. Omnipotence: Matt, xxviii. 12; John iii. 35; 
 xiii. 3; xvii. 2; Eph. i. 20-22; Phil. ii. 9-11; 
 Heb. i. 2; 1 Peter iii. 22; Dan. iv. 35. 
 V. Omniscience: John ii. 24, 25; xvi. 30; xxi. 
 
THE PASTOR EMERITUS. 253 
 
 17; Matt. ix. 4; xii. 25; Acts i. 24; Heb. iv. 
 13; Rev. ii. 23. 
 VI. Omnipresence: Matt, xxviii. 20: xviii. 20; 
 Mark xvi. 20; John xiv. 23; Acts xviii. 
 9, 10. 
 VII. Unchanging Love: John xiii. 1; xiv. 19; 
 XV. 13; Rom. viii. 35-37; Phil. i. 6; 1 John 
 iii. 15; Rev. i. 5, 6. 
 
 He might truly have been preaching his 
 own funeral sermon. Immortality was the 
 key note of the discourse. 
 
 At the close of that sermon it was observ- 
 ed by a member of his family that Dr. Brookes 
 stopped in front of his pulpit and gazed care- 
 fully all around the great auditorium. Not a 
 detail escaped him. His eyes rested on the 
 window erected as a memorial for his eldest 
 daughter, Etta. 
 
 Then he looked at the retreating congre- 
 gation. When the last one had departed he 
 turned slowly and thoughtfully into his study. 
 
 He said nothing about this uncommon 
 deed; for his dear ones never before saw him 
 do as he did that Sunday. But they have 
 often wondered if he had not some premoni- 
 tion that it was his last sermon. 
 
 HIS FINAL TESTIMONY. 
 
 The last address Dr. Brookes ever made 
 was on the Sunday evening before he died. 
 
254 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 He recalled in a personal testimony service 
 some very trying youthful experiences which 
 he had passed through. These were his days 
 of doubt; the days when he almost gave up his 
 Christianity. 
 
 Those who heard him were thrilled. 
 Had they but known what a week was to 
 bring forth how carefully would every word 
 have been taken down and preserved for all 
 time. 
 
 But, as always was the case, the address 
 was made without manuscript and only the 
 spirit of the burning testimony, not its letter, 
 remains as a cherished memory. 
 
 The text he brought to this testimony ser- 
 vice was, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy 
 of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into 
 the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." 
 (He had announced in the morning that each 
 one was expected to bring some verse of 
 Scripture which meant something special to 
 them in the light of their religious exper- 
 ience.) 
 
 He spoke very plainly that night. It 
 seemed, he said, as if during those dark da)s 
 of youthful doubt, he had lost his faith 
 utterly. Everything was gone. He told his 
 intimates of his mental state. They reasoned 
 
THE PASTOR EMERITUS. 255 
 
 with him, but it seemed to bring no relier 
 Then a prayer-meeting was held in his room 
 by a few close friends. 
 
 There, suddenly, he testified, the light 
 broke and the dark clouds of doubt were dis- 
 pelled. 
 
 One student,he said, had been the special 
 means of leading him back into his former at- 
 titude of mind. He mentioned no name and 
 in all probability that student has passed 
 away. 
 
 He gave for the last time his clear, un- 
 mistakable testimony to "the faith that was in 
 him." 
 
 It was his fitting "Finis" in that old, 
 familiar pulpit. He closed the Bible, and de- 
 scended the accustomed pulpit stairs, never 
 again to be ascended by him. 
 
 The following Sunday morning he "fell 
 asleep in Jesus." 
 
 But not even from an earthly stand-point 
 did Dr. Brookes' earthly ministry really cease 
 that Sunday night, 
 
 While the Bible is venerated, and while 
 books about the Bible are read, his name will 
 be honored among the children of men; while 
 his ministry, through the multitudes of earnest 
 
256 
 
 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 souls he has saved, and through the printed 
 page, will go on and on unto the shores of 
 Eternity. 
 
Translated. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 TRANSLATED. 
 
 f^T SUNRISE on Easter Sunday, April i8, 
 Pi 1897, the Rev. James Hall Brookes, D. 
 •^ D., died, aged 67 years, i month and 
 
 22 days. 
 
 At his bed-side were his wife, his three 
 married daughters, their husbands, and his 
 sister.'"* 
 
 As a tired child might sink to sleep in 
 utmost peace, without a murmur or a struggle, 
 the good and great man was translated. His 
 death — as his life — was a sermon. 
 
 On his way home from church Sunday 
 night, April 11, he began to feel ill. The 
 next morning he was in a very serious condi-. 
 tion,and the worst was anticipated by his phy- 
 sician and life-long friend. Dr. Lemoine. 
 
 He seemed to improve on Wednesday, 
 
 *jdrs. Henrietta Brookes Treadway, who died after a long and 
 painful illnese, patiently borne, Oct. 29, 1897. at the home of her sister- 
 in-law. She was interred by the side of her husband at Pulaski, Tenn. 
 
 259 
 
260 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR. 
 
 and hope was not given up until the Saturday 
 following. That night the physician told the 
 family to prepare for the worst. At midnight 
 all gathered about his bedside and were with 
 him until the end. 
 
 All through his last illness, while wholly 
 or partially conscious, he was heard to quote 
 Scripture; and his last recognizable words 
 were: ''It cometh by the way of the East, 
 the glory — as it is in Ezekiel" — the rest of 
 the sentence could not be caught. 
 
 He seemed to be wholly free from pain; 
 much of the time he was asleep or semi- 
 asleep. But however drowsy he was he recog- 
 nized his dear wife as she constantly minister- 
 ed to him. 
 
 Many were struck by the triumphant 
 majesty and spiritual beauty of the face of the 
 dead. To some it seemed as if thirty years 
 had been rolled backward, and he was before 
 them the Doctor Brookes they had known 
 when in his splendid meridian of life. 
 
 A gray-haired minister, after gazing upon 
 the form of his old friend, said: "Look at that, 
 and then say there is nothing in Christianity!" 
 
 Similar were the impressions of a little 
 
Translated. 261 
 
 grandchild. ''It didn't look like grandpa," 
 he confided to his mother; *'it looked just like 
 an angel." 
 
 For his funeral service and burial Dr. 
 Brookes had left plainest directions in his 
 will. These were: 
 
 ''It is my particular request that at my 
 funeral no oration, nor eulogy, nor a word 
 about myself shall be uttered. Let some min- 
 ister, or other friend, read 2 Cor. v. i-io; i 
 Cor. xv; i Thess. iv. 13-18; Rev. xxi. i-y. 
 This, and nothing more." 
 
 Like everything else of his, Dr. Brookes' 
 will was characteristic. This document he 
 drew up in April, 1896. He began his testa- 
 ment thus: 
 
 "It is my wish to state, as a preamble, my 
 faith in the inerrant inspiration of the sacred 
 Scriptures, in the atoning blood of the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, and in the hope of His coming 
 again. 
 
 "My library is left to my children, each 
 selecting such books as they may desire. The 
 rest of the books may be presented to some 
 poor and faithful preacher, or preachers, at 
 their discretion." 
 
 He then gave directions for his simple 
 
262 JAMES H. BROOKKS: A MEMOIR. 
 
 funeral service which have already been 
 quoted. There followed directions concerning 
 his grave. His wish, which has been faith- 
 fully carried out, was: 
 
 ''A plain granite slab, not less than four 
 inches thick, shall cover both graves — (that 
 where his widow shall rest, and his own). 
 
 ''The foundation must be deep, and 
 strong and immovable as any human work 
 can be, F^ntirely across the face of the granite 
 slab, covering both graves, cut the words: 
 
 " 'Having lived together in love for forty- 
 three years, they sleep together in hope until 
 the morning of the Resurrection; when they 
 shall be caught up together in the clouds to 
 meet the Lord in the air; and so shall they 
 ever be with the Lord.' " 
 
 Then came words to be lovingly remem- 
 bered by his dear ones: "My great desire is 
 that my children and their husbands, and the 
 little ones whom God has given them, may 
 perform faithfully the work to which they are 
 called in the world, and that we may all meet^ 
 without the loss of one, in the Everlasting 
 Home which Christ has gone on before to 
 prepare for His people, redeemed by His 
 precious blood." 
 
. Translated. 263 
 
 THE LAST HONORS. 
 
 The great auditorium of the church in 
 which he had ministered for thirty- nine years 
 was crowded before the hour set for the serv- 
 ices. In the rear hundreds were standing. 
 Others could not even get into the auditorium. 
 
 There were scores present to whom Dr. 
 Brookes had gently and faithfully ministered 
 in their own hours of woe. And those now 
 **wept with those who wept." 
 
 The officers of the church had ordered 
 the church fittingly draped and embellished; 
 and the fl ■)ral artisans themselves seemingly 
 strove to do their duty perfectly. 
 
 Before the pulpit which had been erected 
 for him, that which was mortal of the great 
 man was brought. 
 
 A blanket of beatiful roses, the gift of the 
 three daughters, completely covered the coffin. 
 Only those flowers were laid upon it. 
 
 When Dr. Meade C. Williams announced 
 the words of direction which the dead pastor 
 had left concerning his funeral service, many 
 of the vast audience must have felt some sur- 
 prise or disappointment — at first. 
 
 But soon the friends saw that they were 
 mistaken, and that there was grandeur in the 
 
264 JAMES H. BROOKES: A MEMOIR, 
 
 very simplicity of the service. It is not easy 
 to imagine any funeral more impressive, more 
 uplifting. 
 
 Dr. Brookes had never extolled himself 
 in life, nor sought human encomiums; and in 
 death he desired no formal praise. He must 
 have known, to some extent at least, in how 
 many homes and hearts he had won a place. 
 He must have foreseen, modest as he always 
 was, that among the multitudes who loved and 
 admired him heart would speak to heart when 
 his end came. The fellow pastors read the 
 favorite passages of Scripture; hymns Dr. 
 Brookes had loved were sung; fervent 
 prayers were offered, and the solemn memorial 
 service was over. 
 
 It was a clear, beautiful day. The cor- 
 tege wound its course to the Bellefontaine 
 Cemetery in the sunshine. 
 
 The reading of a few verses of Scripture 
 and a touching prayer were heard at the grave. 
 
 "Well done, thou good and faithful ser- 
 vant," said Dr. Farris, as he turned from the 
 side of his old companion; and every one in 
 the throng about the family burial site echoed 
 his saying in the heart. 
 
 Soon, rarest and simplest flowers, the 
 
TRANSI^ATED. 265 
 
 gifts of the high and the lowly — of all creeds 
 and no creeds — were placed in beautiful pro- 
 fusion over the grave. 
 
 The sun was sinking as the stricken dear 
 ones left him. As they turned and looked 
 backward its rays suddenly burst in splendor 
 upon the very spot, glorifying the trees above 
 and the tiowers below as with a halo. 
 
 And, spite of tears, peace was in the air, 
 and in their souls. 
 
 *'0 grave, where is thy victory; 
 O death, where is thy sting ? " 
 
 FINIS. 
 
Hppendix. 
 
CONTRIBUTOES. 
 
 President Ethelbert D. Warfield, Lafayette College, Pa. 
 
 Eev. Dr. H. M. Parsons, Toronto. 
 
 Prof. W. G. Moorehead, Thelog-ical Seminarj% Xenia, Ohio. 
 
 Eev. W. J. Erdman, Germantown, Pa. 
 
 Prof. Benj. B. Warfield, Princeton Theological Seminary. 
 
 Prof. D. C. Marquis, McCormick Theological Seminary. 
 
 Samuel W. Barber, Clerk of Session, Washing-ton & Comp- 
 ton Ave. Church. 
 
 Robert U. Garrett, Asheville, N. C, and other friends. 
 
APPENDIX. 269 
 
 DR. BROOKES' PERSONALITY. 
 
 There is probably no force or combination of forces in 
 lauman character so admirable as that which we sum up in 
 saying- that a man has a. strong personalitj\ And when 
 that personality is constantly exerted for righteousness, we 
 have the noblest of earthly influences. From my earliest 
 acquaintance with Doctor Brookes I was impressed with 
 the tremendous force of his personality. It was never a 
 question merely of what he thought, or knew, or felt, it 
 was ever what he was. His thinking-, feeling-, knowing-, 
 were all fjised into his personality, and he exerted that 
 personality under the influence of the Holy Spirit for the 
 service of God. 
 
 It was my privileg-e to know him very intimately and to 
 be bound to him by a very close and tender tie, and it is a 
 pleasure to testify to the larg-eness and breadth, the sim- 
 plicity and consistency of his nature. It is hard to say 
 whether the strong-est impression he made upon me was 
 that of a singularly simple and sincere man, or of a man 
 of great energ-y and force. Simplicity is the unfailing- 
 mark of truly g-reat men, and he had it in a very high de- 
 gree. It was seen in his love for the companionship of little 
 children, in his abounding sympathy, in his impatience of 
 sham. The forcefulness of his character breathed in his 
 every movement; and but for the sincerity and simplicity 
 of his life might easily have overbalanced his other quali- 
 ties. As it was, in life, in speech, in the abundant fruitage 
 of his pen, he bore a strong and assuring testimony to the 
 truth whose minister he was. 
 
 Such a life as his was in itself "a gospel for an age of 
 doubt." His faith was not only sublime, it was contagious. 
 His frank and fearless mind not only cherished no mental 
 reservations, but sought no subtle and uncertain forms of 
 expression. Those who heard him know that he had given 
 all he was wholly, absolutely, to the dear Lord who died 
 for him. 
 
 Not only was this so, but he was able, as few men are, to 
 give a reason for the faith that was in him. His mastery of 
 
270 APPENDIX. 
 
 the English Bible was almost unique. His Bible readings 
 were convincing, consoling, compelling in their richness, 
 completeness and consistency. He knew what he was seek- 
 ing to set forth, he knew where the evidence was to be 
 found, and he knew how to present it. Herein his large 
 and logical mind found ample scope and was scarcely less 
 effective than in the greater iield of the pulpit in which he 
 was so conspicuously blessed by the love of his people and 
 the favor of his God. 
 
 As I think of him, the words which Tennyson uses in 
 speaking of Lazarius rise in my mind: 
 
 "Behold a man raised up by Christ." 
 
 Not from the grave, but from sin and worldliness, was 
 he raised up to the full stature of the man who in Jesus 
 Christ lives and labors. Such might have been the daily 
 comment on his life. 
 
 ETHELBEKT D. WARFIELD. 
 
 Lafayette College. 
 
 "A FAITHFUL PROPHET."* 
 
 Dr. Brookes was a man of noble personal qualities, and 
 most tender and affectionate in all social relations. For 
 twenty years our acquaintance was most intimate, and 
 chiefly in searching and seeking the meaning of the pro- 
 phetic Scriptures. He has been the means of reaching and 
 saving many who were in darkness and sorrow, through his 
 most faithful gospel teachings, and especially by the words 
 of sympathy and comfort to mourners he so frequently and 
 tenderly expressed. 
 
 He has always and with notable power vindicated the 
 Scriptui'es of the Old and Xew Testaments, in their original 
 tongues, to be the very words of the Holy Spirit by the men 
 who wrote and spake them, and thus to be eternally the 
 Word of God. 
 
 •■^This, and some other articles in the appendix, appeared 
 in the memorial number (June, '07) of Tha Truth. 
 
APPKNDIX. 271 
 
 In adiditiou to this most valiant service, he always main- 
 tained the supreme authority of the Bible upon the in- 
 dividual conscience and life. His ov^^n life v^^as a beautiful 
 example of this. More than any one I ever knew, he had 
 the Holy Scriptures verbally in memory, and could give in 
 log-ical form the very words of the Bible, the best defence 
 of the truth they reveal. 
 
 While he looked upon this present evil age with sincere 
 pity for those who are deceived, and with cordial sympathy 
 for those who are oppressed with griefs and sorrows, he 
 could use a sterness and severity of rebuke in dealing with 
 the enemies of faith which only could arise from his most 
 intimate communion and personal acquaintance with the 
 fundamental principles of truth and justice in the divine 
 character. 
 
 The utterances of the ancient prophets whO' were com- 
 missioned by Jehovah to declare His judgments upon Israel 
 and Judas for their transgressions, and especially for their 
 ^^ orldly idolatry, found in his heart such meaning and such 
 pertinent application to this present age, that he could not 
 refrain from testifying as a faithful prophet of God to that 
 which he knew, and which he saw in the church and the 
 world of to-day. For this reason he was disliked and de- 
 spised by many, who saw in his repeated testimony the 
 condemnation and exposure of their fallacies and deceptive 
 errors. 
 
 Though our dear brother is now at rest, his works will 
 long remain to witness to the world his unswerving loyalty 
 to God's revealed Word. The last "Notes by the Way" in 
 April number of Truth, is more signiticant as connected 
 with his departure to be with the Lord; and the familiar 
 repetition of the "sevens," seems like a completion of a well 
 rounded life. 
 
 "A sure reward," Ps. Iviii. 11; Kom. iv. 5. 
 
 1. "The Lord Himself is the reward," Gen. xv. 1. 
 
 2. "Trusting in Him has a reward," Ruth ii. 3 2. 
 
 3. "Keeping the \a ords of God has a reward," Ps. xix. 11. 
 
 4. "The persecuted for Christ's sake have a reward," 
 Matt. V. 12. 
 
272 APPENDIX. 
 
 5. "Self-denial has a reward," Matt. xvi. 24, 27. 
 
 G. "Humble service has a reward," Mark ix. 41. 
 
 7. "Sincere faith has a reward," Heb. xi. 6. 
 
 Trulj^ in all his published works will be found such a 
 clear and lucid use of the divine words, that it may be 
 said of him, as of one of old, "by it he being- dead yet 
 speaketh." 
 
 H. M. PARSONS. 
 
 Toronto. 
 
 TWO MARKED CHARACTERISTICS. 
 
 * * Of the many thoughts that rush into the mind and 
 almost clamor for utterance when one sits down to writf^ 
 of Dr. J. H. Brookes, only two must now be mentioned. 
 One is, his absolute and unfaltering" conviction of the in- 
 errant truth of Scripture. To him the Bible was the very 
 voice and words of the living- God. All his life throug-h, 
 and especially in his later years, he stood for the doctrine 
 of the plenary and verbal inspiration of the Holy Scrip- 
 tures, w^here, alas! comparatively few now stand, even 
 among- those who are recog-nized as teachers and expound- 
 ers of the word. He believed the Bible throug-h and 
 through. He repelled attacks upon it with all the power of 
 his splendid manhood, but he never for an instant dreamed 
 of apolig-izing- for it. It was enoug-h for him that "Cod 
 spake all these words." Whether he could satisfactorily 
 explain all its diflficuilties and apparent discrepancies or not 
 was a secondary matter, for he well knew that there are 
 depths in Scripture that no human mind, however acute 
 and penetrating, can ever fully explain; but he could no 
 more have offered an excuse for the Bible or for its form, 
 than he could for the creation of the planet, or for the 
 government of the universe. 
 
 Besides, he bowed to the authority of Scripture with a 
 submissiveness of spirit which is rare indeed in these de- 
 generate times. For mere human learning as such, for 
 
APPENDIX. 273 
 
 science "falsely so called," for ]>ricle of intellect, and for 
 the vaunted "progress" of the race, he had a sovereig'n con- 
 tempt. ■"■ * 
 
 Another thing- that distinguished Dr. Brookes was his 
 feeling" respecting death. It was a feeling" somewhat pe- 
 culiar to him, and quite remarkable. His own dying is 
 not meant, nor that of any one dear to him. A personal fear 
 of death did not oppress him more than others of the Lord's 
 l^eople. All we know of his last days on earth forbids the 
 notion that he shrank from it, or was troubled by its ap- 
 proach. What is meant is, that he had what may be called 
 a rig-hteous indignation against death. To him as to no 
 other we have ever known or heard preach the Cos|>el of 
 the g"raoe of God, death was an enemy, an implacable, in- 
 exorable foe! It was the symbol of the curse of sin, the 
 wag"es of sin, the destroyer of all we love and cherish, the 
 awful doom of the world. * * Some of us have seen 
 his massive frame quiver with anguish when he spoke of 
 it; his voice grow hoarse with suppressed emotion or choke 
 with sobs. And wath what thrilling, triumphant accents 
 would his bell-like voice ring out the g-lad words of the 
 Holy Ghost: "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is 
 death I" It was this deep insig-ht into the tremendous 
 significance of death that made the blessed hope of the 
 Lord's speedy coming- a living- and transcendently glorious 
 event to him. He looked for the blessed return of Christ. 
 
 He has fallen asleep. Was he disappointed? Xo more 
 than was Paul, who also waited and watched for the Lord; 
 no more than multitudes in all the ag-es to the present, who 
 likewise watched and waited. Asleep in Jesus, our brother 
 does not cease to wait, perhaps all the more waits for that 
 blessed day when his body shall be raised up and made like 
 unto the body of the glory of the Lord Jesus. As one by 
 one the saints pass away, with what pathetic longing- do 
 we say, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly." 
 
 WILLIAM G. MOOEEHEAD. 
 
 Xenia, Ohio. 
 
274 APPENDIX. 
 
 "THOSE WHO KNEW HIM BEST, LOVED HIM MOST." 
 
 About twenty-seven years ago I first met Dr. Brookes in 
 a Christian Conference held in his church in St. Louis. 
 Of those in attendance as speakers, three names have ever 
 since been associated, in mind, as inseparable from a 
 peculiar testimony and defence of the faith in its primitive 
 and apostolic form; James Inglis, editor of The Witness and 
 of Waymarks in the Wilderness; Charles Campbell, editor of 
 Grace and Truth, and James H. Brookes, editor of The 
 Truth, 
 
 In The Truth Dr. Brookes revealed himself in such char- 
 acteristic features, that what he wrote was as to matter 
 and manner very like what he was in public discourse in 
 fearlessness and power, and In private intercourse in 
 g-eniality and graciousness of spirit. 
 
 In him was a rare combination of the lion and the lamb. 
 His exposure and denunciation of all he deemed contrary 
 to the Word of God, the dignity of Christ and the calling 
 of the church, showed one jjliase of his character; but his 
 tender and touching testimony concerning the grace of 
 God, the believer's assurance of salvation and "the blessed 
 hope," revealed quite another. Many, however, who knew 
 him only through his vigorous defence of the truth of the 
 gospel and the integrity of the sacred Scriptures, can hard- 
 ly understand how tender and sympathetic a heart beat in 
 that manly form. 
 
 Often as he was charged with giving offence, none was 
 more ready to ask forgiveness than he; but he also held 
 the truth of the Bible and honor of Christ dearer than any 
 human friendship or his own reputation or life. 
 
 Those who knew him best loved him most. As a leader 
 in the Bible Conference with which he was identified from 
 its beginning, he ever bore a marked and peculiar testi- 
 mony. * * I shall ever thank God for the friendship 
 and fellowship in Christ of one Avho must always be counted 
 
 among "the worthies of the faith." 
 
 W. J. ETvDMAX. 
 Germantown, I'a. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 NO ANAEMIC CHRISTIAN. 
 
 275 
 
 In Dr. James H. Brookes the Christian church has lost 
 onei of its most faithful ministers, one of its most powerful 
 advocates ,ancl withal one of the most picturesque figures 
 which have graced its pulpit in our generation. 
 
 Large in figure, commanding in carriage, fluent and 
 forceful in sfieech, fired with intense convictions, infused 
 with emotion, whether in pulpit or on platform his oratory 
 not only caught the attention, but dominated the feelings 
 and controlled the convictions of his audience. My own 
 memory of him goes back nearly thirty years, when, as a 
 student in Princeton College, I heard him preach occasion- 
 ally to the college boys. We ahvays heard him gladly; and 
 we never heard him without profit to our spiritual life, or 
 without searchings of heart and the fruitage of new en- 
 deavors after righteousness. * * 
 
 The intensity of the language in which he was wont to 
 express himself was but the appropriate clothing of in- 
 tense emotions rooted in intense convictions. With the 
 voice of a lion and the vehemence of an Elijah, he united 
 the simple faith of a child and the heart of a John. L^ke 
 John, indeed, he was both a "son of thunder" and a "son 
 of consolation." He could call down the fire of heaven on 
 the heads of the Lord's enemies; but he knew also how to 
 rest on the Lord's bosom, and how to say, "Little children, 
 love one another." 
 
 Singlehearted devotion to the cause of Christ; indigna- 
 tion against those who assaulted it, whether in turret or 
 foundation stone; intense sincerity and earnestness of pur- 
 pose; have been the key-note of his character. His was 
 no anaemic Christianity, and he had little patience ^v^ih 
 languid service in others. No one can tell the fruit of his 
 labors. But surely the church is poorer that this fire has 
 gone out from her midst: and there are hundreds though- 
 out the length and breadth of the land who will miss the 
 impulse and exhorting they were accustomed to expect 
 
 *'°™'^""- BENJ. B. WAliFlELD, 
 
 Princeton, N. J. 
 
276 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 "A MARKED MAX." 
 
 James H. Brookes ranked high among the great and 
 noble men of his generation. His splendid phj-sique, his 
 manly bearing, his lofty courage, his superb gifts of voice 
 and pen, his fearless devotion to truth and duty, his su- 
 preme loyalty to Christ his sole Master and Lord, made 
 him a marked man among his fellows. 
 
 What he believed he grasped and held with intensest 
 force. His thought found no place for compromise of truth 
 with error, of right with wrong. His love of truth was 
 equalled only by his hatred of falsehood. His trenchant 
 blows and strong* denunciations were but the expression of 
 his repudiation and abhorrence of every false way. Yet, 
 notwithstanding the positiveness and strength of his con- 
 victions, and the unmistakable directness and force of his 
 expression, he possessed a gentle disposition, an affection- 
 ate nature, a loving and g-entle heart. In personal inter- 
 course. he beautifully illustrated the meekness and gentle- 
 ness of Christ. He was a most g'enial, helpful and agree- 
 able companion. 
 
 His knoAvledge of the divine word was perhaps unequalled 
 among the men of his time. But he not only carried the 
 contents of the Word in his mind. He bore the spirit of 
 it in his heart. In penmeated his being, suppressing' self 
 and self-seeking, making him quickly sensitive and re- 
 sponsive to all that was generous and true and sincere, and 
 arousing swift antagonism to all that w-as selfish, am- 
 bitious, or false. The contrast, however, between his 
 rough handling of error and his tender teaching of the 
 sincere, is not more marked than is the contrast betAveen 
 the dealings of Jesus with Pharisees and disciples. For 
 the one, he had only the severe rebuke, the stern denuncia- 
 tion. For the other, he had only the helpfulness of sym- 
 pathy, gentleness and strength. 
 
 The multitudes who have been helped by his expositions 
 of divine truth will make his crown glorious with innumer- 
 able stars "at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all 
 His saints." 
 
 D. C. MARQUIS. 
 
 McCormick Seminary. 
 
APPENDIX. 277 
 
 DE. BROOKES IN THE SESvSION. 
 
 Every pastor of a larg-e city oongreg-ation feiels the need 
 of a body of men in official connection with him, appointed 
 to be his helpers in the work, on whom he may lean for 
 support and with whom he may confer freely at all times 
 in regard to the interests of the church. Such a g-roup 
 stood by Dr. Brookes as pastor of the Walnut Street, after- 
 wards the Washing-ton and Compton Avenue Church, and 
 it is fitting' that the Session of the church should put on 
 record such notice of some of his characteristics as might 
 not come to the light through any other channel. 
 
 Dr. Brookes highlj^ esteemed his official family, and loved 
 to have them gather around him in the privacy of the 
 session room and freely discuss the questions that arose, 
 and in all the years of his pastorate, extending- over thirty, 
 there was at no time such serious difference between him 
 and them as to make it impossible for them to work to- 
 gether. Although, in accordance with his vigorous con- 
 stitutioai, his mental vision was clear and po.sitive and his 
 convictions strong and deep, he could and did, not infre- 
 quently, subordinate his own opinion to theirs, believing 
 them to be taught of the Spirit of God and given to him for 
 advisers and not for ciphers. Was he independent? They 
 were likewise; but hence arose no division, no hindrance to 
 the common weal of the beloved church. They walked 
 shoulder to shoulder down the ripening years till the very 
 hour of his translation. 
 
 One notable characteristic of Dr. Brookes was Jiis intense 
 love of souls. He was ever planning and acting for the 
 proclamation of the gospel to the neglected. He was ready 
 to lend his voice and labors to any legitimate effort to bring 
 people under the gospel message or carry it to them, and 
 he followed his preaching by private and personal counsels 
 that he mig-ht "by all means save some." He was instru- 
 mental in establishing a number of missions in this city, 
 one particularly at the corner of Broadway and Bid die 
 Street, from which his church received about one hundred 
 
278 APPENDIX . 
 
 and fifty members, the fruit of Ms faithful teaching* in and 
 out of the pulpit. Later on, he lent his efficient aid to the 
 planting of the flourishing mission entitled the "Compton 
 Hill Chapel," now numbering more than one hundred and 
 fi.fty communicants, and a power for good in the railroad 
 district in the heart of the city. Many a weary tramp he 
 took to reach this shelter for souls, that he might preach 
 the Word or administer the sacraments and see the precious 
 plant of God growing sensibly before his eyes. But, one 
 or two such missions did not satisfy his craving for souls. 
 He said that he would like to have twenty preaching places 
 within reach and he would engage to keep them all going 
 and serve his own church also. Less than six months be- 
 fore his departure, though laboring under fatal disease, he 
 visited a northern city at the invitation of one of its i>astors, 
 and preached day after day for a week that he might still 
 bring forth fruit and lend himself to his favorite work. 
 
 Connected naturally with this passion for saving souls 
 was his tender receittion of such as appeared before the 
 Session for examination with a view to a i>ublic confession. 
 Usually, he had seen them in private and gained their con- 
 fidence, as he sounded the depths of their spiritual knowl- 
 edge and the sincerity of their reliance for salvation on a 
 gracious Saviour. But, even if he had not, his manner was 
 so winning, his questions so helpful, his advice so enlighten- 
 ing, that none would fail to give evidence to the session of 
 a clear and intelligent comprehension of the subject, if, in- 
 deed, they were truly regenerated. The session were often 
 surprised at the remarkable testimony given by mere 
 children, elicited by his master mind in his manner of laj^- 
 ing before them the fundamental truths of Scripture. 
 
 The last feature which space allows us to mention was 
 his desire that there should be a continuous revival in the 
 church. It was to his intense satisfaction that he could say 
 that in all the years of his pastorate there had never been 
 a communion without some additions, few or many, to the 
 church. But, he earnestly desired to see the work of the 
 Lord, that is, the salvation of souls, prospering with great 
 
AfPKNDlX. 279 
 
 power and without cessation. He, deprecated the view that 
 the Lord would not visit his people and refresh his Vine- 
 yard in summer as well as in winter, that the Lord regard- 
 ed times and seasons as men do. He was of the opinion that 
 whenever the tithes were broug-ht into the Lord's house the 
 outpouring- would surely follow. His regard for the Word 
 of God was so unreserved that he received it in its literal- 
 ness, and believed that if the terms of a promise were com- 
 plied with the stated result would inevitably come to pass, 
 and this more especially in respect to the work of the 
 ministry. 
 
 He magnified his calling, he gloried in its unlimited op- 
 portunities for saving the lost, and in its immediate co- 
 operation with the Lord in extending the triumphs of the 
 Cross. While his eye was fixed unswervingly on the ra- 
 diant glory of the Lord's coming, his heart was as intently 
 earnest in labor for the multiplication of converts and the 
 swelling of the retinue of the Lord of Lords and King of 
 Kings which He should bring with Him. 
 
 To the session he was a noble leader, in the session he 
 was a faithful and loving brother, to copy his spirit-taug-ht 
 zeal is our worthy ambition, and to cherish the memory of 
 his self-sacrificing work and his ever ready sympathy shall 
 be a life lasting pleasure. 
 
 Lovingly contributed by 
 
 THE SESSION OF WASHINGTON & COMPTON AVE. 
 
 CHURCH. 
 
 Per S. W. BARBER, Clerk. 
 St. Louis, Oct. 30, 1897. 
 
 DR. BROOKES IN THE SICK-ROOM. 
 
 One of the most precious of the Master's gifts is sym- 
 pathy, — the power to enter into the joys and sorrows of 
 others. 
 
 "A heart at leisure from itself to soothe and sympathize." 
 
280 APPENDIX. 
 
 E^ady to rejoice with those that rejoice, and to weep with 
 those that weep. 
 
 A double portion of this lovely spirit was g-iven to onr 
 late beloved pastor. Perhaps no where was his beautiful 
 tenderheartedness more perfectlj' shown than in the sick- 
 room. 
 
 His g-reat warm heart went out in overflowing- sj'mpathy 
 for the suffering" ones. His very presence seemed to soothe 
 the tortured nerves and bring- calmness and rest. How 
 often it came to pass as he read to the sufferer from the 
 Word he so loved the g-lorious promises, or told in his own 
 wonderfully clear way the story of Calvarj^ the unrest, the 
 shadows, the darkness would pass away; and pain be al- 
 most forgotten in the joj^ and gladness of the heart-rest 
 and the light. 
 
 How welcome he was in the homes that death had made 
 desolate I The heart torn with grief never shrank from his 
 gentle touch. When words seemed almost meaningless 
 and the suffering heart cried out in its agony, "Miserable 
 comforters are ye all," he came. He made the sorrow his 
 own, and his loving sympathy, his words of cheer and help 
 will never be forgotten while life lasts. 
 
 The record erf these numberless loving ministries can 
 never be written except in the hearts of those they have 
 blest; but what a story will be told in the glorious here- 
 after! There in the presence of our Lord forever and ever 
 we will render joyful thanksgiving to our Father for the 
 gift of such a pastor as Dr. Brookes was. 
 
 "ONE OF HIS PEOPLE." 
 
 PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 It was my privilege to be his companion on his last jour- 
 nej' to Niagara and the return to his retreat in our western 
 Carolina mountains, where he was spending a part of the 
 summer. Those who knew Dr. Brookes personally can 
 understand how many happy memories cluster around that 
 
APPENDIX. 281 
 
 four days of travel. We had "Niagara" all to ourselves in 
 the sleeper to and from that Conference. 
 
 The "little flock" is bereft of a leader w^hose boldness in 
 defense of "the faith" won for him the criticism of that 
 alarmingly increasingly element in the professing church 
 which insists upon speaking only "smooth words," lest the 
 enemies of Christ and of His truth, in the pulpit and out of 
 it, be "offended." 
 
 Though "absent from the body" his written testimony 
 will continue to bear fruit to the glory of His name "till 
 He come." 
 
 EOBT. U. GARRETT. 
 
 Asheville, N. C. 
 
 When the word was brought to me that I should see no 
 more with mortal eyes the face of my beloved friend and 
 teacher, James H. Brookes, I felt that he mig'ht well have 
 passed to the presence of his Lord with Paul's great 
 triumph song upon his lips: "I have fought a good fight; I 
 have finished my course; I have kept the faith." There 
 was in him the heart of David's mighty men. Like Eleazer, 
 "his hand clave unto the sword." The Word of God was 
 ever the end of controversy with him, and also the sword 
 which he valiantly wielded. 
 
 Our brother will be remembered as a. brave defender of 
 the faith once for all delivered to the saints, but some of 
 us know how tender and how helpful was the great heart 
 now stilled, in death. My own personal obligations to him 
 are beyond words. He sought me in the first days of my 
 Christian life, and was my first and best teacher in the 
 
 oraoles of God. 
 
 C. I. SCOFIELD. 
 The Parsonage, E. Northfield, Mass. 
 
 In the death of James H. Brookes we lose the bravest 
 and ablest defender of the faith in this generation, with 
 weapons drawn from the arsenal of the word itself, against 
 
282 APP:eNDix. 
 
 the treasonable assaults of this present and last prophetic 
 apostasy. 
 
 He was also a powerful preacher and masterly teacher, 
 combining- strength and tenderness, power and pathos. 
 
 We who knew him personally lose a kind, affectionate 
 and true friend. 
 
 We si>eak of him, not for vain eulogy, for he would say, 
 "Cease from man," but would fain prolong his faithful tes- 
 timony from the tomb. 
 
 E. P. MARVIN. 
 
 Lockport, N. Y. 
 
 I knew him from the time I was a student in college, a 
 quarter of a century ag-o, and long before he knew me. 
 He was no man's enemy, but the unrelenting enemy of 
 error; and he had the courage of. his convictions. He used 
 plain and unmistakable words. It was his firm conviction 
 that no softer ones were adequate. His knowledg-e of the 
 contents of the Bible was marvelous. To him the book 
 was God's word and final. 
 
 Many believe just as he did, but few have the daring 
 which he displayed to declare their views. He stood like 
 an Old Testament prophet, witnessing for God and His 
 Word, fearing none, high or low. He looked upon himself 
 as a lonely man, but few had such ardent friends, and even 
 those ag-ainst whose errors his thunderbolts were shot 
 could not help but admire his courage. 
 
 J. M. STIFLER. 
 
 Chester, Pa. 
 
 A COLORED WOMAN'S TESTIMONY. 
 
 Jenny, a colored sister and member of his church, says of 
 Dr. Brookes: 
 
 "He put no difference between poor and rich. My 
 brother-in-law, named Jackson, was sick and going to die, 
 and me and my sister was dreadful anxious because he 
 would not talk to us about his soul. He just wouldn't say 
 
APPKNDIX. 283 
 
 anything-, and we couldn't tell whether he was believin' in 
 Jesus or not; and so, says I, I'll g-o and see Dr. Brookes and 
 ask him to come and talk to Jack and pray for him? 
 
 "Well, I went to his house and he came out to the door 
 just as friendly as if I was one of his rich members, as he 
 always was, and, says he, 'What can I do for you, Jenny?' 
 Then I told him all about it, and he said he would see him. 
 
 He had a funeral to attend and then he had to see a dying- 
 lady, and he had a man inside the house at that time on 
 business, and had a meeting- in the south part of the city; 
 'but,' says he, 'I'll get there if its twelve o'clock to-nig-ht.' 
 So I g-ave hirn directions how to gpet in to Jack's house, 
 which was in an inside yard with an alley leadin' in from 
 the street. So, sure enoug-h, along- late in the evening- they 
 heard him come gropin' in and knockin' at the door and 
 sayin', 'It's me, Mr. Brookes!' They let him in and he sat 
 rig-ht down by the bed and got out his little testament and 
 read a number of places; then he took Jack's hand and 
 talked to him, oh! so sweet, about Jesus and heaven and 
 the way to be saved, and Jack took it all in and the Lord 
 helped him to believe. Then the doctor knelt down and 
 prayed for him and pled with the Lord to open his eyes to 
 see Jesus as his Savious, and when he g-ot up and asked him 
 whether he believed, he said, 'Yes, I do; g-lory be to God,' 
 and he kept on that way and died rejoicin'. 
 
 "I tell you, he loved colored jj^ople and wanted them 
 saved just the same as whites." * * * 
 
 EXTEACTS FEOM LETTERS. 
 
 From all sections of this land, and from abroad, there 
 came letters to the family bearing- words of sincere praise 
 for the departed one, and of tender sympathy for the 
 bereaved. The following are extracts: 
 
 "My heart goes out to you. * * -» I was glad that 1 
 heard him pray once more on earth. (Dr. Brookes' prayer 
 
284 APPENDIX. 
 
 at one of ^Nfr. Moodj^'s recent St. Louis meeting's.) It did 
 me good. Dear man, he is free from his sufferings now, 
 and how he Avill enjoy heaven! What a grand time he will 
 have in that world of Lig'ht and Joy. He may soon be 
 back again with his Saviour. I do not think he would like 
 to come back again in the flesh. So he has gained by what 
 we call death. * * * " — D. L. Moody. 
 
 "Last evening I learned of the death of mj^ dear friend, 
 'Captain Greatheart,' leader in Christ's battles, to whom I 
 owe so much, for loyal, loving friendship for a quarter of a 
 century, and for clear and faithful teaching, and for heroic 
 defence of the truth. For me, and for hundreds beside me, 
 'a great man and a prince has fallen in Israel.' He was my 
 ideal of a preacher of the word of God, and an inspirer ol 
 other men to quit themselves valiantly for Christ. There 
 is no one to take his place; no one whose voice can reach 
 so far; no one with arm so strong to wield the sword for 
 the truth. I thank God that I ever knew him, and for all 
 that I have received from God through him." — Major D. 
 W. Whittle. 
 
 "He was more to me in the Master's work than any living 
 man. His fidelity to God's Word w^as my first inspiration 
 to its close study and verbal declaration, and above all 
 others, he was my model as a faithful herald." — Eev. W. R. 
 Dobyns. 
 
 "I know what he was in his own home, my dear cousin. 
 He was always and everywhere your lover, tender and true 
 in every fibre of his great loving heart. * * * It is easy 
 and sweet to think of him in heaven. His citizenship has 
 been there for many years, and he had learned the speech 
 of that country."— Mary Virginia Terhune. 
 
APPENDIX. 285 
 
 "He had, as few men have, foug^ht the good fig-ht, finished 
 the course, kept the faith. And to his cleared vision, the 
 hope of that apjoearing which he loved is brighter and more 
 blessed than ever." — Rev. W. H. Marquess. 
 
 "There are few men I esteemed so highly and loved so 
 much as Dr. Brookes. His devotion to truth, his frank and 
 manly testimony in a time of wide-spread defection, made 
 him a great power not only in the community in which he 
 lived so long, and which he served so ably and faithfully, 
 but in the whole world. * * * 
 
 "He is one of the few who, though dead, will continue to 
 speak. How beautiful that he should slip away from us on 
 Easter morning." — Rev. M. Rhodes. 
 
 EDITORIAL EXPRESSIONS. 
 
 "Dr. Brookes was eminently a man of 'the Book' and 'a 
 minister of the Word.' He put himself in utter subjection 
 to its authority. * * He seemed peculiarly to illustrate 
 the mind of the apostles. As a pastor his one aim appeared 
 to be the application of the Word for comfort, for instruc- 
 tion in righteousness, or for rebuke. In character he was 
 warmhearted, sympathetic and tender. He was singularly 
 ingenuous and transparent and always manly. He was 
 ingenuous and transparent and always manly. * '^ " — 
 Dr. Meade C. Williams, in Herald and Presbyter. 
 
 "Dr. Brookes was one of the ablest Bible preachers of 
 his time, fully possessed of absolute faith in the Word, 
 familiar with it as a book, and a profound student of its 
 truth, and last, trained in its j^erfect use of the Saxon, it 
 made him a dogmatic and powerful preacher of the type of 
 the old prophets, whose spirit he had so fully imbibed that 
 he was much like them." — Dr. W. C. Gray, in the Interior. 
 
286 APPENDIX. 
 
 "Few have more endeared themselves to those who love 
 the Word of God and the God of the Word than Dr. Brookes. 
 His lo3'al defence of the truth in days when it is being 
 attacked upon every quarter, made Dr. Brookes a marked 
 man, and called for as warm and tender a love on the part 
 of his friends as the reverse on the part of others." — 
 Chin<i'8 Milliom. 
 
 "He developed excellent power in the Lord's work from 
 the first. * * He was one of the signers of the 'Declara- 
 tion and Testimony,' the protest of Kentuckians and Mis- 
 sourians (put forth in 1865). * * As editor of The Truth 
 * * he has exercised an influence far beyond his pas- 
 torate." — Christian Observer. 
 
 "As a valiant upholder of the old-fashioned gospel, Dr. 
 Brookes had no superior in this country. For many years 
 he was a most successful pastor, but it was by his many 
 writingTs he was known to and loved by a very large circle 
 of readers." — Episcopal Recorder. 
 
 "He had no difficulties in regard to accepting every jot 
 and title of the Word. It was to him God's own truth, 
 entirely unmixed with human error. There lay his 
 strength. * * He was a power in the church." — Michigan 
 Presbyterian. 
 
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