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"The Dead of the Synod of Georgia." 
 
 NECROLOGY: A^ 
 
 MEMORIALS OF DECEASED MINISTERS, 
 
 who have died during the first 
 
 twenty years after its 
 
 organization. 
 
 Prepared in Obedience to the Order of the Synod. 
 
 HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. 
 
 JOHN S.WILSON, D.D., 
 
 PASTOR OF THE FIRST PRESBYTKRIAN CHUECH, ATLANTA, GEORGIA. 
 
 The memory of the Just is blessed. — Pro v. x: 7. 
 
 KR, A-ISTKLIN" PR,IN"TIN"GJ- HOUSE, 
 
 J. J. TOON, PROPRIETOR. 
 
 1869. 
 
Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1867, by 
 
 JOHN S. AVILSON, D. D., 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, 
 
OONTEN TS. 
 
 Preface ^ 
 
 Presbyterianism — Origin of in the United States. 7 
 
 Presbyterianism in Georgia H 
 
 Hopewell Presbytery. 16 
 
 Original Members — Notices of 17 
 
 John Brown, D. D 20 
 
 Robert Finley, D. D 31 
 
 Moses Waddel, D. D 24 
 
 Georgia Education Society 29 
 
 Domestic Missionary Society '^^ 
 
 Protracted Meetings. ... '^^ 
 
 Formula of xldmission 45 
 
 Presbytery of Georgia '^1 
 
 Presbytery of Flint River 56 
 
 Presbytery of FL rida 61 
 
 PresV)ytery of Cherokee 61 
 
 Presbytery of Atlanta 64 
 
 Presbytery of Macon 65 
 
 Synod of Georgia 66 
 
 NECROLOGY. 
 
 Rev. Joseph Young Alexander 71 
 
 Rev. Donald John Auld, M. D 78 
 
 Rev. Benjamin Burroughs 85 
 
 Rev. Samuel Jonea Cassels ^1 
 
 Rev. Remembrance Chamberlain •• • 99 
 
 Rev. Alonzo Cluucli, D. D 100 
 
 Rev. Benjamin D. DuPrce 1=^4 
 
 Rev. George Claudius Fleming 138 
 
 Rev. Thomas Goukliug, D. D 140 
 
 Rev. John Harrison 14; 
 
 Rev. Richard Hooker 14*J 
 
II. CON'J'BNTS. 
 
 Rev. John C. Hvimplirey 165 
 
 Rev. Jes.sc Hume 172 
 
 Rev. Daniel Ingles 179 
 
 Rev. Charles Colcock Jones, D. D 185 
 
 Rev. George Whilfielcl Ladson ' 213 
 
 Rev. Andrew Rutherford Liddell. 225 
 
 Rev. RicliJird T. Marks 229 
 
 Rev. William Mathews . . 239 
 
 Rev. William Mc Whir,D. D 243 
 
 Rev. RicJiard A.ndrew Milner 251 
 
 Rev. W. N. Peacock 254 
 
 Rev. Robert Quartermau 255 
 
 Rev. Joseph Melancthon Quarterman 263 
 
 Rev. Lucius A. Simonton 266 
 
 Rev. Joseph B. Stevens 269 
 
 Rev. John Wilson Reid 273 
 
 Rf-v. Samuel Kennedy Talmage, D. D 283 
 
 Rev. Nathan Hoyt, D. D 293 
 
 Rev. Washington Baird 320 
 
 Rev. Isaac Watts Waddel 327 
 
 Rev. Peter Winn 331 
 
 R(;v. Edwin T. Williams 354 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The work now presented to the public was undertaken in 
 accordance with the following action of the Synod of Georgia, 
 at its session at Athens in November, 1863, to-wit : 
 
 "The Committee of Bills and Owrfwre* presented Overture 
 No. 2, as follows : 
 
 THE DEAD OF THE SYNOD OF GEOHGIA. 
 
 •"■ That whereas, the next Annual Convocation of this Synod 
 will be the twentieth year since its organization — the fifth of 
 a century ; and whereas, nearly thirty of its members have 
 deceased during that period : It is proposed that the Synod 
 do appoint, at its present Sessions, some person or persons to 
 prepare memorials of our departed brethren, embracing not 
 only the facts contained in the Biographical Sketches found 
 in the Minutes of the Synod, but such other facts as may be 
 collected from those who knew them best in relation to their 
 religious life, ministry, and general character ; and that such 
 memorials, when prepared, be printed for general circulation, 
 or be preserved for the present among the archives of the 
 Synod. 
 
 "The Overture was adopted, and the Rev. John S. Wilson, 
 D.D., as Principal, and the Rev. N. A. Pratt, D.D., as 
 Alternate, were appointed to carry the Overture into effect." 
 
 Four years have elapsed since the above Overture was 
 adopted. The war was raging at the time ; mail facilities 
 were cut off; I was driven from my home during parts of 
 1864 and 1865 ; my books and papers were mostly destroyed, 
 being burned by the enemy. Little was accomplished towards 
 forwarding the work until the summer of 1865 ; and then 
 
4 PREFACE. 
 
 the business of collecting the materials was exceedingly slow. 
 A correspondence had to be instituted, extending from New- 
 Orleans to New Haven. In many cases, it required months 
 to ascertain the person best qualified to furnish the desired 
 information. Although the work is less pretentious than 
 some others of a similar character, yet doubtless it has cost 
 more labor, and been attended with much more difficulty 
 than they, owing to the fact that many of these memorials 
 are of persons little known beyond the immediate sphere of 
 their labors. It has been my object to trace out as minutely 
 as possible the early and private history of each individual, 
 as far as reliable information could be obtained. In many 
 instances I have failed to accomplish all I could desire, 
 since no one could be found who was acquainted with their 
 early life. 
 
 I was led to think of preparing such a work when reading 
 " Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit," which contains 
 only "commemorative notices of distinguished American 
 clergymen." It occurred to me that a work, embracing not 
 only the more distinguished, but the more humble and 
 obscure, was desirable, since many a gem of purest ray oft 
 lies hid in the rubbish of the mine. Hence the Overture 
 presented to the Synod, and the result now given to the 
 public. 
 
 It will be readily perceived that I have been largely 
 indebted to others (whose names are given in the margin, so 
 far as could be ascertained) for much of the matter compri- 
 sing the work. 
 
 It occurred to me that some brief account of the origin 
 and progress of the Presbyterian Church in Georgia would 
 constitute a suitable introduction to the Necrology of the 
 Synod. 
 
 This has been prepared from such material as came to 
 hand, principally from the records of the Presbyteries. I 
 once had a considerable mass of facts for such a work ; but 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 they were destroyed, and are now irretrievably lost. What 
 is here published may be of use to some future chronicler of 
 our Church in this State. 
 
 I can only express the hope that the Synod of Georgia 
 will continue to collect and preserve full memorials of her 
 dead, as they may be called away from their labors. Such 
 a work would constitute a noble monument, honorable to the 
 dead and useful to the living. Man sighs for immortality. 
 
 J. S. W. 
 
 Atlanta, April, 1869. 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA, 
 
 As an Introduction to the following " Memorials of the 
 Dead of the Synod of Georgia," I propose to write a short 
 sketch of the early founding and progress of the Presbyte- 
 rian Church in this State. 
 
 Presbyterianism in the United States was evidently of 
 Scottish origin. About the time of the accession of William 
 and Mary, 1688, Presbyterians began to emigrate from 
 Scotland and Ireland to the American Colonies in consider- 
 able numbers. Yet, after all, the origin of Presbyterianism 
 in the United States is involved in considerable obscurity. 
 We have no distinct account of the arrival of the first Pres- 
 byterians on this Continent ; that they were, however, among 
 the earliest emigrants from the Old World, there is no doubt. 
 As early as 1633, the Presbyterians and Independents were 
 driven from Virginia by oppressive laws enacted by its Leg- 
 islature, establishing Episcopalianisra.* They were, however, 
 scattered through the Middle States for nearly half a century, 
 with few ministers and no bond of union. They first settled 
 in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Rhode Island, because the 
 Quakers, Catholics and Baptists extended a cordial welcome 
 to emigrants, which was refused by Episcopalians and Puri- 
 tans. We know, however, that long before the Puritans 
 touched the Rock of Plymouth, there were Presbyterians in 
 the land in sufficient numbers to become the objects of perse- 
 cution. 
 
 Before the close of the seventeenth century, there were 
 Presbyterian Churches in Maryland, to-wit: Rehoboth, Snow 
 Hill, Upper Marlborough, and others. The first named was 
 
 *See Marsh Eccl. Hist, 392, 393, 397. 
 
8 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 probably the oldest, and was formed some time anterior to 
 1690. There were Churches, also, in Freehold and Wood- 
 bridge, N. J., constituted in 1692 ; and the first Church in 
 Philadelphia in 1698. Churches in New Castle, Delaware, 
 and Charleston, S. C, were founded at> an early day. 
 
 The first Presbyterian minister who came to this country, 
 of whom we have any distinct account, was the Rev. Francis 
 MaKeinie. He settled in Maryland in 1682, and spent 
 two or three years as the minister in Lynnhaven Parish, Va. 
 He subsequently fixed his abode in Accomac county, Va., 
 where he died in 1708. At the time of his decease, there 
 were two organized Churches in that county. MaKemie was 
 an Irishman, a man of great ability and profound piety, and 
 may be regarded as the father of Presbyterianism in this 
 country. 
 
 The first Presbytery was organized in Philadelphia in 
 1704. It consisted of seven ministers, to-wit : Francis 
 MaKemie, John Hampton, George McNish, Samuel Davis, 
 Nathaniel Taylor, John Wilson, and Jedediah Andrews. 
 The first five were from Ireland, the sixth from Scotland, 
 and the seventh from New England. The first person 
 ordained by the Presbytery was John Boyd, in 1706. In 
 1716, the Presbytery consisted of seventeen ministers. In 
 that year it was divided into four Presbyteries, namely : 
 Philadelphia, New Castle, Snow Hill, and Long Island, 
 constituting the Synod of Philadelphia, which held its first 
 meeting in Philadelphia in September, 1717. This Synod 
 constituted the bond of union between the Churches until 
 1741. In it, however, from the beginning, there was not 
 perfect harmony. This dissatisfaction continued to grow 
 until in that year it was rent asunder and the Synod of New 
 York was formed. The Congregational element in the 
 Synod led to this schism. The inharmoniousness of the 
 body, which existed from the beginning, was greatly in- 
 creased by the act of 1729, adopting the Westminster Con- 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. Q, 
 
 fession of Faith as containing the symbols of the faith and 
 polity of the Churches, and requiring every one entering its 
 ministry to subscribe to it. The Oongregationalists, who 
 were in a minority, were very far from cordially approving 
 this proceeding, and for many years thereafter contention 
 ran high. 
 
 The old Presbyterians were in favor of a strict Presbyte- 
 rianism, and were great advocates for a learned ministry. 
 Oongregationalists then, as now, cared very little about rigid 
 doctrinal forms, and were willing to receive men into the 
 ministry of every shade of opinion, and with or without 
 learning, provided they gave some good evidence of personal 
 piety. 
 
 The dissension in the Synod was greatly aggravated by 
 the coming of Mr. Whitfield in 1739. Between the old and 
 new side, as they were called, the contest became fiery. 
 " Personal rancor appears to have operated strongly on the 
 minority." The Presbytery of New Brunswick regarded 
 the adopting act as bearing solely upon them, depriving them 
 of the power of taking up whatever candidates they pleased. 
 They protested again and again, but without avail. The 
 majority held firmly to the doctrinal standards they had 
 adapted. A division of the Synod was the result. 
 
 Congregationalism and Presbyterianism are antagonistic 
 systems, and every attempt to amalgamate or unite them has 
 produced a revulsion. The history of the Plan of Union^ 
 entered into between Congregationalists and Presbyterians 
 in 1801, is proof direct and positive of this fact. It resulted 
 in the division of the Presbyterian Church in 1838. Con- 
 gregationalism is a hot bed, from whence springs up a luxu- 
 riant crop of isms and errors. Having no common standard 
 of faith, nor bond of union, requiring a uniform subscription 
 of those entering its ministry, each ecclesiastical body may 
 iidopt its own formula, whether it be the Westminster Con- 
 fession, the Saybrook Platform., or any other system it may 
 
10 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 fancy. Hence the theology of the New England Churches 
 has presented an appearance, doctrinally, not very unlike 
 Jacob's cattle — ring-streaked, speckled and spotted. 
 
 The first meeting of the Synod of New York was in 1745. 
 The two Synods continued in their separate organizations 
 till 1758, when a re-union was effected. They agreed to 
 unite in one body under the name and style of the Synod of 
 New York and Philadelphia, and to receive " the Westmin- 
 ster Confession of Faith and Larger and Shorter Catechisms 
 as an orthodox and excellent system of Christian doctrine, 
 founded on the word of God, and to adhere to the plan of 
 worship, government and discipline contained in the. West- 
 minster Directory." * All their former differences were 
 declared to be laid aside and buried, and any one bringing 
 them up again was declared to be deemed censurable — guilty 
 of a breach of this agreement, to be refused and rebuked 
 accordingly. 
 
 -This union continued until 1789. At the meeting of the 
 Synod in 1787, arrangements were made for the formation 
 of the General Assembly by the division of the Synod into 
 four Synods, to-wit : the Synod of New York and New 
 Jersey, the Synod of Philadelphia, the Synod of Virginia, 
 and the Synod of the Carolinas. These four Synods were 
 composed of sixteen Presbyteries. The first meeting of the 
 General Assembly was held in the Second Presbyterian 
 Church, in the city of Philadelphia, on the third Thursday 
 of May, 1789. 
 
 Having presented this very succinct view of the origin of 
 our Church in the United States, I shall now proceed, briefly, 
 to trace its history South. 
 
 The Presbytery of New Castle was one of the original 
 Presbyteries erected by the sub-division of the Presbytery of 
 Philadelphia, for the purpose of constituting the Synod of 
 
 *See Minutes Synod of New York and Philadelphia, p. 286. 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 11 
 
 Philadelphia in 1716. There was another Presbytery south 
 of Philadelphia, oreated at the same time, called Snow Hill, 
 consisting of three ministers ; but one of them dying within 
 a year, it became extinct. From the New Castle was formed 
 the Presbytery of Hanover, in the year 1755. Out of the 
 Presbytery of Hanover was erected the Presbytery of Orange, 
 North Carolina, in 1770. From the Presbytery of Orange 
 was created the Presbytery of South Carolina, in 1784 ; and 
 from the same, the Presbytery of Concord, North Carolina, 
 was set off in 1795. From the Presbytery of South Carolina 
 the Presbytery of Hopewell was erected in 1796, which 
 embraced the whole State of Georgia. 
 
 Thus, nearly a century elapsed from the time of the crea- 
 tion of the first Presbytery of Philadelphia by the voluntary 
 union of the existing Churches and ministers until a Presby- 
 tery was constituted south of the Savannah River. 
 
 But this fact by no means proves that Presbyterianism 
 did not exist in Georgia long anterior to the formation of a 
 Presbytery. A Presbyterian Church (the Independent) was 
 organized in Savannah as early as 1765. A colony of Scotch 
 Presbyterians settled at Darien, by them called New Inver- 
 ness, near the mouth of the Altamaha River, about 1735.* 
 They joined Oglethorpe in his expedition against the Span- 
 iards in Florida. The Presbytery of South Carolina em- 
 braced the State within its bounds from its formation, in 
 1784 until the erection of Hopewell, in 1796, and had many 
 Churches under its care in Georgia. Among these were 
 Bethany in Green county. New Hope in Madison, Joppa, 
 Liberty, Little Britain, Bethsalem, Siloam, Bethsaida, Car- 
 mel. Providence, and others. 
 
 The first petition for ministerial aid from Georgia was 
 presented to the Synod of New York and Philadelphia at 
 their Sessions in New York, May, 1766. This came from a 
 
 * See Bancroft. 
 
12 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 place called Briar Creek. At the same Sessions of the 
 Synod it was resolved, that to " meet the earnest supplica- 
 tions from North and South Carolina and Georgia, several 
 ministers should be sent out." A Mr. C. T. Smith also 
 volunteered at the same time, to itinerate in the Carolinas 
 and Georgia*.* In 1770, Briar Creek was again an appli- 
 cant for supplies. This year a Mr. Josiah Lewis was sent 
 out to Georgia, and directed to preach three months at 
 Briar Creek. In 1771, a call was presented to the Synod 
 of New York and Philadelphia, in session at Philadelphia, 
 for the'pastoral services of the Rev. Josiah Lewis, from the 
 united congregations of Briar Creek and Queensborough. 
 This was probably the first formal call ever made out in 
 Georgia 'for a Presbyterian pastor. Whether he accepted 
 the call does not appear from the minutes of the Synod. 
 The probability is, that he did not accept, since the congre- 
 trations requested that in case the call was not accepted, 
 supplies might be granted them ; and we find the Synod 
 afterwards appointing a Mr. Elam Potter a missionary for 
 six months in Georgia. The Synod also, at the same sessions, 
 appointed the Rev. P. Allison to a mission in Georgia. 
 
 In 1773, a supplication for supplies was sent up from Saint 
 Paul's parish in Georgia, and a Mr. Wallace was directed 
 "to preach to them sometimes." The Revolutionary war 
 breaking out shortly afterwards, the Southern Churches do 
 not appear to have had any intercourse with the General 
 Synod, until the formation of the Presbytery of South Car- 
 olina, in 1784. None of the ministers constituting that 
 Presbytery resided in Georgia at that time. It is not prob- 
 able there were any Presbyterian ministers in Georgia during 
 the Revolution, save the pastor of the Independent, of Sa- 
 vannah. Nor does it appear that any advances were made 
 in planting Churches during that period, nor until the Pres- 
 bytery of South Carolina was ushered into being. 
 •Minutes of Presbyterian Church, p. 360 — 61. 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 13 
 
 Only three Churches, then, are known to have existed in 
 connection with the Synod prior to the Revolution. These 
 were Briar Creek, Queensborough, and Saint Paul's parish. 
 As to the particular location of the two former, we have no 
 certain information. There are several Briar Creeks in 
 Georgia. If permitted to give our opinion, however, we 
 would locate them in Burke county. They were certainly 
 not west of Augusta. And there is a Briar Creek in Burke 
 and Scriven counties, and, though there is no Queensborough, 
 there is a Waynesborough. This opinion is fortified by refer- 
 ence to a minute entered on the records of Hopewell Pres- 
 bytery, in 1799, in the following words : "A number of 
 people living in the Walnut Branch settlement petitioned for 
 supplies." And again : "Also a congregation below Waynes- 
 borough, called the Old Churchy petitioned for supplies." 
 That this "Old Church" was none other than "Briar Creek," 
 which appeared so often as a suppliant for supplies at the 
 bar of the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, we are 
 fully satisfied. "Saint Paul's parish " was the Augusta 
 Church. Thus the Augusta Church existed long before the 
 erection of Hopewell — it existed before the Revolutionary 
 war — it is, probably, at least a hundred years old. It does 
 not seem that these Churches were under the care of any 
 particular Presbytery. They held correspondence only with 
 the General Synod, and from it sought aid. In 1806, or 
 nine years after Hopewell was set off, the Augusta Church, 
 by its commissioner, Mr. William Fee, petitioned to be taken 
 under its care, and to be known as " the Church of Saint 
 Paul's." The Rev. John Thompson was its first pastor. He 
 was from New York, and was received as a licentiate under 
 the care of Hopewell in 1805. He was called to the pastor- 
 ate of Saint Paul's in 1806, and was ordained to the full 
 exercise of the ministry in that Church, by Hopewell Pres- 
 bytery, May 9th, 1807. 
 
 Presbyterianism, when once firmly planted in a place, 
 
14 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 rarely dies out. The Church at Waynesborough and Bath 
 may be traced back to Briar Creek and Walnut Branch. 
 So, also, the Church at Washington, Wilkes county, to 
 Smyrna ; the Church at Mount Zion to Ebenezer ; the 
 Church at Greenesborough to Siloam, etc. There are prob- 
 ably not more than two Churches now in Hopewell having 
 the same names they bore when the Presbytery was organ- 
 ized. These are Bethany (not inaptly designated the mother 
 of Churches) and New Hope. Smyrna is Washington, Eb- 
 enezer is Mount Zion, Joppa is Lexington, etc. 
 
 We have remarked that there were only (so far as known) 
 three Presbyterian organizations in the State before the 
 Revolution. The Independent Presbyterian Church, of Sa- 
 vannah, never had any ecclesiastical connection with any 
 Presbytery or Synod in Georgia or elsewhere. It was 
 founded at an early day in the history of the colony, by 
 whom, we know not. Its first pastor was probably the Rev. 
 John Joachim Zubly.* 
 
 Congregationalism never had a strong foothold in Georgia. 
 Indeed, almost the only organization of the kind in the 
 State is that of Midway, in Liberty county, before the Rev- 
 
 * Dr. Zubley was a native of St. Gall, in Switzerland ; born August 
 27th, 1724, and ordained August 19th, 1744. He was a man of great 
 learning and ability. To the Independent Congregation he preached in 
 English, to a neighboring congregation in German, and to another in 
 French. He was a man of undoubted piet}'-, and earnestly devoted to 
 the cause of his Divine Master. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was 
 conferred on him by Princeton College in 1770. 
 
 At the commencement of the American Revolution he took part with 
 the colonies, and was a delegate from the State to the Continental Con- 
 gress in 1775-1776. But, when the question of separation from the 
 mother country came up, he opposed it, and, quitting his post in Phila. 
 delphia, returned to Georgia, and afterwards took sides against the 
 colonies and became vejy unpopular, and was finally compelled to leave 
 Savannah. 
 
 He died, somewhere in South Carolina, July 33d. 1781, and his re- 
 mains were afterwards brought to Savannah and interred. — Sprague's 
 Annals. 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 15 
 
 olution, called St. John's parish. This congregation was 
 originally a colony from Dorchester, Massachusetts. They 
 emigrated first to South Carolina, and settled at a place they 
 called Dorchester, near Charleston ; but the location proving 
 unhealthy, they removed to Georgia before the Revolution- 
 ary war. They were an ardently patriotic people — sons of 
 liberty — who resisted courageously. They were honored by 
 changing the name of their county from St. John's parish 
 to Liberty county. Midway was, during many years, a 
 strong and flourishing Church. It has sent more young men 
 into the ministry than any Church in the South, or prob- 
 ably in the United States. The first native Presbyterian 
 minister ordained in Georgia, the late Rev. Thomas Gould- 
 iog, D.D., was from this Church. It is now declining and 
 even threatened with extinction. The colonies which have 
 gone out from it, such as Walthourville and Flemington, are 
 Presbyterian, and all the young men have entered the Pres- 
 byterian ministry. Its pastors have generally been Presby- 
 terians. 
 
 Having with great brevity sketched the progress of our 
 Church southward, from its origin, about the commencement 
 of the eighteenth century, up to the formation of Hopewell 
 Presbytery, about 'the beginning of the nineteenth, we will 
 now present a genwal view of its progress in Georgia.* 
 
 * The author had been engaged many years in collecting materials for 
 ft history of our Church in this State. He had been successful in gather- 
 ing together many valuable facts and documents. But these were all 
 lost during the war, having been burned by the enemy. The loss ia 
 irretrievable. 
 
HOPEWELL PRESBYTERY. 
 
 At the Annual Sessions of the Synod of the Carolinas, at 
 Morganton, North Carolina, the 3d day of November, 1796, 
 the Presbytery of South Carolina laid before the Synod an 
 overture, praying a division of the Presbytery, and that a 
 Presbytery be laid off on the southwest side of Savannah 
 River, to be known by the name of Hopewell. The petition 
 was granted, and the ministers, John Newton, John Springer, 
 Robert M. Cunningham, Moses Waddel, and William Mont- 
 gomery, were detached from the Presbytery of South Caro- 
 lina ; and it was ordered that it hold its first meeting at 
 Liberty Church on the third Thursday in March, 1797.* 
 
 * Rev. John Newton was born in the State of Pennsylvania, February 
 20, 1759. He graduated at Liberty Hall — an institution then existing in 
 Mecklinburgh county, N. C— 20th of August, 1780. He married Cathe- 
 rine Lowrance, November, 1780. By what Presbytery he was licensed 
 and ordained, is not certainly known, but probably Orange. He came 
 to Georgia in 1788, and took charge of Bethsalem Church, in Oglethorpe 
 county, and the New Hope Church, now Madison county. Here he 
 labored until the period of his death, which occurred in 1797, between 
 the first and second meeting of the Presbytery. Jie had a large family 
 of sons and daughters. His widow lived to an advanced age, and died 
 in the city of Athens, Ga., a few years since. Many of his descendants 
 live in this and other States. Several of his sons have filled the office of 
 Ruling Elder. 
 
 Rev. John Springer was the first Presbyterian minister ordaineJ south 
 of the Savannah River. He was ordained by the Presbytery of South 
 Carolina about 1793, in the town of Washington. No house of worship 
 existed in the place at that time, and consequently the ordination service 
 was performed under the shade of a large tulip or poplar tree, standing 
 on grounds belonging to A. L. Alexander, Esq. He was installed Pastor 
 of Smyrna congregation, whose house of worship stood some three 
 miles southeast of Washington, on the Augusta road. Mr. Springer died 
 in 1798. Some of his descendants still reside in this State. 
 
 Rev. Robert M. Cunningham was born in York county, Pennsylvania, 
 September 10, 1760. He was educated at Dickinson College, Carlisle, 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 17 
 
 The Presbytery met, accordingly, on the 16th of March, 
 1797, all the members being present, together with three 
 ruling Elders, to-wit : Ezekiel Gillam, James Darrach aad 
 Lodowick Tuggle. The Rev. Mr. Springer opened the 
 meeting with a sermon from Luke iv: 18, Mr. Springer 
 was chosen Moderator, and Mr. Waddel Clerk. 
 
 At the first meeting of the Presbytery, the Church at 
 Hebron, Franklin, now Banks county, was taken under its 
 care, and the people living on the North-fork of the Oconee 
 (now Thyatira Church) petitioned for supplies. We gather 
 from the minutes that the following were the more prominent 
 Churches under its care, to-wit : Liberty, Bethany, Little 
 Britain, Bethsalem, New Hope, Bethsaida, Siloam, Smyrna, 
 Joppa, Carmel, Sharon, Ebenezer, Providence, Concord, 
 Beersheba, and Unity. Several of these Churches have 
 become extinct, or have been absorbed in other Churches 
 
 where he graduated in 1789. He was licensed by the Presbytery of 
 South Carolina in 1793. He organized the Church of Ebenezer, in what 
 was then Green, now Hancock county. He settled in that neighborhood, 
 and preached alternately at Ebenezer and Bethany. He continued the 
 pastor of these Churches about fifteen years. His pastoral relation was 
 dissolved in 1808. He then removed to Lexington, Kentucky, and was 
 installed collegiate pastor with the Rev. Dr. Blythe, of the Presbyterian 
 Church in that city. Here he remained till the autumn of 1823, when 
 he resigned his charge, and went to Alabama and settled at a place 
 called Moulton ; thence, after two years, he removed to the Black Warrior 
 River, in the vicinity of Tuskaloosa. He was instrumental in raising up 
 a Church in Tuskaloosa and another in Carthage^ a neighboring town. 
 He occupied the pulpit in Tuskaloosa about eight years. The honorary 
 degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on him by Franklin College, 
 Ga., in 1837. He died July 11, 1839, in the eightieth year of his age. 
 
 Rev. Moses Waddel was born in Rowan (now Iredell) county. North 
 Carolina, July 29, 1770. His parents were emigrants from Ireland, who 
 arrived in Charleston in 1767. He was educated in part at an institution 
 called Clio's Nursery, which had been established through the instru- 
 mentality of the Rev. James Hall, D.D.,* and was for a time taught by 
 
 *Dr. Hall was born at Carlisle, Pa., August 22,1744; graduated at Princeton, 
 1774; was licensed in 1775-6 by the Presbytery of Orange. He died July 25, 1826, in 
 the eighty-second year of his ago. 
 
 2 
 
18 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 under new names. The names of many have been changed. 
 Of the latter, we note Smyrna, now Washington ; Liberty, 
 now Woodstock ; Ebenezer, now Mt. Zion ; Siloam, now 
 Greensborough ; Bethsaida, now Sandy Creek. Bethany, 
 New Hope, and Hebron, only, retain the names by which 
 they Avere known seventyyears ago. 
 
 Any one who will take the pains carefully to examine the 
 proceedings of Hopewell in its early days, must be satisfied 
 that its members were not dumb dogs, l^ing doivn, loving to 
 slumber. There were only five members originally, and one 
 of them died the first year. Yet they made constant efforts 
 to supply all their Churches, and to answer every call made 
 upon them for ministerial aid throughout their wide extended 
 bounds. In the minutes continually occur orders for supply- 
 ing the Churches with the preaching of the Word and admin- 
 istration of the ordinances. 
 
 The first addition made to their numbers was Mr. Thomas 
 Newton. He was a brother of the Rev. John Newton, and 
 had been licensed by Concord Presbytery, N. C. He was 
 received under the care of Hopewell in 1798, and ordained 
 at Hebron Church, March 16, 1799. The second ordina- 
 
 the Rev. James McEwen, and, after his decease, by the Rev. Francis 
 Cummins, D.D. In June, 1790, he entered Hampden Sidney College, 
 Va., and graduated in 1791, remaining only eight months in College. 
 This was owing to his thorough early education. He was one of the 
 best classical scholars this country has ever seen. He was licensed to 
 preach the gospel by the Hanover Presbytery, Va., May 12, 1792. In 
 1793 or 1794, he came to Georgia and opened a school in Columbia 
 county. In 1801, he removed to Vienna, Abbeville, S. C, where he 
 opened a school. In 1804, he settled at Willington. Here he remained 
 until 1819, when, having been elected President of the University of 
 Georgia, he removed to Athens. He held this office about ten years, 
 resigning in 1829. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred on 
 him by South Carolina College in 1807. He died in Athens, July 21, 
 1840. 
 
 Rev. William Montgomery was for a time pastor of New Hope Church. 
 He went to the West about 1812, and it is supposed died in the State of 
 Mississippi. Little or nothing is known of his history. 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 19 
 
 tion was that of Edward Pharr, at Thyatira, December 25, 
 1801. At this meeting, Dr. Waddel was dismissed to the 
 Second Presbytery of South Carolina. About this period, 
 the body was so feeble that it repeatedly failed to form a 
 quorum. On one occasion we find them transacting business 
 without a quorum. In 1805, the Rev. Francis Cummins 
 removed to this State and united with the Presbytery, and 
 was called to the pastorate of Smyrna and Providence 
 Churches. 
 
 In 1804, John Hodge, a licentiate of the Cumberland 
 Presbytery, was received under the care of Hopewell, and 
 ordained at Bethsalem the 6th of April, 1805. He was a 
 man of an excellent spirit. This was the third ordination 
 performed by the Presbytery. 
 
 At the same Sessions, the Presbytery appointed a Special 
 Session, or rather, a Commission, to try a case in the Hebron 
 Church. The propriety of such a course would, no doubt, 
 in this day, be strongly controverted. They also granted 
 to petitioners from Bethsalem and Shiloh Churches liberty 
 "to elect such men as they might think proper" as lay- 
 exhorters. This would be regarded in our day at least a 
 very loose, if not unconstitutional proceeding. Perhaps the 
 exigencies of the Churches warranted such a measure. 
 
 At the fall meeting of 1805, there was no quorum, only 
 two ministers and three elders being present at the opening 
 of the Session ; yet they proceeded to business. Mr. John 
 R. Thompson, .late of New York, and then a resident of 
 Augusta, was examined and received under their care, and 
 parts of trial assigned him. On the second day of their 
 meeting, the Rev. Francis Cummms appeared with a dismis- 
 sion from the Second Presbytery of South Carolina, and 
 was received as a member. 
 
 At the meeting of the Presbytery at Shiloh, in 1806, 
 Saint Paul's Church, Augusta, was taken under its care, and 
 John R. Thompson licensed. 
 
20 PRESETTEKIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 At the fall meeting at Smyrna, in 1806, they found them- 
 selves again without a quorum on the first day, but on the 
 second they had a sufficient number of members. The con- 
 gregation of Saint Paul's, by the hand of Dr. Murray, pre- 
 sented a call for the pastoral services of John R. Thompson, 
 which was by him accepted, and he was ordained in the 
 Church in Augusta, May 9th, 1807. At the meeting of the 
 Presbytery at New Hope, in September of the same year, Mr. 
 Thompson sought a dissolutsoion of the pastoral relation. The 
 Church was cited to shew cause why his request should not 
 be granted at the next session. But at the next meeting he 
 withdrew the petition ; and it does not appear from the min- 
 utes that Mr. Thompson was ever dismissed, nor when he 
 left the Church. He was, however. Moderator of the Synod 
 in 1813, but his name does not appear on the roll of Hope- 
 well after 1809. 
 
 At the meeting of the Presbytery at Bethsalem, in 1813, 
 the Rev. Nathan S. S. Beman became a member, on present- 
 ing a dismission from the Cumberlain Association of Maine. 
 At the same time the Rev. Dr. John Brown joined the Pres- 
 bytery on a dismission from Harmony Presbytery, S. C. 
 He had been elected President of the University of Georgia 
 in 1811. Dr. Brown's removal to Georgia gave a fresh im- 
 petus to Presbyterianism, by his preaching and standing as 
 a man of high and commanding influence. He continued in 
 the Presidency of the College about five years.* 
 
 *Dr. Brown was a native of the county of Antrim, Ireland. His 
 father was poor. His mother, like Hannah, " lent him to the Lord," and 
 early taught him to read the Scriptures. He was sent nine months to a 
 country school when in his sixteenth year, and in his nineteenth year he 
 was the same length of time in a grammar school, in the Waxhaw set- 
 tlement. This was the sum total of his education in the schools. He 
 was licensed to preach in 1788. In 1809, he was chosen Professor of 
 Logic and Moral Philosophy in the South Carolina College, and in 1811, 
 President of the Georgia University. He was pastor of Mount Zion 
 Church, Hancock county, twelve years. He died at Fort Gains, Dec. 
 11th, 1842. " He was a wonderfully fluent speaker." He was an eminently 
 good man. Humble, generous, guileless, indifferent to the world, he 
 loved every body, and the law of kindness dwelt on his tongue. 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 21 
 
 About this time a number of young men placed themselves 
 under the care of the Presbytery, with the professed purpose 
 'of entering the ministry. Among these we note Benjamin 
 Gildersleeve, who was licensed in 1815. He has been dis- 
 tinguished as the conductor of a religious newspaper, first 
 at Mount Zion, then in Charleston, and finally at Richmond, 
 Va. He yet lives in Southwestern Virginia. Orson Doug- 
 las, who labored long as seamen's preacher in Philadelphia, 
 where hft died some years since. David Root and Ira In- 
 graham. The former was licensed and after some time was 
 dismissed to join a Presbytery in Ohio. What became of 
 Ira Ingraham does not so clearly appear. The memorial of 
 Alonzo Church will be found among '■'■The Dead of the Synod 
 of Georgia.'" All these young men were from the North, and 
 most of them graduates of Middleburry College, Vt. 
 
 In 1817, Rev. Robert Finley, D.D., who succeeded Dr. 
 Brown as President of the University, united with the Pres- 
 bytery, on a dismission from the Presbytery of New Bruns- 
 wick, N. J.* He joined the Presbytery at Madison, Mor- 
 gan county, the 5th of September, returned home, sickened, 
 and died on the 3d of October, 1817. He was an eminent 
 man, and a great loss to the Church and State of Georgia. 
 
 In 1817, the subject of establishing a Theological Seminary 
 was first started. The reasons for attempting such an en- 
 
 *Dr. Fialey was of Scottish origin, and was born in Princeton, N. J., 
 in 1772. He joined the Freshman Class in Princeton College in his 
 eleventh year, and graduated in his sixteenth. He was licensed in Sep- 
 tember, 1794, and settled at Basking Ridge in 1795. He was the first 
 who suggested the idea of communicating religious instruction by meana 
 of Bible classes. Through his influence the subject was carried before 
 the General Assembly, and, by a unanimous vote of that body, recom- 
 mended to the Presbyteries and congregations. 
 
 He was the first to conceive the idea of colonizing the free people of 
 color on the coast of Africa. With many the scheme was regarded as 
 impracticable and chimerical. But his Thoughts on the Colonization of 
 the Free Blacks, published about this time, led to the formation of the 
 Colonization Society in December, 1816, 
 
22 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEOEGIA. 
 
 terprise were declared to be " the destitute state of the 
 Churches" within their bounds, and " that many of the peo- 
 ple had been obliged to join other religious societies," or 
 live without the enjoyment " of the communion of saints in 
 gospel ordinances." And they farther said: "Believing 
 that our Churches might be increased, and many new con- 
 gregations formed, provided we could give reasonable assur- 
 ances that they would be supplied with pastors, the members 
 feel it their duty to pray the Lord of the harvest to send 
 forth more laborers. And whereas, prayers ought always to 
 be accompanied with dutiful endeavors for the attainment of 
 the blessings for which we pray ; and whereas, there is but 
 little opportunity for young men to acquire the knowledge of 
 those things which are necessary to qualify them for the dis- 
 charge of ministerial duties — Presbytery feels it incumbent 
 on it to endeavor to make some provision for the continuance 
 and increase of a gospel ministry in this part of the vine- 
 yard, when those who now officiate in holy things shall have 
 rested from their labors. And, believing that a Theological 
 School in this part of the world might be subservient to this 
 end, unanimously resolved to take that subject into consid- 
 eration, and to use such ways and means as God, in his prov- 
 idence may seem to open up to view as likely to be condu- 
 cive to this end." 
 
 For carrying into effect these views, the Presbytery 
 appointed Dr. Cummins, Dr. Brown, and Dr. Finley, a 
 committee " to draft a plan for a Theological School, to be 
 laid before the Presbytery at its next session."* This com- 
 
 * To Hopewell belongs the honor of taking the initiative for es- 
 tablishing a Theological Seminary in the South. The Seminary at 
 Princeton went into operation in 1812, and so did the Theological School 
 of the Synod of Virginia, in connection with Hampden Sidnej^ College, 
 of which Dr. Moses Hoge was President, and Theological Professor at 
 the same time. But Union Seminary proper did not commence its exer- 
 cises till 1823, when Dr. John H. Rice was elected Professor. 
 
 The enterprise, though abandoned by Hopewell for a time, still pressed 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IX GEORGIA. 23 
 
 mittee did not report until April, 1819, when the following 
 minute was entered : " In consequence of the death of Dr. 
 Finley, the committee appointed in 1817, to draft a plan for 
 a Theological School, did not report." A new committee 
 was then appointed, consisting of Dr. Cummins, Dr. Brown, 
 and Dr. Beman, "to report on that subject at the next session.'" 
 At the meeting in September, 1819, this committee reported 
 " on the subject of a Theological School at considerable 
 length." The report was "in part considered, but not 
 adopted." What was the difficulty we are not informed. 
 The Presbytery, however, proceeded to the choice of a place 
 or site for the institution. Athens and Mount Zion were 
 put in nomination. On taking the vote, it was carried in 
 favor of Athens. Subsequently another report " on the 
 subject of a Theological School was brought in and read, 
 but not adopted." After this, the consideration of the sub- 
 ject of a Theological School Avas indefinitely postponed. 
 Thus ended this enterprise. This was probably owing to a 
 conflict about the location. 
 
 It would seem that the attendance upon the sessions of the 
 Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, by members of the 
 Presbytery, were few and far between. The Synod repeat- 
 edly called their attention to the fact, charging them witli 
 " negligence" in attending its Sessions, and failures to make 
 " Presbyterial Reports." Sometimes they excused themselves 
 by alleging the great distance they were from its place of 
 meeting. At this time (1818) it consisted of only seven 
 members, and they so widely scattered that it was often dif- 
 ficult to secure a sufiicient attendance to form a quorum. 
 
 upon the minds of its members ; and we shall see, some ten or twelve 
 years subsequently, that the Presbytery actually proceeded to appoint a 
 Professor of Theology, who entered upon his duties, teaching in his own 
 house. This was before the Seminary at Columbia was founded, to 
 which he was transferred at the commencement of its operations, a.< 
 Professor of Church History and Government. 
 
24 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 Several times only two members would be present, who would 
 adjourn from day to day, waiting for the arrival of a third. 
 Traveling was in that day a much more difficult affair than 
 at present. It required then a week or more to perform a 
 journey which we now accomplish in a day. 
 
 In lbl9, Dr. Moses Waddel was called to the Presidency 
 of the Georgia University. He came again into connection 
 with Hopewell Presbytery, after an absence of more than 
 nineteen years, having been dismissed to the Second Presby- 
 tery of South Carolina in 1801 ; he rejoined the Presbytery 
 in April, 1820. From this period we may more properly 
 date the permanent and onward progress of the Presbyterian 
 Church in Georgia. Before this, it had rather a precarious 
 existence in the State. The Churches were few and feeble. 
 They were generally in the country ; in none of the larger 
 towns and villages had we any Churches, except Augusta, 
 Washington, Eatonton, etc. In Athens there was a small 
 organization. In Milledgeville, the seat of government, 
 there was none. Macon, Columbus, LaGrange, Newnan, 
 etc., were unknown — indeed, had no existence as towns. A 
 Church was organized at Milledgeville in 1826, with seven 
 members, and at Macon, consisting of twenty-five members. 
 A Church was also gathered in Butts county in the same 
 year. The following Churches were reported as recently 
 formed in the year 1829, viz : Greenville, Thomaston, La- 
 Grange, Nazareth, and a Church at Columbus consisting of 
 five members. The Church at Decatur, DeKalb county, was 
 constituted in 1825, and the Church of Smyrna, Newton 
 county, and Philadelphia, Fayette county, in 1826. In 
 1820, a small Church was gathered at Lawrenceville, Gwin- 
 nett county. From that point, over all the broad district of 
 South-western Georgia and Florida to the Gulf of Mexico, 
 not a single Presbyterian Church was found. The Church 
 at Lawrenceville was the ultima thule of Presbyterianism in 
 the west of the State. Beyond the Chattahoochee, now the 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 25 
 
 territory of Cherokee Presbytery, the Cherokee Indians 
 dwelt ; among them a few missionaries (not Presbyterians) 
 were laboring. 
 
 In 1820, the Presbytery consisted of the following minis- 
 ters : Rev. Francis Cummins, pastor at Greensborough ; 
 John Brown, D.D., without charge; Moses Waddel, D.D., 
 pastor at Sandy Creek ; Thomas Newton, without charge ; 
 Edward Pharr, without charge ; N. S. S. Beman, pastor at 
 Mount Zion and Eatonton; Benjamin Gildersleeve, no charge. 
 The Presbyterial report of that year shows the numerical 
 strength of the Churches : Greensborough had 20 members ; 
 Sandy Creek, 25; Mount Zion, 40; Eatonton, 20; Bethany, 
 23 ; Salem, 15 ; Washington, 15 ; Bethsalem, 15 ; Daniels- 
 ville, 15; New Hope, 20; Mulberry, 2T ; Hebron, 30; 
 Thyatira, 25 ; Madison, 25 ; Athens, 21 ; Clinton, 6. The 
 total number of persons reported this year was 342. This 
 report was evidently partial. The Augusta Church was not 
 reported, nor any Churches from the low country, and 
 perhaps some other small organizations in the up country. 
 But it was manifestly a day of small things. There were 
 only seven members of the Presbytery, and four of these are 
 set down as without charge. We are not, however, to con- 
 clude from this that they were not preaching the gospel as 
 they had opportunity. It should be remembered that Hope- 
 well, in 1820, embraced a large part of Georgia, from near 
 the Atlantic coast to the Tennessee, and from the Savannah 
 River to the Gulf — a vast territory, with only seven Presby- 
 terian ministers and some fifteen or eighteen feeble Churches. 
 May we not say it was a day of small things. Jacob was 
 small ; our towers were few and far between. Dr. Waddel's 
 accession to the Presidency of the State College infused a 
 new and more enterprising spirit into the Churches. A 
 number of young and energetic men entered the field. Cham- 
 berlain was appointed a Missionary Evangelist. He traveled 
 extensively in the State, labored abundantly, and organized 
 
26 PKESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 many Churches. Church and Gildersleeve were invested 
 with full ministerial authority, and Alexander H. Webster 
 became the efficient and beloved pastor of the Washington 
 Church. Although his ministry was brief, yet few men 
 have made and left a deeper impression or a more grateful 
 memorial on the hearts of those to whom he ministered, than 
 Alexander H. Webster. 
 
 The Synod of South Carolina and Georgia had in view the 
 formation of a Foreign and Domestic Missionary Society, 
 and issued an address to the Presbyteries, soliciting their 
 concurrence in the enterprise. The Presbytery of Hopewell 
 cordially entertained the question in the following resolution: 
 
 ^^Resolved, That this Presbytery highly approve and adopt 
 the proposed plan of the Synod, and that each member 
 solicit contributions and bear or send them to the Synod at 
 their Sessions in November next." * 
 
 In 1823, the Presbytery seemed to feel very deeply the 
 destitution of a preached gospel within their bounds, judging 
 from the following action of the body : " In consideration 
 of the destitute condition of many of our Churches, and the 
 languishing state ef religion, it is hereby Resolved, That it 
 be strongly recommended to every ordained minister con- 
 nected with this Presbytery, to devote fourteen days in each 
 succeeding year to laboring in destitute Churches and places 
 without the circle of their usual ministerial labors. Resolved, 
 That the Stated Clerk be directed to write to some member 
 of the Session in each vacant Church within the bounds of 
 the Presbytery, requesting that reports of the number of 
 their members and the state of their several Churches be 
 forwarded to him at or before our next stated Sessions." 
 
 *The Missionary Society of tbe.Synod continued its operations for 
 several years. It establisbed a Mission among tlie Cliicliasaw Indians, 
 at a place called Monroe, under the care of the Rev. Thomas C. Stuart. 
 Aftei- the removal of the Indians to the West, Mr. Sbart continues to 
 reside near the same place. 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 27 
 
 Amonof other matters to which the attention of the Pres- 
 bytery was most anxiously directed at this time, was the 
 manifest decay of religion in the Churches, and the neglect 
 of ministers and elders to discharge their official duties. 
 The subject is thus considered : " Viewing Avith regret the 
 apparent declension of vital religion among the members of 
 the Church of our communion, and their neglect in atten- 
 dance on the means of grace — feeling the necessity of more 
 energy in our measures : Resolved, That the Moderator be 
 directed to draft and transmit as soon as possible a letter to 
 each member of Presbytery absent from our present Presby- 
 tery, requesting him by that authority which we have received 
 from the Lord, for edification and not for destruction, that 
 for the future he be more careful and punctual in his atten- 
 dance on ecclesiastical judicatories ; also, that he transmit a 
 letter to one elder in each congregation, requesting that 
 elder to convene the other elders, and that they unite their 
 efforts in the support of discipline, the instruction of youth, 
 and suppression of vice, reminding them of the bearing of 
 their ordination vows to the discharge of these and like 
 duties ; and farther, requesting that some one, elder in each 
 congregation, be appointed to report to every stated session 
 of this Presbytery as to their fidelity and success in these 
 things." 
 
 What was the result of this action of the Presbytery we 
 are not informed. It was probably like a great deal of such 
 proceeding in our Presbyteries and Synods — a dead letter. 
 But it may be remarked that such action very strongly com- 
 mends itself to the conscientious consideration of every 
 Presbytery. The neglect of members of the Churches to 
 attend on the means of grace is a great and destructive evil 
 in all our Churches. It is an offence against the good order 
 and discipline of the Church. It is really a disciplinary 
 offence ; yet it is rarely so treated. An individual who 
 habitually, and without any providential reason, neglects 
 
28 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 attendance in the house of God, and absents himself from 
 the ordinances of the gospel, should be made to account for 
 it ; and if he does not reform, should be cut off. Dead 
 branches not only deform, but injure the tree. There is 
 great need, eflSciently, to use the pruning knife of discipline 
 in most of our Churches. 
 
 And farther, the neglect of members of Church judicato- 
 ries to attend their deliberations, is also a crying evil in our 
 Presbyteries and Synods, and one that ought to be remedied 
 without delay. Such neglect is a wrong done, not only to 
 the body itself — which has a right to expect the assistance 
 in labor and council of every member — but it is a wrong 
 done to the Churches in which the delinquents labor. AVhat 
 Church ever prospered where the minister and elders did not 
 attend the Church Courts ? Not one. Stupidity and spir- 
 itual declension is the inevitable result. It may be asked, 
 Why ? The old proverb of Solomon may answer the question : 
 "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneththe countenance 
 of his friend." Social communion of Christians promotes 
 Christian growth and enjoyment ; so the communion of 
 ministers and elders adds greatly to their efficiency and 
 happiness. Who has attended upon such convocations, and 
 has not felt refreshed and better qualified for his work !' A 
 minister who is continually enrolled among the absentees at 
 Presbytery and Synod is but a dead head in the Church. 
 He is a workman that needeth to be ashamed. 
 
 The other point referred to in this Presbyterial action is 
 still of more solemn importance — the duties of elders towards 
 the flock over which they preside. They are called overseers; 
 but, alas ! many of them see or know little about the flocks. 
 Neither the lambs nor the old sheep receive little of their 
 care or sympathy. To call such overseers is a misnomer. 
 They neither visit the people, pray for, or instruct them. If 
 there is a pastor, they throw the whole burden of responsi- 
 bility on him, and fold their arms in ineffable indifference. 
 
 \ 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IK GEORGIA. 
 
 Some have supposed that the Apostle refers to elders, when 
 he speaks of helps, governments, etc. But, alas ! the 
 majority of elders are poor helps. It is well to remind such 
 of their ordination vows — the solemn pledge they have made 
 to perform all the duties of the office to which they have 
 been called. 
 
 The most important enterprise ever entered upon by any 
 ecclesiastical body in the State, had its inception at the 
 Session of Hopewell Presbytery at Thyatira Church, in the 
 spring of 1823. This was the formation of the Georgia 
 Educational Society. Out of this enterprise arose the whole 
 movement of denominational education in the State. To it we 
 trace the existence of Oglethorpe University, Emory College, 
 and Mercer University. The movement, it is true, excited 
 some apprehensions among the friends of the State College. 
 They feared that its patronage would be diminished by 
 building up these institutions ; that there were not a sufficient 
 number of youth in the State, who would seek a collegiate 
 education, to fill all the colleges, and that, consequently, some 
 of them must languish, if they did not actually die ; and the 
 apprehension was, that this blight would most certainly fall 
 upon the State University, since the several denominatiora 
 would naturally support their own colleges. But these fears 
 were groundless. While the denominational colleges rose 
 and flourished, Franklin College also increased in numbers 
 ^ and efficiency. Its educational standard was raised, and it 
 probably graduated more young men annually afterwards 
 than it ever had before. The truth of the matter was, that 
 the founding of these colleges diffused a more general spirit 
 of education among the people, and has added to the number 
 of educated men in the State a large per cent, annually. It 
 has doubled the number of educated men in the learned pro- 
 fessions, and has especially elevated the character of the 
 Christian ministry among the different denominations. 
 
 At the time referred to, the Presbytery declared that, ." in 
 
30 PEESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 consideration of the great and pressing exigencies of the 
 Church of Christ in this State, and the uncertainty and 
 insufficiency of ministerial supply for our Churches from any 
 means now in operation ; Resolved, That this Presbytery 
 cordially approve, and strongly recommend to its members, 
 its Churches, and the pious at large, an immediate and united 
 eflfort to establish a Georgia Educational Society, for aiding 
 indigent young men of piety and talents in acquiring a suit- 
 able education for the gospel ministry ; and that the Revs. 
 Moses Waddel, Thomas Goulding, Remembrance Chamber- 
 lain, and Dr. James Nisbet, be a Committee to prepare the 
 plan of a Constitution, and take suitable other steps as may 
 to them appear necessary or useful for accomplishing the 
 purpose without delay, and report the nature and success of 
 the same at our next Sessions." 
 
 At the next meeting, in October, 1823, the Committee 
 reported verbally in part, which was approved. The Rev. 
 Thomas Goulding was directed to prepare a full report of 
 the same for insertion on the minutes at or before the next 
 Sessions. 
 
 This report was made at the same Sessions, and is as 
 follows : 
 
 " The Report of the Committee appointed hy Hopewell Pres- 
 bytery at its /Sessions at Thyatira Church, May 24, 1823, 
 to organize a G-eoryia Educational Society. 
 " This Committee, consisting of the Revs. Moses Waddel, 
 D.D., Remembrance Chamberlain, and Dr. James Nisbet, 
 met, according to appointment, at Athens, on Monday, 26th 
 of May, 1823, and continued its Sessions until Wednesday, 
 the 28th. The plan of a Constitution, with an address to 
 the Churches and benevolent individuals in our State, was 
 agreed upon by the Committee and published in the Mission- 
 ary at Mount Zion ; and appointing the 7th of August next 
 ensuing for a meeting In Athens, to organize the Society upon 
 the plan proposed. The Society was organized, and the 
 
PRESBTTEKIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 31 
 
 proceedings took place according to the accompanying 
 printed circular, as then agreed on." 
 
 I here insert this circular as embodying the views of these 
 fathers of the Church, none of whom are now living, with a 
 single exception. 
 
 It is proper here to note that the Georgia Educational 
 Society was catholic, not denominational, addressing itself 
 to all pious and benevolent persons of every name throughout 
 the State. Its officers were taken from different denomina- 
 tions. During its existence, it extended aid to others having 
 the ministry in view, besides Presbyterians. Nor did it cease 
 its operations in this respect until the different denominations 
 of Christians in the State had made provision for the educa- 
 tion of their own ministry by founding institutions of their 
 own. It was thus instrumental in awaking the mind of the 
 Christian Church to the importance of ministerial education, 
 and has accomplished incalculable good to the cause of 
 religion by furnishing to the Churches, of all the leading 
 denominations, an enlightened ministry. 
 
 The circular embodies the reasons for such organization. 
 It was addressed to individuals and the Churches generally, 
 in the following terms : 
 
 " The plans of benevolence which constitutes the glory of 
 the day in which we live, are so numerous, that to obtrude 
 another on your consideration, with any expectation of 
 patronage, would be presumption, were we not persuaded of 
 its importance and practical utility. It is a duty which we 
 owe to you and to the public, to give a concise statement of 
 facts which have led to the formation of a Society, the 
 Constitution of which is herewith transmitted. 
 
 " We need not inform you that the number of able and 
 faithful ministers of the gospel among us by no means 
 increases with the increasing population of the State ; that 
 many of our Churches, already organized, are comparatively 
 destitute of the ordinances of the gospel, and that many 
 
32 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 more might be established if they could be supplied with the 
 Word of Life. We have looked anxiously for this supply 
 from those institutions in the more favored sections of our 
 country, whose laudable object it is to aid young men of 
 piety and talents in acquiring an education suitable for the 
 gospel ministry ; but our expectations have not been realized. 
 In aid of these institutions the citizens of Georgia have here- 
 tofore contributed with their accustomed liberality ; but a 
 general impression at present prevails that our benevolence 
 should be less diffusive, and that our exertions should be 
 principally concentrated in building up our own Zion, and 
 repairing her waste places. 
 
 " In the different denominations of Christians in our State, 
 we are. personally sCcquainted with young men of piety and 
 talents who would gladly labor in the vineyard of Christ, 
 but who are unable to incur the expense of an education 
 preparatory to the work. Unless, therefore, some benevo- 
 lent individuals or some Society shall take them under their 
 patronage, their usefulness will be limited to the obscure 
 walks of private life. 
 
 " You will doubtless concur in the sentiment, that with 
 the progress of literary improvement in any country, the 
 prosperity of religion requires a similar improvement in the 
 ministry. Whilst we rejoice in the good which many pious 
 and zealous defenders of the faith have been enabled, by the 
 blessing of God, to effect, whose opportunities in early life were 
 limited, we cannot avoid asking how much more good they 
 might have done if to the same piety and zeal had been 
 united the learning of a Gill, a Wesley, or a Dwight ? Our 
 object, in short, is the supply of our own Churches with 
 pious and able ministers of the gospel, to bring to light 
 talents that are concealed under the mask of poverty, and 
 to encourage young men of piety and talents to engage in 
 that glorious cause, the fruits of which will remain forever. 
 " As our interests are identified with the interest of this 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORSIA. 33 
 
 State ; as its political and literary institutions are dear to us, 
 and as the religion of the gospel, ably and faithfully preached, 
 is calculated to secure a continuance of these blessings which 
 we now enjoy — shall we not use our exertions to raise up 
 those among us who shall ' point to heaven and lead the 
 way ? ' And may we not expect your hearty concurrence 
 and liberal patronage?" 
 
 The circular was issued in May, and the Committee met 
 according to adjournment, in Athens, on the 7th of the 
 following August, and after some deliberation, adjourned tO' 
 meet the next day in the College Chapel. 
 
 On the 8th of August, 1823, the Committee met, together 
 with a number of the citizens of Athens and gentlemen from* 
 different parts of the State, it being the Annual Commence- 
 ment week of the College. The Rev. Dr. Waddel was in the 
 Chair, and the Rev. Thomas Goulding, Secretary. A Con- 
 stitution was proposed as a substitute for one which had been 
 previously submitted, which on motion of the Rev. Benjamin 
 Gildersleeve, seconded by Rev. Thomas Goulding, was- 
 adopted. 
 
 It would occupy too much space to give the Constitutioa 
 at length ; I, therefore, present a brief synopsis of its most 
 important features. 
 
 After designating the usual officers and their duties, the 
 second article declares that the object of the Society shall be 
 to aid young men of hopeful piety and talents in acquiring 
 an education suitable for the gospel ministry. The eighth 
 article provides that no person shall be a beneficiary of the 
 Society unless he be in the communion of some Church, and 
 signify his desire of entering upon the work of the ministry, 
 and also exhibit testimonials both of his talents and real 
 indigence. The ninth article grants liberty to beneficiaries 
 to prosecute their studies either in the College at Athens, or 
 in any respectable academy, or under a private instructor. 
 The tenth article requires every beneficiary to give an obli- 
 3 
 
34 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 gation to the Society for the monies which he shall receive 
 from time to time, which obligation should be null and void, 
 provided he prosecuted his studies preparatory to the ministry 
 with diligence, or enter upon the duties of that office within 
 any time which the directors may deem reasonable, otherwise 
 to remain in full force and eifect. The eleventh article 
 declares that no beneficiary shall be entitled to a continu- 
 ance of the patronage of the Society, unless once a year, or 
 oftener if required, he shall furnish a certificate from his 
 instructor of his proficiency, together with his moral and 
 Christian deportment, which shall be satisfactory to the 
 directors. These articles embrace all the important princi- 
 ples of the Society. 
 
 The Constitution having been unanimously adopted, the 
 Society proceeded to the election of officers, which resulted 
 as follows : ' 
 
 Maj. Abraham Walker, President. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Moses Waddel, 1st Vice President. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Francis Cummins, 2d 
 
 Rev. Dr. John Brown, 
 
 Rev. William McWhir, 
 
 Rev. William T. Brantly, 
 
 Rev. Peter Gautier, 
 
 Rev. Abiel Carter, 
 
 Corresponding Secretary — Rev. Thomas Goulding. 
 
 Recording jSecretary-^Moses W. Dobbins. 
 
 Treasurer — Dr. James Nisbet. 
 Directors. — James Nephew, Joseph Law, Joseph Cum- 
 ming, Samuel Dowse, Thomas Gumming, Andrew Semmes, 
 Joseph Bryan, Benjamin Gildersleeve, John Nisbet, Stephen 
 Upson, Alonzo Church, John R. Goulding, Thomas W. 
 Stanley, Hugh Montgomery. 
 
 The Society, thus ushered in being, was prosperous for 
 many years. On the roll of its beneficiaries are the names 
 of Buch men as Cassels, Ingles, Scott, Saye, Alexander H. 
 
 2d 
 
 3d 
 
 
 4th 
 
 
 5th 
 
 
 6th 
 
 
 7th 
 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 35 
 
 Stephens, James Johnson, Crosby, Freeman, Caldwell, 
 Montgomery, etc. Many entered the ministry who have 
 proved a rich blessing to the Church of Christ. Some 
 entered as beneficiaries who did not prosecute their studies 
 to the end of the prescribed course. Others were assisted 
 who, for divers reasons best known to themselves, abandoned 
 the purpose of entering upon the holy office, and turned to 
 other vocations. Of these, some have attained to great 
 distinction and influence in society. It educated, at least, 
 one who became a Bishop in the Protestant Episcopal Church. 
 I have already stated that out of the Georgia Educational 
 Society arose the spirit of denominational education, which 
 resulted in establishing at least three denominational Col- 
 leges. The public attention had been directed at this time 
 to the plan of Manual Labor Schools. A school on this plan 
 existed somewhere in the North, which was represented as 
 having been successful. It was supposed that such an 
 institution would greatly lessen the expenses of education, 
 and thereby afford to a greater number of the less aflluent 
 classes an opportunity of obtaining a good education. The 
 plan was thought by some to be practicable, and it was 
 proposed to be adopted by the Society as a less expensive 
 method, at least, of preparing its beneficiaries for the College 
 classes. Accordingly, in the fall of 1832, a convention was 
 called to deliberate on the question of establishing such a 
 school. After a careful examination of the subject in the 
 light of all the information it possessed, it was determined to 
 make the experiment. For this purpose a tract of land was 
 bought in the vicinity of Athens, having on it suitabfle 
 buildings and other appurtenances, and the school was put in 
 operation in the winter or spring of 1833. It was not, 
 however, very successful. It was thought that its proximity 
 to the College prevented its prosperity. It was found that 
 boys who labored part of their time were not admitted, as 
 students, to social equality with young gentlemen in the 
 
36 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN QEORGIA. 
 
 University classes. After languishing until 1835, it iras 
 resolved to break up the school and remove it to some other 
 point. The property was therefore sold, and instead of 
 establishing one school, the proceeds were divided between 
 two — one to be located near Lawrenceville, Gwinnett county, 
 and afterwards known as the Gwinnett Institute, and the 
 other at a place called Midway, between Milledgeville and 
 Scottsborough, both upon the Manual Labor plan. The 
 Society committed a great blunder in this attempt to sustain 
 two schools. Had its energies been concentrated on one 
 institution, a great deal of trouble and waste of funds had 
 doubtlessly been avoided. As it was, neither school suc- 
 ceeded well. 
 
 It was found, when too late, that the Manual Labor system 
 of education, although attractive in theory, was impracticable. 
 It was discovered that young men could not, or would not, 
 work and study too. Like many other beautiful theories, it 
 soon exploded, and was everywhere abandoned. 
 
 The former of these schools languished for a few years, 
 and then died of inanity. Those who had the control of the 
 Midway school, after a year or two of ineffectual struggle, took 
 it into their heads to make a College of it, for which a charter 
 was granted by the Georgia Legislature under the style and 
 title of " Oglethorpe University." It was a "University" 
 only on paper. It had no endowment, no college buildings, 
 nor faculty. A poor piece of land and a few pine trees 
 constituted all its riches. But its founders, reckless of 
 expense, at once proceeded to erect a college building at a cost 
 of some $40,000. 
 
 By improvident management in the first years of its exis- 
 tence, it became involved in great financial difficulties. At 
 first it was placed under the supervision of Hopewell Pres- 
 bytery, and afterwards transferred l^o the care of the Synod 
 of South Carolina and Georgia. After years of trial and 
 monetary difficulties, it was freed from them by the labors, 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 37 
 
 principally, of its financial agent, the Rev. R. Chamberlain. 
 After the division of the Synod of South Carolina and 
 Georgia, the Synod of South Carolina, the Synod of ^eorgia, 
 and the Synod of Alabama, became joint proprietors and 
 supervisors, each being represented in the Board of Trust, 
 and endowing a Professorship. Its first President was the 
 Rev. Carlisle P. Beman, D.D. ; upon whose retirement, the 
 Rev. Samuel R. Talmage, D.D., was called to preside over 
 it, and under whose Presidency it attained a good degree of 
 prosperity. It was greatly favored with seasons of refresh- 
 ing from on high, by which a large number of its pupils 
 became hopefully pious, a goodly proportion of whom entered 
 the holy ministry. For some years a larger number of 
 students in the classes of the Theological Seminary at 
 Columbia were from Oglethorpe than any other institution. 
 Its alumni compared favorably, in point of scholarship and 
 efiiciency, with any other College in the land. 
 
 In consequence of the death of the lamented Talmage, and 
 the war — by which it has lost a large part of its endowment — 
 it is at present doing little for the cause of education. A 
 movement is on foot to resuscitate it, and, I trust, will prove 
 successful. As a denomination, a College of our own is 
 indispensable. The impression has generally obtained that 
 the location of the College is unfavorable. This is probably 
 true. It needs more local patronage. This it cannot have 
 where it is at present. It should be within, or in the imme- 
 diate vicinity of some city or large town, from whence it 
 might obtain a constant supply of students. It should also 
 have a more central and healthy habitation. The question 
 of its removal has been agitated for years. Probably noth- 
 ing will be effected in this direction until times shall favor its 
 re-endowment. 
 
 Looking back to the formation of the Georgia Educational 
 Society, and weighing its results, we are constrained to 
 regard it as among the most influential agencies promotive 
 
38 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 of the prosperity of our Church in the State. The benefits 
 derived from it are incalculable. Eternity alone can reveal 
 them all. To thousands the gospel has been carried with 
 saving effect by those who have been nurtured by it, either 
 directly or indirectly. 
 
 The Presbytery of Hopewell contained, in 1825, twelve 
 ministers. It was during its spring Sessions at Lexington, 
 that the first step was taken towards the organization of a 
 Domestic Missionary Society. A committee, consisting of the 
 Rev. Drs. Brown and Waddel and Rev. William Moderwell, 
 was appointed to inquire into the expediency of establishing 
 a Domestic Missionary Society. The committee thereafter 
 reported: That in their opinion, the establishment of such a 
 Society is both practicable and expedient, and suggested the 
 appointing a committee to draft a Constitution, and make the 
 necessary arrangements for its organization. Rev. Drs. 
 Brown and Waddel, and liev. Messrs. Moderwell, Church 
 and Gildersleeve, were appointed that committee, and directed 
 to report before the close of its present Sessions. The com- 
 mittee subsequently reported a Constitution, which was 
 adopted. The second article of this Constitution declared 
 that the object of the Society " shall be to send ministers 
 wherever they think it expedient within the State, and to 
 assist in building up feeble Churches." By the eleventh 
 article, the compensation of missionaries was to be fixed by 
 the Board of Directors, subject to the control of the Society 
 at its annual meeting. 
 
 Of this Society, Joseph Bryan, of Mount Zion, was 
 chosen President ; Augustus Moore, of Augusta, Treasurer ; 
 Rev. Mr. Moderwell, Corresponding Secretary, and Rev. B. 
 Gildersleeve, Recording Secretary. Joseph C. Stiles, who 
 had been licensed at that session of the Presbytery, was 
 appointed its general agent to collect funds and form auxiliary 
 societies. The receipts of the society the first year were 
 about $400. Stiles seems to have been the only missionary 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 39 
 
 in their employ. In their first annual report, they complain 
 of the difficulty of obtaining suitable, laborers. In their 
 second year, they employed four missionaries at a compen- 
 sation of $40 per month. The Society accomplished a gtiod 
 work in succeeding years, employing many efficient men as 
 hiissionaries, and founding and fostering Churches in the 
 more recently acquired territories in the south-western 
 portion of the State. In glancing at the records of the 
 Society, many familiar names meet our eye on the roll of its 
 missionaries, such as Patterson, Williams, Carter, Quillian 
 Galaher, Scott, Lanier, Jehiel and James Talmage, McAlpin, 
 Baker, Stratton, etc.; and we find such Churches as Columbus, 
 LaGrange, Newnan, McDonough, Alcovia, Hopewell (Craw- 
 ford,) Forsyth, Jackson, etc., sharing in its benefactions. In 
 more recent years, it has received at least one valuable 
 legacy. 
 
 We find the Presbytery at this time (1825) inaugurating a 
 system of protracted meetings, or rather, camp-meetings, 
 from which resulted great good to the cause of Presbyterian- 
 isra. An extract from their minutes will show their reasons 
 for this measure : "Whereas, the members of our Churches 
 within the bounds of this Presbytery are few, and scattered 
 over a comparatively large surface of country ; and Whereas, 
 great advantage has arisen to Churches from meeting to- 
 gether, and holding Christian communion with each other in 
 the enjoyment of gospel ordinances: it is, therefore, Jlesolved, 
 That the Presbytery recommend to the brethren, and to the 
 Churches under our care, to meet together in as large numbers 
 as may be convenient, at least once a year, on sacramental 
 occasions, and that our ancient custom of fasting, humilia- 
 tion and prayer, on such occasions, may be revived as far as 
 expedient." 
 
 In the more densely settled regions of country, and where 
 houses of worship have been erected sufficiently spacious for the 
 accommodation of the people, and where the ordinances of the 
 
40 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 gospel are regularly administered, such convocations are unne- 
 cessary; but in the condition of our Church in Georgia, at that 
 period, such a system was highly expedient, and was attended 
 with the most beneficial results. Thousands, oftimes, assem- 
 bled at these meetings, and spent usually four or five days 
 in prayer and praise, and preaching and hearing. These 
 occasions furnished thousands an Opportunity of learning 
 ^hat Presbyterianism was, who otherAvise would never have 
 possessed any intelligent idea of its doctrines or polity. 
 Presbyterians from a long distance in the surrounding coun- 
 try came together, and formed a personal acquaintance, which 
 otherwise had never existed. They learned to love each 
 other. They entertained for each other afterwards an 
 undying aff'ection. It rendered the Churches more homoge- 
 neous, and cemented them in bonds of Christian friendship. 
 Christians in that day were not as in ours, cold and formal, 
 neither knowing nor caring for each other's welfare. In the 
 spirit of the Apostle's injunction, they " looked not every 
 man on his own things, but every man also on the things of 
 others." They sympathized with and prayed for each other. 
 That selfish iceberg coldness, which pervades Christian 
 society in this day, was then unknown. Soul mingled with 
 soul like kindred drops of water. Well do we remember 
 the closing scenes of many of these holy convocations. When 
 the parting hour came, what tender farewells were uttered ! 
 what warm expressions of Christian love and esteem were 
 exchanged between those who had come together as utter 
 strangers ! With what spirit and deep emotion have we 
 heard the great congregation unite with one heart and one 
 voice in singing their parting song : 
 
 " Blest be the tie that binds 
 Our hearts in Christian love; 
 The fellowship of kindred minds 
 Is like to that above. 
 
 " We share our mutual woes, 
 Our mutual burdens bear, 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 41 
 
 And often for each other flows 
 The sympathizing tear. 
 
 " When we asunder part, 
 It gives US inward pain; 
 But we shall still be joined in heart, 
 And hope to meet again." 
 
 These seasons of Christian communion were oftentimes not 
 inappropriately called the Feast of Tabernacles, when, like 
 the Jews, the people retired from their homes and dwelt in 
 tents or booths, leaving all their secular cares behind, and 
 devoting the time exclusively to the worship of God in the 
 great temple of Nature. As that season was "to the pious 
 Jew, a season of " marked and decided indications of joy," so 
 were these assemblages rich in comfort and spiritual blessings 
 to multitudes who would otherwise have been entirely deprived 
 of the ordinances. These meetings were often signally blest 
 by the outpourings of the Divine Spirit and the conversion 
 of multitudes of souls. Not infrequently fifty to an hundred 
 souls would be brought to confess Christ. Even distant 
 Churches were strengthened and builded up, so as soon to be 
 able to sustain pastors. Thus the banner of the Cross was 
 planted in places where a personal ministry had been 
 unknown. 
 
 Many, it is true, attended these gatherings who received 
 no benefit from the services. They came not with a desire 
 to be benefitted. They came to look on, or even for worse 
 purposes. Many of them were of the " baser sort." But it 
 rarely happened to hear of any outrages on the part of such 
 at Presbyterian meetings, whatever has characterized such 
 convocations of other denominations. It has generally been 
 observed, that those who are orderly themselves, and free 
 from extravagancies, are not likely to be assaulted by those 
 inclined to produce disturbance. These meetings were, in 
 general, characterized by deep solemnity, and as much staid- 
 ness and sobriety as are witnessed in our Sabbuth congrega- 
 
42 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 ■ tions in our most conservative and well organized Churches. 
 Very rarely any noise or confusion broke upon the stillness 
 and attention of the waiting Audience. 
 
 About the close of the eig^iteenth and beginning of the 
 nineteenth centuries, there were camp-meetings held by 
 Presbyterians in many parts of the country. They had their 
 origin in Kentucky, in the year 1801, during the great 
 religious revival which commenced in North Carolina, pene- 
 trated into Tennessee, and spread over all the West.* They 
 also extended into South Carolina. Not more than one or 
 two was held in Georgia, near the close of these camp-meet- 
 ing times. 
 
 * It so happened that, on one occasion, in the early part of that revival, 
 so many people had come from a distance to the administi-ation of the 
 Lord's Supper at a particular Church, that accommodation could nowhere 
 be found in the neighborhood for all, during the successive days and 
 nights which they wished to spend at the place. This induced as many 
 as could to procure tents, and form something like a military encamp- 
 ment, when, as provisions were easily to be had, they miglit stay till the 
 meetings closed. Such was the origin of camp-meetings. They thus 
 originated in sheer necessity. They were afterwards held at various 
 points during that extraordinary season of religious solicitude. The 
 country was thinly settled ; deep and widespread feeling prevailed on the 
 subject of religion; many persons attended from distances of thirty, forty, 
 and fifty miles, and on one occasion, some came from a distance of one 
 hundred miles. These meetings were held, when the weather permitted, 
 in the midst of the noble forest. Seals were made of logs and planks, 
 the under rubbish being cleared away; a pulpit was erected, facing the 
 rows of seats; and there, forenoon, and afternoon, and evening, the 
 ministers of the gospel made known the '' words of eternal life." Public 
 prayer was also held at the same spot, early in ttie morning and at the 
 close of the services at night. Lamps were suspended at night from the 
 boughs of the trees, and torches blazed from stakes eight or ten feet high, 
 in front of each tent. In the rear of the tents, morning and evening, 
 such simple cooking operations as were necessary, went on. Each tent 
 was occupied by one or two families. A horn or trumpet announced the 
 hour for the commencement of the public services. Solemn scenes 
 occurred at these meetiags, such as might well have caused many who 
 scoffed to tremble. They were confined for years to the frontier settle- 
 ments. They served to bring together, to the profit of immortal souls, 
 a population scattered flir and wide. — BaircVa Religion in America. 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 43 
 
 These meetings were sometimes attended by strange and 
 marked bodily exercises, such as have not been witnessed in 
 latter days at such places — such as falling or striking dotvn, 
 in which the individual continued for hours, and sometimes 
 even for a day, in an apparent state of insensibility. Occa- 
 sionally they were perceived to pray, and sometimes they 
 would cry out. Others were exercised by the most violent 
 bodily agitations, to which the vulgar epithet of the jerks 
 was given.* 
 
 Some have attempted to account for these strange phe- 
 nomena on the ground of nervous exhaustion; but probably 
 no one has ever arrived at any true and satisfactory reason 
 for these bodily motions. They generally occurred, but not 
 always, in religious assemblages. That they were the result 
 of divine influences, in all cases, we have never believed, 
 since many who were the subjects of them never afterwards 
 manifested any piety ; nor did those who professed conver- 
 sion, and who became staid and sober Christians in after 
 life, profess to have had any deep convictions of sin, or 
 overwhelming views of guilt, at the time of their prostration, 
 nor to have received any illumination, or other spiritual 
 manifestation at the time. Yet, it is by no means proved 
 that it was all fanaticism and delusion. There were, beyond 
 question, many true conversions. Was it a disease? or was 
 it a diabolical influence ? We know not. 
 
 In the meetings recommended by the Presbytery, and 
 
 * It cannot be denied that from 1799 to 1803, in this revival season, 
 elsewhere so free from excitement, there were, in parts of Keutucliy and 
 Tennessee, extraordinary "bodily exercises, called the jerks, falling 
 down," etc., in the meetings, which the enlightened friends of the work 
 lamented, and which excited its enemies to ridicule and blasphemy. But 
 it must be remembered that these physical agitations took place at large 
 camp-meetings, in which were gathered all the elements of excitement 
 from ever}' quarter, and which were continued, day and night, till the 
 consequent exhaustion of the multitudes, in a great measure, took away 
 the power of self-control. — Br. Davidson's State of the Church. 
 
44 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 which has given occasion to these remarks, no such extrava- 
 gance was ever witnessed. 
 
 We are not the advocate of these meetings under all 
 circumstances. As above observed, in the older and more 
 densely populated portions of the country, they are altogether 
 unnecessary ; but among a destitute and scattered people, as 
 was the condition of society in Georgia at that time, they 
 furnish a most excellent opportunity for spreading abroad 
 the knowledge of Christ, and building up the Church. And 
 this is especially the case where there is a paucity of laborers 
 to gather the harvest. It has been largely owing to such 
 efforts in the newly settled regions of the State, that the 
 Presbyterian Church has been planted in so many places. 
 
 It is not apparent that Hopewell Presbytery required the 
 Churches under its care to send up their sessional records 
 for review before the meeting at Lexington, in the spring of 
 1825. An order was then issued, " that the session of each 
 Church should send to the Presbytery, at its annual spring 
 Sessions, a written congregational report, together with its 
 book of records." Indeed, in the early days of the Presby- 
 tery, it does not appear to have very carefully regulated its 
 proceedings by ecclesiastical law, or the rules of legislative 
 practice. The absence of members, in many instances, is 
 not noted at the opening of its Sessions. Sometimes the 
 records do not state whether the Sessions were opened or 
 closed with prayer. Doubtless they were, and thus it is a 
 clerical omission. No memoirs of deceased members are 
 recorded : as, for instance, it is simply said of the first 
 minister who died after its organization, " The Rev. John 
 Newton has departed this life since our last sessions," and 
 of Mr. Springer, " The Rev. John Springer has deceased 
 since our last sessions." In our day, the order of proceed- 
 ings as they appear from the minutes of this body, would not 
 pass the review of the superior ecclesiastical court without 
 severe animadversions. 
 
■ PKESBYTEEIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 45 
 
 The 64th Sessions of Hopewell were held at Fairview^ 
 Gwinnett county, in August, 1825. This was evidence of 
 an aggressive movement. This was new territory. Hitherto 
 its meetings had been confined to the older portions of the 
 State. It had never been farther west than the county of 
 Jackson. But now it assembled on the borders of the Chat- 
 tahoochee, in what had been recently Indian country. Here 
 a small Church had been gathered of emigrants from other 
 regions, and here a pastor was to be installed. At this Pres- 
 bytery there were present nine ministers and four elders. 
 Besides the installation and receiving the trials of several 
 young men under their care, the Presbytery appointed two 
 committees to report at the next Sessions — the first in rela- 
 tion to the propriety of singing a psalm or hymn whilst com- 
 municants were assembling around the table of our Lord, and 
 the second "to enquire into the propriety of having a regular 
 and uniform mode of making a public profession of religion 
 on entering into full membership of the Church." Two inter- 
 mediate meetings were held before the spring Sessions — one 
 at Monticello, 1st September, 1825, and one at Washington, 
 Wilkes county, December 15th, 1825. These meetings were 
 held for judicial purposes. The spring Sessions were held at 
 Mount Zion the 7th April, 1826, at which eleven ministers 
 were present .and four elders. At this Presbytery the com- 
 mittee appointed to enquire into the expediency of having a 
 uniform method of receiving members into fellowship with 
 the Church reported. 
 
 This subject elicited some debate. Its propriety was ques- 
 tioned. It was then, and has been since, condemned in many 
 parts of the Church, on the ground that such a formula was 
 a kind of abbreviated creed, and inconsistent with the practice 
 of the Presbyterian Church, and as opening a door to error in 
 doctrine. In some places this has probably been the case, 
 but generally, no such evil has attended its adoption. It has 
 been charged that it is a congregational dogma. This is 
 
46 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 probably in some measure true, as many practices have been 
 foisted into the Presbyterian Church from the shops of Con- 
 gregationalism, which never had any sound Presbyterian 
 authority. Such a thing has never obtained in the Church of 
 Scotland; nor was it known in our Church in its earlier days. 
 The committee say in their report, that after " the most 
 serious deliberation they are of opinion, in all things which 
 are to be considered as mere matters of decency and order in 
 the government and discipline of the Church, and concerning 
 which no particular and express rules or examples are given 
 in the Scriptures, that a difference in modes and forms ought 
 not to be a bar to communion, or infringe on the mainte- 
 nance of the unity of the Christian spirit in the bonds of peace 
 and love. That however the external forms may be differ- 
 ent as the circumstances of the Church may differ, or as 
 different errors or vices prevail on that account, it may be 
 expedient for the Church of Christ to lift up her testimony, 
 and guard against them, in that way which may be deemed 
 most effectual." 
 
 Yet the committee was fully of opinion that those who have 
 been received into membership of the Church, by satisfying 
 the Church officers of their soundness in the faith, their own 
 experience of a saving work of grace in the heart, and an 
 orderly life and conversation before the Church, and the world, 
 are justly entitled to all the privileges and benefits of Church 
 membership, whether they have, or have not made a public 
 profession in the midst of a congregation at the time of their 
 initiation. Nevertheless the committee was of opinion that 
 uniformity, even in these things, which are merely circum- 
 stantial, is very desirable, and that making a public and open 
 profession of the faith of the gospel in a congregation of 
 Christian worshippers, is that of which_^no one need or ought 
 to be ashamed, who is duly qualified by grace for the enjoy- 
 ment of gospel ordinances. 
 
 The committee, therefore, recommended that a public dec- 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 47 
 
 laration of faith in Christ, and obedience to Him of some bind, 
 should be practised, wherever it might be done without injury 
 to the cause or the feelings of those concerned. 
 
 The formula of admission was presented by the same com- 
 mittee, and I presume adopted, though such does not appear 
 from the minutes to have been the fact.* 
 
 *It is probable that few in the present day, either ministers or private 
 members have ever seen, or know of the existence of such a formula. 1 
 have thought proper to append it in a note. Most of our ministers have 
 some form, either prepared by themselves or obtained from some other 
 quarter. I think, if used at all, there should be a good degree of unifor- 
 mity. The following is the form recommended by the committee; 
 
 " Candidates for admission, having been previously examined as to 
 their soundness in the faith, and experimental acquaintance wiih religion, 
 and the motives which influenced them to desire membership in the 
 Church, and the Elders having been satisfied as to their orderly deport- 
 ment and moral character, shall be requested, before or after sermon, to 
 present themselves in the presence of the congregation, and the minister 
 shall address them in following or like form : 
 
 You have now presented yourselves before God and this congregation 
 to dedicate yourselves to the service of the Almighty, and to become in- 
 corporated with his visible Church : In doing this, you profess to love 
 God supremely ; that you repent of your sins ; that you rely on the ability 
 and willingness of the Lord Jesus Christ to save such as come unto Him ; 
 and that you rely on Divine aid to assist you in walking in the com- 
 mandments and ordinances of the gospel of Christ. The transaction is 
 solemn in its nature, and will be followed by eternal consequences. We 
 trust you have seriously considered the nature of the professions and en- 
 gagements you are about to make, together with the character proper to 
 be sustained, and the duties to be performed by you as members of the 
 Church of Christ. And you may come to God with holy boldness, in the 
 name of Christ, who is rich in mercy to all those who call upon him. 
 And, indeed, you may freely venture to commit yourselves to his care, 
 and trust in his faithfulness for strength to fulfill 3'our engagements. 
 
 The minister shall then propose to the candidate the following ques- 
 tions : 
 
 1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be 
 the word of God— the only infallible rule of faith and practice? 
 
 2. Do you sincerely adopt the Confession of Faith of this Church, as 
 containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures? 
 
 3. Do you approve of the government and discipline of the Presby- 
 terian Church in these United States ? 
 
48 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORCflA. 
 
 In relation to this and every other formula, I have ever felt 
 one strong objection. No one should be required to assent or 
 subscribe to a thing of which he is ignorant : And these 
 articles of profession are generally imposed upon persons who 
 are ignorant of their contents. It can then be nothing but a 
 blind assent. It is not an intelligent profession. 
 
 If such a profession must be made, the candidate should 
 certainly be informed, beforehand, of the doctrines and prin- 
 ciples he is required to adopt, otherwise he is solemnly called 
 upon blindly to subscribe to a creed which he has never ma- 
 
 4. Do you promise to study the peace, unity aud purity of the Church ? 
 
 5. Do you promise to love the Christian brotherhood, and due subjec- 
 tion to the exercise of lawful authority in the Church, for conscience 
 sake ? 
 
 These questions having been answered in the affirmative, the minister 
 shall address himself to the candidates in the following or like terms: 
 
 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the authority he hath 
 given to the Church for edification, we do receive you as members of his 
 visible Church, and declare you entitled to all its privileges, and welcome 
 you to fellowship with us in all the blessings of the gospel : And for this 
 purpose, may the blessing of God rest upon you, and the spirit of Christ 
 fill your heart. Amen. 
 
 And now, brethren, we commend you to God, and to the word of his 
 grace. Let it be impressed upon your minds, that you have entered into 
 solemn engagements from which you can never be released. Wherever 
 you may be, the obligations of Christ and His Church, to which you have 
 now given your pledge, will rest upon you ; they will follow you through 
 life, to the bar of God, and throughout eternitj'. Henceforward, as you 
 conduct yourselves in life, religion will be honored or disgraced. If you 
 live according to the gospel, you will be a credit and a comfort to us, 
 and to all the Church of God. May Jehovah bless you and keep you. 
 May He lift upon you the light of His countenance, and be merciful to you. 
 May He strengthen you in your passage through this transitory life, and, 
 when this warfare is ended, may we all be brought together into that 
 happy Church where our communion shall be perfect and our joy ever- 
 lasting. Amen. 
 
 The minister and elders present may then take the initiated by the 
 hand and say : We give you the right hand of fellowship, and welcome 
 you to communion with us. And may your communion be not only with 
 us, but also with the Father, and with the Son, and with the Holy Ghost- 
 Amen " 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 49 
 
 turely considered, and which he may afterward feel in con- 
 science bound to repudiate. 
 
 This is little better than Jesuitism. Hence, where such a 
 plan is adopted, the formula should be placed in the hands of 
 the candidate that he may have opportunity calmly to consider 
 the nature of the obligations he is about to assume. This 
 would enable him to make an intelligent profession. 
 
 At this session the Presbytery recommended the Churches 
 to make out regular calls for the ministers of their choice, 
 wherever it was practicable, and have them installed. The 
 object of this recommendation was to obviate the practice of 
 stated supplies, which, though very general in our day, is un- 
 known to the Constitution and laws of our Church, and has 
 been repeatedly forbidden by our highest courts.* 
 
 The committee appointed the preceding August to consider 
 the propriety of singing a psalm whilst communicants were 
 assembling around the Lord's table, reported, that they could 
 not discover any justifiable reason why the practice should 
 be either prohibited or discontinued. 
 
 A system of Presbyterial visitation was adopted ; and it was 
 resolved that the ministers of the Presbytery go two and two 
 on visitation tours to the Churches in the several counties 
 where our Churches existed, and that the Churches be in- 
 formed of the time and purposes of their coming. This was 
 a good plan, and ought to be adopted by all the Presbyteries. 
 
 The Presbyterial Report, prepared to be sent to the General 
 Assembly at this session, shows that the Presbytery consisted 
 of fifteen ministers, four licentiates and thirty-one Churches ; 
 that it had four beneficiaries on the Education Society, pur- 
 suing studies at Athens, and that the Missionary Society had 
 four missionaries in its employ. 
 
 It is cheering to note these advances of our Church, at that 
 time, in numbers and efficiency. At 'the next meeting still 
 further evidence of aggressiveness was manifest. A pastor 
 
 * See Baird's Digest, pp. 90, 9^. 
 
50 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 was ordained and settled at Milledgeville, and Churches were 
 reported as having been organized at Jackson, Butts county, 
 and Macon. 
 
 The Presbytery continued in a prosperous condition, grow- 
 ing in numbers until 1831, when it was deemed necessary to 
 divide it, as it had become rather unwieldy for the transaction' 
 of its business with facility. At its last session, prior to its 
 division by the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, held at 
 Greensboro', Ga., there were present some seventy members, 
 ministers and elders. Some were present, who had seen its 
 early days, and when it could hardly gather a quorum to do 
 business, and rejoiced in its prosperity. 
 
THE PRESBYTERY OF GEORGIA. 
 
 The Presbytery of Georgia, as at present constituted, in- 
 cludes little more than the sea-coast of the State. It has, 
 during many years, been a small Presbytery — a small terri- 
 tory, few ministers, and few Churches. It has not always 
 been so. Since its organization it has undergone many and 
 great changes of boundaries. 
 
 For the following statements I am indebted to the Rev. 
 Mr. Buttolph, of that Presbytery, who has kindly com- 
 municated them in a paper drawn up by the late Rev. C. C. 
 Jones, D. D. The precision of Dr. Jones in all his investiga- 
 tions of historical facts, guarantee its accuracy. It may be 
 observed that he differs in his account of the origin of the 
 Presbytery from that usually correct work, " Baird's Assem- 
 bly's Digest." In that book it is represented as having been 
 erected by the division of Hopewell. Dr. Jones says it was 
 formed out of the Presbytery of Harmony. There are cir- 
 cumstances, not necessary to be stated here, that establish 
 the correctness of what Dr. Jones has written, and has been 
 entered upon the records of the Presbytery. 
 
 The following is the paper to which I have reference : 
 
 "1. Organization. — The Presbytery of Georgia was formed 
 out of the Presbytery of Harmony, and set off as a Presbytery 
 by regular act of the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, 
 at Washington, Wilkes county, Georgia, November 9, 1821, 
 agreeably to the following resolution : ' Resolved, by this 
 Synod, That the members who have been set off from the 
 Presbytery of Harmony, be formed into a Presbytery by 
 themselves, to be known by the name of the Presbytery of 
 Georgia; and that the dividing line between the Hopewell 
 and Georgia Presbyteries commence at the mouth of Little 
 
52 PKESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 River and run in a southwest direction, leaving the countlea 
 of Columbia, Warren, Hancock and Baldwin, and all the 
 territory below, in the Presbytery of Georgia, and all the 
 counties above in the Presbytery of Hopewell : And that 
 the Rev. Nathan S. S. Beman, who is now a member of Hope- 
 well Presbytery, be dismissed from that body and annexed 
 to the Presbytery of Georgia. It is understood, likewise, 
 that the licentiates and candidates who fall within the bounds 
 of the Presbytery of Georgia, be and hereby are connected 
 with that body. It is, moreover, ordered by this Synod, 
 that the Presbytery constitute at 1 o'clock, p. m., this day, 
 and that the Rev. N. S. S. Beman be the first Moderator."* 
 2. Original llembers.-^Uhe original members thus set 
 off were. Rev. William McWhir, who was received into the 
 Harmony Presbytery from the Presbytery of Killileagh, 
 county of Down, Ireland, upon his approving and consenting 
 to the Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church in the 
 United States of America. He was received at the meeting 
 of Presbytery at Columbia, South Carolina, November 9, 
 1815; Rev. Murdock Murphy, who w^as received from the 
 Presbytery of Orange, at Savannah, December 27, 1811 ; 
 Rev. Thomas Gould ing, who was licensed by Presbytery of 
 Harmony, at Augusta, Georgia, October 31, 1813. He was 
 ordained and installed at White Bluff, near Savannah, Janu- 
 ary 21, ISlGf; Rev. William Moderwell who was received at 
 Salem, Black River, April 19, 1821, from the Presbytery of 
 New Castle; Rev. Samuel S. Davis, who was received at 
 Augusta, November 2, 1821, from the Presbytery of Albany, 
 New York ; and Rev. Remembrance Chamberlain, who was 
 
 * See Minutes Pres. Ga.: pp. 1, 2. 
 
 f Is White Bluff a Presbyterian Church ? It would seem to have been 
 such originally, from the fact that it had a pastor ordained and installed 
 over it by the Presbytery of Harmouj-. It is at present unknown to the 
 Synod of Georgia as such, never having been reported by the Presbytery 
 of Georgia. 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 53 
 
 received at the same time and place from the Addison Asso- 
 ciation, in Vermont. 
 
 These ministers were set oiF from Harmony Presbytery, to 
 whom the Synod united the Rev. Nathan S. S. Beman, from 
 Hopewell Presbytery, and the Rev. Benjamin Gildersleeve, 
 who fell within the bounds of the Presbytery of Georgia, also 
 of Hopewell Presbytery. The Presbytery thus constituted 
 had under its care two licentiates, Mr. James Word and Mr. 
 James S. Olcott; and one candidate for the ministry, Mr. 
 Carlisle P. Beman. 
 
 3. — Bounds. — (1) Original bounds: East, it was bounded 
 by the Savannah River and the Atlantic; on the north by 
 the counties of Lincoln, Wilkes, Taliaferro, Green, Putnam, 
 Jasper, Monroe, Upson, Talbot and Harris ; on the west by 
 the Chattahoochee River, and stretching south, included all 
 the Floridas. 
 
 Within Georgia, the Presbytery embraced forty-five coun- 
 ties, namely, Columbia, Warren, Hancock, Baldwin, Jones, 
 Bibb, Crawford, Marion, Muscogee, Houston, Twiggs, Wil- 
 kinson, Washington, Jefferson, Richmond, Burke, Emanuel, 
 Laurens, Pulaski, Dooly, Sumter, Stewart, Randolph, Lee, 
 Early, Baker, Decatur, Thomas, Lowndes, Ware, L^win, 
 Telfair, Montgomery, Scriven, Bullock, Tatnall, Appling, 
 Effingham, Chatham, Bryan, Liberty, Mcintosh, Wayne, 
 Glynn and Camden. This was more than half of the State 
 as it then existed. 
 
 (2.) First alteration of hounds. — The Synod, in 1824, 
 annexed to Hopewell Presbytery the counties north and west, 
 beginning with Columbia, Warren, Hancock, Baldwin, Jones, 
 Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Twiggs, Wilkinson, Washington, 
 Jefferson, Richmond, Burke, Emanuel, Laurens, Pulaski, 
 Montgomery — in all eighteen; thereby cutting off a large 
 number of Churches and ministers, and reducing the Presby- 
 tery to a very small, body. This action of the Synod was 
 objected to by the Presbytery at its session at St. Marys, 
 
54 PKESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 April, 1825, and a delegate appointed to present the com- 
 plaint of Presbytery before Synod at its next meeting, and 
 request that a portion of its territory be restored, -which, 
 however, was never done, 
 
 (3.) The second alteration of its boundary, — After the for- 
 mation of Flint River Presbytery, out of Hopewell, the 
 Synod established the line between the Flint River and 
 Georgia Presbyteries, at its meeting in Milledgeville, Novem. 
 ber, 1836, by the following resolution : " That it be a right 
 line from the Ocmulgee to the Flint River, commencing at the 
 corner of Telfair and Irwin counties, opposite Jacksonville, 
 and running to the mouth of Flint River." This act cut off 
 from the Presbytery of Georgia all of Early, Randolph, Lee, 
 Stewart, Sumter, Marion and Muscogee — seven counties — 
 and parts of Dooly, Decatur and Baker — three more. 
 
 (4) The third alteration of boundary — Was on the petition 
 of the Churches in Middle Florida, in connection with the 
 Presbytery of Georgia, to the Synod, which petition was con- 
 curred in by the Presbytery, in compliance with which the 
 Synod at its Sessions in Augusta, November, 1840, set oflFthe 
 counties of Baker, Decatur, Thomas and Lowndes, together 
 with Middle and West Florida, into a new Presbytery, which 
 received the name of the Presbytery of Florida, consisting of 
 four counties from Georgia, and Middle and West Florida. 
 
 As above remarked, the Presbytery of Georgia is a small 
 body, confined to the sea coast. An attempt was made in 
 1866, to restore the counties in Georgia, namely, Decatur, 
 Thomas, Lowndes, Brooks, &c., belonging to the Florida 
 Presbytery, to the Presbytery of Georgia. But it was un- 
 successfal. Such an arrangement would greatly strengthen 
 the Presbytery. Its most efficient Churches are the First 
 Church of Savannah, the Church at Mt. Vernon, Wayne 
 coitnty, and the Churches of Flemington and Walthourville, 
 in Liberty, It has organizations at St. Marys, Brunswick, 
 Bryan, Darien, and, perhaps, some other places, St. Marys 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IX GEORGIA. 55 
 
 and Darien were desolated by tlie war, and the people driven 
 away. 
 
 The Presbytery of Georgia has been distinguished for its 
 successful efforts in behalf of the religious instruction of the 
 negroes. The^work was inaugurated by that body under the 
 leadership of the late Dr. C. C. Jones, who devoted the 
 larger portion of his ministerial life to missionary labors 
 among that people. 
 
 Other Presbyteries caught the spirit, and almost every- 
 where within our State, and in many other places vathin other 
 States, much attention was given by ministers and people to 
 this good work. Almost alLthe young men reared within the 
 bounds of that Presbytery, who entered the ministry, as very 
 many have, went out imbued with the spirit of devotion to 
 that cause. A Ladson, of Columbia, and a Winn, of Miss- 
 issippi, are remembered as shining examples of untiring and 
 successful labors in this department of the Master's work. 
 The results of the war has closed the door, at least for the 
 present, in this direction. 
 
PRESBYTERY OF FLINT RIVER. 
 
 The original name of this Presbytery was Ghood Hopc^ but 
 at the next meeting of the Synod after its formation, was 
 changed to that of Flint River. 
 
 "At the meeting of the Synod of South Carolina and 
 Georgia, held in Columbia, South Carolina, on the fifth day of 
 December, eighteen hundred and thirty-three, the resolution 
 of Hopewell Presbytery was presented, praying the Synod to 
 divide said Presbytery, so that that part of its present terri- 
 tory included between the Ocmulgee and Chattahoochee 
 Rivers, with the counties of Newton, Walton, Gwinnett, 
 Campbell, Carroll and Heard, may form a new Presbytery, 
 to be called the Presbytery of Good Hope; Whereupon, it 
 was resolved that the Presbytery of Hopewell be divided, 
 according to the resolution of that body in April last, and 
 that the part of the Presbytery now called Hopewell on the 
 west side of the Ocmulgee River, together with the counties 
 aforesaid, be denominated the Presbytery of Good Hope, to 
 meet in McDonough, on Thursday before the fourth Sabbath 
 in March next, at 11 o'clock, A. M., to be opened with a ser- 
 mon by Edwin Holt, or in case of his absence by the senior 
 member present, who is to preside until a Moderator is chosen." 
 
 The Presbytery of Hopewell had existed thirty-seven years 
 without any formal division of its territory or alteration of 
 its boundaries, except those which had occurred in settling 
 the boundaries of Georgia Presbytery. Its limits had been 
 vastly extended by the addition of new territories in the west 
 of the State. In 1818, its western boundaries were Franklin, 
 Jackson, Morgan, Jones, and the Ocmulgee River. By the 
 treaties of 1818 and 1821, they were carried to the Chatta- 
 hoochee River. It was this new territory which was now 
 erected into a new Presbytery. 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 57 
 
 The Presbytery of Good Hope consisted of ten members, 
 to-wit : Remembrance Chamberlain, John S. Wilson, James 
 Gamble, Edwin Holt, James C- Patterson, Thomas F. Scott, 
 Joseph Y. Alexander, John Baker, William B. Richards, 
 and Williana K. Patton. Only one of these remained in 
 connection with it until its recent division into the Presby- 
 teries of Atlanta and Macon. Seven of them have died, and 
 two transferred their relation to other denominations — one to 
 the Episcopalians, and one to the Baptists. Its first meeting 
 was held at McDonough, Henry county, according to the 
 direction of the Synod, and was opened Avith a sermon by 
 Rev. Edwin Holt. The Rev. James C. Patterson was elected 
 Stated Clerk, which office he held till his death, a space of 
 thirty-three years. It had under its care some twenty-six 
 Churches. 
 
 From its first annual report made to the General Assembly, 
 we are able to gather some information as to the strength 
 and spiritual condition of the Churches. In that report, the 
 Presbytery said : " We have but just commenced our Pres- 
 byterial existence. Our communication must consist, then, ' 
 less of what we have done, than of what we have to do. Our 
 Churches are, for the most part, small, and many of them 
 labor under great disadvantages from not having enjoyed, 
 heretofore, regular systematic pastoral supervision. They 
 are planted, for the most part, in desirable situations, where 
 a growing population holds out to them the prospect of con- 
 siderable enlargement, and presents a loud demand for active 
 labor. The fewness of the laborers, compared with the 
 extent of the field and the distance between the Churches, 
 hold out serious impediments to that efficient co-operation 
 and vigorous extension of our efi"orts which are so necessary 
 to the increased usefulness of our Churches. Our denomina- 
 tion, we believe, is destined to exert an important influence 
 on the flourishing counties within our bounds. Could our 
 destitute Churches procure self-denying and faithful ministers, 
 
58 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 and could the favorable openings for the formation of new 
 Churches be promptly occupied by zealous, active laborers, 
 we may expect to report, at the close of the year, that our 
 Presbytery has extended widely her ranks, her resources, 
 and her influence." 
 
 These anticipations were very partially realized. Though 
 more than thirty-four years have passed since these utter- 
 ances, very much of the land yet remains to be possessed. 
 
 The subject of Domestic Missions and Church extension 
 engaged the earnest attention of this Presbytery from the 
 beginning. At its first meeting, it inaugurated a plan for 
 carrying forward the work by organizing a Board of Missions, 
 whose duty was declared to be, "to ascertain the state of 
 all the feeble and destitute Churches, and to find out how 
 much each one may be able or willing to do for the support 
 of a preacher among theiH ; and also, to become acquainted 
 with the more destitute places, where ministers may be 
 profitably employed, and to procure suitable laborers, and to 
 send them out to supply the destitute, and to form new 
 Churches." 
 
 The Presbytery resolved to conduct its own missions. 
 This rule, with the exception of a short period — when it was 
 connected with the General Assembly's Board of Domestic 
 Missions — was never violated. The work thus commenced, 
 was prosecuted with much zeal and efiiciency for many years. 
 
 The great complaint of the Presbytery during the first 
 years of its existence, was the scarcity of laborers. It had 
 more funds than missionaries. Besides the liberal contribu- 
 tions of the Churches, the Presbytery, in 1843, received a 
 liberal bequest from a Mr. Moses Alexander, residing in the 
 neighborhood of Fort Gaines, Early county, of the rents, 
 issues and profits of a valuable plantation, to be applied to 
 the support of Domestic Missions. From this source, as 
 also from a portion of the Fox legacy — which had been left 
 to Hopewell Presbytery by a Mr. Fox, of Augusta, prior to 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 59 
 
 the division — the Presbytery was enabled to prosecute its 
 work of evangelization with considerable success. At times, 
 every organized Church within its bounds was supplied with 
 the stated preaching of the Word. 
 
 The Presbytery increased in Churches from twenty-five ta 
 forty-six, the number at its late division. In the meantime, 
 a number of organizations had been dissolved, or had entered 
 into new combinations. 
 
 At the second meeting of the Presbytery, the subject of 
 the education of young men for the ministry was taken up, 
 and the formation of a Board of Education was effected. 
 This Board was directed to seek out the indigent, pious 
 young men of our Church, who desire to enter the gospel 
 ministry, and to afford them such aid in acquiring the requi- 
 site education as they may be able, and the necessities of the 
 young men may require. 
 
 This Board was so far auxiliary to the Georgia Educational 
 Society as to make an annual report to that body. The 
 Presbytery also approved and contributed to the support of 
 the school founded by that Society in "the vicinity of Athens, 
 and sent thither several of its young men to be educated. 
 When the Society determined to break up that school, and, 
 by dividing its interests, to found two schools, one of these 
 (the Gwinnett Institute) was located Avithin its bounds. In 
 September, 1835, the Directors of the Georgia Educational 
 Society tendered the control of the institution to the Presby- 
 tery, which was by it accepted. The school continued under 
 its superintendence, with varied success, until the fall of 
 1845, when the property was sold and the enterprise aban- 
 doned. This was the end of the Manual Labor system of 
 education in Georgia. Yet, that school was not without 
 fruit. Several worthy young men received there their 
 education, who afterwards became useful ministers, some of 
 whom continue in the vineyard to the present time. 
 
 The first alteration in the bounds of the Presbytery oc- 
 
60 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 curred in 1840,when the Sjnod of South Carolina and Georgia 
 detached from it, the counties of Decatur, Early and Baker, 
 and attached them to the newly constituted Presbytery of 
 Florida. 
 
 The second change of boundaries was made by the Synod 
 in 1842, when the county of Bibb, and the Church of Macon, 
 was transferred to the Presbytery of Hopewell, and, as com- 
 pensation, the counties of Paulding, Walker, Cobb, Floyd, 
 Cass, Cherokee, Chattooga, Murray, Gilmer and Dade were 
 transferred to, and became a part of Flint River. This was a 
 singular ecclesiastical freak. The gratification of personal 
 feelings, and not the greatest good of the Church, influenced 
 this measure. 
 
 The third change in boundaries was made by the Synod in 
 in 1843, when that part of its territory known as the Chero- 
 kee country, west of the Chattahoochee River, was sot off and 
 erected into. the Presbytery of Cherokee. 
 
 No other alterations occurred until the winter of 1866, 
 when the Synod of Georgia divided it, constituting the Pres- 
 byteries of Atlanta and Macon. Thus, after an existence of 
 thirty-four years, the name of Flint River Presbytery was 
 stricken from the roll of Presbyteries. 
 
PRESBYTERY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 The Presbytery of Florida was erected by the Synod of 
 South Carolina and Georgia, at its Sessions in Augusta, 
 Kovember, 1840, by detaching the whole State of Florida 
 from the Presbytery of Georgia, and three or four counties in 
 Georgia from the Presbytery of Flint River. ' The intention 
 was to constitute another Synod, but the plan has not been 
 effected. It consists at present of twenty-seven Churches 
 and eicrhteen ministers. 
 
 PRESBYTERY OF CHEROKEE. 
 
 The Presbytery of Cherokee was organized the 18th of 
 April, 1844, at Sumraerville, Chattooga county, Georgia, in 
 accordance with the following resolutions passed by the Synod 
 of South Carolina and Georgia at its Sessions in Augusta 
 in 1843: 
 
 Resolved, That in accordance with the unanimous vote of 
 Flint River Presbytery, as expressed at its last meeting, 
 Synod proceed to set off and erect into a new Presbytery, all 
 that part of the territory now belonging to Flint River Pres- 
 bytery known as the Cherokee Country, and also the counties 
 of Forsyth, Lumpkin and Union, belonging to the Presbytery 
 of Hopewell, to be called by the name of the Presbytery of 
 Cherokee, to include all the Churches within said counties, 
 
62 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IX GEORGIA. 
 
 and the ministers there located, viz : Isaac W. Waddel, Jas. 
 Gamble, Nathaniel A. Pratt and Alexander B. McCorkle, 
 with the licentiates, Thomas Jackson and James B. Dun- 
 woody ; that said Presbytery meet on the Thursday before 
 the third Sabbath in April, in the town of Summerville, 
 Chattooga county ; that the Rev. James Gamble be appointed 
 to preach the opening sermon, and preside until a new 
 Moderator be chosen ; and in case of his absence, the senior 
 minister present discharge his duties. 
 
 The Presbytery had under its care some ten Churches at 
 the time of its organization. Its efforts from the beginning 
 seem to have been mainly directed to the work of Domestic 
 Missions and Church extension. It was a prosperous and 
 eflBcient Presbytery up to the time of the commencement of 
 the late civil war. Twenty-eight Churches were added to its 
 roll from 1844, the date of its first meeting, until 1858, a 
 period of fourteen years. Many of these, however, have been 
 dissolved, or become extinct, since, according to its last 
 report, it shows only thirty-one Churches on its roll. Its 
 membership seems to have been somewhat transient, since, of 
 forty-two ministers who have been connected with it in the 
 twenty-four years of its existence, only fourteen remain on its 
 roll. 
 
 This Presbytery, like all Presbyteries in new countries, 
 has experienced many changes. Small Churches are gather- 
 ed with the prospect of increase, which, after a few years, 
 have become extinct, either by emigration, or for want of 
 regular preaching and administration of the ordinances. The 
 latter is, more generally, the cause of failure. Few instances 
 have ever occurred, where a regular and efiicient ministry has 
 been maintained, that Churches have declined and become 
 extinct. And ministers coming into such Presbyterips, 
 though with sincere intentions of becoming permanent labor- 
 ers, find the Churches weak, and unable to give the necessary 
 material support, after a short trial become discouraged, and 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 63 
 
 under the pressure of want, are compelled to seek more 
 favorable fields of labor. 
 
 This will continue to be the case until we have an adequate 
 sustentation fund, to furnish liberal aid to our feeble Churches. 
 All over Georgia, to-day, may be found the wrecks of Presby- 
 terian Churches once planted in hope, and with some good 
 prospect of success. They maintained a sickly existence for 
 a few years, and then succumbed for want of the constant 
 ministry of the Word. And they had not a constant ministry 
 because they were unable to sustain it, and there was none 
 to help them. This is the sad history of an hundred organi- 
 zations. And never, until we have a more perfect system of 
 benevolence, will things grow better. 
 
 The Churches in the Presbytery of Cherokee suffered 
 greatly in the late war. Over its territory the contending 
 armies passed, and swept a large portion of it as with the 
 besom of destruction. The devastation was wide and ap- 
 palling. The material wealth of the people was consumed — 
 their agricultural interests ruined — their towns and villages 
 burned or wrecked — their houses of worship demolished or so 
 defaced as to be unfit for use — their ministers driven from 
 their homes, many of them never to return — the membership 
 of their Churches scattered and driven into exile, some of 
 them dying, and others taking up their permanent abode in 
 the regions to which they fled, have diminished their strength, 
 and those who did return greatly impoverished and discour- 
 aged. For many months the exercises of religion were 
 suspended in most of their Churches. The effects of the 
 storm of war that has passed over it cannot be contemplated 
 without the most profound sorrow. But the King in Zion 
 liyes ftmd will restore her breaches. 
 
THE PRESBYTERY OF ATLANTA. 
 
 At the meeting of the Synod of Georgia, in the city of 
 Savannah, in November, 1866, the Presbytery of Flint River 
 was divided, constituting the Presbyteries of Atlanta and 
 Macon. The dividing line between the two Presbyteries 
 commences on the Chattahoochee River, at the corners of 
 Troup and Harris counties, and running thence by the most 
 direct county-lines to the Ocmulgee River, where the northern 
 line of Bibb county touches said river. The Presbytery 
 north of this line is the Presbytery of Atlanta. It has under 
 its care some twenty-five Churches. 
 
 The original members were, Rev. Messrs. John S. Wilson, 
 D.D., W. M. Cunningham, D.D., T. F. Montgomery, Robt. 
 Logan, R. T. Marks, James Stacy, John Jones, W. J. Keith, 
 A. G. Pedan, H. C. Carter, J. L. Rogers. Its first meeting 
 was held in Newnan, Coweta county, Georgia. 
 
THE MACON PRESBYTERY. 
 
 The Presbytery south of the line dividing Flint River 
 Presbytery, is Macon, and consists of some twelve or fourteen 
 Churches. The original ministers were Rev. Messrs David 
 Wills, D.D., C. P. B. Martin, Geo. H. Coit, Homer Hendee, 
 Luther H. Wilson, J. L. King, Henry Hoyt, Theo. E. Smith, 
 J. N. Bradshaw, John C. McCain. Its first meeting was 
 held in the city of Columbus, Georgia. 
 
 In closing this brief sketch of the Presbyterian Church in 
 Georgia, it is proper to refer to the Synod of Georgia. 
 
 Hopewell Presbytery was erected by the Synod of the 
 Carolinas in 1796, and was the eighteenth Presbytery consti- 
 tuted in the United States. Georgia Presbytery was erected 
 by the Synod of South Carolina in 1821, and was the forty- 
 fifth Presbytery constituted in the United States. Flint 
 River was set off by the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia 
 in 1833, and was the seventy-third Presbytery in the United 
 States. Cherokee Presbytery was erected by the Synod of 
 South Carolina and Georgia in 1843. The Presbytery of 
 Florida was set off in 1840, by the Synod of South Carolina 
 and Georgia. 
 
 The Synod of South Carolina and Georgia was formed by 
 a division of the Synod of the Carolinas in 1813, constituting 
 it and the Synod of North Carolina contemporaneously. The 
 Synod of Georgia was erected by a division of the Synod of 
 South Carolina and Georgia in 1845, in accordance with the 
 following memorial : 
 
 " The Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, at its Sessions 
 in Columbia, December, 1844, directed the following memo- 
 rial to be laid before the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
 Church in the United States of America : 
 5 65 
 
66 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 Resolved, That the Commissioners, from the several Presby- 
 teries comprising this Synod, to the next General Assembly, 
 be directed to request the Assembly to divide the Synod of 
 South Carolina and Georgia into the Synod of South Carolina 
 and the Synod of Georgia ; and that the geographical limits 
 of the Synod of South Carolina be those of the State of 
 South Carolina; and that the geographical limits of the Synod 
 of Georgia be those of the State of Georgia, together with 
 the territory of Florida, so far as this may not interfere with 
 the limits of the Synod of Alabama. 
 
 Resolved, also, That the General Assembly be requested 
 to direct the Synod of South Carolina to meet in Pendleton, 
 on the first Thursday of November, in 1845, at 11 o'clock, 
 A. M., and that the opening sermon be preached by the Rev. 
 Edward Palmer, Moderator, and, in case of absence, by the 
 oldest minister present ; and the Synod of Georgia to meet 
 in Macon, on the third Thursday of November, 1845, at 7 
 o'clock, P. M., and the Rev. Thomas Goulding, B.D., be 
 appointed to preach the opening sermon, as Moderator, and, 
 in case of his absence, the oldest minister present. 
 
 Resolved, further, That all the records and papers hereto- 
 fore belonging to the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, 
 be left in the hands of the stated clerk of the Synod of South 
 Carolina, at all times open to the inspection and use of the 
 Synod of Georgia." 
 
 This memorial was presented to the General Assembly at 
 its Sessions in Cincinnati, in May, 1844, and the prayer therein 
 contained was granted in ipsissimis verbis. 
 
 The first meeting of the Synod was accordingly held in 
 Macon on the 20th of November, 1845. Dr. Goulding was 
 chosen its Moderator. 
 
 The Synod at present (1869) consists of six Presbyteries, 
 to-wit : Augusta, Savannah, Cherokee, Florida, Atlanta and 
 Macon. 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 67 
 
 At the time of its organization, as per its first report, had 
 on its roll : Ministers, 55 ; Churches, 99. 
 
 As per reports t© the General Assembly of 1868, it con- 
 sisted of — Ministers, 88 ;• Churches, 141. 
 
 The increase of ministers since 1845 has been 33 ; of 
 Churches, 42. 
 
 The total of communicants, as reported to the Assembly 
 of 1868, about 8,000. 
 
 In concluding this brief history of the Synod, I deem it 
 proper to add an extract from its Minutes of 1868. 
 
 The Synod of 1867 appointed a committee, consisting of 
 Rev. Messrs. Green and Buttolph, to adjust and define the 
 boundaries of the several Presbyteries. The committee re- 
 ported, and on motion, the resolutions were taken up seriatim^ 
 and, after some amendments, the report was adopted, and is 
 as follows : 
 
 " The committee appointed at the last meeting of the Synod 
 to consider the propriety of altering the boundary line be- 
 tween the Presbyteries of Hopewell and Georgia, will call the 
 attention of the Synod to the following resolutions, passed by 
 the Presbytery of Hopewell, at its last meeting: 
 
 1. Resolvedy That it is inexpedient for any portion of the 
 territory of Hopewell Presbytery to be ceded to the Presby- 
 tery of Georgia ; that the Churches of Augusta and Waynes- 
 boro' and Bath, which it has been proposed shall be set oflf, 
 are naturally connected with Hopewell Presbytery. While 
 on account of their distance from the Churches of Georgia 
 Presbytery, it is believed that it would not be of great advan- 
 tage to that Presbytery, nor for the interest of the Church 
 in general, for their ecclesiastical connection to be changed. 
 
 2. Resolved, That this Presbyt.ery overture the Synod, at 
 its next meeting, to change the name of the Presbytery of 
 Hopewell to the Presbytery of Augusta. 
 
 The committee cannot, therefore, recommend that any 
 material change be made in the boundary line between these 
 
68 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 
 
 two Presbyteries. But they have taken into consideration 
 the whole matter of the boundaries of the Presbyteries in this 
 Synod, and have endeavored to ascertain whether the objects 
 desired to be effected by the change proposed, could not be 
 accomplished otherwise. 
 
 They believe that the convenience of many of the Churches, 
 and the welfare of the Presbyteries, require that some charges 
 be made in the present boundaries of several of the Presby- 
 teries. 
 
 The committee would beg leave to present the following 
 resolutions : 
 
 I. That the request of the Presbytery of Hopewell be 
 granted, and its name be changed to the Presbytery of 
 Augusta. 
 
 II. That the name of the Presbytery of Georgia be changed 
 to the Presbytery of Savannah. 
 
 III. That it be ordained by this Synod, that the following 
 shall be the boundaries of the Presbyteries : 
 
 1. The Presbytery of Cherokee shall embrace the North- 
 western portion of the State of Georgia ; its southern and 
 eastern boundaries being a line running along the northern 
 county-lines of Harralson, Carroll and Campbell counties, 
 thence along the Chattahoochee and Chestatee Rivers and 
 the western lines of Lumpkin and Union counties. 
 
 2. The Presbytery of Atlanta shall embrace that portion 
 of the State lying south of the Presbytery of Cherokee ; the 
 eastern lines of Gwinnett, Walton and Newton counties, and 
 the Ocmulgee River to the northern corner of Bibb county? 
 being its boundary on the east, and the southern lines of 
 Monroe, Upson, Meriwether and Troup, south. 
 
 3. That the Presbytery of Augusta shall embrace that 
 portion of the State lying east of the Presbyteries of Cherokee 
 and Atlanta; its southern boundary being the northern 
 county-lines of Scriven, Emanuel, Laurens, Twiggs and Bibb. 
 
 4. The Presbytery of Macon shall embrace that portion 
 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN GEORGIA. 69 
 
 of the State lying south of the Presbyteries of Atlanta and 
 Augusta ; being limited on the southeast by a line beginning 
 at the southern corner of Johnson county, and running along 
 the northern and western county-lines of Emanuel, Mont- 
 gomery, Telfair, Irwin, Berien, Colquitt, Thomas and Decatur. 
 
 5. The Presbytery of Savannah shall embrace that portion 
 of the State lying south and east of the Presbyteries of 
 Augusta and Macon. 
 
 6. The Presbytery of Florida shall embrace all the State 
 of Florida that belongs to this Synod, and not embraced in 
 the Synod of Alabama. 
 
 IV. The Churches which by these changes fall within the 
 bounds of other Presbyteries, shall, together with their minis- 
 ters, have their Presbyterial connections changed accordingly, 
 and they are hereby so changed." 
 
NECROLOGY. 
 
 REV. JOSEPH YOUNG ALEXANDER. 
 
 Joseph Youxo Alexander, second son of Abram and 
 Margaret Alexander, was born the 10th of December, 1792, in 
 Cabarras county, North Carolina. His parents were mem- 
 bers of the Poplar Tent Presbyterian Church, of which his 
 father was a ruling elder. He was dedicated in infancy, and 
 was piously trained under the ministry of that eminent ser- 
 vant of God, the late Rev. John Robinson, D. D.* It seems 
 probable, from a single fact that has come to our knowledge, 
 that he was dedicated in faith and prayer by his pious 
 parents from his birth, to the holy ministry, since his mother, 
 when he announced to her his matured purpose to preach the 
 gospel, joyfully exclaimed, " I have prayed and hoped you 
 would be a minister." 
 
 He was of Scotch-Irish descent. Sometime in the last 
 century five brothers emigrated from Ireland, and first settled 
 in Pennsylvania, and thence removed to other States. The 
 grandfather of Mr. Alexander came to North Carolina. 
 
 We find nothing worthy of note in his boyhood. He was 
 a good boy — learned his catechism — read his Bible — and 
 went to Church. He was the subject of early religious im- 
 pressions, and made a public profession of his faith in Christ 
 
 *Dr. Robiasoa was graduated at Winnsboro' College, South Carolina, 
 and was licensed by Orange Presbytery, April 4th, 1793 — was first settled 
 at Fayette ville, North Carolina, in 1800, and in 1801, at Poplar Tent, and 
 then again at Fayetteville, in 1806. He returned to Poplar Tent in 1818, 
 where he remained till his death, December 14, 1843, in the seventy-sixth 
 year of his age. 
 
 71 
 
72 KECROLOGY. 
 
 in the sixteenth year of his age, and united with the Church 
 of his father. He was an earnest Christian ; of great unifor- 
 mity of Christian temper, rarely suffering from depression, 
 nor yet from over-excitement — he held on the even tenor of 
 his way through life. 
 
 His education was principally by, and under the direction 
 of Dr. Robinson, " who, for many years, carried on a classical 
 school in Poplar Tent congregation, at which were trained 
 many of the leading men of the present generation.* He 
 was a good classical scholar, though he had not the advantages 
 of a collegiate course. 
 
 He first left the parental roof to take charge of a school 
 in the town of Charlotte, North Carolina; and was afterwards 
 engaged in mercantile pursuits in the same place. Indeed, 
 he had chosen the business of a merchant as his vocation for 
 life. But God had other designs ; for it was while thus en- 
 gaged, his thoughts were first seriously turned to the subject 
 of the gospel ministry. It was after a long and painful con- 
 flict between a sense of duty and his worldly interests, that 
 he yielded to the Saviour's claims. He had tempting secular 
 prospects before him, but so strong became his convictions 
 that he ought to preach Christ, that he delayed not, but 
 leaving all and abandoning his business, he repaired to Wil- 
 lington. South Carolina, where he entered at once upon the 
 study of Theology, under the direction of the late Dr. Moses 
 Waddel. Here he was associated with several other young 
 men having the same object in view, most of whom still live 
 and stand in their lot on the walls of Zion, while of that large 
 Presbytery which licensed them, not a single one is in the 
 land of the living. 
 
 At that time (IfelT) Theological Seminaries had not began 
 to attract much attention. Princeton was in its infancy, and 
 was then the only seminary of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 * Foot's Sketches of North Carolina. 
 
REV. JOSEPH YOUNG ALEXANDER. TB 
 
 Few Southern students thought of going thither. Candidates 
 for the ministry, generally, pursued their studies under the 
 direction of some pastor or private instructor, which, after 
 all that has been said in behalf of seminaries, is, perhaps, the 
 better plan. It has, at least, generally furnished more prac- 
 tical men in the ministery, than many of those. who have been 
 trained in these institutions. 
 
 After the usual time spent in preparation, Mr. Alexander 
 received a license from the Presbytery of South Carolina in 
 April, 1820. According to the custom of that Presbytery, 
 the first six months of his ministry was spent as a Missionary 
 in the Districts of Lexington and NewJDerry, within its 
 bounds. It would be well, doubtlessly, if all Presbyteries 
 would adopt the same rule in relation to their young men. 
 Let the young eaglets try their wings near the parent nest, 
 instead of flying away to towns and cities, canvassing for- 
 settlements in places for which they are not qualified. 
 
 At the close of his mission, he took charge of an academy 
 at Newberry. Here he remained a year or two, and then 
 removed to Lincolnton, Georgia. After a year or two en- 
 gaged in teaching in that place, he removed to Lexington, 
 Oglethorpe county, where he had charge of the Meson 
 Academy for some time. In the several places of his abode, 
 he ever diligently continued to preach the Word as oppor- 
 tunity ofi'ered. There is evidence that he was greatly useful 
 in these several fields of labor, not only as a teacher, but as a 
 minister of the gospel. 
 
 About this time the new country on the Chattahoochee, in 
 the west of the State, was beginning to attract notice, and 
 called for laborers, both in the school-room and the pulpit. 
 Brother A. paid a short visit to that region ; and being 
 pleased with the prospect for usefulness in that quarter, he 
 left Lexington, and removed his young family to Newnan, 
 Coweta county. This was then a new and uncultivated 
 country. Here he spent more than two-thirds of his minis- 
 
74 NECROLOGY. 
 
 terial life, and the prime of his days. Here he reared his 
 family, and here he ended his work on earth. 
 
 During many years after his settlement in Newnan, he was 
 confined to the school-room ; and many, both male and female, 
 are ready to bear witness to his fidelity and success in this 
 department of labor. A Presbyterian Church had been or- 
 ganized in the place prior to his removal, but it was feeble 
 and unable to support a minister ; he was, therefore, com- 
 pelled daily to toil, for the support of himself and family, in 
 a school, while he preached to the people on the Sabbath for 
 a poor and stinted stipend. 
 
 By such self-denying and self-sacrificing labors, not only 
 the Church at Newnan, but many other Churches in the 
 Synod of Georgia, have been built up. Few men in the 
 present day know anything of the toil and suffering it required 
 to lay the foundations of Presbyterianism in Western Georgia. 
 It was a day of small things. The seed had to be sown — 
 houses of worship erected, and the scattered sheep gathered. 
 Churches which now contribute thousands to support their 
 pastors and the benevolent enterprises of the day, were then 
 but a mere handful, without wealth, and, indeea, without a 
 disposition to give, had they possessed the means. Hard 
 work and hard fare was the allotment of all laborers in this 
 part of the vineyard. 
 
 Brother A. was not only instrumental in sustaining and 
 building up the Church in the place of his abode, but in 
 founding several other Churches in the regions round about. 
 After laboring many years as a stated supply of the Newnan 
 Church, he received a regular call, and was for some time its 
 settled pastor, but resigned the charge two or- three years 
 before his decease. 
 
 Brother Alexander had his faults and his enemies, and let 
 him who has none cast the first stone. He always acted from 
 a firm conviction of duty, and independently of the prejudices 
 of others, and consequently encountered, at times, violent 
 
REV. JOSEPH YOUNG ALEXANDER. 75 
 
 opposition. Yet, after all, it may in verity be said of him, 
 that he died universally lamented. The community in which 
 he had so long resided and labored, felt, when he died, that 
 they had suffered a great loss. They realized that a good 
 man had fallen, and they " carried him to his burial, and 
 made great lamentation over him." . 
 
 He was a sound Presbyterian, as may be readily supposed 
 from his antecedents — having been trained from infancy in a 
 pure and healthful Presbyterian atmosphere. He was ever 
 an earnest advocate of the doctrines and polity of the Church 
 of his fathers. Nevertheless, he was a man of a Catholic 
 spirit, always rejoicing that the gospel was preached and good 
 done by other communions. He scorned a sectarian and 
 proselyting spirit in any denomination. As a preacher, 
 though not brilliant, he was instructive, and especially accep- 
 table to Christians, comforting and strengthening them in the 
 faith. As a Presbyter, he was faithful in his attendance on 
 the Judicatories of the Church ; and his opinions in matters 
 connected with the prosperity of Zion were always heard 
 with respect. He served his Presbytery only once as a com- 
 missioner to the General Assembly, which met in Cincinnatti. 
 As a true bishop, he was "given to hospitality;" and though 
 never possessed of much of this world's goods, he was generous 
 and benevolent to the poor and needy. He was a warm ad- 
 vocate of all the benevolent schemes of the Church. For a 
 time he acted as Superintendent of the General Assembly's 
 Board of Publication for the State of Georgia, in which 
 capacity he was industrious and efficient. He was a very 
 strenuous advocate of the Temperance Reform, and though 
 his course brought down upon him, from a certain quarter, 
 the most virulent opposition and unrelenting persecution, yet 
 he remained to the last the firm and unyielding supporter of 
 the cause. 
 
 He was a man of great simplicity and regularity of life — a 
 pleasant companion, and strongly attached to his friends. 
 
76 NECROLOGY. 
 
 He was very systematic and regular in all his household 
 aflfairs. His diary presents a record, among other things, of 
 all the sermons he preached from the time of his entering the 
 ministry till his death, from which it appears that in some 
 months he preached as often as twenty-six times, (an evidence 
 that he was abundant in labor serving the Lord.) There is 
 also in the same record, the number of times and places he 
 administered the Lord's Supper, the children he baptised^ 
 and the marriage ceremonies performed. 
 
 Brother A. was twice married. His first wife was Miss 
 Ann McAuslin, a foster-daughter of Dr. John Robinson, his 
 early friend and instructor. They had a large family of sons 
 and daughters — six of whom still survive, several having 
 died. She was a lady of great worth — an excellent wife and 
 mother. They were united in marriage the 7th of September, 
 1820. His second marriage was with Mrs. E. H Corbin, the 
 relict of the Rev. Mr. Corbin, on the 17th of October, 1848, 
 by whom he had one daughter. The widow and the daughter 
 are both living. He was very happy in both his marriages. 
 
 He was at no time a man of very robust constitution, and 
 for several years preceding his death, was in very feeble 
 health. The last few weeks of his life, were weeks of great 
 bodily anguish. His physical agony at times produced con- 
 siderable mental aberration. Yet, in moments of his greatest 
 sufferings, that entire submission to the will of God, and un- 
 wavering trust in the Saviour, manifested through life, was 
 exhibited. His constant prayer was, that he might have 
 patience to endure to the end. He felt that his work was 
 done, often remarking to those around him, " I shall preach 
 no more; yet if I should live, I hope I may do good in some 
 way." The thought which seemed most to occupy his mind, 
 as he approached the end of life, was that unending state into 
 which he was about to enter. The word "eternity" was 
 often on his lips. He had no rapturous views of heavenly 
 glory, but a solemn, abiding sense of the infinitude and un- 
 
REV. JOSEPH YOUNG ALEXANDER. 77 
 
 ending bliss of the righteous. In the last paroxism which 
 closed the scene, and emancipated his spirit from the frail 
 tenement of mortality, he was asked by one, if he wished 
 any thing. He promptly replied : " I want dying grace," 
 and immediately added, laying his hand on his breast, " I 
 have it here." 
 
 Thus closed the life of this good man, on Monday morning, 
 the 30th of March, 1857, in the sixty-fifth year of his age, 
 and the thirty- seventh of his ministry. We could but say : 
 " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord ; they do rest 
 from their labors, and their works follow them." His funeral 
 sermon was preached by his old friend and classmate, and 
 fellow-laborer, from the text, " For me to live is Christ, and 
 to die is gain." Philippians i: 21. And then we laid him 
 in the grave, there to wait the morning of the resurrection 
 of the just made perfect. 
 
REV. DOJ^ALB JOHIS" AULD, M. D. 
 
 Donald John Auld was the third son of Dr. Isaac Auld, 
 of Edisto Island, S. C, and was born on the 26th April, 1810. 
 His father being a man of a highly cultivated mind, and 
 rightly appreciating the advantages of a polished education, 
 spared neither pains nor expense in securing for him those 
 advantages. At an early age, he was placed under the care 
 of that distinguished and successful teacher, the late Chris- 
 topher Cotes, of Charleston. 
 
 Gifted with a mind of no slight powers, he sedulously im- 
 proved the talents entrusted to his keeping, and under the 
 thorough drilling of his able teacher, he acquired a charac- 
 ter for accurate scholarship in the Latin and Greek languages, 
 and in Mathematics. At the age of eighteen, he entered 
 the Senior Class in the Charleston College, and graduated 
 in 1829. 
 
 Immediately after his graduation, he entered the office of 
 Dr. F. G. Porcher, of Charleston, as a student of medicine, 
 and in the year 1832, received the degree of Doctor of Med- 
 icine from the Medical College of South Carolina. As a 
 student, in both the Literary and Medical Celleges, he was 
 distinguished for independence of thought, and firmness in 
 maintenance of what he believed to be truth, which were 
 marked characteristics of his mind throughout all his after 
 life. During the summer of 1832, he visited Philadelphia, 
 where the cholera was raging fearfully, and received the ap- 
 pointment of attending physician to the Arch Street Prison ; 
 the duties of which he faithfully discharged, and with grati- 
 fying success, till the subsidence of the pestilence. In the 
 possession of fine health and high spirits, and being strongly 
 imbued with the spirit of adventure, he removed to Memphis, 
 Tennessee, which was then considered a frontier town. 
 
 78 
 
EEV. DONALD JOHN AULD, M. D. 79 
 
 But here the hand of the Lord was laid upon him. Here 
 commenced that "chastening," which seemed to him so 
 "grievous," hut which afterwards yielded " the peaceable 
 fruits of righteousness," and worked out for him " a far 
 more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Up to this 
 period, life and its pleasures were ail in all to him ; and in his 
 new home, his genial disposition and very popular manners 
 soon drew around him a large circle of friends, and opened 
 to him an extensive practice. 
 
 From too great exposure, he soon became a victim of 
 rheumatism, and was led by an. unseen hand to return to 
 Charleston in 1835. From this time till his death, a period 
 of twenty-two years, he never knew what it was to be 
 entirely well, or free from pain. 
 
 In the course of the year 1835, it pleased God to deliver 
 him "from the power of darkness," and to translate him 
 " into the kingdom of his dear Son." From this time, the 
 burden of his thoughts was, " What shall I render unto the 
 Lord for all his benefits towards me ? " And oftentimes to his 
 troubled mind would arise the exclamation of St. Paul, 
 " Necessity is laid upon me ; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach 
 not the gospel." After deep and prayerful consideration, 
 he was led by the Spirit to offer himself a "living sacrifice " 
 unto th-e Saviour, who had done so much for him. Now all 
 was clear before him, and he entered with ardor upon his The- 
 ological studies in the Seminery at Columbia, S. C. In 1837, 
 he was licensed by the Presbytery of Charleston to preach 
 the gospel, and was ordained, in 1839, by the same Presbytery. 
 The first two years of his ministry were devoted to the 
 Wappetaw Congregational Church, in the neighborhood of 
 Charleston, and to the Presbyterian Church at Darlington, 
 where he is still remembered with affection. Early in 1840, 
 he became pastor of Harmony and Brewington Churches, in 
 Sumpter District. In this pastorate he continued eight 
 years, laboring faithfully and with much success, oftentimes 
 
80 NECROLOGY. 
 
 SO prostrated in health that it was a matter of wonder to 
 his friends that he could bear up under so much bodily afflic- 
 tion, and still continue his ministerial labors ; and yet, amid 
 all this suffering, he acquired a high reputation as a popular 
 preacher and a skillful debater in the judicatories of the 
 Church. At one time during this period he was reduced to 
 the very verge of the grave, and recovery seemed hopeless, 
 even to himself. Yielding to the earnest solicitations of his 
 friends, he visited the Warm Sulphur Springs in Virginia, as 
 a last resort, but with no beneficial effect. On the contrary, 
 he continued to grow worse, and he hastened home to die, as 
 he verily believed. In passing through Charleston, on his 
 return, he was persuaded by a friend, who had been a simi- 
 lar sufferer, to use a certain remedy. To the great surprise 
 of himself and his friends, the result was almost magical, 
 and in the course of a few weeks he was enabled to lay aside 
 his crutches and walk with a firm and elastic step, though he 
 was never restored to perfect health. At the time when he 
 was in daily expectation of death, he made his will, which 
 we only mention, as an extract from that document affords 
 an insight into his character, and beautifully exhibits the 
 depth and earnestness of his piety : 
 
 "And, first, I render thanks and glory to the most gracious 
 God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, that he has been 
 pleased to call me, a miserable, helpless, and hopeless sinner, 
 to a knoweledge of himself, the only true God, and Jesus 
 Christ, whom he has sent, and to beget me again unto a 
 lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ; and, ac- 
 cording to his gracious word — contained in Jeremiah, chapter 
 49, verse 11 — I thankfully and humbly leave my fatherless 
 children in his keeping, and exhort my widow to trust in him. 
 . . . Finally, I commend my perishing body and my im- 
 mortal soul to the Lord Jesus Christ, my only hope and 
 blessed Redeemer, to whom be glory forever. Amen. 
 
 In 1848, he accepted a call to Purity Church, in Chester 
 
REV. DONALD JOHN AULD, M. D. 81 
 
 District, where he labored with much acceptance for four 
 years, still maintaining his high reputation as a preacher 
 and a faithful witness for the truth as contained in the Holy 
 Scriptures. Some one or more of the great fundamental 
 truths of the Bible, which are so hateful to the carnal mind, 
 were always embodied in his sermons ; and these he would 
 bring home to the hearts and consciences af his hearers with 
 great power and logical clearness. But while he kept not 
 back "the terrors of the law" and the thunders of Mount 
 Sinai, still it was upon the love and mercies of Christ that 
 he loved mostly to dwell. While holding up to view the 
 crucified Saviour, his eye would kindle, his voice gather 
 strength, and his feeble frame vibrate with deep emotion : 
 then would he give utterance to strains of such fervid elo- 
 quence and melting pathos, that it seemed as if his lips, like 
 Isaiah's, had been touched with " a live coal from off tbe 
 altar." Truly, with him, Christ was "all and in all." 
 
 In 1852, he removed to Florida, and became pastor of the 
 Church in Madison county. We will now close our memoir 
 with an extract from the minutes of Florida Presbytery : 
 
 " His five years' pastorate in that Church has made an 
 impression on this Presbytery which cannot soon be forgotten. 
 Nor will his self-denying and arduous labors, so abundantly 
 blessed of God in destitute portions of our territory, cease to 
 be remembered. During the past summer (1857,) brother 
 Auld yielded to the earnest application of the Church in 
 Tallahassee ; and with the hope that he was entering a wider 
 field of usefulness, and that he could better provide for the 
 education of his children, he became their pastor. Alas ! 
 that pastorate was of brief duration. In a little more than 
 a month after he entered upon his labors, he was laid upon a 
 bed of sickness, from which he was never to rise until he was 
 carried by others. His sickness was the sequel of an alarm- 
 ing illness, which confined him to his bed for several weeks 
 after his return from the last General Assembly. Five 
 6 
 
82 NECROLOGY. 
 
 weeks he lingered in agony ; and then, on the 29th day of 
 October, in the forty-eight year of his age and twentieth of 
 his ministry, without knowing that he was dying, so gently 
 fell asleep in Jesus, that we may almost say he was " trans- 
 lated that he should not see death." His couch of suffering 
 was a place of instruction ; he was so patient, so resigned, so 
 humble, so grateful, so affectionate. At the close of a period 
 of intense agony, as a brother minister, who had frequently 
 yisited him, entered the room, he raised both his hands and 
 exclaimed, " Nothing but thanks, nothing but praise this 
 morning: read the 23d Psalm." * * * j^ the various 
 relations he sustained, brother Auld was an "example to 
 believers." As a husband, he was untiring in his devotion; 
 as a father, so affectionate that his children were to him 
 •occasions of the most painful anxieties ; as a brother, fond 
 and faithful ; as a friend, sincere and firm ; as a companion, 
 affable and :genial; as a man, upright and conscientious. 
 But of his character as a minister of the gospel, we must 
 more particularly speak. A ripe scholar and a hard student, 
 gifted with a strong intellect, disciplined by long continued 
 culture, he brought ' beaten oil ' into the sanctuary. His 
 sermons were models of simplicity of style, propriety of 
 diction, clearness in the exhibition of truth, cogency of 
 reasoning, pungency as well as persuasiveness in appeal, and 
 fullness in displaying the doctrines of grace. Delivered in 
 easy and unaffected manner, they never fatigued and seldom 
 failed to interest the hearer. As a preacher, brother Auld 
 was exceedingly popular ; yet, he preached doctrines exceed- 
 ingly offensive to the carnal mind. As a pastor, he was 
 faithful and devoted, never sparing himself, even in seasons 
 of great bodily weakness, when by labor he could promote 
 the comfort of others, or advance the interests of the Church. 
 His rule was, never to be absent from his post as long as he 
 had strength to reach it. As a member of Presbytery, we 
 can all bear testimony to his kindness, courtesy, readiness 
 
REV. DONALD JOHN AULD, M. D. 83 
 
 for every good word and work, wisdom in counsel, promptness 
 in action, and firmness in the maintenance of the truth. 
 
 " But he is gone ! we miss him ! We shall miss him from 
 our firesides, our pulpits, our seats in Presbytery, and the 
 communion table, where we were wont to take sweet counsel 
 together. God be praised for the gift of such a brother, 
 and make us resigned to his loss." 
 
 To this memoir we are enabled to add the two following 
 letters, as farther illustrative of the character of the deceased 
 — the first from the late lamented Charles Colcock Jones, 
 D.D., and the other from Mr. J. S. Maxwell, a ruling elder 
 in the Tallahassee Church, Florida : 
 
 RiCEBOEo', November 10, 1857. 
 
 Througli the kindness of a friend, I have had the perusal of a letter 
 from a member of the Church iu Tallahassee, over which our lamented 
 brother Auld was pastor. The letter contains aifecting statements, 
 which all who loved him will be happy to read and possess for them- 
 selves ; and, I am sure, both the writer of the letter and the friend to 
 whom it was written, will yield their assent to the use I now make of it 
 in sending you an extract. 
 
 It was my happiness to meet brother Auld on my way to the General 
 Assembly last spring ; and we ti-aveled several hundred miles together, 
 by land and water, and we were daily and close companions. I had not 
 seen him before for years. His general health appeared improved, his 
 spirits excellent, and his interest in all around him, and in the beautiful 
 scenery through which we passed constant. He enjoyed everything, 
 and all his friends and acquaintances enjoyed him. He conducted 
 evening worship for us on board the steamboat, and we well remember 
 the faith and fervor of his prayers. He was a man naturally of unflinch- 
 ing resolution, warm feelings, and firm friendship. And all these traits 
 were sanctified in him. He was resolved in his devotion to the Divine 
 Master, and was always, openly and boldly, a professor and preacher of 
 His name. His spiritual afl'ections were tender. He had love for the 
 souls of men, and a peculiar love towards, and confidence in his brethren 
 in the Lord ; and he waited upon them in sickness and in health, in joy 
 and in sorrow, because lie loved them. He was candid, generous, and 
 gentlemanly in his intercourse with men, highly intelligent, and a very 
 social man, with a sprightliness and vivacity in conversation that made 
 his society not only agreeable, but attractive. His heart, also, was 
 always alive to the interest of Christ's kingdom, and always willing and 
 
84 NECROLOGY. 
 
 ready to labor for it. His life in Florida gave ample witness of hi» 
 devotion to his ministry. He had become deeply interested in that State, 
 and we conversed a great deal about its spiritual destitutions, and by 
 what means they could be best supplied. He was a public spirited man, 
 and is a great loss to the State. His num-erous friends will sincerely 
 mourn with us his early death, and will not fail to bear in remembrance, 
 at a throne of grace, his afflicted wife and childrsn. 
 
 Very truly, yours, C. C. JONES. 
 
 The letter of Mr. Maxwell, dated 
 
 November 1, 1857. 
 
 It is the Sabbath, but I cannot under the circumstances think it wrong 
 to address y©u. The subject which I propose shall be the main topic of 
 this letter, though a painful one, is fraught with comfort and consolation. 
 It is the death of our pastor. Dr. Auld. He went peacefully to his eternal 
 rest on Friday morning last. Yes, one of the beat men, and one of the 
 most faithful preachers of Christ, has fallen. He came among us, as you 
 know, in the Summer — came from a sick bed, and has not enjoyed a well 
 moment to the hour of his death. He would preach, however, and meet 
 his appointments promptly, often with fever on him. His last sermon 
 was preached at Bell Air. He went to the desk with a chill on him, and 
 never in my life did I hear a more powerful appeal to sinners than he 
 made that night. He returned home next day and retired to his bed, 
 from which he was carried to his grave. 
 
 It was my privilege, I may well say, my primlege^tO' sit nip with him the 
 whole of Thursday night, the night before he died. Oh, haw vividly did 
 I realize that night the Christian's victory over death and the grave. He 
 required constant attention, so that my companion and myself never left 
 him for a moment until daylight, when his devoted and ss^f-sacrificing 
 wife relieved us. He said to her, " My dear wife, here are two of the 
 best nurses that ever stood by me," and tons, " God bless you,, my friends, 
 you will be rewarded. Oh, the mercy and truth of God ! What volumes 
 are comprehended in these words ?" He was repeating such passages of 
 Scripture as tell of God's mercy and truth when he was awake, though 
 we begged him to desist, thinking he was injured thereby. I can never 
 forget that hoarse and husky voice, and those bright animated eyes now 
 closed in death. He repeated the whole of the twenty-third Psalm with 
 a pathos and enunciation that I never heard before. " The Lord is my 
 shepherd ; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ; 
 be leadeth me beside tlxe still waters ;." and taking his feeble arms from 
 under the covering, and making a circle with them, he repeated, " He 
 restoreth my soul," saying, " so when I have wandered away from Him, 
 He brings me back to the fold." I asked a question touching his willing- 
 ness to depart. He said, " Oh, my dear sir, I am willing ; yes, I am ready." 
 He had not much acquaintance with my companion, and looking intently 
 at him asked, " Have you professed Christ ?" " No, Doctor, I have never 
 done so." " My dear friend, suppose you were in my situation, would 
 there be time now, think you? Oh, my dear sir, what would you do 
 without the promises of a covenant-keeping God to support and comfort 
 you ? Oh, defer not a matter of such moment to a dying hour," &c. He 
 left a large family— a wife and seven children. 
 
KEV. BEJN'JAMIN BURROUGHS, 
 
 Benjamin Burroughs was the son of Benjamin Burrouglis, 
 and was born in the city of Savannah, on the 25th of October, 
 1807. His parents were pious, and members of the Indepen- 
 dent Church in that city, of which his father was one of its 
 elders for many years. He was carefully trained up in the 
 nurture and admonition of the Lord, having been dedicated 
 to Him in infancy by baptism. Of his early education we 
 have no information — it was probably in some of the city 
 schools. His preparatory studies for entering college were 
 prosecuted at an academy in Jamaica, Long Island, New 
 York, under the care of a Mr. Eigenbrot. 
 
 After spending four years at this academy, he entered 
 Union College, Schenectady, New York, Sophomore Class, 
 half advanced. During his Junior vacation he visited his 
 parents in Savannah. It was then that he received his first 
 permanent religious impressions, under the preaching of the 
 Rev. Dr. Bethune ; at which time he was hopefully converted, 
 and shortly thereafter made a public profession of his faith 
 in Christ, and was received into the communion of the Inde- 
 pendent Presbyterian Church. 
 
 He graduated with honor in 1828, and having determined 
 to devote himself to the ministry of reconciliation, he shortly 
 afterwards entered Princeton Theological Seminary. During 
 his connection with the seminary, he was licensed to preach 
 the gospel, by the Presbytery of New York, on the 21st of 
 April, 1831. In the autumn of that year, he completed his 
 full course at the seminary. Soon after his graduation there, 
 he received a call to become the pastor of a Church in New 
 York City. This he promptly declined, alleging as a reason 
 that his heart was with his beloved South, where he believed 
 
 85 
 
86 NECROLOGY. 
 
 lay his field of labor, and that duty called him to work in 
 that portion of his Divine Master's vineyard. 
 
 To the interests of the home of his birth and love, he was 
 ever heartily alive and devoted, ever ready to defend her pe- 
 culiar institutions, assailed as they were even at that day, by 
 the spirit of rampant fanaticism. During his several visits to 
 the North and Northwest, he more than once not only openly 
 vindicated the South from undue aspersions and unjust charges 
 brought against her by members of a Christian assembly, but 
 boldly pronounced them false. On one occasion, during a 
 visit to one of the New England States, being invited to 
 preach in one of its Churches, before the hour of service, he 
 was waited upon by some of the elders, and requested not 
 to officiate, as they were credibly informed that a party had 
 organized to mob him in the pulpit, should he attempt it. 
 To them he replied, "If you fear my personal safety alone, I 
 shall preach, God willing." And he did so, without the 
 slightest molestation, the crowd merely assembling at the 
 doors of the Church. It is believed that he preached several 
 times after to the same community, without further trouble. 
 He never intruded his views and opinions upon the questions 
 which had so long and violently disturbed the grand body of 
 the Church North, but whenever assailed, he fearlessly arose, 
 and while modestly rebuking his elders, he ably defended the 
 rights of the South, never yielding once to the remonstrances 
 of friends, as to the policy of silence in the midst of enemies. 
 
 Such was Benjamin Burroughs, in defence of what he be- 
 lieved to be truth and justice. A man of iron nerve, who 
 never faltered nor stood abashed before the most formidable 
 opposition. He seemed more fully to possess the indomitable 
 spirit of John Knox or Martin Luther than any other man 
 we ever knew. 
 
 Mr. Burroughs became the stated supply of the Church in 
 Milledgeville on his coming South, and continued in that rela- 
 tion until sometime in the year 1833. On the 27th of 
 
REV. BENJAMIN BURROUGHS. 87 
 
 Nov., 1833, he was received, by a regular dismission from 
 the Presbytery of New York, into the Presbytery of Georgia. 
 
 After leaving Milledgeville, he became the stated minister 
 of the White Bluflf Congregational Church, near Savannah, 
 until April 9, 1835, when he was appointed by the Presbytery 
 to visit the Church at Tallahassee, Florida, then vacant and 
 laboring under difficulties. He proceeded to Tallahassee, and 
 on the 11th of May, 1885, the Church made out a regular 
 Call for him as pastor. This call was presented by a com- 
 mittee of the congregation at the next meeting of Pres- 
 bytery, November 3, 1835, and by Presbytery it was put into 
 his hands, and by him accepted. He continued his ministerial 
 labors in Tallahassee until the 1st of May, 1839, when he 
 asked leave to resign his charge, as the bad health of himself 
 and family would not allow him to remain longer in Florida. 
 
 Of his services in Tallahassee, B. F. Whitner, Esq., an 
 elder of that Church, remarks : " His coming among us was 
 in the spirit of a missionary, and not without its privations 
 in other regards than health. From 1835 to 1839, we were 
 employed in building and paying for a Church edifice, at a 
 cost of over ten thousand dollars, and Mr. Burroughs cheer- 
 fully accepted at our hands less than a support." He was 
 highly esteemed and beloved by the Church, and they parted 
 with him with regret." 
 
 Returning to Georgia, he was again invited to become the 
 minister of White Bluff Church, and he entered regularly 
 upon his duties in the beginning of the year 1840. At the 
 Sessions of the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, in No- 
 vember, 1840, he was set off with other ministers to form the 
 new Presbytery of Florida. To this he consented, on account 
 of the great interest which he had in the religious improve- 
 ment of the State. He continued in connection with the 
 Presbytery of Florida, though residing and ministering in 
 Georgia, until April 3, ] 847, when he was received back 
 again into the Presbytery of Georgia. 
 
NECROLOGY. 
 
 Of his ministry at White Bluff, which continued from 1840 
 to 1854, Mr. David Adams, an aged and venerable Christian 
 man, and a member of that Church, thus speaks : " Too 
 much praise cannot be given to Mr. Burroughs for the manner 
 in which he discharged the duties of pastor. Having settled 
 permanently among the people, he felt himself more particu- 
 larly interested in their welfare, as being identical with that 
 of the community in which his own interest lay. Hence he 
 visited and attended upon the rich and the poor, with more 
 than ordinary zeal and labor. It was his invariable habit 
 never to suffer a regular attendant upon the services of the 
 sanctuary to be absent more than twice without waiting upon 
 him or her, ascertaining the cause of such absence. With 
 such a spirit of labor on his part, in conjunction with his 
 forcible, faithful, searching style of preaching, it was to be 
 expected that so long as there was material, there would 
 appear evidences of ministerial success." And such, in fact, 
 was the result during the first years of his ministry. In the 
 latter part of it, the congregation was much diminished by 
 death and removals. His spirits were affected by this decline 
 in numbers in his ministerial charge, and two years before 
 his death he removed to the city of Savannah, and became, 
 in addition to his charge at White Bluff, a city missionary. 
 In this field he labored but one year, yet he is held in grate- 
 ful remembrance by the poor, among whom he went about 
 doing good. 
 
 To all classes of people and denominations of Christians 
 at White Bluff Church the memory of Mr. Burroughs, as a 
 kind man and faithful preacher, is dear. Thus, when his 
 estate was wound up, there were persons who purchased, or 
 desired to purchase, articles simply as memorials of one for 
 whom they entertained so much respect and affection. 
 
 About a year before his own death, he passed through a 
 season of deep affliction in the loss of his wife. Their attach- 
 ment commenced in childhood, and increased in tenderness 
 
REV. BENJAMIN BURROUGHS. 89 
 
 to the sad moment of their separation. Six children survive 
 their parents. 
 
 > It was in the faithful discharge of his duties as a city mis- 
 sionary in Savannah, in the memorable summer of 1854, that 
 he contracted the epidemic of yellow fever, which then pre- 
 vailed with so much violence. Untiring in his efforts to 
 relieve the sufferings of the sick and destitute, he labored day 
 and night. When frequently urged by his friends to leave 
 the city, he uniformly answered, " I am but discharging my 
 duty, and I feel it my duty to remain." But being persuaded 
 to accompany his brother to Richmond Bath he reluctantly 
 
 "consented, with the intention and expectation of returning to 
 Savannah in ten days. He arrived at Bath on Saturday, 
 and engaged to supply the pulpit of the pastor of that place 
 the next day. But meanwhile he was stricken down with 
 yellow fever, and died the following Wednesday night. The 
 Rev. R. K. Porter, pastor of that Church, was with him in 
 his last hours, and having asked him if he could assent to the 
 truth of a passage of Scripture read to him, he replied, " 0, 
 yes, I have never received God's word with a partial faith, 
 but with all my mind and heart." These were the last words 
 he was heard to utter. 
 
 And thus did he die as he had lived, by faith in the Son of 
 God. He was truly a pious man — strictly sound in doctrine, 
 and devoted to his own branch of the Church of Christ, yet 
 charitable to all others. Of a warm and sincere address in 
 his pulpit exercises, he convinced his hearers that he fully 
 believed and felt what he uttered ; and this prepared them to 
 give his message a candid consideration. He was free from 
 attempts at display or affectation of wisdom and learning. 
 His aim was to declare the truth of God, and thereby to 
 benefit mankind. He was modest in respect to his own at- 
 tainments, deferential to the opinions and judgment of others, 
 especially his brethren in the ministry, for whom he ever 
 exhibited respect and warm affection. He was generous, and 
 
90 NECROLOGY. 
 
 of a cheerful and agreeable manner and temper, and his long 
 connection with the Presbytery, although sometimes tried, 
 never was seen the shadow of unkind feeling to pass across his* 
 brow, nor was heard a word of bitterness to escape his lips. 
 He was full of brotherly love, and was always an agreeable, 
 as well as an active member of his Presbytery, whom all his 
 brethren loved. 
 
 His ministry, especially at White Bluff, was not without a 
 Divine blessing. For the size of the congregation, there oc- 
 curred an extensive revival while he acted as pastor of that 
 Church ; and it was this blessing that so endeared him to that 
 people. 
 
 He was enabled to bear his afflictions with meekness and 
 peaceful submission to the will of God; and when called to 
 minister, under appalling circumstances to the sick and dying, 
 his spirit was undaunted ; and when he was himself brought 
 to pass through the valley of the shadow of death, falling him- 
 self under the dreadful epidemic, he feared no evil, for his soul 
 was stayed upon the Divine and Precious Redeemer. 
 
 Mr. Burroughs died in his fiftieth year, and the twenty- 
 third' of his ministry. By what Presbytery he was ordained, 
 or when, we have not learned, but probably that of New York, 
 
KEY. SAMUEL JONES CASSELS. 
 
 Samuel Jones Cassels was born an the 24th of February, 
 1806. Liberty county, Georgia, (which is so celebrated in 
 our annals for the number of ministers which it has given to 
 the Church,) was the place of his nativity. He was the 
 subject of strong religious impressions at the early age of 
 twelve years. These never wore oflF, and five years after, he 
 made a public profession of religion, and connected himself 
 with the Midway Congregational Church. 
 
 His attention was soon directed to the ministry ; and in 
 January of the following year, under the care of the Educa- 
 tional Society of Liberty county, he commenced his prepara- 
 tion for College in the Grammar School at Athens. So 
 great was his aptness for learning, and his ardor and energy 
 in pursuing his studies, that in the short space of eleven 
 months, he had finished his preparatory course, and was 
 adlnitted, after examination, as a student of Franklin College. 
 He graduated August 6, 1828, with the highest academical 
 honors that the College could bestow. 
 
 During his collegiate course, he labored with untiring zeal 
 and great success for the salvation of his fellow-students. 
 The College, before his entrance into it, was notorious for 
 its dissipation, irreligion, and immorality, and for the disor- 
 derly conduct of the students. The President, (the venerable 
 Dr. Waddel,) as a remedy for these evils, which seemed 
 beyond the reach of ordinary discipline, advised the Trustees 
 to ofi"er publicly to educate, at the expense of the State^ 
 several young men having the ministry in view, hoping that 
 their example and influence would, like salt cast into the 
 mass tending to corruption, correct the evil. The Trustees 
 
 * MSS. Rev. J. B. Ross, Dr. Joha Leyburn, T. Q. Cassels. 
 91 
 
92 
 
 NECROLOGY. 
 
 adopted the suggestion, and our brother was among the first 
 who entered the College under this arrangement. The result 
 showed the wisdom of the President's advice. The College, 
 during brother Cassels' connection with it, and greatly 
 through his zealous instrumentality, was visited with two 
 powerful revivals of religion. In the first, out of the one 
 hundred students then in attendance on its instructions, fifty 
 made a profession of religion ; and in the second, fifty more, 
 connected with the institution, were added to the Church. 
 
 His energy and industry are exhibited in the fact, that 
 while pursuing his collegiate course, he studied Theology 
 under Dr. Waddel ; and a few days after his graduation, he 
 was examined and licensed to preach the gospel by Hopewell 
 Presbytery. After his licensure, he was engaged in teaching 
 an academy in Bath, Richmond county, and there acquired 
 much distinction as an instructor of youth. But the school 
 did not prevent him from laboring abundantly and earnestly 
 in the destitute neighborhoods around Bath. 
 
 He was ordained in Augusta on the 17th of February, 
 1829; was called to the Church in Washington, Wilkes 
 county, Georgia, in October, 1881, and removed thither the 
 following January, and was installed in November of the 
 same year. Toward the latter part of 1836, he received a 
 call to Macon, and removed thence ; and in November of the 
 following year, was installed pastor of the Presbyterian 
 Church in that city. 
 
 His next pastoral charge wras in Norfolk, Virginia, where 
 he continued until the spring of 1846, when he Avas com- 
 pelled to resign it, on account of ill health. He then removed 
 to the city of Savannah, Georgia, and opened a school, and 
 was prospered. He was elected Principal of the Chatham 
 Academy, which position he continued to occupy until the 
 time of his death. 
 
 Our brother was an eloquent, acceptable, and remarkably 
 i3ucces.sful preacher of the gospel. He preached much at 
 
REV. SAMUEL JONES CASSELS. 
 
 camp-meetings and in revivals, in the upper part of the State 
 of Georgia, during the first years of his ministry; was 
 engaged as a chief laborer in the extensive religious excite- 
 ment in and about Princeton, N. J., in 1841, and also, a fev? 
 months after, in a great awakening in the Churches of East 
 Hanover Presbytery, Virginia, during which some seventy or 
 more additions were made to his own pastoral charge. 
 
 He was at length prevented, by the frequent recurrence of 
 hemorrhage and the loss of his voice, from preaching ; but 
 continued, to within two weeks of his death, (though extremely 
 weak and emaciated, and suffering at times dreadfully from 
 his disease,) to labor with his pen. Under the signature of 
 ^^Paul the Prisoner" he spoke weekly to the readers of the 
 Southern Presbyterian ; wrote articles for the Southern Pres- 
 byterian Meview, and tracts, which have been, or soon will be, 
 published. 
 
 As a preacher, brother Cassels was remarkable for his 
 extempore powers ; for the vividness of his conceptions of 
 truth, his clear and simple manner of arrangement, and the 
 lucid way in which he presented truth to the minds of 
 the people ; for his felicity of illustration ; for the ten- 
 der solicitude which he manifested for his hearers, and 
 for the animation of his delivery. He was moved and melted 
 down by the great truths he stood up to proclaim, and he 
 moved and melted down those who heard him. 
 
 His death illustrated the power of religion he had so long 
 professed. During his long and protracted sickness, he bore 
 his sufferings with patience and submission to the will of 
 God, grew rapidly in meetness for his great change^ and was 
 inwardly supported in a surprising manner by Divine grace. 
 He acknowledged God's wisdom and mercy in causing him 
 to pass through the furnace of affliction. To the last, he 
 retained his clearness of mind and confidence of hope. Not 
 a cloud cast its shadow over his soul during his passage 
 through the dark valley. With affectionate solicitude, he 
 
94 NECROLOGY. 
 
 commended his afflicted partner and children to his friends 
 around him, for support and comfort. Whenever his extreme 
 exhaustion would permit, he was engaged in bearing testi- 
 mony to the wonderful grace and condescension of God 
 towards him, and in speaking lovingly a word of encourage- 
 ment and exhortation to friends gathered around. As the 
 effusion on his lungs mounted higher and higher, lessening 
 more and more the space for vital air, he whispered, " The 
 change is coming," and calmly folded his hands across his 
 breast and died. May each of those who shull read this 
 short sketch, live as well, as usefully, and die as serenely 
 and happily as our dear departed and sainted brother. 
 
 J. B. R. 
 
 " His funeral, held in the city of Savannah, was numer- 
 ously and most respectably attended. The next day, his 
 remains were brought for interment to Midway graveyard. 
 That was the Church at whose altar he dedicated himself to 
 the Lord, and in its cemetery he desired to rest until the 
 last trumpet shall sound. This wish he expressed in a senti- 
 ment he sent to be read at our late county centennial cele- 
 bration : ' Liberty county — the place of my first and second 
 birth ; to be the place of my third.' " 
 
 " His piety was unquestionable, his talents extraordinary, 
 and his industry and energy not less striking. The writer 
 remembers, some ten years ago, to have seen a letter from 
 the venerable Dr. Alexander, of Princeton, (where brother 
 Cassels was then laboring in a revival of religion,) in which 
 he gave it as his opinion, that as an eflfective gospel preacher, 
 brother Cassels scarcely had his equal in the Presbyterian 
 Church. 
 
 " He died June 15, 1853. The day before he died, this 
 text. Psalms xvii: 15 — 'As for me, I will behold thee in 
 righteousness ; I shall be satisfied when I awake in thy like- 
 ness ' — was the topic of an interesting and instructive con- 
 versation with a brother minister. He spoke in humble tone, 
 
EEV. SAMUEL JONES CASSELS. 95 
 
 but in an elevated strain, of his approaching conformity to 
 Christ. This hope of the heart, which had been so long his 
 sustaining principle, and had given decision to his character, 
 clearness to his understanding, comfort in sorrow, encour- 
 agement in imperfection, now held steadfast to the end." 
 
 From Tlwmas Q. Cassels. 
 McIntosh, Liberty Countt, April 26, 1864. 
 
 Dr. /. S. Wilson — My Dear Sir : I have had sickness in my family ever 
 since I received your letter, asking information respecting my deceased 
 brotiier, Rev. IS. J. Cassels. * * * 
 
 My brother, by his mother's side of the fapaily, (who was a Miss Jones,) 
 was a regular descendant of the Puritans. His ancestors came originally 
 from Dorchester, Massachusetts, to Dorchester, South Carolina, and 
 from thence to St. John's Parish, now Liberty county. His grandmother 
 was a Miss Baker. She was a sister of the late Dr. Daniel Baker's father. 
 Hi»connections are numerous in this county. Judge Alfred Iverson, of 
 Columbus, is also a near kinsman, his mother and the Judge's having 
 been sisters. His father was a Carolinian, a descendant of the Huguenots- 
 Mrs. Robert Toombs and the Rev. John E. DuBose, of Tallahassee, Fla., 
 are the only relations that we know on the paternal side. From early 
 youth he was impressed with a deep reverence for divine things. His 
 fondness for the Bible was very remarkable, having read it entirely 
 through three times by the time he was ten years old. He was taken by 
 his uncle, Mr. Samuel Jones, (after whom he was named,) when about 
 fifteen or sixteen years of age, and sent to school. When he reached his 
 seventeenth year, he became a clerk in a store in Sunbury. While thus 
 engaged, he studied Latin under the Rev. Adam Holmes, of the Baptist 
 denomination. In 1822, he left Sunbury and went to Athens, Ga., and 
 lived for some time in the family of Dr. Waddel, and attended the 
 Grammar School in connection with the XJniversity of Georgia. 
 
 From the Rev, John Leyhurn, D. D. 
 
 Richmond, July 27, 1864. 
 
 Reverend and Bear Sir : — Your note of the 20th ultimo, asking my 
 recollections of the late Rev. Samuel J. Cassels as a preacher, should 
 have been responded to sooner, but for various unavoidable hindrances. 
 
 My first acquaintance with Mr. Cassels was in the autumn of 1843, 
 soon after his settlement in Norfolk, when he came to assist me in a series 
 of meetings during a revival in my Cliurch in Petersburg. He remained 
 with us on that occasion some two weeks, and then, and very often 
 afterwards, I had the opportunity of hearing him preach. Indeed, we 
 became very intimate, and often exchanged visits, and labored together. 
 
96 NECROLOGY. 
 
 I bad formed high expectations of his preaching powers, from accounts 
 I had seen and heard of the extraordinary inopression he had made upon 
 the professors, students, and community at Princeton, N. J., during a 
 visit to that place not long before. These expectations were not disap- 
 pointed. As a preacher in revivals, I have rarely, if ever, heard his 
 equal. His facility in preparation was almost marvellous. It seemed to 
 cost him no effort to strike out appropriate and admirable viens of 
 thought. His plans were ingenious and original, and they were filled 
 out with tine material, and often irradiated with passages of singular 
 beauty. Indeed, when warmed by a revival atmosphere, and under the 
 stimulus of continuous preaching, his mind fairly flashed with brilliancy. 
 
 Most of the sermons preached during the meetings at Petersburg, 
 were composed on the morning of the day they were delivered, and 
 usually, in a great part, before he left his bed. He had a great fondness 
 for the allegorical ; and I can never forget a sermon of this character on 
 the Straight Gate. Faith and Repentance were his gate-posts. His vivid 
 pictures rendered the gate almost visible, whilst his expositions of doc- 
 trine and duty showed that he was not simply dealing in the fanciful^but 
 availing himself of a striking and ingenious method for inculcating and 
 enforcing truth. His discourse from the text, " His blood be on us and 
 on our children," I thought, perhaps, the most powerful and thrilling 
 pulpit effort I had ever listened to. This was one of the sermons I had 
 heard of his having preached with effect at Princeton. 
 
 Mr. Cassels' manner was not, as is usually called, oratorical. He had 
 nothing of the oro rot^mdo, nor the elegant roli of sonorous sentences. 
 His language was simple, chaste, and admirably chosen, so as to bring 
 out his thoughts distinctly and clearly. There was no mere verbiage. 
 His sentences were, for the most part, short andVpithy, and often came, 
 with the sharpness and precision of a rifle-shot, directly to the conscience. 
 Always earnest, but never boisterous or declamatory, it was impossible 
 to listen to him without feeling that his own heart was deeply moved by 
 the thoughts he was endeavoring to impress upon others. At times, 
 indeed, his manner was characterized by an indescribable tenderness. 
 This was especially the case when holding up the Saviour to the ruined 
 sinner. Then his soul seemed to be melted with love for his Redeemer, 
 and for the perishing. I have never heard a preacher of whom it was 
 more eminently true, that Christ and his cross was all his theme. Indeed, 
 he perhaps gave this too literal an interpretation, dwelling almost entirely 
 on the work and claims of our Saviour, to the exclusion somewhat of 
 the obligations and penalties of God's offended law. His voice was not 
 of the full, rich, sonorous description, nor had the clear, clarion ring. 
 Sometimes it was almost husky; but, tuned by his gushing, tender, 
 yearning spirit, it not unfrequently gave out notes of exquisite pathos, 
 which even now I can recall. 
 
REV. SAMUEL JONES CASSELS. 97 
 
 Amidst the animating scenes of a revival our brother threw himself 
 into his work with a relish and cheerfulness and an absorption which 
 could not be surpassed. He was then completely a man of one idea. 
 Everything else seemed to be forgotten, and morning, noon and night, in 
 the house of God, in the prayer meeting, visiting from house to house, or 
 in the retirement of the home circle, that one subject was always in his 
 thoughts and on liis lips. Well do I remember how that somewhat rug- 
 ged visage used to light up until suffused with joy — how his eye sparkled 
 — how he would start up in his chair — and how the laugh of exhilaration 
 would burst forth, as he heard or talked of the various cases and charac- 
 ters whose mental exercises, struggles and triumphs were the prominent 
 events of those happy days. 
 
 It is greatly to be regretted that our lamented brother has left no 
 adequate memorial of his remarkable pulpit powers. At his decease, he 
 requested that his manuscripts should be placed in my hands, and I 
 fondly hoped that it was to be my privilege to present to the Church a 
 collection of his sermons, which would prove a rich and enduring treas- 
 ure. But what was my disappointment on looking over bis papers, to 
 find that they consisted chiefly of the products of his earlier ministry, 
 and of serial didactic discourses. Neither in matter nor style did they 
 resemble what had given such delight to his Virginia auditoi's. I do not 
 doubt that that portion of his life from the time of his visit to Princeton 
 to his leaving Virginia, with broken-down health, was his halcyon day 
 as a preacher. The continuous revivals called out the powers of his 
 mind and heart under circumstances which seemed almost to invest him 
 with new gifts. But of these rich, glowing, scriptural, gospel sermons, 
 well nigh nothing remains. None of them were reduced to writing, not 
 even that noble one from, " His blood be upon us, and upon our children," 
 However well matured in his own mind, they were extemporaneous as 
 to their delivery, and alas! have died with him. 
 
 It is not surprising that his consuming zeal, restless energy, and almost 
 entire disregard of himself, should have resulted in the breaking down of 
 his health. As to the last mentioned particular, he was almost reckless. 
 He had naturally a fine constitution, and, as the event proved, presumed 
 too much upon it. When I used to remonstrate with him about not 
 taking better care of himself, he would sometimes laughingly say, that 
 Dr. Olin had once remarked " it was very hard to raise a man in the 
 part of the country he (Mr. Cassels) came from, but when you had raised 
 him, it was very hard to kill him." 
 
 But though his days seemed unduly shortened, he did a noble work. 
 His pastorate at Norfolk was instrumental in adding largely to that 
 Church, and in greatly edifying those already in it, whilst in the Churches 
 of Richmond and Petersburg, and elsewhere in the Synod of Virginia, 
 his preaching was attended with the happiest results. 
 
 7 
 
NECROLOGY. 
 
 I have spoken, as j'ou perceive, only of the Virginia portion of our 
 beloved brother's life. Of his labors in your own State, you are better 
 informed, i saw him in Savannah after disease had made sad inroads 
 on his fine constitution. His spirit still shone with undimmed lustre. 
 But though the spirit was more than willing, the flesh was too weak to 
 permit his longer engaging in those labors for his Master in which he so 
 much delighted. His work as a minister in Christ's Church was done, 
 and in ftiith and joyful hope he was waiting for that rest into which he 
 was so soon to enter, and whither his works will long continue to follow 
 
 bim. 
 
 Yours fraternally, 
 
 JOHN LEYBURK 
 
REV. REMEMBRANCE CHAMBERLAIN * 
 
 Kemembrance Chamberlain was born in the town of 
 South Newberry, in the State of Vermont, December 2, 1789. 
 He was of Puritan ancestry. Of his youthful days and early 
 training, we know nothing. He was not communicative on 
 subjects connected with his personal history, and hence almost 
 all our information concerning him we have obtained from 
 others. His parents, though not wealthy, were possessed of 
 a competency of this world's goods. 
 
 He was entered as a student at Middlebury College in 1810, 
 and graduated in 1814. During two years after leaving college 
 hew^s employed in teaching, first in the town of Cavendish, and 
 then at Royalton, in his native State. He was highly accepta- 
 ble and successful in this vocation. But not purposing to make 
 teaching his business for life, and having chosen the medical 
 profession, he repaired to Philadelphia and entered the medi- 
 cal departmant of the University of Pennsylvania, in the 
 winter of 1816. Here he continued only a few months. God 
 had other work for him than the pursuit of the healing art 
 — another and more important field to occupy — not the heal- 
 ing of the maladies of the body, but the cure of souls. The 
 Master had need of him, and he sent Him into his vineyard. 
 
 He entered the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New 
 Jersey, in the spring of 1817, and received a certificate of 
 having completed the prescribed course in that Institution in 
 1820. He was a classmate, in the seminary, of Drs. Hodge, 
 Nevins and Post, and probably of Bishop Johns, of Virginia. 
 He was the intimate and strongly attached friend of the 
 gifted and lamented Sylvester Larned, whose sun went down 
 so early in life, a victim of the climate of New Orleans. 
 
 *MSS. from Dr. Wilsoa. 
 
100 NECROLOGY. 
 
 Soon after leaving the seminary, he received license to 
 preach the gospel from a Congregational Association in his 
 native State. Afterwards he spent some time in the State 
 of Kentucky as a missionary, and was a highly popular 
 young minister. Upon his return from this field of labor, he 
 determined to come South. He arrived in Georgia in the winter 
 or spring of 1820*, and shortly thereafter connected himself 
 with the Presbytery of Georgia, and settled in Burke county. 
 His first field of labor in this State was at Wayoesboroughi, 
 Burke county. He had been ordained before he came South, 
 probably by the Association which had licensed him. In the 
 spring of 1822, he joined the Presbytery of Hopewell on a 
 certificate from the Presbytery of Georgia, at Bethany, Green 
 county, Georgia. He subsequently had charge, as a tempo- 
 rary supply, successively, of the Presbyterian Churches of 
 Madison, Morgan county, of Jackson, Butts county, of Mon- 
 ticello, Jasper county, and for a time he labored statedly in 
 the Decatur Presbyterian Church, DeKalb county. About 
 this period he traveled extensively through the middle coun- 
 ties of the State, and organized a number of Churches, some 
 as far west as the border counties on the Chattahoochee River. 
 He was an Evangelist in the full sense of the termi. He 
 went everywhere preaching the Word, and establishing 
 Churches. He cared not to build on another man's founda- 
 tion, but preached the Word " in the regions beyond." There 
 are very few Churches of our denomination in the central 
 and western part of the State, where his voice has not been 
 heard. He zealously and successfully labored for the exten- 
 sion of the Church of Christ. 
 
 Presbyterianism had little more than a nominal existence 
 in Georgia prior to the year 1820. There had existed a few 
 scattered Churches, here and there, for more than half a cen- 
 tury. But they were few and far between. The Churches 
 of Augusta, Waynesborough, Washington, Bethany, Mount 
 Zion, Greensborough, New Hope, Thyatira, and a few other 
 
REV. REMEMBRANCE CHAMBERLAIN. 101 
 
 organizations, which had a being rather nominal than real, 
 comprised most of the Presbyterian element in the State. 
 There were no Churches in Athens or Milledgeville. The 
 site of the city of Macon was a pine forest, and that of Co- 
 lumbus an Indian old field around the Coweta Falls of the 
 Chattahoochee. ' There were no Churches in LaGrange, 
 Newnan or Decatur. The Church at Lawrenceville was or- 
 ganized by Mr. Chamberlain in 1823. The great west of the 
 State was an unbroken forest — the home of the red man. 
 There were few ministers of our faith in the State. In 1819, 
 Dr. Waddel was called to the Presidency of Franklin Col- 
 lege. At his suggession, the trustees adopted a resolution 
 to educate, at the expense of the State, so far as college 
 expenses were concerned, such young men of any denomina- 
 tion, having the gospel ministry in view, as should desire it. 
 Within three or four years thereafter several young men 
 entered the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. To our 
 brother Chamberlain, and a few others, who came into the 
 State about the same time, is to be attributed, under the bless- 
 ing of God, the rise and extension of our Church within its 
 borders. 
 
 Brother Chamberlain was a wise counsellor, and an ener- 
 getic pioneer. He never accepted a permanent pastorate, 
 or, in other words, was never installed the pastor of any 
 Church. He labored either as a stated supply, or as a 
 missionary evangelist, or as a financial agent, all his days. 
 His admirable financial and business talents soon pointed 
 him out as one highly qualified to take charge of the pecu- 
 niary interests of the Church. There was much to be done 
 in this respect in Georgia at that time. The Domestic 
 Missionary work had to be organized and sustained, and 
 provision to be made for the education of young men for the 
 ministry. Much of this labor devolved upon him. There- 
 fore, the greater part of his ministerial life was spent in 
 connection with these agencies. The Georgia Educational 
 
102 NECROLOGY. 
 
 Society and the Georgia Missionary Society owed much of 
 their efficiency and success to his labors. He was for a time 
 the Agent of the Gwinnett Institute, a school for the educa- 
 tion of young men. 
 
 But the great and last work of this kind, (and to which he 
 probably fell a martyr,) was the agency in behalf of Ogle- 
 thorpe University. This institution, when transferred to 
 the care of the Synod, was found to be overwhelmed with a 
 crushing debt, from which, unless speedily relieved, it must 
 cease its existence under the hammer of the auctioneer. The 
 importance of maintaining a school for the education of our 
 young men under Presbyterian influence, was felt by all, 
 and by none more than our brother Chamberlain. He, 
 therefore, enlisted in an effort to relieve it, with all his heart 
 and soul. As the financial Agent of the College, he was 
 instrumental in securing a sum little less than one hundred 
 thousand dollars. Its creditors were numerous, and their 
 claims large. To his prudence and management was com- 
 mitted, almost exclusively, the settlement with these creditors 
 the onerous debt which so weighed down its energies and 
 blighted its prospects. The collection of funds and the 
 arrangement of claims, called into exercise the most intense 
 efforts of both body and mind for several successive years. 
 It was a herculean task, indeed, to pay its debts, and at the 
 same time keep the institution in operation. There are few 
 who know the labor and anxiety it cost. Yet, with the 
 blessing of God, he accomplished it, and accomplished it well. 
 
 The President of the University has very justly remarked, 
 in a letter to his biographer, " His self-denying labors and 
 toils for Oglethorpe University will ever be highly appre- 
 ciffted. They were arduous and protracted, and oftentimes 
 given when his failing health seemed to justify his resting, 
 instead of laboring." 
 
 In the prosecution of this enterprise, he necessarily trav- 
 eled extensively through South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, 
 
REV. REMEMBRANCE CHAMBERLAIN. 103 
 
 and Florida, and formed, perhaps, a larger personal acquain- 
 tance with ministers and Churches than any other man in 
 his day. He was certainly one of the best judges of human 
 nature we ever knew. His intercourse with men seemed to 
 have given him an almost intuitive knowledge of the princi- 
 ples and drift of men, at least in money matters. 
 
 At length, amid these toils, symptoms of apoplexy and 
 paralysis began to be developed, which admonished him to 
 resign the agency he had so long and successfully prosecuted. 
 He afterwards visited his native State, and attended the 
 sessions of the General Assembly of 1854 as a Commissioner 
 from Hopewell Presbytery. On returning to his home, he 
 began to set his house in order for his departure. He dis- 
 posed of his wordly affairs, dividing his property between 
 his two sons, reserving only what he supposed would be a 
 competence for his support during his few remaining days. 
 He then retired to the quiet village of Decatur, where he 
 spent the little remnant of life among those who knew him, 
 and loved him much. From this period, disease made rapid 
 inroads on his constitution, and like a stern and inexorable 
 destroyer, marched on to the consummation of its purpose. 
 Repeated paroxisms utterly prostrated both mental and 
 physical powers, and we saw with sorrow that strong body 
 and active mind sink into utter imbecility. Months before 
 he expired, he was incapable of recognizing his most intimate 
 friends. He died early in March, 1856, in the sixty-eighth 
 year of his age, and about the thirty-sixth of his ministry. 
 He died without giving any external evidence that he was 
 conscious of his approaching end. But though gone from 
 earth, though the grave has gotten its victim, a voice from 
 heaven proclaims, " Blessed are the dead who die in the^ 
 Lord ; they rest from their labors, and their works do follow 
 them." His remains were carried to Jackson, Butts county, 
 and buried by the side of his wife, who had some years pre- 
 ceded him to the grave. 
 
104 NECROLOGY. 
 
 Mr. Chamberlain's wife was a Mrs. Matilda Peeples, of 
 Green county, Georgia. To him were born several children, 
 only two of whom survive him. He was many years some- 
 what extensively engaged in planting in Jasper county, and 
 by economy and industry, accumulated a considerable 
 property. 
 
 A brief estimate of his character will close this short 
 memorial. 
 
 1. The first question that occurs is, " Was he a good 
 man? " This we answer affirmatively. In the language of 
 the speaker at his funeral, we say, " The active and perse- 
 vering labors of a tolerably long ministerial life attest the 
 fact. Possessing a worldly competence, and able to sustain 
 h mself independent of all salaries and support from others, 
 yet he never sat down in indolence, or ceased to toil for the 
 good of others, and the general welfare of the community. 
 Though, as we have seen, in the last years of his life, suffer- 
 in<T from great bodily infirmities, yet he did not spare him- 
 self. Though impressed with the conviction, for many years 
 before his decease, that his life would be suddenly terminated, 
 yet he did not relax his toils Avhile strength remained. He 
 ever felt that he must work while the day lasted." 
 
 He had his infirmities and weaknesses in common with 
 other imperfectly sanctified Christians. But from a somewhat 
 intimate acquaintance of thirty-three years' standing, we 
 think we knew something of his Christian feelings and the 
 soirit of the inner man. Though he expected to be suddenly 
 cut off from his earthly attachments, yet he always spoke 
 with calmness and serenity of his approaching end, ever 
 expressing a firm conviction of his readiness to depart when- 
 ever the Master called for him, and that it mattered little 
 when and where a Christian died, if his lamp was trimmed 
 and his light burning. 
 
 At what time and under what circumstances he became 
 hopefully pious, we have no means of ascertaining. Our 
 
REV. REMEMBRANCE CHAMBERLAIN. 105 
 
 impression is, that it was while a member of the College at 
 Middlebury. Naturally of an ardent temperament, he 
 rarely desponded, even in the darkest hour, but reposed with 
 unwavering confidence in the promises of a covenant-keeping 
 God. It would, indeed, have been a source of much conso- 
 lation to his friends, had he been permitted a lucid interval 
 before his departure, that they might have learned his views 
 as he passed through the dark valley to his eternal state. 
 But this was denied them by that mysterious Providence 
 which impaired both mental and physical powers for so long 
 a time. Bat we know how he lived. As was appropriately 
 remarked in his funeral discourse, "His was a faith that 
 neither faltered nor stumbled. It neither soared above the 
 sight of mortals, nor did it ever sink into the slough of 
 Despond. It was equable and cheerful, holding on the even 
 tenor of its way." 
 
 2. Before disease had impaired his powers, he possessed 
 a peculiarly cheerful and mirthful temperament. He was 
 among the most social and companionable men with whom 
 we ever met. He abounded in wit and humor. His presence 
 in our ecclesiastical meetings was ever hailed with pleasure. 
 His generous disposition and business tact always rendered 
 him a most acceptable member of our Church judicatories. 
 Who that has been in the habit of attending our Presbyteries 
 and Synods, docs not remember how often a playful remark, 
 or a timely anecdote uttered by him, when members of these 
 bodies had become somewhat chaffed and excited in the ardor 
 of debate, acted as oil on the troubled waters ? Few men 
 possessed such a talent to calm and soothe, when agitation 
 and conflict threatened. 
 
 3. He was a man of more than ordinary ability. There 
 was nothing tame nor commonplace in his pulpit efforts. His 
 conceptions were generally original and sprightly. He was 
 never obscure. The department of labor to which most of 
 his life was devoted, did not demand special efforts as a 
 
106 
 
 NECROLOGY. 
 
 preacher; but bad his mind been more concentrated on the 
 composition and delivery of sermons, he would, doubtless, 
 have occupied a respectable position in this department of 
 labor. In one respect he was pre-eminently gifted, namely: 
 in hortatory appeals to Christian assemblies. ^ 
 
 In the early settlement of Western Georgia, protracted 
 and camp-meetings were frequently held for the benefit of 
 the sparsely scattered population of this district. Brother 
 C. delighted to attend such convocations, and when there, 
 the part of the work usually assigned him was exhortation ; 
 and to-day, there are thousands living in Georgia who will 
 readily attest the telling effect of these efforts on the audi- 
 ences addressed. 
 
 He possessed a facility, more than any man we ever knew, 
 of seizing upon incidental occurrences, and bringing them to 
 bear at once on the judgments and consciences of men. "Who 
 that was present can ever forget the mad-dog scene at the 
 Olney camp ground, in Jackson county, in August, 1830 ? 
 It was a calm Sabbath morning ; all was still and solemn ; 
 the venerable Dr. Waddel was preaching. In a moment, a 
 boy came running towards the assembly, shouting at the top 
 of his voice, "A mad-dog! a mad-dog!" The audience 
 (probably two thousand or more persons) rose as one man in 
 the utmost panic. Some sprang up the trees near them. 
 Mothers rushed towards the platform with their children, 
 begging the ministers to save them from the fury of the rabid 
 animal, supposed to be approaching. Mr. C. calmly remarked 
 to some one near him, " This is the devil's work, and I'll pay 
 him back." When it was ascertained to be a false alarm, 
 and the people again composed, and the sermon concluded, 
 he arose, and he did pay the devil back in a most solemn 
 and soul-stirring appeal, reminding the people that there was 
 a more dangerous being on that ground than a mad-dog, and 
 yet they showed no fear of him ; that fathers and mothers, 
 just now so anxicus for the safety of their children, sat 
 
REV. REMEMBRANCE CHAMBERLAIN. 107 
 
 unconcerned about their eternal welfare, when the devil, as a 
 roaring lion, was going about that camp ground, seeking to 
 devour them. The effect of his address was thrilling and 
 deeply impressive. On another occasion, at Fairview Ghurch, 
 in Gwinnett county, in 1831, exhorting very earnestly the 
 importance of seeking an immediate interest in Christ, he 
 warned the people thj\,t death was ever near, and that he 
 knew not but that some one might be called that very moment 
 from that large assembly to his final account. As he uttered 
 these word-s a man, sitting in the midst of the congregation, 
 sprang to his feet and instantly fell, struggling in a terrible 
 convulsion fit. He seized the incident in a moment, and 
 exclaimed, " I told you so ! " Men's countenances seemed 
 positively to gather blackness ; they shuddered with dreadful 
 apprehension of the wrath of God about to fall upon them. 
 It sent a thrill of terror through the whole audience. He 
 used such occurrences with tremendous effect. 
 
 4. He was a sound Presbyterian. Few men amongst us 
 was more strongly attached to the doctrines and government 
 of our Church, or more readily detected the slightest depar- 
 ture from its constitutional usages. This attachment origi- 
 nated, not from the prejudices of early training, (for he was 
 reared in the midst of Congregationalism,) but from a thorough 
 conviction that her doctrines and polity were more scriptural, 
 and tended more to exalt the Saviour and humble the sinner, 
 than any other system. He believed that the polity of the 
 Presbyterian Church was derived from the Word of God, 
 and in its form and tendency was more orderly and conser- 
 vative than any other, and better adapted to, and in harmony 
 with, our form of civil government. Yet he was by no means 
 80 exclusive in his views that he could not rejoice in the 
 success of all other evangelical denominations. He possessed 
 the charity which "rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in 
 the truth." 
 
108 NECROLOGY. 
 
 From Levi Wilkird, a Huling Elder in the Decatur Church, dated 
 
 Decatur, June 27, 1864. 
 
 Brother Wilson : — You request me to give you my views of the Rev. 
 R. Chamberlain as a minister, and to spend an hour or two in dotting 
 my recollections of him. I have been rubbing up memory, but cannot 
 bring to mind any very striking illustrations of his ministerial character. 
 
 All who have ever seen him at Presbytery or Synod, will recollect his 
 playful manner of trying to carry his point. All expected to hear some 
 sally of wit or humor as he rose, with sober fkce and pouting lip, to rap 
 the knuckles of some preceding speaker, dealing with opponents, how- 
 ever, quite humorously. "\Ve might quote his language, but to put his 
 manver on paper would be impossible. 
 
 He was strictly orthodox, but not much of a controversialist. He 
 would give an exhortation at a Methodist camp-meeting, if requested to 
 do so. He sometimes preached on the mode of baptism. One objection 
 he urged against immersion, was its inapplicability to all subjects, all 
 eeasons, all regions. " Why," said he, " were you to baptize subjects by 
 immersion in the winter of the frigid zones, they would come out frozen 
 stiff as stakes." 
 
 As a missionary or pioneer, he rendered great service to Presbyterian- 
 ism. An impression may have obtained that he was avaricious, or, at 
 least, worldly-minded ; but when first married, he thought himself justi- 
 fiable in making exertions to clear the estate of debt and consequent 
 embarrassment, for, said he, " My wife had quite a pretty little property, 
 but there was quite a pretty little debt hanging over it." 
 
 Late in life he visited bis native Vermont. But he heard so much 
 about the negro, and how to dispose of him, that he had but little inter- 
 course with the people, and an opportunity presenting itself he returned 
 to Georgia to die. He now lies buried beside his wife, in a garden for- 
 merly owned ^by himself in Jackson, Butts county. 
 
 I would not compare him to Eli, though he ma}^ have been a very 
 indulgent father, neither restraining his sons within proper bounds, nor 
 permitting others to do so. His piety was not of the type of good old Dr. 
 John Brown, fonnerly of Fort Gaines, lor in the presence of Dr. B. you 
 felt that a holy man was near. 
 
 As a preacher, I thought him too fond of the marvelous ; especially in 
 his anecdotes embodietd in his exhortations. In the latter part of his life 
 he did not like to preach — exhortation being his particular hobby. 
 
 He was a zealous agent for Oglethorpe University ; and was what few 
 ministers are, a close collector for himself I presume he thougiit he gave 
 a liberal share of his liberal salary to Oglethorpe. 
 
 In presenting ten dollars to the Vermont preacher of his native place, 
 he desired him to know that it was not negro money, as it came to him 
 some other way. 
 
 I expected to fail, and I have failed, so I quit. 
 
 Very cordially, LEVI WILLARD. 
 
REV. ALONZO CHURCH, D.D. 
 
 The subject of this notice was born in Brattleborough, in 
 the State of Vermont, 9th of April, in the year 1793. His 
 father, Mr. Reuben Church, was a soldier in the Revolution- 
 ary war, and near its close held a commission from the State 
 of New York as first Lieutenant of Captain Artemas How's 
 Company in the Regiment of Militia in Cumberland county, 
 whereof Timothy Church, Esquire, was Lieutenant Colonel, 
 commandant. He had previously been commissioned, and 
 served as ensign in another regiment from Vermont. In 
 consequence of these services, he was entitled to a pension 
 from the Government, which he enjoyed to the end of his life. 
 
 Dr. Church was one of seven grown children : Alonzo, 
 Elizabeth, Abigal, Elvira, Rebecca, Jonathan W. and Reuben, 
 and was the only surviving son at his father's death, which 
 did not occur unil 1834, having exceeded the usual period 
 allotted to man on earth. 
 
 His father is styled "Gentleman" in his military com- 
 mission, and so styled himself in his last will and testament. 
 
 Dr. Church received his literary education at Middlebury 
 College, in the State of Vermont, where he graduated in his 
 twentieth year ; and being threatened with lung complaint, 
 soon after his graduation he sought a Southern climate, more 
 congenial with his weak lungs, and settled in Eatonton, ia 
 the county of Putnam, in the State of Georgia, in 1816. He 
 became the Rector of the Academy in that town, where he 
 very soon built up a flourishing institution of learning ; and 
 from which he was transferred in a few years to the State 
 University, as Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy. 
 Dr. Moses Waddel was about the same time elected President, 
 
 *MSS. W. L. Mitchell, Esq. 
 109 
 
110 NECROLOGY. 
 
 •which position he filled for ten years with great benefit to the 
 public, and with extending reputation. During this decade 
 such was the impression made upon the Board of Trustees by 
 the young Professor, as well as upon the classes that had 
 passed successively under his training, and upon the public 
 generally, that upon the retirement of Dr. Waddel in 1829, 
 he was unanimously nominated to the Senatus Academicus as 
 the proper person to fill the vacancy, and unanimously con- 
 firmed by that body, composed of the Trustees of the Uni- 
 versity and the Senators of the State. 
 
 This post Dr. Church filled for thirty years with great 
 fidelity, and with untiring zeal in the discharge of his arduous 
 duties, having always an unselfish eye to the interests of the 
 College, from which he retired at the close of the year 1859, 
 having preserved his connection with the Institution just 
 forty years. He received his Doctorate from his Alma Mater 
 in compliment to his elevation as President of the University. 
 
 How well he succeeded as President may be inferred from 
 a few facts and considerations. And first of all, it may be 
 said of him, that such was his prudence and skill in the man- 
 agement of young men that he never had a rebellion, and 
 there was never an interregnum of any class during his whole 
 term of service, which is a rare instance in the history of 
 colleges in this country. 
 
 But in the next place, we can judge of his competency by 
 the actual result of his labors. For during his first decade, 
 from 1829 to 1839, he graduated 186; during his second 
 decade, from 1839 to 1849, he graduated 223 alumni ; and 
 during his third decade, from 1849 to 1859, he graduated 
 240 alumni; showing each decade was an improvement upon 
 its predecessor. Dr. Waddel's decade yielded only 162 
 alumni, and the whole period from 1801, when the College 
 first went into operation, to 1819, yielded only 70 alumni. 
 Now this success of Dr.^Church is the result of the confidence 
 which he had even from the public, and is not to be attribu- 
 
REV. ALONZO CHURCH, D. D. HI 
 
 ted solely to the increase of wealth and population. For 
 during this period, and during the last fifteen years, there 
 were three strong denominational colleges struggling for stu- 
 dents, and to his personal merits as a manager of college boys 
 •we must attribute his great success to the last. For it is to 
 be noticed, to his credit, that each decade was an improvement 
 upon the succeeding one. 
 
 But in estimating his services as President, we must not 
 limit them to the graduates, for many other students attended 
 the Institution and received their education under him, who 
 falling short of the degree of Batchelor of Arts, nevertheless 
 obtained a considerable fund of science and classical learning, 
 and exerted a good influence on the public mind and morals. 
 These all left feeling the influence of a ripe scholar, an earnest 
 teacher, a well-bred, courteous gentleman, and a pious minis- 
 ter of the gospel. 
 
 But there are other results of Dr. Church's influence and 
 zeal in behalf of the University of the State, which must be 
 considered monuments of his fitness for his important station. 
 And among them, in order of time, is, first, the splendid dona- 
 tion of the British Government to the Library of the Uni- 
 versity, of more than ninety large volumes, commencing 
 early in the history of England, and embracing the most 
 important annals of their legislation, their jurisprudence, and 
 other very important features of -their political economy. 
 They contain a rich mine of authentic material for history 
 and political science in general, including Doomsday-Book, 
 and the Statutes at Large. Now, this very handsome dona- 
 tion was the result of Dr. Church's influence with Mr. 0. Rich, 
 an extensive bookseller of London, who had influence with 
 the Government, and who designated the institution over 
 which Dr. Church presided, as one of the twenty Libraries 
 in America to be selected for the purpose of depositing these 
 costly and rare books. They are well worth a visit to Athens 
 by any gentleman who wishes to look into the very founda- 
 
112 NECROLOGY. 
 
 tion of the law, and to study its progress as developed by 
 English legislation. 
 
 The next item adduced is this : 
 
 That in the year 3 837, in his annual communication to the 
 Board, of Trustees, he urged upon that body the importance 
 of taking steps to procure the Colonial History of Georgia ; 
 and though the Board, from their limited means, were unable 
 to undertake the enterprise, they recommended him, in his 
 annual communication to the Senatus Academicus, to bring 
 the subject before that body, and thus, through the Senatus 
 Academicus, to get it before the Legislature. This was 
 done, and the result was, that Charles Wallace Howard, Esq., 
 was dispatched to London by Governor Gilmer, under leg- 
 islative action, to procure copies of such documents as would 
 elucidate the Colonial History of Georgia. Mr. Howard, in 
 due time, deposited at the State Capital some twenty volumes 
 of copies of Colonial records, the value and nature of which 
 have never been published to the people, but which may be 
 of service in the hands of a competent historian who is yet to 
 arise in our State. At any rate. Dr. Church first pointed 
 out the field of research, and by his wise and earnest sugges- 
 tions, prevailed so far as to secure legislative action. If the 
 results have not yet been fully realized, they may be at some 
 future day. 
 
 The following facts and extracts from the Minutes of the 
 Board of Trustees, may serve to show in what estimation he 
 was held by that distinguished body of men. 
 
 In 1842, upon a re-organization of the College Faculty, 
 rendered necessary in consequence of the withdrawal of the 
 appropriation of six thousand dollars by the Legislature, 
 Dr. Church was re-elected President without a dissenting 
 vote. In the following year, (1843,) at the Annual Com- 
 mencement, James Camak introduced the following preamble 
 and resolution, which was agreed to nem. con. : 
 
 " The faithful discharge of his dutiei by the President, 
 
REV. ALONZO CHURCH, D. D. 113 
 
 • 
 
 Dr. Church, for a long series of years, having impaired his 
 health : 
 
 '■''Resolved, unanimously, That he have leave of absence 
 from the duties of his station until the commencement of the 
 exercises in January next, for the purpose of endeavoring to 
 restore his health." 
 
 Under this action of the Board, Dr. Church made a visit 
 to the North, taking his wife with him, and returned much 
 benefitted as to health. 
 
 Again, in 1848, at the annual commencement, on motion 
 
 kOf Bishop Elliott, it was "i^gso/uecZ, That the President of 
 
 the College, in consideration of the feeble state of his health, 
 
 be permitted to take relaxation from his labors for the 
 
 remainder of the present term. 
 
 " That, as a slight token of the value which the Board 
 places upon the long devoted and meritorious services of the 
 President, the sum of five hundred dollars be appropriated 
 for the use of the President during his absence." 
 
 Under this action, he visited Florida, and returned con- 
 siderably improved in health. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Mitchell, in 1850, ''Resolved, That the 
 President of the College be requested to depart from his 
 usual custom of procuring some distinguished minister of the 
 gospel to preach the commencement sermon, so far as to 
 deliver that sermon himself at the annual commencement, 
 (1851,) in view of the semi-centenary determined on by the 
 Alumni Society." This duty Dr. Church performed to the 
 great gratification of the largest number of alumni and 
 friends of the College ever assembled in Athens. Over 
 three hundred alumni and others sat down to the public 
 dinner served up at the Town Hall. 
 
 The following extracts will show his wisdom in College 
 affairs : 
 
 In one of his annual messages, he says, "I consider much 
 legislation as to the rules of conduct in College, injurious. 
 8 
 
114 NECROLOGY. 
 
 Young professors are very apt to discover defects in laws 
 and rules of conduct, and in their zeal and wisdom, too often 
 legislate to the injury, rather than the advantage of the 
 institution. I believe a few general rules are better than a 
 large number of specific enactments. Students should be 
 required to conduct themselves in an orderly and gentlemanly 
 manner, and attend to their collegiate duties industriously 
 during assigned hours, and the Faculty should be the judges 
 of what is proper conduct and reasonable study." 
 
 In the same message we find the following sound views : 
 " The Board will pardon me for saying, that mere science 
 will not qualify a man for a professorship. He may be 
 eminent for his attainments, and felicitous in his ability to 
 teach, and yet be a curse to the institution. There must be 
 moral and social qualifications, as well as literary and scien- 
 tific. No man who has not been long and intimately con- 
 nected with an institution of this kind as an instructor, can 
 estimate the iaflueace for good or for ill which a professor 
 exerts, apart from his daily instructions in science. His 
 temper and disposition will win or disgust the student — will 
 promote peace and harmony, or jarring and discord in the 
 Faculty. To be a successful teacher, a man must be well 
 acquainted with human nature — must be able to meet the 
 foibles and weaknesses and errors of youth with patient 
 kindness, yet with wise and firm decision. Every professor 
 ought to consider the advancement of the interests of the 
 College his first and highest duty. Unless willing to devote 
 his time and labor, and ease, if necessary, to promote its 
 highest prosperity, he cannot successfully accomplish the 
 purpose for which he has been placed in office. But above 
 all, I am constrained to say, that an indispensable qualifica- 
 tion to make the perfect teacher, is piety. I do not mean 
 that he should be a mere professor of religion — a member of 
 some Christian church. A man may, and not unfrequently 
 does, make the worst professor for being a member of a 
 
REV. ALONZO CHURCH, D. D. 116 
 
 church. The man whose life is inconsistent with his Chris- 
 tian profession, leads students to despise him, and to regard 
 true religion with indifference, and often to treat it with 
 disrespect." 
 
 Such was the noble testimony he delivered to the distin- 
 guished gentlemen of the Board, in behalf of the religion he 
 preached. He was himself a fine sample of the very doctrine 
 he taught, for no man was ever more unselfishly devoted to 
 the interests of any literary institution than Dr. Church was 
 to Franklin College. 
 
 His economy in the expenditure of small items, and in 
 saving where others would have been careless or indifferent, 
 was highly commendable. As an illustration of this, it may 
 be stated, that from eighty to one hundred dollars were annu- 
 ally expended in white-washing, mending plastering, repairing 
 fire-places and hearths, setting glass, &c., &c., which he 
 reduced to ten or twelve dollars per annum, by the agency of 
 the College servants, under his personal direction. In this 
 way during his administration he saved the College hundreds 
 of dollars. 
 
 As Dr. Church advanced in age, like all men of decided 
 character and fixed principles, he met with opposition, and 
 had many severe conflicts, but was always sustained by the 
 Board. 
 
 In illustration of this, reference may be made to his troubles 
 in 1856, without going into any unnecessary detail, and 
 without ' any desire to call up unpleasant reminicenses. In 
 that year the difficulties in the Faculty became so serious, and 
 the effects upon the students so disastrous, that the Board of 
 Trustees were constrained to adopt the following resolutions : 
 
 ^^Resolved^ That if evidences of insubordination on the 
 part of students of the College, such as have for some time 
 past been exhibited, shall continue, and the Faculty fail to 
 enforce rigidly the laws of the University, regulating the 
 conduct of students, the Prudential Committee are hereby 
 
116 NECROLOGY. 
 
 instructed to call a meeting of the Board of Trustees to take 
 the subject into consideration, and apply the remedy as the 
 exigency may require." 
 
 ^^Besolved, That the Trustees view with deep mortification 
 and uneasiness the discord and dissentions that have for some 
 time past existed among the members of the Faculty ; that 
 as a continuance of such a feeling will be fatal to the best 
 interests of the College, it becomes their imperative duty to 
 arrest it ; that unwilling to resort to extreme measures, while 
 there is a hope that milder measures may be efficacious, and 
 entertaining a sincere respect for the character and intelli- 
 gence of the Faculty, the Trustees earnestly appeal to them 
 to bury in oblivion past differences, and to cordially unite in 
 earnest co-operation for the promotion of the high interests 
 entrusted to their guardianship." 
 
 At this meeting of the Board, Dr. Church in order to da 
 all in his power to relieve the Board from any embarrass- 
 ment, sent in his written notice of intention to resign the 
 office of President at the close of the civil year. Whereupon, 
 Gov. Gilmer moved the following resolution : 
 
 '''■Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed ta 
 wait upon Dr. Church for the purpose of ascertaining whether 
 he can be induced to withdraw the same." 
 
 The committee consisted of Messrs. Gilmer, Hillyer and 
 J. H. Cooper. 
 
 On motion of Dr. Reese, 
 
 ^'Resolved, That the committee above named be instructed 
 to express to Dr. Church the unanimous regret of the Board 
 at the step he has taken." 
 
 Notwithstanding these decided manifestations of confidence 
 on the part of the Board, Dr. Church declined to withdraw 
 his notice of resignation. In fact, he had long sighed for the 
 repose and quiet of retired life, and moreover had a strong 
 desire to spend a few years before his death wholly in preach- 
 ing the gospel to the poor, in imitation to his Divine Master. 
 
REV. ALONZO CHURCH, D. D. 117 
 
 This was with him a very strong feeling, for his feeble state 
 of health for many years had rendered him unable to per- 
 form the duties of his office and at the same time to do much 
 in preaching. But he must speak for himself. In his annual 
 communication to the Trustees, at the same session, he says : 
 
 "If the State College ever rise to that dignity which it 
 ought to attain, it must, I repeat it, have young men to edu- 
 cate ; and if it is to contend merely for numbers, with so 
 many sectarian and private institutions as exist in the State, 
 it must ultimately raise its standard much higher than these 
 institutions, or the contest will be too unequal for a hope of 
 success, even in this respect, or with respect to the grand 
 object for which it was established. If it desire the patron- 
 age of numbers, that patronage must be secured by the 
 attainments of its alumni. If it ultimately acquire the pat- 
 ronage of the Legislature, it must be secured in the same 
 manner. It may require time and patience to secure these 
 objects — it will require wisdom and caution in bringing about 
 a change in public opinion without temporarily paralysing 
 the College — but they may, t«nd I doubt not will be secured, 
 if the friends of education faint not, and if the Faculty of 
 your College will act with cautious prudence, which they will 
 much need. 
 
 These objects, however, cannot be secured without officers 
 well qualified to instruct, and at the same time capable and 
 willing to control. In such an institution, a uniform, ener- 
 getic, and wise system of discipline, is indispensable to 
 success. Even young raen, to say nothing of mere youtlis, 
 assembled in considerable numbers, apart from friends, and 
 in a great measure excluded from society, must have the 
 careful and judicious and constant supervision and restraints 
 of their instructors, or idleness and dissipation will ensue. 
 And officers capable of controlling young men under such 
 circumstances must be well acquainted with human nature. 
 They must be kind and affable, yet firm and fearless, and 
 
118 NECROLOGY. 
 
 faithful in the discharge of police duties, in enforcing moral 
 and religious and industrial discipline. Without qualifications 
 to discharge these duties relating to the good government of 
 a college, mere literary and scientific attainments will be 
 comparatively valueless. Nor can the discipline of a college 
 be sustained by a part of its officers. To efiect this the 
 Faculty must be a unit as to all important measures, and 
 especially a unit before the public and in the apprehension of 
 the students. Aptness and ability to teach are important, 
 essential to the professor, but they are not half the essential 
 qualifications for. eminent success. Without the confidence 
 and respect of his pupils, his efforts will never avail. If he 
 cannot inspire them with a love for knowledge, and stimulate 
 them to make proper exertions to acquire it, his success will 
 be small indeed. You cannot force young men to listen with 
 profit to the teachings, or submit with patience to the control 
 of those whom they do not respect. Temporary prejudices 
 may be overcome, and occasional dislikes will arise without 
 reasonable causes, and be removed when the occasions which 
 produce them have passed ; but long and settled dislike will 
 be transmitted, and increase and spread disorder and insub- 
 ordination in spite of all the efforts of those who may be 
 respected, and even be loved. The successful teacher must 
 be more than a mere hireling. While the teacher is employed 
 jn one of the most useful professions, and his talents should 
 be rewarded equally with those of other professions possessing 
 similar attainments and performing equal labor, it will be 
 found invariably true that the man who teaches merely for 
 his salary, and whose sei'vice? are ever seeking a better mar- 
 ket, will never raise high the reputation or largely increase 
 the usefulness of an institution of learning. And here, I 
 would observe, that our system of tutorships is obnoxious to 
 serious objections. We have two of these officers who are 
 had temporarily here, so far as their own interest is concern- 
 ed, simply for the salary. They are almost necessarily 
 
REV. ALONZO CHURCH, D. D. 119 
 
 young men. They have no wish or expectation of long re- 
 maining connected with the College. They have little or no 
 experience either in teaching or governing young men, and 
 their services as teachers, unless we have a larger number of 
 students than have ever been in attendance at one time, ought 
 not to be greatly needed. With a Professor in the house 
 occupied by Dr. LeConte, no serious disturbance or riotous 
 conduct could exist without his knowledge ; and with Profes- 
 sors occupying the south side of the College buildings, the 
 same would be true. That the discipline of the College for 
 five or six years has not been eflfioient is too true. That there 
 have been causes in operation which have been constantly 
 aggravating the evil, I have heretofore intimated to the Board, 
 and for these intimations have received no small measure of 
 abuse from some with whom I have been associated. 1 think 
 the subject requires the immediate attention of the Board, 
 and the application of such remedies, if such can be devised, 
 as will arrest the evil. It is doubtless the opinion of some 
 that the College has suffered during the last two years in 
 consequence of the resignation of two Professors, and the 
 subsequent newspaper controversies growing out of these 
 resignations. With these subjects the Board, I apprehend, 
 and especially the Prudential Committee, are well acquainted. 
 With the latter I have had nothing to do, except to read the 
 various essays unsparingly abusive of myself, and grossly 
 false respecting the College. And so far as I have been 
 personally concerned with the former, I have acted, as I then 
 thought and still think, primarily and principally in defense 
 of the College ; and I cannot doubt that the consequences 
 would have been much worse had not the course pursued, or 
 some similar one, been adopted. In this matter, as in every 
 other since my connection with the Institution, I am conscious 
 of having had for my first object and highest efforts the pros- 
 perity of Franklin College. The efforts have been feeble, but 
 they have been honest, and if my enemies, in endeavoring to rob 
 
120 NECROLOGY. 
 
 me of a reputation for honesty and zeal, have felt themselves 
 at liberty to endeavor to injure the Institution, Intrust I shall 
 not be considered as having transcended the limits of official 
 propriety in attempting to defend myself, so far at least as 
 my own defence involved the defence of the College. Farther 
 than this I believe I have not gone, and I leave the subject 
 to the judgment of those to ■whom I have been responsible." 
 
 The vindication of Dr. Church by the Board has already 
 been recorded, and his vindication before the Senatus Aca- 
 demicus and the country was equally flattering. He was 
 triumphantly re-elected President, and induced to remain at 
 his post for a few years longer, which he consented to do, 
 notwithstanding his feeble health and increasing age. 
 
 As evidence of the soundness of his judgment and the wis- 
 dom of his counsels, which were adopted by the Board, and 
 carried out as far as they could do so by their legislation and 
 their choice of proper professors, as early after these troubles 
 as 1858, the Committee on Laws and Discipline say in their 
 report, which was adopted, that 
 
 " Such is the healthful condition of the College that no 
 action is needed on the part of the Board so far as the exe- 
 cution of laws and enforcement of discipline are concerned. 
 Harmony prevails among the Faculty, a cheerful obedience 
 to all obligations characterizes the conduct of the students. 
 Indeed, we have no hesitation in saying, that a more consci- 
 entious, indefatigable and efficient corps of teachers, or a 
 better set of young men, are not to be found in any similar 
 Institution in the country. The consequence is a marked 
 advancement in the standard of scholarship throughout all 
 the classes. As an illustration of this fact, we will mention 
 that had the number of speakers in the Junior Class been 
 limited as usual to ten, an average of 95 in his studies, 100 
 being the highest grade, would not have entitled a member 
 to a speaker's place." 
 
 So impressed was the Board with the great improvement 
 
REV. ALONZO CHURCH, D. D. 121 
 
 above described, that it ordered the same to be published for 
 general information, and the gratification of the friends of 
 the College. 
 
 Notwithstanding this success, Dr. Church says in his com- 
 munication to the Board, at Milledgeville, in November of 
 this year, " I now inform the Board, as I shall to-morrow 
 the Senatus Academicus, that I shall retire from my connec- 
 tion with the College at the end of the ensuing year." 
 
 And so with the year 1859, his life-long labors as a teacher of 
 youth ended. The Board of Trustees at their first meeting 
 thereafter, in July, 1860, ordered the following testimonial 
 to be entered on their minutes : " Dr. Church, whose long 
 and faithful services entitle him to the lasting gratitude of 
 the State, having resigned the Presidency of the University 
 of Georgia, and this being the first meeting since his connec- 
 tion with the College has ceased, the Board of Trustees take 
 great pleasure in testifying to his fidelity and zgal in behalf 
 of the cause of learning ; and in further testimony of their 
 appreciation of his character, do respectfully invite him to 
 take a seat on the stage in the College Chapel during the 
 public exercises of this and each ensuing Commencement 
 during his life." 
 
 In the year 1859, he made preparation to move from the 
 dwelling appropriated to the head of the College, to a small 
 farm adjoining the town of Athens, on which he settled at the 
 close of the year, or early in 1860, and where he spent the 
 last two and a half years of his life, his death occurring on 
 the 18th day of May, 1862, being the Lord's day. 
 
 The Rev. Andrew A. Lipscomb, D.D., the Chancellor of 
 the University, and the successor of President Church, an- 
 nounced his death to the Board at the annual meeting in July, 
 1862, as follows : " Since y^ur last meeting it has pleased 
 the Providence of Almighty God to remove from our midst 
 the Rev. Dr. Church, formerly President of the University. 
 A large part of his life was spent in your service, and the 
 
122 NECROLOGY. 
 
 lofty integrity of that life, its constant earnestness and inflex- 
 ible devotion, are imperishable portions of the Institution 
 committed to your care." During that session the Board 
 past the following resolutions : 
 
 "In view of a recent dispensation of Providence, 
 
 Resolved, That we sympathize with the people of our State, 
 and especially with his bereaved family, in the demise of Dr. 
 Alonzo Church, late President of the University, and faith- 
 fully devoted, during many years, to its prosperity and use- 
 fulness. 
 
 Resolved further, That the best portrait that can be 
 obtained of Dr. Church be procured by the Prudential Com- 
 mittee, and suspended in the Library Room." 
 
 This duty has been attended to, and the portrait can now 
 be seen in the elegant Library Room, so beautifully fitted up 
 by Chancellor Lipscomb, The portrait is the work of a 
 highly accomplished artist, Mr. Charles F. Weigandt, who, 
 for his taste and genius in art, has been created Professor of 
 Art in the University by the Chancellor. This portrait of 
 Dr. Church will be gazed at with melancholy pleasure by 
 many a student of old Franklin. 
 
 Some incidents are now added to illustrate the character of 
 Dr. Church' still further. 
 
 When the four-story College, occupied as a dormitory, was 
 consumed by fire in 1830, soon after Dr. Church's accession 
 to the Presidency, destroying the Library and most of the 
 furniture of the students occupying the building. Dr. Church 
 assembled the Faculty between midnight and day, and took 
 steps to have every parent and guardian having sons and 
 wards at the Institution properly advised of their personal 
 safety, so that the news of the fire could not be received 
 befoi-e the news of their safety. He at once dismissed the 
 College and repaired to Milledgeville to canvass the Legisla- 
 ture then soon to assemble ; and, in conjunction with the 
 friends of the Institution from all parts of the State, succeeded 
 
REV. ALONZO CHURCH, D. D. 123 
 
 in placing the College on a better footing. The Legislature 
 voted funds to purchase a Library, to rebuild the burnt edi- 
 fice, and to found additional professorships. * 
 
 He sele<;ted the books in person, and laid the foundation 
 of that admirable Library which now enriches the alcoves of 
 the beautiful room to which allusion has.been made. He also 
 year after year, urged upon the Board the importance of 
 building houses for the Professors, so as to be within conven- 
 ient distance for police purposes ; and, finally, as soon as the 
 funds would warrant it, prevailed upon the Board to under- 
 take the enterprise which eventuated in the erection of five 
 comfortable mansions for the President and four of the Pro- 
 fessors. It was also in pursuance of his urgent and repeated 
 importunity that a boarding house was erected, as well as the 
 new Library building. 
 
 Besides these important achievements, it must not be for- 
 gotten that he was a most laborious teacher, not only attend- 
 ing to his own peculiar studies, but in the course of his long 
 services, supplying the places of every Professor — when 
 vacancies happened, and temporary absences occurred from 
 sickness or otherwise — so as to keep the classes from loss by 
 such events, except in the chairs of Experimental Philosophy 
 and the Natural Sciences. He was a good classical scholar, 
 mathematician and astronomer. Political Economy, Law of 
 Nations, Moral and Mental Philosophy and Logic wei'e his 
 p<^culiar branches, and he sometimes taught Belles Lettres, 
 Criticism, and kindred branches. He often acted as Libra- 
 rian, a most laborious post, and besides these labors acted also 
 as inspector of buildings and superintended the repairs. 
 
 Amid all these labors, enough for three men, his health was 
 often so poor as to render him unfit for the lightest of them, 
 and yet he persevered and struggled on to old age with a zeal 
 and fidelity which richly deserved the success which crowned 
 his efforts. 
 
 It will be seen at once that but little time was left Dr. 
 
124 NECROLOGY. 
 
 Church for the exercise of his sacred functions outside the 
 College campus. Yet he loved the work of the ministry. 
 He preached at a number of small and humble Churches with 
 great acceptance. Among these may be mentioned Ebenezer, 
 in the county of Clarke, of which old uncle Ben. McRea was 
 the Ruling Elder, and which was dissolved by Hopewell Pres- 
 bytery after the old gentleman's death ; also, at Sandy Creek 
 in the county of Morgan, and Sandy Creek in the county of 
 Jackson, Danielsville in the county of Madison, and Union 
 Church, a colored congregation, four miles above Athens, 
 which was dedicated by him. The worshippers in all these 
 humble congregations ever manifested a warm attachment to 
 the Doctor. He often officiated for Dr. Hoyt, the venerated 
 pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Athens, and especially 
 aided him on Communion seasons and at Prayer meetings, 
 when his efforts were very happy and edifying. 
 
 In the great controversy of 1837 and '38, between the Old 
 and New School Presbyterians, he was a firm advocate of the 
 Old School party, and probably did as much or more than 
 any other minister in his Presbytery to prevent distraction. 
 He visited many of the destitute Churches, and influenced 
 them to send their Elders to Presbytery, so as to control the 
 vote for the Old School side upon the great questions in con- 
 troversy. And it was confessedly the vote of the Ruling 
 Elders of Hopewell Presbytery that saved it from much dis- 
 traction, and this vote was the direct result of Dr. Church's 
 labors and influence with the weak Churches which he had 
 served more or less for years ; for he served not only those 
 above named but others of like character, and they all voted 
 with him. The vote of the Ruling Elders in Hopewell 
 Presbytery during those exciting times was nearly or quite a 
 unit, and all for the Old School side. 
 
 In 1831, while the workmen were engaged in undermining 
 one of the walls of the burnt College, which it will be remem- 
 bered was four-stories high, a young man was lying on the 
 
REV. ALONZO CHtJRCH, D. D. 125 
 
 grass, at a safe distance from the wall as he snpposed,. watch- 
 ing the progress of the work, when it suddenly fell and 
 crushed him to death. The shock upon the Faculty and 
 students can be better imagined than described. The realities 
 of eternity seemed to be impressed upon every heart, and the 
 necessity of immediate preparation for death was felt by all ; 
 and that evening at Chapel prayers. President Church, with 
 deep solemnity and unearthly look, which all present must 
 remember, opened the Holy Bible, and, with a voice as from* 
 the grave, read : " There were present at that season some 
 that told him of the Gallileans whose blood mingled with their 
 sacrifices. And Jesus answering, said unto them, suppose 
 ye that these Gallileans were sinners above all the Gallileans, 
 because they suffered such things ? I tell you, nay, but 
 except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those 
 eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them ; 
 think ye that they were sinners above all laen that dwelt in 
 Jerusalem ? I tell you, nay, but except ye repent ye shall 
 all likewise perish." And he closed the book, and in a few 
 awfully solemn words applied the subject, and poured out his 
 soul in prayer to God for the conversion of the students ; and 
 then began a revival in the College which resulted in the 
 conversion of a large number of the students and many per- 
 sons in the town. And yet in this and other revivals with 
 which the College was blessed during his long connection 
 with it, he was never known in any instance to try in any 
 degree to influence any student to become a member of his 
 own denomination. If the student only embraced the Saviour 
 the President was satisfied, and left him to his own Church 
 preferences. 
 
 When he dedicated Union Church, before alluded to, there 
 was a very large attendance of negroes of the Baptist and 
 Methodist persuasions, and among them several colored 
 preachers. The communion was administered by him, and it 
 was a remarkable fact, worthy of record, that these humble 
 
126 NECROLOGY. 
 
 servants, with a single exception, and that not of the preach- 
 ers, all sat down to our Lord's table, and partook of the 
 elements, distributed by General Thomas R. R. Cobb and 
 another Elder, with great propriety and real Christian fellow- 
 ship. It was, indeed, a communion of saints. 
 
 In 1860, Dr. Church was sent as a Commissioner from 
 Hopewell Presbytery to the General Assembly which met 
 that year in Rochester, New York. There had existed for 
 some time a colony of French Catholics at St. Ann, in the 
 State of Illinois, under the guidance and religious training 
 of Father Chiniquy, a Catholic Priest. Appeals had been 
 made from time to time in behalf of this colony, represented 
 to be in a starving condition, and a committee had been 
 organized in New York to receive and manage the contribu- 
 tions of the benevolent. The colony was visited by ministers 
 of different denominations, and described to be a pious and 
 Christian people, and Father Chiniquy was pronounced a 
 true minister of Christ, in the Protestant sense of that term. 
 Soon the question began to excite some quiet interest as to 
 what Protestant denomination the poor people would attach 
 themselves, as it was evident they could not remain in the 
 Romish Church. It was even said that efforts were made to 
 proselyte them by one denomination at the North ; but whether 
 so or not, it was known that the Presbyterian Church did in 
 no way attempt to influence their decision. And yet in due 
 time, and prior to the meeting of the General Assembly at 
 Rochester, in May, 1860, Father Chiniquy and his people 
 deliberately, and of their own accord, and after scriptural 
 examination of the creed of different Churches, declared in 
 favor of the Old School Presbyterians, and attached them- 
 selves to our Church. Their necessities were still as great as 
 ever. But as soon as this step was taken, the supplies which 
 had been liberally contributed, especially by the Episcopalians 
 of the North, were withheld, and the poor colonists turned 
 over to our people, principally, for the means of keeping from 
 
REV. ALONZO CHURCH, D. D. ' lg7 
 
 starvation. It Tvas in this juncture of affairs that the Eoches- 
 ter Assembly met, and among the urgent calls upon that 
 Assembly was the one from St. Ann. After a careful exami- 
 nation into their case, and being satisfied of their sincere 
 devotion to Christ and his Kingdom, the Assembly resolved 
 to aid them. As no time was to be lost, each minister was 
 called upon to say how much he would pledge himself to raise, 
 upon his return home, and transmit it with as little delay as 
 possible for the relief of these suffering people. Dr. Church 
 pledged himself for one hundred dollars ; and upon his 
 returning to Athens requested to occupy Dr. Hoyt's pulpit 
 for the purpose of bringing the subject before the congregation, 
 which he did with real zeal and animation, after his sermon was 
 delivered on the subject of Christian Benevolence. Now 
 Providence so ordered it, that on the Saturday before the 
 effort of Dr. Church, two gentlemen of the legal profession 
 had terminated a long, laborious and difficult arbitration, for 
 which service each had received a fee of five hundred dollars ; 
 and as the Doctor urged his case with warmth, each of these 
 lawyers said within himself, the Doctor's pledge must be 
 redeemed, and we must furnish him the means, as it will just 
 be a tythe of our fees in the arbitration case. As soon as 
 the benediction was pronounced, they met in the aisle, com- 
 pared notes, and agreed to contribute the amount of the 
 pledge. But they were not the only persons interested in 
 this work, as many others made contributions, not only of 
 the Presbyterians but also of the Methodist Church in Athens 
 and its vicinity. His success was greater than any other 
 minister of the Rochester Assembly, as will appear from the 
 following letter: 
 
 CmcAGO, July 24th, 1860. 
 Rev. Dr. Church — My Dear Sir: Yours of the 18th, enclosing check 
 for $204, in redemption of your pledge for $100, came to hand to-day 
 You will be glad to learn that you are not the only one who has redeemed' 
 the pledge made at Rochester -, thougli I believe you are the only one 
 who has gone above double, 1 am happy to be allowed to inform you 
 
128 NECROLOGY. 
 
 that the people are sharing in the wonderful blessings of crops in harvest 
 and in prospect, which make this whole country such a charming marvel 
 to see at this time. Last Thursday they observed as a day of thanks- 
 giving at St. Ann, and I am informed had a very interesting time. 
 
 We have almost ceased to distribute food, except in special cases. "We 
 are now trying to press forward arrangements for meeting the demands 
 of the spiritual work among them, and are beginning its difficulties and 
 the mischief that unscrupulous proselyters may do. Mr. Chiniquy 
 leaves for Europe this week, by special invitation from Scotland, to 
 attend the tri-centenary commemoration of the Great Reformation, they 
 bearing the expenses of the trip. We trust that the cause here will go on 
 by the aid of others, one of whom, young Monad, has been among the 
 people all summer, and we trust will take charge of the High School this 
 fall. I go down in the morning to see about matters. 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 W. M. SCOTT. 
 
 While contemplating Dr. Church's ministerial character 
 and labors, it is pleasant to know that he had evidences like 
 the following. A young gentleman of Alabama, pursuing 
 the study of the law, and who had graduated at the Univer- 
 sity, writes thus : 
 
 My Kind Old Friend — This is to inform you that a change has come 
 over the spirit of my dreams — that I have changed my habits of life — in 
 short, that I have made a profession of the Christian religion. I write 
 you because whenever any great change takes place in mind or body, I 
 immediately look for the prime cause ; and having examined this, have 
 come to the conclusion that your kind advice, and the interest manifested 
 in me by some of your family, had much to do in bringing about such a 
 result. 
 
 His liberality and disinterested hospitality were proverbial. 
 Although he might have accumulated a handsome estate, he 
 saved barely sufficient to make his retirement comfortable, 
 and his old age easy. In addition to a few servants and a 
 small farm, he had a pecuniary income of about twelve hun- 
 dred dollars, which sufficed for his simple wants. He had a 
 private library of great value for its theological works, which 
 afforded him occupation and pleasure in his leisure moments. 
 He had for years contemplated writing the history of the 
 University of Georgia, but the necessary duties incident to 
 
REV. ALONZO CHUKCH, D. D. 129 
 
 his new settlement on the farm, and the loss of his accom- 
 plished wife, interfered so seriously with this plan as to 
 render it impracticable immediately after his retirement from 
 the College. And then the war put an end tc all his means 
 of collecting materials for such a history. 
 
 His incessant labors in the College and his feeble health 
 prevented him from cultivating authorship to any great 
 extent. His principal publication is an octavo pamphlet of 
 forty pages on the subject of education in Georgia, entitled, 
 "A Discourse delivered before the Geo^rgia Historical Society, 
 on the occasion of its Sixth Anniyersary, on Wednesday, the 
 12th February, 1845," in the city of Savannah. This dis- 
 course, as indeed all his official communications, show that 
 he possessed an elevated style, a clear perception, 'a sound 
 judgment, and an earnest logic, while it manifests that noble 
 love of fame so strong in the breast of man. Let a single 
 quotation suffice as an illustration : 
 
 " In looking at the relations we sustain to our fellow-men, 
 we find that they do not connect us with the present day 
 alone, but also with the past and the future. To many who 
 have preceded us, Ave are under peculiar obligations — obliga- 
 tions which cannot be disregarded without failing in duty, 
 not to them alone, but to present and future generations. 
 The names of good men who have gone to the grave — men 
 who have devoted their lives to the happiness of their fellow- 
 men, should be rescued from oblivion. Their virtuous deeds 
 should be held up to the view, and for the imitation of all. This 
 duty, ever binding upon the members of society, is felt only 
 by the few, and but seldom discharged by any. And even 
 the few that attempt in any degree to discharge their duty to 
 those who have preceded them, have confined their efforts 
 almost exclusively to those who have been pre-eminent in 
 wisdom and virtue. That distinguished men should be re- 
 membered with merited honor, all will at once acknowledge, 
 and most will occasionally render them the tribute of juBt 
 9 
 
130 NECROLOGY. 
 
 praise. But such men will be honored — they need not our 
 efforts to secure for them the just meed of fame. But there 
 are many others to whom we are greatly indebted, whose 
 names and whose virtues will be unknown to future ages, 
 unless rescued from oblivion by speedy exertions. Men have 
 ever been too indifferent to the merits of humble virtue ; and 
 especially have they been too remiss in seizing upon that strong 
 passion in the human heart, the love of posthumous praise. 
 Every man wishes to be known to succeeding ages. Every 
 man desires that his name may stand upon the chronicles of 
 the country, that he may in some degree be considered a 
 benefactor of his fellow-men. And a hope that this desire 
 will be gratified will incite to virtue — will restrain from vice. 
 We owe it then to the dead — we owe it to the living — we owe 
 it to the good of succeeding generations, and especially to 
 the welfare of society, to rescue from oblivion the good deeds 
 of those who, though they may not have been most conspicu- 
 ous among their fellow-men, have still rendered some service 
 to their country — have still been benefactors to their race. 
 In discharging this duty local history is an all important 
 instrument." pp. 5-6. 
 
 In the very spirit of the quotation the Synod of Georgia 
 is now acting, by placing on record proper memorials of her 
 deceased ministers. 
 
 There is another aspect in which the labors of Dr. Church 
 must be viewed in oi'der to appreciate his character fully as 
 an educator of youth. It will be remembered that for years 
 a controversy has been going on in relation to the studies 
 which should be introduced into a College curriculum. On 
 the one side it is contended that little or no attention should 
 be paid to the ancient classics— that modern languages 
 should in a great degree take their place, and especially the 
 English language ; that all the natural sciences should be intro- 
 duced ; that education should be eminently practical, rather 
 than training ; that the student should see the present use of 
 
REV. ALONZO CHtRCH, D. D. 131 
 
 all his studies. While on the other hand, it is contended 
 that College education should be mainly confined to training 
 studies, which the experience of ages has demonstrated to be 
 the seven liberal arts and sciences ; that the true mode of 
 real education is not to multiply subjects of study, but to 
 study these seven liberal arts and sciences more thoroughly. 
 Now in this controversy, Dr. Church threw all his weight and 
 influence on the side of the latter, and did much to form a 
 sound sentiment on this subject among our Southern Colleges, 
 and justly entitled himself to be considered, as he was con- 
 sidered, one of the best College Presidents that ever blessed 
 our institutions of learning. 
 
 Dr. Church was licensed by Hopewell Presbytery, at 
 Athens, the 4th April, 1820. He was ordained by the same 
 Presbytery, at Bethany, Green county, April 3d, 1824. He 
 was a thorough Presbyterian in principle and sympathy, but 
 as free from sectarian narrowness as it is possible for a good 
 man to be. It is to his influence in no small degree that so 
 much harmony has uniformly prevailed among the Christian 
 denominations of Athens. 
 
 Dr. Church was at one time invited to become the Pastor 
 of a leading Church in Charleston, S. C. A most stubborn 
 opposition to his acceptance was made by the people of Athens, 
 without reference to denominations or parties. It was liter- 
 ally a popular demonstration by way of petition, signed by 
 everybody. Upon another occasion the people of Athens 
 presented him with a service of silver, at a cost of several 
 hundred dollars, in testimony of their respect and veneration 
 for him. 
 
 Dr. Church never took part in politics. He was from 
 conviction a free trade man. He was so prudent in voting 
 that not more than one or two persons knew how he voted. 
 He had one rule that he invariably followed, and that was to 
 vote for the candidate that was educated under him, without 
 reference to his party alignment, provided he had maintained 
 
132 NEdROLOGY. 
 
 a good moral character. He made character an important 
 item in all the votes he cast. He wrote his tickets and 
 refused the printed ones. He sometimes made up his ticket 
 with the names of good rnen from the Ksts of both parties, 
 rejecting such as were reputed to be drunken and immoral, 
 and if the lists did not furnish enough names of good men he 
 voted an imperfect ticket. 
 
 He was married soon after his settlement in Eatonton to 
 Miss Sarah Trippe, a beautiful young lady of the county of 
 Putnam, and remarkable for retaining her beauty to the end 
 of life, and survived her only about one yeai*. They had a 
 large family of children, several of whom died in infancy, and 
 eight of whom arrived at years of maturity, and survived both 
 parents. 
 
 They are scattered through different States ; one having 
 died the year after his father. Not one of them resides in 
 the State of Georgia, though it is to be hoped that his youngest 
 son may yet settle in our State, and enjoy the prestige of his 
 father*8 good name and fame among us. 
 
 In estimating Dr. Church's personal character, we must 
 n:ot oinit his courage, his prudence, his courtesy and fine 
 ftianners, his Christian meekness, and that wonderful com- 
 mand of temper which he possessed above most men. 
 
 In stature, he was six feet high, spare built, With very 
 pale complexion. He had black hair, and keen black eyes. 
 In the class-room, he ever commanded, by his dignified 
 presence, the respect of every student. 
 
 At the meeting of the Synod of Georgia, in Macon, 
 November, 1862, 'in a minute adopted by that body, after 
 recounting his valuable services as ari educator, it proceeds : 
 "As a man. Dr. Church was the finished gentleman — polished 
 in his manners, affable and kind in his social intercourse with 
 men — a man of spirit, yet of humility. As a Christian, he 
 was meek, cheerful, consistent, charitable; as a preacher, 
 he was plain, practical, and persuasive. Though he never 
 
REV. ALONZO CHURCH, D. D. 133 
 
 filled the pastoral office, yet was abundant in labors as a 
 minister, supplying the feeble and destitute Churches in the 
 vicinity of Athens. It was his delight and his glory to 
 preach the gospel to the poor." 
 
 His mortal remains lie interred in the Oconee Cemetery — 
 the beautiful burying-ground of the cultivated people of 
 Athens — by the side of his beloved wife. 
 
REV. BENJAMIN D. DuPREE. 
 
 Benjamin David DuPree was born in the city of 
 Charleston, South Carolina, 29th of December, 1799. He 
 was the son of Benjamin and Mary DuPree. The family 
 was of French or Huguenot descent. At what time it came 
 to America, is not known ; probably soon after the revocation 
 of the edict of Nantez, when so many of the Reformed reli- 
 gion emigrated from France to this country.* 
 
 When the subject of this memoir was about ten years old, 
 the family removed from Charleston to Old Pendleton, S. C. 
 After their removal, he pursued his studies in an academy 
 taught by a Mr. McClintock, at Pendleton. We have been 
 unable to learn at what time he became the subject of divine \ 
 grace. It was, doubtless, while at the academy, and under 
 the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Hillhouse, then the efficient 
 and successful pastor of the Pendleton Presbyterian Church. f 
 
 * Huguenot.— Prohahly from the word Huguon, a night-walker, 
 because, like the early Christians, they assembled privately in the evening. 
 It was on the eve of St. Bartholomew's Day, August 24, 1572, at the 
 ringing of a bell, that the massacre of the French Protestants began. An 
 unparalleled scene of horror ensued. Five hundred men of distinction, 
 and ten thousand of inferior order, were slain that night in Paris. A 
 general destruction was immediately ordered throughout France ; sixty 
 thousand perished. More than 800,000 were destroyed in thirty years, in 
 France, for adopting the Reformed religion. The Huguenots fled to 
 every Protestant country in Europe, and many of them passed over to 
 America. They settled in Carolina ; and much of the best blood of that 
 State is of Huguenot origin. 
 
 f Rev. James Hillhouse was the son of William and Sarah Hillhouse, 
 and of Irish origin. His father was a soldier of the Revolution, and was 
 at the siege of Savannah, and in many other battles in the Carolinas. He 
 was a man of eminent piety, and brought up his fomily in the nurture 
 and admonition of the Lord. 
 
 Mr. Hillhouse received Ms classical education at the Varrennes 
 
 134 
 
REV. BENJAMIN D. DUPREE. 135 
 
 After having obtained a good classical education in 1818, lie 
 commenced the study of Theology under the private instruc- 
 tion of his pastor, (Mr. Hillhouse,) who then resided a few 
 miles from the village of Old Pendleton. 
 
 In 1819, he was taken under the care of the Presbytery 
 of South Carolina, as a candidate for the holy ministry, and 
 by that body was licensed to preach the gospel, on the 5th 
 of November, 1821. 
 
 On the 1st day of February, 1820, he was married to Miss 
 Eliza Frances Carne, daughter of Thomas Wilkinson and 
 Elizabeth Carne, who had removed from Charleston to Pen- 
 dleton in 1816. 
 
 Soon after his licensure, he was appointed by his Presby- 
 tery to labor as a missionary among the destitute Churches 
 in that part of Old Pendleton, now Pickens Distriot, in the 
 northwestern part of the State of South Carolina. He 
 continued to occupy this field until 1825. He organized, 
 about this time, a Church on Cane Creek, called Mount Zion, 
 and another on Conoross Creek, called Westminster — to both 
 of which he continued to minister for some seven or eight 
 years. 
 
 Returning to the village of Pendleton, he ministered for 
 three or four years to Sandy Springs Church, and subse- 
 quently at Old Bethel, Bachelor's Retreat, Pickens C. H., 
 and at other places. To all these his labors were acceptable 
 and useful. In all these fields his memory will be long 
 cherished with esteem and affection. 
 
 Academy, in what was then Pendleton, now Anderson District, S. C, 
 under the instruction of the late David McDowell, of Wiunsboro'. He 
 studied Theology at Willington, under the care of the late Dr. Waddel, 
 and was licensed and ordained by the Presbytery of South Cnrolina. 
 
 He had charge of the Presbyterian Church at Pendleton village for 
 several years. He emigrated thence to Alabama, and settled at Greens- 
 boro', Green county, where he died in the prime of life. He was a man 
 of considerable ability— a most fervent speaker. His ministry, though 
 short, was greatly successful. 
 
136 NECROLOGY. 
 
 About this time, he determined to change his field of labor. 
 The western portion of Georgia being then a comparatively 
 new country, in 1845, he moved with his family to Cobb 
 county. Here he connected himself with Cherokee Presby- 
 tery, within whose bounds he labored most of his time as a 
 missionary among the feeble and destitute Churches in this 
 large and interesting field. 
 
 At the ,time of his death, he was preaching as stated 
 supply at Hickory Flat and Midway Churches, in Cherokee 
 Presbytery, and at Villa Rica and Carrollton, and New 
 Manchester Factory, within the bounds of Flint River 
 Presbytery. 
 
 From this brief statement, we learn that our venerable 
 father was no loiterer in the Master's vineyard. He occu- 
 pied, in many respects, hard fields of labor, furnishing him 
 with plenty of work, but affording him only a scanty and 
 meagre support. Like the Apostle Paul, he was compelled 
 to work with his own hands to provide for a dependent 
 family. The school and the farm were added to the toils of 
 a ministry extending over a large space of country, and 
 continued through a period of more than forty years. But 
 during this long and arduous ministry, he was the honored 
 instrument, in the hands of God, of turning many to right- 
 eousness, who were seals of that ministry on earth, and will 
 be stars in his crown of rejoicing in heaven. 
 
 The history of this brother is the history of many others, 
 who, like him, lived and labored for the good of society — 
 little known, and with little worldly compensation. The 
 people among whom he labored were poor, in their own esti- 
 mation. They neither fed nor clothed his family ; yet were 
 they spiritually enriched by his toil. He went on the warfare 
 at his own charges ; he planted, and others eat the fruit ; he 
 fed the flock, and eat not of the milk of the flock. 
 
 The arduous and long continued services of Mr. DuPree, 
 exhausting in their nature, drew heavily upon a constitution 
 
REV. BENJAMIN D. DUPREE. 187 
 
 unusually robust, but to which it eventually succumbed. He 
 was always punctual in fulfilling his engagements, even at 
 the most distant points, allowing no severity of weather to 
 prevent his meeting with the people of his charge. When 
 urged by his family at times not to expose his health and 
 life in such inclement seasons, he would reply, " I would 
 rather wear out than rust out." 
 
 On Saturday the 11th of April, 1863, he met for the last 
 time with the Presbytery of Cherokee, then in session at 
 Mai-ietta, and was apparently in usual health. He returned 
 to his home about seven miles distant, and was suddenly 
 attacked with a violent sore throat on Thursday or Friday 
 following, supposed to be diptheria, and died early on Satur- 
 day morning, the 18ih of April, 1863, just one week after 
 meeting with his brethren in Presbytery. 
 
 He died in the 61th year of his age and the 42d of his 
 ministry. He left a widow and four children, two sons and 
 two daughters, all grown and members of the Presbyterian 
 Church. Three of these were comfortably settled in life, of 
 whom a married daughter lived in South Carolina, and two 
 married sons quite near him. Three sons and two daughters 
 had preceded him to the grave. One of his sons, Mr. Newton 
 DuPree, was an Elder in the Church, and fell on the field of 
 battle in Virginia during the war. 
 
REV. GEORGE CLAUDIUS FLEMING.* 
 
 George Claudius Fleming was born in St. Augustine, 
 Florida, October 30th, 1822, His parents were Roman 
 Catholics, and he was educated in that faith. In the year 
 1837 he was sent to school in South Hadley, Mass. Two 
 years after he was hopefully converted, and removed to 
 Amherst, in the same State, where he was prepared for Col- 
 lege, but owing to pecuniary embarrassments he did not enter 
 college. His inclinations led him to seek the ministry as the 
 field where he could best promote the glory of God, and do 
 good to the souls of men. But at the earnest solicitations of 
 friends he consented to study medicine. 
 
 After his graduation at the University of Pennsylvania he 
 practised medicine for a time at Black Creek, Florida. His 
 heart, however, was in the ministry, and he soon laid aside 
 the profession of medicine, and commenced the study of 
 Theology at Princeton, N. J. 
 
 His first labors in the ministry were at Woodstock, Florida, 
 where he preached for three years. He then removed to St. 
 Marys, Georgia, where he labored one year with great accep- 
 tance, and with much promise of success. His disease, which 
 was consumption, first made its appearance in the Spring of 
 1857, but he continued in the faithful discharge of his duties 
 until July, when, after a communion season which severely 
 taxed his strength, he was laid aside from preaching, and 
 never again entered the pulpit. 
 
 In February following he left St. Marys for Magnolia, 
 Florida, hoping thait the change would prove beneficial to his 
 health. But he sank rapidly under his disease, and in one 
 week after his arrival at the latter place he calmly and peace- 
 
 *MSS. From Rev. D. L. Buttolph. 
 138 
 
REV. GEORGE CLAUDIUS FLEMING. 1S9 
 
 fully entered into his rest, A ministerial brother who visited 
 him in his last illness says, " That though weak in body, and 
 oftentimes wandering in mind, yet in his lucid intervals he 
 gave evidence of a strong faith in Christ, and quiet resigna- 
 tion to the Divine will. His last words, after taking leave of 
 his family, were, " God is love." 
 
 Mr. Fleming was very much beloved by the Church in 
 St. Marys. His preaching was distinguished for warmth and 
 earnestness. He was an excellent pastor. He visited his 
 flock often, and labored from house to hou&e. He left a wife 
 and several children. 
 
REV. THOMAS GOULDIXG, D.D. 
 
 For the following commemorative notice of the Rev. Dr. 
 Ooulding we are principally indebted to the papers of. the 
 Eev. Dr. Talmage and the Hon, Joseph H. Lumpkin, found 
 in Sprague's Annals of the American Pulpit. Having 
 enjoyed a somewhat intimate acquaintance with him for thir- 
 teen or fourteen years as a co- presbyter, we can cordially 
 endorse what they have said of his excellence as a man and a 
 minister. For many years he lived in almost daily expecta- 
 tion of death. He felt he had the sentence of death within 
 him, and that at any m^sment he might be called from earth. 
 We remember well an observation he made to us the last 
 interview we had with him : speaking of some expected event, 
 he calmly remarked, '■^ I shall go up yonder some of these days 
 suddenly' — lifting his hand and turning his eye heavenward. 
 He lived more habitually in expectation of his departure than 
 almost any man we ever knew. He kept his Samp trimmed 
 and his light burning in readiness for the coming of the bride- 
 groom. His dis'^ase, an affection of the heart, he regarded 
 as hereditary, his mother, we think, having died of it. 
 
 The following letter is from the Rev. Samuel K. Talmage, 
 addressed to Dr. Sprague, and dated, 
 
 Oglethorpe University, January 23, 1849. 
 
 My Dear Sir — I cheerfully comply with your request, that I should 
 furnish you with a brief notice of the life, and some estimate of the char- 
 acter of iny ever venerated friend, the late Rev. Dr. Thomas Goulding. 
 
 Thomas Goulding was born in Midway, Liberty county. Ga., March 
 14, 1786. At the time of his death, he was the oldest of fifteen Presby- 
 terian ministers from one Church, occupying ueefully and honorably 
 various and important responsible stations in the South. He was the 
 first native licentiate of the Presbyterian Church in Georgia. 
 
 It might be profitable to enquire why the on« Church of Midway, 
 Liberty county, has furnished more Presbyterian ministers for the State 
 
 140 
 
HEV. THOMAS GOtLDiNG, B. D. 141 
 
 of Georgia than all the other ninety-two counties united. The influence 
 of one little colony of Puritans that made its way thither, through a 
 scene of trials and disasters, from Dorchester, Mass., who can describe? 
 Heaven's register will unfold many a page which earth's historians fail to 
 ■write. What the Christian Church does for the State, the world will 
 never fully know. 
 
 At the age of sixteen, j'ouug Goulding was sent to Wolcott, Conn., 
 Where lie received the principal part of his academic education. He 
 prosecuted the study of the law in Kew Haven, in the office of Judge 
 Daggett. He was married to Ann Holbrook, iii Soutbington, Conn., in 
 November, 1806. In April, 1810, he became connected with the Church 
 in his native place, (Midway,) and soon felt it to be his duty to devote 
 himself to the work of the Christian ministry. 
 
 Towards the close of the year 1811 he was receited as a candidate^ 
 under the care of the Harmony Presbytery,* antl was licensed to preach 
 the gospel in December, 1813. A few uiontlis after his licensure, he com^ 
 menced preaching as stated supply at White Bluff, and was ordained and 
 installed pastor of that Church January 1st, 1816. Here be labored 
 faithfully, acceptably and successfully for about six years, during which 
 time the warmest reciprocal attachments were formed bet-sf een himself 
 and his flock. In 1833 he resigned his chafge, and removed to Lexing- 
 ton, Oglethorpe count j'. Here fte remained for eight years, during which 
 he exerted an itiflnence over some of the first minds in the State, which 
 is new. felling a,nd will forever tell on the best interests of men. Many a 
 comlTftuuity is now reaping rich spiritual blessings, the source of which-^ 
 Unknown to themselves — is in the honored instrumentality of this faithful 
 man of God. On the establishment of the Theological Seminary by the 
 Synod of South Carolina and Georgia, he was elected by the Synod its 
 first, and for a time, its only Professor. 
 
 He was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the Uni- 
 versity of North Carolina in 18^9. 
 
 For one year he instructed a Theological class at Lexington in connec- 
 tion with his pastoral labors, and was transferred by direction of tire 
 Synod to Columbia, South Carolina, the present site of the Si^minary. 
 
 After serving the Church laboriously in the department of Ecclesiastical 
 History and Church Government for several years, in connection with 
 others associated with him, he resigned his chair as Professor, and was 
 called to his late charge ia Columbus, Ga., in January, 1835. For thirteen 
 years and a half he was €he laborious and faithful pastor of that Church. 
 He found it comparatively weak, and by bis persevering fidelity raised it 
 to influence and strength. 
 
 * Harmony Presbytery included all the seaboard of Georgia at that pietiod, and 
 Until 1821, when the Vteshttdrt of Georgia was set off. 
 
142 NECROLOGY. 
 
 He was, for many years in succession, elected President of the Board 
 of Trustees of Oglethorpe University, -which oflBce he held at the time of 
 his death. He died, as was his oft expressed wish, " with his harness 
 on." On the evening of the 26th of June, 1848, he attended his usual 
 weekl}'^ lecture. He was in a state of great bodily debility when he left 
 his house, and was attacked, whilst in the house of God, with a paroxysm 
 from an affection of the heart, under which he had long been laboring. 
 With great effort, he finished the service. The subject of his lecture 
 was taken from the first four verses of the 63d Psalm — " O God, thou art 
 my God," etc. It was a fitting theme for the veteran soldier of the cross 
 to dwell upon, just as he had reached the portals of his Father's house. 
 It was a suitable topic to present in his last address to his beloved 
 parishioners. And happy were they who did not allow themselves to be 
 detained from the service. 
 
 Within one short hour from his pronouncing the benediction upon his 
 hearers, he was called, I doubt not, to hear the benediction pronounced 
 ■upon his own spirit from the lips of the Saviour whom he loved, " Well 
 done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." 
 
 On retiring from the place of worship, he hastened to his chamber in 
 a state of great exhaustion. He had scarcely reclined upon his couch, 
 when a violent paroxysm of his disease seized him. He rose to lean 
 upon the mantle, his accustomed source of relief, but relief came not ; the 
 usual remedies proved unavailing. In the intense agony which he 
 suffered, he said to a friend, that he would be glad if it would please the 
 good Lord soon to take him away, as his sufferings were very great. To 
 a beloved son, who was overwhelmed at witnessing his agony, he admin- 
 istered a tender rebuke. He was presently heard, by one of his daughters, 
 uttering the prayer, " Come, Lord Jesus ; come quickly." That prayer 
 was heard : he ceased to breathe — his spirit was at rest. 
 
 The high estimation in which he was held was manifested at his 
 death by many unequivocal signs. It was evinced in the deep sorrow 
 that pervaded the whole city in which he lived, as the mournful intelli- 
 gence spread through its habitations ; in the thronged assemblage and 
 flowing tears witnessed at the funeral rites ; and in the strong expressions 
 of regret with which the sad tidings were received among his large circle 
 of friends and acquaintances abroad. 
 
 Dr. Goulding possessed a fine intellect and cultivated taste. His 
 pulpit exercises were far above the ordinary standard, and especially 
 when his bodily infirmities did not interfere with the free exercises of 
 his physical and mental energies. He was a well read and polished 
 scholar, and had gathered rich harvests in the fields of literature. 
 
 More engaging attributes still were the strength and tenderness of 
 his sensibilities, and the sincerity and fervor of his piety. He was sus- 
 ceptible of strong friendships, for his feelings were of the moat ardent 
 
REV. THOMAS GOULDING, D. D. 143 
 
 kind. There was also in his character a childlike simplicity, that won 
 irresistibly upon his associates. If these attractive qualities had their 
 corresponding infirmities, they were the natural result of his rare gifts, 
 and he would have bsen the last man to claim exemption from the 
 frailties of humanity. Conscious of his own integrity, he looked for 
 honesty in others, and was liable to be imposed on by the crafty and 
 designing; whilst, again, the strength of his attachments made him feel 
 the want of reciprocity from others, whose colder natures could not yield 
 the equivalent which the warm heart requires. 
 
 His favorite pursuit was the investigation of theological truth. The 
 inspired volume was the book he loved best to study, and to hold up to 
 the admiration of his fellow-men. He was well informed in, and thor- 
 oughly devoted to, the doctrines and polity of his own Church, and was 
 an able advocate of both. But, as his own judgment was based on 
 faithful investigation and honest conviction, so his heart was open to 
 embrace all the real disciples of Christ. And so it is, that true piety 
 evokes insensibly a corresponding tone of harmony from every other 
 heart which the Spirit of God has strung to Christian unison. The 
 genuine impulses of true religious experience outrun the slow deductions 
 of argument, and bigotry itself is disarmed before the eloquence of love. 
 The illuminations of the Spirit dissolve sophistries and overthrow preju- 
 dices which logic cannot demolish ; and a heart overflowing with 
 enlightened Christian chanty sometimes creates to itself a benignant 
 centre of attraction, where the most discordant materials are fused into 
 homogeneous union, and caused to move in harmony. 
 
 It was his delight to expatiate on the doctrines of the cross, and 
 proclaim them to his fellow-men. He was no reluctant hireling servant 
 in the spiritual vineyard. He loved his covenanted work, and was ever 
 ready, in season and out of season, in public and in private, to hold forth 
 the claims and vindicate the honors of his gracious Master. 
 
 With all his natural and acquired endowments, he was modest and 
 retiring, and shrunk from public observation. It was, doubtless, owing 
 to this fact that he was not before the public so often and so prominently 
 as many others. But whenever he was drawn out to some public service, 
 all felt his power, and paid the tribute of profound respect to the origi- 
 nality of his thoughts, the energy of his manner, and the beauty and 
 simplicity of his style. 
 
 Though, from bodily infirmity, his brethren were often, of late yearf , 
 deprived of the pleasure of seeing him in our ecclesiastical convocations, 
 his occasional presence was hailed with great satisfaction ; and they 
 sorrow now that they shall see his face no more.* 
 
 * Dr. Goulding, by appointment of the General Assembly, opened the first 
 session of the Synod of Georgia, that met in Macon on the 20th of November, 1845, 
 with a sermon from Acts xx: 28, and was elected its first Moderator. 
 
144 Necrology. 
 
 In person, Dr. Goulding was of medium stature, full habit, round 
 contour of face, high forehead, with a countenance expressive of deep 
 feeling and vigorous intellect. In his manners, there was a graceful 
 simplicity, blended with a commanding dignity, that was exceedingly 
 winning. His manner in the pulpit, whenever his health and spirits 
 were good, was at once pleasing and impressive — its two prominent 
 elements consisting in tenderness and earnestness. 
 
 He left a wife and nine children, having lost one in childhood. He 
 lived to enjoy the satisfaction of seeing most of his children connected 
 with the Church of Christ. One of his sons and two of his sons-in-hiw, 
 are ministers of the gospel. 
 
 I am, dear sir, yours truly, SAMUEL K. TALMAGE. 
 
 Prom the Hon. Joseph H. Lumj)kin, Chief Justice of the State of Georgia. 
 
 AtheKb, Ga., May 19, 1857. 
 Dear Sir — I regret that ycur letter finds me so oppressed with engage- 
 ments, and withal in such imperfect health, that it is quite out of my 
 power to comply with your request in any such way as will be satisfac- 
 tory either to you or myself I am unwilling, however, absolutely to 
 decline it; and will, therefore, in a very hurried way, just hint at what 
 Bfeeni to ffife to have been some of the most prominent features in Dr. 
 Goulding*s character. My opportunities for knowing him could scarcely 
 have been better than they were. Iretreived my firs' permanent religious 
 impressions and joined the Church under his ministry, and was afier- 
 Wards, for many years, a member of his session. I loved him as a man 
 and revered him as a pastor; and I would gladly do anything in my 
 power to honor and perpetuate his memory. 
 
 Dr. Goukling's character was formed of a rare combination of intellec- 
 tual and moral qualities, that fitted him to be at once eminently popular 
 and eminently useful. His intellect was much above the ordinary 
 standard, and It had been cultivated by diligent and long continued study. 
 As a preacher, he was always sensible and instructive ; and sometimes 
 his pulpit efforts rose to a very high order of excellence. He was a 
 thorough Calvanist of the Geneva school ; nor could any considerations 
 of policy induce him to relax, in public or private, one jot or title of his 
 creed. The doctrine of justification by faith he regarded as an epitome 
 of the Christian system— as embodying its life and power ; and this in its 
 connections undoubtedly formed the favorite theme of his ministrations. 
 Ko one could sit under his ministry, with any degree of attention, with- 
 out gaining verj^ definite views of the system of doctrine which he held 
 and inculcated, as well as a deep impression of the importance he attached 
 to it. He was alike explicit and earnest. 
 
 It has been my privilege to listen to the most prominent divines both 
 in the United States and Great Britain, and in one respect it has seemed 
 
REV. THOMAS GOULDING, J). D. 145 
 
 to me that Dr. Goulding has never been exceeded within my knowledge 
 — I mean as a preacher of funeral sermons. To this service, which is 
 acknowledged, I believe, to be one of the most dilficult which a clergy- 
 man ever has to perform, he brought a degree of delicacy, discrimination 
 and pathos, that commanded not only the attention, but the admiration 
 of his hearers. 
 
 Though Dr. Goulding had in some respects a woman's heart, and was 
 of tender and delicate sensibility, he was always firm to his convictions 
 of what was true and right. In worldly matters he was the merest child. 
 Conscious of entire sincerit}'^ himself, he seemed scarcely capable of sus- 
 pecting the sincerity of others. A more unselfish man than he never 
 lived. In all circumstances he showed himself a model gentleman, as 
 well as a model Christian. He had an instinctive discernment of all the 
 proprieties of life, and practiced them with most scrupulous care and 
 consideration. In the social circle he was the most genial of companions. 
 He had at his command a fund of anecdotes, many of which were con- 
 nected with his own history, that were both amusing and instructive, and 
 he knew how to turn them to the very best account. 
 
 That Dr. Goulding was an eminently pious man, no one I believe ever 
 doubted, who knew him. And he assured me that if he was ever regen- 
 erated it was while he was asleep. Wearied with his burden of sin, and 
 his fruitless search to find a Saviour, he sunk despairingly into a profound 
 slumber, and awoke praising God for his great salvation. I state the fact 
 without comment. 
 
 Regretting to send you so meagre a notice of my venerable friend and 
 pastor, when my feelings would dictate a fuller and worthier tribute to 
 his memory, 
 
 I am, sir, very trulj', your obedient servant, 
 
 JOSEPH H. LUMPKIN. 
 
 The St/nod of Georgia on the Death of Dr. Goulding. 
 
 At a meeting of the Synod at Greensboro', Ga., November 
 27th, 1848, the following resolutions were adopted : 
 
 "Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God, during the past 
 year, to remove by death the Rev. Thomas Goulding, D.I>., 
 an honored and beloved member of this body ; 
 
 Resolved, That we recognize the hand of an inscrutible 
 
 but All- wise Providence in this dispensation by which one of 
 
 our most useful pastors has been taken from a beloved Church; 
 
 a wise counsellor and a valuable member has beea removed 
 
 10 
 
146 NECROLOGY. 
 
 from our Synod, and the Church at large deprived of one of 
 her ablest and most faithful servants. 
 
 Resolved, That while we mourn the removal of our lament- 
 ed father and brother from the scenes of his earthly labors, 
 yet we rejoice in the blessed memory he has left behind, and 
 in the confident assurance that he has entered upon that ' rest 
 that remaineth for the people of God.' " 
 
REV. JOHN HARRISOISr * 
 
 John Harrison was born in Virginia, June 4th, 1776. 
 His mother, Ann Harrison, was a daughter of the Rev. 
 Henry Patillo, of North Carolina. f He studied the Latin 
 and Greek languages under the tuition of the Rev. James 
 Gilliland, of Spartanburg District, S. C, commencing at the 
 advanced age of twenty-four. He did not, it seems, contem- 
 plate entering the ministry at the time he entered on classical 
 studies. He was not then even a member of the Church. 
 His object was, probably, to qualify himself for a teacher. 
 For a number of years he was engaged in teaching the Latin 
 and Greek languages in the upper districts of South Carolina. 
 
 * MSS. from the family. 
 
 f Rev. Henry Patillo was a Scotchman, born in 1726. He came to this 
 country when nine years old, in company with an elder brother. He was 
 first a merchant's clerk, and afterwards a school teacher. After a long 
 conflict on the subject of his relations to God, as a sinner, he obtained 
 comforting and satisfactory views of Evangelical truth. Having obtained 
 hope of a saving interest in Christ, he became deeply anxious in respect 
 to the spiritual condition of those around him, and at length formed the 
 purpose of devoting himself to the ministry. He pursued his studies 
 under the instruction of the celebrated Samuel Davies, of Hanover, Va., 
 and was licensed to preacli the gospel by the Hanover Presbytery, Sept. 
 28th, 1757. He was ordained at Cumberland, on the 12th of July, 1758. 
 His first pastoral charge was Willis Creek, Byrd and Buckland. He was 
 dismissed from this charge in 1762, on the ground of inadequate support. 
 He subsequently supplied the Churches of Cumberland, Harris Creek and 
 Deep Creek. He was called to the Churches of Hawfields, Eno and 
 Little River, North Carolina, in 1765, where he spent the remainder of 
 his life. 
 
 In 1775 he was a delegate from the county of Bute, (now Warren and 
 Franklin,) to the First Provincial Congress of North Carolina. He died 
 away from home, in Dinwiddy county, Va., while on a missionary tour 
 in 1801. His last moments evinced the triumph of faith. His funeral 
 sermon was preached by the Rev. Drury Lacy. 
 
 147 
 
148 NECROLOGY. 
 
 About the age of thirty-six, he united with the Church, 
 and shortly thereafter felt it to be his duty to devote himself 
 to the ministry. He placed himself under the care of the 
 South Carolina Presbytery as a candidate for the holy 
 ministry. He studied Theology under the superintendence 
 of the Rev. John B. Kennedy, of Laurens District, S. C. 
 
 He was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of 
 South Carolina, and taught and preached a few years in that 
 State, and then removed with his family to Jackson county, 
 Georgia, in the year 1818, and settled in the bounds of 
 Thyatira Congregation, where he spent the remainder of his 
 life. Mr. Harrison was ordained by Hopewell Presbytery as 
 an Evangelist, at McDonough, August 11th, 1828. 
 
 His ministerial labors in Georgia were mainly confined to 
 the counties of Jackson, Franklin and Hall; particularly to 
 the Churches of Hebron and New Lebanon, in Franklin, now 
 Banks, county. In these two Churches his labors will doubt- 
 less be long remembered. 
 
 Being occupied much of his time in laboring with his own 
 hands, on his farm in Jackson county, his opportunities were 
 rather limited. He often spoke of his approaching dissolu- 
 tion. Death did not overtake him as a thief in the night. 
 His departure was early in January, 1847, in the 71st year 
 of his age. 
 
 From Bev. Wm. P. Harrison, dated 
 
 Knox Hill, West Fla., April 20tli, 1864. 
 
 I>r. John S. Wilson — Yours, asking a brief biograpliical sketch of my 
 father, was received a month or two ago. 1 immediately communicated 
 the substance of your inquiries to my mother. The mails have been slow 
 and irregular. By an oversight, the date of my father's death was omit- 
 ted. I think it was the 3d of January, 1847. Before his death he had 
 destroyed nearly all his old manuscripts, thereby indicating that he had 
 no desire for posthumous notoriety. In any future record or publication 
 concerning the dead, there are other names among the former Presby- 
 terian ministers of Georgia that will claim, and doubtless occupy a wider 
 space, and require more details. 
 
 Yours, in the gospel of Christ, 
 
 W. P. HARRISON. 
 
REV. RICHARD HOOKER.* 
 
 Richard Hooker was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, 
 on the 10th of April, 1808. He was of an honored and 
 pious ancestry, being of the sev^enth generation in direct 
 descent from Thomas Hooker, that eminent divine who was 
 the first minister of Hartford, Connecticut. f No man in 
 the early history of the New England Churches, had 
 probably a wider fame, or a more beneficent influence, 
 than this leader of the Colony who left Boston in June, 
 1636, to establish their new home on the banks of the Con- 
 necticut. The whole company of these emigrants were of 
 the most valued and excellent citizens of the Massachusetts 
 Colony; but, in every respect, he was the acknowledged 
 head, and no one whom he left behind in the older home was 
 his superior, if indeed his equal. Like so many of the noble 
 men of those times, after accomplishing his appointed work 
 during his own life-time, he handed down a name full of 
 honor, and a character full of integrity and worth to his 
 children, and his children's children. The covenant promise 
 of God was fulfilled in his case ; and from generation to 
 generation, the descendants of this founder of the family in 
 our country were distinguished for uprightness and useful- 
 ness, for Christian piety, and good deeds in every line. The 
 
 * MSS. from Mrs. Hooker, of New Haven, Connecticut. 
 
 f Rev. Thomas Hooker was a preacher at Chilmsford, Ehgland, and 
 was silenced for non-conformity, and obliged to flee to Holland. He 
 was invited to come to America. He settled at Newton, now Cambridge, 
 Massachusetts. He was a man of eminent pulpit talents. About the 
 begiuaiug of June, 1636, he, with an hundred men, women and children, 
 left Newton, and traveled with the greatest difficulty over an hundred 
 miles of trackless wilderness, to Hartford. They drove about 160 cattle, 
 which afforded them sustenance, and carried their arms and utensils. 
 They were about a fortnight in the wilderness. — Marsh Ecd. Hist. 
 
 149 
 
150 NECROLOGY. 
 
 grandfather of the subject of this brief sketch, was Rev. John 
 Hooker, who was the successor of the great Jonathan 
 Edwards as pastor of the first Church in Northampton, Mass., 
 and who fulfilled a ministry of twenty-four years there, with 
 faithfulness and acceptance to all. The son of this North- 
 ampton clergyman, and father of Richard Hooker, was the 
 Hon. John Hooker, a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas 
 for the Western District of Massachusetts. He resided at 
 Springfield, where he always held the foremost position in 
 society, both as a man of strong mental power and of elevated 
 religious character. He was earnest in every good word and 
 work, active in the Church of Christ, and an example of 
 purity, and worth, and dignity, and the noble bearing of 
 former times in his relations to society ; and one of the first 
 in this country to urge forward the work of sending the 
 gospel to heathen lands. In 1810, he became, with a few 
 others, a founder of the American Board of Commissioners 
 for Foreign Missions, and ever, to the end of his life, he was 
 one of its most able and efficient members. He married Sarah, 
 the daughter of Col. Josiah Dwight, of Springfield, a lady 
 who, in mind and character, was like himself, and who to old 
 age was reverenced, not only by her own family, but by all 
 who knew her. This worthy couple were the parents of ten 
 children, of whom the youngest was the one, a short record 
 of whose career is now to be presented. 
 
 Inheriting thus, from all the preceding generations, the 
 most excellent traits, and being trained in a family whose 
 high moral tone, earnest religious life, and uncommon culti- 
 vation and refinement, were conspicuous to every observer, 
 Richard Hooker grew up, through his childhood, a guileless, 
 delicate, and conscientious boy. His mind, in those early 
 years, was bright and active. His physical activity was 
 very great, and he was even noted among his companions 
 for the spirit and agility with which he engaged in all out of 
 door and athletic sports and exercises. His preparation for 
 
REV. RICHARD HOOKER. 151 
 
 college was carried forward mainly in the schools in the 
 neighborhood of his home, at Monson and Northampton ; at 
 both of which places, he took rank among the first in scholar- 
 ship and excellence of deportment and of character. At the 
 age of fifteen, he entered Yale College, where he was grad- 
 uated with high honors in the class of 1827. 
 
 During his collegiate course it was, that his attention was 
 first seriously given to the subject of religion. He became 
 interested at a time of revival, in the latter part of his junior 
 year ; and after a deep experience of the power of truth, he 
 united with the College Church in August, 1826. 
 
 But little is known of the four years he spent in New 
 Haven at that time, except that he still displayed the char- 
 acteristics of his boyhood, and likewise manifested such 
 power of mind as gave promise of future success and 
 usefulness. 
 
 His health had become seriously impaired while he was a 
 Senior in College, so that after his graduation, it was deemed 
 prudent for him to spend the winter in a warmer climate. 
 Accordingly, he went to the South, and finally remained 
 there for some years, until he was so far recovered in 
 strength, that ho was enabled to commence a course of 
 theological study. This was pursued in two difierent semi- 
 naries — first in Princeton, N. J., and afterwards at Columbia, 
 S. C. He had been compelled, even before he left college, 
 by reason of his impaired health, to abandon the thought, 
 which he had began to entertain at the time of his conversion, 
 of going into the Foreign Missionary service. But by the 
 time he was ready to enter the ministry — eleven years after 
 leaving New Haven, i. e., in the year 1838 — it became 
 manifest that his permanently enfeebled condition not only 
 would not allow an entrance upon the foreign field, but would 
 not even permit him to labor in the severer climate of his 
 native region. He, therefore, gave up all thought of return- 
 ing to his home, and began his work in Georgia. Possessed 
 
152 NECROLOGY. 
 
 of a mind of a high order, he might properly have looked 
 forward to a large sphere, and to the accomplishment of 
 great things for the good cause. But when it seemed other- 
 wise ordered in the providence of God, he submissively and 
 even joyfully accepted the work which was offered him to do; 
 and with an earnest and devoted soul, he began his course in 
 a small congregation in one of the smaller towns of that 
 State. "I had marked out for myself," he wrote to one of 
 his brothers, near this time, " a highway in life, but Provi- 
 dence has thus far confined me to by-paths, and I am content 
 to serve God in any way that He may direct." His friends 
 have often wondered how he could have borne up with so 
 much of cheerfulness and so strong a heart as he did, under 
 such disappointments of all his hopes and prospects as must 
 have come over him at the outset of his life — continually 
 hindered in all the activities and efforts for which his intellect 
 and soul were ready, by the limitations of bodily weakness. 
 And equally have they wondered how he 'had courage to 
 undertake the labor necessarily devolving on a minister in a 
 region requiring much physical exertion and fatigue, when 
 the depressing influence of this weakness was daily resting 
 upon him. Yet his patience and fortitude never failed him, 
 and he went on from day to day, busily and willingly with 
 his many and arduous duties. His first station was at Mt. 
 Zion, Hancock county, Ga., "where he continued ftr three 
 years. Afterwards, he removed to Monticello, Jasper county, 
 and for two years more he preached to the congregation of 
 Presbyterians in that place with much satisfaction to those 
 who heard him, and with great good results in their moral 
 and religious education. 
 
 In the year 1843, while he was still under the very de- 
 pressing influence of ill health, he was invited to preach in 
 the Presbyterian Church in Macon, Georgia. With no 
 thought of remaining there, and no idea even that he would 
 be able to take charge of the religious interests of so large a 
 
REV. RICHARD HOOKER. 153 
 
 Church, he consented to supply the pulpit for a few Sabbaths 
 only, and then expected to return again to his more limited 
 and unimportant field. But immediately upon the commence- 
 ment of his ministrations in Macon, his power of mind and 
 elevation of character were recognized by the people there, 
 and he was urgently requested to become the pastor of the 
 Church. He felt obliged, however, to decline the call, from 
 a sense of his inability through physical weakness, to discharge 
 the duties which would rest upon him. This negative answer 
 was communicated to the Church, but so deeply had they 
 been impressed with the conviction that he was the man for 
 the place, that they renewed their .invitation with even more 
 earnestness than at first, and offered him, in consideration of 
 his feeble health, a vacation of three months during the 
 summer season, so that he might enjoy the cooler climate of 
 the Northern States. This second call overcame his refusal, 
 and he consented, though with much distrust of himself, to enter 
 upon the work; and on the 17th of November, 1843, he was 
 installed, and thus became the pastor of that Church. 
 
 Here he remained for somewhat more than eight years, 
 until the spring of 1852, when, having resigned his place, he 
 returned to the North to spend the remainder of his life. Of 
 his work in Macon it is scarcely necessary to speak, since his 
 memory is cherished in the hearts of many there, who are 
 able from their own experience to testify of his ability as a 
 preacher — of his faithfulness as a pastor — of his diligence in 
 the discharge of every duty — of his interest in the public 
 welfare — of his worth in friendship and in every social rela- 
 tion — and of his pure and heavenly minded piety. Suffice it 
 to say, that the Church grew in strength steadily under his 
 care ; that many were added to its numbers who were led by 
 him to the new life, and thus became the seals of his ministry ; 
 that he gained the high respeet of every one in the commu- 
 nity, and that when he was led to give up his position, his 
 departure was a cause of deep regret to great numbers. 
 
154 NECROLOGY. 
 
 On the 15th of July, 1846 — three years after his settle- 
 ment in Macon — he married Aurelia, the second daughter of 
 James Dwight, Esq., of New Haven, Conn., and a grand- 
 daughter of the late President Dwight, of Yale College ; and 
 on the 3d of September, 1849, he had a son born — his only 
 child — who received the name of Thomas Hooker, in remem- 
 brance of the earliest founder of the family in America. The 
 fact that his wife's home in former years had been there, 
 led him to select New Haven as his new place of residence, 
 and as his condition of health was such as to make a perma- 
 nent settlement impracticable, he continued in that city 
 during the years that followed. He did not, however, become 
 unable to take full charge of a Church, give up all work in 
 his profession, but on almost every Sabbath he preached in 
 some vacant pulpit in the neighborhood. He supplied several 
 different Churches for periods of three and six months, or 
 more, and for quite a long time he ministered in this way to 
 the Second Church in Dudham, Conn., a small town about 
 fifteen miles from his home, where the people became warmly 
 attached to him, and to this day remember him with the great- 
 est respect and affection. In New Haven Mr. Hooker met 
 many congenial friends, in whose society he had much enjoy- 
 ment; and he also found himself in the possession of those 
 literary privileges which belong to a University town of so 
 much celebrity — privileges which, by a mind and character 
 like his, were, of course, highly prized. 
 
 Thus, for more than five years — surrounded by his own and 
 his wife's relations and friends — in the midst of a cultivated 
 and refined society — with the rich enjoyment of a happy 
 home — and engaged, as be had opportunity, in the work to 
 which he had given his whole life, as well as his heart's 
 warmest affections, he lived on quietly and peacefully, until, 
 in December, 1857, the end came. His health had failed 
 more manifestly within the last few months next preceding 
 the time of his death, but still he had been able to engage in 
 
REV. RICHARD HOOKER. 155 
 
 all his accustomed duties, and had preached regularly from 
 Sabbath to Sabbath, almost without any exception. About 
 the first of December, through some exposure xluring his 
 weekly journey to Dudham, he was more seriously affected 
 by sickness than he had been, and gradually began to sink 
 away. Yet it was not until three days before his death that 
 his symptoms became so alarming as to make either himself 
 or his friends greatly apprehensive in relation to the termi- 
 nation of his illness. He met the announcement of the 
 approach of the end with entire self-command and perfect 
 peace — made every arrangement in regard to his affairs, and 
 even his funeral service, with the utmost calmness, and com- 
 mitted himself to God with an unwavering confidence in the 
 promises and in the covenant of His love. He waited for the 
 end with patience, looking forward to the joy beyond. He 
 waited for it even with thankfulness, feeling that when it 
 came it would brin^ a blessed release from all the weakness 
 and we:irisomeness which had so long been his portion, and 
 under the burden of which he had been compelled for years 
 to keep up heart and hope in his laborious work. 
 
 On the morning of the 19th of December, 1857, just as the 
 sun rose almost with the softness and beauty of a summer's 
 day, he* passed away to his rest, leaving the assurance of 
 hope to those who survived him — '* An Israelite, indeed, in 
 whom was no guile." He handed to the generations follow- 
 ing him, the honored name of the long line of ancestors who 
 had gone before not- only undiminished in its glory, but even 
 adorned by the record of one of the purest and most holy lives 
 that were ever lived. 
 
 The intellectual powers of Mr. Hooker were of no ordinary 
 character. His mind was one of great clearness. He readily 
 seized upon all truth as it opened to his view, and made it 
 so thoroughly his own that he was enabled to Communicate it 
 to others forcibly and distinctly. His pulpit efforts were 
 marked in this regard; and no one who sat under his minis- 
 
156 NECROLOGY. 
 
 tratiotis of the Divine Word could fail to be thoroughly 
 instructed in all the doctrines of the gospel, as well as in the 
 simple, easy way of salvation for the soul through Christ. 
 Gifted by nature with a strong memory, and with the power 
 of grasping the chief points of the writings of others, he had 
 an uncommon and most valuable mastery of all he had read. 
 He thus made the thoughts and reasonings of others to con- 
 tribute, so far as they should, and in the best way, to his own 
 wants, and constantly strengthened his mind by judicious 
 reading and study. 
 
 But he was a man who thought for himself. Independent 
 in his own views of truth, and with a well-balanced judgment, 
 he approached every subject for himself, and unhesitatingly 
 cast aside what others presented to him, in case he regarded 
 it as worthless or erx'oneous. He was a man of fair, though 
 rot of extraordinary powers of imagination— enough, indeed, 
 to render his writings interesting and attractive, yet not so 
 much as to make them of exuberant richness in this regard. 
 His taste was excellent. At a time when ministers so often 
 fail in respect to this most important matter, he was an 
 example and a model. He was equally excellent in judgment. 
 Calmly and dispassionately weighing all subjects that were 
 presented before him, he was a man whom friends would 
 resort to for advice with confidence, and upon whose decision 
 they would rest. A strong mind he had — remarkably under 
 his own control, and at his service at all times — a mind also 
 cultivated by scholarship both in the fields of ancient and 
 modern literature. Indeed, his strength and cultivation of 
 mind were such as to strike all who knew him, and it is 
 believed that no one among the literary gentlemen of various 
 departments, who met him during his residence near Yale 
 College, failed to regard him as a man of real power and 
 worthy of the highest respect. 
 
 It was his custom, for many years, to preach his sermons 
 without writing them ; but so carefully had he trained his 
 
RET. RICHARD HOOKER. 157 
 
 mind, so completely did he have all his powers at commandy 
 that his spoken discourses were like written ones. And 
 when he came to write them down on the Monday after they 
 had been preached, they were written exactly as they ha<i 
 been delivered on the day before. Few men, as we suppose, 
 have this particular power to so large an extent. 
 
 It ought to be remarked, also, that Mr. Hooker was a man 
 of liberality in his views. Trained in the strictness of the 
 orthodox faith, and in the strictness of the morality of New 
 England, he carried into his manhood and mature life the 
 influence of his early education. As he was led to the 
 investigation of the important subjects of morality and 
 religion for himself, he strengthened, by his own personal 
 convictions, the views which had been taught him in child- 
 hood. But while he held firmly and unwaveringly to the 
 truth, his was too broad a mind to be bound down to the 
 mere partisan system of any narrow school of theologians, 
 and he was not content to believe that the world would never 
 grow in knowledge and wisdom. He had faith in progress. 
 He was willing to wait for the light, and to believe in it 
 when it came. He was large-minded enough to give proper 
 respect to those who difl^ered with him, or who had been 
 educated in a different way. He had much of the charity 
 that hopeth all things of other men. He was a man of well- 
 rounded intellect — with no great and marked deficiency, or 
 excess in any one direction as compared with other directions. 
 He was active, industrious, earnest, serious, conscientious, in 
 all his mental working; and in those exhibitions of his intel- 
 lectual power in which he came before the public — namely, 
 in his sermons and public addresses — he is believed to have 
 had few equals and no superiors among his associates in the 
 ministry. 
 
 Mr. Hooker was a man of great reserve of character. His 
 own inner experience was a very deep and a very rich one, 
 but he shrank instinctively from, displaying it to others. 
 
158 NECROLOGY. 
 
 The great struggle of life went on within him, but it was too 
 solemn and sacred a thing to be opened fully to any one in 
 the world. Yet, notwithstanding this reserve, the members 
 of his own family and his immediate friends saw no lack of 
 tender and kindly feeling for others in his soul. They found 
 him a generous and affectionate friend, not believing in the 
 fitness or usefulness of too much praise, and yet not unwilling 
 that they should have his approbation, when it would truly 
 do them good. Generosity in the way of kindness and the 
 distribution of money, was characteristic, belonging to him 
 more than the most of men. There was nothing little or 
 mdan in his nature. Long burdened with trying ill health, 
 he was compelled to think much of his own condition, and 
 have a continual care for his own welfare. But, notwith- 
 standing all the tendencies and influences connected with 
 such protracted illness, he was not bound up in himself; he 
 was, every one knew, a large-hearted and unselfish man. 
 
 Earnestness was also a prominent trait in his character. 
 He looked upon life as having a deep meaning, and gave 
 himself to his great work with the devotion and energy of a 
 soul that has been enlightened by the thoughts of another 
 world, or the vision of the endless future. Faithfulness was 
 the great thing he sought after — faithfulness to his fellow- 
 men for whom he labored, and faithfulness to the Master 
 whose embassador he was. And he proved this faithfulness 
 by his life-long struggle to do the work, amid all hindrances 
 and discouragements which must have attended such a course 
 as his. If the words "well done" were ever spoken to a soul 
 at the end, they were surely spoken to him. 
 
 As a Christian, Mr. Hooker was sincere, humble, full of 
 faith in Christ, continuing instant in prayer. No person 
 could come into his society for a passing hour, without seeing, 
 at once that he was a man of true piety and holiness ; while 
 those who were with him from year to year, in the constant 
 intercourse of friendship, or the family only, saw the ever 
 
REV. RICHARD HOOKER. 159 
 
 growing and most impressive evidence that his inmost life 
 was hidden with Christ in God. It was the universal testi- 
 mony of those who knew him best, that he was, beyond almost 
 any other man they had ever seen, above reproach — that he 
 was a Christian, if there be any such thing as Christian 
 character in the world ; and that he was surely moving, 
 through all the course of his mature life, toward the kingdom 
 of heaven, if the great and glorious promises have any 
 meaning — those promises which come to faith, and meekness, 
 and patience, and godliness, and brotherly kindness and 
 charity — which come to the simple, earnest, self-denying, 
 self-sacrificing, laborious servant of Christ — which come to 
 those who love God with all the heart, and rely upon the 
 merits of the Saviour's atoning blood with an immovable and 
 undying confidence. " Mark the perfect man and behold 
 the upright, for the end of that man is peace." 
 
 A few words are added, as giving the testimony of many 
 others in regard to Mr. Hooker's character and mental 
 powers. One who knew him well from his early years, says : 
 " He was remarkably clear in his views of truth, and very 
 rich was his conversation upon them with his intimate friends, 
 both of the clergy and laity. He was not at all fond of 
 theorizing, and was very cautious in separating established 
 truth from mere supposition, considering this to be a sacred 
 duty, especially in the theologian." The same person also 
 remarks, in respect to his preaching : " The preaching of 
 Mr. Hooker was of a high order, characterized by great 
 breadth and clearness of views, elevation and purity of 
 thought, and above all, by undoubted sincerity and deep 
 devotion. The same qualities were manifest in his conver- 
 sation. Those who had the privilege of acquaintance with 
 him, remember with great pleasure the quiet but firm way in 
 which he expressed his views so clearly on all subjects on 
 which he spoke, and the heavenly savor which pervaded all 
 his social intercourse." 
 
160 NECROLOGY. 
 
 Another gentleman, who knew him intimately, and who is 
 recognized by all as a person of excellent judgment and 
 great intelligence, saj-s of him : " His predominant mental 
 exercises were meditative. He apprehended truth with 
 readiness, because his mind was accustomed to truthfulness 
 in everything. Like a polished surface, it reflected truly 
 what it reflected at all. While he was unyielding in matters 
 of principle and conscience, he was strikingly free from 
 dogmatism and apinionativeness. , I never heard him preach 
 more than half a dozen times, that I remember ; but the 
 impression made upon my mind, both by matter and manner, 
 is indelible. His voice was by no means strong, and his 
 manner was somewhat constrained; but there was a solemnity 
 and sincerity about the whole pulpit service which gave it a 
 peculiar charm. His way of conducting devotional exercises 
 was remarkably expressive of humility, affection, and profound 
 reverence. There was a familiarity which betokened a child- 
 like faith. The most common blessings were made to appear 
 valuable by the very manner of his asking for them. No 
 words seemed to be used for effect, nor without the answering 
 emotion of the heart. Slow, distinct, and simple, his utter- 
 ances seemed to be the expression of the soul's inmost desires. 
 
 " I have thought that many of his characteristics were not 
 unlike those of Henry Martyn. Mr. Hooker's frequent 
 indisposition, perhaps, gave an air of sadness to his counte- 
 nance and manner, such as I have t];iought Martyn's letters 
 and journal indicate as belonging to him. But there was a 
 vein of cheerfulness rurining through the temperament of 
 both, which reveals a common source of peace and joy, with 
 which the stranger intermeddles not. His sermons were 
 evidently the production of a mind deeply impressed with 
 the reality and infinite momentousness of the truths they set 
 forth. If any man ever carried into the pulpit, in his 
 expression and demeanor, a sense of the solemnity and 
 responsibleness of the oflfice of a minister of the New 
 
REV. RICHARD HOOKER. 161 
 
 Testament, it was Richard Hooker. It cannot be doubted 
 that many, very many, souls were converted through his 
 quiet, but earnest and devout ministry." 
 
 A distinguished member of the Presbyterian Church in 
 Macon, Georgia, the Hon. E. A. Nisbit, thus describes him : 
 "Mr. Hooker was an excellent scholar — indeed, distinguished 
 for solid as well as polite acquirements. No one appreciated 
 more highly, or enjoyed with a keener relish, the good things 
 of literature ; whilst, more than most men, he was intolerant 
 of either bad, or light, or arrogant books. His taste in 
 letters was refined and severely accurate. Those who were 
 admitted to his companionship, found him familiar with most 
 topics of general knowledge — an unsparing, but not malio-nant 
 critic — suggestive and genial. He was averse to parade 
 in all things, and carefully avoided any display of his 
 learning — content to enjoy his own resources in his own way, 
 and to use them whenever duty made it necessary. 
 
 " In the judicatories of the Church, he rarely participated 
 in discussion ; but when he did speak, his remarks were 
 clear, concise, and to the point. Strangers supposed he was 
 wanting in self-reliance ; but, in fact, he was an independent 
 thinker — morally courageous, without obstinacy and without 
 vanity. So, also, he was considered, by those who did not 
 know him well, as cold and reserved. His mode of inter- 
 course was somewhat reserved, or rather undemonstrative, 
 among strangers and in mixed companies. This was owing 
 to his modesty, his disrelish of ostentation, and to the influ- 
 ence of a habit which originated in the suflerings and anxieties 
 of infirm health. For many years before his death, he was 
 to a considerable extent, an invalid. He was, therefore^ 
 destitute of that physical vigor which originates and sustains 
 buoyant spirits. Cold he was not ; his intimate friends knew 
 that his attachments were warm and strong, his spirits 
 generous and free, and his domestic habits, as well as aflfec- 
 tions, exceedingly tender. Of himself, his trials, hopes, 
 11 
 
f62f NECROLOGY. 
 
 triumphs and disappointments, he was not wont to speak. 
 Even as to his personal experiences as a Christian, he may 
 be said to have been reticent. His personal relations to God 
 he seemed to think a matter too awfully delicate to be sub- 
 mitted to the consideration of men. As to the religious 
 experiences of the heart, God was his confidant. Acutely 
 sensible to the woes and wants of humanity, his love for man 
 in general was ardent ; and he gave expression to it in his 
 prayers, his alms-deeds, his enlightened support of the 
 benevolent enterprises of the Church, and in the faithfulness 
 and power of his ministry. 
 
 "At his own fireside, and beneath the roof of near friends, 
 his reserve gave way, and the affectionateness of his heart 
 came out in quiet, gentle talk, and in sportive attention to 
 children 
 
 " The prominent traits in his Christian character were 
 humility, faith, and prayerfulness. Before the cross, Mr. 
 Hooker appeared to feel that he was wholly unworthy — the 
 least of all saints. His whole life appeared an effor{ to 
 magnify grace through his personal abasement. His faith 
 never relaxed its grasp upon the doctrines and promises of 
 the gospel. He became steadfast through faith, wholly 
 impassive to any teachings from any quarter that in the 
 slightest degree impugned the truth as it is written in the 
 Bible. Prayer was his vital breath. The habit of his nature 
 was prayerfulness. His very being became a prayer. The 
 members of his Church remember well the humility, appro- 
 priateness, and appealing fervor of his public prayers. 
 
 "Whilst pastor of the Church in Macon, he allowed 
 nothing to divert him from the duties of his charge. He 
 rarely left his people, except when, according to an original 
 stipulation, he left to recruit his health. All other duties of 
 Ms position he made subordinate to those which, as shepherd, 
 he owed to his flock, and verily he made them to lie down in 
 ;green pastures, and led them by the side of still waters. 
 
REV. BICHARD HOOKER. 168 
 
 With remarkable fidelity he fed the lambs of the fold, and 
 with careful industry he watched over the temporal as well 
 as spiritual interests of the poor. The cross was found in 
 all his sermons — directly and indirectly, that was sure to 
 appear. His manner was earnest, without being impassioned 
 — his argumentation close and logical, and his style simple 
 and pure. He loved the Anglo-Saxon portion of the language, 
 and so perfect were his spoken sermons in all rhetorical 
 elements, that they might, with safety to his reputation, 
 have been published as they came from his lips. 
 
 " Looking back upon Mr. Hooker's residence in Macon, 
 and in contemplation of the many virtues that adorned his 
 character as a man, and the many excellencies that marked 
 him as a minister, we adopt the language of the prophet, and 
 exclaim, ' How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of 
 him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that 
 bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that 
 Baith unto Zion, thy God reigneth.' " 
 
 The writer of this brief notice of the life of this honored 
 minister of the gospel, would only add in closing, that as 
 these testimonies which have been quoted all unite in one 
 harmonious commendation of his many virtues and noble 
 character ; so numerous other testimonies of a similar char- 
 acter might be gathered from different sources. The writer 
 has met many strangers who, as conversation accidentally 
 turned upon the subject of some Church where Mr. Hooker 
 had preached, or some work in which he had been engaged, 
 immediately on hearing his name, said, " Richard Hooker 
 was, indeed, a good man." And it is believed that few men 
 have ever lived, of whom these words could more fitly be 
 spoken. The inheritance of the saints in light is his, as we 
 cannot doubt, for he was truly a saint of God. He entered 
 upon the unknown future in perfect confidence that there 
 was for him a place in the Father's house, resting upon those 
 
164 NECROLOGY. 
 
 blessed words of assurance from Jesus himself, " If it were 
 not so, I would have told you." And to-day we believe he 
 is among the great and glorious company who are led to the 
 living fountains of waters, and from whose eyes all tears are 
 forever wiped away. 
 
. *'<*|tl,tVfl ,i-*«. 
 
 REV. JOHN" C. HUMPHREY * 
 
 John C. Humphrey was the son of William and Susan 
 (Woodward) Humphrey, and was born in Darien, Genesee 
 county, New York, July 3, 1829. His father was of English 
 descent, but was a native of America. He was a farmer. 
 The parents of Mr. Humphrey were members of the Old 
 School Presbyterian Church, and were very careful to train 
 up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 
 They had a large family — five sons and four daughters — of 
 whom the subject of this memoir was the youngest. He lost 
 his father when eight years of age, and although so young, 
 yet the Christian precepts of his parent had made a deep 
 and indelible impression on his tender mind. One little 
 incident may be mentioned, illustrative of the character of 
 the father as a man and a Christian, and which served to 
 make a lasting impression on the son. His father had several 
 men in his employ during harvest time, and although in the 
 regular habit of morning and evening prayers in the family, 
 yet one day, owing to some absorbing engagement which 
 brcfke into the regularity of the morning, the hour of family 
 worship passed by unregarded. But business affairs did not 
 proceed well — there was something wrong; the domestic 
 machinery moved roughly ; there were difficulties in various 
 quarters. What was the matter ? The master of the house- 
 hold bethought him that family worship had been omitted. 
 Forthwith, about the middle of the forenoon, the family, the 
 workmen, and all, were summoned together ; the Bible was 
 read and prayer offered. After which, they dispersed to 
 their several duties again, and things once more moved on 
 smoothly. 
 
 *MSS. from Mrs. Humphrey. — Min. Synod. 
 165 
 
166 NECROLOGY. 
 
 Although young Humphrey was then a child of only six 
 years, yet the circumstance led him properly to regard the 
 duty and privilege of prayer. The confidence which this act 
 of his father inspired in his young heart, was very powerfully 
 evinced some two years from that time, and shortly after the 
 death of his father. Ilis mother, who had conducted family 
 ■worship with her children after her sore bereavement — 
 oppressed by sorrow in her loneliness, her own health failing, 
 and the cares of her numerous family — at last became so 
 dejected, that she called her children together one day, and 
 told them how sadly she felt, saying to them she " did not 
 know that it was worth while to continue family worship 
 longer, as she thought it was all in vain, and it seemed to 
 her that God would not hear, if she did pray." "Little 
 Johnnie," the youngest lamb of the flock, looked up brightly 
 and cheerfully into his desponding mother's face, and said, 
 "Maybe it will, mother." These words were like an electric 
 spark to that poor mother's heart. They immediately inspired 
 her soul with fresh courage to press on cheerfully in the 
 discharge of her responsible duties. These little incidents 
 show the religious influences which attended the early years 
 of our departed brother, and imparted so much firmness to 
 his Christian character. 
 
 It pleased the All-wise God greatly to afflict that numerous 
 family in after years. Not only the father, but two brothers 
 and two sisters, and the mother, were speedily removed by 
 the hand of death. The mother, on her death-bed, when 
 she felt that her end drew near, called the remaining mem- 
 bers of her household around her, prayed with, and counseled 
 them, and then asked each one in turn what course in life he 
 or she intended to pursue. When she came to John, the 
 youngest, she seemed to make a great effort to compose 
 herself, when she asked him, "What are you going to do? " 
 He burst into tears, for what could he, a child of thirteen 
 years, reply to such a question? Immature in mind and 
 
REV. JOHN C. HUMPEREY. 167 
 
 body, he had formed no plans as yet for future life. 
 
 But, although so young, even then his natural energy and 
 industry were conspicuous — in school during the winter 
 season, and in summer on the farm, where he often accom- 
 plished as much labor as a full grown man in the same time. 
 Yet, even then, he seems to have been a child of sorrow, for 
 at nights and on Sabbaths, when left to his own thoughts, he 
 would often retire into the orchard or some lonely place, and 
 throwing himself on the ground, weep bitterly, and wish that 
 he might die and be buried m the graveyard that lay just 
 beyond his dwelling, where his parents and brothers and 
 sisters were entombed. He was yet without the Christian's 
 hope; he had not yet learned to say with Job, "All the days 
 of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come." 
 Two years after this period, another brother, and shoi'tly 
 after, his youngest sister, to whom he was greatly attached, 
 were suddenly removed by death — one by fever, and the other 
 by quick consumption. Pulmonary disease was hereditary 
 in the family. 
 
 There remained now only three of that numerous family — 
 the eldest brother, who removed to Michigan ; the only 
 surviving sister, who married Mr. Danforth, and went out to 
 China as a missionary ; and the subject of this sketch, now, 
 we believe, at rest in heaven. We trust that this somewhat 
 extended notice of the immediate family of our deceased 
 brother will not be without interest and profit, as showing 
 the ways of God towards his own children. We shall now 
 take up more directly the history of Mr. Humphrey. 
 
 In the autumn of 1846, when seventeen years of age, he 
 determined to acquire a collegiate education, and for that 
 purpose he repaired to Alexander, Genesee county, eight 
 miles from Darien, his native town. The institution located 
 in that place, called Genesee and Wyoming Seminary, was a 
 mixed school, and, at that time, of some twenty-five years' 
 standing, and under the care of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
168 NECROLOGY. 
 
 It was designed to furnish an extended educational course to 
 both males and females alike, who were associated in the 
 same classes. At the first public exhibition after he became 
 a member of the institution, he bore off the palm for public 
 speaking. The following winter, he taught the village school 
 of Wyoming, and the next summer returned to the institution. 
 He spent two years at Alexander, and prepared to enter 
 college. But at this time, symptoms of that fatal disease 
 which terminated his life, manifested themselves. This 
 decided him upon trying the effects of a milder climate. He 
 set out for the South, and arrived in Georgia in October, 
 1848 ; and passing through the State, he arrived at Bellevieu, 
 in Talbot county, where he stopped. Here he soon commenced 
 a private school. He remained in Georgia two winters, and 
 then returned North, hoping to be able to finish his education. 
 During his engagement in teaching, he had continued to 
 pursue the course of study, and was now prepared to join 
 the Senior Class. He entered the Genesee College at Lima, 
 New York. But the summer passed, and the cold autumn 
 winds soon drove him back to Georgia, much to his disap- 
 pointment. He returned to Bellevieu, where he remained 
 two years longer, engaged in teaching. It was during his 
 residence at this place, that his thoughts were more directly 
 turned to the subject of personal religion. Though piously 
 trained, and possessing such a clear consciousness of personal 
 obligation to serve God from his earliest youth, yet he had 
 as yet made no public profession of religion. This seems to 
 have been instruraentally brought about by correspondence 
 with the young lady to whom he was afterwards united in 
 marriage. In the winter of 1851 and 1852, he made a public 
 profession of religion, and united with the Presbyterian 
 Church of Ephesus, near Bellevieu, then under the pastoral 
 care of the Rev. Frances McMurray. The summer of 1852 
 he spent in New York State, in feeble health. Physicians 
 then told him he could not live a year. He had symptoms 
 
REV. JOHN C. HUMPHREY. 169 
 
 of incipient consumption — a slight hemorrhage — but thought 
 it was rather a bronchial, than a lung affection. After a 
 few weeks, there was a decided improvement in his health. 
 He had gained several pounds weight before returning South 
 in the fall. He now went to GriflBn, where he conducted a 
 private school for young men preparing for college. He 
 remained two years at GrifiBn, and in the meantime deter- 
 mined to study for the gospel ministry, to which holy office 
 he felt himself called of the Holy Ghost. In pursuance of 
 this determination, he entered the Theological Seminary at 
 Columbia, South Carolina, in the autumn of 1854. In the 
 summer of 1856, he spent eight weeks with his friends at 
 Elraa, Erie county, New York, and soon after his return — 
 September 10, 1856 — he was licensed to preach the gospel 
 of Christ at Ephesus Church, Ga., where he had professed 
 Christ and of which he was yet a member, by the Presbytery 
 of Flint River. He immediately returned to Columbia to 
 pursue his third year's course of study. 
 
 In the Seminary, he had the love and confidence of all 
 who knew him. The Faculty of the Seminary recommended 
 him, at the close of his course, to the Augusta Church as a 
 supply, its pulpit being then vacant — notwithstanding the 
 importance and responsibility of the charge. After supply- 
 ing that pulpit for a time, with great acceptance and profit 
 to the people, his health failed, and thinking a fnore active 
 sphere of labor would benefit him, he left Augusta to engage 
 in the work of an evangelist, to which he was called, and was 
 ordained by Hopewell Presbytery (having been previously 
 transferred from Flint River Presbytery) on the first Sabbath 
 in May, 1858. 
 
 Full of zeal, he went out to preach, holding alone, and 
 with other ministers, protracted meetings in many places 
 within the bounds of the Presbytery, in most of which 
 meetings good was done and souls won to Christ. Short as 
 was his career, no doubt there will be many jewels in his 
 
lit) ^ NECROLOGY. 
 
 crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus ; no doubt, 
 many will rise up and call him blessed. In this field he 
 labored a few months, and until stricken down by disease — 
 when he had to cease, and never more engage in a woi-k he 
 loved so well, and for which he seemed so eminently qualified. 
 
 It is an inscrutable Providence — we shall never know till 
 we reach the spirit-world — why such gifted and successful 
 young men are so soon removed, and others, apparently less 
 useful, left to pass a long life in the vineyard below. But 
 even so is the good pleasure of our Heavenly Father. Like 
 a Summerfield, a Pollock, and many others, young Humphrey 
 soon finished what the Father had given him to do, and then 
 went up, at his Heavenly Father's bidding, to his home in 
 the skies. 
 
 The last year of his life, he was unable to preach at all. 
 He left Augusta, where he had spent the winter, in March, 
 and arrived at Mavilla, Erie county. New York, the 20th of 
 April. During the summer, he made a trip to Mackinaw, to 
 visit his brother. Every known means were used for the 
 restoration of his health, but all proved unavailing. He had 
 the sentence of death in him. On the 8th of September, 
 shortly after retiring to his chamber at night, he was seized 
 with hemorrhage of the lungs, which soon terminated his 
 life. During all his illness, in prospect of a speedy death, 
 he manifested perfect resignation to the will of his Heavenly 
 Father, choosing rather to die than live, if he might not have 
 strength again to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. 
 At the same time, he endeavored to comfort all around him. 
 To his young wife he said, " God Avill take care of you, my 
 dear wife." During his last day he conversed very little, 
 and the latter part of the night, in which he finished his 
 sufferings, he was not able to utter a word ; yet he gave signs 
 that he understood those around him, and was conscious and 
 perfectly composed in prospect of that glorious change which 
 awaited him. 
 
REV. JOHN C. HUMPHREY. 171 
 
 At break of day, September 14, 1859, an eternal day of 
 bliss dawned upon his ransomed spirit. His body rests in 
 hope of a blessed resurrection, in the graveyard within sight 
 of his early home in Darien, N. Y. 
 
 Mr. Humphrey was married to Miss Louisa S. Jackman, 
 Elma, Erie county, N. Y., September 30, 1857. 
 
 The loss of such a man was no ordinary loss. In him 
 were sweetly blended most of the elements of a minister's 
 power and success. He had talents of a high order ; but his 
 power was that of a man of God. What he did, was by 
 prayer. His hearers always felt, when he was before them, 
 that he had been with Jesus, and they listened to him almost 
 as one from an unknown world. Simple and unostentatious 
 by nature, these qualities were sweetened at the cross. His 
 own soul was alive with the influence of grace, and he loved 
 to tell of its wonders to others. Whatever he did, was for 
 God and the salvation of sinners, and he was strong relying 
 on Him. Such an one could fear no evil. Speaking at one 
 time of his soon expected death, he was asked by a brother 
 how he felt in view of it." Calmly , he replied, as going 
 home, the home of his Father and Saviour. Writing to a 
 brother minister, after he had been laid aside by disease, he 
 said, " My dear B., preach as if you were delivering your 
 last sermon, standing upon your own grave, where you will 
 soon lie down." 
 
 Thus passed away a young minister. Some three years or 
 less he had been in the vineyard, when he received the 
 command. Come up higher. 
 
 We close this memorial in the expressive language of the 
 Synod : " We mourn for the lost one here, but with the 
 assured hope he is at rest at home." 
 
REV. JESSE HUME.* 
 
 We are indebted to B. F. Whitner, Esq., a venerable 
 Elder of the Church in Tallahassee, Florida, now no more, 
 for the material of the following memorial of the Rev. Jesse 
 W. Hume. We regret that we have been unable to procure 
 tlie early history of this brother. Mr. Hume was a man of 
 mark. He died young, but his memory is blessed. 
 
 Jesse W. Hame was a native of Tennessee, and a gradu- 
 ate of the University of Nashville. He studied Theology at 
 Princeton Seminary, New Jersey. 
 
 The son of pious parents, and the object of the most 
 prayerful training, he was early converted to God, and 
 almost in the infancy of youth, was he devoted to the minis- 
 try of the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 Soon after his entering upon the solemn duties of this 
 office, he was called to the united pastorate of the Churches 
 of Gallatin and Shilo. His labors were abundantly blessed, 
 not only to the conversion of souls unto God, but to the 
 establishing among the people of his charge, and to a great 
 eAtent in the community where his lot was cast, the doctrines 
 ol our faith and order. 
 
 His mind being far matured at an early age, when most 
 men's minds are but just opening to the influences of 
 tiuth, and imbibing much of his Master's spirit, while he 
 was able to lay doivn^ in a Christian spirit, the doctrines of 
 the cross, he was able also to defend them against the at- 
 tacks of enemies. Often called upon to defend the truth 
 against Universalists, Campbellites and other errorists, he 
 did it always in the spirit of meekness, and at the same time 
 
 * MSS. from B. F. Whitner. 
 172 
 
REV. JESSE HUME. 173 
 
 with SO much strength, clearness and power, as to confirm 
 the wavering and put to shame its most virulent enemies. 
 
 But unhappily for the Church of God, the labors of his 
 too active mind, were too great for his frail body. Disease 
 soon made its appearance upon him, and marked him for its 
 victim. He was compelled to seek a milder climate. His 
 people ardently attached to him, most reluctantly parted 
 with him. Following in the track of other invalids, he 
 turned his face towards Florida in the winter of 1850. 
 Though unable, and forbidden to preach, when he left Ten- 
 nessee, by his physicians, yet so great was his improvement 
 in health, after a short residence in Florida, that he began 
 to speak, and was soon thereafter called to the pastorate of 
 the Church in Tallahassee. Feeling that he had but a few 
 short years to live, he betook himself with great assiduity to 
 the work of his Master, that he might not waste the last sands 
 of life. For more than two years did he labor with the 
 greatest acceptance to the people of his charge and the com- 
 munity at large, leaving the impression with every effort he 
 put forth upon every mind that heard him, that he was a man 
 of no ordinary mind, a man of no ordinary attainments, and 
 a man of no ordinary piety. 
 
 He was acknowledged by all who knew him, and could 
 judge him, that he possessed the best mind of any man in 
 the State. But so luminous a star was not long to shine 
 amongst us. In the spring of 1853, his Master again laid 
 him aside. The rest of his history is well known to all. In 
 the fall of 1854, at the age of 31, and in the full triumphs of 
 a living faith, he went up from the Church militant, to the 
 Church triumphant, after a ministry of something more than 
 ten years. Thus fell a man who gave promise of standing 
 as a Theologian, a preacher, and a man of piety, among the 
 first Doctors of the land. 
 
174 NECROLOGY. 
 
 FromB. F. Whitner,a Ruling Elder of the Church of Tallahassee^ dated, 
 
 Tallahassee, March, 1864. 
 Rev. J. S. Wilson, D.D. 
 
 Dear Sir : — Your letter of the 23cl December last, was duly re- 
 ceived, but the almost constant cold weather, and the infirmities of 72, 
 have delayed an answer, chieily as they prevented access to Church 
 records, and I could not trust a frail memory. 
 
 Rev. Jesse W. Hume, of Tennessee, came to Tallahassee in the begin- 
 ning of 1850 for the sake of his own health, (bronchinl disease) and as an 
 escort of an older and feebler minister (Rev. Mr. Todd, of Kentucky), 
 who died here a few weeks after their arrival. 
 
 Mr. Hume was interdicted from preaching by his physician, and pur- 
 posely omitted to bring with him any aid to enable or tempt him to make 
 the effort. But he met an old Theological fellow-student here, and was 
 so encouraged by his rapid improvement that he preached to us one ser- 
 mon, and made a few short exhortations at prayer-meetings, and after a 
 few weeks hurried back to Tennessee. 
 
 Our Church very soon after became vacant, unexpectedly, and our 
 thoughts, with great unanimity, were directed to Mr. Hume. His health 
 again failed, and the very week before he received our letter, he was 
 again unable to speak in the pulpit ; and with the Doctors advice and 
 other friends, determined to arrange for removing to Florida. He accord- 
 ingly arrived at Tallahassee, in October, 1850. 
 
 In the spring of 1851, he united with the Presbytery of Fl6rida,and be- 
 came the pastor of our Church. But his zeal constantly over-taxed his 
 physical powers^a feeble body, and yet ready to undertake the labors of 
 a Whitfield. He had sickness in his familj', and lost a lovely little 
 daughter, and Mrs. H. became anxious to get back to her mother, then 
 resident in Tennessee. He refused a respite from his labors, which we 
 offered him for the ensuing summer, and chose to have his pastoral rela- 
 tions dissolved. Our pulpit continued supplied for awhile, but wasfinallj^ 
 declared vacant by Presbytery. We could not oppose, though we could 
 not join in requesting such action. 
 
 I think that Mr. Hume held for a short time, an agency for Oglethorpe 
 University, but I cannot give any particulars of it. He' was, however, 
 back here, and moderated a Church-meeting that elected his successor- 
 The Church was declared vacant the 3d of October, 1853, and Mr. 
 Hume died in Tennessee, August 10th, 1854, less than a year after. I 
 enclose you the notice of that sad event, which is well prepared, except 
 that it is strangely deficient in names and dates. Had my own health 
 permitted,! would have had it otherwise; but many weeks or months 
 intervened, and have been followed by years, while few are left to sup- 
 ply the information wanted. 
 
 Mr. Hume had a good classical education, having studied the Scrip- 
 
REV. JESSE HUME. 175 
 
 tures in the original languages, and having had his Theological training 
 at Princeton, in its palmiest days, under Alexander, Miller and Hodge. 
 His brief Ministry was principally around Nashville, Gallatin, the Hermi- 
 tage, etc. I know not his exact age, but conjecture it was 32 or 33. I think 
 his life was not prolonged — probably it was shortened by his return too 
 soon to -Tennessee. But his work was done, and his heavenly Father 
 judged right to release him from his labors on earth, and receive him 
 early to His bosom, and his eternal rest. * * * * 
 
 Yours very truly, BENJ. F. WHITNER. 
 
 Proceedings of the Tallahassee Church in relation to the 
 death of Mr. Hume, referred to in Mr. Whitner's letter. 
 
 "Presbyterian Church, 
 Tallahassee, September 3, ]854. 
 
 The sad and painful intelligence has been received of the 
 death of our late much-loved pastor, the Rev. Jesse W. 
 Hume, and we have to-day assembled here in the house of 
 God, to mingle together our grief — to record our high sense 
 of departed worth — and to tender our sympathies to those, 
 who are by this dispensation, so suddenly and sorely 
 bereaved. 
 
 Four years have not elapsed since Mr. Hume first came 
 amongst us to assume the pastoral relation. Impressed with 
 the belief that his failing health must soon put an end to his 
 career in the ministry, he yet hoped, as we all did, that our 
 mild climete might recruit his exhausted powers. For a time 
 such seemed to be the result. He entered upon his duties 
 with characteristic zeal and devotion, and we were encour- 
 aged to believe that the Lord of the vineyard had indeed ap- 
 pointed this for his field of labor, and that a long life of 
 usefulness was opened before him. But very soon our hopes 
 were over-clouded, and by degrees the sad truth was forced 
 upon us, that the God of Providence had otherwise ordained. 
 
 Anxious that no means should be left untried for his re- 
 lief, we urged him to discontinue his labors for a season, and 
 to try the effect of relaxation and change of scene. But his 
 high sense of duty forbade his acceptance of such an indul- 
 
176 NECROLOGY. 
 
 gence. Believing, as he did, that the interest of the Church 
 must suffer by even a temporary absence, he chose rather to 
 resign his post to another, and insisted upon a final dissolu- 
 tion of his connection with us. We at length unwillingly 
 assented, and thus was severed the tenderest of Christian 
 relations — that of a beloved pastor to a beloved people. Yet, 
 though separated, we have never ceased to entertain toward 
 him those sentiments of personal affection and respect with 
 which his many virtues had inspired us. And it is a melancholy 
 pleasure to know that our affection was fully reciprocated by 
 him, and even on his dying bed he remembered us, and left 
 us his blessing. We shall ever cherish his memory as that 
 of a dear personal friend and brother. 
 
 The character of Mr. Hume was, in an eminent degree 
 that of a holy " man of God, thoroughly furnished unto all 
 good works." His talents, naturally of a high order, had 
 been from earliest youth thoroughly cultivated and trained; 
 and he was a constant and laborious student all his life. In 
 every earthly relation of life he was an example of righte- 
 ousness and tiuth. As a companion and friend, he was 
 agreeable and instructive — as a husband and parent, he was 
 patient, kind and affectionate. But it was in his sacred call- 
 ing as a pastor of Christ's flock, that his more lovely and 
 noble qualities were exhibited. This was his chosen and be- 
 loved sphere. For this, he was by nature and grace, most 
 peculiarly fitted. He fully realized his solemn obligations, 
 and he devoted every energy to it. Earnest and self-sacri- 
 ficing to a fault, he toiled on in its duties, till his frail body, 
 exhausted, sunk in the effort. 
 
 In the pulpit, Mr. Hume particularly excelled. His ser- 
 mons were eminently scriptural, doctrinal, and argumenta- 
 tive. Yet, with these qualities he happily combined practical, 
 solemn and affectionate exhortation. The great and funda- 
 mental truths of the gospel were his constant theme, and in 
 explaining and enforcing them, he manifested a power and 
 
REV. JESSE HUME. 177 
 
 facility rarely witnessed. His sermons were always prepared 
 with great labor, and were lucid-, condensed, vigorous and 
 logical. He studiously avoided mere ornament, seeking 
 rather to convince the heart, than please the ear ; yet, such 
 was the severe simplicity of his style — the originality, fit- 
 ness and beauty of his illustrations, and the natural, clear, 
 and connected arrangement and progress of his argument, 
 that he seldom failed to charm and instruct as well the most 
 cultivated as the most careless of his hearers ; and so happy 
 was his faculty of impressing the main points of his dis- 
 course upon the mind, that one could recall the whole of 
 them with ease and pleasure, as if they were the scenes and 
 incidents of some pleasant road traveled together. His voice 
 was pleasing, his manner solemn and spiritual, while his 
 earnestness, animation and evident sincerity, riveted the at- 
 tention of all. 
 
 His sermons, delivered while here, constitute a system of 
 Presbyterian doctrine and belief, comprehensive, thorough 
 and popular, and have, as we believe, had the effect of ele- 
 vating in a high degree the moral and religious intelligence 
 and sentiment of our whole community. We indulge the 
 hope that those sermons may be preserved and published to 
 the world, that thus their usefulness may be prolonged and 
 extended, and that he, though dead, may yet speak in his be- 
 loved Master's cause. 
 
 In the more private duties of the pastorate oflSce, Mr. 
 Hume was alike acceptable. His gentle sympathy and holy 
 counsels went straight to the hearts of the doubting and dis- 
 tressed. His prayers and consolations brought strength and 
 comfort from the very fountain, seemingly of God's love. 
 
 Mr. Hume did not confine his efforts to his own immediate 
 charge. He was deeply imbued with a missionary spirit, 
 and throughout the bounds of the State his labor and influ- 
 ence were felt for good. During his stay here, our branch 
 of Christ's Church was, in a great degree, by his instrumen- 
 
 12 
 
178 NECROLOGY. 
 
 tality, raised to a position of strength and prosperity it had 
 never before enjoyed. 
 
 Such was the character and such the capabilities for use- 
 fulness of Mr. Hume. We loved him, and were proud of 
 him. And who can wonder ? We feel that his death (at this 
 early age) is a calamity, not merely to his family and friends, 
 but to the Church and the world. A strong man — an able 
 and fearless defender of the truth has fallen. We cannot 
 but wonder that Providence has seen fit to remove him, yet, 
 we doubt not it is done in Infinite Wisdom, and it becomes 
 us not to repine or despair. The battle is the Lord's — we 
 will put our trust in him That torn and suffer- 
 ing body now lies in the grave, never again to be racked with 
 pain, in its fitting and chosen resting place at the feet of his 
 venerated earthly father, while his freed spirit, at the feet of his 
 Redeemer on high, is drinking in the pure and holy joy of 
 Heaven. Whilst we are still left to grope on a while longer 
 in the night here below, his morning has already come. Let 
 us not selfishly wish him back, but forget our sorrow in his 
 joy. 
 
REV. DANIEL INGLES * 
 
 Daniel Ingles was born in Western New York, in the 
 year 1806. He resided in the Northwestern part of the 
 same State until he arrived at maturity. Little is known of 
 his parents, as they both died before he was five years old. 
 Of his ancestry we know nothing. Left as an indigent 
 orphan, he was taken as a beneficiary into the family of a 
 Mr. Cleghorn, where he performed the servile labors of the 
 family until he arrived at manhood. In the capacity which 
 Providence assigned him, he was early subjected to priva- 
 tions and hardships ; nevertheless, through life he ever man- 
 ifested a respectful regard for the memory of his foster pa- 
 rents, and an aifectionate esteem for the members of the 
 family in which he was brought up. Compelled to labor for his 
 daily support, he enjoyed no literary advantages whatever — 
 he was of age before he knew a letter in the alphabet. 
 
 It was under the ministry of the celebrated and eccentric 
 evangelist, Finney, of Western New York, he was awakened 
 to a serious consideration of his sinful state, and led to in- 
 quire what he must do to be saved. Having obtained peace 
 through faith in a crucified Redeemer, he soon became desi- 
 rous of obtaining a liberal education, qualifying himself for 
 the work of the ministry. 
 
 Struggling with poverty, he persevered amidst many diffi- 
 culties until he became a student in the Oneida Institute, N. 
 Y. In that institution he became acquainted with a James 
 H. George, a young man from Georgia, who had been disin- 
 herited by his father, because he had professed religion, and 
 felt it to be his duty to preach the gospel of Christ, rather 
 
 * MSS. from Rev. H. C. Carter. 
 
 179 
 
180 NECROLOGY. 
 
 than enter the profession of the law, for which his father 
 intended him. 
 
 With young George, Mr. Ingles came to Georgia about the 
 close of 1828. He was taken under the care of the Georgia 
 Education Society, in January, 1829. He entered Franklin 
 College, Athens, then under the Presidency of the Rev. Dr. 
 Church, and by that Society was sustained during his Col- 
 legiate course. Even while a student, he was noted for his reli- 
 gious zeal and energy. He abounded in laborious eflForts to do 
 good, traveling, during his vacations, oft-times forty and fifty 
 miles to visit Churches and communities, where there was 
 any prospect of doing good. In prayer meetings he was re- 
 markably gifted in prayer and exhortations. 
 
 During his stay in College, his Sabbaths were usually 
 spent in attending Sunday Schools in the country where he 
 had opportunity of exercising his peculiar gifts. At these 
 places, large congregations would assemble, being attracted 
 by his fervid eloquence. At camp-meetings, especially, he 
 seemed to be in his proper element. On such occasions, 
 during the intervals of public worship, he would watch for a 
 suitable opportunity to commence an exhortation amidst a 
 group of young people, and wherever his sonorous voice was 
 heard, there a crowd would be immediately assembled. 
 There was something solemn and impressive in the deep in- 
 tonations of his voice, united with the earnestness* of his 
 manner. There was a harmony in his eye, his voice, and his 
 action, rarely found in combination in the same individual. 
 It attracted and fixed the attention both of old and young; 
 and his manifest sincerity over-awed the scoffing sceptic. He 
 was in many respects a remarkable man, and a remarkable 
 preacher. He was a Boanerges — a son of thunder — of ar- 
 dent temperament, and vigorous energy of body and mind ; 
 he threw his soul into the work. Whatever he undertook, 
 he did it with all his might. 
 
 In 1833, Mr. Ingles was graduated, and shortly thereafter 
 
REV. DANIEL INGLES. 
 
 1#1 
 
 was married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of James D. Cole, 
 Esq., of Athens. In the same year he received license from 
 Hopewell Presbytery to preach the gospel. 
 
 For some years he was engaged in teaching an Academy 
 at the village of Social Circle, Walton county, Georgia, 
 while at the same time he preached in all the surrounding 
 region as opportunity offered. He afterwards supplied the 
 Presbyterian Church in the city of Macon, for two years. 
 
 Having sold his possessions in Walton county, he bought 
 a farm on the Coosawatie river, in Gordon county, in the 
 west of the State, to which he removed his family in 1850. 
 Here he remained for some years in comparative seclusion, 
 devoting himself almost exclusively to farming, and occa- 
 sionally supplying some feeble Churches in his vicinity. In 
 1856, he was called to mourn the death of Mrs. Ingles. This 
 was to him a sore bereavement, and he immediately sunk 
 into a state of mental gloom and despondency. Although 
 Mr. Ingles was a man of ardent feelings, and by nature pre- 
 pared to overcome difficulties by persevering efforts, yet, at 
 times he was subject to extreme mental depression, as though 
 he were suffering under deep convictions. During these seasons 
 of gloom and melancholy, he could not be induced to engage in 
 any ministerial work. But when the dark cloud was lifted, 
 he would return to his work with renewed energy. Such 
 was the case after the death of his wife. After a few months 
 he began to revive and make arrangements once more to 
 emerge from his seclusion, and go forth again to labor in the 
 gospel vineyard. 
 
 As a public speaker, he was eloquent and impressive. His 
 imagination was vivid, his illustrations were strikingly appro- 
 priate, and sometimes thrilling and sublime. His appeals to 
 the consciences of the impenitent were pungent and alarm- 
 ing. Oft-times sinners would feel themselves to be the ob- 
 ject of his personal address. We now distinctly recollect an 
 instance of this kind, that fell under our own observation. 
 
182 NECROLOGY. 
 
 A worldly, wicked, careless man, had by some one been in- 
 duced to attend an evening service where Mr. Ingles was the 
 preacher. He was in his finest mood. His address was to 
 the impenitent. As he proceeded in depicting in the most 
 glowing colors the sinner's character and danger, holding up 
 before his eyes the wrath of God as revealed against all un- 
 righteousness and ungodliness of men, the man began to 
 conclude that he was addressing him personally — that he 
 certainly knew him, or that some person had told Mr. Ingles 
 what sort of a man he was, for in the glowing description he 
 gave of the sinner's character, he saw the picture of himself, 
 and heard him virtually saying to him, " Thou art the man." 
 He was highly offended — he rose in wrath and left the 
 Church. We met him the next morning on the street. He 
 was still very much excited, and affirmed that he would never 
 hear that man again, who had so wontonly insulted him. He 
 was told that Mr. Ingles did not intend a personal insult — 
 that he knew nothing of him — did not doubtless know that 
 there was such a man in the congregation — had in all proba- 
 bility never heard his name. But on the contrary, his own 
 conscience was the accuser — that the sword of the spirit had 
 pierced his heart and discovered to him his sin ; and that he 
 had more reason to be offended at himself than any other 
 being on earth. He was evidently under strong convictions, 
 and, although, he had resolved not to hear that man again, 
 the very next evening he was in the Church again, not to 
 resist the truth, but as an awakened soul, asking, " what he 
 must do to be saved?" A few days more, and he was rejoic- 
 ing in hope, and lived and died a triumphing Christian. In- 
 deed, such were the pointed and pungent nature of his ap- 
 peals at times, that few could hear him, without feeling them- 
 selves personally addressed. 
 
 Thus many a bold blasphemer quailed beneath his thun- 
 dering denunciations, and were filled with trembling dismay 
 in view of the faithful portraiture of himself, as drawn by 
 
REV. DANIEL INGLES. 183 
 
 this faithful declaimer against prevalent iniquities. He feared 
 not the face of man. He never hesitated to denounce the 
 judgments of God against the wicked. The following illus- 
 trates this fact : 
 
 " At a camp-meeting in the middle part of the State, 
 hearing that a number of drunken fellows, of the baser sort, 
 had assembled at a neighboring drinking-shop, for the pro- 
 fane purpose of holding a mock- meeting, and where they in- 
 tended to administer the sacrament of the Lord's supper, he 
 was fired with holy indignation ; and notwithstanding the 
 threats uttered of personal violence, he fearlessly entered 
 their assembly and boldly denounced the judgments of 
 heaven upon their blasphemous conduct, if they did not im- 
 mediately repent and desist. To the ring-leader of the 
 band, he said, as one having authority, " God in his wrath, I 
 verily believe, will cut you down this very night, if you do 
 not at once repent." 
 
 Seeing that they were determined to continue their blas- 
 phemous sport, he left them and returned to the camp. Not 
 long after his return, this bold blasphemer, while in the very 
 act of ridiculing sacred things, dropped dead upon the floor, 
 and his terrified comrades came running to the camp, begging 
 God's people to pray for them. 
 
 On another occasion, as he was visiting in a certain village 
 whither he had gone to assist the pastor in an approaching 
 meeting, he entered the house of a professed Universalist, 
 he being absent, and conversed and prayed with his wife and 
 daughters. Returning to the same house a few days after- 
 wards, he was met at the door by the Universalist and per- 
 emptorily ordered away. He calmly replied, " I will never 
 visit your house again until you send for me," adding, " and 
 this you will do before long." This proved true, for this act 
 was overruled as the means of his persecutor's conviction, 
 and he found no peace untU he sent for Mr. Ingles, and 
 asked his forgiveness. He, his wife, and two daughters, all 
 
184 NECROLOGY. 
 
 his family, were afterwards brought hopefully to the Saviour. 
 
 We have already alluded to the effect of the death of his 
 wife, which threw over his spirits a deep gloom, from which 
 he was not restored for many months. At length, however, 
 the sun began to appear — the shadows which had so long' 
 hung around his soul fled away — and he began to think of 
 returning to his work. But just as he was about consum- 
 mating his plans for future usefulness, the Master called him 
 suddenly to a higher and holier state. Early on the very 
 day he was to remove to a place he had purchased recently, 
 he was found, reclining upon a sofa in his chamber, dead. 
 By him lay an open Bible, and at his feet a religious tract, 
 which had probably dropped from his fingers as they had 
 been palsied by the touch of death. Thus, while meditating 
 upon divine and heavenly truth, his spirit returned to God 
 who gave it. It; was a mysterious providence. 
 
 He died in the fifty -fifth year of his age, and the twenty- 
 fourth of his ministry. On the 29th of December, 1857, he 
 was laid in the grave by the side of his beloved wife. For 
 nearly twenty-five years he had labored faithfully and suc- 
 cessfully in the vineyard of his Lord and Master. 
 
REV. CHARLES COLCOCK JONES, D.D.* 
 
 Charles Colcock Jones, the son of Captain Jones and 
 Mrs. Susannah Hyme Jones, was born at his father's resi- 
 dence. Liberty Hall, Liberty county, Georgia, December 
 20th, 1804, and was baptized at MidAvay Church, of which 
 his mother was a member, by the Rev. Cyrus Gildersleeve, 
 at that time its pastor. The sole care of him, when three 
 months old, was, by the lamented dei^th of his father, devolved 
 on his mother. Of Huguenot descent, she was a woman of 
 great excellence of character and sincere piety ; and her 
 earnest desire and frequent prayer for her fatherless child 
 were that he might glorify God in the Christian ministry — -a 
 prayer destined to be signally answered long after her lips 
 were silent in death. 
 
 Bereft by death of a mother's tender care before he had 
 reached his fifth year, God did not forget the little orphan, 
 but in His kind providence committed him to the protection 
 of affectionate relatives, and " to the special guardianship of 
 his uncle. Captain Joseph Jones, who ever sustained to him 
 the relation of a father, and to whose influence, protection, 
 and kindness he ever accorded the respect, obedience and 
 affection of a son." 
 
 Having received at the Sunbury Academy, then under the 
 preceptorship of the Rev. William McWhir, D.D., the rudi- 
 ments of an excellent English education, he entered at the 
 age of fourteen, and continued some six years, in a counting 
 house in Savannah. While thus employed, the evening hours 
 of leisure were spent by him in reading and study. And in 
 this way the young clerk and future minister of the gospel 
 amassed valuable historical information, and disciplined his 
 
 *MSS. From Rev. R. Q. Mallard and Mrs. Jones. 
 
 185 
 
186 NECROLOGY. 
 
 mental faculties in mastering Edwards on the Will. Such 
 were his energy, industry, system, and strict integrity, that 
 he won the entire confidence of his employers ; and it is said 
 that at the close of this period, he could have commanded 
 almost any position he should have chosen. But God had 
 other work for him to do. 
 
 Up to this time, it is not known that the subject of this 
 sketch, although of tender susceptibilities, was ever under 
 deep convictions of sin ; but during his commercial career a 
 severe spell of sickness brought him to the verge of the 
 grave, and was, under God, the means of his profound 
 awakening. His exercises of soul at this interesting period 
 are not known, but evidence of their genuineness was from 
 the first apparent. Connecting himself, while still a resident 
 of Savannah, at the age of seventeen, with the Midway Con- 
 gregational Church of Liberty county, then under the pas- 
 toral care of the Rev. Murdoch Murphy, he became at once 
 an active Sunday School Teacher in the Independent Pres- 
 byterian Church of that city, visiting his scholars at their 
 homes, and even drawing up rules for the guidance of their 
 daily conduct. The idea of studying for the ministry was 
 first urged upon his serious consideration by the Rev. Mur- 
 doch Murphy. ^ 
 
 About this time the Hon. John Elliot, then a Senator in 
 the United States Congress, and a warm friend of the family, 
 urged Capt. Joseph Jones to send his ward to the Military 
 Academy at West Point, and offered to use his influence in 
 obtaining a place for him. But the Providence and Spirit of 
 God had now directed the aims and designs of his young ser- 
 vant to a higher and holier calling, and owing, perhaps, to 
 this fact, that Dr. Ebenezer Porter, of Andover, was at this 
 time favorably known in his native county, through his visits 
 for health to the South, his attention was turned towards that 
 Seminary, then distinguished al ke for its strict orthodoxy 
 and thoroughintellectual culture. , 
 
REV. CHARLES COLCOCK JONES, D. D. 187 
 
 At the age of twenty he connected himself with Phillips 
 Academy, at Andover, and had almost attained his majority 
 when, for the first time, he took the Latin Grammar in hand. 
 His stay at Andover, including the time spent in the School 
 and Seminary, was three years and a half. We may well 
 suppose from his previous, as well as subsequent career, that 
 these were not years of idleness. With Dr. Porter he asso- 
 ciated on terms of intimacy, and ever spoke of him with 
 affectionate veneration, and has been heard to say that he 
 had visited him in his study at all hours of the day, and that 
 there was not an hour at which he did not at some time find 
 him on his knees. Durino; one vacation while connected 
 with Andover, Dr. Jones labored as a missionary in Provi- 
 dence, R. I. His report, by its fearless exposure of vice, gave 
 much offense, while his great exertions impaired his health. 
 From Andover Dr. Jones went to Princeton Seminary, 
 New Jersey, and eighteen months afterward completed, under 
 Doctors Alexander and Miller, then its great ornaments, his 
 Theological education. In the Spring of 1830, he was licensed 
 to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, 
 then in session at Allentown. In November, 1830, he re- 
 turned to his native county. Liberty, and on the evening of 
 December 21st, 1830, was united in marriage to Miss Mary 
 Jones. For a period of four or five months he preached as 
 opportunity offered, and on the 31st of May, 1831, he received 
 and subsequently accepted a call to become the stated supply 
 of the First Presbyterian Church in Savannah, Georgia. 
 Entering upon his pastoral labors with his characteristic 
 energy and zeal, besides visiting in the week, he preached 
 three times on the Sabbath, devoting one of the services to 
 the blacks, and delivered a course of lectures on the Epistle 
 to the Hebrews, with marked success. In November of the 
 Bame year, Dr. Jones connected himself with the Presbytery 
 of Georgia, and was by them ordained and installed pastor of 
 the First Presbyterian Church, Savannah. The installation 
 
188 NECROLOGY. 
 
 and ordination services were held, by invitation, in the Inde- 
 pendent Presbyterian Church, then under the pastoral charge 
 of the Rev. Daniel Baker, and before a large congregation, 
 who filled the vast audience room of that stately edifice. His 
 relations with Dr. Daniel Baker were of the most pleasant 
 character. 
 
 After eighteen months spent in his first and last ministerial 
 connection with a pastoral charge of whites. Dr. Jones felt 
 constrained by a sense of duty to devote himself to that 
 great Avork, with which his name has been so long and hon- 
 orably associated — the evangelization of the negroes. To 
 this needy and important class of our population, his mind 
 seems to have been drawn while a student at Princeton 
 Seminary. Severing his connection with the Church in Sa- 
 vannah, he returned to Liberty county, November, 1832, 
 and gave himself, body, mind and soul, to his chosen self- 
 denying, and so far as any pecuniary recompense was con- 
 cerned, gratuitous work ; the full results of which eternity 
 only will disclose. He succeeded to a remarkable extent in 
 awakening a deep interest in this neglected people, not only 
 among the citizens of his own county, but by his extensive 
 correspondence, his writings, and his published reports, he 
 under God, did more than any other man in arousing the 
 whole Church of this country to its duty to the Africans 
 among us. It was during this period of labor that he pre- 
 pared his " Catechism of Scripture Doctrine and Practice," 
 intended mainly for the oral instruction of colored persons; 
 but suited to families and schools, which has been so exten- 
 sively used in the South, and has been translated by the 
 Rev. John B. Adger, D.D., while a Missionary at Smyrna, 
 into the Armenian and also into the Armeno-Turkish ; and 
 by the Rev. John Quarterman, at Ningpo, into the Chinese, 
 and has been found of eminent use in instructing the heathen. 
 In unintermitted missionary labors, which engaged his time, 
 and employed him in the direct work of instruction not only 
 
REV. CHARLES COLCOCK JONES, D. D. 189 
 
 several nights in the week, but almost the entire Sabbath 
 from morn to night. Dr. Jones spent a period of five years. 
 
 At the expiration of this time, in 1835, he was elected by 
 the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia to the Chair of 
 Church History and Polity in the Seminary at Columbia, 
 S. C, and in 1836, he removed with his family to that city, 
 and as one of his associates in the Faculty testifies, dis- 
 charged the duties of his professorship with his characteristic 
 zeal and ardor. After two years of arduous service he re- 
 signed in 1838, his Chair, and returned to his old field of 
 labor. Here he labored with unremitting activity and great 
 success until November, 1847, at which time he laid before 
 the Presbytery two calls which he had received ; the one 
 inviting him to become an Agent and Secretary for the 
 Assembly's Board of Missions for the South and Southwest, 
 with a special view to the religious instruction of the negroes, 
 and the other calling him again to the Chair of Church 
 History and Polity in the Columbia Seminary. Presbytery 
 recommended the acceptance of the latter, and accordingly 
 he removed, in 1848, to Columbia, and entered upon his pro- 
 fessorial duties. 
 
 On the night of the 18th of April, 1850, the house in 
 which he lived with all its contents, was consumed by fire, 
 he and his family narrowly escaping with their lives. By 
 this disastrous event, which he bore with beautiful resignation, 
 the most valuable portion of his library, all his missionary 
 journals, sermons and other MSS, and his lectures on Church 
 History, which had been prepared with assiduous care, were 
 lost. Elected about this time Secretary of the Assembly's 
 Board of Missions as the successor of the Rev. William A. 
 McDowell, D.D.,* after prayerfully and carefully weighing 
 
 *William Anderson McDowell, D.D., was born at Lainrington, N. J"., 
 May, 1789. He graduated at Princeton College in 1809, and at the Theo- 
 logical Seminary in May, 1813. He was first settled at Bound Brook, 
 N. J., and afterwards at Morristown. He left N. J. in October, 1823, and 
 
190 NECROLOGY. 
 
 the reasons for and against the change, (a draft of which 
 reasons, is now extant in his hand writing) he again resigned 
 his Professorial Chair, and in 1850, removed to Philadelphia 
 and entered upon his duties as Secretary. In this new posi- 
 tion he manifested the same qualities which had always char- 
 acterized him, and his systematic and practical business 
 habits, his manly independence, his thorough comprehension 
 of the demands of the field, his uncommon and untiring in- 
 dustry, and his unflagging zeal, infused new life and energy in- 
 to the operation of the Board. In this important position he 
 was not permitted long to labor. His constitution having long 
 sustained the heavy drafts of a life of constant and severe 
 exertion, and unremitting toil of the oiBce, completely broke 
 down, and was compelled to seek restoration in the quiet 
 seclusion of his own delightful home in Liberty county. 
 
 From this period we must date the invalid life of Dr. 
 Jones, protracted through ten years, if indeed we can prop- 
 erly call a life such, which was active and laborious as that 
 of many students in the enjoyment of robust health. As 
 his strength permitted he preached to white and black, and 
 labored untiringly on his own plantation for the spiritual 
 good of his servants, eleven of whom, as the fruits of his 
 labors, he had the pleasure of seeing unite with Midway 
 Church, in February, 1861. He attended, as he was able, 
 the meetings of Presbytery, and twice during this period, 
 represented it in the General Assembly. He was a member 
 of the First General Assembly of the Confederate States, 
 and took an active part in its deliberations, being made 
 Chairman of one of its most important committees. Those 
 who were present on that memorable occasion, will not soon 
 forget the deep and respectful attention with which the 
 Assembly listened to his counsels, and the profound stillness, 
 
 was installed pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church, Charleston, S.C., 
 in Dec , 1823. He was elected Secretary of the Board of Missions in 
 1833, and resigned in 1850. He died in 1851. 
 
REV. CHARLES COLCOCK JONES, D. D. 191 
 
 with which a great congregation, as well as the Assembly, 
 hung upon his lips, as unmindful of his physical weakness, he 
 poured forth what proved to be his last appeal to the Church 
 in behalf of the souls of our servants. 
 
 But the chief work of this part of his life was, *' The 
 History of the Church of Grod," the foundations of which 
 were laid in his lectures at the Seminary. On this he 
 wrought untiringly and with great delight almost up to the 
 day of his death, and that event found it lacking but a few 
 chapters of completion, and ending, strange to say, just 
 where the fire in Columbia had cut short his lectures. 
 
 From an injury received in childhood the subject of this 
 memorial, remarkable to relate, lived and labored with but 
 one lung in active play, and experienced at times, in conse- 
 quence a sensation of weariness in the vocal organs, such as 
 is not felt by one in full health. As early as his second 
 period of missionary life in Liberty county, the seeds of the 
 disease which finally ended his days seem to have been sown. 
 Symptoms of nervous exhaustion were on one occasion felt, 
 but at the time disregarded. In Columbia, premonitory 
 symptoms of his disease manifested themselves, and alarm- 
 ingly developed themselves in Philadelphia. His disease was 
 known as the wasting palsy. It gradually, yet surely wasted 
 away his frame, leaving his mind to the last untouched, and 
 growing and ripening to the end. His son. Dr. Joseph 
 Jones, has a minute history of the entire progress of his 
 disease, written out by himself, and continued up to the last 
 month of his life. 
 
 No one watched his symptoms with greater care and com- 
 posure than he did himself. With a strong trust in his Redeem- 
 er, he looked on, cheerful and happy, when he knew that a fatal 
 disease was gradually taking down his tabernacle of clay. 
 A period of uncommon mortality prevailed among his servants 
 and his deep anxiety about them, and about the war, in which 
 as a patriot he took the deepest interest, it is believed 
 
192 NECROLOGY. 
 
 hastened his end. The emaciation gradually extended from 
 his limbs to his person, and even those who saw him at short 
 intervals of time, were shocked at the progress which the 
 disease had made. He kept his end constantly in view, and 
 remarked not many months before his death to his eldest 
 son : " My son, I am living in momentary expectation of 
 death, but the thought of its approach causes me no alarm. 
 The frail tabernacle must soon be taken down. I only wait 
 God's time." Four days before his death he made this en- 
 try in a journal: "March 12th, 1863, have been very weak 
 and declining since the renewal of the cold, on the 1st instant, 
 in the Church. My disease appears to be drawing to a con- 
 clusion. May the Lord make me to say in that hour in sav- 
 ing faith and love, ' Into thy hands I commit my spirit : Thou 
 hast redeemed me, Lord God of truth,'" Ps. xxxvi: 5. 
 (The passage thus referred to reads thus : " Thy mercy, 
 Lord, is in the heavens, and thy faithfulness reacheth unto 
 the clouds." " So has our blessed Saviour taught us by his 
 own example to do, and blessed are they who die in the 
 Lord." 
 
 His nights at this time were sleepless, his respiration 
 labored, and his strength sensibly declining, yet his Chris- 
 tian composure and cheerfulness never forsook him. On 
 Sunday the 15th of March, he took a short ride on horse- 
 back, hoping that it might relieve his unpleasant sensations. 
 On the morning of the 16th, the day on which he died, having 
 dressed himself with scrupulous neatness, he came down from 
 his chamber and breakfasted with the family. After break- 
 fast he walked for a short time upon the lawn, but returned 
 much exhausted, and retiring to his study, spent the fore- 
 noon there, sometimes sitting up and sometimes reclining. 
 He conversed with his wife and sister with difficulty, and 
 evidently suffered much from restlessness and debility. At 
 two o'clock, dinner was served in his study, and he eat with 
 apparent relish. Soon after addressing himself to his wife 
 
REV. CHARLES COLCOCK JONES, D. D. 193 
 
 and alluding to the recent order of Gen. Beauregard, as 
 encouraging, and speaking of the gigantic efforts of our ene- 
 mies for our subjugation, he continued : " The God of Jacob 
 is with us — God our Father, Jehovah God, the Holy Ghost and 
 God our Divine Redeemer, and we can never be overthrown." 
 Mrs. Jones repeated some of the promises of the Saviour, 
 that he would be present with those who put their trust in 
 Him, even when called to pass through the dark valley of the 
 shadow of death. To which he repled: " In health we may 
 repeat those promises, but now they are realities." She re- 
 plied : " I feel assured that the Saviour is present with you." 
 He answered, " I am nothing but a poor sinner, I renounce 
 myself and all self-justification, trusting only in the free un- 
 merited righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ." Being 
 asked if he had any messages for his sons, he said : " Tell 
 them both to lead lives of godly men in Christ Jesus, in 
 uprightness and integrity." His feebleness increasing, she 
 suggested that it might be pleasant to him to retire to his 
 chamber and recline upon his bed. To this he assented, and 
 supported by his wife and sister, he left his study playfully 
 remarking, " How honored I am in being waited upon by two 
 ladies." Reclining upon his bed, in a few moments, without 
 a struggle, a sigh, a gasp, he gently fell asleep in Jesus. A 
 glory almost unearthly, which awed all who approached, 
 rested upon his peaceful countenance. 
 
 Shortly afterwards, just as he was, in the same garments 
 he had put on, with his white cravat unsoiled, and every fold 
 as his own hands had arranged it, he was borne back to his 
 study, where, surrounded by the authors he had loved in life, 
 he seemed to rest in sweet and peaceful sleep, until the third 
 day following ; when, after appropriate services at Midway 
 Church, conducted by the Rev. D. L. Buttolph, his mortal 
 remains were committed to the grave in that venerable cem- 
 etery, where his own parents and many generations of God's 
 saints await the resurrection. 
 '13 
 
194 NECKOLOGY. 
 
 This memorial cannot be better closed than by quoting 
 from the discourse preached on the occasion of his death, by 
 the Rev. D. L. Buttolph, on the 17th verse of the 48th 
 chapter of Jeremiah, " How is the strong staff broken, and 
 the beautiful rod." The following estimate of his character 
 and genius, as a man, a Christian, and a minister of the 
 Gospel : 
 
 "Dr. Jones was a man who possessed striking and salient 
 points of character. He was born to lead. No one could 
 come into contact with him, even for a short time, with out 
 feeling that he was in the presence of a commanding intellect. 
 His mind was of the Jfirst order. He would have succeeded 
 in any sphere he had chosen. Such were his strength of 
 purpose and resolute will, that difficulties so far from deter- 
 ring him from the prosecution of his object, only aroused to 
 increased activity, the powers of his extraordinary mind. 
 He seemed to grasp a subject in all its bearing and relations 
 at once, and speedily to arrive at his conclusions. His 
 judgment appeared to be almost unerring. Seldom was he 
 compelled to reverse a decision, which he had formed. He 
 was an independent thinker and actor. No man surpasseji 
 him in moral courage. He was not afraid to assume the re- 
 sponsibilities of any given course of action when assured that 
 course was right. He only feared God. 
 
 His perseverence was indomitable. Nothing deterred him 
 in the path of duty. He went forward relying on the 
 strength of God, and the rectitude of his course. 
 
 His acquisitions in knowledge were very great. Whatever 
 subject he studied, he mastered. His knowledge was acurate 
 as well as extensive. With a retentive memory and a logical 
 mind, he could bring into immediate use all the rich stores 
 of learning he had acquired. Probably no man ever lived 
 who made better use of his time. He regarded time as a 
 most precious talent, and most faithfully did he improve it. 
 He never spared himself. He labored hard and successfully 
 
REV. CHARLES COLCOCK JONES, D. D. 195 
 
 up to the very close of life. The Master, when he came, 
 found him at work. He fell as he desired to fall, with his 
 harness on. 
 
 Dr. Jones possessed qualities which are rarely found 
 united together in the same person. He was not more the 
 "strong staflf," than he was the "beautiful rod." Strength and 
 beauty seemed to be equally combined in him. Accompany- 
 ing his stern, strong will, his unyielding purpose, and his fear- 
 less courage, there was a modesty, a humility, a gentleness 
 which are rarely surpassed. These qualities were not as- 
 sumed, or put on for effect, they were as natural to him as 
 were those strong characteristics which commanded the re- 
 spect and admiration of all who knew him. He had a tender 
 heart, which was alive to every kind and generous emotion. 
 He sympathized deeply with all who were in distress. He 
 seemed to place himself in their condition and to bear their 
 burdens. " Weep with all who weep, and rejoice with all 
 who rejoice." 
 
 Blessed with wealth, he regarded all that he possessed as a 
 treasure loaned from the Lord, and himself as the Lord's 
 steward. He labored for years in the ministry at his own 
 charges, and gave liberally of his substance to the poor and 
 every benevolent cause. The afflicted of every class and 
 degree found in him a sympathizing friend and helper. He 
 was pre-eminently a good counsellor. He appeared to know 
 what ought to be- done in every emergency, and such was the 
 soundness of his judgment, that he seldom made a mistake. 
 His conversational powers were .of the highest order. His 
 accurate and extensive information upon almost every subject 
 united with great ease and courtesy, made him both instruc- 
 tive and entertaining to all classes. No one could be in his 
 company and listen to^his conversation without pleasure and, 
 profit. His home was the abode of hospitality, and none 
 who have ever enjoyed it, will forget the kind welcome which 
 
196 NECROLOGY. 
 
 lie always gave. Probably no one in the county had a larger 
 and choicer circle of friends and acquaintances. 
 
 Dr. Jones' Christian life was marked by its depth, sincerity 
 and earnestness. Religion with him was the great reality of 
 life. It was his chief concern to please God, perform his duty 
 and prepare for eternity. His reverence for God, was deep 
 and abiding. He lived and moved under the abiding conscious- 
 ness that God's eye was upon him. He had the most exalted 
 ideas of the greatness, majesty, glory, and holiness of God. 
 Every thing connected with His character, will and worship, 
 received his homage and reverence. He bowed low in the 
 presence of God. All profane trifling with the name, attri- 
 butes, and worship of Deity, shocked every feeling of his 
 soul. The Bible was his constant study. He was familiar 
 with its truths. He not only read, but studied its sacred con- 
 tents. He brought every opinion to the test of God's Word, 
 and tried it by that sacred standard. The views and opin- 
 ions of men were nothing with him, unless they agreeed with 
 the teachings of Scripture. He loved God's Word. It was 
 the food on which his soul constantly fed. He studied it not 
 only that he might instruct others, but that his own heart 
 might be sanctified. His expositions of God's Word were 
 satisfactory and conclusive. They proved that he spoke from 
 his own experience of their truth and power. The Sabbath 
 was also his delight. He reverenced the Lord's day. Its 
 hours were faithfully consecrated to public and private wor- 
 ship. While his health permitted, he labored as an am- 
 bassador of Christ to men, and when unable to preach, he 
 was a most regular attendant upon the means of grace .... 
 Our departed brother was eminent for his piety. He had 
 made great attainments in holiness. He lived "near the 
 throne of grace. He held constant communion with his 
 Saviour. No one could hear him pray, whether in the sanc- 
 tuary or at the family altar, or at the bedside of the sick 
 and dying, without perceiving that prayer was his " native 
 
REV. CHARLES COLCOCK JONES, D. D. 197 
 
 breath." He possessed to a remarkable degree the gift and 
 grace of prayer. In prayer his soul seemed to mount up on 
 the wings of faith to the very presence chamber of Deity. 
 There Was an appropriateness of thought and expression in 
 his prayers, which rendered them most edifying to all who 
 joined with him in devotion. We cannot enumerate all the 
 traits of his Christian character. 
 
 He was remarkable for his humility. Having the most 
 exalted views of God's infinite greatness and holiness, it is 
 not strange that he had low and debasing views of himself. 
 In his own sight he was nothing, and less than nothing. 
 ^'Renouncing himself," as he expressed it, "and all self- 
 justification,- he trusted only in the free and unmerited^right- 
 eousness of the Lord Jesus Christ." This was his only hope. 
 Christ was all his salvation and all his desire. 
 
 He ardently loved the Saviour, and desired that His name 
 should be known and honored Jthroughout the^earfh. He 
 loved the Christian brethren — his heart went forth in true 
 affection towards all who loved Christ in sincerity and truth. 
 He loved the souh of the impenitent. He prayed for 
 their conversion. He strove to bring them to a saving 
 knowledge of Christ. His efforts for their conversion were 
 not confined to the pulpit. He spoke to them in private, 
 and endeavored to win them to Christ. The one great aim 
 of his life was to do good to the souls of his fellow-men. 
 This was exhibited especially in his ministerial life. He felt 
 it to be a distinguished privilege and honor to be called to 
 serve God in the ministry. No one had higher views of the 
 sacredness of this office than the subject of these remarks. 
 
 When he became assured of his call to the ministry, he 
 entered upon the preparation for its duties with the utmost 
 zeal. His lack of collegiate education was made up by in- 
 defatigable application to study. He became a ripe scholar. 
 All his acquisitions in learning were made to contribute to 
 Buccess in the ministry. Everything which did not directly 
 
198 NECROLOGY. 
 
 or indirectly further this grand end, was cast aside as worth- 
 less. His knowledge of the languages in which the Scrip- 
 tures were originally written, was thorough and extensive. 
 It was his daily custom to study the Bible, both in the Greek 
 and Hebrew. The Bible, indeed, was his great store-house 
 of knowledge. In one sense, he was a man of one book. 
 He prized the Bible above all human productions. In every 
 disputed question connected with theology, he first asked, 
 "What saith the Lord? and when he had ascertained the 
 mind of the Spirit, his opinions were irreversibly fixed. He 
 was well read in the writings of those learned divines whose 
 labors have thrown so much light upon the Scriptures. Few, 
 if any, excelled him in his knowledge of the history of the 
 church. Having been called twice to the chair of Church 
 History and Polity, in the Seminary at Columbia, he gave 
 particular attention to this branch of theological learning. 
 The last and best years of his life were spent in giving to 
 the world his researches upon this subject, and his book, 
 when published, will be a most valuable contribution to the 
 literature of the church, and a lasting monument of his 
 learning, wisdom, and zeal. 
 
 But'the pulpit was his appropriate place. Here the pow- 
 ers of his gifted mind were brought into most vigorous exer- 
 cise. His whole appearance in the pulpit indicated the 
 greatest solemnity and reverence. He felt the awful re- 
 sponsibility- which rested upon him as the ambassador of 
 Christ to dying sinners. His subject was always well di- 
 gested. He seized the strong points of his text, and pre- 
 sented them with plainness and simplicity, which made them 
 level to the comprehension of the most illiterate, and at the 
 same time with a force and eloquence which would interest 
 and instruct the most learned and refined in the congrega- 
 tion. He would become all absorbed in his subject, and at 
 times would rise to the highest flights of eloquence. He 
 usually drew his happiest figures and illustrations from na- 
 
REV. CHARLES COLCOCK JONES, D. D. 199 
 
 ture, and these always beautified his discourse. There was 
 a fervor and unction about his preaching not often equalled. 
 His sei-mons to the colored people were adapted to their 
 comprehension. He sought to instruct and interest them. 
 Probably no man in this country so well understood their 
 character. He had studied it with a view of adapting his 
 labors to their capacity. And most signal has his success 
 been among this people. They loved and honored him. 
 They felt that he was their best friend. Whenever it was 
 known that he was to preach, they flocked to the house 
 of worship, and sat at his feet for instruction. His labors 
 have been crowned with abundant success, and many have 
 been hopefully converted under hi-s preaching. Eternity 
 alone will disclose the amount of good he was enabled, by 
 divine grace, to accomplish. He now rests from his labors, 
 and his " works do follow him." 
 
 The high estimation'in which he was held by his brethren 
 of the Presbytery of Georgia, is thus appropriately expressed : 
 
 "We cannot close this imperfect memorial of this eminent 
 servant of God, without expressing our high appreciation of 
 his character, gifts and services, and our sincere sorrow over 
 the removal of the brightest ornament of our Presbytery — 
 its strong staff and beautiful rod. And while in confident 
 belief that our loss is his unspeakable gain, we cheerfully 
 bow to the will of Heaven, and sincerely sympathize with 
 the family of our revered brother. We resolve .^hat we will 
 ever cherish his memory, and by God's grace endeavor to 
 follow his faith, considering the end of his conversation, 
 Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and forever." 
 
 We cannot forbear subjoining the testimony of the Synod 
 of Georgia, as a ratification of all. that is said of him in the 
 preceding memorial. At its sessions in Athens, Nov., 1853, 
 the Synod thus speaks : 
 
 "Though eminently successful as a pastor, instructive and 
 honored as a professor, and pre-eminent in his management 
 
200 NECROLOGY. 
 
 of the affairs of the Board of Domestic Missions, yet his 
 labors for the servants of the South was his great work. He 
 ever felt it to be so, and for the manner in which he fulfilled 
 his mission, 'his praise is in all the churches,' and his name 
 will be had in ' everlasting remembrance.' " 
 
 As a man. Doctor Jones was a fine example of the Chris- 
 tian gentleman. Easy and unaffected, and courteous in his 
 manners, ample and generous in his hospitalities, sincere, 
 warm, and abiding in his friendships, a charming companion 
 in his associations with his fellow-men. 
 
 As a preacher, he was sound, practical, and popular. 
 Few persons exceeded him in the clearness and power with 
 which he uttered and enforced truth, and in the earnestness, 
 and at the same time the dignity, with which he stood in the 
 place of Christ and besought men to be reconciled to God. 
 His ministry was an eminently useful one, and in his death 
 the church has sustained a great loss, and by it we are im- 
 pressively reminded, that our best brethren, most talented, 
 useful, and beloved, cannot continue, by reason of death." 
 
 Frmn Rev. John Jones. 
 Dr. J. S. Wii-soN, 
 
 Bed. and Dear Brother : — In compliance with your request, I 
 send you a brief sketcli of the missionary life of Dr. C. C. Jones among 
 the negroes of Georgia. 
 
 In order to be distinct, I will arrange the following statements under 
 four heads : 
 
 First, the place and time of his labors. Second, the amount of labor 
 bestowed. Third, the self-denial and exhausting character of his work. 
 Fourth, the fruits and results: 
 
 1st. Although Dr. Jones preached occasionally to colored people in 
 various parts of Georgia, his permanent scene of labor was Liberty, his 
 native county, and the home of liis parents and grand-parents. He had 
 three principal stations : Midwaj', where the African church, erected 
 after the commencement of his mission, and by his efforts and contribu- 
 tions, stood i^ard l>y ili.it venerable building in which four successive 
 generations of whites and blacks have worshipped together; Newport, a 
 Baptist church, central to a large negro population ; and Pleasant Grove, 
 a church erected chiefly by his energy. There was also another station. 
 
REV. CHARLES COLCOCK JONES, D. D. 201 
 
 called Hutchison, where he occasionally preached, erected also through 
 his instrumentality. 
 
 TIME DEVOTED TO THE WORK. 
 
 His mind was turned to the religious instruction of the negroes whilst 
 a student of theology. He graduated at Princeton Seminary, in 1830, 
 was licensed by New Brunswick Presbytery, and returned home with his 
 heart fixed on the colored population. But deeming it best to enter the 
 field with due preparation, he accepted a call to the First Presbyterian 
 church of Savannah, in the spring of 1831. He continued in Savannah 
 until November, 1832, taking the liveliest interest in the instruction of 
 the blacks, and devoting to them much attention, in addition to the 
 usual duties of his charge, preaching once every Sabbath for them. He 
 then moved to Liberty county, and entered upon the chosen work of his 
 life. 
 
 He formed, at the beginning, among the planters of the county, an 
 Association for the religious instruction of the colored population. This 
 Association was not denominational. It held regular annual meetings, 
 to which the Missionary made a report of his labors, and inspired an in- 
 terest in his work. 
 
 These annual meetings were deeply interesting, and were often attended 
 by the best citizens from the adjoining counties. 
 
 Dr. Jones labored in this field during the years of 1833, '34, '35, '36. 
 In November of 1836 he was elected by the Synod of South Carolina and 
 Georgia to the Professorship of Ecclesiastical History and Church Polity, 
 in the Columbia Theological Seminary. He passed two years in Colum- 
 bia. During his professorship he constantly held up before tiie students 
 the colored field, and labored personally for the negroes, by preaching, 
 and the formation and personal superintendence of a Sabbath school of 
 200 scholars. 
 
 He returned to Liberty county in the close of 1838, and resumed labor 
 among the colored people, who gave him a most hearty and grateful 
 welcome. His return seemed to receive the divine sanction, by a special 
 and protracted outpouring of the Spirit on his work, early in 1839. 
 
 He continued in this field for ten successive years, the prime of his life, 
 until he was again called to the same chair in the Theological Seminary. 
 He remained in Columbia during 1849 and the seminary year of 1850. 
 Having experienced a most solemn providence in the loss, by fire, of his 
 library, and lectures, and sermons, and manuscripts, and all household 
 valuables, and the bare escape of himself and family, and having been, 
 soon after this calamity, elected Secretary of the Board of Domestic Mis- 
 sions of 0. S. General Assembly, he removed to Philadelphia in October 
 1850, and there remained for three years, until prostrated by excessive 
 labor and devotion to his office, he was compelled to return to his home 
 in Liberty county, in the fall of 1853. 
 
202 NECROLOGY. 
 
 He again resumed his work among the colored people. He was spared 
 until the IGth of March, 1863. During this period he labored beyond his 
 ability, with a zeal and devotion, azid success, which increased as his 
 years and strength declined. When no longer able to stand, he would 
 preach sitting in the pulpit. And, especially was he devoted to the in- 
 struction of his own servants, both in the home chapel and in the family 
 mansion, where they came for pergonal conversation and teaching, and 
 many of them were brought into the church of God. 
 
 Thus it will be seen, that the morning, the meridian, and the evening 
 of his ministry, were devoted to this chosen field of life. 
 
 II. THE AMOUNT OF LABOR BESTOWED. 
 
 His work commenced in his study. His preparations for the Sabbath 
 were made most carefully, and with critical examinations of the original 
 Scriptures. His sermons were often expository, and dwelling on many 
 verses, sometimes a chapter, and occasionally a short book of the Bible. 
 Ou Sabbat li he rode to the stations, generally on horseback. The labors 
 of the day were introduced by a prayer meeting and a watchman's meet- 
 ing. Then followed the regular services of the morning. The third service 
 was a patient inquiry meeting, to which all were encouraged to come who 
 desired personal instruction. This meeting was regularly held, and he 
 prized it very highly, having long tested its practical value. The closing 
 exercise of the day was the Sabbath school, in which lie taught.hymns 
 and his catechism'. Into these schools he gathered all ages, but especi- 
 ally children and youth. All recited together. These schools evinced 
 the efBcieucy of oral instruction. They were remarkable for their ani- 
 mation, proficiency, and accuracy; and their catechatical instructions 
 received the special sanction of God, the Holy Spirit. 
 
 Such were the Sabbath labors of our Missionary. He literally worked 
 while the day lasted, and the sun was usually ia the tops of the trees, 
 and the shadows of evening fast gathering, before he turned his face 
 homeward. In addition to the Sabbath labors, lie had, during seven 
 mouths of the year, when at his winter home, his plantation meetings 
 from once to thrice a week. These meetings were at niglit. He would 
 ride on the saddle from three to ten miles to some plantation, preach and 
 return home, however late the hour or long the distance. The planta- 
 tion meetings he regarded as very useful, but they were a great draught 
 on his constitution. 
 
 III. THE SELF-DENIAL AND EXHAUSTING NATURE OP HIS LABORS. 
 
 It was a self-denial when he commenced, because the work was un- 
 popular and untried. He went into it alone. Many thought it would 
 prove a failure. Numerous otfter fields were open and inviting in the 
 South, to which he received calls, and the laborers, especially native 
 Presbyterian ministers, were very few. His labors were confined to a 
 
REV. CHARLES COLCOCK JONES, D. D. 203 
 
 warm, clamp, and exceedingly depressing climate. He conducted the 
 singing, as well as the other exercises of the Sabbath. It was a day of 
 earnest, continued labor, away from home, and allowing no intervals of 
 short repose. His plantation work was particularly exhausting and 
 drastick. It required an iron constitution to stand exposure to the dews 
 and frosts, and swamp atmosphere of Liberty county. Frequently he 
 wonld return home in mid-winter and at mid-night, with feet and cloth- 
 ing perfectly soaked, from the watery roads and night dews. 
 
 From such labors his constitution received that severe shock which 
 "resulted in a premature decay of health, and the going down of his sun, 
 long before the autumn of old age. 
 
 IV. THE FRUITS AND RESULTS OP HIS LABORS. 
 
 The fruits were seen in the increased intelligence, good order, neatness, 
 and general morality of the colored people ; their elevated regard for 
 marriage vows, and attention to the morals and manners of their chil- 
 dren. Scriptural kowledge abounded in comparison with the past. The 
 accurate acquaintance with the catechism displayed by many was aston- 
 ishing, and most gratifying ; and God, the Holy Spirit, was pleased to 
 honor his labors, in the conversion of many souls. The good seed was 
 continually watered. But there was one season particularly distinguished 
 by a remarkable and protracted outpouring of the Spirit. It commenced 
 early in 1839, and continued for eighteen months, and, the fruits were an 
 addition to the churches of the county of 300 converts. And the general 
 results of his labors were seen among the whites as well as the negroes 
 — an extended interest on the subject, into other communities and regions 
 of the South, an increased attention to the physical, as well as the moral, 
 condition of. the colored race; the erection of neighborhood and planta- 
 tion chapels ; the multiplying of plantation and family schools, in which 
 Jones' catechism was taught; a greater devotion of time to the negroes, 
 by churches and pastors; and a general awakening, throughout the 
 South, to the duty of systematic religious instruction to the blacks. 
 
 In fact, the work of Dr. Jones for the spiritual elevation of the colored 
 race, was a decided success, in his own county, and throughout the 
 South. His catechism (which has been translated into three Foreign 
 languages, and is successfully taught in China and Turkey,) will remain 
 as a witness of his devotion and adaptation to his work. His book on 
 the " Religious Instruction of the Negroes," and his other writings on that 
 subject, including his last public utterances before the Confederate Gen- 
 eral Assembly at Augusta, Georgia, in December, 1861, all attest that he 
 was singly, earnestly consecrated to one great mission of life. 
 
 He was eminently the friend of the colored race, and to them, without 
 salary or earthly compensation, constrained hj the love of Christ, he 
 gave a life remarkable for its continuation of untiring zeal and energy, 
 
204 NECROLOGY. 
 
 with a solid mind and matured judgment. He has rested from his la- 
 bors, and his works do follow him. 
 
 Very truly and respectfully yours, 
 
 J. JONES. 
 
 Desirous of presenting as full and complete account of the 
 labors of Dr. Jones in that field to which most of his life 
 was devoted — preaching to the colored people, and otherwise 
 seeking their spiritual welfare — the following paper has been 
 prepared, by one who knew him better than any other living 
 being — his wife. 
 
 As will be seen, it is principally extracts from the annual 
 reports made to the association, organized in Liberty county, 
 to promote the instruction of the colored people, and especi- 
 ally from the Tenth Annual Report, which comprised a 
 review of the past years, and the plans devised for prosecu- 
 ting the work. 
 
 It is proper that the world should know something of the 
 extent of that work, which this good man accomplished by 
 his personal labors, and the influence which flowed from them 
 to other portions of our country. 
 
 It will not be extravagant to say, that more was done for 
 the solid benefit of the negro, through his instrumentality, 
 than has since been efi'ected by all the Freedman Bureaus in 
 the land. 
 
 In the life of Rev. C. C. Jones, D. D., was illustrated 
 true refinement and sensibility, high cultivation of mind and 
 manners, with all the ennobling and honorable principles 
 which constitute true greatness in character. Hallowed by 
 the purifying and sanctifying grace of God upon his heart, 
 time, talents, and earthly possessions were consecrated to 
 his Divine Master's service, in imitation of whose gracious 
 example he esteemed it his highest honor to preach the 
 "gospel to the poor." It has been remarked by a ministe- 
 rial brother, who knew him intimately, and day by day 
 witnessed his godly life, that he considered him " the most 
 
REV. CHARLES COLCOCK JONES, D. D. 205 
 
 thoroughly converted man he ever knew." There was an 
 honesty, an uprightness, a thorough integrity of purpose, a 
 devout and reverential regard, an acknowledgment, appear- 
 ing at all times and in all places, of the Divine presence, and 
 his own accountability to the great head of the Church. In 
 the positions of influence he was called to occupy, amid the 
 trials and varying circumstances of life, in all the tender rela- 
 tions he bore to his own family and friends, his obligations 
 to society and to his country, and, above all, to the sacred 
 cause of Christ, it may truthfully be said, that his whole life 
 was passed in the unquestioning performance, to each and to 
 all, of every duty. 
 
 It is hoped ^that, at some future time, a more extended 
 memoir may be prepared of this truly good and eminent 
 servant of God. We present only brief extracts from the 
 reports, which he made annually, of his missionary labor, to 
 the "Association for the Religious Instruction" of the ne- 
 groes in Liberty county, Ga. During seventeen years of 
 the most vigorous portion of his life, this was the chosen 
 field of devoted efforts for their evangelization and elevation. 
 They also were instrumental in awakening and increasing an 
 extensive interest, not only among Presbyterians, but also 
 among all the Christian denominations throughout the South- 
 ern States, and he was honored with the friendship and 
 confidence, and held correspondence with the best and wisest 
 clergymen and philanthropists, who sympathized and aided 
 in this great work. His missionary journals, and most of 
 his correspondence, were destroyed by fire, in Columbia, 
 South Carolina. 
 
 Preaching to the negroes he regarded as the work to 
 which he was called of God. His labors were gratuitous, 
 and although blessed with the means of making them with- 
 out charge, they nevertheless involved self-denial and per- 
 sonal exertion, in every form, for their accomplishment. 
 
 These extracts are from the Tenth Annual Report, pre- 
 
206 .... NECROLOGY. 
 
 sented in 1844, and contain a review of missionary labor up 
 to that period : 
 
 " The present Annual Meeting completes the tenth entire 
 year of my labors as missionary to the negroes of this county, 
 and, with some interruptions, the fourteenth of my connec- 
 tion, in one form or other, with this Association. Is it not, 
 then, a fitting occasion for a review of the work which has 
 for so long a time occupied our hearts and our hands ? 
 
 " I commenced my labors on the 2d of December, 1832. 
 The Lord had opened the door ; a great work was to be done, 
 but to me it was almost entirely new. There were no prece- 
 dents in our country to which I could look for encourage- 
 ment and instruction. The work was one of exceeding 
 delicacy. A slighf impropriety might ruin it, while on its 
 success the spiritual welfare of multitudes might depend. 
 The public mind was sensitive and tender ; there were fears 
 and there were objections. Som« of them I had heard ex- 
 pressed in no measured terms. I laid down the following 
 rules of action, which I have ever since endeavored to ob- 
 serve faithfully : 
 
 1. To visit no plantation without permission, and never 
 without previous notice. 
 
 2. To have nothing to do with the civil condition of the 
 negroes, or with their plantation affairs. 
 
 3. To hear no tales respecting their owners, or drivers, or 
 work, and to keep within my own breast whatever of a pri- 
 vate nature might incidentally come to my knowledge. 
 
 4. To be no party to their quarrels, and have no quarrels 
 with them ; but cultivate justice, impartiality, and universal 
 kindness. 
 
 5. To condemn, without reservation, every vice and evil 
 custom among them, in the terms of God's holy word, and 
 to inculcate the fulfilment of every duty, whatever might be 
 the real or apparent hazard of popularity or success. 
 
REV. CHARLES COLCOCK JONES, D. D. 2C^7 
 
 6. To preserve the most perfect order at all our public and 
 private meetings. 
 
 7. To impress the people with the great value of the priv- 
 ilege enjoyed of religious instruction ; to invite their co-op- 
 eration, and throw myself on their confidence and support. 
 
 8. To make no attempt to create temporary excitements, 
 or to introduce any new plans or measures, but make diligent 
 and prayerful use of the ordinary and established means of 
 grace of God's appointment. 
 
 9. To support in the fullest manner the peace and order 
 of society, and to hold up to their respect and obedience all 
 those whom God in His providence has placed in authority 
 over them. 
 
 10. And to notice no slights nor unkindnesses shown to 
 me personally; to dispute with no man about the work, but 
 to depend upon the power of truth, and upon the spirit and 
 blessing of God, with long suffering, patience and persever- 
 ance, to overcome opposition and remove prejudices, and 
 ultimately bring all things right. 
 
 " The Association went quietly and unobtrusively into 
 operation. Upon inquiry, near fifty plantations were re- 
 ported as being open for instruction, and this large number 
 convinced us, of the favorable disposition of planters towards 
 our work, which was viewed by all as an experiment. Four 
 stations were occupied in rotation on the Sabbath, and a 
 lecture every Thursday evening during the summer and au- 
 tumn at Walthourville. The general plan of instruction (for 
 system is everything) laid out in my own mind, was to ac- 
 quaint the people with the main facts of sacred history, the 
 Creation, the Fall, the Flood, the call of Abraham, the insti- 
 tution of God's visible church, the destruction of Sodom, the 
 giving of the Law, the Birth, the Life, the Wonderful Works, 
 the Character, the Sufferings, the Death, the Resurrection, 
 the Ascension of the Divine Redeemer, the Descent of the 
 Holy Ghost, the Missions and Labors of the Apostles, and 
 
208 NECROLOGY. 
 
 then all the great doctrines of the Gospel : Depravity, Atone- 
 ment, Justification, Regeneration, Repentance, Faith, the 
 Law and its uses, Relative Duties, &c. This plan was stead- 
 ily pursued, though the subjects did not succeed each other 
 in the regular order here indicated. At first I preached two 
 sermons morning and afternoon. An Inquiry Meeting 
 closed the labors of the Sabbath. My first attempt at teach- 
 ing or instruction was with the members of the church. A 
 Bible class, or class of instruction, was formed, and over 
 three hundred names were enrolled. 
 
 " My second attempt was with the children and youth, be- 
 ing convinced that our main hope of success, in our work, 
 lay in bringing them under regular instruction. Being the 
 only teacher, I was compelled to throw the whole school into 
 one class. The lesson was accompanied with repeated ex- 
 planations and an application. I taught them psalms and 
 hymns, and made use also of Scripture cards. I tried all 
 the catechisms. Necessity finally forced me to attempt 
 something myself. I prepared lessons weekly, and tried and 
 Corrected them from the schools, and the result was ' The 
 Catechism of Scripture Doctrine and Practice,' which has 
 been for several years in use in this county and elsewhere 
 in the Southern States. Since the publication of this cate- 
 chism I have prepared one on the creed, and a historical 
 catechism, embracing both the Old and New Testament. The 
 second year, 1834, was marked by a large increase of Sab- 
 bath school instruction, and instruction upon plantations, by 
 owners themselves. One gentleman gave fifty dollars for 
 the instruction of the children under his care, and eight 
 nfembers of the Association offered fifty dollars each for a 
 missionary to labor as my assistant on their plantations ; but 
 we could procure no suitable person. 
 
 " The vacations in the Seminary, from July to October, 
 1837 and 1838, were spent in Liberty, preaching to the ne- 
 groes. A revival of religion, taking its rise in the summer 
 
REV. CHARLES COLCOCK JONES, D. D. 209 
 
 of 1838, continued until the close of 1842. One hundred 
 and twelve inquirers were registered, coming from fifty dif- 
 ferent plantations. Fully four-fifths of the inquirers were 
 from the Sahhath schools. There were seven schools in op- 
 wation during the year, with four hundred and fifty-five 
 scholars and thirty-one teachers. From August, 1838, to 
 January, 1840, about one hundred and fifty negroes were> 
 admitted to the difi"erent Churches. The year following there^ 
 were one hundred and forty-three admissions. 
 
 "This Association has been in existence fourteen years, and 
 with the exception of three years, in active operation eleven 
 years. During this time it has accomplished much. Through 
 its Missionary it has furnished to the negroes of the Fifteenth 
 District, embracing a population of over four thousand, reg- 
 ular preaching on the Sabbath, at stations so conveniently 
 situated as to bring the Gospel very nearly in reach of all 
 who chose to avail themselves of the privilege of hearing it, 
 
 " It has established and kept in operation four large Sabbath 
 schools for children and youth, in the instruction of which 
 adults also, in considerable numbers, have shared. 
 
 " It has maintained inquiry meetings, to aid those who were 
 in spiritual darkness or distress, and hundreds have been as- 
 sisted by them. 
 
 " It has pursued a system of plantation meetings. These 
 meetings have upheld religion on the plantations, impressed 
 the careless, restrained the vicious, promoted the observance 
 of the Lord's day^ and induced the attendance of old and 
 young at the house of God. 
 
 " Members of the Association have made efforts to instruct 
 their own people on their plantations, by means of schools 
 and evening prayers. Eight annual reports and three ad- 
 dresses have been published and circulated throughout the 
 United States, and an extensive correspondence conducted 
 through the Missionary. 
 
 " The general character of the negroes, coEiparing the 
 14 
 
210 NECROLOGY. 
 
 present with the past, is much improved. Running away, 
 theft, lewdness, profane swearing and filthy conversation, 
 quarreling and fighting, witchcraft, Sabbath breaking, drunk- 
 enness, violations of the marriage contract, idleness and 
 indifference to their own comfort, and infidelity in work, 
 have diminished. Their appearance and manners are changed 
 for the better ; greater numbers attend the house of God. In 
 respect to religious knowledge, they are not the same people; 
 and by Divine blessing upon the means of grace, some hun- 
 dreds of them have been hopefully converted and received 
 into the Churches, most of'whom remain to the present hour, 
 but some have fallen asleep in the hope of eternal life. 
 
 " The religious instruction of the negroes is a laborious, 
 self-denying work, and requires time to develop results. The 
 missionary is calJed to pr^ch in all sorts of houses and 
 places. He is obliged to take lonely rides at late hours of 
 night, through frosts and dews ; to go over and over the same 
 course of instruction, "and simplify and repeat, and repeat 
 and [simplify," and to witness the slow progress of oral in- 
 struction. He is not to be astonished at the ignorance, 
 superstition and hardness of the people; nor to be depressed 
 and driven from the field by want of sympathy or assistance 
 on the part of Christian brethren, even in the ministry; nor 
 is he to regard those who decry his eflForts as feeble, and hia 
 j)rospects as hopeless. He must, in a sense, be a man of 
 stone, having neither sight, nor hearing, nor feeling, firmly 
 staoding in his place. Yet must he also be all eye, all ear, 
 all feeling, all activity. Faith in God and the love of souls 
 must bear him through. Hence, those who possess no energy 
 and decision of character, no true love for the poor perishing 
 people, no patience, no perseverance, no self-denial, will not 
 accompliK^h much." 
 
 For many years there were five hundred children under 
 instruction at the different stations, besides private schools. 
 Tiiese reports to the Ass,ociation form a volume of several 
 
REV. CHARLES COLCOCK JONES, D. D. 211 
 
 hundred pages, and embody a history of the work, not only 
 in Liberty county, but throughout the Southern States. Dur- 
 ing this period he also prepared and published a volume of 
 277 pages, " On the Religious Instruction of the Negroes in 
 the United States;" also " Suggestions," to be used as a man- 
 ual "of instruction by those engaged in the work. The Cat- 
 chism has been translated into three foreign languages, and 
 used by our Missionaries. 
 
 When compelled to retire, by complete failure of health, 
 from the office of Secretary of the Board of Domestic Mis- 
 sions, he returned to his own home, and labored until the 
 close of life for the good of this people, in the church, and 
 the bosom of his own household. When unable to stand, he 
 sat upon an elevated platform, and preached to them in the 
 most earnest and heavenly manner. These years of compar- 
 ative withdrawal from active labor were constantly occupied 
 in the preparation of his " History of the Church of God 
 during the period of Revelation," which is now in the process 
 of publication. 
 
REV. GEORGE WHITFIELD LADSOIS'. * 
 
 George Whitfield Ladson, the youngest child of William 
 and Cynthia Ladson, was horn June 10th, 1830, at Bethesda, 
 near Savannah, Ga. His father died two months before hia 
 birth, and being a great admirer of that great and good man 
 who founded Bethesda, requested, on his death bed, that his 
 unborn child, if a son, should receive the name of George 
 Whitfield. Shortly after his birth, his mother removed to 
 Savannah, where the seal of the covenant was applied to her 
 fatherless boy, by the beloved and venerated Dr. Preston, 
 pastor of the Independent Presbyterian Church. When 
 four years old, he was, by the death of his mother, made an 
 orphan. Though so young, he retained a vivid recollection 
 of that pious mother kneeling with him in prayer, and com- 
 mitting him to the care of that God who has said, " I will 
 be a God to thee, and thy seed after thee." After her death 
 he was received into the family of his kinsman, Mr. John 
 Dunwody, of Liberty County, where he ever received all the 
 care and afi'ection, both temporal and spiritual, which the 
 heads of that family, with pious zeal and strict integrity, 
 bestowed upon th5ir own children. So long as they lived he 
 had a child's place in their hearts, and to this day the chil- 
 dren of that family speak of him with as much afi'ection as if 
 he had been their own brother, and as deeply mourn his 
 death.. For the whole family he ever entertained the great- 
 est afi'ection, and could never speak of their kindness to him 
 without emotion. He often said, "All I am, and all I shall 
 ever be, I attribute, under God, to the principles of honor, 
 truth, and piety, instilled into my youthful heart by those 
 who acted towards me with more than parental care." He 
 
 *Froin Mrs. Ladfon, Dr. "Vyoodrow, Rev. Mr. Green, and others. 
 
 213 
 
REV. GEORGE WHITFIELD LADSON. 213 
 
 ever spoke of them with the greatest reverence and respect. 
 They were his models of all that was good and noble. They 
 lived to see the fruit of their labors, and their hearts were 
 greatly rejoiced. 
 
 When six years old his uncle Dunwody removed from Lib- 
 erty to Roswell, Cobb county, Ga. He remained with the 
 family until his fourteenth year. His independent spirit 
 now made him feel that he ought no longer to be dependent 
 upon his kind relations, and, therefore, he requested of them 
 permission to let him go and provide for himself. His uncle 
 was very desirous that he should receive a collegiate educa- 
 tion, as his own sons had done, but this he refused. At his 
 own request he was placed in a printing office in Marietta. 
 
 Now began to be seen the effects of the religious training 
 he had received from his God-fearing relatives; and even 
 now, though he was still an " alien from the commonwealth 
 of Israel, and a stranger from the covenants of promise," 
 their prayers were, in a measure, answered. A mere boy, 
 warm and social, and most affectionate in his disposition, 
 brought up in the lap of elegance and refinement, he was now 
 thrown daily, with not only the rude and vulgar, but with 
 the profane and wicked. Severe as was the test, he stood it 
 all, and came out of the fiery ordeal unscathed. Never as- 
 sociating intimately with his fellow-printers, and yet doing 
 his appointed work so promptly as to gain the praise and 
 regard of his employer, so that for days together he would 
 place the whole office under the care and direction of this 
 mere boy. Even now he made duty his standard, and that 
 was his motto through life. While at Marietta his seat was 
 never vacant in the Sabbath school, nor in the sanctuary, 
 unless he was sick, or on a visit to his relatives in Roswell. 
 Such was his regard for the Sabbath, that he said, '' I never 
 but once openly broke that holy day, and that week every, 
 thing went wrong with me." His motto was, "A Sabbath 
 well spent brings a week of content." 
 
214 NECROLOGY. 
 
 He served his time in Marietta, and then went to Savan- 
 nah. Here he entered a job-office as a journeyman printer, 
 where, by his prompt attention to business, he once more 
 gained the confidence of his employer. There was, however, 
 only one young man in this office with whom he could asso- 
 ciate, and so disgusted did he become with the vice which 
 surrounded him, that he determined to try some other means 
 of support. For five years he had been exposed to great 
 temptations, but had successfully resisted every one. No 
 profane word had ever passed his lips ; the vulgar jest he 
 abhorred; he shrank from the intoxicating cup as from a 
 serpent. 
 
 His reading had been confined to poetry and history. It 
 was then that his brother, who was a merchant, oiFered him 
 a place in his store, which he accepted, and there remained 
 until he left to prepare for the ministry. So upright and 
 moral was his walk and conversation, that his fellow-clerks 
 called him "preacher." But though so strictly moral, he 
 felt himself to be a great sinner, and knew that morality 
 would not save his soul. As he said himself, " all this while, 
 though apparently the merriest of the merry, I was misera- 
 hle. I never had a happy moment. I knew that if I should 
 die my soul would sink to hell. Such had been my training, 
 that ncyer a day passed without reading my Bible and re- 
 peating a prayer. Such was my dread of death, that I was 
 often afraid to go to sleep. I would go into company, and 
 strive in this way to forget God; but the moment I was alone, 
 all my fears would return." He was a regular attendant on 
 the ministry of Rev. Mr. Ross, pastor of the First Presbyte- 
 rian Church, who took a deep interest in the spiritual welfare 
 of his young friend, as also did the Rev. Samuel J. Cassels. 
 The latter offered him his board free, "for," said he, "to 
 have his boys under his influence, was more than compensa-. 
 tion for his board." He formed a strong attachment for 
 this family, which continued unabated until his death. He 
 
REV. GEORGE WniTFIELD LADSON. 215 
 
 ijemained in this sad state of mind for several years, foeling 
 after the Saviour, but not finding Him. At hist it pleased 
 God to take from him his burden, and reveal Himscdf to him 
 in all his saving power, and he was enabled to rejoice in his 
 Saviour. On the 29th of June, 1851, he made a public pro- 
 fession of his faith in Christ, and was received into the 
 communion of the First Church of Savannah ; and his name 
 still remains on that Church roll. With him nothing was 
 done half way, and when he gave his heart to the Saviour, 
 he most solemnly consecrated all his powers to the service of 
 his Master. From his inmost heart he could exclaim, V I 
 love thy kingdom, Lord." "Jesus was his theme, and his one 
 desire wa's to do his Master's will, and be all things to ."11 
 men, so that he might win souls. He immediately took an 
 active part in the Sabbath school and prayer meetings, and 
 began to take an interest in the class of people to whom he 
 afterwards devoted his life. His friends Ro.-s and Cassels 
 ursred him to study for the rainistry, but he sbrfink from the 
 awful responsibility. God's Spirit would riot, however, let 
 him rest, and when he was sorely exercised as to what was 
 duty, that man of God, Doctor Daniel Bak^^r, visited Savan- 
 nan, and, without hesitation, told him that '-.x '"Avoe" would 
 be pronounced against him if he. preached not the Gospel. 
 He decided to do so, and " what joy," said he, "filled my 
 soul." Now was seen his indomitable will an'l perseverance. 
 One with less of these would never have attempted the ardu- 
 ous task. But, as he said, " the love of Christ constrained 
 me. I felt that I could do all things through Him strength- 
 ening me. I had many difficulties to overcctme. I was with- 
 out means. I had to commence at the very foundation, for 
 I had only a mercantile education. Here I was, arrived at 
 manhood, and iiine years of study before I could be received 
 into the ministry. The prospect was dreary enough, but He 
 who said, ' I will never leave nor forsake thee,' bade me go 
 forward, and leaning alone on my Saviour for strength and 
 
216 JTECROLOQT. 
 
 grace to sustain, teach, and guide, I determined to do so. 
 He had delivered my soul from hell, and should I shrink from* 
 any course that might honor Him or advance His kingdom?" 
 So strong was his faith, that the want of means gave him no 
 uneasiness. He felt that if God had called him to the work, 
 He would provide the means, and in this he was not disap- 
 pointed. He raised up for him many kind friends, whom he 
 ever held in grateful remembrance. 
 
 He went to Roswell, his old home, and entered Dr. Pratt's 
 school, who kindly offered to prepare him for college. While 
 at Roswell he gave the leisure ho could command from his 
 studies to labors for the factory people, and, more especially^ 
 to that which became the great work of his life — thejeligious 
 instruction of the colored people. He established a Sunday 
 school for them, and was instrumental in causing a Church 
 to be built for their use. He entered Oglethorpe University, 
 and though the demands upon his time and strength were 
 very great to keep up with his classes, yet he held prayer 
 meetings through the week for the colored people, and col- 
 lected large numbers of them into Sunday schools in the 
 neighboring village of Scottsborough, opening two — one for 
 adults and the (Jther for children. His labors were greatly 
 blessed, both here and at Roswell, in the hopeful conversion 
 of many of his pupils. 
 
 He was graduated in the summer of 1859. In September 
 of 1859, he entered upon the last stage of his preparatory 
 studies, in the Theological Seminary at Columbia, S. C. It 
 should have been noticed in its proper connection, that he 
 was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Georgia, at a 
 meeting held in Savannah, in October, 1853. Soon after 
 entering the Seminary, he took a cLiss of boys in the Sabbath 
 school of the Pi'esbyterian Church, and for three years most 
 earnestly did e .-tr ve to win them to Christ. They were 
 made, one by one, the subjects of special prayer, and when 
 it became necessary to give up the class, he continued to 
 
REV. GEORGE WHITFIELD LADSON. 217 
 
 feel the deepest interest in their welfare, and when some of 
 them went into the army, they were followed by his prayers. 
 
 Upon his resorting to Columbia to enter upon the study of 
 theology, a still wider field was opened before him, which he 
 was not slow to enter. As soon as practicable, he resumed 
 the work so dear to him, establishing Sunday schools and 
 prayer meetings, and in every way doing all in his power for 
 the people to whom he had devoted his life. He began a 
 course of Sabbath evening lectures, and had soon a crowded 
 house. The Holy Spirit was poured out, and the work of 
 God revived. It was not long before the spiritual charge of 
 this part of the Church was almost wholly committed to him. 
 
 He was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery 
 of Georgia, at Waynesville, Ga., in April, 1861, and was im- 
 mediately thereafter formally appointed missionary to the 
 colored people — their pastor, as they loved to call him — in 
 which capacity he continued to spend himself until he ceased 
 from all earthly labor. As one remarks, " he threw his 
 whole soul into the work, and, night after night, he attended 
 meetings for those who were enquiring the way of salvation. 
 Many were added to the Church. Almost from the com- 
 mencement of his work among the people of his last charge, 
 they enjoyed a constant revival. Multitudes thronged to 
 hear his instructions — more than could be accommodated at 
 the place of worship at his command, so that it became one 
 of his cherished plans to secure the erection of a large Church 
 building, to be set apart exclusively for the use of the col- 
 ored congregation. At taking charge of the work in Colum- 
 bia, he found the Church with about twenty-five colored 
 members, and left it, at the close of his brief ministry, with 
 one hundred and fifty, notwithstanding the long probation 
 to which every applicant for admission was subjected, and 
 the care taken in every way to prevent .the reception of the 
 unworthy. At every communion season a greater or less 
 number were received into the Church. In order to provide 
 
218 NECROLOGY. 
 
 for all the classes who desired to attend upon "his ministra- 
 tions, he multiplied meetings to an extent which seemed 
 injudicious to his friends, in view of his feeble health. But 
 such was his zeal that he could nc^t be persuaded to discon- 
 tinue any one of them. He usually held five services every 
 Sunday, viz : prayer meeting very early in the morning, 
 preaching at eleven, catechetical exercises for children at 
 three, and for adults at four, and preaching again at night. 
 Besides these there were three meetings during the week, 
 one for the special instruction of inquirers, and the others 
 for other classes. To this must be added unusual fidelity in 
 visiting the sick and dying, and other pastoral duties. It is 
 not strange that his strength, never great, gave way under 
 such unceasing toil. 
 
 In the summer of 1860, he lectured to the cadets at the 
 Arsenal every Sabbath morning. They heard him with great 
 respect and attention, and as a token of their appreciation of 
 his labors, presented him with a« elegantly bound copy of the 
 Holy Scriptures. On the 4th of April, 1861, hejvas united 
 in marriage to Mrs. J. E. Smith, only daughter of James 
 Ewart, late of Columbia. At WalthourviUe, April 13th, 
 1862, he was ordained as an evangelist, by the Presbytery 
 of Georgia. This he felt to be the most solemn step of his 
 life. Writing to his wife in view of this solemnity, he says ; 
 "As to my ordination, I feel as though God had sent me to 
 preach Christ, but how deplorably unworthy I am. I fear a 
 proper solemnity does not possess me; yet I am not insensi- 
 ble to the importance of the position in which I hope God in 
 his mercy will soon place me. 0, my precious wife, what 
 consolation would your presence give me. But our Saviour 
 is nigh, though I have as yet no sweet, exulting view of His 
 near approach. Trust me in the hands of Jesus. Here is 
 where I hope to confide during my examination before Pres- 
 bytery." 
 f After his ordination, he received calls to other fields of 
 
REV. GEORGE WHITFIELD LADSON. 219 
 
 labor; but, after mucb prayer, he decided to remain in Co- 
 lumbia. The colored people of that city earnestly desired 
 him to continue to minister to them, and showing their at- 
 tachment to him in many ways ; and, indeed, he was never 
 happier than when instructing and preaching to them. His 
 friends often urged him to curtail his labors. They saw his 
 unceasing- toil was wearing him out. His invariable reply 
 was, " 0, it is so sweet to labor for such a Master." Yet he 
 was induced to take a few weeks rest in the summer of 1863, 
 aftei- which he returned to his work with increased vigor. 
 He considered no effort too great to win souls to Christ. He 
 would rise at the midnight hour, although so feeble, to visit 
 and pray with the dying. He rarely passed an aged servant 
 in the street without speaking to him of his soul's welfare ; 
 nor did he ever converse with any one without giving them 
 some word of warning or encouragement. Jesus was the 
 constant theme of his conversation — that precious name was 
 ever on his lips. At home or abroad, at the prayer meeting 
 or in the pulpit, it was his unspeakable delight to speak of 
 "Heaven, sweet Heaven," and "My blessed Saviour," and 
 there was such a pathos and tenderness in liis words, that if 
 any one loved the Saviour his heart would be stirred within 
 him. Were it admissible to give the more private history of 
 his soul's exercises — his ardent love for the Saviour — his 
 nearness of communion with Him — few men, we judge, since 
 the days of the disci"ples, could with more emphasis say, 
 •*' How my heart did burn within me, while he manifested to 
 me His love." Some one may ask, was this the uniform state 
 of his feelings ? Had he no dark hours ? Though he had 
 such sweet communion with his Saviour, yet he often had 
 seasons of darkness, when his soul was fearfully distressed, 
 and Satan assailed him at every point. The sun withdrew 
 its light, and thick clouds covered him. Then he mourned 
 sore; but his resource in such seasons was such as every true 
 Christian is accustomed to flee to — it was fraycr. Indeed, 
 
220 
 
 NECROLOOY. 
 
 here was the secret of all his spiritual joy and strength. He 
 was a man of prayer. This kept his armor bright. He asked 
 in faith, nothing doubting. Whether he preached, or visited, 
 or gave to benevolent objects, he prayed. In his domestic 
 relations he was most faithful and happy. Here the touch- 
 ing loveliness of his character was eminently displayed. He 
 was the devoted husband, the fond father, the affectionate 
 brother, the true friend. To those knowing his intense love 
 for his family, it was with astonishment they beheld him, 
 through the abounding power of divine grace, calmly, and 
 with a child-like confidence, commit them into his heavenly 
 Father's hands in the closing scene of his life. 
 
 In the spring of 1864, his health began visibly to decline, 
 and he was compelled to abridge his labors. After preach- 
 ing he would be well nigh exhausted, yet such was his ardor 
 that no persuasion could keep him from preaching, even in 
 his great feebleness. He had always entertained great fears 
 of the pains of death. Being peculiarly sensitive to physical 
 pain, he dreaded death. But as this dreaded king of terrors 
 approached his fears departed, and he spoke of dying with 
 delight. His thoughts seemed to dwell constantly upon 
 death and heaven! If he sang, it would be some hymn whose 
 theme was one or the other. One day he said, " I some- 
 times 'think I will not be here long, for all my dread of death 
 has passed away, and I now only look upon it as the door 
 which will open to usher me into the presence of my Saviour. 
 Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly," he exclaimed with great 
 emotion. Seeing that his wife was distressed, he said, "I 
 do not want to distress you, dear wife, but I think we ought 
 to talk of these things. It may please our Father to spare 
 us to each other many years, and I hope this may be His 
 blessed will; but if He should take me away, don't be sad, 
 and grieve for me as dead — always think of me as only gone 
 home, and in God's time you will join me, and hand in hand 
 w© will walk the streets of the New Jerusalem, and together 
 
REV. GEORGE WHITFIELD LADSON. 221 
 
 cast our crowns at Jesus feet." While he thus discoursed 
 his countenance glowed with the glorious prospect. At an- 
 other time he said, " The pins are being taken from the 
 tabernacle." He often repeated, with great delight, II Cor., 
 vi: 9, "As unknown, and yet well known: as djirg, and 
 behold we live: as chastened, and not killed." 
 
 On the 2d Sabbath in June he appeared for the last time 
 in the pulpit; yet neither he nor his people thought this was 
 the last time. He seemed stronger than he had for weeks. 
 The subject of his morning discourse was, Eccl. xi: 6. It 
 was the evening of what, to him, preceded an unfading morn- 
 ing. He preached with his wonted earnestness. With great 
 faithfulness he urged Christians to " Sow seed while the day 
 lasted." At night his theme was, Luke x: 27. His appeal 
 to Christians and sinners was such as never can be forgotten 
 by those who heard him. This ended his public labors. A 
 few days afterwards he was attacked with the fatal malady 
 (dysentery) which pushed him to the grave ; and though he 
 was by no means ill, he felt that he never would be well 
 again. He suffered no acute pain, except from excessive 
 prostration. He did not speak of dying, but his thoughts 
 were constantly fixed on Heaven. He would be often heard 
 to whisper, "Jesus, precious Saviour." His interest in his 
 people continued unabated — he was constantly sending mes- 
 sages to them. When it was known to them that their 
 beloved pastor was very ill, they came at all hours, enquiring 
 how he "was ; and most tenderly did they nurse him, each 
 one considering it a privilege to do something for him. Al- 
 though his physician succeeded in checking the disease, yet 
 his enfeebled constitution could not rally from its effects, 
 and in a short time he became painfully nervous and rest- 
 less. All hope of restoration now fled. He often said, "If 
 it was God's will, he would rather see his wife and child 
 home before him, yet he could say, ' His will be done.' I 
 would like to live longer," he remarked, "to preach Jesus, 
 
222 NECROLOGY. 
 
 but God will do whatever is most for His honor and glory." 
 His conversations with those dear to him — his interviews 
 with his many intimate and attached friends, during the days 
 immediately preceding his departure, were of the most heav- 
 enly tone — cheering and comforting to their grief-stricken 
 hearts ; they are treasured, and will be cherished by them as 
 long as life shall last. Many of them are too sacred to be 
 recorded, even in this Memorial. 
 
 On the beautiful morning of the fouth of July, 1864, he 
 sank quietly to rest, without having been subjected to very 
 intense suffering, except for a few hours. During the few 
 days before his death he calmly gav« the necessary directions 
 as to his temporal affairs, and then expressed his desire to 
 depart, and to be with Christ. His confidence in his Sav- 
 iour, whom he loved and served, was unwavering, so that he 
 rejoiced in the near approach of the hour which should ad- 
 mit him into His immediate presence, and only sorrowed 
 that he must be separated for a time froni his wife, whom he 
 tenderly loved and cherished, and his two little children — his 
 little Dunwody and his babe not then born. 
 
 His death, causing grief and sadness throughout all the 
 circle of his many friends, fell with crushing weight upon his 
 bereaved people. Their attachment to him had known no 
 bounds. He had devoted himself with singleness of purpose 
 to their welfare, having declined several tempting invitations 
 to go elsewhere; and they had daily given evidence of their 
 unlimited affection for him. It was, therefore, with uncon- 
 trolable grief they learned he was gone from them. The 
 news spread quickly throughout the city, and the cry was 
 heard from the lips of man, woman and child, " Mr. Ladson 
 is dead." Multitudes of them came to look for the last time 
 on the face of him who was so dear to them, and tears and 
 flowers were showered upon his inanimate body. At his 
 funeral, which was attended by many hundreds of his friends, 
 both white and black, they crowded the place of chief mourn- 
 
REV. GEORGE WHITFIELD LADSON. 223 
 
 ers; and they asked to be permitted to bear all the expenses 
 of his sepulture; to purchase a lot in Elmwood Cemetery as 
 the place of his burial, and to erect a monument over the re. 
 mains of their beloved friend and pastor. Nor have they 
 ceased to show their love for him, by seizing eagerly every 
 opportunity of doing acts of kindness to his bereaved family. 
 Indeed, there are few instances on record where stronger 
 manifestations of sincere affection for a pastor have ever 
 been given. Others may have been borne to their graves 
 with greater outward marks of sorrow, but this was the sin- 
 cere outpourings of sincere love from a simple-hearted, hum- 
 ble people. 
 
 ^'Being dead, he yet speaketh." His influence can never 
 cease to be felt in the congregations in which he labored, and 
 especially in that which last enjoyed his presence. But ^t is 
 not confined to them. Besides the general influence of one 
 such example, all the Churches in Columbia were stimulated 
 by it to greater diligence in the instruction of the colored 
 people, and are still reaping the fruits of their increased 
 fidelity. And a much more extensive range was given to 
 it by the fact that daring the period of his labors in Columbia 
 a larger number of students were at the Theological Semin- 
 ary than at any previous time, all of whom were witnesses of 
 his mode of instruction and its happy results. Many of these 
 trace to him their determination to give special attention to 
 this- part of their pastoral work, as they are now doing in 
 every part of our land. 
 
 It was hoped that his influence might have been still more 
 widely extended by the publication of the scries of questions on 
 the Shorter Catechism, which he used in the instruction of his 
 Sunday scholars; but he was taken away before the prepar- 
 ation of these for the press was sufficiently advanced to allow 
 them to be printed. 
 
 We cannot more appropriately close this memorial, than 
 
224 NECROLOGY. 
 
 by appending the following paper adopted by the Columbia 
 Church a few days subsequent to his death. 
 
 Columbia, July 18, 1864. 
 The congregation of the Presbyterian Church adopted 
 unanimously the following preamble and resolutions: 
 
 Whereas, It has pleased the Great Shepherd of the Church 
 to remove from this earthly sphere, the Rev. George W. Lad- 
 son, who, for some years past, labored for the spiritual good 
 of the colored people of this congregation, and for the last 
 three years has sustained to them, as an Evangelist, a more 
 close and special relation, this Church and congregation would 
 hereby express their high appreciation of his worth, of his 
 consuming zeal and persevering labors ; their sorrow at what 
 appears, to our feeble perceptions, his untimely death; their 
 deep regret that his faithful efforts for the salvation of our 
 servants have terminated, while so much that it was in his 
 heart to do, remains unaccomplished. We tender to his be- 
 reaved family our heartfelt sympathy, and commend them to 
 the protection of Him who is the widow's God and Judge, 
 and the Father of the fatherless ; and we sincerely hope that 
 his patient instructions, his faithful rebukes, and holy exam- 
 ple, his triumphant faith, and his kind and considerate coun- 
 sels, will never be forgotten by the people of his charge, for 
 whose salvation he poured out his life; and it is hereby 
 
 Besolved, In testimony of our regard for his sorrowing 
 family, that his salary be continued to them until the first day 
 of October next. 
 
 Resolved, Further, that a copy of these proceedings be 
 sent by the Chairman to the widow of the deceased, and be 
 published in the religious papers of the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 J. A. Crawford, Chairman. 
 
REV. ANDREW RUTHERFORD LIDDELL. 
 
 Andrew Rutherford Liddell was the son of Moses Liddell 
 and Mary (Freeman) Liddell, and was born in Gwinnett 
 county, on the 4th of April, 1829. His father was an elder 
 of the Presbyterian Church. He was dedicated to God, by 
 baptism, in his infancy, and brought up in the nurture and 
 admonition of the Lord. He was not distinguished for any- 
 thing peculiar in his youth. He labored on his father's farm, 
 and attended the common schools of the neighborhood until 
 bis jfifteenth or sixteenth year; He commenced his classical 
 education in the Gwinnett Institute, at that time under the 
 care of the late Rev. Dr. J. C. Patterson, where he was pre- 
 pared for College. He was a diligent and orderly student, 
 and, possessing a good mind, was eminently successful in his 
 literary studies. During his connection with the Institute. 
 he was, after a season of deep anxiety and distress, enabled 
 to trust in the Saviour, and forthwith turned his thoughts to 
 the Christian ministry. He united with the Fairview Church. 
 
 In 1851, or 1852, he entered Oglethorpe University, and 
 graduated in 1855. After leaving college he engaged in 
 teaching for a short period, in Campbell county. From 
 thence he went to the Theological Seminary at Columbia, S- 
 C. He completed the prescribed course in the Seminary in 
 May, 1858, and was licensed to preach the Gospel by the 
 Presbytery of Flint River, the 24th day of the following 
 June. 
 
 Soon after his license he visited the churches of Cuthbert 
 and Fort Gains, in the counties of Randolph and Clay. His 
 ministry proved very acceptable to these people — indeed, it 
 gave such promise of future usefulness, that they forthwith 
 called him to be their pastor. He was ordained by the Pres- 
 15 235 
 
226 NECROLOGY. 
 
 bytery of Flint River, with a view to these pastoral charges, 
 on the 10th of October, 1858, and installed in the Cuthbert 
 Church on the first Sabbath in December following; and in 
 the Fort Gains Church on the first Sabbath of January, 1859. 
 
 On the 4th of October, 1859, he was united in marriage to 
 Miss Sallie Irwin, of Henry county, Alabama. 
 
 In February, 1859, symptoms of that insidious disease, 
 which brought him to an early grave, began to manifest 
 themselves. Seeking for restoration, he made a visit to the 
 State of Texas, whither his mother's family had removed. 
 This proved in some measure successful. He returned with 
 renewed vigor, and resumed his labors in September. But 
 the relief was only temporai-y. He had the sentence of death 
 within him. The worm had seized his vitals. He was doomed 
 to fall by consumption. . In December he succumbed to the 
 fell destroyer. His strength was gone. He could no longer 
 preach. He gave up his charge and set his house in order. 
 He was young — he had fondly hoped that he might labor 
 long in the Master's vineyard; but the Master had otherwise 
 determined, and he was content. From this time he gradu- 
 ally declined, until the period of his death, which sad event 
 occurred at his home in the town of Cuthbert, on Sabbath 
 morning, November 26th, 1860, at 3 o'clock, in the thirty- 
 second year of his age, and two years and five months after 
 his licensure.* His remains were carried to Fort Gains for 
 sepulture, where a funeral discourse was delivered by the 
 Eev. Homer Hendee, from I Cor. xv: 5Q, 17, " The sting of 
 death is sin, and the strength of sdn is the law; but thanks 
 be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus 
 Christ." 
 
 * That Providence whicli removes one so young, so well qnalified by 
 nature, grace, and education, from the sphere of their labors and useful- 
 ness, is, to our feeble perceptions, inscrutable. We know not now; 
 perhaps we shall know hereafter. 
 
 The reader of these memorials of our dead, must, however, be solemnly 
 impressed with the fact, that so tnany of our ministers have been cut off 
 
REV. ANDREW RUTHERFORD LIDDELL. 227 
 
 This young brother had scarcely entered upon his labors as 
 a probationer, when the seal of the Great Head of the Church 
 was stamped upon his ministrations, and considerable addi- 
 tions were made to the Church of those who were converted 
 through his instrumentality. He was truly a "burning and 
 shining light." His ministry was characterized by ardent 
 piety, self-denying toil, clearness and force in the presenta- 
 tion of the doctrines of grace, and directness in the searching 
 application which he raade to the consciences of his hearers. 
 Bold and earnest in manner, he convinced every hearer that 
 he "believed, and therefore spake." Naturally endowed 
 with a logical mind, which was disciplined in his preparatory 
 training, he was prepared to accomplish much, even in the 
 brief period of his service; and we may confidently afiirm, 
 that he made an impression for good, lasting as eternity. 
 
 He died as he had lived — a Christian — exemplifying the 
 doctrines he had preached — faith in Christ, and reliance alone 
 on his merits for acceptance with God. 
 
 He left an afiectionate and devoted wife, and a people ar- 
 dently attached to him, to mourn his loss. His entire active 
 ministry did not continue more than one year, although he 
 
 in the veyy dew of tlieir 'youth — while they have stood with sickle in 
 hand, just ready to enter the field white to the harvest, and reap, they 
 have been mowed down by the scythe of death. Of those whose memo- 
 rials will be found in this volume, a Humphries, a Liddell, a Mathews, 
 aQuarterman, a Simonton, a Winn, and a Ladson — one-fourth of those 
 connected with the Synod of Georgia, who have fallen within the first 
 twenty years of its history, have died in the early years of their ministry. 
 This fact may well lead i;s to inquire if there is not something radically 
 wrong in our mode] of training young' men for the holy ofiice. Our sys- 
 tem of education is not too thorough, but it is too laborious, too inactive, 
 too theoretical. The constant attrition of seven to ten years close study, 
 will weaken, if it does not wear out, any constitution made of materials 
 less durable than brass and iron. The sons of Anak would succumb 
 under such a process. There is just about as much common sense in 
 shutting up young men in a seminary while preparing the furniture and 
 acquiring the theory of preaching, and at the same time by their inactiv- 
 ity prostrating their physical energies, as there would be in building a 
 
228 NECROLOGY. 
 
 lived more than two years after his licensure ; but in this 
 brief space he accomplished much for the cause of Christ. 
 And though being dead, he yet speaketh, saying, " Remem- 
 ber the words which I spake unto you while I was yet present 
 with you." 
 
 The Presbytery of Flint River, at their ensuing session in 
 April, 1861, adopted the following resolution : 
 
 "^e it Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the 
 afflicted widow and other relatives of the deceased in this 
 severe trial; and also with the bereaved people of his charge, 
 whom we commend for comfort and consolation to Him whose 
 ruling hand is in each event of life, and whose compassion is 
 ever towards His people in their sorrow ; and we fervently 
 pray that the Good Shepherd may soon send to this bereaved 
 people one who shall go in and out among them in the spirit 
 of our beloved brother, breaking unto them the bread of ev- 
 erlasting life." 
 
 naval academy, and educating a company of youth destined for the navy 
 on the top of a mountain a thousand miles from the sea, where they never 
 saw a ship, handled a rope, or beheld the curling of a wave. Our young 
 men are, in a good degree, destitute of all practical knowledge of their 
 profession when they leave the institution — their health is often impaired 
 thi'ough want of physical exercise — they are incapable of beaming hard- 
 ness and exposure — the seeds of fatal disease are sown, which in a few 
 years mature and sweep them into the grave. • 
 
 We would, therefore, have a radical change in the organization of our 
 seminaries. We would ordain that no session should continue more than 
 three or four months in a year, and that the other eight or nine months 
 of the year should be spent in traversing the country, assisting pastors, 
 or laboring as missionaries in destitute places ; and then we would have 
 them return and attend another session, and so continue, until they have 
 received a thorough practical training. Thus, they would learn the ropes, 
 be able to trim the ship, box the compass, and hold the wheel. The 
 study of human nature is as important to a minister as the study of books, 
 but this can only be learned in actual contact with human nature — not 
 within the walls of a theological seminary. 
 
REV. RICHARD T. MARKS. * 
 
 This faithful and devoted minister of Christ, dying, leaves 
 in his life and character a precious legacy to the Church. It 
 is part of her capital, which it behooves her to treasure up 
 and "trade" upon. It is a new edition of the Gospel, 
 " written, not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God ; 
 not on paper or parchment, but in the fleshly tablets of the 
 heart." Not only a^e such lives and deaths of piety the 
 best witnesses to the truth of the Gospel, but they " point to 
 heaven and lead the way," and encourage us to be followers 
 of them who "through faith and patience, inherit the prom- 
 ises." With these views, and for these purposes, we put on 
 record the following memorial of one who, without doubt, has 
 a far, fuller and brighter "record on high:" 
 
 Richard T. Marks was born in Louisville, Jefferson Co., 
 Ga., in September, 1809. He was the child of poor, but 
 worthy parents. His mother was a devotedly pious member 
 of the Presbyterian Church, and brought up her son as the 
 child of the covenant. When nine years old he was taken 
 as a son into the family of the late Major Matthew Robinson, 
 a relative of his, and an elder in the Presbyterian Church in 
 Augusta, and a conductor of one of the journals of the city, 
 by whom he was inducted into the mysteries of the printing 
 art. In this art he soon became an expert, and surpassed 
 all his fellows in the rapidity with which he executed his 
 work. A proof of this is furnished in the following incident : 
 When Richard was about fourteen or fifteen years old, a 
 stranger — a printer — came to Augusta, asking and receiving 
 higher wages than any of the same profession, on the ground 
 that he could do so much more work, in the same time, than 
 
 *MSS. from Rev. W. M. Cunningham, D.D. 
 
 229 
 
230 NECROLOGY. 
 
 any of the compositors in the city. This nettled the spirit 
 and fired the ambition of the craft. To be thus dishonored 
 and depreciated by a new-comer, was more than they were 
 willing to bear. They resolved to contest his claim ; and, 
 after consultation, they selected young Marks as their cham- 
 pion, and sent a challenge to the stranger to withdraw, or 
 make good his boast. A wager of a fine suit of clothes and 
 an oyster supper was the prize that was to reward the victor. 
 The challenge, of course, was accepted, and as the day drew 
 nigh on which was to decide the question, the whole commu- 
 nity became not only interested, but excited, by the pending 
 conflict. The time fixed to decide the question was tlie worh- 
 ing hours of a given day. By breakfast hour Richard stood 
 abreast with the stranger. The excitement in the town in- 
 creased. At the dinner hour Richard had gained on his 
 rival, and at the supper hour Richard was far ahead, and by 
 common consent was crowned the prince of type-setters. 
 
 When he was only eighteen years of age, he united with 
 Mr. Lamar, afterwards of Texas fame, in establishing the 
 Columbus Enquirer, the first, and many years one of the 
 ablest papers in Western Georgia. Under the administra- 
 tion of Mr. M., at a later date, this paper became a foxoer in 
 the State, and in 1839 and. '40 did more to influence the 
 policy and politics of the State than perhaps any other jour- 
 nal in the State. But whilst seated on his throne of power 
 and popularity, with the golden stream of wealth beginning 
 to flow in upon him, brother Marks heard the voice of the 
 Master, calling him to preach the Gospel, and " straightway 
 he rose up, left all, and followed Jesus." 
 
 But we must go back a little, to take up what has now 
 become the main thread — the real warp of the web of his life 
 — his conversion and consecration to God. Though the child 
 of piety and prayer, Richard grew up to early manhood a 
 perfect Gallio on the subject of religion. The warmth of his 
 social aflfections, his sparkling and sprightly intellect, the 
 
REV. RICHARD T. MARKS. 231 
 
 ardor and energy with which he threw himself into whatever 
 he undertook, all conspired to expose him, in a peculiar 
 manner, to the temptations of a city. Though, from nature 
 and training, abhorring everything that was mean and ma- 
 lignant, he was yet the ring-leader of the gay and the giddy, 
 and the godless. 
 
 The first serious religious impression was made at a prayer 
 meeting, to which he was led for the sake of accompanying 
 his mother. During that prayer meeting two prominent 
 members of the Church, and of the community — between 
 whom there had long existed a most unchristian feud, rose 
 up, made mutual confessions and concessions to each other, 
 and with tears embraced each other, and bowed together 
 before the mercy seat. This was a sermon he had not ex- 
 pected, and the moral of which he could not resist. " Surely," 
 he said to himself, " there must be some principle, or power, 
 above nature, that could make these proud spirits humble 
 themselves in the presence of each other, and of their fellow 
 men, and forgive and love each other ! There must be a 
 reality in religion; and if so, I am lost!" But no decisive 
 action followed this conviction. 
 
 Sometime after this the Methodist Church in Augusta was 
 stirred as by a mighty rushing wind. Every person went to 
 see and hear, and seemed to feel. Richard T. Marks went — 
 went with his lady-love, and as the house was crowded, he 
 took his seat in the gallery. At the close of the sermon, to 
 which he had given little attention, the preacher invited all 
 who desired the prayers of God's people, to kneel at their 
 seats. A great multitude bowed. The preacher then re- 
 quested all who had a heart to pray for anxious sinners to 
 kneel in prayer. Young Marks, who had been closely ob- 
 serving the movement, saw the whole mighty congregation 
 prostrate before God. It seemed to him that he was almost 
 the only exception. Horror stricken at the hardness and 
 insensibility of his own heart, he exclaimed, " My God ! am 
 
232 NECROLOGY. 
 
 I the worst sinner in Augusta ? " and quietly he crept down 
 upon his knees. A perfect tempest of conflicting thoughts 
 and feelings now swept through his soul. It seemed to him 
 that every person had seen him kneel, and that the eye of 
 that great congregation was fixed upon him ; and there he 
 was, a hardened hypocrite ! for he was not praying, nor had 
 he bowed because he wanted the prayers of God's people. 
 Shame, remorse, self-loathing, as an armed man, seized and 
 shook his soul. He despised himself as much for his tveakness 
 in assuming a false position, as for his wickedness in being 
 30 hard-Iiearted. He yielded to the impulse to extricate 
 himself from this horrible predicament. Stealthily he rose 
 from his knees and left the house whilst the prayer was be- 
 ing offered, and wandered hurriedly through the city, without 
 knowing whither or why he went ; and it was not until he 
 found himself in his room, at a late hour, that he thought of 
 the young lady of his charge, whom he had so unceremoni- 
 ously left at the church. He now felt that he was forever 
 disgraced and ruined. Life was a burden and a curse. Sad 
 and gloomy weeks passed by, during which he retired, as 
 much as may be, into the dark chambers of his own misera- 
 ble soul. Of course he got no better, but consciously grew 
 worse. The mercy seat offered him his only hope, and 
 thither, in a darkened and dusty garret of his office he re- 
 tired, while his comrades went to their dinners. 
 
 Whilst there bowed, God set before him his sins in the 
 light of His countenance. So many and so aggravated 
 seemed his sins — so justly did he deserve the wrath of God, 
 that he felt not only that it would be asking too much, but 
 that it was ^purely mean and base to ask God to forgive him, 
 and he arose from his knees without uttering a petition — a 
 justly doomed and lo<t man. He hurried to the street, and 
 there, while pacing lae .sidewalks of Broadway, blind and 
 oblivious of everything around him, the words of the Saviour 
 were suggested to him, as though spoken by an audible voice, 
 
REV. RICHARD T. MARKS. 233 
 
 " Come unto me all ye that arc heavy laden, and I will give 
 you rest." He stopped abruptly. " Whose vrords are those?" 
 he said to himself. A moment's reflection told him they 
 were the words of Jesus, the Saviour. He repeated them to 
 
 nmself. " Surely," said he to himself, " I am a weary and 
 heavy-laden sinner, and if Jesus, in his boundless goodness 
 and grace, invites me, and is willing to receive me, I will 
 come unto Mm for rest." And there, in the thronged thor- 
 oughfare of the city, in one of the busiest hours of the day, 
 the soul of young Marks bowed and melted at the feet of his 
 Saviour, and he consecrated himself forever to His service. 
 How momentous the change ! yet who of the rushing crowd 
 noticed it, or cared for that mightiest of the works of God ? 
 But the light that was in him could not long be hid, and 
 he was shortly afterwards received into the Presbyterian 
 Church. 
 
 When young Marks removed to Columbus, about the year 
 1827 or '28, the Church there was in its infancy, and he 
 aided in laying its foundations, and was elected one of its 
 ruling elders. His zeal and his faith, at this time, may be 
 inferred from the following fact: The little Church was 
 very anxious to obtain the services of the Rev. T. F. Scott, 
 then a young minister of promise in our Church. After ex- 
 hausting their efforts in obtaining subscriptions, they still 
 lacked two hundred dollars of the amount required. The 
 Church was sad and desponding. Mr. Marks resolved that 
 they should have preaching ; and although poor, and with a 
 dependent family and a limited salary, he filled the bill by 
 adding two hundred dollars to his name. He trusted that 
 God would provide the means, though then he could not see 
 how. Pay day drew nigh, and not a dollar had Mr. Marks, 
 in hand or in prospect. He began to be troubled. One day 
 in going from dinner to his office, a house and lot was being 
 exposed to sale at public auction. Marks put in a bid. To 
 his horror, it was the last that was offered, and the property 
 
234 NECROLOGY. 
 
 was stricken down to him. "What a fool am I," he said to 
 himself. " I have ruined myself! I don't want the prop- 
 erty, and I have no money to pay for it ! What madness 
 possessed me to bid for' it?" His first thought was to find 
 the last bidder, pay the difference, and by this sacrifice free 
 himself of his folly. But, before he had executed his pur- 
 pose, the last bidder had found him, and finally gave him 
 two hundred dollars for' his bargain. This was just the 
 amount that Mr. Marks needed, and with it he settled his 
 subscription. Mr. Marks never after that wanted faith to 
 do, or to dare, what the interest of the Church required of 
 him. 
 
 The call for ministers in Western Georgia, was at this 
 time loud and urgent. The Churches were feeble and scat- 
 tered, and many of the new settlers were not organized into 
 Churches. All of them were anxious for some one to break 
 to them the bread of life. Mr. Marks heard the Macedonian 
 cry, and yearned to bear to them the Gospel of the grace of 
 God. His fathers and brethren saw in him the gifts and 
 qualifications that promised to make him useful in the min- 
 istry. He was accordingly licensed by Flint River Presby^ 
 tery, in 1837, in La Grange, and in 1839 was ordained to 
 the full work of the Gospel ministry in the city of Culumbus. 
 Without following his history further, which, for the most 
 part, was that of an unpaid missionary, we notice : 
 
 1st. His personal sacrifices' for Christ and His Church. 
 We have already stated, that when he gave up his paper and 
 press, it had become the source of power and of wealth ; but 
 in leaving it, he lost not only the revenues it was bringing 
 him, but many thousands of dollars of its earnings, the most 
 of which would have been collected, had he stayed at his 
 post. And for his labors as a missionary, to which he was 
 commissioned by his Presbytery, and which extended from 
 the mountains of Georgia to the seaboard, he was never re- 
 quited — not even, it is believed, to the extent of covering his 
 
KEY. RICHARD T. MARKS. 235 
 
 expenses. As lie never complained— none knew, but himself, 
 how little he did receive ; but all knew that it was far less 
 than he deserved, or than was promised to him. And after 
 he ceased to act as the commissioned missionary, his labors 
 were not less gratuitous or abundant. We feel safe in say- 
 ing, that no missionary or minister within our bounds, did 
 more work ; yet none were ever half so poorly paid. This 
 was not because his services were not appreciated, or because 
 he could not have commanded more remunerating fields of 
 labor. No minister within our bounds was more welcomed 
 to the pulpits of our ablest Churches, The truth was, that 
 in all his deliverances there was so much of head and heart, 
 of light and heat, with such quick and clear perceptions of 
 what the occasion required, that it was impossible for a con- 
 gregation that had heads and hearts, to hear him with indif- 
 ference. Whether in the sanctuary or in the senate chamber 
 — for that honor was once thrust upon him — whether in the 
 primary assemblies of the people or in the General Assembly 
 of our Church, brother Marks was always listened to with 
 interest, and rarely without efect. Our General Assembly 
 is not ordinarily the place for tears ; and yet, under an ad- 
 dress on home missions, which brother M. was called to 
 deliver, that venerable body, then sitting in the city of New 
 York, ivept lihe ivomen. No, brother M. could have occu- 
 pied some of the high places of our Zion ; but, in the spirit 
 of self-sacrifice, he chose to preach the Gospel to the poor 
 and needy, and scufiie on within himself, as best he could, for 
 his own support. 
 
 2d. My second remark is, that brother M. was not only a 
 self-denying and laborious minister, but was eminently a 
 useful one, and was greatly honored and blest in the salvation 
 «/ sinners. From his business knowledge and habits, from 
 his wielding the pen of a ready writer, by which he could 
 put into practical shape his own thoughts and words, and that 
 of those around him ; from his having been for more than 
 
236 NECROLOGY. 
 
 twenty years the Treasurer of Presbytery, and the Secretary 
 and ivorking man in her Committee of Domestic Missions, 
 and from his -willingness and ability to do anything and ev- 
 erything the Presbytery required of him, brother Marks had 
 become almost a necessity of his Presbytery. 0, how much 
 we miss him ! He was almost the Standing Chairman of the 
 Synod's Financial Committee, and to disentangle and relieve 
 a perplexed problem in finance, we have yet to see his equal. 
 But it was chiefly as a preacher of the Gospel that brother 
 Marks was a blessing to the Church und the world. His spirit 
 travailed in birth for the salvation of sinners, and to him it 
 was given, in no ordinary degree, to be " wise to win souls to 
 Christ." How few are the Churches in the bounds of Flint 
 River Presbytery, that have not been blessed with times of 
 refreshing, in connection with, and in consequence of, his 
 labors ? He fell a martyr to his zeal on this subject, and 
 he closed his active ministerial life amidst the joys of the 
 harvest home. 
 
 The last two protracted meetings which he conducted — 
 one at Americus and the other at Fort Gains — were crowned 
 with a rich ingathering of souls. But his labors were too 
 great for his frail body, and he went home to bleed and die. 
 His first hemorrhage from the lungs took place on the cars, 
 on his return ; and so free and copious was it, that both he 
 and his friends thought it would terminate his life, even be- 
 fore he could reach the nearest depot, where medical aid 
 could be employed. Whilst lying on the verge of eternity, 
 as he supposed, his faith was turned into vision. The ex- 
 ceeding greatness of the recompense about to be awarded 
 him, overwhelmed him, and he exclaimed in his heart, 
 "Blessed Jesus ! this is too much — infinitely too great a glory 
 to be conferred upon a poor, miserable sinner, such as J 
 am!" "Too much for your deserving," said the Saviour, 
 "but not too much for my grace to give. For my love's 
 sake, and far my name's sake, I give all this grace and 
 
REV. RICHARD T. MARKS. 237 
 
 glory! " "Never before," said brother M., "did I feel so 
 deeply my own utter insignificance and worthlessness; and 
 never before was I so lost in wonder, love and praise, at the 
 exceeding riches of the grace and glory of my Saviour." 
 But brother M. was mistaken as to the speedy issue of the 
 attack. Five years longer was he to linger in the valley and 
 shadow of death; but never again was he allowed to proclaim 
 publicly the unsearchable riches of Christ. This he felt to 
 be his greatest trial. The only regret or complaint he was 
 ever heard to utter during his protracted and painful afilic- 
 tion, was that he could not show forth the grace and glory 
 of his adorable Redeemer. " 0," said he, "if I were per- 
 mitted again to preach, I would, I think, preach so differentli/ 
 — so much more to the point, and so much better than I ever 
 have done. I would throw away, as foolishness, all the gew- 
 gaws of human rhetoric and reason, and know nothing but 
 Jesus Christ and Him crucified." 
 
 His death was such as became such a Christian. It was 
 not so much a death as a translation.' So long had he dwelt 
 on the borders of that better land — so familiar had he become, 
 by contemplation, with the faces and forms of its blessed 
 inhabitants, and with their enjoyments and employments, and 
 so fully assured did lie feel of his "inheritance amongst the 
 saints in light," that, to him, dying was, in truth, but going 
 home. The heavenly recognition was to him a source of 
 great comfort. He often spoke with pleasure of soon seeing 
 loved ones that had gone before, and .of meeting loved ones 
 who would soon follow on. When requested to bear a mes- 
 sage to his sainted brother Dudley, who had died two weeks 
 before, he nodded his head, and smiled at the anticipated 
 pleasure. Never, to surrounding friends, did heaven appear 
 so near or so natural as in that chamber when this good man 
 breathed his last. " 0, if I could tell you what I see and 
 feel !" When life.had become exhaustive labor, he exclaimed, 
 "I am so tired — so tired! I want to go home to rest!" 
 
238 NECROLOGY. 
 
 After trying in vain to put his signature to a paper, when 
 his right hand had forgot its skill and cunning, he said, "Lay 
 me down; it makes no difference; all is right; and turning 
 upon his side, with his hand under his face, without a strug- 
 gle or a groan, Richard T. Marks breathed his last. His 
 friends thought he was asleep. He was asleep in Jesus. 
 
 He left a loved and cherished wife and four children to 
 mourn their loss, and rejoice in his infinite gain. He died 
 in Americus, Ga., at the house of his son-in-law, Doctor 
 Bruce, on the 6th of December, 1867, in the 59th year of 
 his age. 
 
KEY. WILLIAM MATHEWS * 
 
 William Mathews, the subject of this memorial, was born 
 of pious parents, in Franklin county, Ga., on the 14th of 
 November, 1819. His father, Phineas Mathews, was the son 
 of William Mathews, of Jackson county, Ga., a Revolution- 
 ary soldier, and for many years a ruling elder of Bethesda, 
 now Sandy Creek, Church. His mother was a daughter of 
 James W. Towns, of Madison county. 
 
 He was dedicated to God in infancy, and enjoyed the ad- 
 vantages of early religious training. He was noted for 
 sobriety from early childhood, and never seemed inclined to 
 engage in the sports and amusements in which other boys 
 delighted. He delighted in passing his time in reading. His 
 fondness for books, and his retentive memory, enabled him 
 to acquire a greater amount of historical knowledge than 
 most youths, of his age and limited opportunities, generally 
 do. 
 
 He was the subject of religious impressions from early 
 childhood; yet he has been heard to say ofttimes, that he 
 could not point to the time when he experienced a change of 
 heart — a fact not very infrequent with those whose minds 
 have been imbued with religious truth from very early youth. 
 He united with the Church when he was about fifteen years 
 old. 
 
 His limited means prevented his enjoying the advantages 
 of a thorough ftjllegiate course of instruction. He was pu- 
 pil for several years in the Gwinnett Manual Labor School. 
 After leaving the Institute he taught school in the family of 
 the late Dr. C. C. Jones, of Liberty county, for one year. 
 He subsequently taught in the county of Mcintosh, during 
 
 * Mss. from the family of Prof. Lane. 
 
 239 
 
240 NECROLOGY. 
 
 two or three years. Part of the time during his sojourn in 
 this county, he had the care of his two brothers and two sis- 
 ters. We think he entered the Theological Seminary at 
 Columbia in 1846, and after the usual course of study, was 
 licensed to preach the Gospel by Flint River Presbytery, in 
 the summer of 1849. In the fall of 1849, he entered upon 
 his field of labor as a missionary, in the counties of Baker, 
 Early and Randolph. Gradually contracting his field of 
 operations, he became, in process of time, pastor of the Pa- 
 chitla Church, in Calhoun county. After a few years spent 
 in this sphere, the relation was dissolved, and he then became 
 the stated supply of the Church at Perry, Houston county, 
 during twelve months, preaching also at other points, in two 
 adjacent counties. 
 
 In 1857, he received a call from the Mineral Spring Church, 
 Decatur county, Ga., within the bounds of the Florida Pres- 
 bytery. He accepted the call, and was installed its pastor 
 some months after he removed to the county. This relation 
 he sustained until it was dissolved by death. 
 
 In July, 1858, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha 
 Shivers, of Macon, Ga. 
 
 Until within a few months previous to his decease, his 
 health was generally good, excepting a chronic disease, with 
 which he was afflicted from early childhood; but of this he 
 had been almost entirely relieved a few years before his 
 death. 
 
 In the winter of 1862, at the earnest desire of some of his 
 neighbors, he consented to teach school. The duties of pastor 
 and teacher combined, proved too laborious for him, and no 
 doubt contributed, in a good degree, to undel*mine his health, 
 and bring about his premature death. The summer prior to 
 his demise, he had a severe attack of disease, which so much 
 prostrated his system that he never seemed to rally entirely 
 from its effects. Afterwards he had frequent attacks of 
 chills and fever, which weakened him very much. His health 
 
REV. WILLIAM MATHEWS. 241 
 
 was at length so much impaired that he was obliged to dis- 
 continue his school before the end of the year. In November 
 he went to Macon with his family, hoping that a change 
 might prove beneficial to him. 
 
 While in Macon he attended the meeting of the Synod of 
 Georgia, which he seemed to enjoy very much. A few weeks 
 after the Synod adjourned, he was attacked with pneumonia. 
 A physician was called in, but he did not apprehend any 
 danger, nor did his family. About thirty hours before he 
 expired, his symptoms became alarming; he suffered in- 
 tensely; his mind began to wander, and at length he became 
 insensible to every object around him. In this condition he 
 remained until his ransomed spirit joined the company of the 
 redeemed in heaven. 
 
 A short time before his intellectual powers failed, he calmly 
 told his wife he felt that God was about to take him away 
 from her, as he had been admonished, from time to time, of 
 his approaching dissolution. To a friend he remarked, 
 "sickness makes a perfect child of a man ;" but added, "I 
 feel that I have not had my share of pain and suffering — not 
 so,much*as I need." These were about his last intelligible 
 words. His spirit passed away on the 20th of December, 
 1862. 
 
 His loss was deeply felt, not only by his family and other 
 relations, but by the Church and community in which he re- 
 sided. His people were warmly attached to him. To this 
 his Church gave strong expression in resolutions adopted in 
 reference to his death. Brother Mathews possessed a mild 
 and gentle disposition. So much was he noted for his kind- 
 ness of temper, even in his school-boy days, among his fel- 
 low-pupils, that he received from them the nom de plume of 
 "Friend." This disposition continued with him through 
 life. In the language of the minute of the Synod, "He 
 possessed a sound judgment, a correct taste, and no mean 
 attainments in knowledge. As a preacher he was earnest, 
 16 
 
242 NECROLOGY. 
 
 solemn, and scriptural. As a pastor he was laborious, affec- 
 tionate, and faithful. As a Presbyter he was courteous, 
 unambitious, and unwavering. As a Christian he exhibited 
 the meekness and gentleness of Christ; and as a husband, 
 father, and friend, he illustrated all the higher relations 
 which God his Saviour called him to occupy." 
 
 He was Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Florida at the 
 time of his decease. 
 
 From the liev. Prof. Lane. 
 
 Covington, March 8, 1864. 
 Rev. and Dear Sir : 
 
 I can only give you my general impressions iaregard to the mind, 
 character, and ministerial qualities of brother Mathews, though he and 
 myself were intimately connected by marriage, and were on the most 
 cordial, brotherly terms. Yet, as we never lived near each other, and 
 were together chiefly in occasional family visits, I was not as intimately 
 acquainted with him, as a minister, as one would expect at first view. 
 
 Brother M. had a clear, active mind, of more than ordinary vigor. His 
 reading, both theological and general, was very extensive. But few of 
 our brethren, of his age, ever excelled him in this particular. In the 
 pulpit he was plain and faithful — solid rather than showy. As a pastor 
 he was conscientious and diligent, and won the hearts of his people by 
 his gentle, earnest, loving ministrations. His last sickness, whilst it was 
 Bent at the best time, (being sent by Infinite Wisdom,) was probably 
 hastened by too abundant and too frequent labors during the year pre- 
 ceding his death. « * * * Yours fraternally, 
 
 C. W. LANE. 
 
 eid i cT 
 
 
KEY. WILLIAM McWHIR, D.D * 
 
 "William McWhir wus the son of James and Jean (Gibson) 
 McWhir, and was born in the parish of Moneyrea and county 
 of Down, Ireland, on the 9th, of September, 1759. His 
 father was a farmer, in comfortable circumstances, and both 
 his parents were exemplary professors of religion. In his 
 early childhood he lost the sight of one eye, and came very 
 near losing his life, by means of the small-pox. His father 
 and grandfather had both been elders in the Presbyterian 
 Church, and his parents were desirous that one of their 
 children should be a minister; and contrary, as it would 
 seem, to his better judgment, they conferred the honor on 
 him. After having for some time attended a school in the 
 neighborhood of his father's residence, he was transferred to 
 another school, of a higher order, in Belfast, to be prepared 
 for college. Here he was brought into intimate relations, 
 for some time, with an unprincipled and profligate young 
 man, whose influence upon him, temporarily at least, was 
 very disadvantageous. He remained at this school until 
 1778, when he was sent to the University of Glasgow, being 
 then about nineteen years of age. Here he passed three 
 sessions, which was the period prescribed for their candidates 
 by the Synod of Ulster. It does not appear that, even at 
 this time, his mind was at all awake to a sense of Christian 
 obligation, notwithstanding he had made a profession of re- 
 ligion, and his studies were directed with particular reference 
 to the ministry. 
 
 Immediately after leaving the University, he put himself 
 under the care of the Presbytery of Killiheagh, in the coun'ty 
 of Down, and having gone through with his trials and Qxam-i 
 
 * MSS. Autobiography — Mr. E. J. Hardin, Esq., Sprague's Annals. 
 
 243 
 
244 NECROLOGY. 
 
 inations, was licensed to preach the Gospel on the 24th of 
 December, 1782. He war ordained bj the same Presbyterj 
 on the 25th of September, 1783. 
 
 Having, from the age of about twelve years, been deeply in- 
 terested in America, by reading Carver's Travels, he early 
 formed a purpose, with the consent of his father, (his mother 
 was now dead,) to find a home on this side the water. Ac- 
 cordingly, imnaediately after his ordination, he sailed from 
 Belfast for Philadelphia, where, on his arrival, he received 
 from various distinguished individuals, a cordial welcome to 
 the country. After a few weeks, he went, in compliance 
 with a request that had been sent to him previous to his 
 leaving Ireland, to engage as a teacher at Alexandria; and 
 he now became the head of a large and flourishing academy, 
 which was liberally patronized by General Washington, and 
 to which the General sent two of his nephews. This brought 
 him into quite intimate relations with that illustrious man, 
 as well as with many other men of note in that neighborhood. 
 The following is his account of his first visit to Mount 
 Vernon : 
 
 "A few days after General Washington's return to Mount 
 Vernon, I visited him, in company with a countryman of 
 mine, Ool. Fitzgerald, one of Washington's aids. At the 
 dinner table Mrs. Washington sat at the head of the table, 
 and Major Washington at the foot — the General sat next 
 Mrs. Washington, on the left. He called upon me to ask a 
 blessing before meat. When the cloth was about to be re- 
 moved, he returned thanks himself Mrs. Washington, with 
 a smile, said, '^ My dear, you forgot that you had a clergy- 
 man dining with you to-day.' With equal pleasantness he 
 replied, ' My dear, I wish clergymen, and all men, to know 
 that I am not a graceless man !' " He goes on to say, " I 
 was frequently at Mount Vernon, and saw liim frequently at 
 Alexandria; nor did I ever see any person, whatever might 
 be his character or standing, who was not senSibly awed in 
 
REV. WILLIAM MCWHIR, D. D. 245 
 
 his presence, and by the impression of his greatness. The 
 vivacity and grace of Mrs. Washington relieved visitors of 
 some of that feekng of awe and restraint which possessed 
 them. He was uniformly grave, and smiled but seldom, but 
 always agreeable. His favorite subject of conversation was 
 agriculture, and he scrupulously avoided, in general society, 
 topics connected with politics, or war, or his own personal 
 actions." 
 
 In the year 1792, Mr. McWhir was applied to by an in- 
 fluential friend in Georgia, to visit Augusta, with a view to 
 taking charge of both an academy and a Presbyterian Church 
 in that town ; and as he found that his expenses of living in 
 Alexandria were too great to justify the expectaion of being 
 able to lay up any part of his income, he was inclined to 
 listen to the application. He accordingly, after making ar- 
 rangements for a temporary supply of his place in the acad- 
 emy, proceeded to Augusta on horseback ; but on his arrival, 
 found that the affairs of both the Church and the academy 
 were so identified with the movements of political parties, 
 that there was little encouragement to him to remain. He 
 therefore returned almost immediately to Alexandria, only, 
 however, to resign his place in the academy, and to get ready 
 to seek a more southern residence. As soon as he could 
 make the necessary arrangements, he left Alexandria, and 
 went to Savannah, and thence to Bryan county, to visit some 
 of his friends. During his sojourn there, he accepted an 
 invitation from the people of Sunbury, in Liberty county, to 
 take charge of their Church and academy, both of which 
 were at that time vacant. Here his labors as teacher and 
 minister overtasked his strength, though his preaching was 
 remarkably well attended, and his school grew constantly in 
 numbers and popularity. 
 
 About this time he was married to a Mrs. Baker, a lady 
 of an excellent character and about his own age, and shortly 
 after he purchased a plantation a few miles from Sunbury, 
 
246 NECROLOGY. 
 
 to which he gave the name of Springfield. After continuing 
 in his school about five years, he removed with his family to 
 his plantation, in consequence of finding that his health suf- 
 fered from the excessive labor which the two oflBces of minis- 
 ter and teacher devolved upon him. He however, in com- 
 pliance with the urgent solicitation of his friends, soon 
 opened a select school at Springfield. For awhile he con- 
 tinued to preach at Sunbury, but as the school became large, 
 he held religious services on the Sabbath at Springfield. His 
 school he kept up for several years, until the labor and re- 
 sponsibility became so great that he resolved once more to 
 abandon teaching. 
 
 Still, however, he was not willing to lead an inactive life, 
 and the great destitution of the means of grace in the sur- 
 rounding region, impressed him with the obligation still to 
 preach, as had opportunity.- About the year 1809, he com- 
 menced preaching at the Court House in Mcintosh county, 
 about twelve miles from Darien, where, in the midst of great 
 darkness, and the most violent opposition to religion, he suc- 
 ceeded in organizing a Church. His labors here were almost 
 entirely gratuitous. From this station he went to Darien, 
 where he labored for some time; and after the building of a 
 new place of worship, the Mcintosh- Church was transferred 
 to the latter place. 
 
 An event now occurred in the life of Mr. McWhir, which, 
 to those who have followed his history to this point, will be a 
 matter of no little surprise. Notwithstanding he had always 
 been a minister, in regular standing, of the Presbyterian- 
 Church, he had been, even from the time he commenced his 
 education, privately a Unitarian. Having occasion to re-ex- 
 amine the Scriptures, about the year 1812, with a view to 
 prove their Divine authority, he was led to take a new view 
 of the doctrines they contain, and, at no distant period, be- 
 came thoroughly satisfied that the creed which he had before 
 only professed to receive, really embodied the true sense of 
 
REV. WILLIAM MCWHIR, D. D. 247 
 
 the Word of God. This change of religious opinion, led, of 
 course, to a corresponding change in his preaching, which 
 did not escape the observation of those to whom he minis- 
 tered. 
 
 In September, 1804, there was a tremendous hurricane, 
 which desolated the coast of Georgia, sweeping directly over 
 his plantation, and occasioning him a loss of about fourteen 
 thousand dollars. Being now urged to take charge again of 
 the Sunbury Academy. He did so, partly with a view to 
 repair his fortunes. After a few years, he relinquished it 
 again, on account of his health ; he again returned to it, and 
 continued his connection with it awhile longer. On leaving 
 it the third time, he gave up teaching as a profession, though 
 he occasionally received a few pupils to instruct in a private 
 way. . ^ ^ !' 
 
 In 1819, he suflFered a severe affliction in the death of his^ 
 wife. After this, his health being much enfeebled, he de- 
 termined on a visit to his native country. Accordingly, in 
 the spring of 1820, having attended the sessions of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly at Philadelphia, he sailed for Liverpool, and 
 after remaining there a short time, passed on to London, 
 where he was knocked down in the street by robbers, and so' 
 severely injured as to be confined to his room for a month. 
 Thence he went to Ireland, and visited the few of his relatives 
 and acquaintances that remained after the lapse of forty 
 years; and in the spring of 1821, proceeded to Scotland, 
 where he had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of. 
 .Dr. Chalmers, and being present at the session of the Gen- 
 eral Assembly of the Church of. Scotland. He returned to 
 the United States in the autumn of that year, with renovated 
 health. 
 
 In 1824, in consequence of a representation which had 
 been made to him of the deplorable destitution of the means 
 of grace in East Florida, he was induced to visit St. Augus- 
 tine, with a view to making an effort for the promotion of the 
 
248 NECROLOGY. 
 
 Redeemer's kingdom. He accordingly constituted a Pres- 
 byterian Church, and ordajned elders there; and, for several 
 years after this, Avas engaged in collecting funds requisite 
 for building a Church edifice, and, in due time, he had the 
 pleasure to see the object accomplished. 
 
 From 1827 to 1835, he was engaged in supplying vacant 
 Churches in Bryan, Liberty, and Mcintosh counties, and in 
 various efforts for the promotion of the cause of education. 
 In 1838, he disposed of his homestead and went to Savan- 
 nah, where he remained more than a year. He then ac- 
 cepted an invitation from his friend Major Wm. J. Mcintosh, 
 of Bryan county, to reside in his family, and he actually 
 lived there till 1847, when he returned to Savannah, and 
 fixed his home in the family of his grandson, (by marriage,) 
 Edward J. H;irdin, Esq. At the age of nearly ninety, he 
 became a volunteer colporteur of the American Tract Soci- 
 ety, and continued in this service till he was too feeble to 
 labor. For several years previous to his death, he was una- 
 ble to preach, but he never lost his interest in religious 
 meetings, and was a regular attendant at Church, even down 
 to the Sabbath immediately preceding his death. He died 
 at the liouse of a friend in Liberty county, in perfect peace, 
 on the olst of January, 1851, in the ninety-second year of 
 his age. His funeral was attended at Midway Church, 
 whence, in accordance with his expressed wish, his remains 
 were carried to Sunbury, and buried beside those of his wife. 
 In the disposal of his property, which was not large, he made 
 Beveral bequests to charitable institutions. He left no de- 
 scendant and no relative in this country. 
 
 The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him 
 by Franklin College, in Georgia, in 1832. 
 
REV. WILLIAM MCWHIR, D. D. 249 
 
 From the Rev. C. C. Jones, D.D 
 
 ITY 
 
 March 24, 1855 
 
 RiCEBORO, Liberty County, Ga., ) 
 
 My Dear Sir: 
 
 I knew Dr. McWliir in my childhood, and as a friend and frequent 
 visitor in our family, and was afterwards a pupil in his school. He was 
 one of my examiners when received into the Presbytery of Georgia, and 
 also when I was ordained by that body. The friendship which he enter- 
 tained for my parents, he transferred to thtir son, and were, for some 
 twenty years, on terms of intimacy and confidential friendship. 
 
 He was a man of medium stature, of good proportions, muscular and 
 quick in his movements, and with uucomtnon powers of endurance. He 
 had a pure Irish face, and Laving been disfigured in childliood b}^ the 
 small-pox, was homely, and, becoming prematurely gray and bald, he 
 carried the appearance, in his countenance, of a man advanced in years, 
 when he was not as yet past middle life. His personal habits were the 
 neatest imaginable. I do not remember ever having seen him dressed 
 otherwise than as a geutltman and a clergyman. He possessed great 
 self-respect, and a high appreciation of his otQce. He desired always to 
 be recognized and treated as a clergyman. He never himself forgot, nor 
 suffered others to forget that he was one. His manners, in the family, 
 and in his associitlou with all classes, were uncommonly polished and 
 dignified; and aside from the politeness, which seemed natural to him, 
 he was formed upon the model of a gentleman seen in the Old Dominion 
 at the period of the Revolution. 
 
 Dr. McWhir exacted in society much attention, but it was fully re- 
 turned, and seemed a spontaneous movement, on his part, to preserve 
 that elevation of manners, and that mutual respect, which add so 
 great a charm to the intercourse of life. He was the most perfectly social 
 man that I have ever known. Warm and sincere in his attachments, it 
 was a real, heartfelt pleasure to him to be in the society of his friends, 
 and to mingle with men of distinction ; and his effort was, by cheerfulness 
 of spirit, and ready and easy powers of conversation, to convert the hour 
 or the day, as the case might be, into one ot high, social and friendly en- 
 joyment. Fond of children, they never escaped his notice. 
 
 In intellectual power, he was, perhaps, not superior to the general 
 mass of his brethren; yet an excellent scholar, well grounded in Latin 
 and Greek, and in the usual branches of English education, and had no 
 superior, in his day, as a teacher and disciplinarian. His reputation as 
 such was unbounded, and he is remembered more as a teacher and a 
 friend of education and a patron of learning, than as a minister, although 
 he ranked among our first Presbyterian ministers, and bore his part re- 
 putably in the early efforts to establish our Church in the State. Of real 
 courage, and of mercurial temperament, of a high sense of honor and 
 
250 NECROLOGY. 
 
 justice, and of strict integrity, energetic and prompt in decision and ac- 
 tion, bis scliools were always models of morality and of order. He was 
 a terror to evil doers. No fear of personal consequences to himself, nor 
 family connections, nor wealth, nor friendly relations, nor poverty on the 
 part of bis pupils, served to screen the guilty. He used the rod spar, 
 ingl}', but, when necessary, most effectively. He was long a teacher, and 
 educated fathers and their sons. Scholars were sent to him from all parts 
 of the State, and when not engaged in teaching, he traveled in our own 
 country, and in England, and Scotland, and Ireland, to perfect himself, 
 and to become master of improvements in that great art. His energy 
 and perseverance were such as to secure him success in whatever he 
 undertook. Never having studied Theology systematically, and coming, 
 as he believed, to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, some 
 years after bis migration to the United States, and the period of study 
 with him was waning, and much of bis time occupied in teaching, and 
 constant engagements adverse to close application, he could not be ranked 
 among accomplished Theologians, although be was firmly settled upon 
 the doctrines of our Confession of Faith. He adhered conscientiously to 
 the Old School branch of our Church, through every trial and difiiculty. 
 His preaching, after I knew him, partook more of the practical and hor- 
 tatory, than the doctrinal. He bad a habit of yielding to bis feelings in 
 preaching, and most commonly was affected to tears. He contributed 
 liberally to our benevolent societies and objects, while be bad a special 
 interest in the circulation of the Scriptures, and in our missionary opera- 
 tions, both at home and abroad. He was one of the earliest advocates of 
 the Temperance Reformation, and adhered to its principles to the day of 
 his death. Towards the close of his life, bis heart was more than ordi- 
 narily interested in the progress of the Gospel on the earth, and in its 
 success he greatly rejoiced. His l-eadiug was chiefly religious and devo- 
 tional, and he seemed to be rapidly maturing for Heaven. The lamp of 
 life literally burnt to the socket, and mind and body wasted away in 
 extreme age unto death. 
 
 My last conversation with him, which occurred not many weeks be- 
 fore bis death, found him fixed upon the " Rock of Ages." Said he, 
 " My dear friend, I cannot say that 1 have the faith of assurance, but I 
 think I can say I have an assured hope." 
 
 Wishing you success and usefulness in j'-our work, 
 
 I am very truly yours in the Lord, 
 
 C. C JONES. 
 
REV. RICHARD ANDREW MILNER.* 
 
 Richard Andrew Milner was the child of pious parents. 
 The family, it is believed, came originally from England. He 
 was born in Laurens District, South Carolina, October 28, 
 1816. He enjoyed in early youth the advantages of Chris- 
 tian education. His father was many years an elder of the 
 Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Richard was hopefully converted in his sixteenth year, 
 under the preaching of Dr. Daniel Baker, and soon there- 
 after made a public confession of his faith in Christ. At 
 the time of his conversion he was pursuing studies prepara- 
 tory for entering College, in the village academy at Laurens 
 C. H., under the care of a Mr. Robert Spier. He entered 
 the Freshman class in Franklin College, Athens, Ga., in the 
 fall of 1833. After graduating, he studied law, and was 
 licensed to practice in 1839. But the law was not congenial 
 with his taste, and the following year, 1840, he abandoned 
 it, and turned his attention to the study of Theology, which 
 he pursued privately, and, in due course of time, was licensed 
 to preach the Gospel, by the Etowah Presbytery, a body in 
 connection with the New School Presbyterian Church. That 
 Presbytery becoming extinct, he joined the Cherokee Pres- 
 bytery, the year in which it had been set off by the Synod of 
 South Carolina and Georgia, and was by it ordained to the 
 full work of the Ministry, as an evangelist, in 1844. He 
 was engaged in the missionary work during several years, 
 within the bounds of his Presbytery, and as stated supply of 
 the Church at Friendship, near Cartersville, of which his 
 venerable father, Arnold Milner, was a ruling elder. He 
 had removed with his family from South Carolina in 1834. 
 
 *MSS. from llev. J. F. Lannean. 
 
 251 
 
252 NECROLOGY. 
 
 Mr. Milner also preached at Cassvillc, Adairsville, and Cal- 
 houn during these years. In all these places he labored 
 with great acceptance and usefulness. He was a Boanerges 
 — no one has ever been more popular in these places, as a 
 preacher of the Gospel. He is represented to have been a 
 man of glowing zeal, a clear head, ready utterance, and pow- 
 erful action in the pulpit — just such a man as would secure 
 the attention, and move the hearts of the masses. 
 
 In the autumn of 1855, he received and accepted a call 
 from the united Churches of Cartersville and Euharlee, in 
 the san>e county, to become their pastor, and was installed 
 at Cartersville, on the 4th Sabbath in October, 1855, with 
 the expectation of supplying, occasionally, the Church at 
 Cassville. He was unwell at the time, but consented to be 
 carried, in his feeble state of health, to the Church at Cart- 
 ersville, where the solemn services were performed. From 
 thence he returned to his sick bed, which was to him, in two 
 weeks afterwards, the bed of death. He died on the 13th 
 of November, 1855, the day on which the Synod of Georgia 
 met at LaGrange, Ga. 
 
 Thus suddenly, and under peculiarly trying circumstances 
 was this young, able, faithful, and successful minister of the 
 Gospel, at the early age of 39, taken away from a large and 
 promising field of labor. 
 
 Ordained in the same year in which the Cherokee Pres- 
 bytery was organized, he was identified with all the interests 
 of that Presbytery from its beginning, and with the cause 
 and welfare of Presbyterianism within that interesting por- 
 tion of the Synod. 
 
 During the eleven years of his ministerial life, he was 
 greatly instrumental, under God, of lengthening the cords 
 and strengthening the stakes of the tabernacle of our be- 
 loved Zion. He was permitted the joy of seeing his Pres- 
 bytery increase from four to twenty ministers, and from nine 
 to thirty-five Churches. His humble and ardent piety, his 
 
REV. RICHARD ANDREW MILNER. 253 
 
 burning zeal, and his untiring energy, his touching and glow- 
 ing eloquence, won for him the confidence and the love of 
 his brethren, and a wide-spread popularity and usefulness. 
 But just as he was entering upon his pastoral work, over 
 Churches in a great measure gathered and sustained by his 
 exertions, and which were growing in importance and influ- 
 ence, it pleased the Great Head of the Church to remove 
 him from his labors on earth, as we humbly trust, to his re- 
 ward and rest in heaven. 
 
 Mr. Milner was married on the 12th of December, 1843, 
 to Miss Lucinda Slator Brogden, of Oothcoologa Valley, by 
 whom he had two sons and four daughters, who, with his 
 bereaved widow, were left to mourn his untimely departure. 
 
 His eldest son, who professed conversion under the preach- 
 ing of Dr. Stiles, in 1859, and united with the Church at 
 Cartersville, is now a candidate for the Gospel ministry, 
 under the care of the Presbytery ^of Cherokee. We trust 
 that the mantle of his sainted father may fall on him, and 
 that he may be qualified by the training of God's spirit and 
 providence, to become, like him, a valuable and useful laborer 
 in the Master's vineyard. 
 
REV. W. N. PEACOCK. 
 
 We have been able to gather a very few facts in relation 
 to the life, character, and ministry of the Rev. Mr. Peacock. 
 The following brief communication contains the sum and 
 substance of all that is known concerning him. These state- 
 ments were obtained from his family. He does not seem to 
 have been actively engaged in the ministerial work after his 
 removal to Florida. He was diligent in business, but, per- 
 haps, deficient in fervency of spirit. 
 
 From the Rev. A. Baker. 
 
 Madison, Fla., August 29, 1864. 
 Rev. and Dear Sir : 
 
 * * * The Rev. W. N. Peacock was born in Montgomery 
 county, N. C, on the 28th of June, 1803. His fatlier was a Presbyterian 
 minister, and a native of Glasgow, Scotland. 
 
 Mr. Peacock, the subject of this brief sketch, received his education, 
 principally, from a Mr. McMullan, a distinguished teacher of that day. 
 So far as we know, he never went to college, and if he did, it was only 
 for a short time, for he never graduated. His literary course was imper- 
 fect. His Theological education could not have been thorough, for it 
 was commenced after his marriage, under the direction of the Rev. Colin 
 Mclver, of Fayetteville, N. C. He married when about 20 years of age. 
 He was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of Fayetteville, 
 in 1833. He was called to supply several small Churches in his native 
 county, which he served for a number of years, with commendable zeal 
 and usefulness. His health failing, from the weakness of his lungs, he 
 removed to Florida in 1855, where he was able to do little preaching. I 
 believe he never had a charge in this State. 
 
 As to the character of his mind, I would say that he had rather more 
 than ordinary native talent. He was no book worm, but studied men 
 and things around him. He was a man of quick temper. He was fond 
 of argument, especially on doctrinal questions. He often discussed the 
 doctrine of election in the pulpit. He was not eloquent, nor was he a 
 popular preacher, but sound and sincere. His ministry was much inter- 
 rupted by his love of his farm. It may truly be said of him, that he was 
 diligent in business. He had few equals in the farm, and by this he grew 
 rich. This detracted much from his usefulness, and laid the foundation 
 for a charge against him by his enemies, that he loved money. He 
 died on the 24th of September, 1863. ***** 
 
 Yours very truly, A. BAKER. 
 254 
 
REV. ROBEET QtTARTERMAlN'. * 
 
 The Congregational Church of Midway, Liberty county, has 
 been long and well knowm in Georgia. It is about one hun- 
 dred years old, having its origin some time before the Revolu- 
 tionary War. The ancestors of those who composed it were 
 Puritans from Dorchester, England, who first settled at Dor- 
 chester, Massachusetts, and emigrated there in a body, with 
 their pastor, and formed a settlement about 20 miles from 
 Charleston, S.C., at a place which they also called Dorchester. 
 This locality proving unhealthy, they again removed in a 
 body, and settled in Liberty county, then called St. John's 
 Parish. About half way from Savannah to Darien, the 
 traveler passes the Church on the left of the road, with the 
 grave yard on the right, where sleep the remains of most of 
 the original settlers. 
 
 Among the early pastors of this Church, more than half 
 a century ago, was the Rev. Murdock Murphy, brother of 
 the late Governor Murphy, of Alabama, who resigned his 
 charge in order to spend the residue of his days near his 
 brother, having served the Church faithfully and acceptably 
 about ten years. He had been preceded for the previous 20 
 years, in the same office, by the Rev. Cyrus Gildersleeve, 
 "who was afterwards settled in New Jersey, and finished his 
 course at Wilkesbarre, Pa. Robert Quarterman, the subject 
 of the following memoir, succeeded Mr. Murphy in 1822, or 
 1823. 
 
 Robert Quarterman was born in Liberty county, Ga., on 
 the 13th day of January, 1787. Bereaved in childhood of 
 father and mother, he was taken into the family, first, of a 
 sister, and afterwards that of an aunt, where, in early life, 
 he received those religious impressions which were afterwards 
 80 fully and so brightly developed. 
 
 MSS. from Rev. T. Sumner Winn and Miss Quarterman. 
 
 355 
 
256 NECROLOGY. 
 
 He received his classical training in the Sunbury Acad- 
 emy. In the year 1809, when he was twenty-two years old, 
 he united himself to the Church at Midway, in his native 
 county, and was chosen to the oflSce of deacon in the same 
 Church in 1811. 
 
 The war with Great Britain commenced in 1812. The 
 people of Liberty county were on the alert, and ready, as 
 they had ever been, to oppose the enemies of their country. 
 Their ancestors, in the war of the Revolution of 1776, had 
 been so distinguiiihed for their lofty bearing and love of lib- 
 erty, that the name of their county had been changed from 
 that of St. John's Parish to that of Liberty. 
 
 The British fleet threatening to effect a landing on the 
 coast of Georgia, every important point was carefully guarded. 
 In the history of these times, among others, appe.irs the 
 name of Robert Quarterman, who had nobly re?ponded to the 
 call of his country, and volunteered his services in defence 
 of hei" invaded rights, lie was elected captain of the rifle 
 company, and was stationed at Darien. His noble bearing, 
 his stately mein, his courteous manners, his officer-like con- 
 duct, and his Christian deportment, won for him the confi- 
 dence of his men, and commanded the respect of all the 
 people. 
 
 The following extract, from a historical address of the Rev. 
 Charles Colcock Jones, D. D., delivered to the " Liberty 
 County Independent Troop," in 1856, presents an interest- 
 ing memorial of Mr. Quarterman's military life. Speaking 
 of the war, he observed: "At the same time the infantry 
 companies of the county were ordered to Darien, under the 
 command of Captain Robert Quarterman and Captain John 
 Winn. The two companies were afterwards united under 
 Captain Quarterman. On Captain Quarterman's 'payroll,' 
 the original of which I have in my possession, there are one 
 hundred and thirty-three names, including officers and pri- 
 vates. 
 
REV. H0I3SHT QUARTEEMAN. 257 
 
 " My first recollections of Captain Quarterman were during 
 his march to Darien. The troops passed along the public 
 road. A couple of us lads were placing at mimic war, firing 
 our brass cannon from our little fort, attacked by the British 
 fleet afloat on the pond. We heard the drums, and rushed 
 to see the show. Capttiin Qnurterman was at the head of 
 his company, a tall well proportioned and handsome officer, 
 with full whiskers, and had his sword drawn. You all re- 
 remember and venerate him. For twenty-three years after- 
 wards he was the able, consistent, and successful pastor of 
 ]\Iidway Church. He h;is had few or no superiors, take him 
 all in all, among the prominent citizens of this county." 
 
 At the close of the war he resigned his commission and 
 returned to his farm, and soon thereafter commenced a course 
 of Theological studies, preparatory to entering the ministry. 
 In 1819, he was lic<^nsed to preach the Gospel by the Pres- 
 byteiy of Harmony, which at thit period included the low 
 country of South Carolina, and the seaboard counties of 
 G-Orgia. 
 
 On the removal of Mr. Murphy to Alabama, he was called 
 to the pastoral charge of Midway congregation. He was 
 orditined to the full Avork of the ministry on the 27th of May, 
 182o, by the Presbytery of Georgia, it having been set off 
 from Harmony Presbytery in 1821. 
 
 This relation he sustained to the Church of his fathers for 
 thirty years, faithfully dischai'glng all the duties of the min- 
 isterial charge to that people so long as his health permitted. 
 Some twelve or fifteen years before his death, as his field of 
 labor had become extended, and as the summer retreats of 
 the people rendered it expedient that he should have help, 
 the confjregation elected the Rev. Isaac Stockton Keith Ax- 
 son, D. D., at present the beloved pastor of the Independent 
 Presbyterian Church, of Savannah, his colleague; and no 
 tvro ministers ever occupied the same field with more har- 
 17 
 
258 KECROLOGY. 
 
 mony, and with greater acceptance to the people, until Mr. 
 Quarterman was laid asideby a paralytic attack. 
 
 We beg leave in this place, to introduce a letter Avritten 
 by Dr. Axson, a few days after the decease of Mr. Quarter- 
 man, in May, 1849, and furnishing a faithful and interesting 
 portraiture of his venerable co-pastor. 
 
 •' My Dear Brother : 
 
 " You will not be surprised to learn that our friend 
 and fellow-hiborer in the Gospel is no more. The messenger 
 came at last, and this servant of God has entered upon his 
 rest. We were deprived of his parting counsels, and disap- 
 pointed in regard to a dying testimony, it having pleased 
 God, for many weeks previous to his death, severely to im- 
 pair his mental faculties, and alniost to destroy the power of 
 speech. When the last conflict came he was almost insensible 
 to everything around him. 
 
 "From the note book of the attending physician, I have 
 gathered this description of his case : He was seized sud- . 
 denly and very violently on the night of the 14th of Febru- 
 ary, 1845, Avith pulmonary apoplexy, from which he recovered 
 by morning. Subsequently he had several attacks somewhat 
 similar, but not so violent. In September, 1848, his articu- 
 lation became impaired, and in December, after a sort of 
 simple apoplexy, his case terminated in palsy, and the loss 
 of nervous power in one side. On the night of the 18th of 
 April, he gently sunk into death, and is now buried with his 
 fathers. 
 
 "The day of his interment was O'ne of solemn interest to his 
 people, who gathered from all parts to look for the last time 
 on his gray hairs ; and it may be hoped, that around the aged 
 pastor's bier, good purposes were formed, to 'call to remem- 
 brance,' and, by the grace of God, to heed ' the things which 
 he spake unto them while he was yet with them.' 
 
 " The most interesting recollections of the man, by the 
 
REV. ROBERT QUARTERMAN. 259 
 
 people of this community, will unquestionably be those asso- 
 ciated with his character as a Christian and a servant of 
 Jesus. For forty years he had walked with God, during the 
 whole of which period his history was closely connected with 
 that Church in whose grave-yard he is now sleeping. He 
 was admitted into its membership in the year 1809. Two 
 years after he was elected to the office of deacon ; and in the 
 year 1823, having privately pursued a course of preparation 
 for the ministry, he was chosen pastor of the Church, which 
 relationship, as an expression of their respect for one who 
 had long watched over them in the Lord, his people resolved 
 he should hold till death, notwithstanding that disease had, 
 in a great measure, excluded him from the pulpit for the last 
 four years. 
 
 " In glancing at his career, I am reminded that our broth- 
 er's usefulness was not limited to the exercises of the pulpit. 
 Practically, though not professionally trained, he was skilled 
 in medicine ; and in the part of the country where he for the 
 most part resided, no regular physician being at hand, it is 
 impossible to say how much the suffering and the sick were 
 indebted to the pastor's labors in this line; for it was his 
 common practice, where ever and when ever called, cheer- 
 fully to wait upon the sick, administer to their wants in re- 
 gard to prescriptions, and medicines, and nursing, and diet, 
 and all necessary articles. 
 
 "As a tribute to his memory, setting forth the influence 
 of his private walk and conversation, let me register a testi- 
 mony which, since his decease, has been handed me under 
 the signature of many of his parishioners : ' His grave and 
 even deportment,' say they, 'his unquestioned Christian 
 character, his spirit of kindness and sympathy with the dis- 
 tressed, caused him to be approached with the utmost confi- 
 dence by all. He was very generally consulted in cases of 
 difficulty, whether religious, civil, or domestic; and the whole 
 manner of his life was such as to give him an influence over 
 
260 NECROLOGY. 
 
 the community, wliich tliej feel even more than his pulpit 
 preaching. 
 
 "'Farewell to the aged pastor, who has now finished his 
 course, having fought the good fight, and kept the faith ! 
 May we, my brother, be partake's of the same blessedness, 
 when we shall next meet him, wearing the crown of right- 
 eousness, awarded by the Righteous Judge to all his faithful 
 servants. Yours in the Gospel, 
 
 "I. S. K. A. " 
 
 Although Mr. Quarterman was physically unable, for 
 miny years, to render any pa^torial services, yet he was con- 
 ti.'iu d the senior pastor of the Ciiuich. 
 
 Among the foreign missionaries who have been sent out to 
 foreign lands by the Presbyterian Chur-h, were two of his 
 children — a son and a daughter. The Church itself has sent 
 into the ministry more of its .sons than probably any Church 
 in the South. Amono; those whocurerei the ministry durino; 
 the pasi orate of Mr. Q., are the Bakeis, Daniel, John W., 
 and Richaid W.; Dr. and Jolui J-nes, Ctssels and Dua- 
 wody; John and T. Sumner Winn; John Quarterman and 
 R. Q. May. The most of these w< re broug 't into the Church 
 during his ministry, so that he did not, labor in vain, nor 
 spend his strength for nought. Having fought a good fight 
 and finished his course, he entered into rtst, amid the re- 
 grets of all who knew him. 
 
 It was during his ministry the system of means for the 
 religious instruction of the colored people, which became so 
 efficient, had itsorigin, andso far as that congregation was con- 
 cerned, its maturity — presenting a model which deserved 
 to be generally imitated, but which, by the events of a few 
 past years, has been overthrown. 
 
 He died the 18th of April, 1849, in the 62nd year of his 
 age, and the 30th of his ministry. His remains were laid in 
 the Midway Cemetery, to await the glorious morn of the 
 resurrection. 
 
REV. ROBERT QUARTERMAX. 261 
 
 At a regular meeting of the Session of Midway Church, 
 May 15, 1849, the following resolutions were adopted, ex- 
 pressive of the feelings of that body in reference to the death 
 of their aged pastor, to-wit : 
 
 " It having pleased Almighty God to remove by death our 
 rev^ered and honored pastor, the Rev. Robert Quarterman, 
 and the fact having been announced to this Session by our 
 clerk. 
 
 Resolved, That in this dispensation we recognize the hand 
 of God, and bow in humble submission to his sovereign will. 
 
 Resolved, That in his decease we regard ourselves as hav- 
 ing sustained a serious bereavement — the Cliurch, in the loss 
 of a pastor and spiritual guide, by whose ministrations we 
 have been instructed, and whose example has ever tended to 
 our edification — and the community, in the loss of a friend 
 whose memory is endeared by numerous acts of generous phi- 
 lanthropy and private kindness. 
 
 Resolved^ That while recording this our loss, it is our con- 
 solation to believe, that death has been his unspeakable gain, 
 and that we are herein admonished to live the life of the 
 righteous, that our last end may be like his. 
 
 Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the 
 bereaved family, as a mark of our sympathy and condolence, 
 and that they be published in the Southsrn Presbgterian.^' 
 
 Faithfulness and industry in the Master's work character- 
 ized him as a minister. His sermons were of the most prac- 
 tical and pointed character. The spiritual interests of his 
 flock ever laid near his heart; and his ministerial success was 
 very great, as doubtless scores of redeemed souls now in 
 Heaven, and many still on earth, are able to testisfy, who 
 will rise up in the last day and call him blessed. 
 
 He was married four times, and at his death left a widow 
 and eleven children. Four of his sons have become minis- 
 ters, and two of his daughters minister's wives. One of his 
 sons, the Rev. John W. Quarterman, was for twenty years a 
 
262 KECROLOGT. 
 
 faithful and successful missionarj to the Chinese, among 
 vrhom his remains are now deposited. One of his daughters, 
 the wife of the Rev. R. Q. Waj, spent sixteen years among 
 the same people, and in the same glorious work. 
 
 Such is a brief memorial of the Rev. Robert Quarterman,. 
 cf Midway. 
 
REY. JOSEPH MELANCTIION QUARTERMAN. * 
 
 Joseph Melanctlion Quarterman, one of tlie younger sons 
 of the Rev. Robert Quarterman, was born in Liberty country, 
 ^yhere so many have been trained for the Gospel ministry, on 
 the ICth day of April, 1828. Like the other members of 
 this highly favored family, he was a child of pi-ayer, and was 
 brought up in the hallowed atmosphere of true piety. It 
 gives us no surprise, then, to learn, that in 1842, when but 
 14 years of age, he joined the Midway Congregational 
 Church, of which his father was at that time the senior 
 pastor. 
 
 In January, 184G, he became a student in Oglethorpe 
 L'niversity, having the ministry in view, and, prosecuting his 
 studies dil:G;entlv, was f^raduated in 1817, with the first hon- 
 ors of his class. Then followed three years study in the 
 Theological Seminar}'- at Columbia, S. C. Upon its comple- 
 tion, he was licensed as a probationer in the Gospel ministry, 
 by the Presbytery of Georgia, 1850. 
 
 He began his ministerial labors at Mt. Yernon, Montgom- 
 ery county, over which charge he was, upon his ordination, 
 installed pastor in 1851. Here he toiled, in labors abund- 
 ant and self-denying, for five years — ministering among a 
 people who gave him but a scanty support, he eked out his 
 living by drawing unmurmuringly on his private means, but 
 was ultimately obliged to seek a field elsewhere. 
 
 In November, 1855, he removed to Palatka, East Florida, 
 where, with unflagging zeal and diligence, he applied himself 
 anew to the arduous duties of the ministry. Besides laboring 
 at Palatka, he gave one Sabbath in each month to the Church 
 at Orange Springs, 25 miles distant. It was in the perform- 
 
 MSS. from Rev. R. Q. Way. 
 
 203 
 
2G4 NECROLOGY. 
 
 ance of this last fatiguing duty that the disease was devcdoped 
 which terminated so unexpectedly in his death. It seemed 
 hut an ordinary attack of intermittent fever, whicli for a 
 week or two created no al.irm. But suddenly a congei^ive 
 chill thrust its cold fingers upon his vitals. Ho sank iu de- 
 lirious unconsfcicntiousness beneath the destroyer, and the 
 soul emerged from the cloud on tin heavenward side, lie 
 died on the 29th of March, 185S, in thirtieth year of his age, 
 and seventh of his ministr3^ 
 
 In the humble and noiseless circle in wliich he moved, he 
 was known only to be IovlmI and respeeted by all, without 
 qualification or exception. From deep and fixed principles, 
 rather than lively an;l spasmodic impulse, he wa-; f lithful, 
 c )nsistant, and unwearied in the performance of e\^(^ry duty 
 growing out of the various relation ^ to his family, to the 
 Church, and to the world at large. As a minister of the 
 Cross, he preached 'Icsus, and preached Ilim cirnestly and 
 faitJifalljj. As a, pastor, his character shone forth most con- 
 spicuously, for his hamility, that sweetest grace, had a wider 
 field for its activity. 
 
 Ilf^ left a lovely and interesting family to mourn the loss 
 of a husband and father, but he lefc them a rich inheiitance. 
 His memory will be precious to them, and his prayers and 
 his labors for them, and for the Church, have already come 
 up before God. 
 
 We subjoin an extract from the minutes of the Synod of 
 Georgia of 1858, which presents a fine ilhistration of h's 
 character, and was written by a young brother, probably a 
 Theological classmate, and one who possessed a high and ju?t 
 appreciation of his character: 
 
 "There was a fine symmetry in the charicter of our de- 
 parted brother, which, while it is a positive excellence, makes 
 it diflicult to give desired relief to his portrait. There were 
 about him few or no salient points to engage attention; thi'^, 
 with his modest and retiring nature, prevented the full ap- 
 
REV. JOSEPH MELANCTIION QUARTERMAX. 2Gc> 
 
 preciation of any except his nearest and most intimate friends. 
 Some members of this body may recollect the occasional ap- 
 pearance in the Synod, a few y^ars since, of a pale, slender 
 young minister, who, from his unconspicuous seat, watched 
 with interest the proceedings of the body; but, with modest 
 deference, took na active part in them, except to give his 
 votes. This was a man who, in his field at home, labored 
 indefatigably to promote the cause of Christ, " working while 
 it was day," as if with a near presentiment that his "night 
 must soon come." And he not only bestowed his unwearied 
 labors, but he spared not his little earthly possessions. Said 
 a worthy member of his last charge, 'Brother Quarterman 
 has given more to the Church than any of us.' Thus he 
 showed himself cheerfully willing to ' spend and be spent' 
 for his gracious Master. It only remained that he should 
 be called to endure the minister's, the husband's, and fath- 
 er's last trial and struggle; but when the summons came, the 
 O'lriitiia, by Divine grac^, proved triumphant over all. He 
 j)yfu!ly realized, that to 'depart and be with Christ was far 
 better.' " 
 
REV. LUCIUS A. SIMONTON. 
 
 Lucious A. SiMOXTOX, son of Ezekiel and Sophia Simon- 
 ton, was born in Newton county, Georgia, in 1830. His 
 father was for many years a ruling Elder in the Church of 
 Hopewell, Crawford county, and was greatly respected for 
 his devoted piety, and the integrity of his character. He 
 had several children, only three of whom survived him. He 
 died in Talbot county, Ga., in 1855, The mother of Lu- 
 cious died in his early childhood, but her place was most 
 faithfully supplied by an excellent step-mother to whom he 
 was, till the close of life, most tenderly attached. 
 
 He was trained up in the nurture and admonition of 
 the Lord. During the period of boyhood and youth, he 
 was remarkably exempt from the follies and vices peculiar to 
 th;it season. We know not that he manifested during that 
 period of life any special concern about his spiritual welfare. 
 After having received a good academical education, he was 
 for a time, clerk in a mercantile establishment. Whether 
 this was by his own choice, or in obedience to parental wish- 
 es, we know not. He, however, found this vocation very un- 
 congenial to his tastes, so he abandoned it, and after neces- 
 sary preparation he entered Oglethorpe University in 1851, 
 whore he was graduated with honorable distinction in 185-3. 
 While a member of that Institution, it was visited by one of 
 those gracious revivals, with which God has so signally favored 
 it. Lucious became a subject of it, and to use his own words, 
 '• it was there I learned to love Christ." Very soon after 
 his conversion, his thoughts were directed to the gospel min- 
 istry. Being fully satified in his own mind, that God had 
 called him to the work, he entered the Theological Seminary 
 at Columbia, S. C, immediately after his graduation. 
 
 MSS. from Rev. S. H. Hay. 
 
 2GG 
 
REV. LUCIUS A. SIMONTON. 267 
 
 He completed his Theological course in the Spring of 1855, 
 and was licensed to preach the gospel by HopeAvell Presby- 
 tery. During the following summer he preached in several 
 places with great acceptance. He was invited to supply the 
 Churches of Sparta and Mt. Zion, in Hamcock county, but 
 being. necessarily engaged in settling his fathers business, 
 they were willing that his labors should not commence until 
 January 1856. In the meantime he was married to Miss 
 Annie C. Peck, of Columbia, S. C. 
 
 He entered upon his ministerial workrunder a deep sense 
 of his responsibility. He continued to be a diligent student, 
 while he labored in season and out of season. He was very 
 much beloved by both congregations; and there are many of 
 them who will give their testimony to his faithfulness and 
 untiring z-^al in his Master's service. The Church of Sparta 
 gave him a unanimous call to become their pastor. This he 
 accepted and was accordingly ordained in June following and 
 installed pastor of that Church. He continued to preach at 
 Mt. Zion as before. In both Churches God gave him souls 
 for his hire. 
 
 In the fall of 1858, he received' an invitation from the 
 Church in xA.lbany, Ga., to preach for them a Sabbath or two. 
 He complied with the request, and the result was a call to 
 become their pastor. Although the sundering of the ties 
 binding him to the beloved people of Sparta, and Mt. Zion, 
 wa? exceedingly painful, yet after much prayerful delibera- 
 tion, he felt it his duty to accept the call. His people 
 aware thit his field of usefulness would be much enlarcred, 
 by the change, made no opposition. Early in December the 
 Presbytery dissolved the pastorial relation between him and 
 the Church at Sparta. The Lord, hoWever, had ordered dif- 
 ferently. His purpose Avas, that his ministerial labors should 
 cease where they had begun. In making preparations for his 
 removal, he contracted a severe cold. He preached his farewell 
 sermon the second Sabbath in December. He was then very 
 
268 
 
 NECROLOGY. 
 
 unwell. It iproved to he his last sermon. He became very 
 feeble, and it was evident to all that he was in a rapid decline. 
 He had repeated and severe hemorages from the lungs* also a 
 harrassing cough, which, with excessive debility prevented 
 him from conversation with his friends. Leaving a depend- 
 ent family to whom he was so tenderly attached, at first, 
 seemed to depress his spirits, but God gave him faith to com- 
 mit them into his hands. He was calm and resigned to the 
 will of his Heavenly Father. On the morning of the -Slst of 
 March 1857, he gently fell a.'^leepin Jesus. By his request 
 he was hurried in Elmwood Cemetery near Columbia, S. C. 
 He left a son and two infant daughters, the elder of whom 
 has since been re-united to him in Heaven. 
 
 During the three months illness of this young servant of 
 God, he was attended to with the most unremitting kindness, 
 not only by those for whom he had labored, but by all around. 
 Nothing was left undone that coubl contribute to the comfort 
 of himself and family. Too much cannot be said of their 
 kindness and liberality. The recollection of it is gratefully 
 cherished by those who loved him. 
 
REV. JOSEPH B. STEVENS. 
 
 Joseph B. Stevens, was the son of Joshua and Chloe 
 Stevens, and was born at Brookfield, Connecticut, August 
 3d, 1801. His parents were poor but respectable and pious. 
 They gave him but a linaited education, which hehimself made 
 no effort to improve until after his 21st year. It was at this 
 time he was hopefully brought to an experimental knowl- 
 edge of the Saviour, and feeling it his duty to preach the 
 Gospel, he determined to obtain a Collegiate education. He 
 united with a church in New Haven, and entered Bowdoia 
 College in the State of Maine, where he graduated September 
 6th, 1827, being about twenty-six years of age. He studied 
 Theology in the Seminary at Bangor three years, and was 
 licensed by a Congregational Association in Maine to preach 
 the Gospel, being then some twenty-nine years old. 
 
 His first labors in the ministry were at the barracks near 
 Bangor. How long he continued in this station, we know 
 not. He was afterwards settled over a Church at Falmouth, 
 in Maine. In Falmouth he married Miss Lydia Crabtree, 
 daughter of William and Hannah Crabtree, June 18th, 
 1835. 
 
 A few years subsequently he determined to leave New 
 England. In 1840, he immigrated to Georgia, and settled in 
 the town of Brunswick, on the Atlantic coast. Here he 
 preached and taught for some time. He afterwards removed 
 to the town of Darien. Thence he removed to the city of Ma- 
 con in 1815, and in the following year to Savannah, where 
 he was employed in preaching in the Seaman's Chapel, and 
 Broughton Street (now the first Presbyterian Church) for a 
 year or two. In January 1847, he removed to Butts coun- 
 ty, Ga. He then became the stated supply of the Churches 
 
 2Gt) 
 
270 NECROLOGY. 
 
 of Fellowship, Bethany, Smyrna, and McDonough. He was 
 for a year or two, the regular installed pastor of the Betha- 
 ny and Smyrna Churches, during which time he resided in 
 Newton county. He also lived one year in Griffin. 
 
 In the winter of l<s56, he removed to Whitney, Calhoun 
 county, Ga., and engaged in teaching and preaching. He 
 supplied the Church of Poehitla in that county, as also a 
 branch of the same, composed principally of colored people, 
 on Spring Creek in Early county. This was his last field 
 of labor. His health failed, and after a long and painful ill- 
 ness of organic disease of the heart, in which the lungs sym- 
 pathized, developed in the form of asthma, from which he 
 suffered excessively, he died in Whitney, May 9th, 1860, in 
 the 59th year of his age, and about the 30th of his ministi'y. 
 
 He left a widow and six children — four sons, and two 
 daughters. 
 
 Of Mr. Stevens, we can truly say, he was a good man. 
 At the meeting of the Synod of Georgia, in Columbus in the 
 fall of the year in which he died, the following record was 
 made : (and we feel that we cannot present a better estimate 
 of his character, than by giving an extract from that minute.) 
 
 " Mr. Stevens was, emphatically a man of God. As a 
 Christian, he was humble, consistent, devoted. As a iPreach- 
 cr, he was earnest, solemn, and instructive. As a Pastor, he 
 was faithful and laborious, giving heed to the flock over 
 which the Holy Ghost had made him the Overseer. He min- 
 istered for the most part to feeble Churches. His labors 
 were arduous and self-denying, and received but a poor pecu- 
 niary compensation; but we doubt not his reward in Heaven 
 was great, for he was eminently useful. The colored people 
 and the poor of his congregations received special attention, 
 and among these he had many seals of his ministry. At one 
 time he reported the addition of some thirty-five or forty col- 
 ored persons to the communion of the Church. 
 
 Thus, in noiseless, unostentatious labors for the salvation 
 
/ KEY. JOSEPH B. STEYEXS. 271 
 
 of God's elect, he fulfilled liis ministry, and has gone to his 
 account, to receive, as we believe the benediction of the Mas- 
 ter : " Well done thou good and faithfal servant ; enter thou 
 into the joy of thy Lord : thou hast been faithful over a few 
 things, I will make the ruler over many things ." 
 
 In the death of Mr. Stevens, we have lost a beloved broth- 
 er in Christ, and an efficient co-laborer in the vineyard of 
 the Lord. Whilst we bow in submission to the will of God, 
 who doeth all things well, Ave sincerely lament his decease. 
 With his bereaved wife and children, we affectionately sympa- 
 thize, and in prayer, commend them to the widoAv's God, Siwd 
 the God of the fatherless."' 
 
REV. JOHX WILSOX REID. 
 
 For tlie following sketch of the life and labors of Rev. 
 Mr. Reid we are indebted to the pen of the late Rev, R. A. 
 Houston, who was for years his intimate friend and fellow-la- 
 borer. 
 
 The death of this beloved and venerated servant of God, 
 at about the age of sixty-three, has awakened general and 
 tender grief. An unusuul sense of bereavement is felt by a 
 large circle, not only on account of his endearing and admi- 
 rable personal qualities and relations, but also for the void 
 created in a wide sphere, for which he was singularly gifted 
 and trained, and which he filled with rare credit to him- 
 self and usefulness to the Church and country. His life and 
 character afford the key to the fe?ling of desolation which 
 has ewept over so many hearts, and amply justify the high 
 regard in which he was held. Both are replete with instruc- 
 tion and encouragement to all who like him, aim at the high- 
 est and holiest ends by the earnest and indefatigable employ- 
 ment of the best means for their attainment. In the beauty 
 and strength of hie character, Jiis spotless example, and la- 
 borious, fruitful career, his survivors possess a legacy of 
 great preciousness. Under a constant and profound impres- 
 sion of the solemnities and responsibilities of life, he was ever 
 actively engaged in useful and noble purposes, and therefore 
 achieved great results. The strength of his early and ar- 
 dent aspirations for usefulness was severely tested by what 
 "we are accustomed to call adverse circumstances by which he 
 •was encompassed in youth. But there was too much native 
 vigor in his mind to be diverted, or arrested by obstacles; and 
 in his resolute encounter with them, he acquired additional 
 strength and elasticity. This sort of discipline, as he testi- 
 
REV. JOHN WILSON KEID. 
 
 fiod to the writer, led him to exercise and cherish the most 
 ardent attuchment to Christ and his cause. He. therefore, 
 turned not a-iide fi-oai what he regarded as the path of duty 
 in view of anj obstractions or dangers. His sanctified Avill 
 WIS inflexible uuler any pressure save the divine pleas- 
 ure, when it was efjually remarkable for pliancy and submis- 
 sion. Cautious to avoid error, he made wide and cartful 
 searches after truth, and hence was generally slow in reach- 
 ing conclusions ; but when reached, they were held with un- 
 wavering though modest tenacity. His judgment was clciir and 
 accurate. Few men exhibit so much prudence and discretion 
 as marked prominently his whole life. Patient and quiet as- 
 siduity characterized all h-is studies, and indeed, all his pur- 
 suits. His memory was excellent. His iniimate friends of- 
 ten spoke of his inces-aiut and unwearied mental activity. 
 
 His Christian character was a model and the admiration and 
 delight of the godlj, while it constrained the iiighest respect 
 of all. At an early a^e hi consecrated himself to the service 
 of Goil, and henceforth it was "his meat and his drink to do 
 his Father's will." His whule soul seemed to be penetrated, 
 imSued, and thorougidy seasoned with the spirit of religion. 
 These were a completness and harmony and unity, and yet 
 a wonderful variety in his spii itual gifts, which never failed 
 to attract the love and awaken the admiration of the di^ccrn- 
 ing. Free from affectation and cant, sourness and gloom, 
 his piety by its depth and weight, its purity and simplicity, 
 its warm.th and constancy, its uniformity, povtcr and growth, 
 comraendeil itself as the pro<luct of truth and grace of God. 
 The grace of humility covered him all over like an insepera- 
 >>le robe. Gentle, loving and cheerful, his presence would 
 disperse the clouds of care and despondency, and his well- 
 chosen words of sympathy and encouragement would hight- 
 en and strengthen as by a magic wand. His meekness, 
 though often provoked to the utmost, was so divine in its 
 '^juality and temper, as to withstand the sorest pressure. He 
 18 
 
274 NECROLOGY. 
 
 was not hurried into speaking unadvisedly with his lips. In 
 this respect, few inde«d, were his peers. He had acquired 
 i»uch sclf-possesi-ion and control, such serene and firm re- 
 liance on God, that in the various trials of his life he kept his 
 " soul in patience, " and acted with rare judgment and jus- 
 tice, unbiased by unhallowed passionsor prejudice. True, his 
 jealousy for the Lord God of hosts, and his zeal fpr truth and 
 'righteousness, were so ardent and active as to enkindle his 
 lioly indignation against sin, especially in its more rcfiu sive 
 and arrogant forms ; yet they were commingled with so ten- 
 der and affectionate an interest foi* the sinner, as to disarm 
 malice, to overcome and restrain, and often to melt and sub- 
 due the offender. His faith would not be shaken by any ad- 
 verse appearances or circumstances. In affliction and be- 
 reavement and distress, as well as in ji.y and prosperity, he 
 •minifested submission and conformity to the divine will. 
 Therefore, his piety pervaded his whole mind and heart, and 
 was ever exhibited in his C)nversation and life. It wis not 
 put on for great occasions, or for the discharge of official du- 
 'ties. It always appeared with, and as a {)an of the man. His 
 light shincd. His holiness was seen and felt at all times. 
 It beamed out in a steady radiance from an unclouded sun. A 
 fountain of living water in his soul sent forth constant 
 streams in every direction to fertilize and gladden the earth. 
 Endowed thus with the whole circle of virtues and graces, 
 appropriately grouped, healthful, vigorous, flourishing ; in- 
 tensely conscientious, heartily benevolent, and of tireless ac- 
 tivity, he presented a corresponding life in all duties and re- 
 lations, as son, husband, father, friend, citizen, and mas- 
 ter. Ho thoughtfully and in God's fear, sought to understand 
 his responsibilities and perform them with pains-taking and 
 fidelity. How well he succeeded, the love, gratitude, and 
 grief so bountifully bestowed upon his memory, bear im- 
 pressive testimony. But while his private life displays all we 
 could expect, much more than we generally see, and most of 
 
REV, JOHN WILSON REID. 275 
 
 what we would desire in mortal man, it is in his public career 
 where he whs most conspicuous and wrought most largely for 
 the Church and the country. 
 
 For about thirty years he laboriously followed the occu- 
 pation of teaching in connection with the exercises of his min- 
 istry. Having completed his preparation in North Corolina, 
 his native State, he came to Georgia at a mature age to be- 
 gin life in a new sphere ; and having spent several years — - 
 ten or twelve — in the instruction of youth in the counties of 
 Columbia and Lincoln, with decided acceptance and success, 
 he removed to Woodstock. Oglethorpe Co., where he resided 
 until his death. This villag'e, delightfully embowered in a 
 fine grove of oaks, in a sequestered spot, free from all the 
 common sources of temptation to the young, was built up by 
 the subject of this sketch and two or three other gpntlemen' 
 of wealth and intelligence, for the sake of social, educational, 
 and religious privileges. It has been devoted to these high 
 purposes, and having become classic ground to hundreds, will 
 he long remembered for its sacred associations, and extensive 
 salutary influence. For a few years, Mr. Reid taught the 
 numerous scholars placed under his care in all the branches 
 and to the extent ordinary in a high school. But the capaci- 
 ty, skill and success of the teacher in ti'aining youno- men, 
 rapidily increased his reputation; and many others from every 
 direction and from distant points, even beyond the bounds of 
 the State, came hither to enjoy the rare intellectual and mor- 
 al advantages of the school. It was thought, therefore, that 
 a more regular organization would secure greater efficiency, 
 and meet the wants of that numeroug circle who desired to 
 prepare for the various occupations of active life, and from 
 different causes were unable- to meet the requirements of a 
 College. The studies of quite a full literary, classical, and 
 scientific course were, therefore, arranged into four divisions, 
 adapted to youth in all the different grades of advancement, 
 and ade<juate to insure thorough and efficient scholarship. 
 
-T6' NECEOLOGY. 
 
 The school henceforth took the name of 'Philomathean Col- 
 legiate Institute." lie was most efficiently assisted during 
 two or three years, first by his eldest son, and afterwards by 
 his youngest — the former a graduate of Princeton, and the lat- 
 ter of Oglethorpe University. The orga.mzation accomplished 
 all that its friends expected. The change was made at the sug- 
 gestion and by the aid of the Hon. A. H. Stephens, a finished 
 scholar himself, and long a patron of the school. For among 
 the numerous patr otic and benevolent efforts of this gen- 
 tleraan in behalf of his countrymen, none shine brighter than 
 his education ofworthy young men without adoqu;ite means to 
 accomplish it themselves. He frequently had several at the 
 sametirae under Mr. Rfid's instructions; and their diligence 
 and att&inments, generally, vindicated the wisdom of their se- 
 lection as well as the choice of their teacher. On account of 
 his interest in these young men of the school, and of geneia) 
 education, Mr. Stephens himself sometimes came to '^'^ ood- 
 stock , especially at the annual examination*, or Oommmce- 
 ments, as they came to be popularly called, on account of 
 the intelligence and refinement of the audience, the more thm 
 ordinary exhibition of thorough and critical scholarsldp 
 evinced by the pupils, and the literary address given by some 
 gentlemen of ability and distinction. While his presen'O 
 was always desired and appreciated, yet it was not with ut 
 considerable trepidation that the young men fo-und themselves 
 for review in the hands of such a master. They generally 
 consoled themselves, however, witli the reflection that if th^y 
 could endure the searching test of their teacher, they had lit- 
 tle to fear from their distinguished visitor. It is proper to 
 mention in this eonnection that Mr. Reid also was in the hab- 
 it of boarding aind teaching-young men of promise, but with- 
 out moans, on condition of payment if they ever became able. 
 It is supposed that perhaps a hundred were thus enabled to 
 obtain an education. And it is worthy of record that the uni- 
 Tersalltv with which these engagrments have been discharged, 
 
REV. JOHN WILSON REID. 277 
 
 reflects honor upon the discernment of the teacher and the 
 nobleness of the pupils. 
 
 Mr. Reid stood abreast of the first rank of teachers in the 
 Stite, and wrought an untold amount of good in the preparar 
 tion of large numbers for advanced positions in the different 
 •Colleges of the country; in fitting many others for the active 
 and useful employments of life; in elevating the standard of 
 education ; and in creating and cherishing a deep and prac- 
 tical interest in the public mind in favor of a more general 
 and thoroujih cultivation of the minds and hearts of the 
 young. His attachment for youth, and his desire for their 
 preparation for usefulness, burned with wonderful energy, 
 and led him to stend and be spent in the attainment of these 
 lofty ends. Week after week for a long series of years, he 
 toiled in this, to him, delightful but laborious work, with un- 
 flagging diligence and zeal, never relaxing his labor, though 
 often afflicted with bodily infirmities, which would have arrest- 
 ed most men in their pursuits. During nearly the whole of 
 each day, he addressed all his energies and employed m11 his 
 attainments in giving patient, t( ilsome instruction. He more- 
 over did not simply stuff the mind with knowledge. He de> 
 %'eloped and strengthened it, and led it out into investigation 
 for the discovery of truth. He jilways gave and dem:indefl 
 reasons. Every proper argument and motive were used to 
 awaken interest and stimulate application. Good in ^'ll de- 
 partments, he was superior in mathematics and the Latin 
 tongue. He loved teaching with an ardor that was not quench- 
 ed even on his dying bed. 
 
 In the discipline of his school, he was patient and forbear- 
 ing almost to a fault, but firm, decided, and invincible, when 
 •necessity forbade further indulgence. So wise and judifious^ 
 130 just, kind, and considerate was he in his intercourse and 
 dealings with those undci- his charge, as generally to an in 
 the most devoted and grateful attachment, and always their 
 liighest regard and veneration. His sympathy, supervision, 
 
£78 NECROLOGY. 
 
 aiul efforts were abund mtly ex ended to their moral and spir- 
 itual interest. He ceased not in school and out, at every suit- 
 able opportunity, by prayer, by careful instruction, admoni- 
 tion and advice ; by manifest tearful solicitude ; by reproof 
 and entreaty ; by argument and illustr.ition, to lend 'hem to 
 ealvaiion through thn mercy of God in Christ Jesus. Timely 
 remarks here and there, werf ofren ;irrows of conviction, 
 while his special app'^als were of en liear' -thrilling and f)Ow r- 
 fully effective. Lar^^e numbeisof his pipijs bee nm- hopeful- 
 ly pious; and quite a consider abh' piOjiortiMM h.ive entered 
 the ministry, and are in turn extrtin^an mfliicnee for the su- 
 premacy of that relig on he l-ivrd sd well, and taug.it ^o 
 faithfully and illustiated so beiutifully. 
 
 Having studied Theology undt-r the siipervi ion of tb Ri-v, 
 Dr. Tahnage. Mr. Reid wms licensed to prcjch the go.-p< i, 
 September, 1833, by Ho()ewell Pi'esbyt' r\, a' its sessions in 
 Deca'ur, Ga. His ministry in connection with his .sebnol 
 made his a life of most intense and exhau-ting l.ibor. He 
 possessed, in a most eminent degree, the scriptural character- 
 istics of a minister of Christ, an'l made full prcf ther^ of, 
 of a meek and lowly mind, r' lying wit,h all his might upon 
 the strength and gr;ice of God, and absoibed in his mission, 
 he ccMsed not, day and night, with many tears, -wher^ vt-r tlie 
 door was op n, to preach the truth to perishing si'nners, and 
 to build up :he Chur-h in knowled^re an 1 true holiness. He 
 possessd much of the missionary spirit, and sometimes made 
 long journeys to feed the starving, and gather in the sca.ttered 
 sheep. He long sufjplied several small Churches with the 
 bread of life, riding often on hor>eback, fiom ten to forty miles 
 to do so, and returning in t me to meet his school on Monday 
 morning. No sort "f weather would prevent him fnun meet- 
 ing his appointments, and the smallness of the congregation 
 would never deter him from preiching. His "often infirmi- 
 ties," and frequently his serious illness, were no obstacle in 
 Lis way. ''The path of duty i, the path of safety," was hi* 
 
REV. JOHN WILSON REID; 279 
 
 motto ; and the solicitations of anxious friends, moved him 
 not a hair'sbreadth from his purpose. With what emphasis 
 he has often been heard to read, " My heart is fixed, oh God \ 
 my heart is fixed," as if the sentiment welled up from the 
 profoundf^st depths of his soul. 
 
 He believed with a deep and unutterable conviction that 
 the gospel scheme of salvation was the only efficacious means 
 to arrest and eradicate the disorder, collisions, and vices of 
 human society, to redothe the soul with holiness, and b-irig 
 it to glory, honor and immortality. Hence he co'ild nottul- 
 crate any thing however plausable or pretending that. 
 claimed its [)laee or efficacy; or lead the people astray from 
 the f juntain of life, to " broken cisterns which eau hoM no 
 water." He believed and taught ; and acted on the faitli 
 too, that God's plan needed no suppliments or aids to accom- 
 plish the work, being " ordered in all things and sure ." Hav- 
 ing the "truth as it is in Jesus," thus solidly and under- 
 standingly inwrougt in his minii, and warming his alfections^ 
 and possessing an intense yearning for the salvation 
 of men, he naturally preached with great unction and 
 fervor, with great simplicity and tenderness, pointedly, 
 and with fidelity. His sermons were not elaborated with 
 great learning. Not with "enticing words of man's wis- 
 dom," did he endeavor to compass his ends, " but in demon- 
 stration of the spirit and of (»ower." His preaching Avas 
 full of gospel truth, and thoroughly imbued with the spirit of 
 piety. His hearers always caught something of the holy fire 
 that ever burneil on the altar of his heart. And those to 
 whom he regufirly ministered were always in an unusually 
 lively condition. Often where he preached has the Divine 
 presence been so manifest as to be feh, acknowledged, and 
 aim St seen. He was accustomed to prepare himself with 
 much prayer and careful study for his pulpit exer- 
 cises. Though never writing out fully his sermon, almost 
 invariably he had a " brief," containing the divisions and 
 
280 NECROLOGY. 
 
 lending thought of his discour.-se, tdgetiier with pas- 
 sages of Scripture, or reference to such passages, all 
 accurately and logically arranged. In his younger days, 
 when in health, he spoke with great animati m and vigor, 
 bur asagecrcpt on, and disease, and long, hard labor, inipMir- 
 ed the. stability of his cliy tabernacle, bespoke with le-s ac- 
 t-ion, but with eqa:il unction. 
 
 When this godly man lifted up his voice in prayer eve- 
 ty one felt that herea}iz:d the presence of God. and com- 
 Miuned with him in spirit and truth, while heiven was brought 
 very near. 
 
 In the course of his ministry, several hundred w.*re hope- 
 fully conv.'rted ; but the wonderful amount, of j^ood he did in 
 building up the people of G>d in faith and knowledge eter;ii- 
 ty alone can itrifoid. The nature and exrent of his labors 
 prevented much pistoral visi'aion, except in his itnmediate 
 M 'igliborhood, whereas usual h ^ was faith-'ui, was always 
 welcome, ever did good. In the sick roo:n, his cheei'fiil 
 gravity, and words of encouragement wire invaluable. 
 Wnenevi'r not weighed down wiih his life long and distre>=sin2: 
 f>hysical maladies, he shed always around him hojjo and glad- 
 ness. 
 
 Mr. Reid manifested the prf)founde-t in i crest in the Avelfare 
 of the colored people. Believing that the institution of 
 slavery was based upon the solid foundation of Bible teach- 
 ing and authority, lie thought, and with diligence and ear- 
 nestness taught in the pulpii, in the church judicatories, and 
 his private conversation, even from house to house, that it 
 wa-< the solemn duty (,f maslei s to train up their servants in 
 *' tlic nurture and admonition of the Lord." This was the 
 eoursc he pursued with his own. lie always gathered his 
 house servants in his fainilv devotions, morning and evening. 
 As to the laborers in the field, ht- had a separate sc vice for thein 
 rising by daylight, and conducting suitable rdigious exercis- 
 es before they repaired to their work, and in like u)anner af- 
 
REV. JOHN WILSON REID. 281 
 
 ter tiicj returned in the evening. For upward of twenty 
 year-', also, it, was his custom, when at home, to assemble on 
 Sibbatli afternoon a large congregntion of these people, and 
 t ) instruct them ^Yas his usual care and toil, in the great doc- 
 ti-ioes of revealed religion — using the Bible and Jone's Cate- 
 chism, v/ith preaching, for tliis purpose. Faithfully he Avarn- 
 ed them against their peculiar vices, set forth and taught 
 their obligations in the relations then sub-^isting, and by eve- 
 ry available means endeavored to enlighten, elevate and save 
 them. His labors were fruitful in many respects, nnd indi- 
 viduals and society at large, reaping great benefit from his 
 influence and exertions. 
 
 In the church courts, the subject of this sketch was held in 
 the liighest estimation. His ardent piety, ever-])urning zeal, 
 activity, and interest in every thing pertaining to the ad- 
 vancement uf the Redeemers Kingdom, gave him great wught 
 ■\Nhich wa> always exerted prudently, and for high purposes. 
 l\Iore than one minister has been heard to testify, that frona 
 hi-i presence and preaching, they had derived more benefit 
 than from those of any other man. 
 
 But the end approaches. The faithful servant had fought 
 the good fight, hud run his race, had kept the faith, and now 
 must finisli his couise. Although scriou-ly ill, he set out on 
 Saturdaj^ mornirig of a hot July day to ride twenty miles on 
 horse-back to preach to one of the Churches in his charge. On 
 S^ibbathmorningonhis way to his own church, he stopped at the 
 Methodist, and scarely able to stand, made an address to the 
 Sabbath school. When he reached his own pulpit, he was 
 too ill to preach, and retired to afrienil's hou-^e, where he re- 
 mained until Monday afternoon, at about an hour before sun- 
 set ; when he rose, requested his horse to be brought and 
 started for home, Avhich he reached about two o'clock in the 
 morning, in so weak and exhausted a condition as hardly to 
 be able to reach his bed. The powers of nature were exhaust- 
 ed ; atid though perfectly rational when aroused, he never 
 
282 KECROLOGY. 
 
 rallied from the depression. During bis remaining short 
 stay, he offered the most solemn and affecting prayers for 
 those around him, left, his parting messages to different mem- 
 bers of his family, and one foi- the Church in Woodstock, to 
 which he had so long preached. The latter is contained in tlie 
 twelve first verses, of the twelfth chapter of Hebrews, togeth- 
 er with the charge: " Prepare to meet thy God." lie seemed 
 to be occupied, during his illness when left to himself, in 
 pieparing sermons, preaching, and teaching. On Tliursday 
 m<'rning, about dayligtu, he feb asleep in Jesus, so gently as 
 to be scarC' ly perc ivi d. 
 
 Of hixi we may truly say ; " Blessed are the dead who die 
 ir the Lord, fiom henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that 
 th.ey may rest fr ^m their labars : and their works do follow 
 them." 
 
KEY. SAMUEL KEXNEDY TALMAGE* 
 
 Major Thomas Talmage, the fatlier of Dr. Talraagc, wa& 
 a native of New Jersey, born at Ba-king Ridge jh the 24th of 
 October, 1775, and grew up amid the scones of the Revolu- 
 tion. His early r(?ligious training; was under the ministry 
 of the Rev. Sa uuel Kenneday,f for many years the faithful 
 and successful pastor of thit ancient Church, :ind af^er whom 
 he named his son, the sulgect of th s mentorijil. He united 
 with the Church in his twentierh year. His pieiy is repre. 
 sented as being intelligent aivi ardent. His vi. ws of diictii- 
 nal truth and religious experience, ha\ing been formed in the 
 school of one, who was almost an itnmediare disciph'of tho 
 early puritans, had all the depth and warmth which charac- 
 terized those holy men. He was one of the few remaining 
 Christians of a former age. No one conld converse with him, 
 even an hour, without perceiving that his thoughts and feel- 
 ings were assimilated to those of Bunyan, Bates and Howe. 
 
 *MSS. from the familj' and Board of Tmstecs, Oglethorpe IJni- 
 Tersity. 
 
 f Kev. Samuel Konneday wa3 a Scotcliniiin, born in flie year 1720, 
 and educated at theUuivcrsity of E'iiuliurgli. Hestndc 1 Theology in this 
 country, and was received under the care of tlie Presbytery of New 
 Brunswick in December, 1749. He was licensed in May, 1750, to preach 
 the Gospel, was ordained U> the work of the n>inistry, and installed pas- 
 tor of the congregation of Baskintr Ridge, N. J. in June 1751. 
 
 Mr. Kenneday was iu many respects a reuriurkahje maw. He was, at 
 the sann' time, a minister and a physician. He was distingu5sh"d for 
 the purity and elevation of his Christian chui-acter. He was a thnrough 
 scholar — accurate theologian — and a vigorous defender of theCalyinislic 
 aysteni. In appearance and manner oneofllie most simple and unosten. 
 tacious of men, — his great modesty kept liim very much out of the 
 range of public ol)servalion ; but in 'he pulpit his power of thouglit and 
 fervor of manner sometimes rendered him perfectly overvvheln>iug. 
 
 283 
 
28i NECROLOfiY, 
 
 Ills piety, although partaking larg*?!/ of the deep-roaod, 
 and contemplative cast of the last century, had, nevertheless, 
 ail the ardor and activity of the pre-ent time. Dining a re- 
 vival enjoyed at Somervilie in 1822, he seemed to be anima- 
 ted :i!iiio>i with apostolic zeal, g'ing fi'ora house to hoase com- 
 mcndiiig the Saviour to all men. 
 
 At different tini^s he exercised tlie offic" of Ruling Elder, 
 in the Churches of New Brunswick, Ij.tundhrook, and Ra^i- 
 tan ; and sustained it with honor to himself and advantage 
 
 A oirciunstaiico has been tr)kl of him, by the Kcv. Dr. Tulmigi\ 
 "wliich lie learned from liis father, und which we bcu' leave here to lelatn. 
 It left a deep impression on llie niind-< of those who heard him; and 
 displayed the wonderfid grace of God. 
 
 "There liad been a season of unusn il collness in the Church ai Risk- 
 hii? Ilidiio, and tlie pastor luid become not a little discouraged in view of 
 the apparent truitiessness of his labors Oa a certain Sabbaih, at ;lie 
 cio-^e of the public seivices, he resolved to spend the wiiole of die iollov, - 
 ini!; week in eariiest prH}er aiul devout stud}', with a vii-'w to pi'cpare a 
 SfMUon that, by God's blessing, nught rouse the congiegation li-onitlieir 
 Bpiritniil torpor, and hiiiig them 'o f^el the importance of eternal reali- 
 ties. He fuliilled his puriiise — immediately selecting his text ior the 
 nexi. Sib)ath, and devoting ilie whole intervening week to matu.ing 
 and arranging his tliou^lits upon it Tlie Sabbath came, and in- I'e t 
 slrof.g in rh • belief that lie had produced s«metliing that would move 
 hi^ people, and he expi-cicd confidently to witness ^ome special tokens of 
 the Divine picsence. A-fter singing and prayer, he gave out tiie second 
 hyma, and i»ok liis Bible to open to the text. But strange to tidl, ho 
 couhl noteall to his mind, text, chapter, l)o-'k — even subject, had deseited 
 Jiim. The congregation had (inished singing, and in a half b"wil !(-red 
 stale, he rose and gave out another hymn, lie turned over the leaves 
 <jf tiie Bible to tind s.ane passage on which to found an extemjxira- 
 neou-i di cour.se,and his eye lighted repeatedly on one text upon wlTu'li 
 he thought he might say sosnelhmg. If my memory serves un-, 't 
 was: "The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nutii ns 
 that torget God." The singing being again concluded, he rose, 
 overwhelmed with agitation and distress, and preached a seiinon 
 wliieli meltf'd down the whole c mgre..raiion, and was the coin.nence- 
 ment of a wonderiui reviva! of religion. He said, never had he before ia 
 his lite, enjoyed so much freedom or exercisul so much power in the 
 pulpit. He went liomi; alone, weeping and rejoicing. 
 
 dr. Keaneday died on the ;3Ist ot August, 1787, in the sixty e'ghth 
 3'ear of liis age, and thirty-seventh of his ministry. 
 
R!iV. SAMUEL KENNEDY TALLAGE. 285 
 
 to the house of Go"l. He died on the 2nd day of October 
 18o4:, in the seventv-ninth year of his age. 
 
 His Avifc, and m )thei- of Dr. Tahnage, \\m Miss Mary Mc- 
 Coy. She united with the Church in her sixteenth year. " They 
 lived together in the g'-catest connubial h ippiness for the 
 space of fifty-seven years, and became the parents of twelve 
 children, all of whom tiiey had the happiness of seeing arrive 
 at maturity, and walking in the \v:iy tf righteousness." Two 
 of the r sons consecrated their lives to the service of the 
 Church of Christ, in the mii;i.^try of the Presbyterian Church, 
 namely: the Rev. Jehiel Talmtge and the subject of this me- 
 morial. She died the 15tli ef November, iyo2, in the seventy- 
 fourth ye;tr of her age, preceding her husband to the king- 
 dom of g\ovy about two years, having been a member of 
 the Church of Christ about fifty-eight years. Such were the 
 parents of him,' a brief tkotch of -whose life we are now to 
 write. 
 
 Samuel Kennedy Talmage, the sixth son of Thoraa.s Tal- 
 magc, senior, and his wife Mary McCoy, -was born near 
 Somervillo, in the State of New Jersey, on the 11th day of 
 December, 1708. 
 
 Early in life they devoted him to God in baptism, as they 
 did all their other children, and trained him up in the nur- 
 ture and admonition of the Lord. He was always a pleasant 
 lad, and grew up to manhood, admired by all who knew him. 
 He was prepared for College at the cla-ssical school in Somer- 
 vlUe. At the age of seventeen he was thrown entirely upon 
 his own resources. During the year of 1815, he taught at 
 Georgetown, D.C., as assistant of tkeRev. Dr. Carnahan,and 
 during the years 181(5. and 1817, he taught in the State of 
 Maryland. He entered Princeton College, (Nassau Hall,) 1818, 
 and was graduated with honor to himself, in 1820. In 1821, 
 he united with the Presbyterian Church at Basking Ridge, N. 
 J. then under the care of the Rev. W. C. Brownlee, D. D. He 
 ■was at that time usher of Dr. Brownlee's Classical SehooL He 
 
28'3 NECROLOGY. 
 
 was then cliosen Tutor to Princeton College, and thi.s position 
 he fil'ed for three years. In the raemtirae, he entered the 
 Theological Seminary, pursuing his divinity studies, and at- 
 tending to his College duties at the same time. He was licensed 
 to preach the Gospd by the Presbytery of Newton, in the 
 spring of 1825. In the faH of the same year, he was ordain- 
 ed a.s an Evangelist, by the same Presbytery, and coming 
 Sou h, lie labored as a missionary for one year at Hamburg 
 and other points in Edgffield Di-trict, South Carf)lina, 
 In January, 1827, he was united with the Rev. Dr. S. S. Da- 
 vis, in supplying the Pre-bjterian Church at Augusta, Ga. 
 to thepa^torate of which he was called in theearlypartof 1828. 
 In this relation he continued until January, 1836, when he 
 was el cred to the Professorship of Li-igua^es in Oglethorpe 
 University. Tliis chair he filled until the close of 1841, at 
 which time he was chosen President of that Institution. The 
 Doctorate of Divinity was conferred upon him by Princeton 
 College. 
 
 ^J'he duties of the Presidency he continued to discharge un- 
 til his health began to fail in the f 11 of 1862, and he died 
 whilst still at the head of the University. He departed this 
 life at Midway, Ga., on the 2nd day of September, 1865, in 
 the sixty-seventh year of his age, and the forty-first of his 
 ministry. 
 
 Such is a brief record of the life of an able and good man. 
 Its perusal simply inspires the conviction that he was from 
 youth to old age an earnest worker He lived for no holi- 
 day purpose. He lived to declare the glory of God, and to 
 bless his fellow men. He filled profitably a wide field of use- 
 fulness. Entering life as a teacher, he was at an early age 
 set apart to the sacred ministry, and closed his pilgrimage, a 
 laborious, self-sacrificing preacher, and a successful exponent 
 of the educational interest of his adopted State, It is natu- 
 ral and just to contemplate the character of this eminent man 
 in a three-fold point of view, as a citizen, as a teacher, and a 
 Christian minister. 
 
REV. SAMUEL KENNEDY TALMAGE. 287 
 
 llow few in these a.«pects of charac"er present so little to 
 censure and so much tu commenil!:' Duty to him was made 
 easier, by a vigorous constitution and a cheerful tempera- 
 ment. In those respects Providence was bountiful to liim. 
 Tht) greater part of his life he knew but little of the draw- 
 back of debility upon intellectual effort, and exp'^rienced 
 the comfort and solid advantage of a sound, enduring, and 
 elastic physique. Doubtless that uniformity of temper which 
 his friends weie accustomed to find in the Doctor, was a con-, 
 science at peace with God. Piery ?s the fountain of Chris- 
 tian cheerfulness ; yet the causes stated, may contribute to its 
 graceful and benignant flow. His manners were easy and 
 cultivated, and in the sociery of ladies, soft and winning. He 
 was a pleas;int companion and an instructive talker. Chris- 
 tianity in him wore no repulsive garb, and he made no di- 
 vorce between the sanctity of his vocation and tlie amenities 
 and pleasures which it both allows and commends. His ex- 
 ample was, therefore, a continuous and eloquent presentation 
 of the Christian gentleman. He had the faculty of adapting 
 himself pleasantly to the company he chanced to be in, with- 
 out for one moment compromising the claims of religion. 
 Few, indeed, were blessed like him, with the capacity of ut- 
 tering a word of religious counsel, without offence, even in 
 circles of thoughtless gaiety, or of absorbed worldliness. In 
 this sense he was a man of the world, and all things to all 
 men. 
 
 Ho was an observant and enlightened citizen ; well inform- 
 ed upon general questions of statesmanship, and familiar with 
 tlie local wants, and political divisions of the State. Nor did 
 he hesitate, whilst studiously avoiding all partisanship, to 
 make known his opinions upon proper occasions, and to as- 
 eert them practically at the polls. Unlike some of his breth- 
 ren of the ministry, be did not believe that his consecration 
 to God absolved him from the obligations of citizenship. 
 Hence in conversation, in the class-room, and through the 
 
288 NECROLO&Y. 
 
 press, he advcaoteJ and elucidated the principles which con- 
 stitute the foundations of good government — chief among 
 these ho held to be education and Christian nioritlity. It is 
 helievcd that no minister of the gospel contributed more ta 
 the formation and perpetuaMon of a sound public sentiment 
 in Georgia, with reference to monetary, economicnl, iig- 
 ricultural, and social interests, than did Dr. Tahnage. lie 
 might well be designated a conservative statesman, so or- 
 jderiiig and so timing his political teachings, as to interfere 
 not at all with higher obligations of scholastic instructions, or 
 with the holier functions hf the ministry. He lived to see 
 the State he loved, great in population, wealth and moral 
 power. And although now broken by the storms of war, 
 and shattered by conquest, destined under the blessing of God 
 to become a groat and renowned commonwealth. 
 
 The Prcsh/fto'ian C/iurcIi, impressed with the importance 
 of subjecting secular education to the influences of religion, 
 founded Oglethorpe University/ ; and to make the end practi- 
 cable, it was placed under denominational control. Upon the 
 retirement of its first President, the distinguished C. P. Bo- 
 man, D. D., D.-. Tabnage was ca'led to the Presidency. No 
 better man could have been selected to carry out the views 
 of the Church. Profoundly convinced of the fac\ that the 
 Church is the safest depository <>f education, and of the fact, 
 that all knowledge maybe pernicious witiiout piety — sati>ned 
 that the young should be taught, not a creed, but the truth 
 as it is in Jesus Christ — he gave himself to the service of 
 the College, with ardent zeA and unconditional consecra- 
 tion. All other objects became, with him, secondary and 
 subservient. The Board records with pleasure, and with grat- 
 itude, the fidelity and ability with which he fufilled" the tru>t 
 which they committed to him. 
 
 At the breaking out of the late war, with an able corps 
 of instructors — with classes numerically respectable and in- 
 creasing, and with the confidence of the public — the Univer- 
 
KEY. SAMUEL KENNEDY TALMAGE. 280 
 
 sity stood in the first rank of Denominational Institutions at 
 the South. It had become a decided success, and was indebt- 
 ed in an eminent degree for its great usefulness to the abil- 
 ty, and indomitable energy of its President. In the recitp, 
 tion room he was apt in communicating knowledge, and in 
 discipline paternal, yet firm, relying more upon appeals to a 
 sense of character than the penal visitation of law. He was 
 patient, affable — vigilant and persistent. An accomplished 
 classical scholar, and a finished rhetorician, he was a beauti- 
 ful examplar of polite literature. As such he became a mod- 
 el for the young men under his charge. Naturally he was a 
 generous and magnanimous man. It is not surprising, there- 
 fore, that he impressed his character upon them. lie was in 
 the habit of devoting his long vacations to preaching excur- 
 sions into the country ; and wherever he went — at the seat 
 of Government — in the towns and villages — before the 
 Presbyteries and Synods — and through the religious and sec- 
 ular papers, he instantly pressed the claims of religious edu- 
 cation, and of Oglethorpe University. Indeed, it is more than 
 probable that excessive labor for a number of years, contrib- 
 uted to the disease which finally closed his life. 
 
 It remains to speak briefly of his ministerial character. 
 Ilis preaching was evangelical. The cros» was the motive 
 power of his ministry. The atonement was the theme where- 
 with he sought to move sinners to repentance, and Cliristians 
 to advancement in holiness — to a more implicit obedience 
 and a more unwavering faith. Planting himself on the great 
 truths of Calvinistic Theology, he made them practical by 
 argument, illustration, and persuasive oratory. He delight- 
 ed greatly in the devotional songs of David, and loved to re- 
 peat the resounding strains of Isaiah. He was a learned Theo- 
 logian, but not a dogmatical expositor. Especially did he 
 venerate the long avouched standards and long approved poli- 
 ty of his own Church. These he defended against the per- 
 
 Tersion, interpolation, and infusion of secular philosophy. 
 19 
 
290 ICECROLOGY. 
 
 lie Avas a regular attendant upon the judicatories of the 
 Church, where his experience and business habits made hira 
 useful. 
 
 In the fall of 18G2, his health bos^an to fail. He Avas at 
 first stizod wuh something like paralysis, lienewed attacks 
 Avere attended wiih convulsions, Avhich, for a few days after 
 each attack, left his fine intellect clouded to such an extent 
 as to make it necessary to place him under the care and pro- 
 fessional skill of his friend, Dr. Green, at the Georgia State 
 Asylum, with the hope that; isolation, treatment and rest, 
 might restore him. Bat his hope proved to be vain. At ir- 
 regular in'ervals the convulsions returned, each one of them 
 followed for several days by a disordered action of his men- 
 tal powers. This continued gradually and surely, undermind- 
 ing his consiitution, till on the second of September, 18G5, 
 this long and painful disease terminated his life. 
 
 The loss of the mind of a man so great and so good, is one 
 of the mysteries of Providence which inspires awe and trem- 
 bling, and the solution of Avhich, it were folly to undertake. 
 We only know that the Lord of all the earth A\-ill do rigiit, 
 and that it is our duty, humbly to submit to the most inscruit- 
 able of His dispensations. He died suddenly and Avithout 
 pain ; ind Avhilsthis death is a great loss to the Church, the 
 College and the country, it is to him inefhble gain. His 
 work Avas done. God called hira ; and Avliilst Ave are bereaved, 
 he is transferred to the upper Sanctuary, We rejoice in the 
 conviction of his acceptance by God, through the merits of 
 his Son. The fruits of his life are proofs quite sufficient for 
 this conviction. His example lives, and Ave hope to emulate 
 his virtues. 
 
 He left a widoAv, Miss Ruth Sterett, to Avhom he was uni- 
 ted in marriage, July 11th, ISoi. They had no oflspring. 
 
 In addition to the preceding memorial. The Board of 
 Trustees of Oglethorpe University, at their first meeting 
 Bubsequcntto his decease, adopted the following note and res- 
 olutions : 
 
REV. SAMUEL KENNEDY TALMAGE. 291 
 
 " Wo would not intrude into the presence of his heart-strick- 
 VT\ wife with unavailing condolence, and would leave her 
 rather to the soothing influence of time, to the sweet memo- 
 ries of her husband, and to the healing grace of God. We can- 
 not, liowever, forbear to express our sympathy for her in the 
 time of her deep affliction. We would lay our hand gently up- 
 on lier aching heart and say : ' Peace be still — he is not dead 
 but sleepeth — his spirit is in the bosom of God, and his body 
 shall rise again glorified at the last day.' 
 
 " Bcsolved, That in the death of Dr. Talmage, the Church 
 and the State have sustained the loss of a wise and patriotic 
 citizen — a laborious and successful teacher — a distinguished 
 patron of letters, a devout Christian, and an able and evangel- 
 ical minister of the Gospel. Ilis removal was an act of Divine 
 Sovereignty, at which we feel no spirit of murmuring, and 
 in Avhich w^e desire humbly to acquiesce. ' God only is great' 
 and He alone is merciful. The crowning mercy of Dr. Tal- 
 mage's life was his death. 
 
 " Resolved that this Testimonial be entered upon the min- 
 utes of the Board of Trust, and that the Secretary furnish 
 Mrs. Talmage with a copy of the same."' 
 
 Tho Synod of Georgia at its annual Sessions in Augusta, 
 Ga., October, 1865, adopted tho following minute in reference 
 to this afflictive event : 
 
 "- This Synod, in the Providence of God, is called upon to 
 perform the painful duty of recording the death of the Rev, 
 Samuel K. Talmage, D. D., who departed this life on the 2nd 
 day of September, 1865, in the sixty-seventh year of his age. 
 This event has filled the heart of the Church with emotions 
 of unminglcd grief and sorrow, and deplored as a public ca- 
 lamity by the intelligence and virtue of the country. His 
 high social qualities as a gentleman, displayed in the affa- 
 bility of his manners, and the charms of his conversa- 
 tion, his fine classical attainments, and extensive eru- 
 dition as a scholar, his signal administrative abilities as 
 
292 NECROLOGT. 
 
 President of Oglethorp University, the depth and fervor of 
 his piety as a Christian, his fidelity, diligence and populari- 
 ty as a pastor, and his rich instructions and fervid eloquence 
 as a preacher of righteousness ; these are a few of the lead- 
 ing facts and features in the life and character of our honor- 
 ed father who has entered upon his rest and reward. It be- 
 ing impossible on this occasion to discuss the rare combina- 
 tions of gift^ and graces,which belonged to our lamented and 
 beloved brother, therefore, 
 
 '■'■Resolved^ 1st, That this Synod devoutly recognize the 
 sovereignty of God in this painful affliction, and in the final 
 change of this eminent and faithful minister of the Gospel. 
 
 '"'■ Resolved^ 2hd, That an expression of profound gratitude 
 is due from us to the Great Head of the Church, for sparing 
 so long this laborious and devoted servant in the field of use- 
 fulness which he occupied, and that we will ever cherish his 
 memory, and emulate his pure and exalted virtues. 
 
 " Resolved, 3d, That all the members of this Synod'ical As- 
 sembly interpret this providential dispensation as a solemn 
 call from the skies to greater sacrifices and more abundant 
 labors in our Master's vineyard, that we may be ready al- 
 ways to render up our account with joy. 
 
 '■''Resolved, 4th, That we unitedly tender our warmest sym- 
 pathies to the widow of the deceased ; and that our prayers 
 will ever ascend for grace to comfort and sustain her in this 
 hour of deep aflliction." 
 
REY. NATHAl^T HOYT, D. D * 
 
 Nathan Hoyt, D. D., was born in Gilmanton Township, 
 Belknap county, New Hampshire, February 27, 1793. 
 
 The brief sketch which Dr. Hoyt has left of his father, is 
 quite sufficient to show that he was a man of marked charac- 
 ter. Energy of -will, fixedness of purpose, and thorough-go- 
 ing integrity of principle, seem to have been his leading qual- 
 ites. For the times in which he lived, he was respectably 
 educated. His intellect was fresh and bouyant, delighting 
 in its own freedom, reliant on its own impressions, and touch- 
 ed with that fine spice of originality which delights in gentle 
 humor. Withal he was impulsive and enthusiastic; iiiiagi- 
 nation and sensibility, were closely linked in his moral na- 
 ture ; the range of his mind was complete , for all the offi- 
 ces of earnest conviction, so that whatever he saw, he saw 
 vividly, and whatever he felt, he felt deeply. The circum- 
 S'tances of the country during his early youth, were just such 
 as intensified a character like this ; and hence it is nc t re- 
 markable that so impassioned a person should have voluntari- 
 ly entered the American army at sixteen years of age, and 
 continued therein during the last four years, of the Revolu- 
 tionary War. 
 
 Dr. Hoyt's mother was a pious, sensible, devoted woman. 
 The parents had their home in the country, where, with cheer- 
 ful content, they toiled for a livelihood. A happy household, 
 they lived in the daily fellowship of love and peace. Both 
 the parents belonged to the Baptist Church. The religious 
 jaurture of their family was, with them, a constant solicitude ; 
 the sanctity of the Sabbath was reverently observed ; the 
 doctrines of the Bible were taught from its pages ; the in- 
 
 *Cliaiicellor Lipscomb. 
 
 293 
 
294 NECROLOGY. 
 
 V 
 
 structions of the Shorter Catechism were faithfully given ; 
 and no means were neglected that sound wisdom could sug- 
 gest or tender love supply to draw the hearts of the children 
 to the God of their parents. Of course their work prospered. 
 Such work never fails, if it could fail this would be a much 
 sadder world. 
 
 The early life of the Doctor, as recorded in his auto-biogra- 
 phy is vividly presented It has much of that quiet person- 
 ality, that simple naturalness, tfiwt exquisite truthfulness ta 
 ini-tinciive emotion, which as an art of writing, was so admi- 
 rably exemplified by Bunvan, Cowper and De Foe. Only a 
 few hints — the quick monosyllables occasionally sparkling — 
 the vivid glance — the terse epitome — the eager movement 
 from scene to scene — a boy's sense of loneliness in the 
 country — the long Sunday — a boy's wonder at his Sis- 
 ter's achievment in reciting the " long Fourth Commarid- 
 ment" — the era of his first day at school, and how very 
 still" he sat, and how fixedly he kept those restless eyes 
 on his book — the joy of his fi^rst triumph when he "ra:irched 
 up to the head of the class before night " and the greater joy 
 when he hurried hom« to tell the amazing victory to his 
 mother, and her unconcealed delight, that made him '• about 
 the happiest child in those parts" — and then the question- 
 ings of himself as to whether it were possible ever to learn 
 " that strange jargon, English Grammar " and his large be- 
 lief in the fact that "if a man had ever been to College for 
 three, or six months, he was a great and learned man." 
 All this reads like a whispered soliloquy, when the heart is 
 rehearsing its memories to its answering throbs. 
 
 The history of his boyhood and youth in their spiritual 
 aspects, is more than usually interesting. The whole story 
 is given just as though he felt facts then, as he felt them at 
 the instant of occurence.. Few can be trusted to 
 narrate feelings long since experienced, for the uiem- 
 ory of emotions is not only singularly treacherou-:, but 
 
REV. XATHAN HOYT D. D. 291 
 
 the imagination is exceedingly apt to put its own in- 
 terpretations on them, and thus present a comment on 
 the text, instead of the text itself. But this narrative 
 strikes one as intellectually truthful in the highest degree. 
 The retentive brain, holding its grateful recollections as a de- 
 vout inheritance, neither adds nor takes away: there is no 
 foreign and intermeddling self; but simply what he felt, and 
 how he felt — this and no more. First came the tendern'x^s 
 toward God and Christ, which grew up witliin his hearr un- 
 der the loving words of his. mother's insti'uction ; then tiie 
 keener sensibility to sin as a marter of person:il consciius- 
 ness ; then the struggle with its uiternatiiig roults, until ilie 
 victory was won in the blessedness of trust and peace. It; 
 was the conflict of a boy's nature. It was like everything in 
 boyhood, the sensuous and the spiritual confusedly intermix- 
 ed. Yet even then, the m inly spirit was silently shaping it- 
 self into the strength and gladness of awaiting years. 
 
 " My parents," says the Doctor, "took me to Cliurch 
 when I was quite young, and I was much impressed with the 
 solemnity of the commanioii services. I wondered what it 
 meant, and when I listened to the preaching, I w.^s anx- 
 ious to understand what the preacher was saying, but I could 
 nor,. The first deep, religious impression made upon my 
 mind was produced by a short conversation from my pious 
 mother, when I was perhaps nine years old. I am nov\' sixty- 
 six years and one day old; and yet some of tlie affectionate 
 expressions and exhortations of my mother ring in my ears. 
 Oh, that all the mothers of the land knew their power, and 
 would use it for the salvation of their children." A year or 
 two after, "I became," he rem.irks, '-the subject of the 
 deepest religious impressions. For a long time, the salva- 
 tion of my soul rested heavily upon my young mind. I used 
 to wander off alone into the fields or the woods, and there in 
 anguish of spirit, indulge my grief. I prayed and w^ooed ; I 
 resolved and wept, but still I was a miserable child, i 
 
296 NECrvOLOGY. 
 
 think that months were passed in this way ; and yet perhaps 
 no human being suspected my condition. My power of con- 
 cealment was great. God only knew what was passing in 
 my mind." 
 
 At the age of seventeen, he professed the religion of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ. It was an intelligent, well-considered, 
 earnest profession, — more so, we apprehend, than is common 
 at that period of life. Six years of severe struggles with er- 
 ror and unbelief, making one false effort after another to 
 find rest and peace in himself; trying to appease his con- 
 science ly the doctrines of Pelagi.inism, and finally aroused 
 to a sense of his dangerous condition. These memorable six 
 years seem to have exhausted the last remn-int of self-trust, 
 and to have prepared him by humiliation and defeat for a sim- 
 ple and heartfelt embrace of the Cross of Christ. On one 
 page, he writes : " Many of my friends, severalof my sisters 
 and others dear to me, were hopefully converted. I stood 
 amazed at what I saw and heard. I went to the meetings, 
 listendedto the preaching, the exhortations, and the prayers, 
 but still I was unmoved. I had little or no sense of ray sin- 
 fulness before God. I intended to take my own time. I 
 was not to be frightened into religion. I had, as I vainly 
 hoped, the power in my own hands, and when a convenient 
 time should come, I intended to pass into the Kingdom and 
 be saved." On the next page, he adds : "After the revival 
 had been going on for some weeks, the thought was stereo- 
 typed upon my nund,that I was now to have my last call, and 
 that if this season passed and I remained in sin and unbelief, 
 my doom was fixed forever. This impression I could not 
 ;-5hake off, go where I would, or do what I would, it followed 
 me night and day. Aiid now my distress began, and it ulti- 
 mately became very great. All my fancied power of working 
 myself into favor with an offended God vanished like the 
 view before the rising sun." And one page farther on in 
 the narrative, he says: "I went to a prayer meeting one 
 
REV. NATHAN HOTT, D. D. 297 
 
 uight in ths couatry,feeling as if I shouldsink into the earth. 
 With much timidity, I arose and requested the people to pray 
 for me, and then sat down. They did pray for me. And 
 for the first time, a faint hope sprung up in my mind. . 
 I felt calm, but not a thought entered my mind that 
 God had pardoned my sins and accepted me through 
 Christ. I only dared to hope that God Avould pardon 
 me. Mounting my horse, I rode toward homo, a dis- 
 tance of three miles or more. A.s I was riding along in the 
 darkness all alone, suddenly I became so filled with joy in 
 God that I was almost ready to shout aloud. Arriving at 
 home, I laid down that night for the first time in my life feel- 
 ing that I was in the arms of my Heavenly Father, and that 
 I loved to be there. The next morning when I arose and 
 went forth to my daily duties, it appeared to me that I had 
 never seen the world, the trees, the flowers, the houses, the 
 people, look so beautiful — all nature seemed to be lifting up 
 her voice in praise to God. I seriously thought that I 
 loved God so intensely that I could and would love liim, 
 even thoujxh he were to send me to hell." 
 
 These extracts give the spirit of genuine experience. — 
 Again and again their simple force and unstudied eloquence 
 have reminded me of the fervor of Edward Irving, or the 
 directness of Wesley, or the tender grace of Doddridge. 
 There is no novelty here, and who would have it in such 
 hours as these ? Evidently more was felt than uttered. The 
 strong will held back the vigorous hand, and the loving heart 
 was too humble to unburden all its weight of feeling. Nor 
 can any thoughtful Christian fail to observe, that this acute 
 sense of his own utter impotence, this total abnegation of 
 self, this unreserved reliance on Christ Jesus, as the recon. 
 ciler between God and man, no less than between man and 
 God, as they combined in his experience, had a most active 
 and significant influence in mouldino; the future minister as 
 well as the Christian. I am sure that I can recall conversa- 
 
298 NECROLOGY. 
 
 tions, lectures and sermons, when, whatever the immediate 
 topic the Doctor was reproducing, the thoughts; images, feel- 
 ings of that rural prayer-meeting, only interpreted by the 
 larger scope of manhood's eye, and vivified by the maturer 
 ^experience of an earnest life. 
 
 Soon after this he joined the Baptist Church, and contin- 
 ued in its communion for ten years. The first hint of the 
 ministry is thus given : " Not long after I joined the Cimrcl 
 I u--ed to think of the Christian ministry as a delightful call- 
 ing, :ind occnsionally would indulge a faint hope that I 
 might be permitted, at some future day, to enter on that 
 high and solemn work." His anxiety to obtain a liberal 
 education now increased. "My advantages for education," 
 says he, ''were simply those afforded by the New England 
 system of Free Schools. Every winter I attended school, 
 and was considered a good scholar in the English branches 
 taught in those schools." At this time, his health which 
 had been singularly good, began to decline. The disease 
 incre ised, and finally compelled him to abandon business. 
 But he was not idle, for he remarks : " I determined, poor 
 as I was and in feeble health, to try and obtain an educatioti, 
 I had to teach school awhile, and then study. I studied 
 sometimes with private teachers, and at other times in pub- 
 lic institutions." Not long after, he changed his residence. 
 " With the little money that I had earned by teaching a 
 country school, I set out for the sea-shore, thinking that the 
 climate near the sta might benefit my health so that I could 
 again prosecute my studies. I went to Cambridge, Mass. 
 and remained there for some time, studying generally with a 
 private teacher, and with a view, if God should permit, to enter 
 College and take a thorough course. My success in study 
 was beyond my expectations ; my health was better ; and I 
 began to hope that I might live to do some good in the 
 •world. 
 
 Stormy times followed. The war of 1812-14, was still pro- 
 
REV. NATHAN HOYT, D. D. 299 
 
 greasing. Boston, Charlestown and Cambridge were full of 
 excitement. Political parties were violently arrayed against 
 each other, and, to consummate an agitation already intense, 
 a British fleet appeared off Boston harbor. Threatening 
 messages passed and repassed between the belligerents. Sol- 
 diers were hastening to Boston, and defenceless women and 
 children were hurrying away into the country. Commodore 
 Bainbridge was there with his brave words : ' Fifiht, fifjlit, 
 fight; old Ironsides shall he my coffin ere I yield one inch T 
 But the British fleet at length retired without firing a gun. 
 Peace was declared, and all was changed. During this peri- 
 od of agitation, not much progress was made in study. About 
 a year and a-half after, I returned to New Hampshire, and 
 again engaged in teaching, which I continued for nearly six 
 months. My religious feelings were quickened, and I u.sed 
 to open my school with a short prayer. I tried to prosecute 
 my studies, though under great disadvantages. I took an ac- 
 tive part in prayer-meetings, and at times would indulge the 
 fond hope that I might yet preach the gospel. But I had 
 already encountered so many difficulties from my relentless 
 enemy, dyspepsia, and from poverty, and above all, from a 
 wicked and unsanctified heart, in \^hich so many ambitious 
 aspirations were constantly springing up, that my hopes at 
 this period were very faint." 
 
 Closing his school, he went to Salisbury, N. H., and en- 
 tered the High School under the charge of Mr. W. a gradu" 
 ate of Dartm)uth College. Of this gentleman he spMks 
 most affectionately, as one who "took the deepest interest" 
 in his welfare, giving to his mind its needed encouragement, 
 relieving its dilhculties, and guiding him with great skill 
 through " Euclid," " A3tronoray,"and " obi Virgil." The im- 
 pulse communicated to his intellect, and still more to his affec- 
 tions, was most marked, for the Dr. remarks that " he did more 
 to unfold and develop my mind in six months, than any otner 
 man ever did in two years." After having been an usher 
 
300 SECROLOGTY. 
 
 in this Academy, he taught a district school near the liead 
 of the Merrimac, remaining in this situation six or e'.ght 
 months. 
 
 And now life began to open before him more fully. Though 
 still uncertain as to his future vocation, he was unconscious- 
 ly growing in the direction of that work which afterwards 
 became the joy of his heart. One can mnrk, at this juncture, 
 flow the dim instincts were groping towards the light which 
 was felt if not seen, and how the spirit, -under God, was silent- 
 ly forming its strength for the day of battle. It is the old re- 
 cord, old and yet ever new, repeated yesterday and to-day, 
 and forever, and still bearing its blessed testimony to the 
 sovereign presence of that spirit which worketh after the 
 oounsels of its own will,and heedeth not our hindrances, but 
 (ioeth its own work, at its own time, and in its own way. The 
 future man begins to be outlined. The types and shadows 
 that forecast every life fiignally devoted to God, indicated 
 their sure fulfilment, and were already accomplishing thedr end 
 in the facts they prophesied. 
 
 There was returning zest of feeling. The buoyant heart 
 had comeback again; the cheerful outlook on the world, the 
 vivid fancy, the sustainiijg temperament which disease had 
 weakened, the keenly-receptive senses and the vigilent nerves 
 that keep watch and ward over the myriad objects in which 
 intellect and spirit find strength and inspiration. And there 
 ■came too the former thrill of wandering joy, and the large es- 
 tate of sentiment and hope in the universe of sight, and 
 sound and motion, and the ready accesses of all free and no- 
 ble things to the imagination; and yet more, the stern sense 
 of diviner realities, asking for utterance, the forming passion 
 for speech, and that unmistakable touch upon the very core of 
 the inward being, when the future talker, pleader, intercessor, 
 first becomes aware of the strange poAver to move others — of 
 a power to transfer his thoughts and feelings into their breasts, 
 to repeat his life in their life — and to hear the echo of his 
 
REV. NATE-AN HOYT, D. D. §02 
 
 own hesitant voice rehearsing, from afar, the ministry of an 
 aecomplished service in behalf of the world. 
 
 Among the points of special interest at this period, I may 
 notice that openness to sympathy,that capacity to enter free- 
 ly into scenes and circumstances about him, for which Dr. 
 Moyt was subsequently so remarkable. Intimations of this 
 trait of character appeared early in his life. But at this 
 stage, it is specialized by a prominence it never lost. Almost 
 every page of the autobiography teems with illustrations of 
 that large, sweet, joyous humaneness that dwelt in the man. 
 He loves the every -day world. He loves men, and womeny 
 and children. He loves to hear anecdotes and incidents^ 
 loves to recount any striking occurrence, loves to lose him- 
 self in outside interests. Far from his genial soul are the 
 ways of the cynic, the cold satirist, or the sly sharp-shooter 
 of arrowy malice. And withal he has a gentle humor and 
 sometimes a keen wit, that are not to be lightly valued in thi& 
 many-sided world. The Jyhtrict school, ^'■at the head of the 
 Merrimac," seems to have put him fairly afloat in the world; 
 and it certainly brought onit his latent force which had pre- 
 viously had no urgent call for demonstration. Oq the whole^ 
 he enjoyed teaching, though he evidently did not regard it as 
 a luxury. What was most fortunate, the elastic tone of his 
 mind was quite restored. The pithy anecdote now and then 
 emerges into the brilliant foreground ; the story of manag- 
 ing a notorious boy of the school, and of this same " F" who 
 was cured of stealing brown sugar at a store-door, by the 
 merchant mixing a quantity of potash with it, and the mu- 
 tual fright of merchant and boy, when the catastrophe reached 
 its climax of yelling and screaming, is finely told. And 
 there are side pictures of men and things, local touches, in- 
 sights into the times, rough customs of the neighborhood, 
 which are all illustrative of the social vivacity of the man, to 
 say nothing of Mr — , a sort of Partington in those days, 
 who returning from Boston during the blockade,was asked by 
 
S02 NECROLOGY. 
 
 his friends, " How matters were in Boston V and replied c 
 " Oh dreadful ! Boston is all Block- Headed !" 
 
 Having retired from the District school, he went back to 
 Salisbury to prosecute," as he states, "any original purpose 
 in the critical study of the Latin Language." Here his health 
 ■again failed. " I had to seek relief," he states, " by visiting 
 the far-famed Mineral Springs in Saratooja County, N. Y. 
 I think this was in the fall of 1816. I went on horseback ; 
 ■and the apparently trivial circumstance of getting my horse's 
 back injured while on my way to the springs, was the means, 
 under God, of giving a new turn to my life, — the beginning of 
 •a series of events which resulted in my leaving the Baptist 
 Church, and finally, years after,of entering the ministry of the 
 Presbyterian Church." 
 
 The narrative proceeds: "For several seasons, the summers 
 in New England and in the Northern States had been so 
 cold that the corn could not ripen. I think it was in 1815 or 
 16, when (where I lived,) there was frost every month in the 
 year except one. I saw it snow, as hard on the sixth day of 
 June for hours, as I ever saw it snow in January. There was 
 every prospect of a famine. This produced in the minds of 
 many people, gloom and melancholy. Thousands upon thou- 
 sands fled to the far West. I, among others, was sighing for 
 a country where winter would not last all the year. If my 
 health should be restored, I intended to seek some pleasant 
 location where I could teach and thus support myself while 
 I pursued, in private, my classical studies. The thought of re- 
 maining at Saratoga, never crossed my mind. But my horse 
 ■was injured, and I could not go away. Weeks on weeks 
 passed, and I was still there. My health was better. I 
 wanted employment, for I despised idleness, debt and tobac- 
 co. . . . One pleasant day, I wandered into the upper 
 part of the village, to see if I could notlind a private boarding- 
 bouse more retired than the hotel, at which I was stopping. 
 I knocked at the door of a house standing a little back from 
 
REV. NATHAN HOYT, D. D. 303 
 
 the main street, when a fine-looking, polite gentleman, ab-iut 
 thirty years of age, came to tho door and met me in 'he 
 blandest manner. I told him my business, and also that 1 
 would like to eng^ige in reaching. On examining my papers, 
 and finding that ihey spoke of the bearer as a thorough-go- 
 ing teacher, lie beca'oe interested in me, took me into his 
 family, and soon raido up for me a select school, two or 
 three of his childi-en attend! Mg,) which I continued to con- 
 duct with great su"c.*ss for several years. This gentlenian 
 was the Rev. D. 0. Griswold, who organized the Presbyterian 
 Church of Saratogi, after I Wont there, and became its first in- 
 stalled Pastor. The friendship thus providentially commenc- 
 ing between Mr. G. and myself, never ended but with his life. 
 A noble and generous man he was; and when he studied, 
 (for he did not love study ) he was a splendid preacher. 
 I had entertained some doubts as to the truth of the Baptist 
 system. . . . My solemn doubts relative to tiie scrip- 
 tural soundness of my religions creed, constantly increa:?ed, 
 and the more so as I began to .-tudy the Now Testament in 
 Greek. , . , During four years I investigated the 
 subject, more or less, and sometimes my mind was almost en- 
 tirely given up to it. . . . . I could not endure close 
 communion, and at limes, I would break through tho rules of 
 my Cburch and-C)mmune with Pedobaptists. I loved :<]l 
 Christians, and could not bear that exdusive system. Dar- 
 ing several long years, I suffered greatly in my feelings, 
 while i was unsettled on this subject. At length, with clear 
 convictions of dut}'-, I joined the Presbyterian Church at Sar- 
 atogi Springs, and soon became more peaceful and happy." 
 Here, to), he hrst hear.l Dr. Nettleton, and the eloquent 
 young Larncd. The discourses of Dr. Nettleton deeply im- 
 pressed him, while the private intercourse of this distinguish- 
 ed man charmed his heart. The following entry occurs : 
 " Dr. N. labored with us for several months with great suc- 
 cess. A powerful revival of religion was the result, whicli 
 
304 NECROLOGY. 
 
 extended over many counties in New York, and ultimately in- 
 to Massachusetts. Dr. N. was the wisest and holiest man 
 I ever saw. I consider the time spent with him at Saratoga, 
 and afterwards at Malton, as most profitably spent, and as 
 one of the best parts of my education." 
 
 Health again failed. Another change was made, and the 
 book-business undertaken. This required him to travel, and 
 disease was arrested. Then his whole mind turned to the 
 ministry. " My heart yearned for the work. Up to this 
 time, I had always been indulging the ambitious desire to be 
 a great preacher, or no preacher, at all. But now, by the 
 grace of God, I gave that all up. . . . When I was 
 enabled to come down into the dust, God, in his providence, 
 opened the way for me to resume both my Literary and The- 
 ological studies, and to gj on with great success." Kind 
 friends sympathized with his struggles, counseled and cheered 
 him, and did all in their power to direct his growing mind, 
 but he could not be content, unless he could enter College 
 and pursue a regular course of education. In this, he was 
 disappointed. And yet the failure of this cherished hope only 
 made him more sensible of the vast benefit which he had 
 received from the Rev. Dr. Tucker, Dr. E. D. GriflBn and oth- 
 ers. The influence of Dr. Griffin, who had then risen to that po- 
 sition of acknowledged eminence which his blended genius and 
 goodness so strikingly adorned, seems to have left a lasting im- 
 press upon his nature. It was a silent force working in the 
 calmer depths of his heart, rather than a demonstrative pow- 
 er acting upon the more palpable forms of intellect and emo- 
 tion. Like all indirect agencies, it had somewhat the spirit 
 of an inspiration, destributing itself in measures large and 
 rich throuo^h the inward avenues of his being. With all Dr. 
 Griffin's views, he did not then, nor afterwards, agree. But 
 the ministerial idea that fashioned that great intellect into 
 such beautiful conformity to its lofty standard, — the deli- 
 cate taste that, like an additional sense, could harmonize 
 
REV. NATHAN HOYT, D. D. 306 
 
 ■whatever tlie other senses imparted of sublimity, or loveliness, 
 or grace, — the open sensibility that welcomed with cordial 
 joy all that was elevating, and ennobling, — ;iniJ yet more, 
 those profounder qualities which constitute a capacity for ex- 
 perience, and enable a certain order of men, as though en- 
 dowed with a peculiar gifc, to appropriate all they see, hear, 
 feel, and know, to the service of a ruling passion ; — these 
 characteristics of Edward Dorr Griffin wrought upon him 
 with wonderful effect, and led him not to imitate the thinker, 
 the instructor, the preacher, with whom he was in contact, 
 but, what was so much better, to look through Dr. Griffin to 
 the ideal which the Doctor himself sought tO' realize. 
 
 Amid these charming opportunities for culture and growth^ 
 Dr. Hoyt was again doomed to disappointment. His bretli- 
 ren of the Presbytery of Albany, N. Y., under whose auspi- 
 ces he had been preparing for the ministry, thought that the 
 time had arrived for him to commence his public labors. A 
 new mission-field having been opened in Troy, it was sup- 
 posed that he was a suitable person to enter upon this 
 work. The sequel proved that his brethren were right. Had 
 he been left to himself he would probably hive preferred to 
 continue his education. But how often Providt nee interrupts 
 oiir methods of education, and in their stead, substitutes its 
 own higher agencies ! If the education go on, who dare de- 
 mur ? 
 
 After having been licensed,Doctor Hoyt proceeded to Troy. 
 The kind and considerate sympathy of Dr. Beman's Church, 
 with which the Mission was connected, greatly cheered his 
 heart. Like his divine Master, he began his ministry among 
 the poor. His first sermon was preached in the Poor-house; 
 and a memorable sermon it was, — pointed and pungeant, — 
 securing instant success, and followed by an extensive revi- 
 val of religion. But in the midst of this great work, his 
 health failed, his labors were arrested, and he sought the 
 South to find the means of restoration. 
 20 
 
806 NECROLOGY. 
 
 It was late in the autumn of 1825, tliat he reached South 
 Carolina, and became the guest of Capt. R. Cunningham, to 
 whom he brou^:^ht letters of introduction. After a short stay 
 in this charming ^family, to whose kindness and care he 
 folt so much indebted, he continued his journey to Augus- 
 ta, where ho met his friend, Rev. Dr. Davis. It was not long 
 before he received an invitation to preach on Beach Island, 
 which he accepted. That winter and the spring ensuing, he 
 labored on the Island, and in May 1826, went to the North 
 to visit his friends. On the sixteenth of August this year, 
 he was ordained as an Evangelist, at Stillwater, N. Y., by the 
 Presbytery of Albany. On the fourteenth of September fol- 
 lowing, he was married, at Springfield, to Miss Margaret 
 Bliss, daughter of Mr. Alexander Bliss of that place. Re- 
 turning to Beach Island, he resumed his labors. At no peri- 
 od of his ministry, does his mind seem to have been so in- 
 tensely excited. And at no period in that long and blessed 
 ministry, wis he so signally prospered. The very words 
 which record his feelings, have their warmth condensed into 
 a fiery glow. " I prayed ; I wept ; I studied ; I preached ; 
 I visited from house to house. ... I could not sleep. 
 I could not rest Avhile the people were posting on through my 
 sermons to hell." Such earnestness, animated and directed 
 by the Holy Ghost, could not fail to accomplish its divine 
 end. A most gracious revival followed, which continued 
 through the summer and autumn. " The organization of 
 the Church took place on the 2d Sabbath in August, 1827, 
 when between thirty and forty people were received into the 
 Church and most of them for the first time admitted to the 
 holy ordinance of the Lord's Supper — nine of them receiving 
 baptism at my liands." 
 
 About this time, Dr. Iloyt was called to several Churches. 
 He decided to go to Washington, Ga. A simple entry in his 
 own handwriting tells the pathos of the parting: "With 
 an achinij hcrnt, I left thclonel", weeping " little flock" at 
 
REV. NATHAN HOYT, D. D. 307 
 
 B. Island the last of February, and began my labors in 
 Washington, on the 2d day of March, 1«28." The congre- 
 gation grew rapidly " until the house could scarcely hold the 
 people." He also labored at Lexington where much fruit was 
 gathered from his ministry. In the spring of 1830, he re- 
 ceived a unanimous call from the Presbyterian Church of 
 Athens, Ga., to become its pastor. The c^ill was accepted, 
 and about the first of May, 1830, he removed to that city, and 
 entered upon his pastoral duties. The first year of his minis- 
 try in Athens ended ; the second had begun ; and then ; in 
 the latter part of May, 1831, signs of promise appeared. And 
 the signs grew like the Prophet's cloud, until the whole fir- 
 mament was a cloud-sign of the near presence. And nearer 
 ■drew, that presence, and still nearer in hastening joy ,till at 
 length every hillside and every valley felt the descending 
 fruitfulness. 
 
 It was a memorable season. It was memorable then, and 
 it is yet memorable. " Seriousness and deep feeling per- 
 Taded the town and the college. Some days, I think, there 
 were nine prayer-meetings in a day. . . Stores were 
 shut on the streets, for much of the time during the first few 
 days of the meeting. . . . About forty of the young 
 men of the college joined the different churches on the same 
 day. June 12, 1831, I received into my Church forty-six, 
 people, all on profession except five. About eighty-five or 
 ninety joined the different Churches at the same time." 
 During the year ensuing, another revival occurred, though 
 not so extensive as the former. Nothing remarkable trans- 
 pired in his ministry in 1833-34. But early in 1835, his 
 mind was impressed by the spiritual condition of his Church 
 and congregation ; the tone of his preaching was peculiarly 
 searching ; and with daily renewing energy, he consecrated 
 himself afresh to his work. The revived sympathy with his 
 great duty of preaching Christ crucified, fed by the blessed 
 memories of the past,and nourished even more by the blessed 
 
308 NECROLOGY. 
 
 hope of the future, soon reproduced its living strength in other 
 hearts. Who of God's elect would resist its silent sweep ? 
 Who could resist it ? Willing in that day of power, — the 
 distinctive glory of the covenant, like the Shekinah of old, 
 enshrined in the inner sanctuary of the human will, — hearts 
 and hands were willing then to labor in the cause of Christ. 
 But from that single soul, from its private toils and public 
 efforts, what a power glided all abroad ! 
 
 And now came the days that long dwelt deepest in his rec- 
 ollections, and to which, if disquieted, and languid, and sad^. 
 he would turn for refreshment and joy. Not theo, perchance^ 
 did he read all their msanings, but the interpretative light 
 of years brightening as they approached the throne, shed 
 back its significance, and made clear the mystic import. The 
 influences of the Holy Ghost are always supernatural, and 
 they would always be deemed miraculous if we understood 
 the laws of mind as well as the laws of matter. The real 
 superstition lies in their rejection, not in their acceptance ; 
 and here, as elsewhere , '■'■BUssed are tJiey that have not 
 seen, and yet have believed." The true blessedness is in see- 
 ing by believing, for thus the soul, conscious of its birth- 
 right in Christ, asserts its supremacy over sense, and enters 
 at once upon the privileges of eternal life, by means of the 
 life spiritual. 
 
 Let this simple-minded man tell the story of this beautiful 
 portion of his experience: 
 
 " We commenced a protracted meeting in my Church on 
 Thursday before the first Sabbath in June, and the first ser- 
 mon was preached by the Rev. James Stratton, then of Ma- 
 con, Ga., from Jeremiah ii: 19. Every word of that simple, 
 plain sermon went to my heart, and to the hearts of many 
 others. It was evident that God's spirit was among us. Af- 
 ter brother S. sat down, I arose to make a few remarks, 
 when, to my astonishment and to the astonishment of all my 
 people who had never witnessed in me anything like it, I 
 
REV. NATHAN HOYT, D. D. 309 
 
 could not speak two minutes, I sat down, and the whole 
 house was a Bochim. Rev. Dr. Church arose to speak. 
 But he could not do much better than I had. He sat down. 
 The like had never^occurred with me before ; it has never oc- 
 curred since. The assembly was soon dismi.^sed, and the 
 people and the preachers went away to pray. At night, 
 the Rev. S. J. Cassels, now in Heaven, preached with great 
 power and effect. The work of God was fairly begun. . . 
 Our meetings were thronged night and day. Cases of deep 
 conviction, and of happy conversion, were occurring almost 
 constantly. .. . Between thirty and forty were received 
 into our Church and many into the Baptist and Methodist 
 Churches. That precious revival cannot soon be forgotten 
 by any who were priviledged to mingle in its solemn scenes. 
 It was of the Lord's doings ; it was marvelous in our eyes, 
 and cheering to our hearts." 
 
 Sufficient has probably already been said to give a gen- 
 eral view of the ministry of Dr. Hoyt. If an accurate sum- 
 mation of the results of that ministry could be made, we think 
 it would present a most striking testimony to his evangelical 
 power as a preacher, and illustrate most forcibly his re- 
 niiirkable i^ucces? in the work to which he was divinely 
 called. But no one can ever measure his own usefulness, 
 and it is equally true that no one can measure another's use- 
 fulness. The rain falls and sinks into the hiding earth ; the 
 sunshine, broadcast and free, scatters its munificence of light, 
 and heat far aad wide ; but oai* pastures and fields are 
 merely infinitesimal evidences of the enriching clouds, 
 and the benignant splendors. Harvests gathered are only 
 fragments. Who takes note of the ungathered abundance 
 that nature, in myriad forms, appropriates to her life, and 
 strength, and beauty? Not unlike this is a good man's 
 usefulness. Statistics, reckonings, palpable results, one and 
 all, they simply give a vague hint, as to his life and labors. 
 
310 NECROLOGY. 
 
 But they are valuable, since they show how promises are 
 fulfilled, fidelity rewarded, God glorified. 
 
 The last Sabbath of April, 1859, closed the twenty-ninth 
 year of Dr. Hoyt's ministry in Athens. During that period 
 he had preached some two thousand five hundred and sev- 
 enty-five sermons, made some sixteen hundred addresses, at 
 prayer meetings and to other assemblages, and received 
 into the Athens Church, six hundred and eleven mem- 
 bers. Aside from this, his tours through the country, 
 and visits to points of interest, were frequent, and were gen- 
 erally of signal service to the Churches. Instant in season 
 and out of season — ^^semper paratus ;" — every call to du- 
 ty, a fresh inspiration of joy ; — every day a new day for new 
 eiforts and higher aims ; — he never faltered, never flagged, if 
 his bodily strength were adequate to sustain exertion. The 
 whole man was made for work. With him, work was no dull 
 and heavy obligation, which added weight to duties in them- 
 selves, weighty, but an impulse that was organized in bone 
 and muscle, yet still remained an impulse. And the worker 
 knew his sphere, even as the ant knows its plodding realm or 
 the eagle his etherial element ; and once there, instinct, and 
 intellect, and spirit, all alike satisfied, he wished no other 
 bliss and sought no other glory. 
 
 But he was now approaching the boundary that nature 
 sets to active exertion. One who knew him, could see the 
 half-concealed struggle between former habits and present 
 disability, and could mark the silent transition in an old 
 man's life from energetic blood to the calmer pulsations of 
 the heart. It is usually in noble minds the climax of experi- 
 ence, and such it eminently was in Dr. Hoyt. Retreating as 
 it were from the senses and their disturbing sensations, and 
 withdrawing their restless functions from those intellectual and 
 moral faculties, which are most closely allied to the physical 
 man and his world, the spirit gathers its once-distributed 
 life into itself and begins to typify its final separation from 
 
REV. NATHAN IIOYT, D. D. 311 
 
 the material body. It is life in its completeness, because it 
 is death in its inceptiveness. No one could have felc this 
 change more profoundly than Dr. Hoyt, and as he yielded day 
 by day, to its demands, and it av as easy to trace the sercner 
 submission and the growing repose tliat settled upon his obe- 
 dient heart. Almost to the end he kept at his work, and 
 "what life he had, he breathed into its ta--ks. But it was the 
 ■work of a dying man, and the eyes of all saw the shadow in 
 ■which it lay dimmed. Step by step, the veteran of three gen- 
 erations retired from the open world ; month b}^ month, shrink- 
 ing closer within his cherished home ; day by day, dwelling 
 apart from human interruptions, in closeted stillness with 
 thoughts of Jesus and of his precious blood, until at last he 
 Stood alone — face to face — with death. His closing hours 
 were full of blessed visitations from above; and amid these 
 foretastes of fuller joys, July 12th, 18G6, he fell asleep in 
 Jusus. ****** 
 
 The happy home was now broken up by the death of the 
 patriarch, whose benignity and social tenderness had so long 
 shed a tranquil grace over its scenes. The devoted wife 
 who in the gentle ministry of a woman's love bad contribu- 
 ted so much strength and support to his active work, surviv- 
 ed him. Six children had grown up and gone forth into the 
 world, each in his or her respective sphere, useful and honored 
 and happy, inheriting the blessing of a good man's name, and 
 cherishing the grateful memory of that example which in the 
 daily offices of life, is the surest and strongestinflaence known 
 to the human heart. Two of these had entered the mini^-try ; 
 one was a physician ; and one was the wife of a minister. In 
 the closing notes of the auto-biography, I finil this entry : 
 "(jrod has been very gracious to my family. All my children 
 are hopefully pious. Two of my sons are preachers, and ray 
 youngest daughter, Mrs. M. J. Axson is the wife of a promis- 
 ising young preacher. Surely this is all of grace, and to 
 God be all the glory. I would a thousand times rather see 
 
312 TTECROLOGY. 
 
 a son of mine or a son-in-law, in the sacred desk preaching 
 Christ to dying sinners, than to see him a Senator, or the 
 President of theUnited States." * * * 
 
 The life of Dr. Hojt, so remarkable in many of its aspects, 
 was peculiarly striking in its close connection with all that 
 concerned the welfare, temporal and spiritual, of his people. 
 Emphatically were they his people, bone of his bone, and 
 heart of his heart, one life shared between them so far as the 
 diversities of human character and the limits of sympathy 
 permit individual beings to blend together. Nothing that in- 
 volved their present or future happiness was foreign to him, 
 and in this respect, he has often reminded me of the portrait- 
 ures given of NeSf and Oberlin. A thoroughly practical sym- 
 pathizer, ho was always ready to make good his wise coun- 
 sel by eifcctive action. He had the rare art of helping others 
 precisely at the point whore they needed help, and what is 
 essential to a faithful pastor, he was master of his sympa- 
 thies, never allo'A-ing them to over-rule his deliberate judg- 
 ment and preserving him from that common folly of gener- 
 ous natures, which, in the minor affairs of life, too often whis- 
 pers : '■'' Peace, ivheyi there is no Peace." The spirit of the 
 old weeping Prophet's tenderness was his, and his, too, the 
 high, cour:igcous, inflexible rectitude that could face a fel- 
 low-man's errors and sins, and warn him of danger impending. 
 Naturally he had, I imagine, somewhat of a despotic intel- 
 lect, a tendency to dogmatize, a bold and unqompromising 
 assertion of his opinions, that in weaker men takes the form 
 of unreasoning obstinacy ; but if this were the fact, he had cer- 
 tainly, in the years when I knew him, obtained the victory 
 over the besetment. I know that he was frank, unselfish, 
 generous ; and I know, moreover, that he had that supremo 
 virtue of character which can practice the most painful sort 
 of self-denial for the sake of magnanimity of sentiment. 
 Along with this trait, he had an acute sensitiveness to kind- 
 ness from others that often struck rc.e as unusual in a man of 
 
REV. NATHAN HOYT, D. D. 313 
 
 his natural independence and self-reliance. A passing act 
 of attention on the part of a child, or an inquiry after his 
 health by a servant, would touch his feelings. Little tokens 
 of respect and affection, which so frequently meet no more 
 than a fugitive recognition, seemed to enter within and add 
 to his stock of happiness. Nor did he ever forget a kindness ; 
 and I often had occasion to notice that he excelled, in grati- 
 tude to people, a quality of character quite as rare as grati- 
 tude to God. ****** 
 
 That Dr. Hoyt was a man of marked individuality of char- 
 acter, none who knew him can doubt. That this individual- 
 ity of character, sanctified and directed by the spirit of God, 
 was the secret of his strength and the source of his success, 
 must be as readily admitted. The foundation of this pecu- 
 liar force lay in his temperament, which, in its acute sensi- 
 tiveness to impression, and its eager tendency to demonstra- 
 tive action, played interchangeably between thought and sen- 
 sation with a bouyant vitality that we have never seen sur- 
 passed. So characteristic was this trait, that his thoughts 
 seemed, at times, to be sensations, while under some circum- 
 stances, his intellect, aroused to fullest stretch of energy, 
 would grapple with you as though it were muscular might. A 
 moiety more of temperament, and perhaps, he had needed to 
 watch against romance and imaginative illusions. Constitu- 
 ted as he was, however, and disciplined from an early age by 
 a dreaded liabilty to ill health, he turned his temperament to 
 good account in securing to himself a facile effectiveness in 
 public speaking. 
 
 His intellect was thoroughly concrete. Premises and 
 conclusions lay near together — so near that sometimes they 
 were hardly separable. If he ever used the stepping-stones 
 of formal logic, he was certain to touch them lightly with his 
 impatient feet. Abstractions were neither suited to his taste, 
 nor adapted to his style of intellectual action. If he had any 
 sympathy with metaphysics, it was not with its subtle dia- 
 
314 
 
 NECROLOGY. 
 
 lectics nor yet with its attenuated arts of expression, but rath- 
 er with its skill in eliminating error, still more with its trans- 
 parent purity, which, like the ether above the common atmos- 
 phere, affords a readier movement to the waves of light. 
 Nothing, therefore, of the essayist appeared in his mental ef- 
 forts. Nevertheless, he was strong in his grasp of all the doc- 
 trines of the gospel — comprehensive as well as minute — full 
 of masculine vigor in the width of his perceptions, while re- 
 flective enough to pierce to the heart of all vital truths. One 
 felt in hearing him, that he was profounder as a thinker than 
 as a speaker. Before an audience, his reasoning power seem- 
 ed to be held in firm abeyance. The results of reasoning, 
 the palpable facts deduced, the m«ans of direct impression, 
 these were before his eye, and nothing else. Like great 
 rivers that have their fountain-heads in mountains remote 
 and hidden, close by overhanging clouds, this order of think- 
 ers is abstract and exhaustive in cloistered moments ; and 
 as those rivers, when reaching the abodes of civilization, are 
 highways of commerce and scenes of busy usefulness, so 
 these men in their public ministration make everything yield 
 to the practical significance of the occasion. 
 
 As would be expected from such a mental constitution, 
 Dr. Hoyt confined himself in the pulpit to the gospel, as the 
 divine means of salvation. Without doubt he delighted to 
 penetrate beyond its immediate aspects. Had he failed here, 
 his practical force would soon have been exhausted. The 
 philosophy of the gospel must, of necessity, enter into the 
 conditions of all deep and earnest investigation. But the 
 library, not the pulpit, is the place for such an invigorating 
 exercise. And hence the wisdom of Dr. Hoyt's course. 
 Standing in the presence of men, he used such trains of 
 thought as were adapted to men as listeners, not to men as 
 logical students, or speculative philosophers ; and, consequent- 
 ly, while he formed himself as an effective speaker, he also 
 moulded his congregation to be admirable hearers. In this 
 
REV. NATHAN HOYT, D. D. 315 
 
 respect, he was a model most worthy of imitation. True ta 
 the very letter of the phrase, he 'preached the gospel. The 
 paramount of the idea always was not to discuss, not to 
 elaborate, not to intellectualize in any shape or form that 
 might divert his efforts in the direction of philosophy or art, 
 bur, simply and solely to preach the gospel, which, in his 
 mind, meant a specific manner of uttering the truth, as well 
 as the truth itself. 
 
 On the one hand then. Dr. Hoyt avoided all dry, didactic 
 method. On the other, he shunned all mere literary imbel- 
 ishment. Both the logical and the sensuous forms of intel- 
 lect were excluded from his public ministrations. If, how- 
 ever, as shown above, he \v;ls a deep and fervent thinker, it is 
 also true, that he was not deficient in a certain kind of imag- 
 in ition, to which much of his success must be attributed. In 
 its use, he was rarely found in the province of the poet. Un- 
 like the imagination of Jeremy Taylor, it was seldom pictu- 
 resque, and never gorgeous ; it had no tropical luxuriance ; it 
 never sought to embower itself in a Persian Paradise. For 
 its own sake, it had no charms. To revel in beauty or to be 
 transported by sublimity for the mere joy of ecstatic emotion, 
 was as foreign to his sense of intellectual congruity as to his 
 conscience. But that adjunctive office of this grand faculty 
 which aids the reason by apt illustrations and vivid enforce- 
 ments, — this he had in an eminent degree. Less brilliant 
 than the artistic imagination ; much less capable of those 
 sudden transfigurations which lift speaker and hearer out of 
 themselves ; it is, nevertheless, far more serviceable since it 
 allies itself more fully and permanently with the moral sen- 
 sibilities. Of this nature was the Dr's. imagination — fresh, 
 pungeant, incisive — always on the alert, and sure of its eclec- 
 tic instinct, — full of pith and point, — appropriating the com- 
 mon incidents of the day or historical incidents to his pur- 
 pose, and seldom failing, thereby, to set his topic in sharper 
 relief before your quickened fancy. A little humor would 
 
316 NECROLOGY. 
 
 occasionally come to the verge of utterance, and be instantly 
 repressed. And sometimes he could be sarcastic, but gener- 
 ally when he stung, it was like a bee — the thighs laden with 
 honey. Once on a memorable occasion, he indulged in cutting 
 invective, but his heart soon revolted against the use of such 
 weapons, and he abandoned them forever. For sustained 
 vitality of sentiment, word, manner, we have rarely seen his 
 equal. The dignity of dulness was heartily eschewed. If 
 he ever tired you, it was because he was not himself. With 
 him, pulpit-life was a perpetual renewal ; and to the last, 
 his thoughts had a vascular force that reminded you of youth- 
 ful activity. A strong and shining blade, that warrior's 
 hand ever held, and when it dropped, it was neither dull nor 
 dim. 
 
 Tried by the standard of art, Dr. Hoyt could not be regar- 
 ed as a polished orator. The graces of the rhetoritician, he 
 esteemed lightly; nor did he rely for success in any degree 
 upon those artistic means which some have employed as an 
 au.xiliary to higher results. His early struggles with himself 
 as to " fine 'preaching'' were nt-ver forgotten, and it is quite 
 likely that the rebound was rather too strong in the other di- 
 rection. Whether so or not, he deserves praise for strict ad- 
 herence to his convictions, nor can we appreciate too highly the 
 Sternly critical spirit that made him so watchful over the least 
 tendency to self-gratification in his discourses. One could easi- 
 ly see. that he had much more expressional power than he saw 
 fit to exert. His manner was naturally inclined to acting. 
 Had he chosen, he could certainly have been a more effective 
 speaker, as the world judges effectiveness. But he restrain- 
 ed, himself, and we think, most wisely ; for this self-restraint, 
 as is unusually the case, developed other and higher forms of 
 power. In his style of preaching, he attained a marked de- 
 gree of excellence. Whatever subject he treated, he was 
 sure to vitalize it with his personal being, so that it seemed 
 born of his private heart. His mind, like a dramatist, mov- 
 
REV. NATHAN HOYT, D. D. 317 
 
 ed his theme forward to its conclusions, and moved it too 
 with an energy, with a pliant skill, with a concentrated ea- 
 gerness that gathered at every advance upon your interest. 
 At times, his style was involved. The unconscious parenthe- 
 sis would frequently appear, and at the next instant,a sudden 
 off-shoot frcm the main line of discussion would disturb your 
 consecutiveness of thought. In all, however, there was move- 
 ment ; and if it was somewhat irregular for the mo- 
 menc, you were sure to be carried on to the final impression. 
 This was mainly due to the directness and vigor with which 
 he threw his whole mind upon you, and accordingly, his 
 thoughts, in the manner of handling, reminded you of pro- 
 jectiles that were aimed at a given effect. His will — the 
 truthful test of all oratory — was very apparent in his efforts. 
 Determined on his purpose, and indifferent to side results, 
 he was so thoroughly aggressive that you had either to re- 
 sign your strongholds, or shut upyourself more closely within 
 your prison-walls. 
 
 But the real power of this noble man lay deeper than the 
 structure of intellect and the emotional constitution. The 
 finely-wrought sensibility that under the slightest touch went 
 quivering to the brain — the acute senses that lodged the 
 soul all too closely to the world external — and then, too, 
 such a temperament as is found only in men of genius either 
 dormant or developed ; — all these were organized in the outer 
 man, and all these acted powerfully upon the man within. 
 But those other attributes which are counterparts to the 
 merely physical and intellectual, — the sublimer qualities 
 that organize the spirit towards God and Christ, as those just 
 named, embody the soul towards nature and life, — surely we 
 must look to them to find the height, depth, scope, and 
 rounded completeness of his character. 
 
 It sounds like a commonplace truism to say, that Dr. 
 Hoyt realized the doctrines which he believed and preached. 
 But when we use the word " realized," we mean somewhat more 
 
818 NECROLOGY. 
 
 than its currant acceptation implies. All Christians realize reli- 
 gion, — religion that is a reality to their judgments to their 
 consciences, to their hearts. But to what extent? A difference 
 in degree is sometimes equivalent to a difference in kind, and 
 never is this fact more significant than in applications to 
 spiritual experience. The scriptural idea which we seek to 
 embody in the term '■^realize" is peculiarly emphasized by 
 the New Testament writers, and by none so forcibly as by St. 
 Paul and St. John. To convey this idea, they borrow the 
 language of the senses. Such phrases as walking by faith, — 
 enduring as seeing him who is invisible, — -"which we have 
 looked upon and our hands have handled," — must be designed 
 to show that experimental piety affects the heart, as outward 
 objects affect the senses. Men there are who realize the 
 God of the conscience through the conscience ; men there are 
 who realize the God of beauty through the imaginative aspects 
 of Christianity ; while another class realize the God of ten- 
 derness through the emotions. A dwarfish one-sidedness is 
 the result, — a Christian life that reduces itself to a particu- 
 lar function of the mind, — while the rarest of things is to wit- 
 ness and experience, in which all elements coalese in harmo- 
 ny and strength. 
 
 Certain constituents of Dr. Hoyt'& mind gave a most vig- 
 ©rous vitality to his religious life. Towards those grander 
 truths that inspire awe, solemnity, reverence, his nature was 
 broadly open, while as a counterbalancing energy, his sensi- 
 bilities to love and tenderness were intensely operative. No 
 keen observer could fail to mark the ceaseless interplay of 
 thought and sentiment between these two parts of his organ- 
 ization. As they alternated, you wonld see him sternly true, 
 or touchingly gentle ; and when at last through years or 
 struggle, they came together in perfect reconciliation, it was 
 beautiful to see the more majestic attributes of mind dwelling 
 side by side with those kindlier and more lovely virtues, 
 through which Heaven is symbolized to the pure in heart. 
 
REV. NATHAN HOYT, D. D. 319 
 
 Age brought him its large blessings. The great work that 
 Time does for a Christian soul, as it does for a noble oak, when 
 it fills its huge arms with brawny strength, and covers them all 
 over with richest foliage, this greatest of earthly work, was hap- 
 pily accomplished in him. How well I remember these clos- 
 ing years. The gradual mellowing, — how complete at last ! 
 I recall his piercing insight, his deepening sense of reconcili- 
 ation with stubborn circumstances, his growing content, his 
 enlarging charity, his widening love to God and man ; and 
 among the instances of beautiful age that are present with 
 me, I recollect not one that impresses me like this. 
 " Tei to the last, tlwu wast a King." 
 
 The old hero at seventy was still " girded ivith strength^' 
 in the ^^ inner man," and it was ^^ renewed day hy day." 
 The work of his hands was established, and the beauty of the 
 Lord rested upon him. " The glory that excelleth" crowned 
 his three-score years and ten, and when it faded, it faded in 
 the light of Christ's immediate presence. 
 
 In the Presbyterian Church of Athens, Ga., a beautiful 
 mural tablet has been erected, bearing this inscription: 
 
 IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 Ret. Nathan Hott, D. D. 
 
 Born in Gilmanton, N. H., Feb. 27, 1793. 
 
 Became Pastor of tliis Church, May 1, 1830. 
 
 Died in its Ser\ice, July 13, 1866. 
 
 VALIANT FOK GOKPEL TRUTH ; 
 
 THE PIOUS LIVES AND TRIUPHANT DEATHS 
 
 OP MANY WHO ENJOYED HIS 
 
 MINISTRY, 
 PROVED HIS FAITITPULNESS. 
 
 Believing; Hoping; Loving; "Working; 
 
 He scrvccl two Generations by the will of God; 
 
 Then fell asleep in Jesus. 
 
REV. WASHINGTOJS' BAIRD * 
 
 Washington Baird, was the son of pious parents, born in 
 Fayette County, Pennsylvania, about the year 1807. In 
 very early childhood, he removed with his parents to the 
 neighborhood of Maysville, Kentucky, Here he spent his 
 youth, and here he was prepared for College. He then re- 
 turned to Pennsylvania and entered Jefferson College, and 
 graduated with good standing for scholarship in the year 
 1831. In 1832, he came from Kentucky to Milledgeville, Ga. 
 Soon after his arrival, he visited the printing-office of Hon. 
 Seaton Grantland, in order to advertise for a school. Mr. 
 Grantland informed him that he was then in n<?ed of a teach- 
 er in his family. After a short consultation, Mr. Baird was 
 employed as a family tutor, by Mr, Grantland, and a friend- 
 ship was formed between these parties which grew stronger 
 and stronger on a more intimate acquaintance, and has been 
 perpetuated to a second and third generation of the Grant- 
 land family. The family school expanded into a neighbor- 
 hood school, at Woodville, in the vicinity of Milledge- 
 ville. 
 
 Here Mr. Baird continued a few years, until his reputation, 
 as an able teacher, brought him an invitation to a large and 
 flourishing Institution, the Chatham Academy, located in Sa- 
 
 *. The Editor of this work is indebted to the Rev. .John Jones, of Grif- 
 fin, for the following memorial, of the Rev. Mr. Baird, cora.jled from 
 his funeral sermon, preached at Philadelphia Church on the 15ih Aug. 
 1868. Although it was our intention to include only the biographies of 
 ministers who had died within the first twenty years alter the organiz;;- 
 tion of the Synod of Georgia ; yet the publication having beeu so long 
 delayed, and others having fallen during the interim, he has ventured 
 to insert the memorials of as many such as he could obtain, believing 
 it would be gratifying to their friends and the Church, to give them 
 this permanent form. 
 
 330 
 
REV. WASHINGTON BAIRD. 321 
 
 vannah, Ga. He accepted this call, and remained a number 
 of jears in Savannah. 
 
 Here he commenced the study of Theology, having doubt- 
 less had the ministry in view for many years. He put him- 
 self under the care of Charleston Presbytery. In connection 
 with his school duties, he prosecuted his sacred studies, receiv- 
 ing advice and direction from the Rev. Willard Preston, pastor 
 of the Independent Presbyterian Church of Savannah. After 
 due preparation, he was licensed by the Charleston Presby- 
 tery to preach the gospel. Having been called, he removed 
 to Waynseville, Ga., taking charge of Waynesville and Linton 
 Grove Churches. In this position he remained several years, 
 laboring in a large territory, until called to the pastoral care 
 of the St. Mary's Church, Ga., about the year 1840. 
 
 At St. Mary's, Mr. Baird conducted a flourishing school in 
 addition to his ministerial duties ; besides, he repeatedly vis- 
 ited East Florida, doing missionary work. He organized 
 the Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville. 
 
 In 1847, having been chosen by the Synod of Georgia for 
 that purpose, he removed to MiUedgeville, Ga., and established 
 the Southern Presbyterian, and was its able editor for many 
 years, both in Georgia, and after its transfer to Charleston, 
 S. C. From the editorial chair he retired as Ajrent of the 
 Presbyterian Board of Publication. 
 
 July 1st, 1855, he took charge of the Presbyterian Church 
 of Spartanburg, S. C. From thence he was called to the 
 care of the Presbyterian Church of Camden, Arkansas, Sep- 
 tember 26th, 1859. 
 
 In 1863, he was sent as a Commissioner to the Confederate 
 General Assembly, which m'et in Columbia S. C. He lin- 
 gered after the Assembly adjourned, probably with his old 
 friends in Spartanburg, for some weeks. In the meantime, 
 Vicksburg fell into the possession of the Federal troops. The 
 connection between the East and West was destroyed, and 
 
 he was unable to return to Arkansas, Beinff without charge. 
 21 5 = . 
 
322 NECROLOGY. 
 
 and \Yithout homo, he returned to his old friend, Mr. Seaton 
 Grantland, who gave him a refuge and a kindly ■welcome. 
 Thus, after a lapse of thirty years, he returned so his first 
 home made in Georgia, and experienced the friendship of his 
 noble old friend, on whose heart, time and increasino; veara 
 had wrought no decay. While at Mr. Grantlands, his active 
 mind was employed in preparing Elementary Confederate 
 School Books, and in teaching the grandchildren of Mr. G. 
 
 In the spring of 1866, Mr. B. came to Griffin, and for a 
 year, was employed as tutor in the family of Mrs. David J. 
 Bailey, a daughter of his old friend, Col. Seaton Gi'antland. 
 He soon became interested in neigboring destitute Churches 
 of Butts ami Clayton counties ; and in the spring of 1867, 
 he located in the bosom of Philadelphia congregation, as the 
 center of his operations ; and in the month of October, 1867, 
 at Atlanta, the Presbytery of Atlanta employed him as a 
 Missionary to labor in the counties of Butts, Henry, Clayton 
 and Carroll. Into this large and laborious field he entered, and 
 continued w^ith all the life, and hopeful elasticity of a 
 young man in the morning of his ministry : and he labored 
 above his strength, preaching up to the last Sabbath of his 
 life — literally enduring hardness as a good soldier of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ : and, finally, fell in the harness with his 
 face to the field, and passed from the bosom of his friends 
 on earth to the bosom of his Father in Heaven. 
 
 We give the following letter from Mr. Andrew L. Huie, 
 an Elder of Philadelphia Church, referring to his sickness 
 and death : 
 
 "Clayton County, Ga., July 26, 1868, 
 
 Rev. J. J. — Dear Sir'. — We have just committed to their 
 final resting place the mortal remains of the Rev. Washington 
 Baird. He departed this life yesterday at 12 m. He had been 
 complaining for six weeks. He was taken with hoarseness, at- 
 tended with fever. He continued, notwithstanding, to la- 
 bor in L .ssuntly througho-ut his wide field, embracing Henry, 
 
REV. WASHINGTON BAIRD. 323 
 
 Butts, Clayton and Carroll Counties. He returned from Car- 
 roll on Friday night, the 17th instant, very much exhausted, 
 but disposed to attribute it to the extremely hot weather, and 
 the fatigue undergone during the trip to Carroll and back. 
 Nothwithstanding his weakness, he would fill his appoint- 
 ment at our Church on last Sabbath, 19tli instfnt. He 
 preached a short but exceedingly interesting sermon from the 
 text: " Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth, as it is 
 done in heaven. 
 
 I visited him on Monday, and found him feeble, but not 
 disposed to complain. He remarked however that his end 
 was close at hand. On Tuesday, Dr. McKown was called to 
 see him, and found him in a critical condition. He began to 
 decline rapidly. On Friday morning, the 24th, he again spoke 
 of his end, and said he had been looking for it for the last 
 three months. On Friday evening he said he would pass 
 through the night, but not through the coming day. On Sat- 
 urday, the 25th, a few hours before his death, and evidently 
 dying, he was asked how he felt. He replied 'that he felt 
 that he was passing from the bosom of his friends on earth to 
 the bosom of his Father in Heaven. When asked how he 
 found the passage, he answered, "Pleasant, glorious]" He 
 continued gradually to sink, until 12 o'clock M., when he 
 gently breathed his last. 
 
 Although he suffered greatly during the short time he was 
 confined, he bore his sufferings with remarkable patience. He 
 died at Mr. Alexander L. Huie's, which has been his home 
 during his sojourn with us. 
 
 Mr. Baird, had greatly endeared himself to this entire 
 community." 
 
 Such is a short outline of his life, labors and death. 
 
 Let U3 dwell briefly upon his mental and moral traits : 
 First, he was remarkable for an earnest, life-long devotion to 
 God his Saviour. From early youth he gave himself to Christ, 
 and never wavered in his Christian walk. His piety was un- 
 
324 NfiCROLOGY. 
 
 ostentatious ; he made no loud demonstrations ; he contin- 
 ued on the even tenor of his way ; his faith in Christ was sim- 
 ple and child-like, and comforting and supporting. He was a 
 godly man : the Master had chosen and loved him, and he 
 loved the Master, and His kingdom and His people, and the 
 work of the Master was his chief delight. 
 There was a" mellowness of Christian character as he advanc- 
 ed in years ; his path was the path of the just that shineth 
 more and more unto the perfect day ; his peace was as a riv- 
 er, and his righteousness as the waves of the sea. Such was 
 his piety — uniform, simple, grateful, comforting, increasing, 
 abounding. 
 
 Second, his mind was vigorous, independent, simple and 
 direct. He was an able expounder of God's word, and 
 thoroughly evangelical in doctrine, holding fast the form of 
 sound words. He was a clear reasoner, a ready writer, a 
 wise counsellor, and a strong debater in our ecclesiastical 
 courts. In 1841, at the Synod in Charleston, he was ap- 
 pointed the chief advocate in a difficult case of appeal, and 
 sustained the appeal, although opposed by some of the ablest 
 members of the United Synod of South Carolina and Georgia. 
 He was a man of remarkable intelligence on all subjects — 
 keeping abreast of the advancing improvements in arts and 
 sciences. Nothing escaped him. He was alive to every 
 subject of interest in Church and State. He was well versed 
 in the dead languages, and thoroughly acquainted with the 
 natural sciences. He was a superior teacher, because he united 
 with literary attainments, a remarkable interest in youth — 
 great sympathy for them, and an untiring patience in in- 
 structing them. His mind was eminently analogical and 
 didactic. He possessed, in a rare degree, the faculty of sim- 
 plifying, and illustrating his thoughts. His love for children 
 was wonderful ! No child ever passed him without a smile, 
 a kind look, and a word of instruction and encourgement. He 
 was a man of true decision of character. He avoided hasty 
 
REV. WASHINGTON BAIRD. 325 
 
 inferences, and examined with care all questions of duty 
 and discussion. Having reached a conclusion, he remained 
 firm. This was eminently true in regard to theological issues. 
 He was not carried about by every wind of doctrine. 
 
 In the ecclesiastical revolutions of the Presbyterian Church 
 which occurred in 1837, he was as firm as a rock — accept- 
 ing and maintaining the positions of the Old School Party. 
 He was a man of energy ; he loved work, and industry was a 
 natural necessity with him. It may be said of him, as of 
 Richard Baxter, " He loved to labor" and labor was his life. 
 But he loved such work as was practical and efficient for the 
 temporal and spiritual well-being of mankind. His little book, 
 " Duty and Reward," is a true exponent of his mind and 
 heart. Brother Baird was truly a self-sacrificing man, 
 strangely indiiferent to personal ease and comfort — ever 
 averse to giving trouble to any one. He accommodated him- 
 self to circumstances, and was equally at home in the fam- 
 ilies of rich or poor. He was singularly free of the sin of 
 covetousness. He was generous to a fault. Indeed he erred 
 in his indifference to worldly possessions, and just dues for 
 his ministerial labors. Because of this indifference, he lived 
 and died under pecuniary embarrassments. He was a true 
 friend, and never forgot a friend or favor. He was forgiving 
 to those who injured him, and patient under provocations. 
 He admired all that was noble in others, and enjoyed and 
 praised the performances of his brethren. He never indulged 
 in a detracting or censorious spirit. He was uniformly 
 cheerful, sometimes facetious and playful, indulging in inno- 
 cent, dry humor, but never in sarcasm. He was always hope- 
 ful in the darkest hours. He was eminently patriotic ! He 
 loved the South, in all her interests, and delighted in expa- 
 tiating on her undeveloped resources, and her glorious pros- 
 pects. And he loved the whole country. He was devoted to 
 the public good, especially to the religious and literary ele- 
 vation of the young. Finally he was above the fear or favor 
 
326 NECROLOGY. 
 
 of man, in the performance of duty. ^ Like John Knox, 
 he feared not the face of clay! As a man, a minister, an 
 editor, he did his duty fearlessly and faithfully, looking for 
 the approbation of God and his own conscience. 
 
 Such was Washington Baird-^a plain man, a wise man, a 
 good man. 
 
 "We close this brief tribute to his memory with an extract 
 from his memorial sermon by Rev. Mr. Jones. He observes ; 
 '' It is an honest estimate of his religious, moral, and intel- 
 lectual worth. The fact that our earthly communion has finally 
 closed, awakens emotions of unfeigned sadness ! Bat we will 
 think of him as having entered his everlasting rest and rec- 
 call his example for our improvement and encouragement. 
 Let us therefore be admonished to prepare for our own 
 end. How uncertain is life. A few weeks since, and the 
 prospects of our brother for long life,were better than those 
 of many vt^ho survive him. What is life ? It is a vapor that 
 appeareth for a little while and vanisheth away. 
 
 Let this Church ever cherish the memory of their minister. 
 You have lost a kind friend, a faithful shepherd. He loved 
 you all with great tenderness. You will never, probably, find 
 one so perfectly suited to this field, and so much at homo 
 among you all. Cherish his memory ! He was a lone man 
 in the world. He leaves neither widow nor orphan to per- 
 petuate his name and to bedew his grave with their tears — 
 the Church was his family. His dust is in your keeping. You 
 have laid him to rest amidst your native hills, and he sleeps 
 with your fathers and your children, in the bosom of five gen- 
 erations of your own beloved kindred ! He will come no more 
 into this sacred desk ! His active form will move no more 
 in your midst! You will look no more upon his kind face ! 
 You will listen no more to his gentle words, and stirring ad- 
 monitions ! He has gone to render an account of his steward- 
 ship ! He has entered into his rest !" 
 
REV. ISAAC WATTS WADDEL. 
 
 Isaac Watts Waddel, second son of the Rev. Moses 
 Waddel, D. D., and Elizabeth Woodson Waddel, was born at 
 Willington, Abbeville District, South Carolina, on the 11th 
 of July, 1804. He was "brought up" by his Christian pa. 
 rents in the strictness which old-time Presbyterianism imposed. 
 He was early taught the great doctrinal truths of our holy 
 religon, as contained in our symbols of faith. This ren- 
 dered him in after life a sound Theologian. He was pre- 
 pared for college, principally, by his cousin, Moses W. Dob- 
 bins, a most accomplished clasical scholar, and by his elder 
 brother, James P. Waddel, for many years Professor of the 
 Latin and Greek Languages in the University of Georgia. 
 
 Mr. Waddel was of Irish descent. His ancestors emigrated 
 from the neighborhood of Belfast, about 1760, and settled 
 in North Carolina. The family, as far back as is known, 
 was Presbyterians of the purest type. 
 
 His father was called to the Presidency of Franklin Col- 
 lege, at Athens, Georgia, and in May, 1819, entered on 
 the duties of his office. Isaac Watts, with his younger 
 brother, William Woodward Waddel, entered in the Fresh- 
 man Class, and graduated in August, 1823. He was a good 
 scholar. 
 
 After the completion of his college course, his father, in- 
 dulging his passion for the life of a planter, removed him to 
 the old homestead, in South Carolina. Here he entered 
 upon the duties of rural life, superintending the cultivation 
 of his paternal acres. What success attended his labors in 
 this sphere of action, we know not. But, having given the ex- 
 periment a fair trial, we find him in 1827-'28, entering upon 
 the study of a profession. We judge that he did not find 
 
 337 
 
328 NECROLOGY. 
 
 the cultivaton of cotton and corn to be in exact accordance 
 with his tastes, and he, therefore, left his broad acres to take 
 care of themselves, ■while he went to consult Blackstone, and 
 delve in other legal lore. He entered the law oflSce of the 
 Hon, Augustine S. Clayton, of Athens. 
 
 Where and when he made a public profession of his faith in 
 Christ, we know not. It was probably while he resided at 
 Willington, as early as 1827. He was, doubtless, a mem- 
 ber of the Church when he entered upon the study of the 
 law. He remained but a short time in the law office. God 
 had other purposes, — he was soon called to consider his duty 
 toward his fellow-men, and to examine the question of be- 
 coming a minister of the Gospel. Whether self-suggested 
 or from outer influences, he resolved on the study of Theology. 
 
 He forthwith commenced the study under the care of the 
 Rev. Thomas Goulding, D. D., then of Lexington, Ga., af- 
 terwards Professor of Church History and Polity in the 
 Theological Seminary at Columbia, S. C. He was taken 
 under the care of Hopewell Presbytery, at their Sessions in 
 Augusta, December 6th, 1828, and was licensed at Greens- 
 boro', August 8th, 1830. He was ordained at Gainsville, 
 Hall County, as an Evangelist, in May, 1832. He labored 
 as a Domestic Missionary in the west of the State for some 
 time, with great acceptance. His memory is cherished by 
 many in the western counties, till the present day. 
 
 In September, 1831, he married Miss Sarah K. Daniel 
 daughter of James K. Daniel, Esq., of Greene county, Ga. 
 He afterwards removed to Willington, S. C, where his fa- 
 ther then resided. During his residence at Willington, he 
 preached in the churches of Hopewell and Lebanon, Abbe- 
 ville, S. C. In the year 183 — , he purchased a farm in 
 Walker county, Ga., whither he removed his family ; but, 
 that region (being in the neighborhood of the mountains) 
 proving too bleak for the delicate constitution of his family, 
 he bought a plantation in Sumpter county, Alabama, whither 
 
REV. ISAAC WATTS WADDELL. 329 
 
 he removed. This was a disastrous change of location. 
 Here he lost, by death, a lovely little daughter, and several 
 slaves. He afterwards hired a house in Demopolis, Ala., 
 where he lived for a short time ; but, finally disheartened by 
 his misfortunes, he returned to Georgia. He afterwards 
 received a call to the Church at Marrietta, Ga., Avhere, after 
 a few years, he terminated his unpretending, unobtrusive, 
 but his quietly useful life, of a lingering chronic complaint, 
 on the 1st day of November, 1849, in the 45th year of his 
 age, and the 19th, of his ministry. 
 
 Mr. Waddel was a man of a very quiet temperament, and 
 aptly fulfilled the obligations of husband, father, and mas- 
 ter. His was not a marked literary turn, although he was 
 an accurate scholar. He conciliated the love, and afi"ection, 
 and confidence of all who were intimate with him, by the 
 generally straight-forward view of things, which character- 
 ized his course. To all he was kind, aff'able, and afiectionate. 
 
 As a minister of the gospel, he was generally acceptable to 
 the plain people whom he served. His sermons, not being 
 written, were plain and without ornament, and, perhaps, on 
 that account, more useful to those to whom they were ad- 
 dressed. 
 
 To crown all, his personal piety was never impugned, how- 
 ever, he might be thought to lack " Unction," in his outward 
 demonstrations. 
 
 Eight children were born to him, of whom five attained 
 maturity. His eldest son graduated at the University of 
 Georgia in 1853, with much credit. He studied law, and 
 was taken into the co-partnership by Col. Chislom, of Cedar 
 Town, Polk county, where his ambitious industry and per- 
 severance soon brought him into public notice. At the ear- 
 liest period of the late Confederate War, he joined the 
 army, where he soon rose to the office of Colonel of the 20th 
 Georgia Regiment. Eliza, his eldest daughter, became the 
 wife of Dr. Setze, of Marietta. Mary, his second daughter, 
 
330 NECROLOGY. 
 
 resides in Cherokee county. John left College for the army 
 and was twice wounded during the war. Isaac Watts, the 
 youngest son, resides with some of the family. 
 
 Mrs. Waddel, after the death of her husband, removed to 
 Greensboro', Ga., where she died in December, 1863, 
 
RE\. PETER WINX* 
 
 Peter Winn was born in Liberty county, Georgia, on 
 
 the day of , in the year 1816. He was the son 
 
 of Maj. John and Mrs. Eliza Winn — pious, intelligent, and 
 respectable parents, — who, in accordance with the usages of 
 the Congregational Church, dedicated him in infancy to the 
 service of thg Lord. His father was the descendant of a 
 long lineage of pious ancestors ; a graduate of Yale College, 
 and a lawyer by profession ; but spent many years of the 
 latter part of his life in instructing the youth of Liberty 
 county. It was his earnest desire to have all his children 
 well educated, that they might be fitted for stations of use- 
 fulness and respectability in life. But he did not live to see 
 his wishes accomplished ; he died when Peter was a little 
 over four years old, and the responsibility of his training 
 and education, and that of six other children, was thrown 
 upon their mother, who, through Divine Grace, was well 
 qualified for so responsible a position. 
 
 Mrs. Eliza Winn, the mother, and, to a great extent, the 
 moral educator of Rev. Peter Winn, was a woman long 
 known and much noted in that part of the country for her 
 ardent piety, her wisdom, prudence, humility, zeal and en- 
 ergy. Her children are all ready to bear testimony to her 
 faithfulness in endeavoring to train them up " in the nurture 
 and admonition of the Lord." The Bible and the Catechisms 
 of the Presbyterian Church, were the chief text books used 
 for the moral culture of the household. The good old prac- 
 tice of assembling all the family together on the evening of 
 the Sabbath, and hearing them recite the Shorter Catechism 
 of our Confession of Faith, was common with her through the 
 
 *MSS from Rev. T. Siuaner Winn. 
 
 331 
 
332 NECKOLOGT. 
 
 greater part of her life. She ever taught "that wisdom is 
 better that gold ;" and it was her earnest desire, her constant 
 prayer, and most strenuous endeavors to have her children 
 converted to God, and become useful in life. There is no 
 doubt but that the influence of that noble woman, was the chief 
 means, in the hand of God, in developing and moulding that 
 fine character in the person of the subject of this memoir, 
 which we are about to delineate. " Many daughters have 
 done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Her children 
 rise up and called her blessed ; her husband, also, and he 
 praiseth her." 
 
 Were we to begin with the childhood of Peter "VVinn, we 
 would say, that he was devotedly attached to his mother, 
 very fond of his books, affectionate towards his kindred and 
 friends, conscientious in all his dealings with others, and 
 remarkably deferential in his deportment to the old. He 
 exhibited the force of that precept of Moses, — " Thou shalt 
 rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old 
 man." His simplicity of character, his candor, integrity, 
 and correctness of behavior, in general, always commanded 
 the respect and admiration of his companions at school. 
 To this day, his name is seldom mentioned by any of his early 
 associates without expressions of affection, esteem and praise. 
 We saw with him in boyhood, what remained with him in 
 manhood, — ardor in temperament, soundness in judgment, 
 and determination in purpose. 
 
 He commenced his literary course at the early age of six 
 years, in the school of Mr. John C. Baker, the brother of 
 the celebrated Daniel Baker, D. D., in the village of Flem- 
 ington. He was a few years after removed to Walthourville, 
 and placed under the tuition of the Rev. Dr. Henry Ripley, 
 afterwards a Professor in the Baptist Theological Seminary, 
 at Newton Centre, Massachusetts. But the greater portion 
 of his early academical life was with Mr. Edward Pyncheon, 
 an intelligent and highly educated gentleman, who taught 
 
REV. PETER WINN. 833 
 
 in the Walthourville Academy for many years, and did 
 much to elevate and improve the educational status of the 
 youth of Liberty county. It was here, in this ancient 
 Academy, so pleasant to the memory of many, that young 
 Winn, in common with several others of the Prasbyterian 
 Ministry of the South, obtained the rudiments of that thor- 
 ough scholarship for which he afterwards became noted among 
 his fellew students. Mr. Pyncheon soon discoved his worth, 
 and appreciated his merits, and ever regarded him as one 
 of his best scholars. He was much beloved and respected 
 by his companions at school, and was very often called to 
 act as an arbiter and peace-maker in the difficulties that 
 sometimes occurred among the boys. 
 
 It is probable that, while a student at the academy, he 
 received his first strong and permanent religious impressions, 
 which changed his destiny for time and eternity. About 
 the year 1831, there was a considerable revival of religion 
 in Walthourville, under the preaching of Drs. Daniel Baker 
 and Joseph C. Stiles. During this refreshing, young Winn, 
 and many other youths of the village, professed conversion. 
 After a month of prayer and reflection, he connected him- 
 self with the Midway Congregational Church, the venerated 
 church of his father's. But his peace of mind and assurance 
 of acceptance with God, seem not to have lasted very long. 
 It is believed that he did not avail himself of the privilege 
 of coming to the Lord's table more than two or three times, 
 before he fell into a state of great spiritual doubt and dark- 
 ness, and for several years gave up all hope of his conver- 
 sion. He did not, however, abandon religion and return to 
 the world, as is too often the case, but continued to struggle 
 on, having, however, no hope of acceptance with God. Long 
 and terrible were the conflicts that agitated the soul of the 
 troubled youth. Days upon days were devoted to fasting 
 and prayer for relief, but no relief came. What grief, what 
 anguish do some of us still remember to have seen depicted 
 
334 NECROLOGY. 
 
 in the face of that young Christian ! He could say, as did 
 Job : " Oh, that I knew where I might find him ! that I 
 might come before his seat ! Behold, I go forward, but he 
 is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him; on 
 the left hand where he doth work, but I cannot behold him : 
 he hideth himself on the right hand that I cannot see him : 
 but he knoweth the way I take ; when he hath tried me I 
 shall come forth as gold !" He was like Bunyan's Pilgrim in 
 the Slough of Despond. May we not suppose that God was 
 leading him through these deep and dark waters of despair, 
 to break his hold on the world, to chasten his soul, to purify 
 his heart, and prepare him for greater usefulness in the 
 Church ? He was tried indeed ! But, he came forth at last 
 as gold heated seven times in the furnace. The encourage- 
 ment received from his mother, together with the faithful 
 instructions of his old Pastor, Rev. R. Quarterman, were 
 blessed of God, to his complete deliverance from that state of 
 doubt and despair. In gratitude for deliverance, he seems 
 to have dedicated himself anew to the survice of Christ ; 
 and no sacrifice or self-denial was too great for him to make 
 to the cause of his Divine Master. 
 
 From this period his thoughts were turned to the office of 
 the sacred ministery as a profession best fitted for glorifying 
 God and doing good to man. He was not hasty, however, 
 in coming to this conclusion, but pondered and prayed over 
 the matter for years. But, when he had once made up 
 his mind to do so, hardly anything, not even the most form- 
 idable obstacles, could shake him from his course. In or- 
 der to do this, he at once bagan preparation for college, and 
 in January, 1835, he entered the Freshman Class, in Frank- 
 lin College, Athens, Ga., then under the Presidency of Dr. 
 Alonzo Church. The same high and honorable character 
 for punctuality, diligence, sobriety, and scholar&hip, which 
 he bore in the academy, he here sustained throughout his 
 collegiate course. We do not know that he was deficient 
 
KEY. PETER WINN. 335 
 
 in any of the branches of learning there taught, but it is 
 known that he excelled in the Mathematics. In his class, 
 were many young men of superior talents, some of whom 
 have done much honor, both to the State and Church. 
 Among them, we might mention Dr. B. M. Palmer, of New 
 Orleans, Prof. John LsConte, Prof. Milton E. Bacon, and 
 some others of like sort. Though a very hard student, and 
 incessantly engaged through all the secular days of the week 
 in his college duties, yet he usually spent his Sabbaths, not 
 in rest and recreation, but in holding Sabbath schools and 
 religious exercises at the Factories and destitute places in 
 the vicinity of the town. The cause of the Redeemer lay 
 heavily upon his heart ; it was, therefore, the one great 
 purpose of his soul to promote that cause in every lawful 
 way. 
 
 In August, 1838, he graduated with the second honor of 
 his class. He left immediately after for Talliafero county, 
 Ga., where he entered upon the duties of a te.icher, in a 
 country school, and remained until November, and, as usual, 
 holding meetings on the Sabbath for the people. Here 
 commenced the one great error of his life, — an error for 
 which he ultimately paid most dearly, — which, most proba- 
 bly, cost him his life. He should have spared himself and 
 embraced that opportunity for resting and prepariug both 
 his physical and mental energies for the laborious studies yet 
 before him in the Theological Seminary. But, having only 
 limited means, being unwilling to burden the Church with 
 the expense of his education, ever, ready for work, and fired 
 with zeal, he determined to pay his own way through the 
 course of preparation necessary for entering the ministry. 
 
 His engagements for teaching having expired, and the exer- 
 cises of the Seminary begun, we next find him in Columbia, 
 S. C, a student of Divinity, intent on his preparation for the 
 holy office of the ministry. Now, the long cherished and fond 
 hopes of his heart were about to be realized. A few years 
 
336 NECROLOGY. 
 
 more, and he would stand up an ordained and approved mes- 
 senger of Jesus Christ, to publish to a dying world the ever- 
 lasting Gospel. Alas ! for human foresight ; these ardent 
 hopes were doomed, in a measure, to be blasted for the pres- 
 ent. God had other work for him. He must occupy an- 
 other sphere of which he knew nothing. He must preach 
 the gospel, it is true, but he must preach it in a way differ- 
 ent from what he had himself preferred and marked out. 
 During the vacation in the Seminary in July, 1839, he re- 
 turned home, and, instead of resting and recuperating his 
 exhausvted energies, he very imprudently engaged to supply 
 the place of the absent Preceptor of Walthourville Academy. 
 The school was large, and many of the pupils far advanced, so 
 that, in addition to teaching during the day, he was com- 
 pelled to study much by night, to be able to instruct his 
 classes. Here, also, he held meetings for the people, and 
 aided his pastor in many ways. The labor was too much 
 for exhausted nature. " The spirit was willing, but the 
 flesh was weak." His health gave way — fever ensued — and 
 that was succeeded by hemorrhage of the lungs. This was 
 the beginning of that long season of pain, sickness, sorrow, 
 and disappointment, which never ceased until our gifted 
 young friend was borne to the grave. It was the first alarm- 
 ing symptom of that insiduous disease, the consumption, 
 which claims death, usually, as its sure and certain end. 
 This case should warn young men, and especially Theolog- 
 cal students, not to follow the example here given, and allow 
 their zeal to overtax the energies of exhausted nature. 
 "There is a time for all things," and there is a time of 
 study. There is also a time for relaxation, " for much 
 study is a weariness to the flesh." According to human 
 appearances, a little more prudence, a little more rest, might 
 have prolonged the life and spared to the Church the ser- 
 vices of Peter Winn. It is the solemn duty of the Church 
 to aid and sustain her indigent candidates for the ministry. 
 
REV. PETER WINN. 3ST 
 
 She ought to fill the treasury of her Educational Commit- 
 tee, and See that her pious sons, struggling against poverty, 
 do not lack for pecuniary aid, and young men needing help, 
 ought not to feel any delicacy in asking assistance. But in 
 this case the Church is not to blame. She gave no aid, for 
 none was asked. Mr. Winn's energetic and independent na- 
 ture induced him to undertake what he had not strength 
 to accomplish. We repeat what we have already said : It 
 was the great error of his life. But we are all fallible. 
 "It is human to err." God alone is perfect. If I justify 
 myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me : if I say I am 
 pierfect, it shall also prove me perverse." God, no doubt, 
 permitted it to be so for good and wise purposes. " What 
 thou knowest not now, thou shalt know hereafter." If the 
 judgment of that young man erred, it was error more of the 
 head than of the heart — an error on the side of virtue. 
 He meant well. So we pronounce no. censure; we only 
 express a regret, and drop one sad tear of sorrow. 
 
 So far as health is concerned, he was now ruined for the 
 active duties of the ministry. There being still a few weeks 
 remaining of the Seminary vacation, he left the school room,, 
 and betook himself to horse-back riding as a means of re- 
 cruiting his health. He takes a trip to the up-country of 
 Georgia. He visits his brother, J. W., at Forsyth, and his- 
 brother-in-law, Rev. S. J. Cassels, at Macon, and many 
 other places and friends ; comes home improved in health, 
 bouyant in spirits, and imagining all was well with him.. 
 He returns to the Seminary to resume his studies. But 
 alas ! it was too late. The seeds of disease were too deeply 
 rooted in his system to be eradicated. After struggling 
 with ill health a few months, his strength entirely failed. 
 Following the advice of physicians and professors, he was- 
 forced at last to bid farewell to the Seminary — to abandon, 
 for the present, all hope of ever entering the ministry; and, 
 at last, he set out on his melancholy journey homeward, — 
 22 
 
338 NECROLOGY. 
 
 perhaps to die ! How sad to behold ! all the hopes of nearly 
 a whole life time apparently blasted forever. Shall one so 
 gifted, so willing to preach the gospel, never be permitted 
 to enter the ministry of reconciliation ? The regrets and 
 sympathies, expressed by the community, are well remem- 
 bered. All pitied, but none could help him. And now 
 ■shall that aged mother, who so gladly gave him up to the 
 work of the ministry, never enjoy the satisfaction of seeing 
 her cherished son in the pulpit ? Are the cries and suppli- 
 ■cations of the righteous never to be answered ? Let us not 
 he hasty, but wait and see the result. "Why art thou cast 
 ■down, my soul ? and why art thou disquieted within me ? 
 •Hope thou in God ; for I shall yet praise him, who is the 
 'help of my countenance and my God. Commit thy ways 
 itinto the Lord, and He shall bring it to pass." 
 We return to our narrative. 
 
 What shall the young student do ? The Theological Sem- 
 inary ha3_^been abandoned ; the ministry seems to be beyond 
 ihis reach ; he has not strength to grasp the coveted prize. 
 Every avenue of usefulness seems closed against him. Must 
 he go home to die in his mother's arms ? Must he leave 
 ■this world, having done so little for his perishing fellow-men? 
 He is in the steamboat between Charleston and Savannah, 
 on his way homeward. His small stock of Theological 
 Books are along only to sadden his memory, by reminding 
 him of what he might have learned in the sublime science of 
 Divinity. He is feeble in body, and dejected in mind. 
 Health is gone ! H<3pes are blasted ! 
 
 In this state of mind, he arrives at Savannah, and goes to 
 
 the boarding house of Mrs. H , a Presbyterian lady. 
 
 There he met the Rev. Mr. Cook, an agent of the Amer- 
 ican Tract Society, who, on learning his situation and supe- 
 rior worth, became interesed in him, and offered him em- 
 ployment as a Colporteur and General Agent in the whole 
 Soath. One door of usefulness being closed against him, 
 
V 
 
 REV. PETER WINN. 339 
 
 Pfovidence immediately opened another. If he is not al- 
 lowed to preach to sinners, in his own words, he is permitted 
 to do what is, perhaps, better — he may preach to them in 
 the words of Payson, Baxter, Edwards, Brainard, Wilbe- 
 force, and others of the sainted dead ; yea, he may preach 
 to them in the words of sacred Scripture. This door of use- 
 fulness being so unexpectedly opened to him, and so well 
 adapted for the improvement of his health, the call was, af- 
 ter due reflection accepted, and subsequently entered upon. 
 But, before the necessary arrangements could be made, the 
 Liberty County Bible Society, which happened to have a 
 considerable number of books on hand, employed him as a 
 Colporteur for the rest of the year, to labor in some of the 
 adjacent destitute counties. During this time, he traversed 
 the counties of Tatnel, Appling, Emanuel, Effingham, and 
 a portion of Montgomery, distributing the Word -of Life. 
 The Bible was carried to people and places where it had 
 never before gone. May we not hope that that Holy Book, 
 distributed by him, has been the means of saving many 
 souls ? 
 
 We have followed the history of Mr. Winn from early 
 youth through his Academical, Collegiate and Theological 
 course. We come now to what might be called the second 
 chapter of his history. His studies are laid aside, and he 
 is now in the field laboring for his Divine Master. He is 
 the Agent of the American Tract Society, disseminating truth 
 to the unenlightened of his countrymen. Under the plea of 
 ill health he might have remained at home, or he might have 
 betaken himself to secular pursuits, for no one thought him 
 capable of enduring the hardships of a Colporteur. But he 
 was not a man to waste time, when men were perishing 
 around him. He felt that his time was short, and that he 
 must improve the little portion of life still left him. 
 
 His work for the Bible Society being completsd, and the 
 necessary arrangements made for entering on his agency for 
 
340 NECKOLOGT. 
 
 the Tract Society, he commenced his operations in Georgia, 
 about the first of January, 1841. To this work he became 
 devotedly attached, and threw into it his whole soul. It 
 was a work to which he closely adhered for nearly four years, 
 under all circumstances, and often amid unusual difficulties. 
 Large portions of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, 
 and a part of Alabama, were visited by him. Exposed to 
 heat and cold, wet and dry, winter and summer, meeting 
 with friends and foes, sympathy and rebuff, he still pressed 
 on in the great and good work, without fainting or tiring. 
 Being all the time a confirmed consumptive, spitting blood 
 almost every day, and often attacked with violent hemor- 
 rhages — often sick among strangers, and laid up in public 
 inns where he was much neglected, it is a wonder how he 
 persevered in his work, for he seemed more fit for the sick 
 room than a traveller on the highways. But, as " the 
 King's business was urgent, and required haste," he yielded 
 to no discouragements, but pressed onward and onward, 
 sometimes visiting regions where no gospel messenger had 
 ever before appeared. At one time, during this agency, 
 several months elapsed and no communication had yet been 
 received from. him. In the meantime, a report got into cir- 
 culation that he was dead ; and just as his friends who had 
 become much concerned about his welfare, were making ar- 
 rangements to send in search for him, he returned home much 
 improved in health. 
 
 That good was done in this protracted and extended 
 agency, none will doubt; but to what extent, the revelations 
 of eternity will alone unfold. We beg leave to mention but 
 one instance as illustrative of the good accomplished. It 
 came to the knowledge of his friends after his death. In 
 that portion of Georgia known as South-west Georgia, the 
 Colporteur happened to meet on the road Gen. G., a dis- 
 tinquished citizen of that region. After som-e conversation, 
 and the sale of a few books to the General, they recog- 
 
REV. PETER WINN. 341 
 
 nized each other as acquaintances, who had met at Athens. 
 He invited Mr. Winn to his house and entertained him for 
 the night, most hospitably. The opportunity was embraced 
 for conversation on the importance and necessity of per- 
 sonal piety. The subject was pressed home upon his heart 
 with much force and tenderness. The Colporteur left next 
 morning to pursue his labors of love elsewhere, not knowing 
 that any good impression had been made on his kind host. 
 They parted never more to meet on earth. Other portions 
 of the South were visited, and the gospel preached to others ; 
 and the weary Corporteur has finished his course, and sleeps 
 in the grave. Then comes the information that an impres- 
 sion was made that night upon the mind of Gen. G., never 
 to be effaced. He had no peace of soul until he surrendered 
 himself to the Saviour. He afterwards connected himself 
 with the Baptist Church, and became a useful and consistent 
 Christian. ^' In the morning sow thy seed, and in the eve- 
 ning withhold not thy hand : for thou knowest not whether 
 shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall 
 be alike good. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye 
 steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the 
 Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain 
 in the Lord." "They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy." 
 We have asked, shall Mr. Winn ever enter the ministry ? 
 and thus gratify the cherished desire of his heart. Will the 
 prayers of his mother ever be answered and her heart glad- 
 dened in seeing him in the pulpit ? Yes, that prayer was 
 answered. She saw him there, though only once. He be- 
 came a minister of Jesus Christ, as one having ecclesiastical 
 authority. In the fall of 1843, he returned from a long 
 tour of Colportage through the upper and middle counties of 
 North Carolina, much improved in health, and very hope- 
 ful of permanent restoration. His thoughts again turned 
 to the ministry. He would make at least one more effort. 
 His idea was, then, not to relinquish his agency for the 
 
342 NECROLOGY. 
 
 Tract Society, but to blend the two together, so as to be 
 able to preach in the destitute regions, as he visited from 
 place to place. He accordingly appeared before the Presby- 
 tery of Georgia, in November, 1843, was taken under its 
 care, examined and licensed by that body at Midway Church 
 in the presence of a large congregation. 
 
 Having now explored and visited the most destitute parts 
 of the South, his thoughts were turned next toward the far 
 West, and especially the great valley of the Mississippi, 
 as a most needy and inviting field of labor. Having de- 
 termined to go thither, he deemed it best, first, to visit the Is- 
 land of Cuba and spend a few months, hoping that the mild 
 and salubrious climate of that trophical region would aid in 
 completing his restoration to health. Accordingly, about 
 the first of January, 1844, he left Savannah in a vessel 
 bound for that Island. The voyage was not long, but rough 
 and tempestuous. He encountered a severe gale, which he 
 described in one of his letters as truly grand and sublime. 
 He learned, indeed, that " they who go down into the sea in 
 ships, that do business in great waters, see the works 
 of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep." In order, that 
 he might better enjoy the sublimity of the scene of an ocean 
 in commotion, he remained for hours on deck, lashed to the 
 mast, gazing upon nature in her most majestic manifesta- 
 tions. But the storm at length subsided, and his ship glided 
 calmly into the port of Havana. He would gladly have 
 prosecuted his evangelical labors among the people of this 
 Catholic Island ; b-ut the Spanish authorities were too vigi- 
 lant for &uch an attempt. His trunks were searched, and 
 every Protestant book taken from him, except his Bible, 
 which was saved by being concealed about his person. Re- 
 maining there a few months, regaling himself with the fruits 
 and luxuries of that delightful climate, he left in the spring 
 for New Orleans, and thence up the Mississippi — he visited 
 many towns and villages on its banks. He finally selected 
 
REV. PETER WINN. 343 
 
 the western portion of the State of Mississippi as a suitable 
 field for his work. Here he was indefatigable and untiring 
 in his efforts to do good. The impression made on the peo- 
 ple of the West was the same as that made on those of the 
 East. Here he became deeply interested in the spiritual 
 welfare of the colored people. To him they seemed as sheep 
 without a shepherd. He saw thousands upon thousands of 
 Africans in this region, who enjoyed little of the means of 
 Grace. " The harvest was plenteous, but the laborers were 
 few." So deep and strong were his convictions of the duty 
 of laboring for them, that he finally concluded to relinquish 
 his connection with the Tract Society, and spend the balance 
 of his days as a Missionary among them. Being, himself, 
 a Southern man, born and reared among them, he possessed 
 a strong and lasting friendship for them ; and he thought, 
 that in no better way could he ameliorate their condition, 
 than by preaching to them the gospel of Christ. Thus, we 
 next find him in this new and interesting field of labor. He 
 choose Claiborne county, in the vicinity of Port Gibson, as a 
 point best adapted for the commencement of his work. 
 Here he was employed as a missionary to the blacks by a 
 number of wealthy and intelligent planters. Among these, 
 were such persons as Mr. Thomas Cleveland, Mrs. Daniels, 
 Rev. Zebulon Butler, D. D., and others, — persons from 
 whom he received much encouragement and assistance in his 
 work. For Dr. Butler and his family he entertained the 
 highest esteem and respect ; and to the end of life, kept up 
 with him an intimate correspondence. It was mainly through 
 his influence that the mission was gotten up and sustained. 
 In this field he was eminently successful. He soon won for 
 himself the confidence and respect, not only of the Master, 
 but of the slave himself. They welcomed him with open 
 arms, and flocked by thousands to hia- preaching. Day and 
 night, both on Sabbaths and secular days, did he go from 
 plantation to plantation, breaking to tliis benighted people 
 the bread of life. 
 
344 NECROLOGY. 
 
 While laboring in this field, he became acquainted with 
 Miss Margaret McComb, a worthj lady of Port Gibson. 
 Their acquaintance ripened into affection, and resulted in 
 their marriage in the year 1845, And it may not be amiss 
 to say, that she proved to him an angel of mercy, minister- 
 ing to all his wants, and cheering him in his subsequent 
 great afflictions. She still lives, a resident of New Orleans, 
 and now the wife of Henry T. Bartlett, an Elder in the 
 Thalia Street Presbyterian Church. 
 
 Mr. Winn labored as a missionary to the colored people 
 in this place about eighteen months, and would gladly have 
 settled here for life, but God had otherwise ordained. It 
 soon became evident that the strength of his body was not 
 equal to the zeal of his heart. Incessant toil and exposure 
 to an unheal ty atmosphere of night, as he visited from plan- 
 tation to plantation, destroyed what little strength was left 
 him. But, unwilling to give up, and anxious to live for the 
 good of the colored man, one more effort was made for the 
 improvement ©f his health. But it was all in vaia. His 
 disease was incurable. His work was done, and he must 
 soon die. Resigning himself with Christian submission to 
 the will of God, he abandons his mission, resigns his charge, 
 and turns his face toward his mothers house, — the home of 
 his infancy. He has met with the sons and daughters of 
 Africa as their mistionary for the last time. The poor black 
 man has lost in him one of his best friends. The last hymn 
 is sung, the last prayer has been offered, the last sermon 
 preached, the last parting word uttered, and he is off to find 
 a place to die. 
 
 He reached Liberty county in the month of April, 1846, 
 the mere shadow of a man — a living skeleton. No one 
 could look upon his pale, haggard, emaciated face, without 
 having his sympathies aroused. His cough was troublesome, 
 his strength exhausted, and his respiration, at times, difficult. 
 In addition to the wasting influences of consumption, he had 
 
REV. PETER WINN. 345 
 
 a painful affection of the knee — acute inflammation, swel- 
 ling, and contraction of the joint, exceedingly painful. He 
 Avalked a little, but only on crutches. Such wasliis condi- 
 tion, when he left the missionary field. He worked to the 
 last — he fell in the battle — he died in the harness. He 
 came to end his days among a people where he was born, 
 and had been reared. With them, in earlier days, he had 
 lived and associated — with them he had often met in the 
 house of God. They knew his worth and appreciated his 
 merits ; and when, at last, he returned to die in their midst, 
 they welcomed him back to his native land. Never did the 
 people of that community manifest a greater sympathy for 
 any one than they showed him. There were no dainties or 
 luxuries, that might contribute to his comfort, that they did 
 not shower upon him. They seemed to vie with each other 
 in exhibitions of kindness. In addition to the daily visita- 
 tions of friends, he was often favored with visits of many of 
 his nunisterial brethren, such as Messrs. Quarterman, Jones, 
 Cassels, Law, and Axson. These visits were comforting to 
 hko, and highly valued. It may be asked by some, what 
 were his feelings now, or rather, what his state of mind ? 
 His hopes had been blasted — he had long been an invalid — 
 he had studied and labored under the greatest difficulties — 
 and had now been finally arrested, and brought in prospect of 
 soon standing face to face with his God in judgment. In view 
 of this, what were his feelings ? Was he dejected, melancholy ? 
 Did he murmur at the hard and mysterious allotments of 
 Providence ? We answer, that a) happier man could hardly 
 be found on earth. To the last, he was social, cheerful, and, 
 at times, exceedingly jocose and playful. Place him in any 
 company, whether with young or old, he would be the life of 
 that company. Even when on his death-bed, his house was 
 anything but the house of mourning. It was the house of 
 peace, cheerfulness, contentment, and quiet assurance. His 
 pastor, after visiting one day, remarked, that he "regarded 
 
346 NECROLOGY. 
 
 it more a privilege than an afEiction to have a child sick in his 
 situation, and with his state of mind." Grace triumphed over 
 all. He had been preparing for death, and when at last it 
 came, he was ready to depart. He could say, "I can do all 
 things through Christ who strengtheneth me." Fifteen 
 years he had closely followed his Master, and that Master 
 did not forsake him in the day of need. 
 
 Mr. Winn was not confined to his bed for six months af- 
 ter his return home. He usually sat up most of the day — 
 rode on horseback very often — attended church regularly, — 
 and often visited his friends. In the month of October, 
 however, he began to sink more rapidly, and after that pe- 
 riod, never rose from his couch. He lingered three months 
 more, and on the 18th of January, 1847, his spirit entered 
 into that rest that remaineth for the people of God, in the 
 31st year of age. 
 
 The following letter, written by his mother, to an absent 
 brother, a few days after his decease, discloses the scenes of 
 the flying bed of this young servant of Christ : 
 
 "Walthourville, Jan. 21st, 1847. 
 
 My Dear : Ere this reaches you, you will, no doubt, 
 
 have received through letter of J., the melancholy intelligence 
 of the death of our beloved Peter. Yes, my precious child is 
 now a saint in heaven. And, although floods of tears run down 
 my furrowed cheeks, when I allow my selfish feelings to pre- 
 vail, yet, when I think of his eternal gain, my grief is turned 
 into joy. We are indeed "sorrowful, yet rejoicing." Oh! 
 if you could have been present during the last few days of 
 his pilgrimage, and witnessed his calm and peaceful end, 
 you would have exclaimed, with our friend. Dr. C. C. Jones, 
 in his closing remarks at his funeral, "Let me die the death 
 of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." Such com- 
 posure, such patient resignation, such entire confidence in 
 the merits of his Saviour, are rarely ever met with! Tbere 
 
KEV. PETER WINN. 347 
 
 seemed to be a comlination of all the Christain graces rest- 
 ing upon his soul, which gave lustre to his countenance, and 
 recommended to all who beheld him, the religion he pro- 
 fessed. But, rather than give you my own words, I will re- 
 peat to you many of the sweet expressions which fell from 
 his lips du»ing the few days previous to his departure. 
 
 On Friday evening, Mrs. M. approached his bed-side ; he 
 turned, took hold of her hand,^ and said: "Mrs. Minton, 
 heaven appears to brighten in prospect." A few hours af- 
 ter, I said to him, " My dear child, how does Christ appear 
 to you now?" He looked intelligently in my face, and 
 said, " Very, very precious, one among thousands and alto- 
 gether lovely." About three o'clock on Saturday morning, 
 we were summoned around his bedside to see him die. He 
 was asleep, and appeared to be fast sinking. We thought 
 it best to arouse him, and make known to him his situation. 
 His cousin, Thomas W. F., then asked if he was sensible 
 that his stay with us was likely to be very short ? He 
 calmly replied, " I feel very feeble, and if I am going, I 
 must bid you all farewell." He then took each member of 
 the family by the hand, and, with feeble voice and faltering 
 tongue, bid them all an affectionate farewell. Beginning 
 with me, he said: "Farewell, my precious mother, I commit 
 you to the direction of a kind Providence. May he sustain, 
 protect and provide for you, my dear mother. You know 
 the terms on which I had your watch. I now return it to you." 
 And then, turning to his wife, Margaret, he said, "And 
 you, my dear beloved one, farewell. Trust in your Saviour, 
 He will be all in all to you. Serve him, and you will be 
 happy. He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. 
 0, may he devise your way and direct your steps." To his 
 cousin, T. W. F., he said, " Farewell, my dear cousin, the 
 Lord bless you and your dear family." To his brother W., 
 he said, "Farewell, my dear brother, may the Lord lead 
 you in paths of righteousness and peace. Tell sister L. S. and 
 
348 NECROLOaY. 
 
 brother E., farewell for me. These three had not reached here. 
 To his brother J. W. W., he said, "Farewell, my dear 
 brother ; 0, if I were sure of meeting you in Heaven. I 
 have long prayed for you, and I yet hope to meet you there. 
 0, that the Lord would pour his spirit upon you. The little 
 effects I leave my dear companion^ I beg you will take charge 
 of." "Farewell, my dear cousin S., may the Lord be your 
 father and mother, brother ^nd sister, and all." To Tallula 
 Cassels, he said, " Farewell, my dear little neice, may you 
 be early converted to God." To his friend and school cotr- 
 panion, Mr. T. S. M., he said, "Farewell, my dear friend, 
 you have been a kind friend to me ; may the Lord bless you 
 and your dear family." Then, turning to me again, he said, 
 ^'Tell my servants, Caroline and Solomon, my greatest de- 
 sire for them, is, that they may be saved." I then asked 
 him, if he had any messages to send to his absent brothers 
 and his two old aunts. "Tell them I die in peace, and hope 
 they will prove faithful to the end in serving Grod." Once 
 more, turning to us all, he said, "I hope you will take care 
 of Margaret." These were some of the words he uttered 
 when we all thought him near his end. But he recovered 
 from this paroxysm, and his precious spirit remained with 
 us until half-past five o'clock Monday morning, when he fell 
 asleep in Jesus," without a sigh or groan. So quietly did 
 he go, that none of us were aware of it, until he had breathed 
 his last. 
 
 The day before he died. Dr. Jones and the Rev. Mr. A., 
 came to see him, and remained in the village that night, that 
 they might witness the last scene. At one time he said to 
 Dr. Jones, "It is a great consolation to think of being bu- 
 ried in my own churchyard by the side of my fathers, and 
 rise with them in the resurrection. Once I thought it of lit- 
 tle consequence; but I think differently now." Dr. J. asked 
 him if he did not anticipate meeting his dear relatives in 
 Heaven, with delight ? "0 yes," he said, "it is like going 
 
REV. PETER WINN. 349 
 
 home, and I can now say, Why delayeth thy coming ?" Pre- 
 vious to this, his last night on earth, he could not lie down, 
 but sat up in bed on account of the difl5culty of respira- 
 tion. Still, his sufferings at the last were not great. The 
 pain in his knee entirely ceased, and his cough did not an- 
 noy him for many days previous to his death. 
 
 His funeral was held at my house. Six ministers were 
 present — four of them took part in the services ; and his 
 remains were immediately conveyed to the graveyard at 
 Midway, where he now sleeps with the dust of his fathers. 
 
 And now, my dear , what use are we to make of this 
 
 solemn visitation of Providence, but by being more diligent 
 in making preparation for our own solemn change. The 
 voice of God is, "Be ye also ready." So let us "work while 
 it is day, before the night cometh when no man can work." 
 O, that this affliction might be sanctified to each member of 
 the family ! If this Providence should be the means of 
 bringing those who are yet unconverted to a saving knowl- 
 edge of Christ, what a happy event would it be ! Let us 
 pray especially for the salvation of their souls. We are all 
 deeply afflicted, at the same time supported. We talk and 
 weep much together ; but the language of our hearts is ; "It 
 is the Lord, let him doeth what seemeth him good." We 
 have lost much, but Peter has gained Heaven, which will 
 make amends for all his sufferings. Friends have been kind, 
 exceedingly kind, and there are so many merciful providen- 
 ces connected with the affliction, that we have cause to praise 
 and bless God for His loving kindnesses and tender mercies 
 toward us. So, farewell, my dear child ; may the Lord sus- 
 tain you, under this afflictive bereavement, is the prayer of 
 your mother, Eliza Winn. 
 
 This letter Jspeaks out for itself. It needs no comment 
 from us. His end was just such an end as we might expect 
 from his previous life. He could say, "Though I walk 
 
350 NECROLOGY. 
 
 through 'the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no 
 evil ; for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they com- 
 fort me." Who does not see, in the peaceful and triumph- 
 ant end of the Christian, the value of true vital godliness ? 
 Who will say that he has served God for naught ? Some 
 may have thought this young man was over-taxing himself, 
 ■while he prosecuted his self-denying labors in his' Master's 
 vineyard. But, his constant reply was, "I must work the 
 work of him Avho sent me ;" and the result proved that he 
 was right. He did not labor in vain. He received his reward 
 in this life. It was worth all toil to be able to meet death 
 as he met it. How sublime the spectacle, Jwhen suddenly 
 awoke out of deep sleep in the dead of night, and told that 
 he was dying, and was asked what message he had to send 
 certain kindred, he calmly said, " Tell them 1 die in peace. '^ 
 A noble declaration ! A strong exhibition of sustaining 
 grace ! A glorious attestation of the truth of Christianity ! 
 Tell them 1 die in peace ! Years have rolled by, yet, as we 
 stand by his grave, and memory recalls the scenes of the 
 dying bed, we are comforted and cheered by the remembrance 
 of this message, — "Tell them I die in peace." Let the 
 reader of this memorial consider well, and go and do like- 
 wise. Your time to die, my friend, will soon come. Friends 
 will gather around your dying couch. You, too, may be 
 asked, what message will you send to absent friends. Will 
 you be able to say, "Tell them I die in peace." Without 
 grace — without the presence of Christ — you will have no 
 such message to send. "Be ye also ready, for ye know not 
 the day nor the hour when the Son of Man cometh." 
 
 Such is a brief sketch of the life of the Rev. Peter Winn. 
 More might be added; bat enough has been said to enable 
 us to form a correct opinion of his character. A few more 
 words, with regard to some of his peculiar traits of body and 
 mind, will close this memoriam. 
 
 Mr. Winn, in person, was about the ordinary size of men 
 
REV. PETER WINN. 851 
 
 — somewhat tall, never fleshy and robust. He was delicate 
 from childhood ; originally very straight and erect ; but, in 
 time, much bowed under the force of his disease. Ke was, 
 in early life, rather graceful in his movements — somewhat 
 attractive and preposessing in his appearance. His face, 
 the index of his mind, betokened intelligence, benignity, de- 
 cission and sincerity. It was such a face as a stranger would 
 be pleased with. His complexion was fair, his hair dark, and 
 his eyes black, keen, and penetrating, and under the influ- 
 ence of his disease, they shone with more than usual splen- 
 dor. He was not a genius, yet a man of more than ordi- 
 nary mental ability. He usually excelled in everything to 
 which he turned his attention. He had excellent adminis- 
 trative ability, and was very exact and correct in all his bu- 
 siness transactions. His energy, industry, and perseverance 
 were untiring. He accomplished what few men in his state 
 of health would have dared attempt. He travelled thousands 
 of miles, year after year, when he seemed more fit for the 
 sick bed than a wayfarer. As to his preaching ability, lit- 
 tle is known. Strangers alone must testify on this point. 
 He never preached but twice in his native county — once at 
 at Midway, and once at Mt. Olivet. He was a modest, 
 humble, retiring man. Few lived at home so little, yet none 
 loved home more. Nothing but a stern sense of duty made 
 him a wanderer on the earth. He could be graceful and 
 dignified, yet he was so social and playful in disposition, 
 that a little child would naturally run into his arms. He 
 ■was very prudent, had an excellent knowledge of human na- 
 ture, and could adapt himself to any situation. He was 
 conciliatory and yielding, except when duty and principal 
 were at stake, then he feared not the face of man. He was 
 very conscientious : as a proof of this, when travelling in 
 the service of the Church, to save expense, he would take 
 his seat in the box car, rather than the passenger coach. 
 Until his connection ^with the Presbytery in 1843, he was 
 
352 NECROLOGY. 
 
 only a private member of Midway Church, and although for 
 ten years never a resident of the county, and enjoying none 
 of its sancutary privileges, yet he usually sent his annual 
 contribution to the support of its pastor. This, too, to a 
 Church then strong and wealthy, needing no assistance at his 
 hands. But as a member of that Church, he felt it his duty 
 and privilege, and such as he could not forego. 
 
 It has already been said that he was passionately fond of 
 his mother. Her letter, describing his death-bed scene, not 
 only confirms this, but shows this passion strong in death. 
 It is very much doubted whether, after he had attained years 
 of discretion, he was ever known to disobey or offend her. He 
 loved his mother, and she, in turn, was fond of her noble boy. 
 She called him "her wandering son." It was hard for her to 
 see him year after year, in such feeble health, leave his 
 comfortable and pleasant home to dwell among strangers, 
 that he might bear the invitations of the gospel into " the 
 highways and hedges" of the earth. Many a tear did she 
 shed, and many a prayer did she oifer in behalf of her " wan- 
 dering son." But they are now united, where they part no 
 more, and weep no more, — where there is no more death, 
 neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more 
 pain. 
 
 The character of young Winn is a very fine one : but let 
 no one suppose that we regard him as a perfect character. 
 None such now lives on earth — we are all a fallen race. 
 He was but "a man of like passions jwith ourselves." He 
 had his infirmities as other men — and no one was more sensi- 
 ble of this than himself. He was a man of strong feelings 
 and high temper, which, especially in early life, would some- 
 times break out with considerable impetuosity. This, how- 
 ever, he was enabled, through Divince Grace, so well to con- 
 trol, that even his most intimate friends were hardly aware 
 of it. But he knew it, and mourned over it to the day of his 
 death. If he excelled any of his cotemporaries, the praise 
 
REV. PETER V/INX. 353 
 
 is due to God alone, for, after all, the great element of his 
 greatness and usefulness was his ardent piety. Here lies 
 the seoret, the moving-spring of all his usefulness. He was 
 a man of prayer, a man of faith. Day by day he walked 
 with God. He could, in truth, say : "The love of Christ 
 constraineth me." If any would attain his eminence in vir- 
 tue and usefulness, they must obtain supplies from the same 
 inexhaustible fountain. "I am the light of the world," 
 said the blessed Saviour, "he that followeth me shall not 
 walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." 
 
 All love the memory of the man whose character we have 
 attempted to portray in these pages. Friends admire, and 
 kindred cherish it. None are offended when told that Peter 
 was the "flower of the flock." They are thankful that God 
 was pleased to raise up such a man in their midst. His 
 name has become a household word among them. They love 
 to call their children '■'■ Peter Winn,'' But they love him 
 chiefly because he was good. 
 
 Though he left no children, may we not hope and pray 
 that his mantle may fall at least on some of his many sur- 
 viving relatives ? 
 
 23 
 
REV. EDWIN T. WILLI A?vIS. 
 
 Ei»')Vrx T. WiLLiAJrs wns the young/ st s-^n of Riclifivd 
 and Mary Willia^rs, and was bovn in tlic ciiy (.f S^vanriah, 
 Gcogia., 12lli of Mavch, 1826. His parer^ts vrare devo- 
 tedly pious, and trained up tlieir loving and gentle child 
 in the nurture and a(hiionition cf the I^ord. By one it has 
 been rennirked, he " v;as beautifully obedient to his devoted 
 parents." 
 
 Fi'om early boyhood, Jesus seemed to have marked him 
 for his own. Perhaps, like the child Samuel, he was loaned 
 to the Lord, and, as he grew in days and years, he gave in- 
 creaping promise of the high and holy destination to wh.ich 
 he had been appointed of !iis heavenly Fatlier. JIo grew in 
 Strength before the Lord. lie Avas not only the child of prayer, 
 but a pra^hir/ child. His love of the family altar, at which 
 the morning and evening incense of prayer and praise v.ere of- 
 fered, was remakable in one so young. He never appeared 
 to be happier than when allowed the privilege of attending 
 the family devotions. "When other childn-n were wrapped in 
 slumber, he would patiently wait, however kite the hcur. that 
 he might unite in the household worship. His father's business 
 ofien detained him until a late hour from home ; yet, when 
 the other members of th*' famdy had retired, it wa-^^ the sweet- 
 est privilege of little Eddie's life to be p-rraittcd to sit up 
 "till his return, and go with him and his old nurse to pray- 
 ers." His father was a man of prayer. The midnight 
 hour and the early morn often f^und him at the mercy-seat; 
 and often "Would h's little boy, missing him from his .--ide, 
 steal away and kneel with him at the throne of g'l^ce, when 
 others were buried in slov-'p. Thoiigh bat a child, 
 
 " lie knew tlin worth of prayer, 
 Aud wished to be oftou lUfru." 
 
 354 
 
KEV. EDVvIN T. WILLIAMS. 35") 
 
 Wh:it can be more bcjiutiful than such a picture of infant 
 piety? We love to contemplate the youthful piety of a Sam- 
 uel of the Old Testament times, and a Timothy of the New; 
 bat in few, very feAV, instances hns it been more fally devel- 
 oped than in liim A\hosc memorliil it is our privilege now to 
 wrilo. We are pleased to put it on record, thit it may hsp- 
 pi'y irifliiericc other parents who may read those memoir.s, 
 to seek for their dear little ones the gra.ce conferred fipon 
 this child of the covi-nanL 
 
 Thnt he v.^as the subject of Divhie grace, perliaps from 
 early infanc\% wo can hardly donbt. There is no period re- 
 collected Isy the fa'nily, when he m-mift-stcd those exercises 
 of hearr., u-(u:!.lly artenden-:; upoa th-; converting opera- 
 tions of tlio IIi)ly Spirit — 3onvicMin, sorrow, inquiry fur the 
 way of life, nnd joy of the new-born soul. S lys h's sister: 
 "It v,'ouid be diihciilt to say when thf IL)ly Spi'it first op- 
 erated upon hi-i you ig hiirt, hi wis al.viy^ so lov'e'j'- ia ilii- 
 posi'.iijn — I heart so fud of ]ovc>" May wo not C'^nclude 
 that he was sanctified fi'oin ;he womb? 
 
 His devotion to his p i''cri:s w.i.s groat. Ilij fither died 
 while he was yet of tender years; but the exanplf, adm')ni- 
 t ons and training of that beloved p ir.'iit v.-yrc never for- 
 gotten. Wherever he was, wh.^ther at hoaeor abroai, 
 whether in his native land, or up)n d'stant heathen slio>es, 
 th.c influence of that f.'ither was still felt and reverent'j'' 
 cheished. Ii his fifienith year he in a le a paMi'3 profession 
 of religion, and united v/ith the Ind-pond.mt Presbyt-rian 
 Church in Savannah. 
 
 HIS EDUCATION. 
 
 When he was nine years oil, h-' was sent with his sister 
 (now Mrs. Gibbs, of Sr. Augustine) to a seh-iol at Edgefield, 
 ^. C, taught byDr. William Johnson, a Ba[)tist clei'gymm, 
 wtU hnown in that regi-m as an educator of you h. B«:t Le 
 here remained only a few months. Sach v,-as the eanie.-t 
 
356 NECROLOGY. 
 
 yearning of his heart for the pleasant and pious home of his 
 chihlhood, that he was recalled. 
 
 In less than a year after his return to his home, his father 
 deid. He remained at home after his fatlier's death until about 
 his fifteenth year, probably attending the schools of his na- 
 tive city. He was then sent by his mother to a school at 
 Wilmington, Delaware, taught by a Mr. Gayley. He is 
 represented as being an excellent gentleman, and who was 
 ever fondly remembered by his pulpil, and, in return, was 
 loved and respected by his teacher and all his fellow-pupils. 
 Subsequent to his attendance of Mr. Gayley's school, he spent 
 some time at Hadley, Mass., having at that time a brother, 
 a member of Amherst College. Whether he attended school 
 at Hadley or not, we are not informed. It is probable that 
 he was still pursuing his studies. He returned to Savannah. It 
 v/as then that his missionary spirit began to manifest itself. 
 It is, however, probable that he first imbibed this spirit when 
 a child, as he often attended his father to the prayer meetings 
 among the negroes on his plantation. He always loved to 
 speak to that people of Jesus and his salvation, and doubtless 
 his mind was even then turned to Africa, which became 
 eventually his field of labor. But, not only did the negroes 
 engage his attention, but he embraced every opportunity for 
 doins; ffood to the souls of men. His evenings were then 
 often spent in distributing tracts and books — in talking to 
 and praying with the countrymen, who with their carts around 
 the " Old Market/' had brought their produce for sale. 
 Here he would tell them of the Saviour, and publish the 
 glad tidings of salvation. Thus, as a youth dedicated ta 
 Christ's service, e;ich year gave evidence of his strong and 
 active faith. He must be about his Father's business ; and 
 onward to the end with Apostolic zeal, Christ and his cross 
 filled his heart, and employed his hands. 
 
 In his eighteenth year, we find him teaching school near 
 Wilmington., Del., in the family of a Mr. Dupont, for the pur- 
 
REV. EDWIN T. WILLIAJIS. 357 
 
 pose of securing means to enable him to enter Princeton Col- 
 lege. From the necrological record of the College, furnislied 
 by Prof. H. C. Cameron, we find that he must have matricu- 
 lated in 18i7, though the year is not noted, as he entered 
 the Sophomore class and was graduated in 1850. The same 
 3'ear, 1850, he entered the Princeton Theological Seminary, 
 and completed the prescribed course of three years in 185-3. 
 While a student at Princeton, he labored diligently, as he 
 did in everj^ other place of his abode in his Divine Master's 
 cause. He often spoke of this period of his life with great 
 delight and gratitude, as being among the most successful 
 and pleasant. He said God had honored his Aveak efforts 
 for the salvation of many precious souls. He spoke especi- 
 ally of a Eible class of nine young ladies, whom it was his 
 privilege to instruct. Of the nine, eight gave their hearts 
 to Jesus while he was with them. One alone, he remarked, 
 seemed indifferent For her, his sou! struggled in prayer, 
 bearin;^ her up in the arms of his faith, arid earnestly en- 
 treating that she mio;ht be brought to the acknowledgment 
 of the truth as it is in Christ. But still she remained ap- 
 parently uuconcerned. Yet, after all, itap[>eared that a cov- 
 enant-keeping God was faithful to his promises — his pray- 
 ers were answered. 
 
 Long years after, while laboring on the dark shores of 
 Africa, he received a letter written in London, from that 
 same lady, which filled his heart with joy. She had only 
 seemec^ indifferent. The seed sown had sprung up and brought 
 forth fruit to the- glory of God. She hailed him as her 
 spiritual father. Of these nine ladies, three became mis- 
 sionaries in other lands. Thus God honors the labors of his 
 servants. Who would not love and serve such a Mas- 
 ter ? Jan. l^it, 1853, he offered himself as a missionary to the 
 Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church, and 
 was accepted, and assigned to the African field Jan. ITth, 
 1853. After completing his Theological course, he was 11- 
 
KECROLCGY. 
 
 censed bv tli'} Presbytery of Georgia, and was ordalneil by the 
 same in the summer of 1853, and skilled from New York for 
 Carisi;o, Western Africa, November 8th, 1853. ''Corisco is 
 an island very nearly under the equator, and fourteen hun- 
 dred n;iles to the east, and south of Monrovia in Liberia, 
 tlie Anierican Colony of free blacks. It is a small but beau- 
 tiful ishind, about twenty miles fcom the main land. It is 
 not more than four or five miles in length, and half that in 
 width. It has several h'gh hills crowned with beautiful 
 piilms and Dalmettoes. This mission was f )undjd in 1850, 
 by Messrs. Maekey and Simpson, assisted by Rev. J. Leigh- 
 ton Wilson, D. D., then missionary at thh Gaboon, from 
 which it Avas distant fifty or sixty miles." Previous to his cni- 
 bavk:5tion for Africa, he married his first wife, a Miss Sallie 
 Dupree, daughter of the Ptev. Mr. Dupree, a minister of 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church, nc.ir Charleston, S. C. Says 
 one: " She was a very interesting and talented Lady." 
 
 Mr. Williams remained at Corisco only some two or three 
 months, when he was compelled to return to this country on 
 T'ccount of the failure of his wife's health. She died a short 
 time after their return at Morristown, N. J. It was during 
 liis stay at Corisco, that the missionary buildings were con- 
 sumed by fire, by which he lost his papers and journals — • 
 otherwise we might be able to give a more full and satisfac- 
 tory history of that mission than we can now present. 
 
 He returned to New York, May 1st, 1854. After the 
 death of Mrs. W., he went South, and spent some time in 
 presenting the cause of Foreign Missions to the Churches. 
 Upon Ills return northv>'ard, he spent a year or more in the 
 Domestic Missionary work, in connection with the congrega- 
 tion of the Rev. Dr. James W. Alexander, in New York 
 City. 
 
 In January, 1856, his thoughts were again earnestly di- 
 rected to the subject of returning to the Foreign Missionary 
 work. It seems probable that this was a suggestion of Dr. 
 
REV. EDWIN T. WILLIAMS. 859 
 
 Alexander. A school had been founded in Monrovi-i, Libe- 
 ria, Africa, culleii the "'Alex-incler High School," perhaps in 
 honor of Dr. Archibald Alexander. Of course, liis son felt 
 a deep interest in itj success. At tha': time the Rev. D. A. 
 "Wilson, of Pennsvlvania, was at its head. No one seemed to 
 be better qualified for the p'>st than Bro. Williams. The 
 record in his jounral of the interviews with Dr. A. on the 
 subject, gives a pleasing exhibition of these tvfo good men, 
 as they contemplated the importance of the work. Though 
 it would be a much more laborious one than the field he now 
 occupied, (that of a Domestic Missionary in the city of New 
 York,) yet, it would be more simple, and there was no com- 
 parison between his present field and Africa. The conclu- 
 sion arrived at, was, tlia*;' he should go to Africa as a teacher 
 and missionary in the Alexander High School. Arrange- 
 ments were, therefore, immediately put on foot for his de- 
 parture. But, before leaving for his new field of labor, he 
 determined to visit his native plica, and once more hold com- 
 munion with his dear friends, and bid them farewell — perhaps 
 a final farewell. Accordingly, he left New York on the 5th of 
 Fel). 1855, proceeded South., visiting Princeton, Yv^illmington, 
 Del., (where he had received much of his eaidy education) Rich- 
 mond, Davidson College, Columbin, Charleston, and St. Au- 
 gustine the farthest point Sou'h, wheve he arrived on the 11 ih 
 or 12th of April. After visiting fiiends and relations in St. 
 Augustine, Jacksonville, Savannah, and Charleston, ho sailed 
 thence for New York on the 17th of May, where he arrived 
 on the 20th of May. He paid a short visit to Morristown, 
 N. J., where reposed the dust of her so often referred to in 
 his journals as "My dear Sallie, my precious wife." His 
 arrangements having been completed for his voyage to Li- 
 beria, he embarked on board the schooner Cortes, on the 7th 
 of June, 185G. After the parting religious services on board 
 the ship, which were conducted by the Rev. Drs. J. C. Low- 
 rie and J. Leightwi Wilson, of the Missionary Board, the 
 
360 NECROLOGY. 
 
 vessel dropped down to Sandy Hook, whence she sailed on 
 the 9th, at 1 P. M., and he nates in his dairy, " hy sunset, 
 my native land had faded well nigh from view." There is 
 hut one entry in his jonrnal curing the voyage. That was 
 made on the 12th of June : " The anniversary of my precious 
 wife's dying day." It was a day he never forgot, whether 
 on sea or land — amid the toils and self-denials of missionary 
 life, or the sweet charities of home and Christian society. 
 Ho arrived in Monrovia on the 17th of July, 1856. A 
 few days afterward, he entered upon his work in the school- 
 The mathematical department was the principal field of in- 
 struction assigned him. He preached as he had opportu- 
 nity, and imparted religious instruction to his classes. His 
 life seems to have been very monotonous. He soon began 
 to feel the unhealthiness of the climate. Indeed, we find 
 him taking quinine within three days after his arrival, rather, 
 Ave suppose, as a preventive, than from any real indisposition- 
 Chills and fever were to be guarded against, — the acclima- 
 ting African fever. In December, he made his mission;iry 
 tour up the St. Paul's River. During this journey, he vis- 
 ted several native tOAvns, and preached by aid of an interpre- 
 ter. In the same month he made a second missionay tour " to 
 visit other heathen towns." He gives us the names of sev- 
 eral of these towns, such as "Gains' town, Gizi's town, Jalipa's 
 town, Ebo's towm," and his reflections on what he saw in these 
 journeyings among the heathen are deeply interesting, but 
 too extensive to be given here. In January, 1857, he ex- 
 perienced his first attack of chills, probably induced by his 
 travels in the interior. Of the danger of these journeys in the 
 country, he remarks he had been warned by President Ben- 
 son and others. P>ut we find him in a few days again in the 
 school room in the active discharge of his duties. In March, 
 1857, his fellow- laborer. Rev. D. A. Wilson, loft him and 
 returned to the United States Avith his family. This was a sore 
 trial to Lira. lie thus notes this incident in his journal of the 17 
 
REV. EDWIN T. WILLIAMS. o61 
 
 March, 1857: "Accompanied them to McGills wharf — many 
 tears of parting friends — hastened up to the light-house, and 
 sat till dark, when the anchor seemed weighed and them- 
 selves on their way. I wept on the cape and on the rock, 
 this evenino;, engaged in meditation, self-examination and 
 prayer in view of my responsibilities and need of Divine 
 grace. I was filled with much trembling in view of my sins ; 
 but enabled, I trust,to triumph in Christ, as my righteousness 
 and substitute. I am left alone, yet how? Is not God my 
 heavenly Father, my Saviour here ? They have not gone to 
 America. Then let me, trusting in Him, go cheerfully, 
 prayerfully, and hopefully to my work. God's dealings 
 with uie are all mercy, mercy, mercy ; my returns are in- 
 gratitude and sin." He felt the responsibility now devolved 
 on him, more sensibly, in this, that the business transactions 
 of the Mission had been hitherto carried on by Mr. Wilson- 
 These duties were now necessarily assumed by him. He 
 notes his gralificiar/ion upon discovering, a day or two after, 
 among the books left by Mr. W., a copy of Mahew on book- 
 keeping. He remarks, that he esteemed it quite providen- 
 tial, since it was just what he needed to guide him in business 
 operations. In the same month he had a return of chills 
 and fever, and began fully to realize the enervating influ- 
 ence of the climate. He complains of his inability to think 
 or compose his mind for anything. 
 
 As we trace the life and labors of the missionary on a for- 
 eign shore, and in a sickly climate, far separated from the SAveet 
 charities of his native homo, we are impressed more and more 
 with his need of sustaining grace. Who but the Ciiristain 
 endued with a high degree of spirituality, and enjoying intimate 
 communion and fellowship v/ith his Saviour, could main- 
 tain a cheerful spirit, exposed daily to sickness and dangers of 
 a speedy death. Nothing but a faith that triumphs, as seeing 
 him who is invisible, can give courage at such a time. In 
 confirmation of this, we quote from the journal of Bro. "\Vil- 
 
36-^ ISIECROLOGY. 
 
 lianis, Whoii be was left alono bj the return of hU fellow-labor- 
 ei- to the Unitcl Srates, suffering, illnosssand solitarinc:^?, he 
 siys: "I am reminded oftentimes of the posi^ibili^y of my 
 dying here. But, through grace it does not ahirm me. It 
 loads mo to apply more carnesny to Jesus for an assured 
 interest in his blood, and to leave myself at his di:^-posal. 
 Visions. of home and loved ones ofcen appe ir bright before me, 
 but, here is my duty, and here, therefore, is my Saviour : 
 here is my choice. I only pr;iy for grace to be worthy of 
 him." His journals exhibit little else than alternations 
 of chills and fever through the ensuing summer ; yet, at- 
 tending to his duties in the school, preaching occasionally, 
 and conducting the business of the Mission, wdiich he 
 found exceedingly perplexing. Exhausted by repeated at- 
 tacks and incessant labors, on the 8th of November he was 
 staicken down by congestion of the brain. He thus re- 
 cords the facts after his recovery : " Eventful day ! Brought 
 to the brink of the eternal world ; unconscious of my situa- 
 tion, I can only record what ray friend-; h.vve since commu- 
 nicated to me." He writes again on the 11th of November : 
 "Awoke to consciousness — to a sense of ray still feeble con- 
 dition, and to some appreciation of the greatness of my 
 deliverence. I trust if I had been caded away, through riches 
 of sovereign grace alone, I should have -been received up 
 into heaven." 
 
 It became evident that he needed a change of climate, and 
 that he must be relieved, at least for a season, from his du- 
 ties to recuperate his wasted strength. Providentially, a 
 very excellent opportunity was soon presented, which heat 
 once embraced. On the 14th of November, the United 
 States frigate Cumberland, belonging to the African Squad- 
 ron, was at Monrovia, bound to the Cape de Vcrd Islands. 
 Application was made to her commander, Commodore Cono- 
 ver, to grant him a passage to his destination, which was 
 readily and kindly granted. The ne.\t day he went aboard 
 
r^EV. EDWIX T. WILLIAMS. 363 
 
 anci was generous!}'- Avelcomed by the Commodore and Cap- 
 tain Missroon, and sailed nt noon the s'lme day. Translated 
 from the miasmatic atmosphere of tlie Liberia n coast to the 
 pure and exliiicrating air of the Atlantic, he is soon restored 
 to his native bur.janc}' of spirit, and enters upon his work 
 of doing cood, collecting the mariners in the bows, preach- 
 ing to them, and instructing the boys in a Bible-class. On 
 the 30th of November, at daylight they made the Island of 
 j\Iayo, one of the Csipo de Verd group. He describes tlds 
 Island as rugged, a bare mountainous surface, without any 
 vegetation, save in the valleys. One high mountain or hill, 
 a thousand or two feet high, capp'?d with white stones. The 
 Northeast trade-winds prevail here. There is much table- 
 land, from 100 to- 400 feet elevation; the soil is unproduc- 
 tive, parched, and but one spring on the Inland. On the 
 Southwest, a san-ly bay, called English bay, within which is 
 the town and extensive salt-pans, abundiince of fish, which, 
 .wit'i a few vegetables, afford the only food of the inhabitant:-, 
 who are Portugese and Blacks." Leaving Mayo, St. Jago 
 soon loomed in sight, being only fifteen miles distant, ex- 
 ceedingly rugged, and equal in barreness to Mayo ; the shore 
 precipitous, 800 or 1000 feet in places, and sufficient depth 
 of water to sail within a stone's throw of the shore. Here 
 they anchored off Porto Praya, about dinner time, having 
 been about two weeks from Monrovia. This was the desti- 
 nati')n of the ship, and found the ship St. Louis still await- 
 ing her relief, and the store-ship. There they remained 
 until the 25th of December, when the Vincennes arrived from 
 the United States to relieve the Cumberland. He spent his 
 time very pleasantly at Porto Praya, on board of ship, and 
 in rambles about the town and the Island; the inhabitants 
 are mostly negroes, described as wretchedly ignorant and 
 immoral. Having taken leave of the officers and crew of the 
 Cumberland he was transferred on board the Vincennes, 
 which was bound down the coast to Cape Palmas. On the 
 
364 NECROLOGY. 
 
 27th of December, we find him again at sea, driven on by "a 
 stiff Northeast trade-^Yind, with miserable health and miser- 
 able weather." He writes, so violent was the scorm that they 
 could not have divine service on the Sabbath. On the oO;h 
 and 31st of December, they vv^ere becalmed, and on the 3d of 
 January, 1858, they made Sierra Leone. There he spent 
 several days pleasantly, being entertained kindly by the 
 missionaries of the United Brethren and the Lady Hunting- 
 don Church. On Sabbath, the 10th of January, the ship 
 weighed anchor and put to sea. January 19th, made Cape 
 Mount, hoped to have reached Monrovia Sunday, but the 
 weather being unfavorable, came to anchor. On the 20tli, 
 at 8 o'clock, Cape Mesurado appeared in view — took a boat 
 at 1 o'clock and was soon at his mission home, after an ab- 
 sence of some two months. He says, "I was brought off in 
 a chair ; I return well." He met with a warm reception 
 from his many friends who rejoiced to receive him safe and 
 sound. A few days, and he is again at his post in the school. 
 But, although restored to health and comfort by journayings 
 at sea, he is not shielded from the assaults of disease. His 
 old enemy, chill and fever, attacked him again, in the follow- 
 ing March. In April, he again left his home, and went to 
 Harrisburg, a village on the hills, hoping to find exemption 
 from sickness in the purer atmosphere of that elevated re- 
 gion, but was evidently disappointed. Almost every page 
 of his journal is marked /eyer, fever again. He returned to 
 Monrovia about the middle of May, and continues to write, 
 almost every day, cJdll and liot feoer. On the 2Gth of May, 
 lie was invited by the officers of the United States ship 
 Marion, then in port, to go to Cape Palmas, whither she was 
 bound. He accepted the invitation, and went aboard on the 
 26th. Every provision was made for his comfort. Ho vis- 
 ited, on this voyage, many of the towns on the coast, such as 
 the Bassa people, Fish town. Rock town, and Garroway, and 
 June 3d, reached Cape Palmas. Having spent several weeks 
 
REV. EDWIN T. WILLIAMS. 865 
 
 visiting many places on the coast, he returned to his home the 
 last of July. Here he remained conducting the business of 
 the Mission, until January, 1859, when he left again and 
 proceeded down the coast to attend Presbytery at Sinoe. 
 On this trip, he visited Greenville, Bassa Cove, Edina and 
 Buchannan. lie returned to Monrovia on the 13th of Feb- 
 ruary. At length, enfeebled by constant ill health he deter- 
 mined to return to the United States. It was a day of ten- 
 der and affecting farewells when he took his leave of the peo- 
 ple. The children gathered around him, and told him of 
 their Christian hopes, and bade him adieu. On the 5th of 
 June, 1859, he embarked on the brig President Benson. 
 After being at sea thirty-seven days, he reached the Chesa- 
 peake Bay, and Baltimore, July 11th, 1859. Thence he 
 visited Philadelphia, New York and Morriston, New Jersey, 
 where his wife was buried. After spending several months 
 in the Northern and New Englond churches, present- 
 ing the cause of Foreign Missions, he returned to his native 
 South and bosom of his own loved family. "Again and 
 again," says his sister, Mrs. Gibbs, of St. Augustine, 
 after going down almost to the brink of the river, where 
 Jesus was ever his joy, God was pleased to restore him to 
 health and strength, a little longer to bear the cross." Dur- 
 ing the year 1860, he traveled much as agent for the Mission- 
 ary cause, both North and South. It was his desire to re- 
 turn to Africa to his chosen work, but the war intervening', 
 be was constrained to abandrn the idea. The first year of 
 the war he preached to a small church in Bryan county, Ga., 
 near Savannah. He was present at the meeting of the first 
 Confederate General Assembly, in Augusta, December, 1861. 
 In that year he received a call from the Presbyterian Church 
 in Quincy, Florida. As he could not return to his chosen 
 field of labor lie felt it to be his duty to accept it. He travel- 
 ed extensively during this year among the churches of Florida 
 and Georgia. In May 186]., he went North, passing by rail 
 
?SQ NECEOLOGY. 
 
 to Louisville. At Atlanta he encountered troubles of v.liicli the 
 Wiiter of these pages has some knowledge. lie thus rcmaiks 
 in his journal, " Realized this morning that war has been in- 
 augurated in the land. Suspicions weve excitvd hy our liag- 
 gage, especially one, a strange trunk, inischecked as Mrs. 
 jSTuman, at Macon. A mob, fierce and (ktermined, g-uhersd 
 on the phatform and ppoke threateningly — heard them speak 
 of hanging." Ills baggige was examined, but nothing found 
 wrong, lie received a ccrtificitte to that effeet from the 
 Mayor, and' prcceeded without farther molestation on his 
 journey. He accepted the call to become the pastor of the 
 Qaincy Church, and probably removed to tliat phace some- 
 time in 18'd2, (for with 18G1, his written jai: nal closes and 
 we have no certain dates as to the time of the commence- 
 ment of his labors in that fi-dd.) He was instalhd Pastor in 
 1.!'53. He contracted a second roarriage, which was Ci-Tisum- 
 mated ISlovembcr 12th, I860, with Mary Cadierine, daugli- 
 . ter of Judge William Fleming, of Savannah. 
 
 He continued to labor in this place with greai" success, and 
 acc'^ptableness to the people. Early in th'^ month of Ai'.gust, 
 18(JG, he was attacked with erysipelas, and on the 0th of that 
 month he died. 
 
 The followiiig note was addressed to his sister on the day 
 following, infoiming her of his decease : 
 
 August 10th, ISGd. 
 You have heard, my dear J.Frs. Gibbs, of the death of your 
 dear brothtr, and our beloved pa^tor. I have taken my pen 
 at the request of Mrs. Wdliaras, to say to y^u, how mach she 
 would like to see you, in her sad afliiction. She is as com- 
 posed as we Could expect under the circumstances. O'a I my 
 dear Mrs. G'.bbs, we have all been sorely aillicted. That 
 dear man h'lS passed from us so suddenly that we can, as yet, 
 scarcely realize it. It was my privilege to be with him part 
 of the last tv/o niii:hts of his life. He must have suffered the 
 
EEV. EDWIX T. WILLIAMS. S6'7 
 
 first niglit, as tlie disease was so rapid, so very rapiil, Eoth 
 Doctors pronounced his case tlic most progressive they have 
 ever known, and they had had much experience in the war 
 with his disease — erysipelas. Not even a groan was heard. 
 Ho couM say lait little, as ho soon lost his ccnsciousness, but 
 I heard him say, " Oh ! whether I live, may I live unto t!;c 
 Lord, and whether I die may I die unto the Lord !" I thiiik 
 he had no hopes or himself, a very few hours after he was 
 taken ill. Indec:d, ho was too pure a spirit for this s'nfiil 
 world, and God torik him to Himself. May our piayer be 
 that this great aliliction may be sanciified to us all. Thosigh 
 being dead he yet speaketh, " be ye also ready." 
 
 ]Mr. Crane pi-eached his funeral sermon Thursday, to a 
 very crowd.ed lijusc. J):. DuBose will pre.tch to-nu.rruw, 
 and will Vv'rite his obituary. 
 
 Believe mt' to be, your sympatliizing friend, 
 
 S. R. GiLCIlEIST. 
 
 "We have now followed the footsteps of this godly man fr'^m 
 chjldiiood to the closing scene of life's short journev. Four 
 tinics be cn.ssed ihe Atlantic ; many moriths and yeais he 
 spent on the African coast. We find him journeying and 
 visiting all the Uiost important p.- ints on that <buk and sickly 
 coa!-t fiom the Isle of Corisco under the Equatoi- to the Cape 
 deVerd L^lands, lo degrees north latitude, either in prose- 
 cution of his work or seeking health r.nd strength. His 
 record for diligence and zeal will vroll compare with the most 
 zealous of those Apostolic men wlio have gone forth intn the 
 heathen world to rns'.ke known the gospel of salvation. None 
 but those who have bad the inspection of his private journals 
 can fonu any correct estimate of his i'iner spiritual life. 
 These jr.ui-nala, consisting of six closely v/ritten volumes, un- 
 fold a life of earnest action, of unif.i-m piety, of fervent zeal 
 for the glory of God, and the salvation of all with whom he 
 had intLrcoiirse. Not only at bis missionary home, but when 
 
368 NECROLOGY. 
 
 travelling by land or sea, to regain his wasted strength, did 
 he labor without intermission to promote the spiritual welfare 
 of those around him. When he goes to the Cape de Verd 
 Islands on board the United States ship Cumberland, he 
 labors diligently among the mariners, by forming Bible 
 classes and preaching. When transferred to the Yincennes, 
 on his return to Monrovia, he is again employed in the same 
 work ; and so wherever he went it was his meat and his 
 drink to be doing good as he had opportunity. His life and 
 labors contrast favorably with those of Brainard, Eliot, 
 Henry Martin and Moffat in doing the will of his Heavenly 
 Father, and spreading the knowledge of the Saviour. 
 
 His journals bear testimony, not only to the fact that he 
 was diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, 
 but that he was an observant man. Nothing escaped his 
 watchful eye, whether on shore or on shipboard. He travers- 
 ed the Island of St. Jago, while lying at anchor off Porto 
 Praya, oa foot— ascended its volcanic mountains — notices it 
 peculiar formation — its trees — the production of its soil — 
 the character of its debased inhabitants. So did he at Sierra 
 Leone. 
 
 His correspondence gives proof of a tender and affectionate 
 heart. His attachment to his relatives and friends was ar- 
 dent. We give an extract or two from letters addressed to 
 his sister. The first was written when at school, near Wil- 
 mington, Del., in 1845. We would have the reader particu- 
 ly note the pious and devotional spirit pervading these ex- 
 tracts. The same spirit is manifest in all he ever wrote, eith- 
 er journals or correspondence — when young or more advanc- 
 ed in years. They bear evidence of a heart deeply imbued 
 with the love of Christ. But to the extract : — 
 
 "Dear Sister Laura : Here I am again writing to her, 
 'whom in very truth my soul loveth,' and who, though far ab- 
 sentj.beyond the privilege of social intercourse, still in thought, 
 imagination, and fond remembrance, is ever present, yea, 
 
m 
 
 REV. EDWIN T. WILLIAMS. 369 
 
 within the deep and welcome recesses of my earnest heart. 
 Your sisterly communication came joyfully to hand a week 
 or two since, and would have been imraedi^tely answered, had 
 not I written the week before. For the advice given me, as 
 endeavoring to maintain a cheerful spirit in all my religious 
 intercouse, I thank you, and shall so far esteem it, as that it 
 shall "be my constant aim, in the strength of the Lord, to cul- 
 tivate this sweet spirit of our Saviour to the utmost of my 
 ability. Such a walk, if consistant, I feel assured will do 
 more to recommend the religion of the cross to those uninter- 
 ested in its holy realities, than a thousand examples of an op- 
 posite character; for if the Christian pilgrim who journeys, 
 leaning on the bosom of his Saviour, and oftimes from many 
 a Pisgah's top 'surveys the landscape o'er,' should not re- 
 joice with joy exceeding and full of glory — tell me who should? 
 Should not he rejoice, who, though wandering in a barren wil- 
 derness, yet has given him by his Father, God, the grapes and 
 figs, and rich pomegranates of his heavenly Eschol as an 
 earnest or foretaste of the promised land : under such circum- 
 stances, and with the everlasting arms of Jesus for his sup- 
 port in life, in death, and eternal glory, where, where ! — 
 search the wide woorld o'er — can gloom be found ? 
 
 "What though our inward lusts rebel, 
 " Tis' but a struggling garp for life ; 
 " The weapons of victories grace, 
 " Shall slay our sins 
 " And end the strife." 
 
 Soon shall we hear our Father say, ' Come ye blessed child- 
 ren inherit the Kingdom ; soon will he call us hence, and 
 take his wanderers home ; soon shall our raptured tongues. 
 His endless praise proclaim, and sweeter voices tune the 
 song of Moses and the Lamb." 
 
 The above extract presents a pleasing picture of an affeo- 
 tionate pious youth, distant from his native home and much 
 loved relatives. 
 24 
 
370 ' NECKOLOQY. 
 
 The following extract, is from a letter addressed to the 
 same beloved sister from Monrovia, dated November, 1858, 
 consoling her under a heavy bereavement she had experienc- 
 ed. It shows his sympathy and resources of comfort for the 
 heart stricken. After mentioning his own condition, health, 
 and prospects, he observes : "Little did I dream that this year 
 would prove one of such overwhelming grief to your heart. But 
 we need not be surprised at this ; God gives not account to 
 any of his creatures, of his purposed and specific dealings 
 with them. They are too deep, too mysteriously, yet sure- 
 ly and graciously, interwoven with the wonderous complexi- 
 ties of his providence; our finite minds could not grasp their 
 innumerable relations, nor see how in ten thousand times ten 
 thousand ways, they are to promote the glory of the Saviour, 
 and effect the welfare of the entire people of God. But this 
 one thing our heavenly Father does to all his children, to 
 all who are his in Christ Jesus, to all such he utters the sweet 
 assurance — ^ All is well ; it is I, bo not afraid.' All things 
 shall work together for good, to them that love God, to them 
 who are the called, according to his purpose. * * 
 
 \Yhatever brings Jesus near, makes his love and presence 
 more desirable and precious, shut out from our view this 
 world, and opens more clearly heaven and the beauties of ho- 
 liness in that upper world. These are truly gracious gifts 
 of God ; and however hot, they are the furnace of infinite 
 love and tenderness. So I believe you will find it to be the 
 case in the death of dear George ; and the more precious, 
 the taore reflecting the Saviour's grace and tenderness, by 
 so much the more as was tlie affliction keen and poignant. 
 Trust in Jesus — seek rather to have the stroke sanctified to 
 you and the whole family, and the Church ; seek rather to 
 have Jesus glorified, than to have the wound healed. I only 
 pray God may help me to say something which may lead to 
 this result. "This is the will of God, even your sanctifica- 
 tion,' and the Saviour who came to do the Father's will. 
 
REV. EDWIN T, WILLIAMS. 371 
 
 already seems to be beginning this blessed work in your heart. 
 Then, 
 
 " With patient mind thy course of dut)^ run ; 
 
 God nothing does, nor suffers to be done, 
 Bat thou would'st do thyself, if thou could'st see, 
 
 The end of all he does as well as he." 
 
 Here we have not only the gospel assurance that all ihiiigs 
 work together for good to them that love God, but the addition- 
 al and comforting consideration, that God in his infinite wisdom 
 and love, is only doing in his most afflictive dealings with us, 
 what we would do ourselves, if we could see the end of all he 
 does, as well as he. Jesus knows the malady of every heart, 
 the peculiar dangers to which each one is exposed, and he 
 knows the remedies, — so our prayer should be in our afflic- 
 tion, that if may please God to draw off the heart from earth- 
 ly attachments — from the pursuit of its riches, honors, pleas- 
 ures and cares — that our affections should not be set on the 
 things on the earth, but on things above where Christ sitteth 
 at the right hand of God ; yea upon Christ himself. It is he 
 who is only our life, and happiness, and wisdom, and it is on- 
 ly when we shall find in him our all that we shall glorify him 
 as we ought, and be perfectly blessed in his love! for 
 grace to know nothing on earth save Jesus Christ and him cru- 
 cified — to know no other love, no other hope, no other ser- 
 vice but his ; and welcome through his grace whatever furna- 
 ces, heated never so many times hotter thin they are wont to 
 be heated, if only they are to comsume our dross, and make 
 us fitter subjects for our Saviour's work and praise. 
 
 God vjill have us to serve the Lord our God with all our 
 hearts, with all our souls, with all our strength, and all our 
 minds* But to this our carnal, worldly minds are natunilly 
 opposed The dross of sin and corruption must, therefore, 
 beco-nsumed — God cannot, will not suffer his pure gold to be 
 lost or injured. The furnace is necessary and into it, heated 
 not one whit less,, not one whit more than Jesus deteruiiues, 
 
372 NECROLOGY. 
 
 lie casts his gold. Not one among the millions of the redeem- 
 ed in glorj, but has passed through these very furnaces, and 
 have felt the presence of one like unto the Son of Man, sus- 
 taining, cheering and encouraging them with hopes of the final 
 and glorious consummation ! But,dear sister, let us wait ; kiss 
 every rod, honor Jesus before the world, and for the comfort 
 of all his other sorrowing children, by yielding sweet and cheer- 
 ful acquiescence to the most afflictive of his dispensations — un- 
 furl every sail, and spread them wide, that you may be waft- 
 ed, the sooner, by every blast of sorrow into the haven of eternal 
 rest ; and if God would have more of our poor sinful hearts by 
 thus dealing with us, let him have them. ' I see God is deter- 
 mined to have all vaj heart, and he shall have it,' said a lady 
 with deep Christian submission, when she received news of 
 the drowning of two of her children, whom she tenderly loved. 
 It is recorded of an ancient patriarch, who, upon the announce- 
 ment of the death of all his children, 'arose and rent his man- 
 tle and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, 
 and worshipped, and said, naked came I out of my mothers 
 womb, and naked shall I return thither. The Lord gave and 
 the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.' 
 And said the Saviour, ' He that loveth wife or children more 
 than me is not worthy of me.' A martyr was once asked 
 whether ho did love his wife and children, who stood weep- 
 ing by him ? Love them ! yes, said he, if all the world w^ere 
 gold and at my disposal, I would give it all for the satisfac- 
 tion of living with them, though it were in a prison. Yet in 
 comparison with Christ, I love them not.' This is the spirit 
 which honors Christ." 
 
 We trust we shall be forgiven by the reader of this me- 
 moir, for the long extract. Our object has been to exhibit 
 the spirit of this servant of Christ — his tender and aifection- 
 ate condolence with his bereaved sister — and may we not hope 
 that his words may bring comfort to some other stricken 
 heart. 
 
HEV. EDWIN T. WILLIAMS. 37o 
 
 But it is tim3 to bring to a close tins brief sketch of the 
 life and services of our departed brother — not because there 
 is want of material fur a much more extended and elaborate 
 record of the life, trials, and labors of this servant of Christ. 
 But the record is not needed on ciu-th — it is on high. Ills 
 name and works are in the book of Divine remembrance. 
 
 In summing up his character as a man, a scholar, a theolo- 
 gian, a pastor, and an efficient laborer in his Master's vine- 
 yard, we shall now turn to the declarations of those who knew 
 him best, and loved him most. 
 
 We quote again from the Necrological Record of Nassau 
 Hall : " A man of fair talents and good scholarship, of kind- 
 ly manners and loving disposition, he w;!S still more remark- 
 able for his ardent, active and humble piety, for his intense- 
 devotion to the work of saving souls. In this respect ho was 
 a model, and seemed to lose no occasion of doing good to oth- 
 ers. Those who knew him while in Princeton and in the 
 foreign field need nothing to remind them of his earnest 
 Christ-like piety ; to others, the devotion of his life to Africa 
 and the spiritual benefit of the colored race, will be a proof 
 of his character, and a testimony to all of the truth and pow- 
 er of that religion which lie professed." 
 
 But let us draw nearer and hear from those who stood in 
 the more endearing and intimate relation of a people to whom, 
 as a pnstor, he broke the bread of life. The following trib- 
 ute of respect and love was paid to his memory by the con- 
 gregation of the Presbyterian Church of Quincy : 
 
 " Whei'eas, Almighty God, merciful and gracious and just, 
 has been pleased in his inscrutable Providence, to visit the 
 members and the congregition of the Presbyterian Church of 
 Quincy, with a sad distressing afl!liction, in the death of our 
 beloved pastor, Rev. E. T. Williams, the devoted Christian, 
 and eminently a man of prayer, which occurred at 3 o'clock 
 on Thursday morning. 9thinst., at the parsonage, after two 
 days and a half of severe illness. And as such a dispensa- 
 
 J 
 
?74 NECROLOGY. 
 
 tion should, at all times, make every one pause and reflect on 
 their latter end, and a coming judgment, and especially, those 
 ■\vho have been closely and intimately connected by the en- 
 dearing relationship of pastor and people, shepherd and flock, 
 going out and coming in together, as they are journeying 
 through this fast fading, and unsatisfying world, toward that 
 heavenly inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth 
 not away. Therefore be it resolved. 
 
 That we as a Church and congregation, do humble ourselves 
 in the dust, mourning over our sins committed against a holy 
 pure and righteous God, and our great neglect in following 
 the bright and godly example of him who has been token away 
 from us ; his devotion and unexampled prayerfulncss not on- 
 ly for his own flock, but for all Adam's fallen race — and 
 praying that we may be enabled to "consider our ways, and 
 live more in the discharge of the duties devolving on 
 the professed followers of the meek and humble Nazarene — 
 Jesus the sinners friend — so that God would have mercy on us, 
 and turn away his anger, and send us another under shepherd 
 to go in and out before us, breaking unto us the bread of eter- 
 nal life, and that he would be our God, and that we may be his 
 people. 
 
 Resolved, That we,as a church and congregation, greatly syra 
 pathize with the afflicted and bereaved widow of our departed 
 Pastor, praying that God would remember her and the fath- 
 erless children giving to her all the comfort and consolation 
 so richly promised in his blessed word ; and that he would be 
 a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, to guide 
 and guard mother and children as they journey through this 
 wilderness world, 
 
 Resolved, That the widow of our beloved pastor be furnish- 
 ed with a copy of the above preamble and resolutions." 
 
 We now come to the estimate his own fellow Presbyters 
 put upon him, in the follovv^ing Memorial : 
 
REV. EDWIN T. WILLIAMS. 875 
 
 MEMORIAL 
 OF EEV. EDWIX T. WILLIAMS, 
 
 Adopted by the Presbytery of Florida, April 13tli, 18G7. 
 
 When God speaks to us by His cliastiserrients, it is fit that 
 we submit, and bow before Him in deep humility. It is oui" 
 pbice to hold our peace, and ponder the words of eternal 
 truth, W hat I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know 
 hereafter. Truly God's Avays are not our ways, nor His 
 thou2:hts our thoughts. Had we taken the roll of the Pres- 
 bjtery one year ago, to glance over its names, and select 
 those who, in our judgment, would most probably cross the 
 flood first, it is very likely that brother Williams would have 
 been among the last thought of. To all human appearance, 
 he would have been left to record our departure, not we to 
 mourn him. He was cut down in the vigor of manhood, 
 Avhile he was bearing the burden and heat of the day, and 
 apparently indispensable to the Church, His work, how- 
 ever, was done, his mansion was ready, and the Lord took 
 him to Himself. 
 
 To murmur at such a providence would be to commit a 
 great sin. Rather, let us thank God for the gift of such a 
 man, though for a short season, to his struggling Church, 
 and gird ourselves to more manly efforts, to greater diligence 
 and higher aims, that we may be ready when our change 
 cosQes. 
 
 Those who knew him best will testify that while he en- 
 joyed a measure of faith, which few attain, he was at times, 
 sorely troubled by the enemy, and his conflicts were fearful ; 
 1 ut he knew whom he believed, the Lord was his stronix 
 tower, to Him he fled for refuge, by prayer and supplica- 
 tion, and thus he triumphed, and became renowned for his 
 power in piayer. 
 
 He was pre-eminently a man of prayer. He prayed with- 
 out ceasing ; by the wayside, in the closet, in the groves, as 
 
370 NECROLOGY. 
 
 well as in tlic sanctuary; and not only so, but he agonized 
 and wrestled before his God, that His kingdom might be 
 established, not only in his own heart, but in the hearts of 
 all men. 
 
 In his spirit and temper, he was gentle, pure and lovely ; 
 and whether he moved in the social circle, the Presbytery, 
 or among his oAvn flock, he was alike the same affectionate 
 friend, and the same devoted follower of Christ, in all his 
 thoughts, words and actions. So entirely was he absorbed 
 in the realities of the eternal world, that the glory of God 
 and the good of man were his meat and drink. 
 
 As a minister of the Gospel, he was zealous, able and 
 faithful. None who knew him will forget his tender sympa- 
 thy for the suffering, his forbearance toward the erring, and 
 his efforts to restore them. His pulpit exercises were al- 
 ways sound, solemn and impressive, and always abounding 
 in Scripture illustrations suited to all classes of men, so that 
 saint and sinner might receive their own portion in due 
 season. 
 
 His scientific and theological education was prosecuted 
 and finished at Princeton, Avhere his mind was imbued with 
 the spirit of missions, and early in his ministry, in 1853, he 
 was sent out by the Board to Africa, where he labored with 
 encouragement for several years. But, in the providence of 
 God he was compelled to return to his native land, on ac- 
 count of his health, which was much impaired by diseases 
 peculiar to that benighted land ; and though he wished, and 
 even longed to return to his station, the door was closed, and 
 he was never permitted to carry out his cheri-hed hopes. 
 
 Seeing these things were so, he was led to accept a call to 
 <.^)uincy, Florida, where he was much beloved, and where he 
 labored with marked success, until his work on earth wa< 
 done. He fell asleep in Jesus, on the ninth day of August. 
 A. D. 18G(*J, in the fortytfifst year of his age. 
 
 In view of this afilictive provideace, therefore, 
 
REV. EDWIN T. WILLIAMS. 6i i 
 
 Mesolved, 1. That while Ave mourn the loss of our co- 
 laborer, friend and brother, we yet bow submissively to the 
 hand that has afflicted us, knoAving that our loss is his 
 gain. 
 
 Resolved, 2. That we will ever cherish his memory, and 
 strive to imitate his example, that we may attain to a like 
 measure of faith Avith him. 
 
 Resolved, 3. That Ave deeply sympathize with his bereaved 
 companion, and that we will ever remember her and her little 
 ones in our prayers, committing them to God and the Avord 
 of His grace. 
 
 Resolved, 4. That the stated Clerk of this Presbytery be 
 directed to furnish his family with a copy of this humble 
 tribute to his memory. 
 
 By order of Presbytery. A true copy. 
 
 A. W. Clisby, Stated Clerk. 
 
 Mr. Williams left two children, both daughters, who, with 
 their mother, reside in Savannahs 
 
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