Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-05-08
FRIDAY, MAY 8, lS4O.

He drew his principles of action fresh and pure
from the well spring oflite. He rested his heart
and all his plans on the promises OF God; and he
believed the truth with faith that was attended
with The free surrender ofthe whole soul TO the APP
proprlate inf renee of truths believed His consis-
tent uniform, and cheerful piety made an abiding
impression on all who shared his society, so that
they were made TO feel the power and acknowledge
the excellence of the religion ofhe gro>pe.
II, was man Of pure motives aud lllustrious
dects. Being Of an aniable temper, his heart
oveldowed with affection to his friends, and was
full Ofkndness to all. His eye and tones express
scd he deepest tenderness. In person he was
little above the ordinary stature. Every thing
abo1 iIlln was plain and unaffected. All stiffness
and 'dociOral dignity" were entirely foreign from
his Uiture. His conversation evidenced superior
wiStim and penetration; and he was so accessible
and communicative to all, that one could not con-
vcr>e with him, or hear him speak, without be-
coming the better for it. Being Of such temper,
he was peculiarly happy in his domestic relations.
He M. = home always attractive.
have aus cried 10 his philanthropy. This was
leading trait in his Christian character. lie con-
secraied mind, rich in the gifts of his Maker,
and well supplied from all the stores Of learning, to
the glory ofGod, and the happiness Of mankind.
Nor was his philanthropy Limited toa sect or party
1t cncrced IN its wide and warm embrace, the
well Icing Of humanity. But the distinct and i'm
mediate object he had before him, was 10 build up
the great interests of religion and sound learning
in our southern S,a,eS.- For these ends perhaps,
no man in that par, of our republic has ever la
hourcd more diligently, wisely and successfully.
He was fertile in wise and wei digesteJ plans Of
Usefulness While pastor in Richmond, by his
personal influence and the investment of his own
small means, he established press, and orisina-
ted, (t mistake not,) the first religious newspa-
per ii the South. To This he soon after addeda
monthly magazine In conducting the latter, he
had the hearty and able operation Of his friend,
nrlN mn niA px- I,ly
tence to the Virginia Bible Society. Encouraged
by his success In this, he drew up paper entitled,
GA plan for an American and Foreign Bible
Society" This "Plan,' he communicated to his
friends north and south and after receiving va
rioli> notifications, 1t was, probably, the chief
instrument IN giving existence to that noble nsti
| tuition, the American Bible Society. lie was, in
like manner, one of the projectors Of several Other
| important institutions, 10y whose influence our
country and the world will be made the better
In short, the variety, extent and success Of his
iabodrs, were wonder to his friends while he
| lived.
| Alter his death, the secret was more fully dis
| covered. A paper Of "Re>outons" was found
IN lbs pockel-kooE, among which were follow
ing:-
Never spare person, property, or reputation,
II l can DO good Unnecessary tina, should die
poor"
"Endeavour to feel kindly towards every one !;
never indulge anger, envy, jealousy, towards any
| human teing."
"Endeavour to act SO as 10 advance the present
comfort the intellectual Improvement, and the
| purity and moral good ofmy fellow men,"
DR.. Rice was truly great in the powers Of his
intellect, as well as in the qualities Of hi, heart.
Yet he did not attain his intellectual superiority
over other men, by any "heavenborn inspiration"
but hy the habit of patient thinking, and by the
ne OF industry, that honeiy virtue, which j. within
| the reach of all. The inemento from his carly
monitor, "Be sure, my son, to remember that the
Lest Ten always make themselves" was the
| "piliar Of cloud and Of fire" which went before
him, and led him on in the path to Intellectual
greatness. He possesses strong and dscrlrninat-
ing mind, which readily found its way 10 the lead
ing points Of every subject, and brough, forth It's
| conclusions with edltyng simplicity. Asa writer
| and preacher, his style was like himself simple,
| unadoned, and eloquen-He seldom wrote his
sermons but he had acquired that control over
| his own mind, and those habits of investigation,
| which enabled hun to compose his diScourseS,
| ana give them permanent existence in his own
| meinory.-ftlS sermons, like hi, convers ion,
| eShibfeI lie conceptions OF q strong, Org nal
thinker, and the feelings Of an anectionate heart
| ana, 81 course, they invariably encha med the at
| lentlon and subducd the hearts of his hearers
for the Illustration ofhis character as writer, and
tor specimens OF his profound thinking as Chris.
nan, liieoosiall, ana statesman, we mus, re-
fer TO his published sermons, addresses and reviews
and especially to his Memoir of Jane, Brainerd
Taylor, and The series OF letter, which he address
scd through the press, TO James Madison, ESD,
late President Of the United States.
| Such IN principle and in deeds was DR.. John
Holt Rice. His life and character were a happy
realization Of his own words, when he once said,
scarcely can spectacle of greater moral s,lbi-
| my be presented TO our view, than that OF a man
who, 10y his genius and learning, has acquired a
mastery over the understandings of others, and by
his goodness has gained ,her confidence, swaving
them to purposes, and aroli,ing them TO the ac-
compli' hment oide>isn>, which all the truly good
IN the universe approve, and God Almighty sane
| tion> and rewards"
The example Of such man deserves imitation
and this sketch has been written with the sincere
desire that 1t may invite imitation from all who
condesccnd to read il.