Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-25
A Tribute to Friendship.


rxauder. ID. d.. of New York.
Though very much untitled for literary
work bv "A low state of health, | cannot re-
train from sending You few paragraphs
concerning my hunOred and beloved friend,
the late Henry Nandyke Johns DID. That
he belonged to Il different branch of Christ
Church. from that in which serve. has al
WAYS added zest u our friendship and fra
ternity. So many years have elapsed since
the events which are presently to be- related
that | feel like one who speaks concerning
strangers. or persons very remote: they are
indeed events which never expected 10 dis
close to the public
The first person with whom ever talked
freely. respecting the infinite concerns OF my
soul. was Henry '. Johns and he has told
me that like remark would be true oi hlmi-
self Ii was in Nassau Hall. then the prln-
cipal cditice of Princeton College. and IN
No. -. in the second entry II locality fresh
in the memory OF old Nassovians. We were
bows of sixteen: though | was about 10 cont
mcnce bachelor OF arts. Such conversations
begin. one scarcely knows how: i'll short
time we had unbO,omed ourselves 10 one an
other. and entered upon close and tender
friendship which | trust in God Is never TO
cease. During the days in which Henry WAS
under the work of the law, and humbly doubt
ing whether indeed he had attained 10 JUS
titicatiun or not, he used Ia walk IN the grove
behind the College. which, alas, with other
forest shades of my boyhoud, has long since
vanished away. As he strayed, mu>ng, his
eve was attracted by Il small folded paper
upon the ground this he picked up. and after
4 4 I'D baS is.
And they that are Christ's have cruclhcd
the flesh with the affections and lusts, Gal. V.
~ Try yourself 10y this" The incident
made II deep impression on us both. carrying
to our apprehensiunS ut that time something
of the supernatural. We have talked 1t over
in later wears. and there is reason 10 believe
that it had moulding influence on John
experience and life. Soon after this We be-
came communicates, at our respective homes.
I In the survey OF many brethren whom II
has been my exceeding great privilege to
know during thirty odd years Of ministry,
can recall none who Followed the Lord
fully" Numb XIV. ~. III higher sense
than Henry Y. Johns. He Was not a great
genins, man of extraordinary erudltlon II
famous author. or 4 pul pit phenomenon; but
he was faithful. ierycnt. and most success
tul minister Of the Lord Jesus. Great. hon
est. transparency, dircctneSs. thoroughne.S,
ntrepidity. earncStncss and melting ai-c-
ton characterized his words and acts. He
was man of heart. always glowing: for. 80
far aS | could discern. the fire never went
out. This made him truly and powerfully
eloquent, H. he uttered Just such doctrines
and celebrations. rs those OF Blckersteth.
! Rvle and McGhee The catholicity Of hi,
spirit was great. and savored of the nublrr
DAYS of the Church of England Equally
remarkable were his courage and lndepen-
dencc. in resisting ecclesiastical domination.
Such union of manly force and feminine
gentlrness showed how closely he had fol
lowed the Master.
In the summer of 1914, slight steamboat
disaster caused me 10 stop with my family,
oh Saturday evening at Newcastle; where we
became the guests of llenry's distinguished
brother, Chancellor Johns. These were hos
FATALITIES never To be forgotten. On this ucca-
sion we were presented 10 the father OF the
three Justly h0nored sons, the venerabIrJudge
Johns, then more than eighty years of age
A few days after. 1T Cape May, all three broth
ers met and sat beside another friend otmy
boyhood, Bishop Johns: who. ! am sure. will
forgive the allusion. That most delightful OF
seaside resorts was made thrice blessed by
such company OF scholars. gentlemen. and hc-
levers. Many AN innocent but keen rclonder
passed between the two Episc0palian> and
the two Presbytrrians. had not met Henry
for many years, anil We became boys again, ns
We rehearSed the scenes Of beautiful Princeton
along the resounding strand IF cool Cape May.
Everything now confirmed me III my JudS-
menI, respecting those traits oi Henry sclh-
rartrr. which have ventured 10 not" above:
his incorruptblr truth. his contempt Tor all
ndirectness and tnesse his genuine liberallty
in churrfI-matters, his bodness, and his tr-
umphant love.
On the 22d of July, hr gave discourse in
the Methodist Church. from Eek XVIII .
IL. AS live, saith the Lord God. have
no pleasure in the death Of the wicked, Ac (
II was delivered without notes. and was "A
sermon among thousand, If measured with /
reference to the real ends of preaching, be-
ing true, correct. fluent. warm, and ahoveall I.
full of unction this is the word which char /.
acterzeS Johns's preaching. Ii was the .
doctrine of the Reiormcrs. the Articles and (
the llpmilics sound, evangelical, cngent.- /
| never heard that voice again III public, /
till it rang forth its afectionate warnings. just .
year ago, at the Anniversary f the Amer .
lean Tract Society. On the 2Gth of July .
Bishop Johns preached at Cape May, from
Jer. H.. TO-
These lines have been penned before could .
receive any but the most general account ot
dear brother .Johns's death. The papers
tell indeed. that on the arrival Of the Bishop
he said. Brother John, here is sinner saw
ed by grace"
wish these hasty sentences were not s"
egotistical: but any attempt to make them
less 50 would have impaired their simplicity.
In conclusion will not say with ShrnStnne's
ce ebrated eptaph, Ife", q"""t" mi""s r"'"
rciiquis rersari. quam tn memi"isse/ be-
cause | see and feel that | am surrounded BY
many Minister'S. and other beloved servants
ofuur Lord: but will add in remembrance
of my youth: | am distressed for thee, my
brother Johns, very pleasant hast thou been
unto me! > Sam. i. 26.
am always faithfully yours.
JAMES W. ALEXANDER.
New York, May II, 1859.
From Washington.