The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-03-13
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
"reminiscences of a Pioneer.

Our individual interests often press
heavily upon us, while, to those around
us, they may be altogether unknown.
When approaching the capital of the
territory which was the place of my des-
tination, the question came up in my
mind with redoubled interest, how will
the people receive me? AS already
stated, l was unknown to any individual,
nor had l letters of introduction to any
person, except from stranger, of whose
character and standing in the place l
knew nothing. But He, who brings the
blind by way that they know not, and
leads them in paths that they have not
known, had been preparing the way for
me by Providence as mysterious as
many of those so admirably related by
Flavel or Plumer.
On board the same boat on which l as
cended the river, were three passengers
from the borders of Lake Erie. They
professed to be on tour of exploration,
but, as was afterwards learned, they were
commissioned by the Governor of New
York to proceed to one of the remote
military stations in the Indian country,
to arrest an individual accused as an ac-
complete in the famous Morgan abduc-
ton affair, of the truth or falsehood of
which l, of course, knew nothing. Their
department was civil and gentlemanly.
None of them, | believe, were members
of any church.
When the boat landed, went on shore,
and walked through a part of the new
town. | called at one or two places, but
did not find any certainty of suitable
boarding place. On my return to the
boat, the gentlemen whom have men
toned informed me that, during my alb
sence on shore, a citizen, whom they had
heard represented as one of the most
talented, wealthy, and influential in the
place, had been on board, and expressed
desire to see me. In short time he
again came on board, when one of them
introduced me to him. After a short
conversation, he requested me to have
my trunk conveyedto his house, inviting
me to consider it as my future home. |
complied, and for two and a-half years
enjoyed the Inequalities of his pleasant
family.
This gentleman-to anticipate my mar
rative-died many years after this, while
a member of the United States Senate,
and, as l hope, Christian. His extern
sive family connection nearly all became
members of our Church, not a few of
whom are now its principal supporters !;
while their church relationship, so far as
human agency is concerned, has an in
innate connection with the invitation ex-
tended to me on my first landing.
Some may regard all this as accident.
l shall ever consider the whole of these
events from the shores of Lake Erie, to
the new capital, far west of the Missis-
sippi, as links of one great chain, having
It's commencement in time, but extending
through eternity.
l do not mean to intimate that re-
gard my individual case, or its results,
as the sole object of Divine Providence
in these events; nor that the designs of
Providence were exhausted by the events
1 have here related. How many myriads
of other Divine purposes may have been
fulfilled by the same instrumentalities,
during the same period, is known only to
Him who sees the end from the begin
ming.
One of my first objects was to learn
the amount of religious influence in the
place. Though the population was near
two hundred, there was no church edifce,
nor any organized church, of any demon
nation. Among the few who called
themselves church members were two
ladies' and one male servant, who were
Baptists, one good old lady who was
Methodist, one gentleman who had been
a Congregationalist, and one Presbyte-
rian. There was no minister in the
place, nor any stated preaching. Near
ly all seemed to be living without God,
and without hope in the world.
matters of conscience, first thoughts