The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-02-19
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
The Early Years of DR.. Green.

Rev. Lewis W. Green, D. D., was
born, passed much of his life, and died
in Kentucky. His ancestors were emf
grants from Culpeper County, Virginia,
and had their residence in the neighbOr-
hood of Danville, among the earlier set
tiers of that fertile country. The edu-
cation of their children attracted the
emigrants; and the foundation of Acad-
emies and Colleges were laid while the
log cabin was the residence of the mass
of the people. While lad, Lewis mani
tested desire for literary excellence !;
his parents cherished it. While in the
rudiments of his education, the strife
about Pennsylvania College was engross-
ing the public mind. By various means
the Presbyterians lost the management
of their College, the first founded in the
State, and turned their attention to the
preparing another College, now called
Centre College, in which the youth of
their Church might be. trained, and in
which peculiar attention should be paid
to Incorporation of youth for the minis
try.
The Rev. Remembrance Chamberlain
held the chair of President during the
wears 1928 and 1921. Mr.. Green was
one of the two he prepared for the de-
gree of A. B. And it is to be remark
ed that this one, the one-half of the
graduating class, that in after years was
listened to with the deepest interest in
five SeminarieS of learning, was afflicted
to such a degree with stammering, or
hesitancy of speech, that he abandoned
the idea of professional life that requir-
ed elocution, and uniting himself with an
amiable lady, he betook himself to agri-
culture on his paternal inheritance. In
this course he was arrested by the death
of his wife. In his solitude his mind
and heart reverted to the professional
life, the desire of his early youth. With
his physical strength improved by his
employment, and his heart purified by
suffering, he longed for the ministry of
the Gospel. Seeking scientific aid, she
applied himself with all his energy and
unconquerable perseverance, to free him
self from his i'll habit of speaking, and
like George A. Baxter, D. D., President
of Washington College, and afterwards
Professor of Theology in Union Theo-
logical Seminary, in Prince Edward,
Virginia, completely succeeded. No one
who became acquainted with him in after
life, unless some professor in the art of
speaking, ever surmised that he had been
afflicted with a stammering tongue. The
onlv- noticeable thing in his pronuncia-
ton, was degree of measured slowness,
commonly attributed to his style or man
ner of clothing his thoughts with words,
and weaving those words into sentences,
often of great length, and not unfre-
quently of exquisite euphony.
Upon getting the mastery of this diff
6culty or i'll habit, arising from whatever
cause, Mr.. Green pursued his theological
course, becoming a student at the Theo-
logical Seminary, in Princeton, New Jer-
sey, then under the teaching of Profes-
sors Miller, A. Alexander, and c. Hodge.
Here he was associated with candidates
for the ministry, of whom some are liv-
ing to this day; and others of them be-
came celebrated in the Church and have
passed away-as Van Rensselaer,, Krebs,
and Rezeau Brown; two besides himself
became Professors; and in looking over
the list of names, there is not one to
whom memory attaches any moral obliqui-
ty. And in running the eye along the
list of those who entered as students
while he was member of the Seminary,
we see the names of many now busily
engaged in the Lords vineyard, who can
bear testimony 10 his excellence, and say
he was Of "good report" One thing is
certain, the abilities, accomplishments,
and zeal of his companions in study stim-