The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-03-25
For TIE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Rev. Lewis W. Green, D. D.

College was pastor of the LIST Presbyte-
rian church. Although his health had
been delicate for years, owing to his pos
sessing an original constitution of activi
ty rather than strength, and his incessant
application to the duties of his Office
and his efforts for furthur progress IL
knowledge, yet his skillful management
of his physical powers, taught by suffer
ing experience, and the stores of aocu-
INFLATED knowledge at his command, en-
abled him to meet the requirements OF
both offices. His heart was in heaven.
He loved to teach, and suffered no invi-
tation for sermon or an address to lure
him from his class at the recitation hour,
unless he was entirely convinced that, by
emitting a recitation for some work
abroad, be would promote the welfare OF
the Institution more than by remaining at
his post. He loved to preach, and went
at all calls that appeared providential,
and hardly knew how to admit the fact
that preaching wearied him even when
he arose from a sick bed, and under the
influence of some pungent plaster on the
spine, had delivered his message under
great excitement. The pleasure of the
mind, the heart, and the body, beguiled
him to forget his weakness and pains.
The frequency of such trials made him
bold, perhaps venturesOme, when call,
he esteemed a call of duty, came.
While in Virginia, after earnest entrea-
ty by brother minister, he was induced
TO try the influence of cigar for an af-
lection connected with the spine. To
his surprise it afforded relief. With the
aid of this narcotic he continued the ex-
ertions that were gradually overpower-
ing him. Till this time he had refused
all use Of tobacco Aud 6na-A,y ,iLs- 0Aap-
ton in the place of quiet rest, appears
then first to have relieved him, and then
to have beguiled him to exhaust more
completely the vital powers.
The winter and spring of 1868 were
seasons of unexampled distress in Dan
vile. The wounded and dying soldiers
gathered then to the hospital, called forth
his deep sympathy; so many youth
bright aud fair in young dawning man
hood, struggling for life with wounds and
fevers; with increasing members in the
congregation composed of the strangers
assembled from many, and distant places
for refuge in this rural abode of htera-
ture and science, that were sufferers and
victims of the diseases that follow camps
and hospitals; all these rejoicing in a
visit from him, as message from God,
made an appeal direct to his heart. He
answered promptly, fOrgetful Of his own
physical weakness, and went on from day
TO day like one who had obtained some
exemption from death and sickness
People forgot his delicate frame; they
seemed unable, or unwilling to admit
the thought that one so useful and so
good could suffer, much less could die.
When demonstrated with by some intelli-
gent friends, particularly by his family,
he said, his mind acted with perfect ease
and was exhauStless in her efforts and her
stores; and he did not know what weari-
ness was. Everything called him to act /;
and he was ready. As Watts says:
"I'll 90 and cOme-uor fear to die
TIL from on high Thou call me home.
His devotion and fearlessness may have
led him into temptation. He was acting
on the principle, that If called TO any
work however great, he would attempt,
believing in divine help, according to his
necessities.
In his visits to friends and strangers, he
carried his sweet frankness, his integrity
that rejoieed in truth and uprigbtuess, his
benevolence that shone out in all he said
and did, and his sense of quick adapta-
ton TO times and circumstances. In all
these he was appreciated; and in these,
with conviction that he was an earnest
man of God, lay his great power, the last
months of his life, in the midst of dis
ressed circumstances that fancy can
scarcely group with distlnctness.
Communications and revelations were
made to him of thrilling interest. Some
times he came home burdened with these
trusts of which he could not speak from
his sense of pastoral honor; as what had
been said was said in confidence in his
prudence. Of such visits he could not
be prevailed on to speak particularly !;
and his silence was the evidence there
had been something confidential. At
other times, the communications were IN
tended to be used by him at his discre-
tion. And again he was charged as a
truthful man to remember and report in
proper time what was delivered to his