Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-12-07

Smith when he abandoned sAas of his an
cestors on account of its adl ncnec to
American slavery. His mother 0ss pi-
Gus woman. and be had st an eSriy age
joined her church (the Reformed Dutch
or Presbyterian. but what he considered
Its bondage to slavery Disguised him,
and be formed another religions society.
The Presbyterian church is now a public
reading-room. while the ..church Of Pc
terboro, rs Mr.. Smiths is called, remains.
Among its pastors was the Rev. n. p.
Grozier. now Of New York. Mr.. Smith
has frequently preached in this house, ans,
his knowlcdge Of Hebrew and Greek
enables him to examine the Scriptures in
the original. After morning service on
Sabbath he holds a Bible class composed
s0f young ladies. As speaker he possesses
|, ARE gifts. The mansion At Peterboro is
ehssuased by his son. Green Smith, whose
wife IS the housekeeper.
The rising hour-is six, and half hour
after the bell has struck, Mr.. Smith beats
musical triangle for family worship -
This he conducts in person, but he is wont
to substitute the recitation of the Scriptures
for their perusal. Such is his memory
that he can repeat most of the Psalms and
other parts of the Bible. Singing and
prayer follow. From nine to twelve the
time is devoted to the library. aud then
comes walk to the Office, where Caleb
Calkins has for thirty years oificiatcd as
clerk. Mr. Smith has been for lonr
time selling the lands inherited from his
father. and hence has a vast number of
bonds and mortgages in his possession. -
His entire income must be one hundred
thousand dollars. Ofthis. large amount
is given away in private manner. Two
peEsionsers, now advanced in years, occu.
py cottages near his mansion, but when
Winter approaches they become members
Of his household. One of these called
'.Aunt Laura" has been with him forty
years; and the other, "Arrt Betsev," has
served fifty years Fhe latter, though
eirhty-four, has her faculties in good pre-
serTation. and is employed to answer all
begging letters, and to look after Mr..
Smiths charity roll in that neighborhood.
Begging lesees. as matter of course /.
are answered in tkc negative, unless spc-
cial claims are advanced.
Mr.. Smiths only daughter inhcrits
much of her fathers intellect; br: her life
has been quict one. She married many
years ago, and residesi in Genera. Green
Smith, who is Gerrit's youngest child. is
about twenty five, and is chiefly noted for
his love Of birds. He has an aviary forty
feet square, containing great number Of
cages, whose inmates arc allowed 4: time
the free use Of the whole room. lie has
presented to Cornell University about 500
stuffed specimens Of American ornitholo.y.
Gerrit Smiths variations in theology have
been long before the world. At one time
he wandered into a species Of deism. but
he has of late years expressed views simi-
lar to what is commonly called Liberal
Christianity" lie loves simplicity. and
is chili-like and humble in department.
His benevolence frequently works out in
original methods, and an illustration NAV
be found in the fact that in lS47 he d.
rectcd the supervisors of Madison county
each to designate in his own town seven
spinsters who should receive $500 apiece.
AS there are twenty towns in that county
the amount of this gift was $40. .000.-
His opposition to land monopoly is shown
by the donation Of DOC. 900 acres at vari-
ous times to deserving persons.
Mr.. Smith is now approaching his sew
enty-tifth year. and has succeeded in get
ting his business in shape which will
give but little trouble to his executors.
Having accomplished this, he is looking
for the hour of his departure, which he
contemplaies with serenity and hope. -
His domestic as we'll as public life has been
Of felicitous nature. and the bride whom
he married half century ago is the COM
panion and hel pmate of his latter days.
His form is still erect, but his once raven
locks are silvered. and those who see him
now can form but All imperfect idea of the
great pillar Of the anti-slavery cause as he
appeared on the platform thirty years ago.