Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-05-23

NHoih hHcW ~ MINES, anu VIC request
ed its publication; to which the author
kindly consented:
Fer he Montgomery Conntg Sentinel.
Biographical Sketch of the late Rev
John Mines, D. D.
Some Sabbaths ago, | heard the Pas.
tor of the Presbyterian Church in thi,
place give notice that in the erection Of
the new Church, in Rockville, it was de.
signed to place Tablet in said church
to the memory of the late DR.. Mines, as
the only pastor who had died in the pas.
torate of said church.
AS the Tablet will mostly be seen by
persons who have grown up since his
death, (twenty years ago, and strangers,
the question may be asked, who was Dr..
Mines? The writer of this will proceed
to give a short biography.
Some fifty years ago, the Trustees OF
the Rockville Academy advertised for a
Principal Cabin John Presbyterian
Church, five miles distant, being without
a pastor, the officers of said church united
and gave an invitation to the Rev. Mr..
Mines to fill the two positions He then
resided IN Virginia. After visiting the
two fields of labor, he accepted, and soon
after removed from Virginia to this place
bringing with him large family. He
was of good family Of Virginia, and
his first wife, whom | was unacquainted
with, came from near Charlcstown He
afterwards married the Widow Bell, To-
eating himself and children at her beau
tiful farm called Crosse HILL" about one
mile from the village, and entered fully
upon the two charges, which he filled for
the space of thirty years, with the most
gratifying success.
In the Academy he had continuous
reelection yearly for twenty-five years,
and had to decline a recollection by reason
of age and inlrmity, Che being about
forty years Of age when he took charge J
but he had general oversight until the
day of his death.
Under his Principalship the Academy
prospered, and took high rank in gen
eral education and the preparatory coll
legiate course, as most of his pupils are
now among our most worthy citizens,
filing the posts of the farmer, mechan-
ic, lawyer judge, preacher and phys-
clan.
His discipline was thorough as well as
his instruction, and many man in this
and sister States can look back with plea
sure and profit and think that to him
they are indebted for their moral. physi-
cal and educational usefulness, not only
to themselves but to society.
| remember hearing that young man
who had passed collegiate examination,
and who was unemployed for time,
wished to perfect himself in some of the
higtcr branches, came to the Doctor to
get his assistance, and on being exam
ined he found that he was unacquinlcd
with the ordinary rudiments of an aca-
demical course, and placed him in the
alphabet classes of nearly all his prcvi-
Gus studies. Nor do believe this to be
an isolated case, Gas the Doctor told me,
though no boaster,) so far as young men
had passed and were passing through
High Schools.
] have also been told that in order and
discipline, every boy bad his nail, and
his hat and coat occupied that peg dur
ing school hours, while in recess or play
time the boys played IN earnest, as well
as being in earnest in the class room,
and all enjoyed themselves, scholars and
teacher
In the Academy, God and the Bible
were daily acknowledged, though it was
a mixed school Of all denominations. -
The Annual Acadcmical Examinations
and Exhibitions were looked forward to
with great interest by parents and friends
The audience room, on such occasions,
was crowded with happy faces.
The Doctor, in stature, was of maies-
tic form, and grew heavy and portly. -
As farmer and gardener, he was a pat
tern worthy Of imitation, as his many
guests would and could testify.
As preacher, he took a high rank
soon was made d. D., having been an
author, &c. AS to his pastoral charge,
Cabin John, being the only Presbyterian
Church within an area Of twenty miles
square, and but few churches of other
denominations, his active and Christian
spirit had no fences, and in catholic
spirit he traversed the whole bounds,
making Rockville about the centre, where
he held weekly prayer meeting, infus-
ing new life and vigor in the dropping
Christian, and soon built church here,
as well as at Bethesda and Ncelsyille,
establishing Saturday prayer meetings
and sunday schools at or in the neigh
borhood of his four charges, and often
preaching in the Episcopal Church, at
Middlebrook. All denominations, and
families of his own charges, We'd as to
whose guest he should be on Saturday
night, and wherever he lodged he would
tell the family to hook up the carryall,
and he would lead them to church.
He preached at two points about ten
miles distant each Sunday, but amidst
all these labors, / never saw him With
hurried step, 80 methodical was his life.
Nor was he or his congregations fair
weather Christians, but they obeycd the
command. Neglect not the assembling
of yourselves together" and the churches
were generally well filled amidst storm
and sunshine.
Such was his life for about twenty
years, about which time he lost his wife
Sometime after, he married Miss Dunlop
who purchased and still occupies the
beautiful residence, crosse Hill"