The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-01
FoR THE CENTRAL Presbyterian. q
Rev. isaac V. Scott.

i
0 ooi5ita EDINBoRo,7 Nov! 9Th, o1SFs.i1oI
With one exception the hour which an
aouuced the death of the Rev. Isaac " Scott
Wa the ssddsst of my life. 10 Piety he was
ardent and uniform; in friendship he was
lender and true TO the Christian world
then, the blow is heavy and upon those
nearer than the Uorld it falls with crushing
weight. q eqad1o4 noiGiqo ell .d51ol 4
O For many years we owere almost constant
companions. He now sleeps in some quiet
country church yard, perchance with crum-
bling wall and ivy smantled tower;o and 4,
ia distant city, ami denied the iprivilege oil
adding leafooria rose to the flowers that
wither on his grave. No marble shaft per-
haps now marks the spot so dear, and CHS
eled characters tell not to passers-by the
simple story of his life. But for -himSelfihel
reared his own true monument in life, which
do now unvsil upon the side next a bosom
friend. 10 liadsd Of sonsleb 10 sbIoW ssslmIa
{ / remember we'll the hour oinsour college
classroom, when my eye fell for the first
time upon his broad and massive brow. 81 /
remember my boyishE feeling when told that
che hand of Robert L. Lee had once rested
upon his shoulder, in token of friendly1es-
seem;a that the pen from which fell the im-s
mortal address ataAppotattox Court House,
had proudly 1euogized this widow'soson. nl
remember the warmgrasp and pleasant smile
With which he welcomed me back at the be-
ginning of his last seminary session. DO Il re.o
member, too that in his last illness htrie-
fellow whose heart his kindness had dwon,
turned willingly aside from childish sports
AID nursed him with the tenderness of NO..
man. Ithoug ht fohadeneVef seen more
touching tribute egsd o. idgno oGa Issa9q
Thougbethe announcement seems to nhave-
filed his friends With Amusement, to himself
the idea of an early death was not1unfamil'
lar. 1t had been prediction of his boy
hood that he would not survive his thirtiethi
year; and this opinion, weighty by reason of
it's source hegfrequently discussed withlhis
intimate friends The strength Of his relis
gious convictions, however, enabled him to,
converse on this topic with unusual calmness.
By slow progress, moreover, his disease was
ever recalling to his mind cthe m ancholy
prediction of his youth. IL Those who were
familiar with his habits will remember that
during the later years of his life itfwas found
necessary to relieve the study houroof each
day by an interval of sleep! The morning
Storm wasthus heralded by no Elusive dawn
of fair PROMISE. 7 10 yIotsiH s'diim8 ,siaiy
In college he was ageneraf favorite. % His
efforts in the hall were ohieAydforensic In
debate he was playful, but decidedly skilled.
The forensic powerb displayed I'M sermon
preached recently to the cor gregation of the
Washington Street Presbyterian Church,
Petersburg, Va, was felt and remarked upon
by every thoughtful listener. o,3,,zg s5T
Among his fellow students in the seminary
he occupied the position Of q leader; and
upon those Of the adjacent college he exerted
an influence unapproachsd. + More frequent ]
ly, perhaps, than any other divinity student,
he could be found at the collegs;boys' Pray
er meeting ;yand to l him at every step they
tarned for counsel, Let them scchle cherish hi
memory and emulate his virtues. ava .v,,,st
His, trial sermon before the Presbytery
was so impressive that the usual criticisms
we're suppressed, At the close of his pre-
paration for the ministry, four calls were
placed in bis hands, and choice was made
among these in accordance with that humil
icy which made egotism insuffsrable in others,
aud caused him to speak seldom Of himself
In the chosen field there were three weekly
prayer meetings, with which he connected
himself; and in no case could he be prevail
ed upon to absent himself from, either Of
these. do, not wonder that the character
accorded him in Dr.. Witherspoon's funeral
sermon was high Il hays. kpoRpnns no nap
more exemplary and blameless in his life
His first text vas Romans, vi: l23; ""The
wages of sin is death" His last text was
Psalm, XXI; Is; /" Ny times are an thy |
hand" Surely no passage could have -besn |
more appropriate for q last discourse, With |
such thoughts he fell asleep. J,-.J,
From an old English tombstone, beneath
;he accumulated moss Of long years, to the
white marble slab that shall some day fix the
gaze of a devoted FREUD, I would
.ranscrbe the following beautiful lines. mac,
9 Forgive. blest shade the tributary tear, "a,
That mourns thy exit from a world ike this;
Forgive the wish that would have kept thee here,
And stayed thy progress to the seats Of bliss;I9
-ey HQoW sg9ld of fedt bus }ehin, rieI4 |,
NJ more confined to groyeng scenes Of night,
No more tenant pent in mortal clay, 71H on
Now should we rather hail thy glorious Aight,nsm
And trace thy journey to the realms of dayl''
w. F. B.
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