The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-08-22
FOR TIE CrsrpAl ParssrrrarAs.
"REMINISCENCES OF PRESBYTERIAN
MINISTERS.
BY AN OCToGENARIAN.
No. s.
DIR. sPRAGUE.

DIR. sPRAGUE.
'Tis my wish in the present number to re.
member William B. Sprague, one of my fel
low students at the Seminary. He Joined
Us in 1916. He was social in his tempera-
ment. He called at my room to ask for my
autograph. 1t was given. "Are you going, y
| said, ''to waste your time in collecting su.
tOgraphs, like Dr. Raifias of Liverpool? How
many do you expect to obtain ?" "AbOut
twenty or twenty-five thousand he replied.
He secured large number both at home
and when abroad; but mine has certainly
fallen into the rear of such Paper Army,
His call was returned, when he remarked,
1t is my wish to become well acquainted
with you" "Why so?" because 1 taught
some time in the Lewis family, near Alexan-
dris. Attended the church of DR.. Muir, and
your father used to help the Doctor at his
saeraments." eyes" replied, che used to
90 in a packet called the Two Brothers, bat
it was lost in a storm, and then the Horse
Boat was started" Sand how did you like
the family in which you were dOmesticated? ?"
"PrOdigiOusly" he rejOined, to talk like
Dominic Sampson" At that time he was
playful and good humOred. Somewhat in
cined to mimicry; but this quality was no
doubt subsequently, discarded. We took to
each other in that very interview. "Here is
a letter, he continued, "just received from
Mrs. Lewis, which reflects great credit on
her pen" Hs read to its conclusion
''That," l remarked, is superb piece of
composition. She quotes from Shakespeare"
This may be allowable in a private letter
but we fear about 1877 that some of our
preachers may thrust him forth in the pull
pit If so they would not find me a second
time among their hearers. In performing
the solemn Offices of our vocation, tbs very
bad taste to quote man who spent his life
in promoting the gaiety of COvent Garden
and Drury Lane. Dr. johnson says that he
reused the laughter of nations.
My perplexity here is great. Shall we
relate the following incident, or hide it in the
cave of Macpelah, or bury it in the tomb of
all the Capulets. No; it shall be stated to
the honor of an ever present Providence
Leaving the Seminary before him, he wrote,
"The Gngustcg res domi have overwhelmed the
student, A few pieces of coin would help
me through my course. But they can't be
pulled off the trees" My answer Silver
and gold have l not, but Jehovah jireh." l
went to Robert Munroe, an elder of the
Georgetown church; enjoined confidence.
"There are fifty dollars, he remarked, "in
the Golfers of our session. He can get them
if he please" l met DR.. Muir on a visit to
Georgetown. "There are fifty dollars unap-
propriated in the treasury Of the Alexandria
session" So We sent him the hundred. We
have mentioned this circumstance because it
was not my generosity. Had it been it
would never have been told. Had he given
away in his distress and turned to other pur.
suits, what a valuable minister should We
have lost.
DR.. Sprague settled for a few years in
West Springfield, Massachusetts,. Muskets
and carbines are made at its armory. But
be always wore the olive leaf in his hat
When our Cause was lost, he wrote to my
daughter, "YOu have letter from General
Lee. ] want the autograph of the Modern
Marlborough" 1t was sent. He never
Joined in the atrocious charges against the
Southern Church. What; do you cherish
malice against the Northern Church ? No
a particle; but we hug our self-respeet.-
From Springfield my friend lOOmed out Il
preach ordination, installation and dedication
sermons, but was called to psstorste in tn
Second Church of Albany, into the detail
of which We cannot enter. He was dill
gent collector of facts, an untiring CORES
pondent, and an observer in foreign travel
he held converse with Wherefore, called o.
Hannah More at Barley Wood, saw Mrs
Grant, of Laggan, and talked with the cele
celebrities of Edinburgh, the Scottish Athens
He was anxious to collect the various wri
ings Of Robert Hall. He succeeded. A
American edition was the result.
DR.. Sprsgue was a vOluminOus author
Not so copiOus as Baxter. In early life /
had embraced the Unitarian heresy. He
defines it in a letter to the writer of this n
tice. His views might have been change
under the tuition of DR.. Dwight, who "
Presidelt of Yale. Yale, the founder of tn
college, was neither a SOcinian, Arian
High Arian. Nor yet were its PrOfesso
and Presidents, DR.. SpTague's aims in