The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-05-01
FoR TEE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
"REMINISCENCES OF PRESBYTERIAN
MINISTERS.
BY AN oCToGENARIAN.
No. AZ.
REV. GIDEON BLACKBUI

REV. GIDEON BLAChbOFSN
The writer left Greenville and came to
cambridge, the capital of Jefferson county.
Gray perhaps, would have called this Dan
bridge helter,skelter town, but this was not
my estimate of the place. / was pleased
with its appearance.
Lighting at the inn, we took horizontal
position on the porch; disposed to such a PO-
sitiOn BY the jostling of the stage over q road
not remarkably smooth. We were not in
clined to talk, bat venerable looking man
was seated on chair in the porch, who eyed
the traveller with fixed attention. We dis
eerned in his countensnce a propensity to
something humorous. He asked variety
of questions which were briefly answered.
We took him for Yankee. From what
point of the compass do you come, and what
is your destination? ?" " From Georgetown,
near Washington" replied. "Ah! are
you acquainted with the Presbyterian minis
tar Of that town ?" 81 ought to be" was
my reply, /" for he is my immediate prOgen-
(tor." "Then, he reioined, "yOu arp N.Y.
nephew: / live four miles from cambridge,
on Messy creek farm. Some of our neigh
hors we're at the Greenville meeting, and on
their return reported person of your name
/ thought / would ride down and see whether
you were a good looking gentleman, and you
please me we'll except your diminutiveness.
AT that l rose and shook him warmly by the
hand. The stage was ready and the driver
impatient. was sorry the interview was so
hurried. he appeared to be sensible man,
and had often served in the Legislature Of
Tennessee.
Nashville was handsome town Of five or
six thousand inhabitants. 1t has since be
come Furnishing city. The Presbyterian
church was a cspscious building, but IN
ruins. Il was situated on an elevation, but
not inviting in its appearance. Its services
were but spsrsely attended, but the aspect of
Presbyterianism has assumed new features
since the time to which we sllude, through
the ministry of such men as Drs. Jennings
aud Edgar, and the commanding influence Of
DIR. Lindsey, who presided over the UniVer-
sity. The autumnal climate of the place
was bslmy as possible. But Dr.. Blackburn
stands as the caption to this paper, and TO
him we must attend.
The Presbyterisns of Nashville were an,
ticipsting visit from this highly popular
preacher. The writer was anxious to make
his acquaintance for one or two reasons. In
the early part of the present century he had
been employed by the General Assembly as
missionary to the Cherokee Indians on the
frontiers of Tennessee. This mission ex,
cited great deal of interest with the Pres
byterian public. President Jefferson was far
from being Indifferent to this mission after
the missionary was introduced to him BY the
Georgetown pastor. At the same time the
General Assembly had commenced the pub
LEGATION of monthly work called the Evan-
Oelscal Iatelligsneer, through which DR..
Blackburn communicated both his success
and discouragements. His letters were well
Nritten. Fac ssmiles of what Indian boys
had written appeared, and the writer remem-
bers the interest with which the pamphlets
we're read. This periodical extended to four
or Eve volumes but ceased its visits for the
want of patronage, although it had created
IN oasis or q spot of greenness in the Pres
bytsrian Church. 1t contained portraits oi
Edwards, WitherspOOn, John Blair Smith
Ezra Stiles, Dufield, and Otker distinguished
Divines. For many years the writer owned
these admirable volumes, bat in the ups snC
downs of the world they became dispersed
but We suppose that Aguew has copy o
them in bis Presbyterian library.
To some extent we lost sight of the Cher
Okse Missionary. But in March, 1914, "
received letter dated at Chsmbersburg
Pennsylvania, from Nicholas Patterson, ne
Uhew to the Rev. James Patterson of Bound
brook, and subsequently, of Philadelphia
The object of the letter was to give an al
count Of tour performed by DR.. BlaCkbur
in some parts of the North, and Of the VOL