The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-03-09

Va. Void of ambition, he seems to have
preferred to labor in these small and re-
mote churches, away from the din and
glare of cities.
For the sake of his health he removed
from his home in Jefferson county. Va.
to Jersey Mountain, in Hampshire Co.,
Va, not far from Mt. Bethel church,
where he resided until called up higher.
Compelled to give up preaching he did
not cease to work for the Master and for
the good of his fellow-men. But during
the summer months he established and
regularly conducted Sabbath Schools and
Bible Glasses at three or four points from
four to eight miles from his home. Such
were the attractions of his methods of in
struction, and such the esteem and conf
dence in which he was held, that not
only the children and youth, but the
parents would flock from their mountain
homes to these schools and sit with de-
light under his teaching. He was deep
ly interested in these schools, and sofi-
citous for the youth gathered in them.
AS often as he could he would call to his
aid the pastor of the Romney church,
and other ministers in special services for
them, and on his death-bed often spoke
of and prayed for them.
Though living somewhat secluded he
kept himself fully abreast with what was
going on in the world, and, especially. in
its bearing upon the Masters cause.
1t was a privilege indeed to sit with
him, surrounded by his books, maya
zines, and papers, and listen to the
bright and instructive words that fell
from his lips. But brilliant as were his
conversational powers strong, keen, and
cultivated as was his intellect, his chief
charm was his spirituality of mind.
One could be with him but brief while
without discerning that his affections
were "set on things above"
his memory"-to apply the words
Of another" was literally saturated with
the language of the Bible, even as his
heart was stepped in its spirit" And
Just before his death he told the writer
that it was a matter of unspeakable
comfort to him that he had in his youth
stored his memory with the word of God
and with many of the grand old hymns
OF Gods saints, for "now in my hours
of pain they come up to me to tell of
Gods goodness and faithfulness."
1t Is no wonder that the end of such a
man was peace"
Sometime in December he kindly con-
sented to conduct, in the absence Of the
pastor, the funeral services of Miss Mil
Ecent Naylor, a member of the Romney
church. The day was inclement, and
the exposure and fatigue brought on a
violent accession of disease, which pros
trated him at once. Through long
weary days and weeks-with brief inter-
yals-suffering intensely, he laid until
the glad release came from his Saviour s
hands
Not a murmur escaped his lips, nor
did his faith fail, though tortured nature
would sometimes cry out in its agony.
A volume might be filled with his tes-
hmony-so clear and emphatic-to the
reality and power of the grace of God
and the comfort and strength it gave
him through life and in death. But we
torbear, earnestly hoping that some wor-
thler hand, and with ampler materials
than we possess, may yet give to the
Church and the world the history of this
remarkable man.
His widow, daughter of the Well
known author of Letters on the Di-
vine Purpose" DIR. John Matthews still
survives to mourn her irreparable loss.
According to his own request and under
arrangements made by himself, he was
buried at Mt. Bethel, and thither on a
bleak and wintry day he was followed
BY old and young making great lamen-
tation" for their teacher, counsellor, and
Trend. g. w. F.
For the Central Presbyterian.