The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-22
General Archibald G. Niven

paIrloC ana gentleman is an event which
deserves special commemoration in some
Virginia paper. take a mournful
pleasure in paying to his memory this
tribute of respect and affection, because
of the personal relations | bore to him.
and because 1 believe too, will give ex-
preston to the feelings of many who de-
sire to see some such manifestation of the
regard which his friends in VIRGINIA
cherished for him.
Although nearly month has passed
since the tidings of his death came to us,
this somewhat seemingly tardy notice of
the event, so far from being an indication
of insensibility to the bereavement, is an
evidence of the deep and enduring i'm
preston it has made
Gen. Niven was born in Orange coun-
ty, New York. He was of Scotch de-
scent, and inherited from his pious and
patriotic forefathers the sterling virtues
which characterized him. Piety is not
hereditary, but the blessings of the cove
nant are, and it is no ordinary privilege
to be descended from a long line of
pious ancestors. 1 happened to be pre-
sens when Lord Palmerston was made
Lord Rector of the University of Glas
gov, and in the oratiou he delivered
at the time of his inauguration, he said
that no country in the world, in proper
tion to its population, had produced so
many eminent men as soldiers historians,
metaphysicians, divines, and in the
sciences of geology, astronomy, and math-
ematics as Scotland. The reason of this
was not far to seek it came of Parochial
schools, and the universal study of the
Bible, and he might have added, of the
Shorter Catechisrn.
Syurgeon, in his address before the
General Assembly of the Free Church of
Scotland said, "We have a catechetical
seminary connected with our church, in
which we teach little book known as
the Shorter Catechism, with proofs. I
should like to see some one write bet
ter summary of Christian doctrines. I'm
less some one gives US a better book we
will stick to it. A minister in preaching
could not find better means of stating
doctrines than in the words of the Shor-
ter Catechism. When am sitting in
my chair with a hundred of young men
around me, and [ ask any question, l
frequently say, now none of you Scotch
men. answer; know that you know
the answer; let the Englishmen an
swer. Scotchmen have wider and
more thorough knowledge of the Scrip
ture than the mass of my own country
men, and 1 believe it is due to the prac-
tice of family worship, and to the use Of
the Assembly's Catechism."
On such pa6u5una was Gen. Niven
reared, and no one need wonder that the
result was a man whose intelligence
quickened and informed by piety, with
principles based on immutab!e truth and
developed by indweiling grace, led to
life as evenly devoted to duty as the
needle points to the pole star.
Having chosen the law as his profess
sion, on his removal to Monticello In 1928
he was elected Surrogate of Sullivan
county, and continued to discharge the
duties of this Office for twelve wears,
when he was appointed Master in
Chancery. In 1880 he was made Gene
raj of the 10th brigade of the New York
Artillery, and in 1914 he became the Ad-
Jutant General of the State of New York.
He was elected a representative in the
29th Congress, and served in that ca
pacity during 1916 46-47. He served
on the military committee of the House
during three years, which was an impor-
tant position at that time, as the war
with Mexico was then in progress. In
l847 he was elected District Attorney of
Sullivan county, and in 1864 he was
elected to the State Senate, but was un-
seated by the republican legislature to
admit his contestant.
l wish had the materials with which
to furnish your readers with an account
OF General Niven's efforts for prison re-
form in the State of New York, and of
other philanthropic enterprises to which
he devoted himself during the latter
years OF his life. He was one of the men
now becoming scarce-almost extinct
who never sought office or preferment-
but to whom Office and preferment came
because those who knew him were aware
that he had the qualities, mental and
moral, which fitted him to Discharge. con
scientiously and efficiently the highest
trusts which could be committed to him.
The Office which he regarded as the
most honorable of all he ever held was
that of an Elder in the PRESBYTERIAN
Church; and | am reminded of what the
illustrious A Abercrombie,o fAberdeen. said
when be declared, it had pleased the King
to confer many honors upon him. but
that he esteemed The honor of serving as
an Elder in the Presbyterian Church as