The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-06-09


my counsellor, my guide"
In the latter part of this year, 1904,
he resigned his Office of tutor in the col
lege and removed, with his family to a
small farm, which, with the aid of his
father in-law, Major Morton, he had pur-
chased. 1t lay within the bounds of the
congregation, about six miles from Char
lotte Court House.
Labors in the Pastoral Field and in the
Pulpit.
To the care of his farm the young pas
tor soon added that of school. By this
means his usefulness was extended and
his income increased and he seems to
have undertaken the school with an eye
to both of these objects.
He, in this matter, conformed to the
custom prevailing among his brethren in
the ministry and that custom was es-
tablished by stern necessity. Hanover
Presbytery, then, had on its roll four
teen ministers, three of whom were too
infrm to preach. The field of the eleven,
who were actively engaged in the minis
try, extended from the Blue Ridge on
the west, to the Atlantic on the east;
and from the Potomac on the north, to
the North Carolina line on the south.
The membership of the churches was
small, the liberal givers widely scattered,
and the pecuniary support not sufficient
IN single instance, to sustain a small
family. 1t is said that every minister OF
the Presbytery, who was able to preach,
was compelled also to teach, or to Guilt
vate the soil. But it is also true that
the necessity thus laid upon these faith
full men greatly redounded to the ad.
vancement of scientific and classical edu-
cation, and to the replenishing of the
ministry from the youths committed to
their pious care and training.
The difficulty of performing the duties
of teacher for five days in the week,
making proper preparation for the pulpit,
and reaching distant appointments on
Saturday and Sunday, with pastoral
visits by the way and between meetings
and then the early, hurried ride on Mon
day morning, is known to not a few in
our own day. But in the days of Rice
and his contemporaries the hardships Of
such life were greater, because the
churches were farther apart and the
modes and routes of transportation not
so convenient.
Mr.. Rice's school consisted of twenty
scholars, about three-fourths OF whom
were boarders in his own house. De-
volving upon his young wife the care OF
this large and troublesome family of boys,
he left home twice a month on Friday
evening or Saturday morning for Cub
Greek. Saturday was spent in pastoral
visits, in catechising the children, and in
conversing with his elders, or others, at
appointed places. On Sabbaths he
preached at this place twice. His SER
mons in the afternoon were specially ad-
dressed to the colored people, but heard
also by many of the whites. He re.
turned to his home Sunday evening, or
early Monday morning.
One Sabbath was spent at Charlotte
Court House, and the remaining one OF
each month was given to the congrega-
ton that assembled at Bethesda, meet
ing house built expressly for him, which
was only mile from his home.
When, to these labors in the regular
duties of the ministry, we add the ex-
traordinary calls, the visitation of the
sick, marriages, and funerals, it is evil
dent, that for one SO young in the sacred
Office, there was a powerful and exhaus-
tive demand for all that could be rem.
dered by his physical strength and his
mental resources; and that he could not
have borne the burden and gone for
ward as he did, with his great and i'm
portant work, unless sustained and guided
by the Holy Spirit.
:" The church, properly speaking, when
he first took charge Of it, consisted OF
fifty eight white communicates and fifty
five blacks, besides baptized children :;
but the number soon increased under his
ministry, and the common congregation
of hearers, especially at Cub Creek, usual
ly amounted to four or FIVE hundred per-
sons. of whom about one. fifth were peo-
pie of color"
Among these colored people there were
some who had been removed from Han
over county, where they had been in.
structed by Rev. Samuel Davies. Mr..
Rice's testimony as to the fruits of the
gospel among these, as well as among
others of this class to whom he minister
ed, will be given in its proper place; to.
gether with communication from Rev
S J..Price, which affords one of the most
pleasing and instructive pictures Of re-
ligion among the slaves, in the old times
of Virginia, that is anywhere to be found
in our annals
Mr.. Rice s preaching became more
popular. He taught the doctrines and
duties Of religion together, and was care.