The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-10-06

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as chorister in his services at the Capt.
toll.
In the summer of 1915, probably, Mr..
Buchanan, having learned that the state
of Mrs Rice's health made trip to the
White Sulphur Springs desirable for her,
took occasion to mention the subject to
Mr.. Rice; and in the course of the con-
versation discovered that the pecuniary
difficulty was in the way. Not long after
a lady placed in Mrs. Rice's hands roll
of bank bills from friend who desired
to be anonymous, and who had sent her
this money to defray her expenses to the
springs. Mr.. Rice had also at this time
been much enfeebled by an attack of ma
larial fever, and together the wearied
minister and his wife went forth in search
of health. On the return from this pleas
ant and profitable excursion, Mrs. Rice,
having discovered the name of her kind
benefactor, sent him note expressive of
her gratitude. On reading this commun-
ication in the presence of Mrs. Moncure,
the good man is said to have exclaimed
to that lady, why, Madam, this is worth
a hundred dollars"
John Randolph OF Roanoke
The following letter refers to two books
which Mr.. Rice had sent to him, viz
Fosters Essays" and Wherefore s
Practical View" His criticism of the
first will be found in the letter; concern
ing the latter he adds in postscript, l
have since read it with much satisfaction. I"
ITO the Rer John II. Rice:
ROANOKE, Sept 8, 1915.
My Dear Sir,-Dr. Dudley brought me
your letter of the 10th of July, from last
Charlotte court. fear lest you may
think me unmindful, if not ungrateful, Of
the kind interest which you have been
pleased to take in my welfare. You have
and yet am not satisfied that you should
not receive even them. 1 read Foster s
Essays with great attention, and, not
withstanding the very revolving dress in
which he has presented himself to his
readers, I was highly gratifed. 1 never
saw work of which it might be less tru-
ly said, Materiena Salperabat opus. 1 shall
read your other little present with the
attention which doubt not it deserves
but which the design of the donor emf
nently merits. My good sir, fear that
you have bestowed your culture upon a
most thankless soil. l am led to this ap-
prehension from the consciousness that
this world and all that it inherits have
no longer value in my eyes. Am | not
then more than usually culpable if set
not my heart upon another and better
world? And yet with firm conviction
of the necessity of pardon and of recon
ciliation with Justly offended God, l am
almost insensible to the motives that
ought to actuate one in my condition
Occasionally indeed I am penetrated, as
1 ought to be, with the sense of the mer-
cy of my Creator, but the weight of my
unworthiness bows me down, and seems
to render impossible the idea that such as
l am should be accepted by Him. My
dear sir, it is your partial friendship that
shadows out in me an American Wilber-
force. What have I done, what can l
ever do, to merit SO Aattering an eulogi-
UNI? l am even now IN a state of war
fare, while that good and great man ap-
pears to have attained that peace which
passeth ali understanding. wished to
thank you for your kind attention to me,
and therefore this letter has been written:
how inadequate to the expression of my
feelings no one but myself can tell. The
want of some friend to whom can pour
out my thoughts as they arise, is not the
least of the privations under which la
Dor
SEPTEMBER Doth, 1916.
Whilst writing the above, my good old
neighbor, Col. William Morton, called to
see me. and informed me that you and
Mrs. Rice had gone to the springs. I
am glad to learn from letter of Mrs.
T to Miss L NJ that you
have derived benefit from the Journey,
and that she is quite well. Last Sunday
| had the pleasure to hear your brother
and Mr. Hoge preach at Bethesda. The
day before Mr.. Lyle gave US an excel
lent discourse. Tomorrow 1 hope to
hear Mr.. Hoge again, at College. have
been much disturbed during the last
week, particularly at night, when my
mind exerts an activity that is painful
and exhausting
| shall send this letter over to Staun-
ton by some private hand, as l hear that
you attend the Synod there
| am, dear sir, your obliged humble
servant, JOHN RANDOLPH, of Roanoke"
For the Central Presbyterian.
Sketches of Some of
l. L. \ nl