FROM REV. MR. ELLINGWOOD. 219 ed to his lodgings, and spent the remainder of the day in retirement, utterly declining to dine with the council, and offering as a reason, that he thought it more scriptural that ordinations should be accompanied by fasting and prayer than by feasting. During the early part of his ministry, and while hist health was tolerably good, he attended an unusual number of conference meetings, prayer meetings, lectures, etc. At an early period, he delivered a course of lectures on the Assembly's Catechism, in a private house, which continued, I think, once a fortnight for a year, and perhaps more, and were fully attended. These lectures were thought to be greatly useful in giving his people a good knowledge of the doctrines of grace. He gave also a considerable number of lectures on scripture history and geography, making use of a black board and chalk to illustrate his subjects. He often met the children and youth for catechetical instruction, and gave rewards of bibles and psalmbooks to those, who committed the whole of the Assembly's Catechism with notes, etc. Many of the children of his parish, in this way, procured bibles and Watts's psalms and hymns, which they highly prized. He established a Female Bible Class, the first that I ever heard of, in conducting which, he wrote questions on slips of paper, and presented to his pupils to be answered from the scriptures. This was a work of considerable labor, and as the questions multiplied he transcribed them into a book. Here originated his Minor Doctrinal and Historical Catechism, [as before noticed.] Permit me here to relate an anecdote of your brother, illustrative of his decision and independence. At a certain time during his ministry, a young man was licenced to preach the gospel, who had been during his preparatory studies considerably connected with Mr. E.'s family and parish; and to whom he was much attached. This young man, it seems, had, by some means, unintentionally offended an influential and wealthy member of Mr. E.'s church and society. One of the brethren of the church went to Mr. E. and told him, that this influential member disliked the young man exceedingly, and objected to his preaching in the meeting-house; and that it was thought that it would not do to invite him. He replied with great promptness, "I shall pay no attention to the suggestion. I would sooner go into Nebuchadnezzar's furnace, than I would thus treat an acknowledged and beloved minister of Christ." Another anecdote illustrative of his sense of dependence on divine aid in performing parochial duties. One day, according to his custom, he left home on foot, soon after breakfast, on a tour for family visiting, in a remote part of his parish. A few minutes afterwards, I met him returning to his house, with a very quick step. The next day, in conversing with him on the importance of prayer, he said to me, "I never even visit my people without making the duty a special subject of prayer, just before I go out. Yesterday," said he, "I forgot to attend to it, and when I met you, I was going back to perform it." He was, I believe, eminently a man of prayer. Rev. Professor EMERSON. I subjoin a few remarks from one who was young at the time my brother was settled, and who was a constant attendant on his ministry in Beverly. "I think few ministers have done more good in any place than he has done here. When he came among us, the cause of vital religion, was very low. By his preaching, by his godly conversation, by his devout and holy life, he raised the standard of religion; and not a few now look up to him as their spiritual father, and I doubt not will be his crown of joy in a better world. I think he left an impression on all with whom he became acquainted, of the reality of vital religion. His whole life preached the gospel. "In the first years of his ministry with us, he dwelt more on terrific subjects than in after years. I had heard him preach the terrors of the law, till they made a feeble impression on my mind. I recollect his calling to see me, and in the course of his conversation, he asked me if I thought I had religion. And when I told him, that I feared I was destitute of it, he then said, "if I thought you had not religion, I should tremble for you." This HIS MINISTERIAL CHARACTER. 221 was said in such a manner, so kind and tender, that it made a deep impression, and I could not help trembling for myself. It had more effect on my mind, than his terrific appeals from the pulpit. I believe that a great part of the good that he was the means of doing here, was by his pious and holy conversation." As a preacher, he always addressed the heart through the understanding and the conscience. He was always clear in his statements, and very methodical in his arrangement. His preaching was highly instructive, and at the greatest remove from all kinds of ostentation, both as to language and manner. Simplicity and pungency pervaded the whole. In all these particulars, his preaching bore the impress of the Emmonean school. Well knowing whereof he affirmed, he would fain compel others first to know, and then regard the sacred message. But what is not a little singular, he gradually became more impassioned and rhetorical, as he advanced in life. Some portions of his discourses, at a later period and especially towards the close of his life, were happy specimens of chaste and elevated passion. I cannot but think, that in the earlier part of his ministry, the fire and poetry of his soul, were held too much in check, so far as style was concerned, by his extreme desire to make every word intelligible to the meanest capacity, and by his utter loathing of all approach to ostentation. His more extended intercourse with the world, after his dismission, and especially his residence at the south, may have contributed to this change, though his nearer approach to heaven, was probably a greater cause. His enunciation was always distinct, and generally loud and animated. Indeed loudness was much too uniform, to admit of the greatest interest and effect. To this, he was led by an anxiety to make himself heard throughout by every deaf person before him. It was, however, a mistake, as he thus surrendered a greater for a less good, -the higher benefit of the many, for the advantage of a very few. His voice was strong, and his lungs, as he used frequently to say, were the soundest part of him. Of this, like his grandfather before him, he sometimes gave rather painful demonstrations to the more sensitive ears of his auditors. The deaf, however, were always very grateful, while others, perhaps, neglected to inform him of the injury on their part, and thus left him to deception as regarded his highest usefulness. It has already been stated, that he early adopted the extempore mode of preaching. This was probably a great gain, on the whole, though occasionally an injury in respect to conciseness and elegance of diction. He trained his people, as well as himself, to be ready to every good work in advancing the cause of the Redeemer, at home and abroad; and in this good cause, I believe they have been distinguished to the present time. Beneficence he inculcated abundantly as a christian duty in distinction from a transient impulse of feeling. The point at which he aimed, was to bring each one of his flock, with the heart and with the understanding, so to live each day as to do his utmost to hasten the universal reign of Christ on earth. The millennium, the millennium, this it was that fired his soul, and with the hope of which he strove to inflame every bosom around him. He was well aware of the fact, that man very readily doubles his own usefulness to the church, by bringing forward an equally useful man to the work of the ministry. Accordingly, he was ever on the alert to discover suitable young men for this purpose, among his own people and elsewhere, and to do all in his power to direct and aid them. Among them, may be reckoned the excellent and promising Mr. Ingersoll, already mentioned, to say nothing of many others still alive. He was also much engaged in promoting the usefulness of females, by encouraging them to the work of teaching school, etc., and affording the aid in his power while yet a pastor. It is already apparent from his letters, that his whole soul delighted in revivals of religion, several of which he witnessed among his own people. But he was much more deeply solicitous than some men, that they should be revivals of pure and undefiled religion. Conviction was not conversion, in his view; nor was a mere resolution, however strong, to renounce the world and lead a godly life, to be regarded as a saving change, though so liable in these days to be mistaken for it. He inculcated such a change of heart as leads the subject of it to delight supremely in the service and glory of God; and he sought credible evidence of such a change, in order to admission to the church. He sought also for a knowledge of HIS MINISTERIAL CHARACTER.. 223 scripture doctrine, and of the nature of the gospel ordinances. The evidence, too, of a morally honest and devout life, was deemed equally important. With all his glowing zeal, he was not for making "more haste than good speed," in the Lord's work; nor was he blind to the danger of gathering young wolves along with the lambs into the sacred fold; knowing, that when grown, they would bite and devour the flock. Most deeply did he deplore the precipitancy of some in admissions to the church. He took much pains to instruct as well as to examine such as were apparently commencing a religious life. This church increased much during his ministry; but to what extent, I am unable to state. One of the severe trials of his pastoral life, arose from cases of discipline in the church. More or less of this is to be expected in every faithful church, which is at all numerous. And, perhaps, in a church newly formed, like this, there is a peculiar liability of its containing some who resort to it from imperfect motives, or with extravagant expectations of some sort, and who will minister but poorly to its edification in love. Whether such was the case here, I am not sufficiently informed to decide. He and many of the brethren in the church found occasion for all the firmness and wisdom they possessed, in some of these trials; but probably such trials wrought, in the end, to their spiritual benefit. His efforts to instruct his people out of the pulpit, as well as in it, were various and incessant. In addition to some devices for this purpose, already mentioned, I present the following, as found among his papers. Possibly the plan may be found profitable to other pastors. The paper is without date, nor am I able to state any thing respecting the execution or results of the plan. We, the subscribers, members of the Third Congrega tional Church in Beverly, earnestly desirous of increas ing in the knowledge and love of God, cordially adopt the following plan for our improvement. 1. We engage, by divine permission, to devote at least seven hours every week, for the purpose of gaining religious information, in such manner as our pastor may direct. 2. We engage, by divine permission, to meet with our pastor as often as once a month, at such time and place |