CONTENTS. Preliminary remarks-Account of the Ban de la Roche-Its state previous to M. Stouber's time-Stouber's exertions there. P. 11. Oberlin's birth and childhood-Instances of his early benevolence -His act of self-dedication-Influence over others-Arrival in Oberlin's first impressions on reaching Waldbach-State of the parish-Improvements needed-Opposition manifested by the peasantry-Correspondence with M. Stouber-Letters from the latter-His marriage, and prayer-Improvements in the condi tion of the roads-Agricultural improvements, &c. ........ 40 Oberlin's address to his parishioners on the commencement of a new year-Erection of a new school-house in the Ban de la Roche-Progress of civilization - Four other school-houses erected-Introduction of infant schools, under the care of con. ductrices-Public schools-Weekly assembling of the children at Waldbach, to receive religious instruction-Establishment Death of Mrs. Oberlin-Its effect upon Oberlin's mind-Louisa Schepler becomes his housekeeper-Letter from the latter- Letter, taken from a German Magazine printed at Tubingen, containing an account of Oberlin and his family, in the year Unmolested state of the Ban de la Roche during the period of the Revolution-Oberlin's generous renunciation of his own inter- ests for the sake of his parishioners-His school for the chil- dren of foreigners-His sentiments respecting the payment of tithes-Letter containing a plan for their disbursement-Pur- chase of assignats-His influence in exciting a spirit of Chris- tian charity among his people-Account of Sophia Bernard, &c.--Oberlin becomes a correspondent of the British and For- eign Bible Society-Letters addressed by him to members of the London committee-Mode of collecting subscriptions and do- nations for charitable purposes, in the Ban de la Roche--Letter Henry Oberlin's removal to Riga-His sister Henrietta's mar- riage Their return to Waldbach-Letter from Oberlin to P. J. Heisch, Esq.-Letter from Henry Oberlin to ditto-Mr. Legrand's settlement in the Ban de la Roche-Introduction of cotton- spinning; silk ribbon manufactory, &c.-Termination of a long impending law-suit-Henry Oberlin's death-His father's Medal presented to Oberlin by the Royal Agricultural Society of Paris-Oberlin's private character-His description of himself -Mr. Owen's letter, containing an account of a Ban de la Roche Sabbath-Oberlin's ministry. -Sermons - Ministerial Oberlin's pastoral visits-Interview between Dr. and Mrs. Stein- kopff, and the Conductrices of Bellefosse-Their visit to the cottage of Madeleine Kruger; also to that of Sophia Bernard- Letter written by Mrs. C. during a visit to the Ban de la Roche in the summer of 1820-Letter from Mrs. Rauscher to the Paris Bible Society, containing an account of the death of Sophia Bernard, &c.-Amount of the sums raised at different times in OF JOHN FREDERICK OBERLIN. CHAPTER I. Preliminary remarks-Account of the Ban de la RocheIts state previous to M. Stouber's time-Stouber's exertions there. THE memoirs of an individual, whose whole life has been devoted to pious and disinterested exertions for the temporal and spiritual good of mankind, have not unfrequently proved the means of awakening the desires, and strengthening the resolutions of others to follow him in his career of benevolence. Such an individual was JOHN FREDERICK OBERLIN, a person whose indefatigable efforts for upwards of fifty years, to benefit the simple villagers who constituted his flock, entitle him to universal esteem and admiration. The writer earnestly hopes that the recital of his labors may, under the divine blessing, tend to confirm the zealous and encourage the weak, and lead all who hear it to catch a portion of that sacred glow by which he was himself animated. His character, as displayed in the uniform tenor of his life, presented a remarkable combination of varied excellencies; for whilst much exalted sanctity and intrepid zeal were conspicuous, an unwearied ardor in doing good, and an habitual willingness to renounce his own interests to promote the well-being of his fellowcreatures, were equally evident. In addition to this, his extreme simplicity, conscientious integrity, sweetness of temper, and refinement of manner, caused him to be both ardently loved and sincerely revered; whilst his industry, his agricultural skill, his knowledge of rural and domestic economy, and the energy with which he carried his plans into effect the moment he was convinced of their utility, rendered him not only an example but a blessing to the people among whom he resided, and afforded a delightful proof of the advantages that may accrue from a union of secular and spiritual duties. Before I proceed with my narrative, it will be proper to present the reader with some description of the Ban de la Roche, the scene of Oberlin's long and useful labors, and to state what had been previously effected there by his predecessor, M. Stouber, a Lutheran minister of congenial spirit with himself. The Ban de la Roche, or Steinthal,* derives its name from a castle called La Roche, round which the Ban, or district, extends. It is a mountainous canton in the north-east of France, between Alsace and Lorrain, forming part of the declivities and western ramifications of the Haut Champ, or Champ de Feu, an isolated range of mountains, detached by a deep valley from the eastern boundary of the chain of the Vosges. It consists of two parishes: the one is Rothau; the *Steinthal is the German name for the Ban de la Roche. Its literal signification is the Valley of Stone. -DR. STEINKOPFF. other, including three churches, comprises the five hamlets of Foudai, Belmont, Waldbach, Bellefonte, and Zolbach. These last mentioned are almost exclusively inhabited by Lutherans. The Champ de Feu, as its name implies, bears traces of volcanic origin. It is higher than Snowdon, rising 3600 feet above the level of the sea. The village of Waldbach, at which Oberlin resided on account of its central situation, stands upon its acclivity, at the height of 1800 feet; and the usual road from Strasbourg thither lies through the towns of Molsheim, Mutzig, and Schirmeck. Behind the little town of Schirmeck the extensive and fertile valley in which it is situated, separates into two smaller ones: the well-wooded vale of Framont on the right, and that of the Ban de la Roche, of which Rothau is the first and principal parish, on the left. The approach to the latter place is romantic in the extreme; the road winding down the side of a steep precipice towards the southern side of the valley, where, after crossing the stream, which flows through its bottom in the character of a mountain torrent, it rises again, and the cottages of the peasantry become visible, partly embosomed in plantations of pine, and beneath immense masses of overhanging rocks.* *The mountains of the Ban de la Roche are composed of granite, porphyry, and argillaceous schistus, which are commonly even with their convex surface: sienite, trapp, and grundstein, projecting on the sides and summits in irregular columns, and pointed cliffs, appear originally to have formed the general covering. These rocks exhibit great variety in their grain and constituent parts. The granite, which is coarse, and less B |