CALLED TO THE PRESIDENCY OF GRANVILLE COLLEGE. 197 CHAPTER XIV. CALL TO THE PRESIDENCY OF GRANVILLE COLLEGE, OHIO. - DIS- REV. JOHN STEVENS. - EMBARRASSMENTS OF THE FOREIGN MISSION BOARD. CORRESPONDence. 1845-1846. EARLY in the year 1845 Mr. Stow was again called upon to decide the question so often presented to him, whether he would continue his relation with the Baldwin Place Church, or enter upon another sphere of duty. According to the ordinary methods of deciding as to what are the plain indications of Providence, we see not how he could well resist the conviction that he was specially called to be the president of some seat of learning. We have seen that in the east, Waterville had again and again stretched out her hand and endeavored to draw him away from his beloved flock and home in Boston. Now, the west beckons him away from New England, and urges him to accept the presidency of Granville College, Ohio. While he felt honored by the nomination, and treated it respectfully, he decided, as in other similar cases, to decline it. He believed then, and cherished the belief to the day of his death, that for him, with his peculiar tastes and long-cherished associations, no situation anywhere would present such attractions as the pastorate of a church in Boston. To the last he continued to be warmly attached to the home of his adoption, and resisted every invitation which called him away from it. And so far as his personal residence was concerned, it continued to be his home till God took him to "the house not made with hands, eter nal, and in the heavens." وو After what the readers of this Memoir have learned from its pages, it is needless to say that his most hearty sympa. thies were enlisted in the cause of foreign missions. The an nual meeting of the Board in 1845 found the treasury sadly crippled on account of a heavy debt, which, in the prosecution of their legitimate work, the Convention had contracted. Dr. Sears and himself were appointed as special agents to endeavor to raise funds for the liquidation of this debt. Together they went to Hartford for this purpose, and he alludes, in grateful language, to the success which attended their joint effort. "In every application thus far we have been successful. Providence has favored us in a peculiar manner.' Amid all these varied labors, the conviction was constantly gaining hold of his mind that his work at Baldwin Place was drawing to a close. He was beginning to feel the influence of the tide of emigration which was drawing away the native, Protestant population from the north-east section of the city. As is well known, the final result was the change of the location of the place of worship, many years after he ceased to be the pastor, to its present site on Warren Avenue. Already very heavy drafts had been made upon the membership of the church by the formation of other churches. Some of the pastor's warmest and most reliable supporters had removed their church relations. There were, moreover, some trials through which he was called to pass, not unusual indeed, in the experience of almost every faithful minister, which weighed heavily on his sensitive spirit. Enough has been said in the preceding pages to show that his peculiarly delicate and refined nature led him to shrink from everything which came not up to his lofty ideal of the Christian character. Although he supposed he had made a final disposition of the call to Granville College, we find him still brooding over the matter, questioning whether, after all, it may not be the path which Providence is opening before him to lead him out of the difficulties which are depressing him so much. CALL TO THE NINTH STREET CHURCH, CINCINNATI. 199 On the 15th of October, Dr. Judson arrived in Boston with his three children, and for three weeks they were the guests of Mr. Stow; and he dwells upon the pleasure which he feels in contributing to the comfort of one who had been so honored of God in the work of giving the gospel to the heathen. Again another call. Under date of November 9, he alludes to the reception of three letters from Cincinnati, one from a committee of the Ninth Street Baptist Church, inviting him to the pastoral office, and two from Baptist ministers, urging him to accept the call. It was an urgent plea which these brethren presented, and the invitation was extended with true western heartiness. The church occupied an important position, and it naturally felt that it had a right "to covet earnestly the best gifts." We give some extracts from a letter which was written by Dr. Sharp in reply to one addressed to him by Mr. Stow, who had sought counsel from one to whom he was tenderly attached, and in whose judgment he was accustomed to place so much confidence. BOSTON, November 6, 1845. MY DEAR BROTHER: I trust you will never hesitate for a moment to write to me, or to call on me personally on any subject which may affect your duty, your usefulness, or your happiness. I hope that I have yet left to me a heart to sympathize and a readiness to give the result of my own observation, experience, and reflection, when there is a probability that either will be acceptable, or do good. I confess that you have set me a difficult task. Had you proposed one inquiry, instead of three, I should have experienced less hesitation in answering you. To have three places presented to your consideration for acceptance, and all so important, may well perplex you. It perplexes me to give you just such advice as it may be wise and best for you to take. In regard to your own people, you have no just cause for despondency. So far as my own personal feelings are concerned, I could wish that you might live and die their pastor, as I intend to live and die the pastor of the church in Charles Street. Where can your people find a man who will fill your place? Still I do not see that it is your imperative duty to remain. In regard to the west, I have not the least doubt that, in either of the stations which are offered you, were you to go, as Fishback once said of himself, you would "do a heap of good." But the change from eastern to western society would be exceedingly great. I fear that at Granville you would be loaded with cares and perplexing responsibilities unfavorable to the heart disease, to which you are liable. I should rather see you connected with an institution, if connected at all with one of that sort, where you would not have to be steward, and agent, and general purveyor, as, I suppose, Dr. Going was. Perhaps it is now placed above such necessities. As pastor of the church in Cincinnati, you would occupy a very important and conspicuous station. You would, in many respects, if not in all, without seeking it, be at the head of the Baptist ministry at the west. Still, I fear that your delicacy, and susceptibility, and modesty would be in the way of your happiness. There is more of the rough-and-tumble and jostling against one another in western manners, if I have judged rightly, than would suit your comfort. They say very hard things to one another in public, which would not suit your taste. If you were knocked down, you would not get up and knock your brother down, and then go home and laugh at it. All this would give you the nervous headache - nay, you would have the heartache. For one, I confess I think you would be happier, and probably as useful, in your present position as in either of the two at the west. And yet, if you went to either place, I have no doubt (if God spared your life and granted you health) but that you would do much, great good. The turning-points for you to decide in regard to the west are, in my judgment, personal considerations, rather than general usefulness. Of the latter I have no question. I am, truly yours, DANIEL SHARP. To complete the narrative of the facts connected with the call to Cincinnati, we anticipate a little the course of events. Influenced by the considerations presented by Dr. Sharp, and by others which seemed to be of weight in his own mind, he decided to decline the call. He remarks, however, a few days after he sent his letter of declination, "I have received a letter from a brother in Cincinnati, saying my negative reply is not to be received as final, and that further effort will be made to effect my removal. So I am again to be disturbed with a question I regarded as settled. What shall I do? O Lord, give me wisdom, give me humility. Point out plainly my path of duty, and enable me to ascertain and do thy will." As an evidence of the pertinacity and the earnestness with LETTER FROM REV. JOHN STEVENS. 201 which the church at Cincinnati urged their suit, it may not be out of place to give some extracts from a letter written by Rev. John Stevens, who, with two others, was appointed to confer with him on the subject. CINCINNATI, O., February 18, 1846. REV. BARON STOW. Dear Brother: The Ninth Street Baptist Church in this city still have their hopes fixed on you as their future pastor. We know not where else to look. The church have, by a unanimous, hearty vote, at the close of a day of solemn prayer in reference to this subject, repeated their invitation. We hope you will find cause to reconsider your former decision. We sincerely hope for and earnestly desire your acceptance. On what do we rest this hope and desire? On our belief that you combine the various qualifications necessary for this post in a higher and happier degree than any other individual within our knowledge, and on our view of the vast importance to the cause of Christ at large of this station being adequately filled. As it regards the first point, we need only refer to the invitation we have given and repeated, and to the measures we take to lay our case fully and fairly before you. As to the second, — the importance of the situation, it needs, in order to be justly appreciated, to be viewed in detail, both as to its intrinsic character and in its relations to the general interests of the Redeemer's cause. First, as to the church itself. The writer here refers to the house of worship, its favora ble location, the rentage of the pews, the number of members belonging to the church, its high rank among the best Protestant churches in the city, and says, Viewing the church by itself, in its present and prospective character, we think we cannot be mistaken in the opinion that it affords a more eligible sphere of usefulness for a pastor than any other Baptist church on this side of the mountains. For its own sake, then, - that is, for the sake of those who compose the body, church, and congregation, — it is eminently eligible as a sphere of pastoral labor. We know not the Baptist pulpit where the persons coming under the direct influence of its ministrations will be more numerous or influential. Come, then, and live with us. We pledge you an ample support. Come, preside over and lead us on in the Master's service. We trust there will not be wanting those who will follow you, as you follow the Great Leader. The foundation has been laid. There is ample room. Material ns, |