Among other interesting services, attended the anniversary of the New York Sunday School Union, at Castle Garden. Have been elected a trustee of Columbian College.

July 7. News just received of the death of Thomas Jefferson, at Monticello, Va., on the 4th instant, aged eighty-three years.

July 8. The mail brought to-day news of the death of John Adams, father of the president. He, too, died on the 4th instant, at Quincy, Mass., aged ninety-two years. Affecting coincidence. How mysterious are the ways of Providence!

Sabbath, July 16. This day has been set apart to religious services in honor of Messrs. Adams and Jefferson. Dr. Staughton preached a discourse in the Capitol at the request of the citizens. Text, "Lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided." 2 Sam. i. 23.

August 3. My duties and vexations multiply. I am now editor of the Star, depositary of the Baptist General Tract Society, secretary of a board of trustees of Columbian College, secretary of the Sunday School Union of the District, a director of the Auxiliary Seaman's Friend Society, a member of the committee to investigate the condition of the old Columbian office, secretary of Sabbath School No. 1, a member of Columbian Institute, a member of three standing committees in the board of directors of the Baptist General Tract Society.

August 13. Spent the day in Alexandria very pleasantly. Heard Brother Cornelius preach on Christian hope- a very sensible discourse. A good man and zealous preacher.

On the 7th September, 1826, I was married to Miss Elizabeth L. Skinner, third daughter of the late Benjamin Skinner, Esq., of Windsor, Vt. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Christopher Hale, pastor of the Baptist church in that town. As I have now entered into new relations in life, I would devoutly pray that we may both have grace to live in the fear of God, and to devote ourselves to him, who has been our constant helper. A union which has long been contemplated now has been consummated. May we both so live as to give no occasion to either to regret we are thus united. Our obligations and responsibilities are solemn. May we never forget or violate them.

October 1. A pleasant morning. O that my soul could, in full harmony with nature, rise in concert to our heavenly King, and praise his name for his wonderful works to man! I have some few emotions

of joy and satisfaction, while contemplating divine goodness and justice. This is a day of rest. May I find it a day of spiritual rest and refreshment.

Saturday, October 29. Heard Rev. Mr. Baker preach from Psalms xcv. 7, 8 a counsel, a caution, and warning. The discourse was touch

ing and solemn. In the afternoon listened to Mr. G. W. Blagden, a young Presbyterian licentiate. Text, Luke xvi. 25.

January 21, 1827, Sabbath evening. This evening preached from Isaiah xxxii. 2. A very comfortable season. How rich and full of consolation is the doctrine of the cross! It is delightful to preach Jesus, and him crucified. The Lord helps his servants who fully and faithfully declare the gospel of his Son.

March 19. The Lord is pouring out his Spirit upon the Second Baptist Church in this city [Washington], of which I am a member. Rev. R. H. Neale is now our pastor. Many seem prostrated with solemn convictions. My soul longs for God, and the comforts of his grace. I am barren as the fig tree in the Scripture. How can I avoid the curse?

May 5. Just returned from Boston, where I preached several times at different places. There is now, in Boston and vicinity, an extraordinary revival of religion, such as has not been seen there for eighty years. The work is silent, but powerful.

May 26. I have this day discontinued my connection with the Columbian Star. Am henceforth to have no further concern in it. My resignation as editor was the result of a firm belief that the time had arrived for me to engage in the great and good work of preaching the gospel. My friends all concur with me in the opinion. In a few weeks I shall start for Boston.

His life in Washington had been an exceedingly laborious one. At one time during the year 1826, which is now passing under review, he was, as he tells us, editor of the Columbian Star, depositary of the Baptist General Tract Society, secretary of the board of trustees of the college, secretary of the Sabbath School Union of the District, a director of the Auxiliary Seamen's Friend Society, a member of the committee to investigate the condition of the old Columbian office, secretary of Sabbath School No. 1, a member of the Columbian Institute, a member of three standing committees in the board of directors of the Baptist General Tract Society. It is clear that his post in Washington was far from being a sinecure. He had, moreover, some peculiar trials, growing out of his connection with the Columbian Star, and Rev. Luther Rice, who had taken so active a part in denominational affairs. These trials weighed heavily on his spirits. And yet, although his responsibilities were grave, and his duties

PRESIDENT CASWELL'S REMINISCENCES.

57

often exceedingly burdensome, he became warmly attached to Washington. Many of the friendships which he had formed there he kept up as long as he lived. For the gentlemen with whom he was associated in college he always cherished the most tender regard. He followed also with great interest the fortunes of the public men, whose acquaintance he had made at the seat of government. He read their speeches, and, as one by one they passed away, if biographies were written of them, he was sure to peruse them. His occasional visits to Washington, in subsequent years, were always anticipated with pleasure, and were keenly enjoyed by him.

The following communication, prepared at the request of the editor of this Memoir, will be read with pleasure by the numerous friends of Mr. Stow:

MY DEAR DR. STOCKBRIDGE: You have kindly requested me to give you some reminiscences of our late lamented brother, Dr. Baron Stow. You must bear in mind, as I do, that reminiscences running back nearly half a century are liable to become dim, and shadowy, and uncertain. I will, however, do the best I can to meet your wishes.

I first met Baron Stow at the Columbian College, in the District of Columbia, in the latter part of November, 1822. I repaired to the college, at that time under appointment as a tutor, and found him a member of the Sophomore class. James D. Knowles, Robert W. Cushman, Jonathan Meriam, and others whose praise has been in all the churches, were members of the college at the same time.

Mr. Stow became known to me as a most diligent and successful student, as a grave, exemplary, and most conscientious Christian. With some considerable acquaintance with young men professing faith in Christ, I had rarely met one, who, in the discharge of his Christian duties, so fully exemplified the precept of doing with his might what his hand found to do. He suffered then, from time to time, as through his whole life, from severe nervous headaches. But it seemed hardly to produce any relaxation in his labors. He had no idle hours. He was literally a worker in the vineyard of the Lord. He seemed every day to feel a great burden of responsibility resting upon him. So devout was he, and so intent upon doing the great work which his Master had assigned him, that he seemed, far more than most Christian men, to walk with God. Hence, though at times cheerful, he was never light and frivolous, never in the smallest degree given to that "jesting" which the apostle mentions as "inconvenient." Indeed, the habitual

tone of his mind at that time, as I now remember him, was almost too serious to enter fully into the enjoyment of that playfulness of wit and humor which often give so rich a zest to social intercourse.

I think Brother Stow had been accustomed to exercise his gifts in preaching before he went to Washington. He continued this practice during his collegiate course. He was always an acceptable, sometimes an impressive preacher, and hence he had frequent invitations to preach in Washington and its vicinity. It was often my privilege to attend religious services with him, and witness the earnestness with which he pleaded with sinners to be reconciled to God. He was accustomed to the use of his pen, and composed with facility, and with a maturity of thought and style not common to persons of his age. But I think his general practice at that time was to preach without written sermons. He was aided in this by his ready command of language, and the happy faculty of analyzing a subject, and throwing its main points into proper perspective, so that the hearer would at once, and without difficulty, seize the plan of his discourse, and follow him in his argument and illustrations. I remember to have been present on more than one occasion when he was called upon to preach with very little opportunity for special preparation, and where he acquitted himself with great advantage, leaving upon the minds of his hearers a deep and solemn conviction of their religious responsibility.

The power of his preaching at this time was not derived from any classic finish of style, or any special grace of elocution and delivery, but from the profound conviction of his own mind that personal religion was a great and solemn reality, and necessary to salvation. might add that the cross of Christ was eminently his theme.

I

Brother Stow left Washington, I think, in 1826. I left in 1827. Since that time I have often been associated with him in the different religious and educational interests of our denomination. To every post of duty and labor he brought a sound judgment, an earnest purpose, a prayerful and conciliatory spirit. His early activity and zeal foreshadowed the labors and successes of his subsequent life. It is pleas ant to dwell upon the memory of one whose character exhibits so much to admire and love, and so little to regret.

I am yours, in the bonds of Christ,

47 College Street, November 1, 1870.

ALEXIS CASWELL.

PORTSMOUTH, N. H.-ORDINATION. - JOURNAL. - CALLS TO SALEM, MASS., AND WATERVILLE, ME. - URGENT APPEALS FROM PRESIDENT CHAPLIN.

1827-1830.

THE scene now changes. The same kind hand which thus far had led the subject of this Memoir was now directing his steps back to New England, where, in two of her cities, he was to spend the remainder of his life in the work of the ministry of reconciliation. Years had passed since he decided that he was called of God to this work. His conceptions of the dignity and importance of the pastoral office had been intensified by his long reflections upon the magnitude of the interests intrusted to the hands of the minister of Jesus. With sincere modesty and misgivings, he shrank from entering into the work, much as his soul panted to proclaim to men "the unsearchable riches of Christ." Two invitations had been sent to him to preach as a candidate for settlement as a pastor one from Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and the other from Portsmouth, N. H. The prospect of success in either church, in some respects, was not very flattering. The church in Portsmouth, which had been in existence but a short time, was comparatively small in numbers, and in its means was considerably straitened. Humanly speaking, therefore, the hope of great success was not very bright, and the young minister was fully aware that if he became the pastor of the church, he must gird himself for hard work, and prepare himself for a severe trial of his patience and faith. In reading the record of his feel