CHURCH, CHARLESTON,

WHEN it was our painful duty to announce the early departure of this beloved and eminently-gifted minister of Jesus Christ, we expressed a wish to present our readers with a more detailed account of his short but interesting life and most blessed death. Auxiously have we expected the arrival of a package from the United States, containing, as we understood, papers, which would furnish materials for an extended article of Biography. "A Brief Memoir of Dr. Henry," by a friend, and "A Sermon preached at the Funeral, by the Rev. B. Gildersleeve," have just arrived, which, together with the private letters from Charleston, addressed to the Rev. Thomas Lewis, of Islington, and his own sketch of his American friend's conduct, while in England, would supply facts and remarks for a biographical sketch of no common interest. Our solicitude, however, immediately to gratify the anxious expectations of many friends, has led us to abandon our design to incorporate the scattered facts in one continuous narrative, and to present our readers with the papers, with very few exceptions, in their origiN. S. No 39.

nal state, and trust their perusal may edify and animate them in their Christian course. We commence with the "Brief Memoir," by a friend.

"Thomas Charlton Henry was born September 22, 1790, in the City of Philadelphia. He was the eldest son of Alexander Henry, Esq. the benevolent and venerated President of the American Sunday School Union. Originally intended for enlarged mercantile pursuits, the subject of this account went through an unusually extended course of literature, and took his first degree, with distinguished reputation, at Middlebury College, Vermont, in August, 1814. Immediately upon his graduation, the most tempting and splendid prospects of affluence and distinction invited his entrance upon a secular career; but having felt the power of renewing grace, and having devoted himself to the Saviour, while at the College, he "conferred not with flesh and blood," but unhesitatingly embraced the laborious and selfdenying profession of the Christian ministry. Accordingly, he entered upon a course of Theology in the Seminary at Prince

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ton, N. J. which was finished in 1816, and he received license to preach the Gospel. On his first entrance into the ministry, his rare endowments and polished eloquence attracted uncommon attention, and opened before him several very important and inviting fields of labour. Having received, and ultimately declined, invitations to the pastoral care of churches in Wilmington, Delaware; Salem, Mass. and Lexington, Ken., he finally accepted the unanimous call of the Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S. C., where he was ordained and installed, by the Presbytery of Harmony, in November, 1818. Upon the sacred duties of a pastor, Mr. Henry entered with a deep and solemn impression of responsibility, and an unwavering determination to pursue a course of untiring labour and unyielding fidelity. Taking a decided ground in defence of vital experimental religion; urging the doctrines of the cross upon the consciences of his hearers, with the demonstration of the Spirit and with power; carrying his great work of winning souls to Christ, to the frequent prayer-meeting, the domestic circle, and the individual expostulation the result was such as might have been anticipated. The church rejoiced in spiritual prosperity, many were convinced of guilt and danger, and yielded to the influence of renewing grace; while many others clustered round the standard of determined opposition. Conflicting necessarily with those whose views and feelings were in complete antagonism to his own, his course afforded another severe test of character. The temptation to temporize was strong. By softening the expressions of God's word, by yielding a few points of duty, he might have enjoyed uni versal favour and applause. But

he had not so learned Christ. Unappalled by menaces, unseduced by flattery, he nobly maintained his ground, and willingly submitted to the painful sacrifice of the kindness of former friends, in stern fidelity to his Master's cause.

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"At the close of the fifth year Mr. Henry's ministry in Columbia, he received an unanimous call from the second Presbyterian Church in the City of Charleston, which he accepted under the full belief that it was a station in which he could be more happy and useful than by continuing where he then was. In this important and respectable congregation, he commenced his labours in January, 1824, and was installed by the Charleston Union Presbytery. Here, untrammelled by opposition, and surrounded by an united and affectionate people, he enjoyed a field of action, worthy of his commanding talents and holy enterprize. Seldom has there been presented a nobler model of pastoral activity and fidelity; and seldom has there been witnessed a more effectual accomplishment of the grand purposes of the Christian ministry. In the stated services of the pulpit, and the crowded Lecture Room; in the Bible Class and Sunday School, in every family of his charge, and in the privacy of individual inquiry, his full soul was poured forth in affectionate, earnest instruction, and ardent supplication. Nor was the harvest long delayed. In the first and second years of his brief ministry, considerable additions were made to the church; but in the third, a blessed effusion of the Holy Spirit was enjoyed, and a goodly company of his spiritual children was gathered to the communion of the faithful,

"The indefatigable labours and constant solicitude of Dr. Henry, during this present season, so far

impaired his health as to render a period of relaxation indispensable. He therefore undertook a voyage to Europe, and embarked for Liverpool in April, 1826.

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During the four or five months of his stay in Europe, he travelled through the principal parts of Great Britain and Ireland, and visited the Continent. Several weeks were spent both in Paris and London. This tour was attended by many very interesting circumstances, and produced important results. His mind was intensely engaged. His heart and hands were constantly full. In accumulating valuable facts and observations, in closely observing national character, and in obtaining accurate and enlarged views of the present state of religion, literature, and science, in different nations, his diligence and success have been rarely equalled. Amid all these varied scenes, the great business of his life was not intermitted. Whether on the mighty deep, or on the rapid journey, or in the crowded city; he ceased not to plead the cause of his Redeemer, and to persuade men to be reconciled to God. In Paris, he became intimate in a circle of devoted Christians, some of very high rank, who were greatly delighted and edified by his sermons and conversation. In London, his whole soul was engaged in viewing the vast operations of Christian benevolence, and in intimate association with eminent evangelical Ministers, and the best religious society. Here he preached frequently; and in one of the large dissenting churches, he delivered several familiar evening lectures, which were attended by crowds, and afforded the highest satisfaction." Here we beg to introduce an extract from Mr. Lewis's interesting sketch of his intercourse with Dr. Henry.

"Dr. Henry was introduced to me in the summer of 1826, by my esteemed friend, the Rev. Dr. Codman, of Dorchester, New England. Having the highest respect for the testimony of Dr. C. in favour of his American brother, I very readily gave him the right hand of fellowship on his arrival in these parts. I soon found reason to be delighted with my new acquaintance, and could not be too thankful to the individual who had procured me the company and conversation of one so eminent for piety and devotedness to God.

"As he was a stranger in a strange land, I felt it my duty to devote as much time as I could spare from the urgent duties of my office to his service, and I was amply repaid by his interesting communications and occasional exercises in the sanctuary. After a short but well-improved season in London, he expressed a strong desire to visit the Isle of Wight. This had been excited chiefly by the fame which the interesting history of the Dairyman's Daughter, late of that place, had acquired in America. He was well aware of the very salutary and happy effects which the perusal of that tract, from the elegant pen of the lamented and Reverend Legh Richmond, had produced there, and wished to be gratified with a view of the cottage, and the surrounding scenery, so beautifully described by the reverend author. He accordingly set out on this journey, having another Christian friend and myself for his companions. In our constant intercourse during this tour, we had frequent occasion to admire the heavenly and devotional_frame of his mind, his warm attachment to the service of his Lord and Master, and his zealous efforts to promote his glory. No seasonable