HIS POSITIVENESS AND ENTHUSIASM.

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adjust the argument that the theological balances are in perpetual equipoise. Their belief is so mixed with doubt, and their doubt so qualified with belief, that it is hard to say which preponderates and it amounts to pretty much the same whether they believe or doubt. Not so with Professor Stuart; he spoke with an authority and positiveness which, combined with his intellectual power and research, settled the question. His words were authority to his students.

A third trait was his enthusiasm and earnestness. He never became dry by reason of his minute study of particles and linguistic details. Far from it; he kept the dullest mind awake; he aroused the most sluggish nature by his fiery zeal. In the ciass-room the students hung upon his words. After a brief and impressive prayer he began the lecture, and questions, remarks, and suggestions flew off like electric sparks, so that the utmost enthusiasm was excited; and when the hour was past, a whole class hurried to pursue their studies, as if they had just discovered what treasures of knowledge were opening before them, and that life was too short to lose a moment from their acquisition. Dr. Wayland says of him: "The burning earnestness of his own spirit kindled to a flame everything that came in contact with it. We saw the exultation which brightened his eye and irradiated his whole countenance, if by some law of the Greek article a saying of Jesus could be rendered more definite and precise, and we all shared in his joy. We caught his spirit and felt that life was valuable for little else than to explain to men the teachings of the well-beloved Son of God. If any one of us had barely possessed the means sufficient to buy a coat or to buy a lexicon, I do not believe that a man of us would for a moment have hesitated. The old coat would have been called on for another year's service, and the student would have gloried over his Schleusner as one that findeth great spoil. In his class-room we became acquainted with the learned and good of the past and the present; we entered into and shared their labors; we were coworkers with them and with our teacher, who was the medium of intercourse between us and them."

Jacob Abbott said that Stuart had waked up more minds than any other man. Many of his students have said: "I first learned to think under the inspiration of Moses Stuart. He first taught me to use my mind." In the class-room he would often digress

from the subject in hand and give us valuable advice and suggestions as to the ministry.

One of his anecdotes about Dr. Bellamy is recalled. Dr. Bellamy often had students for the ministry preparing under him. One of them returned after a year's absence, and told him that after preaching with all his might he had converted nobody. Dr. Bellamy said to him: "You know when you are fishing for trout you must not let your shadow fall upon the water, but silently throw your hook from under the rocks and trees; while you jump into the water with a six-foot pole and cry out, 'Bite, you dogs you, bite.'

In his last sickness he said: "I have long since learned that feelings in religious experience are deceptive. I look mainly to my life for my evidence. I think that my first aim in life has been to glorify God, and that I have been ready to labor and suffer for Him."

Dr. Stuart found great comfort in his last hours in the verse from Job "Wearisome nights are appointed to me." He loved the Sabbath day and I think one of the surest proofs that one is truly pious is that he loves the Lord's Day.

Thus ended a long and laborious life, spent in the service of his Master. He did a work which no other could have accomplished. Besides his written publications, living scholars were his books, and they, instead of types in ink, have perpetuated his influence. He was the inspiring teacher of more than fifteen hundred ministers; of more than seventy presidents or professors in colleges and seminaries; of more than one hundred missionaries to the heathen; of thirty translators of the Bible into foreign languages; through his students he had preached the gospel in all lands; and his memorial is more lasting than brass and more precious than marble.

I have felt that the record of such a model preacher and professor was due not only to his memory and work, but might be inspiring to ministers and teachers.

CHAPTER VIII.

BRISTOL COLLEGE.

HORTLY after leaving Andover I went to Bristol College,

SHO

near Philadelphia, and was made Professor of Latin, Hebrew, and some other branches. Bristol College was started in 1833, by Rev. Drs. Bedell, Tyng, Milner of New York, Bishop Meade of Virginia, and others, as an evangelical college for boys and young men. It met with great success during its short life of four years, and went under from a want of financial support at a critical period.

Rev. George W. Cole, an Episcopal minister, was professor there. I had known him at Bowdoin, and it was through his suggestion that I was appointed. It had a staff of eight professors and two hundred students in its various departments. The Revs. W. T. Leavell and J. A. Buck were in the pioneer class and have added to my recollections of the college. The Sophomore class of 1833 had six members-J. A. Buck, D. H. Buel, E. B. McGuire, W. T. Leavell, T. A. Todd, and Montgomery Shaw. The Freshman class was twice as large. The Academical Department numbered about one hundred, and the Select School for boys of Episcopal parents had about thirty pupils from ten to sixteen years old. Rev. Dr. Chauncy Colton was President of the College, Rev. C. J. Good, Professor of Languages; William Nelson Pendleton, Professor of Mathematics; Rev. James French, an assistant professor; Rev. George W. Cole was head of the Academical Department, and Rev. Chester Newell was head of the Select School, with James Hulme, a student for the ministry, assisting. Rev. C. S. Henry and myself were added in the second year, 1834. Henry was a versatile, brilliant man and taught philosophy. Two of the class were communicants and preparing for the ministry. Two others joined the class and graduated in 1836, and four of the number received their first communion there. Five of the six communicants became ministers. There were twenty-five students from Virginia. I recall the names of Bedell, Berkeley, Bulkley, Bull, Crampton, Dobbs, Fackler, Fales, Gibson, Gillette, Halstead, Halsey, Heister, Jackson, father of Bishop H. Melville Jackson, Barton Key, B. B. Minor, Robert Nelson, Noble,

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PROFESSOR AT BRISTOL.

Noblitt, John Page, Sheets, Shiras, John Augustine Washington, Benjamin Watson, long highly honored in Philadelphia, and G. T. Wilmer. I recall that Rev. Mr. Bull of Pennsylvania had two sons there. At one of the celebrations Dr. Colton presided and announced the names of the speakers in a very imposing way. When young Bull was to speak, he said in a deep voice, "proximus procedat scilicet Bull."

One winter the Delaware was frozen for three months and all the college was much on the river. I had my rooms in Clifton Hall where many of the boys were.

The steamers from Philadelphia to Trenton stopped at the College wharf to let off passengers and visitors at commencement. I often visited Philadelphia where I stayed with my cousin Frederick, or Princeton where several Andover friends were living.

The character of Bristol College was in some respects peculiar. Whilst it aimed at high mental culture, it was chiefly designed by its founders to advance the moral and physical powers to their proper degree of improvement. Every one of the Faculty and of the Board of Visitors was a consistent and zealous Christian, and nearly all of them ministers of the Gospel, who looked upon the students as their special care, and who exerted themselves at all times to combine religious with intellectual training. The result of their faithful labors was that many who had come there with all the thoughtlessness of youth were added to the Church and became most useful ministers.

The students had their social prayer-meetings during the week, their monthly Missionary Concert of Prayer, and on occasion all would contribute largely and regularly to the different objects of church-work far beyond the average of more wealthy congregations. The students who were candidates for the ministry had an excellent influence, as salt to savor the mass, and the missionary, evangelical spirit was kept alive and ablaze. I have never seen more devout, earnest, faithful living, and I cannot forget the beautiful singing, such as Inspirer and hearer of prayer, at evening chapel, and the earnest and devout services.

The course of instruction was thorough; the young men the finest I have ever seen in college, and different in many respects from New England men, younger and more genial. Most of the students were from the South, Virginia and the Carolinas, sons of planters. One of them, still living, told me one year ago that he owed his conversion to my influence there.

One of the most popular ministers at that time was Rev. William Suddards, and he preached for us sometimes. A great religious interest was aroused at Bristol College by a sad occurrence. One of the students was not able to go to church, but not sick enough for a nurse. When they returned from service they found him dead, kneeling at his bedside, and it made a deep impression.

The students were only allowed to go out of the grounds two together. There was a regular system of manual labor and all were required to engage in some kind of work in the shops or on the farm from three to five in the afternoon, five days of the week. One day when they were digging potatoes, Chauncy Colton, the President, came out. They pelted him with small potatoes. He drew himself up with great dignity and said, "I am President". Rev. Wm. T. Leavell wrote in his diary December 5, 1835: "At 10 and 11 A. M. attended my own recitations in Moral Science and Hebrew, the former under Prof. C. S. Henry and the latter under Prof. Joseph Packard." He adds: "Here we find two names added to the Faculty, men fully equal to the others in qualification and devotion to their duties as teachers of youth. Who chose such men? We answer, good evangelical Churchmen, such as Drs. Bedell, Tyng, Milner and J. S. Stone and others like them; with colaborers of the laity, such as Cope, Kinsman, and Mitchell (Dr.) of Philadelphia."

G. T. Bedell, afterwards Bishop of Ohio, was the youngest of the first class, nicknamed by his class as "Energy Bedell ". His mother doubtless had much to do with his energetic life at college and in the ministry. Dr. Tyng once called her a remarkable woman and a wonderful worker. At least two of the orations delivered by this class on Commencement Day were on the subject of Missions, and I think many of the men were willing and anxious to be sent anywhere that Christ would call them and His Church would send them. I first saw the Southern Churchman in the hands of C. J. Gibson in 1834, its first year I think. Gibson was the young lady of the college from his sweet countenance and gentle manners. His complexion was beautiful, fresh and ruddy, with a peculiarly attractive expression. He was a great favorite, and every one loved him; a pure and beautiful character, whose work and name will never be forgotten in Virginia, where his son is now Bishop.