called for the sermon. He came forward, and from the words"Say not that I am a child, for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee, thou shalt speak"discussed in a plain and manly manner the call to the ministry, avoiding all allusion to himself in the most distant manner. Every one was surprised. Graham wept for joy. His young friend had proved himself no longer a child, and had declined even calling himself a child-when the allusion gave such opportunity. On Thursday he read his Lecture; and Mr. Grigsby a homily on the question "Did Christ die indefinitely for all men, or for the elect only." Messrs. Lyle and Poage exhibited their pieces of trial; and Mr. John Campbell, of Augusta, another fellow-student of Mr. Alexander in Theology, was received on trial. The examination on theology was postponed to an adjourned meeting, to be held in Winchester during the meeting of the Synod, the succeeding week.

On Wednesday, Sept. 29th, 1791, the Presbytery convened in Winchester, at the house of Mr. James Holliday. Present, Messrs. Graham, Montgomery, Erwin, Houston, and Hoge; with Elders, John Campbell and John Wilson. Rev. Messrs. J. B. Smith, from Prince Edward, and Joseph Smith, of Redstone, by invitation, took seats. The examination of Mr. Alexander in theology, the only business of the meeting, was conducted principally by Mr. Smith, of Prince Edward, and closed by Mr. Hoge. On Saturday, Oct. 1st, in the old stone church, now occupied by the Baptists, the services of licensure were performed by Rev. J. B. Smith, with intense feeling and pervading sympathy. From that day a warm friendship was cherished by the two pastors, Smith and Alexander. "That evening," says Dr. Alexander, "I spent in the fields in very solemn reflection and earnest prayer." In the latter part of his life, spending a few days in Winchester with Dr. Atkinson, in the house built by Judge White, he remarked, pointing back of the house, "In a strip of woods out there, I spent the afternoon after I was licensed."

Mr. Legrand, pastor of Cedar Creek and Opecquon, and Mr. Hill, in Jefferson, each derived the aid of Mr. Alexander for the winter. By direction of Presbytery, contrary to his own plans and desires, he passed the winter in Frederick, Jefferson, and Berkeley, principally in the two latter. There had been, and was an unusual attention to religious things in all that section of country. Mr. Hill preached but little that winter, on account of ill health. The lively, earnest preaching of Mr. Alexander excited attention. Old and young listened to him. After the wind blew away his manuscript in Charlestown "I determined," he says, "to take no more paper into the pulpit." He preached after profound meditation, memorizing thoughts and arguments, and often sentences, without writing. For a part of the winter he made his home with Alexander White, father of Judge White, and was greatly pleased with the old father of his host, John White, an eminently pious His visits to Moses Hoge, of Shepherdstown, were more and

man.

more pleasing and profitable; their influence remained through life. He thought the views of Mr. Hoge in regard to the influence of the Holy Spirit in conversion were more correct than those of his teacher, whom in the general he delighted to follow.

The report of the pulpit services of Mr. Alexander, awakened all along the Valley a great curiosity to hear "the boy," Archy Alexander, preach. Staunton, with Judge Stewart at its head, expressed its admiration of his preaching, by wondering that the young man should be so well acquainted with Mental Philosophy. The people of Lexington, his native town, filled the Court-House on Sabbath, to hear their fellow-townsman. All had known him from a child; and many had been his companions. He was now in the beauty of youth; rather small of his age; very active, with a bright sparkling eye, and melodious distinct voice; rapid, often vehement in his utterance; and the attention he so easily arrested, he preserved to the end. Every person could easily hear his clear musical voice, filling the whole space without apparent effort. His text, John 9: 25, "One thing I know, whereas I was blind, now I see," by whatever circumstances, or agent suggested, was in its discussion a happy answer to that act of his uncle, Andrew Reid, who, soon after the company returned from the meetings in Prince Edward and Bedford, walked over to Mr. Alexander's dwelling, and presented to the young people a volume of Locke on the Human Understanding, with the leaf turned down at the chapter on Enthusiasm.

At the eleventh session of the Lexington Presbytery, held in Lexington in April, 1792, Messrs. Thomas Poage, Matthew Lyle and Benjamin Grigsby were licensed to preach the gospel. On Saturday the Presbytery recommended Messrs. Alexander, Lyle and Grigsby to the Commission of Synod. A few days before, the Commission had elected Mr. Alexander a missionary on condition he were recommended by the Presbytery; and Mr. Graham and Elder John Lyle were appointed to bring the matter to a proper issue. The Commission asked for one; and the Presbytery gave them three choice young men, of precious memory. This Commission of the Virginia Synod, whose history may be found in the first series of Sketches, in its successive efforts to publish the gospel, gave the first example of a Board of Missions, responsible to an ecclesiastical superior, that may be found in the Presbyterian Church in America. At this time great efforts were made to remove Mr. Graham to Prince Edward. The Presbytery could not decide the question; it was referred to Synod. In looking at the events that so soon occurred, we can scarce restrain the wish-oh, that he had gone! But, as in the case of Jonathan Edwards, we check ourselves by the reflection that either of these events changed must have changed the whole course of events in the church; and God's orderings are always best.

The recollections of the missionary tours performed east of the Blue Ridge by Mr. Alexander, under the direction of the Commission of Synod, form a most interesting part of the autobiography published by his son. At the seventeenth meeting of Hanover Pres

bytery, held at Briery, commencing April 3d, 1793-present Messrs. McRobert, Mitchel, Mahon, Lacy and Turner; Elders Michael Graham, James Venable and John Hughes; Mr. Pattillo, from North Carolina, and Devereux Jarratt, an Episcopal clergyman, and Jacob Cram, a Congregationalist, were corresponding members. Mr. Samuel Brown was licensed; and calls were put in from Briery, Buffalo and Cumberland for Mr. Lacy and Mr. Alexander as collegiate pastors. Mr. Lacy agreed to the arrangement, and leave was given to prosecute the call for Mr. Alexander before the Presbytery of Lexington. At the nineteenth meeting of Hanover Presbytery, held at Cumberland Meeting-House, commencing November 7th, 1793, Wm. Williamson was ordained, and Wm. Calhoon and Cary Allen received back from the Commission. Mr. Alexander was on the 8th received from Lexington Presbytery, and "the Moderator called upon him to know whether he accepted the said calls; but he desiring longer time to consider of the matter, the Presbytery granted it." "On motion it was resolved that Mr. Alexder supply in said congregations in the same manner as if he had accepted the calls." The reason of the delay of Mr. Alexander was the hope he and others had that Mr. J. B. Smith might be induced to return to the churches he had left; and so the three would be employed on some system agreed upon, managing the College and supplying the congregations. The Presbytery gave leave to the Churches of Briery, Buffalo, Cub Creek and Cumberland, to prosecute the call for Mr. Smith. He declined the invitation. Messrs. Lacy and Alexander supplied the congregations at six preaching places, Cumberland Meeting-House, College, Briery, Buffalo, Cub Creek and Charlotte Court-House, each preaching to them all in succession, and each congregation having public service once in three weeks.

At the twenty-first meeting of Presbytery, held May, 1794 at the house of Dr. Waddell, preliminary steps were taken for the ordination of Mr. Alexander as evangelist. On the day appointed, the 7th of June, Messrs. Lacy, Mahon and McRobert, with Elder John Morton, met at Briery. Mr. Mahon presided. Mr. Alexander preached from the words "Thy word is truth," John 17:17. Mr. Lacy delivered the ordination sermon, from Coloss. 4:17, "And say to Archippus - Take heed to the ministry which thou hast renewed in the Lord that thou fulfil it." And Mr. Alexanderhaving declared his acceptance of the Confession of Faith as received by the Presbyterian Church in America, and promised subjection to his brethren in the Lord, was set apart to the whole work of the gospel ministry by prayer and imposition of hands. A solemn charge was then delivered by Mr. McRobert."

The experiment of supplying six preaching places in rotation by two ministers, was perfectly satisfactory in about one year. Accordingly arrangements were made that at the twenty-second meeting of Hanover Presbytery, held at the Cove, in Albemarle, May, 1794, calls were put in for Mr. Alexander to become pastor of

Briery and Cub Creek; and for Matthew Lyle, received from Lexington Presbytery as licentiate, to become pastor of Briery and Buffalo. By this arrangement the brethren were to be co-pastors of one church, and each sole pastor of another. Mr. Lyle was ordained pastor on the 17th of February, 1795. There is no mention made of any installation services for Mr. Alexander.

In October, 1795, the Presbytery, in session at Briery, directed that all materials collected by members according to previous orders, and all that should be collected before the first of February, should by that date be sent to Messrs. Lacy and Alexander, who were to prepare a narrative to be sent to the General Assembly, according to a resolution of that body enjoining each Presbytery to collect materials in its bounds for the history of the Presbyterian Church. The narrative was prepared, and sent on in the beautiful writing of Mr. Lacy, by the Commissioners to the Assembly, and is preserved.

Mr. Alexander had his residence with Major Edmund Read, about two miles from Charlotte Court-House. This family was one of the many greatly beloved by their ministers, and chosen by him for his residence on account of its greater convenience and abundant accommodations. In the society of this family he perfected those manners so universally pleasing wherever he went; simple, pure, just as they should be in a good man. Whoever became acquainted with Mrs. Read-afterwards Mrs. Legrand, loved her as a woman of no common excellence. Her bearing and manners were unrestrained, simple, modest, dignified; there was a something lady-like and pure, gaining confidence and inspiring respect, and forbidding undue familiarity; and yet so easy of access to all that might with propriety approach, and so entirely safe from all that ought not to intrude into a woman's presence. Every one could see, could feel, the excellence of her manner and the corresponding spirit; but none could properly describe the various attributes that united in the charm her presence always wrought. To all acquainted with the two persons in their advancing years, they appeared formed on the same model.

(

CHAPTER XVII.

CARY ALLEN AND WILLIAM CALHOON.

IN the congregation of Rev. Samuel Davies, in Hanover County, were five brothers of the name of Allen. Soon after Mr. Davies left Virginia, these brothers, with others of the congregation, sought locations in the more fertile lands along the frontiers, and made their home on Great Guinea, in Cumberland. Four of these brothers successively became elders in the church in Cumberland County, of

which they were, in part, the founders. Daniel Allen, by his first wife, a Miss Harrison, had ten children; of which Cary was the eighth, born April, 1767. For his second wife, he married the widow of Joseph Hill, with five children, Mrs. Joanna Hill. Her fourth child was William, from whom, through Dr. Hill, of Winchester, very many of the circumstances concerning the life of Cary Allen have been preserved for the public. When these two families were united, Allen was in his ninth and Hill in his seventh year.

Cary was remarkable, from his early childhood, for his good temper and amiable deportment among his associates. Mr. Allen reared his numerous family on religious principles. His children, in their retired situations, grew up strangers to vice and immorality. The cheerfulness of Cary often approached levity. He was very agreeable, as his eccentric thoughts and speeches had a peculiar drollery of an amusing nature. He could make others laugh to excess, without laughing himself, or appearing to know that he had said anything to cause a laugh. This power appeared to be exercised without premeditation, and the habit was fixed from very early years, and continued through his whole life. His talent for the acquisition of knowledge was moderate: for investigation and close reasoning, still more circumscribed. His voice was clear, his utterance easy, his frame tall, and built for strength. His whole appearance was that of a pleasant, eccentric man, from whom drollery might be expected, whose oddities were no disparagement to his usefulness in common life. Gravity sat illy upon him, even when he was oppressed with serious reflections. There was often something of the ludicrous mixed up with his mental distress. One afternoon, reclining upon the hill-side with young Hill, and looking at the fatted hogs in a pen, and at the preparations made for their slaughter the next morning, after contemplating the entire unconsciousness and ease of the hogs, and the certainty of their approaching destruction, he exclaimed, "Oh! that I could exchange lots with one of those hogs!" "What upon earth do you mean?" said young Hill; "I always thought you much better than myself, and I would not exchange lots with one of those hogs, with a knife so near my throat, for the world." "But," says Allen, “you forget that those hogs have no souls; and when they are killed, there is the end of them, but I have a never-dying soul, which is unprepared to meet God, my judge; and, whether I shall ever be prepared, God only knows."

When about seventeen years of age he was visited with a typhus fever. For weeks he was either raging with a fever, or overcome with torpor. His recovery was unexpected and gradual. His emaciated limbs required the use of crutches. His friends, believing that his bodily vigor would never be sufficient for active employment, turned his attention to the preparation for some profession suited to his condition. He commenced a course of study at Hampden Sidney. His health and strength slowly returned. His sickness had not led him to godly living; he was more droll and volatile than