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 UC-NRLF 
 
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LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Class 
 

 

 i-ih anil H.nll \fl, ''. T'mi la c ' 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 OF 
 
 JOHN FREDERIC OBERLIN, 
 
 ]j)a0tor of 
 
 IN 
 
 THE BAN DE LA ROCHE.: 
 
 COMPILED FROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES, CHIEFLY IN FRENCH AND 
 
 GERMAN. 
 
 His "record if -. high/' Job xv;. 19. 
 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 HOLDSWORTH AND BALL, 
 
 18, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD. 
 
 M DCCC XXX. 
 
LONDON : 
 
 R. CLAY, PRINTER, 7, BREAD-STREET-HILL, 
 CHEAPSIDE. 
 
TO THE 
 
 REV. FRANCIS CUNNINGHAM, 
 
 AS A TOKEN OF 
 SINCERE AND GRATEFUL ESTEEM, 
 
 THIS VOLUME 
 
 IS VERY AFFECTIONATELY 
 INSCRIBED. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 THE peculiar delight with which the writer 
 perused the interesting article respecting John 
 Frederic Oberlin, in the Eclectic Review for 
 October, 1827, first induced her to think of 
 compiling a more extended memoir of that ex- 
 traordinary man ; and she considers it only 
 due to sincerity to make this acknowledg- 
 ment, as the following pages contain much of 
 M. Lutteroth's " Notice," there translated by 
 Mr. Conder's abler pen. 
 
 The facility with which she has been enabled 
 to carry her design into execution, through the 
 kindness of several individuals who readily 
 
 b 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 supplied her with valuable documents and papers 
 relative to the subject, claims her most cordial 
 thanks. 
 
 She is particularly obliged to P. J. Heisch, 
 Esq., a friend of long standing in Oberlin's 
 family, and a gentleman distinguished by his 
 many benevolent exertions in this his adopted 
 country, for the polite manner in which he 
 furnished her with materials from personal re- 
 collection, autograph sermons, and interesting 
 communications from Strasbourg. To her 
 highly valued friend Dr. Steinkopff, she is in- 
 debted for the correction of her German transla- 
 tions, and to the Rev. Francis Cunningham, for 
 the use he kindly allowed her to make of various 
 memoranda and letters, written during a short 
 residence in the Ban de la Roche, in the sum- 
 mer of 1820, and also for a number of original 
 papers and MSS. respecting Mr. Oberlin. 
 
 It is to the kindness of these friends indeed, 
 and that of Mrs. Cunningham, whose able 
 pencil has supplied her sketches, that the volume 
 chiefly owes whatever of interest it may 
 
PREFACE. Vll 
 
 contain ; and, while gratefully acknowledging 
 the sources whence she has derived her ma- 
 terials, the editor is happy to add that it has 
 undergone the revision of one whose personal 
 acquaintance with Oberlin, and the knowledge 
 he possessed of his character, both as a bene- 
 factor to his country and an eminent servant 
 of God, peculiarly qualified him for the task. 
 Under the sanction of this dear friend her 
 Memoir meets the public eye.* 
 
 The works from which such parts as are not 
 original are chiefly translated or taken, are 
 Mr. Wilks's little narrative, entitled " The Ban 
 de la Roche and its Benefactor;" M. Lutteroth's 
 " Notice sur Jean Frederic Oberlin," already 
 alluded to ; the same work in German, with 
 additions, by M. Krafft ; " Promenades Alsa- 
 ciennes, par M. Merlin ;" and " Rappoit fait a 
 la Societe Royale et Centrale d' Agriculture, par 
 
 * Although the names of the Rev. Daniel Wilson, Dr. Macbride, 
 and William Allen, Esq., may not have been so particularly men- 
 tioned, the editor trusts they will accept the assurance of her 
 grateful thanks, for their kindness in the loan of books and journals 
 for reference. 
 
 b 2 
 
Vlll . PREFACE. 
 
 M. le Comte Francois de Neufchateau, sur 
 Tagriculture, et la civilisation du Ban de la 
 Roche." 
 
 The editor can scarcely suppose that any one 
 will peruse the following recital of the astonish- 
 ing change effected in the morals and condition 
 of the little flock committed to Oberlin's pas- 
 toral care, and of the unremitting labours of 
 love which, for a period of fifty years, were 
 crowned with such signal success, without feel- 
 ing an earnest desire that the benefit of those 
 labours should, if possible, be extended and 
 continued. 
 
 The difficulty of obtaining a pastor equally 
 zealous in the discharge of his ministerial func- 
 tions ; equally distinguished for his singular 
 benevolence ; and equally devoted to the task 
 of diffusing among a remote and unenlightened 
 people the Gospel of peace and salvation, may 
 lead many persons to suppose this impracti- 
 cable ; and so it undoubtedly is to a certain de- 
 gree. His schools, however, which upon abundant 
 evidence have been productive of the greatest 
 
PREFACE. IX 
 
 good, might be carried on, provided funds 
 sufficient for their support could be obtained. 
 During his life-time several of them, especially 
 the icoles a tricoter, were under the superintend- 
 ance of conductrices, who either voluntarily 
 devoted themselves to the task of instruction, 
 or were salaried at his own expense. They are 
 gone, with their beloved and revered pastor, to 
 their eternal rest, and hired persons must now 
 be employed in their place. This involves the 
 necessity of an increase of funds beyond the 
 means of a poor and isolated parish ; and the 
 principal end that the editor has in view, in 
 the publication of this Memoir, is the hope 
 that the emoluments arising from its sale, will 
 enable her to contribute towards a subscription, 
 already set on foot, for the purpose of forming 
 establishments in the Ban de la Roche in com- 
 memoration of Oberlin's exertions, and on a 
 similar plan to the schools he originally founded. 
 It will also, she trusts, make the subject more 
 generally known. The following extract, trans- 
 lated from the " Compte rendu des sous- 
 criptions recueillies," will explain the nature 
 of these intended establishments. 
 
X PREFACE. 
 
 After having spoken of the sepulchral monu- 
 ment, erected to his memory in the parish 
 church of Waldbach, the writer of the article 
 in question continues : 
 
 " We must now refer to the subscriptions 
 set on foot for a charitable foundation, bear- 
 ing the name of OBERLIN. 
 
 " We were, for a long time, undecided in our 
 opinion respecting the best manner of employing 
 the funds already collected. The example of 
 our deceased friend, who always preferred utility 
 to display, and the advice of some of the best 
 informed inhabitants of the Ban de la Roche, 
 who are extremely anxious to promote the 
 institution of conductrices, have at length enabled 
 us to come to a determination. It is to the 
 enlargement and completion of this admirable 
 institution, conceived at first by the late M. 
 Stouber, and organized and brought into ac- 
 tivity by Oberlin, that we intend to appropriate 
 the funds already collected, and what may be 
 in future received. For it is to this institution 
 that that love of order and industry, those 
 
PREFACE. Xi 
 
 feelings of filial and fraternal piety, and that 
 religious spirit by which the present generation 
 in this interesting country is distinguished, are 
 chiefly owing. We think, therefore, that no 
 monument can be more worthy of bearing the 
 name of our late excellent pastor than an 
 institution, in which he was so particularly 
 interested, upon an enlarged scale. For the 
 information of our readers we will give a slight 
 sketch of this institution. In each of the five 
 villages and three hamlets entrusted to Oberlin's 
 pastoral care, he placed a person of mature 
 age, whom he denominated a conductrice. 
 It was her duty to assemble together all the 
 children of the village, under seven years of 
 age, once a week, for three or four hours, and 
 to give them instruction. Having been herself 
 previously initiated, through the kind assistance 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Oberlin, in the branches of 
 knowledge best adapted to the purpose, she 
 taught the children by turns whatever appeared 
 most suited to their respective age or capacity. 
 The elder boys were taught to card wool and 
 cotton, and the girls to spin, sew, and knit; 
 even the youngest children were employed in 
 
Xll PREFACE. 
 
 picking cotton. During the hours of labour, 
 their conductrice related and explained to them 
 such little stories from the Bible, or pleasing 
 anecdotes in natural history, as were likely to 
 suit their comprehension, and to direct their 
 attention to the wise and superintending care 
 of Providence, in the ordering of every event ; 
 to the beauty and harmony which reigns 
 throughout his works ; and to the affection 
 and respect which they ought to cherish towards 
 their parents and superiors. She also taught 
 them to chant and repeat hymns ; instructed 
 them in the rudiments of botany, and gave them 
 useful information on every subject likely to 
 conduce to their advantage in future life. 
 
 " The principles of love to God and devoted- 
 ness to his service, and the germs of moral 
 excellence thus early implanted in their hearts, 
 proved of incalculable benefit to them as they 
 grew up ; and their happiness became fixed on 
 a basis which neither the storms nor vicissitudes 
 of life had power to disturb. 
 
 " The children, so far from being weary of 
 
PREFACE. Xlll 
 
 these weekly meetings, listened with the deepest 
 interest to the instructions they there received ; 
 counted the days till their return, and were 
 delighted with the thought of their approach. 
 Having been thus prepared by early discipline, 
 they were admitted, at the age of seven, into the 
 higher schools ; where the elder girls assisted 
 the conductrices in their labours, by teaching 
 needlework, knitting, &c. 
 
 " By the united labours of many individuals, 
 this institution, so simple in its origin, became 
 of incalculable advantage in the Ban de la 
 Roche, and excited and strengthened mutual 
 good will, benevolence, and friendship, among 
 the inhabitants of the district. There was, 
 however, one great disadvantage attached to it. 
 The poor conductrices, compelled to earn their 
 own subsistence by the labours of their hands, 
 could only afford to appropriate one day in the 
 week to the purpose. In the interval that 
 elapsed between the meetings, many of their 
 instructions were consequently effaced from the 
 minds of their little pupils, or, at least, the 
 impression they had made at the time was in 
 
XIV PREFACE. 
 
 some degree obliterated. Great improvements 
 were, nevertheless, certainly effected; and we 
 are ready to suppose that the benefit would be 
 exceedingly enhanced, if it were possible for the 
 lessons to be repeated five or six times every 
 week, with sufficient variations in the arrange- 
 ment to prevent monotony. 
 
 " The scantiness of Oberlin's pecuniary means 
 did not allow him to carry on this mode of 
 instruction to the extent he could have wished, 
 although it was the object of his constant and 
 earnest solicitude. Let us, therefore, endeavour 
 to do so ; and to crown his labours, by putting 
 into full execution those benevolent plans which 
 his experience and knowledge of human nature 
 led him to conceive. An annual salary of a 
 hundred francs, for each of the conductrices, 
 would allow the children to meet every day of 
 the week. May we not hope for sufficient 
 funds to cover this expense ? 
 
 " The Ban de la Roche would then present 
 the model of a simple village institution, of the 
 greatest utility to the morality and well-being 
 
PREFACE. XV 
 
 of its inhabitants. Such an example would not 
 be lost upon the neighbouring districts. They 
 would imitate it ; and thus we should have the 
 satisfaction of promoting an object in which our 
 late beloved pastor took so peculiar an interest, 
 and of raising a lasting monument to his me- 
 mory." * 
 
 Mr. Legrand, a gentleman whose name will 
 frequently appear in this volume, as the active 
 and benevolent coadjutor of Oberlin, writes from 
 Waldbach, in August last : 
 
 " The subscriptions now amount to 7,876 
 francs. If we could raise 12,000 francs, the 
 interest of that sum would be sufficient for the 
 institution." 
 
 Four thousand francs, or 160/. remain, there- 
 
 * Subscriptions are received by Messrs. Legrand, Foudai, Ban de 
 la Roche; Messrs. Treuttel and Wiirtz, Rue de Bourbon, Paris; 
 Ditto, Strasbourg; Messrs. P. J. Heisch & Co. 159, Fenchurch Street, 
 London ; Rev. Daniel Wilson, Worton Rectory, near Deddington, 
 Oxfordshire. It is perhaps scarcely necessary to add that dona- 
 tions presented for any specific object, independently of the schools, 
 as the distribution of Bibles, or the benefit of the parish at large, 
 will be faithfully appropriated according to the wishes of the contri- 
 butors. 
 
XVI PREFACE. 
 
 fore, to be subscribed ; and it is earnestly to be 
 wished that all who are desirous of perpetuating 
 to future generations the influence of Oberlin's 
 beneficent exertions, and the remembrance of 
 the example, which, like the mantle of Elijah, 
 he has left behind him for the encouragement 
 of others, may, according to their respective 
 abilities, contribute towards raising so compa- 
 ratively small a sum. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Preliminary Remarks Account of the Ban de la Roche 
 Its state previous to M. Stouber's time Stouber's 
 exertions there 1 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Oberlin's birth and childhood Instances of his early 
 benevolence His act of self-dedication Influence 
 over others Arrival in the Ban de la Roche ... 20 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Oberlin's first impressions on reaching Waldbach State 
 of the Parish Improvements needed Opposition 
 manifested by the peasantry Correspondence with 
 M. Stouber Letters from the latter His marriage ; 
 and prayer Improvements in the condition of the 
 Roads Agricultural improvements, &c 42 
 
XV111 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Oberlin's address to his parishioners on the commence- 
 ment of a new year Erection of a new school-house 
 in the Ban de la Roche Progress of civilization 
 Four other school-houses erected Introduction of 
 infant schools, under the care of conductrices 
 Public schools Weekly assembling of the children 
 at Waldbach, to receive religious instruction 
 Establishment of a circulating library Almanack 
 Specimen of the children's composition Christian 
 Society established in 1782 Abrogation of that 
 Society 81 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Death of Mrs. Oberlin Its effect upon Oberlin's mind 
 Louisa Schepler becomes his housekeeper Letter 
 from the latter Letter, taken from a German Maga- 
 zine, printed at Tubingen, containing an account of 
 Oberlin and his family, in the year 1793 Death 
 of his eldest son, Frederic 117 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Unmolested state of the Ban de la Roche during the 
 period of the Revolution Oberlin's generous re- 
 nunciation of his own interests for the sake of his 
 parishioners His school for the children of foreigners 
 His sentiments respecting the payment of tithes 
 Letter containing a plan for their disbursement 
 
CONTENTS. XIX 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Purchase of Assignats His influence in exciting a 
 spirit of Christian charity among his people Ac- 
 count of Sophia Bernard, &c. Oberlin becomes a 
 correspondent of the British and Foreign Bible 
 Society Letters addressed by him to members of 
 the London Committee Mode of collecting sub- 
 scriptions and donations for charitable purposes in 
 the Ban de la Roche Letter to his scholars .140 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Henry Oberlin's removal to Riga His sister Hen- 
 rietta's marriage Their return to Waldbach Letter 
 from Oberlin to P. J. Heisch, Esq. Letter from 
 Henry Oberlin to ditto Mr. Legrand's settlement 
 in the Ban de la Roche Introduction of cotton- 
 spinning ; silk ribbon manufactory, &c. Termination 
 of a long impending law-suit Henry Oberlin's death 
 His father's resignation on that occasion displayed 
 in a letter to Mr. Heisch . 183 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Medal presented to Oberlin by the Royal Agricultural 
 Society of Paris Oberlin's private character His 
 description of himself Mr. Owen's letter, containing 
 an account of a Ban de la Roche Sabbath Oberlin's 
 ministry Sermons Ministerial labours, &c. His 
 paternal influence over his flock Questions ad- 
 dressed to his parishioners Circulars 207 
 
XX CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Oberlin's pastoral visits Interview between Dr. and 
 Mrs. Steinkopff and the conductrice of Bellefosse 
 Their visit to the cottage of Madeleine Kriiger ; 
 also to that of Sophia Bernard Letter written by 
 
 Mrs. C during a visit to the Ban de la Roche, in 
 
 the summer of 1820 Letter from Mrs. Rauscher to 
 the Paris Bible Society, containing an account of the 
 death of Sophia Bernard, &c. Amount of the sums 
 raised at different times at Waldbach, in support of 
 various charitable institutions 279 
 
 CHAPTER X, 
 
 Oberlin's last illness and death Letter respecting 
 Louisa Schepler, found after his decease His 
 funeral Prayer delivered upon that occasion 
 Fragments of an address to his parishioners Con- 
 clusion . .307 
 
 LIST OF PLATES. 
 
 Oberlin's Portrait, to face Title Page 
 
 Oberlin's Residence 42 
 
 Louisa Schepler's Portrait 125 
 
 Legrand's Residence 296 
 
 Foudai Church . 317 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 JOHN FREDERIC OBERLIN. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 -H, 
 
 PRELIMINARY REMARKS ACCOUNT OF THE BAN DE LA 
 
 ROCHE ITS STATE PREVIOUS TO M. STOUBER*S TIME 
 
 STOUBER'S EXERTIONS THERE. 
 
 THE memoirs of an individual, whose whole 
 life has been devoted to pious and disinterested 
 exertions for the temporal and spiritual good 
 of mankind, have not unfrequently proved the 
 means of awakening the desires, and strengthen- 
 ing the resolutions of others to follow him in 
 his career of benevolence. 
 
 Such an individual was JOHN FREDERIC 
 OBERLIN, a person whose indefatigable efforts 
 
 B 
 
Z MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 for upwards of fifty years, to benefit the simple 
 villagers who constituted his flock, entitle him 
 to universal esteem and admiration. The writer 
 earnestly hopes that the recital of his labours 
 may, under the divine blessing, tend to confirm 
 the zealous and encourage the weak, and 
 lead all who hear it to catch a portion of 
 that sacred glow by which he was himself 
 animated. 
 
 His character, as displayed in the uniform 
 tenor of his life, presented a remarkable com- 
 bination of varied excellencies; for whilst much 
 exalted sanctity and intrepid zeal were con- 
 spicuous, an unwearied ardour in doing good, 
 and a habitual willingness to renounce his own 
 interests to promote the well-being of his fellow- 
 creatures, were equally evident. In addition 
 to this, his extreme simplicity, conscientious 
 integrity, sweetness of temper, and refinement 
 of manner, caused him to be both ardently 
 loved and sincerely revered; whilst his industry, 
 his agricultural skill, his knowledge of rural 
 and domestic economy, and the energy with 
 which he carried his plans into effect the 
 moment he was convinced of their utility, 
 
BAN DE LA ROCHE. 3 
 
 rendered him not only an example but a 
 blessing to the people among whom he resided, 
 and afforded a delightful proof of the advan- 
 tages that may accrue from a union of secular 
 and spiritual duties. 
 
 Before I proceed with my narrative, it will 
 be proper to present the reader with some 
 description of the Ban de la Roche, the 
 scene of Oberlin's long and useful labours, 
 and to state what had been previously effected 
 there by his predecessor, M. Stouber, a 
 Lutheran minister of congenial spirit with 
 himself. 
 
 The Ban de la Roche, or Steinthal,* derives 
 its name from a castle called La Roche, round 
 which the Ban, or district, extends. It is a 
 mountainous canton in the north-east of France, 
 between Alsace and Lorraine, forming part of 
 the declivities and western ramifications of the 
 Haut Champ, or Champ de Feu, an isolated 
 range of mountains, detached by a deep valley 
 from the eastern boundary of the chain of the 
 
 * Steinthal is the German name for the Ban de la Roche. Its 
 literal signification is, the f r nJley of Stone. DR. STEINKOPFF. 
 
 B2 
 
4 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 Vosges. It consists of two parishes; the one 
 is Rothau: the other, including three churches, 
 comprises the five hamlets of Foudai, Belmont, 
 Waldbach, Bellefosse, and Zolbach. These last 
 mentioned are almost exclusively inhabited by 
 Lutherans. 
 
 The Champ de Feu, as its name implies, 
 bears traces of volcanic origin. It is higher 
 than Snowdon, rising 3600 feet above the level 
 of the sea. The village of Waldbach, at 
 which Oberlin resided on account of its central 
 situation, stands upon its acclivity, at the 
 height of 1800 feet; and the usual road from 
 Strasbourg thither lies through the towns of 
 Molsheim, Mutzig, and Schirmeck. Behind 
 the little town of Schirmeck the extensive and 
 fertile valley in which it is situated, separates 
 into two smaller ones; the well-wooded vale 
 of Framont on the right, and that of the Ban 
 de la Roche, of which Rothau is the first and 
 principal parish, on the left. The approach to 
 the latter place is romantic in the extreme; 
 the road winding down the side of a steep 
 precipice towards the southern side of the 
 valley, where, after crossing the stream, which 
 
BAN DE LA ROCHE. 5 
 
 flows through its bottom in the character of 
 a mountain torrent, it rises again, and the 
 cottages of the peasantry become visible, partly 
 imbosomed in plantations of pine, and beneath 
 immense masses of overhanging rocks.* 
 
 The hamlet of Foudai, at the distance of 
 two miles from Rothau, is next in course, and 
 occupies an almost equally picturesque situation. 
 It is succeeded by Waldbach, whose tapering 
 spire and straw-thatched cottages are sur- 
 rounded by orchards of pear and cherry trees, 
 and by the intermingled foliage of the alder, the 
 ash, and the sallow. The temperature varies ex- 
 tremely, according to the height and position of 
 the districts. On the summits of the mountains, 
 
 * The mountains of the Ban de la Roche are composed of granite, 
 porphyry, and argillaceous schistus, which are commonly even with 
 their convex surface : sienite, trapp, and grunstein, projecting on the 
 sides and summits in irregular columns, and pointed cliffs, appear 
 originally to have formed the general covering. 
 
 These rocks exhibit great variety in their grain and constituent 
 parts. The granite, which is coarse, and less compact towards the 
 base of the mountains, presents the fineness of marble, about 2,500 
 feet above the valley ; in these regions it is also found without 
 quartz, taking the appearance of sienite or granite, according to the 
 arrangement of the mica and feldspar. WILKS. 
 
 For further particulars relating to the topography of this district, 
 See Propositions Geologiques pour servir, &c. Par H. G. Oberlin, 
 Doct. en Medecine. 8vo. Strasbourg, 1806. 
 
O MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 for instance, the climate is as intensely cold as at 
 Petersburgh, though in the valleys below it is 
 so soft and delightful as to resemble that of 
 Geneva, and parts of the Jura. The winter 
 months generally commence in September, and 
 the snow usually remains undissolved till the 
 following May or June, when the wind blows 
 from the south, thus leaving only a period of 
 four or five months for summer weather. The 
 produce of the canton necessarily varies with 
 the elevation of the several communes ; the 
 highest are cultivated notwithstanding, though 
 to so little purpose, that it is said the wife 
 can carry home in her apron all the hay her 
 husband has mown in a long morning. The 
 harvest differs in time as well as in quantity. 
 At Foudai it is about a week later, and at 
 Waldbach a fortnight later, than at Rothau, 
 which is about 400 feet below. 
 
 The district of the Ban de la Roche comprises 
 about nine thousand acres (of 48,000 French 
 feet), between three and four thousand of which 
 are covered with wood, two thousand are occu- 
 pied with pasture, one thousand five hundred 
 are employed in meadows or garden land, and 
 
BAN DE LA ROCHE. 7 
 
 the remaining fifteen hundred only are cultivated 
 with the plough.* 
 
 In the reign of Louis XV. the whole of this 
 territory was in a most desolate state ; for having 
 been partially the seat of conflict during the 
 thirty years' war (terminated in 1648), and again 
 in the time of Louis XIV. it was so laid waste as 
 to be scarcely habitable, there being no road 
 from one place to another, and but little land 
 under cultivation. About eighty or a hundred 
 families earned indeed a scanty subsistence on 
 its precarious soil, but, being destitute of all the 
 comforts of civilized life, they existed in a state 
 of misery and degradation, more easily conceived 
 than described. 
 
 This remote district partook, however, with 
 the rest of Alsace, in a privilege denied to 
 the ancient French provinces. When it was 
 incorporated with France, it was stipulated in 
 the decree that its inhabitants should continue 
 to enjoy an entire liberty of conscience : and 
 
 * 4 or 500 potatoes "J 
 
 600 rye >1500 
 
 4 or 500 oats 3 
 
8 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 whilst the persecuted Protestants of Languedoc, 
 and other parts of France, could not find a 
 sufficiently secure retreat for the celebration 
 of their worship, they possessed their own 
 churches, and no restraint was laid upon their 
 religious assemblies. 
 
 When M. Stouber, therefore, (who has been 
 already mentioned as the predecessor of Oberlin,) 
 entered upon his ministerial duties, in 1750, he 
 had not to proclaim the "glad tidings of sal- 
 vation" in the midst of intolerance and per- 
 secution, nor had he to apprehend any danger 
 from the subtleties of theological controversy 
 on the part of a people almost entirely destitute 
 of the means of religious instruction. Many 
 difficulties, however, stood in his way, in con- 
 sequence of the deplorable ignorance and ex- 
 treme wretchedness that universally prevailed 
 difficulties that would have baffled the endea- 
 vours of a mind less ardent and less energetic 
 than his own. 
 
 The following anecdote will convey some idea 
 of the state of the parish on his first arrival 
 there. Desiring to be shown the principal school 
 
STOUBER'S EXERTIONS. 9 
 
 house, he was conducted into a miserable cot- 
 tage, where a number of children were crowded 
 together without any occupation, and in so wild 
 and noisy a state that it was with some difficulty 
 he could gain any reply to his inquiries for the 
 master. 
 
 " There he is," said one of them, as soon as 
 silence could be obtained, pointing to a withered 
 old man, who lay on a little bed in one corner of 
 the apartment. 
 
 " Are you the schoolmaster, my good friend ?" 
 inquired Stouber. 
 
 "Yes, Sir." 
 
 " And what do you teach the children ?" 
 
 " Nothing, Sir." 
 
 " Nothing! how is that ?" 
 
 " Because," replied the old man, with charac- 
 teristic simplicity, " I know nothing myself." 
 
 " Why then were you instituted school- 
 master?" 
 
 " Why, Sir, I had been taking care of the 
 Waldbach pigs for a great number of years, and 
 when I got too old and infirm for that employ- 
 ment they sent me here to take care of the 
 children." 
 
10 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 The schools in the other villages were of a 
 similar description; for, if the schoolmasters 
 were not swine-herds, they were shepherds, 
 who, in the summer, followed their flocks over 
 the mountains, and, during the winter months, 
 imparted to their . little pupils the knowledge 
 they possessed.* This, however, was so trifling 
 that many of them were scarcely able to read 
 with fluency, and very few could write at all. 
 A total want of method in teaching and of ele- 
 mentary books, also raised additional hinderances 
 to the learners. If shown the commencement 
 of a chapter in the Bible it is reported of them 
 that they. could seldom find the end of the pre- 
 ceding chapter, and that even the most accom- 
 plished of the masters found it difficult to collect 
 the sense of what he was reading, and would 
 allow the children to say Jesus for Je suis, canaille 
 for canal, or to make other mistakes equally 
 egregious, without being aware of the error. 
 
 Stouber's first step, therefore, was to procure 
 some schoolmasters willing to perform, and com- 
 petent to discharge, the duties of their station. 
 
 * See flu$ DberHn'* Ceben, t>on <L $)?. ffrafft. 
 
STOUBER'S EXERTIONS. 11 
 
 This was no easy task, for the office had sunk 
 into contempt, and the more respectable of the 
 inhabitants, regarding it as a disreputable trade, 
 would on no account allow their sons to embrace 
 it. The pastor's ingenuity, however, soon con- 
 trived to overcome this difficulty. He changed 
 the name of the office, and the objection no 
 longer existed. "Well then," said he, "let us 
 have no schoolmasters, since that would not be- 
 come people of your situation in life ; but allow 
 me to select the most promising of our young 
 men and to make them superintendents, (Mes- 
 sieurs les regents,) of the schools." To this 
 proposition they readily acceded. His next 
 business was to arrange a regular alphabet, and 
 draw up a series of spelling and reading lessons 
 for their use, which were printed at the expense 
 of a benevolent individual of Strasbourg, who 
 also presented Stouber with a thousand florins 
 (about 83/.) that he might encourage those 
 schoolmasters whose pupils made the most rapid 
 progress, by giving them the interest of it annu- 
 ally, in addition to their salaries, which were 
 necessarily very small. 
 
 The next want to be supplied was that of a 
 
12 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 school-house, and for this purpose Stouber beg- 
 ged that the necessary timber might be gratu- 
 itously furnished from the surrounding forests, a 
 privilege which the inhabitants of the Steinthal 
 generally had it in their power to bestow. The 
 following anecdote shows the persevering cha- 
 racter of this remarkable man. In the bad 
 state of the woods at this period the Abbe* de 
 Regemorte (royal Praetor of Strasbourg) found 
 an excuse for refusing the humble request for 
 wood to build a school-house. " But your Ex- 
 cellency/' said Stouber, after having for a long 
 time solicited in vain, "your Excellency will 
 allow me to make a private collection among 
 charitable individuals towards the erection of 
 our new building ? " This request was imme- 
 diately granted. "Well then," continued the 
 pastor, presenting his hat, "you are, please 
 your Excellency, known as a charitable person, 
 and I will make the beginning with you." 
 On hearing these words the Praetor quickly 
 forgot all the objections he had just been ad- 
 ducing, and gave him liberty to cut down as 
 much wood as he pleased, under the express 
 condition that he should dine with him every 
 time he visited Strasbourg. 
 
STOUBER'S EXERTIONS. 1 3 
 
 Having thus happily succeeded in procuring 
 materials, a small building, or rather a log 
 hut, was constructed under Stouber's direction 
 and superintendence : but as he had found 
 obstacles in the worldliness of the governor, 
 so now he had to contend with the ignorance 
 and prejudices of the people. They still op- 
 posed themselves to his benevolent efforts ; 
 for as schoolmasters had always hitherto been 
 hired, like labourers, at the lowest price, the 
 cheapest were regarded as the best, and the 
 peasants began to fear that if an increase of 
 knowledge were required from their candi- 
 dates, there would be a proportionate increase 
 of expense. Nor was this all; for on seeing 
 the unconnected syllables which were proposed 
 as lessons for the scholars, they were at a loss 
 to comprehend their meaning, and for a long 
 time opposed their introduction from the idea 
 of some concealed heresy or divination. 
 
 On perceiving, however, in the course of a 
 few months, that by means of the new spelling- 
 book little children were enabled to read any book 
 that was put into their hands, their elder brothers 
 and sisters, and even the parents themselves, 
 
14 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 astonished at the rapid progress they were making, 
 and ashamed to remain behind, came forward, and 
 begged to be instructed also. A system of regu- 
 lar instruction for adults, during part of the Sun- 
 day and the long evenings of winter, was conse- 
 quently established, in addition to the schools. 
 
 Another great object of Stouber's solicitude 
 was to disseminate and make known the Holy 
 Scriptures, as soon as he considered the people 
 prepared for their reception. Hitherto they 
 had only heard of the Bible as of a large 
 book that contained the Word of God ; and 
 when their pastor, in order to circulate the 
 Scriptures as widely as possible, divided each of 
 fifty French Protestant Bibles, he had procured 
 from Basle, into three parts, and bound these 
 portions in strong parchment, to enable him to 
 make a more general distribution, he had some 
 difficulty in convincing his parishioners that these 
 thin volumes would answer the same purpose as 
 the large book which they had been accustomed 
 to see, and that they were equally the Word of 
 God; still more to give them any idea of what 
 was meant by the Old and New Testament, or a 
 book, chapter or verse. They were not aware 
 
STOUBER'S EXERTIONS. 15 
 
 that the preceding minister had been in the 
 habit of adhering to any particular text in his 
 sermons ; this, however, is not surprising, as he 
 himself had not possessed a Bible for upwards of 
 twenty years. No sooner, however, had Stouber 
 placed these Bibles in the schools, with permis- 
 sion to the pupils to carry them home, than the 
 Scriptures began to be read in their different 
 families. Some of them even found their way 
 to the Roman Catholic villages in the vicinity. 
 The priests, it is true, strictly forbad their peru- 
 sal, but this prohibition only served, in many 
 instances, as an additional stimulus to the 
 inquirer after truth. The people secretly pro- 
 cured them for themselves, and sometimes, con- 
 sidering their poverty, at a very high price. I 
 might, indeed, mention many anecdotes of the 
 eager delight with which this new and precious 
 privilege was embraced, but it is sufficient to say 
 that the desire of possessing it continually in- 
 creased, and that the diffusion of Scriptural 
 instruction, both in the Ban de la Roche and its 
 environs, was beginning to be attended with the 
 most cheering results.* A blessing also attended 
 
 * For one singular instance, among many others, of the avidity 
 with which the Bible was sought at this period, See a letter of 
 Oberlin's, Chap. VI. 
 
16 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 Stouber's discourses in the pulpit, for they were 
 admirably adapted to the capacity and situation 
 of his hearers. He endeavoured in the simplest 
 language to lead their minds to a knowledge of 
 the happiness enjoyed by the people of God, and 
 the means of attaining that happiness ; and to 
 convince them that, notwithstanding the poverty 
 of their external circumstances, the Almighty 
 would protect and bless them if they earnestly 
 sought to do his will. He then brought 
 them to consider the all-important doctrines of 
 the Cross, that we can only be regenerated by 
 the influences of the Holy Spirit, and that we 
 must rely solely upon the Lord Jesus Christ for 
 pardon and redemption. In 1756, when he had 
 resided about six years at Waldbach, he was 
 appointed pastor to the market town of Barr on 
 the other side of the Vosges. His parishioners, 
 who, though still wild and uncultivated, had 
 begun to feel the value of his instructions, ex- 
 pressed the greatest regret at his removal, as his 
 intended successor was little more enlightend 
 than his predecessors had been. 
 
 Four years afterwards the living again became 
 vacant ; and M. Stouber, notwithstanding the 
 
STOUBER'S EXERTIONS. 17 
 
 reproaches and contempt cast upon him by 
 many of his friends, who could not understand 
 the principle of the love of Christ which con- 
 strained him to exchange a very profitable and 
 respectable living in a town for a physical and 
 moral wilderness, felt impelled to return to his 
 beloved Steinthal. The pleasure with which 
 this intelligence was circulated through the 
 valley was extreme; the inhabitants of the dif- 
 ferent villages, both old and young, went to the 
 top of the mountain, which had separated him 
 from them, to witness his arrival and to bid 
 him welcome with tears of grateful joy. 
 
 It was during this latter part of his residence 
 in the Ban de la Roche, that M. Stouber's 
 ministerial labours were so peculiarly successful, 
 and that, under the blessing of God, a general 
 improvement appeared to take place. 
 
 He had resided altogether more than fourteen 
 years in this spot, actively engaged in promoting 
 the welfare of his flock, when he had the afflic- 
 tion of losing a wife to whom he was tenderly 
 attached, and who, animated by the same spirit 
 as her husband, had warmly participated in all 
 
18 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 his labours of love. She was buried in the 
 church-yard of Waldbach, and the following 
 touching epitaph adorned her monument, until 
 it was destroyed, with many others, at the time 
 of the Revolution : 
 
 During three years of marriage, 
 MARGARET SALOME, wife of G. STOUBER, 
 
 Minister of this Parish, 
 Found at the Ban de la Roche, in the simplicity of a peaceable and 
 
 useful life, 
 The delight of her benevolent heart, and, in her first confinement the 
 
 grave of her youth and beauty. 
 She died August 9th, 1764, aged twenty years. 
 
 Near this spot, 
 
 Her Husband has sown for immortality all that was mortal ; 
 
 Uncertain whether he is more sensible of the grief of having lost 
 
 Or the glory of having possessed her. 
 
 Three years after this afflictive dispensation, 
 which he bore with Christian fortitude, and just 
 when he was beginning to rejoice in the happy 
 transformation effected by his exertions, he was 
 offered the station of pastor to St. Thomas's 
 Church, at Strasbourg. He accepted it, and 
 it was greatly feared that the Ban de la Roche 
 would relapse into its former melancholy con- 
 dition. 
 
STOUBER'S EXERTIONS. 19 
 
 Oberlin perceived the emergency of the case ; 
 his benevolent mind strongly felt the importance 
 of such a field of labour; it was a sufficient 
 inducement for him to undertake its duties that 
 others disdained them, and the very misery and 
 moral degradation which had to be remedied, 
 rendered it in his eyes the more interesting ; he 
 therefore left a spot in which the brilliance of 
 his mental powers might have attracted univer- 
 sal homage; and led, as he conceived, by the 
 hand of Providence, became the successor of 
 M. Stouber in this retired and desolate scene 
 of exertion. 
 
 c2 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 OBERLIN'S BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD INSTANCES OF HIS EARLY 
 BENEVOLENCE HIS ACT OF SELF-DEDICATION INFLUENCE 
 
 OVER OTHERS ARRIVAL IN THE BAN DE LA ROCHE. 
 
 JOHN FREDERIC OBERLIN was born at Stras- 
 bourg, on the 31st of August, 1740. His father, 
 a man of considerable attainments and respec- 
 tability, though not in affluent circumstances, 
 held an office in the Gymnasium of that city, 
 and devoted his hours of leisure to the instruc- 
 tion of his nine children, to all of whom he was 
 most tenderly attached. They in return looked 
 up to him with devoted fondness, and acquiesced 
 in his wishes rather from motives of sincere 
 affection than filial duty, ever anticipating his 
 desires, and anxiously promoting his happiness 
 by every means in their power. 
 
 Notwithstanding the scantiness of his income, 
 he was in the habit of giving each of his chil- 
 
OBERLIN'S CHILDHOOD. 21 
 
 dren a present of two pfenninge * every Saturday, 
 to spend as pocket money in fruit or cakes ; and 
 the following pleasing anecdote, in allusion to 
 this circumstance, is related as an early trait 
 of the little Frederick's character: when the 
 tailor's or shoemaker's bills were brought home 
 on a Saturday night, as he knew that his father, 
 who was a man of remarkable integrity and 
 punctuality, always liked to discharge them 
 immediately to their full amount, without de- 
 ducting, as the tradesmen frequently wished 
 him to do, and as is the usual practice, the odd 
 sous and deniers, he used to watch his coun- 
 tenance, and, if he imagined from its downcast 
 expression that he was in want of money, to 
 run to his savings'-box and return in triumph 
 to empty all his little store of weekly pfenninge 
 into the hands of his beloved parent. 
 
 But this was only one amongst the thousand 
 instances of generosity and benevolence for 
 which he was, even from his earliest infancy, 
 so peculiarly distinguished. Self-denial ever 
 
 *The smallest copper coin in the country, and not equal in value 
 to an English farthing. 
 
22 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 seemed his ruling principle ; and he was never 
 so happy as when an opportunity of relieving 
 the oppressed, or distressed, presented itself 
 to his notice. I shall mention some more 
 anecdotes of a similar description, because it 
 is interesting to trace the germ of those dispo- 
 sitions, which, when ripened into maturity, 
 brought forth such remarkable fruits. 
 
 As he was one day crossing the market-place,, 
 when his little box of savings was nearly full, 
 he saw some rude boys knock down a basket 
 of eggs which a country woman was carrying 
 upon her head. The woman was in great 
 trouble, when Frederic not only rebuked the 
 boys with much spirit, but ran home, fetched his 
 box, and presented her with all its contents. 
 Another day, he was passing in Strasbourg 
 market, by the stall of an old clothes' vender. 
 A poor infirm woman was endeavouring, without 
 success, to procure an abatement in the price 
 of some article she appeared to be particulary 
 desirous of purchasing. She wanted two sous 
 to complete the sum demanded, and was on 
 the point of leaving the stall from her inability 
 to give them. Frederic, pretending to be 
 
HIS EARLY BENEVOLENCE. 23 
 
 engaged with something else, only waited for her 
 retiring, when he slipped the two sous into the 
 dealer's hand, and whispered to him to call back 
 the poor woman and let her have the gown; 
 and then, without stopping for her thanks, 
 instantly ran away. 
 
 He, another time, saw a beadle ill-using an 
 invalid beggar in the street ; and following the 
 impulse of the moment, totally regardless of 
 consequences, he placed himself in a spirited 
 manner between what he thought the oppressor 
 and the oppressed, reproving the former in 
 strong terms for his inhumanity. The beadle, 
 indignant at such an interruption, wished to 
 arrest the little fellow ; but the neighbours, who 
 knew and loved the boy, came running out of 
 their shops to his assistance, and compelled the 
 man to desist. A few days afterwards he hap- 
 pened to be walking in a narrow lane, when he 
 saw the same person at a distance. " Shall I 
 run away ?" thought he to himself. " No : God 
 is with me. I relieved the poor man, and why 
 should I fear?" With these reflections he pro- 
 ceeded on his way ; and the beadle, smiling at 
 him, allowed him to pass unmolested. 
 
24 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 This early horror of injustice and oppression 
 was implanted by his parents, whose wise in- 
 structions and virtuous example, were, in his 
 case, crowned with the most gratifying success. 
 To his pious and highly accomplished mother 
 he often acknowledged himself indebted for his 
 love of the "things that are excellent," and for 
 the desires he subsequently felt of dedicating 
 his talents and his powers to the good of others. 
 She was indeed a truly admirable woman, and 
 conscientiously endeavoured to bring up her 
 children " in the nurture and admonition of the 
 Lord." She was in the habit of assembling 
 them together every evening, and of reading 
 aloud some instructive book, whilst they sat 
 around the table, copying pictures which their 
 father had drawn for them; and scarcely a night 
 passed but, when on the point of separating, 
 there was a general request for "one beautiful 
 hymn from dear mamma," with which she 
 always complied. The hymn was followed by a 
 prayer; and thus their infant steps were con- 
 ducted to Him who has said, " Suffer little 
 children to come unto me." 
 
 About this time, by way of relaxation, their 
 
HIS MILITARY AMUSEMENTS. 25 
 
 father used to take them every Thursday even- 
 ing, at least during the summer months, to his 
 family estate at Schiltigheim ; and on arriving 
 there, he would fasten an old drum to his waist, 
 place his seven blooming boys in a line, and 
 precede them in the capacity of drummer, 
 making them face to right and left, and go 
 through all the military evolutions. The ex- 
 treme delight which little Frederic took in this 
 exercise probably induced his early partiality for 
 the military profession, for, whilst quite a lad, 
 he would mingle with the soldiers and march 
 with them ; and, having attracted the attention 
 of the officers by the display of his knowledge 
 respecting sieges and battles, he obtained per- 
 mission to join them in their exercises. His 
 father, however, having destined him to a 
 learned profession, at length interfered, telling 
 the young soldier it was time to renounce this 
 child's play for study and serious labour. Fre- 
 deric was of an ardent and lively temperament ; 
 but he readily coincided in his father's views, 
 and devoted himself with the same enthusiasm 
 to his literary pursuits, resolving to tread in 
 the steps of his elder brother, the celebrated 
 Savant of the same name, who was at this period 
 
26 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 pursuing his philological studies in the academy 
 at Strasbourg.* By industry and application he 
 soon regained the time he had lost ; though, 
 indeed, his military exercises, having had the 
 happy effect of strengthening and hardening his 
 bodily frame, formed an important part of his 
 preparation for the fatigues of the service which 
 awaited him in the remarkable and arduous 
 course which he was destined to follow. 
 
 The circumstances that induced him to re- 
 solve upon taking Orders, and devoting himself 
 to the ministry of the Gospel, are not known ; 
 but it appears from various memoranda found 
 amongst his papers after his decease, that he was, 
 from his very infancy, the subject not merely of 
 pious convictions, but of holy affections towards 
 his heavenly Father. " During my infancy and 
 my youth," he says, " God often vouchsafed to 
 touch my heart, and to draw me to himself. 
 He bore with me, in my repeated backslidings, 
 with a kindness and indulgence hardly to be 
 
 * Jeremiah James Oberlin, a learned antiquary and laborious phi- 
 lologist. He wrote " Un Essai sur le Patois Lorrain des Environs du 
 Comte du Ban de la Roche, 1775, petit in 8vo.," which contains some 
 very curious notes upon ancient French, and in which he endeavours 
 to prove that the patois is a corruption of the Latin language. 
 
HIS SELF DEDICATION. 27 
 
 expressed."* Even at a very early age his 
 frequent prayer was, " Speak, Lord, for thy 
 servant heareth. O God, teach me to do thy 
 will." 
 
 About this time Dr. Lorentz excited a great 
 sensation in Strasbourg, by the ardent zeal 
 with which he preached a crucified Saviour. 
 Frederic's mother, attracted by the general 
 report, went to hear him, and was so much 
 struck with the powerful manner in which he 
 set forth the grand doctrines of redemption and 
 remission of sin, that she entreated her favourite 
 son to accompany her on the following Sunday. 
 Being a student in the theological class at 
 the University, and having been warned by his 
 superiors not to go, it was with some reluctance 
 that he was prevailed on to accompany her. 
 In compliance with her urgent solicitations, he 
 however at last acceded, and was so much 
 delighted with the evangelical truths he heard 
 preached, that he became a regular and diligent 
 attendant of the Doctor's sermons ; and this 
 
 * The remainder of the interesting fragment from which this 
 extract is taken, will appear in another part of the Memoir. 
 
28 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 circumstance probably contributed to strengthen 
 his religious impressions, and to confirm him 
 in the resolution he had made. At the age 
 of twenty, he solemnly renewed his baptismal 
 consecration to God by a formal covenant, 
 agreeably to the method recommended by Dr. 
 Doddridge, in his "Rise and Progress."* Al- 
 though this interesting document differs but 
 slightly from the original, I shall transcribe it, 
 because it displays so remarkable a union of 
 glowing zeal and lively faith, with humility and 
 self-distrust, f 
 
 * "I would now urge you to make a solemn surrender of yourself 
 to the service of God. Do not only form such a purpose in your 
 
 heart, but expressly declare it in the divine presence Do it in 
 
 express words. And perhaps it may be in many cases most expe- 
 dient, as many pious divines have recommended, to do it in writing. 
 Set your hand and seal to it, ' that on such a day of such a month 
 and year, and at such a place, on full consideration and serious re- 
 flection, you came to this happy resolution, that whatever others might 
 do, you would serve the Lord.' 
 
 " Make the day of the transaction, if you conveniently can, a day 
 of secret fasting and prayer ; and when your heart is prepared with a 
 becoming awe of the divine Majesty, with an humble confidence in 
 his goodness, and an earnest desire of his favour, then present your- 
 self on your knees before God, and read it over deliberately and 
 solemnly ; and when you have signed it, lay it by in some secure 
 place, where you may review it whenever you please ; and make it 
 a rule with yourself to review it, if possible, at certain seasons of the 
 year, that you may keep up the remembrance of it." Doddridge 's 
 Rise and Progress of Religion in the Sotil Chap. xvii. p. 343. 
 
 f For the translation of this document, see Appendix, No. I. 
 
HIS SELF DEDICATION. 29 
 
 " Dieu eternel et d'une saintete infinie! Je 
 desire ardemment de pouvoir me presenter 
 devant toi, dans le sentiment d'une profonde 
 humilite et avec contrition de cceur. Je sais 
 combien un ver de terre, tel que moi, est indigne 
 de paraitre devant ta divine Majeste, devant le 
 Roi des rois et le Seigneur des seigneurs, sur- 
 tout dans une occasion comme celle-ci, ou il 
 s'agit de former alliance avec toi. 
 
 " Mais c'est toi, 6 Dieu de misericorde, qui as 
 dresse le plan de cette alliance, qui me Tas fait 
 offrir par ton Fils dans ta grace infinie. C'est 
 toi qui y as dispose mon cceur. Je viens done a 
 toi, et je confesse que je suis un grand pecheur ; 
 je me frappe la poitrine, et je dis avec le peager 
 repentant : ' O Dieu, sois appaise envers moi 
 qui suis pecheur !' Je viens, parce que j'ai etc 
 invite au nom de ton Fils, et je me repose entiere- 
 ment sur sa justice accomplie. Mais je te sup- 
 plie de vouloir, a cause de lui, me pardonner 
 mon injustice et ne plus te souvenir de mes 
 peches. Oh ! oui, je t'en supplie, reconcilie-toi 
 avec ta creature infidcle. Je suis maintenant 
 convaincu de tes droits sur moi, et je ne desire 
 rien plus que de t'appartenir. Dieu saint ! je me 
 
30 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 donne aujourd'hui a toi de la mani&re la plus 
 solennelle. Cieux, e*coutez ; et toi, terre, prte 
 1'oreille. Je confesse aujourd'hui que le Seigneur 
 est mon Dieu! Je declare aujourd'hui que je 
 suis du nombre de ses enfans et que je fais partie 
 de son peuple. Entends mes paroles, 6 mon 
 Dieu, et ecris dans ton Livre que je veux desor- 
 mais tre entierement a toi. Au nom du Seigneur 
 et du Dieu des armees, je renonce aujourd'hui a 
 tous les maitres qui ont autrefois domine sur 
 moi, aux joies du monde auxquelles je m'etais 
 abandonn6 et aux desirs charnels qui etaient 
 en moi. Je renonce a tout ce qui est perissable, 
 afin que mon Dieu soit mon tout. Je te con- 
 sacre tout ce que je suis et tout ce que j'ai ; les 
 facultes de mon ame, les membres de mon corps, 
 ma fortune et mon temps. Aide-moi toi-mme, 
 6 Pere de misericorde, a n' employer tout qu'a ta 
 gloire, en le faisant servir a I'ob&ssance a tes 
 
 A 
 
 commandemens. Etre a toi, sera mon humble 
 et ardent d6sir durant tous les ages de la bien- 
 heureuse 6ternit6. Si tu me charges dans cette 
 vie d'en conduire d'autres a toi, donne-moi le 
 courage et la force de me declarer ouverte- 
 ment pour toi. Fais-moi la grace de ne 
 pas me devouer seul a ton service, mais que 
 
HIS SELF DEDICATION. 31 
 
 je puisse aussi persuader a mes fibres de s'y 
 consacrer. 
 
 " J'ai la volonte, Esprit saint, de te demeurer 
 fiddle jusqu'a la fin de ma vie, si je suis soutenu 
 par ta grace. Permets-moi de pouvoir, durant 
 les jours qui me seront encore accordes, acquerir 
 ce qui me manque et ameliorer mes voies. Que 
 les choses de la terre n'exercent pas sur moi leur 
 pouvoir, mais que, pendant le temps, si court 
 de la vie, je ne vive que pour toi. Que ta grace 
 me rende capable, non seulement de suivre cette 
 route que j'ai reconnu tre la meilleure, mais 
 encore d'etre toujours plus actif en y marchant. 
 Je remets a ta direction ma personne et tout ce 
 qui m'appartient. Conduis toutes choses selon 
 que ton infinie sagesse le trouvera bon. Je m'en 
 remets sur toi pour la disposition de tous les 
 ve*nemens, et je dis, sans aucune restriction : 
 ' Que ta volonte soit faite et non la mienne !' 
 Emploie-moi, Seigneur, comme un instrument 
 destine & ton service ! Regarde-moi comme 
 faisant partie de ton peuple ; lave-moi dans le 
 sang de ton Fils bien-aime : revts-moi de sa 
 justice ; sanctifie-moi par son Esprit ; rends-moi 
 de plus en plus conforme & son image ; viens 
 
32 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 avec lui purifier et fortifier mon coeur; donne- 
 moi la consolation et accorde-moi que je passe 
 ainsi ma vie dans le sentiment continuel de ta 
 presence, 6 mon Pere et mon Dieu ! et qu'apres 
 avoir cherche a t'obeir et a me soumettre & tes 
 volontes, tu me retires d'ici, & 1'heure et de la 
 maniere dont tu le trouveras bon. Permets 
 qu'a 1'instant de ma mort et aux portes de 
 1'eternite, je me souvienne de ces engagemens et 
 emploie encore mon dernier soupir a ton service. 
 Et alors, Seigneur, rappelle-toi aussi cette alliance, 
 quand tu verras toute 1'angoisse que mon cceur 
 e"prouvera dans ces derniers instans, ou je n'aurai 
 peut-tre pas la force de m'en souvenir. O mon 
 Pere celeste, abaisse alors un regard de miseri- 
 corde, sur ton enfant affaibli et se debattant 
 avec la mort. Je ne veux pas te prescrire, 6 mon 
 Pere, de quelle maniere tu dois me prendre a 
 toi. Je ne veux pas te demander de me pre- 
 server alors de cruelles douleurs. Non, rien de 
 tout cela ne sera 1'objet de mes prieres. Ce que 
 je te demande avec instance, au nom de mon 
 Jesus, c'est de pouvoir encore te glorifier dans 
 les derniers jours de ma vie, de ne temoigner, 
 au milieu des souffrances que ta sage Provi- 
 dence trouvera peut-tre bon de m'envoyer, que 
 
HIS SELF DEDICATION. 33 
 
 de la patience et de la soumission en ta sainte 
 volonte. Fortifie mon ame, donne-lui de la 
 confiance quand tu 1'appelleras, et recois-la dans 
 le sein de ton eternel amour ; admets-la dans les 
 sejours de ceux qui sont morts en Jesus-Christ, 
 dans ces sejours ou des joies qui ne peuvent 
 s'exprimer, sont le partage d'une jeunesse qui 
 ne finira point. Donne-lui une abondance de 
 paix et de bonheur, tandis qu'elle attendra 1'ac- 
 complissement des promesses que tu as faites a 
 ceux qui sont tiens, qu'ils ressusciteraient dans 
 la gloire et jouiraient eternellement dans le ciel 
 de ton adorable presence. Et quand je serai 
 descendu au s^pulcre, si ces pages viennent a 
 tomber entre les mains des amis que j'aurai 
 laisses sur la terre, oh ! permets que leurs coeurs 
 en soient vivement touches ; accorde-leur la 
 grace, non seulement de les lire, comme expri- 
 mant mes propres sentimens, mais de sentir eux- 
 mmes ce qui y est exprime. Enseigne-leur a 
 craindre la Seigneur mon Dieu, et & venir se 
 reTugier avec moi, & 1' ombre de ses ailes pour le 
 temps et pour 1'eternite ; qu'ils aient part a tous 
 les biens et & tous les avantages de 1'alliance que 
 Ton forme avec toi par Jesus-Christ, le grand 
 Mediateur. A lui, et i toi, 6 Pre, et an Saint- 
 
34 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 Esprit, soient rendues des louanges eternelles 
 par les millions de tes rachetes et par les esprits 
 celestes, au travail et an bonheur desquels tu 
 les associeras ! 
 
 "Mon Dieu et le Dieu de mes peres ! toi 
 qui maintiens ton alliance et qui repands tes 
 benedictions jusqu'a mille generations, je te 
 supplie humblement, puisque tu sais combien 
 le cceur de l'homme est trompeur, de vouloir 
 me faire la grace d'entrer dans cette alliance 
 avec toute sincerite de coeur et de demeurer 
 fidele a cette consecration qui a eu lieu de moi 
 dans mon baptme. Que le nom du Seigneur 
 me soit en temoignage eternel que je lui en a 1 
 signe la promesse avec la ferme et bonne volonte 
 de la tenir. 
 
 " JEAN-FREDE'RIC OBERLIN. 
 
 " Strasbourg, le ler Janvier, 1760. 
 
 RenouveU d Waldbach, le ler Janvier, 1770." 
 
 After having completed his studies Oberlin 
 was ordained, but he remained for some years 
 without undertaking any pastoral engagement, 
 either because he did not feel himself as yet 
 
HIS INFLUENCE OVER OTHERS. 35 
 
 sufficiently mature for so responsible a charge, 
 or because no situation offered itself, adapted 
 to the view which he had formed of his own 
 character and suitableness. Like the admirable 
 Fletcher,* a man of kindred spirit, who refused 
 to undertake the care of a parish because the 
 emoluments were too large, and the duty was 
 too small, Oberlin wished only for a station 
 where he might find ample scope to be useful : 
 for, having devoted himself to his Master's 
 service, he sought neither worldly distinctions, 
 nor worldly honours, but determined to be actu- 
 ated only by the specific and prevailing desire of 
 pleasing him, and of living to his glory. During 
 this interval, which lasted from the year 1760 to 
 1767, he employed himself in private teaching, 
 and became domestic tutor to the family of the 
 then distinguished surgeon, M. Ziegenhagen, 
 of Strasbourg. Whilst in this situation he 
 acquired that surgical knowledge, and ac- 
 quaintance with medicine, which, in his sub- 
 sequent life, proved so peculiarly useful, and 
 enabled him to render such eminent services to 
 his parishioners. 
 
 * The Rev. J. W. Fletcher, Rector of Madeley, Shropshire. 
 D2 
 
36 MEMOIRS OF OBERLJN. 
 
 His conscientious uprightness, amiable dis- 
 position, and entire dependence upon God in 
 the daily events of life, caused him to he held 
 at this time in high estimation among his fellow- 
 citizens; and the following occurrence is related, 
 as a proof of the influence he had almost im- 
 perceptibly acquired over them. 
 
 An honest tradesman, relying on the power 
 of his faith, came to him one day, and after a 
 long introduction, informed him, that a ghost, 
 habited in the dress of an ancient knight, fre- 
 quently presented itself before him, and awak- 
 ened hopes of a treasure buried in his cellar ; 
 he had often, he said, followed it, but had always 
 been so much alarmed by a fearful noise, and 
 a dog which he fancied he saw, that the effort 
 had proved fruitless, and he had returned as he 
 went. This alarm on the one hand, and the 
 hope of acquiring riches on the other, so entirely 
 absorbed his mind, that he could no longer 
 apply to his trade with his former industry, and 
 had, in consequence, lost nearly afl his custom. 
 He, therefore, urgently begged Oberlin would go 
 to his house, and conjure the ghost, for the 
 purpose of either putting him in possession of 
 
HIS INFLUENCE OVER OTHERS. 37 
 
 the treasure, or of discontinuing its visits. 
 Oberlin replied, that he did not trouble himself 
 with the conjuration of ghosts, and endeavoured 
 to weaken the notion of an apparition in the 
 man's mind, exhorting him at the same time to 
 seek for worldly wealth by application to his 
 business, prayer, and industry. Observing, 
 however, that his efforts were unavailing, he 
 promised to comply with the man's request. 
 On arriving, at midnight, at the tradesman's 
 house, he found him in company with his wife 
 and several female relations, who still affirmed 
 that they had seen the apparition. They were 
 seated in a circle in the middle of the apartment. 
 Suddenly the whole company turned pale, and 
 the man exclaimed, "Do you see, Sir, the 
 count is standing opposite to you?" "I see 
 nothing." "Now, Sir," exclaimed another ter- 
 rified voice, "he is advancing towards you." 
 " I stifl do not see him." " Now, he is standing 
 just behind your chair." "And yet I cannot 
 see him ; but, as you say he is so near me, I 
 will speak to him." And then rising from his 
 seat, and turning towards the corner where they 
 said that he stood, he continued, "Sir count, 
 they tell me you are standing before me, 
 
38 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 although I cannot see you, but this shall not 
 prevent me from informing you that it is scan- 
 dalous conduct on your part, by the fruitless 
 promise of a hidden treasure, to lead an honest 
 man, who has hitherto faithfully followed his 
 calling, into ruin to induce him to neglect his 
 business and to bring misery upon his wife 
 and children, by rendering him improvident and 
 idle. Begone, and delude them no longer with 
 such vain hopes." 
 
 Upon this the people assured him that the 
 ghost vanished at once. Oberlin went home, 
 and the poor man, taking the hint which in 
 his address to the count he had intended to 
 convey, applied to business with his former 
 alacrity, and never again complained of his 
 nocturnal visitor. 
 
 In the year 1766, the appointment of a 
 chaplainship to a French regiment was offered 
 to Oberlin. As the situation accorded with the 
 military predilections he had imbibed in his child- 
 hood, and promised to open a sphere of exten- 
 sive usefulness, he agreed to accept it, and soon 
 afterwards left M. Ziegenhagen's employ, and 
 
HIS MODE OF LIVING. 39 
 
 commenced a preparatory course of reading. 
 Whilst thus engaged, the curacy of the Ban de 
 la Roche became vacant, in consequence of 
 M. Stouber's removal to Strasbourg. No sooner 
 had the latter decided upon taking this step, 
 than it occurred to him, that Oberlin, with 
 whose piety and zeal he was well acquainted, 
 would be admirably calculated for the vacant 
 post, and, with the view of communicating this 
 intelligence, he went to his lodging. 
 
 It was a little attic up three pair of stairs. 
 On opening the door, the first object that caught 
 his attention was a small bed, standing in one 
 corner of the room, covered with brown paper 
 hangings. " That would just suit the Steinthal," 
 said he to himself. On approaching the bed, 
 he found Oberlin lying upon it, and suffering 
 from a violent tooth-ache. He rallied him 
 about the simplicity of his curtains, and the 
 homeliness of his apartment. "And, pray," 
 continued he, after having taken a survey round 
 the room, "what is the use of that little iron 
 pan that hangs over your table ?" "That is my 
 kitchen," replied Oberlin ; " I am in the habit of 
 dining at home with my parents every day, and 
 
40 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 they give me a large piece of bread to bring back 
 in my pocket. At eight o'clock in the evening, I 
 put my bread into that pan, and having sprinkled 
 it with salt, and poured a little water upon it, I 
 place it over my lamp, and go on with my studies 
 till ten or eleven o'clock, when I generally begin 
 to feel hungry, and relish my self-cooked supper 
 more than the greatest dainties." 
 
 Stouber congratulated him on the happiness 
 of possessing so contented a disposition; and, 
 assuring him that he was exactly the person he 
 had wished to find, communicated the object of 
 his visit. 
 
 Oberlin was rejoiced at the proposition; but 
 having nearly concluded his engagement to 
 undertake the office of military chaplain, he 
 would not accept the cure until a free discharge 
 from his engagement was obtained, and until 
 he was convinced that no candidates for clerical 
 preferment, who had a prior claim to himself, 
 would accept the situation. 
 
 These two points were soon arranged, in con- 
 sequence of a candidate making application for 
 
ARRIVAL IN THE BAN DE LA ROCHE. 41 
 
 the one office, whilst the other, which offered 
 scarcely any emolument, was left unsolicited. 
 The Ban de la Roche, as a sphere of pastoral 
 labour, was wholly uninviting to any, but those 
 who in singleness of heart, were wishing to 
 forsake all for Christ;- Oberlin, therefore, after 
 many earnest prayers that a blessing might rest 
 upon himself and upon the little flock com- 
 mitted to his charge, accompanied his new 
 friend and patron thither, and arrived at Wald- 
 bach on the 30th of March, 1767. He was at 
 this time in the twenty-seventh year of his age. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 OBERLIN'S FIRST IMPRESSIONS ON REACHING WALDBACH STATE 
 OF THE PARISH IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED OPPOSITION MA- 
 NIFESTED BY THE PEASANTRY CORRESPONDENCE WITH M. 
 
 STOUBER LETTERS FROM THE LATTER HIS MARRIAGE, AND 
 
 PRAYER. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONDITION OF THE ROADS- 
 AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENTS, &C. 
 
 ON Oberlin's arrival at Waldbach, he took up 
 his residence in the parsonage house, a tolerably 
 commodious building, formerly occupied by M. 
 Stouber. It had a court yard in front, and a 
 good garden behind, and stood in a delightful 
 situation very near the church, being surrounded 
 by steep dells clothed with wood, and rugged 
 mountains, the tops and sides of which were 
 partially covered with pines, and a few other 
 straggling trees. 
 
 The first glance which he threw over the 
 mountains destined to be the scene of his mi- 
 nisterial labours, convinced him, that notwith- 
 standing the partial reformation effected by 
 
rl 
 
 c ** 
 
 ii 
 
 ? * 
 
 ^"> 
 
 e 
 
STATE OF THE PARISH. 43 
 
 M. Stouber's exertions, neither the necessities 
 of his flock, nor the difficulties which opposed 
 their removal, were of any ordinary kind. 
 
 They were alike destitute of the means of 
 mental and social intercourse; they spoke a 
 rude patois resembling the Lorraine dialect, and 
 the medium of no external information ; they 
 were entirely secluded from the neighbouring 
 districts by the want of roads, which, owing to 
 the devastation of war and decays of population, 
 had been so totally lost, that the only mode of 
 communication, from the bulk of the parish to 
 the neighbouring towns, was across the river 
 Bruche, a stream thirty feet wide, by stepping- 
 stones, and in winter along its bed; the hus- 
 bandmen were destitute of the most necessary 
 agricultural implements, and had no means of 
 procuring them ; the provisions springing from 
 the soil were not sufficient to maintain even a 
 scanty population ; and a feudal service, more 
 fatal than sterile land and ungenial climate, con- 
 stantly depressed and irritated their spirits. 
 
 Confident, however, that strength would be 
 afforded, if rightly sought, Oberlin at once 
 
44 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 resolved to employ all the attainments in science, 
 philosophy, and religion, which he had brought 
 with him from Strasbourg, to the improve- 
 ment of the parish and the benefit of his 
 parishioners. 
 
 Those individuals over whom M. Stouber had 
 gained an influence, silently acquiesced in the 
 projects of his successor; but a very determined 
 spirit of opposition soon manifested itself among 
 the opposite party, under the supposition that 
 old practices are always safe, and that whatever 
 is new must be pernicious. They resolved, there- 
 fore, not to submit to innovation, but to try 
 what they might be able to effect by determined 
 resistance. On one occasion, soon after his 
 arrival, they laid a plan to way-lay their new 
 minister, and inflict upon him a severe personal 
 castigation, judging that such a measure, at the 
 commencement of his career, would prevent his 
 future interference. 
 
 Oberlin happily received information of their 
 intention, and, without being disconcerted at 
 the intelligence, immediately determined upon 
 a mode of correction, in which the peculiar 
 
OPPOSED BY THE PEASANTRY. 45 
 
 gentleness and decision that formed such lead- 
 ing traits in his character were remarkably 
 displayed. 
 
 Sunday being fixed upon for the execution of 
 this attempt, when the day arrived he took for 
 his text those words of our Saviour, in the fifth 
 chapter of St. Matthew : " But I say unto you, 
 that ye resist not evil ; but whosoever shall 
 smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the 
 other also ;" and proceeded from these words 
 to speak of the Christian patience with which 
 we should suffer injuries, and submit to false 
 surmises, and ill usage. After the service the 
 malecontents met at the house of one of the 
 party, to amuse themselves in conjecturing what 
 their pastor would do, when he should find himself 
 compelled to put in practice the principles he 
 had so readily explained. What then must have 
 been their astonishment, when the door opened, 
 and Oberlin himself stood before them. 
 
 " Here am I, my friends," said he, with that 
 calm dignity of manner which inspires even the 
 most violent with respect ; " I am acquainted 
 with your design. You have wished to chastise 
 
46 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 me, because you consider me culpable. If I 
 have indeed violated the rules which I have laid 
 down for you, punish me for it. It is better 
 that I should deliver myself into your hands, 
 than that you should be guilty of the meanness 
 of an ambuscade." These simple words pro- 
 duced their intended effect. The peasants, 
 ashamed of their scheme, sincerely begged his 
 forgiveness, and promised never again to enter- 
 tain a doubt of the sincerity of the motives by 
 which he was actuated, and of his affectionate 
 desires to promote their welfare. 
 
 A few weeks after this event another circum- 
 stance, of a similar nature, occurred in one of the 
 adjoining villages. He was informed that the 
 young people belonging to it had determined to 
 seize him the following Sunday, on his leaving 
 their place of worship, and to duck him in a cis- 
 tern. He consequently took occasion to speak, 
 in his sermon, of the happiness and security 
 enjoyed by those who trust in the Lord ; of the 
 special protection which he vouchsafes to his 
 servants ; and of his firm belief that not a hair 
 of our heads can be injured without his express 
 permission. He was in the general habit of 
 
CORRESPONDENCE WITH STOUBER. 47 
 
 returning home on horseback, but this time he 
 set out purposely on foot, desiring a peasant to 
 lead his horse. He had not proceeded far, before 
 he saw two or three men partly concealed be- 
 hind the hedge, and awaiting his approach. He 
 passed them, however, with so calm and com- 
 posed a countenance and step, that they were 
 daunted, and did not venture to put their plan 
 into execution. 
 
 These occurrences are believed to have had a 
 good effect in accelerating the execution of his 
 projects of reform ; for those who had connived 
 in the plots against him, anxious to reinstate 
 themselves in his good esteem, and conscious 
 that they had no better means of succeeding 
 than by warmly seconding the views which they 
 had hitherto opposed, were henceforward among 
 the foremost to assist him. 
 
 During the first years of his residence in the 
 Ban de la Roche, Oberlin found an enlightened 
 and experienced guide, and a wise and faithful 
 counsellor, in his predecessor, M. Stouber. The 
 following letter, addressed by the latter to his 
 young friend, is full of excellent counsel and 
 
48 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 advice ; and proves that he had himself felt 
 the responsibility attached to so peculiar a 
 situation :* 
 
 Strasbourg, June 2, 1768. 
 
 " Do not, my dear friend, suppose that I 
 could have done any thing better than you have 
 done it. God alone can enable either of us to 
 do just so much as he pleases, and no more. 
 The little experience that it cost me long years 
 of labour and difficulty to obtain, you will acquire 
 more speedily. You possess it already in some 
 degree, though still insufficiently. When I was 
 in your situation a single circumstance, or even 
 a single word, would sometimes discourage and 
 discompose me so much that I did not know 
 what to do. I could not help perceiving almost 
 every day that I had ignorantly committed the 
 
 * When any of the letters or papers contained in this Memoir 
 have been originally written in French, the editor has generally 
 given them in that language, with translations in the Appendix ; but 
 when they have appeared in German, as in the present instance, she 
 has thought it better to insert almost literal translations in the body of 
 the work. 
 
LETTER FROM STOUBER. 49 
 
 greatest mistakes ignorantly escaped the greatest 
 dangers ignorantly lost or acquired the greatest 
 advantages : that what I sought was evil, and 
 what I shunned good ; that what I hoped for 
 was nothing, and what I supposed nothing, 
 something. If it was God's purpose that any 
 scheme of mine should succeed, he caused the 
 heads of the parish to listen to me even when 
 I least expected it, and had made the least 
 preparation for it ; and as frequently permitted 
 the plans upon which I had grounded my hopes 
 of success, and taken the most pains to carry 
 into effect, to become of no avail. 
 
 " In so deplorable a state are the people of the 
 unfortunate Steinthal, that one in your situation 
 can do nothing but commend them to God, and 
 look for succour and assistance from him alone. 
 If he should see meet to let things go on for a 
 period in their present state, and without any 
 visible improvement, do not be discouraged. 
 He undoubtedly will, in his own good time, 
 effect such changes among some of the members 
 of your flock, as neither the folly or the taunts 
 of the remainder, nor the craft and malice of 
 the enemy, shall be able to subvert; and whilst 
 
 B 
 
50 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 you trace his finger throughout the whole, and 
 thank him for having crowned your exertions 
 with even this partial success, you will find in- 
 creased cause for the exercise of self-distrust, 
 patience, and humility. God will, I feel assured, 
 bless your endeavours, if you continue to main- 
 tain that devotedness of spirit, which your letter 
 so sweetly and fervently breathes. Only trust 
 every thing to him ; and pray for the blessing 
 which he alone can bestow. You have more 
 influence over others than I have ; and this, 
 provided you fear no one but God, and guard 
 against forming too many schemes, will render 
 you in truth more useful than I have been. But 
 I must remind you, that even when deeply 
 engaged in good works, it is possible to depart 
 from spiritual Christianity; and I would, on this 
 account, urge you to maintain a constant guard 
 over yourself. You have been brought under 
 the influence of religion, and, in the usual sense 
 of the term, converted to God ; but, without 
 constant prayer to him, and the most zealous 
 watchfulness, there is a danger lest you should 
 rest satisfied with this, and relapse into indif- 
 ference. By being so incessantly occupied in 
 the prosecution of your favourite schemes, and 
 
LETTER FROM STOUBER. 51 
 
 destitute of stimulating society, you may become 
 cold and lukewarm in your religious duties, and 
 less devoted in your service to God, even though 
 busily employed in promoting the well-being of 
 your fellow-creatures. I would, therefore, earn- 
 estly exhort you, my dear friend, to be always 
 ' fervent in spirit, serving the Lord/ living only 
 to, and for, Him. Thus you will be enabled to 
 overcome difficulties ; you will find comfort and 
 peace in believing, and He will protect, guide, 
 and bless you. Your work will prosper, not 
 perhaps in the manner which you design, but in 
 the way which God has purposed. 
 
 " I have no other end in view in this exhorta- 
 tion than your good. I wish you to understand 
 that this is, literally, my only object in writing 
 thus plainly. I speak frankly and sincerely to 
 you, because I know that our hearts are closely 
 allied, and because I have sometimes observed 
 with deep concern the dangers incident to young 
 persons ; coldness and lukewarmness after the 
 first fervour of religious feeling has subsided; self 
 sufficiency in what they have effected, and too 
 great tendency to absorption of mind in even 
 laudable and benevolent pursuits. 
 
 E 2 
 
52 MEMOFRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 " This is the motive that induces me, once for 
 all, to warn you on this point ; for the heart of 
 man is deceitful,, and naturally tends to earth if 
 it is not constantly drawn upwards. 
 
 " There are yet two things to which I parti- 
 cularly wish to direct your attention ; prayer 
 and the Holy Scriptures. I find it necessary, in 
 order to keep up habitual communion with God, 
 and to fan the spirit of Christianity in my own 
 bosom, to have constant recourse to them. 
 
 " It is by reading the writings of the Apostles, 
 almost exclusively, that I am enabled to press 
 onward in my spiritual course, and to encou- 
 rage myself to prayer. 
 
 ****** 
 
 " Yours, my dear friend, 
 
 In the bonds of Christian love, 
 
 G. STOUBER." 
 
 Warned and encouraged by such powerful 
 exhortations, Oberlin went on his way rejoicing, 
 
HIS MARRIAGE. 53 
 
 and eventually became established in Christian 
 faith and holiness. 
 
 But I have now to speak of an event which 
 materially contributed to enhance his temporal 
 happiness. This was his marriage with a very 
 pious and amiable young lady of Strasbourg, 
 named Madeleine Salome Witter. The follow- 
 ing particulars are mentioned merely because 
 they are so thoroughly characteristic. 
 
 Previous to his settlement in the Ban de la 
 Roche, his mother had anxiously desired to see 
 him united to one who would participate in his 
 labours, relieve him from domestic cares, and 
 cheer and solace him in the remote and lonely 
 situation in which he was about to be placed. 
 He, however, was easy on the subject, but, out 
 of regard to his parents, agreed to accede to 
 their wishes, provided they could select a suit- 
 able companion for him. Mrs. Oberlin had been 
 told in confidence, that her son would probably 
 meet with success by asking the hand of the 
 daughter of a rich brewer's widow. He was 
 persuaded to try his fortune in person ; but as it 
 had, from early youth, been a principle with him 
 
54 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 to wait for some intimation from Providence, 
 whenever his reason proved an insufficient 
 guide, he earnestly prayed that God would be 
 pleased to reveal his will to him, and to direct 
 him in his judgment, whether the marriage would 
 be likely to conduce to his happiness, by the 
 manner in which the mother should receive 
 him. If she should herself make the proposi- 
 tion, he resolved to regard it as a sign of provi- 
 dential approbation ; but, if not, to consider it 
 his duty to abstain from mentioning the subject. 
 He then proceeded towards the house, and rang 
 the bell. The mother gave him a courteous 
 reception, and even called down her daughter, 
 whose appearance did not, however, particularly 
 please him ; they sat down, talked of a pre- 
 tended cause of the visit, of the weather, and 
 of the news about the town, till at length, all 
 topics being exhausted, a silence succeeded ; 
 the parties looked at each other in some sur- 
 prise, for Oberlin was a novel visiter there, and 
 then looked down again. This scene of " silent 
 state" lasted about two minutes, when the latter, 
 who had decided in his own mind how to act, 
 made a polite bow, opened the door, shut it 
 again, and took his departure, leaving both 
 
HIS MARRIAGE. 55 
 
 mother and daughter at a loss to conjecture 
 the cause of this singular visit, and the marriage 
 was never again thought of. The apprehensions 
 of his fond parents were, however, continued. 
 They had long maintained a friendly intercourse 
 with the family of Frederic's former school- 
 master, and he was himself warmly attached to 
 the person of the latter. He had one daughter, 
 a young woman of an agreeable disposition, for 
 whom Oberlin had long entertained a cordial 
 esteem. With his consent the parents drew up 
 a preliminary marriage contract between them ; 
 but a more wealthy suitor was finally preferred 
 by the family of the schoolmaster, and this 
 circumstance induced the young lady to with- 
 draw from the contract. A few weeks only had 
 elapsed after this circumstance, when Oberlin 
 received a note from her father expressing a wish 
 to renew the connexion. Upon its receipt he 
 immediately repaired to the schoolmaster's house, 
 with the note in his hand, which he returned, 
 saying, " My dear Sir, I am accustomed to follow 
 the intimations of Providence. I consider what 
 has recently occurred, as an intimation that a 
 marriage between your daughter and myself 
 would neither tend to her happiness, nor to 
 
56 . MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 mine. Let us, therefore, say no more about it, 
 and forget all that has passed. Allow me again 
 to participate in your affection, as I can assure 
 you that mine has not been in the least dimi- 
 nished ; nor have I lost a particle of the gratitude 
 I owe you, for all your instructions." 
 
 He then continued the conversation on gene- 
 ral subjects, and the intercourse between the 
 two families remained undisturbed. 
 
 These two plans having successively failed, 
 Mrs. Oberlin yielded to the wishes of her son, 
 and allowed him to set out for his parish. She, 
 however, accompanied him to Waldbach, and 
 assisted in arranging his domestic establishment, 
 the care of which devolved on his younger sister, 
 Sophia. About a year after his settlement there, 
 Miss Witter, who was a friend and relation of 
 the family, came to pay a visit in the Steinthal, 
 and stopped some weeks at the parsonage. She 
 had lost her father, who was a professor in the 
 University of Strasbourg, at a very early age, 
 and her mother died shortly afterwards ; but 
 although deprived of the benefit of parental 
 instruction, she possessed a sound understanding, 
 
HIS MARRIAGE. 57 
 
 and a highly cultivated mind, deeply imbued 
 with religious principles.* 
 
 She was, however, at this time, more expensive 
 and worldly in her habits than her cousin Frederic, 
 and their dispositions did not entirely harmonize. 
 
 The time of her departure at length drew 
 near. Only two days before the period fixed 
 upon for her return to Strasbourg, Oberlin felt 
 as though a secret voice within, whispered, 
 " Take her for thy partner ! " He, however, 
 resisted the call. " It is impossible," said he, 
 almost aloud, " our dispositions do not agree." 
 " Take her for thy partner ! " the voice still 
 continued. He spent a sleepless night, and, in 
 his prayers the next morning, solemnly declared 
 to God, that if he would give him a sign, by the 
 readiness with which Madeleine should accede 
 to the proposition, that the union was in ac- 
 cordance with his will, he would cheerfully 
 submit to it, and consider the voice he had heard 
 as a leading of Providence. 
 
 * See " Acte de renouvellement sincere de inon alliance de Bap- 
 tme, &c." written a few years after her marriage with Oberliii. 
 Appendix, No. II. 
 
58 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 After breakfast, the same morning, he found 
 the young lady sitting in a summer-house in the 
 garden. Placing himself beside her, he began 
 the conversation by saying, " You are about to 
 leave us, my dear friend : I have had an inti- 
 mation that you are destined, by the Divine will, 
 to be the partner of my life. If you can resolve 
 upon this step, so important to us both, I expect 
 you will give me your candid opinion about it, 
 before your departure." 
 
 Upon this Miss Witter rose from her seat, 
 and, blushing as she approached him, placed one 
 hand before her eyes, and held the other towards 
 him. He clasped it in his own. The decision 
 was made : a decision which he never found 
 cause to regret, for, notwithstanding the deter- 
 mination Madeleine had made not to be allied 
 to a minister, she became truly devoted to his 
 interests, and the most cordial attachment ever 
 afterwards subsisted between them. 
 
 The marriage took place July the 6th, 1768. 
 
 The following affecting prayer, written by 
 Oberlin at this period, will give some idea of the 
 
PRAYER ON HIS MARRIAGE. /if) 
 
 feelings, with which, in conjunction with those 
 of his affectionate partner, he entered into the 
 sacred engagement, and also of the spirit which 
 ever afterwards pervaded their peaceful house- 
 hold.* 
 
 " Pricre d'Oberlin et de sa femme, pour demander 
 a Dieu sa benediction et sa grace : 
 
 " Esprit saint, descends dans nos cceurs ; aide- 
 nous a prier avec ferveur et du fond de notre 
 ame ; permets a tes enfans, 6 notre bon Pere, de 
 se presenter devant ta face pour te demander ce 
 qui leur est necessaire ! 
 
 " Que nous nous aimions seulement en toi et 
 en notre Sauveur J^sus-Christ, comme e*tant des 
 membres de son corps ! Sois-nous en aide afin 
 que, durant tout le jour, nous ayons les yeux 
 fixs sur toi, nous marchions devant toi, et nous 
 nous recueillions en toi ; en sorte que, de jour 
 en jour, notre vie devienne plus spirituelle ! 
 
 " Permets que nous te soyons fiddles dans 
 1'exercice de nos devoirs, que nous nous y exci- 
 
 * For a translation of this prayer, sec Appendix, No. III. 
 
60 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 tions 1'un Pautre, nous d^couvrant re'ciproque- 
 ment nos fautes, et en cherchant ensemble le 
 pardon dans le sang de Je"sus-Christ ! Quand 
 nous prierons ensemble, et 'puissions-nous prier 
 souvent et beaucoup ! sois, 6 Seigneur Jesus, le 
 troisieme au milieu de nous ; et toi, Pere celeste, 
 rends-nous bien fervens ; exauce, a cause de 
 Jesus-Christ, ce que tu nous auras enseigne, par 
 ton Saint-Esprit, a te demander ! 
 
 " Puisque, dans cette vie, tu as mis sous notre 
 direction ceux de notre maison, donne-nous de 
 la sagesse et de la force pour les conduire d'une 
 maniere qui te soit agreable. Que nous leur 
 soyons toujours un bon exemple, et fassions ce 
 que tu nous dis d' Abraham qui commandait a 
 ses enfans et a sa maison, apres lui, de garder la 
 voie de 1'Eternel pour faire ce qui est juste et 
 droit. Si tu nous donnes des enfans et que tu 
 nous les conserves, oh ! fais-nous la grace de les 
 clever pour toi, de leur apprendre de bonne 
 heure a connaitre, a craindre, a aimer et a invo- 
 quer le Dieu qui a fait alliance avec eux, aim 
 que, conformement a I'engagement qui sera pris 
 pour eux dans le baptme, ils te demeurent fideles, 
 depuis le berceau jusqu'a la mort. O notre 
 
HIS PRAYER. (Jl 
 
 Pere celeste, que nous leur inculquions ta Parole, 
 toute notre vie, avec douceur, amour et patience, 
 a leur lever et a leur coucher, a la maison et 
 hors de la maison, et dans toutes les circon- 
 stances oil ce sera possible, ainsi que tu 1'aimes, 
 Seigneur, et que cela convient pour des enfans 
 auxquels tu n'as donne la vie que comme un 
 moyen d'aller vers toi. 
 
 " Lorsque nous irons ensemble a la sainte Cene, 
 oh ! donne-nous toujours de nouvelles graces, 
 de nouvelles forces, un nouveau courage pour 
 continuer a marcher dans le chemin du ciel ; et, 
 puisque nous ne pouvons nous en approcher 
 dans Tannee que quatre fois, que nous y prenions 
 part d'autant plus souvent, oui, chaque jour et 
 chaque heure, par la foi! que nous ayons tou- 
 jours la moil devant les yeux et nous y prepa- 
 rions toujours ; et, s'il est une chose que nous 
 puissions solliciter de toi, oh ! accorde que nous 
 ne soyons pas long-temps separes Tun de 1'autre, 
 mais que la mort de Tun suive de pres et de bien 
 pres celle de 1'autre,* 
 
 * The designs of the Lord were different, and this prayer was not 
 answered. Oberlin, for the happiness of his fellow-creatures, lived 
 forty-two years after the death of his wife. " My thoughts are not 
 
62 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 " Exauce-nous, notre tendre Pere, au nom de 
 Jesus-Christ, ton fils bien-aime. Amen. Et 
 toi, 6 notre poux, que tous deux nous t'aimions 
 d'un ardent amour, etant toujours en rapport et 
 en communion avec toi! Ne permets pas que 
 nous mettions notre confiance en notre propre 
 justice et en nos ceuvres, mais seulement en ton 
 sang et en tes merites. Sois avec nous, main- 
 tiens-nous fideles, at accorde-nous, Seigneur 
 Jesus, que nous te voyions bientot. Esprit 
 saint, notre Dieu, demeure toujours dans nos 
 coeurs, enseigne-nous a Clever a chaque instant 
 nos soupirs vers notre bon Pere ; donne-nous 
 selon nos besoins ta force ou ta consolation. 
 Et a toi, au Pere et au Fils soient la louange, 
 1'honneur et la gloire, d'eternite en eternite. 
 Amen." 
 
 Mrs. Oberlin soon became an invaluable 
 assistant to her husband in all his labours of 
 love, tempering his zeal with her prudence, and 
 forwarding his benevolent plans by her judicious 
 arrangements. In the prosecution of those plans 
 much Christian firmness was requisite, for they 
 
 your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." 
 Isaiah Iv. 8. 
 
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ROADS. 63 
 
 had, as we have already seen, to encounter the 
 prejudices generally attendant on ignorance, and 
 such as the most unwearied patience and self- 
 denying virtue could alone have surmounted. 
 
 Almost the first object of Oberlin's provident 
 activity was to repair and widen the roads. In 
 a country where rocks hanging on the steep 
 declivity of a chain of mountains, and rapid 
 torrents pouring from their summits, are per- 
 petually causing considerable falls of loosened 
 earth, the formation and preservation of roads 
 involves an expense far beyond the resources of 
 a poor and isolated parish ; and all the roads 
 belonging to the Ban de la Roche were, conse- 
 quently, during the greater part of the year 
 absolutely impassable. 
 
 To rescue his parishioners from the half- 
 savage state in which he found them, he judged 
 it necessary, as a preliminary measure, to bring 
 them into contact with the inhabitants of other 
 districts, further advanced in civilization ; and 
 for this purpose to open a regular communica- 
 tion with the high road to Strasbourg, by which 
 means the productions of the Ban de la Roche 
 
64 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 might find a market, and materials be procured 
 for exercising their industry and ingenuity. 
 
 Having, therefore, assembled the people, he 
 proposed that they should blast the rocks, and 
 convey a sufficient quantity of enormous masses 
 to construct a wall to support a road about 
 a mile and a half in length, along the banks 
 of the river Bruche, and build a bridge across it 
 near Rothau. 
 
 The peasants were perfectly astonished at the 
 proposition. The project appeared to them 
 totally impracticable, and every one excused 
 himself, on the plea of private business, from 
 engaging in so stupendous an undertaking. 
 Oberlin, still intent on the prosecution of his 
 scheme, endeavoured to refute the objections 
 raised on all sides : " The produce of your 
 fields," said he, " will then meet with a ready 
 market abroad ; for, instead of being imprisoned 
 in your villages nine months out of the twelve, 
 you will be enabled to keep up an intercourse with 
 the inhabitants of the neighbouring districts. 
 You will have the opportunity of procuring a 
 number of things of which you have long stood 
 
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ROADS. H5 
 
 in need, without the possibility of obtaining 
 them, and your happiness will be augmented 
 and increased by the additional means, thus 
 afforded, of providing comforts for yourselves 
 and your children." But his arguments were 
 concluded with a more touching appeal. He 
 offered them his own example in the under- 
 taking. " Let all," he said, " who feel the im- 
 portance of my proposition, come and work 
 with me." 
 
 Oberlin had already traced the plan, and no 
 sooner had he pronounced these words, than, 
 with a pick-axe on his shoulder, he proceeded 
 to the spot ; whilst the astonished peasants, 
 animated by his example, forgot their former 
 excuses, and hastened, with unanimous consent, 
 to fetch their tools and follow him. He pre- 
 sently assigned to each individual an allotted 
 post, selected for himself and a faithful servant 
 the most difficult and dangerous places ; and, 
 regardless of the thorns by which his hands 
 were torn, and of the loose stones by which 
 they were occasionally bruised, went to work 
 with the greatest diligence and enthusiasm. 
 The emulation awakened by his conduct quickly 
 
66 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 spread through the whole parish. The increased 
 number of hands rendered an increased number 
 of implements necessary; he procured them 
 from Strasbourg ; expenses accumulated ; he 
 interested his distant friends, and, through their 
 assistance, funds were obtained; walls were 
 erected to support the earth, which appeared 
 ready to give way ; mountain torrents, which 
 had hitherto inundated the meadows, were 
 diverted into courses, or received into beds 
 sufficient to contain them ; perseverance, in 
 short, triumphed over difficulties, and at the 
 commencement of the year 1770, a communica- 
 tion was opened with Strasbourg, by means of 
 the new road, and a neat wooden bridge thrown 
 across the river. This bridge still bears the 
 name of " Le Pont de Charitk" 
 
 The immediate advantages resulting from this 
 great undertaking, increased the influence which 
 Oberlin was already beginning to acquire over 
 his parishioners, and rendered the adoption of 
 his successive plans, particularly that of a regular 
 communication between the five hitherto sepa- 
 rated villages, still more practicable. It seemed 
 as though nothing could daunt their ardour ; 
 
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ROADS. 67 
 
 and the pastor, who, on the Sabbath, had 
 directed their attention with that earnestness, 
 and warmth, by which his own soul was 
 animated, to "the rest that remaineth for the 
 people of God," and to the "city which hath 
 foundations," was seen on the Monday, with a 
 pick-axe on his shoulder, marching at the head 
 of two hundred of his flock, with an energy that 
 neither fatigue nor danger could diminish. 
 
 One of the next wants that he found it 
 necessary to supply, was a depot in the valley, 
 for agricultural tools and implements of hus- 
 bandry; for whenever any of them happened 
 to break, or to get out of repair, two whole 
 days' work must be lost in going to Strasbourg 
 to procure more, and even then the poor 
 peasants were destitute of ready money to pur- 
 chase them. To remedy this inconvenience, he 
 stocked a large warehouse in Waldbach with 
 the necessary articles, and gave the purchasers 
 credit till their payments came round. He 
 also established a sort of lending fund, 
 under such strict regulations, that those who 
 did not punctually repay the money they 
 had borrowed on the prescribed day, were 
 
68 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 deprived, for a certain time, of the liberty of 
 borrowing again. 
 
 Another measure, which he considered essen- 
 tial to the progress of civilization, was the 
 introduction of trades. There were neither 
 masons, blacksmiths, nor cartwrights, in the 
 country, and the inhabitants were subjected to 
 numerous privations, and to great expenses, in 
 fetching from the neighbouring towns what was 
 needful for the supply of their wants. Oberlin, 
 therefore, selected from among the elder boys 
 some of the readiest abilities, and sent them 
 to Strasbourg, to learn the trades of a carpenter, 
 a mason, a glazier, a cartwright, and a black- 
 smith. By this means he succeeded in procuring 
 good workmen, who, on their return, not only 
 instructed others in their newly acquired arts, 
 but saved the people of the Ban de la Roche 
 the expense and loss of time they had formerly 
 incurred : nor was this the only advantage 
 accruing from so judicious a step, for the mo- 
 ney which had hitherto been sent to a distance 
 was now circulated among themselves. So 
 scarce had money previously been, that the gift 
 of a single sou is said to have overwhelmed 
 
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ROADS. 69 
 
 a poor woman with joy, as it enabled her to 
 procure a little salt to eat with her potatoes. 
 
 Finally, Oberlin's solicitude extended to their 
 dwellings. They were generally wretched cabins 
 hewn out of the rocks, or sunk into the sides 
 of the mountains ; and without cellars suffi- 
 ciently deep to preserve the potatoes, which 
 formed their principal sustenance, from the 
 frost. Under his superintendence and direc- 
 tion, however, cellars were constructed, and 
 comfortable cottages erected. 
 
 In the prosecution of these plans, as well as 
 those introduced at a later period, Oberlin was 
 much indebted to the counsel and experience 
 of his paternal friend, M. Stouber, with whom 
 he maintained a regular correspondence. The 
 following extract, from one of his letters, de- 
 serves insertion in this memoir, because the 
 advice it contains may prove of utility to others, 
 as well as to the individual for whom it was 
 originally designed : 
 
70 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN 
 
 " MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 " The best advice I can give you, is to care 
 chiefly for the souls of your flock. I would not 
 have you too anxious to render them eager 
 in the pursuit of worldly good; for, as they 
 become Christians, they will naturally become 
 active, industrious, and provident. You must 
 not allow them to be either idlers, or the slaves 
 of mammon. 
 
 " By endeavouring too much to induce them 
 to adopt your plans in preference to others, 
 and on account of some supposed superiority 
 over those to which they have been accustomed, 
 you will defeat your own purposes, and excite 
 their suspicion and disgust. I advise you, there- 
 fore, to leave them, for the present at least, 
 pretty much to their own devices, and to labour, 
 in charity and love, for the salvation of their 
 souls, firmly believing that by so doing you 
 will obtain the greatest blessing. This is the 
 
EXTRACT FROM STOUBER*S LETTER. 71 
 
 last thing that experience taught me, during 
 my residence in the Steinthal, or rather since 
 I left it. I much regret having occasionally 
 induced the people to do things against their 
 will. If I were now there, I would leave them 
 much more to themselves ; and, however in- 
 different might be the appearance of their 
 external affairs, the state of their finances, or 
 the conduct of their schools, I would say little 
 to them on the subject of economy or manage- 
 ment, but, by evincing a sincere interest in 
 their concerns, I would endeavour to gain their 
 confidence, and induce them to regard me as 
 their friend ; and then, having once obtained 
 this confidence, and a proportionate degree of 
 influence, I would exert it, to the utmost of 
 my ability, to their advantage, both in the 
 instruction of the young and the conversion 
 of the old, seeking to win their affections by 
 my earnest desire to promote their spiritual 
 interests. If you adopt this method, my dear 
 friend, God will take care of the rest. Necessity 
 will compel your people to employ themselves, 
 and they will think a thousand times better of 
 their own schemes, than of any that you can 
 propose to them. 
 
72 MEMOIRS OF OBERL1N. 
 
 " I am far from wishing you to give up your 
 projects, (many of which have been already 
 attended with such admirable success,) but I 
 acknowledge that I have, for my own part, felt 
 the danger of bestowing too much attention 
 upon such things, rather than upon more essen- 
 tial and important duties. At the same time, 
 I would not have you by any means neglect 
 a ready acquiescence in such practical schemes 
 as may suggest themselves to the minds of 
 your people, or the adoption of such as may 
 occur to yourself: only do not make them 
 your primary object." 
 
 Oberlin particularly felt the importance of the 
 latter part of this advice in his efforts for the 
 improvement of agriculture ; a branch of rural 
 economy in which the mountaineers, however 
 readily they might acquiesce in his other plans, 
 evinced great reluctance to be instructed, sup- 
 posing that their own knowledge of the subject 
 must necessarily exceed that of their pastor, 
 whose life, previous to his arrival in the Ban 
 de la Roche, had been generally spent in a town. 
 
 He knew this so well that he determined to 
 
AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENTS. 73 
 
 appeal to their eyes rather than their ears, 
 believing that they would be more easily led 
 to coincide in his views when they had seen 
 his theories reduced to practice. Belonging to 
 his parsonage were two gardens, crossed by very 
 public foot-paths, and these he chose for the 
 scene of his labours. Assisted by a favourite 
 and intelligent servant, he dug trenches, four 
 or five feet deep, and surrounded the young 
 trees, that he planted in them, with such soil 
 as he considered best adapted to promote their 
 growth. He also procured slips of apples, pears, 
 plums, cherries, and walnuts, and made a large 
 nursery ground of one of the gardens, hitherto 
 noted for the poverty of its soil ; and then 
 waited with patience for the time when his 
 parishioners, observing the success of his ex- 
 periments, should come of their own accord 
 to express their astonishment, and to ask his 
 assistance in raising trees for themselves. 
 
 His expectations were not disappointed ; the 
 trees grew and flourished ; and, as the peasants 
 had to pass through the gardens in going to 
 their daily work, they could not help stopping 
 to observe the surprising contrast between the 
 
74 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 scanty supply of their own, and the rich produce 
 of their pastor's land, and at length repaired to 
 him, anxiously inquiring how such very fine trees 
 could grow in such a soil. Oberlin, according 
 to his accustomed method of deriving instruction 
 from every incident, first directed their thoughts 
 to Him who " causeth the earth to bring forth 
 her bud," and who " crowneth the year with 
 his goodness," and then proceeded to explain 
 the mode of cultivation, by which, under his 
 all-superintending Providence, their exertions 
 might be followed by similar success. 
 
 The taste for planting trees was thus diffused, 
 and the art of grafting, in which he himself 
 instructed those who wished to understand it, 
 became a favourite employment. The very face 
 of the country, in consequence, underwent a 
 complete change ; for the cottages, hitherto for 
 the most part bare and desolate, were sur- 
 rounded by neat little orchards and gardens; 
 and, in the place of indigence and misery, the 
 villages, and their inhabitants, gradually assumed 
 an air of rural happiness. 
 
 So barbarous, before Oberlin's time, had been 
 
AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENTS. 75 
 
 the state of the Ban de la Roche, with regard 
 to the most simple agricultural arts, that the 
 old men told him they remembered to have 
 heard from their fathers, that previous to the 
 year 1709, the people of this canton subsisted 
 chiefly upon wild apples and pears. The dread- 
 ful famine that took place that year, compelled 
 them to devise means for procuring some other 
 sustenance ; and, with this view, they partially 
 cleared away an immense forest, which extended 
 nearly all over the country, and planted a sort 
 of potatoes, (quemattes, or cruattes de tierre, in 
 the patois y } which were then first introduced. 
 Owing to the rigorous seasons, and to the soil 
 having been often swept away from the rocks it 
 covered , by the rain, this primitive potatoe 
 had so far degenerated, that, when Oberlin came 
 to the Ban de la Roche, in 1767, fields that 
 had formerly yielded from 120 to 150 bushels, 
 furnished only between 30 and 50. The people 
 imagined that the ground was in fault, but no 
 means of remedying the evil ever occurred to 
 them. Oberlin, attributing the circumstance to 
 its true cause, pointed out to them the means 
 of recovering the crops, made them acquainted 
 with Par mentier's useful work on the subject, 
 
76 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 and procured some seed from Switzerland, Hol- 
 land and Lorraine, to renew the species. The 
 sandy soil of- the mountains being peculiarly 
 favourable to their vegetation, abundance soon 
 returned ; and potatoes of a superior quality 
 and flavour became, and are to this day, cele- 
 brated as the great production of the place, 
 furnishing not only a sufficient store for home 
 consumption, but also a profitable article of 
 exportation. 
 
 Believing that great advantages would accrue 
 from the cultivation of leguminous plants and 
 productive herbs,* before unknown in that part 
 
 * Having acquired, during his residence in M. Ziegenhagen's 
 family, a thorough knowledge of botany, Oberlin made his people 
 acquainted with the properties of their indigenous plants, particularly 
 with such as were serviceable for food, health, and the useful arts. 
 The names of some of them will excite surprise, accustomed as we 
 are to pass them by unnoticed. Among them were the stripe-flowered 
 cabbage, brassica oleracea ; common chick-weed, stettaria media ; 
 water mouse-ear chick-weed, cerastium aquaticum ; common goose- 
 foot, chenopodium bonus-henricus ; common dandelion, leontodon au- 
 tumnale ; mountain willow-herb, epilobium montanum ; butter-cup, 
 ranunculus ficaria ; yellow dead nettle, galeobdolon luteum ; white 
 dead nettle, lamium album ; common hop, humulus lupulus ; red 
 pimpernel, anagallis arvensis ; great plantain, plantagn major ; 
 upright crow-foot, ranunculus acris ; twisted snake-weed, polygonum 
 bistorta ; common sorrel, rumex acetosa ; lamb's lettuce, valeriana 
 locusta ; bladder campion, cucubalus behen ; water-cress, sisymbrium 
 nasturtium ; and corn cockle, agrostemma githago. He taught them 
 
AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENTS. 77 
 
 of the country, Oberlin's next attempt was to 
 raise saint-foin ; but, as this plant strikes its root 
 perpendicularly, and the soil of the Ban de la 
 Roche is not deeper than two feet at most on 
 the rocks and sandstone, it did not succeed, 
 though the flax, which he raised from seed 
 imported from Riga, and the Dutch clover, 
 which he also introduced, answered perfectly 
 well, and considerably augmented the resources 
 of the inhabitants. 
 
 This success was probably owing in part to 
 the attention he paid to the management of 
 manure, which constitutes a chief secret in agri- 
 culture. He not only directed his labourers to 
 the means of enriching it by fermentation, but 
 taught them also that all sorts of vegetable sub- 
 stances, even the leaves of trees, the stalks of 
 rushes, moss, and fir apples, might be converted 
 into a useful compost. Acting upon his favou- 
 rite maxim, " que rien ne soit perdu" he also 
 instructed children to tear old woollen rags into 
 
 to mix the seeds of the latter with corn in making their black bread ; 
 and to procure a sort of wine, called piquette, from the wild cherry, 
 prunus cerasus ; juniper, juniperus communis ; dog rose, rosa canina, 
 &c. to distil brandy from elder-berries, and to obtain oil from beech- 
 nuts. 
 
78 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 pieces, and to cut up old shoes for this purpose ; 
 and to facilitate their labours he paid them six- 
 teen sous for a bushel, and one sou for the 
 smallest quantity they liked to collect. 
 
 These incidents may appear trifling and un- 
 worthy of record to some of my readers ; but they 
 are mentioned, together with others in the course 
 of the narrative, as characteristic proofs of the 
 real interest with which Oberlin entered into 
 every thing likely to conduce to the welfare of 
 his flock. As soon as he was fully convinced 
 that they began to recognize the utility of his 
 instructions, he endeavoured to point out to 
 them the advantages that would arise from 
 converting the least productive pastures into 
 arable land, and feeding the cattle in their stalls ; 
 in order to increase the quantity of milk and 
 butter, which constituted not only so large a 
 part of their subsistence, but also an article of 
 commerce. 
 
 This conversion of grass into arable land, in a 
 country where rocks were piled upon rocks, and 
 where in some places large masses must be 
 blasted, and in others removed and covered 
 
AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENTS. 79 
 
 with good soil before the plough could possibly 
 be employed, required of course a great deal of 
 time and labour ; but the industry and zeal with 
 which Oberlin himself began to put in practice 
 every scheme that successively occurred to him, 
 had so much influence upon the minds of his 
 parishioners, that after the prejudices of the few 
 first years had entirely subsided, they seldom 
 failed to enter into his views, and to imitate his 
 example : the plan was tried, and answered his 
 most sanguine expectations. 
 
 In the year 1778, he formed, at the Ban de la 
 Roche, a little Agricultural Society, composed of 
 the more intelligent farmers and the best in- 
 formed inhabitants of his parish ; and, having 
 invited the pastors of the adjacent towns, and 
 some of his friends to become members, he con- 
 nected it with that of Strasbourg, in order to 
 secure the communication of periodical works, 
 and assistance in the distribution of prizes ; and 
 the latter Society, wishing to encourage its inte- 
 resting auxiliary, intrusted to its disposal the 
 sum of two hundred francs, to be distributed 
 among such peasants as should most distinguish 
 
80 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 themselves in the planting of nursery grounds 
 and in the grafting of fruit trees. 
 
 The good effects resulting from this measure 
 induced Oberlin likewise to form a fund, sup- 
 ported by voluntary contributions, for the distri- 
 bution of prizes to the farmers of each commune, 
 who should rear the finest ox. A short time 
 afterwards, with a view to prepare the rising 
 generation for continuing the works which their 
 fathers had begun, and to give them the op- 
 portunity of acquiring useful information, he 
 commenced the plan of devoting two hours 
 every other Thursday morning to a familiar 
 lecture on the subjects of agriculture and of 
 useful science. 
 
 Such, indeed, was his assiduity, that not a 
 year rolled away in which some astonishing im- 
 provement was not effected in the condition or 
 the morals of his people ; and the surrounding 
 districts beheld with admiration the rapid pro- 
 gress that civilization was continually making, in 
 the once neglected and apparently forsaken 
 Stein thai. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 OBERLIN'S ADDRESS TO HIS PARISHIONERS ON THE COMMENCE- 
 MENT OF A NEW YEAR ERECTION OF A NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE 
 IN THE BAN DE LA ROCHE PROGRESS OF CIVILIZATION 
 FOUR OTHER SCHOOL-HOUSES ERECTED INTRODUCTION OF 
 
 INFANT SCHOOLS, UNDER THE CARE OF CONDUCTRICES 
 
 PUBLIC SCHOOLS WEEKLY ASSEMBLING OF THE CHILDREN 
 AT WALDBACH, TO RECEIVE RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION ESTA- 
 BLISHMENT OF A CIRCULATING LIBRARY ALMANACK SPECI- 
 MENS OF THE CHILDREN'S COMPOSITION CHRISTIAN SOCIETY 
 
 ESTABLISHED IN 1782 ABROGATION OF THAT SOCIETY. 
 
 \VniLE Oberlin was thus zealous in encou- 
 raging the progress of agriculture, and in 
 forming his people to habits of industry, he 
 attended with equal solicitude to what related 
 more immediately to his pastoral functions, as 
 the following address to his parishioners, on 
 the commencement of the New Year, 1779, 
 bears ample testimony. 
 
82 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 "JANUARY 1, 1779. 
 
 " And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all 
 new" Rev. xxi. 5. 
 
 u Through the grace of God we have entered 
 upon a new year. Oh ! that it may be new with 
 respect to our sins, our sufferings, and the 
 temptations with which we may have to combat. 
 
 " As to sins, may their number diminish day 
 by day, and may we be more constantly ani- 
 mated, and governed, by the spirit of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. As to sufferings and tribulations, 
 may they produce the effect which God designs 
 in sending them, namely, that of detaching our 
 affections from this transitory world, and of 
 rendering us attentive to his will and Word. 
 May they quicken us to prayer ; and induce 
 us to strive more earnestly to enter in at the 
 strait gate, and to ' press toward the mark for 
 the prize of our high calling.' And as to the 
 temptations which may be placed in our way, may 
 we live entirely to Jesus Christ, and maintain 
 constant communion with him, in order that we 
 may receive, from time to time, fresh supplies 
 of grace and strength to resist them, and be 
 
ADDRESS TO HIS PARISHIONERS. 83 
 
 enabled to bring forth fruits of righteousness, 
 to the glory of God, and to the honour of his 
 Holy Gospel. O Lord, be thou pleased, with 
 the renewal of the year, to renew our strength. 
 O Lord Jesus Christ, thou hast said, 'I make 
 all things new,' O make our faith new also. 
 
 " May this year be marked by a more lively, 
 more deep, and more serious repentance ; by 
 greater fervour in supplicating the influences 
 of God's Holy Spirit ; by renewed earnestness in 
 devoting ourselves to Him, and to his service. 
 May we look to Him, and employ all our mental 
 and bodily powers, our time, and our property, 
 to his glory, and to the purpose for which Jesus 
 quitted his throne, namely, the conversion 
 and happiness of mankind. O may we, this 
 year, apply ourselves, with renewed faithful- 
 ness, to obey all his commandments, and all his 
 precepts. 
 
 " May this year be distinguished by an in- 
 crease of the number of the children of God, 
 and of the followers of Jesus Christ ; by the 
 weakening of the kingdom of Satan within us. 
 and by the coming of the kingdom of God. 
 
 c 2 
 
84 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 " May we, not only during the present, but, 
 also, during each succeeding year which God 
 shall grant us in this probationary world, become 
 more and more prepared for a blessed eternity 
 abound more in prayers of intercession and 
 supplication shed more tears of penitence, con- 
 trition, love and pity and perform more good 
 works, in order that we may reap an abundant 
 harvest on that day, when God, through Jesus 
 Christ, shall ' make all things new.' " 
 
 The instruction of the young also engaged, in 
 an especial manner, a large portion of Oberlin's 
 care and attention. When he entered on his 
 charge, in 1767, the only regular school-house 
 in the five villages, was Stouber's hut, which, 
 having been constructed of unseasoned wood, 
 was in a most miserable and ruinous condition. 
 His parishioners were, however, very averse to 
 his proposition of erecting a more convenient 
 one; and, instead of feeling grateful for the 
 benefit he intended to confer on their children, 
 complained that, notwithstanding their extreme 
 poverty, he wished to burden them with fresh 
 expenses ; alleging, that as the old hut had 
 answered very well hitherto, they were sure 
 
ERECTION OF A NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE. 85 
 
 it would do for a long time to come. He had 
 no other way of silencing their objections, than 
 by entering into a formal engagement with the 
 overseers of the commune, that neither the 
 expense of building or repairing the projected 
 school-house, though erected for the public 
 good, should ever become chargeable on the 
 parish funds. Had he not made this stipulation, 
 he would have found in the parents themselves, 
 the most obstinate enemies of his plans for the 
 happiness of their children. 
 
 He then applied to some of his benevolent 
 friends at Strasbourg, for assistance in defraying 
 the expenses of the erection. But though the 
 money thus collected, was by no means sufficient 
 for the purpose, and his own little property and 
 narrow income (not exceeding 1000 fr.) scarcely 
 admitted of his prudently embarking in any 
 undertaking which involved pecuniary responsi- 
 bility, he resolved to commence it ; for neither 
 personal considerations, nor the fear of being 
 unable to meet contingent expenses, ever de- 
 terred him from putting into execution schemes 
 of usefulness. He had an unbounded confidence 
 in the goodness of his heavenly Father, and 
 
86 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 was convinced, as he often said, that if he 
 asked for any thing with faith, and it was really 
 right that the thing should take place, it would 
 infallibly be granted to his prayers. " When, 
 indeed, are our plans more likely to succeed, 
 than when we enter upon them in humble and 
 simple dependance upon God, whose blessing 
 alone can render them successful ? " 
 
 The event afforded a fresh evidence of this 
 truth. Not only was the projected building 
 completed, without material injury to his own 
 slender finances, but, in the course of a few 
 years, a school-house was erected in each of the 
 other four villages ; and, such was the progress 
 of civilization, that the inhabitants came volun- 
 tarily forward, and seconded the projects of 
 their pastor, by offering to take upon themselves 
 both the trouble and the expense attending them. 
 During the construction of these necessary 
 buildings the preparation of masters continued ; 
 but, as Oberlin had observed with concern the 
 disadvantages to which the younger children 
 were subjected, whilst their elder brothers and 
 sisters were at school, and their parents busily 
 engaged in their daily avocations, he laid down 
 
INFANT SCHOOLS. 87 
 
 a plan for the introduction of infant schools 
 also ; probably the very first ever established, 
 and the model of those subsequently opened at 
 Paris, and still more recently in this country. 
 Observation and experience had convinced him, 
 that, even from the very cradle, children are 
 capable of being taught to distinguish between 
 right and wrong, and of being trained to habits 
 of subordination and industry ; and, in con- 
 junction with his wife, he therefore formed 
 conductrices for each commune, engaged large 
 rooms for them, and salaried them at his own 
 expense. Instruction, in these schools, was 
 mingled with amusement ; and whilst enough 
 of discipline was introduced to instil habits of 
 subjection, a degree of liberty was allowed, 
 which left the infant mind full power of ex- 
 pansion, and information was conveyed which 
 might turn to the most important use in after 
 life. During school hours, the children were 
 collected on forms in great circles. Two women 
 were employed, the one to direct the handicraft, 
 the other to instruct and entertain them. Whilst 
 the children of two or three years old only, were 
 made at intervals to sit quietly by, those of 
 five or six were taught to knit, spin, and sew ; 
 
00 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 and, when they were beginning to be weary of 
 this occupation, their conductrice showed them 
 coloured pictures relating to Scripture subjects, 
 or natural history, making them recite after her 
 the explanations she gave. She also explained 
 geographical maps of France, Europe, or the 
 Ban de la Roche, and its immediate environs, 
 engraved in wood for the purpose, by Oberlin's 
 direction, and mentioned the names of the 
 different places marked upon them ; in addition 
 to this, she taught them to sing moral songs 
 and hymns. Thus she varied their employments 
 as much as possible, taking care to keep them 
 continually occupied, and never permitting them 
 to speak a word of patois.* 
 
 With minds thus stored and trained by dis- 
 cipline, the children, when arrived at a proper 
 
 * By this means correct French was introduced into the Ban de la 
 Roche, and the patois, which resemhles the old French of the twelfth 
 century, partly abolished. Mr. Wilks gives the following specimen 
 of its variation from the modern French, taken from a letter written 
 in this patois. 
 
 " Biyet. Mis dchers pere et me're! Dje sb errive e Chtrosebourgue 
 e bouonne sante, si no que dj'ons bramon evu le piooue et que dj'ons 
 etu bin nodes. Dj'ons errive e chez-hounes do sa." 
 
 " Lettre. Mes chers pere et mere ! Nous sommes arrives a 
 Strasbourg en bonne sante, si non que nous avons eu beaucoup de 
 pluie et que nous avons etc* bien fatigues. Nous sommes arrives a 
 six heures du soir." 
 
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 89 
 
 age, entered what may be called the public 
 schools, and the masters were relieved and 
 encouraged in their duties (which, in such a 
 situation, were sufficiently arduous) by the pro- 
 gress they had already made. Reading, writing, 
 arithmetic, geography, the principles of agricul- 
 ture, astronomy, and sacred and profane history, 
 were regularly taught in the higher schools; 
 but, although Oberlin carefully superintended 
 the whole proceedings, he reserved for himself, 
 almost exclusively, the religious instruction of 
 this large family. Every Sunday the children 
 of each village, in rotation, assembled at the 
 church, to sing the hymns they had learned, 
 to recite the religious lessons which they had 
 committed to memory during the week, and 
 to receive the exhortations or admonitions of 
 their common father.* 
 
 * The following hymn is given as a specimen of those in use at the 
 Ban de la Roche. 
 
 Pour le nouvel an, en particulier. 
 
 ilf, >3err 3efu ! laj? gelin^en. 
 15. Air. M.M. 
 
 1. 
 
 " Je ne saurois de 1'annee Entre tes mains je remets 
 
 Sans toi commencer le cours, Ma personne et mes projets : 
 
 Auteur de ma destined ! Je t' adore et je te prie 
 
 Sage Arbitre de mes jours ! De renouveller ma vie. 
 
 " Guide- 
 
90 
 
 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 Besides this Sabbath service, with a view 
 to excite a spirit of emulation between the 
 several schools, and to improve the modes of 
 instruction by comparing those of the several 
 masters, Oberlin established a weekly meeting 
 of all the scholars at Waldbach. This proved 
 a means of stimulating them to industry, for 
 they knew that the " Cher Papa" as he was 
 designated by all his parishioners, attentively 
 watched their progress, and they were most 
 anxious to secure his approving smiles ; so 
 universally was he beloved, that those smiles 
 
 " Guide-moi par ta lumiere, 
 Soutiens-moi par ton amour 
 Dans la nouvelle carriers, 
 Que je commence en ce jour : 
 Affranchis-moi de 1'erreur ; 
 Excite et porte mon cceur 
 A ne vouloir, a. ne faire 
 Que le bien, qui peut te plaire. 
 
 3. 
 
 " J'ai des ma plus tendre enfance 
 Souvent transgresse ta loi ; 
 II est temps que je commence 
 A me rapprocher de toi : 
 Pour assurer mon bonheur 
 Fais qu'une sainte frayeur 
 Me porte a. la penitence, 
 Pour desarmer ta vengeance. 
 
 ' Daigne augmenter cette annee 
 En moi tes graces, Seigneur! 
 Que mon ame illuminee 
 Se devoue a ton honneur ; 
 Et qu'en fiddle chretien, 
 M'attachant toujours au bien 
 Et fuyant 1'hypocrisie, 
 Je te consacre ma vie. 
 
 5. 
 
 Dieu tout-bon! Tais que je passe 
 Cette annee heureusement ; 
 Jesus ! fais luire ta face 
 Sur moi favor able ment : 
 Rends-moi ferme dans la foi, 
 Pour vivre et mourir en toi, 
 Et pour avoir en partage 
 De tes elus 1' heritage." 
 
WEEKLY ASSEMBLING OF THE CHILDREN. 91 
 
 were regarded by the children, as a sufficient 
 reward for all the labours of the past 
 week. 
 
 The success that attended these benevolent 
 and interesting exertions, induced his friends 
 at Strasbourg to increase their subscriptions ; 
 endowments were even added, (which were lost 
 at the Revolution), and Oberlin was thus enabled 
 to establish a library of valuable works for the 
 private use of the children ; and to have a 
 number of school-books, such as the " Coup 
 d'oeil sur la Nature," and " L'Ami des Enfans," 
 printed for the exclusive use of the Ban de la 
 Roche ; he also made a collection of indigenous 
 plants, and procured an electrical machine, and 
 other philosophical and mathematical instru- 
 ments. Prizes were likewise awarded to both 
 masters and scholars ; and various works upon 
 natural history and other branches of science, 
 some of which he printed at his own expense, 
 put in circulation on the plan of a little book- 
 society, being retained for three months at a 
 time, first at one village and then at another, 
 passing successively from house to house, in 
 order that the younger members of the family 
 
92 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 might be supplied with a continual fund of 
 useful and agreeable information. 
 
 Oberlin, about this time, drew up an almanack, 
 divested of all the falsehoods and superstitions 
 with which those in use were filled, thinking 
 that their tendency was to mislead and deceive 
 uneducated persons. I do not possess a copy 
 of this almanack, but it concludes with the 
 following passages, in reference to the purpose 
 for which it was written, which show that 
 he thought nothing beneath his notice that 
 seemed likely either to please, or instruct his 
 parishioners. 
 
 " Advice to my countrymen of the Ban de la Roche, 
 upon this almanack. 
 
 " 1. The people of Germany have private 
 almanacks, divided, by means of ruled lines, into 
 a number of partitions. In each partition the 
 names of the different individuals of the family 
 are written, with a little blank space below 
 them, in order that some notice may there 
 be made of the manner in which the day has 
 
HIS ALMANACK. 93 
 
 been past, or any necessary memoranda inserted. 
 I have at length prepared such an almanack for 
 your use. 
 
 " 2. The Strasbourg children are accustomed 
 to find their baptismal names in their almanack, 
 and to celebrate the days on which they are 
 recorded. You may also do the same with 
 yours. They will all be found in this almanack. 
 
 " 3. The fathers and mothers of large and 
 numerous families are often puzzled to find pretty 
 baptismal names, to distinguish their children 
 from those who bear the same family name. 
 Henceforth, if they only consult this new alma- 
 nack, they will soon be enabled to decide. 
 
 "4. In your common almanacks you find, 
 and pay for, a number of incomprehensible 
 things ; for others absolutely useless ; and for 
 others contrary to the commands of God, such 
 as prognostics of the weather, nativities, pre- 
 dictions from the planets according to birth- 
 days, lucky and unlucky days, or good or bad 
 omens. This new almanack is divested of such 
 nonsense. 
 
94 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 " 5. The changes of the moon, eclipses, and 
 even some information respecting the course 
 of the planets; the names and figures of the 
 twelve signs of the zodiac ; the time of the 
 sun's rising and setting ; and even the number 
 of the months, and that of the weeks, are, you 
 will find, nevertheless, inserted here. 
 
 " 6. I have been frequently asked the signi- 
 fication of names of a strange origin. By means 
 of this almanack, I am enabled to give a reply 
 to all my parishioners, for it contains the signifi- 
 cation of every name, which can be ascertained 
 with certainty. 
 
 " 7. What a pity, you will perhaps say, that 
 it is come so late. I say the same. It ought 
 to have been completed before the end of 
 January. But what good do you possess, the 
 acquisition of which has not been retarded by 
 various delays and obstacles ? For my own 
 part, I am so accustomed to expect this, in 
 every thing I do for you, that I am heartily 
 glad it is accomplished, even at this late 
 period. 
 
HIS ALMANACK. 95 
 
 " 8. What does it cost, you will inquire. 
 Dear friends ! this almanack is the fruit of my 
 long-cherished desires to promote your good. 
 Accept it as such. If it proves of any real 
 benefit to you, or affords you a moment's grati- 
 fication, look up to your heavenly Father, and 
 say, ' Thy goodness, O Lord, has crowned me 
 with blessings. Permit me to thank thee for 
 them ; and do thou strengthen, by whatever 
 means it may please thee to employ, the feeble 
 faith of thy too feeble child.' " 
 
 Oberlin knew how to blend amusement with 
 instruction in the wisest and most judicious 
 manner ; and whilst his primary object ever 
 was to ground the young people in the principles 
 of our Christian faith, and to induce them to 
 consider religion as the guardian and inspirer of 
 their happiness, he had also the talent of dif- 
 fusing amongst them that taste for pastoral 
 and agricultural life, which their circumstances 
 rendered so peculiarly desirable. 
 
 In order to familiarize the children of twelve 
 or fifteen years of age with these pursuits, they 
 
96 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 were accustomed to write, under the direction 
 of their teachers, short essays on agriculture 
 and the management of fruit trees, selected and 
 extracted from the best authors. These they 
 afterwards committed to memory ; and, at the 
 annual examination, they were expected to give 
 answers to the questions proposed. 
 
 The Ban de la Roche presented a delightful 
 field for Botany,* and they were, even at a still 
 earlier period, initiated in the principles of that 
 pleasing science, being allowed to ramble in the 
 woods, in summer, in search of plants, of which 
 they had learned the names and properties 
 during the winter, and to transplant them into 
 little gardens of their own, which their parents 
 had been induced to give them, for the exercise 
 of their industry and skill. They were also 
 
 * Of 4874 species of plants, which compose the French Flora, 
 nearly 700 are found growing naturally in the small extent of 
 uneven surface forming the Haut Champ. The flora of these primi- 
 tive mountains might be estimated at about 1000, including the 
 hypoxylons, and other azotic plants. 
 
 The evergreens, such as lichens, mosses, horse-tails, brakes, 
 hepaticae, coniferae, and the families which delight in elevated or 
 umbrageous situations, and little vegetable mould, form the principal 
 clothing of the heights of the Ban de la Roche. WILKS. 
 
SCHOOLMASTERS. 97 
 
 taught to draw the flowers; an art in which 
 some of them succeeded remarkably well.* 
 
 From what has been related, it will be sup- 
 posed that the schoolmasters were, at this period, 
 persons of a somewhat different description from 
 the shepherd schoolmasters in Stouber's time. 
 Individuals of the first distinction in the village 
 were generally fixed upon for the office, now 
 become a very important one; and indeed at 
 Bellefosse the character of mayor and school- 
 master were at one time united in the same 
 person. They were still called " Regents," 
 according to M. Stouber's original suggestion, 
 and were paid on a plan fixed by law : widows, 
 masters of families, and each particular child 
 
 * The editor has seen several groups of flowers copied from nature 
 by Oberlin's scholars, She has in her possession a garland of roses 
 and heart's-ease, upon which the children of our charity schools 
 would look with astonishment, were they told it was painted by a 
 poor little boy in similar circumstances with themselves. The fol- 
 lowing text is neatly written, in French, in the centre : " Thou 
 shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal 
 diadem in the hand of thy God." Isaiah Ixii. 3. And underneath 
 are inscribed these words : " Will you, Mr. Legrand, accept this slight 
 token of sincere gratitude, from your humble and dutiful scholar, 
 
 " GlJSTAVUS ScHEIDECKER." 
 
 Thus were the little children of the Ban de la Roche accustomed to 
 acknowledge their obligations, to those who kindly took charge of 
 their education. 
 
 II 
 
98 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 sent to school, had a certain proportion to 
 pay. 
 
 Among other things, the regents were re- 
 quired to impress upon the minds of their pupils, 
 that, from the peculiarity of their local circum- 
 stances, (their maintenance depending almost 
 entirely on the products of the valley,) it was 
 a duty incumbent upon them to contribute their 
 share towards the general prosperity ; and, pre- 
 viously to receiving religious confirmation, they 
 were expected to bring a certificate from their pa- 
 rents, that they had planted, in a spot described, 
 two young trees.* The day on which the first 
 
 * It is the injunction of the Apostle that " whether we eat, or 
 drink, or whatsoever we do, we do all to the glory of God," 1 Cor. 
 x. 31. The views of religion, which Oberlin entertained, made him 
 bring the greatest principles to the minutest operation. He would 
 take a stone out of the road, if it were likely to incommode a 
 traveller, on the principle of love to his neighbour; and, in this 
 manner, he argued respecting all the duties in which mankind are 
 engaged. Take, for instance, a direction to his people on planting 
 trees. This, with other men, would be an affair of convenience; 
 with him, in his circumstances, it was a religious duty. He thus 
 addressed his parishioners. 
 
 November 13, 1803. 
 
 " Dear Friends, 
 
 " Satan, the enemy of mankind, rejoices when 
 
 we demolish and destroy. Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the contrary, 
 rejoices when we labour for the public good. 
 
 " You all desire to be saved by Him, and hope to become 
 
PROGRESS OF CIVILIZATION. W) 
 
 fruit was presented to their beloved pastor, was 
 an interesting and useful festival. 
 
 Thus were the clouds of ignorance, which 
 had, for a long period, settled on the Ban 
 de la Roche, gradually dispelled by the en- 
 lightening influence of Christian education ; 
 and this at a time when knowledge was con- 
 sidered unnecessary, and dangerous for the 
 poorer classes ; and when the modern systems 
 of cheap and mechanical instruction were 
 almost entirely unknown. The change, that 
 was, in the course of a few years, effected 
 in this place, is the more extraordinary, when 
 we reflect upon the state of the people previous 
 to Oberlin's arrival ; and, in contemplating it, 
 we are involuntarily led to unite with him, in 
 ascribing the praise to that great and glorious 
 Being to whom alone it is due, and who had 
 
 partakers of his glory. Please Him, then, by every possible means, 
 during the remainder of the time you may have to live in this 
 world. 
 
 " He is pleased, when, from the principle of love, you plant trees 
 for the public benefit. Now is the season. Be willing then to plant 
 them. Plant them also in the best possible manner. Remember 
 you do it to please Him. 
 
 " Put all your roads into good condition ; ornament them ; employ 
 some of your trees for this purpose, and attend to their growth." 
 
 II ''I 
 
100 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 thus caused " the waters to break out in the 
 wilderness, and streams in the desert." The 
 total renunciation of any thing like merit of his 
 own, formed a remarkable and striking feature 
 in Oberlin's character ; he regarded himself 
 merely as the instrument whom it had pleased 
 God to employ, and was frequently heard to 
 say, " I have little merit in the good that I have 
 done ; I have only that of obedience to the will 
 of God. He has been graciously pleased to 
 manifest his intentions to me, and has always 
 given me the means of executing them." 
 
 The following specimen of one of the children's 
 writing-books, transcribed from the original, 
 without alteration or correction, will perhaps be 
 deemed an interesting document, as it exhibits 
 a specimen of the method of instruction em- 
 ployed by the Ban de la Roche teachers, 
 and a proof of the acquirements made by 
 
 4* 
 
 their scholars. The book belonged to one 
 of the little girls of Belmont school, and bears 
 marks of Oberlin's revision. The exercise, of 
 which only a part is inserted, was probably 
 written from dictation. It is given word for 
 word. 
 
CHILDREN'S COMPOSITION. 101 
 
 " F. Henriette Virgmie Scheidecker, de Ged. 
 
 " ORTHOGRAPHE. No. 5. 
 " Filles Chretiennes ! 
 
 " Vos meres et vos maitresses sont obligees de veiller sur votre 
 conduite et sur vos demarches, de prendre garde quo vous soyez 
 tonjours habille'es avec modestie ; d'empcher vos vanite"s et de vous 
 preserver de societes dange'reuses. Si votre pere et votre mere ne 
 vous les defendent pas, ils pechent, et vous pechez vous-memes, si 
 vous leur desobeissez et que vous leur causez de noirs chagrins. 
 
 " COMPOSITION. 
 
 " Une jeune fille, nomme'e Dorothee, fut envoye'e a la ville par sa 
 pauvre mere, pour y vendre quelques oeufs qui lui restoient encore 
 pour acheter une miche de pain ; quand elle fut arrive'e au marche 
 elle voulut encore compter les 24 sols qu'elle avoit pour acheter une 
 miche de pain, elle les avoient perdus par sa poche dechiree, la voila 
 bien chagrined, elle retourne pour voir si personne ne les a trouveX 
 mais c'est en vain ; enfin voila un beau monsieur monte sur un 
 cheval, qui lui dit, pourquoi pleures-tu, ma petite ? elle lui dit, c'est 
 que j'ai perdu un mouchoir qu'il y avoit 24 sols, dedans, ce monsieur 
 lui dit, je 1'ai trouve, et veut lui donner un beau mouchoir de soie ; 
 elle dit, oh ! Dieu m'en garde, le mien etoit un vieux mouchoir de 
 coton ; et ce monsieur lui dit, reste ridele, ma petite, et il lui fit 
 present du mouchoir de soie et de la piece d'or." 
 
 [Then follow sums in numeration, addition, subtraction, multipli- 
 cation and division, as well as the conjugations of several verbs, and 
 some grammatical exercises. These last contain what is calle<U 
 "haute analyse," or the complete parsing of all the principal words 
 in the story above recited.] 
 
 " GEOGRAPHIE. No. 5." 
 {These are probably answers to questions about France. ~\ 
 
 " 1. Le commerce maritime se fait avec les 3 autres parties du 
 monde et ne pent se faire qu'en traversant les mers. 
 " 2. Les fils, les toiles fines, et les dentelles. 
 
102 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 " 3. Strasbourg pour les fabriques de tabac. 
 
 " 4. Les produits d'industrie servant a la batisse sont: les planches, 
 les metaux pour les fourneaux et les serrures, la chaux, les briques et 
 les verres pour les fenetres." [The sense of this 2, 3, 4 seems incom- 
 plete, but it is copied from the original.'] 
 
 " 5. Marseille est le port de mer le plus considerable de toute la 
 France. 
 
 " AGRICULTURE. No. 10." 
 [Seems to have been upon the natural history of some animal'] 
 
 " 1. Parcequ'ils enfoncent le gazon et lorsque la saison est humide 
 comme d'ordinaire 1'impression des pas de ces animaux forment autant 
 de trous. 
 
 " 2. Elle pourroit servir de litiere a 1'ecurie et augmenter le tas de 
 fumier. 
 
 " 3. Les betes s'en portent mieux, etant plus chaudement couchees. 
 
 " 4. Le fumier des bceufs vaut infiniment mieux pour les terres 
 sablonneuses et graveleuses que celui des chevaux. 
 
 " 5. Un prei qu'on ne sauroit arroser doit tre amende de deux en 
 deux ans avec du fumier, ou des cendres, ou quelqu'engrais equi- 
 valent. 
 
 " HISTOIRE SAINTE. No. 5." 
 
 " 1. Dieu cre"a au troisieme jour la terre avec tout ce qu'elle 
 produit. 
 
 "2. La pluie du deluge dura quarante jours et quarante nuits. 
 
 " 3. Esau etoit habile chasseur et homme de campagne. 
 
 " 4. Ce que Reuben disoit c'etoit pour le de"livrer de leurs mains 
 et le renvoyer a son pere. 
 
 " 5. Lorsque les freres de Joseph vuiderent leurs sacs, chacun 
 d'eux trouva le paquet d' argent qu'ils avoient donn^ pour leur ble. 
 
CHRISTIAN SOCIETY. 103 
 
 In the year 1782, Oberlin, in the hope of 
 advancing the spiritual interests of his people, 
 established a society, which he denominated 
 " The Christian Society." The following is a 
 summary of the Rules, translated from the ori- 
 ginal, in his own hand-writing. 
 
 Kubricks of the Christian Society, for assisting 
 the memory of the Members, and especially 
 that of the Superintendents, whose duty it is 
 to see that they are duly observed. 
 
 1. Regeneration. 
 
 2. Sanctification. 
 
 3. " We are all one in Christ Jesus." 
 
 4. " Abide in me." 
 
 5. " Christ is all, and in all." 
 
 6. " Bring forth much fruit." 
 
 7. " Love not the world, neither the things 
 that are in the world." 
 
 8. Nourish the inner man, by 
 
 (1.) The word of God; 
 (2.) Continual prayer. 
 (3.) The frequent use of the Holy Sa- 
 crament. 
 
104 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 9. The Superintendents are the Overseers, 
 whom the members choose from amongst them- 
 selves. 
 
 1 0. Not only the Superintendents, but also all 
 the members, ought to watch over each other 
 for good ; to exhort, and to warn each other, 
 
 11. With sweetness, charity, humility, and 
 patience. 
 
 12. As to the incorrigible follow the ex- 
 ample of Jesus Christ, Matt, xviii. 15, 16. 
 
 13. Meet for prayer on this subject. 
 
 14. Be submissive to your superiors. All the 
 members are fellow-workers with their pastor. . 
 
 15. Good management. 
 
 16. Good education. 
 
 17. "Wives, be in subjection to your own 
 husbands." 
 
 18. "Search the Scriptures" diligently. 
 
 19. Diligence. Diligence with application 
 and energy that is to say, industry. 
 
 20. " Be careful for nothing." 
 
 21. Lose no time. 
 
 22. Allow of no idleness or negligence, on 
 the part of those confided to your care. 
 
 23. Honest and exact payment ; no artful- 
 ness or cunning. See Rom. xii. 17. 
 
CHRISTIAN SOCIETY. 105 
 
 24. " Be kindly affectioned one to another 
 with brotherly love." 
 
 25. Endeavour to promote the happiness of 
 all. 
 
 26. " Provoke unto love and to good works." 
 
 27. Appropriate part of your earnings, at 
 stated intervals, to the public good. 
 
 This Society seems, by the account which is 
 given of it, to have been established for the 
 purpose of prayer, and religious conversation. 
 It appears to have been violently opposed, and 
 spoken against, by some persons in the parish, 
 which induced Oberlin, in the supposition that 
 the scandal of the bad prevailed over the ad- 
 vantage of the good, to put it down about a 
 year and a half after its formation. At its dis- 
 solution, he delivered an address on the subject, 
 to his parishioners. It alludes to the cause of 
 its abrogation ; and affords such complete evi- 
 dence of his devotedness to God, and love to 
 his Saviour, as well as boldness in reproving 
 sin, and prudence in preventing any just cause 
 of censure, that I give it entire : 
 
106 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 " MAY 1, 1783. 
 
 " Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall 
 believe on me through their word. That they all may be 
 one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also 
 may be one in us ; that the world may believe that thou hast 
 sent me. John xvii. 20, 21. 
 
 " THESE verses contain the last desire, the 
 last prayer of our gracious Redeemer his ear- 
 nest prayer, since it was four times repeated 
 the union of all his beloved disciples among 
 themselves and with him, as he and the Father 
 are one. 
 
 " As the pastor of your parish, a minister of 
 the Gospel, and a servant of Jesus Christ, my 
 aim ought to be to do the will of Jesus Christ ; 
 to bring souls to him ; and to unite them to- 
 gether in him. Such was my aim, in establish- 
 ing two years since the Christian Society. 
 
 " Every end requires means. I could have 
 wished that all my parishioners might by de- 
 grees have associated themselves with it. I 
 have often publicly invited them. Some have 
 complied. More than one hundred and thirty 
 
ABROGATION OF THE SOCIETY. 107 
 
 individuals have been friends to it, and have 
 willingly kept company with us, to listen to 
 what was going forward. Some have declared 
 themselves enemies. Some have calumniated 
 it, without even understanding its purport, or 
 wishing to understand it, although the doors 
 of the church were open, and they had, more 
 than two hundred times, the opportunity of 
 remaining to see what passed. Some amongst 
 them, have calumniated it against their con- 
 science. They have said that I placed sen- 
 tinels at the doors, to prevent those who were 
 not members from entering. This was a down- 
 right falsehood. 
 
 " By what means then did you come, you 
 from all the five villages who were so often 
 auditors without being members ? 
 
 " The greater part of the members did not 
 announce themselves to be such, till they knew 
 and understood the principles, by which the 
 Society was regulated. How were they able 
 to do this, if sentinels were posted to prevent 
 their approach ? How did Mr. - - the elder, 
 of Waldbach, and Mr. of Foudai, manage, 
 
108 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 who, without being members, have been present 
 
 so frequently ? How did Messrs. manage ? 
 
 the family of Marechal, of Waldbach, the 
 founders of Rothau, the wife of M. le Regent, 
 and many other persons, who were so often 
 with us, that we were never once alone ? There 
 have been many other individuals, who were 
 not members, present. 
 
 " If they have had the hardihood to invent 
 such falsehoods respecting us, as they now re- 
 fuse to acknowledge, how much greater may 
 they have invented? 
 
 " Your gracious Lord earnestly desires that 
 you should all be true Christians such as the 
 Gospel portrays and such as I have endea- 
 voured to make you, whether through this 
 Society, or through any other means. 
 
 " But, on account of some atrocious calum- 
 nies respecting it, I am come to the resolu- 
 tion of abrogating its name and external 
 form : a thing which I can do the more 
 easily, because Christianity does not consist 
 either in names, or in external forms. 
 
ABROGATION OF THE SOCIETY. 109 
 
 "I abrogate it then to-day; and I abrogate 
 it, as fully assured of God's direction in doing 
 so, as I was assured of his direction in its esta- 
 blishment. And this partly for the following 
 reasons : 
 
 " 1st. I have, in a great measure, obtained 
 the end I had in view. 
 
 " 2d. Names and external forms are not 
 essential, but are subject to vicissitude. 
 
 " 3d. In the event of my death or removal, 
 this external form would have been liable to 
 change ; and the members, overtaken by sur- 
 prise, would have resembled, in some degree, 
 sheep without a shepherd, and would not have 
 known what to do. It is better that this should 
 happen during my life-time. 
 
 " I have said that I have, in a great measure, 
 obtained my end. 
 
 " FIRST. With respect to those who have 
 been willing to become members. 
 
 " 1st. They have had the opportunity of de- 
 claring themselves on the side of their Lord 
 
110 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 and Saviour Jesus Christ, and of acknowledging 
 him, which is a thing of no trivial importance, 
 if we recollect that passage, Matt. x. 32, ' Who- 
 soever, therefore, shall confess me before men, 
 him will I confess also before my Father which 
 is in heaven.' 
 
 " 2d. They have learned to know more of 
 their spiritual wants ; and how necessary it is 
 for them to be found in Christ Jesus, ' without 
 spot and blameless,' ' rooted and built up in 
 him, and established in the faith.' 
 
 " 3d. They have felt, more than ever, the 
 duty and necessity of prayer. Many, previous 
 to the formation of this Society, had not even 
 an idea of that continual prayer of the heart, 
 which Jesus Christ recommends to his disciples, 
 Luke xviii. 
 
 " 4th. They have been led to feel that many 
 souls are anxious for their salvation. They 
 know, now, where to seek the friends of God, 
 and of Jesus Christ, in order to enjoy the edifi- 
 cation and benefit of Christian communion. 
 
 " 5th. They have learned to ' be kind to one 
 another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, 
 even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven ' 
 them. 
 
ABROGATION OF THK SOCIETY. Ill 
 
 " SECONDLY. With respect to those who have 
 not been members. A number of precious 
 souls have been awoke from their sleep, and, 
 although they could not resolve to declare 
 themselves members, yet they have been in- 
 duced to pay more attention to their spiritual 
 necessities have been led to look upon them- 
 selves as sinners have learned to tremble for 
 their salvation and have become also 'instant 
 in prayer.' 
 
 " 1st. I cannot sufficiently thank God, the 
 Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for all the 
 good that he has, through this medium, been 
 pleased to effect in my dear parish ; and for 
 the evident blessing that has rested upon it. 
 May he watch over it, and grant that the good 
 fruits brought forth may be perfected, and ren- 
 dered permanent. May the kingdom of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ be promoted, and extended, 
 by any other means that he may see meet to 
 appoint. 
 
 " 2d. May he sustain his church, according 
 to his promise, Mat. xvi. 18, so that ' the gates 
 of hell shall not prevail against it.' May He, 
 
112 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 who said to his disciples, ' He that receiveth 
 you, receiveth me/ register all its members 
 in his Book of Life. May he abundantly 
 shed his Holy Spirit upon them, and ' grave 
 them upon the palms of his hands,' so that 
 no one may be able to draw them away, or to 
 turn them from him. May He protect them, 
 sanctify them, purify them, and prepare them 
 for their heavenly inheritance. 
 
 " 3d. I thank God also, for all those who 
 have shown themselves friends to this Society. 
 May He reward you for the joy which you have 
 thus imparted to your distressed and afflicted 
 pastor. 
 
 " May He bring you nearer and nearer to 
 Jesus. May you become of the number of his 
 own dear people a people zealous of good 
 works the sheep of his beloved little flock. 
 
 " 4th. I thank those who have permitted 
 their wives and children to belong to it, and to 
 declare themselves openly. May God recom- 
 pense them for all that they have done 'unto 
 the least of my brethren.' May he recompense 
 
ABROGATION OF THE SOCIETY. 113 
 
 them also richly and eternally, for the good 
 which they have done to their wives and chil- 
 dren, in permitting them to participate in the 
 contempt which Jesus Christ suffered ; to bear 
 his cross ; and to become partakers in the pro- 
 mise which our Lord has made to those who 
 confess his name before men. 
 
 " O my dear auditors ! leave, leave, I entreat 
 you, the ways of Belial. Devote yourselves 
 to the Lord Jesus. He is able and willing to 
 receive every soul that earnestly seeks him. 
 He will cast out none that come unto him ; 
 having shed his blood for all, he desires to 
 receive all in his arms. Hasten then to be 
 saved. Time flies away ; death draws near. 
 1 There is none other name under heaven given 
 among men whereby we must be saved,' than 
 Jesus Christ, whom I preach unto you. Hasten 
 to him. Fly to him. Pray, mourn, weep; 
 seek after him in the secret of your hearts, until 
 you find him. Amen." 
 
 In the course of the year 1784, Oberlin had 
 the following paper printed in French and 
 German, and placed in a conspicuous station 
 
114 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 in every cottage throughout his extensive parish. 
 It serves to prove at how early a period the 
 subject of missions occupied his mind, and led 
 him to form those monthly prayer meetings to 
 promote this object, which are now carried 
 forwards by most of the denominations of Chris- 
 tians throughout the world. 
 
 " Our Lord Jesus Christ desires his followers 
 to espouse his interests ; to aid him in his great 
 work ; and to pray in his name. To conduce 
 to this end, he has himself furnished them with 
 one common prayer. 
 
 " For the satisfaction and assistance of some 
 individuals amongst us, a sort of Spiritual Asso- 
 ciation was established a few years ago ; and by 
 means of printed sheets, the following articles 
 were agreed upon, and circulated : 
 
 " FIRST. Every member of this Society shall 
 pray, on the first Monday of every month, that 
 the Missionaries employed in the conversion of 
 savage and idolatrous nations in all parts of the 
 world, may be supported and sustained, ' against 
 the wiles of the devil.' 
 
ARTICLES OF THE SOCIETY. 115 
 
 " SECONDLY. Besides habitual e watching unto 
 prayer/ every individual, if he be able, shall 
 prostrate himself in mind and body, every Sunday 
 and Wednesday, at five o'clock in the evening, 
 to ask of God, in the name of Jesus Christ 
 
 " 1st. That every member of this Society may 
 be saved, with all his household, and belong to 
 the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 " 2d. Every member shall add to the list, all 
 the friends of God of his acquaintance, and pray 
 for them. 
 
 " 3d. Every member shall include in his prayer 
 all the children of God, in general, upon all the 
 earth, of whatever religion they may be, sup- 
 plicating that they may be united more and 
 more in Christ Jesus. 
 
 " 4th. Every member shall pray that the king- 
 dom of Satan may be at length destroyed, and 
 that the kingdom of God, and of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, may be fully and generally established 
 among the innumerable Pagans, Turks, Jews, 
 and nominal Christians. 
 
 " 5th. Every member shall pray for school- 
 masters, superiors, and pious magistrates, of 
 whatever name or rank they may be. 
 
 i2 
 
116 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 " 6th. For faithful pastors, and male and fe- 
 male labourers in the vineyard of the Lord 
 Jesus, who, being themselves devoted to his 
 service, desire, above all things, to bring many 
 other souls to him. 
 
 " 7th. For the youth, that God may preserve 
 them from the seducing influence of bad ex- 
 ample, and lead them to the knowledge of our 
 gracious Redeemer. 
 
 " THIRDLY. Every Saturday evening all the 
 members shall ask God to bless the preaching 
 of his holy word on the morrow." 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 DEATH OF MRS. OBERLIN ITS EFFECT UPON OBERLIN S 
 
 MIND LOUISA SCHEPLER BECOMES HIS HOUSEKEEPER 
 
 LETTER FROM THE LATTER LETTER, TAKEN FROM A 
 
 GERMAN MAGAZINE PRINTED AT TUBINGEN, CONTAINING 
 AN ACCOUNT OF OBERLIN AND HIS FAMILY, IN THE YEAR 
 1793 t^EATH OF HIS ELDEST SON FREDERIC.* 
 
 ANIMATED by desires of usefulness, habitually 
 relying on the goodness of their heavenly 
 Father, and stimulating each other to active 
 
 * The editor regrets that she has not been able to procure any 
 particular documents relative to Oberlin's proceedings, in the interval 
 between the death of his wife, in 1784, and that of his son Frederic, in 
 1793. That his exertions for the good of his flock were, however, 
 carried forward with unrelaxed energy, the improved appearance of 
 the Ban de la Roche, and the extraordinary change effected amongst 
 the young people there, during that period, bear ample testimony. 
 Since writing the above lines, the editor has had the gratification of 
 receiving a corroboration to her statement, from Mr. Heisch. " It was 
 during this period," he writes, " that I mostly visited the Ban de la 
 Roche once a year for a few weeks. I found the different intellec- 
 tual, religious, and moral engines always at work, with more or less 
 energy; and practical alterations and improvements always going 
 forwards." 
 
118 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 exertion in the performance of every Christian 
 duty, Oberlin and his beloved Madeleine passed 
 sixteen years in a union cemented by ties of the 
 strongest affection. Their family now consisted 
 of seven children, Frederic, Fidelite* Caroline, 
 Charles Conserve", Henry Gottfried, Louisa 
 Charite, Henrietta, and Frederica Bienvenue, 
 all of whom were brought up under the pa- 
 ternal roof,* 
 
 On the 18th of January, 1784, it pleased God 
 that an event should take place, which had a 
 most powerful influence both upon the cast of 
 his mind and the whole of his future life. This 
 was the loss of his wife. She died rather sud- 
 denly about ten weeks after her last confine- 
 ment. No unfavourable symptoms, no incipient 
 disease had prepared Oberlin for this distressing 
 separation. When first informed of it, he was 
 so much overpowered as to remain for some 
 
 * " I knew Oberlin," says Mr. Heisch, " as the playfellow and 
 instructor of his children when they were young, and as their friend 
 and counsellor when arrived at years of maturity. In the character 
 of instructor, he so well knew how to mingle affection with earnest- 
 ness, and even with severity when requisite, that his children both 
 loved and respected him ; and in that of a friend, there was an 
 endearing tenderness that not only constituted their happiness, but 
 formed also a constant stimulus to their exertions." 
 
DEATH OF MRS. OBERLIN. 119 
 
 moments plunged in the deepest silence, and 
 unable to give utterance to his feelings. At 
 length, after this interval of melancholy stupor, 
 he was observed suddenly to fall on his knees 
 and return thanks to God, that the object of 
 his tenderest solicitude was now beyond the 
 reach or the need of prayer, and that He 
 had crowned the abundance of his mercies 
 towards her, by giving her so easy and gentle 
 a dismissal. He has himself commemorated, 
 in a written fragment, which will be in- 
 serted in a future part of this memoir, the 
 emotions by which he was agitated in these 
 moments of bitter suffering. " Upon this oc- 
 casion," he says, " as upon a thousand others 
 in the course of my life, notwithstanding my 
 overwhelming affliction, I was upheld, by 
 God's gracious assistance, in a remarkable 
 manner." 
 
 From that time the passive graces shone as 
 conspicuously in his character as v the active 
 virtues had hitherto done. Neither complaint 
 nor murmur escaped his lips. It might be said 
 that he had not ceased to live in the society of 
 the Christian wife whom he had lost. Every 
 
120 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 day he devoted whole hours to holding com- 
 munion with her in those abstracted frames 
 of mind, which make us almost imagine our- 
 selves in the presence of those whom we 
 love. A speedy re-union in the mansions of 
 our Father's house, was, nevertheless, one of 
 his most cherished desires. " I hope," he 
 would often say, " that the world in which 
 God will re-unite me to my beloved wife will 
 soon open to me." 
 
 This desire had nothing of a transitory cha- 
 racter; it was not the mere result of acute 
 grief, nor the effect of any habitual melancholy. 
 Although his sorrows might have contributed 
 to strengthen it, it had its origin in a religious 
 feeling. Like St. Paul, he desired to depart to 
 be with Christ, which to him was far better. 
 He longed to be able to unite his voice with 
 hers he had lost, in singing the song of the 
 Lamb, and to participate in that " fulness of 
 joy" which " God hath prepared for those who 
 love him." " I have had all my life," he says, 
 in the paper to which allusion has been already 
 made, and which was written the very year 
 he lost his wife, " a desire, occasionally a very 
 
HIS STATE OF MIND. 121 
 
 strong one, to die, owing, in some degree, to the 
 consciousness of my moral infirmities, and of 
 my frequent derelictions. My affection for my 
 wife and children, and my attachment to my 
 parish, have sometimes checked this desire, 
 though for short intervals only." 
 
 These few words seem to lay open the very 
 secret of his soul. While he was blasting rocks, 
 levelling roads, building bridges, fertilizing 
 fields, improving the mojals and promoting 
 the happiness of his flock, the expressions just 
 cited, prove what was the moving principle by 
 which he was actuated. That which induced 
 him to become the benefactor of these districts 
 that which led him to devote so much time 
 to the prosecution of his plans, was the ever- 
 present thought of death and eternity ; and the 
 habitual remembrance of the responsibility at- 
 tached to talents, and to opportunities of use- 
 fulness. He knew that his soul would be 
 required of him ; he desired that it might be so 
 speedily ; and, in order that he might hear the 
 joyful sound, " Well done, good and faithful 
 servant," he dedicated every faculty he pos- 
 sessed to the interests of others, living himself 
 
122 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 by faith in the Son of God, and resting entirely 
 on his propitiation. 
 
 His patience and resignation not only under 
 this, but under every other affliction that it 
 pleased God to award to him during the whole 
 course of his life, was striking and exemplary. 
 After the first bitterness of grief was over, his 
 soul always seemed "to be girding itself up," 
 and, as it were, " stretching its wings " in ex- 
 pectation of that joyful period when it should 
 leave mortality behind, and soar to the regions 
 of everlasting blessedness to join "the innu- 
 merable company of angels, and the general 
 assembly and church of the first-born." " Mil- 
 lions of times," he continues, in the paper men- 
 tioned above, "have I besought God to enable 
 me to surrender myself with entire and filial 
 submission to his will, either to live or to die : 
 and to bring me into such a state of resignation, 
 as neither to wish, nor to say, nor to do, nor 
 to undertake any thing, but what He, who only 
 is wise and good, sees to be best." 
 
 The following extract from a letter which he 
 wrote to a lady, who had been tried by many 
 
LETTER TO A LADY. 123 
 
 successive bereavements, in the hope of con- 
 vincing her that such dispensations are per- 
 mitted, to strengthen our graces, and to promote 
 our spiritual refinement, will illustrate his lively 
 faith and fervent piety, as well as the simple 
 and original mode in which he was accustomed 
 to pour out the language of his heart in epis- 
 tolary converse. " I have before me two 
 stones, which are in imitation of precious 
 stones. They are both perfectly alike in co- 
 lour ; they are of the same water, clear, pure, 
 and clean ; yet there is a marked difference 
 between them, as to their lustre and brilliancy. 
 One has a dazzling brightness, while the other 
 is dull, so that the eye passes over it, and 
 derives no pleasure from the sight. What can 
 be the reason of such a difference ? It is this. 
 The one is cut but in a few facets ; the other 
 has ten times as many. These facets are pro- 
 duced by a very violent operation ; it is requisite 
 to cut, to smooth, and polish. Had these 
 stones been endued with life, so as to have 
 been capable of feeling what they underwent, 
 the one which has received eighty facets would 
 have thought itself very unhappy, and would 
 have envied the fate of the other, which, having 
 
124 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 received but eight, had undergone but a tenth 
 part of its sufferings. Nevertheless, the ope- 
 ration being over, it is done for ever : the 
 difference between the two stones always re- 
 mains strongly marked ; that which has suffered 
 but little, is entirely eclipsed by the other, 
 which alone is held in estimation, and attracts 
 attention. May not this serve to explain the 
 saying of our Saviour, whose words always bear 
 some reference to eternity : ' Blessed are they 
 that mourn, for they shall be comforted.' 
 Blessed, whether we contemplate them apart, 
 or in comparison with those who have not 
 passed through so many trials. Oh ! that we 
 were always able to cast ourselves into his 
 arms, like little children to draw near to him, 
 like helpless lambs and ever to ask of him, 
 patience, resignation, an entire surrender to his 
 will, faith, trust, and a heartfelt obedience to 
 the commands which he gives to those who 
 are willing to be his disciples. ' The Lord 
 God will wipe away tears from off all faces.' 
 Isa. xxv. 8." 
 
 Mrs. Oberlin's death was deeply felt among 
 the poor people of the Ban de la Roche; for 
 

LOUISA SCHEPLER. 125 
 
 although less active and energetic than her 
 husband, she had always evinced the liveliest 
 interest in their concerns, sought to administer 
 to their wants, both secular and spiritual, and 
 to assuage their griefs. 
 
 Her loss was in some degree supplied to her 
 own family by a pious orphan, named Louisa 
 Schepler, who had already lived eight years in 
 Oberlin's service, and who now undertook the 
 management of his household and the care of 
 his children. 
 
 She was at this time twenty-three years of 
 age ; a sensible, pleasing-looking young woman, 
 of mild and gentle manners, habited in the 
 costume of the peasants of the country.* She 
 had been a kind of helper in the village of 
 Waldbach, and long one of its most active and 
 zealous conductrices ; but her health was begin- 
 ning to be impaired by the severe colds she 
 took in the snows. This circumstance did not, 
 however, lessen her usefulness ; and no sooner 
 had she accepted the station of housekeeper to 
 
 * The portrait, from which this is copied, was taken at a much 
 later period of her life. 
 
126 MEM9IRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 the cher Papa, than, refusing offers of marriage, 
 she took the resolution of devoting herself to 
 his service, and would never accept any salary, 
 but lived in his family rather as a friend than 
 a servant. What her few wants required she 
 asked for nothing more ; and on some occa- 
 sions, when Oberlin endeavoured, through in- 
 direct channels, to put money into her hands, 
 she, conjecturing the source from whence it 
 came, uniformly returned it. 
 
 The following note, dated " Waldbach, First 
 of the New Year, 1793," addressed by Louisa to 
 her benefactor, is a sweet little proof of her 
 disinterested and grateful affection. 
 
 " Dear and beloved Papa, 
 
 " Permit me, at the commencement of 
 the new year, to request a favour which I have 
 long desired. As I am now really independent, 
 that is to say, as I have no longer my father 
 nor his debts to attend to, I beseech you, dear 
 papa, not to refuse me the favour of making me 
 your adopted daughter. Do not, I entreat you, 
 give me any more wages ; for as you treat me 
 like your child in every other respect, I earnestly 
 
LOUISA SCHEPLER'S LETTER. 127 
 
 wish you to do so in this particular also. Little 
 is needful for the support of my body. My 
 shoes and stockings, and sabots, will cost some- 
 thing, but when I want them I can ask you for 
 them, as a child applies to its father 
 
 " Oh ! I entreat you, dear papa, grant me this 
 favour, and condescend to regard me as your 
 most tenderly attached daughter. 
 
 " LOUISA SCHEPLER." 
 
 The humble request was acceded to, and 
 Louisa was ever afterwards considered as one 
 of Oberlin's own children. 
 
 I shall here introduce the following interest- 
 ing letter, because it presents so lively a picture 
 of the domestic happiness enjoyed under the 
 good pastor's roof at Waldbach, and of the 
 mode of proceeding there, at this period. It is 
 dated March llth, 1793.* 
 
 * The editor is indebted to her kind friend, Mrs. Steinkopff, for 
 this letter. It is translated from the journal of a French gentleman 
 (or clergyman) who was so much pleased with a visit he made to the 
 Ban de la Roche, in 1793, as to publish an account of it in a German 
 magazine, printed at Tubingen. 
 
128 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 " During the space of nearly thirty years, in 
 which M. Oberlin has been Christian pastor of 
 this canton, he has completely changed it. The 
 language is, from an unintelligible patois, altered 
 into pure French ; the manners of the people, 
 without degenerating, are civilized ; and igno- 
 rance is banished without injuring the sim- 
 plicity of their character. Many of the women 
 belonging to his parishes, trained for the pur- 
 pose under his paternal care and instruction, 
 (and called conductrices,} assist him in his occu- 
 pations. They teach reading, writing, and the 
 elements of geography, in the different villages 
 where they reside ; and through their medium 
 the children are instructed in many necessary 
 things, but, above all, have the seeds of religion 
 and morality sown in their hearts. The excel- 
 lence of these schools is so well established and 
 appreciated, that girls of the middle ranks are 
 sent to him from' distant parts, and the title of 
 a scholar of Pastor Oberlin is no less than a 
 testimonial of piety, cleverness, and gentle man- 
 ners. His countenance is open, affectionate, 
 and friendly, and bears a strong impress of 
 benevolence. His conversation is easy, flowing, 
 
LETTER IN THE GERMAN MAGAZINE. 129 
 
 and full of imagination,* yet always adapted to 
 the capacity of those to whom he is speaking. 
 In the evening we accompanied him a league 
 on his way back to Waldbach. We had a 
 wooded hill to ascend ; the sun was just setting, 
 and it was a beautiful evening. ( What sweet 
 thoughts and pious sentiments you have uttered, 
 during this interesting walk,' said M. Oberlin, 
 in a tone of confidence ; for he considered us as 
 friends to religion, and servants of God. Our 
 hearts were indeed in unison ; and he related to 
 us the circumstances of his past life, and spoke 
 of his views and ideas, and the fear and love of 
 God, in a most touching manner. Sometimes 
 we stood still to admire the beauties of nature, 
 and at others to listen with earnest attention 
 to his impressive discourse. One moment was 
 particularly affecting ; when, stopping about half 
 way up the hill, he answered in the softest tone 
 to our question e Ja ich bin gliicklich,' (' yes, 
 I am happy.') These words are seldom uttered 
 by an inhabitant of this world, and they were so 
 
 * " Although Oberlin narrated with the vivacity of a painter," 
 says Mr. Heisch, who knew him intimately, " he was extremely 
 strict as to facts, and in all his investigations paid the utmost regard 
 to integrity and truth." 
 
 K 
 
130 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 delightful from the mouth of one who is a 
 stranger to all the favours of fortune to all the 
 allurements of luxury and who knows no other 
 joys than those which religion and benevolence 
 impart, that we longed to live like him, that we 
 might also participate in the same happiness. 
 
 " The moon rose in all her majesty, and night 
 drew on, before we recollected that the time to 
 return was approaching ; when pastor Oberlin 
 exclaimed, ( if five years are necessary to bring 
 a ray of light from Sirius to this world, though 
 travelling at the rate of twelve millions of miles 
 in a minute, how much swifter must the com- 
 munications of spirits be ! (Dan. ix. 21.) What 
 is so swift as thought ?' and he then imaged to 
 us the facility with which he apprehended we 
 should approach one another in a future state. 
 
 " The following morning we set off to return 
 the visit which he had paid us on the preceding 
 day. We found the worthy pastor in his morn- 
 ing gown ; it was plain, but whole and clean. 
 He was just on the point of concluding a lec- 
 ture ; his pupils had, like their master, something 
 soft, indeed almost heavenly, in their look. 
 
LETTER IN THE GERMAN MAGAZINE. 131 
 
 <f The house stands well, and has, from the 
 garden side, a romantic view ; in every part of 
 it that kind of elegance, which is the result of 
 order and cleanliness, prevails. The furniture is 
 simple ; yet it suggests to you that you are in 
 the residence of no ordinary man ; the walls are 
 covered with maps, drawings and vignettes, and 
 texts of Scripture are written over all the doors. 
 That above the dining-room door is, ' Blessed 
 are they which do hunger and thirst after right- 
 eousness; for they shall be filled/ And over the 
 others are texts enjoining love to God and our 
 neighbour. The good man implicitly follows 
 the divine command to write them over the 
 door-posts.* On our first entrance he gave us, 
 each, as a welcome, a printed text, ' Abide in 
 me, and I in you/ ' Seek those things which 
 are above/ &c. His study is a peculiar room, 
 and contains rather a well-chosen, than nume- 
 rous, selection of books in French and German, 
 chiefly for youth. The walls are covered with 
 engravings, portraits of eminent characters, plates 
 of insects and animals, and coloured drawings 
 of minerals and precious stones ; it is, in short, 
 
 * See Deut. vi. 6, 7, 8, 9, and xi. 18, 19, 20. 
 K 2 
 
132 MEMQIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 literally papered with useful pictures relative to 
 natural history and other interesting subjects. 
 
 " The dinner commenced with a blessing. His 
 children,, two maids, and a girl who receives her 
 instruction there, were at the table ; there was 
 a remarkable expression of softness in all their 
 countenances. 
 
 " Oberlin has a peculiarly happy method of 
 improving occurrences, under the form of si- 
 miles ; and we are mistaken in supposing him a 
 mystic. ' The Gospel/ said he, e is my standard. 
 I should be afraid of trusting myself alone 
 without it.' He then related to us many of the 
 difficulties he had to encounter, and the sacri- 
 fices he had to make, at the commencement of 
 his career in the Ban de la Roche. ' But now/ 
 continued he, checking himself, ( let me observe, 
 it is as great a fault to talk of our own virtues as 
 of the faults of others/ 
 
 " It is surprising to witness the sound sense, 
 refinement, and superiority of mind, evinced 
 by these simple peasants ; the very servants 
 are well - educated, and are clothed with that 
 
LETTER IN THE GERMAN MAGAZINE. 133 
 
 child-like spirit, which is one of the truest tests 
 of real religion. One of them, who is a widow, 
 made many good remarks to us on the duties 
 of married life. ' In order to introduce and 
 preserve domestic peace/ said she, f let us turn 
 to Him who is peace.' 
 
 " I am writing this at his table, whilst he is 
 busy preparing leather gloves for his peasant 
 children. His family are around him, engaged 
 in their different avocations ; his eldest son, 
 Frederic, is giving a lesson to some of the little 
 ones, in which amusement and instruction are 
 judiciously blended ; and the cher Papa, without 
 desisting from his employment, frequently puts 
 in a word. He took me this morning into his 
 work-shop, where there is a turner's lathe, a 
 press, a complete set of carpenter's tools, also 
 a printing-press, and one for book-binding. I 
 assisted him in colouring a quire of paper, which 
 is intended for covers of school-books. He 
 gives scarcely any thing to his people but what 
 has been, in some measure, prepared by his own 
 or his children's hands. 
 
 " He will never leave this place. A much 
 
134 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 better living was once offered to him ( No/ 
 said he, ' I have been ten years learning every 
 head in my parish, and obtaining an inventory 
 of their moral, intellectual and domestic wants ; 
 I have laid my plan. I must have ten years to 
 carry it into execution, and the ten following to 
 correct their faults and vices.' 
 
 " Pastor Oberlin is too modest and generous 
 not to bear testimony to the worth of his pre- 
 decessor, who had began to clear this wilder- 
 ness, and to raise the superstructure, which 
 he has so beautifully completed. 
 
 " Yesterday, I found him encircled by four or 
 five families who had been burnt out of their 
 houses ; he was dividing amongst them articles 
 of clothing, meat, assignats, books, knives, thim- 
 bles, and coloured pictures for the children, 
 whom he placed in a row according to their 
 ages, and then left them to take what they pre- 
 ferred. The most perfect equality reigns in his 
 house ; children, servants, boarders, are all 
 treated alike ; their places at table change, that 
 each in turn may sit next to him, with the excep- 
 tion of Louisa, his housekeeper, who of course 
 
LETTER IN THE GERMAN MAGAZINE. 135 
 
 presides, and his two maids, who sit at the bottom 
 of the table. As it is his custom to salute every 
 member of his family, night and morning, these 
 two little maids come very respectfully curtseying 
 to him, and he always gives them his hand and 
 inquires after their health, or wishes them good- 
 night. All are happy, and appear to owe much 
 of their happiness^ to him. They seem to be 
 ready to sacrifice their lives to save his. The 
 following reply was made by one of his domes- 
 tics, on his questioning her about her downcast 
 looks during some trivial indisposition : ' I fear, 
 dear Papa, there will be no servants in heaven, 
 and that I shall lose the happiness of waiting 
 upon you.' 
 
 " Oberlin appears to be looking forwards 
 to his eternal home with holy confidence and 
 joyful hope." 
 
 The following are specimens of the texts re- 
 ferred to in the preceding letter. They were 
 printed by Oberlin himself. He always kept a 
 large supply of them, and distributed thousands 
 and tens of thousands of them to his friends and 
 visiters, often writing a few appropriate words on 
 
136 
 
 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 the back of the paper, or some short sentence 
 expressive of his affectionate remembrance. 
 
 Ma mere et jnes freres 
 
 sont ceux qui 
 
 ecoutent la parole de Dieu, 
 
 et la mettent en pratique. 
 
 Luc. viii. 21. 
 
 Et veillons 
 
 les uns sur les autres, afin 
 de nous exciter a la charite, 
 
 et 
 
 aux bonnes oeuvres. 
 Hebreux x. 24. 
 
 Sometimes, instead of a text, a few verses 
 were inscribed on the cards. 
 
 Mon Dieu! pour etre heureux! 
 Tu me mis sur la terre. 
 Tu sais bien mieux que moi, 
 duels sont mes vrais besoins; 
 Le coeur de ton enfant 
 S'en rapporte a tes soins; 
 Donne moi les vertus, 
 Qu'il me faut pour te plaire. 
 
DEATH OF HIS ELDEST SON. 137 
 
 Oberlin's house was, as the writer of the 
 preceding letter remarks, literally papered with 
 pictures, inscriptions, verses from the Bible, and 
 directions for missionary and other prayers; and 
 on the door of one of them the Moravian text- 
 book was fastened. The inscription placed on 
 that of another will give some idea of the cordial 
 and warm reception with which he always 
 greeted his visiters, and formed, indeed, through- 
 out the law by which they were governed: 
 
 " Constante bonte. 
 Douceur ferme. 
 Charite male et inalterable." 
 
 Towards the latter end of the year 1793, 
 Oberlin's eldest son Frederic, to whom he was 
 most tenderly attached, entered the army as a 
 volunteer, and was one of the first who were 
 killed, being at this time in the twenty-fourth 
 year of his age. 
 
 His father's patient resignation, and submis- 
 sion to the will of God, shone forth in as re- 
 markable a manner on this afflicting occasion 
 as they had done on the death of his wife. 
 
138 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 " I went soon afterwards," writes Mr. Heisch, 
 " to Waldbach, and naturally expected to find a 
 tinge of melancholy spread over the family at 
 the parsonage ; but instead of that, I observed 
 only an air of quiet seriousness, and the usual 
 tone of reciprocal communication was uninter- 
 rupted among them. They spoke of Frederic 
 not as of the dead, but as of one gone before 
 them to heaven, where they confidently hoped, 
 sooner or later, to meet him again. Every 
 thing proceeded as usual, except in rather a 
 more serious manner, whilst they thus conversed 
 about him, and it was evident to all around them 
 that they placed the most unlimited confidence 
 in God's unerring goodness." 
 
 The firm belief that every event of our lives 
 is under the guidance and direction of a super- 
 intending Providence, and that Infinite Wisdom 
 can, from a variety of dispensations, produce a 
 uniformity of good and an uninterrupted series 
 of benefits, formed, indeed, a leading trait in 
 Oberlin's character; in proportion as he suffered 
 under affliction, his mind seemed to open to the 
 consolations of faith ; and it is not surprising 
 that the admonitions and example of one so 
 
DEATH OF HIS ELDEST SON. 139 
 
 much beloved and respected, should have been 
 blessed to other individuals, more especially 
 those of his domestic circle, and that, influenced 
 by the same sentiments, they should have been 
 enabled to utter the same language, and to act 
 upon the same principles. Happy are those 
 who can thus trace the hand of God in every 
 circumstance, prosperous or adverse who can 
 regard even the heaviest trials as an intended 
 means of sanctification, and of drawing us 
 nearer to Jesus: and hence, learning to "glory 
 in tribulation," can anticipate with joyful hope 
 that period " when sorrow and sighing shall 
 flee away." 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 UNMOLESTED STATE OF THE BAN DE LA ROCHE DURING 
 
 THE PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTION OBERLIN's GENEROUS 
 
 RENUNCIATION OF HIS OWN INTERESTS FOR THE SAKE OF 
 
 HIS PARISHIONERS HIS SCHOOL FOR THE CHILDREN OF 
 
 FOREIGNERS HIS SENTIMENTS RESPECTING THE PAYMENT 
 OF TITHES LETTER CONTAINING A PLAN FOR THEIR DIS- 
 BURSEMENTPURCHASE OF ASSIGNATS HIS INFLUENCE IN 
 EXCITING A SPIRIT OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY AMONG HIS PEOPLE 
 
 ACCOUNT OF SOPHIA BERNARD, &C. OBERLIN BECOMES 
 
 A CORRESPONDENT OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE 
 SOCIETY LETTERS ADDRESSED BY HIM TO MEMBERS OF 
 THE LONDON COMMITTEE MODE OF COLLECTING SUBSCRIP- 
 TIONS AND DONATIONS FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES, IN THE 
 BAN DE LA ROCHE LETTER TO HIS SCHOLARS. 
 
 DURING the period of the Revolution, which 
 was at this time agitating the country, and 
 plunging the people into misery and distress, 
 Oberlin was, like the rest of the clergy, de- 
 prived of his scanty income. Soon after its 
 commencement, indeed, it had been agreed by 
 the heads of the parish that a collection of 
 
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. 141 
 
 1400 francs should be made for him, by persons 
 going about from house to house for the pur- 
 pose ; but although their benevolent efforts 
 were exerted to the utmost, they could not 
 raise, during the year 1789, more than 1133 
 francs, and in the following one not so many 
 as 400. This sum therefore, for two successive 
 years, constituted nearly his sole revenue ; for 
 no fees were admitted. " My people/' he used 
 to say, " are born, married, and buried, free 
 of expense, at least as far as their clergyman 
 is concerned." 
 
 At length the reign of terror, which had for 
 the last four years been preparing, by the gra- 
 dual breaking down of every religious and social 
 tie, raged in all its horror spreading, like the 
 sirocco of the desert, devastation, famine, and 
 dismay. The Ban de la Roche alone, seemed 
 to be an asylum of peace in the midst of war 
 and carnage. Though every kind of worship 
 was interdicted throughout France, and almost 
 all the clergy of Alsace, men of learning, (among 
 whom was his elder brother, Professor Oberlin) 
 talents, and property, were imprisoned Pastor 
 Oberlin was allowed to continue his work of 
 
142 MEMQIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 benevolence and instruction unmolested.* His 
 house, in fact, became the retreat of many 
 individuals of different religious persuasions, and 
 of distinguished rank, who fled thither, under 
 the influence of terror, from Strasbourg and its 
 environs, and who always received the most 
 open-hearted and cordial reception, though it 
 endangered his own situation. " I once," says a 
 gentleman, who was then residing at Waldbach, 
 " saw a chief actor of the Revolution in Oberlin's 
 house, and in that atmosphere he seemed to have 
 lost his sanguinary disposition, and to have ex- 
 changed the fierceness of the tiger for the gen- 
 tleness of the lamb." 
 
 It is pleasing to see how a Christian minister 
 could meet the difficulties of times like these, 
 and how one of Oberlin's courage and aptitude 
 could make the circumstances of so alarming 
 
 * Once, indeed, in the year 1789, he was cited before the Supreme 
 Council of Alsace, and had to clear himself from the accusation of 
 having induced his parishioners to enrol themselves under the ban- 
 ners of Joseph the Second. He was not merely acquitted, but the 
 court, informed by means of this proceeding of his virtues, and of the 
 good that he had effected, after pronouncing judgment in his favour, 
 expressed regret that so estimable an individual should have been 
 drawn from his solitude, to the interruption of the exercise of his 
 charitable labours. 
 
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. 143 
 
 a period, bend to his aim of profiting those 
 committed to his charge. I will here insert a 
 paper which he addressed to the younger mem- 
 bers of his flock, in 1794, and wherein he took 
 advantage of the actual state of the government 
 to teach them what true republicans should 
 really be : 
 
 " Young people are precious in the sight of 
 God and of good men, when they are truly 
 what they ought to be, noble-minded, cou- 
 rageous, diligent, modest, pious, humble, docile, 
 willing to employ all their energies for the 
 welfare of their families, full of respect towards 
 their superiors, and desirous of keeping the 
 commandments. 
 
 " I desire that the numerous members of the 
 French Republic should be animated by truly 
 republican sentiments. I wish them to under- 
 stand that public happiness constitutes private 
 happiness, and that every individual ought 
 therefore to endeavour to live for the public 
 good ; and to remember that his actions will only 
 secure the favour and love of God, according to 
 the motives from which they are performed. 
 
144 MEMpIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 " We are Republicans, when we neither live, 
 nor act, nor undertake any thing, nor choose 
 a profession or situation, nor settle in life, 
 except for the public good. 
 
 " We are Republicans, when from love to 
 the public we endeavour, by precept as well 
 as by example, to stimulate our children to 
 active beneficence ; and seek to render them 
 useful to others, by turning their attention to 
 such pursuits as are likely to increase the 
 public prosperity. 
 
 " We are Republicans, when we endeavour 
 to imbue the minds of our children with the 
 love of science, and with such knowledge as 
 may be likely, in maturer life, to make them 
 useful in the stations they are called to occupy ; 
 and when we teach them to ' love their neigh- 
 bours as themselves.' 
 
 " Lastly, we are Republicans, when we pre- 
 serve our children from that self-interested 
 spirit, which, at the present day, seems to have 
 gained more ascendancy than ever over a 
 nation, whose people have, notwithstanding, 
 
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. 145 
 
 sworn to regard each other, and to love each 
 other as brethren, but the greater part of whom 
 care only for themselves, and labour only for 
 the public good when they are compelled to 
 do so. Ah ! far from us be this infernal spirit, 
 as anti-republican as it is anti-christian. 
 
 " Oh, may you, my young friends, be counted 
 henceforth among the active benefactors of your 
 country. 
 
 " Oh, may you render yourselves worthy of 
 this honourable title, by endeavouring to de- 
 vote to the public good, and to the general 
 happiness, your strength, your abilities, your 
 leisure, and your talents ; and by dedicating 
 to this purpose all your attainments in know- 
 ledge, philosophy, and science. 
 
 " You will then become precious in the sight 
 of all good men, and God will protect and love 
 you, and cause your undertakings to prosper. 
 He will also one day recompense your faith- 
 fulness, by loading you with honour, and glory, 
 and power, and riches, and happiness, and by 
 saying to you, in the presence of the assembled 
 
 L 
 
146 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 universe, 'Well done, good and faithful ser- 
 vant ; thou hast been faithful over a few things, 
 I will make thee ruler over many things : enter 
 thou into the joy of thy Lord/ Matt. xxv. 23. 
 O God, grant that the Republic, and all true 
 republicans, may prosper. Amen. " 
 
 Upon the re-opening of the churches, in 1795, 
 that benevolent renunciation of his own inte- 
 rests for the good of his flock, which, as I have 
 frequently had occasion to observe, formed so 
 distinguished a feature in Oberlin's character, 
 was strikingly displayed; for he 'declared that 
 in consequence of their reduced means he was 
 willing henceforth, as long as God should grant 
 him strength to do so, to serve them without 
 any given salary, and that he wanted no annual 
 collections ; adding, that as every one knew how 
 to find his way to the parsonage, he might bring 
 his share, to whatever amount, and at whatever 
 time he pleased ; for he considered it unjust that 
 the poor, who were at times unable to procure 
 either salt or bread, and who formed the greater 
 part of the community, should pay as much as 
 those who were in more affluent circumstances. 
 Nor had they, he assured them, any reason to 
 
HIS DISINTERESTEDNESS. 147 
 
 fear his displeasure, even if they brought nothing 
 at all, since he should consider that it was only 
 for want of ability to do so ; and it always 
 afforded him more gratification to relieve than 
 to oppress them. With respect to the payment 
 of the schoolmasters also, they were to adopt 
 the same plan, that is, to contribute according 
 to their means, and to bring whatever they 
 could afford, either for this, or other charitable 
 purposes, to him, in the form of goods, pro- 
 visions or cash. This they regularly did ; and 
 his faithful Louisa was accustomed to assist him 
 in the judicious distribution of the articles or 
 money thus collected.* In return for these 
 gifts, he always presented the donors with a few 
 words of acknowledgment on the back of one of 
 the papers on which his texts were printed, and 
 of which specimens have been given. He 
 always kept the most strict account of every 
 expenditure, and was never known to owe even 
 
 " Malgre la modicite de ses ressources, il savait suffire a tout ; 
 il avait, a son exemple, fait contracter a ses paroissiens la pre"cieuse 
 habitude de mettre a part, chaque semaine, une portion de leurs 
 dpargnes pour des osuvres pieuses ; et par ce moyen, ils se trouverent 
 en tat d'encourager, de seconder, de soutenir nombre d'institutions 
 faites dans le veritable esprit de 1'Evangile." Notice stir /e Pasteur 
 Ober/h,. 
 
 L2 
 
148 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 so much as a single sou to any person. One 
 of the maxims which, among many others, he 
 used to endeavour to impress upon the minds 
 of his people, was that they " ought to avoid 
 debts as they would do the evil spirit." 
 
 Notwithstanding the poverty of its inhabi- 
 tants, scarcely a mendicant was ever seen in 
 the valley, unless indeed some pauper from the 
 neighbouring communes, attracted by the well- 
 known disposition of the pastor and his people, 
 might have wandered thither to implore that 
 assistance which, if deserving, he never failed 
 to receive. " Why do you not work ?" was Ober- 
 lin's usual interrogation. " Because no one will 
 employ me," was the general reply. " Well then, 
 I will employ you. There carry these planks 
 break those stones fill that bucket with water 
 and I will repay you for your trouble." 
 
 Such was his usual mode of proceeding ; and 
 idle beggars were taught to come there no more. 
 
 But how, it will naturally be asked, were 
 Oberlin and his family supported, and even 
 enabled to assist others, when deprived not 
 
SCHOOL FOR FOREIGN CHILDREN. 149 
 
 only of their little income, but also of the annual 
 contributions of their parishioners ? 
 
 It appears, indeed, to have been owing to the 
 extraordinary interposition of Providence, that 
 they were watched over and cared for in so pecu- 
 liar a manner, at a time when many individuals 
 were reduced to the most forlorn situation, and 
 compelled to forsake their home and their coun- 
 try. The Gospel reduces to very little the suffi- 
 ciency of the Christian ; and as, in the days of 
 greater prosperity, they had accustomed them- 
 selves to habits of the strictest economy and the 
 most rigorous self-denial, in order to facilitate 
 their power of assisting others, so now, in the 
 season of adversity, God did " not leave them 
 comfortless," but supplied all their necessary 
 wants, and supported, strengthened, and blessed 
 them. The principal circumstance that gave 
 Oberlin any uneasiness, was the diminution in 
 his means of doing good; and in the year 1794, 
 with the hope of increasing it, he announced his 
 intention of undertaking the charge of ten or 
 twelve pupils whose education should devolve 
 almost entirely upon himself, although he had to 
 provide for his own family of six children, the 
 
150 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 youngest of whom was now ten years of age, 
 and to superintend their instruction. 
 
 The children of several foreigners of distinc- 
 tion were soon committed to his charge ; and, 
 in the true spirit of philanthropy, he appro- 
 priated a considerable part of the emoluments 
 which he received for their education to the 
 improvements and institutions of his parish. 
 
 The duty of devoting a certain portion of his 
 property to charitable purposes, was a subject 
 that had weighed heavily on his mind for some 
 years previous to the Revolution. He had 
 happened to read one day, with more attention 
 than usual, the accounts of the tithes in the 
 Books of Moses, and had been so struck with 
 some of them as to resolve from that moment 
 to devote three tithes of all he possessed to the 
 service of God and the poor. The resolution 
 was no sooner made than put into execution, 
 for whatever Oberlin conceived it to be his duty 
 to do, he conscientiously, and without delay, 
 set about it. From that period till the end of 
 his life, even during the most calamitous sea- 
 sons of the Revolution, he always scrupulously 
 
HIS SENTIMENTS AS TO TITHES. 151 
 
 adhered to the plan, and often said that he 
 " abounded in wealth." 
 
 The following letter contains an account of 
 the passages that struck him so particularly, and 
 of the manner in which he set about the dedica- 
 tion of the dimes : 
 
 " My dear friend, 
 
 " You ask me for some explanation re- 
 specting the different tithes which God has 
 commanded us to pay. I will tell you how I 
 manage. I endeavour to devote three tithes of 
 all that I earn, of all that I receive, and of all 
 my revenue, of whatever name or nature it may 
 be, to his service, or to useful objects. 
 
 " For this purpose I keep three boxes ; the 
 first for the first tithe ; the second for the se- 
 cond ; and the third box for the third tithe. 
 
 " When I cannot pay ready money all at 
 once, I mark how much I owe upon a bit of 
 paper, which I put into the box ; and when, on 
 the contrary, a demand occurs which ought to 
 be defrayed by one of the three allotments, 
 
152 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 and there is not sufficient money deposited, I 
 advance the sum, and make the box my debtor, 
 by marking upon it how much it owes me. 
 
 " By this means I am always able to assist 
 in any public or charitable undertaking ; and 
 as God has himself declared that ' it is more 
 blessed to give than to receive/ I look upon 
 this regular disbursement of part of my property 
 rather in the light of a privilege than a burden. 
 
 " The first of the afore-mentioned boxes contains 
 a deposit for the worship of God. 
 
 " I put a paper, with the following verses 
 from the Old Testament written upon it into 
 this box : 
 
 " And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land 
 or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's : it is holy unto the Lord. 
 Levit. xxvii. 30. 
 
 " Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be 
 meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of 
 hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you 
 out a blessing, that there shall riot be room enough to receive it. 
 Mai. iii. 10. 
 
 " I devote the contents of this box to the 
 building and repairing of churches and school- 
 
PLAN FOR THE DISBURSEMENT OF TITHES. 153 
 
 rooms ; the support of conductrices ; and the 
 purchase of Bibles and pious books ; in short, to 
 any thing connected with divine worship, or the 
 extension of the knowledge of our Redeemer's 
 kingdom. 
 
 " My parishioners are at liberty to recall from 
 this tithe any present that either generosity, or 
 the supposition that I expected it, may have 
 induced them to make me. 
 
 " TJie second box contains tithes for useful pur- 
 poses. 
 
 " I have written the following passages in it: 
 
 " Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field 
 bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy 
 God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the 
 tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy 
 herds and of thy flocks ; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy 
 God always. And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art 
 not able to carry it ; or if the place be too far from thee, which the 
 Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy 
 God hath blessed thee: then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind 
 up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the 
 Lord thy God shall choose : and thou shalt bestow that money for 
 whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, 
 or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth : and thou 
 shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, 
 thou and thine household, and the Levite that is within thy gates ; 
 
154 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 thou shalt not forsake him ; for he hath no part nor inheritance with 
 thee. Deut. xiv. 2227. 
 
 " Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the 
 Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose ; in the feast of 
 unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of 
 tabernacles : and they shall not appear before the Lord empty. 
 Deut. xvi. 16. 
 
 " I employ this tithe for a variety of pur- 
 poses: 
 
 " I. For the improvement of the roads to the 
 churches and schools. 
 
 " 2. For the schoolmasters' salaries. 
 
 " 3. For all works of public utility. 
 
 " 4. For the little expenses incurred by my 
 becoming godfather. 
 
 " 5. For Sunday dinners to my poor people 
 of the other villages. \^My parishioners might 
 add to this catalogue.^ 
 
 " 6. For the churchwardens. \\For whether 
 they do their duty voluntarily from love to God, 
 or make a claim upon me, I always pay them 
 
 " 7. For expenses incurred among the pea- 
 santry of Belmont, Foudai, and Zolbach. 
 " 8. For what the poor of Waldbach expend, 
 
PLAN FOR THE DISBURSEMENT OF TITHES. 155 
 
 by inviting the poor of the other villages to 
 come and see them. 
 
 " 9. For the repairing of injuries. 
 
 " The third box contains tithes for the poor. 
 [[That is, it contains the third tithe every three 
 years, or the thirtieth every year.]] 
 
 " I have written there the following texts : 
 
 " At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of 
 thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates. 
 And the Levite (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee), 
 and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within 
 thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy 
 God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest. 
 Deut xiv. 28, 29. 
 
 " And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not 
 wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the 
 gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, 
 neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard : thou shalt 
 leave them for the poor and stranger : I am the Lord your God. 
 Levit. xix. 9, 10. 
 
 " I devote the contents of this box to the 
 service of the poor ; to the compensation of 
 losses occasioned by fire ; * to wood, flannel, 
 
 * Oberlin one year devoted part of the contents of this box to the 
 purchase of a large fire-engine, as well as of a small one that could 
 be easily transported to the mountainous districts. 
 
156 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 and bread, for those who stand in need, 
 &c. c." 
 
 It must not be supposed from this statement 
 that Oberlin's benevolence was, however, con- 
 fined to the Ban de la Roche, for the knowledge 
 of several pious and excellent institutions had 
 reached the secluded valley before it spread to 
 the rest of France. One of the first that at- 
 tracted his attention, as I have observed in a 
 previous chapter, was the Missionary Society. 
 No sooner had he learned that there were 
 pious Christians who left their homes to convey 
 to the benighted heathen the promises of the 
 Gospel, than he parted with all his plate, with 
 the exception of one silver spoon,* and contri- 
 buted the proceeds of the sale to that noble 
 undertaking, as he rightly designated it, only 
 regretting that he was unable to send more. 
 
 He was indeed himself actuated by the ge- 
 nuine missionary spirit ; and, in the early part 
 of his ministry, he for some time hesitated 
 whether he should not accept an invitation to 
 
 * Oberlin bequeathed this silver spoon to the Missionary Insti- 
 tution at Basle. 
 
HIS FEELING FOR HIS FLOCK. 157 
 
 undertake a station in Pennsylvania. For two 
 years a pastor had in vain been sought to fill 
 the vacant post. When informed of this cir- 
 cumstance, Oberlin, considering it to be the 
 duty of a minister of Christ to repair whither 
 others were unable to go, and thinking that the 
 Ban de la Roche might be more easily provided 
 for, than so distant a charge, expressed his 
 readiness to set off. His wife participated in 
 his sentiments, but, whilst they were waiting 
 for more specific directions, the war broke out 
 between England and America, and prevented 
 their departure. From that time he rejected 
 every station that offered, showing himself to 
 be proof against repeated and urgent solicita- 
 tions. " Some persons," said he one day, 
 "think it a merit in me to have refused more 
 considerable cures than this ; but you," conti- 
 nued he, addressing himself to a military gen- 
 tleman, who had been expressing his surprise 
 that he had not accepted the charge of larger 
 parishes, " if your general had given you a post 
 to defend, would you quit it without positive 
 orders ?" On being answered in the negative 
 " Well," said he, " God has confided this flock 
 to my care; and why should I abandon it? 
 
158 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 Where could I find better parishioners, or 
 more grateful hearts?"* 
 
 His imagination had been powerfully af- 
 fected also by a description of the wretched 
 condition of the negro slaves in the West 
 Indies, employed in the cultivation of sugar 
 and coffee, which induced him to form the 
 resolution of never again tasting either the one 
 or the other, a resolution to which he strictly 
 adhered, although, having been accustomed to 
 them from his earliest infancy, it cost him some 
 little self-denial to submit to the deprivation. 
 
 Another proof of Oberlin's benevolence, and 
 perhaps a more extraordinary one, considering 
 his very narrow resources, than any that has yet 
 been adduced, was the point he made of buying 
 up assignats, (the paper-money of the Revolu- 
 tion which was never redeemed,) whenever they 
 were introduced into the Ban de la Roche. 
 
 " His fidelity in great and little things indis- 
 criminately," says Mr. Legrand, in a letter to 
 
 * See Promenades Alsaciennes. 
 
HIS PURCHASE OF ASSIGNATS. 159 
 
 Mr. Heisch, " was so scrupulous, that he would 
 have believed it displeasing to God, in the 
 remembrance of whose presence he habitually 
 lived, to have written a word, or even a single 
 letter without care. Er glaubte es sey Pflicht, 
 jedem BucJistaben seine Ehre zu geben.* 
 
 " When the assignats lost their value, he 
 feared that this would bring a curse upon 
 France, and diminish the confidence that the 
 people ought to have in the government.f 
 Convinced that it behoved every individual to 
 use his utmost endeavours, as far as his influ- 
 ence or means extended, to prevent such a cala- 
 mity, (leaving it to God to bless the example,) 
 he made a public sale every year of agricultural 
 
 * He thought it his duty to give every letter its due honour. 
 
 f " The Directory, which succeeded the Convention of 1 794, tried 
 to renew the system of paper-money in France in the shape of terri- 
 torial notes (mandats territoriaux), hy means of which it was intended 
 to withdraw the assignats from circulation at the rate of thirty for 
 one, and they were to circulate as money. An issue of territorial 
 notes, to the extent of 2,400,000,000 of francs, was decreed by the 
 councils. They possessed this advantage, that they might be changed 
 immediately on presentation for the national domains which they 
 represented, and a great portion of which were by this means sold. 
 In this manner was completed the revolutionary cycle of assignats, 
 of which they formed the second period. They procured the Direc- 
 tory a momentary supply, but they in turn also lost their credit, and 
 insensibly led the way to bankruptcy, which was the transition from 
 paper to cash payments." MigneCs History of the French Revolution. 
 
160 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 implements and other useful articles amongst 
 his parishioners, or rather offered them in 
 exchange for assignats. By this means he 
 managed to redeem, in the space of twenty- 
 five years, all the assignats of the Ban de la 
 Roche, and of some of its environs. 
 
 " Thus the formation of a single letter was 
 not too small an object to claim the attention of 
 this true servant of God; nor the redemption 
 of thousands of assignats too great an object to 
 be conceived and began by the poor pastor of 
 the Ban de la Roche." 
 
 I possess one of these assignats purchased by 
 Oberlin. It is dated Waldbach, May 9, 1798, 
 and has this superscription upon it in his own 
 handwriting. 
 
 " Ainsi graces a Dieu ma nation est encore 
 dechargee d'une mani&re honnete de cette obli- 
 gation de 125 francs." 
 
 He gave texts of Scripture, as a receipt for 
 the assignats, and generally wrote on the back 
 of the card : " Assignat de - recu de M. le 
 ministre O." with the date. 
 
HIS INFLUENCE AMONG HIS PEOPLE. 161 
 
 Such extreme devotedness to the interests of 
 his flock, combined with his peculiarly endear- 
 ing and affectionate manners, necessarily caused 
 Oberlin to be loved and revered as a father. 
 Every lip became eloquent in his praise every 
 voice pronounced his name with grateful bene- 
 dictions and the stranger who visited the pine- 
 covered hills and verdant vales of the once wild 
 and forsaken Ban de la Roche, found there, 
 in the place of a set of rude and ignorant 
 savages, an industrious, decent, orderly, and 
 well-informed peasantry, many of whom had 
 been so far initiated into both the doctrines and 
 the spirit of the New Testament, as to live in 
 the exercise of that love which is said to be the 
 " fulfilling of the law," and which the Apostle 
 inculcates as a necessary mark of true religion 
 when he says, " He who loveth God must love 
 his brother also." 
 
 The exemplary conduct and sincere piety 
 of some of these individuals, indeed, proved 
 that they had not received " the grace of God 
 in vain." Among other fruits of faith, their 
 charity to orphans was particularly striking. 
 When a poor father or mother died, leaving 
 
 M 
 
162 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 a numerous family, it was a thing of course 
 for some poor person to offer to take upon 
 himself the charge and care of the orphans ; 
 so that many of the households contained one 
 or two of these adopted children, and they 
 seldom thought of mentioning that they were 
 not their own. 
 
 Three individuals more particularly noted in 
 the annals of the Ban de la Roche for their 
 disinterested benevolence, were Sophia Bernard 
 and Catherine Scheidecker, of Foudai, and 
 Maria Schepler, of the hamlet of La Hutte, 
 near Belmont, whose names will appear again 
 in a subsequent part of this memoir. 
 
 The former, Sophia Bernard, although de- 
 pending for subsistence on her own labour and 
 the scanty produce of a morsel of land, resolved 
 in early life to devote herself entirely to the care 
 of orphans, and with this view collected, first 
 under her father's roof and afterwards in the old 
 parsonage, several children, whose parents were 
 of different denominations, and taught them to 
 spin cotton in order to assist in their mainte- 
 nance, which would otherwise have devolved 
 
SOPHIA BERNARD. 163 
 
 entirely on herself. Before she married, and 
 when her little family already consisted of seven 
 children, she and her sister Madeleine* received 
 a letter from a poor tailor, named Thomas, who 
 lived in a neighbouring Roman Catholic village, 
 entreating them, from what he had heard of 
 their charitable deeds, to take charge of his 
 three little children, all of whom were under 
 four years old, as his wife was near her con- 
 finement, and he was utterly unable to provide 
 for them. 
 
 Following the benevolent impulse of the 
 moment, or rather the dictates of that bene- 
 volence by which they were habitually actuated, 
 the two sisters immediately set out, although 
 the evening was already far advanced, and they 
 had dangerous roads to traverse, with their 
 baskets on their backs. At length, regardless of 
 fatigue and exertion, they reached the summit 
 of the mountain upon which Thomas's cottage 
 was situated. Softly approaching it, they peeped 
 in at the window, and were confirmed in the 
 truth of the statement they had received, by the 
 
 * Now Madeleine Bernard, the regent of Belmont's wife, nnd a 
 truly exemplary character. She and Sophia married two brothers. 
 
 M 2 
 
161 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 evident marks of wretchedness and poverty that 
 the little apartment exhibited. Upon entering 
 it, they found the little creatures in as forlorn 
 a condition as the poor man had described, 
 miserably nursed, and weak and diseased from 
 neglect. They, therefore, without further deli- 
 beration, wrapped them up in flannel, packed 
 them in the baskets at their backs, and trudged 
 home with them. But, as their father's house 
 would not accommodate so large an accession 
 to the family, Sophia hired a servant girl, 
 and an additional room, where she fed, clothed, 
 nourished and educated them, so that they 
 became strong, healthy, and industrious. On 
 some of his neighbours afterwards asking the 
 tailor how he could allow his children to be 
 brought up by Potestants, " Oh," he replied, 
 " if they make such good Protestants of them 
 as they are themselves, I shall thank them 
 for it." 
 
 Such are the delightful fruits of genuine 
 Christian benevolence ! and how strikingly does 
 this fact speak for the admonition of many in 
 another rank of life from that in which these 
 poor women shone so brightly. 
 
CORRESPONDENT TO THE BIBLE SOCIETY. 165 
 
 While the good effects of Oberlin's instructions 
 and example were thus shedding their benign 
 influence upon the more immediate scene of his 
 pastoral labours, his name and zeal became 
 known in England; and in the year 1804, on 
 the first establishment of the British and Foreign 
 Bible Society in this country, it was judged 
 expedient to open a correspondence with him, 
 for the sake of forming a central point for the 
 distribution of Bibles in France. 
 
 Being firmly assured that the Scriptures are 
 indeed "the power of God unto salvation to 
 every one that believeth," he had long and 
 ardently desired their general circulation. He 
 therefore gladly hailed the proposition, and be- 
 came the first foreign correspondent of that 
 Society. The large principle on which this 
 Institution was established, admirably suited the 
 mind of Oberlin, and having for the course of 
 twenty years prayed expressly for Missionaries 
 as well as for a still longer period, " Thy king- 
 dom come," it would have been extremely un- 
 natural if he had not supported a Society, whose 
 express object it is to open channels for con- 
 veying the streams of the "waters of life" to 
 
166 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 those parched and desolate portions of the earth 
 which they have not yet pervaded, and to hold 
 out the joyful invitation " Ho, every one that 
 thirsteth, come ye to the waters." 
 
 In conjunction with his youngest son, Henry 
 Gottfried,* a young man of truly eminent piety 
 and much evangelical zeal, Oberlin, under the 
 direction of the London Committee, shortly 
 afterwards organized a little society at Wald- 
 bach ; and through its medium, depositories were 
 established in different parts of France, and more 
 than ten thousand copies of the New Testament 
 put in circulation. This was some years before 
 the Paris Bible Society was instituted. The 
 Ban de la Roche became also in a manner the 
 cradle of LADIES' Bible Associations, in conse- 
 quence of a letter addressed by the late vene- 
 rable pastor to the Committee of the Parent 
 Society, in which he made mention of the three 
 humble but admirable women, whose names, 
 and especially that of Sophia Bernard, have 
 
 * The author of the Propositions Geologiques, &c. referred to in a 
 preceding note. H took the degree of Doctor in Medicine at Stras- 
 bourg in 1806, and Was afterwards ordained. At the time the Archives 
 du Christianisrae were announced, he had formed the plan of a reli- 
 gious magazine, and prepared the prospectus of the work. 
 
HIS LETTERS TO THE BIBLE SOCIETY. 167 
 
 already appeared in this chapter, as suitable 
 persons for taking an active part in this work of 
 love, either by reading the Bible to their neigh- 
 bours, or by adopting the simple and ingenious 
 plan of lending them the Sacred Volume. The 
 Rev. John Owen, in his History of the British 
 and Foreign Bible Society, adverts to this cir- 
 cumstance, acknowledging the obligations we 
 are under to that extraordinary man, whom 
 he describes as " uniting the simplicity of a 
 patriarch with the zeal of an Apostle." 
 
 The letter referred to, is so interesting that 
 no apology appears necessary for inserting it. 
 It is dated, Waldbach, Nov. 3, 1804.* 
 
 " Accept, my dearest friend, our most un- 
 feigned thanks for the sum of 30/. which you 
 have transmitted to us as a kind present from 
 some English friends, for the purpose of pur- 
 chasing French and German Bibles to distribute 
 among the poor inhabitants of the Ban de la 
 Roche and its neighbouring villages, in which 
 
 there are people of four different religious 
 
 I 
 
 * This letter is printed in the Appendix to the First Report of the 
 British and Foreign Bible Society. 
 
168 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 denominations, namely, Roman Catholics, Lu- 
 therans, Reformed, and Anabaptists. May God, 
 for Christ's sake, impart his blessing to this 
 act of Christian benevolence, in order that his 
 name may be glorified, and his kingdom come. 
 
 " You will be glad to learn some particulars 
 respecting the use which I intend to make of 
 this money. 
 
 " I have ordered, and expect soon to receive, 
 fifty copies of the French Protestant Bible 
 printed at Basle. Though the type is rather 
 too small for country people, yet we have great 
 reason to bless God for having enabled us to 
 procure even these. In the mean time, I have 
 made a list of such persons as I consider most 
 deserving of so valuable a present. Among 
 the large number of individuals and families to 
 whom a Bible is a most welcome gift, I first 
 put down such characters as are most active 
 in promoting the coming of the Redeemer's 
 kingdom, and in doing good to the bodies and 
 souls of their fellow-creatures. 
 
 " 1. The first Bible shall be given as a present 
 
HIS LETTERS TO THE BIBLE SOCIETY. 
 
 to Sophia Bernard, who is one of the most 
 excellent women I know, and, indeed, an orna- 
 ment to my parish. While unmarried, she 
 undertook, with the consent of her parents, 
 the support and education of three helpless 
 boys, whom their inhuman father had often 
 trampled under his feet, and treated in a 
 manner too shocking to relate, when, nearly 
 starving with hunger, they ventured to cry out 
 for food. Soon afterwards she proved the 
 happy means of saving the lives of three 
 Roman Catholic children, who, without her 
 assistance, would have fallen a prey to want and 
 famine. Thus she had the management of six 
 children, to whom several more were added, 
 belonging to parents of three several denomi- 
 nations. She then hired a house and a servant 
 girl, and supported the whole of the family 
 entirely by her own work, and the little money 
 acquired by the industry of the children, whom 
 she taught to spin cotton. At the same time 
 she proved the greatest blessing to the whole 
 village where she lived ; for it would be impos- 
 sible for any one to be more industrious, frugal, 
 clean, cheerful, and edifying by her whole walk 
 and conversation ; more ready for every good 
 
170 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 word and work ; more mild and affectionate, 
 and more firm and resolute in dangers, than she 
 was. Satan once so enraged some of her ene- 
 mies, that they threatened to destroy her old 
 tottering cottage, but God was graciously pleased 
 to preserve her. A fine youth, of a generous 
 disposition, made her an offer of marriage, and 
 as she appeared unwilling to accept him, he 
 declared that if necessary he would wait ten 
 years to gain her hand. She then acknowledged 
 that her motive for refusing him was the grief 
 it would occasion her to part from her little 
 orphans. " He who takes the mother takes the 
 children also," replied the young man. On this 
 condition the marriage took place, and all the 
 children were brought up under their mutual 
 care in the most excellent manner. They have 
 lately taken in some other orphans, whom they 
 are training up in the fear and love of God. 
 Though these excellent people pass for rather 
 rich, yet their income is so limited, and their 
 benevolence so extensive, that they sometimes 
 hardly know how to furnish themselves with a 
 new suit of necessary clothes. I intend to give 
 them a Bible because their own is very often 
 lent out in different Roman Catholic villages. 
 
HIS LETTERS TO THE BIBLE SOCIETY. 171 
 
 " 2. A second Bible I intend to give to an 
 excellent woman, named Maria Schepler, who 
 lives at the opposite end of my extensive parish, 
 where the cold is more severe, and the ground 
 unfruitful, so that nearly all the householders 
 are poor people, who must lend their clothes to 
 each other when they intend to go to the Lord's 
 supper. This poor woman is also a very re- 
 markable character ; and I could say much in 
 her praise were I to enter into particulars. 
 Though distressed and afflicted in her own 
 person and circumstances, yet she is a mother, 
 benefactress, and teacher, to the whole village 
 in which she lives, and to some neighbouring 
 districts too. She takes the most lively interest 
 in 'd}\ that relates to the Redeemer's kingdom 
 upon eaith, and often groans under a sense of 
 the grievous inroads jnade by the powers of 
 darkness. She, also, % has brought up several 
 orphans without receiving the smallest recom- 
 pense ; keeps a free-school for females, and 
 makes it a practice to lend her Bible to such as 
 are entirely deprived of it. 
 
 "3. A third Bible present I intend to 
 make to an excellent widow woman, Catherine 
 
172 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 Scheidecker, who is, like the former, a mother 
 to orphans, and keeps a free-school ; so also does 
 another young woman, who instructs little chil- 
 dren, in a neighbouring village, in such knowledge 
 as may render them useful members of society.* 
 
 " I might easily enumerate many more charac- 
 ters of a similar description, whose eyes will 
 overflow with grateful tears, if they are favoured 
 with the present of a Bible. I will make one 
 observation as to the Bibles which you may send 
 us. It is necessary in our parts, to have a 
 number of copies in readiness to lend out to the 
 people of the neighbouring districts, most of 
 whom are Roman Catholics ; for if they possess 
 a Bible of their own, they are in danger of 
 having it taken away by some blind Popish 
 priests ; whereas if it is only lent to them they 
 are generally permitted to return it. 
 
 " Finally, fare well! May God be with you, with 
 your congregation, and with all those kind friends 
 who have so nobly come forward to our assistance. 
 " JOHN FREDERIC OBERLIN." 
 
 * Catherine Banzet, who voluntarily attended all the knitting 
 schools. 
 
HIS LETTERS TO THE BIBLE SOCIETY. 1 73 
 
 I shall also insert the following letter, addressed 
 by Oberlin to a friend in England about six 
 months after the last. It alludes to the exer- 
 tions of his predecessor, M. Stouber, and relates 
 some anecdotes, to which reference was made 
 at the commencement of this work, respecting 
 the avidity with which the Scriptures were 
 seized upon at their first introduction into the 
 Ban de la Roche : an avidity which greatly 
 increased in Oberlin's time, more especially 
 when it became known that he possessed, 
 through the medium of the British and Foreign 
 Bible Society, an ample supply of copies for 
 distribution. 
 
 " Waldbach, June 17, 1805. 
 
 " What shall I say, dearest friend how 
 shall I thank the honourable Bible Society for 
 the gift of 20/. for the spreading of the kingdom 
 of Jesus Christ ? I will entreat God for a rich 
 blessing upon the Institution, and for wisdom 
 to enable me to dispose of its gift in the most 
 effectual manner. 
 
 " You ask if there is a desire for Bibles in 
 the interior of France. I have various reasons 
 
174 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 for believing that there is ; though my personal 
 observation and knowledge extend to our own 
 neighbourhood only.* I must, however, refer 
 to what happened a few years ago, The little 
 Steinthal was formerly the only Protestant spot 
 throughout the whole kingdom of France which 
 enjoyed perfect freedom of religious worship. 
 This the Roman Catholic clergy could hardly 
 bear, nor comprehend how God could permit 
 it ; and envy and displeasure were but too visi- 
 ble in the countenances of some of them when 
 they happened to converse with any of our Pro- 
 testant clergy on the subject. About fifty years 
 ago, God sent my excellent predecessor, the 
 Rev. Mr. Stouber, here ; a truly apostolic man, 
 who obtained considerable reputation through- 
 out all the Catholic neighbourhood. Many 
 Roman Catholics openly declared of him 
 ' This is a man of God ;' and the Lord so 
 blessed his labours that the Steinthal villages 
 began to be distinguished from all the Roman 
 Catholic villages in the vicinity. He sent for 
 fifty French Protestant Bibles from Basle, and 
 lent them in the schools, even with permission 
 
 * Oberlin never went far from home. He had never even seen 
 Paris, nor made any journeys except to Fribourg and to St. Dizier. 
 
HIS LETTERS TO THE BIBLE SOCIETY. 175 
 
 to the scholars to take them home. It must 
 be observed that he had them divided into 
 three parts, bound in strong parchment, making 
 one hundred and fifty volumes. 
 
 " He also distributed many other good French 
 books. The result of this measure was that the 
 neighbours were made attentive to the Bible. 
 A Roman Catholic one day entered a house in 
 this place, and after some desultory talk, during 
 which time he had carefully cast his eye round 
 the apartment, he espied in the window a thick 
 book with a lock ; having heard that Bibles had 
 this appearance, he took it up, looked at the 
 title, and asked, ( Whether one could have such 
 a Bible for a crown?' On receiving an answer 
 in the affirmative, he threw down a crown upon 
 the table, and ran hastily out of the cottage and 
 away to his own village, with the Bible under 
 his arm, to the astonishment of every one. From 
 that time the demand continually increased ; 
 several hundred small Bibles from Basle and 
 Biela were partly sold, partly given, and partly 
 lent ; and all the Biela Bibles in folio, as well 
 as many in quarto, were procured from Switzer- 
 land, and dispersed among the Roman Catholics. 
 
176 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 Yet many copies were taken by the Romish 
 priests from their people and burnt ; some- 
 times a violent contention took place about it. 
 
 " A priest once surprised one of his people 
 over the Bible, snatched it from him with bitter 
 reproaches, and was going off with it ; when the 
 man, who possessed some spirit, and had often 
 heard from his neighbours of the priests taking 
 away their Bibles, jumped up, snatched his 
 hanger, placed himself before the door and cried 
 out : ' Reverend Sir, replace the Bible on the 
 table. I respect your character ; but a thief 
 is no pastor. I will certainly cut you in pieces, 
 rather than suffer you to steal a Bible which 
 has been kindly lent me.' The priest restored 
 the Bible, but ordered the man to return it to 
 the owner ; and thus many were returned to us. 
 
 " Before the Revolution, I never gave any 
 Bibles to the Roman Catholics with my 
 own hands, but always through those of my 
 parishioners ; since the Revolution I have 
 had more freedom, so that I may even let 
 the Roman Catholics take the sacrament in 
 our church, a circumstance that has often 
 
HIS LETTERS TO THE BIBLE SOCIETY. 177 
 
 happened.* Now, the priests excite a suspicion 
 about the Swiss Bibles, so that many of their 
 people do not know what to do respecting 
 them. I am, however, in hopes of soon pro- 
 curing some of the Protestant Bibles, which 
 are now printing at Paris. About a fortnight 
 ago, I had the unexpected pleasure of re- 
 ceiving the thanks of an emigrant ex-priest for 
 a Parisian New Testament. I wrote to him 
 that I should readily offer him a whole Bible, 
 had I any other than a Swiss edition, which 
 might appear to him suspicious, though it was 
 so to none who examined it by the original. 
 He replied he would thankfully accept it. At 
 last he came to me in person, and also took 
 a German Bible, and some other German 
 books, having learnt German during his emi- 
 gration. I beg leave to add that many French 
 gentlemen of respectability have accepted Bi- 
 bles from me with, apparently, sincere joy ; and 
 
 * " Oberlin's tolerance," says the Rev. F. Cunningham, " was almost 
 unbounded. He administered the Sacrament to Catholics, Lutherans, 
 and Calvinists, at the same time, and, because they would not cat the 
 same bread, he had, on the plate, bread of different kinds, wafer, 
 leavened and unleavened. In every thing the same spirit appeared; 
 and it extended not only to his Catholic, but also to his Jewish 
 neighbours, and made him many friends among them all." 
 
 N 
 
178 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 lately a lady came several leagues on horseback 
 in order to request one of me." * 
 
 Although through Oberlin's agency the Holy 
 Scriptures were not only circulated abroad, but 
 also among all the Protestants in his extensive 
 parishes, and in the surrounding Roman Catholic 
 villages, there was not at this time any regularly 
 constituted Bible Society in the Ban de la Roche. 
 
 " The inhabitants of the different villages," 
 says Mrs. Rauscher,f " seem to be actuated by 
 some secret and spontaneous movement. They 
 assemble together in the evening of certain days, 
 when, after reading a few chapters of the Bible, 
 they all kneel down and join in imploring the 
 divine blessing upon the whole village, as well 
 as upon the parish at large, and upon every 
 institution designed to circulate the truths of 
 the Gospel and to bring people nearer to God. 
 They then make a collection, which is deposited 
 in a box kept for the purpose, and reserved 
 
 * This letter appears in the Appendix to the Second Report of the 
 British and Foreign Bible Society. 
 
 f Frederica Bienvenue, Oberlin's youngest daughter, who was 
 married, in the year 1806, to the Rev. Mr. Rauscher, of Barr. 
 
MODE OF COLLECTING SUBSCRIPTIONS. 179 
 
 there till the time arrives for transmitting it 
 to those Bible and Missionary Societies whose 
 annual reports show that they stand in the 
 greatest need." 
 
 A reference to those reports will prove that 
 the collections made on some of these occasions, 
 amounted to very considerable sums.* 
 
 Having been themselves refreshed, and cheered, 
 and comforted, by the perusal of the sacred 
 Volume, Oberlin's parishioners contributed their 
 little donations in aid of the great cause, with a 
 liberality and readiness that proved they were 
 influenced in doing so, by that spirit of love 
 which the blessed Gospel inculcates. Their 
 own moral wilderness had been made to " rejoice 
 and blossom as the rose," by the vivifying rays 
 of the Sun of Righteousness, and they naturally 
 and earnestly desired, that other " waste places 
 might break forth into joy and sing together," 
 and that the " Word of the Lord might have 
 free course and be glorified." 
 
 See the Third, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Annual Reports of the 
 Protestant Paris Bible Society, &c. 
 
 N2 
 
180 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 I will conclude this chapter with the following 
 sweet little letter, addressed by Pastor Oberlin 
 to his scholars, on their having presented him 
 with some garlands in remembrance of the 70th 
 anniversary of his birth. 
 
 " Waldbach, September 16th, 1810. 
 
 " My dear Scholars, 
 
 " I am very sensible of the honour you have 
 intended me, in sending your garlands as a token 
 of your remembrance of my 70th birth-day, 
 completed the 31st of last August. You seem, 
 however, to have forgotten that an honour 
 which one is conscious of not deserving, is 'in 
 itself humiliating and abasing. If, by my feeble 
 exertions, I have been enabled to be of some 
 utility to you, all the honour . belongs to God, 
 who has kindled in my heart the love I bear 
 you, and who has given and preserved my 
 strength till this period to carry forward my 
 heart's desire, which is your good. 
 
 " The beautiful flowers with which your great 
 Creator adorned our country, gave you the 
 means of presenting me with this testimony of 
 your united love. These flowers will very soon 
 
LETTER TO HIS SCHOLARS. 181 
 
 fade, but the impression they have made on my 
 heart will never die, and I earnestly pray that 
 you may become unfading flowers in the Para- 
 dise of God. 
 
 " May he bless you, and may he bless the 
 persons who labour for your instruction, with 
 perseverance and faithfulness, that you may 
 prosper, and become useful in the service of our 
 dear and beloved Saviour. 
 
 " But I have still one wish : a wish that 
 though I am old in years is always fresh in my 
 heart : a wish that reigns predominant in my 
 thoughts and never forsakes me. It is that my 
 parish might make one solemn feast before God, 
 a general and universal dedication, and one in 
 which all persons without distinction might par- 
 take, every one according to his respective ability. 
 That is, a dedication of the heart, in honour 
 and remembrance of, and in faith in Him, who 
 shed his blood for us in Gethsemane, and per- 
 mitted himself to be smitten, scourged, and spit 
 upon, crowned with thorns, and nailed to the 
 cross, that we might receive the heaven which 
 our sins had forfeited. This is the dedication 
 
182 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 that I so much desire every soul in my parish 
 might join together to make, even the surren- 
 der of himself to Jesus, each one as he is, with 
 all his faults, with all his sins, in order to find in 
 Him, pardon, righteousness, sanctification and 
 redemption. 
 
 " Your affectionate Papa, 
 
 " JOHN FREDERIC OBERLIN." 
 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 HENRY OBERLIN'S REMOVAL TO RIGA HIS SISTER HENRIETTA'S 
 MARRIAGE THEIR RETURN TO WALDBACH LETTER FROM 
 
 OBERLIN TO P. J. HEISCH, ESQ. LETTER FROM HENRY 
 
 OBERLIN TO DITTO MR. LEGRAND*S SETTLEMENT IN THE 
 BAN DE LA ROCHE INTRODUCTION OF COTTON-SPINNING J 
 SILK BIBB ON MANUFACTORY, &C. TERMINATION OF A LONG- 
 IMPENDING LAW-SUIT HENRY OBERLIN's DEATH HIS 
 FATHER'S RESIGNATION ON THAT OCCASION, DISPLAYED IN A 
 LETTER TO MR. HEISCH. 
 
 IN the year 1808, Henry Gottfried Oberlin, who 
 has been already mentioned as his father's active 
 coadjutor in the distribution of Bibles, left the 
 Protestant theological school at Strasbourg, of 
 which he had for the last two years been super- 
 intendent, and went to reside as private tutor in 
 the family of Count Richter, at Riga. 
 
 His sister Henrietta likewise removed into 
 Russia during the same year, having married 
 
184 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 the Rev. Mr. Graff, a missionary on the banks 
 of the Wolga. 
 
 Oberlin's advancing age, and increasing in- 
 ability for that very active exertion which the 
 peculiar situation of his parish required, and 
 which he had been accustomed to use, induced 
 the former, however, in the year 1813, and 
 Mr. and Mrs. Graff, with their family of young 
 children, in the subsequent one, to come and 
 take up their residence again under the paternal 
 roof at Waldbach. 
 
 The following note, addressed by Oberlin to 
 P. J. Heisch, Esq., speaks of his own increasing 
 weakness, and alludes, with grateful pleasure, to 
 Henry's return. 
 
 " Dear, not to be forgotten friend ! 
 " On the 5th of December, God restored to 
 me my son Henry Gottfried from Russia, who 
 now relieves me from part of my labour, though 
 there is still so much left to be done that six 
 of us could find ample employment. Your re- 
 membrance and letter have given me exceeding 
 joy, and I only regret the impossibility of 
 
LETTER TO P. J. HEISCH, ESQ. 185 
 
 having answered you before. My situation is 
 unique in its way ; and my labour seems to 
 increase as my strength decreases, especially 
 the strength of my eyes. For these several 
 years past I have been repeatedly threatened 
 with sudden death.* Now, thank God, I am 
 very well. 
 
 " May God be with you, dear and not to be 
 forgotten friend, and with your dear family. 
 It gives me no concern to think that we shall 
 not see each other again in this world ; in the 
 next our intercourse will be more frequent, 
 more easy, and more delightful. Adieu. 
 " Your aged friend of seventy-three, 
 
 " J. F. OBERLIN. 
 
 " My sincere respects to the Rev. Dr. 
 Steinkopff." 
 
 * Oberlin had a most extraordinary and serious illness during the 
 period of the Revolution, in 1794, supposed to be brought on by over 
 exertion, and he never appeared to have entirely overcome the shock 
 that his constitution underwent. The prevailing disposition of the 
 mind sometimes displays itself during the intervals of delirium, and, 
 whilst his fever lasted, he often distressed poor Louisa, by perpetuallv 
 calling upon her to bring him thousands and thousands for the fur- 
 therance of his plans. He used often to speak afterwards of the state 
 of his mind during this illness, and of the distinct ideas he had been 
 enabled to form of the diii'crcncc between the natural and spiritual man. 
 
186 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 Henry also wrote to Mr. Heisch about the 
 same time, and as his letter contains some par- 
 ticulars of his truly interesting family, and of 
 various circumstances to which I shall after- 
 wards have to refer, I insert it. 
 
 " Waldbach, December llth, 1813. 
 
 " Highly honoured Sir, my valued friend, and 
 former teacher. 
 
 " My father received your friendly letter 
 on the 10th of April, and he allows me the 
 pleasure of replying to part of it. 
 
 " The Steinthal has, during the last few 
 years, witnessed many melancholy, but also 
 many cheering events. Conflagrations, formerly 
 so rare, have destroyed many houses in most of 
 the villages ; even the beautiful parsonage of 
 Rothau fell, a few year ago, a prey to the flames. 
 We have also lost since that period several of 
 the most worthy inhabitants of our valley, who, 
 both in word and deed, were bright and shining 
 examples to their contemporaries ; such were, 
 for instance, Catherine Gagniere and Catherine 
 Banzet. We must likewise include among our 
 
LETTER FROM HENRY OBERLIN. 187 
 
 apparent adversities the circumstance of cotton- 
 spinning having been on the decline for several 
 years, and as a similar circumstance occurs with 
 regard to weaving, many families have been 
 thrown into great distress. But God, who has 
 always had an open eye upon the Steinthal, and 
 extended a helping hand towards it, has also 
 manifested himself in tlie present juncture. 
 Besides the excellent magistrates (maires) with 
 whom the whole of my dear father's parish is 
 blessed, God has given us, in the person of 
 the Count Lezay Marnesia, a prefect who 
 entertains an extraordinary affection for the 
 people of the Steinthal. Through his means 
 in particular, and the striking interposition of 
 Providence, the long-pending law-suit about the 
 forests, which had been so oppressive to the 
 inhabitants, has been brought to an amicable 
 conclusion this year. It also pleased God to 
 send, a short time since, a gentleman into this 
 country who formerly kept a ribbon manu- 
 factory in Alsace, and who takes a great 
 interest in effectually assisting the inhabitants 
 of the Steinthal. Our good and excellent 
 Louisa Schepler is still alive, and always, in 
 conjunction with my dear father, observing the 
 
188 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 same fidelity and self-devotion in the perform- 
 ance of her duties. We, his children, have 
 been very much dispersed, but we were much 
 more so a little time ago than we are now. It 
 is, indeed, remarkable how we are concentrated 
 in the Steinthal. My brother Charles has been 
 for some years past clergyman of Rothau.* 
 My sister Frederica, who married the Rev. Mr. 
 Rauscher, now resides at Barr, where Mr. 
 Rauscher keeps a school, and also exercises 
 his ministerial functions. I am myself, in fine, 
 come to the Steinthal from Russia, or Livonia, 
 though not by the shortest way. I wrote to 
 you, respected friend, from Riga, under the 
 date of August 2nd, 1811. I wrote also, at a 
 later period, to Dr. Steinkopff, but I never 
 received an answer from your country. I ought 
 to have mentioned above, that the gentleman 
 who is introducing the ribbon manufactory into 
 the Steinthal is a native of Basle ; perhaps he 
 is not unknown to you. It is Mr. Legrand, 
 
 * Charles Consent, Oberlin's second son, was born in 1776. In 
 the year 1803, he married Sophia Catherine Franck, of Strasbourg, 
 the widow of an officer named Berard. On account of his father's 
 advancing age, he was induced, in 1806, to relieve him of part of his 
 pastoral duties, by accepting the living of Rothau, at which place he 
 still resides. 
 
LETTER FROM HENRY OBERLIN. 189 
 
 who was formerly a member of the Directory 
 in Switzerland. My dear Sister Louisa Charite 
 is married to a good worthy man, the Rev. 
 Peter Witz, of Colmar. She, as well as dear 
 Frederica, has several children, and so also has 
 sister Henrietta, in Russia. Our beloved sister 
 Fidelite has been for several years lost to us 
 in this world, which grieves me, in particular, 
 even now. The good Fidelite what a faithful 
 sister she was ! as faithful a sister as she was 
 a mother and wife.* 
 
 " I shall now conclude, as it is possible that 
 
 Fidelite Caroline Oberlin was married, in 1795, to the Rev. 
 James Wolff, of Mittelbergheim. She died May 9th, 1809, leaving 
 two little girls, who soon followed their mother to the grave. Her 
 death was a great affliction to her near connexions, but especially to 
 Henry, to whom she was remarkably endeared, and to her father. 
 In speaking of this circumstance, Mr. Heisch, the long and intimate 
 friend of the family, says, " I particularly recollect the warm attach- 
 ment that subsisted between Oberlin 's daughter Fidelite", his son 
 Henry, and himself. Oh, he did love his children most tenderly! 
 If I am not mistaken, I saw him weep but once, and that was when 
 he married his daughter Fidelite* to Mr. Wolff. Tears of joy in the 
 prospect of her happiness, were then mingled with those tears of grief, 
 which a separation from this beloved child could not but occasion. 
 Sometime after he repeatedly visited her at Mittelbergheim, and I 
 had once or twice the pleasure of accompanying him. It is scarcely 
 possible for any one, who was not an eye-witness to this scene, to 
 form an idea of the tender affection that subsisted between father and 
 daughter." 
 
190 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 my dear father and Louisa may wish to add a 
 word themselves. 
 
 " I remain ever, your grateful old pupil and 
 friend, 
 
 " HENRY GOTTFRIED OBERLIN." 
 
 Although on Oberlin's first arrival in the 
 Ban de la Roche, the population consisted of 
 eighty or a hundred families only, it increased 
 in the course of a few years to five or six 
 hundred, constituting altogether three thousand 
 souls. 
 
 To provide employment for so great a 
 number of persons, even supposing that five 
 hundred could be employed during four or 
 five months of the year in the cultivation of 
 land, and that one third were infants and 
 infirm persons incapable of work, became a 
 most important object ; and gave rise to the 
 introduction of various branches of mechanical 
 industry, adapted to local circumstances ; such, 
 for instance, as straw-platting, knitting, and 
 dyeing with the plants of the country. The 
 
COTTON-SPINNING. 191 
 
 former was introduced by an invalid captain, 
 whose gratitude for the kind reception he met 
 with, on soliciting the hospitality of the generous 
 pastor of Waldbach, induced him to proffer 
 his services in furthering the views of his bene- 
 factor, by instructing the young persons in an 
 art with which necessity had previously made 
 him acquainted. 
 
 Besides these employments, Oberlin had suc- 
 ceeded in introducing the spinning of cotton 
 by the hand ; and, as he gave prizes to the 
 best spinners in addition to their wages, this 
 branch of industry for a time succeeded so well, 
 that it once gained for the Ban de la Roche, 
 in the course of a single year, and from one 
 manufacturer, the emolument of 32,000 francs 
 an enormous sum, considering the extreme 
 poverty and indigence to which the inhabitants 
 had but just before been subjected. Weaving 
 followed, and, notwithstanding numerous ob- 
 stacles, promised a large increase of pecuniary 
 means ; but, unfortunately, the introduction of 
 machinery at Schirmeck and some of the 
 surrounding villages, produced an entire re- 
 volution about the time the preceding letter 
 
192 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 was written, deprived them of this source of 
 maintenance, and seemed likely to reduce them 
 to their former state of necessity and want. 
 
 During this emergency, Mr. Legrand, of 
 Basle, formerly one of the Directors of the 
 Helvetic Republic, and of whom Henry makes 
 grateful mention, attracted to the Ban de la 
 Roche by regard and affection for its pastor, 
 and the simplicity, intelligence, and integrity 
 of his parishioners, persuaded his two sons, to 
 whom he had relinquished business, to remove 
 their manufactory of silk ribbons from the 
 department of the Upper Rhine to Foudai, 
 believing that its introduction in the Steinthal, 
 by giving employ to a great number of hands, 
 would become not only an advantage but a 
 real blessing to the peasantry there, who were 
 at this period sadly in need of work. The first 
 invasion of the allies, who took possession of 
 their workshops, induced Mr. Daniel and Mr. 
 Joseph Legrand to accede, without hesitation, 
 to the wishes of their father, and indeed proved 
 a means of hastening their removal.* 
 
 * The name of Daniel Legrand is well known in connexion 
 with the Paris Bible Society, to which he has long been a warm and 
 
SILK MANUFACTORY. 193 
 
 In the course of a short time, through the 
 exertions of this benevolent and highly respec- 
 table family, industry and happiness again smiled 
 in the valley: for whilst the introduction of 
 the silk manufactory caused trade to be carried 
 on with renewed vigour, and gave employment 
 to several hundred hands, it was attended with 
 another great advantage, too seldom experienced 
 in manufacturing districts; this was, that the 
 ribbon looms were distributed about the houses 
 in the different villages, so that, contrary to 
 the usual custom, the children could remain 
 whilst at work under the eye of their parents, 
 instead of being exposed to the contaminating 
 influence of bad example. 
 
 " Conducted by Providence," says Mr. Le- 
 grand, in a letter addressed to the Baron de 
 Gerando,* " into this remote valley, I was the 
 more struck with the sterility of its soil, its 
 straw-thatched cottages, the apparent poverty 
 
 zealous friend. Having himself experienced, in a striking manner, 
 the renovating influence of religion, he now takes every opportunity 
 of inducing others, as far as lies in his power, to become " followers 
 of Jesus," and to embrace those truths which form the ground of his 
 own faith and practice. 
 
 * See Rapport fait a la Socie'td Royale et Centrale d' Agriculture, &c. 
 
 O 
 
194 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 of its inhabitants, and the simplicity of their 
 fare (chiefly consisting of potatoes) from the 
 contrast which these external appearances 
 formed to the cultivated conversation which I 
 enjoyed with almost every individual I met 
 whilst traversing its five villages, and the frank- 
 ness and ndivetk of the children, who extended 
 to me their little hands. I had often heard 
 of Pastor Oberlin, and eagerly sought his ac- 
 quaintance. He gave me the most hospitable 
 reception, and anticipated my desire to know 
 more of the history of the little colony whose 
 manners had surprised me so greatly, by placing 
 in my hands the annals of his parish.* I there 
 found an unconnected, but detailed history of 
 the institutions for general instruction founded 
 by his predecessor, and continued by himself. 
 
 " It is now four years since I removed here 
 with my family; and the pleasure of residing 
 in the midst of a people, whose manners are 
 softened and whose minds are enlightened by 
 the instructions which they receive from their 
 earliest infancy, more than reconciles us to the 
 
 * The Annals of the Ban de la Roche were commenced hy Oberlin 
 in 1770. 
 
TERMINATION QF A LAW-SUIT. 195 
 
 privations which we must necessarily experience 
 in a valley separated from the rest of the world 
 by a chain of surrounding mountains."* 
 
 With regard to the long impending law-suit, 
 mentioned in the preceding letter from Henry 
 Oberlin to Mr. Heisch, it seems necessary to 
 give some explanation, more especially as it 
 will afford another proof, in addition to the 
 many already adduced, that the almost un- 
 bounded influence which Oberlin had acquired 
 over his people, was always exerted for puiposes 
 of beneficence. The litigation, to which that 
 letter refers, had been carried on for upwards 
 of eighty years, between the peasantry of the 
 Ban and the seigneurs of the territory, with 
 respect to the right of the forests which covered 
 the greater part of the mountains. This ruinous 
 contest, which impoverished both parties by 
 an enormous expense, and discouraged im- 
 provement, had survived even the French 
 
 * Mr. Legrand soon became a most useful auxiliary to Oberlin, 
 devoting his leisure hours to benevolent purposes. The superintend- 
 ence and direction of the schools, which he managed in a very supe- 
 rior manner, particularly claimed his attention ; and so great was his 
 ardour in the work, that he was once about to take up his residence 
 for the seven winter months in Belmont school, had not his health 
 prevented it. 
 
 o2 
 
196 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 Revolution, which swept away in a moment 
 so many absurd remnants of ancient feu- 
 dalism. M. de Lezay Marnesia,* prefect of the 
 Lower Rhine, who deeply lamented the dis- 
 graceful contention, and earnestly desired to 
 see it terminated, at length opened his mind 
 to Oberlin on the subject, and entreated him 
 to use every effort in his power for the restora- 
 tion of peace, declaring that he knew no other 
 person so capable of effecting it. The latter 
 readily acceded to his wishes, for it was what 
 he himself had long and ardently desired, 
 though the impossibility of accomplishing it, 
 until sanctioned by the authority of the magis- 
 trate, had hitherto prevented his taking an 
 active part in the business.f No sooner had 
 he received this intimation, than he began 
 to take every opportunity of convincing his 
 parishioners, in private conversation, that this 
 
 * M. de Lezay Marnesia entertained a peculiar affection and re- 
 spect for Oberlin, although differing from him in his religious tenets. 
 He would sometimes consult him on the sceptical objections to 
 revealed religion which presented themselves to his mind, and appear 
 as well pleased to yield as Oberlin was to gain the victory in argu- 
 ment. 
 
 f Oberlin had had for several years this motto affixed to one of his 
 doors. " O Gott, erbarme Dich des Steinthals, und mache dem 
 Prozess ein Ende." (" O God, have mercy on the Steinthal, and put 
 an end to the law-suit ! ") 
 
TERMINATION OF A LAW-SUIT. 197 
 
 litigation was the scourge of the country ; as- 
 suring them that a voluntary sacrifice on their 
 part, for the sake of peace, would be far prefer- 
 able to the uncertainties of a prolonged law- 
 suit, and that the end they wished to gain could 
 only be obtained by a succession of the most 
 wearisome debates. Nor was it in private con- 
 versation only that he urged his plea, for in the 
 pulpit also he frequently insisted on the duty 
 of avoiding subjects of dispute, and on the cha- 
 racteristics of that charity " which suffereth 
 long and is kind, seeketh not her own, beareth 
 all things." 
 
 Having, in this manner, prepared his pa- 
 rishioners to listen to his proposal, and when 
 he saw that they were ready to receive it, he 
 frankly declared his conviction that they were 
 bound as much by their interest as their duty 
 to consent to an accommodation. 
 
 His advice was followed. The parties ac- 
 ceded to an agreement advantageous to both 
 sides. What so many years had not been able 
 to effect, Oberlin the mild and gentle Oberlin 
 brought about by u few conciliatory words. 
 
198 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 The prefect was desirous that the inhabitants 
 should not be allowed to forget to whom they 
 were indebted for the restoration of peace. At 
 his suggestion, the mayors in deputation pre- 
 sented to their pastor the pen with which M. de 
 Lezay had signed the solemn engagement, en- 
 treating him to suspend it in his study as a 
 trophy of the victory which his habitual benefi- 
 cence of character had, under the divine blessing, 
 enabled him to gain over long continued animo- 
 sity and bad feeling. He modestly complied with 
 their request, and was often heard to say that 
 the day on which that pen was used, June 6th, 
 1813, was one of the happiest of his life.* 
 
 I must now advert to an affecting event, which 
 happened in Oberlin's family in the winter of 
 1817. This was the death of his son Henry 
 Gottfried, who had only resided under the pa- 
 ternal roof for about three years after his return 
 from Russia, before he was summoned hence, 
 to taste, as we have every reason to believe, of 
 the joys of heaven. 
 
 * For several years this memorable pen retained its station in his 
 study ; but it at length disappeared, without any one being able to 
 tell what had become of it. 
 
HENRY OBERLIN'S DEATH. 199 
 
 " God's ways are not our ways, neither are 
 his thoughts our thoughts ;" and it sometimes 
 pleases him to remove to a better country, and 
 to a higher state of existence, those whom we 
 had fondly imagined would become as shining 
 lights in the world, and instruments devoted to 
 his service ; as though to remind us that he 
 can effect his own purposes in what way, and 
 in what manner He sees best, without the aid 
 of short-sighted, and, at the best, fallible crea- 
 tures like ourselves. 
 
 The immediate occasion of Henry's death 
 was supposed to arise from a cold, which he 
 took in assisting to extinguish a fire that had 
 broken out in the night in a town on his route, 
 as he was making, in 1816, a circuit of eighteen 
 hundred miles in the south of France, with a 
 view to inspect the state of the Protestant 
 churches, and to ascertain the means of sup- 
 plying them more generally with the Holy 
 Scriptures. 
 
 The fatigue attending the remainder of the 
 journey, added to the seeds of incipient disease, 
 had so shattered his constitution, that, soon 
 
200 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 after arriving in his native valley, he was in- 
 duced to remove to Rothau, instead of remaining 
 at Waldbach, in order to receive the benefit of 
 his brother Charles's advice, who, in addition 
 to his clerical functions, was a medical prac- 
 titioner. On perceiving, however, that the 
 complaint rapidly gained ground, he desired, 
 with the greatest resignation and composure, to 
 be conveyed home again to his father's house 
 that he might die there. 
 
 So universally was Oberlin beloved, that his 
 parishioners seized every opportunity of proving 
 their attachment to him and to his family ; and 
 on this occasion a truly affecting scene pre- 
 sented itself. No sooner was Henry's request 
 made known in the village, than twelve peasants 
 immediately presented themselves at the par- 
 sonage-house, and offered to carry him upon a 
 litter to Waldbach, which is about six miles 
 distant from Rothau. He could not, however, 
 bear exposure to the open air, and it was there- 
 fore found expedient to place him in a covered 
 cart ; but, as it slowly proceeded through the 
 valley, the faithful peasants walked before it, 
 carefully removing every stone, that the beloved 
 
HENRY OBERLIN'S DEATH. 201 
 
 invalid might experience as little inconvenience 
 as possible from jolting over the rough roads. 
 
 A few weeks after his arrival under the pater- 
 nal roof, his life, which had promised such ex- 
 tensive usefulness, drew near its close. Faith, 
 mingled with pious resignation to the will of his 
 heavenly Father, who was thus early pleased to 
 call him to himself, was strikingly exhibited in 
 his last moments, and on the 16th of November, 
 1817, without a struggle or a sigh, he sweetly 
 " slept in Jesus."* 
 
 A few particulars of his close are given 
 in the notes of the sermon which his father 
 preached on the occasion of his death. I 
 shall here insert a translation of them from 
 the original MSS. 
 
 " My son Henry Gottfried, in the midst of 
 distressing bodily anguish, (for as to his mental 
 
 * His premature and lamented death is thus recorded in the Four- 
 teenth Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society : " Your Com- 
 mittee think it due to the late Rev. Henry Oberlin, of Waldbach, in 
 Alsace, to bear their testimony to that zeal by which he was urged to 
 sacrifice his valuable life in exertions for distributing the Holy Scrip- 
 tures among his countrymen." 
 
202 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 powers, he enjoyed the full and clear use of 
 them till the last moment of his life,) and under 
 the pressure of acute and lingering sufferings, 
 often said, ' Oh mercy ! mercy ! Oh God ! hast 
 thou then ceased to be merciful ? Oh, it is a 
 hard, hard, hard thing to die ! ' 
 
 " Half or a quarter of an hour before expir- 
 ing, his countenance exhibited less suffering, and 
 he said, (although with considerable difficulty,) 
 ' Now a little repose a little consolation a 
 little joy.' Then he often repeated, f From 
 death unto life ' ' From death unto life.' 
 
 " At length he presented his trembling hand 
 to place it in mine ; he pressed mine very 
 sensibly ; and retained it in his own, ' from 
 death unto life,' for without our perceiving it 
 he ceased to breathe. Twice, believing him 
 gone, Louisa Schepler closed his eyes, but they 
 opened again and were raised on high." 
 
 Henry Oberlin was buried in the church- 
 yard of Foudai, where a monument of wood, 
 surrounded by willows, is erected to his 
 memory. 
 
HIS LETTER TO MR. HEISCH. 203 
 
 His venerable father was graciously supported 
 under this heavy stroke, and in his discourse 
 over the grave of his son, spoke tenderly and 
 familiarly of the departed, as having only pre- 
 ceded them a little way in their pilgrimage, 
 soon to be overtaken, and for ever re-united to 
 those whom he had left behind. The following 
 letter to his friend, Mr. Heisch, exhibits the 
 disinterested manner in which he contemplated 
 his own irreparable loss, when dwelling upon his 
 son's removal to eternal glory. 
 
 " Waldbach, in the Steinthal, Jan. 8th, 1818. 
 
 " Accept, my dear, not to be forgotten friend; 
 my sincere and heartfelt thanks for the many 
 proofs of your continued affectionate remem- 
 brance. Your name is inscribed on my heart ; 
 and yet I find it difficult to give you any as- 
 surance of it, being extremely engaged with 
 labours that are continually increasing, whilst 
 the use of my bodily powers is greatly dimi- 
 nished. I particularly suffer in my eyes, which 
 sometimes altogether refuse me their service, 
 notwithstanding the excellent spectacles you 
 presented to me, and one pair of which Louisa 
 gratefully uses. 
 
204 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN, 
 
 " We all sincerely rejoiced at the departure of 
 our Henry from this world ; for besides having 
 been subjected during his whole life to a chain 
 of complicated sufferings, he had suffered for 
 some months past (ever since his missionary 
 journey in France) with peculiar severity, so 
 that his emaciated appearance awakened every 
 one's sympathy, and neither medicines nor any 
 thing else could procure him any real alleviation 
 or respite from pain. In consequence of the 
 warm recommendations of our friends, we were 
 induced to call in Dr. Stiickalberger, a very 
 clever physician of Basle, a few weeks before 
 our Henry's decease ; but no sooner had he 
 seen him, and become acquainted with his 
 symptoms, than he said, e I shall not touch 
 dear Mr. Oberlin with any medicine or remedy, 
 nay, not even with medical advice, being per- 
 fectly convinced that if, on the one hand, I may 
 hope to effect any good, or even may effect it, 
 I shall, on the other hand, do more harm than it 
 may again be in my power to remedy.' This 
 was both kind and judicious ; and I had been 
 endeavouring to persuade the other physicians 
 to adopt the same plan, though in vain ; for 
 with the utmost kindness, they were resolved to 
 
HIS LETTER TO MR. HEISCH. 205 
 
 do all in their power to assist him. God had, 
 in this case, reserved to himself the exclusive 
 prerogative of affording effectual help. Henry, 
 in addition to that spirit of universal benevo- 
 lence by which he was animated, felt a peculiar 
 interest for two nations, Livonia, together with 
 the whole of Russia, and France. No doubt 
 our and his good Lord now assigns to him some 
 more extensive sphere of activity than he could 
 have had here, not only, perhaps, for the 
 benefit of these two nations, but even for that 
 of other nations and other individuals. May 
 we be his servants ; no matter whether here or 
 there, if we can but be faithful in his service, 
 and of some utility to others ! 
 
 " Henry received your letter of the 17th of 
 October, as well as the elegant silver pencil cases, 
 and commissioned me to return you his sincerest 
 thanks. He gave them as a remembrance of you 
 to his brother Charles Conserve, clergyman of 
 Rothau, who has shown him extraordinary kind- 
 ness both as a physician and a brother. 
 
 " Louisa Schepler, and all our dear friends 
 here, thank you cordially for your remembrance, 
 
206 MEMOIRS *OP OBERLIN. 
 
 and assure you of their uninterrupted affection 
 and recollection. 
 
 " God grant that you may become useful in 
 his service. 
 
 " Adieu, my long endeared friend ! 
 
 " Your obliged and faithful, &c. 
 
 " JOHN FREDERIC OBERLIN." 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 MEDAL PRESENTED TO OBERLIN BY THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL 
 SOCIETY OF PARIS OBERLIN's PRIVATE CHARACTER HIS 
 DESCRIPTION OF HIMSELF MR. OWEN*S LETTER, CON- 
 TAINING AN ACCOUNT OF A BAN DE LA ROCHE SABBATH. 
 ORERLIN'S MINISTRY SERMONS MINISTERIAL LABOURS, 
 &C. HIS PATERNAL INFLUENCE OVER HIS FLOCK QUES- 
 TIONS ADDRESSED TO HIS PARISHIONERS CIRCULARS. 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING Oberlin's advancing age, and 
 the loss he had experienced in the death of his 
 son, the Ban de la Roche still witnessed a 
 succession of useful improvements, and a pro- 
 gress in civilization and prosperity. So much 
 delighted were his friends at Strasbourg and at 
 Paris with witnessing the success of his inde- 
 fatigable exertions, that, in the year 1818, they 
 agreed to collect, without his knowledge, docu- 
 ments of the good which he had achieved, and 
 to submit them to the Royal and Central Agri- 
 cultural Society of Paris. 
 
208 MEMQIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 M. le Comte Francois de Neuf chateau, who 
 had repeatedly visited the Steinthal, was deputed 
 to this office, and requested to propose the vote 
 of a gold medal to the pastor of Waldbach, in 
 acknowledgment of the services which he had 
 rendered, during more than half a century, to 
 agriculture in particular, and to mankind in 
 general. 
 
 " If you would behold an instance of what 
 may be effected in any country for the advance- 
 ment of agriculture and the interests of huma- 
 nity," said he, when addressing the Society 
 upon this occasion, " quit for a moment the 
 banks of the Seine, and ascend one of the 
 steepest summits of the Vosges mountains. 
 Friends of the plough, and of human happiness, 
 come and behold the Ban de la Roche ! Climb 
 with me the rocks so sublimely piled upon each 
 other, which separate this canton from the rest 
 of the world, and though the country and the 
 climate may at first sight appear forbidding, I 
 will venture to promise you an ample recom- 
 pense for the fatigue of your excursion. 
 
 " As for myself, after having formed the admi- 
 
Mi: DAL VOTED TO HIM. 209 
 
 nistration of the department of the Vosges, in 
 1790, and presided over it, in 1791, I had, in 
 1793, to travel over those mountains as a com- 
 missioner of the government, at the very period 
 when the parishes of Rothau and Waldbach, 
 before that time dependant on the principality 
 of Salm, were united to the department. I 
 have, therefore, been long acquainted with the 
 valuable services rendered, for more than fifty 
 years, to the Ban de la Roche, by John Frederic 
 Oberlin. Ever since that time, and to the ad- 
 vanced age of seventy-eight, he has persevered 
 in carrying forward the interesting reformation 
 first suggested and commenced by his virtue, 
 piety and zeal. He has refused invitations to 
 more important and more lucrative situations, 
 lest the Ban de la Roche should relapse into its 
 former desolate state ; and by his extraordinary 
 efforts and unabated exertions, he averted from 
 his parishioners, in the years 1812, 1816, and 
 1817, the horrors of approaching famine.* 
 
 * The new crop of potatoes that Oberlin had introduced, fonm-d 
 the principal subsistence of the people during those disastrous years, 
 when the season was so cold and rainy that they could not get in 
 two-thirds of the corn at all; and the scarcity so great, that poor 
 little children, exhausted with hunger, were seen to drop down in the 
 
 P 
 
210 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 " Such a benefactor of mankind deserves the 
 veneration and the gratitude of all good men; 
 and it gives me peculiar pleasure to present 
 you with the opportunity of acknowledging, 
 in the person of M. Oberlin, not a single act, 
 but a whole life, devoted to agricultural im- 
 provements,, and to the diffusion of useful 
 knowledge among the inhabitants of a wild 
 and uncultivated district. 
 
 " We have already ascertained that there is 
 in France uncultivated land sufficient for the 
 formation of five thousand villages. When we 
 wish to organize these colonies, Waldbach will 
 present a perfect model ; and, in the thirty or 
 forty rural hamlets which already exist, there is 
 not one, even amongst the most flourishing, in 
 which social economy is carried to a higher 
 degree of perfection, or in which the annals of 
 
 streets. A sack of wheat during that time of distress rose to 145 
 francs, and the potatoes to nearly one sou apiece. 
 
 The precise acquaintance which the inhabitants of the Ban de la 
 Roche had acquired, through Oberlin's assistance, with the vegetable 
 productions of their canton, was believed to be the means of pre- 
 venting the most distressing diseases. 
 
MEDAL AWARDED TO HIM. 211 
 
 the Ban de la Roche may not be studied with 
 advantage." * 
 
 On the conclusion of this report, the pro- 
 posed tribute of affectionate gratitude was, by 
 unanimous consent, awarded to M. Oberlin ; 
 upon which the Baron de Ge"rando, Counsellor 
 of State, to whose care it was consigned, ex- 
 pressed the gratification he should have in pre- 
 senting it to the venerable pastor, not only 
 because he regarded it as an act of justice due 
 to his extraordinary services, but also because 
 it would afford such great pleasure to the inha- 
 bitants of the Vosges valleys, to find their be- 
 loved benefactor, guide, counsellor and friend, 
 regarded as an individual deserving of this token 
 of public admiration and gratitude. 
 
 But whilst Oberlin was thus gaining the meed 
 of universal esteem by his acts of public bene- 
 ficence, his domestic virtues were endearing him 
 more and more to his family circle, where they 
 always displayed themselves in the most truly 
 
 * See Rapport fait a la Societ Royale et Centrale d' Agriculture. 
 Par M. le Comte Frai^ois de NeufcMteau, sur 1'agriculture et la 
 civilization du Ban de la Roche, &c. 
 
 p 2 
 
212 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 amiable light. I shall, therefore, now reverse 
 the picture, and present my readers with a view 
 of Oberlin in his personal and more private, as 
 well as in his ministerial character. In this 
 he will be found to shine as brightly as in his 
 public capacity ; thereby manifesting the pure- 
 ness and the extent of that Christian principle, 
 which constrained not only the great move- 
 ments of his life, but his minutest actions. 
 
 Oberlin, in his person, was handsome, rather 
 under the usual height, but remarkably dignified 
 in his appearance. There was, however, nothing 
 affected in his manner of carrying himself. His 
 outward garb was evidently the mark of the 
 master mind within him. Dressed, as he usually 
 was when out of doors, in a cocked hat, and with 
 a red ribbon at his chest, the decoration of the 
 Legion of Honour,* his air was so imposing as 
 to call forth the attention and respect of every 
 one who saw him. His manner was grave, but 
 
 * This decoration was awarded to Oberlin by Louis XVIII. 
 in acknowledgment of the services he had rendered to an extensive 
 population. " The King," he used to say, " has had the goodness to 
 send me this decoration ; but what have I done to merit it ? Who, in 
 my situation, would not have acted as I have done, and perhaps better 
 still?" 
 
HIS PRIVATE CHARACTER. 213 
 
 affectionate ; condescending, but in the highest 
 degree gentlemanly. His courtesy towards his 
 parishioners was constantly testified. He did 
 not pass those amongst them who were grown 
 up, without pulling off his hat and speaking a 
 few words of kindness : nor any of the children 
 without shaking them by the hand, or showing 
 them some little act of attention. " Jesus," he 
 often said, " loved children. It is to such as 
 resemble them that he promises the kingdom of 
 heaven." He was always extremely anxious, in 
 every part of his conduct, to prevent the possi- 
 bility of misconstruction on the part of those 
 over whom he watched. " On one occasion," 
 says one of my friends who visited the Ban 
 de la Roche a few years ago, " as we were 
 walking up a hill, he had the arm of his son- 
 in-law, whilst my wife was walking alone. 
 Fearing this might be considered self-indul- 
 gent or disrespectful by some of his younger 
 parishioners, whom we happened to pass, he 
 stopped to make an apology to them for this 
 apparent disregard of the law of civility and 
 kindness."* 
 
 * It must be remembered that Oberliu was then in his eightieth 
 
 vi-ar. 
 
214 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 His manner of accosting his inferiors was 
 perfectly unique. " When our postilion, who 
 appeared to have some previous acquaintance 
 with the Ban de la Roche, met him," continues 
 the same friend, " he and the old man were 
 instantly with their hats lowered to the ground, 
 whilst Oberlin stepped forward to shake him by 
 the hand, and to make some inquiry about his 
 friends at Strasbourg. This was done with all 
 the sweetness of Christian feeling, whilst there 
 was no departure from the dignity with which 
 his situation and circumstances naturally in- 
 vested him. Good manners prevailed in these 
 valleys to an extent that is rarely witnessed. 
 The practice of the pastor produced the hap- 
 piest effects upon the mass of the population. 
 The habitual politeness of the French character 
 might have assisted in this work, but I have 
 never witnessed in any other poor people such 
 remarkable and universal suavity : such com- 
 plete refinement as in these hardy moun- 
 taineers. 
 
 " As the Cher Papa had the highest regard for 
 his people, so he had the best opinion of their 
 skill, and wondered that any one should doubt 
 
HIS PRIVATE CHARACTER. 215 
 
 about it. I happened one day, when we were 
 driven by a man who seemed to go on in a 
 hazardous manner, to say ' Prenez garde.' The 
 old man appeared hurt at this admonition, both 
 on my account and on that of the driver. He 
 assured me that all was safe, and at the end of 
 our drive, took the greatest pains to prevent 
 any feeling of vexation which might arise in the 
 mind of his parishioner." 
 
 Oberlin's habits were very- orderly. Every 
 thing seemed to have its place in his house. 
 There was a box to deposit every morsel of 
 litter, and which could only be of service in the 
 stove. His books, a great number of which 
 were in manuscript, were perfectly arranged, 
 and written in a beautiful hand, for it was a 
 point of duty with him, as before stated by Mr. 
 Legrand, to give every letter its perfect forma- 
 tion. His Bible was marked throughout with 
 different coloured ink, according to the appli- 
 cation which he, in the course of his reading, 
 had made of different passages. 
 
 In conversation he was fluent and very unre- 
 served ; willing to communicate all he knew, 
 
216 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 and, on the other hand, inquisitive as to every 
 thing which he saw, and from which it appeared 
 likely he could derive information. 
 
 His activity was as astonishing as his zeal ; 
 he never rode on horseback if he could help it, 
 still less in the inside of a carriage ; and was 
 accustomed, till prevented by increasing infir- 
 mity, to climb the steepest summits of the Vosges, 
 or penetrate through pathless snows, regardless 
 of cold or danger, in order to visit the sick, and 
 administer religious consolation to the dying ; 
 often too, after all the varied and arduous duties 
 of the day, would he travel to Strasbourg in the 
 night to procure medicines, or to obtain assist- 
 ance or information from his friends in that city, 
 that not a day might be lost to the interests of 
 his beloved Stein thai.* 
 
 * Oberlin was, at one time, not only minister, schoolmaster, 
 farmer and mechanic, but also general physician to his parish. The 
 knowledge of medicine which he had acquired during his residence 
 in Mr. Ziegenhagen's family having qualified him for the post. He 
 also learned to open veins, and established a dispensary ; and when 
 his ministerial functions would no longer allow of his devoting so 
 much time to the purpose as it required, he delegated the office to his 
 son Charles, and to a young man of talent whom he had sent to study 
 at Strasbourg. 
 
HIS PRIVATE CHARACTER. 217 
 
 The superiority of his intellectual powers 
 appeared in all he said and in all he did ; and 
 he possessed great influence over others, every 
 body loving and obeying him absolutely, though 
 without servility. His mind was of a most kind, 
 yet of a very energetic and decided order ; 
 though as he seldom, if ever, went from home, 
 he had seen little of the world, and, except in 
 his younger years, read little but his Bible. 
 His conversation was never more eloquent, nor 
 his views more expanded, than when he talked 
 on the subject of the extension of the kingdom 
 of God, and when he narrated to his boys, as he 
 would frequently do, particulars of the life and 
 adventures of Dr. Vanderkemp, the missionaiy, 
 Vincent de Paul, and others, by which means 
 he rivetted their attention and excited the 
 warmest feelings of their hearts. His views of 
 religion were of a very simple and elevated cast : 
 " no cloud of doubt crossed the serene atmo- 
 sphere of his tranquil joys :" he continually 
 looked at God as his " Papa celeste" present 
 with him, and rested all his hopes in Jesus, " the 
 Author and Finisher of our faith." 
 
 His dependance upon his Heavenly Father 
 
218 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 made him order all the events of his life, in 
 which he felt any difficulty in deciding, by lot ; 
 for this purpose he kept two little tickets, with 
 om and non upon them, in his pocket, and these, 
 with prayer, he was continually in the habit of 
 using.* 
 
 Oberlin, as it may perhaps be supposed, was 
 a great physiognomist as well as a phrenologist, 
 and the system of Gall had in him a zealous 
 partisan ; he was also a warm admirer and dis- 
 ciple of his friend Lavateiyf and had collected 
 
 * Oberlin bequeathed his oui and non box, the token of his peculiar 
 faith, to the Rev. Mr. Blumhardt, of the Missionary Institution at Basle. 
 
 f In the year 1795, Henry Oberlin paid a visit at Zurich, and 
 became acquainted with Lavater, in whose family he was received 
 with more than ordinary affection. This acquaintance laid the foun- 
 dation of the tenderest and most intimate friendship between Oberlin 
 and that distinguished individual, which terminated only with the 
 life of the latter. He died at Zurich, where he had resided the greater 
 part of his life, January 2, 1801, in consequence of a wound which 
 he received from a French soldier, whom, at the time of the siege, he 
 ran out to separate from another with whom he was scuffling. After 
 lingering in agony for more than a twelvemonth, during which time 
 he evinced, by his patience and cheerfulness, the power of that prin- 
 ciple which in life had made him so active, he resigned his soul into 
 the hands of his Creator. 
 
 Lavater was a man of extraordinary powers, and universally be- 
 loved by all classes of people. He was as much known in his own 
 country as a zealous and devoted Christian minister, as he is in this 
 country by his study of physiognomy. This latter study, he used to 
 say, was taken up for little more than amusement. 
 
 The 
 
HIS PRlYATi: CHAR.UTKK. 219 
 
 a great number of silhouettes, botli of friends and 
 strangers, under which he wrote his opinion, 
 always an indulgent one, of the talents and 
 general character of the individual. 
 
 There was a striking simplicity and artlessness 
 in his character which occasionally led him to 
 speak of himself, and of his own actions, in a 
 manner that some might attribute to egotism; 
 but this was far from being the case, for few 
 individuals could be more truly humble, or dis- 
 claim all merits of their own more sincerely 
 than he did. The profile that stands opposite 
 the title page of this work, is considered a re- 
 markably good likeness of Oberlin. It is the 
 more interesting from the circumstance of 
 
 The following note, written during the period of his illness, to 
 Henry Oberlin, who was at that time also suffering from indisposition, 
 is a proof of the sweet and resigned state of his mind : 
 
 " Erlenbach, Feb. 1st, 1800. 
 " Dear Oberlin, 
 
 " We must both humble ourselves under the chastising and fatherly 
 hand of God. It will be good for us both to be led in this way, and 
 no other. Let us look forward with hope, and expect the best, nor 
 doubt his goodness one single moment. We cannot be better led 
 than we are. If we possess health, God of his love bestows it ; if 
 sickness, he ordains that it should be so. We have nothing to fear. 
 His love will never forsake us : but will continue to direct us to one 
 goal even to himself. " 
 
220 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 having been cut out and highly approved by 
 himself.* He wrote the following description 
 of his own character to place beneath it. It 
 will account for the preceding remarks. 
 
 " A strange compound of contradictory qua- 
 lities. I do not yet exactly know what I am to 
 make of myself. I am intelligent, and yet pos- 
 sessed of very limited powers : prudent and 
 more politic than my fellow-clergymen ; but 
 also very apt to blunder, especially when in 
 the least excited. I am firm, yet of a yielding 
 disposition ; and both of these, in certain cases, 
 to a great degree. I am not only daring, but 
 actually courageous ; whilst, at the same time, 
 I am often in secret very cowardly. I am very 
 upright and sincere, yet also very complaisant 
 to men, and in a degree, therefore, insincere. I 
 am a German and a Frenchman ; noble, gene- 
 rous, ready to render service, faithful, very 
 grateful, deeply affected by the least benefit or 
 kindness, which is ever after engraven on my 
 heart ; and yet again flighty and indifferent. I 
 
 * Oberlin presented this profile to the Rev. Francis Cunningham, 
 during his visit at Waldbach in 1820. 
 
HIS DESCRIPTION OF HIMSELF. 221 
 
 am irritable to a formidable degree. He who 
 treats me generously soon gains the ascendancy 
 over me ; but opposition creates in me an 
 astonishing degree of firmness, especially in 
 matters of conscience. I have a lively ima- 
 gination, but no memory, properly speaking. 
 The histories which I have taken pains to im- 
 press on my mind remain with me, but dates 
 and the names of persons I often forget the 
 next day, notwithstanding all the pains I have 
 taken to remember them. I used to speak 
 Latin fluently and even elegantly, but now I 
 cannot utter three or four words together. I 
 make selections from books, and instruct others 
 in some branch of science for a long time ; but 
 a few years after, my scholars, even if they 
 know nothing more than what I taught them, 
 may in their turn become my teachers, and the 
 books from which I made extracts (with the 
 exception of those of a certain description) 
 appear wholly new to me. 
 
 " I habitually work my way through my 
 studies till I obtain clear ideas ; but if I wish 
 to penetrate deeper, every thing vanishes be- 
 fore me. I have a great talent for removing 
 
222 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 difficulties in order to render every thing 
 smooth and easy to myself, and to every body 
 else. I am so extremely sensitive, tender, and 
 compassionate, that I can find neither words 
 nor expressions corresponding to my feelings, 
 so that the latter almost overpower me, and 
 occasion me acute pain. I am always busy and 
 industrious, but also fond of ease and indolence. 
 I am generally quick in resolving, and equally 
 so in executing. I have a peculiar esteem for 
 the female sex. I am a very great admirer of 
 painting, music, and poetry, and yet I have no 
 skill in any of them. Mechanics, natural his- 
 tory, and so forth, constitute my favourite 
 studies. I am very fond of regularity, and of 
 arranging and classifying, but my weak memory, 
 added to constant employment, renders it diffi- 
 cult to me. I am given to planning and 
 scheming, and yet endeavour, in my peculiar 
 way, to do things in the best manner. 
 
 " I am a genuine soldier, but I was more so 
 before my bodily powers were so much weak- 
 ened ; I was formerly anxious to be the fore- 
 most in danger, and the firmest in pain, but 
 have now lost that desire. From my childhood 
 
HIS DESCRIPTION OF HIMSELF. 223 
 
 I have felt a longing and preponderating desire 
 for a higher state of existence, and therefore 
 a wish for death. I am the greatest admirer of 
 military order and subordination, not however 
 in a spirit of slavery, but of that noble affec- 
 tionate attachment which compete the coward 
 to show courage, and the disorderly to be 
 punctual. I feel no obstinacy or disinclination 
 to yield to strong internal conviction, but on 
 the other hand a fervent heart-felt joy in 
 yielding to both great and small, high and 
 low, gentlemen and peasants, children and 
 servants, and thence a willingness to listen and 
 an inclination to suffer myself, if possible, to 
 be convinced. But when I feel no conviction 
 I can never think of yielding. I am humorous 
 and a little witty or satirical, but without inten- 
 tional malice." 
 
 As the villages of Oberlin's little district were 
 too far apart to allow of his preaching every 
 week in all of them, he took each of the three 
 churches in rotation, and the peasants made 
 an arrangement to come in turns with a horse 
 every Sunday morning to fetch him, and to 
 take him home to partake of their dinner after 
 
224 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 the sermon. It was always a festival for every 
 family who could thus entertain the " Cher 
 Papa," and afforded him an opportunity of con- 
 versing about their temporal and spiritual wants. 
 He made a point, when the little repast was 
 ended, of seeing the children of the house one 
 by one in succession, according to their age, and 
 of talking to them like an affectionate father, 
 in language adapted to their respective capa- 
 cities, as well as of making a present to each. 
 
 I cannot here refrain from inserting the lively 
 picture which Mr. Owen has drawn, in his 
 own admirable manner, of a Ban de la Roche 
 Sabbath ; and in which he also makes an allu- 
 sion to those three excellent women whose 
 names well deserve to be put upon record with 
 that of their pastor. 
 
 " Basle, September, 16, 1818. 
 
 " The place from which my last was dated, 
 Waldbach, has completely filled my mind, and 
 laid such hold on my warmest affections, that 
 I can scarcely bring myself to think, or speak, 
 or write, on any thing but Pastor Oberlin, and 
 his Ban de la Roche. You will remember that 
 
MR. OWKN'S I.KTTKR. 225 
 
 the first foreign letter which awakened an inte- 
 rest in our minds, the letter which made its 
 way most directly to our hearts, and which, at 
 the celebration of our First Anniversary, pro- 
 duced the strongest, and, if I may judge of 
 others by myself, the most lasting impression 
 upon us all was that wherein this venerable 
 pastor reported the distribution he proposed to 
 make of the Bibles assigned to him, and drew, 
 with the hand of a master, the characters of 
 those women who laboured with him in the 
 Gospel, and to whom, as the highest remune- 
 ration he could bestow, and their ambition 
 coveted, a Bible was to be presented.* 
 
 " I cannot describe the sensations with which 
 I entered the mountainous parish, containing 
 five villages and three churches, in which this 
 primitive evangelist, who for more than half a 
 century has occupied this station, exercises his 
 functions ; and still less those with which I 
 entered his residence, and approached his vene- 
 rable person. The reception he gave me was 
 such as from the profound humility of his 
 
 Seepage 107. 
 Q 
 
226 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 character might have been anticipated. My 
 visit to him and his flock was wholly unex- 
 pected ; and when I announced to him, in 
 my introduction,, that I appeared before him 
 as the Secretary of the British and Foreign 
 Bible Society, to testify, on their part, the 
 respect and affection with which they regarded 
 him, as one of the earliest and most interesting 
 of their foreign correspondents, the good man 
 took me by the hand, and drew me gently 
 towards the seat which he usually occupies, 
 exclaiming, but without any turbulence of either 
 voice or manner, ( Sir, this is too great an 
 honour: how shall I answer words like these ?' 
 After the first emotions had subsided, our con- 
 versation became familiar ; and as it never 
 ceased, from that time to the moment of our 
 separation, to turn more or less upon the 
 things pertaining to the kingdom of God, as 
 they appeared in the small scale of his own, 
 or the great scale of the Bible Society's labours, 
 it never ceased to be deeply interesting, and 
 pregnant with edification. 
 
 " The Sunday exhibited this venerable man in 
 the pastoral character, under which it had been 
 
Mil. OWEN'S LETTER. 227 
 
 so much my desire, might it but be permitted 
 me, to see him. As he makes the circuit of his 
 churches, the turn on this Sunday belonged to 
 Belmont, distant about half a league from the 
 parsonage of Waldbach. At ten o'clock we 
 began to move. Mr. Oberlin took the lead in 
 his ministerial attire, a large beaver and flow- 
 ing wig, mounted on a horse brought for that 
 purpose, according to custom, by one of the 
 bourgeois of the village, whose turn it was to 
 have the honour of fetching his pastor, and 
 receiving him to dinner at his table. I rode as 
 nearly beside him as the narrow track would 
 allow. Mr. Ro'nneberg, accompanied by Mr. 
 Daniel Legrand, followed. The rear was brought 
 up by the bourgeois before mentioned, carrying 
 a leathern bag, slung across his shoulders, which 
 contained the other part of the minister's dress, 
 his books, &c. ; and a respectable peasant as 
 an attendant on the general cavalcade. I will 
 not detain you by particulars, which, however 
 interesting, would draw me too far from the 
 main object of my attention. I will only say, 
 that the appearance of the congregation, their 
 neat and becoming costume, their order, and 
 their seriousness, together with the fervour, 
 
 Q 2 
 
228 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 tenderness, and simplicity, with which the good 
 minister addressed them, both in his sermon in 
 the morning, and his catechetical lecture in the 
 afternoon, conveyed to my mind the most de- 
 lightful impression that of a sincere and ele- 
 vated devotion. The interval between the 
 services, was passed partly in dining at the 
 house of the happy bourgeois, (for the duty of 
 fetching and entertaining their pastor, is, in the 
 estimation of these simple people, a privilege of 
 the highest order,) and partly in visiting some 
 of the excellent individuals, both men a,nd 
 women, but particularly the latter, in which 
 this part of the parish abounds. The affability 
 and graceful condescension with which the 
 pastor saluted every member of his flock, 
 wherever he met them, and the affectionate 
 reverence with which young and old returned 
 the salutation, were peculiarly pleasing : it was, 
 on both sides, if a ceremony at all, the cere- 
 mony of the heart. On our return to the 
 parsonage, the evening was passed in edifying 
 conversation, and concluded by a French hymn, 
 in which all the household united. On the 
 ensuing morning, I had the honour of con- 
 veying my venerable host, amidst the bowings 
 
MR. OWEN'S LETTER. 229 
 
 of his parishioners, who gazed with wonder 
 at the unusual sight of their stationary pastor 
 seated in a travelling carriage, to the house 
 of Messrs. Legrand, at Foudai, another of 
 the villages in this extensive parish. Here we 
 breakfasted; and, after much pleasing conver- 
 sation with this amiable, benevolent, and well- 
 informed family, I had the high honour of being 
 introduced to Sophia Bernard, and Catherine 
 Scheidecker ! ! ! Maria Schepler, the second on 
 the list of this memorable trio, had, I found, 
 been removed to her rest: the two whom I 
 have mentioned, and who now stood before 
 me, remained to fill up the measure of their 
 usefulness in the work of their Lord. Never 
 shall I forget the manner in which these inte- 
 resting peasants received me, when, addressing 
 them by name, I told them that I had known 
 them nearly fourteen years, and that the ac- 
 count of their services, communicated to us by 
 the pastor whom they so greatly assisted, had 
 been instrumental in stirring up the zeal of 
 many to labour after their example. ' Oh, 
 Sir/ said Sophia Bernard, the tears filling her 
 eyes at the time, ' this does indeed humble 
 us ;' adding many pious remarks in relation to 
 
230 MEMpIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 their obscurity, the imperfection of their works, 
 and the honour they considered it to labour 
 for Him who had done so much, yea, every 
 thing, for them. The scene was truly affecting. 
 It was not without many an effort that I tore 
 myself from it, and hurried from the Ban de la 
 Roche, that seat of simplicity, piety, and true 
 Christian refinement, to resume my journey 
 along the beaten road, and to pursue my 
 object among scenes, which, whatever plea- 
 sures I had to expect, would suffer in the 
 comparison with those which I had left behind 
 me." 
 
 In most of his religious tenets, Oberlin was 
 strictly orthodox and evangelical. The main 
 doctrine that seemed to occupy his whole mind, 
 was that God was his Father. " Our Father," 
 as he would not unfrequently say, " and thus we 
 may always feel Him." The doctrine of sanc- 
 tification also held a high place in his creed, 
 though, in his discourses, he principally dwelt 
 
 * This letter appeared in a pamphlet, entitled " Extracts of Letters 
 on the Object and Connexions of the British and Foreign Bible 
 Society, from the Rev. John Owen, A. M., during his late Tour in 
 France and Switzerland," which is now out of print: also in the 
 Fifteenth Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society. 
 
HIS MINISTRY. 231 
 
 upon the freeness of the Gospel, the willingness 
 of Christ to receive all who come to him in 
 sincerity of heart, the blessed efficacy of prayer, 
 and the absolute necessity of divine grace. 
 
 It may here be considered necessary, for the 
 sake of biographical faithfulness, to observe that 
 upon some points he certainly held very fanciful 
 and unwarranted notions, more particularly upon 
 those relative to a future state. In the inter- 
 pretation of John xiv. 2, for example, (" In my 
 Father's house are many mansions,") he consi- 
 dered that there was an exact relation between 
 our state here and the very mansion we should 
 enter hereafter ; and this relation, or proportion 
 of happiness, he seemed to himself to have so 
 accurately ascertained, by the help of types 
 drawn from^ different parts of the Temple, be- 
 ginning with the outer court of the sanctuary 
 and ending with the Holy of Holies, and from 
 expressions denoting the state of the redeemed 
 in the Book of Revelations, as to be able to 
 draw a map of the other world ; and this map 
 he printed and hung up in his church. He 
 also held the doctrine of an intermediate statr, 
 which he supposed to be one of continual 
 
232 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 improvement, and likewise believed that we shall 
 become progressively holy in heaven. He seemed 
 to hope that the passage 1 Cor. xv. 28, where it 
 is said that " all things" shall be subjected unto 
 the Almighty, and the Son also himself shall be 
 subjected, " that God may be all in all," might 
 include not only the little flock of Christ's im- 
 mediate followers, but, ultimately, at some almost 
 indefinite period, through the boundless mercy 
 of God, and the blood of Jesus, which was shed 
 for the sins of the whole world, all the race of 
 mankind. And he was strengthened in this 
 belief by understanding in another than the 
 ordinary sense, that as in Adam all die, even so 
 in Christ shall all be made alive. It is needless 
 to say of these doctrines that they are fanciful and 
 mistaken, and not to be defended by an accurate 
 application of Scripture. But, whatever hold 
 they had upon Oberlin's mind, they appeared 
 very little in his preaching, and did not at all 
 interfere with the plainest statement of the 
 doctrine of justification by faith in the merits 
 of our Redeemer, and sanctification by his 
 Spirit, and of the absolute necessity of both the 
 one and the other to meetness for the heavenly 
 inheritance. 
 
HIS MINISTRY. 233 
 
 Oberlin was accustomed to preach very alarm- 
 ingly on the judgment to come, and the punish- 
 ment of the wicked ; though, at the same time, 
 he held out the fatherly love of God to every 
 returning sinner, who would seek Him through 
 Jesus Christ. These last mentioned doctrines 
 may be said to have constituted the leading 
 features of his ministry. He had a remarkable 
 reverence for the Bible, and especially for the 
 Books of Moses, and the Gospels. He was led 
 to adopt many of the laws of Moses, because, he 
 said, although the ceremonial law is rejected, the 
 object of that law, the glory of God and the 
 good of man, remains, and therefore the law 
 itself ought to be retained. The subjoined note 
 marks a number of passages from the laws of 
 Moses, which Oberlin adopted, and which he 
 applied with great force and interest in his own 
 conduct, and in his instructions to his people.* 
 
 * Alms. Deut. xiv. 28, &c. xv. 7. Mat iii. 10. 
 
 Prevention of Dangers. Deut. xxii. 8. Exod. xxi. 33. 
 
 Strangers. Exod. xxii. 21. xxiii. 9. Lev. xix. 33, 34. xxiv. 22. 
 Num. xv. 14. Deut. x. 18, 19. xxiv. 14, 19. xxvi. 12. xxvii. 19. 
 
 Also for Strangers. Exod. xii. 19. Num. ix. 14. 
 
 Solomon appointed a court for Strangers : 2 Chron. vi. 32. This 
 court the avarice of the Jews suffered to become a market, and from 
 this mr.rket Jesus drove the buyers and sellers. 
 
 Fertility. To make a country fertile, it must be guarded from bad 
 
 seasons, 
 
234 MEMOIRS OF OBERL1N. 
 
 It may, indeed, be doubted whether there 
 was not much in the history of Moses, as well 
 as in his law, which remarkably adapted itself to 
 Oberlin's experience and views. 
 
 This coincidence has been pointed out to me 
 by the Rev. Francis Cunningham, who visited 
 the Ban de la Roche in 1820, when Oberlin 
 was in the eightieth year of his age. He thus 
 writes : 
 
 " In contemplating the history and circum- 
 stances of this venerable man, I could not but 
 call to mind that of the Patriarch, whose law, as 
 well as example, he seems so attentively to have 
 followed. Oberlin, like Moses, was trained to 
 another service than that which he was ulti- 
 
 seasons, dearth and famine. Lev. xxvi. 3, 14. Deut. xi. 13, 16. 
 Mai. iii. 10. 
 
 Politeness. Rom. xii. 10. 1 Cor. xiii. 4, 5. 
 
 To protect ourselves from the evil of war. Lev. xxv. 18, 19. Deut. 
 xxxiii. 28, 29. Prov. i. 33. 
 
 Doctors. Exod. xv. 26. 2 Chron. xvi. 12. 
 
 Law-suit. Matt. v. 39, 40. 
 
 First-fruits. Exod. xxii. 29. Deut. xv. 19. 
 
 Payment. Lev. xix. 13. Deut. xxiv. 14. Jer. xxii. 13. Rom. 
 xiii. 8. Matt. v. 25. 
 
 Health. Exod. xv. 26. Mai. iv. 2. 
 
 Prolonged life. Deut. iv. 40. v. 32, 33. vi. 2. xi. 9. xvii. 20. 
 xxx. 17, 18. xxx. 20. xxxii. 46, 47. 
 
1IJS MINISTRY. 235 
 
 mately called to follow. He had to civilize, as 
 well as to instruct, a people degraded by long 
 habits, deeply rooted, and which sprung from 
 wretchedness and poverty. Like Moses, he 
 was a great lover of order, and had a singular 
 tact for government. Like him too, he united 
 remarkable meekness with occasional impetu- 
 osity, and the truest decision of character. As 
 of Moses at the end of his pilgrimage, so it may 
 be said of Oberlin, his eye was scarcely dim, and 
 his natural force was hardly abated. They each 
 lived to testify of a people following the ways 
 of God, (Deut. xxxiii. 29,) ( Happy art thou, O 
 Israel ; who is like unto thee, O people saved 
 by the Lord;' and now, as they fought the 
 same fight, passed through the same tribula- 
 tion, and washed their robes and made them 
 white in the blood of the Lamb, they dwell 
 together before the throne of God, and serve 
 him day and night in his temple; they have 
 entered into the same joy, and are crowned 
 with the same reward. For there, this most 
 holy, most devoted, and most useful man, has 
 now opened his eyes to receive the recompense 
 of his faith, his patience, and his labours : 
 and there, as one who hath turned many to 
 
236 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 righteousness, he will shine in the crown of his 
 Redeemer for ever and ever." 
 
 In his sermons, Oberlin was simple, energetic, 
 and affectionate, continually speaking to his 
 people under the appellation of " mes chers 
 amis'" He appeared to study a colloquial plain- 
 ness, interspersing his discourses with images and 
 allusions, which, had they been addressed to a 
 more refined audience, might have been deemed 
 homely, but which were particularly adapted to 
 the capacities and wants of his secluded villagers. 
 He would frequently introduce biographical anec- 
 dotes of persons distinguished for their piety; 
 and the boundless field of nature furnished 
 him with striking illustrations to explain spiri- 
 tual things. But the Bible itself, " la chere 
 Bible" as he exclaimed with tears of gratitude 
 a short time before his last illness, was the grand 
 source of all his instructions. It formed the 
 study of his life, and, as he said, constituted his 
 own consolation under all trials, the source of 
 his strength, and the ruling principle of his 
 actions: how then, could he do less than 
 recommend it to others ? He was in the habit of 
 citing very largely from it, from the conviction 
 
HIS SERMONS. 237 
 
 that the simple exposition of the Word of God 
 was the best means of efficaciously interesting 
 his flock. His sermons were almost always 
 composed with the greatest care ; and when 
 unable, for want of time, to write them out at 
 length, he made at least a tolerably full outline. 
 In general, he committed them scrupulously to 
 memory, but in the pulpit he did not confine 
 himself to the precise words, and would indeed 
 sometimes change the subject altogether, if he 
 saw that another was apparently better suited to 
 the circumstances of his auditory. 
 
 The following extracts, taken from the notes 
 of some of his autograph sermons, are charac- 
 teristic of that originality and devotedness 
 which formed one of their distinguishing 
 features. 
 
 The first was preached in the parish church 
 of Waldbach the very day after his son Henry's 
 death. Some account of that beloved son has 
 been inserted in a previous part of this Memoir, 
 and it may there be seen that the chief comfort 
 which he experienced in his last moments, was 
 derived from the words which his father took 
 
238 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 for his text, " De la mort a la vie" ( <( From 
 death unto life.")* 
 
 " 1817, O Nov. 16. 
 
 " LE LENDEMAIN DE LA MORT DE MON FILS, 
 HENRY GOTTFRIED. 
 
 " En verite, en verite, je vous dis, que celui qui entend ma 
 parole et qui m'obeit, a la vie eternelle t et il ne sera point 
 expose d la condamnation, mats il est passe de la mort a la vie" 
 St. Jean v. 24. 
 
 " De la mort a la vie ! De la mort a la vie ! 
 Voila la devise, le motto, le mot de ralliement 
 des Chretiens, c. a. d. de toutes les personnes qui 
 ont fidelement garde leur alliance de Baptme. 
 
 " Et de toutes les personnes qui etant tomb^s 
 hors de la grace de Dieu, s'en repentent sincere- 
 ment, se sont souvenus avec douleur de leur 
 alliance de Bapteme enfreinte, et de la violation 
 
 * The editor had prepared translations of these sermons, but was 
 advised by a friend, to whose judgment she is ever glad to yield her 
 own, to insert them in the language in which they were delivered 
 from the pulpit, as they lose much of their interest in another dress. 
 Her only fear was lest the book should contain too much French for 
 the English reader. 
 
HIS SERMONS. 239 
 
 de leur alliance renouvellee lors de leur confir- 
 mation qui sont retourn^s aupres du Sauveur 
 de nos ames, et ont aspire i 1'honneur et au 
 bonheur de vivre devant lui, avec lui, et pour 
 lui. 
 
 " De la mort ;\ la vie ! Ah, quel aspect et 
 regard serein dans 1'avenir ! quelle esperance 
 joyeuse, quelle teinture delicieuse que cela 
 donne et repand sur toutes les parties de leur 
 vie ici bas ! sur tous les travers, sur tous les 
 chemins parsemes de larmes ; quand on sent 
 vivement 1'effet de cette parole de I'ap6tre du 
 Seigneur : ' Toutes choses contribuent au bien 
 de ceux qui aiment Dieu/ Toutes, toutes 
 choses, tristes on joyeuses, douces ou ameres, et 
 les tribulations mme les plus douloureuses 
 toutes choses contribuent au bien de ceux qui 
 aiment Dieu a leur vrai bien, c\ leur bonheur, 
 et prosperite eternelle. 
 
 " Elles sont toutes et le plus ameres princi- 
 palement elles sont toutes des echelons qui 
 les font monter d'un degre de vertu divine !i 
 1'autre, toujours a plus de perfection dans la 
 foi et confiance en Dieu, dans I'obeissance 
 
240 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 filiale et joyeuse a ses commandemens, dans 
 rhumilite, la douceur, la debonnairete, la delica- 
 tesse, dans les sentimens, le gout de la bienfai- 
 sance, dans la charite, la puret6, en un mot, 
 dans toutes les vertus celestes. 
 
 " Mais en avan^ant le Chretien dans la vertu 
 elles 1'avancent dans la ressemblance a Dieu, 
 dans le retablissement de 1'image de Dieu, et 
 par consequent toujours plus haut dans les 
 regions de la lumi&re, toujours plus pr&s de la 
 residence de Dieu, notre Createur et Pere. 
 Car a chacun sera assigne une demeure plus 
 ou moms grande en gloire, plus ou moins pres de 
 la Source inepuisable de toute felicite, suivant 
 sa plus ou moins grande ressemblance interieure 
 spirituelle et morale avec Dieu. 
 
 " De la mort a la vie ! Ah, que par cette 
 esperance lorsqu'elle est fondee, 1'idee de la 
 mort, d'ailleurs si terrible, perd de sa terreur, 
 a proportion qu'on est endroit d'esperer ce 
 changement ravissant. Lorsque nous naissons 
 nous entrons dans la mort : car c'est ainsi que 
 notre Createur et Pere a qualifie et nomme 
 notre vie pr^sente, pauvre vie pr^tendue, vie 
 
Ills SERMONS. 241 
 
 remplie d'^pines, de souffrances, et de larmes. 
 Dieu l'a appell mort et elle Test; depuis que les 
 hommes sont dechus de leur glorieux etat pri- 
 mitif depuis qu'ils ont detache leurs cceurs de 
 Dieu pour s'attacher a ce qui est passager et 
 perissable depuis qu'ils ont abandonne la 
 Source d'eau vive et vivifiante, pour se creuser 
 des citernes crevassees, qui ne donnent point 
 d'eau ou une eau sale, puante, infect^e et veni- 
 meuse. 
 
 " Mais quand nous ouvrons nos coeurs a la 
 voix du Divin Pasteur, qui nous appelle si 
 souvent a lui, quand nous aspirons a 1'incom 
 parable honneur et bonheur d'etre recus au 
 nombre de ses brebis; ah, quel changement 
 se fait alors en nous ! comme de gens mon- 
 daines nous devenons celestes ! comme alors 
 1'image de Dieu se retablit successivement en 
 nous ! 
 
 " Alors le but de nos actions, et la vue, et le 
 dessein de nos entreprises devient tout autre 
 qu'auparavant. Ah ! ce n'est plus alors de 
 devenir riches, et de gagner des avantages passa- 
 gers et perissables que nous desirons, souhaitons, 
 
 R 
 
242 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 aspirons, dans nos travaux et nos epargnes. Oh, 
 non ! Dans 1'union de nos coeurs et de nos 
 sentimens avec le Seigneur Jesus Christ, nous 
 pousons ses intents, nous cherchons a 1'aider 
 dans sa grande ceuvre, dans TafFranchisement 
 du pauvre genre humain de tous ses innom- 
 brables maux spirituels et corporels, de toute 
 son aiFreuse corruption morale, et de tous ses 
 malheurs et innombrables especes de souffrances 
 qui en sont la suite. 
 
 " Voila le but qui anime les Chretiens, les 
 disciples du Seigneur Jesus, et pour de pareils, 
 la mort, ce roi des epouvantes perd ce qu'il 
 a de plus effroyable. Us deviennent indiff<- 
 rents a certains egards pour la vie et pour la 
 mort. 
 
 " Demeurent ils plus longtemps sur la terre ? 
 c'est pour glorifier le Seigneur, autant qu'ils 
 le peuvent, suivant leur vocation et pour le 
 servir dans sa grande oeuvre. 
 
 " Sont ils rappelles de cette terre par la 
 mort ? C'est pour continuer a le servir dans sa 
 grande oeuvre, et a travailler a ce que le nom 
 
HIS SERMONS. 243 
 
 de Dieu soit glorifie, a ce que son rgne trouve 
 entree par tout, et a ce que tout le monde 
 prenne plaisir a faire sa volonte. 
 
 " C'est pourquoi St. Paul ne vouliit pas se mler 
 d'opter ou de choisir entre la vie et la mort, 
 entre rester plus longtemps dans ce monde-ci 
 ou aller dans 1'autre. II dit que sont desir seroit 
 bien de mourir pour venir aupres du Seigneur, 
 mais que par rapport aux personnes qui par son 
 moyen avoient ete converties au Seigneur, il 
 pourroit &tre plus necessaire qu'il restat encore 
 dans cette vie ici has, car son but etoit que le 
 Seigneur fut glorifi6 par lui soit dans ce monde- 
 ci, soit dans 1'autre. (Phil. i. 20, 24.) 
 
 " Et 2 Cor. v. 15, il dit : Le Seigneur Jesus 
 est mort pour tous, c'est afin que ceux qui vivent, 
 ne vivent plus dorenavant a eux-memes, mais a 
 celui qui est mort pour eux. 
 
 " Et Rom. xiv. 7, 8, Nul de nous (ses dis- 
 ciples) ne vit pour lui-mme, et nul de nous 
 ne meurt pour lui-mme. Mais soit que nous 
 vivions (dans ce monde-ci) nous vivons au 
 Seigneur; ou soit que nous mourions, nous 
 
 R2 
 
244 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 mourons au Seigneur : soit done que nous 
 vivions, soit que nous mourions, nous sommes 
 toujours au Seigneur. 
 
 " Ah, chers amis ! que le regard apres une 
 telle vie, que le regard dans le pays de 1'autre 
 cot6 du trepas, est agreable et attrayant! 
 
 " Que Ton peut en mourant chanter dans le 
 coeur ces sonnets de Drelincourt. 
 
 i. 
 
 " Le voici le beau jour, le jour tant desire", 
 Ou mon saint Redempteur veut recevoir mon ame, 
 Mon coeur s'eleve a lui, mon cceur est tout de flamme 
 Pour s'elanper au ciel ou j'ai tant aspire. 
 
 II. 
 
 " Doux moment par mes vceux tant de fois attire' ! 
 Tu viens couper enfin de mes malheurs la trame, 
 Je"sus que par la foi j'embrasse et je reclame, 
 M'enleve d'une terre ou j'ai tant soupire". 
 
 III. 
 
 " O Dieu ! Terre couverte d'horreurs et de charmes, 
 Terre pleine d'erreurs, d'iniquite's, d'alarmes, 
 Dont mme les douceurs excitent ma pitie", 
 Si du mortel combat passant &, sa victoire, 
 J e laisse dans ton sein ma fragile moiti 
 Dieu seul sera mon Tout dans le sein de la gloire." 
 
HIS SERMONS. 245 
 
 Then follow the notes, containing the par- 
 ticulars of Henry's death, which seemed to 
 introduce the personal subject, if it were intro- 
 duced at all. But it is the more probable that 
 it was not, as the calamity was so recent, and 
 so deeply affecting to his father. The remark- 
 able affection that existed between the vene- 
 rable pastor and his son, has been before alluded 
 to. But in this sermon we have a proof that 
 whilst he felt for the loss of his child, he could 
 not forget for a moment the state of those 
 before whom he was preaching, and upon whose 
 account he desired to make this occasion one 
 of unusual profit as well as interest. 
 
 Oberlin, as I have stated above, was 
 fond of drawing analogies between the natural 
 and spiritual world. The following extracts 
 from a sermon preached on a week day 
 (November 16, 1819) will illustrate the man- 
 ner in which he did so. It also bears some 
 marks of his peculiarities of view as to a future 
 state : 
 
 " Les enfans de ce siecle prennent et sont 
 pris en mariage. 
 
246 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 " Mais ceux qui seront faits dignes d'obtenir 
 ce si^cle-la et la resurrection des morts, ne 
 prendront ni se seront pris en mariage. Car 
 ils ne pourront plus mourir, parcequ'ils seront 
 pareils aux Anges, et qu'ils seront fils de Dieu, 
 etant fils de la resurrection. St. Luc. xx. 34, 36. 
 
 " Le Seigneur nous presente ici un coup 
 d'ceil, un avenir extrkmement ravissant pour 
 quiconque n'a pas de souci plus grand, plus 
 pressant que de devenir un vrai disciple de 
 J6sus Christ, un vrai membre de son corps. 
 
 " Pour comprendre ce beau passage il faut 
 expliquer quelques termes : 
 
 " 1. Qu'est ce que le Seigneur entend par le 
 si&cle-ci, et par le si&cle & venir ? 
 
 " Par le si&cle-ci le Seigneur entend l'6tat 
 actuel du genre humain, depuis qu'il est dechu 
 de son premier etat glorieux. 
 
 " Et par le si&cle a venir il entend Tetat 
 merveilleusement glorieux de ceux en qui 
 Dieu aura pu r6tablir parfaitement son image, 
 
HIS SERMONS. 247 
 
 et le premier glorieux etat pour lequel nous 
 avions etc* cres. 
 
 " 2. Qu'est ce que le Seigneur entend par la 
 resurrection des morts ? Ce n'est pas le re veil 
 general des morts au dernier jour pour com- 
 paroitre devant le tribunal du Juge supreme. 
 
 " Mais c'est la delivrance parfaite de tous les 
 maux que le peche a attires sur nous, et le 
 retablissement a la gloire primitive. Voila, 
 ce que le Seigneur appelle la resurrection des 
 morts. 
 
 " 3. Qui est ce qui sera estim6 digne de cette 
 glorieuse resurrection et du retablissement par- 
 fait de 1'image de Dieu ? 
 
 " Ce sont ceux qui se donnent de cceur, et 
 d'ame, et d'esprit, au Seigneur Jesus Christ, et 
 font des efforts pour entrer par la porte troite, 
 et qui pour cet efft 6tudient et gardent soig- 
 neusement tout ce que le Seigneur a commande 
 a ses disciples qui par la priere continuelle au 
 fond de leur cceur, et par 1'usage frequent de 
 la Sainte Cne, t^chent d'etre toujours plus 
 
248 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 etroitement unis au Seigneur qui aspirent a 
 aimer Dieu de tout leur coeur, de toute leur 
 me, de toutes leurs forces, et de toutes leurs 
 perishes et a aimer le prochain vraiment 
 comme eux-mmes, et a tre de fiddles valets, 
 et servantes, de Dieu dans sa vigne. 
 
 " Ceux qui travaillent a obtenir ces graces, 
 non seulement pour eux-mmes, mais aussi 
 pour toutes leurs families, et leurs amis, et con- 
 noissances, aussi loin qu'ils peuvent atteindre 
 par leurs prieres. 
 
 " Quand de pareilles personnes par leur fide- 
 lite, humilite*, ardeur et charite, auront passe 
 par les differens cieux inferieurs, et seront 
 parvenus a la saintet6 parfaite, a la perfection 
 des saints accomplis, et qu'ils pourront tre 
 recus dans la classe, et le rang, des habitans 
 de la montagne de Sion ou du royaume des 
 cieux, alors ils recevront le corps glorifie ou 
 la resurrection dont le Seigneur parle ici. 
 
 " 4. Alors ils ne mourront plus, ou comme le 
 Seigneur 1'exprime dans 1'Apocalypse xxi. 4. 
 ' La mort ne sera plus, et il n'y aura plus ni 
 
HIS SERMONS. 249 
 
 deuil, ni cri, ni travail ; car les premieres choses 
 sont passees.' 
 
 " Vous savez, chers amis ! que toute la nature 
 terrestre est une representation du spirituel. 
 Les chenilles, et tous les insectes, passent par 
 diff<rens etats qui ne se ressemblent pas du tout. 
 D'abord au sortir de loeuf ce sont de petits vers, 
 qui de terns a autre depouillent leurs peaux 
 supe"rieures et en sortent quasi dans un habit 
 neuf. 
 
 " Mais enfin ils rec oivent toute une nouvelle 
 forme, celle de chrysalide. 
 
 " C'est quasi un tout nouvel animal, tout dif- 
 f6rent du premier pour la figure et les proprietes. 
 
 " Mais ce n'est pas encore le tout. Sous la 
 forme de cette chrysalide il se prepare encore un 
 nouvel animal tout autrement parfait, qu'il ne 
 1'etoit dans les deux premiers 6tats, c'est le 
 papillon, orn6 de belles couleurs, et qui a de tout 
 autre gout et proprietes. 
 
 " II dMaigne maintenant la nourriture gros- 
 
250 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 sire de son premier etat et en prend une 
 plus pure et plus parfaite, savoir le miel des 
 fleurs. 
 
 " Et pour ce qui est de ses mouvemens il n'a 
 plus besoin actuellement de ses pieds pour se 
 transporter d'un endroit a un autre ; au moyen 
 de ses ailes il s'eleve lestement s'elance 
 rapidement par dessus les murailles, les rivieres, 
 et les montagnes. 
 
 " De mme ceux qui sont en Je*sus Christ 
 passant & mesure qu'ils ayancent en humi- 
 lite', charite*, saintet6, ils passent par differens 
 changemens de leurs corps interieurs, spirituels, 
 visibles aux anges, mais caches a nous sous le 
 corps terrestre. 
 
 " Et ces changemens continuent de clart6 en 
 clart6, de brillant en brillant, jusqu'a ce que 
 leurs corps soient devenus conformes et sem- 
 blables au corps glorieux du Seigneur Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 " Ah, chers amis ! quel coup d'ceil ravissant, 
 quelle esperance etonnante et d^licieuse. 
 
HIS MINISTERIAL LABOURS. 251 
 
 " O animons-nous toujours a poursuivre en 
 Jesus Christ notre sanctification, et a resserrer 
 notre union avec lui. 
 
 " C'est par lui, le cher Seigneur, et ce n'est 
 que par lui que Ton parvient a tout cela. Car 
 c'est lui qui nous a 6te donne de Dieu pour y 
 trouver la sagesse, la justice, la sanctification, et 
 la glorieuse redemption, et delivrance."* 
 
 Oberlin always concluded the Sabbath after- 
 noon's service with catechetical exercise ; and as 
 this was intended more particularly for the be- 
 nefit of the children, he endeavoured to render 
 his afternoon's discourse even more simple than 
 that of the morning had been, and to adapt his 
 language to the age of his younger hearers. 
 
 " My friends," said he, upon one of these 
 occasions, wishing to give them, if possible, 
 some idea of eternity, " if a single grain of 
 sand were brought into this room once every 
 hundred years, many centuries must elapse 
 before the floor could be covered. That 
 
 * For other specimens of Oberlin's Sermons, sec Appendix, Nos. 
 IV. and V. 
 
252 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 moment would, however, arrive ; but, even 
 when it came, the spirits of the blest would be 
 still in the enjoyment of heavenly happiness, 
 for they are immortal ; and if a grain of 
 sand were to be brought at the same stated 
 interval for many thousands of centuries, until 
 the room were entirely filled, those happy 
 beings would still be immortal, and eternity 
 would be as boundless as when the first grain 
 was brought." 
 
 " The good pastor," says Mrs. Steinkopff, 
 from whose journal the editor has been kindly 
 allowed to make the following extracts, " con- 
 siders his flock as his own children, and 
 they look up to him with the most profound 
 respect and veneration. I never witnessed so 
 delightfully affecting a scene as the church of 
 Waldbach, quite full, apparently, of attentive 
 people. It stands very near the parsonage, 
 and is plain, neat, and clean, with a gallery 
 all round. When we were there, on the 
 llth of June, 1820, it was completely filled 
 with peasants in the costume of the country, 
 and there was not a countenance among 
 them that indicated indifference ; the greater 
 
HIS MINISTERIAL LABOURS. 253 
 
 part evinced the utmost seriousness and at- 
 tention. When the revered pastor entered, 
 all stood up; he placed himself before the 
 communion table ; it was plain, covered with 
 a white cloth, fringed all round. He first 
 gave out a hymn. When it was sung, he read 
 a prayer from the ritual, during which all knelt, 
 and covered their faces. He then gave out 
 another hymn ; after which he went to one 
 part of the church where the children sat, and 
 called over their names, to see if any were 
 absent. Then all knelt down again whilst he 
 prayed ; then they sung, and he went into the 
 pulpit and gave out his text, after another 
 prayer : ' He shall see of the travail of his soul, 
 and shall be satisfied.' Isaiah liii. 11. He spoke 
 in the plainest and most familiar manner ; men- 
 tioned the errors of the times, against which 
 he warned his hearers, particularly dwelling on 
 the importance of sanctification. ' Those who 
 give themselves up to intemperance/ said he, 
 ' and to the enjoyment of luxuries, without 
 concerning themselves about their poorer bre- 
 thren, and yet think that with all this they 
 shall go to heaven, because Christ died for 
 sinners, are mistaken. No : the Gospel says 
 
254 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 quite otherwise. We must deny ourselves, lay 
 aside our sins, lead a holy and godly life, and 
 then our blessed Redeemer will save us.' He 
 earnestly warned them against sin. Not a 
 sound was to be heard. Every countenance 
 expressed attention. When he had finished, he 
 read some verses of a hymn expressive of entire 
 devotedness to God. e My dear friends/ said 
 he, ' may these be the feelings of our hearts, 
 and as such let us sing them.' They then sang 
 them de bon cceur" 
 
 The following is a translation: 
 
 " O Lord, thy heavenly grace impart, 
 And fix my frail inconstant heart ; 
 Henceforth my chief desire shall be, 
 To dedicate myself to Thee ! 
 To Thee, my God, to Thee ! 
 
 " Whate'er pursuits my time employ, 
 One thought shall fill my soul with joy ; 
 That silent, secret thought shall he, 
 That all my hopes are fix'd on Thee 
 On Thee, my God, on Thee ! 
 
 " Thy glorious eye pervadeth space, 
 Thou'rt present, Lord, in every place, 
 And, wheresoe'er my lot may be, 
 Still shall my spirit cleave to Thee 
 To Thee, my God, to Thee ! 
 
HIS MINISTERIAL LABOURS. 255 
 
 " Renouncing every worldly thing, 
 Safe, 'neath the covert of thy wing, 
 My sweetest thought henceforth shall be, 
 That all I want I find in Thee, 
 In thee, my God, in Thee ! 
 
 " Two children were then brought to be 
 baptized ; after which he pronounced the bless- 
 ing. Whilst the people were going out of 
 church another verse was sung. Those nearest 
 the door went out first, all in order and in 
 silence. There are two doors in the church ; 
 the pulpit is placed in the middle, next the 
 back, so that the congregation is in front, 
 down each side. Before it stands the com- 
 munion table. All are seated on benches. 
 There are, against the gallery, half a dozen 
 pictures ; one is of our Saviour on the cross." 
 
 Dr. Steinkopff writes the following letter, 
 descriptive of the same interesting scene. 
 
 " Waldbach, in the Stemthal, June 12, 1820. 
 
 " I cannot describe the veneration I felt on 
 approaching Mr. Oberlin, that servant of God, 
 and benefactor of man, who, in his eightieth 
 year, is still full of health, vigour, and activity, 
 
256 MEMOIRS OF OBERLTN. 
 
 and gladly spends his remaining strength in 
 doing good. Serenity and cheerfulness are 
 depicted on his countenance ; and he delights 
 in communicating to his Christian friends 
 something of that peace of God which possesses 
 his own soul. 
 
 " Yesterday I attended divine service in his 
 church. Notwithstanding a pouring rain, it 
 was completely filled. Mr. Oberlin's assistant 
 in the ministerial office, (the Rev. Mr. Graff,) 
 assured me that every house in the five villages 
 under his pastoral care, was now provided with 
 a Bible, and that every child who came to re- 
 ceive catechetical instruction brought a New 
 Testament with him. But for the sake of those 
 who applied from a distance, I gladly complied 
 with his wish to furnish him and his son, at 
 Rothau, with one hundred and twenty German 
 Bibles and Testaments. After divine service, 
 three Catholic peasants applied for De Sacy's 
 Testament. One paid three francs for a copy. 
 He gave Mr. Oberlin the pleasing information 
 that many of his Catholic neighbours had al- 
 ready procured the New Testament, and were in 
 the constant habit of reading it. Mr. Oberlin's 
 
HIS MINISTERIAL LABOURS. 
 
 son who lives on the most friendly terms with 
 the Catholic priest, lately presented his school- 
 master with a copy. 
 
 " I accompanied the venerable patriarch in 
 some of his pastoral visits. Wherever he went, 
 respect and affection met him. The children 
 hailed his appearance. They immediately pro- 
 duced their Bibles, or Testaments, read to him, 
 or listened to his truly paternal exhortations 
 and admonitions."* 
 
 Every Friday Oberlin conducted a service in 
 German, for the benefit of those inhabitants of 
 the vicinity to whom that language was more 
 familiar than French. His congregation on a 
 Sunday consisted, on an average, of six hundred 
 persons, but on a Friday of two hundred ; and 
 Oberlin, laying aside all form, seemed on such 
 occasions more like a grandfather surrounded 
 by his children and grandchildren, to whom he 
 was giving suitable admonition and instruction, 
 than the minister of an extensive parish. In 
 
 * See Appendix to the Seventeenth Report of the British and 
 Foreign Bihle Society. 
 
258 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 order that no time might be lost, he used to 
 make his female hearers knit stockings during 
 the service, not indeed for themselves or their 
 families, but for their poorer neighbours, as he 
 believed that this charitable employment need 
 not distract their attention, nor interrupt that 
 devotional spirit which generally pervaded the 
 Friday evening assemblies. When he had pur- 
 sued for half an hour the train of his reflections 
 upon the portion of Scripture which he had 
 just been reading, he would often say to them, 
 " Well, my children, are you not tired ? Have 
 you not had enough ? Tell me, my friends." 
 To which inquiry his parishioners would gene- 
 rally reply, " No, papa, go on ; we should 
 like to hear a little more," though on some 
 occasions, with characteristic frankness, the an- 
 swer was, " Enough, we think, for one time ; " 
 and the good old man would leave off, in 
 the midst of his discourse, or wait a little, and 
 presently resume it, putting the same question 
 again at intervals, until he saw that the atten- 
 tion of his congregation began to flag, or until 
 they, perceiving that he spoke with less ease, 
 would thank him for the things he had said, and 
 beg him to conclude. 
 
HIS MINISTERIAL LABOURS. 
 
 Such was the general esteem in which he 
 was held, that Catholics as well as Protestants 
 were fond of attending his preaching. The 
 following conversation took place between an 
 English gentleman and the driver of the car in 
 which it was found necessary to proceed from 
 Schirmeck to Waldbach ; no apology can be 
 deemed necessary for introducing it, in illustra- 
 tion of the respect in which Oberlin was uni- 
 versally regarded by the peasantry. 
 
 " Vous allez done voir notre bon pasteur 
 Oberlin, Messieurs," said the latter. 
 
 " Oui, nous allons le voir. Est ce que vous 
 le connoissez ? " 
 
 "Sijele connois?" continued the man. "Oui, 
 je le connois bien. Je 1'ai entendu prcher 
 maint fois." 
 
 " Mais vous etes Catholique, n'est ce pas ? " 
 
 " Oui, nous sommes Catholiques, nous autres 
 a Schirmeck; neanmoins, cela ne nous empche 
 pas d'entendre quelquefois le bon pasteur de 
 Waldbach." 
 
 " Trouvez vous qu'il prche bien ? " 
 
 " Mais oui. Je le crois bien. Souvent il 
 nous fait tous pleurer & chaudes larmes." 
 
 s 2 
 
260 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 The honest charioteer spoke a very intelli- 
 gible French, quite distinct from the patois of 
 Schirmeck ; and this circumstance, together with 
 a certain touch of military sang froid in his 
 manner, not entirely concealed by his fustian 
 jacket, prompted the inquiry whether he had 
 served under Napoleon. 
 
 " Oui, Monsieur, vous y tes," replied he, " J'ai 
 ete soldat, moi. Quand on est soldat, on attrappe 
 facilement bien des mauvaises habitudes." 
 
 " Pour tout ce que j'ai trouv6 jusqu'ici, on 
 les attrappe assez facilement par tout." 
 
 " C'est possible," said the man. " Pour moi, 
 je vous dis franchement que je n'etois pas 
 mieux que les autres ; et quand je vais entendre 
 prcher le pasteur Oberlin, il me fait bien sentir 
 que je ne suis pas trop bon a present mme. II 
 a raison, M. le pasteur a raison ; car c'est vrai, 
 c'est bien vrai cela." 
 
 " Oui ; mais ne pensez vous pas que c'est 
 une verite bien essentielle a savoir ? Ne croyez 
 vous pas que celui qui nous fait sentir nos 
 erreurs est un de nos meilleurs amis ? " 
 
 " Oui. Pour etre gueri, on doit savoir sa 
 maladie." 
 
HIS MINISTERIAL LABOURS. 261 
 
 " Certainement. Vous tes done bien heu- 
 reux d'avoir un ministre qui vous fait sentir la 
 verite." 
 
 " Vous avez raison. Et je vous assure que 
 c'est un homme qui cherche de nous tre utile 
 en toutes sortes de manieres." 
 
 " Dites moi ; qu'est ce qu'il a fait done ?" 
 
 " Qu'est ce qu'il a fait ! II fait tout ce qu'on peut 
 faire. Voyons. II y a tant de choses. Premiere- 
 ment, cette route ici, c'est lui qui nous 1'a faite." 
 
 " Oui ; mais ce n'est pas absolument la 
 meilleure du monde." 
 
 " Cela peut tre ; mais voyez vous, Monsieur, 
 il n'y a pas beaucoup d'annees que nous n'au- 
 rions pu passer mme avec un petit char comme 
 ceci. Monsieur le Pasteur a surveille toute 
 cette route ; il a mme travaille avec ses pro- 
 pres mains, pour encourager les autres." 
 
 " Et ce petit pont la que nous allons tra- 
 verser ? " 
 
 " Oui, surement, et ce pont aussi ; c'est lui 
 qui 1'a fait faire." 
 
 " II doit ^tre riche pour faire tant de choses." 
 
 " On peut dire oui et non." 
 
 " Comment?" 
 
 t( On peut dire oui ; parceque s'il avoit tout 
 
 

 262 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 ce qu'il a donne'aux autres, il auroit ete tres 
 riche. On peut dire non, parcequ'il ne garde 
 rien, absolument rien ; il donne tout aux pauvres ; 
 tout, Monsieur, tout.* Vous allez voir sa 
 maison. II ne faut pas penser de la trouver 
 bien glorieuse."f 
 
 But to return to Oberlin himself. 
 
 One of his prevailing desires was that all, 
 to whatever class or denomination they might 
 belong, whilst conscientiously adhering to their 
 own peculiar creeds, should grow in an ac- 
 quaintance with those common truths which 
 constitute the essence of the Gospel. " Are you 
 a Christian ? " said he to a Catholic gentleman 
 who visited the Ban de la Roche in the autumn of 
 1820 ; " if you are a Christian, my dear friend, 
 we are of the same religion. If you believe in 
 the utter depravity of human nature, in the 
 
 * " He has laid up nothing for his children," said Louisa to a cler- 
 gyman who visited the Ban de la Roche, in September, 1825, " but 
 he will leave them with the benedictions of heaven, and none of them 
 will ever want bread." 
 
 f The editor is indebted to the MS. notes of Dr. Edmund Clarke 
 for this conversation, which has also appeared in the Eclectic Review. 
 It was thought that much of the spirit of the original would be lost 
 in a translation. 
 
HIS MINISTERIAL LABOURS. 263 
 
 necessity of repentance, and whilst adoring God, 
 pray to Him to crown your efforts to become 
 better, we are of the same religion. Follow the 
 law traced by the dear Saviour ; it only is the 
 true law. All the forms and ceremonies that 
 different sects have added to this law are of 
 little importance."* 
 
 Perceiving that the eyes of his visiter were 
 
 * It must be conceded that the spirit of liberality in this venerable 
 pastor was, in some instances, carried to too great a length. His 
 humility and simplicity of mind, divested of fastidiousness and party- 
 feeling, led him, perhaps, too readily to embrace in the arms of 
 Christian charity some whom he would have found deficient in the 
 fundamental doctrines of our refonned religion. If, however, we 
 cannot entirely approve his want of discrimination, we must admire 
 that true spirit of brotherly affection which induced him to look with 
 kindness and toleration upon all whom he had reason to hope loved 
 our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. 
 
 Whatever error in doctrine, or peculiarity of sentiment, may appear 
 in some parts of Oberlin's character, the editor cannot but think that 
 in all the main truths of Christianity his views were clear and simple, 
 and that the devoted earnestness, ardent zeal, and disinterested bene- 
 volence by which this extraordinary man was so eminently distin- 
 guished, sprung from love to a crucified Redeemer, and humble 
 reliance upon his death and merits. If some of the more evangelical 
 doctrines of the Gospel do not appear so prominently in this Memoir 
 as could be wished, may not the deficiency be attributed, in some 
 degree, to the character of its subject a character in which the fruits 
 of true religion, rather than its doctrines, are exhibited : in which 
 the active laborious pastor, placed in very peculiar circumstances, and 
 called to very unusual duties in the discharge of his high office, is 
 brought before the reader's notice, rather than the more retired Chris- 
 tian in his secret walk with God. 
 
264 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 directed to a portrait of Luther that hung 
 against the wall of his study, " That man has 
 been," said he, " like every founder of a sect, 
 much applauded and much calumniated. And if 
 you will promise me not to be offended," con- 
 tinued he, smiling, " I will tell you something 
 about him. The popes, for a long time, arro- 
 gated to themselves temporal powers and privi- 
 leges, in a very different spirit from that spirit 
 of humility by which the first followers of Jesus 
 Christ were distinguished. Taking advantage 
 of the credulity of the people, they extended 
 their dominion over nearly the whole of Europe ; 
 Turkey alone being free from their sway. 
 Leo X. wished to unite the Christian princes 
 against this latter kingdom, but it was neces- 
 sary to obtain money in order to secure their 
 co-operation. Leo, who was remarkable for the 
 patronage he afforded to the fine arts, was also 
 in want of funds to finish the famous cathedral 
 of St. Peter. He devised the plan of selling 
 indulgences. These were notes payable at sight, 
 for the enfranchisement of souls in purgatory; 
 a place never mentioned by Jesus Christ and 
 his apostles. Depots of them were opened in 
 the priests' houses, the monasteries, and even 
 
HIS MINISTERIAL LABOURS. 265 
 
 in the public-houses. The priests were em- 
 ployed in persuading the people to purchase 
 them. An Augustine monk, the son of a black- 
 smith, of Eisleben, was led to consider what 
 power these indulgences could possibly possess, 
 and ascending the pulpit, after a priest who had 
 been inculcating these doctrines, he excited in 
 the minds of his hearers the indignation with 
 which his own was filled. This Augustine, 
 whose name was Martin Luther, proceeded to 
 apply to several princes, some of whom espoused 
 his cause. He spread the doctrines of the 
 Reformation ; abolished those of the monks ; 
 and, taking Scripture for his guide, returned to 
 the simple communion of bread and wine ; he 
 denied the power of baptism to take away 
 original sin ; condemned auricular confession ; 
 and declared that popes and councils had no 
 authority to add any thing to the religion of 
 Jesus Christ and his apostles, seeing that if 
 Jesus Christ had wished his religion to be 
 different from that which he taught, he would 
 himself have delivered it differently. Luther 
 opened the way for a great revolution, and 
 violent means were taken to oppose his pro- 
 ceedings. I will add no more," continued he ; 
 
266 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 " I only wished to mention the causes and the 
 principal effects of the Reformation. Luther 
 was not the founder of a new religion ; he only 
 brought us back to the religion of Jesus Christ. 
 God will regard all who adhere to the doctrines 
 of his divine Son with equal favour, be they 
 Catholics or Lutherans." 
 
 The following anecdotes are illustrative of the 
 paternal influence which Oberlin exercised over 
 his flock, as well as of his readiness to assist 
 those who differed from him in their religious 
 tenets. A young woman of Schirmeck, of the 
 Roman Catholic persuasion, had married a Pro- 
 testant of Waldbach. This man had enemies ; 
 he was, comparatively speaking, rich, and his 
 fortune might possibly have some connexion 
 with the motives of their animosity. The young 
 woman became the mother of a little girl, who, 
 by mutual consent, and in pursuance of the 
 marriage agreement, was to be brought up in 
 the religion of the former, and baptized by the 
 clergyman of Schirmeck. To repair thither it 
 was necessary to take the road over the moun- 
 tains; but at the moment of their setting off, 
 they were informed that the enemies of the 
 
HIS PATERNAL INFLUENCE. 1>(>7 
 
 husband had laid a scheme to waylay them at 
 a particular turn of the road, to spring out upon 
 him when he reached it, and to compel him 
 by menaces and ill-treatment to consent to their 
 unjust demands. 
 
 Their journey could not very well be delayed, 
 as the priest had been informed of their in- 
 tended arrival ; and yet they were afraid to 
 undertake it on account of the impending 
 danger. In this painful dilemma they went to 
 consult Oberlin. He, after exhorting them to 
 place their trust in God, most kindly offered to 
 accompany them, to render his aid and protec- 
 tion should they require it. On arriving at a 
 spot in the forest where there was reason to 
 fear an ambuscade, Oberlin knelt down, and, 
 extending his hands over the young people, 
 exclaimed with a loud voice, " Great God ! 
 Thou seest wickedness lying in wait, and con- 
 spiring mischief. Thou seest innocence in 
 alarm. Almighty God ! avert the danger, or 
 give thy children strength to surmount it." 
 
 At this moment several men, who had been 
 concealed behind a thicket of beech trees, dis- 
 
268 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 covered themselves, and rushed forwards, utter- 
 ing the most threatening exclamations. Oberlin 
 took the little infant in his arms, and advanced 
 towards them with a calmness which did not 
 conceal his indignation, yet still left room for 
 the hope of pardon. ' ' There," said he to them, 
 " is the babe which has done you so much in- 
 jury which disturbs the peace of your days." 
 Dismayed at the presence of their pastor, whom 
 they little expected to meet with in the charac- 
 ter of an escort to persons going to perform 
 a Roman Catholic ceremony, and finding from 
 the few words which he had addressed to them 
 that he was not ignorant of their bad designs, 
 they did not attempt to dissimulate, but, con- 
 fessing their crime, begged pardon of the young 
 man, and offered terms of reconciliation. Thus 
 providentially rescued from the danger which 
 had threatened them, the young people con- 
 tinued their walk to Schirmeck, while Oberlin 
 returned to Waldbach with the men whom he 
 had thus prevented from doing evil. When 
 they reached the entrance of the village, " My 
 children," said he, as he left them, "remember 
 the day on the mountains, if you wish that I 
 should forget it." 
 
QUESTIONS TO HIS PARISHIONERS. '269 
 
 Another morning (in the early part of his 
 ministry,) as Oberlin was at work in his study 
 he heard a great noise in the village. Rushing 
 out, he perceived a foreigner whom almost the 
 whole population were loading with abusive and 
 threatening language. " A Jew ! a Jew !" re- 
 sounded on all sides, as the good pastor forced 
 his way through the crowd; and it was with 
 difficulty that he could obtain silence. As soon, 
 however, as he could make himself heard, he 
 rebuked them with great warmth for having 
 proved themselves unworthy the name of Chris- 
 tians by treating the unfortunate stranger in so 
 cruel a manner. He added, that if this poor 
 man wanted the name of a Christian, they wanted 
 the spirit of Christians. The same enlargement 
 of mind distinguished Oberlin on all occasions. 
 And whatever men might say, he still remem- 
 bered the Apostle's injunction, Gal. vi. 10 
 " Let us do good unto all men.'* 
 
 I shall conclude this chapter respecting Ober- 
 lin's private and ministerial character, with the 
 following questions which he addressed to his 
 flock in writing, requiring from them satisfactory 
 replies to each inquiry. They prove that his 
 
270 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 solicitude for their welfare descended to the 
 smallest details, both with respect to their 
 temporal and spiritual concerns, and that he 
 neglected nothing to which he thought it his 
 duty to call their attention. 
 
 Questions addressed by Pastor Oberlin to his 
 Parishioners. 
 
 1. Do you, and your family, regularly attend 
 places of religious instruction ? 
 
 2. Do you never pass a Sunday without em- 
 ploying yourself in some charitable work ? 
 
 3. Do neither you, nor your wife or children, 
 ever wander in the woods on a Sunday, in search 
 of wild raspberries, strawberries, whortle-berries, 
 mulberries or hazel-nuts, instead of going to 
 church ? and, if you have erred in this manner, 
 will you solemnly promise to do so no more ? 
 
 4. Are you careful to provide yourself with 
 clean and suitable clothes for going to church 
 in on the Sunday ? * 
 
 5. Do those who are provided with necessary 
 
 * During the first years of Oberlin 's residence in the Ban de la 
 Roche, the inhabitants were so miserably off for wearing apparel that 
 they could only go to church by turns, being obliged to borrow each 
 others' clothes in order to appear decently attired. 
 
QUESTIONS TO HIS PARIS1I1ONKKS. '271 
 
 clothes employ a regular part of their income to 
 procure them for their destitute neighbours, or 
 to relieve their other necessities ? 
 
 6. Have your civil and ecclesiastical overseers 
 reason to be satisfied with your conduct, and 
 that of the other members of your family ? 
 
 7. Do you so love and reverence our Lord 
 and Saviour, Jesus Christ, as to feel united in 
 the bonds of Christian fellowship with that flock 
 of which he is the Pastor ? 
 
 8. Do the animals which belong to you cause 
 no injury or inconvenience to others ? (Guard 
 against this, for it would be as fire in tow, and a 
 source of mutual vexation.) 
 
 9. Do you give your creditors reason to be 
 satisfied with your honesty and punctuality ? 
 or can they say of you that you are more desi- 
 rous of purchasing superfluous clothes than of 
 discharging your debts ? 
 
 10. Have you paid all that is due this 
 quarter to the churchwarden, schoolmaster and 
 shepherd ? 
 
 11. Do you punctually contribute your share 
 towards the repairing of the roads ? * 
 
 * That Oberlin considered the repairing of roads as a religious duty 
 incumbent upon all his parishioners, (since it conduced to the public 
 
272 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 12. Have you, in order to contribute to the 
 general good, planted upon the common at least 
 twice as many trees as there are heads in your 
 family ? 
 
 13. Have you planted them properly, or only 
 as idle and ignorant people would do, to save 
 themselves trouble ? 
 
 14. When the magistrate wishes to assemble 
 the commonalty, do you always assist him as 
 far as lies in your power ; and, if it be impossible 
 
 good), appears from the following curious and characteristic letter, 
 Avhich he addressed to them Nov. 9, 1804. 
 
 " Road between Foudai and Zolbach. 
 " Dear friends of Foudai ! 
 
 " Several persons at Zolbach have long been desirous that a certain 
 road on your district, which runs towards Zolbach, should be mended 
 and put into repair. 
 
 " Such a measure would tend greatly to the advantage of Foudai. 
 But for whose sake will you do it? Will you do it from love to your 
 Heavenly Father, to whom you pray every day, and whom in the 
 Lord's Prayer 'you caE Father, and who requires you to prove your 
 faith by your works? Will you do it from love to the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, who, during his stay upon earth went about doing good, and 
 who has redeemed us in order to make to himself a peculiar people 
 zealous of good works ? Will you do it from love to God's children 
 who are at Zolbach? you know that all the services which you 
 render to the children of God, and the followers of Jesus Christ, God 
 regards as done to himself. Will you do it from love to the servants 
 of mammon who are at Zolbach, in order to set them a good example, 
 and to win their affections by your kindness ? or, will you do it from 
 compassion to the animals which your Heavenly Father has created, 
 and which he has himself honoured by his covenant with Noah after 
 the deluge, Gen. ix. 9?" 
 
QUESTIONS TO HIS PARISHIONERS. 273 
 
 for you to attend yourself, are you careful to 
 inform him of your absence, and to assign a 
 proper reason for it? 
 
 15. Do you send your children regularly to 
 school ? 
 
 16. Do you watch over them as God requires 
 you should do ? And is your conduct towards 
 them, as well as your wife's, such as will ensure 
 their affection, respect, and obedience ? 
 
 17. Are you frugal in the use of wood ? And 
 do you contrive to make your fires in as eco- 
 nomical a manner as possible ? 
 
 18. Do you keep a dog unless there be abso- 
 lute necessity ? 
 
 19. Have you proper drains in your yard for 
 carrying off the refuse water ? 
 
 20. Are you, as well as your sons, acquainted 
 with some little handicraft work to employ your 
 spare moments, instead of letting them pass 
 away in idleness ? 
 
 With regard to the purport of the fifth 
 question, as Oberlin was most particular in 
 devoting a certain share of his own income to 
 the alleviation of the wants of others, and in 
 accustoming himself to the strictest self-denial 
 
 T 
 
274 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 in order to increase his means of doing good, 
 so he used his utmost endeavours to persuade 
 others to imitate his example, and to avoid any 
 superfluity in their clothes or manner of living, 
 that they might be the better able to assist 
 their poorer neighbours. 
 
 He addressed the following advice to the 
 mothers in his parish, on observing that it was 
 becoming a prevalent fashion amongst them to 
 put cambric frills to their little boys' shirts 
 an extravagance which he deemed extremely 
 reprehensible : 
 
 " Various mothers are, I observe, beginning 
 to put frills of muslin or of cambric to their 
 children's shirts. Do not do so, dear friends. 
 Unpick them, cut them off, and seek not to 
 increase the vanity of your children, which is 
 already naturally too great. Cut off all the 
 finery that does not correspond with your station 
 in life, and employ yourselves in clothing the 
 poor families of this extensive parish ; many of 
 whom are in an extremely miserable condition. 
 
 " Love your neighbours as yourselves. Re- 
 
QUESTIONS TO HIS PARISHIONERS. 1?7."> 
 
 nounce every superfluity, that you may be the 
 better able to procure necessaries for those who 
 are in want. Be their care-takers their fathers 
 and their mothers for it is for this purpose 
 that God has blessed you with more temporal 
 wealth than he has done them. Be merciful. 
 The time may come when you yourselves will 
 stand in need of the mercy of God." 
 
 The following note bears also the same im- 
 port : its superscription is, 
 
 " Surplus of Hay." 
 
 11 Waldbach, March 13, 1803. 
 
 " Dear Friends, 
 
 " Is not this one of the two principal com- 
 mandments ' Thou shalt love thy neighbour 
 as thyself?' Matt. xxii. 39. Is it not as much 
 as to say, when thy cattle can spare a little of 
 thy hay, supply those who stand in need ? But 
 as thou canst not give to all who want, choose 
 those who are in the greatest necessity and 
 poverty, and, from among them, select such 
 individuals as are most earnest in obeying the 
 commandments of Jesus Christ, and in en- 
 deavouring to work out their salvation with 
 fear and trembling. Say to thyself, ' to such 
 
 T2 
 
276' MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 will I sell my hay,' and then let them have it 
 at so low a price, that they may rejoice and 
 bless God. 
 
 " And afterwards be careful to furnish them 
 with the means of liberating themselves from 
 the debt which they have incurred, as far as 
 thou art able to do so. 
 
 " Be the father of the poor, and God will be 
 thy father. Remember that it is impossible to 
 love God with thy whole heart, without loving 
 thy neighbour also. 
 
 " Tread not in the steps of others, but be 
 thou a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Be 
 the father of the poor. Choose those who fear 
 God most. Make good speed about it, for 
 perhaps thou wilt not be much longer in pos- 
 session of terrestrial riches." 
 
 The following little circulars, in allusion to 
 the sixteenth question, addressed at different 
 times by Oberlin to his parishioners, prove how 
 constantly he endeavoured to instil into their 
 minds the necessity of bringing up their children 
 
CIRCULARS. 277 
 
 in habits of subordination, and under their own 
 inspection. 
 
 " Waldbach, February 27, 1801. 
 
 " Dear Friends, Fathers and Mothers ! 
 
 " I have a request to make to you. You 
 give shepherds to your sheep, to lead them into 
 green pastures, to feed, tend, and preserve them 
 from danger, and you do well. 
 
 " But have you no fears for your children ? 
 Does not Satan go about to tempt them to do 
 wrong ? Then give them shepherds likewise, 
 and never allow them to be left to their own 
 devices. Let them work and amuse themselves 
 under proper inspection and superintendence, 
 but let this superintendence be wise, prudent, 
 gentle, kind, and engaging, and whilst it leads 
 you to take part in their amusements, and to 
 direct, animate, and enliven them, let it also 
 restrain them within due bounds. Whatever 
 it costs you, God will restore it a thousand fold." 
 
 " May 29, 1803. 
 
 " ' And the Lord said unto Cain, where is 
 Abel thy brother ? And he said, I know not ; 
 Am I my brother's keeper?' Gen. iv. 9. The 
 
278 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 Lord said to Cain, ' Where is Abel thy brother?' 
 Oh, may these words resound continually in the 
 ears of every parent, f Father, where is thy son?' 
 Fathers of Belmont ! Fathers of Bellefosse, 
 of Waldbach, of Foudai, and Zolbach ! Father, 
 where is thy son ? In what village ; in what 
 house ; in what company ? How is he em- 
 ployed ? It behoves you to be able to answer 
 these inquiries by night and by day ; on Sun- 
 days and on working-days; wherever you are, 
 and whatever your are doing. You are the 
 guardians of your children ; and whether they 
 are employed in work, or in relaxation and 
 amusement, it is your duty to superintend and 
 direct their amusements and pursuits. 
 
 " Do it ; do it, henceforth, with faithfulness, 
 vigilance, and zeal ; with earnest and secret 
 prayer that God may pardon you for past 
 unfaithfulness, and deliver your sons from the 
 sin and danger into which your carelessness, 
 and want of parental watchfulness, may have 
 driven them. This is the desire of 
 
 " Your papa and minister, 
 
 " J. F. OBERLIN." 
 

 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 OBERLIN'S PASTORAL VISITS INTERVIEW BETWEEN DR. AND 
 MRS. STEINKOPFF AND THE CONDUCTRICE OF BELLEFOSSE 
 THEIR VISIT TO THE COTTAGE OF MADELEINE KRUGER ; 
 ALSO TO THAT OF SOPHIA BERNARD LETTER WRITTEN BY 
 MRS. C. DURING A VISIT TO THE BAN DE LA ROCHE IN 
 
 THE SUMMER OF 1820 LETTER FROM MRS. RAUSCHER TO 
 
 THE PARIS BIBLE SOCIETY, CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF 
 THE DEATH OF SOPHIA BERNARD, &c. AMOUNT OF THE 
 SUMS RAISED AT DIFFERENT TIMES AT WALDBACH, IN SUP- 
 PORT OF VARIOUS CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 IT was not in the pulpit alone that Oberlin 
 sought to make known the truths of the Gospel ; 
 he was in the habit of paying pastoral visits to 
 all the cottages in his parish ; of conversing 
 with their inhabitants on the subjects connected 
 with their eternal welfare, and upon the various 
 plans adopted by benevolent individuals in dif- 
 ferent parts of the world for the dissemination 
 of religious knowledge. 
 
280 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 In the hope of advancing their moral and 
 spiritual welfare, he kept a book in which he 
 made private memoranda respecting their va- 
 rious states, a task for which the insight he 
 obtained into their respective characters, during 
 his frequent visits, peculiarly qualified him. 
 Amongst other heads in the book were " Idlers " 
 and " Bad Managers." The Ten Command- 
 ments also furnished him with many distinct 
 heads, under which he made remarks upon the 
 state of his congregation, particularizing the 
 conduct of such persons as he deemed repre- 
 hensible, that he might be the better able to 
 adapt his discourses to their edification. 
 
 The affectionate manner in which he entered 
 into familiar conversation with them upon such 
 subjects as the diffusion of religious knowledge, 
 the conversion of the heathen, and the exertions 
 of God's devoted servants in bearing to others 
 the " unsearchable riches of Christ," seldom 
 failed to gain their attention, and to awaken in 
 their hearts the warmest interest, whilst it had, 
 at the same time, a most happy effect upon 
 their manners, inducing, in some of the poor 
 women particularly, a refinement and softness 
 
DR. AND MRS. STEINKOPFP's INTERVIEW. 281 
 
 not often met with in persons of the same class, 
 entirely free from pride, awkwardness, forward- 
 ness, or grossibrete. The following anecdote is 
 a pleasing illustration of these remarks. 
 
 During Dr. and Mrs. Steinkopffs visit to 
 the Ban de la Roche, in 1820, they one day 
 took a walk up the side of the mountain with 
 Mr. Graff. The little path they were following, 
 led to Bellefosse, whither they were going, to 
 pay a visit to Madeleine Kriiger, one of the 
 exemplary poor women of that village. Many 
 peasants had bowed to them as they passed, 
 with an air of courtesy, and the women had 
 addressed them with " J'ai 1'honneur de vous 
 saluer, Madame," making at the same time a 
 curtsey that would not have disgraced an 
 English drawing-room. In the middle of a 
 wood, through which the road led, they met 
 a peasant, simply attired, with a pleasing open 
 countenance, and a basket at her back. " Ma- 
 dame," said she, addressing Mrs. SteinkopfF, 
 " J'ai Thonneur de vous saluer," and a most 
 profound curtsey accompanied her words. 
 
 " Good morning ! I am rejoiced to have 
 
MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 met you, my dear Priscilla," said Mr. Graff, 
 returning the salutation ; " I have the pleasure 
 of introducing you to this lady and gentle- 
 man, from England. You are well acquainted 
 with the name of the gentleman. He is Dr. 
 Steinkopff, one of the Secretaries of the Bible 
 Society which has supplied us with so many 
 Bibles." " Oh ! God be praised for it, my dear 
 Sir !" replied the peasant. " Yes, I am well 
 acquainted with your name ! I have read the 
 reports which make mention of you. Is it 
 possible," and she joined her hands together, 
 " that I have the honour of seeing you here on 
 earth ! Often, yes, often I think of the people 
 of whom I read, and who have been brought 
 to our dear Saviour, through the means, 
 through the generosity of that noble Society. 
 Ah, what reason have we to rejoice, who live 
 in the abundance of spiritual blessings ; and 
 how much should we wish to procure the 
 same advantages for those who are destitute of 
 them ! Yes ; we are very rich here, in this 
 Ban de la Roche. Oh, that we may never 
 be unfaithful to that light which God has been 
 pleased to grant us ! I am truly delighted with 
 all that I hear, and especially that I have the 
 
VISIT TO MADKI.K1M-: KRUGER. 
 
 pleasure of seeing you. I recollect what our 
 good pastor one day said at a funeral, whrn 
 he saw a poor child weeping bitterly over its 
 grandmother, whom they were going to bury, 
 ' My dear child, instead of weeping for your 
 grand-mamma, who is now no more, endeavour 
 to live in a manner conformable to the will of 
 God ; believe, dear, in your Saviour, and then, 
 in his good time, you will meet her again in 
 heaven, never more to be separated.' / also 
 pray, Sir, that it may please God to grant me 
 grace to live the life of a Christian, that when I 
 die my spirit may join those pure and happy 
 spirits who have done so much good upon 
 earth." " The manners and expression of this 
 interesting young woman," says Mrs. Steinkopff, 
 " were very superior ; for with all the animation 
 and sprightliness of the French, much zeal and 
 humility were conspicuous." 
 
 " On reaching Bellefosse," continues the 
 latter, " we visited the white-washed cottage of 
 Madeleine Kriiger; its neat painted casements 
 and clean steps announced the comfort to be 
 found within. We entered through a kitchen, 
 with a well furnished dresser and good oven. 
 
284 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 " Happily come/ said she, ' you do me too much 
 honour. I am this moment returned, and I 
 should be sorry not to have been here on your 
 arrival ; my door is not yet unlocked ; " and as 
 she spoke she reached the key and opened it 
 into a very good room, at one end of which 
 stood her bed with pretty blue cotton curtains, 
 and on one side a long table with benches 
 around it, all as white as wood could be made ; 
 on the table lay a Moravian text-book open, 
 in which she had been reading. Whilst we 
 we there, a tall agreeable looking man, with 
 a slouched hat, and blue trousers and jacket, 
 came in ; he was mayor and schoolmaster at 
 the same time." 
 
 They afterwards proceeded to the neat, clean, 
 and comfortable cottage of Sophia Bernard, at 
 Foudai, with whom they were to take tea ; she 
 met them at the door and showed them into a 
 good sized room, where, on a long deal table, 
 almost as white as snow, were placed some 
 beautiful flowers, and cups and saucers, cream 
 and cakes, supplied by Mrs. Legrand, who, with 
 her husband, sons and daughters, drank tea 
 with them. The cups and saucers were very 
 
VISIT TO SOPHIA BERNARD. 
 
 handsome, being of white and yellow china, 
 and had different German sentences upon them. 
 Upon Mrs. SteinkopfPs cup this motto was 
 inscribed, " Bete fur mich, ich will fur dlcli beteti" 
 (" Pray for me, and I will pray for thee.") Two 
 benches were placed along the table, and Sophia 
 stood behind to wait. She was, like many of 
 the female peasants of the Steinthal, delicate in 
 her appearance, with a mild and gentle counte- 
 nance, and peculiar humility of deportment. 
 She looked upon her guests with the greatest 
 pleasure and satisfaction, listening to all that 
 was said, and lifting up her hands in gratitude 
 to God, for what she heard concerning the ex- 
 tension of the Redeemer's kingdom on earth by 
 the success of Missionary and Bible Societies. 
 On the departure of her visiters she knelt 
 down, and prayed very fervently for their 
 protection. 
 
 The following letter, written by Mrs. C 
 during her visit to the Ban de la Roche in the 
 summer of 1820, describes the same scene, and 
 also presents so lively and animated a picture of 
 the venerable pastor and his family, that it can- 
 not but be read with interest and delight. 
 
286 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 " Ban de la Roche, June 7, 1820. 
 
 " My dearest - , 
 
 My last letter from Strasbourg was written in 
 low spirits ; the sun has since shone upon us. 
 We are now in a most uncommon and inte- 
 resting spot every thing is novel, but the One 
 Spirit which acknowledges the Father, and the 
 Son, and the Holy Spirit, which is the same ; 
 and delightful it is to feel it the same, amongst 
 other nations and languages. It is confirming 
 to faith to find the children of God in every 
 place looking only to the same Saviour, and 
 built upon the same foundation. 
 
 (f I wish I had power to convey to you an 
 idea of our present interesting and curious situa- 
 tion. In the first place, I must introduce you to 
 the room I am sitting in. It is perfectly unique. 
 I should think the floor had never been really 
 cleaned. It is filled with old boxes, and bottles, 
 and pictures, and medicines, and books, but 
 every thing is in its place. Two little beds are 
 stuck up in each corner, and there are a few 
 old chairs, &c. The window looks upon the 
 
MRS. C 'S LETTER. 
 
 tops of the mountains, near which we are,-- 
 separated from the world; but this is a spot 
 highly favoured, remarkably illuminated by the 
 blessed light of the Gospel. I must now tell 
 you of our journey here, and arrival. 
 
 " On Saturday morning, after an early break- 
 fast, we left Strasbourg. I was rather sorry to 
 quit our comfortable hotel, where I began to 
 feel tolerably settled, and the place, as a tow, 
 pleased me. We soon left the high road, and 
 as there were no more post-houses, we took a 
 pair of horses to make our way as well as we 
 could through the mountains. The roads were 
 not quite so bad as I expected, yet their narrow- 
 ness, and the steep precipice on one side, made 
 me nervous. But we were charmed by the 
 interest and beauty of the scenery: before we 
 had gone far we found the valleys luxuriant in 
 vines and fine trees ; a mountain river running 
 through the valley, and presenting different 
 views in every turn of the road. F. and I both 
 thought we had never seen more exquisite home 
 scenery. The postilion lost his way, and led us 
 up a delicious valley. Though we enjoyed the 
 scenery, our situation was not very pleasant, and 
 
MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 we were anxious to arrive early; for we went 
 perfect strangers, without any introduction, or 
 having given any warning, but we felt confi- 
 dence in going amongst Christian people. 
 Having reached the right road again, we en- 
 tered the pass leading into the Ban de la Roche ; 
 it was exceedingly interesting ; we were upon 
 the famous road, dug out of the rock, made by 
 Mr. Oberlin himself, and his parishioners, for 
 before he came the place was almost inacces- 
 sible. 
 
 " However good the roads were in comparison, 
 I could not be satisfied to stay in the carriage, 
 so we walked on to a very romantic little village, 
 where Mr. Legrand and his family live, intimate 
 friends of Mr. Oberlin. I fear you have not seen 
 the book he wrote about Mr. O. and this place ;* 
 it gives great interest to it. It is really wonder- 
 ful what he has effected. We inquired for their 
 house. Mrs. Legrand was pointed out to us; 
 she had a fine open countenance, but was dressed 
 in a far commoner manner than any of our 
 maids, who would appear like ladies in this 
 
 * Letters to the Baron de Ge"rando, on the Agriculture of the Ban 
 de la Roche, from which extracts have been given in this work. 
 
MRS. C 'S LETTER. L >s< ) 
 
 place. The women here are a hundred year- 
 at least behind us in luxury and fashion, and 
 outward appearance ; such simplicity I never 
 saw. I will now introduce you to the Legrands, 
 a most cheerful and happy family. Their house 
 is complete in its way, and full of comfort for 
 a foreign habitation. The father and mother, 
 with their two sons, both married to sweet 
 women, live together. They seemed beaming 
 with goodness and happiness ; evidently most 
 domestic, and I should trust religious people, 
 devotedly attached to Mr. Oberlin, their friend 
 and minister, for whose sake they settled in 
 this place. 
 
 " After this pleasant introduction to the Le- 
 grands, we again set off for Mr. Oberlin's, a 
 mile and a half further, (a romantic walk 
 through the valley,) accompanied by Mr. Le- 
 grand. On the way we met this most vene- 
 rable and striking man the perfect picture 
 of what an old man and minister should be. 
 He received us cordially, and we soon felt 
 quite at ease with him. We all proceeded 
 together towards his house, which stands on 
 the top of a hill, surrounded by trees and 
 
 u 
 
290 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 cottages ; if we live to return you shall see 
 my sketch of it.* Owing to the fatigue of 
 our journey, I felt quite overdone on our first 
 arrival. I could see nothing like a mistress 
 in the house ; but an old woman, called 
 Louise, dressed in a long woollen jacket and 
 black cotton cap, came to welcome us, and 
 we afterwards found that she is an important 
 person at the Ban de la Roche : she is mistress, 
 housekeeper, intimate friend, maid of all work, 
 schoolmistress, entertainer of guests, and, I 
 should think, assistant minister, though we have 
 not yet heard her in this capacity. Besides 
 Louise^ the son-in-law and daughter, and their 
 six children live here, two young girls, prote- 
 gees, and two more maids out of the parish. 
 Mr. Graff, the son-in-law, is a minister, and a 
 very excellent man. ' There is much religion and 
 simplicity both in him and his wife ; but the 
 latter is so devoted to the children that we 
 seldom see her. We were ushered into the 
 salle a manger, where stood the table spread 
 for supper ; a great bowl of pottage a pewter 
 plate and spoon for every body: the luxury 
 
 * See the sketch of Oberlin's residence, p. 42. 
 
MRS -S LETTER. 
 
 of a common English cottage is not known 
 in the Ban de la Roche. But we see the 
 fruits and feel the blessed effects of religion 
 in its simplest form ; it is a great privilege 
 to be here, and I trust will be truly useful to 
 us. 
 
 " Tuesday. We are become more acquainted 
 with this extraordinary people. They are as 
 interesting as they are uncommon. I much 
 regret that I cannot speak the language more 
 fluently; yet I get on as well as I can, and 
 have had a good deal of pleasing communi- 
 cation with them. I only hope you will read 
 Owen's letters, with the description of his visit 
 on a Sunday to this place ; it will give you 
 an interest in our present situation.* Also, in 
 the Appendix of the First Bible Society Report, 
 read Mr. Oberlin's letter.f I never knew so 
 well what the grace of courtesy was till I saw 
 this remarkable man. He treats the poorest 
 people, and even the children, with an affec- 
 tionate respect. For instance, his courtesy, 
 
 Seep. 221. f Seep. 167. 
 
 u 2 
 
292 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 kindness, and hospitality to our postilion were 
 quite amusing. He pulled off his hat when we 
 met him, took him by the hand, and treated 
 him with really tender consideration. He is, 
 I think, more than eighty one of the hand- 
 somest old men I ever remember to have seen 
 still vigorous in mind and spirit delighting 
 in his parish full of fervent charity. He has 
 
 talked a great deal to F . The meals are 
 
 really amusing : we all sit down to the same 
 table, maids and all, one great dish of pottage 
 or boiled spinach, and a quantity of salad and 
 potatoes, upon which they chiefly live, being 
 placed in the middle. He shakes hands with 
 all the little children as he passes them in the 
 street, speaking particularly to each of them. 
 The effect which such treatment has had in 
 polishing these people, uncivilized and uncul- 
 tivated as they formerly were, is quite wonder- 
 ful. They have been taught a variety of things 
 which have enlarged and refined their minds ; 
 besides religion music, geography, drawing, 
 botany, &c. My sketching has been quite a 
 source of amusement in the parish, and my 
 sketch-book handed about from one poor person 
 
MRS. C -S LETTER. 
 
 to another.* If you go into a cottage they 
 quite expect you will eat and drink with them ; 
 a clean cloth is laid upon a table, washed almost 
 as white as milk, and the new milk and the 
 wine,f and the great loaf of bread are brought 
 out ; yet they are in reality exceedingly poor. 
 Their beds also look so clean and good that 
 they would astonish our poor people. In some 
 respects I think they are decidedly cleaner than 
 our own peasantry. Their dress is simple to the 
 greatest degree. The women and girls all dress 
 alike, even down to the very little children. 
 They wear caps of dark cotton, with black 
 ribbon, and the hair bound closely under. 
 Every body maids, children, poor and rich, 
 call Mr. Oberlin their " Cher Papa," and never 
 was there a more complete father of a large 
 family. We breakfast at seven ; the family 
 upon potatoes boiled with milk and water a 
 
 * As I was one day sketching upon the mountain, a group of poor 
 peasant women attracted my attention, and I begged one of them to 
 stand still for a few moments, that I might sketch her in the costume 
 of her country. "Ah! Madam," she replied, smiling, "you shall 
 sketch me. I should like you to have a picture of me in your book, 
 because you will then be led to remember me, and perhaps to pray 
 for me." 
 
 f The usual wine of the country, called kirschenwasser, is distilled 
 from the fruit of the wild cherry. 
 
2,94 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 little coffee is provided for us. We dine at 
 twelve, and sup at half-past seven. Every thing 
 is in the most primitive style. I never met 
 with such a disinterested people. It is almost 
 impossible to pay them for any service they do 
 for you. In our visits to the poor we have 
 been afraid of offering them money ; but we 
 feel anxious to throw in some assistance towards 
 the many important objects which Mr. Oberlin 
 is carrying on amongst them. It is almost past 
 belief what he has done, and with very limited 
 means. Three poor dear women are noted for 
 their benevolence ; one especially, who is a 
 widow herself with several children, has under- 
 taken to support and bring up three orphan 
 children; and she has lately taken another from 
 no other principle than abounding Christian 
 charity. One seldom meets with such shining 
 
 characters. Mr. O. told Mr. C the other 
 
 day he did not know how to pay Louise, for 
 nothing hurt her so much as offering her money. 
 No one could be more devoted to his service, 
 and that in the most disinterested manner. Her 
 character has impressed me very much. We 
 had a delightful walk to a church about two 
 miles distant, on Sunday morning ; the num- 
 
MRS. (- -'s LETTER. 295 
 
 bers of poor, flocking from the distant villages, 
 dressed in their simple and neat costume, formed 
 a striking object in the scene. It happened to 
 be the Sunday Mr. O. goes to the next parish, 
 where his son requires his assistance in giving 
 prizes to the school children. 
 
 " Wednesday evening. The poor charm me. 
 I never met with any like them ; so much 
 spirituality, humility, and cultivation of mind, 
 with manners that would do honour to a 
 court ; yet the homely dress and the simpli- 
 city of the peasant are not lost. The state 
 of the schools, the children, and the poor 
 in general, is quite extraordinary, and as 
 much exceeds our parish as ours does the 
 most neglected. 
 
 " We have spent our time in the following 
 manner : Since Sunday the mornings have 
 been very wet ; we have therefore been chiefly 
 shut up in our own room, reading, writing, and 
 drawing; the eldest of the Graffs, (Marie) a 
 sweet girl, is a good deal with me, to read and 
 to talk to me. The children and young people 
 in the house are becoming fond of me ; our 
 
296 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 being here is quite a gaiety and amusement to 
 them. About three o'clock Mr. Legrand comes 
 for us, to take us different excursions, &c. He 
 seems to us one of the kindest persons we 
 ever met with, full of conversation ; nothing can 
 exceed the torrent of words they all have. The 
 old gentleman delights in talking to F , and 
 tells him every thing about himself, his family, 
 his parishes, &c. Our room joins his library, 
 and all the family are free to enter whenever 
 they like. The whole system is most amusing, 
 interesting and useful. It is a capital example, 
 and instructive for the minister of a parish. 
 There is a spirit of good fellowship and kindness 
 amongst all the people that is quite delightful. 
 The longer we have been here, the more we 
 have been struck with the uncommon degree 
 of virtue which exists among them. On Mon- 
 day evening, after sketching Legrand's house, 
 we were taken to the cottage of Sophie Bernard, 
 where we found the table spread in the most 
 complete manner for our tea, a luxury we 
 had not enjoyed since we left England. Here 
 we passed some time, eating, talking, and read- 
 ing the Bible ; and it ended with prayer, by 
 Sophie Bernard, in a sweet and feeling manner. 
 
, 
 
 .:: 
 
 

 
MK- -'s LLTTKK. *1\)~ 
 
 We then had a charming walk through the 
 valley home. 
 
 " Tuesday. In the afternoon we ascended 
 towards the very top of the mountains, to 
 another of his villages, where we again found 
 some delightful women, and a capital school. 
 This afternoon we have been drinking tea with 
 the Legrands ; so comfortable and complete a 
 house and family is rarely to be met with in 
 any country. The three pairs have each the 
 most complete little dwelling, but under the 
 same roof. Our intercourse with them has 
 been truly pleasant ; they have treated us with 
 real Christian kindness. 
 
 " Colmar, Friday evening. Our scene is 
 again quite changed : we are returned to the 
 common world ; and I now find myself by a 
 comfortable fire at a good hotel, which is quite 
 a luxury after the primitive fare of the Ban de la 
 Roche, where we found but little indulgence 
 for the body, though we were treated with 
 
298 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 genuine hospitality. They live sadly in the 
 clouds. The sun does not appear very often to 
 shine upon them. I never was so struck with 
 the difference of climate as I was to-day, in 
 coming down into the plains. It poured with 
 rain for the last day or two ; and all yesterday, 
 in the mountains, every thing was soaked with 
 wet ; but on entering the plains the dust began 
 to fly. Delightful and uncommon as is this 
 retreat, I must acknowledge we have rather 
 enjoyed the comforts of the town, and the con- 
 veniences of this place. It would be a trial to 
 me to live surrounded and buried by mountains, 
 I could not help rather feeling for Marie Graff, 
 who is sensible of her privations. However, they 
 are happy and contented, and highly blessed ; 
 and it is a great privilege to have passed this 
 time with them ; an event which must always 
 be valuable through life. We parted from the 
 excellent old man with many kisses, in the full 
 spirit of Christian love ; and the same with the 
 rest of the household. We left them very 
 early, accompanied by many of the family, and 
 proceeded to Foudai, where the Legrands live. 
 Here we breakfasted, and separated with many 
 tears on their part. They are a most warm- 
 
MKS. RAUSCHER'S LETTER. '2 ( ,) ( ,) 
 
 hearted people. We then proceeded over such 
 a road as would astonish our Norfolk and Suf- 
 folk friends. However, I am thankful that we 
 got through safely. I am getting more bold, 
 and can bear the precipices much better than 
 at first. We passed some beautiful country, 
 but whilst on the heights, the rain and mist were 
 so great we could not see much. 
 
 " The thoughts of the Ban de la Roche, and 
 the impression of this day, have been very plea- 
 sant to me, and I have a secret satisfaction and 
 comfort in the prospect of getting to Basle, 
 where I trust I shall have the great consolation 
 of hearing from you." 
 
 The following extract, from a letter addressed 
 by Mrs. Rauscher to the Paris Bible Society, 
 presents a delightful picture of the good effects 
 resulting from the instructions and example of 
 her beloved parent, and from an education 
 founded on the Holy Scriptures. It also speaks 
 of the death of Sophia Bernard, an event which 
 
300 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 happened in the spring of 1822, about two 
 years after the visit alluded to, in the preceding 
 interesting letter. 
 
 This letter is dated March 14, 1826. 
 
 " Our parish has now possessed the Holy 
 Scriptures for more than a century, and they 
 form the basis of daily instruction in the schools. 
 In addition to this, the young people have long 
 been in the habit of receiving religious in- 
 struction from their pastor, so that a gradual 
 and imperceptible improvement, resembling the 
 growth of plants in a well cultivated garden, 
 has taken place. You may form some estimate 
 of their moral progress, by the spirit of charity 
 which manifests itself on occasion of the death 
 of a poor father or mother leaving a numerous 
 family ; and by the eagerness with which the 
 relations, friends, or neighbours of the deceased, 
 take charge of the children, not to treat them as 
 strangers and dependants, but as members of 
 their own household. These noble actions do 
 not arise from any fixed methodical rules, nor 
 are they confined to any particular epoch ; but 
 are owing to the instructions of the good pastor, 
 
MRS. RAUSCHER'S LETTER. 301 
 
 and to the excellent regulations which he has 
 led his parishioners to adopt. 
 
 " This delightful spirit of benevolence parti- 
 cularly manifests itself also, in the eager alacrity 
 with which the young people assist the old and 
 feeble in their rural labours. No sooner are 
 their own tasks completed in the evening, than 
 the signal is given, and they set off to execute 
 in concert some labour, which, by its charitable 
 object, becomes a recreation. Is a new cottage 
 to be built the young people take upon them- 
 selves the task of collecting the materials to- 
 gether, and of assisting in its erection. Does it 
 happen that a poor man loses his cow his only 
 support the whole parish subscribe and raise 
 a sum sufficient to replace it. Is a poor man 
 visited with a misfortune of any kind he is 
 not the only sufferer for all his neighbours 
 participate in his affliction, as the Apostle says, 
 ' If one member suffer, all the members suffer 
 with it.' 1 Cor. xii. 26. 
 
 " These admirable works are doubtless ef- 
 fected by the influence of the Holy Spirit from on 
 high, and by that spirit of Christian benevolence 
 
302 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 which the attentive and constant perusal of the 
 Holy Scriptures cannot fail to inculcate. 
 
 " I will just mention as a single instance, 
 among many others, of the transforming power 
 of religion, that one young woman refused to 
 marry, that she might devote her time, her 
 talents, and her strength, to works of benevo- 
 lence ; and, allowing herself only the bare 
 necessaries of life, she presented the fruits of 
 her assiduous and unremitting industry to the 
 excellent and pious institutions of the present 
 day: she also sold all that she thought she 
 could do without, and gave the produce to 
 such objects as she believed calculated to 
 advance the kingdom of our adorable Lord and 
 Saviour. 
 
 e< The excellent Sophia Bernard, after whom 
 you inquire, left her dwelling here below to 
 inhabit a brighter mansion, about four years 
 since, to the great regret of the whole parish, 
 and of the inhabitants of the adjacent villages, 
 who, though of a different religious denomina- 
 tion, considered that they had lost in her a 
 mother, consoler, and comforter. 
 
MRS. RAUSCHER'S LETTER. 303 
 
 " Catherine Scheidecker and Maria Miller 
 still live, though the former is very infirm.* 
 They both continue to walk in the path of 
 Gospel truth ; endeavouring to follow the steps 
 of their Divine Master, and praying to him con- 
 tinually for the salvation of their families, and 
 that of all the inhabitants of their parish, as 
 well as for every individual living. Both are 
 poor in the wealth of this world, but rich in 
 faith ; and they take every opportunity of 
 evincing their gratitude to God, whose love is 
 shed abroad in their hearts. 
 
 " My venerable father sends you the saluta- 
 tion of a friend and brother in Christ Jesus our 
 Lord, and implores the blessing of Almighty 
 God upon you, and the labours of your society. 
 He longs for the joyful period, when, released 
 from his narrow prison-house of clay, he may 
 enter upon that happiness which is to be ac- 
 quired only through the merits of the Son of 
 God, whose name is the ' Wonderful, Coun- 
 sellor, the Prince of Peace.' ' 
 
 * She died in the autumn of 1826, and has doubtless received 
 the " crown of life" promised to those who are " faithful unto 
 death." 
 
304 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 I have already stated that it was the practice 
 in the Ban de la Roche to meet on a parti- 
 cular evening, at stated periods, to read the 
 Scriptures and pray for the Divine blessing on 
 various religious institutions, and afterwards to 
 make a collection for them. The collections 
 thus made, consisted of voluntary contributions 
 according to the abilities of the donor, and the 
 sums that were sometimes raised are truly asto- 
 nishing ; 290 francs having been at one time 
 remitted to the Paris Bible Society, and on 
 another occasion, the sum of 500, to the London 
 Committee, in furtherance of the same object. 
 
 The following extract is taken from a letter 
 addressed by Mr. Daniel Legrand to Professor 
 Kieffer. It is dated July 17, 1825. 
 
 " As all that our venerable patriarch receives 
 and possesses, is only employed for the advance- 
 ment of the kingdom of his Divine Master, he 
 has again remitted to me 100 francs, desiring 
 me to forward them to the Bible Society at 
 Paris. His Louise, (the name of his faithful 
 housekeeper,) has added to it ten francs for 
 the same purpose, and ten for the Missionary 
 
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS. 
 
 Society at Paris. She has a single field, and 
 this is the amount of the rent. May the Lord 
 put a peculiar blessing upon it ! "* 
 
 It would be almost repetition to say that 
 these contributions towards public institutions 
 did not prevent the inhabitants of the Steinthal 
 from appropriating large sums to charitable 
 societies nearer home. Their beneficence was 
 not, however, confined to their immediate vici- 
 nity ; for the Foundation for Protestant Theo- 
 logical Students at Strasbourg, the Reformed 
 Theological Society at Montauban, and parti- 
 cularly the Protestant Institution for the Edu- 
 cation of Poor Children of the Neuhof, near 
 Strasbourg,-)- were indebted to Oberlin and his 
 people for much efficient assistance. 
 
 What can we add to facts so full of eloquence ? 
 Whilst contemplating the rich blessings which 
 
 * The editor has the pleasure of stating, that since the first edition 
 of this volume was published, Louisa Schepler has received one of 
 the " Prix de vertu" distributed annually by the Acaddmie Francaise, 
 in consequence of a bequest by M. de Monthyon. Nearly the whole 
 of this sum, amounting to 5000 francs, she has, with her charac- 
 teristic disinterestedness, appropriated to benevolent purposes, chiefly 
 among the poor of the Ban de la Roche, who are still in extreme 
 want 
 
 t For an account of this Institution, see Appendix, No. VI. 
 
306 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 Oberlin disseminated around him, and which 
 the pervading influence of his example so 
 greatly augmented, we can only earnestly hope 
 that the " centre" of Christian benevolence 
 being once moved, " circle after circle" may 
 succeed, and tenfold good be effected. 
 
 " Blessed is the man that trusteth in the 
 Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he 
 shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and 
 that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and 
 shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf 
 shall be green; and shall not be careful in the 
 year of drought, neither shall cease from yield- 
 ing fruit." Jeremiah xvii. 7, 8. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 BERLIN'S LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH LETTER RESPECTING 
 LOUISA SCHEPLER FOUND AFTER HIS DECEASE HIS FUNERAL 
 
 PRAYER DELIVERED UPON THAT OCCASION FRAGMENT 
 
 OF AN ADDRESS TO HIS PARISHIONERS CONCLUSION. 
 
 TOWARDS the latter part of Oberlin's life, the 
 infirmities of age precluded his discharging the 
 greater part of his pastoral functions, and he 
 was therefore compelled to delegate the charge 
 to his son-in-law, Mr. Graff, being able to do 
 little more than occupy himself in constant 
 prayers for his beloved flock.* That no indi- 
 vidual might be omitted in his intercessions at 
 the throne of grace, he used in the morning to 
 take his church register of baptisms in his hand, 
 
 * In consequence of an apoplectic attack, Mr. Graff was compelled 
 to relinquish his pastoral duties in the Ban de la Roche soon after 
 Oberlin's decease, and to remove, with his wife and children, to 
 Strasbourg, where he now resides. Mr. Rauscher is his successor, 
 and occupies the parsonage house at Waldbach. Louisa Schepler 
 lives with him and his family. 
 
 x2 
 
308 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 and to pray, at stated intervals during the day, 
 for every person whose name was there men- 
 tioned, as well as for the community at large. 
 At all periods of his residence in the Ban de la 
 Roche, Oberlin had a deep feeling of the value 
 of intercessory prayer ; and so alive was he 
 upon this point, and so fearful lest he should 
 omit any one whom he particularly wished to 
 remember, that he wrote the names of such 
 persons in chalk upon the black door of his 
 chamber. 
 
 His strength had greatly diminished ; his 
 figure indeed was not bent, but symptoms of 
 infirmity had made their appearance, and his 
 white locks announced advancing age. He no 
 longer left his home but from necessity, and 
 devoted more time than formerly to the labours 
 of his study. Several essays, on various sub- 
 jects, found since his decease, appear to have 
 been written at this period, and a refutation of 
 Cicero's work, ' De Senectute/ drawn up in 
 1825, was probably the last he attempted. 
 
 His last illness attacked him suddenly, and 
 was of short duration. On Sunday, the 28th 
 
LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 309 
 
 of May, 1826, he was seized with shiver ings 
 and faintings, which lasted till a late hour of 
 the night. The whole of the two following 
 days were passed in alternate consciousness and 
 insensibility ; but he often exclaimed, when his 
 strength permitted, " Lord Jesus, take me 
 speedily ! Nevertheless, thy will be done ! " 
 On the evening of Tuesday, Mr. Daniel Le- 
 grand, who had been absent on a missionary 
 excursion to Basle, came to see him. He 
 appeared delighted at his return, and, tenderly 
 embracing him, said in a distinct voice, and 
 in an accent of paternal solicitude, " The Lord 
 bless you, and all who are dear to you ! May 
 He be with you day and night ! " On the 
 Wednesday he appeared considerably weakened 
 by the convulsions he had undergone, and the 
 want of nourishment, as a few drops of water 
 were all he had been able to taste ; he however 
 still intimated by signs, when he was unable to 
 speak, the tender affection which he felt for his 
 children, his friends, his faithful housekeeper, 
 Louisa, and all the members of his flock. 
 
 During the night, between Wednesday and 
 Thursday, the 1st of June, which was a very 
 
310 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 distressing one to his attendants, he continued 
 almost incessantly to utter plaintive cries, as 
 though in pain, although in intervals of ease 
 he would seize the hand of either of his chil- 
 dren who happened to be nearest to him, and 
 press it to his heart. When Mr. Legrand 
 arrived, at six o'clock in the morning, from 
 Foudai, he had lost the use of speech, and his 
 arms and legs had become cold and lifeless. 
 He, however, recovered strength sufficient to 
 take off his cap, join his hands, and raise his 
 eyes for the last time towards heaven ; his 
 countenance, as he did so, beaming with faith, 
 joy, and love. 
 
 After this effort his eyes closed, never again 
 to open; but it was not till a quarter after 
 eleven that his spirit forsook its mortal tene- 
 ment, and that the passing bell announced to 
 the inhabitants of the valley that they had lost 
 the pastor, benefactor, and friend, who for 
 nearly sixty years had so unceasingly laboured 
 and prayed for them. 
 
 It would be impossible to describe the grief 
 which his loss occasioned : sorrow was depicted 
 
LETTER TO HIS CHILDREN. 311 
 
 on every countenance : and not only in his own 
 house, but in every cottage throughout his 
 extensive parish, was his memory embalmed 
 by the tears and regrets of those who had par- 
 ticipated in his labours of love, or enjoyed the 
 benefit which his unremitted kindness afforded. 
 
 His care for those who had any peculiar 
 claims on his affection, extended even beyond 
 the grave. He was particularly anxious to 
 evince his gratitude to the excellent Louisa, 
 who had faithfully served him during a period 
 of fifty years ; and the following sealed letter, 
 in which he speaks of her good qualities, and 
 begs his children to treat her as a sister, was 
 opened a few days after his death. It is dated, 
 Waldbach, August 2, 1811. 
 
 " My very dear Children, 
 
 " In leaving you, I commend to your care 
 the faithful nurse who has brought you up the 
 indefatigable Louise. The services which she 
 has performed for our family are innumerable. 
 Your dear mamma took her under her care 
 before she had attained the age of fifteen ; but, 
 even at that early period, she rendered herself 
 
312 MEMOIRS OF OBRRLIN. 
 
 useful by her talents, her activity, and her 
 industry. On the premature decease of your 
 beloved parent, she became at once your faithful 
 nurse, your careful instructress, and your adopted 
 mother. Her zeal for doing good extended 
 beyond the confines of our own family. Like 
 a devoted servant of the Lord, she went into all 
 the surrounding villages, where I sent her, to 
 assemble the children together, to instruct them 
 in God's holy will, to teach them to sing hymns, 
 to direct their attention to the wonderful works 
 of nature, to pray with them, and to communi- 
 cate to them all the knowledge that she had 
 herself derived from me and your mamma. This 
 was not the labour of a moment ; and the innu- 
 merable difficulties which opposed themselves 
 to her benevolent employments would have dis- 
 couraged a thousand others; for whilst on the 
 one hand she had to contend with the wild and 
 fro ward characters of the children, she had, on the 
 other, to correct their patois, and, consequently, 
 after having spoken to them in that dialect, 
 which was necessary to make herself under- 
 stood, to translate all she had said into French. 
 The bad roads and the inclement weather, so 
 frequent on these mountains, presented another 
 
LETTER TO HIS CHILDREN. 313 
 
 difficulty : but neither sleet, nor rain, nor \vind, 
 nor hail, nor deep snows under foot, nor snow 
 falling from above, detained her from her pur- 
 pose ; and when she returned in the evening, 
 though exhausted, wet, and weary, and chilled 
 with excessive cold, she would set herself to 
 attend to my children, and to our household 
 affairs. In this manner she devoted not only 
 her time and abilities, but also her health, and 
 all her bodily powers, to my service, and to the 
 service of our God. For many years past 
 indeed, her lungs have been injured, and her 
 constitution absolutely ruined, by over fatigue, 
 and by sudden transitions from heat to cold, 
 and from cold to heat, having often, when warm 
 with walking, crossed the snows and sank into 
 them to such a depth as to be scarcely able to 
 get out. She received a sufficient recompense, 
 you will perhaps say, in the ample salary that I 
 allowed her. No, dear children, no : since the 
 death of your dear mother, I have never been 
 able to prevail on her to accept the least reward 
 for her services; she employed her own little 
 property in doing good, and in the purchase of 
 her scanty wardrobe ; and it was always as a 
 favour that she received from me some slight 
 
314 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 articles of dress, and provisions, which I owed, 
 notwithstanding, to her economy and good 
 management. Judge, dear children, judge of 
 the debt you have contracted, from her services 
 to me, and how far you will ever be from re- 
 paying it. 
 
 " In times of sickness and affliction, how 
 kindly has she watched over both you and me 
 how tenderly has she sought to mitigate our 
 pains and to assuage our griefs. Once more I 
 commend her to you. You will evince, by the 
 care that you take of her, how much attention 
 you pay to the last wish of a father, who has 
 always endeavoured to inspire you with feelings 
 of gratitude and benevolence: but, yes; 
 yes : you will fulfil my wishes. You will be, 
 in your turn, both individually and collectively, 
 all that she has been to you, as far as your 
 means, situation, and opportunity permit. 
 
 " Adieu, my very dear children, your papa. 
 
 " J. F. OBERLIN." 
 
 So well disposed were Oberlin's children to 
 fulfil this request, and to coincide in their 
 
HIS FUNERAL. o I 6 
 
 father's views, that they offered Louisa an equal 
 share of the little property he had left. This, 
 however, she refused, asking nothing more than 
 permission to remain an inmate of the family, 
 and to be allowed to add the honoured name of 
 Oberlln to her own. " It is almost superfluous 
 to say," writes one of his children, " that whilst 
 a descendant of Oberlin's remains, Louise shall 
 want for nothing, at least, until they themselves 
 are destitute." 
 
 Oberlin's funeral took place on the 5th of 
 June. 
 
 During the four days that intervened between 
 his decease, and the simple and affecting cere- 
 mony which consigned his remains to their last 
 home, heavy clouds rested on the surrounding 
 mountains, and the rain poured down in inces- 
 sant torrents : this circumstance did not, how- 
 ever, prevent the inhabitants of the Ban de la 
 Roche, of all ages and conditions, nearer or 
 more remote, from coming to pay a last tribute 
 of respect to the remains 'of their " Cher Papa," 
 whose venerable countenance they were per- 
 mitted to see through a glass lid, which, under 
 
316 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 the direction of Mr. Legrand, covered the coffin, 
 which was placed in his study. 
 
 Early in the morning of the day fixed on for 
 the interment, the clouds cleared away, and the 
 sun shone with its wonted brilliancy. As they 
 left the house, the president of the Consistory 
 of Barr, the Rev. Mr. Jaegle, placed the cleri- 
 cal rohes of the late pastor on his coffin, the 
 vice-president placed his Bible upon it, and 
 the mayor affixed to the funeral pall the deco- 
 ration of the Legion of Honour. At the con- 
 clusion of this ceremony, ten or twelve young 
 females, who had been standing around the 
 bier, began to sing a hymn in chorus, and at 
 two o'clock the procession took its departure, 
 the coffin being borne by the mayors, elders, 
 and official magistrates. In front of it, walked 
 the oldest inhabitant of the Ban de la Roche, 
 carrying a cross, which Louisa had given him, 
 to plant on the tomb, and on which the words, 
 Papa Oberlin, were engraved in open letters. 
 
 So numerous was the concourse of people 
 assembled on the occasion, that the foremost of 
 the train had already reached the church of 
 

 
r 
 
ins irxniAL. 317 
 
 Foudai, where the interment was to take place, 
 before the last had left the parsonage, although 
 the distance was nearly two miles. The chil- 
 dren of the different schools formed part of the 
 melancholy procession, chanting, at intervals, 
 sacred hymns, selected and adapted for the 
 occasion. At the moment of their approaching 
 the village, a new bell, presented by Mr. 
 Legrand in commemoration of this day of 
 general mourning, was heard to toll for the 
 first time, and to mingle its melancholy sound 
 with that of all the bells in the valley. The 
 burying ground was surrounded by Roman 
 Catholic women, all dressed in mourning, and 
 kneeling in silent prayer. On arriving at the 
 church, the coffin was placed at the foot of 
 the altar, and as many persons entered as the 
 little edifice would contain, though more than 
 three-fourths of the company had to remain in 
 the church-yard, and the adjoining lanes. Not- 
 withstanding the pressure of so immense a mul- 
 titude, the utmost order and solemnity prevailed. 
 Several females, who could find room no where 
 else, sat down on the steps of the altar, leaning 
 with melancholy affection against the coffin, as 
 though anxious to cling to the very ashes of 
 
318 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 one whom they had so much revered and loved. 
 Many distinguished individuals were present 
 on the occasion, and several Roman Catholic 
 priests, dressed in their canonicals, took their 
 seats among the members of the Consistory, 
 and evidently participated in the general grief. 
 Mr. Jaegle then mounted the pulpit, and com- 
 menced the service by reading a manuscript of 
 Oberlin's, dated 1784, and found among his 
 papers after his death. It is filled with so many 
 expressions of ardent attachment, and earnest 
 intercession for his beloved parishioners, that I 
 cannot refrain from inserting it.* 
 
 Fragment, written by Oberlin, in 1784. 
 
 " I was born at Strasbourg on the last day 
 of August, 1740, and baptized on the 1st of 
 September, in the church of St. Thomas. 
 
 " During my infancy and my youth, God 
 often vouchsafed to touch my heart, and to 
 draw me to himself. He bore with me in my 
 
 * This fragment has been already alluded to, in a preceding part 
 of the Memoir. 
 
FRAGMENT. :}\<) 
 
 repeated backslidings, with a kindness and in- 
 dulgence hardly to be expressed. 
 
 " I arrived in this parish, in the capacity of 
 pastor, on the 30th of March, 1767, when 
 twenty-seven years of age. 
 
 " On the 6th of July, in the year following, 
 God united me to that beloved woman, whom, 
 (after having received many services from her 
 hands,) you, six months ago, followed to the 
 grave. Her name was Madeleine Salome 
 Witter. I have had nine children. Two, who 
 are yet living, were born in the Ban de la Roche; 
 the others at Strasbourg. Two have already 
 entered Paradise ; and seven remain in this 
 world. On the 18th of January last, ten weeks 
 after her last confinement, my wife, although in 
 apparently good health, was suddenly taken from 
 me. Upon this occasion, as upon a thousand 
 others in the course of my life, notwithstanding 
 my overwhelming affliction, I was upheld, by God's 
 gracious assistance, in a remarkable manner. 
 
 " I have had all my life a desire, occasionally 
 a very strong one, to die, owing, in some 
 
320 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 degree, to the consciousness of my moral in- 
 firmities, and of my frequent derelictions. My 
 affection for my wife and children, and my 
 attachment to my parish, have sometimes 
 checked this desire, though for short intervals 
 only. I had, about a year since, some pre- 
 sentiment of my approaching end. I did not 
 pay much attention to it at the time, but, since 
 the death of my wife, I have frequently re- 
 ceived unequivocal warnings of the same nature. 
 Millions of times have I besought God to enable 
 me to surrender myself with entire and filial 
 submission to his will, either to live or to die ; 
 and to bring me into such a state of resignation, 
 as neither to wish, nor to say, nor to do, nor to 
 undertake any thing, but what He, who only 
 is wise and good, sees to be best. 
 
 " Having had such frequent intimations of 
 my approaching end, I have arranged all my 
 affairs, as far as I am able, in order to prevent 
 confusion after my death. For my dear chil- 
 dren, I fear nothing ; but, as I always greatly 
 preferred being useful to others to giving them 
 trouble, I suffer much from the idea that they 
 may occasion sorrow or anxiety to the friends 
 
ADDRESS TO HIS PARISHIONERS. 
 
 who take charge of them. May God abun- 
 dantly reward them for it ! With regard to the 
 children themselves, I have no anxiety, for I 
 have had such frequent experience of the mercy 
 of God towards myself, and place such full 
 reliance upon his goodness, his wisdom, and 
 his love, as to render it impossible for me to 
 be at all solicitous about them. Then* mother 
 was, at a very early age, deprived of her 
 parents, but she was, notwithstanding, a better 
 Christian than thousands who have enjoyed the 
 advantage of parental instruction. 
 
 " Besides this, I know that God hears our 
 prayers ; and ever since the birth of our chil- 
 dren, neither their mother nor I have ceased to 
 supplicate Him to make them faithful followers 
 of Jesus Christ, and labourers in his vineyard. 
 
 " And thou, O my dear parish! neither will 
 God forget nor forsake thee. He has towards 
 thee, as I have often said, thoughts of peace 
 and mercy. All things will go well with thee. 
 Only cleave thou to Him, and leave Him to 
 act. Oh ! mayst thou forget my name, and 
 retain only that of Jesus Christ, whom I have 
 
 Y 
 
322 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 proclaimed to thee. He is thy pastor ; I am but 
 his servant. He is that good master, who, after 
 having trained and prepared me from my youth, 
 sent me to thee, that I might be useful. He 
 alone is wise, good, almighty, and merciful; and 
 as for me, I am but a poor, feeble, wretched man. 
 
 " O, my friends, pray, in order that you may 
 all become the beloved sheep of his pasture. 
 There is salvation in no other than Jesus Christ ; 
 and Jesus loves you, seeks you, and is ready to 
 receive you. Go to Him, just as you are, with 
 all your sins and all your infirmities. He alone 
 can deliver you from them, and can heal you. 
 He will sanctify and perfect you. Dedicate 
 yourselves to Him ! Whenever any of you die, 
 may you die in Him ; and may I meet you, and 
 accompany you with songs of triumph, in the 
 mansions of felicity, before the throne of the 
 Lamb! 
 
 " Adieu, dear friends, adieu ! I have loved 
 you much ; and even the severity which I have 
 sometimes deemed it necessary to exercise, has 
 arisen from my earnest desire to contribute to 
 your happiness. 
 
ADDRESS TO HIS PARISHIONERS. 
 
 " May God reward you for your services, 
 your good deeds, and the deference and sub- 
 mission which you have shown towards his poor 
 unworthy servant. May He forgive those who 
 have pained me by opposition. They doubtless 
 knew not what they did. 
 
 "O, my God! let thine eye watch over my 
 dear parishioners ; let thine ear be open to hear 
 them ; thine arm be extended to succour and 
 protect them. Lord Jesus! thou hast entrusted 
 this parish to my care, feeble and miserable as 
 I am. Oh, suffer me to commend it to thee, 
 to resign it into thy hands. Give it pastors 
 after thine own heart. Never forsake it. Over- 
 rule all things for its good. Enlighten them, 
 guide them, love them, bless them all; and 
 grant that the young and old, the teachers and 
 the taught, pastors and parishioners, may all in 
 due time meet together in thy paradise ! Even so ! 
 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! even so, Amen!" 
 
 After the solemn reading of this pathetic 
 document, which was evidently intended for 
 Oberlin's dying charge, Mr. Jaegle* read the 
 following verses from the 103d Psalm: 
 
324 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 " Bless the Lord, O my soul : and all that 
 is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the 
 Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his 
 benefits ; who forgiveth all thine iniquities ; 
 who healeth all thy diseases : who redeemeth 
 thy life from destruction ; who crowneth thee 
 with loving-kindness and tender mercies." And 
 the 14th verse of the 7th chapter of the 
 Book of Revelations, which Oberlin had him- 
 self selected to serve as texts to the discourse 
 to be pronounced at his funeral, conscious, as 
 he often declared himself to be, that however 
 numerous and useful the good works he had 
 performed, they needed " to be washed in the 
 blood of Christ." 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Jaegle then delivered a dis- 
 course, which was listened to with the pro- 
 foundest attention. On its conclusion the 
 whole congregation knelt dqwn, and repeated 
 the following prayer : 
 
 " Dieu tout-puissant, nos jours sont en tes 
 mains, tu regies toutes nos destinees avec la 
 plus haute sagesse. Par ta volonte, nous en- 
 trons dans cette vie et nous rentrons dans la 
 
CONCLUSION. 
 
 poussiere quand tu 1'ordonnes. Graces te SOHMII 
 rendues pour les sublimes consolations que tu 
 nous as donnees par 1'Evangile de ton Fils qui 
 est venu nous annoncer la vie et rimmortalite' ; 
 consolations sans lesquelles nous serions livres 
 au desespoir, lorsque ceux que nous aimons 
 nous sont ravis par la mort, ou quand elle 
 s'approche de nous avec ses terreurs. Que la 
 sagesse, que Tamour du bien emanant de toi, 
 source de tout bien, nous accompagne dans 
 notre route vers I'eternit6 ; que nous y passions 
 un jour, comme tes enfans soumis et fideles, 
 avec la conscience d'avoir suivi tes commande- 
 mens, et d'avoir prefere le salut de nos ames 
 aux biens et aux plaisirs trompeurs de la terre. 
 
 " Seigneur, notre Dieu, tu as appelle vers toi 
 notre bon pasteur, notre bon pere ; tu lui as 
 donn6 une place dans les demeures eternelles 
 qui sont prepares aux justes. O ! que son 
 souvenir se conserve parmi nous; que 1'amour 
 de toi et de ton Fils qu'il a tach6 de nous in- 
 spirer, que 1'amour de la religion, sans laquelle 
 il n'y a ni paix ni esperance, ne s'effacent 
 jamais de nos cceurs ! C'est alors que nous 
 reverrons dans un meilleur monde, quand le 
 
326 MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 sommeil de la mort aura ferme nos paupi&res, 
 celui dont nous pleurons en ce moment la perte, 
 et que nous nous rejouirons avec lui du salut 
 eternel auquel tu nous as appelle's par notre 
 Sauveur Jesus Christ. Amen ! " 
 
 Another hymn having been sung, the coffin 
 was conveyed to the church-yard, where the 
 grave was dug on a little eminence on one side 
 of the edifice, under the shade of a weeping 
 willow, planted over the tomb of Henry Oberlin. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Braunwald, pastor of Goxviller, 
 and vice-president of the Consistory of Barr, 
 then delivered an appropriate address, in which 
 he particularly enlarged on Oberlin's domestic 
 virtues.* M. Bedel, a physician of Schirmeck, 
 then stepped forward amongst the crowd, and 
 pronounced a short eulogy on the deceased ; 
 and amidst the tears of the assembled multi- 
 tude, which formed, perhaps, the most eloquent 
 funeral oration, his remains were consigned to 
 the grave. 
 
 * See Appendix, No. VII. 
 
CONCLUSION. 327 
 
 In delineating the character of this extraor- 
 dinary man, we have not, it is true, had to 
 trace his steps, with those of the philanthropic 
 Howard, through the desolate regions of Russia, 
 nor to witness his expiring sighs in the dreary 
 wilds of Tartary ; we have not had to follow 
 him, with the pious and indefatigable Martyn, 
 across the sunny plains of Persia, to commu- 
 nicate the glad tidings of salvation to the 
 benighted heathen, nor to see him, regardless 
 of his own shattered health, sacrifice his life 
 to the glory of Christ amongst the nations of 
 the East : OBERLIN'S sphere of usefulness was 
 at home. But there, in the secluded recesses 
 of his beloved Vosges, the benevolent ardour 
 of Howard, and the self-denying zeal of Martyn, 
 were eminently displayed 
 
 To get good from heaven, and to do good on 
 earth, constituted, indeed, the sole aim of his 
 life, and constrained the dedication of every 
 talent, and the consecration of every power to 
 the service of his Lord and Master. Humility 
 was intimately blended with his other Christian 
 graces ; and, deeply conscious of his own in- 
 ability to advance one step in holiness, or to 
 
MEMOIRS OF OBERLIN. 
 
 induce others to follow him in his path Zion- 
 wards, without divine assistance, he meekly 
 depended on, and earnestly implored, the aid 
 of God's Holy Spirit : repeatedly uttering his 
 favourite maxim, " Rien sans Dieu" 
 
 So far from being actuated by the hope of 
 reward for any personal worthiness, he dis- 
 claimed all merit of his own, and, firmly be- 
 lieving in the divinity, rested entirely on the 
 propitiation of Jesus. " Tout au Sauveur" was 
 his constant motto, and constituted the moving 
 principle of his exertions. " What," said he to 
 a minister who visited him a short time before 
 his last illness, " did not our dear Saviour suffer 
 for us ? Nothing then is difficult when we do it 
 for Him. To Him let us wholly devote our- 
 selves." 
 
 Through the all-sufficiency of that Saviour's 
 atonement, he is now, undoubtedly, praising 
 God in that kingdom of light and love, for 
 which whilst on earth he so ardently longed ; 
 and, having exchanged the graces of time 
 for the glories of eternity, is joining in the 
 triumphant song of the "ten thousand times 
 
CONCLUSION. 329 
 
 ten thousand :" " Worthy is the Lamb that was 
 slain to receive power, and riches, and wis- 
 dom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and 
 blessing." " Blessing, and honour, and glory, 
 and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the 
 throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever !" 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
APPENDIX No. I. 
 
 {Page 28.] 
 
 A Solemn Act of Self-Dedication to God. Written by 
 OBERLIN, the 1st of January, 1760, and renewed by him 
 the 1st of January, 1770. 
 
 ETERNAL and infinitely holy God ! Under a feeling of 
 deep humility and heart-felt contrition, I earnestly desire 
 to present myself before thee. I well know how unworthy 
 such a sinful worm is to appear before thy Divine Majesty, 
 before the King of kings and Lord of lords, more especially 
 on such an occasion as this, even to enter into a covenant 
 transaction with thee. 
 
 But the scheme and plan, O Father of mercies, is thine 
 own ; thou hast, in infinite condescension, offered it me by 
 thy Son. Thy grace hath inclined my heart to accept of it. 
 I come, therefore, to thee, acknowledging my numerous 
 transgressions ; and, with the repentant publican, strike my 
 breast, saying, " God be merciful to me, a sinner." I come, 
 because I have been invited by the name of thy Son, and 
 I rely entirely upon his perfect righteousness. Be pleased, 
 I entreat thee, for his sake, to pardon my ingratitude, and 
 no more remember my sins. Be reconciled, I beseech thee, 
 to thy disobedient creature, who is now convinced of thy 
 right to him, and desires nothing so much as to belong to 
 thee. Holy God ! I this day surrender myself to thee in 
 
334 APPENDIX. 
 
 the most solemn manner. " Hear, O heavens, and give 
 ear, O earth." I this day acknowledge the Lord is my 
 God ; I this day declare myself to be of the number of his 
 children, and that I make one of his people. Hear my 
 words, O my God, and write in thy book that I henceforth 
 devote myself entirely to thee. In the name of the Lord 
 God of hosts, I this day renounce all former lords that 
 have had dominion over me ; the joys of the world, in 
 which I have too much delighted, and all carnal desires. 
 I renounce all perishable things, in order that my God may 
 constitute my All. I consecrate to thee all that I am, and 
 all that I have ; the faculties of my mind, the members of 
 my body, my fortune and my time. Grant me grace, O 
 Father of mercies, to employ all to thy glory, and to live 
 in obedience to thy commands ; with an ardent and humble 
 desire to continue thine throughout the endless ages of a 
 happy eternity. Shouldst thou be pleased to make me, in 
 this life, the instrument of leading others to thee, give me 
 strength and courage openly to declare thy name. Enable 
 me not only to devote myself to thy service, but to per- 
 suade my brethren to dedicate themselves to it also. 
 
 Grant that through the assistance of thy Holy Spirit I 
 may be supported in life, and kept faithful unto death. 
 Enable me, during the rest of my days, to acquire that of 
 which I stand most in need, and to amend my ways. May 
 the things of time no longer exercise dominion over me ; 
 but may I, during the short remainder of my life, live 
 solely to thee. Grant me grace, not only to tread in the 
 path which, I am convinced, is the best ; but enable me 
 also to be always most active in walking in it. I resign 
 myself, and all I am and have, to thy direction, to be 
 disposed of in whatever manner thine infinite wisdom shall 
 see good. I leave the management of all events to thee, 
 
APPENDIX. 335 
 
 and say, without restriction, " Thy will, not mine, be done ! " 
 Employ me, O Lord, as an instrument consecrated to thy 
 service. Look upon me, as constituting one of thy flock. 
 Wash me in the blood of thy beloved Son. Clothe me with 
 his righteousness. Sanctify me by his Spirit. Transform 
 me more and more into his image. Impart to me, through 
 him, all needful influences of thy purifying, cheering, and 
 comforting Spirit ! and grant that my life may be passed 
 under the habitual sense of thy presence, O my Father, and 
 my God ! And, after having endeavoured to obey thee, and 
 to do thy will on earth, take me hence at what time, and 
 in what manner thou shalt see good. When the solemn 
 hour of death approaches, and I stand on the verge of 
 eternity, grant that I may remember this covenant, and 
 employ my latest breath in thy service. And be pleased, 
 O Lord, when thou seest the anguish I may have to 
 endure in my last moments, and when I may not, perhaps, 
 have sufficient strength to recall it, to remember it too. 
 Then, O my heavenly Father, look down with pity on thy 
 feeble child, and enable him to struggle with death. I wish 
 not to prescribe to thee, O my Father, in what manner thou 
 oughtest to take me to thyself. I wish not to ask thee to 
 preserve me from agonizing pain. No ; nothing of that kind 
 shall form the object of my prayers. What I earnestly entreat, 
 in the name of Jesus, is, to be enabled to glorify thee in 
 the last hours of my life, and to evidence, in the midst of 
 whatever sufferings thy all-wise Providence may see meet 
 to afflict me with, patience and submission to thy holy will. 
 Strengthen my soul ; give it confidence, when thou shalt 
 call it hence ; and receive it to the embraces of thine ever- 
 lasting love. Admit it into the mansions of them that 
 sleep in Jesus into the mansions where indescribable joys 
 will be its portion for ever. There permit it peacefully 
 
336 APPENDIX. 
 
 and joyfully to await the accomplishment of the promise 
 thou hast made to all thy people even that of a glorious 
 resurrection, and of eternal happiness in thine heavenly 
 presence. 
 
 And when I am gone to the grave, if these pages should 
 fall into the hands of any of my surviving friends, Oh, 
 grant that their hearts may be sensibly affected ; grant them 
 grace not only to read them as the expression of my own 
 sentiments, but to feel for themselves also what I have 
 expressed. Teach them to fear thee, O Lord my God, 
 and to seek refuge with me, under the shadow of thy wings, 
 through time and through eternity ; that they may partake 
 in all the blessings of thy covenant, through Jesus Christ, 
 the great Mediator. To Him, and to Thee, O Father, 
 and to the Holy Spirit, be everlasting praises ascribed by 
 the millions of redeemed spirits, and by all those other 
 celestial beings, in whose work and blessedness thou shalt 
 call them to share. 
 
 My God, and the God of my fathers ! Thou who keepest 
 thy covenant, and who scatterest thy blessings to a thousand 
 generations, I humbly supplicate thee, since thou knowest 
 that " the heart of man is deceitful," to vouchsafe to me 
 grace to enter into this engagement with all sincerity of 
 heart, and to remain faithful to my baptismal covenant. 
 May the name of the Lord be an eternal testimony, that I 
 have signed this covenant transaction, in the steadfast and 
 earnest desire of keeping it. 
 
 JOHN FREDERIC OBERLIN. 
 
 Strasbourg, the 1st of January, 1760. 
 
 Renewed at Waldbach, the 1st of January, 1770. 
 
APPENDIX. 337 
 
 APPENDIX, No. II. 
 
 [Page 57.J 
 
 Acte de renouvellement sincere de mon alliance de Baptcmc, 
 faite en presence et au nom de la tres Sainte Trinitc, de 
 Dieu le Pere, de Dieu le Fils, et de Dieu le Saint Esprit. 
 
 VOYANT que 1'anniversaire de la grace de mon bapteme 
 s'approche, je me demande a moi-meme, si c'est au service 
 de Dieu, que j'ai employe, les annees nombreuses qu'il m'a 
 donnees a vivre ; mais helas ! je devrois avouer, pleine de 
 honte et de douleur, que j'ai vole mon plus beau temps a Dieu, 
 pour le donner au Dieu de ce monde-ci et pour le passer u 
 son service ; cependant, je ne sens ni honte, ni douleur, ni 
 vraie horreur du pche dans mon ame, que faire ? c'est toi, 
 mon Dieu, qui devras operer tout ceci en moi. Tu le feras. 
 Tu m'as ouvert les yeux au point de me faire connoitre, que 
 je ne t'ai pas servi. Tu, feras le reste de meme ; oui, j'en 
 suis sure, et quand meme tu te caches, pourtant a la fin 
 tu te feras sentir a mon ame avec ta divine vertu. J'ose 
 dire de meme que j'en ai eu deja des prevues. 
 
 Au nom de la tres Sainte Trinite et a la face des Saints 
 anges, je promets que par son assistance je veux consacrer 
 a Dieu le reste de ma vie ; mais Seigneur Jesus, qu'ai-je 
 promis ? Je prends bien-trop sur-moi, pauvre ver de terre 
 que je suis, moi avec mon extreme froideur, qui ne vois 
 qu'obscurite autour de moi et en moi, moi je veux me con- 
 sacrer au service de Dieu. 
 
 Oui, je veux ! C'est la precisement que mon Sauveur 
 aime a manifester son nom, a faire eclater sa mise>icorde et 
 sa tendresse infinie, ou 1'hoinme n'a plus aucun me>ite ni 
 
 z 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 aucune force ; cher Sauveur ! je ne vois que du mal en moi ; 
 je suis d'autant plus malade puisque je ne sens pas meme ma 
 maladie. 
 
 Mon Sauveur, tu ne m'abandonneras pas, tu ne peux que 
 prendre pitie de moi, ta promesse est claire. Tu ne peux 
 que prendre pitie de moi ; tu m'as donne dans le cceur cette 
 parole ; " Je te sauverai dans le mauvais temps, je te rassas- 
 sierai de longue vie, je te montrerai mon salut" qu'est ce 
 que le salut, si non les biens spirituels, qu'est ce que la 
 longue vie, sinon la vie eternelle et bien heureuse ? 
 
 C'est de toi que je tiens cette gracieuse promesse ; c'est 
 toi qui as bien des fbis console mon ame par la, dans les 
 evenements affligeants, je 1'ai bien vivante dans mon me ; 
 quand Satan voudra m'enlever cette consolation, fais qu'elle 
 me soit bien puissante dans mon coeur. Renvoye a 1'ennemi 
 ses dards envenimes, qu'il m'elance ; fais que conduite par 
 ton cher saint Esprit, je continue mon pelerinage comrae une 
 personne qui desire etre veritablement ton enfant et qui se 
 sent rachetee par ton sang. 
 
 Voila, cher Sauveur, mon coeur et mes mains ; je suis a 
 toi ; moi avec mon cher mari et mes chers enfans. Je veux 
 que nous soyons tous a toi entierement d'ame et de corps ; 
 prends et possede tout ce que j'ai; rends nous prets et 
 arrange nos cceurs tellement que nous puissions a toute heure 
 comparoitre, fondes sur tes merites seuls, devant ta sainte face. 
 
 Si cet ecrit tombe apres mon deces entre les mains de mes 
 enfans, ou d'autres personnes, fais que ce ne soit pas sans 
 faire une impression salutaire sur leurs ames. 
 
 Encore une fois mon tres cher Sauveur je me donne a toi ; 
 accorde moi ton saint Esprit, qui me conduise et me gou- 
 verne, donne moi un coeur docile et obeissant, et une atten- 
 tion fidele a sa voix. Donne moi 1'esprit d'un enfant qui 
 t'aime, et qui n'aie pas peur de toi comme une esclave. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 Donne moi une foi vive que nulle incredulite ne me st'parc 
 de toi. A 1'heure de mon deces, cher Sauveur, souviens 
 toi de ta pauvre servante, que tes anges m'accompagnent 
 jusques devant ton trone ; fais moi entendre alors ta voix de 
 paix et de grace, qui dit, " Venez, les benis de mon Pere, 
 possedez en heritage le royaume qui vous a etc prepare des 
 la fondation du monde." Seigneur Dieu, Jesus Christ, mon 
 Sauveur aimable, ajoute a tout cela ton tendre oui ! Tres 
 Sainte Trinite dis ton oui, ton amen a ma priere. 
 
 J'ai compose cet acte et je le signe de ma main par le 
 mouvement et la pleine volonte de mon cocur. 
 
 MADELEINE SALOME" OBERLIN, NE'E WITTER. 
 
 Waldbac/i, 1777. 
 
 APPENDIX, No. III. 
 
 [Page 59. J 
 Translation ofOberlin's Prayer on his Marriage. 
 
 HOLY SPIRIT ! descend into our hearts ; assist us to pray 
 with fervour from our inmost souls. Permit thy children, 
 O gracious Father, to present themselves before thee, in 
 order to ask of thee what is necessary for them. 
 
 May we love each other only in thee, and in our Saviour 
 Jesus Christ, as being members of his body. Enable us, 
 during the whole day, to look solely to thee, and to walk 
 before thee, that we may be gathered together in thee, and 
 thus become daily more spiritually minded. 
 
 Grant that we may be faithful in the exercise of our 
 duties, that we may stimulate each other therein, warning 
 each other of our faults, and seeking together for pardon in 
 the blood of Jesus Christ. When we pray together, (and 
 may we pray much and frequently,) be thou, O Lord 
 
 z 2 
 
340 APPENDIX. 
 
 the third in the midst of us. And do thou, O heavenly 
 Father, enable us to be very fervent ; and grant, for the sake 
 of Jesus Christ, that which thine Holy Spirit shall teach us 
 to ask. 
 
 Seeing that, in this life, thou hast placed the members of 
 our household under our authority, give us wisdom and 
 strength to guide them in a manner conformable to thy will. 
 May we always set them a good example, following that of 
 Abraham, who commanded his children and his household, 
 after him, to keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judg- 
 ment. If thou givest us children and preservest them to us, 
 O grant us grace to bring them up to thy service, to teach 
 them early to know, to fear, and to love thee, and to pray to 
 that God who has made a covenant with them, that, conform- 
 ably to the engagement which will be undertaken for them 
 at their baptism, they may remain faithful from the cradle to 
 the grave. O heavenly Father, may we inculcate thy word, 
 according to thy will, all our lives, with gentleness, love, 
 and patience, both at their rising up, and at their lying down, 
 at home and abroad, and under all other possible circum- 
 stances ; and do thou render it meet for the children to 
 whom thou hast only given life as a means of coming to thee. 
 
 And when we go together to thy Holy Supper, O ever 
 give us renewed grace, renewed strength, and renewed 
 courage, for continuing to walk in the path to heaven ; and, 
 as we can only approach thy table four times in the year, 
 grant that in faith we may much more frequently be there, 
 yes, every day and every hour; that we may always keep 
 death in view, and always be prepared for it ; and, if we 
 may be permitted to solicit it of thee, O grant that we may 
 not long be separated from each other, but that the death of 
 the one may be speedily, and very speedily, followed by that 
 of the other. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 Grant us our requests, O gracious Father, in the name of 
 Jesus Christ, thy well-beloved Son. Amen. And O, m. i- 
 ciful Redeemer, may we both love thee with an ard< nt 
 devotion, always walking with thee and holding communion 
 with thee, not placing our confidence in our own righteous- 
 ness and in our own works, but only in thy blood and in thy 
 merits. Be with us ; preserve us faithful, and grant, Lord 
 Jesus, that we may soon see thee. Holy Spirit, dwell always 
 in our hearts ; teach us to lift up our thoughts continually 
 to our gracious Father ; and give us according to our need, 
 strength and consolation. And to thee, to the Father, and 
 to the Son, be praise, honour and glory, for ever and ever. 
 Amen. 
 
 APPENDIX, No. IV. 
 
 [/%<?251.J 
 
 1804, MARS 23. 
 Entree. 
 
 SEIGNEUR Jesus Christ, notre adorable Redempteur, fais 
 nous la grace qu'aucun evenement entre nous ne se passe 
 sans laisser sur nos coeurs des impressions salutaires. 
 
 Que nous nous demandions par ex : a 1'occasion du 
 trepas du jeune homme dont le cadavre est enferme duns 
 le cercueil, ou sera-t-il actuellement etoit il pret pour la 
 mort avoit il etc fidele a son alliance avec Dieu avoit 
 il cherche le seul necessaire avec rempressement qu'une 
 chose si importante requiert, et de tout son coeur ses 
 forces, et ses talens corporels et spirituels, et son temps, 
 les-a-t-il employes suivant 1'intention de son Createurc. a. d. 
 avant toutes choses pour rejouir, consoler, servir, soulager, 
 
342 APPENDIX. 
 
 ses parens et par la, cle les mener a la sanctification et a la 
 preparation d'une moisson eternelle ? 
 
 Et nous memes, si il sa place la mort nous avoit enleves, 
 ou serions nous actuellement ? 
 
 O Seigneur, decille nos yeux afin que 1'amour propre et 
 1'esprit de 'presomption ne nous en impose ; faisons nous a 
 tons egards ce que tu souhaites prions nous pour nos 
 enfans, et nos filleuls avec tant d'instance, d'ardeur, et de 
 perseverance que nous puissions esperer d'heriter avec eux 
 la glorie et la felicite eternelle que Jesus Christ nous a 
 acquise ? 
 
 Cher Seigneur, daigne faire que ces reflexions nous 
 animent a un zele redouble. Amen. 
 
 Le jeune homme que vous enterrez est Samuel Conserve, 
 fils de Claude Loux, de Zolbach. 
 
 Les parens affliges du defunt m'ont charge de temoigner 
 leur gratitude aux personnes qui dans leur longue tribula- 
 tion leur ont prete des secours. Us demandent & Dieu, le 
 grand Remunerateur de toutes les ceuvres de charite, qu'il 
 veuille les en recompenser dans ce monde et dans I'eternite. 
 
 APPENDIX, No. V. 
 
 [Page 251^ 
 
 1822. O. Pentecote a I'autel. 
 
 " Je vous baptise d'eau, mats celui qui vient apres moi, est 
 plus puissant que moi, et je ne suis pas digne de lui porter ses 
 souliers ; c'est lui qui vous baptisera du St. Esprit et de Feu." 
 Matt. iii. 11. 
 
 CHERS amis ! Par le saint Bapteme nous avons ete re9us 
 enfans de Dieu, d'apres la premiere destination du genre 
 humain. 
 
AIMM'ADIX. 
 
 Mais un enfant sans obeissance envcrs son pere, nc |> 
 il pas son droit d'enfance ? Et avez vous accompli I. s 
 ordres de Dieu ses ordres, pas seulement ceux du Nouveau 
 Testament, mais aussi de 1'Ancien, dont le Seigneur nous 
 assure qu'il ne laissera pas transgresser un seul iota ? Les 
 avez vous accompli tous et parfaitement ? Avez vous aime 
 Dieu de tout votre cocur, et de toute votre ame? et le 
 prochain Paimez vous, et 1'avez vous toujours aime, comme 
 vous mme ? Avez vous en consequence de ce double 
 amour execute constamment toute la volonte de Dieu bonne, 
 agreable et parfaite ? Avez vous constamment fait tous vos 
 efforts pour entrer par la porte etroite ? 
 
 Helas ! helas ! me repondra tout bomme sense il s'en 
 faut infiniment ! Ah, si le Seigneur vouloit entner en juge- 
 ment avec nous qui est ce qui subsisteroit ? 
 
 Et voila le but de la Pentecote ! C'est de nous avertir 
 que le premier Bapteme ne suffit pas, il faut, & force de 
 prier instamment, obtenir le deuxieme bapteme, le bapteme 
 du Saint Esprit et de Feu, cette force et vertu merveilleuse 
 qui vivih'e en nous la parole de Dieu, qui la fait jetter des 
 racines dans notre coeur, et porter du fruit. 
 
 Dites, chers amis ! Quand vous semez vos semences 
 quelconques, par quelle force, par quel secret merveilleux 
 et magique empechez-vous que ces semences si tendres et 
 dedicates ne pourrissent pas dans la terre ; mais au contraire 
 qu'en se multipliant elles vous recompensent si largement de 
 vos peines ? 
 
 Certes aucune puissance humaine ne peut operer cette 
 merveille. Mais, c'est que Dieu, ce Papa tendre et misi'ri- 
 cordieux de toutes ses cheres creatures, par sa bonte et par 
 amour pour ses enfans car c'est comme tels qu'il aime tout 
 ce qu'il a cree : le cher Pre celeste, dis-je, communique 
 aux semences des plantes aussi comme une espece de 
 
344 APPENDIX. 
 
 bapteme de feu et de' vie ; qui, pas seulement les garantit 
 de la pourriture ; mais qui leur communique une vertu 
 merveilleuse, quasi creatrice et divine, la vertu d'en pro- 
 duire d'autres de leurs especes et de se multiplier. 
 
 Et oh amis ! C'est cette meme vertu divine et mer- 
 veilleuse, que nous devons, par nos voeux et soupirs 
 ardents et perseverants, mais secrets, tacher d'obtenir sur 
 la semence de la Parole de Dieu, lorsque nous 1'ecoutons 
 a 1'eglise, ou que nous la lisons pour nous memes, ou 
 lorsque nous la communiquons a nos enfans et nos domes- 
 tiques, soit le matin, soit a difFerentes reprises par jour 
 suivant les circonstances. 
 
 Alors celui, qui multiplie vos semences que vous confiez 
 a la terre, vous, baptisera aussi de feu et du Saint Esprit, 
 et benira en vous, et les chers votres, les semences de sa 
 Sainte Parole. Et il arrivera que vous, et vos families, 
 malgre toute la corruption des coeurs, et les exemples se- 
 ducteurs de ceux qui habitent sur la terre, et malgre les 
 tentations et les sieges des esprits de 1'armee de Satan, vous 
 deviendrez de saintes plantes de 1'Eternel, capables d'etre 
 transplantees dans le paradis de Dieu, sans crainte, ni risque 
 de dechoir jamais de votre ineffable felicite. 
 
345 
 
 APPENDIX, No. VI. 
 
 {Page 305.] 
 
 THIS admirable Institution, founded in 1824, is destined 
 for the reception of neglected children, from the age of five 
 to that of confirmation. It is not confined to those of Stras- 
 bourg only, but extends its benefits to children of any other 
 part of Alsace, or elsewhere : there are already two children 
 from Paris there, for whom the Lutheran consistory of that 
 city pays the fixed annual stipend of 150 francs. The chil- 
 dren of foreigners are not excluded, although those of 
 natives similarly circumstanced have the preference. The 
 candidates for admission have to produce a certificate of 
 birth from the civil authorities ; a certificate of poverty from 
 their minister ; a certificate from a physician that the child 
 has been vaccinated, and, finally, a written agreement from 
 a respectable person, binding himself to take care of the 
 child after its leaving the establishment. 
 
 The Institution consists of a school on the plan of the 
 Protestant parochial schools in Strasbourg, with this differ- 
 ence, that the children are taught the most necessary parts 
 of geography, natural history and astronomy, during their 
 leisure hours, and religious instruction is afforded by the 
 small Lutheran catechism ; and also a school of industry, 
 in which, at present, tailors' work is the chief employment, 
 though it is intended at a future time to instruct the boys in 
 the trades of shoemaking, baking, and weaving ; in the 
 mean time, however, they are employed, under the direction 
 of their master, formerly a teacher at the institution of 
 Mr. Fellenburgh, of Hofwyl, in turnery, cabinet work, 
 
346 APPENDIX. 
 
 pin-making, bookbinding, plaiting, ribbon weaving, &c., and 
 the girls with domestic occupation, knitting, sewing and 
 spinning, c. The children are also practically instructed 
 in gardening and agriculture. The institution is kept up by 
 voluntary contributions, which are received by the following 
 members of the committee. 
 
 M. C. W. KRAFFT, President. 
 
 Professor HERRENSCHNEIDER, Honorary Member. 
 
 And Messrs. LEGRAND, Foudai, Ban de la Roche. 
 N.B. Twenty-four children are already received, and 
 ninety are on the lists soliciting for admission. 
 
 " Blessed is he that considereth the poor ; the Lord will 
 deliver him in time of trouble." Psalm xli. 1. 
 
 APPENDIX, No. VII. 
 
 [Page 326.] 
 
 Chretiens, mes freres ! 
 
 Nous venons de faire une grande et sensible perte ; le bon 
 pere Oberlin nous a quitte ; il a termine en paix sa carriere 
 terrestre. Autour de sa tombe je vois les fideles des deux 
 paroisses du Ban de la Roche, les fideles de Waldbach et 
 de Rothau, unir leur douleur et leurs larmes & celles des 
 enfans et des nombreux amis du venerable defunt. Si, 
 pen6tre de sentimens d'amour et d'admiration pour le ven- 
 rable pasteur de Waldbach, je parle dans ce jour de deuil, 
 je sens bien, mes freres, qu'il m'est impossible de vous 
 retracer dignement les hautes vertus et les belles qualites de 
 1'homme de bien que nous pleurons. 
 
MTENDIX. 
 
 Notre eglise consistoriale perd en ce vieillard r 
 un des pasteurs les plus zeles, un homme distin^iu' j)ar ses 
 talens et ses vertus ; la paroisse de Waldbach, le Ban de la 
 Roche en general, un bienfaiteur, le pere le plus tendre ; sa 
 famille, ses amis, leur modele, la source de leur bonheur ; 
 1'humanite, un de ses plus beaux ornemens. Quelle ame 
 pure et elevee, quelle simplicite, quelle affabilite, quelle 
 indulgence, quelle droiture, quelle candeur avons-nous 
 admire en ce bien-heureux vieillard ! Plus qu'octog6naire 
 le venerable Oberlin fit servir ses forces defaillantes a la 
 gloire de son Dieu et jusqu'au dernier soupir il a implor 
 les secours de 1'Eternel sur cette chere paroisse, centre de 
 toutes ses affections. 
 
 Quels tendres soins il a portes a ce troupeau chri, confie 
 a sa garde et a sa conduite ! Digne serviteur de son divin 
 maitre, zele successeur des apotres, il se devouait tout entier 
 au bonheur de ses semblables. Pendant cinquante-neuf ans 
 il a voue toutes ses forces physiques et intellectuelles, tout le 
 temps de sa vie toute laborieuse a la civilisation de cette 
 interessante contree, civilisation deja commencee par le pieux 
 Stouber, avec le desinteressement le plus noble, avec une 
 fermete imperturbable, avec un zele & toute epreuve, il a, en 
 sacrifiant, volontiers toute sa fortune, tout fait, pour que la 
 securite 1'aisance, le bien-etre habitassent vos humbles de- 
 meures. C'est au bon pasteur Stouber et a Oberlin, votre 
 pere, que vous devez vos eglises et vos ecoles ; c'est Oberlin 
 qui a form6 vos instituteurs ; c'est lui qui a fait couvrir vos 
 rochers nus et arides de terre fertile ; c'est lui, qui a change 
 tous ces hameaux en villages florissans ; c'est lui, qui tra- 
 vaillant avec vous, a fait r6parer et elargir vos chemins : 
 c'est lui qui temoignait une noble compassion a vos pauvres, 
 qui les nourrissait dans les temps de disette; c'est lui qui 
 a secouru les veuves et les orphelins, qui a prot&i< 
 
348 APPENDIX. 
 
 delaisses ; c'est lui . . . mais arretons-nous : vos cocurs recon- 
 naissans parlent, vous acheverez vous-memes ce faible 
 tableau de ce qu'il a fait pour votre prosperite. Dans son 
 humanite, Oberlin ne se laissait point borner par des vues 
 etroites, il ne faisait point de distinction de culte, il etait 
 persuade que 1'intolerance deshonore la charite. 
 
 Qu'etait-il dans le sein de sa famille ? Ah qui 1'a pu y 
 voir sans etre touche, emu, attendri ! Qu'etait-il a sa chere 
 compagne ; a toi valeureux Frederic ; & toi pieux Henri, & 
 vous bien-heureuse Fidelite, a vous zele Wolff; a vous nos 
 amis, Charles et Sophie, Henriette et Graff, a vous bon Graff 
 qui pour remplir les devoirs d'une piete filiale voulutes 
 soulager le bon pere de toutes ses fonctions penibles, a vous 
 Louise et Witz, Frederique et Rauscher ; a vous ses petits 
 fils et petites filles ; a vous bonne Louise Schepler ? Quel 
 epoux, quel pere et ayeul ! Quel accord, quelle unite, quel 
 amour, quelle piete filiale dans cette heureuse famille! 
 Qu'etait-il a ses nombreux amis ? a toi noble, patriarcale et 
 pieuse famille de Foudai, a vous digne et respectable 
 Legrand ? 
 
 Le pieux Oberlin ranimait le flambeau de la foi, illustra la 
 religion dans nos contrees. Plus encore que du bien-etre de 
 ce monde, il s'occupait du salut de vos ames immortelles. 
 La gloire de tous ses efforts, le prix de toutes ses sollicitudes 
 etait votre bien-etre spirituel, fideles de la paroisse de 
 Waldbach ! 
 
 Avec quel feu, quelle action, quelle simplicite, quelle 
 perseverance il vous prechait 1'evangile du Christ, ce don 
 precieux du ciel, les verites de la religion gravees dans son 
 cceur ! II vous enseignait a trouver dans la sainte Bible, dans 
 les preceptes de Jesus-Christ, le remede a tous vos maux, la 
 ressource a toutes vos miseres, la veritable source des plaisirs 
 les plus purs, du bonheur de la vie presente et de la vie 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 future. C'est, 1'evangile a la main, qu'il vons a purili.-,. 
 eclaires, consoles, sanctifies. N'est-ce pas lui qui, p.n 
 parole et ses exemples, a nourri dans vos coours Vamour dc 
 Dieu et des hommes ; n'est-ce pas lui qui vous a conduits 
 aupres de ce redempteur qui a souffert pour nous ; a cette 
 vertu toute chretienne, a cette foi fervente qui fait la felicite 
 du chretien; qui vous a presente notre adorable Sauveur 
 dans les demeures celestes, oft il nous attend, ou il est alle 
 nous preparer une place ; n'est-ce pas lui qui vous a si 
 souvent exhortes a travailler pour 1'aliment qui est permanent 
 j usque dans la vie eternelle ? * 
 
 C'est a votre digne patriarche que vous devez cette parole 
 de grace ; c'est lui qui vous a distribue cette manne qui 
 nourrit vos ames ; c'est lui qui a port6 1'evangile dans vos 
 maisons et dans les cabanes de tant de pauvres hors de cette 
 paroisse. Oh ! mes freres, puisez dans ce tresor qui ne 
 tarit jamais, qui s'enrichit & mesure qu'on y puise ! Benissez 
 le nom d'Oberlin, benissez la memoire de ce juste qui peut 
 dire en verite avec Saint-Paul, le grand apotre : " J'ai servi 
 le Seigneur en toute humilite, avec beaucoup de larmes et 
 parmi beaucoup d'epreuves. Je ne me suis epargn6 en 
 rien de ce qui vous etait utile, vous ayant preche, et ayant 
 enseigne publiquement et par les maisons, vous conjurant de 
 vous convertir 4 Dieu et de croire en Jsus-Christ notre 
 Seigneur. Je ne fais cas de rien, et ma vie ne m'est point 
 precieuse, pourvu qu'avec joie j'acheve ma course et le 
 ministere que j'ai recu du Seigneur Jesus, pour rendre 
 temoignage a 1'evangile de la grace de Dieu. J'ai passe 
 parmi vous en pre'chant le royaume de Dieu. Je vous 
 prends a tfrnoins que je suis net du sang de tons. Car je 
 ne me euis point epargne a vous annoncer tout le conseil de 
 
 Saint Jean, XIV. 2; VI. 87. 
 
350 APPENDIX. 
 
 Dieu. Je n'ai convoke ni 1'argent, ni Tor, ni la robe de 
 personne.* " 
 
 Ne retrouvez-vous pas dans ces traits 1'image de votre 
 venerable pasteur Oberlin ? 
 
 Et, mes freres, qu'a-t-il fait pour la propagation de la 
 sainte religion de Jesus-Christ, pour la propagation de nos 
 livres saints ? Parlez, Societes Bibliques de Strasbourg, de 
 Paris et de Londres ! Parlez Institutions des Missions de 
 Basle et de Paris ! Que d'argent il a sii amasser, que de dons 
 il a fait parvenir a ces pieuses societes, pour que la bible soit 
 repandue partout, pour que la doctrine du Christ penetre 
 meme dans les climats les plus sauvages, chez les nations les 
 plus barbares ; pour que Dieu et le Sauveur soient adores 
 par tous les habitans de la terre. Quelle jouissance pour 
 lui, de voir en parcourant les rapports des Societes Bibliques 
 et des Missions, la benediction du Seigneur repandue sur 
 son ceuvre ! 
 
 Sa carriere pleine d'epreuves, de privations et de dangers, 
 ses longues souffrances ont revele son ame tout entiere et les 
 vertus sublimes dont elle etait le foyer. Une patience que 
 rien ne pouvait alterer, une resignation eminemment chre- 
 tienne 1'ont toujours rendu superieur a tous ses maux. II a 
 envisage la mort d'un ceil ferme, avec le calme et la serenite 
 du juste. En quittant cette terre, il se recommanda a son 
 Dieu, il pria pour sa famille, pour ses amis, pour sa paroisse ; 
 et en benissant la terre, son ame s'est elancee dans les cieux. 
 Oberlin nous a quittes ; sa mort fut la recompense de sa 
 vie toute remplie de bonnes ceuvres, d'actions justes et 
 genereuses. 
 
 Quel concours a son convoi funebre, quel deuil, que de 
 larmes ! Deux paroisses, huit communes, cette foule d'amis, 
 
 * Actes, ch. XX. 18 et suiv. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 d'6trangers, tous nous disons d'une voix : c'est un hnnune de 
 bien auquel nous rendons les derniers devoirs; c'est Ohcrlin, 
 notre pere, notre bienfaiteur que nous pleurons ; c'est 
 1'amitie, le respect, la reconnaissance qui nous ont anu 
 cette tombe ! Ses cendres reposeront au milieu de vous, 
 bons habitans du Ban de la Roche ; cette tombr qui ren- 
 ferme ses restes mortels, sera pour nous tous un lieu sacr6. 
 Nous montrerons cette tombe a nos enfans et nous Itur 
 dirons : Ici, repose Oberlin notre pere. II nous a rendus 
 heureux, son image est gravee dans nos cocurs, 1'amour est 
 plus fort que la mort; Waldbach sera un monument perma- 
 nent de sa gloire ; les noms d'Oberlin et de Waldbach seront 
 a jamais unis dans la memoire des hommes. 
 
 Adorons les voies de la providence, mes freres ! A la 
 place du venerable pere, le Seigneur vous a donne le digne 
 epoux de la fille d'Oberlin, 1'ami de son coeur, le serviteur 
 selon le coeur de Dieu. C'est le bon pere lui-meme qui a 
 fait ce choix, et ce choix est un nouveau signe de la protec- 
 tion du ciel sur ce troupeau. C'est avec une parfaite con- 
 fiance qu'Oberlin a remis a ce successeur le depot sacre dont 
 le divin maitre 1'avait charge. 
 
 Eh oui, chretiens, adorons tous cette providence qui nous 
 unit et nous separe, nous afflige et nous console, entrons 
 dans ses vues, accomplissons ses desseins sur nous. Soyons 
 unis des noouds de cette charite, qui est le plus parfait de 
 tous les biens; aimons-nous pendant cette vie morullr, 
 aimons-nous encore au-dela. Aimons nous en Dieu dans 
 le sein duquel nous nous retrouverons un jour pour 
 reunis & jamais, si nous le servons ici-bas avec fidi'liu'. 
 Vouons a ce Dieu tout bon une entiere resignation, une foi 
 inebranlable. Que le pere de toute misericorde soit le con- 
 solateur et 1'appui de la famille affligee, des amis du \ 
 rable defunt, de cette paroisse remplie de deuil ! 
 
352 APPENDIX. 
 
 Adieu, venerable Oberlin ! dans les demeures celestes, tu 
 moissonnes ce que tu as sem6, tes oeuvres te suivent ; delivre 
 de tous les maux, ton Seigneur te dira : " Je connais tes 
 oeuvres, ta cljarite, ta foi, ta patience."* Adieu, noble ami, 
 adieu, respectable pere ! Jamais ton image ne s'effacera de 
 notre ame, to uj ours, tu seras 1'objet de notre veneration ; ta 
 memoire, la memoire du juste, demeurera a jamais en bene- 
 diction. Amen. 
 
 * Apoc. ii. 19. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL. 
 




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