- *

 
 REMINISCENCES 
 
 AND 
 
 INCIDENTS OF A LONG LIFE, 
 
 BY 
 
 REV. THOS. C. TEASDALE, D. D. 
 
 WITH A BKLEF INTRODUCTION 
 BY 
 
 REV. C. E. W. DOBBS, D. D., 
 
 Of Columbus, Miss. 
 
 FIRST EDITION. 
 
 ST. LOUIS, MO. : 
 
 NATIONAL BAPTIST PUBLISHING co. 
 
 1887.
 
 Entered ace arding to the Act of Congress, in the year 1887, 
 by 
 
 THOMAS C. TEASDALE, 
 In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
 
 PRKFACK. 
 
 This work is given to the public at the earnest re- 
 quest of many of our most prominent ministers of the 
 gospel, and a great multitude of lay members, amongst 
 whomjl have labored, either as pastor, or evangelist. 
 Its preparation was commenced many years ago. A 
 large portion of it was written some time before Rev. 
 Dr. Jeter began the publication of his "Recollections 
 of a Long Life," in the Religious Herald, of Rich- 
 mond, Va. So that, although there may be some re- 
 semblance between his "Recollections," and my "Re- 
 miniscences," it must not be supposed that my book is 
 a mere imitation of his. Its publication has been de- 
 layed to the present time, so that it might contain as 
 nearly all of my life and labors as possible. I am now 
 within a few weeks of seventy-nine years of age. I 
 have been preaching the gospel fifty-nine years. And 
 it is not likely that I will be able to perform much 
 more public ministerial work. The incidents related in 
 the book are mostly those that have fallen under my 
 own observation. I trust they will be interesting and 
 profitable to all who may read them. God has honored 
 me greatly in my ministry ; and many thousands have 
 been led to Jesus for salvation, through my humble in- 
 strumentality. To his adorable name be all the glory ! 
 Amen. 
 
 THOS. C. TEASDALE.
 
 To my beloved wife, who has shared with me the 
 joys, the sorrows, and the cares of fifty-six years of 
 married life ; and to my surviving children, of whom I 
 have four, three sons and one daughter ; and to the 
 ministers of the gospel, and Christian brethren general- 
 ly, who have so heartily co-operated with me in all my 
 efforts to win souls to the Lord Jesus, in every part of 
 the country, this volume is most affectionately in- 
 scribed, by 
 
 THE AUTHOR.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The world is greatly indebted to biography. The 
 records of lives lived before us are sources of knowl- 
 edge and warning, encouragement and hope to our- 
 selves and to those who come after us. Very much of 
 the Bible is biography, and no inconsiderable portion is 
 autobiography. God would have us learu wisdom from 
 the examples of others ; from their deeds and words ; 
 their successes and their failures. Most of ancient 
 history, if not indeed, of all history, is but the recital 
 of the acts of individuals, who have prominently figured 
 in the events which have shaped the destinies of the race. 
 While it is true that principles, rather than men, 
 are the prime factors in the outworking of 
 human progress, still the world naturally looks 
 to the individuals through whom those principles have 
 been embodied in deeds. While causes, long antedat- 
 ing the birth of those who figure on the historic page, 
 may have produced the circumstances which made 
 their lives possible, yet the fascination of that page gath- 
 ers round the actor, rather than the precedent causes. 
 So it is that biography has a charm for the average 
 mind, which will eagerly and readily suffer itself to be
 
 Tl INTRODUCTION. 
 
 moulded and led by principles and doctrines exemplifi- 
 ed by a life, when those same principles and doctrines 
 would prove uninteresting and barren if presented in 
 abstract form. Herein is found the wonderful power 
 of those life-pictures drawn by our Lord in his parables. 
 The truth embodied in the story of the man, the woman, 
 the steward, the householder, the shepherd, the king 
 ah ! how it reaches and thrills and sways ! Our modern 
 teachers of religious and moral duties recognize that for 
 the great mass of men, this is the most efficient method 
 of inculcating truth. Weaving the truth into the threads 
 of the story, either of a real, or an ideal life this is 
 the open door to the soul. And the story, with the 
 truth incidentally taught, is effective in proportion to 
 the verisimilitude characterizing the production. 
 
 Dr. Pendleton, in reviewing Dr. Hatcher's "Life of 
 Dr. Jeter," says that "works of biography are not 
 generally popular," and he instances the fact that sec- 
 ond editions of many works of this kind have not been 
 called for. But there are biographies and biographies. 
 One need not wonder that biographies such as 
 once composed the bulk of the volumes burdening 
 (yes, literally) the shelves of Sunday-school libraries, 
 should have been distasteful to the dear souls forced to 
 peruse them. Let us hope that that style of biog- 
 raphy, with its fitting companion the canting 
 "diary" of too self-conscious piety has gone forever 
 into its deserved oblivion ! But no one, who is capable 
 of enjoying a really instructive and entertaining book, 
 can read, for example, that "Life of Dr. Jeter" with-
 
 INTRODUCTION. Vll 
 
 out pleasure and profit. It may be that the prejudice 
 against books of biography has arisen from the experi- 
 ence of the past. 
 
 This work of Dr. Teasdale, though autobiographical, 
 will be found to be anything but prosy and dull. Its 
 pages, so full of incidents and reminiscences of the 
 long life of one of God's honored servants, will be 
 read with unflagging interest by multitudes who have 
 known and revered him. It is not the work of sudden 
 and late impulse ; it is the growth of years of experi- 
 ence and labor. The busy life of the author, so varied 
 in its spheres of usefulness, has necessarily brought 
 him into relations and associations more or less in- 
 timate with widely-scattered thousands of God's chil- 
 dren. Nearly three score years of ministerial service, 
 as pastor, as secretary, as professor, as evangelist, as 
 author, have made Dr. Teasdale a household name 
 among Baptists North and South, East and West. 
 Those who have known him in any of his many fields 
 of labor will welcome this volume, and will be glad to 
 put before their families this vivid narrative of a life 
 so consecrated to duty and so useful to the cause of 
 the Master. Urgent calls from many of those friends 
 have had much to do in persuading Dr. Teasdale to 
 write the book. 
 
 Dr. Teasdale' s character as a man, no less than his 
 eminent service as a minister of the Gospel, entitles 
 him to regard and esteem. The proverb tells us that 
 "the hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in 
 the way of righteousness." Since early manhood, he
 
 Vlil INTRODUCTION. 
 
 has been numbered among the soldiers of Christ, and 
 has borne no small part in the struggles and victories 
 which have been fought and achieved by the church in 
 the present century. Born almost in its beginning, he 
 has lived to share the marvellous activities and gratify- 
 ing successes characterizing its last quarter. The writer 
 heard him make an impromptu talk in one of the morn- 
 ing half hours of prayer, at the State Convention of 
 Mississippi Baptists, recently held in Oxford, in which 
 he said : "For more than half a century have I tried to 
 serve God in preaching the precious Gospel of Christ. 
 I have loved this blessed Savior and the work he has 
 given me to do, and if I had to live my life over again 
 I would cheerfully devote it all to the same delightful 
 service." Such language is the utterance of profound 
 conviction and earnest piety ; it , is the tribute which 
 sincere love and self-sacrificing faithfulness would lay 
 at the feet of saving Grace. Soon will his work be 
 done on earth, and the servant shall go to his heavenly 
 rewards. Soon will the w r arrior lay down his armor, 
 and enter into his eternal victory. It is well that he 
 should leave behind him this volume telling how the 
 Lord has led him and blessed him as he has labored in 
 the vineyard and fought the good fight. 
 
 Dr. Teasdale's long ministry has been many-sided 
 in its spheres of usefulness. In this introduction it is 
 unnecessary to dwell upon these in detail. The reader 
 would more satisfactorily consult the pages which lie 
 before him. Suffice it to say here that in all the posi- 
 tions he has occupied, he has given the best energies of
 
 INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 his mind and heart to the duties of the hour. As pas- 
 tor, the records which tell of laborious and successful 
 years at New Haven, Pittsburg, Springfield, Washing- 
 ton and Columbus, testify to his faithfulness and ef- 
 ficiency. As Secretary, he can point with satisfaction 
 to the energy with which he prosecuted the work of 
 the Sunday-school Board of the Southern Baptist Con- 
 vention during the trying and critical years when it 
 was in his charge. As author, he has just reason to 
 rejoice that his "Revival Discourses" and his work on 
 "Baptism and Communion" have been greatly blessed 
 to the edification, comfort and guidance of many souls. 
 But it is as Evangelist perhaps, that he has done his 
 best work and been most signally owned of the Mas- 
 ter. In this special field he has indeed made full proof 
 of his ministry. The name "evangelist" is used in 
 deference to common usage, though that usage has not 
 wholly the sanction of the New Testament. The word 
 is found three times in the New Testament. Philip, 
 one of the seven, was known as "the evangelist," and 
 Timothy was urged by Paul to "do the work of an 
 evangelist," while among the "gifts" of the ascended 
 Head of the Church, for the building up of the body 
 of Christ, the evangelist is named. (Acts xxi. 8 ; 
 2 Tim. iv. 5 ; Eph. iv. 11). The Greek verbal form oc- 
 curs frequently, usually rendered "preach the Gos- 
 pel" literally "evangelize." An evangelist, then, in 
 the Scripture sense, is one who preaches the Gospel, 
 perhaps with an implication of itinerancy. The name 
 indicates a work, rather than a distinct ministerial or-
 
 X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 der. The Apostles "evangelized," that is, they were 
 "heralds of the good tidings." (Acts vm. 25 ; XTV. 7 : 
 1 Cor. i : 17). From the connection in which the word 
 is found we may infer that the calling of the evangel- 
 ist was the proclamation of the Gospel to those who 
 had not known it, rather than the instruction and pas- 
 toral care of those already gathered into churches. In 
 the early Christian centuries the term was applied to 
 the writers of the four Gospels ; and we yet so apply 
 it. If we think of the modern evangelist as one whose 
 special mission it is to preach the Gospel' to the uncon- 
 verted, there is a quasi-scriptural argument for the 
 use. Perhaps, however, the modern foreign mission- 
 ary, bearing the glad tidings for the first time to the 
 heathen, is the nearest analogy to the evangelist of 
 the New Testament. Using the term in its prevalent 
 significance Dr. Teasdale must be considered a very suc- 
 cessful evangelist. 
 
 He was, in the years of his evangelistic activity, ad- 
 mirably fitted for that work. When a youth of 
 eighteen years, I first heard him, he was in the prime 
 of manhood, one of the most impressive pulpit orators 
 of our country. Though of small stature his appear- 
 ance in the pulpit indicated a man of much larger 
 build. His movements and gestures in the delivery of 
 his sermons were exceedingly graceful. His elocution 
 was fine, and his voice exceptionally clear and resonant. 
 In prayer he was especially gifted. When he drew 
 near the throne of grace his manner was reverent, and 
 the earnest and pathetic tone of his petitions moved the
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 soul to sincere attention and humble interest. His 
 sermons displayed no inconsiderable analytical and 
 logical thought. He preached the Word. In doctrine 
 his sermons were always eminently Scriptural. While 
 not ignoring the graces of rhetoric eloquence, they 
 abound in the clear statements of fundamental Gospel 
 truth as of paramount importance in winning souls. 
 It may be well to refer here to those admirable ser- 
 mons on "Self righteousness," the "Agency of the 
 Holy Spirit," and the "Sin against the Holy Spirit," 
 found in his "Revival Discourses." These proclaim in 
 no uncertain terms the plan of salvation, while his 
 discourse on "God's Controversy with the Sinner," 
 sets forth with such vividness the depravity and guilt 
 of the ungodly as to make the conscience tremble un- 
 der a sense of the need of Divine mercy. 
 
 As an evangelist, Dr. Teasdale never played the 
 clown ; he was no buffoon ; he never descended to 
 "court a smile when he should woo a soul." Boorish 
 jokes and vulger slang found no place in his message 
 from God. Impressed with the awful danger of men, 
 and the solemnity of his vocation, he discarded alike 
 the jesting and the tricks of the mountebank, which, 
 alas, have come to play so sad a part in the preaching 
 and methods of many popular so-called "evangelists." 
 Unlike them, Dr. Teasdale ever preached the Gospel 
 as the only power of God unto salvation. 
 
 "He preached as tho' he ne'er might preach again, 
 And as a dying man to dying men." 
 
 Souls converted under such an evangelist come into
 
 Xll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the churches animated by the true idea of salvation by 
 grace and prepared to "run the race set before them." 
 Intelligently led to Christ they continue to "serve God 
 with reverence and Godly fear." 
 
 It need scarcely be added that in his work as an evan- 
 gelist Dr. Teasdale aimed to strengthen the pastors in 
 the esteem and affection of the churches. He did not 
 pose before the people as some "higher life" saint who 
 had attained unto some peculiar spiritual aristocracy, 
 in the kingdom of Heaven. He did not begin his 
 meetings by abusing the ministry as lacking in faith 
 and faithfulness, or devoid of earnestness in preaching 
 the Gospel. Many "evangelists" seem to think it nec- 
 essary to hold up the average pastor as wanting in 
 knowledge of the Word and lacking in zeal for the 
 salvation of their flocks. Not so with this Father in 
 Israel. He fully recognized the work of the ordinary 
 ministry in their faithful seed-sowing and oversight of 
 the churches, and came to their aid as a fellow-worker 
 with them in the Lord's harvest field. 
 
 In the Baptist ministry of to-day stand many honor- 
 ed men of God who, though Dr. Teasdale's preaching, 
 were either led to the Savior, or induced to enter the 
 ministry. Among them may be mentioned Drs. Lori- 
 mer and Hawthorne. Never can I cease to thank God 
 for the providence that led me to hear a series of 
 sermons by Dr. Teasdale in Portsmouth, Va. some thirty 
 years ago. That series of sermons under God saved 
 me from what might have been a life-long groping amid 
 the shadows of Universalism, and turned my feet into
 
 INTRODUCTION. xlii 
 
 the path which ultimately led me to the "truth as it is 
 in Jesus." And now, as this venerable servant of 
 Jesus is Hearing his crown, I desire to lay before the 
 world this tribute to his life and worth. 
 
 C. E. W. DOBBS. 
 Columbus, Miss., 
 Sept. 1, '87.
 
 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 INCIDENTS OF CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Cox Teasdale, D. D., was born iu the 
 Township of Wantage, Sussex County, New Jersey, 
 December 2, 1808. He was the second son, and third 
 child of Hon. Thomas and Mrs. Hannah Teasdale. 
 His grandfather, Rev. Thomas Teasdale, who was an 
 eminent Baptist preacher, emigrated from England 
 to this country, when Dr. Teasdale's father was four- 
 / teen years of age, and settled soon after his arrival 
 in America, in the Northern part of Sussex County, 
 N. J., and took charge of a church in Hardyston 
 Township, which is now known as the Hamburg Bap- 
 tist Church in that County. Although he received re- 
 peated calls to take charge of important city churches, 
 with offers of tempting salaries, he could not be in- 
 duced to sever the ties that bound him to his country 
 church; and he continued to serve that church, so dear 
 to his affections, until the time of his death. He died 
 n the triumphs of faith, April 25, 1827, when he
 
 2 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 was seventy-five years of age. He had preached the 
 glorious gospel of the Son of God over fifty years; 
 and fully one-half of that period had been spent in 
 the pastorate of the Hamburg Church. His funeral 
 sermon was preached by the late Rev. Leonard 
 Fletcher, then pastor of the First Baptist Church of 
 Wantage, N. J., from 2 Tim. iv. 6, 7. "I am now 
 ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is 
 at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished 
 my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there 
 is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the 
 Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me in that day.'' 
 His remains were deposited in the grave-yard, near 
 the meeting-house in which, for so many years, he 
 had preached, so eloquently and affectively, the un- 
 searchable riches of Christ. 
 
 A few incidents in the childhood of Dr. T. may be 
 deemed worthy of notice. When he was not more 
 than two years old, he saved the life of a little cousin 
 of his. His father was, at that time, carrying on the 
 tanning and currying business. His cousin, about his 
 own age, named Nicholas Cuddeback, and himself, 
 were playing in the tan-yard, and little Nicholas fell 
 into one of the vats. He ran at once into the shop 
 where his father was, and exclaimed, "Nickie in vat." 
 His father ran out and saw the blubbers in the vat, into 
 which Nickie had fallen, and drew him out, and with 
 some difficulty resuscitated the nearly drowned boy. 
 
 To show the tenacity with which very early recol- 
 lections cling to us, Dr. T. remembers distinctly, as if
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 3 
 
 it were but yesterday, that when he was only about 
 three years old, his father put him on a gentle horse, 
 and while he led the horse around the yard, he held on 
 to the leg of his little sonto keep him from falling off. 
 From that early period, he contracted a fondness for 
 a good horse, which has gone with him through all his 
 life. 
 
 When he was about four years old, his father and 
 mother went off, on a given Saturday, to what was 
 then called in that section, their Church Meeting ; at 
 the South and Southwest, it is generally called, now, 
 the Conference Meeting of the Church. His oldest 
 sister, and his now sainted minister brother, and him- 
 self, were playing in the tan -yard, and he fell into one 
 of the vats. His brother and sister were greatly 
 alarmed, and were just about to start to a near neigh- 
 bor's residence to procure help, when he rose and 
 caught hold of one of the poles lying across the vat, 
 on which the skins, in process of tanning, were placed, 
 occasionally, for airing. When his brother and sister 
 saw that he had arisen, and had caught hold of the 
 pole, they took hold of his arm, and drew him out, 
 and thus saved his life. If they had gone to the 
 neighbors for help, he would have been drowned be- 
 fore they could have returned. 
 
 Another incident in his early life he remembers with 
 interest. He was now some seven or eight years old. 
 His father had purchased and just brought home a 
 span of horses, having sold or exchanged for these his 
 former team. One of these horses was a mere colt,
 
 4 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 some three years old. The other was considerably 
 more than double that age. He insisted that he would 
 have the colt for his horse, and his brother John 
 should take the old one. His father hit upon this plan 
 to decide the matter. Tommio must go with him into 
 the stable, and he should choose the horse he wanted. 
 Well, it so happened, that he chose the older one of 
 the horses, and his brother John got the colt. He 
 was terribly chagrined when he found that he had 
 chosen the older horse instead of the colt ; but he sub- 
 mitted to his fate without murmuring. It was all the 
 more mortifying to him, when he found out afterwards 
 that the colt was a remarkably easy riding horse, and 
 the one he had chosen was a very rough riding ani- 
 mal. 
 
 At another time, when he was some ten years of 
 age, he was coasting down a pretty long hill on a little 
 hand sled on the smooth snow, and he ran into a fence 
 at the bottom of the hill, and came near breaking his 
 leg. He has carried the scar from that injury, dur- 
 ing all his days, and deems it a merciful providence 
 that he was not maimed for life. 
 
 At another time, while still very young, he was in- 
 duced to take a chew of tobacco, by some of his older 
 school-mates, which made him terribly sick. He 
 vomited most violently, and felt as if he must die. 
 This proved to be a most fortunate circumstance in 
 his history. He never afterwards took a chew of to- 
 bacco ; he did not even smoke the noxious weed. 
 
 There is still another incident in his early life which
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 5 
 
 may be mentioned. His brother John and himself 
 had obtained permission of their father to ride on the 
 sled, which was about to be driven to the woods, more 
 than a mile distant, for a load of wood. The snow 
 was deep on the ground, and the day was extremely 
 cold. On their return from the woods, they had to 
 face the intensely cold north wind. They became 
 very cold, and were advised to get off the sled, and 
 run the balance of the way home. His brother had 
 suffered an injury in one of his limbs a short time be- 
 fore, which made it difficult for him to make rapid ad- 
 vances ; and he became so chilled that he was about 
 to give up and lie down in the snow. Tommie knew 
 if he did so, he would freeze to death before assistance 
 could be procured . He, therefore, urged his brother 
 to persevere, and gave him all the assistance he could, 
 and thus saved the valuable life of that dear brother. 
 
 The parents of Tommie had made a profession of 
 religion before his recollection : and he, therefore, 
 enjoyed the inestimable advantages of pious, parental 
 instruction and example, from his earliest childhood. 
 It was not, however, until he was twelve years of age, 
 that he entertained any impressive views of his wretch- 
 ed condition as a lost sinner, or made any effort to 
 secure his soul's salvation. At that time, there was 
 quite an extensive revival in the church to which his 
 parents belonged, and of which Rev. Levi Hall was 
 then the pastor. Mr. Hall had not enjoyed the ad- 
 vantages of a liberal education ; but he was well versed 
 in the sacred Scriptures, and was an earnest and useful
 
 6 REMINISCENCED AND INCIDENTS 
 
 preacher. There were then no Sunday-schools in the 
 country churches in that vicinity, and the views enter- 
 tained by the mass of Christian professors, respecting 
 the conversion of vounsc children, were exceedinjjlv 
 
 * O O * 
 
 erroneous. Consequently, although Tommie had been 
 made to feel deeply his need of a Divine Savior, he 
 received no encouragement to go at once to Jesus for 
 salvation. His oldest sister, four years older than 
 himself, and, quite a large number of young people of 
 her age, and of those a few years older, professed 
 conversion during that revival. But he was thought 
 to be too young to comprehend enough of the plan of 
 salvation to exercise saving faith in the merits of the 
 Redeemer; and, therefore, he was neglected, both by 
 the pastor, and by Christians generally. For several 
 months he had a very lively apprehension of his danger 
 while out of Christ ; and he experienced a deep con- 
 sciousness of his guilt and ill-desert, as a rebel against 
 his Maker. But, owing to the erroneous views then 
 entertained respecting early piety, by the people of 
 that community, as we have before stated, he failed to 
 receive such encouragement as his exigencies required, 
 and he was not therefore brought to a saving knowl- 
 edge of the truth at that time. The result was that 
 he gradually lost his intense solicitude on the subject 
 of his soul's salvation; and so he finally relapsed into 
 comparative carelessness and sin. His serious ap- 
 prehensions, however, were never entirely effaced, after 
 his first deep concern ; but they were, to a great extent, 
 stifled and suppressed. He remained in this condition
 
 Or A LONG LITE. 7 
 
 some six years. His early sense of the guilt and 
 danger of sin served to restrain him from those ir- 
 
 O 
 
 regularities of life to which youth are so generally ad- 
 dicted. But the result was that he imbibed the idea of 
 attempting to justify himself before God, by the 
 works of the law, independently of the merits of 
 Jesus; a sin as heinous in the sight of God, and as 
 dangerous to the deluded, self-righteous individual, as 
 the most flagrant transgressions. He never uttered a 
 profane oath ; and prided himself on being a rigid 
 moralist. He continued in this state until the fall of 
 1826, when it pleased God to impress him most deeply 
 with a sense of his need of salvation by the cross of 
 the Lord Jesus. His brother John, who was two 
 years older than himself, was at that time engaged in 
 teaching a select school, some nine or ten miles from 
 his father's residence. During the slimmer of 1826, 
 some tracts were put into the hands of his brother, by 
 a lady friend, among which were, "THE DAIRY-MAN'S 
 DAUGHTER," and "THE SHEPHERD OF SALISBURY 
 PLAINS." These tracts, together with the tender expost- 
 ulations of that lady friend, who afterwards became his 
 wife, were made the means, under God, of fastening 
 deep conviction for sin upon his mind. His anxiety 
 became very intense ; and in that condition he made a 
 visit to his father's house. The fact of his brother's 
 being so deeply concerned about the matter of hi.s 
 soul's salvation awakened considerable solicitude in 
 Tommie's mind about his own condition. But still he 
 seemed disinclined to cherish the impressions which
 
 8 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 were thus produced, and gave himself up to the pur- 
 suit of trifling earthly pleasures to an unusual extent. 
 Meanwhile, awakened conscience was thundering its 
 solemn admonitions in his ears, and the Holy Spirit 
 was constantly striving with his heart. At length his 
 anxious brother obtained relief from the burden of 
 sin, and was made to "rejoice with joy unspeakable 
 and full of glory," in the consciousness of a gracious 
 acceptance with Christ. Soon after he had experi- 
 enced this happy change, he made another visit to his 
 father's house. He was then enabled to adopt the 
 language of the prophet, and say: "Though thou 
 wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and 
 now thou comfortest me." This striking change in 
 his brother's feelings, made a very deep impression 
 upon Tommie's mind. His brother and himself had 
 been almost one and inseparable. Never, perhaps, 
 were brothers more endeared to each other. As chil- 
 dren, they had slept in the same little trundle bed ; 
 eaten at the same bounteous board; angled in the same 
 pebbly stream ; bathed in the crystal waters of the same 
 rippling brook; sported over the same green fields; 
 rambled through the same shady groves; attended the 
 same select school ; and listened to the preaching of 
 the gospel from the lips of the same godly ambas- 
 sadors of Christ, through all the period of their child- 
 hood and early youth. And the thought of being 
 separated now, by lines so widely diverging, greatly 
 troubled his spirit. The scenes that transpired around 
 that joyous hearth-stone, on that occasion, served only
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 
 
 to intensify all the more this deep distress, and drive 
 the arrow of conviction more deeply into his soul. 
 To all this were added the affectionate entreaties of 
 that converted brother, who besought him in tears to 
 go with him in the way to heaven. In short, it was 
 that visit, and the tender expostulations of that, now 
 sainted minister-brother, that led him to resolve most 
 firmly, that, by the assisting grace of God, he would 
 then seek the salvation of his soul. About a week 
 afterwards he found "peace in believing, and joy in 
 the Holy Ghost." But the week that intervened be- 
 tween the visit of his converted brother, and the time 
 when he was "translated out of the kingdom of dark- 
 ness into the kingdom of God's dear Son," was one 
 of the utmost gloom and wretchedness. Food lost its 
 relish ; sleep departed, in a great measure, from his 
 eyes : society had for him no longer any charms ; time 
 hung heavily on his hands ; and despair sullen, horri- 
 ble despair seemed to stare him in the face. He 
 tried every means of relief ; he read the Bible ; en- 
 deavored to pray ; sought opportunity to hear the gos- 
 pel preached ; and }"et he grew nothing better, but 
 rather worse. His distress became so great, that 
 moralist as he had been, he would Have exchanged his 
 sondition with that of almost any flagrant sinner in his 
 vicinity. He felt that he had sinned against greater 
 light, stronger convictions, and more tender love than 
 almost anyone else; and he thought that God would 
 be just, and his throne forever guiltless, if he should 
 bid away every kindly influence from his heart, and
 
 10 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 abandon him to his merited doom. Indeed, he felt, 
 much of the time, that his day of grace was utterly 
 passed, and that his case was entirely hopeless. No 
 tongue of men or angels can describe the horrors of 
 that week. At length, as he came back from a 
 neighboring grove, into which he had gone to pour 
 out his anguish and his prayers in its deep and quiet 
 solitude, these excellent lines of Watts' ctuue into his 
 mind, and he repeated ikem : 
 
 "Far irom my thoughts vain world begone; 
 Let my religious hours alone ! 
 Fain would my eyes my Savior see; 
 I wait a visit Lord from thee ! 
 
 My heart grows warm with holy fire, 
 And kindles with a pure desire; 
 Come my dear Jesus from above, 
 And feed my soul with heavenly love!" 
 
 As the last two lines of the second stanza passed 
 through his mind, his very heart seemed to go out in 
 the language of the poet : 
 
 "Come my dear Jesus from above, 
 And feed my soul with heavenly love!" 
 
 In an instant his burden of guilt was removed ; and 
 a flood of light burst into his mind. He felt that 
 he had no longer any way or will of his own; but that 
 his icitt was wholly swallowed up in the Divine will. 
 The subdued and penitent sinner of Tarsus, could 
 scarcely have felt a more perfect submission to God 
 than he experienced on that memorable occasion ; and 
 with that penitent sinner he could say from his heart, 
 
 "LORD, WHAT WILT THOU HAVE ME TO DO?"
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 11 
 
 His doubts and fears were at once dispelled, and 
 peace, sweet peace of God, "that passeth all under- 
 standing," took possession of his soul. He could 
 now exclaim with the poet, in holy transport : 
 
 "O, for such love let rocks and hills, 
 
 Their lasting silence break; 
 And all harmonious human tongues, 
 The Savior's praises speak!" 
 
 He felt that he could now understand that saying of 
 the Apostle : "If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is 
 Tn*ew Creature. Old things are passed away, and be- 
 hold all things are become 4*ew." He had new desires, 
 new hopes, new aims. Even nature itself seemed to 
 assume a more cheerful aspect. His love to Jesus was 
 now supreme ; and his affection for Christians was 
 most intense. The Bible appeared to him to be very 
 precious ; secret prayer was an ineffable pleasure ; and 
 all the duties of religion were a delight to his soul. 
 
 Such, in brief, were some of the circumstances which 
 surrounded Tommie up to the time when he first felt 
 that God, for Christ's sake, had forgiven his sins, and 
 had adopted him into his spiritual family. He then 
 felt it to be his duty to identify himself with the people 
 of God ; and accordingly, on the very next Saturday, 
 in connection with his dear brother, and a cousin al- 
 most as dear, he related his exercises of mind to the 
 church, and was accepted as a candidate for the im- 
 pressive and symbolic ordinance of Christian Baptism. 
 
 On the next day, a bleak November Sunday you 
 might have seen an immense crowd assembled on the
 
 12 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 banks of the Papa-Kating Creek a creek in which 
 many hundreds of rejoicing converts have been 
 solemnly buried with their blessed Lord in Christian 
 Baptism and in the midst of that great concourse of 
 people, you might have s^en three young men, known 
 perhaps to every person in that vast assembly, and con- 
 nected by ties of consanguinity to many of them, habited 
 and waiting for their watery grave. The eldest of these 
 young men was twenty ; the next was nineteen ; and 
 tha -youngest was within a few days of eighteen years 
 of age. The eldest was the now sainted minister- 
 brother of Tominie ; the second a very dear cousin; 
 and the youngest was himself. Deep was the interest 
 which was evinced on the occasion ; and as the tall 
 and graceful administrator descended into the stream 
 with the candidates, in the order of their ages, and 
 gently and slowly laid them, in their turn, in the liquid 
 grave, and then raised them up in the likeness of the 
 Savior's resurrection, eyes unused to weep mingled 
 their tears with the tears of rejoicing, happy Chris- 
 tians, over that impressive scene. It was a day never 
 to 1)6 forgotten by the youthful candidates ; and it 
 proved to be the commencement of one of the most 
 precious and extensive revivals of religion, that the 
 people of that church and vicinity had ever enjoyed. 
 More than a hundred happy converts united with that 
 single church during the ensuing winter ; and the bless- 
 ed work spread far and wioje into adjacent churches 
 and communities. 
 
 His brother John felt it to be his duty, very soon, to 

 
 OF A LONG LITE. 13 
 
 prepare for the gospel ministry; and therefore, imme- 
 diately commenced a course of study with that end in 
 view. In the Spring of 1827, he gave up his school, 
 and resorted to the Literary and Theological Seminary 
 at Hamilton, N. Y. then an excellent school of the 
 Prophets, but now known as MADISON UNVERSITY. 
 Tommie had then no impressions of duty in that di- 
 rection. He had other schemes and purposes which he 
 meant to consummate. From a child he had been 
 passionately ( fond of forensic discussions. While yet 
 a small boy he was in his element in the Debating 
 Society ; and he looked forward with intensest interest 
 to the time, when he might be able to cross lances with 
 the chivalrous Knights of the Bar. 
 
 That we might preserve the continuity of Tommie's 
 religious impressions, we have followed him up to the 
 time of his conversion and baptism, which occurred, 
 as we have seen, when he was about eighteen years of 
 age. We must now go back to note some other inci- 
 dents in his earlier life. When he was six years old, 
 his father was called to the command of a company in 
 the war of 1812-14. He remembers very well the 
 parting scene ; the tears of his mother, and the crying 
 of the children. It was a very solemn occasion, and 
 made a deep impression on his youthful mind. War 
 to him then seemed to be a terrible thing, and he has 
 always regarded it as a relic of gross barbarism. 
 
 A few years after the close of that war, his father 
 was elected a member of the State Legislature ; and it 
 was while he was a member of the Legislature, that
 
 14 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 the statutes of the State were tnoroughly revised. 
 That was the longest session of that body it had proba- 
 bly ever held. While his father was a member of the 
 Legislature that year, he was elected Surrogate of his 
 county, which then embraced both Sussex and Warren 
 Counties. He held the office ten years ; and it was 
 while he was Surrogate that Warren County was set 
 off from Sussex County. After the expiration of his v 
 second term as Surrogate, his father was elected 
 County Judge, which office he held to the day of his 
 death. 
 
 Up to the time of his father's removal from the 
 Township of Wantage to Newton, the County seat, to 
 enter upon his ' duties as Surrogate of the county, 
 Tommie had enjoyed only such educational advantages 
 as were afforded in a select country school. He com- 
 menced going to school when he was very young, and 
 got his lessons with little difficulty. He remembers 
 when his teacher used to take him up on his back, and 
 carry him repeatedly a good part of the way to the 
 school-house. He remembers, too, when the doctor 
 came to the school-room to vaccinate the pupils, and 
 how thoroughly his vaccination took. It made him 
 sick for a few days, and the scar from the vaccination 
 has scarcely disappeared yet. He does not believe in 
 the modern theory, that the whole system undergoes 
 a complete change every seven years ; and therefore he 
 has never been re-vaccinated. He cannot understand 
 how it is, if the system does so change every seven 
 years, that persons are not liable to have the whoop-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 15 
 
 ing cough, the measles, the mumps, the small-pox, the 
 yellow fever, etc., etc., every seven years. 
 
 He was about fifteen years of age when his father 
 removed to the County seat. His father settled on a 
 farm about a mile from his office in the village. By 
 this means he gave his sons and daughters employ- 
 ment, while he was engaged in the duties of his office. 
 The boys worked on the farm, and the girls assisted 
 their mother in doing the house-work, and managing 
 the dairy. During the winter seasons, Tommie now 
 enjoyed the advantages of a firsUclass village academy. 
 He improved the opportunities thus afforded him, and 
 made rapid advances in his studies. This state of 
 things continued until the time of his conversion and 
 baptism, as above mentioned. For a whole year after 
 his baptism, he had no impressions of duty in rela- 
 tion to preparing himself for the work of the Chris- 
 tian ministry. But all unknown to him at the time, 
 among the latest of his dying grand-father's prayers, 
 was the fervent petition, that his favorite grandson, 
 and namesake, might become a minister of the gospel, 
 and fill the place, as a public servant of Jesus, tvhich 
 was about to be made vacant by his own death. His 
 brother, too, was every day praying that his atten- 
 tion might be turned to the work of the gospel minis- 
 try. His brother seemed unwilling, that they, who 
 had been so completely one, up to that period, should 
 now be separated, even in the solemn work of the 
 ministry of reconciliation. But a whole year elapsed, 
 as has been stated, after that baptismal occasion, in
 
 16 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 which ne was a most interested participant, before he 
 felt the slightest impressions of duty in regard to 
 preaching. On a pleasant Sunday in November, 1827, 
 just one year after his baptism, he visited the old 
 moss-covered church in which he had first related pub- 
 licly what he thought the Lord had done for his soul, 
 and the stream in which he had been buried with his 
 Lord in baptism ; and heaxd an excellent gospel sermon 
 from the lips of the eloquent man of God, who, one 
 year before, had baptized him into the name of the 
 Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit we 
 refer to the sainted Elder Leonard Fletcher and then 
 rode home, a distance of some thirteen miles from the 
 place of worship. There was then no Baptist church 
 at the County seat ; and his father, and mother, and 
 sister retained their membership in the old mother 
 church in Wantage. And this accounts for the fact 
 that his brother and himself went so far to unite with 
 that venerable church the First Baptist Church of 
 Wantage. 
 
 On his arrival at home that evening, he was reading 
 the Bible, when all suddenly the thought occurred to 
 him : Now shut the book, and then holding its lids in a 
 perpendicular position, let it open of itself, and you 
 will find some important instruction right there. Fol- 
 lowing this singular impulse, he placed the Bible in the 
 prescribed position, and let it open of its own accord. 
 It opened to the thirty-third chapter of the prophecy 
 of Ezekiel. He read as follows: "Son of man, speak 
 to the children of thy people, and say unto them,
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 17 
 
 when I bring the sword upon the land, if the people 
 of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him 
 for their watchman : If when he seeth the sword come 
 upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the 
 people : Then whosoever heareth the sound of the 
 trumpet, and taketh not warning ; if the sword come 
 and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own 
 head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took 
 not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he 
 that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the 
 watchman see the sword come, and blow not the 
 trumpet, and the people be not warned ; if the sword 
 come, and take any person from among them, he is 
 taken away in his iniquit} r ; but his blood will I re- 
 quire at the watchman's hand. 
 
 SO THOU, O SON OF MAN, I HAVE SET THEE 
 A WATCHMAN UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL ; 
 THEREFORE THOU SHALT HEA& THE WORD 
 AT MY MOUTH, AND WARN THEM FROM ME. 
 WHEN I SAY UNTO THE WICKED, O WICKED 
 MAN, THOU SHALT SURELY DIE; IF THOU 
 -DOST NOT SPEAK TO WARN THE WICKED 
 FROM HIS WAY, THAT WICKED MAN SHALL 
 DIE IN HIS INIQUITY ; BUT HIS BLOOD WILL I 
 REQUIRE AT THINE HAND. NEVERTHELESS, 
 IF THOU WARN THE WICKED OF HIS WAY TO 
 TURN FROM IT; IF H DO NOT TURN FROM 
 HIS WAY, HE SHALL DIE IN HIS INIQUITY; 
 BUT THOU HAST DELIVERED THY SOUL." 
 Ezekiel33, 2-9.
 
 18 1JEMIXISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 These last three verses, we have put in large Capitals, 
 because if they had been uttered by an audible voice 
 from heaven, they could scarcely have made a deeper 
 impression upon his mind; and it seemed as if they 
 were intended especially for him. They shocked 
 him. Could it' be possible, he thought, that God 
 intended, in this manner, to turn his attention to the 
 subject of preparing for the gospel ministry? He 
 was alarmed, distressed. He immediately, on con- 
 cluding the chapter, laid down the book, and sought a 
 place of secret meditation and prayer. He thought of 
 the solemnity of the work, the fearful responsibility 
 of the position, and his total unfitness for this holy 
 calling ; and he felt that the impression which had thus 
 been made upon his mind must be utterly erroneous. 
 So remote was his location from the church, and so 
 unpropitious the circumstances by which he was sur- 
 rounded after hi's conversion, that he had not exercised 
 his gifts, even in public prayer and exhortation. How 
 then could it be his duty to try to preach the gospel? 
 And then, too, his father's attention was almost exclu- 
 sively devoted to the duties of his office ; his oldest 
 brother had gone to the Seminary ; his other brothers 
 were too young to assist much in the management of 
 the farm ; and he felt it to be his duty to continue in 
 charge of that part of his father's business, until the 
 next son should be old enough to manage it properly 
 in his stead. And besides all this, the cherished pur- 
 pose of his life would be frustrated, if he should be- 
 come a preacher. All these objections arose at once
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 19 
 
 in his mind, against the entertaining of any serious 
 impressions of duty in that direction. And, then, ob- 
 jections arising from a sense of inability, and a fear 
 of dishonoring the cause, by an attempt to preach the 
 gospel in his weakness and inexperience, had even more 
 weight on his mind, than all the other considerations 
 named. He had a perfect horror of undertaking any- 
 thing for which he thought he was not qualified. Such 
 considerations as these, and many others which might 
 be enumerated, operated to dissuade him from seriously 
 considering the subject ; and he determined to dismiss 
 it from his mind at once and forever. But it would 
 not be thus ignored. The words of God to the Pro- 
 phet, "SO THOU, O SOX OF MAN, I HAVE SET THEE A 
 WATCHMAN UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL ; THEREFORE 
 THOU SHALT HEAR THE WORD AT MY MOUTH, AND WARN 
 
 THEM FROM ME," seemed to burn into the very core of 
 his heart ; and the curse denounced against the watch- 
 man if the people were not warned, and they should 
 perish in their iniquity, seemed constantly to impend 
 over his head. His trouble of mind became so great, 
 in relation to this matter, that he had no rest, neither 
 day nor night, until he finally consented to lay himself 
 as a holocaust upon the altar of duty, and do the bid- 
 ding of the Master, whatever it might be. When he 
 did that, and so long as he kept that purpose, he had 
 great peace of mind ; but just as soon as he would be- 
 gin to say,' in his heart, "Lord, all but the duty of 
 preaching anything, everything, Lord, but this" 
 that very moment his peace was gone. Nor did he
 
 20 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 ever again enjoy the sweet consciousness of the Divine 
 approbation and blessing, until he could say in his 
 heart, "Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth." "Lord, 
 what wilt thou have me to do!" Anything, every- 
 thing, my blessed Lord, for thee ! And he could say 
 with the poet : 
 
 "But if I might make some reserve. 
 
 And duty did not call ; 
 I love my Lord with zeal so great. 
 
 That I should give him all." 
 
 And he made right there and then a perfect sur- 
 render of himself to the dictates of duty. 
 
 From that time, the duty of preparing for the re- 
 sponsible work of an Ambassador of Christ seemed 
 very clear to his mind. And when the question of 
 duty was fully settled, he stopped not to confer with 
 flesh and blood, but immediately resumed his studies 
 where he left off in the village Academy ; and at the 
 same time he began to exercise his gifts in prayer and 
 exhortation, in the social gatherings of God's people. 
 
 In the spring of 1828, he was called to exercise his 
 gifts before the church, with a view to the obtaining 
 of a license to preach. His trial sermon was from the 
 text, "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of 
 many ; and unto them that look for him shall he ap- 
 pear the second time without sin unto salvation." 
 Heb. 9 : 28. The .church, as a body, was not much 
 in favor of learned preachers, at that time ; although 
 the excellent and eloquent pastor, and some of the 
 members of the church, were persons of culture, and 
 were warm advocates of ministerial education. Most
 
 OP A LONG LITE. 21 
 
 of the members were especially opposed to the use of 
 notes in the pulpit ; and as his object was to obtain a 
 license to preach, that he might repair at onco to the 
 Institution with which his brother was connected, with 
 a view to pursuing a full literary and theological 
 course, he did not dare to show any notes on that oc- 
 casion, or seem over anxious to obtain permission to 
 go to the Seminary. But whatever the sermon, or 
 exhortation was, it seemed satisfactory to the church, 
 and the license was granted. In the month of May, 
 1828, he set out for the Seminary, which, after a 
 tedious journey of about a week by steamboat, canal 
 boat, and stage coach, he reached in health and 
 safety ; and immediately entered upon his prescribed 
 course of studies. He was very much pleased with 
 everything connected with the Institution. The 
 buildings were new and commodious; and the fare 
 at the boarding-house was healthful and abundant. 
 The elevated site, overlooking the beautiful village of 
 Hamilton, as it spread itself out on the fercile plains 
 below ; the health-giving waters of the never failing 
 spring, gushing out of the side of the hill; and the 
 beautiful groves adjacent, all served to make it a 
 desirable location as a seat of learning. Indeed, one 
 could almost imagine, as he ascended the steep hill 
 from the village, that he was really climbing the 
 'heights of Parnassus, and as he paused to slake his 
 thirst with the cool beverage of the bubbling spring, 
 that he was actually imbibing the sweet waters of 
 Helicon. The corriculum of studies was also all that
 
 22 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 the exigencies required. Elder Nathaniel Kendrick, 
 D. D., was the honored head of the faculty, and 
 Professors Hascall, Whitman and Sears were his 
 efficient co-workers in the department of instruction. 
 Prof. Sears has since risen to the highest positions in 
 the Eepublic of Letters ; first, as Superintendent of the 
 educational interests of the State of Massachusetts; 
 then as President of Brown University ; and then as 
 general agent of the Peabody Fund for the extension 
 of general education throughout the South. 
 
 This was a period of great interest in the history of 
 the Baptists of America. Some of the strorfgest men 
 that ever occupied the pulpits of Baptist churches in 
 this country, were then filling the pulpits or occupy- 
 ing important positions in the principal cities. In 
 Boston, Dr. Daniel Sharpe, Dr. Barron Stow, Dr. 
 Francis Wayland, Dr. Lucius Bolles, Dr. Solomau 
 Peck, and Profs. Chase and Knowles Avere the 
 prominent ministers of that city. In New York, 
 Dr. Spencer H. Cone, Dr. Archibald Maclay, Dr, 
 W. E. Williams and Dr. Geo. G. Sommers and 
 others were conspicious at the time. In Albany, 
 Dr. B. T. Welch was then in his full strength, tower- 
 ing above every other minister in the city by the power 
 of his entrancing eloquence. In Troy, Dr. B. M. Hill 
 was exerting a commanding influence, as pastor of the 
 first Baptist church of that city. In Rochester, Dr. 
 Pharceilus Church was rising to celebrity. In Buffalo, 
 Dr. Elisha Tucker was deservedly popular. In Phila- 
 delphia, Dr. W. T. Brantly, Sr., Dr. John L. Dagg
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 23 
 
 and Rev. Mr. Ashton, were the most prominent 
 ministers. In Washington City, Rev. O. B. Brown 
 was then prominent. In Richmond, Dr. ,T. B. Jeter 
 and Dr. J. B. Taylor were the moat conspicious minis- 
 ters. In Charleston, Dr. James Furman, and sub- 
 sequently, Dr. Basil Manly, were the mo. ' eminent 
 ministers of that city. Dr. W. B. Johnson, of Edge- 
 field, was also prominent at that time. Indeed, he was 
 President for some years of the Triennial Convention. 
 But time would fail us should we attempt to speak of 
 Andrew Broadus, of A. W. Clopton, of Win. C. Buck, 
 of Alfred Bennett, of John M. Peck, of Dr. A. Sher- 
 wood, of Jesse Mercer, of John Peck, and a host of other 
 noble worthies, who were then moulding the masses of 
 our people, North and South, and diffusing the spirit 
 of missions, of education, and of self-denying'effort to 
 propagate the truth throughout the world. Mr. T., 
 therefore, came upon the stage, at a very eventful 
 period in the history of the denomination. He was 
 born and reared in the midst of anti-missionary 
 Baptists, and anti-effort men generally, in relation to 
 all the benevolent enterprises of the day. Elder 
 Gilbert Beebee, editor of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, 
 lived in the County adjoining that in which he was 
 born and reared ; and he belonged to the same As- 
 sociation with Mr. Beebee for several years. The 
 first conflict he ever had with Elder Beebee, was at a 
 meeting of the old Warwick Association, on a report 
 of a committee recommending the Sunday-school 
 cause. He advocated the report; Beebee opposed
 
 24 REMINISCENCES AXD INCIDENTS 
 
 it. Most of the preaching in that vicinity, at that 
 time, was by uneducated ministers, and was" hyper- 
 Calvinistic to the last degree. One familiar with their 
 style of preaching, could almost furnish a synopsis of 
 the discourse before he heard it. The theme was 
 usually about as follows: "God has had a. people 
 from all eternity ; he calls them by his irresistible 
 grace, in time ; causes them to persevere in grace, by 
 his Almighty power ; and then takes them to heaven 
 at last." It was no uncommon thing to hear these 
 ministers say that they had no gospel for unconverted 
 sinners ; and then bless God that their sleeves had 
 never touched the college walls : thus glorying in their 
 shame. But the grand-father of Mr. T. and the Rev. 
 Leonard Fletcher, the former, pastor of the Hamburg 
 church, 1 and the latter, pastor of the first Baptist 
 church of Wantage, and Rev. J. D. Murphy were 
 men of education ; and their doctrinal views cor- 
 responded, in the main, with those of the venerable 
 Andrew Fuller, of England. They were the working 
 men of that section. But they were bitterly de- 
 nounced by Beebee, and Trott, and Harding, et id 
 omne genus, as college-bred, man-made preachers; and 
 their doctrinal views were regarded by the anti-no- 
 mians around them as heretical in the last degree. But 
 in the course of time, a remarkable change took place 
 in that vicinity, in the doctrinal teachings of the pul- 
 pit ; and also in relation to the benevolent operations 
 of the day. Rev. John Teasdale, after leaving the 
 Seminary, settled with the Hamburg church the
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 25 
 
 church over which his honored grand-father had so 
 long presided as bishop ; and others of education and 
 correct theological views came in and settled among the 
 churches in the vicinity ; and a new order of things 
 was soon inaugurated. A number of the churches 
 withdrew from, the old Warwick Association, which 
 had become essentially an anti-mission body, and 
 formed a new association, which was called the 
 Sussex Baptist Association. This body, being formed 
 on the -principle of elective affinity, enjoyed great har- 
 mony and prosperity. Missions, and Sunday-schools, 
 and education, and temperance, received the hearty 
 support of this association ; and the anti-mission senti- 
 ment was soon extensively supplanted in all that 
 region. Ono of the first sermons preached before 
 this association, was that delivered by Rev. John 
 Teasdale, on the groundless assumption of the so- 
 called Primitive Baptists, as to their ancient origin. 
 He showed that their distinctive principles were of 
 very modern date, and traced them through authentic 
 documents and associational Minutes to their ignoble 
 beginning. That sermon was printed in the Minutes 
 of the association, and ought to be carefully preserved 
 among the archives of that organization. It evinces 
 considerable research ; and it may be of essential 
 benefit to some future historian, who may desire to 
 show the recent origin of this heretical sect. 
 
 The intended course of Mr. T. at the Seminary was 
 interrupted by ill health. During a winter vacation 
 of the Seminary, he spent thr.e months in preaching
 
 26 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 for the little Baptist church at Bethany, Pa., and a 
 country church some eight miles from the village. He 
 found the church at Bethany in a very low condition ; 
 but he left it greatly revived and strengthened. When 
 he went there the Baptists were holding their meet- 
 ings, when they held any, in the village academy. 
 Soon that building would not accommodate the congre- 
 gation, and they removed to the Court House. This 
 spacious room was soon filled ; and on the last day he 
 preached there, prior to his return to the Seminary, it 
 was impossible to seat all the people who came to hear 
 the closing sermon of the boy preacher ; for such he 
 was then termed in all that region. He was but 
 twenty years of age ; and being small in stature, and 
 of a ruddy countenance, he was taken to be younger 
 than he really was. The people came for twelve miles 
 around the village to hear his preaching. The winter 
 he spent in Bethany was a severely cold one ; and as 
 he had to travel back and forth to his country church, 
 and to meet other appointments which he was con- 
 stantly urged to make, he got an excellent pair of 
 boots made to order by one of his Deacons, and also 
 a pair of leather overshoes. In that way his feet were 
 kept dry and warm in the coldest weather. But on 
 the day when he preached his closing sermon to the 
 great crowd, he forgot, or neglected, to put on his 
 overshoes. He became very warm in preaching; and 
 going out afterwards, and standing on the snow for 
 some time, receiving the adieus of the people from the 
 country, without his overshoes, he contracted a cold
 
 OF A LONG LITE. 27 
 
 which seriously affected his throat, and caused the 
 small tissues of the throat to exude a little blood oc- 
 casionally. He became alarmed at this state of things; 
 and finally sometime afterwards he left the Seminary 
 to recruit his health. This accounts for his not re- 
 maining to complete his full course at the Seminary. 
 He has often wondered greatly, what there was in 
 his crude performances at that early period, that could 
 attract such crowds of people wherever he went to 
 listen to his discourses. It gave him great anxiety, 
 lest he should fail to meet the high expectations of the 
 people, and dishonor his blessed Master. And it has 
 been a remarkable fact in his whole ministerial life, 
 that he has, almost all the time, been so situated, that, 
 to meet public expectation, he has had to exert him- 
 self to his utmost capacity. His .first pastorate was in 
 Bennington, Vt. Then he spent four years in the city 
 of Philadelphia, and vicinity. Then, subsequently, he 
 was pastor of the First Baptist Church in New Haven, 
 Conn., which brought him for five years under the 
 eaves of that great University Yale College and 
 into competition with the learned Professors of that 
 Institution , and the eminent pastors of the other de- 
 nominations in that beautiful city. Then he spent five 
 years as pastor of the principal Baptist church in the 
 great iron city the City of Pittsburg, Pa. After- 
 wards he spent two years as pastor of the First Bap- 
 tist Church in Springfield, the Capitol of the great 
 Prairie State, Illinois. Then he went to Washington 
 City, where he spent, in the pastorate, nearly seven
 
 28 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 years. And then he went to Columbus, Miss., where 
 he found in his church and congregation several of 
 the ablest lawyers in the State ; together with doctors, 
 and merchants, and wealthy planters, of high culture. 
 So that, to meet the expectations of his hearers in all 
 these congregations, it kept him constantly under severe 
 tension. For whatever expansion of mind, and success 
 as a preacher he has ever attained, he is indebted, un- 
 der God, in great measure he thinks, to these cir- 
 cumstances.
 
 OP A LON LIFE. 29 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Late in the fall of 1830, he concluded to accept the call 
 of the East Bennington Church, Vt. ; and he entered up- 
 on the duties of the pastorate there without delay. The 
 church had recently erected a very commodious house 
 of worship, in a central part of the town. He was 
 as yet utiordained. His brother, who was then the 
 newly elected pastor of the Hamburg Church, in 
 New Jersey, was very anxious that they should be or- 
 dained together. They had united with the same 
 church, at the same time; had been baptized by the 
 same minister, on the same day ; had been licensed to 
 preach by the same church ; and had studied at the 
 same Seminary, and he was anxious that they should 
 be ordained at the same time, and by the laying on of 
 the hands of the same Presbytery. Accordingly, he 
 repaired to his native County, in New Jersey ; and on 
 the 16th day of December, 1830, he was, in connec- 
 tion with his beloved brother, John Teasdale, fully in- 
 ducted into the gospel ministry, by the laying on of 
 hands and prayer. It was difficult to find a Presbytery 
 in the vicinity to aid Elder Leonard Fletcher in the 
 ordination services. The ministers all around were 
 uneducated men, and violently opposed to college-
 
 30 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 bred ministers. They regarded these candidates, too, 
 as being unsound in the faith, because they taught, 
 that, although God was a Sovereign, he was not an Al- 
 mighty tyrant ; and that, although man was entirely 
 dependent, he was not a mere machine. In a word, 
 because they taught the same fundamental truths now 
 held and taught by the great body of American Bap- 
 tists, and which are essentially embodied in the New 
 Hampshire articles, as prepared by the late Dr. J. 
 Newton Brown, these anti-nomian ministers considered 
 the Teasdales as very unsound in the faith ; and they 
 refused to lay hands on such heretics. After the 
 death of Elder Thomas Teasdale, Sr., Elder Leonard 
 Fletcher was the only minister in the vicinity who 
 sympathized with the candidates in their views of 
 Bible doctrine, who favored an educated ministry. This 
 made it necessary to send to Newark, N. J., a distance 
 of forty miles, to get two ministers from that city to 
 aid Elder Fletcher in the ordination of the candidates. 
 Elders Platt and Anderson came cheerfully to his aid, 
 and the ordination occurred in the Hamburg Church, 
 on the day above mentioned. 
 
 Immediately after his ordination, Elder T. returned 
 to Bennington, and devoted himself wholly to the 
 duties of his pastorate. He entered upon his work 
 with all the ardor of his natural temperament; with 
 all the fervor of his youthful enthusiasm ; and with all 
 the devotion of his loving and grateful heart. Nor 
 did he labor in vain in the Lord. Soon after the com- 
 mencement of his pastoral labors with that church, the
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 31 
 
 Lord honored his endeavors, and a precious work of 
 grace was enjoyed. The graces of Christians were 
 greatly quickened, and many sinners were hopefully 
 converted. 
 
 !fwo or three incidents in connection with this 
 blessed work deserve a passing notice. An interest- 
 ing and intelligent young lady professed conversion, 
 and seemed to be exquisitely happy- Only a day or 
 two afterwards, she got terribly into the dark, and 
 doubted her conversion altogether. This was a new 
 case to the young and inexperienced pastor ; but he 
 succeeded at length in convincing her that her doubts 
 were without any just foundation, and she came again 
 into the full blaze of gospel light, and could then read 
 her "title clear to mansions in the skies." This same 
 young lady was very deeply convicted of sin, and be- 
 came perfectly penitent and submissive before her con- 
 version. One night an invitation was given for the 
 anxious to come forward and occupy specified seats, 
 that they might be conversed with personally and 
 prayed for specifically. The meetings were held during 
 the week nights, in the village Academy. There was 
 a large stove in the center of the room. This 
 young lady said that she was so anxious about 
 her soul's salvation, and so filled with self-abasement, 
 that if the minister had invited her to take a seat 
 on the hearth of the stove, there being no fire 
 in the stove, she would have done it. She came 
 to feel that she had no longer any way or will of 
 her own. She made a consistent and useful mem-
 
 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 ber of the church, as may well be supposed. 
 Another incident in connection with this interesting 
 revival may also be mentioned. A select school was 
 taught in the upper part of the village by a very pious 
 and excellent young lady, a daughter of one of the 
 deacons of the church. She had twelve or fourteen 
 girls connected with her school that were about twelve 
 years old, and very nearly the same size. These little 
 girls became deeply interested on the subject of re- 
 ligion ; and their teacher observed that during every 
 noon recess, they would go off by themselves into a 
 neighboring grove. This was done for several days 
 in succession. As soon as the noon recess commenced, 
 they would leave all the other pupils, and go off by 
 themselves into the grove. The teacher concluded 
 that she would ascertain, if possible, what it was that 
 attracted them to the grove every day so regularly. 
 She, therefore, quietly and softly stole along to their 
 chosen bower, unobserved ; and she found them en- 
 gaged in a prayer-meeting. The result was that the 
 pastor very soon afterwards baptized into the fellow- 
 ship of his church the whole of the little crowd. They 
 gave the most entire satisfaction of a thorough change 
 of heart, and were welcomed to the fellowship of the 
 church with great joy. 
 
 And yet another incident occurred during that 
 precious work of grace, that must not be overlooked. 
 Many young and interesting people of both sexes were 
 being converted and brought into the church. But 
 there was one young man who seemed to be totally un-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 33 
 
 moved by all that was passing around him. He was 
 a young lawyer of considerable promise. The pastor 
 felt a deep interest in his spiritual welfare, and looked 
 with anxiety to see him evincing some concern about 
 his soul's sajvation. But as he continued apparently 
 indifferent to the whole matter, the pastor concluded 
 that he would call to see him in his office, and talk 
 with him privately on the subject of his personal sal- 
 vation. He did so; and, as he desired, found him, 
 at the time, without clients to interrupt the interview. 
 After the usual salutations, the pastor introduced the 
 subject of personal religion, and expressed some sur- 
 piise, that while so many of his young associates were 
 embracing religion, he should appear to be so indif- 
 ferent to the whole matter. The younac man then re- 
 
 tf 
 
 marked that he was in doubt as to the divine reality of 
 the Christian religion. This did not surprise the pas- 
 tor, for he had understood that he professed to be 
 somewhat skeptical. But he .went on to say, that his 
 difficulty was not with religion in record, but that he 
 was stumbling over the conduct of Christian profes- 
 sors. "Now," said he, * 'this revival has been going 
 on for several weeks, and many have professed con- 
 version. Members of the church, also, profess to be 
 greatly revived. But, sir, you are the first one who 
 has said a word tome personally, about the welfare of 
 my soul, since the revival has been in progress. If 
 my office should take fire in the dead of night, and I 
 should be in danger of being consumed in the flames, 
 there is not, I presume, a single one of these Christian
 
 34 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 people who would not rush to rescue me from the ad- 
 vancing flames, if they found me to be asleep in my 
 adjoining bed-room. And yet they profess to believe 
 that I am every moment exposed to the flames of a 
 quenchless fire, and they make no effort ;to save me 
 from that terrible .destruction. Can they really be- 
 lieve what they profess to believe? Do they believe 
 that there is an eternal hell, into which I am liable, at 
 any time, to be turned ; and yet make no effort to de- 
 liver me from going to that place of torment? Why, 
 sir; if I believed as they profess to believe, I could not 
 rest and see my neighbors going down to hell, without 
 an earnest effort to save them from the death that 
 never dies. Sir, I would get down on my knees on 
 the side- walk here in front of my office, and, with 
 streaming tears, entreat every impenitent passer-by to 
 make his peace with God without delay. How can I 
 reconcile the conduct of these Christian professors, 
 with their solemn profession?',' Such was the strain 
 in which he went on to show the gross inconsistences 
 of professors of religion ; and the pastor could but 
 blush for their remissness in duty, and their neglect of 
 this man's soul. What could lie say in reply? He 
 could only say : "Well, my dear friend, religion is a 
 divine reality, notwithstanding the misconduct of some 
 of its professed friends. And suppose you and I take 
 up the trailing banner of the cross, and wave it on 
 high, and thus set an, example ourselves as to how 
 Christians should live." This occurrence has been an 
 important lesson to the then young pastor during all
 
 OF A LOXG LIFE. 35 
 
 his long life in the work of the ministry ; and he has 
 often adverted to it with profit to neglectful professors 
 of religion. 
 
 During his pastorate at Bennington, he made the 
 acquaintance of Miss Delia Lottridgc, daughter of 
 Capt. Kobert Lottridge, a well-to-do famcr, residing 
 in the vicinity of Hoosick Falls, Rensalaer County, 
 N. Y. ; and ho was married to her on the 16th day 
 of November, 1831. On the very day of his marriage, 
 Mrs. Norton, with whom he was then boarding in Ben- 
 nington, while on her way to the wedding, with several 
 other friends from Bennington, received the sad intel- 
 ligence of the death of her husband. He had been in 
 
 O 
 
 bad health for some little time, and was very low spir- 
 ited, amounting at times to absolute melancholy. He 
 was engaged in the mercantile business ; and his affairs 
 were in good condition. He was a fine business man, 
 and a very efficient member of the church. Elder T. 
 boarded in his family, and therefore he knew him in- 
 timately, and had the utmost confidence in his piety. 
 It was thought it might give a spring to his mind to 
 have him accompany his brother to New York, to lay 
 in their winter goods. Accordingly he went with his 
 brother to New York, and he seemed to take hold of 
 business with some spirit. But on their return on 
 the steamer, going up the Hudson river, he managed 
 to elude the care of his brother, and jumped over- 
 board, in the night, and was drowned. His body was 
 subsequently recovered, and was buried in the cemetery 
 in Bennington. But oh ! what woe the death of that
 
 36 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 excellent husband and father brought into that home. 
 He left a most affectionate wife, and several lovely 
 children to mourn his irreparable loss. Elder T. felt 
 the loss of his host and intimate friend very deeply ; 
 and he could sympathize with the bereaved family to 
 the fullest extent, in the great affliction that had be- 
 fallen them. 
 
 During Elder T.'s pastorate in Beunington, he was 
 invited to assist several neighboring ministering breth- 
 ren in their annual protracted meetings. While he 
 was assisting Elder Mattison, of West Shatfsbury, in 
 his meeting, an incident occurred that he never has 
 forgotten. There was a great deal of interest in the 
 meeting, and many sought and found the Savior pre- 
 cious to their souls. On one occasion the anxious 
 were invited to come forward for special prayers, and 
 a considerable number came forward at once, and oc- 
 cupied the seats designated for enquiring sinners. 
 There was a moment's pause ; and a venerable gentle- 
 man in the congregation arose, his white locks stream- 
 ing in the summer's breeze, and said, with deep 
 emotion, "Well, if there are no more young people 
 to go forward, I will go;" and he came forward and 
 took his seat among the inquirers. That venerable man 
 was Ex-Governor Galusha. He was personally known, 
 perhaps, to every individual in that vast assembly, 
 and his example induced many others to come forward 
 for prayers, and seek the salvation of their souls. 
 
 In a meeting at Arlington, some fourteen miles 
 north of Bennington, the following incident occurred:
 
 Or A LONG LIFE. 3V 
 
 Protracted meetings at that time, usually lasted three 
 or four days. A four days' meeting was considered a 
 long meeting. On the first day of those meetings, 
 the sermons were almost uniformly addressed to Chris- 
 tians, and their most obvious delinquencies were point- 
 ed out. A season of humiliation, and prayer, and 
 confession followed. On the second day, at the close 
 of the morning sermon, an opportunity was usually 
 given, for the presentation of requests for special 
 prayer for unconverted friends. It was so on this oc- 
 casion, and quite a number of requests for special 
 prayer for children, and companions, and dear friends 
 yet out of Christ, were presented and carried to the 
 throne of grace in fervent prayer. At length there 
 was a moment's pause in these exercises; and in the 
 midst of that solemn pause, a lady arose in the con- 
 gregation, clad in weeds of deep mourning, and said: 
 "I have a dear son, the only sou of his widowed 
 mother, for whom I beg an interest in your prayers. I 
 have tried to pray for him, and with him; and this 
 morning I besought him, in my tears, to come with me 
 to the meeting. But I could not induce him to come 
 with me; and now, while we are all here in the house 
 of God, he is away off in the field plowing. Oh ! will 
 you pray for my poor boy? and in her tears she sat 
 down. A season of prayer was immediately had for the 
 widow's son. The scene is all as fresh in the memory 
 of Dr. T. as if it had occurred but yesterday. Three 
 prayers were offered in succession, before the people 
 arose from their knees ; and they were offered specially
 
 38 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 for that dear boy. Everything else seemed to be held 
 in obeyance, and the case of the widow's son was the 
 one absorbing interest in those prayers. It was ear- 
 nestly supplicated that God would arrest him imme- 
 diately where he was ; lead him to consider his latter 
 end ; and induce him to seek the salvation of his soul 
 without longer delay. Well, while the people in the 
 house of God were thus praying for him, and he was 
 following his plow far away, a solemn sedateness came 
 over his mind ; a peculiar sadness sat brooding over 
 his spirits ; the knell of eternity sounded a note of 
 alarm in his ears to which he had not been accustomed ; 
 and an unaccountable impression rested on his mind 
 that all was not well with him. He thought of his 
 sins, of his widowed mother's prayers and tears in his 
 behalf ; and of the calls of grace and mercy which he 
 had so often slighted ; and he began to tremble in view 
 of his wretched and guilty condition as an unpardoned 
 sinner. He soon grew weak ; and stopping his team, 
 he sat down on the beam of his plow and wept bitterly. 
 While he was sitting there weeping, he was made to 
 feel that if he drove his team to the end of the furrow, 
 without giving his heart to Christ, he would be forever 
 lost. He, therefore, turned out his team right where 
 they were, and wended his way to the nearest Chris- 
 tian's house. They had just gotten home from church. 
 As he came in with his head bowed down, and the 
 tears rolling down his cheeks, he said, "Oh ! is there a 
 Christian here that can pray for a poor sinner? If so, 
 will he pray for me?" And he threw himself on his
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 30 
 
 knees in the deepest distress. Prayers were offered 
 for him ; and before that meeting came to a close, the 
 Christians who hud prayed for him so fervently, at his 
 mother's special request, were permitted to see him in 
 the house of God, rejoicing in a new born hope of 
 heaven. This was one of the most striking answers 
 to special prayer Elder T. had then ever witnessed ; 
 and it made an indelible impression upon his mind. 
 He has often adverted to this incident in his revival 
 meetings, with the happiest effect. 
 
 Still another incident occurred, while he was assist- 
 ing the pastor of the church at Shaf tsbury Center, in 
 his annual meeting. He was invited to take tea with 
 a sister of the church, whose husband, though a mem- 
 ber of the choir, and a regular attendant upon all the 
 meetings, was an unconverted man. Elder T. had 
 taken a little stroll down the principal street of the 
 village before supper time. When he returned he 
 stepped quietly into the parlor, and he overheard the 
 fervent, wrestling prayer of that anxious Christian 
 wife for the conversion of her dear husband . As he 
 listened to her importunate pleading in prayer in be- 
 half of her husband, he determined, right there, that 
 he would evermore be the advocate of the cause of 
 Christian wives for the conversion of their husbands. 
 And he has never forgotten that solemn vow, which he 
 made in the parlor of that sister, while she was agon- 
 izing for the conversion of her affectionate husband. 
 Hundreds of unconverted husbands have been led to 
 Jesus for salvation, though his instrumentality since
 
 40 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS , 
 
 that ever memorable occasion ; and he hopes to win 
 many more husbands to Jesus before he dies.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 41 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 In the Spring of 1832, Elder T. received a call as 
 city missionary, in Philadelphia, Pa. ; and he removed 
 to that city, with his youthful bride, in the month of 
 May, of that year. His first attempt at housekeeping 
 was in that city. Rev. Ira M. Allen was then Secre- 
 tary of the Baptist General Tract Society, whose head- 
 quarters were in Philadelphia. That Society has 
 grown to be the American Baptist Publication Society,* 
 which is located on Chestnut Street, between 14th and 
 15th Streets, in that city. As neither Mr. Allen nor 
 himself had then any children, they concluded that 
 one house would accommodate both their small fami- 
 lies ; and accordingly they rented the house on Wood 
 Street, above 7th street, in which the lamented Noah 
 Davis had formerly lived. Things moved on smoothly 
 and pleasantly, until the Asiatic Cholera made its ad- 
 vent for the first time in this country. It appeared 
 first in New York City, in the summer of 1832, and 
 spread rapidly over the country. It reached Phila- 
 delphia soon after it assumed an epidemic form in New 
 York ; and it created a wonderful panic in the city, as 
 it did, indeed, in all the cities in which it prevailed. 
 Elder T.'s father insisted that he should bring his
 
 42 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 wife, and come and spend the time during the preva- 
 lence of the epidemic at his home in Sussex County, 
 N. J. By appointment his father met him, and his 
 wife, and his wife's sister, at a designated place about 
 twenty miles from Philadelphia, and carried them to 
 to his hospitable home, and made them very happy 
 during their exile from the city of brotherly love. 
 
 While they were staying at his father's house, his 
 wife gave birth to their first child, who made his ad- 
 vent into this world of ours, on the 16th day of Sep- 
 tember, 1832. Both mother and child were spared to 
 him ; and his heart was full of gratitude to the Giver 
 of every good and perfect gift, in the favor shown to 
 him on this occasion. 
 
 i 
 
 During his detention in the country, he assisted his 
 brother John in a series of religious meetings, which 
 were held in his church at LaFayette, Sussex County, 
 N. J. The meetings were very much blessed, and 
 quite a number were added to the church by baptism. 
 Among the number of those baptized were a beloved 
 brother-in-law, and a very dear uncle. His uncle had 
 been indulging hope in Christ for fourteen years. 
 When he was first converted, he enjoyed a comfortable 
 assurance of his acceptance with God, and went to 
 the Church meeting that month with the intention of 
 joining the church at that time. But when he got to 
 the meeting, although he was feeling very well satis- 
 fied with the change which he had experienced, Satan 
 suggested to him that he had better wait a month 
 
 OO 
 
 longer before he united with the church, and see how
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 43 
 
 he would feel then about this matter. He yielded to 
 this suggestion of Satan, our great Adversary, and 
 concluded to wait a month longer before ho joined the 
 church. When the next monthly meeting came round, 
 he began to doubt a little, and he thought it would not 
 do to join the church with any doubts in his mind; 
 and, therefore, he concluded to wait another month. 
 And the longer he waited the more he doubted ; until 
 at length he became a chronic doubter. His wife was 
 a member of the church at the time of his conversion ; 
 and several of his children had joined the church at 
 different times afterwards; but, although he always 
 rejoiced to see others, and especially members of his 
 own family, coming out and making a public profes- 
 sion of religion, yet he never had been made to feel, 
 after his postponement of duty at first, that he was 
 worthy of a place in the Church of Christ himself. 
 He had passed through revival after revival, and was 
 always glad to see the work of the Lord prosper ; but 
 he could not be made to feel that it was his duty to 
 identify himself with the people of God by a public 
 profession of his faith in Jesus Christ. And so he had 
 continued to put off this matter until the time of that 
 meeting. Elder T. and his brother felt a very deep 
 interest in his case. They had no doubt that it was 
 his duty to join the church. And that was the feeling 
 of all who knew him. They, therefore, determined to 
 get him into the water during that meeting if possible. 
 They entered into a sort of holy conspiracy against 
 him, in the matter of his guilty delay; and they de-
 
 44 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 termined to leave no stone unturned in their efforts to 
 convince him of his duty, and induce him to perform 
 it. Well, without going into the details of their efforts 
 to accomplish their purpose, suffice it to say, that at 
 length they got him to consent to submit his case to 
 the church, after he should have made a full statement 
 of his condition to them, as he understood it. Ac- 
 cordingly he went before the church and mude his 
 statement; and then he begged the church to be faith- 
 ful to him ; and if they had any doubts about his being 
 a suitable candidate for baptism and subsequent church 
 fellowship, to tell .him so honestly; for he did not 
 want to be deceived about this matter. He was re- 
 ceived by acclamation ; and there was great joy on that 
 occasion that Capt. Cox had at last consented to per- 
 form a long neglected duty . His wife and children 
 were filled with joy unspeakable, over this long desired 
 event. He was, himself, a much happier man, in hav- 
 ing taken one step in the way of obedience ; and he 
 went home from the meeting rejoicing. 
 
 But on Sunday morning he began to doubt again; 
 and when he came into the house, after looking to the 
 wants of his stock, he said to his wife, in doleful 
 tones: "Wife, you need not prepare my clothes for 
 my baptism to-day. I am too much in the dark. I 
 cannot go forward without more light." His wife 
 requested him to go on and see the pastor, who lived on 
 the way to the church, and converse with him, and 
 perhaps he might feel better ; and when they came 
 along with the carriage on their way to church, they
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 45 . 
 
 would stop at the pastor's and he could get into the 
 carriage there, and ride with them to the meeting- 
 house. He took the advice of his wife, and went to 
 see the pastor. When he had made his doleful state- 
 ment to the pastor, he replied to him by saying : 
 "Now uncle, the devil is after you again. He has 
 been worrying 3^011 for the last fourteen years, and he 
 is not willing to give you up yet. These doubts and 
 this darkness are the result of Satan's influence over 
 you. You must not yield now, sir. Why, dear sir, 
 you cannot back out now. You submitted your case 
 yesterday to the church ; and they said unanimously 
 that they believed it was your duty and your privilege 
 to join the church. The whole community expect to 
 see you baptized to-day; and there must be, and there 
 can be no backing out now. I do insist, sir, most 
 positively, that you shall be baptized to-day." So he 
 found no food for his doubts and hesitancy in that 
 quarter. His family then came along, and he rode 
 with them to the meeting-house. Elder T. officiated 
 that morning; and after the sermon, and when the 
 candidates were about to prepare for baptism, he 
 said to Capt. Cox, "Well uncle, come, get ready, sir, 
 for the baptism;" and he began with his excuses, as of 
 old; but he told him, as his brother, the pastor, had 
 done, that this was the work of the devil to keep him 
 from tho discharge of his duty still ; and he could not 
 consent, for a moment, to any postponement, on any 
 account. And when he was pressed into a corner, 
 he said : "I told my wife this morning that she need
 
 A(y REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 not bring my clothes ; that I was so much in the dark, 
 and had so many doubts, that I could not be baptized 
 to-day." He thought then he certainly had a good 
 excuse for delay. But just then his wife spoke up 
 and said: "Husband, I brought your clothes along 
 in the carriage ; I thought you would feel better, and 
 then you would need them." When his last excuse 
 was cut off, he reluctantly consented to get ready for 
 baptism. He went all the way down to the water in 
 a very sad mood; but while the prayer was f being 
 made at the water side, Satan seemed to let go of him, 
 and he was very happy. He enjoyed the ordinance 
 very much ; and always afterwards thanked Elder T. 
 and his brother, for the part which they had taken in 
 inducing him to perform that long neglected duty. 
 The brother-in-law of Elder T., who was converted in 
 that meeting, died some four years afterwards in the 
 triumph of faith. 
 
 Soon after the birth of his child, Elder T. re- 
 turned to Philadelphia to resume his mission 
 work. His wife was left at his father's to ac- 
 company his brother John to Hightstown, in Novem- 
 ber, who was expecting to attend the anniversary 
 meeting of the Baptist State Convention, of New 
 Jersey, which met there that year. He accordingly 
 brought Elder T.'s wife and the young babe with him 
 to the Convention. Elder T. met them there, and 
 conducted them to Philadelphia. 
 
 One of the mission stations under the care of Elder 
 T. in Philadelphia, was located on the Schuylkill, in
 
 OF A LONG LIFK. 47 
 
 the western part of the city. The Baptists had a 
 room there, in which they held a Sabbath- school, and 
 in which, also, prayer-meetings and other religious 
 services were conducted. Thos. U. Walter Esq., 
 then a promising and rising young architect in the 
 city, used to accompany the missionary to the mission 
 station, and assist him in conducting the Sunday- 
 school, and in singing, etc. Mr. Walter afterwards 
 rose to the highest distinction in his profession. He 
 competed with the celebrated Strickland, and other 
 eminent architects, in drawing the plans for the cele- 
 brated Girard College, and bore off the palm. Subse- 
 quently he was appointed United States Architect ; 
 and the present elegant National Capitol is the pro- 
 duct of his genius. To take the old incommodious 
 structure, and add to it two large wings, and place 
 upon it a dome of proper proportions, and make the 
 whole seem, when it was completed, as if the original 
 design had just been consummated, was a triumph of 
 genius, which of itself was sufficient to immortalize 
 the distinguished artist. Other national structures 
 were erected under his direction ; and the whole of his 
 work as United States' Architect, erected a monument 
 to his extraordinary genius, more brilliant than polish- 
 ed brass, and more lasting than Parian marble. 
 
 Elder T. held a series of meetings during the autumn 
 of 1832, at this mission station, which was greatly 
 blessed, and quite a number of joyful converts were 
 baptized into the death of Christ as the result. An 
 incident illustrative of prevailing prayer occurred dur-
 
 48 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 ing that meeting. The wife of a mechanic in the 
 vicinity was converted, and she became very anxious 
 for the conversion of her husband. She presented 
 him as an object of special prayer one morning in the 
 meeting. He had business that day in Haddonfield, 
 N. J., eight miles from the city, and started out there 
 to accomplish it. On his way, and while prayer was 
 being made for him in the meeting, he felt an , unac- 
 countable impression that all was not well at home, and 
 that he must turn back. And with his journey half 
 accomplished he returned to the city ; came to the 
 meeting ; and very soon afterwards Elder T. had the 
 satisfaction of leading him and his wife arm in arm 
 down into the waters of the Schuylkill, and burying 
 them with their blessed Lord in Baptism. About a 
 year after Elder T.'s removal to Philadelphia, the 
 Central Union Baptist Association was formed, and he 
 was elected Corresponding Secretary, and general 
 Evangelist of that body. While engaged in this capac- 
 ity, he assisted a number of the pastors, whose churches 
 had united with the new Association, in protracted 
 meetings with their respective churches. Amongst 
 this number were the churches at Frankfort, Holmes- 
 burg, Great Valley, Hepzibah, Phoenix ville, Chester, 
 Windsor, Camden, N. J., and others. In every in- 
 stance his labors were greatly blessed. He also assist- 
 ed Rev. D. A. Nichols, of Roxborough, six miles from 
 the city then, but now a part of that great city, in a 
 series of interesting meetings. A large number of 
 souls probably sixty or seventy professed conversion
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 49 
 
 in that meeting. An incident or two occurred during 
 this meeting which it may he well to note. On one 
 occasion, when, as usual, a large number of penitents 
 came forward for prayers, there happened to be twelve 
 very interesting young ladies, occupy ing the front seat, 
 extending from aisle to aisle. It was an interesting 
 spectacle to see so many young ladies, so nearly of the 
 same size and age, occupying the same seat for prayers, 
 and evincing so deep a concern about the salvation of 
 their souls. Whilst others w r ere conversing with the 
 rest of the inquirers, it fell to the lot of Elder T. to 
 converse with these young ladies. He began at one 
 end of the bench and conversed with two of the young 
 ladies, and tried to point them to the Lamb of God 
 that taketh away the sin of the world ; and when he 
 came to the third one on the seat, she said to him, in 
 very solemn tones, "Oh ! sir, will 3 r ou pray for me?" 
 He thought there was something peculiar in the re- 
 quest; and in order to bring the young lady out more 
 fully, he said, "Yes, Miss, we will pray for you all as 
 soon as the song is completed." Then she said, "Oh! 
 sir, I want you to pray for me.*' He replied. "Well 
 Miss, if you will solemnly promise to give your heart 
 to Jesus, right here and now, I will pray for you, and 
 you will be converted." After a few second's solemn 
 pause, she said in tones of the utmost decision, "I 
 will, sir." Prayer was immediately made for her, and 
 she arose rejoicing. Then the young lady sitting next 
 to her said, "Will you pray so for me?" He said to 
 her, "On the same terms, Miss. If you will promise
 
 50 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 to give your heart to Jesus at once, I will pray for you, 
 and you will be converted." She replied, "I will, 
 sir." Prayer was then offered for her, and she arose 
 rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. And so it 
 went on, until every one had been prayed for, separate- 
 ly, at her own request ; and every one of them pro- 
 fessed conversion on that interesting occasion. The 
 prayers were all very short, occupying on an average 
 less than two minutes a piece ; and yet every prayer 
 was answered in the immediate conversion of a soul. 
 Many years afterwards Elder T. met the pastor, Rev. 
 D. A. Nichols, and inquired how those twelve young 
 ladies had held out. And he said "not one of them 
 has gone back to the weak and beggarly elements of 
 the world. Every one of them is still honoring her 
 Christian profession-, and traveling on to God." 
 
 After the meeting there had been going for some 
 weeks, Elder T. preached, on one Sunday night, 
 what was intended to be the closing sermon of the 
 series, from the text in Jeremiah viii. 20: "The 
 harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not 
 saved." The impression made on the occasion was so 
 deep and so general, that it was thought it would be 
 very improper to close the meeting under such a state 
 of religious interest ; and the meeting went on another 
 week. On the following Sunday night, he preached the 
 closing sermon from John vii. 37. "In the last day, that 
 great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying 
 If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink." 
 While he was winding up the discussion, and when he
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 51 
 
 was making a very close application of the subject, a 
 young man arose in the densely crowded assembly, 
 and started towards the door. The doors of the 
 church were in front, and the pulpit was between the 
 doors. So that persons coming in or going out, must 
 pass by the pulpit. The aisles were crowded with 
 persons standing on that occasion. Elder T. did not 
 know what the object of the young man was in 
 leaving his seat at that very solemn moment. His 
 eye rested on him with interest as he worked his 
 way down the crowded aisle. When he came op- 
 posite to the platform before the pulpit, he turned 
 out of the aisle, and came directly in front of the 
 pulpit, and threw himself on his knees, and begged 
 Christians to pray for him. Elder T. closed his re- 
 marks at once, saying, that this was a sufficient ap- 
 plication of the subject; and then invited all others 
 who desired an interest in the prayers of Christians 
 to come forward. A large number went forward im- 
 mediately, and it really seemed hard to close the meet- 
 ing amidst so much existing interest, and while so 
 many souls were still requesting an interest in the 
 prayers of God's people for their salvation. 
 
 In the Autumn of 1833, he assisted in a series of 
 meetings in a newly constituted church in Chester 
 County, Pa., called the Windsor Baptist Church. 
 This was also a great meeting. During the progress 
 of the meeting, one of the preachers said to him : "I 
 wish you would preach on the text, 'Come out from 
 among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
 
 52 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 touch not the unclean thing; and T will receive you, 
 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my 
 sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.' ' 2 
 Cor. vi. 17, 18. Elder T. told him that he had never 
 preached on that text; and that he did not remember, 
 at the moment, where it was to be found. But he 
 told the brother to go on with the prayer-meeting a few 
 minutes longer, and he would step into the pulpit and, 
 see if he could turn readily to the passage ; and then 
 he would determine whether he would venture to try 
 to preach from it or not. Accordingly he went into 
 the pulpit; turned to the passage ; and in five minutes 
 the subject so opened to his mind that he determined 
 to preach from it. If he had had a week to study the 
 sermon, he could not have had a clearer view of the 
 subject, or preached with greater ease than he did on 
 that occasion. The reason why the brother had re- 
 quested him to preach on that passage was that quite a 
 number were indulging hope in Christ, who seemed dis- 
 inclined, from various causes, to make a public profes- 
 sion of religion. The sermon had the desired effect 
 on that class ; and tjie very next day, twenty-two souls 
 came out and made a public profession of their faith 
 in Christ, and were immediately baptized into his 
 death. 
 
 During the same meeting, when a very large num- 
 ber of persons were coming forward for prayers, and 
 when many were being converted in almost every 
 meeting, Elder T. remarked one night, as he was con- 
 versing with the penitents, that he ought to rejoice
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 53 
 
 because he found members of the church were being 
 converted. He did not say of what church. But 
 when he made that remark, a young woman, stand- 
 ing in the crowded aisle, spoke with a loud voice, and 
 said, as she supposed he referred to :i member of the 
 Lutheran Church who was among the inquirers: 
 "She had as much religion before as she has now. 
 And what is it to commit the unpardonable sin, but 
 to baptize them over again?" He turned to the young 
 woman and inquired of her, if she thought she was a 
 Christian. She replied very angrily: "I have as 
 much religion as you have." Then he told her plain- 
 ly, that he feared she was in the gall of bitterness, 
 and in the bonds of iniquity ; and that if she did not 
 repent and turn to God for salvation, she would be 
 forever lost. And he said : "I must pray for you." 
 He bowed at once in the aisle, and prayed fervently 
 for the poor, deluded girl. She was so filled with 
 wrath that she would , it was thought, have trampled 
 the minister under her feet, had she not been re- 
 strained by Christian friends around her. The poor 
 girl found out afterwards that she had no religion, sure 
 enough; and it was hoped that she finally sought and 
 found an interest in the peace-speaking blood of Jesus, 
 and was saved. 
 
 During that same autumn, he, and several other 
 ministers, amongst whom may be mentioned, Rev. Dr, 
 W. T. Brantly, Sr., Rev. Leonard Fletcher, Rev. Geo. 
 I. Miles, Rev.' D. A. Nichols and Rev. W. S. Hall 
 held a meeting of days in West Chester, Pa. The
 
 54 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 Baptists had never had a church in that pleasant and 
 thriving Borough. They had a church about two 
 miles out of town, called Bethesda Church. But it 
 was thought that an effort should be made to get up a 
 church in the village ; and such an effort was deter- 
 mined on immediately. The prominent brethren 
 associated with Elder T. in this effort, took turns in 
 the labors of the meeting. The meeting lasted several 
 weeks, and was a grand success. It was deemed 
 necessary to organize the numerous converts into a 
 church, and Elder T. was requested to take charge of 
 that work. He, therefore, remained, and gathered 
 the converts together, and organized them into a 
 church, which w:is publicly recognized early in the 
 year of 1834. He was then invited to take charge of 
 the church ; and in order to give the new interest a 
 good start, he consented to serve the church one year. 
 At the same time he preached to the Windsor church, 
 twice a month. But when he preached at the Wind- 
 sor church on Sunday morning, he rode into West 
 Chester and preached at night ; so that there was 
 preaching once every Sunday in West Chester, and 
 most of the time twice. The church continued to 
 prosper ; and at the close of Dr. T.'s engagement with 
 it, Rev. Geo. I. Miles was called to the pastorate. 
 It continued*to prosper; soon built a commodious 
 meeting-house ; and has gone on advancing until it has 
 at length become two bands ; each of which has an ex- 
 
 O * 
 
 cellent church edifice, and a large and efficient member- 
 ship ; especially the First Church.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 55 
 
 While a resident of West Chester, his second child 
 was born. He had then a son and daughter ; and he 
 felt himself rich with such treasures. 
 
 Near the close of the year of 1834, he received a 
 call to the pastorate of the Baptist church of Camden, 
 N. J. ; and at the commencement of the year of 1835, 
 he entered upon his duties as pastor of that church. 
 And in connection with his pastoral work in that city, 
 he opened a boarding and day school for young ladies, 
 which proved a good success. He remained in Cam- 
 den until the spring of 1836, when he sold out his 
 school, and removed to Newton, Sussex County, N. 
 J., to take charge of the Newton High School, and 
 preach for the First and Second Baptist churches of 
 the township of Newton the one located at La Fay ette, 
 and the other in the village, some five miles apart. 
 He succeeded in building up a large and prosperous 
 school , and the churches under his care w r ere greatly 
 strengthened during his pastorate amongst them. 
 His influence in the New Association, which had been 
 organized only two or three years before he removed 
 to Newton, was also salutary. Hs acted as clerk and 
 corresponding secretary of the body ; and of course 
 he wrote its annual reports, and superintended the 
 printing of its minutes. This Association was called 
 the Sussex Baptist Association, and was composed 
 mainlj of the churches that came out of the old 
 Warwick Association, which had become essentially 
 anti-missionary as before stated. His brother, Rev. 
 JohnTeasdale, and a few kindred spirits, were instru-
 
 56 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 mental in organizing the Association, and making it a 
 working, missionary body. 
 
 During his sojourn in Newton, Elder T. attended a 
 number of protracted meetings, and assisted the 
 pastors of various churches very materially in their 
 work. In the Winter of 1840, he went down to Pat- 
 terson, N. J., and held a meeting of great interest in 
 that busy city. The mills there continued work until 
 so late an hour in the evening, that it was impossible 
 for the operatives, and others connected with those 
 extensive manufacturing establishments, to get their 
 supper and get to church before 8 o'clock. So the 
 preaching service was arranged to begin at that hour. 
 After the sermon, the congregation was regularly dis- 
 missed, and all who desired to converse with the min- 
 isters, and ask for special prayer, were requested to 
 repair immediately to the Lecture Room below, which 
 was lighted and warmed for the purpose. Very soon 
 the number of inquirers became quite numerous; and 
 frequently it got to be 10 o'clock at night before the 
 inquiry meetings could be closed. One night the in- 
 quiry meeting was peculiarly interesting. And after 
 that excellent meeting had been dismissed, fourteen 
 anxious penitents still remained, and begged Christians 
 to continue to pray for them. The pastor, Rev. C.W. 
 Dennison, Rev. Mr. Bingham, Elder T., and several 
 brethren and sisters of the church remained, and 
 prayed for these penitent souls, until the last one of 
 the fourteen had expressed hope in Christ. It seemed 
 that every prayer offered was answered in the conver-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 57 
 
 sion of some soul. The last one remaining uncon- 
 verted was an Infidel's daughter. Against the violent 
 opposition of her father, this girl contrived to attend 
 the meeting, and became deeply anxious about the 
 salvation of her soul. She was the object of intense 
 solicitude at that stage of the meeting. Elder T, 
 knelt by her side, and offered a very fervent praj'er 
 for her immediate conversion. All the brethren and 
 sisters present joined most heartily in the prayer. Be- 
 fore the prayer was closed she found Jesus precious to 
 her soul, and she arose to tell to all around, what a 
 dear Savior she had found. A brother present who 
 had been rather tinctured with anti-nomianiam, and 
 had not entered very heartily into the spirit of the 
 meeting before, threw himself on his knees, and ex- 
 claimed aloud, "Blessed be the name of the Lord : I 
 have never seen it on this wise before." From that 
 time that brother became an earnest worker in the 
 meeting ; and afterwards he entered the ministry, and 
 has been very successful, as a preacher to sailors, in 
 winning souls to Jesus. His name was Perry. 
 
 In the spring of 1840, Elder T. received a call 
 from the First Baptist Church in the city of New 
 Haven, Ct., to become its pastor. He accepted the 
 call, and removed to that city the first of April of that 
 year. He Lad then four children, two sons having 
 been born to him while a resident of Newton, N. J. 
 There was now opened before him a wide field of use- 
 fulness. The city then numbered between fifteen 
 thousand and twenty thousand inhabitants. The meet-
 
 58 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 ing house was large, containing sittings for a thousand 
 people, and was well located on Chapel Street, which 
 is one of the principal streets of the city. The church 
 numbered about four hundred members ; and the con- 
 gregations uniformly filled all the space in the commo- 
 dious meeting house. This was of itself very inspirit- 
 ing to a man of his age ; and it stimulated him to 
 very earnest endeavors to meet the expectations of his 
 large and intelligent audience. Then to all this was 
 added the fact, that he was placed under the eaves of 
 the celebrated Yale College, and was brought into con- 
 tact with its able faculty, and also with the distinguish- 
 ed ministers who occupied the pulpits of the various 
 churches in the city. It was a pretty severe ordeal 
 though which he had to pass. But, by earnest effort, 
 and the help of the Lord, he was enabled to meet the 
 exigencies of the case, and sustain himself fully in the 
 pastorate. He remained in New Haven, as pastor of 
 the church, five years; and it was a good schooling to 
 him for all subsequent life. He had free access to the 
 extensive University Library ; and was invited always 
 to attend the course of lectures on Chemistry, by 
 Prof. Silliman; and the lectures of the different 
 medical Professors; and also all the Lectures in The- 
 ology and Law. 
 
 During the winter of 1841, Elder Jacob Knapp 
 came to his assistance in a protracted meeting, which 
 continued seven weeks. It was a wonderful meeting, 
 and resulted in an accession to the several churches in 
 the city of over six hundred converts. Of these con-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 50 
 
 verts about two hundred united with the Baptist 
 church. Several incidents occurred during this meet- 
 ing which are deemed worthy of note. The first is, 
 that a noted gambler in the city, said to one of his 
 associates one day, that he would go forward for 
 prayers himself for five dollars. His comrade said he 
 would give him five dollars if he would go forward, 
 and let Elder Knapp pray for him. He accepted the 
 wager and came to the meeting. The pastor and Elder 
 Knapp had been informed of the transaction, and 
 Elder Knapp, in casting his keen eye over the audi- 
 ence, thought he saw the gambler, and pointed him 
 out to the pastor. He gave gamblers that night a 
 severe thrust ; and said that when the habit had be- 
 come fixed, the confirmed gambler would take tho sil- 
 ver from the eyes of his dead wife to gratify his evil 
 passion. At the close of the sermon the anxious were 
 invited forward for prayers. At that time the interest 
 in the meeting was so great, that there were over two 
 hundred persons going forward for prayers every 
 night ; and fully that number went forward on that oc- 
 casion. Elder Knapp worked his way along till he 
 came to the seat occupied by the gambler. He soon 
 found out that his suspicions were well founded, and 
 that this was, indeed, the very man who had been 
 hired to come forward for prayer. He went to the 
 pastor directly, and told him that he had found his 
 man; and he then requested the pastor to lead in 
 prtiyer, and said that he would follow him. The pas- 
 tor prayed very fervently for the numerous anxious
 
 60 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 ones who were there, and then prayed earnestly for 
 the trifling gambler. When he had concluded his 
 prayer, Elder Knapp followed in one of the most 
 earnest and solemn prayers a man could make. Dur- 
 ing his prayer he depicted the gambler in all his moral 
 deformity, and shook him over hell, till one's hair 
 was almost ready to stand on end. Soon after these 
 prayers were concluded, the anxious meeting was 
 closed. The gambler then came up to Elder Knapp, 
 as he stood near the pulpit, and said to him : "Elder 
 Knapp, how do you value your time? You have de- 
 voted a considerable portion of it to me to-night, and 
 I want to pay you for it." Elder Knapp said, iu a 
 perfectly cool manner, "O, sir, my time is invaluable. 
 But if my prayer has done you any good, you are 
 entirely welcome to it." So nothing more of impor- 
 tance was said, and the gambler went out. 
 
 The next morning, as the pastor went to the pray- 
 er and inquiry meeting in the lecture room, at 10 
 o'clock, he found the gambler standing at the gate 
 leading into the meeting-house yard, waiting for the 
 coming of Elder Knapp. When he came, the gambler 
 wanted to get up some words with him, but Elder 
 Knapp would not stop to converse with him , but told 
 him it was meeting time, and urged him to g- o in and 
 he would pray for him. The gambler found that he 
 had made himself the butt of ridicule in the com- 
 munity, and it nettled him not a little. The more he 
 thought of it, and the more he was ridiculed, the 
 worse he felt. He at length became very angry, and
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 61 
 
 seemed determined on revenge. He went with two 
 or three of his comrades to the pastor's house after 
 meeting one night, and wanted to see Elder Knapp. 
 The pastor told him that Elder Knapp had retired, 
 and must not be disturbed. Then, on another oc- 
 casion, a carriage drove up in front of the pastor's 
 house, in the dead of night, and the parties rang the 
 bell of the door. The pastor hoisted a front window, 
 and inquired what was wanting ; and they said 
 that a person on a given street, was in deep distress, 
 and wanted Elder Knapp to come and pray for him. 
 The pastor knew that evil was intended against Elder 
 Knapp, and, therefore, told them very peremptorily 
 that Elder Knapp could not go. Foiled in every 
 way in their malicious purposes against Elder Knapp, 
 they determined to raise a mob, and assail him 
 when he left the church, after the night meeting 
 had closed. Accordingly they put up notices all 
 over the city, that a meeting would be held at a 
 given hour on the green, to organize their band. 
 Elder Knapp, had related an incident which occurred 
 in the city of Rochester, N. Y., some time before 
 while he was holding a meeting there, respecting the 
 dispersion of a mob by a wonderfully severe thun- 
 der storm ; and they said that was one of Knapp's 
 lies. Well, at the very time fixed for the gather- 
 ing of the mob on the green, in New Haven, there 
 came up, very suddenly, a cloud which impended 
 directly over the city, and extended but little be- 
 yond the city limits ; arid it began to lighten and
 
 <!2 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 thunder in the most terrific manner. The lightning 
 was so vivid, that the people in the church, at every 
 succeeding flash, were almost ready to shriek aloud 
 from fear ; and the thunder shook the very foundations 
 of the city. There have been but few instances in his 
 life, when Elder T. has seen lightning so vivid, and 
 heard thunder so loud. The storm alarmed the 
 crowd, and they dispersed in great haste ; and they 
 said that Knapp must have power over the lightning 
 and thunder, sure enough. So the purposes of this 
 class of the baser sort were again frustrated. Soon 
 afterwards, Deacon Sage, of Rochester, happened 
 along, and spent a night in New Haven. At the re- 
 quest of the pastor, he made a statement about the 
 dispersing of the mob in his city ; and it exactly cor- 
 roberated the statement which Elder Knapp had made 
 in relation to it. 
 
 Subsequently Elder Knapp aroused the opposition 
 of certain wicked student* in the College, and they be- 
 came desperate. They united with the other oppo- 
 nents of Elder Knapp, and determined to have revenge. 
 So they gathered in great numbers in the street near 
 the church, one night, and waited for him to come 
 out. But at the suggestion of some friends, Elder 
 Knapp changed his cap for the hat of a friend, and 
 his cloak for an overcoat, and passed directly through 
 the crowd without being recognized or suspected, and 
 reached his quarters at the pastor's house without 
 molestation. But when the mob found that thev had 
 
 f 
 
 been fooled, they made a rush for the pastor's resi-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 63 
 
 dence. When the pastor saw this, he rushed through 
 the crowd, and got upon the porch of his dwelling, 
 and addressed the crowd of a thousand people, per- 
 haps, in a loud voice. At first the rabble were not in- 
 clined to hear him, but directly the cry went round, 
 "hear him! hear him!" The Marshal was there to 
 read the riot act, and command the mob to disperse. 
 The pastor said to him and to the mob, "let me speak a 
 few words." Silence was immediately restored. Then 
 he went on to say to the crowd : "For myself, or for 
 Elder Knapp, I have nothing to ask of you. We trust 
 in God, and our God is able to deliver us. But for 
 the sake of my wife, who has just been confined, and 
 is in a delicate state ; and for the sake of a very sick 
 child whom this excitement may kill, I have to ask 
 you to disperse at once, without further noise or dis- 
 turbance." Voices all over the crowd were imme- 
 diately heard, saying : "Good ! good !" and the stones 
 and brick-bats, and other missiles were dropped all 
 around, and the mob dispersed at once. This was the 
 last attempt at violence during the meeting ; and what 
 may seem wonderful is, that amid all this outward op- 
 position and bustle, the good work went steadily for- 
 ward to the last. 
 
 Another incident occurred during this meeting which 
 seems worthy of note. On a baptismal occasion in the 
 New Haven Bay, when some fifty or sixty candidates 
 were being baptized, a horse hitched to an open buggy, 
 became restless from some cause, and started directly 
 out in the Bay. There were several young ladies in
 
 64 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 the buggy, who had gotten into it in order to secure a 
 better view of the baptism. The horse went so di- 
 rectly out into the bay, that it was supposed he would 
 soon go into deep water, and perhaps drown both 
 himself and the young ladies ; and the young ladies 
 were called to, and told to jump out into the water. 
 They did so ; and were immediately rescued by gallant 
 young men, who plunged at once into the water, and 
 brought them ashore. One of these young ladies sub- 
 sequently married her rescuer ; and he was none other 
 than the individual who became the distinguished Rev. 
 Dr. J. C. Burroughs, President, for many years, of 
 the Chicago University. 
 
 One other incident may be related in this connec- 
 tion. During the progress of this great meeting, the 
 wife, and oldest son, and oldest daughter, of a noted 
 drunkard, were converted and added to the church. 
 He was at the time laboring under a severe attack of 
 delirium tremens; or in plain English, the brain fever 
 of the drunkard. The pastor supposed that when he 
 recovered from his illness, he would come to the meet- 
 ing, and very likely make a profession of religion. 
 He did not see how it was possible for one so far gone 
 in intemperance to be recovered ; and, therefore, he 
 almost dreaded the thought of his making a profes- 
 sion during the meeting. It seemed to him to be al- 
 most certain that if he did make a profession, he would 
 dishonor that profession. But sure enough, as soon 
 as he recovered from the delirium tremens, he came to 
 the meeting, and veiy soon, made a profession of reli-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 65 
 
 gion. He then offered himself as a candidate for bap- 
 tism and subsequent church membership ; and with 
 much fear and trembling he was received by the church. 
 He was a man of good native talents, and a good 
 speaker ; and the Washingtonians, who were then ex- 
 erting a wonderful influence in the Temperance Cause, 
 through the instrumentality of reformed inebriates, 
 employed him at once to go out as a lecturer for them. 
 His own experience had been a very sad one, and he 
 had suffered amazingly from the habit of inebriety. 
 He, therefore, threw his whole soul into the work ; 
 and in the course of three years, he procured over 
 thirty thousand names to the total abstinence pledge, 
 and then came home to die. His pastor, visited him 
 frequently in his last illness, and found him sweetly 
 resting on Jesus, and ready to depart at the bidding of 
 his Lord. At length the time came when he felt that 
 his end was at hand ; and wishing to take formal leave 
 of his dear family, while he was in the full possession of 
 his mental faculties, he sent for the pastor to be pres- 
 ent on that touching occasion. He began with his 
 wife, and gave her words of counsel and consolation, 
 and embracing her affectionately, he commended her to 
 the care and blessing of the widow's God. Then he 
 took his oldest son, and gave him a most tender charge 
 to take a father's place in the family, and set a good 
 example to the younger children, and honor his Chris- 
 tian profession. Then he took the oldest daughter 
 and gave her the most tender advice. And so he went 
 on until he came to the babe. This he took in his
 
 6(5 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 arms, and pressed it to his bosom, and kissed it over 
 and over again ; and then commended his wife and all 
 his children to the protection and blessing of Him who 
 has said "I will be a Father to the fatherless, and the 
 widow's God." When all this was done, he requested 
 the pastor to sing the hymn commencing with the 
 words : 
 
 "When I can read my title clear. " 
 
 It was with great difficulty the pastor could suppress 
 his emotion sufficiently to sing at all. And, then, 
 what made it still more difficult to control his feelings, 
 was the fact, that the dear, dying man would occasion- 
 ally strike in, with his faltering voice, and try to sing 
 a few words. When the song was concluded, the 
 pastor offered a fervent prayer for the dying brother, 
 and for all the members of the family, so soon to be 
 bereaved of husband and father ; and he then took his 
 leave of the dying saint. It was a scene, altogether, 
 never to be forgotten. ' Soon afterwards, the dying 
 Christian leaned his head on the breast of his Beloved, 
 and breathed his life out sweetly there, and sang him- 
 self away to everlasting bliss. 
 
 His funeral occurred on a week day ; and yet such 
 was the interest felt in his death by the whole commu- 
 nity, that the spacious church edifice was filled to over- 
 flowing by sympathizing friends, to listen to the 
 sermon delivered on the occasion by his pastor. The 
 text was taken from 2. Kings xx. 1. "Set thine house 
 in order for thou shaltdie, and not live." 
 
 The name of this eminent man was Abel Bishop.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 67 
 
 The pastorate of Elder T. in New Haven extended 
 over a period of five years. Over four hundred hap- 
 py souls were added to the church by baptism during 
 his pastorate there, and quite a number were added 
 by letter. A new church was set off from the First 
 Church by unanimous consent, some two years after 
 he went to New Haven. But the number that went 
 out to form the new church was soon made up by new 
 accessions; and ho left the church with six hundred 
 regular communicants, when he closed his pastoral 
 labors among them. 
 
 Two sons were born to him during his residence in 
 New Haven ; and he united in the bonds of matrimony, 
 while residing in that city, one hundred and one 
 couples. He took an active part in the general inter- 
 ests of the denomination throughout the State ; edited, 
 for some time, the New Haven department of the 
 Christian Secretary ; was a member of the Board of 
 Trustees of Suffield Institution ; attended all the State 
 Conventions ; and did all he could, at home and abroad, 
 to extend the cause of truth and righteousness through- 
 out the state, and throughout the world.
 
 68 REMINISCENCES AN INCIDENTS 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 In the winter of 1845, Elder T. received an invita- 
 tion to visit the Grant Street Church in Pittsburgh, Pa., 
 and also the Second Baptist Church in Zanesville, 
 Ohio, with a view of settling with them as pastor. 
 He accordingly went on from New Haven, and made 
 each of these churches a visit. On the whole, he con- 
 cluded to accept the call of the' Grant Street Church, 
 in Pittsburgh. But on his way home the terrible 
 conflagration, which occurred on the 10th of April of 
 that year, and which laid in utter ruins so large a 
 portion of that thriving city, so changed the pecuniary 
 condition of many of the members of the church, that 
 he felt it to be his duty to release the church from any 
 obligation to him, if they should think it best so. But 
 they wrote to him immediately that they needed his 
 services all the more then, and that his salary would 
 be promptly paid. Soon after his return to New 
 Haven, he made arrangements to go on to Pittsburgh 
 to take charge of the church. He concluded, however, 
 to leave his family in New Haven until the next au- 
 tumn. They were very pleasantly located in New 
 Haven, and he thought they would be more likely to 
 enjoy good health in that city during the summer
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 69 
 
 season than in Pittsburgh. The summer is usually a 
 remarkably pleasant season in the city of New Haven. 
 In the autumn of that year he went on to New 
 Haven ; closed up his busines.s there ; and brought his 
 family to Pittsburgh. They went by steam-boat and 
 railroad from New Haven to Philadelphia ; and then 
 took passage on a canal-boat for Pittsburgh. The 
 railroad was not then completed from Harrisburg to 
 Pittsburgh ; and the travel by stages over the Alle- 
 ghany mountains was very fatiguing, and also very 
 expensive. The trip by the canal was tedious, but on 
 the whole quite pleasant, at that season of the year. 
 He arrived in Pittsburgh, with his wife and six chil- 
 dren, towards the last of October, 1845, and met a 
 cordial reception on the part of the members of the 
 church, and of the community generally. The Grant 
 Street Church in Pittsburgh, of which he had taken 
 charge in the mouth of April of that year, was in a 
 scattered and depressed condition at that time. But 
 he succeeded in collecting the church together, and 
 very soon secured a fine congregation. Late in the 
 autumn of that same year, he secured the services of 
 Elder Jacob Knapp, the distinguished evangelist, in a 
 series of revival meetings. Elder Knapp remained 
 there eight weeks, and his labors were abundantly 
 blessed. Up to the time of his leaving the city, about 
 ninety joyful converts had been added to the church 
 by baptism. On the last day he spent in the city, all 
 the converts, who had not previously united with the 
 church, were baptized ; and as the services on that
 
 70 REMlNIfaCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 Sunday night were of a farewell character, the inquir- 
 ers were not invited forward for prayers. 
 
 The church and the people generally supposed that 
 the meeting would close .with these valedictory exer- 
 cises. But Elder T. had otherwise determined. And 
 accordingly he announced that the meetings would be 
 continued during the ensuing week. The day meet- 
 ings were omitted, but the night meetings were 
 kept up regularly. Of course there was at first 
 a very considerable falling off in the congregations. 
 But night after night the number of attendants on the 
 meetings increased. The first Sunday after Elder 
 Knapp left, the pastor baptized six happy converts. 
 The meetings went on, and the Sunday following, 
 nine or ten were baptized. The meetings were still 
 continued, and there was a constant increase in the 
 size of the congregations, and in the number of in- 
 quirers and of converts. Suffice it to say, that the 
 meetings continued for three months after Elder 
 Knapp left ; and during the progress of the exercises, 
 the interest became more general and more intense 
 than at any time during Elder Knapp 's labors in the 
 meeting. The work took hold of a class of persons 
 that were not reached by Elder Knapp' s labors. The 
 wholesale merchants, and other prominent citizens 
 became deeply interested in the meetings, and quite a 
 number of that class were added to the church. There 
 were over one hundred and twenty added to the church 
 after Elder Knapp left; which, with those added to 
 the church during his stay, made an aggregate of some
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 71 
 
 two hundred arid twelve or fourteen accessions to the 
 church by baptism during that series of meetings, of 
 five months continuance. The pastor did nearly all 
 the preaching himself after Elder Knapp left being 
 relieved only by an occasional sermon by some warm- 
 hearted brother, in passing, whom he could trust, and 
 who, he was quite sure, would not throw cold water on 
 the holy flame, which was burning with so much fervor. 
 Many who were awakened in these meetings, united 
 with other churches ; and the whole number of con- 
 verts who professed faith in Christ, during that long 
 protracted meeting, was very great, and will not be 
 known, by the pastor or brethren of that church, 
 until the final revelation of all things. 
 
 Several incidents occurred during the progress of 
 that meeting which may be interesting to some. One 
 night, during the inquiry meeting, one of the good 
 mothers in Israel saw a young man sitting in one of 
 the side slips against the wall ; and she went to him 
 quietly to converse with him about the welfare of his 
 soul. He told her he was an infidel, and she reported 
 the matter to the pastor. At the close of the inquiry 
 meeting the pastor said, that he had been informed 
 there was a young infidel in the house. If so, he 
 would like to pray for him, and also have the brethren 
 pray for him. And then he said, if the young man 
 would come forward, and let the people of God pray 
 for him, he believed there was faith enough in the 
 hearts of Christians then present, to eject the demon 
 of infidelity out of his soul ; and he begged the young
 
 72 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 man to come forward and give them a trial. He did 
 not coine forward at once ; but as the people were 
 passing out of the house, and when many had already 
 gone away, he came to the rostrum upon which the 
 pastor was still standing, and said: "Here lam." 
 The pastor immediately stopped the members that 
 were going out, and stated that the young man, to 
 whom he had just referred, had come forward to test 
 the faith of God's people; "and now," said he, "let it 
 be seen that there is a God in Israel who hears and an- 
 swers prayer." And he laid one hand upon the head 
 of the young man, and with the other took hold of his 
 arm, and was just about to engage in prayer for him. 
 But before he could begin his prayer, three brethren, 
 in different parts of the house, had already begun to 
 pray for him. As soon as it was discovered by the 
 brethren, that three of them were praying aloud for 
 the young man, at the same time, two of them ceased, 
 and joined with the brother who seemed most fervent 
 in his earnest prayer for the dear boy. Very soon the 
 pastor discovered that the young man began to be rest- 
 less, and then he trembled from head to foot, like an 
 aspen leaf, and said : "Oh, let me go : let me go ! I 
 can't stand this." The pastor held him by the arm 
 firmly for a moment, and said to him in a whisper : 
 "Hold on, my friend, I want to pray for you myself." 
 But he insisted that he could not stand it, and he broke 
 away and left the house. Shortly after this occurrence, 
 he professed hope in Christ. The pastor stated the 
 facts of the case publicly on one occasion soon after-
 
 Of A LONG LIFE. 73 
 
 wards;*" and there was present a young infidel, who 
 prided himself on his skepticism. He came forward 
 on the next Sunday night, and took a seat, among the 
 inquirers. His object was to deny that the young man 
 whose case had been mentioned was an infidel ; and 
 to insist that the pastor should retract the statement. 
 There were forward for prayers that night many 
 prominent citizens ; and the pastor did not want the 
 attention and sympathy of the brethren diverted from 
 these anxious persons to the caviling skeptic. He, 
 therefore, spoke to the brethren privately, whom 
 he expected to call on to pray for the anxious, to 
 pay no attention to the infidel, and be sure not to 
 make the slightest allusion to him in their prayers. 
 He told them that he would manage that case himself. 
 Before the dismission, he announced to the congrega- 
 tion, that his statement in relation to the conversion 
 of a young infidel recently, had been challenged by a 
 member of the Infidel Club in the city ; and that it had 
 been demanded of him that he should correct that 
 statement. He, therefore, gave notice that he would, 
 on the next night, pay his respects to the infidels of 
 the city, and make such explanations as he might deem 
 proper. This announcement brought out the infidels, 
 en masse, the next ni^ht ; and he gave an earnest and 
 convincing argument in favor of the authenticity and 
 divine origin of the Christian religion ; and then de- 
 picted, in their true colors, the naked deformity, and 
 glaring absurdities of modern infidelity. And when 
 he came to speak of many of the advocates of that
 
 74 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 
 
 fatal delusion, he drew a full-sized, life-like picture of 
 the conceited little infidel, who had demanded the ex- 
 planation at his hands. He never mentioned his name, 
 nor tlid he point him out to the audience ; but the de- 
 scription of the conceited skeptic was so perfect, that 
 every body seemed to know who was sitting for the 
 picture. It made the inflated little fellow very mad ; 
 and he swore he would have revenge. He went to a 
 lawyer of the city to know if he could not sue the 
 pastor for defamation. The lawyer told him that he 
 had made a great fool of himself already; and if he 
 did not want to make himself still more ridiculous, he 
 had better go home and let Elder T. alone. But he 
 foamed, and threatened that he would be the death of 
 the pastor, and he flourished his pistol and bowie knife, 
 as if he was bent on shedding the blood of the minis- 
 ter, despite the consequences. Some of the brethren 
 became uneasy ; and as Elder T. had to walk nearly a 
 mile to his residence every night after church, they 
 thought it would be well that he should have a protec- 
 tor with him. But he declined all these proffers, and 
 went along as if nothing had happened to disturb his 
 mind, or prevent his earnest work. 
 
 The brethren said to the pastor, "Well, you have 
 thrown off this young man most effectually ; you will 
 never be able to do him any good." He told the 
 brethren that in New Haven, where he had resided for 
 more than five years, they sometimes fitted out whaling 
 expeditions, and he had learned how they managed to 
 catch the whales. They would send out the email
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 75 
 
 boats, When they discovered a whale, with a number 
 of seamen, having harpoons, as they are called. 
 These harpoons were barbed spears ; and when the 
 men in the little boats came near enough to the whale, 
 they would dart their harpoons with great force into 
 the whale. There were ropes attached to one end of 
 the harpoons. And when they had plunged their har- 
 poons into the whale, they played out the ropes, and 
 let him blubber, and bleed, and flounder until he was 
 completely exhausted ; and then they would draw in 
 the ropes, and thus secure their prize. Now, said he, 
 "I know I have plunged the harpoon into my' little 
 whale ; and if none of you shall cut the ropes, I will, 
 I think, secure the fish." The brethren seemed to 
 think such a result altogether improbable ; but they 
 told the pastor that they would not cut the ropes, and 
 th;it they would leave the case altogether in his hands. 
 Well, the result was that the poor skeptic, meeting 
 with no sympathy anywhere, began to think about the 
 folly of the course he had been pursuing, and then was 
 led to think of his sins, and his need of a Savior; and 
 in a short time afterwards he came forward for prayers, 
 and begged the pastor and the brethren to pray for 
 him that he might be saved from the wrath to come, 
 and be made an humble follower of Christ. He soon 
 found peace in believing, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 
 On the following Sunday night, in the presence of an 
 immense crowd, he told the people what the Lord had 
 done for his soul, and had had mercy on him. In the 
 course of his remarks on that occasion, he alluded to
 
 76 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 his bitter enmity to the pastor a few days before, and 
 how he thirsted for his blood. "But now,'' said he, 
 "there is no man on earth I love so well ;" and turn- 
 ing towards the pastor as he stood upon the platform , 
 he rushed towards him, and threw his arms around his 
 neck, and was overwhelmed with emotion. The Sun- 
 day following he was baptized ; and as he stood out 
 in the river, with the administrator by his side, he 
 made an open renunciation of infidelity, and earnestly 
 exhorted his former associates to abandon the fatal 
 delusion, and come to Christ that they might be saved. 
 Thus-the pastor's knowledge of human nature was 
 demonstrated in managing that case so successfully. 
 He had carefully, as he thought, taken a fair diagnosis 
 of the case, and every step he took in relation to it 
 was premeditated and deliberate. He believed at the 
 time, and the young man was at length led to see it so 
 himself, that no other means would be likely to reach 
 the case, and save the poor sinner. It was painful to 
 the preacher to be reduced to the necessity, as he 
 thought, of acting the part of a true surgeon, who 
 amputates an incurable limb, in order to save the life 
 of the patient. 
 
 Another incident of interest occurred during the 
 progress of that meeting. The wife of a man who 
 was anxious about his soul's salvation, and was coming 
 forward for prayers every night, was converted, and 
 was accepted by the church as a candidate for baptism. 
 She concluded to defer her baptism until her husband 
 should be ready to go with her. He lingered at the
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 77 
 
 anxious seat for some time. Meanwhile she was taken 
 sick; and before she had fully recovered, her husband 
 was converted. He felt that he ought to be imme- 
 diately baptized, and that he could not wait for the re- 
 covery of his wife. So he was baptized ; and his wife 
 had at last to go into the water without him. The 
 pastor teased her considerably, by telling her, that she 
 had neglected her duty in waiting for her husband, and 
 he had done just right in not waiting for her. 
 
 Another incident of interest in connection with that 
 meeting may be related. There was an interesting 
 gentleman in the mercantile business in the city, who 
 became deeply anxious about the welfare of his soul. 
 He came forward many times for prayer, but could 
 not find peace to his troubled soul. At length ho 
 made up his mind deliberately, that he would not go 
 forward for prayers anymore. He did not think of 
 quitting the meeting ; but he thought, as he found no 
 peace in going forward for prayers, he would not go 
 forward any more. That night he came to the meet- 
 ing as usual ; and Elder Knapp preached on that oc- 
 casion from the text in Matt, xxiii. 37. "O, Jerusa- 
 lem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and 
 stonest them which are sent unto thee, how of ten would 
 I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen 
 gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would 
 not." In the sermon the preacher had occasion to 
 speak of the various calls of the hen to her chickens, 
 such as naturalists generally describe. He spoke of 
 the alarm call; of the brooding ball ; and of the feed-
 
 78 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 ing call, especially. And when he came to speak of 
 the feeding call, he said that a hen might have a large 
 brood of chickens, and that they might be scattered 
 ever so widely in the grass, and weeds, and brush ;yet, 
 as soon as they heard the feeding call, they would all 
 run with all their might to the hen to get the particle 
 of food which she had found for them. And he said 
 that call might be repeated a thousand times in one 
 day ; and although all the chickens would start and run 
 to get the crumb, the bug, the worm, yet one little 
 chicken might fail every time to get to the hen in time 
 to get the desired morsel. But it would not on that 
 account stick up its back, in a complaining tone, and 
 say, "I won't go any more. I have run a thousand 
 times to-day, and have not obtained a single morsel. 
 I won't go any more." But the speaker said, that 
 that little chicken, when it heard the next feeding call, 
 would run just as eagerly to get the morsel the hen 
 had found for her brood, as if it had been the first 
 call of the hen in the morning. And then appealing 
 to his hearers, the preacher said : "And can't you, my 
 hearers, be as wise as a little chicken ; and keep com- 
 ing, and coming, and coming, until you get the bless- 
 ing?" Mr. Jones for that was his real name rsaid 
 to himself under the appeals made in that sermon, "I 
 ought to be as wise as a little chicken, and I will go, 
 and go, and go until I get the blessing." Accordingly, 
 when the invitation was given to the anxious to come 
 forward for prayers, he went directly forward. The 
 pastor, in conversing with him, ascertained that he
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 79 
 
 had determined that day not to come forward any 
 more; and how his purpose had been altered by the 
 sermon on that occasion; and he felt that Mr. Jones 
 must be induced to take a step in advance of any 
 thing he had yet done. He, therefore, told him 
 that he must get up and tell the people how he 
 felt. He told the pastor that he had no feeling. 
 The pastor then insisted that he should tell the 
 people that he had no feeling. Well, at the earnest 
 entreaty of the pastor, he got up and began to speak 
 as deliberately as a lawyer would open his case be- 
 fore a jury. He told what had been his determination 
 that day ; how the sermon that night had upset his pur- 
 pose ; how he thought he ought to be as wise as a little 
 chicken ; how he had come forward under that appeal 
 of the preacher ; and how he meant to come, and come, 
 and come till he got the blessing. "But" and he 
 was going to say, "I have no feeling." But just at 
 that instant, God let in the light a little upon his sins; 
 and he was utterly overwhelmed with emotion. He 
 cried aloud for mercy. Prayer after prayer was offer- 
 ed for him. And in that very meeting that night, he 
 found Jesus precious to his soul ; and he went home to 
 tell his dear, sick wife that he had found the Savior. 
 
 Another incident occurred during that meeting that 
 must not be omitted. A gentleman, residing some two 
 and a half miles in the country, was sick, and given 
 up to die by his physician. He had a complication of 
 terrible maladies. He obtained hope in Jesus, and 
 wanted to be baptized. But his physician forbade it.
 
 80 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 He sent for the pastor, and he went out to see him. 
 The pastor talked freely with him, and found that 
 he was soundly converted, as he thought, and as- 
 certained that he was very anxious to be baptized. 
 But he told him plainly he did not think that he ought 
 to be baptized in the peculiar state of his health. But 
 the sick man insisted, and said he could not bear the 
 thought of going up to meet the Master, without hav- 
 ing obeyed his first command to the converted, believ- 
 ing soul. His doctor told him that he would probably 
 die in the water, if he should venture to be baptized. 
 But his reply was, '-Well, it is no further from the 
 water to heaven, than it is from the land; and if I 
 die in the water, I want to be baptized." Finding 
 that nothing else would satisfy him, the pastor made 
 arrangements, and had him brought in a carriage to the 
 church. He related his experience, and was accepted 
 as a candidate for baptism ; and he was baptized on 
 Sunday afternoon, with many others, and went on his 
 way rejoicing. And what was most remarkable in his 
 case was the fact, that although it was mid-winter, 
 and the weather cold, and floating ice was in the river, 
 he was not at all injured by the baptism ; but on the 
 contrary was manifestly benefited by it. Indeed, he 
 became so much better after his baptism, that he walk- 
 ed into church and back again, from time to time, 
 without much fatigue. He was better for a number 
 of months after his baptism. He went back to Eng- 
 land after awhile, and it was reported that he died not 
 long after his return to his native country.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 81 
 
 During that meeting, Elder T. baptized his oldest 
 son, then a boy thirteen years of age. Subsequently, 
 and while still a resident of Pittsburgh, he baptized his 
 oldest daughter, when she was about fourteen years of 
 age. They both lived to be married ; and both of 
 them died in the triumphs of the Christian faith. Each 
 of them left three children, all of whom have lived to 
 grow up, and some of them are married and settled in 
 life. 
 
 During Elder Teasdale's pastorate in Pittsburgh, he 
 assisted pastors in several cities in protracted meet- 
 ings in their respective churches ; a few of these may 
 be named in this connection. 
 
 At the earnest request of Rev. T. W. Greer, a par- 
 ticular friend of his, whom he had married a few years 
 before to a very intelligent and amiable young lady, 
 the daughter of a prominent Presbyterian minister in 
 the vicinity of Pittsburgh, Elder T. went to assist him 
 in a series of revival meetings in his church in the 
 pleasant little village of Sharon, in Western Pennsyl- 
 vania. The meetings were greatly blessed, and many 
 souls were happily converted to God, and added to 
 the church by baptism. There is a beautiful river 
 running directly through the village, which is one of 
 the finest natural baptistries in the world. The 
 stream is as clear as crystal; its banks are high and 
 sloping; its bottom is pebbly and smooth ; and a bridge 
 crosses the river just below the place of baptism. 
 Thousands can stand on the sloping banks, and on the 
 bridge, and have an unobstructed view of every candi-
 
 82 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 date baptized. Frequent baptisms were performed in 
 that river during the progress of the meetings; and it 
 was no uncommon thing to see 1500 or 2000 people 
 gathered there to witness the administration of the or- 
 dinance. 
 
 In the course of the meeting a very intelligent and 
 excellent } r oung lady came forward for prayers, again 
 and again, again and again. At length, as she seemed 
 to obtain ,no comfort, it occurred to Elder T. that 
 there must be something special in the way of that 
 young lady, which was operating to prevent her from 
 giving her heart to Jesus. He determined, therefore, 
 if she came forward again, he would endeavor to find 
 out what it was that was keeping her away from 
 Christ. She came forward, as usual; for she was not 
 of that unstable kind who go once, or twice, or more, 
 and then turn back to the weak and beggarly elements 
 of the world. He then asked her how it was that she 
 did not make a full surrender of herself to Christ, and 
 why she continued so long in the dark ? She replied 
 in the most solemn tones, "Oh, sir, I cannot be a 
 Christian." "Why, Miss," said he, "what do you 
 mean when you say, 'I cannot be a Christian?' What 
 hinders you from becoming a Christian?' ' And 
 then she wont on to tell him, that she was the daughter 
 of Presbyterian parents ; that she had been raised 
 strictly in the faith of that church ; that she was a 
 member of its Sunday-school ; and she revered its 
 pastor. "But," said she, "within the past few 
 months, I have been carefully reading the New Testa-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 83 
 
 ment for myself, to ascertain what are its teachings 
 in relation to Christian Baptism , and I have been con- 
 ducted to the conclusion, that the law of baptism which 
 Christ gave to his disciples, requires the entire immer- 
 sion of the candidate in waler ; and that professing be- 
 lievers are the only proper subjects of the ordinance. 
 But my poor heart rises up against my quitting the 
 faith of my parents and my minister, and openly 
 espousing the cause of the Baptists. And, then, my 
 timid nature shrinks from the necessity of going down 
 into yonder river, in the presence of 1500 or 2000 
 spectators, and being buried with my Lord in baptism. 
 And yet, if I become a Christian, I shall be com- 
 pelled, from my present convictions, to do so. And, 
 therefore, I think I can not be a Christian. If I had 
 the right spirit, I would be willing to leave father, and 
 mother, and minister, and my dearest friends for 
 Jesus, and to obey his commandments with delight." 
 Elder T. saw at once why she had not been blessed in 
 the meeting up to that time, -and told her that she had 
 been contemplating a Christian duty from an uncon- 
 verted standpoint, and begged her to dismiss the sub- 
 ject of baptism from her mind, and give her heart to 
 Jesus. She took the suggestion ; and she was very 
 soon rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glorj r . 
 Not a word was said to her, either by the pastor, or by 
 Elder T., about baptism ; but as soon as the door of the 
 church was opened for the reception of candidates for 
 baptism, she was among the very first to present herself. 
 She gave a very clear and satisfactory relation of the
 
 84 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 Lord's dealings with her soul; and was about to be 
 received by acclamation as a candidate for baptism, 
 and subsequent church membership. But just then, 
 Elder T. asked permission of the pastor to propound 
 a question to the young lady. Permission was grant- 
 ed ; and the great wonder of the people was to know 
 why he should want to ask the candidate any questions 
 after she had related so satisfactory an experience of 
 grace. But knowing her former difficulty in relation 
 to going down into the river for baptism, he said : "Do 
 you not feel, Miss, that it will be a great cross for you 
 to go down into yonder river, and put on your Lord 
 by baptism, in the presence of 1500 or 2000 specta- 
 tors?" With a beautiful smile upon her face, she ex- 
 claimed : "O, no sir; a pleasure now." She was 
 then unanimously received as a candidate for baptism ; 
 and she experienced the most exquisite happiness in 
 the act of following the blessed Savior in the hallowed 
 rite of gospel baptism. 
 
 During that meeting two other incidents occurred 
 that are deemed worthy of notice. One of the dea- 
 cons of the church felt for several days that he ought 
 to go and converse with a friend of his on the subject 
 of religion ; but he put it off from day to day for 
 several days. At length he felt that he could not de- 
 lay the duty any longer. Accordingly he went to his 
 friend, and after passing the usual salutations, said to 
 him, "My friend, I have called in to talk with you a 
 few moments on the subject of religion and the welfare 
 of your soul." His friend interrupted him and burst-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 85 
 
 ing into tears said: "Oh! deacon, why did you not 
 call" sooner? I have been expecting you to call for 
 several days." Thus it often occurs in a time of re- 
 ligious awakening, that the" unconverted are neglected, 
 when they are anxious to receive attention on the part 
 of Christians. 
 
 Another incident occurred during that meeting of a 
 very sad character. One of the brethren was impress- 
 ed very deeply, that he ought to go and see a friend of 
 his, living a mile or two out in the country, and talk 
 with him on the subject of securing his soul's salva- 
 tion. But he kept putting it off, from day to day, for 
 several days. At last he determined that he would go 
 the very next day without fail, and see his friend. But 
 the next morning he got the news that his friend was 
 dead. -O, what bitter tears that brother shed, when 
 he related the case before the congregation ; and how 
 fervently he prayed that God would forgive his guilty 
 delay. 
 
 During the summer of 1848, Dr. T. made a trip to 
 the East ; and wrote for one of the Pittsburgh papers 
 a series of letters, incognito, which were well received 
 by the people of the city generally. 
 
 During his pastorate in Pittsburgh, Elder T. went 
 up into the hill country of Western Petisylvania, to 
 spend a short summer vacation, and obtain a little 
 surcease from the onerous duties and cares of a large 
 city charge. He found a pleasant and quiet little 
 village among those hills, with a comfortable hotel and 
 agreeable surroundings ; and he determined to spend
 
 86 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 his vacation there. He did not want to see anyone 
 with whom he was acquainted, or be called upoif to 
 preach, or perform any ministerial duties whatsoever. 
 He went there to rest, ana he was determined to se- 
 cure that boon, if possible. But he had barely taken 
 his room at the hotel, and exchanged his traveling 
 apparel for his common suit, when a Baptist minis- 
 ter came along; and seeing him sitting on the porch 
 of the hotel, he drove up at once, and spoke to him. 
 After exchanging salutations, and passing a few words 
 in conversation together, the minister said to him, 
 "Corne, get into my buggy, and go with me to a church 
 about six miles distant. The church there is in great 
 trouble from bitter strife amongst us members ; and 
 it has called a council to advise what should be done 
 in the premises. I am now on my way to meet the 
 council, which is to convene with that church to-day. 
 Come, go with me to the meeting of the council." 
 Elder T. replied, "I can not go, sir, I came out here 
 expressly to obtain a little rest, mental, as well as 
 physical; and rest I must have. Please excuse me ; I 
 can not go with you, sir." The brother then stated 
 the nature of the difficulty in the church ; and he said, 
 "It is a solitary light in all that community; and they 
 are about to extinguish that light. The parties in the 
 controversy are very nearly equally divided; and 
 neither of them is at all disposed to make any con- 
 cessions in the matter ; and if the council connot effect 
 a settlement of the difficulty, then it would seem that 
 the little church must be destroyed. We are anxious
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 87 
 
 to prevent the annihilation of the church ; and we in- 
 tend to make an earnest effort to effect a reconciliation 
 between the disaffected parties. You can aid us es- 
 sentially in this work ; and you must go with me." 
 Elder T. became so much interested in the case, that 
 finally he concluded to go with the brother to the 
 meeting of the council. On their way to the meeting, 
 he got as full an account of the nature of the difficul- 
 ties as the brother could give him ; and it seemed to him 
 impossible for the council to settle the difficulty. No 
 matter what their opinion might be in relation to the 
 difficulty, and which party to the controversy was 
 mainly to blame, that would not relieve. the church of 
 . its trouble. The censured party would not likely sub- 
 mit to the decision of the council, and a disruption of 
 the church would be the result. The difficulty had 
 originated with two prominent sisters in the church. 
 They had had some misunderstanding. Alienation 
 had ensued, and hard words against each other had 
 been spoken. Parties had been formed on one side 
 and the other, and nearly the whole church was 
 finally involved in the controversy. Under these 
 circumstances, Elder T. thought it would be better 
 to try to get the two sisters together, with whom the 
 difficulty had originated, and see if a reconciliation 
 could not be effected between them, without letting 
 the case go to the council. He accordingly deter- 
 mined to seek an introduction to each of these sisters, 
 on his arrival at the meeting-house, and see if he 
 could not get them to settle the difficulty between
 
 88 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 themselves. On his arrival at the church, he obtained 
 an introduction to these sisters separately, and entered 
 into, an earnest and tender expostulation with each of 
 them to settle the difficulty themselves, and not let it 
 go before the council. But nothing tliat he could 
 say ; no appeal to their regard for the church, and its 
 perpetuity in the midst of the surrounding moral 
 darkness, seemed to have any good effect upon either 
 of them. Each of them was very sure that the other 
 had wronged her grossly, and had most wickedly and 
 without any provocation spoken all manner of evil 
 falsely concerning her; that, in a word, she had been 
 basely slandered by the other. When this effort at 
 reconciliation had failed, the council was convened, 
 and a moderator and clerk were appointed for the 
 occasion. When they were ready to proceed to busi- 
 ness, Elder T. suggested that a season of prayer 
 should be had before they proceeded any farther with 
 the business ; and the moderator called upon him to 
 lead in prayer. He had become, by this time, intensely 
 interested in the case ; and his prayer was a fervent 
 and tearful appeal to God to help them in that time 
 of need. He pleaded for the sisters, whose conduct 
 had caused so much trouble and reproach to the 
 church ; and he pleaded for the church itself very 
 earnestly and importunately. Soon suppressed sighs, 
 and sobs were heard all over the hou^. 1 . The house 
 became, in fact, a very Bochiru a place of tears, 
 during the prayer. At the close of the prayer not a 
 word was spoken; but at the very same moment,
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 89 
 
 those sisters, who had been sitting on opposite sides 
 of the church, started for each other. They met 
 about midway in the church, and embraced each 
 other, and wept on each others necks like little chil- 
 dren. Their confessions to each other were full and 
 very touching, and the whole difficulty was settled 
 right there. The council hud nothing to do but to 
 return thanks to God, and go home.
 
 90 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Early in the spring of 1848, Elder T. went down 
 from Pittsburgh to Zanesville, Ohio, to spend a Sunday 
 in that city, and visit his friend, Rev. J. M. Courtney, 
 then pastor of the First Baptist Church in that place. 
 He preached on Sunday morning, and again on Sun- 
 day night to that church. So much interest was evinced 
 in the services that day, that the pastor and brethren 
 begged him to remain over, and preach again on Mon- 
 day. On Monday night a number of persons came 
 forward for prayer ; and the interest io the exercises 
 was so great, that he was earnestly requested to re- 
 main until near the close of the week, allowing him 
 barely time to reach home on Saturday night, so as to 
 fill his pulpit in Pittsburgh on Sunday, which he 
 finally concluded to do. Amongst those who came for- 
 ward for prayers, in the very beginning of the meet- 
 ing, was an interesting and influential young lady, who 
 had been selected the year before, to deliver the flag 
 to the soldiers, who were about to leave home for the 
 war in Mexico. Several others of the inquirers, were 
 amongst the best of the citizens ; and the fact that so 
 many first-class people had evinced so much interest 
 in the exercises, gave great influence to the meeting.
 
 , OF A LONG LIFE. 91 
 
 The work constantly and rapidly advanced ; so that 
 towards the close of the week, the interest in the 
 meeting became so general, that the pastor and breth- 
 ren begged Elder T. to remain another week. The 
 interest in the meeting continued to increase, from 
 day to day, until its influence permeated the whole 
 city. It was the subject of conversation in the 
 hotels; in the barber-shops; in the stores; in the 
 dwelling Bouses; and on the streets. It became 
 the subject of absorbing interest amongst all classes 
 of the people. The meeting house, though spa- 
 cious, would not contain the people who came to 
 hear the Word of the Lord. Many stood around the 
 church, and listened at the windows ; and others stood 
 at the front door, and out on the pavement, as far as 
 they could hoar the preaching. And after all this, 
 many were compelled to return to their homes, who 
 were unable to get near enough to hear at all. So 
 great was the crowd desiring to hear the Word of the 
 Lord, and so general did the interest become, that it 
 became a necessity to open other houses of worship to 
 accommodate the people. And thus the work went on, 
 and on, for six weeks. Elder T. had to request his 
 people in Pittsburgh to obtain supplies for the pulpit 
 during all this time. He now felt that he must return 
 to his family and his church in Pittsburgh.- And he 
 accordingly gave notice that he expected to preach his 
 closing sermon on that Sunday night. But such was the 
 fresh outburst of interest on that occasion, that he 
 could not consistently leave, as he had intended ; and
 
 92 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 
 
 he was finally detained two weeks longer in the meet- 
 ing. 
 
 This was one of the most precious revivals in which 
 Elder T., up to that time, had ever labored. Be- 
 tween four hundred and five hundred souls professed 
 conversion, as the result of that precious work of 
 grace. And the hallowed influence of that glorious 
 work will be felt for all coming time by the church 
 and by the community at large. More than a year 
 afterwards, Elder T. had occasion to pa^s through 
 Zanesvillc ; and he inquired of the pastor about the state 
 of feeling in his church, at that time ; and he told him, 
 that the revival influence in his church was very appar- 
 ent still. One hundred and sixty-five of the converts, 
 in that revival, united with the First Baptist Church ; 
 some twenty-five or thirty united with the Second 
 Baptist Church ; and the balance united with the several 
 other denominations in the city. It was such a refreshing 
 from the presence of the Lord, as had nev^r before 
 been enjoyed in that city. It will never be forgotten. 
 
 Several incidents of interest occurred during the 
 progress of the meeting in Zanesville, which are 
 deemed worthy of notice. 
 
 Soon after the meeting had taken a strong hold on 
 the public mind in the city, one of the most prominent 
 merchant tailors of the place left home to go on to 
 the Eastern cities to purchase his spring and summer 
 goods. He made it a point to get away just at that 
 time, to avoid the influence of the meeting on his 
 mind. His wife was a sister of the young lady 1 who
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 93 
 
 delivered the flag to the Mexican soldiers, as above 
 mentioned, and belonged to one of the wealthiest and 
 most influential families in the community. She had 
 evinced considerable interest in the meeting before her 
 husband left ; and she was converted before he re- 
 turned. He prolonged his absence for three weeks, in 
 the hope that the meeting would be ended before he 
 returned. But when he got home, the interest in the 
 meeting was more intense than when he left ; and such 
 was its influence on his mind, that very soon after his 
 return, he came forward for prayer, and was happily 
 converted. It was an interesting spectacle, to see 
 him and his wife, both stately, fine-looking people, 
 walking down arm in arm into the water, to be buried 
 with Christ in Baptism. The effect on the vast con- 
 course of spectators was almost electrical. He admitted 
 after his return, that he had had no peace of mind dur- 
 ing all his absence from the city. He felt that the 
 people of God in Zanesville were praying for him. 
 
 Another incident may be noted. An elder lister of 
 the two ladies, above alluded to, had been a devoted and 
 active member of the church for a number of years. 
 Her husband was an irreligious man. He never op- 
 posed his wife in her religion, and was, indeed, a very 
 affectionate husband; but he had no liking for' religion 
 himself. During the progress of the meeting con- 
 ducted by Elder T. he took care to keep himself aloof 
 from its influence for some time. He would come with 
 his wife to the church door every night, and then make 
 some excuse for going down town and spending his
 
 94 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 time until the sermon was over ; and then he would 
 come back and accompany his wife home. And this 
 he did regularly for some time. At length, one night, 
 there was so much interest in the inquiry meeting, that 
 the services were continued longer than usual. When 
 his wife went out and took his arm to walk home with 
 him, he seemed irritated, and spoke rather roughly to 
 her, and told her if she could not go home in reasona- 
 ble time she should not come to the meeting any more. 
 His excellent wife made no reply ; but all the way home 
 she was praying for her husband. He heard her lips 
 moving all along the way; and, O, how he wished he 
 could take back the hasty words that had escaped his 
 lips just before. 
 
 After reaching home he went to bed almost imme- 
 diately ; but his wife had some household matters to 
 attend to before she retired. When she was ready to 
 lie down, she knelt by the bedside; and in a low but 
 earnest voice prayed most fervently for her husband, 
 and for the success of the great work in progress 
 in their midst. She thought her husband was sound 
 asleep, and heard nothing of her prayer. But he was 
 in trouble, and could not sleep. He heard all her 
 agonizing prayer ; and it served to deepen the impres- 
 sion already made on his mind. The next morning his 
 wife went about her work, and did not offer to go to 
 the 10 o'clock meeting, as she had been wont to do. 
 He had hoped that she had forgotten, or would dis- 
 regard his hasty words the night before. But she 
 made no preparation to go to church. This troubled
 
 OF A LOXG LIFE. 95 
 
 him still more. But he consoled himself with the 
 thought that she could not stay away from the preach- 
 ing service at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. But when 
 the bell rang for the 2 o'clock meeting, she made no 
 preparation for going to church ; and that worried him 
 still more. But he was quite sure that when the night 
 service occurred she would go to the meeting. O, how 
 anxious he was to see her getting ready to go to church ; 
 and how ready he was to accompany her to the meet- 
 ing house. But she did not offer to go. And then, 
 on retiring that night, the same thing occurred as on 
 the night before. He retired quite early ; and when 
 his wife got ready to retire, she supposed he was sound 
 asleep, and again offered very fervent prayer for him, 
 and for the continued success of the meeting. He 
 spent a restless night. The next morning he was in 
 great hopes that his wife would get ready and go to the 
 10 o'clock meeting; but she did not go. He was now 
 in great trouble, that in his rudeness, in a moment of 
 passion, he had offended his dear' wife. He had never 
 spoken to her unkindly before. And now his conduct 
 was keeping her away from the meetings, which he 
 knew she enjoyed very much. He was in great trouble 
 about the matter. And then he was led to see hisx>wn 
 need of divine salvation. And after dinner he said to 
 his wife: "My dear, if you will go to church this 
 afternoon, I will go with you." Her heart leaped with 
 joy, and she said, " O, yes, husband, I shall be very 
 glad to go to the meeting, and still more glad to have 
 you go with me." They went together to the meeting
 
 96 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 % that afternoon : and at the close of the sermon, when 
 the invitation was given for the anxious to come for- 
 ward, James Gallager, that husband, was among the 
 first to go ; and in that very meeting he found Jesus 
 precious to his soul. 
 
 Another incident occurred during the progress of that 
 meeting which it may not be amiss to note. Elder T. 
 ascertained, as the good work advanced, that quite a 
 number of interesting young men in the city had 
 been seduced from their nascent faith, by the false 
 teaching of a young Universalist preacher residing in 
 the city. The Universalists had a meeting house there, 
 and an organized society. They had also a Sunday- 
 school connected with their society. The preacher 
 was a young man of rather captivating manners, and 
 was a pleasant talker. He had entangled the young 
 men referred to above in the web of his sophistry ; 
 and they could not be made to feel their need of re- 
 pentance towards God, and faith in the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, in order to their salvation. Consequently, 
 they stood aloof from the influence which was leading 
 so many around them to the Blessed Jesus for eternal 
 life. Elder T. told Mr. Courtney, that this influence 
 over the young men must be broken up, or the good 
 work of the Lord, then in progress, would be materi- 
 ally retarded. Mr. Courtney replied that the Metho- 
 dist preachers had been pitching into Universalism re- 
 peatedly, and it only seemed to strengthen the cause 
 of the Universalists in their midst. But Elder T. told 
 him that if he went into it, he should do it to kill. So
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 97 
 
 I 
 
 Mr. Courtney said to him, that if he thought it best 
 to attack that false system, to do so, and he would give 
 him his full support. He did determine to make the 
 attack ; and after having prepared himself pretty fully, 
 he announced that he would preach, on a given night, 
 on Universalism. At the time appointed for the ser- 
 mon on that subject, the Uuiversalists came out, en 
 masse, to hear the sermon. Every available space, in, 
 and around the house, was packed with anxious audi- 
 tors. The delivery of the sermon on that occasion oc- 
 cupied two full hours ; and many delicate ladies stood 
 the whole time, and listened to the discussion, without 
 evincing any special fatigue. The proposition which 
 Elder T. discussed was as follows : " UNIVERSALISM, 
 
 AS NOW BELIEVED AND TAUGHT BY THE StfCT DENOMIN- 
 ATED UNIVERSALISTS IN THIS COUNTRY, IS A SPURIOUS 
 RELIGION A FALSE CHRISTIANITY." 
 
 He then Avent on to establish the truth of his prop- 
 osition : 
 
 I. From the fact that the preaching of Universalism 
 does not produce the fruits that attended the preaching 
 of Christ and the Apostles. Like causes produce like 
 results. If Universalism be true, then the preaching 
 of that doctrine should produce effects similar to those 
 that attended the preaching of Christ and the Apostles. 
 For what was the preaching of Christ and the Apostles 
 distinguished ? It was always attended with three im- 
 portant results, viz : 
 
 1. It alarmed men. Their fears were aroused, etc. 
 
 2. It reformed men. It did more than startle the
 
 !S REMINISCENCES AND. INCIDENTS 
 
 conscience. It reformed the man changed his habits 
 and his life. The Apostles were accustomed to appeal 
 to the moral results produced by their preaching to 
 prove that their religion was from God, and that they 
 were its divinely appointed teachers, etc. 
 
 3. The preaching of Christ and the Apostles did 
 more than this. It not only alarmed the sinner, and 
 changed the outward man; but it went down to the 
 deep foundations of the soul and wrought there a radi- 
 cal change. It touched and renovated the heart. It 
 made the sinner a new creature in Christ Jesus, etc. 
 
 But the preaching of Universalism is not attended 
 with any such results, 1. It does not alarm men. It 
 cries, peace, peace, where the Lord has not spoken 
 peace. It sews pillows under all armholes. What would 
 a Universali>t preacher think, if, in the midst of one of 
 his sermons, scores of people should suddenly cry out, 
 "Sir, what must we do to be saved?" etc. 2. It does 
 not reform men. Rev. Matthew Hale Smith, who was 
 for twelve years engaged in the ministry of that sect, 
 and who was one of the most learned and talented 
 ministers of that denomination, said, in Elder T.'s 
 pulpit in New Haven, Ct., soon after he had renounced 
 Universalism, and espoused the cause of orthodox 
 Christianity: "Twelve years in its ministry have not 
 brought to my knowledge one instance of reformation 
 from that cause." Instead of reforming men, it often 
 transforms them almost into demons. 
 
 Elder T. here related the case of a man in the city 
 of New Haven, which occurred during his pastorate in
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 99 
 
 that beautiful place. Elder Knapp, the great evangel- 
 ist was assisting Elder T. in a scries of meetings in 
 the First Baptist church of that city, in the winter 
 and spring of 1841. It was a great meeting; and, as 
 above stated, about 600 souls were converted and 
 added to the different churches in the city as the result 
 of that revival. About 200 of the converts united with 
 the church of which Elder T. was pastor. Elder 
 Knnpp was very severe on Infidelity, Universalism, 
 and other gross heresies, as well as on the grosser vices 
 of sinners generally. This awakened great opposition 
 on the part of skeptics, and of the people of the baser 
 sort generally throughout the city; and they combined 
 and sent off to Boston, to get a Universalist preacher 
 to come and lecture for them. A large hall was hired 
 for the occasion ; and great pains were taken to give 
 notice of the lecture, and get the people out to hear 
 the lecturer. Quite a number of persons were at- 
 tracted to the hall, and heard the lecture. Amongst 
 the number who went to hear the address, was a man 
 who had formerly been too free a drinker. He was 
 employed in one of the extensive carriage manu- 
 factories in the city, and had, at one time, lost his 
 position by his intemperate habits. But, by the inter- 
 position of friends, and on his solemn promise that he 
 would abstain altogether from intoxicating liquors, he 
 was re-instated in his former position. He kept his 
 pledge sacredly up to the time when he went to hear 
 the lecture of the Universalist preacher. The glow 
 of health began to rest on the checks of his once nog-
 
 100 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 lected wife ; and the former rags of his children, of 
 whom he had several, had given place to comfortable 
 and decent attire. Happiness onco more smiled 
 around their hearth-stone. But, alas, that father and 
 husband, after havirig heard that lecture, said to him- 
 self : "If this be true, why should I deny myself any 
 indulgence which my appetite may crave?" He went 
 from that lecture to a drinking-saloon, and went home 
 drunk. The next day he was dismissed from his em- 
 ployment ; and tears, and wretchedness, and woe, and 
 want came again to that dear family. Such is the 
 reformation which the preaching of Universalism 
 produces. 3. It does not convert men. Piety is .no 
 part of the system. They do not observe family prayer. 
 Rev. Matthew Hale Smith says, that in all his inter- 
 course with their ministers, he never found one who 
 observed family prayer. They do not even ask a 
 blessing at the table. Elder Knapp used to tell of a 
 Universalist minister who was called upon on a par- 
 ticular occasion to ask a blessing, and what he said. A 
 prominent Universalist in the community, concluded 
 to give a dining to all the ministers in the vicinity. 
 When they assembled around the dinner table, he 
 thought the orthodox ministers would expect a blessing 
 to be asked; and he thought that proper courtesy 
 to his own minister required that he should request 
 him to ask the blessing. So he said to his minister, 
 "Will you please ask a blessing?" His minister seemed 
 to be taken by perfect surprise, and exclaimed, "A 
 blessing I The devil 1" And such was the blessing
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 101 
 
 they had from the Universalist preacher. The fact 
 is, whenever a uuiversalist is converted to God, he 
 immediately leaves the Universalist Society, and 
 identifies himself with an orthodox church. He finds 
 nothing congenial now in association with Universal- 
 ists. 
 
 II. Elder T.'s second argument, to show that Uni- 
 versalism is a spurious religion, was derived from the 
 fact, that it destroys the entire substance of the gos- 
 pel, and is also contradictory to itself. Universalism 
 professes to believe that Jesus Christ saves all men. 
 But from what does he save all men? He can not 
 save men from & future hdl; for their doctrine affirms 
 that their is no such hell. He does not save men 
 from & present hell, or from the just demerit of their 
 sins ; for their doctrine affirms that a righteous retribu- 
 tion immediately and irresistibly follows every trans- 
 gressiou. And it will not be seriously pretended, 
 that our blessed Lord saves all men from sin in the 
 present life. You see the drunkard every day in your 
 city, reeling on the side- walk, and staggering to his 
 fall in the gutter. You hear the profane swearer, 
 belching forth his vile blasphemies in the open face of 
 day. In a word, you see sin in all its hideous forms, 
 prevailing all around you. From what, then, it may 
 again be asked, does Jesus save men according to this 
 system? Obviously from nothing at all. Ex nihil, 
 nihilfit; from nothing, nothing comes. If, therefore, 
 there be no future hell from which Christ saves sin- 
 ners ; and if a righteous retribution immediately and
 
 102 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 irresistibly follows every transgression ; and if till men 
 are not saved from sin in this life ; then from what 
 does Christ save all men ? Nothing ; absolutely 
 nothing, etc. 
 
 III. The third argument adduced to show that 
 Universalism is a false religion, was derived from the 
 fact, that it destroys the mercy of God. Mercy is 
 favor to the ill-deserving ; or it is pardon to the guilty. 
 But if a righteous retribution immediately and irresist- 
 ibly follows every transgression, as the system affirms, 
 then where is there any room for the exercise of 
 mercy? It is utterly excluded, etc. etc. , 
 
 IV. It was shown that the system tends to the 
 destruction of ail government. For it is very evident, 
 if all wrong doing, or sin, is followed by an immediate 
 and irresistible retribution, then all the inflictions of 
 parents upon rebellious children, and of magistrates 
 upon the state criminal, are most unjustifiable tyranny. 
 It is punishing twice for the same offense, etc. etc. 
 
 V. Universalism was shown to be a spurious relig- 
 ion, because it tends to crime. It virtualh' annihilates 
 all distinction between right and wronir between 
 
 o c> 
 
 virtue and vico. It teaches that whether a man dies 
 a felon, or a martyr ; a saint, or a sinner ; lives well, or 
 ill; does good or not ; keeps God's law, or breaks it ; 
 lives in lust and dies in crime .ill this, though it may 
 subject him to some temporal inconvenience, will have 
 no effect on his future condition. Be pure in heart, or 
 vile; follow holiness, or pollution all will at last see 
 God alike, and dwell with him forever. It was shown
 
 OF A LONG LITE. 103 
 
 conclusively that it leads to suicide and even to 
 murder itself, etc. etc. These points were fully 
 elaborated. 
 
 And here the first sermon was concluded ; and he 
 announced that he would resume the discussion two 
 nights afterwards. He had spent two full hours in the 
 discussion of the above named points, and had not yet 
 touched the Bible argument. The Universalists did 
 not know what to make of the discussion. They had 
 never heard it treated in that way before. They had 
 heard the Methodist preachers denounce the system, 
 and adduce certain passages of Scripture to sustain 
 their positions. But denunciation did not convince 
 them ; and they had their own method of explaining 
 away the Bible passages on which the Methodist 
 preachers so confidently relied, to establish their cause. 
 But when rigid logic and clear reasoning had been 
 brought to bear on their system for two hours, they 
 did not know what to think of it, nor what to say 
 
 */ 
 
 about it. They determined, therefore, that they would 
 hear the rest of the argument. Accordingly they came 
 back two nights afterwards, to hear what more would 
 be said against their system. The people seemed de- 
 termined to get into the meeting-house, if possible ; 
 and many came long before the time for beginning, 
 that they might be sure to get seats. The pews had 
 doors to them. Every possible space was filled in 
 every pew ; and in some instances they sat double in 
 the pews. When the pews were thus packed to their 
 utmost capacity, the pew doors were closed, and extra
 
 104 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 seats were placed all along both sides of the aisles, 
 against the pew doors, and the extra seats were then 
 densely crowded. The pulpit platform, and steps, and 
 even the sofa in the pulpit, were crowded with anxious 
 listeners. Then every standing space in the house was 
 occupied. Of course the ladies that came after the 
 pew doors were closed, and the benches in the aisles 
 which were placed against them were filled could not 
 displace the occupants of the pews ; and consequently 
 many of them were compelled to stand, in the dense 
 crowd, during the whole service. It was wonderful to 
 see delicate ladies standing two hours and a half for 
 such was the length of the service, including the pre- 
 liminaries and evincing no special fatigue. On ordi- 
 nary occasions many of those women would have tired 
 while a prayer of usual length was being offered. The 
 Universalists were present/ again, en masse, together 
 with their preacher. 
 
 Elder T. resumed the argument that night by show- 
 ing: 
 
 VI. That Universalism is a spurious religion, be- 
 cause it charges God, and all holy beings, with the 
 most consummate folly and weakness, in the intense 
 solicitude which they have evinced in the welfare of 
 the souls of perishing sinners. This point was fully 
 elaborated. 
 
 VII. Universalism was shown to be a false religion, 
 from awful facts exhibited in the state of fallen 
 
 angels, and those of our race who have died in im- 
 o 
 
 penitence.
 
 OF A LONG LITE. 
 
 1. Look at the state of fallen angels. It is said in 
 2 Peter 11:4, that "God spared not the angels that 
 sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them 
 into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judg^ 
 ment," &c. 
 
 2. He destroyed the old world. "What became of the 
 ante-diluvian sinners? Were they taken up to heaven 
 in all their wickedness? Reason says, no. But v:e 
 are not left to conjecture as to this matter. Thousands 
 of years afterwards they are spoken of by Peter in his 
 Second Epistle, 3d chapter and 19th verse, as " spirits 
 in prison." 
 
 3. The case of the Sodomites was also adduced, as 
 evidence of the overthrow of sinners. Thousands of 
 years afterwards, they are spoken of as " examples, 
 suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." 
 
 4. Pharaoh and his hosts ; the unbelieving Jews ; to 
 whom Jesus said, "Ye shall die in your sins, and 
 whither I go ye cannot come;" the rich man in the 
 parable ; and Judas, of whom the Savior said, " It had 
 been good for that man, if he had never been born;" 
 these were ail dwelt upon to show that Universalism is 
 a false religion. 
 
 Then he referred to the case of the pirate, who might 
 be shot down and killed instantly while he was strew- 
 ing the deck of his prize with the blood of his hapless 
 victims ; and he also referred to the midnight assassin, 
 who might be killed just in the act of plunging his 
 dagger into the bosom of the sleeping innocent. What, 
 he asked, must become of such characters ? Could they
 
 106 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 be admitted into heaven ? Reason revolts against any 
 such conclusion. All these points were fully discussed. 
 VIII. Univcrsalism was shown to be false because it 
 would require us to reverse the reading of a very large 
 number of passages in the Bible. " The wicked shall 
 be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget 
 God," would be required to be read, "The wicked 
 shall be turned into heaven," &c. ** The wages of sin 
 is death," would have to be read, " The wages of sin 
 is life." " Broad is the way, and wide is the gate that 
 leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in 
 thereat," would have to be read, " Broad is the way, 
 and wide is the gate that leadeth to heaven, and all go 
 in thereat." " He that belie veth not shall be damned," 
 must be read, " He that believcth not shall be saved." 
 "Except a man be born again he cannot see the king- 
 dom of God," must read, " If a man be not born again 
 he shall nevertheless see the kingdom of God." " Ex- 
 cept ye repent ye shall all likewise perish," must read, 
 "If a man does not repent he shall not perish." 
 " Fear not them that kill the body, but are not able to 
 kill the soul ; but rather fear him who is able to de- 
 stroy both soul and body in hell," should be made to 
 read, " Fear them that kill the body, but do not be 
 afraid that the soul maybe destroyed." " These shall 
 go away into everlasting punishment," should read, 
 "These shall go away into everlasting life." "And 
 in hell he lifted up his eyes being in torment," should 
 read, "And in heaven he lifted up his eyes being 
 happy," etc., etc.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 107 
 
 IX. Once more Univeraalism was shown to be false 
 because it is at war with men's consciences. The fact 
 is, Universalists themselves do not feel satisfied on this 
 point. There is something in every man's bosom that 
 tells him there is a hell. It is related that a foreigner 
 by the name of Francisco, who had gotten into great 
 trouble, contemplated destroying his life. He supplied 
 himself with a brace of pistols, and loaded them with 
 care, and went to see Mr. Skinner, a noted Universal- 
 ist preacher residing in Utica, N. Y. He asked Mr. 
 Skinner if there was a future hell. Mr. Skinner re- 
 plied, "O no, there is no future hell. That is a mere 
 figment of the distempered fancy of the orthodox." 
 Then Francisco, drew out his pistols, and putting one 
 of them to one of his temples, and the other to the 
 other temple, he said, Mr. Skinner I am tired of this 
 world, and have determined to quit it.* Now, sir, tell 
 me again that there is no future hell, and I will end 
 my life this instant." "Stop, stop," said Skinner, 
 "there may be a hell." "Yes," said Elder T., "there 
 may be, not only, but there is a fearful hell, into 
 which God's incorrigible foes shall at last be turned, 
 'where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quench- 
 ed," and 'where the smoke of their torment ascend- 
 eth up forever and ever.' ' 
 
 The discourse was concluded by an earnest and 
 touching appeal to the vast assembly to flee from the 
 wrath to come, and lay hold on eternal life. They 
 were assured that there was no good reason why any 
 of them should lie down in eternal burnings. For
 
 108 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 "God so loved the world, that he gave his only be- 
 gotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should 
 not perish, but have everlasting life," and Jesus is 
 "the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but 
 also for the sins of the whole world." And with many 
 tender words did he beseech them to come to Jesus, 
 "that they might have life." 
 
 At the close of the discourse the Universalist preach- 
 er attempted to speak ; but Elder Courtney, the pastor, 
 forbade him. He said to the Universalist preacher, in 
 very imperative tones, "Sit down, sir." And when he 
 still attempted to apeak, Elder Courtney advanced to- 
 wards him, and shook his finger at him, and said, in 
 tones more imperative, "Sit down, sir, I say ; sit down 
 sir." Mr. Courtney was a stout, fine looking man; 
 and in his young days, he had been considerable of a 
 boxer. He could have taken the little Universalist 
 preacher by the nape of the neck, and hurled him out 
 of the house in a moment. Just then Elder T. re- 
 quested the Christian friends to sing a spiritual song, 
 which they did with a vim. They had barely finished 
 the song when he said, "Let us pray." In his prayer 
 he shook the poor Universalist preacher over hell for 
 some five minutes, and besought the good Lord to 
 save him from the burning pit to which his feet were 
 tending. "When his prayer was finished, he immediately 
 asked the friends to sing again; so that no opportunity 
 WHS allowed the Universalist preacher to speak; and 
 soon afterwards the assembly was dismissed for the 
 night.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. , 109 
 
 The next morning placards were posted all over the 
 the city, headed, "Teasdale's misrepresentations an- 
 swered in the Universalist church, to-night." The public 
 were cordially invited to attend. And, then, there 
 was a challenge to Elder T. to debate the subject of 
 Universalism Avith any one of several of their most 
 prominent men, residing in Philadelphia, Cincinnati or 
 Saint Louis. Elder T. said nothing to deter any from 
 going to hear the answer to his discourses. The young 
 men for whose benefit the sermons of Elder T. were 
 preached, more especially, went to hear the answer to 
 them that night. And the litter failure of the Univer- 
 salist preacher to meet and answer the arguments of 
 Elder T., satisfied the young men that it would not do 
 to trust the doctrine of Universalism for salvation ; 
 and over twenty of them immediately came forward 
 for prayers in the Baptist meeting, and were very soon 
 converted, and then they united with the church. 
 
 The next night after the Universalist had attempted 
 to reply to Elder T., he gave notice that he would 
 answer the challenge which had been so conspicuously 
 posted up all o\ 7 er the city, and he invited his Univer- 
 salist friends to be present to hear his reply to their 
 challenge. Accordingly they all came again, and the 
 house was densely packed as before. Elder T. took for 
 his text on this occasion the passage in Nehemiah vi., 
 3. "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come 
 down : why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, 
 and come down to you." 
 
 His object in the discourse was to compare the work
 
 1 1 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 in their meeting, with that in which Nehemiah was en- 
 gaged in Jerusalem. The points of similarity between 
 the two were stated to be as follows : 
 
 1. The worl^ of Nehemiah and the Jews, was em- 
 phatically the work of the Lord. It was begun in 
 fasting and prayer, and it was carried on in prayer. 
 So was their work in this meeting, etc. 
 
 2. There was a good deal of rubbish to be removed 
 before the Jews could begin to build. So it was in 
 their work. Variations, discords, and animosities 
 amongst the members, and other stumbling-blocks, had 
 to be removed out of the "way, before they could be- 
 gin to build, etc. 
 
 3. The Jews had bitter enemies and great op- 
 position to encounter in their work. Sanballot, Tobiah 
 and Geshera were inveterate enemies of their work. 
 First they ridiculed it, and "laughed the people to 
 scorn, and despised them and said, What is this thing 
 that ye do? Will ye rebel against the King?'' etc. 
 So sinners ridicule their work. They say the con- 
 verts will not stand for six months, etc. Secondly, 
 the enemies of the Jews threatened to make war 
 against their work, and hinder it. So it had been 
 in their work. And here he referred to the base at-' 
 tempts of the Universalist's to hinder their work. etc. 
 Thirdly, the enemies of the Jews sought at length to 
 hinder the work by strategy. They tried to get Ne- 
 hemiah to leave the work, and meet them in one of 
 the villages in the plain of Ono. For they thought to 
 do him mischief. So Elder T. said, "I have received
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. Ill 
 
 to-day Sanballot s open letter in the hand of a servant 
 a colored man." And then he read the letter to 
 the great congregation. The coincidence between 
 Sanballot's sending a letter . to Nehemiah of similar 
 character, and in precisely the same manner, excited 
 an involuntary smile in the vast assembly. "And 
 now," said he, "I answer this letter, and the challenge 
 which has been posted all over the city in the language 
 of the noble Nehemiah, in reply to the letter of San- 
 ballot, "I am doing a great work, so that I can not 
 come down : why should the work cease, whilst I leave 
 it, and come down to you?" 
 
 This last sermon on Universalism was characterized 
 by the keenest sarcasm. Elder T. was satisfied that the 
 people had had enough of Universalism; and his ob- 
 ject was to bring to bear upon the system the severest 
 ridicule possible. The effect of the discussion upon 
 the community at large was truly wonderful. The 
 young Universalist preacher was so mortified that he 
 at once left the city ; and for a period of six months 
 there was no service, and no Sunday-school in the 
 Universalist meeting-house. The leaders of the sect 
 were very angry with Elder T. ; and said that he had 
 broken up their society. Mr. Courtney in writing 
 to Elder T.'s church in Pittsburgh, begging them 
 to allow him to remain still longer in Zanesville, 
 said, that on a given night he had skinned Uni- 
 versalism ; on another night he had hung up the 
 skin to dry ; and on another night he had fried the 
 carcass on a grid-iron. So, Universalism was com-
 
 H2 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 pletely destroyed for the time being in Zanesville. 
 Still another incident in connection with that meet- 
 Ing must not be omitted. In the early part of the 
 meeting, an interesting and intelligent young man, 
 came forward for prayers, with the great crowds who 
 were then inquiring what they must do to be saved. 
 He continued to come forward regularly for some time. 
 Then he ceased to come forvrard. Nothing was 
 thought of his not coming forward ; for many were 
 professing faith in Christ every day ; and it vas sup- 
 posed that he was among that happy number. But at 
 the expiration of six weeks Elder T. felt that he must 
 return to his family and to his church in Pittsburgh, 
 and accordingly gave notice that he expected to preach 
 his closing sermon on that Sunday night. A collection 
 for a benevolent object was to be taken up that night. 
 Before the sermon commenced on that occasion, a note 
 was handed to Elder T. in the pulpit. He supposed 
 it was most likely a request for special prayer, and 
 therefore opened it at once. The note contained a 
 small contribution for the benevolent object, and it 
 read as follows : 
 
 'I give this mite, and though hut small. 
 
 It will quite amply serve to tell, 
 How I've rejected Christ, and all, 
 And sealed my soul at last for hell. 
 
 Those sermons which you daily preach, 
 
 To many precious souls have been 
 Savors of life; but me they teach 
 
 That I am doomed, undone by sin.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 113 
 
 I know I'm lost, but I'm resigned; 
 
 To peace and hope I've bid farewell; 
 E'en now sometimes my gloomy mind. 
 
 Has foretastes of a dreadful hell. 
 
 This, this is solemn, awful truth, 
 Which burns like fire within my heart; 
 
 And, O, how hard thus in my youth, 
 From peace and hope and heaven to part/' 
 
 The young man signed his full name to the note ; 
 and Elder T. read it, name and all, to the great assem- 
 bly. When the name was announced there was a very 
 deep feeling throughout the congregation: and sup- 
 pressed sighs and sobs were heard in every part of the 
 house. At the close of the sermon, some of the fathers 
 and mothers in Israel gathered around the dear young 
 man, and besought him, with many tears, to go for- 
 ward again for prayers. But they could not move him. 
 Elder T. then left the platform in front of the pulpit, 
 and went down the aisle to the pew which the young 
 man occupied, and gave him his hand, and entreated 
 him to go forward with him. He looked up into the 
 face of Elder T. without a tear, and in the most courte- 
 ous and respectful manner said to him, " Sir, I thank 
 you for all the interest which you have evinced in my 
 spiritual welfare. You have done your whole duty to 
 me. Your skirts will never be stained with the blood 
 of my soul. But, sir, it is now too late for me to 
 make an effort to be saved. In the early part of this 
 meeting I felt deeply my need of divine salvation. 
 But I did not yield my heart to Jesus ; and now I am 
 comparatively insensible to my soul's welfare. I fear
 
 114 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 that I have grieved the Spirit forever away." And no 
 entreaty could induce him to go forward, and renew 
 his efforts to secure the salvation of his soul. A fresh 
 outburst of interest again in the meeting that night 
 there being some sixty or seventy persons forward for 
 prayers, and many of them new cases made Elder T. 
 feel that he could not break away from the meeting, 
 under such circumstances ; and he finally remained two 
 weeks longer. But when he closed his labors in the 
 meeting, and returned to his home in Pittsburgh, he left 
 that dear young man, laboring under the same de- 
 spondent impression, and insisting to the last that he 
 had grieved the Holy Spirit forever away. Whether 
 he had done so or not, none could then tell. But it is 
 clear, from the teaching of the Bible, that the Holy 
 Spirit may be thus finally and forever grieved away. 
 God says, "My Spirit shall not always strive with 
 man." It was said of Ephraim : " Ephraim ia joined 
 to idols; let him alone." And Stephen, the proto- 
 martyr, said to his murderers: "Ye stiff-necked and 
 uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist 
 the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye." And 
 God says : " Woe unto them when I shall depart from 
 them."
 
 OF A LONG LlFfi. 115 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 In the summer of 1849, Elder T. was invited to de- 
 liver the annual address before the Caliopean Society 
 of Granville College, in Ohio. The address was on 
 the subject of Effective Oratory, and was published 
 by request of the Society. The distinguished Alexander 
 Campbell had been chosen to address the other literary 
 Society of the College. But owing to the prevalence 
 of the cholera in certain places in that section at that 
 time, he declined going to Granville, and another gen- 
 tleman was elected to fill his place. On his return 
 home, Elder T. found the river so low between Wheel- 
 ing and Pittsburgh, that he did not dare to take a 
 steamboat, lest he might not be able to reach home in 
 time for his Sunday services. He, therefore, took the 
 stage from Wheeling to Pittsburgh. On his arrival at 
 Wellsburg, the dining place, he met Mr. Campbell, 
 who insisted that he should lie over a day, and go out 
 with him to Bethany, and spend the night with him. 
 As he had never been at Bethany, he concluded to ac- 
 cept Mr. Campbell's invitation, and go out and spend 
 the night at his commodious home. Some one had rid- 
 den a horse into the village of Wellsburg from Bethany ; 
 and Mr. Campbell was expecting to lead him back.
 
 116 BEMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 So Elder T. rode the horse out to Bethany, a distance 
 of about six miles, and spent the night with Mr. 
 Campbell at his own mansion. It proved to be a very 
 pleasant visit to Elder T. He had thus an opportunity 
 of looking through the College ; and of witnessing the 
 home habits of his distinguished host. He found that 
 in family worship, every member of the family was 
 expected to repeat a portion of Scripture not a verse 
 merely, but a Psalm, or a paragraph from the New 
 Testament, or some other portion of the Word of God. 
 The whole service was solemn and impressive. 
 
 During his visit there he walked out into the yard to 
 see Mr. Campbell's studio. It was an octagon of con- 
 siderable size, and was built of brick. The library was 
 very large, and seemed to be well arranged. The build- 
 ing was almost covered with vines. He remarked to 
 Mr. Campbell, "I see, sir, that you dwell under your 
 own vine; but the fig tree seems to be wanting." It 
 was intended as a pleasant intimation that the system 
 of Mr. Campbell was in part true, but the essence of 
 the gospel was wanting, and it was so received. Mr. 
 Campbell sent him back to Wellsburg in time for the 
 stage that day, and he arrived in Pittsburgh in good 
 time to get ready for his Sunday services. 
 
 In the autumn of 1849, Elder T. attended the meet- 
 ing of the Ohio Baptist State Convention, at Columbus, 
 Ohio. It was a large and interesting meeting. On the 
 night after his arrival, there was a meeting in the in- 
 
 o o 
 
 terest of the Bible cause ; and without obtaining his 
 consent, the Pastor announced that he would be one of
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 117 
 
 the speakers on the occasion. He had been preaching 
 in a series of meetings for two or three weeks, and by 
 some exposure had contracted a hoarseness ; and he 
 determined that he would not speak on that occasion 
 at all. Accordingly he went to his quarters ; took off 
 his boots, and put on his slippers; and took off his 
 coat, and put on his wrapper, and determined he would 
 not go to the meeting that night. The bell rang, and 
 a great crowd assembled at the church ; but he was not 
 there. By and by, he heard a carriage drive up before 
 the door of the dwelling at which he was stopping, 
 and in came the Rev. Mr. Cheene\*, the pastor of the 
 church, in an evident state of excitement, and found 
 him sitting by a comfortable fire, and with wrapper 
 and slippers on, he seemed to be taking his comfort. 
 He inquired what it meant. He told him it meant 
 that he did not intend to go out that night. But the 
 pastor said that would never do ; that the house was 
 full; and that many had come to the meeting expressly 
 to hear his address. He told the pastor that he had 
 fully determined not to go to the meeting that night, 
 and that consequently he had dismissed the subject en- 
 tirely from his mind, and had thought of nothing in 
 the shape of an address ; and, therefore, he could not 
 possibly speak. And besides he was somewhat hoarse 
 and would speak with difficulty, if he was ever so well 
 prepared to make an address. But the pastor insisted 
 that he should accompany him to the church, and make 
 his own apology to the people, if he thought he could 
 not speak. So finally he yielded to the importunate
 
 118 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 pleadings of the pastor, and went with him to the 
 meeting. On his arrival there, he found, sure enough, 
 a very large, expectant audience, composed of many of 
 the first people of the city. A brother was to precede 
 him in a speech, and he told him to go ahead, and if 
 he felt like speaking when he got through, he would 
 follow with a few remarks. While that brother was 
 speaking, under the inspiration of the expectant crowd, 
 and from some irritation in being pressed so severely 
 by the pastor, he began to think of something to say ; 
 and in a few minutes his mind opened to a train of 
 thought so clear that he felt he could venture to speak 
 when the brother got through. Accordingly he made 
 a speech on the occasion, on THE DEMOCRACY OF THE 
 BIBLE. He had never made a speech on that subject 
 in all his life before. It was all new to him. But 
 such was the exhilaration of his mind at the time, that 
 he made, as he thinks, one of the very best speeches 
 of his life. It gave universal satisfaction. A Demo- 
 cratic member of Congress who was present and heard 
 the speech, said it was one of the best speeches he had 
 ever heard. He has often regretted that he did not go 
 to his room immediately after the delivery of the 
 speech and write it out in full. He has never been 
 able since to reproduce that address. It has often 
 seemed to him since, that no entreaties could induce 
 him to attempt to make an address, under such circum- 
 stances, again. 
 
 During the winter of 1850, Elder T. went to 
 Phoenixville, Chester County, Pa., to assist his special
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 119 
 
 friend, Rev. Wm. S. Hall, the pastor of the Baptist 
 church in that place, in a series of meetings. Seven- 
 teen years before, he had preached there, and assisted 
 in resuscitating the Baptist church in that village. 
 They held their meetings during the first protracted 
 meeting in which he participated with them, in a 
 shanty erected in a neighboring grove. Several 
 ministers took part in that meeting, among \\hom may 
 be mentioned Elders D. A. Nichols, Leonard Fletcher, 
 Dr. W. T. Brantly, Sr., W. S. Hall and himself. 
 These meetings were largely attended, and they were 
 greatly blessed in the conversion of souls. The 
 church was re organized, and Rev. Mr. Collum, of 
 Philadelphia, was called to the pastorate. From that 
 time the church has gone on prospering, until it has 
 become one of the most important and influential 
 churches in all that section of country. 
 
 The meeting, held by Elder T. with this church in 
 1850, was wonderfully blessed. Some sixty rejoicing 
 converts were added to the Baptist church alone; and 
 many converts in the meeting united with other 
 denominations. The Superintendent of the Sunday- 
 school and his excellent wife, he found, were both 
 converted in the meeting of 1850. 
 
 From Phcenixville, Elder T. went to Philadelphia 
 to assist Rev. J. L. Burrows in a brief series of meet- 
 ings in that city. At the close of his labors in Phila- 
 delphia, he returned to his home in Pittsburgh, and 
 made preparation for his removal from that city, on 
 account of the failure of his wife's health. When a
 
 120 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 child she had been subject to frequent attacks of 
 croup. Now, under the influence of the smoke, and dust, 
 and soot of this Birmingham of America, the disease 
 took the form of asthma ; and the attacks became so 
 frequent and so violent that his family physician told 
 him plainly that she could not live there another 
 year. He determined, therefore, at once, to quit the 
 iron city, and seek a climate more congenial to his 
 wife's comfort. He had learned that the prairies of 
 Illinois were peculiarly favorable for that sort of 
 disease; and he determined to ^give them a trial for 
 his wife's benefit. 
 
 During his pastorate in Pittsburgh, over four 
 hundred souls were added to the church by baptism 
 alone ; and many others were added by letters from 
 sister churches. He also united a considerable num- 
 ber in the bonds of matrimony in this city. 
 
 Having determined, as above stated, to remove from 
 Pittsburgh, on account of his wife's health, he resign- 
 ed the charge of the church in that city, and made 
 arrangements to go away at once. 
 
 Accordingly, having received a call from the First 
 Baptist church of Springfield, Illinois, he concluded 
 to accept it; and he removed in the spring of 1850, 
 from Pittsburgh to that city. The church there had 
 just finished an excellent and commodious house of 
 worship ; and he preached the opening sermon on the 
 first Sunday in April of that year. His labors in 
 Springfield, during his brief stay of but little more 
 than two years, were abundantly blessed. More than
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 121 
 
 a hundred souls were added to the church by baptism 
 and by letter, and the church was greatly built up 
 and strengthened under his earnest labors amongst 
 them. 
 
 During his pastorate in Springfield, he established 
 a Young Ladies' Institute, which greatly prospered 
 while he had charge of it. It was while he was a 
 resident of this city that his youngest son died. He 
 was about six and a half years old at the time of his 
 death. Here also his youngest child, his only living 
 daughter, was born, in June, 1851. His little son 
 died in October of the same year. He had often, in 
 his large city pastorates, been called upon to sym- 
 pathize with bereaved parents over the loss of their 
 dear children ; and he had often "wept with those that 
 weep ;" but never before could he so fully enter into 
 the feelings of those who mourned the loss of their 
 dear children, as he could when one of his own 
 had been borne away to the tomb. The sym- 
 pathy of experience seems necessary to enable us 
 to be the successful comforters of those who mourn 
 the loss of their loved ones by death. 
 
 He was away from home when his dear child died, 
 on his way to the annual meeting of the General As- 
 sociation of the State of Illinois. His family physician 
 had given him assurance that he might safely venture 
 to attend the General Association ; and, as he had im- 
 portant duties assigned him in that body, he reluctant- 
 ly concluded to go. 
 
 In the winter of 1852, Elder T. received an invita-
 
 122 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 tion to supply the vacant pulpit of the E. Street Bap- 
 tist Church in Washington City for six months. He 
 accepted the invitation, and his labors there were 
 greatly blessed. Over sixty souls were added to the 
 church by baptism and by letter. During that sum- 
 mer, he received the honorary degree of D. D., from 
 Union College, located at Schenectady, N. Y. The 
 distinguished Dr. E. Nott was still President of the 
 College ; and the Institution was in the highest degree 
 of prosperity. It was indeed an honor to receive a 
 degree from that excellent Institution. He apprecia- 
 ted it all the more because it came from a College not 
 under the control of his own denomination. 
 
 After the expiration of his engagement with E. 
 Street Church, it was thought that another Baptist 
 Church was required to meet the exigencies of the 
 denomination in the National Metropolis. According- 
 ly, a new church was organized, and he was earnestly 
 requested to take the pastoral care of it. And this he 
 did, with the distinct understanding that an effort 
 should be made as soon as practicable, to erect a more 
 commodious house of worship than any then belonging 
 to the Baptists in that city. Such an effort was soon 
 inaugurated, and earnest endeavors were entered upon 
 to effect the object. It was well understood that con- 
 siderable aid from abroad would be indispensable to 
 the accomplishment of this important undertaking. 
 And after obtaining all that could be secured at home 
 for the object, Dr. T. made frequent excursions abroad 
 in the interest of the good work, with varying results.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 123 
 
 But it was determined to persevere until the object 
 was attained. 
 
 While collecting money for the erection of this 
 church edifice, Dr. T. went North and obtained many 
 contributions of manufactured articles for a Fair, 
 which the church had determined to hold in the inter- 
 est of that enterprise ; and the proceeds of the sale 
 of those articles, and the income from the Fair alto- 
 gether, aided essentially in the accomplishment of that 
 important undertaking. 
 
 In the latter part of the winter of 1854, Dr. T 
 went over to Baltimore to assist the Rev. Dr. Richard 
 Fuller in a protracted meeting for two weeks. The 
 meeting was seriously interrupted by one of the sever- 
 est snow storms ever experienced in] March in that 
 latitude. Still, much good was accomplished, and 
 quite a number of rejoicing converts were baptized 
 and added to the church as the result of that meeting. 
 
 It was while laboring in this meeting that the now 
 sainted Fuller suggested to Dr. T. the importance of 
 going South in the interest of his church enterprise in 
 Washington City ; and he assured him that if he would 
 go South and preach Christ to the people there as he 
 was doing in Baltimore at that time, they woujd build 
 the church for him. This suggestion of Dr. Fuller 
 was followed out, and soon afterwards, Dr. T. assisted 
 Rev. Dr. Tiberius Gracchus Jones, in quite a long 
 series of meetings in Norfolk, which resulted in an ac- 
 cession to the Free Mason Street Church, of which 
 Dr. Jones was then pastor, of one hundred precious
 
 124 KEMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 souls. Other churches also shared in the blessed re- 
 sults of that glorious meeting. The contribution of 
 the church and congregation for the erection of the 
 
 C3 f 
 
 church in Washington, at the close of the meeting, was 
 very liberal, and Dr. T. was very much encouraged 
 by the success attending his first effort, under the ad- 
 vice of Dr. Fuller ; and he determined to go on with 
 that kind of work. 
 
 While he was assisting Dr. Jones in the meeting in 
 his church, he went one Sunday morning, to the Cum- 
 berland Street Baptist Church, in that city, and 
 preached a single sermon, and took up a collection for 
 his church enterprise in Washington. While he was 
 making a statement of thjp necessity of a good house 
 of worship for our denomination in the Capitol of the 
 nation, and one more commodious and more attractive 
 than any then existing there, he observed an old lady 
 in the congregation, who seemed to be very deeply in- 
 terested in the object, and she wept under the state- 
 ment which -was made. She was very poor. She 
 wished that she had something to give towards the 
 erection of that building ; but she had no money to 
 give not even a dime. "Well," she thought, "lean 
 pray for the success of the enterprise if I can do 
 nothing more ; and that I will certainly do." But 
 that did not seem to satisfy her, and she said to her- 
 self,-"! must have a brick or two in that church 
 house." But how slie could get the money for 
 that purpose she could not at first divine. At length, 
 she remembered that she had a little chicken in her
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 125 
 
 yard at home, and she determined to take it to market 
 the next morning and soil it, and send Dr. T half 
 the proceeds of the sale for his church enterprise. She 
 did so ; and she sent him an old New York shilling 
 the eighth of a dollar, as half the proceeds of the sale 
 of the chicken. Some may be ready to ask, "Did 
 Dr. T. take the poor woman's money?" He could 
 not refuse it. He would not have wounded the feel- 
 ings of that pious old sister, by returning the money, 
 for a hundred times the amount of her donation. He 
 remembered what the Savior said about the contribu- 
 tion of the poor widow in the Temple. She cast into 
 the treasury two mites which make a farthing. Jesus 
 said, "This poor widow hath cast in more than they 
 all. For all these have of their abundance [surplus 
 it may be rendered] cast in unto the offerings of God : 
 but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that 
 she had." Dr. T. took the piece of money, and 
 replaced it by a like sum ; and he has carried it in his 
 pocket ever since. You could scarcely induce him to 
 part with it for any reasonable amount of money. 
 
 Well, let us see how the Savior's words were verified 
 in this case. " Give, and it shall be given unto you ; 
 good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and 
 running over, shall men give into your bosom." That 
 very day, Dr. T. called on a family grocer, who had 
 married a Washington lady ; and in the course of the 
 conversation with him, he related the story of the poor 
 woman's donation to his church enterprise. The gro- 
 cer's heart was touched ; and he said with deep feeling,
 
 126 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 "I will send that poor woman five dollars' worth of 
 groceries at once." How much more she received for 
 that donation which she made to the Washington 
 church, Dr. T. never knew. But he took care to let 
 it be extensively known in Norfolk, that the contribu- 
 tion had been made under the peculiar circumstances 
 of the case, and that it had been received, and applied 
 to the object for which it was given. How true it is : 
 "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and 
 there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it 
 tendeth to poverty." 
 
 While conducting the meeting in Norfolk, Dr. T. 
 received a pressing invitation from the pastor of the 
 First Baptist Church in Charleston to assist them in a 
 series of meetings in that old church. The pastor, 
 Rev. Dr. Kendrick, was careful to state in his letter of 
 invitation, that Dr. T. must not expect a large dona- 
 tion from his church to his enterprise in Washington, 
 as they were heavily pledged to aid the Furman 
 University, and to assist in the building of a church 
 edifice in Columbia, etc., etc. Dr. T. told him not to 
 trouble himself at all about that; that he would be 
 satisfied with whatever they chose to give him when he 
 closed his labors among them. 
 
 On the 20th of April, 1854, Dr. T. arrived in Charles- 
 ton, from Norfolk, and immediately entered upon his 
 labors in the meeting. It was, indeed, a great meet- 
 uug; and it added largely to the pecuniary ability, as 
 well as to the social and religious influence of the 
 church. It was estimated that during that revival, the
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 127 
 
 aggregate of wealth in the possession of the converts 
 was not less than half a million of dollars by some it 
 was estimated to be at least $600,000. 
 
 When Dr. T. had been there two and a half weeks, 
 he informed the pastor that he felt it to be his duty to 
 close his labors there on the following Wednesday 
 night, which would make three weeks' work among 
 them. He would then have been eight weeks absent 
 from his family and church five weeks in Norfolk, 
 and three weeks in Charleston and he felt that he 
 must return to them without longer delay. 
 
 Nothing had been said, at any time during the meet- 
 ing, about the contribution to the Washington church, 
 either by the pastor, or by Dr. T. ; but at the close of 
 the public service on that Sunday morning, the pastor 
 stated that Dr. T. felt it to be his duty to close his 
 labors among them on the next Wednesday night ; and 
 then, in very few words, spoke of the enterprise in 
 Washington, and said to his people, that he wanted to 
 raise, that morning, for this object, $500. That was 
 the first intimation given to Dr. T. that the pastor 
 thought more than the $100 which he had pledged 
 could be raised for his object. The method of taking 
 up such collections, in that good old church, was to 
 have cards distributed in all the pews, and let every 
 person subscribe such amount as he might choose to 
 contribute. The Deacons also stood in the vestibule, 
 after the dismission of the congregation, with hats in 
 hand to receive such amounts as persons from the gal- 
 leries might be disposed tojgive. Then*the cards were
 
 128 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 collected and deposited with the Treasurer of the 
 church, whose business house was in a central part of 
 the city ; and the subscribers were expected to call at 
 his store the next day and take up their cards. While 
 the pastor and Dr. T. were at dinner, that day, a well- 
 known sister of the church sent around to tlie pastor 
 to inquire if the $500 had been raised that morning. 
 The pastor looked over to Dr. T. and smiled, saying, 
 "There are your $500, sir." It was understoo'd, of 
 course, that this benevolent lady only wished'to know 
 to what amount she should make her check on the 
 bank, in order to insure the full amount of $500 to 
 the object. 
 
 The church held their communion services that after- 
 noon ; and after the close of those services, a special 
 meeting of the church was called, and a committee, 
 consisting of three of the prominent Deacons, was 
 appointed to wait on Dr. T. and prevail upon him, if 
 possible, to remain at least a week longer than had 
 been proposed. Accordingly, the committee came to 
 see him at the house of the pastor, and made known 
 to him the object of their mission. Dr. T. pleaded 
 hard to be let off on the following Thursday morning; 
 but still tho committee insisted, that as the meeting 
 was doing so much good, and reaching a class of per- 
 sons which all previous efforts had failed to effect, he 
 ought to 1)0 willing to make the sacrifice, and fill up at 
 least the full four weeks amongst them. And they 
 further assured him that it would be no disadvantage 
 to his church enterprise if he should remain. He fi-
 
 OF A LOXO LIFE. 129 
 
 nally yielded to their wishes, and finished up the full 
 four weeks of earnest labors in their midst. At the 
 close of his work in Charleston, the brethren put into 
 his hands, for his church enterprise, without a word of 
 solicitation on his part, one thousand dollars; and meet- 
 ing a good brother on the street, Deacon Budd an 
 old sea captain he said to Dr. T., "I have made my 
 contribution, with the other brethren, for your church 
 in Washington, but I want to make a small contribu- 
 tion to your family, if you will bear it to them ;" and 
 he took out his pocket-book and handed him a hundred 
 dollars for his family all that the pastor dare pledge 
 before the meeting, for "the church enterprise. And 
 in addition to this, the ladies made him a present of a 
 beautiful dressing case, with Russia Morocco cover, 
 and containing the most complete toilet set imaginable. 
 This remembrancer has been cherished with gre-.it in- 
 terest by Dr. T., and it will be transmitted to his 
 posterity as an heirloom in the family. It is really a 
 marvel of beauty and convenience. 
 
 Having finished his work in Charleston, Dr. T. re- 
 turned at once to Washington. He found his family 
 well, and his church in a prosperous state. During 
 his absence of a little more than two months, he had 
 held t\vo protracted meetings, in which some two hun- 
 dred souls had been converted, and about $1500 had 
 been obtained to aid his church enterprise. Thus it 
 was shown, that the suggestion of Dr. Fuller was in- 
 deed a wise one; and Dr. T. continued to hold pro- 
 tracted meetings in various parts of the South, and to
 
 130 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 collect money for his church enterprise in Washington, 
 until the summer of 1858.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 131 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 During the winter of 1855, Dr. T. went down to 
 Hertford, N. C., to assist Rev. Geo. Bradford, then 
 pastor of that church, in a series of meetings. His 
 efforts were very greatly blessed there in the awaken- 
 ing and conversion of souls. By the exertions of two 
 excellent brethren connected with that church, an ele- 
 gant and commodious meeting house had recently been 
 erected, at a cost of some $14,000. These brethren 
 had raised probably about $2,000 for the object by 
 the contribution of other members of the church and 
 the community at large ; and the balance they divided 
 between themselves, and paid it out of their own 
 pockets. These same brethren, viz : Charles W. Skin- 
 ner, and Richard Felton, gave Dr. T. $350.00 a piece to 
 purchase a bell for his church in Washington. This 
 liberal donation, together with a donation of the 
 foundry men of $100.00, enabled Dr. T. to place, in 
 the steeple of his church, a bell of the very best ma- 
 terial, weighing about 2,200 pounds. It was decidedly 
 the best bell in Washington at that time. The differ- 
 ence between that bell and others in the city, could 
 then be distinguished for many miles around the city. 
 Dr. T. bad the names of the liberal donors cast in
 
 132 KEMIXTSCFA T CES AXD INCIDENTS 
 
 raised letters on the bell, together with their place of 
 residence. Some years after the erection of this 
 church edifice, a terrible hurricane passed over Wash- 
 ington, and blew down the beautiful steeple of the 
 church, which crushed in the roof of the building, and 
 damaged the edifice considerably, as it did also some 
 buildings adjacent to the church. It cost about $6000 
 to make the necessary repairs on the church edifice, 
 without re-erecting the steeple. In the place of the 
 elegant steeple, which the storm had blown down, an 
 unsightly cupola was put upon the building. Dr. T. 
 always feels, when he sees it, as if he would like to 
 kick it into the Potomac river j if lie could. There is 
 no excuse for putting this ungainly thing on such a 
 church building. Fortunately the bell was uninjured 
 by the hurricane, and it still remains intact. 
 
 The second meeting which Dr. T. held in South 
 Carolina, was with the church at Edgefield Court 
 House, in April, 1855. He had been invited to visit 
 that church some time before : but he found it difficult 
 to fix on a time, in the near future, when he would be 
 able to comply with the earnest request of the people 
 of that community. But finding himself in Augusta, 
 Ga., with no objective point immediately in view, he 
 concluded to take the stage, and go at once to Edge- 
 field Village. He arrived there in the afternoon of 
 the 3rd. of April, 1855, and efforts were immediately 
 made to circulate the news of his unexpected arrival, 
 and that he would preach that night in the Baptist 
 Church. Only about twenty-five persons were in at-
 
 OF A LOXG LIFE. 133 
 
 tendance that night on the services. The next night 
 the number was more than doubled. Then Dr. T. told 
 the pastor that they must have meetings in the day 
 time, as well as at night. The pastor replied, "The 
 people here have not been accustomed to day meetings, 
 during week days ; and it is very doubtful whether you 
 can get them out to a day meeting except on Sunday." 
 Dr. T. said to him that he could not spend time enough 
 there to do much good if no day meetings could be 
 held, and that he would preach his best sermons in the 
 morning meetings, if only a dozen hearers were in at- 
 tendance. The pastor then said to him, "Well, sir, go 
 ahead, if you are willing to assume the responsibility 
 of getting the people out to a morning meeting, I 
 shall not object." Accordingly on the second night of 
 the meeting it was announced that there would be 
 preaching in that house at 10 o'clock the next morn- 
 ing. Contrary to the fears of the pastor, there were 
 more people in attendance on the first morning meet- 
 ing, than were present at the second night meeting. 
 From that time, the interest in the meeting grew rapid- 
 ly, and the meeting-house was soon filled to overflowing 
 with anxious listeners. Dr. T. remained there six- 
 teen days, during which time seventy-two joyful con- 
 verts were baptized into the fellowship of the Baptist 
 Church. The meeting was carried on for some time 
 after Dr. T. left, and over a hundred altogether were 
 added to the church as the result of that excellent 
 meeting. 
 
 A few incidents occurred during this meeting which
 
 134 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 are deemed worthy of notice. One Monday morning, 
 after having heard a searching discourse on Sunday 
 night on the impossibility of neutrality in the matter 
 of religion, a gentleman, of very fair standing in the 
 community, came to the quarters of Dr. T.,and told 
 him that he had been cherishing a secret hope in Christ 
 for some time, but had not made a public confession 
 of religion. And he then said that he wanted to be 
 baptized that day. Dr. T. told him there would prob- 
 ably be several ready for baptism in a day or two, as 
 a considerable number had come forward for prayer 
 the night before, and he could then be baptized with 
 the other^ who might be accepted for the ordinance. 
 But he insisted that he must be baptized that very day 
 that he could delay the duty no longer. According- 
 ly, arrangements were made, and he was baptized that 
 day. When Dr. T. suggested that he should wait a day 
 or two for others, it was merely to test his earnestness 
 in the matter; and he was glad to find that the appli- 
 cant was made to feel that he could not delay the duty 
 another day. 
 
 Another incident of interest occurred in this meet- 
 ing. An excellent old sister in the church, whom 
 every body called Mother Mims, regretted when she 
 heard that Dr. T. hud arrived, and had commenced 
 his meetings at night, that she would not be able to 
 hear his sermons, except on the Sundays, as she could 
 not go out at night to meeting. She considered her- 
 self too old and too infirm to go to church except on 
 Sunday mornings, when the weather was pleasant, and
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 135 
 
 every thing favor able. She had an easy chair, provi- 
 ded for her special accommodation, near the pulpit ; 
 and when she rode up to the church door in her com- 
 fortable carriage, one or two of her sons would aid 
 her in getting out of the carnage, and would then con- 
 duct her to her easy chair in the church. She was 
 greatly delighted when she heard that Dr. T. had de- 
 termined to hold the meetings both day and night ; for 
 then she thought she would be able to hear most of 
 his morning sermons. Accordingly, when the bell 
 rang for the morning meeting, old Sister Minis was 
 among the first to ride up to the church door, and go 
 into the meeting-house. At the close of that 
 morning's sermon, an invitation was extended to such 
 as desired to present special objects of prayer, to do 
 so at that time. Mother Minis was the first to leave 
 her seat and advance to grasp Dr. T.'s hand as he 
 descended from the pulpit; and in her tears she said, 
 "I have great reason to be devoutly thankful that God 
 has given me all my children in the Lord. They are 
 all members of the church ; and, so far as I know, are 
 honoring their profession by a godly walk and a holy 
 conversation. But I have a number of grand-children 
 now coming on the stage of life, for whom I desire an 
 interest in your fervent prayers." These grand-chil- 
 dren were made immediately the objects of special 
 prayer ; and several of them were among the first to 
 come forward for prayer and instruction in the meet- 
 ing. Suffice it to say, that every one of the dear 
 grand-children of that devoted mother in Israel, who
 
 136, REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 were accountable moral agents, were converted during 
 that meeting. And what adds greatly to the interest 
 of this matter, is the fact, that soon after the meet- 
 ing had closed, the eldest of the grand-sons, a swn of 
 Dr. Richard Mims, and a most charming young man, 
 was taken sick, and died. His death was a most 
 triumphant Christian death. He summoned the young 
 men, his former associates, to his bedside, and said to 
 them: "I am now about to die; but how could I 
 have died, as I now do, a happy, triumphant death, if 
 I had not sought and found Christ precious to my 
 soul, in the lute protracted meeting. Now, death has 
 no fears for me; and I hope soon to be with my Lord 
 in paradise. Oh! my dear, young friends, let me ex- 
 hort you, on my dying bed, to make your peace with 
 God without delay ! What would you do if you were 
 now on your dying bed, as I am, without a proper 
 preparation to meet God? Come to Jesus at once, and 
 lay hold on eternal life ! A,\\d then, whether you live 
 long, or die soon, you Avill be prepared to give up 
 your account to the Judge of the quick and the dead, 
 with joy and not with grief." 
 
 Mother Mims, after attending the first morning meet- 
 ing, became so much interested that she came again 
 that night. As the meeting advanced in interest, it be- 
 came necessary, very soon, to have a prayer and inquiry 
 meeting in the afternoon. And, in addition to the 
 morning and night services, Mother Minis attended the 
 afternoon meetings regularly. Then, soon afterwards, 
 baptism was performed almost every day, after the
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 137 
 
 afternoon meetings, and Mother Mims attended the 
 baptisms also. And finally the interest became so gen- 
 eral, and had gotten so thoroughly into the Female 
 College in the place, that it was deemed important to 
 hold service's in the College Chapel every morning at 8 
 o'clock. Dr. T. wondered if Mother Mims would at- 
 tend that early morning service ; and sitting on the 
 back porch of the mansion in which he was stopping, 
 which commanded a full view of the College building, 
 the first carriage which he saw driving up to the Col- 
 lege was that of Mother Mims. At length Dr. T. said 
 to her, " Why, Mother Minis, how is this? When I 
 came here and began these meetings, you thought you 
 could get out to church only on a very fair morning. 
 Now, I find you attending regularly five meetings a 
 day. How is this?" "Oh," said she, "Brother Teas- 
 dale, I am a great deal better than I was before this 
 series of meetings began." And so it is : " Godliness 
 is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life 
 that now is, and of that which is to come." The last 
 words of this good old sister, just before she breathed 
 her last, were : " Oh, how happy ! how happy ! " 
 
 There is yet one more incident connected with this 
 grand meeting which is worthy of note. The interest 
 in the meeting soon became so deep and so general that 
 the merchants, of their own accord, closed their stores 
 at the hour for the morning meetings, and went them- 
 selves and allowed their clerks to go to the meetings. 
 When the people came in from the country and found 
 the stores closed, they did not know what to make of
 
 138 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 it. They found, however, little notices stuck up on 
 the store doors, of this import : " Gone to the Baptist 
 Church. Will be back at half-past 11 o'clock." This 
 excited the curiosity of the country people ; and they 
 also came to the meetings. In this way the influence 
 of the blessed work was carried far out into the coun- 
 try ; and some people came twenty miles to the meet- 
 ings, and brought their unconverted children with them, 
 that they might be converted in the meetings. Quite 
 a number of that class were savingly profited by these 
 exercises, and united with the churches in their vicinity. 
 
 Before Dr. T. left Edgefield, over eleven hundred 
 dollars had been pledged towards the erection of the 
 church in Washington, payable when the cotton crop 
 came in; and it was paid promptly according to 
 promise. 
 
 Dr. T. made his home, while at Edgefield, with Eev. 
 Charles A. Raymond, President of the Female College. 
 He had baptized Prof. Raymond, in New Haven, Ct., 
 in the spring of 1841. An incident in connection with 
 his baptism may be noted. He was a very promising 
 young artist at the time, and belonged to the First 
 Congregationalist Church in that city, of which the 
 distinguished Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D., was pastor. 
 On the morning of the baptism, Dr. T. received a note 
 from Dr. Bacon to this import : 
 " REV. MR. TEASDALE : 
 
 Dear Sir: I understand that you expect to baptize 
 Charles A. Raymond to-day. If you baptize him with- 
 out his receiving a formal dismission from my church,
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 139 
 
 the relation hitherto subsisting between us, will be 
 materially changed. 
 
 Yours respectfully, 
 
 L. BACON." 
 
 Dr. T. returned to Dr. Bacon the following reply : 
 "REV. Dn. BACON: 
 
 Dear Sir: I expect to baptize Charles A. Raymond 
 to-day ; but he will not receive the hand of church 
 fellowship until after he has had time to receive from 
 your church a formal certificate of his good standing 
 in that body. 
 
 Yours very respectfully, 
 
 THOS. C. TEASDALE." 
 
 Mr. Raymond was baptized that day ; and the good 
 feeling existing between Dr. T. and Dr. Bacon, was 
 not "materially changed." They were as good friends 
 afterwards as before. . 
 
 Prof. Raymond baptized his wife's sister and one 
 of his teachers during the meeting at Edgefield. All 
 the others were baptized by Dr. T. the pastor, Rev. 
 Mr. Whatley, begging him to do the baptizing, as well 
 as the preaching. A rather singular coincidence oc- 
 curred on one of the baptismal occasions. Without 
 any previous design, Dr. T. baptized one day, four 
 persons, named Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. 
 The circumstance attracted some attention at the time, 
 and it is remembered with interest by some to this day. 
 
 The weather during this meeting was vcrv hot. Al- 
 
 O O v 
 
 though it was held in the month of April, the ther- 
 mometer ranged from ninety to one hundred degrees,
 
 140 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 most of the time during the meeting. The heat was 
 very oppressive, and the more so because it was so un- 
 seasonable. Dr. T. had never experienced so hot a 
 spell in April before ; and it was as unusual to the peo- 
 ple of that section as it was to him. 
 
 From Edgefield, Dr. T. went to Aiken, S. C., to 
 assist their then youthful pastor, Rev. A. T. Spalding, 
 in a series of meetings in that place. The meeting 
 there was also eminently successful. It resulted in an 
 accession to the church of some eighty' happy con- 
 verts. Among the accessions to the church in this 
 place, was the intelligent daughter of a deceased 
 Presbyterian minister, Mrs. Turner, together with her 
 little daughter, some twelve years of age. Her hus- 
 band was Captain of one of the steamers plying be- 
 tween Charleston and New York ; and her accession to 
 the church was huiled with peculiar pleasure. 
 
 From Aiken Dr. T. went to Montgomery, Ala., to 
 attend the bi-ennial meeting of the Southern Baptist 
 Convention, which held its session that year in that 
 city. On his way to Montgomery, he stopped at 
 
 Penfield, Ga., then the seat of Mercer University. 
 % 
 
 He spent the Lord's day at Penfield, and preached one 
 sermon there. He was cordially received by Drs. 
 Crawford and Moll, and the other professors of the 
 University, as well as by the people of the place 
 generally. His brief stay at Penfield was made very 
 pleasant to him in every regard. He left there in 
 good time to reach Montgomery before the meeting of 
 the Convention ; and had his quarters assigned in
 
 OF A LOXf* LIFE. 141 
 
 Montgomery with Rev. Dr. Lipscomb, who was subse- 
 quently, for a number of years, Chancellor of the 
 State University of Georgia. His sojourn in the 
 family of Dr. Lipscomb was remarkably pleasant. 
 Nothing was left undone that could add to his comfort, 
 and make his abode in the familv agreeable. 
 
 *- C? 
 
 Dr. T. was appointed to preach in the Methodist 
 church on Sunday morning, during the session of the 
 Convention ; and he had a very large and appreciative 
 audience. In his congregation that morning were two 
 of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the State ; and 
 the other Judge told him on Monday, that he was anxious 
 to hear him and had intended to be present : but tha,t 
 a particular personal friend of his had been appointed 
 to preach in the Baptist church that morning, and he 
 feared that his absence from that congregation would 
 be construed into a slight by that friend. The effect 
 of the sermon on that occasiqp was sufficiently indicar 
 ted by the deep emotion evinced throughout the con- 
 gregation. At the close of the sermon, the pastor in 
 charge, said to Dr. T., "Oh, why did you not call the 
 mourners forward for prayers? I am sure there 
 would have been many to come forward." And after 
 the dismission, and when he had come down from the 
 pulpit, the number of the messengers of the Conven- 
 tion said to him, amonj? whom was the venerable Dr. 
 
 o 
 
 Hillyyer, "Why did you not call forward the mourn- 
 ers? Many would no doubt have come forward at 
 once." Sixteen years afterwards, Deacon Redd, of the 
 Baptist Church in Columbus, Ga., said to Dr. T., "I
 
 142 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 want you to preach, Awhile you are with us, from the 
 text you used at the meeting of the Southern Baptist 
 Convention, at Montgomery, in 1855, in the Metho- 
 dist church, on Sunday morning." Dr. T. said to 
 him, "Brother Redd, what do you remember about a 
 sermon delivered sixteen years ago?" The Deacon 
 replied, "I remember much of it. It made so deep 
 an impression on my mind at the time, that I have 
 never forgotten if." Dr. T., at the request of the 
 good deacon, repeated the sermon, during the series 
 of meetings in which he was then engaged, with the 
 esteemed pastor of the church, Rev. Dr. T. E. Skin- 
 ner ; and brother Redd said, it was all as fresh in his 
 memory as if ho had heard it but the day before. 
 
 From the Convention he returned to Washington 
 City, and spent a short time with his church and his 
 family ; and then went on to his native county, in 
 New Jersey to visit his aged mother, and other dear 
 relatives and friends. It was also agreed between his 
 brother John of Saint Louis, and himself that they 
 would meet at that time in New Jersey, and spend a 
 few days together in visiting their friends and attend 
 meeting one Sunday in the house of worship of the 
 First Baptist Church of Wantage the church with 
 which they had united tw"enty-nine years before that 
 time. The old moss-covered 'church had given place 
 to a new and more commodious structure ; and vast 
 changes had taken place among the people of the 
 church and community. Many of those who were 
 prominent members of the church when they united
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 143 
 
 with it, had gone to their rest and their reward. A 
 few only of those who were prominent in the church 
 when they were baptized into its fellowship, still re- 
 mained; and their snow-white locks, indicated that 
 they, too, would soon exchange the field of conflict for 
 the mansions of glory the battle of life, for the 
 palms of victory. Among those who had departed, 
 was their venerated father, who died in 1847, and 
 whose remains were interred in the burial ground ad- 
 joining the church. They had lost their [oldest sister 
 some time before, and the remains were buried there 
 also. Their aged mother was still living ; and they 
 had two sisters residing a few miles from that conse- 
 crated spot. They visited together the stream in which 
 they were buried with their Lord in baptism, in the 
 month of November, 1826 ; lingered for awhile beside 
 the graves of their honored and revered father and 
 their dear sister ; and then repaired to the meeting- 
 house for divine worship. Dr. T. preached in the 
 morning ; and then went over to the Hamburg Church 
 and preached that afternoon. His brother remained 
 and preached in the afternoon to the old mother 
 church in Wantage. At the close of the sermon in 
 the Hamburg Church, and after visiting the grave of 
 his venerated grand-father, who had been so long the 
 pastor of that church, Dr. T. went home with his 
 youngest sister and' her husband, to make them a visit 
 for a few days. He had there an aged uncle living in 
 that vicinity, together with several cousins, all of whom 
 claimed a portion of his time during his stay in the
 
 144 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 neighborhood. Having completed his visit among his 
 relations in that section, he returned to Washington, 
 to look after the interests of his family and his church. 
 During their visit together it was agreed between 
 his brother and himself, that he would assist his brother 
 in a series of meetings in his church in Saint Louis. 
 His brother was then the esteemed pastor of the Third 
 Baptist Church in that city. It is called the Third 
 Baptist Church, although in reality it is the Second 
 Church. The First Baptist Church of that city, for 
 various reasons, ran down many years ago, and its 
 white membership died out. The colored members of 
 the church retained their organization ; and they are 
 to-day the First Baptist Church in the cicy of Saint 
 Louis. The Second Baptist Church is now the princi- 
 pal church of our denomination in that city. It wor- 
 shipped for many years in a very commodious house 
 on the corner of Sixth and Locust Streets. Among 
 
 O 
 
 the pastors who officiated for them for many years, 
 may be named Rev. Mr. Hinton who subsequently 
 died of yellow fever in New Orleans ; Rev. Dr. Jeter, 
 who went from Richmond, Va. ; Rev. Dr. Read ; Rev. 
 Mr. Anderson, a recent graduate of one of the North- 
 ern Theological Seminaries ; and Dr. Burlingham. The 
 tide of emigration was so strongly westward in the 
 city, and the value of property became so much en- 
 hanced about the location of the church on the corner 
 of Sixth and Locust Streets, that the church concluded 
 to build a new and elegant house of worship on a very 
 eligible lot in another part of the city. When this
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 145 
 
 splendid edifice was nearly completed, at a cost, inclu- 
 ding the lot, of about $200,000, it took fire and 
 burned to the ground. The removal from the old loca- 
 tion to the new one was effected under the adminis- 
 tration of Dr. Burlingham ; and the church had wor- 
 shipped in the excellent Lecture room of the new 
 building for several years. Fortunately for the church, 
 there was a large insurance on the building when it was 
 burned ; and it was immediately rebuilt, with some im- 
 provements on the old plan, at an outlay to the church, 
 over and above the amount of the insurance money, 
 of only about $2,000. 
 
 The Third Baptist Church, at the time Dr. T. went 
 on to St. Louis to assist his brother in a series of meet- 
 ings, in September, 1855, was worshipping in the Lect- 
 ure room, which had recently been erected. Since 
 that time, a commodious church edifice, which it was 
 intended to build in front of the Lecture room, on 
 Washington avenue, was erected, and the church has 
 been, from the time his brother took charge of it until 
 the present period, in a prosperous condition ; and it 
 has all the time been an aggressive band of Christian 
 workers. Recently this church has built an elegant 
 and commodious meeting-house on Grand Avenue, and 
 the present pastor, Dr. Greene, is doing a grand work 
 in that part of the city. 
 
 At the time Dr. T. held the series of meetings with 
 his brother in that church, the weather was excessively 
 hot ; his health was not good ; and other circumstances 
 combined to make the occasion very unpropitious.
 
 146 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 Consequently comparatively little was done in the way 
 of the conversion of sinners. He wondered why he 
 should be called away from "Washington City to St. 
 Louis to accomplish apparently so little good. But it 
 was all made plain to him soon afterwards. 
 
 He parted with his brother the first of October, and 
 proceeded to Madison Ga., and held a series of meet- 
 ings there, which were blessed in the conversion of a 
 number of souls, and the quickening of the graces of 
 Christians generally. Several valuable accessions were 
 made to the church. 
 
 From Madison, Ga., he went to Darlington, South 
 Carolina, to assist Dr. Bealer in a series of meetings in 
 his church at that place. The meeting here resulted 
 in great good. Nearly sixty souls were converted in 
 the meeting, over forty of whom were added to the 
 church by baptism ; and amongst the number were 
 some of the children of Rev. Dr. J. O. B. Dargan, one 
 of the most esteemed and excellent ministers in the 
 State.* Dr. Bealer's health was very delicate at that 
 time, and at his request Dr. T. did the baptizing on 
 the occasion. 
 
 When the meeting was closed at Darlington, Dr. T. 
 went directly to Washington. On his arrival at home 
 he learned the sad intelligence of the sudden and vio- 
 lent death of his dear minister brother in St. Louis. 
 His brother had been induced, by the earnest persuasion 
 of some influential Baptist friends in St. Louis, to ac- 
 company them on the excursion at the opening of the 
 railroad from St. Louis to Jefferson City. He never
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 147 
 
 had any idle curiosity to go on such excursion tripe. 
 But he was over-persuaded this time by those special 
 friends, and finally consented to go. The crowd of 
 first-class citizens invited to go on that excursion was 
 very groat. Many cars were required to accommodate 
 the multitude who resorted to the depot to join the ex- 
 cursion. The long train pushed off from the depot 
 with the loud shouts of those who remained in the city. 
 But alas ! how little did any body dream of the sad 
 fate that was so soon to befall that train, so freighted 
 with many of the best citizens of St. Louis. At the 
 Gasconade river, as the train came upon the newly 
 constructed bridge, the bridge gave way, and precipi- 
 tated the train down on the bank of the river, some 
 thirty feet below. Dr. T.'s brother, and about thirty 
 other prominent citizens of St. Louis, were instantly 
 killed, and many others seriously wounded. Dr. Read, 
 pastor of the Second Baptist Church, was to have taken 
 a seat by the side of Mr. Teasdale ; but he arrived a 
 little too late to get in that car, and was compelled to 
 take a seat in a car farther ahead. The gentleman who 
 sat on the seat with Mr. Teasdale was instantly killed, 
 and Dr. Read escaped with very slight injury. How 
 mysterious are the ways of Providence ! How true 
 it is, 
 
 "God moves in a mysterious way, 
 His wonders to perform; 
 
 He plants His footsteps in the sea, 
 
 And rides upon the storm." 
 
 Now Dr. T. was enabled to see why God had led 
 him to Saint Louis to spend a month with his dear
 
 148 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 brother. It was to be their last interview on earth ; 
 and they shook hands when Dr. T. took his leave of 
 his brother on that occasion, to meet no more till they 
 greet each other on the other side of the river.
 
 OF A LONQ LIFE. 149 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 After spending a short time with his family and his 
 church in Washington, Dr. T. went over to Louisville, 
 Ky., to assist Rev. Dr. W. W. Everts in a series of 
 meetings in the Walnut Street church, of that city, 
 of which Dr. Everts was then pastor. His feelings 
 being softened by the recent terrible death of his dear 
 brother, his preaching possessed a peculiar unction. 
 The meeting soon became deeply interesting, and a 
 large number say sixty or seventy souls were added 
 to the church during that occasion. 
 
 Some incidents of interest occurred during the prog- 
 ress of this protracted meeting. The sisters of the 
 church became so thoroughly enlisted in the work, that 
 they districted the whole city, and went out, two by 
 two, all over the city, distributing religious tracts, 
 and conversing with the people on the subject of their 
 soul's salvation. Many were brought to the meeting 
 through their instrumentality, \vho were converted be- 
 fore the meeting came to a close. Two sisters, the 
 pasior's wife and another prominent member of the 
 church had the district around the church assigned to 
 them ; and faithfully did they execute the trust con- 
 fided to them. Sister Everts had a large family on
 
 150 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 her hands, and yet she found time to work for the 
 blessed Master, and for the 'good of immortal souls. 
 Her associate and herself went from house to house, 
 from store to store, from office to office, and from 
 shop to shop on their errand of mercy, and distributed 
 pungent tracts and talked with the people on the sub- 
 ject of the meeting, and the importance of attending 
 to the things that belonged to their peace without 
 longer delay. In their rounds they came to a board- 
 ing-house kept by a widow lady ; and they asked and 
 obtained leave to visit her boarders at their rooms. 
 While making these calls, they came to the room of 
 some play actors. They knocked at the door, and 
 one of the actors, who was sitting at his table, con- 
 ning over his piece for the stage that night, and who 
 supposed it was some theatrical comrades calling on 
 them, said, without rising, "Come in." When the 
 ladies opened the door, he was surprised to find two 
 elegant ladies presenting themselves; and he im- 
 mediately arose to ascertain the object of their visit. 
 Sister Everts said to him ; "We are out to-day, sir, 
 distributing religious tracts ;" and at the same time 
 she held out a tract, and asked him if he would receive 
 it. He immediately threw himself back on his dig- 
 nity and exclaimed : "I am an actor, madam!" He 
 supposed this exclamation would repel any further 
 efforts on the part of these ladies. But Sifter Everts 
 laid her hand gently on his arm, and with her sweet 
 and tender voice, said to him : "Well, sir, the soul of 
 an actor is just as precious in my sight as that of any
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 151 
 
 other." This tender appeal touched his heart. He 
 had never known anybody before to evince so much 
 interest in his spiritual welfare. Ha reached out his 
 hand and took the tract. He read the title of the tract. 
 "Be sure your sin will find you out;" and it reminded 
 him at once of an incident which had occurred a few 
 years before, when he was manager of a theatre in 
 Scotland. He had learned that there were some rare 
 paintings in an old moss-covered church a few miles 
 out in the country ; and he conceived the idea that 
 possibly those paintings might be copied and used 
 with effect in the scenery of the stage. He according- 
 ly took a companion and went out one Sunday to the 
 church for the purpose of examining the paintings. 
 The pastor of the church was an old man with furrow- 
 ed brow, and a somewhat tremulous voice. His text 
 that morning was, "Be sure your sin will find you 
 out." The actor said it was a solemn and impressive 
 discourse ; and he remarked to his comrade: "There 
 are some intonations in this old man's delivery that 
 might be imitated by actors to advantage." All in- 
 tent on the business of his profession, he thought but 
 little more about the sermon. The next day, he and 
 his companion went back to the old church to copy the 
 paintings ; and having accomplished their work, they 
 stood conversing a few moments at the front door of 
 the church. Some repairs were being made on the 
 tower of the church, at the time; and while they stood 
 there, a stone fell from the tower and struck his com- 
 panion on his head, and he fell dead at his feet. This
 
 152 REMINISCENCES AXD INCIDENTS 
 
 solemn providence affected him deeply ; and he re- 
 membered with interest the text of the old minister the 
 day before: "Be sure your sin will find you out." 
 But in the whirl of business and pleasure, he soon 
 effaced all serious impressions, and had been living in 
 carelessness and sin up to the time when these Chris- 
 tian ladies called at his room, on that ever memorable 
 occasion. The title of the tract and the interest 
 evinced in his spiritual welfare by these Christian 
 ladies, made a deep impression on his mind. The 
 ladies then conversed with him on the subject of seek- 
 ing his soul's salvation; told him of the very interest- 
 ing meeting then in progress in the Walnut Street 
 Baptist Church ; and begged him to attend the meet- 
 ings, and seek divine salvation without delay. He 
 told the ladies that he was engaged every night, ex- 
 cept Sunday, in the theatre ; and he could not break 
 his engagement with the manager to attend church. 
 They then urged him to go to the meeting on Sun- 
 day, and pressed the matter so earnestly, that he 
 finally told them he would attend the meeting the next 
 Sunday. And he kept his promise. It so happened 
 that he heard three sermons that day, two by Dr. T., 
 and one by Dr. Everts, the pastor. On that Sunday 
 night, after a large number of persons hud come for- 
 ward for prayers, and when it was thought that all 
 perhaps had come forward, who had gained the con- 
 sent of their minds to do so on that occasion, and 
 when the song was nearly completed, and special 
 prayers were about to be offered for the inquirers who
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 153 
 
 had come forward, a man came walking up the centre 
 aisle of the church to the rostrum in front of the pul- 
 pit on which Dr. T. was than standing, and extending 
 his hand to him he exclaimed in his tears : "Oh, sir, 
 pray for me, a poor sinner," and throwing himself on 
 his knees, with his head bowed on the front of the 
 rostrum, he never rose until the close of that inquiry 
 meeting. He was soon afterwards happily con- 
 verted. That man was the actor, above alluded to. 
 
 The next Sunday night a friend and comrade of his, 
 and also an actor, was at the meeting, and heard 
 Dr. T. preach from the words in Jeremiah, viii; 20, 
 "The harvest is past, the summer is ended and we are 
 not saved." The sermon made 'a very deep impression 
 on his mind ; and when the anxious were invited to 
 come forward for prayers, among the last to come was 
 this young actor. And very much as his companion 
 had done the Sunday night before, he came up the 
 center aisle to the rostrum in front of the pulpit, gave 
 Dr. T. his hand; and begged him to remember him in 
 his prayers. He then threw himself on his knees, with 
 his head bowed on the front of the platform, just as 
 his comrade had done a week before, and remained ill 
 that posture to the close of the services. He, too, was 
 soon afterwards converted. It then became necessary 
 to interpose, and get the manager of the theatre to 
 give them an honorable discharge from their engage- 
 ments. This was soon effected by the influential mem- 
 bers of the church ; and the actors then offered them- 
 selves as candidates for baptism and subsequent church
 
 154 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 membership ; and they were received by acclamation. 
 On the next Sunday night, they stood on the edge of 
 the baptistry, in the presence of an immense audi- 
 ence, amongst whom were nearly all of the theatrical 
 corps their former associates habited and ready to 
 descend into the watery grave. Mr. Strickland, the 
 elder of the two, and he whom the ladies had visited 
 and brought to the church, had been requested by the 
 pastor and Dr. T. to give a brief narrative of the 
 change that had been wrought in him , and his reasons 
 for abandoning the stage. He was cautioned especially 
 to be very careful, and avoid everything that would 
 look like stage effect ; but in spite of his manifest 
 efforts to comply with the advice of the pastor and 
 Dr. T., there were times, in the relation of his narra- 
 tive, when he could not suppress his emotion, and the 
 white handkerchiefs were brought into use all over the 
 audience again and again. They were then buried 
 with Christ in baptism ; and almost immediately after- 
 ward they felt it to be their duty to prepare for the 
 work of the Christian ministry. Without dwelling 
 longer on the details of their respective cases, suffice 
 it to say, that they both entered upon the work of the 
 Christian ministry, and have both been eminently suc- 
 cessful in winning souls to Jesus. The elder of these 
 two men was Mr. Strickland, who has done a great 
 deal of evangelistic work, and the other was Rev. Geo. 
 C. Lorimer, D. D., the popular pastor, tit the present 
 writing (1887), of the Emanuel Church in Chicago. 
 He went to Chicago first to take charge of the First
 
 OF A LOXG LIFE. 155 
 
 % 
 
 Baptist Church in that city, then recently vacated by 
 Rev. W. W. Everts, D. D., who was his first pastor, 
 and who had baptized him, in Louisville, Ky., in the 
 autumn of 1855. Dr. Lorimer, soon after his bap- 
 tism, entered upon a course of study preparatory to 
 his becoming a minister of the gospel. But such were 
 the gifts which he soon evinced, that the churches clam- 
 ored for his services as pastor ; and he finally yielded 
 to their solicitations and entered upon the work of the 
 pastor, ate. He has been a close student, and has 
 attained deserved distinction as an eloquent preacher, 
 and a successful pastor. He has been pastor of prom- 
 inent churches all his public life. He began at Har- 
 rodsburg, Ky. ; then went to Paducah; then lie went 
 to take charge of the Walnut Street Church in Louis- 
 ville, at a critical time in the history of that church; 
 then he went to Albany, N. Y. ; and then to Boston, 
 and last to Chicago. His labors in all his pastorates 
 have been attended with enlarged success. He is not 
 only an eloquent preacher, but he is a capital organizer. 
 He contrives to put all his members to work in the 
 Lord's vineyard, and they work effectively. Dr. Lori- 
 mer said that under a sermon of Dr. T., in Louisville, 
 in the fall of 1355, from the words, "The harvest is 
 past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved," he 
 was first led to feel the guilt of sin, and his need of a 
 divine Savior. From that time he sought an interest 
 in the peace-speaking blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 and finally found , peace in believing and joy in the 
 Holy Ghost. "And now," said he, "that this man of
 
 156 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 God is with us to-day, I want him to administer to us 
 the memorials of the Savior's death." The statement 
 of Dr. Lorimer excited deep interest in the minds of 
 his people ; and at the close of the communion service, 
 many came forward, saying, "We want to shake the 
 hand of the man who was instrumental in the con- 
 version of our beloved pastor." It was an occasion 
 of mutual joy joy on the part of Dr. T. to find his 
 son in the gospel so endeared to his people, and joy 
 on the part of the people in greeting the man who had 
 been instrumental in the conversion of their pastor. 
 
 At the close of the meeting in Louisville, Dr. T. 
 returned to Washington City, and made preparation 
 for the dedication of the church edifice, which had cost 
 him so much hard work, and so much self-denial. He 
 had been for two years holding protracted meetings in 
 several of the States of the South, and collecting for 
 the erection of that noble church edifice. These efforts 
 called him a great deal away from home : and some- 
 times his absences from his family and his church were 
 very protracted. But he persevered until the meet- 
 ing-house was completed, furnished and ready for 
 use. The ladies had carpeted the .audience room 
 throughout ; and the pulpit platform was covered with 
 elegant Brussels carpet, and the pulpit was supplied 
 with an excellent sofa and with beautiful chairs. 
 The organ, formerly used by the late Dr. Sharp's 
 Church in Boston, hud been purchased and placed in 
 the gallery. Everything was now ready for the dedi- 
 cation services, and a day was fixed for those services.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 157 
 
 Accordingly at the time.appointed, in February 1856, 
 Rev. Dr. Fuller of Baltimore, and Rev. Dr. Barrows 
 of Richmond, who had been invited to preach on the 
 occasion, were on hand. But to the great disappoint- 
 ment of Dr. T. and his people, the weather proved to 
 be most unpropitious. A violent rain storm set in on 
 Saturday night, and continued all day on Sunday. It 
 was especially desired that a large congregation should 
 be gathered together, at the dedication services, as it 
 was intended to make a special effort on that occasion 
 to raise a considerable portion of the existing indebted- 
 ness incurred in the erection of the church building. Dr. 
 Fuller suggested that the dedication services should 
 be postponed one week.; and he agreed to come back at 
 that time, and preach on the occasion, in the hope 
 that the weather would be more favorable. Accord- 
 ingly the suggestion of Dr. Fuller was adopted, and 
 the dedication services were postponed until- the next 
 Sunday. Rev. Tom Fisher had come on to assist the 
 pastor in a series of meetings immediately after the 
 dedication of the meeting-house; and being present 
 that morning, he was invited to preach. For so rainy 
 a day the congregation was very large. The services 
 were held in the commodious Lecture room, which had 
 been finished for some two years, and was occupied by 
 the church in its regular meetings, and for Sunday- 
 school and prayer-meeting purposes. 
 
 On Saturday night, about 12 o'clock, preceding the 
 the day appointed the second time, for the dedication 
 of the church, a severe storm again set in. It rained
 
 158 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 violently for some time, and then began to snow ; and 
 it continued to snow most of the day on Sunday. By 
 the time for meeting, there were several inches of snow 
 on the ground ; and it was still snowing violently when 
 the people were gathering for the services. It was a 
 sad disappointment again to Dr. T. and his people; 
 and it was very dispiriting to the excellent ministers 
 who had again left their own large city charges to 
 assist in the dedication services. Consultation was 
 had on the subject, and it was determined to proceed 
 with the services. Dr. Fuller preached a very able ser- 
 mon in the morning; Dr. Burrows preached an equal- 
 ly excellent sermon in the afternoon ; and the pastor 
 preached at night. The sermon of the pastor on the 
 occasion is published in the volume of his, * 'Revival 
 Discourses." The collection taken up on the occasion 
 was a large one considering the size of the congrega- 
 tion. President Pierce, who was present, made a con- 
 tribution of fifty dollars to the object that morning 
 and at the close of the services he gallantly filled his 
 carriage with ladies and trudged to the Presidential 
 Mansion through the snow and slush on foot. But for 
 the very inclement weather the house on the occasion 
 would doubtless have been filled to overflowing, to 
 listen to the discourses of Drs. Fuller and Burrows, 
 who were both favorites with the Washington people. 
 As it was there was great reason for gratitude for 
 what was accomplished. The congregations were about 
 the same size during all three of the services of the 
 occasion. Dr. Fuller remarked before he began to
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 159 
 
 preach, that the size of the congregation present, des- 
 pite the great inclemency of the weather, evinced so 
 deep an interest on the part of the people, that he felt 
 as muh interest in preaching to them, as he would 
 have done in preaching to an overflowing congrega- 
 tion, if the weather had been pleasant. 
 
 Mr. Fisher remained some days in the city, and 
 assisted the pastor in a series of meetings in the Lect- 
 ure room of the church; but his preaching in Wash- 
 ington was not attended with anything like his usual 
 degree of success ; and quite a disappointment, both 
 on his part, and on the part of the pastor was expe- 
 rienced at his failure. 
 
 Soon after the dedication of the church edifice, Dr. 
 T. went to Raleigh, N. C., to assist Rev. Thos. E. 
 Skinner, D. D., then pastor of the First Baptist Church 
 in that city, in a series of revival meetings. He was 
 accompanied on this trip by his dear daughter, Emma, 
 who was then twenty-one years of age. The trip was 
 a very pleasant one to her ; and she made many warm 
 friends wherever she went. It also conduced to the 
 improvement of her *.calth ; and it was a great grat- 
 ification to her father to have her company, as he was 
 compelled to be so much away from the loved ones at 
 home, in collecting money for the church building. 
 
 The meeting at Raleigh was a deeply interesting one; 
 and quite a large number of happy converts were 
 added to the church by baptism. 
 
 An incident occurred during the progress of that 
 meeting which Dr. T. remembers stili with interest.
 
 160 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 The meeting house was densely packed every night 
 with attentive and anxious listeners. The end gallery 
 was reserved for the negroes. And every night, just 
 as Dr. T. was winding up his sermon, and making his 
 most earnest appeals to the unconverted, an old negro 
 woman in the gallery \vould raise a tremendous shout, 
 which would occasion a serious interference with Dr. 
 T.'s plan of conducting the services. He bore the 
 interruption as patiently as he could for two or three 
 nights; and he then told the old woman she must not 
 interrupt the services in that way any more ; and if 
 she wanted to use her stentorian voice in praising the 
 Lord, she had better leave the church before she be- 
 gan, and go out into the open air, where she might 
 make the welkin ring with her loudest shouts. Or, if 
 she would wait until both he and she had gotten out of 
 the wilderness, and had gone over to take possession 
 of the promised land, he would join her in loudest 
 praise to Him who had loved them and given himself 
 for them ; and who was infinitely worthy to receive 
 "blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, 
 and honor, and power, and might, forever and ever." 
 The old woman made no more trouble during the meet- 
 ing, and the good work rolled on with great power 
 during the 'whole time of Dr. T.'s stay in the city. It 
 was a meeting never to be forgotten. 
 
 From Kaleigh, Dr. T. and his daughter, went to 
 Columbia, S. C. Dr. J. T. Zealy, was then pastor of 
 the church in that city, and Dr. T. and his daughter 
 made their home at his house during their stay in
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. Ifil 
 
 Columbia. They were handsomely entertained, and 
 enjoyed themselves very much while they sojourned 
 in that city. Columbia had always been a hard place 
 for the Baptists; and it seemed almost impossible for 
 the denomination to gain a permanent foothold in that 
 city. Some of the most prominent men in the de- 
 nomination had preached there, more or less. Dr. 
 J. P. Boyce, had preceded Dr. Zealy in the pastorate 
 there for some little time. It was difficult for Baptists 
 to get the cars of the people, and thus to make them- 
 selves known and felt in that Pedo-baptist community. 
 And such was still, tc\ a great extent, the state of 
 things, when Dr. T. arrived there in the spring of 1856, 
 to assist Dr. Zealy in a series of revival meetings. 
 The very successful meetings which he had previously 
 held in Charleston, at Edgefield Court House, "at 
 Aiken, and at Darlington, had excited an interest in 
 the public mind in Columbia; and the announcement 
 that he would commence a series of meetings in that 
 city, at a given time, brought out a good congregation 
 on the very first night of the meeting ; and in a few 
 days afterwards, the house would not hold the people 
 who seemed anxious to listen to the proclamation of 
 divine truth. The negroes were crowded out of the 
 galleries, very much to their dissatisfaction ; and very 
 soon it was found impossible to accommodate the 
 crowds who resorted there to attend the meetings, 
 ^specially at the night service, even after the galleries 
 had been given up by the negroes,, and every available 
 space in the house was filled with extra seats. It was
 
 162 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 very common for Dr. T. on his way to church at night, 
 and while the bell was still ringing, to meet crowds of 
 people going away for want of room ; and as they met 
 pther crowds on their way to the meeting, they would 
 say to them : "You can't get in : we have been there, 
 and the house is filled to overflowing." Indeed, so 
 anxious did the people seem to hear the preaching, 
 that many of them stood at the front door, and out on 
 * the pavement, even to the front gate ; and others sur- 
 rounded the windows, and stood there during the 
 service ; so eager were they to hear the gospel preached 
 in simplicity and earnestness. Many in that way be- 
 came deeply interested in the salvation of their souls. 
 During the progress of this meeting, Rev. Drs. 
 Howe and Leland, Prof essors in the Presbyterian Theo- 
 logical Seminary, located in that city, became deeply 
 interested in the good work ; and they advised their 
 students to attend the services regularly, and take 
 notes of the discourses. The students, therefore, at- 
 tended, en masse, from day to day ; and taking their 
 seats in the gallery, they took notes of all the lectures 
 and sermons. Dr. Leland was profoundly interested 
 in the meetings ; and he scarcely missed a single ser- 
 vice after he began to attend the meeting. The breth- 
 ren provided a comfortable chair for him near the pul- 
 pit ; and he would sit there and weep until the tears 
 would fall on the floor in the greatest abundance. He 
 would not wipe them from his eyes ; for he said l\e 
 was not ashamed to weep over the wretched condition 
 of poor perishing sinners around him.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. K)3 
 
 The result of that meeting was very happy. Dr. 
 Zeuly gave the right hand of fellowship to nearly 130 
 souls on the first Communion service after the meeting 
 had closed. Soon after that time, the church erected a 
 new and very commodious meeting-house, which was 
 providentially saved from the flames when Gen. Sher- 
 man reduced a large portion of that beautiful city to ( 
 , ashes. For the means to erect this excellent church 
 edifice, the church was greatly indebted to the princely 
 contribution of Rev. Dr. Jas. P. Boyce. 
 
 At the time that meeting was held in Columbia, Rev. 
 Dr. J. S. Reynolds was connected with the South 
 Carolina College, as Professor and Chaplain. He 
 evinced a deep interest in the progress of the meeting ; 
 and he and Dr. T. remained fast friends as long as Dr. 
 Reynolds lived. No one regretted the death of that 
 excellent man more sincerely and more profoundly 
 than did Dr. T. 
 
 After the close of the meeting in Columbia, Dr. 
 T. and his daughter made a hasty visit to Augusta 
 and Edgefield, and then returned to Washington 
 City. 
 
 During the years of 1856 and 1857, Dr. T. held 
 several interesting meetings in the State of South 
 Carolina. He held a meeting of interest, in 185G, with 
 the First Baptist Church of Savannah, Ga., of which 
 the Rev. Dr. Thomas Rambaut was pastor. Dr. Ram- 
 baut, in speaking to some friends in Missouri, in the 
 presence of Dr. T. about that meeting, years after- 
 wards, told them that Dr. T. preached for two weeks
 
 164 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 in his church in Savannah, night after night, to 
 1,500 appreciative hearers. 
 
 From Savannah, Dr. T. went to Beaufort, S. C. 
 to assist Rev. J. M. C. Breaker in a series of meet- 
 ings in his church in that beautiful little city. He re- 
 mained in Beaufort about two weeks. The meeting 
 was attended with happy results. He received in 
 Beaufort a handsome contribution to the Washing- 
 ton Church ; as indeed he did from the brethren 
 and friends in Savannah. 
 
 During the month of July, 1856, Dr. T. visited 
 Marion, Ala., and assisted Dr. Mclntosh in a series of 
 meetings in his church in that place. The meeting was 
 a great blessing to the schools especially. In Howard 
 College, fourteen of the students made a profession of 
 religion ; among whom were several who subsequently 
 became preachers of the gospel. 
 
 The brothers, William and David Reeves, were among 
 this number. But one young man, not connected with 
 the College, was brought in during that meeting. A 
 general work of grace in the village the year before, 
 had brought into the church nearly all the impressible 
 material in the community. 
 
 In the Judson Female Institute the good work was 
 most effectual. Some sixty of the young ladies con- 
 nected with that excellent school, made a profession 
 of religion during that meeting, And when Dr. T. 
 was about to leave the place, he received a note, to 
 which were appended the names of sixty girls, beg- 
 ging him to remember them in his prayers, that they
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 165 
 
 might be brought to a saving knowledge of the truth. 
 It was near the time of examination and exhibition in 
 the school, or Dr. T. would not have left when he 
 did. Prof. Sherman, who was then President of the 
 Institute, did all he could to have the pupils enjoy the 
 benefit of the revival, without neglecting materially 
 their school duties. Di'. T. and the pastor went to 
 the Institute every morning ; and instead of the usual 
 religious services at the opening of the school, Dr. T. 
 conducted such religious services for half an hour as 
 he deemed proper. After those services^ he and the 
 pastor resorted to the parlor, and received there two 
 two or three young ladies at a time, and conversed with 
 them, and prayed for them. Then they would return 
 to the schoolroom, and two or three others would be 
 sent to the parlor to converse with the ministers, and 
 be prayed for. And so it was usually kept up all the 
 morning. Many of the girls were savingly benefited, 
 it is believed, by those parlor exercises. Dr. T. has 
 since met many of those girls in various places, all 
 over the South and South-west, in their own happy 
 homes, and found them cherishing still their blessed 
 hopes. 
 
 From Marion, Dr. T. went to Montgomery, Ala., to 
 assist Dr. Tichenor in a series of meetings in his 
 church in that city. The weather had then become 
 very warm, and the nights were very short. The sea- 
 son, therefore, was very unpropitious for a series of 
 meetings. And then, to increase the difficulties in the 
 way of a successful meeting, the rainy season sot. in
 
 166 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 during the meeting. Scarcely a day elapsed without 
 a heavy shower, if not a steady rain, during the day. 
 This state of things greatly retarded the progress of 
 the good work in the meeting, and prevented the ac- 
 complishment of much that had been anticipated in 
 relation to it. Still the meeting was not without bene- 
 ficial results. Quite a number were added to the 
 church by baptism and by letter ; and the graces of 
 Christians were greatly quickened and developed. Dr. 
 T. has often wished since, that he could give the 
 good people of that church one of his best revival 
 meetings ; but up to this writing, July, 1887, he has 
 never enjoyed such an opportunity. 
 
 During the months of March and April, 1857, Dr. T. 
 held a meeting at Sumter, S. C. On his arrival there 
 he stopped first with the family of Rev. Mr. Graham. 
 The pastor, Rev. W. D. Rice, is a son-in-law of Mr. 
 Graham. The day before the series of meetings com- 
 menqed in Sumter, Mr. Graham took Dr. T. in his 
 buggy and gave him a pleasant ride around the vil- 
 lage. In their trip they saw a fine looking gentleman, 
 about sixty years of age, walking leisurely just ahead 
 of them. "There," said Mr. Graham, pointing to that 
 gentleman, "is a nufh who, if he can be brought into 
 the church during the meeting, will compensate for all 
 the labor of the occasion." Dr. T. simply replied, 
 "And why not?" Mr. Graham then related the cir- 
 cumstances attending the case. His wife was an active 
 member of the church, and had been for many years. 
 All his children also had made a profession of religion,
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 167 
 
 and were adorning their Christian profession by con- 
 sistent, pious lives. It was thought that this gentle- 
 man himself had been indulging a secret hope in Christ 
 for many years. But he could not be induced to unite 
 with the church, because he felt himself to be unworthy 
 of a place amongst Christians. Well, the meeting began 
 and went on with rapidly increasing interest from day 
 to day. Many were deeply convicted of sin, and were 
 subsequently converted and added to the church. 
 Many more were inquiring what they must do to be 
 saved. Major Hainesworth, the gentleman above re- 
 ferred to, was a prominent lawyer at the Sumter bar. 
 He was a constant attendant on all the meetings. On 
 one occasion, Dr. T. made it very clear to his mind, 
 that neutrality in religion was impossible ; that we must 
 be engaged in the service of Christ, or in the service 
 of Satan ; that we must belong to one or the other of 
 the two great kingdoms, the kingdom of Christ, or the 
 kingdom of the devil; that there could, by no possi- 
 bility, be any middle ground in this matter ; and that 
 Jesus had p re-adjudicated the case when he said, "He 
 that is not with me, is against me; and he that gather- 
 eth not with me, scattereth abroad." Major Haines- 
 worth was led to reflect seriously on the subject ; and 
 he thought within himself, "Have I, all this time, been 
 giving my support to the cause of Satan ? I will do so 
 no more. From this time evermore it shall be known 
 that I am a friend of Jesus. And whether I have 
 much light, or little, a strong hope, or a weak one, I 
 will identify myself with the friends of the Redeemer."
 
 168 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 He offered himself immediately to the church as a can- 
 didate for baptism and subsequent church member- 
 ship; and he was joyfully received, and without longer 
 delay he was buried with his Lord in baptism, to the 
 great gratification of his family, and also to the joy of 
 the whole church. The meeting at Sumter was a grand 
 success, and a large number of rejoicing converts were 
 added to the church during its continuance. A liberal 
 subscription was made here, also, for the church in 
 Washington City. 
 
 Dr. T. held meetings subsequently, during that year, 
 at Shelbyville, N. C., and in South Carolina, at Cam- 
 den, at Sandy Level, at Chester, at Spartanburg, at 
 Lawtonville, and at a number of other places, with 
 uniform success. His recollection of those meetings 
 is cherished with peculiar interest to this day. Many 
 of those who were brought into the churches through 
 his instrumentality are now prominent members of 
 their respective churches ; and quite a number among 
 those converts are now preachers of the gospel, and 
 are breaking the bread of life to perishing souls. The 
 aggregate number added to the churches in the old 
 Palmetto State, through his instrumentality, was very 
 great. And he received for his church in Washington 
 City, from the churches which he visited and amongst 
 whom he labored in those meetings in that State, very 
 liberal contributions amounting in the aggregate to 
 about $7,000. 
 
 In the autumn of 1857, Dr. T. held a meeting of 
 days at Hillsborough, N. C., the place of residence of
 
 Or A LONG LIFE. 169 
 
 Gpv. Graham and his family. Mrs. Graham and her 
 excellent mother, Mrs. Washington, were active mem- 
 bers of the Baptist Church in that village. The Gov- 
 ernor himself was not a Baptist; but usually went 
 with his wife to her church. The meeting at Hills- 
 borough was considerably blessed ; and a number of 
 valuable accessions were made to the church ; and the 
 members generally were very much revived, and en- 
 couraged . 
 
 During his stay in Hillsborough, Dr. T. received a 
 pressing invitation to visit Chapel Hill, the seat of the 
 North Carolina University, and hold a series of meet- 
 ings in the Baptist Church at that place. Mrs. Gra- 
 ham was very anxious that he should go to Chapel Hill, 
 and offered to take him over, a* distance of some 
 twelve miles, in her own carriage. She had several 
 promising sons then connected with the University ; 
 and she hoped that his visit might result in their con- 
 version. He concluded to go to Chapel Hill, and Mrs. 
 Graham accompanied him and remained there until 
 the close of his labors in that place. He met a very 
 cordial reception at Chapel Hill, not onljon the part 
 of the Baptists, but also on the part of the President 
 and Professors of the University, and of the commu- 
 nity in general. It was regarded as a very hard place, 
 and doubts were very freely expressed in Hillsborough 
 as to whether anything desirable could be effected 
 there. But the meeting was a grand success. It con- 
 tinued two weeks ; and during that time, sixty of the 
 citizens hud professed hope in Christ, and also sixty
 
 170 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 of the students in the University had been converted. 
 Of the sixty students that were converted, sixteen 
 were members of the Senior class ; of the six- 
 teen converts in the Senior class, six were first 
 might men, that is, the best students in their class. 
 The President of the University, Ex-Governor Swain, 
 and all the Professors, with a single exception, evinced 
 a deep interest in the meeting, and co-operated hearti- 
 ly in the blessed work. The lamented Prof. Mitchell 
 was then acting as Chaplain of the University, in ad- 
 dition to his duties as Professor of Geology and Min- 
 eralogy. He was especially interested in the good 
 work then progressing with so much power in the com- 
 munity. The faculty of the University were very 
 anxious to bring the students generally under the in- 
 fluence of the revival. There were then connected 
 with the University over four hundred students, and 
 they represented fourteen States of the Union. But 
 how to manage the matter so as to get all the students 
 under the influence of the preaching, seemed rather 
 difficult. At first, it was thought best to have no 
 Chapel service on Sunday morning, and let the stu- 
 dents attend the meeting in the Baptist Church. But 
 then it was seen at once, that they could not accom- 
 plish their object in that way. In the first place, they 
 knew that the church would be filled to overflowing by 
 the citizens, and there would be no room for the stu- 
 dents. And in the next place, they would have no 
 right to require the students to attend church any- 
 where off the Campus. It was, therefore, determin-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE, 171 
 
 ed by the Faculty, to invite Dr. T. to officiate in the 
 College Chapel on Sunday morning, and then they 
 could require all the students to be present. Accord- 
 ingly a committee from the Faculty waited on him at 
 his quarters, and informed him of the result of their 
 deliberations on the subject, and earnestly requested 
 him to acquiesce in their plan in the premises. The 
 pastor of the Baptist Church seemed quite unwilling 
 to change the place of meeting on Sunday morning ; 
 but Dr. T. told him that he thought it was clearly 
 their duty to go to the Chapel that morning that the 
 building was a very large one, and would accommo- 
 date both students and citizens ; and that it would be 
 impossible to accommodate even all the citizens in the 
 church. Accordingly the services were held in the 
 Chapel of the University, and a vast crowd, besides 
 the students of the University, heard the procla- 
 mation of divine truth that day. The interest in the 
 meeting was intensified among the students by the 
 services in the Chapel that morning. The meet- 
 ing at Chapel Hill was a great meeting. President 
 Swain, in a business note to Judge Settle, said that 
 there had not been a meeting there of so much 
 interest during the whole of his Presidency, which 
 had then extended over a period of twenty-two years ; 
 and he spoke of Dr. T. in the most complimentary 
 terms. 
 
 Mrs. Graham had the unspeakable pleasure of see- 
 ing her sons converted in that meeting ; and some 
 weeks afterwards, while Dr. T. was in attendance on
 
 172 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 the meeting of the North Carolina Baptist State Con- 
 vention, at Ealeigh, he went up to Hills borough and 
 baptized them into the fellowship of the church of 
 which their mother and grandmother were members. 
 
 The meeting at Chapel Hill was closed too soon. 
 Dr. T. had agreed to hold a meeting at Trinity Church, 
 up country, of which Rev. T. W. Tobey was then 
 pastor. Once before, owing to a great interest in a 
 meeting in which he was then engaged, he had been 
 compelled to postpone his visit to the Trinity Church; 
 and he thought it would not do to disappoint the 
 brethren there again. But he has regretted very many 
 times since, that he closed his labors at Chapel Hill 
 when he did. The work was rolling on with constantly 
 increasing interest to the very day he left; and it had 
 taken a strong hold on the students in the University, 
 whose conversion was pre-eminently important, for 
 obvious reasons. 
 
 In the winter of 1858, Dr. T. made a visit to Mo- 
 bile, Ala., to assist Rev. Mr. Collins, pastor of the St. 
 Francis Street Church in that city, in a series of meet- 
 ings. He arrived in Mobile on the 22d day of Feb- 
 ruary, Washington's birthday, which was being cele- 
 brated in the city, and commenced preaching in the 
 Lecture Room of the church that night. That room 
 . was almost immediately filled up, and the meeting was 
 removed to the main audience room above. This 
 spacious room was also soon filled to overflowing, and 
 extra seats were brought into requisition until the close 
 of the meeting. The meeting continued a little over 
 
 O O
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 173 
 
 four weeks. It was a blessed meeting, and resulted in 
 an accession to the church of many converts. Rev. 
 J. B. Hawthorne, D. D., was induced to quit the bar, 
 and become a preacher, as one of the happy results of 
 this meeting. Dr. T. was assisted in this meeting by 
 Rev. D. A. Nichols, of Pennsylvania, who was one of 
 the sweetest singers in Israel, and whom he took with 
 him to conduct the singing, and aid him in the prayer 
 and inquiry meetings in his evangelistic work. He was 
 of great service in the meetings held by Dr. Teasdale, 
 as Sankey was subsequently to Moody. Dr. T. was 
 entertained most handsomely, during his stay in Mo- 
 bile, by Thos. P. Miller, Esq., and his estimable lady. 
 The meeting in that city produced a profound impres- 
 sion upon the community at large. Madam LeVert, 
 who always snuffed the breeze of popularity from afar, 
 put in her presence in the meeting, again and again, 
 together with her accomplished daughter. One of the 
 deacons, whose duty called him to the wharf most of one 
 day, remarked that even among the rough wharf hands 
 he had not heard a single profane word daring the day, 
 so deep and so general was the influence of the meeting 
 upon the people of the city at large. 
 
 From Mobile, Dr. T. went to Columbus, Miss., to 
 hold a series of meetings in the First Baptist Church 
 in that place. The church had been destitute of a 
 pastor for nearly a year and a half, and was conse- 
 quently in a cold state in religion. On his way to 
 Columbus, he met, at Artesia, then the terminus of 
 the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, Maj. Anderson, Cashier
 
 174 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 of the Bank in Columbus, who was, on his way to Mo- 
 bile on business for the bank. They had both to stay 
 over night at Artesia. Maj. Anderson, in the course 
 of the conversation that evening, took occasion to tell 
 Dr. T. that he was going to one of the hardest places 
 in the world, he thought. And when he arrived at 
 Columbus, a good Methodist lady inquired of a Baptist 
 sister what Dr. T. expected to do there. She said they 
 had made three efforts that very winter to awaken a 
 religious interest in the community, and had signally 
 failed. But the meeting began, and went on with con- 
 stantly increasing interest for four weeks; and the 
 result was that over four hundred souls were converted 
 during the meeting. About two hundred of the con- 
 verts united with the Baptist Church ; over one hundred 
 joined the Methodists ; between fifty and sixty con- 
 nected themselves with the Presbyterian Church ; and 
 the balance were distributed among the Cumberland 
 Presbyterians, the Episcopalians, and the Campbellites, 
 or Christians, so called. Many of the converts in that 
 meeting were among the most prominent citizens of 
 the place. 
 
 The church in Columbus made a donation of one 
 thousand dollars to the church enterprise in Washing- 
 ton ; and then contributed several hundred dollars be- 
 sides for the special benefit of Dr. T. and his family. 
 The church was then rich having an aggregate a mount 
 of wealth in its membership of about two millions of 
 dollars. The members could, therefore, give largely 
 and not feel it.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 175 
 
 Mr. Nichols accompanied Dr. T. to Columbus, as 
 he did also to all the other points in Mississippi, where 
 he held meetings that spring ; and his sweet sing- 
 ing was of great service to the cause in all the meet- 
 ings. He frequently melted the vast audiences to 
 tears by one of his excellent solos. 
 
 From Columbus Dr. T. went to Aberdeen, Miss., 
 twenty-eight miles above Columbus, and which is 
 situated on the Tombigbee river, as is Columbus. 
 There was then no railroad to Aberdeen, and the 
 journey had to be made by private conveyance. On 
 the night before he left Columbus, a severe thunder 
 storm came up, and caught the people in the church. 
 There was a slight slack about the time the people 
 wanted to go home ; and the congregation at large 
 reached their dwellings with but slight inconvenience. 
 Then it rained very severely all night. So great was 
 the fall of rain that the small streams were so swollen 
 in the morning, that they could not be forded. Dr. 
 T. was anxious to reach his appointment at Aberdeen 
 that night, and therefore undertook to make the trip. 
 He learned that by going a few miles out of the way, 
 and thereby heading one of the unfordable streams, he 
 would most likely be able to get to Aberdeen before 
 any great rise in the river would occur. Accordingly 
 he took that route ; but imagine his surprise when he 
 came to what was called the heading of the unford- 
 able stream, to find that the water was running over 
 the road for a hundred yards or more, and seemed 
 very deep, if not impassable. After a very careful
 
 176 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 examination of the situation, he concluded to venture 
 to cross it, and gave the driver directions to go ahead. 
 They were riding in a Concord buggy, which was high 
 up on the springs. Taking all he could in his hands, 
 and standing up on the seat of the buggy, they dashed 
 into the water. The horses were tall, and they did 
 not lose their feet, though the water came up to their 
 backs for some distance. -The crossing was, therefore, 
 effected with no loss of life or limb, and with the in- 
 convenience only of having the baggage in the trunk, 
 which was high up on the back of the buggy, pretty 
 well saturated, and somewhat injured. When they 
 came within about twelve or fourteen miles of Aber- 
 deen, they came to a creek which was so swollen that 
 they could not cross it ; and they were compelled to 
 go back to the next house, and spend the night there* 
 Fortunately they found excellent entertainment ; and 
 the lady of the house, who had heard a good deal 
 about the great meeting in Columbus, was very glad 
 of an opportunity of making the acquaintance of Dr. 
 T., and extending to him the hospitalities of her home. 
 The next morning he again set out for Aberdeen. 
 At considerable risk the swollen creek was crossed ; 
 and then there was no serious impediment in the way 
 until he came to the swamp extending a mile or two 
 out from the ferry. Here he found the road deeply 
 overflowed, and totally impassable for carriages. 
 Procuring a skiff, and putting his baggage into it, he 
 was rowed to the ferryman's house, which was situated 
 on a high bluff, on the bank of the river. When he
 
 OF A T.OXO TJFF,. 177 
 
 took the skiff, he dismissed the driver and team from 
 Columbus, and they worked their way back without 
 difficulty. There were yet three miles to be made 
 from the ferry to Aberdeen. The river had then 
 risen to such a height that it was overflowing its banks 
 nearly all along the way ; and in many places the road 
 was almost impassable. His only chance to get on to 
 Aberdeen was to hire the ferryman to put him across 
 the river and send him to the city in his buggy. 
 The journey was ultimately consummated, and the 
 dangers were all over. Dr. T. has often thought that 
 he would not again run such risks, and, encounter such 
 exposures for a very considerable sum of money. Mr. 
 Nichols had gone up from Columbus to Aberdeen a 
 few days before, to prepare the way for the coming of 
 Dr. T. ; and he had therefore escaped the perils and 
 the exposure to which Dr. T. had been subjected. 
 
 He commenced the meeting in Aberdeen the next 
 night after his arrival. The meeting in this city was 
 like that in Columbus, greatly blessed. About one 
 hundred and fifty souls professed religion during the 
 meeting. Quite a number of the converts were very 
 prominent citizens. Several judges and attorneys-at- 
 law, as well as merchants and planters, were among the 
 converts in that meeting. The meeting lasted three 
 weeks, and the interest was kept up to its very 
 close. 
 
 From Aberdeen Dr. T. returned to Columbus, and 
 preached a few days with encouraging success to a 
 little church in the suburbs, about a mile and a half
 
 178 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 from the First Church of Columbus, in which the 
 great meeting had so recently been held. 
 
 From this place he went to Starkville, Miss., to 
 assist Rev. T. Y. Sellers in a series of meetings in his 
 church in that village. The meeting in that place 
 resulted in great good. Quite a large number were 
 added to the church by baptism, and the members of 
 the church were greatly revived and strengthened. 
 
 From Starkville Dr. T. went to Crawfordville, 
 Miss., and held a meeting of a few days continuance 
 in that place. His labors there were crowned with 
 gratifying success. 
 
 From Crawfordville he went to Macon, Miss., and 
 assisted Rev. George H. Martin in a series of meetings 
 in his church in that village. The meeting in Macon 
 was very much blessed, as the meetings had been in 
 all the above named places. Between forty and fifty 
 were added to the church by baptism during the 
 meeting in Macon, which lasted only about two weeks 
 and a half. 
 
 After the close of the meeting in Macon, Dr. T. 
 returned to Columbus and spent another Sunday in 
 that city. The church was still destitute of a pastor, 
 and they earnestly besought him to become their 
 pastor. He told them that he could not for a moment 
 entertain any proposition to leave Washington, unless 
 a plan, which had been somewhat mooted before he 
 left that city on that trip, could be consummated. The 
 plan was to unite the First and Thirteenth Street 
 Churches ; sell the house of the First Church, and pay
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 179 
 
 the balance due on the commodious edifice of the 
 Thirteenth Street Church, which Dr. T. had done so 
 much to erect; and thus be enabled to give a pastor an 
 adequate support. He told the brethren at Columbus 
 if that plan could be carried out he would be at liberty 
 to entertain a call, but not otherwise. They then 
 wanted to know what salary he would expect if he 
 should find it practicable to accept their call. He told 
 them he must have $2500 per annum and a comforta 
 ble parsonage. They had never before paid their 
 pastor more than $1500 per annum ; and then he was 
 required to shirk for himself as to a house for his 
 family. They went to work immediately, and in a day 
 or two had more than the $2500 subscribed towards 
 the salary. Then Dr. T. inquired, "Well, what about 
 a parsonage ?' ' He told them plainly that he could not 
 think of removing his family from Washington City to 
 Columbus, and have them quartered in any such house 
 as could be rented there. The mass of the people in 
 Columbus were wealthy, lived in palatial mansions, 
 kept their carriages, and enjoyed every comfort and 
 luxury that wealth could afford. There were very 
 few houses to rent, and these were fit only for the 
 humblest mechanics, or for day laborers. They then 
 told him that they would build a parsonage for him 
 on the meeting-house lot. But he told them that they 
 could not build a house for him in time for his use so 
 soon as he would want to come, if he came at all; 
 and at the same time he suggested to them that there 
 was an excellent house then for sale, at a very con-
 
 180 REMISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 venient distance from the church, which was just such 
 a house as they needed for their pastor, whether he 
 should accept their call, or some other person should 
 become their bishop. The suggestion was immedi- 
 ately adopted, and the house was at once bought and 
 paid for. The cost was about seven thousand dollars. 
 Such of the subscribers for the house and lot as 
 did not pay cash down, gave their individual notes 
 to the proprietor, which were accepted as cash, and 
 the church did not run in debt one dollar for the 
 premises. The house is well located, and is only two 
 sides of a square from the meeting-house. The lot 
 contained a half square of ground, and it then con- 
 tained about thirty bearing fruit trees. The house 
 embraces four large rooms, and a little bed-room for 
 children, besides a commodious dining-room. The 
 kitchen was then separate from the main building, as 
 was the universal custom in those days in almost every 
 place in the South. There is a spacious hall running 
 though the center of the building, and a porch in 
 front extending the whole length of the building. 
 There were also then on the place good outbuildings, 
 and an excellent garden spot. Altogether it was a 
 very desirable parsonage. It has enabled the church 
 to support a pastor since the war, which otherwise it 
 could not have done. 
 
 Dr. T. then returned to Washington, and succeeded 
 finally in effecting a union of the two churches above 
 named ; and he then accepted the call of the Columbus 
 church and made his arrangements to enter upon his
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 181 
 
 services as pastor there during the ensuing autumn. 
 During his pastorate in Washington, he had traveled 
 65,000 miles in the interest of the new church build- 
 ing; spoken on an average two hours a day for four 
 years and a half; raised over $20,000 for the church 
 building ; kept up the interest in his church at home, 
 and was instrumental in adding to the churches, among 
 which he labored, more than 3,000 souls. 
 
 In the month of October, 1858, Dr. T. returned to Co- 
 lumbus. The circumstances attending the commence- 
 ment of his pastorate there were very auspicious. The 
 salary including the commodious parsonage was over 
 $3,000 per annum; the utmost harmony prevailed in 
 the church ; and everything seemed to conspire to ren- 
 der the situation pleasant and promising in the highest 
 degree. 
 
 Soon after his settlement in Columbus, efficient steps 
 were taken towards the making of important improve- 
 ments on the church edifice. The interior of the build- 
 ing was entirely changed. The galleries were removed; 
 the floor of the audience room was elevated five or six 
 feet ; an addition of eighteen feet was made to the 
 length of the house ; the windows were changed so as 
 to correspond with the other alterations of the build- 
 ing ; a recess of twelve feet was provided in the rear 
 of the pulpit as an organ and choir gallery ; an elegant 
 organ, made to order, was placed in the organ gallery; 
 a basement was finished under the whole house for the 
 colored population ; all the wood-work of the building 
 was newly painted ; and the walls and ceiling of the
 
 182 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 audience room were handsomely papered. It was, in- 
 deed, when thus improved and modernized, an elegant 
 structure. 
 
 And, then, the music was of the highest order; the 
 Sunday-school was very prosperous, the congregations 
 were large and attentive ; and numerous accessions, 
 from time to time, were made to the church. Indeed, 
 everything was most encouraging at that time. 
 
 In 1859, Dr. T. preached the Commencement ser- 
 mon at the Mississippi College. Subject: The parable 
 of the Prodigal son. During that year he assisted 
 Bro. Martin in a series of meetings at Sharon, Miss. 
 He preached in that meeting fourteen sermons, and 
 quite a number were converted during the meeting. 
 His homes, while at Sharon, on different occasions 
 were in the esteemed families of Drs. Deupree and 
 Clay. 
 
 He held a series of meetings that year, also, at Sum- 
 terville, Ala. He preached, in that meeting, twenty- 
 three sermons, and many were converted and added to 
 the church. It was a good meeting. 
 
 He also assisted, in the same year, in a series of 
 meetings in the Salem Church, Octibbeha county, Miss. 
 It was a good meeting. His home during the meeting 
 was with Deu. Dorsey Outlaw's family, as, indeed, it 
 always was afterwards, until the time of his death, 
 whenever he visited that church, or had occasion to 
 pass that way. A most pleasant and hospitable home 
 it was. 
 
 In the .spring of 18GO, Dr. T. preached the Missionary
 
 OF A LONG LIFE 183 
 
 Sermon before the Baptist State Convention of Missis- 
 sippi. The meeting was held at Natchez. 
 
 During June of that year, he assisted Elder Nash in 
 a series of meetings in ^ickensville, Ala., which was 
 greatly blessed, and a considerable number were con- 
 verted and added to the church. The baptism occurred 
 in the Tombigbee river, and a large concourse of peo- 
 ple assembled to witness the ordinance. The weather 
 was excessively hot. 
 
 During that summer he went to Nashville in Com- 
 pany with Brethren G. H. Martin, D. E. Burns, and 
 Dr. Deupree, as an advisory committee of the Mis- 
 sissippi "Baptist State Convention, to endeavor to effect 
 a reconciliation between Dr. Howell and J. R. Graves. 
 The committee were cordially received by both parties 
 in the controversy ; and ten days of earnest work, to 
 effect a reconciliation, finally failed, when the com- 
 mittee thought, only the night before, that they had 
 gained their object. The correspondence between the 
 committee and the parties in controversy would make 
 quite a good sized volume. Dr. T. was made clerk of 
 the committee, and the vast amount of matter con- 
 tained in the correspondence was written or copied by 
 him. 
 
 In July and August of that year he assisted Elder 
 Nash in a series of meetings at Carrollton, Ala. He 
 preached over twenty sermons in the meeting, and the 
 results were very happy. A large number were con- 
 verted in the meeting and added to the church ; and 
 among them wore some of the most prominent citizens
 
 184 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 of the place. It was a good meeting, and its salutary 
 influence is still felt. 
 
 The church in Columbus continued to prosper under 
 the labors of Dr. T. until the tocsin of internecine war 
 sounded. Then a wonderful change in almost every- 
 thing occurred. Quite a number of the efficient 
 members of the church left all and enlisted in the 
 mighty conflict. Some of the prominent members 
 died at home during the war ; others fell in the san- 
 guinary struggle; and the church was greatly reduced, 
 both in numbers and in its pecuniary resources, by 
 the desolations of the war. 
 
 Feeling it to be his duty to go and preach to the 
 soldiers on the tented field, Dr. T. resigned his charge 
 of the church in the summer of 1863, and immediately 
 entered upon his work as an Evangelist among the 
 Southern troops. During his pastorate in Columbus, 
 including the ingathering in the revival meeting in the 
 spring of 1858, over four hundred souls were added 
 to the church by baptism, and many others by 
 letter. 
 
 The labors of Dr. T. as Evangelist to the soldiers 
 were pre-eminently successful. He usually preached 
 to separate brigades ; but occasionally he preached to 
 a union' of two or more brigades. On one occasion he 
 preached to a whole Division the Division of General 
 Claiborne together with portions of the brigades of 
 other Divisions in the vicinity. Probably not less 
 than six thousand soldiers heard the gospel on that 
 memorable occasion from his lips. The subject was
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 185 
 
 THE GENERAL JUDGMENT. The soldiers were then in 
 constant expectation of an attack by Sherman's forces ; 
 and the most profound attention was given by the vast 
 crowd to the solemn words that fell from the lips of 
 the preacher on that holy day. At the close of the 
 sermon, over eighty converted soldiers were buried 
 with their Lord in baptism, by himself and other 
 ministers present, in a clear and beautiful creek ad- 
 jacent to the place of preaching. The army hud not 
 then broken up their winter quarters at Dalton, Ga. 
 On the following Wednesday about sixty more soldiers 
 were baptized at the same place. Before the coming 
 of another Sunday, the encampment was broken up, 
 and the soldiers were thrown into line of battle. On 
 the next Sunday afternoon, Sherman pushed his forces 
 through one of the gaps in the ridge above Dalton ; 
 and then the fighting began anew. Many of our noble 
 braves, who had been so recently baptized, fell in the 
 battles between Dalton and Atlanta ; but they died in 
 the triumphs of the Christian faith, and we have every 
 reason to believe that they went up to enjoy their rest 
 and their reward in heaven. 
 
 Finding it impossible to hold protracted meetings 
 now with the soldiers, Dr. T. returned to his home in 
 Mississippi. 
 
 Soon after his return to Mississippi, he was chosen, 
 with three other brethren, viz : Elders J, R. Graves, 
 D. E. Burns, and J. T. Freeman, to canvass the State 
 in the interest of ' % THK ORPHANS' HOME OF THE 
 STATE OF MISSISSIPPI." This institution had recently
 
 186 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 been inaugurated for the support and education of 
 the dependent children of our deceased soldiers. He 
 had taken a very active part in the organization of this 
 humane institution, and he cherished the liveliest inter- 
 est in its success. The State was set off in districts 
 to the several agents ; and in the brief period of three 
 months, Dr. T. had raised in cash and reliable pledges 
 in his district over $25,000 for the institution. But 
 a considerable amount of furniture, clothing, provi- 
 sion, etc., were necessary before the HOME could be 
 opened for the reception of the suffering children. 
 These it seemed impossible to procure in sufficient 
 quantities, without going North to obtain them. Ac- 
 cordingly it was determined by the Board of Trustees, 
 at once to make an effort to obtain the consent of both 
 the Confederate and Federal governments, to allow 
 them to exchange cotton for whatever they needed to 
 furnish the HOME. The scheme was well conceived. 
 Cotton was then offered to the agents of the Board, in 
 any quantities, at sixty cents a pound, in Confederate 
 money ; and it was selling, at the same time, in New 
 York, for a dollar and a quarter a pound, in green 
 backs. Now, it was apparent, that if the propos- 
 ed plan could be carried into execution, and they 
 could effect an arrangement with the respective gov- 
 ernments, by which they might be able to carry cotton 
 North, and bring goods, furniture, and all that they 
 needed, South, they could by a single shipment not 
 only meet their immediate wants, but go very far also 
 towards securing a liberal endowment for their cherish-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 187 
 
 ed institution. Knowing that Dr. T. was well ac- 
 quainted with 'President Davis, and Gen. Breckenridge, 
 his Secretary of War; and, as a former resident of 
 Springfield, Ills., and subsequently of Washington 
 City, he was also well acquainted with President Lin- 
 coln, and other dignitaries of the Federal Government, 
 he was asked if he thought the proposed measure was 
 practicable. With a full knowledge of all the difficul- 
 ties to be encountered in the undertaking, he said he 
 thought, by proper zeal and suitable diplomacy, it 
 might be accomplished. The question was then pro- 
 pounded to him, "Will you undertake to consummate 
 this measure?" And such was his sympathy for the 
 suffering children that, notwithstanding all the difficul- 
 ties and dangers incident to the undertaking, he was 
 constrained to accept the appointment, and thus en- 
 deavor to make the institution a complete success. 
 Accordingly, as soon as he could make arrangements 
 for leaving home, and without a dollar of United 
 States money furnished him by the Board, he started 
 on his journey. An arrangement with parties, who de- 
 sired him to transact some business for them in the 
 city of New York, secured fifty dollars in greenbacks ; 
 and with that, together with a large amount of Con- 
 federate notes, he determined, if possible, to effect 
 the object of his mission. He had to go by the way 
 of Mobile, Montgomery and Macon, the railroads on 
 other routes being broken up. At Macon he met 
 Judge Irwin, who informed him that he could give 
 him a seat iu his rockaway from Milledgeville to
 
 188 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 Washington, Ga. This was most timely, as Sherman's 
 recent passage through Georgia had caused perfect 
 desolation in all his track. Accordingly they left 
 Milledgeville soon after dinner one day, taking with 
 them provision to carry them over the desolate region. 
 The first night was spent at the dwelling of a formerly 
 well-to-do planter, who gave them a good bed, but 
 told them he could not feed them. The next da}' car- 
 ried them over the region of desolation and brought 
 
 o o 
 
 them out of Sherman's track, and then they found 
 comfortable accommodations, both for themselves and 
 for their stock. The third day's travel brought them 
 to the home of the accommodating Judge. The night 
 was spent by Dr. T. with his old friends, the Rev. Dr. 
 Tupper and his family, and early next morning ar- 
 rangements were made to get him over to the Colum- 
 bia and Greenville Railroad. On his arrival in the 
 vicinity of the railroad, he learned that Sherman had 
 already destroyed Columbia, and was then on his deso- 
 lating march towards Virginia. Instead of being able, 
 as he had expected, to take the railroads, via Colum- 
 bia, Charlotte, etc., to Richmond, he was compelled 
 to go by the way of Greenville, S. C., and thence by 
 private conveyance sometimes with mule and buggy, 
 sometimes by carriage, and sometimes on horse-back 
 first to Spartanburg ; thence to Limestone Springs : 
 and thence to Shelby, N. C. Everywhere along his 
 journey he met with old acquaintances and warm per- 
 sonal friends, who did everything in their power to 
 facilitate his progress. Some six miles beyond Shelby,
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 189 
 
 he struck the railroad leading to Charlotte. On his 
 way to Charlotte, he fell in with Gen. Joseph E. 
 Johnson, who was going down to resume the command 
 of our forces, then concentrating in North Carolina, to 
 intercept, if possible, the march of Sherman towards 
 Virginia. But it was too late, as he expressed his 
 fears at the time, to retrieve the looses occasioned by 
 the ill-timed changes which had been made before 
 Atlanta . 
 
 On his arrival at Charlotte, Dr. T. found that a 
 large force was at work in changing the gauge of the 
 North Carolina Road, in order that the stock on the 
 South Carolina Road might be removed out of the 
 track of Sherman ; and it was supposed that he would 
 find no chance of getting on from that point towards 
 Richmond for several days. He soon fell in with the 
 Superintendent, however, who kindly consented to 
 take him as far as the cars were running on the new 
 gauge. Arriving at the terminus after dark, he was 
 compelled to walk about a mile, on the railroad track, 
 and carry his carpet-bag in his hand, in order to ob- 
 tain accommodations for the night. At a farm-house 
 near the starting point the next morning he was kind- 
 ly entertained, and no compensation would be taken 
 by his generous host. Early the next morning he 
 took the cars for Greensboro, N. C., and thence to 
 Richmond, Va. Three full weeks were occupied in 
 making the trip from Mississippi to Richmond, and 
 the journey was attended with great exposure and 
 fatigue. There are very few who would have encoun-
 
 1 90 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 tercel and overcome so many formidable difficulties, as 
 those which beset the journey of Dr. Teasdale. 
 
 On his arrival in Richmond, he lost no time in 
 securing an interview with President Davis, and in 
 explaining to him fully the nature of his mission. 
 The President warmly approved the undertaking, and 
 sent his private secretary to introduce Dr. T. to the 
 heads of several departments of the government, 
 with whom the business was to be transacted. The 
 secretary was also instructed to request them to give 
 special attention to Dr. T., as his personal friend, and 
 as a citizen of his own state. This secured him an im- 
 mediate interview with the secretaries of the different 
 departments, without waiting for his turn, and greatly 
 facilitated the transaction of his business in Rich- 
 mond. 
 
 During his necessary stay in Richmond, he was 
 twice called upon to open the morning session of the 
 Confederate Congress by prayer, and he received 
 marked attention and courtesy from his numerous 
 friends in that body. They bade him a hearty God- 
 speed in his important mission. 
 
 Matters having been satisfactorily arranged in Rich- 
 mond, his next object was to get on to Washington as 
 speedily as possible. The question w r as whether he 
 should attempt to get a pass from Gen. Grant, or run 
 the risk of getting through to Washington without a 
 pass. It was finally concluded that an application to 
 Gen. Grant for a pass would be attended with con- 
 siderable delay, at best; and then, after all, it might
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 191 
 
 possibly be denied ; and therefore it was thought best 
 to make an effort to get along without any pass. Ac- 
 cordingly he set out from Richmond on Monday morn- 
 ing, and reached Washington the next Saturday night. 
 This trip was an eventful one. He went on the 
 Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad to a point some 
 thirty miles below Fredericksburg, where he took a 
 hack to a place on the Potomac river, opposite St. 
 Mary's County, Maryland. The fare from Rich- 
 mond to this point was $300 in Confederate money. 
 Stopping with a Southern sympathizer about twenty- 
 four hours, he gave his host thirty dollars in green- 
 back notes to be taken across the Potomac. This, 
 considering there were three other passengers, was 
 thought to be pretty good pay for one night's work. 
 The river at that point was seven miles wide, and 
 the channel was frequently quite rough. After night- 
 fall, they set out to effect a crossing. Of course this 
 was required to be done with very great caution. 
 With a negro and a white man as oarsmen, and four 
 passengers in a common skiff, and with the troubled 
 waves occasionally dashing into their little boat, they 
 effected the crossing of the channel at considerable 
 risk. But when this was done, and they were making 
 for the Maryland shore, to the great consternation of 
 the oarsmen, and the no little annoyance of the 
 passengers, it Was found that a formidable gun-boat 
 was lying directly in their course ; and that they were 
 already, perhaps, within range of its heavy guns. 
 The oarsmen were so alarmed that they insisted on an
 
 192 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 immediate retreat ; and no advice or entreaties could 
 prevail on them to make an effort to get out of reach 
 of the gun-boat, and make a circuit for the Maryland 
 shore. The fellow passengers of Dr. T. were persons 
 who were in the employment of the Confederate Gov- 
 ernment as engravers, and they were making an effort 
 to visit their friends in Baltimore. They also dreaded 
 a capture ; and nothing would do but that they must re- 
 cross the river, and return to the Virginia side. This 
 was effected at still greater ri.sk than that of the first 
 crossing, the channel being now very rough. 
 
 The next night, unfortunately, the fog on the river 
 was so dense that crossing was impossible. A delay 
 of another twenty-four hours was therefore unavoid- 
 able. The next night afterwards, however, the 
 weather cleared up, the wind lulled, and everything 
 seemed to be propitious ; and they again set out for 
 the Maryland shore. They then took a new route, 
 and crossed the Potomac where it was nine miles wide, 
 in the hope of avoiding the dreaded gun-boat 
 altogether. After a tedious passage across the channel 
 of the river, attended with much risk, and when they 
 were within about a mile of the Maryland shore, to 
 their great annoyance again, a gun-boat was heard 
 steaming up the river, directly in their course. The 
 ferrymen were again alarmed, and began to talk of 
 another retreat. But Dr. T. assumed command of the 
 boat, and all consented to obey his instructions. He 
 then ordered all on board to lie down in the skiff and 
 remain perfectly quiet until the gun-boat had passed.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 193 
 
 This plan seemed to be working most admirably ; and 
 although they were lying not far from the track of 
 the gun-boat, it was passing on its way without notic- 
 ing them. But just as a sense of security began to be 
 felt, it was observed that a large transport was steam- 
 ing down the river directly on their track. The 
 question now was, "What is to be done in this emer- 
 gency?" Retaining command of the little craft, Dr. 
 T. took the helm himself, and ordered both ferrymen 
 and passengers to ply the oars with might and main. 
 Handling the oars quietly, they nevertheless wielded 
 them with peculiar force. The little craft was steered 
 as closely in rear of the gun-boat as it was deemed 
 safe to venture, and was thus put far enough out of 
 the track of the transport to avoid notice from that 
 quarter. So they were neither hurt by Chary bdis, on 
 the one hand, nor Scylla on the other; and they 
 reached the Maryland shore in safety about 10 o'clock 
 on that ever memorable night. 
 
 Now, now difficulties arose in their way. There was 
 no house in the immediate vicinity of the pi ice where 
 they landed ; and not knowing exactly where they were, 
 nor into whose hands they might chance to fall, whether 
 friends or foes, they finally struck a wagon track, and 
 determined to follow it, in the hope that it would guide 
 them to the farm-house of some friend not far away. 
 Their expectations were realized, in this regard, and 
 they were soon kindly admitted into the dwelling of a 
 genuine Southern sympathizer, and provided with com- 
 fortable lodgings for the night. They were cautioned
 
 liU KEMINISCENCKS AND INCIDENTS 
 
 by their obliging host, not to keep a light in their 
 chamber any longer than was absolutely necessary to 
 get into their beds, lest it should attract the attention 
 of some Federal scouting party, that might perchance 
 be on the lookout for persons from Dixie in that very 
 neighborhood. He said such parties often came to 
 search his house at night. 
 
 Having enjoyed an undisturbed and refreshing night's 
 rest and a good breakfast, they set out for the home 
 of another Southern sympathizer, seven miles distant. 
 They were sent those seven miles by their obliging host 
 in a little cart, drawn by a yoke of small steers. All 
 his valuable horses and mules had been carried off by 
 Federal soldiers ; and this was the only conveyance he 
 could furnish his guests. Putting their carpet-sacks 
 in the cart, and walking and riding by turns, them- 
 selves, they reached the home of their new friend in 
 time for an excellent dinner. 
 
 The repast being over, their most obliging host made 
 arrangements to have them carried, in a boat of his 
 own, across a frith of the Potomac, which was about 
 two miles wide by a direct route, but nearly three 
 miles by the route they took, and thus enable^them 
 to get on to Whitehall that night, so that they might 
 take the stage for Washington the next day. And for 
 all his kindness and trouble he refused all compensa- 
 tion. 
 
 On reaching the landing on the opposite side of the 
 frith, they found no chance of obtaining a conveyance 
 to Whitehall that evening; and Dr. T.'s traveling com-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 195 
 
 panions, being young men and in vigorous health, de- 
 termined to walk to that village a distance of some 
 ten miles that night. 
 
 Dr. T., desiring to take the stage the next morning 
 for Washington, struck across on foot to a village on 
 the stage route, about four miles distant from the land- 
 ing. The winter was just breaking up, and the roads 
 in that section were then very muddy ; but he managed 
 to reach the village just about the time the sun went 
 down, though he was compelled to carry his carpet-bag 
 in his hand, containing his clothing, etc., the whole 
 four miles through the mud. He experienced no se- 
 rious inconvenience from the fatigue, and enjoyed a 
 good supper, all the more, from having taken so much 
 vigorous exercise. 
 
 On inquiry, he ascertained that that was the night 
 for the stage to come down from Washington, and that 
 it would return the next day to that city. Imagine his 
 surprise, however, to find about 9 o'clock, that the 
 driver had arrived with the mail on horseback, and 
 that, owing to the wretched condition of the roads, he 
 had left his coach at Whitehall, a distance of eight 
 miles above that point, on the way to Washington. 
 This circumstance created a new exigency. It was 
 now Friday night, and he was anxious to get on to 
 Washington before Sunday. He, therefore, instructed 
 the landlord to procure for him the use of a horse and 
 saddle in the morning, ;ind provide a small boy to ride 
 behind him, to bring back the horse from Whitehall. 
 It was arranged as he directed, and he rode to White-
 
 19G REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 hall the next morning, in company with the driver, or 
 mail carrier, in time to take the stage for Washington 
 on that clay. By an arrangement with the driver on 
 the way to Whitehall, who was, by the way, a good 
 Southern man, and had been connected with the Con- 
 federate army, it was understood that whosoever else 
 should be left, Dr. T. should have a seat in the coach 
 that day for Washington. Accordingly he secured his 
 seat, though several others, who were in waiting at 
 Whitehall, were compelled to lie over. At this point 
 he procured Post Office .stamps, and mailed the numer- 
 ous letters with which friends in Dixie had improperly 
 cumbered him. Had he been arrested, those letters 
 might have occasioned him a great deal of trouble. 
 He felt greatly relieved when he had gotten rid of this 
 annoyance. 
 
 Considering the condition of the roads, the ride that 
 day was rather pleasant than otherwise. The weather 
 was comfortable, and the vehicle, being an open spring 
 wagon the roads being too bad for the stage coach 
 afforded a fine opportunity for observing the country. 
 Nothing of special interest occurred during the day ; 
 but as they came near to the Anacosta, or Eastern 
 Branch, as it is sometimes called, the bridge over 
 which leads directly into Washington, the driver in- 
 formed Dr. T. that they would encounter a sentinel at 
 the bridge. It was now after 8 o'clock, and all pass- 
 ing and repassing would soon be prohibited for the 
 night. How were they to pass that sentinel, was now 
 the question of absorbing interest to them. There was
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 197 
 
 then no passenger but himself in the vehicle ; the others, 
 not daring to venture so near to Washington, had left 
 the stage a few miles back. He, therefore, told the 
 driver to leave it to him to manage the sentinel ; and at 
 the slightest intimation that they might pass, to tap 
 his horses with the whip, and go along at once. On 
 their arrival at the bridge, they were halted by the 
 sentinel, who, on going up to the vehicle, inquired of 
 Dr. T., very sternly, "Who are you?" He instantly 
 replied, in rather a reproving tone, " Who am I? I 
 expect to preach in Washington to-morrow, sir." The 
 sentinel, looking up into his face by the glare of the 
 lamp, and seeing his white locks, replied, "Well, I 
 presume it is all right." In an instant the horses felt 
 the tap of the driver's whip, and they rode into the city 
 without further molestation. 
 
 Putting up at Willard's Hotel, it was soon ascer- 
 tained, by some of his old friends, that Dr. T. was in 
 the city ; and he was pressed to accept the hospitalities 
 of one of these excellent families. And during the 
 rest of his stay in Washington, he was handsomely 
 entertained by Mr. John C. Shafer and his estimable 
 lady, at their own happy home. Dr. T. had baptized 
 Mr. and Mrs. Shafer during his pastorate in Wash- 
 ington . 
 
 On Monday morning, Dr. T. went over to the 
 "White House," to seek an interview with President 
 Lincoln. But Congress had recently adjourned, and 
 the members of both Houses had a great deal of busi- 
 ness to transact with the President, in behalf of their
 
 198 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 constituents. They always have precedence over pri- 
 vate citizens, And besides, there were several army 
 officers waiting for an interview with the President, to 
 obtain instructions in relation to their respective posi- 
 tions and duties ; and they also had precedence over 
 private citizens. The members of the Cabinet, and 
 the Ministers of Foreign Governments have prece- 
 dence over all others. The press of business with the 
 President from all these parties was so great, that 
 although Dr. T. went every day to the President's 
 mansion, he failed, as did all other private citizens, to 
 obtain an interview with the President until late on 
 Saturday afternoon ; and then an interview was granted 
 by special favor only. Finding that he was likely to 
 be much longer delayed, if he waited for his turn for 
 an interview with the President, he addressed a note to 
 Mr. Lincoln, in which he informed him that he was a 
 resident of the State of Mississippi, but was in Wash- 
 ington at that time on a mission of mercy ; and that he 
 would be thankful for an interview with the President 
 at his earliest convenience. Mr. Lincoln immediately 
 sent the messenger back to invite him into his recep- 
 tion room. Finding the President engaged in business 
 with parties admitted before he went in, he waited 
 until the last one was served. During his delay in the 
 reception room, President Lincoln, in the midst of 
 pressing official business, as usual, stopped to relate 
 two amusing anecdotes to his auditors. When the rest 
 were all served, and Dr. T. was left alone with the 
 President, as he especially desired that he might be,
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 199 
 
 he arose immediately and advanced towards the Presi- 
 dent. Mr. Lincoln recognized him at once, and 
 advanced with hand extended to greet him. The re- 
 ception was cordial and unostentatious. The usual 
 salutations were passed, and then Dr. T. immediately 
 explained to the President the object of his visit, and 
 handed to him the petition of the Board whose inter- 
 ests he represented. Mr. Lincoln read the entire doc- 
 ument, and then, turning it over, he read on the back 
 of it the cordial endorsement placed upon it by Presi- 
 dent Davis. After having read the entire paper, to- 
 gether with the endorsement of President Davis, Mr. 
 Lincoln turned to Dr. T. and said, in a very pleasant 
 manner, "You ask me to give you relief in a case of 
 distress, just such as we have been striving to pro- 
 duce." And then smiling he added, "We want to bring 
 you rebels into such straits, that you will be willing 
 to give up this wicked rebellion." Dr. T., having 
 known President Lincoln quite intimately in former 
 days, replied in familiar style: "Mr. President, if it 
 were the big people alone that were concerned in this 
 matter, I should not be here, sir. They might fight it 
 out to the bitter end, without my pleading for their 
 relief. But, sir, when it is the hapless little ones that 
 are involved in this suffering, who, of course, had 
 nothing to do in bringing about the present unhappy 
 conflict between the sections, I think it is a very 
 different case, and one deserving of sympathy and 
 commiseration." To this the President instantly re- 
 plied : "That is true; and I must do something for
 
 200 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 you." He then said, after a moment's thought upon 
 the subject; "Well, I will authorize Gen. Can by to 
 grant the petition of your Board, provided it does not 
 interfere with any of his military movements. I will 
 not order it to be done; for if I order it to be done, it 
 must be done without any regard to his military op- 
 erations. And if you desire me to do anything more 
 than this, you may leave the papers with me until 
 Monday morning, when I will see you again, and let 
 you know what I can further do for you." Dr. T. 
 replied at once : "That is enough, Mr. President. I 
 do not ask for any interference whatever with the 
 military movements of your armies. I am satisfied, 
 that with the authority which you propose to confer, 
 I can accomplish my benevolent purposes in behalf of 
 our suffering children, and that is all that I now de- 
 sire." The President then took the petition, and wrote 
 his endorsement on its back, directly under that of 
 President Davis, and thus conferred the authority 
 which was desired. 
 
 Dr. T. had previously seen and conversed with 
 Gen. Banks on the subject of his mission ; and as he 
 was appointed to succeed Gen. Canby in the command 
 of the New Orleans and Mobile Districts, he had re- 
 ceived the assurance from Gen. Banks that there 
 would be no difficulty in managing the matter. "The 
 President," said he, "will doubtless authorize the pro- 
 posed arrangement, and you and I can easily manage 
 the details of the business." Dr. T. had enjoyed a 
 personal acquaintance with Gen. Banks, while a re-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 201 
 
 sident in Washington ; and that acquaintance proved 
 advantageous to him now that this important measure 
 was to be effected under his jurisdiction. It was this 
 assurance of Gen. Banks, that with the simple per- 
 mission of the President, the proposed measure could 
 be carried into effect, by Dr. T. and himself, that in- 
 duced Dr. T. to say to Mr. Lincoln, so promptly, that 
 the authority which he proposed to confer in the prem- 
 ises, was all that he asked. 
 
 At the close of his interview with President Lin- 
 coln, Dr. T. informed him that he was there without 
 a pass, and would be glad if he would be kind enough 
 to furnish him one. The President then asked him 
 which way he wished to return. He replied that he 
 thought he should prefer to return via Saint Louis 
 and Memphis. Mr. Lincoln then took a card, and 
 said, "I will allow you to pass our lines wherever you 
 please, in returning South." And as he began to 
 write the pass Dr. T. said to him : "Mr. President, I 
 should like to take some baggage with me on my re- 
 turn, if you have no objection." Mr. Lincoln then 
 paused, and very pleasantly remarked to him, "Now, 
 you bother me again. How much baggage would you 
 like to take with you?" "Well, Mr. President," 
 said he, "I should like to take a good deal, Sir. Your 
 folks have made some things rather scarce with us down 
 South." "O, well/' said the President, "I will write 
 the pass so as to suit you, I reckon." He then 
 wrote : 
 
 "Pass the Rev. Thomas Teasdale through our
 
 202 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 lines going South, with convenient baggage. 
 
 A. LINCOLN." 
 
 As the President handed the pass to him, it was ac- 
 cepted with thanks. It was really intended to allow 
 him to pass wherever he pleased, and to carry with 
 him as much baggage as he desired. A lady relative 
 of the President, residing at the South, had not long 
 before obtained a similar pass ; and it was said, that 
 she carried with her sixteen large trunks, and insisted 
 that it was only "convenient baggage.'* Having such 
 a commentary of the phrase "convenient baggage," 
 it left him as wide a margin as he could reasonably 
 desire. 
 
 When he returned to his quarters, after having con- 
 cluded his business with President Lincoln, he observ- 
 ed to his excellent host and his lady, that he had 
 succeeded in getting the two Presidents nearer to- 
 gether than they had been for the last four years. He 
 then exhibited to them the back of the Petition of his 
 Board, on which was placed the endorsement of Presi- 
 dent Davis, in his own hand-writing, and directly 
 under it was that of President Lincoln, written also 
 by himself. The endorsements were as follows, viz : 
 
 "Ref'd. to the Sec'y. of Treasury, and the Sec'y. 
 of War for conference with Rev. Dr. Teasdale, in 
 connection with the praiseworthy effort in which he 
 is engaged. 
 
 JEFFER. DAVIS. 
 
 3 March, '65." 
 
 "Gen. Canby is authorized, but not ordered, to
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 203 
 
 give Rev. Mr. Teasdale such facilities in the within 
 matters, as he, in his discretion, may see fit. 
 
 A. LINCOLN. 
 
 March 18, 1865." 
 
 The document containing these endorsements is re- 
 tained by Pr. T. as a remembrancer t of the hardships 
 and dangers to which he was subjected in procuring 
 them ; and it will be transmitted as an heirloom to his 
 posterity. 
 
 While Dr. T. was in Washington, waiting impa- 
 tiently to obtain an interview with Mr. Lincoln, and 
 wishing to be as retired as possible until that inter- 
 view was secured, to his great annoyance, there ap- 
 peared one day in a prominent city paper THE EVEN- 
 ING STAR a brief article to this import : "The Rev. 
 Dr. Teasdale, formerly a prominent pastor in this city, 
 is here from the South to solicit aid for the destitute 
 and suffering women and children of Richmond." 
 This brief notice was immediately caught up, and re- 
 published in a large portion of the papers throughout 
 the North, with varying comments, but generally in 
 terms of severe censure, that Dr. T. should be in 
 Washington for any such purpose and that he should 
 use his influence in any way to promote the welfare of 
 the Southern people, while they were engaged, in 
 what they called a most wicked rebellion. He 
 felt greatly relieved when he found that the Pres- 
 ident's mind had not been unfavorably affected 
 by these newspaper squibs ; and that the object 
 of his wearisome and perilous journey to Washing-
 
 204 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 ton, had at length been so satisfactorily effected. 
 Having completed his business in Washington, Dr. 
 T. at once set out for Mississippi. Having business 
 to transact in New York for some friends at home, he 
 took that city in his route. Thence he went out 
 into his native County, in New Jersey, a distance of 
 some sixty miles from New York, to see his aged 
 mother, and other endeared relatives ; thence to Al- 
 bany, and Schenectady, N. Y., to see his wife's rela- 
 tives ; thence to Cleveland, Ohio ; thence to Springfield, 
 Illinois, where his oldest son and his family resided; 
 and thence to St. Louis, Mo., to visit his two brothers 
 and their families and numerous other relatives resid- 
 ing in that city. Just as he left his son's residence in 
 Springfield, which was before day-light in the morn- 
 ning, he learned that Gen. Lee had surrendered, but 
 he doubted the truth of the rumor. On his arrival at 
 St. Louis, however, the intelligence was confirmed; 
 and immediately he felt that the sun of the Southern 
 Confederacy had gone down forever. His visits with 
 his friends and relatives all along his route were very 
 short, as he was in a hurry to get home, in order to 
 consummate, as speedly as possible, the plan for reliev- 
 ing the suffering children of his adopted state. But 
 all along his extended route, he was met by crowds of 
 Southern sympathizers, and anti-war Democrats, whose 
 demonstrations of interest in the object of his visit to 
 the Capitol City, were very marked and earnest. In- 
 deed, he feared sometimes that he might be suspected 
 of some political maneuver, owing to the expressions
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 205 
 
 of interest in himself and in his object, so extensively 
 manifested all along his route. His stay in Saint 
 Louis was shortened considerably on that account. 
 
 On his arrival at Cairo, Dr. T. found that the intelli- 
 gence of the base assassination of President Lincoln, 
 and the vile attempt to murder several members of his 
 cabinet, had just been received, and the people were 
 busily employed in draping their stores and dwellings 
 and public buildings, with the emblems of deep sor- 
 row and unaffected mourning. Finding that Gen. 
 Banks was there, and that he was intending to address 
 the citizens on the death of the President in a few 
 minutes, Dr. T. went ashore and attended the meet- 
 ing. The address was much more temperate than 
 might have been expected on an occasion of such out- 
 gushing public indignation. Gen. Banks acquitted 
 himself well ; and the vast crowds conducted them- 
 selves with becoming solemnity and decorum, through- 
 out all the exercises. 
 
 Finding that Gen. Banks was on his way to relieve 
 Gen. Canby, and that he was going do\\n the river 
 that evening, Dr. T. took passage on the same steamer 
 to Memphis, in order that he might consummate ar- 
 rangements with him in relation to the exchange of 
 cotton for the supplies needed for the ORPHANS' 
 HOME. Gen. Banks reiterated his entire willingness 
 to allow the arrangement to be carried into effect, and 
 said the authority of the President which had been 
 obtained, was all that was necessary in the premises. 
 
 On his arrival at Memphis, Dr. T. found Gen.
 
 206 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 Washburne in command in that city. He had known 
 the General, as a member of Congress, while he was 
 a resident of Washington City ; and he received at his 
 hand a very cordial greeting. After stating the ob- 
 ject of his recent visit to Washington, and exhibiting 
 his pass from the then murdered President, he told 
 Gen. W. that lie had some baggage with him ; that a 
 part of it consisted of gifts from a deceased daughter 
 to her mother, and all the other members of the family ; 
 and as he could assure him that there was nothing con- 
 traband in his trunks, he would be thankful if he 
 would order the baggage to be passed without exam- 
 ination by the sentinels. The General cheerfully ac- 
 quiesced in this request, and issued an order at once 
 to pass his baggage without examination. Much an- 
 noyance from rough and impertinent sentinels was 
 thus entirely avoided. 
 
 From Memphis Dr. T. went by hired conveyance to 
 Hernando, Miss. ; and thence, in like manner, to 
 Senatobia ; and thence by cars to Grenada. At the 
 latter place he completed the arrangements with the 
 cotton agent of the Confederate government, for the 
 sending out of the cotton according to the agreement 
 which had been consummated with both governments. 
 This finished the work of his mission ; and nothing 
 now 7 remained to be done, but to send the cotton to 
 New York, and procure the necessary supplies for the 
 HOME. He, therefore, hastened to make his report to 
 the Board, and assist in carrying the arrangements 
 thus consummated into immediate effect. But alas!
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 207 
 
 it was now too late. The surrender of Gen. R. E. 
 Lee, and the capitulation of the Army of the West, 
 soon afterwards, made it certain that Gen. Joseph E. 
 Johnson would be compelled very soon to succumb, 
 and that the end of the Southern Confederacy was at 
 hand. Under this state of things, not a pound of 
 cotton could be purchased with Confederate money ; 
 and this grand scheme for supplying the wants of the 
 suffering children, and placing the HOME on a per- 
 manent basis, fell to the ground. And all this resulted 
 from being a little too late in making the foregoing 
 arrangements. If Dr. T. had been sent on his mission 
 to Richmond and Washington only three months 
 sooner, the success of the undertaking would have 
 been certain and glorious. But as it was, the antici- 
 pated crisis soon came. Gen. Johnson capitulated to 
 Sherman, and the cause of Southern Independence was 
 lost forever.
 
 208 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Then the question at once arose in the minds of the 
 members of the Board of the HOME: "What is to 
 become of our cherished institution?" It was serious- 
 ly doubted whether it was possible, under this new 
 state of affairs, to carry out the benevolent project. 
 The immense fortunes of our^ people had been swept 
 away as with the besom of destruction. The country 
 was terribly devasted and utterly impoverished. Our 
 people generally were depressed and disheartened. A 
 pall of impenetrable gloom hung over the whole South. 
 It was indeed a time to try men's souls. But to give 
 up the-project now, would be to acknowledge an in- 
 glorious defeat, not only, but also to leave the hap- 
 less, dependent children of our fallen braves totally 
 unprovided for. This was an evil too great to be incur- 
 red by allowing the enterprise to fail ; and Dr. T., in 
 order to reassure the wavering confidence of his fellow 
 members of the Board in the success of the under- 
 taking, and inspirit them to go forward with the great 
 work, offered to lay his own little all upon the altar 
 of the enterprise, and thus stake his private fortune 
 upon its success. At that very meeting of the Board 
 it was determined to go forward, and make a vigorous
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 209 
 
 effort to sustain the institution. At the same time, 
 Dr. T. was appointed General Financial Agent of the 
 Board, to endeavor to carry into effect the benevolent 
 objects comtemplated in the organization of the HOME. 
 This wtis a very responsible position, and involved, of 
 necessity, a vast amount of earnest and self-denying 
 toil. But with the same devotion to the interests of 
 the HOME which had characterized his conduct in rela- 
 tion to this humane institution from the beginning, he 
 accepted the appointment, and entered at once upon 
 the important duties of his office, with a zeal that 
 knew no flagging, and an energy that soon gave prom- 
 ise of complete success. 
 
 A debt of over seven thousand dollars, in green- 
 backs, was still due on the premises ; and everything 
 necessary to furnish and stock the HOME was to be 
 provided mainly by the exertions of the General 
 Financial Agent. In the course of a few months, the 
 debt was paid off; and in a few months afterwards, 
 sufficient furniture, clothing, provision, stock, etc., had 
 been secured to justify the Board in opening the in- 
 stitution. The late Prof. S. S. Granbury was elect- 
 ed General Superintendent of the HOME, and im- 
 mediately removed to Lauderdale Springs, the seat of 
 the institution, to enter upon the duties of his re- 
 sponsible position. He proved to be, as was antici- 
 pated, "the right man in the right place." Never 
 was an institution more blessed, in this regard, than 
 was the "Orphans' Home of the State of Mississippi." 
 Under the judicious and efficient management of Prof.
 
 210 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 Gran bury, and a corps of able co-workers at the 
 institution, and the untiring labors of Dr. T., and 
 his noble coadjutors, in providing food, clothing, etc., 
 for the children of the HOME, the institution soon 
 rose to a degree of prosperity that attracted the at- 
 tention, and elicited the admiration of the friends of 
 the enterprise, in all parts of the country. Over two 
 hundred poor children were, in process of time, ad- 
 mitted to the benefits of the HOME. The amount 
 of physicial suffering, mental degradation and moral 
 corruption thus prevented, it is impossible to con- 
 jecture; and the benefits conferred upon the dear 
 children by suitable care of their persons ; the proper 
 cultivation of their minds; and the moral and relig- 
 ious training which they received at the HOME, can 
 be known only in the developments of the last 
 day. 
 
 It is not intended to enter further into the de- 
 tails of Dr. T.'s work in building up this humane 
 institution. Suffice it to say, that he devoted more 
 than four years of untiring and self-denying toil, in 
 the prime of his ripened manhood, to the accom- 
 plishment of this noble charity. It is conceded that 
 to his untiring zeal, and his indomitable persever- 
 ance the institution was mainly indebted for its es- 
 tablishment and success. If this were the only work 
 of his life, it ought to place his name along with 
 those of .Howard, and Mueller, and Van Meter, and 
 other distinguished philanthropists, whose lives have 
 been devoted to the work of providing for the hap-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. ' 211 
 
 less orphans and the dependent poor. May God re- 
 ward him for this labor of love ! 
 
 It is not improper to state, in closing this account of 
 Dr. T.'s connection with the Orphans' Home of Mis- 
 sissippi, that a very large proportion of the necessary 
 means to establish and support this institution were 
 obtained in Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and 
 Maryland ; and large donations were also made to it 
 by liberal individuals in many of the Northern cities 
 and towns; and particularly by the people of New 
 York and Chicago. Many of the Southern States, be- 
 sides those above named, aided in the noble work 
 according to their ability. 
 
 In the summer of 1869, Dr. T. was elected Cor- 
 responding Secretary of the Sunday School Board of 
 the Southern Baptist Convention. This Board, though 
 one of the three great Boards of the Convention, had 
 been singularly neglected by the churches, and Sunday- 
 schools, and individuals within the bounds of its opera- 
 tions ; and it was, therefore, in a very depressed con- 
 dition at that time. Indeed, it seemed quite prob- 
 lematical whether, by any effort, it could be made a 
 success. After mature and prayerful deliberation, and 
 a full conference with the Board, then located in Mem- 
 phis, Dr. T. deemed it to be his duty to accept the 
 appointment ; and on the 15th day of September, of 
 that year, he entered upon the duties of his new posi- 
 tion. To this work he brought the advantages of ripe 
 experience ; extensive personal acquaintance with his 
 brethren generally throughout the South ; and a zeal
 
 212 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 and perseverance which afforded a sufficient guarantee 
 of success. 
 
 During the 3'ear preceding his appointment to the 
 Secretaryship of the S. S. Board, the gross receipts of 
 the Board were between $3,000 and $4,000, including 
 subscriptions to Kind Words, and all other sources of 
 income. During the fiscal year, ending May 1, 1871, 
 the gross receipts of the Board, under his manage- 
 ment, were $19,168.98. In the meantime, two other 
 Sunday-school papers, one in Georgia and one in 
 Louisiana, were purchased and blended with Kind 
 Words. This left no rivalry in the field of the Board's 
 operations to their own paper ; and greater efficiency 
 was thereby given to this part of the important work 
 of the Board. The Secretary, by consent of the Board, 
 employed able correspondents to write for Kind 
 Words; and it soon became one of the best Sunday- 
 school papers in the land. 
 
 Soon after Dr. T. entered upon his duties as Sec- 
 retary of the ( S. S. Board, a National Sunday School 
 Convention was held in St. Louis, under the auspices 
 of the Am. Bap. Pub. Society. He attended that meet- 
 ing. And while there he suggested to Dr. Dickenson, 
 that The Sunday School Banner, the name of the 
 periodical which Dr. Jeter and he had recently pur- 
 chased of Major Connor, of Georgia, and which they 
 had sold to the Am. Bap. Pub. Society, was too gen- 
 eral. It might not only be a paper for teachers, but 
 also for children. And as the paper was intended 
 solely for the benefit of Sunday-school teachers, why
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 213 
 
 not call it the "THE BAPTIST TEACHER?" He replied 
 with earnestness: "That is the very name for the 
 paper;" and in the first issue of the Teacher, full 
 credit was given to Dr. T. fo his suggestion as to the 
 proper name of the periodical. It has been a valuable 
 aid to teachers for the last eighteen years, and is likely 
 to continue to be to the end of time. 
 
 During Dr. T.'s connection with the S. S. Board, a 
 clever beginning was made in the work of Sunday 
 School Colportage, and also in the publication of little 
 Sunday-school books, suited to the children all over 
 our extended field of operations. A prize of $100 was 
 offered for the best little book of 100 pages, 16 mo., 
 calculated to lead children to Jesus. A-number of 
 valuable Mss. were received for the prize. But the 
 Committee on Publications decided that two of the 
 MSS. were well worthy of the prize ; and these MSS. 
 were so nearly equal in excellence, that the Committee 
 recommended to the Board that both the MSS. should 
 be published, and that the prize should be equally 
 divided between the authors. One of the books was 
 written by Rev. C. E. W. Dobbs, D. D., and the other 
 by Miss Laura Dayton. Dr. Dobbs' book was entitle^ 
 "The Hero of Truth," and Miss Dayton's was called 
 "Grace Warren." Both these books have been widely 
 circulated, and in the hands of the National Baptist 
 Publishing Company, of St. Louis, are still in great 
 demand. Other little books of value Avere published 
 during Dr. T.'s connection with the S. S. Board ; one 
 of which deserves especial notice. It is a book entitled
 
 214 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 "The City out of Sight," and was written by Mrs. 
 Dougherty, of Louisville, Ky. 
 
 Although the cost of "Child's Delight," and "The 
 Children of the West," involved an- outlay of about 
 $3,500, the indebtedness of the Board when Dr. T. 
 closed his connection with it, was less than $4,000. 
 This indebtedness would doubtless have been entirely 
 canceled in a single year more, if Dr. T. had gone on 
 with the work. But as it seemed to him, that neither 
 his self-sacrificing labor, nor the importance of the 
 work itself, was properly appreciated by many mem- 
 bers of the Southern Baptist Convention, he deter- 
 mined to retire from his position at as early a day as he 
 could consistently with the interests of the Board. 
 Accordingly, after due notice, he closed his labors as 
 the Corresponding Secretary of the Sunday School 
 Board of the Southern Baptist Convention on the 15th 
 of September, 1871. 
 
 It is just to say, that during Dr. T.'s connection 
 with the Sunday School Board, his relations with the 
 other two Corresponding Secretaries, viz. : Rev. Dr. 
 J. B. Taylor, Corresponding Secretary of the Foreign 
 Mission Board, and Rev. Dr. M. T. Sunnier, Cor- 
 responding Secretary of the Domestic Mission Board, 
 were always of the most harmonious and pleasant 
 character. For both of these brethren Dr. T. cher- 
 ished at the time the warmest esteem ; and the recol- 
 lection of the kindly, fraternal intercourse which he 
 enjoyed with these highly valued brethren, growing 
 out of his official relations to them, will be cherished
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 215 
 
 with the deepest interest as long as he lives. Dr. 
 Taylor was called to his rest and his reward a few 
 months after Dr. T. had resigned his position as Cor- 
 responding Secretary of the Sunday School Board. 
 He had served the Foreign Mission Board as their 
 esteemed and efficient Corresponding Secretary nearly 
 the whole time, from the organization of the Souther 
 Baptist Convention to the day of his death. His name 
 will be fragrant in the memory of all the friends of 
 Foreign Missions as long as the Convention endures. 
 Dr. Sumner was a tower of strength to the Domestic- 
 Mission Board during his long official connection with 
 that Board, and his memory will be cherished by gen- 
 erations yet unborn. 
 
 During Dr. T.'s connection with the Sunday School 
 Board, the utmost harmony existed in that body; and 
 when the final parting took place between the Secretary 
 and the Board, it was effected with the warmest ex- 
 pressions of mutual esteem and ardent affection. 
 
 After Dr. T.'s retirement from the Secretaryship of 
 the Sunday School Board, it began again to decline ; 
 and the Board was finally consolidated with the Do- 
 mestic and Indian Mission Board, at the meeting of 
 the Southern Baptist Convention, which was held in 
 Mobile, in May, 1873. It has since had no separate 
 existence, and has done but little good since the new 
 departure. 
 
 Immediately after having closed his official connec- 
 tion with the Sunday School Board, Dr. T. entered 
 upon the work of a General Evangelist, throughout the
 
 216 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 Southern States, for which his brethren thought him 
 to be specially adapted. He had been eminently suc- 
 cessful in his evangelical labors, while engaged in col- 
 lecting money for the erection of the large church 
 edifice in Washington City, and also among the sol- 
 diers in the Confederate army during the war ; and it 
 was believed that he might do more good in this sphere 
 of toil, for a season, than perhaps in any other way. 
 With such impressions of duty he entered this field of 
 labor. 
 
 The first meeting which he held as an Evangelist 
 was in Lexington, Mississippi, which was greatly 
 blessed. Of the meeting at Lexington and Dr. T.'s 
 labors there, the pastor of the church, in a communica- 
 tion to THE BAPTIST, of Memphis, says: "The Baptist 
 Church at Lexington, Miss., has for the last three 
 weeks enjoyed the faithful and earnest labors of Dr. 
 Teasdale, who has recently given himself to the work 
 of an evangelist ; and for the work of a true evangelist 
 he is most eminently qualified. He is not a mere 
 excitist, or sensationalist, but a clear, thorough and 
 forcible preacher of the Word, by which potent instru- 
 ment he mightily convinces men. He covers no sin* and 
 shuns no Bible doctrine, but proves himself "a work- 
 man that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing 
 the word of God." But of Bro. T. as a preacher of 
 the Word, as a pulpit orator, nor yet as an evangelist. 
 I need not speak ; for his reputation is too well estab- 
 lished, and he is too widely known, for a word to be 
 necessary. I need only add, happy the churchos and
 
 F A LON LIFE. 217 
 
 pastors that shall be favored with his labors as we have 
 been. Twenty -six have been added to the church, 
 twenty-three of whom were by baptism. Several 
 others have professed fyith in Christ, who have not yet 
 been baptized. Those added to the church are among 
 the most prominent citizens. The church is greatly 
 encouraged, and will desire to sett 1ft a pastor by the 
 1st of January, when my labors will close here as 
 pastor. A. B. TOMLINSON. 
 
 Lexington, Miss., Nov. 6, 1871." 
 
 Shortly after the meeting in Lexington, Dr. T. went 
 to the aid of Dr. J. M. Lewis, pastor of the First Bap- 
 tist Church in New Orleans. He remained in New 
 Orleans about three weeks ; and his labors there were 
 crowned with a rich blessing to that weak church. 
 About thirty souls were added to the church as the re- 
 sult of his labors, under God, during the meeting ; and 
 the church itself was revived and strengthened in a 
 considerable degree on the occasion. 
 
 From New Orleans, Dr. T. went to Mobile to assist 
 Rev. P. T. Warren, pastor of Broad Street Church, in 
 a series of meetings. He remained here also about 
 three weeks ; and his labors in the Lord were not in 
 vain in that city. Quite a number of valuable acces- 
 sions were made to the church during the meeting, and 
 the graces of Christians were revived and strengthened. 
 
 From Mobile, Dr. T. returned to his home in Colum- 
 bus, Miss., and gave his only living daughter, and 
 youngest child, in marriage to Prof. Thos. L. Moses, 
 of Knoxville, Tenn. The wedding occurred at the
 
 218 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 house of Dr.T., on the night of the 28th of December, 
 1871, and the ceremony was performed by the Doctor 
 himself. His daughter shrank from the notoriety of 
 having the ceremony performed at the church, as her 
 numerous friends and acquaintances had desired, and a 
 few only of her intimate friends were invited to be 
 present at the wedding. She left with her husband 
 the same night for her new home in Knoxville, bearing 
 with her the esteem of the whole community. 
 
 After the marriage of his daughter, Dr. T. spent a 
 week in Okolona, Miss., in aid of the Rev. Mr. Mason, 
 pastor of the Baptist Church in that town, in a series 
 of religious services in his church. The weather proved 
 exceedingly unpropitious for the meeting, and most 
 of the good which had been anticipated from the 
 exercises was on that account not realized. The 
 streets in wet weather become very muddy in Okolona, 
 and, outside of the plank-walks, are almost impassible 
 for ladies. It was so on this occasion. Still, some 
 professed hope in Christ in the meeting. 
 
 From Okolona, Dr. T. went to Clinton, La., to 
 assist the pastor of the church in that place in a series 
 of meetings. The condition of the cause of religion 
 when he went to Clinton, and the estimate placed upon 
 his efforts during his brief stay there, are sufficiently 
 indicated by the following letter of the pastor to one 
 of our religious papers : 
 
 "Clinton has for a long time been noted for its re- 
 ligious apathy, and while the people were refined and 
 hospitable, yet it became proverbially a hard place.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 219 
 
 The truly pious here, of every name, deplored this sad 
 state, and many a fervent prayer went up last year 
 that the Lord would revive the hearts of his people, 
 and awaken the unconverted in our midst. In answer, 
 we trust, to these prayers, we have been blessed with 
 a precious "time of refreshing from the presence of 
 the Lord," under a series of sermons by Rev. Dr. T. 
 C. Teasdale, now laboring as evangelist throughout 
 the South. Dr. Teasdale's sermons present a happy 
 combination of the logical and practical. He seeks to 
 preach to the whole man, head and heart, and this he 
 does effectually. Never have the cause of our people 
 and the sacred principles of vital piety stood on such 
 high vantage ground as now ; at least since we have 
 known the place. 
 
 The following editoral notice of these meetings, 
 taken from one of our town papers, will convey to 
 your readers a very correct idea of the impressions 
 made upon the community by the sermons of Dr. 
 Teasdale : 
 
 'The Rev. T. C. Teasdale, D. D., who was announced 
 in our last issue, has delivered a series of eloquent, 
 touching and appropriate sermons in the Baptist Church 
 in this place. Asa general thing the audience has been 
 large, and all express themselves deeply moved by the 
 efforts of this good and learned man. The Rev. Mr. 
 Teasdale was formerly pastor of the Southern Church, 
 Washington, District of Columbia, but is now laboring 
 as an evangelist in the South. Quite advanced in years, 
 his silvery locks and wrinkled features, which bear
 
 220 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENT! 
 
 a true Christian expression, are well calculated to soften 
 the heart, and lead his hearers to ponder over the 
 truths which he gives utterance to. The subject of 
 'Recognition in Heaven,' which he dealt with on Sun- 
 day last, was eloquently and forcibly proven, and at 
 intervals he succeeded so completely in holding his 
 audience spell-bound, as it were, until the dropping of 
 a pin upon the floor could easily have been heard. On 
 Tuesday evening his discourse to the female portion of 
 our community, from Luke 10 :42, was a masterly 
 effort, and many manifested a firm conviction in tbe 
 truth of his argument. His sermon to the young men, 
 on Wednesday evening, business prevented our hearing, 
 but it is highly spoken of by those who did. The 
 visit of this good and great man has accomplished much 
 good, and the prayers of the Christian community for 
 his welfare will go with him in his travels. 
 
 The effects of these meetings have been most bene- 
 ficial. Bo-sides several accessions to the church, and 
 the conversion of many who will join at an early day, 
 the brethren have awakened to the consciousness of 
 their own strength and that of their cause. They have 
 determined to build a new house of worship, and have 
 already the means at their disposal for four-fifths of 
 the entire cost. The new building is to be of the most 
 chaste Gothic architecture, and. finished in the best 
 style. It will be of brick, and will cost about six 
 thousand dollar*. 
 
 The closing day of the meeting was a high day with 
 the brethren. Each seemed to understand the Divine
 
 Of A LOXG LIFE. 221 
 
 1 
 
 philosophy of Paul: 'Forgetting the things that are 
 behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are 
 before, I press to the mark for the prize of my high 
 calling of God in Christ Jesus.' 
 
 In a few months we shall be ready for the dedica- 
 tion of our church edifice, and if these lines should 
 meet the eye of Bro. Teasdale a brother dear to our 
 hearts they will admonish him of the pressing solici- 
 tations of the brethren for him to preach for us the 
 dedication sermon. Yours fraternally, 
 
 S. A. HAYDEN. 
 
 Clinton, La., Jan. 23, 1872." 
 
 From Clinton, Dr. T. went to Marshall, Texas, to 
 assist the pastor, Rev. Mr. Beverly, in a protracted 
 meeting in that place. He arrived there about the last 
 of January, 1872. On the very night of his arrival in 
 Marshall, a very severe Texas Norther set in, which 
 lasted at least a week. Those who have never experi 
 enced one of those Northers, can not form any ad- 
 equate conception of thefr severity. They occur at all 
 seasons of the year, but are, of course, much more 
 severe in the fall, winter and spring. They frequent- 
 ly come so suddenly, that persons in the fields at work 
 have not time to get to their houses for protection. 
 You m;iy go out in a bright, warm morning in May, 
 with thin, summer clothing ; and before night-fall, it 
 will be cold enough for thick winter clothes, and a 
 blanket, or overcoat besides. The extremes from hot 
 to cold are often rapid and wonderful. This is one of 
 the draw-backs to the Texas climate. This severe
 
 222 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 i 
 
 Norther, coming at the very time our meeting was to 
 begin, was greatly against the hope of our success. 
 And besides, there were a number of panes of glass 
 wanting in the meeting-house, and larsre crevices in 
 
 O C3 * O 
 
 abundance in almost every part of the church, through 
 which the piercing blasts of the Norther found ready 
 ingress. There was only one stove in the building, 
 and that was one of altogether inadequate dimensions; 
 and it occupied a place immediately in front of the 
 pulpit, and very close to it, so that while the minister 
 would be roasted in preaching, the mass of the con- 
 gregation would be almost ready to freeze in hearing. 
 Dr. T. first stirred up the brethren to put in the 
 missing panes of glass ; and then to stop the crevices 
 in the meeting-house, and arrange for the better warm- 
 ing of the whole church. Accordingly, the old stove 
 was moved back several feet, and a new one was placed 
 near the organ gallery in the rear of the church. By 
 these measures the house was made comfortable, and 
 the people were drawn in to hear what the preacher 
 had to say. The Norther gradually decreased in 
 severity, and the congregation increased in size, until 
 the spacious house was filled with solemn and attentive 
 listeners. The interest in the exercises grew rapidly 
 as the meeting advanced, until at length the whole city 
 was moved by the power of the blessed work. It was 
 remarked by those who had enjoyed the best oppor- 
 tunities for knowing all about such matters, that the 
 interest in the meeting finally became more general and 
 more profound than that of any previous meeting in
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 223 
 
 that place for the past twenty years, at least. The 
 accessions to the church were not so numerous as in 
 many other places ; but the piety of the members, it 
 was thought, was greatly promoted. Some thirty, or 
 thirty-five accessions were made to the church ; and the 
 cause, in general, was largely advanced in the com- 
 munity by reason of the meeting. 
 
 From Marshall, Dr. T. went to Jefferson, some six- 
 teen miles distant from Marshall, to assist the late 
 lamented Dr. S. R. Freeman, in a series of meetings 
 in that city. Dr. Freeman had just arrived from 
 Alabama, to take charge of the church in Jefferson. 
 Dr. T. and himself were old and warm personal 
 friends ; ancj this last interview which they enjoyed to- 
 gether, was one of unusual mutual interest. The con- 
 gregations here were very large often filling their 
 spacious church to overflowing but beyond the re- 
 vival of the graces of God's people, little apparent 
 good seemed to be effected in the meeting. Dr. T. 
 always regarded his efforts in Jefferson as a failure 
 for him for he rarely ever failed of large success 
 and regretted his inability, under the circumstances, to 
 bring to a greater extent, the unconverted of the city 
 under the saving operation of the truth, and of the 
 Holy Spirit. But some were converted nevertheless ; 
 and it is hoped that many received impressions which 
 will never be effaced. 
 
 From Jefferson, Dr. T. went to Longview, then 
 the terminus of the Southern Pacific Railroad, where 
 he met Rev. Tully Choice, who was waiting to carry
 
 224 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 him in his buggy to his home in Smith County, some 
 twenty miles distant. Elder Choice had made an ap- 
 pointment for Dr. T. to preach the next day and 
 night after his arrival, to his country church in the 
 vicinity of his residence, which is called Mt. Sylvan 
 The two sermons preached at that place produced a 
 remarkable effect. At the close of the sermon at 
 night, about twenty persons requested special prayer. 
 The next day Dr. T. was carried to Jamestown, a dis- 
 tance of some six miles, by Elder Choice, to con- 
 duct a meeting there for a few days. The church at 
 this place was also under the pastoral care of Elder 
 Choice. Dr. T. remained at Jamestown six days, and 
 his labors were greatly blessed. Thirteen joyful con- 
 verts were baptized before he left the meeting; and 
 thirty persons came forward for special prayer the 
 night on which he closed his labors there. 
 
 From Jamestown, Dr. T. went to Tyler, the county- 
 seat of Smith County, some twenty-two miles from the 
 former place, to assist Rev. Mr. Rowland in a series 
 of meetings in that city. His labors here, also, were 
 wonderfully blessed. So deep and general did the in- 
 terest become in the meetings, that business was to a 
 great extent suspended, and the schools were dismissed, 
 at the hour of 11 a. m., so that all might attend the 
 morning meetings. On One occasion, it was said, that 
 every business house in the city was closed, at 11 a. 
 m., in order that proprietors and clerks might go to 
 church. Over sixty were added to the Baptist Church 
 alone, during the meeting ; and more than forty came
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 225 
 
 forward for prayers, earnestly inquiring what they 
 must do to be saved, on the night when he preached 
 his closing sermon in the meeting. If he had staid a 
 week longer, the probability is, that at least one hun- 
 dred souls would have been added to the Baptist 
 Church in that place, under his labors. As it was, 
 there were probably that number of converts in all. 
 The meeting here lasted, under Dr. T.'s management, 
 eighteen days. It constituted an era in the history of 
 the Baptist cause in that growing little city. Since 
 that meeting, railroad communication has been opened 
 to Tyler, and the city has rapidly advanced in popula- 
 tion and prosperity. 
 
 From Tyler, Dr. T. went to Palestine, an adjoining 
 county-seat, to hold a meeting there, under the auspices 
 of the Board of the General Association of N. E. 
 Texas. The Baptist cause in Palestine had become 
 well nigh extinct ; and their meeting-house, which had 
 been formerly the best in the place, was in a very di- 
 lapidated condition. The roof was almost entirely 
 gone; and the window-sash and casing were entirely 
 missing ; and the whole edifice presented a lamentable 
 aspect of total neglect. On examination, Dr. T. found 
 that the timber in the building was of a superior char- 
 acter, and had not yet suffered essential injury from 
 exposure. He determined at once to put in operation 
 such measures as would result in re-enclosing the 
 church, and fitting it up for divine service. Accord- 
 ingly, the church was reorganized; several members 
 brought their letters from other churches, and cast in
 
 226 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 their lot with the brethren here; a subscription was 
 opened on the spot to make the necessary repairs on 
 the meeting-house ; and the hou>c was refitted for wor- 
 ship at an expense of some $800. The almost inces- 
 sant rain, during Dr. T.'s stay in Palestine, prevented 
 the accomplishment of much good amongst the un- 
 converted. Still he was heard with profound interest 
 by the people who could attend the meetings ; and 
 often, at brief intervals between the showers, the 
 meeting-house was thronged with solemn listeners. It 
 is believed that his labors at Palestine, will, in the end, 
 be found to have been productive of much permanent 
 good. Our cause in that place is more indebted, un- 
 der God, for its resuscitation and support, to Mrs. 
 Mary L. Jackson, than to any -other individual. What 
 would our churches do without their holy women? 
 
 An incident occurred at Palestine which is deemed 
 worthy of notice. A little boy, whose mother was 
 not able to go out the first night of the meeting there, 
 went home from the meeting, and said, "Ma, Dr/Teas- 
 dale is no great preacher. I could understand every 
 word he said myself." 
 
 From Palestine, Dr. T. went to Houston, to assist 
 the Rev. J. T. Zealy in a meeting in his church in that 
 important and growing city. When Mr. Zealy was 
 pastor of the church in Columbia, S, C., and Dr. T. 
 was pastor of the Thirteenth Street Church, in Wash- 
 ington City, D. C., Dr. T. assisted Mr. Z. in a pro- 
 tracted meeting in Columbia, which was very much 
 blessed. Mr. Z. gave the right hand of fellowship to
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 227 
 
 about one hundred and thirty persons, on the first 
 communion occasion after the meeting. And now that 
 he was settled in one of the principal cities of the 
 great Empire State of the South-west, he was anxious 
 to secure Dr. T's. services at that point. Accordingly, 
 in May, 1872, Dr. T. visited Houston, and spent two 
 weeks in labors with Mr. Zealy's people. Christians 
 were very much revived by the exercises of the occa- 
 sion, and some twenty persons professed hope in 
 Christ during the meeting. There was, however, an 
 element of old fogy ism in the Houston Church, which 
 operated greatly against the more enlarged success of 
 the meeting; and which, so long as it remains in the 
 church, will make the growth of the body slow, and 
 greatly cripple the efforts of the pastor in extending 
 our denominational principles in that important centre 
 of influence in the great Empire State. It is due to 
 say, however, that besides the excellent and efficient 
 pastor, and Rev. J. B. Link, editor of the Texas 
 Baptist Herald, there are many earnest workers in 
 the Houston Church, and persons of deep piety and 
 love for the cause. It is hoped that a bright future 
 awaits our cause in Houston ; and that the cold and 
 worldly-minded members of the church in that place, 
 may become devotedly pious, and earnestly co-operate 
 with the working brethren of the body, in building up 
 the cause of entire truth, in that growing city. "So 
 mote it be!" 
 
 From Houston, Dr. T. went to Huntsville. This is 
 one of the old towns of Texas ; and although it has a
 
 228 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 branch railroad, connecting with the Great Northern 
 and International Railroad, ome eight miles below 
 the city, its growth has been very slow. The peni- 
 tentiary of the state is located at this place ; and that 
 of itself makes it a point of importance and interest. 
 Here also was the residence of the late Gen. Samiiel 
 Houston, a man whose name is held in sacred remem- 
 brance by all the people of the state, and especially by 
 his neighbors and friends in Huntsville. Dr. T. 
 found our cause in this place in a depressed condition. 
 There were, however, connected with the church in 
 Huntsville, when Dr. T. visited it, some excellent 
 members, Judge Moxey and his estimable family ; Bro. 
 M. C. Rogers, who died a few months afterwards ; 
 Bro. Wilson and family; Bro. Birdwell and wife; 
 Bro. Gambrell and family; Bro. Cox and wife ; Dr. 
 Prince and wife ; Mrs. Abbercombie and a number of 
 others, whose names we can not now recall, were then 
 connected with the Baptist Church in that place. In 
 point of the piety and respectability of its member- 
 ship, the church in Huntsville compared very favora- 
 bly, to say the least of it, with any of the Chris. ian 
 Societies in the place. Their young pastor, Rev. Win. 
 Hayne Leavell, was absent at the time Dr. T. was 
 there ; and the entire work of the pastor and evange- 
 list was, therefore, devolved upon Dr. T. He re- 
 mained in Huntsville about ten days, and preached to 
 large and attentive congregations during the whole 
 time of his stay there. Christians expressed them- 
 selves as having been greatly benefitted and advanced
 
 Or A LONG LIFE. 229 
 
 in their education for heaven, by the exercises of the 
 occasion ; and several professed hope in Christ, three 
 of whom were baptized by Dr. T. before he left the 
 city. 
 
 From Huntsville, Dr. T. went to Crockett, another 
 old town in Texas, some forty miles from Huntsville, 
 on the Great Northern and International Railroad. 
 Rev. J. G. Thomas was the pastor of the church at 
 Crockett. Under his prudent management, a serious 
 disruption in the church, of several years' standing, 
 had been entirely healed ; and arrangements had been 
 made for the building of a new church, on a very 
 eligible site near the centre of the town. The old 
 
 u 
 
 church in which the Baptists were worshipping was 
 small and ill-ventilated. The meeting was moved over 
 to the Methodist Church for the better accommodation 
 of the people ; but after the meeting had been going 
 on there for a short time, the Methodists wanted their 
 house for a Sunday-school picnic service, which greatly 
 diverted attention from the revival exercises. And 
 then almost immediately it was ascertained that their 
 quarterly meeting was to be held the following Satur- 
 day and Sunday.' This necessitated the return of the 
 Baptists to their own house of worship; and threw the 
 main interest of the meeting into the hands of the 
 Methodists. They reaped a rich harvest from the in- 
 fluence of Dr. T.'s toils in that place. 
 
 From Crockett, Dr. T. went to Brenham, Washing- 
 ton county, Texas, and held a meeting with the Bap- 
 tist Church in that place, then under the pastoral care
 
 230 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 .of Rev. M. B. Smith. Elder Earle, the distinguished 
 evangelist, had held a meeting in this church a few 
 months before, which was continued for some weeks 
 after he left by the excellent pastor and the brethren ; 
 and a large number of persons were at that time added 
 to the church. Dr. T. was heard with profound in- 
 terest and attention by the large congregations who 
 attended the meetings; but he soon found that nearly 
 all the impressible material in the community had been 
 reached and b brought into the church by the previous 
 meeting; and he, therefore, turned his attention mainly 
 to the work of instructing and indoctrinating the mem- 
 bers of the church, and especially the numerous young 
 converts in the body. In this he was successful to 
 such an extent that the pastor, and deacons of the 
 church said to him before he left, that there never had 
 been a meeting there so well calculated to establish 
 Christians in the faith of the gospel, and develop and 
 improve the graces of the Spirit in their hearts. A 
 few persons also professed hope in Christ during the 
 meeting. 
 
 From Brenham, Dr. T. went to Bryan, a growing 
 little city on the Texas Central Railroad, situated 
 about one hundred miles north of Houston. Mr. Earle 
 had visited this place, also, during his tour in Texas; 
 and the condition of the church here was very similar 
 to that of Brenham. The Rev. F. M. Law was the 
 esteemed pastor of this church ; and his efficient labors 
 in the gospel were highly appreciated by his members, 
 as were the labors of Bro. Smith at Brenham. It
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 231 
 
 rarely happens that churches are favored with pastors 
 so prudent and so efficient as were the churches of 
 Brenham and Bryan when Dr. T. held his meetings 
 with them. More persons were converted under the 
 labors of Dr. T. in Bryan than were converted in his 
 meeting at Brenham . But the chief good accomplished 
 in Bryan was like that effected in Brenham. It con- 
 sisted mainly in the better enlightenment of the young 
 converts in the church, and the promotion of a higher 
 standard of piety in the entire membership of the 
 body. 
 
 From Bryan, Dr. T. went to Maiiin, Texas, then the 
 terminus of the branch railroad leading from Brernond 
 to Waco. He found our cause here at a low ebb ; and 
 owing to a singular combination of untoward circum- 
 stances, he was unable so to rally the people during 
 his short stay there as to effect much immediate good. 
 It was hoped, however, that his labors would be a per- 
 manent blessing to the church and brethren of that 
 community. 
 
 From Marlin, Dr. T. went to Calvert, on the Texas 
 Central Railroad, some thirty miles above Bryan. 
 Our cause here was exceedingly weak. The church 
 was worshipping in a school-house inadequate in size, 
 and badly ventilated. The weather, too, was then very 
 hot. It was near the middle of July when the meet- 
 ing was held at Calvert. But notwithstanding the hot 
 weather, the inconvenient room, and a would be pas- 
 tor, whom the people greatly disliked, the exercises 
 of the occasion were considerably blessed. Dr. T.
 
 232 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 baptized four before he left the meeting ; one of whom 
 was the wife of a prominent merchant in the place, 
 and another the wife of a prominent lawyer. As an 
 evidence of the interest which was felt in the -preach- 
 ing of Dr. T. by the people of Calvert, a lady of the 
 place, who was not a Baptist, came to shake hands 
 with the preacher and bid him farewell, and begged 
 him^to accept as a token of her interest in his labors a 
 small mite ; and she dropped into his hand a twenty 
 dollar gold piece. The church at Calvert also received 
 in that meeting a number of valuable accessions by let- 
 ter, and by restoration ; so that it soon became an 
 efficient body, and its influence for good is now widely 
 felt. It soon afterwards erected a commodious and 
 elegant house of worship and called an efficient man to 
 the pastorate. From Calvert, Dr. T. went to Austin, 
 to attend the meeting of the State Sunday School 
 Convention. This was a large gathering of Sunday- 
 school workers from various parts of the state. Dr. 
 T. made one of the set addresses on the occasion ; 
 preached on Sunday morning in the Presbyterian 
 Church, addressed a mass meeting of the Sunday- 
 schools of the city on Sunday afternoon ; and on Mon- 
 day started for his home in Columbus, Miss. Thus he 
 terminated his first evangelical tour in Texas. It was 
 on the whole a very pleasant and successful tour. It 
 occupied about five months and a half. During that 
 time he had preached two hundred and ninety-eight 
 sermons, besides all the addresses and exhortations 
 which he had delivered in the progress of his meet-
 
 Or A LONG LIFE. 
 
 ings ; and a large number of souls, in the aggregate, 
 had been converted and added to the churches, 
 through his instrumentality. His visit and labors were 
 highly appreciated in Texas ; and at the earnest solic- 
 itation of a number of churches and pastors, he agreed 
 to return to the state during the ensuing autumn, and 
 hold other meetings, in various places.
 
 234 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 On his arrival at his home in Mississippi, Dr. T. 
 found, that, according to previous arrangement, his 
 wife had preceded him to Knoxville, Tenu., which 
 place they had determined to make their future home. 
 Their only living daughter and youngest child, having 
 married a Knoxville gentleman, and removed with him 
 to that city, it was thought best not to separate the 
 parents and daughter. Accordingly it was determined 
 that the house which their son-in-law had built, should 
 be the home of all ; and Dr. T. removed his furniture 
 from Columbus, Miss., to Knoxville, Tenn. ; and the 
 new house was thus neatly furnished and fitted up. It 
 is an excellent dwelling house, and nicely and com- 
 modiously arranged; and father and mother, with 
 their daughter and son-in-law, lived most comfortably 
 together in this commodious habitation. 
 
 D 
 
 A slight indisposition detained Dr. T. in Knoxville 
 for a week, after joining his wife in that city ; and then 
 together they spent some three weeks at Leo's Springs, 
 which are distant about twenty-two miles from their 
 home in Knoxville. Dr. T. recuperated rapidly at the 
 Springs, and on his return to Knoxville was ready 
 again for duty in the field. He held meetings in Sep-
 
 or A LONG LIFE. 235 
 
 ternber and the first part of October, at the Cleveland, 
 Jonesboro, Old Sweetwater, and Sweetwater, village 
 churches, in East Tennessee. In all of these churches 
 his efforts were blessed, not only in the revival of the 
 graces of God's people, and in reclaiming back-sliders, 
 but also in the conversion of souls. 
 
 After concluding his services in these churches, Dr. 
 T. attended the General Association of East Tennessee, 
 which held its anniversary with the church at Cleve- 
 land. Besides delivering several addresses on various 
 subjects which came before the Association, he preached 
 to a very crowded house on Sunday night from the 
 text, "It is finished;" and delivered a lecture on Tues- 
 day night on "THE TRUE WOMAN." 
 
 It was now time for him to return to Texas, in order 
 to complete his work in that State. During his stay 
 in East Tennessee, he preached 78 sermons, besides 
 delivering several addresses, and all the exhortations 
 connected with his work in his protracted meetings. 
 This concluded his first year's work as a General Evan- 
 gelist. During the year he had held all the meetings 
 above named in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas 
 and Tennessee; and had preached 510 sermons, besides 
 all the other labors connected with his work. , 
 
 On his way to Texas, Dr. T. preached two sermons 
 in Columbus, Miss., his old home for fourteen years ; 
 two in Mobile, Ala. ; and three in New Orleans. He 
 reached Galveston on Sunday morning, by the Morgan 
 steamer, and preached twice that day for Rev. Dr. 
 Howard, in the Baptist Church in that city ; and then
 
 23(5 BEMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 went on, early on Monday morning, to commence a 
 meeting in Navasota. 
 
 The weather proved very unpropitious for the meet- 
 ing in Navasota. It rained for several days; and then 
 soon after the rain ceased, the first severe Norther of 
 the season set in, and lasted till the meeting broke. 
 The church being unprovided with stoves, the Norther 
 prevented, to a great extent, the expected success in 
 the meeting. It is impossible to run a meeting with 
 much success in one of those Texas Northers, especially 
 if the meeting house be not well warmed. Still, many 
 of the members of the church attended the meetings, 
 and professed to be very much blessed by the exer- 
 cises. The beginning of the meeting was very en- 
 couraging; and if the weather had been propitious, it 
 is believed that great good would have resulted from 
 the efforts. 
 
 From Navasota, Dr. T. went to Anderson, the county 
 seat of Grimes County, ten miles distant from Nava- 
 sota. Both the Navasota and Anderson churches were 
 under the pastoral care of Rev. J. H. Stribling, who 
 is one of the most excellent ministers of Texas, and is 
 duly appreciated by his brethren. The meeting at 
 Anderson was a grand success. It was thought that 
 they had never held a meeting in that place before, 
 which produced so profound an impression on the pub- 
 lic mind, as that meeting did. And then it reached a 
 class of minds hitherto uninfluenced by the preaching 
 of the Word. Mr. Earle had visited Anderson during 
 
 O 
 
 his tour in Texas ; but had failed to effect much good
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 237 
 
 at that place. It was generally conceded that Ander- 
 son was a hard place in relation to its religious suscepti- 
 bilities. Dr. T. remained in Anderson just two weeks. 
 His labors there were greatly esteemed by Christians 
 generally ; and nearly thirty were added to the church 
 as the result ? the meeting. Most of the accessions 
 to the church were of a very valuable character ; and 
 the Baptist cause, in that place, was considerably ad- 
 vanced by the labors of that occasion. The influence 
 of the meeting was highly salutary in various regards. 
 From Anderson, Dr. T. went to Plantersville, a 
 village in the same county, and distant some sixteen 
 miles from the county seat. Here he found Rev. W. 
 H. Dodson in charge of the Baptist Church. Mr. 
 Dodson was an efficient young pastor ; and under his 
 untiring labors, a very elegant and commodious church 
 edifice had recently been completed in that place. For 
 a whole week the weather was very pleasant, and the 
 labors in the meeting were greatly blessed. About 
 thirty joyful converts professed their faith in Christ 
 during the week. But a storm set in at the opening of 
 the next week, which turned into a Norther before it 
 subsided. The new church building had not } r et been 
 supplied with stoves ; and it was necessary to remove 
 the meetings to Mr. James' Academy. Many of his 
 students had become the happy subjects of the good 
 work of grace in the meeting. Like the schools of 
 Rev. Mr. Shumate, at Jamestown, and Mr. Hand, at 
 Tyler, and others which might be mentioned, the 
 school of Mr. James was suspended during the hour
 
 238 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 for worship in the morning ;and the effects here, as in 
 those other places, were most salutary upon the pupils. 
 The meeting at Plantersville lasted some ten days, "anu 
 about thirty-five or forty were hopefully converted. 
 
 From Plantersville, Dr. T. went to San Marcos, in 
 South-western Texas, distant about thirty miles from 
 Austin. Here he found a little band of good brethren 
 and sisters who had been organized into a church a 
 short time before. Rev. J. S. Abbott, a very excel- 
 lent and godly man, was serving them once a month. 
 They had no place of worship, but the Campbellites 
 gave them the use of their church on their meeting oc- 
 casions ; and Dr. T. preached in this house during his 
 stay in San Marcos. He went there with the view of 
 aiding the little church, and strengthening the Baptist 
 cause at that place. San Marcos had grown very con- 
 siderably within the two preceding years ; and the 
 prospect of having a railroad there soon, connecting 
 the place on the one hand with Austin, and on the 
 other with San Antonia and Brownsville, made it a 
 point of considerable interest. And then in point of 
 health, especially for pulmonary affections, it was re- 
 markably celebrated. If, when railroad communica- 
 tion is effected between San Marcos and Austin, a 
 first-class hotel were erected in that village, it might 
 soon become a fain or. ; resort for invalids from every 
 section of the North. This will ultimately doubtless 
 be the case. 
 
 The weather was very unpropitious for the meeting 
 at San Marcos. It rained on the. day of Dr. T.'s ar-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 239 
 
 rival there, and it continued to rain with only slight 
 intermissions, during the whole time of his stay in that 
 place. The streets were not paved ; and the side-walks, 
 even, were not provided with planks for the accom- 
 modation of pedestrians. . The mud there is a black 
 mud, almost as adhesive as tar itself. So bad do the 
 streets and the walks become in a protracted wet spell, 
 like that which occurred during the meeting there, that 
 it is literally impossible for ladies, especially, to get 
 out to church in such a condition of the streets. On 
 several occasions during the meeting not a single lady 
 was present, though the men would come through wet 
 and mud, on those very occasions, to the number of 
 from thirty to fifty persons. There were many uncon- 
 verted young men and women in the village and in the 
 surrounding country, whom Dr. T. was anxious to 
 reach. But the great inclemency of the weather, and 
 the bad condition of the roads and streets, prevented 
 them, to a great extent, from attending the meetings. 
 Several, however, professed hope on the occasion, and 
 four were baptized by Dr. T. before he left the meet- 
 ing. These candidates were baptized in San Marcos 
 Lake, from which the San Marcos river takes its rise. 
 This lake is formed by an immense spring near its 
 centre from which a sufficient quantity of water boils 
 up to form the San Marcos river. This river, at the 
 ford, just below the lake, is about one hundred and 
 fifty feet wide, and two feet deep, on an average, and 
 runs at the rate of some four or five miles per hour. 
 This gives a pretty correct idea of the quantity of
 
 24(\ REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 water which boils up in the lake. And then it is as 
 clear as crystal. You can see fish in the lake to the 
 depth of thirty feet distinctly. It was about Christ- 
 mas when this baptism occurred; and yet the water in 
 the lake seemed almost tepid. It was much more 
 agreeable than the atmosphere at that time. 
 
 One of the candidates was a young lady about twenty 
 years of age, who weighed nearly three hundred 
 pounds. But her baptism was one of the most beau- 
 tiful on that occasion. She was self-possessed; and 
 then, Dr. T. took especial pains to make her baptism 
 impressive, as he knew considerable curiosity had been 
 excited to know how he, being a small man, could 
 baptize so large a person. If she had been a child of 
 ten years of age, and weighing only sixty pounds, she 
 could not have been baptized with greater ease and 
 grace. The fact is Dr. T. had baptized so many over 
 3000 that he was just as much at himself in the water 
 as in the pulpit ; and he always took pains to make 
 that symbolic rite as impressive as possible. 
 
 Dr. T. formed a number of acquaintances at San 
 Marcos, whom he prized very highly ;and he expressed 
 the deepest regret that the object of his visit there, 
 had been to so great an extent defeated by the remark- 
 able inclemency of the weather. 
 
 From San Marcos Dr. T. went to Mountain City, 
 and spent two or three days in preaching at that place. 
 He went from Mountain City to Austin, and preached 
 two or three times during his stay in Austin, in the 
 Baptist Church ; and agreed to return and hold a meet-
 
 Or A LONG LIFE. 241 
 
 ing there a few weeks afterwards. He then went to 
 Bremond and Waco, and preached a few days in each 
 of those places. In Bremond, a severe Norther broke 
 up the meeting, as it was impossible to make the shell 
 of a house in which the Baptists held their meetings, 
 in any degree comfortable. 
 
 In Waco, the meeting went on for a week with con- 
 stantly increasing interest, until Sunday night, just a 
 week after the meeting began, up to which time some 
 six or eight had expressed hope in Christ, and about 
 twenty, on that night, had requested special prayer 
 for their salvation. But the very next night a sform 
 set in, which soon ran into one of the severest Northers 
 of the winter. It was so severe by Tuesday morning, 
 that nobody went out of doors, who could well avoid 
 it ; and it rather increased in seventy than abated, until 
 the Brazos River was completely frozen over, and the 
 ice had become so thick that persons were seen skating 
 on it in the middle of the river. It was attended, too, 
 with a considerable fall of snow. Of course the meet- 
 ing was abruptly suspended ; and before the Norther 
 subsided, Dr. T. was compelled to leave, in order to 
 fill his appointment at Austin. 
 
 On his return to Austin, Dr. T. found the esteemed 
 and excellent pastor of the Baptist Church, Rev. 
 Henry W. Dodge, D. D., quite ill; and his affliction 
 continued through the whole of his sta} r in that city. 
 The Legislature was in session at the time; and so 
 were the Supreme Court and the District Court. 
 These circumstances, while they probably augmented
 
 242 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 the size of the congregations, militated against the 
 success of the meeting. The attention of many of the 
 brethren was so occupied, either in the Courts, or in the 
 Legislature, that they were prevented from attending 
 the meetings regularly ; and, therefore, failed to be- 
 come as deeply interested as they otherwise would 
 have done, in the progress of the exercises. But the 
 principal difficulty, after all, was the pastor's illness, 
 and his inability to be present in the meetings, and to 
 visit inquirers and others during the progress of the 
 work. The congregations at night were uniformly 
 large and attentive ; and Dr. T. was heard throughout 
 the meeting, with profound attention and interest, not 
 only by the citizens generally, but also by the lawyers 
 and legislators who honored him with their attendance. 
 It is hoped that the cause of entire truth at the capitol 
 of the State, was promoted by the exercises of the 
 occasion ; and that the seed which was then sown and 
 watered with tears, will yet bring forth an abundant 
 harvest to the glory of the Divine Name. Austin is a 
 hard place ; and such a thing as a general revival of re- 
 ligion there, had then never been known in the history 
 of the place. 
 
 The meeting at Austin completed Dr. T.'s evangel- 
 ical labors in Texas. During his tours in Texas, he 
 had obtained quite a large number of subscribers for 
 the revised edition of his "REVIVAL DISCOURSES;" 
 and as the book was now ready for delivery, he 
 made flying visits to San Marcos, Mountain City, Aus- 
 tin, Brenham, Navasota, Planters ville, Br van, Calvert,
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 243 
 
 Bremond, Houston, Huntsville, Crocket, Tyler, 
 Jamestown, Marshall and Jefferson, and delivered the 
 books in person to the subscribers in these several 
 places. He sent, also, the necessary quantity of books 
 to supply subscribers in Malin, Waco and Galveston. 
 About five hundred copies of the Discourses were thus 
 distributed in Texas, before he left the state. 
 
 Dr. T. then left Texas, and visited Shreveport, La. 
 He spent a day or two in this city, but preached only 
 a single sermon in that place. He then took the 
 Steamer "Texas," for Port Hudson. The passengers 
 on the "Texas" desired that he should preach at least 
 one sermon for them, which he did. The gentlemanly 
 officers of the steamer presented him with a free pas- 
 sage, which saved him, at least, fifteen dollars. 
 
 On his arrival at Port Hudson, Dr. T. took the horse 
 cars from that place to Clinton, La. From Clinton, 
 he went over to Jackson, some twelve miles distant, to 
 assist the excellent pastor, Rev. S. A Hayden, in a 
 series of religious exercises. Jackson is the seat of 
 the Centenary College, which is under the control and 
 patronage of the Methodist Conferences of South- 
 western Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana. It is also 
 the seat of two Female Institutions of considerable 
 note, one of which is under the management of the 
 Methodists, and the other of the Presbyterians. 
 Jackson is, therefore, strongly under the influence of 
 Pedo-baptists. The Baptists, for the previous two or 
 three years, under the efficient labors of Hayden, had 
 been increasing in numbers and influence, until they
 
 244 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 occupied a fair position in the community, socially, 
 pecuniarily and morally. Through the benefaction of 
 one man mainly, who has since gone to his rest and re- 
 ward, the Baptists have a most excellent house of 
 worship the best, indeed, in the place and the con- 
 gregations on the occasion of this meeting, were very 
 large and attentive. Quite a number professed con- 
 version in the meeting, among whom was a Roman 
 Catholic gentleman, whose wife was a member of the 
 Baptist Church in that place. Several Pedo-baptists 
 also united with the Baptist Church during the meeting 
 among whom was a young Methodist preacher of con- 
 siderable promise. His name was Rowan; and he 
 afterwards became pastor of the Central Church in 
 Memphis, Tenn., and died while pastor of that church. 
 On the whole, the meeting at Jackson was productive 
 of great good in various ways. The graces of Chris- 
 tians were greatly quickened ; a number of sinners were 
 converted; several who had been living in the neglect 
 of the duty of baptism, were induced to take up the 
 cross and follow Jesus in that blessed rite ; and the im- 
 pression made upon the community at large in favor of 
 the cause of entire timth,'vfa,s very favorable. 
 
 From Jackson, Dr. T. returned to Clinton, and as- 
 sisted Mr. Hayden there in another series of mestings. 
 Mr. Hayden was pastor of this church, as well as that 
 at Jackson. A little more than a year before, Dr. T. 
 had held a meeting in Clinton of some ten days con- 
 tinuance, which was very much blessed. The church 
 was then meeting in their old meeting-house, which
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 245 
 
 was in bad repair, and very uncomfortable during the 
 cold weather which prevailed during the meeting. 
 
 The second meeting at Clinton was as greatly bless- 
 ed as the first ; and about thirty souls united with the 
 church us the result of the meeting. It was expected 
 that the new meeting-house would be ready for dedica- 
 tion during his visit there on this occasion. But con- 
 trary to all expectation, the contractor so delayed the 
 work of finishing the house, that the dedication ser- 
 vices could not be held during Dr. T.'s stay in the 
 community. The meeting was held in the Presbyte- 
 rian Church, the use of which had been kindly tendered 
 to the Baptists, while their own house was in progress 
 of erection. 
 
 From Clinton, Dr. T. went to Osyka, Miss., situa- 
 ted on the New Orleans and Great Northern Eailroad, 
 about ninety miles above New Orleans. He preached 
 a few days only at this place. A large crowd were at- 
 tracted by the services, and several conversions occur- 
 red in the meeting. If he could have remained a few 
 days longer there, it is probable much more good 
 would have been done. But he desired to attend the 
 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, 
 which was to be held in Mobile, Ala., commencing on 
 Thursday preceding the second Sabbath in May, and 
 he left Osyka for that purpose. 
 
 Stopping a day in New Orleans, Dr. T. reached Mo- 
 bile on Wednesday, preceding the meeting of the 
 Convention. He remained in Mobile until the busi- 
 ness of the Convention was concluded, taking full
 
 246 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 part in the business transacted on the occasion. 
 
 The business of the Convention being concluded, 
 Dr. T. made a brief visit to his sons and their families 
 in Columbus, Miss. ; and then hastened on to his home 
 in Knoxville. He had been absent from home about 
 seven months ; and it was a source of great pleasure 
 to him to greet the loved ones at home once more. 
 Through the kind providence of God, both he and his 
 family had enjoyed excellent health nearly all the time 
 of their long separation ; and an offering of devout 
 gratitude to the Giver of their innumerable blessings 
 was then made by the re-united, happy household. 
 
 After a few days sojourn with his family, Dr. T. 
 went to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to asssist Rev. T. T. 
 Eaton in a series of meetings in his church in that 
 city. He remained in the meeting here over three 
 weeks ; and over eighty souls were added to the church 
 as the result of the meeting, and the continuance of 
 the exercises by the pastor after Dr. T. was compelled 
 to leave. This meeting put the Baptist cause in Chat- 
 tanooga in the front rank of the denominations there, 
 and made it one of the most important and efficient 
 churches in East Tennessee. When the brethren shall 
 have erected their new house of worship, as they will 
 do as soon as the financial condition of the people of 
 the city will justify the undertaking, they will un- 
 questionably take the lead of all the denominations in 
 the city; and their influence for good will be felt 
 throughout the whole of East Tennessee, and the ad- 
 jacent sections of other States.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 247 
 
 Soon after Dr. T. left Chattanooga, he went to 
 Gadsden, Ala., to assist the Rev. J. J. Cloud, in .a 
 series of meetings with his church in that place. Here 
 again his labors were greatly blessed. He remained in 
 Gadsden nearly three weeks. Sixty souls were added 
 to the church during the meeting ; and among the num- 
 ber who united with the church on that occasion, were 
 some of the most important citizens of the place. One 
 of these was Col. R. B. Kyle, one of the most intelli- 
 gent and influential men in all that section of county. 
 When he espoused the cause of Christ, he brought to 
 its service all his cultivated talents, and all his per- 
 sonal, social and business influence. His zeal and de- 
 votion to the cause of true religion, and his desire and 
 prayer for the conversion of his friends, are indicated 
 in the following expostulation which he addressed to 
 Chancellor Foster, with whom he was very intimate, 
 soon after his conversion : 
 
 "GADSDEN, ALA., July 25, 1873. 
 
 Dear Chancellor: I know you do not doubt my 
 friendship and esteem. You know, Chancellor, you 
 have for years been my ideal of a gentlemanly scholar 
 and professional man ; that I have admired you for the 
 noble gifts which you enjoy, and loved you as only 
 men of your temperament and mine can love each 
 other. Since I first met you, I have felt a spiritual 
 affinity for you, and have believed in your noble per- 
 son I had one of my best and truest friends. 'Now, 
 then,' (this is a favorite expression with the Chancellor 
 when arguing his cases), these premises being correct,
 
 248 REMINISCENCES AXD INCIDENTS 
 
 will you not pardon me for intruding upon you, in a 
 brief way, the history of a religious meeting presided 
 over by Dr. Teasdale, a Baptist Evangelist. I think I 
 hear you exclaim : 'Baptist Evangelist, indeed ! I did 
 not know that the ignorant Baptists ever aspired to 
 any thing above a one-horse preacher.' Well, Dr. Teas- 
 dale is a Baptist Evangelist, a man of God, a learned 
 man, a scientific man, a finished scholar, a man of the 
 most refined and cultivated taste, and yet a man of 
 forty years' experience in the gospel ministry ; and I 
 say it with due respect, that, as a pulpit orator, he is 
 the peer of any man I have ever heard, be he Bishop, 
 Clergyman, or Minister. He is just such a preacher 
 as I have long felt in my heart you could be ; a man 
 that possesses wonderful powers of explanation, argu- 
 ment and persuasion, with a thorough knowledge of 
 human nature. Well, such a man must and will accom- 
 plish much good in any field, even in the stony ground 
 in and around Gadsden. How often during the past 
 ten days has my mind recurred to you ; and in my in- 
 most heart I have said, Oh ! that Foster was here; 
 that I had him chained to my side, that he might be 
 forced to hear this man of God, as he reasons of man's 
 depravity and Christ's divinity, and all the sublime 
 truths of the remedial scheme of the gospel ; and above 
 all to have had you hear him tear down and trample 
 under foot all the sophistries of skepticism and in- 
 fidelity; have you hear him, as step by step, he ad- 
 vances in unanswerable argument, proving that man 
 without a Mediator man without the saving in-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 249 
 
 fluence of Divine interposition must be forever lost. 
 
 Chancellor ! I know your great mind would have 
 grasped these truths, as no other man's mind in this 
 section of country could, or has done. 'Oh ! but,' say 
 you, 'it is all fiddlesticks, Kyle. You have only allow- 
 ed yourself to forget yourself. You have been carried 
 away with excitement. I pity you, my poor, excited 
 friend.' Not so, Chancellor! My judgment has 
 been convinced. I have been driven horse, foot and 
 dragoon from the field of skepticism and infidelity, 
 and forced to ground my arms, and make an uncondi- 
 tional surrender to the Prince of peace. 
 
 'Now then, let us look back a little. You and I 
 have been traveling along the down-hill of life, as we 
 have thought, just on the edge of the broad road. We 
 have imagined that we were not mingling with the 
 throng of base, low-born creatures, that, living in de- 
 bauchery and crime, crowd the way that leads to 
 death. We have ever felt that we could not go in 
 such company as this ; but that we had a few chosen 
 friends, gentlemen, scholars, professional men, rail- 
 road princes, manufacturers and merchants, that bore 
 us more respectable companionship. 'Well;' I went 
 along with you doubtingly. My heart has ever felt 
 that you and I were both doing violence to our better 
 natures : that we were made for higher and more holy 
 purposes than we were aiming at. And now, Chan- 
 cellor, I have, after calm deliberation, parted company 
 with you. And oh ! how sad I feel at this thought ! 
 You and I have both contended that man progressed
 
 250 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 after death. Well, this must be true in the happy 
 land. We will progress in love, in purity, in virtue, 
 in knowledge; but in that other world, among the 
 spirits of the lost, man must progress also. What a 
 fearful thought ! Progress in misery ; progress in re- 
 morse ; progress in undying anguish ! And then, 
 Foster, men, in that land of doomed spirits, cannot 
 select their company. They must consort with thieves, 
 with murderers, with devils. And just think of such 
 a soul as God has given you being doomed to dwell 
 forever with the damned ! And then think of your 
 capacity for heavenly joy ! But, Chancellor, I cannot 
 attempt to lead you. You know the way. I have 
 heard you in some of those grand perorations at the 
 Bar* in tones of such eloquence, speak of God's mercy, 
 of God's justice, that my very hair has stood on end; 
 and under the influence of your eloquence, as an ad- 
 vocate, I have felt my heart swell within me, and al- 
 most cease to beat, in sympathy with your client ; and 
 I have exclaimed within myself, oh ! what a preacher 
 he would have made ! Oh! my dear friend, I give it 
 as my opinion, that, with your bright genius and glow- 
 ing eloquence, you could do more to lift up and carry 
 aloft the blood-stained banner of the cross, than a 
 score of ordinary men could do. Just think of it I 
 Your life has been spent until you have passed the 
 meridian, in efforts to save the physical lives, liberty 
 and property of your fellow-men ; but how much 
 greater, and grander, and more glorious is the work of 
 saving the immortal souls of men. And then what a
 
 OF A LONG LITE. 251 
 
 field for the exercise of your God-given powers ! I 
 tell you, my friend, God will hold you to a fearful ac- 
 count. He has endowed you with a genius, that when 
 compared with most other men, is truly resplendent. 
 And oh! how have you used these mighty talents? I 
 fear, in blocking the way of eternal life. You and I 
 have both done much in this country to build up skep- 
 ticism, and tear down the banner of the Prince of 
 peace. I beg you, now, my dear friend, come and 
 help me repair the errors of a misspent life. 
 
 I have written this crude epistle in my office, with 
 constant interruptions of business, and, therefore, ask 
 you to overlook its disconnections, and take it simply 
 as the outpouring of a heart full of love for you. And 
 Oh ! Chancellor, may God grant when I next meet 
 you, you can at least extend to me the hand of Chris- 
 tian fellowship. I know your life-long prejudices 
 against what you have termed the poor, ignorant Bap- 
 tists; and I fear even to hope, that you can ever so far 
 overcome these prejudices as to go down into the water 
 as your Savior did ; but I pray that God may direct 
 and bless you. And I will be ineffably happy to 
 know that you have taken up your cross, even should 
 you go with some other denomination. But I hope your 
 great mind will lead you to believe, that the simplest 
 religion the one freest from worldly creeds and doc- 
 trines, is, to say the least of it, the safest ; and in this 
 matter you and I can not afford to take any chances. 
 A plain, Bible religion will certainly do to rely on. 
 Oh ! how I long to hear that God in his nu-rcy has put
 
 252 REMINISCENCES AXD INCIDENTS 
 
 it into your heart to say: 'Kyle, with God's help I 
 will try and be a Christian.' Do write to me. I shall 
 long to hear from you. 
 
 Yours truly and affectionately, 
 
 R. B. KYLE." 
 
 To this earnest and tender appeal the following re- 
 ply was duly received : 
 
 "JACKSONVILLE, ALA., July 30, 1873. 
 My Dear Kyle: I shall to-day merely acknowledge 
 the receipt of your letter, which has deeply affected 
 me, and awakened emotions and feelings strange and 
 indefinable. I know not what to say. I can not con- 
 vey to you the impression that has been made upon 
 me. I know you to be my friend my true, sincere 
 friend. I know you to be a man of rare intelligence 
 and moral excellence possessed with a spirit congen- 
 ial with mine, cultivated and enlarged by reading and 
 intercourse with the world. Under these circum- 
 stances, the appeal you make to me has produced a 
 more powerful effect than all the sermons to which I 
 ever listened. I can truly say, 'Almost thou persuad- 
 est me, to be a Baptist, The suggestions you make 
 as to my past and future, have often occurred to me. 
 I have often thought how dreadful was that awful leap 
 into the great, dim unknown ; and I well know that my 
 sun is hanging low in the West, and the shadows of 
 eternity lengthening across my path. But for the pre- 
 sent I must forbear. Profoundly grateful for the in- 
 terest you manifest in my welfare, temporal and 
 eternal feeling in this void wilderness you are one of
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 253 
 
 the few I can esteem and love, and that in a short time 
 I will fully unbosom myself to you let you see my 
 inmost heart, I remain truly, 
 
 Your friend, 
 
 JOHN FOSTER."
 
 254 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 The next meeting which Dr. T. held was with the 
 Baptist Church at Huntsville, Ala., Rev. B. W. Bus- 
 sey, pastor. The congregations here were large and 
 attentive ; but owing to a combination of untoward cir- 
 cumstances, the success in the meeting was not very 
 great. Some twelve or fifteen professed hope in 
 Christ during the progress of the meetirg; and Chris- 
 tians seemed to be very much revived and benefitted. 
 It was believed that the labors of this meeting would 
 redound to the advancement of the Baptist cause in that 
 town to a much greater extent than the immediate re- 
 sults would seem to indicate. 
 
 After the close of his labors in Huntsville, Dr. T. 
 made a tour through portions of Alabama, and Missis- 
 sippi in the interests of the East Tennessee University, 
 located in Knoxville, Tenn. This is a State Institu- 
 tion, and is largely endowed. Dr. T. had been elect- 
 ed, in July, of that year, to the chair of Rhetoric and 
 Elocution in this University ; and before taking his seat 
 in that chair, he had obtained permission to canvass for 
 a few months in the Southern States, with a view of in- 
 creasing the patronage of the University from that quar- 
 ter. Accordingly, he made a hasty trip, as above stated,
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 255 
 
 through portions of Alabama and Mississippi, preach- 
 ing at various points as he passed along. He preached 
 first at Decatur, Ala.; then at Eutavv ; and then at 
 Livingston. Besides those points he visited Demopolis, 
 and one or two other places in that vicinity, and then 
 passed on to Meridian, Miss. He spent a night and a 
 day at this point ; and then he visited Columbus, West 
 Point, Aberdeen, and Corinth in that State, preaching 
 as he went, and canvassing for the University. 
 
 Having completed this tour Dr. T. spent a few days 
 with his family in Knoxville, and then went to Browns- 
 ville, West Tennessee, to assist the pastor, Rev. D. P. 
 Bond, in a protracted meeting in that town. The meet 
 ing at this place was wonderfully blessed. The pastor, 
 assisted by the Rev. Dr. Griffin, of Milan, had been 
 conducting religious exercises nearly a week when Dr. 
 T. arrived in Brownsville. But except some little in- 
 crease of interest in the minds of some of the mem- 
 bers of the church, no apparent concern was evinced 
 in the progress of the meeting. The Baptists had 
 sold their meeting-house, and were then engaged in 
 the erection of a large and elegant brick edifice, on a 
 commanding site near the centre of the city. After 
 giving up their old house of worship, they had been 
 meeting in the commodious chapel of the Female Col- 
 lege, belonging to the denomination in that city. As 
 the College is located in the outskirts of the town, it 
 was found to be inconvenient for the mass of the con- 
 gregation to attend night meetings there. The Cum- 
 berland Presbyterians kindly offered the use of their
 
 256 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS . 
 
 meeting-house for the occasion ; and when Dr. T. ar- 
 rived, the meetings were being held in that house of 
 worship. He preached there on Saturday morning 
 and Saturday night, and also on Sunday morning. 
 But it was found that this house was too small to ac- 
 commodate the congregation. The Old School Pres- 
 byterian brethren then offered the use of their house 
 for the meetings, and on Sunday night the meetings 
 were transferred to their meeting-house. This edifice 
 was nearly one-third larger than that of the Cumber- 
 land Presbyterians ; but it was filled to overflowing the 
 first night the meeting was held there, notwithstanding 
 the weather was unpropitious, and it actually rained 
 while the people were gathering into the church. The 
 meetings were continued in this place for a week, day 
 and night, with constantly increasing interest. But 
 as the meeting-house was too small to meet the exigen- 
 cies of the occasion, the Methodists kindly tendered 
 the use of their meeting-house for the occasion. This 
 is much the largest church edifice in the city. But so 
 deep and general was the interest in the meetings, at 
 that time, that this spacious house was filled to over- 
 flowing the first night the meeting was held there. 
 Indeed, such was the interest in the exercises then, that 
 even the morning meetings, at 11 o'clock, filled the 
 spacious edifice with solemn, earnest worshippers. All 
 the denominations of the city attended upon the exer- 
 cises, and evinced the deepest interest in the progress 
 of the good work. Dr. T. did all the preaching on 
 the occasion ; and in connection with the esteemed
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 257 
 
 Baptist pastor, controlled all the exercises. It rarely 
 happens, however, that so general a co-operation is 
 secured in the progress of a meeting, on the part of 
 all Christians, as was evinced on this occasion. Both 
 the ministers and the members of all the denomina- 
 tions in the city, labored earnestly to give enlarged 
 success to the meeting. There was as little of the 
 spirit of sectarianism evinced during the meeting as is 
 ever found on such an occasion. And the result show- 
 ed the advantage of the course pursued to all the de- 
 nominations in the city. Large accessions were made 
 to most of the denominations whose pastors and mem- 
 bers co-operated in the meeting. But besides the 
 numerous conversions which occurred during the meet- 
 ing, the Christians of all denominations were greatly 
 blessed in their own souls. They sought and obtained 
 a higher degree of Christian consecration than that 
 which .they had previously enjoyed ; and the spirit of 
 true brotherly love among them, was greatly promo- 
 ted. Some idea of the success of the meeting, and 
 the estimation placed upon the labors of Dr. T. on 
 this occasion, may be obtained from the following 
 notice of the meeting in one of the city papers, after 
 Dr. T. had closed his labors, and left the place. 
 
 "Bev. Dr. Teasdale, who has been holding a pro- 
 tracted meeting in this city for the past three weeks, 
 closed his series of sermons on Wednesday morning 
 last. He has done more for the cause of religion in 
 this place than any man who has ever visited us. He 
 began by uniting all the different denominations in the
 
 25$ REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 meeting, and working for the general good of every 
 church. There have been over two hundred and fifty 
 converted ; how many will give themselves to the 
 churches, we don't know. Dr. Teasdale is one of the 
 most eloquent men we have ever listened to. He 
 seemed to exercise an influence over his congregation 
 which no other man has been able to get that has ever 
 visited us. His sermons were all long, but his delivery 
 was such that it held all who came under the sound of 
 his voice spell-bound. We hope that all who have put 
 on the garb of Christianity, may grow up 'shining 
 lights' in the churches to which they may attach them- 
 selves, and thank God for the day that brought this 
 Christian gentleman among us." 
 
 From Brownsville, Dr. T. returned to Knoxville, 
 and immediately went on to Morristown, to attend the 
 annual meeting of the General Association of East 
 Tennessee. The session of this body was one of un- 
 usual interest. It was thought that it was the most 
 interesting and profitable meeting of the General Asso- 
 tion ever held. The discussion of the Report on For- 
 eign Missions, prepared by Dr. T., elicited a great deal 
 of interest, and resulted, in cash contributed and pledges 
 made, in raising more than $800 on the spot for the 
 Foreign Mission work. The subject of Home Missions 
 also excited much interest, and cash and pledges were 
 given to the Mission Board amounting to $500. The 
 subject of Ministerial Education received considerable 
 attention, and a handsome sum was contributed and 
 pledged for that cause. But the subject which excited
 
 OF A LONG LI I K. 
 
 more interest than any other, during the session of 
 this body, and especially of the Educational Conven- 
 tion, which met in connection with the General Asso- 
 ciation, was the establishment of a denominational paper 
 in East Tennessee, by which the 40,000 Baptists of 
 that section of the State might be aroused to action in 
 relation to our educational interests, and our mission 
 work. The plan proposed was to raise, by joint stock 
 subscriptions, the sum of $10,000, as a basis for com- 
 mencing the publication of the proposed periodical. 
 With this amount of money in hand, it was believed 
 that some arrangement might be effected with a job 
 printing office, already well established, by which the 
 undertaking to establish a Baptist paper for East Ten- 
 nessee, would be made a certain success, and at the 
 same time secure the stockholders, at least, against 
 serious loss, even in the beginning of the work. And, 
 then, as the paper obtained general circulation among 
 the numerous Baptists of East Tennessee, it was 
 thought that it might be made remunerative to the 
 stockholders. The whole subject was finally referred 
 to the Executive Committee of the General Associa- 
 tion, and the Board of the Educational Convention, 
 with instructions to adopt such measures, as in their 
 judgment, might be best adapted to secure* the pro- 
 posed end. At the next meeting of these Boards, 
 measures were inaugurated to consummate, if possible, 
 the plan proposed, and to secure, as soon as practica- 
 ble, the joint stock subscriptions necessary to insure 
 the success of the undertaking. Rev. I. B. Kimbrough
 
 260 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 and two competent assistants, were appointed as agents 
 to consummate this work. Dr. T. was elected First- 
 Vice President of the Educational Convention, and u 
 member of the Executive Committee of the General 
 Association, and gave his influence and experience in 
 the inauguration of the plans by which the proposed 
 denominational organ might be established. 
 
 After the General Association had closed its session, 
 Dr. T. returned to Knoxville, intending to spend only 
 a day or two at home, and then go on to his appoint- 
 ments at other points. But in the prayer-meeting on 
 Wednesday night, in which he was requested to make 
 some remarks, a desire was awakened in the hearts of 
 both pastor and people, that they might have a revival 
 in the church in Knoxville ; and Dr. T. was urged to 
 remain and conduct a protracted meeting there. As 
 Knoxville was his home, and his membership was with 
 that church, he felt a special solicitude for the pros- 
 perity of the cause in that city, and the building up of 
 that church particularly ; and he yielded to the solicita- 
 tions of the pastor, and of the brethren, and consented 
 to postpone other engagements, and remain for a season 
 in Knoxville, in order to aid in a series of meetings in 
 that city. He labored in the meeting in Knoxville 
 about two weeks. During that time an interest was 
 awakened in the church and congregation which re- 
 sulted in the conversion of many souls; and Dr. Mays, 
 the efficient pastor, who continued the meetings for 
 several weeks after Dr. T. left, was permitted to bap- 
 tize into the fellowship of his church a number of
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 261 
 
 happy converts. The work spread into other churches, 
 and a general revival throughout the city was the 
 happy result. 
 
 From the meeting at Knoxville, Dr. T. went out to 
 Sweetwater, and preached at that place on Saturday 
 night, and twice on the following Sunday, and then 
 went on to Scottsboro, Ala., to hold a meeting for a 
 few days in that place. He expected to begin his 
 meeting on Tuesday night, but as he reached there 
 about half past 9 o'clock the night before, the 
 brethren concluded they would improvise a meeting 
 at 11 o'clock, on Tuesday morning. Accordingly the 
 notice was circulated, as much as practicable, and the 
 meeting was held according to appointment. Un- 
 fortunately, however, a heavy rain set in before the 
 hour of meeting, and so severe was the storm that not 
 a lady was present in the meeting that morning. But 
 notwithstanding the rain, there were about thirty men 
 in attendance. At night, though the weather was still 
 unpropitious, the congregation was quite large. The 
 rainy season continued until Saturday morning. The 
 weather then became pleasant, and the interest in the 
 meeting advanced as long as he remained in the place. 
 Several professed hope in Christ during his stay in 
 Scottsboro, and some twenty persons requested special 
 prayer before he left. A good beginning was made in 
 the meeting before he closed his labors there ; and he 
 urged the pastor, Rev. John J. Beeson, and the breth- 
 ren, by all means to go on with the meeting. Four of 
 the seven days that Dr. T. spent in Scottsboro, were
 
 262 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 unpropitious for the meeting. It rained every day, 
 and the streets were muddy, and the nights very dark 
 most of the time. Taking all the circumstances inj,o 
 account, the impression produced by the labors of Dr. 
 T., during his short stay in Scottsboro, was truly re- 
 markable. 
 
 From Scottsboro, Dr. T. went to Hopkinsville, Ky., 
 to assist the pastor, Rev.T. G. Keen, D. D., in a pro- 
 tracted meeting with his church in that town. Hop- 
 kinsville is the county seat of Christian County, and is 
 a place of considerable importance. The Baptist 
 Church there is composed of many of the first people 
 in the place; and in its social status it is equal, if not 
 superior, to any Christian organization in the city. 
 
 The meeting at Hopkinsville was a pleasant one, and 
 not without profit to the good cause in that city ; but 
 the number of accessions was not great. 
 
 Having finished his work in Hopkinsville, Dr. T. re- 
 turned to his home in Knoxville. He spent only a 
 short time with his family at home, and then went on 
 to Lexington, Va., the seat of Washington and Lee 
 University, to assist Rev. Mr. Barron, pastor of the 
 Baptist Church at that place, in a series of meetings. 
 The beginning of the meeting promised well ; but the 
 holidays came on, and a terrible scene of dissipation 
 ensued, from .which it was impossible to regain the in- 
 terest. Dr. T. was honored by the attendance of many 
 of the students, both from the University and the 
 State Military Institute ; and also by the Professors of 
 these Institutions. Mrs. Jackson, widow of the late
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 263 
 
 Gen. Jackson, who immortalized himself in the late 
 war, was also among his attentive hearers. It is be- 
 lieved that the accessions, though comparatively few, 
 were of great advantage to our cause in that town. 
 
 Dr. T. visited the different Professors in the Univer- 
 sity, and endeavored to familiarize himself with the 
 methods of instruction which were employed in the TJni- 
 versity, as well as the police regulations of the institu- 
 tion. And as he expected to take his chair in the 
 East Tennessee University, as Professor of Rhetoric 
 and Elocution, at the opening of the next term of that 
 University, he was- especially anxious to get all the 
 information he could, in reference to the duties of his 
 chair. He found the Professors uniformly polite and 
 accommodating, and the pleasure of his stay in Lex- 
 ington was enhanced by the courteous attentions which 
 he received from them. 
 
 From Lexington, Dr. T. went to Charlottesville, the 
 seat of the University of Virginia. He was hospit- 
 ably entertained during his stay in Charlottesville, by 
 Rev. Dr. Long, then pastor of the Baptist Church in 
 that place. He was introduced to the various Profes- 
 sors of the University, by his friend, Prof. Davis, who 
 was filling, with so much credit to himself and to the 
 institution, the chair of moral science in the Univer- 
 sity. Here too, Dr. T. made extensive observations, 
 and acquired whatever knowledge he could, which he 
 thought might aid him in his chair in the Tennessee 
 University. Prof. Holmes, the distinguished Profes- 
 sor of Belles-Lettres, was particularly courteous and
 
 264 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 obliging to him. Dr. T.'s stay in Charlottes ville, and 
 his repeated visits to the University, were made very 
 pleasant, and profitable to him by the kind attentions 
 bestowed upon him. 
 
 From Charlottsville, Dr. T. went on to Washington 
 City, to visit Columbian University, and spend a sea- 
 son with his old friends in the field of his former 
 pastoral labors. It was a rich source of pleasure to 
 him to mingle once more with the friends of other 
 days, and exchange greetings with those whom he had 
 known, and whom he had learned to love so dearly, 
 during his seven years' pastorate there. During his 
 stay in Washington, he made repeated visits to the 
 Columbian University, and mingled freely with the 
 Professors, most of whom were there during his res- 
 idence in that city; and from them he also gleaned 
 all he could, the better to fit him for his work in his 
 own chair. 
 
 While in Washington the week of prayer was ob- 
 served, under the auspices of the Y. M. C. Associa- 
 tion, every day, at 12 in., in Lincoln Hall; and at 
 night, in the various churches according to previous ar- 
 rangements. Dr. T. attended aud took part in many 
 of these meetings. Prior to the meetings of the week 
 of prayer, the "Woman's Rights' Society" held 
 their annual meeting, in Lincoln Hall. It was a full 
 meeting of the "strong-minded women," from differ- 
 ent parts of the country. There were some very 
 talented women in attendance upon that meeting ; and 
 Dr. T. expressed himself as pleased at the exhibition
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 265 
 
 of so much talent among those women, but thought 
 though, all the time, "The best of woman's rights, is 
 the right to be a woman." 
 
 At the earnest request of the pastor and church in 
 South Washington, Dr. T. consented to assist them in 
 a series of meetings before he left the city. He re- 
 mained and labored with this people about three weeks. 
 His labors in this meeting were greatly blessed. The 
 pastor, Rev. Mr. Meador, went on with the meeting, 
 with such help as he could procure, for a considerable 
 time after Dr. T. left ; and the result was that over a 
 hundred souls were added to that church alone, as the 
 result of that revival. 
 
 On the last Sunday of his stay in Washington, Dr. 
 T., by request of the officers of the Young Men's 
 Christian Association, preached in Lincoln Hall, in the 
 afternoon, to a very large congregation, on the un- 
 pardonable sin. On the same night he preached his 
 closing sermon in the series of meetings in the South 
 Washington Church. The house was filled to its ut- 
 most capacity ; and after bringing into requisition all 
 the extra seats for which space could be found, many 
 went away for want of room to stand even, in the 
 spacious edifice. The sermon was listened to with 
 profound attention, and the impression made upon the 
 audience was thought to be very good. 
 
 Dr. T. returned from Washington to his home in 
 Knoxville ; and went again on a canvassing tour through 
 the South, in the interest of Tennessee University. 
 He made quite an extensive tour through parts of
 
 266 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee, preaching as he 
 went ; and on the opening of the University on the 
 second Thursday of September, 1874, he took his seat 
 in the chair, to which he had been elected more than a 
 year before. For three years he occupied that posi- 
 tion, and was successful in greatly elevating the stand- 
 ard of effective delivery among the students in all the 
 classes of the University. After the last commence- 
 ment, for which he had had the training of the grad- 
 uates, the Daily Tribune contained the following 
 editorial notice : 
 
 "HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE. 
 
 We would not be a true and faithful journalist if we 
 did not make honorable mention of the active and in- 
 telligent services of Rev. Thomas C. Teasdale, D. D., 
 as Professor of Rhetoric and Elocution in the East 
 Tennessee University. How well and efficiently he 
 discharged his duties in this capacity, we refer to his 
 "disciples" in the persons of those young gentlemen 
 that acquitted themselves so nobly on the stage at the 
 recent Commencement of this institution. At no for 
 mer time, according to our recollection, in its eventful 
 history, have we ever witnessed such marked and com- 
 mendable proficiency in the "divine art" of speaking. 
 Many of these young gentlemen will, at no distant day, 
 become celebrated orators and will rise to eminent 
 distinction." 
 
 The following account of the oratorical contest which 
 occurred between seven members of the Junior Class 
 at that time may be interesting :
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 267 
 
 " CONTEST FOR THE M'KINNEY MEDALS. 
 
 This contest was one of unusual interest last night, 
 as was plainly shown by the immense throng of people 
 in attendance. The Opera-house was crowded below 
 and above, so that there was no available space left 
 anywhere. There were seven young gentlemen who 
 contended for the three prizes offered by our fellow- 
 citizen, Mr. Sam'l McKinney R. E. Prince, C. J. 
 Heiskell, G. D. Landrum, J. B. Frazier, W. B. Ross, 
 W. B. Svvaney and J. H. Wclcker. Candor compels 
 us to say, that on no former occasion have we wit- 
 nessed a more spirited, earnest and creditable contest, 
 and the young gentlemen have cause to be proud of 
 the result. They gave proof, every one of them, of 
 oratorical ability, and the subject matter of their 
 orations was replete with sound sense and eloquent 
 utterances. 
 
 The committee, after having given the matter the 
 closest attention of which it was capable, finally de- 
 cided to award the first prize to Mr. J. B. Frazier, of 
 Nashville, Tenn. ; the second, to Mr. J. H. Welcker, 
 of London, Tenn., and the third to Mr. G. D. Lan- 
 drum, of Memphis, Tenn. 
 
 In a neat little speech, W. A. Henderson, Esq.,' 
 awarded the different prizes, which were received by 
 the recipients gracefully amid the most rapturous ap- 
 plause. 
 
 The instructor, Rev.Thos. C. Teasdale, D. D., should 
 feel highly complimented at the proficiency and bril- 
 liant achievements of all these young men."
 
 268 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 During Dr. T.'s connection with the University, he 
 preached a great deal to weak churches, on or near the 
 railroad from Greeneville to Charleston, East Tennes- 
 see. His labors with the churches to whom he 
 preached were uniformly attended with good results. 
 He served the McGhee Street Church, in Knoxville, 
 three Sundays in a month for eight months, and there 
 were added to the church during his brief pastorate 
 some sixty souls. But he found that the labor re- 
 quired in that pastorate would be too great, in addi- 
 tion to the onerous duties of his chair in the University; 
 and he felt it to be his duty to give up the care of the 
 church altogether. He then preached to other church- 
 es in the country, such as Mars Hill, Calhoun, Greene- 
 ville, Mary vi lie, etc., and was instrumental in build- 
 ing them up, and promoting their advancement and 
 prosperity. 
 
 When his connection with the University was dis- 
 continued, Dr. T. made quite a tour to the North and 
 North-east. He visited Washington City, and preached 
 twice there on the Sabbath ; then he went on to Phila- 
 delphia, and remained over one Sabbath there, and 
 preached on Sunday night for Rev. Mr. King. He 
 then went on to New York, and visited some relatives 
 in that city, and in Brooklyn ; and then went to 
 Martha's Vineyard, to attend the great evangelical 
 meeting on that Island. He hoard a number of excel- 
 lent sermons on this occasion from distinguished min- 
 isters from different parts of the country, and 
 preached once himself. It was :i great gathering of
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 269 
 
 the Baptists at that pleasant summer resort; and it is 
 intended to make it a sort of Baptist colony, during 
 the watering season, in time to come. Quite a num- 
 ber of families had then erected nice cottages on dif- 
 ferent parts of the grounds, and others expressed their 
 determination to do so very soon. It is a fine summer 
 retreat. 
 
 From Martha's Vineyard, Dr. T. went to Exeter, 
 N. H., to visit the grandfather, and other friends of 
 his son-in-law, Prof. T. L. Moses, of Knoxville, Tenn. 
 He was also requested to supply the pulpit of the Bap- 
 tist Church in Exeter, during the absence of the pas- 
 tor on his summer vacation. He made his home while 
 in Exeter with Deacon Moses, then about eighty-six 
 years of age. The old gentleman was remarkably 
 well preserved ; and he carried Dr. T. all around the 
 town, and through the surrounding country, in an ex- 
 cellent buggy which he kept mainly for his own use. 
 He was revered by every body in that community, and 
 it has rarely fallen to the lot of any one to see a 
 Christian more fully ripe for heaven than was this 
 venerable servant of the Lord. Dr. T. regarded it as a 
 special providence that threw him for two weeks at the 
 home of this good man. In a few months afterwards, 
 the Deacon was called to his rest and his reward on 
 high. His end was peace. 
 
 From Exeter, Dr. T. returned to Boston, and spent 
 a week with endeared friends in that city. He made 
 his home while in Boston with Rev. Mr. Cooke, pas- 
 tor of the Bethel Baptist Church in that city. He
 
 270 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 preached on Sunday, both morning and night, to this 
 people. He found Mr. Cooke doing a great work 
 among the seamen ; and assisted by his excellent wife, 
 who has had great experience in the work among sea- 
 men her former husband, Rev. Phineas Stow, having 
 labored for many years in that department of Chris- 
 tian toil he will doubtless accomplish much good 
 among those who "go down to the sea in ships, and do 
 business on the great deep." 
 
 Dr. T. met in Boston his son in the gospel, Rev. 
 Geo. C. Lorimer, D. D., who was converted under his 
 ministry in 1855, in Louisville, Ky. Dr. T. was as- 
 sisting Rev. Dr. Everts, pastor of the Walnut Street 
 Baptist Church in ;i series of revival meetings at that 
 time. 
 
 An account of that meeting, and the conversion of 
 the two actors, of whom Dr. Lorimer was one, has 
 been given in its place, and need not be repeated here. 
 It was now the first Sunday in September, 1877. Dr. 
 L. had just returned from his summer vacation ; and it 
 was the communion season of the church that after- 
 noon. Dr. T. made the opening prayer on that oc- 
 casion, and then, by the request of the pastor, he ad- 
 ministered the Lord's supper to the church, at the 
 close of the sermon, Dr. Lorimer stated, that he 
 wanted Dr. T. to break bread to his people on that oc- 
 casion, for the reason, that many years before, he was 
 awakened by a sermon which he heard him preach 
 from the text, "The harvest is past, the summer is 
 ended, and we are not saved," Jer. viii. 20, which re-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 271 
 
 suited in his conversion to Christ. This announcement 
 created a good deal of interest among his people ; and 
 at the close of the communion service, many gathered 
 around him to grasp the hand of him who had been in- 
 strumental in the conversion of their beloved pastor. 
 It was an interesting occasion. 
 
 From Boston, Dr. T. went to Providence, R. I., and 
 spent about three weeks there in preaching to the 
 churches of which Rev. Messrs. Everts and Bainbridge 
 were pastors. He preached two weeks for the Rev. 
 Mr. Bainbridge's people. For the first time in his 
 ministry, he encountered here the heresy of "the higher 
 life" notions. He found it to be a species of Phara- 
 seeisin, which enervated the piety of its professors, and 
 threw a stumbling-block in the way of the conversion 
 of sinners. It was a great grief to the pastor, and 
 many of the members of the church. At the close of 
 two weeks' labor among these people, Dr. T. inform- 
 ed the pastor that he could not remain and labor any 
 longer in the meeting, unless those "higher life" peo- 
 ple could be induced to co-operate in the good work. 
 This announcement of Dr. T. to the pastor called 
 forth an earnest and affectionate appeal from the pastor 
 to the members of his church, from which the follow- 
 ing extract is taken : 
 
 "Dear Brethren and Sisters: You are called to- 
 gether to meet a great responsibility. After many 
 months of earnest prayer that God would visit us with 
 a large revival blessing, unexpectedly we have found 
 Him of late comingto us with many sore bereavements,
 
 272 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 rendering a great number of hearts unusually sensi- 
 tive to religious truth. 
 
 Immediately then as we waited before the Lord in 
 tears, most providentially, as it seemed, a brother 
 evangelist, of large and successful experience in re- 
 vival work, came to us. My duty appeared plain 
 to open to Bro. Teasdale my heart and home, and to 
 furnish him a general introduction to you. 
 
 For two weeks he has been laboring with us, and 
 never have I worked with an evangelist whose services 
 have been so truly earnest and so wisely adapted to 
 build up the church and win souls to Christ. His ser- 
 mons, generally, have been remarkably able, full of the 
 Bible, and such as the Holy Spirit, in all ages of the 
 church, has been accustomed to honor Neighbor- 
 ing pastors and other clergymen have met with us, and 
 participated with us in our meetings; and the general 
 attendance, especially of strangers has been gratify- 
 ing. The question for you now to decide is whether, 
 after a week's interval, these special religious efforts 
 shall be continued. Will you, dear church, or will 
 you not, join hand and heart with brother Teasdale, 
 for a few weeks in a series of revival meetings? God's 
 spirit cannot bless his labors if you continue to look 
 on with folded arms. It is better to bid him go than 
 longer to impede his way with the interest of mere 
 curiosity, or the encouragement of mere formality. 
 Paul may plant and Apollos water, but God only can 
 give the increase. He will give the increase only 
 when His people come up to the help of the Lord
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 273 
 
 against the mighty. I am persuaded that the present 
 is a glorious opportunity for you, will you let it pass? 
 Will you deliberately decide not to avail yourselves of 
 the present occasion to rally under God for the 1 
 strengthening of Zion, and the saving of souls? God 
 help you to decide in view of the judgment day and 
 eternity!" 
 
 Bro. Bainbridge was at that time pastor of the 
 Central Baptist Church in Providence, which was the 
 largest Baptist Church in that city. His labors had 
 been greatly blessed in building up the church and 
 winning souls to Christ. And he was ardently loved 
 by nearly all the members of his church. But unfor- 
 tunately, to his great grief, as we have seen, a portion 
 of his church say about thirty members had imbibed 
 the heresy of the higher life notions, and caused much 
 trouble. His appeal to those members failed to pro- 
 duce the desired effect, and Dr. T. closed his efforts in 
 that church and left amid the tears of the pastor and 
 his excellent wife with whom he had made his home 
 during his labors in the Central Church. The follow- 
 ing account of Dr. T.'s labors in Providence was given 
 at the time, in the Evening Star of that city: 
 
 INTERESTING SERVICES AT THE CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 At the Central Baptist Church of this city, an 
 unusual religious interest is being developed. Thomas 
 C. Teasdale, D. D., late Prof essor of Khetoric and Elo- 
 cution in the Tennessee State University, at Knoxville, 
 preached several evenings last week, and Sunday the 
 large audience room was well filled, both in the morn-
 
 274 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 ing and evening, to listen to the eloquent and logical 
 discourse of this earnest preacher. The sermon in the 
 morning was on the "Stranger's Question," and was 
 founded on 1 Peter, 4 : 18, "And if the righteous scarce- 
 ly be saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner ap- 
 pear?" The Doctor, after a very brief introduction, 
 treated the question under the three following di- 
 visions : I. Notice the characters in the text, "the 
 sinner," "the ungodly" and "the righteous." II. 
 How is it that the righteous are "scarcely saved?" III. 
 Press the question, "Where shall the ungodly and the 
 sinner appear?" The distinction between "the sin- 
 ner" and "the ungodly" was very clearly and logically 
 defined, showing that though a m;Vh may not be an out- 
 breaking sinner, yet he may be and must be "ungodly" 
 until he is born again of the Spirit of God. The per- 
 oration was an eloquent appeal to the unconverted, 
 embracing a stirring quotation from Pollock, delivered 
 in the finest style of real pulpit elocution. 
 
 The evening sermon was on the "Unpardonable Sin, 
 or the Sin against the Holy Ghost," founded on 1 
 John, 5: 16, "There is a sin unto death: I do not 
 say that he shall pray for it." The sermon displayed 
 great originality of thought and expression. "What 
 is the Unpardonable Sin?" The Dr. treated the sub- 
 ject first, negatively ; and under this head considered 
 all the usual 'answers given to the question, none of 
 which he believed to be Scriptural or correct. He con- 
 sidered it secondly, affirmatively ; and announced as 
 his conviction, after very careful study, that the sin
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 275 
 
 against the Holy Ghost, necessarily involved two ele- 
 ,ments : first, the possession of light on Gospel truth, 
 and second, the malicious opposition to that light. He 
 cited a number of illustrations from Scripture where 
 there was rejection of light without malice, as in the 
 case of Peter denying his Lord ; and where there was 
 malice without light, as in the case of Saul of Tarsus, 
 who cherished malignity but had not light, as he him- 
 self avowed that in persecuting the saints he did it 
 ignorantly in unbelief. Had Peter added malignity 
 to his sin against light, he would never have been sav- 
 ed. Had Saul possessed light with the malignity he 
 manifested against Jesus, he must have been eternally 
 lost. The audience was larger in the evening than in the 
 morning, and listened with evident interest through 
 the entire sermon. After the discourse, a large num- 
 ber retired to the audience room for prayer. 
 
 Dr. Teasdale is a man of large experience and fine 
 culture, and though his locks are whitened with the 
 snows of many winters, he possesses a vigor, both in- 
 tellectual and physical, that would do credit to any 
 man in the prime of life. He will preach this even- 
 ing in the vestry of the Central Baptist Church on 
 'The Recognition of Friends in Heaven,' and every 
 succeeding evening of the week, except Saturday. The 
 Tuesday evening sermon will be to young ladies, and 
 Wednesday evening to young men. These services 
 are open to the public. 
 
 THE NOON DAY PRAYER MEETING 
 
 was led yesterday by Rev. T.C. Teasdale, D. D. His
 
 i 
 
 276 ' REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 theme was Prayer, on which he made some forcible re- 
 marks. He leads through the week." 
 
 From Providence, Dr. T. went to Fall River, Mass., 
 to assist Rev. Mr. Graves in a meeting of some two 
 weeks in the First Baptist Church in that city. This 
 meeting was somewhat interrupted by inclement 
 weather; but still quite a number professed faith in 
 Christ during the meeting; and among them was a 
 Roman Catholic gentleman, who had been quite a prom- 
 inent man among them, and who was a very scholarly 
 gentleman. His wife also came forward for prayers 
 before Dr. T. left the meeting, and it was thought she 
 was also converted. Dr. T. found Rev. Mr. Graves 
 an excellent co-worker in the meeting, as he had 
 found Mr. Bainbridge and Mr. Everts in Providence. 
 All these brethren endeared themselves to him by their 
 very kind attentions, and their hearty co-operation in 
 his meetings. He has ever since cherished the highest 
 
 t.y D 
 
 esteem for them. 
 
 At the close of the meeting in Fall River, Dr. T. 
 left New England, and returned to the cities of Brook- 
 lyn and New York, and spent a few days again with 
 endeared relatives and friends in those cities. During 
 his stay in Brooklyn, he formed the acquaintance of 
 the distinguished Dr. Talmage, pastor of the great 
 Tabernacle Church in Brooklyn, and heard him preach 
 several times. Mr. Talmage pressed him to preach for 
 him on Sunday night, but he declined on the ground 
 that Mr. Talmage' s congregation was largely a per- 
 sonal one, and that no matter who might preach for
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 277 
 
 nim, many strangers, especially, would go away dis- 
 appointed, because he had not himself preached on the 
 occasion. 
 
 During his stay in New York and Brooklyn, Dr. T. 
 preached one Sunday night in Grand Union Hall, in 
 New York, to a crowded congregation. On the next 
 day at 12 m., he made another talk to the people 
 assembled in the Hall ; and on that night he heard an 
 excellent discussion of" The Risen Life in Christ," by 
 Rev. S. H. Tyng, Jr., D. D. In the course of his 
 able address on that interesting theme, Dr. Tyng 
 alluded to the passage in Rom. vi. 3-0, and turning 
 towards Dr. T., who sat near him on the platform, he 
 observed with a gentle smile on his countenance, "The 
 Baptists make a great handle of this passage;" and 
 then he added, "and the Baptists are right in their 
 view of its meaning, too. It means just what they 
 claim for it." 
 
 While he remained in that vicinity, Dr. T. attended 
 the Baptist State Convention of New York, which con- 
 vened in Troy. Ho met there many brethren whose 
 acquaintance he had formed many years ago, and en- 
 joyed a pleasant interview with the delegates of the 
 body generally. 
 
 After the close of the Convention, Dr. T. made a 
 hasty trip to Saratoga Springs, and spent a day and a 
 night with his life-long friend, Mrs. H. F. Milligan. 
 It was her brother that baptized Dr. T. fifty-one years 
 before; and an intimacy had sprung up between him 
 and the Fletcher family in early life, which had never
 
 278 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 subsided. Mr. Robert F. Milligan, the only son of 
 Mrs. Milligan, met Dr. T. at the depot, and conveyed 
 him in a carriage to the elegant mansion of his mother, 
 where there was soon ready a rich repast for their 
 welcome guest. The time in this hospitable home 
 seemed to Dr. T. to be very short ; and he afterwards 
 regretted that he did not stay over the following Sun- 
 day in Saratoga. But he was anxious to attend the 
 anniversary of the New Jersey Baptist Convention, 
 which met at Key Port, N. J., the last of that week, 
 or the first of the week following. This cut short his 
 pleasant visit at Saratoga. 
 
 Dr. T. attended the meeting of the New Jersey Bap- 
 tist Convention, as above indicated; and was very 
 much pleased to meet so many brethren whom he' 
 knew, and with whom he had been associated in gospel 
 labors, in this, his native state, many years agone. 
 
 From this Convention, Dr. T. went directly to West 
 Chester, Pa., to assist the pastor of the First Baptist 
 Church of that town, Rev. Mr. Harris, in a series of 
 revival meetings in that place. Forty-four years be- 
 fore, viz: late in the fall of 1833, Dr. T. had assisted 
 Rev. Dr. W. T. Brautly, Sr., Rev. Leonard Fletcher 
 and others, in a protracted meeting in that borough, 
 which was greatly blessed, and which resulted in the 
 establishment of a Baptist Church in that place. Dr. 
 T., by special request, took charge of the new interest 
 there for a year, in order to give the little church a 
 good foothold, and open the way for its subsequent 
 advancement and prosperity. It has gone on prosper-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 279 
 
 ing from that day until the present time ; and it is now 
 a large and influential body. Indeed, there are two 
 Baptist Churches in that borough at present, and a 
 large Baptist element pervades the community. One 
 of the West Chester papers contains the following 
 notice of Dr. T.'s visit and labors for two weeks in 
 that place : 
 
 "INTERESTING SERVICE. 
 
 Quite an interesting series of meetings have been 
 held in the Baptist Church in this borough extending 
 over the past two weeks. They were conducted by the 
 Rev. Thomas Teasdale, the former pastor and founder 
 of this church. Sunday evening was the concluding 
 service, and Mr. Teasdale gave some very interesting 
 reminiscences of his pastoral labors among this com- 
 munity. The church was founded in 1833. At that 
 time, West Chester was quite a small village. The 
 speaker said thut if he had been set down here from a 
 balloon, he would scarcely have recognized his former 
 home, it had so greatly increased in size, wealth and 
 influence. About the year 1833, Mr. Teasdale and a 
 number of other ministers held a series of meetings, 
 which resulted in the founding of this church. Dur- 
 ing these meetings a number of the prominent men of 
 the place addressed a very respectful letter to him, ask- 
 ing him to give his views upon the subject of baptism. 
 Among the gentlemen whose signatures were attached 
 to this letter, were John Marshall, U. V. Pennypacker, 
 John Hickman and Dr. Wilmer Worthington. He 
 preached a sermon upon the subject as desired, which
 
 280 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 was afterwards printed by request. The speaker said 
 he had preserved some of the copies, which he placed 
 upon the table for free distribution among those of the 
 audience that wished them. Quite a number were 
 converted and baptized, among them the late U. V. 
 Pennypacker, and Mr. Nimrod Strickland. The latter 
 gentleman was the only male member present whom 
 he recognized as having been baptized at that early 
 period. The speaker is very venerable in appearance, 
 and his remarks produced a profound sensation among 
 the audience assembled. At the request of Dr. 
 Jones, Mr. Teasdale said he had agreed to prepare a 
 paper for publication giving some of the reminiscences 
 connected with the early history of the church. He 
 further stated that he had been pastor of a church at 
 Springfield at one period of his life. His residence 
 was next door but one to that of the late President 
 Lincoln, with whom he was on terms of intimate 
 friendship." 
 
 Dr. T. found very few of the constituent members 
 remaining in the borough. Deaths and removals had 
 made great changes in the church. But still a goodly 
 number of the citizens remembered him well; and 
 when in his closing discourse he gave some reminiscen- 
 ces of West Chester, as it was forty-four years ago, 
 The old men and women of the borough generally 
 turned out to listen to his address, and seemed deeply 
 interested in his account of things, as they knew them 
 to exist at the time of which he spoke. Dr. T. 
 preached to full houses in West Chester ; but there
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 281 
 
 were but few conversions. There had been a union 
 meeting for some three weeks before Dr. T. went 
 there, which was attended with scarcely any salutary 
 results. And it is probable that the failure in that 
 effort, stood in his way in the meeting which he held in 
 the Baptist Church. Before he left West Chester, he 
 went out to the Goshen Church, some two miles dis- 
 tant, and preached a single sermon, which was blessed 
 to the awaking of a number of precious souls, and 
 which greatly intensified the interest in the meeting 
 which followed in that church immediately after- 
 wards. 
 
 From West Chester, Dr. T. went out into the coun- 
 try some eight miles to preach a few days to a church 
 recently organized there. The weather was very un- 
 propitious ; but still, considerable good was accom- 
 plished during his brief stay among that people. 
 
 From that place he went out to the old Hepzibah 
 Church, where over forty years before he had assisted 
 the pastor, Rev. Jethro Johnson, in a meeting of 
 days, which was greatly blessed in the conversion of 
 souls. The elder Dr. W. T. Brantly also assisted in 
 that meeting. Dr. T. had also preached for that 
 church in another meeting, a year or>two after the one 
 above referred to, which was also greatly blessed. He 
 found a few of the members remaining, who were 
 living and active in the cause of Christ, when he 
 preached for them so many years before. He spent 
 but a single night there, and prearhed but one sermon 
 for them ; and then the next day he went over to
 
 282 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 Coatesville, some five or six miles distant, and gave 
 the church there a Bible Reading in the afternoon, and 
 a sermon at night. He went on the next day to the 
 Windsor Church, in Chester County, Pa., and preached 
 for them two or three days. He had assisted in the 
 organization of that church, and preached for them 
 twice a month during the year 1833. Here, too, he 
 found very few living who were members of the church 
 when he was its pastor. He baptized into the fellow- 
 ship of that church during his pastorate there about 
 sixty happy converts. During his visit there in 1877, 
 the pastor of the church handed him a copy of the fol- 
 lowing lines, written by himself, and which were sung 
 by the choir of the church with great spirit while he 
 was with them : 
 
 I. 
 
 Shall we lull their souls to slumber 
 
 Those who now repose in sin? 
 Some there be among the number 
 
 Who are dear to us as kin ; 
 Others are our friends and neighbors ; 
 
 At God's bar with us they'll stand. 
 Shall we rouse them with our labors? 
 
 Or permit them to be damned? 
 
 Chorus: (To the music of the last four lines.) 
 
 Strengthen me, Oh God of glory, 
 
 For the work I ought to do : 
 Help me tell the gospel story 
 
 Help me now some soul to save.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 283 
 
 2. 
 
 Shall they, through our fear or languor, 
 
 Fall asleep to wake no more, 
 Till the Judge, in awful anger, 
 
 Peals the trump a lost world o'er? 
 Waking sinners for their sentence, 
 
 Whom we warned not of their fate 
 Coming when there's no repentance? 
 
 Waked at last ! Awake too late ! 
 
 Chonts: Strengthen me, &c. 
 
 3. 
 Shall we go to them in kindness 
 
 While salvation's day is nigh, 
 Lead them irom their night of blindness, 
 
 Or in darkness let them die? 
 Shall we help them in their weakness 
 
 To arise and go to Him, 
 Telling them in Christian meekness, 
 
 Christ alone can save from sin. 
 Chorus. 
 
 4. 
 Shall we urge them when they falter, 
 
 Gently take them by the hand, 
 Lead them to contrition's altar, 
 
 Start them to the better land? 
 Say not 'tis the Spirit's power 
 
 That alone must do this work ; 
 Us He uses ; and our dower 
 
 Is to labor not to shirk. 
 
 Chorus. 
 
 5. 
 
 Sound we then the proclamation, 
 Standing by some sinner's side! 
 There's a free and full salvation 
 Through our Savior crucified t 
 Now He's risen and exalted, 
 And in glory waits for thee ; 
 Come to Jesus and be free. 
 Chorus.
 
 284 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 From this place, Dr. T. went to Phcenixville, in that 
 county, and spent a part of the next Sunday there. 
 He had also assisted, in 1832, in organizing the Baptist 
 Church in that city, and preached in two protracted 
 meetings, held there about that time, with encouraging 
 success. He had also assisted Rev. W. S. Hall, then 
 pastor of that church, in a protracted meeting, held in 
 the winter of 1850. That meeting was one of intense 
 interest, and resulted in a very large accession to the 
 church. The present superintendent of the Sunday- 
 school, and his excellent lady, were converted in that 
 meeting. He received from that school a birth-day 
 present of an excellent Teacher's Bible. Dr. T. ad- 
 dressed the Sunday-school in the morning ; preached 
 to a great congregation at 11 o'clock a.m.; gave a 
 Bible reading in the afternoon ; and then went over to 
 Norristovvn and preached that night to an immense 
 and most attentive congregation. He spent the night 
 pleasantly at the residence of the pastor, Rev. Simeon 
 Siegfried, Jr. Dr. T. had aided in the meetings which 
 gave rise to this church, also, over forty years before. 
 There were some persons present the night he preached 
 there, Avho remembered how he had broken bread for 
 the little band of disciples those long years agone, in 
 the open air no church, and not even the Court House 
 being allowed them in which to celebrate the Lord's 
 Supper. The church, very soon afterwards, built a 
 commodious house of worship, which has lately been 
 superceded by the best meeting-house in the city. It 
 is really an elegant and commodious structure. They
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 285 
 
 have probably the largest congregation of any denom- 
 ination in the place, and a very flourishing Sunday- 
 school. Indeed, the condition of the church altogether 
 seemed to be most encouraging. 
 
 From Norristown, Dr. T. went down to Philadelphia, 
 and attended on Monday morn, a meeting in that city, 
 in which Rev. Mr. Mueller, of .England, addressed the 
 ministers of all denominations in the city and vicinity. 
 He also attended the meeting of the Baptist ministers in 
 their own room in the Publication House ; and afterwards 
 went out to assist the pastor of the Old Brandywine 
 Church, in Delaware County, Pa., in a series of meet- 
 ings there. This church is in the immediate vicinity of 
 the houses occupied by Gen. Washington and Gen. 
 La Fayette, as their Head-quarters, before the mem- 
 orable battle of Brandywine was fought. The 
 houses still stand there ; but they have undergone, of 
 course, since that period, material improvements. 
 
 The meeting which Dr. T. held with this church was 
 greatly blessed ; and many were converted and added 
 to the church. 
 
 From this place. Dr. T. went down to Salisbury, 
 Maryland, to visit a nephew of his who had graduated 
 at the Crozier Seminary at its last Commencement, and 
 was then preaching to the church in Salisbury, and 
 to two or three others in that vicinity. Dr. T. 
 preached a few sermons in Salisbury, and also a few 
 at another of his nephew's churches, with manifest 
 effect; and then went to Baltimore, on his way home- 
 ward. He spent two days in Baltimore, with his life-
 
 286 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 long friend, Kev. Dr. W. T. Brantly. While there the 
 new meeting-house of the old First Church, which had 
 worshipped so long in the Round Church, down town, 
 was opened, and filled to its utmost capacity. The 
 services were not the dedication services ; but were 
 designed to raise the money necessary to pay the debt 
 still due on the building. Liberal contributions were 
 nfcade to the object that night ; and it was thought that 
 every dollar of the indebtedness could be easily raised, 
 before the dedication of the house would take place. 
 
 From Baltimore, Dr. T. went directly to his home 
 in Knoxville, from which he had been absent about 
 six months. His wife had gone on a visit to their sons, 
 residing in Columbus, Miss., for the double purpose of 
 seeing her children, and avoiding the severity of the 
 winter climate in Knoxville. Dr. T. remained at home, 
 with his daughter and son-in-law, Prof. Moses, and 
 their little ones, only a few days, and {hen went to 
 Springville, Ala., to hold a meeting in that village for 
 a few days. Here he met Prof. J. F. Parker, one of 
 the sweet singers of Israel, who had agreed. to associate 
 himself with him in his evangelistic work. The ex- 
 ercises progressed for a week, with constantly increas- 
 ing interest, when Dr. T. was taken suddenly sick, and 
 was compelled to close the meeting. Quite a number 
 of influential persons had professed hope before the 
 meeting closed ; and if it could have gone on a week 
 longer, as was intended, it would most likely have re- 
 sulted in a large accession of converts to the church. 
 Dr. T. had held a meeting there a few years before,
 
 OP A LONG LIFE. 287 
 
 which was greatly blessed ; and it was expected that 
 his coming among the people again, would result in 
 like happy consequences. And but for his sudden ill- 
 ness it would probably have been so.
 
 288 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 On the first Sunday in February, 1878, Dr. T. com- 
 menced a series of religious exercises in the First Bap- 
 tist Church in Nashville, Tenn., Rev. Dr. T. G. Jones, 
 pastor. He was assisted in the meetings in Nashville 
 by Prof. J. F. Parker, the evangelist singer, whom 
 Dr. T. met at Springville, and who was regarded by 
 many as almost the equal of the late lamented Bliss. 
 The meeting lasted a month, and was productive of 
 great good, though the number of conversions was not 
 so great as in many of his meetings. The members 
 of the church generally seemed interested and profited 
 in the good work ; and the learned and excellent pastor 
 was especially gratified, as a brief note, addressed to 
 Dr. T. at the close of the meeting, sufficiently at- 
 tested. The several kindly notices of the good work, 
 given from time to time during the progress of the 
 meeting, in the Baptist Reflector, by Rev. Dr. -May- 
 field, editor, who was an almost constant attendant 
 upon the exercises, are perhaps as full an expression 
 of the sentiments of the people generally, as could 
 well be obtained. They are here inserted : 
 
 "MEETING IN THE FIRST CHURCH IN NASHVILLE. 
 
 The meeting in the First Baptist Church seems to be
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. . 289 
 
 full of promise. The congregations are large, atten- 
 tive and solemn. The preaching has been sound, logi- 
 cal, and in keeping with the spirit of the gospel. 
 .There is nothing about the services which we cannot 
 heartily approve. The methods employed by the pro- 
 fessed revivalists are utterly discarded. There is no 
 effort to force the people into measures; no effort to 
 produce a mere sensation. The gospel is preached 
 with power. The mighty and blessed Christ is pre- 
 sented, and the people are urged to love and trust 
 him. Sin is condemned, and men are urged to fly 
 from it to the Lamb of God. In a word, Dr. Teas- 
 dale's mode of conducting a meeting is such as our 
 Baptist people can but approve. And that it is ap- 
 preciated by our community is manifest by the fact 
 that without advertising, and. without at all compro- 
 mising the dignity of our Baptist cause by pandering to 
 the Union sentiment, so common with revivalists, great 
 crowds daily attend the services of Dr. Teasdale. 
 
 Dr. Teasdale is an able preacher. It has been fifteen 
 years since we first heard him. We then thought that 
 as a rhetorician and an elocutionist he had no superior 
 in the South. We still recognize the masterly rhetori- 
 cian. And what the voice has lost in harmony and 
 power would scarcely be noticed, even by one who was 
 accustomed to hear him in other days. Dr. Teasdale's 
 locks are' as white as snow ; but his intellect is still 
 strong and vigorous ; and his sermons M-C able, elo- 
 quent and masterly presentations of Gospel truth. 
 Prof. Parker, so long with Mnj. Penn, leads the sing-
 
 290 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 ing. He has rare musical gifts, and his music often 
 melts the hearts of the people. 
 
 It is too early yet to give the result of the meeting. 
 There is promise now of large success. Some have 
 already been converted. May God bless these efforts 
 to the salvation of thousands of precious souls !" 
 
 Rev. Dr. Mayfield, editor of The Baptist Reflector 
 at that time, attended the meetings regularly which 
 were held in the First Baptist Church in Nashville in 
 the winter of 1878 ; and gave these notices in succes- 
 sive issues of his paper as the work progressed. 
 
 "MEETING AT THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 This meeting has now been in progress for more 
 than two weeks. A general, but as yet not a very 
 deep interest, has been awakened. A large and very 
 solemn and attentive congregation fills the house every 
 night. Quite a number of persons have presented 
 themselves for prayer. Several persons have also pro- 
 fessed conversion. Three of these happy converts 
 were baptized by Dr. Jones on Monday night. 
 
 The interest felt in these services is growing deeper 
 every day. And the interest is a religious one. No 
 effort has been made to excite the curiosity of the 
 people ; no measures have been employed to draw a 
 crowd. There has been no departure, in the mode of 
 conducting worship, from gospel simplicity. In the 
 evening at 4 o'clock, the people meet in the church, 
 sing, pray, repeat passages of Scripture, relate some 
 experience of the past, and exhort each other'to deep- 
 er piety, or plead with the sinner to be saved. At
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. . 291 
 
 night the service is opened with a number of sweet 
 songs by^Prof. Parker, interspersed with prayers, or re- 
 marks by persons in the congregation. Then follows 
 a regular discourse by Dr. Teasdale. At the close of 
 the sermon, persons who desire to be saved are invited 
 to occupy the front pews. The congregation then 
 spends a season in special prayer for the salvation of 
 those who have come forward. Such is the manner in 
 which the services are conducted. And we trust that 
 they will be blessed to the salvation of many souls." 
 
 "MEETING IX THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 This meeting still continues with increasing interest. 
 The congregations are large, and a great many persons 
 are seeking the blessed Savior. On last Sunday even- 
 ing special service was held in the Masonic Hall. Dr. 
 Teasdale preached a very able sermon to a vast con- 
 course of people. At its conclusion many persons 
 requested prayers. We are satisfied that the meeting 
 has already done a great deal of good. A deeper in- 
 terest in divine things has been awakened among Chris- 
 tians, and all the people have begun to think and 
 talk about religion. Quite a number have found the 
 Savior, and many others are seeking. We hope that 
 our Baptist brethren, all over the city, will crowd the 
 house at every service, and unite with Dr. Teasdale and 
 Prof. Parker to work for the salvation of the people." 
 
 The above extracts were taken from the Baptist 
 Reflector. 
 
 From Nashvillle, Dr. T. went home to Knoxville, 
 where he met his wife, from whom he had been sep-
 
 292 * REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 arated about eight months. He spent only three or 
 four days at home, and then went to Athens, Ala., to 
 hold a series of revival meetings in that place. About 
 fifty persons professed conversion in that meeting, 
 which continued two weeks. Among the converts were 
 a number of young ladies connected with the Female 
 College in the village, under the management of Prof. 
 Smith and his wife. The meeting was held in the 
 Methodist Church, the Baptist Church being used at 
 the time for school purposes. Dr. T. did all the 
 preaching on the occasion, as he is wont to do in his 
 meetings, and had entire control of the exercises 
 throughout the meeting. But the pastors of the Cum- 
 berland Presbyterian, and Methodist Churches, and 
 their members generally, cordially co-operated in the 
 meeting; and the spirit of brotherly love seemed, for 
 the time being, at least, to overcome sectarian preju- 
 dices. The object of all seemed to be to win souls to 
 Christ; and to this end the earnest and united efforts 
 of all God's people were constantly directed. And as 
 a legitimate consequence all the denominations shared 
 in the benefits of the good work. 
 
 In the latter part of March, 1878, Dr. T. went to 
 Rome, Ga., to assist Rev. G. A. Nunnally, in a series 
 of meetings in the Baptist Church in that city. His 
 success there was remarkable. Nearly one hundred 
 professed conversion during his three weeks' labor 
 there, a large proportion of whom united with the 
 Baptist Church. Quite a number who had been hold- 
 ing their letters of dismission for a longer, or shorter
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 293 
 
 period, were induced to put them in the church on this 
 occasion. Of this meeting and its results, the pastor, 
 in a communication to the Christian Index, makes the 
 following statement, viz. : 
 
 "The meeting has been in progress three weeks. 
 The interest has been deep and intense. The congre- 
 gations, night and morning, have been large and atten- 
 tive. Seventy have been added to the church, and 
 there are yet others who will soon publicly put on 
 Christ. The church has been greatly revived, and in- 
 structed and encouraged. They are bolder and wiser, 
 and are full of faith and ready for every good work. 
 Dr. Wharton was with the pastor a few days, and 
 preached three or four earnest and effective sermons. 
 
 Dr. Teasdale, as an independent Evangelist, has been 
 with the pastor from the beginning, preaching, or con- 
 ducting Bible readings twice each day. He is a man 
 of remarkable vigor of mind, strength of body and 
 earnestness of soul. He never tires, or even seems 
 wearied. 
 
 His presentation of truth is clear and forcible. At 
 times he is really eloquent, but never in his flashes of 
 oratory does he forget his argument. His illustrations, 
 always quite to the point, are drawn from his large 
 experience, and from nature. The great beauty and 
 excellence of his labors consist in the instruction which 
 he imparts. His constant- endeavor seems to be to 
 teach, not to excite; to confirm, not to inflame, the 
 disciples of Jesus. 
 
 While the Doctor has a due regard to all the Chris-
 
 294 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 tian courtesies, he is a Baptist, and he never fails to 
 impress his hearers with the correctness of Baptist 
 doctrine and practice. He leaves Rome to hold a 
 series of meetings with the church at Forsyth. May 
 God bless his labors abundantly. 
 
 G. A. NUNNALLY, Pastor." 
 
 From Rome, Dr. T. went to Forsyth, Ga., to assist 
 Rev. Dr. Hilly er in a series of meetings in the Baptist 
 Church of that town. The interest in the exercises 
 here was very intense. Dr. T.'s stay was short, but 
 the results of his labors were very happy. Of this 
 meeting Dr. Hillyer writes to the Christian Index as 
 follows, viz : 
 
 "Dr. T. C. Teasdale has been holding a series of 
 meetings with our church in this place. He preached 
 his first sermon on Wednesday night, April 20th, and 
 his last on Saturday morning May llth. 
 
 The congregations became interested from the very 
 beginning. The house was very nearly filled every 
 night, except on two occasions, when we were inter- 
 rupted by very bad weather. 
 
 The Doctor proved himself to be a skillful and able 
 evangelist. His style is perfectly free from sensa- 
 tionalism. He appeals to, the heart, it is true, but 
 through the reason and judgment of his hearers. His 
 exhibition of Divine truth is clear, forcible and con- 
 vincing ; and so plain that ven the young, and the un- 
 learned, can understand him. No careful listener can 
 fail to be edified and instructed under his ministrations. 
 At every call many crowded to the front seats for
 
 Or A LONG LIFE. 295 
 
 prayer. We hope there have been many conversions ; 
 exactly how many we cannot state at this writing. 
 And we also have reason to hope that God's people 
 .have been greatly revived. 
 
 Besides regular preaching every night, the Doctor 
 held a prayer-meeting for one hour every morning. 
 In this meeting, the exercises were made very instruct- 
 ive by Bible readings, accompanied with brief but 
 telling expositions, directed to the elucidation of some 
 fundamental truth. These readings, at first, were 
 thinly attended, but the interest in them continued to 
 increase till the congregations were as large as we 
 could expect at that hour of the day. 
 
 We sincerely rejoice that our brother has labored so 
 faithfully with us. We hope the effect of the truth 
 already dispensed will yet bear much fruit. May our 
 brethren everywhere pray for Forsyth. We still need 
 a deeper, a wider work of grace among us. We are 
 yet in the midst of the h'giit. The victory is not com- 
 plete. Oh! that God would give us the victory 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 On yesterday we received by experience five, and by 
 letter one. Several others will probably join on next 
 Sunday. 
 
 Forsyth, May 13, 1878." 
 
 Of the labors of Dr. T. in Forsyth, the city paper, 
 The Monroe Advertiser, contained the following 
 notices : 
 
 "RELIGIOUS MEETINGS. 
 
 Rev. T. C. Teasdale, D. D., of Knoxville, Tenn., is
 
 296 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENT! 
 
 assisting Dr. Hillyer in conducting a series of meetings 
 at the Baptist Church. Dr. T. preached every evening 
 during the past week and on the Sabbath morning and 
 evening. He will continue to preach every evening 
 during the present week and possibly longer. He is a 
 man of much learning and great ability, and is fervent 
 and zealous in his manner. Every one of his hearers 
 is thoroughly convinced of his sincerity and earnest- 
 ness and his warm hearted admonitions are having a 
 marked effect. The indications are that there will in 
 reality be a great religious revival in the community, 
 affecting the members of all the churches and the com- 
 raunit}' in general. 
 
 Dr. Teasdale is not a young man, though he says he 
 can perform more ministerial labor than the young 
 preachers. Age has silvered his locks but he is as ear- 
 nest and as vigorous, and perhaps more effective in his 
 preaching than he would be if he could recall a quar- 
 ter of a century. He has had large experience in con- 
 ducting revival meetings, in cities and towns, and is 
 thoroughly at home in this work. 
 
 We earnestly hope that the most abundant suc- 
 cess may be sent him and his co-laborers in their 
 great and all important work in which they are engag- 
 ed. 
 
 The services Sunday night were attended by a large 
 and serious audience. There was no service in the 
 Methodist Church at that hour and all the church-goers 
 assembled at the Baptist Church. The sermon was 
 solemn and impressive, and many presented themselves
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 297 
 
 as special objects of prayer, among the number some 
 of our best citizens." 
 
 "REV. DR. TEASDALE. 
 
 This gentleman closed his ministerial labors in 
 Forsyth last Saturday morning and left to conduct a 
 series of meetings in Dr. Skinner's church in Macon. 
 The people of this place have just cause for gratitude 
 to the Providence that sent him to labor among them. 
 About twenty-five have professed faith in Christ, and 
 others are still earnestly seeking. All denominations 
 have co-operated in the good work, and many church 
 members have been revived in their religious feelings, 
 and awakened to a deeper sense of personal responsi- 
 bility, which we trust will be abiding, 
 
 Dr. T. is in many respects a remarkable man. He ap- 
 pears to be about 70 years of age, but carries no sign 
 of age except his "silver locks." His powers of en- 
 durance, his energy,, his immense nervous force and 
 his pertinacity rebuke the effeminacy of many of the 
 young of our time. These qualities, united to a fine 
 and well-cultured intellect, and deep consecration to 
 his holy calling, qualify him peculiarly for the work 
 of an itinerant revivalist. The first impression that he 
 makes upon an audience is that he is a "live man," 
 and that impression deepens to the end of his labors. 
 Every thought, every gesture, seems to mean business. 
 Nor does he hamper himself with narrow and restricted 
 theological views. The gospel he preaches is as broad 
 as his own heart is benevolent and true, and to this 
 fact much of his success is attributable. When it
 
 298 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 pleases the Master to "translate" him (for it seems 
 probable he will go off the stage that way) may his 
 "mantle," and a "double portion of his spirit" fall 
 upon the incoming generation of preachers. If this 
 should be so, they will not preach to empty churches 
 at starvation rates." 
 
 From Forsyth, Dr. T. went to Macon, Ga. His 
 labors here were wonderfully successful. It was es- 
 timated by Rev. Dr. Skinner, pastor of the church with 
 which the meeting was held, that some two hundred 
 souls were converted as the result of Dr. T.'s efforts 
 in that city. The work spread into the various con- 
 gregations in the city, which contributed largely to 
 enhance the results above mentioned. All concurred 
 in the opinion that there had never been a work of 
 grac,e in Macon before, which was so generally per- 
 vasive, and whose influence was so profound and so 
 salutary. Of this work Rev. Dr. Skinner, in a letter 
 to the Christian Index, thus writes: 
 
 "Brother S. Boy kin promised to write you a letter 
 telling of the merciful work of grace in Macon, during 
 the months of April, May and part of June. I write 
 merely to say that the results are fifty-eight baptized 
 and others received for baptism. The additions by 
 letter will probably reach twenty. Never did a church 
 receive a greater blessing in the quickening of its 
 members, and in bringing out the working force of the 
 people of God. 
 
 All pray in public. The new converts respond when 
 called on to pray ; a dozen old ones, who heretofore
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 299 
 
 had not opened their mouths in prayer, responded when 
 called on. Several of the new converts prayed before 
 they were baptized. Several cases of restoration re- 
 sponded when called on, immediately after confessing 
 their back-slidings and asking for the prayers of the 
 brethren. 
 
 There have been over one hundred conversions in 
 connection with our congregation ; the ingathering is 
 not finished, the revival is not ended, though the meet- 
 ings closed on Saturday, the 15th of June. More than 
 two hundred souls have united with the various churches 
 in the city. The preaching was done by Dr. Teasdale, 
 who is the best preacher I have ever heard as an evan- 
 gelist. 
 
 Dr. Teasdale preached three weeks for me in Raleigh, 
 North Carolina, in the year 1856, and I feel confident 
 he is a better preacher now than then, and stranger 
 yet, that he can endure more labor and fatigue now, 
 in his seventieth year, than he could twenty-two years; 
 ago. He does not set aside the pastor; he does not 
 dictate, save to the sinner, and then in the terms and 
 on the conditions of the Master himself. Macon loves 
 Dr. Teasdale, and may Atlanta, under God, have 
 reason to say as much. T. E. SKINNER." 
 
 Of Dr. T.'s work in Macon, the Telegraph and Mes- 
 senger, the daily paper of the city, made frequent 
 complimentary notices. The following, in the Sunday 
 morning issue, June 2, 1878, is given as a specimen: 
 
 "THE BAPTIST REVIVAL. 
 
 All who have attended the series of meetings which
 
 300 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 have been progressing under the auspices of Rev. Dr. 
 Teasdale and the pastor, Dr. Skinner, in the First 
 Baptist Church, for the past three weeks, express 
 themselves as greatly refreshed and edified. Many 
 souls, near forty in all, are rejoicing in the hope of 
 salvation, and still the interest is undiminished, and 
 the good work goes on. The meetings have been 
 characterized by great solemnity and the absence of 
 all excitement. 
 
 Dr. Teasdale has been untiring in his labors, and it 
 is simply wonderful how one of his advanced age and 
 feeble physique has been able to preach twice every 
 day, and visit, and pray, and strive as he has done in 
 the Master's service. Surely it* is because God is 
 with him." 
 
 From Macon, Dr. T. went home to visit his family 
 in Knoxville, Tenn., two or three days, and then re- 
 turned to Atlanta, Ga., to assist Dr. A. T. Spalding 
 in a series of meetings in the Second Baptist Church 
 in that flourishing city. He remained in Atlanta three 
 weeks, and did a good deal of hard work while he was 
 there. He held Bible Readings at 8:30 a. in. every 
 day, during the first week of the meeting, in the main 
 audience room of the church ; and for the remainder 
 of the time, he held his day meetings in the United 
 States Court Room, at 5 o'clock p. m. He preached 
 everv night in the church; and, for the most, part to 
 very large and attentive audiences. But owing to a 
 combination of untoward circumstances, his efforts in 
 Atlanta were not attended with as much success as
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 301 
 
 usunl. The nights were at their shortest; the weather 
 was intensely hot; and the examinations and exhibi- 
 tions of the schools came on in the midst of the meet- 
 ing. These, with other almost insurmountable ob- 
 stacles, operated against the success of the work. But 
 still many brethren expressed themselves as being 
 greatly profited in the meeting, and some souls were 
 happily converted to Christ. It is hoped in the day 
 of final revelation it may be found that the seed sown 
 in Atlanta, amid so much discouragement, after all, 
 brought forth an abundant harvest of happy fruits. 
 
 The following notice of Dr. Teasdale's arrival in 
 Atlanta, was given in the Christian Index, published 
 in that city : 
 
 "We are much gratified to know tha't Dr. Teasdale is 
 in our city, and will. remain during the week, assisting 
 Dr. A. T. Spalding in a series of meetings at the Second 
 Church. Dr. Teasdale is not only a man of profound 
 piety, but one whose preaching is frequently accom- 
 panied by the power of God's Spirit in the conviction 
 and the conversion of sinners. He has just concluded 
 a glorious revival meeting at the church of Dr. Skin- 
 ner, in Macon, which was preceded by a gracious re- 
 vival under his ministry at Forsyth. He is a noble 
 man, full of good works." 
 
 After the close of his labors in Atlanta, Dr. T. went 
 home again for a few days, and then returned to 
 Georgia to assist Dr. Crawford in a series of meetings 
 in his church in Madison. Madison was regarded as 
 one of the hardest places in Georgia. Infidelity, in
 
 302 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 almost all its phases, was rampant in high places there. 
 It was doubted whether anything could be effected for 
 the advancement of the cause of truth in that skepti- 
 cal community. But God graciously blessed his 
 own truth to the awakening and conversion of some 
 twenty-five, or thirty precious souls, many of whom 
 were baptized and added to the church before the meet- 
 ing closed. Among these converts were a son and 
 grand-daughter of one of the prominent skeptics in 
 the place. Of this meeting, the pastor gave the follow- 
 ing account in the Christian Index, viz : 
 
 "Our brother, Dr. Teasdale, commenced a meeting 
 with us on Sunday, the 21st of July, and closed to- 
 night. During this time he held two services daily, in 
 the morning giving a Bible reading, and in the evening 
 a sermon. He has had a good audience, and com- 
 manded their attention to the end. His preaching has 
 been earnest, and thoroughly Scriptural. His reason- 
 ing was clear, well calculated to convince, and he 
 abounded in incidents, illustrative of the positions he 
 wished to enforce. Those Christians who attended the 
 morning services enjoyed them greatly, and derived 
 from them much benefit. As the result of his labors, 
 sixteen six of them young men have been added to 
 the church, and there are others who are claiming a 
 hope in Christ. Most of these converts are from the 
 Sunday-school, their ages ranging from about fifteen to 
 twenty-one, and their experiences were remarkably 
 clear and satisfactory. They all express themselves as 
 desiring to work for Christ, and we trust and be-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 303 
 
 lieve they will be useful in the vineyard of the Lord. 
 
 Thus, you see that the Savior has blessed the coming 
 of our brother among us. We hope that we shall yet 
 see other, and, it may be, greater results from his 
 visit. He is a bold, faithful, earnest and yet tender 
 and loving worker, untiring in his zeal, fearless in his 
 utterances, and skillful in the use of the sword of the 
 Spirit the Word of God. 
 
 We shall long remember him and his visit, and pray 
 that his life may be prolonged that he may continue to 
 labor for the Lord and win souls to Christ. 
 
 Fraternally, 
 
 W. B. CRAWFORD." 
 
 From Madison, Dr. T. went to Gainesville, Ga., and 
 assisted Rev. Mr. Wilkcs, in a meeting there* of two 
 weeks continuance. This meeting was blessed to the 
 building up of Christians in their holy faith, and in the 
 awakening and conversion of a number of precious 
 souls, most of whom were baptized and added to the 
 church before the meeting closed. 
 
 From Gainesville, Dr. T. went home and spent a 
 few days with his family, and then went to Chattanoo- 
 ga to assist Rev. Mr. Matthis in a meeting in his church 
 in South Chattanooga. This was a very weak interest ; 
 and Dr. T. went there for the purpose of giving it aid if 
 possible. He spent two weeks in earnest work there 
 to the manifest benefit of the little church. Quite a 
 number of persons were hopefully converted, and ten 
 of them were baptized and added to the church the 
 day before he left the city.
 
 304 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 The yellow fever broke out while the meeting was 
 yet in progress in Chattanooga ; and although Dr. T. 
 did not leave the city until the time had fully expired 
 which he had intended to give to evangelistic work 
 with that church, yet it immediately broke up the 
 meeting after he left the place. But for that terrible 
 scourge the meeting would have been continued for 
 some time longer; and it is thought that many more 
 might have been brought into the church if the meet- 
 ing had not been thus suddenly brought to a close. 
 
 In October, 1878, Dr. T. assisted the Rev. H. D. D. 
 Straton, in a meeting of some three weeks continuance 
 in the town of Greenesboro, Greene County, Ga., 
 which resulted in the conversion of some twenty-five or 
 thirty persons. Eighteen were baptized and added to the 
 Baptist Church, and one was restored. Of this meet- 
 ing the pastor furnished the following account for the 
 Christian Index, while the work was still progressing: 
 
 "I am happy to inform you that our meeting under 
 the leadership of Dr. T. C. Teasdale, is assuming con- 
 siderable interest and proportion. The attendance has 
 been large, and the attention deepening from the start. 
 I baptized eight personsjon Monday, 31st ult., and six 
 others last Thursday. One was restored. We expect 
 to baptize others on Monday next. The Spirit of God 
 has been poured out, and many are inquiring the way 
 of salvation. Dr. Teasdale preaches the gospel with 
 great tenderness and. power. Although seventy years 
 of age, he speaks with all the vigor, freshness and 
 force of a man of forty. His methods are simple^
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 305 
 
 and Scriptural ; and there is none of that turgidity, and 
 clap-trap that characterize too much the labors of many 
 who make a specialty of evangelistic work. He is a 
 cultivated, and scholarly man, who commands the 
 respect, and enlists the sympathies of his audience at 
 once. The church, as a whole, have come nobly to 
 the work, and we are praying for and expect results 
 from this meeting, the moral force of which shall not 
 expire with the brief season that has given it birth." 
 
 At the close of the sermon, on the last night of the 
 meeting, the pastor baptized four persons, thus mak- 
 ing the number received by baptism, during the meet- 
 ing, eighteen, as above stated. The parting exercises 
 were touching, as a large part of that vast audience 
 came forward to extend to Dr. T,. their final adieus, 
 and bid him a hearty God-speed in his work, wherever 
 ho might be called to labor for the Master. 
 
 Dr. Teasdale, after closing his labors in Greensboro, 
 in company with Judge Robinson, and Rev. Mr. 
 Straton, made a visit to Liberty Hill the home of 
 the distinguished Hon. Alex. H. Stephens, the follow- 
 ing account of which was furnished for the Baptist 
 Reflector : 
 
 "UNION POINT, GA., Oct. 1G, 1878. 
 
 Messrs. Editors : After concluding my labors in 
 Greensboro, which resulted in the conversion of some 
 twenty -five or thirty, the baptism of eighteen, and the 
 restoration of one backslider, I left that place on Mon- 
 day last, in company with Judge Robinson and Rev. 
 Mr. Straton, to nvike a visit to Liberty Hall (which
 
 306 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 means, in the interpretation of its distinguished pro- 
 prietor, everybody's home) to spend a night with the 
 great Commoner of Georgia, the Hon. Alex. H. 
 Stephens.* I have known him ever since 1852, when I 
 removed to Washington City, to take charge of one of 
 the Baptist Churches in that great Metropolis. He 
 had then been a member of Congress for several years, 
 and continued. to occupy that position until about the 
 commencement of our late civil war. He was elected, 
 as everybody knows, as 'Vice-President of the Con- 
 federacy, on the ticket with Jeff. Davis, President. 
 He held that position until our cause was lost, and then 
 for a season retired to private life. But as soon as 
 carpet-bag rule was suppressed and reconstruction was 
 effected, he was again elected to the United States 
 Congress, of whose body he is likely to remain a prom- 
 inent member as long as he lives, unless he should be 
 called to fill a more important position. 
 
 Mr. Stephens is now sixty-six years of age. He has 
 been an invalid for many years. He can hobble about 
 a little on his crutches, but his main dependence for 
 locomotion is on a chair constructed on wheels, and 
 which is easily managed, without much fatigue, by its 
 occupant. I have seen only a few of these chairs any- 
 where ; they are excellent for invalids. 
 
 Mr. Stephens keeps a neat carriage, and the cele- 
 brated pair of grays, of political notoriety here in 
 Georgia. We were met at the depot by a nephew of 
 his, and escorted by him to Liberty Hall, in the said 
 carriage and by the said grays. It is unnecessary to
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 307 
 
 say that we met a cordial reception by our distinguish- 
 ed host, and that everything was done by him to make 
 our visit agreeable, and our stay at his hospitable home 
 most delightful. 
 
 We reached Liberty Hall about half-past two o'clock 
 p. m., and after suitable ablutions from the dust of 
 the "Georgia Railroad" (which none can fully com- 
 prehend but by experience) and a brief season of rest, 
 we were again seated in the comfortable carriage, be- 
 hind the noted grays, and by the side of our distin- 
 guished and most affable host, for a little airing in the 
 country. Our route was a very pleasant one, on a 
 good ridge ^oad, and we were soon three or four miles 
 out of the village. All suddenly we were halted at the 
 dwelling of a prosperous old negro man, and Mr. Ste- 
 phens invited us to accompany him into the house. We 
 found there an excellent farm-house, with every token 
 of neatness and comfort. The old man had purchased 
 the farm, with all its appurtenances, for $3,000, and 
 had paid every dollar of the purchase money, and 
 seemed to be well supplied with stock and implements 
 of husbandry. He told us that he did not owe a dol- 
 lar to anybody. To our questions as to how he man- 
 aged to make money so easy, he replied: "I raises 
 everything I wants, on my place wheat, corn, oats, 
 peas everything I needs. So I has my cotton crop 
 free. That's the way I manages." I could but feel 
 that thousands of the deluded men, throughout the 
 South, might go to this untutored negro, and learn 
 wisdom from him as to the advantages of diversifying
 
 308 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 their crops. But multitudes of them have cotton on 
 the brain, and you might as well reason with a lunatic 
 as with them. Cotton with them is not only king, but 
 a god ; and with this mania they will, doubtless, go 
 down to their graves. It is hoped, however, that the 
 coming generations will be wiser, in this regard', than 
 their ancestors, and that thov will forsake, in this par- 
 ticular, the steps of their illustrious predecessors. 
 
 After refreshing ourselves with a draught of excel- 
 lent water, and partaking of a nice treat of soft 
 October peaches, we returned directly to Liberty Hall, 
 where an excellent repast awaited us. After supper, 
 the time was spent in agreeable conversation, and at 
 an early hour we all retired for a night's repose. 
 
 Everything around Liberty Hall, and in it, is in 
 primitive style. Mr. Stephens has never been mar- 
 ried ; and he trusts the management of his domestic 
 affairs to servants almost altogether. His boy, Alex, 
 accompanies him on all his journeys, and is his con- 
 stant attendant in Washington City. We remarked to 
 Alex, that he was honored above most of us, in that he 
 went to Congress every year, which seemed to please 
 him very much. 
 
 Mr. Stephens makes his speeches while sitting on 
 his movable chair ; and hence he carries his chair with 
 him while canvassing his district, and takes it with him 
 to Washington City. He is unable to stand to make a 
 speech, even with the aid of his crutches. He has 
 almost entirely recovered from his recent hemorrhages, 
 and if nothing unforeseen occurs, he will be in his place
 
 Or A LONG LIFE. 309 
 
 in Congress on the first Monday in December next. 
 Long live the great Commoner ! 
 
 Mr. Stephens pointed out to us, from his back porch 
 at Liberty Hall, his farm in the country. It is some 
 two and a half miles from the village, and seems to be 
 a pleasant place. His unbounded hospitality, and his 
 unremitting kindness to the poor of both races, will 
 forever preclude the possibility of his amassing wealth. 
 I doubt whether, from his salary in Congress, his in- 
 come from his plantation, and his attorney fees, he 
 does more than make ends meet at the close of the 
 year. He is one of the few men who do not live for 
 themselves. 
 
 Mr. Stephens has a large library, which, he informed 
 us, cost him some $16,000. He can order any book 
 he wants, telling just where it is. He has also some 
 excellent pictures, decorating the walls of his parlor 
 and other rooms. He has contributed largely to the 
 Baptist Church, near his house, since the war say 
 $750 ; and has allowed the Methodists to build a meet- 
 ing-house on one corner of his front yard. He has 
 profound reverence for religion, and is, doubtless, I 
 think, a devout Christian. 
 
 On Tuesday morning, at 9 :45, we took our leave 
 of Crawford ville, the life-long home of Mr. Steph- 
 ens, and I stopped at Union Point, while my fel- 
 low-travelers went back to their homes in Greens- 
 boro. 
 
 I commenced a series of meetings here last night, 
 with encouraging prospects of success. Three re-
 
 310 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 quested special prayers this morning, and over twenty 
 to-night. Pray for our success ! 
 
 Yours fraternally, 
 
 THOS. C. TEASDALE." 
 
 From Crawfordville, Dr. T. went to Union Point, 
 and preached for the people there more than a week. 
 Of this meeting, a correspondent of the Greensboro 
 Herald gives the following account, viz. : 
 
 "The series of meetings conducted by Rev. Dr. 
 Teasdale, in the Baptist Church here, during the last 
 nine days, have been largely attended, especially the 
 evening services ; and we believe much good has been 
 accomplished. The church has been made to feel, and, 
 we hope, to see her duty ; many persons have been 
 anxious inquirers after their spiritual welfare, and the 
 large audiences have been the closest listeners we have 
 almost ever seen. Dr. Teasdale is a profound thinker, 
 a close and logical reasoner, a splendid rhetorician, 
 and is thoroughly imbued with the spirit of his mis- 
 sion. He puts himself in complete sympathy with his 
 audience, and with the power of his eloquence, and his 
 earnest, touching pathos, holds them to the end. The 
 prayers of all Christian people will be enlisted in the 
 mission of this venerable and eloquent preacher 
 wherever he goes." 
 
 This correspondent further says, in another brief 
 paragraph, "We noticed among the audience in the 
 Baptist Church last Sunday morning, Judge E. H. 
 Pottle, and Solicitor-General Reese. The pleasant 
 face of Capt. Pat. Stevens, of Oglethorpe, was also
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 311 
 
 there. These gentlemen were very much pleased with 
 Dr. Teasdale's eloquent and impressive sermon at the 
 morning service. They expressed themselves us hav- 
 ing never heard a better sermon." 
 
 Having closed his labors at Union Point, Dr. T. went 
 back to Greensboro, where he was met at the depot by 
 Dr. T. N. Poullain, and his estimable lady, and they 
 rode out together to the residence of Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Sanford, the mother of Mrs. Poullain, and partook of 
 an excellent dinner prepared by Mrs. Sanford and her 
 daughter, Mrs. Rainey, for the occasion. Miss Mary 
 Lou Poullain, of Madison, Ga., a grand-daughter of 
 Dr. Poullain, accompanied them to Mrs. Sanford's. 
 The day was very agreeably spent in congenial com- 
 panionship with the friends who were there. Mrs. 
 Sanford is a mother in Israel, indeed, and she knows 
 how to extend a cordial welcome to her Christian 
 guests, and make them feel at home in her hospitable 
 mansion. Her excellent son, Thomas D. Sanford, and 
 her affectionate daughter, Mrs. Ella S. Rainey, also 
 contributed their full share to make the visit most 
 agreeable. 
 
 Late in the afternoon, the visiting party started back 
 to Greensboro. Mrs. Rainey accompanied her visitors 
 to the home of her sister, Mrs. Poullain ; and the even- 
 ing was spent in pleasant conversation, until Morpheus 
 claimed them for the night. Refreshed by "Nature's 
 sweet restorer, balmy sleep," they arose the next 
 morning in health and comfort, to resume the impor- 
 tant work of life. At half past 1 o'clock p. m. Dr. T.
 
 312 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 took leave of these valued friends, to meet an appoint- 
 ment that night at Crawfordville. He was greeted by 
 a large congregation at Crawfordville, and discoursed 
 to them on the subject of THE UNPARDONABLE SIN ; or 
 THE SIN AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST. He spent the 
 night with Mr. Richards ; and after calling on the Hon. 
 Alex. H. Stephens, in the morning, and spending a 
 pleasant hour with him, he went to Augusta, to assist 
 Rev. C. H. Strickland in a series of revival meetings 
 
 O 
 
 in the Curtis Baptist Church in that city, of which he 
 was then the pastor. The meeting commenced the 
 next morning, and continued for two weeks. During 
 the first week of the meeting, the exercises were greatly 
 interrupted by the preparations being made for the 
 unveiling of the splendid Confederate monument, v?hich 
 occurred towards the close of that week. The ladies 
 of the Curtis Church gave a lunch on the day of the 
 unveiling of the monument, and the day following, 
 and that absorbed their entire attention for several 
 days. But the second week of the meeting was a grand 
 success. Fourteen were baptized that week; and over 
 fifty persons arose for special prayers, at the close of 
 the last sermon which Dr. T. preached before he left. 
 The meeting went on, and over thirty persons were 
 brought into the church as the result of the effort in 
 
 O 
 
 that place. 
 
 From Augusta, Dr. T. went to Macon, and reached 
 there in time to preach in the First Baptist Church in 
 that city, that night. He was met at the depot in 
 Macon, by his esteemed friend, Rev. Dr. Skinner,
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 313 
 
 pastor of the First Baptist Church in that city, and 
 escorted to the Brown House, where an excellent 
 supper awaited him, of which he partook before 
 going to church. After service, he accompanied 
 Dr. Skinner to his boarding house, and spent the 
 night very pleasantly there. Dr. Skinner was then 
 boarding, because his wife and children were in New 
 York, whither they hadgone on account of the illness 
 of Mrs. Skinner and for whose benefit, her excellent 
 father, Deacon Ludlow, was anxious she should be 
 placed under the care of the ablest physicians in that 
 city. 
 
 The next morning, Dr. T. parted with Dr. Skinner 
 and other friends in Macon, at the depot, and went to 
 Perry, Ga., to assist Rev. Dr. Tharpe in a series of 
 meetings in his church in that place. The brethren in 
 Perry had recently dedicated their new church edifice, 
 which was completely paid for, and which is really one 
 of the neatest and most tasteful meeting-houses in the 
 state ; and they now desired to experience a Bible re- 
 vival of religion to crown their work. God heard their 
 prayer, and gave them a rich blessing in the meeting. 
 Between thirty and forty professed hope in Christ 
 during the nineteen days of Dr. T.'s stay with them, 
 twenty of whom had been baptized before he left the 
 place. The meeting was to be continued, as some 
 twenty persons requested special prayer, at the close 
 of the last sermon which Dr. T. preached there. He 
 found a pleasant home in Perry at the house of Dr. 
 Tharpe, the pastor, as he had done in Nashville at the
 
 314 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 house of his friend, Dr. J. P. Dake ; and at Athens, 
 Ala., at the Chouse of Mr. Tanner; and at Rome, at the 
 house of the pastor, Rev. G. A. Nunnally; and at 
 Forsyth, at the house of Rev. Mr. Amos ; and at Ma- 
 con, at the house of the pastor, Rev. Dr. Skinner; and 
 at Atlanta, at the house of Judge Neal ; and at Madi- 
 son, at the house of Mrs. Foster; and at Greensboro, 
 at the houses of Dr. Poullain and brother Irby ; and at 
 Union Point, at the house of brother Bryant ; and at 
 Augusta, at the house of the pastor, Rev. C. H. Strick- 
 land. He was also well entertained l>y three different 
 families in Gainesville. It seemed to him that wher- 
 ever he went, in all the places named, the friends vied 
 with each other in making his stay with them most 
 agreeable and happy. 
 
 From Perry, Dr. T. went to Albany, Ga., to assist 
 the pastor, Rev. Mr. Riley, in a series of meetings in 
 that city. The weather was very unfavorable for the 
 meeting, and interfered greatly with its success. The 
 interest was constantly increasing in the meeting until 
 Friday night, the second week of the meeting. On 
 that night there were over twenty persons that re- 
 quested special prayer, and several expressed a hope in 
 Christ. Then a severe rain storm set in, which lasted two 
 or three days, and prevented the people from assem- 
 bling almost altogether. The interest, however, was 
 again revived, and the prospect became quite flattering. 
 On the following Thursday night there were some fif- 
 teen persons who came forward for prayers, and eight 
 or ten of them expressed the hope that they had ob-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 315 
 
 iained pardon and salvation. Then another severe 
 rain storm set in, which prevented the holding of any 
 meetings again until Sunday. On that night the meet- 
 ings closed. It was thought that some twelve or fif- 
 teen were converted during the meeting.
 
 316 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 After concluding his labors in Albany, Dr. T. went 
 home to spend a portion of the Christmas holidays 
 with his family, in Knoxville, Tenn. During his stay 
 in Knoxville, he preached for the First Baptist Church, 
 morning and night, on Sunday, the 29th of December. 
 His sermon in the morning was on Heaven; and at 
 night it was on Hell. Of the latter discourse, the ed- 
 itor of the Knoxville Daily Tribune, in his issue on 
 the next Tuesday morning, gave the following account : 
 " 'Hell' was the subject of an interesting discourse 
 delivered by T. C. Teasdale, D. D., in the First Bap- 
 tist Church, Sunday night, during Avhich this venerable 
 divine took occasion to assert his faith in the literal 
 meaning of Holy Writ in reference to that region 
 'beyond the river,' and recited numerous passages of 
 Scripture to illustrate the truth of his position. He 
 scouted the ideas advanced by Darwin as fallacious and 
 ridiculous, contrary to God and Nature's laws. The 
 capacities of the human soul, he thought, approached 
 a degree of sublimity far grander than the groveling 
 instinct of the gorilla, tadpole, or monad, to which 
 these theorists attempt to trace the origin of man, 
 'created in the image of his Maker.' The parable of
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 317 
 
 Lazarus and Dives is alone evidence sufficient, he 
 thought, to convince all, save the most hardened skep- 
 tic, of the existence of a material hell, repeatedly re- 
 ferred to by Christ as a place of eternal punishment. 
 His description of the soul's immortality was grandly 
 conceived, the sublime passages faultlessly delivered, 
 and we regret that limited space prevents a more ex- 
 tended notice of a discourse most interesting to all. 
 
 On Monday following, Dr. T. returned to Georgia. 
 He spent two days in the family of his old and es- 
 teemed friend, Judge Neal, in Atlanta, and then went 
 to Greensboro, and spent two days most agreeably 
 with his endeared friends, Dr. and Mrs. Poullain. He 
 then went to Camilla, in South-western Georgia,' to 
 assist his friend, Rev. Dr. Underwood, in a series of 
 meetings at that place. He arrived there on Saturday 
 night after dark. By some misunderstanding, no one 
 met him at the depot. Dr. Underwood lives out of 
 the village some two miles ; and he thought he had 
 made arrangements for the accommodation of Dr. T., 
 and for his being met at the depot, and properly cared 
 for. That night snow fell to the depth of several 
 inches, and the next day the weather was intensely 
 cold altogether more so than the people there were 
 accustomed to experience. The cold weather lasted for 
 a whole w r eek; and as the meeting-house had no stove 
 
 o 
 
 in it, the meeting was greatly interfered with by the 
 inclement season. But as soon as the weather mod- 
 erated, the house was filled up, and the interest in the 
 meeting was greatly augmented. Dr. T. remained
 
 318 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 until Thursday night of the second week, and then left 
 for Tallahassee, Fla. , to attend the Florida Baptist State 
 Convention, which met that year in that city. During 
 his stay in Camilla, it was thought, that ten or twelve 
 persons professed conversion. The pastor thought 
 that the church had been greatly edified and benefitted. 
 He spoke of the Bible Readings as a new seminary to 
 him. He had enjoyed the advantages of the semi- 
 naries of Germany ; but he felt that he was being ed- * 
 ified and benefitted as much by these Bible Readings, 
 with their expositions and illustrations by Dr. T., as he 
 had ever been in any of the seminaries which he had 
 attended. 
 
 Dr. T. spent a night in Thomasville, after leaving 
 Camilla. He was met at the depot by Rev. Mr. 
 Golden, pastor of the church at that place, and some 
 of his brethren, and escorted to the Mitchell House, 
 the principal hotel in the place, where he spent a very 
 comfortable night. Here he met his friend, Mrs. 
 Peak, and her little son, of Chattanooga, Tenn. She 
 was there in company with her sick sister, Mrs. Cal- 
 houn, of Nashville, Tenn. Mrs. Calhoun was suffering 
 from that fell disease, consumption, from which she 
 has since died. Mrs. Peak is the wife of Capt. Peak, 
 of Chattanooga, who was converted, together with his 
 first wife, during the meeting held by Dr. T. in that 
 place, in the autumn of 1873. 
 
 On the next morning, Dr. T. took the hack for 
 Tallahassee. It is thirty-seven miles' only by stage 
 from Thomasville to Tallahassee. By rail it is several
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 319 
 
 times farther. He arrived in Tallahassee before the 
 close of the session of the Convention that day ; and 
 took up his quarters with Dea. F. B. Moodie, during 
 his stay in that city. The Convention was poorly 
 attended; but it was a spirited meeting. 
 
 He remained in Tallahassee two weeks, and held a 
 series of religious meetings in the Baptist Church. 
 The church in that place was very weak. There were 
 not more than two efficient male members, and some 
 eight or ten female members. The meeting resulted 
 in bringing into the church quite a number by letter. 
 The baptistry was not completed when he left the 
 city, though it was nearly finished ; and consequently 
 baptism was delayed until they could use the baptis- 
 try in the administration of the ordinance. Rev. M. 
 M. Wamboldt, who was Chaplain of the House of 
 Representatives in the State Legislature, remained 
 there and continued the meeting' for awhile after Dr. 
 T. left. 
 
 During his stay in Tallahassee, Dr. T. opened both 
 Houses of the Legislature several times by prayer ; 
 and made a number of valuable acquaintances in the 
 two bodies. His visit to Tallahassee was his first visit 
 to Florida. He had preached extensively in all the 
 Southern States, except Florida; and now the wish 
 which he had long cherished to visit this State of fruits 
 and flowers, was at length gratified. The acquaintances 
 which he formed in Tallahassee were very pleasant, 
 and the attentions which they gave' him have been re- 
 membered with interest up to the present time.
 
 320 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 From Tallahasee, Dr. T. went to Jacksonville, Fla. 
 The Baptist Church in that city was without a pastor, 
 and it was in quite a depressed condition. On his ar- 
 rival in that city, Rev. Mr. Bell, pastor of the Con- 
 gregational Church, called on him, and proposed that 
 the contemplated meeting should be held in the two 
 churches, the Baptist and Congregationalist, during al- 
 ternate weeks. It was distinctly understood that Dr. 
 T. should do all the preaching, and have the direction 
 of the meetings, whether they were held in the Baptist 
 Church, or in the Congregationalist Church. The 
 meeting was harmoniously conducted, and resulted in 
 the conversion of quite a number of souls. Some 
 eight or ten were baptized into the fellowship of the 
 Baptist Church, as the result of the meeting ; and 
 some joined the Congregationalists. Dr. T. thinks it 
 very probable, that more good would have resulted to 
 the Baptist Church, 'if the meeting had been held in 
 that church alone. For, while there was no collision, 
 there was a lack of that deep and earnest concern for 
 the success of the work, which would have been felt, 
 if one church alone had had all the responsibility. 
 
 Dr. T. enjoyed excellent 'health while in Jackson- 
 ville, and gained some five or six pounds in flesh while 
 at work there. He was entertained at first for a week, 
 or more, by his host, Mr. Wm. G. Anderson, of the 
 Elmwood House'. Mr. Anderson and his wife are 
 both members of the Baptist Church, and their kind 
 attentions were unremitting during his stay at their 
 excellent hotel. From the Elmwood House, Dr. T.,
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 321 
 
 by special request of the host and hostess, went over 
 to the Windsor House, which is one of the principal 
 hotels in Jacksonville. The kind host and his wife 
 are also members of the Baptist Church; and his wife, 
 especially, is an ardent Christian, and a well-wisher to 
 the Baptist cause. In their thronged and popular hotel, 
 he spent the balance of bis time, while ho remained in 
 Jacksonville. He acknowledges with gratitude the 
 kind attentions which he received while in that city, 
 not only from the proprietors of the above named 
 hotels, but also from Col. W. J. Lawton, Rev. Mr. 
 McCallam, Rev. Mr. Swift, and brothers Wamboldt, 
 Griffin, and others of the Baptist brotherhood. The 
 recollection of his visit and brief sojourn in Jackson- 
 ville, will be cherish' as among the pleasant memories 
 of his life 
 
 Jacksonville is the county seat of Duval County. It 
 is the commercial metropolis of Florida, and is the 
 largest city on the Atlantic coast south of Savannah. 
 It is situated on the St. John's river, 'about twenty-live 
 miles from the ocean, and is named in honor of Gen- 
 eral Andrew Jackson. Bay Street is the commercial 
 thoroughfare. The commerce of the city is exten- 
 sive. Leading out of the town are fine shell roads 
 which afford delightful drives. About five miles out 
 of the city, down the river, a village is springing up 
 which is called Panama Park. The land was formerly 
 owned by Col. W. J. Lawton, and has been laid off in 
 lots to suit purchasers. Dr. T. purchased a five acre 
 lot in this growing village. One of the most pleasant
 
 322 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 drives about Jacksonville, is that by the way of this 
 village. By taking one road in going out, and another 
 in coming in, you make a circuit of about ten miles. 
 This is becoming a popular route for the visitors from 
 the North, in Jheir drives around the city. The village 
 of Panama Park lies along the St. John's river, and 
 vessels on the ocean may be seen passing and repass- 
 ing, at slight elevations in the village. 
 
 By the earnest solicitation of Mr. A. A. Upson, who 
 was connected at that time with the Florida House, at 
 St. Augustine, Dr. T. made a hasty trip from Jack- 
 sonville to that ancient city, and preached a single 
 sermon during his stay there. The white Baptists had 
 no house of worship in that city, and the Presbyterians 
 kindly tendered the use of their house for the services 
 of the occasion. The rneeting-house was filled to over- 
 flowing with a very appreciative audience, and the at- 
 tentions bestowed on him during his brief visit in that 
 city were marked and agreeable. During his stay in 
 St. Augustine, he visited several places of historic in- 
 terest. 
 
 There are few places in the whole South possessing 
 more objects of interest to a stranger than St. Augus- 
 tine. It is not only the oldest city in the South, but it 
 is the oldest in the United States. It is situated in a 
 direct line about thirty-five miles south of Jacksonville, 
 three hundred and fifty miles north of the southern 
 coast of the Peninsula, and fifteen miles east of the St. 
 John's River. It may be interesting to our readers to 
 mention, in this connection, some of the points of at-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 323 
 
 traction and interest in this antique city. On the ar- 
 rival of the visitor from Tocoi, a steamboat landing 
 on the St. John's River, from which passengers are 
 conveyed over the St. John's Railway, a distance of 
 fifteen miles, the first object to attract attention is the 
 long and narrow causeway which leads to the centre of 
 the city. Leaving the causeway, the visitor enters 
 beneath the archway to the oak, and Pride of Indian 
 trees, with the Spanish moss hanging in skeins from 
 the branches. On our right \ve pass the handsome 
 grounds and residence of A. Gilbert, Esq. ; on the left 
 is the elegant residence and large orange grove of Dr. 
 A.Anderson; in the rear of which are the splendid 
 grounds and mansion of the late Henry Ball, Esq 
 Emerging from the archway, the tourist arrives in 
 
 c? c? / * 
 
 front of the "Plaza de la Constitution," and is then in 
 the centre of the city. The following objects of in- 
 terest are described in Whitney's Florida Pathfinder, 
 viz: 
 
 "THE CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL. 
 
 This is the largest and oldest house of worship in the 
 city ; it was built in 1793 at a cost of over $16,000. 
 Its quaint Moorish belfry, with four bells, which are 
 set within separate niches, together with the clock, 
 forms a complete cross. The peculiar chimes which 
 these old relics of bells give forth, the odd surround- 
 ings of the belfry, including the interior of the church, 
 render it one of the objects of interest in the Ancient 
 City. Upon one of the bells appears the following :
 
 324 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 SANCTE JOSEPH 
 
 ORA PRO KOBIS 
 
 A. D. 1682. 
 
 This bell was probably taken from the ruins of a 
 previous church located on the west side of St. George 
 Street. There exist outside of the city gate the ruins 
 of an old chapel in which several priests were killed by 
 the Indians ; after which it was sacked and burned. It 
 was called "Nuestra Senora De La Leche," or "Our 
 Lady of the Milk." Its erection was the result of a 
 superstition of the Spaniards, borrowed from the 
 ancient Romans. "Our Lady of the Milk" is simply 
 the "Juno Pronuba" of the Romans, whom the 
 matrons invoked and implored, in her proper temple, 
 to furnish them with a sufficient supply of nursing milk 
 for their infants. 
 
 THE STREETS. 
 
 There are four principal streets which extend nearly 
 the length of the town. The first one passed on enter- 
 ing is Tolamato, upon which is located the Catholic 
 Cemetery. The second, St. George Street, is termed 
 the Fifth Avenue of the city. The third, Charlotte, 
 is nearly a mile in length, and is from twelve to fifteen 
 feet wide. All of these streets are quite narrow. The
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 325 
 
 cross streets are still narrower. The fourth is Bay 
 Street, and commands a fine view of St. Augustine 
 Bay, Anastasia Island and the Ocean. 
 
 The streets were formerly floored with shell con- 
 crete, portions of which can still be observed above 
 the shifting sand ; in early times heavy vehicles were 
 not allowed to travel upon the same. There are many 
 modern style residences, with elegant grounds, in and 
 about the city, which are well worth a visit. 
 
 King's road, which leads from the city gate to Jack- 
 sonville, was constructed in 1765 by subscription. 
 
 All the old Spanish residences are constructed of 
 coquina stone, a conglomeration of small shells, quar- 
 ried on Anastasia Island. It is covered with stucco 
 and whitewashed. Many of the houses have balconies 
 along their second stories which overhang the narrow 
 street. The old-time Spanish houses were flat-roofed. 
 
 CITY GATE. 
 
 It stands at the north end of the city, at the head of 
 St. George street. It is the only relic of a town wall 
 supposed to have surrounded the city. It is a pict- 
 uresque and imposing structure. The ornamented 
 lofty towers, the loopholes and sentry-boxes are well 
 preserved, and one can readily expend a few moments 
 examining this antique object of attraction. 
 
 TOWN WALL. 
 
 Whether this wall was composed of the same mate- 
 rial as the old fort or was merely a rougli stockade of 
 pine logs, is a matter of conjecture. If a stone wall 
 ever existed it probably now forms a part of some of
 
 326 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 the old structures in the city. However, this wall or 
 stockade is supposed to have been built some two hun- 
 dred years ago. The north end portion of the wall 
 was situated on the south bank of the ditch, and ex- 
 tended west to the St. Sebastian river, where it ended 
 in a bastion, of which at the present time, with the 
 exception of the sand elevation, no trace remains. 
 
 The ditch, at the present day, is quite visible, and 
 at one time it connected the moat-water around the 
 fort with the St. Sebastian river, but during the late 
 war all evidence of this connection was destroyed by 
 the construction of the northwest fort embankment. 
 
 THE SEA WALL. 
 
 This wall is nearly one mile in length ; connecting 
 with the water battery of the fort, it extends south 
 below the U. S. Government Barracks. The original 
 wall was built by the Spaniards in 1690, and extended 
 that year to the Plaza, and subsequently extended the 
 length of the town. The present sea wall and fort 
 water battery were constructed in 1837 to 1843, at an 
 expense to the U.S. Government of one hundred thou- 
 sand dollars. Both are built of coquina stone taken 
 from the island opposite the city. On the sea wall is 
 a coping of granite four feet wide, which affords a 
 delightful promenade especially on moonlight even- 
 ings, and the stillness of the night being broken by the 
 roar of the ocean surf, adds greatly to the romance. 
 GOVERNOR'S PALACE. 
 
 The residence of the old-time Spanish Governor is 
 located on the corner of St. George and King Streets.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 327 
 
 Under the skill of modern workmanship it has lost its 
 quaint appearance. It serves as Post Office, County 
 Clerk's office, Public Library, and Peabody School. 
 
 CEMETERIES. 
 
 The Military Burying Ground is located just south 
 of the Barracks. Under three Pyramids are the ashes 
 of Major Dade and 107 of his men, who were massa- 
 cred near Fort Dade by Osceola and his band. The 
 Catholic Cemetery is located on the north end of Tol- 
 amato Street. The Huguenot Cemetery is located out- 
 side of the city gate, and just north of the Catholic 
 Cemetery. 
 
 THE BARRACKS. 
 
 This building was once used and designated as the 
 St. Francis Convent. It has undergone extensive mod- 
 ifications and repairs ; the building is located at the 
 south end of the town, near the terminus of the sea 
 wall, and used at present by the United States troops. 
 
 THE PLA2SA. 
 
 The "Plaza de la Constitution" is situated in the 
 centre of the town. It is surrounded by a fence, with 
 seats arranged for the convenience of visitors. During 
 the early part of the Revolution, the effigies of John 
 Hancock and Samuel Adams were burned here by the 
 British troops. Nearly in the centre of the square 
 stands the monument, nearly twenty feet high, erected 
 in 1812, in commemoration of the Spanish Liberal 
 Constitution. Soon after it was erected the govern- 
 ment gave orders to tear it down. But the citizens 
 quietly removed and concealed the inscribed marble
 
 328 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 tablets. The monument remained undisturbed. In 
 1818, the tablets were quietly replaced. Of the mon- 
 uments erected in commemoration of the Constitution, 
 this is the only one now standing. Upon the east side 
 of this monument appears, in Spanish, the following, 
 of which we give a translation : 
 
 Plaza de la 
 Constitution. 
 
 Promulga en esta Ciudad 
 
 de San Augustin de la Florida 
 
 Oriental en 17 de Octubre de 
 
 1812 siendo Gobernador el 
 
 Brigadier Don Sebastian 
 
 Kindalem Cuba Hero 
 del order de Santiago. 
 
 Peira eterna memoria 
 El Ayuntamiento Consti- 
 tutional Erigioeste Obelisco 
 dirigido por Don Fer- 
 nando de la Plaza 
 Arredondo el Joven 
 Regidor De cano y 
 Don Franciscor Robira 
 Procurador Sindico. 
 Ano de 1813. 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 Plaza of the Constitution, promulgated in the city 
 of St. Augustine, East Florida, on the I7th day of 
 October, the year 1812. Being then Governor the 
 Brigadier Don Sebastian Kindalem, Knight of the 
 order of San Diego. 
 
 TOR ETERNAL REMEMBRANCE, 
 
 the Constitutional City Council erected this monumen^.
 
 OF A LOXG LIFE. 329 
 
 under the supervision of Don Fernando de la Maza 
 Arredondo, the young municipal officer, oldest member 
 of the corporation, and Don Franciscor Robira, Attor- 
 ney and Recorder. 
 
 FORT MARION. 
 
 It stands at the north end of the town, and com- 
 mands the inlet from the sea. It is built of coqiiina 
 stone, which was taken from Anastasia Island. It is 
 probably the best preserved specimen in the world of 
 the military architecture of its time. It is the oldest 
 fortification in the United States. It was commenced 
 in 1620, and through the labor of the conscript Indians, 
 was completed in 1756. It occupies an acre of ground 
 and has accommodations for one thousand men and one 
 hundred guns. The Indians were compelled to do the 
 labor of building for over sixty years. Over the en- 
 trance to the fort is the Spanish coat- of -arms, sur- 
 mounted by a globe and cross, while suspended be- 
 neath is the figure of a lamb. Around the fort square 
 are entrances into its dark and dismal rooms. The 
 dungeons wherein the skeletons were discovered are 
 
 o 
 
 located at the North-east extremity of the fort. On 
 the north side of the fort, leading from the interior 
 square, is the Catholic Chapel ; the altar and holy 
 water niches are well preserved. The fort walls and 
 three of the watch towers remain intact, but the guns 
 are dismounted and the moat is dry. The fort is 
 twenty-one feet high, terminating in four bastioned 
 angles at the corners, each of which is surmounted 
 
 O 
 
 w ith sentry boxes and lookout towers.
 
 330 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 Fort Marion is a castle built after the plan of those 
 of the middle ages of Europe. There is the moat, 
 which was flooded by the St. Sebastian. There are 
 the inner and outer barriers, portcullis, wicket, and all 
 the appliances of such fortifications. 
 
 The inscription over the fort entrance is as follows : 
 REYNANDO EN ESPANA EL SEN N DON FER- 
 NANDO SEXTO Y SIENDO GOV K Y CAP* DE 
 ES A C D SA N AUG* DE LA FLORIDA Y SUS 
 PROV A EL MAR1SCAL DE CAMPO D x ALONSO 
 FERN 00 HERADA ASI CONCLUIO ESTE CAS- 
 TILLO EL AN OD 1756 DRIENDO*LASOBRAS 
 EL CAP. INGN RO DN PEDRO DE BROZAS Y 
 GARAY. 
 
 TRANSLATION : 
 
 Don Ferdinand the VI, being King of Spain, and 
 the Field Marshal Don Alonzo Fernando Uereda being 
 Governor and Captain General of this place, St. 
 Augustine of Florida, and its province , this Fort was 
 finished in the year 1 756. The works were directed by 
 the Captain Engineer, Don Pedro de Brozas Y 
 Garay. 
 
 In 1846 the terre-plein of the north-west bastion fell 
 in, revealing a dark and dismal dungeon. We have 
 heard from the lips of a reliable person, still a resident 
 of St. Augustine, and who was present at the time of 
 the above accident to the fort, of the following facts : 
 "I stood upon the edge and looked down into this 
 dungeon and there saw the complete skeleton of a 
 human being, lying at full length, apperanlly on its
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 331 
 
 back ; the arms were extended from the body and the 
 skeleton fingers were wide open ; there appeared to he 
 a gold ring upon one of the fingers. Encircling the 
 wrists were iron bands, attached to which were chains 
 fastened to a hasp in the coquina wall, near the en- 
 trance to the dungeon." 
 
 The military engineer having charge of the repairs 
 noticed in the north-east corner a broad stone, differ- 
 ing greatly in dimensions and appearance from those 
 of which the wall was built. 
 
 He noticed, moreover, that the cement which held 
 this stone in its place differed in composition, and ap- 
 peared to be more recent. On the removal of this 
 stone, the present dark, dismal, fearful dungeon was 
 disclosed. On entering with lights there were found 
 at the west end, two iron cages suspended from hasps 
 in the wall. One of the cages had partially fallen 
 down from rust and decay, and human bones lay scat 
 tered on the floor. The other remained in its position, 
 holding a pile of human bones. The latter cage and 
 contents may be seen in the Smithsonian Institute at 
 Washington. 
 
 This stone was removed by the assistance of Mr. 
 John Capo (now deceased), an honest old harbor pilot 
 and mason ; we have his statement, made personally 
 to us, confirming the finding of the two cages contain- 
 ing the skeletons, as presented in this sketch. 
 
 From a lecture delivered at the fort by J. Hume 
 Simmons, M. D., and afterwards published in the 
 Florida Press, we quote:
 
 332 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 "The broken cage with all the bones, except those 
 which I hold in my hand, were buried in the sand 
 mound to the north of the fort. I recognize these as 
 portions of the tibia and fibula (or leg bones) of a 
 female." 
 
 During the Seminole war Osceola and Coacoochee 
 (or Wild Cat) were captured and confined in the south- 
 west angle of the fort. Coacoochee complained that 
 the cell was too damp and affected his health, where- 
 upon he was removed to an adjoining one, where an 
 elevated seat afforded him the facility of reaching the 
 window above by means of one Indian standing on the 
 shoulders of another. On the evening previous to the 
 night of his escape he remained an unusually long time 
 on the ramparts of the fort, where he was allowed to 
 walk daily for exercise. He had evidently been taking 
 observations of the manner in which the sentinels who 
 guarded outside the fort were stationed, to enable him 
 to determine the safest route to pursue after he should 
 escape from the window. This he effected, during 
 the night, so noiselessly, that when the sentinel, who 
 had paced the whole night before the door of his cell, 
 was about to open the same at dawn, Osceola appear- 
 ed at the grating of his cell, and with a smirk of de- 
 light, exclaimed: "Wild Cat gone." Osceola was 
 afterwards removed to Castle Pinckney, Charleston, 
 where he died broken-hearted. 
 
 There are several other objects of interest in San 
 Augustine which might be mentioned ; but the forego- 
 ing must suffice. Dr. T. visited many of the points
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 333 
 
 of interest above mentioned, and especially the fort 
 and its dismal dungeons. Why these dungeons were 
 made, and who they were that suffered the awful death 
 to which they were subjected in these fearful dungeons, 
 must remain forever an unfathomable mystery. He 
 also walked on the sea wall for a considerable distance ; 
 visited, and passed through by the courtesy of Mrs. 
 Dr. Anderson, the Doctor's orange grove of some 
 twelve hundred trees, which are all in excellent bear- 
 ing condition, and was invited to help himself to as 
 much of the fruit as he might desire. He saw, in 
 passing through the grove, a twig on one of the 
 trees, containing five oranges of good size, and he 
 clipped the twig from the tree and carried it with 
 him to his quarters. He found, on examination, that 
 one orange had been plucked from the twig before 
 he came into possession of it. The five oranges 
 which he took, proved to be fruit of very fine, de- 
 licious character. He was informed that Dr. Ander- 
 son had been offered for the fruit on the trees that 
 winter, $25,000. But his engagements with the fruit 
 dealers in the Northern cities, would not allow him 
 to sell in that way, even if he thought it a fair 
 price for his crop. 
 
 Dr. T. met several old acquaintances from the 
 North at San Augustine; among whom were Rev. P. 
 Church, D. D., of New York; Mr. Upson, of New 
 Haven, Ct. ; Mr. Dibelbiss and lady, of Springfield, 
 Ills. ; and some others whom he had not seen for 
 many years.
 
 334 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 Having completed his brief stay in San Augustine, 
 Dr. T. took the train for Tocoi to meet the steamboat 
 on its way from Jacksonville to Palatka. He went up 
 on the steamer to that town, and enjoyed the privilege 
 of seeing quite a number of fine orange groves along 
 the banks of the St. John's River. He had not time to 
 tarry at Palatka; but made what observations he could 
 in the short time the boat remained, and then he re- 
 turned to Jacksonville the same day on the steamer. 
 
 Along the St. John's River there are many points of 
 interest between Jacksonville and Palatka. A few of 
 them may be mentioned in this connection. 
 
 MULBERRY GROVE, on the west bank of the river, 
 twelve miles from Jacksonville, is the first landing. 
 There is a very beautiful grove here a very pleasant 
 resort for picnic parties. 
 
 MANDARIN, Duval County, Fla., fifteen miles from 
 acksonville, on the east bank ; post office. Popula- 
 tion 250. A convent has been recently established 
 here by the bishop of Florida, and is now inhabited by 
 }/ , . the Sisters of Mercy. Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe 
 >\tj resides here ; she has a pleasant cottage surrounded by 
 fv 40 acres of land, several of which are planted with 
 
 orange trees. 
 
 This was once the scene of a dreadful massacre by 
 the Seminole Indians. Just beyond this place can be 
 seen the wreck of the Federal transport "Maple Leaf," 
 destroyed by a torpedo during the war. 
 
 ORANGE PARK, Clay County, Fla., on west bank of 
 river ; fifteen miles from Jacksonville. 

 
 OF A LONG LIFK. 335 
 
 HIBERNIA, Clay County, Fla., twenty-three miles 
 from Jacksonville, on the west bank ; post office. A 
 pleasant and convenient resort for invalids. Boarding 
 house ; Mrs. Fleming, proprietress. 
 
 MAGNOLIA, Clay county, Fla., twenty-eight miles 
 from Jacksonville, on west bank ; post office. This is 
 one of the most pleasant places on the river ; having fine 
 hotel accommodations, it is much frequented by 
 Northerners. Near this place, to the northward, is 
 Black Creek, which is navigable for small steamers as 
 far as Middleburg. 
 
 GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Clay County, Fla. ; thirty 
 miles from Jacksonville, on west bank; post-office. 
 The principal attraction here is the fine spring, from 
 which the place derives its name. The waters of 
 this spring are strongly impregnated with sulphur, 
 and have a temperature of about seventy-five de- 
 grees, well adapted for rheumatism and dyspepsia. 
 The bathing facilities are well arranged. 
 
 O . " 
 
 This place boasts of two fine hotels and a number 
 of boarding houses. 
 
 HOGARTH'S WHARF, St. John's County, Fla. ; thirty- 
 five miles from Jacksonville, on east bank ; post-office; 
 Wood Landing. 
 
 PICOLATA, St. John's County, Fla. ; forty miles 
 from Jacksonville, on east bank ; post-office. This is 
 the site of an ancient Spanish city, with a fine church 
 and monasteries, erected two centuries ago by Fran- 
 ciscan friars ; all that remains at this historical point 
 now is a cabin and field grown up with weeds. This
 
 33G REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 was formerly the landing for St. Augustine, having 
 been used as such until the completion of the St. John's 
 Railroad. Opposite Picolata are the remains of Fort 
 Poppa, erected during the Spanish era. 
 
 Tocoi, St. John's County, Fla.; forty-nine miles 
 from Jacksonville, on the east bank ; post-office. Here 
 connection is made by the St. John's Railroad with St. 
 Augustine, distant fourteen miles. This road has been 
 lebuilt with iron rails, and the run is made in thirty- 
 five minutes, twice por day, each way. 
 
 FEDERAL POINT, Putnam County, Fla. ; fifty-eight 
 miles from Jacksonville, on the east bank of the river ; 
 post-office ; Wood Landing. 
 
 ORANGE MILLS, Putnam County, Fla. ; sixty-three 
 miles from Jacksonville, on the east bank; post-office. 
 A beautiful orange grove here. 
 
 DANCEY'S LANDING, one mile further south, has one 
 of the oldest orange groves on the river, the fruit from 
 which is always sought after. 
 
 PALATKA, Putnam County, Fla. ; seventy-five miles 
 from Jacksonville, on the west bank of the river ; post 
 and telegraph offices. Situated at the head of naviga- 
 tion for ocean steamers ; this is the most prominent 
 place south of Jacksonville. Population 1,500. The 
 adjacent country is characterized by a richness of vege- 
 tation and mildness of climate. The streets of Palatka 
 are shaded with the wild orange, some of which are 
 in full fruit and flower at the same time, giving a beau- 
 tiful appearance to the town. 
 
 From Jacksonville, Dr. T. went to Gainesville, Fla.,
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 337 
 
 to assist Rev. Mr. Waugh in a series of meetings in 
 his church in' that village. He was quartered at the 
 principal hotel in the village, and spent some two 
 weeks very pleasantly at this place. Gainesville is 
 becoming quite a resort for Northern invalids ; and 
 from its elevated location, and the aroma of its sur- 
 rounding pines, it is well adapted to cure pulmonary 
 affections, if persons thus afflicted resort thither in 
 proper time. The trouble too often is that patients 
 wait until their cases become hopeless, before they 
 seek the benefit of the health-giving influence of the 
 Florida climate. 
 
 There are several objects of general interest in the 
 vicinity of Gainesville which must remain unnoticed in 
 this narrative. The series of meetings held by Dr. 
 T. in this place were very much blessed, and a consider- 
 atye number were added to the church by baptism and 
 by letter as the result of his efforts under God in this 
 village. The young pastor, Rev. Mr. Waugh, though 
 in very delicate health, is doing a good work for the 
 Baptist Church in that place. It is believed that but 
 for his removal to Florida when he did, he would 
 have fallen a victim to consumption before that time. 
 He had repeated hemorrhages of the lungs before he 
 went there ; and though then still feeble, he was 
 thought to be steadily improving.
 
 338 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Having completed his work in Florida, Dr. T. re- 
 turned to Thomasville, Ga., and held a series of meet- 
 ings in that pleasant village. He made his home in 
 Thomasville at the residence of Bro. Smith, the senior 
 deacon of the church, and Brother Finn and his esti- 
 mable lady, the youngest daughter of Deacon Smith, 
 who were living with the old gentlemen, and keeping 
 the house. For their very kind attentions, Dr. T. has 
 ever since cherished the most grateful recollections. 
 The youthful pastor of the church, Rev. E. Z. F. 
 Golden, participated heartily in the good work during 
 the meeting ; and he had the privilege of baptizing in- 
 to the fellowship of the church, as the result of the 
 meeting, twenty-three joyful converts. The church 
 was also greatly revived and blessed. 
 
 After concluding the meeting at Thomasville, Dr. T. 
 went home and spent nearly a week with his family in 
 Knoxville. He hac^ been absent from the loved ones 
 at home, over four months; and thislbrief visit to them 
 was a source of great gratification to him and to them. 
 
 After this brief visit at home, Dr. T. went to Atlan- 
 ta, Ga., to attend the annual meeting of the Southern 
 Baptist Convention which convened in that city on
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 339 
 
 Thursday, preceding the second Sunday in May, 187JL. 
 The meeting of the convention was largely attended; 
 and a deep interest was. evinced in the various objects 
 which the convention seeks to promote. In addition 
 to the N ork of the two boards of the body the For- 
 eign Mission Board, and the Home Mission Board, the 
 Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, located in 
 Louisville, Ky., occupied the attention of the conven- 
 tion for a considerable time one day, and very hand- 
 some pledges were made for its support on the occa- 
 sion. The two ablest sermons which he" heard during 
 the convention were by Dr. J. A. Broadus, in the 
 First Baptist Church on Sunday morning, and by Dr.' 
 J. B. Hawthorne, in the Second Baptist Church that 
 night. He heard, also, on Wednesday night, the 8th 
 of May, Dr. Hawthorne's lecture on "Know thyself," 
 in the Second Baptist Church. It was an excellent 
 address, and very handsomely delivered. 
 
 During the month of May, 1879, Dr. T. held a ser- 
 ies of meetings at Eatonton, Ga. Dr. I. R. Branham, 
 was then pastor of the Baptist Church in that village. 
 Several persons professed hope in Christ, his visit 
 there was very pleasant. The latter part of his stay in 
 Eatonton was spent in the family of Hon. Thos. G. 
 Lawson, acting Judge of the District Court of that 
 District. Dr. Branham gave him all the attention he 
 required, and co-operated heartily in the series of 
 meetings which he held there. In tlie family of Judge 
 Lawson, as indeed in all the families which he visited 
 in Eatonton, he was admirably entertained, and
 
 340 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 I 
 
 cherishes a kind recollection of all the friends of that 
 pleasant village. 
 
 From Eatonton, Dr. T. went to Hawkinsville, Ga. 
 Dr.Geo. R. McCall was then pastor of the BaptistChurch 
 at that place, and Dr. T. found a pleasant home in his 
 family during his stay in that village. His visits 
 amongst the members of the church were very pleasant ; 
 and the meeting resulted very happily. The congrega- 
 tions were large and attentive, and about twenty per- 
 sons professed conversion. Most of the converts uni- 
 ted with the Baptist Church. 
 
 The next meeting which he held was in Carnden, S. 
 C. The following account of it was sent to the Baptist 
 Courier by the pastor during the progress of the meet- 
 ing: 
 
 "REV. DR. T. C. TEASDALE. 
 
 Dear Courier: The eminent brother whose name 
 heads this article, at my earnest solicitation, came to 
 assist me in a series of meetings, and commenced his 
 labors among us last Sabbath. He has, therefore, been 
 with us six days in the meetings. Nine interesting 
 young men have been baptized, and four ladies have 
 been received for membership, who, with others, are 
 expecting to be baptized next Sabbath night. Several 
 of these professed conversion under the faithful preach- 
 ing of Bro. Lainar, who was with me several days a few 
 weeks ago. More than twenty are inquiring what they 
 must do to be saved, and the whole community is being 
 aroused to a sense of their need of divine salvation. Cam- 
 den has hitherto been regarded as a hard place. The pros-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 341 
 
 pect now is that we will have a glorious ingathering of 
 precious souls. Dr. T. is no sensationalist in his 
 preaching. He utterly ignores all mere animal excite- 
 ment ; and by the force of pure Bible truth, endeavors 
 to stir up Christians to a livelier sense of their relig- 
 ious obligations, and to lead poor sinners to Christ that 
 they may be saved. I can say that I never heard abler 
 sermons in a revival meeting, and sermons better 
 adapted to the end for which they were designed, than 
 those which Dr. Teasdale is now delivering to my peo- 
 ple. His Bible readings are simply inimitable, and 
 everybody is carried away with them. I clip from the 
 Camden Journal the following just remarks by the 
 editor of that paper in his issue of yesterday : 
 
 'This eminent divine, as previously announced, 
 commenced a series of meetings in the Baptist Church 
 last Sunday, and on that day, as well as every night 
 since, large congregations have attended his preaching. 
 Though advanced in years, he apparently possesses a 
 strong and vigorous constitution, and he certainly ex- 
 hibits wonderful efficiency in the great cause he re- 
 presents. His preaching is not of the sensational kind, 
 but in some respects peculiar. He has a great faculty 
 of simplifying the truth of the gospel, and making it 
 appear in its most winning form. He leaves the sin- 
 ner no excuse for neglecting salvation. In points of 
 doctrine he is a bold expounder of the views adopted 
 by the church with which he is identified, and does not 
 hesitate to condemn evil in whatever shape it may ap- 
 pear. No one can fail to listen to him while he
 
 342 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 preaches, and his eloquent words and positive way of 
 expounding the truth, are bound to leave an impression. 
 No doubt much good will result from his work here.' 
 
 Dr. Teasdale is now seventy years of age. But his 
 graceful action and his clear, sonorous voice, and his 
 eloquent delivery, would lead one to think that he 
 could not be over fifty. It is really wonderful what 
 power of endurance he evinces. He never wearies. 
 And although he speaks on an average two hours a day, 
 from week to week, and from month to month, yet 
 he seems fresh and vigorous. May the Lord spare his 
 useful life for many years to come, and make his last 
 days, as he now seems to be doing, his very best days. 
 More anon. Yours fraternally and truly, 
 
 W. A. THERRELL. 
 
 Camdeu, S. C., June 20th, 1879. 
 
 Dr. T. remained in Camclen two weeks. Twenty- 
 eight had been baptized before he left ; and three 
 others were received for the ordinance. Five or six 
 were received by letter and by restoration ; and the 
 meeting resulted in an accession to the church of some 
 forty members. It was a rich ingathering into that 
 church. The young men, who joined the church in 
 that meeting, were willing to work for the blessed 
 Master ; and they would pray or speak in public 
 as occasion might require, almost without excep- 
 tion. 
 
 The following notice of the meeting held in Oxford, 
 Ala., in September, 1879, appeared in the Alabama 
 Baptist, September 25th., 1879. The letter was written
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 343 
 
 by one of Alabama's best and most excellent ministers. 
 Here it follows : 
 
 "OXFORD BAPTIST CHURCH REVIVAL MEETING REV. 
 
 T. C. TEASDALE, D. D. 
 
 Recently, Rev. T. C. Teusdale, D. D., of Knoxville, 
 Tenn., by invitation of the pastor, visited our town 
 and he!4 a series of meetings in the Oxford Baptist 
 Church. It had been my good fortune to hear this 
 distinguished divine, in a similar series, while a student 
 in Marion. All my then prepossessions were increased 
 and confirmed on this occasion. For a half century, 
 the American people have looked upon pen-photo- 
 graphs of Rev. T. C. Teasdale, D. D. These have 
 been drawn by master minds and artists. It is not 
 supposed now that another could be added of higher 
 beauty, or greater correctness. Still, none are denied 
 their contribution of love and appreciation. 
 
 Dr. Teasdale is a most cultivated, refined and ac- 
 complished gentleman. He is a Christian of spotless 
 character, of strong, unwavering faith, of deep, fer- 
 vent piety. A fine scholar, well versed in history, 
 belles-lettres, languages, and in elocution and oratory, 
 he is master of the situation. In theology, in a thor- 
 ough knowledge of the truths of the Bible, and in a 
 critical and correct interpretation of its truths, he has 
 no superior. Dr. Teasdale is no ordinary man, but 
 extraordinary in nearly every particular. Some men 
 have a few elements of greatness; Dr. Teasdale has 
 well nigh all these elements in happiest combination. 
 As a preacher, he is safe and sound, clear and cap-
 
 344 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 tivating, forcible, moving, eloquent, sublime. As a 
 revivalist, he has no equal in the United States. He 
 has more tact and talent, and a longer and larger ex- 
 perience as an evangelist, than any man now living. 
 He is no sensationalist, no shoddyist. 
 
 Dr. Teasdule is, warp and woof, a Baptist, a firm, 
 decided Baptist. In nearly every sermon, while he 
 preaches God's truth in love, he presents, as if from 
 habit, Baptist doctrine, and that, too, in such a strong 
 blaze of light and glow of love, that even other de- 
 nominations are attracted, and fall in love with him. 
 He approaches the sinner with argument, convinces his 
 judgment, lodges God's truth in his heart, then prays 
 that the Holy Spirit may make it the power of God 
 unto salvation. Thousands have been converted under 
 his ministry. And out of this vast number, fewer 
 have fallen than from those of any other evangelist, a 
 fact that he proposes to prove to the world, ere long, 
 by actual count. All our larger towns and cities 
 should avail themselves of the services of this able 
 servant of God. 
 
 As a natural sequence, the visit of our beloved 
 brother to our church and community, was attended 
 with happiest results. He remained with us sixteen 
 days. He gave Bible readings each morning on the 
 most important Christian duties. He preached every 
 night sermons on the most important, central and 
 pointed doctrines of salvation. The sermons and read- 
 ings were an epitome of the whole doctrine and duties 
 of our holy religion. He left no important part un-
 
 OF ^ LONG LIFE. 345 
 
 touched, he covered all the ground, and that, too, in a 
 small compass, and with a master's hand. 
 
 Our church was greatly blessed and revived. Twenty 
 were added ; several others will join soon. Over twenty 
 were subsequently added to the church, over forty in 
 all, besides those who joined other organizations. We 
 feel that our cause was placed on higher vantage ground. 
 All rejoiced to see the banner of Christ so handsomely 
 displayed, and to look upon such a scholar, orator and 
 man of God, as one of our Baptist fathers in Israel. 
 All the people of the town went out, many from great 
 distances in the surrounding country and villages 
 came no such crowds ever before came to Oxford, 
 simply to hear the Word of God. They continued to 
 come, even to the last service, and were pleased, 
 profited, instructed. All will remember long, Dr. 
 Teasdale's visit here, with gratitude and gladness." 
 
 J. C. WRIGHT. 
 
 Oxford, Ala." 
 
 In January, 1880, Dr. T. held his second meeting at 
 Sumter, S. C. This meeting was very much blessed ; 
 and was nearly equal in interest to that which he held 
 there in 1856. It was touching to find so many who were 
 active in his first meeting, now missing. A number 
 had gone to their rest and their reward on high. 
 Among this class were the Rev. Mr. Graham, and the 
 venerable Major Hainesworth, who was baptized dur- 
 ing his first meeting in that village. Rev. Wm. D. 
 Rice was pastor of the church when that meeting was 
 held. Rev. C. C. Brown was the pastor when the
 
 346 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 second meeting was held, and is still pastor at this 
 writing, in 1887. A letter from him, dated May 14th, 
 1887, states that there were twenty additions to the 
 Baptist Church in that last meeting. He does not re- 
 member how many united with other churches as the 
 fruit of the meeting. Dr. T.'s recollection is that 
 there were fifty or sixty conversions in the meeting. 
 
 During the progress of this meeting, Dr. T. wrote 
 to Deacon T. P. Lide of Darlington, S. C., making 
 some inquiries as to the results of the meeting which 
 he held in that village in 1855. The following reply 
 to that letter was duly received : 
 
 "DARLINGTON, S. C., Jan. 30, 1880. 
 
 My Dear Doctor: Your letter was gladly received 
 a few days ago, and I was rejoiced to hear of the good 
 time you are having in Sumter. Would like very 
 much to be one of your congregation, and to visit the 
 now joyful home of my friends, W. F. B. Haynes- 
 worth and wife, with whom I greatly rejoice in the good 
 news from their children. 
 
 I now proceed to comply, as far as I can, with your 
 request to give the statistics of the glorious meeting 
 held at Darlington, commencing on the 28th of October, 
 1855, and running through ten days and nights. I 
 find the following entry by myself, as clerk : 'On 
 this day commenced a memorable and glorious meet- 
 ing. Dr. Teasdale, according to appointment, com- 
 menced the services ; the Holy Spirit attended his 
 labors of love with power to the comfort of the 
 church, the restoration of backsliders, and the *alva-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 347 
 
 tion of many souls. For ten days and nights crowds 
 hung upon his lips, and were made to rejoice that they 
 ever saw his face and heard his voice. To meet other 
 engagements, he was obliged to break away in the 
 midst of a glorious work of grace. The parting scene 
 between this favored servant of God, and the young 
 converts, the church and congregation, was one of 
 most pathetic and solemn interest, which must be 
 witnessed to be fully realized.' Twenty-eight persons, 
 chiefly females, Avere baptized twelve persons had 
 hope of conversion, and either united with other de- 
 nominations, or failed to join any church ; and from 
 fifteen to twenty colored people were brought into the 
 church. 
 
 A goodly company of these converts, some with 
 triumphant faith, have passed to their final rest, others 
 have fallen away, while others, as we hope, are strug- 
 gling on the way of life. No minister has appeared 
 among the number. Invoking the blessing of God 
 upon yourself and family, and upon your evangelical 
 labors wherever dispensed, I remain yours with 
 fraternal affection, 
 
 T. P. LIDE." 
 
 In the month of February, 1880, Dr. T. held a 
 meeting at Johnston, S. C., which was very much 
 blessed. During the progress of the meeting the fol- 
 lowing letter appeared in the Augusta Evening News: 
 
 "Rcv.Thos. C.Teasdale, D.D.,of Knoxville,Tenn., 
 native of New Jersey, and though 71 years of age, is 
 wonderfully preserved for a man of a white-blossomed
 
 348 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 head of hair. We have known him for a fourth of a cen- 
 ury, since that memorable revival meeting at Edgefield 
 Village, when he embalmed himself in the memories 
 of her best citizens and her vital history. He was for 
 some time professor of rhetoric and elocution in the 
 State University of Tennessee. He is a man of intel- 
 lect and cultured refinement, and a Christian gentle- 
 man withal. He has been holding a series of meetings 
 in the Baptist Church of this place, which have at- 
 tracted the attendance and close attention of all our 
 people of all denominations. He has done much good 
 here and elsewhere in his Master's Vineyard. 
 
 Truly for the Lord of Hosts and for the extension 
 of His Kingdom in all loyal hearts does he work to 
 establish heart and family religion. He is a mun of 
 fervent , and effectual prayer, a Christian of spotless 
 character, of overcoming faith and tested piety, a 
 finished scholar, historical and classical. His Bible 
 readings of graphic word paintings are wonderful ex- 
 positions of the Word, which, together with his able 
 and eloquent sermons, give effectiveness to his two- 
 edged Sword of the Spirit. Herein is the secret of his 
 successful assistance in photographing the image of his 
 Master on the hearts and consciences of his hearers. 
 Certainly is he an extraordinary personage, constituted 
 of all the elements necessary, combining in happy uni- 
 son, to make a great man and a powerful evangelist. 
 
 It certainly is an indubitable fact, that our whole 
 Christian community has already been wonderfully re- 
 vived, refreshed, blessed and well assured that the
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 349 
 
 banner of King Jesus will not, in his hands, be trailed 
 in the dust. We feel that the cause of religion has 
 
 <T* 
 
 been placed on higher vantage ground, to the dismay 
 of skeptics and the enemies of the Cross of Christ. 
 And while Zion travails and brings forth sons and 
 
 o 
 
 daughters into the kingdom, we have abundant ground 
 for hope and confidence that our 'libtle one may be- 
 come a thousand,' while gospel faith and the Spirit's 
 power give victory to the SWORD of the LORD and of 
 GIDEON. E. J. MIMS, M. D." 
 
 The meeting at Johnston continued two weeks. Nine 
 were added to the Baptist Church, by baptism; sev- 
 eral others were expected to join the Methodist Society ; 
 and a large number were still inquiring what they must 
 do to be saved, when the meeting closed. Christians 
 expressed themselves as greatly edified and strength- 
 ened by the services; and a noble impulse was given 
 to our cause in that place. 
 
 After closing that interesting meeting at .Johnston* 
 Dr. T. went over to Edgefield to hold another meeting 
 in that place. Twenty -five years before, as was stated 
 in its place, he had held a very interesting meeting 
 there ; and the recollection of many of the scenes, that 
 transpired during that meeting, were fresh in the mem- 
 ories of many still living there, as they were also in 
 the memory of Dr. T. himself. He remained in Edge- 
 field on this occasion nearly two weeks. He had been 
 told before he went there, that Edgefield was the hard- 
 est place in the state ; and that there was very little 
 chance of doing any good there. But he was greeted
 
 350 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 in the beginning with a large congregation, and as the 
 meeting progressed the interest increased, until the 
 house was filled to its utmost capacity, and a general 
 awakening in the village soon followed. Of the meet- 
 ing, the Edgefield Advertiser said : 
 
 "Day by day, and night by night, for ten days past, 
 Dr. Teasdale has preached in our Baptist Church. And 
 perhaps never since Dr. Teasdale's first visit to us, 
 twenty-five years ago, has Edgefield been so moved and 
 shaken. Crowds have followed him at every service, 
 and beyond all doubt his warnings have prevented many 
 shipwrecks of mortal souls. And still even when he 
 shall be gone the leaven will work. For fifty years 
 we dare say longer he has stood, as it were, like a 
 lighthouse on a rock-bound shore. For years the 
 storms have beaten around him fearfully, but the light 
 has never been extinguished, nor grown dim. He de- 
 parts from among us on Saturday afternoon next, for 
 Augusta; and may God grant him a long continuation 
 of his useful life !" 
 
 Sixteen had been baptized before he left Edgefield; 
 five others had been received for baptism ; and a large 
 number were still inquiring what they must do to be 
 saved. Quite a number joined the church after he left. 
 Thus it will be seen that nothing is too hard for the 
 Lord. Our motto should ever be < l nihil desperandum .'' " 
 
 After leaving Edgefield, Dr. T. spent a few days in 
 conducting a meeting in the little church in the First 
 Ward of Augusta, Ga. The meeting was considerably 
 blessed, and a number were added to the church by
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 351 
 
 baptism. The Baptistry of the Greene Street Church 
 was used in baptizing the converts. Dr. W. W. Land- 
 rum was pastor of the Greene Street Church at that 
 time, and by request .baptized the converts. The con- 
 gregations on the baptismal occasions were very large; 
 and that gave Dr. T. access to many who did not attend 
 the meeting in the First Ward. Dr. T. was the guest 
 of the Mayor of the city while conducting that meeting ; 
 and he found a pleasant home in the Mayor's family. 
 
 From Augusta^ Dr. T. returned to Knoxville, and he 
 found the Church Committee anxiously looking out for 
 a pastor to supply the place of Dr. Eager, who had 
 recently gone to Mobile to take charge of the St. 
 Francis Street Church in that city. He advised the 
 committee to invite Bro. C. H. Strickland, then of 
 Augusta, to make them a visit. They did so; and he 
 was immediately called to the pastorate of the church. 
 Brother Strickland's labors in Knoxville were highly 
 appreciated and very much blessed. The church parted 
 with him very reluctantly, when he was called to Nash- 
 ville. 
 
 Dr. T. held a series of revival meetings in the First 
 Baptist Church, of Raleigh, N. C., in April, 1880. Dr. 
 Skinner was then pastor of that church. This was the 
 fourth meeting in which Dr. T. had labored with Dr. 
 
 O 
 
 Skinner, in a series of revival services. The first was 
 held in Raleigh, in 185(5. The second was held in 
 Columbus, Ga. The third in Macon, Ga., accounts of 
 which have been given in their places in this volume. 
 The last meeting held with Dr. Skinner, in Raleigh,
 
 352 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 commenced on April 4th, and continued until April 
 26th, 1880. A copy from the records of the church in 
 relation to this meeting may be here inserted. 
 
 "Since our last conference meeting, our church has 
 enjoyed a precious season of revival conducted by Dr. 
 T. C. Teasdale, of Knoxville, Tenn., beginning on 
 April 4th, and continuing until April 26th, during which 
 time quite a number professed faith in Christ, and 
 twenty-nine were baptized into the fellowship of the 
 church." 
 
 The number converted in this meeting was estimated, 
 at the time, to be about sixty. And but for the fact 
 that Dr. Nelson was holding a series of meetings in the 
 Second Church at the same time, the number of con- 
 verts in the First Church would probably have been 
 much greater. 
 
 An incident occurred during this meeting which is 
 deemed worthy of especial mention. There was a 'gen- 
 tleman connected with this congregation, whose wife was 
 a useful member of the church, and who had been pray- 
 ing for the conversion of her husband for thirty years, 
 or more. Dr. T. had formed the acquaintance of this 
 gentleman many years before ; and on his arrival in 
 Raleigh he called on him at his place of business. He 
 had been long engaged as Publisher and Bookseller in 
 that city. Dr. T. said to him, "Mr. W. I learn with 
 regret, sir, that you are yet unconverted and out of the 
 church." Mr. W. replied, "I am sorry to say, sir, it 
 is true." Dr. T. then said to him, "Well, sir, I trust 
 before I leave this city I shall have the pleasure of
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 353 
 
 greeting you as a true convert to Jesus," Mr. W. re- 
 plied with manifest emotion, "I wish it might be so." 
 This gentleman attended the meetings every night, and 
 every day, when business would permit. No man in 
 the cily was more generally known and respected than 
 Mr. W. Strictly moral and honest and kind to all, he 
 had won the affections of the people of the city gen- 
 erally, and his conversion was greatly desired, not only 
 by his pious wife, but by the pastor and all the mem- 
 bers of the church. Dr. T. observed that every time 
 those who desired an interest in the prayers of Chris- 
 tians were requested to arise in the congregation, Mr. 
 W. was among the first to stand upon his feet. But 
 he obtained no relief, Dr. T. began to mistrust that he 
 was cherishing a will not in his mind. He had in every 
 meeting been willing to arise for prayer ; but he had 
 never been known to go forward for prayers. One 
 night, Dr. T. alluded to the will nots in the sinner's 
 mind which prevent his conversion. At tho close of 
 the sermon and when the anxious were invited to come 
 forward for prayers, Mr. W. said to his wife, "My 
 dear, if you will accompany me, I will go forward for 
 prayer." Joyfully his wife exclaimed "Yes, husband, 
 I will gladly go with you to the seat for prayer," and 
 taking his arm they came together to the seat for praj'er. 
 And when they were seated, on the front bench, his 
 wife said to him, "Now, my dear, I do trust you will 
 give your heart to Jesus this very night." And the hus 
 band replied, "I have done it already." "Do you 
 mean to say," said his wife, "that you are converted?"
 
 354 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 "Yes," he said, "I trust I am converted." "May I tell 
 Dr. Skinner," she said, "that you think you are con- 
 verted?" "Yes," said he, "tell everybody that I am 
 converted." And it was indeed an old fashioned, genu- 
 ine conversion. Dr. Nelson, who Avas present when he re- 
 lated his Christian experience, and which he did in de- 
 tail and without prompting, remarked, "That was pure 
 cream an inch thick." So his will not was an opposi- 
 tion to coming forward for prayer. The probability is 
 that he was converted before he left his seat to come 
 forward, or on his way to the seat for prayer. Certain 
 it is that he was converted when he took the seat for 
 special prayer, if not before. He is now, in his old 
 age, one of the most honored and pious members of 
 the church. The congregations were large and atten- 
 tive throughout the meeting in this city. 
 
 From Raleigh, in May, 1880, Dr. T. went to Dur- 
 ham, N. C., to assist Rev. C. Durham in a meeting at 
 that place. This village is celebrated all over the 
 country for its extensive tobacco factories. It is really 
 interesting to go through those factories and witness 
 the various processes of manufacturing tobacco. The 
 meeting at this place continued thirteen days. The 
 pastor baptized seven during the meeting, three young 
 men, and four girls. One of the young men baptized 
 in that meeting is now (1887) Clerk of the church. 
 Dr. T. made his home during the meeting in the pleas- 
 ant family of the pastor ; and he spent the time very 
 agreeably with them. He found Bro. Durham thorough- 
 ly ingratiated in the affections of the people of his
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 355 
 
 charge. He had then been pastor there for a number 
 of years, and is still the pastor of that church at the 
 present writing. His labors among that people have 
 been greatly blessed. 
 
 On Tuesday, May llth, 1880, Dr. T. commenced a 
 series of meetings in Wilmington, N. C., which con- 
 tinued until the night of June 6th. Bible readings 
 were given every day, and preaching occurred every 
 night. Bro. J. B. Taylor was then pastor of the 
 church. In a recent letter, in answer to some inquiries 
 about the meeting, Dr. Taylor says, "We had thirty- 
 five additions during the meeting." Dr. T. made his 
 home during his stay in Wilmington with Deacon Geo. 
 R. French, Sr., and his excellent wife; and a more 
 pleasant home could not be found. The number of 
 converts in the meeting, besides those who united with 
 the Baptist Church is not known. There were, how- 
 ever, quite a number who professed hope in Christ dur- 
 ing the meeting, who united with other denominations. 
 
 Dr. T. assisted Dr. Theodore Whitfield for a few 
 
 
 
 days in a meeting at Charlotte, N. C., in September, 
 1880. The meeting-house was so far away from the 
 centre of the city, that it was next to impossible to 
 draw a crowd out of the city. Still, the night con- 
 gregations were quite good, and the meeting was a 
 blessing to the church. Dr. T. assisted in raising on 
 subscription, a handsome sum to finish their new meet- 
 ing-house, then in course of erection on a very eligible 
 site on the principal street in the city. The house has 
 since been completed, and the Baptists stand on a
 
 356 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 much better vantage ground than they did while in 
 their old meeting-house. A very interesting and in- 
 fluential young lady, of another denomination, united 
 with the Baptist Church during that meeting. 
 
 Dr. T. held a series of revival meetings in the Cum- 
 berland Street Baptist Church, in Norfolk, Va., in the 
 latter part of November, and closing the second Sun- 
 day in December, 1880, with a densely thronged audi- 
 ence in the Academy of Music. The brethren speak 
 of the meeting as having been a good one, and say that 
 a number were added to the church how many they 
 cannot state, as the records were lost. Brother Wood 
 was then the esteemed pastor of the church, and Dr.T. 
 made his home in his pleasant family during his stay 
 in Norfolk. 
 
 An incident occurred during this meeting which is 
 worthy of note. One of the most elegant opera-houses 
 in all the land, had just approached completion in that 
 city. As Brother Wood and Dr. T. were in the vicinity 
 of the building, Mr. Wood suggested that we should go 
 in and view the structure. And while we were ad- 
 miring its elegance, and its admirable adaptation to the 
 purposes for which it was intended, Dr. T. casually 
 remarked to the proprietor, who happened to be pres- 
 ent, "What a good thing it would be if the first public 
 exercise held in this building should be a gospel ser- 
 mon." The proprietor replied, "Will you preach that 
 sermon? If you will consent to do so, I will have 
 everything arranged for the service, and shall be 
 pleased to have you preach here at any time that may
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 357 
 
 suit your convenience." Dr. T. replied that he would 
 consult the brethren about the matter, and report the 
 result to him the next day. The brethren favored the 
 movement, and report was made to the proprietor ac- 
 cordingly. It was agreed that the service should be 
 held at 3 o'clock on the following Sunday afternoon. 
 Notice of the intended service was published in the 
 city papers, and given in the various pulpits of the 
 city on Sunday morning. Slips containing the hymns 
 to be sung were printed and distributed all over the 
 Opera House before the services began. The house 
 had a main audience room, and two galleries, and it 
 was filled to its utmost capacity with attentive hearers. 
 As it was a little dim in the house, so late in the dav, 
 the accommodating proprietor let on the gas, which 
 was done, without any confusion or delay , by electricity, 
 and the beautiful building was brilliantly illuminated 
 for the occasion. A presenter occupied tho stand with 
 the clergymen who were present, and led the singing. 
 The great congregation joined heartily in the singing, 
 and it was a pleasant thought that the first voices that 
 were to fill that house, were those of Christian 
 worshippers. As was anticipated by the brethren, a 
 large number of persons were present who never visit 
 the churches, and they listened most respectfully to the 
 entire sermon. Dr. T. was so impressed with the vast- 
 ness of the crowd, and the character of many of his 
 hearers, that he preached an earnest and solemn sermon 
 on the General Judgment. His text was in Revela 
 tions xx. 12, "And I saw the dead, small and great,
 
 358 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 stand before God : and the books were opened ; and 
 another book was opened, which is the book of life; 
 and the dead were judged out of those things which 
 were written in the books according to their works." 
 May we not hope that some happy fruits will result 
 from that sermon ? 
 
 From Norfolk, Dr. T. went out to assist the ven- 
 erable Reuben Jones in a series of meetings at his 
 church at Churchland, in the country. He had assisted 
 a former pastor in a series of meetings with that 
 church, when he was pastor of the Thirteenth Street 
 Church in Washington City. It was in summer time 
 that that meeting was held, and the weather was very 
 hot. Dr. T. contracted malarial fever there, which 
 developed itself after his return to Washington. It 
 was a serious attack of the fever, and came near termi- 
 nating his life. He was not, therefore, a stranger to 
 many of the brethren and sisters of that church, and 
 his coming among them was greeted -by the warmest 
 reception. The congregations were very large, and 
 many were converted in the meeting. The Christian 
 graces of the members were greatly revived, and every- 
 body seemed interested in the meeting. What were 
 large plantations when he held his first meeting there, 
 were now cut up into farms, and almost entirely de- 
 voted to fruit and vegetable culture. Ships for New 
 York left Norfolk three times a week, and a large 
 quantity of fruits and vegetables were sent to New 
 York on every trip of these steamers,. Much was also 
 shipped to Baltimore and Washington City. Dr. T.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 359 
 
 lodged with Bro. Jones at the parsonage during the 
 meeting ; but he and the pastor were invited to dine 
 with the brethren almost every day during his stay 
 among them. He cherishes the kindest remembrance 
 of that meeting and its results. 
 
 In July, 1882, Dr.T. held a meeting atRipley,Tenn. 
 The interest in the meeting soon became so great that 
 the Baptist meeting-house would not hold the people, 
 and arrangements were made to remove the meeting 
 from the church to the Court House. The Court Room 
 is a spacious hall, well seated and admirably adapted 
 to accommodate the crowds. It is also well ventilated; 
 and the people as well as the preacher were very grate- 
 ful that such a change was made. The meeting con- 
 tinued two weeks. The pastor, Elder E. C. Faulkner, 
 baptized ten at the close of the. meeting. The pastor, 
 in speaking of that meeting, in a recent letter to Dr. 
 T., says: "It was a good meeting ; the good effects of 
 which did not die with the meeting, but were lasting." 
 How many united with other denominations as the re- 
 sult of that meeting is not known. 
 
 In August, 1882, Dr. T. held a meeting at Trenton, 
 Ky. The meeting was largely attended, and much 
 good was effected by it. Elder A. F. Pearson was 
 then the esteemed pastor of the church ; and Dr. T. 
 made his home fh the pastor's family during his stay 
 in Trenton. Some other meetings were held that year. 
 
 Dr. T. gave several months in the beginning of 1883 
 in agency work for the American and Foreign Bible 
 Society. The Treasurer of the Society expressed en-
 
 360 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 tire satisfaction with his labors in its interests, and 
 told him that he had raised more money for the Society 
 than any other agent during the period of his agency. 
 In May, 1883, the American and Foreign Bible So- 
 ciety, and the American Bible Union, were merged 
 into the Bible work of the American Baptist Publica- 
 tion Society. And the work has been prosecuted and 
 managed with great efficiency by Rev. Dr. C. C. Bitting, 
 the Society's Secretar} 7 for that department. It may 
 be a matter of interest to some to know that Dr. T. 
 was agent for a while of this Society in 1830-31, when 
 it was the Baptist General Tract Society, and Rev. Ira 
 M. Allen was its Corresponding Secretary. Dr. T. is 
 probably the oldest agent of that Society now living. 
 He has always felt a deep interest in the work of the 
 Society. At its anniversary in Providence, R. I., in 
 1845, Dr. T. made one of the special addresses, by 
 request pf the Corresponding Secretary, which was 
 printed in the Minutes of that year. Rev. J. M. Peck 
 was then the Corresponding Secretary of the Society. 
 At the meeting of our anniversaries that year in Prov- 
 idence, the Southern brethren severed their connection 
 with the Board in Boston, and the Southern Baptist 
 Convention was immediately formed. 
 
 In April, 1883, Dr. T. held a series of meetings in 
 the Calvary Baptist Church in Meridian, Miss. The 
 meetings continued about three weeks, and resulted in 
 great good to that young church. Nineteen accessions 
 were made to the church fourteen by experience and 
 baptism, and five by letier. The church is in prosper-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 361 
 
 ous condition at the time of this writing (1887), and 
 the pastor, Elder Vane, has reason to be encouraged 
 in his work. 
 
 From Meridian, Dr. T. went to Saratoga Springs, to 
 attend the Baptist Anniversaries which were held there 
 the latter part of May. After his return he held a 
 meeting at Bibbville, Ala., which was considerably 
 blessed. His home during the meeting was with Capt. 
 Flournoy, a son of Dea. Flouruoy, of Meridian. It 
 was a very pleasant home. 
 
 Dr. T. went to Oxford, Ala., in September, 1883, 
 and held his second meeting there. The meeting con- 
 tinued ten days. Eight were baptized into the fellow- 
 ship of the church, and three joined by letter. It is 
 thought by the pastor, Bro. J. C. Wright, that fifteen 
 or twenty were converted in the meeting. The Purser 
 Brothers were conducting a meeting in Anniston at 
 the same time. And although we endeavored to co- 
 operate cordially, as far as possible, it is thought much 
 more good would have been accomplished if the meet- 
 ings had been held at different times. That was the 
 opinion of Pastor Wright at the time. Dr. T. made 
 his home during the meeting with Mayor Kelly and 
 his estimable wife. 
 
 In October, 1883, Dr. T. went to Flintville, Tenn., 
 to hold a series of meetings with the little Baptist 
 Church in that place. He remained there over two 
 weeks, and delivered during the services seventeen 
 sermons and Bible readings. The meetings were at- 
 tended with great success. The Holy Spirit attended
 
 362 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 the word spoken, and a general religious awakening in 
 the community was the result. Quite a large number 
 were baptized and added to the church ; and at the con- 
 clusion of the last sermon by Dr. T. about thirty un- 
 converted men came forward and gave him their hands, 
 and requested him to pray for them. The meeting went 
 on after he left ; and the little church was greatly en- 
 couraged and strengthened on the occasion. 
 
 From Flintville, Dr. T. went to Paducah, Ky., to 
 marry his son, R. L. Teasdale, the Druggist of Colum- 
 bus, Miss. His son married Miss Lizzie McKnight, 
 one of Paducah's popular young ladies. After the 
 wedding, Dr. T. accompanied the happy couple and 
 his son Howard M. Teasdale, the Book i lerchant of 
 Columbus, to Louisville, Ky., and took in the Louis- 
 ville Exposition, which was then in full operation. 
 From Louisville, Dr. T. went to Knoxville Mid spent 
 some days with his family.
 
 OF A LOJTG LIFE. 363 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 In November, 1883,. he went to assist Rev. T. R. 
 Taylor, in a series of meetings at Asbury Park, N. J. 
 He preached forty sermons at this place, including his 
 Bible readings. A considerable number were converted 
 in the meeting, and the church was greatly revived. 
 His home while here was in the pastor's pleasant f am- 
 ity. 
 
 From Asbury Park, he went to Jersey City, and 
 labored with his old time friend, Rev. Dr. \V. W. 
 Everts, for a week. Untoward circumstances rendered 
 his efforts here almost unavailing. Still, some good 
 was done; some were converted, and the church was 
 somewhat revived. He made his home here with Dr. 
 Everts' family and was well entertained. 
 
 He went from Dr. Everts' church, which is called 
 the Bergen Hights, to the First Baptist Church in 
 Jersey City, which was then and is still under the pas- 
 toral care of Rev. Dr. Parmly. The number of ser- 
 mons and Bible readings given to this church during 
 this meeting was thirty-four. It was a very interest- 
 ing meeting, and a large number were added to the 
 church. Dr. Parmly labored earnestly in the meeting, 
 as did Dr. Everts, and Bro. Taylor in their meetings. 
 His home, while laboring with the first Church in Jersey
 
 364 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 City, was in the family of the pastor, and a pleasant 
 home it was. 
 
 From Jersey City, he went over into New York City, 
 in February, 1884, to assist Rev. Dr. C. C. Norton in 
 a series of meetings in the Central Park Church, of 
 which he was pastor. The number of sermons and 
 Bible readings delivered in this meeting was eighteen. 
 The number of accessions to the church was not great ; 
 but the pastor and the church felt that good was done 
 in the meeting. His home during this meeting was in 
 the pastor's family, and nothing was wanting to make 
 him happy in that pleasant family. 
 
 In June, 1884, Dr. T. assisted Rev. G. S. Anderson 
 in a series of meetings at Uniontown, Ala., which was 
 very much blessed. And in the following October, he 
 held another meeting there, which was also greatly 
 blessed. Bro. Anderson has rendered important ser- 
 vice to this church, as well as to the cause in Demopolis, 
 and other places. Dr. T. made his home while in Un- 
 ioutown, in both meetings, with the family of Dr. C. 
 C. Carr, from whom he received the kindest attentions. 
 
 In July, 1884, Dr. T. wenttoBrookhaven, Miss., to 
 assist Elder J. R. Farish in a series of meetings. The 
 meeting was a good one, and resulted in the accession 
 of several valuable converts to the church. Among the 
 number baptized was a daughter of Judge J. B. Chris- 
 man, an estimable young lady. 
 
 In August, 1884, Dr. T. went to Magnolia, Miss., to 
 assist Rev. Dr. Zcaly, in a series of meetings in his 
 church at that place. The meeting was a most excel-
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 365 
 
 lent one. The congregations were very large and quite 
 a number were added to the church by baptism. Our 
 cause in that village was greatly strengthened by this 
 meeting. The following notice of the meeting ap- 
 peared in the Times- Democrat of New Orleans : 
 
 "RELIGIOUS REVIVAL AT MAGNOLIA, MISS. 
 
 It may be interesting to Christians who read your ex- 
 cellent journal to know that a religious mooting of 
 great interest is in progress here. The meeting is in 
 the Baptist Church, of which Rev. Dr. Zealy is pastor, 
 and is conducted by that eminent and successful evan- 
 gelist, Rev. Dr. T. C. Teasdale, formerly of Wash- 
 ington, D. C. The church is crowded daily with 
 anxious and interested listeners, and the influence of 
 the meeting is spreading with great rapidity. The ser- 
 mons are eminently practical and the preaching im- 
 pressively earnest. Though over 70 years of age, Dr. 
 Teasdale preaches two sermons daily without any ap- 
 parent exhaustion, and is as fervid and eloquent as he 
 was when I heard him twenty years ago. In the ser- 
 vice Sunday night, about forty persons rose for prayer 
 and an almost painful solemnity brooded over the 
 hundreds who heard the rigidly logical and yet pathet- 
 ic sermon preached on that occasion." 
 
 From Magnolia, Dr. T. went to ISew Hope, another 
 of Dr. Zeaty's churches, and labored there eight days. 
 That meeting was also blessed, and several were bap- 
 tized into the fellowship of the church. The people 
 came far and near to the meetings, night and day, and 
 the congregations were large and attentive.
 
 366 REMINISCENCES A*ND INCIDENTS 
 
 From this church, Dr. T. went to Madison, a station 
 on the Central Illinois Railroad, where Dr. Zealy 
 preached at night, on the Sundays on which he sup- 
 plied the New Hope Church. The meeting here was 
 well attended, and several were baptized as the result. 
 While conducting the meeting at Madison, Dr. T. was 
 invited to dine one day with Dr. Mcl&iy, the straw- 
 berry king of national celebrity. He had seen exten- 
 sive strawberry grounds, on the farms near Norfolk, 
 Va. ; but Dr. McKay's exceeded anything of the sort 
 he had ever seen before. 
 
 From Madison, Dr. T. went to Pickens, Holmes 
 county, to meet the Baptist brethren of that section in 
 their union meeting. He preached three sermons dur- 
 ing his brief stay there, for which he was liberally com-, 
 pensated. The church at that place had recently com 
 pleted a very neat and commodious house of worship, 
 in the accomplishment of which an excellent sister in 
 the church had taken a very active part. 
 
 From Pickens, Dr. T. returned to his home in Knox- 
 ville, Tenn., and spent a few days with his family, and 
 then went to Morristown, East Tennessee, in Septem- 
 ber, 1884, and held a series of meetings in that village. 
 He delivered in this meeting twenty-six sermons and 
 Bible readings ; and although the accessions were not 
 large, yet the brethren expressed themselves as greatly 
 edified and blessed. No doubt good was done. 
 
 From Morristown, Dr. T. went to Whitcsburg, and 
 held a brief series of meetings there. The venerable 
 Elder T. J. Lane, eighty years old, was the esteemed
 
 <>i A LONG LIFE. 367 
 
 pastor of that church. The meetings were well nttend- 
 ed, and good was accomplished, though the conver- 
 sions were not numerous. 
 
 In October, 1884, Dr. T. assisted the pastor of the 
 Mulberry Church, Middle Tennessee, in a series of 
 meetings. Bro. T. H. Crouch was the esteemed pas- 
 tor. The meetings were well attended, and considera- 
 ble good, it is hoped, was accomplished in various ways 
 by the meeting. 
 
 Dr. T. held a series of meetings that same month at 
 Demopolis, Ala. This was a new interest, gotten up 
 under the earnest labors of Bro. G. S. Anderson. 
 Their new meeting-house was not then finished, and 
 the meetings were held in the Presbyterian meeting- 
 house. The interest evinced in the services was very 
 gratifying, and it was thought much good was done to 
 the cause of Christ in that city. 
 
 At the close of the meeting in Demopolis, Dr. T. 
 went to Uniontown, and held his second meeting there, 
 as previously stated. Afterwards he returned to Knox- 
 ville, Tenn., to make arrangements for moving back 
 his family to Columbus, Miss., their former home. 
 They had never sold their home in Columbus. During 
 
 */ o 
 
 their absence of twelve years in Knoxville, one of 
 their sons had occupied the premises, and thus the 
 property was well preserved. They moved back from 
 Knoxville a part of their furniture; and with what 
 they had left in Columbus, and what they brought 
 back from Knoxville, and what they purchased, after 
 coming back, they Avere soon fitted up very com-
 
 368 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 fortably, and have lived pleasantly and quietly ever 
 since their return to Columbus. 
 
 On his return to Columbus, in November, 1884, Dr. 
 T. found the Baptist Church destitute of a pastor 
 Bro. S. F. Taylor having closed his labors there some 
 weeks before. He consented to supply the church 
 until they could procure a pastor. In the latter part 
 of March, 1885, Rev. C. E. W. Dobbs, D. ., visited 
 the church by request, and was called to the pastorate 
 at once. He entered on his labors as pastor the first 
 Sunday in April, 1885. 
 
 In April, 1885, Dr. T. preached in the morning for 
 Dr. Renfroe, in Talladega, Ala., and then went up to 
 Anniston to preach at night. He remained in Annis- 
 ton two or three days ; and was the guest of Bro.E. B. 
 Smyth and his excellent lady ; and then went oil to 
 Knoxville, Tenn., and spent the following Sunday 
 there. He preached on Sunday morning in the First 
 Baptist Church to a very large congregation. And at 
 night he preached for the Cumberland Presbyterians 
 of that city. 
 
 From Knoxville, he went to Augusta, Ga., to attend 
 the Southern Baptist Convention. The meeting was a 
 pleasant one, and he enjoyed the fraternal greetings 
 of the members of the Convention very much. Such 
 greetings are always pleasant and profitable. 
 
 From the Conventon, he went to Covington, Ga., to 
 assist the pastor, Rev. J. M. Brittain, in a series of 
 meetings. Covington is the stronghold of Methodism 
 in Georgia. Both their male and female colleges are
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 369 
 
 located at that place.. But Dr. T. was very kindly re- 
 ceived by the community at large; and the Methodist 
 Female College was suspended to enable the teachers 
 and pupils to participate in the morning services every 
 day. 
 
 Dr. T. delivered here thirty-one sermons and Bible 
 Readings, and quite a, number were added to the 
 church, and the Baptist cause was considerably ad- 
 vanced in Covington by the blessing of God upon the 
 the meeting. Some persons of influence in the com- 
 munity were brought into the church. 
 
 In July, 1885, he assisted the pastor of the new 
 Salem Church, in Lowndes County, Miss., in a series 
 of meetings for a week. He delivered in these meet- 
 ings eleven sermons. A deep interest was evinced in 
 all the exercises, and it was thought the church was 
 edified and built up. A few were hopefully converted. 
 After preaching his closing sermon at New Salem in 
 the morning, he went over to Border Springs and 
 preached to a large crowd of people at night. He re- 
 turned the next day to his home in Columbus. 
 
 Dr. T. went to McKinly, Ala., in August, 1885, to 
 hold a series of meetings in that place. A very se- 
 rious difficulty existed in the church there, owing to 
 the disaffection of many of the most pious and influen- 
 tial members towards the pastor ; and our meetings 
 were held in the Presbyterian Church. The audiences 
 were very large, and a deep interest in the meetings 
 soon pervaded the entire community. It is believed 
 that the services there were salutary in .paving the
 
 370 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS. 
 
 way for a reunion of the memoership and the advance- 
 ment of our cause in that village.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 371 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Dr. T. has held a number of meetings in several of 
 the States, which have not been mentioned in this 
 book, for the reason that he has not been able to pro- 
 cure sufficient data to justify a special notice of those 
 meetings. He has held meetings in various places in 
 South Carolina, of which no account is given in this 
 work. He held a series of meetings at Sandy Level, in 
 1857, a village some eighteen or twenty miles north of 
 Columbia. This meeting was signally blessed, and 
 quite a considerable number of converts were added to 
 the church. The graces of Christians, also, were 
 greatly quickened. He made his home, during this 
 meeting, with the family of Dr. Bookhart, and he en- 
 joyed his stay in this excellent family very much. He 
 preached twenty-seven sermons in this meeting. 
 
 He also held a meeting in Spartanburg, in June, 
 1857, in connection with the esteemed and excellent 
 pastor, Rev. Mr. Landrum. This meeting occurred 
 during the Commencement week of the Methodist Col- 
 
 o 
 
 lege located in that place. It was a very unpropitious 
 time for holding the meeting. Still, large congrega- 
 tions attended upon the services, and a number of per- 
 sons were converted during the meeting. Under more
 
 372 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 favorable circumstances, much larger results would 
 most likely-have been realized. He preached thirty 
 sermons in this meeting. 
 
 He also held a series of meetings, August, 1857, in 
 connection with the camp-meeting held with the Buffalo 
 Church, in Fairfield District. He preached twelve ser- 
 mons in the camp-meeting to very large audiences. 
 Quite a number professed conversion during those 
 services. 
 
 He also held, during the same year, a series of 
 meetings at Lawtonville. The venerable and excellent 
 Rev. Willmrn Lawton was pastor of the church in that 
 place at that time. His visit with these people was 
 very pleasant, but it was too short to accomplish very 
 much good. He preached seven sermons to large and 
 appreciative audiences. A very liberal contribution 
 was made by the members of that church towards the 
 erection of the church edifice in Washington City, in 
 the interest of which Dr. T. was laboring. 
 
 He also held a series of meetings at Laurens C. H. 
 in September, 1857. The congregations were large. 
 He preached only seven sermons at this place. 
 
 He also held a series of meetings that year in Rock 
 Creek Church. The attendance upon the meeting was 
 large, both day and night, and it was thought much 
 good was done. He preached ten sermons in this 
 meeting. 
 
 He also preached several sermons at Little River 
 Church. A protracted meeting was in progress in the 
 church at the time ; and Dr. T. remained there only
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 373 
 
 two days. He was well entertained, during his stay 
 there, by Thos. Furman, M. D. Dr. Furman had not 
 as yet made a public profession of religion, though he 
 was cherishing a secret hope in Christ; and ho was 
 urged by the ministers and members, who knew him 
 well, to unite with the church. He was waiting for 
 more light, and by so doing he was only increasing his 
 darkness. Knowing his case, Dr. T. made a special 
 effort in one of his sermons to induce him, and others 
 like him, to come out openly on the Lord's side. He 
 confessed to Dr. T., on arriving at his home, that he 
 came very near offering himself to the church at the 
 close of that sermon. He was an excellent Bible stu- 
 dent; and it wits unquestionably his duty to join the 
 church. Afterwards he saw it to be his duty to unite 
 with the people of God by a public profession of the 
 name of Jesus, and he was very happy in having dis- 
 charged so long a neglected duty. , 
 
 Besides the meeting held in Camden, of which, men- 
 tion is made in this work, Dr. T. assisted the pastor in 
 a series of meetings in that city, in 1857. He preached 
 fourteen sermons in that meeting with good results. 
 
 A few sermons were preached by Dr.' T. at Gilgal 
 Church, Robertville, Gillisonville, Stephens' Creek, 
 Chestnut Ridge, Beulah, and other places. 
 
 In North Carolina, also, he held a number of meet- 
 ings not mentioned in this work. In May, 1854, he 
 held a meeting at Murfreesboro, for a few days only. 
 This is the seat of the Chowan Female Institute. He 
 delivered here ten discourses. The school was then in
 
 374 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 a very flourishing condition ; and it still prospers, not- 
 withstanding the ravages of the late internecine war. 
 Dr. Henson was at that time one of the professors in 
 that institution. 
 
 He also held a series of meetings at the Buckhorn 
 Church, which is only a few miles from Murfreesboro, 
 in October, 1854. The meeting with this church was 
 a grand success. He found it to be a shouting church; 
 and there was considerable shouting done in that meet- 
 ing. He preached ten sermons during this meeting, 
 and quite a number of persons were hopefully con- 
 verted . 
 
 He also preached a brief series of sermons, in Oc- 
 tober, 1854, in Edenton. He preached nine sermons 
 in that city to large congregations ; and it was thought 
 that much good was done in the meeting. 
 
 He preached several sermons in Elizabeth City, at 
 Bethel Church, at Sawyer's Creek, at Chowan Associa- 
 tion, and other places. In the meeting which he held 
 in Shelby, in 1857, he preached twenty sermons, and 
 there was a blessed work of grace in the meeting. 
 
 In Ohio', also, several interesting meetings were held, 
 not mentioned in this work. He held a series of re- 
 vival services at Fredericktown, in October, 1849. He 
 preached in that meeting fifteen sermons. 
 
 During this meeting an incident of interest occurred. 
 A pious lady was very ill. She had a sister connected 
 with Dr. T.'s congregation in the city of Pittsburgh, 
 Pa. He visited this lady, and talked and prayed with 
 her. She became delirious under the influence of her
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 375 
 
 mortal malady. He told the friends, if she should 
 have a few lucid moments, to send for him at once, 
 without regard to the time of day or night. Accord- 
 ingly, at 12 o'clock on Saturday night, they sent for 
 Dr. T. He hastened to her bedside and found her 
 perfectly rational. In reply to a question as to her 
 prospects beyond the grave, she calmly replied, "My 
 sun goes down without a cloud*" And then, to the 
 question, if she would like to spend a part of the 
 coming Lord's day on earth, and the rest in Heaven, 
 she replied, "O, yes, if it shall please the Lord, I 
 would like to spend a part of to-morrow on earth, and 
 the rest in Heaven." And so it turned out. At 12 
 o'clock on Sunday her emancipated spirit took its 
 flight to the rest and rewards of Heaven. Dr. T. bore 
 her dying messages to her sister in Pittsburgh, and 
 told her of her triumphant death, and her undoubted 
 home with Jesus. 
 
 The meeting in this place was attended with happy 
 results. 
 
 He also held a series of meetings in Adamsville that 
 same month. He preached in this meeting thirty-one 
 , sermons, and a good deal of interest was manifested in 
 the meeting. During the meeting, Dr. T. was de- 
 scribing Heaven, one day, and a good old Methodist 
 brother, who had known Dr. T. from his boyhood, got 
 very happy, and he exclaimed, "Oh ! Brother Teas- 
 dale, do stop ! I must shout." And Dr. T. paused and 
 gave the good brother a chance to shout ; and he did 
 shout in earnest. When he closed his shouting, Dr. T.
 
 376 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 resumed his discourse, as if no interruption had oc- 
 curred. And the shouting had no bad effect upon the 
 audience. Everybody had confidence in the piety of 
 this brother ; and his giving vent to his joy over the 
 prospect of Heaven, rather increased than diminished 
 the interest of the audience in the important discussion. 
 
 He also held a series of meetings in Steubenville, in 
 December, 1849. He preached nine sermons in this 
 meeting to large congregations. But the results of 
 the meeting are not remembered. 
 
 Occasional sermons were also preached by Dr. T. in 
 various places in Ohio. 
 
 In Tennessee, also, he held some interesting meet- 
 ings in several places not mentioned in this volume. 
 He held a meeting of a week or more at Milan. This 
 meeting wns attended with very happy results. Chris- 
 tians were brought up to a higher plane of holy living, 
 and a number of sinners were converted. 
 
 He also held a series of meetings in Covington. This 
 was an excellent meeting; and quite a number were 
 added to the church. 
 
 He also preached a few days at Galiatin, while 
 Brother Kincaed was the esteemed pastor. There were 
 not many conversions in this meeting; but the Chris- 
 tian people felt that they were edified and built up in 
 the faith. 
 
 Dr. T. assisted the lamented D. E. Burns in a series 
 of meetings in the First Baptist Church of Memphis, 
 of which he was then the devoted and beloved pastor, 
 in the winter of 1870. The meetings were held in
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 377 
 
 nights mainly. 11 was a pleasure for Dr. T. to work 
 with such a man. Indeed, Dr. T. and Mr. Burns were 
 knit together like David and Jonathan of old. Dr. T. 
 preached the funeral sermon of Elder Burns, who died 
 in the fall of 1870. The crowd on the occasion was 
 so great that not half the people could obtain a place 
 in the meeting house, and his remains were borne to 
 the cemetery by a very great concourse of people. No 
 man was more beloved in life then he; and no man's 
 death was ever more deplored. He was emphatically 
 a shining mark. 
 
 Dr. T. never made any charge for his evangelistic 
 work. He left the matter of remuneration entirely 
 with the pastors and people among whom he labored. 
 At the close of his meetings, he generally received a 
 considerable number of interesting notes from grateful 
 Christians and young converts, expressing their thanks 
 for the benefit which they had received during the re- 
 vival exercises. Many hundreds of such notes were 
 received by Dr. T., all over the country, and most 
 generally they covered a voluntary contribution for his 
 services. Amongst these notes, a few specimens will 
 suffice to show their nature : 
 
 "ROME, GA., April 22, 1878. 
 DR. TEASDALE : 
 
 Dear Brother in Christ : Your able and convincing 
 sermons during the last three weeks in our city, have 
 greatly strengthened the faith of my wife and myself, 
 in God's plan of reconciling and restoring man from a 
 lost to a saved state. Your earnest and affectionate
 
 378 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 appeals to sinners, and your plain exposition of the 
 Divine Word, have produced feelings of endearment 
 that cannot be effaced by your absence in the flesh. 
 Will our dear brother, in his petitions at a throne of 
 grace, remember specially and particularly, Brother 
 
 and Sister S . It shall be our earnest endeavor to 
 
 meet you in that beautiful and heavenly home, of 
 which you spoke so often and so beautifully. Our 
 prayer is that your life may be spared many long 
 years ; and when death comes you will find our blessed 
 Master standing ready to meet you. Brother, pray 
 that our faith may overcome the world, and that we 
 may meet each other in Heaven ! 
 
 Truly and respectfully, 
 
 C. G. S AND WIFE." 
 
 The ' following is from an excellent sister of the 
 church in Rome : 
 "DEAR DR. TEASDALE : 
 
 Please accept the enclosed bill as a small memento 
 of admiration and Christian love. How I wish that I 
 had the fortune of Fortunatus, that I might bestow 
 upon each one of God's prophets his chosen and 
 anointed servants a competence that would make them 
 independent of this world's favors. May God's holy 
 unction ever remain upon your heart, and m;iy His 
 Holy Spirit breathe upon your soul a "peace of mind 
 that passeth all understanding." 
 
 Yours fraternally, 
 
 A."C. P ," 
 
 April 22, 1878.
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 379 
 
 Here follows a note from another sister : 
 "DR. TEASDALE: 
 
 Dear Friend The enclosed amount, though small, 
 is a slight token of my esteem and kindly remembrance 
 of you and your efficient labors in our midst. I feel 
 that I have been greatly benetitted by your teaching, 
 and hope I may ever faithfully discharge my Christian 
 duties. While I have b6en made to rejoice with those 
 who have been made to rejoice in a Savior's love, still 
 my heart is sad to think my own loved brother has not 
 been reached. Do not forget to pray for him, and 
 ever remember me in your prayers, and as your grate- 
 ful friend. 
 
 April 21, 1878. M. S." 
 
 The following is a note from one of the converts in 
 the meeting at Rome : 
 
 "ROME, GA., April 21st, 1878. 
 DR. TE ASP ALE : 
 
 Dear Sir : Where can I find words to express my 
 gratitude to you for visiting our little city? You have 
 been instrumental, in God's hands, in performing a 
 great work, especially amongst the School girls. In 
 the Collegiate Department, which contains thirty-four, 
 all are members of the church but one. We are all 
 going to pray for her conversion, and want you to help 
 us. We do not do this merely that we may say all are 
 trusting in Jesus, but because her soul is so precious. 
 The majority of the school girls were already members 
 of the church ; but the rest will ever date their con- 
 version to this period. I am one of the latter class,
 
 380 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 and will look upon your visit in Rome as the happiest 
 time of my life. Rest assured you will ever have the 
 good wishes of the Shorter College girls. We all ex- 
 tend our heart-felt thanks to you for your labor and 
 excellent instructions. M. J." 
 
 These notes might be inserted by the hundred from 
 grateful persons all over the country. But the fore- 
 going must suffice. 
 
 The following letter to the Texas Baptist Herald is 
 clipped from that paper : 
 
 "Dr. T. C. Teasdale, who is devoting his time to the 
 work of an evangelist, came to our aid at the Broad 
 Street Baptist Church, in this city (of which the writer 
 is pastor), on Sunday, December 3d, and continued 
 his labors with us until the 24th, inclusive. The Doc- 
 tor, though now sixty-three years o/tZ, has lost none of 
 the vigor of his earlier years. His mind is as logical 
 as ever, and a clearer-headed man I do not know. The 
 Holy Spirit seems to be with him, enabling him to 
 make Christians mindful of duty, and sinners tremble 
 for a violation of God's law, causing them to ask, 
 "What shall I do to be saved?" As the result of the 
 meeting, so far, under the blessing of God, fourteen 
 persons have joined our church eight by baptism 
 and six by letter. 
 
 The effects of the Doctor's visit, his private and 
 public ministrations, (for he did not spare himself,) 
 are still felt, and we pray that the seed sown may yet 
 bring forth much fruit, to the honor and glory of God. 
 
 We would commend him to any church, or people,
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 381 
 
 in need of an evangelist, and to all who love our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, in sincerity and in truth. He makes no 
 compromises of his Baptist principles, but fearlessly, 
 forcibly and pungently preaches the truth as it is in 
 Jesus. 
 
 He has started for Texas, where he will be for a few 
 months laboring as evangelist. May God go with and 
 bless him, in bringing souls to Christ in Texas, and 
 wherever else he may go. 
 
 P. T. WARREN, Box 1166. 
 
 Mobile, Ala., January 10th, 1872." 
 
 Dr. T., in all his evangelistic labors, has been very 
 careful to preserve the influence of the pastor with his 
 people. He has been a pastor himself of several large 
 city churches ; and he has always had a strict regard 
 to the rights and privileges of the pastor in his meet- 
 ings. Many objections are urged against some of our 
 modern evangelists. And it must be admitted, with 
 sorrow, that a certain class of modern evangelists give 
 too much occasion for complaint by their style of 
 preaching, and their methods in conducting their meet- 
 ings. Dr. T. agrees with an excellent writer in the 
 Biblical Recorder on this subject. The writer says : 
 
 "In all ages, gifts have been bestowed specially 
 adapted to the awakening and conversion of souls. 
 These gifts may not, and sometimes do not, fit the 
 man for the pastoral office, but as supplementing a 
 pastor's gifts they arc often of high value. The re- 
 vivalist may not always possess the learning and teach- 
 ing power of the settled pastor ; he might perhaps fail
 
 382 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 in the qualities essential to the continuous guiding, 
 organizing, and governing of a church ; but in power 
 to make vivid the truths and impressions already re- 
 ceived by the people, to develop hitherto latent con- 
 viction, and to press men to a definite and avowed 
 religious decision, he may be specially gifted. Some 
 pastors eminent in teaching and pastoral qualifications 
 lack the awakening power, and thus it is often true in 
 the spiritual work that one soweth and another reap- 
 eth. In such cases the revivalist comes as a reaper, 
 with special gifts for ingathering, where the long and 
 patient toil of the sower and cultivator has preceded 
 him, and has already prepared in the souls of the peo- 
 ple the spiritual harvest. 
 
 "The relation of the evangelists to the pastor, in 
 special religious services, is always one of great del- 
 icacy. The most frank understanding and cordial co- 
 operation between them is of the highest moment. 
 Much care, therefore, should be taken not to encroach 
 on the prerogatives of the pastoral office, or to lessen 
 the estimation in which the pastor is held by the peo- 
 ple. There is sometimes danger of this. The sermons 
 of the evangelist, limited as they are in number, and 
 frequently repeated, not only have the attraction of 
 novelty to the people, but are often spiced with a 
 fullness of anecdote and delivered with a freedom and 
 force which the pastor cannot possess, by reason of 
 the different and wider range of subjects which he 
 must discuss, and the far heavier and more extended 
 draft made on his resources. The less thoughtful
 
 OF A LONG LITE. 383 
 
 hearers will contrast what seems to them to be the 
 comparative dullness of the pastor with the freshness 
 and spice of the evangelist, and the pastor unjustly 
 suffers. Among the converts, also, there is often a 
 special attraction to him who had been the immediate 
 agent in their conversion, while the long and patient 
 toil of him who had probably prepared the way for 
 that final step is overlooked, or disparaged. Plainly, 
 it is the duty of the evangelist to recognize and hold 
 in check these tendencies, and to strengthen in every 
 possible way the pastor's position in the convictions 
 and affections of the people. He may thus render his 
 work a permanent blessing in the churches by making 
 it the means of cementing the relations of pastor and 
 people." 
 
 Dr. T. held meetings in July and August, 1883, in 
 Fayetteville, Mount Olive, Syllacauga, and Rockford, 
 Alabama. These churches were then under the care 
 of Rev. W. Wilkes, and all these meetings were greatly 
 blessed. 
 
 He also held meetings that season in Jacksonville, 
 and Alexandria, in that State, which resulted well. 
 
 He also held meetings in several places in Georgia, 
 which are not mentioned in this work. 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 And now, in taking leave of his readers, and bidding 
 them an affectionate farewell, Dr. T. wishes to assure 
 his numerous friends, all over the country, of his 
 grateful remembrance of their manifold kindnesses to 
 him. Owing to the peculiar circumstances in which
 
 384 REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS 
 
 he has been placed, at different periods in his history, 
 he has perhaps become personally better known 
 throughout the country, and especially throughout the 
 South and Southwest, than any man living. To all 
 these acquaintances, North and South, East and West, 
 he wishes to send his final Christian salutations. This 
 is the last book which he ever expects to publish. And 
 he cherishes the hope that the reading of this volume 
 may serve to awaken in Christians an earnest desire 
 for greater attainments in the divine life, and a more 
 perfect consecration of themselves to the service of 
 our blessed Lord. \Ve are not our own ; but are bought 
 with a price, the price of blood divine. Let us, there- 
 fore, glorify God in our bodies and spirits which are 
 His. If we seriously consider what we were by nature ; 
 what we are by divine grace; and what we hope to be 
 hereafter, we shall certainly find occasion for the most 
 devout gratitude to God; and be inspired to "rejoice 
 with joy unspeakable and full of glory," by reason of 
 our endearing and most honorable relation to Jesus 
 here, and the thought that we shall be like him in the 
 better world, where we shall see him as he is. 
 
 And to his unconverted friends, who may read this 
 book, Dr. T. wishes to express his deep interest in 
 their spiritual welfare. Oh ! how deceptive are the 
 things by which we are surrounded. The poet well 
 expresses it when he says : 
 
 "How vain are all things here below! 
 How false, and yet how fair!" 
 
 "How miserably mistaken is the poor sinner who
 
 OF A LONG LIFE. 385 
 
 makes this world his portion. The whole world, which 
 so fills and intoxicates its victims, what is it? To a 
 Christian, this world appears but a grand imperti- 
 nence a magnificent funeral pile, awaiting the last 
 conflagration. It will soon be reduced to a heap of 
 white ashes, blown hither and thither by the winds of 
 Heaven." Oh! then, be entreated, dear friends, to 
 seek the better country, and lay up treasure in Heaven.
 
 X 
 
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