for others to reap the harvest perchance long after they have rested from their labors. Dr. Phillips' theological sympathies are indicated by saying that he read most frequently the works of such men as Owen, Charnock, Gurnall, Perkins, Ambrose and others of the same school. These he studied with care, and their influence was plainly seen in his modes of thinking and style of sermonizing. He could not be brought to take much interest in the discussions and controversies which now agitate the Christian world. They seemed to him too vague, too subtle, too remote from practical life. The great feature of his character was his unaffected piety. He did not belong to that class of naturalists who see in nature only the operations of a blind necessity, and own no God but mathematical laws. He believed with his great masters, Kepler, and Newton, and Barrow, and Boyle, that it is the province of natural philosophy to elevate us to God, and he carried a profoundly reverent spirit into his most abstract studies. Had one demanded of him his creed, he would in all probability have answered: "It is a brief one. I know that I am a sinner. I know that Jesus Christ died for sinners, and I believe that he died for me." With this humility and faith was joined a peculiarly tender and ardent personal attachment to the Lord Jesus. The tears would often spring to his eyes at the mere mention of his name and his work. As a preacher, he was a zealous, ardent and unusually animated and melting. He often mingled his tears with his impassioned exhortations, and seemed to pour out his soul in his earnest desire to save souls. His sermons at first were mostly fervid exhortations; later, his mind becoming tinged with the old Nonconformist divinity in which he delighted, they were elaborate theological discussions, rich in matter, clear in statement, symmetrical in form, but excessive in divisions and subdivisions, abounding in quaint expressions and familiar illustrations, and always delivered with unaffected earnestness and simplicity. He probably preached in few portions of our State without making lasting impressions on some minds; there will be found many among his old hearers who preferred him to any they ever heard. Though perhaps no visible impression could be observed at the time, yet it often occurred that individuals who came forward long afterward to make profession of their faith would refer to some discourse of Dr. Phillips as that which first awakened them to thoughtfulness and the beginning of a new life. The last few years of his life his sermons resembled more his earlier ones. They were brief, fervid appeals, and seemed addressed principally to the young. His last discourse was on the text (Amos v. 6), "Seek the Lord and ye shall live.' And when carried back a corpse to his study, which he had left but half an hour before, there was lying open on his table the manuscript of a sermon evidently intended for the ensuing Sabbath, on the words, "Enter ye in at the strait gate.' I have devoted so large a portion of my time to the consideration of Dr. Phillips' merits as a professor and divine that I can attempt but an imperfect delineation of him as a man. The most careless observer could not fail to be struck, upon even a short acquaintance, with his uncompromising conscientiousness. He was in all things a loyal "bondman of duty." Those who knew him will acknowledge that it is no exaggeration to say that he was never found to neglect a duty, however trivial or lowly. He was always found at his post, and always ready with his appointed work. Nothing placed such an impassable grief between him and another as the suspicion of a want of integrity. It was perhaps well for some who claimed his friendship that he was of a most unsuspicious turn, and not easily persuaded to think evil of any man. He habitually brought all actions to the broad principles of right, nor would he ever permit the dangerous experiment of refining on questions of morals. His was too healthy and honest a nature to tolerate this species of casuistry. He never suffered himself to be swayed by the opinion of others or by motives of interest. This devotion to straightforward truth and singlemindedness gave his life great unity and simplicity; it delivered him from all distractions and inconsistencies, and to its influence are we to trace the unvarying cheerfulness and gayety and vigor of mind which so adorned his old age, and which he enjoyed to the hour of his death. Notwithstanding his nearly fifty years' residence in America, he remained to the last in many of his characteristics emphatically an Englishman. He was somewhat blunt in his address-a man of few words, brave and quiet, yet a most hearty and genial companion. He was a warm and steadfast friend, for he had a large heart, generously alive to the joys and sorrows and wants of others, but he shrank from all demonstration of feeling. He was pre-eminently no meddler in other men's matters, and so nice was his sense of honor and delicacy that he would not even remove the wrapper from a newspaper belonging to another. He rarely volunteered his advice or opinion, even when he knew it was earnestly desired, nor would he permit the interference of others in his own affairs. In his personal habits he was simple and unassuming to the last degree. I know of no man who deserved so much and who exacted so little. His own wants were the last he thought of or provided for. To others his hand was always open. In his contributions to charitable purposes or to the various calls of the Church, as he chose in life never to let his left hand know what his right hand gave, it is fit now to say no more than that his liberality often far exceeded his means. In his early years there were some astringencies and asperities of manner and expression, which in old age mellowed, as we often see in ripening fruit after the frost has touched it; and he was never happier than when surrounded by children and sharing their sports. In person he was not above the middle height, but firmly built and active; and having enjoyed an unbroken constitution and a clear conscience to the last of his life, his elastic step, his clear hazel eye and hearty laugh, his snow-white hair and ruddy cheek formed an attractive and kindly picture of a blessed and green old age. The qualities I have described are those which all who came in contact with Dr. Phillips could observe; but there were many of the finer traits of his character which could be known only to his intimate friends. Those who regard as the truest type of Christian character not a morbid self-scrutinizing mood, not mere sentimental or extravagant enthusiasm, but that cheerful, practical, manly piety exhibited in such characters as Chalmers and Arnold, would have recognized in Dr. Phillips a Christian of the highest style. Christian principle pervaded his whole life, and manifested its presence and power in cheerful patience, in unwearied, joyful obedience, in steady progress in knowledge and virtue- "From well to better, daily self-surpassed." In reference to his Christian character, one of his earliest and most valued friends and colleagues, the Rev. Dr. Hooper, writes: "He was a character that under the habitual moulding of Christian principles and of fervent Christian feelings would continually improve. Naturally ardent, bluff, impulsive, I could easily believe that this temper cost 364 him continual conflict and humiliation in his private and in his professional life; but as these very conflicts, defeats and victories lead to deeper knowledge of internal weakness, and to richer experience of the necessity and of the fullness of divine grace, I doubt not all who had intercourse with him were gainers by his increased self-discipline." Of the struggles alluded to in this extract only the inmates of his own family could know, They above all others could notice the continual ripening of his character, and how his path brightened and brightened unto the perfect day. There was toward the last a strange unworldliness about him, as of one who looked away from the seen to the unseen, a freedom from care and anxiety, a tranquil superiority to ordinary annoyances, a patient and touching endurance of wrong, that was very marked. He was in truth dying daily. I, who saw him after an interval of a year's absence, was greatly impressed by the change. He became more and more tender and gentle and childlike. In his reading he less frequently recurred to the massive treaties which had been his delight in former days, and gave himself more to the perusal of devotional works. The Bible became more and more the object of continuous study; morning, noon and night he would be found with it on his knee. His gift in prayer, both public and private, had always been remarkable. In the numerous notices of him which appeared at the time of his death not one failed to remark on this excellence as unrivaled. Of late they became briefer and more than usually fervid. He dwelt much on the near approach of death, and in private seems to have designated individuals by name, as if feeling that his time for intercession was short. It was in these prayers that a more complete revelation of his mind was given us. Who that ever heard him has not felt their power. They were the breathings of a humble and fervent soul, free from all reliance on himself and full of filial confidence in God-prayers that told of inward struggles and victories, of lofty aspirations, and of a peace that passeth understanding. The increasing warmth of his religious feelings stimulated into greater activity his imagination and sensibility. He wrote many little poems which deserve an honorable place in our collection of hymns. One of his latest published poetical pieces was a translation of Xavier's well-known Latin ode, "O Deus, ego amo te." As it is brief I give it, and those familiar with the original will acknowledge the accuracy and felicity of the rendering. I give it, however, only as an expression of his own peculiarly tender affection for the person of his Saviour: O God! my heart is set on thee: Not that thou may'st my Saviour be, Not that thou may'st me bring to heaven, Death found our old friend ready. He died as he would have wished to die. It had been his ordinary petition at family prayer that God would "make him useful as long as he lived and let him die in his service." We can read in the circumstances of his death the remarkable answer to this petition. He was allowed the full possession of all his vigorous mental powers, and strength for the discharge of all his duties, to the last moment of his life. He had come from his study-table, from the preparation of a discourse for the coming Sunday, and had taken his place in this chapel, once more to pray with us and for us, and then to go forth to his task, when the summons came to him, and by a tranquil, painless, almost instantaneous death at his post in the presence of his classes, he passed from the cares and toils of earthly labor to his reward. Such a death was the fitting close of this long life of unwearied labor for the good of his fellow-men, of continuous self-denying adherence to an early-chosen, noble plan of life, and of inflexible devotion to truth and duty. POPE, FIELDING-Was born in Virginia in 1800. He was educated in Marysville College, Tenn., and studied divinity at the Southern and Western Theological Seminary, at Marysville, Tenn. He was licensed by Union Presbytery in 1826, and soon after was ordained by the same Presbytery, and began his labors as stated supply for Mars Hill, Columbiana and Shiloh churches, near Athens, Tenn. This relation existed until 1833, when he accepted a profesorship in Marysville College, Tenn, and in 1836 he also preached for Eusebia church, in Blount county, Tenn. In 1844 he resigned his professorship and devoted all his time to the ministry. In 1852 he was connected as president with the Masonic Female Institute of Marysville, and in 1857 he took charge of New Providence church, in Marysville: in all these labors he was earnest and faithful. About the close of the civil war he was compelled to leave his home on account of the lawlessness of the times, and he removed to the residence of his granddaughter, near Lumpkin, Ga., where he died, March 23, 1867, of heart disease. He was married three times: first, to Miss Craig, of Kentucky; second, to Miss Meigs, of Nashville, Tenn.; third, to Miss Hannum, of Marysville, Tenn., who, with four children, survives him. Rev. C. C. NEWMAN, of Estaboga, Ala., writes: He was a man of great power and popularity in the pulpit; in later years he seemed to have lost some of his power, but none of his zeal. Take him altogether, he was a man in ability above the ordinary grade-a good man and full of good works. REID, JOHN WILSON--The son of Joseph and Margaret (Farr) Reid, was born in Cabarras county, North Carolina, in 1807. He was early called of God, and felt persuaded that he must be a minister. His means were humble and it was his lot to battle with poverty; this he did with unwavering purpose, and in his acquisition of learning he gave evidence of that indomitable energy which was characteristic of him through life. He pursued his literary and scientific studies chiefly under Dr. John Robinson of North Carolina. In 1831 he removed to Columbia county, Ga., and opened a classical school, during which time he studied theology under the direction of S. K. Talmage, D.D.,* at that time pastor of the church in Augusta, Ga He was licensed by Hopewell Presbytery in September, 1833, at Decatur, * A memoir of DB. TALMAGE is published in The Presbyterian Historical Almanac for 1866, p. 363. Ga., and soon after ordained by the same Presbytery. In addition to his teaching he was stated supply of Bethel church. He was subsequently connected with Olivet, South Liberty, Lincolnton, Double Branches, Salem, Woodstock, Bethany and Lexington churches, and also as a general domestic missionary agent. It will thus be seen that he was an active and earnest Christian, and when it is known that he was also a teacher his usefulness must be acknowledged. He died at his residence in Woodstock, Oglethorpe county, Ga., July 11, 1867, of dysentery. He married Miss Sophia A. Morgan, who, with a daughter and son, survives him. Rev. R. A. HOUSTON, of Mayfield, Geo., writes: For about thirty years, he laboriously followed the occupation of teaching in connection with the exercise of his ministry. Having completed his preparations in North Carolina, he came to Georgia at a mature age to begin life in a new sphere; and having spent several years-ten or twelve-in the instruction of youth in the counties of Columbia and Lincoln, with decided acceptance and success, he removed to Woodstock, Oglethorpe co., where he resided until his death. This village, delightfully embowered in a fine grove of oaks, in a sequestered spot, free from all the common sources of temptation to the young, was built up by the subject of this sketch and two or three other gentlemen of wealth and intelligence, for the sake of social, educational and religious privileges. It has been devoted to these high purposes, and having become classic ground to hundreds, will be long remembered for its sacred associations and extensive salutary influence. For a few years, Mr. Reid taught the numerous scholars placed under his care in all the branches and to the extent ordinary in a high-school. But the capacity, skill and success of the teacher in training young men, rapidly increased his reputation; and many others from every direction and from distant points, even beyond the bounds of the State, came hither to enjoy the rare intellectual and moral advantages of the school. It was thought, therefore, that a more regular organization would secure greater efficiency, and meet the wants of that numerous circle who desired to prepare for the various occupations of active life, and yet from different causes were unable to meet the requirements of a college. The studies of quite a full literary, classical and scientific course were therefore arranged into four divisions, adapted to youth in the different grades of advancement, and adequate to ensure thorough and efficient scholarship. The school henceforth took the name of "Philomathean Collegiate Institute." He was most efficiently assisted during two or three years-first by his eldest son, and afterward by his youngest; the former, a graduate of Princeton; the latter, of Oglethorpe University. This organization accomplished all that its friends expected. The change was made at the sugges tion and by the aid of the Honorable Alexander H. Stephens, a finished scholar himself, and long a patron of this school. For among the numerous patriotic and benevolent efforts of this gentleman in behalf of his countryinen, none shine brighter than his education of worthy young men without adequate means to accomplish it themselves. He frequently had several at the same time under Mr. Reid's instruction, and their diligence and attainments generally vindicate the wisdom of their selection as well as of the choice of their teacher. It is proper to mention in this connection that Mr. Reid also was in the habit of boarding and teaching young men of promise, but without means, on condition of payment if ever they became able. It is supposed that perhaps a hundred were thus enabled to obtain an education. And it is worthy of record that the universality with which these en |