USA > Ohio > Biographical and historical memoirs of the early pioneer settlers of Ohio, with narratives of incidents and occurrences in 1775 > Part 42
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weeks, at a very inclement sea- sou, and collected two hundred dollars-a large sum for that day amongst a poor and scattered population.
Thursday, the 8th of Septem- ber, 1814, was kept as a State fast, on account of the calamities of the war on our borders. Mr. Robbins preached from Jeremiah ii : 19. That evening the Rev. Samuel J. Mills, with the Rev. Mr. Smith, visited Marietta, in behalf of foreign missions ; spent several days, and preached a number of times before the Con- gregational society.
In November, he aided in forming " The Marietta Moral Society," the object of which was to suppress profanity, Sab- bath breaking, and vice in every form ; and to encourage morality and religion, amongst the people. It was productive of much good, and continued for many years, embracing amongst its mem- bers a large number of the most influential citizens, as well as professors of piety. At their an- nual meetings, Mr. Robbins usually delivered an address.
The 13th of April, 1815, was kept as a day of general thanks- giving throughout the United States, on account of the peace just established between Great Britain and America. On this day he preached from Psalm cxlvii : 14. It was a joyful oc- casion ; for no country, not ac- tually overrun by an enemy, ever suffered greater losses than this, during the continuance of the war. Foreign commerce was entirely destroyed, and with it nearly all the merchant ships rotted at the wharves. The people had to bear a direct tax for the support of the govern-
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ment, while the country was a hundred millions of dollars in debt for the expense of the war; and at its close they had gained nothing which could not have been obtained by negotiation. It is the fate of all wars, that originate in a spirit of malice and revenge.
The first of January, 1816, the church and society in Marietta held their first " monthly concert of prayer," for the spread of mis- sions. It was a deeply interest- ing event to Mr. Robbins, and has been regularly continued from that day to this. At these meetings, he used sometimes to deliver a regular religious dis- course, and always some words of exhortation. About this time the ladies of his society formed an association for prayer and mutual instruction, called the " Female Benevolent Society." A small library of religious books was purchased, which were cir- culated amongst them, and at their meetings some member read for their edification. It was kept up until within a few years, and the association still contin- ues in the ladies' weekly prayer- meeting. A weekly church prayer-meeting was established about this time.
On the sixth of January, 1817, after the exercises of the month- ly concert for prayer, a meeting was held for the establishment of a Sunday school, when it was decided to commence on the first Sunday in April following. The Moral Society also patron- ized and encouraged the work, as fully within their province. A Sunday school was thus form- ed, under the direction of Mr. William Slocomb, and kept in the Academy building. Soon
after others were began in dif- ferent parts of the town, and have since spread all over the county, and western country. While on this subject, it may be interesting to know that one of the first Sunday schools, if not the very first in America, was kept in the garrison at Marietta, in the year 1791. While the inhabitants were shut up in their forts, on account of the Indian war, Mrs. Archibald Lake, a kind-hearted, pious old lady, from the city of New York, who had nurtured a family of chil- dren herself, and therefore felt the more for others, took com- passion on the children of the garrison, who were spending the Sabbath in frivolous amuse- ments, and established a school in her own dwelling. Mr. Story, the minister employed by the Ohio Company, usually preached but half the day at the stockade, and half at "the point." In the afternoon she regularly assem- bled as many of the younger children as she could persuade to attend, and taught them the Westminster Catechism, and lessons from the Bible, for about an hour. To the children, from fifteen to twenty in number, she was very affectionate and kind, so that they were fond of listen- ing to her instructions. Her ex- planations of Scripture were so simple and child-like, that the smallest of them could under- stand her, and were rendered attractive by her mild and kind manner of addressing them. The accommodations of the room were very simple, a few low stools and benches, chairs being unknown in the garrison. One of her scholars, then a boy of four years, who furnished the
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sketch of the school, says that one day, for lack of a better seat, he was placed on the top of a bag of meal, that stood leaning against the wall of the room. The school was continued three or four years, or until the close of the war, when the inmates of the garrison dispersed to their farms. The seed thus pi- ously sown, in faith and love, was not scattered in vain; as several of her scholars are now prominent members of the church.
In 1817, a " Female Tract So- ciety " was formed, which was the source of great good, and was much encouraged by Mr. Robbins, who also established weekly conference meetings, in which religious subjects were discussed in the form of Ques- tions. The following are a few of them :- " In what sense are baptized children members of the church ? and what is the duty of the church to them?" " Whether one amusement is more sinful in itself than another ?" " How ought the Sabbath to be ob- served ?" " What is the Scrip- ture doctrine of Election, and what is its use?" These dis- cussions were generally well at- tended, and with the evening meetings of the young people prayer and religious conversa- tion, prepared the hearts and affections of the congregation for the great awakening which took place in the following years; so true is it, that " the fallow ground" of the heart must be broken up and prepared for the reception of the good seed of the word of God, as it must be in the cultivation of the husband- man, before we can expect a crop. This was truly a refresh-
|ing season in the life of Mr. Robbins, and rewarded him in part for the many past years, in which he seemed to " have la- bored in vain and spent his strength for nought !" At the close of this year, it was decided by the church to take up a con- tribution in money, hereafter, at their monthly concerts of prayer, for the benefit of foreign mis- sions.
On the first day of January, 1818, the church was convened at the dwelling of their pastor, and resolved to meet weekly for special prayer for a revival of religion in their own hearts, thus testifying the desire of both minister and church for an out- pouring of the Holy Spirit on the people. These meetings were held at the private houses of church members. On the fifth of that month, which was the first Monday, in pursuance of the resolution of December, at the monthly concert, a contribution was taken up. The sum col- lected was small ; only two dol- lars and seventy-two cents ; yet it opened the way for this be- nevolent work, and was the pre- cursor of thousands of dollars, which have since been given by the same church and people.
In the spring of this year he visited his friends and relatives in New England, and was ab- sent from the 11th of May to the 22d of July. It was a wea- risome journey-being perform- ed on horseback and in the scorching heat of a summer sun. Yet he returned in health and richly laden with the blessing of that God, in whom he placed all his trust for time and eternity.
In November of that year, some indications were seen, that
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the good seed which he had been sowing in the hearts of his hearers, was beginning to vege- tate, and he says : " I have rea- son to think that a few among us have of late been called out of darkness into light. Oh that God would awaken others for Jesus' sake !"
During the following year, or 1819, the same course of relig- ious instruction was kept up, with visiting the district and Sabbath schools; where, with his prayers, he gave many exhor- tations and much good council to the children and youth. These endeavors were blessed with some good results, as about fif- teen souls were added that year to his church on profession, and as many more by certificates. At the close of the year, he says, " Thus a kind Providence has brought me and mine safely to the close of another year; oh for hearts of gratitude and praise." In May, 1820, the fruits of his numerous prayers began to ripen for the harvest, and he says : " Blessed be God, that I have reason to think an awaken- ing has commenced. Oh Lord, revive thy work !" This year there was a general outpouring of the Spirit in the region about Marietta, especially among the students in the college at Athens and various other places.
In the spring of this year, he was greatly cheered, with a visit from the members of the mission family, about thirty in number, then on their way to Elliot, who passed the Sabbath at Marietta. Through his exertions, and others friendly to missions among the southern Indians, a considerable contribution in money, provi- sions, and clothing was collected
for their benefit. He entered warmly into the cause of Home missions, as well as Foreign, and by means of printed circu- lars, drawn up by himself and distributed over the adjacent counties, awakened quite a spirit amongst the people, to aid these missions by annual contributions of provisions, clothing, etc. Sev- eral boats were loaded in the course of the following years, and navigated by pious young men, some of whom were con- verts of the revival of 1830.
In June the work of the Lord was at its height, and nearly all the congregation were more or less affected. The action of the Holy Spirit was sharp and pun- gent in the hearts of sinners, so that at the evening meetings some could not restrain their convictions, but uttered in pierc- ing cries the distress of their souls. This was especially the case with several of the young females, while others were more calm under the transition from a state of nature to that of holi- ness. As the fruits of this revi- val, thirty-four were added to his church in August, and eight in October ; making in the whole year fifty-seven persons. In the midst of this revival, he wrote to his " dear brother in the Lord," the Rev. Timothy Harris of Granville, to "come over and help him " in the work. The scanty support afforded to preach- ers of the gospel at that day, is well shown in his answer to the call, dated July 7th. He says : " Yes, my brother, there is a wil- ling mind ; my soul, at times, is surely with you, though my poor body is here. But my way is hedged up. My greatest hin- drances are-first, the want of
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money, even to get to your house ; the little I told you of, I have been under the necessity of laying out for my family ; and secondly, the want of a coat ; my best, and only garment of this kind, is more than three years old, and so much giving away, that I really think I need a better one. I see no prospect of getting another, except I run in debt, and I am quite unwil- ling to do this; I conclude for good reasons. But I must not dwell too much on such things. God reigns; and I believe he reigns well, notwithstanding I have not money, &c. as I wish. I am, or ought to be, more con- cerned about being resigned, than about a coat and other gar- ments. The Lord will provide, I believe, in due time. Perhaps my pride is to be mortified, and my patience tried." He then goes on to express the joy he felt in the work the Lord was carrying on at Marietta, which his brother Robbins had for many years been laboring and praying to promote. Mr. Harris was settled at Granville, about eighty miles from Marietta, in December, 1808, over a society of farmers from Connecticut ; and yet both this good man and Mr. Robbins were spending the best and most useful of their years in laboring amongst a peo- ple who contributed the most slender support for themselves and families, without any pros- pect of a living for their children at their death ; which, from their rather delicate health, might probably happen while they were yet small. But the desire of these excellent men was not for earthly comforts, which nei- ther of them coveted, but the
more durable riches of heaven, which we trust they are now enjoying in the presence of the Master, whom they so faithfully served on earth. Although Mr. Harris was unable to come to his assistance, yet several others did; amongst them was the Rev. Mr. Everett, and Rev. Dyer Burgess, on their way further west, who spent some time in Marietta. Mr. Weaboy, a Bap- tist preacher, afforded valuable aid, entering heartily into the work of the revival. In 1821 it made but little progress, although the same humble means were kept up by the pastor and the church.
On his birth day, in 1822, he says : " Thus is my guilty life prolonged to forty-four years, this day. Thanks to God, my preserver! and oh for a heart to live more devoted to him than ever !" The summer of the year 1822 was very sickly ; an epi- demic, remitting fever, pervad- ing all the region bordering on the Ohio river, for many miles above and below Marietta. In September, several religious meetings had to be omitted on account of the sickness, so that few additions were made to the church this year. The health of himself and family was however preserved, and much of his time was given to visiting the sick. On the 21st of this month, a day of fasting and prayer was ob- served by the church, when he preached from Hosea vi: 1. The meetings on the Sabbath were thinly attended, there be- ing very few not occupied with the sick, or in bed themselves. The following winter was healthy, and the usual regular attention was given to religious
Acabou
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services, both in preaching and prayer meetings. As the hot weather of summer approached in 1823, the epidemic was re- vived with still greater malig- nity, and very fatal in its effects. At the close of July, some of his children, with his wife, were at- tacked, and she narrowly escap- ed death. While she was in the midst of the disease, Mr. Robbins was taken down, about the fifth of August.
The last record in his Journal is on the 4th, when he notes : " No meeting for monthly con- cert of prayer, on account of the sickness." The attack was a violent dysenteric fever, in which he suffered extreme pain and distress, but bore all with chris- tian resignation and patience. He died on the second day of September. The closing scene is thus described by one of his church members: " On my way to attend the funeral of Mr. Jud- son Guitteau, called at Mr. Rob- bins', whom I had not seen for twelve days, on account of my own ill health. Found him in a very low, debilitated state; he was reduced even to the borders of the grave, by the dysentery, not able to speak above his breath, and that in very short sentences. I informed him whither I was going, and for what purpose-that Mr. Guit- teau died the evening before. He whispered, 'a good man, a godly man-he has gone to rest.' On Thursday, the 2d, called again at Mr. Robbins'. Found him much altered for the worse, very low, even a dying man. The 'grim messenger' had laid his cold hand upon him, from the extremities he was gradually approaching the seat of life ; at
my approach he seemed not to regard me, although the pains and disquietude of body would not suffer him to remain station- ary for a moment, yet his mind seemed to be totally absorbed with regard to his soul. So I gazed for a moment without saying a word, for what could I say ! He burst forth, ' Oh for a peaceable, quiet, exit, and be received into the arms of ever- lasting love ; what would I give for that assurance.' He noticed me; I took his cold hand ; he repeated my name; I would have comforted him, and said something of Jesus. ' Yes Jesus, whom I have preached,' said he, ' most glorious, most excellent, most lovely '-not quite so regu- lar, but at intervals, being ex- ceedingly tossed with pain. His eldest son, a fine boy of twelve years' old, bearing his father's name, stood weeping at a dis- tance ; he came nigh. Encir- cling him with his dying arm, ' My son, you know what I have taught you.' He said something relative to the Bible, but in so low a tone that it could not be understood. 'God's holy Sab- bath keep-and share; pray to God ; love the Lord Jesus Christ, and obey him. These things you know, and do them, or they will rise up in judgment against you.' After a long pause, still keeping his cold hand on the warm bosom of the lovely boy, he said, ' My son, I shall not see you after to-night-be a good boy-and may God bless you " He turned on to the other side of the bed, and his son retired. After some time, having a little recovered from the last effort, he requested to unite with me in prayer. This was attempted ;
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during which he was enabled to be calm and composed. After- wards he made some adjustment of temporal concerns. I bid him farewell ; yea, as it has proved, a final farewell for this world. This scene took place about twelve o'clock in the day. Next morning I was informed he died about ten o'clock, the evening after I left him."
Thus terminated the life of this excellent man, at a time when a general distress and gloom overspread the communi- ty, so that he could not receive those christian attentions and consolations so soothing to the sick, and especially at the hour of death ; even the wife of his bosom was too ill to administer to his necessities. But, as he was heard to say a few days be- fore his death, in view of his forlorn state, "when my father and my mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up ;" and doubtless he partook of the full benefit of this promise, and shared largely in the Christian's hope. How deeply his death was lamented, especially by his sister Gilman, may be seen by the following letter, addressed to Mrs. Robbins from Cincinnati, where she had been called to wait on her sick husband :- " With a heart filled with an- guish, my dear sister, do I now sit down to address you. My tears had not ceased to flow for the best of sons, when I was called in Providence to weep afresh for the dearest and best of brothers-and is my beloved brother Samuel gone forever ? Shall I never more hear his pleasant voice ?- never more hear him pray ?- never more see him break the bread, bless
the cup, and give us all to drink ? Oh no-he has gone forever from our view, and the places which once knew him will know him no more forever. The loss to me is great, but to you, my beloved sister, and to the dear fatherless children, is irreparable. Permit me then to tell you how much we all sympathize with you, and the dear children which he has left, on this sorrowful occasion. But for your comfort, remember, that although the af- fliction is great, your heavenly father is able to support you, and has said in his word, he will never leave you, nor for- sake you. He has promised to be the widow's God, and a Father to the fatherless. Be grateful to heaven that you were blest with his society, comforted with his advice, and consoled by his prayers, so many years-and say with the good Mr. Newton :
'Lord, he was thine, and not my own, Thou canst not do me wrong ;
I thank thee for the gracious loan, Afforded me so long.'
You have now, my dear sister, a double part to act, that of father and mother, to the chil- dren committed to your care. For their sake sink not under this deep affliction ; spread all your wants and trials before your Heavenly Father, who will never lay upon you more than he will enable you to bear, and will work all things for good to those who love and trust in him. My dear sister, you have pre- cious promises in the word of God, for your comfort and con- solation. 'The Lord will not forsake his dear children; and though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.'
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' He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve his children; for whom he loveth he chasteneth' 'The mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kind- ness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord of hosts.' Take these pre- cious words of your God, my dear sister, to yourself; they be- long to you-live upon them, and may our blessed Redeemer com- fort you with the consolations of his Holy Spirit. I am extreme- ly anxious to hear the particu- lars of my brother's sickness and death. I want to know every word that passed his lips-what were his views in the near ap- proach of 'the king of terrors'- was his mind clear? or did he sink down under the weight of his disease, without feeling his situation and sufferings. Pray write me, my dear, very particu- larly about your own situation, and the exact situation of your family."
His sister Hannah was one of the choice spirits of the earth, such as only appear at long in- tervals. In addition to a most beautiful person, and fascinating manners, she was blessed with the graces of the Holy Spirit, in an eminent degree, and loved her brother with an ardor only known to those who possess a heart and affections similar in kind to that of their Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Her numerous letters in the family correspond- ence all breathe the same holy desires, and are full of love and heavenly zeal. She lived ten or twelve years after her broth- er's death, and then went to join him in the everlasting rest of the just.
VOL. I.
In person Mr. Robbins was about the medium height, but of a slender and delicate frame --- complexion and hair dark, with black piercing eyes-features well formed, a mild expression of countenance, with a cast of sadness. In manners the most simple and unaffected; like a child in the ways of the world, he suspected no one of evil, and trusted that all were as free of deceit as himself With ten- poral affairs he had little or no concern, his whole heart and soul being devoted to his Mas- ter's business. His time, when not given to missionary journies, or occupied in visiting his parish- ioners, was spent among his books, of which he was a dili- gent student. During the short period of his ministry, about seventeen years, he composed nine hundred and forty-two ser- mons, nearly all of which were written out in the most accurate and logical manner, the subject being classed under "distinct heads, ending with 'the improve- ment,' according to the manner of the older divines. His dis- courses were not declamatory, but argumentative, persuasive and convincing. His manner of delivery was plain, but earnest ; and from the rich, sweet tones of his voice, very, attractive to his hearers. He sought more to convince the reason and the un- derstanding of sinners, in lead- ing them in the way of right- eousness, than to overwhelm them with boisterous denuncia- tions and the terrors of the law. Few divines have fulfilled their duties more faithfully than Mr. Robbins; and when the Master called for an account of his stewardship, he could render it
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with joy, and justly receive the commendation, " well done good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
The following lines, soon after his death, appeared in " the Mi- nerva," a paper printed in Ma- rietta, from an unknown pen, and are deemed worth preserv- ing.
" Whilst cheering angels loud proclaim ' well done !'
Thy . mourning friends stand weeping round thy tomb,-
And little know the 'good man's' happy doom-
While vaulted heaven, with wide unfold- ed wings,
Greeting, invites to reign with priests and kings-
He who on earth the christian's path hath trod,
And thought each moment void, not spent for God,
In those blest mansions he will shine, I trust,
While infidels, their faces hide in dust."
For the Panoplist.
REMARKS ON THE CASE OF PROF. WEBSTER.
THE recent verdict of the jury of the Supreme Judicial Court in the case of Prof. Webster is suggestive of some reflections in regard to the principles of jus- tice, which, as they may not have occurred to all minds, it may be useful to some to ex- press in the columns of a public journal.
We allude here to that eternal principle of pure, strict justice, which demands a penalty to be attached to the violation of law, and calls likewise for the execu- tion of that penalty. Such jus- tice forms one of the attributes which evangelical Christians as- cribe to a holy God. It is an attribute unwelcome to the na-
tural heart; against which the natural heart so strongly rebels, that many who cannot but ac- knowledge the divine inspiration of the Bible and the authority of the christian religion, yet persist in denying that a God of infinite justice can ever visit the trans- gressor with eternal punishment. It must be admitted that when, with our imperfect vision, we attempt to contemplate the ever- lasting penal suffering of some whom we love, it is difficult not to feel that such suffering would so mar our own happiness, should we be saved, and so invade the perfect happiness of a merciful God himself, as that it should be regarded as an impossibility in the administration of the divine government. Nevertheless, the teachings of the Scriptures on this point are clear and positive, and may not be explained away.
The feelings and the judg- ment of a large portion of the community, in regard to the criminal case which has recently been tried in this city, furnish an illustration, such as is seldom afforded, of the demand for jus- tice which exists in all rational minds, where the place of right reason is not usurped by error, nor its decisions biased by self- ish considerations. There are individuals, indeed, whose opin- ion is that Prof. Webster is not guilty of the murder of Dr. Park- man. But in regard to nearly all with whom the writer has had intercourse, a deep convic- tion of the prisoner's guilt has been entertained, induced by the facts elicited during the trial. And while expressions of pity and of sympathy have been abundant and manifestly sincere, a sentiment has been co·exten-
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