USA > Virginia > Sketches of Virginia : historical and biographical > Part 53
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The Rev. Benjamin F. Staunton, suffering from the severity of the New England winters, and hoping for relief from the more ge- nial climate of Virginia, removed to Prince Edward in the spring of 1830; and became the minister of the church embracing the Union Theological Seminary, and Hampden Sidney College, in its bounds. In the early stages of Dr. Rice's illness, Mr. Staunton assisted in the instruction of the classes, in expectation of the Doctor's speedy recovery. In the spring of 1831, the Board of Directors finding that the Professor's health did not improve, cordially invited Mr. Staunton to supply his place in the recitation room as far as con- venient, during the summer. The able manner in which he per- formed the duties, was gratefully acknowledged by the students and the Directors. In the month of March, 1831, Mr. Staunton held a four days' meeting at the College church, assisted by Messrs. J. S. Armistead and William S. White. There were many hopeful con- versions to God; and of these a goodly number were traced in their incipient steps to instruction received from Dr. Rice. In this Mr. Staunton, with characteristic feeling, rejoiced greatly. The seed faithfully sown by another he gathered in. As the news of these hopeful conversions, and their attendant circumstances, was brought to Dr. Rice, his spirits revived. "Oh !" said he, "that I could aid the triumph with my voice. But the Lord's will be done." Two of his attending physicians, and some of his relatives were among the converts. This animated him, and under the excitement he sometimes hoped he should get well. These hopes, however, speedily yielded to the deep conviction that this could never be. " I feel an iron hand upon me that is crushing me to death. I cannot escape from it. I have a secret malady that my physicians, with all their skill and kindness, cannot find out, and it must carry me off at last."
As the months slowly revolved, his nervous system became excited to a painful degree, and deprived him of the pleasure his friends were very cheerfully affording him, by reading to him letters, pieces of news, and interesting passages. One after another lost its pleasure, and became painful, and was abandoned. His sickness came upon
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DR. RICE'S ILLNESS.
him in the southwest corner of the second story of the Boston House, now used by Dr. Wilson as his study. After the frosts of spring were passed, he was removed to the room directly below, that he might have the advantage of some exercise in the open air. A small hand-carriage was constructed, under the direction of Dr. Morton, in which he was occasionally drawn out in the garden by his brother-in-law, or Mr. Ballentine; Mrs. Rice walking by his side, with a mug of water, to moisten his parched mouth. But, in a little time, the sight even of his choice fruit trees and flowers became too exciting, and he was carried out no more. Mr. Ballen- tine read to him from a newspaper, the death of Jeremiah Evarts, Secretary of the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions. "Alas !" he exclaimed, "God is taking away the stay and the staff from Israel ! The few that are left will not be regarded, and the many will carry all before them. Numbers will overwhelm us at last ;" referring to the sentiments of his last sermon, that a fierce and dreadful contest was approaching, involving the church and the conflicting powers of wickedness. A letter from Rev. Elias Cornelius, Secretary of the American Education Society, impress- ing the sentiment, "Man is immortal, till his work is done," was read to him only in part; it caused too great excitement. His friend, William Wirt, Esq., sent a charming epistle, a specimen of an afflicted Christian's sympathy. It was not read to him. He could scarcely hear a passage from the Bible. The sight of books became distressing. His nervous sensibility could not bear the noise of a pen, or the sight of a flower.
About the beginning of July, a change took place in his disease, and he became subject to a wasting diarrhea. Weak and emaciated, Dr. Morton carried him, in his arms, to the parlor in the second story, from which he went out no more a living man.
From the commencement of his confinement, until about the suc- ceeding May, reading, singing, and pleasant conversation had cheered his watchers, as well as himself; and the students gladly, in suc- cession, sat up as much of the night as was required, with their beloved teacher, and ministered to his wants. When these exercises, losing all their power to please, became sources of distress ; when quietness and stillness, and great gentleness were required in his attendants ; when caution in avoiding all that might distress, was even more indispensable than care, that all should be done that could contribute positively to the sick man's comfort, there was found one admirably adapted to the necessities of the case. Mr. Elisha Ballentine, introduced to the attention of Dr. Rice by Mr. Nettleton, had joined the seminary the latter part of the year 1828. From his retiring habits, little was known of him, except by reports from the class-room, where his correctness and enteprising scholar- ship won universal admiration. He entered into the Doctor's plans and views with great facility, and made himself very agreeable to his instructor. The sick man's situation requiring aid suited to the young man's habits, he now came forward, and for the first time in
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DR. RICE'S ILLNESS.
his seminary life, offered his unsought services for the vocation, and became his constant attendant and unwearied nurse till the end of his life. On the proposition of Mr. Ballentine, all other watchers were dispensed with; and, drawing a sofa near one side of the bed, he assumed the entire care ; Mrs. Rice placed a small bed for her- self, near her husband, on the other side. Thus, from the spring vaca- tion till the closing scene of life, the wife and the student nursed the dying man.
The Synods of North Carolina and Virginia, and the Board of directors of the seminary, were not remiss in their efforts to obtain a Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Polity. On the 12th of April, 1831, the Rev. Thomas M'Auley, D. D. was chosen to that office. His appointment gave great satisfaction to Dr. Rice, who anticipated much good to the seminary from his co-operation. Dr. M'Auley's refusal to serve the seminary, came too late to affect Dr. Rice, as the doors of his sick room were closed against all news, and almost all visitors. At the meeting of the Board of directors, of the 27th of September, the Rev. John M'Dowell, of Elizabeth- town, was, according to the expressed will of the two Synods, ap- pointed to the office declined by Dr. M'Auley. This appointment was consummated after the death of Dr. Rice. The preparatory step attracted little of his attention; though fond of Dr. M'Dowell, he had come down into the Jordan of death, and all earthly things were passing from his sight. Dr. M'Dowell accepted the appoint- ment, and his Presbytery agreed to his dismission, against the wishes of the congregation ; an appeal was taken to Synod. The conclusion was, Dr. M'Dowell was not permitted by Synod to remove.
Yielding to their own wishes, many expressed the hope that Dr. Rice might yet be restored to sufficient health and soundness to continue his labors as professor. His own deliberate judgment that he should never recover, was too well founded. In August, his brother Benjamin came from New York, bringing his wife and a daughter, for a last interview with a brother who had been to him a brother indeed, now evidently passing the river of death. The first meeting was in the silence of deep emotion : taking each by the 'hand with affection, he said: "It is too much for me; they must leave me soon." A fortnight passed noiselessly, in the kind- ness and affectionate attentions of fraternal love and gratitude. Few words were employed to express the communion between the . hearts of the living and the dying. The farewell was simply a look of unutterable kindness from the dying man, with "God bless you," on his lips, and a burst of uncontrollable grief from the living brother, as he hurried from the apartment. The nervous suffering increased the latter part of August. Frequent spasms distorted his limbs, and almost constant friction was required to give him any sleep.
On Saturday morning, Sept. 3d, at the breaking of the day, Mrs. Rice, in attempting to give him some medicine, saw manifest evi- dence that his last day had come. He could not be roused from
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the stupor that was on him; his face was haggard in the paleness of death. Leaning her head upon the bedside, his wife earnestly prayed he might once more know and speak to her. After an inter- val of some length, he seemed to rouse from his sleep, and calling her, said in a soft voice - "I wish to tell you I never loved you more than at this hour." He then expressed his sorrow that he could not leave her in possession of a house. To her reply that she could not live alone, and that God would take care of her, he said -"I know it, but the best of friends would feel differently if you had a house of your own. Then turning to the young man that was attending upon him, whom he had often addressed as his son, he said-"I know Ballantine will be a son to you." The young man bowed his head to the side of the couch in solemn acquiescence. He then spake a few words of farewell to his niece, Mary Morton, and his sister Sally. The news spread that Dr. Rice was dying. Many sought admission, especially the students. In glancing around upon his young friends, he saw one in the attitude of taking notes, and said-" I have no set speech for this occasion." The paper and pencil disappeared. Often during the day he turned to his wife and said - "I expect you to sustain me by your cheerful sub- mission to the last moment." To Dr. Morton he said - "I wish all the world to know how much I love you." Hearing weeping in his room he said, "Don't weep so, you distress me." His wife said "You see I don't weep." Gazing on her with unutterable tenderness he replied, "No- I see you do not, and I hope you will be sustained to the end." President Cushing came in and was recognized with great kindness ; in a little time he handed a cup of tea to Mrs. Rice, who did not leave her husband's sight for a moment, and in- sisted on her drinking it. This act drew from the dying man a sweet smile of approbation.
Throughout his whole sickness he had times of much mental de- pression, which was attributed in a great measure to his disease. Under its influence he sometimes expressed himself as having been too prodigal of his life in his efforts to serve the visible church; and then he mourned that he had not served his God as he had the church. " When I get well," he would say, "I shall have a new lesson to give my pupils ; at least I shall give them an old one with new emphasis, and it is this : that they must never let their zeal for active service run away with their private devotions." With the many evidences of God's favor around he seemed to himself to have been ungrateful and unworthy. Always stirring up others to that purity for which he strove, he seemed to himself a most undeserving sinner. His being cut off in the very meridian of usefulness, often appeared to him as an expression of divine displeasure, under which all his success in the ministry and the professorship gave him no comfort.
On the very last day of his life there was a cloud and melancholy upon him on this account. To the inquiry by his wife, if his hope brightened -he replied, "When I have light, or hope, you shall know it." All the afternoon he gave evidence of great bodily suf-
t
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DR. RICE S ILLNESS.
fering and weakness. About nine o'clock, making a greater exertion than he had been seen to do for a long time, as if summoning all his powers for a last effort, he threw his arms around the neck of his wife and said with a countenance of joy, "Mercy is"-His sudden movement startled Mrs. Rice and she did not hear the closing word, which was faint. Upon her saying so, Mrs. Goodrich said, " Was it great ?" "No," said Mrs. Rice, "it was a longer word." After a little pause she called to him - " Husband, what is it ?" Her voice seemed to call him back from the banks of the river; and with another effort, he pronounced "Tri-um-phant ;" and his head declined. Dr. Morton unfolded his arms, laid him upon the bed - there was a gasp or two, and mortal life was gone. Amid the sorrow and pain of breaking the tender cords that bound the beholders to the dying man, a glance of joy brightened every face, and an involutary burst of thanksgiving from every heart went up to God that the beloved friend had passed the river "triumphant." The beloved wife retired to her little chamber to weep, and to praise, and to rejoice.
The gentlemen present, his relatives, and the officers of college and the seminary, and some students, emulated, as in waiting upon his sick hours, the office of preparing the lifeless remains for the grave. No strange hands touched his mortal body. At the special request of Dr. Rice the attending physicians made examinations to discover any peculiarity in his disease. He had often complained that his throat seemed clasped by an iron band, close almost to strangling. The physicians found strictures in his bowels, which preventing the natural circulation, must have produced the uneasi- ness and pain of which he complained, and which were beyond the reach of medicine. He often said a malady was on him which his friends could not find out. The true cause was probably stated by him to his friends, Drs. Woods and Alexander, and others - "I am overworked." Mental and physical exertion broke down the con- stitution which had given evidence in its long endurance of its original excellence. Those who knew his labors and success will be slow in condemning him for those exertions that consumed his body with pains no medicine could reach ; while they will mourn both the necessity and the event.
The body of Dr. Rice was interred at Willington, the residence of his father-in-law, among the kindred of his wife. The students of the Seminary and College formed part of the procession that followed the relations : they conveyed the corpse to the place of burial. At the grave Mr. Staunton pronounced a short oration, a masterpiece of funereal eloquence, which the hearers greatly desired to see in print, a memorial of the speaker and the departed Professor. The hymn-" Why do we mourn departing friends"-was sung by the students, to the tune of China. The music sounded from the little hill like an echo from the world of glory.
The old major, Morton, who had seen service in the Revolution, and from his stout frame and imperturbable spirit, was called "solid col-
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THE SPIRIT AND EXAMPLE OF DR. RICE.
umn" by his companions, who had borne the changes and bereavements of life with calm self-possession, -- when the procession drew near his house, bearing that son-in-law whose approach till that hour had been gladness,-started to meet the company-sunk down, and cried out, with flowing tears-" I had thought that Mr. Rice would be the glory and comfort of my age-and at last bury me." Like an old oak, uptorn by the tempest, he lay prostrate. In a few days his mortal frame had undergone years of age and infirmity. He talked, and smiled, and went about a broken-hearted old man, searching for his last resting-place ; glad when called to lay down his body, despoiled by years and infirmity.
The visitor may read, at Willington, epitaphs to be remembered. Among the rest-near Mr. Morton and Young Taylor-
JOHN HOLT RICE, First Professor of Christian Theology in the Union Theological Seminary, Was born in the County of Bedford, On the 28th of November, 1777, And died on the 3d of September, 1831. To his Memory This Stone is raised By her whom he loved.
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE SPIRIT AND EXAMPLE OF DR. RICE.
DR. MILLER, of Princeton, said to Mr. Rice-" I know you are accustomed to take large views of things." Of the truth of this remark, the plans laid while he was tutor at Hampden Sidney Col- lege, and those he followed through his whole life, are full proof.
1st. He was characterised as a man indefatigable in his efforts. Neither in mind or body was he rapid in his motions. But however slow, his investigations once begun, were never given over till his judgment and conscience were satisfied. He saw clearly, re- solved strongly, and then acted with a vigor, equalled only by his patience. He had an enduring will, a firm physical constitution, and strong feelings ; and was capable of deep emotions. He loved strongly, and but for the gospel would have hated strongly. The grace of God made him kind and gentle. As pastor, in Charlotte, the most unceasing effort, never losing sight of the great business of life, characterised him. His compeers had not thought him splendid,
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THE SPIRIT AND EXAMPLE OF DR. RICE.
or looked upon him as promising remarkable things. He was rather retiring, and never appearing to have brilliant thoughts. But they saw him moving on, surely though slowly, with prodigious strength,-that he was an improving man ; that there was an excellency in his success,- an enterprise without ambition in his efforts,-a doing good without ostentation. In Richmond, he was always at work. Like the im- provements in the city,-digging down hills, filling ravines, paving streets,-the work went on slowly but surely. He preached, he visited, he wrote, he was editor of the Magazine, he published pamphlets. How did he find time for all ? When did he rest ? is it possible his mind moved slowly ? In what lay the secret of his strength ? He was not found doing things slightly, or laying again and again the first principles of doctrine and action. He moved cautiously, and went on and on, seldom retracing his steps. He never abandoned a project he had once undertaken, till something better was offered in its place, as when he gave up the printing-press in Richmond, and looked to the Bible Society and Sunday School Union for the books he desired. He was diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. The best seven years of his life were de- voted to the Theological Seminary. His friend, Dr. Alexander, said -"he did every thing in his power to promote the success of the work, but was long incredulous about its success." Assisted by the Rev. Robert Roy, he obtained by personal effort the principal dona- tions by which the Seminary and Professors' houses were commenced ; and with the aid of Mr. Goodrich and others, the funds by which they were finished. When the instalments on the subscriptions be- came due, he visited the subscribers, or their neighborhood, and with a few sermons, and some visiting, made the collections. Many of the donors reckoned the visit a good offset to their assistance in money. These visits consumed time: sometimes cheering him greatly, and at others, particularly the last, oppressing him. His name with an agent did much-his presence more.
2d. He was always thirsting for intellectual improvement and spiritual advancement. In Charlotte, where, in the course of his numerous avocations, strong reasons could have been given for not reading much, or for pursuing new studies, we find him writing to his friend Alexander, July 15, 1810 -" I am zealously engaged in the study of Hebrew this summer. I am determined to master it, if possible. Would I could get a Syriac New Testament, such as yours ! I am anxious to be an orientalist." Again, Sept. 4th - " If it pleases God to give me health and strength, I am resolved to be master of those languages in which the truths of divine revelation were originally recorded ; and I am very anxious to get all the helps in these studies that can possibly be procured. I must beg your assistance in this business. If you will accept it, I hereby give you a carte blanche, a full commission to buy for me at any price you think proper to give, any book that you can find that will, in your opinion, be important for me to have." The first desire or inclina- tion to leave Charlotte came upon him after a visit to Philadelphia,
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THE SPIRIT AND EXAMPLE OF DR. RICE.
and observing the great advantages of his friend Alexander for study. He began to long for a place where preaching, and the stu- dies connected with it, might be his sole employ. Some efforts were made to remove him to Philadelphia. But those made in Richmond were successful, coming nearer his heart. Of Richmond, he says to his friend Alexander, January 3d, 1811 -" Have you heard of Mr. Lacy's trip to Richmond last month, and of the effects which his preaching produced ? I have understood that a number of per- sons, since that time, have determined, if possible, to get some evangelical preacher to live in the place. The plan laid by Major Quarles is, to subscribe and rent a house for an academy, to the charge of which the minister of their choice is to be invited, and he is to build up a church, from the pew-rent of which a salary is to be raised for him; and then, if he chooses, he may drop his school. Quarles, Watt, and a few others, who are most deeply interested in this business, are very sanguine in their expectations of success. From some late communications that have been made to me, I have reason to believe that they depend on me to do the work for them. And indeed, could I establish a church in Richmond, 'built on the foundation of the prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone,' I should do well. But I fear that this is a task not easy to be accomplished." He did go to Richmond, and improved in knowledge and wisdom, his study forming always an important part of his house ; he did build a church, the corner-stone of which was Jesus Christ ; and in the study and improvement and exercise of all his powers he became fitted for the work of building the Union Theological Seminary. Who else but a man of strong desires could have done that work. He schemed for himself a liberal course of study, and pursued it with untiring industry, seizing all opportunities for information, listening to able men, reading the best books he could get, always keeping some subject before his mind for study and reflection, and pursuing the investigation till the subject was exhausted. The acquisitions he made were kept securely, and were ready when necessity demanded. Often small as the de y drops, like the dew they covered the fleece, till a bowl-full might be wrung out. In the habit of using his mental armor, he knew all his shafts ; he counted his treasures as he laid them by. When he drew his bow, it was because he thought he had a polished shaft for the occasion ; and seldom was he mistaken. When he brought out his treasures, their richness and present fitness were apparent to all. When he declared that, on some subjects, he was not prepared for the Presidency of Nassau Hall, he placed a less estimate on his qualifications than did his most intimate friends.
3d. Dr. Rice was a true friend of the colored race. On the subject of emancipation, he writes to his friend Maxwell, February, 1827, and says -"The problem to be solved is, to produce that state of the public will, which will cause the people to move spontaneously to the eradication of this evil. Slaves by law are held as property. If the church, or the minister of religion touches the subject, it is
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DR. RICE'S VIEWS ON SLAVERY.
touching what are called the rights of property. The jealousy of our countrymen is such, that we cannot move a step in this way without waking up the strongest opposition, and producing the most violent excitement." To Dr. Alexander, in April of the same year, he says -" It is physically impossible for any decision of the church to be carried into effect, because, taking the members generally, three-fourths are women and minors, persons not acknowledged by law. What could they do ? Of the remaining fourth, three out of four are in moderate circumstances, without political influence." Dr. Rice hoped for an amelioration of the condition of slavery by the influence of religion on the holders of slaves; and he believed that in a course of years, Virginia, if undisturbed by foreign in- fluences, would throw off the system entirely. The interference from without made him almost despair. He knew his fellow- citizens must do the work voluntarily, or never do it at all. No external force, or argument from abroad, could work that revolution in public sentiment from which should come the freedom of the slave.
Dr. Rice expressed repeatedly to his wife, during his last illness, his wishes respecting the final disposition of the servants she inhe- rited from her father. He expressed his dislike to their being sold, or to their remaining in servitude after her death ; but left the decision to her, to whom it properly belonged. At his death, but one instalment on the Boston house had been paid. The second had been due some months. The executors, Mr. James, Dr. Wood and Dr. Morton, proposed to meet the demand on the Doctor's estate, for the payments still due on the house, by a sale of his negroes. Mrs. Rice objected strongly, partly from her own feelings, and partly out of respect to her husband's request. The night after this proposition she was sleepless. Rising from her bed, she wrote to Dr. Woods, of Andover, the whole matter. He, sym- pathizing with the widow, immediately repaired to Boston, and laid the subject before the friends of Dr. Rice and the cause of theo- logical education at the South; and in a little time the whole remaining instalments were sent forward to Mrs. Rice. The ser- vants were retained by his widow until the spring of 1853. To assist her in the accomplishment of an expressed desire - that her servants might be sent to Liberia before her death -- some friends in New York purchased, for one thousand dollars, the husband of her principal serving woman, that the whole family might emigrate together. The servants set free were twelve in number ; four stout, able-bodied men, part of them good carpenters, two hale boys, nearly grown, her valuable serving-woman, with five children, the oldest large enough for a waiting-maid; all considered exceedingly valuable servants. They might have been sold at about fifteen thousand dollars. Thus, many years after his death, the wish of Dr. Rice met its accomplishment. The widow preferred doing in her lifetime what is commonly left to the executors of an estate ; intending to send them to Liberia, she attended to the emigration of her slaves while still in the enjoyment of health and strength.
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