Four Score and More; Memorabilia Quorum Magna Pars Fui Prepared by Request of My Family

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1908. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... IX. A Vocation 'I s HE indefinite suspension of the teaching exercises, in the Theological Seminary at Mercersburg in the summer of 1853 after the college had gone to Lancaster, when Dr. Schaff had grown lonesome and discouraged, being then the only professor left, made an unsettled condition for those students who had remained there to close up as best they could their theological course. As a personal relief, Dr. Schaff took a trip of indefinite length to Europe, and all in the seminary was at sea. My course was not yet half way through, and the tutorship was now in other hands. All seemed disarranged. My call to the ministry, for which even the preparation in studies was not half completed, was not yet settled or clear. For some years, the matter of life's work had been made the subject of earnest and prayerful thought. But no decided turn had as yet been found in a definite conclusion. While we are to a certain extent creatures of circumstances, yet we are not mere puppets, for Providence turns the clay into its intended form. In this waiting posture, my next call to active service was to become Sub Rector of the preparatory department of the newly united Franklin and Marshall College at Lancaster. In the fall of 1853, without self design or scheme, came my appointment to that place. Here was again plain sailing for the time as teacher of young men; and it promised in the student body good success. But in October of that year, the general voice of the brethren induced me to attend the meeting of the Eastern Synod just at that time holding its annual sessions in Philadelphia. It was the celebrated ecclesiastical court at which Rev. Dr. S. R. Fisher, of the Messenger, was tried on the charge of lending himself and the church paper to the work of fostering an...