212 LIFE AND LABORS OF

injure a supposed rival. Love of pre-eminence is natu-
ral to the human heart. Even among the disciples of
Christ, there was a dispute about who should be the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "Would that this
vile passion were confined to the laity: but it is too
often to be seen among ministers of the Gospel.

Looseness in pecuniary transactions is frequently the
cause of much difficulty also, both in the church as well
as in the world. Bargains are indefinitely made ; the
memory is relied on to keep accounts ; settlements are
improperly postponed, and the result is, a misunder-
standing in the final adjustment.

A slight discrepancy of religious sentiment, too, some-
times leads to unhappy divisions among brethren a
discrepancy that sustains no important relation to the
great system of fundamental truth revealed in the Bible,
but consists in mere metaphysical subtleties and dis-
tinctions which are impalpable to the common christian,
and tend only to perplex the church. Ecclesiastical his-
tory furnishes many examples of division in the body
of Christ that ought never to have taken place.

Mr. Donnell never would become a partizan in church
difficulties ; but always occupied the high position of
mediator between contending parties. Said a preacher,
who was in collision with some of his brethren, and de-
sired to enlist the feelings of Mr. Donnell on his side of
the controversy, " As for Donnell, he will lie down and
be trodden upon, and walked over, rather than partici-
pate in a dispute."



REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 213

Mr. Donnell possessed well-defined and established
religious sentiments, and did not hesitate to preach the
distinctive doctrines of his church, when deemed neces-
sary ; but his denominational attachments never degen-
erated into sectarian bigotry. While he followed his
own preference, respecting modes of worship, forms of
government, and shades of sentiment, he did not exalt
them into such undue importance as to overshadow the
essential doctrines and duties of religion, or consider
them indispensable to the character of the true church.
He did not believe that Presbyterians are saved by their
Presbyterian peculiarities, or Methodists by theirs, or
Baptists by theirs ; but that all are saved by what they
hold in common ; and thus believing, he was ready and
willing to meet them at the Lord's table, in the pulpit,
or on any other common ground, for christian commu-
nion and co-operation. His own church, however, being
the division of the great army of Christ, in which he
had enlisted to fight the battles of truth, he felt, as a
matter of course, an anxiety for her success and prosper-
ity ; but this he never sought by proselyting from other
denominations. To the world he looked for converts to
build up his church. His denominational attachment
was increased by the consideration that he had nursed
his church in her infancy, and toiled with and for her in
her riper years, and believed she had a great work to do
in the world for the cause of Christ.

Every enlightened and faithful minister of Jesus Christ
is a man of public spirit. His first and direct efforts are



214 LIFE AND LABORS OP

to save the people of his immediate charge ; but he de-
sires, at the same time, to live for the salvation of the
world, and in proportion as his success is seen at home,
will he be active in devising ways and means to send the
Gospel abroad. Some men are always behind the age in
which they live ; others are barely up with it, while a
few are occasionally to be seen in advance of it, serving
as file leaders in the progress of society. The latter was
Mr. Donnell's position; and such was the confidence of
the church in him, as a leader, that when any new en-
terprise was presented, with his sanction, the practical
utility of the measure Avas rarely doubted. He was
president of the first Missionary Board ever organized
in the Cumberland Presbyterian church ; and one of the
first Vice Presidents of the American Tract Society.

His rule of spending money for benevolent purposes,
was to discriminate between the merits of objects pre-
sented, and give accordingly. He considered himself
merely as a steward, and riches as a talent, to be ac-
counted for at the bar of God ; and that he was not at
liberty to contribute irrespective of a prospect of useful-
ness. I am not aware of but one man of the church to
which he belonged, that contributed, while living, more
than he did to the cause of benevolence. To the Bible
and Tract Societies, he made annual donations, besides
responding to various other calls outside of his own
church.

It is pleasing to reflect upon the great change that has
caken place, on the score of liberality, in the church at



REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 215

large, within the last fifty years. Time was when the
Methodists could raise but $600, and that they had to
borrow to commence their great " book concern." Near
the same time, an effort was made by a Synod in the
Presbyterian church, to raise funds to print " Dodridge's
Eise and Progress of Eeligion in the Soul ;" and after
trying several years, the project failed. "When the
American Board of Missions determined to establish the
first foreign mission, they were afraid to proceed without
soliciting aid from the London Missionary Society. It
is easier now to raise $1,000 in the Cumberland Presby-
terian church, for benevolent purposes, than it would
have been to raise $100 forty years ago.

Next to the progress of the Gospel, and the planting
of churches, there was nothing in which Mr. Donnell
felt a deeper interest than the cause of education. He
was a leading member of the Synod, then the highest
judicatory of the body, when it was determined to estab-
lish the first college of the Cumberland Presbyterian
church. Eevs. John Barnett and F. E. Cossitt, and
Ephraim M. Ewing, Joseph D. Hamilton and Joseph M.
Street, Esqs., were appointed commissioners to locate
the institution. They placed it at Princeton, Kentucky.
Mr. Donnell was never pleased with the location, but
acquiesced in the decision of the commissioners, and gave
to the college his hearty co-operation, until the church
despaired of its success. A fundamental error had been
committed, in attempting to combine manual labor with
literary instruction ; which, together with other minor



216 LIFE AND LABORS OF

causes that more properly belong to the secular historian
to record, operated in diminishing public confidence, and
it was ultimately deemed advisable, by the General As-
sembly, to establish an institution upon a different basis.
Mr. Donnell was placed at the head of a committee for
that purpose, and Lebanon, Tennessee, was selected as
the most eligible site for Cumberland University. Soon
after the location, he donated $1,000 toward an endow-
ment fund, and then exerted a happy influence in devel-
oping the liberality of the church for the same object.

Mr. Donnell felt not only a great interest in the gen-
eral diffusion of education in the country at large, but
especially for the intellectual improvement of candidates
for the ministry, both in literature and theology. Re-
specting his solicitude on this subject, President Ander-
son says :

"In the summer of 1833, 1 became connected with the
Revivalist, 1 the only paper then published in the church.
Mr. Donnell was a regular contributor to its columns,
and at that day he seldom discussed doctrines, or en-
gaged in controversy, but generally dwelt on subjects
relating to church policy. The establishment of Pres-
byterial schools, for the literary and theological instruc-
tion of probationers for the ministry, was with him a
favorite theme. His communications called out opposing
views, and a discussion ensued upon the relative merits
of Presbyterial schools, compared with one institution
of a high order for the whole church. After mature de-
liberation, a majority of the leading members of the body



REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 217

seemed to favor the latter. Mr. Donnell promptly sig-
nified his readiness to co-operate with the majority upon
any feasible plan that would call forth the energies of
the church in its support. The final action of the Gen-
eral Assembly, however, on the subject, was not obtained
till 1848, when he introduced a resolution to establish a
theological department in Cumberland University. The
resolution passed, and was carried into effect in 1852.
when Mr. Donnell gave his note for $1,000, to endow
the first professorship.

" When called to the pastoral charge of the church at
Lebanon, his solicitude for the University was the prin-
cipal cause of his acceptance. While pastor, he deliv-
ered a course of lectures on theology to candidates for
the ministry, which were the result of years' reflection
and profound analysis. The course embraced all the
distinctive doctrines of the Cumberland Presbyterian
church, and afforded much valuable information to the
young men for whose benefit they were delivered."

The following is an extract from his introductory
lecture :

''The doctrines of religion are very correctly called a
system of truth. This system, of course, has its parts,
sustaining a relation to each other. To understand the
system correctly, each part should be carefully studied.
Though called of God to preach the Gospel, you are not
to expect knowledge by intuition. ' Study to show thy-
self approved, give attention to reading,' &c, are Divine

commands, binding on ministers of the Gospel now as

28'



218 LIFE AND LABORS OF

much as in the days of the Apostles. That which man
can do for himself, God will not do. Having given him
a capacity to think, investigate, and reason, his Maker
expects him to acquire knowledge hy mental application.

" The idea that learning is prejudicial to religion, and
unnecessary to a minister of the Gospel, was never en-
tertained in the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Our
first preachers were unable to command those literary
advantages that have been provided for you ; but they
were all in favor of high intellectual attainments in the
ministry.

" The importance of a theological seminary is now un-
der consideration in the church, and it is hoped one will
soon be established. It is true, there is some diversity
of opinion with regard to the best plan ; but none ques-
tion the necessity of a profound knowledge of theology.
The best method of obtaining it, is the question of de-
bate. Some urge as an objection to theological semi-
naries, the evils which seem to have grown out of them
in other churches ; while others contend that if an insti-
tution is not to be tolerated unless it be perfect, all civil
governments would cease, for none are perfect.

" All other professions are generally studied in a sys-
tematic way, before their duties are undertaken; and I
cannot see why the same necessity does not apply to
ministers of the Gospel. True, some men have become
eminent lawyers and physicians, without seeing a law
or medical school; and I rejoice to know that many
preachers have been eminently useful and an honor to



REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 219

the church, without the advantages of a theological
seminary. Still, in all such cases, books were read and
studied, that had been written by men who had gone
through a systematic course of education."

Mr. Donnell's conduct in reference to politics, deserves
a permanent record. Such was his weight of character,
that his opinion in political matters was often sought
for party purposes. In 1840, when political excitement
was carried to very great extremes, he conversed so
little on the subject, that his sentiments were known to
but few. He was waited on by a committee, for the
purpose of ascertaining his position, to whom he replied;
"I am in favor of the missionary cause." A second
effort was made by another committee, and the question,
" What are your politics ?" directly propounded, to which
he responded, " Go ye into all the world and preach
my Gospel to every creature." Though disappointed,
and perhaps a little chagrined, yet the parties treated
Mr. Donnell's prudence with respect, and even admira-
tion ; and as evidence of their feelings, presented him a
handsome walking cane, with his last answer inscribed
upon it. The likeness of Mr. Donnell, accompanying
this Memoir, holds also the likeness of that cane in
hand.

Perhaps Mr. Donnell's taciturnity on the subject of
politics, was never more severely tried than at the Gen-
eral Assembly, at Owensborough, in 1840. While dining
on a certain day of the meeting, the question why so
many preachers belonged to a certain political party



220 LIFE AND LABORS OP

arose. The lady of the house, at the head of the table,
answered this question by saying, it was to be attributed
to their superior intelligence. Mr. Donnell, though in
politics opposed to the party referred to, and seated near
the lady, blushed, but said nothing.



REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 221



CHAPTER XX.

KEMINISCENCES AND REFLECTIONS. CONTINUED.

A Friend of the Missionary Enterprise- Recommends the Itinerant
Mode of Preaching Visits East Tennessee in 1818 Great Effects of
his Preaching Anecdote from Rev. J. B. Logan.

I have already stated that Mr. Donnell was President
of the first Missionary Board that was ever appointed in
the Cumberland Presbyterian church. The special ob-
ject of that Board was to educate and christianize the
Chickasaw Indians, then occupying a portion of what is
now the State of Mississippi. The late Eev. Eobert Bell
was the first missionary sent among those Indians by
the church. He opened a school for their benefit, on the
13th of November, 1820, one mile from the Tombigby
river, and two miles below Colbert's old cotton gin ; and
continued with the nation till their removal to the In-
dian territory, west of the Mississippi river.

Mr. Donnell, under an appointment of the Board of
Missions, with the assistance of Eevs. James B. Porter
and William Barnett, held a camp-meeting at the above
station, in the month of May, 1824. The following ref-
erence to this meeting is from the pen of the Rev. Israel
Pickens, who says :

" Mr. Donnell, on Saturday evening, made a general
request that all should retire to the woods and pray for



\



222 LIFE AND LABORS OF

the success of the meeting. This request produced an
unusual effect upon my mind. I had been under convic-
tion for some months, but my efforts, up to this time,
seemed to be unavailing. I had never seen Mr. Donnell
before, and so soon as he arose in the pulpit, I was struck
with his appearance. His remarks, in connection with
the request, were very appropriate and impressive, and
I went with the multitude to pray, and returned with
an increased purpose to seek religion. On Sabbath, Mr.
Donnell preached a very powerful sermon, on the valley
of dry bones ; and on that night I embraced religion ;
and I have ever regarded him as the means of my sub-
mission to Christ."

Mr. Donnell was in full sympathy with the foreign
missionary enterprise, from the commencement of his
ministry ; but the infancy of his church forbade a prac-
tical development of his feelings. Indeed, the great re-
vival of 1800, at the beginning of which he was con-
verted, was the dawn of the foreign missionary spirit
upon the churches of America. Isolated efforts had
been previously made, by Elliott. Brainard, and others,
to convert the heathen ; but there was nothing like a
general interest felt on the subject. In 1801, the year
after Mr. Donnell's conversion, Samuel J. Mills obtained
religion, and fixed his heart on the work of a foreign
missionary; and history will ever award to him the
honor of being the first mover in forming the American
Board of Foreign Missions. Soon after his conversion,
be became a student of Williams college, and disclosed



REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 223

his missionary feelings to Gordon Hall and James Bich-
ards, and to his astonishment, as well as gratification,
he found that their minds had been turned in the same
direction as his own. Those three young men were in
the habit of retiring frequently to a certain hay-stack
for prayer, and mutual consultation relative to the work
on which they had fixed their hearts. Soon the mis-
sionary spirit they had imbibed, expanded till it resulted
in the organization, in 1810, of the American Board.

Mr. Donnell, in the meantime, was diligently employed
as a home missionary, planting churches and introducing
men into the ministry, preparatory to a commencement
of labor in the foreign field j and so soon as numerical
strength justified it, he called the attention of the church
to the duty of sending the Gospel to the heathen. Here
is one of his appeals :

"Our church is not doing all she can to promote the
cause of Christ in our great missionary field at home
the valley of the Mississippi. The whole world is now
a missionary field, white unto the harvest. Some are
doing but little for the heathen, for want, as they say, of
a suitable system of operation. I will not say we have
the best system; I believe it can be greatly improved ';
but this must be done practically. Our General Assem-
bly is a missionary society, and has its missionary board ;
and there are regular channels of communication to that
board from all the congregations. He that wants to aid
the cause of missions, can find a way to do it. May the
Lord stir us all up to suitable action."



22-1 LIFE AND LABORS OF

Mr. Donnell gave an unqualified expression of his feel-
ings in favor of circuit preaching, but a short time before
he died, by saying, he " regarded that mode of preaching
as one of the most valuable auxiliaries of the church, and
desired that it should be revived in every Presbytery
where it had been discontinued, and that new life and
energy might be infused into it where it was still prac-
ticed."

No man was better prepared to give a correct opinion
relative to the advantages of circuit preaching. He had
himself, for several years, in the earlier part of his min-
istry, been a circuit-rider; so had all his cotemporaries.
The following is a brief reference to them, by Mr. E.
Currey :

" In the year 1805, we were made glad by a visit from
JEtev. James Farr, who was traveling through the coun-
try, seeking the destitute, and leaving appointments for
circuit preaching. On the day appointed, Eev. Samuel
King came to my father's, in Williamson county, Tenn.,
and preached with such life and power, that it caused
considerable rejoicing in the house. I recollect a very
wicked old man started off, apparently in a great rage,
and said he would as leave be among a pack of wolves,
as at such a meeting. Poor man ! in a few days after
he was a corpse. I have often thought of his wicked
look when he left. Next to King, came Alexander An-
derson, a man of sober hbits and pleasant conversation
of whom it was said, he had not an enemy on earth.
Then followed David Foster, a heart-searching preacher,



REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 225

who could paint the hypocrite in glaring colors. After
him, came Thomas Calhoun, who was called by some
Boanerges ; others said he taught as one having author-
ity, and not as the Scribes. Then came James B. Porter,
a most soothing minister of the Gospel, and well calcu-
lated to do much good in the church. After him, came
Alexander Chapman, a man of serene countenance and
pleasant address, calculated to promote peace and har-
mony on the circuit. Then followed Robert Donnell,
who was noted for his wisdom and zeal. Then came
William Bumpus, a man that was severe on the infidel
and skeptic ; who could trace them to all their lurking-
places. After him, Robert Bell, a meek man, and ac-
ceptable preacher. Then followed Robert Guthrie, a
great reasoner. Then came Hugh Kirkpatrick, who
dwelt much on the prophecies."

To the itinerating system, Cumberland Presbyterian-
ism is, under God, principally indebted for its early pros-
perity. Many of the old congregations, yet living and
flourishing in the great valley of the Mississippi, can
bear testimony to the truth of this statement. Ala-
bama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missis-
sippi and Arkansas, are all still feeling the effects of
circuit preaching.

Mr. Donnell, in company with the late Rev. Thomas
Calhoun, Sr., went on a preaching tour to East Tenn-
essee, in 1818 ; and it will be in place here to refer to
the results of that expedition. The following account

I find in the " Life of Rev. George Donnell," p. 157 :
29



226 LIFE AND LABORS OF

" They had sent on a series of appointments, and
when they reached the first one. at Washington, they
found a vast multitude congregated in a throve there
being no house in the place of sufficient capacity to
receive all that had assembled. Mr. Donnell preached,
expounding the distinctive doctrines of the new church
with a lucidness and suavity that enchained the multi-
tude for two hours ^ then closing with a pathos and
solemnity that moved the hearts of all.

" The assembly was bathed in tears ; expressions of
rapturous joy welled out from many christian hearts ;
while sighs and groans heaved the bosoms of sinners,
who had never before been known to manifest any reli-
gious interest. This was the first sermon ever preached
by a Cumberland Presbyterian in East Tennessee.

" From Washington, the evangelists passed to Mor-
gantown. Here both preached to a large assembly ;
much excitement prevailed, and many seemed to be
amazed at the novelty and the solemnity of the scene.
The next appointment was on Baker's creek, where
the congregation were interested with the impressive
manner of the speaker, and the reasonableness of the
doctrines. On Sabbath, Donnell preached at Mary-
ville, in Dr. Anderson's church. The audience w us
convulsed with feeling. Descending from the pulpit,
singing as no other man, even in that day of song, could
sing, and shaking hands with the people, some shoute 1
for joy, and many flocked around him, bidding him a
cordial welcome, and entreating him to make another



REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 227

appointment. Calhoun preached the next day to a
crowded house, and great solemnity pervaded the au-
dience. Donnell preached the day following, at Mr.
Houston's, a few miles in the country. Some of the
old men shouted for joy. Dr. Anderson called on one
of them to pray hoping, as it was thought, to stop the
shouting. But the old man prayed with such power
and heavenly-mindedness, that the shouting greatly
increased, and the Doctor was constrained to let the
Spirit work in his own way.

" From Maryville, they proceed to Knoxville, and
preached to a very attentive and interesting audience ;
and lodged with Dr. Nelson, by whom they were
kindly entertained. Passing to Campbell's Station,
Mr. Donnell preached with unusual power and spirit.
Great excitement prevailed ; some shouted, and others
were affected with the jerks. One man was jerked
under the benches, and continued jerking while under
there, till he was extricated by his friends.

" This strange aifection was common in East Tenn-
essee, as elsewhere, during the prevalence of the great
revival in 1800 ; and had been occasionally witnessed
from that date up to the visit of Donnell and Calhoun, in
1818. It is said that Dr. Samuel Doak, who was much
prejudiced against the exercises, was sometimes sub-
jected to it; and that, on one occasion, while in the
pulpit, he was seized with a paroxysm, and jerked so
violently as to throw his wig from his head into the
congregation.



228 LIFE AND LABORS OF

"From Campbell's Station, the missionaries passed to
a vacant church on Bull Eun, where Calhoun preached
with such power, as to leave an impression that subse-
quently resulted in the organization of a Cumberland
Presbyterian church at that place. At Kingston, Don-
nell preached to a vast multitude, assembled in a grove.
Great excitement prevailed in the congregation, and at
the close of the sermon, Calhoun rose from a sick bed,
and, with a fever upon him, delivered a most powerful
exhortation. Donnell preached the next day at Post
Oak Springs , aud as Calhoun was still sick, they set
out for home, traveling slowly Donnell preaching at
Washington, and other places, on the road."

The following incident, which occurred during this
preaching tour, is related by the Rev. J. B. Logan,
whose father was present at the meeting where it took
place :

" Messrs. Donnell and Calhoun had sent on a request
to the session for the liberty of preaching on a certain
day in what was called the old Baker's Creek church.
Quite a number of respectable families belonged to