the congregation, though somewhat rigid in their no-
tions of Presbyterianism, customs of the fathers, &c.
When the request reached them, the elders held a
meeting on the subject; and after some discussion, it
was agreed that, as the appointment was on a week-
day, the church might be occupied. When the day
arrived, there was a large congregation in attendance ;
but strange to say, the elders and old members of the



REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 229

church, for the most part, refused to go Into the meet-
ing-house, for fear they might encourage heresy, &c.
But their pews were filled by the young people of the
neighborhood, and with strangers. It was the custom
of the times to have two sermons in succession. Cal-
houn preached first. My father, who was then a young
man, was outside of the church, standing by -the door,
unable to get a seat in the large house. On the other
side of the door, stood one of the elders. As Calhoun
advanced in his subject, the old elder moved up a little
closer to the door. The speaker preached with great
fervor and eloquence, and closed with the tear drops in
many eyes, and a profound impression for good in the
minds of the vast audience. The old elder, in the
meantime, had gotten inside the door, and was stand-
ing in the aisle.

" When Donnell rose to iollow, there seemed to be
depicted in many countenances a feeling of regret, for
they evidently thought his effort would be far inferior
to the one just closed. It was in Donnell's palmiest
days. He rose in the pulpit with great solemnity and
dignity, and made one of his happiest efforts. At the
close of his sermon, he said he expected to get to
heaven, and wished to know how many of those pres-
ent felt a sure evidence that the}^ would meet him and
all God's people there ? During the progress of the dis-
course, our elder had, insensibly to himself, advanced
slowly up the aisle, keeping his eyes riveted on the
speaker. The eager listeners behind had crowded



230 LIFE AND LABORS OF

close on his heels. Finally, Mr. Donnell, descending
from the lofty pulpit, proposed that every one present,
who felt bound for heaven, should meet him before the
pulpit, and give him their hand. The good old elder
could stand it no longer; he met the preacher half
way up the steps, and exclaimed at the top of his
voice, clasping the minister by the hand, and turning
round, facing the audience, ' Brethren' said he, ' we are
all wrong, and these people are right, for I feel the evidence
in my breast to-day < That elder afterward left the old
church, and with others, joined in heartily with the
Cumberlands, and lived for many years a very worthy,
energetic and devoted member and elder of the Cum-
berland Presbyterian church. His name is yet familiar
to many Tennesseeans."

Mr. Donnell had, by his own labors, made full proof
of the practical benefits of circuit preaching, and lived
to see the unhappy effects of its discontinuance ; and
after duly weighing both sides of the question, in the
light of long and close observation, he says : " Circuit
preaching is a valuable auxiliary to the church, and
should be revived and maintained in every Presbytery."
Mr. Ewing also bore testimony, on his dying bed, to the
importance of this method of preaching, and in his will
left $1,000 to the church, the interest of which is to be
applied to the support of circuit preaching. This be-
quest was made in full view of the footprints of Rev.
R. D. Morrow, and others, as circuit riders in Missouri,
through whose instrumentality many large and useful



REV. ROBERT DON NELL. 231

congregations had been collected and organized. Mr.
Morrow was the pioneer of Cumberlandism in that
State supported for a time by an association of ladies
of old Logan Presbytery.

It would be useless to attempt to prove, by abstract
reasoning, the importance of circuit preaching. Facts
are stronger than arguments. It is sometimes said, I
know, that the itinerating system is only adapted to
new countries and sparsely settled neighborhoods ; this
is a mistake. It is adapted to all countries, whether
old or new, not yet occupied by congregations able to
support settled pastors. There is not a country now
m the valley of the Mississippi, where circuit preaching
might not be successfully introduced. But the question
is, how can it be revived and maintained ? The diffi-
culty is not owing to a want of preachers, or a disin-
clination on their part to ride and preach. Many are
without any special charge, and would be glad to de-
vote their whole time to a circuit. How to raise the
means to support them, is the difficult question. Settle
this practically, and every Presbytery will be supplied
with circuit preaching.



232 LIFE AND LABORS OF



CHAPTER XXI.

REMINISCENCES AND REFLECTIONS. CONTINUED.

Laments the Instability of the Pastoral Relations Origin of Camp-
meetings Their Plainness when first Introduced Regrets their
present want of original Simplicity His Influence in the Judica-
tories of the Church.

Mr. Doxnell was also a warm friend of a settled
ministry. In conversation, when on his death-bed,
with Mr. Calhoun, Jr., he lamented "that so few con-
gregations were supplied with pastors, and that the
relation, when formed, was not more permanent." This
is certainly much to be desired ; but the continuance of
the pastoral connection requires the convenience of
both preacher and people. Both must be pleased, each
with the other ; and it depends greatly with the one,
what shall be the other's desires and feelings. Either
can show such, a spirit, and exhibit such conduct, as
will produce a disruption ; and either can do very much
toward rendering the union desirable and permanent.
But more of this hereafter. The evils of an unsettled
ministry first claim attention.

The expense of moving from place to place, by a
roving, unsettled ministry, is a matter of no small con-
sequence. But a mere waste of dollars and cents, is a
minor consideration, when compared with other evils
involved in the temporary settlement of ministers.



REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 233

Mutual confidence and affection between pastor and
people, so indispensable to ministerial success, are not
formed in a day, but result from a protracted acquaint-
ance and kind feelings toward each other. A strange
preacher may, and often does, succeed in attracting the
attention of a community, and is the means of a power-
ful revival of religion; but he is not the man to develop
the piety of a congregation in the practical duties of re-
ligion. This requires the permanent pastor, who knows
the people and their circumstances, and shows himself
ready and willing at all times to weep with them that
weep, and to rejoice with them that rejoice. Scenes of
affliction, above all other places, afford rich opportuni-
ties to a pastor for cultivating and gaining the affections
and confidence of his people ; and the longer these op-
portunities are enjoyed and rightly improved, the
higher he rises in public estimation, and the more
ample become his facilities for usefulness in the com-
munity.

A true history of the various causes that separate
pastor and people, would doubtless tell a sad story of
the frailty of human nature. The preacher himself is
not always innocent. On first entering the pulpit, he
attracts, it may be, much attention, and excites high
expectations ; but soon the old stock of sermons, al-
ready prepared, is exhausted, and he, through mental
indolence, fails to make new ones. The people, dis-
covering that they were deceived respecting the intel-
lectual resources of their pastor, soon indicate dissatis-
30



234 LIFE AND LABORS OP

faction, and thua a rupture commences. The preacher,
seeing that he fails to meet public expectations, be-
comes dissatisfied with himself, and, of course, unhappy
and restless ; and a resignation is soon tendered and
accepted. Indefatigable study on the part of the pas-
tor, is the only remedy for this evil. No man can sus-
tain himself in the pulpit, without hard study out of
it. The advice of the late pious Christmas Evans, to
a young preacher, will be in place here. He says :

" I am old, my dear boy, and you are just entering
the ministry. Let me now and here tell you one thing,
and commend it to your attention and memory. All
the ministers that I have ever known, who have fallen
into disgrace, or into uselessness, have been idle men. An
idle man is in the way of every temptation. Tempta-
tion has not to seek him ; he is at the corner of the
street, ready and waiting for it. In the case of a min-
ister of the Gospel, this peril is multiplied by his posi-
tion ; his neglected duties; the temptations peculiar to
his condition and his superior susceptibility. Remem-
ber this : stick to your book. I am never much afraid of
a young minister, when I know that he can, and does,

fairly sit down to his book. There is Mr. , of such

unhappy temper, and who has such a love to meddle
with everything ; he would long ago have been utterly
wrecked, but his habits of industry saved him. Let
no merchant in the town no lawyer or physician of
your acquaintance no farmer of your parish, be more
industrious than you in their calling. Give not a day



REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 235

of your life but for its work. Industry will keep you
always busy, and always at leisure. It will give you
time for everything, and enable you to do everything
in its time, and to perfect everything you undertake.
It will aid you in writing short sermons. It will bless
you and your people, and the church, in a thousand
ways. An example for your imitation, you will find
in Luther, Calvin, Baxter, Wesley; in every man, in
every department of life, who has risen to high posi-
tion among his fellows. Shepherd, himself a great
preacher, used to say, 'God will curse that man's la-
bors who goes idly up and down all the week, and then
goes into his study on Saturday.' "

But the blame is not all on one side for the frequent
changes of the pastoral relation. The people are justly
chargeable with a large share. It too often happens
that, though their preacher studies day and night to
render their pulpit attractive, and to present in his
sermons "things both new and old," he fails to hold
their attention. Many, so soon as the novelty of the
man wears off, forsake his church, and either remain at
home on the Sabbath, or become mere rovers, first to
one house of worship, then to another, with itching-
ears, merely to compare the talents of ministers. When
their pastor enters the pulpit, with a sermon arranged,
perhaps with special reference to their spiritual neces-
sities, he finds their seats unoccupied. Church mem-
bers are also often very remiss in attending weekly
prayer-meetings, and their absence contributes no little



236 LIFE AND LABORS OF

to the discouragement of the pastor. He is expected
to be present, regardless of all obstacles ; but a slight
excuse will ease the conscience of the laity in remain-
ing at home. How discouraging to lecture and pray,
with little else than empty seats before him ! Minis-
ters of the Gospel, sustaining no special relation to the
pulpit, but living in the congregation, often chill the
heart of the pastor, by their non-attendance at prayer-
meeting. Feeling no personal responsibility for the
religious state of the congregation, they consult conve-
nience and inclination on the subject of going; and if
they have families, they fall under the influence of their
example, and the infection spreads to other families in
the immediate vicinity. No pastor can long bear up
under the discouragement of seeing his congregation
inattentive to the public means of grace, whether it be
preaching on the Sabbath, or the weekly prayer-meet-
ing. He invariably feels that his labors are not appre-
ciated, and a change of location becomes a subject of
thought.

Another cause of discontent to the pastor, is a failure
on the part of the people to support him. No men,
possessing the abilities of preachers, labor for less com-
pensation, and still they often fail to realize the salary
promised ; and hence, necessity compels them to resign
their charge.

It is conceded on all hands, that camp-meetings first
occurred in Logan county, Kentucky, among the revi-
val party in the Presbyterian church, that subsequently



REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 237

formed the Cumberland Presbyterian church. The late
Hugh Stevenson, of Franklin, Ky., informed the writer
many years ago. that his father was the first man that
ever used boards at a camp-meeting, in preparing a
shelter. I think it was at old Red river meeting-house,
in Logan county.

Mr. Donnell, in conversation with Mr. Calhoun, in
his last illness, stated that " the first shelters used at
those meetings were covered wagons and cloth tents.
Next, rail pens were built, and covered with boards.
Then log and frame huts were provided, and even
brick cabins were, in some instances, erected for con-
venience." In the early history of camp-meetings, he
observed, simplicity was much studied by all concerned.
The first day was uniformly observed as a season of
prayer and fasting, and the plainest of diet provided
throughout the occasion ; while everything like osten-
tatious display was carefully avoided. Preaching on
Friday was generally addressed to christians often on
the subject of prayer, and other duties connected with
the meeting. On Saturday, ministers generally dwelt
on human depravity ; and on Sabbath, the principal
topic of the pulpit was the plan of salvation. On Mon-
day, appeals were made to sinners, and instructions
given for the purpose of leading the penitent to believe
on Christ. The meeting always closed on Tuesday
morning, with an exhortation to those converted on
the occasion, and young christians generally.

Mr. Donnell lamented that camp-meetings had greatly



238 LIFE AND LABORS OF

" degenerated from their original simplicity, and conse-
quently that their usefulness had much diminished ;
but thought they might still be rendered profitable in
many places particularly in a thinly settled country,
where a preached Gospel was not regularly enjoyed."

The view of these meetings, as expressed by Mr. Don-
nell, is now the popular feeling of the church, and the
tendency of public sentiment is to supercede them by
protracted meetings, without camping on the ground.
These meetings can only serve, however, as an imper-
fect substitute for camp-meetings ; still, unless the lat-
ter can be reclaimed from the perversion and abuse
that attend them, perhaps it would be better that they
should give place altogether to protracted meetings
though the latter are not so well adapted to the laws
of mind as the former, besides being attended with
more labor and expense to the community.

The understanding too, that protracted meetings are
to continue for a time indefinite, renders it more difficult
to arouse christians to action, and to bring sinners to
the point of submission to Christ. Sometimes, a week
or more of hard preaching must be done, before any
signs of a revival appear. Then, after preachers are
exhausted, and duties elsewhere, perhaps, are demand-
ing attention, the meeting must be continued a week
or ten days longer. Camp-meetings, in their earlier
history, were always confined to four days and nights,
which prevented a postponement of effort ; consequent-
ly, as much good was generally accomplished in four



REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 239

days and nights, as is now done at a protracted meet-
ing in ten or fifteen.

President Anderson says : " I never knew Mr. Don-
nell's equal as a Presbyter. Though enjoying a degree
of confidence among his brethren that might have
placed him in a position to dictate to them, he had no
ambition to be a leader, nor was he ever known to
press the adoption of a measure by the weight of his
personal influence. He never sought reputation, nor
to render himself conspicuous ; never made what might
be called a set speech ; was usually silent when matters
of trivial consequence were under discussion."

The writer recollects that Mr. Donnell once remarked
to him in an undertone, in the General Assembly, when
speeches were made upon matters of no moment, that
his custom was to guard and preserve the great princi-
ples of the church, and let the younger members dis-
pute about little things. But President Anderson con-
tinues : " When he felt it to be his duty to speak, it
was in a subdued, conversational tone, always avoiding
everything like display, and never retorting upon an
opponent. I never knew him excited in debate, or lose
that calmness of feeling which results from conscious
strength of argument.

"When party animosity or a spirit of rivalry seemed
likely to arise in debate, he invariably interposed as
mediator, pouring oil on the troubled waters, endeavor-
ing to soothe the wounded feelings, and to restrain the
belligerent ; and such was the general respect felt for



240 LIFE AND LABORS OF

his weight of character, that no one thought of assail-
ing his feelings in discussion."

Mr. Donnell was, perhaps, in some instances, too con-
servative in the judicatories of the church; preferring
to maintain an apparent neutral position, rather than
take sides with either party in debate. The following
incident will explain what I mean. In 1833, at the
General Assembly in the city of Nashville, a very ex#
citing debate arose, respecting old Cumberland college.
As the discussion advanced, the excitement increased ;
but Mr. Donnell, rather to the annoyance of both par-
ties, remained silent. One speaker after another ad-
dressed the Assembly, and at the close of each speech,
a pause ensued, and all eyes turned to Mr. Donnell, as
though he would certainly speak next. Still he re-
mained on his seat. At length, Col. Smith, father of
Mr. Donnell's first wife, made almost a direct appeal to
him; fixing his eyes upon him, he said: "I want to
hear from some of our more experienced members on
this very difficult and perplexing question." When he
sat down, after a moment's pause, and amid the almost
breathless silence of the members, Mr. Donnell arose;
but instead of speaking, called on the house to join him
in prayer; and a more solemn and appropriate prayer
I never heard from the lips of man. Disputants on
both sides, arose from their knees with subdued feel-
ings. A general calm pervaded the Assembly, and the
question was soon disposed of.

In this particular case, perhaps the course pursued



REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 241

by Mr. Donnell was judicious ; still, it was believed
that he occasionally erred by remaining silent in the
midst of exciting debate, when he ought to have
spoken. The probability, however, is, that more error
is ordinarily committed in deliberative bodies by speak-
ing too much than too little.

It is said that Dr. Witherspoon rarely spoke in the
judicatories of the church, and his speeches, when
made, were always short. He generally delayed his
remarks till all the facts, on both sides of the question,
were presented ; when he would sum up the testimony
and arguments on each side, and seldom failed to close
the debate. Thus, like Mr. Donnell, he moved as a
kind of " balance-wheel" in the judicatory.



31



242 LIFE AND LABORS OF



CHAPTER XXII.

ME, DONNELL IN THE PULPIT.

First Sight of him in the Pulpit peculiarly Impressive In the Pulpit
at Russellville, Ky. Reminiscence of him in the Pulpit by Rev. C.
Haynes By Rev. J. M. Penick By Rev. Joel Knight By Rev. M.
Priest By Rev. J. N. Edmonston By Rev. Samuel McSpedden By
Rev. Isaac Shook By Rev. James H. Shields By Rev. W. Rolston
By Rev. J. C. Provine By Col. J. S. Topp By Rev. A. J. Steel By
James McCord, Esq.

I never saw a man whose personal appearance was
better adapted to fill the pulpit with dignity, than Mr.
Donn ell's. A stranger, seeing him for the first time in
the sacred desk, never failed to be particularly struck
with his. appearance. The first time the writer ever
saw him, was at a Synodical meeting in Eussellville,
Kentucky, before the Synod was divided, and the Gen-
eral Assembly formed. He was in the act of rising to
preach the opening sermon when I entered the church.
A solemn dignity, mingled with an expression of intel-
ligence on his countenance, at once indicated that no
ordinary man was before me. He was then in the full
maturity of his intellectual powers, and high career of
his popularity. The service was introduced by reading
the well-known kynin of Dr. Watts, commencing, " Go
preach my Gospel, saith the Lord." On reading the
line, " On a bright cloud to heaven he rode," he turned
his eyes upward, looking as though he actually saw



REV. ROBERT D0NNELL. 243

the ascending Saviour. Singing being ended, prayer
commenced, which seemed to be poured forth from a
heart that was the very sanctuary of devotion. No
redundant expression no tedious repetition every
word appropriate, and uttered as if the preacher felt
that he was talking with God. I thought it the most
complete model of prayer I had ever heard whether
considered in reference to richness and appropriateness
of matter, or power of utterance.

The text was, "We are laborers together with God."
(J. Cor. Hi : 9.) The hymn and prayer had so fixed the
attention of the audience, that all eyes were directed
to the pulpit when the text was read, and every coun-
tenance indicated .high expectation. He was rather
slow at the commencement of the discourse ; but as he
proceeded, he increased in fervor, and his delivery be-
came more rapid. A concise view was given of what
God had done, and was then doing, to save sinners, and
also what sinners themselves must do in order to be
saved. I thought I had never before heard the line so
clearly drawn between human and divine agency in
man's salvation. The' matter of the sermon was origi-
nal, the manner bold and impressive, and the arguments
irresistible so plain that they could be understood by
the most ignorant, and yet so rich and instructive as
to be enjoyed by the most cultivated intellect ; per-
fectly systematic in arrangement of thought ; no con-
fusion of ideas ; each part seemed to be a distinct step
in the reasoning, and the main idea was felt at once to



244 LIFE AND LABORS OP

be just so much of an advance of the one that preceded
it. In the application, an appeal was made to minis-
ters, respecting their duty as laborers with God in the
conversion of sinners, that I have never heard excelled.
The effect was overwhelming. To use the language of
Gen, Jackson, in reference to a sermon preached by
Dr. Durbin, the whole discourse was the "logic of the
Gospel set on fire by the fervid zeal of devotion to
Christ. All were awed into silence and reverence, and
felt as though they stood before the awful majesty of
the eternal God." Never before did a preacher's abili-
ties meet my expectations, when his fame had reached
me in advance of him. I had heard of Mr. Donnell,
and formed high expectations ; but in his first sermon
they were more than realized.

He preached twice afterward, during the Synod, and
each discourse seemed to surpass the first. Perhaps
no minister ever visited Russellville, that attracted
more attention. One of his sermons was from Acts
xvi : 17 "These men are the servants of the most
high God, which show unto us the way of salvation."
A very eminent lawyer of the town observed, at the
close of the discourse, that " when it commenced, the
way of salvation appeared mysteriously dark; but at
the close, it seemed mysteriously plain."

It is said of Mr. Hooker, that " when he entered the
pulpit, he made all feel that they were in the house of
God, and at the same time looked as though he could
put a king in his pocket." No statement could be
more descriptive of Mr. Donnell in the pulpit.



REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 245

While he was delivering a sermon in the city of
Nashville, in the midst of the great revival, out of
which the Cumberland Presbyterian church of that
city grew, the audience became deeply affected. The
late Judge Grundy, and the father of Hon. E. M. Foster
were sitting near together, and were so overpowered
with the discourse, that they caught each other by the
hand, Judge Grundy audibly exclaiming, " That is the
truth, Col. Foster, and it will stand in the day of judg-
ment."

There was nothing in Mr. Donnell's style of preach-
ing, of what might be called direct or personal address
and appeal, until near the close of his discourse. A
steady didactic chain of thought and argument was
maintained, as though he was preparing a lever for