" Your letter was read and re-read, in a full house,
and called forth from your brethren and sons in the
Gospel, many expressions of tender regard and heart-
felt sympathy. With sorrow, we had all heard of your
affliction ; and with mingled emotions of regret and
solicitude, we had anticipated the loss of your valuable
counsels on this important occasion. Many prayers
have been offered, that, if consistent with the Divine
will, your useful life might be prolonged, and your labors
still enjoyed by the church you loved so well. But God,
whose we are, and whom we serve, is just, as well as
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 297
good. He has a right to call his favored and faithful
ones, who are wearied and worn with incessant toils, to
serve Him day and night in His temple above ; and
since our anticipated loss is your eternal gain since
faith assures us that a short separation here, will be
succeeded by an eternal re-union hereafter we bow in
humble acquiescence.
"Language fails in the expression of our grateful ac-
knowledgments, for this evidence of your kind regard,
under existing circumstances. In pain and affliction,
you have remembered us. In your sick room, your
thoughts have been centered upon us. Your bodily suf-
ferings could not restrain your prayers for Divine wis-
dom to guide us. And from a bed of languishment,
when about to end life's toilsome journey, and enter on
a heavenly home, you send us affectionate greetings,
and afford us sympathy, counsel and encouragement.
It is like you. It is consistent with your benevolent
character ever forgetful of yourself, but always mind-
ful of your brethren and the church. It is in harmony
with the general tenor of your whole life first, to con-
sider the glory of Christ ; next, the best interests of his
people ; and lastly, your own ease and comfort. We
hope never to be unmindful of this instance of your
brotherly kindness, nor forgetful of those numerous
evidences of your ardent anxiety for our usefulness and
happiness, manifested on former occasions. The grace
of God assisting us, we mean to be true to the interests
of the church, for which you have lived, labored and
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298 LIFE AND LABORS OF
prayed ; for which, in times past, you, and others who
have gone to their reward before you, have sacrificed
and suffered ; and in the growth, and prosperity, and
usefulness of which, we are all permitted this day to
reioice.
" Many bright spirits, now rejoicing before the throne
of God, have passed lives of labor in promoting that
purity of doctrine and experimental religion, of which
you speak. While you expect soon to go to join their
exalted ranks, and share their glorious reward, we are ,
entered into their labors. And when the mournful period
shall arrive, when death shall part us asunder, and you
go up to Heaven, may we, ready to take up the falling
mantle, cry in the spirit of Elisha, ' My father, my
father, the chariots of Israel, and horsemen thereof!'
" With christian affection, we have the honor to sub-
scribe ourselves, your brethren and sons in the Gospel
of Christ,
"P. R. Cossitt,
" R. Burrow,
" D. Lowry."
This, no doubt, was the last communication Mr. Don-
nell ever dictated, to be reduced to writing ; as he died
on the 24th of the same month in which the letter is
dated.
But before we enter the chamber of death, to witness
the last moments of this extraordinary man upon earth,
it may be edifying and encouraging, particularly to the
christian reader, to be made acquainted with some facts
which transpired at different times during the earlier
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 299
part of his protracted illness, evincing the power of the
christian religion. The following incident is from the
pen of Rev. John H. Erwin :
" The last Presbytery Mr. Donnell ever attended, was
held at Athens, Alabama, embracing the first Sabbath
in October, 1853. He sat in the pulpit during the de-
livery of the opening sermon, by the Rev. F. Johnson,
D.D. He was unable to be present again during the
meeting. At his request, the Lord's Supper was admin-
istered, on Sabbath night, at his residence. Several
ministers, and a few lay members, joined him in cele-
brating the ordinance among whom were the family
of brother B. Deckerd, then on their way to Texas.
While singing the closing hymn, every one present
went to Mr. Donnell, and gave him their hand. As
they approached him, he embraced them in his arms, and
after the patriarchical manner, invoked a blessing in
their behalf. The words of each petition were in an
undertone, so that I heard none except the one offered
for myself. When I threw my arms around his neck,
he said, ' Lord, make this dear son a Timothy.' Sister
Deckerd became so happy that she praised God aloud ;
and all felt that it was better to go to the house of
mourning, than to the house of feasting."
The Rev. N. A. Davis, of Texas, says :
" My last interview with Mr. Donnell, I never can
forget. It was during his last illness. When I bid him
farewell, he pressed me to his bosom, saying, ' Lord, as
I am no longer able to carry the standard of the cross,
300 LIFE AND LABORS OP
may many sons of the church be raised up to do it when
I am gone.' "
The Eev. George N. Mitchell, the writer ol Mr. Don-
nell's obituary, says, some months previous to his death,
he had a " severe hemorrhage, and was for some minutes
in a state of suspended animation." When he recovered,
he said : " I was perfectly conscious of all that was go-
ing on. I could see my lifeless body lying there, while
my soul seemed like a bird let loose from its cage, in-
stead of at once flying away, was circling round and
round its former nest, and I thought if this be death, O,
how pleasant it is to die !"
On the morning before his death, he was asked by a
brother, what were his prospects now, when so near the
end of his course ? To which he replied : " That busi-
ness has long since been settled with me. It is too late
now to call it in question. I can now say whether I
live, I live unto the Lord ; and whether I die, I die
unto the Lord. Whether I live, therefore, or die, I am
the Lord's."
The day before his death, he sank into a profound,
sweet sleep, from which he awoke only when aroused
by some one. In the latter part of the night, his wife
awoke him, and offered him some medicine, to whom
he replied, in a soft, beseeching tone : " Please don't
make me take it ; don't trouble me now, for I never
felt better in my life ;" and immediately fell asleep, and
spoke no more, neither awoke again, until he awoke to
the glorious realities of heaven.
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 301
The following is an account of the funeral services
observed in reference to the death of Mr. Donnell; and
it shows the high estimation in which he was held, not
only by his own church, but other churches, and like-
wise by the community at large. It was written by
the Rev. J. R. Finley, of the Presbyterian church, and
published in the "Banner of Peace" from which it is
now copied :
" FUNERAL SERVICES OF REV. R. DONNELL.
"Mr. Editor : Having been privileged to be present,
when the funeral sermon of Rev. Robert Donnell, late
of this place, was preached in the Cumberland Presby-
tei'ian church, and presuming that a brief notice of the
interesting services on that occasion, will not be unac-
ceptable to your readers, while it may be gratifying to
his numerous friends, who were not in attendance, I
take the liberty, at the suggestion of one of our most
worthy citizens, of forwarding to you such a notice for
publication in your columns.
" The morning was one of those whose calm loveliness
affords a beautiful type of that eternal Sabbath, upon
whose services and ecstatic joys, in the upper sanctuary,
our beloved Father Donnell had already entered ; a
fitting day for a tribute of respect to the memory of
that great and good man. On arriving at the church
a neat edifice, located in a convenient part of the town
I found already congregated a very large audience,
made up of persons of all the religious denominations
in Athens ; every other house of worship being closed,
302 LIFE AND LABORS OF
out of respect to one whom all revered, and delighted
to honor. The pulpit, with the Holy Yolume resting
upon it, the front of the gallery, and various other por-
tions of the house, were tastefully draped in mourning ;
the tribute, as I am informed, of friends, who thus ap-
propriately expressed their respect for the dead, and
their sympathy with the bereaved. In the pulpit were
seated the venerable Dr. Lindley, for so many years
the distinguished President of Ohio University ; the
Eev. William Sellars, the worthy pastor of the Baptist
church in Athens ; Eev. J. W. Allen, so long known as
an eminent minister of the Methodist Episcopal church,
South ; and Eev. J. G-. Wilson, of Limestone county,
who enjoys so well-earned a reputation, both as a chris-
tian minister, and instructor of youth; while in the
seats, from front to rear, and in chairs, which filled up
the entire space around the altar, as well as standing at
the door, unable to procure seats within, was assembled
a crowd of hearers not a few of whom were from the
country whose sad countenances indicated that a
great grief had fallen upon the community, and upon
the church at large.
" At the appointed hour, the services were commenced
by singing that beautiful hymn of Muhlenberg's
" 'I would not live alway : I ask not to stay,
When storm after storm rises dark o'er the way ;
The few lurid mornings that dawn on us here,
Are enough for life's woes, full eifcough for its cheer.' /
" The excellent pastor of the church then read, as the
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 303
Scripture lesson for the day, the 2d chapter of I. Thess-
alonians; and as its appropriate and beautiful language
fell upon my ear, it seemed to me as the utterance of
the sainted dead, speaking back to the living from the
spirit land, in intonations of encouragement to the fol-
lowers of Jesus, whom he had left on earth to com-
plete their pilgrimage ; and as the exultation of a father
in Israel, who had gone up from the watch-towers oi
Zion, to his reward in the skies, there to be greeted by
the hundreds and thousands in whose salvation he had
been instrumental ; while looking upon these, his rapt
soul exclaimed, in the language of the Apostle, ' Ye are
our glory and our joy !'
" This was followed by a fervent address to the throne
of grace, by the pastor ; whose heart seemed to teem
with ' emotions too big for utterance,' as he devoutly
acknowledged the Divine sovereignty in the affairs of
earth, and poured out earnest petitions for Divine grace
to sanctify this afflictive dispensation to the public
good, and that of the church ; and to sustain and com-
fort the weeping relatives and friends. The services
were continued by singing
" 'How blest the righteous when he dies,
When sinks a weary soul to rest ;
How mildly beam the closing eyes,
How gently heaves the expiring breast !'
" Then followed the sermon, from Romans xiv : 8
the text being suggested, as we were informed in the
opening of the discourse, by a conversation which
304 LIFE AND LABORS OF
Father Donnell had, a little while before he closed his
eyes in death, with a brother beloved of his church ;
and jn which he gave, as the last expression of his feel-
ings, in view of his approaching dissolution a response
to a question asked of him, in the words of the Apostle,
slightly altered from their common reading, but fully
expressive of his readiness to die : ' For whether we
live, we live unto the Lord ; and whether we die, we
die unto the Lord : whether we live, therefore, or die,
we are the Lord's.'
" The sermon was appropriate, full of deep religious
feeling and sentiment, pathetic and eloquent, and every
way worthy of the reputation of Eev. G-. W. Mitchell,
the pastor, who delivered it, and of the occasion on
which it was preached. It would afford me pleasure to
give you a sketch of the discourse, for the satisfaction
of your readers ; but as it is hoped it will be published,
and as I have already, perhaps, occupied too large a
space in your columns, I forbear.
" The writer, by courteous invitation, then gave out
Charles Wesley's hymn
" 'And let this feeble body fail,
And let it faint or die ;
My soul shall quit this mournful vale,
And soar to worlds on high.'
And offered the concluding prayer ; when, the doxology
having been sung, and benediction pronounced by Eev.
Dr. Lindley, the large congregation retired to their re-
spective homes many no doubt feeling that, though
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 305
sad the occasion which had called them together, the
place where they had assembled was ' none other but
the house of God, and the gate of heaven.' Long may
the savor of that morning rest upon the people ; and
may the gracious truths to which they listened abund-
antly, console the bereaved widow and the afflicted son,
whom the sainted dead has left on earth to mourn his
departure.
" My object in this notice, has not been to eulogize
the departed he needs no such empty tribute from my
pen but to show how generally and how highly he
was esteemed in that community, in whose midst his
sun has set with such mellow radiance there and else-
where throughout the wide scope of territory in which
he traveled, and preached, and labored for the salvation
of souls, and the glory of God."
But Mr. Donnell's Presbytery determined to erect a
more lasting monument over his remains, than mere
funeral solemnities. The following is an account of its
action on that subject, which was also written by a
Presbyterian clergyman, and published in the "Banner"
shortly after the service was performed :
" ERECTION OF THE MONUMENT TO THE MEMORY OF REV.
ROBERT DONNELL.
" Athens, Ala., November 9, 1858.
" Bro. Ward : It was my privilege, yesterday, to
attend the imposing ceremonies of erecting a monument
to Eev. Bobert Donnell, at this place. The Presbytery
39-
306 LIFE AND LABORS OF
of which he was a member, has seen proper thus to
honor and perpetuate the memory of one who was not
only dear to them, but to thousands of others who
knew him, and to the whole church of which he is one
of the fathers.
"A large procession, composed of the citizens, mem-
bers of the Presbytery, and relatives, formed at the
Cumberland Presbyterian church, marched out to the
cemetery, where we found the monument partly erected,
waiting for the closing exercises.
"The monument consisted of a square base, some five
feet square. Three pedements, of less dimensions than
the base, forming steps on which was a square hollow
shaft, six feet high, and about two feet in diameter. In
this was deposited books, manuscripts, pamphlets, and
tokens of affection, by different members of the Presby-
tery, and friends of the deceased making a monument
in the monument, crowned with a boquet of flowers,
as a token of affection by a lady. As these articles
will be described by some member of the Presbytery,
I will not anticipate.
" After these deposits, with appropriate and touching
remarks by the donors, the cap was put on. Rising,
upon this ornamental cap, was a shaft, conical, but
square, some ten feet, making a column of near fifteen
or eighteen feet high ; the whole cut from a marble
limestone, and forming as substantial a memento to
departed worth, as it is honorable to the heads and
hearts of those who erected it.
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 307
"All this was followed by an address from Dr. Baird,
of Winchester, appropriate and touching, full of pathos
and heartfelt eloquence. Rev. M. H. Bone, Rev. W. D.
Chadick, and others, spoke as those only could, who
had seen as they had seen, felt and loved as they had
the brother departed.
" The scene was one full of instruction. The part-
ing hymn and closing prayer, touched and melted the
hearts of the audience. What a stimulant to imitate
his virtues, and follow his example ! His praise is in
all the churches ; and I will only add, I was glad to
be there to do him reverence, and honor his memory
as a Yice President of the American Tract Society
the oldest, at the time of his death, in our country. He
was also a warm personal friend. His words have
cheered me, and his co-operation has greatly advanced
the interest of the Tract cause, as it did every good
object, while he remained among us. To have such a
fragrant memory, we must live his useful, self-denying,
and holy life. Yours,
11 SHEPARD WELLS."
The secular press was also lavish in giving expression
to the public appreciation of Mr. Donnell's character,
both as a citizen and minister of the Gospel. After
noticing the constitution of the Presbytery, &c, the
editor of the " 'Athens Herald 1 ' says:
" The Presbytery proceeded, on Monday, the 8th, to
the business for which it had expressly met, viz: the
erection of the monument to the memory of Rev. R.
308 LIFE AND LABORS OF
Donnell, one of the fathers of the Cumberland Presby-
terian church, whose remains have recently been re-
moved to the cemetery of this place.
" A large concourse of citizens, and friends of the
deceased, from a distance, formed a procession, in front
of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, followed by
the family and relatives of the deceased, and in the
rear came the Presbytery, and visiting ministers ; in
which order they proceeded to the cemetery, under the
direction of General James Lane, marshal. When the
procession entered the grave-yard, the citizens opened
its files, the Presbytery marched to the front, followed
by the family and relatives, and thus surrounded the
monument.
" Rev. G-. W. Mitchell, the Moderator, stepped for-
ward and deposited a book and some written memo-
randa in the vault of the monument ; and then in turn,
as their names were called, the members of the Presby-
tery came forward and did likewise, each having borne
something in the procession for that purpose. The de-
posits consisted of a large copy of the Holy Bible, books
published by the church, newspapers, likenesses of the
deceased, &c. After this was done, Miss Eliza Brickell
handed to the Moderator a beautiful boquet of sweet
flowers, which he held to the audience, remarking, ' It
speaks to the eye and the heart,' when there was an in-
voluntary burst of tears from nearly or quite every eye
in the large assembly. So soon as the vault was closed,
the crowd repaired again to the church, where they
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 309
were enraptured, moved and melted under the address
delivered by Eev. A. J. Baird, followed by short, touch-
ing, and impressive remarks, by Eev. Messrs. Bone,
Chadick, and Dr. J. S. Blair.
" The Moderator gave out and sung, the congregation
all joining, that beautiful and appropriate hymn of
Montgomery's. After which, an appropriate prayer
was offered by Eev. Mr. Chadick. The congregation
was dismissed with a doxology and benediction by the
pastor. We are not prepared to give even a sketch of
the remarks made by the eloquent speakers on the occa-
sion. But, in conclusion, we would say, never was a
man more worthy such testimonial of high regard ; and
the tribute bestowed, reflects credit on the Presbytery,
and all who participated in the bestowment."
Thus closed the services of erecting a monument over
the remains of our beloved Donnell. Long will that
consecrated spot be remembered and visited. Many
eyes will yet weep and tears fall around that monument,
while the image of that great and good man, when in
the pulpit, is recalled. But his appearance in the sacred
desk, accents of his voice, &e., will not only be remem-
bered, but his great moral excellence will be often
thought of; and lessons imparted by his pious example,
will rise up before the mind, to strengthen its purpose
to walk in the footsteps of him whose " hoary head
wears a crown of glory, because it was found in the
way of righteousness."
310 EEV. ROBERT DONNELL.
But he is gone, to join that great cloud of witnesses?
who are above us and around us. He has seen Jesue
Christ, whom not having seen, he loved. He has seen
the multitude, which no man can number, out of every
nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. He has
been welcomed to glory by his cotemporaries in the
ministry, who reached Heaven before him, and hailed
by thousands, who recognized him as the instrument of
their salvation.
With him, all is now rest, and peace, and reward.
A Brief Sketch of the Life of the Late
HUGH BONE, ESQ.
HUGH BONE.
Hugh Bone was born in the State of Pennsylvania,
on the 19th of October, 1764, and was the second son of
Thomas Bone. His parentage, on both sides, was of
Scotch-Irish Presbyterian descent, and united in his
great grandfather, John Mc Williams, of Scotland, who
was remarkable in his day and country, for his intelli-
gence and piety. He emigrated to America in quite an
early day, and settled in Pennsylvania Colony.
Hugh Bone was removed, while yet a boy, by his
parents, to North Carolina, county of Iredell; and there
raised and trained to manhood, under the ministry of
James Hall, D.D., of the Presbyterian church. His op-
portunities for early religious education, were not sur-
passed, perhaps, by any of his age and country. His
parents were eminently pious and intelligent, and well
qualified to afford such instruction, both by precept
and example, to the juvenile mind, as to fix those deep
and lasting impressions in favor of the religion of Christ,
that will, by Divine influence, lead to an experimental
knowledge of the truth, give cast and character to a
life of piety, and make it conformable, under all circum-
stances, to the precepts of the Bible ; and more espe-
40
314 SKETCH OF THE
cially when assisted by the constant, vigilant, and pious
pastoral labors of such an enlightened and devoted man
as was Dr. Hall.
It was the lot of Hugh Bone, to grow up during the
time of the Revolutionary struggles of the country,
which were so well calculated to imbue the youthful
mind with the spirit of patriotism, and with that in-
domitable energy and perseverance in a cause, believed
to be right, which knows of no discouragements or
failure. But such was the disorganized state of society
in the struggling Colonies, that the cause of education
was mainly suspended, especially in its more systematic
and advantageous form. From these facts, and also
that his father and elder brother were, for much of the
time, called into the service of their country, leaving
the care and support of the family at home upon him,
he was deprived of the advantages of a liberal educa-
tion, which he always most deeply regretted. This,
however, he endeavored to supply, as far as practica-
ble, by application to such books as were approved and
within his reach. Being possessed of more than ordi-
nary strength and powers of natural intellect, with
most acute observation of men and things, he succeeded
in the liberal development of his mind, and in furnish-
ing it with a rich and varied store of most useful knowl-
edge. He lived in a practical age ; and his mind was
trained to the investigation of truth more from motives
of practical utility than mere show. He was peculiar
in his method of thought. When he took up any sub-
LIFE OF HUGH BONE. 315
ject for investigation, it constituted the theme of
thought and study with him day and night, until he
became satisfied that he had mastered it. Then he
laid it up for practical use, as occasion might require,
and never forgot it.
When quite a youth, he passed the session of Concord
congregation, in which he was raised, upon an exami-
nation of his knowledge of experimental religion ; and
in a short time afterward, by a unanimous vote of the
congregation, and ordination by the pastor, he was
added to the same corps of eldership. But it was not
until he had removed to the West, and was surrounded
with the light, life, and power of religion, as it was
taught and enjoyed in the revival of 1800, that he be-
came fully satisfied in his own mind as to his personal
acceptance with God in Christ Jesus. Though from
the time of his admission to the communion of the
church, he had been most exemplary in his religious
morality, and exercised his talents in a public way, by
exhortation and expounding the Word of God, and in
the official and energetic exercise of the office of ruling
elder.
In the 27th year of his age, he was united in mar-
riage to Mary Hill ; who was, while she lived, a true
help-mate to him, in all the vicissitudes of life. He
knew how to appreciate the worth of an intelligent and