of his child. They breathe the true spirit of a minister
of Jesus Christ in affliction, and manifest a willingness
to submit to sacrifice and self-denial in the service of
the church.
Mrs. Donnell's own health became seriously impaired
soon after her marriage, so that for years she scarcely
saw a well day, and was often confined to bed. This
greatly embarrassed her husband in leaving home to
preach the Gospel. He was, however, often absent,
planting and watering churches particularly in the
milder seasons of the year. But such was his anxiety
about his afflicted wife, that he sometimes traveled all
night when returning home from a preaching tour.
The writer recollects receiving a letter from him, many
years ago, after returning from a General Assembly at
Princeton, Kentucky. He had traveled all night, and
got home just before sun-rise, finding Mrs. Donnell
very ill. He observed in his letter that he thought he
never would leave her again. This resolution, how-
ever, soon gave way to the pressing calls of what he
regarded as duty ; and he was again in the service of
the church, many miles from his family.
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 47
But the sufferings of Mrs. Donnell were at length
closed by death, which occurred in the fall of 1828.
She left the world in peace, saying, as she departed,
" O, Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit." A
short time before she expired, the afflicted husband
recorded Ihe following reflections:
*' O, Lord ! the partner of my joys and sorrows, with whom I
was joined in matrimony on the 14th of March, 1818, and to
whom, I trust, I was directed in answer to prayer, is now very
weak in body, and not as comfortable, in view of death, as she
desires; wilt Thou prepare her for the change awaiting her,
and let her feel the joys of religion ere she departs ? Four lovely
children have already been taken from us by repeated strokes
of Thy providence. To these bereavements I have tried to bow
with humble submission. Only one pledge of a dying wife's
affection remains. Wilt Thou spare the life of dear little James,
and enable me to raise him for Thee. May he in early life be-
come a believer in Jesus Christ, and a useful member of the
church.
" And now, O Lord, I again give up my unworthy self unto
Thee. May I be a more faithful and useful minister of Jesus
Christ than I have ever been. Save me from bringing reproach
upon Thj- cause in my new situation. If spared to old age,
may the evening of life be calm, and may my sun set without
a cloud.
"In the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I now
renew my covenant, and solemnly dedicate myself, and all I
am and have, to the service of the church.
" O Lord, in Thy providence thou hast placed under my care
a number of black people. For them I feel a deep interest.
Help me, O my Master in heaven, to do for them what is right,
and to give them what is right. O, hear the prayer of one who
would feel himself to be 'less than the least of all saints,' and
chief of sinners ; yet, as he humbly trusts, Thy devoted servant.
" Robekt Donnell.
" Bethesda, October 18, 1828:'
48 LIFE AND LABORS OF
Thus, after following to their graves four children,
Mr. Donnell is separated by death from the partner of
his youth, and companion of his bosom. His suffer-
ing under such affliction can only be appreciated by
those who have been in a similar "furnace." True,
the consolations of religion offer abundant relief amid
such trials ; but how difficult at such times, for even a
minister of the Gospel, to claim them! " Behold, thou
hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the
weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was
falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest."
Job iv : 3, 4, 5.
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 49
CHAPTER V.
HIS LABORS IN NASHVILLE AND PENNSYLVANIA.
Organizes a Church in Nashville The Article on Cumberland Presby-
terianism in Back's Theological Dictionary Interesting Mission-
ary Tour to Pennsylvania Preaches in North Carolina, on his way
Letter from Leaksville Dr. Burrow's Letter Jealousy at the
Presbyterian Camp-meeting Great Revival in Pennsylvania.
In 1828, Mr. Donnell determined to establish a church
in the city of Nashville. He had often preached there
previous to that time, and was urged to organize a
church, but had declined. In 1813, he preached in
that city twice a month during the year, and at the
close, aided by Messrs. Ewing and others, held a sacra-
mental meeting. Mr. Craighead was then preaching
in the town, and very hostile to the revival of religion
prevailing in the country at that time, and numerous
calls pressing Mr. Donnell to more inviting and promi-
sing fields of usefulness, he closed his labors in the city.
He was, however, still recollected by many of the citi-
zens of Nashville, and repeatedly urged to return. At
length he began to preach at Mr. Cassellman's, five
miles south of Nashville, where several persons from
the city occasionally attended partly for the pleasure
of the ride, and partly to hear him sing Mr. Donnell
being a very fine singer. Among these were Mrs.
Grundy McGavoc and Guilders, and Col. Ewing. They
7
50 LIFE AND LABORS OF
soon became deeply interested with his preaching, as
well as his singing ; and Mrs. Childers professed reli-
gion. Her husband was an infidel, and when she first
became convicted, he endeavored to remove her dis-
tress by worldly amusements; but she refused to be
comforted, till she found it by believing in Jesus. The
other persons, just named, soon professed religion also,
and would doubtless have joined the Cumberland Pres-
byterian church, had one been organized ; but although
they united with other denominations, Mr. Donnell was
highly esteemed by them as a preacher, and strongly
pressed to preach in their city.
In the year as mentioned above, there seemed to be
an extraordinary opening in Nashville for Cumberland
Presbyterians. Members from the country had moved
into the city. Dr. Jennings, pastor of the PresbjHerian
church, had just died, and his house of worship had
burnt down. The Baptist church was torn to pieces,
and their house of worship taken from them by the
Campbcllites. The Methodists had but a small mem-
bership, and religion throughout the city was at a low
ebb. At this crisis, Mr. Donnell and Eev. James B.
Porter commenced a protracted meeting in the Court-
house, employing a man to keep it in order; and took
lodgings in one of the hotels. After the meeting com-
menced, however, and it became evident that a power-
ful revival of religion was pending, the preachers were
pressed, from all quarters, to board in private families.
Many wer3 converted during the meeting; and at its
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 51
close, a Cumberland Presbyterian church was organized
in the Legislative hall. Soon after establishing the
church, " as his custom was," Mr. Donnell proposed
building a house of worship ; and the edifice now occu-
pied in Nashville by the First Cumberland Presby-
terian church, is the result of his efforts. The congre-
gation continued to prosper for a time, but untoward
circumstances arose principally through the agency
of Rev. James Smith, who subsequently withdrew from
the Nashville Presbytery and joined the Presbyterian
church which greatly retarded its progress, and at
one time threatened its destruction.
In 1831, the General Assembly, at Princeton, Ken-
tucky, appointed Mr. Donnell, in connection with Revs.
Alexander Chapman, Burrow, Bryan and Morgan, to
visit Pennsylvania, as missionaries. This appointment
was made in compliance with pressing invitations from
that and other States of the East invitations which
were suggested in part, doubtless, by the following
occurrence: Mr. Donnell, as early as 1815, on learning
that Mr. Woodward contemplated publishing "Buck's
Theological Dictionary." wrote to him to know if he
would admit a notice of Cumberland Presbyterians.
On receiving a favorable reply, he presented the sub-
ject to S3'nod then the highest judicatory of tho
church and Mr. Ewing and himself were appointed
to write the article : which appears in the work al-
luded to, under letter " P." This article gave the first
notice of Cumberland Prcsb}*terians in the East, and
52 LIFE AND LABORS OP
excited much solicitude to become better acquainted
with their doctrines.
Messrs. Donnell and Burrow traveled together, taking
East Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina in their
route. The following communication, from Mr. Don-
nell, was made to the " Religious and Literary Intelli-
gencer" while preaching in North Carolina :
" Leaksville, N. C, August 1, 1831.
" Brother Burrow and myself left Huntsville on the 27th of
June last. We preached in most of the towns, and some of the
country places, on our way to this State ; but passed so hastily
that we had but little opportunity of learning much of the state
of religion, or doing much to aid the cause of Zion. We find,
however, an open door in this State, and meet with much chris-
tian cordiality wherever we go, and find the field so large and
white unto the harvest, and the cries of both saint and sinner
so pressing for preaching, that we know not how to leave the
country. At the request of many, most of whom were not
members of any church, we appointed a camp-meeting near
the high rock, Rockingham county, and had the privilege of
preaching to a people who were willing to leave their comfort-
able homes, and encamp in the woods, to hear the Gospel. But
it rained from Saturday until Tuesday morning, and we had
no house or shelter to protect us except one log camp ; and most
of the people were compelled to leave the ground on Sabbath
evening, so that the meeting closed on Monday. We preached
during the occasion in our log camp, while many stood out-
side in the rain ; and often the camp was surrounded by car-
riages, filled with people. One or two professed religion, and
many left the meeting deeply convicted. We were urged to
appoint another meeting, but could not, owing to engagements
ahead. We agreed to stay a week longer, however, than was
intended, in order to be at a camp-meeting with our old Pres-
byterian brethren.
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 53
<(
We have had several two-days' meetings in this country
one at Greensburgh, Guilford county. A good work had com-
menced there some two weeks before our arrival. We had
from forty to fifty mourners, some of whom professed religion ;
and the good work, we learn, still goes on.
"In a few days we shall leave for Pennsylvania.
Robert Donnell."
The following is an extract of a letter from the Eev.
Reuben Burrow, D.D. :
" In the State of North Carolina, we bad some special mani-
festations of Divine mercy, and many made a profession of re-
ligion. Twelve professed to find the Savior at our two-days'
meeting at Greensburgh ; and before the excitement abated,
several hundred persons professed to be converted. We were
compelled, however, by future engagements, to leave the place,
in the midst of the revival. We preached at several other
places as we traveled through the State, where prospects were
very encouraging ; and afterward we learned that revivals of
religion followed."
Respecting the camp-meeting held by the Presby-
terians, to which Mr. Donnell alludes, Dr. Burrow says:
" We attended at the solicitation of the elders of the congrega-
tion ; but in the progress of the meeting, some of the preachers
became jealous, and fearful that we might organize a church
there, and treated us with neglect, which produced great ex-
citement among the people generally. The Session met on
Monday morning, and urged us to organize a church, and all
promised to unite with us ; but brother Donnell replied that we
had come there to do good, and would not disturb their peace."
Messrs. Chapman, Bryan and Morgan took another
route to Pennsylvania, and reached there in advance
of Messrs. Donnell and Burrow. They commenced
54 LIFE AND LABORS OF
their labors in Washington county, by declaring the
distinctive peculiarities of the church they represented.
Having done this, they began to urge upon the consid-
eration of the people the great and fundamental truths
of the Gospel ; and very soon indications appeared of
what afterwards proved to be a wonderful revival of
religion.
As Mr. Donnell's mission to Pennsylvania was con-
nected with the introduction of Cumberland Presby-
terianism into that country, and forms a prominent
and important epoch in his history, it may not be out
of place to dwell here with some particularity ; and if
I embrace some facts that more properly belong to
church history, the reader's indulgence is claimed from
the consideration that they have never 3-et appeared
in print, and may hereafter serve as materials for the
historian. In my remarks, I shall draw largely upon
the pen of the late Kev. Jacob Lindley, D.D., who re-
sided in Pennsylvania at the time of Mr. Donnell's
visit. After describing the moral condition of the
country, and expressing his belief that a revival of re-
ligion was at hand, he says :
" I heard that three preachers of the Cumberland Presbyterian
church were in Washington, our county seat. I had heard of
the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Kentucky, through the
minutes of our General Assembly;* but the impressions made
upon my mind were not favorable. Being well acquainted
* Dr. Lindley then belonged to the Presbyterian church, but subse-
quently joined the Cumberland Presbyterians, and became father-in-
law of Mr. Donnell at his second marriage.
REV. ROBERT PONNELL. 55
with the schismatics in the lower counties of Ohio having
been much with them in my first tour of preaching in that
country I associated them, in my mind, with Cumberland
Presb3 T terians ; which I soon discovered, however, was doing
the latter much injustice, I also learned, what I did not know
before, that the elders of a vacant congregation adjoining the
one of which I was the pastor, bad written to Kentucky, re-
questing Cumberland Presbyterian preachers to visit them.
Therefore, I expected the clergymen just named, would preach
in that congregation the next Sabbath. I at once began to
dread that wild fanaticism that I had seen among the schis-
matics. I began, however, to search the records of the General
Assembly, to see if I could find out any gross errors of which
Cumberland Presbytery had been charged ; and to learn if they
had been ecclesiastically cut off from membership with the
Presbyterian body. I searched these records with care, ex-
pecting to find something that would justify my standing aloof
from the new preachers. In the records of 1824 or '25, I saw it
staled by that Reverend body, that the members of the Cum-
berland Presbytery never had been deposed, and that the ordi-
nances of the church administered by Cumberland ministers
were to be regarded in the same light with ordinances adminis-
tered by other evangelical churches not connected with the
General Assembly of the United States. Finding this to be the
true ecclesiastical standing of those Cumberland ministers, I
felt myself bound, in christian charity, to extend to them the
same fraternal hand, and to mingle with them in all the ordi-
nances of God's house which I would with Congregations lists,
Methodists, or any other evangelical denomination, just as
the General Assembly had said.
"The first sermon I heard from them was delivered by the
Rev. John Morgan. His text was James v: 16. The humility,
fervor and unction that characterized the discourse, satisfied
me that God was with him. I also heard the Revs. Messrs.
Chapman and Bryan, and found them of the same spirit. But
56 LIFE AND LABORS OF
that I might know them thoroughly, and treat them as strangers
ought to be treated, I invited them to make my house their
home while they staid in the country. The more I became
acquainted with them, the better I liked their christian spirit.
They were from a warm revival country, and brought the re-
vival spirit with them. There was nothing boisterous in their
manner of preaching. The showers that descended from heaven
under their administrations, were not hail-storms, but gentle,
soft and refreshing. I was astonished at the adaptation of their
preaching to the religious state of the country. They did not
come with their carts loaded with shrubbery from the nurseries
of theological disputants, to plant out in our soil. The seed
which they sowed was simple unsophisticated truth, such as
could be understood by all the school children of the country.
" Indications of a general awakening soon appeared, and all
classes, both in and out of the church, attended to hear the new
preachers. And a council was immediately called, consisting of
the elders of my church, and the adjoining vacant congregation.
The Cumberland brethren and I were present. The main ob-
ject was, whether we should have a camp or protracted meet-
ing. My personal feelings were in favor of a joint protracted
meeting ; but I was met by arguments that the general interest
now existing extended into four congregations, and down to
all the children of the Sabbath schools. The distance families
would have to travel, and other inconveniences, would render
a protracted meeting more difficult and less efficient, than for
entire families, with their abundant provisions, to move into
convenient tents. A camp-meeting was therefore agreed upon,
and three men were chosen to select a site, and to lay out the
encampment. A delightful grove, in a vacant congregation in
Upper Ten-mile, was chosen. In a few days, an ample number
of tents were erected, for the accommodation of all who might
see fit to attend ; and the neighboring farmers, with provisions
to feed them, were on the ground. For women who had no
husbands or parents on the ground, a large tent was fitted up,
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 57
and put in charge of a venerable mother in the church. Pas-
tures were provided for horses, and one for milch cows, not
more than fifty yards from the tents. Cows were driven five
and six miles. A living spring gushing from the marble rock,
clear as crystal, reminding us of the water of life, was near at
hand.
" The preachers in attendance were the Revs. Messrs. Chap-
man, Morgan, Bryan and myself. The Rev. Dr. Dodd brought
his family, but was called away some thirty-four miles, to see
a patient, and did not get back till after the meeting closed.
Religious services commenced on Thursday evening before the
second Sabbath of September, with evident solemnity and pro-
found order. Everything progressed with solemnity and in-
creasing religious interest till Saturday. On Saturday even-
ing, two venerable and strange preachers appeared, viz: Revs.
Messrs. Donnell and Burrow. Morgan and the other brethren
expressed great joy ; but I told them that I regretted that they
had come. Mr. Morgan asked me my reasons. I replied : It
could hardly be expected that preachers, journeying ou horse-
back a thousand miles, through a cold world, could immedi-
ately enter into the spirit of our present meeting ; and that even
one discordant note might shift the key, and change the present
tone of religious feeling. Morgan said, in the language of the
hunter: Never fear, these two old dogs will not cross the track.
You will hear them open the moment they catch the scent, and
before they reach the track, they will know which way the
game has gone. They will never be off the track. Mr. Burrow
was sick, and made but one attempt to preach during the meet-
ing. Mr. Donnell did most of the preaching after he came, as
those first on the ground were much fatigued."
An incident occurred at this meeting, which illus-
trates Mr. Donnell's knowledge of human nature, and
his great skill in managing and controlling the evil
passions of man. A company of rude fellows, on Sun-
8
58 LIFE AND LABORS OF
day night, under the influence of liquor, became noisy,
and, though some distance off, very much disturbed
the worship of God. A peace officer requested Mr.
Donnell to go and try to quiet them not having the
courage to undertake it himself. Mr. Donnell imme-
diately repaired to the place, and, taking off his hat,
said to the company : " I am a stranger from the far
West, where our means of intellectual and moral im-
provement are supposed to be inferior to yours. We,
however, have camp-meetings there, and the people
generally respect the worship of God. In coming to
this old settled and intelligent country, I had hoped to
find an example of outward regard, at least to reli-
gion, that would be worth reporting on my return to
Alabama, to stimulate the people to higher degrees of
politeness and good conduct at the house of God."
Entire silence pervaded the crowd, and Mr. Donnell
bowed and returned to the camp ground. The next
day, many of those wicked men became mourners, and
ere the meeting closed, professed religion.
But let us return and witness the close of the camp-
meeting :
"At the rising sun," says Dr. Liindley, ** Wednesday morn-
ing, at public prayer, after one or two prayers, a request was
made for all those to come forward before the stand, who had
found comfort in believing, since the meeting commenced, for
the purpose of receiving counsel. Two hundred and twenty
appeared. Such a transporting sight I had never before beheld,
and I was very nigh losing the command of myself. The meet-
REV. ROBERT DONNELL. 59
ing closed on that day, leaving upward of one hundred anxious
inquirers after the way of salvation.
" After breakfast, a council was called, consisting of the ruling
elders of three congregations. The subject of consultation was
the expediency of opening a door for the reception of members
into the church. The live Cumberland preachers were present,
but perfectly silent. The elders of the vacant congregation,
who had written to them to visit them, informed the council
that they had had a meeting by themselves, and decided to at-
tach themselves to the Cumberland Presbyterian church, in
their organized capacity, with such of the congregation as might
.see fit to go with them. They said their decision had been kept
secret until now, for the sake of good order and common-sense
propriety ; that if they had, amid the great revival that had
been going on, principally through.the instrumentality of Cum-
berland preachers, proclaimed their church a Cumberland
church, and opened a door for the reception of members, the
converts, under the influence of religious sympathy, would
have rushed with one accord into that church, and the feelings
of many dear brethren would have been wounded. Here a
pause in the council took place, and the Cumberland brethren
had a short conference by themselves, and then called me,
when Mr. Morgan said, a proposition had been thought of, if it
met my approbation. He stated that, as my congregation was
in a direct line, and half way between the vacant congregation
(now Cumberland) and Dr. Dodd's congregation, he proposed
to appoint a protracted meeting at my church four weeks hence,
to meet on Thursday in the forenoon, and that the first business
should be, while all were calm and free from excitement, to
examine candidates for church membership ; and that the three
church sessions should be pi-esent to examine and enroll their
several new members. It was further suggested that in four
weeks, the converts would have time to know themselves,
and to be known of others, and to receive the counsel of their
parents, so that all might be harmony and kindness. The
60 LIFE AND LABORS OP
proposition pleased me, and was adopted, and published before
the meeting broke up.
"What I have here stated is correct, and ought publicly to
be known, for it reflects honor upon those five Cumberland
preachers, and the Southern character and the liberal spirit of
the Cumberland Presbyterian church.
" On Thursday, the day appointed for the protracted meet-
ing, the sessions of the three congregations were in attendance.
As they were all in one house, it was suggested that the sessions
be constituted by one prayer, which was agreed to; and each
session then proceeded to business. My congregation received
one hundred new members ; Dr. Dodd's, eighty ; and the Cum-
berland church about the same. Each candidate was allowed
to say for himself to which church he wished to be attached.
The parents of most of the young people who had professed re-
ligion were present. The meeting then went on, and before it
closed, about one hundred professed to be converted."