Answers call.

Objections.

answer to the first call he received, it is certainly a remarkable paper:

"Wilkesbarre, August 21, 1829. "GENTLEMEN,-As the signers of a document purporting to be 'a call' from the united congregations of Wilkesbarre and Kingston, I take the liberty of addressing to you the following communication, as the organs of these churches respectively.

"Since that paper was put into my hands it has caused me many hours of anxious solicitude. As far as I can see duty, the beam of Providence seems to hold no steady position, sometimes inclining to the one side, and sometimes to the other. This is my great difficulty. Professing some independence in thought and action, let me assure you that if I saw the way of Providence clear, and my duty manifest, nothing could make me hesitate for a moment.

"In each of your churches there are many things well calculated to deter a young man from becoming their pastor, and any man from connecting himself with them. Many of these things are of long continuance, and to eradicate them will require years of laborious faithfulness. Dissension and misrule have rent the one into opposing and contending parties; coldness and decay are the characteristics of the other. The one is without any regular organization; the other possesses little but the name. And both are very much destitute of that freshness and activity which show that the heart performs its appropriate functions. Besides this, the support offered is utterly incompetent to place a man beyond the reach of care and anxiety as

Conditions.

Candor.

it respects his subsistence. And even if raised to the amount contemplated in the few lines annexed to the call, which is altogether hypothetical, still it would be incompetent. This will appear evident to any mind who sits down and counts the cost. And the very fact that two churches of so much comparative wealth can not raise a competent support for a minister, is it self a strong presumptive argument against them. If a minister is bound to make sacrifices for the good of any particular Church, it is equally the duty of that Church to make sacrifices for his support. It is a wrong explication of the law that places all sacrifices to the account of the ministry. But, in reply to all this, it may be said there are many reasons which should induce me to stay. It is true there are; and it is on this ground that I hesitate. The union of feeling and sentiment in myself, from a people so distracted, is one of the most clear indications of Providence that I see; all other reasons that should induce me to stay, arising from the surrounding destitution, and the prospect of doing good, are common to this, with nearly every vacancy in our country.

"Without farther preliminaries, I will merely state that I think duty requires me to give the following answer. I feel inclined to think favorably of connecting myself with your churches in the relation of their pastor on the following conditions:

"1. That the Church of Wilkesbarre become, previous to my ordination, Presbyterian.

"2. That my salary, as stated in the call, be paid punctually, to the day, without any interference whatever on my part.

Amount of labor.

Reservation.

"3. That the committee accept of the assistance offered by the Missionary Society until such time as they can do without it.

“4. That no more than four weekly services be required at my hands; all over that shall be at my own pleasure. This I insert, because many are to be found in every congregation who think they know the minister's duty better than he does himself.

"5. That, if possible, the Church of Kingston shall make arrangements to have meetings permanently at one place on Sabbath morning.

"6. That, as soon as possible, the meeting-house shall be repaired and rendered more commodious for public worship; and that some place shall be prepared for evening and occasional services.

"Farther than this I can not say at present, as the call has not been put into my hands in due form. I wish it also to be understood that if, previous to my receiving the call from the hands of the Presbytery, any reason of sufficient weight shall appear to me why I should decline settlement, I hold in my hands the power of making such declination, without subjecting myself to any censure whatsoever for so doing.

"Yours, gentlemen, in much Christian love and af fection, NICHOLAS MURRAY.

"To Messrs. Haff, Anhauser, Collins, Hollenback, Brower, Parker, Hice, and Hoyt, Committee of the Churches of Wilkesbarre and Kingston."

The conditions having been substantially accepted, he gave his formal acceptance of the call, and in Sep

Expectations.

The people.

tember went again to Wilkesbarre. In a letter to a friend, written after his arrival, he says:

66 September 28, 1829.

"I found every body on the eager look-out for me, and, as the stage passed along, I saw a head from almost every door and window looking out. My reception by my friends was most warm and gratifying. On Thursday and Friday I was principally employed in attending to the examinations in the schools, and in making and receiving visits. Saturday I spent in Kingston, where I preached yesterday morning. In the afternoon I preached here, to a very full house, from the text, 'Fear not, little flock, it is your Fa ther's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.' It was more still than I had ever seen it previously. Many came out, no doubt, to hear what I would say for the first time; but, with the exception of what I said in prayer, there was nothing peculiar in the exercises. This evening I held my meeting for the young; on Thursday evening my weekly lecture. I found three individuals rejoicing in hope on my return; one of them as interesting a convert as I have ever known. I hope the Lord may multiply the number like the drops of the morning dew. Last evening a young man called on me for the purpose of religious instruction. There is a great work to be done here. May the Lord grant me courage and strength to per

form it."

Ordination.

Reflections.

CHAPTER VIII.

Ordained, and Installed over the Churches of Wilkesbarre and Kingston. His Description of Wyoming Valley, in which he resides.Incidents of Pastoral Life.-The Hay-mow.-Mr. Murray's Marriage. Sketch of Rev. Mr. Rhees, the Father of Mrs. Murray.Too late for the Wedding.

"Wilkesbarre, Nov. 4, 1829. This has been to me, beyond all odds, the most solemn and important day of my life. The Presbytery of Susquehanna met here this day for the purpose of ordaining me to the work of the Gospel ministry, and to constitute me the pastor of these churches. On the last evening they took me under their care, and passed me through a full examination. The examination of my fellow-men I stood very well. Would that I could say the same as it respects God! I think that, in the whole course of my life, I have been mercifully directed by the Lord, and that, by His good hand upon me, I have been brought into the ministry. At times, many stumbling-blocks were thrown in my way by myself and others, but, in great goodness, they were all removed. The business of this day was entered on by me not without prayer. I think the Lord was with me through the service; and in the Lord's strength I hope to be enabled to perform the high duties and obligations devolving

on me."

In a letter written a few days afterward, he says: