Rev. Dr. Proudfit.

Letter to him.

words to use in thanking God for his daily bread, is leading the devotions of the Church, and offering words of exhortation to the people, in meetings for conference and prayer, in one of the most prominent congregations in the City of New York. This was the man, though yet in his youth. Here was the selfreliance that had already enabled him to embark on the world alone, and now it was shown in the earnest, hopeful spirit with which he assumed the new responsibilities of the Christian life.

In the course of the winter of 1820 and 1821 he came under the notice, and at once received the kind, paternal attentions of the Rev. Alexander Proudfit, D.D., of Salem, Washington County, N. Y., who was delivering a course of lectures in the City of New York in the place of Dr. Mason, who had been compelled by ill health to retire from the theological chair.

The encouragement which Dr. Proudfit gave him was the means of bringing him into the ministry, as he himself most feelingly and gratefully affirms in after years. Among Dr. Proudfit's letters, the following letter from young Mr. Murray was found:

"New York, May 18th, 1821. "REV. SIR,-I have been anxiously waiting for your return to New York, on your way to Synod, for some time past; but having learned from the Rev. Mr. Boyd, who stopped here on his way to Philadelphia, that you were unable to attend your appointment by reason of your indisposition, I propose writing you these few lines, at the same time begging your pardon for the trouble they may put you to.

Young Murray's appeal.

Rev. Dr. Spring.

“Under a sense of my own unworthiness and of my own nothingness, I would be humbled under the mighty hand of Jehovah, seeing that He is exceeding all my hopes and disappointing all my fears, and that His everlasting loving-kindness has thus far followed and preserved me. I would cast myself and all my concerns for this life, and for that which is to come, upon Him, under a full assurance that He, on whose arm creation hangs, is able to support and sustain me.

"Reverend sir, I am conscious of the trouble I have given you during the last winter, but the day may not be far distant when, by the help of God, I may be enabled to render you some recompense of reward for your trouble.

"A few days ago I had an interview with the Rev. Dr. Spring. I was mentioning to him the great object I had in view; I also represented to him my circumstances, and my incapability of obtaining the desired object of myself. I also told him of my intercourse with you during the last winter, and how I was kept back from attending your lectures-all which I suppose you will remember. He told me, if I would obtain a few recommendatory lines from you, then he thinks he would be able to obtain by subscription enough money to support me and carry me through my studies. My object in writing to you at this time is to obtain information from you what to do under these circumstances. If you think that it is best for me to accept of the offer, I will be under infinite obligations to you for a few lines to that effect, supposing that you are satisfied as to my intentions and the pu

The good elders.

The result.

rity of my motives. If you think it best for me not to accept the offer, you will please let me know.

"Under a sense of my obligations to you for the pains you have taken by me, I wish to be guided and directed solely by you in reference to the object in view. Fearing that you were making some provision for me, I would enter into no engagement until I hear from you. I still remain at Mr. Harper's, and board at Mr. Kirk's. It is my prayer to the Almighty God that your useful labors may be long spared to His Church and to His people, and when the Lord of the harvest shall call you to render an account of your stewardship, that you may be found having your wedding garment on, with your lamp trimmed and brightly burning, ready to enter into the joy of our Lord. Amen. Believe me to be your prayerful servant, "NICHOLAS MURRAY."

The result of this application is evident in the fact that Mr. Murray was soon enabled to proceed with his studies under the auspices of benevolent individuals in the Brick Church. His success in the performance of religious exercises had already attracted their attention, and convinced them that he ought to be prepared for the sacred ministry. Two of the elders, Mr. Peter Hawes and Mr. Cunningham, communicated to him the wishes of his friends and their willingness to bear the expenses of his education.

Many long years afterward, in the year 1860, when the 50th anniversary of Dr. Spring's settlement in the Brick Church was celebrated, Dr. Murray was one of

A speech.

Reminiscences.

the distinguished speakers, and he then gave utterance to his own feelings in remembrance of his early relations to the venerable pastor and the people who were the friends of his youth. The whole speech is intensely interesting in this very place:

"MR. CHAIRMAN,-We may have a great many teachers, but we can have but one Father; so says the Sacred Record. We may be connected with many churches, but after all there is one church to which our affections always return, as the needle, which has been drawn from its true direction, trembles back to the pole. I have been, in the course of my ministry, acquainted with many ministers; but there is one minister who is associated with every thing that is precious in my youthful years. I have been connected with many churches, but there is one church, in the aisle of which I stood when I devoted myself to God, and that church is ever before me. I came to this city, a mere boy, in the year 1818. I was, through the providence of God, cast into a Presbyterian family that worshiped in the Murray Street Church, under the pastoral care of Rev. Dr. Mason, and I went there occasionally to church. Dr. Mason was soon removed to the presidency of Dickinson College; and on his removal, having no particular attachment there, save to hear the Gospel from the lips of that eloquent man, I passed over the Park to the old Brick Church. There I became acquainted with a few young men, one of whom still lives, a pillar of a church in Liverpool. We went into the Sabbath-school together. I

Hearing a sermon read.

Effect.

was not then a professor of religion, but my mind became deeply interested, and I had a private conversation with Dr. Spring in reference to my state of mind, which was then in a very doubting state-indeed, it was wavering as to the truth of Christianity itself; and he talked with me in the kindest manner. I called again; and I attended the lectures in that old white lecture-room in the evenings. At that time this beloved man, who has just been carried out to the lecture-room (Mr. Holden*), was an elder. One evening Dr. Spring was unwell, and that man arose and read a sermon which I remember well. That sermon was from the text, 'His feet stand on slippery places; and in due time they shall slide'-a sermon in one of the volumes of the great Jonathan Edwards. It riveted my mind, and very deeply impressed my soul. I went again to see the pastor of the Church, and he invited me to meet with the Session, as it was my duty to become a communicant of the Church. I went on a certain evening to meet with the Session, and laid my hand upon the latch of the door in order to enter. But my heart failed me, and I turned away. And for three months I staid away. A notice was given again; I went to the same door and laid my finger upon the latch, but faltered, and was turning upon my heel to go away again, when that old and sainted man, Father Cunningham, came behind me, laid his hand upon the latch, opened the door, and said, 'Walk in, young man;' and, almost against my will, I was ushered into *Alluding to the fact of Mr. Holden having fainted during the exercises.