Margerie M'Leod.

The young Irishman.

Scotchman of the old school, very intelligent, pious, orthodox, and a great hater of Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns. He was a member of Dr. Mason's Church. There was also in the family a maiden lady of great intelligence and piety, Margerie M'Leod. She was a prim lady, wore a high turban, was very dignified in her manners, and a very kind-hearted woman. She still lives, and is over ninety years of age. She had a select school of young ladies from the best families in the city, the second school of the kind in New York after Mrs. Graham's. She had with her in her school her niece, an educated young lady. Into this family came young Murray in the fall of 1821; he was seventeen or eighteen years of age. At that time he was a stout, thick-set, clumsy-looking boy. He was singularly dressed; had a round, open, generous face; was full of Irish wit, humor, joke, and blunder. His manners, though awkward, were soon overlooked, and he became the favorite of the whole family. At every meal we anticipated his good humor; and, while we all enjoyed his pleasantries, it was not long before we discovered that he possessed real native talent, and the high-turbaned lady was the first to say, 'That young man should be educated.' Mr. Kirk kept a store, which prevented him frequently from attending morning prayers, and sitting with his family at meals; and it usually fell to my lot to conduct the devotions of the family, ask a blessing and return thanks, according to the good old custom, when people had time to eat and thank the Lord. Murray at this time had made a profession of religion, and appeared to be a

Returning thanks.

A great blunder.

genuine Christian. He was always willing to listen to pious discourse, and much pains were taken to cultivate his grace and lead him to exercise some spiritual gifts. I had much conversation with him on subjects of this nature, and said to him on one occasion, 'Murray, I will ask you some day to return thanks at the table, and you must not refuse; you must serve the Lord openly, and now is a good time to commence.' A few days after, at the table, when we had just had considerable amusement, I turned to Murray and said, 'Return thanks.' The company were astonished, Murray was confounded, and raising up hands, he said:

"Come Holy Spirit, heavenly dove,

With all thy quickening powers;

Come shed abroad a Savior's love

In these cold hearts of ours. Amen.'

both

"The ludicrous scene was indescribable. The highturbaned lady and the whole company were in a roar of laughter as Murray left the room and ran to his bed-chamber. I followed, and found him in a perfect state of confusion, and said, 'Why, Murray, what have you been doing? When I ask you to return thanks, you should not repeat Watts' hymns; besides, if Mr. Kirk should hear you repeat Watts, he would turn you out of the house.' The only reply he gave was, 'You took me by surprise, but I will try and do better next time,' and so he did. After preparing the family for his second effort, he expressed himself with great propriety. In less than a month he took his regular turn, and before the end of the second month

Success.

Improvement.

New studies.

he engaged in turn in conducting family worship, and at the end of three months he held forth in prayer and exhortation at the social meetings in Dr. Spring's church. Many a merry laugh Dr. Murray has had with me in relation to his early religious services. I have never been acquainted with any young Christian who advanced so rapidly in religious graces and gifts. And I have often said to myself, when hearing the distinguished Dr. Murray in the pulpit or on the platform, 'Is this the Irish boy who commenced his public performances by repeating as a thanksgiving at the table a verse of a hymn?' His manners and appearance improved every week, and before the month of June he was almost a new man. At this time he was engaged in a printing establishment in Pearl Street. His evenings were unoccupied, and he was almost constantly in my room. In the way of self-defense, and also for his good, I furnished him with reading, which he eagerly devoured. I had discovered in him talent, and acting on the hint of Miss M'Leod, that he should receive an education, I said one evening, 'Murray, would you like to learn a little Latin this winter?' 'Indade I would,' and his eyes sparkled with delight. Latin books were procured, and he commenced his studies with vigor. After a few weeks he brought a companion with him from the same office, and it was arranged that I should give them an hour three evenings in a week, and before the first of June Murray was translating Virgil, and had a good knowledge of Greek grammar. I never saw a man take so much delight in his studies, or advance so rapidly. Often during

Mr. Steele's hopes.

Reviews.

the winter I impressed it upon his mind that he should seek a liberal education, and should set his heart upon the ministry; and he has often said that the start which I gave him in his studies that winter influenced him to go forward in his preparations to become a minister of the Gospel.

"I was licensed in the beginning of 1822. Young Murray left Mr. Kirk's family about the same time, and I heard nothing from him until he had entered college. I have watched his progress through life with much interest; have frequently visited him at Elizabethtown, and shared his hospitality and pleasant conversation; and he has often told me that the winter which he spent in Mr. Kirk's family was one of the brightest spots in his memory, and that he looked back upon that time as the turning-point in his history. He was my good friend, and when he died I found another link broken which binds me to this world."

By this communication from Mr. Steele we are carried back to the first attempt of our young friend to open his lips in the performance of a religious service in the presence of others. That he was embarrassed, confused, and made a ridiculous failure; that he speedily recovered, resolved at once to do better, and carried out his resolution with decision and success, are interesting facts to record in the early history of this remarkable man. Had he been weak and irresolute, the first failure would have been the last effort. But he rose from his fall the stronger in heart, and in the course of a few weeks this youth, who could not find

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.