self-renunciation. It was entire, deliberate devotion to his Redeemer. Such a mind has no need of ecstatic emotions.

It

may sometimes be called torpid and cold; but it will vivify and animate whomsoever comes really in contact with it, and we are sure that it bears the genuine impression of the highest style of piety.

And on this very excellence was grafted some of his greatest defects. He was likely to suppose that others would prosecute his plans with a zeal and self-sacrifice equal to his own. As this was seldom the case, he had failed less frequently if he had made a larger allowance for friction, and the inertia of his associates. He was not sufficiently jealous of his reputation. as a scholar, and was too ready to speak disparagingly of his attainments. He forgot that his erudition was one of his means of usefulness. He appeared to think that his character in other respects was such, that he might suffer it to be aspersed as regarded his acquaintance with books. This was an error. His judgment of the works of Archbishop Leighton, was as discriminating as that on a question of church discipline. He would discuss the merits of Robert Hall with as much acumen as a case of ecclesiastical finance. His knowledge of books was the very sort he wanted to use. no stores of information on obsolete subjects. But on the question of the day, he was seldom found without well-digested opinions for which he could give fundamental reasons and apposite historical illustrations. He had therefore the moral and the intellectual traits for producing a deep impression whenever he spoke. For "self-devotion is eloquent." In a deliberative assembly, at the anniversaries of the American Board, or in a small congregation on the frontiers, his power was equally evident.

He boasted

Dr. Bullard was an extempore debater of the first class. To this many gifts were tributary. He was fearless to a remarkable degree, and of course set forth his opinions without any timidity, or ultra prudence. His plans were strikingly original, for his mind was practically creative, though he entirely avoided the field of theoretical speculation. He was very fluent, the habit of extempore speaking in the West, co-operating with a ready intellect. His understanding was both clear and quick, VOL. V.-3

the point of a question being always in full view, together with the best light in which to place it for popular effect, with an acute perception of the character of men, and the readiest plan to carry his measure through a deliberative assembly. There was much, too, in the confidence with which he held, and advocated his opinions. There are always a number of persons in any company who are timid about taking responsibility, and a man like Dr. Bullard carries their weaker will with him; "they strengthen themselves," to use the German expression, "in his sunshine." There was, too, something invincibly honest in Dr. Bullard. People felt that he had no selfish or individual interests to carry, and we need hardly say that this is an element of great power. To what we have said is to be added, that he had a commanding person, and a manly voice. He never had the slightest appearance of caring for the impression he could make upon any one, but the strength and manliness of the man showed itself in everything he said or did. He went through life, doing work and delighting in work, and wherever he came, other men sympathetically worked too. So when he rose to speak, he broke through all cobwebs of form and routine, and brought every one with a vigorous power to the matter in hand, and the best way of accomplishing it. Withal there was no inflexibility or mere pride of opinion. He was gentle to the touch of a better reason than his own, for anything; and would yield a plan if a better one could be devised. Our Church has had very few more valuable men in her councils.

man.

On principle and from conviction, Dr. Bullard was a fearless When he settled in St. Louis, duelling and outrages on human life were far more common than they now are, and he failed not to speak all that he thought. On one occasion he was called to the funeral of a man who lost his life in a streetfight, and he directed the attention of the crowd, in the most emphatic terms, to the fomenters of the strife. A sermon which he preached on the death of President Harrison gave great satisfaction in religious circles, and provoked great wrath among the worldly. His opposition to theatres exposed him to much obloquy. He wrote largely on the passing questions of every year, and the "Scrap-book" which contains his fugi

tive paragraphs, if illustrated by suitable comments, would form an interesting and instructive volume.

His life appears to us to have been one of very large achievements. He actually accomplished much. To but few is it permitted to leave more distinct "footmarks on the sands of time," than to him. The Massachusetts Sunday-school Society bears the impress of his hands. He edited the "Treasury," one of the earliest periodicals for children. He began the work of creating a literature for Sabbath-schools when that work was a task compared with what it now is; and in this department he called into activity the pens of several gifted female friends. When he was in the service of the American Board, it was a collateral part of his labors to visit the colleges of the West, and among them he gathered rich fruit for the cause of missions. One of our most valuable missionaries in Hindostan, and another in South Africa, could bear witness that their religious life began afresh and with it their devotion to missions, in the visit of Dr. Bullard to a college in Illinois or Kentucky. This ability to impress young and aspiring minds, to do it quickly and yet permanently, was in him almost unique. It was no mere "forte for agency," nor "sturdiness in applying for money." It was a rare and original gift, and if not genius, was something better than genius. It fully justified, what seemed to those who did not know the reasons of it to be but bad policy, the importunity of our General Assembly in pressing upon him the secretaryship of Education. He himself believed that he had some special gifts for that office. Had he entered upon those duties he would have placed the department on an adequate pecuniary basis, and it is reasonable to think that he would have drawn large numbers of young men into. the vortex of his rapid movements. But he believed that he was in the way of duty, in remaining in St. Louis. While he was on his European tour, he found an inviting field of usefulness in the American congregation at Paris, to which he was strongly attracted. At divers times, a place high in the administration of certain national charities has been at his acceptance.

The design of the Church Erection Fund was original with him, it is believed. He encountered unusual obstacles in carrying forward the collections, for it was looked upon with dis

trust by nearly all of his brethren through the land. But the General Assembly has copied his plan almost exactly. And other communions have adopted similar schemes.

There has come over the churches a great change in regard to their views of the using of money for religious purposes. It is better understood than formerly, that men are accountable for the use they make of this talent. This change is to be attributed partly to the changed circumstances of social life; partly it is due to the actual increase of wealth; but not least to the organized societies for expending the churches' charity, and to the public advocacy of those societies' claims. To no man is the change to be attributed more than to Dr. Bullard. Others have written as well and spoken as ably. But to him it fell to carry the dispensation and the claims of charity very early to many of the churches in New England, and to all the principal places in the West; to Sunday-schools and to colleges. In St. Louis he enthroned it by his labors as a pastor, in connection with, and in subserviency to the entire circle of Christian graces. This, even if it had been done less clearly, had been achievement enough for one life, and it made him eloquent. It seemed wonderful that he spoke with such success, for manifestly he was careless of the rules of the rhetorician. But he had the power of persuasion, and this is eloquence. He carried men along by the enchantment of his mild word, and by the force of his honest heart. If the test of intellectual vigor be the moving of men by address, then he was an able man. He could afford to disregard his reputation for learning and talent, for his selected triumphs were gained among the educated, the refined and the gifted. Sometimes they marvelled at the sway which his words had over them, sometimes they recalcitrated against his sentiments; but generally he succeeded in insinuating his views into their mind, and giving them a permanent lodgment there. If Theremin's definition of oratory be correct, "the inciting of men to act," then Dr. Bullard was often eloquent. A co-presbyter of his made the remark: "I have heard Webster, Everett, Choate; I have heard in the pulpit, the Beechers, the Adamses, and dozens of professors of rhetoric; but by none of them have I been moved as by this man."

These lines will come before our readers about the time of the meeting of the General Assembly. One who the last year was an active and prominent member, has passed on to the Assembly above, and has left to survivors toils increased by his removal. He always rejoiced in telling his people of the meetings of our highest Judicatory, and engaging them to co-operate with it. He loved our Church. He loved it for its freedom, its doctrines, its activity, and for the trials it has passed; and in accordance with a great and beautiful law of human nature, that Church will long love him.

ARTICLE III.

DO DEPARTED SAINTS BECOME MINISTERING SPIRITS?

MUCH has been said of late with regard to the influence and operation of Spirits in our world. It is notorious that a considerable number of persons have imbibed the doctrine that it is possible to hold familiar intercourse with them, and to learn from them much concerning the affairs of men in this life, as well as the feelings and condition of those who have entered upon another state of being. No distinction in office and attainments has been made, that we are aware, by the advocates of this doctrine, between angelic beings and the spirits of deceased mortals. Both have been regarded as belonging to a single class, though it is generally, if not always, the latter whom they profess to consult. The communications received are made, it is pretended, through the medium of physical objects, by rapping sounds, the movement of chairs, tables, &c. That this doctrine throughout is a device of the evil one, is mischievous in its tendency, and is anti-Scriptural and anti-rational, has been and can be shown by a great variety of considerations. Were it now our purpose, we might enlarge upon the following,