ble," he says, "which always lay on my writing desk, and tried to read it, but could not. My thoughts dwelt only on my own dismal situation, and refused attention to anything else. The conviction of my guilt seemed now complete. I saw that I was a sinner, in the widest sense of the word. But it was not the conviction which is connected with godly sorrow. I could not brook it that all my doings should be at last but filthy rags. I murmured and found fault with God, for not converting me as well as others; and while my reason and all my mental powers approved the sovereignty of God, my heart rose against it, and such a malignant feeling of opposition to the supremacy of his will possessed me, as makes me almost shudder at the recollection." This was the last tumult of rebellion in his soul. At the voice of Jesus, as on Galilee, the stormy waves subsided, and "there was a great calm." "O what a change!" said he, referring to his altered views of the character and ways of God, "Everything seemed new and interesting. I was surprised and delighted with so fine a theme of thought; and, as I pursued my reflections, the plan of salvation-God's dealings with me-the love of Christ-seemed to be topics enough for the universe to talk of. All these things were so sweet, so mild, so proper; the sublime truths of religion, of whose excellence I had before but a speculative conviction, now seemed so glorious, so important, and crowded in such magnificent forms upon my narrow mind, that I felt bewildered among them. Myself, too, so poor and unworthy! No language could do my feelings justice. It was some time before I recovered myself, and then the first sentiment of my heart was, 'Lord, it is enough! I will love thee. I will not murmur any longer. All is right. Do with me as seemeth good in thy sight!"י Then, for the first time, the obscurations of sin removed, his " single eye" was filled with the glory of God. Then was struck the key-note, not of his whole subsequent life merely, but of that anthem which he is singing now in the world of glory! It was an early cherished desire of the parents of Dr. Hall, that he should devote himself to the ministry. Partly, it may be, from a knowledge of their views, but quite as much, probably, from his love of learning, and the serious cast of his mind, his own thoughts, even for a considerable period before the change just related, had taken the same direction. His desigu was favored, especially after his conversion, by the excellent Dr. Axtell, pastor of the church in Geneva, in connection with which, in the year 1817, he made a profession of religion. His pastor had, indeed, ever taken much interest in him, having early perceived his unusual promise. The circumstances of his father were such, however, that he could render him but little aid in the prosecution of his studies. He was thrown mainly upon his own resources. Though a severe trial, this was well, doubtless, so far as the formation of his character was concerned. He learned to "endure hardness," to rely on himself, to encounter and surmount obstacles. He was the better able, in subsequent years, to sympathize, not with the indigent student alone, but with the home missionary, toiling amid manifold privations and hardships. His preparation for College was accomplished under great difficulties. For one winter, at least, I have been credibly informed, his grammar and Virgil were studied by the light of blazing pine knots, in a lonely mill, on the outlet of Conesus Lake. Here, while the machinery he tended was doing its work, he would pursue, as he could, his intellectual task; and long after the laboring wheel had ceased its motion, he would bend still, by his rude lamp, over the classic page. His eye was "single," then; it was the hope of glorifying God, as a minister and a missionary, that urged him on. An incident has been related to me, which I cannot forbear to repeat, as illustrating, in many points, his history at that period. The avails of his labor in the mill, were to form his outfit for College; but knowing how inadequate it would be, his sympathizing father made him a visit during the winter, bringing with him a bank bill, saved at home by economy and self-denial, for the purpose of helping on the beloved son and brother. It was at the close of the day he arrived, and they spent the evening together. Both were deeply affected, as the gift was delivered; for it was an offering, both knew, which had cost much, and it was consecrated to a holy purpose. They sat by the fireside that father and son-talking long and earnestly, and when, at length, they rose to retire, the bank note was missing. Charles remembered taking it, and holding it in his hand, and thought he had put it in his pocket; but it was not there. Returning to the fireplace, he discovered a little piece of it lying on the hearth. As he had been absorbed in conversation, it had fallen from his hand, and all but a mere fragment had been reduced to ashes. Thus, by a new disappointment, was his faith tried, a disappointment the more severe, as it trod on the heels of such newly-awakened gladness and gratitude. Dr. Hall has often referred to this incident; and trivial though it may seem in some points of view, it cannot be doubted that, in the memories and colloquies of father and son in heaven now, a place is found for that gift and that loss in the old mill at Conesus. Having prepared himself in the studies of the Freshman year, Dr. Hall entered Hamilton College, as Sophomore, in 1821. With great energy and self-denial did he here hold on his way. I have heard touching statements in regard to weary journeys performed by him on foot, and other economical expedients, designed to suit his outgoes to his limited means; expedients involving sometimes, perhaps, too great a degree of hardship, yet ever illustrating his holy singleness of purpose. He acquitted himself most creditably in all the walks of scholarship; and graduated in 1824, with the first honors of his class. Rejoicing to near the goal of his fondest wishes, he entered, in the autumn of the same year, the Princeton Theological Seminary. Here he remained, earnestly and successfully prosecuting his studies, endearing himself to all his associates, and commending, in his daily deportment, the Gospel he was preparing to proclaim, until, having nearly reached the close of the three years' course, he was called to that field of labor, in which, as it proved, his great life-work was to be done. The American Home Missionary Society was then in the first year of its existence. That broad river, which has sent a fertilizing influence over so many wastes, was formed by the confluence of various streams. It were interesting and instructive, had we time, to trace each to its distant source. There was the United Domestic Missionary Society, having its centre in this city, itself constituted by the union of several smaller Societies; two, at least, of which-Young Men's Associations-had their origin, as reliable tradition affirms, in a Young Men's Prayer Meeting. Some zealous young disciples met for prayer; it was natural to connect with it their alms; and, as natural that, for the wise disposal of those alms, an organization should be provided. This one organization, in the course of Providence, became two. There was the old Connecticut Missionary Society, which, as early as 1798, began to care for the new settlements. There was the Massachusetts Society, formed but a year later in Boston, by a number of benevolent persons-" a small group," it is said, "which the smallest public room in the city would suffice to accommodate." There were the State Societies, also, of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island. These had all been laboring to good purpose in their several spheres; but it occurred to some of the wisest friends of evangelical effort, that in union there would be strength, especially in a union which should involve a needed enlargement of aim. The growing wants of our country, and the immeasurable importance of its thorough evangelization, were becoming more and more apparent. Nothing less must be attempted, it was felt, than to follow, with gospel institutions, the ever deepening tide of emigration, until the length and breadth of the land should be hallowed and gladdened by them. So, by a Convention, composed mainly of the friends of the various Societies which have been named, assembled in the city of New-York, in the year 1826, that National Association was formed, whose sore bereavement has gathered us here this evening. It has been already intimated, that Dr. Hall's feelings were early interested in the work of missions. It was his design, at first, if God should open the way, to consecrate himself to the foreign field. Before he entered College, when Bingham and Thurston were preparing to go to the Sandwich Islands, he had serious thoughts, in view of the difficulty of prosecuting his studies, of going with them as a teacher. While a member of College, he remarked, at one time, to an aged friend with whom he had been conversing about the heathen world, "I am almost afraid they will all be converted before I am permitted to carry 9 to them the Gospel." These missionary aspirations accompanied him to the Theological Seminary. His thoughts were even turned, at one time, to a particular field, that region of all hallowed associations, "Over whose acres walked those blessed feet, Nor did he relinquish all designs of this sort until he became fully satisfied, that in the high sphere of duty to which Providence called him in our own land, he could labor more effectually for the promotion of that one great end which engaged his whole heart, the universal upbuilding of the Redeemer's kingdom. In whatever change of plan, the "eye single" was still manifest. It was in March, 1827, Dr. Hall was called to the office of Assistant Secretary of the American Home Missionary Society. In the autumn of 1837, he was appointed one of the Co-ordinate Secretaries for Correspondence; in which office he continued until his death. It was early apparent, that he had singular adaptations to the department of labor on which he had entered. His eminent piety fitted him for it; his entire devotedness to his Master's service, and his special interest in the great work of missions. None who knew him, could call in question, even in periods most rife with partisan jealousy, his simplicity of purpose. To the unsectarian platform of the Society, and to the meeting of those exigencies, which conflicting opinions and interests would, at times, occasion, the marked catholicity of his spirit, together with the habitual gentleness and kindness of his demeanor, was happily suited. He had, indeed, his private denominational preferences; he would forbid such preferences to no one. But as an officer of the Home Missionary Society,-nay, in his inmost heart, the object which towered above every other, was the spreading of the knowledge of a crucified Saviour. The cast of his intellect fitted him for his work. He had great clearness of judgment; his mind was comprehensive, well balanced, and strikingly logical in its habits; he had an almost unrivalled discernment of character. This last trait was early developed. In a private communication of his to an intimate friend, written at about the age of twenty-one, I find an analytic sketch of the personal peculiarities of a number of individuals with whom he was temporarily residing, which, for clearness of conception, exactness of discrimination and graphic skill, forcibly reminds one of some of his later performances. In this specimen of word-painting, a transcript of his thinking, touch succeeds touch, not one, apparently, at random or amiss, till the whole family group, each figure having its own peculiar lineaments, is distinctly bodied forth. Largely as the Home Missionary Society is concerned with men, and injurious as wrong estimates of character may prove, it is easy to see how servicable to its interests must have been this quickness and keenness of apprehension. In a quiet conversation, when the person concerned had little thought, perhaps, of the processes of which he was the subject, Dr. Hall would often take his measure and calibre, as accurately, almost, as if he had known him for a lifetime. He doubtless sometimes mistook, for to err is human; but those who knew him best were ever slow to dissent from his deliberate judgments. He was a man of method, too, and of punctilious exactness in all business concernments. He was a genial fellow-laborer unselfish, appreciative, considerate, sympathizing. I listened, recently, to affecting testimony from the lips of the first Secretary of the Society, the Rev. Dr. Peters, with whom Dr. Hall acted as Assistant, touching the tender cordiality of the relations which subsisted between them; and with tearful utterances is like testimony borne by the now surviving Secretaries. He was a reliable man. Mild, indeed, he was in manners, and gentle in speech; of such demeanor, at times, that a stranger might almost have thought him timid or vascillating. He was wisely compliant, if occasion required it, on unimportant points. Yet when a matter of principle was in hand, when he was evidently called to take his stand for truth and righteousness, then, whoever or whatever might oppose, he was steadfast and unmovable. Intimately connected with his usefulness, was his high appreciation of the work in which he was engaged. To say that it was linked, in his view, with the great end for which he lived, the advancement of the Redeemer's cause, was to do but partial justice to his convictions. Its connection with that end was, in his soberest judgment, of no ordinary sort. He loved all good enterprises. To the whole round of evangelical charities, he gave ever his sympathies and his prayers. He would unduly disparage no one of them. But it was by the foolishness of preaching, chiefly, he judged, the world was to be saved. The gospel ministry held, to his apprehension, a chief place in the circle of beneficent agencies. Little, comparatively, he believed, could be accomplished without it. Other forms of influence are not to be intermitted; if used wisely and in godly sincerity, the divine blessing will not be withheld. Yet is the pulpit, God's institution, suited with divine skill to man's nature; not to this or that particular time, or place, or character, or condition, but to man as man; to man in all circumstances and all ages. Other appliances are as the scanty draughts of water borne orne fr from afar to the travellers fainting on the desert. The pulpit is as the refreshing fountain gushing forth at their feet. Establish the gospel ministry in a destitute place, and all other fitting instrumentalities shall cluster round it, and derive support from it. To all good machinery it shall be the permanent main-spring. With these views of the ministry, were connected, in his thinking, the most enlarged conceptions of the importance of our country as a field of evangelical effort. He had pondered its history; he had studied deeply its capacities and resources; with a clear and comprehensive foresight, he had contemplated its unfolding destinies. His eye had swept over the vast plains of the West, even to the shores of the Pacific. Deep had answered to deep, as he mused; and with these ocean-murmurs, the voices of the |