ROBERT GRAHAM.

      Robert Graham was born in Liverpool, England, August 14, 1822. His father, William Graham, was a sea captain and sailed into many parts of the world. On some of these voyages Robert was allowed to go, and the sights and scenes of these youthful voyages remained with him as pleasant recollections through life.

      When he was nine years old, his father moved to this country and settled in Allegheny City, Pa. At the age of twelve, he was apprenticed to a carpenter for five years. Long hours spent in the shop by day, and evenings spent at night school was the record of that five years. Upon receiving his endenture as a full-fledged carpenter--one of the happiest days of his life he was often heard to declare--he set up a shop for himself in Allegheny. Two Venetian shutters on a house in that city remain to this day as in example of the quality of his work as a carpenter.

      His parents being strict Episcopalians, he was brought up in the communion of the Established Church. When he was fourteen years old, during a protracted meeting held by the Protestant Methodists, he was deeply impressed with the importance of religion, and while failing to experience the miraculous change which at that time was thought to be an evidence of conversion, he was, nevertheless, received on probation, and finally into full fellowship into that communion. He was now conscious of a great change in his views, feelings and conduct, but was still unsatisfied, and felt that there were many passages of Scripture which he could not harmonize with the teachings of the church of which he was a member. In the fall of 1838, he found a little congregation of disciples of Christ in Allegheny, and was brought to investigate anew the grounds of his faith. This led to his immersion February 13, 1839, by Samuel Church, who was, at that time, minister of the Church of Christ in that city.

      January 3, 1843, he entered Bethany College, and the year following he began to preach, his first charge being the old Dutch Fork Church, which was about seven miles out from Bethany. By the sale of his library and carpenter's tools, and the small salary he received from his preaching, with occasional help from Mr. Campbell (every dollar of which was afterwards returned with interest), he was enabled to complete his course in college. He graduated in July, 1847, dividing the first honors of his class with A. R. Benton, and delivering the Latin salutatory.

      After his graduation, nine months were spent on a collecting tour through several of the Southwestern States for Mr. Campbell. It was during this tour that he co-operated with John T. Johnson in a protracted meeting at Fayetteville, Arkansas, which resulted in the establishment, of a splendid church, to the ministerial care of which he was soon afterwards called. While preaching for the church at Fayetteville, he succeeded in founding Arkansas College, which flourished till the war broke out in 1861.

      In September, 1859, he was called to the Chair of Belles Lettres and History in Kentucky University, then at Harrodsburg. This position he retained one year, during which he gave perfect satisfaction to the friends of the University. He was induced to resign at the close of the year and return to Fayetteville with a view of becoming General Agent of the Southern Christian Missionary Society. But the war coming on, this arrangement was not carried out, and in the fall of 1862 he became minister of the Walnut Street (now Central) Church, of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he labored till 1864, When he removed to Santa Rosa, California. He remained in California preaching and teaching two years, and in January, 1866, he returned to Kentucky, having, been chosen President of the College of Arts and professor of English Language and Literature in Kentucky University. He resigned this position in 1869 to accept a similar one in Hocker (now Hamilton) College, Lexington, Ky. He remained here till 1875, when he entered upon his duties as President of the College of the Bible, in which capacity he served till 1895, when, on account of advancing age, he felt it necessary to lay the burden down. He continued to occupy the Chair of Philosophy in the college, however, till 1898, when he retired from active work.

      It will be seen from the above brief outline, that the life of Robert Graham was one of intense activity. He was a hard worker till almost the close of life. Being a life-long student, he gave with royal grace and princely generosity, the results of his careful and conscientious labors to those about him. As a teacher he had few canals. Nature, in endowing him with such rare accomplishments of mind and heart, evidently intended him to be [427] a teacher of men. He believed the business of a college is to make men, and the work of a teacher is not only to impart information, but to bring out and develop all the powers of the student. That his methods of instruction were correct, thousands of splendid young and middle-aged men all over the land bear willing testimony. He loved to teach, and he saw the fruits of his labor in those whom he had helped to useful lives, he felt fully repaid for any sacrifice he might have made for them.

      As a preacher, he was clear, forcible, direct and eloquent. In prayer he was marvelously gifted. In the pulpit, in the home, by the bedside of the sick and dying, giving comfort to bereaved and heavy hearts, he prayed as only those can pray who dwell much alone with God.

      While he did not like to write, he nevertheless wrote considerably. He was at one time one of the editors of the Apostolic Times, serving in that capacity with Moses E. Lard and J. W. McGarvey. All his writings are marked by peculiar force, clearness and beauty. He was painstaking in all he did, and he touched nothing he did not adorn.

      He was the friend of young men. Having to face the greatest difficulties himself in early life, and knowing what it is to struggle, he entered into sympathy with all young men who were striving in the midst of unfavorable surroundings to fit themselves for the highest usefulness in life. Many a time he has reached forth his hand to help some struggling young man in the College of the Bible, who knew not where else to go. And while not burdened with this world's goods, and living on a meager income, he, nevertheless, aided in a material way scores of such young men.

      The depth of his passion, the wealth of his sentiment, the power of his love, found abundant expression in the language of his life. His powers became stronger, his emotions deeper, his soul more beautiful as the years bore him on. He was a man of great heart. His was a generous soul. He loved righteousness and hated iniquity. He was gentle, patient, kindly to all. And while capable of intense indignation and even wrath when occasion justified, he was, nevertheless, incapable of envy, resentment, or any petty feeling toward any man.

      Such was Robert Graham, preacher, teacher, and man. Strong, faithful, gentle, resolute, sincere, courageous. He was a man whose mighty and personal force was such that in any circle, and on any occasion, his very presence could be felt though he opened not his mouth. A man to whom the intellectual and the cultivated paid willing tribute, though never exacted by him. A man who was born to be the peer of great men, and so adorned through culture as to elicit their admiration and their ready appreciation of his moral worth and personal accomplishments.

      There are many passages of Scripture which describe Robert Graham: "Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord," and one is led to think of him. "The wisdom which is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and of good fruit, without partiality and without hypocrisy," and again you think of him. "Love suffereth long and is kind, love envieth not, love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own," and once more you think of Robert Graham.

      January 20, 1901, he passed out of the shadows into the light. His body rests in the beautiful cemetery in Lexington, Ky., his spirit is at home with God.

[COC 427-428]