LEXANDER CAMPBELL, the subject of the following memoir, was born in the county of Antrim, Ireland. His father, Thomas Campbell, having been united in marriage with Jane Corneigle, in June, 1787, their first child, Alexander, was born September 12, 1788, where they then resided, near Ballymena, in the parish of Broughshane, and about one mile from the site of the ancient and once beautiful Shane's Castle, whose mouldering towers, upon the northern shore of Lough Neagh, still attract the notice of the passing traveler.

      His mother's ancestors were French Huguenots, who, having fled from their native country upon the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV., sought refuge, it appears, first in Scotland, from whence they subsequently migrated to Ireland. The entire connexion, the Corneigles and Bonners, seem to have moved in a body, and, being pleased with the fertile and gently undulating lands in county Antrim, are said to have purchased conjointly an entire townland upon the [19] borders of Lough Neagh, where they devoted themselves to agriculture, and established schools in which the Bible was carefully taught, and where they strictly maintained the forms and services of the Presbyterian Church. It was here that Thomas Campbell, while engaged in teaching school, and in preparing himself for the ministry in the Secession Church, became acquainted with the descendants of these exiles, and was subsequently married, in his twenty-fifth year, to Jane, an only daughter of the family of the Corneigles. In personal appearance she was tall, but well proportioned, exceedingly erect and dignified in her carriage, but, at the same time, modest and remarkably retiring in her manners and disposition. Her features were strongly marked, and, in this respect, her son Alexander bore a striking likeness to her. The Roman nose, the expression and color of the eyes, surmounted by prominent frontal developments, the outline of the mouth, and the general form and character of the face, so characteristic of the son, were equally so of the mother, though softened by the greater delicacy of the feminine features. Her complexion was extremely clear and fine, contrasting agreeably with her abundant dark brown hair. She had been left an orphan in her seventh year by the death of her father, and, as the only daughter of a pious mother, had been brought up with tender affection and in the nurture and admonition of the Lord from her early infancy, so that she had become noted for her sincere devotion to religious duties. At the time of her marriage she was in her twenty-fourth year, having been born September, 1763.

      Her husband, Thomas Campbell, was of medium stature, compactly built, in form and feature eminently handsome. His forehead was somewhat square and [20] massive, his complexion fair and ruddy, his soft gray eyes full of intelligence--the whole expression of his countenance indicative of deep reflection and of kindly feeling. His ancestors were originally from the West of Scotland; on this account claiming clanship, if not kindred, with the race of Diarmid, the Campbells of Argyleshire, from whence the family are supposed to have emigrated at some former period. His grandfather, Thomas Campbell, it is known, was born in Ireland, near Dyerlake Wood in county Down, and lived to the great age of one hundred and five years. His own immediate father, Archibald, was in early life a Romanist, and served as a soldier in the British army under Gen. Wolfe. After the capture of Quebec he returned to his native country, and, abjuring Romanism, became a strict member of the Church of England, to which he adhered until his death in his eighty-eighth year. He is said to have been somewhat eccentric, but peculiarly social and genial in his habits and warm in his feelings. He had a fair complexion, with remarkably clear blue eyes, was energetic and brisk in his movements, and, though of a quick and passionate temper, was readily appeased. He lived in county Down, near Newry, and gave to his four sons, Thomas, James, Archibald and Enos, an excellent English education at a military regimental school not far distant. He had also four daughters, who all died in their infancy, and, what is rather unusual, each one of them was, in succession, called Mary.

      Of the sons, Thomas, who was the oldest, having been born in county Down, February 1, 1763, seems to have been, from his mild and thoughtful disposition, particularly dear to his father, and to have had considerable influence over him, yet not to have [21] himself always escaped the effects of his father's hasty temper.¹

      Of the remaining brothers, James and Archibald engaged in teaching, along with Thomas, when quite young, near Sheepbridge, two miles from Newry, and both of them became members finally of the Secession Church. James seems afterward to have led rather an unsettled life, emigrating finally to Canada. Archibald and Enos, however, devoted themselves to the business of teaching in the town of Newry--a profession in which they were eminently successful.

      As the life and labors of the oldest brother, Thomas, blend themselves so intimately with those of his son Alexander that it is impossible to separate them, it will be necessary to detail, with some minuteness, the earlier history of this remarkable man, and to give a succinct but definite account of those religious struggles which occupied the greater part of his long and laborious career.

      It appears that, in his early youth, he became the subject of deep religious impressions, and acquired a most sincere and earnest love for the Scriptures. The cold formality of the Episcopal ritual, and the apparent want of vital piety in the Church to which his father belonged, led him to prefer the society of the more rigid and devotional Covenanters and Seceders, and to attend their religious meetings. As he advanced in years, his religious impressions deepened. He began [22] to experience great concern for his salvation, and the various doubts and misgivings usually presenting themselves when the sense of sin is deep and the conscience tender, pressed very heavily upon his mind. For a long time his distress seemed continually to increase. By earnest and diligent prayer, and the constant use of all the means prescribed by sympathizing and pious friends, he sought, apparently in vain, for those assurances of acceptance and those tokens of forgiveness which were regarded as necessary accompaniments of a true faith and evidence of "effectual calling." While in this state, and when his mental distress had reached its highest point, he was one day walking alone in the fields, when, in the midst of his prayerful anxieties and longings, he felt a divine peace suddenly diffuse itself throughout his soul, and the love of God seemed to be shed abroad in his heart as he had never before realized it. His doubts, anxieties and fears were at once dissipated, as if by enchantment. He was enabled to see and to trust in the merits of a crucified Christ, and to enjoy a divine sense of reconciliation, that filled him with rapture and seemed to determine his destiny for ever. From this moment he recognized himself as consecrated to God, and thought only how he might best appropriate his time and his abilities to his service.

      It is unnecessary to pause here in order to consider the nature or the value of such a religious "experience" as is here related, as this subject will hereafter come under review in its appropriate place. The facts, at least, were as above stated; and it is certain that Thomas Campbell believed himself to have been specially "called" at this time, and that he regarded the feelings and the sudden change which he then [23] experienced as proceeding from a direct divine influence, which imparted to him a saving or justifying faith.

      Having a strong desire to devote himself to the ministry in the Secession Church, the matter was broached to his father, who proved by no means favorable to it. He, indeed, had but little sympathy in his son's religious change, being attached to the Church of England, and determined, as he used to say, "to serve God according to act of Parliament." Having also rather extreme views of paternal authority in religious as well as in other matters, it may well be supposed that his son's position was rather embarrassing. So excellent was the young man's character, however, and so exemplary his conduct, that opposition to his fixed purpose could not long continue. Meanwhile, pending any positive decision, filled with ardent desire to benefit his fellow-beings, and hearing sad accounts of the unenlightened condition of the people in certain portions of the south of Ireland, Thomas Campbell resolved to make an effort in their behalf; and having procured the necessary means of introduction, he went down into one of the most benighted parts of the province of Connaught, and established there an English academy. He obtained a large number of pupils, and applied himself to their improvement and elevation, intellectually, morally and religiously, with the greatest assiduity. In the midst of his labors, however, he was suddenly and peremptorily summoned by his father to return; and as soon as he could free himself from his existing engagements, he bade adieu to his friends and pupils, who gave him the parting hand with many tears, so much had he endeared himself to them by his incessant efforts for their education and happiness.

      Upon his return to the North, a good school was [24] obtained for him at Sheepbridge, near Newry, through the influence of Mr. John Kinley,² who resided there, and who conceived so high an opinion of Mr. Campbell's abilities, that, after some time, he urged him to carry out his design of entering the ministry, and kindly proffered the necessary means to defray the expense. His father having finally acquiesced in his purpose, he soon afterwards proceeded to Glasgow, where he became a student in the University. Here with that exact punctuality and strict attention to method which characterized him through life, he devoted himself to the prescribed studies, which, for students of divinity, then occupied three years. He also, during his stay at the University, attended the medical lectures, it being regarded proper for ministers to have, in addition to a knowledge of their own particular profession, such an acquaintance with medicine as would enable them to render necessary aid to their poorer parishioners who might not have the services of a regular medical attendant.

      After having completed his literary course at the University, it became necessary for him to enter the theological school established by that branch of the Secession, the Anti-Burghers, to which he belonged. As the number of those preparing for the ministry was not great, the class usually consisting of from twenty to thirty members at this period, this school was under the [25] charge of a single professor, who was appointed by the Synod. In order to admission into Divinity Hall, it was required by the Synod that the candidates should be first examined, as to their proficiency in Latin and Greek, by the Presbytery within whose bounds they resided. They were examined, likewise, on the various branches of philosophy they had studied at the University; and also on personal religion. The appointed course of attendance at the Hall was five annual sessions of eight weeks each, with some exceptions in the case of missions and of a scarcity of preachers.³ Mr. Archibald Bruce was at this time the Doctor of Divinity, and the school was at Whitburn, where Mr. Bruce officiated as minister to a congregation, it being then the custom to transfer the Divinity Hall to the place where the professor appointed was living at the time.⁴ [26]

      After having completed the course required, and submitted to the usual examination and trials for license before the Presbytery in Ireland, Thomas Campbell became what is called a probationer, whose office was to preach the Gospel, under the supervision of the Synod,⁴ in such congregations as were destitute of a fixed ministry. So far as can now be ascertained, it was prior to his engaging in these labors, and while passing to and fro to attend his studies in Scotland, or while, during vacations, he occupied himself in teaching, that he became acquainted with the descendant of the Huguenots who had settled on the borders of Lough Neagh, and ultimately married one of them, Miss Jane Corneigle, as already stated in the early part of the present chapter.

[MAC1 19-27]