HE labors of Elder Scott at this period of his life were extremely arduous; calls for preaching at various points were incessant and urgent; and this portion of his work would have been sufficient for most men. In addition to this, was the preparation of material for his paper, the "Evangelist," which was steadily growing in public favor; a constant tide of visitors also claimed much of his time, and every mail brought letters of inquiry with regard to the great questions to which the new movement had given rise. His home was a very humble one, and his means extremely limited, yet to all comers there was extended a warm and generous hospitality--a hospitality which the thousands who partook of it will never forget. The fare, it is true, was often humble, but the hearty welcome, which never was wanting, made the simplest meal a rich banquet.

      He seldom possessed any thing beyond what was needed for the present and pressing wants, any surplus was sure to go to those who were more needy than himself, and often the wants of such seemed to be more keenly felt than his own. More than once he returned home with an empty basket from the [246] market, having given the money with which it was to have been filled to some needy one, either a friend or stranger, which, it mattered not, provided only that the need was great. Once, and once only, he was the possessor of two cows, but this did not long continue, for a poor neighbor had none, but soon they were on an equality, having one each; and, as a gift he thought should be a good one, the neighbor got the best cow; but his children complained at this somewhat, not that he had given away a cow, but that he had given the one that wore the bell.

      Amid all his cares and labors he was not unmindful of the spiritual needs of his own little flock, five in number--four sons and one daughter--knowing that they would be saved or condemned as they obeyed or disobeyed the truth. With the feeling and providence of a wise man and kind father, he was careful to have them instructed in the truth, knowing that a human being is incapable of either obeying, believing, or understanding the Scriptures unless pains be taken for that purpose. The course pursued in his family may be gathered from a single morning scene, which was not an unusual, but a customary one. While breakfast was in preparation, all the family, except those who attended to the victuals, including some guests that were present, were intensely busy in committing to memory the Holy Scriptures. After breakfast, the first to quit the table, and run from the breakfast-room to the parlor, was a child two years of age. The rest followed until the entire family were seated in the same apartment and here was displayed a scene as primitive, lovely, pure, and holy, as ever opened on mortal [247] eyes. The family being thus assembled for religious instruction, at a look from his father, the eldest son, ten years of age, with a steady, unfaltering voice, began the song which the children of Israel sung upon the shores of deliverance, when they had by the mercy of God passed the perils of the Red Sea; "I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and rider hath he thrown into the sea; the Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation; he is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him; the Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name." Every heart was touched, when the father gave his son William, then six years old, a significant look, and the child, not the least abashed in consequence of frequent practice, began as follows: "And Naomi took the child and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse to it; and the women, her neighbors, gave it a name, saying, a child is born to Naomi, and they called his name Obed; he is the father of Jesse, the father of David." His daughter Emily, then eight years old, whose fancy was caught by what her brother had said, asked her father where she would find the story of little Obed. He answered, that the story was recorded in the book of Ruth, and added, a very pretty one it is, and, turning to the rest, said: "In the book of Ruth the simplicity of the early ages is very strikingly exhibited, and it seems to have been collected with other parts of the sacred canon of Scripture in order to supply the origin and pedigree of the royal family of David, of which it was promised that the Messiah, according to the flesh, should be born." Emily then repeated, with the [248] utmost accuracy, the whole of the Messiah's lineage from Adam to Abraham, and thence to David, and thence again to Jesus, ending with the latter part of the first chapter of Matthew, whose gospel she and her brothers were then in daily lessons committing to memory.

      Elder B. U. Watkins, at that time a young man, was residing in the family for the purpose of improving his Christian knowledge, and between him and Elder Scott, a singular and interesting exercise took place; this was the repeating at first in alternate verses, and then in alternate chapters, a large portion of the Epistle to the Hebrews. The recitations were not only accurate, but great attention was paid to emphasis and pronunciation, which made it far more impressive than a mere formal reading would have been. Another young minister who was present repeated the fifth chapter of First Timothy, and Mrs. Scott added a passage from the gospel by Matthew. The exercise began with the song of Moses, and the father closed it by chanting, in rich, full tones, the song of the Lamb: "Worthy is the Lamb, that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing; for thou wast slain for us, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, and hast made us to our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth." The whole family then joined in singing the hymn, "Lo, he comes with clouds descending," after which thanksgivings were offered for all the favors of life and religion, and the family separated for the duties of the day. [249]

      B. U. Watkins, to whom reference has been made, thus writes with regard to the course pursued while he was in the family:

      "It was in the spring of 1833 that I began to study the Bible with Walter Scott. His residence, at that time, was about a quarter of a mile east of the village. Neither the house nor its surroundings were at all romantic; but yet we found it pleasant--very pleasant to study the Holy Scriptures. It was our habit to commit to memory a chapter from the New Testament before breakfast, each selecting different portions of the Scripture, which we recited at family worship, which came directly after eating. In this exercise every member of the family was expected to take part. His amiable wife and the children, who were then but small, seldom recited a whole chapter. There was something in this profound attention to the Bible that pleased me more than I can well describe. We soon began to commit the Scriptures systematically, paying special attention to the larger epistles--Romans and Hebrews. After morning worship, it was our custom to walk out together, and during the walk refresh our memories with what we had learned in the last week or month. This was done by reciting from memory, and prompting each other without the use of any book. Sometimes we repeated verse about, sometimes one recited till his memory failed, then the other began where he left off, and, thus the exercise was continued indefinitely, and on our return to the house, we again referred to the book if we were conscious of any defect of memory. In this way large portions of the New Testament were committed to memory, and made very effectually and, permanently our own. Over and above this memorizing, we studied together exegesis and criticism. But not one word, as now remembered, was said about what is popularly known as Theology--about [250] the philosophy of religion or the analogy of faith. The reason for this apparent oversight was very obvious to my mind. Both A. Campbell and Walter Scott had abjured all religious philosophy, and went directly to the Word of God, to hear what it would say, and to let simple faith supplant all human philosophy; and it was his custom then to submit, with the docility of a child, to a positive declaration of Scripture.

      "These were pioneer days--days of great trials and great triumphs. Bro. Scott enjoyed the triumphs with a keen relish, and felt the crushing weight of pioneer privations and trials as only such natures as his could feel. He had embarked his all in his plea for the primitive gospel, and at that time there was no earthly compensation for such labor. He was poor, very poor; while I lived in his family it was not at all uncommon for them to be almost destitute of the common necessaries of life. He was a great believer in prayer, and just at the point of greatest need help always came."

      And yet his life was far from being a sad one. Able ministers of the gospel--partners in his glorious toil--often called to see him, and cheer him with accounts of the success of the truth in their hands--Barton W. Stone, L. L. Pinkerton, Samuel Rogers, L. H. Jameson, his beloved pupil, Dr. Richardson, and many other earnest workers. And with such company all discomforts were forgotten; far into the night they were often engaged upon the theme dearest to their hearts, and when the time of parting came they mutually thanked God and took courage. His welcome was not reserved for the great and good men, such as we have named, alone--none were turned away; and the poorest disciple was sure of any [251] kindness he might need that it was in the power of Scott to bestow. He treated all who claimed to be the disciples of Jesus as his brethren--as his Father's children; the young and the timid soon felt at ease in his presence, and went away strengthened and encouraged. One who was a true disciple, and, who years ago, went to his reward, told a bosom friend the following incident:

      "When quite a young man, a year or two after I had heard and embraced the gospel, I determined to pay a visit to Ohio and Virginia, with the purpose of visiting A. Campbell and Walter Scott, whom I regarded as the greatest spirits of the age. Reaching Carthage on a summer afternoon, I left my horse at the village inn, and directed my steps to the residence of Walter Scott. I found him on the porch reading, handed him my letter of introduction, after reading which he gave me a most cordial greeting and invited me into the house. After conversing a few minutes, he left the room and in a short time returned with a basin of water and a towel, and, in the kindest tones, said, 'My young brother, permit me, in the name of the Lord, to wash your feet,' and he immediately proceeded to do so; and while kneeling at his task kept me engaged in conversation until it was accomplished. Never did I realize till then what a lesson of humility such an act could convey, and the impression made upon my mind has never been effaced."

      He had the highest regard for the abilities and feelings of his associates in the ministry, and knew not what it was either to envy, or desire to outshine them. A fine example of this is found in his recognition of the eminent abilities and devoted labors of the Campbells, father and son; and of B. W. Stone, [252] in one of his most brilliant essays, styled the "Parable of the Ships." He takes the reader with him to a lofty peak on the sea-beat shore, and represents, by the various vessels which deck the blue waters, the different churches of ancient and modern times. Among these he points out "The Christian," "The Church of God," and "The Restoration;" by the first of which he means the body of which Barton W. Stone was a prominent member; by the second, he intends those Independent Baptists who first laid aside all human creeds and strove to conform to the primitive model; and by the Restoration, those, who under the labors of himself and associates, had made still greater advances in the attempt to return to original ground. The allusion to Elder Thomas Campbell is particularly fine, and not more elegant and felicitous than true. For he, beyond all question, first settled upon the great principle--the seed-truth from which all that is valuable in the Reformation sprung--"That we must speak where the Scriptures speak, and be silent where they are silent;" or, in other words, make the Word of God the only rule of faith and practice. He, if ever man did, regarded the Word of God as the mariner does the polar star, and few purer lives have adorned and illustrated the religion of Jesus than did his. He makes a passing allusion at the close to himself, without which the sketch would have been imperfect, but it will be seen that he claims not a higher, nay, scarcely an equal, place with the rest. He asks the reader:

      "Do you see these three ships near to shore taking in numerous passengers, and bearing the several names of [253] 'The Christian,' 'The Church of God,' and 'The Restoration?' I do. Well, then, in the first of them, viz.: 'The Christian,' you see, standing with his hand upon the helm, a man of patriarchal appearance, with a black coat and a broad-brimmed hat, do you not? I do. That, sir, is the man who for many years has guided with unvarying hand the stately vessel which you now look at, blameless, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine; no striker, and not given to filthy lucre; he is a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men; sober, just, holy, temperate; and firm as a STONE he holdeth fast the faithful compass in the binnacle before him. After maintaining, through a long series of years, the high distinction of pilot to 'The Christian,' he is now ready, as he has shown, to resign his post to the person to whom the Great Captain of Salvation shall see meet to give it in charge. May he die in the midst of his brethren, with the words of peace on his lips, and glory in his soul.

      "'The Church of God' is a vessel of original mould and bottom, but differing, in the first instance, from 'The Christian,' which, as originally fitted out, had more sail than ballast. 'The Church of God' had more ballast than sail, and so moved forward tardily till, meeting with 'The Restoration,' she hoisted an additional sail, and now the three ships are all along to Jerusalem in a league of peace and amity! But to 'The Restoration.' You must see, sir, that she is a vessel of the divinest and most peculiar mould. I do not refer to any display she makes, for she makes none; but look at the length, and strength, and sturdiness of her timbers! her keel and ribs are made as for eternity! and within her capacious walls may walk at ease, if they would walk in the truth, the whole world of mankind. Who is that apostolic-looking personage behind the binnacle, with heaven in his eye, and gazing full upon the northern and polar star? That, sir, is the man who laid her beams in the Bible. Mark the height and [254] capacity of his forehead! the depth, and strength, and color of the eye that coucheth underneath; the intellect and argument developed in the length and weight and mobility of his cheek; the massy ear, and the veneration of his silvery locks that now stream to the wintry winds like the bright radiations of light! and say, whether, as he stands, he does not realize to you all that you have imagined of the venerable Nestor, Nestor of Sandy Pylos! Holy, vigilant, and indefatigable, and avoiding questions which engender strife, like a true servant of God, he is gentle toward all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those who oppose themselves, if God, peradventure, will grant them repentance unto the acknowledgment of the truth, and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive at his will. The father of believing children, and ruling well his own house; a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men; his soul looketh forth from her clayey tenement toward heaven on high. He shall die the death of the righteous; his last end shall be his!

      "And who is that with a strong hand upon the helm, eyeing the whole squadron of the Reformation, as if he would run them down? Names are odious, sir. The distinction and priority which he there enjoys has been well earned. Do you see his face? There is not a straight line in it! and Nature, as if she had determined there should be none, besides giving the nasal organ an elevation truly Roman, has slightly inclined the whole to one side--the right side! The lip, too, and the azure eye, edged with the fire of the bird of Jove, yield in the same direction; while the well-developed marble forehead, and the whole frontal region, give forth all the marks of the depth, the extent, the variety, and the fervor of which he has proved himself possessed. Why do so many keep gazing at him from the decks of the other vessels--'The Presbyterian,' 'The Seceder,' 'The Infidel,' and many [255] more? Mark, sir, the extraordinary development behind his ear, and inquire no more; he has run the prow of the Restoration into almost every ship of any size in the fleet, and these groups upon the decks are poor folks met to deplore the disasters; and yon chasm, in the hull of the Regular Baptist, which you have noticed, and which the men aboard are tinkering at, is the hole which he hammered out, and at which he and his associates leaped forth. Valiant for the truth in the earth, and fearing nothing but God and evil, may he, till death, maintain, by honor and righteousness, the high distinction and priority which he now enjoys; and then, having gone, his name and his fame shall be in the mouth of all saints, greater than if written on the blue firmament with a pen of gold! better than if poured in letters of living gold along the sky!

      "Who is that lean man behind him, with his eye devouring the compass in the binnacle, and whose head the Pilot would raise from his bosom whereon it had reclined? No names, sir; if he leaped from the chasm first, bearing along with him the flag of the Union, he is to be borne with. It is well his purposes are divine, and founded in truth, for you can not turn him. And who are all these joyous men and officers aboard, crowding around the helm? These, sir, are all volunteers, and singing, as you hear,

      He especially delighted to put forward and encourage young men in the ministry of the Word, and such, instead of being abashed and disheartened by the presence of one so royally endowed with the highest qualities for efficiency in the pulpit, felt rather cheered and encouraged, knowing that his desire for [256] success and usefulness was scarcely inferior to their own. Many of his sons in the gospel will remember this feature in his character: the encouragement given before rising to speak; in his earnest prayer for them; the low murmurs of approval at the best points of the discourse, and the warm and hearty approval at its close. To one of these, on their way to an appointment, where he himself was expected to preach, he said: "Now I will tell you how we must do; I will preach, and you must follow in an exhortation; I will strike at the head, and you must strike at the heart, and cry if you can," by which he did not mean, seem to feel even if you do not; but let your subject, and the condition of the lost sinners you are addressing so take hold of your heart, that you may feel for them; and thus make them feel.

      Although residing at Carthage, his labors were by no means confined there; many other places were visited, and churches already existing greatly enlarged and strengthened; and also many new ones established, in which the fruits of his labors may be seen to this day. In addition to the success that was attending his own personal labors, he was greatly cheered by encouraging reports from other fields where the seed he had sown in tears was giving a rich harvest to the hands of those who had been his helpers at the beginning of the movement, when every man's hand was against them; and, greater, moreover, was his joy to find that many of his converts were quitting themselves like men, and gathering multitudes into the fold. On the Western Reserve, especially, the cause was flourishing to such an extent, that preachers of various religious parties had almost ceased the [257] work of opposition, as many from their own ranks had embraced, and were preaching, the faith they had once attempted to destroy; and the people every-where gladly gave heed to the truth. From the scene of his early and arduous labors in the republication of the ancient gospel, one writes: "I have been at a great many large meetings, which I thought could not be exceeded for love and affection, but such a one as this, I never before witnessed. It was supposed that twenty-five hundred were present, chiefly Disciples; thirty-five were immersed at one time; Wm. Hayden, stood in the water until he had baptized eighteen. Upwards of four hundred converts have been made in this region during the year." Another, writing from Stark County, Ohio, says: "The Disciples in this part of the county are numerous. I was informed that in the town of Minerva, and within a few miles around, there are about one thousand." From Ravenna, Ohio, the news came: "The ancient gospel is performing wonders in this county, breaking in upon the old sectarian establishments. The careless and unthinking are aroused to a sense of their folly. In short, the Reformation has outstripped our most sanguine expectations." Wm. Hayden wrote of great success in the field of his labors, and reported that the cause was making considerable progress in the State of New York, and, still later, added, "It would be good for you to visit the Western Reserve, and to see the very boys whom you, seven years ago, immersed, preaching and baptizing like men. I have immersed about fifty-six this year; and the aggregate of immersions by all our teachers here is probably about three hundred." [258] From another part of the State, Bro. Dowling wrote that himself and a fellow-laborer had added three hundred to the church within the year. From other States also came news most cheering, so that Scott could write with truth: "Our desk groans under a load of letters from all points crowded with the joyful tidings of the spread of the gospel." Looking at its progress for the last few years, its success is wonderful, and then adds: "But when all that it has achieved is contemplated in connection with all that must be achieved, we are compelled to put our finger upon our lips, and to say, how much yet remains to be done! As for ourselves, we hope to improve upon the past, and to do more and better for the truth than we have yet done. We have attended many general meetings during the present year, and made many hasty excursions into divers vicinities for the purpose of spreading the truth, so that, with pen and tongue, we have in some measure, filled up the year in efforts to save our fellow mortals, and glorify our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. We have, however, fallen far short even of our own views of the enterprise, grandeur, and success of the original preachers and professors of the gospel; and, can, therefore, do nothing more for the present than promise, that if, in the judgment of our brethren, we have not in our labors and writings done all that might be expected to propagate and unfold the faith and hope of the gospel, we shall endeavor, by the help of God our heavenly Father, to do better for the time to come." [259]

[LEWS 246-259]