BARTON W. STONE. 81 -
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f June, was spent at a meeting, some six or sevenmiles from New-Paris, to which place, m the afternoonof that day, he resolved to go. He arrived there whilea meeting of his old friends and fellow-laborers in thekinedom of Christ was in progress. Alighting from hiscarriage, he went immediately to the house of worship.His visit was unexpected. And many long years hadpassed away, since he had seen many of his friends as-sembled there. As he passed down the aisle, the preach-er, recognizing him, descends from the pulpit to greethim.—His old friends, who are about the stand, arise.There is a gush of feeling—tears start in their aged eyes,as they rush into each others’ arms. A scene ensueswhich beggars description. ‘They praise God togetherfor his preserving goodness.—Some of them had:beenassociated as Christians and fellow-laborers in thecause of Reformation, for near half a century. Theyhad stood by it in its darkest hours; and when themighty hosts of opposers were waging against it a fu-rious and exterminating war, and when some of its first,its strongest, and apparently most devoted friends, werebetraying it to its enemies ;—these veterans, unmovedby this fearful opposition from without and within,periled every thing for this best of causes. And now,this last meeting, reviving afresh the recollection oftheir conflicts, their sacrifices, their persecutions, theirjoys and triumphs in the cause of truth; they seem,in ~a short interview, to live their lives over again; and ™they weep and rejoice alternately. But the hour ofseparation comes. And O! what an hour! They hadbeen wont to meet and part—to meet and part, for theSpace of more than forty years. But this is their lastmeeting and parting on earth. What deep and unut-terable emotions struggle within! They sing and praytogether, and take the parting hand. ’Tisdone. Theirnext meeting will be in the “‘ Spirit land.” _ From New-Paris he directed his way to Kentucky,and arrived at his son-in-law’s, in Fayette county, i23d of June. Here, upon the scene of his early labors,6 3 & $2 BIOGRAPHY OF and amidst his many old, and younger friends, he spentsome two months quite pleasantly and profitably. Everywhere he was greeted with demonstrations of joy. Hewas hailed asa Patriarch in the cause of truth and piety,_and as a Messenger of peace. No man was ever moreuniversally loved, by those who knew him, than he. The old loved him for old- -acquaintance’ sake, and more especially for his works’ sake. The young loved himbecause their parents loved him, and especially becauseof the loveliness and amiability of his character, But while much interest was felt in his visits, at everypoint in this section of Kentucky, there were peculiarcircumstances which gave his visits to Concord, andespecially Caneridge, an intensity of interest which could be felt no where else. When he came to Car- | lisle, (the place where the Concord church now usuallymeets,) the writer was absent attending appointmentsof his own, which he could not with propriety neglect,and was therefore denied the privilege of attending that meeting, and of greeting his venerable father in the gospel at his own house. Though the appoimtment wasin the week, yet he is informed that it was numerouslyattended. Here, in the bounds of one of the congre-gations to which he had first ministered near fifty yearsbefore, he met many of his old brethren and sisters inthe Lord, who had stood by him in the midst of hisseverest trials and persecutions, and helped him by theirprayers and piety to sustain that cause, so near to theirhearts. But they were now to hear him, as many ofthem felt assured, for the lasttime. They had seen himin the bloom of ‘youth, in the prime of life, and theynow looked upon him bent under the weight of morethan seventy years—his locks bleached—his eyes dim-med—his cheeks furrowed—his countenance care-worn:but through every stage of life they had known him thesame humble, pious, devoted, amiable, benevolent ser-vant of God, and of the church. Once more they heartremulous voice, as he points them to.that Saviourwhom he had trusted for half a century, and in whose 4 eT vo BARTON W. STONE. 83 service he had almost worn himself out. The thought ofparting with oneso pious, so beloved, so useful—one theyhad known so long, was indeed most affecting. Tearsflowed plentifully while they listened to his last admoni-tions and encouragements. They sing and pray together,and with emotions too deep for utterance—they part. I should say, that several of his old Presbyterianfriends attended this meeting, and greeted him with de-monstrations of affection and good feeling. During hisstay in Kentucky, he was twice at Caneridge. At hisfirst meeting, it was not in the power of the writer tobe present. And as the amiable and pious Gano hasdescribed that very interesting meeting, in the discoursedelivered at Caneridge upon the occasion of the deathof B. W. Stone, which will be found in another partof this work, it is not necessary to make farther referenceto it. By a special request from the author, he agreedto return to Caneridge, and hold another meeting, em-bracing the 2d Lord’s-day in August, 1843, the last heever attended on that consecrated spot. The day ofmeeting arrived—many attended, and especially of theaged. It was the privilege of the writer to attend thatmeeting,—and there to press to his bosom the vener-ated Stone, whom he had not seen for a number of years.Many preachers were present, and a deep interest wasfelt m the meeting throughout. To see the people, atthe close of each meeting, lingering in and about thehouse to greet the beloved Stone, and speak a wordwith him, or urge him to their homes, bespoke mostclearly how deeply he was seated in their affections.This universal attention and respect paid to him, in-duced a venerable and sensible brother of the Cane-ridge church to relate an anecdote he had heard of theamiable Mrs. Madison, relict of Ex-President Madison.A distinguished gentleman, upon greeting her, by way ofcompliment, remarked—“‘ Every body loves Mrs. Madi-son.”” She at once responded—‘‘ And Mrs. Madisonloves every body.” So, saidyhe, “ Every body lov Mr. Stone, and Mr. Stone loves every body.” ‘Th
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