fct
MEMOIR
FIRST BISHOP OF
The Reformed Episcopal Church.
BY HIS WIFE.
PER. ARDUA
"THEY that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the Stars forever
and ever." DAN. 12 : 3.
(I COLLEGE
vw JT ^*^ y
NEW YORK :
D O D D, MEAD & COMPANY,
No. 751 BROADWAY.
Copyright, 1878, by A. M. CUMMINS.
BISHOPS, CLERGY, AND LAITY
REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
AND TO THE DEAR FRIENDS IN THE
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
WHO LOVE AND CHERISH
His MEMORY.
THIS RECORD OF THE LIFE OF THEIR BISHOP,
AND LOVING FRIEND,
IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.
NOTE.
A WELL-KNOWN, and greatly-admired author says : " There
is a moment of profound discouragement which succeeds to
prolonged effort ; when the labor, which has become a habit,
having ceased, we miss the sustaining sense -of its compan
ionship, and stand, with a feeling of strangeness, and embar
rassment, before the abrupt and naked result."
With this feeling, and a keen sense of how unworthily
this labor of love has been accomplished, the writer sends
forth the result of months of uninterrupted work.
To the severer voices of strangers, as well as to the gentler
judgment of friends, these pages are submitted by the author,
trusting that whatever may be their decision regarding them,
their accuracy will not be lost sight of.
A. M. C.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Early Days and College Life, . . . . . . .13
CHAPTER II.
The Young Circuit Rider, 19
CHAPTER III.
Preparation Work, ......... 32
CHAPTER IV.
Life in Norfolk, 39
CHAPTER V.
Life in Norfolk, Continued, 49
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VI,
PAGE
Life in Norfolk, Continued, 55
CHAPTER VII.
Call to Richmond, 64
CHAPTER VIII.
Resigns Christ Church, Norfolk, 71
CHAPTER IX.
Work in Richmond, 77
CHAPTER X.
Call to Washington, .87
CHAPTER XI.
Life in Washington, 93
CHAPTER XII.
More Earnest Work, 103
CONTENTS. in
CHAPTER XIII.
PAGE
Call to New York, 112
CHAPTER XIV.
Other Souls to Win Call to Baltimore,
CHAPTER XV.
Labor in a New Field, ......... 135
CHAPTER XVI.
In Labors Abundant, 149
CHAPTER XVII.
First Visit to Europe Letters to his Children. .... 155
CHAPTER XVIII.
Return Home, *75
CHAPTER XIX.
Call to San Francisco, Cal., . . . , . iSr
IV CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XX.
PAGE
Another Home, 188
CHAPTER XXI.
Life in the Great West, 197
CHAPTER XXII.
Sowing the Seed, 209
CHAPTER XXIII.
Work for Jesus, 225
CHAPTER XXIV.
Work in 1865-66, 236
CHAPTER XXV.
Election to the Episcopate, 243
CHAPTER XXVI.
The Bishopric Accepted, . 256
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXVII.
PAGE
Consecration and Work, 265
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A Stand for the Truth 1868, 284
CHAPTER XXIX.
General Convention, 296
CHAPTER XXX.
Correspondence with Bishop Whitehousc 1869, . . . 307
CHAPTER XXXI.
Correspondence, Continued, . . . . . . . 3 21
CHAPTER XXXII.
Letters to Bishop Bedell, . 33
CHAPTER XXXIII.
After the Darkness, Light 348
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
I'AGB
Inhibition of Bishop Whitehouse, . . , . . . 357
CHAPTER XXXV.
Home Life, 369
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Work in 1870, 380
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Visit to New York and Conferences, ...... 394
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Reformed Episcopal Church, . . . . . . 410
CHAPTER XXXIX.
The First General Council, ....'... 430
CHAPTER XL.
Work in the Reformed Episcopal Church, ..... 447
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XLI.
PAGE
Work in Reformed Episcopal Church, 1875, Continued, . . 475
CHAPTER XLII.
The End, . . . .". . . . . .. 517
GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
CHAPTER I.
EARLY DAYS AND COLLEGE LIFE.
"We know him now, all narrow jealousies
Are silent ; and we see him as he moved :
How modest, kindly, all-accomplished, wise,
With what sublime repression of himself!
*****
Wearing the white flower of a blameless life
Before a thousand peering littlenesses."
EORGE DAVID CUMMINS was born near
V_J the town of Smyrna, Del., December nth,
1822. His father's family came to this country
from Scotland, and settled at Oxford, near Easton,
Md., on the Chesapeake Bay. It was at that time a
shipping port of importance. From Oxford several
members of the family removed to Delaware and
Pennsylvania. Two of the uncles of the subject of
this memoir settled in Philadelphia, and became prom
inent shipping and commission merchants. The father
of Bishop Cummins, Mr. George Cummins, purchased
land in Delaware, and there he lived all his life. He
occupied prominent positions in the State, and was a
member of the Legislature for many years. Early in
life he married the daughter of Governor Collins.
14 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
She lived but a few months, and for many years he
remained a widower. When quite an old man, he
married the daughter of the Rev. John Durborow,
and granddaughter of Major Hammond, of Howard
County, Maryland. Being a man of fortune and
leisure, he took great delight in relieving the wants
of the poor around him. He was the physician to
all who were unable to send for many miles for a
medical man, and ministered constantly to the sick
both in supplying medicines and delicate food. Hos
pitable and generous, his house was always open
to guests, whom he was rarely without. He was a
large slave-holder, but set them all free before his
death, and to the older ones gave each a house, and
land sufficient to support them as long as they lived.
He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
The mother of Bishop Cummins was very much
younger than her husband. Her. ancestors came from
England, and settled in Tennessee and Delaware.
She was a very handsome woman and an earnest,
consistent Christian, generous and loving, and ad
mired and esteemed by all who knew her. By this
marriage Mr. Cummins became the father of four
children Sarah Collins, the eldest, now residing in
Smyrna, Del. ; Fannie, who married Robert Hill,
Esq., of Smyrna; George David; arid John, the
youngest, who died in infancy, and lies beside his
father in the graveyard near Smyrna.
The subject of this memoir was the third child of
George and Maria Cummins, and received the name
of his father and a beloved uncle, who was appointed
by the Court, guardian to the three children after the
death of their first guardian, Mr. John Cummins.
EARL V DA YS AND COLLEGE LIFE. I 5
Bishop Cummins was deeply attached to his birth
place, and during' his life enjoyed visiting there
greatly.
When four years of age his father died, leaving
his young family to the care of his wife and brother.
After Mr. Cummins 's death Mrs. Cummins re
moved to Smyrna, and in the autumn of 1833 the
three children were sent to school in Newark, Del.
Mr. Cummins was placed under the care of the Rev.
Mr. Russell, a Presbyterian minister, who kept a school
in Newark. He was then eleven years of age, and
his sisters were in the school of the Rev. Mr. Bell,
a Presbyterian minister also. Here the Bishop "re
mained until he was old enough to enter college.
Through the influence of his mother he was sent, at
the early age of fourteen years, to Dickinson Col
lege, at Carlisle, Pa. The testimony of all who knew
him when a child is, that he was remarkably gentle
and loving in his disposition, yet very bright and in
telligent, and fond of study. He remained at Dick
inson College until he graduated. The law was the
profession he had chosen ; but when, in his seventeenth
year, he gave his heart to the Lord, he decided to
study for the ministry. We have no letters written
during his earliest school-days in Newark ; the first in
our possession bears the date of November 2ist, 1838,
before his conversion. It is written to his eldest sis
ter. He says : " Have you heard the Rev. Mr. Bas-
com preach ? He is certainly one of the most elo
quent pulpit orators in the United States." In another
letter he speaks of " studying very hard. We have
a very large number of students, and the college is in
1 6 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
a thriving condition." The President, Rev. Dr. Dur-
bin, and Professor Allen, now President of Girard
College, Philadelphia, as also Professor Caldwell,
were warm friends of the young student. His letters
at this time are marked by the same bright, cheerful
spirit that so distinguished him in later years. The
warm, loving heart beat then, as it ever did, with
tender love to each member of his family, as well as
to his boyhood's friends. In a letter dated April, 1839,
he speaks of a great revival going on in Dickinson
College, over one hundred having united with the
church. It was at this time he gave his heart to God
and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, entering
on a life of earnest love and faithful labor for Christ.
Soon after this consecration of himself to the Lord he
was obliged to leave college : his health had been in
jured by intense application to study for nearly three
years. On the first page of a journal commenced at
that time he writes : " My state of health at present is
certainly an unenviable one. Exiled from college by
a disease of the heart, within a few months of my
graduation, I am forbidden to engage in any bodily
exertion or mental study."
In a letter written to his sister, from Philadephia,
March 4th, 1840, he says : " I went to-day to consult
Dr. Samuel Jackson ; from him I learned sad news.
He says there is an enlargement of the heart, and
that I should by no means return to college ; that it
will take eighteen months or two years to relieve me ;
that by taking great care I might recover, but if I do
not I could live but a short time." This was a se
vere trial to the young and ardent student, but he
EARLY DAYS AND COLLEGE LIFE.
bore it with the same sweet spirit so fully and fre
quently manifested in after-life.
Mr. Cummins rested from all study until Decem
ber ist, 1840, when he once more returned to Car
lisle.
In a letter bearing that date he says : " I arrived
here yesterday, in the evening, having accomplished
the journey from Baltimore in one day ! Stewart had
reserved my room for me, and here I am snugly
ensconced as I was a year ago. The students and
faculty received me most kindly, and seem to be very
glad to have me back again. Professor Caldwell
kept my name on the catalogue ..... There
are many new students, and some very wicked ones.
I pray I may be kept from sinning. ' '
Mr. Cummins's mother had married the Rev. Jo
seph Farrow, a Methodist Episcopal minister, and
had removed to Baltimore.
This was his home for several years, where he
spent the time when not at college or on the circuit.
To his eldest sister his letters were chiefly written at
this time. In one, dated Carlisle, February isth,
1841, he writes : " My health is very much improved,
and lately I have felt very well. I find studying
agrees with me, and I hope to take a good place in
my class at Commencement." And again, June ist,
1841 : " My health is good. To-day we pass our
final examination of the whole course. Our exami
nations have been very rigid, lasting eight and nine
days." He was a member of the Philosophical
Society, and on July 5th, 1841, he delivered an ad
dress before that society entitled " Knowledge an
1 8 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
Insufficient Guide to Individual or National Con
duct."
On July 8th, 1841, Mr. Cummins graduated with
great honor, in a class of twenty-three. He deliv
ered the "valedictory oration," and received the
degree of B.A. On the nth July, 1844, he received
that of A.M.
CHAPTER II.
THE YOUNG CIRCUIT-RIDER.
" Let Truth's pure girdle belt thee round,
Let Christ's own Righteousness complete
Protect thy breast, and be thy feet
With Gospel fitness bound ;
Thy shield be Faith's unchanging light,
Salvation's hope thy helmet bright."
AGED 20.
IN March, 1842, Mr. Cummins was appointed by
the Baltimore Methodist Episcopal Conference
to the Bladensburg Circuit, in the State of Mary
land.
He was then only a licentiate. Those who knew
him then remember him as so youthful in appearance,
that no one would have thought he was prepared for
the duties of a minister of the Gospel.
From Bladensburg he writes to his sister Sarah :
" I have just returned this morning from our quar
terly meeting. On Tuesday morning I rode to my
appointment at Pleasant Grove ; on Wednesday, to
the Union meeting-house ; on Thursday, to a chapel
about sixteen miles from here. I had an appointment
on Friday morning, and we continued the meeting
from that time. I preached on Friday morning, and
in the evening again. Saturday, Brother Wilson from
Washington preached in the morning, and Brother
Coffin at night. On Sunday morning we had our
20 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
love-feast, and Brother Wilson preached again. I
was to have preached in the evening, but a large
number of colored people came to the meeting,
enough to fill two churches, and I offered to preach to
them in the open air. Accordingly we went a short
distance into the woods, and I stood on a chair under
a cedar-tree, and preached to them. I should think
there were a thousand present, and, as you may sup
pose/ A Shout in the Camp ' ! I have now been around
the circuit, and have found it very pleasant."
His fondness for the country was always very
marked. Even at this early period in his ministerial
life he writes enthusiastically of the green fields,
beautiful gardens, and leafy forests, and rich wheat-
fields, in strong contrast with the brick houses and
stone pavements of the city.
He dwells upon the sweet freshness of country
life, and compares it with the excitement, bustle, and
confusion of city life, and yet his life-work was begun
and ended almost in the great cities. When he pos
sibly could he sought the quiet and rest of a country
home, yet he felt that in the great centres of our
country his work was to be accomplished. He was
ever happiest in his home, and surrounded by those
so tenderly loved. In this his first year of ministerial
work, while among strangers, he writes : " How
delightful will it be to step into the cars again with
my face turned homeward !" Again he writes from
his home in Bladensburg, Md., May 8th, 1843 : " Re
member me to each member of my Sunday-school
class. I intended writing before this, but my en
gagements have kept me more constantly at work than
usual. I am glad to say that for some time past my
THE YOUNG CIRCUIT-RIDER. 21
health has been better ; I have not felt so much debili
tated, and J still hope I may become much stronger."
The young and earnest preacher does not in these
extracts give his sister an idea of how much he
suffered. His was too unselfish a spirit to allow his
suffering to depress those he loved. While thus
speaking hopefully of his state of health, many hours
of the day were passed in severe pain. The trouble
of the heart, years before detected by one of Amer
ica's most eminent physicians, still brought with it
much physical disturbance, though the out-door life
he led as a "circuit rider," did much towards
strengthening his whole system. Indeed, gradually
he grew much better, and in after-life attributed this
favorable change to the two years he spent in almost
constant exercise in the open air, on horseback.
Thirty-four years of laborious "preacher-life" were
given him, and in all that time he was only confined
for a day or two to his bed. Even the last illness was
short. His was a busy life. Active, earnest, enthu
siastic, he did everything with his whole soul. An
eminent Scotch physician said of him in 1862 : " It is
this intense nervous activity that makes Dr. Cummins
the preacher he is. " In. the routine of his early minis
terial life in a small village, going from chapel to
school-house, holding services for the simple folk
who formed in great part his congregations, he was
as careful in preparing his sermons, and as earnest in
their delivery, as when he ministered to great con
gregations made up of the most cultured and intellec
tual people in the land. He writes in July, 1843, thus
of his work : "Everything seems to be opening be
fore us most encouragingly. We have appointed two
22 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
camp-meetings, one on the 4th August, the other on
the 1 8th. We celebrated the 4th July by a Sunday-
school gathering in a grove near the chapel. We had
a beautiful procession of children, though the school
has been established but two or three months. In
the afternoon we had a temperance-meeting. The
Rev. Mr. French of the Protestant Episcopal Church,
living in Washington, and formerly chaplain to Con
gress, spoke. I addressed the people first, and Mr.
French followed." In another letter he says: "I
have been to Washington several times since I wrote
you. Bladensburg is but six miles from the Capital.
I have been through the Capitol and the grounds, and
visited the halls of the Senate and House of Repre
sentatives. " In a letter dated September I3th of
the same year he gives a full account of his duties in
the " circuit," " preaching almost every day, and so
much engaged as not to have time for writing." In
this letter he speaks of having had the opinion of two
physicians as to his health ; but though suffering all
the time, his earnest faithfulness carried him through
all his duties. The next letter from which we quote
is written on the young preacher's birthday, Decem
ber nth, 1843. He says ; " Just twenty-one ! What
a crowd of thoughts pass through my mind on writing
these words ! I think of my history the life I have
lived, the scenes through which I have passed, the
calling in which I am now engaged and of the future,
what I shall yet be ; what will be the character of the
rest of life's pilgrimage which lies before me, and
whether thc^tvorld will be any better and happier from tlic
fact that a man-child zvas born into the ivorld December
nth, 1822 ! Who can tell ? The dark Future answers
THE YOUNG CIRCUIT-RIDER. 23
not. But my own spirit can answer through the aid of
the Divine Spirit, it shall be so. May God grant it !
I am a winter-child, and not a 'summer-child,' as
Miss Bremer so beautifully expresses it. Twenty-one
years gone ! How fast life is going ! Yet this is but
the entrance to life. Who can tell whether I shall live
twenty-one years more ? Let me then be ' up and
doing.' But life is not to be estimated by the num
ber of years, but by the amount of work done. Some
do not die too soon at my age. Their work is done,
their mission accomplished."
He was ever most anxious to labor unceasingly
for the Master he so truly loved. Even at this early
age the applause and praise were given him which
reached him in so large a measure in later years ; but
it did not seem to affect him : his one thought and
aspiration seemed to be " to work for Jesus." Could
he have had a slight vision of his labor and its end in
the years that were to come, we believe he would
have started back appalled ; for his was a most sensi
tive, loving nature which shrank from expressing an
opinion that would be painful to others. Bold v.
a high degree in the pulpit, he never held back trie
truth, however deep it might wound ; but socially he
was the most tender, loving man, equally so to the
lowly beneficiary of his church, as to the little Sun
day-school or parish scholar. Few young men of
twenty-one would have written these earnest, heart-
searching words on their bi rthdays.
In all his letters written at this time he tells of his
work. His thoughts seem to have been constantly oc
cupied with his duties. In one he gives an account
of services held at Nottingham, Emory Chapel, and
24 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
in Calvert Count} 7 , at a revival ; ol his duties on the
Sundays in Bladensburg ; of his riding many miles in a
severe snow-storm, etc. He further writes: " Monday
was the day for the opening of Congress, and I re
solved to be present. I rode from Col. J.'s to Wash
ington, and paid my first visit to Congress. Need I
say I was delighted ? The day was fine, the crowd
of people at the Capitol immense. I succeeded in
getting a seat, and beheld the beautiful spectacle. The
hall, noble as it is, looked more so with its crowded
galleries and all the members in their seats. It was
a brilliant sight. I remained an hour or more, and
was present at the election of the Speaker. I saw the
principal members, but conspicuous among all was
the time-bared head of John Ouincy Adams, the
noblest of them all." Again he writes : " Last week
I had a protracted meeting for the colored people in
and around Bladensburg." In this letter he mentions
receiving the " Baltimore Sun" early in the morning,
and says : " Since the order of the Postmaster-Gen
eral was received, the Sun is caried from Baltimore to
Washington in a buggy, and passing through Bladens
burg we can get it early." " Christmas," he con
tinues, " is very near at hand, and I shall not be with
you all. How I should like to enjoy the ' lectures '
this season in Baltimore ! I expect to deliver one
here during the winter. A son's warmest love to
mother. Think of me and pray for me. Snow is in
plenty, and circuit-riding is not in winter what it is in
summer."
The beginning of the year 1844 found the young
minister busy at work. January i6th he says : " Went
Sunday to my appointments, preached twice and
THE YOUNG CIRCUIT-RIDER. 25
returned ; Wednesday preached once, so on Thurs
day and Friday ; and again on Sunday preached three
times. My health is much better. So much for a
life in the woods and the free air of heaven." In a
letter dated March ist, written in Baltimore to his
sister Sarah, he says : " Here I am at home at last,
the year over with all its toil and care, and journey
ing and preaching, waiting for the trumpet which
shall summon me to the war again ! It would take
me*a long time to tell you all I have thought and
felt, and enjoyed and suffered, since I began my work
in Bladensburg ; suffice it to say I have bidden good-
by to all the good people in the ' circuit,' and finally
wound up by jumping into the cars yesterday even
ing, and soon found myself in the loved City of Mon
uments, and not long after was at home, shaking hands
with the dear ones there and feeling as happy as a
school-boy returning for the holidays." He adds :
'* On Monday I start for my native State, the
home of my boyhood." On April pth, 1844, ne
writes to his sister from Charlestown, the county
town of Jefferson County, (now) West Virginia, where
he had been appointed by the Baltimore Conference'
for the second year of his licentiate : ' ' According to
promise, my dear sister, I take the first moment to
tell you of my new home. It seemed harder to part
from you than when I first left home. I cannot get
used to being away from home ; itinerant life con
flicts wonderfully with flesh and blood. I feel some
times like casting anchor in a peaceful, quiet harbor ;
the thought of never having ' a local habitation ' and
a home has ever been sad to me, and throws a deep
shade over life. ' ' Thus early did the young minister
26 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
yearn for the home and fireside he so fully enjoyed
and appreciated j thus early did his mind turn to the
plan that was so soon to be carried out, of uniting
with a Church which did not require her clergy to
travel from place to place. Mr. Cummins ahvays
loved the Methodist Church, and among her noblest
ministers were some of his dearest friends. Her doc
trines he could ahvays subscribe to, but love for a
settled home, and a high admiration for her Liturgy,
led him a year later to unite with the Protestant Epis
copal Church, then so simple in her ritual.
Journeying from Baltimore to Virginia, he gives
a full description of the wild yet exquisite scenery
about Harper's Ferry, which he had never seen be
fore, and then adds : " I arrived in Charlestown about
two o'clock, and received a warm welcome from Bro
ther Gere and his family. You will want to know
how I like my new home. I cannot tell you yet, as I
left at once to meet my appointments. It is quite a
pretty town, superior to Bladensburg. I rode Sat
urday ten miles to my station, and preached twice on
Sunday to good congregations. The churches are
nice brick buildings, and the country pretty." The
summer of 1844 Mr. Cummins was left in charge of
the " circuit," as his colleague and superior, the
Rev. Mr. Gere, was absent for a two months' vaca
tion. It was at this time that the fame of the young
preacher drew crowds from all parts of the county
to hear him. His letters are filled chiefly with ac
counts of his work, preaching day after day at the
stations ; busy, earnest, energetic, he never missed
an appointment no matter what the weather was. In
pouring rains, blinding snow-storms, or under the
* THE YOUNG CIRCUIT-RIDER. 2/
scorching rays of the midsummer sun, he might have
been seen, mounted on his fine black horse " Char
ley, ' ' riding miles to meet an engagement. His heart
was in his precious work! September /th, 1844, he
says : " Since I wrote you last I have been so much
engaged that I scarcely know how I have lived. One
thing I do know, that I have lived in the woods a
great part of the time ! I have just finished with our
fourth camp-meeting. The first was at Harper's
Ferry, the next was on the Winchester Circuit ; the
third was held in the Hillsborough Circuit, in London
County, and was a delightful one. The families are for
the most part people of wealth and refinement. They
seem attached to me, and wish me to be with them
next year. My last camp-meeting was our own, and
was most pleasant. We are to have another in the
woods, to commence next Friday. This will wind up
for this year. Hereafter we will confine ourselves
to ' temples made with hands. ' ' ' This summer he took
a delightful trip to Niagara Falls, and enjoyed it as
only such natures as his can enjoy the beauty of God's
handiwork. "Since I" visited the Falls, " he writes,
" a young lady fell from Table Rock and was in
stantly killed. I was very near falling in the same
way reaching over to get a spray of a pine tree,
the undergrowth concealing the edge of the preci
pice ! I shall preach in Charlestown twice on Sun
day."
The autumn and winter of 1844-45 were passed
in a faithful discharge of the duties of a Methodist
minister. "The first time I saw Mr. Cummins,"
writes a friend, " was at a camp-meeting held in
Jefferson County. It was in the early part of Sep-
GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
tember ; the woods were yet rich with their sum
mer dress. I shall not soon forget the scene, so
novel to my eyes, as we entered the camp-ground.
The large space in the centre was arranged for the
congregation, during the services, with benches
placed as in a church ; beyond these was a wide
avenue, and on each side of it at regular distances
were heavy poles erected, on which was fastened a
small platform. On these the ' camp-fires ' were kin
dled at night. Still beyond this avenue was the row
of tents, white as snow and strikingly picturesque.
At one end of the camp-ground stood the ' preacher's
stand,' with accommodation for many ministers.
Around this was a railing. It was late in the after
noon when I arrived with some friends, and already
the benches were filled by the large number of per
sons who had gathered from the surrounding coun
try. It was a scene for Europe's great painter, Rem
brandt, who loved to put on canvas just such pic
tures. The strangely weird light from the burning
heaps of pine wood on the elevated poles ; the crowd
filling all the benches and leaning in groups against
the huge forest trees ; the white tents ; and the minis
ters assembled for worship on the platform all was
most impressive. Soon one of Wesley's grand
hymns was sung, needing not the rich tones of an
organ to reach to a vast distance or to fill the hearts
of those present with joy ; for every voice joined in
the words, which rose up in sweetest tones to the starry
vault above. The service left such an impression upon
me that I attended the meeting again on the Sunday
morning following with my friends. Mr. Cummins
was chosen the preacher for the day. A larger throng
THE YOUNG CIRCUIT-RIDER. 29
was present than on Friday night, and all were
quietly waiting for the services to commence. The
text chosen by the preacher was Acts 7 : 55-60. In
glowing terms he pictured the scene of the first mar
tyrdom : the great and beautiful city, the surround
ings of the young Martyr, his audience among the
most learned of the world yet ' were they not able to
resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake ;'
of the final scene, and the glorious entering of the
Martyr into the heaven, the transcendent brightness
and beauty of which had just been revealed to him.
The face of the young minister was all aglow with
the theme occupying his thoughts, and earnestly did
he urge upon his hearers the great need of their so
living that, if need were, they might thus lay down
their lives for the precious Gospel. Frequently dur
ing that winter and the following spring I was priv
ileged to listen to the. earnest preaching of Mr.
Cummins, and through the power of his persuasive
words I was brought myself to ' see Jesus ' and to
give my heart to him." "One evening I accom
panied," says the same friend, " an eminent presbyter
of the Protestant Episcopal Church from New York
City to hear him preach ' of whom so many spoke,'
and although the former was greatly prejudiced
against any minister not episcopally ordained, on
coming out of the rude log-cabin in which the ser
vice had been held lor at that time there was no
church in that neighborhod he said to me with much
feeling, ' If that young man lives, he will be heard
of throughout the length and breadth of this land.
Mr. Cummins was then not twenty-two years of age.
Before this his earnest appeals to those who knew
30 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
not Christ had not been without their reward.
Many united with the Church, and ascribed their con
version to the preaching of the young itinerant.
During this winter the great question presented itself
constantly to his mind, i.e., whether he should leave
the Methodist Episcopal Church and unite with the
Protestant Episcopal Church. His father and grand-
father had been members of the Episcopal Church,
but his mother and sisters and many loved friends
were connected with the Methodist Church. The
conflict was for a time severe. He feared the dis
memberment of many ties which bound him to the
Methodist Church, and thought many would censure
him for leaving the church of his youth and first
love. He writes to his sister, under date of March
4th, 1845 : " I have almost lived an age in the last six
months. I am perfectly conscious of the importance
of the change I contemplate. I have not acted has
tily or without a careful consideration of every mo
tive, every circumstance, every obstacle. The result
is that I am happy in my determination ; friends may
forsake me, but I trust others may be raised up. I
hope I have discharged all my duties faithfully. I
have labored very hard. I think this is the best time
for me to leave the Methodist Church, as my two
years of probation have closed." In another letter
he says : " My consolation is that the motives from
which I have acted will be sufficient to support me in
this trial. I thought at first I would be obliged to
enter a Theological Seminary, but from a friend, a
very distinguished minister of the Protestant Episco
pal Church, I learn that this will not be necessary. I
shall only have to be a candidate for the ministry
THE YOUNG CIRCUIT-RIDER.
and read with a bishop for six months, and then I
can be ordained deacon. One thing I have decided
on, and that is I shall not apply to Bishop Whitting-
ham. I do not like his sentiments. I think Bishop
Lee, of Delaware, will be my choice."
CHAPTER III.
PREPARATION WORK.
" Not many lives but only one have we
One, only one ;
How sacred should that one life ever be,
That narrow span !
Day after day filled up with blessed toil,
Hour after hour still bringing in new spoil." BONAR.
AGED 23.
THE next letter we have is dated March 25th,
1845, Wilmington, Del. : " My dearest sister,
I arrived here safely this afternoon, and am now at
the hotel. I called on Bishop Lee, but find he is out
of town. There is no bishop at present in Pennsyl
vania, and Bishop Lee has been invited to perform
episcopal duty in that diocese. As soon as I see the
bishop I will write you. He has a very lovely home
on the Brandy wine. I hope the blessing of God may
accompany me in all my movements, and that I shall
be directed alone by him."
April 8th, 1845, ne writes again to his sister from
Philadelphia : "After presenting my papers, etc., to
Bishop Lee, we called on the Rev. Dr. McC. , rector
of Trinity Church, Wilmington, who is the chairman
of the Standing Committee. He told me the mem
bers of the committee resided in different parts of the
State, and that it would take some time to assemble
them to consider my application for orders ; so I came
PREPARATION WORK. 33
here for a little holiday. Bishop Lee invited me to
stay with him in his beautiful home ; but I wanted to
see cousins M. and D., and so came to Philadelphia
Saturday." He speaks in this letter of having at
tended St. Philip's (Rev. Dr. Neville, pastor) in the
morning, St. Luke's in the afternoon, and St. An
drew's at night. He tells of his friends Bishop and
Mrs. L., of their great kindness, and of how " lovely
their home is a perfect Eden." In a letter bear
ing date April igth, 1845, written in Wilmington,
he says : "I write you now from my new home,
where I have been domiciled about ten days. I am
boarding in a private family, and have a delightful
room. I wish I could introduce you into it as it ap
pears just now ! The fire is burning brightly before
me, the table at which I am writing is arranged with
books and papers in a very student-like manner, and
all the furniture is neat and tasteful. I have obtained
some flowers for my companions, and some of the
roses are blooming very nicely in the window beside
me. But the most charming part of all is the magnifi-
cient view I have from the windows. The Delaware
River is spread before me, and boats of all kinds are
constantly passing to and from Philadelphia. You
can have no idea how beautiful the scene is ! Thus
you see that I am nicely fixed as regards lodgings.
Wilmington will be a pleasant residence during the
summer. The walks are very beautiful, especially on
the banks of the Brandywine. I have formed a good
many acquaintances already, chiefly members of the
Episcopal Church. Mrs. L. took me with her one
evening to a little gathering. I find, too, some old
friends here, Mr. C , Mr. B , and others. The
34 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
most pleasant place to me, however, is the bishop's
home. I could not tell you what noble spirits him
self and wife are. They are all sweetness and kind
ness and gentleness. Their home is almost an
Eden : it extends to the banks of the Brandy wine, sur
rounded by beautiful trees and shrubbery, and laid
out in walks and terraces and lovely beds of flow
ers. I have free access to the bishop's fine library,
and shall make good use of it. I have fine opportu
nities for study, and am busily engaged a good part
of each day. It is necessary for me to pass three
examinations. My first I shall pass in a few days,
and the second in a month or six weeks." " I forgot
to mention that to-morrow I am to be confirmed in St.
Andrew's Church, Wilmington, by Bishop Lee. This
is necessary in order that I may enter the Protestant
Episcopal Church and be ordained. ' ' In another letter
to his sister he refers to the great beauty of Wilming
ton, and of the many friends he had made there.
" The society," he says, " in the church is very pleas
ant. The bishop and his family are my kind friends.
It is very sweet to visit there. I have visited the old
Swedish church, a place of great interest. I am
becoming more and more attached to the Protestant
Episcopal Church, and love its Liturgy. I was con
firmed last Sunday, and was much interested in the
rite. In about five months I shall be ordained."
May ist he writes : " To-day I have passed my first
examination. Give my best love to mother, and tell
her I must give this month to hard study, and then I
will go to see her. Give my love to Mrs. J - and
all my friends in Baltimore. I suppose, however,
they do not take as much interest in me as they did.
PREPARATION WORK. 35
I am satisfied if I can do the Lord's work in the
Protestant Episcopal Church." September 5th,
1845, ne writes : " I shall remain here a fortnight
longer, and then visit you before my ordination. My
health is now very good. As the time of my ordination
draws nigh, I begin to be anxious to know where my
home will be at first. As yet it is all uncertain ; I
sometimes thiiik of going to China. What do you
think of it ? There is an offer made by two gentle
men of our church to give a thousand dollars a year
to a single man to go to China for five years. Shalt
I go ? Can you do without me for so long ?"
In a letter dated September iQth, 1845, ne writes
to his sister : " The bishop, I am sorry to inform you,
has made his plans so that my ordination will be two
weeks later than I expected ; it will take place on
the 26th instead of the I2th of October. I to-morrow
go to Philadelphia to be present at the consecration
of Bishop Potter, which will take place on the 23d ;
from there I go to New York for a few days, and then
return to Wilmington. I shall remain in Wilmington
a week after my return in order to pass my last ex
amination, and then I shall be with you. I am sorry
you manifest so much opposition to my going to
China ; for although I have come to no decision yet,
still, if I go, I should regret having you oppose it. I
think a life there would be very pleasant. The
bishop wishes me to settle in Delaware, and my rela
tives all want me in Smyrna. To resist the earnest
wish of the bishop and the desire of my relatives
would seem as though I were shrinking from duty,
and seeking a place of ease and profit. I am, however
perfectly content to await the opening of Providence
36 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
and follow his direction. Immediately after my or
dination I shall take charge of St. Andrew's for two
or three weeks, at the request of the bishop during
his absence, and after that shall go on to my parish,
wherever it may be. Wilmington is more pleasant
than ever to me. We have just had a fine horticul
tural exhibition very creditable to my little State. I
hope you can come on for a week at the time of my
ordination." Under date of October 2d, he says:
" I am yet unable to say where my first home will
be, but I am informed that there is a probability of
my being called, to a parish in Prince George's
County, Md. If I am called there, it will be altogether
without my seeking. It is an interesting parish, and
near where I labored as a Methodist minister ; and
my old friends earnestly desire me to be among them
again." In another letter, October loth, he speaks
of having passed his last examination, and as now
ready for ordination. We have before us his ordi
nation papers for deacon's and presbyter's orders.
They are both in Bishop Lee's handwriting, and that
for deacon's orders declares " that on the twenty-third
Sunday after Trinity, on the 26th day of October,
1845, m ^. Andrew's Church in the city of Wil
mington," he admitted George David Cummins to
the Order of deacons. This is dated the same
day, " in the sixth year of his consecration." After
his ordination, and Bishop Lee's return to Wil
mington, Mr. Cummins went to New York to visit
his friends there. He spent several weeks in that
city and in Philadelphia. During these visits he
preached every Sunday in some of the churches, and
PREPARATION WORK. 37
made many friends who were dearly loved by him
through life.
The spring of 1846 found him the assistant minis
ter of Christ Church, Baltimore, the Rev. Henry
Vandyke Johns, D.D., being the rector. Here
began Mr. Cummins's first work in the Protestant
Episcopal Church. By the side of one of God's cho
sen servants, a man whose life was that of a consist
ent, earnest disciple of Christ a man of rare love
liness of character and great pulpit ability, and who
wielded an influence felt throughout the State, nay,
throughout the country the ardent young minister
found just the field he desired for his labors. The
superior wisdom and judgment of Dr. Johns, coupled
with his wide experience, made him a fellow-worker
most helpful to his young friend. To his loving coun
sels and wise admonitions Mr. Cummins owed much,
and through life he delighted to refer to this year
spent with "dear Dr. Johns." Frequently he was
heard to say that the intercourse of those months was
worth more than aught else to him ; that he felt that
what he learned by the side of such a man, so hum
ble yet so learned, so gentle yet so strong in his ad
vocacy of the truth, so wise yet so " like a little
child," was beyond price to him in his work as a
minister of the Gospel. That year was a most happy
one to him. His work absorbed his whole time and
attention. In the Sunday-school, among the poor, in
the pulpit and out of it, wherever he could aid his
beloved brother, there he was to be found. The
teachers and scholars of the Sunday-school of Christ
Church, Baltimore, became greatly attached to their
38 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
young 1 pastor, and when he left them they presented
him a valuable Oxford Bible, with a loving in
scription upon it as a memento. In the autumn of
1846 he visited New York, and his friends in Vir
ginia. They had not seen him since he left them to
go to Wilmington, and they rejoiced to clasp him
once more by the hand. Here he remained some
days, and then returned to his duties in Baltimore.
In a letter dated December 22d, 1846, he writes
to a friend, speaking of a severe trial through
which he had been called to pass : ' ' And so, if we
now rely alone on the arm of our Heavenly Father
for the future and trust ourselves to his guidance,
that future will still be marked by his hand, and will
bring to us richer happiness and peace."
CHAPTER IV.
LIFE IN NORFOLK.
" Come as a teacher sent from God,
Charged his whole counsel to declare ;
Lift o'er our ranks the prophet's rod,
While we uphold thy hands in prayer.
"Come as an angel hence to guide
A band of pilgrims on their way,
That, safely walking at thy side,
We fail not, faint not, turn nor stray."
JAMES MONTGOMERY.
AGED 25.
ON the 1 7th of June, 1847, Mr. Cummins was
elected rector of Christ Church, Norfolk, Va.
This was, and is still, one of the largest churches
in the State. The number of communicants while
he was rector was four hundred and fifty, fifty of
whom were colored. The church has a constitution
by which a board of trustees is elected to manage
its affairs, and a rector is chosen by the pew-holders
instead of a vestry.
Previous to his election, and in response to a cor
dial invitation given by the trustees, Mr. Cummins
visited Norfolk and preached for the congregation.
An election was held the following week, and he
was formally called.
Out of the entire number of pew-holders, one hun
dred and ten, only two were opposed to Mr. Cum-
40 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
mins, and this on account of his extreme youth ; but
these gentlemen subsequently became his warm
friends.
On the 24th June, 1847, Mr. Cummins was united
in marriage to Alexandrine Macomb, youngest
daughter of Hon. L. P. W. Balch, of West Virginia.
As there was no Episcopal church within six miles,
the ceremony took place in the home of Judge Balch,
and in the room in which Mrs. Cummins's parents
were married forty years before. Mr. and Mrs.
Cummins went to Wilmington, Del., to be the guests
of Bishop and Mrs. Lee, and on Sunday, July 6th,
Mr. Cummins was ordained by the bishop to the
order of presbyters. They left on Monday for their
new home in Norfolk, where they were most kindly
entertained. Norfolk is not like most American
towns, having been settled largely by English fami
lies. It is a quaint old seaport, with nothing of the
newness that so impresses our friends from England on
visiting this country. Old St. Paul's still stands un
injured by time, as it stood in the days of the Revo
lutionary War, marked by cannon-balls when the
town was bombarded. Old houses, narrow streets,
and quaint buildings gave it in 1847 the appearance
of belonging to the " mother-country ;" and in their
wide and generous hospitality and warm, loving
hearts the people showed themselves children of the
old Virginians. Six happy years Avere passed here
by the young minister. In a letter from Bishop Lee,
dated June 22d, 1847, ne savs : " My dear Cummins,
I congratulate you upon the mark of confidence which
you have received from the parish of Christ Church,
Norfolk. I should suppose it to be an important and
LIFE IN NORFOLK. 4!
interesting parish. I think you have acted rightly in
accepting the call, and trust that the connection will
be pleasant alike to pastor and people, and produc
tive of those blessed fruits for which the ministrv was
established." One of his dearest friends, a trustee of
Christ Church and an eminent lawyer, writes thus :
" NORFOLK", June 23, 1847.
" MY DEAR FRIEND : I write now only to say that I most
heartily rejoice that you have decided to accept the responsi
ble charge of our congregation, and, as far as I can see, I
think it is the Lord's doing. May He fill you with a double
portion of His spirit, and give you for your reward many
precious souls ! I should have regarded your refusal as a
serious evil to the church, and well calculated to disturb our
peace. ' '
During his pastorate in Norfolk Mr. Cummins
had the support and co-operation of men in his
church who were truly friends and pillars of strength
men of culture and high social position, and of ear
nest piety. It was a happy home to the young pastor,
and he entered on his work with all the ardor of his
nature. He was welcgmed at this time by his be
loved bishop (Meade) in these words :
" MILLWOOD, July 27, 1847.
" REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER : Your letter inclosing
your dimissory papers is received, and I welcome you into
the diocese of Virginia, and pray that you may have grace to
serve the large and interesting congregation committed to
your charge with wisdom and holy zeal. I hope to be with
you in November. Present my kind regards to Mrs. C ,
and believe me to be your friend and elder brother in Christ,
" WILLIAM MEADK."
42 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
Early in the autumn of 1847 an earnest spirit per
vaded the congregation ; many came to ask, " What
shall I do to be saved ?" The eloquent, heart-search
ing sermons of their pastor had entered into their
souls. Two confirmations were held, one by Bishop
Meade, the other by Bishop Johns. The classes
were large ; among them was Virginia Hale Hoffman,
wife of the Rev. Cadwalader Golden Hoffman, of
New York, and one of the missionaries of the Prot
estant Episcopal Church to Cape Palmas, West
Africa. Her memoir was written by her loving pas
tor while he was rector of Trinity Church, Washing
ton. In the letters Mrs. Hoffman wrote from Africa
she speaks frequently, and in tenderest terms, of all
she owed her beloved pastor. It was remarked by
strangers in coming to Norfolk how many old men
there were in Christ Church ! It was remarkable to
see these white-haired men sitting Sunday after Sun
day listening with profound attention to the earnest
words which came so rapidly from the lips of the
young preacher, for he was not then twenty-four
years old ! His labors never ceased. In Sunday-
schools, Bible classes, parish schools, in the pulpit,
in the homes of the members of his large congrega
tion, among the poor, he was seen year after year
working as few men do ; but his reward was the
priceless souls that he was allowed to present to the
Lord. Letters and testimonials lie before us, filled
with expressions of the deepest affection from the
adults and children of his flock. We have seen the
faces of Christ's little ones light up with brightest
smiles as he entered the Sunday-school room. A clasp
LIFE IN NORFOLK. 43
of his hand, a loving smile and kind word, would be
treasured throughout the week.
During his residence in Norfolk Mr. Cummins
spent a portion of each summer with his family at his
father-in-law's home in Jefferson County, Virginia.
Here he was always urged to preach, and we have
known the country people and well-to-do farmers
telegraph in country fashion from one to another
" that Mr. Cummins was to preach at Leetown, " and
very early on Sunday mornings the carriages and
wagons would surround the simple little Episcopal
church which had been built on Judge Balch's estate
by the congregation of St. Bartholomew's Church,
New York, Rev. Dr. Balch, rector, a brother of
Mrs. Cummins. Many came six and eight and even
ten miles over rough roads to hear him, and when
after these services, held amidst the grand forest of
oak and maple trees, the people would gather round
him to thank him for his comforting and helping
words, he would say : "! love to preach to these
people more than to the richest congregation in this
country." His love for a country life was very
great, and when his duties were so heavy in his large
city congregations, he rejoiced when the time came
for their annual "flitting" to the early home of his
wife, where he could enjoy the society of her father
and mother, whom he loved very dearly, and who
felt for him the deep affection of parents to an own
son. In August, 1848, Mr. Cummins's first child came
to gladden his already happy home. His letters at this
time contain frequent notice of his dear babe. He
loved children so truly that he was prepared to feel
44 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
an especial tenderness for his first-born, his " sum
mer-child" as he used to call her.
During the summer of 1849 the cholera broke out
with fearful violence in Norfolk, immediately after his
return from the diocesan convention held that year in
Charlottesville. Mr. Cummins was at his post of
duty through all those terrible months, visiting night
and day, and ministering not only to his own people
but to many poor colored persons, who suffered most
from the dread pestilence. So soon as the Board of
Health declared it to have left the city, excepting a
few sporadic cases, the young pastor, with his wife
and little child, went to the home of his father-in-law.
There he was for a time prostrated by the same dis
ease, brought on by great exposure and unceasing
duties.
The country immediately around Judge Balch's
home is rich in historical reminiscences. At Martins-
burg, six miles from Judge Balch's residence, General
Stevens of the Revolutionary War lived. General
Drake's home was a few miles to the south. General
Charles Lee resided, after the Revolution, on the ad
joining estate ; and four miles north General Horatio
Gates passed the last years of his life. General Ste
vens also had his home there. The descendants of
General Washington live in Jefferson County, and
during our late civil war General R. E. Lee and Gen
eral McClellan occupied that part of the country
with their vast armies for a long time.
Mr. Cummins returned for a time to Norfolk
after taking his family to Jefferson County, and he
writes under date of July nth, 1849 : " I cannot tell
you how lonely I am without you ; but I am in the
LIFE IN NORFOLK. 45
path of duty, and my services seem so much needed.
My people are unwilling that I should stay at home at
night alone, lest I might be taken ill ; so I shall di
vide my time among them. It is with deep gratitude
to God that I tell you I am very well. There are yet
some cases of cholera, the report this week being
nineteen deaths. On Sunday I had all the services,
but Rev. Mr. Smith assisted me in the communion.
I preached from the text, ' And I, if I be lifted up
from the earth, will draw all men unto me.' Was it
the answer to father's prayer that I felt so strong
through all my duties ? Yesterday morning I pre
pared my address to be delivered at the commemora
tion of President Folk's death. They selected me to
avoid making it a political affair, which it would have
been if a lawyer had been chosen. My friends advised
me to accept the invitation. " Yesterday (July
1 5th), I preached in the morning on missions, it being
the day of our quarterly collection." In a letter,
dated August 3Oth, 1850, he writes :
" I feel deeply grateful to God for his goodness in bringing
me safely home after our pleasant summer vacation. I
found all our dear friends well. They made many inquiries
about you. The heat this summer has been intense, and I
am glad you are not here."
In the spring of 1850 a son was born, and this dear
child was an only son. His father's and grandfather's
names were given him in baptism, Bishop Johns, of
Virginia, performing the ceremony. In this letter he
further writes : " The thoughts of all are occupied now
with Virginia" (Miss Hale; afterward Mrs. C. C.
Hoffman). " Yesterday she had a very affecting part-
46 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
ing with her ' mission band.' They gave her a large
Bible and Prayer-Book for the church in Cavalla.
Virginia wished so much to have you present at her
marriage."
The inner life of Mr. Cummins at this time was
marked by a more entire consecration of himself to
God and to the work of his Master. He writes, Sep
tember ist, 1850 : " Let us strive to make this season
a period from which we shall date better resolutions
and a holier life. Let us consecrate ourselves anew
to his service. Let it be the daily-work of our lives
to watch over our hearts, search out our sins, and pray
fervently for grace to make us God's beloved chil
dren. Meet me three times a day, morning, noon, and
night, at the throne of grace, and let our prayers
mingle together for the abiding presence of God's
Holy Spirit." In this letter he speaks lovingly of
"his precious children," and sends sweet messages
of love to his little daughter, for whom he had the
deepest affection. He also mentions how busy he was
visiting among his people and in other duties. He
writes :
' The early service was held at 6.30, and at 10.30 we
had the sermon and communion. The congregation was very
large. It was Virginia's last communion with us, and at
the same chancel railing where she had first communed. I
know she felt it deeply ; she looked unusually sad. In Sun
day-school this morning she said " how earnestly she longed
for you to be here. ' ' Her bitterest trial is the view many
worldly minds in the Church take of her course. Some, as
you are aware, condemn it as an unnecessary sacrifice, not
being able to appreciate her lofty views of duty and the call of
God. One gentleman went so far as to tell her it was en-
LIFE IN NORFOLK. 47
thusiasm. The effect upon her showed more than anything
else her nobleness. She said it might be true, and set to
work to examine herself. It grieves my heart to know that
the Church is blighted with such views, such infinitely low
views, of the work of missions and the need of great sacrifices
in its cause. I must strive to do my duty more faithfully,
and drive away such degrading views. Love to dearest
mother and fathe'r. Kiss my sweet little daughter for papa.
Tell her about me often. I commit my dear children daily
to God in earnest prayer."
September 8th, 1850, he writes :
" Yesterday I read prayers at 6.30, and at 1 1 preached to a
crowded congregation from the text Ephesians 2:2. In the
afternoon I preached from the seventh Psalm, in continuation
of my course of sermons on the Psalms. The church was
very full."
That autumn Mr. Cummins visited Washington
and Georgetown, and preached for the rectors of the
two churches in Georgetown. His family accom
panied him, and together they enjoyed the attrac
tions of the capital. About this time he made a trip to
Baltimore, to recruit somewhat from the heavy labor
he had gone through. He left Norfolk on Saturday,
and spent the Sunday among his old and dear friends
in Christ Church. He says :
" I started for Christ Church, and went first into the Sun
day-school. All were delighted to see me, teachers and schol
ars ; even the orphan children came up and shook my hand
heartily, and seemed to love me as an old friend. I waited in
the vestry-room for the doctor, and astonished him not a little
by my presence. Many old acquaintances in the congrega-
48 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
tion came to speak to me, and with Dr. Johns were urgent
that I should preach ; but I remembered my promise to you,
and resisted all their entreaties. I am happy to say my cold
is much better, and I hope to return home strong and ready
to work. How sweet to think of returning home, to a sweet,
happy fireside !"
He received after his return to Norfolk the follow
ing note from a lovely Christian woman, a member of
his congregation one who was called home many
years before her beloved pastor ceased from his la
bors :
" MY DEAR PASTOR : Allow me to express my indebted
ness to you for your visits of mercy in days of trial. I cannot
be sufficiently thankful for them, and for your sympathy and
prayers, which cheered and supported me on the brink of the
grave. My prayer is that when your labors and anxieties are
ended, .and ' there is not another plant for you to water nor
another vine for you to train,' you may enter the peaceful
port of heavenly rest, receive the Saviour's welcome, ' Well
done ! ' and be greeted by the blessed company of redeemed
spirits who have been led to God through your instrumen
tality. " Most gratefully yours,
"J. G."
CHAPTER V.
LIFE IN NORFOLK (CONTINUED).
" Grasp in thy hand that potent sword
In heaven's high armory prepared,
Quick to attack and strong to guard
The weapon of God's Word ;
Then strong in prayer pursue thy way,
Nor foe shall crush nor arrow slay."
AGED 29.
IN one of his letters, dated May 5th, 1851, Mr.
Cummins continues to tell of his work :
"I preached yesterday from Ephesians 6 : 17. In the
afternoon to the colored people, and at night from the text,
' He being dead, yet speaketh. ' '
During his entire ministry he was deeply interested
in the African race. His churches sent large sums of
money and boxes of clothing and books to the Prot
estant Episcopal missions in Liberia. Quarterly
collections were regularly taken up in all the churches
of which he was pastor. In Norfolk and Richmond
he numbered among his communicants many of this
neglected race, and for him they manifested sincere
affection. His sermon, preached in 1861, " The Afri
can a trust from God to the American, ' ' received the
highest encomiums from such men as Robert C. Win-
throp, of Boston, Bishop Mcllvaine, of Ohio, Bishop
Henry W. Lee, of Iowa, Bishop Meade, of Virginia,
and many others.
50 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
Mr. Cummins was exceedingly fond of music, and
in the first years of his married life especially it was
his habit to spend an hour in the evening in singing
with his family. In passing through Baltimore in
May, 1851, he had the great pleasure of hearit^' Jenny
Lind, and of her he thus writes :
' ' I have heard her, but it is impossible to give you all my
impressions in a letter. Her command of her voice is almost
superhuman, and its compass, volume, and power wonderful.
The most of her pieces were elaborate, calculated to display
her perfection in art more than the sweetness of tone. The
" Bird Song" did this, however. She sang it in English.
She seemed a bird singing " because she could not help it."
Her face is one of the most benevolent I have ever seen
full of goodness, kindness, modesty, and love. It is a true
index of her character."
On reaching Norfolk, June 2d, 1851, after a short
absence, he writes thus of the dear parishioner whose
note we have given, written on the previous Easter
Sunday morning :
" On reaching home I learned of the death of Miss J. G.
You will grieve with me over this loss. She longed most
ardently for me to be with her ; spoke of me in most affec
tionate terms, and sent me a message ' ' that her last breath
would be a prayer for me." What a loss we have met with !
Who will take her place in the church, in the prayer-meeting,
among the poor and sick and the little ones ? The children
of the Sunday-schools attended her funeral, each with a bunch
of white flowers to lay on her grave. The poor families to
whom she so lovingly ministered also followed her remains
to the grave. They have lost their best earthly friend. The
church and the entire community sorrow deeply. I regret
I was not summoned to her bedside in time to see her. I
LIFE IN NORFOLK. 51
had visited her almost daily during her long and severe illness.
Rev. Mr. Chisholm took my place at the funeral."
The summer of 1851 was passed by Mr. Cummins
and his family at Northampton, Mass., that Mrs.
Cummins might be under medical care. Her health
liad been sadly affected by the climate of Norfolk. Mr.
Cummins made arrangements to leave his church for
three months. It was a severe trial to him, for as the
years rolled by he became more and more attached
to his people. They were most kind, however, and
their affection for their young pastor manifested itself
in this crisis in such a manner as to prove how strong
a hold he had upon their love. He says :
" Oh, that God may direct me in this matter ! I pray ear
nestly for his guidance, and I know you will. . . . I have been
visiting among my people quite constantly. On Sunday
preached to a large congregation from the text " Ye are not
your own," and administered the Lord's Supper. The com
municants made a large congregation. The colored com
municants, fifty, were all present, and it was an impressive
scene. In the afternoon we had the colored Sunday-school,
and it was indeed a wondrous sight. The lecture-room was
filled to overflowing. The school is larger than the school for
the white scholars in the morning. The white teachers are
even more than we need. A lady and gentleman from Bos
ton were present, and were greatly delighted. They con
tributed towards the sum we are raising to purchase books for
them. Mr. M preached for them in the afternoon, and I
preached again at night from Acts i : 25.
At this time, and when separated from his family,
we find these words in one of his letters :
"I feel more and more that what I need now is a life of
more entire devotion to Christ, more prayer, and more com-
52 GEORGE DAVID CU AIM INS.
munion with God. Oh ! if I could feel I was each day
growing in grace, in holiness, in freedom from sin, in the
subjugation of my evil heart, in self-knowledge and self-con
quest, what an infinite blessing it would be !"
But while thus searching his own heart, others
who knew him best could see daily his growth in
grace, and how closely he walked with God. This
year a number of the lambs of his flock were removed
bv death. In his letters he gives " humble and hearty
thanks to God for his great goodness in sparing his
own precious L -and G ." In another letter
he asks how does G. do without his " precious
papa" ? The love he had for his children was in
tense, and from their infancy they loved him with
a love little children seldom show for their parents.
They grieved for him in his absence, and their joy
knew no bounds when he returned. It was his de
light to make his home a bright, happy one for them ;
his evenings were always given up to them until their
bed-time arrived. Their home was too happy a one
for them to wish to go elsewhere. His custom was
to read aloud in the evening, and while his " little
ones" were present the selections were always such
as they could appreciate and understand. Music
and reading made the evenings bright to the little
family circle, and they were anticipated by the chil
dren with great delight. The months of June and
July of 1851 were passed in the North with his
family, and we find him writing from his home,
" dear old Norfolk," again, under date of August Qth,
the birthday of his beloved L , his eldest child.
Refreshed and strengthened by his rest and change
of scene, he returns with delight to his field of labor,
LIFE IN NORFOLK. 53
and enters upon his duties with all the enthusiasm of
his nature. That summer he had decided upon a
change of residence, and took a pleasant house imme
diately on the water, the beautiful harbor of Nor
folk. He says in this letter, August Qth :
" I wrote all morning, and in the afternoon went out. Old
familiar faces and_places greeted me on every side. All wel
comed me home again, but I could not look towards our old
home and its vicinity ; all brought up teeming recollections
of by-gone days. Our friends are clamorous for your and
the children's return. To-day is my sweet L 's birthday.
God bless her ! is her father's prayer. Oh, how much we
have to be thankful for ! Pray for me each day that God
may guide me and bless my labors !
A letter from his friend Bishop Lee, of Delaware,
reached him at this time. It is dated
" INGLESIDE, December 29, 1851.
" MY DEAR CUMMINS : Your kind letter gave me much
pleasure. It has been an exceeding encouragement to me,
under the trial which elicited the " Pastoral Letter," to be
assured of the sympathy, the good wishes, and the prayers
of the brethren whom I most esteem. Anything like con
troversy is peculiarly alien to my taste, and no personal
consideration could draw me into it. But the present is a
time for no compromising policy. The contest is, in my opinion,
for the very life of our holy religion ; and if we would secure
the approving sentence of our Great Judge at the last, we
must be steadfast in our maintenance of the truth of his Gospel.
I know not what course Mr. B and his friends will adopt.
But if God be for us, who can be against us ? I have the
pleasure of frequently meeting Dr. Balch, and was at the
consecration of his church at Chester last week. He has
done wonders there, and I trust God will abundantly bless
54 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
his labors to the salvation of many souls. It would give Mrs.
Lee and myself, as well as your Wilmington friends, great
pleasure to see Mrs. C and yourself here again. Please
to remember us very kindly to her. When in this region
again you must give your friends at St. Andrew's part or a
whole of a Sunday. I should much enjoy a visit to you ;
perhaps some day I shall 'accomplish it, but cannot exactly
say when. Believe me faithfully yours,
" ALFRED LEE."
Thus early was it felt to be a necessity for the
evangelical bishops of the Protestant Episcopal
Church to stand up boldly for the Truth. The cloud
was as yet but " as a man's hand," but it was a cloud
nevertheless.
In the spring of 1852 Mr. Cummins passed through
a severe trial in the extreme illness of his wife, and as
soon as she could be moved he took her to her
father's home in Virginia. That summer, accom
panied by his family, he made a very delightful trip
to Niagara Falls, to Smyrna, Del., and to Cape May.
The same autumn, after his return to his duties, the
yellow-fever appeared in Norfolk, and prevailed,
though not extensively, until the frosts arrested its fur
ther progress. Mercifully the autumn was unusually
cold for that region, and the frosts came much earlier
than usual. Mr. Cummins had no cases in his con
gregation, but he attended several sailors in the most
unpleasant part of the old seaport town. They all
died, but were greatly blest in the loving ministra
tions of the young minister, and his heart was much
cheered in believing that they went down into the
Dark Valley with a sure and certain hope of meeting
him who had so faithfully told them of Jesus in the
heavenly home.
CHAPTER VI.
LIFE IN NORFOLK (CONTINUED).
" Toil on, faint not, keep watch and pray ;
Be wise the erring soul to win ;
Go forth into the world's highway,
Compel the wanderer to come in." BONAR.
AGED 31.
THE year 1853 found Mr. Cummins still wholly
occupied with the care and varied duties of
his large and important parish. During the five
years he had been pastor of Christ Church many
precious souls had been brought, through his instru
mentality, to " see Jesus" and confess him before
men. The parish was a peculiar one in some re
spects, caling for unceasing parochial labor on the
part of the pastor. The testimony of his dear people
was ever that of grateful hearts to one who so un
tiringly ministered to them. The souls he had
brought to Christ, the dead he had laid away
until the resurrection, the little ones whom he
had consecrated to God in baptism, the friends he
had united in marriage, the sick whom he had for
years visited and cheered, and the poor to whom he
had ever been a loving friend, all testified to his
never-failing faithfulness. He loved them all with a
devoted love, a love he felt was peculiarly deep. They
were his first flock, the " firstfruits" of his ministe-
56 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
rial labors. It was therefore with a very sad heart
he thought of sundering these ties. The climate of
Norfolk had never suited his wife or children, and
even he felt its debilitating influence greatly, though
he had never allowed this to interfere with a faithful
discharge of his many duties. Summer after summer
he sought strength for the labors of the following
ten months or more in his wife's early home in
Virginia and elsewhere, and up to this time these
annual vacations had enabled him to meet the de
mands made upon him. Very early, however, in the
spring of 1853 it was thought necessary by Mrs.Cum-
mins's medical adviser that she should leave Norfolk
for the bracing mountain air of Northern Virginia.
Accordingly he and his family left their home for
Baltimore, where Mrs. Cummins and the children
turned their faces towards Jefferson County, and Mr.
Cummins returned to his lonely home and to his duties
in Christ Church. His first letter after this painful
separation is dated Baltimore, April 3Oth, and is filled
with an account of his visit there :
" I walked out," he writes, " with Mr. F to see
Franklin Square and the church now being built for Mr.
B 's congregation. The improvements there are beyond all
expectation, and the church will be very beautiful. B 's
perversion has produced great excitement in Baltimore. I
trust it may do good eventually, but the present effect is to
lower the church very much in public estimation in Mary
land. "
In a letter dated May 2d, he writes :
' ' At eleven o'clock we had service. Rev. Mr. S assisted
me. I preached on the nature of the Lord's Supper, it being
LIFE IN NORFOLK. 57
the first communion of many. The text was, ' What mean
ye by this service ? ' We had a large accession to the com
munion all the candidates who were confirmed and others.
The number of communicants was immense." " Mrs. J
gave me a letter from her husband to read. It is chiefly occu
pied with an account of the effect of my ministrations upon
himself. Such a testimonial from such a man is a reward above
all price, and of itself would be worth the labor of a lifetime."
The following letter was written at this time to
his precious children :
" MY SWEET DAUGHTER : I write to tell you how much I
love you, and how sorry I was to leave you in the cars. I am at
home in Norfolk, and take my breakfast alone. I wish you
were here to sit at the head of the table ! I look in your baby-
house every day. Poor ' Lina ' is sitting there just as you
left her. Georgiana is out in the yard, and has nobody to
play with. You must be a sweet child, and be mamma's
comfort till papa comes. Papa will come next week.
" Good-by now, and every night and morning pray for
your own dear PAPA."
The second one is to his boy, then three years old.
" MY PRECIOUS GEORGIE : I want to see and pet you very
much. I expect you are very happy riding with Uncle
Charles. How is the colt ? and the little chickens ? Is
the whip worn out yet ? Good-by, and do not forget your
DEAR PAPA."
In a letter to his wife, dated May 4th, 1853, he
says :
" Bishop Meade arrived very unexpectedly yesterday, and
I have been much of my time with him. Yesterday I dined at
Mrs. C 's. She is much more cheerful. She and
A send much love, as indeed do all your friends. I
58 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
visited several families who have sickness in their homes
or are in affliction. Hearing of the bishop's arrival, I
went to Mr. S 's to. see him. I spent part of the even
ing with him. This morning I drove out with the bishop.
His health is very feeble, and his object in coming here was
to seek improvement. He will not be able to attend the con
vention. We visited the strawberry farms, and he enjoyed
the drive very much. I dined at Mrs. P 's with him. I
came home immediately after dinner to prepare my lecture,
and did not go out again until it was time for service. The
bishop was present. The lecture-room was full, but the
bishop did not feel well enough to speak. He will remain
until Monday. Mrs. Capt. S sent me a nice breakfast
this morning. To-morrow is Ascension-day."
In another letter he says :
" I wish you could see our cloth-of-gold rose, it is so large
and beautiful. Our flowers are all very lovely. Tell 'Lizzie
I saw a beautiful humming-bird about the flowers yesterday.
My spirit is holding communion with you, and I can commit
you and my sweet ones to the care of our merciful Father.
It is at this hour I miss you most, but I am striving to bear
this separation cheerfully."
The Diocesan convention met that year in Wheel
ing. The railroad over the mountains had not long
been completed, a great triumph of engineering skill.
It was the first time the delegates could reach that
city by rail. Mr. Cummins arranged to leave Nor
folk for Wheeling via Baltimore and Harper's
Ferry, that he might be with his family for a few
days. He writes :
" If you do not attend the convention with me, I will try to
be with you at the cottage a little longer. I am so happy to
hear that the dear children are enjoying themselves so much.
LIFE IN NORFOLK. 59
How touching in little Georgia asking his Grandpapa ' to
take him to see his Papa ' ! Oh, how I long to see you
again ! But I must repress all longings. God is so good
and kind and merciful to us that any but a contented state
of mind would be sinful. Our cup he makes to run over ;
and jvhat a blessing to have so lovely a spot as father's
home to visit ! I pray for you three times a day. ' '
May 6th he writes :
" Yesterday I dined at Mr. P 's with the bishop, and
visited with him. After I left him I went to Mrs. T 's, to
Mrs. James T 's, who has been quite ill ; to Mrs. S 's,
and to Mrs. W 's. All send much love to you. This morn
ing I drove out with Bishop Meade ; he wished to visit some of
our prettiest gardens. We went to Mrs. S 's ; her place is
looking beautiful. She is very feeble. From there we went to
Rev. Mr. Jackson's and spent an hour. I then drove home
with the bishop, and at his request read to him my treatise
on " The Romish and Reformed Theories of Justification Con
trasted." He expressed great satisfaction with it and advised
its immediate publication, and offered to publish it at his own
expense. He frequently receives money from persons which
he appropriates in this way, and indeed nearly all his own in
come is expended thus. A short time ago a gentleman wrote
to him from North Carolina, stating that his sister left the
bishop $500, to be expended as he pleased. He is going to
use it to publish Archbishop Whately's ' Cautions for the
Times.' I write at night. My heart is over the Blue Moun
tains, but I commit you and my sweet children in prayer to
a kind Protector. The bishop, with some of the clergy,
thinks of going to-morrow to visit Lake Drummond, in the
Dismal Swamp. The scenery is said to be of surpassing
beauty. I am glad of the opportunity, for I may not have
another. To-day I dined at Mr. W -'s, and then had ser-
60 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
vice and baptism in the church. I took tea with the bishop
and Mr. Jackson."
About this time he writes from Cumberland, Md.,
on his way to the convention :
" By the protecting care of our heavenly Father I am safely
on my journey thus far. We took the cars at Kearneysville
at 12.30, and at once found ourselves in the company of a
large number of our clergy. The heat was excessive and the
dust most annoying, and we had a most unpleasant ride ; I was
glad you were not with me. Mr. H , our delegate from
Christ Church, and his wife were in the cars. I was glad to
meet them. The country through which we passed is very
beautiful and the scenery wild in some places. To-morrow
we rise at two o'clock, and leave in the train at three o'clock !
It is 200 miles to Wheeling."
In the same letter he writes :
' 'Eight o'clock P.M. We have just returned, my dearest wife,
from a walk to the top of one of the hills surrounding the town.
The view is one of the finest I have ever seen The hills rise to
a lofty height on every side, and in the centre lies the town of
Cumberland, the Potomac River winding through the valley
and among the hills. Beyond rise mountains, stretching away
as far as the eye can see. Standing on the summit, one has a
vivid idea of the triumph of mind over the material world : it
is almost inconceivable how a railroad could be made to pierce
these mountain ranges. It is a comforting thought to me to
know that all my loved ones follow me in my journey with
their prayers."
At this time Mr. Cummins received an urgent in
vitation to make the annual address before the Cadets'
Bible Society of the Virginia Military Institute, at
Lexington, Va. For this purpose he left home June
LIFE IN NORFOLK. 6 1
1 2th, for Lexington. On the i6th he writes from
the Institute :
" MY BELOVED E : I write you at last from the end of
my journey, and with a grateful heart to a kind heavenly Father,
for my safe arrival and good health. The ride in the stage
of sixteen hours was most fatiguing. The day was very hot,
and the turnpike dusty. I rested well at Staunton, and the
next morning took the stage again for Lexington. Col. S
came down to the hotel for me in his carriage, and we drove
to his house, where I am now staying. I am fully repaid for
all my fatigue by the beauty of this country. The Institute
is on an eminence overlooking the finest scenery on every
side ; mountains rising in grandeur, and most lovely valleys
below them. I think it is even more beautiful than' the coun
try around the University of Virginia. The Institute is a
noble building, yet unfinished, in the Tudor-Gothic style,
and so also are the homes of the professors. The Norfolk
boys have been to see me. They are among the best students
in the place. My address is to be delivered to-morrow night,
and I am also to preach for them on Sunday. The Presby
terian Church is kindly offered to us for Sunday night, it be
ing a larger building. I have seen the Southern Churchman
of last week. It contains my letter, but not the address ;
that will appear next week. I find I cannot return to Jeffer
son, but will have to go at once to Norfolk. I could not re
main over the 24th [their wedding-day], even were I to try to
reach you this week, and return to Norfolk in time for Sun
day's duties. I will send my gift of love, however. What
cause have we to bless God for all his mercies ! True, we
have trials and sorrows, but they may be made our most
precious blessings. Earnestly do I join you in the prayer
that God will make us more wholly his. I have made the
acquaintance of all the professors, and it is a cause of great
thankfulness that they are all seven in number Christians.
62 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
Four are members of our church, and three Presbyterians,
Col. S - is a most interesting man, eminently pious, and
has had serious thoughts of entering the ministry, but Bishop
Meade thinks his position here even more useful than that of
a minister. He has, indeed, a cure of souls. Four times a
week he has prayer-meetings for the cadets,, and has been
instrumental in the conversion of many. His home is near
the Institute, and by the lawn where the cadets parade and
drill. This is very interesting. Both evenings I have been
here they have had a drill of flying artillery, and the rapid
firing of the cannon is very beautiful. This evening they
are to have a battalion drill of the whole corps, and it is said
to be a very fine sight. My address is to be delivered at
eight o'clock to-night in the Episcopal church.
" Satitrday morning, June i8//. My thoughts turn to you
with pleasure this sweet morning, and I try to imagine how
you are all engaged. My own darling children are before me
in all their loveliness. I have wished for them so often to
see the parades and drills of the cadets. You, who have
been at West Point, know how interesting and beautiful it is.
Last evening we had a battalion drill, and the rays of the set
ting sun on their guns was very striking in its effect. Our
Norfolk boys are doing very well. Last night I delivered my
address to the cadets. The church was very full : all the
cadets were present, as were the students of Washington Col
lege. It occupied an hour in the delivery. I shall try to get
to the Natural Bridge before leaving ; it is only thirteen miles
from Lexington. The Board of Visitors meet here on Mon
day for the annual examination, and will be received by a
grand review and salute by the cadets.
"Five o'clock P.M. I have just received letters, forwarded
to me at this place, announcing my election to the Rectorship
of St. James's Church, Richmond. The official announcement
from the wardens is accompanied by a letter from a Mr.
D - , who states that I was elected on the first ballot.
LIFE IN NORFOLK. 63
Oh, that God may direct me aright in this matter ! My
constant cry must be to him. The wardens wish me to act
at once, and all my plans are changed. I will write imme
diately to Bishop Meade. Ask dear father and mother to
write me their prayerful opinion. Pray for me earnestly."
From the "Address," which was published in
pamphlet form, we quote a single passage :
' ' Eight hundred years ago all Europe rang with the sound
of preparation for one of the most stupendous movements to
which the energies of nations were ever summoned : A
barefooted hermit from India had gone through the lands,
rousing the multitudes by a burning eloquence to revenge
the wrongs of the Christian upon the infidel and the Saracen.
The Holy Sepulchre of Christ was in the hands of the Moslem,
and to wrest it from such foul pollution was now the watch
word of the vast millions of Crusaders. All the chivalry of
Europe responded to the call, its nobility rallied to the
standard ; unnumbered masses armed themselves for the
strife. The ripening grain was left unreaped upon the har
vest-field ; the crowded marts of commerce were depopu
lated ; kings laid down their sceptres to take the sword, and
like the- locusts of the East the darkening hosts swept on
ward towards the Holy Land and City. Alas ! how different
the ending ! Millions perished in the fruitless effort, and the
Moslem reigned secure in his ascendency.
"A nobler Crusade is that to which we are called ; infi
nitely-more sublime in its aims, in its motives, in its results.
It is a crusade not to recover the Holy Sepulchre from the
infidel, but to recover the world back to God ; not to wrest from
profane hands the tomb of Christ, but to plant his Cross in
every land, and cause every knee to bow before its sway. It
is a crusade against sin ; against evil in every form ; against
gigantic systems of error grown hoary by age ; against debas
ing idolatry, degrading superstition ; against oppression and
ignorance, despotism and vice. Be this your elected work."
CHAPTER VII.
CALL TO RICHMOND.
" In his love if them abide,
He will guide."
" And the Lord shall guide thee continually." Is. 63 : n.
AGED 31.
THE following- letter was written while Mr. Cum
mins was the guest of the Military Institute :
"LEXINGTON, VA., June 20, 1853.
" MY DEAR BISHOP : I received on Saturday evening a let
ter from the wardens of St. James's Church, Richmond, an
nouncing my election as their pastor ; and before taking a
step in the matter I desire to lay before you my position,
and to receive your counsel and advice. You know well
how pleasantly I have been situated in Norfolk, and my high
appreciation of that dear people. You know, also, that God
has blessed my labors abundantly, and given me many seals
to my ministry. And at the close of six years of labor among
them it is not unbecoming in me to say that I possess their
confidence and love in no small degree.
" With all this, however, there has been for some time past
a cause of deep anxiety and trouble to me, in the apparently
injurious effect of the climate upon my wife's health. We
have struggled against this conviction for a long time, in the
hope that a change might occur for the better. It has not
proved so, however, but, on the contrary, she seems less able
to live in Norfolk than ever before. The result is that every
summer, or a period of four or five months in each year, must
be passed away.
CALL TO RICHMOND. 65
' This trial has often caused us to anticipate the necessity of
a removal to a different atmosphere, but heretofore no special
opening has appeared before me. We have awaited God's
providence, and I must do my wife the justice to say, that
she has never desired me to take a step looking to a change
on her account.
' ' Now, however, a field is presented to me elsewhere, to
tally unsolicited on my part. And now arises the struggle
between these opposing influences. But for this one cause of
anxiety I should not consider an invitation of this kind, so
strong is my attachment to my dear people. I write now to
ask 'your advice in my perplexity. At the same time I will
earnestly seek the guidance of the Spirit of God, that I may
be permitted to' take no step other than His providence may
mark out for me. I trust also to have an interest in your
prayers.
" I am, with much affection, faithfully yours in Christ,
" GEO. D. CUMMINS.
" Rt. Rev. WILLIAM MEADE."
To this letter Bishop Meade sent the following re
ply :
" DANVILLE, VA., June 24, 1853.
" REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER : I have just reached this
place, and received your letter from Lexington, and as the mail
goes out to-morrow morning I must write a line at once. Most
deeply shall I feel for the people of Christ Church, Norfolk,
should you leave them, as I know not where they will find one
to take your place who will fill it to their satisfaction and
edification, but I am not justified in undertaking to decide
upon the point on which the question turns in your own mind
and judgment. That must be left to yourself, after faithful
prayer for divine guidance. If you must go, I would rather
you would go to Richmond than to any other place in or out
of the diocese. I can say no more. My love to Mrs.
Cummins. Most truly yours, W. MEADE."
66 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
The letter from the wardens of St. James's Church.,
Richmond, Va., is as follows :
"RICHMOND, VA., June 16, 1853.
" DEAR SIR : As wardens of St. James's Church in this
city, the vestry have made it our duty to inform you at once
that at a meeting held this afternoon they elected you to the
rectorship of said church. Permit us to add that we hope
that you may, under Divine Providence, deem it your duty to
accept the call thus tendered to you, and that you will inform
us at your very earliest convenience of your determination. We
have been for some time a flock without a pastor, and it is
very important that we should hear from you as soon as pos
sible.
' ' With sentiments of the highest esteem, we are
'.' Your brothers in Christ,
" H. J. CHRISTIAN, ) w d ,.
B. B. MINOR, J ^
Under date of Lexington, June 2ist, 1853, Mr.
Cummins writes :
" How I long to be with you in this time of anxiety ! I
have written to Bishop Meade, and will see the vestry in
passing through Richmond, but shall not give my answer then.
Col. S urges me to come here. Saturday night I
preached to the cadets; subject, the 'Voyage of Ulysses.'
Sunday morning, ' Henry Martyn a Model for Young Men ;'
and at night, ' John Randolph as a Man and a Statesman ;'
and last night the subject was ' The Conflict between Christ and
Satan for the Soul of Man.' The church was full, the cadets
all present ; they seemed much interested, and I trust good
was done. I breakfasted at Col. McD 's, and took tea at
Dr. W 's, the Presbyterian minister here. I leave Lex
ington to-day for Staunton, thence to Richmond, and then
to Norfolk."
CALL TO RICHMOND. 6?
In a letter, dated Richmond, July ist, 1853, on
his way to Norfolk, he speaks of the intense heat,
and of the contrast between the city and the country
life he loved so well, but of the comfort he always
felt in the faithful discharge of his duties, and con
cludes thus :
' Try, my beloved E -- , to look more to your Saviour
for strength, and he will hold you up. My chief comfort in
this sad separation is to pray for you, and commit you wholly
to the care of our blessed Saviour. May he keep you in the
hollow of his hand ! May he be to you now in the place of
your husband ! May he sanctify every trial to your soul's
eternal good, and may he keep us both close to himself and
fit us for his heavenly kingdom ! Pray for me. Love to
all, and kisses for my precious ' Lily ' and little man."
In another letter, dated July 2d, he mentions hav
ing just heard of the sudden death of one of his most
prominent parishioners and kindest fronds. He also
mentions having received letters from two of the
vestry of St. James's Church, Mr. D - and Mr.
<( I earnestly hope the determination to accept this call is
of God. It is gratifying to learn of the interest with which my
election is received in Richmond."
July 2d again he writes :
<( I have just returned from a visit to Mrs. S -- . and it
was one of the saddest I ever paid. She gave me the particu
lars of F - 's death, and says she is perfectly resigned to the
will of God. He was at dinner Monday ; on Tuesday was
very ill, and asked ' when will Mr. Cummins be here ? ' It was
so very sudden ! She told me of Mr. J - having told them
68 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
of the call to Richmond, when her husband exclaimed, ' Oh,
what a loss to us ! but we must not be selfish." Mrs. S
asked me, ' Are you going to leave us ? ' I told her what a
severe trial it had been to have to decide such a question,
but that she knew my difficulties. She said yes, she knew
all ; that they ought not to wish to keep me always ; that she
was so thankful for my ministry that it had been blessed in
bringing F to a knowledge of salvation. She added
that it would make no difference where we went, she would
love us just the same, and that if it were a question of health
it was my duty to go. Write to her, I know it will comfort
her. I dined at Mrs. Selden's. They appreciate my motive
for leaving, though they express great regret at the prospect.
I was called away from dinner to baptize a very ill child.
This afternoon I will visit Mr. John S and Mrs. Dr.
C . Good-by. Kiss my precious children, and give love
to all the dear ones. Pray for me."
Mr. Cummins accepted the call to St. James's
Church, Richmond, July 3d, and wrote to the vestry,
saying he would enter on his duties September ist,
1853. To this the vestry readily concurred, as it
would enable them to have the church thoroughly
repaired. Their letter in reply to his concludes with
the following words :
" The vestry most heartily unite with you in the prayer
that your acceptance of their call may be the means of pro
moting the glory of our common Master, and the spiritual wel
fare of the congregation intrusted to your charge. Permit us
to add that we hail your coming amongst us as a new era in
this part of the Lord's vineyard to which we are attached,
and believe that a wide field of usefulness lies open before
you."
CALL TO RICHMOND. 69
About this time Mr. Cummins received the follow
ing letter from one of his vestry, afterwards a very
warm friend :
" RICHMOND, June 27, 1853.
' ' Rev. G. D. Cummins :
" DEAR SIR : Although I have not the pleasure of a per
sonal acquaintance with you, yet as a vestryman of St. James's
Church T feel that I may approach you in respect to your
recent election, and the relation I trust we shall in a short
time sustain to each other. And first let me assure you of the
general favor your election meets here not only in our con
gregation, or in the Episcopal Church, but in the whole com-
jnunity, evidences of which are continually occurring of a
most gratifying character. A few days ago I received a letter
from our late venerable rector, Rev. Dr. Empie, in which he
expresses great pleasure at your being elected his successor.
Whilst these things are agreeable in themselves, they are yet
more important as opening the way for extensive usefulness ;
and in this respect be well assured we can present you with a
wide field ' white for the harvest. ' You are doubtless aware of
the state of things here in the Episcopal Church, and it is
needless for me to refer more particularly to it. I will only
say, however, and with truth, I think, that your coming is
looked to with hope and expectation, as calculated to exert a
more beneficial influence in this particular than that of any
other person ; and this is an important consideration in de
termining so important a question. I doubt not that this sub
ject will receive from you the serious and prayerful reflection
which it demands, and I think you are entirely right in con
sulting Bishop Meade before making your decision. I have
been impelled to this communication from a desire that
before deciding you should be fully aware of the great need
the church has for you here ; of the great amount of good
you may be instrumental in effecting ; of the cordial reception
7O GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
that awaits you here, and the hearty co-operation you may
safely count on in carrying forward the great work of the Re
deemer. So that in leaving a place where your labors have
been so highly blessed, you will come to one where there is
even more to do than in the one you leave. I must now con
clude, with the earnest hope that, guided by that Spirit whose
direction you seek, you may see the path of duty pointed
plainly to this place as the scene of your future labors. May
I hope to hear from you soon ?
" With high regard and esteem, I am, dear sir,
" Yours most obediently,
" FREDERICK BRANSFORD."
CHAPTER VIII.
RESIGNS CHRIST CHURCH, NORFOLK.
"There is work for all in the Gospel field.
And, if the mind be willing,
The place for labor will stand revealed,
And the fruitage rich, and the harvest yield
Will surely crown the tilling." MARSHALL B. SMITH.
AGED 31.
ON the 5th July, 1853, Mr. Cummins formally re-
signed Christ Church, Norfolk, when the follow
ing communications were received by him :
"NORFOLK, July 9, 1853.
' ' Rev. Geo. D. Cummins :
" REVEREND AND DEAR SIR : Your letter of 5th inst.,
addressed to us as trustees, resigning your office as rector of
Christ Church in this city, was, according to the requirements
of the constitution of that church, laid before the pew-holders
assembled in general meeting last evening.
' ' By their direction, we now inclose you a copy of the
resolutions unanimously adopted by them in response to
your letter.
" We have no hesitation in assuring you that the resolu
tions truly represent the sentiments of every member of the
congregation. Each year of your ministration among them
has but increased your influence and strengthened their con
fidence in and affection for you ; and they all feel that in
the removal of their faithful and acceptable pastor a loss has
been sustained by them which it will be difficult to repair.
GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
The love, respect, and confidence of the peoyle of your late
charge will accompany you to your new field of labor, with
their prayers to the Throne of Grace for a continuance of the
divine blessing on your ministrations, as well as on yourself
and family in all things spiritual and temporal. We will
only add for ourselves, that we sincerely regret the severance
of our official relations, and the cause which in your judg
ment made it necessary, and that we most cordially concur in
the sentiments contained in the resolutions of the pew-holders
of Christ Church, herewith inclosed. We beg leave to sub
scribe ourselves,
" Your sincere and attached friends,
" WM. H. THOMPSON, "] T t
WALTER H. TAYLOR, |
N. W. PARKER, \
Jos. H. ROBERTSON,
TAZEWELL TAYLOR, J
The following are the resolutions :
" At a meeting of the pew-holders of Christ Church, held
in the lecture-room on Friday evening, July 8th, 1853, the
trustees laid before the meeting a communication from the
Rev. George D. Cummins resigning the rectorship of Christ
Church, and assigning the ill-health of his family as the reason
which had led him reluctantly to this step. Whereupon it
was
" Resolved, unanimously, That the congregation have re
ceived this intelligence, and now accept his resignation, with
the profoundest regret. They bear in mind the happy rela
tions which have existed between the faithful pastor and his
affectionate people during the six years that he has, both by
precept and example, ministered among them ; and whilst
they truly lament the severance of their connection, they 'no
less sincerely sympathize with him in the cause which led
to it.
DESIGN'S CHRIST CHURCH, NORFOLK. 73
" Resolved, That the trustees be requested to make
known to Mr. Cummins the proceedings of this meeting, and
to assure him that whithersoever he may go, the congregation
will delight to cherish the memory of his social and Chris
tian virtues, nor will they cease to pray that a career of use
fulness so auspiciously begun, may not the less happily termi
nate.
" J. MURDEN, Secretary."
Copy from minutes.
In a letter dated July 5th he writes :
" Part of my heavy trial is over. I have met some of our
friends, and the result is different from my expectations.
They have proved themselves noble friends indeed ; not a
word of reproach have I heard from a single person, but, on
the contrary, the gentlemen whom I have seen act the part of
disinterested advisers and friends. I have never felt anything
to be more grateful to my feelings than such conduct on
their part amidst my own anxiety. With all there is one
sentiment of deep sorrow, but an appreciation of my motives,
and a confidence in my integrity of purpose. This morning
I met T , and had a > long conversation with him. He
said no one could desire to retain me here more than he did,
but that for many reasons it was desirable for me to go to
Richmond. He thought the church needed me there. It is very
hot here now, and the dismal swamp is on fire for miles, and
we are enveloped, at times, in the smoke ; even the cinders fall
around us, and the air is very oppressive. I can see the light
at night from our windows. Yesterday morning I preached
from Psalm 84 : 10 to a large congregation which filled the
church despite the great heat, and administered the commun
ion, Rev. Mr. S assisting me. It was the last communion
season I should be with them, and was a sad time to pastor
and people. In the afternoon Mr. W came in to see me.
You know his deep attachment for us. He spoke ' of the
74 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
deep sorrow among all my people, ' and added they never
knew before how strong their love for me was, but that he
thought I was right in going. To-day is the 4th, and a
Prussian frigate and sloop of war are lying out in the harbor.
The bands on board are very fine, and they play very often.
Rev. Mr. J came in to see me, and thinks I ought to
go, although he is very sorry to have me leave. You know
how we have worked together. He was in Richmond when
I was elected, and says there was great satisfaction in the city
at the result. He thinks my going important for the church.
So I have sent my letter of acceptance." He adds, " It is not
a little remarkable that next Sunday closes my six years of
labor here. I entered upon my duties July nth, 1847."
The following letter from his beloved friend Dr.
Johns was received some months before, but a part
of it may be inserted here :
"BALTIMORE, February 19, 1853.
' ' REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER : I have not yet met Col.
P , but will call as soon as I hear that they have opened
doors incur city. I regret your loss of such a valuable friend.
Even one such man removing creates a void in the largest con
gregation. But I trust Providence will send you another to fill
the vacancy. Old Christ Church is pretty well packed.
B and myself have our hands full, I assure you. I never
worked so hard in my life as since returning from England
last September. There has been much sickness and con
siderable mortality. You know what the funeral service is
here. I sometimes think we ought to have chaplains for our
cemeteries, as in England. You must remember me very
kindly to Mrs. Cummins. I see her brother now and then.
Allow me most cordially to respond to your friendly allusion
to our former intercourse. It has never been forgotten by
me, and will always cause me to fed a brother's interest in
everything relating to you and yours. I wish I could see
RESIGNS CHRIST CHUXCH, NORFOLK. 75
more of you, and must try and have that pleasure. Still,
having been absent five months last summer and autumn, I
feel obliged to keep in harness constantly for a season. We
have started our new enterprise for the up-town section of
the congregation, and hope to see it through in about a
twelvemonth.
^ ' ' Truly and affectionately,
"HENRY V. D. JOHNS.
" P.S. Old England is a glorious country, and our Evan
gelical brethren there are ' true blue ' to the bone."
Norfolk is one of our most interesting naval posts.
In the Congregation of Christ Church were officers
of all ranks, from commodores there were then no
admirals to midshipmen. These with their fam
ilies formed a large circle of refined and cultured
people. Among them were many who had been
brought to a knowledge of Jesus by the preaching of
Mr. Cummins. Over them he had great influence,
and some of them were his dearest friends. On
one occasion, preaching at night to young men, as
was his frequent custom, on " Henry Martyn, a
Model for Young Men," the church was densely
crowded, the galleries entirely filled with men. At
the close of a most thrilling appeal to them to give
themselves to God, a young officer arose in one of
the galleries, and, forgetting where he was, he said
in clearest tones that arrested the attention of all :
" Here am I God help me !" On another occasion
Mr. Cummins was writing on a particular subject,
and his manner of treating it was not satisfactory to
himself. He felt somewhat discouraged at his effort,
and concluded not to preach the sermon, but was
advised to do so with the remark, that sometimes
76 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
words may reach the heart when least expected.
The sermon was delivered with his usual vigor and
earnestness. At the close of the service a young
midshipman walked up the aisle, took the hand of
the pastor, and said with intense feeling : " I thank
you most deeply for that sermon. It has been the
means of deciding me to-day to take my stand on the
Lord's side." Mr. Cummins, on returning home,
gave thanks to God in special prayer that he had
been led, as he believed, by the Holy Spirit to preach
that sermon, and had the incident written upon the
blank leaf of his sermon. The young officer united
himself at once with the church, and then left his
country to join the squadron to which he had been
ordered, and they never met again.
Mr. Cummins preached his last sermon in Norfolk
from the text St. John 4 : 36, 37. Amidst all his cares
and anxieties in leaving his loved friends and home, he
had to prepare the journal of the Diocesan convention
for publication. A sale of their furniture was held
July 1 3th, and on the following Monday, iSth, he left
Norfolk for the home of Mrs. C -'s father, in North
ern Virginia, thankful for the rest of the quiet coun
try life after the excitement and sorrow incident to the
breaking up of his home and taking leave of so many
friends who felt it to be a personal trial to have him
go-
CHAPTER IX.
WORK IN RICHMOND.
" He was a -shepherd, and no mercenary,
And though he holy was, and virtuous,
lie was to sinful men full piteous ;
His words were strong, but not with anger fraught ;
A love benignant he discreetly taught ;
To draw mankind to heaven by gentleness
And good example was his business.
******
But Jesus' love, which owns no pride or pelf,
lie taught but first he followed it himself." CHAUCER.!
AGED 31.
THE summer of 1853 was passed in Jefferson
County, West Virginia, with the exception of a
most pleasant visit to Bath, Morgan County, Va.,
where Mr. Cummins, with his family and his wife's
parents, spent a fortnight. September ist he left for
Richmond, accompanied by his family, and at once,
entered on his duties at St. James's Church. While
waiting for their own house to be prepared for them,
they were received into the homes of dear friends
there.
Before leaving Northern Virginia for Richmond
Mr. Cummins received the following letter from Dr.
May, then editor of The ChurcJi Review and profes
sor in the Theological Seminary near Alexandria, Va. :
78 GEORGE DA V1D CUMMINS.
" PHILADELPHIA, August 30, 1853.
" REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER : I write hastily to say
that Bishop Meade, whom I saw here last night, gratified me by
the information that you have prepared a treatise on Justifica
tion which would be suitable for the Review, and that you
might be persuaded to contribute it for that work. I lose no
time in making the request that you will allow it to be used
for an article in our Quarterly. Be pleased to let me have it
as soon as you can, not later than November ist. I am en
couraged to hope you may be willing to be a regular contrib
utor. Do give me assurance to that effect. I was much dis
appointed in not seeing you while we were so near each
other. Be pleased to give me the assurance I have requested.
I hope you will turn your mind to the preparation of a me
moir of Mrs. Hening. You will be looked to for such a work.
" Affectionately your brother,
" JAMES MAY."
The autumn and winter of 1853-4 were passed by
Mr. Cummins in a faithful fulfilment of the duties of
his new charge. The same religious awakening
which had so cheered the heart of the young clergy
man while in Norfolk manifested itself in the gay
capital of the State. Numbers were through his
instrumentality brought to confess Christ before men.
His influence was widespread, and the church was
incapable of holding the vast throngs that crowded
to hear him preach. Class after class was presented
to the bishop for confirmation, and so far as his
work for the Lord went he had cause for heartfelt
thanksgiving. But his master meant to try his ser
vant in other ways. The health of his wife grew
steadily worse, and all that autumn and winter and
the following spring and summer she was a help-
WORK IN RICHMOND. 79
less invalid, confined entirely to her bed, and wholly
unable to aid her husband in his work. But
though this dark cloud hung" over his otherwise
happy home, he was ever the bright, loving, helpful
friend and pastor,
, " With a heart at leisure from itself,
To soothe and sympathize."
As the shadow darkened over his own "home, he
only lived closer to Jesus and gave out in larger
measure the full, deep treasures of love and sym
pathy garnered up in his own heart. His congregation
increased until there were no longer seats for more ;
and extra benches and chairs were provided to be
placed in the aisles every Sunday.
A confirmation was held in the winter, and again
in the spring, \May 7th, 1854. In these classes, both
very large, there were a larger number of men than
women. In April his little daughter was very ill, and
soon after his boy was seized with the same disease.
Their father took them to their grandfather's home,
where they were tenderly nursed by their grand
parents and faithful nurse. In June the cholera ap
peared in Richmond, but mercifully it did not be
come the fearful epidemic through which Mr. Cum,
mins had had to pass in Norfolk. In July he took
his family to Cape May, where for six weeks they
enjoyed the sea breezes and grew stronger every day.
September ist found them in Philadelphia, where Mrs.
Cummins passed several weeks under medical care.
God so blessed the means used for her relief that
she was able to return to Richmond in October with
her husband and there to take up the duties which
80 GEORGE DA VI D CUMMINS.
she had so long 1 been compelled to lay aside. For
this great blessing Mr. Cummins gave heartfelt
thanks, arid joy and gladness once more pervaded
his home.
The deep interest he felt in Missions brought him
in intimate association with the brethren who de
voted their lives to the work. Bishop Payne was a
dear and valued friend and correspondent. About
this time he received a long and interesting- letter
from the bishop, written on his reaching West
Africa after spending a year in this country. He
gives a description of his long voyage, of their arrival
at Cape Palmas, of the health of the missionary band
that went out with him, and expresses deep grati
tude for all the kindness and generous aid given him
by the dear people of Norfolk. We quote from the
letter, which did not reach Mr. Cummins until after
he settled in Richmond, as it speaks for one who
was God's faithful servant, and who has "rested
from his labors" for several years :
"OFF BASSA COVE, LIBERIA, June 22, 1852.
" MY spirit lingers around Norfolk, and to whom may I
more properly speak of its recollections, its feelings, its hopes,
than the honored servant of God who originates, guides, and
lives by the happy influences which bless that favored place ?
The missionary amongst the heathen, who has left all for
Christ's sake, has his comforts, but the sweet sympathies and
active co-operation of a Christian flock, loving him, joying
in his joys, weeping in his sorrows, laboring together with
him in the Gospel this is the peculiar privilege of the pastor
in circumstances like yours, where Christianity has found
a well-ordered, peaceful home. Happy are the people and
WORK IN RICHMOND. 8 1
the pastor that are in such a case ; ' yea, happy are the peo
ple whose God is the Lord. '
" I have said yours and the happiness of pastors similarly
situated is peculiar, and yet you do not enjoy it exclusively.
How ungrateful should I be if I did not feel every day and
acknowledge that / am happier and more joyful, and stronger
in the Lord, for all the kind sympathy and heartfelt prayers
and generous efforts of the many godly ministers and con
gregations with whom I have mingled during the past year !
And that which sustains and comforts me, does and will sus
tain and comfort those associated with me, and others else
where engaged in the same blessed work. We live because
ye live in the Lord. And if, as Bickersteth said so beautifully
in his dying moments, ' No prayer is lost : they ever live,
they are, as it were, indented around the throne of God, and
when God looks around he sees the prayers of his people
covered with the sweet incense of the Saviour's intercession, '
what treasures are now, and will ever be, pouring in upon our
African mission through the lively interest and constant in
tercessions of our many dear Norfolk friends ? And if prayers
may avail for them and avail they will God shall return,
as he has been wont to do, sevenfold, into their own bosom,
for all they desire and do for others. ' '
He then writes of his plans for extending- the mis
sion, and of Mr. Hening, suggesting some way by
which that devoted missionary might still work for
the cause in this country, and concludes thus :
" I forgot to say that all our band are well and happy. Re
member me very kindly to Mrs. Cummins and Brother Jackson
and all my acquaintances and friends beloved in Norfolk ;
and believe me, reverend and dear brother,
" Very truly your friend and brother in Christ,
" JOHN PAYNE."
82 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
While in Norfolk Mr. Cummins was called upon to
give up one of his most efficient helpers and dearest
friends for the work of this mission. In 1853 Mrs. Hen-
ing, another dear missionary, was tenderly and loving
ly cared for by the congregation of Christ Church dur
ing her last illness. The ministrations of Mr. Cum
mins gave her great comfort during these last days
on earth. Her blind husband and sweet babe re
ceived the same loving attention. While Mr. Cum
mins was in Richmond, another lovely young Chris
tian woman left home and friends and went out from
St. James's Church to tell the Africans of " Jesus and
his love." Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Hoffman sleep side
by side in the little cemetery at Cape Palmas, and
Mrs. Hening in that near Norfolk. Mr. Cummins
endeavored to keep alive an earnest missionary spirit
in his congregations, and these dear ones " gone
before" often spoke of the refreshing and strength
ening influences felt in visiting Richmond and Nor
folk.
In the summer of 1853 Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Hoff
man and their little daughter visited Richmond,
where Mr. Hoffman presented the claims of the
mission to the churches in that city, while Mrs.
Hoffman gladdened the hearts of her friends by her
sweet presence.
In April, 1854, Mr. Cummins was invited by the
" Missionary Society of the Theological Seminary,"
Fairfax County, Va., to preach the annual sermon be
fore the society. Owing to the pressure of parochial
work, and illness in his family, he was unable to ac
cept this invitation. He was also requested to pre
pare a memoir of Mrs. Hening, but this he was
WORK IN RICHMOND. 83
obliged to decline for the same reasons. The editor
of the Clmrcli Quarterly wrote to him at this time,
urging him to send other contributions to the period
ical. To this request he responded by sending sev
eral articles, one of which was the " Romish and
Protestant Doctrines of Justification Contrasted." A
large Bible-class .in a select Episcopal school in
Richmond, formed of young ladies, occupied a por
tion of the time of the pastor during the year. On
Chistmas-day a handsome piece of silver was pre-
/ented to him by the pupils, accompanied by a most
kind and appreciative note from the principal, who
was a communicant of St. James's Church. In the
early part of 1854 he was invited by the Committee
of Arrangements of the American Bible Society,
of which Dr. S. H. Tyng, Sr., was chairman, to make
one of the addresses at its thirty-eighth anniversary,
held in New York City on the nth May. He was
prevented from accepting this invitation also, for the
reasons before mentioned. In the autumn of 1854
he visited Norfolk with his family, and passed some
time amongst his dear friends. The Rev. " Charles
Minnigerode, D.D., was his successor as rector of
Christ Church. Mr. Cummins left his family with
their kind friends, and returned to his duties in Rich
mond.
We quote from a letter written at this time :
"RICHMOND, October 29, 1854.
'' It is a new and strange life to me to be here alone in
the quiet house, and to listen in vain for your footstep and
the voices of our precious children. If I am disposed to re
gret my loneliness, the feeling is checked by the thought that
by remaining in Norfolk, you may be of service to our dearly
84 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
loved friends now passing under the cloud of sorrow, and
may contribute something to the spiritual comfort of the
dear friend to whom wearisome days and nights of sickness
are appointed. If so, it would be sinful to cherish lonely feel
ings, for I could covet for you no richer blessing than to be
able to lighten one load of human sorrow or bear the burden
of one ' weak-hearted ' one. It is a truth I feel more and more
deeply as life advances, that it is given to us to know no
happiness like that of doing good ; and for this I believe
we are not to lightly estimate or think meanly of our capacity
or ability, but just to do what is in our power, or what the
providence of God brings to our hands. We may feel weak,
and may be tempted to think it is not in our power to do any
thing ; but God works by our feeble instrumentality, and
thus more to his own glory. I am so forcibly reminded, as
I sit in this room, of your long and weary illness, and by it
of the loving-kindness of God to us in raising you up again.
Let the remembrance of this great mercy never be absent
from us, and let our daily prayer be for its sanctification to
our good. I reached home at 5.30 and soon had a fire made,
and the room looked quite bright and cheerful. The servants
welcomed me right gladly. I breakfasted Sunday with Mr.
and Mrs. B , and also dined with them. Preached in the
morning from Esther 5 : 13."
In another letter, dated October 3Otn, he writes :
"I went to St. James's. The crowd in the church was
more dense than I have ever seen it, partly, I suppose, on ac
count of the great number of visitors in town. Many stood
in the aisles during the whole service, and a great many left,
finding it impossible to obtain seats. I preached from the
words, ' The Son of man hath power to forgive sins. ' I
have been very much impressed since my return with the vast
importance of the field to which I have been called, and of the
WORK IN RICHMOND. 85
great results that may follow my ministry. Certainly I have
never seen more remarkable external manifestations, and it
fills me with a deep sense of the great responsibility placed
upon me. Never did any one need a more abundant supply
of the Spirit of God, to ' fufil the ministry ' and ' rightly di
vided the word of truth, ' than one in my present position.
Mr. B seems to feel this most deeply. Pray for me, that
my strength may be alone in God. '
In a letter of October 3ist, 1854, he says :
'" The city is overflowing with people, some sleeping in
tobacco-houses. The streets are as gay as in New York,
The State Fair opens to-day. You are remembered always,
and at no hour so pleasantly as at the hour of prayer. It is
a comfort then to bear you and our darlings on my heart to
our Father, and invoke fervently his blessings upon you.
Rev. Mr. C occupies our guest-room. It is difficult to
make one's way along the streets ; all is excitement and
intense activity. I spent the morning in my study preparing
my lecture. I have been visiting a great deal among the con
gregation lately. I long to hear of the welfare of our little
ones ; of sweet L 's troubles with her tooth, and
dear Georgie's inquiries about his " dear papa," about
whose coming he had such a hearty cry on Saturday. Tell
them papa will soon be back. Pray for me. May God ever
bless you, and make you more and more his own child, is
my fervent prayer. The box for Africa will soon be ready,
and will go in a vessel which sails from Savannah Decem
ber I St."
In another letter, of November 2d, he says :
" I have just been to the Monumental Church, where the
joint thanksgiving service was held. I assisted Mr. Wood-
bridge. After church I 'drove out to the Fair grounds. It
is indeed a wonderful sight, and I can give you no idea of
86 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
its extent and variety. It is the finest exhibition of the kind
I have ever seen, and a vast advance on last year. But the
greatest sight is the crowd ; it can only be numbered by thou
sands. I have met many friends from different parts of the
State, among them Col. S and a Mr. L from Wash
ington, who says he is coming to see me. ' '
It was at this time that, amidst the evident bless
ing of the Lord upon his labors, and with every as
surance of the love and esteem of his people, Mr.
Cummins was again, and so soon, called to decide a
question of duty.
CHAPTER X.
CALL TO WASHINGTON.
"Just as God leads I onward go,
Oft amid thorns and briers keen ;
God does not yet his guidance show,
But in the end it shall be seen
How by a loving Father's will
Faithful and true he leads me still.
Thus anchored, faith is resting."
From the German.
AGED 32.
ON November I3th, 1854, the vestry of Trinity
Church, Washington, D. C., met and decided
unanimously to tender Mr. Cummins a call to become
their rector. He had no wish to leave Richmond, and
was much surprised and even grieved at receiving
this call. His first decision was to decline it, as he
felt he had too lately entered upon the charge of St.
James's Church, and that he could not see it to be his
duty to leave his present parish. But he concluded
to lay the matter before his best friends, in whose
judgment he had great confidence, hoping that they
might aid him to see what was wisest. In the mean
time he made it a subject of constant prayer. One
of the vestry of Trinity Church had been sent to
Richmond to confer with Mr. Cummins, and to pre
sent the claims of the church in Washington. Let
ters were at once addresed to Bishops Meade and
Johns of Virginia, to Dr. H. V. D. Johns of Balti-
85 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
more, and to several other valued friends. The call
to Washington was a unanimous one on the part of
the vestry, and a committee was appointed to con
vey to Mr. Cummins the resolutions that had
been passed, and to request his acceptance of the
same. The official call was accompanied by a letter
witten by one of the gentlemen before mentioned,
setting- forth at length the reasons which in his opin
ion should influence Mr. Cummins in his decision.
We quote from this letter :
" The vestry believe that they are not alone in the opin
ion that this church is one of more than common importance,
from the fact that its worshippers are here assembled from
remote sections of the country, and, further, that during a
large portion of the year it embraces numbers who come up
here as the select from among the people the chosen law
makers and many of the leading intellects of the nation.
Consequently the rector of the church we represent ad
dresses himself to a large and varying congregation, but one
whose influence is not lightly to be estimated. The effect of
his puWic ministrations may, therefore, truly and justly be
said to be limited only by the boundaries of our broad con
federacy nay, even to overspread it, as the representatives
of foreign courts are not unfrequently found among his
hearers. With prayerful interest they have surveyed the wide
field of active labors in the ministry, calmly and deliberately
weighed, to the best of their ability, the peculiar fitness of
those whose names have been presented to them for the
vacant rectorship, and have come to the unanimous decision
which the transcript from their records, already furnished,
will have made known to you. And I may be permitted
to add that no clergyman in our church ever received a more
cordially sincere invitation than that now extended to your
self by the vestry of Trinity Church in this city. It is hardly
CALL TO WASHINGTON. 89
necessary to set forth to your mind, by way of influencing
your decision in this matter, the peculiar attractions which
attach to Washington and make it a place for a pleasant re&-
dence ; but what the vestry mainly rely upon, as worthy of
paramount consideration, is the wide and important field of
labor here open to you for the employment of your talents and
services. In the event of your acceptance of the invitation,
the time for entering upon the duties of the rectorship will
be left subject to your own decision. In all matters touching
your personal convenience, I am instructed by the vestry to
say that your preferences and wishes will be most cheerfully
considered. In the name, and in behalf of the wardens and
vestry of Trinity Church, Washington, I have the honor to
be, with great respect,
' Your obedient servant,
" JAMES MORSS.
''"'Rev. Geo. D. Cummins, Richmond, Va."
Before Mr. Cummins's letter to Dr. Johns reached
its destination the following note was received :
"BALTIMORE, November 16, 1854.
"REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER: I have just heard of
your election to the rectorship of Trinity Church, Washing
ton, D. C., and feeling a deep interest in the prosperity of
this important congregation, and its having been in its in
fancy my first charge, I cannot refrain from writing you to
beg you to give this call your most favorable consideration.
The congregation is large and united, and the opportunities
of usefulness are of such a character as few clergymen pos
sess. May the Lord guide you, my dear brother, to a souoid
conclusion and, if it be his will, send you to Washington.
" Ever truly and affectionately,
" HENRY V. D. JOHNS."
The Rev. William M. Jackson rector of St. Paul's
90 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
Church, Norfolk, but now with Jesus the dearly
valued friend of Mr. Cummins, and the godfather
of his boy, wrote as follows :
" NORFOLK, November 21, 1854.
"Mv DEAR FRIEND AND BROTHER : I almost fear my
feelings are too strong to allow me to give an unbiassed
opinion in regard to the question of your removal to Wash
ington. To myself personally it would be a serious loss, de
priving me of many pleasant hours of friendly and fraternal
intercourse. And, moreover, I should regard your leaving
Richmond as a serious loss, not only to that city, but to
our diocese ; and I feel confident that you have the earnest
wishes of both our bishops for your continuance in Virginia.
But, on the other hand, when I divest myself of all feeling
and forget myself, and when I consider that the field of labor
is wider in Washington than in Richmond, that it is a more
important position, with a heavier responsibility, enabling you
to exert a more widespread influence ; and, lastly, that it is
a more difficult post to supply than that which you now have
when I take all these facts into consideration I confess
that the finger of duty seems to point to Washington, and
compel you to accept. God grant you, dear brother, His
wise counsel and direction in deciding this important ques
tion. I sympathize with you in the difficulty and perplexity
you must feel in deciding it. Between the crowded congre
gations of St. James', and the large, intellectual, and influen
tial congregation of Trinity, it is no easy matter for the mind
to come to a decision. I am sure you will have the best of
all wisdom for your guidance. My very affectionate regards
to Mrs. C .
" I am, dear brother, very affectionately yours,
"WILLIAM M. JACKSON."
The two bishops of Virginia were unwilling to
have Mr. Cummins leave Richmond, believing he
CALL TO WASHINGTON. 9!
was doing great good in that beautiful and impor
tant city ; while other dear friends and counsellors
urged his acceptance of the call to Trinity. Among
the latter were the father and elder brother of Mrs.
C , and two bishops of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. After most earnest consideration and con
stant prayer to God for guidance, Mr. Cummins
decided to accept the call to Washington, and ac
cordingly sent the vestry of St. James' Church, Rich
mond, his resignation of the rectorship.
The following is the reply :
" RICHMOND, December 8, 1854.
" At a meeting of the vestry of St. James' Church, in this
city, held this day, the following resolutions were adopted :
" i. That while the Vestry feel themselves constrained by
the considerations presented in the letter of the Rev. George
D. Cummins to accept his resignation of the rectorship of
St. James' Church, they cannot but express their deep regret
that his conviction of duty should require him to sever a
relation so pleasant to themselves personally and to the con
gregation under his charge, and which gave promise of so
much usefulness, not only to the Church itself, but to the
community at large. Nor can they withhold the expression
of their high appreciation of the zeal, earnestness, fidelity,
and ability with which he has discharged the duties of his
office.
" 2. That the Secretary communicate to Mr. Cummins the
foregoing resolutions, and express to him the warm regard
which the vestry entertain for him personally, and tender him
their best wishes for his happiness, and his more extended
usefulness in the field of labor to which he has been called.
"JOHN O. STEGER, Secretary."
Mr. Steger inclosed the above resolutions in the
following letter :
92 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
" RICHMOND, December n, 1854.
"Rev. George D. Cummins:
" DEAR SIR : By the direction of the vestry of St. James'
Church, I now inclose you a copy of the resolutions passed
by that body on the acceptance of your resignation of the
rectorship of that church. They will convey to you but. a
faint idea of the deep pain and anxiety with which your
resignation has been received ; but they will furnish you with
an abundant assurance of the entire confidence of the vestry
in common with every right-minded and true-hearted mem
ber of your congregation in the honest sincerity of that con
viction of duty which forces this painful separation upon you.
"With the earnest prayer that God will cause this separa
tion to contribute to the good of His people and the in
creased glory of His name,
" I am, my dear sir, with the highest regard and esteem,
' ' Very truly your friend,
" JOHN O. STEGER."
Though Mr. Cummins had been but a short time
rector of St. James', he had become greatly attached
to his congregation, and parted from each one with
a sad heart. The brief period of his labors among
them, while it had been saddened by the continued
illness of his wife, had been gladdened as well by the
blessing of God upon his labors.
CHAPTER XI.
LIFE IN WASHINGTON.
" I ask no heaven till earth be thine,
Nor glory-crown while work of mine
Remaineth here. When earth shall shine
Amongst the stars, . . .
Her sins wiped out, her captives free,
For crown new work give Thou to me ;
Lord, here am I."
AGED 33.
the first Sunday in January, 1855, Mr. Cum
mins entered upon his duties as rector of Trin
ity Church, Washington. Two Sunday schools were
attached to the church, and not long after he assumed
the charge of the parish a mission chapel was built,
where services and a Sunday-school were held for
the benefit of the poor neglected ones in a distant part
of the city. For a part of the time Mr. Cummins
was rector of Trinity Church the Rev. T - D
was his assistant, and afterwards the Rev. J G -.
These two young clergymen were graduates of the
Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal
Church near Alexandria, Va.
The first temporary home occupied by the pastor
and his family was opposite the Capitol, on Capitol
Hill. They had the full enjoyment of the lovely
grounds and grand old trees. In a letter dated May
i8th, 1855, after returning to Washington from a little
trip to Virginia, to attend the marriage of Mrs.
C -'s youngest brother, he writes :
94 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
" I found the city very cool and looking lovely. ' As I
write this morning, the birds are singing in the trees before,
the windows, and the grounds opposite are looking most
beautiful. Had an interview with Mr. D ; he is to be
baptized to-night. I had a most gratifying interview with
him. He says that he has had religious impressions for
twenty years, and that my lectures 'have removed all his diffi
culties. I feel very grateful to God in being the instrument
in such a conversion. To-day I shall see the other persons
who are to be baptized. Mr. Tillinghast officiated for me
Wednesday night, and gave the congregation an excellent dis
course. I learn Bishop Otey is in town, the guest of Lieu
tenant Maury at the Observatory, and I will see him tkis
afternoon."
We insert at this date a letter to his little son :
" WASHINGTON, May 18, 1855.
" MY PRECIOUS GEORGIE : I write you a letter to-day to
tell you how much I miss you and sweet sister. I look over
to the beautiful Capitol grounds, but I do not see any sweet
little boy or girl like papa's trundling their hoops ; and last
night there was no little body in the tiny bed. I looked into
your drawer this morning and thought of you ; and into
the baby-house, and saw the baby sitting very quiet. She
seems very lonely. She has no one to play with her but the
mice, and I expect they run over her face and toes, and
wonder why she does not take notice of them.
" You must be a very good boy and make dear mamma
happy while papa is away, and when you start to come home
I will put mamma and sister under your care, and you must
take good care of them, for they are very precious. And
when you get to the Relay House you will see papa peeping
into the cars to see where his precious boy is, and how happy
we will be to meet again ! So you must come home soon,
for papa is very lonely away from you all. A little bird
LIFE IN WASHINGTON. 95
came and sat on the tree this morning by the window. I won
der if he came to see if you were at home ? Good-by. Papa
prays for you every day, and you must pray for him. Kiss
sweet sister for me. YOUR OWN PAPA."
May 2ist, 1855, he writes :
" I closed my letter on Friday, took it to the post-office,
and then went to see Bishop Otey ; he could not stay to preach
for me, as he was obliged to leave for Philadelphia Saturday
morning. Went to church at eight ; it was nearly as crowded
as on Sunday. I baptized four adults two ladies and two gen
tlemen. It was a very impressive ceremony. Saturday after
noon Mrs. McG came for me in her carriage to go to see
a little girl eight years old who is dangerously ill, and who
longed greatly to see me. When I arrived she gave me a
little bouquet she had arranged for me. Mr. D came to
see me Saturday night. I believe a genuine work of grace
is going on in his heart. Sunday morning I preached to
a large congregation, and again at night ; the church was
crowded. I preached the sermon you wrote on the outer
leaf, concerning the conversion of that young officer in Nor
folk. I see the candidates for confirmation every day ; there
will be a large class. To-day the city is alive with prepara
tion for the great Sunday-school celebration at five o'clock
P.M., at the Smithsonian Institute. Our teachers were busy
in the lecture-room decorating the banners. The accounts,
with my address, will appear in the Baltimore Sun to-mor
row. ' '
In a letter dated Washington, May 22d, 1855, Mr.
Cummins speaks of his deep anxiety on learning of
the illness of his little son :
" My heart yearns over our precious boy. I can only
commit him to God, and try to rest my troubled heart on
Him. It is but a year since I watched with intense anxiety
96 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
by our dear Lizzie's bed, and God in mercy raised her up,
yet how ungrateful have we been for all His infinite mercies .'
I feel most deeply that I deserve His chastenings, and can
only cry to Him for mercy. We. had a great celebration
yesterday not less than three thousand children and many
adults. Five schools could not gain admittance into the
room ; it was crowded to its utmost capacity. I thought at
one time that it would be impossible for me to make my way
in, but the janitor led me to the stage by a back door. The
view on the green lawn of so. many children in spring attire
was most beautiful. I have been to-day to the vestry-room
to see candidates for confirmation, but I had no heart to visit
after hearing of my darling boy's illness. It is sweet, when
I can do nothing else, to pray for you all. May our Father
keep you and restore our dear child, is my earnest prayer."
The dear child was restored to health in answer to
prayer ; for which his father gave fervent and special
thanks. This month, May, 1855, Mr. Cummins de
livered the annual address before the Evangelical
Knowledge Society, during the session of the Dio
cesan Convention held in Baltimore. " My class," he
writes, " for confirmation increases. I have one very
interesting case a Mr. R . This afternoon the
band is playing in the Capitol grounds, and every
thing is looking lovely. I never weary of looking
upon the view opposite our windows." In the early
part of June the congregation of Trinity Church pre
sented their beloved rector with a very valuable car
riage and horse, that he and his family might have
the benefit of exercise, and he the more easily get
over the great distances covered by his large parish.
On the presentation of this most valuable gift Mr.
Cummins sent his people the following note of thanks :
LIFE IN WASHINGTON. 97
" WASHINGTON, June 15, 1855.
" MY DEAR SIR : It is difficult to give proper expression
to my feelings upon the reception of the valuable and costly
gift made through you by.my beloved people, the congregation
of Trinity Church. I have heard of such tokens of affection
made to pastors after long years of service, but this offering
meets me almost on my entrance upon my duties, and after a
ministry of only six months' duration in my present charge. I
appreciate it from my heart not only for its own unmeasured
value to me, not only because it will greatly add to the
efficiency of my pastoral work, but chiefly for the delightful
assurance it conveys of my place in the affections of the con
gregation. I can only assure the dear friends who have so
generously contributed to my comfort that their gift shall be
used in their service ; that it will bind me closer to them in
the tenderest ties ; and that I ask no higher happiness than to
spend and be spent for their good, and no sublimer reward
than their own eternal salvation through my humble instru
mentality. With my earnest prayers for God's blessing upon
every member of my charge,
"lam faithfully and affectionately their friend and pastor,
" GEORGE D. CUMMINS.
'To JOSEPH F. LEWIS, Esq., Washington."
The summer of 1855, or rather the period of his
vacation, was passed by Mr. Cummins at Cape May,
Schooley's Mountain, N. J., and at West Point,
returning to his duties the first of September.
He speaks, in a letter dated September 3d, 1855, of
reaching Washington safely, giving thanks to God
for His merciful preservation. The accounts of the
a \vful railway accident at Burlington, N. J., had just
reached him. " Mr. W -," he says, "met me at
the depot, with Mr. L , Mr. G , Mr. C- ,
and Mr. D . They gave me a most cordial wel-
9 8 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
come home. On Sunday had a large communion.
Mr. D -assisted me, and read for me at night."
The summer of 1855 was a memorable one in the
history of Norfolk. The yellow-fever appeared early
in the season, and raged for many weeks. The ac
counts were fearful, and made the heart ache to read
them. In this letter Mr. Cummins writes :
" My heart yearns for poor Norfolk ! I send you the
awful accounts in the JBaltimare Sun. On Friday there were
forty deaths. So many of our dear friends have been taken !
The President will be asked to-day to remove the troops from
' Old Point ' and give the fortress up to the people of Nor
folk and Portsmouth, well and sick, leaving only those who
cannot be removed, and enough to nurse them. A meeting
for prayer for the sufferers is to be held to-night in Baltimore
in a Presbyterian church, but composed of all denominations.
This is the true spirit and way to work ; human means have
been tried so long, and proved unavailing, it may be God
will hear and answer prayer for the staying of the pestilence.
Thursday is to be observed in Richmond as a day of humili
ation and prayer. A gloom hangs over the District from the
awful catastrophe at Burlington."
In a letter of September 5th, 1855, he writes :
" I must begin my letter about Norfolk, for it is ever in
my mind. The horrors of the plague there are beyond all
precedent in this country. I met on the avenue yesterday
morning several persons just arrived by the boat ; they look
dreadfully. They report 42 deaths Friday, 55 Saturday, 60
on Sunday, and 54 on Monday, and many bodies unburied
for want of coffins and men to bury them. Among those
who have died are Mr. Jos. R , Dr. H , W. E. C ,
of the Beacon, Mr. G , all our acquaintances and friends !
low awful ! Kind Dr. Selden is over it. He was attended
LIFE IN WASHINGTON. 99.
by Dr. Fenna, of New Orleans, who has written a work on
yellow-fever. The people will be removed to Old Point,
and one of the Baltimore boats will convey them free of
charge, and a military company from Richmond will guard
the place. Mr. D came up in the evening, and we
talked about his plans of usefulness. The more I see of him
the more I am impressed with his noble character and his
adaptation for this work. He is actively engaged in visiting
among the poor. We will open a Sunday-school in some
part of the city most destitute, and have preaching on Sunday
afternoons. Mr. D will also hold religious services in
the week in the houses of the poor, and by visiting them fre
quently enlist their interest in the work. Some of the ladies
of the congregation wish to establish a school for the instruc
tion of the children of the poor during the week, and I hope
this will be done. Mr. D will also do great good by
taking the young men with him into this work. Mr. T ,*
one of our young members, is already nobly at work, and
wishes to study for the ministry.
' ' I have been very busy lately visiting the congregation.
' Holly ' does nobly, and improves every time I drive him.
How are my precious pets ? I am so forcibly reminded of
them when I see their playthings G 's locomotive and
little gun, the doll and her bedstead, and a little bucket
packed full of things, awaiting the return of two busy little
heads and nimble hands ! The new wings of the Capitol
grow finely. Next week the work of removing the dome
commences. The workmen gave a day's wages for the relief
of the Norfolk sufferers."
In another letter dated September /th he writes :
" Drove out with Mr. L , and on returning found Mr.
M waiting to see me : he is hard at work preparing for
* He has been for many years connected with the Protestant Epis
copal mission in China.
ICO GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
the Seminary, and gives up his profession of painting without
regret. He is the second young man who has decided to
prepare for the ministry in our congregation within the year.
Yesterday morning I drove out with Mr. D to explore
that portion of the city where we wish to locate our mission
ary work. We happened to decide upon a place near the
border-line of our parish, and Mr. D found a house most
suitable within the limits of the Rev. Mr. S 's parish, and
to occupy this his permission according to our canons was
necessary. On Mr. D 's calling on him he refused his
permission, and gave us to understand that he would oppose
all operations not under the direction of the committee. We,
of course, will only have to keep within our own parish limits,
and there not all the clergy and bishops of the land can pre
vent us preaching the Gospel as much as we please. We
will only strive to be more earnest and zealous. Mr. T - 's
little son is very ill. The little fellow sent me a lovely bou
quet of exquisite roses. Your friends make many affection
ate inquiries after you. The accounts from Norfolk are
most appalling. If I am detained from joining you it will
be because it is my duty to remain here, and we could not
be happy to act otherwise. ' '
The autumn of 1855 found Mr. Cummins and his
family settled in a lovely home on Sixth Street.
There they had the privilege of frequently gathering
around them loved relatives and valued friends.
Once every month a reception was held, when a large
part of the congregation met at the rector's home.
The venerable father and mother of his wife spent a
part of the winter with them. This sweet intercourse
they greatly enjoyed, for their love for their beloved
son-in-law was rare in its strength and intensity.
The work in which Mr. Cummins' whole heart was
LIFE IN WASHINGTON. IOI
engaged went on uninterruptedly, and great interest
was manifested in his ministrations, not only by his
own people, but by strangers visiting the capital.
Officers in high positions under government, foreign
ers, Senators and Representatives, and justices of the
United States Court were members or regular at
tendants at Trinity. The students at the Theological
Seminary near Alexandria came regularly several
each Sunday to hear him preach. His own home
was thrown open to these young men, and many
who now occupy prominent charges in the Protestant
Episcopal Church were frequently his guests. Young
men loved to gather around him, and they always
felt at home in his company. The influence he exerted
on them was wonderful, and frequently there would
be more young men than women in his confirmation
classes. Wherever he went his influence for good
was felt. The loving smile, the hearty clasp of the
hand, the ready sympathy for all in sorrow or need,
drew about him many friends. In the quaint, quiet
old town of Norfolk, in the whirlpool of Washington
society, or the wondrous rush of Chicago life, his
holy example was felt thoroughly by men absorbed in
the distracting pursuit of political life or the degrad
ing greed for wealth. A Senator and Governor of
one of our most important States said in 1858 : " Mr.
Cummins ought never to leave Washington. No other
man can take his place. His power as a preacher sur
passes that of any man I know, and his influence is felt
throughout the country." Another eminent states
man and dear friend said of him at this time : " I
never knew a man so self -forgetful, both in his work
IO2 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
for his Master or socially ; and in his home he is
lovely." One of the judges of the United States
Court said :
" I never knew so perfect a man. My profession has
thrown me with men whose names shine as stars in the his
tory of their country, and I have heard many of the most
distinguished preachers of the United States, but I have
never met with a man whose character was so symmetrical.
As a clergyman, as a father, son, brother, husband, and
friend, he is all one could ask. See him when you will,
meet him under all circumstances, and he is the same gentle,
loving spirit. No one can come within the pale of his in
fluence and not be made better by it. ' '
In the spring of 1856 Mr. Cummins delivered a
sermon on the " Evidences of Christianity" before
the Young Men's Christian Association of Washing
ton. It was one of a series delivered by clergymen
of all evangelical churches. He felt a deep interest
in this association, and whenever time and opportun
ity permitted he was ready and willing to aid the
members in their work. A letter of thanks was ad
dressed to him on the occasion of his delivering this
sermon, by the president and other officers of the as
sociation.
CHAPTER XII.
MORE EARNEST WORK.
"A few short years and our toil is done,
Our conflict finished, the victory won ;
We shall lay our cross and our armor down
For the saintly robe and the kingly crown."
MARSHALL B. SMITH.
AGED 34.
IN the spring of 1856 Mrs. C - and the little chil
dren went for a visit to Judge Balch's. Writing
under date of May igih Mr. Cummins says : " I did
not reach W until Sunday morning at six o'clock,
owing to an accident on the road. Mr. D - had
given me up, and engaged Mr. G to preach for
me. At four o'clock I had service in the church, and
baptized six children and afterwards visited the col
ored Sunday-school. At night I preached from St.
John 14 : 9 to a very large audience. " Mr. Cummins,
accompanied by some friends, attended the Virginia
Diocesan Convention, held in Fredericksburg, May
2ist, 1856. He says :
" I am writing to you from the table of the Secretary of
the Convention, where I feel as perfectly at home as I ever
did among so many very dear brethren and friends of other
days. I started on Wednesday morning with Thomas and
Mary D , and found more of my people at the boat
the Rev. Mr. P , of Wheeling, and some Philadelphia
clergymen. At Alexandria we took in a large number of
clergy and laity Mr. and Mrs. G , Mr. Dana, Dr.
104 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
Packard, and a host of others. Bishop Johns, his daughter,
and a number of students were on board. We arrived at Fred-
ericksburg about eleven o'clock, and were kindly received.
I am most pleasantly entertained by Mr. and Mrs. C .
We went over to the church and found a brilliant assembly ;
the church crowded. Rev. Mr. Pendleton, of Lexington,
preached the Convention sermon, and an excellent one.
Bishop Meade followed with an exhortation. After the ser-
victs a most joyous and exciting scene followed. So many
dear friends, so many old familiar faces ! My hand ached
with the warm grasp of so many, and my voice was hoarse
with talking, and by night I was very weary. M and An
drews gave me a regular hugging. At half-past four I went
to Dr. B 's to see Mrs. S . It was a sv/eet meeting.
We talked of you and the dear children, and of Norfolk. I
prayed with her as in old times, and then left. Last night
we had a meeting of the Evangelical Knowledge Society in
stead of a sermon. This morning I preached at eleven o'clock
to an exceedingly crowded congregation ; many had to go away.
I tried to preach to do good to the young men, and I trust it
will be blessed to them. I dined to-day at Mr. B 's with
Bishop Johns, M , Colonel S , and others. A great
work is going on in Lexington among the cadets. Many of
the clergy and laity wish me to go up Sunday and preach to
them ; but it is impossible : I must be at home Saturday. ' '
In a deeply interesting letter, dated Washington,
May 25th, Mr. Cummins continues his account of the
Virginia Convention :
" I would that you could be by my side, that I might tell
you more fully of the precious religious festival I have so
lately left in Fredericksburg. I do not know that ever in my
life I enjoyed so much the communion of saints, for such
indeed it was. I found in every one a brother, and trust
that I was blessed by the intercourse. I wrote you from the
MORE EARNEST WORK'. IO5
lecture-room of the church. That afternoon we had a meet
ing of the clergy and laity for conference and prayer, and
especially to hear an account of the wondrous work of grace
among the cadets and young men of Lexington. Mr. Pen-
dleton and Colonel S spoke. Many were in tears. It be
gan, as far as human instrumentality goes, in a prayer-meeting
held by Colonel S in his office twice a week. The revival
went on quietly until fifty cadets have been brought to Jesus ;
and others from Washington now Washington and Lee
College have also been influenced. Some have chosen the
work of the ministry, and still the work goes on. After hear
ing of this blessed work, Rev. Mr. Scott arose and told of a
similar work in Africa, and it was wonderful to mark how in
both cases, in two hemispheres, and under such diverse cir
cumstances, there were such similar features. At night Mr.
Caldwell preached in the Protestant Episcopal church, and Dr.
M in the Presbyterian. Friday night I preached again in the
Methodist church, and Saturday morning spoke at the morning
meeting at six o'clock in our church. Those morning meet
ings were most precious ! The large church was filled, and
singing, extempore prayer, and warm addresses formed the
exercises. I spoke from the words of Peter, ' It is good to
be here ;' and at 9.30 I left with a reluctant heart, but feel
ing it a duty to come.
" Dr. Tyng arrived Friday night, and was to speak at a
missionary meeting last night and preach on Sunday. Bishop
Johns came up in the boat with me, he having been taken ill
and compelled to return home. I preached twice on Sunday :
in the morning from St. James i : 22, 23, and took all the
service, as Mr. D remained in Fredericksburg. At night
from the text, ' If they hear not Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the
dead.'
Mr. Cummins attended the Protestant Episcopal
IO6 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
Convention held in Baltimore the last week in May.
In a letter, dated Washington, June 2d of the same
year, he says : " Sunday morning I preached to a
large congregation a sermon for the times on the
text, 'The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,'
etc., inculcating love, kindness, and forbearance.
You know what a terrible state of things prevails
here since Mr. Sumner was assaulted, so many carry
ing arms, expecting deadly rencounters. The com
munion was large. I read my report matte to the con
vention to the congregation. I -dined at Mr. C -'s.
At night preached from the text, ' His heart trem
bled for the ark of God.' The church was filled."
In the same letter he writes of his little daughter :
" I know who was the ' May Queen ' on Saturday
just the sweetest and most precious little somebody
about seven years old, whose little cheeks are so
blooming ! ' Under date of June 4th he thus writes
of his work :
" The heat is intense, thermometer at 96, and the dust is al
most intolerable. On Monday at five administered the commu
nion to a lady at the infirmary ; then visited Mrs. M ; from
thence to the Rugby House to see Mrs. C , who has been
so ill ; then to Mrs. B 's, who cannot recover ; and after
wards to Mr. T 's to inquire about his little child. Tues
day I determined to accompany our Sunday-school to the
seminary. The children went in omnibuses. Mr. Lewis
and I went in the boat. I saw Dr. and Mrs. May. The
children met in the grove near Dr. Sparrow's house. They
had singing and addresses from two of the students. I saw
a letter of Mr. Rambo's to Dr. May : he says the health of
all the missionaries is very bad. Mrs. Payne, Mrs. Hoffman,
and Miss Alley are all ill : he scarcely knows which will be
MORE EARNEST WORK. IO/
taken first. Miss Ball has returned home. Only Miss Wil-
liford in tolerable health. Little Kate Hoffman died very
suddenly in February. ' '
In 1855 Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman, with their infant,
visited Washington. After they left, Mrs. H
writes thus from Alexandria, March 2oth :
" Went after tea with Miss D and M. Me to see
Mr. and Mrs. C . Mr. Cummins is as ever. Words do
not express what he is. We had a pleasant visit. Sunday,
Charlie walked with me to Trinity, and I sat in the rector's
pew. Lizzie and Georeie -came in. Lizzie at once took my
hand, and smiled so brightly, I wondered if she knew me, not
having seen me since I left. And now what can I say, dear
sister ? Four years and a half have passed since the solemn
words of our blessed Liturgy were uttered by the voice which
first awakened me to a sense of their beauty, and again
I heard it : ' The Lord is in His holy temple, ' etc. I believe
I wished I might die with the words of Holy Scripture read
by his voice bearing my spirit upward. After following
with continuous interest every petition in the sweet litany,
and joining in singing the beautiful psalm, ' As pant's the hart
for cooling streams,' I heard the words, ' Not slothful in
business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. ' Could you but
have heard that sermon ! It will follow me to the grave.
The vivid picture drawn of the Church in earnest I see now,
and, God helping me, I will more nearly resemble it. The
close was an application of the subject to ourselves, and could
he have read my heart, he could not have carried out a train
of thought more suited to me. I went home with Lizzie,
and dined with E . We had a long talk about Mr.
C 's leaving Richmond. Had I which I had not a
doubt before, they would have fled then. His soul is more
than ever in earnest for those under his care. He gives all
glory to the grace of God for the good done. He has intro-
IO8 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
duced four collections annually for missions ; has a mission
ary meeting once a month, when reports and letters are read
from missionaries ; he has two lectures a week, and a Sun
day-school teachers' meeting once a month. There are four
schools attached to the church, and over six hundred schol
ars ; Bible-classes for gentlemen and ladies, the questions for
which he prepares himself. Besides this, he has two sermons
each Sunday, and the Wednesday evening lectures are pre
pared with as great care as a sermon. They are delivered in
courses, and are most interesting."
This dear child of God returned to Africa in the
autumn of 1853. Her health failed rapidly on reach
ing Cavalla, and on March 23d, 1856, just one year
after the above letter was written to her beloved
sister, she passed away, and her grave is now by the
ocean side, under the shade of the graceful palm-tree.
In the summer of 1856 Dr. and Mrs. Cummins
spent several days with their dear friends^ Rev.
W- - W and his wife, at Leesburg, Loudon
County, Virginia. Mr. W was then rector of
the Protestant Episcopal church in that town. Bish
op Meade was visiting the church in Leesburg at
the same time. He dined one day at Rev. Mr.
W -'s, and after dinner he requested Dr. Cummins
to go into the parlor with him, as he wished to speak
with him alone. The aged and feeble bishop rested
on a sofa, while his beloved young friend sat beside
him. They talked much of the state of the Church,
so dear to the bishop, of the errors then existing, of
its future, etc., and at the close of the conversation
he said :
" The signs of the times are such as to fill my heart with
the deepest anxiety. Matters cannot remain as they are ;
those holding the doctrines of baptismal regeneration, of a
MORE EARNEST WORK. IOC)
priesthood, and kindred errors, will go on to greater extremes,
and they will take a deeper hold on the clergy and laity of our
beloved Church. / shall not live to see it, but a time will
come when some one must breast the current and stand up
boldly in defence of the truth. On you and those like-
minded will devolve this duty. I charge you to stand firm,
and I look to such as you to bear the standard of God's
truth bravely and faithfully."
Several weeks of the year were passed at Nor
thampton, Newport, and Staten Island ; at the two
latter places they were the guests of dear friends.
The period of time prior to making this northern trip
was passed in constant visiting among his people, es
pecially the sick and afflicted. In a letter written at
this time he mentions having dined at Mrs. W -'s
(one of his parishioners), and having a conversation
with Mrs. Lee, who gave him an interesting account
of a dinner she was at with General Washington, and
of the present Mr. Custis, of Arlington, coming in
from school while they were at dinner a boy about
ten years of age and calling General Washington
"grandfather." The journal letters written by Mr.
Cummins at this time are filled with the record of his
daily duties -visiting, and other pastoral work. In
one he says : " Read Rev. Mr. Chisholm's Life to
day" he died during the pestilence in Norfolk. " It
has done me good. Oh may his mantle fall on me !
. . . . This is ordination week at the seminary.
I hope to be able to go down. Mrs. G - is here
from Norfolk, and has brought us some beautiful ar
ticles from Japan. I went to see her, and told her
we would have had her as our guest had you been
at home. Received a sweet letter from Dr. P ,
1 10 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
of Richmond, making an appeal in behalf of Mr. Chis-
holm's church, Portsmouth ; will take up a collection
next Sunday. I would do any thing for the sake of
that blessed man." We insert here a part of a letter
written at this time :
" THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, June 26, 1856.
" I write you a few lines from dear Dr. May's study. I am
his guest. The meeting of the Alumni took place at eleven.
I dined at Dr. Sparrow's. At four o'clock Mr. H
preached a sermon before the Alumni. At night I preached
before the students from the words, ' He that goeth forth and
weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again
with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.' This morn
ing at nine I attended the examination of the Senior Class by
Dr. Sparrow on the Articles, and at eleven o'clock Mr. P
delivered the sermon before the Missionary Society of the
seminary, after which we heard the Senior Class read their
essays. I dined at Dr. May's, and at three o'clock Dr. Spar
row delivered the address to the .graduating class. It was a
masterly effort, on the true qualifications of a minister. After
this dear Bishop Meade addressed the class and delivered the
diplomas. I went over and took tea at the High School with
Dr. McG and his family, and afterwards addressed the
boys on the privilege of being early in Christ. A remarkable
religious interest is prevailing in the school. ' '
June 3Oth he writes :
" Mr. K brought sad news from the seminary. Our
loved one, Virginia Hoffman, is a saint in heaven ! Dr.
May had a letter from Mr. Hoffman telling all. She died on
Easter Sunday morning after great suffering. Mary D
v/ill copy the letter for you.
" Oh ! how many of our best friends are now in heaven !"
In another letter, written a lew days later, he says :
MORE EARNEST WORK.
Ill
' To-day we complete the purchase of our lot on Sixth
and N streets, and by October our chapel will be up ! Is it
not glorious ? It is a beautiful location. ' '
On his return to Washington after his summer's
rest, Mr. Cummins found all his people well, and he
writes most cheerfully of the winter's work which he
had already mapped out. With all his native energy
and enthusiasm he planned new work, besides the
usual busy routine, and entered into it with fresh
zeal. At this time he wrote a sketch of the life of his
beloved friend, Rev. William M. Jackson, rector of
St. Paul's Church, Norfolk, Va., who died of yel
low fever in 1855.
CHAPTER XIII.
CALL TO NEW YORK.
" For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of
love, which ye have showed toward His name, in that ye have minis
tered to the saints, and do minister." Heb. 6 : 10.
IN November of this year Mr. Cummins received
the following letter :
" NEW YORK, November n, 1856.
" REV. AND DEAR SIR : By a vote of the vestry of St.
Thomas' Church, New York, we are charged with communi
cating to you the following resolutions, passed unanimously
at a meeting of the vestry held last evening : Resolved, That
the rectorship of St. Thomas' Church be tendered to the
Rev. Geo. D. Cummins, rector of Trinity Church, Washing
ton, D. C.
' ' In furtherance of the object of these resolutions, we would
ask for this subject your earnest attention. The parish of
St. Thomas, in the character and influence of its congrega
tion, holds an important position among the older churches
of the city.
" It has always been sustained by rare ability and worth on
the part of its pastors, the succession of whom, since its
foundation, has been Rev. Cornelius R. Duffie, its first in
cumbent, succeeded by Dr., now Bishop, Upfold, who was
followed by the Rev. Dr. Hawks. He was succeeded by the
Rev. Dr., now Bishop, Whitehouse, to whom our late rector,
the Rev. Dr. Neville, was the successor. Dr. Neville has
left us in a condition of general prosperity. You are our
CALL TO NEW YORK. 113
first choice in the present vacancy. We trust that you may
give this proposition a favorable hearing, that you may come
among us and enjoy the harvest of the ministry which we
are confident awaits you. That New York offers an abun
dant field for the noblest ministerial duty we need not urge,
for you are familiar with the wants and opportunities of large
cities. Any special information which you may desire con
cerning the parish we shall be glad to furnish you. St.
Thomas occupies a prominent site on Broadway, and has
been recently rebuilt. If you prefer to visit us, we shall be
happy to aid you in forming a resolution. If we are generally
well enough known to you to authorize you in at once ac
cepting this call, we shall take it as a compliment that you so
decide. Looking for as speedy a reply as convenient, and
trusting that we may soon become personally acquainted with
you as you are so honorably known to us now by reputation
we remain for ourselves, and in behalf of the Vestry of St.
Thomas,'
"Yours respectfully, M. SPENCER, ) Wardfn .
LYMAN DENISON, j '
" EVERT A. DUYCKINCK, Clerk."
This letter was followed by one written by Bishop
Whitehouse, one of the former rectors of St. Thomas',
to Rev. Dr. Balch, brother of Mrs. Cummins. It is
dated
" NEW YORK, November 12, 1856.
" REV. AND DEAR SIR : The vestry of St. Thomas' Church
on Monday evening gave a unanimous call to Mr. Cummins,
of Washington, who, I believe, is your brother-in-law. I
have not the pleasure of knowing him personally, but am
anxious that he should accept the invitation. I have known
the progress of events that have resulted in this application to
Mr. C , and they have been very satisfactory in showing
a strong personal interest in him, and a very united desire to
114 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
obtain him. If you can say a word, backed by my testimony,
to induce a favorable reply, I think a mutual benefit will be
conferred o*n congregation and pastor.
"Very faithfully yours, HENRY J. WHITEHOUSE.
" REV. DR. BALCH."
A letter of counsel from Dr. Balch was received
by Mr. Cummins on the i5th. Another letter, writ
ten by a valued friend in New York, expressed the
writer's opinion as to the claims of St. Thomas', as
compared to Trinity Church, Washington. This was
followed by a long letter signed by the wardens of
St. Thomas', giving Mr. Cummins further information
respecting that church, for which he had written, in
order that he might decide wisely as to this call. A
letter from a friend, dated New York, November
1 7th, 1856, in reply to one from himself, says :
"You would have no difficulty in carrying out your
Evangelical views. Most of the congregation would go with
you heart and hand. Dr. T has expressed a strong wish
that you would come. You would be most cordially received
here, and would have plenty of work. Trusting that you
may be guided from on high, and that under that guidance
you may be borne to this city, I remain affectionately and
truly yours, H. D . "
"REV. G. D. CUMMINS.
" Do not hesitate to command my services in any way
you please."
A very kind letter from the late pastor of St.
Thomas', Rev. Dr. Neville, was also received, giving
information, and containing many expressions of inter
est in Mr. Cummins' decision. This letter is dated
' Taunton, November 18, 1856." The next letter in
CALL TO NEW YORK. 115
order of date is from Rev. Dr. G. T. Bedell, then
rector of Ascension Church, New York.
" NEW YORK, November 18, 1856.
" REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER : To no brother would
I give a more hearty welcome than to yourself ; and under no
one do I think St. Thomas' would be more likely to grow. For
the sake of that parish it is greatly important that you should
decide to come. I have been accustomed to regard your
church in Washington as one of the highest importance. I
know no such field for the promotion of the glory of God for
a man who has the peculiar talent for it. I shall rejoice to
have such a coadjutor here, and so commending you to the
infallible guidance of God, I am your faithful brother,
"G. T. BEDELL.
''REV. G. D. CUMMINS."
After prayerful consideration and a careful weigh
ing- of the judgment of his friends, Mr. Cummins
declined the call to St. Thomas' Church, New York,
and on November 22d received the following note
from Mr. Maury on behalf of the vestry of Trinity
Church, Washington :
" DEAR SIR : By a unanimous resolution passed by the
vestry at a meeting held on the 2ist inst., I am instructed to
acknowledge the receipt of your very acceptable letter of that
date, and to express to you the gratification of the vestry
that you have seen fit to decline the call to another field of
duty. Very respectfully your obedient servant,
" C. B. MAURY, Register pro tern.
"REv.'G. D. CUMMINS,
"'Rector Trinity Church, Washington.'"
In 1857, in the month of May, he held the first
religious service in the new hall of the Capitol. One
Il6 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
of the leading papers of the day thus speaks of it :
" The first religious services, the first hymn of praise,
and the first sermon was delivered in the new hall of
the Capitol to-day by the Rev. George D. Cummins,
D.D. More than two thousand persons were com
fortably seated. The arrangements of the hall were
perfect, and the voice of the speaker was distinctly
heard in every part. Dr. Cummins' text was Deut.
33 : 29. The theme of the speaker was ' the hand of
God in the history of this country. ' ' Then follows
a full report of the sermon, and of the closing services.
In this year Mr. Cummins was invited to deliver
one of the addresses at the Thirty-second Anniver
sary of the " American Sunday-school Union," held
in Philadelphia. In October he received a very
affectionate letter from his dear friend and brother,
the Rev. C. C. Hoffman, of the Protestant Episcopal
Mission to West Africa, respecting a memoir of his
wife, which Mr. Cummins had been urged by her
friends to write. This work he undertook amid all
his many duties. It was a labor of love.
The first letter we have, written in 1857, bears the
date of May 22d, and is from " Petersburg, Vir
ginia," where Mr. Cummins went to attend the Dio
cesan Convention. There he met again many dear
old friends from Norfolk and Richmond. On Thurs
day night he preached for the Rev. Mr. Gibson and
on Friday for Rev. Mr. Platt, rector of St. Paul's.
His friends urged him to remain over Sunday and
preach for them, and Drs. M - and P - wished
him to occupy their pulpits in Richmond. He re
turned joyfully to his home to continue his work. In
a journal letter of June 2/th he says : " I went to
CALL TO NE W YORK. I I /
visit a man at the infirmary, who was wounded in the
riot on the ist of June, and cannot recover; he was
one of the rioters, and was shot by the marines. He
is very hardened, and received me very coldly. I
pointed him to the Saviour, and prayed with him,
and will see him again.
At this time he received the following letter from
President Maclean, of Princeton College :
"COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY, PRINCETON, July 20, 1857.
" MY DEAR SIR : You have probably learned before this
that at the last annual commencement of our College, the
Trustees conferred upon you the degree of Doctor in Divinity.
The object of this note is to give you official information of
the fact, to do which, I assure you, gives me sincere pleasure.
" Most respectfully yours,
"JOHN MACLEAN, President of the College.
" REV. GEO. D. CUMMINS."
He writes thus in his own bright way :
" I am congratulated on every hand on my new honors !
Most persons seem to think it is a very great compliment,
coming from so eminent a College as Princeton. I pray that
it may only make me more humble and more zealous in my
Master's work. I feel so deeply, in view of all my mercies,
as did John Howard ' Lord God, Why me? \ I am trying
to turn this sad season of separation from my family into a
period of spiritual profit to my soul. I have much time for
meditation, for Bible reading, and for prayer. I need not
say how constantly I pray for you and our precious children,
for your restoration to health, and for your soul's welfare.
Tell sweet Georgie I use his Bible when I am upstairs. God
bless and keep you."
Il8 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
From one of his letters, dated July 6th, we take
the following account of how he passed his Sundays
at this time :
" Yesterday (Sunday) I rose at 5.30, and had service at
6.30. Went at 10 o'clock to the Sunday-school, and closed
it ; it is very large for summer. At n read the service and
preached en the Sympathy of Jesus, Heh. 4 : 15, and ad
ministered the Communion to a large number of communi
cants ; the service lasted until nearly 2 o'clock. Dined at
Mr. Coxe's. After dinner read my sermon to, and prayed
with, Mrs. C , who is in deep affliction. Returned home
at 3 o'clock, and after 4 drove to the chapel and found a fine
school, and thence to the Colored Sunday-school, and found
it also very large. Returned home at 5.30, and read until 6,
when Mr. T and his brother came in and remained until
7. At 8 we had service, and I preached from the text, ' This
one thing I do,' Phil. 3 : 14. Dr. P , from Bladensburg,
with several gentlemen, were in."
In this month he again visited the Theological
Seminary during ordination week, and presented Rev.
Thomas Duncan for presbyter's orders. He was the
guest of Rev. Dr. McGuire, but saw many of the
brethren, and dined at Bishop Johns', enjoying his
delightful home. The middle of July he left Wash
ington for Virginia, where he passed six weeks with
his relatives and family. During this vacation Dr.
Cummins wrote the memoir of Mrs. Hoffman, which
was published that autumn by Lindsay & Blakiston,
Philadelphia, and republished in England, with a pre
face, by the Rev. A. M. W. Christopher.
The winter of 1857-58 was passed in the usual rou
tine of duty. Bishop and Mrs. Johns were their
guests during the winter, and Bishop Meade also.
CALL TO NEW YORK. \\<)
Bishop Scott, of Oregon, and other dear friends, came
to brighten their home.
In the autumn of 1857 Dr. Cummins delivered a
lecture before the Young Men's Christian Association
of Washington on "Modern Phases of Infidelity."
It was published for circulation, as it was thought to
be a clear and forceful presentation of the various
forms of unbelief which then, as now, are so potent
for evil.
In a letter written in October, 1857, Dr. Cum
mins speaks thus of his work :
" I preached in the morning from Psalm 119 : 54, on the
Bible. I have rarely preached to a more interested audience :
many were deeply affected. I took up a collection for the
support of our Home Mission and school. I told the con
gregation of the work we were doing, and its cost, viz.:
Preaching every Sunday morning in the Free Chapel, a Sun
day-school of 200 scholars and some of these under serious
impressions and a day-school of seventy children : the cost
is a thousand dollars for maintaining them. I took up a
large collection. I told them this work gave me greater de
light than the work in Trinity Church. In the afternoon I
visited the Colored Sunday-school, and at night preached to a
dense crowd concerning the fearful disaster of the ' Central
America ;' it fills all thoughts here. Five hundred and thirty-
one souls lost in one terrible catastrophe ! Lieut. Herndon
was the commander, and was also lost. He was a brother of
Mrs. Com. M , one of our congregation. It will remain
a lasting monument to his memory that he preserved such
perfect discipline to the last as to transfer all the women and
children to another ship, and kept the crew from acting as
the crew of the Arctic did. Poor fellow ! You saw in
Harper s Magazine a sketch of his work, ' The Exploration
of the River Amazon.' "
I2O GEORGE DAVID CUMMTNS.
_
In another letter Dr. Cummins speaks of a visit
to Bishop Johns at his beautiful home, " Malvern :"
" I left for a little visit at 2.30, but did not reach the house
until 5 o'clock. The Bishop and Mrs. J were delighted
to welcome me. Mrs. J is just the same sweet, affec
tionate friend as ever the Mrs. S of our earlier Norfolk
days. We had long talks of old friends in Norfolk, of you
and the children. The house is a gem, and the grounds are
lovely. The Bishop had many talks with me. It rained
so hard that I did not get to the Seminary, but Dr. Sparrow
came over and stayed for two hours. The Bishop and Mrs.
J promise us a visit in December ; he will give me a Sun
day. I know you will be glad to hear this. To-morrow I go
to visit Rev. Mr. D in Virginia. He wrote urging me to
preach for him, as Bishop Meade is to confirm for him on
Friday morning. I at first thought I could not go, but on
reflection consented. I send you a paper from Edinburgh,
edited by Bayne, formerly edited by Hugh Miller. I want
you to read Bayne's article on 'Charlotte Bronte,' it is the
richest writing I have met with for many days. How sweet
to feel that God's will is always the best. I trust He is draw
ing me closer to Him. May He bless and keep you ever."
Dr. Cummins tells of his visit to Fauquier County
in a letter written the same autumn :
' Thursday morning at six o'clock I left for Fauquier.
At one of the stations Bishop Meade joined me. At 10.30
we reached Markham Station, and found Mr. D waiting
for us. We drove to Dr. S 's and lunched, and then
went to the church. There was a good congregation, and I
preached. After service we drove to Major A 's, where
we dined. In the afternoon we drove to Mr. D 's house.
It is a very sweet little home everything in such good taste.
I can convey to you no idea of the scenery ; it is truly wild
CALL TO NEW YORK. 121
and romantic, far more so than that of Jefferson County.
Friday morning we drove to the church, and I preached
again ; and Bishop Meade confirmed one gentleman. We
all went to dine with a son of the late Chief Justice Marshall.
There were only about forty persons in all a regular Vir
ginia gathering ! I saw there a diary of Gen. Washington,
kept while he lived in New York during the first period of
his Presidency, and read his account of his visit here when
he came to lay out the District of Columbia. It is a precious
MS., and is worth no little money. It was left among the
papers of Judge Marshall. I returned home Saturday to be
ready for my Sunday duties. Preached morning and night
in Trinity, and visited our Schools four in all containing
six hundred scholars. The chapel also was filled with a
large congregation. To-morrow I have two funerals. Poor
E. B - shot himself while gunning. I visited him twice.
His parents were at Mr. L 's at the time. The other
funeral is the infant of a clergyman and his wife from Missis
sippi. They are in deep affliction. I am truly grieved to hear
of darling G 's illness. I have seen so much sorrow and
affliction round me lately that I rejoice with trembling over
God's blessings to me. May He give me to feel more and
more deeply that He is drawing me nearer to Him by joy and
sorrow and all His dealings with us. ' '
CHAPTER XIV.
OTHER SOULS TO WIN CALL TO BALTIMORE.
" Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk." Psalm 143 : S.
AGED 36.
WE approach another period in the life of Dr.
Cummins most painful to him. He always re
gretted deeply receiving- a call to another church. It
was ever a time of severe trial to one so conscientious.
In all his parishes Norfolk, Richmond, and Wash
ington his warmest affections went out to his beloved
people ; and most fully did they respond to this love.
The question of leaving them was necessarily one
which caused him great pain. Heretofore he had
been largely influenced by the advice of older and
more experienced friends in the ministry. And now
he was called to decide whether he should again
strike his tent, and, leaving his dearly-loved congre
gation in Washington, take up the work of his Master
in another field. Like Dr. Chalmers, it was his cus
tom at such times to write to those among his friends
in whose judgment he had the greatest confidence,
placing before them in the fullest manner the reasons
for or against his going, and asking their prayers and
brotherly counsel. When these replies reached him
he read them again and again, and then with the
most earnest and persistent prayer asked for heavenly
guidance. We well know what these seasons of trial
OTHER SOULS TO WIN CALL TO BALTIMORE. 12$
were to Dr. Cummins. The one thought of his mind
was, Will the cause of my Master be served best by
my going or remaining ? The question of any per
sonal advantage or influence never seemed to enter
his mind ; if it did, no human being ever heard or kn"w
of it. On the ist June, 1858, Dr. Cummins received
the following letter. It came at a time when the
shadow of a heavy trial still lingered about his home.
On the 5th March, 1858, a little daughter was born.
His wife continued extremely ill during the months-
of March and April, and through May was still a
great invalid. It was when pressed down by this
affliction that he was called upon to decide a matter
of deep importance :
" VESTRY ROOM, ST. PETER'S CHURCH, }
"BALTIMORE, June i, 1858. f
" REVEREND AND DEAR SIR: It has been made my pleasant
duty to inform you that at a full meeting of the vestry of St. Peter's
P. E. Church, held this evening, you were unanimously elected
rector of said church, and I am further directed to urge upon
you an early acceptance of this call.
" With the greatest respect, yours truly,
" LAWRENCE THOMSON, Register.
" REV. G. D. CUMMINS, D.D."
This letter reached him when his heart was filled
with gratitude to his beloved people for their un
wearied kindness, manifested in every imaginable
way, towards himself and family during the long and
dangerous illness of his wife. Each hour brought
some evidence of this thoughtful care for their pastor
in his time of affliction, and the thought of leaving
them was at first too painful to be entertained. His
first and very decided judgment was to decline this
1 24 GEVRGE DA VID CUMMINS.
call. So far as his influence went, and the felt blessing
of God rested on his labors, there was no need to
leave' Washington on the contrary, every evidence
that he should remain, and for a time this was his
decision. But a visit from his dear friend Dr. Johns,
of Baltimore, and an urgent letter received from him
later, caused him to weigh the matter more thought
fully before sending his final answer. We quote from
Dr. Johns' letter :
" The anxiety on the part of St. Peter's ' Committee ' in
reference to yourself seems to increase. Mr. W and Mr.
B came to see me to-day, and are hardly able to restrain
their anxiety to secure your services. I have revolved this
question of your removal to Baltimore over and over, and the
more I think of it the more am I convinced you will act wisely
in coming. I really think you could not have a finer oppor
tunity to serve the great cause of truth and righteousness than
is now presented. ' Such occasions can not often occur in life.'
The Lord aid you in the decision of this grave question, and
incline your heart to wise results.
" I shall look upon your acceptance of this call as a most
happy relief to myself, as I shall have in you a friend in and
with whom I can take counsel in matters on which I often want
a known and true brother. There never was a more auspicious
time for work work with and for the Gospel. Do come and
labor with us. I do not think you will ever regret coming to
our city."
This letter was followed by a number from the
members of the vestry of St. Peter's Church, from
which we quote :
" BALTIMORE, -June 8th.
'' MY DEAR DOCTOR : I have just read in the Intelligencer of
yesterday your letter in reply to the criticisms of the National
OTHER SOULS TO WIN CALL TO BALTIMORE. 12$
Era upon your sermon on the character of Rev. Mr. T ,
and beg leave to offer my congratulations. It is to my mind a
clear and convincing defence of your position, and a just state
ment of that of our church with regard to all such questions.
I am gratified in being able to say that such of your friends here
who have seen the letter are delighted with its sentiment and
tone. At the present moment I can not doubt but that it will
be pleasing for you to know this, and also that your election
has met the cordial approval of the people of St. Peter's, as in
deed of all our friends. They unite, without an exception, in
the fervent hope that God may, in mercy to us, guide you to an
acceptance of our call. The Committee has everywhere been
congratulated and commended for what we have done. As an
illustration, I yesterday and this morning met with four old
men who have been members of St. Peter's, respectively, from
forty to fifty-four years 1804 1813 1818 and in all that
time have been regular worshippers there, and have known and
taken part in all its history. Their expressions of approval,
gratification, and hope were very earnest, tender, and touching.
I believe I have given you true and faithful testimony, and did
time admit could add much more.
" With my best wishes, I am, Reverend and dear Doctor,
faithfully, etc., " R. T. B
" REV. DR. CUMMINS," Washington."
Another venerable and well-beloved vestryman
writes :
" BALTIMORE, June 10, 1858.
" MY DEAR DOCTOR : The times and the church are ready
for sound and clear evangelical teaching, and had we the men of
the right stamp, more pulpits than St. Peter's would be open to
them. I was truly gratified by the unanimity of the vestry in
your election, and at the growing anxiety to hear of your ac
ceptance. I will pray that God will mercifully open your way
clearly, that you may speedily see it your duty to come, and by
126 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
His blessing and grace revive this glorious old sanctuary, and
that we may all say ' that the glory of this latter house is greater
than the former.'
" With great respect, yours obediently,
W. W. "
Also from a brother clergyman's letter we quote :
" REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER : Should your views of duty
lead you to decline the call of St. Peter's vestry, I really do not
know what will become of the church. So much satisfaction
has been expressed at the call given to you, and so many happy
hopes are entertained of a joyful future for the old church, that
your declinature would cast deep gloom upon the best people,
and make many of them, I fear, give up in despair. I am sure
you must be much perplexed when the friends of St. Peter's on
the one hand, and your own congregation on the other, are
pressing their respective claims upon your consideration. I
pray that you may be guided, to a correct decision, and one
which will make for your own happiness and usefulness for the
period during which God may employ you in His service.
" We all hope and trust that your path will be cleared of all
obstacles, and that it will not be very long before the joy of all
hearts in St. Peter's, and many anxious ones out of it, will be
quickened by the intelligence that you art the rector and that
it is again sailing under its old true colors."
In another letter, written by a member of the
vestry, he says :
" To my rnind there appears to be a clear indication of
Providence, and a wide and effectual door has been opened to
you one which seems to me and many here as seldom offered
to any one. The minds of many of us will continue to be
agitated until your acceptance is announced ; if otherwise, I
shall esteem it a calamity. It would leave our friends in St.
OTHER SOULS TO WIN CALL TO BALTIMORE. 12?
Peter's, humanely speaking, in a deplorable condition. From
the urgency used you have a right to infer that a high estimate
has been placed upon your peculiar fitness for this position ; it
is so, and every indication seems to point this way. The anxiety
is great to hear from you. The inquiry is frequently and again
repeated, ' What is the news from Dr. Cummins ? ' Let our
friends have a speedy affirmative reply. It will lighten many
hearts. May the good God guide and direct you in your de
cision."
On the 1 5th June another member of the vestry
visited Dr. Cummins at^his home in Washington. On
his return to Baltimore he wrote to Dr. C as fol
lows :
" I can well understand the extent and nature of the struggle
through which you are called to pass in deciding this deeply im
portant matter. The minds of our people are prepared to hail
your coming as an event to be prayed for, and to give devout
thanks to God for. Should you decline, they will give up all
hope of any great work being accomplished."
Another vestryman writes :
" God grant you may see your way clear to come to us."
We quote from a letter written by a valued friend,
and prominent member of St. Peter's :
"BALTIMORE, July 3, 1858.
"Mv DEAR DOCTOR: I have just seen your letter of the ist
inst., addressed to our mutual friends . I sympathize with
you in your present struggle. Permit me to say that while I am
personally extremely anxious to hear of your positive acceptance
of our call, yet knowing what I do all the attending circum
stancesyour very difficulties, allow me to say, make me feel
more and more anxious that you should come to us, as we feel
128 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
more ardently attached to one whose conscientious mental
struggles to find the path of duty is so acute as yours. I pray
God to direct you aright in this, to us, momentous subject.
Many hearts are rejoicing at the prospect of your coming. Your
church views are well known, but you are not looked upon as
an ultra person. Dr. D reports that your friends at the
Seminary approve your removal to Baltimore, and Dr. N
said decidedly ' you were the man for the place.' "
At this time Dr. Cummins sent a communication
to his vestry, laying- before them the urgent invitation
to go to Baltimore, the reasons for his acceptance (in
the minds of his friends), and *nis own uncertainty as
to what was his duty. To this the vestry of Trinity
Church could only reply by expressing their deep
sorrow that any such question should have arisen, and
expressing the hope that their beloved pastor would
remain with them.
St. Paul's was the first P. E. church in Baltimore.
St. Peter's was the next organized in that city. Bishop
Henshaw, of Rhode Island, was the rector for many
years, followed on his election to the Episcopate by
Dr. Atkinson, now Bishop of North Carolina. Dr.
Atkinson was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Morrison,
whose pastorate extended over only a few years.
The old church suffered much from these changes,
and the tide of population gradually rolled further and
further up town, and as churches arose in the newer
portions of the city the old parishes felt it. Their
prosperous days seemed to have fled. It was to re
suscitate this dear old church where so many had
been brought to know Jesus that Dr. Cummins' ear
nest labors and his large pulpit ability were needed.
To urge the importance of this great work was the
OTHER SOULS TO WIN CALL TO BALTIMORE. I2Q
object of those friends who knew the man they sought.
It would be impossible and unwise to quote from all
the letters which lie before us. From a few we have
already given extracts. They are all alike in their
earnest appeals to the man of their choice.
About the middle of June, and as soon as Mrs.
Cummins could travel, they went to make a little
visit to Bishop and Mrs. Johns. From there they
passed to the Rockbridge Alum Springs in Virginia,
wjiere they remained some time, but finding that Mrs.
Cummins was not benefited by the mountain air, they
left the Springs for her father's home in Jefferson Coun
ty. On the 6th July Dr. Cummins sent his acceptance
of the call to St. Peter's Church, Baltimore, and at
the same time wrote the following note to his father-
in-law :
" FRIDAY EVENING, July 6, 1858.
" MY DEAR FATHER : I have passed through a severe
struggle, more severe than ever I have had in my life; but it is
over now. Surely it must be of God, for it has been in opposi
tion to feeling and inclination at every step. The work aLne
is my great motive an opening such as I believe may never
occur again for the evangelical cause in our church. We look
forward with joy to spending the month of August with you.
" Your affectionate son,
" GEO. D. CUMMINS."
They reached the home of Judge Balch before
August, and it was while there Dr. Cummins received
many letters of congratulation and delight on learn
ing of his acceptance of the rectorship of St. Peter's.
From one of these letters, written by a friend and
member of the Committee, we quote the following :
130 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
" Our hearts are filled with thankfulness, our mouths with
songs of praise to our God and Heavenly Father for this His
great goodness to us and our dear old church ! To our thanks
we join our prayers that His grace and heavenly benediction
may be abundantly poured out upon you."
Immediately on the receipt of Dr. Cummins' ac
ceptance a committee was appointed to superintend
extensive repairs and improvements in the old church
and rectory. For this purpose it was closed until
the first Sunday in September, the time fixed upon
by Dr. Cummins for entering- upon his duties. An
endowed Parish School and Orphan Asylum are at
tached to St. Peter's. It was the wish of the con
gregation and vestry to build a new church further
up town ; this was accomplished after the war ended,
under the rectorship of Rev. Julius Grammar, D.D.
The property was valuable for business purposes, the
sale of which would enable the vestry to erect a new
edifice. This, however, was not agitated until Dr. Cum
mins had been the rector of St. Peter's some years.
In a letter dated July Qth, a friend writes :
" I observe the papers of yesterday announced your accept
ance. T writes me, ' I wish you were in town to hear the
congratulations ! ' Everybody is delighted. E. S. C was at
my house last night, and says ' We must go ahead now.' "
The following letter was received at this time.
"WASHINGTON CITY, July 9, 1858.
" MY DEAR SIR : As the senior vestryman of Trinity
Church, and chairman of a meeting of the wardens and vestry
held yesterday afternoon, I have been directed to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the 6th inst. resigning the rector
ship of the church, and to say that the resignation is accepted, -
OTHER SOULS TO WIN CALL TO BALTIMORE. 131
to take effect on the first of the present month, as proposed by
you.
" In thus severing the connection between pastor and people,
which has pleasantly and profitably existed for three years and
a half, the vestry. cannot suffer the occasion to pass without
expressing their high appreciation of the zeal and -fidelity which
have distinguished your labors among us, and their regret
that you have felt compelled to transfer these efforts in the
cause of Christ and the Church to another field of duty. We
believe that in these expressions of regard, and admiration for
ministerial care, exertion, and success seldom equalled we do
but reflect the sentiments of the whole congregation, and that
in your new home, and in the discharge of duty to another
people, you will be followed by the united prayers and sincerest
wishes for the prosperity and happiness of yourself and family,
of all those whom you leave behind.
" In behalf of my associates in the temporal government, of
the church, and individually,
" I remain, very affectionately and respectfully,
" Your friend and brother,
" E. L. CHILDS.
" REV. DR. CUMMINS."
In the early part of this year Dr. Cummins visited
Smyrna, Delaware, for a short time. He writes
thus :
" This morning I walked out to see the town, and identified
some of the houses and places connected with my boyhood ;
but oh, how different they look now ! and how strange to me
to think of all my life since I left here as a boy of eleven years
old ! How strangely has God led me on, and into what an
eventful life ! May my life to come be more consecrated to
Him, more holy, and more useful. I preach for them Sunday
in the Presbyterian Church. The Episcopal Church is closed
132
GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
for repairs. Have Mr. G announce the lecture, Bible-class,
and quarterly collection for missions for next Sunday."
We think it best to insert here two letters received
about this time by Dr. Cummins, as they belong prop
erly to his life in Washington, though one reached
him after he settled in Baltimore. The first is from
Bishop Meade, and is dated
"MILLWOOD, VA., March 21, 1858.
"REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER: Although it is two
months since I received your life of the dear departed saint
Mrs. Hoffman, I have just been privileged to hear it read in
our family at night, for I cannot read at night and that is the
time for such reading my few hours of ability for study in the
day being completely occupied with something I am preparing
for the press.
" I cannot allow an hour to pass by after the reading is
over although it is painful to my eyes even to write without
thanking you most heartily for the pleasure, and I hope profit,
you have afforded me by this book. I trust it will increase the
love of Christ in every heart, and especially direct it into a mis
sionary channel. God has enabled you to execute your task in
the very best manner. One of my family has read it three
times.
"I rejoice to read and hear of your labors, and trust that
they will be abundantly blessed. Our Convention is drawing
near, and I hope we shall have the pleasure of meeting you
there. My eyes are aching, and I must conclude. My love to
Mrs. C and the children.
" Yours most truly in Christ,
"W. MEADE."
The next is from the Rev. C. C. Hoffman, and is
dated
OTHER SOULS TO WIN CALL TO BALTIMORE. 133
" ORPHAN ASYLUM, CAPE PALMAS, )
" W. AFRICA, August 9, [
" MY DEAR BROTHER : I have received the memoir you
sent, and have read it with deepest interest. I thank you for
your judicious selection of letters and journal, and for portray
ing so faithfully the character of one so deeply loved, and
whose memory I so sacredly cherish. I notice also the token of
brotherly love, as well as the beautiful reference to the 'Sainted
One ' in your dedication. I may thank you for this work in my
own behalf a precious memorial of the departed. I would
thank you in the name of our mission for the bright example
you have set before us in bringing again to view the patient
and joyous laborer; and surely I think I may say, without my
being considered partial, that the Lord's people thank you for
bringing to view the wondrous grace of God manifested in the
life and character of our absent one. Absent only, for she lives
now, clothed in immortality, for ever with the Lord. I cannot
write further, for strength and time forbid. Express my thanks to
Mr. W for his kind letter, and to the children of the Sunday-
school for their gift for St. Mark's ; it came in good time, and I
have been encouraged thereby. They shall hear from me.
" Our Christian love to Mrs. C , and kind remembrance
to your little ones, and believe me, dear brother,
" Faithfully yours,
"C. C. HOFFMAN."
In August Dr. Cummins left Virginia and returned
for a time to Washington. In a letter dated Wash
ington, August 22d, 1858, he writes :
" This visit to Washington and the services on Sunday
have been among the most trying ordeals in my whole
life. My journey was a hot and dusty one. Good Mr. L
was at the station, with Holly and the carriage, Holly looking
nobler than ever. Our home looked so lovely I felt deep regret
at having to give it up ! Everything was in perfect order. Rev.
1 34 GEORGE DA VI D CUMMINS.
Mr. Rambo, of the African Mission, was here. Rev. Mr. K
came in, and brought letters from Mr. W and Mr. B
in Baltimore. I am going to advocate the election of the Rev.
Mr. P for Trinity. Joseph B called in for a moment
in the evening. At night I could not sleep ; my thoughts were
too busy, and all the scenes connected with this room came so
vividly back to me. I felt most deeply God's mercies to us,
and pray that he may roll away from us the cloud now hanging
over our home circle, though it is doubtless 'big with mercy,
and shall break in blessings on our heads.' At 10 o'clock Sun
day I went to the Sunday-school, and then to church, and
preached from Haggai 2 : 7. The congregation was very large.
After service many remained to speak to me, and all were very
kind and affectionate. Every one inquired most anxiously
about you, and expressed great regret at your continued illness.
On Sunday night I preached to a crowded audience on
Christian Unity. M was present, and said it was a com
plete answer to C in the Intelligencer. I am now going
to visit some families in affliction."
In another letter he says :
"I have been very much impressed with the kind and
cordial greeting and manner of the people towards me, and am
very thankful to find it so. Joseph B spent an hour with
me this evening. He told me that Mr. B of Baltimore
had an interview of two hours with him when the former came
to Washington. He was much impressed with Mr. B , and
on his leaving he said : ' We have a praying circle in Baltimore.
We have prayed for this, and we believe 'he will come.' Does
not this explain the way by which I have been led to the
decision."
CHAPTER XV.
LABOR IN A NEW FIELD,
" Send us where'r thou wilt, O Lord !
Through rugged toil and wearying flight,
Thy conquering love shall be our sword,
And faith in thee our truest might.
" Send down thy constant aid, we pray;
Be thy pure angels with us still.
Thy truth, be that our firmest stay
Our only rest to do thy will."
AGED 36.
ON the first Sunday in September, 1858, Dr. Cum
mins commenced his work in Baltimore, and
filled his pulpit almost uninterruptedly during the au
tumn and winter of 1858-9. He organized a Pastoral
Aid Society, for the purpose of having the laity work
with the pastor. It was divided into ten departments.
The first that of the Sunday School ; the second was
under the head of Clothing and Fuel for the Poor ;
third, Orphan Asylum of St. Peter's Church ; fourth,
Ladies' Sewing Society for Missionary Purposes ;
fifth, The Church Home and Infirmary ; sixth, St.
Peter's Parochial School ; seventh, Baltimore City
Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Church ; eighth,
Scripture Reading and Services in Neglected Places ;
ninth, Visiting the Sick and Poor ; tenth, Committee
on Hospitality. The purpose of this last department
was to see that strangers were seated in church. In
1 36 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
each department there were a committee of gentle
men and one of ladies. The society met once every
two months and annually, and at both the annual and
bi-monthly meetings reports were handed in to the
Rector, who was president. The Sunday-schools,
parochial school, and the societies connected with
the old church thus received an impetus, and the Rec
tor found that engaging every member in active
church work interested them at once. It was the cus
tom of Dr. Cummins both in Washington and Balti
more, indeed in all his churches, to give much per
sonal attention to the Sunday-schools. He organized
them into classes, each bearing a name, and being a
missionary society of itself. The scholars were en
couraged to deny themselves and raise money for mis
sions. At the end of the working season, generally
in the latter part of May, an anniversary meeting was
held, when the classes would present their offerings
separately, with appropriate emblems accompanying
them.*
We have before us the programme for one of these
delightful anniversary services, with the names of
each class, and a description of each emblem and the
amount collected. Music, prayer, and addresses
formed a part of the services. A Bible-class was or
ganized for ladies and gentlemen and children.
Seventy-three persons formed this class, the youngest
member being the son of the Rector, then eight years
old, the oldest a veteran soldier of Christ of sixty-
five. It was a most instructive and deeply interesting
Bible-class. All loved to attend, and the earnest
* In the spring of 1857 the amount thus offered by the children of
Trinity Church, Washington, was $1017.
LABOR IN A NEW FIELD 137
searching of commentaries and the Word of God by
each member was delightful to see. It was looked
forward to with intense interest. This class was con
tinued throughout the five years Dr. Cummins was
rector of St. Peter's.
In the autumn of 1858 the mother of Dr. Cummins
was called to be with Jesus, whom she had so truly
loved and faithfully followed for fifty-six years. This
was a severe trial to her son. He had ever been a
most tenderly loving child. Her dying testimony to
one present was that " he had never disobeyed her
nor spoken a cross or unkind word to her." Dr.
Cummins was constantly by her bedside, and by his
prayers and loving ministrations soothed his beloved
mother's last moments. It was his hand she clasped
so closely when passing on to the dark valley ; his
voice that uttered the last sweet words, " I will be
with thee," as she caught a glimpse of the "land
Beulah."
It was also a custom of Dr. Cummins to send
forth an earnest " letter" to his people before the be
ginning of Lent. The object of these letters was to
turn the thoughts of the congregation to the peculiar
duties of that season. His services at such times
were of a deeply earnest nature, calculated to arouse-
every one to self-examination and a sincere desire to
follow Christ more faithfully.
We have before us a number of these letters for
each year. The course of Lenten lectures in 1861
was upon " The Gospel in Leviticus, or a Veiled Mes
siah in the Hebrew Ritual." It consisted of
i. Introductory Lecture : The Book of Leviticus
138 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
Its Author Its peculiarities The Gospel in Types
and Symbols.
2. The Burnt Offering.
3. The Meat Offering.
4. The Offering for Sins of Ignorance and Sins of
Inadvertency.
5. The High Priest and his Consecration.
6. The Consecration of Aaron's Sons, and the Per
sonal Requirements of the Priests.
7. The Sin and Punishment of Nadab and Abihu.
8. The Sanctuary and its Symbolical Furniture.
9. The Great Symbol of Sin the Leprosy.
10. The Cure and Cleansing of the Leper.
11. The Great Festivals the Passover and Feast
of Unleavened Bread.
12. The Sheaf of First-fruits of the Harvest
The Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost.
13. The Feast of Trumpets The Feast of Taber
nacles The Sabbatic Year.
14. Good-Friday the Great Day of Atonement.
15. Easter-Sunday The Jubilee.
These lectures were delivered every Tuesday and
Thursday afternoons. On Friday evenings at eight
o'clock preparatory services to confirmation were
held, and on Wednesday evenings a course of lectures,
in 1 86 1, on the Book of Genesis were, delivered. In
concluding the letters containing the programme of
services in this year, Dr. Cummins thus addresses his
people :
" I commend to you as special subjects of prayer : our
Country's deliverance and salvation ; our Church's enlarge
ment and purity ; the conversion of our beloved friends ; the
LABOR IN A NEW FIELD. 139
spread of the Gospel by the agency of home and foreign
missions ; and above all, as our chief and deepest want, the
growth of the life of faith and love in each of our hearts.
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God is, that ye
may be a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a peculiar people, zealous of good works ; that ye may shine
as lights in the world, holding forth the Word of Life ; that
ye may win Christ and be found in him ; and that I may
rejoice, in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain,
neither labored in vain.
" Your affectionate friend and pastor,
" GEORGE D. CUMMINS."
The subject of the course of Lenten lectures for
1863 was " The Closing Scenes in the Life of Our
Lord ;" that for 1864, " The Epistles to the Seven
Churches ;" that for 1866, " The Great F.orty Days
in the Life of Our Lord between His Resurrection
and Ascension."
These Lenten services were felt to be peculiarly
blessed of God ; and Dr. Cummins not only gave
much time to the preparation of the lectures, but was
conscious that in no way could he more thoroughly
reach his people than by such expositions of Scrip
ture truth.
The death at this time of his beloved and revered
friend, Dr. Henry V. D. Johns, then rector of Em
manuel Church, Baltimore, was a great trial to him.
They " had taken sweet counsel together ;" they
were as an elder and younger brother, and the loss
was deeply felt by him. Resolutions expressive of
the sympathy of the rector and vestry of St. Peter's
were passed. Dr. Cummins became much interested
in the erection of the "Johns Memorial Church,"
140 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
Baltimore, which was completed about two years
after the death of that noble defender of the truth.
At the time of which we write, and indeed since
he entered the Protestant Eipscopal Church, Dr.
Cummins fully believed it was practicable and wise
to work side by side with those who held entirely op
posite views. It was his wish and as far as he was
concerned he carried this out to labor harmonious
ly with those of a different school of thought in the
Episcopal Church. His ministry in that church had
now extended over a period of thirteen years. He
had been very intimately connected in church work
with men who could not think as he did. In Nor
folk this was but seldom the case. In Richmond,
also, he was chiefly associated with clergymen of his
own school. In Washington he met with much more
of this intercourse ; and now, established in Baltimore,
he found his work lay among those chiefly who were
then classed as High Churchmen. What is now known
as Ritualism had not yet come to disturb the peace of
the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Through all the years of his ministry Dr. Cum
mins had never met with the slightest discourtesy on
the part of those who differed with him. Although
bold as a lion in the pulpit, yet socially, and when
with brethren at the various church meetings, he was
always so bright and courteous, so readily pleased,
and so unwilling to take offence, that few could have
found ground for any disagreement. All who knew
him acknowledged this, and those who were most
heartily opposed to his Low Church views were
among his kindest friends, socially. Earnestly, faith
fully did he labor in every way with these brethren
LABOR IN A NEW FIELD. 141
while in Baltimore. He did it not because he wished
to convey the impression that he did not " stand
by his colors" with sufficient firmness, or that he had
any low motive in view, but simply because he felt
that he could consistently with his views of truth
work with others who thought so differently, as long
as he was permitted to promulgate his views from tJie pul
pit unreservedly, and with all the force and ability he
possessed. In later years, and when the advanced
Ritualism of the present day had made inroads deep
and wide into the Church, he thought differently, and
then candidly and openly he avowed his change of
opinion. But all the years in which he did labor
side by side with High Churchmen, he did it with the
sincerest and purest motives.
In the autumn of 1860, while Mrs. Cummins was
in Massachusetts, Dr. Cummins visited once more
his old parish in Norfolk, Va. We quote from some
of his letters written at this time :
" BALTIMORE, Oct. 10, 1860.
" We leave this afternoon for Norfolk. I know your
thoughts are with us, and that you are praying for our safe
arrival at the haven where we would be. This is election -day
for mayor, but all is as quiet as if it were Sunday almost,
under our new and most admirable police system. I voted a
reform ticket, and there were not ten persons at the polls.
Last year crowds of armed desperadoes took forcible posses
sion of them. What a change !"
Under date of October nth he writes :
"We are indeed here in our old home. I feel truly
grateful to God for his protecting care over us last night,
and bringing us in health to our journey's end. Mr. T
GEORGE DA VI D CUMMINS.
met us at the wharf, and was most kind. We drove up to
his house, and found Mrs. T - and the children awaiting
us. We breakfasted, and then L -- and Ella went with
the nurse to see dear Miss D - and Mrs. J -- , who is
here, while the Bishop is at the Board of Missions, now being
held in New Haven. Everything looks so natural and un
changed around me : the flowers are exquisite, especially the
roses. Rev. Mr.. R -- , rector of Christ Church, has just
called. Dear old Mrs. C -- is still living, and I shall take
L. and E. to see her as soon as I possibly can."
On the 1 2th he writes :
' This morning we went out again to see Miss D -- and
Mrs. J - , and then to Mrs. C -- 's. The dear old lady
was at home and rejoicing very much to see us. She is very
feeble, and only goes out to drive. I went down-town and
met many old friends. After dinner I went again to Miss
D -- 's, and conducted the praying-circle which still meets
there. It was a very pleasant meeting, and all asked a great
deal about you. I am going out to visit some of the fami
lies in affliction. I preach in Christ Church on Sunday
twice. ' '
In his letter of October I3th he says :
" On the table on which I am writing are three vases of
flowers such as Norfolk only can produce, just sent to me by
Mrs. Captain S -- , and arranged by sweet L -- . Among
them are half-opened buds of cloth-of-gold roses, four on a
stem, and many others scarcely less splendid. I long to be
able to send them to you. After writing to you yesterday I
went out and visited many of our dear friends, some of whom
are in affliction. They made many affectionate inquiries
concerning you. In the afternoon several families called,
and in the evening we took tea at Dr. S -- 's. All our
LABOR IN A NEW FIELD. 143
friends are as affectionate as ever. We leave Tuesday for
Baltimore."
Dr. Cummins had suggested to the alumni of the
theological seminary near Alexandria, Va. , that they
should raise funds to erect a hall at that place, to
be called " Meade Hall," after his beloved and re
vered friend, Bishop Meade. He had succeeded in
interesting the alumni of the seminary in the project,
and they, by the aid of their congregations, had been
most successful in collecting the amount necessary.
His own congregation had contributed largely, and
in a letter dated Norfolk, October i6th, he says :
" Mr. T and I went to Governor Tazewell's to pre
sent the claims of ' Meade Hall, ' and I hope to get a contri
bution from the family."
On Thanksgiving-day, November 29th, 1860, Dr.
Cummins preached a sermon entitled " The Christian,
in Time of National Peril, trembling for the Ark of
God" (i Samuel 4 : 13). It was delivered at a time
when our country was threatened with anarchy and
ruin, when good men and women could only lift up
their voices to the God of nations to preserve them
by his almighty power. This sermon was spoken of
at the time as a powerful effort ; and at the request of
many persons, outside the congregation of St. Peter's,
as well as his own friends, a large edition was printed
and distributed throughout the United States. In
the beginning of the year 1861, January 4th, Dr.
Cummins preached another sermon in St. Peter's,
which at that time produced a marvellous effect. The
title of this sermon was " The African, a Trust from
144 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
God to the American" (Isaiah 65 : 8). It was de
livered on the day of " national humiliation, fasting,
and prayer' ' set apart by the President. An edition
of fifteen hundred copies of this sermon was printed at
the urgent request of many citizens of Baltimore, and
sent all over the country. We have before us a
large number of letters from friends of Dr. Cummins
upon the subject of this sermon. We quote from a few :
" BOSTON, February 21, 1861.
" DEAR SIR : I thank you for sending me a copy of your
able and eloquent sermon, ' The African, a Trust from God
to the American. ' I have read it since my return from Wash
ington on an errand of peace, and am deeply impressed by
its appropriateness and power.
" Yours respectfully, ROBERT C. WINTHROP.
" REV. DR. CUMMINS."
The following note is from one of the present
Southern bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church :
" PHILADELPHIA, January 29, 1860.
" MY DEAR DR. CUMMINS : I have just now enjoyed a
rare luxury in reading your sermon on the subject which is
agitating our unhappy country. It is the only sermon among
the number which I have received which elicits from me any
formal acknowledgment. Apart from its rhetorical excel
lence, which is of the highest order, it is a sermon replete with
wisdom, and entitles its author to a high place in the councils
of the Church in all the vicissitudes of her history. I have
given it extensive circulation among my friends so at least
you would say if you could see the catalogue of names which
accompanies it this morning on its mission through the parish.
" I am, my dear brother, your sincerely attached friend,
" J. P. B. W .
" REV. G. D. CUMMINS, D.D."
LABOR IN A NEW FIELD. 145
Another is from the present Protestant Episcopal
Bishop of Pennsylvania :
" PHILADELPHIA, January 18, 1861.
" REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER : I cannot forbear to
thank you for your two admirable sermons, which I have re
ceived and read with unfeigned pleasure especially the last,
received yesterday. I read it all through alone, and then I
assembled all my family, from grandmother to grandchild,
and read it aloud to the delight and edification of all. It is
a true and noble outspeaking of what I believe to be the mind
and will of Christ. I agree to every word, and if it could be
printed in a cheap form and scattered throughout the land,
I am sure it would act as a corrective to the false views held
by many well-meaning Christians.
" My heart bleeds, my dear brother, at the fearful convul
sions in our midst. God have mercy upon us, for vain is
the help of man !
" Very truly yours, WM. BACON STEVENS.
" REV. DR. CUMMINS."
From Bishop Mcllvaine, of Ohio, he received a
long letter of eight pages, under date of January iQth,
1 86 1, closely written. We extract only a few sen
tences :
" I have received and read with much pleasure your ser
mon preached on the day of fasting and prayer. I cannot
say that I think it was the subject for such a day, but I can
say that I think it well handled and in a good spirit. There
is but one page in the contents of which I cannot go with you
substantially. . . As a Christian, and a Christian min
ister full of love to all the precious interests of the Gospel of
Peace in the country, and hence to all the dark places of the
world, I mourn in bitterness of spirit over the present dan-
146 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
gers of our Union. Oh ! for party spirit to go into the
caves and dens of the rocks, and hide itself ! Oh ! that men
would learn and feel that there are interests in the country a
thousand times more precious than party platforms and con
sistencies ! I really had no idea of writing all this when I
began. The Lord bless you.
" Yours affectionately, C. P. MC!LVAINE."
The following note is from Bishop Lee, late Prot
estant Episcopal Bishop of Iowa :
" DAVENPORT, IOWA, December 13, 1860.
" MY DEAR DOCTOR : I have just read your sermon on
Thanksgiving- Day. I read it aloud in my family, and I can
not refrain from saying, ' God bless you for it ! ' It is patri
otic, Christian, noble. I fear that secession is inevitable,
but the Lord reigns.
" Yours affectionately, HENRY W. LEE.
" REV. DR. CUMMINS."
A prominent Southern gentleman wrote on the
22d of January, 1861, as follows :
" I received yesterday a copy of your admirable sermon
preached on the occasion of the national fast. I thank you
most heartily for preaching it. It is time that the Church in
these Southern States should make a clear, distinct, and
strong declaration of the grounds on which she tolerates an
institution which was introduced among us by the very par
ties that are now loudest in condemning it. You have per
formed the delicate task in an able and masterly manner, and
in a judicious, moderate, and truly Christian spirit."
In April, 1861, the United States troops passed
through Baltimore on their way to Washington.
LABOR IN A NEW FIELD.
They were attacked by some desperate men, and firing
upon them, killed several. The whole city was iii a
state of fearful excitement, and Dr. Cummins thought
it advisable to take his family to Smyrna, Del., for a
time. His wife and children remained in Smyrna
some weeks, while he returned to Baltimore to his
duties. At this time he writes :
" BALTIMORE, May 9, 1861.
" I was in the midst of the troops all the time. They are
3000 strong. I saw them drilling, and practising firing with
the cannon ; the balls ivhistled as they went through the air.
' The first body of troops crossed from Perryville to Havre
de Grace Tuesday night, but the bridges are not yet rebuilt.
This is going to be a long and awful war if God does not
save us. The South will fight with desperation, and sacrifice
everything almost before they submit. The government has
a terrible work to do !
" There will be no fighting here, unless a few desperate
men should assault the troops, and if so they will be de
stroyed. Everything is very gloomy here. Twenty-five hun
dred troops landed at Locust Point yesterday, May nth.
It looks very much as though there would be a conflict very
shortly near Harper's Ferry. The government sent troops
up the Baltimore and Ohio R.R. last night. I rejoice you
are not here. I dread the effect of the news of the first con
flict. Our Sunday-school anniversary is appointed to come
off to-morrow afternoon, but of course it cannot be what it
would have been in a time of peace. We keep up our service
for prayer at St. Peter's each day at 12 o'clock, and intend
to continue it. Prayer now is all that is left to us. May
God protect and bless you and our precious children !"
Although the city of Baltimore was not the scene of
GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
conflict during all the years that followed, this was a
most anxious and sad time to every one of her citi
zens. Many had relatives and friends in both armies,
and the pastor was called upon to comfort and sym
pathize with all, whatever their political views might
be.
I
CHAPTER XVI.
IN LABORS ABUNDANT."
"And the Reaper came and found,
Among the fragrant leaves,
The golden fruitage, ripe and full,
And he bound it in his sheaves."
AGED 39.
N a letter dated May nth, 1861, Dr. Cummins
writes sadly of the state ol things in the city, and
says :
" We have had a day of unsurpassed loveliness. The
morning in this part of the city was almost heavenly. I
thought of the wickedness of man in defiling so fair a scene
with war, and what a contrast to the bountiful goodness of
God ! I preached on Sunday, at n o'clock, to a large' congre
gation, a sermon on casting out from the heart all this awful
spirit of malice, bitterness, and hatred. At 4 o'clock we had
our anniversary. It was a very successful one, notwithstand
ing the times. The church was crowded in every part. The
children sang very well. Dr. S and Rev. Mr. C
were present. Some of the devices were very appropriate.
One was a basket of fine fruit ; the name of the class was
'First-Fruits.' Another, the ' St. John Class, ' a live white
dove sitting on a basket of flowers. The ' Havelock Class,'
a cross with a beautiful sword and shield, and helmet with
vi/or at its base. The 'Virginia Hoffman Class, ' a marble
cross surrounded at its base with ilowers."
I 50 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
In all his letters written at this time there is a full
record of earnest and unceasing labor among his peo
ple. The sadness that was so deeply felt by him in
this fearful time, separation from his family, and the
pressure of heavy responsibilities never interfered
with his daily routine of duty. To the sick of his
flock he ever carried the brightness and cheer of his
own sunny spirit ; to the bereaved his words of con
solation were only the more tender by reason of his
own trials. He truly went about doing good.
In the month of May, 1861, Dr. Cummins, ac
companied by two of his vestry, paid a short visit to
Washington. While there he met all his old and dear
friends, whom he found greatly depressed by the
state of the country, the fearful advance in the cost
of living, the lessened value of property, the breaking
up of families, and the absence of loved ones who had
joined the two armies. The changes that had oc
curred in his old congregation saddened him greatly,
and all whom he met lamented his having left them.
He thus writes from his old home :
"WASHINGTON, May 21, 1861.
" I rode up to the Capitol, which is occupied by two
regiments, and went out on the Library portico to look at the
beautiful prospect. It was now more lovely than ever in the
first fresh green of spring. I saw Alexandria and the tower
of the seminary in the distance, and the white tents of the
encampments on the north of the city. On my way to the
Capitol I met the New York Second Regiment, just arrived
from the North, twelve hundred men. As I reached the gate
of the Capitol grounds I met the funeral of Colonel Vosburg,
of the New York Seventy-first Regiment. It was a sight to
behold. First came the Rhode Island Regiment, at whose
"IN LABORS ABUNDANT." 151
head rode Governor Sprague ; then the Twelfth New York Regi
ment ; then the Seventy-first New York, and last the Sixty-ninth
New York in all between three and four thousand men. The
coffin was covered with the U. S. flag, and his noble horse
was led behind it. Dr. B and Rev. Mr. M were in
one carriage, and I bowed to them in passing. In an open
carriage behind the hearse sat Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Cam
eron on the back seat, and Mr. Seward and Mr. Chase on
the front. I had seen all these gentlemen except Mr. Lincoln
very often, and was agreeably disappointed in his personal
appearance. After lunch we drove out to the camp of the
Seventh Regiment. It is on the Fourteenth Street road, op
posite Columbia College. We could not stay to see the pa
rade, which was to take place at five o'clock, but after visiting
some of the tents and listening to a splendid band of about
forty musicians, we drove to the station, and took the 6. 15
train for Baltimore."
In another letter, dated May 23d, he says :
" At a time like this we must be thankful that we have
many mercies, and that we are not situated as a number of
our friends are. As to Jefferson County, you will have
learned from your mother's letter what a state they are in
.there ; nor can it be otherwise it must be one of the thea
tres of war. Mr. B came in the afternoon and drove
me to Druid Hill Park ; it was a great treat. It is the most
beautiful spot I have ever seen. At n o'clock this morning
I read the ' Special Service ' at St. Paul's for Dr. Wyatt. At
6.30 P.M. we had a meeting of the Standing Committee at
Dr. W 's, and then I hurried to my lecture ; the attendance
very good. ' '
Dr. Cummins had been requested by the Mayor of
152 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
Baltimore to open Druid Hill Park with appropriate
religious services, which he did May, 1861. It is one
of the loveliest parks in this country or Europe, and
contains about eleven hundred acres. With a quota
tion from another letter we close the history of the
early part of this year, as immediately after this was
written Dr. Cummins joined his family at Smyrna,
Del., and they passed the June and July at the springs
in York County, Pennsylvania, with many pleasant
friends. He writes :
" BALTIMORE, May 24.
" No human mind can tell what is before us. I rode
down-town in the cars to-day with Mr. W ; he seemed
deeply troubled. He feels that all things are so insecure here
business dead, thousands out of employment, the poor clam
oring for bread, and the general demoralization among the
masses ! And this only at the beginning. General Scott will
make no great forward movement during this summer. I am
glad to see by a notice in the Recorder that father's article
has just been published in the Episcopal Quarterly. You will
see it among the book notices."
The autumn of this year was an unusually busy
one. In November he went to Philadelphia to de
liver the annual sermon before the Bishop White
Prayer-Book Society, in the Church of the Holy
Trinity. This sermon was printed at the request of
the Board of Managers of the Society. His work, as
marked out for the winter of 1861-2, was by no
means lessened by reason of the anxiety that filled the
heart of the pastor ; on the contrary, he seemed only
to gird on the armor more securely, and of him it
must also be said :
"IN LABORS ABUNDANT." 153
" Toiling, rejoicing, sorrowing,
The Christian onward goes ;
Each morning sees some task begin,
Each evening sees it close ;
Something attempted, something done,
Has earned a night's repose."
The testimony of all who knew him during these
sad days of war say that
" The love-lit eye, too, ere he spoke,
Forestalled the office of his tongue,
And hearts on which its radiance broke
Thrilled with new life, and heavenward sprung
And prayer and praise where'er he trod
Bore witness that he walked with God."
It was, we think, at this time that a pleasing inci
dent occurred. It was frequently his custom to
preach especially to young men ; on these occasions
the church was thronged. On the evening to which
we refer, the subject of the sermon was the great need
of our country for pious young men. The text was
St. John's message to young men : " I have written
unto you, young men, because ye are strong." At
the close of the discourse Dr. Cummins repeated, with
deepest feeling, the beautiful lines by Bishop Cleve
land Coxe,
"In the silent midnight watches."
The bishop, then Dr. Coxe and rector of Grace
Church, Baltimore, was unknown to the rector of
St. Peter's one of the audience. After the services
Dr. Coxe went into the vestry-room and said, " My
brother, I never knew I had ever written anything
so good as that until I heard you repeat it to-night."
154 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
We were present at the time, and well may Dr. Coxe
have thus spoken. . In that vast throng the faintest
sound might have been heard ; the people held their
breath while the speaker repeated the beautiful and
touching lines, his face aglow with enthusiasm and
earnestness as he plead with them to stand up for
Jesus, to enroll themselves on the Lord's side. Many
wept, and the most frivolous went away with those
eloquent yet tender, loving words and tones sound
ing in their ears. Several gave their hearts to the
Saviour, and dated their conversion from that night.
The spring of 1862, another bereavement came to
throw its dark cloud yet, blessed be God ! the silver
lining was there over the happy home. A young
niece, much beloved by all who knew her, was called
to suffer agony from a railway accident, and after
many days left for her Father's home.
In July of that year Dr. Cummins and his wife
sailed for Europe, leaving their little children in the
care of their grandparents in Virginia. They only
expected to be absent three months. The health of
Dr. Cummins had not been so good as usual for some
months, and after consulting his physicians he decided
to follow their advice and try the effect of a sea
voyage, both for. his own and his wife's health.
I
CHAPTER XVII.
FIRST VISIT TO EUROPE, AND LETTERS TO HIS
CHILDREN.
AGED 40.
N a letter written by Dr. Cummins to his children,
dated July 25th, 1862, he says :
" I have just counted over one hundred vessels of all
sizes in view from our window, in this magnificent harhor
and bay reaching from New York to the Narrows. We have
just returned from a delightful drive with Mr. and Mrs. L
[the dear friends with whom they were staying]. We drove
through some of the. most beautiful parts of the island, and
at times had views of the bay and ocean also. The scene at
night is fairy-like, the lights in the distant cities stretching
for miles along the shore. We are very thankful to hear you
are all so happy in the sweet home of your dear grandparents.
This will reconcile us the more to our separation from you,
and to know you are contributing to their enjoyment. Do
not give yourselves any uneasiness about the war. You are
in a safe and retired spot, and whatever may be the condition
of the country we can reach you on our return to this coun
try. Above all live near to your Saviour, seeking his grace
as the first of all blessings, going to him daily as to your
best friend for guidance and strength."
The next letter in order of date was written on
the steamer :
I 56 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
" ON BOARD STEAMER CITY OF NEW YORK, July 26, 1862.
" MY PRECIOUS CHILDREN : We left Mr. L 's at 9
o'clock and reached the steamer at 10.30, and were ushered into
our state-room, when lo ! we found anything but state. Imagine
a little ' cuddy ' about one third the size of G 's room at
home, and only half as high, with two berths, one above the
other, and a sofa ; and here we are to pass eleven or twelve
days ! But there is nothing like philosophy, and so we went
to work to arrange everything as comfortably as possible,
and occupied the time thus until 12 o'clock. The scene about
the steamer just before starting was one of dire confusion :
passengers eager to get their luggage safely bestowed on
board ; emigrants, policemen, and porters talking at the same
time ; friends of passengers bidding them adieu ; sailors crying
out in their strange dialect until the cry ' All ashore ! ' is
heard, when all who are not going in the ship hasten to leave,
and she begins to move. We went at once on the quarter
deck, and enjoyed the scene of the city, the harbor, and the
noble bay. As we passed Staten Island Mrs. L waved
us a farewell from the balcony, and we answered it.
" All is novel to us on shipboard : the pilot's orders and
the sailors' movements. ' Port ! ' shouts the pilot, and ' Port ! '
is echoed by two officers, and thus passed to the men at the
wheel. Port means ' right, ' or ' steer to the right. ' ' Hard-
a-port ' means ' steer to the right quickly.' ' Starboard ' is
'left.' I introduced myself to Captain Petrie, and he in
vited us to take seats at his table.
" 2.30 o'clock. We are now near Sandy Hook, where the
pilot leaves us, and the captain takes command of the ship
until we are near the coast of England, when an English pilot
takes her in charge. The Highlands of Neversink are in
view, and this is the last land we shall see until we catch a
glimpse of the shores of the Old World.
' The boatswain's whistle would amuse you. Our boat
swain is a perfect representative of a sailor, a regular ' Jack
FIRST VISIT TO EUROPE. 157
Tar,' and has a curious whistle with which he gives orders to
the sailors.
"3.30 o'clock. Our pilot has just left us, and another
ocean steamer, the Borussia, bound for Hamburg, is in sight.
" 6 o'clock P.M. We remained on deck until 4, and then
went to dinner.
" Sunday, 12 o'clock. The Great Eastern has been in
sight all morning, some fifteen or twenty miles ahead of us.
We are now over two hundred miles out at sea, and yet I have
been watching flocks of sea-birds flying about and resting on
the waves.
" Monday, Jtily 28. Last night we slept well, though the
ship rolled a great deal. This morning is exceedingly beau
tiful ; around us stretches the vast and boundless ocean, with
not a sail upon it.
" Tuesday, July 29. We are getting along finely; the
weather is lovely, and the sea very calm. Mamma was on deck
all this afternoon. Last night at 9 o'clock the engines of the
ship suddenly stopped. This is always an exciting event on
board an ocean steamer. It was found that some of her
machinery around the shaft had become too hot, and the
engines were stopped to cool it. At 12 o'clock P.M. we were
moving again. This morning we are all on deck ; to-morrow
we expect to pass Cape Race, on the coast of Newfoundland,
1000 miles from New York. This evening all assembled in
the saloon, and we had some music.
:< July 30, 8 o'clock P.M. This has been another lovely
day. About 12 o'clock we first began to see land on our left,
a part of the Banks of Newfoundland, and soon the shore
came in full view. Near the shore we discerned a white ob
ject, looking like a sair", but on looking through a glass it
proved to be a small iceberg, white as snow, looking at one
time, as we drew near it, like a church with a parsonage ad
joining ! As we moved on we saw Cape Pine first, with a
lighthouse on it, and an hour later Cape Race. Here we
158 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
stopped a few moments, and a boat bearing the British flag
came out to us bringing the latest news, received at that point
by telegraph from New York. Then we left with our prow
towards the east, and our next stopping-place will be ' Ould
Ireland.' I was called about 4 o'clock to see a woman who
is very ill among the steerage passengers. The surgeon
thinks she will not live to reach Ireland. She is a member
of our Church, and seems to be a true Christian, with a firm
trust in the Saviour.
" Life on shipboard is very monotonous, and we are
longing for the voyage to be over. We have favorable winds,
and have travelled to-day 268 miles, and are in Latitude 50.
" Saturday, August 2. Distance travelled to-day is 286
miles. The poor woman I wrote of yesterday died this morn
ing. We are now 1800 miles from New York, and have
1 200 more to travel.
" Sunday, August 3. We have had a very affecting
scene to-day, a burial at sea. Ten o'clock was appointed for
the service. The coffin was wrapped in a flag, and brought
on the shoulders of the sailors dressed in their best clothes
to the side of the ship ; a portion of the upper railing was
removed, and the coffin rested upon a board, one end over
the side. At the request of Captain Petrie I read the Burial
Service. At the words ' We therefore commit her body to
the deep,' the coffin sank into the depths of the ocean, to be
guarded by Him in whose sight the very dust of his people
is precious, and to be fashioned like his own glorious body
at the resurrection of the just. What an unspeakable comfort
to know that while we were committing her body to the deep,
her soul is at rest with Him in whom she trusted for salva
tion ! My mind has been dwelling on the poor mother who will
watch and wait in vain for her daughter's return from across
the sea, and must hear that she sleeps in its mysterious
depths.
"At 12 o'clock I read the service of the Church of
FIRST VISIT TO EUROPE.
England in the saloon ; the officers and men and many of
the cabin and steerage passengers were present.
" August 4. We have entered on our tenth day at sea,
and it is a most disagreeable one : sea quite rough, raining
and very cold. To-morrow afternoon we expect to see the
shores of Ireland, our first view of the Old World.
" Tuesday, August 5. This is a bright, beautiful day.
The chief officer of the ship announced to me this morning,
on going on deck, that we should see land at 2 o'clock, and
be at Queenstown by midnight, and we shall be at Liverpool
Thursday morning.
" I will mail this letter at Queenstown, and it will go in
the steamer of this line which leaves Liverpool to-morrow,
and touches at Queenstown, so that you will learn of our safe
arrival on the shores of Ireland, though not yet at Liverpool.
We have indeed great cause for gratitude to God for bring
ing us thus far in safety. We will spend several days in Liv
erpool, and I hope to hear Dr. McNeile preach. I have
letters to an interesting clergyman, a friend of Dr. McNeile's.
"August 5, 5 o'clock. I have just seen the mountains
or hills in County Kerry, Ireland, and now must close my
letter. We remember you constantly in our prayers, my pre
cious children, that God may watch over you, and keep you
from all evil, and incline your hearts to love and serve him.
" And now farewell. Mamma joins me in fondest love to
dear grandpapa and grandmamma and your own dear selves.
" Your loving father, GEO. D. CUMMINS."
The next letter is dated
" EDINBURGH, August 8, 1862.
" MY PRECIOUS CHILDREN : This morning at i o'clock
we left Liverpool for Edinburgh. It was raining very hard,
but we must expect such weather in England, and we find the
people are very indifferent to it. Notwithstanding the rain,
our ride was one of great interest. The country was full of
l6o GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
novelty to us, the very trees and grasses so different from
our own : the trees much smaller, and of less variety. The
hedges are very pretty, contrasting beautifully with the lighter
green of the grass. The first point of interest was the town
of Lancaster, and here we saw the first old English castle,
on a hill. Lancaster was a Roman town 1800 years ago, and
its castle was built by John of Gaunt in the fourteenth cen
tury. The son of John of Gaunt, Henry Bolingbroke, be
came Duke of Lancaster, and afterwards king, so that now
one of the titles of the Prince of Wales is ' Duke of Lancaster. '
In the ' Wars of the Roses ' between the houses of York and
Lancaster this city suffered much, and also in the war be
tween Charles I. and the Parliament : it was on the king's
side.
" After leaving Lancaster we found ourselves soon in the
midst of the most beautiful scenery of England. It is the
region of the Cumberland Lakes, and we were passing
through beautiful valleys, encompassed by lofty hills, down
whose sides little streams were trickling, as white as melted
silver. Ten miles from Kendal station, where the train
stopped a few moments, is Lake Windermere, near which
Southey and Wordsworth resided. It was in this region
Wordsworth drank in inspiration from such lovely scenery.
Every acre of ground was dear to him. We shall read his
poetry with new interest after looking on these beautiful hills.
" Our next station was Penrith, where we saw the ruins
of another castle, where Richard III. resided for a long time.
Seventeen miles further on we came to the town of Carlisle,
the last city in England on our journey, and once besieged
by Robert Bruce. Soon we passed Gretna Green station,
and knew by the name that we were in Scotland. Gretna
Green is famous for its having been the spot where persons
came to be married to escape the laws of England. Our
journey now lay through an uninteresting country for a hun
dred miles to Edinburgh. It was not quite dark at twenty
FIRST VISIT TO EUROPE. l6l
minutes past 9 o'clock ! On reaching Edinburgh we went
to the Alma Hotel, and we were soon delightfully domiciled
in two pleasant rooms, a parlor and bedroom ; our meals
served in the parlor. We like this plan so much chiefly be
cause of the privacy and home feeling.
" On looking out of our parlor windows in the morning I
was met by a scene that seemed like fairy-land. Immediately
opposite our windows rose a tremendous pile of rock partly
covered with grass and trees, and on the summit stood an
old gray-stone castle, with turrets and angles, and heavy
walls and battlements, from which the guns were frowning.
These words will give you no idea of the grandeur of the
scene. The pile of rock is four hundred feet high, and on it is
the Castle of Edinburgh, so old that its origin is lost in ob
scurity. On either side of the castle is a park of walks and
flowers stretching for a long distance. In this castle Mary
Queen of Scots once resided, and many other sovereigns,
and here James I. of England, her son, was born, and when
only eight days old was let down in a basket from a window
to escape his enemies.
" After breakfast I went out to find Sir James Y. Simp
son, but on reaching his house found him out. I called
again at 2 o'clock, and on sending in my card was invited
into the dining-room, where the professor was seated, sur
rounded by a number of guests, at lunch. He received me
very kindly. His work is a wonderful one, and he is a most
earnest Christian. At the table I met Mrs. A , from
South Carolina, who told me of very pleasant lodgings.
These I engaged at once. On Saturday we drove out, it was
so bright and beautiful. We drove by the castle, down the
Highgate and Canongate, so famous in Sir Walter Scott's
works, to Holyrood Palace, and the Abbey, now in ruins.
On reaching our lodgings I found a letter from Rev. Dr.
Ramsay, the Dean of Edinburgh, inviting me to preach in St.
John's Church on Sunday morning, and soon after the Dean
1 62 GEORGE DAVID 'CUMMINS.
/
called. He was very cordial, and offered to loan us books,
and in a half hour after he left sent us eight or ten volumes.
He also invited us to tea at 8 o'clock the next evening.
Thus closed our first day in Scotland. All round us the scenes
are full of the greatest novelty and crowded with historical
interest.
" Sunday Mo rnmtf, August 10. This is a beautiful day,
and so cool we are clothed in winter wraps. Sir James
Simpson called at 10 o'clock to see M . We showed
him your photographs, and grandpapa's and grandmamma's,
and he said grandmamma was just like his mother-in-law, and
took it home to show it to his family. He is very kind and
affectionate. At a quarter to n Dean Ramsay, with his
niece, called to take us to St. John's Chapel, where I preached.
Inside the vestibule we found a vestryman standing by a large
alms-basin, in which soma gold and silver had been placed by
the people as they canu in. The Dean's assistant read part
of the service, and the Dean the rest, except the second lesson,
which I read. I preached to a very attentive audience from
St. John 21 : 24.
" After service I went to Sir James Simpson's to lunch
by invitation, and to go with him at 2 o'clock to hear the
celebrated Dr. Guthrie preach. Professor Guernsey, of
Dresden, physician to the Princess of Saxony, went with us.
Arriving at the church we found a crowd seeking admission
through a gate. The pew-holders are admitted first by tick
ets, and the strangers sent in the school-room below. After
the services begin the strangers are allowed to come up and
take any vacant seat or stand in the aisles.
" At 2.15 Dri Guthrie entered in gown and bands. The
church was now filled to its utmost capacity, holding about
twelve or fifteen hundred persons. Dr. Guthrie is a tall
man, about fifty-five years old, a most expressive face,
thin hair turning gray. His sermon was from Isaiah 59 : i.
He began by an iniroduction of great beauty, drawn from
FIRST VISIT TO EUROPE. 163
nature, to show the mutability of everything earthly in con
trast with the unchangeableness of God. This occupied fif
teen minutes. Then he preached for forty-five minutes longer
in a strain of great beauty and pathos. There was no argu
ment, but most beautiful imagery drawn from nature, and
thrilling anecdotes, and pathetic appeals to the feelings. He
is full of animation and gesture and deep feeling. If he has
any fault, it is an excess of metaphor and illustration, but he
is a master over the feelings of the human heart. After the
sermon Professor Simpson took me in and introduced me to
Dr. Guthrie, and he invited me to dine with him to-morrow
at 5 o'clock. We walked home, and Professor S showed
me many places of interest the house where Hume wrote his
history of England ; the building where the Solemn League
and Covenant was signed ; John Knox's house ; the place
where the Heart of Mid-Lothian stood, and where Oliver
Cromwell lodged. We had a beautiful walk to pur lodgings
by Sir Walter Scott's monument and Mr. Pitt's statue, and
many other interesting spots which I cannot now name.
" At 8 we went to Dean Ramsay's, and enjoyed our
visit very much ; he has two nieces living with him, and
a brother, an admiral in the British navy. The Dean has a
very intelligent Skye terrier. He told us that when he had
family prayers the dog would invariably jump up and go to
the door the moment the Dean began the benediction, and
stand there waiting most patiently for the footman to open
the door. He knew at once when ethe words were spoken !
We enjoyed the pictures and books greatly. The Dean was
greatly surprised to find that fine photographs could be taken
in New York ! His residence is only a few doors from our
lodgings. This morning he sent us his photograph, a print
of St. John's Chapel, and more books. You know he is the
author of ' Anecdotes of Scottish Life and Character ' and
other books, and he has presented us with copies of them.
164 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
G will be interested in the ' Anecdotes ' it has the story
of ' Pickle ' in it.
" August ii. This morning I went to the post-office,
and received your precious letter. I am much interested in
the beautiful articles made here of wood, and painted in the
clan tartan colors. The vases are lovely. The small fruits
are now in perfection, and far surpass ours ; strawberries of
immense size, raspberries as large as small plums, and goose
berries of the same size, and very fine nectarines.
" Admiral Ramsay called to see us this afternoon. At
4.30 I took a cab and drove about two miles to Dr. Guthrie's
to dinner. He lives in a very sweet home near the suburbs,
and has a small lawn and many flowers around it. I met two
of the elders of Dr. Guthrie's church, and the Rev. Prof.
La Harpe and his wife, from Geneva. We had a very pleas
ant dinner. Dr. Guthrie is most genial and cordial in his
manners, so much like a Southern gentleman, and is full of
humor and anecdote. Hugh Miller was one of the official
men in his church. Mrs. Guthrie sent mamma some beauti
ful flowers, and gave me a photograph of the doctor. I
walked back to our lodgings, a distance of two and a half
miles, everywhere attracted by the curious sights and places
in the ' Old Town.' We enjoy very much our present mode
of living. We occupy two large rooms on the. first floor,
and Mr. and Mrs. T , from South Carolina, two others.
Already they have made themselves acquainted with us, and
we find them very pleasant, refined, and intelligent. I ought
to tell you of the Highlanders we see sometimes in the
street, wearing so strange a dress : striped stockings reaching
to the knee, a plaited ' kilt ' coming down nearly to the knee,
and a ' sporan ' hanging in front, made of goat's hair. A
loose jacket, a Highland 'bonnet,' and a large sharp knife
kept in a case fastened to the stocking, completes their pictur
esque costume. We drove out this morning to do some shop
ping, and bought some beautiful specimens of the clan tartan
FIRST VISIT TO EUROPE. 165
wood-work. We wish to take home photographic views of
the most interesting places we visit, especially those of his
toric interest, so that you will all be able to enjoy them with
us. I bought mamma a bunch of heather from the market
yesterday, and she has pressed some of it for you.
" August 12. I must now close my- long letter, and
will mail it for the steamer City of New York, which leaves
Liverpool to-morrow.
" We get full accounts, through the London Times, of all
that is transpiring in our own land. How we should rejoice
if this terrible war could be ended ! The people here talk con
stantly about it. And now good-by, my darlings. We pray
constantly for you that God will guard you from all evil, and
make you his own children by his renewing grace. Love
to all the dear ones.
" Ever your loving father, GEORGE D. CUMMINS."
" EDINBURGH, August 13, 1862.
" MY ^RECIOUS CHILDREN : This morning I went out for
a stroll. I went first to visit the monument to Sir Walter
Scott erected by the people of Edinburgh, and situated in a
most beautiful part of the city surrounded by gardens filled
with flowers, now in the height of their beauty. Sir Walter
Scott is enshrined most deeply in the hearts of the Scottish
people, as the one who has done so much to invest their his
tory with such intense interest by his wondrous writings.
They regard him as holding a place second only to Shake
speare. Many of the scenes of his works are laid in Edin
burgh, which he calls ' mine own romantic town,' and here
he was born and educated. The monument is a worthy one
to his memory. It is a Gothic structure of stone rising two
hundred feet high. It is open below, and in the centre of its
Gothic arch is the beautiful statue of Sir Walter, in white
marble. The figure is larger than life, and is in a sitting
posture, holding a manuscript in one hand and a pen in the
1 66 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
other ; his favorite dog, so constantly his companion in life,
is sculptured by his side, looking up into his master's face.
The likeness of both is said to be excellent. The monument
was begun in 1840, and cost $75,000.
" From this point the view around you on every side is
very beautiful. Princes Street, the chief street in Edinburgh,
is opposite, and before you the beautiful public gardens,
once a rocky ravine running through the very heart of the
city, but now one of its chief ornaments. Looking around
you see Calton Hill, with the monuments to Lord Nelson
and Dugald Stewart ; St. Andrew's Square, with Lord Mel
ville's monument ; and before you rises the ' Old Town ' with
its quaint houses, two or three hundred years old, crowned
by the grand old castle towering above everything else.
" After gazing upon this scene, I went into the Royal In
stitution near by, an imposing Grecian building, containing
the Scottish Antiquarian Museum. This, as you may sup
pose from the name, is a place of great interest, and I found
it crowded with curious relics of the past. I passed through
it hastily, as I intend visiting it more leisurely with mamma.
I saw the pulpit from which John Knox preached, and which
formerly stood in the old St. Giles's Church ; also the first
Bible printed in Edinburgh in 1579, and a flag of the Cove
nanters, with many relics of Scottish history. Besides these
I was very deeply interested in several mummies taken from
a tomb in Egypt, and presented by the finder himself to this
museum. They are just as the bodies were deposited in the
tomb, with the wrappings partly removed, and had lain thus
three thousand years ! In one case were the mummified
bodies of two children ; the wrappings had been removed
from one, leaving the body seen, discolored but with the
outline perfect. I saw also the mummies of cats and birds.
"After this I visited the hall where the Free Church
Assembly was in session, and remained a few minutes.
" Coming back I found mamma ready to go out, and we
FIRS!" VISIT TO EUROPE. l6/
took a cab and drove to the Scott monument and several
other places of 'interest, and returned by the castle.
" After dinner I went to call on the Bishop of Edinburgh,
Dr. Terrot, and found him very feeble and suffering from the
effects of a stroke of paralysis. He spoke to me of Bishop
Meade, and remembered well his visit to England.
' Then, by special invitation from Sir James Simpson, I
dined again at his house to meet two Scotch clergymen, one
of them from the Highlands. We had a very pleasant dinner ;
the whole conversation turned upon religious topics alone.
" At 8.30 o'clock we went to the ' Carubber's Close
Mission,' a mission in behalf of the neglected classes in the
' closes ' and ' wynds ' of the city a work in which Sir
James Simpson feels a deep interest. At their earnest re
quest I addressed the meeting.
" Friday, August 15. Mamma felt more comfortable
this morning, and I went out for a stroll. I went first to the
Ragged Schools founded by Dr. Guthrie, as I felt a good
deal of interest to see the working of them. The one 1 visited
is called the Original Ragged School, being the first founded
in Edinburgh. It has three departments, a boys', girls', and
an infant class, and numbers in all about two hundred and
seventy children. They come from the very lowest and most
degraded classes of society, which in European cities are even
below those with us.
" I went through the dormitories, eating- rooms, and
bathing-rooms. On arriving in the morning each child takes
off his or her clothing, deposits it in a bag, washes and bathes
the whole body, and puts on a suit of clothes furnished by
the institution. They make all their own clothes and shoes,
and also paper boxes for sale, being taught by workmen.
Over one hundred of the children live all the time in the insti
tution, having no other home. It' is a noble chanty, and costs
about $10,000 a year to support it. The school is situated in
Ramsay's Lane, called after the poet Ramsay, who lived
1 68 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
there, and leads into the Lawn Market, into which I turned.
This is the place where stood the old Tolbooth, or ' Heart of
Mid-Lothian,' a jail of the city in the olden time, and ren
dered so interesting by Sir Walter Scott's novel, ' The Heart
of Mid-Lothian,' which we are now reading. Passing down
Lawn Market, I came to the High Kirk, or Cathedral of St.
Giles, once a Romish cathedral, and containing forty altars !
It is several centuries old. Here occurred the famous scene
of Jenny Geddes throwing the stool at the head of the dean
in 1637, when Charles I. attempted to introduce the Lit
urgy of the Church of England into the Scotch Church.
Grandpapa will tell you all about it. The cathedral now
includes three churches belonging to the Kirk of Scotland,
and one of them, the oldest, is the church where John Knox
preached twelve years, and he is buried beneath the pavement,
with nothing to mark the spot but one red brick among the
paving-stones !
' The High Street of Edinburgh begins at St. Giles's, and
I walked down it to John Knox's house, which stands at the
beginning of the Canongate.
'The house is a very quaint old building of stone,
erected in 1490 two years before Columbus discovered America
and was set apart for his residence by the authorities in
1559, soon after the Reformation. Just above the ground-
floor, or first story, which is low, is an inscription in
Roman letters, thus : LVFE. GOD. ABOVE. AL. AND.
YOVR. NICHTBOVR. AS. YI. SELF.; that is, 'Love
God above all, and your neighbor as yourself. ' There is also
an antique sculpture in front representing Moses at the burn
ing bush. I did not go into the house to examine its curiosi
ties, but left this for another day.
" I will close my letter now. .Give our love to all the dear
ones at the cottage.
" Your own loving father, GEO. D. CUMMINS."
FIXST VISIT TO EUROPE. 169
" EDINBURGH, Saturday Evening, August 16, 1862.
" MY DARLING CHILDREN : This afternoon I left mamma
for a little while, and took a walk in the ' Old Town. ' The
streets were almost filled with people : this seems to be a cus
tom with the people of the lower classes, and perhaps it is
caused by their living in such narrow ' closes, ' or ' wynds ' as
they are also called. You enter by a narrow archway, and this
opens into a court, where the houses run up from five to ten
stories high, occupied to the very top, sometimes not ten feet
apart. This is, as I have said before, the old part of the city,
which was once surrounded by walls, and the people were re
quired to build within the walls ; hence these ' closes ' and
tall houses. The Canongate was the residence of the nobility,
and the Scottish Court was held in Holyrood Palace, which
is situated at the foot of the Canongate Street. I saw a num
ber of the houses where the nobles lived hundreds of years
ago, and the old Canongate jail and church. In my walk
I passed in front of the Palace and Abbey, and up the hill to
Burns' s monument.
" Sunday, August 17. This is, for a wonder, a bright,
beautiful day. I declined Dean Ramsay's invitation to preach
again in St. John's Church, and stayed with momma. At 6.30
P.M. I went to speak at a great meeting in the assembly hall
of the Free Church of Scotland. For two years past a very
remarkable revival has been in progress in Scotland, and ser
vices have been held similar to the union prayer-meetings
in our country. Since they began, Sir James Simpson has
become an earnest Christian, and his heart is full of the
work. Notwithstanding his intense absorption in his profes
sional duties, and the number of his patients, he goes to
these meetings and takes a prominent part in them.
" The meetings on Sunday evenings, composed of all
denominations, are held in a beautiful hall capable of holding
three thousand persons, and on this evening was crowded to
its utmost capacity. Sir James Simpson presided, and
I7O GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
opened the meeting by an address of nearly half an hour.
He was followed by Captain Mackenzie, of the Royal Navy,
and then I spoke. The meeting was one of great interest,
and I hope a blessing to the souls of many. Sir James intro
duced me as coming from the United States, and all Ameri
cans now attract attention, as the people here take a very
deep interest jn the troubles in our country.
"Monday, August 18. To-day is another bright day,
which is something to be recorded in this country. Mamma
is better, and I walked to Calton Hill. This hill is about
four hundred feet high, and stands at the end of Princes
Street, in the eastern portion of the city. On its top are
monuments to Nelson, Dugald Stewart, and to Playfair, the
mathematician. From this hill is beheld one of the most
beautiful views I ever looked upon : the city on one side,
with the grand old castle rising in the centre, and its gardens
and monuments and public buildings ; and back of you Salis
bury Crags, with Arthur's Seat rising boldly and abruptly,
with Holyrood Palace at their base, while on the other side
you see the Frith of Forth, and the hills in the County of
Fife beyond.
" Tuesday, August 19. To-day I visited the National
Gallery of Painting and spent two hours there. There I saw
a number of portraits of Mary Queen of Scots and other
famous people."
" EDINBURGH, September 5, 1862.
". MY PRECIOUS CHILDREN : I wrote by the last steamer
to dear grandmamma, telling her how ill mamma has been. She
is now better, and my heart is filled with thankfulness to God
for his great goodness towards her. Mamma's illness will,
however, compel us to change our plans. Instead of going
to Germany, up the Rhine to Switzerland, and from thence
to Paris, we will go (D. V.) about October ist to Paris, leaving
London to the last. We received a letter yesterday from
your uncle T inviting us to stay with them in Paris,
FIRST VISIT TO EUROPE. I/I
which we hope to do. They are still at the sea-side, near
Cherbourg, at a place called Leon-sur-Mer, and will return to
Paris the ist October.
" We expect to sail on the 2 ad of October, probably in
the City of Baltimore, a fast steamer, and our hope is to reach
New York by November 3d, and go as soon as possible to
Virginia for you.
' ' Our hearts have been filled with sadness this morning
in reading of the second battle of Bull Run on the 2pth
August, and of the fearful loss of life. Away from our native
land, we can see more vividly than ever the misery of this
fearful war, and can only pray to God to put an end to it by
his merciful providence.
" We have been sorely disappointed in not receiving
letters from you. Ho\v thankful we are that the recent battles
have been so far away from Jefferson County !
" As mamma improves I hope to make short excursions to
Melrose Abbey and Abbotsford, to Roslyn, and to the High
lands.
" Our prayers are constantly offered for you. May God
keep you in safety, and restore us to you in his own good
time ! Love to all.
" Your loving father, GEO. D. CUMMINS."
The following letter was written to his sister
Surah :
" EDINBURGH, September 19, 1862.
" MY DEAREST SISTER : Our accounts from home are so
terrible and distressing that it is pleasant to hear from one of
our loved relatives who are not surrounded by the horrors
of war. Our latest news is that Jackson is really in Mary
land ! This has cut off our communication with the chil
dren, as the Confederate army will prevent all trains passing
on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
" You will be surprised to receive another letter from
172 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
Edinburgh, but we are detained here by E 's illness, and
shall have to remain some time longer. Of course all our
plans have been changed, and we have abandoned the hope
of making anything like a tour on the Continent. Our utmost
hope now is that E may regain her strength in time to
allow us to make a visit of a week or ten days to her brother
in Paris before returning home.
" We expect to sail from Liverpool on the 22d or the
29th of October. We must try to be patient, however, and
await the will of our heavenly Father.
" Our long sojourn in Edinburgh has made me very fa
miliar with this most interesting city. Since E began to
improve I have made two excursions, and hope to make others.
' ' On Wednesday I took the train to Hawthornden, about
seven miles from town, a beautiful spot, once the home of the
poet Drummond, the friend of Shakespeare. It is a place of
rare loveliness on the banks of the little river Esk, which
runs through banks a hundred feet high, wooded to the top
with beautiful shrubbery. Along the margin cf this stream I
walked for a mile on a narrow path, until I came to Roslyn
Castle and Chapel. The castle is partly in ruins, and is of
very great age, and the ponderous stones and walls speak
of centuries ' long ago. '
" The chapel is, however, the place of chief interest. It
is a Gothic building very richly carved within and without,
and was built in 1446, was defaced by a mob from Edin
burgh at the time of the Revolution in 1688, and restored in
the next century.
" I rode back to Edinburgh in the afternoon on the top
of the stage-coach, and enjoyed the scenery very much.
Yesterday (Thursday) I rode out to Dalkeith Park, one of
the residences o f the Duke of Buccleuch, one of the richest
noblemen in the kingdom. This family is directly descended
from the famous Duke of Monmouth who was executed for
conspiring against his uncle James II. of England, and
FIXST VISIT TO EUROPE. 173
whose story Macaulay tells so graphically. The park in
cludes 1 200 acres of beautiful groves and walks, with twenty-
five acres appropriated to gardens. I went first to the palace,
which is full of valuable portraits of the most famous
characters in English history, by such artists, as Van Dyke,
Reynolds, Sir G. Kneller, and others. Among them are
portraits of James I., Charles II., Mary Queen of Scots,
Lady Arabella Stuart, William and Mary of Orange when
children, Claverhouse, and the Duke of Alva, besides land
scapes by Claude Lorraine, pictures by Rubens, Salvator
Rosa, and others. There is a clock which belonged to Louis
XIV., a candelabra of Napoleon I., and a mirror of the
Duke of Monmouth, with a tortoise-shell frame. Three times
this palace has been the temporary abode of the monarch,
Charles II. in 1633, George IV. in 1822, and the Queen
and Prince Albert in 1842. I was shown the bedroom and
dressing-room occupied by the latter, which are kept as they
were when occupied. The mattress and pillow-covers are of
white satin. Our republican extravagance has not yet reached
this height !
" From the palace I went to the gardens, which are not
shown to strangers. As I before said, they occupy twenty-
five acres, and are very wonderful. The flowers are chiefly
in borders, two and three hundred feet long ; there are twenty
hot-houses of immense size : one for peaches, 211 feet long ;
one for apricots, same length ; nine for grapes ; one for pine
apples, 200 feet long ; then one house alone for geraniums,
one for fuchsias, one for the various varieties of heath, and
several for tropical plants. And yet this is but one of the
duke's residences, his chief one being Drumlanrig Castle,
farther south in Scotland, besides others and a palace in
London.
" Saturday Morning, Sept. 20. I have kept my letter
open that I might see if the Cunard steamer, now due, brought
174 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
any important news from, home, but there is no account of
her arrival in the papers.
" We know, however, that Jackson is at Frederick City,
Maryland, with a large army, and of course this cuts off all
communication between Baltimore and Virginia. I wish you
to write to Mr. S , and ask if there is any way left to get
a letter to the children. Ask him to reply to you, and if so,
you can send this letter to them. E is improving, I trust.
" We hope to leave Edinburgh about the 4th October,
and go on to Paris, leaving ourselves ten or twelve days in
London.
" May our merciful heavenly Father preserve us all in
safety to meet again in our own home ! E joins me in
love.
" Your loving brother, GEO. D. CUMMINS."
Dr. Cummins was obliged to abandon the hope of
visiting Paris. or London. His wife did not regain her
strength, and after waiting in Edinburgh as long as
possible, they sailed for the United States the middle
of November.
CHAPTER XVIII.
RETURN HOME.
" I am with you alway. "
" They cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered
them out of their distresses." PSALM 107 : 6.
AGED 40.
IN returning to this country, in the City of Wash
ington, Dr. Cummins encountered a fearful
storm. The steamer was sixteen days making the
passage. The captain was one of the most experi
enced commanders, having been nineteen years on
the route between New York and Liverpool.
The terror of the passengers was fearful to wit
ness. The screams of the women and children and
the fear and despair of the men, the shrieks of the
wind through the bare spars and rigging of the ves
sel, the loud notes of the captain's trumpet as he gave
orders which could be heard above the noise of the
fierce blast by the faithful sailors, the crash of a
broken mast, or the rush of water over the sides,
breaking away the bulwarks, continued day after day
and night after night, and were terrible to hear and
bear. The only light was in the stateroom of Dr,
Cummins, who was allowed one that he might ad
minister medicine to his wife. The night and day
were almost alike, for the fury of the storm was such
as to darken completely the port-holes, so that a can-
176 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS
<ile was needed from .three o'clock in the afternoon
to nine o'clock the next day. Dr. Cummins was re
quested to hold services for those on board. The
rolling of the vessel was so great that even the prac
tised seamen could not walk at all steadily, indeed
could scarcely keep their feet. The service held in
the main cabin was a most solemn one. A little table
was bound with cords to one of the pillars of the sa
loon ; on this were firmly tied two candlesticks with
burning candles in them, and by their side lay a Bible
and Prayer-Book. The clergyman was obliged to sit
on a chair, which was also lashed to the pillar.
Around him, as close as they could get, sat, on the
floor of the cabin, the women and children, while
around the room and at the door stood or crouched
as well as they could the men. Moans from one and
another broke the hush that was over that little assem
blage. The comforting and helping service for a
storm at sea in the Protestant Episcopal Prayer-Book
was read with deep feeling, and a hymn was sung,
which was followed by a few sentences of encourage
ment, and the minister and his hearers dispersed.
They were of all creeds Roman Catholics, Protes
tants, and Jews yet in this time of awful peril they
gathered together to pray to the one God for protec
tion.
The scenes that took place on board that ship
were rarely strange. Night after night the quiet of
the sick-room was interrupted by poor weak women
coming to the minister to " save them" or to " pray
for them." In the soft tongue of their loved France,
or in the harsher tones of our mother-country, they
threw themselves on their knees and besought the
RETURN HOME.
minister's help. Earnestly and* often he prayed with
those who had no Rock on which to lean in that hour
of peril, and constantly did he in many ways comfort
and sustain the timid. And so the storm wore itself
out. Its fury spent itself. A storm long to be re
membered by all on board. The captain told Dr.
Cummins that " he thought his ship must go down
every moment, and no life-boat could live for a minute
in such a sea." For four days and nights he had
himself lashed to the mainmast, that he might give his
orders to the faithful, gallant crew. Here he was fed
and stimulated that his strength might not fail. After
the fury of the tempest had spent itself he gave the
ship up to the command of the second officer, and
was taken to the hospital blind and lame and other
wise injured by exposure !
When the ship rode once more on smooth waters,
a thanksgiving service was held on board. What a
contrast to the first ! And yet when the gallant ves
sel rode into the harbor, the gayest laugh and merri
est jokes came from the lips of the thoughtless opera
troupe, who in the hour of dire distress vowed un
wavering fealty to that God who holds the waters in
the hollow of his hand !
During all these sad months of separation from his
children, Dr. Cummins had failed to receive letters
from home. Almost immediately after he arrived in
England, Stonewall Jackson again broke up the Balti
more and Ohio Railroad, so that no communication
could be had with Baltimore, and thus no letters
could reach the steamers. When, therefore, he set
foot once more on his native shores, his heart was
filled with sad forebodings. Yet very earnestly did
I 78 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
he try to cast all his care upon God. The invalid wife
was tenderly placed in a special car, through the lov
ing: care of a dear friend and an official of the road.
O
and in all the comfort of their own home was con
veyed to Baltimore. But no children's voices greeted
them ! No word had reached them of their welfare
since August. They only learned that General Lee
had retreated from Jefferson County, and had gone to
Richmond. Sad were the days and nights spent by
Dr. Cummins. He had no heart even for his work
when the fate of his children was unknown. Through
the great kindness of the same dear friend who had
sent on his own car to Jersey City for them, he was
enabled very silently and secretly to go at night to
Harper's Ferry, where one of the best soldiers of the
army of the United States had command. Arrange
ments were made very quietly by which the anxious
father could reach his father-in-law's home, about four
teen miles distant, under a flag of truce. After passing
the Federal lines, however, Dr. Cummins was exposed
to great danger from the Confederate pickets, as it
was still night and very dark. Several times during
that memorable ride did he hear the click of the sen
try's rifle when he could not give the password.
But in two instances he was recognized by his
voice by those who had heard him preach years
before ! Thus did God watch over and keep his
servant ! At the break of day he rode up on horse
back to Judge Balch's house, and with* feelings too
great for words he entered. Entered to find his Be
loved ones all safe. We have heard him speak of
that moment with such deep emotion as almost to pre
vent utterance. His first act was to gather the
RETURN HOME. 179
family together and return fervent thanks to God for
his goodness to them all. The mystery was then ex
plained. Letters had been written regularly, but there
had been no mails, and they were returned to them or
lost. The last that had been sent were in a vessel
which passed the City of Washington on her way
home !
The next morning, at an early hour, the little ones
were taken in an ambulance to Harper's Ferry, and
there received by the dear friend who had waited all
night in his car for them. Their journey to Baltimore
was safely accomplished, and the weary invalid was
blessed by the sight of her children after nearly five
months' separation. It was a joyful and thankful
household which assembled that night in the sick
room to give thanks unto the Lord.
The next summer Dr. Cummins and his family were
at Easthampton, Long Island, and there the children
had a pleasant interview with the kind general who
had remembered ' ' he was a father too, ' ' and had sent
a flag of truce to escort the anxious father to the
Confederate lines. As the youngest child sat upon
his knee, and the two elder on each side, the general
questioned them merrily about their residence in
" Dixie," and the children enjoyed greatly the bright
conversation, and were sorry to have it end. They
left Easthampton the next day. The sea voyage and
rest from all excitement and labor, as well as the
great pleasure Dr. Cummins had had in seeing so
much that was novel and interesting in the " old
country," brought back the needed strength, and he
was able to take up once more the heavy duties of
his parish.
180 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
With a very grateful heart he went through the
labors of the winter of 1862-3 with only the aid of a
reader. He was strengthened and cheered by the in
gathering of that season. It was remembered by
many as the beginning of the " new life" within their
hearts. The confirmation-classes were unusually
large. The Bible-class increased in numbers, and the
interest of its members grew. The Sunday-schools
gave evidence of great vitality, and the weekly lec
tures were fully attended, even by those belonging to
other churches. We have freq-uently met with per
sons who spoke of those lectures as being most pre
cious to their souls, and how greatly they had been
missed.
I
CHAPTER XIX.
CALL TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.
" Just as God leads me, I would go ;
I would not ask to choose my way ;
Content with what he will bestow,
Assured he will not let me stray.
So as he leads, my path I make,
And step by step I gladly take,
A child in him confiding." LAMPERTUS, 1735.
AGED 40.
N December, 1862, Dr. Cummins received the fol
lowing letter :
" SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., December 4, 1862.
"REVEREND AND DEAR SIR : I wish as briefly as possible
to make a statement to which I beg your serious consideration.
It is one which has involved in it, to a great degree, the
future character of the Church on the Pacific.
' ' The congregation of Grace Church has recently erected
one of the finest church edifices in the country. The idea is
to have this the cathedral church of the 'diocese ' Grace
Cathedral " and to be forever the home of the bishop when
in town. This is to make it the head-quarters of the diocese,
and the leading parish on the Pacific. I, of course, cannot
pretend to have the responsibility of any charge over it, as
my duties and the length of my absences from town must be
increasing every year. My connection with it is to be a
nominal one to give it a cathedral character. It is intended
to elect a dean of the cathedral, who will be de facto rector
1 82 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
and have the entire parochial charge, leaving my interest in
it merely such participation in the public services, when in
town, as he and I may arrange between us.
" I regard this as the most important position in this coun
try. An empire is growing up, and in a few years San Fran
cisco will be the rival of New York. The Pacific Railroad will
be built, and then, with a line of steamers to China and Japan,
the whole commerce of the East must flow through this port.
And yet we have never been able to have here a man of first-
rate ability in our Church. The Presbyterians and Meth
odists are represented by their ablest men, while we are con
demned to the merest mediocrity ; and now we are forming
the character of the Church for the next century. Grace
Church is to give a tone not only to the Church in this city,
but on the whole Pacific coast. The building up of Grace
Cathedral by the right kind of man would infuse life and en
ergy into the whole Pacific Church.
" The question I wish to put is, whether you would take the
place ? I have proposed it individually to most of the vestry,
and it has met with their hearty concurrence. As to our unity of
feeling and purpose, I believe that in ' striving together' for
the Gospel there would be no difference on any important
point. In all that is evangelical (Tn the true sense of the
word) I should be as anxious as yourself. Party divisions
have never yet been introduced into this diocese, and it is my
object to keep them out. I feel that any one coming here
and taking this place will be doing a work for the Church
which can be opened for him nowhere else ; but as yet we
have had no one to do this work, never power enough in the
pulpit to arrest the attention of these people. A nobler field
could not be found for any one to inculcate the Gospel upon
their active minds. With regard to yourself, I would say
that I have no doubt you are doing much good where you are,
but it would be better to be one of those who are to decide
the character of the Church for the next century in this rising
CALL TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. 183
empire. Will you telegraph me your answer ? I trust it will
be favorable.
' Trusting that the Spirit from on High will lead you
to decide for the best interests of our holy faith,
" I remain yours faithfully,
" WILLIAM INGRAHAM KIP,
"Bishop of California.
" REV. DR. CUMMINS."
A second letter from Bishop Kip, dated December
8th, 1862, reached Dr. Cummins soon after the first.
In it the bishop explains more fully his own position
in connection with Grace Church. He writes :
' The object of my continued connection with the church
is merely to give it the character of a cathedral church. The
building is constructed expressly for this object, having in the
inner chancel on one side a canopied seat for the bishop,
and on the other side a canopied seat for the dean. In the
outer chancel are stalls for ten clergy. My connection with
it would be, as I remarked in my former letter, nominal, and
consist in this : that this would be the place where I have my
ecclesiastical home, and be found at service when not em
ployed elsewhere. My participation in the services would be
merely that which, according to the custom of the diocese,
I always take when present in any church at morning service
to read the Ante-Communion Service (except the epistle) and
give the benediction. The pulpit would be under your con
trol entirely. As to parochial matters, they are to be entirely
under the control of the dean."
This second letter of Bishop Kip was followed
by one from Mr. Louis McLane, of the firm of Wells,
Fargo & Co., San Francisco. It is dated
184 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
" December g, 1862.
' ' Rev. George D, Cummins :
" MY DEAR SIR : Bishop Kip has read me his two letters
to you, asking you to come here and take charge of Grace
Church and parish, and explanatory of the position he desires
to occupy towards you as rector. His first letter was writ
ten after a full and frank conference between us, I promising
to write and urge on you the acceptance of the call. I con
sider this as the greatest field in the United States for a true
churchman, a minister of Jesus Christ with the necessary
talent and will to hold his own. You have both qualities, and
can do more good for the Episcopal Church here in two or
three years than you can do in any other place. You can
build up the strongest parish in the State, both as to numbers
and good works. I will work with you shoulder to shoulder.
I will write to my brother A to make you as comfortable
as possible aboard the steamer. The climate here is delight
ful and certainly healthy. Do not decline our call without
long consideration. The invitation will leave you free to do
as you may wish, either to remain for years or leave after six
months.
" Yours sincerely and with respect,
" LOUIS McLANE."
A letter from Mr. McLane, dated December 2oth,
1862, is short, and relates chiefly to the promise of
most generous aid and thoughtful care on the part
of a truly large-hearted man. The letter ends with
the sentence : "' I sincerely hope you have decided
to come here before you receive this." A letter from
Bishop Kip, dated San Francisco, February 2ist, 1863,
was received by Dr. Cummins soon after. The bish
op writes :
" REVEREND AND DEAR SIR : I have seen Mr. McLane this
morning for the first time since receiving your letter.
CALL TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. 185
" You do not overrate the importance of this position. I
do not know one in the Church which could exert so wide
and permanent an influence to the whole diocese. I should
very much like, if you could come out, to have you do so by
June, that I may begin my visitations. The vestry framed
a resolution leaving the whole matter to me, with power to
make such arrangements with you as I chose. If you will
telegraph me that you will accept you may consider the call
offered you I will summon the vestry and have you for
mally elected ''Rector of Grace Parish,' with the title of
' Dean of Grace Cathedral.' Please telegraph me. as soon
as convenient, and let us know when you will come, if you
decide in our favor, and I will then forward the formal call.
" Believe me yours very truly,
" WM. INGRAHAM KIP."
This was followed by one of the same date from
Dr. Cummins's friend, Mr. McLane :
" MY DEAR MR. CUMMINS : Your letter of the 8th reached
here during my absence from the city. The bishop called this
morning to say that he had laid your letter before the vestry
of Grace Church, and that they had authorized him to urge
your acceptance of the rectorship with the title of Dean.
The climate is bracing the year round, the nights are always
cool. I sincerely trust you will try its effects upon you, if
only for a year. You can come on your own terms as to
time, and I entreat you to come and stir us up.
" With esteem and regard, believe me your sincere friend,
" LOUIS MCLANE."
A letter from Rev. J. L. C , bearing date
Waterbury, Conn., March 2ist, 1863, was received
by Dr. Cummins some time after the above was
written. We quote from it :
1 86 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
" I have a brother and a nephew living in San Francisco,
the latter in a banking house there. He is a member of
Grace Church. I have two letters to-day from him urging
me to go on to Baltimore to see you, and read to you his let
ters. He earnestly hopes you will not decline the call. He
says he never knew such united and anxious feeling in a
parish for any man to become their pastor as pervades Grace
Church.
' ' Yours most sincerely and respectfully in the best of
bonds, J. L. C . "
Another letter from the same clergyman, and one
from a presbyter of the Protestant Episcopal Church
in New York who has since become widely known
by reason of certain predictions concerning that
church, were received by Dr. Cummins, and were,
with those from which we have quoted, the chief in
formation upon which he acted in deciding so impor
tant a question.
His answer, after very earnest consideration of the
call, was that he could not see it to be his duty to
leave his present field of labor, where God had so
abundantly blessed him, for another, however attrac
tive that might be.
The spring of 1863 found him as hopefully and
faithfully at work as though the moans of the
wounded and dying and the cries of the widowed and
fatherless were not heard throughout this highly -fa
vored country. With the innate horror of war which
he ever felt, it was to be expected that the pastor of a
congregation such as St. Peter's where some sons
and brothers and fathers were fighting for the govern
ment and some for the South would feel not only
the deepest sympathy for the relatives of these sol-
CALL TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. l8/
diers, but would suffer intense anxiety day by day in
waiting for news of the members of his flock, some of
whom had been brought to Jesus by his preaching.
This constant and severe strain upon his nervous
system showed its effects in May, 1863, when his phy
sicians told him frankly that unless he removed at
once to a more bracing climate he would be wholly
unfitted for his work.
Here his faith and trust in God were fully tested.
In the midst of work such as he was accomplishing
in St. Peter's, to either be laid aside altogether or
have to remove to another field was a sorrow to this
servant of God too deep for words, but with all his
loving resting on Jesus, he said, " As Thou wilt."
CHAPTER XX.
ANOTHER HOME.
" Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."
i COR. 4 : 2.
AGED 41.
JUST at this crisis the following letter was re
ceived :
CHICAGO, May 16, 1863.
" Copy of resolutions passed by the vestry of Trinity
Church, Chicago, May i6th, 1863, touching the call of Rev.
Dr. Cummins :
"Resolved, That the Rev. George D. Cummins, D.D., be
invited to become the rector of Trinity Church, Chicago.
"Resolved, That J. L. Reynolds, L. P. Hiliard, and John
Wright be a committee to communicate the foregoing resolu
tion to Dr. Cummins, and urge his acceptance of the invita
tion ; and that said committee be requested, if practicable, to
visit Baltimore, and in person communicate with Dr. Cum
mins. Otherwise by correspondence. And if Dr. Cummins
prefer to visit Chicago before deciding, that his expenses shall
be paid, etc.
" Adopted unanimously. H. E. SARGENT,
" Secretary."
A committee visited Baltimore and had a long
interview with Dr. Cummins at his home on Madison
Avenue.
This question seemed one of easy solution. There
ANOTP1ER HOME. 189
was not much left for him to do. His physicians had
decided the matter for him. He felt that they were
right ; but it was a sad trial to him and his wife to
break up their home again and go to an untried field.
Still they recognized the hand of the Lord "in this,
and without a murmur submitted. To bid adieu to
the dear friends with whom he had labored all these
years friends who in many ways had wound them
selves around his heart, to whom he had so faithfully
and lovingly ministered during a time of deep anxiety
and fear to all was a trial too deep for words to one
so loving. He shrank from it with a keen sense of
all that it cost him. Their home, too, was so attrac
tive, and around it hung many tender associations.
But the question admitted of no debate, and, after
some weeks, Dr. Cummins decided to accept the call.
The call came in May, but it was not until after
midsummer that the matter was finally decided. This
interval was passed in a visit to Chicago, that Dr.
Cummins might learn .more fully of the new field ;
and in resting from all labor, in New York and East-
hampton, Long Island. The first letter we have of
Dr. Cummins written at this time is dated Niagara
Falls, June 24th, 1863, when on his way to Chicago,
having left his family in New York :
" I left you at 7 o'clock yesterday morning. I enjoyed
very much the ride on the Hudson River Railroad. Almost
immediately we came to the Palisades, and these extended for
miles. I noticed that the solid rocks forming them were in
some places crumbling, and thought of the Psalmist's expres
sion, ' These all shall wax old, as doth a garment, and as a
vesture shall be changed, but Thou art the same.' Soon
we reached the region of Sleepy Hollow, where Ichabod
GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
Crane flourished, then by Tarrytown, associated with Andre
and his sad fate. Not far from this the Highlands came in
view, more beautiful than ever to me, and I passed by 'West
Point, Fort Putnam, Kosciusko's monument, and C 's
Hotel where we passed a part of the summer, of 1855. Then
Newburg came in sight and Fishkill Landing, and I thought
of Rev. Mr. C -- and your dear sister, now in glory of
their home there and here ! The next object of interest
were the Catskill Mountains, rising in great beauty and even
grandeur, not unlike the mountains around Loch Katrine and
Loch Lomond. At 11.45 we reached Albany, not five hours
travelling one hundred and fifty miles. We reached Niagara
at 10.30, having travelled four hundred and fifty miles since 7
o'clock this morning, in fifteen hours. My room overlooks
the Rapids on the American side, where the river makes its
mighty leap, and I went to sleep with the sound of the cataract
in my ears. I was, of course, weary with so long a journey,
but am rested this morning, and am writing to you before
going out to view the great works of God. "
Later he writes :
" I passed the morning on Goat Island, enjoying the
different views of the Falls, and wishing all my loved ones
were with me. The mighty waters are still rolling on as ever,
unchanged, perhaps, since creation, and undiminished in vol
ume. I repeated to myself Milton's lines :
" ' These are thy glorious works,
Parent of Good ; thyself ho\v wondrous then !' "
Dr. Cummins reached Chicago June 26th, and was
received with great kindness by the vestry and con
gregation of Trinity Church. He describes the
church as exceedingly beautiful when lighted up.
Chicago reminded him of a European city. Of Trin
ity Church he writes :
ANOTHER HOME.
" The front is of stone and very imposing, the sides of
brick, with no windows, like Christ Church, New York, and
is lighted from above. The interior is beautiful ; the pews
are of oak, the chancel semicircular, with stained-glass win
dows. The church is very large, but easy to speak in, though
it has galleries. Sunday morning at 10.30 we had service.
Mr. G and Dr. H read the service and I preached.
The congregation was very large. ' '
Then follows a full description of how he passed
the time while in Chicago, the people he met, and his
impressions of that grand city. In concluding the
letter he says : " I have promised my friends in Balti
more that I would not decide the question until I re
turned. It is a momentous question. May our hea
venly Father in his great goodness lead me to decide
aright !" He speaks of the beautiful lake, and of Wa-
bash and Michigan avenues, and also of the great
kindness of the people.
In a letter dated June 2gth he writes :
" Let us be unceasing in prayer to God for His guidance.
I never felt more anxious to do right. I am willing to sacrifice
anything to follow his will. I do not wish to leave my
present home if by God's blessing I could go on with my
work ; nor can I tell how a residence here might affect your
health."
Under date of July ist, at Niagara Falls, he writes :
" On Monday, after closing my letter to you, Mr. C ,
Mr. H , and Mr. S called for me in an open carriage
to drive. We went first to see the process of raising a block
of brick buildings, for which the people in Chicago have be
come so famous. These buildings were owned by Mr. H ,
I9 2 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
and are five stories high and eighty feet long, and I saw
them in the process of being raised several feet from the
foundation, and all the occupants pursuing their avocations
undisturbed ! One whole block in the city, including the
Tremont House, a first class hotel, was thus raised, and
everything went on as usual in the buildings, and not a piece
of plaster was cracked ! We next drove to the City Water
Works. The water is pumped up from Lake Michigan into
a high tower by steam-engines. Then we went to see one of
those immense grain-elevators where grain is carried up and
down again into the boats by steam power. Some of them
hold over one million bushels of grain. Yesterday, June 3cth,
I left Chicago. Mr. R , Mr. C , and Mr. S ac
companied me to the cars, and expressed very earnest hopes
that I would accept their invitation. I promised to give it
most earnest and prayerful consideration, and send them an
answer at the earliest day possible. They will wait until
October ist for me to begin my work in Trinity. I am
writing now from the Clifton House on the Canada side of
the Falls. The view is incomparably superior to that from
the American side. While sitting on the piazza of the hotel
the sun rose, and the rays falling on the Falls made a column
of rainbow rising upright from the waters."
Dr. Cummins had scarcely reached New York
before the fearful riots began. He had taken lodgings
for himself and family in Thirty-eighth Street, near
Madison Avenue, and there they witnessed many
terrible scenes the burning of the Colored Orphan
Asylum, and the procession going to attack the United
States Arsenal. Day after day and night after night
they heard the wild shouts and howls of what no
longer seemed to be human beings made after the
image of God, but a number of wild beasts fresh from
the jungles of India thirsting for blood.
ANOTHER HOME. 193
Finding it no longer possible to remain in the city
with any comfort, they removed to Easthampton,
Long Island. Their drive to the steamer was a mem
orable one. The stores on Broadway were closed ;
the streets deserted ; no vehicle to be seen for
squares ; it was as though a fearful plague had driven
every one from their homes, except those who were too
ill to leave their beds. Every few minutes the firing
was heard and the shouts of the frenzied throng, as
madly they marched from street to street, doing their
deadly work. Just as the carriage reached the upper
end of Wall Street it met the procession of furies,
headed, as in the days of the Terror in- France,
by women armed with axes, hatchets, pitchforks,
scythes, and clubs, and with demoniacal faces. By a
sudden and skilful turn of the carriage by the coach
man a' lane was reached, and soon they arrived at the
boat, while in the distance was heard the furious yells
of the maddened throng.
Dr. Cummins and his family remained on Long
Island until the last of September. Finding that sea
air and sea bathing failed to restore his wonted
strength, he at last decided that it would be wisest to
try the climate of Chicago, hoping the change might
bring back health and strength. Accordingly he sent
his resignation to the vestry of St. Peter's Church.
From one of his most valued friends in St. Peter's
he received at this time a letter, from which we quote :
" I sympathize with you most truly, for I know the diffi
culties that must present themselves in the settlement of such
a question. I do not like to say anything lest it savor of
selfishness, but this I must say, that I am sure not one
of your many devoted friends in Baltimore is more anx-
194 GEOItGE DAVID CUMMirrs.
ious for you to stay than you are to do your duty in this
whole matter. I am sure all I might say has been weighed
carefully by you, but I shall not cease to pray that if it be
God's will, you may remain with us. I hope your health may
be restored and that you may return here strong for the fight
you have heretofore so nobly and successfully made for Christ.
But whatever may be the result, I shall ever pray that God's
blessing may be with you and yours.
" Believe me to be
" Very faithfully your friend,
" T. W. A ."
In a letter bearing a later date the same dear
friend writes :
" I learned from Mr. W that you had declined the
call to Chicago. It would have gratified you to have heard
the outspoken, sincere, and hearty expressions of joy and
affection in the congregation of St. Peter's, as well as in the
community at large, when Mr. W gave it out that you
had decided not to go to Chicago. I am sure, my dear sir,
that your friends do not overestimate your power for good to
this community. It will be a happy day to us all if God
shall return you to us with renewed strength. Your friends
have an unfaltering confidence in your desire to know and do'
his will in this as in other things."
The acceptance of the call to Chicago saddened
many hearts in Baltimore, and this trial was felt the
more for their having heard the rumor that it had
been declined.
Another letter from the same valued friend, bear
ing date August 24th, 1863, was received by Dr. Cum
mins while at Easthampton :
ANOTHER HOME. 1 95
" MY DEAR DOCTOR : I need not say that the announce
ment in your letter caused me great pain. It seems like a
complete unsettling of my relations with St. Peter's, which
were so pleasant under your ministration. Our acquaint
ance with you has ripened into strong personal affection and
esteem, which separation will not lessen. You will carry to
your new home our love and best wishes ; and we shall ever
thank God for the privileges we have enjoyed under your
ministry.
' The motive which moves you is one of the strongest
that . can be presented, and ought to weigh heavily with any
man who regards properly the life which God has given him.
The expressions which I have heard respecting your removal
have generally been those of unmixed affection and unabated
love.
" We shall miss you, dear doctor, more than I can tell
you. To my dear wife it is a real trial.
" With sincere affection, believe me to be as ever,
' Your sincere friend,
"T. W. A. ."
A meeting- of the vestry of St. Peter's Church
was held August 2ist, when the usual resolutions
were passed, accompanied by expressions of deep re
gret at the severance of the ties which had bound them
together for so many years. The document ends with
the following sentence :
" Earnestly hoping that by God's blessing the change con
templated may be the means of restoring you to health and
strength, so that you may be able to continue for many years
the work of the ministry in which you have been so eminently
successful."
The last of September Dr. Cummins took n j >
196 GEOKun: DA VID CUMMINS.
family to St. Catherine's Wells, Canada, where they
remained for eleven months, that Mrs. Cummins might
be benefited by the waters. During- this time Dr.
Cummins filled all his appointments in Trinity Church,
Chicago, only visiting his family occasionally and for
a few days at a time.
CHAPTER XXI.
LIFE IN THE GREAT WEST.
He liveth long who liveth well
All other life is short and vain ;
He liveth longest who can tell
Of living most for heavenly gain.
*****
Sow love, and taste its fruitage pure ;
Sow peace, and reap its harvest bright ;
Sow sunbeams on the rock and moon,
And find a harvest-home of light. BONAR.
AGED 41.
r I "'HE story of the life of Dr. Cummins while rector
J- of Trinity Church, Chicago, will be best told
by extracts from letters written by himself. They are
journal-letters, telling of his daily work.
The first we have is dated
"October 3, 1863. I trust that I feel more than ever desir
ous to glorify God by consecrating my time and talents to him in
the work of winning souls. I shall strive to live more closely
than ever to my Saviour, knowing and feeling that in this is
our only true blessedness. I know that your prayers will be
offered for me to-morrow, and always, that I may be faithful
and grow in holiness continually.
" May our loving heavenly Father keep you under the
shadow of his wing ! Tell G that he must now be more
than ever gentle and kind and thoughtful to supply my place.
Kiss darling E , ar.d tell her to try to be a dear child of
98 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
Jesus. I trust my precious L will daily grow in grace,
and in likeness to the blessed Saviour.
"October 4, 1863. My first Sunday in Trinity Church as its
pastor ! It was an occasion of great interest and, I trust, of
profit to all who participated in the services. About 10 o'clock
I went to the church, and found a bright fire in the vestry-
room, and everything very comfortable. Every time I am in the
church I am more favorably impressed with its beauty ; every
thing is in such excellent order and so conveniently arranged.
At 10.30 the services began. The church was filled, galleries
and floor, notwithstanding the rain-storm. Dr. H read
the morning prayer. I took the Ante-Communion Service.
The music was the finest I have heard since I listened to the
choir of St. Bartholomew's, New York, when under your
brother's charge.
;< The organ is a very large one, and the voices wonder
fully fine. I regret that it is not more congregational, but
this, I hope, will be gained in course of time. I preached
from Col. 4:17. The people listened attentively, and seemed
to feel it as I did. On returning to the chancel for the
communion I was surprised to find so few remaining : such
a contrast to St. Peter's ! You will see how great a work is
to be done here ! We had the chancel-rail filled only five
and a half times. The communion was so soon over that I
did not feel fatigued. I wish you could look into my room
where I am now writing, and see how cosey and sweet it is.
1 am sure you would be glad.
' 'Monday. All day yesterday the weather was very inclem
ent ; the church, however, was well filled. My text was from
Psalm 87 : 2, 5, 6. The singing was even finer than in the morn
ing. I never heard anything more delightful than the psalm and
hymn. I felt quite bright at the close of the day's work, and
hope I may feel stronger in this cool climate. Mr. C is to
have me at his house one evening this week to meet some of the
Trinity Church people ; he is also going to drive me this
LIFE IN THE GREA'f WEST. 199
afternoon to call on Bishop Whitehouse. During the half-
hour I was out this morning the bishop called with Rev. Mr.
W and Judge O .
" Tuesday afternoon, 5 o'clock. Mr. C and I start
ed at 4 for the bishop's. We found him in, and sat
half an hour with him. He received me very cordially.
I told him I had only resided in two dioceses, Virginia
and Maryland, and in both my relations to the bishops
and the authorities were very pleasant and harmonious,
and that I hoped it would be so here. He invited me
to meet some friends at his house Thursday evening, and Mr.
C also. I accepted the invitation. Mr. C seems to
be very happy that I have come to Chicago. After tea went
to the vestry-room to attend a vestry meeting. I am very
much impressed with the energy of the gentlemen and their
liberality.
"Wednesday evening. This morning at 9 o'clock I
left the depot of the Galena Railway with Mr. and Mrs.
R for the home of Mr. B , fifteen miles from
Chicago. In an hour we reached his beautiful residence,
surrounded by lovely grounds, gardens, and a conserva
tory. The dwelling is large, and filled with beautiful works
of art. Mrs. B soon came in, and to my surprise I
found her to be a niece of Mr. M. P - -, of Clark County,
Va. , and of Captain Richard L. P ' : .-f our congregation in
Norfolk. Mr. B took us around his grounds, and then
showed us what above all things interested us a magic-
lantern and views, in nineteen boxes, pictures of views in
Europe, exquisitely painted, for which he paid $50 each ;
all kinds of insects and plants, three or four hundred plates
in all ; all the heavenly bodies, and all the movements of the
solar system in motion, caused by most delicate machinery.
All these, and an oxyhydrogen microscope of wondrous
power, and a solar microscope, and other inferior micro
scopes, he purchased for $8000. They were the effects of a
200 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
German who devoted his life to them, and died here of
despondency and want of success. I would go hundreds of
miles to see them exhibited at night. The oxyhydrogen
microscope requires oxygen gas to be manufactured to light
it properly. Mrs. J is the same lovely old lady we knew
in Norfolk, and was delighted to see me. Our conversation
was chiefly on religious topics, and we were of one mind and
heart. Mr. B is a very earnest Christian and a thor
oughly evangelical man. He has a chapel on his grounds,
and holds services himself as lay reader. He translates
sermons of German and French divines for the congregation.
You may imagine my delight in meeting such a man. On
returning to Chicago, I called at the American Express Co. to
see Mr. F , who is at the head of the company here and
one of my vestry. The office is immense, and crowded with
clerks and goods indeed, everything here is on a gigantic
scale. Mr. H is going to send you a box of fine grapes.
" I have been visiting in the congregation every day since
I arrived. The vestry are very kind. Mr. and Mrs. H
have urged me to be their guest while you are at St. Cath
arine's. They are as hospitable as Virginians. To-day I
went out to see about sending you money. I went to Mr.
C 's office and told him what I wanted to do. ' Very
well, Dr. C , ' he said, ' I will see the treasurer, buy the
silver, have it boxed up and sealed in my office, and sent off
by express without any cost to you, as I know Mr. F
will not charge you anything. ' Is not this doing a kindness
in a generous way ? Chicago is a wonderful place, so full of
novelty, and unlike our Eastern cities.
" October 9, 1863. I am more pleased with Chicago
each day ; the lake is always an object of great interest,
and on every side are things to excite surprise and ad
miration. The energy and progress here are almost in
credible. At 7.30 P.M. I had my first lecture in the lec
ture-room of the church. It was well filled, and the ser-
LIFE IN THE GREAT WEST. 2OI
vice very pleasant. Mr. H - remarked, after coming
home, that in a few weeks we would be driven into the
church by the crowd. In the afternoon I went out with
Mr. H jp to his office. It is in the Court House. I
went through it and admired the completeness of all the in
ternal arrangements. We also made several visits. Thurs
day at 7.30 Mr. H and myself went to the bishop's, and
there met a large company. I knew but few persons. The
bishop was very courteous and attentive. I am engaged this
evening to meet some friends at Mr. R 's. I intend to
stop a day at St. Catharine's on my way back from Baltimore,
and will see father and mother on my way on.
"Friday afternoon. Your letters have just come. One from
each ! I knelt down after reading them to thank God for all his
goodness to me in giving me such a home-circle ! May his lov
ing-kindness ever be your portion, and may he give to both of
us and all of us the blessedness of resting in his love of
living in the consciousness of his favor ! Do all you can for
the poor sufferer, and to any others you hear of. God is so
wondrously good to us, we ought to be ever ministering to
others. To-day at dinner Mr. and Mrs. H said they
could not think of giving me up this winter. I have never
met with greater kindness. I can have a most comfortable
study at the church ; the rooms are beautifully fitted up
with shelves. Indeed everything is as delightful around me
as any heart could wish, except the absence of my precious
family. Mr. H has a nice horse which he insists that I
shall ride every day. I have felt much stronger ever since my
arrival here ; it is certainly a bracing climate and a deeply
interesting place. There are 4000 Confederate prisoners
here ; I am to preach to them next week. All the clergy take
part in preaching to them. There are many professing Chris
tians among them.
" October 12. On Friday I was visiting all the after
noon and making inquiries concerning an assistant. Friday
2O2 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
evening I took tea at Mr. R 's, and met the bishop and
Mrs. VV , and the Rev. Mr. Cheney and wife. We passed
a pleasant evening. Saturday morning was busy with Mr.
C in trying to have the chancel window shaded, the light
being too trying to the eyes. Saturday evening went to the
rehearsal of our choir, to show the interest I feel in their
work. I enjoyed listening to them very much. . There is
much musical talent in Chicago. Sunday morning dawned
brightly and beautifully. Mr. R sent me your letter.
It made the day a glad one. I think it wise to engage Rev.
Mr. C as tutor to L and G . The Times re
ports my sermon on Sunday in full. We had a noble congre
gation. The vast building was filled in every part. I had no
one to assist me, but went through all the services without
fatigue. The church is so easy to fill. At 3 o'clock I went
to the Sunday-school. At 7.30 P.M we had service, and Mr.
Cheney read for me. The church was crowded like St. Peter's
used to be. The church has in all 256 pews. Many have
been rented this week. I was sent for in the afternoon to
visit a poor woman. This is Tuesday. Last night I had a
meeting of the teachers of the Sunday-school to consult about
the improvement of the school. It was very pleasant. Mr.
R will become our superintendent.
" October 14, 1863. Making visits all day in Mr. H -'s
carriage. At 6 met the vestry at Mr. C 's. We are
starting anew a sinking-fund system to pay off our indebted
ness ; Mr. C thinks we can pay all by Easter. If so, they
will build a rectory. I took my first ride this morning, and
am charmed with the horse. I am to use it each day as my
own. Mr. H insists upon getting a new saddle, bridle,
and whip. He is the kindest of men. Last night Mr. and
Mrs. C invited me to come and be with them all winter.
Are we not blessed in such friends ?
" October 15. Each day I am more and more delighted
with Chicago ; it is a very interesting city. The Lake is
LIFE IN THE GREAT WEST. 203
never-wearying in interest, almost as much so as the ocean.
Wabash and Michigan avenue are very beautiful the one
looks immediately out upon the unbounded expanse of water,
and the other, Wabash, is very wide, and has two rows of
trees on each side, of the avenue ten or fifteen feet apart.
' The lines have indeed fallen unto us in pleasant places. ' I
send you a copy of the Times, and also a most wonderful and
powerful letter from dear Bishop Hopkins to Bishop P .
It is a tremendous blow, a Titan's stroke, and he promises to
follow it up with a book, if spared. ... I cannot re
sist the conviction that God will yet raise you up and give
us years of joy in the future. But his blessed will be done
in you and in me always, and ever, and alone !
" October 17. I went out yesterday to purchase the books.
I bought Macduff's ' Hart and the Waterbrooks, ' ' Grapes of
Eshcol, ' ' Thoughts of God,' and 'Arthur Vanderleur's Life.'
Mrs. H- sent you another box of grapes, and Mr. C a
box of game. Rev. Mr. Cheney read again for me last night.
I preached from St. John 12 : 25. The church was filled
with an immense audience. It is a wonderful field, and may
well excite one to fervor and diligence. I am especially
thankful that, although the church is so large, it is so easy to
fill with the voice as not to weary me in preaching. The
ventilation is so good that the air is not oppressive even from
such a crowd. To tell you of other kindnesses, Mr. S
has sent me passes to go all the way to New York by the M.
C. R. R. and its connections. Is not this most kind ?"
The next letter is dated Baltimore, October 2oth.
In it Dr. Cummins gives a graphic description of the
scenery on the Pennsylvania Central Railroad cross
ing the Alleghanies. He then tells of his busy life
while in Baltimore, superintending the packing of the
furniture, books, etc., in their home on Madison
Avenue. He writes :
204 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
" I am still uncertain about getting to Jefferson County.
All is confusion here. General Lee's movements are mysteri
ous and incomprehensible to the government. No one knows
where he will turn up. Last Sunday a serious disaster be
fell the gvernment forces at Charlestown, Va. General Love-
joy was a classmate of mine at college."
In the midst of heavy work he found time to call
and see all his dear friends of St. Peter's, " who were
all most kind and affectionate, but feel my leaving
deeply." During his stay in Baltimore he was the
guest of William Prescott Smith, Esq., where he was
most affectionately welcomed and made very com
fortable in his elegant home. In a letter dated Balti
more, October 24th, he thus describes the Sunday
passed with his former congregation :
" This morning at 10 o'clock I started for St. Peter's,
and went into the Sunday-school, spoke to all the teachers,
and addressed the children. At n o'clock I preached.
The church was thronged and many were standing. It was a
very interesting service. My text was 2 Cor. 4:5. I bap
tized Mr. D 's child and one of Mrs. H S 's. I
hope to leave for St. Catharine's Tuesday night at 8.30.
May our Father ever bless and keep you all, and bring us in
safety to meet once more !"
On his return to Chicago, Dr. Cummins writes
thus, under date of November 4th :
" Again I am in my new home, and my song ought to be
unceasing of the loving-kindness of the Lord. I have trav
elled in these past two weeks two thousand two hundred
miles, and was mercifully saved from all danger. The few
brief hours we spent together were precious beyond all esti-
LIFE IN THE GREAT WEST. 2O5
mate, and so soon passed ! but let us be thankful for such a
mercy, and not indulge in sad thoughts. I found the ground
covered with snow here, though in St. Catharine's we had
rain. Yesterday at 10 o'clock I went into the Sunday-school,
and found good Mr. B in his place as superintendent ; a
gentleman came in to instruct the children in singing, and
they sang very sweetly. I had all the service, as Mr. T
failed to make his appearance, but, strange to say. I was but
slightly fatigued. Many pews have been rented since I took
charge of the church, and all is encouraging. The great fair
for the benefit of the sick and wounded soldiers is attracting
many to the city. One day seven thousand dollars were
taken in, and last week twenty thousand dollars ! This is
the way they do things in this wonderful city.
" November 4. Mr. C went with me to a printer to
have some circulars and Bible-class questions printed."
From the circular we quote a portion of the con
tents, that an idea may be had of what the routine of
work was then at Trinity :
" SUNDAY. Divine Services at 10.30 A.M. and 7.30 P.M.
Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month, and at
Christmas and Easter. Sermon to young men on the first
Sunday evening of each month.
' The Sacrament of Baptism is administered to infants on
the third Sunday afternoon of each month, at 3 o'clock.
' The Parish Sunday-school meets each Sunday morning at
9 o'clock.
" WEDNESDAY. Divine Service and Lecture in the lecture-
room of the church at 7.30 P.M. The course of lectures for
this season is on the Acts of the Apostles, or the History of
the Apostolic Church.
"FRIDAY. The Rector's Bible-class for Adults of both
sexes meets in the Lecture-room at 7.30 P.M. each Friday.
206 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
"A Preparatory Service and Lecture will be held before the
Communion on Saturday, at 7.30 P.M., preceding each Com
munion Sunday.
" CHURCH OFFERINGS AND CONTRIBUTIONS.
" On the first Sunday of each month the collection is for
the pgor and needy, to be disbursed by the Rector.
" On the third Sunday morning of each month, except July
and August, a special collection will be made for the follow
ing charities, in this order :
" JANUARY. Foreign Missions of the Church in Africa,
China, Japan, Greece, and South America.
" FEBRUARY. For the Sunday-schools of Trinity Church.
" MARCH. The Diocesan Fund Support of the Episco
pate.
" APRIL. Church Publishing Societies.
" MAY. Feeble Parishes and Missionary Stations
Church Extension beyond the Diocese.
"JUNE. Distribution of Bibles, Prayer-Books, and
Tracts.
" SEPTEMBER. City Missions and other City Charities.
"OCTOBER. To aid the Education of Students for the
Ministry.
" NOVEMBER. -Diocesan Missions Church Extension in
Illinois.
" DECEMBER. Domestic Missions in the Territories and
destitute places in our own land.
" THANKSGIVING DAY. Special Collection for the Aged
and Infirm Clergy of the Diocese, as directed by a Canon of
the Convention."
In the same letter of November 4th he speaks
gratefully ol the generosity of one of his church mem-
bsrs in presenting him with a valuable set of trapping's
for the horse he rode "another instance of great
generosity on the part of this people.
LIFE 7/V THE GREAT WEST. 2O/
Through the generous and thoughtful care for
their rector's comfort, ample means had been provided,
apart from his salary, to pack and bring on his fur
niture, library, etc., from Baltimore. A kind friend
provided a safe place to store all until a home could
be occupied by himself and family.
In concluding the same letter, Dr. Cummins
writes :
" Many, many thanks for your kind words of advice. I
love them. May God keep me humble, and near to the cross
of His dear Son.
" Sunday afternoo ;z, November 8, 1863. I have not felt
before such a longing for the society of my loved ones since I
left you. Oh ! that we may feel a greater longing for the
society and friendship of Jesus and ' the spirits of just men
made perfect ' in our heavenly home ! Here we can be to
gether at the longest for only a few fleeting years, but that
fellowship is eternal. May God in His infinite mercy keep
me humble, pure, loving, and spiritually minded, and sanc
tify me daily, and all my precious family, for His heavenly
kingdom. I pray to do my duty faithfully to perishing souls,
to preach more earnestly than ever the love of Christ, and to
know nothing beyond my work. My field is indeed a won
drous one, and crowds come to hear ; there is a vast deal of
irreligion here, and I try to preach only of the soul's salva
tion or loss, of Christ, of mercy, of redemption.
' This morning Dr. T read the service for me, and I
preached from Phil. 3 : 14. The congregation was very large.
Every time I enter the church and see such a throng my cry
is for more grace, more power, more fidelity to preach Christ
aright ! Tuesday night the church will be open to give
young men a choice of single sittings. Thursday afternoon
the Ladies' Sewing Society is to be revived. My assistant
will be here next Sunday.
208 GEORGE DAVID CUMMIN'S.
" November 9, Monday. At 7.30 yesterday we had ser
vice. I preached from Matt. 22 : 13. It was, I trust, a
blessed day to me. I tried to preach the love of Christ more
earnestly than I have ever done ; the congregation seemed to
listen with interest, and I trust God will bless His word each
time to the salvation of some souls. I was not at all fatigued.
I cannot doubt this climate will be of great benefit to my
health ; already I feel stronger than 1 did in Baltimore. I
have spent this morning in visiting. This afternoon at 5.30
I went to a supper given by the Young Men's Christian Asso
ciation to the clergy of Chicago. The object was to make a
report to the clergy of their work, and they adopted the
English custom of a feast beforehand. About sixty were
present, including all the prominent evangelical clergymen of
the city and a number of laymen. We had a very handsome
supper, after which reports were read from the different com
mittees, and speeches from a number of the clergy.
" November n. I rejoice to hear that dear G is
taking lessons in music and drawing. The arrangement
about the children's studies is a delightful one. In D 's
and your work for our friends do not forget Mr. B . I
have no truer or nobler friend than he is among all my people
here. May our blessed Saviour ever be your friend and com
forter !
"November 13. I closed my letter to you about 3
o'clock, and started for Mrs. S 's residence, about five
miles from Chicago, where the Ladies' Society was to meet.
There were about forty ladies present. I addressed them,
telling them that I wished them to work for my assistant,
who would also be a missionary in the city. They entered
very cordially in my plan. At 8 o'clock I read a chapter,
and we sung Bishop Ken's evening hymn, ' Glory to Thee,
my God, this Night, ' and I offered a prayer, and so we broke
up. It is a pleasant way of bringing the families of the con
gregation together."
CHAPTER XXII.
SOWING THE SEED.
" Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters." ISAIAH 32 : 20.
AGED 41.
"V TOVEMBER 16." Yesterday, Sunday, the storm kept
i. i the ladies home, but I had a good congregation of
gentlemen, both morning and night. We have had our first
teachers' meeting, and are about to introduce the missionary
system into the Sunday-school, and I hope it will add very
much to its efficiency and interest.
" November 18. I am now constantly occupied in visit
ing the congregation, and hope to get through before Christ
mas, though we are continually adding to the number. I
'have not yet had a single case of sickness in the congregation.
Is not this remarkable ? I am very glad to hear such pleasant
accounts of the children's studies, but do guard dear G
from studying too much.
"November 21. Thursday at 5.30 o'clock I went to Mr.
's house, our junior warden, where the society met.
There were thirty ladies present, despite a hard rain. We
had some sweet singing by Miss M , one of our choir. I
met there Dr. DeL. M , one of my parishioners just re
turned from Europe. He spent a week with Sir James Y.
Simpson, in Edinburgh, this autumn. He says that Sir
.James is just as great an enthusiast in archaeology, in re
ligion, and in our war, as when we were there. At 8 o'clock
we dispersed, and Mr. H 's carriage was sent to take me
to Rev. Dr. C 's, It was his birthday, and he is in the
210 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
habit of having the clergy at his house to supper. Gold is up
to 154 now ; the cause is an anticipation of danger to General
Burnside, who is besieged by Longstreet. I have not written
you any thing about the war. It is too mighty a theme for a
letter ; I must wait until we meet. At the end of three years'
it seems as far from a conclusion as ever. May God in mercy
bring us peace ! Yesterday I had a charming ride, and feel
better for every one. At night I conducted the Bible-class ;
the attendance was large, and the exercises very pleasant.
To-day I have been busy directing the unpacking of my
books and table, and arranging them. It has been a busy
day, but the room looks so home-like with my books on the
shelves ! On Sunday we had a service which lasted nearly
two hours and a half. I had to read a pastoral letter from
Bishop W about Thanksgiving, and take up a collection
for diocesan missions, which amounted to one hundred dol
lars the largest they have ever taken for that purpose, Judge
O says. I want to make it one hundred and fifty. I
have prayed for you in church and in my own room. May
our Father be your comforter in all your suffering !
" November 26. This is a day set apart for thanksgiving
to God, and I have tried to ' count up my blessings, ' and
find that they are innumerable. How great is God's good
ness to me in my restored health, in my ability to labor in
His blessed service, in my many friends, in my comfortable
position, and the hope of your improvement, but above all
in the love of Christ, in His unwearied forbearance towards
me, and His loving-kindness ever new, ever fresh ! For all
these I bless and magnify His holy name, and desire to renew
my dedication of myself this day to His service and His
glory. May He take me and mine and make us all and alto
gether His, and sanctify us by His Holy Spirit ! I have a
difficult work to perform to-day, but hope to go through it
with His help. I have chosen as my theme, ' The Christian's
Ground of Hope for the Future of his Country, ' and my text
SOWING THE SEED. 211
is Psalm 20 : 7. Mr. C and Mr. R had my sermon
printed in the daily papers. Yesterday I called on Dr.
D , of New York, who came to Chicago the night before.
Dr. and Mrs. C came up to the chancel to speak with
me. Dr. C has been on a tour of duty in the West. I
am delighted to hear of the children's rapid improvement
under Rev. Mr. C . I am still more delighted to know
that L is engaged in ministering to the poor and the sick ;
it is a blessed ministry of mercy, and I hope she will grow
up finding it to be her greatest delight. Nothing, I think, more
surely ripens in any one all the loveliest Christian graces.
" November 28. Thursday I went to see Dr. D , of New
York, and took him to see our church. The doctor thinks
Trinity next to St. 's in New York in size, and very
beautiful. St. 's has two hundred pews on the ground-
floor, and Trinity one hundred and eighty. Dr. D has
never been to Chicago before, and is surprised at all he sees
here. In the afternoon I buried the young man whom I was
called to see Sunday night. The weather is now very cold.
Winter has set in. You will be amused when I tell you that
a large white owl flew into the church, and has quietly seated
himself on one of the projections in the chancel very high up,
and there he sits, grim and solemn, not in the least disturbed
by the music, preaching, or the presence of the people !
" November 30. Thermometer at 10 Fahr., yet we had
a full church yesterday. Dr. D was present. Dr. Van
D read for me. I preached from Exodus 32 : 26. You
will be glad to hear that not a single desirable pew remains
unrented. We hope all the debt will be paid at Easter. . . .
All is anxiety and excitement about war news, and I fear the
next few days will be full of eventful tidings.
" December 3. Went to the meeting of the Board of
Managers of the Aged Women's Home. Visited morning and
afternoon.
" December 6. Bishop Lee, of Iowa, preaches for me to-
2 1 2 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
day. He is here soliciting aid for his school for girls at Du-
buque. Friday evening we had an interesting meeting of the
Bible-class ; the answers were very prompt and correct.
Saturday was devoted to visiting. I dined at Mr. E 's
with Bishop Lee, Bishop W- , of M , and Rev. Dr.
C . On Saturday I had the Preparatory Communion Ser
vice, the first held.in Trinity for years. It was well attended.
Our communion list is very small for so large a church. A
mighty work is needed to be done here for Christ and the sal
vation of souls. Worldliness prevails everywhere. This is a
day I can never cease to praise, so bright, so beautiful, so
perfect ' The bridal of the earth and sky,' as George Her
bert sings. Dr. A , from Quebec, read the morning prayer ;
I read the Litany. The bishop's text was, ' And I saw a
great white throne, and him that sat on it ' a most excel
lent and faithful sermon. I longed for you and the children,
and thought of my precious daughter at communion at the
same hour with me, and prayed that God would make her a
shining light in His church. This afternoon I preach to the
children."
The next letter from Dr. Cummins from which we
quote is dated
"December n. This is my birthday. I am now forty-one
years old. It has been a day of many thoughts, some sad and
others cheering. How profound and unceasing ought my grati
tude be to God that He has permitted me to live so long, and
above all, that more than half of my life has been spent in
preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ ! for I commenced
my ministry when I was only twenty years of age. Alas ! I
can look back upon a record blotted and marred by ever-
recurring failures, infirmities, and sins, and yet on^ thought
cheers me amidst it all. I trust I am slowly gaining mastery,
and making some improvement in Christian character. I
have this day renewed my consecration to God, and as I can-
SOWING THE SEED. 213
not look forward to twenty years more, and have no right to
count upon a single year, I would be more earnest and devoted
in my work of winning souls to Christ, knowing ' that the night
cometh when no man can work.' How strange and eventful
has our life been ! The changes in our homes, your long-
continued illness surely we ought to feel that God is disci
plining us by His providence and His chastenings to purify
us and make us meet for heaven. And while He chastens us,
His mercies are not restrained to us. In the midst of the
awful calamities to our land, and while so many of our old
friends are in desolation and suffering of every kind, we are
blessed with an ample support, our precious children spared
to us, and the eldest, we trust, a child of God ! Let us dwell
on these blessings, and not on our trials ; and let us draw
nigh to God, and commit all to Him and trust Him for the
future.
" December 14. I have nearly gone through my visiting-
list of one hundred and seventy-five families. The work here
is very light, having few sick persons to visit, and the climate
is so bracing that I trust by God's blessing my health may
'continue to grow stronger. We have no poor people in Trin
ity Church, but I intend to start a mission in some destitute
part of this city, and have my assistant preach every Sunday
afternoon there, and also establish a mission Sunday-school.
" December 16. What a joy I have had to-day in receiv
ing your letter telling me you are better ! My heart was full
of gladness and gratitude ; and yet I had not read it half
through before my heart was filled with anxiety over our dear
boy.
" ' Bits of gladness and of sorrow
Strangely crossed and interlaid ;
Bits of cloud-belt and of rainbow
In a deep alternate braid.
" ' Days of fever and of fretting,
Hours of kind and blessed calm ;
Boughs of cedar and of cypress,
Wreaths of olive and of palm.
214 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
Noons of musing, nights of dreaming,
Words of love, and ways of strife
Tears of parting, smiles of meeting,
Paths of smooth and rugged life.'
" These are Bonar's sweet lines, and I have more for you
when we meet. May our heavenly Father restore our boy
to health !
" I wrote to-day to our dear boy, urging him to give his
heart to Jesus now in his childhood, before days of sin and
sorrow come to him. I have felt very anxious about him
since receiving your letter, and have again and again com
mitted him in prayer to God. Snow-storms follow each other
here in quick succession, and the pavements are covered with
ice, and the Lake roars like the ocean. I hope these storms
will not prevent my getting to St. Catharine's.
" December 19. Just heard of the death of dear Dr. May,
of the Virginia Seminary. He ever impressed me as walking
so closely with Christ. May we strive to copy the example
of two such friends as Dr. and Mrs. May !"
At this time Dr. Cummins received a sad letter
from an old friend at Norfolk, Virginia, whose de
lightful home was his and his young wife's home also
for several months when they first went to Norfolk :
" NORFOLK, December 17, 1863.
" MY DEAR -FRIEND : We have passed through sore trials
since I last saw you, and a sad change has passed over our
comfortable and happy home, which I have decided to aban
don and seek another in Baltimore. I and mine have much
to be thankful for in the midst of the troubles that afflict our
people. I will not harrow you with the recital of the suffer
ings that have been endured by our people, now reduced al
most to pauperism.
' ' When you write, do so as in olden times to a sincere friend
SOWING THE SEED. 215
who has never lost his interest in you and yours. I hope Mrs.
C-- 's health is improved, and that yours has not given way.
L - and G are no doubt realizing the bright promise
of their childhood. Remember me most affectionately to
them. Mrs. T joins nie in kindest remembrance to Mrs.
C and yourself.
" Your sincere friend, T T . "
"December 23. Oh ! there is such a work to be done
here for Christ that every opportunity to preach Him is
precious. To-day I received the inclosed letter from^Nor-
folk. It is very sad and touching. How wonderful are
God's ways ! And how unspeakably precious to know that
He is always good, merciful, loving, just, and wise ! I can
not nor would I dare to predict what the end of it all will be.
That God is working out His will through the wrath of man,
I must ever believe. But one thing seems wonderful to me :
how gigantic a work of charity He is placing upon the nation.
Here are hundreds of hospitals filled with sick and wounded,
soldiers' families in need and suffering, and, last, the hundreds
of thousands of the poor colored people needing so much to
keep them from the jaws of death.
" December 23. I wish to establish a Mothers' Meeting
in our midst, and use every other instrumentality that may
elevate and bless my people. There is a vast deal to be done
here, and we have a noble church and a grand field, and we
ought to be happy in doing the Master's work. It is vastly
harder to suffer and wait than to work, and surely He means
only to purify you through patient waiting and enduring. May
He draw you nearer to Himself by this fellowship in suffer
ing with Him which He has called you to share 1
" December 24. This is Christmas-eve, a time when we are
accustomed to gather in our own home-circle and make each
other happy by our little gifts. I feel quite lonely this
evening, as it recalls our happy hours in by -gone years. ' '
2l6 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
Dr. Cummins left Chicago, after his duties were
over at Christmas, for St. Catharine's, where he
passed a few days, and then returned home with his
son, whose health had not been very good, and a
change of air was thought desirable for him. They
had a memorable journey back, encountering one of
the most severe snow-storms that had been known for
twenty-seven years. Through the great kindness and
thoughtfulness of one of his vestry, who was then
General Superintendent of the Michigan Central
Railroad, he was made more comfortable than others,
but his kind friend Mr.- S was severely frosted
through his generous exertions to relieve the sufferers.
The cold was intense, thermometers standing at 36
below zero, so that all who were at all exposed to it
suffered severely, and in many cases were fatally in
jured. Much anxiety was felt for the safety of their
pastor, but through God's mercy he and his young
son were spared from injury. In returning to Chica
go Dr. Cummins felt more deeply than ever his sepa
ration from his family under such circumstances.
After speaking in one of his letters of this trial, he
adds :
" But it would be ungrateful and sinful to allow such feel
ings to prevail, for we are in the path of duty, trying to act
wisely and for the best, and God is so merciful that we must
dwell chiefly on His loving-kindness."
In a letter dated January i2th, 1864, he records
the kind acts of several friends :
" Mr. S G gave a pair of valuable skates. Mr.
W also remembered us, and good Mr. S came to
SOWING THE SEED. 2 1/
offer us a horse and sleigh. Every day we are receiving
some new token of kindness from our friends. Mr. H
sent you five dozen partridges. He and all our friends were
greatly pleased with the gifts. Surely, as father writes, ' the
lines have fallen unto us in pleasant places.' We are sur
rounded by the very kindest of friends, so thoughtful in min
istering to our comfort."
After Dr. Cummins returned to Chicago, the ist
of January, his wife and children removed from lodg
ings to a furnished house. He writes, January
" I have followed you to the house to which I trust you
were able to be moved on Monday, and I try to imagine how
you are fixed, and hope that you will find it comfortable. I
am happy to know you are in a home of our own. As I
write, G - is studying. He is almost my constant com
panion, and a great comfort to me.
"January 15. I have been deeply touched to hear of the
kindness of Rev. Mr. R - and his family to you in moving
and arranging for your comfort. Surely we are most highly
blessed with such kind friends ministering to our comfort
-here, .and such sweet Christian spirits ministering to you
there. May God reward them !
"January 18. I have been constantly occupied since my
return with parochial work. My Bible-class is very pleasant
and well attended. The lectures Wednesday evenings seem
to be of great interest to my people, and the Sunday congre
gations are very large. I had last evening a long visit from a
Baptist clergyman who is coming into our Church. I ad
vised him to place himself under the guidance of Bishop
Mcllvaine. During his visit Bishop W - called with his
chaplain and sat a long time. The bishop came to ask me to
preach an ordination sermon next week. Had a long letter
from W - W - , of Leesburg, Va. I will do ail I can in
2l8 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
sending him the Bibles and Sunday-school library. Dear G
has been quite ill, but is now much better. He has been enjoy
ing a splendid copy of Audubon's Birds, and a Portrait Gal
lery of Indians, to-day. Among the latter he found the chief
of the Six Nations and grandfather to Mr. K , whom we
met at St. Catharine's, and who is going to Europe with Dr.
McM . I have not had time to read ' Say and Seal.'
Would that we had more such choice spirits as Miss Susan
Warner and her sister !
" January 20. Our dear boy is quite well again, for
which I am deeply thankful. I went out to-day to see about
several matters ; had a long chat with Mr. C . He spoke
of the rectory, and said he had told Mrs. C how beauti
ful our home was in Baltimore ; that he had a glimpse into
the dining-room from the parlors, and that he wanted to have
the rectory here in the same tasteful style. Went to see
Mrs. S ; found her more* ill. She is an earnest Christian,
and is willing to die if it be God's will. How precious it is
to find such firm faith in one to whom life has so many attrac
tions ! Mr. C , Mr. F , and Mr. S called to ask
me to allow my sermons of last Sunday to be printed, but I
declined. Kind Mr. S has just sent me a valuable work,
' The Life and Times of John Huss, ' in two volumes ; it is
just out. I have thought that it would be improving for us
to select a verse of Scripture to make the theme of our medi
tation conjointly for one week. We will then be dwelling to
gether upon the same precious truths of God's Word. 1
will select one this week, and you can do so the next. Mine
is Philippians 4 : 3, and may the blessed Saviour make us to
realize it in our own hearts in this our time of trial ! If we
trust Him, He will turn our sorrow into joy, and after these
weary days make our life bright and blessed in our united
effort to serve and love Him. To-day I sent off a copy of
Mrs. Hoffman's Memoir to Miss Warner.
"January 25. Took tea at Mr. C 's with G .
SOWING THE SEED. 2 19
They were very kind. Mr. C says G - is a splendid
fellow. Had a long talk about Trinity, the rectory, and my
work. It is always helping to hear his enthusiastic remarks
about the importance of my work, and of my influence for
good. He says he always shall think it a most happy ar
rangement that he went on to B and was able to see you
and get you on his side, and that he was so glad to have seen
our lovely home. Yesterday, Sunday, I took up a collection
for foreign missions one hundred and eighty dollars. At
night preached from Isaiah 5 : 4 to a very crowded congre
gation.
"January 28. I thought at one time that I would have to
forego my usual delightful Lenten services. Trinity Church
has never been opened for a week-day service in Lent, except
on Ash-Wednesday and Good-Friday. The gentlemen are
entirely absorbed all day in business, and the women are un
accustomed to attend any week-day services. But I deter
mined to try the experiment, and intend to deliver the course
on the Epistle to the Seven Churches. I will issue a cir
cular to the people. Yesterday the thermometer hanging on
the south wall of Mr. H 's house stood at 72, and the tu
lips have sprung above the ground. This in the North-west,
a thousand miles from Norfolk, where we had such weather
in the winter ! And yet last week the cold was fearful. Your
letter has filled" my heart with joy ! Oh ! that we may be one
in Jesus, and all our little family united to be forever with
the Lord ! Let earthly care be a heavenly discipline. Do
you remember dear Dean Ramsey told me of his sainted wife,
when he showed me the memorial window in his church, rep
resenting the scene at Bethany, and said she always called
herself a Martha, but now she is at the Lord's feet ! How
little will all life's trials appear when we meet before the
Master ! G is very happy with me ; he is studying reg
ularly. Every one is kind to him, and he is a general favor
ite. Mrs. H 's boys make him a model in every thing. It
22O GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
is very amusing to watch them. May God, even our own
Covenant God, bless, comfort, and keep you !
"February 8, 1864. I have ever tried to make my Lenten
services a special blessing to my people. An interest has
already been awakened in the course of lectures, and I hope
great good will be done. On Sunday the church was very
full, and I preached from the text, ' We love Him because
He first loved us,' and at night one of my regular sermons
to young men. My sermon was, ' The Game of Life.' The
church could not hold all who came, and I trust good was
done. Had a letter to-day from Miss Warner ; was it not
interesting ?
"February 10. I have lately had to take quite a decided
stand in behalf of the cause of evangelical truth. When I
came here I was called on to aid in the support of a church
paper. I consented on the condition that it should be made
acceptable to all classes of churchmen, and occupy a broad
and common ground. But so far from occupying such
ground, it has ever since been most offensive in its tone of
flippant taunts of other Christian churches, and I feel that I
can no longer support it. I shall consequently withdraw my
name. The cause of evangelical truth is very dear to me ;
and though I try to work harmoniously with those who differ
with me, / cannot compromise what I believe to be Gospel truth.
My position in that respect is one of great importance, and I
am determined to wield it in behalf of the precious truth of
Christ. This beginning of Lent makes me think much of
you : our Lenten seasons in Baltimore were so delightful.
May you, through the great mercy of God, be able to join in
these services next year ! We are supporting a student at
Griswokl College, and I shall sendW W the Sunday-
school library, costing one hundred dollars, so just now my
charity fund has been absorbed, but I will try to help Mrs.
H after a while.
"February 16. Yesterday morning was balmy and mild ;
SOWING THE SEED. 221
to-day we are again in an arctic temperature thermometer
standing at 10, 12, and 14 below zero in different places,
and the wind blowing heavily all day.
"Febntary 17. Despite the intense cold we had a fine
attendance at church yesterday. I want to tell you how
much pleasure I have had in reading ' Say and Seal.' I can
now understand why you hesitated when I asked you if the
' Old Helmet ' was not superior to ' Say and Seal.' I think
the character of Mr. Linden more attractive than that of Mr.
Rhys that is, he is not quite so far removed from the rest of
mortals, and there is more of the every-day features of life
about him. And what a beautiful character is Faith's,
ripening daily into a noble womanhood under Mr, Linden's
teaching and training! I think the effect of Miss Warner's
works upon the heart is exceedingly helping and encouraging,
and though we may feel that the characters are ideal ones, yet
we know that they are such as can be lived by so many of
Christ's people. And then how lovely she makes a religious
life presenting it in the fullest, freshest sympathy with all
that is beautiful in nature, refined in taste, and cultivated in
intellectual matters ! I think no true Christian can read her
works without feeling new longing for a fresh consecration to
God. Went to-day to see Mr. C about the church paper
of which I wrote you. My moving in the matter has made
quite a stir among all parties concerned in it, and they have
promised to try to make the paper acceptable to all. I have
determined to wait and see, as I am truly anxious to preserve
harmonious relations with all classes of churchmen in the
diocese, and nothing but the duty of sustaining the precious
truth of the Gospel, as I understand it, -will move me to an an
tagonistic position. I have been much distressed to hear of
your state, but how short and utterly insignificant will all
earth's sorrows and sufferings appear when looked back upon
from eternity ! Think you that when you arc ' forever with
the Lord' you will ever regret one hour of pain that drew
GEORGE DAVID CUMMIN'S.
you nearer to him ? A trial sanctified is a blessing far above-
a trial removed. True indeed that only a heart taught of
the Holy Spirit can enter into such truths and feel their bless
edness. . . . Wednesday evening I took tea by special
invitation with Mr. and Mrs. B . I accept these invita
tions in order that I may the better know my people, and be
able, I trust, more effectually to reach their hearts.
"March 2. I continue to receive very cheering evidences
of God's blessing upon my labors. Mr. W told me last
evening that Mr. D was deeply interested in the subject
ot personal religion, and I hear of others whose hearts are, I
think, touched some who have been thought very indiffer
ent. This is very precious to me, and I trust that this spring
will bring an accession to the church of not a few who are
truly brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Yesterday
afternoon I delivered my first lecture on the Church at Sar-
dis ; the day was beautiful and the attendance excellent. My
theme was chiefly on spiritual declension, from the words,
' Thou hast a name to live, and art dead,' and I hope my
own heart felt the benefit of the truth. I am very happy to
know that you are meditating so much upon the striking
promises in the Epistles to the Seven Churches. Do you
know that the promise in Rev. 2 : 17 is believed by many
of the best writers to refer not so much to future and heav
enly blessedness, as to the believer's present privileges the
' hidden manna ' meaning the soul's food, and the ' white
stone and new name ' referring to and symbolizing the imme
diate communion between Jesus and each of his true servants
the sweet interchange of Christian love, that which is
known only to the soul that experiences it. The other pas
sages of Scripture which brought you such peace are very full
of consolation. The Bible is truly the Word of God spoken
afresh to each soul by him, who uses it as a sword, and also
as balm to the wounded heart.
"March 5, 1864. This day is the anniversai'y of our young-
SOWING THE SEED. 22 3
est child's birth. Six years have passed since that memorable
time when I thought you were going before me into the spirit-
world. Surely we ought ever to remember all the way God
has led us ! And from that scene my mind is carried back to
that more distressing period in Edinburgh, when I thought
you were going away from earth without a sight of our chil
dren. Oh ! how good God has been to us, chastening us sin
love, and drawing us nearer to him by his gracious disci
pline !
"How truly and intensely a Christian's heart can enjoy
the beauty of God's works 1 I came home to-day near the
lake, and it was looking more beautiful than ever. Near me the
water was of a light bluish-green color, further away of a deep
blue, and the horizon fringed by violet-colored clouds. I am
sure this lovely lake will ever be a thing of beauty and delight
to you.
"The R.ev. Mr. Auer, of our African Mission, addressed
the Sunday-school and preached for me concerning the work
in Africa.
"Yesterday I read a valuable and impressive charge from
Bishop Mcllvaine to his clergy on ' Preaching Christ, ' and
it has made me anxious that every sermon should lead to
Christ, and set him forth as the sinner's only hope. The
bishop shows very clearly how a minister may preach impor
tant truth, and yet fail really in preaching Christ.
" March 9. I find other indications of ablessing on my
labors. Yesterday afternoon I went to visit a Mr. W ,
who has been very ill. I found him quite ready to receive
any religious counsel. He spoke of the good my sermons
had done, and said they were such as to set him thinking
deeply, and that all his friends felt in the same way. I hope
he will become an earnest Christian. Thus I am encouraged
to find God's word not returning to him void, but doing its
blessed work in the awakening and conversion of precious
souls. Many ladies tell me they could not get their husbands
224 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
to come to church before, and now they come to every ser
vice. And at our afternoon lectures we have a number of
gentlemen, more, I think, than came in Baltimore. I am
greatly cheered by these tokens of good, and hope that a great
work will yet be done. ' '
Dr. Cummins thus writes of the death of a class
mate at college, a man of fine ability and who gave
promise of being an instrument in the hands of God
of bringing many souls to Jesus. Although for some
years he was a most eloquent preacher, yet his last
days were inexpressibly dark and sad.
" March \\. Have just heard that poor C died on
Saturday in Philadelphia. ' Who maketh thee to differ,' is
the lesson to me."
CHAPTER XXIIL
WORK FOR JESUS.
" Behold I have given him for a. witness to the people." ISAIAH
55 : 4-
" For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will
of God, ye might receive the promise." HEB. 10 : 26.
AGED 42
" CHICAGO, March 26.
S^\ N Wednesday evening I preached for Rev. Dr. Bishop
\^J at his church St. John's one of a series prepara
tory to confirmation. He is a very earnest, evangelical cler
gyman. Thursday there was a communion service at St.
James's Rev. Dr. Clarkson's. I made an address. This
morning Good-Friday I preached from St. John 10 : 17, 18.
To-night we have service again, and I deliver my last lecture
on the ' Seven Churches,' and then Easter closes up the
record of my work since the first of October, 1863."
Dr. Cummins, accompanied by his young son, vis
ited St. Catharine's after Easter, and remained with
his family ten days. This visit cheered him greatly,
and he returned to his work with renewed zeal. He
writes under date of
" April 9. How merciful is God to me ! My first act on
reaching my room at kind Mr. H 's was to kneel down and
thank him for all my mercies, and pray to be able to consecrate
myself anew to him in the blessed work of preaching Christ and
of saving souls. It was a sweet picture that met my eye as I
226 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
turned back to look once more at the house as I rode away ;
our three precious children standing on the porch in the
beautiful sunlight waving me a last ' Good-by. ' I felt thank
ful for such children, for the comfortable temporary home,
and for the dear happy hours where we were permitted to
be all together. The one shadow that clouded our happiness
had its ' silver lining,' for through this severe trial we have
been brought nearer to God.
' ' When I reached Chicago good Mr. S met me, with
a bright face, and asked if I had received his telegram. I
said ' No,' and then he told me the good news that at a
meeting of the vestry, on Thursday night, the whole sum was
raised necessary to clear off the entire debt ! and that my
salary had been increased a thousand dollars ! You may
imagine my joy and gratitude, for now Trinity can be conse
crated ! I said to Mr. S , ' Well, you are the kindest
and most generous people I ever met with.' The vestry
propose now to build a rectory, and to go on with it at once.
Is not this prompt and energetic action, and is it not noble
in the vestry to pay all the balance of the debt without calling
upon the people ? They will ask the congregation to help in
building the rectory. I then went to the bishop's to see him
concerning the consecration, and the appointment was made
for the 24th April. I received a letter from Dr. Schenck
saying he would preach the sermon on the occasion.
" Monday, April n. Yesterday I was able to announce to
the congregation that the church was out of debt, and would be
consecrated on the 24th, Dr. Schenck preaching the sermon.
I had also the pleasure of announcing the opening of a ' Mission
Sunday-school ' on the same day, showing that we did not
intend to confine our labors to ourselves, but that, now by
God's blessing we were out of debt, we would go forward
and extend the same blessings to the poor and neglected. I
preached from the words, ' Master, it is good to be here. 'In
the afternoon at 3.30 I went to the Mission Sunday-school
WORK FOR JESUS. 22/
and spoke a few words to the teachers and children. Over
twenty persons offered themselves as teachers, and we had a
very fair number of scholars as a beginning. At 7.30 we had
our evening service. I miss dear G in going with me
to each service, and also in his pew. The church was
densely crowded ; the young men stood in galleries and
aisles. I preached from 2 Sam. 12:7: ' Thou art the
man.' I trust the Gospel of the blessed Saviour was pro
claimed fully and faithfully, and that some souls were won.
" You may imagine the gladness of every one connected
with Trinity Church at the entire freedom from debt, and
now I am looking for spiritual blessings. I begin my con
firmation lectures this week, and the confirmation is appointed
for Whit-Sunday, the i5th May.
" Many pews have been taken by new families, chiefly
those who have purchased them. I shall begin at once to
visit all the new parishioners.
" I have felt more lonely without dear G ; he was
such an interesting companion. Dear boy, I hope he is daily
growing stronger ! How I miss my sweet little E and
our readings about ' Ellen Montgomery ' and our precious
little housekeeper my memory of her is very pleasant !
" April 13. The vestry met Monday evening, and
after attending to all the business of the church expressed a
unanimous desire for my institution next Sunday, i7th. The
office has been used before in Trinity Church, and I think the
effect is a good one. It seems to impress the people with
the sacredness and responsibility of the relation between pas
tor and people, and that is more needed in a new community
than in any other. You will follow me, I know, in thought
and prayer next Sunday. Yesterday morning I went to see the
bishop about my institution, and it is finally arranged for next
Sunday morning. I had our regular Sunday-school teachers'
monthly meeting Thursday. Such is in part the story of my
228 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
life. You see it is a busy one ; but I am always happier when
constantly occupied.
" April 14. Had a letter from Rev. Mr. S . He
tells me that the Rev. Mr. G would be willing to leave
his present home, and I have written to Baltimore urging his
call to St. Peter's.
" April 16. It is Saturday night, and I am alone in the
quiet of my room, with my whole heart going out towards my
precious family. This has been an eventful week, and to
morrow is to be a memorable day in my history.
" The Office of Institution is a very impressive and solemn
one, and full of absorbing interest to the ambassador of Christ.
I have tried to bring myself to enter into it with the most
earnest and most humble spirit. I do feel a deep longing to
live for Christ, and labor for him, and to be set apart more
entirely to his service. As my life advances I feel more
profoundly than ever the utter worthlessness and hollowness
of a life of worldliness, and the unspeakable blessedness of a
life whose fountains are all in Christ a life of separateness
from the world, of an earnest following of Jesus, and of daily
growing more like him.
" I think the sad discipline of events around us for the
past three years has contributed to increase this feeling in
me. The prevalence of war and all its horrors the change
in our country to one who has seen it so different the new
aspects of society the repulsiveness of many social features
of our day, all help to deepen my longing for something bet
ter, higher, purer, holier than earth. And yet I think my
interest in my work deepens : it seems to be an uplifting
above all the evil influences of our day, just to be spent in
such a service. Oh, that my heart were truly washed from
every defilement of evil and wholly filled with the blessed
Spirit !
" I have a vast deal to do to retrieve the past past errors,
past failings, past neglects. I will strive to-morrow to give
WORK FOR JESUS, 229
myself wholly to God, and pray for the cleansing of my soul
from every sin, and a fresh baptism of the Holy Ghost. Last
evening I delivered the first of my confirmation lectures in
the church.
" Monday, April 18. And now to tell you of yesterday.
The day dawned beautifully, and the sky was without a
cloud. Our hearts were all glad to see so bright a day for
the services. The church was crowded. At 10.30 the
bishop with the clergymen entered the chancel, and I went
with Mr. H and Mr. F to the chairs placed outside
the chancel and took my place between the two. Rev. Mr.
Cheney read the Morning Prayer to the Creed, the Rev. Mr.
Freeman the remaining part. The bishop read the Ante-
Communion Service, and then followed the institution office.
The bishop made his address, then Mr. H advanced and
presented the keys of the church, and I replied as prescribed
on receiving them. Then I went within the rails of the
chancel, and the bishop presented the books, as directed in
the office. Then he offered the prayers as prescribed, and I
followed with my part. I preached the sermon, as requested
by the bishop although I invited him to preach^from the
words ' We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the ex
cellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.' Then
followed the communion, and after that the congratulations
of the vestry. The whole service was deeply impressive,
and I hope will be productive of much good to pastor and
people. In the afternoon I baptized four children, and at
night preached to young men on ' David's Repentance.'
" April 19. We had a meeting of the gentlemen of the
congregation last evening to consult and decide about the rec
tory. There were a number present, and they subscribed
very generously the most of them giving five hundred dollars
each. It is a noble beginning, and we think there will now
be no difficulty in building a comfortable home for us.
" April 25, Monday. Yesterday our church was con-
230 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
secrated. The day was stormy, and we thought few would
venture out ; but the congregation was large, and the services
most interesting. Dr. S preached the sermon. Eight
clergymen took part in the services. A collection was taken
up for the rectory, and the offering amounted to nine thousand
dollars, including the subscriptions at the meeting last Mon
day night. Rev. Dr. S preached again at night. This
morning I breakfasted with Dr. Bishop, Mr. Cheney, and Dr.
S at Mr. E 's.
:< The services yesterday were of intense interest to us all.
Dr. S 's sermon will be published, and I will write a short
history of the church to accompany it. Every one is inter
ested about a home for us. I never heard of such energy and
liberality. Mr. F told me last night he would double his
subscription, making it one thousand dollars.
" April 26. I am now each day in the vestry- room to
see persons wishing to be confirmed. As yet there are few
who seem willing to confess Christ, though I know many
whose hearts have been touched and who are seriously im
pressed as to their duty.
" The obstacles to the progress of deep, vital religion are
mighty in this community. If ever Christians were called to
be witnesses for Christ, to shine as lights in the world, hold
ing forth the Word of Life, it is in a city like this, where all
the mightiest forces of modern civilization are concentrated ;
and where in the train of great prosperity wickedness follows,
as in every such community. Christ has his own people
here, however, and while he gives me strength I shall ' know
nothing among men but Jesus Christ and him crucified.'
The subscriptions to the rectory have reached twelve thousand
dollars, and the vestry are now considering the question of
purchasing a delightful house on Michigan Avenue.
" April 30. It is Saturday evening, the hour when I
love to commune with my loved ones so far away. The day
has been wet and gloomy, and I am home-sick. When I am
WORK FOR JESUS.
actively engaged in my work I can keep off such feelings, but
there are many times when they come upon me very heavily,
and my heart longs for those linked to me so closely, so ten
derly. How truly we are made for sympathy and friendship !
Our blessed Lord craved human sympathy in the hour of his
agony when he said to the three disciples, ' Tarry ye here,
and watch with me.' Still, to indulge in sad feelings in the
midst of our abundant mercies would be sinful. Our lot is
full of blessings ! Yesterday I delivered my third lecture on
confirmation. Thank you for your words of encouragement
concerning my work."
The middle of May Dr. Cummins again visited
his family at St. Catharine's, Canada, for a few days.
On May gth he writes of the war news, which at that
time filled all minds :
' The advance of General Grant on General Lee before
Richmond the- second battle of the Wilderness General
Butler's march to City Point on the James River, confronted
by Beauregard and General Siegel's advance in the Shenan-
doah Valley, where he is met by another Confederate army.
' The slaughter is fearful.' But ' the Lord reigneth, ' and
' the judge of all the earth will do right.' . . . Rev.
J G has been called to St. Peter's, Baltimore, and I
am urging his acceptance.
" May 10. All has been intense excitement over the great
battles of Thursday and Friday last ! It is said that fifteen
thousand wounded soldiers are in Fredericksburg as yet un-
cared for !"
Dr. Cummins and his family were very anxious on
receiving the news from Virginia, as many dear friends
and relatives were exposed to the dangers that fol
low in the wake of a large army. He writes
232 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
" May 12. My confirmation class will be a small one. To
add to the other causes operating against our work is the pres
ent intense excitement which absorbs every mind and drives
all else out of the thoughts. But it is God's cause and he will
take care of it. Jesus will yet gather to him all his people,
and oh, that we may may be among his chosen ones, now and
forever !
" Simday, May 29. This afternoon I go to the Mission
Sunday-school. HOAV precious was our meeting in your
room last Sunday afternoon around the table of the Lord.
May we meet thus in our Father's kingdom ! I found a large
school gathered and a fine body of teachers. It was a very
cheering sight. A converted Jew was addressing the school
when I entered, and it was deeply interesting to listen to him.
I followed him in an address, and then the children sang sev
eral beautiful hymns. They have a nice cabinet organ."
June 3, 1864. To a very dear friend Dr. Cum
mins writes, under the above date :
' ' You have long since been able to lie passive in his
hands, and desire to know no will but his. He has been
with you very constantly of late, giving you great peace, and
sanctifying your sufferings to your good, by drawing you
nearer to him, and giving you to realize a Saviour's love and
presence. How sweet to know that all the way he has led
you these many years has been his way, a path chosen by
him to accomplish his blessed purposes of love towards you
even your sanctification. You know and feel his discipline
has not been in vain you are nearer to God, more submis
sive to his will, more filled with his spirit and what is
equal to this ? In a few fleeting years what difference will it
make to any one of us whether our days on earth were passed
in sickness or in health ? One thought alone will then be up
permost did our lot in life, our life-discipline, work for us
WORK FOR JESUS. 233
everlasting life a home and a place among the sanctified
and ' the spirits of just men made perfect '?
" For myself I find during the last few years my interest
in earthly things, apart from Christ's cause, is exceedingly
diminished. I long only to do my work for Jesus, and to be
come daily more weaned from earth.
"June 10. On Wednesday evening I went to the hall
where our Mission School is held, to another exhibition of
our fine magic lantern. We had a large attendance, and a
most unruly set of boys. The temptation to fun and noise
was great when the lights were lowered ; we could scarcely
keep them in order. It reminded me of Eleanor Powle's
Ragged School in London, and the somersaults of the boys to
relieve their nervousness.
" I rode to the rectory lot this morning. It was a dis
agreeable day in the centre of the city, dusty and warm, but
when I reached the lot the view was beautiful. The lake
was agitated by the wind, and the water was a lovely shade
of green. It is delightful to think we shall so soon be in our
own home, if it be God's will. It is pleasant to watch the
workmen laying every stone. The house is to be of the
pretty cream-colored brick so popular here, with stone trim
mings, and is to have every modern improvement. The lawn
has beautiful evergreen trees in it, and looks so nicely. I am
hurrying the workmen as much as possible, as I know how
you long to be settled in our own home.
" I am now very busy visiting the congregation, as I wish
to see every one before I leave for my summer vacation. Be
sides this, I have to see to all the parochial work, which, with
the preparation of sermons, lectures, and other services, oc
cupies every moment of my time. I have now no assistant,
but have written to Rev. Mr. G , hoping to secure him.
"June 1 6. How constant and complete ought to be
our preparation to meet our God ! How near we are to the
eternal world, and how ceaseless ought our care to be to keep
234 GEORGE DAVID CUMMIN'S.
our lights trimmed and burning, waiting for the coming of
our Lord ! Oh ! unspeakable blessing to be ready to go in
with him when he calls us ! Thus let us strive to live, with
our hearts ever-fixed on Jesus ! And thus, whoever of our
little circle goes first for we must go alone it matters but
little, for we will meet in heaven and spend an eternity to
gether.
" June 20. Had services yesterday Sunday at 10.30,
baptism in the afternoon, and service again at night. Among
the congregation was the Bishop of Prince Rupert's Land,
who is on his way to England. He came into the vestry-
room before the services, but declined to preach for me.
He came back after the services to express his pleasure in
them. His jurisdiction is the Hudson's Bay Company ter
ritory, and adjoins our country above Minnesota, and the
best way to reach his diocese' is through Minnesota."
On the evening of July 4th, 1864, Dr. Cummins
left Chicago for St. Catharine's, to join his family and
pass his vacation with them. His church had been
left in charge of an assistant, and it was with a very
joyful spirit he turned his face once more towards his
Canadian home. Since he left them, the latter part
of May, they had all been ill ; but the news was kept
from him until the great danger was overpast, as it
would have seriously interfered with his plans to have
left his people before July. God mercifully spared
each member of his little home circle ; and on reach
ing St. Catharine's, July 5th, he found them convales
cent. The month of July was passed in their tempo
rary home, and in the early part of August they left
St. Catharine's for Niagara Falls, where they re
mained several weeks. The first of September they
were accommodated, through the great kindness of
WORK FOR JESUS. 235
Mr. H. E. Sargent, then the General Superintendent
of the Michigan Central Railroad, with a luxurious
private car, in which they journeyed pleasantly, and
with but little fatigue to their invalid, to Hyde Park,
then five miles from Chicago. Here the party re
mained a week, at the very comfortable hotel immedi
ately on the Lake Shore. From Hyde Park they
went to delightful quarters in the city, generously pre
pared for them by one of the vestry, where they were
most lovingly cared for until late in October, when
they again removed to lodgings. During this time of
waiting their beautiful home on Calumet Avenue was
being rapidly built. The health of Mrs. Cummins
grew rapidly worse as the autumn of 1864 advanced,
and her physician advised country air. Dr. Cummins
was so fortunate as to be able to rent a furnished
house at Evanston, about twelve miles from Chicago,
and to this delightful home he removed his family.
Finding that his wife improved very soon after
their removal to Evanston, it was decided by the no
ble and generous men who composed the vestry to
sell the rectory on Calumet Avenue which was near
ly completed and purchase for their rector a home
in Evanston, which was then for sale. A tasteful car
riage and valuable horse had been another proof of
the untiring kindness and whole-souled liberality of
this dear people towards their beloved rector. With
these aids Dr. Cummins found he could easily attend
to his work in Chicago, driving in every day, and re
turning in the evening. On the Sundays he re
mained chiefly with his friends in town. This home,
beautiful in itself, was rendered still more so by the
dear people of Trinity Church.
CHAPTER XXIV.
WORK IN 1865-6.
A glorious harvest of sinners won
A harvest worth securing
Rest for the toilers their life-work done
Crowns for the victors, and near the throne,
Peace, joy, and life enduring.
M. B. SMITH.
AGED 43.
IN March, 1865, Dr. Cummins was again tendered
the rectorship of Grace Church, San Francis
co, Cal., with a very large salary. This call, after
earnest and prayerful consideration, he felt it to be
his duty to decline. Though he was fully sensible of
the field there presented to him for almost unlimited
influence, and the great need for earnest men in that
new and important city, yet he could not think it wise
or right to leave his beloved flock in Chicago, when
God's blessing had so markedly rested on his labors
in that no less important field. He therefore grate
fully and affectionately declined this second call.
In the spring of this year, while their new home
was being prepared for them, Dr. and Mrs. Cummins
visited some dear friends in Toronto, Canada, and
Dr. Cummins preached in St. Paul's Church in that
city, at the request of his friend Rev. H. R .
WORK IN 1865-6. 237
A happy summer was passed at Evanston in their
country home, an unbroken circle.
In September the Annual Diocesan Convention
met in Chicago, and Bishop Whitehouse appointed
Dr. Cummins the preacher for the occasion. The
convention sermon was on " The Claims of the Prot
estant Episcopal Church upon the American Peo
ple," and at the request of the members of the Con
vention, both clerical and lay, it was printed in pam
phlet form for circulation.
Dr. Cummins's position in this sermon was a
thoroughly honest one. He fully believed what he
there stated was the truth. Several years after he
came to think differently, and then as frankly admitted
the change in his opinions and stated the cause.
During the session of the Convention he had the
pleasure of entertaining the clergy and laity, with the
bishop, in his own home. It was a happy occasion,
and all who were present cannot soon forget it.
The first of October, 1865, Dr. Cummins left Chi
cago, accompanied by his family, for Philadelphia, to
attend the General Convention as delegate from the
Diocese of Illinois. Mrs. Cummin,s and the children
visited her father in Virginia and friends in Baltimore
while her husband was in Philadelphia. We have be
fore us most interesting letters written at this time,
giving a full account of the debates, in which Dr.
Cummins took an active part. We give extracts from
these letters.
Immediately after the close of the General Con
vention he placed his son at school in Burlington,
Vermont. This was a most pleasant trip, as he was
accompanied by several friends and their sons, and
238 GEORGE DA FID CUMMINS.
travelled in a private car from Baltimore, furnished
with every comfort, entirely at the cost of one of the
chief officers of the New York Air Line, who was a
very dear personal friend.
During his stay in Philadelphia he was the guest
of a most earnest and devoted Christian gentleman.
His fellow-guests were Bishop Eastburn and Rev.
Dr. Nicholson, now Bishop Nicholson, of Philadel
phia. He writes :
" PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 3, 1865.
" Went out to call on Bishop Hopkins, who received me
very warmly he asked very kindly after you then to call on
Bishop Whitehouse, and last to Miss F 's to see Dr. and
Mrs. Clarkson ; there I met Bishop T . To-day the
Convention opened ; the Bishop of Montreal preached the
sermon. Dr. C was elected President of the Conven
tion, and has put me on several important committees, so I
shall be busy. Thursday night Bishop Coxe preached an
interesting sermon before the Board of Missions in St. Luke'
Church.
" Friday morning, during the session of the Convention, I
offered my resolution welcoming back the Southerners. The
night before Bishop l^ay had taken his seat in the House of
Bishops, and on hearing this the Board sang the Gloria in
JZxcelsis. My resolution passed, and a large majority of the
delegates are full of joy and thanksgiving over it."
One who was present in the Convention when Dr.
Cummins offered his resolution thus describes the
scene :
" The finest display of eloquence was on Thursday last.
The church was densely crowded. A pause, a momentary
rustle, and then all is calm. Dr. Cummins, of Chicago, rises
WORK IN 1865-6. 239
and addresses the chair. He has spoken once or twice be
fore, and there is an anxiety to hear him at length. The
house is hushed as his melodious voice reaches ears painfully
intent on catching every word that he may utter. His speech,
voice, look, and manner show that he feels intensely the im
portance of the subject on which he is to speak. His natu
rally open, cheerful countenance displays a terrible earnest
ness. He rests with both hands on the back of the pew in
front of where he is standing, and his figure bends, as he
pours golden words of burning eloquence in the ears of the
listening President and members of the Convention. He
looks appealingly at the chair, and upon his brethren of the
clergy and laity. He is logical and at times analytical, but
it was when picturing the glory of the Church in the good
and happier days that we thought him majestic. He tells
his listening audience that it was the glory of the Church that
she was the last body to break the ecclesiastical bonds of
the Union, and let her be the first to restore these bonds.
Let her gather them up, and weave them into a chain of love
never again to be broken. ' How beautifully grand and sub
lime,' whispers a reporter as he ciphers each word on paper !
You realize you are listening to one of America's foremost
orators. But in a moment he changes the scene, and intro
duces you to one whom he justly claims as the friend of his
youth. You now learn that there beats a generous heart
within the bosom of the captivating orator. He tells of the
love he bears the memory of the saintly Bishop Meade, once
Virginia's most distinguished prelate, and with filial tender
ness places him right upon the record of the rebellion. It
was nobly said, and many hearts swelled with gratitude to the
speaker for his appropriate eulogy of one who had been a
father to many of them. Dr. Cummins takes his seat, and
all feel that the case is at an end, and so it was. ' '
Dr. Cummins writes :
240 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
" The North Carolina delegation told me that it would
have a great effect upon the South. Friday I dined with
your brother, the Bishop of Montreal, Bishops Hopkins, Mc-
Ilvaine, Potter, Eastburn, Clark, and Talbot, Judge Cham
bers, Dr. McVicar, your sister, and L . Speeches were
made by Bishops Mcllvaine and Hopkins, telling us of their
early visits to England and interviews with Wilberforce and
Hannah More. At 7.30 P.M. an interesting missionary meet
ing was held in St. Luke's, and addresses were made by Rev.
Mr. Hening, the blind missionary from Africa, and others.
Sunday morning I preached in the Church of the Epiphany
for Dr. Newton, and in the evening for the Rev. Mr. Atkins
in Germantown. On Monday drove with Dr. Nicholson to
the new Divinity School. At night there was a meeting at
St. Mark's of the Society for the Increase of the Ministry.
The feeling in the Convention towards the South is wonder
ful, and our hearts are filled with devout gratitude to God
over it.
" October n, 1865. Attended the business meeting yes
terday of the E. K. S., and at night the ' Anniversary ' was
held in Holy Trinity.
" Dr. Quintard was consecrated this morning Bishop of
Tennessee. Bishop S preached the sermon. It was a
noble testimony to evangelical truth. I read the testimonials
of the Bishop-elect from the Diocese of Tennessee.
" October 13. Dined at cousin D 's and met Mr. G
and A. C . In the evening attended the anniversary of the
Church Missionary Society at Holy Trinity Church. Bishop
V , Rev. Mr. W , of Nevada, and Dr. N spoke.
Dr. N 's speech was a grand one. Yesterday went at
10 o'clock to the Convention, and at 12 spoke on the case of
Bishop Wilmer for half an hour. It was a speech just warm
from the heart, and I hope did good. It was received in
profound silence, and some were in tears. I have received
thanks from the oldest and most eminent men of the
WORK IN 1865-6. 241
Convention, among them Dr. M , of Connecticut ; Rev.
Dr. W , of Massachusetts ; W. H , ex-governor of
New York ; Bishop C , and very many others. The vote
on Bishop W was unanimous. The whole result is glori
ous, and seems to indicate the presence of the Holy Ghost in
answer to prayer. ' '
Sunday, October i5th, Dr. Cummins passed in
Reading, Penn., where he preached twice.
Tuesday, i/th, he writes :
"We had the Thanksgiving service for peace to the
country and unity to the Church. It was held in St. Luke's.
Twenty-seven bishops were in the chancel, and the church
was full. There was no sermon. The Convention met after
the service.
" October 18. Dined at Dr. H 's with Bishop and
Mrs. S , of K ; Dr. C , of Boston ; Rev. Mr.
D and Mr. W , of Baltimore. At five o'clock went
to the Board of Missions.
" This morning (ipth) I breakfasted with the alumni of the
Alexandria Seminary.
" October 23. Preached yesterday for Dr. H at St.
Luke's. On Saturday Missionary Bishops were nominated
for Nebraska, Nevada, and Colorado. Dr. C is greatly
troubled to know what he ought to do. I shall be truly sorry
to lose him, but I am so thankful / was not called upon to
decide the question for myself !
" October 24. The Convention adjourns to-night, when
the closing services will take place. It has been a most mem
orable General Convention, and will be mighty in its effects
on Church and country. The official reporter of the U. S.
Senate came on with his corps of phonographic reporters, and
has taken down every word, and will publish it in a volume of
six hundred pages. The election of Dr. H and Dr.
242 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
R was confirmed last night, and the Rev. Channing
Moore Williams elected Missionary Bishop to Japan. He is
from Richmond, a brother of Mrs. L , and a noble man.
" I have had such sweet communion with Dr. N , it
has done my soul great good to learn from him, and to partake
of his spirit.
" October 2.5. I go to Smyrna, and on Friday start for
Baltimore. I shall preach on Sunday (29th), in St. Peter's and
Emmanuel churches."
After his visit to his friends in Baltimore, Dr.
Cummins, with his wife and daughters, spent some
time in New York and Philadelphia, and then re
turned to Chicago.
CHAPTER XXV.
ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE.
Man may make bishops, Christ alone
Makes those whom he vouchsafes to own.
Like Paul then preach, nor aught beside
Christ Jesus, and him crucified.
So wear your lawn no robe of state
A prophet's robe in that be great.
REV. DR. MUHLENBERG.
AGED 44.
IN the spring of 1866, at the urgent advice of his
physician, and with the generous consent of
his vestry, Dr. Cummins took passage, for himself
and family, on board the Africa, of the Cunard line,
for Europe.
The journey was undertaken with the hope that the
sea voyage and residence abroad would permanently
benefit Mrs. Cummins's health, while the recreation
was needed by Dr. Cummins. It was also felt that
the advantages to their children would be very
great. Their plan was to be in Europe for a year,
Dr. Cummins returning to his parish for several
months in the winter. They sailed from Boston on
the loth of May, and after a pleasant voyage reached
Liverpool on the 2oth. A day was spent in Chester,
and from that quaint old city they went on to Leam
ington, where they passed some weeks. From Leam
ington the little party went to London, and thence
to Paris, where two months and a half were most
244 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
agreeably passed, Mrs. Cummins being under the
care of physicians. They had scarcely reached
Paris, and settled comfortably in lodgings, when news
reached Dr. Cummins which entirely changed all
their plans. We will tell the story in his own
words :
" PARIS, Saturday, June 16, 1866.
" This day I read in a New York journal, of June 2d,
at the office of John Munroe & Co., No. 7 Rue Scribe, a
telegram announcing my election, by an almost unanimous
vote of the Convention of the Diocese of Kentucky, to the
office of Assistant Bishop of the Diocese.
' June 24, 1866. To-day I read in the Church Journal
of New York an editorial announcing the same fact.
" Paris, June 26. I received to-day the official an
nouncement of my election in the following letter from the
Standing Committee of Kentucky :
" ' LOUISVILLE, June i, 1866.
" ' REV. AND DEAR SIR : The undersigned, the Standing
Committee of the Diocese of Kentucky, have just been ap
pointed by the Convention of the Diocese a Committee to
make known to you that you have been elected this day, with
the most gratifying and extraordinary unanimity, the Assistant
Bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky. We perform this duty
with great pleasure, and venture to urge your acceptance of
this high office, and to assure you that in the event of your
acceptance you will be cordially welcomed by a warm-hearted
people.
" ' Very respectfully, your friends and obedient servants,
JAMES CRAIK.
FRANCIS M. WHITTLE.
J. J. TALBOT.
W. F. BULLOCK.
WM. CORNWALL.' "
ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE. 24$
We have before us several very full accounts of
the action of the Convention, from the daily papers.
We give only a brief synopsis. The Convention met
May 3Oth in St. John's Church, Louisville. In Bishop
Smith's address he asked for an assistant, as he no
longer felt able to fulfil the duties of so large a dio
cese at his advanced age. Resolutions were passed,
and the Convention proceeded to elect an assistant.
Several clergymen were nominated, and three ballots
were taken, resulting in the rejection of the candidate
by the laity. No little feeling arose among the cleri
cal delegates when their candidate was rejected, and
one of the clergy, Rev. Carter Page, made a speech
expressing his surprise at the action of the laity.
Rev. Dr. Craik urged the claims of Bishop Lay, and
withdrew his own name in the bishop's favor. To
avert all such feelings and to promote the harmony
of the diocese, a proposition was then made by the
laity in the Convention for the appointment of a com
mittee of conference on the subject. This proposal
was accepted by the clergy, and a committee of six
gentlemen of each order was appointed, to whom the
whole subject was referred. Friday afternoon, June
ist, the Committee of Conference, through Judge
Bullock, made the following report :
' ' The Committee of Conference appointed by the Conven
tion of the Diocese of Kentucky to decide upon a suitable
person for the office of Assistant Bishop, beg leave to report
the following unanimous action :
" Resolved, That the Rev. George D. Cummins, D.D., of
Chicago, Illinois, be recommended to the Convention of the
Diocese of Kentucky as Assistant Bishop of said diocese, in
246 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
which they respectfully but earnestly solicit the concurrence
of the Convention."
Judge Bullock said : "I am further instructed to state
that we have reached this result after the most careful con
sideration ; and in doing so we had in view the glory of God
and the good of the Church ; that we were all willing to sur-
, 'render for ourselves, and the party we represent, all personal
feeling and private ideas. It is our prayer that the unanimity
which we have met in answer to secret prayer will also govern
this meeting ; that in selecting this man, we knew that from
his piety and his talents that Kentucky would adopt him ; and
it is for that piety and other good qualities we have done so,
and we have no other earthly motive in view."
The Rev. F. M. Whittle then nominated the Rev.
George D. Cummins, D.D., rector of Trinity Church,
Chicago, as Assistant Bishop of this diocese, and the
Rev. Dr. Craik seconded the nomination.
A ballot was taken with the following result : For
Dr. Cummins, 21 votes, Dr. Craik, i ; Mr. Whittle, i.
The laity proceeded to ballot, with the following re
sult : For Rev. Dr. Cummins, 23 votes; nays, i.
The chairman then declared the Rev. George D.
Cummins, D.D., elected to the office of Assistant
Bishop of the Diocese of Kentucky. Mr. Cornwall
moved, that in view of the great unanimity in the
choice of an Assistant Bishop, the Convention unite in
singing the Gloria in Excelsis, and the whole assembly
present united in this grand song of praise to God.
In the journal kept at the time by Dr. Cummins
we find the following entry :
" PARIS, July, 1866.
' ' Letters have reached me from a number of bishops, ex-
ELECTION' TO THE EPISCOPATE. 247
pressing their pleasure at my election and earnestly urging my
acceptance of the office.
These letters are now given, though in several
cases extracts only are made, as the entire letters are
too long for publication. The first in our possession
received by Dr. Cummins is dated
" CLAREMONT, N. H., June 4, 1866.
" REV. AND DEAR BROTHER : I beg your permission to
express to you the satisfaction with which I learn that you
have been elected Assistant Bishop of Kentucky. That the
Spirit of the Chief Shepherd is the mover of this solemn pro
ceeding I cannot doubt. I pray you, then, listen to the call
as one in which the Lord is telling you what to do. I have
confidence in you that your work will be done to his gracious
and full acceptance.
" Your affectionate brother in Christ and the church,
" CARLTON CHASE.
" REV. GEO. D. CUMMINS, D.D."
The next document in order of date is a Prayer
of Thanksgiving, prepared by Bishop Smith, of Ken
tucky, and was used in the Convention and in the
churches in Louisville.
PRAYER.
" O Almighty Father, the giver of every good and per
fect gift, we render unto thee our hearty thanks that it hath
pleased thee, as we trust, to hear our prayers in guiding us
aright in the choice of our Assistant Bishop elect ; and most
humbly we beseech thee to preserve him and his family
whilst abroad, and when upon the mighty deep ; and to bring
him to us in the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of peace.
248 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
" All which we ask for his sake who is the Shepherd and
Bishop of our souls, thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen."
The letter next in order is from the then Assistant
Bishop of Ohio, and is as follows :
" GAMBIER, June 5, 1866.
" REV. AND DEAR BROTHER : The papers state that you
have been elected to the Assistantship of Kentucky. Thank
God ! Nothing better could have come to them ! No holier
work could have come to you ! No more blessed call from
God could have reached your ear. The call is from God.
You cannot say ' No.' I beg you to say ' Yes.' The field is
a grand one. I have just visited two of your parishes. My
earnest congratulations to you.
" Affectionately, G. T. BEDELL.
" REV. GEO. D. CUMMINS, D.D."
A very kind note from the Rev. W. O. Lamson
was received at this time, thanking Dr. Cummins
for taking charge of the American Chapel in Paris
while the rector had a rest and vacation. It is
dated
" 61 RUE DE LA PEPINIE'RE, PARIS, June 2.
" MY DEAR DR. CUMMINS : We are at home for a few
hours en route for Switzerland ; in obedience to the urgent
kindness of our flock, who feel such pleasure and confidence
in your services as to know the interests of the Church are
in good hands, I repeat my thanks for your services and
congratulate you upon your election to the Episcopate, which
I have heard with pleasure. I trust you will justify the
wisdom of the choice by accepting.
" I am, very faithfully yours,
" W. O. LAMSON.
" REV. DR. CUMMINS."
ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE. 249
From a presbyter of the Diocese of Kentucky a
cordial letter was received, from which we make a
few extracts :
" LOUISVILLE, June 6, 1866.
" MY DEAR DR. CUMMINS : Upon the announcement
of your election the Gloria in Excelsis was sung. On last
Sunday thanks were given in our churches for your election,
and prayers offered for your Dreservation and safe return.
There are three parties in the church here the Virginia
churchmen, the evangelical high churchmen, and the sacra-
mentarian high churchmen. All, however, united upon you.
I am confident that by the blessing of God you can harmonize
these conflicting interests. Moreover, your ecclesiastical sen
timents are admirably adapted to this diocese. Kentucky is
the daughter of Virginia both in ecclesiastical polity and
theology and in political sentiment. A conservative, evan
gelical churchman (as I know you to be) can at this time, as
a bishop, wield a mighty influence for good by the blessing of
God. I sincerely trust that your convictions of duty may
prompt you to accept this high and holy office thus thrust
upon you by the providence of God. You can be more use
ful than as pastor of a parish, however important, and an en
gagement however sacred with any particular church should
it seems to me give place where the interests of an entire
diocese and of the whole Church are so intimately concerned.
Having felt an intense interest in this matter, and having
watched events with prayerful attention, I am convinced that
your election was ordained by the special providence of
God. Oh ! that God may assist you to decide this important
matter aright ! I believe you have been given us by the prov
idence of God for this position, and I am confident that
under such an administration as we may expect of you, most
glorious results will be realized. We are all more anxious
than I can express to hear your decision.
' Truly and faithfully yours, G. D. E. M.
" REV. GEO. D. CUMMINS, D.D."
GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
We give in full the letter from Rt. Rev. B. B.
Smith, D.D., senior Bishop of Kentucky, and Presid
ing Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in
the United States :
" CATLETTSBURG, Ky., June 8, 1866.
" Rev. G. D. Cummins, D.D. :
" MY VERY DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST : Before this
reaches you you will doubtless have heard through some other
medium of your almost unanimous election, on Friday last,
June ist, to be my assistant.
" Had you been at home I should immediately have let
you know, by telegram, how entirely agreeable to me the se
lection is in which I would have no hand and how cordially
I shall welcome you to my side in the near and sacred relation
which Timothy sustained to St. Paul. Oh ! that we could
only hope that like grace may be upon us both, and a like
measure of success attend our joint labors ! I inclose this'
to Mr. Sargent, of Chicago ; but in the course of a week
expect to receive in New Haven, Conn., your address
direct, when I shall write you a long letter, giving you a de
tailed account of the circumstances of the election- from my
standpoint, and also my views of the position and prospects
of the Church in the diocese, urging the reasons which to my
mind seem conclusive that it will be your duty to accept.
" But so blind are we, and ignorant, that THAT is left to
the decision of the great Head of the Church, by none more
confidently and cheerfully than by your brother, shall I say ?
or your father in the Gospel,
" B. B. SMITH."
Bishop Clarkson, of Nebraska, who, since the ac
ceptance of the rectorship by Dr. Cummins of Trin
ity Church, Chicago, had, with his wife, been among
his most dear friends, thus wrote :
ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE.
".NEBRASKA CITY, June n, 1866.
" MY DEAR DR. CUMMINS : I do not think I ever heard
of the election of a bishop with more gratification and joy
than that which filled my heart to overflowing when the news
came to me of Kentucky's wise choice, unless, indeed, it was
once before, when my now sainted uncle, Samuel Bowman,
was chosen by Pennsylvania.
". . . Now I hope, dear Doctor, that you will see it to be
your duty to accept. I know that you possess great and
peculiar qualifications for the high and awful office, especially
in the field to which you have been called, and I do not see
how you can decline.
' ' I want you to be sure and let me know when and where
the consecration will take place, so that I may make my ar
rangements to attend.
". . . I shall be very anxious until I hear of your de
cision. I wish tha Kentucky were a little nearer to Ne
braska, so that we might be more together in the future ;
but I am sure that if God spares our lives we shall have abun
dant call for mutual counsel in the blessed cause of our dear
Redeemer and His precious Church. I am getting ready
for a tour through Dakota Territory, and shall probably hear
but little until my return of what goes on in the Church ; but
it will be a sore grief to me if I shall learn that you had not
accepted the call to the Episcopate of Kentucky. Mrs. Clark-
son joins with me in all my gratification and in my congratula
tions. We have often spoken of you and Mrs. C --- and
the children. Please give our most affectionate regards to
Mrs. C -- .
" May God bless and keep you in his fear and love. '
" Yours affectionately, ROBT. H. CLARKSON."
By the same steamer came a letter from Bishop
Kerfoot, of the Diocese of Pittsburg.
252 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
"NEW BRIGHTON, Pa., June 13, 1866.
" MY DEAR DR. CUMMINS : I said ' Amen' to your elec
tion at once ; and I feel as though I must not longer postpone
writing so to you myself. . . . But apart from that, I feel
sure that you can and would do a great and good work in Ken
tucky. . . . But my brief experience makes me feel bold
to say to any honest minister of Christ, go into this work if
God calls. No man can safely seek it, but if it come un sought it
comes a great mercy, a great grace to any true heart. It
brings one very near the great First Bishop. It necessitates
a nearer spiritual and self-consecration. It helps towards
this. It brings so many new and wonderful opportunities to
do good ; makes- feeble efforts so availing ; is so evidently a
divine ordinance to accomplish the thousand things the
Church and her people need, that the privilege grows in one's
esteem and grateful love daily. May God guide you now
and ever, my dear brother.
" So prays your faithful friend and brother,
" J. B. KERFOOT."
The following is the next in order of date :
" CINCINNATI, June 13, 1866.
" REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER : I have heard with
great satisfaction that the choice of Assistant Bishop of Ken
tucky has fallen on you. I had feared it would settle on some
one whose views of divine truth and influence in the Church
would be far less hopeful for good.
" Supposing you will see it your duty to accept the office,
I pray that the anointing of the Holy Ghost the spirit of
wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and ghostly
strength may abide upon you, to make you strong for the
truth, and brave against whatever exalts itself against God
and his Gospe/.
" I trust our two dioceses so near to one another 'along
ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE. 253
so extensive a line of separation may be joined together in
oneness of spirit and work.
" Yours affectionately, CHAS. P. MC!LVAINE.
" REV. G. D. CUMMINS, D.D."
Another letter from Bishop Smith reached Dr.
Cummins at the same time ; it is dated
" NEW HAVEN, Conn., June 18, 1866.
" MY DEAR DOCTOR : In a letter, sent ten days ago to
Chicago, to be transmitted to you, I expressed my thankful
ness to God that the choice had fallen upon you as my assist
ant in my old age, and promised a much longer letter when I
arrived here, detailing the circumstances of your election,
giving my impressions of the position and prospects of the
diocese, and the reasons why I think you ought to accept.
... . After repeated ballots they agreed to a joint
nominating committee, which after discussing several candi
dates finally accepted your name unanimously and with en
thusiasm ; and you were at once almost as unanimously, and
with far more sacred enthusiasm, declared to be elected.
". . . The reasons why I think you ought to accept
are,first and the strongest the most irresistible is, that I re
gard it as the call of God in answer to prayer. . . . This
field is very inviting. The climate, the people, the work are
all as attractive as can reasonably be expected. But my
mind is dwelling with very dark forebodings upon the conse
quences of your not accepting. May God bless you and
put it into your heart to accept this call, and by his grace
may you ' come to us in the fulness of the blessing of the
Gospel of peace. '
" Very truly and affectionately your father in Christ,
" B. B. SMITH."
254 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
" LOUISVILLE, Ky., June 22, 1866.
" REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER : I write a few lines
simply to assure you of my most earnest prayer that you may
feel it your duty to accept the call to the Assistant Bishopric
of this diocese.
' ' Your election was as good as unanimous. I can assure
you of a warm and cordial reception by clergy and laity
throughout the State, and there is no doubt of the field being
one in which you will accomplish great good. On the other
hand, should you decline, there is reason to fear the conse
quence must be immense mischief to the cause of Christ for
all time.
' ' Should you desire any information which I may be able
to give you, please call on me without hesitation, or make
any other use of me you please. That God may preserve
you in safety, and constrain you to become our chief pastor,
to the glory of his name, is the prayer of
" Sincerely your friend and brother,
FRANCIS M. WHITTLE.
" REV. G. D. CUMMINS."
The following letter from Bishop Stevens reached
Paris a little later than those from the United States :
" LINDAU, Bavaria, June 30, 1866.
" MY DEAR DOCTOR : I am not able to write you, as I
desire, a long letter, but I cannot refrain from expressing my
intense gratification at your election to the Assistant Bishopric
of Kentucky. From the depth of my heart I bless God for
putting it into the hearts of that committee to nominate you,
and into the will of the Convention to elect you. It is a
great gain for the Diocese of Kentucky it is a greater gain
lor the Church in the United States, for your presence and
counsels in the House of Bishops will, I am sure, tend to the
extension of evangelical truth with apostolic order.
ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPATE. 255
" I hope to reach Paris, with my daughter, on Saturday
evening next, and to meet you on Sunday in church, should I
be able to attend.
" Very truly yours, WM. BACON STEVENS.
"REV. DR. CUMMINS."
" SAN ANTONIO, Texas, July 10, 1866.
" REV. AND DEAR BROTHER : Permit me to assure you
of the pleasure afforded me by the intelligence of your elec
tion to the Assistant Bishopric of Kentucky. While a posi
tion involving the heaviest responsibilities and most arduous
labors, yet it is one to be desired by him who is called
thereto in the providence of God, and for the sake of Christ
and his Church.
' ' I trust you see your way open to its acceptance, and be
largely blessed in the discharge of its duties by him whose
grace is sufficient for us, and who demands our services as
they may be wanted for his work.
" Faithfully yours in Christ, " ALEX. GREGG.
" REV. DR. CUMMINS."
To say that letters such as these were not most
gratifying to Dr. Cummins would be a statement
utterly at variance with his whole nature, but their
reception, for a time, made it more difficult to decide
this most important matter
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE BISHOPRIC ACCEPTED.
" I will follow at thy bidding,
Only make the pathway plain
Let me know that thou art leading."
AGED 44.
IT had been but three years since Dr. Cummins
had accepted the charge of Trinity Church,
Chicago. To that generous people ,he owed much,
and he fully appreciated this indebtedness. No
pains or money had been spared to make him and his
family happy and comfortable. God had most abun
dantly blessed his labors among them to the saving
of many souls. His health had been much stronger
since he had made Chicago his home ; and while he
had been able to enjoy his second visit to Europe
through the liberality of his dear people, they were
also caring for his church during his absence, that he
might have no anxiety. Were these not sufficient
reasons for his coming back to the hotel in Paris, and
with a sad countenance saying to his wife, " I am
called again to decide a most important question ;
God only can help me to act wisely and for his
glory "? The first feeling and desire of Dr. Cummins
was to decide the call to the episcopate, and not to
agitate the subject further. Indeed for many days
THE BISHOPRIC ACCEPTED. 257
his mind was. almost fixed upon this decision. The
idea of leaving his noble congregation, the field so
ripe for the ingathering, his peaceful country home,
where every tree and flower was endeared to him,
to go to a new and untried field, the responsibilities
of which awed him at times, all for a while caused
him to turn away from this call, not entertaining a
thought of accepting it. He was far away, too, from
those with whom he had ever taken sweet counsel.
Situated as he was, he had no one to whom he could
turn for advice and guidance. No, not so ; he had
One on whom he always leaned, One who had hereto
fore been his unfailing Friend and Guide. Day after
day, yes, hour after hour, he communed with this
beloved Friend, this heavenly Counsellor. Most ear
nestly did he implore his direction, and his alone,
and then he asked the fervent prayers of the dear
ones around him. Before the question was finally
settled in his own mind the above letters had
reached him. They naturally had much to do with
his decision. Without one thought of any such call
being made, with no wish to leave his beloved peo
ple, and with a shrinking from doing aught that
would even seem like ingratitude to the cherished
friends from whom he had so recently parted, he
could not refuse to listen to the earnest expressions
of those whom he felt were well fitted to help him
in this great and important decision. They came,
too, at a time when it did not seem presumption to
say they were God's messengers to tell him what to
do. After a prayerful consideration of each letter,
Dr. Cummins decided to accept the call to the episco
pate, though with a sad heart. Not sad because of
258 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
the honor done to him by Kentucky's churchmen ; not
sad for the many kindly expressions from his breth
ren in the Church ; not sad for the great field lying
before him ready for the husbandmen ; but sad that
again his tent must be struck, and once more the
good-byes be said, and dear hands again clasped for
the last time. The rending of such ties was the
saddest part of his life. He shrunk from it as few men
do, and those who knew him most intimately felt
this to be true. His was too loving a nature not to
allow his heart's warmest affections to flow out to
wards his friends. Intensely did he suffer when
called to part with them. We know well the strug
gle of those days in June and July, 1866, the hours
he passed in discussing the all-absorbing question,
and the fervency with which he besought his Father's
guidance. In his journal we find this entry :
" PARIS, July 15, 1866.
'' To-day my letters of acceptance have been dispatched
to the Standing Committee of Kentucky and to Bishop Smith,
and also a letter to the Vestry of Trinity Church, Chicago,
announcing my purpose to accept the office of Assistant
Bishop of Kentucky."
Thus briefly he writes of what had cost him days
of anxiety and perplexity. The official letters being
dispatched, those to friends were written, and these
were very sorrowful. Had he not had the hope
that he was doing God's will in accepting the office
of bishop, the trial would have been far more severe.
To these friends he frankly told all that was in his
heart, and they, as generous as ever, wrote him
sadly, but most affectionately, and continued his
THE BISHOPRIC ACCEPTED.
warm friends even after years of separation. In
August, Bishop Smith wrote him as follows :
" NEW HAVEN, CONN., August 3, 1866.
4 ' Rev. Dr. Cummins :
" MY DEAR DOCTOR : It would be difficult for me to de
scribe the emotions of grateful delight with which, five days
ago, I read your consent to become my assistant. I trusted
the providence of God in advance ; I beheld the hand of God
in each wonderful step as the movement advanced ; and I
now bless and adore the mercy, of God, which has brought it
all so nearly to completion ; and, as I expressed it in a letter
to the Presiding Bishop this morning, ' If our Lord God
will only grant you a long life and a successful episcopate, my
best and most earnest desires will be fully gratified.'!
Your suggestion as to the place (in which your consecration
is to be) is peculiarly gratifying to us all.
" Your hopeful, loving brother in the Gospel of our Lord,
" B. B. SMITH."
The next letter received by Dr. Cummins, when
in England, is from his dear and reverend friend
Bishop Hopkins :
" BURLINGTON, VT., August 2, 1866.
" REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER : Your welcome letter
from Paris, announcing your acceptance of the office of Assist
ant Bishop of Kentucky, so unanimously conferred by their
Convention, has just arrived, and gave me the most cordial
pleasure. God be praised whose spirit guided them to the
choice of one whom I esteem so highly. And may his abun
dant blessing attend your labors, and prosper them to the
fullest extent desired by all who love you.
" . . . With my earnest prayer that the protecting
hand of the Lord may be with you, lead you back to us in
260 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
health and safety, and guide you and yours to all good in time
and in eternity, I remain,
'' Your affectionate brother in Christ,
" JOHN H. HOPKINS.
" REV. DR. CUMMINS."
The next is from Rev. Dr. Craik :
" LOUISVILLE, August 2, 1866.
" MY DEAR DOCTOR CUMMINS : I have the pleasure to
acknowledge the receipt of your very welcome letters of the
1 4th ult. It is a subject of sincere congratulation to us all
that God has put it into your heart to make this sacrifice for
the. good of his Church. It is a day of small things now in
Kentucky, but we believe that the material is here, if properly
addressed, with which to build up the Church.
" . . . We shall be very happy if you will bring Mrs.
Cummins to our house immediately upon your arrival in
Louisville, and leave her there while you make your visit to
Chicago previous to the consecration. We live a little way
out of town, and it may be more pleasant for her on that ac
count. Christ Church being the mother church of the city,
and somewhat better arranged for such a service than any
other, I should greatly prefer to have the consecration there.
' Fervently praying that our Heavenly Father will direct
us in all our doings with his most gracious favor, and further
us with his continual help in this great crisis in the history
of his kingdom, I am, very respectfully,
'' Your friend and brother, JAMES CRAIK.
' THE REV. GEORGE D. CUMMINS, D.D."
After a prolonged stay in Paris, Dr. Cummins and
his family returned to England. His consecration
was fixed for November i5th, in Christ Church,
THE BISHOPRIC ACCEPTED. 26 1
Louisville. While at Sudbrook Park, near Richmond,
he received another letter from Bishop Smith :
" NEW HAVEN, CONN., August 17, 1866.
" Rev. Dr. Cummins :
MY VERY DEAR BROTHER : Since I last wrote you, some
correspondence has taken place between me and the Presiding
Bishop which it is proper to report. ... I am assured,
however, as I now do you, and as I argued to Mr.
W , that I regard all these things as the small dust of the
balance compared with the preponderating mercy of the an
swer to prayer in an almost unanimous election, and in the
gift of such a co-worker in the one great work of upholding
the ark of God !
" God bless my dear son in the Gospel of our common
Lord ! B. B. SMITH."
A letter from a friend and presbyter of the dio
cese contains the following sentences : "
" We congratulate you upon the improving health of Mrs.
C . God grant she may be completely restored ! We
are hopefully anticipating your settlement in our midst, and
are sanguine of a prosperous diocese through God's blessing
upon your labors. I send you by mail to-day a copy of the
Journal of Convention (1866), which will afford you all the in
formation available."
The months of August and September, and part
of October, were passed most pleasantly in various
parts of England, and in the middle of October they
returned to the United States. Ten days were
passed in New York, and then Dr. Cummins and his
family turned their faces westwards for their new
home. Arriving safely in Louisville, they were
262 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
kindly greeted by several friends, and at once taken
to the country home of the Rev. Dr. Craik.
Leaving his family there, Dr. Cummins went to
Chicago, where he spent two Sundays with his dear
people previous to his consecration. The generous
congregation of Trinity Church presented him with a
handsome set of bishop's robes, which he wore
throughout his episcopate, and was clad in them
when laid away in the cemetery near Baltimore,
where he rests now awaiting the resurrection. The
letter herewith given reached him while in New
York:
"GENEVA, October 30, 1866.
" MY DEAR DOCTOR : You are truly welcome home
again, I trust with health renewed, and with strength for
your great work.
' ' I felt the high compliment of your request that I should
preach at your consecration. It would have very pleasantly
revived our old relations at Baltimore had I been able to take
eten an inferior part in your consecration, but it is not possi
ble. My appointments for November were all made, and my
time is so preoccupied that I could not have prepared a ser
mon equal to so important an occasion.
" May the Lord be with you and bless your episcopate.
Farewell now to what makes the happiness of clerical life !
The episcopate is full of the happiness that arises from the
noblest opportunities of doing the Master's work ; but it is so
wearing, so incessantly absorbing, and so cut off from those
near relations which we form in parochial life. I pray that
as your day so your strength may be.
" I shall never forget your brotherly course in Baltimore.
" Yours sincerely and faithfully,
" A. CLEVELAND COXE.
" THE REV. DR. CUMMINS."
THE BISHOPRIC ACCEPTED. 263
The Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church
in Iowa writes as follows :
" DAVENPORT, November i, 1866.
" MY DEAR DOCTOR CUMMIXS : Yours from Leamington
was duly received. I hope this will find you safe and well in
Chicago. I hope to be able to accept your kind invitation to
be present at your consecration, though my health is not very
good.
" May God bless you in your new duties and responsibili
ties ! I never feel like congratulating any one upon his call
to the episcopate, from my own experience of its cares and
burdens ; but I can heartily welcome you to our number, and
bid you God-speed in your important work.
" Faithfully yours, HENRY W. LEE."
From an esteemed parishioner of St. James's, Rich
mond, Dr. Cummins received a valued letter at this
time dated
" MONTGOMERY, ALA., November 6, 1866.
" MY DEAR SIR : The news of your election to, and ac
ceptance of, the Assistant Bishopric of Kentucky truly re
joiced me. You are just the man for that field. Your zeal,
your eloquence, and that warm heart of yours which draws
everybody to you, will create in your diocese an influence
which must greatly benefit our beloved Church. I only wish I
could work by your side.
" The voice of your old parishioner of one whose sincere
attachment time has never weakened will, I trust, be welcome
at this time. I will be with you in spirit at your consecra
tion, and will breathe the warmest prayer of my heart that God
may bless you with all blessings and spiritual understanding.
" Believe me, with great respect and affection, your friend,
" HUBERT P. LEFEBVRE."
They have met long since in heaven.
264 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
The letter here given is from one whom Dr. Cum
mins loved and revered, and whose friendship and
sympathy he enjoyed for many years :
" CINCINNATI, November 12, 1866.
" REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER : I have fully expected
to be at your consecration, and perhaps will be ; but I am
now so unwell with a severe cold and cough that it is very
doubtful.
" I write this in order that should I not be there you
may be aware of the cause. I hope the solemnity may be free
from any of the ' novelties that disturb our peace. "...
May the Lord give you abundantly the anointing of his Spirit,
and make you strong to be a defender as well as teacher of the
truth in its simplicity, in these days when the snares of Pop
ery and Infidelity on two sides, associated with and getting
strength from the snares of the world and the flesh on all
sides, give such responsibility to the office of a minister of
Christ, and especially to the office of a bishop, ' set for the
defence of the Gospel. '
' The times demand great firmness and faithfulness, as
well as zeal and diligence.
" Your affectionate friend and brother,
" CHAS. P. MclLVAiNE.
" REV. DR. CUMMINS."
CHAPTER XXVII.
CONSECRATION AND WORK.
" Let thy soldier, still contending, still be with thy strength supplied ;
Thou wilt not deny the quiet, when the arms are laid aside
Make me meet with thee forever, in that country to abide."
From the German.
AGED 44-45.
"" I ^HROUGH the great kindness of a friena, an
J- elegant private car was placed at the disposal
of friends from Chicago who wished to attend Dr.
Cummins's consecration, and every exertion was made
to make the party, consisting of some twelve persons,
comfortable. They had a pleasant journey to Louis
ville, where they were most hospitably entertained
by the members of the Protestant Episcopal Church
in that city, and some of the clergy took part in the
ceremony.
There are numerous newspaper reports before us,
from which we could take extracts, but we prefer
giving the simple account from Dr. Cummins's jour
nal. He writes :
"LOUISVILLE, November 15, 1866.
' This day I was consecrated a bishop in the Church of
God, in Christ Church, Louisville, by the Right Reverend
John Henry Hopkins, D.D., LL.D., of Vermont, Presiding
Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United
States, assisted by Bishops Smith, of Kentucky, Lee, of
266 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
Iowa, Talbot, of Indiana, Clarkson, of Nebraska, Quintard,
of Tennessee, and Kerfoot, of Pittsburg.
" Morning Prayer to the Psalter was read by the Rev. E.
F. Berkley, D.D., of St. Louis. The First Lesson, Zechariah,
third chapter, by the Rev. J. W. Venable, of Versailles,
Ky. ; the Second Lesson, Acts, first chapter, by the Rev.
Clinton Locke, of Chicago ; the Nicene Creed and Versicles,
by the Rev. J. N. Norton, D.D., of Frankfort, Ky. ; Pray
ers, by the Rev. H. N. Bishop, D.D., of Chicago ; io6th
Psalm, by the Rev. J. S. Shipman, of Lexington, Ky.
" Collect and Commandments, by Bishop Quintard, of
Tennessee ; Epistle, by Bishop Talbot, of Indiana ; Gospel,
by Bishop Lee, of Iowa ; 2gih Hymn, by Rev. W. H. Platt,
of Louisville.
" Sermon, by Bishop Lee, of Iowa, from the text St.
John 20 : 21, 22, 23.
" Bishops Clarkson and Talbot were my presenters,
Rev. Dr. Craik and Rev. F. M. Whittle the attending pres
byters.
" The Litany was said by Bishop Smith, of Kentucky.
" The Rev. J. J. Talbot, of Louisville, read the testimo
nials to my election.
" Vent Creator Spiritus was sung antiphonally by the
Presiding Bishop and the bishops, clergy, and people.
' ' I am the eighty-first in the order of succession of Amer
ican Bishops."
We quote from the Church Journal, November
2ist, 1866 :
' The Episcopal Oath was then taken, in a firm, clear,
and manly tone, audible in every part of the church.
The interrogatories were then put by the Presiding Bishop, the
answers being made with great distinctness. Being then vested
with the rest of the episcopal habit by the Rev. Dr. Craik and
the Rev. F. M. Whittle, the Assistant Bishop-elect knelt, and
CONSECRATION AND WORK. 267
the Veni Creator Spiritus was sung over him. . . , All the
seven bishops united in the laying on of hands. . . . After
the delivery of the Bible and the Pastoral Charge, the new
Bishop was received within the chancel rail and long knelt in
private devotion before the altar, while the church rang with
the triumphant strains of Mozart's Gloria in Excelsis, admi
rably sung by the choir.
" Dr. Craik announced that the proceeds of the offertory
would be devoted to the work of diocesan missions, and ex
pressed the hope that a large sum might be placed in the
hands of the new bishop to encourage him at the beginning of
his work.
' The Communion Service followed, in which the bishops
assisted the Presiding Bishop. After the singing of the old
Gloria in Excelsis the Presiding Bishop offered the prayer for
the new bishop, and gave the blessing of peace. The chan
cel steps were long thronged by those who wished to congrat
ulate the new bishop and bid him a hearty God-speed.
' The music was especially fine ; a choir of fifty voices
some of remarkable sweetness rendered the chants with great
artistic finish and joyous energy, in full keeping with the
happy occasion."
The spacious church was crowded to its utmost
capacity. Just as the new bishop knelt before the
communion table, a broad, bright ray of sunlight
poured its golden light over him. All present re
marked the striking incident, and there were many
who witnessed it with tearful eyes, and prayed fer
vently that the Sun of Righteousness might ever thus
shed its beams upon the heart of him who had just
assumed such great responsibilities. Besides the
seven bishops, there were twenty-three clergymen
from Kentucky, three from Indiana, eight from llli-
268 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
nois, two from Missouri, two from Tennessee, one
from New York, three from Ohio, and one from
Mexico. In the evening there was a missionary
meeting held in St. Paul's Church, Louisville. Bishop
Smith presided, and addresses were made by Bishops
Talbot, Clarkson, Kerfoot, Lee, of Iowa, and Bishop
Cummins. On Friday evening one of the leading men
of Louisville invited the visitors and members of the
Protestant Episcopal Church to his house, to welcome
their assistant bishop, and to confer together as to
the best interests of the diocese, until the Convention
of the following May. We quote from the Louisville
Courier-Journal of November i6th :
" The missionary meeting was held in St. Paul's Church.
. . . Bishop Cummins was the next speaker, and he spoke
very eloquently and impressively. He designated the great
want of the Church as being organization, with more love for
Christ and more zeal for his Church. His words thrilled
every heart, and assured every one that in the high office to
which he has just been called he will accomplish a noble work.
Church people throughout the diocese will receive their new
bishop with open arms. His presence and voice will awaken
new life and zeal in every parish."
The first entry in the diary of Bishop Cummins
is dated Louisville, November i8th :
' This day Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity I officiat
ed in the morning at Christ Church, reading the Ante-Com
munion service except the epistle and preached from Reve
lation 3 : 8. Sunday night, November i8th, I preached in
St. Paul's Church."
The first letter we have after his consecration is
CONSECRATION AND WORK. 269
dated November ijih. His family were in Chicago,
having returned in the private car with the bishops
and clergy, and the kind friend from Chicago who
had cared most untiringly for the comfort of the
entire party. From letters written at this time we
extract the following :
"LOUISVILLE, November 17, 1866.
It seems as though the events through which we have
passed in the last few days have made my precious family
doubly dear to me. May God sanctify me for my new office.
My ride back from Jeffersonville was a sad one. I trust a
merciful Father's arm was around you, preserving you from
harm. I dined at Mr. S 's with Bishops Hopkins and
Quintard, and Rev. Mr. Shipman and Rev. Mr. Venable, Dr.
and Mrs. Craik, Mr. T , and Mr. A - of Dr. Craik's
vestry. I felt too sad to be able to make myself agreeable.
I took tea at Judge H 's with Bishop Hopkins, his son,
and Bishop Quintard. Mr. S kindly invited me to make
his house my home, and I consented. I only wish the invita
tion had come to all my little flock, but during this week
their house was full of guests.
" November 18. My thoughts turn to-day with ceaseless
longing to my precious ones, and my heart is with you, so far
away ! To-day I began my work in the diocese at Christ
Church. Dr. Craik made a noble appeal for the church at
Maysville. I spoke also. The sum needed was raised, and
even more than was asked for."
Before leaving New York, and soon after his ar
rival in the United States, Bishop Cummins had
entered his son at the Lehigh University at Bethle
hem, Pa., of which Henry Coppee, D.D., LL. D.,
was then president. There the bishop's son remained,
until 1869.
270 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
The bishop's family spent several weeks in Chi
cago with friends, and as soon as his duties per
mitted he joined them and officiated several times
for his former congregation.
While this visit was, for many reasons, a sad one,
yet it gave pleasure as well, as the circumstances of
the bishop's election to the episcopate had rendered
it impossible for him to return to Chicago imme
diately after his return from Europe, and he felt it to
be due to these kind friends to be among them for
awhile.
"LOUISVILLE, November 19.
" Rev. Mr. T called to ask me to confirm in pri
vate a man who is very ill and this is my first confirmation.
I also administered the communion to him."
"LEXINGTON, KY., November 21, 1866.
" Yesterday Mrs. W drove with me about the town
and suburbs. Lexington is not a handsome town, but the
country around is lovely. We drove to the cemetery, from
the centre of which towers a lofty and noble monument to
Henry Clay. There are many beautiful homes in the town.
The people are refined and elegant in their manners, and
just like Virginians. Dn Totten has opened a church school
for girls here. I preached in Christ Church. The church is
a beautiful building and very large. In the evening there
was a reception at Rev. Mr. S 's house, that the congre
gation might meet me. They all gave me a most warm and
cordial welcome, and I like them very much.
" I think we would find Lexington a happy home and the
people very congenial. There is no great progress, as in Chi
cago, and no bustle ; but there is refinement and warmth of
he.art and much that makes life desirable. I go to-day to
Louisville, and thence to Bowling Green ; and expect to
CONSECRATION AND WORK. 2Jl
reach Chicago by the first Sunday in December, and will
preach in Trinity Church. When I left Louisville for this
place we were detained at Frankfort for some time, a freight
train being off the track. I went up to see Dr. N : he
received me very kindly, and we had a pleasant talk about
church matters. He told me that in the committee that
nominated me half were low churchmen and half high church
men, and after discussing many names with no agreement
Governor S asked him how he felt about me. He re
plied favorably, and Governor S arose and nominated
me with tears in his eyes, and Dr. N immediately sec
onded the nomination."
" BOWLING GREEN, November 23.
" I am thus far safely on my visitation tour, and by God's
blessing have been preserved from all harm. The robbers
who assaulted the train on this road have all been arrested
and are now in jail, and will be doubtless severely punished.
" I found the little flock of our church people here wor
shipping in a very small frame school house, and this in a
town of four or five thousand people. I have called all the
people to meet me to-morrow night at the house of Mr. H ,
and I intend to see what can and will be done towards build
ing a church. I will try to aid them from elsewhere. The
more I see of the diocese, the more I am impressed with the
feebleness of our Church in this State. Outside of Louis
ville, Lexington, and two or three towns on the Ohio River,
the Church scarcely exists. It has a nominal existence in a
few towns like this, but little more than nominal. But there
is a vast portion of the State where the population is sparse,
the country inaccessible, with no railroads, and scarcely a
town of three hundred or four hundred people in any county.
In these portions of the diocese I am told that there is no
prospect of a beginning for our Church perhaps for a genera
tion ; the population is very rude, ignorant, and demoralized.
2/2 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
Some counties on the border of Tennessee are the hiding-
places of desperate men, who live by such deeds as that com
mitted on the railway lately. My work, of necessity, must lie
in the towns, and in the strip of country lying just south of the
Ohio River. The towns of Kentucky, where our work must
alone lie for a generation to come, are all easy of access from
Louisville or Lexington. Louisville is a far more beautiful
city than you could imagine from your brief sojourn there.
It has pleasant society, and I think I could do more for the
advancement of the Church by being in Louisville than in
Lexington, in the way of establishing mission churches and
new congregations by my own services when I was at home,
and also by superintending charities, which we hope to estab
lish there, such as a Church Home and Hospital. The con
dition of the colored people has interested me deeply. We
are going to do what we can to bring them under the influ
ence of our Church by schools and services, and doubtless a
few years will work a great change in their condition.
" Saturday. Mr. W has just brought me L 's
letter. What a journey ! and what an experience ! I am
most grateful to God that you bore the tossings about so
well. ' '
" BOWLING GREEN, November 26.
" Saturday evening I met the friends of our Church, and
after an earnest conversation they determined to raise one
thousand dollars among themselves towards a church edifice.
There are only about twelve Episcopal families here. I in
tend to make an earnest effort to raise two thousand dollars
more to put up the building. I preached twice on Sunday in the
Baptist church, and confirmed a class. The congregation was
large, and composed of persons of other denominations. I meet
some of the people again to-day to talk over the prospects of
the Church and to deepen their interest in the work. At one
o'clock to-day I leave with Rev. Mr. W for Russellville.
CONSECRA TION AND WORK. 273
Tuesday I go to Clarksville, Tenn., and Wednesday to
Hopkinsville, Ky. , to hold services.
" I have had many thoughts of our future since we parted,
and sometimes they have been sad ones. But I am sure this
is wrong, and I try to dismiss them, and cherish brighter re
flections. If our way has been indeed chosen for us of God,
and we try to do his work, he will make our path bright and
blessed and cause all sacrifice to be a joy."
" RUSSELLVILLE, November 28, 1866.
" We reached this place at seven o'clock, and found the
church already filled, indeed crowded. I preached, and con
firmed and addressed the class of candidates. Yesterday at
3.30 P.M. the people came to confer with me concerning the
opening for our Church. The town has about fifteen hundred
people in it, and those I have met with are very pleasant.
They received me very warmly. I wish to establish here, in
connection with Bowling Green, an associate mission, and to
place a clergyman here to work in connection with Mr.
W . The opening is promising for our Church. I
preached again at night ; the people seemed deeply interested
in the services."
About this time Bishop Cummins received sev
eral letters from friends, from which we quote. The
first is from a clergyman of the Church of England,
and is dated November 22d, 1866 :
" MY VERY DEAR FRIEND : Having lately heard that your
consecration to the sacred office of a bishop in the Church of
Christ was to take place the middle of this month, I desire to
offer my sincere congratulations and my earnest prayers that
the great Head of the Church, who has called you to that
office, may abundantly replenish you with all the gifts and
graces requisite to the successful administration of the holy
274 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
functions appertaining thereto. . . . Believe me, my dear
friend, it was with unmingled feelings of joy and thankfulness
that I first heard of your election, and I should have written
immediately to express my feelings had I known your address.
I did not know your whereabouts in England or the United
States. I feel assured that your new position will, by God's
grace, be profitable to those over whom he has appointed you
overseer. Your sphere of usefulness is now much enlarged :
may you be the honored instrument in God's hands of win
ning many souls to Christ. It would have given me much
pleasure to have been present at your consecration, and added
my prayers to those which undoubtedly went up from many
hearts to the throne of grace for the new apostle of the Lord^
the new leader of the Lord's hosts in the conflict with sin and
Satan. Those prayers, though not presented then and there,
have yet, I trust, reached the mercy-seat with acceptance.
" It is a very great pleasure to write to you again, and I
shall long to hear from you. Give our united love to our
very dear friend Mrs. C , and each of your dear children,
and believe me
" Your very sincere friend, T. T. R. "
The next in order of date is from Bishop Vail :
"ATCHISON, KAN., November 24, 1866.
" For the Right Rev. Geo. D. Cummins, D.D., Louisville, Ky.:
" RIGHT REVEREND AND DEAR BROTHER : I should have
written you before your consecration had I not known that
you were abroad, and if I could have learned in my prairie
fields, where I spent the summer, how to address you.
" I would now write to give you the welcome of a humble
brother upon your entrance into the Episcopate.
" In the confidence of your brethren I congratulate you.
In the assumption of new responsibilities I sympathize with
you. I pray that God may be with you, by his Holy Spirit,
CONSECRATION AND WORK. 2?$
to bless you in your efforts to extend the knowledge among
your people of the blessed Gospel of the Son of God, and
that the glory of our dear Lord Jesus may be accomplished
through you.
' ' I know of none who, in the good old Diocese of Ken
tucky old among our Western dioceses could have been
more fitly selected, or could effect, by God's grace, a larger
blessing for the fold of Christ.
" May the Holy Ghost speed and prosper you ! Believe
me, affectionately,
" Your friend and brother, THOMAS H. VAIL."
The following is from Bishop Lee of Delaware :
"WILMINGTON, DEL., November 26, 1866.
' ' Right Rev. Geo. D. Cummins :
" MY DEAR BISHOP : It would have been exceedingly
pleasant to me to have been present at your consecration, hav
ing always, since our first acquaintance, felt so much interest
in your welfare and success.
" My constant journeyings for the last eight months in
Pennsylvania and Maryland, as well as in my own diocese,
made it hardly possible for me to accept the invitation which
I received from Bishop Smith.
" I can hardly congratulate you on your appointment to
an office involving so much labor and such dread responsi
bility, but I trust you will be mercifully sustained and greatly
prospered in your work. At all times and in all places the
work of a bishop is full of weight and difficulty. It must be
particularly so in the field upon which you are now to enter.
Commending you to him who is able to make all grace
abound towards us, and assuring you of cordial sympathy and
affectionate regard,
" I remain vour brother in the Lord,
" ALFRED LEE."
276 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
The next letter is from a beloved friend, a lawyer
in Washington, D. C., and a member of his congre
gation while rector of Trinity Church, one who had
been as a brother to him for years :
"WASHINGTON, November 25, 1866.
" RIGHT REV. GEO. D. CUMMINS, D.D. : It is a holy
title in which you have been clothed, my dear friend and
teacher in sacred things. Yet I do not love you one whit the
more for the dignity of your high office than when you were
my own pastor.
" Among all those who rejoice to hear of your election to
the bishopric, I will give place to none in the joy and delight
your promotion affords. You never will know what a com
fort it is to me to have you feel towards me confidence in my
unabated affection, and to believe I retain your esteem. You
are, and have been ever since we first met, my most helping
and strengthening brother in Christ, and I can assure you
I have missed you sadly in every way since you left your
flock in Washington. But I see how plainly it was all or
dered by him ' who doeth all things well," and how, when
you were called to rend asunder ties you formed here that
will last through eternity and how I felt and believed and
even favored with pain the removal to Baltimore, it was
but the step from stone to stone by which God was prepar
ing you to meet his call for a higher station of usefulness in
his service. I know you realize far more than I can compre
hend the nature of your duties, and the preparation for the
work. May he for whom you have heretofore labored guide
you to all strength and fitness for your work. How I would
have rejoiced to have witnessed the solemnities at Christ
Church on the i5th ! My soul would have been lifted up by
the deep emotion of my heart to see one I love so much by
the unanimous voice of his brethren in the Church, laymen
and ministers receive the ' commission ' anew, coupled with
CONSECRATION AND WORK. 2/7
graver duties, and vested with larger powers for usefulness.
I meant to write only about your new office, and to
tell you how much talk and pleasant things your old friends
have to say about it. It gratifies me to see how strong the
love is they bear you. The newspaper is going around from
hand to hand and house to house ; all are touched and
charmed with its accounts, and the excellent discourse of
Bishop Lee ; and I was doubly glad the teacher of the hour
was, as he claimed to be, ' your intimate friend. '
" My dear mother charged me to say for her that she fully
believes you are called to the office, and that God will furnish
you with strength for your duties. Love to all your family."
The following is from Bishop Cummins 's kind
friend for seven years, Ex-Governor Stevenson of
Kentucky :
" CoviNGTON, December 12, 1866.
" MY DEAR BISHOP : I wrote you a long letter in Octo
ber, and directed it to Chicago, hoping it would greet you
upon your return from Europe. I fear it has been consigned
to the Dead Letter Office at Washington.
" It had no other merit than the sincere outpouring of
the warm heart of a thorough Episcopalian, of the Virginia
Bishop Meade stamp, to his beloved and newly elected dio
cesan ! Besides my gratitude at your election and a narra
tive of the peculiar and providential blessings which seemed
to culminate in the glorious and closing work of our Conven
tion, I begged you always to consider my house your home,
and to be assured of the affectionate greeting which would
always await you in our family circle. . . . You have been
called, under the providence of God, at a most auspicious and
critical time to a responsible but noble field of labor. I trust
and believe you will love and become endeared to the people
of Kentucky ; you are precisely the bishop we need and de
mand. The work may be laborious, but God will give us the
2/3 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
increase. In these days of extravaganzas in Ritualism we
want a father in God whose warm heart, sound judgment,
and simple exposition of the Gospel is only exceeded by his
unfaltering devotion and fearless orthodoxy to its precious
truths.
" Mrs. S joins me in kind and cordial greetings to
Mrs. C and yourself, and I beg you to accept the assur
ance of that warm regard with which I am,
"Very truly yours, J. W. STEVENSON."
We give extracts from a letter written by
Bishop Green, of Mississippi, and Chancellor of the
University of the South :
" UNIVERSITY PLACE, TENN., January 16, 1867.
" Right Rev. Geo. D. Cummins, D.D. :
" MY DEAR SIR : It has been my intention ever since
your consecration to write you a letter, not of congratulation,
but of brotherly welcome to the arduous and responsible
labors of the Episcopate. A multiplicity of other and more
pressing demands upon my time has prevented my doing so
until the present moment.
" Let me now, therefore, if it be not too late, assure you,
my good brother, of my confidence in you, and of my hearty
prayers for your happiness and usefulness. You have a noble
field, and I believe you will work it well. . . . The next
meeting of our Board of Trustees will be at Montgomery, on
the 1 3th February. Can you not be with us ? Your presence
as a mere visitor and well-wisher Avould be highly gratifying to
us all. . . . Do come, if you can. I have written a similar
invitation to Bishop Smith.
" Affectionately your brother in Christ,
" W. M. GREEN."
Bishop Cummins returned to Chicago early in
December, and, as we have said before, passed some
CONSECRATION AND WORK. 279
weeks with his former charge, preaching 1 for them
regularly twice on Sundays, and holding services in
the week. This he felt was due to the people of Trin
ity Church. They had been so generous, so liberal,
so thoughtful for him, that he was all the more
anxious to be with them as much as possible while
they were without a pastor. January ist, 1867, he
with his family returned to Louisville, where they
remained with kind and most hospitable friends until
the latter part of February, the bishop meantime
filling all his appointments. In February he accom
panied his wife and daughters to Baltimore. Up to
the second week in May he was occupied with visita
tions through the diocese. The first of April his
family went to Virginia, to be with the parents of his
wife. We have before us letters of Bishop Cum
mins written during the months of May and June.
The first is dated
" COVINGTON, KY., May 26, 1867.
" I preached and confirmed in St. Paul's Church, New
port, this morning, and officiate at Trinity Church, Coving-
ton, to-night. Rev. Mr. M called to take me to confirm
a sick person before the morning service. . . . The con
gregation was large, and I confirmed eighteen persons. This
makes sixty-eight persons confirmed in this church since Jan
uary last. The Convention meets in St. Paul's, Louisville.
Rev. Mr. W has been elected Assistant Bishop of Vir
ginia. He has not yet decided to accept. I hope for Vir
ginia's sake he will go, as I think he is just the man for the
diocese.
" May 27. Preached last night in Trinity Church, Cov-
ington, to an immense congregation, and confirmed twenty-
three persons, making in all fifty-six in this church since
January last. The prospect before us in the diocese seems
280 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
very encouraging : all are impressed with the record of my
work for the past six months, and we have now entire har
mony. Bishop Smith has appointed Thursday as the day for
the Convention sermon and communion, as it is Ascension
Day. Wednesday will be devoted to business. . . . Bear
me ever in your heart in prayer. ... I desire to cultivate a
spirit of unity and harmony among the congregations. I shall
strive to bring the whole diocese into perfect harmony in our
great work of extending the Church throughout the State. ' '
"LOUISVILLE, May 29, 1867.
" At ten o'clock this morning the Convention assembled
and tried to organize, but the question was started of the con
stitutionality of the bishop's call, and a lively discussion
sprang up, lasting until eleven, the hour for service. At
eleven o'clock I preached the Convention sermon : it was
listened to with much interest. At 3.30 the Convention re
assembled. Bishop S was absent and I took the chair.
The debate on the legality of the bishop's call was very ear
nest, but at last the Convention legalized his act, and thus
all trouble was avoided. The Convention passed a unanimous
resolution asking that my sermon be given for publication.
'' To-morrow is the day for unveiling the full life-size statue
of Henry Clay, by Hart, and the ceremonies are to be very
imposing. Judge B is to deliver the address. The Con
vention has been invited, and will go in a body, and accord
ingly we meet at eight o'clock to-morrow morning for service
and the communion, as it is Ascension Day, but will have no
session of the Convention until three o'clock. Every day
some new call for my services comes to me. I am wanted to
lay corner-stones for churches at Shelbyville and Georgetown.
Rev. Mr. T , Mr. C , and Mr. W wish confirma
tion. I am very lonely without my precious ones, and long
for a home of our own. On the yth I go to Pewee Valley,
on the 8th to Georgetown, and on the nth to Paris."
CONSECRATION AND WORK. 28 1
At this time Bishop Cummins first met with Lyte's
beautiful hymn, " Abide with Me, fast falls the Even
tide," and writes thus of it :
" I send you this as a Sunday night's breathing of my
own soul. May it be yours and mine now and always until
' Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day.' Do try to learn
it, and get L and S to learn to sing it for me. Good
night.
He was very fond of music, especially sacred mu
sic. It was his custom to join with his family in sing
ing in the evening whenever he was at home. He had
a correct ear for music, and could readily catch any
tune which he liked. His voice in singing as well as
preaching was most melodious. Nothing pleased
him more than to gather around the piano and sing
hymn after hymn with his home circle. Some of Mr.
Bliss's hymns were his special delight, and also some
of Mr. Sankey's. " The Sweet By and By," " Oh !
to be Nothing," "The Gates Ajar," "The Ninety
and Nine, ' ' and many others he never wearied of hear
ing. " Guide me, O thou great Jehovah," " Rock
of Ages," " Lord, with glowing Heart I'd praise
Thee," "Nearer, my God, to Thee," and others
from the Prayer-Book collection he dearly loved ;
but none were so dear as the one he so solemnly re
peated as he caught a glimpse of the " precious Sa
viour ' ' on the portals of the house not made with
hands.
Writing from Elizabethtown on the 3d of June,
he mentions his intention of visiting Henderson on
the roth, and says :
282 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
' Then I shall have visited every parish in the diocese ex
cept one, Princeton, in the extreme south-west, where I can
not go at this season of the year. To-night I hold confirma
tion here. To-morrow I go to Owensboro. At Henderson
we will have several days' services, and an ordination (Whit-
Sunday) and confirmation.
" This bright warm afternoon I am reminded of the cot
tage and the porch, with our improvements, and long to see
the honeysuckle that we trained. I am glad to have some
time to spend at the cottage before we leave for the North,
for I enjoy the calm evenings there so much, and I am happy
to be able to be with dear mother and father to cheer them by
our presence. I preach here and confirm a class. Since I
was last here, Mr. T , the rector, has made with his own
hands a desk and pulpit, and they are very tasteful."
" OWENSBORO, June 6.
' The church here is very feeble and has no pastor. The
hearts of the people were almost ready to despair, but my com
ing seems to have infused new life into them. I have con
ferred with the vestry, and they will call a rector at once. ' '
" HENDERSON, KY., June 7, 1867.
' ' I am now at one of the most distant points of the dio
cese. The weather is intensely hot and very trying. We
were received on reaching this place by two of the vestry.
Henderson is a much more important place than Owensboro,
and we have a tasteful church edifice here, but the church is
in a low condition. I have called the vestry to meet me this
afternoon to advise them concerning the future. The pres
ent rector is very old, and I shall advise them to call a
younger man as associate rector. This community reminds
me very much of Norfolk a quiet town, with a warm-hearted,
hospitable people. We have had services every day since I
arrived, though the heat is intense. Sunday I ordained Mr.
CONSECRATION AND WORK. 283
Ross to the presbyterate my first ordination. My visit to
Henderson has awakened great interest. When I reached here
there were \>\\\.four candidates for confirmation, and I con
firmed twelve Sunday night."
Almost immediately after completing his list of
visitations, Bishop Cummins went to Virginia, and
passed a week at his father-in-law's home. From t
there, accompanied by his wife and daughters, he
went to Bethlehem, Pa., to be present at the Com
mencement of the Lehigh University. There they
passed several days, and enjoyed greatly the inter
esting exercises. From Bethlehem they returned
to Baltimore, and from there went to Northampton,
Mass., where they spent the summer. In the au
tumn, Bishop Cummins with his family returned to
Kentucky.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A STAND FOR THE TRUTH 1 868.
" O fear not in a world like this,
And thou shalt know ere long
Know how sublime a thing it is
To suffer and be strong."
AGED 46.
VERY soon after he returned to Kentucky a coun
try home was offered to Bishop Cummins, by
its owner, at a moderate price. It was situated in
Pewee Valley, sixteen miles from Louisville, on the
railroad to Cincinnati, and possessed many attractions.
The congregations of Christ's Church and St. Paul's,
Louisville, chiefly assumed the responsibility of the
debt ; and the bishop, with a very joyful heart, set
about repairing the house and grounds, which had
been allowed to fall into decay. Before the main
building was ready for occupation he removed his
family to " Oak Lea," and all the winter they were
accommodated in the wing of the house. Through
the generous liberality of friends and relatives in the
East, he was enabled to make this home comfortable,
and a bright future opened before him. Happy in his
work, blessed of God in his labors, and with restored
strength, the winter of 1867-8 was one of the brightest
.of Bishop Cummins's life.
A STAND FOR THE TRUTH 1868. 285
In February he attended a meeting of the House
of Bishops, assembled in New York on the I5th, to
elect a missionary bishop for Oregon. He writes :
' Twenty bishops were present, and after balloting nine
times they elected Dr. P . I know him and admire him
very much ; he is a man of beautiful spirit, and full of mis
sionary zeal, and I know he is utterly opposed to the school
of ritualists and Romanizers. I doubt, though, whether he
will accept. Bishop P invited me to dine with him, with
several of the bishops, but I declined, as a violent snow-storm
was falling. I have not made any calls yet upon our friends.
I wrote for G to come over from Bethlehem to-morrow.
" February 6. Our dear boy is with me: he came last
night. I am very happy to have him ; it is bringing a part
of home to me. I am truly glad to know that on Monday my
face will be turned towards my fondly loved home !"
The spring and summer of 1868 were passed in
busy work throughout the diocese, with the excep
tion of a visit to Chicago, accompanied by his wife
and youngest daughter. The country home of Bishop
Cummins was too attractive to permit of his wishing
to go elsewhere, and the entire summer was passed at
" Oak Lea," with occasional visits to parishes in the
diocese. When not otherwise engaged he preached
in some one of the churches in Louisville, or in the
school-house in Pewee Valley. Through the earnest
efforts of the bishop, funds had been raised to finish
a tasteful stone church in Pewee Valley. This was
opened for services in 1869.
-In August of 1868, the sad news reached them by
telegraph of the dangerous illness of Judge Balch.
Mrs. Cummins was at that time too ill to leave her
286 GEORGE DAVID CUM^IINS.
bed, and the bishop at once started for Virginia. He
writes :
" ON BOARD THE STEAMER, August 31, l868.
" It is with a sad heart that I turn my face eastward on
this long journey. I have felt so deeply the sadness of going
without you on this sorrowful mission. To feel that you are
forced to keep your bed of suffering and denied the happiness
of ministering to your father in his illness is very distressing
to me. The precious consolation under such a trial is that
' it is the Lord's doing,' and though ' marvellous in our eyes'
yet most assuredly a work of love, and only to be borne with
a spirit of cheerful resignation. I said to G , just now,
'.Oh, that M was only with us !'
" If I find dear father still in this world I will tell him of
all your deep love and intense yearning to go to him, and of
your utter inability to/travel. And if he has gone to his rest,
I will do all in my power to comfort dear mother. My
thoughts will be continually with you, and my prayers unceas
ingly offered for you. May our Heavenly Father bless and
comfort you."
The following brief note tells the sad story :
" KEARNEYSVILLE, VA., September 2, 1868.
" I have just reached this place, and find that dear father
is with his Saviour whom he loved so well. All that I can
learn here is that he fell asleep on Saturday, and was laid
away to rest on Monday afternoon. I am going up to the
cottage at once on horseback. Your brother L arrived
last night from -Canada, too late, like myself, to see father or
be present at his funeral. May God be with you and com
fort you under your great sorrow, a sorrow not as those with
out hope."
A STAND -FOR THE TRUTH 1868. 287
In October, 1868, Bishop Cummins left his home
for New York, to attend the General Convention.
On his way he spent a Sunday at Covington, Ky.
From there he writes :
" I met in the cars Governor and Mrs. S . Our con
versation was chiefly of the great issues before our Church.
He is very earnest in his support of all evangelical interests.
I preached at Trinity Church in the morning from the text,
' The simplicity that is in Christ,' 2 Cor. 11:3. It was a
sermon for these sad times. I spoke with great warmth and
earnestness ; certainly this people will never be in any doubt
as to my position on the vital questions at issue in our Church.
This bright October afternoon I have been thinking how
lovely our home must be looking under the rays of a cloudless
sun. I am grieved to have to leave you when suffering so
much, but if I succeed in getting help for our missionary
churches from the Building Committee of the ' Church Mis
sionary Society,' I will be home sooner than you expect. I
preached again at night from the words, ' My words shall not
pass away.' The congregation was very large."
"BALTIMORE, October 6, 1868.
" I resume my journal. I left Cincinnati in company
with a number of the clergy and other friends. Met Rev.
Mr. C at Belle Air, and had a long talk with him upon
the state of the Church. I was up in time the next morning
to see the destruction wrought by the great flood in August.
I should scarcely have recognized Ellicott's Mills and Elys-
ville. Hundreds of workmen are still employed on the deso
lated portion of the road. I reached Baltimore at nine o'clock
A.M., and went with Rev. Mr. C to the hotel, and thence
to your sister's. The Doctor drove me out after dinner to
see Rev. Dr. G , who kindly promised me help for our
missionary churches ; then to Mr. R 's, who also promises
288 GEORGE DAVID CUMMIN'S.
help ; then to see a number of dear old friends, and the site
of the new St. Peter's, and the design. It will be very im
posing when finished. Mr. G - is very happy about the
new church."
" NEW YORK, October 7, 1868.
" We arrived here this morning about seven o'clock, and
went to the Astor House for breakfast ; will go up to Dr.
B 's this afternoon. All is excitement and intense in
terest concerning the Convention. Dr. G showed me
several more memorials that he had received upon momentous
subjects, and there is a promise of stirring discussion on all
the great topics. We cannot doubt that God ivill take care of
His truth ; but my stand is taken firmly on the old evangelical
basis, now and ever , and to keep ' this Church ' upon the platform
of the Reformation. ' '
" HOUSE OF BISHOPS, October 8, 4 o'clock P.M., 1868.
" I am now seated at my desk. We have a beautiful
room, fitted up with forty-two very tasteful desks and arm
chairs. Each desk is furnished with a large portfolio with the
name of the diocese on it, and filled with paper and envelopes.
The room is very bright and cheerful. We have just organ
ized and are attending to mere routine business. I went
down to the Bible House after writing to you, and had an in
terview with Rev. Mr. Rising concerning my application to
the Church Building Committee, and he has arranged to have
a meeting of the committee next Wednesday to meet me.
To-day I introduced my resolution concerning the sending of
our children to Romish schools, and it has awakened an ex
ceedingly able and interesting debate. Eleven bishops spoke.
The debate is still going on, has lasted two hours, and has
gone into mighty questions. I have never listened to a de
bate of more intense interest."
A STAND FOR THE TJ?[7THi868. 289
" NEW YORK, October 8.
"At ten o'clock this morning the bishops and clergy as
sembled in the two robing-rooms of Trinity Church, and after
robing went immediately into the chancel no procession ex
cept one following the other. There were no choristers. All
had evidently been arranged by the advice of Bishop Mc-
llvaine and others who think with him. The chants were
sung by a company of clergymen from the gallery. Bishop
A. Lee preached a magnificent sermon, utterly condemnatory
of all modern innovations, and especially the doctrine of
priesthood, sacrifice, and altar. We thank God most heartily
for this noble utterance. I preach in the Church of the
Atonement on Sunday, i8th. I am staying at Dr. B 's,
who belongs to Calvary Church. The family are very kind
and attentive, and I am most pleasantly situated. At nine
o'clock I went to a reception of the bishops and clergy at
Bishop P 's. There I. met many friends. Dr. E
has sailed for France. . I had an earnest talk with Dr. H
and Dr. G , of South Carolina, concerning the errors in
our Church they are thoroughly with me.
" October 9, Friday. After the adjournment of our House
we had a meeting of the Southern bishops to consider the
question of the Freedman's Commission. After this I walked
with Bishop Johns to Mr. A 's, to call on Mrs. J .
She made many inquiries about you. Immediately after din
ner I went to Calvary Church to hear Bishop B preach in
behalf of missions. After the service I went with Bishop
B to Judge R 's reception. There was a great crowd
present. I remained only a short time. This morning Bishop
Mcllvaine rose and objected to the surpliced choir of boys at
the daily service at Trinity Chapel. Some of the Bishops
favored it strongly, but finally it was arranged as the evan
gelical bishops wished, by withdrawing the surpliced choir.
I have been unusually busy to-day, and now M B - is
waiting for me to go to Dr. B 's to dine. To-night the Board
290 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
of Missions meets for business in the Church of the Transfigu
ration, and will meet for a long time. Our Evangelical societies
meet on the zoth, 2ist, and 22d. I am engaged to preach in
Grace Church next Sunday at Dr. P 's urgent request, and
will make a missionary address at St. Thomas's the same day.
" October 10, Saturday. Last night I attended the meet
ing of the Board of Missions. You may judge of my feelings
when, upon entering the church, I saw before me in the
chancel an altar, with a super-altar, and on it in the centre a
brass cross three feet high, and two brass candlesticks of the
same height on either side, with candles in them, but unlighted.
And just in front of the altar was the venerable Bishop Mc-
Ilvaine, within a few feet of what he had all his life so ear
nestly protested against. The feeling of indignation is gen
eral, and very great among all evangelical men, and some will
not again attend the meetings if they are held in that church.
It seems unpardonable to have selected such a place for the
meetings of the Board, and thus compel us to countenance
the very things we have so earnestly protested against in the
declaration of the twenty-eight bishops. The Evangelical
bishops hold a meeting to-day at two o'clock to consult to
gether upon these and other vital issues before us. There is
intense feeling on all sides, and every day there are discus
sions bearing upon great questions such as leaving out the
term ' Protestant Episcopal, ' and using that of ' The Church '
in the United States. You see that it touches vital points.
This morning I went down to the E. K. S. and met Dr.
C , Dr. S , Dr. Sparrow, and many others. I learn
that the most advanced and extreme men among 'the low
churchmen will not press their own views and plans, but
unite with us on the great platform of Evangelicism, and in
an unbroken front towards the Romanizers. ' '
" HOUSE OF BISHOPS, October 12.
" Yesterday I preached at Grace Church from the words,
A STAND FOR THE 7 n A'/7Y/-i868. 29!
' The kingdom of God is within you.' Dr. T and Dr.
C - assisted in the services. After the services Judge
S and Mr. M -, lay deputies from Virginia, came to
speak to me, also Mr. and Mrs. Charles R , and Mrs.
D , from Norfolk. But the best news of all is that Dr.
P has promised me two hundred dollars for the churches
in Kentucky ! In the afternoon I went to St. George's
with Bishop Eastburn. Dr. Tyng preached. I saw Bishop
and Mrs. J i . At seven I drove to St. Thomas's ; the
church was filled. I spoke with great earnestness. This
morning I met Rev. S H. T , jr., at the Bible
House; he has promised me one hundred dollars ; so you
see our little churches will go up yet ! I shall not cease
my efforts to raise money, not only for the church in Pewee
Valley, but for those which I need so much in other places,
and for our needy ministers. 1 am not afraid of getting too
much, for I could use five thousand dollars for our imme
diate and pressing needs.
' This morning several clergymen and others, who heard
me speak last night, have urged me to take part in the great
meeting to-morrow night at the Academy of Music, and
Dr. - - has been here to beg me to deliver the same speech
as at St. Thomas's. I consulted with Bishop , and he
said ' That he would not have the slightest difficulty in speak
ing ; for though he was in active co-operation with the Amer
ican Church Missionary Society, he continued to work with
the Board of Missions, and he thought there ought to be some
one to speak for the Foreign Missions to-morrow night.'
Acting under his advice I consented. It is intended to make
it a great occasion ; two hundred singers are to join in a great
missionary hymn, and other sacred music. The house holds
three thousand people. I intend to dwell upon the memories
of Boone and Hoffman, and on the foreign work generally.
Dr. H came to me this morning to ask me to take part
in a meeting in behalf of a movement to provide an order, or
292 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
body of men as Evangelists or Itinerants, to go into destitute
places to preach.
" October 13, 1868. Went last evening to the meeting of
the Board of Missions, and listened to the reports of Bishops
C and R , read by themselves. Both reports were
very interesting. As we were leaving, Bishop S , of
P , took my arm, and as we walked together had a most
earnest talk upon our position as evangelical men in this crisis.
He is most decidedly opposed to the extreme men, but said
' he could and would die for the evangelical cause. ' I have
been to-day to see about dear father's portrait and the memo
rial window. The business before the House was to elect a
Missionary Bishop for Oregon and Washington Territory."
"NEW YORK, October 14.
" Yesterday I went down at seven o'clock to the Academy
of Music and found a vast audience filling the building from
the floor to the ceiling. There are three galleries, and they
were all crowded to the utmost, and on the stage were several
hundred singers and a large orchestra. All the bishops,
clergy, and laity of the Convention were there, almost without
an exception. I send you a programme. I spoke only fifteen
minutes. The meeting was a great success, and the music
very fine, especially the singing ' From Greenland's icy moun
tains, ' and a hymn to the tune of ' Coronation.' The solo
' Comfort ye, my people,' was sung by one of our clergy,
and with the instrumental accompaniment was very beauti
ful.
" 1.30 P.M. We have^ist finished our lunch, and this is
a very pleasant hour of the day, each party ignoring for the
time all differences and indulging in bright and even merry
intercourse. I meet people from almost every quarter of the
country, some of them old friends from Virginia. I am so
entirely absorbed in my duties that I can only speak to them,
but have no time for visiting. The question of appointing a
A STAND FOR THE TJ?UTffi86&. 293
Committee on Church Unity has been discussed, but has met
with great opposition from the high churchmen.
" Love to all in our own dear home."
" HOUSE OF BISHOPS, October 16.
" Yesterday called on Dr. and Mrs. M , they having
left cards thinking you were with me. I did not go to Dr.
Haight's reception, nor to Governor Fish's, on Monday night,
on account of fatigue from the duties pressing upon me. You
will scarcely understand me when I tell you that I am weary
to get back to my own quiet peaceful home. The excitement
is so great here that it wears upon one. And yet we have
not pouched the great questions of ritualism all our exciting
debates have been on the case, the question of sister
hoods, and surpliced choirs. Yesterday G arrived ; he
is looking remarkably well, and is taller and stouter than when
he left us in September. To-day I took G to the Bible
House and introduced him to many persons, and then we
went to the House of Bishops, before its organization, to let
him see the room and our arrangements ; then to the House of
Clerical and Lay Deputies, and went in to see that House in
session.
" October 19, Monday. Yesterday at ten o'clock I drove
to the Church of the Atonement Rev. Mr. Sabine's. Mr.
P read the service. I tried to preach as earnestly and
faithfully as I could. In the afternoon I had to bid G
farewell, as I had to leave at four o'clock for Staten Island.
He has enjoyed his visit very much. At four Rev. Mr. R
called for me. There were three of ''us appointed for this
missionary meeting. On reaching the landing about six
o'clock we were met by friends. After driving through the
beautiful grounds of my host, a warden of St. John's, I
reached the house, the front of which looked out upon the
water. I could see the distant light-houses. The water
proved to be the ocean itself ; for Mr. T 's house is be-
294 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
yond the Narrows, and the lights I saw were those on Sandy
Hook and the Highlands of Neversink. After tea we drove
to St. John's. We all three made addresses, and the collec
tion was good, amounting to three hundred and fifty dollars.
I went to New York this morning with Rev. Dr. E , and
had a good deal of conversation on church matters. I send
you a card which has been sent to each bishop this morning
in an envelope, and it has awakened much surprise among
some of the bishops, who were not aware of my connection
with the American Church Missionary Society. Bishops
W and Q came to talk with me about it. I am glad
that henceforth no one will be able to misunderstand my po
sition.
" October 20, Tuesday. This is an important day with
us. We have had a report from the ' Committee on Memo
rials," consisting of Bishops L , J , and C , in re
sponse to the memorial of certain of the low churchmen, ask
ing for the permission to use alternate forms in some of the
offices in the Prayer Book. The committee reported that it
was unwise and inexpedient to attempt any such changes, and
their report was adopted. The debate of the House upon a
report of the same committee upon a memorial sent by the
vestry of Rev. Mr. T 's church asking for an interpreta
tion of the canon, and to declare the mind of the Church
upon the subject, is very earnest. There is not the slightest
probability of the canon being repealed, or amended in any
way, but to make it more and not less stringent. This is the
tendency of the whole current of feeling in the Convention.
All that we can do is to plant ourselves upon the Prayer Book
as it is, for thus we can save any movement Romeward or
Greekward by any changes in the Prayer Book. We are sat
isfied with the Prayer Book that Bishops Meade, Griswold,
and others of like mind used with entire satisfaction."
At the time these words were written Bishop Cum-
A STAND FOR THE TR U TH 1868. 2Q5
mins fully believed what he then wrote. No charge
can with any truth be made that in all he ever said or
did he was not perfectly honest. Just so soon as he
believed otherwise, the Church knew it. He was thor
oughly persuaded then, and years before and after this
period, that the errors which had then crept into the
Protestant Episcopal Church ' ' must be fought against
within her pale." It was not until years of untiring
labor, of most faithful teaching had passed, and, with
out any judicial authority whatever in the Diocese of
Kentucky, he saw these errors grow and strengthen
day by day, until they no longer came with stealthy
tread, but were blazoned with all the pomp and
glitter of that school, that he turned away weary of a
struggle of five long years. Had he possessed the
authority, Ritualism would have been put down in
Kentucky, though it would have still grown and
flourished in other dioceses.
CHAPTER XXIX.
GENERAL CONVENTION Continued.
" And His truth endureth from generation to generation."
PSALM 100.
W
AGED 46.
E resume Bishop Cummins's journal :
" Immediately after dinner I went to Calvary Church,
where a meeting was held in behalf of the Society for sending
out Evangelists. We had a spirited meeting. Dr. H - is
the president of the society, and presided. He spoke, as also
did Bishops N , E , W , and myself, as well as
the Rev. Mr. Fox, of Durham, England, the biographer of
Mr. Hoffman. I hope Dr. W will aid me in my work in
Kentucky. I spoke earnestly to him about it. This morn
ing I went to the Bible House and met many friends ; from
thence with Mr. W , of Baltimore, to the communion ser
vice held in the Church of the Ascension, appointed as an
introduction to the evangelical meetings beginning to-day.
The Rev. B. Wistar Morris was elected Bishop of Oregon.
" October 21, 1868. I left our House yesterday at four
o'clock and went down to the business meeting of the Evan
gelical Knowledge Society. The attendance of evangelical
men was very large, from all parts of the country. At seven
o'clock I went to the anniversary exercises ; the services were
very interesting. Bishop Mcllvaine presided, and ten
bishops were present. Bishop Mcllvaine, Bishop Stevens,
and the Rev. Mr. K were the speakers. After the ad-
GENERAL CONVENTION Continued. 297
journment I met many old friends Dr. N , Mr. H ,
and R. S , of Boston. Mr. H 's case in Rhode Is
land is not yet decided, but he is very cheerful.
." This morning the debate on the subdivision of dioceses
has been earnest and interesting. It is one of the most vital
questions we have to decide. We have just had lunch, after
which I had a very earnest interview with Bishop , with
regard to my position towards the Evangelical Societies. He
asked me if I had thought of the effect upon some of the lead
ing men in Kentucky. I told him ' yes,' that I had counted
the cost, that I had acted from an urgent necessity laid upon
me to give all my influence in favor of the Protestant element
in our Church, and to resist the mighty tide of error in our
midst tending towards Rome. The interview was perfectly
friendly and cordial, but very decided on my part. I know
very well I shall have to bear reproach for the stand I have
taken, but I am not troubled by this. I believe I am stand
ing for the defence of the precious truth of the Gospel, now
so sadly imperilled in our own Church by the growth of false
doctrine. Our time on earth is short, and all our influence
so fleeting is but an atom to be given to our Master. ' '
On Wednesday, October 21, Bishop Cummins de
livered an address before the American Church Mis
sionary Society, which was a reply to Dr. Ewer's three
sermons entitled, " Protestantism a Failure." It was
printed in the American Church Missionary Society's
Register of December, 1868, in full. We quote a
few sentences :
"We are conscious, profoundly conscious, of the vital
issues now pressing upon us. We whose heritage is this Re
formed Church of Christ, feel in the depths of our souls that
we are passing through a crisis solemn, momentous, awful
and you will bear with me while I add my voice in defence of
298 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
all that the Reformers of England in the sixteenth century
bequeathed to us as our heritage and the heritage of our chil
dren. Within a short distance of where we are assembled, a
course of sermons has been preached to prove Protestantism
a failure ; and that by one who in the most solemn hour of
his life made this declaration : ' I do solemnly declare that I
will conform to the doctrine, discipline, and Avorship of the
Protestant Episcopal Church.' I do not wish to give too
great importance to the utterances of any one man ; but this
sermon is but a sign of the times, but one indication among
so many, of the deep, widespread effort to eliminate from this
Church her distinctively Reformed or Protestant character, and
to place her where she stood before the Reformation, denied
by the corruptions of mediaeval times.
:l Three memorable attempts have been made within the
last three hundred years to subvert the work of the Anglican
Reformers. The first was in the sixteenth .century ; the
second in the seventeenth ; the third in the nineteenth.
The first was an attempt by force ; the second by fraud ; the
third by treachery."
The address was printed in full in several of the
New York secular papers, and awakened great, in
terest and enthusiasm on the part of those in sym
pathy with Bishop Cummins, and indignation and
condemnation from the High church and Ritualistic
party. The following letter was received from Rev.
Dr. S. H. Tyng, senior :
" IRVINGTON, Friday, October 23, 1868.
" MY DEAR FRIEND AND BROTHER : May God be praised
for your fidelity to Christ and His truth on Wednesday even
ing. Eternity alone can unfold the strength and confidence
you were made the means of imparting to many of your
brethren in the younger ministry. It was a noble testimony,
GENERAL CONVENTION Continued. 299
worthy of the brightest and boldest of the great Reformers
and all the saints of God will thank you for it. ...
" We were all very sorry to feel the necessity of the ab
sence of our beloved friends in the Episcopate yesterday.
We had a glorious assembly and occasion in its spirit, its
celebration, and its influence. . . . The brethren will
go home wonderfully encouraged and cheered by all that they
have heard and seen,
' The Lord bless you and keep you, and prosper you
much in your important and arduous work.
" Your faithful friend and brother,
" STEPHEN H. TYNG.
" RIGHT REV. BISHOP CUMMINS."
We quote from a leading newspaper printed in
New York at the time :
" Bishop Cummins, of Kentucky, appears before the
American Church Missionary Society in noble and fearless
advocacy of evangelical truth, and in defence of the Protest
antism for which the Reformers braved the fires of martyr
dom. The noble words of Bishop Cummins and of other
clergymen thrilled us as we listened. May God bless them
and make them strong in His might."
On the 23d October, Bishop Cummins went to
Peekskill, on the Hudson, and preached in behalf of
missions. On the 24th he returned to New York and
writes thus :
" I agree with you that we have done but little touching
vital questions. We have made the new dioceses in New
York and Maryland ; we have passed a Canon prohibiting our
clergy from marrying divorced persons ; we have refused to
-make any changes in the Prayer Book to suit the views of low
300 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
churchmen on the one side, and of those who wish to change
the Nicene Creed on the other ; we have refused to change
the Canon which brought about the Tyng trial, and it stands
just as it did before ; we have refused to alter the Canon
concerning the officiating of other than our own ministers in
our churches. This Convention will prove an era in my life,
and may decide the whole future of my career. May God
overrule it for His glory and the advancement of His pre
cious truth."
On the evening of October 25th, at the urgent re
quest of many friends, Bishop Cummins repeated
his address on "The Protestantism of the Protestant
Episcopal Church," in the Church of the Incarnation.
It was printed in pamphlet form for extensive circula
tion. The following is a notice of the meeting :
" On Sunday evening, October 25th, the Church of the
Incarnation, Rev. Dr. Montgomery's, corner Madison Avenue
and Thirty-fifth Street, was filled by a vast audience to listen
to an address from the Right Rev. Dr. Cummins, Assistant
Bishop of Kentucky, in defence of the principles of the Eng
lish Reformation, now so imperilled in the Episcopal Church
of England and the United States. Many of the most prom
inent laymen of different Episcopal churches of this city were
present, and a large number of clerical and lay deputies to
the General Convention now in session."
In a letter dated October 27, he writes :
" How unspeakably comforting your words are to me in
the stand that I have taken for evangelical truth and Protest
ant principles in our Church. I am greatly impressed with
what you say of the beauty of ' Oak Lea.' I would rather
live there than in Fifth Avenue. I am amazed at the growth,
grandeur, and wonderful wealth of this city, but it is not to
GENERAL CONVENTION Continued. 3OI
be named by the side of a home like ours, amidst the peace,
the purity, the refreshing, elevating influences of God's works
in nature. But to continue my journal. At 4.30 I returned
to Dr. B 's to correct my address for the press. It is
something that I shall be glad for my children to read in after
years, as a testimony of my fidelity to the principles of the
Reformation. I had a visit from Mr. , who is at the
General Theological Seminary. He came to speak of things
at the seminary that were most distressing to him as showing
a leaning towards Romanism. The facts he stated to me
ought to be. brought out in our House ; but I have been so
prominent already on the Protestant side that my moving in
such a matter may be considered offensive. The House of
Clerical and Lay Deputies have at last before them to-day the
subject of Ritualism. Two reports are before them, both
good, but the minority report is much stronger and more de
cided in condemning things by name. The majority report,
however, will certainly pass. This morning I met Rev. Mr.
Fox, from England, at the Bible House : he promised to send
me interesting documents, and to write me. We went to see
Dr. D , concerning the publication of his memoir of Mr.
Hoffman, and of my memoir of Mrs. H , by the Evan
gelical Knowledge Society. The Executive Committee of the
American Church Missionary Society desire me to lay before
them the wants of the diocese. They will appropriate, as far
as they are able, a sum to meet my needs, or rather needs for
the work. This is very generous, and I am much encouraged.
I go to-night to Englewood, and from thereto Smyrna, Del.,
to perform the marriage ceremony for F .
' The lower House shirked most sadly the responsibility
concerning Ritualism, but the ' pastoral letter ' was very de
cided, and for this we are very thankful. Moreover, an
evangelical bishop was elected for Nevada Rev. Mr. Whit-
taker, a missionary in that country. The closing service was
in Calvary Church, and Bishop Smith read the pastoral letter. "
3O2 GEORGE DAVID CUMMIN'S,
At the close of the General Convention Bishop
Cummins accepted an invitation from his friend, Rev.
Dr. N , of Boston, to make him a visit. From
there he writes :
" The weather was so inclement that I was unable to see
any thing of Boston except the centre of the city. I went out
to see Church's painting of Niagara, and was most deeply
impressed with it. We dined at Mr. S 's, where I met
Rev. C. G . Our conversation was chiefly about their
visit to the East in 1866-7. They went as far as Jerusalem.
On returning to New York I learned that the Evangelical
Knowledge Society are about to print five thousand copies
of my address at the Church of the Incarnation. Friday I
go on to Baltimore, and Saturday to Washington, and Monday
start for home.''
In a letter written November 5, 1868, Bishop
Cummins tells of meeting again his old friend, Dr.
Durbin :
" At six o'clock I dined by special invitation with Dr.
Durbin, who you know was President of Dickinson College
when I was a student. ... I have been greatly blessed
in my efforts to secure help for my poor churches in Ken
tucky. "
The following Sunday was spent in Washington ;
he was the guest of a dear friend and former parish
ioner, and preached morning and night in Trinity
Church. On Monday he turned his face homeward,
accompanied by the widowed mother of his wife, who
passed the winter with them. The effect of Bishop
Cummins's course in the General Convention upon the
leading men of his diocese was twofold his work
GENERAL CONVENTION Continued. 303
suffered in a degree, and he was personally made to
feel that he could no longer expect sympathy or kind
ness from some of those who only two years before
had so warmly welcomed him to Kentucky. His
home was sold in the spring of 1870, the promises of
assistance in purchasing it having been withdrawn, and
he had no means of his own beyond the salary of four
thousand dollars, which he received, out of which all his
travelling expenses had to be paid. " Oak Lea" was
sold to the highest bidder for the sum originally asked
for it, and all the cost of improvements was lost. In
the spring of 1870 the Diocesan Convention passed a
resolution offering to purchase the place as an episco
pal residence ; but it was then too late to accept the
offer, Bishop Cummins having made all his arrange
ments to reside with his son-in-law, who had offered
to build a house for their joint occupancy.
To leave this home, where every tree and shrub
and flower was endeared to him, and to which he
ever returned after the weariness of travel, and the
trials and cares of his office, to rest within peaceful
walls, was a trial none can fully understand. But the
loss of his home, the averted look of some he knew so
well, the bitter taunts and unkind spirit manifested
by others, and the unwillingness of some of the clergy
to allow him to officiate in their churches, made no
difference to one who walked so closely with his God.
He ever met all with the same loving smile and the
same warm clasp of the hand, and felt towards each
the same friendly feeling. Not the slightest differ
ence was allowed to appear in his manner, for he had
taken the noble stand for what he believed to be the
truth, and the suffering of this present time was not
304 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
to be compared with the peace and joy which possessed
his soul. As earnestly, as faithfully as ever he labored
for the Protestant Episcopal Church in Kentucky,
making no difference whatever between high and low
churchmen, so far as kindly aid and ready sympathy
went. But while treating every one with Christian
courtesy and love he suffered intensely, and nothing
but the conscious presence of his Saviour and the daily
strength given by Him, enabled him to bear the
trials of that sad winter. Before this time of sorrow
came to the little home-circle at " Oak Lea," Bishop
Cummins writes thus cheerfully :
" BOWLING GREEN, KY., November 19, 1868.
" It is hard to realize that I am again away from you and
my home, now dearer than ever. I can only return unceasing
thanks to God for such a home, such a family, and all my
blessings. May I be able to consecrate my life more entirely
to God, and the advancement of his own sacred truth in his
Church !
' The memories of those few days spent at home are very
sweet no words can tell how dear they are. Yesterday I
met Rev. Mr. P , and we talked of the meeting of the
Convocation, and our anniversaries in Louisville. A letter
has been received from Mr. Parvin changing their programme.
They will put off their meetings in Cincinnati and Chicago
until I can be with them.
" I reached this place at twelve o'clock last night, having
left Louisville at six A.M. It was a long and tedious ride. I
cannot tell you my deep gratification at finding a comfortable
brick church here, completed, where, two years ago, we wor
shipped in a little school-house. It is a tasteful building,
and the interior really beautiful and so church-like. I am
more than repaid for what I have done for the people of our
GENERAL CONVENTION Continued. 30$
Church in this place, and rejoice over the good work. We
had services last night, and again this morning, and will have
another service this afternoon. Rev. Mr. R is 'with me,
besides Mr. C . "
In another letter, written from Paris, Ky., dated
December pth, he tells of a visit to Lexington and
Cynthiana ; from these places he went on to Paris,
where he preached and confirmed.
" The congregation at Cynthiana was an excellent one
notwithstanding the severely cold weather. We left Cynthiana
at nine o'clock and reached here in an hour. I am at the
rectory. To-morrow I go to Cincinnati, on my way to Mays-
ville. I see by the Cincinnati papers that thirty-five bodies
have been brought to the city, and I have telegraphed to keep
them until I reach there to-morrow, that I may inspect them.
I have great hopes of securing the remains of our dear breth
ren, and have so written to our friends in Philadelphia."
The reader will remember the fearful accident
which occurred in December, 1868, on the Ohio
River. Two steamers collided, and almost all on
board were lost, among them two young clergy
men, the Rev. Mr. Rising and the Rev. Mr. Parvin,
who were on their way to Louisville to hold mission
ary meetings. Bishop Cummins concludes this letter
with the following sentences :
" In Mr. Rising's pamphlet, ' Romanizing Germs in the
Prayer Book ' for he wrote it he has this forcible remark
concerning the Reformers, which is now strikingly applicable
to himself and Mr. Parvin : ' When Death knocked at the
door of the studio where these diligent sculptors were at work,
they dropped their chisels, took a last fond look at their
3C>6 GEORGE DA VID CUMMINS.
nobly-conceived but half-wrought statue, and making speed
to obey the summons 'which was of God, left that statue to be
finished in perfect symmetry by other hands. ' Could any
thing be more beautiful or more descriptive of them and their
work ? I will write you of my success in finding the bodies.
Winter has set in early ; it is as cold as January, and heavy
snow-storms are occurring in the East and North-west. I shall
go to Covington to-morrow, and Saturday to Maysville. "
The Christmas joy that came to the household at
" Oak Lea" knew no abatement, despite the threaten
ing trials that soon overshadowed it. All were togctJier.
The dearly loved grandmother, the father and mother,
the dear student at home for the holidays, the minis
tering child, who carried so willingly the duties
which belonged of right to the house-mother, and the
" wee bairn," the pet of the house all gathered
around the Christmas-tree, welcoming to its gladness
the stranger from afar, who was so soon to be one of
their circle. It was a bright, happy time. Since
then they have never all met again. The memory
of those hours of gladness that never came again will
keep green with those who remain, until the glory of
the new Jerusalem will break upon their sight.
CHAPTER XXX.
CORRESPONDENCE WITH BISHOP WHITEHOUSE 1869.
"I have not departed from Thy judgments: for Tfwu hast tatigJit
me."
AGED 47.
ON the 2d of January, 1869, Bishop Cummins re
ceived the following letter from Bishop White-
house :
"CHICAGO, December 31, 1868.
" MY DEAR BISHOP : An effort has been recently made
in this city to establish a society entitled ' For the Promotion
of Evangelical Religion in the North-west,'
" I am obliged to regard this as a movement designed to
disturb my diocese, and factious in its character.
" I am informed that a general meeting has been an
nounced to take place in Trinity Church, and that you are ex
pected to take a prominent part in it,
" Under the impression that this may be so, I venture to
express my hope that you will decline to give it the sanction
of your presence ; or in any way connect your influence and
office, within the charge of a brother bishop, with a movement
which he, in common with the large majority of the diocese,
deemed schismatical and injurious. You are satisfied, I am
sure, from the past, that you would be at any time a welcome
visitor in Chicago, and honored in its pulpits. But as pre-
308 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
siding over or connected with such a meeting as the one pro
jected, your visit would be misconstrued and hurtful.
" Faithfully, your friend and brother,
" HENRY J. WHITEHOUSE.
" RIGHT REV. DR. CUMMINS, Assistant Bishop of Kentucky."
On the receipt of this letter Bishop Cummins at
once wrote to Bishop Mcllvaine and other friends,
seeking advice from them. The following is Bishop
Mcllvaine's reply :
"CINCINNATI, January 7, 1869.
" MY DEAR BISHOP : I have received your note and its
three copies of letters, and am ready to give my opinion.
I wish, with you, that the society had been made auxiliary to
one of our general Evangelical societies.
"But they have aright to establish such a society, no
matter what bishop may object. For you to go, after his
letter, would be unpleasant, to be sure ; but I think should
Bishop W gain his point in this whether it be yielded
on grounds of principle or only of courtesy we should inau
gurate a claim which would have no end. Now the request
of Bishop W - is a claim, and intended that for the sake of
making it less objectionable he puts in the form of a request
that you have no right to come into his diocese for such purpose.
The claim is made the more offensive because of its calling the
movement ' factious ' that is, because it is contrary to his
will and ' schismatical ' and ' injurious,' because it is not in
the interests of such societies as he considers Church. Now
let us think what would be our position should we even seem
to yield to such claims. First, We should seem to allow the
factiousness and schismatical nature of the society in question.
Secondly, Bishop Potter could as well object to our advocacy
in New York of the three Evangelical societies, or any other
CORRESPONDENCE^^. 309
he might not like. Bishop Whitehouse could as well forbid
me, or you, or any clergyman going into Illinois for a day,
and preaching for any clergyman, or speaking for any cause.
When recently a clergyman from Nashotah was here and he
may be here yet calling on people of my diocese for subscrip
tions to Nashotah, I might just as reasonably have forbidden
him. What would Bishop Whitehouse have said ? There is
a great principle of right and freedom involved, and we must
not even seem to give place to such claims.
" My advice is that you answer the Bishop's letter very
kindly and frankly, stating that, however painful to appear in
Chicago under such circumstances, you cannot do any thing
which could be construed into an acknowledgment of the right
claimed, whether claimed on the ground of law or courtesy.
11 Yours affectionately,
" CHARLES P. MC!LVAINE."
Bishop Cummins also wrote to Dr. D , of New
York. His advice was " not to go to Chicago," but
" to write Bishop Whitehouse protesting against his
denunciations of the society," "that the society in
question had no connection with any one of the three
general societies. ' '
A letter from Rev. Charles Edward Cheney, rec
tor of Christ Church, Chicago, comes next in order
of date :
" CHICAGO, January 23, 1869.
" MY DEAR BISHOP : Yours of the 2ist is at hand this
moment, and I hasten to reply. I partially wrote you imme
diately on the receipt of your letter of the i2th, with its in-
closures ; but owing to the fact that the Executive Committee
of our society had held no meeting, I waited until I could re
port to you some definite action. As there seems to be such
determined opposition on the part of Bishop Whitehouse, we
310 GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
decided not to hold a public anniversary meeting. In defer
ence to the views expressed by Bishops Lee, of Iowa, and Mc-
Ilvaine, yourself, and Dr. D , I proposed that we should
resolve ourselves into an auxiliary to the Church Missionary
Society. But this met with hardly any favor, especially with
the working lay members of the organization. . . . The
result of our deliberations was substantially this to give up
any attempt at a very public demonstration, but to go to work
and obtain subscriptions, enroll as many members as we can
secure, and in St. John's and Christ Churches hold meetings.
Both Dr. Powers and myself would feel that in no way could
these meetings be made so successful as by your presence and
influence. At the same time I feel the delicacy of the position
which you occupy, and do not feel at liberty to urge you against
your own convictions of what courtesy towards another
bishop or the good of the cause demands.
" Affectionately yours,
CHAS. EDWARD CHENEY."
The letter herewith given is from Bishop Mcll-
vaine.
"WILMINGTON, DEL., January 28, 1869.
" DEAR BISHOP : Conversing this morning with Bishop Lee
about Bishop Whitehouse's letter to you as to which you wrote
me he called to my remembrance the fact that about the year
1841 or 1842 there was a similar case. Bishop Hopkins was
going to Philadelphia, from Vermont, to deliver a lecture or
course of lectures on Romanism. It was a time of consider
able excitement in Philadelphia about Romanism politically.
Bishop H. U. Onderdonk thought the lectures would increase
the excitement, and wrote to Bishop Hopkins strongly object
ing to his coming. Bishop Hopkins replied, and stood upon his
right and argued it out, and came. I wish that letter could be
found. It was no doubt published in the Recorder. But as
CORRESPONDENCE^^. 3 1 1
it applies exactly to your case I have thought you should
have it recalled to your mind.
" Yours affectionately, CHAS. P. MC!LVAINE.
" RIGHT REV. GEO. D. CUMMINS, D.D."
A letter from the Rev. E. Sullivan, then rector of
Trinity Church, Chicago, dated January 29, 1869,
reached Bishop Cummins at this time. It is a letter of
thanks chiefly, as the bishop had promised to occupy
the pulpit of Trinity during Mr. Sullivan's absence
in Canada, and adding :
" I understand, however, that you have decided to post
pone your visit for the present, which, under the circum
stances, perhaps, is the wiser course. What the issue of all
this will be, or whereto it will grow, it is hard to predict.
May the Spirit of Wisdom be given to us to direct us aright."
Bishop Cummins had not replied to Bishop White-
house's first letter, as he wished to seek counsel of
his brethren. Before he had decided upon his course,
the following letter reached him from the Bishop of
Illinois :
" CHICAGO, February i, 1869.
" MY DEAR BISHOP : On December 3ist I wrote you a
letter stating that a society had been originated in this city
which I was obliged to regard as a movement designed to dis
turb the peace of my diocese and as factious in its character.
I also stated that a general meeting of the same had been
projected to take place in Trinity Church, and that you were
expected to take a prominent part in the meeting, etc.
' This was written as a private letter, and to this day has
remained so, as far as I am concerned ; but I regret to say
that no answer to it has been received from you, nor any in
timation afforded me of your views and intentions.
312 GEORGE DAVID CU AIM INS.
" It has been currently reported that my letter, or copy
of it, in whole or in part, has been in the hands of Mr ?
Cheney, of Christ Church, and of others in Eastern cities ;
that you wrote to Rev. Mr. Sullivan your intention to fulfil
your visit, with an offer to officiate for him on Sunday, the
1 7th ult. ; it has been reported through Chicago and elsewhere
that I had officially inhibited you from officiating within my
diocese ; an article in the Milwaukee Sentinel has made an
abusive attack on me for so doing, which article I inclose ;
that you were telegraphed by the rector of Christ Church not
to come at present, and in consequence of this you did not
fulfil the intention, which you otherwise would have done, of
being in this city on Sunday, iyth of January.
" Under the circumstances I think I have a claim on you
for an explanation of the matter, and for some distinct assur
ance of the character of any visit you may make to my juris
diction. If such a visit is to be honorably regarded as an
indulgence of personal and social relations, you will be most
welcome. If it is to commit you to any quasi sanction of
partisan spirit and action in my diocese, I beg respectfully to
say that I should regard it, after what has passed, as a serious
breach of fraternal courtesy. And if you have, as rumored,
consented to act, accredited by the ' American Church Mis
sionary Society ' or its kindred organizations, the exercise of
such agency will raise questions still more serious, probably,
in other jurisdictions as well as in my own.
" Remaining very truly your friend and brother,
" HENRY J. WHITEHOUSE.
" RIGHT REV. GEO. D. CUMMINS, D.D."
To this letter Bishop Cummins sent the following
reply :
" PEWEE VALLEY, KY., February 3, 1869.
" MY DEAR BISHOP : Yours of the ist inst. has just
reached me, and I hasten to give you a plain statement of
CORRESPONDENCE 1869. 313
facts, which, I am very sure, will relieve me of any seeming
want of courtesy toward you, and at the same time will con
vince you of my earnest desire to promote the peace and har
mony of the Church in your diocese.
" My first invitation to go to Chicago, for the purpose of
addressing a public meeting in Trinity Church, came from the
Rev. Mr. Sullivan, who informed me that an Evangelical
missionary society had been organized in Chicago, and that I
was invited to speak at its anniversary on the 2oth of Jan
uary. He did not mention the official name or title of the
organization, and I concluded that it was a society auxiliary
to our three great societies, viz., The Evangelical Knowledge
Society, The Evangelical Education Society, and The Church
Missionary Society.
;< Very shortly after Mr. Sullivan's letter, and after my
acceptance of the invitation, a second letter carne from Mr.
Sullivan telling me of a visit of yourself to him, on which
occasion you announced your purpose to oppose a prompt
and determined resistance to the society. The same mail
brought your letter of December 3ist to me, in which you
characterize the new society as ' factious and schismatical,
and designed to disturb the peace of your diocese, ' and you
expressed your desire that I should decline to ' lend the sanc
tion of my presence, or in any way connect my influence and
office with it. ' This letter placed me in a most embarrassing
position. To accede to your request would, in my judgment,
be acquiescing, at least seemingly, in your judgment of the
society, and condemning my brethren, whose reputation is
very dear to me. I could not believe that such men as Che
ney, Sullivan, and Powers, faithful and long-tried presby
ters, could be guilty of designing to disturb your diocese or
of promoting schism. At the same time it was painful to
deny your request, especially in view of the past pleasant
personal relations between us.
" I determined to make an effort to induce the brethren
3H GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
connected with the new society to change their organization,
so as to make it auxiliary to the three societies alluded to
above, and thus, as I supposed, to disarm all opposition from
you. Hence the long delay in replying to your letter of De
cember 3ist. I have corresponded with Mr. Cheney, Mr.
Powers, and Mr. Sullivan ; but up to this time I have had
no official reply to my suggestion. The Executive Committee
had appointed a meeting for the 2d of February, but I have
not heard of their action. They are aware that my consent
to speak is held in abeyance, and depends very much upon a
fuller knowledge of the character and aims of the society.
I have not yet seen the constitution of the society, and
only within a few days past have I met with a list of its offi
cers. Many of them are known to me, and command my en
tire confidence. From the published opinions of one of them
/ differ most widely. I refer to the article; in one of our Church
papers advocating and tirging that evaneglical men should, leave
the Protestant Episcopal Church, because their liberty in Christ is
denied them within the Church. I do not believe that the emi-"
nent clergymen and laymen who are associated with Ir.m in
this society have any sympathy with his views in this matter.
/ am very sure that they hold, with myself and every bishop of
the evangelical school, that it is our duty to oppose those who seek to
divide the Church, as well as those who seek to assimilate her to
the corrupt and idolatrous communions of the Oriental and Papal
Churches* FOR MYSELF, I LOVE THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL
CHURCH MORE FERVENTLY AS LIFE ADVANCES. To me she
is the fair and pure bride of Christ, ' the glory of the Re
formed Churches,' as Bishop Hobart called her in 1814 in his
sermon before the General Convention of that year ; loyal to
Christ and his truth in her articles, offices, and homilies, and
probably as free from imperfections as a Church can be, ccm-
* The italics are given by the author to draw attention to the views
of Bishop Cummins at that time.
CORRESPONDENCE 1 869. 3 I 5
posed of fallible men in whom the work of God's grace is
always incomplete.
;< The above statement, I trust, will answer your call for
an explanation of matters connected with your first letter. I
sent it to Mr. Cheney, because I deemed it right that the
society should know your feeling towards it, and as you did
not mark it ' private, ' or express a desire to have it so re
garded, I did not think it a breach of confidence to permit
others to read it. With regard to my promise to preach in
Trinity Church on the iyth ult., it was based on the hope
that the society would adopt my suggestion and hold a meet
ing then in behalf of our general evangelical societies. Mr.
CHENEY'S telegram was to inform me that the meetings of all"
kinds were postponed for the present. Your letter of Feb
ruary ist, however, raises a new and more serious issue ; and
I am deeply pained to find that you have taken a position
which my conscience compels me to oppose and resist. You
say, in the concluding paragraph of your letter : ' And if you
have, as rumored, consented to act accredited by the " Amer
ican Church Missionary Society," or its kindred organiza
tions, the exercise of such agency will raise questions still
more serious, probably, in other jurisdictions as well as in
my own.'
"It is true, 'as rumored,' that I have consented, or
rather promised, the societies alluded to by you to go to Cin
cinnati, Chicago, and other places to advocate their claims ;
and it is my purpose to visit Chicago on Sunday, February
2ist, to preach for, and ask offerings in behalf of, ' The Amer
ican Church Missionary Society ' and ' The Evangelical Edu
cation Society, ' both of which have been so sadly bereaved
of their secretaries by the awful calamity on the Ohio River
in December last. If I understand your allusion, my dear
Bishop, it is to raise a question as to my right to make such
appeals in your diocese. If so, it involves a great principle
of right and freedom, and I cannot give place to such a
GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS.
claim for an instant. These three great Organizations are the
legitimate modes in which a large portion of our Church seek
to advance their principles and to extend ' the truth as it is
in Jesus, ' in all honest loyalty and fervent love to the Church.
To deny them the right, at all proper times and places, to
propagate and extend these principles, is a step fraught with
imminent peril to the welfare of the Church, and as one who
would sacrifice all but Christ's truth to preserve the peace and
harmony of the Church, I earnestly implore you not to raise
such a question, never before raised, and the agitation of
which is to be most deeply deplored.
" I am, ever most faithfully yours,
" GEO. D. CUMMINS, Assistant Bishop of Kentucky.
" BISHOP WHITEHOUSE.
" P.S. To avoid misapprehension, I think it best to state
now, that I shall feel at liberty to make any use of this cor
respondence that may seem desirable, to which I suppose
you have no objection. G. D. C. "
The letter given herewith was received by B
