EBENEZER PORTER was born October 5, 1772, at Cornwall, a town in Litchfield county, Conn., 38 miles west of Hartford. Of his ancestors we have very little information. His father, Hon. Thomas Porter, was a farmer, but for many years, especially in the latter part of his life, was somewhat prominent as a political man. In 1779, he removed with his family to Tinmouth, a small town in the southern part of the county of Rutland, Vermont. Dr. Porter began to fit for college at an early age, under the instruction of his brother-in-law, the Rev. Mr. Osborn, then minister of Tinmouth. He completed his preparatory studies under the superintendence of the Rev. Job Swift, D. D., pastor of the Congregational church in Bennington, Vt. He entered the freshman class in Dartmouth college in 1788, and in 1792 received the degree of A. B.* At the commencement exercises, he had the first appointment. During the whole college course, he had sustained a high rank as a scholar.

The remark has not unfrequently been made, that the standing of a student in college furnishes little or no data on which to estimate his subsequent usefulness or reputation. Cases, indeed, occur of premature growth. The mind which shoots suddenly to manhood, may speedily decay. Boys who have excited extraordinary hopes in college, have afterwards sunk into utter obscurity. The mind is also sometimes under the stimulus of vicious excitements. A young man toils for the highest honors of his class. Day and night his powers are stretched to the utmost intensity. A stranger to the hallowed motives to literary effort furnished by the Christian religion, he nourishes his feverish hopes. The goal is reached; the valedictory oration is secured; the stirring scenes of commencementday vanish; the plaudits of too partial friends have lost their relish. The unhappy youth is thrown out upon the world without an object or a motive. His mental energies suffer a fearful collapse. We hear no more of him. He is a disgrace to one of the learned professions, or betakes himself to a life of idleness, or lingers out a miserable existence in dissipation. Perhaps his health was ruined by his unnatural application while in the college.

His classmates at the time of graduation were 27 in number. Among them were President Appleton of Bowdoin college; William H. Woodward, secretary and treasurer of Dartmouth college; Rev. Messrs. Joel Baker, of Granville, Mass.; Joseph Field, Charlemont, Mass.; Calvin Ingalls; John Jackson; Zephaniah Swift, Derby, Conn.; Jonathan Ward, Plymouth, N. H.; John Webber, etc. About one half of the class are now living.

The valedictory has been in more than one instance a precursor to the grave. The constitution was shattered by the enormous draughts which the four years made upon it. Still we are inclined to think that the character in college is a pretty good index of the whole subsequent life. The early developments, as a general thing, correspond to the subsequent history. Mind is not so changeable in its aspects as to falsify every prediction. Some of the most powerful motives which stimulate the youthful scholar are of a permanent, as well as of a laudable character. Years of idleness in college are occasionally recovered at a single bound, or atoned for by subsequent indefatigable application. But this is not the ordinary law. "Seest thou a man diligent in his business; he shall stand before kings." This is as applicable to a scholar's life, as to that of any other person.*

Dr. Porter's career is an illustration of this conclusion. He studied industriously and methodically in college; in the whole of his subsequent life, so far as his health permitted, he was a hard student. In college he acquired for himself respect and an honorable rank; in his professional career he maintained the same ascendancy.

Dr. Porter became pious during his junior year in college. The circumstances connected with this interesting event in his history are not known to the writer of this article. The year after he left college, he connected himself with the Congregational church in Washington, Litchfield county, Conn. Of this church he was afterwards pastor. It was then under the pastoral care of the Rev. Noah Merwin, with whose daughter Dr. Porter subsequently became connected in marriage.

After leaving college, Dr. Porter spent several months in teaching a school. He then commenced the study of divinity in the celebrated private theological school of the Rev. Dr. Joseph Bellamy, in Bethlem, Conn. Of this distinguished divine and theological instructor, his pupil frequently spoke in terms of the highest veneration and respect. For vigor and clearness of intellect; for his power in presenting doctrinal truth to the understanding and the conscience; for the hold which he gained in the judgment and affection of the students in divinity who resorted to his house; and for the great and happy effects produced by his preaching, his lectures, and his published discourses, Dr. Bellamy ranks very high among the theologians of this and of other lands. The American church has great reason to rejoice that she has been favored with such luminaries as Drs. Bellamy, Strong, Hart, Charles Backus, Stephen West, Hopkins, Dwight, Hyde, and others. Perhaps no county in New England has been more highly favored in this particular than Litchfield in Connecticut. Not a little of the spiritual good which Dr. Porter was enabled to effect, is, no doubt, to be attributed to the counsels and example of Dr. Bellamy. The length of time employed by Dr. Porter in the study of divinity, is not certainly known. It was probably about sixteen or eighteen months. On the 6th of September, 1796, he was ordained pastor of the Congregational church at Washington, vacant by the death of Mr. Merwin.

From an article inserted by Dr. Porter in the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine for October 1806, and which gives an account of a revival of religion in his church and society, we have derived a few facts relating to his pastoral labors. "Though this church has enjoyed a preached gospel," remarks Dr. Porter, "with very little interruption since its formation, a period of 64 years, nothing that could properly be termed a revival of

*One of our colleges arranges the classes on its triennial catalogues according to the relative standing of the members while in college. An examination of this catalogue proves that the rank in college is, as a general thing, maintained subsequently.

religion had ever taken place until the present. In the vacancy immediately preceding my ordination, there was, in one part of the society, more than usual attention; and a number united with the church. In the three succeeding years, including 1799, twenty-three persons more were added. During the four next years, only ten persons made a public profession of religion... Early in the summer of 1802, special meetings were appointed for the youth, with the express approbation and support of the church. These meetings were attended every other week, in the form of a theological school. At each meeting, a question, in the order of a system was given, accompanied with an extemporary lecture, or with notice that a sermon would be adapted to the subject on the following Sabbath. When the latter course was taken, an unusual attention was apparent in the youth, as well as in many others. At the meeting succeeding that on which the question was given, the papers that had been written by the youth were received and read publicly. After a number of practical, solemn remarks on the last question, another was given in the same manner. From respect to the delicacy of the writers, their papers were received so as to leave the author of each one unknown to every other. With the same precaution they were returned, having been reviewed at leisure, such corrections or remarks as were thought necessary being made on them in writing. These meetings, begun with faint expectations, succeeded to my joy and astonishment. . . A respectable number usually attended; and twelve or fifteen often wrote on the same question. It was surprising to witness the progress made by some of these, not only in correct writing, but in doctrinal knowledge. For three successive summers, these pleasant and profitable meetings were continued; when it was the will of a holy God to suspend them, through my impaired health. To that will, I desire to bow submissively, while I feel this allotment as the severest trial of my life. . . Near the close of the summer of 1803, several persons became seriously impressed. At the request of six or eight brethren of the church, weekly conferences were revived. The church put on the aspect of returning health... God's people longed for a revival, rather than expected it. Scarcely did they dare to believe that so blessed a season had already begun; and that the day had indeed dawned, which was to succeed a night of more than 60 years. In the autumn, the Sun of righteousness arose upon us with healing and salvation in his wings. Dry bones, animated by the breath of the Almighty, stood up, new-born believers. . . As the fruit of this precious and memorable season, 54 persons have been added to the church; none of whom, blessed be God, have in their subsequent conduct been left to discredit their holy profession. . . Of the number added to the church, about three fourths were children of parents who were professors of religion. Besides the meetings of the young people, the church, as a church, had appointed a catechising committee to assist the pastor in teaching the children. These catechisings have since been regularly attended during the summer season, between the services on every other Sabbath; the children being classed according to their knowledge... In the fall of the year there is an annual catechising, when every child that has attended the stated catechisings through the season, receives some religious tract, purchased with money drawn from the church treasury, and corresponding in value with the child's progress. The names of such as learn the catechism through, are entered on the church records. . . From the registers of the schools, in which is preserved the comparative improvement of the children in the various branches of instruction, it appears that in six of our district schools, examined in the close of the last

winter, the number of children that were able to repeat the Assembly's Catechism through, was 101."

It will be observed by the preceding quotations from this interesting document, that Dr. Porter refers to a failure of his health. We have understood from his own lips that this failure was to be mainly attributed to an unseasonable and excessive devotion to study, in which he indulged while at Washington. In night-study, he assured us he laid the foundation for much of his subsequent debility. The preceding extracts will also prove the anxiety which he felt, and the multiplied labors which he performed, in behalf of the spiritual good of his flock. His various exertions, especially for the young, seemed to have been marked by that sound judgment and forethought which ever after characterized his movements.

The Theological Seminary at Andover was opened on the 28th of September, 1808; on which occasion the Rev. President Dwight of Yale college, one of the visitors, delivered a sermon. At the same time, the Rev. Eliphalet Pearson, LL. D., professor elect of sacred literature, was ordained. Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D., was appointed Abbot professor of Christian theology. Soon after, Rev. Edward D. Griffin, D. D., was chosen Bartlet professor of sacred rhetoric. On the resignation of Dr. Pearson, Rev. Moses Stuart of New Haven, Conn., was chosen professor of sacred literature; and on the resignation of Dr. Griffin, the Rev. Ebenezer Porter, the subject of the present sketch, was appointed professor of sacred rhetoric.

The appointment of Dr. Porter was made in 1811. On the 18th of December of that year, the South Consociation of Litchfield county held a special meeting at the house of Dr. Porter, for the purpose of considering the circumstances of the application, and, if thought advisable, to dissolve the relation between him and his people. The clergymen present on this occasion, were the Rev. Drs. Backus of Bethlem, Tyler of South Britain, Beecher of Litchfield, and the Rev. Messrs. Benedict of Woodbury, Chase of South Farms, Swift of Roxbury, Whittelsey of New Preston, Taylor of Bridgewater, Hart of Plymouth, and Gelston. The Consociation, after considering the whole subject, came to the conclusion unanimously, that it was Dr. Porter's duty to accept the appointment. His pastoral relation was accordingly dissolved.

On Wednesday, April 1, 1812, Dr. Porter was inaugurated as professor of sacred rhetoric in the theological seminary at Andover.

In the mental habits and character of Dr. Porter there were very obvious and striking excellencies. His sound common sense must have been apparent to the most superficial observer. In his public performances, there were, frequently, remarks of great pith and sententiousness, which were not drawn from books, but from a close observation of human nature. During his journies, and in his extensive acquaintance with men and institutions, he had treasured up numerous and striking anecdotes illustrative of the foibles and the weaknesses, or of the commendable points in human character. In the thousand incidents of familiar and domestic life he exhibited a keen insight in respect to the motives by which men are governed. No one was better qualified to give advice to young men in relation to the many points where they would come in contact with society. Dr. Porter was also remarkable for his industry. It was a habit which he early acquired, and which he retained through life. He had to contend with frequent bodily indisposition, and, for many of the latter years of his