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city and preached to the people, by whom he was received most cordially. He still retains, apparently, the vigor of a strong man, and although in the 73d year of his age, his voice is still clear and strong. In intellect and energy there is no marked difference to what it was years long past.
But to proceed with this narrative, I must remark, that after the pulpit was declared vacant, the church was once more thrown under the fostering care of Presbytery, and they supplied the pulpit, as they had ever done when the wants of the church required it. The church remained without a pastor for about seven years, during which time Rev. Griffith Owen, Dr. Cuyler, and Dr. Joseph H. Jones, not only moderated the session, but took a deep interest in all the affairs of the church, administering the communion or the Lord's supper, baptizing the children, advising and counselling with the elders as to every measure whereby the church could be benefited. During this period of the church history, there was considerable exertion made to obtain the service of a pastor, so as to relieve the Presbytery and the gentlemen appointed by them to moderate the session, from so burdensome a service; at least, so thought the session, for I must inform the reader that each of these brethren had their own congregations to attend, and their congregations were very large, yet we cannot advance a single proof or any idea whatever, that they were not perfectly willing to do all in their power for the interest of this branch of Christ's church. It was during this time that various and frequent calls were made to pastors to take the pastoral charge, but without success. This, no doubt, arose from the fact that there are few Presbyterian colored ministers, and these were all settled over their several congregations or churches, and
