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mature man; and besides this, the early impressions of youth linger around the memory, and delight to cluster in old age the memories of its youth; hence our parental love, our strong affection for early friends, and so far are we influenced by it, that even inanimate objects have a degree of importance and regard attached to them; whether it be a stone by the wayside, or an old oak tree, are memory's treasures dear and precious. For our Christian teachers this is remarkably true, children ever retain for their instructors a regard little short of parental affection; hence the veneration that the young entertained for Mr. Gloucester.
I once before intimated, that during Mr. Gloucester's ministry, he was not without his troubles. I will take the occasion now, however, to say that he had the peculiar trait or tact of restraining within bounds the turbulent dispositions of men, controlling within proper limits those unnatural flashes that sometimes gleam out of religious assemblies in murmurings and complaints. In this peculiar quality he was fortunate. His situation was a trying one, particularly when we consider that his congregation was a mixed one, made up of some who had come from other churches, each holding more or less peculiar views of his own, others from a conviction of duty to God and the exceeding sinfulness of sin; these were from the world, snatched from the very jaws of the lion; still they were unacquainted with government, and had to be broken in to the rule and order of the church. In a new organization such as the one I am now treating on, there cannot be much wonder that discordant elements among them should exist, and it can be seen, also, that no small amount of wisdom and prudence, as well as grace, is required to govern and guide a congregation thus constituted; still it is true, that if
