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surprised at the meagre number presented. However this might be, Mr. Gardner did not labor very long before a happy and charming change for the better became evident. Many that had wandered away from the fold returned, and not a few from the gay world of fashion and pride earnestly sought the Lord, and found peace in believing on Jesus, and were received into the church. Many were the precious seasons of grace enjoyed by the church, under the ministry of Mr. Gardner. It was a soul stirring time, in these days—a time of refreshing from the Lord. The old and the young "came inquiring for him of whom Moses and the prophets did write." It was a common sight, on communion seasons, to behold a goodly number sitting around the table of the Lord, for the first time, who, a few weeks before, were indulging themselves in the frivolous and foolish enjoyments of the world, without a thought, scarcely, of those serious and important considerations of death, judgment, and eternity. Now "they were clothed in their right mind." Having professed faith in Christ, "they conferred not with flesh and blood, but took up their cross and followed the Saviour."
Such was the continued increase of the congregation and its growing wants, particularly in view of the large number of young persons connecting themselves with the church, and also the very encouraging prospects of the Sabbath-school attached to the congregation, that it was thought both prudent and necessary to obtain the service of another elder, possessing qualifications to engage in the evident wants of the church, among the young as well as the old. To this end, Mr. Jacob C. White seemed eminently qualified; his literary attainments, his Christian and consistent deportment, his remarkable zeal and piety, pointed to him as a man for
