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decline, he commenced a second journey, on foot, and almost moneyless. The condition specified actually occurred; and on his return he was introduced to the tutorship.

But his mind was a prey to secret sorrow. He was poor, and not free from debt. He walked in spiritual darkness. He needed a Christian friend. Such an one he found in the Treasurer of the College, Major Morton, an old Revolutionary officer. He saw, in young Rice, through the disguise of poverty, a real worth of character; and with prompt and generous kindness, furnished him the means, not only of meeting some pressing wants, but of paying his debt. Being introduced to his family, the dejected stranger found in Mrs. Morton, a woman pious, sensible, affectionate, cheerful; in short, every way qualified to "minister to a mind diseased." Having won his confidence, and learned his case, she endeavoured to heal his wounded spirit; and she partly succeeded. By the judicious application of Gospel truths and encouragements, his former religious impressions and hopes were revived; and his heart which, by conscious guilt and melancholy, had long been too much closed, both to God and man, seemed to be opened anew.

Some time afterwards, the Rev. Archibald Alexander was elected President of the College, and the Rev. Conrad Speece a tutor. With these eminent men, young Rice formed a friendship which continued to the close of his life, and which he always regarded with great interest and delight.

At this period, he possessed, apparently, a remarkable independence, both in forming and expressing his sentiments on all subjects. In his manners, he was not very graceful, nor conciliating. In his indifference to the opinions of others, he was even excessive. He had an insatible thirst for knowledge, and perused with avidity, a variety of books, on almost all subjects. He was much addicted to his pen; and wrote many things somewhat in the style and manner of the British essayists, for whose productions he had a keen relish.

At this time, it was his purpose to pursue the practice of physic as a profession; and he attended a course of study in the science, under the direction of an eminent physician. His vacations were much employed in visiting valued friends. Some times he attended the sessions of the court,

On one of these occa

and the elections of the village. sions, he was present when his old friend and monitor, Patrick Henry, made one of his last addresses to the people; and when John Randolph, of Roanoke, made almost his first appearance on the public stage. Mr. Rice was, of course, greatly pleased with both the orators; but the homage of his adoration was paid rather to the setting, than the rising sun.

Having continued at college nearly three years, he returned, in the spring of 1799, at the request of his friend, Major Morton, to give instruction to a small school in his house. During this process, the interest which he had long felt in his friend's eldest daughter, a pious and lovely young lady, ripened into a very tender attachment. But their marriage was delayed for some years.

Retiring from his school, he devoted himself to his medical studies. In the following autumn, while meditating a journey to Philadelphia, to attend the medical lectures in that city, he received a pressing invitation to resume his office as tutor in the college. He complied; and found himself re-united, with increased pleasure, to his highly valued friends, Messrs. Alexander and Speece. And now a question powerfully impressed itself on his mind, as to the duty of changing his course, and becoming a preacher of the gospel. But this path was obstructed by many difficulties. With an excellent sense of the greatness of the ministerial character, he combined a deep and distressing conviction of his own defects. Among other things, he was conscious of wanting that fluency of speech, so desirable in the ministerial office. This, with him, was partly an organic difficulty, and he doubted whether it could be overcome. But much reflection on the want of qualified ministers, with the increasing interest he felt in the glory of God, and the salvation of men, determined him to a preparation for the sacred office. He accordingly engaged in the study of theology, under the auspices of his friend, Mr. Alexander; and having completed his preparations, received, on the 12th of September, 1803, licence from the Presbytery to preach the gospel.

His preaching was not, at the first, very popular. His discourses were principally argumentative, and aimed to vindicate the truth of Christianity against the objections of infidels. They did not, of course, greatly please or edify VOL. III.

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the common people. But they commended themselves and the preacher to men of information and discernment. He attracted general respect and confidence. At the invitation of the church at Cub Creek, he was ordained as their pastor, September 29, 1804.

For a short time after his ordination, he retained his connection with the College, and performed its customary duties. But soon finding this incompatible with the full and satisfactory discharge of his ministerial functions, he resigned his tutorship, and retired to a small farm, where he could be in the midst of his people. To increase his salary, which was incompetent to his support, and to extend his usefulness, he opened a small school for the instruction of youth, in which, beside teaching Latin, Greek, &c., he regularly explained, and inculcated the leading doctrines and precepts of Christianity.

The field of his duty was now extensive; his labours, arduous and unremitted. His congregation was scattered, and worshipped in three different houses. The church, when he first took charge of it, consisted of fifty eight white communicants, and fifty five black; but the numbers were soon increased.

The coloured members of his church were objects of his special attention. His instructions were adapted to their capacities, and their condition. The effect was most happy. Many of this humble class were distinguished for their piety and good conduct. And most tenderly did they love their minister.

The fame of his piety and talents found its way abroad; and many, beside his own congregation, and among them, gentlemen of standing and influence, sought his acquaintance. These extended opportunities of usefulness, he carefully and conscientiously improved.

In the year 1805, the Synod of Virginia, of which he was a member, established a Magazine, for the purpose of diffusing religious truth and intelligence among their people. Mr. Rice contributed to its pages many valuable articles.

The following year witnessed a measure of still greater interest to the Southern Church; a resolution of the Presbytery of Hanover, which contemplated the establishment of a Theological Seminary, for Virginia and the South. The idea of this measure, probably, originated

with Mr. Rice, and his friends, Alexander and Speece. And doubtless, in its advancement and completion, he himself took a more active and efficient part than any other man. He was the animating soul of this great undertaking.

The seminary it was resolved, should be erected in Hampden Sydney College, and embraced in its plan, the establishment of a fund for the education of the poor and pious youth for the gospel ministry.

The committee charged with the execution of this plan, appointed Mr. Rice their special agent to solicit donations through the State. Full of zeal in the discharge of this duty, he lost no time in repairing to Richmond, Norfolk, and many other places, to appeal to the pious and liberal; and not without success.

In the year 1810, Mr. Rice was requested to give his aid in establishing a new church in the city of Richmond. Religion was in a prostrate state. Scarcely could it be said that there was a regular church, either Episcopal or Presbyterian. A spirit of worldliness, of dissipation, and even of infidelity, prevailed in the city. In this crisis, a few pious persons conceived the design of establishing a Presbyterian congregation, and building a church. Looking around for an evangelical preacher, they fastened their eyes on Mr. Rice. Their wishes, when made known to him, excited an interest in their behalf. He encouraged them to proceed, and did not forbid the hope of aid from him at some future day. The fact is, that about this time, he had become almost disheartened at the low state of religion among his people; perceiving, as he thought, little evidence of present success, and little prospect of future usefulness.

On visiting the city, he preached repeatedly to large and attentive congregations, and found the people solicitous for his removal.

A few months afterward, there occurred an event equally memorable and appalling-the burning of the Richmond theatre. This disaster involved the destruction of a great number of valued lives, and spread lamentation through the city and the state. Mr. Rice was deeply affected; and being requested to visit this scene of distress, he could not refuse.

The question of his removal was now urgently pressed;

and he was constrained to decide. Accordingly, under the sanction of the Presbytery, he accepted the invitation, and took leave of his beloved people in a sermon preached from Acts, 20, 32. The discourse was fraught with pious and affectionate sentiment, and went to every heart. As he descended from the pulpit, all crowded around him, to express their affection, and receive his parting blessing. The poor blacks, in their turn, eagerly seized his hand, and bathed it with the tears of their cordial attachment.

After his arrival in Richmond, his first sermon was preached from Romans, 15, 29. Many were deeply impressed by the discourse. On the following sabbaths and at occasional services in the week, many heard him gladly. Some, particularly, who had lost friends in the late disaster, and whose hearts the Lord opened, to attend to the things which were spoken, affectionately waited on his ministry, and hung on his lips with a satisfaction which they never knew before.

His efforts to promote the cause of God in Richmond were attended with visible evidences of success. Still, he did not proceed without opposition, nor without serious discouragements. The place which had been selected for the house of worship, was near the extremity of the city, and remote from most of the worshippers. Perceiving early how inauspicious this must be to his success, Mr. Rice proposed that the building and the ground should be sold, and a more central spot selected. The measure was, for a while, opposed; but the necessity of the case prompted its ultimate adoption. Its execution, however, was attended with various embarrassments. The large sums demanded by the purchase of a new and convenient site, the erection of a house, and the support of the minister, were not supplied without much difficulty. In the mean time, a new and splendid edifice was erected by the Episcopal congregation, on the spot recently occupied by the theatre. This circumstance, together with the zeal and popularity of Dr. Moore, who now became at once pastor of the church and bishop of the diocese, drew away a portion of Mr. Rice's hearers, and clouded the prospect of his success. But with his characteristic ardour and energy, he persevered; and after a considerable period, found himself furnished with a commodious house of worship, and attended by an affectionate congregation.

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