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pulses which shall have emanated from the tragic close of so quiet a life, it is a question whether it will not be found, that of the enemies of the Lord, 'the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life,' for it is true to-day as ever it was that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.' And call his death whatever modification of martyrdom you may, the same class of feelings are engendered in us, and the same sort of influences started, when our brethren by our side perish from exposure to 'peril among heathen.'

"Mr. Janvier was a cousin, I believe, of Bishop Scott, and will be remembered by some of the Methodists of Philadelphia for the sweet address he delivered at the Green Street M. E. Church of that city on the occasion of the farewell meeting held to commit your correspondent and his family to the care of the great Head of the Church.' He followed us to India in the fall of 1861. When we bade him adieu, he expressed sorrow that he was not in India, that he might give us a welcome, but in the good providence of God, he has joined the souls under the altar that were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held,' and if we be but faithful, will doubtless give us a welcome to higher and holier climes. May God sustain his bereaved widow and protect and bless the child."

JOHNSTON, JAMES R.-The son of Nathan and (Hunter) Johnston, was born in Nova Scotia, British Provinces, March 24, 1800. His parents were on their way from Scotland to the United States. He was educated in Jefferson College, Canonsburgh, Pa., and studied Theology in the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pa. He was licensed by the Reformed Presbytery of Philadelphia, and ordained by the Northern Presbytery Reformed Presbyterian Church in 1825, and entered upon his duties at Newburgh, N. Y. He subsequently preached in Mobile, Ala. In 1835 he removed to Goshen, N. Y., as pastor of the church in that place, and connected himself with Hudson Presbytery. In 1840 he resigned this pastorate and remained without a church until 1844, when he was installed pastor of the church at Hamptonburgh, N. Y., where he preached until 1849 when he resigned. In 1854 he removed to Philadelphia, though he still retained his connection with Hudson Presbytery. In 1861 he joined Philadelphia Central Presbytery.

He resided in Burlington, N. J., where he died of general debility, June 16, 1865. He married Miss Margaret Ann, eldest daughter of Rev. Alexander McLeod, D.D., of New York.

Rev. JOHN NEIL MCLEOD, D.D., of New York, writes as follows:-" Few ministers of the gospel have possessed more of the elements of true ministerial character than James R. Johnston. He was a man of superior mind and cultivation. He was serious, devout, courteous, and dignified; an able evangelical preacher he pleased both the refined, and the less instructed and carried the Christian gentleman with him into all the relations of life. He lived a life of usefulness, was patient under much personal affliction, and died in peace with God and man when his work was done."

JOHNSTON, ROBERT*-Was born in Beaver County, Pa., August 2, 1813. The families of both his grand-parents, who were of Scotch-Irish descent, and of the "true blue" Presbyterian type, settled in western Pennsylvania at an early period of its history. His father had two brothers

This Memoir was prepared by Rev. J. M. STONE, of Henry, Illinois.

Presbyterian ministers-Robert* for whom he was named, and who labored long and successfully in western Pennsylvania, and died in New Castle, Pa., a few years ago, and Edward† who died younger.

His parents, at the time of their marriage, and for several years afterwards, were non-professors of religion; but their children were early required to commit the Shorter Catechism correctly and to attend church regularly, although the place of public worship was often six or seven miles from their home. Robert, in his early years, often walked this distance for this purpose. His father was never very successful in worldly business. He owned a farm near Chartiers, Pa., which he sold for a span of horses and a wagon, with the intention of teaming across the mountains. The farm, soon after, became valuable, but his horses died-his business plans were, for the time, all frustrated, and he, with his family, was thrown into deep poverty and trial. To add to these family troubles the father was thrown from a wagon and fractured his thigh, which rendered him a cripple for life. In view of the condition of things in the family, it may be readily supposed that the subject of this Memoir, in his early years, enjoyed but very slender opportunities for mental improvement. During the few months of his attendance at school he learned to read, to recite the Shorter Catechism, and to handle the fundamental rules of arithmetic! His penmanship he acquired standing at an old table in his mother's kitchen. Few men have ever struggled up to a noble manhood and to a mental eminence through greater obstacles than Robert Johnston.

He was early the subject of deep religious impressions. At the age of sixteen his convictions became peculiarly pungent, and continued for more than a year, during which time he lost nearly all relish for life. His sleep was broken and troubled, and it became evident to all around him that his soul was in darkness and deep affliction. An elder sister, by her tender and judicious intervention, was instrumental in leading him to peace and joy in Christ Jesus. Promptly and firmly he took his stand on the Lord's side, and by the grace of God maintained it to the end, to the edification of men and to the glory of God.

At this period of his life, and for several years after, his energies were devoted chiefly to the support of the family. This responsibility, although great and long continued, he conscientiously and heroically met. Allowing himself but little time for recreation or mental improvement, he inured himself to hard labor-to cutting cord-wood, splitting rails, to raising grain, to whatever toil might prove remunerative. These manly efforts were eventu ally crowned with success in the purchase of a farm and putting the family in comfortable circumstances. The way was now open for gratifying his long-cherished desire for a higher grade of education. Having gone rapidly through the preparatory steps, he, with his younger brother, Mervin, entered Washington College, Pa., where they both, after struggling

* A Memoir of Rev. ROBERT JOHNSTON is published in The Presbyterian Historical Almanac for 1862, pp. 100, 101.

+ REV. EDWARD JOHNSTON-The son of Robert and Jane E. Johnston, was born in Cumberland County, Pa., in 1772. His parents removing to Western Pennsylvania in his boyhood, he was educated in the Greensburg Academy, Pa., studied Theology with his brother Robert and was licensed by Erie Presbytery, October 20, 1808. He was soon dismissed to join Hartford Presbytery, which had just been organized by Pittsburgh Synod. He was called to the churches of Brookfield and Hubbardsville, and the Presbytery met to ordain and install him, but they arrived in time

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on against all untoward circumstances, were, in due time, graduated with honor. Mervin turned his attention promptly and with great zeal to the gospel ministry. But Robert still lingered under the impression that the circumstances of his father's family demanded that he should pursue some secular calling. But the Lord had other purposes in relation to him, and led him in a way that he knew not. trial. His peace, in large measure, departed from him, and a horror of He was overtaken by a great spiritual great darkness fell upon him. his past life, and drew up and signed a solemn "Covenant" before GodIn this state of mind he carefully reviewed the fourth and fifth articles of which are as follows:

"I do solemnly promise, if God will lift this load of sorrow from my heart, and once more diffuse joy and gladness through my soul, that my tongue shall speak his praise while I have any being. Satan has pierced my soul with many sorrows, and is the common enemy "And inasmuch as of all peace, I do hereby swear eternal enmity against his throne, and as God gives me ability I will invade his kingdom.'

This solemn pledge to invade Satan's kingdom" he most nobly redeemed in after life. His peace soon returning he consecrated himself unreservedly to the service of God in the ministry of reconciliation. He shortly after entered the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny, Pa., and having completed the course of study he was licensed by Steubenville Presbytery, Ohio, and soon after, in 1848, he was ordained by the same Presbytery as pastor of Corinth church, Mechanicstown, Ohio, where he remained one year. He was then called to the church in Gettysburg, Pa., over which he presided for five years, after which he received a call from the First Presbyterian Church of Peoria, Ill., where he was installed October, 1855, and where he continued to labor until his death August 19, 1864. In April, 1848, he was married to Miss Jane G., a daughter of Rev. John Waters, late of Galesburg, Ill., (one of the founders of Knox College,) who, with six children, survives him.

he then made. He was educated in Washington College, Pa., and commencing his course of study preparatory to the ministry before his brother, and at an earlier age he would necessarily have been in advance of him had he not waited for him by engaging in teaching for awhile, for such was their mutual attachment that they could not be separated. He studied Theology in the Western Seminary, Allegheny, Pa. After his licensure he preached a few months to the churches of Bethel and Madison, within the bounds of New Lisbon Presbytery, but soon received and accepted a call to the Presbyterian Church, Carlisle, Pa., within the bounds of Carlisle Presbytery, where he labored with great faithfulness, acceptance, and success till his death, which occurred, July 31, 1854.

Rev. Dr. KREBS, of New York, who also preached his funeral sermon, says, in an obituary notice published in the Presbyterian: "He was greatly esteemed for his amiable and affectionate piety, his deportment guileless, and a simplicity, purity, and innocence of character most engaging. In the pulpit he was eloquent and earnest, pressing the claims of the gospel with fidelity and great unction." And Rev. Dr. PAXTON, of New York, late of the First Church of Pittsburg, Pa., who was well acquainted with both brothers writes subsequently concerning them: "Between these brothers there existed an attachment as beautiful and tender as any it has ever been our privilege

to witness. They grew up together, studied together, married sisters, and being settled almost side by side in the ministry, they labored and prayed together, with one heart, one interest, one aim, and with such a perfect unity of spirit, and coalescence of feeling as attracted the admiration of every one who witnessed their beautiful lives. They were men of totally different characteristics, and yet this very dissimilarity seemed to perfect the interlocking of their fellowship. Mervin Johnston combined with noble and manly characteristics a tender and gentle spirit, which, with a brilliant imagination, polished rhetoric, and fine powers of delivery, rendered him a captivating pulpit orator, whilst his warm heart and unusual social attractions made him a beloved and almost idolized pastor. Robert Johnston was a strong man-clear, vigorous, and original in his lines of thought-independent and resolute in his opinions and action-faithful and courageous in the defence of the truth and in the rebuke of error or vice-terse and striking in his style, and so earnest and forcible in his delivery that he drove conviction to the heart, whilst he fully impressed his auditors with the belief that he meant and felt every word he uttered. Eut underlying all that was strong and manly in his character, was a deep undercurrent of warm tender feeling which endeared him to all who knew him well, and rendered his pastoral attentions so acceptable to the sick and sorrowing."

* A Memoir of Rev. JOHN WATERS is published in The Presbyterian Almanac for 1863, page 212.

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To any one not personally acquainted with Brother Johnston, the foregoing outline of his life would afford but a feeble and imperfect idea of what he really was as a man and a minister of Christ. He carried with him from the College and the Seminary the usual testimonials of graduation, but beyond these, no literary institution had condescended to notice him in the way of extra honors. Yet he was, in fact, one of the leading men of his time. In the judgment of the writer, who knew him well, he had few, if any, superiors, in point of influence and power in relation to all the great and commanding questions of social, civil and religious life. No man had a clearer or profounder insight into human nature, and few had a happier tact in approaching and leading men for their good. In domestic and social life he was mild and gentle as a child. But when called to meet an opponent, or to deal with a flagrant wrong-doer, he assumed the aspect of the sternest and loftiest manhood. His tones were piercing and the castigations inflicted were often terrible! No man was ever anxious to get within the reach of his broadsword a second time. He was a recognized leader in the church courts to which he belonged. Every enterprise in behalf of a sound, Christian education, of social reform and church advancement was sure of his warmest and ablest support. No man was ever left in doubt as to the position of Robert Johnston in relation to temperance, Christian statesmanship, human slavery, and loyalty to civil government. During the last ten or eleven years of his public life, he occupied a commanding position in the second city of the great commonwealth of Illinois, and when her history is faithfully written, her fair fame and genial life will be traced, in no small degree, to our brother's influence. During the recent gigantic struggle for national life he was ever the soldier's friend, the ready and able advocate of the national cause, and the stern rebuker of all open rebels and their secret adherents. Many feared him and some, perhaps, hated him for his bold, out-spoken sentiments. But with all true and loyal men, his name, like that of President Lincoln, will be ever warmly cherished. Let it be remembered that before taking a single step to advance any of his own plans for life he first, by long and arduous labor, secured a comfortable support for his aged parents and the dependent members of the family. And when he, at last, was at liberty to seek a public education for himself, he relied simply upon his own efforts for support, accepting no material aid from any source. Such an example as this is worth millions to all the youth of the land, especially to all young men who are seeking to qualify themselves for high places in Church and State.

As a preacher he was not particularly remarkable for the graces of elocution, but he possessed, in an eminent degree, many other qualities which were more than a compensation for any seeming lack in this particular, and which rendered him an efficient and powerful speaker. His heart was in his great work. He loved Christ and loved to win souls into his kingdom. Happy were they who enjoyed his stated ministrations.

His death was truly peaceful and happy. Blessed with a most amiable and intelligent wife, and with six young children looking to him for support and guidance, he, if any man, might have desired a little longer term of earthly existence. But disease and death found him ready to depart and be with Christ. He could cheerfully surrender himself, his wife and children, and his pastoral charge, into the hands of Him who had called him out of darkness into the light and life of salvation. When the last moments drew near he said, in tones just audible, "I see Mervin, and Hibben, and Marquis. waiting for my coming." Many other of his last sayings were very striking and valuable, and will be long remembered by all who

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