subject of Universalism. This challenge came from a Universalist preacher, by the name of Emmett, who was an old and experienced debater, and though Mr. McCready was so young and inexperienced, he felt constrained to accept it. We can assure the reader, however, that it was no spirit of rash adventure or proud self-confidence which prompted him to do so; for he was not only a person of prudent and cautious spirit, but always entertained humble views of his own abilities, and from frequent interviews with him, at that time, the writer is well aware that it was with no little diffidence and reluctance that he undertook this discussion. But the Universalists were, at that time, growing into a society in Cadiz; they were becoming proud and arrogant, and the challenge was given and adhered to with such a boastful and defiant spirit, that he believed it could not be declined without bringing reproach upon the cause of truth. Believing, therefore, that it was clearly the path of duty to accept this challenge and endeavor to vindicate the truth against the assaults of the Universalists, he went firmly forward in this path, in the exercise of an humble and prayerful reliance upon that God to whom "there is no restraint to save by many or by few. In settling the conditions of the controversy, however, it was agreed on both sides that each party should have an assistant. Accordingly Mr. Emmett chose another Universalist preacher by the name of Bacon to take part with him in the discussion, and Mr. McCready obtained the consent of his brother-in-law, Rev. John Patterson, of Londonderry, for the same purpose. The debate took place according to previous appointment near the last of February, 1858. And for an account of this interesting occasion we cannot do better than to refer the reader to the following notice which appeared the week after, in the Cadiz Republican: "A very interesting discussion came off in this place last week. It commenced on Tuesday morning and closed on Friday evening. The time occupied by the disputants was six hours each day for the first three days and on the last seven hours. The meetings were first held in the Methodist Protestant Church, but it was found too small to accommodate the audience, and the Presbyterian Church was secured. A great many persons were in attendance from a distance and a deep interest was manifested by all. The house was crowded from the commencement to the close of the discussion, and excellent order prevailed throughout. Rev. John Moffit, Rev. William Grimes, and Mr. Worthington presided. The question under discussion was: Do the Scriptures teach the ultimate holiness and salvation of all mankind?' Revs. Emmett and Bacon of the Universalist Church affirmed and Revs. Patterson and McCready of the Associate Church denied. Messrs. Emmett and Bacon are men of ability, old and shrewd debaters, and had frequently been engaged in discussions of the kind. Messrs. McCready and Patterson are comparatively young men; they have been but a short time in the ministry, and never were engaged in a discussion of the kind before, yet they sustained themselves well throughout the discussion; and the orthodox side of the question sustained no loss in their hands. It affords us pleasure to say that our own townsman, Rev. J. S. McCready, in his discussion more than met the expectations of the public. Though a young man, comparatively, he is no ordinary debater, and intellectually he stands 'a head and shoulders taller' in the estimation of this community than he did prior to the discussion.'

The above is a correct and impartial account of this important debate. It contains, however, only a negative, and, we think, hardly a full statement of the truth with regard to the success of our brethren. The fact is, that the orthodox side not only "sustained no loss," but was greatly the gainer; the truth was not only vindicated but rendered triumphant, and the assaults of the Universalists were not only repelled but they themselves

routed and overcome. Instead of gaining influence, as they expected, by this discussion, they lost the influence they previously had. Some who had professed their absurd doctrines, either from conviction or shame, now abandoned them. And, in a short time, there was no more of their preaching in Cadiz, nor did they exist there as a distinct society.

And this was not all; they had been preaching and gathering some followers in a small village, by the name of Georgetown, about six miles from Cadiz. Mr. McCready went to this place by request and delivered a course of lectures, and the result was that the advocates of Universalism were silenced, and they continued to have preaching there only one or perhaps two Sabbaths afterwards. He also lectured with similar success in Moorefield, a village about twelve miles from Cadiz. Hence, from his success in overthrowing Universalism, our brother had acquired a good degree of public notoriety and esteem among all evangelical Christians in this section of country. But the reader will err, if he supposes that this remarkable success is all to be ascribed to the power of argument in refuting the errors of Universalism; for, how often has it been clearly refuted elsewhere without silencing its advocates or destroying its influence. Nay, our brother's success is not to be ascribed to the power of argument, though powerful arguments were employed, but rather to the power of faith and prayer. The secret of his success is revealed in the following language, which we find in his Memoir: "I was challenged to debate on Universalism-I debated. I know that I felt inadequate for the task and cried to God day and night to enable me to vindicate the truth. I know God answered those prayers. Not unto me but unto God be the praise."

Mr. McCready volunteered in the service of his country August 14, 1862. This important step, we have reason to believe, was taken by him under a deep conviction of duty, after mature and prayerful reflection. He had ever regarded slavery as a crying wrong, a crime of unparalleled enormity, as "the sum of all villanies." He knew that the struggle in which our government was engaged was a struggle with the slave power of the nation, which causelessly, yea, shamelessly rebelled against the government, in order to secure the extension and perpetuation of this horrible and cruel system of wrong. The government, in its extreme need, had called for six hundred thousand men. Recruiting had been going on for some time, and had become quite difficult, and yet it was necessary to raise, at least, one company more in order to furnish to the government the quota of the county. In these circumstances he thought that he was called, in the providence of God, to devote himself and his influence to the service of the country, and to give a practical demonstration of the sincerity of his faith and profession, by sharing with others, and especially with the young men of his own charge, in the labors and perils of this bloody strife between liberty and slavery. But the reader will best judge of the views and feel. ings which prompted him to this course from the following extract, taken from a letter written by him to his congregation a little more than two months after he entered the service: "Your pulpit was not silent in regard to those sins which have convulsed the land. Nor did it give an uncertain non-committal sound, taking its cue from the dictations of party politics. It was known and read of all men.' Seven years ago, when thousands of statesmen and divines, who are now with it, were against it; it preached what it preaches to-day, and what all the pulpits are coming rapidly to preach. It had not to be impelled by divine judgments. To these truths, which I have preached to you, dear brethren, if I fall in this struggle, I am a martyr. But for their influence I had not been here. My home was as dear, my life as sweet, my congregation as near to me as others are to them. As for official promotion, I was stepping down. As for money, I am, pro

bably, losing. Besides, what is money compared with life and home comforts?

"But you and I had raised up a standard for God's truth. We stood up for its divinity. We talked-the time came to act. God demanded sacrifices in its behalf. The clergy of the South had shown how much they were willing to dare for this error-this great self-evident lie-this blot upon civilization-this outrage upon all religion and all virtue. God put the question to us: Were we willing to do and dare as much for truth, for liberty, for country? What could I reply? I may fall! your beloved sons and brothers may fall! Be it so. Our testimony in behalf of God's truth is not lost. You will reap the benefit of it in future years."

Our brother's influence was, at that time, the great means of raising the required quota of volunteers. Many young men from various parts of the county, and from other counties, enlisted under him who otherwise would not have entered the service. And many parents, in view of their sons going with him, consented for them to enlist.

The time that Mr. McCready spent in the army, before he received the fatal wound which terminated his life, was about one year and eight months. This period seems to have been the most busy portion of his active and busy life; and we trust it was spent profitably-not merely with reference to the temporal salvation of the country, but also with reference to the eternal salvation of sinners. For though he was required, as the captain of a company, to devote time and attention to military affairs, yet he was never forgetful of the fact that he sustained a more exalted and spiritual office, whose obligations were paramount; and though he deemed it necessary, for the time, to bear the carnal sword, yet he was always mindful of the fact that it was his chief business to wield the sword of the Spirit. Hence, during this period, he prepared sermons, preached on all appropriate occasions, visited and conversed with the sick, and performed every other ministerial duty, as occasion offered. It was indeed to him a painful necessity that kept him so long away from his congregation, but still his heart was not the less in his appropriate work; he endeavored to improve his time and his official influence for the promotion of the cause of God and the interests of religion in the army. During this period he kept a diary, in which we find not only an interesting account of various incidents that attracted his attention, but also many of his daily thoughts, meditations, and prayers. It reveals to us much of the hidden man of the heart. It informs us of secret communion enjoyed, and of spiritual blessings sought and conferred, to which the world is a stranger. It shows us that our brother, in the midst of the surrounding wickedness of the camp, and in prospect of the dangers of battle, often sought and found a Peniel where he wrestled with God, and no doubt "had power with him." Much, indeed, might be extracted from this diary which would be highly interesting and instructive to the reader, but it would require more space than we wish to occupy. We cannot, however, pass without presenting at least one meditation and prayer which was intensely interesting to us, and, we think, will be so to others. We present it not only as a consoling evidence of the true piety of the dead, but also as an important example for the imitation of the living:

"CAMP MARTINSBURG, VA., January 1, 1863. "I am in good health. Have been in the service since August 14, four months and sixteen days. These months have been months of mercy to me. During that time I have been fit for duty, except about two weeks. My wife, in the providence of God, was permitted to visit me and remain almost a month. Our fare has been good and our marches easy. My sick brother has got home. In a religious point of view, my lot has not been quite so

pleasant. Still I have been preserved from bringing disgrace upon the cause of God by any irregularity in my walk, and I hope I enjoy the favor of my God. Imperfect as I am, I greatly desire to say: 'Above all things thy face, Lord, seek will I.' And now I would desire, above all things, God's blessing upon myself, and wife, and friends. I deem it proper, therefore, this day, in view of my circumstances, to mark this day, by a brief prayer to God, and a dedication of myself, soul and body, to him anew, until I shall see how it will go with me.

"I, therefore, J. S. McCready, on this first of January, 1863, in the presence of God and his holy angels, in this my tent, alone, so far as this world is concerned, do again, as I have often done before, give myself, my wife, and all I have, to God, and do this day avouch the Lord to be my God in Christ. And I solemnly swear with uplifted hand to be on the Lord's side his Spirit assisting me, to be faithful to his cause, to live in his fear, and to make him my reliance in those dangers and trials of which I have reason to expect this year to be fruitful. So help me God, Father, Son, and Spirit, to keep this bond for Christ's sake, whereunto I do this day affix my hand and seal. J. S. MCCREADY, (seal.)

"And now, thou Triune God, who hast the residue of the Spirit, and without whose grace I will surely break this engagement-thou knowest that in an old church near my mother's grave, one Sabbath forenoon, I gave my youthful heart to thee. Thou rememberest the day of my espousals, when I went after thee in the wilderness. Was I insincere? was it to be seen of men? I know that as a 'wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have I departed from thee;' yea, 'I am ashamed to look up.' Be merciful to a poor sinner like me. But thou knowest I desire never to let thee go. I don't like the wicked. Am I not grieved every day with their filthy conversation here? I can't spend an eternity with them. Oh let me be with thee and with thy people, where are all delights. Oh let my soul live, and it shall praise thee. Let me and my poor wife be precious in thy sight. I hate the assembly of the wicked;' I have tried to preach the truth, I have not suffered 'the truth to fall in the streets. I have not shrunk from its defence. I preached righteousness in the great congregation, thou knowest, O Lord.' Thou hast been kind to me; I had godly parents; a comfortable childhood home; the means of education; was born free; got a good wife; have a good home; a pleasant charge; have had the strivings of thy Spirit, the word of God, the means of grace, and am, with my wife, the living to praise thee, as it is this day!" And now, O Lord, I am a soldier. This year will involve struggles and sacrifices. Do thou be my director and guide. First of all, preserve me from sin, give me communion with thee, give me an assured sense of pardon. And if thy providence shall lead, make me willing to follow. Help me in the day of trial. If I am to fall, O Lord, take me home to thyself. Give me resignation, patience, meekness, courage, assurance of God's love. But I want to live, to preach to my people, to see the end of this war, and to see the end of slavery. Oh let me live in thy sight, help me to live for thee. Be gracious to Margaret, in her loneliness, and spare me for her sake, and her for mine. Recover Robert's* health and make him useful. Bless my father, and mother-in-law, and all my friends, and all Margaret's. Bless our country and its armies. Be gracious to my company, and help me to be useful to them. O Lord, hear; O Lord, answer; O Lord, forgive, for Christ's sake. Amen!"

* His brother, Robert, volunteered near the beginning of the war, but lost his health, and was dis charged some time in the summer of 1862. He recovered his health and entered Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio.

Thus" this poor man cried, and," as we confidently trust, "the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." His Diary indeed abounds much in ejaculatory prayers and thanksgivings, indicating a high degree of spiritual-mindedness. He seems to have been eminently conformed to the Apostle's direction: "Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

It was so ordered, in the providence of God, that Mr. McCready was not called into many very severe or bloody battles: he was only in one or perhaps two small skirmishes previously to that terrible battle, commonly known as the battle of the Wilderness, when Lieutenant-General Grant commenced those battles before Richmond, in which he was wounded. This battle commenced May 5, 1864, though the regiment to which he belonged was not properly engaged in it till the day following. We have been told that when soldiers enter into those battles in which they are wounded or slain, they not unfrequently have strange or unaccountable impressions upon their minds, which seem almost like premonitions of what is to take place. I will not affirm anything of this kind in the case of our brother; he seems, however, to have entered into this battle with more than ordinary apprehensions of danger. This will appear from the following extract taken from his diary: May 6, 1864.-I write this in line of battle. There is no evasion for us. We are in for this battle, and a desperate one it is to be. Had prayers at daylight, are in plain hearing of the enemies' axes, which have been going a great part of the night, fortifying. May God protect myself and company, bless my own dear wife and friends, and give us the victory. It is my desire, if I should be killed and this should fall into the hands of friend or foe, that it be sent to my wife. Her address is, Mrs. Rev. J. S. McCready, Cadiz, Ohio."

Our brother was not mistaken in his anticipations with respect to the impending conflict. The battle that day raged with terrific fury; the maddened hosts on both sides charged against one another with fearful impetuosity, and their blood was poured out like water. The regiment to which he belonged, as we learn from his diary, made a charge about eight o'clock in the morning, but was slowly repulsed a short distance. In this charge a few of his men were wounded and captured. Some time after this, while the battle was raging not far off, he offered up the following prayer, which he has left on record in his diary, prefaced thus: "A prayer suggested by hearing our poor boys struggling with the rebel hosts on our right. Lord God of hosts, pity our poor boys, and shield them in mercy. Make their arms strong, and their hearts strong, with confidence in thee at this fearful moment. O Lord, our cause is just. Thou art with the right. We need and deserve chastening; but, O Lord, in thy great compassion, blot out our sin. May the terror of God be upon our enemies,' as in the days of old. I thank thee that I am spared after the fearful ordeal through which we have passed to-day, and that the wounded in my company are so few, compared with those of others. I humbly take this as thy work, showing that it is no vain thing to serve thee.' And thou knowest that, by leaving my pulpit, and coming out from a sense of duty, I am trying to serve thee by a public and constant avowal of my regard for thy name. O Lord, let me live in thy sight. Bless me, my wife, my country, my congregation, my friends, thy church, through Christ our Son, forever. Amen!'

Mr. McCready was soon to pass through a more severe ordeal. About six o'clock in the evening he was wounded in his left arm, between the elbow and wrist, and afterwards carried off the field, by some of his own company, weak and exhausted from the loss of blood; he was carried from four to six miles, part of the way on gum blankets and part of the way on

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