tier life. In his boyhood he had been posted to defend the family with his loaded musket, and had learned to face danger without a fear. Of a vigorous and sprightly turn of mind, he quickly outstripped his associates in study, although he was late in commencing his academical course, and in 1773 was graduated at Princeton. In college he had come under the notice of Smith, and in the following year, at his recommendation, assumed the charge of the new academy.

He proved himself worthy of the trust reposed in him. Funds were necessary for the new institution, and he did much in collecting them. He travelled to New England to solicit benefactions; but the period proved unfavorable for his efforts. The war intervened with its discouragements, and Mr. Graham was forced to remove the school to his own house. Yet the plan was not abandoned. Even in its then humble condition the institution was doing a good work. The late Dr. Archibald Alexander received his training here; and this fact alone would have made the institution famous if it had not had a subsequent history. At length a frame edifice was erected for its accommodation, and in 1782 it was incorporated by an act of Legislature under the name of Liberty Hall. At a still later period it was endowed by a large benefaction from President Washington, and thenceforward bore his name. The humble school first known as Augusta Academy had grown into the more imposing institution of Washington College.

At a critical moment, and not, perhaps, in the exercise of a wise discretion, Graham resigned his post in connection with the college. But his usefulness was by no means at an end. He turned his attention now to the subject of theological education, and had, for several successive years, a class of from seven to eight under his instruction. Some of these rose to high dis

tinction, and his school was, in fact, an "incipient theological seminary."

Between 1786 and 1788, both these colleges, which for a time seemed scarcely to give promise of fulfilling the hopes of their founders, were visited by a remarkable revival of religion. At Hampden-Sidney, then under the charge of Rev. John Blair Smith, who had succeeded his brother as President, religion was at a low ebb. At the time of Dr. Blythe's matriculation there was not another student in the college who made any serious profession. The celebrated Carey H. Allen was commended to him as one of the most sedate of his associates; but scarce had he formed his acquaintance before he was called to witness him in the act of burlesquing a Methodist preacher from the counter of a merchant's store. This initiatory specimen of college life augured badly for what was to follow; but, rebuked by the fearless avowal of Christian principle on the part of a classmate (William Hill) under serious impressions, he was recalled to the path of duty. And now there gathered round him a little band, nearly every one of them destined to subsequent and distinguished usefulness in the service of the Church. Among these were Allen himself, and William Calhoon, pioneer missionaries, along with Blythe to Kentucky, Clement Reed and William Hill, whose names will not soon be forgotten even beyond the immediate scene of their labors.

Great opposition was manifested by the other students to the revival. The praying and singing of the little band produced almost a riot. The evil-disposed gathered with hideous uproar, mingled with oaths and ribaldry, to drown the voice of prayer. But, in spite of opposition, the seriousness spread. Nearly half of the eighty students were brought under conviction. Prayer-meetings were held, marked with deep, silent, solemn feel

ing. President Smith himself seemed to preach with new life. Often the trunk of an old tree, fallen in the woods, served him for a pulpit, from which on repeated occasions he endeavored to deepen the impression that had already been made on the minds of those who at tended him, or whom he overtook, in his walks. Two hundred and twenty-five persons were added to the churches to which he ministered, in the space of eighteen months; while the revival extended over Prince Edward, Cumberland, Charlotte, and Bedford counties. to the Peaks of Otter.1

But the revival was fruitful in other than immediate results. Among the converted students, besides those already mentioned, were Nash Legrand, Drury Lacy, and William Williamson. The band of pious youth at this time gathered within the walls of Hampden-Sidney were destined to perform most important service in the cause of Christ.

The news of what had taken place in the institution under the charge of President Smith reached Graham, at Augusta. He scarcely needed the importunities of his friend as an inducement to hasten to his assistance. He went, accompanied by two of his students, Samuel Wilson and Archibald Alexander, to attend with Dr. Smith a three-days meeting at Briery Church, in Prince Edward county, a hundred miles distant. Their stay was protracted to a fortnight, and when they returned it was to communicate in the region of Augusta and the neighboring counties the spirit that had been already kindled in their own bosoms. Its influence was felt through Rockbridge county. Nash Legrand threw his soul, with all its ardor, into the work. A revival commenced in the Valley, and extended as far as Augusta. Several of the young men who had been intend

1 Davidson's Kentucky, p. 43; Pres. Quar. Review, vol. ii. 42--49.

ing to study for the bar were converted, and turned their attention to the ministry. Mr. Graham willingly consented to superintend their theological studies.

The result was that, under the patronage of the Synod of Virginia, a theological department was now added to Liberty Hall. In January, 1794, a building erected for the purpose was opened for the reception of students. It was the first theological school in connection with a college in America. But Mr. Graham's resignation, in 1796, gave it a serious, if not fatal, blow. The cause of theological education was reserved for future and more successful efforts.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE CAROLINAS, 1789-1800.

WHEN, in May, 1788, the Synod of New York and Philadelphia determined to constitute a General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, it was necessary, as a preliminary step, that some new Synods should first be set off; and of these the Synod of the Carolinas was one. The Presbyteries which united to form the Synod had all grown out of the old Orange Presbytery. They were now known as the Presbyteries of Orange, South Carolina, and Abingdon.

The Orange Presbytery consisted of ten members, with about three times as many churches. The ministers were Patillo, Caldwell, McCorkle, Hall, whose names are already familiar to us, and Robert Archibald, James McRee, Jacob Lake, Daniel Thatcher, David Barr, and John Beck. In the Presbytery of South Carolina, besides Joseph Alexander and Thomas Reese,

already mentioned, there were James Edmonds, John Harris, John Simpson, Thomas H. McCaule, James Templeton, Francis Cummins, Robert Finley, Robert Hall, and Robert Mechlin. The Abington Presbytery consisted of Charles Cummings, Hezekiah Balch, John Cossan, Samuel Houston, Samuel Carrick, and James. Balch. The ministers of the entire Synod numbered twenty-eight.

These occupied a territory in which, forty years previous, there was to be found but a single Presbyterian minister. Quite a number of them had passed through the scenes of the Revolutionary conflict, and remained, as far as possible, faithful to their parochial duties. Amid civil discord and scenes of strife and battle, they had seen their congregations scattered, and the seeds of military vice and license spring up to a large harvest. But a better day had now dawned. Peace had returned. The congregations were again gathered, and new churches were rapidly organized. The Presbytery had grown to a Synod. The few missionary stations had multiplied to more than a hundred,-some of them flourishing churches. A broad field to the South and West invited to yet more abundant labors, and among the ministers of the Synod there were not a few that were equal, as far as human strength will allow, to the demands of the emergency.

The newly constituted Synod met at Centre Church, November 5, 1788. In the course of the two following years, the Presbytery of South Carolina had increased its number of members by the reception of Robert McCulloch, William C. Davis, John Springer, and Samuel Houston. The names of David Kerr, from the Presbytery of Templepatrick in Ireland, and of William Moore, from Hanover, were added to the list of members of the Orange Presbytery. One of the first measures of the Synod was action on an overture for the publica