My father's attachment to his friends was ardent and unchangeable. His affection for John H. Church commenced in 1792 at Leicester Academy, and in after years grew stronger and stronger. Never shall I forget the delight of my father, manifested in every feature, when the old-fashioned "shay" containing the good man, drove up to the south door. Father and mother hastened to receive and welcome him, and show him to the seat of honor at our table.

Often as a child have I sat and gazed in that face, whose chief beauty was the expression of goodness stamped indelibly on the homely features, the forehead entirely concealed by the gray hair combed over it, and cut straight above the eyebrows. I have gazed, and wondered why my father loved this man so dearly, and, -shall I confess it?-while I gazed, I have become thankful that my father was a handsome man with beautiful white teeth, looking so attractive when he smiled as he was smiling now.

"Brother Church" was my father's loving name for this dear Christian friend. When the holy man had folded his hands for the last time, and his bereaved brother said words of respect

and affection over his inanimate body, he felt that one strong tie to earth had been sundered, -there was one more silver cord drawing him to the mansions above.

For his colleagues in the seminary my father always cherished an ardent attachment.* Brother Stuart, Brother Porter, and Brother Emerson were household names more familiar to his daughters than those of earlier and later date: Professor Porter, whom my father often compared to the beloved disciple; Stuart, who, in his zeal and impetuosity, resembled Peter; and Emerson, who, like Nathaniel, was an Israelite without guile.

Of these three, I knew and loved Professor Stuart the best. I loved to listen to my father when he talked of him, and to notice how proud he was of his colleague's acquisitions and success; how he delighted in his usefulness; how pleased to quote from his published works, even though there were shades of difference in their opinions.

The eccentricities of Brother Stuart were a source of great amusement to my father. I recollect one day, when he returned from his usual walk to the village, that he came in with a broad smile on his face. It was a raw, chilly day, and his long surtout was buttoned up his chin.

* Many letters, proving my father's devoted love to his friends, which I had copied into my book, have since been omitted, they having been introduced into the History of the Theological Seminary, lately issued.

"I met Brother Stuart in the village,"he said, "he looked pinched and blue with the east wind.

"' It's too raw for you to be out without a thicker coat,' I said to him.

"Facing suddenly about he inquired sharply,' Who made you Governor?' and not waiting for any further conversation, he walked off at a rapid pace."

There was a close friendship between them which lasted till death. On one occasion, when Professor Stuart thought my father submitted too meekly to a suggestion of a younger member of the faculty, long since deceased, he burst out,-

"Brother Woods, why don't you rebuke him?" Then, turning to the offender with ineffable scorn, he exclaimed, "Who are you that dare to talk so to your betters? You aren't fit to unloose the latchet of his shoes."

There were others too, eminent Christian men, with whom my father delighted to take sweet counsel, - Spring, Morse, Worcester, Evarts, Hewett, the two Danas, Nettleton, whose visits always gladdened my father's heart, Cornelius, Tyler, and many others, -between whom and my father were ties of Christian confidence and affection, -ties, blessed be God, which even the King of Terrors has no power to break.

Then across the water there were hearts closely bound to his, Chalmers, John Pye Smith, Wardlaw, Burder, and many more, -

men of God with whom my father had frequent correspondence, whom having not seen he loved. With all this company and the great cloud of witnesses before the throne, how delightful will it be to recount the wonderful plan by which they, and others of the human race, were saved from the consequences of their own sins! Will not the name of the crucified, glorious Saviour sound sweet in the ears of these believers?

When Drs. Reed and Matheson came from England as a deputation to the churches in the United States, we were so privileged as to entertain them for some time at our house. For these gentlemen, particularly the first, my father formed a tender attachment. As one day after another passed, this love became so closely cemented that they began to realize how painful it would be to separate.

On the morning of the day when our visitors must leave, father invited Professor Stuart, and I think also Professor Emerson, to his study for a short season of communion in prayer before they parted, probably never more to meet until they met in the presence of their Saviour.

An hour later I was in the upper hall, just going to descend, when with the word, "Hush!" a hand was laid on my shoulder to detain me.

Never shall I forget the scene I then witnessed. The stagecoach was at the door, and the parting hour had come. My father

and Dr. Reed, of whom I have previously spoken, had just entered the lower hall from the study, when, with a sudden burst of emotion, they fell on each other's neck, kissed each other, and wept aloud. Professor Stuart and Dr. Matheson then followed, and a familiar scene took place. Besides myself there were many other spectators, but I suspect not a dry eye among them.

The painfulness of the scene was a little relieved when Dr. Reed, on his way down the walk to the coach, said hurriedly, "I shall wish to visit Niagra, can't I take New Orleans on my way?"

"My dear friend, "said my father, a smile breaking through his tears, "you have little idea of the size of our country. You had better get Dr.--- to mark out your course for you. Farewell!"

From the published account of the tour of Drs. Reed and Matheson thru the country, I extract the following paragraph:-

"Happily, I was near Andover when the storm came on, and on reaching the dwelling of Dr. Woods I at once found the kindest reception, and the opportunity of relieving myself of wet garments. My arrival was the more pleasant as I met with so many of my former friends, and among them the Lieutenant-Governor Armstrong and his wife, Dr. Codman, and others....At the commencement excercises, Dr. Woods, who presided, looked to me to offer the concluding prayer and benediction. The people showed

that they could unite the spirit of true devotion with the avocations of the day...The silence was affecting. It gave to our last acts solemnity.

"On returning to Dr. Woods's we found ourselves in the bosom of a large and affectionate family circle. We closed our intercourse with an act of domestic worship, which was delightfully solemn, and then sought repose from the fatigues of the day. Though thus hasty, I know of no visit that has been more delightful. The Woods family is full of sweet, natural affection. Dr. Woods is greatly blessed in his children, and they in their father. On every side, indeed, there was an overflow of kindness, and the remembrance of Andover will be sweet and sunny to me!"

One incident connected with my father's friendship and correspondence with Dr. Wardlaw, of Edinburgh, I must relate:-

When my father's published works were ready for distribution, he sent one of the first sets to this valued friend. In due time he received an answer which gave him great pleasure. Dr. Wardlaw wrote that upon receiving the packet, he gazed upon the engraved likeness of my father, in the first volume, with considerable surprise. Suddenly, he started off with it to his wife and family. Covering the name, "LEONARD WOODS," at the bottom, he held the picture before them. "Why, how good!" "It is perfect!' "When did you have it taken?" were questions eagerly and smilingly asked by one and another. It was afterwards frequently

remarked by mutual friends, that the likeness between Dr. Wardlaw and my father was very remarkable.

The ardor of my father's affections gave a coloring to his whole character. No one could witness his warmth of greeting, his kindling eye, and animated features on meeting a friend, without feeling convinced that his heart was in the right place.

On his letters to us I find continual reference to loved and esteemed friends:-

"I have just had the gladness of heart to meet with Dr. John Rice, from Virginia. He and his wife received me with open arms. I hope that they will return with me and make us a visit."

"Saw and conversed with Brother Nettleton, truly a man of God. Had precious communion with him. He will spend some days with us next week."

"Had to-day the pleasure of dining with my esteemed friends, Drs. Miller and Alexander, from Princeton. I have invited them to go up to Andover, which they will probably do on Saturday. Their engagements forbid a long stay. The meetings of the board are very interesting. Pray for us and for the missionaries."

"We have just had a precious privilege in the visit of Joseph John Gurney, and English Quaker, who has published an excellent treatise on the Sabbath. He came to our house accompanied by Mr. Boyce, a gentleman of his own denomination, from Lynn. It is delightful to think that we shall have the friendship and society

of many such men in heaven. It warmed and animated my heart to talk with this holy man."

My father's attachment to his friends is also exemplified in his intercourse with Samuel Abbott, Esq., one of the founders of the seminary, who endowed the professorship of Christian theology, and nominated my father to fill it. At the funeral of this worthy man, he said,-

"I owe it to the memory of my patron and friend to declare that I have considered it one of the most precious privileges of my life to enjoy his paternal affection, and to be near him in his feeble and languishing state."

Of Dr. Morse he thus speaks in his sermon at the installation of his successor:-

"You are to take the place of one with whom I have been intimately connected in the most important transactions of my life; who has been endeared to me by a thousand acts of friendship, and whom I would never cease to love and honor."

In his address to his pupils he sums up his counsels in these two maxims:-

"First of all, both in regard to your own personal welfare and to your usefulness in the service of Christ, I urge upon each one of you the importance of making high attainments in holiness; also the Christian duty of loving one another with pure hearts fervently. Be of the same mind. Be perfectly joined together in the same

judgement; and whether you live in the same neighborhood or country, or in distant parts of the world, strive by mutual sympathy, by brotherly correspondence, and by intercessory prayer to alleviate each other's sorrows, to encourage each other to persevering fidelity, and in all respects to promote each other's welfare. The Lord grant that you may know the happiness of being thus united in love.

"The remembrance of you, and my intercourse with you, will always be a source of pleasure to me. It is the desire of my heart and my prayer to God, that you may grow in grace, that you may see the prosperity of the church, and that the peace which Jesus gives may be yours in life and death. And if you and I may at last have a place among the holy and happy in the kingdom of God, how sincerely shall we ascribe our salvation to the praise of the glory of his grace!

"Finally, brethren, farewell. 'Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.'

"LEONARD WOODS."