During my father's severe illness, bulletins were issued daily, both by the religious and secular press, as to the progress of his disease. After his decease, the afflictive event was noticed in all the principal papers of the country. I shall copy a few of these notices from the abundant material before me, to show in what estimation he was held by all denominations.

"The Rev. Leonard Woods, D.D., Emeritus Professor of Christian Theology in the Andover Theological Seminary, died at his residence, last evening at half past eight o'clock. From the advanced age and high official position of the deceased, he was probably more widely known throughout the Union than any other American clergyman. The students who have been prepared for the Christian ministry during the thirty-eight years that Dr. Woods has been connected with the seminary are now scattered in all quarters of the habitable globe. The young, the middle-aged, and

even the 'fathers' now in the ministry have received instruction from his lips, and will ever cherish his memory. Dr. Woods was born in Princeton, Mass., June 19, 1774. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1796, in the class with the late Hon. John Pickering and Judge Peter O. Thacher and other eminent men. After a settlement of ten years in Newbury, Mass., he was installed Professor of Theology at Andover, at which place he has since resided. In his last days, and through a painful illness, he was surrounded by troops of friends, and by his beloved children.

"A correspondent from Andover writes: 'He has been a great sufferer during his sickness, but his pains were borne with  Christian resignation. The same Gospel which he has preached and taught during a long life was his solace and support in the time of his extremity.' "

"We are pained to announce the decease of that venerable Christian patriot, Rev. Leonard Woods, D.D., of Andover, Mass., who for a long period filled a prominent professorship in the Theological Seminary at that place with eminent ability and usefulness. He died Aug. 24, 1854, of an affection of the heart, to which he had been more or less subject for many years, at the age of fourscore. He completed his eightieth year in the month

of June last. Few men have passed off the stage leaving a higher reputation for every virtue and every good work which adorn the Christian character and life. His cheerful benignity in old age, when most men are peevish, made him an agreeable companion even to the young and the gay.

"Dr. Woods united in his personal character great wisdom and piety with the most childlike and humble simplicity of manners. His heart overflowed with charity, and the words of encouragement and acts of love which he bestowed unsparingly upon others were ever accompanied by tears of tenderness which won the heart, and were the means of saving many souls. There were solemn themes to which he never could refer without emotion, and sacred names which would cause his countenance to brighten, his heart to swell, and streams of eloquence to pass from his lips." ...

"Dr. Leonard Woods was one of the illustrious THIRTY-NINE founders of this society. He put his name to the constitution fifty-six years ago this evening, and it is not known that he was ever absent from an annual meeting till God took him from us on the 24th of last August. It is certain that he presided at every public anniversary since his appointment to that office in 1822. Long has he come to our annual gatherings as the only representa-

tive of those honored pioneers in the home-missionary work..... Yet in our bereavement are we solaced with the thought that the influence of such men does not cease when they 'rest from their labors.' "

"Our thoughts are solemnly drawn to the loss of one of our oldest friends, the Rev. Leonard Woods, D.D. He was one of those who on their own responsibility called the meeting at which this society was formed. He was its oldest vice-president, and for ten years had also been president of the parent society. But his interest in our cause was of much older date. He deeply sympathized in those inquiries, consultations, and prayers of his pupils, which, combining with other influences, led to the formation of the parent society. He never, even for a time, deserted the cause he so early loved, and in his will classed it with the cause of missions, of ministerial education, and other favorite objects, by bequeathing to each a legacy, as a token of his continued regard. Is it certain that his active participation in our labors has ceased with his mortal life? Or may we believe that the privilege of promoting, by higher and holier methods that we can comprehend, the good works which he loved while on earth is now a part of his exceeding great reward?"

"We cannot close this report without reflecting that during the year death has summoned to their reward two of the most cherished officers of this society. The first is the Rev. Leonard Woods, D.D., of Andover, a vice-president of this institution. A sounder theologian, a simpler Christian, a purer philanthropist he scarcely left behind him. The Southern Aid Society lay near the heart of this great and good man. He loved the South, her bond and her free, and he longed to persuade the North to cherish a spirit of Christian kindness toward our Southern brethen. Many, many years ago, he himself projected such a society as this. He hailed the formation of our body, therefore, with great interest and delight. The views of his judgement and beatings of his heart concerning our enterprise, as recorded in our documents, his own considerate but prayerful donation, especially his hearty wish that he were able to add hundreds and thousands of dollars to our funds, we shall ever cherish as a precious legacy. Those holy feelings, those prayerful donations, man may soon forget, God never will!"