CHAPTER XXIX.

Mr. Marks' Labors in the cause of Christian Education, &c. in Ohio and New Hampshire, from July 1842, to Nov. 1844.

Mr. Marks gave a lecture by request in Hamburg, on the 4th of July, on the duty of voters. This subject, as well as temperance, education, &c., he always treated very religiously, and enforced its practical obligation by arguments drawn directly from Scripture. He usually selected a text, and conducted the services in the same manner as any meeting of religious worship. Often these occasions were melting, solemn seasons. After the close of the lecture, he rode to Buffalo, met his companion returning from Canada, and with her proceeded on his way to his field of labor in Ohio.

July 13. He preached in Cherry Valley, and next morning, in company with Elder Ransom Dunn, (who had been instrumental in engaging his services for the Western Reserve Education Society,) continued his journey to Chester, Geauga county, nineteen miles east of Cleaveland, the place the society had in view in which to locate their Seminary. July 15, the society convened. They had no funds to meet the expenses of an agent, and but extremely limited collections could be immediately made. The churches among which they were going to send their agent were many of them but recently organized, small, comparatively poor, mostly without meeting houses, and able to sustain preaching but a part of the time. Mr. Marks, with his usual self-sacrificing spirit, changed the terms of his services. He had stipulated to receive his pay quarterly from the society, in order to meet his expenses; but now he agreed to wait till it could be collected from the subscription he might raise for the society. In addition to the agency, he accepted the appointment of Corresponding Secretary. It was also decided to open the school immediately at Chester. The directors pur

chased eighty acres of land, designed for a manual labor farm, at a cost of $1593, which was paid for with a part of $2159, which had been subscribed in Chester, and $100, relinquished by the Freewill Baptist Education Society in New England, from the bequest of Mr. Luke Philbrick, of Chester.

Mr. Marks spent several days in getting the school into operation. Subscriptions for between twenty-five and thirty scholars were obtained, the services of brother Asahel Nichols were secured as teacher for a short season, and the school was immediately opened in the Free-will Baptist chapel. Mr. Marks then visited Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Branch, at that time teachers of Farmington

Academy, for the purpose of engaging them as permanent teachers in Chester. They removed to Chester the February following, took charge of the school at the commencement of the third quarter, which charge they have ever since retained. They have been very faithful, laborious, and self-denying in their efforts, and have seen many of their pupils converted.

In the month of August, Mr. Marks, after removing his family to Oberlin, commenced a tour through the churches connected with the Ohio and Pennsylvania yearly meeting. The Education Board had resolved that the subscription should be opened to articles of all kinds that are bought and sold, except slaves and intoxicating drink, or such things as would make the reception a violation of principle. The following brief account of the agent's labors till the last of January, 1843, is taken from an article published in the Morning Star.

One

"In the month of August, 1842, I commenced a tour through the churches belonging to the Ohio and Pennsylvania yearly meeting, and in three weeks visited and preached with twenty churches, and raised a subscription of $2007,85. Not the first word of opposition did I hear from a single individual in these churches. *** In Pennsylvania, the most sanguine expectations were more than realized; for, notwithstanding the churches were nearly all new, small, and poor, there was, according to their ability, a greater liberality among them than among the churches in Ohio, for in twenty-seven churches that were visited, $1298. were subscribed. Indeed, in some instances, poor females that had large families, came forward with tears, and wished to subscribe a dollar per year to be paid in knitting. Others wished to subscribe on condition that health would permit, and others on condition that they could pay their subscriptions without distressing their dependents. brother subscribed ninety dollars, his wife ten dollars, to be paid in knitting, and his eldest daughter, fourteen years of age, ten dollars more, to be paid in the same way. But when I understood that this brother was worth but about $800. my heart was touched, and I said to him, that I feared he had been excited, and had subscribed too much, and I would allow him, if he chose, to lessen his subscription. He replied, 'No, brother, I have not subscribed too much. For years, I have trembled at the increased corruption of political parties, which threatens our country with the subversion of all its liberties. No ray of light or hope has dawned on my mind until the subject of a sanctified education was introduced. Here there is light, hope, and prospect. What I have subscribed is not all I intend to do, if the Lord prosper me.' This brother had right views of the subject. O that our churches were filled with such men. On the 18th of January, 1843, I finished a tour through the

Ohio Northern yearly meeting, which had occupied seven weeks, having preached to about sixty churches on the subject of education, and raised a subscription of $4770. Total in the two yearly meetings, $10,579.* More than one half of this subscription is payable either in cash or its equivalent, and it is probable, according to the usual failures in subscriptions, cost of collection, transportation, &c., that not more than one-third, or at most, two-fifths need be deducted from this sum, to get the amount which will be actually returned to the Society over and above all expenses, losses, failures, &c. It is also probable that a foundation is laid for increased subscriptions every year, not only from those whose hearts God may yet enlarge, but also from converts that will be added to our churches. Eighteen building lots have been rented by the Institution for ten years, to individuals intending to erect small private or family boarding houses the present year."

The following are extracts from his letters written to his companion during these labors:

*

"FAIRFIELD, Pa. Sept. 16.

I have travelled eleven miles this morning, and for the first two hours busied myself in reciting the rules of my Latin grammar. My health is about as usual, except my bronchitis is better, much better, while there is an increase of the weakness of my stomach, and of exhaustion upon exercise. I feel that I hold my life on a slender thread, and its continuance is on probation. Sometimes I think I will return home and attend to my health, to the neglect of every thing else. Then again, I seem to think I am foolish, and easily alarmed, so that what would be nothing to another, affects my weak nerves. But, blessed be God, there is a home, sweet home, the eternal rest of the redeemed, where loved ones will part no more, and where sickness will be a stranger.

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*

Sept. 13, I am now through visiting the churches of the Crawford quarterly meeting. There are eight in all. I have visited six. I attended a session of their quarterly meeting last Saturday and Sabbath at Deer Creek. My mission was kindly received. I preached three times on the Sabbath, and three or four professed to be converted Sabbath evening.

Huron Village, November 28. I am now at the house of

one of the richest men in this part of the country, and till seven months since one of the wickedest men. Then a fit of sickness brought him to repentance, which he has lately confessed for the first time. Brother Cand myself are, this night, probably

* A part of this subscription was payable in annual installments for the ten ensuing years.

the first ministers that were ever invited into his house, and this evening probably the first vocal prayer was made under his roof. We have had a very good quarterly meeting. [Lake Erie quarterly meeting.] This evening, eleven came to the anxious seat, one of whom found peace."

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Toward the last of December, Mr. Marks returned home. He had discovered a bloating in his limbs, which a physician, whom he consulted, said was merely a result of the debility of his system. He wrote:

"New Haven, Huron Co. Jan. 2, 1843. Through the goodness of the Lord, I am in usual health, except the bloating of my limbs, which I think increases a little. I hope, however, that it is but the result of the inactive state of my system, from which I hope to recover when my nerves become strengthened. My medicines, I think, are producing a good effect. My stomach is certainly much stronger, and acidity is almost a stranger to it. The difficulty in my throat has entirely disappeared. Ŏ, dear companion, thank the Lord with me for these favorable omens, and yet let us be prepared for whatever chastening the Lord may be pleased to send upon us, remembering that whom he loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Yesterday, I preached three times to crowded congregations, and had very good seasons. Twenty-two came forward and kneeled for prayer, nearly all of whom spoke. Eighteen of these and fortytwo others [professors] covenanted to kneel and pray three times a day for a year. I think a revival will follow. I commenced the year by a new consecration of myself to God, and a renewed promise to live by my good rules and resolutions. Perhaps this year may make an inroad in our happy family, but I trust we are all like minute men, and shall be ready when our Lord shall call.

I am, as usual, busy, very busy. How is it that I always have my hands full? When I think I will do less, and, for the recovery of my health, live easy, it is true, as you have often told me, I do not know how. Infinite toils are needed in this wicked world, and as I see that a little labor here, and a little labor there will do good, I feel a sort of uncontrollable, impelling power, urging me on, and before I am aware, I am loaded with cares and responsibilities."

"Grand township, Marion quarterly meeting, Jan. 5, 1843. * The day after mailing my last letter to you, I went to Bucyrus; and as my limbs were swollen the night before worse than I had ever seen them, I called on a physician, to learn whether I had the dropsy. In answer to my questions, he said I had no symptoms of dropsy, though my debility, if not removed, might, in two or three years, terminate in either dropsy or consumption. He said my liv

er is very inactive, and the bloating of my limbs proceeds from the inactive state of my blood. He thought the course of medical treatment I was pursuing, as directed by Dr. Vanort, would cure

me.

January 8. We have had a good quarterly meeting; my health improves. In twelve days and twenty hours, I hope to see my dear family in my sweet home; yet, if disappointment awaits me, may the Lord prepare me for it.

Your more than ever affectionate husband,

D. MARKS."

About the last of January, Mr. Marks suspended for a few months his travels for the Western Reserve Education Society, and made arrangements for the commencement of his studies at Oberlin. He engaged to preach statedly with four churches, two of them eight miles, one of them nine, and the other twenty miles from Oberlin, spending with them about three days in a week, including the Sabbath. These churches were to raise $300, per year for his support. At the commencement of the term of the Oberlin Institute, February 1, 1843, he joined a class, and began anew his study of the Latin and Greek languages, preaching according to his engagements, occasionally holding other meetings in adjacent neighborhoods, and superintending the building of a small house. He was not only able to go on with his class, but, even under these circumstances, his health rapidly improved. Formerly, when he travelled, as night came on, he had laid his book aside, except when the full moon shone, but now he adopted the expedient of carrying a lantern, and studying by its light, as he returned from his evening meetings. Three months thus passed very happily with him in his studies and labors. Indeed, he seemed to enjoy life exceedingly. He had, in the mean time, from different sections, many and urgent calls; but, with a perseverance unexampled in his former history, he was enabled to say "No," a word he often remarked he had never before learned to say. One of these, however, notwithstanding his strong resolution, made him pause. It was a call from the Trustees of Strafford Academy, in New Hampshire, written in their behalf by Elder Place. The Institution was so involved that it was feared it would be lost. He wrote the following reply:

My Dear Brother :

Yours of the 27th ult., directed to Chester, was received yesterday at this place-the place of my fixed residence for a number of years, if I live. I must answer your letter briefly, as I have to attend to study ten hours to-day, and besides have to travel eighteen miles to the