CHAPTER XII.

INDEFATIGABLE LABOURS, AND GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT.

TUESDAY, January 26, 1819. Mr. Stanford preached two sermons in the City-Hospital, and afterwards visited all the wards, and had some agreeable conversation with a man whom the Lord had converted from the delusions of the Roman Catholic Church. He said, "O! Sir, I for ever renounce the Church of Rome; now Jesus is all my hope; he is my physician for soul and body."—" Heard of the happy death of a magdalen, to whom, for several months, I have administered the gospel; and in the afternoon preached twice in the State-Prison. This was a day of mercies."

Tuesday, February 2d, he went to Bellevue to meet the Corporation on subjects of interest to the AlmsHouse and Penitentiary; and afterwards visited a sick lady, who informed him, that she and her husband attended a course of his lectures more than twentysix years before, and that the Lord, through his means, had brought them both to a knowledge of himself.

In the month of August he attended "The Hudson River Association," and opened the session by preaching a sermon from Acts xxviii. 15. He was afterwards unanimously elected as moderator, and presided during the deliberations of this body, with his usual dignity and ability.

Tuesday, the 31st, he visited the two upper wards of the City-Hospital, and preached twice. At four o'clock in the afternoon, by request of the governors and physicians, he performed divine service in the

232 THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO LUNATICS.

lunatic department. The unfortunate inmates behaved with the greatest decorum, and the occasion was one of deep interest.*

"Lord's day, September 12th. Began the duties of this day under great conflict of mind. In the morning preached at the City-Hospital. Rode to Bellevue and officiated with some freedom in the chapel, and to the blacks in the Penitentiary. In the afternoon, again in the chapel; and in the presence of the congregation, I examined the children in their catechism, whose answers gave great satisfaction to the assembly."

Monday, the 27th, Mr. S. made several profitable visits to out-door patients, two of whom were near death. One of these, aged about twenty, received her first serious impressions under the ministry of Mr. Stanford, and died in the triumphs of faith.

Adjoining the City-Hospital is a considerable building, which, on June 15, 1808, was appropriated for the reception of lunatic patients. A few years after this, it was mentioned to the Governors of the Hospital, that if divine service could be performed, and an instructive, consoling discourse delivered once a week to the more tranquil of the patients, the compassionate Saviour might be pleased to accompany the effort with his blessing. To this recommendation they very cordially acceded, and on the afternoon of August 31st, 1819, the intended service commenced.

About forty of the most composed of the patients were assembled, and several of the governors, the physicians of the house, and the superintendent of the Hospital attended on the occasion. The patients conducted with great propriety, and many, of their own accord, kneeled while prayer was offered, and several expressed their thanks at the close of the service.

To a service of this kind, performed in a Lunatic Asylum, some medical gentlemen have objected, that it had a tendency to discompose the minds, and increase the malady of the patients. Such unfavourable effects may indeed be produced by injudiciously selecting those subjects which are of an alarming and perplexing nature, but the gospel announces the Saviour's power and grace, "To bind up the broken in heart, and to heal all their wounds."

For every affliction to which sinful man is heir, there is a remedy in the gospel of Christ. Luke iv. 18.

"Earth has no sorrow which heaven cannot heal."

So far, therefore, from the gospel being injurious to a lunatic, it is heaven's great Catholicon, provided by the great Physician for the disconsolate.

MR. STANFORD'S LABOURS APPRECIATED.

233

Thursday, 21st. This day Mr. S. visited the Bridewell, and found that Brown, the Catholic, sentenced to be executed on the following day, had rejected his priest, crucifix, beads, &c. and was much concerned for the salvation of his soul.

On the following morning he went to the cell of the condemned man, and preached to him Jesus, the only Saviour of sinners. At twelve o'clock the prisoner's chains were removed, and he was brought into the yard, where, in the presence of a solemn multitude, Mr. Stanford delivered an appropriate address, and prayer; after which the procession moved forward to the place of execution.

In the month of November, Mr. Stanford was unanimously elected a MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY OF THE NEW-YORK HOSPITAL. This furnishes another evidence of the high estimation entertained of his private and public character.

"31st. Through divine mercy," says Mr. S. "I have been assisted to preach this month, fifty-six times." And at the close of the month following, he remarks-" Amidst hopes and fears, pleasures and pains, the Lord has enabled me to preach forty-nine sermons." And again, on the 31st of December"Thus the Lord hath helped me yet another year, amidst numberless infirmities, and enabled me, during the year just closed, to preach five hundred and fortyseven times."

That the public services of Mr. S. were highly appreciated, will appear from the following vote of . approbation,

"At a meeting of the Governors of the New-York Hospital, first month, (January) 4th, 1820.

"A report was received from John Stanford. On motion, resolved, that the report be accepted, and that the assiduity and attention of John Stanford to his ardous, religious, and benevolent duties, meets

234

SIX SERMONS PREACHED IN ONE DAY.

with the cordial approbation of this Board; and the Secretary is directed to furnish him with a copy of this minute.

"Extract from the minutes,

April 14th, 1820. Mr. S. visited, and gave a discourse in the men's hospital at Bellevue. This was an affecting occasion. Criples of almost all ages, from the child of ten, to the hoary head of fourscore years. One man came from the next room, crawling on his hands and knees, having lost both his feet. All were solemn, and some inquired what they must do to be saved. After this he visited and prayed in several wards, in one of which he spent some time in conversation with a pauper, seventy-three years old, who was hardened in sin. A woman, at the great age of ninety-eight years, gave good evidence of her discipleship, and love to Jesus Christ. After visiting the female hospital, he preached in the Penitentiary, and examined the boys in their catechism. Then gave a discourse to the lunatics, and finished the arduous duties of this day, with an examination of the school.

On the 21st, he remarks-" It was gratifying to see with what pleasure my poor people received this day's visit. In every ward, the Bible was put into my hands for reading, and in prayer they were seriously engaged."

August 27th. This day Mr. S. preached no less than six sermons in six different places, to several of which he was under the necessity of walking.

Friday, September 15th. He preached five times at Bellevue, and attended two schools, besides visiting and praying with the sick. After this, he rode to the State-Prison to see George Vanderpool, but he had taken wing for heaven.

NARRATIVE OF GEORGE VANDERPOOL.

235

The following brief extract from the narrative of the life and death of George Vanderpool, is so truly interesting, that we shall present it to the reader.

When criminals, doomed by the laws of their country to an ignominious death, are brought to repentance, and obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, the joy of angels finds its counterpart in the heart of every good man. This was verified in the case of George Vanderpool, a young man of colour, who, with Ishmael Frazer, was, on December 4th, 1815, condemned to be executed for the crime of arson, or, the burning of an inhabited dwelling-house in Washington-street.

From a memorandum which Mr. Stanford received from Vanderpool, in his own hand writing, it appears that he was born free, in the year 1795. His father died when he was eight years of age, and he was kept at school by his mother until he was twelve. His mother was a very pious woman, and made a practice of taking him with her to church. In this habit he continued, until the fatal period when he became the victim of abandoned associates, from whom he learned the demoralizing practice of gambling. This, he confessed, was the principal means of introducing him to a desperate gang of men, in connection with whom he eventually committed the crime for which he was condemned to suffer an ignominious death.

"The day after sentence was passed upon these two criminals," says Mr. S. "the Sheriff accompanied me, to take the ministerial charge of them. The outer-door of the prison which leads to the condemned room being opened, I heard the piercing cries of men, imploring mercy from God. I found them chained to the floor, and their faces greatly distorted by an guish. After the Sheriff had informed them of the intention of my visit, they renewed their lamentations so violently, that it was difficult for me to address them. As I was leaving the room, George wrung