ing fruit-trees, so that in a few years a marvellous change was wrought in the appearance of this wild and sterile country. After instructing them in the various arts of agriculture, of which they were before totally ignorant, in 1778 he formed an agricultural so- ciety, which, in addition to providing books and in- struction on the subject, also instituted prizes for suc- cessful competition in this department of labor. His principal efforts were, however, directed to the moral and spiritual improvement of the community. His labors were all made subordinate and tributary to this one great object. On the Lord's-day he carefully in- structed them in the princiiilcs, doctrines, and duties of the Christian religion, and neglected no opportunity of improving their character, reminding them of their natural depravity, of the necessity of repentance, and the consecration of all their powers to the Saviour. His labors on behalf of the rising generation were most faithful and effective. His confidence in God was so strong that he commenced the erection of a school- house in each of the villages, although without the means necessary to defray the expenses. He firmly relied on the divine promises. Fervent in spirit and earnest in prayer, he felt that success was sure. His expectations were not disappointed. Assistance came from various directions, and tlie people cordially sup- ported him in his measures. The buildings were 'erect- ed, teachers were specially prepared for their work, and evidences of a marked change in the community were everywhere visible. The face of the country was completel)' renovated. Poverty and misery were sup- planted by rural happiness and contentment. But Oberlin, in his desire to perfect the system of instruc- tion, so as to make it beneficial to all ages, having ob- served with concern the disadvantages from which the younger children suffered while their elder brothers and sisters were at school and their parents busily en- gaged in their daily avocations, presented a plan for the organization of infant schools, the first established of which there is any record. For each village he ap- pointed a female teacher. In the exercises, amusement and instruction were blended, very much on the same principle on which these schools at the present day are con<lucted. Two women were employed in each school, one to direct the manual tasks, and the other the les- sons and amusements of the children, whose ages were from two to seven years, ^^'hcn they became weary, the teacher would exhibit and cx]ilain to them pictures relating to scriptural subjects, natural history, and geog- raphy. The children were also taught to sing hymns, and to avoid the use of the barbarous paiois which was their vernacular tongue. Thus trained, in due time they entered the higher schools, in which a more ad- vanced course of instruction was adopted. He also in- stituted Sunday-schools. The children of each hamlet assembled in rotation every Sunday in the church to sing the hj'mns and to recite the religious lessons which they had learned during the week, and to receive the counsels of their minister. Besides this meeting, all the scholars were once a week collected at Waldbach and examined in their studies. His friends at Stras- burg contributed liberally in aid of his schools, so that he was enabled to procure books fur a library, and also philosophical apparatus and mathematical instruments. At a certain period the scholars were required, each one to plant at least two trees, for the purpose of im- pressing upon the youthful mind the duty of contrib- uting something to the general prosperity. He also or- ganized in 1782, for the religious improvement of the people, a Christian Society similar to the Young Men's Christian Associations of the present day. The exer- cises consisted chiefly of prayer and religious conversa- tion. Among the regulations of the society we find one requiring the members on the first day of every month to pray for the success of missions; and another proposing that every Sunday and Wednesday, at five o'clock P.M., the members offer supplication on behalf
of all connected with the society, that they and their households may be saved; also for 'all God's children of everj' denomination, that they may be united more and more in Christ, that the kingdom of Satan may be de- stroyed, and the kingdom of God established among the heathen and nominal Christians; also for teachers and magistrates, for all pastors and laborers in the vineyard of the Lord, and for the young, that they may be pre- served from the seductive influences of wicked example, and early led to a knowledge of the precious Redeemer. Another of the rules required that every Saturday even- ing all the members should pray for God's blessing on the preached Word the following day. He also selected various mottoes and topics which he desired the mem- bers to consider and remember; among them Avere such as these, "Bring forth much fruit;" "Lose no time;" " Love not the world, neither the things of the world;" "Search the Scriptures diligently." Texts from the Bible were to be seen everywhere on the walls of his house. It was his constant aim to omit no occasion of doing good, or of impressing upon the heart and con- science important religious truths. He also established in his parish a Bible Society, auxiliary to the British and Foreign Bible Society. Stated meetings were held and collections taken for the parent institution ; the Scriptures were also read and prayer offered for the suc- cess of the cause. Female Bible societies were likewise formed, the members of which loaned the sacred volume to their neighbors, and read it to those who could not read it for themselves. His success in reconciling dif- ferences and adjusting difficulties among the people was most remarkable. So much confidence was reposed in the integrity of his character and the judiciousness of his counsels that all seemed disposed to trust his de- cisions and follow his advice. He successfully termi- nated an angry controversy which had existed for eighty years between the peasantry of Ban de la Koche and some proprietors of the territor3' in reference to the woodland which covered their mountains. The lawsuit originating from this dispute was a source of constant annoj'ance, a great drawback to their industry, and a loss to the whole community. After years of acrimo- nious conflict, the contest was abandoned on terms re- garded by both parties as advantageous. The magis- trate of the province, who had so signally failed in set- tling the controvery, was so deeply impressed with the power of the good pastor that he begged him to pre- serve in his study the pen with which the amicable agreement had been signed, as a memorial of the tri- umph which Christian virtue and principle had secured over bitter prejudices and long -continued hostilities. During the period of the French Revolution, when al- most every interest suffered, and religious worship of every kind was interdicted, this good man was unmo- lested in the discharge of his faithful duties. His house was the asylum of the persecuted and oppressed, of the many who had fled for refuge from the cruel scenes and bloody persecutions which were elsewhere enacted. All men had confidence in his integrity. His consist- ent piety, active benevolence, and untiring energy every- where made a deep impression. About this time so deeply was his heart touched by the reports in refer- ence to the wretched condition of the slave population in the AVest Indies that lie resolved no longer to use sugar or coffee, because they were the product of slave- labor ; and this resolution he faithfully kept during the remainder of his life, although its observance required the practice of great self-denial, inasmuch as from his infancy he had been accustomed to these luxuries. But he was so much under the influence of Christian princijile that, no matter how great the sacrifice, he was ever willing to make it, in obedience to his con- victions of duty. The missionary spirit, also, was so strongly awakened in his breast, as the pathetic appeals reached him from distant lands, that his heart yearned towards those who were perishing in their sins, ignorant of the glad tidings of redemption through Jesus Christ.