"Westbrook, Corneliu.s D., D.D.. an early and distinguished minister of the Reformed (Dutch) Church, was a descendant of both Puritan and Huguenot stock. His father was a Revolutionary soldier; his mother died in his infancy. He was born at Rochester, Ulster Co., N. Y., in 1782; graduated at Union College in 1801; studied theology with Dr. Theodoric Romeyn, and was licensed in 1804 by the Classis of Albany. He was settled at Fishkill, N. Y., twenty-four years (1806-:
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30). Then for three years he was the first editor of the Christian fHtelliffencei; y\hich had just been established as a weekly paper in place of the old Monthli/, tlie " Magazine of the Ke formed Dutch Church." After this he became rector of the grammar-school of Rutgers College in 1833 ; but returned to the pastorate in 1836 at Cortlandtown, N. Y., where he remained fourteen years (1836-50), and then retired from active service to Kingston, N. Y., where he died in 1858. Dr. West- brook was in every respect a man sui (jeneris. He was original in thought, speech, writing, and action. He stereotyped nothing — for he could never be anything but himself. He was learned and scholarly in liis tastes, but could never endure rigid system, nor follow in the tracks of others. His mind was quick, intuitive- ly springing to conclusions which others reached only by slow reasonings. His intellect and heart and will all acted impulsively, and often at a white heat. He studied topics, not treatises and systems. His preaching was moulded in the same way, by generous and noble impulses, by large views nf truth, by intense and fervid conceptions, anil liy the genius which often shone in his illustrations anil peculiar modes of expression, as well as by the piety which warmed his childlike heart. In prayer also he was himself, natural, trustful in God, reverential, and devout. At the grave of VV'ashington among the veterans of the War of 1812, whose chaplain he was, he prayed so that no eye was dry in that as- sembly of gray-haired heroes. His social qualities were unique and attractive. He. was a Nathanael in whom there was no guile, but he was also as cheerful and happy and exuberant as a boy. His heart never grew old. " He was always a boy." His pupils, parishioners, and friends loved him just because he was Dr. West- brook, unlike any one else, and always genial, gentle, great-hearted, honest, simple-minded, single-eyed, and unselfish, full of S3'mpathy for the weak and suffering, full of generosity and labors for the cause of Christ. His very frailties grew out of the simplicity of his large nature, and doubtless they added much to his experi- ences of the grace of God. See Corwin, Manual of the Ref. Church, p. 264, 265. (W. J. R. T.)
Westbrooks, James M., a Southern Methodist Episcopal minister, was born March 10, 1827. He pro- fessed conversion in his twentieth year; began preach- ing in 1852; and in 1853 was received into the North Carolina Conference, wherein he labored faithfully until compelled to retire from active service by severe ill- ness a short time previous to his death, which occurred Jan. 28, 1856. Mr. Westbrooks possessed a fervent but unobtrusive piety, and, though smitten down in the morning of life, he left abundant evidence of his ability as a preacher, his diligence as a pastor, and his consis- tency as a Christian. See Minutes of Annual Confer- ences of the M. E. Church, South, 1856, p. 694.
Westcott, Lorenzo, a Presbyterian minister, was born in Southern New Jersey, and belonged to a large connection known in that part of the state. He was a graduate of Princeton College and entered the Theolog- ical Seminary in 1852, where he remained three years and graduated. He was ordained in Green Avenue Presby- terian Church, Hrof)klyn,L. I.,and was installed pastor of the Church at Warrior Knn, Pa., in 1859. He was called to a professorship in Lincoln University in 1865, and remained at that post until transferred to a professor- ship in Howard University. He was deeply interested in the education and elevation of the colored race iu this country, and- gave to this important matter his stores of learning and unceasing labors. He died at Germantown, June, 1879. See Preshyteriaii, June 14, 1879. (W. P. S.)
"Westcott, Williani Augustus, a Presbyteri- an minister, was born in Orange Comity, N.Y., in 1814. After receiving an academical education, including the languages, he became a clerk in a mercantile house in New York city. While thus employed he united with
the Church, and soon after turned his attention to the ministry;»but not being able to bear the expense of an education, he studied medicine. He was, however, dis- satisfied, feeling it his duty to preach. His way was opened to enter Princeton Seminar}', wliich he did in 1841, and spent there two years in study. On Ajiril 17, 1845, he was licensed to preach, and for some time sup- plied the pulpit of the F Street Church, Washington, D. C, and afterwards that of the Church of liamapo, N. Y. He was ordained an evangelist by the Hudson Presbj'tery, and was called to the Church at Florida, where he was installed pastor in 1849. Here he labored eleven years with marked success. At the dissolution of the pastorate he was called to the Church at IJloom- ingburg, where he was installed in 1868. After laboring here three years, he was called to the Centreville Church, and he remained here until he died, Feb. 23, 1876, be- loved and regretted by all. (W. P. S.)