On Westen's return for a third missionarv tour, begun June 29, 1722, he found a great awakening among the
young people of his charge. They clamored for educa- tiiin and read the IJible. The population of certain places which he had not previously visited were, how- ever, bitterly hostile. At Sinmen tlie people had threat- ened to take his life; but when he preached to them, they were subdued and won. On the rock Overhalden lived a population of 283 souls who never came into the valleys, and who had never been visited by a preacher of the Gospel. When they heard that Westen intended to visit them, they were seized with mortal terror, and lield a magical mass to deter him ; but he came and gained their good -will and submission to the Gospel. Similar experiences awaited him in Snaasen, where he remained two months, and, after his return to Trond- hjem, in May, 1723, in Stordalen and Merager, in the immediate vicinity of that centre. He purposed visit- ing the Finns, also, who dwelt within the bounds of the diocese of Christiania, but was hindered by its bishop. In 1725 the district of Salten contained 1020 newly con- verted Christians, and that of Finmark 1725.
During these years Westen wrote many works in the interest of his mission, chiefly of a practical nature. A historv of the Finnish-Lapp mission was completed, but has never been published, and is now probably lost. His last days were troubled with poverty. He died April 9, 1727, leaving behind him a widow who had been a helpmeet for him indeed, and continuing to live in the recollection of the people whom he had served as "the lector who loved the Finnish man." See Acta Hist. Eccles.iu,\ni; v, 922; x, 867; Hiigstrom, Z>e- scription of Lapland (German ed. 1748); alsoRudelbach, in Knapp's Christnterpe (1833), p. 2d9-S80 ; and Ham- mond, Nord. Missionsgesch. (Copenh. 1787). — Herzog, Real-Encyklop. s. v.
Westeras (orVesteras),a town of Sweden, cap- ital of the laen of Westmanland, sixty miles west-north- west of Stockholm. An imperial diet was held here in 1527, in which the Protestant controversy was brought to a crisis. Liberty was granted for the " preachers to proclaim the pure Word of God," a Protestant definition being coupled with this phrase. The property of the Church, with the authoritv to regulate ecclesiastical af- fairs, was delivered into the hands of the king. The Protestant churches retained their revenues, and the ec- clesiastical propert}' fell, for the most part, to the posses- sion of the nobles. See Fisher, Hist, of the Reformation, p. 176.
Westergaard, Niels Ludwig, a Danish Oriental- ist, was born Oct. 27, 1815, at Copenhagen, where he also commenced his linguistic studies, which he continued from 1838 to 1839 at Bonn, Paris, London, and Oxford. From 1841 to 1844 he travelled through India and Per- sia, and after his return was appointed in the latter j'ear professor of Indian philology at Copenhagen, where he died, Sept. 9. 1878. Of his writings we mention. Radices LimjiKB Sanscritm (Bonn, 1841) : — Sa7iskrit Formlaere, together with Sanskrit Laesehor/ (Copenh. 1846). He also published the critical edition of the Zendavesta (ibid. 1854) -.—and tlie Bundehesh (ibid. 1851). His two treatises De aldste Tidsniin i den indkke Ilistorie and Buddhas Dodsaar (ibid. I860) have been translated into German (Breslau, 1862). (B. P.)
"Westerlo, Eilardus, D.D., the successor of Theod- orus Frelinghuysen in the Reformed Chfirch of Albany, was born in Groningen, Holland, in 1738, his father, Rev. Isaac Westerlo. being pastor of the Church at that place. Consecrated by his parents from his early boyhood to the ministry, after spending six years at the Latin school of Oldenzaal he entered the University of Groningen at the age of sixteen ; spent six full years in preparation for his holy office ; and at twenty-two was admitted to its vows in 1760. Just at that time he unexpectedly received and accepted the call to Albany ; was installed as pastor of the Church in jNIarch, and arrived in the autumn of that year in the city where he spent his min- isterial life. About eight years after coming to Albany
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he fell into a state of religious despomlency, which proved to be au eventful period of his spiritual life. Kelief came only with much prayer and struggle of soul, but it seemed like "life from the dead." In 1775 he married the widow of Stephen Van Kensselaer, pa- troon of the manor of Renssplaerwyck, and resided with her at the manor-liouse until \7Si, when they removed to the parsonage on Broadway. Dr. John H. Living- ston's wife was the sister of Mrs. Westerlo. The rela- tionship between these two eminent clergymen grew in strength and usefulness with their years and services for Christ's kingdom. Both of them were ardent sup- porters of the independence of the American Church from that of Holland, and were known as peace-makers and leaders during all the strifes which ended in the triumph of their principles. Both of them were ecpialh' l)(ild and influential patriots during the Kevolutionary War. AVhen Burgoyne was moving towards Albany in 1777, Dr. Westerlo took his family to a place of safety, but came back to his home, directed his cliurch to be opened, and held daily religious services for a week, with fervent prayers for the army and animating ex- hortations to those who remained in the city. Dr. Liv- ingston aided him in these patriotic services, which con- tinued until the surrender of Burgoyne and his army. When Washington visited Albany in 1782, Dr. Westerlo delivered the address of public welcome. Until 1782 he preached only in the Dutch language, and at his death stated services in that tongue ceased in his church. But at the period named he began to preach on a part of each Sunday in English, and continued to do so with acceptance until Dr. Bassett became his colleague, in June, 1787, about three years before his own decease. He was a man of tine personal presence, mild and jjer- suasive in manner, yet dignified and commanding. He was beloved b\' his own people, and a favorite in the community among all denominations of Christians. An excellent classical and theological scholar, he was fa- miliar with the best learning of his times. He wrote well in Hebrew and Greek, and president Stiles of Yale College, with whom he corresponded, said tliat he wrote Latin with greater purity than any man he ever knew. He left a Hebrew and Greek lexicon, prepared ajiparent- ly for publication, in his own neat manuscript. Among his papers was found an interesting autobiography, writ- ten in Dutch, up to Jlay, 1782, and in English up to Dec. 4, 1790. This work, he says, was written " for his own edification and the remembrance of God's mercies." During his last illness, a brief period of despondency was followed by the most cheerful and hai)py serenity of soul. " His people came from all jiarts of the city to see him when he was near his end, and he left them with his blessing in such a solemn manner that it was thought he did as much good in his death as in his life." He will ahvaj's be remembered among the great and good ministers of the Church of his fathers. He died Dec. 26, 1790. " So omnipresent was his religion, so engrossing his piety, that his habitual state of mind seemed to be 'one continued prayer,' and his life 'one unbroken offering of praise.'" See Rogers, Historical iJiscouise, p. 31, 32 ; Corwin, Manual of the Ref. Church, p. 2(j.5. 2()6 ; Sprague, A uiials of the A mer. Pulpit, ix, 29- 31. (W.J.R.t!)