their religion is another and a very different thing. That Mr. Taggart never abandoned the religion of his fathers his life attests; that he rejected their theological system, is true; and it is also true, that he never was more faithful to the religion of his fathers than when he gave up their theological system, for he gave it up, because, as he conscientiously believed, reverence for the Divine word and obedience to the Divine will commanded and compelled him so to do; and reverential obedience to the word and will of God surely was the essential element in the religion of his fathers, as it is in the religion of all devout Christians.

It is no light thing for a young man to depart from the theological opinions in which he has been educated, and which have become almost sacred to him through their association with the church and the home. When and how was Mr. Taggart led to adopt views widely different from those in which he had been carefully instructed? This is an interesting question, and perhaps the best answer which can be given is furnished in a brief extract from a letter written by an uncle of Mr. Taggart, a venerable minister of the Presbyterian Church, who, while he frankly says, "I cannot think that there is anything. in the Unitarian system, as far as I understand it, that meets the wants of sinners dead in trespasses and sins," and "I do not think that his writings. will advance the cause of true religion"; yet cheerfully attests to the "irreproachable moral character from youth" of his truth-loving, manly, outspoken relative.

6

The extract is as follows: "In a letter to me, dated July 16, 1846 (which was some time after he went to study at Meadville, Pa.), he uses the following words: Ever since I have been capable of holding any views for myself, they have been the same as now, only time, observation, and experience have strengthened and confirmed them. True, I tried to believe the Calvinistic system of dogmas, but the very effort to do so, by examining for myself the grounds on which they stood, convinced me of their error.' In speaking of his theological views in the same letter, he says: 'I held them long before I deliberately concluded to state them to any one, nor till by careful examination of the Scripture (and the Scripture alone, for I had nothing else) I had satisfied my own mind.' It appears, therefore, that our friend, who has finished his course, never changed his religious views; he had tried to embrace other 'dogmas,' but failed in the attempt."

The mental and religious history laid open to our inspection in these few lines is deeply interesting. Here is a young man, religiously inclined from childhood, a member of a family connected with a church which holds the Calvinistic system of theology in all its rigidness and stern severity, faithfully indoctrinated at home, in the Bible class, and at the church, in the distinctive principles of that system, heartily desirous of accepting the system if he can, and earnestly, constantly, studying the Scriptures to find it substantiated in them; who, notwithstanding his desires, his efforts, and his prayers, is unable to discern

proof of its correctness in the sacred volume, and who, unaided and alone, with no Unitarian books or friends to bias his mind, after long-protracted and at times agonizing study, -agonizing, for he shrank from results which he knew must separate him widely from nearest and dearest friends, came deliberately to the conclusion, that the Bible presents views utterly irreconcilable with the theological system of John Calvin. Such studies and struggles, such resolute acceptance of unwelcome conclusions, and calm determination to avow them and abide by them, imply, if not extraordinary mental power, extraordinary mental independence, and heroic fidelity to truth. The man who can thus think for himself, and who has the courage thus to think for himself, who feels that necessity is laid upon him to go wherever truth may lead him, may be as far from the kingdoms established by any sectarian chiefs or theological sovereigns, as John Milton or the sturdiest republican in Cromwell's army was from the kingdom of Charles Stuart; but he certainly is not far from the kingdom of Him who said, "I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."

For a young man, to whom thought and study were so essential, and whose mind was, as his most intimate friend states, for years "on one object, the ministry," a professional life would seem the legitimate, almost the necessary life. But, as has been already intimated, contracted pecuniary circum

stances prevented him from entering upon the course to which all his mental and moral tendencies led him. He accordingly at the age of seventeen entered a wholesale store, in which he continued four years. To the duties which then and there lay before him, he devoted himself with conscientious fidelity. He brought his intelligence, integrity, and habits of industry and perseverance to bear upon the work which he had undertaken, and which, therefore, was accomplished to the entire satisfaction of his employers. But though faithful to mercantile life while in it, he never found it congenial to his tastes. His treasure was elsewhere, and where his treasure was, his heart was also. At the end of four years, therefore, he gave up his situation, and for a period remained at home, quietly pursuing his studies there. But this course could not be continued long. His self-respect and his thoughtfulness for others would not permit him to be dependent upon relatives, who, however kind, were not in a condition, as he felt, to justify him in adding to their necessary expenses. He must labor in some way to procure the means of support. After stating his thoughts and feelings to his father, he left home, to go he knew not whither, but in full confidence that a kind Providence would open the way of duty and direct his steps therein. He went on board a steamboat at Pittsburg, and sailed down the Ohio, with barely money enough in his pocket to defray his expenses, but with heart rich in hope. In the course of a few days he reached Louisville, Kentucky, where he engaged himself temporarily

as clerk in a store. months, and then, having obtained letters of introduction to prominent merchants in New Orleans, he sailed down the Ohio and Mississippi to that everattractive, ever-disappointing city, where many find fortunes and many find graves, but few find homes. There he spent a few weeks, but not succeeding in obtaining employment, he determined to go to St. Louis. There also his search was unsuccessful. While there, he heard of a school in a small town in Missouri, which was in need of a teacher. He at once went on a boat bound up the Mississippi, stopped at the landing nearest the place of his des tination, and, with carpet-bag in hand, walked to the town, twenty-five miles distant. For three months he remained there, faithfully discharging his duties as teacher. At the end of this time, becoming wearied with the monotony of his life, and seeing no prospect of accomplishing anything for himself, either pecuniarily, or, what was to him of infinitely more importance, in the way of mental improvement, he resigned his office, and, on foot again, made his way to the river. He took passage on the first boat that came, and went to Quincy, Illinois, in which beautiful town made sacred to hearts of Unitarian Christians by the memory of that admirable man and devoted pastor, George Moore and its vicinity he remained for a little while, in the hope of becoming a teacher in a school, or of obtaining some other congenial means of support. Not succeeding, he determined to go to St. Louis again. For hours he

Here he remained for a few