BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

OF THE REV. JAMES CLARKSON.

THE REV. JAMES CLARKSON, like all the first ministers of the Associate Church in this country, was a native of Scotland.

His father, and one of his brothers, were ministers of high standing for piety and talents, in the Secession Church in Scotland. His brother, the Rev. Andrew Clarkson, who was a person of refined manners, and very dignified personal appearance, also possessed principles of unbending integrity, and was noted for his consistent and fervent piety. The following incident in his life is related, as illustrating his cha

racter.

Some young men of infidel sentiments, who were the managers of a ball, sent him a ticket inviting his attendance, expecting that he would either treat it as an affront to his religious standing, or pass it unnoticed. But contrary to their expectations, Mr. Clarkson received the invitation with his usual courtesy, and to the surprise of his friends, dressed himself in a manner at once becoming the dignity of his character and not unsuitable to a ball-room, and repaired to the assembly. He conducted himself with much affability and politeness towards all the party, to their no small embarrassment. When it was about the time the dance was to commence, Mr. Clarkson addressed the managers in the hearing of the company to the following effect. That having received an unexpected invitation to their entertainment of that evening, he was happy in meeting so large an assembly; and as it had been an uniform practice with him to engage in nothing on which he could not seek the Divine blessing, he hoped, that, as they had already shown him so much politeness, they would extend their indulgence to him in this respect also! He then invited them to unite with him in

prayer, in which he engaged with such solemnity and fervor of feeling as deeply affected many of the assembly, and left all wholly indisposed to engage that evening in their expected revelry. The whole assembly dispersed without a dance. It is to be regretted that only a meagre biography of Mr. Clarkson can be presented.

It is but seldom, that the life of a gospel minister, settled in a country congregation, and whose only aim is the faithful discharge of his pastoral duties, affords any great variety of incident. But that example which the life of a good man exhibits is always profitable and instructive to the people of God.

The following particulars respecting Mr. Clarkson were communicated by his son, the Rev. Thomas B. Clarkson, who has also now ceased from his labors in the vineyard below.

Mr. Clarkson came to America about the year 1772, or 1773, being the first missioned by the General Associate Synod of Scotland after Messrs. Smith and Rodger. He was called, in the providence of God, to sustain an important part in defending and maintaining the cause of divine truth, as exhibited in the Secession Testimony.

He was settled as pastor over the Associate congregation of Guinstown, in York Co., Pennsylvania, shortly after his arrival in this country; and in this congregation he continued to labor with persevering diligence until within a few years of his decease; when he was compelled to resign his charge, on account of increasing infirmities. He died about the year 1810, or 1811. Mr. Clarkson's congregation was located in that part of York County denominated "the Barrens," where the land is proverbially poor; and his salary never exceeded £80 Pennsylvania currency, equal to $213 and a few cents, per annum; with this, and the proceeds of a small farm, he was enabled to support his family, and devote himself to his pastoral duties; in attention to which he was exemplarily diligent; catechising and visiting his whole congregation every year. He had a stated meeting of his session every month for religious exercises and for inquiring into the state of the congregation, and making provision for the poor. A small fund was kept up by stated collections every Sabbath, for the relief of the poor, whose burdens were in this way very much alleviated, without the knowledge of any, except the session.

"I remember," says Mr. T. B. Clarkson, "that my father seemed to consider this, a matter of some importance, for I recollect of hearing him once in conversation with some clergyman, say, that this would be a condition, without which

he would not accept of a congregation, viz: that of lifting weekly collections for the purpose mentioned."

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Although Mr. Clarkson was naturally hasty in his temper, yet, in his session, and also with others, he was persuasive, mild, and patient, and at no time had he any unhappy jangling. He never had an ear for tattlers, but always endeavored to turn their attention to themselves; this generally cut the tale short, and kept him in ignorance of every thing in the congregation, but what would come before the session in a regular way.

In admitting members to communion he was exceedingly particular; this he used to think was one of the most difficult duties he had to perform as a minister, and it gave him the greatest anxiety.

His manner was, to request those who made application and were admitted to attend on the next communion, to converse with him, in order to see whether they had made any attainments in knowledge, and that he might have another opportunity of instructing them as to the nature of the ordinance, and of recommending books for their perusal; accordingly before a communion, in appointing a day for young people to converse with him, a day was mentioned for all those to come who had been admitted at the last communion. This was no doubt one way in which his people were well instructed in Secession principles. With regard to his preaching, he pursued the old and the best plan of expounding the psalm, and lecturing in the forenoon. He might be called a systematic and doctrinal preacher generally. Though he could not be called an elegant speaker, yet he was an interesting preacher; he had an impressive earnestness in his manner, well calculated to draw attention; his enunciation was clear, manly and distinct; and though he sometimes hesitated, he would frequently speak with fluency. All his talents were of the useful rather than brilliant kind. As a man, he was cheerful and affable, at the same time he possessed a native dignity of which he could not easily divest himself-undeviatingly adhering to whatever he conceived to be right, regardless of consequences. Mr. Clarkson was a zealous, faithful and conscientious supporter of the Secession Testimony in America; and his labors seem to have been blessed with unusual success. The Secession Church has now upwards of one hundred and eighty congregations in America, the great majority of which, lie in the United States, west of the Alleghany mountains; and it has been remarked, by those who have opportunities of personal acquaintance in most of those

congregations, that there is scarcely one known, in which some of those, that were members in Guinstown congregation are not to be found. And in many cases, they formed, (if we may borrow a term,) the nucleus of the congregation.

Mr. Clarkson was twice married. By his first marriage he left three sons, and three daughters, and one son by the second marriage. The youngest of his sons by his first marriage, he named after his intimate friend and fellow-laborer, Rev. Thomas Beveridge. This son, the Rev. Thomas B. Clarkson, entered the ministry, and was settled at Mercersburgh and McConnelsburgh, Pa. where he preached with much success for a few years; but his health failing, he was obliged to desist from public speaking altogether several years before his death.