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he was a deeply pious and devoted Christian. And we doubt not he will be found among those who turn many to righteousness, and who will shine as the stars, forever and ever."

During the latter part of his life, Mr. Holmes was most emphatically an afflicted man. His sufferings were peculiar, protracted and distressing. A state of extreme debility, brought on, in part, it is believed, by excessive depletion, subjected him to that train of mental and physical sufferings, which is attendant upon general and extensive derangement of the nervous system. His mind was affected to a degree amounting to partial insanity. Mental depression sometimes seemed to overwhelm him, leading him to doubt his religious experience and his call to the ministry, and imagine himself abandoned of God. At such times, his distress of mind was almost insupportable. About a year before he died, God visited him in great mercy, subsequently to which, the power of unbelief was in a measure broken, and peace and comfort were enjoyed. Ever after, he delighted to tell what a deliverance God had wrought out for him. It is doubted, however, whether he was ever perfectly restored to soundness of mind. In view of these peculiar circumstances, it is a matter of devout thanksgiving, that the closing scene of his life was peaceful. The clouds and darkness that had gathered over his spiritual horizon cleared away, and the words of the prophet were happily exemplified: "At evening time, it shall be light."

"Again there shall be light;
As, after darksome day,
Oft breaketh out ere fall of night
A sun-bright western ray;

Light, as of heavenly dawn,

Of God's own light, a ray;
Light, earnest of a glorious morn,
Pledge of an endless day."

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REV. CHARLES SHERMAN.

"I regard it as an abundant reward of my labors, to know, that I live only to serve others."-LUTHER.

Charles Sherman was born in Woodbury, Conn., October 20, 1803. It was his unspeakable blessedness, to be born of parents who were eminently pious.

His father, Mr. Elijah Sherman, was born in New Milford, February 24, 1754. In early life he removed to Woodbury, Conn., at which place he resided until January 5, 1844, when he departed this life in the ninetieth year of his age. He was a man of sound mind and sterling character. In the course of his useful life, he held various offices in his town, which he several times represented in the General Assembly, much to the credit of his constituents, and the state in general; originating and defending with success certain bills for the relief of the poor. The third Methodist sermon ever preached in Woodbury, resulted in his conversion. He was then forty years old, and the remaining fifty years of his life, he was a firm, active, intelligent and liberal member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His house was for a number of years, in some sense, both a church and a parsonage; where many an itinerant held forth the word of life, and found a cordial welcome to the fireside. For many years he was a faithful classleader, and he often went into adjoining towns to hold religious meetings. He was greatly devoted to family religion. Honoring God with his substance, he was prospered of the Lord. He exemplified St. James' pure religion" to an extent that but few do. The weary and destitute were often directed to his residence

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as the well known place, from which none were sent empty away. It was his custom on Fridays to fast in the morning, and distribute to the poor in the afternoon. When, in his extreme old age, his faculties were so impaired that he could not recognize his own children, he still talked to edification on religious subjects. Such was the father of Rev. C. Sherman. The prototype of the prominent virtues of the son, were exhibited in the father.

His mother was a woman of distinguished piety. It was her earnest and expressed desire that God would convert her youngest son, Charles, and put him into the ministry. This desire, however, she did not live to see fulfilled. When he was about fifteen years of age, and about two years previous to his conversion to Christ, he was called to follow his devoted mother to the tomb.

The religious influences associated with the endear. ments of parental affection, and the home of his childhood, were not lost upon him. One who attended the weekly prayer meetings at his father's house, and saw little Charley there, not always more grave than other children, might not have supposed that any very salutary influence was being exerted upon his mind. How surprised might such an one have been to hear him in his mature years describing those scenes, telling how he used to sit in the chimney corner of the old farm house and hear them sing.

"Salvation! O the joyful sound,” &c.

and how happy he then felt, though a child, and unconverted. Often while relating these circumstances, at love-feasts and elsewhere, has his soul kindled with the holy fire of grateful love, and with streaming eyes, has he praised God, for the parental piety and family religion that dwelt in his childhood's home. Every parent should know, for his encouragement, that it is a

law of our nature that these early associations and impressions become more endeared and influential with the lapse of years; that the seeds dropped upon the vir gin soil of the infant and youthful mind grow with our growth, and mature with advancing age. The unthinking observer might have set a light estimate upon the eagerness with which that boy watched for the coming of the messengers of Christ, at the time of their periodical visits, and the delight with which he performed the humble office of a groom, in behalf of these servants of mankind; but may we not here discover the early dawn of that delight in serving the church, especially the ministry, for which he was so remarkable in after life. The hallowed associations of home were cherished with great strength of affection by the subject of this sketch. He greatly revered the memory of his mother, and often alluded to her with heart-felt interest.

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In the seventeenth year of his age, he made a public profession of religion, and became a member of that branch of the visible church in the communion and ministry of which he died. In the latter part of the year 1823, although but twenty years of age, he was licensed as a local preacher, which relation to the church he held for several years. Rev. L. A. Sandford, who I believe resided near him in those days, says, never saw the man that was more deeply pious than he seemed to be at that time. He was then regarded as much more than an ordinary preacher." Rev. Dr. S. Luckey, referring to this period of his life, says, "He was valued for his worth and promise by all classes and denominations. He was intelligent, lovely, pious and laborious; and appreciated in an uncommon degree the importance of the ministerial work." While a young local preacher, other denominations manifested their estimation of him by inviting him to their pulpits.

While yet in the local ranks he was ordained to the office of a deacon. Soon after Mr. Sherman commenced his public labors, the Rev. Samuel Merwin predicted that he would become a star of the first magnitude."

In 1830 he was received into the traveling connection by the New York Annual Conference, and appointed to Stratford circuit, Connecticut, where he remained two years. Notwithstanding the general truth that "a prophet hath no honor in his own country," Mr. Sherman's first appointment was to the same circuit that recommended him to the conference; and after he had spent two years there, the people parted with him regretting that the order of the church limited the term of ministerial service to so short a period. His next two years were spent on Burlington circuit, Conn. His third appointment was to Division street, Albany, he being transferred that year (1834) to the Troy Conference. The appointment of so young a minister to so important a charge was as unexpected to the church in Albany as to him. They having anticipated that a certain distinguished preacher, who has also gone to his reward, would be sent to them. Some solicitude was at first felt, and the inquiry was made, "Who is Charles Sherman?" This question was soon answered most satisfactorily; they found him to be a man of God, an able minister of the New Testament, a wise and indefatigable laborer in the vineyard of the Lord. He was greatly beloved by the people, and his labors were crowned with success. In 1836 he was appointed to North Second street, Troy, where he also labored with distinguished ability and success. The language of a leading official member of that church to the writer may serve as an index to the estimation in which he is there held. On asking him what he could tell me about brother Sherman he exclaimed, "O dear, dear, dear!

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