his prosperity; cruel treatment, it is alleged, having alienated her reason, and as a consequence of which she became an inmate of the insane department of the Pennsylvania Hospital, in whose grounds she was buried, for the consideration of $2000, paid that institution by her opulent husband. The books of the Hospital show that Mary Girard was admitted an insane patient on the 21st August, 1800, where she died on the 13th September, 1815. Mrs. Girard's maiden name was Lum. Seven months after her admission into the Hospital she gave birth to a daughter, who was baptised by the name of Mary, and this was the only child of Girard, who died in its infancy. The deranged mind of the wife was alleged to have been produced by cruel treatment, as witnessed by many of his neighbors. It is certain that slander pursued her to her grave, and that this slander was invariably traced to a jealous husband, who had married one only too beautiful."

We "tell the tale as it is told to us." Taking this as true, suppose that, in addition to an Orphan's College, he had also willed several millions for an Asylum to broken-hearted wives flying from brutish husbands, could its marble columns, its magnificent domes, and its ample provisions cause an indignant world to forget the faded hopes, the dethroned reason, and the alms-house grave of his victimized wife-who lost all that earth can give when she became the wife of a wealthy brute!

A good name cannot be inherited. One who inherits his ancestor's name does not necessarily inherit their honor, their virtues, their intelligence and their moral worth. "Do you know that I am a descendant of the great reformer, Knox," said a young puff of vanity. "What a pity that part of his brains and his piety did not also descend to you," was the cutting reply.

"I am the son of Judge ," said a young drunken rowdy, as they were leading him toward the lock-up. "So much greater the shame!" said the officer, pushing him on still faster. A good name is not conferred by a title. Placing Hon. before a man's name, whose character does not sustain it, is like setting forth a harlequin to introduce the services of a solemn assembly-some will laugh at its ridiculousness, and others. will be indignant at the desecration. A title cannot give a name, it can only mark one who has a name. A good name; wealth cannot buy it— inheritance cannot transmit it-title cannot confer it. It must be chosen -it must be acquired by personal acts-it must result from individual excellence of character. It is not an appendage outwardly assumed, or outwardly hung upon us-it grows forth from the substance of the soul. It is based upon inward excellence it is the halo, the light, the radiance of a noble soul-it is the substance of noble acts-it is the bloom and the savor of a fruitful life. It is that eternal substance and power which remains when wealth is contemptible-when the line of ancestry is broken when titles have dropped away—when urn, and bust, and monuments have mingled with the dust they cover-it is that which time, and death, and the still more fearful ordeal of the last judgment cannot sever from the spirit which it clothes, and honors, and crowns, and blesses forever.

Have you a good name, cherish it. There is nothing better. It is a crown of life. It is good in youth, manhood and age. It is good at home and abroad. It is good in prosperity and adversity. It is good

to labor by-to live by-to sleep by-to die by. It is a comfort to us, and a joy to our friends. It will be like a pleasant odor around the hearts of those who will think of us when we are dead-a fragrance that time cannot waste.

"Like the vase, in which roses have once been distilled--
You may break, you may ruin the vase if you will;
But the scent of the roses will hang round it still."

If you have not yet a good name-choose it. The choice is before you. God and man are willing that you shall have it-only deserve it—cultivate it will it-seek it. It need not be a great name. Yes, let it be great but great and good. If it is good, it is great-goodness is the sublimest greatness.

Could utter tenderer words the heart to reach?
To breathe a deeper pathos into speech,
I deem beyond his task.

I thought he would awake

Not leave our hearth so desolate and lone;
But there is something in a mother's moan
The heart cannot mistake.

His hand, like marble, white,

Held, in its clasp, frail emblematic flowers,
Doomed, like himself, to live a few bright hours-
Then feel a killing blight.

I could not bear the sound

Of shuffling feet when, through the open door
They bore him, ne'er to cross its threshold more,
With infant beauty crowned.

Our heart-strings have been crushed:
I look around, and lo! a household light
I find forever quenched in starless night,
A voice of music hushed.

Bring back, bring back the dead!
Chase from the house this heavy, funeral gloom,
And the gay phantom flitting in the room,
Around his cradle-bed.

Too early rang his knell?
No blood of mine was in his azure veins;
But in my soul an aching sorrow reigns-
Sweet boy! farewell, farewell!

THE GUARDIAN:

A Magazine Devoted to the Interests of Young Men and Ladies.

VOL. VII.

JUNE, 1856.

REV. WILLIAM HENDEL, D. D.*

BY THE EDITOR.

No. 6.

"Let

[SOURCES." Archives of the Lancaster, Tulpehocken and Philadelphia Congregations." Pilgerreise zu Wasser und zu Land." ters of Hendel."-Weekly Mess., Feb. 14, 1838. "Christian LandMarks," by Dr. Berg. "The Recollections of the Aged."]

DR. HENDEL was born in the Palatinate on the Rhine. Our data in regard to his early life are scarce. The Rev. John Christian Stahlschmidt, who became acquainted with him in Tulpehocken, in the year 1773, says of him: "This man is one of the best preachers that I became acquainted with in America. He is a Palatinate by birth, and had come to this country as a minister many years ago. He possesses much science and knowledge, and without any sectarian or party spirit, he is in heart consecrated to the cause of true Godliness."+

According to this extract we learn two important facts; he was a minister when he came in to this country, and he came in "many years" before 1773.

Dr. Hendel was pastor of the German Reformed congregation in Lancaster from January, 1765, up to September, 1769-four years. During this time he also preached once every four weeks at Pequea, now New Providence, about 10 miles southeast of Lancaster. Traces of his zeal, piety, and faithfulness are seen upon the records at Lancaster, in incidental ways, as well as in the general prosperity of the church.

From a work in course of preparation by the Editor on the "Lives of the Old Deceased Ministers of the German Reformed Church in America." Much labor has already been bestowed upon this work; and no pains are spared to have it full and correct. We therefore take this opportunity earnestly to request such as may possess any documents or other information in relation to the subjects of which it treats, kindly to put us in possession of the facts. Let the fathers, through whom many of us have received many of our blessings receive proper honor at our hands.

"Pilger Reise zu Wasser und zu Land," p. 291.

From Lancaster he was called to the congregation at Tulpehocken and neighboring congregations. His ministry in this charge began in 1769 and closed in 1782, thirteen years, and included therefore the dark period of the war of the Revolution. When he was visited by Rev. Stahlschmidt in 1773, he was serving nine congregations.

During his ministry at Tulpehocken, Dr. Hendel made frequent missionary excursions to the smaller settlements of Germans in the vallies northward. During the Revolutionary war he often visited Lykens Valley, and preached at what is called "David's Church," about two miles east of the river where Millesburg now is, where a congregation, composed of Reformed members from Manantongo, Armstrong, and Lykens Vallies, had been organized a few years previous.

"It being during the war that these visits to this and other congregations in this section of the country were made, and the Indians being yet numerous, it was necessary for the inhabitants armed with weapons, to meet him at the confines of the valley and guard him to his place of destination. Whilst he preached, the guards stood under and around the door with their rifles, so that they could both keep a look out for their enemies and also listen to the servant of God delivering unto them the glad tidings of salvation. They thus accompanied him from place to place; and when the services were ended, he was guarded in the same manner on his way home till he was out of danger, he being then stationed in Tulpehocken. This was, indeed, a laborious task; but he looked not for the pleasures and comforts of this world, but laid up for himself treasures, where neither moth nor rust do corrupt, and he is now reaping his rich reward!"*

In September, 1782, he removed again to Lancaster. He returned with his former learning, eloquence, zeal and piety, only all these had become still more venerable and lovely by age. Though his inward man was ripening more and more, his outward man was declining. The earthly house of his tabernacle on his appearance in Lancaster the second time gave evident signs of decay. The records are made now with a trembling hand, resembling the writing of Mr. Hopkins in the Declaration of Independence. Still, by God's grace, he continued his ministry here till February, 1794; thus his second term in this congregation was twelve years, and they were years of unusual spiritual prosperity to the church.

The last term of Dr. Hendel's ministry in Lancaster is still within reach of the memory of the oldest living members, and we can still learn, from the pious especially, that his holy influence has not died with him, but lives to this day in the piety of the aged who enjoyed his ministry in youth. His name is held in the most grateful and sacred remembrance, and the mention of it sheds over the heart of many aged pilgrims a savor which is as ointment poured forth.

A short time ago we asked an old mother in Israel who was confirmed by him, whether there were any peculiarities about him which she could still remember. The answer she gave was, "Yes, old father Hendel, he was a good man. O, but he was a good man!" "Yes," said her

Father Gerhart, in Weekly Messenger, February 14, 1838. "Ja, der alte Vater Hendel, er war ein guter Mann. O, er war aber ein guter Mann!"

daughter, "that is what she often says, and it is about the only thing she says of him." The only peculiarity about him, therefore, was that he was a good man. Every thing about him was subordinate to his piety. A better idea could not possibly be given of this excellent servant of Christ, than is given in these few words from the heart of age and piety.

We asked this old mother, whether he was fond of meetings for prayer in the congregation. "O yes, he was very much for such things. He held a meeting of that kind every Thursday evening in the old church.” The records, during this period show that he aimed at the purity of the church, and the advancement of the members in true piety.

Though now old and worn down in body by the toils of a long and laborious ministry, yet he was again invited to transplant himself, and become once more fruitful in a new soil. He received a call from Philadelphia, which also he accepted, and began his labors in his new field February 9, 1794.

This was the good man's last field of labor, and as it became the scene of his heaviest trials, so also it afforded him occasion to witness his best confession. He was not long there when the yellow fever broke out the second time. That was a season of sore trial. It required a giant faith, and Hendel showed himself equal to the terror. Not only such citizens as could do it, but almost all the ministers fled from the city for their lives, leaving the sick and dying to the mercy of God, and the care of those whose faith was strong enough to stand to their duty in the face of death. Countenances struck with terror and overclouded with gloom gazed at each other in the silent street, and in every house reigned the loneliness and the sorrow of death. Hendel was firm at his post. He was at the bedside of the dying, in the house of mourning with the dead, and ministering help with his hands, and consolation with his prayers. If ever the poet's picture of a faithful pastor had its true original it was here:

"Beside the bed of death where parting life was laid,
And sorrow, guilt, and pain, by times dismayed,
The reverend champion stood. At his control
Despair and anguish fled the struggling soul;
Comfort came down the trembling wretch to raise,
And his last faltering accents whispered praise."

He became

At length the dreadful scourge laid hold also of him. one of the last victims of the retiring epidemic, and on the 29th of September, 1798, "after he had served his own generation by the will of God, he fell asleep, and was gathered unto his fathers " He lies buried by the side of Steiner, Wayberg, and Wynkhaus, in Franklin Square, in Philadelphia. His funeral sermon was preached by his warm and faithful friend Dr. Helmuth, from 2 Sam. 1: 26-"I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me."

Dr. Hendel had a fine personal appearance. He had naturally a strong, loud voice, which from his earnest and deep devotion became peculiarly pleasant and impressive. He was fond of singing; he was wont to fall in with the hymn in a loud bass voice, and sing with spirit and devotion.