THE CLERGY OF AMERICA; ANECDOTES ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE CHARACTER OF UNITED STATES. BY JOSEPH BELCHER, D.D., Author of "Scripture Narratives," "Married Life," &c., &c., and editor of The Complete Works of Andrew Fuller" and "Robert Hall," &c.; &c. PHILADELPHIA : J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. (1) 27346.75 Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year 1848, by JOSEPH BELCHER, D.D., in the office of the Clerk of the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. STEREOTYPED BY R. P. MOGRIDGE. PRINTED BY WM. S. YOUNG. PREFACE. THE facts placed before the reader of this volume, are not only pleasing to the fancy, and interesting as calling up many delightful and solemn reminiscences, but they are important as materials of History. They show the character of the age, illustrate nature and religion, and supply those details of knowledge which cherish the habits of induction: without these there can be no certain philosophy. In the compilation of this work, far more labour and pains have been expended than the vast majority of its readers would suppose; but its editor has been well repaid by the happiness he has enjoyed in going through the biography of so many eminent men, at once ornaments to the church and blessings to the world. No part of the globe has furnished brighter specimens of what Christian ministers should be, than these United States. It is scarcely necessary to say much either of the materials of which the volume is composed, or the manner in which they are classified. The former, the editor believes, are all true; and, as to the latter, he has done what he could so to arrange the facts as to please and to profit his readers. At all events, here is a volume perfectly unique-unlike every thing else in the language. |