"Dear Sir,"

"Philadelphia, May 25, 1811."

"I have resolved to present to the public some account of the life and character of my late colleague, the reverend Doctor Rodgers."

"Having frequently heard you speak of an acquaintance, which, from early life, you enjoyed with that venerable man, and tell a number of anecdotes which did him honour; will you allow me to solicit from you a communication, containing such facts and remarks as may occur to your recollection, and appear proper to be introduced into the proposed account? It is my wish to record your testimony, with that of some other distinguished characters, in an attempt to do honour to the memory of a Minister of Jesus, who was eminently useful while he lived, and whose labours and example will not, I trust, cease to be useful for many years to come."

“I am, dear sir, with high respect,"

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your obliged friend, and humble servant," "Dr. Rush." "SAMUEL MILLER."

In consequence of this request, the following communication was, in a short time afterwards, received.

"Dear Sir,"

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Philadelphia, June 7th, 1811."

"I regret that I shall not be able to fulfil your wishes in such a manner, as to render my small tribute of respect and affection to our departed Friend, worthy of a place in your account of his life and character."

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My first knowledge of the late reverend Dr. Rodgers was at the reverend Dr. Finley's school, in Cecil county, in Maryland, in the year 1756. He was a member of a Presbytery which met statedly in Dr. Finley's church, in the neighbourhood of the school. During the sitting of the Presbytery, he, together with several other clergymen, always lodged at Dr. Finley's house. He likewise assisted the Doctor occasionally in the exercises which usually accompany the commemoration of the Lord's Supper in the Presbyterian church, at which time he was always a guest in the Doctor's family. In all these ecclesiastical visits, he endeared himself to the little boys that boarded in the Doctor's house, by finding out and calling them by their names; by conversing with them upon the subjects of their studies; and, when called upon to pray in the family, by offering up the

most fervent supplications to the throne of grace, for their temporal and eternal welfare. His sermons were likewise very acceptable to us, because they were more accommodated to our capacities, and delivered in a more impressive and affectionate manner, than those of most of the ministers that occasionally filled our preceptor's pulpit. The respect and attachment I thus early conceived for our excellent Friend, grew with my years, and was much strengthened by the connexion which took place between his Son and me, the present worthy Dr. John R. B. Rodgers, from his studying medicine under my direction. In all the Doctor's visits to Philadelphia, he never failed to dine, or pass an evening, in my family, in which he was always a welcome and agreeable guest."

"I have great pleasure in recollecting, not only his pleasant and instructive conversations, but many agreeable anecdotes I have heard of his piety, prudence, and good sense. I shall mention two or three of the latter. Some years ago I was sent for to visit a Mrs. Kirkpatrick, of this city, who told me she had spent the early part of her life, in the congregation of the reverend Mr. Roan, of Neshaminy, at whose school

Dr. Rodgers received his academical learning; and that she had often contrived on a Sunday, when she went to church, to walk a few feet behind him, when he was but fourteen years of age, on purpose to hear his pious and sensible conversation with his school-mates."

"A member of the Doctor's congregation once complained to him, that his prayers were too methodical, and that they appeared to be studied. "You are right, Sir," (said the Doctor,) "my prayers are studied. Would you have me "offer God that which costs me nothing?"

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"In one of his last visits to Philadelphia, he informed me, that when he resided in New-Castle county, in the then three Lower Counties, as they were called, upon the Delaware, he offended a part of his congregation, by voting at a disputed election for a Sheriff, in consequence of which, he said, he had never voted at a general election afterwards. In this act of self-denial, he discovered a practical knowledge of the scale of duties; for how feeble is the obligation in a minister of the gospel, to promote the supposed prosperity of his country by a solitary vote, compared with his obligation to preserve a commanding and

undivided influence over his whole congregation, in order more effectually to direct their attention to subjects of an imperishable nature!”

"Of his christian and ministerial character, I need say nothing to you, who have been so long, and so happily, united with him in parochial labours. To both he added, in an uncommon degree, the manners of a fine gentleman. Such was his intuitive knowledge and strict attention to time and place, in his intercourse with the world, that he not only pleased, but I never heard of his having, even from carelessness, or inadvertency, offended a human being in the course of his life. Indeed, his manners seemed to be in strict unison with his pure and exemplary morals. Considering how little he was indebted to instruction, and fashionable company, in the early part of his life, for the singular polish, and charm of his manners, and how many men, with all the advantages of high birth, and constant as well as early intercourse with elegant society, are deficient in the air, and ease, and all the proprieties of behaviour, it would seem that a real gentleman is as much the child of nature, as a poet or a painter."