Westminster College - Blue Jay Yearbook (Fulton, MO)

Page 22 text:

'Wx' 1 x 3 X Q ., .4 NATIIAN L. RICE, D. D 16 -wi., T.-..,,

Page 21 text:

REV. JOHN MONTGOMERY, D. D. , h tl THE Rev. Dr. John Montgomery was born in Danville, Kentucky, 'Octobeii-6, 1810. Graduated from Center College in 18353 studied at Princeton Theological Seminary two years, entering the work of the ministry in 1858. His Hrst charge was the Harrodsburg church,,in Kentucky, which he served for seventeen years. During this time he established, and successfully maintained, a female seminary at Harrodsburg. In 1857 he removed to Missouri, where he took charge of the first church of Pettis county, where he remained till the war. During the war he preached in St. Louis, in Fulton, and in general evangelistic work. In 1864 he was called to the presidency of WVestminster College. Never was there a darker time in the history of the College. On the t'border,', the state a prey to both North and South, its endowment swept away, the confusion of war raging around, it was no light task to which he was called. He held the position for a little over a year, resigning in October, 1865. But in that short time he had labored nobly, and had endearedhimself to all connected with the institution. In 1865 he organized the First Presbyterian Church of Sedalia, which he served for six years, except for a time when he was disabled by a fall. Then for varying periods he preached at Independence, lNIarshall, Sweet Springs, Brownwood, Lamonte, and at his old charge, Harrodsburg, Ky., and Longwood, Mo, In 1877, after returning from the General Assembly, he was prostrated with sickness, since which time he has not been able to do regular pastoral work. I-le still resides with his family at the old home, near Longwood, and, although feeble, still retains his old time spirit and faculties to a remarkable degree. He was one of the pioneers of Presbyterianism in Missouri. The early church of the western states was planted under difficulties. Some of the noblest men and women of America labored at her foundations. And one of her brightest names is that of Dr. Montgomery. An able preacher, devout, earnest, he was always singularly successful in winning souls and in endearing himself to all his flock. And like the work of true Presbyterianism everywhere his labors were enduring. Not the gathering of numbers, but the building up of devout, spiritual, godly men was his aim. His work at VVestminster, while short, was of great good to the College, and no. one of its presidents was more loved and more highly regarded by faculty, board, and students than he. H The life and work of this grand man a1'e held in reverence by all who know him. A scholar, an orator, a noble, Christian gentleman, loyal to his lVIaster, zealous in His service, strong in his convictions of duty, with the tender affections of a woman. this man of God is respected and loved by allf' I5

Page 23 text:

NATHAN L. RICE, D. D. U THE space allotted for this sketch is too limited to portray the life, or delineate the character, of such a man as Nathan Lewis Rice, D. D. It is indeed a travesty upon the grandeur of so great a life and upon Work so diversi- fied, so enduring, and so glorious to be compressed Within any bounds. On the twenty-ninth day of December, ISO7, in Garrard county, Kentucky, Dr. Rice Hrst saw the light of life. At the age of sixteen, with a longing de- sire for an education, he began to teach in order to earn money to enable him to attend college. .He declined the tendered assistance of two wealthy brothers in Danville, because he had a free and independent spirit and deter- mined to secure his purposes by his own labors, At the age of eighteen, when a student of Centre College, it pleased God to reveal His blessed Son to him and his career was taken, and from it he never departed, his single and sole desire was service for Christ, and his only inquiry was, like Saul of Tarsus, t'Lord, what .Wilt thou have me to do P At the expiration of the first year at college, he was compelled, from therwant of means, to abandon the fur- ther prosecution of his studies. He had gained the confidence of the faculty by his ability, diligence, and Hdelity, and just as he was riding out of town, a messenger was sent recalling him and offering him the position of princi- pal of the preparatory department. He accepted, and by teaching during the day and studying at night, he fin- ished his course, giving intimation at this early date in his life of his amazing power for work. He studied theology for one year under Dr. Gideon Blackburn, president of Centre, College, when he received a call to preach, and, although urged by friends to accept, yet he declined, not believing that he had the ability and grace to do so, and as he felt that the foundation had not been suliiciently laid, he spent two years infcompleting his theological studies at Princeton, 1 A . C , In 1832, at the age of twenty-five, he entered on his first pastoral charge at Bardstown, Kentucky. He estab- lished a school for girls while teaching in the male academy and founded and edited with singular skill and masterly ability the PVesz'e1fn Heffald, and at the same time engaged in a. triumphant controversy with the priests of the Romish church. -In IS4O he accepted a call to Paris, and while assisting his brethren, as if he would never tire, I7