MR. LAWRENCE AS AN APPLICANT.--LETTERS.--DIARY.--PRAYER AND
MEDITATIONS.--LIBERALITY TO A CREDITOR.--LETTERS.
It was not uncommon for Mr. Lawrence, when a good work was in
progress, to give not only his own means, but to lend a helping hand
by soliciting contributions from others. The following note, addressed
to a wealthy bachelor, is a specimen:
"BOSTON, June 11, 1847.
"MY DEAR SIR: You will be surprised at this letter, coming as it
does as a first; but I know, from my experience of your skill and
talents as a business man, how pleasant it is to you to make good
bargains and safe investments; and, although you are a bachelor,
the early business habits you acquired are marked, and are to be
carried forward till the footing up of the account, and the
trial-balance presented to the Master at his coming. As I said
before, you like safe investments, that shall be returned
four-fold, if such can be made. Now, I am free to say to you, I
know of such an one; and the promisor is a more secure one than
A. & A. L. & Co., Uncle Sam, the Old Bay State, or bonds and
mortgages in your own neighborhood. You ask, Then why not take it
yourself? I answer, Because I have invested in advance in the
same sort of stock in other quarters, but am willing to give my
guaranty that you shall be satisfied that it is all I represent
when you make your final settlement. It is this: Amherst College
you know all about; and that is now in especial need of new
instructors, and increased funds for their support. Twenty
thousand dollars from you will place it on high ground, give a
name to a professorship, make you feel happier and richer than
you ever did in your life. What say you?--will you do it? The
respect of good men will be of more value to you through your
remaining days than any amount of increase, even if as vast as
Girard's or Astor's. As I am a mere looker-on, you will take
this, as I design it, as an expression of good-will to the
college, no less than to you."
"MEM. by A. L.--Received an answer on the 16th, very good and
kind, from Mr. ----."
In addition to the "very good answer," Mr. Lawrence had soon after the
gratification of knowing that the application had been successful, and
that the necessary sum had been contributed by his correspondent.
About the same date, he writes to his friend, Professor Packard, of
Bowdoin College, as follows:
"Your visit to us the last week has opened new views and visions,
that are better described in the last chapter of Revelations than
in any account I can give. Bowdoin College is connected with all
that is near and dear to President Appleton,--not only those on
the stage of action with him, but all who came after, embracing
in this latter class your own loved ones, who may continue to
exercise an important agency in making the college what the good
man, in his lifetime, strove to make it. The love, veneration,
and respect, my dear wife had for him, makes her feel a peculiar
pleasure in doing what would have cheered and comforted him so
much had he lived till this time. The thousand dollars handed to
you is a first payment of six thousand that she will give to the
college in aid of the fund now in progress of collection; and she
directs that the Lawrence Academy, at Groton, may be allowed to
send one scholar each year to Bowdoin College, to be carried
through the four years without charge for instruction; and that,
whenever the trustees of the academy do not supply a pupil, the
college may fill the place. I will hold myself responsible to
make good Mrs. L.'s intentions, should she be deprived in any way
of this privilege before the work is done."
Early in the summer of this year, the Hon. Abbott Lawrence made his
munificent donation of fifty thousand dollars to Harvard College, for
the purpose of founding what was afterwards called, in honor of the
donor, the Lawrence Scientific School. After reading the letter
accompanying this donation, Mr. Lawrence addressed to his brother the
following:
"Wednesday morning, June 9, 1847.
"DEAR BROTHER ABBOTT: I hardly dare trust myself to speak what I
feel, and therefore write a word to say that I thank God I am
spared to this day to see accomplished by one so near and dear to
me this last best work ever done by one of our name, which will
prove a better title to true nobility than any from the
potentates of the world. It is more honorable, and more to be
coveted, than the highest political station in our country,
purchased as these stations often are by time-serving. It is to
impress on unborn millions the great truth that our talents are
trusts committed to us for use, and to be accounted for when the
Master calls. This magnificent plan is the great thing that you
will see carried out, if your life is spared; and you may well
cherish it as the thing nearest your heart. It enriches your
descendants in a way that mere money never can do, and is a
better investment than any one you have ever made.
"Your affectionate brother,
AMOS.
"TO ABBOTT LAWRENCE."
To a friend he writes, soon after:
"This noble plan is worthy of him; and I can say truly to you,
that I feel enlarged by his doing it. Instead of our sons going
to France and other foreign lands for instruction, here will be a
place, second to no other on earth, for such teaching as our
country stands now in absolute need of. Here, at this moment, it
is not in the power of the great railroad companies to secure a
competent engineer to carry forward their work, so much are the
services of such men in demand."
* * * * *
"BOSTON, June 18, 1847.
"DEAR PARTNERS: Please pass to the credit of my friend, the Rev.
Mark Hopkins, two thousand dollars, to pay for four scholarships
at Williams College, to be used through all time by the Trustees
of Lawrence Academy, in Groton. The said trustees, or their
representatives, may send and keep in college four pupils from
the academy, without any charge for tuition; and, whenever they
omit or decline keeping up their full number, the government or
the proper authorities of the college are authorized to fill the
vacancy or vacancies from their own college pupils. Charge the
same to my account.
A. L."
"To A. & A. L. & Co."
During the last twenty years of his life, Mr. Lawrence was unable to
attend more than the morning services of the church on Sunday, on
account of the state of his health.
He was a most devout and constant worshipper, and many of those who
have conducted the religious services of the church which he attended
will well remember the upturned countenance, the earnest attention,
and the significant motions of his head, as he listened with an
expression of approval to the faithful declarations of the speaker. He
loved to listen to those who "did not shun to declare all the counsel
of God," and would sometimes express disappointment when the preacher
failed to declare what he considered the important truths of the
Gospel.
In writing to a friend, after listening to a discourse of the latter
description from a stranger, he compares it, in its adaptation to the
spiritual wants of the hearers, to the nourishment which a
wood-chopper would receive by placing him in the top of a flowering
tree, and allowing him to feed only on the odor of its blossoms. His
feelings on this subject are expressed in a letter to an esteemed
clergyman, who had solicited his aid in behalf of a church in a
distant city.
"BOSTON, June 11, 1847.
"MY FRIEND: I have your letter of yesterday; and, in reply, I
offer it as my opinion that the Unitarianism growing up among us
the few years past has so much philosophy as to endanger the
Christian character of our denomination, and to make us mere
rationalists of the German school, which I dread more than
anything in the way of religious progress. The church at ---- may
be of use in spreading Christianity; but it may also be a
reproval to it. I do not feel sufficient confidence in it to give
money to keep life in it until I see evidence of some of the
conservative influences that my own beloved and honored pastor is
calling back among us.
Your well-wisher and friend,
"A. L.
"P. S.--I fully agree in the opinion that ---- is an important
point for the dissemination of truth; and, before giving aid, I
must know the man before I help support the minister, having
small confidence in the teachings of many who enjoy considerable
reputation as teachers of righteousness. I may have expressed
doubts and fears that may not seem well founded; but I feel
them."
The following entry in his diary will give some idea of Mr. Lawrence's
exactness in his daily business:
"_Saturday, July 24, 1847._--Enclosed in a note to the Rev. ----
----, of ----, a fifty-dollar bank-note, of the Atlantic Bank,
No. 93, dated Jan. 1, 1846, payable to George William Dodd;
letter A at each end of the bill, and A. P. P. in blue ink, in my
writing, at the top. Sent the letter to the post-office by
coachman, and paid the postage; he keeping a memorandum of his
having delivered it, and paid for it.
A. L."
"_Sept. 14._--Professor ----, of the Baptist College in ----, has
called, to whom I shall give a parcel of books for the use of
the college, and also a good word, which I hope will make him
remember in whose service he is engaged."
"_Sept. 15._--Delivered him about two hundred and fifty volumes,
various; all of value to him and his college, he said. He is a
young man (under thirty years) and a minister."
"_September 16, 1847, Sabbath-day._[12]--'O most blessed Lord and
Saviour; thou who didst, by thy precious death and burial, take
away the sting of death and the darkness of the grave! grant unto
me the precious fruit of this holy triumph of thine, and be my
guide both in life and in death. In thy name will I lay me down
in peace and rest; for thou, O Lord, makest me to dwell in
safety! Enlighten, O Lord, the eyes of my understanding, that I
may not sleep the sleep of death! Into thy hands I commend my
spirit; for thou hast redeemed me, O thou covenant-keeping God!
Bless and preserve me, therefore, both now and forever! Amen!'
"These are suitable thoughts and aspirations, such as every
Christian may profitably indulge on retiring each night. His bed
should remind him of his grave; and, as the day past brings him
so much nearer to it, the appearance, when summoned hence, should
be the point most distinctly before him. If he pass on with the
'Well done,' no time can be amiss when called up. O God! grant me
to be ever ready; and, by thy blessing and thy mercy, grant me to
be allowed to join company with those loved and precious ones
whom I feel entirely assured are at thy right hand, then to be no
more separated!
AMOS LAWRENCE."
[12] The opposite page is a fac-simile of the original manuscript
found in Mr. Lawrence's pocket-book after his death. It may serve as a
fair specimen of his chirography during his latter years.
[Illustration: Fac-Simile of Mr Lawrence's Hand-writing in 1847.]
The following note and memorandum by Mr. Lawrence will show how he
dealt with an old debtor:
(TO MR. G.)
"MY DEAR SIR: If you have any mode by which I can have the
pleasure of receiving your note and interest, amounting to
twenty-three hundred dollars, to be vested by me for the benefit
of your wife, I shall be pleased to do it, having long since
determined to appropriate this money, whenever received, in this
way
"Yours, truly,
A. L.
"For himself and brother A."
"MEM.--Mr. ---- was an invalid, and confined to his house at that
period, and sent for me to call and see him. I did so, and he
seemed much affected at my offer; but told me he was in better
circumstances than I had supposed him, and declined the proffered
aid. The information thus given me in this last interview was
most welcome: from that time, I never mentioned his debt. After
his decease, it was paid by his sons; and the family has been
prosperous since. I spent the money for others in need, and am
rejoiced that all his are so comfortable."
Many of our readers who can look back a few years will recall to
memory the manly form, and fine, open countenance, of William L.
Green, who was so suddenly cut off at the very threshold of what
promised to be an honorable and useful career. He had come to Boston
from his native town of Groton; and, after serving an apprenticeship,
had entered upon a successful business. He had endeared himself to a
large circle of friends, and possessed such qualities of mind and
heart as had made him the stay and hope of his parents in their
declining years.
Upon hearing of the death of this nephew, Mr. Lawrence addressed to
his parents the following letter of sympathy:
"BOSTON, October 22, 1847.
"DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER: God speaks to us through the rustling
of the leaves no less distinctly than in the voice of the
whirlwind and the storm; and it is now our business and our
privilege to look at him and to him for the lesson of yesterday.
Dear W., as he parted from me the Sabbath noon before the last,
looked the embodiment of health, long life, and happiness. Now,
that noble figure, face, expression, and loved spirit, which
lightened his path, is no longer among us, to be in danger of
injury from our yielding him that which belongs to God only. Were
we not liable, dear brother and sister, to interrupt those
communings which God calls us to with himself? He is our merciful
Father, and does for us what he sees is best; and, if we receive
his teachings, however dark they may appear to us at present, all
will be made clear at the right time. Your precious treasure is
secured, I trust, and will prove an increased attraction to you
to follow; and it seems to me that our children are uniting in
their joyful meeting in heaven. May we see in this event, more
clearly than ever, where we are to look for direction,
instruction, and support! May we be ready when called! So prays
your affectionate and afflicted brother,
A. L."
To a friend he writes, Dec. 27:
"In our domestic relations, we are all as we could desire, save
the individual case of my brother William, who is barely
remaining this side Jordan, and in a happy state, I trust, to
pass over. For a number of days, we have supposed each might be
the last but he may continue for some days, or possibly weeks.
Death strikes right and left, and takes from our midst the
long-honored and beloved, in their maturity. Dr. Codman and Judge
Hubbard are both to be buried to-day; two men whose places will
not soon be filled, I fear. Only last Tuesday, in my ride with
good Dr. Sharp, we agreed to call and pay our respects to Dr. C.
on Thursday; but, on that morning, learned that he was dead. On
Thursday, Judge Hubbard rode out, and transacted legal business
as a magistrate; in the evening went to bed as usual; in the
night-time was turned over in bed, as he requested to be, and
ceased to breathe. How could a good man pass over Jordan more
triumphantly and gloriously?"
The reader will not fail to note the coïncidence, that, almost exactly
five years later, Mr. Lawrence was summoned to "pass over" in the same
manner, which, from the expression used, seems to have been to him so
desirable; though his own departure was still more sudden and
striking.
(TO A PHYSICIAN.)
"Sabbath evening, seven o'clock.
"DEAR W.: I have been reading to ---- the last hour, beginning at
the second chapter of Matthew, and so on in course. Please look
at the fourth chapter, and the latter part of the twenty-third
verse, and I think you will need no apology for doing what you
do, with such instruction. Christ's example, no less than his
precepts, is designed to be practically useful to the whole
family of man; and I feel humbled and grieved that I have not
followed him better, and preached better by all the motives he
has thus spread out. I say, then, to you and yours, God bless you
in your good work, and make you a worthy follower of the Beloved!
A. L."