CHAPTER VII. Page Riga - His sister Hen- Henry Oberlin's removal to 156 CHAPTER VIII. Medal presented to Oberlin by the Royal Agricultural Society of Paris - Oberlin's private character- His description of himself - Mr. Owen's letter, containing an account of a Ban de la Roche Sabbath - Oberlin's ministry- Sermons Ministerial labors, &c. His paternal influence over his flock Questions addressed to his parishioners Circulars CHAPTER IX. Oberlin's pastoral visits - Interview between Dr. and Mrs. Steinkopff and the Conductrice of Bellefosse - Their visit to the cottage of Madeleine Krüger; also to that of Sophia Bernard Letter written by Mrs. C. during a visit to the Ban de la Roche in the summer of 1820- Letter from Mrs. Rauscher to the Paris Bible Society, containing an account of the death of Sophia Bernard, &c.. Amount of the sums raised at different times in Waldbach, in support of various charitable institutions 178 240 Page CHAPTER X. Oberlin's last illness and death ral Letter respecting Louisa Schepler, found after his decease His fune- APPENDIX 263 290 THE memoirs of an individual, whose whole life has been devoted to pious and disinterested exertions for the temporal and spiritual good of mankind, have not unfrequently proved the means of awakening the desires, and strengthening the resolutions of others to follow him in his career of benevolence. Such an individual was JOHN FREDERIC OBERLIN, a person whose indefatigable efforts for upwards of fifty years, to benefit the simple villagers who constituted his flock, entitle him to universal esteem and admiration. The writer earnestly hopes that the recital of his labors may, under the divine blessing, tend to confirm the zealous and encourage the weak, and lead all who hear it to catch a portion of that sacred glow by which he was himself animated. 1 His character, as displayed in the uniform tenor of his life, presented a remarkable combination of varied excellencies; for whilst much exalted sanctity and intrepid zeal were conspicuous, an unwearied ardor in doing good, and a habitual willingness to renounce his own interests to promote the well-being of his fellow creatures, were equally evident. In addition to this, his extreme simplicity, conscientious integrity, sweetness of temper, and refinement of manner, caused him to be both ardently loved and sincerely revered; whilst his industry, his agricultural skill, his knowledge of rural and domestic economy, and the energy with which he carried his plans into effect the moment he was convinced of their utility, rendered him not only an example, but a blessing to the people among whom he resided, and afforded a delightful proof of the advantages that may accrue from a union of secular and spiritual duties. Before I proceed with my narrative, it will be proper to present the reader with some description of the Ban de la Roche, the scene of Oberlin's long and useful labors, and to state what had been previously effected there by his predecessor, M. Stouber, a Lutheran minister, of congenial spirit with himself. The Ban de la Roche, or Steinthal,* derives its name from a castle called La Roche, round which the Ban or district extends. It is a mountainous canton in the northeast of France, between Alsace and Lorraine, forming part of the declivities and western ramifications of the Haut Champ, or Champ de Feu, an isolated range of mountains, detached by a deep valley from the eastern boundary of the chain of the Vosges. It consists of two parishes: the one is Rothau; the other, including three churches, comprises the five hamlets of Foudai, Belmont, Waldbach, Bellefosse, and Zolbach. These last mentioned are almost exclusively inhabited by Lutherans. The Champ de Feu, as its name implies, bears traces of volcanic origin. It is higher than Snowdon, rising three thousand six hundred feet above the level of the sea. The village of Waldbach, at which Oberlin resided on account of its central situation, stands upon its acclivity, at the height of one thousand eight hundred feet; and the usual road from Strasbourg thither lies through the towns of Molsheim, Mutzig, and Schirmeck. Behind the little town of Schirmeck the extensive and fertile valley in which *Steinthal is the German name for the Ban de la Roche. Its literal signification is, the Valley of Stone. -DR. STEINKOPFF, |