28 JUKBBBDWARD8 



He insisted upon vigorous action in relation to the 

 loose and as he thought immoral reading of the 

 youth of the town. As this involved some promi- 

 nent families he had to retire from the pastorate. 

 The views of Mr. Edwards on pastoral work 

 reveal the singleness of purpose of the man as a 

 student and thinker. He never made pastoral 

 calls. He had no criticism to make of those pastors 

 who had talent for entertaining people by occa- 

 sional calls, but as he had no gifts in that direc- 

 tion he regarded it advisable to use his time in 

 cultivating such talents as he had. Whoever 

 wished to talk with him about personal, moral or 

 religious conditions found in him a profitable coun- 

 sellor. In his preaching, which was equal to any- 

 thing America has ever known, he made no attempt 

 to win his hearers by tricks of oratory or by emo- 

 tional appeals, though he had a most fascinating 

 personality. He was six feet in height, slender in 

 form, with a high, broad forehead, eyes piercing 

 and luminous and a serene countenance. In the 

 pulpit he was graceful, easy, natural and earnest, 

 though he had little action. He rested his left 

 elbow on the pulpit and held his manuscript in 

 his left hand while with his right he turned the 

 leaves. In him were combined the intellectual and 

 moral vigor which are calculated to make the 

 progenitor of a great family. 



