APPENDIX. 103 



ligious societies in Pennsylvania. But although that 

 has long ceased to he the case, yet, fortunately for us, 

 they are still powerful enough to exert a silent influ- 

 ence, checking the overflowing tide of luxury, which 

 threatens to deluge the land. 



It is difficuU for a physician to be punctual in at- 

 tendance on public worship. But if Wistar was not 

 punctual, it was not because he was insensible of the 

 duty, but because he was called by other duties to 

 the assistance of his fellow mortals in another place. 

 He, therefore, desired that his family should be re- 

 gular in attendance at meeting, and he himself went 

 when the situation of his patients permitted. In his 

 devotion, as in every thing else, he was void of osten- 

 tation. But that his mind dwelt much on that impor- 

 tant object, I can have no manner of doubt. When 

 a youth, at Edinburgh, his friend. Dr. Charles Stew- 

 art, made him a present of a neat edition of the Bible, 

 in two small volumes. These he carefully preserved 

 to the day of his death; and it was his custom, when 

 he travelled, always to take one of them with him. 

 This circumstance was well known to his children, 

 the eldest of whom frequently accompanied him in 

 his excursions, and could not fail to impress on their 

 tender minds, a veneration for tlic book which tlieir 

 father so highly prized. 



