326 History of Methodism 



his practical motto, and so intensely interested was lie 

 in particular in the study of the Hebrew language, 

 and so successful withal, that the powerful workings 

 of his mind, as his eye remained fastened to the page 

 of the original, glassed themselves in his bright and 

 transparent features. Many supposed that he short- 

 ened his days by intensity of thought and study. His 

 mind, in its relation to the tabernacle which it inhab- 

 ited, seemed like some mighty engine that makes the 

 timbers of the vessel it is propelling tremble. He was 

 far in advance of the period in which he lived in his 

 estimation and advocacy of education, and the impulse 

 which he gave to learning in the South Carolina Con- 

 ference is felt to this day. There was nothing in his 

 personal appearance that indicated the wonderful 

 powers of this extraordinary man. He was about six 

 feet in stature, his shoulders a little stooping, his knees 

 bending slightly forward, his walk tottering, and in 

 his whole appearance the very personification of 

 frailty. He had lost one eye, after he reached man- 

 hood, by small-pox, and the natural beauty of a fair 

 face had been otherwise dreadfully marred by the 

 same disease. His costume was a straight coat, long 

 vest, and knee-breeches, with stockings and shoes; 

 sometimes long, fair -topped boots, fastened by a 

 modest strap to one of the knee-buttons to keep the 

 boots gently up; but in these little accomplishments 

 Mr. Dougherty was sadly deficient. His intellect, 

 however, was an orb of light upon which no percepti- 

 ble shadow ever fell. His conceptions were perfectly 

 clear, and his language always appropriate. If one 

 listened to him long enough to apprehend his course 

 of thought, his attention was sure to be enchained 

 for the remainder of his discourse. His memory was 



