298 John Bachman. 



walked some much younger men than himself, and 

 left the older lagging far behind. 



The same body convened in his Church in 1850. 

 Among many other acts of kindness shown, Dr. 

 Bachman presented every clerical member of the 

 Synod with a copy of his celebrated book, " On the 

 Unity of the Human Race." 



Dr. Bachman was probably the founder of The 

 Literary Club of Charleston. 



He was elected its first President and long retained 

 the office. Literary and scientific attainments were 

 necessary for membership ; but it was the privilege 

 of each member to invite a guest. These social gath- 

 erings were both instructive and enjoyable. The 

 evening closed with simple refreshments. A hot 

 supper would have infringed upon the rules of the 

 Society, whose motto was "High thinking and plain 

 living." 



Healthful and vigorous, containing within itself 

 the germs of intellectual life and growth, the So- 

 ciety grew to noble proportions, with the promise of 

 increasing strength and usefulness. Charlestonians 

 felt a just and generous pride in the attainments of 

 its members. Literary men and scientists who 

 visited Charleston, Agassiz and a host of others, were 

 its honored guests. 



On one occasion the subject suggested for con- 

 sideration was " Luther, the Reformer," and Dr. Bach- 

 man was requested to prepare the Essay. Later 

 (1853) his Protestant fellow-citizens called upon him 

 for a more public defence of the Great Reformer. 



