26 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 



"These effectual fervent prayers availed mucli," 

 the donation was granted, and the foundation 

 for Shaw University was laid. 



It is needless to say that of all such meetings, 

 while he was a student, he was called on to lead 

 them. Another student, who has since risen to 

 eminence in his Alma Mater, said of Mr. Shep- 

 ard: ''His talks in these prayer meetings made 

 a deep impression upon the student body; some 

 of the passages he used to quote are fresh in my 

 mind today. Brother Shepard was a quiet, dig- 

 nified young man ; and although he had the ap- 

 pearance of a big boy, any one could see upon 

 his countenance distinctive expressions of Chris- 

 tian piety. And notwithstanding he seemed 

 much reserved, he always took an active part in 

 religious meetings, and always impressed me as 

 a man born of the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, 

 and led by the Spirit." And still another said 

 of him : ''He impressed me as a young man of 

 unusual ability. A robust physique, strong, 

 heavy voice, but of a congenial disposition, and 

 deep Christian piety. As I became better ac- 

 quainted with him, I found that he not only 

 possessed those natural traits of character, but 



