THE FOUNDERS AND DECEASED CONTRIBUTORS OF THE GUARDIAN.

BY THE EDITOR.

William Heyser.

"And Moses, Aaron, and Hur, went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon: and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword."-Ex. 17: 10-13.

In the last number of the "Guardian" we gave a sketch of Bernard Wolff, of Chambersburg, during a long and useful life, an active member and office-bearer of the Reformed Church at that place. He was a brother-in-law of William Heyser, the subject of this article. There was but a few years' difference in their age. For more than half a century they lived near neighbors. And for nearly that length of time, they were the leading members of the Consistory of their congregation. Alternately they led the prayer meeting; indeed, for many years, led in every needful project in the congregation. So much so, that often, as the members with tender regard beheld the venerable Elders, they would say: "What shall we do, once Bernard Wolff and William Heyser are no longer with us." During forty years they were the right-hand men of every pastor of that congregation. Both visited and prayed with the sick, and attended their pastor in offices of charity and pastoral work. They cheered their shepherd's heart with their gifts, prayers and presence at all the services. Their age, experience, mature judgment and steadfast faith, guided and upheld him in all his ways. I speak what I do know, and testify what I have seen. I was their pastor. When my hands were heavy, they held them up. Much could I here say of what these sainted fathers were to me personally, but that might savor too much of egotism. To me and to other pastors, they were what Aaron and Hur were to Moses on the mount, till the going down of the sun of their life.

William Heyser was born in 1795. He was the child of godly parents, and was nurtured in the bosom of a Christian home. Therein he grew as a tree planted by the rivers of water.

He was

thoroughly instructed in the Heidelberg Catechism, and early in life confirmed as a member of the Reformed Church, in Chambersburg, Pa. Like his brother-in-law, with his young wife, he brought his Saviour into his house. Ever thereafter the reading of the Scriptures and prayer were daily observed in his family. He became one of the most active and successful business men in that community. Sons and daughters were born to him, four of whom continue to this present day, as active members of the Church Militant. For more than thirty years he served as Elder of his congregation. In 1829 his flock started a Sunday School, of which he became superintendent, and continued in office till his death, during a period of thirty-four years. For this office he possessed rare talents. He had a great love for children, and knew how to interest and instruct them. He often traveled for business, Churchwork, and recreation. Wherever he happened to spend the Sunday, he was sure to turn up in some Sunday School, if such was to be found, and usually had a word of encouragement for them. his return home, he would entertain his school with a story of what he had seen and experienced. In addition to his Sunday School work, during many years, he led a Bible class in his parlor, every Sunday afternoon. He lived to see many of his earlier scholars become heads of Christian families, and useful members of society. Not a few of these living in distant parts of the country, gratefully remembered their old friend, and occasionally wrote him an affectionate letter. On their visit to Chambersburg, they called to see him and thank him for what he had done for them.

He was present at the Sunday School Convention of Pennsylvania, held in Philadelphia in 1861, in which he gave a summary report of his labors as a Sunday School worker. He was then the oldest Sunday School Superintendent in Pennsylvania; the oldest in years and the longest in service. This address made a great impression. An abstract of it was published in most of the religious papers of the country. He was extensively known and respected as a veteran in the Sunday School army. He took an active part in the general work of the Church. For twenty-four years he was a Trustee of Marshall College. The last twenty-nine years of his life, he was Treasurer of the Eastern Synod of the Reformed Church. At the time of his death, there was no layman, who had attended so many meetings of Synod as a delegate, as William HeyHe was always prompt in the discharge of his duties to the Church. His most pressing business duties had to bend to her claims. Whether to visit or pray with the sick, to meet his Sunday School or Bible class, to attend religious services, travel hundreds of miles to attend a Church Board or a meeting of Synod, he was always at his post precisely at the hour appointed, unless pre

ser.

vented by Providence. Although unwell a week before his death, he attended a meeting of the Synod, at Carlisle, Pa.

He had more than ordinary natural talents; notwithstanding an incomplete education, by much and careful reading, he acquired a creditable cultivation of mind. He had a fine taste for the beauties. of art and nature. A number of his contributions in poetry and prose, enrich the earlier volumes of the "Guardian." In addressing Sunday Schools, he was extremely apt. He usually took an active part in the discussion of Synod, and Church Boards. He took a common-sense view of matters, and could give a clear and telling statement of his views. He could lay hold of the gist of a question, which would often make him more successful in argument than public debaters of more scholarly pretensions.

Few men enjoy home life more than did William Heyser; few who spend such an active life, live so much at home as did he. His hearth was to him a sort of sanctuary, where the true God was enshrined, at whose altar he was the priest who offered intercession and prayer. Amid the cares and worries of business, and the trials of life, he quietly found in his home a refuge from the storm, an abode of peace.

In the Reformed Church at Chambersburg, a meeting of Mercersburg Classis was held. It was early in October, 1863. I felt it my duty to become pastor of my present flock. My two Elder-. friends and their people felt just as clearly convinced, that I was to continue with them. Several hundred persons petitioned against my leaving. The two Elders spoke earnestly against it. They had nobly stood by me; never gave me an unkind word. And as they spoke, tears fell from many eyes. The heart was firmly riveted to those people; stern duty heeded not its ties. Such appeals. Those two men with silvery locks, and trembling voices. And mine trembling as well. "Brethren, you will kill that brother. Look at him, a shadow of his former self. Here he has an easy united, devoted flock, there-who knows what awaits him?" Acts 21: 13.

It seems cruel to disregard such appeals. But the cruelty cuts both parties with equal pain. We saw duty differently, yet remained friends. I attended Mr. H. to the Synod at Carlisle. He felt quite unwell, and had to return home before the close of the Synodical meeting He made a parting speech to the Synod; it was his last on earth. Around him he saw many brethren, with whom for many years he had worked shoulder to shoulder. The memory of pleasant associations seemed to nerve him with unwonted strength, though enfeebled by disease. His speech touched many hearts, and eyes unused 'to weep were moistened with

tears.

The last grasp of the hand, and a cordial God bless you are given, and we part-he for home, and I for R-. Scarcely a week later, I received a telegram inviting me, at his request, to officiate at his funeral.

Most likely the last pain this good man received from a friend, he received from me. And that has been an unforgotten grief to me to this day, and will be hereafter. But I could not help it. Duty knows no friendship. The All Knowing One, who is touched with a feeling of our infirmity, "knoweth our frame." Thus God's people, equally conscientious, often see duty in different lights, and are compelled to strike diverging paths, yet cease not to love each other, and wait till heaven will solve their conflicting questions.

CAIUS JULIUS CAESAR.

BY PERKIOMEN.

I write the life of this bold, bad genius, mainly to show, that the good alone are truly immortal. Nor am I mistaken, I trust, in supposing all our young readers ready to learn something of this wonderful character, who changed the whole face of Rome, and placed her under his foot. The history of a bad man has its lessons too. This is our excuse for drawing the profile of one, who was not a benefactor, but a scourge, rather, whom his Creator permitted to pass over an infatuated age and people, even as He suffers a tornado to sweep the plain, for purposes which we are not wise enough to interpret. The Green Bay-Tree of the Psalmist stands before my vision as I write.

CÆSARISM.

This is now a name of Imperial import. There was a time, however, when it had no such regal signification-when it even had not been at all. Julian was the Patronymic, Family name. How Cæsar came to supplant the original possessor of the field, is not certainly known. Some maintain, that a bold Julian scion once slew an Elephant-which in the Punic tongue is called Casa. From this circumstance Julian gave way to Cæsar. But Festus says, once upon a time, a child of the line, was born with curls and a beard-Caesaris-and had the name 'Cæsar' conferred upon itself and posterity. And Pliny tells us, that Cæsar' originated

from the fact, that a certain mother of the Julian blood died from the primal sorrow of her sex, and that from the manner in which the infant was preserved-Cado-the name arose.

THE JULIAN FAMILY

became the fountain-head to the Cæsars, then, in some singular way, whichever explanation we may adopt. And an ancient and illustrious blood it had been, this Julian stock. Before the Roman Republic had stood three whole decades, the name, Caius Julius, already appeared on the Consul list. One of this line and name. had been among the Decemviri, by whom the Twelve Tables' were compiled. Another filled the office of Prætor. A fourth attained to the Consulate again. A fifth covered himself with the glory of a Military General. Still another became an orator of great repute.

CÆSAR'S BIRTH AND BOYHOOD.

The subject of this sketch eclipsed his ancestry, however. His parents were Caius Julius Cæsar and Aurelia Cotta-both of high rank. He was born, U. C. 650. We would say, July 10th, B. C. 100. His birth was ushered in with many presages and omens of future greatness. His boyhood was of a piece with his wonderful advent. He possessed and manifested remarkable talents, if we may believe all that is written concerning his precociousness. His was an uncommon intellect, a good memory, and a lively imagination. All this might have been of little account, though, had he not proven a diligent and persevering boy. Even Cæsar had not been born great, let it be remembered. He could read, write, hear and dictate, at one and the same time, from four to seven different letters.

But prodigies are oftentimes born in clusters, during very pregnant ages, as grapes are. During this period, a number of eccentric characters entered on the scene abreast, who unitedly determined the fate of the Commonwealth. Pompey, Cato, Cicero, and other conspicuous mortals stood here and there, all but a few years older or younger than Cæsar. These may have become what they proved, severally, from what may be called the friction of rivalry.

A YOUNG MAN OF MARK.

At the head of the two rival factions in Rome, stood Marius and Sylla, during Cæsar's nascent manhood. With the former he had. identified himself. Sylla, to show his arbitrary power, commanded him to divorce his young wife. Cæsar refused to comply and was proscribed. Various attempts had been made to slay him; but