to his own emolument; a statesman, who shrank from high official honors within his reach, but yet was ever ready to accept humbler posts where he thought his services were needed for the public good; and a Christian, whose humility before God and whose virtue in the sight of man exalted him to a place in the public esteem rarely awarded even to the best of men, showing that Christian integrity in its unbroken unity has its weight of influence in the world as well as in the Church.

A poor infidel, during a defense of his doctrines, remarked incidentally, that as far back as he could remember he had never known a prayer to be offered to God in the family of his father or grandfather. A whole precious generation withont prayer or faith in God-the natural result was infidelity! With the subject of this sketch it was far otherwise. As far back as his ancestry can be traced, praying men and praying women can be found whose lives were spent in God's service.

In a letter written by the great great grandmother of William George Baker, in the ninety-fourth year of her age, and addressed to his grandmother, we find these passages: "This comes with my kind love, hoping that it may find you all in good health, as it

hath left all our people, thanks be to God for it! I send you my age as my mother hath told me: I was born in the year of our Lord 1699, January 24th. . . . I thank you for your good-will to me. I hope the Lord will bless you, and your husband, and your children. So no more, but my prayer to God for you all." During the course of the Revolutionary war the daughter of this aged saint, whose letter we have quoted, must have had around her a Christian household, as we are told of their sitting around the door at the close of the day engaged in singing devotional hymns. On one occasion, the evening song of praise was the following invocation to the Trinity :

"Come, thou Almighty King,

Help us thy Name to sing,

Help us to praise;

Father all-glorious,

O'er all victorious,

Come, and reign over us,

Ancient of days."

The tune to which this was usually sung was the same as sung to "God save the King." The strain. was heard by a passer-by, and some of the words were caught as he paused to listen. Fired by the supposed insult to the American cause, he hurried toward them, threatening to have them arrested as

Tories. He was quietly requested to sit down with them and hear them through.

After listening to the remaining stanzas the incensed patriot was fully satisfied there was neither Toryism nor treachery among this household band, and, with a hearty laugh over his mistaken zeal, he shook hands with them and went on his way. Living remote from the scene of war, in the midst of an agricultural people who had not, as yet, found it necessary to throw aside the pruning-hook or the plowshare to take up the sword in defense of their homes from the attacks of the invaders, this good old tune had for this Christian family no associations with loyalty to an earthly monarch; they had always used it in praising the triune God, in loyalty to the King of kings.

Mr. Baker's paternal grandfather was thrown upon the world an orphan at a tender age. All that he knew of his parents was drawn from their tragical fate, so deeply impressed on his memory, and all that he knew of his own early history began in the cir cumstances attending his own escape from the Indian massacre that left him without parents or home. The family resided near Reading, in Pennsylvania. When the boy was about five or six years old an attack

from the Indians was apprehended. Many people of the neighborhood were hastening to Philadelphia for safety, and the lad was standing on the roadside, watching their hurried movements, when a friendly Indian came up, riding on a pony. He quickly dismounted, saying, "Billy must go too," and placing the little boy on his own horse, he started it off to follow the company. He reached Philadelphia in safety, but never saw or heard of his parents afterward. He was told that their house was fired and consumed, but he never knew whether they were massacred by the savages, or burned to death while defending their home. He found another home among strangers, where he received a good, plain education, and came to Baltimore when quite a young man, became an assistant in a store, and afterward a merchant on his own account. He married in 1780, and had become a Christian before his marriage. He was attached to the Church of which Mr. Otterbein was pastor, and continued to attend his ministry until the connection was dissolved by death.

As a merchant, the grandfather of William George Baker was honest, upright, and open in all his dealings, careful only to make his regular profits on his importations. Keeping his capital employed in his

legitimate business, he lent out no money, and was satisfied if a debt due for goods sold was paid in its original amount without interest, even when payment was unduly delayed. At a comparatively early age, thinking he had gained a sufficiency, he retired from trade to a rural home. In his daily rides to the city he would call round on the young merchants of his acquaintance, inquire how they were prospering, and give to each the repeated warning: "Be careful to keep your business within your capital, and do not be tempted by credit." In all his business views and actions he was prudent and cautious, preferring the safe path trodden by experience, to the adventurous experiment of striking out into untried routes of more flattering promise.

His grandfather on the mother's side was Richard Jones, who is still remembered by several aged persons for his deep piety and his active career of benevolence. He emigrated to the United States from his native place, Caernarvonshire, Wales, in 1781, preceding his family to provide a home before sending for his wife and children. In early life he became a member of the Wesleyan Connection, under its celebrated founder, with whom he was personally acquainted. In all his traits he was pre-eminently