of men, that they may see the exaltation of humanity through the power of the truth as it is in Christ Jesus." Under this impression of Christian duty the work was written; the result is committed unto God. CONTENTS. Page RETURN TO FRIENDSBURY-LIFE-WEARING EFFECTS OF CONTINUAL SORROW-DEATH OF HIS CHILD. 135 TOTAL WRECK OF EARTHLY HAPPINESS-STRUGGLE FOR LIFE TO THE CHRISTIAN LAWYER. CHAPTER I. ANCESTRAL INFLUENCE IN DETERMINING CHARACTER. O, could we copy their mild virtues, then A guiding ray; or seem, like stars on high, Satellites burning in a lucid ring.-WORDSWORTH. THE highest use of biography is to perpetuate the influence of the great and good after they have passed away from earth. The greatest and the best, when laid in the darkness of the grave, are soon forgotten amid the bustle and the business of life. After a time even their names become a strange, unfamiliar sound. Yet among these there are men whose lives teach a lesson worthy of remembrance, men who have left "footprints" in their course of duty and integrity that we would fain keep as way-marks for those who seek to press onward in the same high path of private virtue and public usefulness. Such a one was WILLIAM GEORGE BAKER, a Christian lawyer, a Christian statesman, a Christian philanthropist. 1 The object of this memorial is not to eulogize the dead, but to serve the living. For those who knew him, the voice of praise is needless; as to them his name is associated with all that is high and noble in principle, all that is kind, generous, and unselfish in action. For his sake it is yet more needless; he sought not the praise of men while on earth, and it can add nothing to his blessedness in heaven. A faithful portraiture of his life and character will be given for the sake of those who are about to take their places in the conflict of life, or are already battling in the struggle for professional or political position; that he, being dead, may yet speak, and that his influence for good over all with whom he associated may be extended to those who never knew him. To these we would present a model man, who attained distinction and yet preserved the unsullied integrity of character; a lawyer, whose chief aim was to prevent litigation, making the interest of his clients paramount |