% I.Vipieil liy W. H. Tii-ro.v, <:iiivr.t.iir,-. y.> ALFRED J. FOX, Born September 6, 1817. Died June 10, 18E BIOGRAPHY Key. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D, EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN MINISTER OF THE TENNESSEE SYNOD, AND PHYSICIAN. BY HIS SON, Rev. JUNIUS B. FOX, A. M., WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY HIS SON, Prof. LUTHER A. FOX, D. D. i>tjbil.isi3:ei3 for the author. PHILADELPHIA : LUTHERAN PUBLICATION SOCIETY. 1885. Copyright, 1885, By Rev. JUNIUS B. FOX. so O BIOGRAPHY OF Rev. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. PREFACE. npHE purpose of this biography is to rescue and preserve from oblivion the life and character of one whose memory deserves to be guarded with aifectionate interest. Its responsibility belongs to the author and the friends who desired its publication. No pains nor expense have been spared to make it worthy of the life it endeavors to picture with no touches of fancy, but with truthful expressions. Its typography, portrait, and general appearance speak for themselves. Every available source has been sought to gather any facts that might throw light upon the history of one whose noblest deeds, perhaps, have been forgotten. The unwritten history of this useful life would be transcend- ently more interesting than the present work, could it be presented in its stead. The author gratefully acknowledges his indebtedness to kind friends who have aided him in collecting the necessary material, and presents this book to a generous public with the sincere hope that it may accomplish good, and that the blessing of the Lord God of our fathers may go with it. J. B. F. Caney Branch, Tenn., Nov. W, 1885. (V) INTRODITCTION. ANE cannot but wonder at the poverty of our church in ^ America in biographical literature. A few of the lives of eminent ministers in Germany have been translated from the German. The ninth volume of Sprague's Annals of the American pulpit was devoted to Lutheran ministers, but while very important and interesting as sketches, it is not complete and is not suitable for general circulation. Prof. M. L, Stoever while editing the Evangelical Bevieiv also published a number of biographical sketches. Separate articles in that Revieiv have been devoted to prominent men, such as Drs. S. S. Smucker, D. F. Bittle, and B. Kurtz. But neither the sketches by Prof. Stoever nor the articles proposed by others were intended to be full, and the Revieiv is not often found outside the libraries of ministers. The life of Dr. H. M. Muhlenburg by Prof. M. L. Stoever, and the biography of Dr. Ezra Keller have been published in books. To these may be added the life of Rev. M. Officer who was for many years a minister of our church. If there are any others they are not now called to mind. A few are known to be in course of preparation. This poverty of biographical literature is not due to a lack of deserving men. We have had many men more worthy than some in other communions who have been thus honored, (vii) Vlll INTRODUCTION. Able, devout and eminently useful men will be forgotten, not only in the church they seryed but in the communities where they wore out their lives, because so little has been done to keep alive the memory of their work. Nor is this poverty due to a want of knowledge of the influence of such literature. We find biographies in the homes of the people of other churches. We have biograph- ies of statesmen and soldiers and authors. Plutarch's Lives has long been a classic, and has been read by the young for many years. All of us have been deeply interested and influenced by this class of books. Whatever the cause, whether from modesty or want of time, or want of encouragement, the fact lemains. This volume will do something towards supplying that want. It may be a too great partiality of sons for a sainted father that prompts this volume, but, if a mistake, it will be ex- cused, and they indulge the hope that it may excite to simi- lar effort on the part of others and lead to a literature both in extent and character worthy of our great church. The work of Dr. A.J. Fox consisted very largely of a personal influence upon the minds and hearts of those with whom he was brought into contact. He was not an author whose book might be read and mould opinion for years to come. He was too busy to write. He was not called to organize bodies with whose destiny his name and character would be identified, and whose existence would perpetuate his opinions. He moulded individuals, and his influence will be preserved in these living channels. Strong as was the impression, it must fade away from the memory of men un- INTRODUCTION. IX less gathered into some permanent centre. This biography will do something towards holding the stream to its source and become a new fountain from which may continue to flow the influence so powerful while its subject lived. His life extended across a very important period in the history of the Lutheran Church in America. At the time of his birth the church was very small. The civil govern- ment, regarded by many as an experiment, had just passed through the trial of an important war. The country was still new and full of enterprise. While the State and busi- ness were experimenting with new measures the Church was also trying new methods. Just a few years before he was born the first revivals were held, and a few years later the General Synod was formed and the Tennessee Synod organized. In the General Synod there were different ten- dencies. One large district synod was impregnated with Unitarianism. There was some Rationalistic influences. The Confessional basis is proof that there was a large ele- ment of doubt in respect to the truth of the Augsburg Con- fession. It was adopted as only in a manner substantially correct. The new phase of Lutheranism which was de- veloped in it, called itself American Lutheranism, and at length attempted to embody itself in the Definite Synodical Platform as a substitute for the Augsburg Confession. Amid the working of these tendencies he was born and his early life was passed. By decided principle, as well as by family relationship, he was connected with the Tennessee Synod which planted itself firmly upon the Augsburg Con- fession and Luther's Smaller Catechism. It was a very 1* X INTRODUCTION. small body. For twenty years it was composed of self-edu- cated men, not one of whom had ever been graduated from either a college or theological seminary. The churches were scattered over four States, and were in the interior, not one being found in any city or large town. Yet this little body was called by Providence to be the custodian of the historic Lutheran faith in America. They were op- posed and maligned by the denominations around them. They were misunderstood, misrepresented and denounced by Lutherans. They were stigmatized by opprobrious epithets. Lutheran synods in grave resolutions condemned them and warned the public against them. Good men like Dr. Bachman preached and published sermons in opposition to them. They were looked upon as a sort of religious nondescript. Dr. Fox lived through that period when it cost something to be a Lutheran, and survived it long enough to hear one of the prominent actors in the opposition say in a public address, " I am heartily ashamed of the part I took in those proceedings." This biography does not dis- cuss the issues of that day, nor was its author called upon to delineate minutely the struggle, yet it will do something towards preserving historical facts that should not be for- gotten. The synod of which he was a life-long member was organ- ized at a time and under circumstances that gave a narrow- ness to its operations. For this there was a reason or a purpose to be accomplished. The activities were circum- scribed that they might be the more intense within the prescribed sphere. At length the time came to shake oflf INTRODUCTION. XI the bands and enter upon a broader field. He was one of the first to recognize the change, and became the leader in the progressive movement. No man did more than he to place the work of missions, education, etc., in the hands of the Synod, and to inaugurate the better methods. The new Constitution was largely his work. He advocated it, and after protracted efibrts, saw it adopted. He preached the first regular missionary sermon ever preached before the North Carolina Conference of the Synod. He was very active in beneficiary education. He was one of the first to open Sunday-schools in his church What the Synod is to- day is in no small measure due to him. These facts are recorded within these pages, and have here a suitable memorial. A self-made man who rose to wide-extended usefulness, his life is an encouragement to young men who are strug- gling against adversity seeking a sphere where they can serve more successfully their fellowmen. They may come to these pages and drink in a new inspiration. Men who knew and loved him, who have been made wiser and better by him, will be pleased to review his life as here presented, and point their children and friends to the portraiture of one who was so helpful to them. The hope is indulged that strangers may draw from his character some profitable lessons, and catching something of his pure and earnest spirit, be lifted into a higher and better life. Those who have heard him from the pulpit will miss in his sermons the pecu- liar power that impressed them as his words came fresh and warm from his lips, yet it will be a pleasure and profit to XU INTRODUCTION. read the discourses embodied here. Those who did not hear him cannot know from these what he was as a preacher, still they may see something of the cast of his thought and find truth worthy a careful study. Whatever may be the fate of this volume, the character it exhibits, imprinted upon thousands of imperishable hearts, will not die, and multitudes will rise up at the last day and call him blessed. CONTENTS. PAGE. I. Childhood and Youth 15 II. His Ministry 21 in. First Ministerial Work 27 ly. Return to North Carolina 39 Y. Ministerial Character 46 YI. History in the Tennessee Synod 55 Vn. Character as a Physician 65 VIII. His General Character 69 IX. Close of Life 77 (xiii) BIOGEAPHT OF Rey. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. CHAPTER I. CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. n^HE family of Alfred Fox cannot boast of a celebrated -^ ancestry. No distinguished persons known to us come in his lineal descent. Beyond a partial obscure his- tory of the German settlements in Pennsylvania, from which he sprang, his genealogy is unknown to those now living. Just when his forefathers crossed the Atlantic cannot be as- certained. The inference, however, is easily established, that, in the opening years of the present century, an event quietly transpired in the humble home of one of these Penn- sylvania Germans, designed in the providence of God to mark an epoch in the family history. The mutual affection of David Fox and Elizabeth Moretz called together a small company, we imagine, to witness the consummation of their matrimonial alliance. The idea of consistency forbids the imagination that their marriage took place amid flourish of trumpets or glaring preparations, but with German simplicity. Mr. Fox was a farmer, a plain, substantial, industrious young man. His chosen companion came likewise from humble parentage, some of whose relations, however, were minis- (XV) 16 BIOGRAPHY OF ters of the Lutheran church. Soon after the establishment of this relation, they settled in the State of North Carolina. On September 6, 1817, in Chatham county, about one-half of a mile from Staley depot, on the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railroad, Alfred Fox, their oldest son, was born. In early infancy, his pious parents, by the holy sacrament of baptism, dedicated him to God. Rev. Daniel Graeber, of the Lutheran church, administered the ordinance. At the age of one and a half years his father moved to a farm which he had purchased on Sandey creek, in Randolph county. Here he received his youthful training and education. Here, in after years, his fondest memories found an asylum of rest from the buffetings and troubles of life. Here his heart held silent communions with childhood's home and mother. Here in the cemetery of the family church repose the ashes of those who had watched over his fragile infancy and guided safely his youthful steps. The home of his boyhood still stands unchanged, surrounded as then with quiet scenes and silent shades. From this house his mother passed into eter- nity in 1853, and his father in 1880, at the advanced age of eighty-nine. The paternal impressions made upon his youthful mind were those of honesty, simplicity, and integrity of charac- ter. He was taught to spurn that which was low and de- grading, and to cultivate a healthy and helpful manhood. He was made to see the dignity of labor — labor of the hands and of the head. Into his soul was instilled the principles of truthfulness and candor. His heart was filled with love for the good and true, and made uncompromising with evil. His plain German home did not afifoid the cultivation of the finer and higher ideas of social culture, but he did not fail to have inculcated deeply the stronger and hardier elements of vigorous manhood. These are after all the solid mater- REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. 17 ials of enduring character, and last when the glare and de- ception of the world's refinement fade. The impressions made upon him by his mother were par- ticularly lasting and ennobling. From her came the tender and mellowing influences upon his life. She was a truly good woman, and did much to shape the moral and spiritual life of her son. The lessons she taught were the weapons with which he first met life's conflicts, and gave him victory. Her influence followed him consciously through the morn- ing, noontide, and sunset of life. Even when he stood at the foot of the sunny slope of years, on the brink of the grave, he repeated with smiles the lessons taught him in childhood by his mother, her anecdotes, with their morals. The only education he received was at the common schools of his neighborhood, and afterwards by his own ac- quisition. He attended school in the winter, and worked upon the farm in the summer. From the teacher he learned his first lessons in English, being able beforehand to speak easily only the German. Until then, as he often said, he disliked very much to hold conversation with an Englislier. His recitations at school were in both languages. In after life, he was only associated with those speaking English, and his memory of German largely faded. He never preached but one German discourse. His use of English in private conversation and in the pulpit was so fluent, easy and accurate, that one could not tell that his tongue was ever accustomed to anything else. The names of his teachers are not at command, but from others we learn that he was an apt pupil, of quick percep- tion, and made the most of his opportunities. Among his schoolmates were Israel Fox, his cousin, a young man of fine talent, who died about the time he was admitted to the bar, and Rev. Dr. S. Y. McMasters of the Episcopal church. 18 BIOGRAPHY OP But the education which was of the highest utility to him was acquired by self-efforts. He gained as far as possible for , him, the highest conception of English and German literature. And not satisfied with this, he secured without aid a knowledge of Latin and Greek. This knowledge was extensive and accurate enough to enable him not only to give proper pronunciation to the desired quotations, but to correctly translate the languages. He was consequently vastly assisted in his study of Exegesis. He frequently ap- pealed from the pulpit before learned audiences to the origi- nal Greek of the Scriptures. His last sermon contained an accurate criticism of 1 John v. 7. In speaking of his edu- cation, we cannot forbear mentioning his remarkable vocabu- lary of English words. Synonyms with him were abundant. His idea of their different shades of signification was so ac- curate that he could successfully discuss them with those who had received collegiate training. So abundant was his fund of words, that when in animated discourse their super- fluity troubled him. This use of his adopted tongue as well as all other knowledge came through extensive reading until late hours at night, and in leisure moments by day, when sitting alone or traveling. Sometimes when riding his inter- est in reading was so intense that he did not perceive the passing of persons until looking back he saw them going in an opposite direction. In his seventeeth year he attended Richland's church near his father's home to receive catechetical instructions. Rev. Philip Henkel catechised the first day, but he became sick and died shortly afterwards. Rev. Henry Goodman finished the school, and confirmed him in the faith in which he lived consistently in after life, for which he so earnestly contended, and in which he died. The beginning of his Christian life, and preparation for eternity he ever dated REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. 19 from his confirmation in the church of his fathers. The vows then plighted with his Creator were never forgotten. The confession of Christ then made with his mouth was the commencement and pledge of that same confession 4n his heart and life. His character as a youth was exceptionally good. He not only lived a pious life, but even in early boyhood rebuked immoral conduct in others. His presence was a safeguard and stay against immoderate levity and vulgarity. He had the moral courage not to allow profanity to go unreproved. His rebukes of sinners were administered without a care of the possibility of subsequent offense. This however did not cause a want of friends. If it caused cold- ness, his enemies were soon regained by kind treatment. From this, the inference might be drawn that he was always serious, distant with associates, and possessed of a solemn bearing. He was on the contrary full of life and play, but altogether of an innocent character. He was a great tease to his friends and companions, and at work or play led the balance of the crowd. In his boyhood days, wild game in his section was plentiful. He loved the chase, and his stories of hunting with his father were full of interest. He was in youth, as well as in busy years, of a happy mind, and enjoyed life. When he was seventeen years old he began teaching school. One who was once his pupil thus testifies, in a re- cent letter, of him in this capacity : " My first recollection of your father was while he was engaged in teaching his first school, which I attended. He taught two or three schools near my father's home, to which I went. He was a good teacher and highly respected as such by all his pa- trons." He taught many other schools in NorthCarolina, Tennessee and Alabama as financial auxiliaries to the meagre incomes from his ministry. 20 BIOGRAPHY OF The traits specially manifest in his teaching were more than ordinary aptness to communicate, ability to secure the confidence and interest of those under his tutorship, and splend!d executive endowments. In this, as well as in every other business, he exerted himself, not " for filthy lucre's sake," but for the consciousness of duty discharged, and the satisfaction of success. He had an abiding interest in all under his instructions, and labored for their mental and moral culture, to the gratification of parents and guardians. "With special gifts for teaching and by their faithful exer- cise, he was eminently successful. At this point, it will not be inappropriate to mention the members of Dr. Fox's family and his relatives with whom the public is acquainted. Rev. Christian Moretz was his mother's brother, and Rev. Daniel Moser married her sister. Rev. T. Moser and Rev. M. L. Fox, M. D., are cousins. Rev. P. C. Henkel, D. D., of Conover, N. C, married his oldest sister, and the late Rev. Thos. Grouse, his youngest sister. Revs. J. C. and J. F. Moser, are second cousins. Rev. D. E. Fox, deceased, a nephew. Rev. Luther A. Fox, D. D., of Roanoke College, Va., is his oldest son,- and Rev. Junius B. Fox, of Tennessee, his fourth son. Albert C. Fox, M. D., a physician commanding a large practice, at Waynesboro', Va. ; J. Frank Fox^ M. D., near Lincolnton, N. C, and Claude P. Fox at the University of Va., in the Medical Department, are also his sons. The casual statement may not be without interest, that, the letter J. in his name is an addition by himself. Soon after entering the ministry, the notice of a ministerial act in the public press contained the grammatical monstrosity that the ceremony was pronounced by "a fox." Seeing this, he ever afterwards, it is said, subscribed himself A, J. Fox, CHAPTER II. HIS MINISTRY. TO preach the gospel was his life-purpose — his chief work. The other professions in which he engaged were sub- servient to his ministry. To this end he believed he was born, and to this mission in life he devoted his highest ener- gies and native resources. If any business had to suffer from neglect it was never his ministry. If the summons to the Master's work in the synod or elsewhere required an absence of days or weeks from his practice of medicine in the busiest seasons, that summons was always obeyed. The determination to offer himself to the work of the ministry was formed in early childhood. He did not remem- ber when that purpose was awakened. In coming to this high work he was not pained by mental struggles against it. In his pillow was no thorn of indecision. When he reached the years of conscious thought and reflection, he gave him- self up fully consecrated to the purpose that had filled his heart. God had impressed his youthful mind in some way, and led him to the highest service of life. The providential means through which this impression was made were perhaps the facts that two of his uncles were ministers, and the fre- quent presence of Rev. David Henkel at his father's house. He distinctly remembered the appearance and conversations of this leading spirit in the Tennessee synod, then newly organized. The tide of animosity between this new synod and the North Carolina synod was then at high water mark, and Rev. Henkel spent days at a time at this house discuss- (31) 22 BIOGRAPHY OF ing the doctrinal and personal difficulties that then existed. From these visits, perhaps more than from any other source, came the influences that shaped his resolution to labor in the Lord's vineyard. The manifestation of this purpose, how- ever, met with opposition from his father. The objections were not to the work itself, nor his son's adaptation to it, provided the requisite education and training could be re- ceived. In this last idea his father conceived to lie the chief difficulty. Convinced that thorough literary and theological culture is necessary to the successful accomplishment of so high a calling, he felt financially incapable to thus prepare him for it. We do not know that he attempted to obstruct his son's aspiration with the common allegation that the min- istry is an humble work, bearing on its very countenance the outlines of poverty. His opposition was not violent enough for such a plea. But whatever may have been its nature or extent, and whatever anxious inquiry it may have aroused, the determination of the young heart was too firm and reso- lute to be moved or resigned. Mountains of discourage- ments lay before him, but he bravely dared to overcome them. The high purpose was fixed; his heart ceased not to throb with the strong resolve to obey the call of his Master: " Son, go work to day in my vineyard." Early in his nineteenth year, he went to the house of his uncle. Rev. D. Moser, and under his direction commenced the study of theology. He had here chiefly German works, studying Reinhardt, and the Book of Concord especially. His preceptor was thoroughly acquainted with Dogmatic Theology ; and his wife was quite as thorough in this great science as himself. During his absence, when the young theologues became perplexed and entangled with the myster- ies of divinity, they took their theological problems to their landlady, and always obtained satisfactory solutions. The 23 practical wisdom and fatherly counsel which the young candidate here received were salutary and helpful. Among much other advice, he never forgot this remark of his pre- ceptor: "Let every man's bed fit your back, and every man's table your appetite." In his twentieth year, on June 18, 1837, while pursuing this course of studies, he preached his first sermon from Romans 5th chapter and 18th verse, in Zion's church, Catawba county, North Carolina. The Tennessee Synod met in 1837, (September 11-14) in Koiner's church, Augusta county, Virginia. He, with Rev. H. Goodman and several others, went out on horse- back. At this convention he was ordained deacon. Until 1866, the ministers of this Synod were classified as pastors and deacons. In an early revision of its first constitution, the duties of each class are described: " The grades of the ministry are two: viz. pastor and deacon; or as St. Paul calls them, bishop and deacon. They must possess the qualifications as described, 1 Tim. iii. 2-14, Tit. i. 4-9. A pastor performs every ministerial act ; but a deacon is only to baptize, catechise and to preach. A deacon must be called to this office by one or more congregations, and be under the care of a pastor, or of the Synod."* This classi- fication was set aside by the session in 1866. The constitu- tion adopted then says : " This synod shall be composed of regularly ordained ministers of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and lay-delegates. "f The grade of deacon is here omitted. The clerical register of the minutes of '66 is com- posed of ministers and "Licentiates." In compliance with the first constitution, petitions were * Minutes Tenn. Synod, 1827, p. 22, Article VI. Constitution, f Minutes 1866, p. 6, Article III. Constitution. 24 BIOGRAPHY OP presented in 1837 by " Richland's, Coble's and School-house churches, in Randolph, Orange, and Guilford counties, N. C," and one from St. Peter's church, Lincoln county N. C, praying for his ordination as deacon."* With several other candidates for the offices of pastor and deacon he was examined ; and " they were considered well qualified to dis- charge their duties." A unanimous resolution was passed for their ordination. His examination was very creditable, and gave promise of great usefulness. Rev. Ambrose Henkel, of New Market, Va., " delivered a very interesting and appropriate ordination sermon, in the English language, from 2 Cor. iii. 6, whereupon the candidates were ordained by the laying on of hands and prayer." f During this meet- ing he preached one evening. His text was Luke ii. 10-11. Young, diffident, and speaking in a poorly lighted room, he did not succeed well, and many persons thought he had mis- taken his calling. His examination on the following day, however, gave promise of better things. Very soon after this he accepted a call to a widely scattered charge in North Carolina. He had churches in Stanley, Union, Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties, and one across the State line in South Carolina. He labored here very energetically and successfully until the next session of synod at Salem church, Lincoln county, N. C, when he was ordained pastor. Its sessions were held from the 10th to the 14th of September, 1838. On page 8 of the minutes we find the following resolution : "Whereas, Various petitions have been laid before this body, giving Messrs. Jacob Stirewalt and Alfred J. Fox a good recommendation as promising young men, being both morally and intellectually qualified to bear the office of the * Minutes 1837, p. 7. f Minutes 1837, p. 11. [. D. 26 ministry, and to perform every ministerial function; and praying that they may be promoted to the highest grade in the ministry, therefore. Resolved^ That they be examined on to-morrow morning, with regard to their qualifications to bear the office of the ministry, and if considered competent, they be ordained." On Wednesday at 9 a. m., Sept. 12, 1838, the examina- tion began, and occupied the morning session. "-It was conducted by different members of the synod ; every mem- ber being permitted to propose such questions as they thought proper. The candidates during their examination evinced, by their pertinent and judicious answers, that they had made considerable proficiency in the acquisition of theo- logical knowledge ; so much so, that they gave universal satisfaction, and were considered fully competent to perform every ministerial function. Therefore, on motion, it was unanimously Besolved, That they be ordained pastors, on to-morrow.* On Sept. loth. Rev. George Easterly of Greene county, Tenn., preached the ordination discourse from Ephesians vi. 10-17 verses. "After which Messrs. Jacob Stirewalt and A. J. Fox, the candidates for ordination, were solemnly set apart to the work of the ministry by the imposition of hands and prayer, "t For the ordination and services of Mr. Fox, petitions from many churches were presented to this synod. They came not only from the people to whom he preached the previous year but from others. Perhaps no one ever came before the Tennessee Synod more highly recommended than he. Expressions of gratification for his labors came up from many hearts. In this fact, we have positive manifestation * ]\Iin. Tenn. Synod, 1838, p. 9. f Same Min., p. 11. 26 BIOGRAPHY OF of the call of the Master. The following resolution was adopted by the synod at which he was ordained : " Besolved, That, inasmuch as the Rev. A. J. Fox has expressed a willingness to serve the petitioners from Morning Star, Bethlehem, Union, St. Martin's and Flat Rock churches, he be recommended to take them under his pastoral supervis- ion, and devote as much of his time to them as possible." These churches were in connection with a few others he had served the previous year, and he now accepts their call for an indefinite period. CHAPTER III. FIRST MINISTERIAL WORK. THE first charge of Rev. Mr. Fox after his ordination as pastor consisted of five churches, scattered over an im- mense territory. His home was near Coburn's Store, Mecklenburg county, N. C. He entered upon the work full of zeal and holy consecration. He gave full proof of his ministry, and laid the foundation of future success. He labored here for four years with remarkable energy and the highest devotion to the Avork. During this time he preached 308 sermons, confirmed 153 persons, baptized 154 infants and adults, and rode thousands of miles. He preached the first year 117 sermons, an average of a little more than two a week. He travelled in all kinds of weather, crossed dangerous streams, riding a vicious horse, but meeting promptly all his appointments. He catechised much, con- ceiving this to be the true method of winning souls for Christ and bringino; them into the church of the Reforma- tion. He believed it to be essentially necessary that all ap- plicants for church membership be instructed (catechised) in the doctrines of our holy religion. He was convinced that this was the truly Lutheran custom of adding to our numbers, and that wherever it fell into disuse, the church languished. He offered the standing resolutions in the Tennessee Synod, making it obligatory upon her pastors to catechise the young people of their churches previous to their confirmation. True to his convictions of duty in this matter, he spent much time in carefully training children (27) 28 BIOGRAPHY OP and adults in the faith of the church. And the seeds of truth which he implanted in tender hearts and consciences yielded a vast harvest of good. The last work he ever rendered the Master was catechising a class of adults in one of his churches. On October d, 1838, he confirmed his first class of cate- chumen, consisting of 19 persons, in Savage's church, Rowan county, N. C. In the work of his first charge he was eminently success- ful. Many souls were added to the church, some of whom were heads of families, and some old persons. As an instructor of the young he was peculiarly gifted, illustrating the truths he set forth by appropriate anecdotes and inter- esting narratives. As a preacher he was earnest, eloquent and pathetic. As a pastor he was congenial and beloved. At the same time he was a diligent student, reading as he rode on horseback and wherever he stopped. The devotion of his people was gratifying, and may be seen in one instance. About twenty families from one of his congregations in Stanley county went in a colony to x\r- kansas. They offered to bear all his expenses, give him a home, and guarantee him a comfortable living if he went with them. Petitions and letters were sent to Synod for his services and expressing gratitude for his ministerial labors. His popularity extended in all directions. He received calls from many places, one of which was from the charge made vacant by the death of his preceptor in theology, Rev. Daniel Moser, in 1839. The great work of several years began to wear upon his health, and at the close of 1841 he was under the necessity of resigning. He retired to a farm given by his father near Asheboro, in Randolph county. During this year he preached occasionally to vacant congregations, or as often REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. 29 as his health permitted, and visited the churches in Greene county, Tennessee. He was married April 5th, 1842, to Miss Lydia Best, of Cabarrus county. Leaving his farm in the charge of his brother he again visited with his bride the congregations in Greene county, Tennessee. He spent several weeks preaching and catechising for them. In these few weeks he performed some of the most successful church work of his life. At two churches, within five miles of each other, he confirmed 74 persons after catechising for several days previous. Large numbers were confirmed at other places that he visited. Many of the most substantial mem- bers of those churches to-day were brought into them during this visit. The confirmation of those classes is spoken of to this day. He visited these churches again in 1843. He remained, however, on his farm in North Carolina until 1844, when, his health having been fully restored, he accepted the oft-re- peated call to Tennessee. He preached his introductory sermon in his new charge at Blue Spring church, March 24th, 1844. He preache'd at first to three churches — Blue Spring, Sinking Spring, Cove Creek, and at the house of Mr. Michael Ottinger, near which the present large church of the Salem congregation was erected. He located in Greene county about one mile northeast of the present village of Midway. To his nearest church was three miles, and his farthest eighteen. He went earnestly to work. He preached often, and added large numbers to the church. He confirmed at Blue Spring alone in the few years of his min- istry one hundred and twenty-five members. Many of the sermons he preached then are remembered and spoken of as remarkably thoughtful and powerful. His influence ex- tended far and wide. The indifferent were aroused, the hostile made friends to the faith, and the whole church, 3U BIOGRAPHY OF which had been languishing for years, awoke from her slum- bers and put on her robes of light. He was loved and reverenced by these people as long as he lived. People of other creeds went far and near to hear him preach. His congregations were always large and attentive. Forty years after he left Tennessee the churches pressed upon him a call, and waited almost a year until he could decide one of the most perplexing problems of his life. During his ministry in Greene county an event took place to which attaches no little interest and importance. Method- ism in this section was then in its highest glory. Several large churches were here, where none are now. The great spirit of those churches was Dr. Wyatt, a minister and a physician. In preaching a reply to a sermon by Rev. Adam Miller, jr., who had returned from a visit here to his home in North Carolina, he gave utterance to grave calumnies against the Lutheran church. In criticising Luther's Commentary on the text: " Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree," in which Luther as- serts that Christ died the greatest 'sinner of mankind because of the assumption of human sin. Dr. Wyatt said : " Shame on you Lutherans that teach such damnable heresies!" Similar charges were made in the same discourse. The members of the Lutheran church, and tlie friends of Rev. Miller advised him of these facts. Rev. Miller did not come to Tennessee, but suggested to them that they get Rev. Mr. Fox to defend the Lutheran faith against such serious aspersions. Being then only a young man, naturally averse to contro- versy, Mr. Fox entered upon the debate for no self-aggran- dizement, but from convictions of duty to the church. Com- ing from such source, he knew that if the charges were not answered that Lutheranism in this locality would suffer. REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. 31 An appointment was made for him to make his reply. It is thought that a thousand or more people were present. After finishing his discourse, in Avhich he had completely refuted the position of the Methodistic aggressor, and firmly established the Lutheran faith, he asked whether Dr. Wyatt was present. He had not yet made his acquaintance. A gentleman in the audience arose and replied affirmatively. Dr. Wyatt came forward to meet him on the stand erected in the grove. So confused and nervous Avas the Doctor that when attempting to lift a glass of water to his lips it spat- tered over the floor. Dr. Wyatt asserted that he had not made the charges against the Lutheran church to which Rev. Mr. Fox had that day replied. Mr. Fox immediately agreed that another day be appointed when they would meet and determine that matter. Caney Branch was appointed as the place. Mr. Fox again preached ; and at the conclu- sion of his remarks exhibited to Dr. Wyatt an affidavit signed by thirty men, some of whom were members of the Methodist church, certifying that he had made the charge at the time and place at first alleged. When he asked Dr. Wyatt whether he could now deny that he had made the charge, he replied : "No, I cannot ; those are the names of my fellow-citizens." The Doctor became so mortified over his defeat and the serious dilemma into which he had placed himself that he soon afterwards disposed of his pro- perty and left for a distant region. After two years the time for another removal came. He had consummated the purpose of God, and providence was pointing elsewhere. The relation between himself and his flock had been pleasant and profitable, and many were the mutual regrets over his departure. The immediate causes of his resignation were failures of efforts to invest his means, some of them just as they were about to be consummated. 32 BIOGRAPHY OF No less than three such futile efforts were made. When the contracts were agreed to, and he was about to furnish the money the parties declined. In one instance, the man with whom he attempted to trade was an elder of the Lutheran church. Another cause of his removal is a com- mon one. The people failed to comply with their promises of salary. They offered $200 ; and paid §180 the first year, and $l-iO the second. Such retrogression is not a rare occurence in many places to-day. It is a fruitful cause of vacancies. The call came from the church at Jacksonville, Alabama ; and coming when it did, he regarded it as an indication from the Head of the Church that he should accept. An oppor- tunity was here offered for investing some money which he had inherited, as well as serving a promising congregation. Rev. J. K. Hancher, who had been his student in theol- ogy, became his successor in Tennessee. A number of Lutheran families from Lincoln county, N. C, had located in Jacksonville, Ala., the county seat of Benton (now Calhoun) county, in the northeastern portion of the State. It was a growing town in a fertile country. He located on a farm and preached to the congregation in town. As there was no Lutheran church, he preached in the Presbyterian church, which was generously loaned him. His work in the ministry at this place was brief. At the end of one year he resigned, because he believed that one of his prominent members attempted to take advantage of his supposed ignorance of business and defraud him of sev- eral hundred dollars. There was also a division in the con- gregation as to the place to erect the new church. The members in the country wished it built in the country, and those in Jacksonville in town. Immediately after his resig- nation he made efforts to secure a pastorate elsewhere. He REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. 33 rode on horseback through parts of Kentucky, Missouri and Illinois in search of work. In the record of his sermons we learn that he preached in several diflferent States within a few days of each other. But failing to secure a suitable location, and having his money invested so that he could not arrange to leave it, he was compelled to remain in Alabama for a time at least. As a mere matter of useful information he began the study of medicine. We may easily imagine how, when suffering from an attack of dyspepsia brought on by anxious thought over his unnatural position, he may have been listlessly looking over his library, when his eye per- chance fell upon some medical work, which he hauls from the shelf, and begins to peruse. An unsuspected interest and fascination seizes him. The next day the process is repeated ; the same book is read. Finally the whole vol- ume is finished. The conclusion is formed that perhaps if he were denied the pleasure of administering to the wants of men's souls, he could relieve the pains of their bodies. There may have been even an innate consciousness of an adaptation to the medical profession, and of success in it. A year passed. Finding that he was compelled to remain, and having become deeply interested in his new studies, he placed himself under the instruction of Drs. Francis and Clark at Jacksonville. Dr. Clark had been for a quarter of a century or more one of the most distinguished physicians of his State. Still another year passed, and he determined to attend medical lectures at the college in Augusta, Ga., in which Dr. Paul Eve and other distinguished men were Professors. He took rank at once as among the best " posted " men of the institution. After leaving college, he secured license, and offered his professional services to the public. He moved to AVhite Plains ar:d formed a partner- ship with Dr. Porter, for whom he cherished ever after the 34 BIOGRAPHY OF highest regard as a man and as a physician. While he was living here a Methodist minister assailed the Lutheran Church in a sermon he happened to hear. He made an an- nouncement for a vindication of his Church at a camp- ground. Several thousand people came on the appointed Sunday, and so fully did he prove the allegations false, and show the thoroughly Protestant character of the Lutheran Church, that the Methodist ministers present neither then nor afterwards attempted to reply. He remained at White Plains one year, when he moved to Mount Polk. Here he remained two years. At this place he did a very large practice. In the summer of 185-1 a malignant form of dysentery appeared in his practice. It was an epidemic resisting all treatment, and many persons died. At one church thirty persons were buried in thirty days. They were, however, not all his patients. He worked so indefatigably, and under such intense mental ten- sion, that he himself became extremely ill. Dr. Porter was his physician. While lying one morning at the point of death from internal congestion, the doctor entered his room, looked at him intently for a few moments without speaking, and then asked him whether he thought he would recover. He replied, " Yes, I believe the Lord has yet a work for me to do." His work was not yet done and God raised him up from the very brink of the grave. During these seven years, from 1847 to 1854, he was able to do very little in the ministry. He seldom preached. In 1853 he preached only once. In one of those years, how- ever, he preached twenty-one sermons. The places of his preaching were sometimes at churches, but generally at private residences. He was far from being satisfied. He longed to get back into the pastoral work. Like Eli, the judge of Israel, he " sat by the wayside watching, for his REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. 35 heart , trembled for the ark of God." He often said that while in Alabama he felt like Nebuchadnezzar — "turned out seven years to graze like an ox." The Lord was, how- ever, accomplishing with him a high and important purpose. The medical profession not only was important useful infor- mation to him subsequently in the ministry, but enabled him to regain the fortune he lost by the war, and to educate his sons for the ministry and medical profession. The years in Alabama may be denominated the gloomy epoch in his life. He was far removed from his chosen work, and even from the services of the Church which he dearly loved. Into those days most of his misfortunes crowded. "Troubles never come singly." He met with many sore disappointments. He learned more of the dark side of human nature during those years than ever after- ward. He bought a farm, and discovered that the man from whom he purchased it had sown a luxuriant weed upon it in order to give it the appearance of fertility. When attempt- ing to move into another house which he bought, the family living in it refused to give entrance for several months, and in the meantime he was compelled to live in a miserable little hovel scarcely proof against the wind, rain or cold. From the wakeful pillow the stars could be seen through the porous roof. During the showers the tableware was brought into requisition to keep the beds dry, and the only shelter for the wife and little ones was the chimney corner. After awhile the family, through sheer shame, or when their conve- nience suited, vacated the better house, of which he was the rightful possessor, and he afterwards had a more pleasant domicile. An attempt was made by one of the Lutheran members at Jacksonville who had manifested much personal esteem, to injure him in the Tennessee Synod. A secret letter was 36 BIOGRAPHY OF forwarded to one of the sessions of this Synod, stating that he was neglecting his duties as a minister when he had op- portunity for performing ministerial services. The charge was this : A certain lady had travelled thirty miles mainly for the purpose of having him baptize her children. When informed of this fact by the Secretary of the Tennessee Synod, he wrote a letter to the following convention of Synod in which he completely overthrows the charge. The letter was full of cogent reasoning, cutting sarcasm, and interesting remarks. In order to cast clearer light on his relation to the minis- try while in Alabama, we give the following letter to the Tennessee Synod written in 1849. To the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, to Con- vene in BecFs Church, Davidson County, N. C, on Monday after the third Sunday in October, 181^9. Bev^d Brethren: The time has again arrived when, by a resolution of the Synod, it is made the duty of every mem- ber who does not attend to write a communication containing his reasons of non-attendance. Notwithstanding the pleasure it would afford me to be with you, circumstances are such that I cannot enjoy that pleasure without greatly discom- moding and depriving myself of much time to devote to a course of studies in which I have for some time been ardently engaged. Nevertheless, did the Synod convene within a distance of one or two hundred miles from here, and the health of myself and family permitted, I can assure you, brethren, that there is no privilege I would more gladly embrace, nor one that would afford me more real pleasure, especially under existing circumstances, than meeting with you in Synodical Convention. Since the impression is got- ten up among the brethren that I am wilfully, from a selfish and carnal nature, silent and pursuing the course I am, I would take pleasure in convincing you that my zeal in the noble cause of truth is not in the least abated. But circum- stances seem to forbid that I should be with you. If in considering my case you think that the distance from here REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. 37 to Synod, being near 500 miles, the time and expense to accomplish such a journey, are sufficient grounds for excuse, I shall kindly thank you. But if you think not, I must, as I did last year, submit to whatever in your better judgment you see proper to inflict upon me. I desire to say a few more words in reference to the course I am pursuing, as I have no doubt that my brethren are desirous to know some- thing concerning it. Could I be agreeably and profitably situated in the ministry, notwithstanding all the difficulties, the many and great privations to which a clergyman is subject, I can safely and unhesitatingly assure you that there is no calling whose duties I would more cheerfully discharge than those of the ministry. But unfortunately for me, it is my lot to be situated in a country where there are few things to encourage and many to discourage me in persisting in the duties of the sacred office. I reside in a place where there are few members of our church, and most of them are very careless, and appear totally indifferent to the duties of members of the church and her ultimate pros- perity. Previous to resigning my official charge here some differ- ences of opinion arose as to the project of erecting a house of worship ; some wishing it in the village, and others in the country. I saw plainly that did either party build, the other would not assist, and a division of the small body of Lutherans would be the result. Being also unwilling to preach in town in a church where three other denominations held services — two regularly and the other occasionally — I advised them to make an effort to procure another minister, which they refused to do. I at once resigned my charge. * * * I have, as some of my brethren knoAv, made repeated efforts to obtain a charge that would justify me in moving my family to, however great might be the distance to any place where a vacancy is, or has been since my resignation. But having failed in every attempt to make satisfactory arrangements, I determined to turn my atten- tion to the study of medicine ; so that after I shall have completed my course of studies, which I hope to be able to do in several months more, I may settle in the bounds of a small and weak charge that could justify no man in attend- 38 BIOGRAPHY OF ing to them for the remuneration they would be able to give for his services. In such a situation, I could procure my livelihood by the practice of the profession I am in the pro- cess of assuming, and thus perhaps be a means of benefiting my fellow mortals both spiritually and physically. Having written a long and tedious letter, I close by saying that I have the most implicit confidence in the judgment, zeal and Christian fidelity of my brethren who compose the present session of Synod. May the divine blessing of Almighty God rest on you and your mutual transactions, is the sincere prayer of your humble brother in the Lord Jesus Christ. Alfred J. Fox. He took his family by private conveyance to North Caro- lina, in 1852, to attend the meeting of the Tennessee Synod. Again in 1853, he went on horseback to visit churches, which led subsequently to his removal. CHAPTER ly. RETURN TO NORTH CAROLINA. WITH the call from four churches in North Carolina in the autumn of 1854, came the da^Yn of a happier day. The ardent desire of his heart, long smouldering in the ashes of despondency, was now gratified. The prospect of work in the vineyard of the Lord broke upon the long night of dis- appointment like a ray of sunlight from a leaden sky. He left a very lucrative practice, that was continually enlarging, to take charge of the congregations which had extended the call. In North Carolina he reached the highest sphere of his usefulness. Here he labored for thirty years with untir- ing energy and fidelity. He entered upon this work when at the meridian of his manhood, at the age of 36, and died at the post of duty. Here the largest influence for good was exerted in the wide fields of medicine and the ministry. By the service of these years the world was made ^better. From it waves of influence touched the eternal shore. Upon it rests the fragrance of the divine benediction. The call from North Carolina came from Grace church in Catawba county, Daniel's and Trinity in Lincoln, and Christ's, in Gaston county. He located for a few months in Catawba, near Grace church, but early in 1855 he moved to a farm in Lincoln, five miles northwest of Lincolnton, where he lived, with the exception of six years, the remainder of his life. At the end of a year he resigned Christ's church and accepted a call from Salem, where he was ordained and in whose cemetery he is buried. He preached his introduc- (39) 40 BIOGRAPHY OF tory sermon at Grace church, January 7, 1855. He was pastor of Grace and Salem urtil he died. With the excep- tion of these two churches, several changes in his pastoral relations were made. He always preached to four or five congregations, but sometimes had charge of more. In the parochial report of the minutes of 1868, of the Tennessee Synod, we learn that he had nine churches with 960 com- municants ; and in the minutes of 1874, that he had charge of eleven churches with a membership of 1800. Among the congregations in this State to which he ministered in holy things are the following: In Catawba, Grace, St. Peter's, Holy Trinity, at Hickory, Newton, Sardis ; in Ire- dell, Sharon, St. Martin ; in Lincoln, Salem, Daniel's, Trin- ity, Bethpage ; in Gaston, St. Mark's, Christ's ; in Cleve- land, St. Matthew's, and a mission point. His charge at the close of his life consisted of Grace, Salem, Holy Trinity at Hickory, and St. Matthew's at King's Mountain. All the churches to which he preached flourished. Into all new life was infused. He aroused even those whose condition and prospects seemed hopeless. For example, when he took charge of Hickory there seemed little hope. Other minis- ters who had been pastors had despaired. By the urgency of the North Carolina Conference he entered, much against his own wishes and solely for the good of the church, upon the work of a missionary. Even the members of the church at Hickory gave him little encouragement. But with sub- lime tenacity he held on to the cause, until within three years new life manifested itself, his congregations increased, useful members were added, improvements were made in the church edifice, and now it is one of the most hopeful churches of the synod. As an organizer and builder, few equalled him. In church-work he had only one aim — growth. He did not believe in stagnation nor lukewarmness. REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. 41 When among his flock one interest manifested itself in all his conduct and words, the interest of the church. This was ever on his heart and lips. His conversations embodied, it is true, other matters of interest. Full of general and practical information, he interested old and young in a vast range of subjects, but the opportunity of speaking of the progress or condition of the church was never neglected. In his visits to every home he never tired of talking even into the late hours of night. Propositions to retire seldom came from him. He seemed not to expect that before raid- night, though he knew the hour for rising came early in the morning. It is remarkable that he cared so little for sleep. The medical practice induced perhaps the habit of sleeping little. The growth of his churches may be seen in one instance. Grace, in Catawba county, had, at the beginning of his min- istry to it, only 38 members. The members of the Lu- theran and German Reformed churches worshiped in the same house — an old log building. The German Reformed congregation was composed of 200 members, being among the most substantial citizens of that country. At the close of his ministry of a little less than thirty years, the Lutheran congregation had something over 200 members, and the Re- formed about 40. They worship in a neat, substantial brick church, of which the Lutherans were the principal builders. He confirmed at this church in the whole time 209 mem- bers. The confirmations at some of his other churches are as follows: Salem, 178 ; Daniel's, 167 ; Trinity, 229 ; Beth- page, 154; Sardis, 60, and many at other places. When his pastorate became too large, some time after the war, he resigned four of his churches, which extended a call to Rev. M. L. Little. This change gave rise afterwards to some of the sorest troubles of his life. For awhile they 42 BIOGRAPHY OF gave him bitter grief, but towards the close of his life its burden was lightened. He moved to Newton, the countj- seat of Catawba county, in March, 1873. Ilis chief pur- pose in going there was to educate his children. Soon after his removal he resigned Daniel's church, one of his favorites, under circumstances that never ceased to annoy and distress him. He always referred to his going to New- ton as the second great mistake of his life, his removal to Alabama being the first. He censured himself frequently for leaving his home in Lincoln county. While in Newton he was seized with chronic diarrhoea, and he despaired of his life. He did a large practice when well, first in connec- tion with Dr. Huit, his student in medicine who died, and afterwards with his son. Dr. A. C. Fox. He preached to four churches far distant from the town, and for awhile to the church in town. He remained in Newton three years, then located near Salem church in Lincoln county, where he lived three more years, and then returned to his old home- stead, where he remained until his death. His ministry altogether was very successful. Thousands of souls owe their deepest moral and religious impressions to his preaching and example. By his death the church and the world suffered irreparable loss. From those who lived under the holy influences of his work for thirty years voices came up, "None can fill his place." "When he fell, the whole community put on sack- cloth and ashes. Strong men, with little children, wept. The Church said: "I have lost a faithful, earnest, success- ful workman." Society said : " We have lost a friend, upon whose character does not rest even the breath of an evil suspicion." The world said: " Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?" He fell with his armor on. On the day, two weeks after REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. 43 his return from assisting his son in Tennessee with his spring communions, he passed into eternity. His last ser- mons were among the best and happiest efforts of his life. His very last sermon was preached in Solomon's (Cove Creek) church, Greene county, Tenn., on May 25, 1884, from 1 John v. 6-8. His closing sentences, though calm and deliberate, were touching, and brought tears from many eyes. The following is a curtailed summary of his work. He baptised 2,346 infants and adults ; confirmed 1,558 souls ; married 190 couples ; and preached 3,419 sermons. The first charge of which he was pastor after coming to North Carolina 'failed to support him, and he began the practice of medicine to supplement his meagre salary from the churches. By hard Avork in the medical profession he made the major part, nearly all, of his fortune. He always made this subordinate, however, to his ministry. It is a wonder that he had a practice at all on account of his en- gagement in church work, which he never neglected, and which often required much time from his practice. But he never failed to do a large medical business when at home. He seemed to engage in it not so much for self-support, but to accommodate the public. He never received a living church salary in his life. He never complained of this, however, either publicly or privately to his members. He seemed content, if the people were, to provide for all his wants, by labor in another profession. Possibly we find in this one of his greatest mistakes. He should have preached for the benefit of the people themselves : "The Lord hath ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." The ministry have a right to ask: " If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?" Failure to support the 44 BIOGRAPHY OF ministry, when capable, is the sin of the people, that needs rebuking even from the sacred desk. Having lain aside what he conceived to be competence for temporal use, he abandoned the practice in 1860, leaving it in the hands of Dr. Eli Crowell, whose preceptor and part- ner he had been, and devoted himself exclusively to the work of the ministry. But in 1862 Dr. Crowell went into the Confederate army, and he was forced by the wants of his community to resume it. At the close of the war he w^as compelled to continue it to regain his great financial losses. He was opposed to secession, not because he denied the the rights of States to secede, and was not therefore strictly a Union man, but because he did not believe the circum- stances demanded a revolution, and because he foresaw defeat. He made some political speeches against secession, the only ones of that character in his life, and one in the court-house at Lincolnton. His fellow-citizens urged him to become a candidate for the State Convention, and many precincts instructed their delegations to vote for him, but he refused to become a candidate, going into the Convention and positively declining to allow his name to be put in nom- ination. When the State passed the secession ordinance, holding that a citizen's first duty is to the State rather than the nation, he acquiesced. When political feelings ran high, and the tide of war presented sober thoughts, his views of the situation were misunderstood, and strong passions were aroused against him, but a public statement from him allayed the animosity, and the end showed that he was right. He lost §13,000 by the war, more than half of his possessions. His wife inherited several slaves. He never bought one, and sold only one, because he preferred to remain in Ala- bama. At the close of the war he had nine slaves, who REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. 45 were of course emancipated. Several of them remained with him for some years after the war. But he had the principal part of his property in private bonds, in order to be spared the trouble of managing it, and these were paid off in the third and fourth years of the war, a dollar in Confederate money, worth a cent or less, paying for a dollar loaned in gold. He dared not refuse to take it, else a terri- ble cry of treason to the Southern government would be raised. Out of eight or ten thousand dollars in money he saved perhaps one thousand. CHAPTER y. MINISTERIAL CHARACTER. ~r^R. FOX was a theologian of considerable attainments. -*-^ The extent and thoroughness of his acquaintance with dogmatic theology especially was remarkable in view of his great medical study and the constancy of his engagements in that profession. While he was not permitted by pressing duties in other spheres to become conversant with the "church fathers," he was nevertheless enabled through quotations, especially in the translation of Schmid's Dog- matics, to learn their opinions on the great cardinal doctrines of the Lutheran church. His preparation for the ministry came in a day when the fathers and dogmaticians held an unimportant position in a course of study, and were in very few theological libraries ; and when they came into more prominence, his busy life prevented their close examination. But ho was all that the Tennessee Synod demanded — a Liitlteran theologian. He was profoundly learned on the chief fundamental doctrines of the Church of the Reforma- tion. Concerning these he well knew the teachings and position of the church. And he, not only with his intellect understood, but with his will and affections accepted them. His head and heart were not pulling against each other on the glorious principles and dogmas of the Lutheran faith. Convinced of their scriptural foundation, that, they were the "truth as it is in Jesus," " the faith once delivered to the saints," he consecrated his energies of body and soul to their defense. He built his own life upon them. He an- (40) REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M, D. 47 cliored his immortal hopes in them. And his death gave evidence of the eternal victory they secured him. He delighted in conversing about Lutheran doctrines, in discuss- ing their deep mysteries, and in unravelling the web in which others became entangled. His associations with min- isters and intelligent laymen were often attended with these conversations and discussions. Very few men waged with him theological warfare without the discovery and assurance that they were dealing with a master of the great ^' Science of God." The character of his theological system was eminently biblical. For every doctrine he had scriptural proof always at command. He supported his propositions often profusely with direct quotations from the Scriptures. His pulpit scriptural references were exquisite in their adap- tation to the truths asserted. He had little patience with speculative theology, and grew restless under sermons that introduced mere personal opinions. He could not tolerate human thought where one should expound God's word. He would press candidates under examination for scriptural authority. The biblical character of his theological thinking may be illustrated by an incident in his last illness. In his delirium he alluded to a sect who deny the divinity of Christ, and said '' they have no scriptural support for their opinion, for the Bible says," and then went on quoting passage after passage, proving that Christ is God. The person of Christ was an important and conspicuous doctrine in his system. Concerning it he had an intelligent faith. He had a deep penetration of its mysteries. The candidates for the ministry upon examination before him were always tested as to their knowledge and faith in re- spect to the " communicatio idiomatumy Among other doctrines he was learned especially on the nature and attri- butes of God, Providence, Angels, Original Sin, Regenera- 48 BIOGRAPHY OF tion, Justification, Sanctification, Repentance and Conversion, Means of Grace, Baptism and the Eucharist. The doctrine of Bpecial providence especially exerted a high and govern- ing influence over his life. His convictions were firm that God concurred in all the acts of his life ; chose his changes, planned his course, and attended his actions. "The indi- cations of providence" was an expression frequently upon his lips ; and he saw those indications in events that seemed trivial to those of weaker faith. He believed that God ex- ercised not only a general providence over the world, but that there was divine concurrence in the laws that govern the universe, as well as in all the events of individual life. He viewed Jehovah not only as the Creator of all tilings, as peopling immensity with suns and stars, as the Moral Governor of the Universe, but also as " numbering the hairs of our heads," and marking " the sparrow's fall." His ability as a theologian was known and recognized by all his acquaintances. Rarely ever was he present at a convention of synod and not made a member of the examin- ing committee, very often its chairman. The ordination sermon was generally preached by him. He was the theo- logical preceptor of Revs. J. K. Haucher, A. R. Bennick, E. E. Smyre, 1). E. Eox, A. L. Crouse, and his own sons, Luther A. and Junius B. Fox. As a preaelier, he was a man of superior talents. In many respects he was a natural orator. His manner was full of earnestness and warmth, without rant ; his gestures few and appropriate ; his bearing dignified and serious, his voice clear, finely compassed, and exTiibiting in its deeper intonations the sweetest rhythm and melody. His characteristics were clearness, fluency, argumentative- ness, combined with no small power of persuasiveness. He was clear both in his conceptions and presentations of truth. 49 He made himself understood by the plainest people. He could not endure leaving a truth beyond the conception of the most illiterate hearer. It was sometimes objected to his sermons before large congregations that he kept con- stantly before him the most ignorant, stopping to illustrate any point he thought might appear obscure to any, or to explain any unusual word. He felt that it was injustice to his audience, which was generally in the country, to lift his thought or expression above the capability of their appreci- ation. One would think that long indulged habit in the adaptation of his preaching to plainer people would prevent the elevation of his ideas and style before more cultivated audiences. But in preaching to select audiences, as he fre- quently did, his language was so chaste, his thoughts so pro- found, that one could scarcely recognize his ability to preach otherwise. He had the happy faculty in an unusual de- gree of interesting and carrying along with him all the grades of hearers. In his country preaching he could have been more brilliant, had he been less thoughtful of the com- mon people, but far less useful. This clearness of his own thoughts and lucid exposition of them is one of the reasons of his success. A marked feature of his preaching was fluency. In the beginning of his discourse he was deliber- ate and sometimes slow, but when he fully entered upon the discussion he had a ready command of language without being verbose. He rarely ever failed to get the precise word he wanted, and in setting out a truth in its various lights he never lacked appropriate expression. He pos- sessed a remarkable vocabulary upon which he could draw ad lihitum. Another feature was force of argument. When he failed to convince he made us respect his position. His method of discussion was peculiar. He easily and un- obtrusively dislodged men's prejudices against his proposi- 3 50 BIOGRAPHY OF tions. There were almost no traces of fancy, yet it did not seem like dry logic. Somehow he carried his hearers along in long arguments without any of the ordinary means employed by speakers. By his cogent reasoning he had the faculty of moving men. They were, however, not driven but per- suaded by his argument. He made them feel the force of that argument, and impelled by their emotions and sense of duty they came under its influence and to its obedience. In this way he persuaded men. He made few direct appeals. Those he made were without excitement and fanaticism, but in quiet and more winsome methods. Men went out from under his preaching, not wild, but thoughtful. Prof. J. C. Barb, of Whitestown, Indiana, gives us an instance of the effect of his preaching in Our Church Paper of June 26, 1884: "The writer remembers hearing him preach on one occasion from these words : ^ What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me ? I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord nov/ in the presence of all his people.' Ps. cxvi. 12-14. iVfter the delivery of the sermon I met one, not of Lutheran faith, who said, with tears in his eyes, 'I feel like taking the cup of salvation.' " The style of his sermons was expository. He threw open all the bearings of his text. He made clear the proposi- tions which it involved. One could easily see that the chief burden of his discourse was to expound the Scriptures. He disliked simple declamation. A sermon in his judg- ment must descend to the very roots of the subject. It must bear the spirit of the passage from which it is taken. It must grasp the great and leading thought, and cling to it without unnecessary aberrations and with unbroken unity. Even in early manhood the method of exposition was the leading trait of his sermonizing. REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. I). 51 We find in his preaching sometimes traces of refined humor. Witticisms that never breathed the air of vulgarity frequently found their \>'ay into his pulpit eflbrts. They amused ^vithout being ridiculous. lie placed himself under self-restraint, however, in this particular. Conscious of his humorous faculty, he brought it into subjection, for fear of stripping his sermon of its seriousness and dignity, and rob- bing the pulpit of its sacredness. But when he wished to enforce a truth, or regain flagging interest, he sometimes indulged in wit of the most innocent character. His manner of preaching was chiefly conversational. Dur- ing the greater part of the discussion it was animated con- versation that grew into pathos, until he often became truly eloquent. He preached without manuscript, and for many years without even notes. He had before his mind his plan clearly marked out and he needed no reminders. In his preparation for the pulpit, he rarely ever wrote a line. He would select his text early in the week, and when not other- wise engaged, he would consider it in all its bearings. When going from house to house visiting his patients he was studying his sermon. On Sunday morning before he rose from bed he would fix definitely his plan, think out the order of the more important arguments in their relation to each other, and if he had his usual clearness he was ready. With this preparation he could draw out at will from his various stores of knowledore. As the occasion su^-frested he took his illustrations from the different fields of nature, or from society, or from recent events, or from his fund of anecdotes. When the Synod met in South Carolina, in 1861, it was announced on the ground just before the open- ing session that a battle had been fought at Charleston, in which many soldiers of that community had been engaged. It was also reported that the enemy had commenced an in- 52 BIOGRAPHY OF vasion upon the interior. The hour for preaching arrived, and, as president, he was to deliver the sy nodical sermon. Rarely ever does a minister have a more difficult task than lay before him that morning. His text was Hebrews ii. 3 : '* How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation ?" By reference to the rumor he arrested the attention of the entire congregation, and by means of anecdotes, some seri- ous and some amusing, but each one illustrating a truth he was setting fortli, he held it completely for an hour and a quarter. He seemed to know his audiences and his circum- stances and rarely ever failed to enlist their attention and im- press upon them his leading thoughts. Of him as a preacher Our Church Paper of June 19, 1884, in an editorial thus speaks: "By his death, the family, the Church, and the State incur irreparable loss. He was one of the ablest and most efficient ministers of the South — profound, eloquent, and impressive, with indomitable energy and perseverance, defensive and aggressive. Few men wielded greater influ- ence. Faithful and true, his stewardship never suffered. He has now gone to give an account of it ; and all the indi- cations are that he heard, as his soul entered, the welcome, the enchanting plaudit, ' Well done, thou good and faithful servant ; enter into the joys of eternal rest, in the midst of angels and just men made perfect.' " In the issue of August T, 1884, of the same paper, an elder of Grace church speaks of "our pastor" in the follow- ing tender words : " There can never be replaced a pastor of this congregation, that can gain the affection and admiration of people generally in all respects, as he did. He was loved and esteemed by all. He became so intimately connected with his people that he was almost a brother by the ties of consanguinity." Dr. Fox was during the whole of his life a very decided REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. 53 Lutheran. His early childhood fell in that period when the division of the church brought new and general attention to the doctrines of the Lutheran church. The. conflict led even the laity to a most earnest study, and resulted in very positive conviction. His family was deeply interested and espoused very heartily the cause of the new synod. The discussion of these doctrines formed some of his earliest im- pressions. His early ministry was in tlie life-time of the fathers of the movement, his preceptor being one of the ablest supporters. He entered the church in an epoch that required firm and settled convictions ; and enlisted in the Master's service in the Tennessee Synod, " a sect universally spoken against," at a time when her very name was held in derision. Such antagonism made deeper his convictions of truth ; and rendered stronger his adherence to the faith of his fathers. He believed the doctrines of the Lutheran church, because they appeared to him to be clearly taught in the Bible. He made them prominent in his creed and in his ministry, because they are so fundamentally connected with the plan of salvation. Not party spirit but personal study was the prime cause of his faith. So plainly did those doctrines seem to him to be written in the Scriptures, that it was difficult for him to understand how any consci- entious, honest reader of the Bible could fail to accept them. He preached the distinctive doctrines of his church when- ever and wherever opportunity was aiforded or occasion re- quired. Under no circumstances would he have hesitated to maintain or defend them. There was not one point in the whole sum of confessional Lutheranism that he did not heartily receive and endorse. How therefore any one, especially those of the same synodical relations, could con- sistently and truthfully question his Lutheranism is difficult to understand unless their doubt is exposed to the light of 54 BIOGKAPIIY OF ultra-Lutheranism. It would be false to his memory to say that he was exclusive. lie did not believe that the famous "Four Points" are essential to Lutheran practice. He believed and preached that Lutheran altars are the only altars for Lutherans. Never in his life, not even in Alabama where he was so long denied the privileges of his church, did he receive the communion from the hands of any but Lutheran ministers, or anywhere except in a Lutheran congregation. lie often preached, thereby sub- jecting himself to misrepresentation and reproach, that only those who believe the Lutheran doctrine of the Holy Supper, ought to commune at Lutheran altars. In later years espe- cially he invited only such persons. As the true body and blood of Christ are really present with the earthly elements, and as St. Paul says : " He that eateth and drinketh un- worthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not dis- cerning the Lord's body," he believed, that, if any persons received the Supper " not discerning tlie Lord's body," or simply as a feast of bread and wine, as a memorial of Christ's passion, or as a symbol of Christ's absent flesh and blood, without any premonition, that he himself was respon- sible for their unworthy communion. Though often mis- understood even by his friends, such was really his position. But when not tested by the " Four Points," if indeed they are a test at all, he was ever found a Lutheran of the high- est type and most unshaken convictions. One could not be associated with him, or hear him preach, without observing that he was thoroughly, conscientiously and immutably grounded in tlie faith of the Lutheran church. Ilarely ever did he preach without some reference to her distinctive doctrines. He was one of the ablest defenders of the true and historic Lutheran faith in the Tennessee Synod or in the South. CHAPTER VI. niSTORY IX THE TENNESSEE SYNOD. TTTHEN Dr. Fox entered the ministry the Tennessee ^ ' Synod had been seventeen years in existence. It was organized in Cove Creek (Solomon's church), Greene county, Tenn., on the 17th of July, 1820, by Revs. Jacob Zink, Paul Henkel, Adam Miller, sr., Philip Henkel, and Geo. Easterly. Rev. David Henkel was not present, but assisted largely by communication in the organization. At her seventeenth convention, when Dr. Fox was admitted to the grade of deacon, she had ten ministers, four deacons, and four applicants. Her territory extended over portions of Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina. After 1860, when the ministers in Tennessee withdrew on account of the great distances to the places of meeting, but from no dissatisfaction, either as to doctrine or persons, to organize the Evangelical Lutheran Hohtoyi Synod, the Tennessee Synod has not had a congregation in Tennessee. She still retains the name, Tennessee Synod, because organized in the State of Tennessee, and by right of long possession, although her geographical position for the last twenty-five years embraces only Virginia, North and South Carolina. It is evident, therefore, from the statement of these facts, that in the early history of the Tennessee Synod, it was no easy accomplishment to meet in Synodical convention. With the sessions alternating between four States, Virginia, Ten- nessee, and the two Carolinas, the distance to Synod for the majority of the ministers must necessarily have been enor- (55) 56 lilOGRAPIlY OF mously great. Suppose the session to be in Virginia. The brethren in North Carolina must travel a journey of 300 or 500 miles, and those in South Carolina of 400 or GOO miles, in order to enjoy the luxury of a few days of fraternal asso- ciation, and to perform the important service of devising the best things for Zion. Those were indeed laborious, tedious, wearisome trips on horseback, the only possible mode of travel in those days, over dangerous streams, and lofty mountains. They necessitated an absence from home and church work for at least a period of thirty days, and an expenditure of about thirty dollars. Surely we have in this history the noble examples of unselfish consecration to duty, the evidence of the deepest fraternal love, and the highest churchly devotion. Notwithstanding these evidences of internal agreement and personal consecration to the work of the ministry and of the Synod, the period when Dr. Fox became a member of the Synod was perhaps the darkest and most hopeless in her history. There was little prospect indeed for her con- tinued existence. Some of her leading spirits had departed to the enjoyment of eternal rest, among whom were Revs. David, Paul, and Philip Henkel. Her ministers were aged fathers, and most of them illiterate. The churches were consequently languishing and hopeless. Her cords were shortened, and her stakes weakened. Many of the laymen could preach as well, perhaps, as some of the ministers who delivered at best mere exhortations, and devoted most of their time to secular engagements. Many members sep- arated themselves therefore from the church of their fathers, and attached themselves to the denominations around, whose educated ministry and cultured laity afforded them a more congenial spiritual home. One of our leading divines, who entered the Tennessee Synod in that unfavorable epoch, and REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. 0< who afterwards became the Leonidas that led the little Spartan hand through the Thermopylae of Lutheranism, lately remarked, that, " it required obedience to faith and principle to be a Lutheran in those days, if a Lutheran at all." But the Tennessee Synod suffered not only from want of sufficient and proper ministerial force, but from opposition without. Though but a small body she professed to be, and was, the most distinctively Lutheran body on the American continent. The symbol of her faith, at least, according to her first constitution, was the unaltered Augsburg Confes- sion. To this chief testimony of the Lutheran faith she alone tenaciously and immovably held, when from it and all true Lutheranism every American Synod had departed. Her distinctively Lutheran character, therefore, arrayed against her the antagonism of all other Lutheran bodies. Those with larger numbers of ministers, members, and in- fluence denounced her, not only privately and from the pulpit, but in solemn resolutions. Such wore the proceed- ings against her by the North Carolina Synod soon after her withdrawal in 1820, also those of the Virginia Synod in 1838, those of the General Synod in 1840, and the sermon of Dr. John Bachman, of Charleston. Such was the geographical, personal and doctrinal posi- tion of the Tennessee Synod when Dr. Fox entered the ministry in 1837, and for several years afterward. It is enough to say that with the addition of several talented and promising young men about that time to her ministerial ranks, whom God raised up for the great work they were to perform, came a brighter day for the oppressed and declin- ing Synod. A revival of the churches and Synod began. New interest was everywhere awakened. The people were filled with hope over the preaching and work of the new 3* 58 BIOGRAPHY OF young men. Hundreds were added to the church. In all places Zion awoke, and Jerusalem put on her beautiful gar- ments. The young men, by their education and talent, brought strength to the Synod against external opposition. They exhibited the ability to defend the Synod against all aggression, and to ward off violent assault. They lived to see the triumph of the principles for which they contended, the withdrawal of opposition, the rescission of denouncing resolutions, and to enjoy expressions of fraternal regard and agreement from tliose who were once their foes. Dr. Fox was with these young men in all the trials through which they passed, and in every struggle, showed that he was equal to the emergency. His entire ministry, embracing a period of 47 years, was in connection with the Tennessee Synod. He never asked for honorable dismissal from the Synod until the last session he attended in IS&o, and this was done in view of prospect- ive work in the Hols ton Synod. The honorable dismission was granted, if he desired it, but he died before it was ne- cessary to be formally given by the president. During the whole time of his connection with the Tennessee Synod, he occupied a high and important position in it. He con- tributed more than any other man to both her conservatism and progress. Our Church Paper of June 19, 1884, says of him : '" While his work was confined within the limits of the Tennessee Synod, his influence was felt in the whole Lutheran Church in this country, as he was frequently cor- responding delegate to other Lutheran bodies. He always held positions of honor and trust in his Synod, and was for many years her leading spirit. He gave direction and coun- sel in all her interests, and was an able advocate and de- fender of the pure doctrines of the Church of the lleforma- ^ REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. ,'>9 While his position was always one of prominence and ser- vice, for the thirty years previous to his death especially, the Synod did not engage in any important work in which he was not one of the principal actors. He was chosen president five times after 1858 ; previous to which time we do not know how often he was presiding officer as the name of the president was never recorded in the minutes before 1851. In the early history of the Synod there seems to have been some little misunderstanding about the propriety of recording the president's name.* Dr. Fox. wrote the first President'' s Report of the Ten- nessee Synod, as is self-evident from the abstract below taken from the minutes of 1861. president's report. Dear Brethren : — Heretofore it has not been the custom of the presiding officer in the Evangelical Lutheran Tennes- see Synod to make out and read an official report at the opening of our annual sessions, and I am aware that under a strict interpretation of our constitution no such officer exists after the close of the session, and, therefore, during the year no official acts can properly be performed by the President. But inasmuch as by common consent, the office * In the minutes of 1839, p. 5, we find the following foot-note by the Secretary : "We have often been asked who was president of our Synod ? Why was not his name recorded in your minutes ? To these interrogatories we would reply, that a respectable number of the members of Synod were in favor of having the name of the president inserted in our minutes, and indeed we could see no im- propriely in it, and conceive that according to the 'local and tem- porary regulations' appended to the constitution, it should be left a matter discretionary with the secretary ; but a vote was taken on it, and a majority were opposed to it on the ground, (as is expressed in the ' local and temporary regulations ' above adverted to), that it was unnecessary, inasmuch as another president may be elected every day, and the constitutional term of his office expires with the adjournment of Synod." 60 BIOGRAPHY OF of President is allowed to continue from one session to another, and inasmuch as during the past year several offi- cial acts have been requested of me as President, and as I felt it mj duty to comply with some of these requests, I deem it nothing but right that I should render an account of my stewardship to those whom I have represented, and therefore beg leave to read before you and submit to your Christian consideration the following: Report. — We, by the grace of God, are assembled to- gether in the forty-first annual convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, and it becomes us as a body of Christian ministers and lay delegates to make suitable returns of thankfulness and praise to our kind Heavenly Father and the great Head of the church for the many great and distinguished blessings we have enjoyed from the very origin of our organization, and especially during the past year. Our Synod, it is true, has had many severe trials, some of them seeming to threaten her very existence, yet, in the hand of God, she has survived them all, and to-day stands the first Synod on the continent of America who took her position in defense of the pure and wholesome doctrines of the venerable confession of Augsburg, and still maintains them. I congratulate you upon this fact, which I believe to be the ground of the disposition manifested in several other Synods in this country, to return to the ancient land-marks and standards of doctrine established by our fathers of the Reformation. Then follows a reference to the war then commencing, a statement of official acts, and the Report concludes with a recommendation that the Synod encourage The Souther ti Lutheran, that she send a delegate to the general conven- tion of the Lutheran church in the Southern States in Salis- bury, N. C, and that she bestow especial attention upon the subject of catechising the young people, and instructing them in the Sunday-schools. It will not be improper to mention some of the most important synodical movements which he inaugurated, and 61 in which he participated. He was a member of the commit- tee to plan the establishment of a Literary Institution under the control of the Synod in 1852. He was the most active leader in the missionary cause, and exerted himself more than any other to break the fetters by which the Synod was bound by her first constitution from engaging in mission work and beneficiary education. In 185T he was active in organizing a Missionary Society in North Carolina, and preached the first sermon before it, which was published by request, and is given in the appendix to this Biography. He advocated a revision of the Constitution with great earnest- ness, was a member of the committee, and contributed in no small degree to its final adoption in 1866. He first awoke the Tennessee Synod from her lethargy in the cause of mis- sions, and tauglit her the necessity of an educated ministry. In a "Report on the State of the Church," in 1869, he speaks the following arousing words : " It seems to your Committee, that the time has come for our Synod to awake to a deeper sense of the very important duty of engaging in the several enterprises in which every other Synod in this country is at work, and by which the Lutheran Church was founded, and for a long time maintained in America. Every other Synod is more or less engaged in the work of Missions and Bene- ficiary Education, and are accomplishing an immense amount of good. As a Synod, we stand alone inactive in these things, and it seems to your committee that if we continue thus to stand, many of our congregations will soon cease to flourish, and die out, and the fearful responsibility will rest on us. It is our duty to supply our vacant congregations with a well-educated, faithful ministry, and also to extend our borders as rapidly as possible." He was appointed at this convention to write a " Pastoral Letter" to the churches on the subjects of Missions and an Educated Ministry. In 62 BIOGRAPHY OP 1878, he drafted and read the '• Regulations for the Govern- ment of the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod in the Work of Beneficiary Education." He was a member of the committee to write By-laws and Rules of Order in 1861. He was chairman of the com- mittee in 1863 to propose a plan of operations for Army Missions, and in accordance with that plan visited a few times the Lutheran soldiers in 1863 and 1864. He prepared a "Form of Licensure of Candidates for the Ministry," which was adopted by the Synod in 1865. And in 1877, he was chairman of the committee on the " Probation of Candidates for the Ministry " which recommended the abrogation of the "Form of Licensure," which then appeared inexpedient, and the adoption of the "Probation" system which is in operation in the Tennessee Synod to-day. He introduced the resolution to district the Synod into Conferences, and the result was the formation of the Vir- ginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina Conferences of the Tennessee Synod. He was one of the originators, if not the prime mover, of the confessional spirit in the Synod. As early as 1855, he wrote a letter to the Synod, whose convention that year he could not attend, in which " he gave it as his opinion, that Synod should clearly define her position in reference to the Symbolical Books of the Church." At that time the Doctrinal Basis of the Synod included only the Augsburg Confession and Luther's Smaller Catechism. It was not, however, until 1859, that the Synod embraced in her Doctrinal Basis the entire collection of Symbols in the Book of Concord. He was chairman of the committee to submit a form of Church Bucipline in 1868. In 1873 he introduced the standing resolutions on catechisation. He was among the active workers for the establishment of Our Church Paper REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. 63 in 1872 and 1873. He represented the Tennessee Synod in visits to Mount Pleasant, N. C, to confer with commit- tees of the North Carolina Synod in the election of a board of editors and in the selection of a place of publication. The subject of union among Lutherans, not only of the South, but throughout the United States, was one that lay very near his heart, and for which he always exerted his utmost ability. He hailed with joy the return of all the synods to the standard of true Lutheranism, as he knew that this was the only possible basis of external unity. We find union recommended and sought for in almost all his presiden- tial reports. He was prominent on all the committees for this laudable object. It was the burden of the message that he carried often as delegate to other bodies. It was a consum- mation he devoutly sought by private correspondence and communications to the church journals. And even when all his efforts seemed to meet with defeat " he hoped against hope." He anticipated the day when in God's own good time all who professed to be Lutherans would be one in the unity of faith. He endeavored greatly to cultivate a friendly spirit and establish a congenial relation between the North Carolina, Tennessee and Holston Synods, not only by propositions of union as president of the Tennessee Synod, but as delegate to the other two, and by extensive cor- respondence with the leading ministers. He labored for the union of the whole Southern Lutheran church. He was chairman of the committee to meet the convention called at Salisbury in 18(32 for the organization of the Southern General Synod. He was the commissioner who met that body in Staunton, Ya., in 1867. And had the entire Southern General Synod stood to the doctrinal plat- form and agreement of their committee. Rev. Drs. A. R. Rude, D. F. Bittle and T. W. Dosh, who held a colloquium G4 BIOGKAPUY OF with him, the union of that Synod with the Tennessee Synod would have been the satisfactory result. He was not only chairman of the committee of the Ten- nessee Synod that met the Committee of the North Carolina Synod at Mount Pleasant, N. C, on the 27th day of April, 1871, to agree upon a basis of union between the two synods, but was chairman of both committees at this meeting. But he was not permitted to see the day of the happy prospective union for which he so ardently wished. His eyes were closed upon the results of the struggles for this grand accomplishment for which he had so long contended. From the prospect of unity in the church militant he was removed to the enjoyment of the perfect union of the church triumphant. He finished his work in the brightest epoch of the Ten- nessee Synod. While there was in the last few years the introduction of policies and phases of Lutheran practice which he did not believe to be best for the church, he never- theless had the satisfactory anticipation that the good work in which for nearly half a century he had engaged would go forward under the blessing of God. At his death the synod had 28 ministers, 8 candidates and 8 beneficiaries, an increase of a hundred per cent, in the number and character of her ministerial force, with a corresponding percentage in increased usefulness from the time of his entering the min- istry. CHAPTER VII. CHARACTER AS A PHYSICIAN. T~\R. FOX began the study of medicine in Alabama in -*-^ 1848. lie was then thirty-one years old, and had been an ordained minister ten years. The causes that led him to the medical profession, as already indicated, were princi- pally because he was not, and apparently could not be, en- gaged in the work of the ministry. He gave three years to the preparatory study of the profession, under the tuition of Drs. Francis and Clark, who were among the most emi- nent physicians of that day in the State. After attending lectures at the medical college of Augusta, Ga., he applied to the medical board of the State of Alabama for license. His preceptors, Drs. Francis and Clark, who were members of the board, turned him over at once to the other members as perfectly satisfied with his knowledge of medicine, and no one asked him more than a few questions. He came to the practice thoroughly read. After obtaining license he practiced in the State about three years, when he removed to North Carolina in 1855. He was a regular practitioner for thirty-three years, and with the exception of two interims of a couple of years in which he devoted himself exclusively to the pastoral work. The type of his medical character was allopathy. He, however, occasionally adopted a homrjeopathic remedy, when he thought it possessed of sufficient and suitable reme- dial virtue. He belonged to the school of regular practi- tioners. Like them, he exercised independence of investi- (65) 66 BIOGRAPHY OF gation and tliouglit in reference not only to the theory of disease but the proper therapeutics. He never attempted, however, to go beyond the justifiable limits of the standard authors. He was not too radical, in so far that he would cling to the old simply because it was old. He was not too progressive — abandoning an old remedy for one whose vir- tues were unknown, or simply because it was new. He was wisely conservative — progressing with the science of medi- cine, yet sure to retain tried theories and remedies until he was convinced of the superiority of those lately discovered. He possessed a large and well-selected medical library. He was subscriber to the best medical journals of the age. -He was a diligent student of all the medical thought with which he came in contact. His excellent memory enabled him to digest and retain the substance of his reading. This supe- rior recollection of facts gave him power to cope with men who devoted themselves exclusively to medicine, quite as well as though he was engaged in only one profession. The mystery is that he could elevate himself to any distinction in medicine, when he had consecrated himself so fully to the ministry, and his heart and highest aspiration lay in that work. We can attribute whatever measure of success with which he was favored only to his superior talent, his indomit- able energy, and high, fixed purpose of soul. His success was proof of his skill. He never failed to have a large practice either in Alabama or North Carolina, when the sickness of his community demanded it. In North Carolina physicians were numerous, and competition was great, but he maintained his usual extent of practice to the last. Few physicians traveled over larger territory. Fre- quently he had patients twenty-five and thirty miles from his home, under the very shadow of other doctors' resi- dences. The raaintainance of his large professional duties REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. 67 wherever he located, at Newton, and in Lincohi county, N. C, in the face of opposition, is positive testimony that he was a physician of no mean reputation. Especially is this apparent when we consider the fact that he always neglected his practice for the duties of the church. It required no little confidence of patrons to wait for his ser- vices while he was absent, or to be content with simply his medicines until he returned. In those years when he preached to eight and nine congregations, he was most exten- sively engaged in the medical work. Medical men valued his opinion. He was often called in consultation. A physician in North Carolina, who possesses a State reputation, who was called to see a patient in his absence remarked, "I can do no more than Dr. Fox has done." He had a considerable reputation as a surgeon. He did the largest surgical practice in the whole of his sec- tion. Very few operations were performed for many miles around his residence unless by himself and his brother-in- law, Dr. M. L. Brown, of Lincolnton. His specialty, if he had any, was diseases peculiar to females, but he took more delight and was more successful in the treatment of chronic diseases, especially those that had baffled the skill of other physicians. He could not tolerate "humbuggery." He loathed quackery. He never prescribed "patent medicines," unless he was certain of the formula of their composition. He was always honest in what he said about a case. He scorned the idea of riding into the confidence of his friends and others by trying to make them believe he had done great things when there was no danger. In the examination of his patient he was thorough and careful. He did not administer medicines before he knew the nature and seat of the disease. Sometimes, when others 08 BIOGRAPHY OF thought the examination sufficient, he persisted until he be- came thoroughly satisfied. He did not believe in " drug- ging." He thought it better to take no medicine unless it was really necessary. He did not humor the hysterical and hypochondriac with the large infusions of medicine which they sometimes expected, if any at all. We are not abso- lutely certain that he gave " bread pills," but, judging from the usual medical character, suppose that he did. He was always cheerful and composed when in the pres- ence of his patients, inspiring them with confidence, and en- couraging them to keep up a strong moral courage. He was under the conviction that medical skill with its remedies could at best only assist nature in her efforts to cure, and that when nature was impeded by despair the case was more hopeless. He often prayed with his patients when he saw there was danger, if he thought they could bear it, or were in a con- dition to appreciate it. He did a large charity practice. Something of the bene- volence of this part of his work may be seen from his books. Thousands cf dollars were given away to the afflicted, not only in labor, but in medicines. Some of his services were not charged on his ledger, and much more money was given in this direction, because he preferred to allow the bills to pass out of date rather than ask for their payment when that would embarrass. "They need it more than we," was a frequent expression to his own family. He did something in the way of giving medical instruction. In Alabama he had a student whose name is not now at command ; in North Carolina he had, as students, Drs. Eli Crowell, who for twenty-five years has been doing a large practice, A. M. Huitt, who died just as he was commencing business, and his own sons. Albert C. and J. Francke Fox. He has three sons in the medical profession. CHAPTER VIII. HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. ~r^R. FOX was endowed with a strong native intellect. -"-^ tie was capable of deep and thorough analysis. He aimed at the depths of wisdom. He was not content with merely superficial and mechanical knowledge. He pos- sessed a mind capable of grappling with the very foundations of a subject, and to those foundations he generally went. He was a profound and sprightly thinker. His judgment was calm, far-seeing and most always correct in its supposi- tions. His mind was sensitive, taking cognizance of all objects with which it came in contact, and forming correct conceptions of them almost by intuition. His intuitive per- ception was remarkable. If he did not comprehend a thought at once it vras difficult for him to comprehend it at all. The most striking of his mental powers was his mem- ory of facts. None who knew him could fail to observe the readiness with which he remembered places, names and faces. He never forgot a face he ever knew, and with the recognition of the face came the name. After twenty years of absence he would address his former acquaintances as readily as if he had seen them a few months before. A short while before his death he rehearsed incidents of forty years previous with as much vividness as if they had trans- pired a few days before. Going into any country where he had lived or traveled through, he could relate occur- rences which most of the citizens who had never chan^^ed o their residences had forgotten. Thus he remembered all (69) 70 BIOGRAPHY OF facts. He also had a sober judgment that could utilize these facts. He ^vas a safe counsellor. He was very cautious, often too much so, but he was on the side of safety. He had a peculiar power of reading character. He was sometimes mistaken in his first impressions of men, but not often. It was time to "beware of men" when he warned you. He was generally very cool and self-possessed. He was never impulsive, except in giving expression to his indigna- tion at that which he regarded as mean and evil. When he was pressed by parties for reasons for his course in any given respect, if that course was determined by their actions which he disapproved, he would speak the whole matter out. If he had been more reserved in such things his life would have been smoother in some respects. He despised dissimu- lation. He detested falsehood and chicanery to gain any end. A positive man, he attracted strongly, but he also repelled. When there was antagonism with him it was usually sharp. The knowledge of his business, reaching into several spheres of activity, was remarkably accurate. He had the various ends of it always at command. He could inform you almost at any time, without reference to written records, concerning the various positions of his property and his financial status. He was prudently economical. He gave his means for all the necessaries and many of the luxuries of lite, but he disdained extravagance. In stature he was of medium height and well proportioned. He was not particularly muscular, but had great powers of endurance. His temperament was sanguine, with a mixture of the bilious, his countenance manly and engaging, indi- cative of principle and firm convictions. His face was in- telligent and earnest. It was not so handsome as strong. 71 His bearing was always dignified. He never assumed an awkward p<^sition, even when it might have been un- noticed. His posture and carriage were erect. His per- sonal appearance and manner were altogether such as to produce the conviction that he realized the responsibility of the high office with which he was invested, and the impor- tant duties with which he Avas charged. His demeanor on all occasions was natural, and not intended for personal attraction or eSect. For many years he was a dyspeptic, and rarely ever felt well, but this did not afiect his social nature. In social intercourse he was very genial. He loved conversation. He would talk to any one, a child or a negro, who happened to be thrown with him. He could make himself interestins: to persons of all ages. There never came a protracted lull in the conversation in which he participated. From his happy social nature came much of the good he accomplished in the world. He was always communicative. He gave the people the benefit of his best thoughts. In every associa- tion and relation he educated them. And the wisdom which he imparted w^as the wisdom of culture, of elevated and ennobling thought, of pure and upright life. He read and treasured up facts of pure and useful information, and he was constantly drawing out and distributing from those treasures "things new and old." In estimating the good effected by his preaching, and by all his public ministrations in the house of God, we must not forget the holy influence he shed upon all those with whom he was associated in the private circles of life. It might be that we would find in his quiet and unostentatious life, in the thousands of daily acts and efforts for the good and happiness of others — acts removed from the gaze and applause of men — a power and influence for the welfare and salvation of his fellow-men. TZ BIOGRAPHY OF almost as great as that which he exercised in his public career. It is not easy to estimate the power for good wrought by the gentle word spoken in kindness, the act of benevolence and charity which no one knows except those upon whom it is bestowed, the prayer with a sinner alone which na one hears but God, or even the good impression that flows out like sunshine from the example of holy char- acter and life. It is in the social circle, as well as in the pulpit, that Dr. Fox will be missed. Society is deprived of a leader, as the pulpit is of an able, eloquent and efficient minister. Long years will be passed before the name of Dr. Fox will cease to be spoken by the firesides once lighted up with his genial presence, and even after that name is for- gotten his influence will live in the hearts that had not known him to love him. He was a man of the strictest integrity. He was some- times mistaken, but he was always conscientious. In what- ever he did, he believed that he was right. In his business transactions he was perfectly honest. His character in all respects was pure. No man ever dared assail it in any of its moral bearings, or charge him with intentional wrong. There was not the breath of an evil suspicion resting on the whole of his life. The secret of his success was his ardent piety. He was thoroughly and conscientiously a Christian. He had expe- rienced in his own soul the regenerating and sanctifying operations of the Holy Spirit. His heart had been trained in the school of afflictions, and it never forgot the holy influ- ences wrought upon it by divine grace. He was an intelli- gent believer. He could say, " I know whom I have be- lieved." He was unshaken in his religious convictions. They could not for any consideration be bribed. They were as inmovable as granite. They gave steadiness lo his life, REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M. D. 73 and inspired the utmost confidence of all who knew him. The spirit of Christ was in him. His life was a beautiful exemplification of the truth of his principles and the power of the Gospel. His actions always corresponded with the lessons he inculcated from the pulpit — the duties he enforced in his pastoral relations. His claims to discipleship none questioned. His qualifications for the joys of the eternal world all admitted. He was a man of great energy, indefatigable in all his labors, "instant in season and out of season." Whatever his hands found to do he did with all his might. He did not yield to feelings of indisposition, and grant himself surcease from toil. Often he was sick, and several times he was very ill, yet he did an astonishing amount of work. For thirty years his engagements were such as ordinarily em- ploy two or three men. But he did his work well, and did it with satisfactory ease. Neither in medicine nor theology did he write much. His life was too busy. He had no time for elaborate treatises. He had very little taste for that kind of work, because he never had the opportunity of cultivating the skill. The ef- fusions from his pen, though few, evinced, however, a style clear and terse, a reasoning cogent and convincing, and thoughts profound and lucidly expressed. Some of his written productions are beautiful and meritorious. His written sermons, however, were never equal to his extem- pore efforts ; and reading them always placed him at decided disadvantage. He would often enjoy pure anecdotes, and had a consid- erable fund which he told with eff"ect. But he had no patience with them when impure or profane, or when serious matters were before him if told simply for amusement. He did not object sometimes when they were told at his expense. 4 74 BIOGRAPHY OF While with a company of friends on a certain occasion he was reminded of an occurrence at synod. Several of " the brethren" were attempting "to raise the hymn." Their efforts failed. "When asked whether he remembered that he said, "You just quit, brethren, let me try it?" he answered "Yes, and didn't I make it go?" He was playfully re- minded then that this anecdote would find a place in his biography, but he littlo dreamed of that reality. He related an interesting anecdote about himself. While traveling at a certain time he passed a house from which issued the shrieks of a woman as if about to be murdered. He dismounted, and soon learned that it was a man beating his wife. He gave himself to the woman's rescue. He caught hold of the scoundrel, threw^ him down, and asked for a rope to tie him. When the wife was released, she became indignant at what she considered as the unneces- sary interposition of the stranger, and seizing a chair began to attack him who wished to befriend her, and told her husband that if he did not kill him she would never have anything more to do with him. Rewarded with such base ingratitude he abandoned the contest, and hastily re- turning to his horse, seeing in his escape the man's gun over the door, began to beat a fast retreat, settling down with the conviction that forever afterward he would permit man and wife "to fight it out" by themselves. These anecdotes might be indefinitely multiplied. We give below a few of the published estimates of his general character. Others may be seen in the issues of Our Church Paper, New Market, Va., from June 19 to August 15, 1884; Lincoln Press, Lincolnton, N. C, June 13; Newton Enterprise, June 14; Charlotte Observer, June 15; Piedmont Press and Weste7'7i Carolinia^i, Hickory, N. C; Home-Democrat, Charlotte, N. C, June 20; Gas- tonia Gazette, and Lutheran Observer, Philadelphia, Ta. 75 Rev. A. J. Brown, D. D., Blountsville, Tennessee, a life- long companion anil friend, thus testifies in Our Cliurch Paper of July 17, 1884: "There Avas in Dr. Fox a per- sonal magnetism that strongly attracted others to him, and greatly endeared him to all with whom he came in social contact, especially such as sympathized with him in his views, feelings and purposes, and at the same time a frank- ness that inspired all with the utmost confidence in his moral integrity, however greatly they might differ with him in some respects. He possessed also in a high degree the social qualities and colloquial powers which, refined and elevated and restrained and directed by divine grace, made him a pleasant and an entertaining Christian companion. He was, in a word, a Christian gentleman of high tj^pe. "Dr. Fox was no mere ordinary man. Nature had done much for him, and her gifts were not neglected. He "was endowed with fine native intellect, and while not thoroughly educated in the common acceptation of the term, his mental powers were nevertheless Avell developed and disciplined by an extensive course of reading and study in the two learned professions of his choice. His conceptions of tlie truth on all subjects with which he grappled were quick and clear, and generally correct. His convictions of truth and its importance were deep and firm ; and his defence of the right, as well as his opposition to tlie wrong, was always prompt and manly. He was a man of fixedness of principle, and was always willing and readv to defend principle when the interests of truth demanded his services. " Dr. Fox was a strong man. His power was felt and acknowledged wherever he labored. He never failed to make his mark. He was a fluent speaker, a clear reasoner, and shrewd debater ; and better than all, he was a faithful, evangelical, and sucessful preacher." 70 BIOGRAPJIY OF One not of Lutlieran faith speaks of him as follows, in the Newton (N. C.) Ujiterprisc, of June "i4, 1884 : " He was a man of great industry. When he was not administering to the souls 01 men he was actively engaged in relieving their bodily infirmities. lie was a man of no ordinary mind. As a minister of the gospel, he was liberal, evangeli- cal and learned. Whib he was a firm believer in the doc- trines of the Christian religion as expounded by the great Reformer, Martin Luther, yet he never railed against those who difterel with him in minor points of religion. His usefulness was not confined to neighborlioods and counties ; but liis reputation as a minister of the gospel and a physician extended beyond the limits of this state. He ac(|uircd by his practice a considerable amount of property ; but he never oppressed the poor. He raised and educated his children well. Two of liis sons are ministers, and three are physi- cians." But his varied work is done. The eloquent tongue is still. The strong arm is laid low. His labors have ceased. Yet his influence lives and will continue to bless the world even till the latest generation. H CHAPTER IX. CLOSE OF LIFE. 'IS closing years were not marked by any special de- - dine in physical vigor. He did not seek particularly any cessation from the arduous labors that had constituted the whole of his life. Yet there were some evidences that the exertion of years was telling upon his person and ener- gies. A robust constitution, never abused by injurious habits, would doubtless have prolonged his life beyond the allotted threescore years and ten ; but there had been many causes to sap and undermine it. The long exposures to every change of temperature, and every condition of weather, and the constant strain on nerves and heart and brain which his vast responsibilities and trials had entailed, had been silently and gradually doing their work ; and now his step had lost something of its elasticity, the ruddy glow of health upon his countenance had partially faded, and there was a disposition, if it was not gratified, to seek repose from the cares and turmoils of life. The silvery locks, whitened with the frost of more than three-score winters, the eye once brilliant, which now and then had a far-away, abstracted gaze, and the face over whose lineaments sometimes stole a shade of sadness, si- lently whispered his descent upon the sunny slope of years, and his ripening for the grave. He fell with his armor on. In the midst of the most active ministerial and medical duties he was summoned to give an account of his stewardship. He died in the midst (77) 78 BIOGKAPIIY OF of the conflict, in the foremost ranks. His last prayers were to be spared for the warfare against evil in which he had been so long engaged, ''for the good of the Church" which he so dearly loved ; yet willing to " depart and be with Christ, which is far better." The day two weeks previous to his death he had returned home from a month's visit to Tennessee, where he had been activelv enorao;ed in assistinjij his son with his communions. The sermons he preached were among the best and ablest of his life. lie preached, during that visit, fifteen sermons in twenty-four days. There were a few thinsiis in his conduct and words that seemed as if he had premonitions of his approaching end. In the closing remarks of his last sermon at Solomon's church, Greene county, Tenn., he told the people that he did not expect to preach for them again, although he was the Pastor-elect of the conore^-ation. Returning home, he spent several days in rehearsing the occurrences of the visit, which he seemed to have greatly enjoyed. His heart and lips were full of Tennessee in his last sickness. His last ministerial act was catechising a class of young persons at Grace church, N. C. His last medical act was setting the broken arm of a little boy, on the evening of his return from catechising. On Sunday morning he was preparing to go to churcli. He had two appointments for that day six miles apart. He was feeling very unwell, yet had his horse ready and over- coat on, although in mid-summer, and was in the act of start- ing, when he Avas seized with a severe chill. The idea of preaching was abandoned. He did not rise again from the bed to which he that morning retired. His disease was dysentery, coupled with a bilious attack, and provoked by physical and nervous prostration. He was sick ten days, as he himself predicted. In two days after REV. ALFRED J. FOX, M, D. 79 the commencement of his illness, the physicians despaired of his life. A few days he was delirious from the medi- cines ; but for several days previous to his death he was perfectly calm and sensible. During the moments of de- lirium he talked of his " good and obedient children," gave profuse quotations of Scripture, and spoke frequently of affairs pertaining to the Church. He seemed entirely satisfied with his spiritual prepara- tion. When asked by tenderest affection, "Do you feel ready to die ?" he answered : " yes ! I have been ready for fifty years." He always seemed ready so far as his own soul's interests were concerned. He relied fully upon the promises of God's Word, and met death without a fear of his terrors, and without a doubt as to the blissful real- ities of the eternal world. " I know that my Redeemer liveth," was only one of the many passages he recited as positive evidence of the reality of his objects of faith. Alienated friends had been reconciled, and one of his last utterances was, "I die in peace with all mankind." During his illness, when asked of his condition, he ex- pressed the belief that he would get well. He knew that he was very ill, and made requests in case he died. On Monday evening indications of speedy dissolution began to appear to all. The physicians said he would die before midnight. The pulse at his wrists were no longer distinguishable from the pulse of the finger tips. He was perfectly quiet. In the early morning his son, one of the physicians, who was sitting near his side, perceived a difference in his respirations. He knew the end had come. He summoned the family quickly to his side. They had scarcely surrounded the bed, until his last breath had gone. On the morning of June 10th, at fifteen minutes past five o'clock, he calmly passed into eternity. He died 80 BIOGRAPHY OF as one passing into a deep sleep, -without a moan, a tremor or a sigh. On the following day he was buried at Salem church, Lincoln county, N. C, where he was ordained to the office of pastor in 1838, and of which he had been pastor without interval for twenty-eight years. The funeral discourse, from Numbers xxiii. 10, was preached by Rev. R. A. Yoder, who spoke most aifectionately of the dead, of his character and the good he had done. He was assisted by Rev. J. ^I. Smith, who made some appropriate remarks. Although "the weather was inclement ard in the midst of harvest, there was a very large congregation present, to pay a last tribute of respect to an aged and venerable minister of the gospel." The entire community, including those of other faiths, mourned the loss of one of its best members. For thirty years he had lived and labored among them, serving them in various capacities. His influence renehed into every department, and his ministrations had been car- ried into every home. Suddenly he is stricken down, and all stand stunned by the blow. It was a touching scene at his funeral, where persons gathered from various sections, some more than twenty miles in private conve3^ances, and stood as common mourners around his bier. They lingered gazing at his pale face as if he were a father or a brother, and mothers lifted up their little children to see once more one who had been such a faithful minister and friend. "His place cannot be filled" is yet the sincere tribute of all who knew him. The announcement of his death carried sadness over the large section in which he lived, and to friendly hearts in many States. Many months passed before his friends at Salem church ceased to linger around his grave Sabbatli after Sabbatli, as if drawn to its sacred dust ])y the tenderest attraction. 81 Rev. Prof. J. C. Barb, of Whitestown, Indiana, thus writes: "The announcement of the death of Rev. A. J. Fox, M. D., carries sadness to the hearts of all who knew him. A great and good man has fallen." Rev. A. J. Brown, D. D., of Tennessee, says: "The death of this venerable servant of God has thrown a deep gloom over his numerous friends. My associations with him were long, intimate and pleasant. I respected, ad- mired and loved him while living, and now that he is gone, I should do violence to my feelings, were I not to pay a feeble tribute of respect to his memory." In the obituary notice, Rev. R. A. Yoder says : "An em- inently successful career has closed with his life, and at his death the State and community have lost a valuable citizen, the church and synod an able, active and energetic minister, and the family a kind father and dear husband. "By his Svorks of faith and labors of love,' he * being dead yet speaketh.' The souls whom he has been instrumen- tal in saving, the churches which he has helped to build, the brethren whom he has counseled, the voice of pen and pul- pit, all speak. 'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth ; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.' 'Pre- cious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.' ' Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright ; for the end of that man is peace.' " He has been called to his reward, and is now in the felloAvship of angels and saints, around the throne of God. He ' fought a good fight,' he ' kept the faith,' and now he wears the victor's crown." Testimonials of respect were written and published by his congregations at Hickory and Salem, N. C, and by the 4^ 82 BIOGRAPHY OF Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod, in its six*-y-fourth annual convention. A neat monument of Rutland (Yt.) marble stands at the head of his grave. The lower base is beautiful granite, and the upper is marble. From the summit of this rises a round shaft of five feet, of exquisite beauty and polish. The whole monument is ten feet and three inches high. Upon two sides is the following inscription : Rev. a. J. FOX, M. D., Born Sept. 6, 1817 ; Died June 10, 1884. Aged 66 yrs., 9 mos., 4 days. He was an earnest and faithful Lutheran minister for forty-seven years, and for thirty-three a successful physician. His labors were richly blessed, and he now rests. He loved the truth, and his faith never wavered. "I know that my Redeemer livetli.'' Such was the life and character of this venerated servant of God, whose memory we love to revere, whose virtues may be the common heritage of all. His name is written in heaven — his worth is cherished on the earth ! Let us be grateful to the Great Head of the Church for the services he rendered — for the example he has left us. His memory cannot die. The influence of his character survives the dis- solution of his body, and will continue unfading and immor- tal. God grant that his mantle may fall upon us. "Rest, therefore, thou Whose early guidance trained my infant steps — Rest, in the bosom of God, till the brief slcc^ Of death is over, and a happier life Shall dawn to waken thine insensible dust." APPENDIX A, THE CHRISTIAN'S CONFLICT, VICTORY AND REWARD. Memorial Sermon on the death of Rev. Alfred J. Fox^ M. i>., delivered in Salem Churchy Cocke county^ Tenn., June 7th, 1885, hy Rev. Abel J. Brown, D. D. Text : I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith ; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give unto ine in that day ; and not to me only, but unto all them that love his appearing. — 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8. OT. PAUL was the author of our text. The circum- ^^ stances under which he penned it were peculiar and solemn. He was at that time a prisoner,, for "the testi- mony of Jesus and his word," in the city of Rome, closely confined and chained down in a gloomy and loathsome dun- geon, with the almost certain prospect of speedy martyr- dom. To this fact he very feelingly alludes in the verse preceding the text. " I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand." His mental exer- cises — his feelings and prospects under these trying circum- stances, find vent in the lanojuao-e of the text. Paul was a representative Christian, as well as a model minister of the gospel ; and the facts in his Christian life and experience, and his feelings and prospects in view of the near approach of death and the world to come, arc not peculiar to him, or any favored class of God's people, but (83) 84 APPENDIX A. are substantially repeated in the life and experience of every child of God. As the Christian nears the Jordan of death, and scans, as he must at such a time as this, his past life, and peers into the future, he adopts as his own the lan- guage of our text. Such, are we assured, was the case with our departed brother in the ministry, to whose mem- ory we this day pay a feeble tribute of respect, as he passed "through the dark valley and shadow of death;" and it is for this, amongst other reasons, that we have chosen the words of our text as the guide to our thoughts on this mournful occasion. We have in our text : I. A DELINEATION OF THE CHRISTIAN'S CONDITION AND COURSE THROUGH LIFE ; and II. An expression of his feelings and prospects IN VIEW OF DEATH AND THE WORLD TO COME. To the discussion of these particulars, as set forth in the words of the text, shall we mainly direct your attention, and close III. With such reference to the life, character and PASTORAL WORK OF THE DECEASED AS WE MAY DEEM PROPER. I. We have in the text a delineation of the Chris- tian's CONDITION AND COURSE THR0U