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ANDREW MENEELY was born in the village of West Troy, N. Y., where, with the exception of brief intervals, he resided till his death. His father died while he was quite young; but he was left under the guidance of a pious and devoted mother, who was the principal instrument, in the hands of God, in forming a character which impressed itself upon others by the same influence she exerted to mould that of her son.
In youth, he was remarkable for his circumspection of character,
his prudent choice of company, and his regular attendance upon
the ordinances of God's house. He was amiable and lovely, not
only as a son and brother, but as an acquaintance; and his many
admirable traits of character commended him in early life to the
kind regards of the good and virtuous. All his acquaintances speak
of him as possessing rare virtues when a boy. He depended principally
upon his own efforts to make himself useful and respected in the
world, for he was not born to " fortune and to fame."
Hence he gave himself to diligence in his business, with a determined
perseverance to overcome whatever obstacles he might be obliged
to encounter. Having become happily united in marriage to Miss
Philena Hanks of Connecticut, he gave himself to his business
with intense and unremitting application, and began to lay the
foundation of that honorable fame which he afterwards possessed,
and which has spread his name so far and wide. He was admired
by all who knew him for the many good qualities he possessed,
and was even looked upon as a pattern of excellence.
But he was yet "without God," though seeking after him,
and laboring constantly under those convictions which more or
less force themselves upon the minds of such as are religiously
educated. We may say, he was striving like the young man in the
gospel to do some good thing to inherit eternal life. One thing
he lacked; and often has he said to me that he was never without
this conviction. He was persuaded that it ought to be the business
of his life to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness."
This conviction pressed itself upon him amid his daily duties,
in his counting-room, in his retirement, and in the house of God.
As long as his heart was not right in the sight of God, he knew
there would be for him no abiding happiness.
A few years subsequent to his marriage and commencement of business,
his mind was more powerfully awakened to the claims of God, and
to the necessity of being " born again." In the year
1831 a revival of God's work commenced in the church and congregation
with which he was accustomed to worship. The Rev. Robert Bronk
was his pastor, a man whose anxiety and labors for the temporal
and spiritual welfare of those committed to his care were earnest
and incessant. An intimacy founded on deep and lasting friendship
existed between him and his pastor, and continued to increase
with devoted attachment, until God saw fit in his wisdom to call
this sainted minister from the scene of his labors on earth to
a happier home.
In the year 1831, Mr. Meneely made a public profession of his faith in Christ; and he recorded it in a book as a dedication of himself never to be forgotten. this period he loved to look back, for it was the day of his espousals--a happy time when the Holy Spirit opened his heart, awakened him to a sense of his sins, stripped him of all his own goodness, and showed him how incapable he was of saving himself; and while with trembling and anguish he heard of the misery of the lost, and saw the doom to which he was exposed, he was led to look away to the, Crucified, and cast himself into his arms for safety.
He now felt that a flood of light was poured into his soul. How
precious that Redeemer, whose claims he had neglected so long!
How full of gratitude was his heart! What blessedness he knew,
when first he saw the Lord! Previous to his deliverance from the
bondage of sin, his convictions were at times very deep and distressing,
and continued to increase. His sins pressed heavily upon him,
and their guilt rendered the burden so intolerable, that at last
he said, " I thought the very floor would open; I felt the
bed sinking. My soul was ready to perish. In agony, I called upon
the Lord to save. I felt there was hope in none but in him; then
it was that 'He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out
of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established
my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise
unto our God."
The sovereign goodness of God in his conversion was a theme upon
which he delighted to dwell, and of which he- never grew weary.
It inspired him with humility, and caused his heart to overflow
with love and gratitude to his Redeemer.. Now he wondered why
he had neglected salvation so long, since it was so plain, and
there was "no other name under heaven given among men, whereby
we must be saved." A number of others were hopefully converted
at this time, who still remain in the church, and are among its
brightest ornaments. Two of his brothers-in-law united with th
e church at the same time with himself. One of them remarked to
me, that previous to his own conversion, nothing surprised him
more than to hear Mr. Meneely confess himself such a guilty sinner
before God, and as justly deserving everlasting punishment; "because,"
said he, "I had always looked upon him as a pattern of excellence;
but I was brought to understand and to feel this truth when I
too saw above me an angry God, and the terrors of the law and
the precepts of the gospel flashing in my face, and my best earthly
friends saying, as is written, 'There is no peace, saith my God,
to the wicked.' At first I was angry when I heard the sentiment
sung or spoken, that there would be a separation of the most devoted
friends, if some continued in a state of impenitence; but now
I was in the dust, and glad to implore an interest in the prayers
of those who were instrumental in opening my eyes to a sense of
my own sinful condition."
The influence of this work of grace still remains with us, and
will never be lost to the world. We need not wonder that angels
rejoice over the conversion of a sinner, when we see how God is
making use of men in the conversion of this world to himself.
We cannot prize too highly, or pray too earnestly for revivals
of pure and undefiled religion, in which many are brought from
death unto life, and consecrate themselves unto God and his service.
In some cases the entire complexion of a church and community
is altered; evil practices are abandoned, Sabbaths honored, churches
filled, benevolent institutions promoted, and every happy influence
exerted which grows out of the divine commands, "Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul,
and with all thy mind," and, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor
as thyself."