Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/207

Rh and with streaming eyes thanked God for his great bounty towards him. Then, turning to Mr. Carter, he said, “You and your friends have been very good to me. I never had so much money in my life before. I cannot go South; I feel that I am growing worse every day, and that it is better for me to stay at home. But this money will be a provision for my family, and I feel confident that the Lord who has dealt so graciously with me will be with my wife and children after I am gone.” After his death, his wife went into business in a very small way, keeping what was called a thread and needle shop. She had a hard struggle, but found friends, and was never forsaken.

From this story Mr. Carter made an urgent appeal that the church at large should do systematically what a few friends had done in this individual case. Many of the friends of ministerial relief have spoken of a new interest in the cause dating from this speech.

In 1863, Mr. Carter was a delegate to the Old School Assembly at Peoria. It was in the early days of the Reunion movement, and friendly resolutions were exchanged with the New School Assembly, meeting at Philadelphia. The following year, 1864, he was again a delegate at Newark, New Jersey. Here an informal meeting of ministers and elders was held for conference upon the expediency and feasibility of organic Reunion.

In November, 1867, he went as a delegate to a great National Presbyterian Convention, held in Philadelphia, “for prayer and conference in regard to the terms of union and communion among the various branches of the Presbyterian family.” The call for this convention originated with his old and valued friend, George H. Stuart, Esq., who presided over the meetings. On the first morning there was an elders’ prayer meeting at