CHAPTER VII

THE SENIOR PASTOR

" If solid and respectable talents, if acquirements which enabled him to act his
part in various important stations with uniform honor, if patriarchal dignity, if sound
practical wisdom, and a long life of eminent usefulness, be worthy of grateful re¬
membrance and of respectful imitation, then the life of Dr. Rodgers is worthy of
being written and perused."—Samuel Miller, "Memoirs of John Rodgers," p. 11.

"I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with
knowledge and understanding."—Jeremiah 3 : 15.

BY the beginning of the new century Dr. Rodgers,
as has been already intimated, was beginning
to feel his age. He had now served the
church for nearly forty years, and in spite of the great
growth during that period and the many other able
men, both clergy and laymen, who had contributed
to the church's welfare and progress, the impress
of the personality of Dr. Rodgers upon the whole
history was unmistakable. The record of the years
to which the last chapter was devoted would be like
a watch without the mainspring, unless the senior
pastor were given his place in the middle of the
scene. The picture presented at the beginning of
this history, of the ''new minister" just entering
upon his city pastorate, must now be completed by a
description of the well-known New York divine,
whose work is firmly established and whose position
as a religious leader is now secure.
And, first, let us take a somewhat casual view of

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