[Illustration: JOHN CHAMBERS. About 1873.] JOHN CHAMBERS SERVANT OF CHRIST AND MASTER OF HEARTS AND HIS MINISTRY IN PHILADELPHIA BY REV. WM. ELLIOT GRIFFIS, D.D., L.H.D. AUTHOR OF "THE MIKADO'S EMPIRE", "BRAVE LITTLE HOLLAND", "COREA, THE HERMIT NATION", "THE PILGRIMS IN THEIR THREE HOMES", "VERBECK OF JAPAN", Etc. ITHACA, N. Y. ANDRUS & CHURCH 1903 COPYRIGHT, 1903 BY ANDRUS & CHURCH (OCTOBER) PRESS OF ANDRUS & CHURCH ITHACA, N. Y. JOHN CHAMBERS'S FAVORITE PSALM PSALM CXXXIII Behold how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, That ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: That went down to the skirts of his garments: As the dew of Hermon, And as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: For there the Lord commanded the blessing, Even life forevermore. TO ALL MY FELLOW ALUMNI MEMBERS OF THE FIRST INDEPENDENT CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA WHO IN HALLOWED MEMORY OF THE PAST OR IN HOPE OF REUNION IN THE ETERNAL HOME GREET JOHN CHAMBERS AS THEIR FATHER IN GOD I DEDICATE THIS LITTLE BOOK PREFACE. John Chambers was one of the first among popular preachers of the nineteenth century in Philadelphia, and the pastor for fifty years of one congregation. Not alone to delight those with vivid memories, who knew, loved and honored John Chambers, have I undertaken this work of filial piety, but to tell to young men of to-day the story of a consecrated, strenuous, and successful life, the secret of which was self-conquest and strength in God.