Scott, William C

Scott, William C., a Presbyterian minister, was born in Martinsburg, Berkeley Co., VA, Jan. 13, 1817. He was conducted through his academical course principally by his father, the Rev. William N. Scott, who, to support his family and educate his own children, had opened a school, which he continued for twenty years. He was converted in October, 1831, in a revival commenced in connection with the meeting of the Synod of Virginia, and united with his father's Church in the spring of 1832. It was about this time that he first felt his call to preach the Gospel. He graduated at South Hanover College, Ind., in 1837, and at the Union Theological Seminary, Va., in 1840. Here the depth of his piety, the high literary merit of his performances, and the vigor and originality of his intellect marked him as a candidate for the ministry of no ordinary promise. In April, 1840, he was licensed by the presbytery of Winchester, and during the ensuing autumn became a stated supply to three churches on Staunton River — namely, Providence, in Halifax Co., and Cub Creek and Bethesda, in Charlotte Co. In 1842 he was ordained pastor of the churches of Providence and Bethesda, where he continued to labor till the spring of 1846, when he became pastor of the church in Farmville, Va. Before he had been three years in this charge, a bronchial trouble had so far developed itself that he was compelled to resign his pastorate, and retired to a small farm which he owned among his first congregation. Alter two years' abstinence from all public service, he was able again to preach, and was called with perfect unanimity to become a second time the pastor of the Bethesda church. Here he labored until his death, which occurred Oct. 23, 1854. Mr. Scott was the author Genius and Faith, or Poetry and Religion in their Mutual Relations (N. Y. 1853). This work is highly commended as "a treasury of invaluable thought, and in respect to which it is difficult to say whether the poetical, the philosophical, or the Christian element has the predominance." His intellect was of a high character, and his preaching always marked by careful preparation, by uncommon elegance of composition, and by clearness and accuracy of statement. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 4:802: Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, s.v. (J. L. S.)