Smart, John G, Dd

Smart, John G., D.D., a Presbyterian divine, was born in Huntingdon, Pa., Aug. 3, 1804. He graduated at Jefferson College, Pa., in 1826, studied theology privately, was licensed by the Associate Presbytery of Philadelphia, Aug. 17, 1826, and ordained pastor of the Associate Church in Johnstown, N.Y., Nov. 5, 1829, where he continued to labor until 1837, when he removed to Baltimore, Md., and in 1838 was installed pastor of the Church in that city. This relation was dissolved in 1850, and he removed to Cambridge, N.Y., where he continued without a charge, but was engaged in preaching almost constantly in the many vacancies which occurred in the Presbytery of Cambridge, to which he belonged. He died July 8, 1862. Dr. Smart was a man of very superior mental power. He was well skilled in the languages, particularly the Latin, and while a student of theology edited the Orations of Cicero for Tower & Hogan, publishers in Philadelphia. His distinguishing characteristic was his acquaintance with the rules of Church order. Such was his reputation as an ecclesiastical disciplinarian that he was chosen by the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church as chairman of the committee to draft a book of discipline. See Wilson, Presb. Hist. Almanac, 1863, p. 363; The Evangelical Repository, s.v.; Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Auth. s.v. (J.L.S.)