,--and
teach school, was an undertaking that required strong nerves. D. W.
Anderson had them. He never allowed himself to think that he was any
person other than a man and citizen clothed with all civil rights and
armed with God-given prerogatives. And so commanding was he, that a
man who stood in his presence instantly felt him a superior. Moreover,
the heated feeling and public sentiment which, on the night of
November 7, 1837, wrested from the hand of God,--to whom alone
vengeance belongeth,--a life, were not yet abated. Lovejoy, a
peaceable citizen, had been deprived of free speech and struck down by
the knife of the assassin; and could it be expected that a Negro would
be spared? The times were exciting and dangerous, and yet Anderson was
determined to take his place and work on in the path of duty, never
wincing, but leaving the results with God.

Before in his quiet home and farm life, nature was his peculiar study.
He had studied man in studying himself, but in the city of Alton he
could study men. He loved to walk through its long streets, watch its
hurrying pedestrians, and learn the manifold manifestations of city
life.

Having been converted just after the death of his first wife, but
never having connected himself with any church, he now joined the A.
M. E. Church of Alton. His views from the first were Baptistic, but
circumstances placed him among the Methodists. The elder in charge was
the powerful preacher, the successful revivalist, and the eminently
pious man, Rev. Shadrack Stewart. Some misunderstanding arose between
the minister in charge and some of the members, which resulted in the
withdrawal of the pastor, Rev. S. Stewart, Anderson and family, and
quite a number of the leading members. Minister and all connected
themselves with the Baptists. Anderson used often to say to his
family: "_That move placed me at home_." He was indeed at home, and
stayed there until he was called to his heavenly rest! He loved very
much to study the Bible, and to meditate upon its great truths. The
more he studied it the clearer duty seemed and the deeper and purer
his love grew for that beneficent Being whom he owned as Lord and
King.

It was now 1843. He felt that it was his duty to enter the Gospel
ministry. Naturally a modest man, he shrank somewhat from this voice
of God; but finally, in 1844, submitted to ordination. He was ordained
by the Rev. John Anderson, father of the late Richard Anderson, of St.
Louis