\Y. :^(^ 'mm-^^"' ^f^f^n^p .'''^'vskK^'''' w..^.^ mA^"'-'. 'A^^^ Ju '^"^.nf^^ Wm /*■«« «>; ^O^'^n'^^ K, fti ill/ c:-:^'^r^v^'^M^4 M?i^P# '^^^OO' ,^P^V '^^'.r^'^ JjNd «««**«« . ..^«ft59J«8^^^^A''^^; ^;M^s::::m?^^..'^^st' ^v;... S -,^■ '^f^fip' >/>-^^' '■ m ^BS^^sS^ FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D. BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY .^..^^'^^'^ '/OpL^O .O;,-;;- ■^"^sm -'m-.. /^ry- A^/>»A' ^><^' ^■-^fc^.f &JWi ^^*' '-m^mm p%«w ^S^mSmP ^^' ^^.m f^/t(^f^/<^^na^ ^>'> ^ rv'^A, 00^*^^ .^««^««:.^.^aa^!st£»ijs ,rv f^- fyf^rr »yJiiffll!^*^'' M0^^^ .A:r^cHHW':-?'^^^^^AH^ %RSAftf^W^, "^5S«i^R^r^ «-4,flfl«/'/^A' Bffifefc&WfiMfifiwiK ^s*"^? ^o/^'^^;;:^/^^ ^:,;;iS^ o^^^r^^ ■.A'^AAI^/S^. :*i5?i^ ^ v/' ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN UNITARIAN PULPIT; OR COMMEMORATIVE NOTICES OF DISTINGUISHED CLERGYMEN OF THE UNITARIAN DENOMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, FROM ITS CORIMENCKMENT TO THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIVE. WITH AN HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. BY WILLIAM B. SPRAGUE, D. D NEW YORK: ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS, 530 BROADWAY. 1865. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, Br ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southerr T'istrict of New York. PREFACE. The preparation of the sketches contained in this volume has, on one account, been a work of no small difficulty. Not that there has been any lack of co-operation on the part of those on whom I was dependent for the requisite material, — for no denomination has rendered me the desired aid with more promptness and alacrity ; but I refer par- ticularly to the fact that there is a great variety of religious belief included under the generic term, JJnitarianism, which cannot be ignored' in any suitable estimate of its ministry. The series of biographical sketches here presented will, it is believed, form a better history of the denomination than it would be possible for me to furnish in any other way; for, though there are many highly respectable names which are necessarily excluded, the list, as it now stands, is the result of a conference with several of the most prominent living Unitarian clergymen, as well as some who have passed away ; and I have endeavoured, as far as I could, by the best lights within my reach, to define the precise type of religious opinion which each one held. This I have done, in all cases in which it has been practicable, by faithful extracts from the printed or manuscript produc- tions of the individuals concerned ; but, where they have left no written testimony, I have endeavoured, and in most cases have been successful, to procure a statement of their religious views from friends with whom they were in famil- iar intercourse. In respect to several, who died before the VI PREFACE. division of the Congregational Church, it would be impossi- ble, at this time, to ascertain any thing concerning their opinions through any more authentic medium than a vague tradition ; but, from several clergymen who had been inti- mately associated with these men, and who are themselves subjects of this work, I learned, in good time, all that was necessary to my purpose, in regard to their distinctive theological views. To each of the many individuals who have furnished letters for this volume, or material out of which the sketches have been framed, I beg to offer my grateful acknowledge- ments. I cannot forbear to say that I am under very spe- cial obligations to Dr. Peabody, Professor in Harvard Col- lege, not only for numerous letters of personal recollections, but for a multitude of facts and dates, pertaining to the history of many of my subjects ; to the Rev. John Langdon Sibley, Librarian of the College, for his obliging attentions, in giving me free access to the College Library, as well as in prosecuting many laborious researches in it for my benefit; to the Rev. Nathaniel Whitman and the Rev. Ephraim Abbot, for communications concerning several individuals, of whom few besides themselves are now able to testify; to Mr. Henry T. Tuckerman, who has, in vari- ous ways, rendered me most substantial service; and to Miss Elizabeth P. Peabody and Miss Margaret T. Emery, whose graceful pens have refused nothing that I have asked of them. Of those who have departed, to whose memory I owe a large debt of gratitude in connection with this work, are Dr. Abiel Abbot, my early and revered instructor; Dr. John Pierce, whose memory was a vast depository of biographical material, and who was never more happy than when he was dispensing it for the gratification of others ; PREFACE. VU Dr. Charles Lowell, from whom my numerous applications for aid always met a cordial and satisfactory response ; Dr. Samuel Oilman, whose considerate kindness I found it just as easy to bring into exercise in respect to other denomina- tions as his own ; and, finally, the Hon. Josiali Quincy, lately deceased, whom the lapse of ninety years left with a mind as bright, and a spirit as kindly and genial, as ever. It will be observed that there is one sketch in this vol- ume — that of the Rev. Abiel Abbot, of Coventry, Conn., — that does not come legitimately within my limits, his death having taken place since the close of the year 1855. My reason for making this exception is, that his ministry, espe- cially its close, was more immediately identified with the progress of Unitarianism than that of almost any of his contemporaries ; and it would have been impossible to exclude him without forming a perceptible chasm in the history of the denomination. In addition to this, I will not dissemble the fiict that my cherished recollections of his amiable and generous qualities, reaching back to the period of my very childhood, have predisposed me to avail myself of this opportunity for paying a tribute to his memory. I cannot allow myself to hope that the result of my effort will satisfy all into whose hands the work may come ; but of this at least I am certain, that I have done the best I could. If to intelligent and candid minds the volume shall seem to contain an impartial presentation of its subject, and shall be the means of correcting misappre- hensions, or supplying desired information, or in dny way subserving the interests of Christ's Kingdom, I shall ask for nothing more. September, 1864. HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.* The word Unitarian^ in its most general signification, denotes one who believes that God exists in one person only, in contradistinction to one who receives the doctrine of the Trinity. Under this generic name, however, are ranged several classes whose views differ widely from each other. Of these, the most prominent are the SaheUians, who maintain that the AVord and Holy Spirit are only different manifestations or functions of the Deity ; the Avians, who believe that Jesus Christ is neither God nor Man, but a Superangelical Being ; and the Humanitarians, v.'ho regard Him as a mere Man. In respect to the influence of Christ's death, some suppose that it contributes to our pardon, as it was a principal means of confirming the Christian religion, and giving it a power over the mind ; in other words, that it procures forgiveness by leading to that repentance and virtue which constitute the condition on which forgiveness is bestowed ; while others maintain that this event has a special, though undefined, influence in remov- ing punishment, a,s a condition of pardon, without which repentance would be unavailing. Unitarians are generally Arminians, and most of them believe in the ultimate restoration of all men to holiness and happiness in the next world. But, in regard to the measure of authority that attaches to different portions of Scripture, as well as in respect to many of the details of Christian doctrine, there is great diversity. All, however, unite in rejecting human creeds as of no binding authority. Some idea may be formed of the very diverse views which are included under the general term, — Unilariani^m, by comparing the sketch of Dr. Bezaleel Howard, or of Dr. Hezekiah Packard, with that of Dr. Priestley. The origin and early history of American Unitarianism are involved iu considerable obscurity. For the first fifty years or more after the settle- ment of New England, there seems to have been a very general acquies- cence in the Calvinistic system, as it existed among the Puritans at the commencement of the sixteenth century. There is evidence, however, from some controversial pamphlets that still remain, that some time previ- ous to the year 1700, these stricter views began, in some instances, to give place to a modified form of Arniinianism. And this tendency was silently upon the increase for many years before Unitarianism was avowed, or, so * In writing this Introduction, T have had access to nearly all the pamphlets pertaining to the origin and early history of Unitarianism in this country. For what relates to its his- tory in New York I an? indebted to the Eer. Dr. Osgood; in Philadelphia, to Mr. John A. McAllister; and, in Washington City, to the Rev. R. R. Gurley and Ex-Prcsident Sparks- Vol. YIII. B X HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. far as we know, existed. Before the great Whitefieldian Eevival oceurred, about the year 1740, many of the Congregational ministers and churches of Massachusetts had either partly or entirely abjured their original Cal- vinism ; and though one effect of that great religious movement was to quicken greatly the spiritual sensibilities of multitudes, and bring immense numbers into the Church, yet another equally palpable effect was, that those who were not predisposed to sympathize with it, were thrown a greater distance from the views and spirit in which it originated. Even many of its earnest friends were constrained to acknowledge that it was marred by some gross irregularities and extravagances ; and there is little doubt that the reaction of these exceptionable things was, in respect to a portion of the community, strongly adverse to those views of religious doc- trine with which it was more immediately identified, while they were pro- portionally favourable to those tendencies which were ultimately to devel- ope themselves in a widely different system. The first Unitarian clergyman of New England, of whom I find any trace, is Dr. Gay, of Hingham, whose ministry eommeneed in 1718 ; but whether he was a Unitarian at the time of his settlement,, or what is per- haps more probable, became so at a later period, I have no means of deter- mining. That Unitarianism had made some progress in Boston as early as 1756, may be inferred from the fact that, in that year, was republished there "Extracts from Emlyn's Humble Inquiry into the Scripture Account of Jesus Christ," — a work decidedly Anti-trinitarian. Dr. Mayhew had published a volume of Sermons, the year before this, which, though not of a strongly controversial character, left no doubt that he was an Arlan ; and this, inasmuch as he stood nearly alone in the public avowal of these views, made him somewhat a man of mark. From a letter written by the Ilev. John Lathrop, of Boston, in 1769, (an extract from which is included in tho sketch of Dr. Lathrop, in this volume,) it appears that the Orthodox portion of the community were not a little alarmed, at that time, by the progress of Arminianism and Unitarianism. In 17S2 the Bev. James Freeman was settled over the eoagregation worshipping in King's Chapel, which, until that time, had been strictly Episcopal, but which consented now, at the expense of dissolving its connection with the Diocese, formally to engraft Unitarian views upon Episcopal usages. Mr. Freeman was, from the commencement of his ministry, perfectly outspoken in regard to his religious belief; and, though I am not aware that he has published any statement of it, there is., I believe, decisive evidence that he was a Humani- tarian. When the last century closed, most of the ministers of Boston and its vicinity were undoubtedly in sympathy with what is called the Liberal system, though the peculiarities of that system, it is believed, were rarely preached, unless in a very indefinite manner. Up to this time, also, aad even to a later period, the system of ministerial exchanges had BOt been materially disturbed — ministers belonging to the two parties were in the HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. XI habit of frequently appearing in each others' pulpits, as no lines of division had then been drawn, and, doubtless, by this means, the preaching, on both sides, was somewhat modified to avoid giving offence. In 1784 there was published in Philadelphia a pamphlet, by Dr. Priest- ley, of nearly sixty pages, with the following title : — " An Appeal to the Pious and Candid Professors of Christianity, on the following Subjects: I. The Use of Reason in Matters of Religion : II. The Power of Man to do the Will of God : III. Original Sin : IV. Election and Reprobation : V. The Di- vinity of Christ: And VI. Atonement for Sin by the Death of Christ. To which are added a concise History of the Rise of those Doctrines, and the Triumph of Truth ; being an Account of the Trial of Mr. E. Elwall, for Heresy and Blasphemy, at Stafford Assizes." This would seem to indicate some Unitarian tendencies in Philadelphia at that early period. Ten years after, (in 1794,) Dr. Priestley, who had been distinguished as the leader in the Unitarian ranks in England, and was decidedly a Humanitarian, came to this country to spend the remainder of his days. His great talents and learning and his truly philanthropic spirit were universally acknowledged ; but the immediate effect of his efforts for the promotion of Unitariaiiism does not seem to have been very decided. He preached to a mere handful of people in Northumberland, the place of his residence, but he delivered one or two courses of Lectures in Philadelphia that drew large audiences,, and, in 1803, published his celebrated tract entitled "Socrates and Jesus compared," which was shortly after replied to by the Eev. John Blair Linn. On the 12th of June, 1790, thirteen persons, holding the Unitarian, faith, assembled in Philadelphia, for the first time, to establish and observe religious worship agreeably to their own principles. Among the more- prominent of this- number were John Vaughan, James Taylor, Ralpb Eddowes and the Rev. William Christie. The meeting was held in a^ room of the University of Pennsylvania granted for the purpose ; and the- number of attendants was soon increased to twenty-one. The religious services were conducted by the members in rotation. This small congre- gation continued to meet regularly every Sunday until the year 1800, when its meetings were discontinued, some of its members having died, and others being scattered, from the frequent prevalence of that fearful epi- demic,— the Yellow Fever. In 1807 the church resumed its regular ser- vices under the care of the Rev. William Christie, author of a work on the- Unity of God. The place of meeting was then, for a short time, in the Universalist Church in Lombard Street. After a few months, a private room was obtained ; from which, however, the Society was soon compelled to withdraw, their religious views having excited opposition and alarm. A place of worship was next found in Church Alley, where they remained undisturbed, until a small church was erected on the ground where their present church edifice stands. In 1811 the project of building a churcb Xll HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. uas started, and the work was done, and the house dedicated, in February, 1813. Mr. Christie conducted the services for only a few months, when he was succeeded by three members of the church, who took charge of the meeting by turns,— namely, Ralph Eddowes, John Vaughan and James Taylor. In 1815 Mr. Vaughan ceased to take part in conducting the reli- gious services— in 1820 Mr. Eddowes also retired ; and in 1823 Mr. Tay- lor followed the example of his associates. On the 12th of January, 1825, Mr. (now the Rev. Dr.) Furness, was ordained Pastor of the church, and has continued in this relation till the present time. In November, 1828, their present house of worship was completed. About 1852 a second Uni- tarian Society was formed in Philadelphia ; but it has not increased very rapidly. When the Professorship of Theology in Harvard College became vacant, in 1804, by the death of Dr. Tappan, Unitarianism gained a marked tri- umph in the election of Dr. Ware as his successor. This measure was earnestly opposed, especially by Dr. Morse, who published a vigorous pamphlet, shortly after, entitled " The True Reasons on which the Elec- tion of a HoUis Professor of Divinity in Harvard College was opposed at the Board of Overseers." It is probable that this appointment had some influence in the establishment, as a countervailing Orthodox power, of the Andover Theological Seminary, o^e of whose first Professox-s was Dr. Pear- son, who, up to that time, had been a Professor at Harvard. Cambridge be- came now the common resort of most of the students of Theology who entered the ministry as Unitarians ; and, in 1816, the Divinity School in connec- tion with the College was established, with the elder Dr. Ware as its Pro- fessor of Systematic Theology and Evidences of Christianity, and Mr. Andrews Norton as Professor of Sacred Literature. The next noticeable demonstration in favour of Unitarianism was in Connecticut. The Rev. John Sherman, who had been settled in Mansfield, as an Orthodox Congregationalist, in 1796, became doubtful, not long after his settlement, of the doctrine of the Trinity, and, as the result of his inquiry on the subject, reached the conclusion that it was not a doc- trine of Scripture. In 1805 he published an octavo volume of 200 pages, entitled " One God in one Person only: and Jesus Christ a Being distinct from God, Dependent upon Him for his Existence, and his Various Pow- ers, Explained and Defended." Ry the change in his religious views, in which this publication originated, Mr. Sherman -was brought into such relations with a portion of his congregation, and with the ministers of the Associa/tion with which he was connected, that he deemed it expedient to resign kis pastoral charge. The particulars of the whole transaction will be found in the sketch of Mr. Sherman in another part of this volume. One of the clergymen who constituted the Council by which Mr. Sher- man was dismissed, was the Rev. Abiel Abbot, of the neighbouring town of Coventry. He, too, though settled over an Orthodox church, had HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. xiii undergone a transition somewhat similar to that of Mr. Sherman, though he had never preached any thing adverse to the commonly received creed. Suspicions, however, arose that he had become a Unitarian, in consequence of which, in April, 1811, the Consociation of Tolland County assembled, by request of the Church, to adjudicate his ease, and not only dissolved his pastoral relation to his people, but declared him no longer a minister of the Gospel. As, however, he claimed that they had no jurisdiction over him, he and the parish almost immediately joined in calling a Council, consisting, with a single exception,* of Unitarians, from Massachusetts, who reviewed the doings of the Consociation, and pronounced them not only irregular, but without authority and without effect ; though, in view of all the circumstances of the case, they deemed it expedient that Mr. Ab- bot's pastoral relation should be dissolved. In the sketch of Dr. Abbot will be found a more particular account of his ecclesiastical difficulties. It is somewhat remarkable that though the troubles, both at Mansfield and at Coventry, were of a highly agitating character, and were prolonged in each place through two or three years, and though there were many who, for the time being, expressed the strongest sympathy with their respective Pastors, even as the representatives of Unitarianism, yet, in each case, the controversy gradually died away, without any serious effort either to establish a new Society, or to change the ecclesiastical relations of the one already existing. But though both these churches settled down again very shortly under an Orthodox ministry, there is no doubt that the controversies were, in their general bearing, more or less favourable to the progress of Unitarianism. Several pamphlets, written with great ability, appeared in connection with each controversy, by means of which Unitari- anism became much more extensively known, especially in Connecticut, than it had been before. In 1804 the Monthly Anthology, a half literary and half theological Magazine, was established in Boston under Unitarian auspices, which con- tinued till 1811, sustained by some of the most gifted and accomplished minds of the day. This was succeeded in 1812 by the General Repository and Review, which lasted, however, but two years. In 1813 Noah "Wor- cester commenced the publication of the Christian Disciple, which, in its original form, was designed rather to discourage, than to promote and sus- tain, controversy; but, in 1819, the work passed into other hands, and, with the commencement of a new series, it relinquished its neutral attitude and assumed the tone of vigorous theological discussion. In 1824 the Christian Disciple was succeeded by the Christian Examiner, — the latter retaining all the substantial characteristics of the former, — which has con- tinued to the present time. The year after the establishment of the Anthology, (1805,) Dr. Morse commenced the publication of the Panoplist, which was designed to exert a countervailing influence, and which was one * Dr. Osgood of Medford, who did not attend, though he wrote a very significant letter on the occasion. Xiv HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. principal channel through which his extraordinary talents and energies were brought to bear upon the great controversy. After a few years the Panoplist became, in part, devoted to the cause of Missions, and took the additional title of "Missionary Herald;" and, ultimately, it dropped its original title, retaining 07ily that of "Missionary Herald," and has, for many years, been the organ of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. One of the early indications of the existence of Unitarianism was the semi-controversial character of the Discourses delivered before the Annual Convention of Congregational Ministers in Massachusetts. In 1804 Dr. Emmons preached a Sermon entitled " Unity of Sentiment among Chris- tians necessary to Unity of Affection ;" which, though not decidedly con- troversial, was evidently designed to be a Sermon for the times. In 1807 Dr. Reed, of Bridgewater, preached a Sermon, looking strongly in the con- trary direction, on Intolerance in respect to matters of faith, — the signifi- cance of the train of thought being evidently much intensified by the pecu- liar state of the public mind. But a Sermon of a much more decisive character was preached, in 1810, by Dr. Porter, of Roxbury, on " The Simplicity that there is in Christ and the Danger of its being corrupted ;" and yet it was remarkable rather for asserting that the commonly received Orthodox doctrines were not essential to a saving faith, than for an actual denial of them. This Discourse was, in the direction of Unitarianism, much in advance of any previous Discourse in the series — it was highly applauded by the one party, and highly censured by the other, and, on account of Dr. Porter's quiet and generally reserved habit, was a surprise to both. From this time onward, as the two parties were alternately rep- resented in the preaching of the Convention Sermon, the state of the par- ties, not less than the peculiar tone of the Preacher's views, was often shadowed forth in the selection of the subject and the mode of treating it. The point upon which the rupture began to manifest itself, in a pal- pable form, was the interruption of the exchange of pulpits. This kind of intercourse between ministers continued, without much abatement, for a considerable time after Unitarianism had gained an extensive footing in the churches ; partly because there was little direct avowal of Unitarian views, and partly because it was no easy matter to break the ties which had been constituted by the fraternal intercourse of perhaps many years. The first inroads made upon this habit of exchanges, that attracted special attention, were by the Rev. John Codman, of Dorchester, and the Rev. Samuel Osgood, of Springfield ; the former of whom in 1811, the latter in 1812, declined, from conscientious considerations, to receive into their pulpits certain accredited ministers of the Congregational Church, on the ground that those ministers had departed essentially from what they believed to be the true faith. This decisive step, in each case, led to very serious difficul- ties, and resulted in the withdrawal of a considerable number from the Society, and the forming of a distinct organization. The separation of the HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. XV Congregational ministers, which had been thus formally inaugurated, advanced rapidly, and, at the close of the controversy induced immediately by Dr. Channing's Baltimore Sermon, of which I am soon to speak, the lines between the two parties were drawn with tolerable distinctness. But, even at a later period than this, a Unitarian was occasionally found in an Orthodox pulpit, and an Orthodox man in a Unitarian pulpit, — the Rev, Hosea Hildreth, who died in 1835, being the last, as far as I know, whose exchanges were indiscriminate. The progress of the separation between ministers involved also the division of many congregations ; a new Unita- rian or a new Orthodox Society being formed, according as the one party or the other happened to be in the majority. The bitterness of the strife was in getting asunder — since the dividing line has been practically acknow- ledged by both parties, there has been a general restoration of mutually friendly relations. The only ecclesiastical tie between the two parties in Massachusetts, that is not broken, is that which is recognized in the Annual Convention of Congregational Ministers. In iSlO the Bev. Noah Worcester, then Pastor of an Orthodox Church in Thornton, N. H., published an octavo volume of about 180 pages, enti- tled " Bible News of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit." This work, though of a very moderately Unitarian cast, placed him outside of the ranks of Trinitarianism, and was the occasion of his being separated almost immediately from his pastoral charge, and removed to a new field of labour. The book had a wide circulation, and exerted no small influence in favour of Uuitariaiiism. It was the occasion of several pamphlets, one of which was entitled " Bible News of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, as asserted by the Rev. Noah Worcester, A. M., Not Correct, in a Letter to a Friend inclined to credit that News." In 1815 a pamphlet appeared at Boston, said to have been published through the instrumentality of Dr. Morse, entitled " American Unitarian- ism, or a Brief History of the Progress and Present State of the Unitarian Churches in America' : Compiled from Documents and Information commu- nicated by the Rev. James Freeman, D. D. and William Wells, Jr., Esq., of Boston, and from other Unitarian Gentlemen in this country, by the Rev. Thomas Belsham, Essex Street, London ; extracted from the ' Me- moirs of the Life of the Rev. Theophilus Lindsey' ; printed in London in 1812, and now published for the Benefit of Christian Churches in this country, without Note or Alteration." This pamphlet became immediately the subject of an elaborate review in the Panoplist, the design of which was to sound the alarm of the silent but rapid progress of Unitarianism in New England, and to stir up the Orthodox to a united and resolute resistance. Hereupon, Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Channing addressed " a Letter " (through the press) '* to the Rev. Samuel C. Thacher, on the Aspersions, contained in a late Number of the Panoplist, on the Ministers of Boston and the Vicinity." This Letter, in replying to the charges made by the Review, denies that the Boston ministers have any sympathy with the peculiar views XVI HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. of Mr. H l:ihara, and protests with great earnestness and eloquence against the division of' the Congrega'jonal Churches, as both unnecessary and deeply injurious. This was followed by " A Letter to the Kev. William E. Channing, on the subject of his Letter to the Rev. Samuel C. Thacher, relating to the Review in the Panoplist on American Unitarianic^m, by Samuef Worcester, D. D." Dr. Channing then published a pamphlet enti- tled " Remarks on the Rev. Dr. Worcester's Letter to Mr. Channing on the Review of American Uuitarianism, in a late Panoplist." Next, Dr. Worcester published "A Second Letter to the Rev. William E. Channing on the subject of Uuitarianism." Then came another pamphlet from Dr. Channinf, entitled " Remarks on the Rev. Dr. Worcester's "Second Letter to Mr. Channing, on American Uuitarianism." And last, came from Dr. Worcester "A Third Letter to the Rev. William E. Channing on the sub- ject of Uuitarianism." These several pamphlets were marked by great ability, and became quite the standard controversial literature of the day. They were all subsequently reviewed by the Panoplist in an article of great power, which, while it was received with marked favour on the one side, had to encounter an intense dislike on the other. There were several other pamphlets published about this time, particulnly one entitled " Are you a Christian or a Calvinist ?" — attributed to the Hon. John Lowell, which attracted very considerable attention. From this time, Unitarianism became much more decided in its manifestations, and the line between the two parties which had before been faint and scarcely discernible, began to take a form of decided visibility. The first movement towards the formation of a Unitarian Society in Bal- timore originated in the following advertisement that appeared in one or more of the papers of that city, on the 12th of October, 1816 : — " Divine service will be performed by the Rev. Dr. Freeman, of Boston, to-morrow, at the Hall belonging to Mr. Gibney, in South Charles Street, to commence at 11 o'clock, A. M., and at half-past 3, p. M." The desire for the estab- lishment of a Unitarian Church found expression in a meeting held by sev- eral of the citizens, on the lOth of February, 1817, " for the purpose of organizing a religious Society, and taking into consideration the best means of erecting a building for public worship." At this meeting they adopted a Constitution, and gave to the Society the legal title of " The First Inde- pendent Church of Baltimore." They also appointed nine Trustees to superintend the concerns of the Society and the erection of the building. The corner stone was laid ou the 5th of June, 1817, and the building was completed in October, 1818, and dedicated on the 29th of the same month, by the Rev. Dr. Freeman, of Boston, and the Rev, Henry Colman, of Hingliara, — the former preaching the Sermon. The pulpit was supplied by dififcrcnt preachers from Boston and its neighbourhood uutil May, 1819, when Mr. Jared Sparks was ordained and installed as the First Pastor of the church — this relation was constituted on the 5th of the month, and the Sermon on the occasion was preached by the Rev. Dr. Channing. Mr. HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. XVll Sparks retained his connection with the congregation until June, 1823, when, chiefly on account of ill health, he resigned his charge. After his resignation, the pulpit was supplied, for some time, by the Rev. F. W. P. Greenwood, and afterwards by various clergymen, till April, 1828, when Mr. George W. Burnap* succeeded to the pastoral charg-e. His ministry continued more than thirty years. The Sermon at the Ordination of Mr. Sparks, by Dr. Channing, was from 1 Thess., V. 21, — " Prove all things ; hold fast that which is good." It was an outspoken and able defence of Unitarianism, rendering it almost certain that the form of Unitarianism which he himself adopted was Arianism, and that he attributed to the death of Christ some direct, though undefined, influence in the sinner's forgiveness. By this Sermon Dr. Channing set a ball to rolling that did not stop for three or four years ; and, though he did not himself share any further in the controversy which he had been instrumental of introducing, it called into exercise, on both sides, some of ths most vigorous talent and profound learning of the day. Professor Stu- art led off in the discussion, in a pamphlet of 180 pages, entitled " Letters to the Rev. William E. Channing, containing Remarks on his Sermon, recently preached and published at Baltimore." These Letters were reviewed almost immediately by Professor Norton, in the Christian Dis- ciple, and the article was subsequently published in pamphlet form, under the title, — "A Statement of Reasons for not believing the Doctrine of Trlnitarianism respecting the Nature of God and the Person of Christ, occasioned by Professor Stuart's Letters to Mr. Channing." This article, in connection with the Letters of which it was a review, became, in turn, the subject of an extended review in the Panoplist. In 1820 Dr. Woods published a pamphlet of 169 pages, entitled " Letters to Unitarians, occa- sioned by the Sermon of the Rev. William E. Channing at the Ordination of the Rev. J. Sparks." Then followed, in a pamphlet of 150 pages, Dr. Ware's Letters addressed to Trinitarians and Calvinists, occasioned hy Dr. Woods' Letters to Unitarians. In 1821 Dr. Woods published "A Reply to Dr. Ware's Letters to Trinitarians and Calvinists," in a pamphlet of 228 pages. Dr. Ware followed this, in 1822, in a pamphlet of 163 pages, with an " Answer to Dr. Woods' Reply in a Second Series of Letters addressed to Trinitarians and Calvinists." Dr. Woods, in September of the same year, published " Remarks on Dr. Ware's Answer," in a pamph- let of 63 pages ; and, in 1823, Dr. Ware, in a pamphlet of 48 pages, brought out " A Postscript to the Second Series of Letters, addressed to Trinitarians and Calvinists, in Reply to the Remarks of Dr. Woods ou * Georgr Washington Burnap was born in Merrimack, N. II., in 1802; was graduatetfi at Harvard College in 1824; was ordained Pastor of the First Independent Church in Balti- more, April 23, 1823; received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from his Alma Mater, in 1854; and died September 8, 1859. In 1835 he published a work on the Controversy between Unitarians and other Denominations of Christians. His principal late works are Lec- tures to Young Men; Lectures on the Sphere and Duties of Women; Lectures on the History of Christianity ; Expository Lectures on the Principal Texts of the Bible which relate to the Doctrine of the Trinity, besides numerous occasional Addresses. He also contributed to» Sparks' American Biography a Life of Leonard Calvert, the first Governor of Maryland. Vol. VIII. G xviii HISTORICAL introduction. those Letters." All these pamphlets were written with great care and ability, and may be regarded as embodying, on each side, the most satis- factory view of the subjects to which they relate, to be found, perhaps, in the English language. They are, moreover, characterized by an eminently catholic spirit. There were several other pamphlets, bearing upon the con- troversy, which were published, about this time, anonymously, but they did not attract any considerable attention. The settlement of Mr. Sparks in Baltimore had other bearings upon the progress of Unitarianism than have been indicated by the controversy ori- ginating in the Sermon preached at his Ordination. In 1821 he started a Unitarian periodical under the title of " The Unitarian Miscellany and Christian Monitor," which continued, however, only two or three years. In October, 1820, Mr. William Nevins, from the Princeton Theological Seminary, was ordained and installed as Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Baltimore ; and the Sermon preached on the occasion by Dr. Miller, and afterwards published, was considered as having had a distinct reference to the new Unitarian organization. In the third number of the Miscellany there appeared "A Letter to Dr. Miller on the Charges against Unitarians, contained in his late Ordination Sei-mon in Baltimore." To this Dr. Miller replied in a pamphlet entitled "A Letter to the Editor of the Unitarian Miscellany in a Reply to an Attack on the Sermon at the Ordination of Mr. Nevins;" and the same year (1821) he published, in an octavo volume, "Letters on Unitarianism, addressed to the members of the First Presbyterian Church in the City of Baltimore." The Miscellany, meanwhile, kept on publishing Letters to Dr. Miller, until enough were produced to make a good sized octavo volume, in which form they appeared in 1823, under the title, — " An Inquiry into the Comparative Moral Ten- dency of Trinitarian and Unitarian Doctrines, in a series of Letters to the Rev. Dr. Miller, of Princeton." But, notwithstanding Dr. Miller and Mr. Sparks were thus brought into an attitude of theological antagonism, it seems not to have affected their personal relations in after life ; for, in 1837, Mr. Sparks requested Dr. Miller to write, for his " American Biog- raphy," a Memoir of Jonathan Edwards, one of the mightiest champions of Orthodoxy ; and, as I know from the testimony of each of them. Dr. Miller disappointed Mr. Sparks by readily acceding to his request, and Mr, Sparks disappointed Dr. Miller by printing his manuscript, without even asking for the alteration of a word. The introduction of Unitarianism in Charleston, S. C. was in connection with the ministry of the Rev. Anthony Forster, which commenced there in 1815. lie was licensed to preach as a Presbyterian, but became a Unita- rian after his settlement ; and so large a portion of his congregation accepted his new views, that an arrangement was made that secured at once the establishment of a Unitarian church. The details of this enter- prise will be found in the sketch of Mr. Forster. His ministry was very brief, but he was succeeded, in 1819, by the Rev. (afterwards Dr.) Samuel HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. xix Gilman, who sustained the interests of Unitarianism there for nearly forty years, but in so quiet and unobtrusive a manner as always to retain the good will of those from whom he diflfered most widely. The first sermon ever preached in the city of New York before Unitarians as such, was by Dr. Channing, in a private house, on the 25th of April, 1819. On the 16th of May following he addressed a large audience in the Hall of the Medical College, Barclay Street. On the 15th of November, of the same year, the First Congregational (Unitarian) church was incor- porated. The first edifice was dedicated in Chambers Street, January 20, 1821, the Sermon on the occasion being preached by the Rev. Edward Everett. The first Pastor, Mr. William Ware, was ordained December 18, 1821, and resigned his charge, September 19, 1836. He was succeeded by the Rev. H. W. Bellows, January 22, 1839, — Dr. Follen having sup- plied the pulpit during most of the interval. The congregation removed to the new edifice in Broadway, the Church of the Divine Unity, October 22, 1845, and, in January, 1855, made another removal to All Souls' Church, corner of Fourth Avenue and Twentieth Street, where Dr. Bel- lows now officiates. The Corner Stone of the Second Church was laid November 24, 1825, at the junction of Prince and Mercer Streets, and the Dedication Sermon was preached December 7, 1826, by Dr. Channing. This Sermon all acknow- ledged was characterized by the most bold and fervid eloquence ; but while it was the theme of the highest praise in some circles, it was the theme of the most unqualified condemnation in others. It was widely read and pro- duced a deep sensation of some kind every where ; and it was largely com- mented upon in the periodicals of the day, but it did not give occasion, as his Sermon at Baltimore had done, to any protracted controversy. Mr. William P. Lunt was ordained Pastor, May 4, 1828, and preached his Farewell Sermon, November 24, 1833. Since that time Drs. Dewey and Osgood have successively been Pastors of this church. Unitarianism first established itself in Washington City in 1820. As early as 1814 or 1815 there were several families, chiefly English, living in Georgetown and Washington, who were so strong in the Unitarian faith ^that they were unwilling to worship in churches where a difi'erent system was taught. For some time they met together on the Sabbath in tlieir respective houses, and afterwards at a central place in Georgetown. About the- year 1814 the Rev. Robert Little, who had been educated in the Established Church of England, but had become a convert to Unitarianism, preached a Sermon before the Unitarian Tract Society of Birming'iam, which attracted great attention. This gentleman, shortly after, from his love of civil and religious liberty, migrated to this country, with the inten- tion of engaging in secular business, the failure of his health having ren- dered it necessary for him to withdraw from the ministry. When the Uni- tarian families before mentioned found that they had such a man in their neighbourhood, they immediately put his services in requisition ; and this XX HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. was tlie decisive step towards the fuimation of a Society. Their earliest meetiugs were held in a large room over the City Baths in C Street. The very lirst meeting was on the 31st of July, 1820 ; and the record of it is as follows : — " At a meeting of the friends of Unitarian Christianity, at the long room over the public baths in C Street, Moses Young, Esq. being called to the chair, and Thomas Bulfinch appointed Secretary, on motion of Mr. William G. Eliot, it was unanimously *^ lit^solvcd, That it is expedient that measures he taken for erecting a church upon Unitarian principles, in the city of Washington. " Resolved, That a meeting of the friends of Unitarian Christianity be held in this place, on Siuilay, the (Jth day of August, at five o'clock, p. M., to concert measures for carrying into effect the above Resolution." At the meeting provided for in the last Resolution, it was determined that the church should be strictly Congregational, and committees were appointed to solicit subscriptions for building a church edifice. The build- ing was completed early in 1822, and was dedicated on the 9th of April, of that year. As early as November, 1820, forty-six persons in the city were found to subscribe liberally to sustain the weekly service. In August, 1827, Mr. Little, who had hitherto been the only Pastor of the congrega- tion, died suddenly at Harrisburg, Pa., from an inflammation of the brain, contracted by travelling in the intense heat on his journey thither. His successors in the ministry have been the Rev. Messrs. Cazneau Palfrey, S. G. Bulfinch, J. H. Allen, M. D. Conway, AV. D. Haley, and W. H. Channing. The congregation has never been large, but many men of dis- tinction have contributed to its support, among whom are John Quincy Adams and John C. Calhoun. Messrs. Joseph Gales and William W. Seaton, the well known proprietors and editors of the National Intelligen- cer, have also been among its most efficient members and supporters. Of the details of the progress of the Unitarian Body, as connected with the Congregational Church, from the time that the division was completed to the present, it is not necessary here to speak. The following statistics, gathered from the most authentic sources, will, it is believed, convey a correct idea of the present state of the denomination : — There are in the United States about 263 Societies, of which Massachu- setts has 164, and the city of Boston 21 ; Maine has 16, New Hampshire 15, Vermont 3, Rhode Island 3, Connecticut 2, New York 13, New Jersey 1, Pennsylvania 5, Maryland 2, Ohio 5, Illinois 11, Wisconsin 2, and Mis- souri, Kentucky, Minnesota, South Carolina, Louisiana, California, and the District of Columbia, each one. There are about 345 ministers. There arc two Theological Schools, one at Cambridge, already mentioned, founded in 1816; the other at Meadville, Pa., first opened in 1844, and incorporated in 1846. Their periodicals are The Christian Examiner, bi-monthly, Boston ; The Monthly Religious Magazine and Independent Journal, Boston ; The Sunday School Gazette, semi-monthly, Boston ; HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION. XXI The Christian Register, weekly, Boston ; The Christian Inquirer, weekly, New York. Their Missionary and Charitable Societies are the American Unitarian Association, founded in 1825 and incorporated in 18-i7 ; the Unitarian Association of the State of New York ; Annual Conference of Western Unitarian Churches ; the Sunday School Society, instituted in 1827 and reorganized in 1854 ; the Society for Promoting Christian Know- ledge, Piety and Charity, incorporated in 1805 ; the Massachusetts Evan- gelical Missionary Society, instituted in 1807; the Society for Promoting Theological Education, organized in 1816 and incorporated in 1831 ; the Society for the Relief of Aged and Destitute Clergymen, formed in 1848 and incorporated in 1850 ; the Ministerial Conference; the Association of Ministers at Large in New England, formed in 1850; the Benevolent Fraternity of Churches of Boston, organized in 1834 and incorporated in 1839 ; the Children's Mission to the Children of the Destitute, Boston, instituted in 1849 ; The Young Men's Christian Union, Boston, organized in 1851 and incorporated in 1852 ; The Boston Port Society, incorporated in 1829 ; and the Seamen's Aid Society of Boston, formed in 1832. CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX. [On the left hand of the page are the names of those who form the subjects of the work — the figures immediately preceding denote the period, as nearly as can be ascertained, when each began his ministry. On the right hand are the names of those who have rendered their testimony or their opinion in regard to the several characters. The names in italics denote that the statements are drawn from works already in existence — those in Roman denote com- munications especially designed for this work, or that have not before been published.] SUBJECTS. WRITERS. PAGE. 1717. Ebenezer Gay, D. D Rev. George Allen Samuel Willard, I). D Hon. Solomon Lincoln 1 1727. Charles Chauncy, D. D John Eliot, D. D Rev, William Emerson N. L. Frothingham, D. D Bezaleel Howard. D. D 8 1739 & 1778. The Salem Barnards John Eliot, D. D John Prince, LL. D 14 1746. Daniel Shute, D. D Hon. Solomon Lincoln 18 1747. Jonathan Mayhew, D. D Charles Chauncy, D. D 22 1748. Gad Hitchcock, D. D Rev. Morrill Allen 29 1753. David Barnes, D. D James Kendall, D. D 32 1757. William Symmes, D. D Abiel Abbot, D. D 35 1761. Samuel West, D.D. (of New Bedford) John H. Morison, D. D Samuel West, M. D Charles Lowell, D. D 37 1761. Samuel West, D. D., (of Boston).. .John Pierce, D. D 50 1761. Henry Cummings, D. D Rev. Joseph Richardson Abiel Abbot, D.D Rev. Nathaniel Whitman 55 1762. Simeon Howard, D.D John Pierce, D. D 65 1765. JohnLathrop, D. D John Pierce, D. D Charles Lowell. D. D 68 1766. Jeremy Belknap, D.D J. T. Kirkland,' D. D. LL. D Hod. Joslah Quincy, LL. D John Pierce, D.D 73 1771. Joseph Thaxter Rev. Calvin Lincoln 83 1776. John Eliot, D.D John Pierce, D. D William Jenks, D. D Hon. Josiah Quincy, LL. D 92 1776. Zedekiah Sanger, D. D Levi W. Leonard, D. D Charles Lowell, D. D 99 1778. John Clarke, D. D Hon. William Jarvis John Pierce , D . D Rev . Micah Stone Francis Parkman, D. D 105 1778. Ezra Ripley, D. D Ralph Waldo Emerson G. W. Hosmer, D. D Edward Jarvis, M. D 112 1779. Joseph Mottey Rev. Allen Gannett 125 1779. John Prince, LL. D Hon. Joseph E. Sprague 128 1779. Aarou Bancroft, D. D Hon. Levi Lincoln, LL. D Hon. George Bancroft, LL. D 132 3^Jy CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX. SUBJECTS. WRITERS. PAGE. 1780. Thomas Tliaclier Samuel Osgood, D. D 140 1780. John Reed. D. D James Flint, D. D 143 1781. Charles Stearns, D. D Rev. Nathaniel Whitman Joseph Field, D. D Rev. Samuel Sewall Rev. John B. Wight 147 1782. William Bentley, D. D Hon. Joseph E. Sprague 154 1782. Eliphalet Porter, D. D John Pierce, D. D Charles Lowell, D. D 157 1782. James Freeman, D. D James Freeman Clarke, D. D Rev. Samuel J. May Frederick A. Farley, D. D 162 1783. Samuel Kendal, D. D James Kendall, D. D Alvan Lamson, D. D 176 1783. Bezaleel Howard, D. D Rev. Daniel Waldo Samuel Willard, D. D Miss Margaret T. Emery 181 1786. Noah Worcester. D. D G. W. Blagden, D. D Thomas Worcester, D. D 191 1787. Henry Ware, D. D George Putnam, D.D Rev. A. A. Livermore A. P. Peabody,D.D 199 1788. John Allyn, D. D Convers Francis, D. D 207 1789. Thaddeus Mason Harris, D. D John Pierce, D. D.. Samuel Osgood, D.D 215 1789. Peter Eaton, D.D Rev. Nathaniel Whitman 222 1790. Daniel Clarke Sanders, D. D Rev. Eleazer Williams 226 1790. Abiel Abbot, D. D. (of Coventr}^. . J. H. Jones, D.D Rev. S.A.Smith 229 1792. William Emerson John Pierce, D. D Charles Lowell. D. D Ralph Waldo Emerson 241 1792. Nathaniel Thayer, D.D Samuel Willard, D.D Miss Elizabeth P. Peabody 246 1793. William Wells, D. D William Wells, Esq Samuel Willard, D.D 254 1793 John Thornton Kirkland. D.D.LL. D. Abiel Abbot, D. D Rev. Daniel Waldo Alexander Young, D. D Alvan Lamson, D.D Rev. C. W. Upham Rev. W. A. Stearns, D.D Miss Elizabeth P. Peabody 261 1793. Hezekiah Packard, D. D Professor A. S. Packard Abiel Abbot, D. D 281 1793. Simeon Doggett Rev. C. H. Brigham.... 291 1794. Joseph Priestley, LL. D Hugh Bellas, Esq 298 1794. Abiel Abbot, D. D. (of Beverly) ... .A. P. Peabody, D. D 309 1795. Jacob Abbot Abiel Abbot, D. D Rev. Ephraim Abbot 320 179G. John Sherman Abiel Abbot, D. D 326 1796. John Pierce, D. D • George Putnam, D. D Rev. Daniel Waldo John Forsyth, D. D. Frederick H. Hedge, D.D 331 1801. Joseph Tuckerman, D. D Henry T. Tuckerman, Esq Miss Elizabeth P. Peabody John Forsyth, D. D 345 1801. William Frothingham Cazneau Palfrey, D.D 357 1802. William EUery Channing, D. D Edward W. Hooker, D. D Orville Dewey, D.D Ephraim Peabody, D. D Miss Elizabeth P" Peabody 360 1806. Joseph Stevens Buckminstcr Joshua Bates, D. D Hon. Edward Everett, LL. D JohnG. Palfrey, D. D., LL. D John C. Warren, M. D 384 CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX. XXV SUBJECTS. 'WRITERS. PAGE. 1806. James Flint, D. I) Miss Elizabeth P. Peabody A. P. Peabody, D. D 407 1807. Nathan Parker, D. D A. P. Peabody, D. I) 411 1807. JohnBartlett A. P. Peabody, D. D 416 1808. John Lovejoy Abbot Rev. Samuel Sewall 420 1808. Samuel Gary Samuel Osgood, D. D 424 1809. Ezra Shaw Goodwin Rev. Samuel J. May 427 1809. Andrews Norton Jaazaniah Crosby, D. D James Walker, D. D., LL. D A. P. Peabody, D. D 430 1811. Samuel Cooper Thachcr Prof. Andrews Norton Jaazaniah Crosbv, D. D John Pierce, D. D 435 1811. Ilosca Hildreth Hon. Charles W.Upham.. Leonard Withington, D. D 445 1811. Francis Parkman, D. D Isaac Kurd, D. D F. D. Huntington, D. D E. P. Whipple, Esq 449 1813. Anthony Forster 457 1813. David Damon, D. D Rev. Samuel J.May 461 1815. John Emery Abbot Benjamin Abbot, LL. D A. P. Peabody, D. D 466 1815. Henry Ware, Jr., D. D Edward B. Hall, D. D Samuel Willard, D. D 472 1817. Francis William Pitt Greenwood, D.DThomas Bulfinch. Esq Rev. Samuel J. May Miss Elizabeth P. Peabody 485 1819. William Bourne Oliver Peabody, D.DMiss Margaret T. Emery Hon. William B. Calhoun Samuel Osgood, D. D 493 1820. John Brazer, D. D Samuel Gilman, D. D 504 1820. William Ware Joseph Allen, D. D '■ A. P. Peabody, D. D Henry AV. Bellows, D. D Orville Dewev, D. D 511 1824. Bernard Whitman A. P. Peabody. D. D Joseph Allen, D. D 518 1824. Alexander Young, D. D Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, LL. D Joseph Allen, D. D 524 1827. George Wadsworth Wells C. A. Bartol, D. D George B. Emerson. LL. D Hon. George S. Bout well 528 1827. William Hunt White Rev. Ephraim Abbot 533 1828. Charles Theodore Christian FoUen. .Rev. George F. Simmons D. C. L. Miss Elizabeth P. Peabody 538 1829. Henry Bradford Goodwin G. W. Hosmer, D. D Cazneau Palfrey, D . D 548 1830. Jason Whitman Joseph Allen, D. D 552 1838. George Frederick Simmons Samuel O.sgood, D. D. (of New York) Samuel Osgood, D. D. (of Springfield) 554 1840. Sylvester Judd Thomas C. Pitkin, D. D 559 1844. Hiram Withington Rev. Nathanael Hall 567 EBENEZER GAY, D. D * 1717—1787. Ebenezer Gat, the youngest son of Nathaniel and Lydia Gay, wa.s born in Dedham, Mass., xVugust 15, 1696. He early discovered a taste for learning, and, after having enjoyed for some time the advantages of the town-school at Dedham, was sent to Harvard College, where he grad- uated in 1714. The next year he taught the Grammar School in Iladley, as appears from two of his letters still extant, though it is stated that he taught for some time also in Ipswich, for which he was paid fifty pounds. Having studied Theology, probably in connection with his labours as a teacher, he commenced preaching in September, 1717, as a candidate, to the Church and Society in Hingham, then vacant by the death of the Rev. John Norton. t The result was that, on the 30th of December following, he received a call to become tlieir Pastor. In due time, he signified his acceptance of the call; and, on the 11th of June, 1818, was ordained and installed, — the Sermon on the occasion being preached by the llev. Joseph Belcher, of Dedham. He brought with him to the ministry a high repu- tation for scholarship ; and, while yet quite a young man, attracted the particular notice of Governor Burnet, who is said to have remarked that he and Mr. Bradstreet, of Charlestown, were at the head of the clergy of New England, in respect to erudition. In the great religious excitement that prevailed about the year 1740, in; connection with the labours of Whitefield, Mr. Gay had little complacency. His name is signed to a paper entitled " The Sentiments and Ilesolutions of an Association of Ministers, convened at Weymouth, January 15, 1745," in which they bear testimony against Whitefield's "enthusiastic spirit,"" against his preaching, as " having a tendency to promote a spirit of bitter, ness," and " his practice of singing hymns in the public roads, wlien riding from town to town ;" and they declare that they will not, directly or indirectly, encourage him to preach, either publicly or privately, in their respective parishes. Mr. Gay received many testimonies of public respect, both in his earlier and his later days. He preached the Artillery Election Sermon, in 1728 ;. the General Election Sermon, in 1745 ; the Sermon before the Convention, of Congregational Ministers, in 1746 ; and the Dudleian Lecture, in 1750. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity, from Harvard College, in 1785. In 1781 he delivered a sermon on his eighty.fifth birth-day, which was * Dr. Shute's Fun. Serm. Appendix to the Old Man's Calendar, 1846. Lincoln's Hist, of Hingham. Mass. Gazette, 1787. Deane's Hist, of Soituate. Winsor's Hist.of Danbury. f John Norton, a son of William Norton, of Ipswich, and a nephew of the Rev. John Norton, of Boston, was graduated at Harvard College in 1671, was ordained and installed Col- league Pastor with the Rev. Peter Hobart, of the Church in Hingham, November 27, 1678; and died October 3, 1716, in the sixty-sixth year of his age, and thirty-eighth of his. ministry. Vol. VIII. 1 2 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. puLlished under the title of " The Old Man's Calendar." It has passed through several editions in this country, has been reprinted in England, and translated into the Dutch language and published in Holland. The text of the Sermon is " I am this day four score and five years old." Tlie following paragraph forms the conclusion of the discourse : — " Lo, now, my brethren, I am this day fourscore and five years old, — a wonder of God's sparing mercy: Sixty-three of these years have I spent in the work of the ministry among you. One hundred and forty-six years ago, your fathers came with IaA: I'astor, and settled in this place. I am the third in the pastorate of this cliurch, which hath not been two years vacant. Scarce any parish but hath liad more in tljat office in so long a space of time. The people of this have been steady to their own ministers, living to old age; have not been given to change, nor with itching ears have heaped to themselves teachers. I bless God, who dii>posed my lot among a people with whom I have lived here in great peace, eleven years longer than either of my worthy predecessors.* I have only to wish that my labours had been as profitable as they have been acceptable to them. 1 retain a grateful sense of the kindnesses (injuries I remember none) which I received from them. While I have reaped of their carnal things to my comfortable subsistence, it hath been my great concern and pleasure to sow unto them spiritual things, which might spring up in a harvest of eternal blessings. That their affections to me as their Pastor have continued from fathers to children, and children's children, hath been thankfully observed by me, and should have been improved as an advantage and incentive to do them (in returns of love for love) all possible good. It is but little that I can now do in the work to which I am kept up so late in the evening of my days, and my i)eople may feel their great need of one more able in body and mind to serve them in the Gospel ministry. In tills case, my brethren, I hope that no partial regard to me, or parsimonious view to your worldly interest, will hinder j'our timely jiroviding yourselves with such an one. As much as I dread and deprecate the being cut down as acumberer of the ground, in this part of the Lord's vineyard, I would not, with my useless old age, fill up the place, and deprive you of the help of a profitable labourer in it. I siibn;iit to the wisdom and will of (Jod my own desire to finish my course of life, and the ministry I have received of Him. together; while I make the humble acknowledgment and prayer to Him in Psalm Ixxi — '' 0 God, thou hast taught me from my youth, and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works; now, also, when I am old and gray-headed, O God. forsake me not, until I have showed tliy strength unto this generation." Caleb, when he was as old as I am, could say, — "As yet 1 am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me;" that is, when he was forty years old. " As my strength was then, even so my strength is now, for war, both to go out and to come in." It is far otherwise with me; yet what remaineth of the little strength I ever had for the ministerial warfare, I would as gladly spend in the service of your souls, and assist you all I can in your Christian combat against the enemies whicli oppose your salvation. This would I do, God enabling me, as long as I am in this tabernacle of frail flesh, knowing that I must shortly put it off, and exchange the sacred desk for the silent grave. But, 0 my soul, how awful the long, the very long and strict account to be given to God of thyself and of thousands more committed to thy charge, to watch also for tiieir safety and everlasting ha]»piness ! Brethren, pray for me, that I may find mercy of the Lord in that day; which, if I should fail of, it had been good lor me, and perhaps for yon also, perishing by my neglect, that I had never been born: the consitleration of which should excite my utmost care and diligence to make full proof of my ministry, and engage your attendance upon it in such a manner as will show you are not grown into a weariness of it, which would render it unprofitable to you. I have l.een young and now am old. Your fathers despised not my youth for its weak- .ness, Ivor have yon my old age for the infirmities that attend it; wliich giveth some cnconragenient to hope that my long continuance with you is not so much to the hiinlrauce of tiie (jospel of Christ, and detriment to your spiritual interests, as I am ■ofUMi ready to fear. After some decay or interruption of the Philippians' liberality to Paul, he thus writeth unto them, (Phil. iv. 10.) " I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now, at the last, your care of me hath flourished again." So hath yours of me. I mav add, as he doth, — " not that I speak in resjjcct of want," which you have let me suflfer in these didienlt limes. You lay fresh cngag^'ments upon nie to exert myself .in .the serAuce of your souls; and if the God of my life :»nd health prolong the same any farther, I would go on in the strength of the Lord (iod to labour for your salvation, .ardently lalwnring for the gracious commendation, which the minister of the Church ■in Tliyatira received from (Christ, (Rev. II. 19,) " 1 know thy works and the last to be • The Rev. Peter Ilobart and the Rev. John Norton. EBENEZER GAY. 3 more than the first." That mine may be more faithful and more successful, God, of his mercy to me and you, grant for Christ's sake. And now, Brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, wliich is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified." Dr. Gay retained his faculties, bodily and mental, in remarkable vigour, till the close of life. On Sabbath morning, the 8th of March, 1787, when he was preparing for the usual public services of the Sabbath, he was attacked with a sudden illness, which terminated fatally within an hour. He had reached the ninety-first year of his age. The length of his min- istry, from the day of his Ordination till his decease, was sixty-eight years, nine months and seven days ; and, including the time of his preaching pre- vious to his settlement, his ministry falls short, by a few months only, of seventy years. Dr. Shute, of the Second Parish in Hingham, preached his Funeral Sermon, in which he speaks in strong terms of the learning, liber- ality, candour and strength of mind, of liis deceased friend. The following is a list of Dr. Gay's publications : — A Sermon at the Ordination of Joseph Green,* of Barnstable, 1725. Two Lecture Sermons in Hingham, 1728. Artillery Election Sermon, 1728. A Lecture in Hingham on occasion of the Arrival of Governor. Belcher, 1730. A Sermon before several Military Companies in Hingham, 1738. A Sermon at the Ordination of Ehenezer Gay, Jr., Suffield, 1742. A Sermon at the Funeral of the lie v. John Hancock, Braintree, 1744. The Massachusetts J^lection Sermon, 1745. A Sermon before the Conven- tion of Congregational Ministers in Massachusetts, 1746. A Sermon at tlie Ordination of J(Miathun Mayhew, Boston, 1747. A Sermon at the Ordination of Jonathan Dorby,t Scituate, 1751. A Sermon at the Instalment of the Rev. . Ezra Carpenter, t Keene, 1753. A Sermon at tlie Instalment of the Rev. Grindall Rawson, Yarmouth 1755. Dud. leian Lecture at Harvard College, 1759. A Sermon on the Death of Dr. Mayhew, 1766. A Sermon at the Ordination, at Hingham, of Caleb Gannett, over a Church in Nova Scotia, 1768. Thanksgiving Sermon, 1770. Old Man's Calendar, 1781. He was married, on the 3d of November, 1719, to Jerusha, daughter of Samuel Bradford, of Duxbury, the son of Major William Bradford, and the grandson of Gov. Bradford. Mrs. Gay died, August 19, 1783, aged eighty-five years. They had eleven children, — five sons and six daughters. Sa?m(el, the eldest son, was graduated at Harvard College, in 1740, in the class of Gov. Samuel Adams, President Langdon, &c., and was sent abroad for a medical education. He died at Chelsea, England, March 26, 1746. Calvin, the second son, received a mercantile education, and settled in • Joseph Green was born in Boston, June 21, 1704 ; was graduated at Harvard College, in 1720; was ordained and installed Pastor of the Church in Barnstable, May 12, 1725, and died October 4, 1770. He published a Sermon at the Ordination of hisson Joseph Green, Jr. — who was born in Barnstable; graduated at Harvard College, in 1746; was ordained at Marshficld in 1753 ; was subsequently dismissed and installed at Yarmouth ; and died Novem- ber 5, 1768, aged forty-two. I Jonathan Dorby was a native of Boston; was graduated at Harvard College, in 1747; was ordained, and installed Pastor of the Church in Scituate, November 13, 1751; and died April 22, 1754, aged twenty-eight years. He died at Hingham, whither he had gone to preach a lecture. X Ezra Carpenter was born at Rehoboth; was graduated at Harvard College, in 1720; was ordained and installed at Hull, November 24, 1728; was subsequently dismissed, and then installed at Keene, N. H., October 4, 1753; was dismissed a second time, March 16, 1769; and died October 26, 1785, aged eighty-three, or according to one authority, eighty-six. 4 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. Quebec, where he died March 11, 1765, Martin, the tliird son, was a coppcr.smith, and was established in business in Boston. He was a Deacon of the West Chureli, and Captain of the Ancient and Honourable Artillery Company. The following anecdote concerning Dr. Gay has been communicated to me, by the Rev. George Allen, of Worcester : — During the Revolutionary War, a little before the time of the Annual Thanksgiving, and when it was generally expected that there would be a great deficiency of the foreign fruits, as raisins, currants, &c., with which that festival had abounded, several English vessels, laden with those productions, were driven by a storm upon our coast, captured and brought into Boston. Dr. Gay, who was considered a prudent loyalist, was accustomed, on Tlianksgiving days, to make mention in his prayer of the speciiil blessings of the year. Such a token of Divine favour did not escape without due notice. Accordingly, in his Thanksgiving prayer, he grate- fully acknowledged the unexpected bounty somewhat after this sort : — "Oh, Lord, who art the infinitely wise Disposer of all things, who rulest the ■winds and the waves according to thy own good pleasure, we devoutly thank thee for the gracious interposition of thy Providence, in wafting upon our shores so many of thy rich bounties, to make glad the dwellings of thy people on this joyful occasion." Shortly after its occurrence, some one repeated the Doctor's ejaculation to Samuel Adams, who, with his usual promptness and decision, exclaimed, — " That is trimming with the Almighty." The following I received from the Rev. Dr. Samuel Willard, of Deer- field :— Dr. Gay had, for some time, missed the hay from his barn, and was satisfied that it was stolen. With a view to detect the thief, he took a dark lantern, and stationed himself near the place, where he supposed he must pass. In due time, a person, whom he knew, passed along into his barn, and quickly came out with as large a load of hay as he could carry upon his back. The Doctor, without saying a word, followed the thief, and took the candle out of his dark lantern, and stuck it into the hay upon his back, and then retreated. In a moment the hay was in a light blaze ; and the fellow, throwing it from him. in utter consternation, ran away from his perishing booty. The Doctor kept the affair a secret, even from his own family; and, within a day or two, the thief came to him in great agitation, and told hin\ that he wished to confess to him a grievous sin ; — that he had been tempted to steal some of his hay ; and, as he was carrying it away, the Almighty was so angry with him that He had sent fire from heaven, and set it to blazing upon his back. The Doctor agreed to forgive him on condition of his never repeating the offence. The following is an extract from an article that appeared in the Massa- chusetts Gazette, shortly after Dr. Gay's death : — By his inoffensive and condescending conduct, he manifested the pacific disposition of his licart, and rendered liis unwearied exertions to promote peace and good order more cfroctiial. In ecclesiastical councils, (to which he was formerly often invited,) his wisdom and benevolence were conspicuous, and gave him great advantage in com- posing differences, and healing divisions, subsisting in churches. " Though his conversation abroad might seem reserved, yet, in private, among his EBENEZER GAY. & friends, it was free, instructive and cdif^-ing; the salutary effects of which have been sensibly felt by his brethren in tlie ministry; and his kind, parental treatment will ever be acknowledged by them His piaj'ers were rational and devout, and well adapted to the various occasions of life. Enthusiasm and superstition formed no part of his religious cliaracter. In his Christian warfare, he did not entangle himself with the affairs of this lif', but liis conversation was in Heaven. In times of sickness, and in the near views of dissolution, he appeared to have composure and resignation of mind, and hopes full of immortality. " His prudent and obliging conduct rendered him amiable and beloved as a neighbour. His tenrler feelings for the distressed induced him to afford relief to the poor, acconling to his ability. His beneficent actions indicated the practical sense he had of his Lord's own words. — " It is more blessed to give tlian to receive." The serenity of his mind, and evenness of his temper, under the infirmities of advanced years, made him agreeiible to his friends, and continued, to tlie last, the happiness whicli had so long subsisted in his family; in wliich he always i)resided with great tenderness and dignity. A reflec- tio'i on the indulgence of Heaven in the long enjoyment of so affectionate and worthy a parent, and the hopeful prospect of his hapiiiness btyond the grave, must inspire them with gratitude, and lead them into a cordial acquiescence in the painful separa- tion." FROM THE HON. SOLOMON LINCOLN. HiNGHAM, February 6, 1864. My dear Sir : The Rev. Dr. Gay was the third minister of this my native town, and of the parish in which I was born and nurtured. Though he had passed away before I came upon the stage, I have had a good opportunity of exploring the best souices of information concerning liim, and of gathering many tradi- tionary reminiscences illustrative of his character. I think I shall he able to give you a tolerably correct idea of hiui. Dr. Gay outlived two generations of his parishioners; and not one of tliose who was a member of the parish at the time of his birth, was living at his decease. Nor can I ascertain that a single individual who was an acting member at the time of his Ordination, survived him. More than three-fouiths of a century has elapsed since his decease, yet his memory is preserved fresh in the traditions of the generations who knew him long and well. I have known many persons who recollected him in his old age. He was of about the middle size, of dignified and patriarchal appearance, and, if we can judge of his features as delineated by the pencil of Hazlitt, they were not particularly handsome. lie had, however, in the recollection of those who knew him, a grave, yet benignant expression of countenance. Those who loved him held him in such affection and reverence that they would not admit that Ilazlitt's portrait was not a beautiful picture. The Hon. Alden Bradford, in his Historical sketch of Harvard University, publi.shed in the American Quarterly Register, in May, 1837, states that he recollected seeing three venerable and learned men, Dr. Gay, Dr. Chauncy, and Dr. Appleton, pass through the College yard to the Library. "Dr. Gay and Dr. Chauncy were on a visit to Dr. Appleton, and they walked up to the Chapel together, two being nearly ninety years old, and the other. Dr. Chauncy, about eighty-three. It excited great attention at the time." Great intimacy existed between these three patriarchs, during their long and useful lives. Chauncy and Gay died in the same j-ear. Appleton's death took place about three years earlier. At the Ordination of Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Simeon Howard, as Pastor of the West Church, in Boston, Dr. Chauncy preached the Sermon, Dr. Gay gave the Charge, and Dr. Appleton presented the Fellowship of the Churches. They were often associated in similar services. The earliest sermon of Dr. Gay's, which was printed, was delivered at the Ordination of the Rev. Joseph Green, at Barnstable, from Acts xiv. 15, — "We are also men of like pa.ssions with j'ou," — which was much admired for its wise lessons, seasonable admonitions and moving exliortations. His class- 6 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. mate (Foxcroft) accompanied its publication with a Prefatory Atldress <' To the Reader," commending the Seimon in the most affectionate terms. Towards the close of this most impressive discourse, we find the following passages in Dr. Gay's peculiar vein: — Speaking of the candidate for Ordina- tion, Joseph Green, he says, — " We trust that lie will be a Joseph unto his Brethren, whom he is to feed with the Bread of Life, and that God sendeth liim here to preserve their Souls from Perishing. Tlie Lord make him a fruitful Bough, even a fruitful Bough by a well, grafted into the Tree of Life, and always Green, and flourishing in the Courts of our God." Dr. Gay was remarkable in the selection and application of the texts of his sermons. Having, for a long time, been unsuccessful in procuring a well of water, on his homestead, he introduced the subject into his prayers, and also preached a sermon from Number,s, xxi, 17 — " Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, 0 well, sing ye unto it." In 1728 he delivered a Lecture in his own pulpit, " to bring Lot's wife to remembrance " from the text in Luke, xvii, 32, — " Remember Lot's wife;" and entitled this very able and interesting Lecture, " A Pillar of Salt to Season a Corrupt age," The text of his Sermon preached at the Instalment of the Bev. Ezra Carpenter, at Keene, in 1753, was fiom Zechariah ii, 1, — '< I lift up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand." Whatever may have been the theological views entertained by Dr. Gay in the early part of his ministry, it is well understood that he sympathized with the spirit of free inquiry'-, which gradually wrought a change in the opinions of many eminent divines, commencing about the middle of the last century. In his Convention Sermon of 1746, he attributes dissentions among the clergy to <' ministers so often choosing to insist upon the offensive peculiarities of the party they had espoused, rather than upon the more weighty things in which we are all agreed." He was opposed to Creeds, or written Articles of Faith, proposed by men. He thus expresses himself, in 1751, in his Sermon at the Ordination of the Rev. Jonathan Dorby, at Scituate — "And 'tis pity any man, at his entrance into the ministry, should, in his Ordination vows, get a snare to his soul, by subscribing, or any ways engaging to preach according to another rule of faith, creed or confession, which is merely of human prescription and imposition." He was a warm friend of the celebrated Dr. Mayhew, of Boston, whose Biographer thinks the latter was indebted to Dr. Gay for the adoption or confirmation of the " liberal and rational views " which he embraced. President John Adams, in a letter to Dr. Morse, dated May 15, 1815, remarks as follows : " Sixty years ago, my own minister. Rev. Lemuel Bryant,* Dr. Jonathan Mayhew, of the AVest Church in Boston, Rev. Mr. Shute, oi Hingham, Rev. John Brown, f of Cohasset, and perhaps equal to all, if not above all. Rev. Dr. Gay, of Hingham, w'ere Unitarians." By some, who fully understood the position of Dr. Gay, after the middle of the last century, he has been claimed to have been the father of American Unitarianism. This must bo conceded, — that his discourses will be searched in vain, after that point of time, for anj^ discussions of controversial theology, • Lemuel Bryant was a native of Scituate; was graduated at Harvard College, in 1739; was ordained at Quincy, December 4, 1745; was dismissed October 22, 1753; and died at Scituate October 1, 1754, aged thirty-two. He published a Sermon preached at Boston, on the Absurdity and Blasphemy of Depreciating Moral Virtue, 1749; Some Friendly Remarks on a Sermon at Braintrcc, Mass., by Rev. Mr. Porter, in a Letter to the Author, 1750; Some more Friendly Remarks on Mr. Porter, &c., 1751. ■j- John Bkown was born at Haverhill, Jlass. ; was graduated at Harvard College, in 1741; was ordained and installed Pastor of the Church in Cohasset, September 2, 1747 ; and died October 22, 1791, in his si.xty-sevcnthyear. He published a Sermon entitled, "In what sense the heart is deceitful." 1754. EBENEZER GAY. 7 any advocacy of the peculiar doctrines, regarded as orthodox, or the expression of any opinions at variance with those of his distinguished suc- cessor in the same pulpit, the Rev. Dr. Ware. But I can not leave Dr. Gay, witliout adverting to his political opinions; for our traditionary information concerning them tinely illustrates his character. He was opposed to the measures which preceded the American Revolution and Declaration of Independence. His sympathies were not with the Whigs. Yet, such was his discietion that he mamtained his position, at the head of a large and intelligent parish, comprising all shades of political opinion, but in the main Whigs, — without alienating the affections of his people or impairing his usefulness. On one occasion, he and his friend and neighbour. Dr. Sliute, "who was an ardent Whig, were invited to address the people in town-meeting, on a political question; and they both succeeded so well that the town gave them a vote of thanks. Still, Dr. Gay's political sentiments were well under- stood, and were a cause of occasional uneasiness among his parishioners, during the period of the Revolution. We have this anecdote from an authentic source. It was a part of the duty of the Committee of Correspon- dence, Inspection and Safety, to call upon suspected citizens, and those known to be loyalists, to demand a search for arms. It was proposed that the Com- mittee should call upon Dr. Gay, and demand his arms, probably not because they supposed he had any, of which lie would make improper use against the new Government, but because the opportunity was a good one to give him a sort of official admonition that he held obnoxious sentiments, in which some of the most influential of his people did not share. That the thing to be done ■was a little aggravating did not take away the zest of doing it — it would have been ungenerous also, had there not been a very perfect accord between Dr. Gay and his parish, as Pastor and people, on all subjects save politics. The Com- mittee presented themselves before the Doctor, who received them in his study, standing, and with entire calmness and dignity, when he enquired of them, — "What do you wish with me. Gentlemen?" "We havecome. Sir, in accordance with our dut}^ as the Committee of Safety, to ask j^ou what arms you have in the house." He looked at them kindly, perhaps a little reproachfully, for a moment or two, before answering, and then said, laying his hand upon a large Bible on the table by which he stood, — "There, my friends^are my arms, and I trust to find them ever sufficient for me." The Committee retiied with some precipitation, discomfited by tlie dignified manner and implied rebuke of Dr. Gay, and the Chairman was heard to say to his associates, as they passed out of the j'ard, — " The old gentleman is always ready." Notwithstanding the political opinions entertained by Dr. Gay, he found among the clergy, who held opposite views, his most ardent friends. The intercourse between him and the Rev. Dr. Shute, of the Second Parish, who was a zealous Whig, was of the most friendly character, and he was on excellent terms with Mr. Smith, of Weymouth, (the father of Mrs. John Adams,) and Mr. Brown of Cohasset, who, at one time, was a Chaplain to the troops m Nova Scotia, before the Revolution. Dr. Gay's son, Jotham Gay, was a Captain in the same department. The Doctor, in writing to Mr. Brown, •says, — " I wish you may visit Jotham, and minister good instruction to him- and his Company, and furnish him with suitable sermons in print, or in yoar own very legible, if not very intelligible, manuscripts, to read to his men, who are without a preacher — in the room of one, constitute Jotham curate." I think I may safely say that New England could boast of few ministers^ during the last century, who exerted a wider influence than Dr. Gay. I am, with the highest respect. Your friend, SOLOMON LINCOLN 8 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. CHARLES CHAUNCY, D. D * 1727—1787. Charles Chauncy was a great grandson of the Rev. Charles Chauncy, ■who was the second President of Harvard College. He was a grandson of the Rev. Isaac Chaunc}', who was the minister of Berry Street Meet- ing-house, in London, and, in the last years of his ministry, had Dr. Watts as his assistant. His father was Charles Chauncy, who, though a native of England, came to this country, and settled as a merchant in Boston. His mother was Sarah Walley, daughter of Judge Walley, of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. He (the subject of this notice) was born in Boston, January 1, 1705. At the age of seven years, he lost his father, but did not want for friends who were disposed to give him the best advan- tages for education. He entered Harvard College when he was twelve years old, and graduated in the year 1721 ; being regarded as one of the best scholars who had, at that time, received the honours of the institution. He soon commenced the study of Theology, and in due time received approbation to preach the Gospel. After the removal of Mr. Wadsworth from the First Church in Boston to the Presidency of Harvard College, the attention of that congregation was directed to Mr. Cliauncy, as a suitable person to be his successor. On the 12th of June, 1727, they voted him a call to settle among them, and, on the 25th of October following, he was ordained and installed as Co-pastor with the Rev. Thomas Foxcroft, — the Sermon on the occasion, according to the usage of that day, being preached by himself. The call was far from being unanimous ; and it does not appear that lie produced any great sensation, in any way, at the commence- ment of Jiis ministry. In 1742, he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the Univer- sity of Edinburgh. Dr. Chauncy was a stern opposer, from beginning to end, of the great religious excitement that prevailed in New England and elsewhere, in connection with the labours of Whitefield and his coadjutors. His first publication, bearing directly on the subject, was a Sermon on Enthusiasm, in the year 1742, which is justly considered one of his most vigorous pro- ductions. The next j^ear he published an elaborate work, entitled " Sea- Bonable Thoughts on the State of Religion in New England." In 1744 he published an Ordination Sermon, and a Convention Sermon, both of which he designed as Tracts for the Times. The same year he published a Letter to the Rev. George Whitefield, calling on him to defend his con- , duct or confess his faults ; and the next year he addressed a second Letter to him, in the same spirit, and of the same decided character, with the former. Dr. Chauncy, though he did not by any means stand alone in his views of the then existing state of things, differed from the great mass of Lis brethren, in contemplating the case as one of unmixed evil. Colman, •Dr. Clarke's Fun. Serm. — Emerson's Hist. First Church, Boston. — Mass. Hist. Coll., Ill, VI, X. Miller's Retrospect, II. Prof. Fowler's Hist, of the Chauncy family. • CHARLES CHAUNCY. 9 Sewall, Foxcroft, Cooper, Prince, and many others, saw very •much to dit;approve and deplore, while yet they seem to have admitted the substan- tial genuineness of the work ; but Dr. Cliauncy regarded it as essentially evil, and opposed it with all the energy which he could command. In 1747 Dr. Chauncy preached the Annual Sermon before the Legisla- ture of Massachusetts. In this Sermon he expatiated, with great plainness and furce, on some of the evils of the day, for which he considered Ilulers chiefly responsible; and particularly on the injustice which had been done to his professional brethren, in their having been allowed to suffer so severely from the fluctuations of tlie circulating medium. His remarks were received with little favour by a portion at least of the Legislature ; and they even debated whether, according to custom, they should print the Sermon. The Doctor, being informed of this, sharply replied, — " It shall be printed, whether the General Court print it or not. And do you. Sir," (addressing himself to his informant), " say from me that, if I wanted to initiate and instruct a person into all kinds of iniquity and double dealing, I would send him to our General Court." In May, 17G2, he delivered the Dudleian Lecture in Harvard College, whicli was published under the title, — " The Validity of Presbyterian Ordination asserted and maintained." This discourse attracted great attention, and was the commencement of a controversy in wliich his friends considered him as having gathered some of his brightest laurels. In 1767 he published " Remarks upon a Sermon of the Bishop of Landaff"," in wliich he expressed his fears that the appointment of Bisiiops fur America, as was then proposed, would be followed by attempts to promote Episcopacy by force. He then adds, — " It may be relied on, our people would not be easy, if restrained in the exercise of that liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free ; yea, they would hazard every thing dear to them, — their estates, their very lives, ratlier than suff"er their jiecks to be put under that yoke of bondage, which was so sadly galling to their fathers, and occasioned their retreat into this distant land, that they might enjoy the freedom of men and Christians." After this, he had for his antagonist the Rev. Dr. Thomas Bradbury Chandler, of Elizabethtown ; and this controversy con- tinued from 1768 to 1771, each of them writing two or three pamphlets. In his Reply to Dr. Cliandler, he says, — " It is with me past all doubt that the religion of Jesus will never be restored to its primitive purity, simplicity and glory, until religious establishments are so brought down as to be no more." His last work on the subject, entitled "A Complete View of Episcopacy," was publislied in 1771, and is regarded as one of the ablest of his controversial works. • Dr. Chauncy was far from being a mere spectator of the scenes of the Revolution. In 1774 he published a Letter to a Friend, de- tailing the privations and hardships to which the people of Boston had been, or were likely to be, subjected by the oppressive policy of the British Parliament; and this pamphlet was but an index to the spirit which animated him during the whole Revolutionary struggle. So firmly was he convinced of the justice of the American cause that he used to say he had no doubt, if human exertions were inefi'ectual, that a host of angels would be sent to assist us. When a smile was excited, and some doubt expressed 10 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. as to tlie- possibility of our obtaining such aid, he remarked, with his eliar- acteristio decision, tliat he felt fully assured that that would be the case. In a Sermon entitled " All Nations blessed in Christ," preached at the Ordination of the llev. Joseph ]Jownian,* in 1762, he is considered as having first faintly siiadowed forth the doctrine which he afterwards more ojienly defended, of the final salvation of all men. It is said that this had been with him asubject of much severe and earnest thought, during thegreater part of his ministry ; but it was not until the year 1784 that he gave the re.sulls of his inquiry to the world, in a work entitled, — " The Mystery hid from ages, or the Salvation of all Men." He published one or two other works, about the same time, bearing upon the same subject. In July, 1778, Dr. Chauncy received the Kev. John Clarke as his colleai'ue, and was thereby relieved in a measure from public labour. He, however, continued to occupy the pulpit, a part of the time, almost to the close of his life. He died February 10, 1787, in the eighty-third year of his age, and the sixtieth of his ministry. The Sermon at his Interment was delivered by his colleague, the llev. Mr. Clarke, from Matt. XXV, 21, which was published. The following is a list of Dr. Chauncy's publications ; — A Sermon on the death of Mrs. Sarah Byfield, 1731. A Sermon on the Death of Mrs. Elizabeth Price, 1732. A Sermon on the Death of the Hon. Nathaniel IJyfield, 1733. A Sermon before the Artillery Company, 1734. A Sermon on the Death of Mr. Jonathan Williams, 1737. A* Sermon on Religious Compulsion, 1739. A Sermon on the Death of Mrs. Lucy Waldo, 1741. A Sermon on the New Creature, 1741. A Sermon ou an Unbridled Tongue, 1741. A Sermon on the Various Gifts of Minis- ters, 1742, A Sermon on the Outpouring of the Holy Ghost, 1742. A Sermon on Enthusiasm, with a Letter to the Rev. James Davenport, 1742. Account of the French Prophets, in a Letter to a Friend, 1742. Season. able Thoughts on the Stale of Religion, (an octavo volume,) 1743. A Sermon at the Instalment of the Rev. Thomas Frink,t 1744. A Sermon at the Annual Convention of Congregational Ministers, 1744. A Letter to the Rev. George Whitefield, publicly calling on him to Defend his Conduct, or Confess his Faults, 1744, A Second Letter to the Same, 1745. A Thanksgiving Sermon on the Reduction of Cape Breton, 1745. A Sermon on the Death of Mr. Cornelius Thayer, 1745. A Sermon on the Rebellion in favour of the Pretender, 1745. Massachusetts Election Sermon, 1747. A Sermon on the Death of Mrs. Anna Foxcroft, 1749. A Sermon for Encouraging Industry, 1752, A Sermon on Murder, 1754. A Sermon • JosKPH Bowman was a native of Wcstborough, Mass.; was graduated at Harvard Col- lege, in 1701; was ordained at Boston, as Missionary to the Indians, August 31, 1762; was installed at Oxford, Mass., November 14, 1764; was dismissed, August 28,1782; was installed at Durnard, Vt., Feptetiibcr 22, 1784; and died December 8, 1820, aged eighty-seven. t Thomas Fiunk was a native of Sudbury, Mass. ; was graduated at Harvard College, in 1722; was ordained at Rutland, Mass., November 1, 1727; was dismissed September 8, 1740; was installed at Plymouth, November 7, 1743; was dismissed in 1748; was installed at Barre, Mass., October, 1753; and was dismissed July 17, 1766. He published a Discourse at Giving the Right Hand of Fellowship, at the Installation of the Rev. Edward Billings; [who was born in Sunderland, Mass; graduatexl at Harvard College, in 1731, was ordained at Belcher- lown, inl739; was dismissed in 1701; was installed at Greenfield District, Mass., March 28, 1754; and died in 1760;] a Sermon at Siaflford, Conn., at the Ordination of John Willard, 1757; and the Massachusetts Election Sermon, 1758. CHARLES CHAUNCY. ' 11 on tlie Earthquake, 1755. Account of the Ohio Defeat in a Letter to a Friend, 1755. A Particular Narrative of the Defeat of the French Army at Lake George, in a Letter to a Friend, 1755. A Sermon on the Earth- quakes in Spain, 1756. A Sermon on the Death of Mr. Edward Gray, 1757. The Opinion of one who has perused the 'Summer Morning's Conversation,' &c:, 1758. Dudleian Lecture at Harvard College, 1762. A Sermon at the Ordination of Joseph Bowman, 1762. Twelve Sermons particularly referring to the Saudenianian Doctrines, 1765. A Sermon at tlie Ordination of Penuel Bowen, 1766. A Sermon on the Death of Dr. Mayhew, 1766. Thanksgiving Sermon on the Repeal of the Stamp Act, 1767. A Sermon at the Ordination of Simeon Howard, 1767. lieniarks on the Bishop of Landafl's Sermon in a Letter to a Friend, 1767. Answer to Dr. Cliandler's Appeal, 1768. A Sermon on the Death of the llev. Thomas Foxcroft, 1769. " Trust in God the Duty of a People," &c.; a Sermon preached at the request of a number of Patriotic Gentlemen, 1770. Reply to Dr. Chandler's Appeal defended, 1770. A Complete View of Episcopacy, ^an octavo volume,) 1771. Five Sermons on the Communion, 1772. A Sermon on "All things in Common," 1773. A Just Representa. tion of the Hardsliips and Sufterings of the town of Boston, in a Letter to a Friend, 1774. A Sermon on "the Accursed Thing,'' 1778. Tiie Jlys. tery hid from Ages, or the Salvation of all Men, (an octavo volume,) 1784. The Benevolence of the Deity fairly and impartially considered, (an octavo volume,) 1784. Five Dissertations on the Fall and its Consequences, (an octavo volume,) 1785. A Sermon upon the Return of the Society to their House of Worship, after it had undergone the necessary Repairs, 1785. Dr. Chauncy was three times married. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Judge Grove Hir.'^t, ami grand-daughter of the first Chief Justice Sewall by whom he had three children, — one son and two daughters. His second marriage was on the 8lh of January, 1738, to Elizabeth Town, eend ; and his third w;is on the 15th (if .January, 1760, to Mary, daughter of David Stoddard. There were no children by either of the two last marriages. Dr. John Eliot, who, in the early part of his life, was contemporary with Dr. Chauncy, writes thus concerning him : — "Dr. Cliauncy was one of the greatest divines in New England, — no one, except President lidwards and the late Dr. Mayhew, has been so much known among the literati of Europe, or i)rihted more be)f)ks upim theological subjects. He took great delight in studying the Scrii)tures. Feeling the sacred obligations of morality, he impressed them u])On the minds of others in the most rational and evangelical manner. When he preached upon the faith of the Gospel, he reasoned of righteousness, tempe- rance and judgment to come. It was said that he wanted the graces of delivery and taste in composition. But it was his object to deliver the most sublime truths iu simplicity of speech, and he never therefore studied to have his periods polished with rhetorical tigures. Ills favourite authors were Tillotson of the Episcopal Church, and Baxter among the Puritans. For he preferred tlie rich vein of sentiment in the Ser- mons of the English divines, to that tinsel of French declamation so fashionable in our modern way of preaching. Upon some occasions, however, Dr. Chauncy could raise his feeble voice, and manifest a vigour and animation which would arrest "the attention of the most careless hearer, and have a deeper effect than the oratory which is thought by many to be irresistibly persuasive: at all times he was argumentative and perspicu- ous, and made an admirable practical use of the sentiments Ik delivered." The following notice of Dr. Chauncy is from an " Historical Sketch of the First Church, in Boston," by the Rev. William Emerson, one of Dr. Chauncy's successors :— 12 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. " The fact is. he had no taste for rhetorical studies. So little versed in poetry was he that he is said to liave wished that somebody would translate tlic Paradise Lost of Milton into prose, tliat In; might understand it. lie lovod nature, simplicity, and truth, and loolced ujjon the art of rhetoric rather as an intlamer of the passions, and a pei'verter of reason, tlian as an instrument of good to mankind. His aversion indeed was so rooted towards tlie noisy and foaming fanatics of his time, and his attachment so strong to Taylor. Tillotson, and writers of that stamp, that, in tiie conii>any of intimate friends, as is reported of him, he would sometimes beseech God never to make liim an orator. One of his acquaintances now living, (1811.) hearing this report, remarked that his prayer was unequivocally granted. Yet I have been informed by one of his hearers, who is an excellent judge of sermons, that Dr. Cliauncy was by no ineans an indifferent speaker, that his emphases were always laid witli pro- priety, often witli hap])y effect; and that his general manner was that of a plain, earnest preacher, solicitous for tlie success of liis labours. He ordinarily entered oa his task, whether of composing or delivery, apj)arently without niuch nerve, as a labourer commences his daily toil, uttering a deal of common truths in a common way. But he had alwaj-s a design, which lie kept clearly and steadily in view, until it was prudently and thoroughly executed." As I do not find tliat Dr. Cliauncy has, in any of his publications, ex- pressed himself definitely in respect to the doctrine of the Trinity, I wrote to the Rev. Dr. Frotirnigham, another of Dr. Chauncy's successors, to ascer- tain his opinion on the subject, and received from him the following reply : — " As to the doctrine of the Trinity, though the subject had not risen into controver.sy in his day, I have always supposed that he was Non- Nicene on that point. Such a supposition would certainly correspond best with the general complexion of his religious opinions. He was always classed prominently among those who were called ' liberal ; ' for there were two parties then as now. An octogenarian parishioner of mine, who was one of his hearers, tells me that, long before his Book on Universal Salva- tion was published, some of his church left him to go to the Old South." The following letter addressed by the late Kev. Dr. Howard, of Springfield, to the Rev. Dr. Walker, President of Harvard College, has been kindly put at my disposal. Nearly every thing contained in it I have myself had from Dr. Howard's own lips. If the letter should seem to involve a departure from my general rule not to allow the approval or the condemna- tion of any particular system of Doctrine, either by myself or nsy corres- pondents, the explanation is that Dr. Howard is himself one of the subjects of this work, and the letter is quite as illustrative of liis own views as of those of Dr. Chauney. Springfield, January 22, 1833. Dear Sir: You ask me for reminiscences of Dr. Chauney. You might almost as well have gone to him for them. But, as I have a very great veneration for his character, and wish it may be transmitted to posterity just as it was, I will tell you all that I do remember of him. lie was, like Zaccheus, little of stature, and, like St. Paul, his letters were powerful. God gave him a slender, feeble body, a very powerful, vigorous mind, and strong passions; and he managed them all exceedingly well. His manners were plain and downriglit, — digniticd, bold and imposing. In conversation with his friends, he was pleasant, social and very instructive. Bigotry and superstition found no quarter with him — in wliatever garb tliey approached, they were sure to lie detected and rebuked. lie possessed and enjoyed a firm and unwavering faith in the truth and inspiration of tlie Scrip- tures, and in tlie impossibility of tlieir Iiaving been written but by tKe supernatural inspiration of God. lie said to me, " I defy any man that ever existed, to give any rational account of the conduct of mankind, without going to the third chapter of Genesis for tlie cause." Soon after his Book on CHARLES CHAUNCY. 13 Universal Salvation was published, he said to me, — " Howard, have you seen my book?" «< Yes Sir." " Have you read it?" << Yes Sir." «« And do you believe it?" "No Sir." '« Ah! if you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you would believe it." He said to me, " I could once compose and write as fast as any man that ever existed. I have often written every word of my afternoon sermon in the intermission." His attitude and tone of voice in the desk were dignified, solemn, impressive and positive. They seemed to say, — " I know that what I am delivering is true, and highly important to j'our souls." I am not able to give you a list of his publications; they were many. His volume containing ten sermons on Justification is very able, and contains his Body of Divinity, which, though now out of date, may prove, in the end, to be much nearer the truth as it is in Jesus, than some of later date. He, like St. Paul, gloried in the Cross of Christ, which seems to be abandoned and made of none effect by some divines of the present generation. Every one of us must give an account of himself to God; and every man's work will be tried; and the wood, hay and stubble will be burnt up; and a very great bonfire there will be. The Doctor was remarkably temperate in his diet and exercise. At twelve o'clock, he took one pinch of snuff, and only one in twenty-four hours. At one o'clock, he dined on one dish of plain wholesome food, and after dinner took one glass of wine, and one pipe of tobacco, and only one in twenty-four hours. And he was equally methodical in his exercise, which consisted chiefly or wliolly in walking. I said, <' Doctor, you live by rule." " If I did not, I should not live at all." He was mighty in the Scriptures, pene- trating and candid in his comments, and, I believe, as little influenced by the prevailing errors of his time as any other man. And his own errors, although they may have injured thousands, did not appear to do him any harm, but rather increased his love to God and man; and how far he is accountable to God for the injury his book has done, is an awful question which none but God can answer. But it is a question which ought to fill the mind of every author, and every preacher with great anxiety, lest the blood of others should be required of them. When will Calvinism and Humanita- rianism, the two great errors of the present day, so " come to their end that none shall help them?" Calvinism has imposed on Christianitj' an irrational load, too grievous to be borne. Humanitaiianism, urging to the other extreme, has not only stripped it of all its Calvinistic attire, but has taken out its very vitals, — has denied every doctrine peculiar to the Gospel, and, under the cloak of Christianity, intrenched itself on a rampart of Natural Religion. The time is coming when all error will be put down, and Christ will have no more cause to complain that He is wounded in the house of his friends. A Christian community will somewhere arise, free from error, and all men will flow into it. Then, we shall all come unto <« the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man." May the Lord hasten it in his time. I hope you will get a good likeness of the Doctor. He was really a great and good man. I verily believe he is now in Heaven, and humbly hope that I shall soon be with him there. From your friend, BEZALEEL HOWARD. 14 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. THOMAS BARNARD.* 1739—1776. THOMAS BARNARD, D. D.f 1773—1814. Thomas Barnard, a son of the Rev. John Barnard, of Andover, ■was born August 17, 1710. He was graduated at Harvard College, in 1732, and was ordained and installed Pastor of the First Church, in Newbury, January 81, 1739. After a few years, the peace of his congregation was disturbed by the influence of certain religious teachers, who maintained thnt no small portion of the ministers of that day were unconverted men, and were to be treated accordingly. There is a letter still extant, addressed by Mr. Barnard to the Bev. Joseph Adams, t whom he seems to have considered as sharing largely in the denunciatory spirit, in which he gives a very vivid account of the disorders he so much reprobated. His situation at length became so unpleasant that he resolved to relieve him. self by retiring from his pastoral charge ; and, accordingly, he was, by his own request, dismissed, on the 18th of January, 1751. A considerable portion of his congregation, as well as of the community at large, deeply regretted his taking this step, as he was regarded among the most intelli- gent and respectable ministers in the whole region. After leaving his charge, he removed to that part of the town which is now Newburyport, studied law, became a practitioner at the Bar, and was a Bepresentative of the town to the General Court. Though his talents were such as would have ensured him success in civil life, he found that he liad little taste for such pursuits, and had a strong inclination to return to theological studies and pastoral engagements. Accordingly, acting under the advice of his friends, as well as in accordance with his own taste and judgment, he resolved to re-enter the ministry. The First Church in Salem having been rendered vacant by the death of the Bev. John Spar- hawk, Mr. Barnard was called to be his successor. He accepted the invi- tation, and was installed, September 18, 1755. The Installation Sermon was preached by the Bev. Peter Clark of Danvers, from Malachi ii, 6 ; and the Charge was delivered by the Bev. John Barnard of Marblehead. He was recommended to the church by the Chief Justice of the Common- wealth, particularly on account of his high intellectual powers and accom- plishments ; and his congregation is said to have had in it, at that time, a greater amount of cultivated intellect than any other in the Province. Here Mr. Barnard conticued till the close of his life. He suffered much, in his latter years, from a paralytic aflfection. His memory failed ; and, though he continued to preach till within a few weeks of his death, it was • Mass. Hist. Coll. VI. f rrince's Fun. Serm. j Joseph Adams was a native of Newbury ; was graduated at Harvard College, in 1742; was ordained at Stratham, N. II., Juno 24, 1766 ; and died February 24, 1786, aged sixty -six. THOMAS BARNARD. 15 only by the closest attention to liis manuscript that he could read his sermon. In July, 1772, Mr. Asa Dunbar,* a young «uin of uncommon promise, became his colleague, and was dismissed, by his own request, on account of ill health, in 1779. Mr. Barnard died August 15, 1776, aged sixty years. Dr. Andrew Eliot of Boston, who had long been his intimate friend, preached his Funeral Sermon. Dr. John Eliot, who doubtless must have known him, as the friend of his fatlier, has left the following record concerning him in his Biographical Dictionary : — "As long as he lived, he was esteemed and beloved by the wisest and best part of the community. His manner of preaching was grave, slow and distinct. He had not sufficient animation in his delivery, but liis sermons were nitional and judicious, calcu- lated for hearers of thoughtful minds, witliout that unction which popular preachers have, and which seems necessary to give a charm to public discourses. Ii was observed also, by men of good sense, tliat Mv. Barnard's style of preaching was not the most perspicuous. His favourite author was Bishop Butler, whose writings are more remarkable for masterly reasoning than fine turned sentences. In the Deistical contro- versy Mr. Barnard was superior to most divines, and he often made it the subject of his public discourses. In bis sentiments he was considered as a follower of Arminius rather tlian Calvin; he was a Serai-Arian of Dr. Clarke's school." I find nothing in any of Mr. Barnard's writings, more distinctive, as to his theological views, than the following extract from an Ordination Ser- mon, delivered in 1757, on "The Christian-Salvation:" " It might be expected that the Ruler of the Universe will exercise mercy to offenders in such a maimer as shall give no pretence to the rest of his creation to rebel, in hopes of easy pardon, whatever their guilt may be. Tbe Christian salvation is a proof of the Divine wisdom in this respect. Therefore we see the incarnate Jesus going on in such a series of consummate virtue atid goodness as God might look on with pleasure; which being tried in the severest instances, and persevering even unto death, might be the proper basis of a grant of the highest blessings to Him, (in his complex character,) and to men, for his sake, and on his request. \Ve see Him making peace by the blood of his cross,- redeeming us from wrath; not from the effects of vindictive passions, or delight in misery in the Deity, but from that unhappiness which the rectitude of God's government made the necessary fruit of sin; for without shedding of blood there was no remission. And to maintain in us a sense of the majesty and purity of God and our own ill desert. He is made our Intercessor in Heaven, through whom we have access unto the Father. In this view, Christ gave Himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity, the penal effects of it." The publications of Mr. Barnard were — A Sermon at the Ordination of Edward Barnard, Haverhill, 1743. A Letter to Mr. Joseph Adams. A Sermon at the Ordination of Josiah Baylcy.t 1757. A Sermon before the Society for promoting Industry, 1757. Artillery Election Sermon, 1758. A Sermon at the Ordination of William Whitwell, Marblehead, 1762. A Sermon at the General Election, 1763. Dudleian Lecture at Harvard College, 1768. A Sermon at the Funeral of the Rev, Peter Clark, Danvers, 1768. Mr. Barnard left three sons — Joh?!, vfho was graduated at Harvard Col- lege, in 1762, and became a merchant at St. Johns, New Brunswick; Thomas, an account of whom follows in this article, and Benjamiyi, who was also a merchant in New Brunswick. • Asa Dunbar was a native of Bridgewater, Mass. ; was graduated at Harvard College in 1767; and died in New Hampshire, in December, 1788, having spent some of his last years in the profession of the Law. t JosiAH Bayley was a native of Newbury, Mass. ; was graduated at Harvard College ia 1752; was ordained Pastor of the Church at Hampton Falls. N. H., October 19, 1757; and died September 12, 1762, aged twenty-nine. 16 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. THOMAS BARNARD, D. D. Thomas Barnard, a son of the llev. Thomas Barnard, was born in Newbury, February 5, 1748. He graduated at Harvard College in 1706, He studied Theology under the direction of the Rev. Samuel Williams of Bradford, afterwards Professor in Harvard College. He was ordained and installed Pa^^tor of the North Church and Society in Salem, January 13, 1773. In the yeav 1771, when his father had become so feeble as to require the assistance of a colleague, the son was invited to preach .as a candidate for the place ; but, as the congregation were divided in their partialities between him and another candidate, the party favourable to his settlement withdrew, and formed a new church of which he became the Pastor. Here he continued in the active discharge of the duties of his oflice forty-one years. On the morning of the first day of October, 1814, he was seized with a fit of apoplexy, which had a fatal termination in the course of the following night. He died in the sixty-seventh year of his age. His Funeral Sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Prince, and was afterwards published. He received the Degree of Doctor of Divinity from both the University of Edinburgh, and Brown University, in 1794. Dr. Barnard was married in May, 1775, to Lois, daughter of Samuel Gardner, a respectable merchant of Salem. He had two children, — a son and a daughter, but survived them both. The following is a list of Dr. Barnard's publications : — A Sermon at the Ordination of Aaron Bancroft, Worcester, 1786. A Sermon at the Artillery Election, 1789. A Sermon before the Massachu- setts Convention of Congregational Ministers, 1793. A Discourse before the Humane Society of Massachusetts, 1794. A Sermon on the National Thanksgiving, 1795. Dudleian Lecture at Harvard College, 1795. A Fast Sermon, 1796. A Thanksgiving Sermon, 1796. A Sermon on the Death of Washington, 1799. A Sermon before the Salem Female Chari. table Society, 1803. A Sermon before the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, 1806. A Sermon before the Bible Society of Salem and vicinity, 1814. In May, 1811, I had the pleasure of spending an hour with Dr. Barnard at his house, being taken thither by the Rev. Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Abbot of Beverly. He was then far advanced in life, and had the appearance of being somewhat infirm. I was struck with the kindliness of his manner and the benignity of his countenance. We found him writing a sermon ; and I remember hia telling us that he submitted to the drudgery of copying all his sermons, writing them first on small pieces of paper. He was rather a short man, considerably inclined to corpulency, and his movements were heavy and difficult. There is nothing in any of Dr. Barnard's published works to indicate the peculiar shade of his theological views ; but I learn from those who had the best opportunity of forming a judgment on the subject, that his Theology was nearly the same with that of his father, — that is, that he was a Semi-Arian, or possibly an Arian. THOMAS BARNARD. 17 The following delineation of Dr. Barnard's character is extracted from Dr. Prince's Sermon preached on the occasion pf his Death : — "As a Man, I can say of him, from an acquaintance of thirty-five years, he possessed those qualities which command respect and interest tlie lieart. lie liad a liappy constitutional temper, was social and cheerful in liis disposition, open and affable iu his manners: he was approached witliout restraint, and made every one easy in his com- pany. In liis social and cheerful intercourse with others he never forgot tlie respect wliich was due to his ministerial character: he honoured himself and liis office in all his associations in life. He had great sensibility; his own feelings were strong, and he readily entered into the feelings of others. His expressions and manner in conversa- tion were animated, when the subject was important and interesting; especially when the welfare and happiness of others were concerned. Possessing a benevolent heart, he was kind and friendly to all, and delighted to do good when(jpportunity occurred. He felt for the misfortunes of others, and often strongly interested himself to relieve their sufferings. He opened his hands to the poor, who were blest with his charitj'. One trait iu his character, though of a minor kind, is not uninteresting, as flowing from his natural benevolence — he was remarkably attentive to young children; his playful cheerfulness with them interested their little minds, and gained their confidence ' To pluck Lis gown, and share the good man's smiles.' "Having a high sense of integrity and a just notion of honour, he abhorred a dis- honest action and despised a mean one. His heart was open and sincere; which gave frankness to his conversation and manners, and led him to censure, sometimes in strong language, craftiness and hypocrisy. Being of too kind a disposition to do or wish ill to any one, he had few or no enemies; (none that he diil not forgive;) but it gained him manj'^ friends. He had, by study, stored his mind with a fund of uset'iil knowledge; and his study of mankind led him to a correct knowledge of men. He knew the frailties and prejudices of human nature, and how to make allowance for errors and failings; but gross violations of princijjle, coming from a corrupted mind, and con- ducted by talent, excited his deep regret and severest censures. His good sense and judgment, and his prudence, which he possessed in a high degree, made him a wise and safe counsellor and gave weight and influence to his advice, which was often asked and followed with advantage. "As a Christian, he was highly exemplary in the moral duties of life; pious and fervent in his devotions; and, though cheerful in his general conversation, he was serious when occasion required it. lie had humble thoughts of himself, a just sense of his own unworthiness, and relied wliolly on the merits of Clirist for salvation. By diligent reading and study, a free and im[)artial inquiry, aided by a good judgment, his faith was firmly fixed in the truth of Christianity. "As a Minister, he was highly respected and esteemed, and useful in the churches; being often called to assist at councils in the Ordination of ministers, or settling differ- ences among brethren. He was often consulted, and his knowledge and judgment had weight and influence on such occasions. He was catholic in his principles and candid towards those who differed from him. Though zealous, as far as zeal was useful, in incidcating his own sentiments, he did not wish to impose them on any man. He left others to think for themselves, and entertained none of those peculiarities which poison the sweets of ciiarity. He esteemed the honest man, liowever differing from him in speculative opinions, and embraced him in his charity. He did not mistake passion for pious zeal, nor attempt 'To murder virtue in the name of God.' "As the Lord had declared that the poor had the gospel preached to them , he believed .that all its doctrines necessary to salvation were within the comjjass of their under- standing for faith and practice; and that the final salvation of no man depended upon the belief or disbelief of those speculative opinions, about which men equally learned and pious difFtT; and some perplex their minds, without adding any thing to their knowledge. His preaching, therefore, was more practical than metaphysical; though he did not neglect to discuss any religious subject in his discourses, which he tliought would throw light on the Scriptures, inform the minds of his hearers, and lay open the views and designs of God in the Gospel dispensation, and the character aiid office of Christ, as the messenger of his grace, and the Redeemer of mankind — such views as would impress the mind with reverence, esteem and love, confirm faith and excite obedience. With what honesty, openness and sincerity, in what a fervent and ])ious manner, he preached these things, you, my hearers, are his witnesses, who have so long sat under his ministry. I have been informed that his choice of subjects, in tlie latter part of his life, was more upon the frailties of our nature, its infirmities and mortality, than in former days. As he advanced in life, and felt a nearer approach to the end of it, he might naturally be led to the contemplation of these subjects. In confirmation Vol. VIII. 2 18 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. of this I found upon his table, after his death, a part of a sermon which he had begun to write from tlicse words- ' Mv flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and mv portion forever'— Fs. Ixxiii, 26— a striking coincidence between the subject wliich engaged his mind, at tliat time, and his death. Probably tlie very last dav he spent on earth, he was employed writing on this subject. When he visited yoii in allliction, how did he pour the balm of consolation into your minds, sympathize witli vou share in your sorrows, and encourage and comfort you by the hopes and prom'ises'of the Gospel! llow did he counsel and advise you when in difficulties; and participate in your joys when prosperity smiled upon you! You can recollect these scenes better than I can describe them . I mention them only as a part of his character and conduct as a Christian minister." DANIEL SHUTE, D. D. 1746—1802. FROM THE HON. SOLOMON LINCOLN. Boston, February 19, 1863. My dear Sir : I have explored ^vith some care all the sources of informa- tion concerning the late Rev. Dr. Shute, of Hingham, and will now, in compliance with your request, embody, in a brief sketch, what I have been able to gather concerning his life and character. Daniel Shute, a son of John and Mary (Wayte) Shute, was born in Mai- den, the residence of his parents, on the 19th of July, 1722. He entered Harvard College in 1739, remained there for the whole term of four years, and was graduated in 1743. Among his classmates were the Hon. Foster Hutchinson, of the Supreme Court of the Province of Massachusetts; Major Samuel Tliaxter, of Hingham, a distinguished officer in the War against the French and the Indians ; the Hon. James Otis, father of the celebrated Revolutionary patriot and orator ; and the Rev. Gad Hitch- cock, D. D., a distinguished divine of Pembroke. Mr. Shute, having chosen the profession of Divinity and been licensed to prea.ch, was invited in April, 1746, to commence his professional career as a candidate in the South Parish of IMalden. In June of the same year, he was invited to preach as a candidate in the recently formed Third Parish in Hingham. This Parish was set off from the first Parish (Dr. Gay's) in that town, March 25, 1745, and, at that time, was designated the Third, as Cohasset, which was the Second Precinct, had not then been incorporated as a separate district or town. This was done in 1770, and the Tliird Parish of Hingham has since been known as the Second Congregational Parish. The inhabitants composing this Parish, whicli embraced terri- torially the South part of the town, had contended zealously for nearly twenty years for separate parochial privileges, which were denied to them. Some alienation of feeling naturally grew out of a controversy so long pro- tracted. Confident of ultimate success in their efforts, the inhabitants of the South part of the town had, in 1742, erected a commodious meeting- Tiouse, on Glad-Tidings Plain, which is now standing in a good state of preservation. ISIr. Shute declined an invitation to settle in Maiden, and in September, 1746, accepted the call at Hingham. In the following November a church Was embodied by the Rev. Nathaniel Eelles, of Scituate, and the Rev. Wil- DANIEL SHUTE. 19 liam Smith, of Weymouth. Mr, Shute was ordained their Pastor, December 10th, 1746. The Rev. Messrs. Eelles, of Scituate, Lewis, of Pembroke, Emerson, of Maiden, Bayley and Smith, of Weymouth, were invited, with delegates, to form the Ordaining Council. The part performed by each on that occasion is not known. The exercises were not printed. Mr. Gay, of the First Church, was also invited to be present with delegates, but he declined the invitation in behalf of his church, and did not himself attend. He wrote a very conciliatory letter to the new church, in which he says, — " I shall be ready to serve you all I can in your religious affairs and interests, as a Christian neighbour and Gospel minister, though I may not in the particular you have desired, as the Messenger of a church (than which an Elder in an Ecclesiastical Council is nothing more). On the walls of a new meeting-house were once engraven these words, — ' Built not for faction, nor a party, hit for promoti7ig faith and repentance, in cominu- Tiion with all that love our Lord Jesus in sincerity.^ May this be verified in the house you have erected for Divine worship." But a short time elapsed before the most friendly relations were established between the two Parishes and their Pastors. In May following the settlement of Mr. Shute, he exchanged pulpit services with Dr. Gay, and continued to do so until the death of the latter. IMr. Shute was a frequent guest at the hospitable table of Dr. Gay, and they enjoyed many a frugal repast and rich intel- lectual feast together. Tiiere was an entire harmony in their religious opinions ; and it has been said that there was great unanimity of sentiment between all the members of the Association to which they belonged, of which Drs. Gay, Shute, Hitchcock, Barnes, Messrs. Smith, Brown, Hand and others, were members. At a subsequent period of their lives, Gay and Shute took opposite views of the great political questions which agitated the country, — the former being a moderate Tory, and the latter an ardent Whig. Their political differences, however, caused no interruption to their friendship. During a severe illness of Mr. Shute, Dr. Gay manifested the most anxious solici- tude for his recovery ; and expressed the warmest feelings of attachment. The first marriage of Mr. Shute was solemnized by Dr. Gay, and, at the Funeral of the latter, Mr. Shute, in his Discourse on that occasion, paid a most affectionate tribute to the memory of his distinguished friend. Tlie ministry of this venerable man covered more than the last half of the last century. During that period. Pastors and People were severely tried by the French and Revolutionary Wars. In both, Mr. Shute entered warmly into the feelings of the great body of the people, and used an active influence in forming and guiding public opinion. In 1758 he was appoint- ed, by Governor Pownall, Chaplain of a Regiment commanded by Col. Joseph Williams, raised "for a general invasion of Canada." In 1767 he delivered the Annual Sermon before the Ancient and Hon- ourable Artillery Company, from the text, Ecclesiastes, ix, 18: ^'Wisdom is letter than zveapons of ivar.'^ In 1768, he preached the p]lection Ser- mon from the text, Ezra x, 4 : ^^ Arise ; for this matter helo7igeth 2into thee ; he will also be xoith thee; he of good courage and do it." Both these discourses were printed, and bear marks of careful composition, sound views and strong common sense. His Sermon at the Funeral of his vene- 20 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. rated friend, Dr. Gay, in 1787, was also published, and was a most impres- sive and fitting memorial of the character of that eminent divine in whose footsteps he delighted to tread. No discourse of liis has been published, which presents any discussion of points of controversial theology. Indeed, tradition informs us that his puldic performances were remarked for the absence of all such topics ; yefc it is well understood that he sympathized with those who entertained what were termed •' more liberal views " than those entertained by the great body of the clergy. In this respect there was great harmony of opinion in tlie whole town and in all the parishes which it then contained. The sound judgment and knowledge of the human character, possessed by him, were often called in requisition on Ecclesiastical Councils. From his papers, which have been carefully preserved by his descendants, who hold his memory in veneration, he appears often to have been a peace- maker, and to have aided, by his moderation and discreet advice, in com- posing unhappy diiferences in Parishes quite remote from his own, but to which his reputation had extended. His salary was a moderate one. His Parish was not large, and was composed chiefly of substantial farmers and mechanics. To procure the means of a more independent support, he took scholars to prepare them for College and the pursuits of business. His pupils being generally sons of wealthy patrons, he derived a con- siderable income from their board and tuition, whereby he enlarged his library, and acquired a respectable amount of real estate, which is now held by his descendants. Among his scholars are recollected the Hon. Thomas H. Perkins, and the Hon. John Welles of Boston, and sons of General Lincoln and Governor Hancock. In 1780 he was chosen by his townsmen a Delegate to the Convention to frame a Constitution for the State, — such was the confidence reposed in his abilities and patriotism. In 1788 he was associated with General Lincoln to represent the town in the Convention of Massachusetts, which ratified the Constitu- tion of the United States, and on this occasion voted and took an active part in favour of adopting the Constitution. In the brief sketches of the debates which have been preserved, there is the substance of a speech which he delivered on the subject of a Religious Test, which strik- ingly illustrates his liberality and good sense. It is characterized by a vigorous and manly tone, taking the ground that to establish such a Test as a qualification for offices in the proposed Federal Constitution, would be attended with injurious consequences to some individuals, and with no advantage to the community at large. After the close of the Revolutionary war, Mr. Shute devoted himself almost entirely to his parochial duties, indulging occasionally, by way of recreation, in agricultural pursuits. In 1790 he was honoured with the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Harvard College. In November, 1797, on account of the infirmities of age and a failure of his sight, he wrote to Lis Parish, «' Whenever it shall become necessary for you to settle and support a colleague with me, I will relinquish my DANIEL SHUTE. 21 stipulated salary, and I will do it as soon as you sliall supply the pulpit after I must resign preaching." In April, 1799, he renewed the proposi- tion in a letter to the Parish, in which he remarks, " This relinqui^^hment of my legal right in advanced age, in the fifty-third year of my ministry, I make fur the Gospel's sake, — persuading myself that, this embarrassment being removed, you will proceed in the management of your religious con- cerns with greater unanimity and ardour." Dr. Shute relinquished his public labours in March, 1799, from which time he retained his pastoral relation until his decease ; but gave up his salary, as he had proposed. The Rev. Nicholas Bowes Whitney, a native of Shirley, and a graduate of Harvard College, in 1793, was ordained as a colleague of Dr. Shute, January 1, 1800. Dr. Shute died August 30, 1802, ill the eighty-first year of his age, and in the fifty-sixth of his min- istry. At his Funeral a Sermon was delivered by the Rev. Henry Ware (senior) tiie successor of Dr. Gay, as Pastor of the First Parish. In that sermon Dr. Ware represents him as having enjoyed a distinguished rank among his brethren for talents, respectability and public usefulness; as having possessed a quick perception and clear discernment, and been capa- ble of tracing a thought in all its various relations ; as having aimed in his preaching at enlightening the understanding, impressing the heart and improving the life ; as having framed his discourses in such a manner tliat they were level to common capacities, while yet they furnished food for the more reflecting and intelligent ; as having united great solemnity with great pertinence in his addresses at the throne of grace ; as having min- gled with his people with great freedom and kindliness, and sought to pro- mote their advantage, temporal as well as spiritual, by every means in his power. In short, he represents him as a fine model of a clergyman, and as having enjoyed in an unusual degree the confidence of the community in which he lived. And I may add that tradition is in full accordance with Dr. Ware's statements. Dr. Shute possessed an excellent constitution, and lived to the age of fourscore years in the enjoyment of an uncommon degree of health until near the close of life. The partial loss of sight was borne with patience and serenity, and the approach of the end of life did not deprive him of his usual cheerfulness. He was twice married. Ilis first wife was Mary Gushing, daughter of Abel and Mary (Jacob) Gushing, of Ilingham, to whom he was married March 25, 1753. By her he had two children — Mary Shute, born March 8, 1754, who died unmarried, August 14, 1825 ; and Daniel Shute, who was born January 30, 1756, was graduated at Harvard College, in 1775, entered the medical profession, served as a Hospital and Regimental Sur- geon in the Revolutionary War, was in several engagements, and at the siege of Yorktown ; commenced practice in Weymouth, and removed to Hinghani, where he continued to practise until old age. He died in Iling- ham, April 18, 1829. After the decease of the Rev. Dr. Shute's first wife, February 12, 1756, he married Deborah, daughter of Elijah and Elizabeth Gushing, of Pem- broke, January 6, 1763. He had no children by her. She died October 26, 1823, aged eighty-five. 22 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. The spacious mansion house erected by Dr. Shute, on Glad-Tidings Plain, near his meeting house, still wears an attractive appearance, and is kept in an excellent state of preservation, worthy of commendation, by the care of descendants ; and they retain, as rich heir-looms, specin)ens of furniture of the ante-revolutionary period, and choice selections from the Doctor's library, which are at the same tin)e proofs of his taste and of theirs'. I am, my dear Sir, very sincerely yours, SOLOMON LINCOLN. JONATHAN MAYHEW, D. D.* 1747— 17G6. Jonathan Mayhew was a son of the Rev. Experience Mayhew, of Martha's Vineyard, where he was born October 8, 1720. He was a descendant, in the fourth generation, from Thomas Mayhew, the first Eng- lish settler and proprietor of that island. In early life, he gave indications of great vigour of mind and an unyielding firmness of purpose ; and, under the influence of a Christian education, imbibed a deep reverence for religion, ■without, however, as it would seem, at any time, receiving all the doctrines of the accredited orthodox creed. Of the particulars of his childhood and early youth no record now remains; but it seems probable that he fitted for College under the instruction of his father, who, though not a regular graduate of a College,! was a highly intelligent man, and a respectable scholar. Wliile young Mayhew was an undergraduate at Cambridge, he made a visit to York, in Maine, at the time of a great revival in that place ; and, from a letter which he wrote to his brother, it would seem that he was deeply impressed by much that he saw and heard, while there were many things that he condemned as savouring of extravagance and fanaticism. The observations which he made upon that revival are supposed to have had much to do in giving direction to his conduct on that subject ever afterwards. During his college course, his intellectual powers were developed in a very extraordinary manner. While he was a fine classical scholar, and wrote Latin with great ease and elegance, he was still more distinguished for his skill in dialectics and his attainments in ethical science. lie gradu- ated with great honour, in 1744, being then twenty-four years of age. During the three years immediately subsequent to his leaving College, he seems to have been engaged part of the time in teaching youtli ; part of the time in the study of Theology at Cambridge ; and it is thought that he spent a short time also in the family of Dr. Gay of Hingham. His read- ing, at this period, seems to have been very methodical, and he was accus- tomed to make large extracts from some of his favourite authors. His earliest efforts in the pulpit excited no inconsiderable attention. The Church in Cohasset soon gave him a call to settle among them, but he declined it. On the Gth of March, 1747, the West Church in Boston, * Life by Aldcn Bradford. Mass. Hist. Coll. Ill, VI, X. Dr. Loweirs Historical Dis- courses. f Harvard conferred upon him the degree of A. M. in 1720. JONATHAN MAYHEW. 23 then vacant by the secession of the Rev. William Hooper from Congre- gationalism to Episcopacy, invited him ^two only dissenting) to become their Pastor. On the day first appointed for his Ordination, only two of the clergymen invited were in attendance ; owing, as it was understood, to the apprehension that was felt of the unsoundness of the candidate. Those two did not think proper to proceed ; but advised to the calling of another and a larger Council. This advice was complied with — a Council consist- ing of fourteen ministers, not one of whom was from Boston, was convoked : and ten of these assembled on the 17th of June, and very harmoniously inducted the candidate into office. All the members of the Council who "Were present might perhaps be reckoned among the " liberal " men of that day, though there must have been shades of diiference in their religious views ; and Dr. Appleton (of Cambridge) at least was understood rather to sympathize doctrinally with the stricter school. The Sermon on the occasion was preached by Dr. Gay of Hiugham, and the Charge was given by tlie father of the Pastor Elect. That Mr. Mayhew's liberal opinions were unpopular in Boston may be inferred not onl}' from the fact that no Boston minister took part in his Ordina- tion, but from another equally significant circumstance, — namely, that he nev- er became a member of the Boston Association of Congregational Ministers. It was customary to apply for admission ; but it is presumed that he never applied, as no record of any such application appears in the Minutes. In consequence of this, he did not join with the other ministers of Boston in maintaining the Thursday Lecture ; though he soon set up a Weekly Lecture in his own church, which excited great attention, and attracted many people from other churches in the town. Most of the discourses •which were preached on these occasions were subsequently published. In a letter which he addressed to his father, not long after his settlement, he says, — '< The clergy of the town stand aloof from me, and I have to study hard, so that I cannot soon visit you, as I intended and desired." Subse- quently to this, however, there seems to have been a change in his favour, and a considerable number who stood aloof from him at first, were willing to extend to him their Christian and ministerial fellowship. Mr, Mayhew's publications very early excited great attention, not only in this country but in Great Britain. In the early part of 1750 the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by the University of Aberdeen. In 1755 he published a volume of sermons on the " Doctrines of Grace," as he understood them to be taught in the Bible. At the end of the volume is a sermon on the shortness of life, in which there is a marginal note on the doctrine of the Trinity, which was offensive alike to those' who did and did not endorse his general views. The Doctor himself sub- sequently expressed his regret at having written it, and sent to England to prevent its being inserted in the London edition ; though it seems not to have been omitted. Dr. Mayhew was, at this time, Scribe of the Massa- chusetts Convention of Congregational Ministers. When the Scribe was to be appointed the next year after this volume appeared, some member of the Body rose, and objected to the re-election of Dr. Mayhew. Said another member, — " There is no danger of his getting any Arianism into 24 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. the Minutes of tlic Convention." "Not into the text, but he will foist it into some note," was the reply.* In 1756 Dr. Ma} hew, at the age of thirty-five, was married to Elizabeth, daughter of John Clark, Esq., of Boston, a lady of excellent education, and remarkable for her beauty and accomplishments. After he paid his addresses to her, an attempt was made to prevent the connection, by means of some representations to her parents of his being unsound in the faith ; but the effect of those representations was neutralized by some of the Doctor's friends, and the union, after some little delay, was happily consummated. The lady was many years younger than himself, but the connection proved to both parties an exceedingly happy one. In 1761 Dr. Mayhew was brought, in no very agreeable way, in contact with Governor Bernard. An Indian of Martha's Vineyard came to Boston to present a petition from his tribe to the Governor and Council, for pro- tection against certain persons who had taken away their wood. The Indian told Dr. Mayhew that, in presenting his petition to the Governor, he gave him two dollars, as he supposed was customary, and the Governor put it into his pocket. The Doctor, though having full confidence in the Indian's veracity, yet thought it so extraordinary that he asked him whether he had not given it to some other person than the Governor ; to which the Indian replied, with great confidence, that he knew it went into the Gov- ernor's hands. Dr. Mayhew, a few days after, happened to mention the circumstance to two of his intimate friends, one of whom imprudently repeated it in such circumstances that it almost immediately reached the Governor's ears ; and the Doctor was forthwith sent for to answer to the grave charge of falsehood. The Governor's demonstrations towards him were of the most wrathful and menacing kind : he told him that he was just as culpable as if he had made the story ; that he would prosecute him for a libel : and, after having consulted learned counsel, should send for him at a future day. Dr. Mayhew, after waiting a few days, and being deeply sensible of the injustice and rudeness of the attack which had been made upon him, addressed a long letter to His Excellency, explaining and vindicating his own conduct, and utterly denying the most important charge which the Governor had brought against him. This is the last that is known of the affair, and the presumption is that the " sober second thought" of Governor Bernard was adverse to continuing the controversy. In 1763 the Rev. East Apthorp published a pamphlet entitled " Con- siderations on the Institution and Conduct of the Society for Propagating the Gospel," which occasioned a violent controversy, in which Dr. Mayhew bore a prominent part. He wrote a large pamphlet, entitled " Observations on the Character and Conduct of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts," &c. This was answered by several meml)ers of the Society in America, and by Dr. Seeker, Archbishop of Canterbui-y. The Doctor replied to the pamphlet, entitled " A Candid Examination of Observations," &c., — supposed to be the joint production of Mr. Caner and Dr. Johnson ; and having declared the title page to be false, he then endeavours to prove it so. This was answered in an anonymous tract, and this * I received this anecdote from the Rev. Dr. Lathrop of West Springfield. JONATHAN MAYHEW. 25 a^ain drew from the Doctor a second Defence of his " Observations," which, though sufficiently pungent, was less satirical and scathing than the preceding one. The controversy was conducted, on both sides, with great spirit ; and put in requisition some of the ablest pens of that day. In 1762 Dr. Mayhew published Two Sermons delivered on the day of public Tlianksgiving, on " The Extent of the Divine Goodness ;" in which he put forth some views which Calvinists thought to be at variance with the lepresentations of Scripture. The Rev. John Cleaveland, of Ipswich, the next year, published Strictures on these Discourses, which Dr. Mayhew and his friends pronounced to be destitute alike of truth and candour. The Doctor wrote a pamphlet of considerable length in reply, in which he unhesitatingly charges Mr. Cleaveland with "wilful misrepresentation" and " malice prepense," and pours upon him such a torrent of invective as is rarely to be met with in the records of theological controversy. In June, 17G6, Dr. Mayhew addressed a letter to James Otis, his inti- mate friend, showing the deep interest which he took in the political state of the country, and how important he considered it that a good understand, ing should be maintained among the different Colonies. In this letter he states incidentally his intention to set out for Rutland, the next morning, to assist at an Ecclesiastical Council. The meeting of the Council was ou the 10th of June, and he attended and officiated as Scribe. The matters referred to the adjudication of the Council were of a perplexing nature, tasking, in a high degree, the feelings, as well as the wisdom, of its mem- bers. Dr. Mayhew returned home in wet weather, and on horseback, fatigued in body and mind, and was almost immediately seized with a violent fever. Eor a few days alternate hopes and fears prevailed concerning him ; but, on the 9th of July, his disease came to a fatal termination. Dr. Low- ell states the following circumstance, which he says he has ♦' from unques- tionable authority :" — " When all hope of his recovery was gone, the late Dr. Cooper said to him, — 'Tell me, dear Sir, if you retain the sentiments which you have taught, and what are your views.' With firmness, though with difficulty, he said, taking him affectionately by the hand, ' I hold fast mine integrity, and it shall not depart from me.',. His ministry continued nineteen years. He died in the forty-sixth year of his age. Dr. Chauncy prayed at his Funeral, and it is said to have been the first prayer ever offered at a Funeral in Boston ; so scrupulous were our fathers to avoid what might seem the least approach to the Roman Catholic practice of praying for the dead. Dr. Cliauncy preached a Funeral Sermon, on the following Sabbath, and, in a fortnight from that time, another was preached by the Rev. Dr. Gay, who had also preached at his Ordination. Both Ser- mons were published. Dr. Mayhew was extensively known in Great Britain, and numbered among his correspondents such men as Lardner, Benson, Kippis, Black- burne, and Hollis. As he was a high Whig in his politics, a staunch friend of civil as well as religious liberty, he was brought into intimate relations with many of the most eminent statesmen of his day. James Otis, James Bowdoin, John Hancock, Robert Treat Paine, Samuel Adams and John Adams, are known to have been among his intimate friends. 26 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL Tlic following is a list of Dr. Maylicw's puLlications : — Seven Sermons delivered at the Boston Lecture, (an octavo volume,) 1749. A Discourse on the Anniversary of the Death of Cliarles I, 1750. A Sermon on the Death of the Prince of Wales, 1751. Massachusetts Klection Sermon, 1754. Sixteen Sermons on various subjects, (an octavo Volume,) 1755. A Discourse occasioned by the Earthquakes, 1755. Two Discourses on the same subject, 1755. Two Thanksgiving Sermons for the Success of His Majesty's Arms, 1758. Two Sermons on the Reduction of Quebec, 1759. A Sermon on the Death of Stephen Sewall, 1760, A Sermon occasioned by the Great Fire, 1760. A Sermon on the Death of George II, and the Accession of George III, 1761. Two Sermons on Striving to enter in at the Strait Gate, 1701. Two Thanksgiving Sermons on the Divine Goodness, 1701. Eight Sermons to Young Men on Christian Sobriety, (an octavo volume,) 1703. Observations on the Charter and Conduct of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, 1763. Defence of the preceding against an Anonymous Pamphlet, 1764. A Second Defence of the same, 1705. Letter of Keproof to John Cleave- land of Ipswich, 1704. Dudleian Lecture, on Popish Idolatry, delivered at Harvard College, 1705. A Thanksgiving Sermon on the Repeal of the Stamp Act, 1700. Dr. Mayhew left two children. One of them died in infancy, shortly after his own death, and the other, a daughter, was married to Peter Waiu- wright, and was the mother of Bishop Wainwright, of New York. Dr. Mayhew 's widow was afterwards married to his successor, the Rev. Dr. Howard. The following is an extract from the Sermon preached by Dr. Chauncy, on the Sabbath immediately succeeding his death : — " The Father of spirits was pleased, in his distinguisliinfi; ffoodness, to favour Dr. Mayhew with superior mental powers. Few surpassed him, either in the quickness of Ills appreliension, the cloarness of his perception, the i-eadiness of his invention, the brightness of his imagination, the comprehension of his understanding, or the sound- ness of his judgment. And, together with these gifts of God, he was endowed witli a singular greatness of mind, fortitude of spirit, and yet softness and benevolence of temper: all which, being enlarged and strengthened by a good education, and tlie opportunity of free converse witli men and books, soon qualitied him to make a con- siderable figure in the world; as he was hereby enabled to speak and write with that freedom of thouglit, that justness of method, that strength of argument, that facility of expression, that liveliness of fancy, that purity of diction, and that apparent con- cern for the good of mankind, which i)rocured him a name, both here and abroad, which will be remembered with honour long after his body is crumbled into dust. It was this that made way for liis coi-respondence beyond tlie great waters, wliich was daily increasing; and, had the wisdom of God seen fit to have continued him in life, it migiit have been of great service to his country as well as himself, if we may judge from what it has alreacly been. " He was eminently a friend to liberty, both civil and religious, and if his zeal, at any time, betrayed him into too great a severity of expression, it was against tlie attemi)ts of those who would make slaves either of men's souls or bodies. He nobly claimed that which he esteemed equally the right of others, — the liberty of thinking for himself; and he made use of all proper helps in order to his thinking right. He freely consulted the writings of men of all persuasions, not omitting to read the works of systiMiiatical divines and metaphysical schoolmen; though he paid no regard to any thing he found in them, but in subserviency to the sacred books of Scripture. These he firmly adhered to, as containing tlie revelations of God, making them the one only rule of liis religous faith. " AVhat saith the Scripture ? " — was his grand inquiry; and, as his sentiments as a Christian and divine were the result therefrom, he had the honesty and resolution to j)reach and publish the truth in Christ, according to the apprehension he liad formed of it. If he dififered from some others on a few points, JONATHAN MAYHEW. 27 tliey differed as much from him. Nor had they, on this account, any greater right to judge Ijiiii than he hud to judge tlieni; tliougli he did not presume to do tliis; as he tliouglit. with exact truth and justice, tiiat we liave all one common Lord, to wliom we are accountable, and by whose judgment only, we shall either stand or fall in the coming great day of trial. " lie was an avowed enemy to all human establishments in religion, especially the estubli.shment of mere ceremouial rights as necessary to Christian communion. And, as lie esteemed this a direct usurpation of that right, which is proper only to Jesus Christ, the only supreme Head of tiie Christian Church, it may be an excuse for him, if he has ever expressed himself witli too great a degree of asperity upon this iicad. ■' It was higljly offensive to him when he perceived in any an evident breach ol' trust; especially if the trust related to the things of religion and another world. And, as he liad upon his mind a clear and full conviction, in common with many others, that this breach of trust was justly chargeable upon a certain respectable society at home, though they might be led into it through repeated misinformations from their corre- spoudeuts here; it was this that gave rise to the several pieces he wrote upon this subject; in whicii he honoured himself, served these churches, and jirevented the application of much of that charity for the propagation of Episcoi)acy, which was intended for the propagation of Christianity. He has received aekuouledgments from England, on account of these writings, and from some of the Episcopal jjcrsuasion, who were fully with him in his sentiments upon the main })oint he had in view. '' Besides what has been said, those acquainted with the Doctor must have ob.served that manliness of spirit, that friendliness of disposition, that freedom and ciieerfalness of temper, which rendered him agreeable to those who had the opportunity of con- YL-rsiug with him. They must also have seen his amiable behaviour in the several relations of life. As a husband, how faithful and kind ! As a father, how tender and afilctionate I As a master, how just and eijual ! knowing that he had a Master in Heaven. As a friend, how true to his professions! with what conKdenceto he trusted in .' As a nei.^libour, how ready to all the offices of love and goodness ! Instead of being deficient, he rather exceeded, in the act.s of his liberality and charily. As a minister, how diligent., liow laboi'ious. how skilful! making it his care to contrive his discourses so as to inform the mind and touch the heart, so as at once to entertain and profit both the learned and the illiterate, the polite and less cultivated hearer. Few were able to compose their sermons with so much ease, and yet so much pertinence; and few preached with greater constancy, or took occasion more frequently, fVom occurrences in the conduct of Providence, to make what they said seasonable and profitable to their hearers. '■ But what is more than all that has been offered, he was, in the judgment of those who best knew him, a man of real piety and true devotion ; an upright, sincere disciple and servant of Jesus Christ- Was it pro])er to mention the time, manner and circum- stances of his becoming posses.sed of that faith in God and his Son Jesus Christ, which purified Ids heart and became in him an habitual ])0werfal principle of virtuous action, I doubt not but even those would entertain a good opinion of him as a real Christian, who may have been greatly wanting in their candour and charity towards him, because, in some points, his thoughts did not agree with theirs. I have abundant reason to believe, from what I know of him, that it was his great endeavour to live in all good conscience towards God and man. And should I appeal to you, the people of his charge, you would all. I doubt not, rise up and declare his approbation and jiractiee of the things that were true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good leport. You would a])pear as witnesses, and say that he had been to you an example in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in purity and in all those other virtues which adorn the Christian's and the minister's character. Not that he was without his imperfections and failings; I know he had them, and he knew it too; and everyone else knows that he has many infirmities, who, in any tolerable degree, knows himself. But he was uniform and steady in his regards to the religion of Jesus ; not placing it in tithes of mint, anise and cummin, hut the practice of the weightier matters of the law, — judgment, mercy and faith ; though, after all, instead of trusting that lie was righteous in the sense of rigorous law, he esteemed himself " an unprofitable servant," and had his dependence on the mercy of God, through the mediation of the only Saviour Jesus Christ. In this temper he lived, and in the same temper, I believe, he would have died, had it pleased the all-wise, righteous and holy Sovereign of the world to have permitted the free use of his reasonable powers. And he is now, as to his soul or spirit, we charitably believe, in that invisible world, which was the great object of his hope, and where he will be happy, without any mixture of evil, forever. The following extracts from a volume of Sermons, published by Dr. Mayliew, in 1755, are more explicit in respect to bis theological views than any thing else to be found in his writings. 28 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. " It was by the ordination of God that we were put into these bodies; which expose us so mucli to temptation tliat it is almost, if not altogetlier, impossible for us wholly to avoid sinning. And hence, I suppose, it is that we are said to be by nature, child- ren of wrath: for no farther than we are naturally the children of disobedience, can we be naturally the children or the objects of wrath. However, no passion or affection with whicli we are born, can be in itself sinful; it becomes so only by wilful or careless indulgence. A creature cannot, strictly speaking, be a sinner, till he has violated some law of God or of nature: for "' sin is the transgression of the law.' " (P. 434.) "There are nt>ne, perhaps, who have more reason to be suspicious of themselves than your hot, religious zealots; the great sticklers for what they call Orthodox}-, — •whether Justly or unjustly, it now matters not. You will sometimes see men, wrang- ling in such an unchristian manner about the form of godliness, as to make it but too evident that they deny the power thereof. You will find some who pride them- selves in being of what they call the true Church, showing by their whole conversation that thry are of the synagogue of Satan. Some contend, and loam, and curse their brethren, for the sake of the Athanasian Trinity, till 'tis evident they do not love and fear the one living and true God as they ought to do. Others j'ou will see raging about their peculiar notions of original sin, so as to prove themselves guilty of aclual transgression; about election, till they prove themselves reprobates; about particular redemption, till thej- show that they themselves are not redeemed from a vain con- versation. You will hear others quarrelling about imputed righteousness with such fury and bitterness as to show that they are destitute of personal; about special grace, so as to sbow that they have not even common; about faith, while they make ship- wreck of a gof)d conscience; and about the final perseverance of the saints, till they prove themselves to be no saints; and that, if they had c%'er any goodness or grace, they are now fallen from it. (P. 403.) '■ Job xxxviii, 7, compared with Isai. ix, 12. " How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, so« o/ //(e morning I" — The king of Babylon is here more immediately intendi.d. (ver. 4.) but there is a plain allusion to the Prince of the Devils, once a son of the morning, a morning star, and one of the sons of God, who are sometimes called Elohim. It does not appear that there were any apostate spirits or devils, before man's creation. Lucifer, the first Piietender. seems then to have fallen, when he tcm])ted man to rebel; setting bimself up as the Prince and God of this world, and telling our first parents that they should not die but be as the Elohim. After the fall, we know there were numy Elohim, both good and bad; but only one Jehovah who was to be w()rshipi)ed by sacrifice, Exod xxii. 20, Qui sacrificat Diis. (Ileb. Elohim) prceterqunmsoli Jehovce. anathema sit — He that sacrificeth to the Gods, (to the Elohim.) except to the only Jehovah, let him be accursed. This is the language of the Old Testament — What says the New ? ' There be gods many, and lords many, but to us there is but one God the Father.' The contrast to Lucifer, see Heb. i. 9 : Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Betwixt whom and the serpent was it that enmity was to be put ? Who was finally to bruise his head after a long contest? (See Dan. x, 13, and ver. 21. Also chap, xii, ver. 1.) Who was manifested in the fulness of lime to destroy the works of the devill to judge, and cant out, the prince of this world, who was a Liar and a murderer from the beginning 'i "Was it not the Logosl He, who is, by way of eminence, styled. The only begotten of the Father, thu Jirst-born of every creature ? lie who was known, (imperfectly,) even under the Old Testament, by these titles — The Angel of the Lord^s presence; The Angel of the Covenant; The Messenger of the Covenant; and whom David in spirit called his XortZ, though he was to be his Son according to the y/es/i? The contest betwixt the great Friend and Patron of mankind, and the enemy of all good, together with the final decision and issue of it, was represented to St. John, in vision, Apoc. xii, 7. 'And there was war in Heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels and prevailed not — and the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world'. The Scripture informs us that the Logos had a iorfy i)rcpared for him, and that he partook of fiesh and blood, that he might, ' through death, destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the rfcri/.' But that he took into /(crsona/ union with him- self an human soul, my Bible saith not: nor that there is any other true God, besides " his Father and our Father, his God and our God." Indeed, some, who call them- selves Christians, have exalted even the Virgin Mary above all that is called God in Heaven, and that is worshijiped there; saying that she is luore kind and merciful tlian God Himself; and {)raying to her to command her son to befriend them ; styling her the Mother /asp/iemc and babble! But neither jP a/n'sis nor Protestants should imagine that they will be understood by o//ie/-s, if they do not understand themselves- nor shoulil they think that nonsense and contradictions can ever be too sacred to be ridiculous." GAD HITCHCOCK, D. D.^ 1748—1803. Gad Hitchcock was born in Sprin<;fiekl, Mass., FeLruary 12, 1718 — 19, He was a son of Ebenezer and Mary (Sheldon) Ilitclicock, and, on the mother's side, was a descendant, in the fourth generation, from the lion. John Pyncheon, and in the fifth, from the Hon. William Pyncheon, the father of the town of Springfield. He was graduated at Harvard Col- lege in 1743, and was ordained and installed over the Second Parish in Pembroke, (now a di.stiiict town by the name of Hanson,) Mass., in Octo- ber, 1748. There is a tradition that a portion of the Council that ordained him were dissatisfied with some of the views of Christian doctrine whicli he expressed on his examination, and that, in consequence of this, the ordain- ing services were postponed for one day. During the Revolutionary War, he was a warm friend to the American cause, and, in several instances, officiated as Chaplain. On these occasions, he not only attended diligently to the appropriate duties of his office, but proved to the soldiers that he was not disposed to screen himself from the dangers that he encouraged them to encounter. At a subsequent period, he was a member of the Convention that framed the Constitution of Massa- chusetts. In 1787 he was honoured with the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Harvard College. Dr. Hitchcock was blest with a good constitution, and generally with vigorous health, and was able to continue his professional labours without interruption till he was far advanced in life. In July, 1799, he was attacked with paralysis, while he was preaching, and never entered the pulpit afterwards. He so far recovered from the shock that he was able to converse, but not to engage in any active service. He lingered in this depressed state, nearly four years, and died on the 8th of August, 1803, at the age of eighty-five. The Funeral service, consisting of only a prayer, according to his own direction, was performed by the Eev. Dr. Barnes, of Scituate. He was married, in early life, to Dorothy Angier, of Cambridge, who died August 6, 1792, aged seventy-nine. They had only one child, — a son, bearing his father's name, who graduated at Harvard College in 1768, settled as a phyiscian in his native parish, and died in 1835, aged eighty- eix. *Mss. from Hon. 0. B. Morris and Eev. Dr. Pierce. 30 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. The fullowing is a list of Dr. Ilitclicock's puLlications : — A Sermon preached before a Military Company, 1757. A Sermon preached at the Ordination of Enos Hitchcock, Beverly, 1771. A Sermon preached at Boston on occasion of the General Election, 1774. A Sermon preached at Plymouth in Commemoration of tlie First Landing of our Ancestors, 1774. Dudleian Lecture at Harvard College, 1779. FROM THE REV. MORRILL ALLEN. Pembroke, March 28, 1853. Dear Sir : My opportunities for knowing Dr. Hitchcock personally were much less than you seem to have supposed. He was not settled over the same Parish of which I liave had the chorge, but over an adjoining Parish in what was then the same town. I never even saw him till after lie had been struck down by paralysis, and reduced almost to a wreck. Still I could form some judgment of him, even in that enfeebled state; and I heard much of him from his con- temporaries, who had known him in his better days. Perhaps, therefore, I may be able to give you a tolerably correct idea of the leading traits of his character. Dr. Hitchcock was a rather tall, but well-proportioned, man; and, with a large wig, — an indispensable article of dress in his day, must have made a very respectable and even dignified appearance in the pulpit. lie had un- doubtedly a high reputation as a Preacher. He would not be considered, perhaps, at this day, a graceful and accomplished writer, but his discourses were characterized by great energy of thought and perspicuity of style, and he had a corresponding boldness and honesty of manner, that was well fitted to gain and hold the attention. Of the character of his sermons I judge only from tradition, and from the very few specimens that are in print; as his son informed me that, soon after his father's death, he had, according to direction, performed the painful task of committing all his manuscript sermons to the flames. As to his religious opinions, I suppose there is no doubt that, through his whole ministry, he was a High Arian, and a constant preacher of the doctrines in that age termed liberal; but, if now living, probably he would be standing midway between what is called Orthodoxy and Modern Liberality. Dr. Hitchcock was remarkable both for courage and for patriotism. The first sermon which he published, addressed to a military company, when the French were making inroads on our Northern frontier, urges the most vig- orous means of defence, and evinces a spirit that would be little likely to fal- ter in the hour of danger. His Election Sermon, which was preached only the year before the breaking out of tlie Revolutionary War, filled Governor Gage, who was present, with great wrath, on account of the boldness of its positions, not to say, the air of defiance that pervaded it. Even the Preacher's own friends are said to have been surprised at some of the statements which he ventured in the Governor's presence. Tradition says that the Sermon was prepared under the expectation that the Governor would not be present to hear it; and, after his arrival was announced, some friend earnestly advised the Doctor to be very guarded in his expressions before him. But the prompt answer was, — " My Sermon is written, and it Avill not be altered." In private life Dr. Hitchcock was eminently agreeable, though he had some strongly marked peculiarities. He was mirthful, and imparted great anima- tion to almost every social circle in which he appeared. He could encourage virtue and reprove vice, without any external signs of austerity. It was pleasant to him to utter or listen to parables which exhibited human weak- GAD HITCHCOCK. 31 nesses, and led to a just estimate of the opposite excellences. <« Be merry and wise " was his habitual advice to the j'oung on occasions of joy. Perhaps his peculiar turn of mind cannot be made more intelligible than by the relation of two or three illustrative anecdotes. The Doctor, as was not unusual at the period when he lived, was very formal in his devotional services, repeating. Sabbath after Sabbath, precisely the same expressions. One of his parishioners ventured to suggest to him the desirableness of a change in this respect, and told him that even the boys were repeating his prayers in the street: the prompt reply was, — " Then thej^ will know how to pray for them- selves." There was a familiarity in the manners and conversation of Dr. Hitchcock, not common among clergymen at that day. lie was likely to enter into conver- sation with an}' person he met in journeying, and would amuse himself in giving and receiving jokes. On his wa}'- to Boston, he once fell in company with a sailor, and questioned him pretty freely concerning his name, residence, business, &c. The sailor, having answered the questions, proposed, in his turn, similar ques- tions to the Doctor, and the reply was " My name is Gad Hitchcock, and I belong to Tunk — (^by this name his parish was distinguished, when it was part of Pembroke.) The sailor repeated the three names, and, in his own peculiar manner, cried out, — " Three of the worst names I ever' heard." This retort cheered the old man during the rest of his journey. When the Doctor was in Boston, at a certain time, he met a sailor, and asked him if he could box the compass. The answer was "Yes." " Let me hear you." The sailor performed correctly. «< Now," said the Doctor, " reverse it." This too was done with equal promptness. The sailor then asked what his occupation was; and, on being informed that he was a minister, asked him if he could repeat certain portions of Scripture; and when the Doctor had repeated them, " Now " said the sailor, " reverse them." Such a joke Dr. Hitchcock would enjoy, and repeat with great satisfaction. He was a very prominen-t and valued mepiber of the Association of minis- ters to which he belonged. Sometimes his jokes upon certain individuals were rather severe; but he imparted great animation to their social meetings. On one occasion, when he had made some remark that produced a general laugh, one of the members observed that the brethren would laugh at any thing Dr. Hitchcock might say, but that he might have said the same thing, and it Avould have passed unnoticed. " Tr}'," said the Doctor. In these several instances, we see the man in the hours of relaxation from laborious pursuit; but it would be v/rong to infer that the energies of his mind were not habituall}' applied to more important objects. His protracted ministrjr was, in every period of it, peaceful and apparently prosperous. The Parish, small at first, grew, under his ministry, to a very respectable size. The Doctor's friends are said to have often expressed their surprise that a man of such vigorous powers, and such popular talents, should have consented to settle and to remain in so obscure a place; but he was accustomed to say that it was his deliberate choice, and he had always been well satisfied with his situation. He loved his people, and they loved and respected him. His memory is still gratefully cherished in this neighbourhood. With much consideration. Your friend and servant, MORRILL ALLEN. 32 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. • DAVID BARNES, D. D.* 1753—1811. David Barnes was Lorn in oMarlborougli, Mass., on the 24tli of IMurcli * 1731. He was a son of Daniel Barnes, a substantial farmer, having twelve cliilJron, of whom David was the fifth. He was graduated at Har- vard College in 1752, and must have commenced preacliing shortly after. as he received an invitaiion to settle in Quincy in 1753. This invitation ho declined ; and afterwards declined it a second time, upon its being renewed under more favoura1)le circumstances. He preached first to the Second Cluirch in Scituate, in June, 1754, and, on the 15th of August followino', was unanimously invited to become their Pastor. He accepted the invitation, and was ordained and installed on the 4th of the ensuing December. His ministry opened with fair prospects, and his people were united and prosperous; but, before many years, he had to encounter serious difficulties, growing chiefly out of the distracted state of the country. Throughout the War of the Revolution, his salary was paid in the depreciated Continen- tal currency, and he was obliged to depend almost entirely for the support of his family on the small property of his wife. When the controversy, •which resulted in the division of the Congregational Church of Massachu- setts, began, it was well understood that his sympathies were on the "liberal" side; and, as there Avas a portion of his congregation who dis- agreed with him, he used frequently to converse with them, and sometimes manifested a degree of shrewdness, which few were able successfully to meet. His death occurred before the lines between the two parties were formally and finally drawn. In the year 1780 he delivered the Dudleian Lecture at Harvard Univer- sity ; and, in 1799, received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the same institution. Dr. Barnes exhibited great calmness and dignity in his old age. He used to say that, even if it were not the fixed design of Providence that nothing should go back, it would still be his choice to go forward, and see for himself what is to come in other modes of existence. In 1809, fifteen months before his death, he had a colleague settled, and, after that, he attempted but few public services. He died on the 26th of April, 1811, having completed eighty years, fifty-seven of which he had spent in the ministr}'. He was married, in 1756, to Ptachel, daughter of the Hon. George Leonard, of Norton. They had three children, — one son and two daughters. The son, (Damd LeoJiard,) was born January 28th, 1760; was graduated at Harvard College in 1780; was a lawyer of distinction in Taunton and Providence, and afterwards Judge of the District Court of the United States for Rhode Island. He died on the 3d of November, 1812. • Deanc'a Hist, of Scituate. — Ms. from Rev. C. Stetson. DAVID BARNES. 33 Tlie following is a list of Dr. Barnes' publications : — An Ordination Sermon, 1756. A Sermon on the Love of Life and Fear of Death, 1795. A Discourse on Education, before tlie Trustees of the Derby Academy, 1796. A Sermon on the Death of Washington, 1800. A Sermon on the Death of the Kev. Jan)es Hawley, 1801. A Sermon at the Ordination of Jothani Waterman,* 1802. In 1815, a small posthumous volume of Dr. Barnes' sermons was published, with a notice of his character, by the Rev. Dr. AUyn of Duxbury. FROM THE REV. JAMES KENDALL, D. D. Plymouth, Mass., December 16, 1848. My dear Sir: I think I understand the oliject of your letter, and it is in my heart to comply at once with your request. The only circumstance that em- barrasses me is the fear of leaving a wrong impression of Dr. Barnes' char- acter. It is impossible dul}^ to appreciate him without having known him, — not merely as a minister, but as a man in all the relations of life. His char- acter was so peculiar that unless the different parts of it are viewed in connection with each other, he will be sure to pass for something that he really was not. I think I knew him tolerably well; for I often saw him and heard him, in public and in private, at home and abroad; and in the earlier part of my ministry he frequently visited this place. I considered him not only an affectionate husband and father, and a generous and candid neighbour and friend, but a man of' profound reverence for sacred things, and of strong reli- gious sensibility. And yet the report of many of his sayings would, I tliink, leave on the mind of the hearer or reader, who knew him only from these sayings, a different impression — they would seem to indicate a levity of mind, — an irreverent, not to say frivolous, way of speaking of things of a serious nature. This arose partly from a quaint, laconic, pithy manner of giving utterance to his thoughts. He was accustomed to condense every thing that he said, in the highest possible degree. One of his contemporaries, with whom I was familiar, used to say, — "Every sentence Dr. Barnes writes or speaks, is as full as an egg." In his advanced age he became very deaf, and of course unable to regulate his own voice. This added to the peculiarity of his manner, — of which beseemed conscious. On one occasion, being called to deliver an Address before the Trustees and Pupils of the Derby Academy in Hingham, — discoursing on eloquence, he stopped short, and, at the top of his voice, exclaimed, " Methinks I hear some of you say, — 'Physician healthy- self.' But, my friends, a physician can sometimes help others, when he can't help himself." And j^et I remember hearing my mother say that she heard Dr. Barnes in Lexington, her native place, when preaching as a candidate in early life, and that he was then regarded as one of the most popular and eloquent preachers of the time. Dr. Barnes, as a Preacher, may be said to have been unique. His voice was, by no means, remarkable for its melody, nor could he be said to manage it with any uncommon skill; and yet there was that about his manner, espe- cially in his sudden transitions from a high to a low note, that was well fitted to hold the attention. The matter of his discourses was characterized bj' an almost endless variety. He would find lessons of truth or wisdom in every thing; and, though some of his subjects might at first provoke a smile, yet he would always draw something from them that was fitted to make men * JoTHAM Waterman was bom in Scituate; was graduated at Harvard College in 1799;. was ordained at Barnstable, September 30, 1801 ; was dismissed in July, 1815 ; and died; September 14, 1836, aged sixty-two. Vol. VIII. 3 34 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. better in their various relations. I remember one of his pointed saj'ings, "which he uttered in his own emphatic manner and with great eifect, in the Charge which he delivered at the Ordination of his colleague, the Rev. Mr. Deane — " In attempting," said he, " to instruct your people, be careful not to preach what they cannot understand; and especially be careful not to preach what you do not understand yourself." Although Dr. Barnes' constitution was naturally delicate, yet, with great care and skill, his health was preserved to a good old age. lie was a farmer both in theory and in practice, and was particularly versed in the curious economy of bees, and successful in their management. lie exercised a great deal, and was accustomed to walk, even in old age, to distant parts of his parish. His friends remonstrated with him for making the effort, and inquired why he did not have his horse harnessed, and ride in his chaise. His answer was — and it became quite a proverbial saying among his people — «'If an old man means to have any benefit from his legs, he must keep them going." Dr. Barnes' extreme deafness, to which I have already referred, and which con- tinued through the last ten j^ears of his life, led him to talk the more without listening to others; and it was often both amusing and instructive to hear the dialogues which he would carry on Avith himself in the midst of company; for he would not, like the generality of people, ever sit silent, or speak only in monosyllables. Dr. Barnes, in his theological views, was undoubtedly an Arminian. His friend. Dr. AUyn, has said of him, that he would have delighted in the com- pany of such men as John Locke, Bishop Watson, and Dr. Paley, had he lived in their time. He was a man of large and comprehensive mind, and of extensive reading. I do not remember to have heard him, either in public or private, state his views of the doctrine of the Trinity, and yet from facts that have come to my knowledge, I have no doubt that he was in some sense a Unitarian, believing, however, in the pre-existence of the Saviour. He was not accustomed to introduce controversial subjects into the pulpit, though, in private, he would converse freely on any theological question that might be started. He was decidedly opposed to all ecclesiastical domination, whether Catholic or Protestant. He was averse to controversy, — especially religious controversy, on account of the unchristian temper so often manifested by those Avho engage in it; and, whenever he was drawn into it, instead of meeting his opponent by a direct argument, he would often reason most ingeniously by parables. I have in my recollection a good many sayings of Dr. Barnes, — some of which I heard mj'self, and others I received from those who heard them, which are characteristic of his peculiar manner. It was his practice, whether at a ■marriage or a funeral, to describe the character of the parties. If at a funeral, for instance, — supposing the deceased were of a mixed character, partly good and commendable and partly otherwise, it would be known by the service. From his charitable disposition, how'ever, he would dwell par- ticularl)'^ on the good qualities of the deceased; which led my neighbour. Father Willis, once to remark that Dr. Barnes was the only clerg3'man ho ever knew, who could describe the character of a person in a funeral service without giving offence. One of the anecdotes that yet remain concerning the Doctor is, that at the funeral of a respectable parishioner, who had many virtues, and whose general character was praiseworthy, — but who, at an earlier period of life had fallen into some immorality, — of which, however, it was generally believed he had repented, — having dwelt upon the good traits in the character of his parishioner, Dr. Barnes, after a sudden pause, pro- ceeded: — "In short, we know nothing against the character of our deceased WILLIAM SYMMES. 35 friend, save in the matter of Uriah; and for this every body forgave him, but he could never forgive himself." I shall be glad, if what I have thus written, currente calamo, shall be of any use in enabling you to understand and illustrate the character of a man, who, for both his intellectual and moral qualities, well deserves to be commemorated. With great respect and regard. Your friend and brother, JAMES KENDALL. WILLIAM SYMMES, D. D. 1757—1807. FROM THE REV. ARIEL ARBOT, D. D. Peterborough, N. H., May 29, 1850. My dear Friend : As I was somewhat acquainted with Dr. Symmes, of Andover, and occasionally heard him preach, and, after his death, resided several years in the parish where lie had been settled, and had intimate intercourse with his friends and parishioners, I cannot reasonably decline your request for some notices of his character and ministry. If the fol- lowing imperfect and meagre sketch can avail to your purpose, I shall feel happy in having contributed it. William Symmes was a descendant of the Rev. Zacharias Symmes, who came to this country in 1635, and settled in Charlegtown, Mass. He AVilliam) was born in Charlestown in the year 1731, and was graduated at Harvard College, in 1750, where he was a Tutor from 1755 to 1758. He began to preach in the North Parish in Andover soon after the decease of the Rev. John Barnard. On the 5th of December, 1757, he was invi- ted to settle there in the Gospel ministry, and the third Wednesday of March following was appointed for his Ordination ; but, on account of his being visited by a severe illness, his Ordination did not take place till the 1st of November, 1758 — the Sermon on that occasion was preached by the Rev. Mr. Cooke of Notomy, since West Cambridge. Here he con- tinued his labours with great acceptance and usefulness nearly half a cen- tury. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Harvard Col- lege in 1803. He died on the third of May, 1807, aged seventy-six. The ministry of Doctor Symmes embraced a very difficult and eventful period. He was settled during the French War. Soon after the Peace of 1763, the troubles between Great Britain and the Colonies commenced, which brought on the War of the Revolution. During this war, the depre- ciation of the currency, and the pressure on the people, rendered it difficult for clergymen to support their families. The Federal Government was scarcely organized before the commencement of the French Revolution, which divided this country into parties, and, by increasing the demand for the articles of living, operated unfavourably upon all who depended upon a small stipend for maintenance. The nobleness of mind with which he sustained the embarrassment may be seen from the following transac- 36 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. tion: — In April, 1780, the parish "voted to raise £1,940, to pay the deficiency of Rev. Mr. Syinines' salary since the depreciation of paper money, which is esteemed, with the money already given him, equal to the £80 contracted, to tlie commencement of the present year of his minis- try."— >' The llev. W. Symnies gives his thanks to the parish for their generous vote, and relinquislies one thousand dollars of the XI, 940." During his ministry there was harmony in the church ; his people were remarkably united; in his large parish there were no sectaries. His par- ishioners, with whom I have been intimate, were accustomed to speak of him with great respect, and they who were most capable of appreciating his talents and acquirements, held him in high estimation. Harmony and good fellowship were maintained between him and Mr. French, the minis- ter of the South parish, notwithstanding they differed considerably in their views of some theological subjects. They regularly exchanged labours the Sabbath after the Annual Fast and Thanksgiving, and occasionally at other times, and kept up a Monthly Lecture alternately in each parish, each supplying the other's pulpit. Dr. Symmes was a good scholar, of extensive reading, and an able divine. He devoted himself exclusively to his profession, and was occupied through life in theological pursuits. His sermons were full of appropriate thoughts, and were written with great care, and in a style remarkably neat, perspic- uous and correct. His preaching was, plain and practical. Subjects of controversy I think he rarely brought into the pulpit. He did not, how- ever, omit to notice what he regarded the prevailing errors of the times. His discourses were not delivered with such fluency and grace as to charm and captivate the multitude ; but they were highly valued by men of cul- tivated minds. In his religious opinions he accorded rather with Armiu- ius than Calvin ; and with Arius rather than Athanasius. Though he was constituted with much more than ordinary excitability, his self-control rarely failed him. He was called to experience many severe afflictions, but he bore them with exemplary fortitude and resignation. He was mod- est and diffident, and, it is said, could never divest himself of feelings, in the discharge of public duty, which often embarrass young men, when enter- ing on the sacred profession. He was a strict observer of order and p. priety. He was of about the middle height and somewhat corpulent; and, when dressed, he wore a white bush-wig, in accordance with the fash- ion of his early days. His manners were dignified but easy ; he was hos- pitable and benevolent, and, by his urbanity, rendered himself espec- ially agreeable to strangers. He was distinguished for his prudence, hia sound moral principles, his unshaken integrity and irreproachable conduct. It is a matter of regret that he gave a strict injunction that his manu- scripts should be burned immediately after his death ; which injunction was faithfully complied with. No other man in the town was probably so well acquainted as himself with the history of his settlement, and of the early settlers, and of various interesting occurrences. Dr. Symmes' publications were a Thanksgiving Sermon, 1768 ; a Dis- course on the Duty and Advantages of Singing Praises to God, 1779 ; and the Sermon at the General Election, 1785. He delivered the Dudleian Lecture in 1786 ; but it was not published. WILLIAM SYMMES. 37 He was uianied, in 1750, to Anna, daugliter of tlie Kev. Joshua Gee, of Boston — she died June 18, 1772. Tliey had five sons and four daugh- ters, all of whom, except his son Daniel^ and his daughter Anna, (Mrs. Isaac Cazeneau,) died before iiiin. Ilis second wife was Susannah Powell, who died July, 1807, aged seventy-nine. His son Daniel went to the South; and, after he had been absent several years, a man in apparently sad condi- tion, called on Dr. Syninies, and claimed to be this son. The Doctor rejected liim as an impostor. He had obtained some knowledge of the Doctor's family and neighbourhood, aisd, in consequence of his relating some facts and occurrences in the family, and stating that his appearance had been much altered by sickness and misfortune, some more than half believed that he was really the person he pretended to be. The Doctor put the fellow to board at the house of a neighbour, that all might be sat- isfied that ho was an impostor. And, after two or three weeks, his object was effected — all becatne convinced, and he was sent to the County Rouse of Correction. He had endeavoured to impose, in like manner, on a family in a neighbouring town. The affair produced considerable excitement at Andover and vvas not a little vexatious to Dr. Syninies. You have now the substance of not only all that I remember, but all that I have been able to collect, as the result of considerable inquiry, con- cerning this man of another generation. If he did not leave so bold and decided a mark as ?onie others, he commanded universal respect in his day, and exerted an extensive, though comparatively silent, influence. I am your affectionate friend, AIJIEL ABBOT. SAMUEL WEST, D.D., (OF NEW BEDFORD.) 1761—1807. FROM THE REV. JOHN H. MORTSON", D. D. Milton, JIass., January 29, 1849. Dear Sir: I am happy to send you such an nccount of Old Father West as I have been able to make up from materials still extant. About eight years ago, being then minister of the Society over which he had been set- tled more than forty years, I gathered all the information that I could from the church records, and from aged people who remembered him. Ilis son's family were so kind as to put into my hands all his papers, and his daughter, since dead, who inherited some of his sterling qualities, related many little incidents, which, though most of them too trifling to be writ- ten down, let me into his domestic character and habits, almost as if I had been myself a member of his household. His church records have been of little assistance to me. They were loosely kept, and mixed up with trivial domestic accounts, — a wedding or a funeral being perhaps set down between the two shillings and six pence which l»e liad paid to a hired man the day when a pig was killed. I met in New Hampshire an aged 38 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. man wlio tolJ me that he went into Dr. West's liouse the evening it had been piHaged by British soldiers. lie found the beds ripped open, and the floors covered with feathers, sugar, meal, and otlier articles. But to be more orderly in my narrative — Samuel West, the fourth minister of that part of Dartmouth, which now makes the towns of New Bedford and Fair Haven, was born at Yarmouth, Cape Cod, March 3, 1730, (0. S.) ; was graduated at Harvard College, in 1754; was ordained June 3, 1761 ; was honoured with the degree of Doctor of Divinity from his Alma Mater in 1793; withdrew from his ministerial labours in June, 1803, and died at the house of his son in Tiverton, R. I., September 24, 1807. His father, Sackfield AVest, who was a physician, and afterwards one of the most zealous New Lights of his day, removed, soon after Samuel was born, to Barnstable. Here the son laboured as a farmer till he had reached his twentieth year; but, during that time, exhibited such traits of mind, and especially such a knowledge of the Scriptures, as to attract the attention of the few intelligent men who happened to know him. He was fitted for College in six months, under the care of the Rev. Mr. Grreea of Barnstable. He had many a severe controversy wilh his teacher on the doctrine of Necessity, a subject which continued to engage his thoughts through life. He went to College in 1750, bare-footed, carrying his shoes and stockings in his hand, and, at the examination, had a dispute with one of the examiners as to a Greek reading, in which he is said to have car- ried his point. He was classmate of Gov. Hancock, and among the most distinguished of his class. After leaving College, he devoted himself to almost every branch of science, though Theology was his principal study. History and politics, the physical sciences and metaphysics, medicine and law, were all subjects on which he was glad to improve every opportunity of gaining informa- tion; and the consequence was, that, though living in an obscure place, with few appliances of learning within his reach, and none to sympathize with him in his pursuits, he proved himself, in vigour and exactness of thought, and in the variety and extent of the subjects which he mastered, inferior to very few men of his time. He was settled in 1761, on a salary of sixty-six pounds, thirteen shil- lings and sixpence. Besides this, seventeen members of the precinct bound themselves to provide " the keeping one horse, and two cows, winters and summers, as they ought to be kept." But the salary was not paid. In 1779, his circumstances were " so deplorable as to demand im- mediate relief," and a committee was appointed by the precinct to procure fire wood and corn for his family. In 1788, he represents the Society as owing hira seven hundred and sixty-nine pounds, twelve shillings and eleven pence, and urges the payment of it — " My reasons for this request," he says, "are. First, I owe money upon interest which I cannot pay until the money due to me be collected in. Secondly, I have suS"ered greatly for the necessaries of life, especially in the article of clothing; for which I have been beholden to money obtained from another quarter." These embarrassments were somewhat relieved by a small patrimony, and by the kindness of his friends abroad, of whom no one showed a warmer interest in all that concerned him, or a greater readiness to relieve him, than SAMUEL WEST. 39 Samuel Eliot of Boston, whose .sympathy and aid were so liberally ex- tended to the clergymen of New England at that critical time. In one of his letters to Dr. West, after speaking of "a bundle containing cloth and triniiuiiigs for a suit of clothes complete, togetlier with one piece of yard wide linen," he says, " I pray God to give you better days and happier prospects. One consolation, however, my good Sir, remains with you, — tliiit though your present scene is dark and gloomy, your future views are briglit and luminous. The dawn of celestial day will soon open upon you." Such a letter, even more than the gift, must have served to strengtlien and encourage one who was labouring under circumstances so depressing. Among his own Society he could have found little intellec- tual sympathy. They were a plain, industrious, uneducated people. A good woman, now living, and nearly a hundred years old, tells me that she remembers liis visiting at the house where she was, when she was quite young. For tea, baked apples and bread were crumbled into a large pan of milk at the centre of the table, and Dr. West and the grown up mem- bers of the household all ate together from the same vessel, — the Doctor exhibiting no improper squeamishness at the mode of procedure, but, as a faithful Pastor should, setting an edifying example of active diligence. Dr. West was twice married ; — first, on the 7th of March, 1768, to Ex- perience, daugiiter of Consider Howland, — who became the mother of six children, and died March 6, 1789 ; and again, on the 20th of January, 1790, to Lovisa, widow of Benjamin Jenne, and daughter of Jacob Hatliavvay, of Dartmouth, who died jMarcli 18, 1797. There were no children by the second marriage. One of his sons, Samuel, was settled as a physician at Tiverton, 11. I., and held a very high rank in his profession. Both Dr. West's wives were women of uncommon excellence ; and, if they knew little of the subjects that most engaged his thoughts, (hey knew better than he how to lengthen out the shortcomings of his income into the means of a comfortable support. His first wife was a tall woman ; and, in reference to that and in connection with her Christian name, he used to say that he had "learned from long Experience that it was a good thing to be married." From the beginning of our difficulties with the mother country Dr. West was an ardent patriot. He could keep no terms with those who were hesi- tating or lukewarm, but blazed out against them. And he did not confine himself to tlie expression of his opinions in his own quiet home. Imme- diately after the battle at Bunker's Hill, he set out to join the American Army, and do what he might as a minister of God, to keep up their cour- age, lie remained there several months as a Chaplain. From the camp, while exposed to the enemy's artillery, he wrote to his wife with as muck composare as he would in his own study. It was while in the army, as tk Chaplain, that he gained great notoriety by deciphering for General Wash- injiton a treasonable letter from Dr. Church to an officer in the British Army, of which a full account may be found in the third volume of Sparks' Writings of Washington, pp. 502-6. In 1776, he delivered a Discourse (afterwards printed) before the Provincial Convention at Watertown, and in December, 1777, he delivered the Anniversary Sermon at Plymouth^ 40 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. All bis karning, which was great, and liis religious enthusiasm, were em- ployed in behalf of his country. In times of the greatest darkness, he roused the spirits of the people by showing that in the very events, which threw such a gloom over the country, was the beginning of the fulfihnent of ancient prophecies, which must eventually lead on to their deliverance. Before ihe War began, he, from the Scriptures, predicted these more try- ing times, and, from the faithful accomplishment of those predictions in the darkest hour, he looked forward almost with exultation to the glorious fulfilment of what yet remained, when this country, then so harassed by war, should, to use his own words, "be the place to which the persecuted in other nations shall flee from the tyrann}' of their oppressors, and our Zion shall become the delight and praise of the whole earth." When we remember that no person in New England had such a reputation fur a pro- found acquaintance with the prophetical writings, we may form some idea of the influence of these sentiments, by which our people were led to view themselves as instruments of the Almighty in the accomplishment of events, predicted by his holy prophets, thousands of years before. He must have read the histor}' of man with a careless eye, who does not see that, in a great national crisis like that, such an appeal to the Lord of hosts, and to his promises, is the strongest appeal that can be made to the human heart. Father West, as he was always called at that time, was an influential member of the Convention that formed the Constitution of the State of Massachusetts, and also of the Convention for the adoption of the Consti- tution of the United States ; and in this latter Convention it was in no small measure, through his personal influence with Governor Hancock, that tl.at distinguished man was persuaded to give his assent to the adop- tion of the Federal Constitution. An interesting account of this whole mat- ter I have received in a letter from the Hon. Francis Baylies, the able histo- rian of the Plymouth Colony, to my friend the Hon. John H. CliS"ord, of New Bedford, from which the following account, slightly condensed, is taken : — " The fate of the Constitution in the Convention was doubtful, when Governor Hancock, without whose aid it certainly could not be adopted, was seized with his constitutional disorder, the gout, and, withdrawing from the chair, took to his bed. The friends of the Constitution were convinced of the necessity of getting him out. Dr. West was selected as the person most likely to influence liim. He repaired to his house, and, after a long condolence on the subject of his bodily complaints, he expressed his deep regrets that this affliction should have come upon him at a moment when his presence in the Convention seemed almost indispensable. He enlarged upon his vast influence, his many acts of patriotism, his coming forth in former days, at critical periods, to give new energy to the slumbering patriotism of his countrymen, and on the prodigious efi'eet of his name. Heaven, he said, had given him another glorious opportunity, by saving his country, to win imperishable honour to himself. The whole people would follow his footsteps with blessings. The Governor, who knew that Dr. West had always been liis sincere and disinterested friend, listened to his suggestions, and made up his mind to appear again in the Convention. Wrapped in his flannels, he took the chair, addressed the 'Convention, proposed the conciliatory plan suggested by his friend, and SAMUEL WEST. 41 the result is known. There is little doubt that Hancock turned the scale in this State in favour of the Constitution, and in my mind there is little doubt that Dr. West induced hira to do it. " During the session of the Convention Dr. West spent many of his evenings abroad. lie generally returned with his pockets filled with fine handkerchiefs, silk stockings, silk gloves, small pieces of cambric, and many other articles which could, without attracting attention, be slipped into his pocket. His distress, on discovering them, was ludicrous ; fur, aware of his absence of mind, he supposed that he might have taken these articles unconsciously, and without the consent of the owners, but his fellow- boarders generally contrived to convince him that they were designed as presents — which was the truth." " I well remember," continues' Mr. Baylies, " the effect which the oddity of his manners produced; but I was too young to appreciate the force and originality of his conversation. Separate from metaphysics and theology, he was a great man, and his great and universal knowledge, notwithstand- ing his eccentricity and roughness, rendered his conversation always agree- able, and sometimes delightful." Dr. West watched the progress of the French Revolution with extreme jealous}'. Nothing more roused his indignation than to find the young in any way countenancing the licentious doctrines which were then gaining currency. An anecdote illustrative of this has been told me by a strong- minded excellent man, who was then young and recently married. Know- ing that Dr. West was to spend the Sabbath evening at his father's, and feeling confident of his own strength, he determined to encounter him. He began by some remarks on contracts, stating that he considered a con- tract annulled when its conditions were fulfilled, and that no contract could be perpetually binding. To illustrate this, he mentioned the contract of marriage. Here the old man interrupted him by a low growl, but he went on with his argument to show that the marriage contract might easily be dissolved. " Ugh," growled the Doctor, in a hoarse gruff voice, "Ugh, a great many people think so now-a-days." The young man still persevered till the Doctor, able to bear it no longer, burst upon him in a strain of indignant eloquence, pouring out passages of Scripture in a tor- rent, urging the authority of distinguislied writers, the example of govern- ments, the arguments to be drawn from reason, from the principles of natural religion and morality, and ending with this emphatic declaration, — " So sacred among all Christian nations has been this connection, that, when marriage has been solemnized without the consent of the parents, and the parties have been immediately pursued, if once the contract has been sealed, not all the kings, and governments, and authorities in the world, can dissolve the union." My friend added that, after this experi- ment, he had no disposition to measure his strength again with his minister. Dr. West began his ministry at a period of religious excitement, such as our country never before had witnessed. Many, without learning, without fixed principles, or any habits of thought, were led on by a sort of religious frenzy to propose doctrines and measures by which, in the extravagance of inward illuminations, the authority of reason and the Scriptures, of civil government and ecclesiastical forms, should be dis- 42 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. pensed with.* There was undoubtedly much that was lifeless in our churches, or such a series of events could not have been — it is only the dryness of the prairie that gives fury to the flames. But whatever we niiiy ihink of the cause or the effect, such was the state of things when Dr. West was ordained. He was surroundec* by new and wandering lights. A Society of them was formed within his own precinct. His father was carried away by the general feeling, and preached, writing hymns, ser- mons, and letters, with the fiery vehemence of a young convert. " I wish,'' he said in a letter, " that I could preach these doctrines to your own people." But the son did not invite him into his pulpit, and the rules whicii he then laid down for the way in which the Gospel is to be preached, although specially intended for the times, as they tlicn were, are hardly less applicable now. "The style of preacliiiig," he tells us, " must be simple, not abounding in those pompous, high flown metaphors, which, under the appearance of contuiuing some very sulilime mysteries and pro- found sense, are oidy a jingle or play of words." '• This is tlie common fault of enthusiasts, and men of too warm an imagination, who, fancying to themselves that they have frequent communion and fellowship with God, imagine their understandings are illuminated far beyond the rest of man- kind. This prompts them to use the mystical language which they mistake for good sense and sublime theology." Then, as now, there were those who, from an exclusive rationalism, rejected the peculiar doctrines of Christianity; while, on the other hand, were the exclusive religious zealots, who, in the fervour of their devotions, forgot the duties of a Glirislian life, and would entirely divorce faith from reason, and piety from virtue. In reference to these he says, — " To preach Christ i.-5 to preach the whole system of Divinity, as it consists of both Natural and llevealed Religion." " Has the preacher discharged his duty that takes no care to show his people the obligation they lie under to live sober, righteous and godly lives ; or that has never explained and insisted upon the several branches of social virtue and benevolence?" ♦• On the other hand, can any one think that he has faithfully discharged the trust reposed in him, who insists altogether on what is called Natural Religion, without ever mentioning the peculiar doctrines of Revelation? Why should we separate what God has joined together? Can we expect that sinners should ever return to God with all their hearts, unless we show them the necessity of Divine grace in order thereunto? Can any say that there is any absurdity in supposing that the Divine Being may strengthen and support our faculties in the search of truth, that he may impress upon our minds a lively sense of Divine things, excite us to piety and dissuade us from sin ?" " Where doctrines of mere Natural Religion are insisted on to the neglect of the peculiar doctrines of Revelation, we can at most expect to find only a few fashionable, civil gentlemen, but destitute of real piety. As, on the other hand, where the distinguishing doctrines of Christianity alone are insisted upon, we shall find that men are very apt to run into enthusiasm. A true Gospel minister should seek to avoid bolh these extremes. AVhcn he insists on moral virtues, he should enforce them on Christian motives. He should preach up the perfections • See Miller's life of Jonathan Edwards, p. 85. SAMUEL WEST. 42 of God to regulate our devotion ; tlie doctrine of atonement and regenera- tion to bring us to Christ, and social virtues as the effects of a Christian temper." As a Preacher, Dr. West was distinguished for great strength of mind, and what seemed a complete mastery of the difficult subjects whicli he was in the habit of bringing into the pulpit. He was a man of profound thought and learning, but the enthusiasm of his life was spent on subjects ■which, however interesiing to the speculative inquirer, have little to do witli the practical concerns of life. The first great subject to which he devoted himself was the Ancient Prophecies. His writings on the fulfilment of the Prophecies had a great influence. I have spoken of them in connection with our Revolutionary struggle. The strong minds of that day rejoiced to hear him explain the hidden meaning of those mysterious writings, and show, with a singular union of ingenuity and learning, how they had been fulfilled in times past, how they were then revealing themselves in the remarkable events of the day, and how they should at length break furth into the full glory of the Millennium, when Christ should reign a thousand years upon the earth. And there is often a curious coincidence between his predictions and events which took place after his death. As an example from Daniel XI, 44 and Ezekiel XXXVIII, 2, he says, (and he came to these conclusions as early as 1777,) " According to these texts, I understand that the Russians are to conquer the Turks: but that previously, the Greeks and many other subjects of the present Turkish Empire will revolt, and put themselves under the protection of the Russians, that by their means they may free themselves from the Turkish yoke." He believed that the authority of the Pope should be taken from him in 1813 ; that ministers of the Gos- pel were to be sent through all the earth ; that, through the remarkable judgments of God, a great Religious Reformation should take place, and then the sounding of the seventh trumpet would be at hand. " When that period shall come,'' he says, " time only can decide." To one who reli- giously believes in their truth, as he did, there is something awfully sublime in investigations like these, which lift up the veil of futurity, and disclose the mighty revolutions which lie there, waiting the time which has been assigned to them in the counsels of the Almighty. The great work of Jonathan Edwards on the Freedom of the Will had been published some years when Dr. West was ordained, and from that day to this has had an influence on the Theology of New England, such as can be attributed to no other work. To the doctrines of this work Dr. West never could assent. He believed that there was a self-determining power in man. In opposition to Edwards, he wrote two remarkable pamphlets, in which he argues from the Scriptures, the character of God, from reason itself and the moral accountability of man. Whether he goes to the bottom of that most difficult of subjects, and fully meets the argument which Dugald Stewart says no man can answer or adniit, may be questioned. The first pamphlet was published in 1793, the substance of the first part of it having been "penned about twenty years." This being soon out of print, he republished it in 1795, together with a second part, containing four essays more. The work was answered by Dr. Edwards of 44 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. Connecticut, who acknowledged Dr. "West to be the ablest writer that had appeared on that side of the subject. These studies must have had great influence on Dr. West's preaching. His metaphysical investigations must have coloured all his thoughts. He usually preached without notes, and was always prepared. Once, when in Boston, during the latter part of his life, he was invited by Dr. Clarke, of the First Church, to preach for him. About an hour before the services were to commence, Father West requested his friend to give him a text. At this Dr. Clarke was alarmed, and asked if it were possible that he was going to preach without notes, and with no other preparation. " Come, come," said Father West, "it is my way, give me a text." Dr. Clarke selected Romans, xiv. 22. "What if God, willing to show his wrath, and make his power known, endured with much long-sufi'ering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction." Dr. West looked over the Bible a few minutes, turning down leaves here and there, and then went into the church, where he preached a cogent, logical discourse an hour and twenty minutes long, on that perplexing subject. The strong men of the congre- gation were intensely interested, and Dr. Clarke, on coming from the pul- pit, exclaimed, " Why, Father West, it would have taken me three months to prepare such a discourse." " Ha, ha, ha," was the reply, " and I have been studying it out twenty years." Alchemy was another subject that greatly interested Dr. West. He had particularly a taste for the Natural Sciences, and Alchemy was to him only the last analysis in Chemistry. It was the opinion of Sir Humphrey Davy that diamonds might, at some time, be manufactured by a chemical process, and it is only following the same reasoning to suppose that gold may be resolved into elements more simple, and be reconstructed from those elements, as found in less precious substances. There is no absurdity in such an idea. Dr. Danforth, of Boston, and Dr. Whitridge, of Tiver- ton, R. I., both able physicians, had become deeply interested in the sub- ject as a matter of speculative inquiry, when, about the year 1785, Dr. Whitridge was almost heart-broken by the death of a favourite daughter. As a diversion to his mind, his friends recommended to him to try some experiments in Alchemy. Having once begun, he went on with untiring zeal. I have seen the correspondence on the subject between him and Dr. West, but it is in characters, and a language- so cabalistic as to be almost entirely unintelligible. For years Dr. West and Dr. Danforth aftorded to him all the encouragement and assistance they could. At last their hopes gave out, and they endeavoured to dissuade him from further experi- ments. But nothing could divert him from it. It was the passion of his life. He was indeed a devoted parent and friend. He entered deeply into other branches of knowledge. He sympathized with Dr. West in his meta- physical studies, and, after he was fifty years old, studied Hebrew solely that he might better understand the Scriptures. But his heart, his strength, and his fortune were given to his laboratory. When away from home he was impatient to return, always supposing that, during his absence, the critical moment might have come. His countenance and general demeanour bore marks of a life devoted to something apart from the ordi- nary pursuits of man. For forty years the fires of his furnace were never SAMUEL WEST. 45 permitted to go out, and the last words he uttered on his death bed were to give some further directions respecting tlie process. A few years ago I visited the laboratory, which remained nearly as he had left it, and, as I looked on rafters, retorts, and crucibles stained with smoke, and remem- bered that this was all that remained from the unremitted labours, anxious thought, and enthusiasm of so many years, I could not but think of other scenes of human toil and ambition. Dr. West was always on terms of intimacy with Dr. Whitridge, and there frequently met Dr. Hopkins of Newport. It is not often that three such men are brought togellier. They usually spent nearly the whole night in conversation. Dr. Hopkins sometimes required a little sleep, but the morning light not unfrequently found tlie others still up. On one occasion. Dr. West having mounted his horse a little before night. Dr. Whit- ridge went out bare-headed to see him off. A new topic was started. The horse walked on a few steps and stopped ; then a few steps more, the friends being still earnestly engaged. At last they were alarmed by the appearance of a fire in the East, which, after a short time, they found was the break of day. We cannot but look with respect upon conversations on great subjects carried on with such an entire abstraction from the outward world. Dr. West, before our Revolution, thought he discovered in the Sacred Prophecies a prediction of remarkable events relating to his own country. He went to the camp, like a brave man, as he was. Tiie village of the town in which he lived was plundered and burned. His own house was pillaged by hostile soldiers. But he could retreat from all these things into a world more attractive, or find tiiem invested with a solemn and almost supernatural interest, as he saw in them the hand of God bringing out what ages before had been foretold. His friends would sometimes meet him on his horse, which had perhaps stopped to feed by the roadside, the bridle loose, his hands folded on his breast, and he taking no notice of tliem. He would sometimes follow the young men who were studying Theology with him, to their bed-chamber, and remain discoursing to them nearly the whole night. Once he went out to drive a cow from his yard, and, striking at her with along board, missed the cow, but was himself brought to the ground by the weight of the board, and tore his small clothes through nearly the whole length of the leg. He knew nothing of this, but, gathering himself up, and forgetting entirely where he was, went on without a hat three miles, when he entered a friend's house, and passed the night talking with him, to the consterna- tion of his wife, when, on his return, she saw in what a plight he was for a visit to one of the most genteel families in the parish. He once met a friend and told him that he and his wife were on their way to pay him a visit. "Your wife," said his friend, " where is she ?" "Why," replied the Doctor, " I thought she was on the pillion behind me." She had got ready to accompany him, but was left. He would sometimes, at the meet- ing-house, stop at the horse-block for his wife to dismount, when she had been forgotten and was still at home. Once, he went to mill, leading his horse, and carrying the grist on his own shoulder. On being asked by a friend in Boston if this were true, he said with a laugh that it was too 46 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. good a story to be spoiled, and so he should not contradict it. I have been told by one who saw him on his way, that, when, before his second marriage, he went to ask the town-clerk to publish him, he led his horse the whole distance, passing directly by the house of the town-clerk, and not halting till he was brought up by the log at the end of the wharf. The following story was told me by his daughter, and is unquestionably true. lie had gone to Boston, and, a violent shower coming up on Satur- day afternoon, he did not get home that evening, as was expected. The next morning his family were very anxious, and waited till, just at the last moment, he was seen hurrying his horse on with muddy ruffles dangling about his hands, and another large ruffle hanging out upon his bosom, through the open vest which he usually had buttoned close to his chin. He never had worn such embellishments before, and never after- wards could tell how he came by them then. It was too late to change — the congregation were waiting. His daughter buttoned up his vest, so as to hide the bosom ornaments entirely, and carefully tucked the ruffles in about the wrists. During the opening services all went very well. But probably feeling uneasy about the wrists, he twitched at them till the ruffles were flourishing about, and then, growing warm as he advanced, he opened his vest, and made such an exhibition of muddy finery as probably tended very little to the religious edification of the younger portion of his audience. *' That," said his daughter, in telling the story, "was the only time that I was ever ashamed of my father." This is perhaps as good a place as any to tell an anecdote which has often been applied to other persons, but which the late Judge Davis of Boston, an admirable authority in such matters, says was true in the case of Dr. West. There had been difficulty with the singers, and they had given out that they should not sing on the next Sunday. This was told to Dr. West. "Well, well, we will see," he said, and, on Sunday morning, gave out his hymn. After reading it, he said very emphatically, " You will begin with the second verse :-^ " Let those refuse to snig " Who never knew our God." The hymn was sung. He was the fiiend and associate of President Stiles, Robert Treat Paine and Simeon Howard. A letter to him from James Otis, written under a degree of mental depression amounting almost to insanity, shows, by its expressions of gratitude, the real warmth of his feelings. Judge Sullivan wrote to him for assistance in his theological inquiries. Both Dr. Hopkins, of Newport, and Bishop Parker, of the Episcopal Church, differing from him as they did, theologically or ecclesiastically, testified, in different ways, their high respect for his character. The usual reverses of age fell heavily on Dr. West. In 1787, he had lost a daughter, and the impression made upon him by her death was never effaced. He had buried two wives, and in the bereavement of his home, had not near him the society of men who could understand or sym- pathize with him in the subjects tliat most engaged his thoughts. He was imposed upon by a worthless man, who contrived, by actual experiment, to make him believe that he had succeeded in turning salt water into fresh. SAMUEL WEST. 47 He took great pains to interest his friends in Boston in this matter, and it was a heavy blow to his spirits when he found that he had been deceived. He tried to pass it off with a joke. " It requires," he said, "a great mind to make a great mistake." A parishioner, taking advantage of his absence of mind, imposed upon him still more seriously. He had nearly prepared for the press a rejoinder to the work which President Edwards had written in reply to his own, but the public interest was gone, and his friends gave him no encouragement. " These things," he said, " have dis- heartened and destroyed me. I am now to be laid aside as useless. My faculties will go." And so it was. He was more than ever absent-mind- ed. His memory failed, though his intellect, when excited, retained much of its vigour. He had preached the same sermon to his own people three Sabbaths in succession, but no member of his family was willing to distress him by informing him what he had done. The fourth Sabbath, his daugh- ter saw with a heavy heart that he had his Bible open at the same place — the Parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Fortunately he left the room for a minute. She opened the Bible at another place, and put it back with the leaves turned down just as he had left them in his place. When he took up the book on his return, he seemed for a moment lost, then fixed himself upon the passage to which she had opened, and from that preached a discourse, which, to some of his people, seemed the ablest that he had given for years. But the time had come when he was to be released from his parish labours. There is, to my mind, something affecting in the following paper,— the last that he drew up for his people. " Proposals to the Precinct : First, that they give me the use of the precinct land during my natural life ; Sec- ondly, that they give me hay sufficient for the keeping of a cow and horse ; Thirdly, that they supply me with firewood sufficient for my family, winter and summer; Fourthly, tliat they supply mc with Indian corn and rye suf- ficient for my family ; Fifthly, that they supply me with beef and pork suffi- cient for my family, winter and summer; Sixthly, that they supply me with wool and fiiax sufficient to clothe my family. If the Precinct are not will- ing to comply with these proposals, why then, that the whole affair be left to the decision of an Ecclesiastical Council of ministers and delegates. From your aged Pastor, Samuel "West." The terms of a friendly separation were agreed upon, and he withdrew from his labours in June, 1803. His hist days were spent with his son in Tiverton. The account of them shall be given in the words of one who had studied with him, and who loved him as a father, — Bev. Dr. Allyn, of Dux- bury. "His memory failed to tliat degree that it was with difficulty he could recognize his most familiar friends. The vast treasure of his ideas began to vanish at the age of seventy years, and, during the course of the seven succeeding years, the great man disappeared, and it was an afflictive sight to his friends, and all who had .known him in the glory of his under- standing, to perceive he had survived all his wit and learning." But his sun, if dimly shining, went down with great serenity, as in an autumnal haze. At the house of his son, a beloved physician, who now also rests from his labours, on Thursday morning, at half-past five o'clock, September 24, 1807, the aged father and servant of God breathed his last. The body 48 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. was brought to New Bedford to the church in which, for nearly half a cen- tury, he had broken the bread of life, and there, after a Funeral Dis- course, by his old and faithful friend, Jonathan Moore,* of Rochester, was placed in the burying ground, amid the relics of those whom he had so often met in the house of prayer. The following I believe to be a correct list of Dr. "West's publications: — A Sermon preached at the Ordination of Samuel West, at Needham, 1764. A Sermon preaclied before the Provincial Convention, at Water- town, 1776. A Sermon preached on the day of the General Election, 1776. A Sermon preached on the Anniversary of the Landing of the Fathers at Plymouth, 1777. A Sermon at the Ordination of John Allyn, at Duxbury, 1788. Essays on Liberty and Necessity ; in which tlie True Nature of Liberty is stated and defended, and the Principal Arguments, used by Mr. Edwards and others, for Necessity are considered — In two Parts — the first printed in 1793, the second in 1795. A Tract on Infant Baptism. I am very truly yours, J. H. MORISON. FROM SAMUEL WEST, M. D. Tiverton, R. I., March 26, 1849. Dear Sir: In a manuscript memoir of my grandfiither, I find the following statements which may perhaps prove acceptable to you, — namely, <' that, at seven years of age, he was perfectly possessed of the historical parts of the Bible, and often proposed questions about their meaning; that, at the age of ten, he obtained a copy of Dilworth's Spelling Book, and became expert in English orthography, and would often correct others in their spelling and pro- nunciation; that he constantly attended the preaching of the Rev. Mr. Green, and, at twelve years of age, could repeat a great part of the sermon he had heard at meeting." I may add that he was a man of uncommon physical powers, and, while others would tell of his gymnastic feats, he was never fond of having them related, esteeming the intellectual far above the physical, and, like nearly all at that day and too many at the present, he neglected those requirements whereby the years of the intellectual man might have been much prolonged, had the laws governing the tenement it possessed beeu well attended to. Being a man of giant frame, (six feet high and weighing upwards of two hundred pounds,) the immediate offspring of the Puritans, he lived on to seventy years, neglecting the laws of his physical well-being with apparent impunity, so far as his bodily health was concerned, but his mind was evidently on the wane, and soon both body and mind were tottering together to decay. Now, had his mental existence been less intense, and some thought been bestowed on the tenement through which this existence must be manifested, he might no doubt have added some ten or fifteen years to his usefulness. But the purity of the habits of the people in those times took from the necessity of attending to such matters; and if a person early became decrepit, either in his bodily organs or in his mental faculties, it was regarded merely as a dispensation of Providence, and acquiesced in as such. They did not then realize that on the individual rests the responsibility not only of his corporeal but also his ♦Jonathan Mooiie was born at Oxford, Mass. ; was graduated at Harvard College in 1761 ; was ordained, and installed as Pastor of the Church in Rochester, Mass., September 15, 1768; was dismissed December 22, 1791; and died in 1814, aged seventy-five. SAMUEL WEST. 49 mental well being; for insanity and other diseases that may be hereditary, are but the consequence of disobedience by our ancestors to the phyisical laws. I am, Dear Sir, Your obed't servant, SAMUEL WEST. FROM THE REV. CHARLES LOWELL. D. D. Elmwood, April 8, 1847. My dear friend : I understood you to say th.at you intended to include among your biographical notices of depaited worthies, some account of that wonder- full)' eccentric, but highly gifted and excellent man. Dr. Samuel West, of New Bedford. I cannot claim to have been intimately acquainted with him, though I used to see him occasionally, especially on his visits to Dr. Sanger, at Bridgcwater, while I lived with him, fitting for College. Though his exterior was b}' no means impressive, he was undoubtedly, for intellectual power and acumen, one of the giants of his time. One of his most remarkable charac- teristics was absence of mind — whatever subject might happen to occupy his thoughts, he would often become so entirely absorbed in it, that his con- sciousness of passing events would seem entirely suspended. I happen to have beeen personally cognizant of one or two of his experiences of this kind, which were too ludicrous ever to escape from my memory. Dr. West (his soubriquet was Pater) used to make an annual journe)'', on horseback, to Boston, to attend the Convention of Congregational Ministers, and see his friends; and not unfrequently at other times also; and on one occasion, when he had arrived at a certain turn of the road in Bridgewater, though he was perfectly familiar with the whole way, he rode back a quarter- of a mile to inquire at a house which was the road to Boston. In those days it was the custom for ministers, when travelling, to refreshi themselves and their beasts at the residences of such of their brethren as lived on their route. One day, while I was living with Dr. Sanger, a horse, sad- dled and bridled, came running into the yard, and one of the family exclaimed: " That is Dr. West's horse; the Doctor must be on tlie road, and we must go- back and look for him." One or two of the boys, accordingl}', mounted the- horse, and rode towards New Bedford. After a while, they saw a dark object in the middle of the sandy road, at some distance beyond them. On arriving- at the spot, they found it was Dr. West, sitting in the middle of the road, apparently in deep thought, and taking no notice of any thing about him.. «« Why Dr. West, is this you?" was the inquiry — «« how came you here in the road?" "Yes, I suppose it is I; and I believe the beast has thrown me," was the reply. He was assisted on to the horse, and conveyed to Dr. Sanger's, where he staid, as was his wont on his calls, a good many days, exhibitin"-,, every now and then, his fits of absence of mind, to the no small amusement of us lads, and indeed of all who witnessed them. It might have been on this visit to Boston that a circumstance occurred that was related to me by Dr. Porter of Roxbury. On a very rainy day, one of Dr. P's parishioners came in and told him that there was an elderly gentleman, apparently a clergyman, sitting on the steps of the meeting-house, and he' thought it was proper for him to inform the Doctor of it, that, if he saw fit,, he might ascertain who he was. Dr. Porter, on arriving at the meeting-house, recognized Dr. West as the minister who had seated himself there, and' expressed no small surprise at finding him in such circumstances. '< Wliy,"" said Dr. West, «« I have a controversy, as I suppose you know, with another man of my name in Stockbridge, who has lately sent out a new pamphlet, andl I have come down here to consult some books; and having got as far as here. Vol. VIII. 4 50 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. T remembered that my people had not had any preaching for three weeks, and I sat down here to think the matter over, whether I had better go on to con- sult the library at Cambridge, or go home to New Bedford." You can just as well think about that by my fireside," said Dr. Porter, '< and had better go into my house and determine it there." " Well, well, so I had, I believe." So in he went, staid there some days, determined to go to Cambridge, not- withstanding his people had been without preaching for three Sabbaths; and when he got back to resume his labours among them I never learned. Now that I have a cacoethes scribendi, you must allow me to indulge m3'self in putting down a few more incidents, illustrative of the peculiarities of one or two other truly excellent and respectable ministers. Dr. Barnes of Scituate, a little man, with a very neat white whig, was called to officiate at the Funeral of a female who had no near friends to mourn for her, except one young man who Avas an adopted son; and he began his prayer on this wise — " Strange kind of Funeral this, Lord, very strange! No father, no mother, no brother nor sister! There's a young man" (suiting the action to the word) "that calls her mother." At an Ordination, I heard him commence his prayer thus: — " Oh Lord, thou knowest that it is ordination day, &c." Dr. Barnes was a man of deep feeling, however-, as is evinced by his most pathetic and beautiful sermon on the death of his daughter. Dr. John Lathrop, of Boston, related to me the following anecdote of Dr. Samuel Mather, whom he knew well, being a member of the same Ministerial Association with him for many years : — At a certain meeting of the Association, Dr. Mather talked nearly the whole time; and, when the members were about to disperse, the Doctor said very emphatically, — " Well, Brethren, I don't remember that I ever knew a pleasanter meeting of the Association than this." I understood the anecdote as pointing to the prominent infirmity in Dr. Mather's character. What I have written must suffice for the present, and I will only add that I am yours affectionately, CHARLES LOWELL. SAMUEL WEST, D. D.* (OP BOSTON.) 1761—1808. Samuel West was descended from Francis West, who was sent to this country by the British Government with a commission of Vice Admiral, shortly after the settlement at Plymouth, and took up a large tract of land in what is now Duxbury. He returned to England ; but his son came over and took possession of the land ; and from him all the Wests in New England are descended. One branch of the family settled in Martha's Vineyard. Thomas West, of the fifth generation from the first, was the son of Abner West, and the father of Samuel, the subject of this sketch. He entered Harvard College in 1726; but, in consequence of a matrimon- ial engagement, left College at the end of two years, and gave up the idea • Ms. Autobiography. — Biographical Sketch by the Rev. Thomas Thachcr. SAMUEL WEST. 51 of ever entering on professional life ; and lie did not receive his degree until 1759, twentj-nine years after the graduation of his class. At the age of about thirty-five, he commenced the study of Divinity, under the direction of the Rev. Experience Mayhevr, the well known missionary among the Indians on Martha's Vineyard. Soon after he began to preach, h6 was settled as colleague of Mr. Mayhew, in which situation he continued five or six years, and then accepted an invitation to take charge of a small parish, known as the third parish in Rochester. Here he spent the residue of his days, and died in the year 1790. In his religious opinions he was, according to the testimony of his son, a decided Calvinist. Samuel West, the son of Thomas, was born at Martha's Vineyard, November 19, (0. S.,) 1738, and spent his early years in hard labour. When he was in his seventeenth year, he commenced the study of the Ian. guages, under the tuition of his father, who had a good deal to do in order to recover his own knowledge sufficiently to teach him. As his father was poor, and found it somewhat difficult to support his family, he did not originally design to give him a collegiate education ; but such was his thirst for knowledge, and his ability to acquire it, that his father finally yielded to his wish to go to College. After encountering many obsta- cles, during a preparatory course of about two years, he was well fitted to enter; and he was accordingly admitted a member of Harvard University, at an advanced standing, in 1758, when he was in his twentieth year. With the aid that he 'received from his father, in connection with some favours granted him by President Holyoke, and the avails of teaching during some of his vacations, he was enabled to pass through College without much embarrassment ; and he graduated with high honour in 1761. He main, tained uniformly a good standing in all liis studies, but he delighted especially in metaphysics and logic. Ilis health suffered not a little from excessive application to study and neglect of bodily exercise ; and nervous complaints ensued, which occasioned him great trouble and inccfnvenience during the rest of his life. Mr. West had his eye upon the ministry from the time that he began to prepare for College ; and he seems to have commenced preaching very soon after he graduated. The Hon. Thomas Hubbard, Commissary of the Pro- vince, became his patron ; and, through his influence, he was appointed Chaplain to the garrison of Port Pownal, at Penobscot. Though he felt that his preparation for the ministry was very inadequate, yet, as he had a few sermons written, and as Dr.. Mayhew lent him a number of books, and Mr. Hubbard promised him others, and as he had really been, in some sense, a student of Divinity from very early life, he determined, though with great diffidence, to accept the appointment. His engagement was for one year, and his pay was four pounds a month, with rations. He, accordingly, repaired to his field of labour* in November, 1T61 ; and found himself very agreeably situated in the family of Brigadier General Preble. He passed the year ver}'- pleasantly and profitably, — the discharge of his official duties leaving him with a good deal of leisure to prosecute his theological studies ; and, as this was subseqent to the reduction of Canada, they had nothing to fear from the hostilities of the Indians. The term for which he engaged having expired in September, 1762, he returned to visit his parents ; and, 62 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. after remaining witli them a sliort time, went back to Falmouth, in the expectation of being employed by a parish called New Cases, whose niin. ister had become deranged. After preaching there ten weeks, he left that region finally; and on reaching home, found his mother in a declining state of health, from which time he remained with her several months, until she died. Mr. West now went to Cambridge, with a view to devote more time to theological studies. During his residence there, he preached , frequently for tlie ministers in the neighbourhood, and among others for Dr. Mayhew. Speaking of Dr. Mayhew, he says, — " Observing, I suppose, my forward- ness to express my opinion on every occasion, he advised me to be more cautious and reserved ; and added that, had he been more reserved at the commencement of his ministry, he might not only have escaped much cen- sure and useless disputation, but have done more good in promoting what he supposed to be the truth. He thought in younger life, as many young jninds, that there was something manly and noble in expressing his senti- ments freely and without reserve, and that it implied a base spirit to do otherwise; but time and experience had taught him the wisdom of the Apostle's advice, — 'Hast thou faith, have it to thyself.'" In June, 1763, he was invited to preach as a candidate at Needham ; and, though there was little in the character of the people to attract hiu), he accepted an invitation to settle among them ; partly out of respect to his father's advice, and partly in the hope of being able to assist a brother in obtaining a liberal education. His salary was a little less than seventy-five pounds a year. He was ordained on the 25th of April, 1764, in the twenty-sixth year of his age; the ceremony being performed in the open air, on account of the church being too small to accommodate the conoreo-a- tion. The Sermon was preached by the Rev. Samuel "West of Dartmouth, and the charge was delivered by liis father. The people treated him kindly, and he gradually became reconciled to the less agreeable features of his condition. On the 23d of February, 1769, Mr. West was married to a Miss Plimp- ton, of Medfield. They had four children. One son (^Samuel) graduated at Harvard College, in 1788; another, (Nathan Plimpton,) in 1792. Both "Were educated entirely at his own expense. As his salary was not only small but very poorly paid, he was obliged to make up the deficiency, partly by labouring on a small farm, and partly by receiving boys into his family to educate. In the year 1786, his people were induced to come to some settlement with him for arrearages due through the Revolutionary War; for which, in case of his death, they were liable to be called upon by his heirs ; .and, in order to provide for the future, he proposed to them that he would relin- quish the whole amount, on condition that they would consent to his leaving them if he should, at any tin)e, desire it. They agreed to the proposal, he making a sacrifice of one hundred pounds. Shortly after this, he was invited to preach in Federal Street Church, Boston, with reference to a settlement ; and his people, perceiving that there was a call in prospect, met and remonstrated against his removal ; whereupon he consented to waive his right to go, on condition that they would pay two-thirds of the SAMUEL WEST. 53 arrearage due to lum, and pay Lis salary punctually in future. About the same time, he was invited to settle at Jamaica Plain ; but he thought that he could not honourably listen to the proposal. But the state of things in his parish did not become better — their pecuniary engagements to him remained unfulfilled; and he was subjected to continual suspense and vexa- tion. While he was in this state of extreme embarrassment, he received a call from the HoUis Street Church, Boston, as successor to the Rev. Mr. Wight: he had administered the communion to that church first after Dr. Byles left it in 1776, and might have been settled there at that time, if he would have given any encouragement to the people to call him. As he had now remained with his people two years after the arrearages were due, and nothing had been paid, he felt himself fully at liberty to consider the call from Ilollis Street; but the matter produced great disquietude in the parish, insomuch that Mr. West was actually on the point of returning a negative answer. On mature reflection, however, and in accordance with the advice of his father, he accepted the call, (November 16, 1788,) having previously spent a few Sabbaths with the congregation to which he was called. When he returned to Needliam for his family, he was received with great coolness. He dispensed with the usual furmality of having a council to dissolve the relation between him and his people, on the ground that he considered it as a mere social contract, and not more sacred than any oilier. This was regarded by many of his brethren as a censurable irregularity. After his settlement, in ]3o>toii, the unkind feelings which had existed among his former charge gradually died away, and, as he met indi- viduals among them, from time to time, he manifested nothing towards them but good-will, and thus, at no distant period, succeeded in recovering hisplace in their affections. His Installation at Boston took place on the 12th of !March, 17 89, the Sermon on the occasion being preached by himself, from 2 Cor. iv, 1. In this new field of labour, being exempt from all pecuniary embarrassments, in consequence of having an adequate salary, he laboured with great dili- gence, and quickly won the affocliuns of his ehaige. A large part of his time he spent in visiting them in their own houses. He was honoured with the degree of Doctor of Divinity, from Dartmouth College, in 1798. In the summer of 1801, Ids constitution suffered a severe shock from violent spasms of nervous colic. After a few weeks, however, he began gradually to recover, and about the middle of October was able to return to his pulpit; though he was henceforward unable to preach more than half of the time. In September, 1803, he intimated to his people a wish for assistance in his public services, leaving it to them to decide in respect to his support. They acted in accordance with his suggestion ; and, from that time, he preached but seldom, until, at length, he ceased preaching altogether. In August, 1805, he made a journey to Charlestown, N. II., the residence of his brother ; but he was so feeble that it was not without difficulty that he accomplished it. From that time he withdrew entirely from all public labour, though his active mind was constantly finding employment at home. Even after he was confined to his bed, he dictated to an amanuensis an autobiography of great- interest. He furnished also to the Boston Cen. 54 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. tiriel a series of articles, over the signature of " The Old Man," which attracted very considerable attention. When he was near the close. of life, he dictated several letters to friends in affliction, full of affectionate coun- sels, and expressive of the tenderest sympathy. At length, after a con- finement to his bed of twenty-six weeks, he expired on the 10th of April, 1808, with the confident expectation of entering into rest. Hia Funeral Sermon was preached by his friend, Dr. John Lathrop, from 2 Timothy, i, 12. It was afterwards published in connection with a biograph- ical sketch from the pen of the Rev. Thomas Thacher of Dcdham. The following is a list of Dr. West's printed Discourses: A Sermon preached at the Ordination of Jonathan Newell*, 1774. A Sermon delivered in the Second Church, Dedham, on occasion of the Death of two young men, 1785. Two Discourses delivered on the day of the Public Fast, 1785. A Sermon delivered on the day of the General Elec- tion, 1786. A Sermon preached at his Instalment in Boston, 1789. A Sermon preached on occasion of the Artillery Election, 1794. A Sermon preached on occasion of the National Thanksgiving, 1795. A Sermon occasioned by the Death of George Washington, 1799. FROM THE REV. JOHN PIERCE, D. D. Brookline, March 3, 1849. My dear Sir: Doctor Samuel West of Boston was, for a number of years, my contemporary and neighbour in the ministry; and we were both members of the same Association. I knew him quite intimatel}'', and retain to this day a vivid recollection of his personal appearance, as well as of his intellectual and moral qualities. Dr. West's native powers of mind were much above mediocrity; but they were rather solid than brilliant. lie was discriminating, accurate, patient in investigation; and his mind was not accustomed to repose in results which had been reached with little thought and care. He was a most diligent student, not only while he was in College, but ever after; and yet study with him par- took more of reflection than reading, for he thought that books were some- times rather a hindrance than a help to intellectual culture. He was a fine classical scholar, and was distinguished for his fidelity and success in fitting students for College. His temper, as he has been heard to say, was naturally irritable in the extreme; but he had so completely mastered it that there was nothing visible to indicate that he was not as gentle as a lamb. He never rendered evil for evil — if he was the subject of injury, a forgiving spirit seemed to come spontaneously into exercise. He was evidently a well-wisher to all; and he endeavoured to do good to all according to his ability. His manners were simple and unpretending, and no one could feel a painful restraint in his presence. Dr. West's habit of preaching differed, in his latter years, from that of most of his brethren around him. In the former part of his ministry, be was accustomed to write his sermons fully out, and read them from the pulpit; but, about 1775, his circumstances became so much straitened as to forbid his taking the time for sucli mature preparation, and he commenced preaching without notes. His people very soon expressed their preference for that mode • Jonathan Newkll was a native of Needham, Mass. ; was graduated at Harvard College in 1770; was ordained Pastor of the Church in Stow, October 11, 1774; and died October 4, 1830, aged eighty-one years. Uo was buried, by bis own express orders, as a private citizen. HENRY CUMMINGS. 55 of preaching, and on that account he continued it. After he removed to Boston, it was his invariable custom to compose his sermons, even to the whole of the language, and, without committing one word to writing, to deliver them mcin- oritcr. His preaching was characterized by good sense and felicitous arrange- ment of thought, but he had little animation or pathos, and of course was not distinguished for awakening emotion in others. He was educated not onl}^ a Trinitarian but a Calvinist. He abjured his Calvinism at an early period, but what his particular views of the Trinity were, I cannot say with confidence; though he always ranked with the liberal party. He was also a decided Restorationist. Witness the following extract from his autobiography — " The linal cause or ultimate design of all the laws by which God governs the system of nature, is the happiness of his crea- tures; and if individual evil is produced by the uniform operation of those laws, it is and must be conducive to the good of the whole. Nay, I am per- suaded that the sufferings of every individual will eventually conduce to the advancement of its happiness, and that tlie greatest sufferings, and those which endure the longest, are designed, and will in the end terminate in proportion- ate happiness." Dr. West always took a deep interest in the political concerns of the country; but never -subjected himself to the censure of being an acrimonious or even an earnest politician. During the Revolutionary struggle, though he was a sincere well-wisher to his country's liberties, he still kept up a friendly intercourse with those who were known as loyalists; while yet he rendered every good service to the existing government Avhich could be reasonably expected of him. In the political conflicts of later days, while he could not be charged with any thing like a timeserving neutralit}^, he still mingled so much prudence with his decision, that he had the confidence of those who differed from each other, and died, as it is believed, without a political enemy. I am, dear Sir, Yours truly, JOHN PIERCE. HENRY CUMMINGS, D. D.^ 1761—1823. Henry CuxAIMINGS was born in Tyngsboro', Middlesex County, Mass., September 25, 1737. While he was yet in his infancy, hia parents removed to Hollis, N. H., where he passed nearly all his youtliful days. His father, who was in moderate worldly circumstances, but a man of excellent character, died when this son was about eight years old, leaving a family of several children, of wliom Henry was the eldest. His mother was distinguished for earnest, active piety, and remarkable strength of character. She was greatly devoted to the interests of her cliildren, and accounted no sacrifice great that might subserve their temporal, and espe- cially their spiritual, interests. A few years after the death of her hus- band, a gentleman made proposals of marriage to her, which she accepted,. and the arrangements for the contemplated connection were nearly com- pleted. But, for some unknown cause, the engagement was suddenly * Dr. Cummings' Half-Cent. Serm. — Sermon on his death, by Rev. Wilkes Allen. Ms.. from Rev. N. Whitman. OD UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. broken ; and it was not until her son had Leen in the ministry several years that she explained the matter to him. She stated that, in the la.^t inter- view which she had with the gentleman, prcviuus to the time of her expected marriage, he intimated to her that he did not expect that ishe wouhl bring lier children with her to her new home, and asked how she intended to dispose of them. She promptly replied, — " If you do not take my chil- dren, you do not take me — I have a duty to perform towards them, and, by God's aid, I shall perform it ;" and immediately gave him leave to retire. Such was the affectionate veneration with which lier children regarded her, that they went annually together to visit her as long as she lived. On one of these anniversary visits, when she was far advanced in life, and the Doctor himself was about sixty years old, he said he observed her shedding tears ; and, before he left her, he ventured to inquire of her the cause. Her answer was, — "As I looked round upon my children, whom I must soon leave, I thought how awful it would be if any of them should fail of meeting me in the Heavenly world." The subject of this notice gave early indications of aib uncommonly vigorous mind, and attracted the attention of his minister, the Rev. Daniel Emerson,* as a^youth of so much promise as to justify some extraordinary efforts to give him a collegiate education. Accordingly, he volunteered to superintend his course of study preparatory to entering College. In 1756, he entered at Cambridge, and, having maintained through his whole course a high standing for both scholarship and moral conduct, graduated in 1760. Having completed his collegiate course, he accepted an invitation from a gentleman in Boston to reside in his family and prosecute his theolo- gical studies. Before he had been there many months, he was, contrary to his own judgment and wishes, introduced into the pulpit. Mr. Checkley, the minister of the Old North Church, being unwell, earnestly requested him to take his place for a single Sabbath; and he reluctantly consented to do so, but whether with or without a regular license does not appear. Mr. Checkley continuing ill for some time, Mr. Cummings continued his Sab- bath-day services ; and that, notwithstanding he had scarcely any pre- vious preparations for the pulpit. From the commencement of his public labours, he attracted very considerable attention, and was regarded as one of the most promising young preachers of the day. In the autumn of 1762, Mr. Cummings was employed to preach as a candidate at Billeriea ; and, on the 18th of November, received a united call from the church and the town to become their Pastor. He accepted the call, and was ordained and installed, January 26, 1763. Tlie Sermon on the occasion was preached by his friend and benefactor, the Eev. Daniel Emerson, from Hebrews xiii. 17. Even at the time of his settlement, he regarded his preparation for the ministry as altogether inadequate ; and he has been heard to say, more than once, that he entered on his profes- sion, and then fitted for it. He devoted himself to his studies with great assi luity, and became a proficient especially in the Hebrew language, • Daniel Emerson was born in Reading, Mass., May 17, 1716; was graduated at Har- vard College in 1739; was ordained at Hollis, N. H., April 20, 1743; received Eli Smith as his collcnguo, November 27, 17U3; and died on the 30th of September, 1801, aged eighty- ■fiye years, greatly beloved and honoured. HENRY CUMMINGS. * 57 whleli he coulJ not only read with fluency, but write with considerable ease. During the Revolution, Mr. Cummings showed himself an earnest friend of his country's Independence. Fully convinced that the cause of the Colonies was a righteous cause, and that it was the duty of every man, whatever might be his profession or relations, to aid it to the extent of his ability, he laboured, both in the pulpit and out of it, to diffuse the patri- otic spirit, and strengthen the hands of those on whom the direction of the public concerns more immediately devolved. In 1783, the memorable year that witnessed the close of the War, he preached the Annual Sermon before the Legislature, — a sermon characterized by the most enlightened, patriotic views. The town of Billerica testified their high appreciation of his knowledge and good judgment in civil matters, by appointing him a delegate to the Convention which framed the Constitution of Massachusetts. Not long after his settlement at Billerica, he was consulted in regard to a removal to one of the oldest and most respectable churches in Boston, and was assured that a call would be made out for him at once, if he would give any encouragement that he would accept it. lie, however, rejected the overture without hesitation ; it being a fixed principle witli him that a minister has no right to leave his charge as long as his people are at peace and his usefulness is undiminished. In the year 1795, he preached the Annual Sermon before the Conven- tion of Ministers in Massachusetts, and the same year delivered the Dud- leian Lecture in Harvard College. In 1800, his Alma Mater conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity, In February, 1813, on the completion of Half a Century from the time of his settlement, he preached a Sermon in which he briefly reviewed his ministry, and intimated a wish to retire from the active duties of his oflice. That Sermon, which was published, contains the following paragraphs: — " Conscious I am of many imperfections and deficiencies in tlie prosecution of the Racved office, in which I have been engaged, and fe 1 that I liave stood in need not only of the candour of the Christian people over wjioin the Holy Ghost liath made nie aa overseer, biit much more of the pardoning mercy of God, of wliich I entertain good hopes, tlirougii tliat blood of atonement which is not only necessary but sufficient both for the priesthood and the people. " But, though conscious of many failures, I have the satisfaction of reflecting that I have sincerely endeavoured to declare tlie whole counsel of God, and have not design- edly withheld any thing that I believed to be of importance, to promote the conviction and conversion of sinners, and the edification of saints in faith and holiness. And while I am consoled with this pleasing reflection, I can. with the most assured confi- dence, appeal to all who have so regularly and diligently attended on my ministry as to be acquainted with my general tenor and mode of preaching, to witness for me, that, while I have seriously endeavoured to guard people against the ensnaring and delusive sophistry of unprincipled libertines, infidels and skeptics on the one hand, and the wild vagaries of blind enthusiasm, and the baneful influence of unenlightened jiarty zeal on the other; I have also endeavoured to explain, inculcate, and enforce the pecu- liar doctrines of our holy religion; and to this end, in conformity to my obligations as a Christian minister, have made it my principal business, agreeably to the Gospel revelation, to lead my hearers into a just and true acquaintance with the glorious cliaracter of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God; with his incarnation and the merciful design of his advent into the world; with his noble and salutary doctrines and the miracles He wrought in confirmation of his Divine mission; with liis heavenly example and the nature, laws, institutions and ordinances of that kingdom of God which is committed to his administration; and with his voluntary humiliation and death, wlien He made his soul an oflfiMing for sin; and also to establish people's faith in his resurrection, ascension and merciful intercession, in the High Court of Heaven, 58 ' UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. and ill liis second appearing to judge the world, at an appointed period, every moment a))proacliing, when Ihe dead shall be raised and pass into a state of final retribution, that every one may receive according to his deeds done in tlie body." In January, 1814, the Rev. Natlianiel Whitman was ordained, and installed as Colleague Pastor of the church. Though Dr, Cummings occa- sionally preaclicd after this, yet he preferred, for the most part, to be a silent worshipper in the sanctuary. He divested himself also, in a great measure, of all worldly cares, and, for several months previous to his death, he devolved the business even of providing for his family, in a great meas- ure, upon his grand-daughters, who lived with him, and ministered to his wants with the utmost reverence and tenderness. He had naturally an athletic and vigorous constitution, and he accustomed himself to the fre- quent exertion of his physical faculties, almost as long as he lived. But old age gradually made its inroads upon him, and, for a few of his last months, his decline became more rapid. He died in the utmost calmness, on the 5th of September, 1823. A Sermon was preached at his Funeral by the Rev. Wilkes Allen,* of Chelmsford, from 2 Samuel iii, 38. "A great man is fallen this day in Israel." It was published. Dr. Cummings was married, May 19. 1763, to Ann Lambert, of South Reading. Slie died January 5, 1784. Ho was married November 14, 1788, to Margaret Briggs. who died June 2, 1790. He was married September 20. 1791 to Sarah, daughter of the Rev. Ebenezer Bridge,! of Clielmsford, and the eldest of thirteen children. She died February 25, 1812. He had five children, all by the first marriage. The following is a list of Dr. Cummings' publications : — A Sermon preached on the day of Public Thanksgiving, 1766. A Ser- mon preached on the day of Public Thanksgiving, 1775. A Sermon preached at Lexington on the Anniversary of the Commencement of Hos- tilities, 1781. A Sermon preached at the General Election, 1783. A Sermon preached on the day of National Thanksgiving, 1783. A Sermon preached at the Ordination of Phineas Wright, t 1785. A Discourse on Natural Religion. 1795. A Sermon preached on Thanksgiving day, 1796. A Sermon preached on Thanksgiving day, 1798. Right Hand of Fellow- ship to Elijah Dunbar,^ 1799. A Sermon delivered at Falmouth at the Ordination of Caleb Bradley, 1799. Eulogy on the late Patriot, George Washington, 1800. A Sermon preached on the Public Fast, 1801. A Charity Sermon preached at Roxbury, 1802. Charge given to Wilkes Allen, 1803. A Half Century Sermon preached at Billerica, 1818. Charge given to Nathaniel Whitman, 1814. * Wilkes Allex was born in Sterling, Mass. ; was graduated at Harvard College in 1801; ■was ordained Pastor of a church in Chelmsford November 16, 1803; and died in 1845. He publiffhed a Thanksgiving Discourse entitled " Divine favours gratefully recollected," 1810; and a History of Chelmsford, Mass., to which is added a Memoir of the Pawtucket tribe of Indians, 1820. f Ebenezeu Bridge was born in Boston; was graduated at Harvard College in 1736; was ordained minister of Chelmsford, May 20, 1741 ; and died in October, 17'J2, aged seventy-eight. He published the Massachusetts Artillery Election Sermon, 1752; and the Massachusetts Election Sermon, 1767. X Phineas Wright was a native of Wcstford, Mass. ; was graduated at Harvard College in 1772; was ordained at Bolton, Mass., on the 26th of October, 1785; and died on the 26th of December, 1802, aged fifty-eight. § Elijah Dunuar was born at Staughton, Mass.; was graduated at Harvard College in 1794; was a Tutor in Williams College from 1794 to 1796; was ordained Pastor of the Church at Peterborough, N. H., October 23, 1799; was dismissed Juno 27j 1827; and died in 1850. HENRY CUMMINGS. * 59 FROM THE REV. JOSEPH RICHARDSON. IliNGH.\M, October 24, 1862. My dear Sir: My parents were members of the parisli of which Dr. Henry Cuiumiiigs was Pastor. I was baptized by him in my infancy; grew up under his ministry; and, occasionally, in the public school, recited to him the Assem- bly's Catechism. It was under his influence, chielly, that my early oi>inii)nson moral and religious subjects were formed, and, aflei- my graduation at College, I pursued my theological studies under his direction. On account of the con- tracted accommodations fuinishcd in his house, I studied chiefly in a part of his garret. But it mattered little as to the place, so long as 1 could have the privilege of listening to his wise and weighty instruction. So long as he lived, I knew him intimately. I mourned his death almost as if it had been the death of a father. Dr. Cummings was a fine specimen of physical, mental and moral nobility. His frame was large and well propoitioned. His countenance evinced a high order of intelligence and dignity. His air and manner assured you that you were in the company of no ordinary man. His fine social qualities rendered him a most agreeable companion. His sympathy ar.d kindness he did not with- hold even from the most unwoithy. His public discourses were chaiacterized by great boldness of style, and were delivered with a voice of very considera- ble power. My impression is that he had not a correct ear for music; but he deliglited in the inspiring thoughts of the best poets, ancient and modern. No matter what subject might engage his attention, the movements of his mind were always sure, strong, and every way well adapted. In his theological views he was an Arminian, and I suppose an Arian also; though he seldom dwelt much on points of controversy in the pulpit. I think he had no sympathy with any system that does not recognize the mediation of Christ as the grand feature of the Christian economy. He exercised great kind- liness of feeling towards those commonly called oi-thodox, and was on terms of exchange with a number of them till near the close of his active ministry. Of the extent of his influence in the Church at large some idea may bo formed from the fact that he was a member and modeiator of a greater num- ber of ecclesiastical councils than perhaps any other minister of his da}'. He was an earnest patriot, and zealousl}' devoted to the cause of the American Revolution, and of our National Independence and Union. It may be mentioned, as an evidence of the high attainments and character of Dr. Cummings, that, previous to the election of Dr. Willard to the Presi- dency of Harvard College, he had been named by a number of influential individuals as a candidate for that oflice; but he respectfully declined the nomination. Please to accept the assurance of my great respect. JOSEPH RICHARDSON. FROM THE REV. ARIEL ABBOT, D. D. Peterborough, N. II., September 16, 1857. • My dear Sir : You ask me to tell you what I remember concerning the late Dr. Cummings of Billerica. My recollection of him goes back to the time when I was fitting for College at the Andover Academy; but I do not remem- ber to have had any personal intercourse Avith him till after I had commenced preaching. In my journeys from Coventry to the Eastern part of Massachu- setts, where many of my relatives resided, I frequently passed through Bille- rica, and. whenever it was convenient, called upon Dr. Cummings, and never failed to be interested and gratified by his conversation. 60 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. Ho was, in his personal appearance, rather unusually commanding. He was large, well proportioned and athletic, and there was an air of conscious strength and independence about him that was little fitted to invite an assault. And his mind was in keeping with his body, — prolific of strong, bold thoughts, and ready for anj' enterprise that required energy of purpose or of action. He was understood to be an able mathematician. You could not see him, whether in the pulpit or out of it, without getting the impression that he was a man of might; — that he was formed to exert a powerful influence over his fellow men. I cannot say much of him as a Preacher from actual knowledge, my oppor- tunities for hearing him having been very limited, but I am safe in saying that his pulpit performances were much above the average standard of his day. His manner was simple, earnest and effective. His sermons were generally practical but argumentative, nor did he hesitate at all, on what he deemed suitable occasions, to state clearly his views of Christian doctrine. Some of his published sermons bear marks of a mind, trained not only to vigorous but profound thought. In his religious opinions he was decidedly an Arminian, and, as I have always understood, an Arian. He regarded Calvinism, in all its forms, with no inconsiderable aversion. I remember to have heard him speak of Edwards' Treatise on the Will, as being, in his opinion, nothing better than fatalism; and he added, with his characteristic earnestness, that, if he were an Atheist, he should want no better arguments than that work supplied, to sustain his atheistical theory. He was not only very agreeable and instructive in ordinary intercourse, but was sometimes very happy in giving direction to the depressed and per- plexed. A Deacon Abbot, who belonged to his Society, was subject to great depression of mind, and was sometimes ready to despair in respect to his spiritual state. On one of these occasions. Dr. Cummings visited him, and, after hearing the story of his doubts and anxieties, said to him, — "You believe that God will deal with you in a manner that is right and fitting, — do you not?" " Well, if you are to be cast off, as you insist that you shall be, you must have your portion among those who hate and blaspheme God — now, you surely could not be at home among those wicked beings — the com- pany which you would relish most, would be that of the wise and good, — those who love and reverence and obej"- God." To this the man could not but assent. " Then," said Dr. Cummings, " you may rest assured that you are' not fit for the foimer company, — that j'ou are fit for the latter; and God is too wise and good not to put j^ou in tlie right place." This mode of reasoning afforded to the man at least a temporary relief. Among the pleasant anecdotes which I heard him relate was the following: — In a neighbouring parish a minister had received an invitation to settle, who was known to be a somewhat zealous Hopkinsian. A member of the parish, who supposed himself an old-Oxshioned Calvinist, called on Dr. Cummings to express his dissatisfaction with the minister whom the parish had chosen. " I am a Calvinist," said he, " but this Ilopkinsianism I cannot endure;" and then went on to state several things which he considered included in it. Dr. Cummings immediately took down from his lil)rary a book containing the doctrines of the Arminian school, on the several points to which he had refer- red, and read them to him, and the man exclaimed with great apparent satis- faction, that " those were liis views exactly." He then took down another book, and read from it the peculiar views of Calvin on the same points, and his visitor declared that tliat was .the very system Avhicli their Hopkinsian minister was preaching to tliem. The Doctor then, in a good natured way, revealed to tlie man the secret that he M^as an Arminian. Dr. Cumming's influence was felt on society at large, and perhaps nowhere HENRY CUMMINGS. 61 more than in ecclesiastical councils. And this reminds me of another anec dote that may serve to illustrate some traits of his character. A council was called to ordain the Rev. Mr. Raynolds at Wilmington. Mr. R. had studied under Dr. Backus of Somers, and seems to have been more of a Ilopkiusian than his instructor. The council called to ordain him consisted chiefly of ministers in the neighbourhood, a majority of whom were probably Armiuians, and they were so little satisfied with the examination of the candidate, and Avithal there was so little unanimity in the Society, that they voted not to proceed with the ordination. The church, still determined on having him settled, voted to retain the former council, but to add to it a sufficient number of the stricter party to secure the preponderance on that side. Several of tlie Arminian bretliren, and among them Dr. Cummings, refused to attend. Dr. Backus, who preached on the occasion, found it convenient, on his second journey to Wilmington, to call and pass the night with Dr. Cummings. ITo found him very hospitable and agreeable, and, in the course of the evening, the conversation turned upon the doings of the preceding council at Wilming- ton. Says Dr. Backus, " I am surprised that you gentlemen, who profess to be so liberal, should have acted so illiberal a part in refusing to ordain a man because he differed from you in opinion; if it had been we stiff-backs, who make no pretentions to liberality, it would not have been strange." Says Dr. Cummings, with great good nature, — " Oh, when we are among stiff-backs, we must be stiff-backs too." I heard Dr. Backus relate the incident at a meet- ing of tlie Tolland Ascociation, and he seemed to have been much amused b}' it. Notwithstanding Dr. Cummings was urbane and pleasant in his general intercourse, he is understood to have been a somewhat ri^id domestic disciplin- arian. His children were under more than common restraint, and possibly more than conduced to their advantage. Of course this indicated no lack of parental affection, though perhaps it was a mistake in judgment. Truly yours, ABIEL ABBOT. FROM THE REV. NATHANIEL WHITMAN. Bridgewater, Mass., February 6, 1852. Rev. and dear Sir: My acquaintance with my venerable colleague. Dr. Cum- mings, commenced in the summer of 1813, and continued without interruption till the time of his death. It was thus my privilege to enjoy the most inti- mate, confidential and delightful intercourse with him during a period of ten years. I suppose I shall meet j'our wishes best by tasking my memory for some of the incidents illustrative of his character, which fell under my obser- vation, or came within my knowledge. One of the most prominent traits of Dr. Cummings' character was his inflex- ible adherence to general rules. He used often to say to me that one of the great deficiencies among Christians was their making exceptions to general rules too easily, and without a wise consideration of consequences. The effect of this was that he was never thoroughly understood by those who saw him only at a distance. Let me illustrate: — To accommodate the aged members of the church, he proposed, soon after his ordination, to omit the Communion service in the winter season, and to increase the number of Communion occasions in tlie pleasanter parts of the year. But the aged members said <« No; we want the Communion in the winter as well as the summer. A short time after this, the Communion happened on a Sabbath which was extremely stormy and uncomfortable. The Deacon called upon him in the morning and said, — " You will, of course. Sir, postpone the Communion — nobody can get to meeting to-day." His answer 62 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. ■was, — "No, the Communion will not bo j^ostponed; they have deliberately decided that the}'' will have the Communion during the winter season — that is our rule, and I shall conform to it." Whenever he went to take tea with a faniil}'-, if he happened to sa_y, when he arrived, as he very frequently did, — «< I must start for home at such a time," start he would, whether he had had his tea or not; and no entreaties could prevail to alter his determination. He would sometimes be requested to shorten the afternoon exercises on the Sab- bath, on account of a funeral which was to succeed them; but his answer would he, unless special reasons forbade, — " No, I shall not subordinate the established worship of God to such arrangements. You will soon want me to dispense with the afternoon service altogether on such occasions — I see no reason in such a request — we must maintain the regular worship — I will be at the funeral in good season." He w^as accustomed religiously to observe Sabbath evening; but to be prepared for perfect freedom, in all respects, for the enjoyment and improvement of the Sabbath, he would bring all worldly matters to a stand early Saturday evening; not, however, because he was nar- row-minded or superstitious, but because he was just the opposite. His family must always all go to meeting. But a formal and warm dinner must also be prepared; because he might see some friend, or some stranger, at meeting, whom it would be his duty to ask home to dine with him. So the difficulty of the case was thus met — the dinner was partly prepared in the morning, and hastily finished at noon. Thus both these general rules were observed, ever after I knew him. A few days before his death, he said to his grand- daughters who had the care of him, — " Is the house ready.' I wish every thing to be arranged, so that when the solemn scene shall come, you may be able to be still and meditate." And so it was in respect to every thing — he adhered to general rules, — sometimes doubtless too rigidly: but, in doing so, he was evidently governed by the sternest convictions of right; and the occasional errois into which the principle may have led him, were not«such as to mater- ially affect his u.«efulness. The theological controversy of Dr. Cummings' day related, I suppose, more especially to the subject of Moral Agency. In this controversy, he was prom- inent among those divines who maintained the Arminian view of the subject. He examined Edwards on the Will with great care, and wrote a Review of it, which he highly valued, containing condemnatory strictures. A few years after he was ordained, he became dissatisfied with the Trinitarian views in which he had been educated; and, having procured Waterland, and what- ever other standard authors were within his reach, he spent a good part of a year in a critical examination of the subject. Not being satisfied with the result, he betook himself to the diligent study of the sacred records; and he finally rested in the conclusion that the revealed doctrine is that there is one God, the Father, and one Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. He had no fondness for any human theory whatever on the subject of the union of the Father and Son; though he certainly was not a Humanitarian. On a visit which I paid to Dr. Cummings not long before his death, I took the liberty to ask him if there was any thing remarkable in the manner of his first becoming interested in religion. Pale and feeble, he raised his head a little from his pillow, and, with tears copiously rolling down his withered cheeks, he made me the following answer: — "It was in a way of God's blessing on a Christian education. T should have been an infidel, had it not been for my mother. She used to keep me reading daily in the New Testament, while she set before me a truly Christian example. I was thus trained up to believe that the New Testament contained a Divine revelation; and I was sat- isfied that such a religion was worthy of all acceptation, because I saw its blessed influences in my mother's character, and in her deep solicitude for HENRY CUMMINGS. 63 the salvation of her children. I was thus," he continued, " saved from the paths of the destroj^er, until, as I grew up, I became wholly persuaded and enabled to become a Christian, through a Divine blessing on my own earnest attention to the subject." Ilis language to strangers who called upon him in his decline, was, — " I am not in bondage through fear of death." To me he would say, — " I feel as sure of future felicity as I do of my future existence. My religion is ingrained with the very elements of my moral being — in order to take my religion from me, it would be necessary to tear my soul, fibre from fibre." By this way of speaking, he designed to say that he had the witness in himself that Christ was formed within him, the hope of his glory; for he repudiated with infinite abhorrence all thought of personal merit — he regarded salvation as wholly of grace. He was deeply impressed with the fact that the sinner is prone to deceive himself — by building his hope of Hea- ven on a dead faith. Hence he was most pointed, solemn and earnest in urging the necessity of believing in Christ, with the heart, unto righteousness; declaring to his hearers, with all plainness, that, if their faith in Christ did not save them from sinning, neither would it save them from suffering. His preaching was eminently practical, because it was emphatically doctrinal. A spiritual lenovation, begun and carried forward, through the Spirit and grace of God, by the instrumentality of a supernatural revelation, — this was one of the great truths on which he loved to dwell. He intended, as he told me, to close his ministry by repeating a sermon from the text, — " By grace are j'e saved." He accordingly read it over and over again, the spring before his death, that he might be able to deliver it with ease and impressiveness; but his strength failed so rapidly that he was not able to deliver it at all. Dr. Cummings was remarkable for the impartiality of his friendship towards all his people, as well as for the dexterous manner in which he sometimes manifested it. It was customary, at an early period in the history of the town, to hold the town-meeting rMarch meeting) during the whole day. They would organize in the forenoon; and those living in the middle of the large town, (as its boundaries then were,) were accustomed to invite to dinner those who lived at a distance; and the minister used to practise the same civility in this respect as his neighbours. On one of the.se occasions, when he had a number of his parishioners sitting around his table, one of them, evidently with a view to exalt himself in the estimation of his minister, began to speak in a sort of confidential manner to him, to the disparagement of certain of his parishioners who were not present. The Doctor turned round, with groat dignity and sternness, and thus addressed his mistaken guest: — "I invited you to dine with me to day as a friend to me, and not as a slanderer of any of my people, all of whom I consider my friends." The reproof had the desired effect. Indeed, it was a proverbial saying among the people, — " Pour a bushel basket full of gossip and scandal down at the Doctor's door, and he will not stoop to pick it up." In every social and relative duty Dr. Cummings was most careful and con- scientious. He did not allow himself even to mention the name of an}^ one who had injured him, without special cause, lest he should say something incon- sistent with Christian forgiveness. I may add that, as an observer of the Sab- bath, as a venerator of Christian institutions and ordinances, few, if any, exceeded him. The first Sabbath of May, 1823, was our Communion. I asked him, on the morning of that day, if he proposed to attend meeting. Ilis reply was, — <« I am not well enough to go, for I am very feeble: I shall nevertheless make the attempt, because it is Communion day. I will go, if I can, to show my regard .and veneration for the ordinance." He went, took his seat in a pew, and seemed to enjoy the services of the occasion. As we walked from the house 64 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. of God to our homes, after the service, he said to me, — " I shall never again unite witli you in public worship on earth — my departure is near." He then, till we reached home, continued speaking with deep gratitude of the goodness and mercy of God towards him during his long life. "We never did worship together in public after that day. He was at meeting indeed, a part of the next Sunday, but I exchanged. Let me say, in this connection, that he was an open and earnest enemy to that pscudo something, which would destroy a practical regard to the institutions and ordinances of Christianity. He used to say, — The farther a tiue civilization advances, the greater will be the prac- tical devotion to these institutions and ordinances; for so will their importance, beauty and utility be more clearly seen and more deeply felt. While he rejoiced in many of the signs of the times, there were some which did not give him pleasure; yet he delighted to anticipate a holier and happier period of the Church and of the nations. While he held his own opinions firmly, he ■was eminently a lover of all good men, however they might differ from him in their theological speculations. I must not omit to say that I found in him every thing I could desire in a colleague. An incident which now occurs to me may illustrate the graceful and dignified manner in which he retired, in a great measure, from the scenes of public and official life. The week after my ordination, I was dining with him; and, while at the table, he said to me, — " Where have you been this fore- noon.^" Answering according to my then predominant feelings, I said, — "I have been to visit one of your people who is sick." Laying down his knife and fork, and turning round so as to look me full in the face, he said, with an expression of countenance and an emphasis which I shall never forget, — " Our people." He did not add another word. I comprehended his design in a moment. It was to encourage me to cherish a feeling of equality with him in our joint labours. And when he thought that there had been time for his remark to take effect, he began to talk with me about my people, and to inquire when a labour of love from him would be most acceptable to me; for he preached occasionally for several years after I was settled. And he always endeavoured so to arrange in respect to the time of his preaching as to afford me the greatest relief and assistance. He laboured also continually among my people to promote both m}'^ comfort and usefulness. Said he to me, one day, — " I have been out among the people, generalling for you." Yes, from first to last, he used to be generalling for me. Indeed, he appeared to take more satisfaction when any tiling occurred that seemed a favour to me, than when he was the immediate object of the favour himself. I remember him with the "Warmest gratitude and veneration, and shall be glad if wlrat I have written is any help to you in your attempt to embalm his memory. Yours with sincere regard, NATHANIEL WHITMAN. SIMEON HOWARD. 65 SIMEON HOWARD, D. D. 1762—1804. FROM THE REV. JOHN PIERCE, D. D. Brookline, February 15, 1849. My dear Sir: I was contemporary in the ministry with Dr. Howard of Boston for several years, and have still a vivid recollection of his venera- ble appearance. He was far advanced in life at the time of my settlement here, and my intercourse with him was that of a young man with an old one ; but I think I may safely trust myself to say a few things in respect to both his history and his character. Simeon Howard was a native of Bridgewater, in this State, and was born, April 29, (0. S.,) 1733. He entered Harvard College in 1754, and, having maintained through his wliole course a high standing for scholar- ship, graduated with distinguished honour in 1768. After leaving Col- lege, he engaged for a time in teaching a school ; and, probably in connec- tion with his duties as a teacher, prosecuted the study of Theology. Hav- ing received approbation to preacli, he was invited to labour for a time in Cumberland, Nova Scotia, and, his health being in a state to be benefitted, as he thought, by a sea-voyage, he accepted the invitation, and continued there, it is believed, between one and two years. Here he made many friends, and they would gladly have detained him permanently among them, but he preferred to return to this country. Accordingly, he did return, in 1765, and went to Cambridge to prosecute his studies as a resident graduate. The next year, he was elected Tutor, at the same time with Mr. (after- wards President) Willard. In February, 1767, he was unanimously invited to become the Pastor of the West Church in Boston, then vacant by the- death of Dr. Mayhew, which had occurred the preceding year. This invi- tation he accepted. He was ordained on tlie 6th of May following, and the Sermon on the occasion was preached by Dr. Chauncy. The ministry of Dr. Howard in Boston was painfully interrupted by the scenes of the Revolution. While the British troops were in possession of the town, the house in which he preached was turned into a barrack, and his congregation scattered in every direction. Having made many friends in Nova Scotia, during his previous residence there, and having been once or twice applied to to send them a minister, he proposed to some of his parishioners who seemed disheartened by a view of the sad state of things,, to retire with him thither for a refuge ; and, though he was scarcely seri- ous, at the moment, in making the proposal, they, in their despondency,, instantly fell in with it, and the arrangements were quickly made for their departure. As Dr. Howard was known to be a decided Whig, it was not without some difficulty that he obtained permission to leave the country- He, however, at length succeeded, and, after a tedious voyage of a month, arrived with his friends at Annapolis Royal. They found the inhabitants in a state of want, almost approaching starvation ; and yet they were received with great kindness, and as much hospitality as the distressing pressure of the times would permit. They soon passed on to the place of their desti- VoL. vin. 6 66 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. nation, which was eighteen miles up the river, where also the people, though greatly straitened for the necessaries of life, met them with every expres- sion of good-will, and provided them with the best accommodations they could furnish. Shortly after his arrival, he was arrested and carried to Halifax, in con- sequence, as was supposed, of a letter written by General Gage to the Gov- ernor of the Province, after Mr. Howard's application to go to Nova Sco- tia had been refused, and from an apprehension that he might make his escape privately. After his request was granted, the Governor wrote a second letter, which, though it did not arrive in season to prevent his arrest, was the occasion of his being immediately liberated. He was treated with great respect while he was in Halifax, and preached in one of the churches. He discovered, as he thought, an impatient and restive spirit among the people, that might easily have been wrought up to open rebellion ; but, as he honestly believed that any such hostile demonstration would only ren- der their case worse, he endeavoured rather to soothe them by sympathy than encourage them to revolt. On his return to Boston, after an absence of nearly a year and a half, he found his Society so far reduced in numbers, from death, emigration and other causes, that they were seriously apprehensive that they should be obliged to disband, from their inability to support the ministry. He refused, however, to listen to such a suggestion, assuring them that he would receive whatever compensation they could give him, and would con- tinue Avith them while three families remained. He further agreed " to accept the contribution that should, from time to time, be collected and paid him during his ministry, as a full compensation, any agreement with the Society previously made notwithstanding." The Society, as they recov- ered their strength, did not forget the generous sacrifices which he had .made in their behalf. He died after an illness of a week, on the 13th of August, 1804, in the seventy-second year of his age. On the Monday previous, he dined at the house of a friend, and was apparently in perfect health. But, in conse- •quence, as was supposed, of some imprudence in respect to his dress, he was seized with a violent disease, {angina 'pectoris,) which resisted all medi- cal skill. His Funeral was attended on Wednesday, the 15th, and a Ser- •mon preached on the occasion by his particular friend, President Willard, from Ptevelation ii, 10.. There was every demonstration of respect to his mcniory, not only among his own people but in the community at large ; and many of the sliops and stores were closed in the streets through which •the funeral procession passed. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by the Uni- ■versity of Edinburgh. He was an Overseer and a Fellow of Harvard •Colleg'e, and was a member of most of our Societies for tlie promotion .of literary, charitable and religious objects, and an officer of several of them. Dr. Howard was first married in December, 1771, to the widow of Dr. Mayhew, his predecessor. She died in April, 1777, at the age of forty- four. His second wife was the daughter of his early friend, Dr. Gay, of Hingham. He left one son, Dr. John Clarke Howard, sometimes called SIMEON HOWARD. 67 " the beloved physician," who was graduated at Harvard College in 1790, and'died ia 1810, aged thirty-eight years. Dr. Howard, ia his religious opinions, was probably always an Arian. During the earlier part of his ministry, he did not belong to the Boston Association, as his predecessor had not done. It appears from the records of the Asso'ciation that, in August, 1784, a Committee, appointed at a for- mer meeting, " to wait on him, and know whether he wished to join the Association, reported that they had attended to that service, and the Rev. 3Ir. Howard would take the matter into consideration." It appears fur- ther that, in July, 1790, Dr. Howard signified his desire tobecome a mem- ber, and was admitted, accordingly, and preached the Thursday Lecture. The fact of his not joining the Association at an earlier period was not owing to any want of good- will towards his brethren, but probably to the peculiar circumstances in which he found himself placed, as the successor of Dr. Mayhew, in whose theological views he was known to sympathize. As a Preacher, Dr. Howard was far from being, in the common accepta- tion of the word, eloquent. He seldom took his eyes from his manu- script during the delivery of a sermon. His style, however, was per- spicuous and flowing, and his method exact and luminous. His sermons were generally on practical subjects, though he was undoubtedly more free in the statement of his peculiar views than most of his contemporaries. His prayers were uttered with great solemnity, and occasionally with con- siderable pathos. At the Funeral of Dr. John Clarke, whose sudden death greatly affected him, and again on the occasion of a Commencement at Cambridge, when his friend President Willard lay dangerously ill. I remem- ber his praying with a degree of fervour and tenderness that awoke the sympathies of nearly the whole audience. Dr. Howard was distinguished for a truly patriarchal simplicity of char- acter. No one ever suspected him of seeming to aim at one object when he was really aiming at another. He evidently had a humble opinion of himself, though he had nothing of that spurious humility that leads some men to be forever ostentatiously acknowledging their own imperfections. He was charitable in his estimate of character, and never imputed evil motives when any other could possibly be supposed. He was bland and gentle in his manners; calm and equable in his temper. He was cheerful without levity, and serious without gloom. He was more inclined to listen than to speak ; and when he did speak, he rarely, if ever, said any thing wliich either he or his friends had occasion to regret. His parishioners loved him as a brother and honoured him as a father ; his brethren in the ministry always met him with a grateful and cordial welcome ; and the com- munity at large reverenced him for his simplicity, integrity and benevolence. The following is a list of Dr. Howard's publications: — A Sermon preached at the Artillery Election, 1773. A Sermon occa- sioned by the Death of his Wife, 1777. A Sermon preached before a Lodge of Free Masons, 1778. Christians have no cause to be ashamed of their Religion : A Sermon, 1779. A Sermon preached on the day of the Gene- ral Flection, 1780. A Sermon preached at the Ordination of Thomas Adams,* 1791. I am faithfully yours, JOHN PIERCE. * Thomas Adams was a native of E-oxbury; was graduated at Harvard College in 1788; was ordained at Camden, S. C, November 18, 1791; and died August 16, 1797. 68 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. JOHN LATHROP, D. D. 1765—1816. FROM THE REV. JOHN PIERCE, D. D. Brookline, January 8, 1849. My dear Sir : In complying with your request for my recollections of Dr. John Lathrop, I am able to avail myself of some memoranda respect- ing him which I made shortly after his death. I cherish the most sincere respect for his memory, and am glad you have given me an opportunity to testify it through your contemplated work. He had a high place in the hearts of his brethren, and was regarded with much veneration by the community at large. John Lathrop was born of reputable parents in Norwich, Conn,, May 17, 1740, and was the youngest but one of ten sons. It was his purpose, in early life, to devote himself to the medical profession, and he even commenced his studies with reference to it, but subsequently resolved to enter the ministry. Accordingly, he became in due time a member of Princeton College, where he received his Bachelor's degree in 1763. For some months after his graduation, he was engaged as an assistant teacher with the Rev. Dr. Wheelock, in Moor's Indian Charity School, at Lebanon, Conn., and, at the same time, availed himself of Dr. Wheelock's instruction in Theology. After he received approbation to preach, he laboured, for a short time, as a missionary among the Indians, and, ia 1767, was invited to settle both at Taunton and Reading, — both of which invitations, however, he declined. Shortly after, he preached as a can- didate at the Old North Church in Boston, from which he received a unanimous call; and, having accepted the call, was ordained, May 18, 1768. In 1775, when Boston was in possession of the British army, he set out to find a refuge in his native place ; but, as he was passing through Providence on his way to Norwich, proposals were made to him to supply a destitute congregation there, to which he consented. Upon the opening of Boston, in 1776, however, he returned ; and, in the mean time, the ancient house in which he had been accustomed to preach had been demo- lished and used as fuel. It was ninety-eight years old ; but was consid- ered, " at its demolition, a model of the first architecture in New England." Mr. Lathrop accepted an invitation from the New Brick Church, to aid their Pastor, Dr. Pemberton, then in a declining state. And, after Dr. Pemberton's death in the following year, the two Societies united ; and, on the 27th of June, 1779, he became their joint Pastor. In this relation he continued during the remainder of his life. He received a Diploma of Doctor of Divinity from the University of Edinburgh, in 17 84. I have it on the authority of the late Dr. Eliot, that, in early life, Dr. Lathrop embraced the Calvinistic faith. Indeed, considering that he was born and received his early education in Connecticut, where scarcely any other form of doctrine was then known, it would have been strange had the case been otherwise. At what period in his ministry the JOHN LATHROP. 69 change in his views took place, I am unable to say — hut that he actually did become an Arminian, and, in some sense, a Unitarian, is, I believe, beyond all doubt. He may have been an Arian or a Sabellian, or a believer in the " Indwelling scheme," as it has been called ; but of the particuhir type of his Unitarianism I cannot speak with confidence. He said little on these subjects in private ; and, so far as my knowledge extends, nothing at all in public. His settlement in Boston brought him in contact with such men as Doctors Chauncy, Howard, Eliot, Belknap, Clarke, and others of a similar stamp ; and, as he was on terms of the most intimate intercourse with them, his opinions, perhaps, insensibly to him- self, came into essential harmony with theirs. Dr. Lathrop's preaching was rather practical than doctrinal; rather sen- sible than ornate. His sermons were short, not ordinarily exceeding twenty-five minutes in the delivery. There was little of the appearance of labour about them ; and the thoughts whicdi he expressed, though judi- cious and pertinent, were generally obvious to ordinary minds, and par- took, like (he character of his own mind, more of correctness than origi- nalit}'. His manner of speaking in the pulpit was deliberate, but some- times animated ; though it lacked perhaps somewhat the simplicity of nature. His devotional performances were generally appropriate and acceptable. He was an ardent patriot. Of the scenes of the Kevolution he was far from being an indifferent spectator ; but, on the contrary, he mingled in thuiii with great zeal, as far as would consist with his sacred vocation. Froui the time of the furmatiou of the Federal Constitution, he was a uni- form and ardent disciple of Washington. During tlie War of 1812, he was, like most of his brethren, convinced that our government was greatly in fault, and hesitated not to speak out his convictions, both in public and in private. Dr. Lathrop exerted no inconsiderable influence in his day ; but he was indebted for it rather to his uniforml}^ judicious course than to any remarka- ble intellectual endowments or acquiren)ents. In his intercourse with society at large he was blameless and inoffensive, generous and public- spirited. With his ministerial brethren he maintained the most affection- ate familiarity ; and even the youngest of them, while he bowed befure his venerable age, felt attracted to his kind and open heart. In his family he ■was a model of whatever is fitted to render happy and useful the most endearing relations. For years before his death, he moved about as a very Patriarch among us, and his presence in any circle never failed to inspire respect and reverence. Dr. Lathrop discharged regularly and acceptably his various duties until within a very short time of his death. The last business in which he was engaged was at a meeting of the Corporation of Harvard College, at the house of the Hon. Judge Davis. He complained there of violent chills, and expressed an apprehension that the fever and ague, from which he had pre- viously suffered, was about to return upon him. He refused an invitation to ride home in a carriage, hoping that the exercise of walking would excite a salutary perspiration ; but it was with much difficulty that he reached his own dwelling. His case was immediately pronounced by his physicians a lung fever. He alternately languished, and exhibited symptoms of 70 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. recruiting, for twenty-fwo days, when tlie lamp of life went out. He died on Thursday, the 4th of January, 1816, in the seventy-sixth year of his age, and forty-eighth of his ministry. His Funeral was attended on the succeeding Tuesday, and a Sermon preached on the occasion by the Rev. Francis Parkman, from Zechariah, i, 5, " Your fathers, — where are they?" • It was published. In 1778, he became a Fellow of tlie Corporation of Harvard Univer- sity, which station he filled till his death. He was, for nniny years. Secre- tary of the Board. He was also one of the Counsellors of the* American Academy of Arts and Sciences; President of the Massachusetts Congrega- tional Charitable Society, and of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge ; Vice President of the Massachusetts Bible Society, and of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in North America ; Member of the Scotch Board of Commissioners, of the American Antiquarian Society, &c. The following is a list of his publications : — A Sermon occasioned by the Boston Massacre, 1770. A Sermon to a Religious Society of Young Men at Medford, 1771. An Artillery Elec- tion Sermon, 1774. A Thanksgiving Sermon, 1774. 'A Sermon on the Fifth of March, 1778. A Sermon on the Death of his Wife, 1778. A Sermon at the Ordination of William Bentley, 1783. A Discourse occa- sioned by the Return of Peace, 1783. A Discourse before the Humane Society of Massachusetts, 1787. A Catechism for the use of Children, (2 editions,) 1791 and 1813. The Dudleian Lecture at Harvard College, 1793. A Discourse addressed to the Charitable Fire Society, 1796. A Sermon on Fires in Boston, 1797. A Fast Sermon occasioned by the Yel- low Fever, 1798. A Sermon on the National Fast, 1799, A Sermon on the Commencement of the Nineteenth Century, (in two parts,) 1801. A Sermon before the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, 1804. A Sermon before the Boston Female Asylum, 1804. A Sermon at the Dismission of the Rev. Joseph McKean, at Milton, 1804. A Ser- mon at the Interment of the Rev. Samuel West, D. D., 1808. A Thanks- giving Sermon, 1808. A Sermon on the Death of his Wife, Mrs. Eliza- beth Lathrop, 1809, A Sermon at the Interment of the Rev. Dr. Eckley, 1811. A Thanksgiving Sermon, 1811, A Discourse delivered on the Author's Birthday, 1812. Two Fast Sermons occasioned by the War of 1812-15, 1812. A Sermon on the Death of the Rev. John Eliot, D. D., 1813. Biographical Memoir of the Rev. John Lothrop, 1813. A Ser- mon at the Dedication of a Church iu Dorchester, 1813. A Sermon on the Law of Retaliation, 1814. A Sermon preached at Weymouth, at the Interment of Miss Mary P. Bicknell, 1814. A Thanksgiving Sermon on the Return of Peace. 1815. A Compendious History of the late War, 1815. In addition to the above may be mentioned several Charges, &c., at Ordinations, delivered at different periods of his ministry, and some valua- ble communications to the American Acadeniy, which are embodied in their Collections. I am very truly yours, JOHN PIERCE. Several letters addressed by Dr. Lathrop, at an early period of his min- istry, to the Rev. Ebenezer Baldwin, of Danbury, Conn., have come into my possession, the following extracts from which may help to illustrate JOHN LATHROP. 71 Bome points of his history, and especially the allusions, in Dr. Pierce's let- ter, to his early religious opinions. In a letter dated, Boston, June 28, 1768, he writes thus : — "I really hope and believe you will prove a warm defender of the Gospel; and, Oh, my friend, men of this character are much wanted. For my part, I had ratlicr bii thought a little enthusiastic than sutler the words of life to freeze on my U\)s. I am sorry, in these days of delusion, to hear so many plead for moderation. Pray have you read Dr. Witherspoon's Characteristics? If you have, you will find many char- acters in this part of the world painted out very exactly. That little pamphlet 1 value at a high price, and wish that every minister on the Continent would read it once a month. My dear brother, we are engaged in a glorious cause, we have a good Master to serve, and what shall hinder our being faithful ?" In another letter, dated January 20th, 1769, he writes thus : — " You mention that you hear that the Convention of Ministers in the Province have actually voted to lay aside all creeds and confessions. I wLsh there was not too mucli occasion tor such a report. They did not actually vote to lay aside creeds and con- fessions. They have been pretty generally laid aside; and the motion was to revive them, and that candidates should be examined and introduced in the manner they arc in Connecticut. This was urged by Dr. Sewall and Mr. Pemberton; it was also opposed by others; but, the forenoon being spent, a vote was desired whether the mat- ter should be considered again alter dinner, and passed quite full that it should not. As soon as it was passed, one of the Convention declared his most earnest hoj^e that the matter might ntiver be laid before the Convention again. However, he need not have showed himself in that manner, for if it should be while the Convention consists of ministers now upon the stage, there is no manner of prospect that a vote can be obtained to bring creeds and confessions into use. " You mention my being fixed in tiie midst of a crooked, &c. generation. I assure you, it is a matter of wonder with me that the clergy are not farther from the charac- ter of Gospel ministers; and I apprehend, if some reform is not come into a few gen- rations, if salaries being small should not prevent it, the pulpits will frequently bo filled not only with Arminians, but professed Arians, Socinians, and even Deists them- selves." In another letter, dated Boston, 1 August, 1771, he writes, — " I can but think good Van Mastricht is right in his sentiments about Regeneration — it is a subject of great importance: I wish to understand it well, and constantly to feel that Divine power which alone is sutiicient to produce the change, operating on my heart." In a letter dated Boston, Septeniber, 6, 1771, he writes, — " I have but just returned from the Eastern parts of this Province. I was invited to attend as a member of a Council on some public business. We went about three hundred miles, and had an opportunity of seeing how the poor people lived three or four months out of twelve, upon potatoes and clams. I preached in some places wliere there had not been a sermon i)reached for seven or eight years. It does, or at least it should do. us good to see how many of our fellow creatures struggle for a very subsistence." I met Dr. Lathrop first in May, 1811, when I went to deliver to him the letter missive, designed to secure his attendance at the second Council at Coventry, in the case of the Rev. Abiel Abbot. I was accoiupanied to his house by the Rev. Mr. Buckminster, who, I found, held him in high veneration. Our call interrupted him in writing a Discourse which he was to deliver a day or two after, at the Funeral of Dr. Eckley. He came out of his study, habited in an old fashioned plaid gown, and almost the first thing he said was that he had begun Dr. Eckley's Funeral Sermon, but was making very poor headway in it, as his mind was not in working order. His manners were full of simple kindness, and I thought him one of the most venerable men in his appearance whom I had ever seen. He came to Coventry as a member of the Council, and, being the oldest mem- ber, was appointed Moderator. The feature of his character that novr 72 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. seems to me to have been most prominent there, was his love of peace, — his earnest desire to avoid all needless occasion of oflFcnce. His prayers — for I think I heard him pray more than once — were remarkable for their simplicity, and the earnest tone in which tliey were delivered. I never saw him after this, but when I became associated in the nnuistry witli liis relative, the Rev. Dr. Lathrop, of West Springfield, I often heard him speak of him in terms of affectionate regard, and he was never willing to admit that he had departed much, if at all, from the accredited standard of orthodoxy, FROM THE REV. CHARLES LOWELL, D. D. Cambridge, February 28, 1853. My dear Sir: You asked me, some time since, to furnish j-ou with my recol- lections of Dr. Lathrop of Boston, and it has not been from any disregard to your wishes, or want of affectionate respect for his memory, that I have not done it at an earlier period. He comes up vividly before me, and the outline of his character is indelibly impressed on my memory. Dr. Lathrop was, in manj^ respects, an uncommonly interesting man; — inter- esting not from the fluency or wit or brilliancy of his conversation, although his words were always wise and pleasant; but from the sweetness of his dis- position, the gentleness of his manners, and the simplicity and purity of his mind and heart. Whilst his age and the venerableness of his appearance inspired respect and reverence, his benignant countenance, and gentle, winning address, conciliated confidence and affection. There was a childlike simplicity about him, without any thing of childishness, and a remarkable cheerfulness "without any thing of levity. I have often been with him alone and in com- pany, and I feel assured that I never heard a word or witnessed an action from him, that I could wish unsaid or undone. In his old age, he retained his youthful feelings, and adapted himself wonderfully to circumstances in his intercourse with his j^ounger brethren. They could be as free with him, so far as his seniority allowed them, as with one another. He used often to say that, though he had lost all the associates and friends of earlier life, he did not feel alone: his younger brethren supplied the places of those who were gone, and he was hardly .sensible of any diffeienc*. The truth is, his own disposition, in a good measure, brought about this result. He made others easy and happy by his intercourse with them, and there was a reflex influence on himself. His junior brethren, to the close of life, sustained and cheered him, under God, as Aaron and Hur held up the arms of Moses till the going down of the sun. In stature Dr. Lathrop was rather tall, his features were large, his eyes and eyebrows dark, if not black. When I first knew him, he wore the full-bot- tomed white whig, such as was usually worn by the elderly ministers of that time; but some years before his death, he wore his own hair, silvered by age, extending over his neck behind, but not flowing. His countenance had the floridness of a temperate and healthy old age. It was my privilege to be with him in his last sickness, and to offer at his bedside probably the last praj-er he heard on earth. When I entered his chamber, he extended liis hand to me, and smiled, as he had always smiled when he met me; addressing me in words to this effect, — "I am glad to see you, my friend," adding, as alas! was manifest — " I am going; but I am not afraid or unwilling to die." lie continued to speak for some time in words full of consolation and hope; and, with such words upon his lips, he shortly after breathed out his spirit. I am afiectionately yours, CHARLES LOWELL. JEREMY BELKNAP. 73 JEREMY BELKNAP, D. D.^ 1766—1798. Jeremt Belknap, the eldest child of Joseph and Sarah (Byles) Bel- knap, was born in Boston, June 4, 1744, His niotlier was a niece of the celebrated Dr. Mather Bjles, whose fame, as a wit at least, is well nigh universal. His father's occupation was that of a leather-dresser and dealer in furs and skins. Both his parents were members of the Old South Church, were persons of most exemplary Christian character, and lived to a good old age, to enjoy, for many years, the devoted filial attentions of the subject of this sketch. After having been, for some time, under the instruction of that cele- brated teacher, Master Lovell, young Belknap entered Harvard College, at the close of 1758, when he was only in his fifteenth year. His college course was marked by exemplary diligence and great proficiency ; and some of his literary exercises, that have been preserved, indicate that high sense of obligation to do good, that was so strikingly manifested in his whole subsequent life. He was graduated in July, 1762 ; and, immediately after, took charge, as a teacher, of the grammar school at Milton. Here he continued, with the exception of a brief interval during the next winter, until March, 1764. He was greatly esteemed as a teacher, and enjoyed the good will and confidence not only of his pupils, but of the whole com- munity in which he lived. One of his pupils was Peter Thacher, after- wards the Rev. Dr. Thacher of Brattle Street Church, Boston ; and, though he was at the time only twelve years old, there grew up between him and his teacher an aff"ectionate intimacy, that was a source of mutual enjoyment and benefit during the residue of their lives. About the close of the year 1764, he undertook the instruction of an English school at Portsmouth, N. H., and became a boarder in the family of the llev. (afterwards Dr.) Samuel Haven. The next summer, he accepted an invitation to take charge of a school at Greenland, a few miles from Portsmouth ; and here he continued till he entered on the duties of the ministr}'. In his theological course, which was prosecuted in connec- tion with his duties as a teacher, he probably had some assistance from the respectable clergymen in whose parishes he resided. After his preparation for the ministry was considerably advanced, he seems to have had serious doubts whether he was not disqualified for the work, from the want of a renovated heart. In this state of mind, he addressed a letter, indicating the utmost perplexity, to his uncle, the Rev. Dr. Byles, begging for his advice in reference to the painful circumstances in which he found himself. The Doctor's answer, which is preserved, is highly creditable to both his discretion and his piety. While it recognizes the paramount importance of vital piety as a requisite for the sacred office, It evidently shows that the writer believed that his young friend was unne- cessarily writing bitter things against himself, and that he was looking for • Memoir by his Granddaughter. — Dr. Kirkland's Fun. Serm. — Mass. Hist. ColL VI. 74 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. eviiicncc of Clirislian character, wliicli perhaps he had no right to expect. The letter seems to have had some effect in relieving him from his appre- hensions ; though it was not without much trembling that he ventured to hold fust to his original purpose of entering tiie ministry. In his reply to Dr. Byles, he says, — " I hopn }'oiir prayers and the prayers of my other friends have been presented on the golden altar before the throne of God, and been accei)table to Ijini, as sweet incense. Piay to God for me that I may not be mistaken in a matter of sncli ever- lasting inii)ortance; that I may not build on a false ibundation. I sliould be glad of a personal converse with you on the important affairs of my soul and eternity, but am afraid that 1 should not be able to express my thoughts with that freedom and ease that you would expect and desire." In November, 1765, he was invited to take charge of a grammar-school iu Boston ; but he preferred his niore quiet situation at Greenland, and declined the invitation. About this time, however, he became deeply interested in the school at Lebanon, Conn., then recently established by the Rev. Eleazer AVheelock, for the education of the Indians; and, for a time, he had serious thoughts of connecting himself permanently with that enterprise. Though some of his friends favoured the project, yet others, and among them his own parents, strongly opposed it; and the result was that, after much reflection and consultation, he abandoned it altogether. Of his views in entering the ministry he has left the following record : — " It has been my constant, habitual tliought, ever since I was capable of judging, that' I sliould preach the Gospel. U'itli this view my parents educated me, and to this my friends have often lu'ged and i)ersuaded me; but for a long time all these things were in vain. I knew myself to be destitute of the grand fnudaitiental qualifi- cation of a true minisfer of the Gospel, and was determined never to undertake preach- ing until I had obtained o hope in Christ. A glorious discovery of the riclies and free- ness of Divine grace, and the infinite wortliiness of the Lord .Jesus Christ, whicli I trust was made to my soul by the Holy Spirit, at once changed my views and dispo- sitions; and, from that time, I devoted myself to the service of God, thinking it my duty to glorify God in this way. Jly qualiflcations have been judged of by others. My conscience acquits me of having any mercenary views: a decent, comfortable sub- sistence, while I continue in this vale of tears, is all the present reward that I desire." His first sermon veas preached at Portsmouth in the pulpit of his friend, the Rev. Mr. Haven, and, for several succeeding months, he was engaged chiefly in preaching for his brethren in different parishes in that neighbour- hood. His services met with uncommon acceptance ; and, in July, 1706, he was invited to preach at Dover, as an assistant of the Rev. Mr. Cash- ing,* who was disabled in a great measure, by bodily infirmity. He accepted the invitation, and, before the close of the following winter, received a formal call to settle as Mr. Cushing's colleague, which also, after mature reflection, he accepted. There was, however, one difiiculty in the way of his acceptance of the call, which, but for their very strong attach- ment to him, would probably have been insurmountable. The church had been accustomed to receive members on the plan of the Half Way Cove- nant; which, from a careful examination of the subject, he was fully per- suaded was unscriptural and of evil tendency. He distinctly announced to them that he could never practically recognize that principle, as a minister; that " he could admit none to the privilege of communion, unless they gave •Jonathan Gushing vra-s a native of Ilingham; was graduated at Harvard College in 1712; was ordained at L)ovcr, N. H., September 18, 1717; and died March 25, 1769, aged seventy- nine. JEREMY BELKNAP. 75 eviJence sufficient for a cliaritable hope that thoy had believed in Jesus to the saving of their souls." The church yielded to his wishes, and, from that time, the Half Way Covenant had no existence among them. His Ordination took place on the 18th of February, 1767. The Sermon on the occasion was preached by tlie Rev. Mr. Haven, of Portsmouth. In June succeeding his ordination, he was married to Ruth, daughter of Samuel Eliot, a respectable bookseller, of Boston. In 1772, in the prospect of a military review which was to take place at Dover, he was requested, by his intimate friend. Captain Waldron, to deliver a Discourse on the occasion. At first, he felt some conscientious scruples, doubting whether, as a minister of the Prince of Peace, he could consistently perform a service that might seem to lend some encouragement to war; but, wlien it occurred to him, on further reflection, that the most effectual way of preserving peace is to be ready for war, he waived his objections, and acceded to his friend's request. The Sermon was delivered in the presence of the Governor of the Province, and was afterwards, by request of the officers, published. Mr. Belknap was never otherwise than in straitened circumstances during the whole period of his residence at Dover. But it seems that then as in later years, the ladies were accustomed occasionally to make an extra ordinary effort in aid of the comfort of their minister and his family The following record by Mr. Belknap of a " spinning match at his house' may give some idea of the manner in which these friendly offices were then performed : " After the laudable example of the ladies in divers towns of this and the neiglibour- ing Provinces, on Thursday hist, about forty hxdies met at the minister's liouse in Dover, some of whom brought with them tlax and cotton to spin, and otliers tlie yarn ready spun; and, after spending tiie day in a very industrious and agreeable manner, they generously presented to Mrs. Belknaf) the fruits of their labour, whicii amounted to two hundred and forty-two skeins, of seven knots each, beside the surplus of their mate- rials, which the time did not allow them tos])iu. They behaved with the utmost order and decency, and were entertained with the best refreshments the season afforded, Avhich were kindly and plentifully supplied by those wlio were well wishers to industry." Mr. Belknap had been a diligent observer of that train of events in which the Revolution had its origin ; and, with the spirit of an earnest patriot, he was awake to every movement that betokened good or ill to his country. Not only his voice but his pen was put in requisition in behalf of the cause of freedom. During the excitement and distress occasioned by the Boston Port Act, he made a most impressive appeal to the sympa- thies of the people of New Hampshire, in aid of their afflicted friends of the neighbouring metropolis ; and, about the same time, he wrote an Address "To the Gentlemen of the Army, now encamped on Boston Com- mon," of the most home-thrusting and scathing character. Shortly after the commencement of hostilities, and while Boston was guarded by the British troops, he went thither in great haste, with a view to effect the removal of his parents ; and, after a detention of some time in the neigh- bourhood, he finally succeeded, though not without difficulty, in accomplish- ing his object. They both subsequently lived with him at Dover. His mother died in 1784, aged sixty-nine; his father in 1797, aged eighty.one. In July, 1775, he was chosen, by the New Hampshire Committee of Safety, to be Chaplain to their troops at Cambridge ; but, owing to his 76 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. precarious health, in connection with other circumstances, he felt constrained to decline the proffered honour. He, however, intimated his willingness to share such a service with the other ministers of the Province, provided Buch an arrangement should he thought best. In October following, he visited the camp at Cambridge, where he became acquainted with several of the most distinguished officers of the army, and had the honour of dining •with Dr. Franklin, who was there on public business, as one of a Committee from the Continental Congress. In July, 1784, he made a tour to the White Mountains, in company with six other gentlemen, — which, at that time, might yell deserve to be com- memorated as a feat in the line of travelling. Accordingly, we find that he has actually preserved a record of it, in considerable detail, in his third volume of the History of New Hampshire ; though he makes no allusion to the circumstance of his having himself been one of the party. In June, 1785, he preached the Annual Election Sermon before the General Court of New Hampshire, which was published. The subject of it was " the True Interest of the State, and the Best Means of Promoting its Pro:on as all that is essential to true orthodoxy, and a sufficient bond of union. How much farther Christ- ian charity may safely extend, it is not my present business to inquire." The following estimate of Dr. Belknap's character, as a minister, is frora. Dr. Kirkland's Sermon at his Funeral. '' How he magnified the office of the Christian ministry, you and others who enjoyed, his ministrations, who joined in his prayers, who listened to his preaching, and saw him in the private duties of his station, can better conceive than I describe. If a judicious and seasonable choice of subjects, pertinency of thoughts, clearness of method, and warmth of application; if language plain and perspicuous, polished and nervous;, if striking illustrations, if evangelical doctrines and motives; if a serious-ness and fer- vour evincing that the preacher's own mind was affected; if a pronunciation free and^ natural, distinct and emphatical, are excellences in public teaching, yo-a, my brethrerK Vol. VIII. 6 82 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. of this society, liavc possessed them in your deceased pastor. Your attention was never drawn from the great practical views of the Gospel by the needless introduction of controversial subjects, and your minds perplexed, nor your devotional feelings damped, by the cold subtleties of metaphysic. His preaching was designed to make you good and hajjpy, and not to gain your applause; whilst the manner as well as matter was suited to attl-ct the heart, no attempt was made to overbear your imagina- tions, and excite your passions by clanioious and affected tones. " You are witnesses what is lost no less in private conduct and example, than in public ministrations, how well his life became his doctrine; how the divine, moral and social virtues appeared in him in the various scenes of life, in the hours of adversity and in his intercourse with his people. You are witnesses how kind and inofleusive, yet plain and sincere, was his demeanour towards you; how tender and sympathetic were his feelings; tor he could say, — 'Who is weak and I am not weak? Who is offended and 1 burn not? Have I not wept with him who was in trouble?' You are witnesses how useful was his conversation, how simple and unafiected werehis manners. The sick are witnesses of his attention, his fidelity, and tenderness, in comforting the believing, in warning the sinner, and confirming the doubtful. The unreasonable and censorious are witnesses of his patience and indulgence; the unbelieving of his desire to convince them ; the afflicted and desi)ondent of the sweetness of his consolations and his gentle encouragement ; the poor of his ready advice and assistance, and, to the extent of his abilities, his alms; the rich of his Christian independence united with a becoming complaisance; and the profligate of his grief for their dei)ravity, of his utter disappro- bation of their characters." FROM THE HON. JOSIAH QUINCY, LL. 1)., PRESIDENT or HARVARD COLLEGE. Boston, 28th February, 1848. Dear Sir: I have but recently received your favour requesting my personal reminiscences of Dr. Belknap. They are few, and will add little to the knowl- edge of his character, which may be gathered from the Memoir of him pub- lished by his granddaughter, and from contemporaneous notices. The habit of his body was plethoric, and indicated a tendency to apoplexy, of which he died. His general aspect was heavy, and of that mixed impres- sion convej^ed by an acquaintance Avith mankind, superinduced on a studious and retired life. There was a suavity in his manner, which won an interest for what he said, combined with a simplicity both of language and bearing, the eflect of which I cannot better express than by calling it taking. In conversation he was unobtrusive, never assuming to lead, and his par- taking in it seemed rather a deference to the apparent expectation, or expressed wish, of others, than any particular desire of his own. When he did speak, 'he never failed to satisfy; for it was always to the point, often pithy, and, if the subject admitted, a flash of wit would enliven his thought, and show that an electric power resided under that heavy and clouded brow. Kindness and good-humour predominated both in his look and address. He possessed a natural vein of humour, of which something is shown in his Tale of << The Foresters," and which, Avhen touched by the occasion, gave a quiet, yet stimu- lating, raciness to his remarks. To young men — and I speak from knowledge in this respect, for I stood in that relation to him — his affability was uniform and encouraging, and he could adapt himself with facility and felicitj'', in conduct and conversation, to their years and their measure of information. X)f his attainments and qualities as a divine or a scholar, I do not pretend here to give an opinion. I contine myself, as j'^ou requested, to my << personal renxitti-scences." Undoubtedly he was a man greatly respected and beloved by his contem- poraries. He filled a wide space in the history of his own time, which the events of the future, however crowded may be the canvass with distinguished men, cannot wholly obliterate from memory. I am, Sir, with respect, Your obedient servant, JOSIAH QUINOY. JOSEPH THAXTER. 83 FROM THE REV. JOHN PIERCE, D. D. Brookline, May 20, 1849. My dear Sir: I was contemporary with Dr. Belknap in the ministry a little more than a year. My acquaintance with him was, by no means, intimate, but I knew enough of him to form a definite idea of his character, and to learn to regard him with very high respect. His features M'ere small, and his face much pitted with the small-pox. His talents and acquirements were univer- sally acknowledged to be of a high order, and few of his contemporaries in the ministry shared more largely than he in public favour. His prayers in public were but little varied, and he was almost motionless in the pulpit. Scarcely did he appear even to move his lips. Still he was always listened to with attention, on account of the vigorous tone of thought, and perspicuity of expression, which pervaded all his public performances. As a striking instance of both his reserve in speaking and his facility in writing. Dr. Free- man, who knew him intimately, told me that, in "Society meetings," he would often choose to express what he had to say to a neighbour by writing rather than by speaking. One of Dr. Belknap's most intimate friends was Dr. Clarke, whom he sur- vived only about twelve weeks. Never shall I lose the impression of the touching and beautiful tribute which Dr. Belknap paid to the memory of his friend at the next Thursday Lecture after their separation took place, when he took for his text that tender and beautiful expression of our Saviour concern- ing Lazarus, — '< Our friend — sleepeth." His whole heart was in his utterances, and the whole audience seemed moved by a common sympathy. Very sincerely yours, JOHN PIERCE. JOSEPH THAXTER.* 1771—1827. Joseph Thaxteb, the eldest son of Deacon Joseph and Mary (Leavitt) Thaxter, was born in Hingham, April 23, 1742. When he was five years old, he was confined for a long time, by a fever-sore upon his ancle, and during this period began to evince a fondness for study, that formed one of the prominent characteristics of his subsequent life. His father was a farmer in comfortable worldly circumstances, but was not able to gratify his son's desire for a liberal education. The son, however, succeeded, in a some- what singular way, in accomplishing the object for himself. By the strict- est economy he was enabled to lay by for himself the sum of five dollars, and with this purchased a ticket in a lottery, which drew a prize of five hundred dollars. Immediately after this, he commenced a course of study preparatory for College, and, in due time, entered at Harvard, and, by the most careful management, in connection with teaching a school at Hingham and one or two other places, and the performance of certain services in College for which he received compensation, he was enabled to pass through the whole course without any material interruption, and graduated in 1768. * Mss. from his daughter, Mrs. Atheam. 84 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. It seems to have been liis original intention to enter the medical profes- sion, and, for some time after he graduated, his studies were directed with reference to that ; but he subsequently changed his purpose, and determined to devote liirnself to the Christian ministry. Accordingly, having prose- cuted his theological studies for some time under the direction of the Hev. Dr. Gay, in his native place, he was licensed to preach, and actually com- menced preaching, sometime in the year 1771. It i.s nut known where Mr. Thaxter exercised his ministry for some time after he began to preach, but it is known that, from the commencement of the llcvolution, he took a deep interest in the cause of his country's Indepen- dence, and was ready to labour for it, in the pulpit or out of it, as he found opportunity. He was present at the battle of Bunker Hill and of Concord Bridge, and retained a vivid remembrance of those fearfully stirring scenes till the close of life. On the 23d of January, 1776, he received a com- mission as Chaplain in the army, and served in that capacity at Cambridge, in difierent parts of New Jersey, at the battle of White Plains in the State of New York, and in various other places. The exact time of his holdinf' the Chaplaincy is not ascertained, but it is supposed to have been for two or three years. Previous to his settlement, he preached as a candidate iu a rich farming town on Connecticut Biver. The Committee of the Church or Parish informed him that he was invited, by a unanimous vote, to become their Pastor. lie afterwards learned, however, that this statement was not strictly correct, there having been one or two votes adverse to his settlement ; and so much was he displeased with what he deemed a deceptive represen- tation of the case that he immediately wrote a sermon on the text, — "I hear that there be divisions among you, and I partly believe it ;" and, having preached the sermon, he very unceremoniously took leave of the people. He accepted a call from the Church in Edgarton, Martha's Vine- yard, and was ordained and installed there in the year 1780. His salary was originally a hundred pounds annually, but, in the latter part of his life, it was reduced to two hundred and seventy-five dollars. Small as it was, however, he not only supported his family upon it, but educated five orphan children. Not far from the period of his settlement at Edgarton, he spent some time as a missionary in what was then the District of Maine. lie was received with great favour by all classes, and in one town administered Baptism to more than a hundred persons, many of whom belonged to Epis- copal families. Of this mission he retained the most grateful recollections till the close of life. Mr. Thaxter, some time previous to his settlement, had become strongly attached to a young lady in Hingham, who he had expected would become his wife; but she died shortly after, to his great grief and disappointment. At his Ordination, his father and some other relatives from Hingham were present, and, after the services were over, he accompanied them to the wharf, saw them safely on board the packet, and then returned to his boarding house, oppressed with a sense not only of responsibility but of isolation and loneliness. A young lady who was visiting in the family in which he boarded, (Molly, daughter of llobert Allen of Chilmark,) met him with great kindness, and proffered to him her sympathy in view of his JOSEPH THAXTER. 85 manifest feeling of desolation, and her kindly expressions touched a respon- sive chord in his heart, and thus hegan a friendship which resulted in their being married within about a year, — October 12. 1781. They had seven children, three of whom — and among them the Hon. Leavitt Thaxter — still (1863) survive. Mrs. Thaxter, who was a lady of great benevolence and excellence of character, died in 1802, at the age of forty-four. Oa the 23d of July, 1803, Mr. Thaxter was married to Ann, daughter of Sam. uel Smith, who became the mother of one daughter, and died in 1821, aged fifty-nine years. Mr. Thaxter suflfered some other severe domestic afflictions. One of his children, Robert, a boy of uncommon promise, died of lockjaw, in March, 1805, having been blind, for two years, in consequence, as was supposed, of bis having taken of a poisonous vegetable. In February, 1815, he lost his eldest son, Joseph, under circumstances of the most trying nature. A whale ship had arrived at Edgarton, and two of the crew, who belonged in Nan- tucket, were very anxious to reach their homes. Joseph Thaxter, who was, at that time, a married man, and lived with his father, started, in an open boat, in company with another person, to carry them to Nantucket. The boat had come witliin a quarter of a mile of the Nantucket shore, when it was upset amidst thick broken pieces of ice, and all were lost except Mr. Thaxter's friend who had accompanied him, and who, by great exertion, succeeded in reaching the shore. Two weeks and two days passed, and no tidings came concerning any of the party. IJnt, on the morning of the seventeenth day, as Mr. Thaxter rose from his knees, at the close of his prayer in the fimily, one of the Deacons of his chnich entered the room in which the family were assembled, with an air and a look ominous of evil tidings. Not a word was spoken until Mr. Thaxter at length nerv^-d himself to ask, — '-Are those poor creatures gone?" — to which Dr. Mayhew sadly and silently bowed his assent. In the afternoon of ihe same day, the remains of tlie son were brought over the deep banks of snow to be buried from his father's house. x\s the roads were nearly impassable, it was impossible to procure a minister from another town to attend the Funeral, and the service Avas therefore performed by the afflicted father himself. The prayer which he offered on the occasion is said to have been characterized by great sim- plicity, and yet by the very sublimity of pathos. Tiiere was but little variety in the events of Mr. Thaxter's life, living as he did in great seclusion, and scarcely ever engaging in any service that took him beyond his inunediate neighbourhood. Towards the close of his life, however, an event occurred, of great historical interest, in his being called upon, on the 17th of June, 1825, to officiate as Chaplain at the laying of the corner-stone of the Bunker Hill Monument. This was the last time that he ever left the Island. The following Prayer, which he offered on that occasion, derived additional impressiveness from the fact that he had then passed his eightieth year: " 0, thou who rulest in the armies of Heaven, and docst whatsoever seemetli to thee good among the children of men bulow, we desire, at tliis time, to remember thy loving kindness to our pious ancestors in rescuing them from a land of intolerance and per- secution. We thank thee that thou ddst conduct them in safety through the mighty deep to tliis then howling wilderness; tliat thou didst protect and defend them when few and jielpless. "We thank thee that, by thy blessing on their endeavours and labours, the wilderness was soon made to blossom like the rose. We thank thee that 86 UNITARIAN CONGREGATIONAL. thou didst animate them with au invincible attachment to religion and liberty, — that they adopted sucli wise institutions. We thank thee tjiat they so early established our University, from which have flowed such streams as have made glad the cities of our God; that thou hast raised up of our own sons, wise, learned and brave, to guide ia the great and important affairs both of Cliurch and State. May thy blessing rest on that Seminary, and continue it ft)r a name and ])raise as long as sun and moon sliall endure. Wo thank thee that, by the wisdom and fortitude of our fathers, every attempt to infringe our riglits and jirivilege.s was defeated, and that we were never in bondage to any. We thank thee that, wlien our country was invaded by the armies of the mother country, thuu didst raise up wise counsellors and unshaken patriots, who, at the risk of life and fortune, not only defended our country, but raised it to the rank of a nation among the nations of the earth. A\^e thank thee that thou hast blessed us with a constitution ol" government, which, if duly administered, secures to all, high and low, rich and poor, their invaluable rights and privileges. We ask thy blessing on our President and Congress, on our Governors and Legislatcu's, on our Judges and all our civil ofhcers. Make them, we bcseecli thee, ministers of God for good to thy jjeople. Bless the ministers of the Gospel, and make them happy instru- ments in thine hands for destroying Satan's KingisL'ourses were published. Dr. Ripley was through life a zealous friend of Harvard College. The following entry in the private record above referred to may illustrate it : — " August 27, 1824. Attended Commencement at Cambridge, probably- for the last time. My feelings and determination united in taking leave of Commencement, wliich has long been a day of enjoyment and delight to me. I find myself too old (or the fatiaiie and long services of the day. I did not meet one classmate. I felt myself out of date, and though not treated with neglect, yet I am satisfied with scenes of the kind. I was liiglily gratified with the performances of the day, and by the manifest increase of learning and intellect in the College. The peifornianccs of the next day were e-xcellent and very animating. This and the preceding day were rendered more highly joyous by the presence of General Lafayette. I know not that I ever enjoyed a Commencement with a higher relish or less alloy ; and I never was more gratified by •evidence of the improvements made in the University. It is a matter of rejoicing and •gratitude that I can bid adieu to Commencements with such high and well-grounded hopes of the future splendour and usefulness of Harvard University. Will God mul- tiply blessings on my venerated Alma Mater to the latest generations!" He did, however, attend Commencement after this : the last time was EZRA RIPLEY. 115 in 1836, at the second Centennial Anniversary, at wbich he offered a prayer. Dr. Ripley was one of the leaders in the Temperance cause. More than thirty years before his death, he made an earnest and a successful effort to break up the habit among his people of using intoxicating drinks at Funerals. He was a niembLr of the old Massachusetts Society for the Suppression of Intemperance ; and when the new organization on the prin- ciple of total abstinence was formed, he promptly signed the pledge, not- withstanding his pliysician expressed an opinion adverse to the measure. The following extract from Dr. Ripley's Half-Century Sermon contains his own account of his views of Christian doctrine : — " My first sermon was from 1 Cor. ii, 2: 'For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.' This sermon I have repeated to you. It ever lias been, and still is, my undeviating endeavour and resolution to preach according to the import and design of those words. In respect to the leading and essential doctrines of the Gospel, I know not that my sentiments are materially changed. On searching the Scriptures, it may well be supposed that I have gained some farther light, and acquired a better understanding of them. The manner of expressing my ideas also may he different. But I am not sensible of having departed in any degree from the doctrines properly called the 'doctrines of grace.' The doc- trine of three equal persons in one God I do not call a doctrine of grace or of the Gospel. We do not find it taught in the Gospel. Whether it be true or not, it is not written in the inspired Scriptures. Tlie doctrine was first taught by fallible men. * * * * But I have uniformly believed and preaclied that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, the onlj" and all-sufticient Saviour of sinners, owned, anointed, and authorized by God as his Son, whom he sent into the world for the great purpose of insti'iicting and redeeming sinful men, of declaring his will, displaying his disposi- tion, righteousness, mercy and whole character, and of mediating between God and his intelligent creatures; and that He was endowed by the Father with all Divine powers requisite to the accomplishment of the great work assigned Him. I believe that He conies to us in the name and autliority of God; and that, therefore, we owe Him reverence and honour, love and obedience; and also that the time and manner of his invisible existence, the extent of his dignity and all tlie relations He sustains towards God and the universe, ' no one knoweth, save the Father only.' " On other doctrines, such as the early apostacy of man, moral human depravity, regeneration, that is, a moral change of heart an