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 T E, I B U T E 
 
 A 
 
 GOOD MAN. 
 
 
 
EXTRACT 
 
 FROM 
 
 A SERMON 
 
 DELIVERED AT THE 
 
 BULFINCH-STREET CHURCH, BOSTON, 
 
 , , , ^ Jan. 9, 1853, 
 
 THE SUNDAY FOLLOWING Ttlt/ iNTFiiV.ffJ^NJb'. V 
 ' OV- Tflft ^Jtx£ ',*',,'.•', 
 
 AMOS LAWRENCE. 
 
 ir^ 
 
 BY REV. F. T. GRAY. 
 
 BOSTON ; 
 
 JOHN WILSON & SON. 
 1853. 
 

 IN EXCHANGIj^ 
 
THE FOLLOWING PAGES 
 J^cspcctfullj BerricateU 
 
 TO THE 
 
 FAMILY AND KINDRED OF THE LATE LAMENTED 
 
 AMOS LAWRENCE, 
 
 BY ONE WHO WOULD OFFER A GRATEFUL TRIBUTE TO THE 
 
 MEMORY OP HIM WHO SO WELL DESERVED 
 
 THE EXALTED TITLE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 39oor Jean's €f)ristian jFrientt. 
 
The text of the Sermon, from -which the following extract was 
 taken, was the seventh verse of the second chapter of Paul's 
 Second Epistle to Timothy : " Consider what I say; and the Lord 
 give thee understanding in all things." 
 
 After contrasting the views and maxims of the Avorldly- 
 minded with those of the Christian, and stating the claims of the 
 Young Men's Christian Union, the Discourse closed Avith the fol- 
 lowing tribute to the character and memory of one who was the 
 early patron and devoted friend of that Society. 
 
THE G'OOD MAN. 
 
 Among the warmest friends of the Young Men's 
 Christian Union was one, whose departure from 
 among us this community has recently been called 
 to mourn, — one who was beloved by all Avho knew 
 him ; whose wide, expansive benevolence and Chris- 
 tian charity won the admiration of those of every 
 name and sect; who so truly loved the Saviour, 
 and was so truly baptized into his spirit, the spirit 
 of divine and heavenly love, that he became through 
 it his blessed messenger ; so that all rejoiced who 
 came within his influence, as " he went about doing 
 good," ready to take each believer by the hand, say- 
 ing, " One is our master, even Christ, and all ye are 
 brethren." 
 
 As we saw him on his errands of mercy, just on 
 the verge of threescore years and ten, how, as liis 
 benignant smile beamed upon us, did he remind us 
 of " the disciple Jesus loved ; " who, when so feeble 
 
6 
 
 from the infirmities of age, could only say, in 
 addressing the j^eoj^le, "Little children, love one 
 another " ! That 'smile, shadowing forth a hajDpy 
 Christian sj^irit Mdthin, was a benediction indeed, 
 when it beamed upon us ! May it prove an incen- 
 tive to us, to show our love to God in our love to 
 man, which was the whole tenor of his example ; 
 remembering that " by this shall all men know that 
 ye are my disciples," not in any name ye may adopt, 
 or church ye may join, but " in your love one toward 
 another." 
 
 Long has it been my privilege to know this good 
 man. Li a letter to me a few days before his 
 death, he signed himself " A friend of long years 
 past." Yes! he was an old friend to me, and, as 
 I well know, a long-tried friend to the poor, the for- 
 saken, and suffering, as he was also a friend to those 
 " whom the Saviour took in his arms and blessed ; " 
 for he was always ready and rejoiced to do what 
 he could, that the lambs of the flock and the chil- 
 dren of the destitute might be instructed from the 
 Word of God, " and made wise unto everlasting 
 life." 
 
 This love w^as seen not merely in kind words and 
 good thoughts, but in benevolent action : he was an 
 active Christian. How did my young heart feel this 
 
twenty-five years ago, when among a little band of 
 Sabbath-scliool teachers who were laboring at the 
 northerly section of our city, instructing the chil- 
 dren of the less-favored and the poor; at a time 
 when our hearts were sad, and almost discouraged ; 
 when we were endeavoring to awaken a deeper and 
 wider interest, by inviting the parents and friends 
 to come in and see us. How cheerfully, at our invi- 
 tation, did he come to the first examination of the 
 school, and encourage us by his presence, his words, 
 and his gifts; and when those little ones, many 
 from the abodes of poverty and want, repeated their 
 sweet hymns, how did the tears course down that 
 good man's cheeks, causing him to say, as he pressed 
 my hand, " This is a beautiful sight, and one I can- 
 not witness without tears " ! 
 
 Never shall I forget those words, nor the thoughts 
 which at that time they suggested. Is there any 
 thing more delightful (such was our thought) than 
 to witness a man engaged in a large and extensive 
 business, a man of wealth and influence, coming 
 down and mingling freely and kindly with a band 
 of humble Sunday-school teachers, — an act inspiring 
 them with new courage and hope, at a moment 
 when, from the cold indifference and opposition then 
 existing towards these institutions, both heart and 
 
8 
 
 hope had begun to fail us, and the school itself was 
 well nigh being closed. If he had done nothing 
 else, this humble Christian act should be a stand- 
 ing monument to his memory ; for it was from this 
 school, thus encouraged and sustained, that arose 
 one of the noblest charities that has ever blessed 
 the world, — the Ministry at Large. 
 
 The interest this good man took in children was 
 constantly manifested, and continued to the last. 
 Never was he hapj^ier than when surrounded by 
 them. There are some among you who may re- 
 member seeing him here at the anniversary celebra- 
 tion of our Sunday-school, some three years since. 
 After he had sat for a little time in this pulpit, 
 and gazed at the interesting sight of so many chil- 
 dren gathered before him, and listened to their sweet 
 voices, alternately mingling with those of the orphan 
 and the blind who were on each side of him, he 
 said to me, his eyes filled with tears, " This is hea- 
 venly ; but I must leave you ; it is more, I fear, than 
 I can bear, for you know I am a minute man." 
 
 This active Christian spirit of love was witnessed 
 by me also last summer, when that sad disaster 
 occurred by which so many lives were lost on board 
 the ill-fated steamboat, the " Henry Clay ; " which 
 you may remember was particularly alluded to from 
 
this place on the following sabbath. On reading 
 that sermon, which was afterwards published, our 
 departed friend immediately called on me and de- 
 sii'ed its circulation, with the earnest request that a 
 memorial to Congress might be prepared at once and 
 forwarded. When others were seeking and en- 
 joying the sea-breeze and a purer air m the country, 
 this good man, notwithstanding the heat then so 
 oppressive, was engaged in going round, speaking on 
 the subject to the most influential, obtaining their 
 approval ; and, though all were saying, " It Avill 
 avail little, and do no good," still did he persevere, 
 unchanged in purpose. At the same time he wrote 
 personally to different individuals at "Washington, 
 preparing them for the memorial, which soon after 
 followed ; when the law relating to steamboats, which 
 had cost so much labor in preparation, but which 
 had been lying on the table for months untouched, 
 was at once taken up and passed. The energy, 
 activity, and perseverance which this good man then 
 manifested, while so many others were indifferent 
 to the matter, will never be forgotten. 
 
 And now perhaps the young among us may in- 
 quire, Who was this man, and whence arose those 
 traits of character which caused him to be so uni- 
 versally beloved and lamentecl ? I answer, that he 
 
10 
 
 came to this city, many years since, a poor young 
 man. It so happened that he remained longer than 
 he at first purposed; for he designed only a visit 
 mtending to return again to his home. He attended 
 * Jon venerable church soon after he came hither, 
 and heard the eloquent and gifted Buckminster. At 
 once he selected him as his minister, and that as 
 h.s church, and ever after was present, morning and 
 afternoon, when his health permitted. He listened, 
 and welcomed to his heart the blessed teachings of 
 Jesus Christ, and made it his aim to be his follower, 
 and to "do good as he had opportunity." As this 
 was his great endeavor, his delight was in the law 
 of the Lord, and daily at his fireside the mornin" 
 and evening incense of prayer rose to heaven. 
 
 Mr. Lawrence was a religious man in every sense 
 of the word, dedicating his time and wealth to the ser- 
 vice of God, and the good of his fellow-men : hence 
 he was " not slothful in business, but fervent in spirit 
 serving the Lord." He loved the sanctuary, and 
 Its very dust was sacred to him. He visited the 
 distressed, and it was his delight to distribute the 
 gifts laid upon the altar for the poor, personally, to 
 the members of the household of faith. 
 
 If you would know the origin of all that he did, ' 
 which blessed so many hearts, which made him the' 
 
11 
 
 friend of the widow and" tlie orplian, and a father to 
 those who had none to help, — why it is that all 
 around us the tears of sorrow are shed, — that 
 every one feels that the community has sustained 
 a severe loss, and that the poor and suffering are 
 bereft of a benefactor and friend, — you must trace 
 it to its true source, and say that he was a religious 
 man and true Christian, and that he simply car- 
 ried out and exemplified the holy principles of the 
 gospel. This was its source. In this his benevo- 
 lence and world-wide charity had their origin. It 
 was this, young*men, which makes his memory so 
 precious, his name so dear, and will long embalm 
 him sacredly in the grateful hearts of hundreds of 
 the sorrowing children of men, who will bedew his 
 grave with tears, and rise up hereafter and call him 
 blessed. What power did religion impart to this 
 benefactor of his race ! What influence did it en- 
 able him to exert with the talent entrusted to his 
 care! 
 
 Bring now before your minds this poor young 
 man going to that house of God, more than forty 
 years ago. He was unknown, a stranger among 
 strangers, seeing around him there the most dis- 
 tinguished men in the Commonwealth assembled in 
 worship. He hears the word, and is impressed. 
 
12 
 
 He resolves to follow out the instruction received, 
 and, in imitation of liis Master, to devote himself to 
 doing good to his fellow-men. Forty years and 
 over found him faithfully going up to that temple, 
 enjoying its privileges, and gratefully improving 
 its services and rites ; till at last, when the sum- 
 mons came, his sj^irit, all ready and prepared, gently 
 passed to its heavenly home! And who would 
 wish to call him back, that saw the smile on his 
 countenance when within a day's journey of the 
 tomb, which seemed to have received new radiance 
 from the spirit-world, upon which he was so soon to 
 enter ? Oh, well might we then have said, — 
 
 "Mark but the radiance of his eye; 
 The smile upon his wasted cheek: 
 They tell us of his glory nigh. 
 
 In language that no tongue can speak." 
 
 How little did this jDOor young man think, when 
 he first entered that church, that by fidelity to the 
 truths of Jesus Christ there proclaimed, when he 
 should pass from earth, grateful hearts, true and 
 sincere mourners, would go up thither, and throng 
 its very aisles, that they might mingle their tears, 
 and pay their last tribute of respect to him, their 
 true benefactor and Christian friend! Yet so it 
 was, and as beautiful as it was a striking testimony 
 
13 
 
 from the community to the excellence and worth 
 of a humble, benevolent, and sincere Christian. 
 
 Well might the merchant, and those in his em- 
 ploy, cease on such an occasion from their labors, 
 and go up to the house of prayer; and well that 
 those who were Judges should cause silence to reign 
 in their halls, as they and the great men of the 
 land went up also to that house of mourning ; for 
 such a life as had just closed on earth was a bless- 
 ing to this whole community ; and God should be 
 gratefully remembered in his temple, for the gift of 
 such a Christian example and character. 
 
 And it was as beautifully appropriate as it was 
 inexpressibly touching, to witness children gather 
 round his mortal remains, and take their last look 
 in his " Father's House," which he had loved so 
 much ; and, as they strewed beautiful flowers upon 
 his lifeless form, that they should sing their sweet 
 f.irewell hymn, " We have lost a father." Well, too, 
 was it that ministers of the different denominations 
 should unite in the last services at this good man's 
 funeral.* 
 
 How little did he think, years ago, when he first 
 entered that time-hallowed sanctuary, that that 
 would be the last earthly dwelling from whence he 
 
 * Rev. Dr. Sharp, Ker. Dr. Lothrop, and Rev. Dr. Hopkins. 
 
14 
 
 would be borne as he passed to the grave ; that the 
 plaintive notes of that richly-toned organ, which 
 had so often uplifted the spirit of the sainted Buck- 
 minster, would softly breathe his last requiem ; and 
 that the funeral toll of that solemn bell would call 
 more of the sorrowing and mourning for him thither 
 than could be gathered within its walls ! Yet so it 
 was, — a touching tribute to a good man and be- 
 loved Christian. 
 
 Oh! may that beautiful character inspire every 
 young man with the holy resolve and purpose to 
 live a Christian life, — to be governed by Christian 
 principles, and the word of God; assured, that in 
 every act of kindness and beneficence he shall in no 
 wise lose his reward, and that the memory of the 
 good man and the Christian will be blessed and 
 faithfully cherished in the hearts of children's chil- 
 dren. 
 
 " Go, spirit of the sainted dead ! 
 
 Go to thy longed-for happy home; 
 The tears of man are o'er thee shed, 
 
 The voice of angels bids thee come. 
 Though earth may boast one gem the less, 
 
 May not e'en heaven the richer be 1 
 Oh ! may v?e on thy footsteps press. 
 
 To share thy blest eternity." 
 
15 
 
 WE HAVE LOST A FATHER. 
 
 The following original hymn by Josiah A. Stearns, Esq., was 
 sung at the obsequies, Jan. 4th, by a choir of young girls from 
 the " Lawrence Association of the Mather School," while surround- 
 ing the last earthly remains of their deceased friend. 
 
 Tune — " Home again.''' * 
 
 . He has gone — he has gone — 
 
 To his spirit-home ; 
 And, oh ! it thrills his soul with joy, 
 
 In realms of bliss to roam. 
 But we must shed the burning tear 
 
 To part with him we love ; 
 And now for us the world is gloom, 
 
 Since he has gone above. 
 He has gone — he has gone — 
 
 To his spirit-home ; 
 And, oh ! it thrills his soul with joy, . 
 
 In realms of bliss to roam. 
 
 Weeping eyes — broken hearts — 
 
 Oft he bid rejoice ; 
 And homes of woe were full of praise, 
 
 That heard his loving voice : 
 For oft he soothed poor sorrow's tear. 
 
 And wept when they were sad ; 
 And many were the orphan-forms 
 
 His generous bounty clad. 
 
 * Home Again " was sung in hearing of Mr. Lawrence by the 
 children on his last visit to their school, when he was accom- 
 panied by Gen. Franklin Pierce. 
 
16 
 
 Weeping eyes — broken hearts — 
 
 Oft he did rejoice ; 
 And homes of woe were full of praise, 
 
 That heard his loving voice. 
 
 Gentle words — heavenly thoughts — 
 
 Linger where he trod : 
 And, oh ! it was our childhood's charm 
 
 To hear him talk of God. 
 Then let us ever strive to live, 
 
 As he, our friend, has done ; 
 That we may reach the happy life 
 
 Which he has now begun. 
 Gentle words — heavenly thoughts — 
 
 Linger where he trod ; 
 And, oh ! it was our childhood's charm 
 
 To hear him talk of God. 
 
 Fare thee well — fare thee well ! 
 
 We around thee weep ; 
 But, oh ! we love thee, father, still. 
 
 And angels guard thy sleep. 
 The kind " old oak " for us no more 
 
 Shall sheltering branches spread ; 
 And, oh ! our hearts are wrung with grief. 
 
 For he we loved is dead. 
 Fare thee well — fare thee well ! 
 
 We around thee weep ; 
 But, oh ! we love thee, father, still. 
 
 And angels guard thy sleep. 
 
 LB D t)5 
 
LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 
 
 014 012 906 9