SKETCHES OF MINISTERS--_continued_.
Workman of God! O lose not heart,
But learn what God is like;
And in the darkest battle-field
Thou shalt know where to strike.
LYRA CATHOLICA.
Rev. Zadoc H. Howe, of Maine, after receiving an academical education in
Readfield, Me., prepared for the ministry, and was ordained in 1846.
After a service of some years in his native State, he removed to
Monroe, Madison County, Wis., where, after preaching a year and a
half, he was compelled by failing health to suspend his labors. A
severe bronchial trouble, making public speaking difficult, was the
cause of frequent removals. For the last six or seven years of his
life he was postmaster of Monroe. During the war of the Rebellion he
was appointed chaplain of the 5th Wisconsin regiment, but was obliged
after a few months to resign. He was a gentle and pure-souled man,
with keen intellectual powers. One who knew him well, has written of
him:--
"In theology, as in his theories of reform in general, he was very
radical, holding firmly and conscientiously to the naturalistic
views of the so-called liberal wing of the theologians, and did not
feel himself in complete harmony with the policy of the Universalist
denomination. Yet embracing with his whole heart its fundamental and
distinguishing tenets, his soul was all aflame with noble and
generous impulses."
Rev. WILLARD C. GEORGE was one of the preachers of Maine, having had
pastorates there in Bremen, Dresden, and Calais. He was one of the
most modest of men, of feeble voice, but a speaker who was very
acceptable to his hearers, because of the good thoughts brought out in
his discoursing. Convinced that his health required a change of
occupation, he adopted the medical profession, making a visit to
Europe to gain information from foreign sources that might aid him in
his new vocation. On his return home he published a book of his
travels and observations abroad. He was a successful practitioner in
several places, and finally returned to his native town, Norway, Me.,
where he died in October, 1869, aged fifty-seven. He was not only a
sound theologian, but was well versed in the physical sciences, upon
which he frequently lectured. He never abandoned his purpose to return
to the ministry as soon as his health would allow. He was a devoted
Christian, and gave his life to much of the good work which
Christianity requires.
Rev. MARK POWERS began his preparation for the ministry with Rev.
L. H. Tabor, then of West Charleston, Vt., in February, 1854, and in
July, 1855, was ordained at Washington, Vt., where for four years he
lived, preaching there and at Strafford, twenty miles distant. He
afterwards removed to Strafford, where he continued to preach for six
years, making in all ten years of labor in the latter place. He then
removed to Gaysville, Vt., where he continued for four years, and from
thence to West Concord, which was his last settlement. In Strafford he
induced the Universalists to buy out the Free Will Baptists, who
claimed to own one half of the meeting-house, and to repair it, and
was thus instrumental in giving them a house of their own, and freeing
them from the constant annoyance to which a union house had subjected
them. Essentially the same thing was accomplished while he lived in
Gaysville, while the effort there resulted also in a better edifice.
In West Concord, his ministry, though short, was successful. His
sermons were sound, his spirit excellent, and the result of his
teaching every way good. In the autumn of 1870 Mr. Powers attended the
Centenary Convention at Gloucester, Mass., where he was taken with a
hæmorrhage of the lungs from which he never recovered. He died in
June, 1872.
Rev. LEWIS LEONARD RECORD was born in Minot (afterwards Auburn), Me.
He graduated at Bowdoin College in 1845. In 1850 he was ordained, and
was settled as a preacher in Houlton, Me., in Scituate and Anisquam,
Mass. In 1863 he went into the army as chaplain of the 23d
Massachusetts regiment of volunteers, and served eleven months. While
with the army in North Carolina he was attacked with the yellow fever,
from the effects of which he never recovered. When his strength was
somewhat restored, he engaged in missionary work, and did good
service, especially in Biddeford and Saco, Me., preparing the way for
a new house of worship in that locality. In 1870 he moved to
Marlboro', N. H., where he labored earnestly and successfully until
July, 1871, when he was compelled to desist from labor, and from that
date he steadily declined until his death, which took place in
Marlboro, Dec. 7, 1871, in the fifty-sixth year of his age. At his
burial the clergymen of different denominations in the town acted as
pall-bearers. He was highly respected, and his whole being was
consecrated to the cause of the Gospel.
Rev. HENRY H. BAKER was born in Minot, Me., Nov. 24, 1811, and died of
paralysis in Rochester, N. Y., Sept. 28, 1881. He was aided by friends
in obtaining an education with the expectation that he would become a
Methodist preacher; but being converted to Universalism in his school
days, he was unable to comply with their wishes, and desired to enter
the ministry of his newly-adopted faith. Being restrained from this by
the fear of alienating his friends, he determined to study medicine;
but after devoting a year to this, he yielded to his stronger impulse,
and by advice of Rev. D. T. Stevens, then of Lewiston Falls, Me.,
abandoned medicine and began the study of divinity. He was ordained in
1841. His first pastorate was over the societies of Windham and Gray,
Me., where he preached on alternate Sundays for two years. He was
afterwards settled over the parishes in Elliot and Kittery, Me., in
Essex and Georgetown, Mass., in Ludlow, Vt., in Hammond, Fort Plain,
St. Johnsville, Fordsbush, Argusville, and other neighboring towns,
N. Y., one year in Orange, Mass., and six years in Middleport, N. Y.
After this he lived in Rochester and preached in Conesas, when his
health declined, and he preached only occasionally as his health would
permit. He was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature from
Georgetown while he lived there in the winter of 1850-1. He was an
earnest, sincere, and faithful servant of the Christian Master.
Rev. JAMES W. FORD was born in Orford, N. H., in 1796, and died at
Kendall's Mills, Me., Dec. 16, 1861, aged sixty-five. He was educated
for the medical profession, and gained a good reputation as a
physician, having served in that capacity in Westbrook and Waterville,
Me. His love of Universalism, however, gradually led him into the
ministry. He appears as a new minister in 1841, at Claremont, N. H. He
was at Morristown, Vt., from 1842 to 1844; at Glover, Vt., 1844 to
1847; at Winchester, N. H., 1847 to 1851; at Springfield, Vt., 1851;
at Springfield, Mass., 1852 and 1853; at Holyoke, Mass., 1854-5; at
Norway, Me., 1856 to 1860; at Kendall's Mills from 1860 until his
decease. Wherever he resided he was respected as a physician and
minister. After an illness of several months he passed away quietly
and peacefully, leaving a family and numerous friends to cherish his
memory. He was buried with Masonic honors, and two Methodist clergymen
assisted in the funeral services.
Rev. E. H. LAKE was born in Haverhill, Mass., and moved to Lynn when
fifteen years old. He soon became constant at church and active in
conference meetings. In 1839, when only seventeen, he commenced
preparing for the ministry, and soon after began preaching in
school-houses in the surrounding towns. He was afterwards settled
successively in Middleton and Bridgewater, Mass., and East Kingston
and Westmoreland, N. H. About 1850 he removed to South Carolina on
account of failing health, and travelled extensively in that State,
North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi. He wrote
much for the Universalist paper of that region, held several public
discussions, published a book, and did the full work of a very strong
man. He was a ready speaker, earnest, keen, yet pleasant, and had a
retentive memory. He was difficult to manage in controversy, but was
always orderly, respectful, and kind to his opponent. He had purchased
a small farm of 100 acres in Magnolia, N. C., where he resided with
his family. He had seemed to be on the borders of the grave with
consumption for two years, but still kept actively engaged in his
profession, and died while on a visit to Rev. A. Bosserman, then just
released from prison in Richmond, in the autumn of 1862, aged about
forty years.
Rev. L. B. MASON died in May, 1864, in Madison, Wis. He was favorably
known as a minister and highly esteemed in New England. He was at one
time pastor of the Second Universalist Church in Lowell, Mass. From
this city he moved to Haverhill, Mass., and was pastor of the
Universalist Church in that place several years. From Haverhill he was
called to the pastorate of St. Paul's Church in Chicago. He became
proprietor and editor of the "New Covenant," and conducted the paper
with much ability and discretion. After the breaking out of the
Rebellion, he became chaplain of the 12th Wisconsin Regiment, but the
hardships and exposure incident to the position were too much for his
frail constitution, and he was compelled to resign his office in the
autumn of 1863, after having faithfully served his regiment from the
day of its organization. His men loved him devotedly, and testified to
his faithfulness as a chaplain. But he came home quite broken in
health, though afterwards preaching and working when many men of
feebler determination would have been utterly discouraged. On one or
two occasions he fainted in the pulpit when officiating, but still
persisted in his work till within a few weeks of his decease.
Rev. LAFAYETTE BARSTOW died in Orono, Me., Nov. 10, 1865, aged
forty-three years. In his youth he was connected with the Universalist
Church in Chicopee, Mass., where he won the confidence and respect of
his brethren. In 1850 he went to Oregon, where he remained several
years. Returning to the East, he entered Tufts College, and was
afterwards called to the pastorship of the Universalist Society in
Orono, Me., where he labored with diligence and success for eight
years, closing his only pastorate with his earthly life. Ex-Governor
Washburn, for several years one of his parishioners, wrote in regard
to his death and the loss to the Orono Society and to the
denomination:--
"In the community where he lived his place will not be easily
supplied. He had become, as it were, an integral part of the life of
Orono. His well-known form will be missed upon the street, the light
of his genial face, radiant with spiritual beauty, will be a joy in
its homes no more, but his memory will be sweet and precious to all,
of whatever religious name or party, who have known him intimately."
Rev. STILLMAN BARDEN was a fervent and devout man. Born in Stoddard,
N. H., he commenced his ministry in 1839, and labored with but little
cessation for twenty-six years. Most of his ministry was in
Massachusetts. He was settled as pastor in South Reading, Orleans,
Beverly, Marblehead, and Rockport. His whole ministerial, domestic and
social life, was one of Christian fidelity. Not preaching to large
congregations of people, never receiving a large salary, he was,
nevertheless, truly successful in securing the best results of the
ministry. His religion was intensely practical. He was active in the
cause of Temperance, and the Anti-slavery cause had not a well-wisher
more ardent or conscientious. He loved the prayer and conference
meeting, and was always ready with a warm and suggestive word to give
it effect. He was much interested in the science of mineralogy, and
had gathered quite a large and valuable cabinet of choice specimens.
He died in Rockport, Mass., Aug. 7, 1865, aged fifty-three years.
Rev. TIMOTHY J. TENNEY was a native of Weare, N. H., and came into the
ministry from the instruction of Rev. T. F. King, of Portsmouth,
N. H., in 1834. In 1836 he moved to Maine, where in Fryeburg and
neighboring towns he labored successfully for nearly four years. He
was afterwards minister in Norway and Denmark, and then in St.
Johnsbury and in Glover, Vt., where he closed his earthly career. So
good was his health generally that he failed in no one instance to
meet his appointments on account of illness, until at the very last of
his days. He died in Glover, Vt., Oct. 8, 1854. He was an able and
devoted minister of the New Testament, a conscientious and faithful
man, true to his own convictions. He was a Christian reformer, always
the active friend of Temperance, Freedom, and Peace. His son, Rev.
C. R. Tenney, is at present pastor of the Universalist Church in
Stoughton, Mass.
Rev. ORREN PERKINS, born at Savoy, Mass., Aug. 11, 1823, preached his
first sermon at South Adams, and was ordained at Bernardston, by the
Winchester Association, in June, 1847. He was settled at Bernardston
four years; afterwards had a short pastorate at Wilmington, Vt., and
then moved to Winchester, N. H., where he remained twelve years. For
five of those years he was a member of the State Legislature, being
three years in the House and two in the Senate. He was also for ten
years State superintendent of schools. Later, he took charge of the
Academy at Cooperstown, N. Y., with which he was connected some years.
He was settled at West Concord, Vt., the last two years of his life,
and left there for Chicago, where he was to be employed in editorial
work on the "Star and Covenant." He had a peculiarly sensitive and
nervous temperament; and during the last few years was subject to
great depression of spirits, caused by the loss of his property and
the almost total failure of his voice. A gloomy cloud hung over him:
he felt that his usefulness was at an end, and his mental anguish
became insupportable. In a moment of frenzied despair his mind,
affected by hereditary insanity, gave way, and he freed himself from
the earthly life. He was much beloved, and his life was blameless. He
was an accurate scholar, a very successful teacher, and an able and
interesting writer. He died at Chicago, Ill., Oct. 30, 1880. He leaves
a widow, Mrs. Sarah M. Perkins (one of our woman preachers), and three
daughters.
Rev. CHARLES HEMAN DUTTON was born in Ogden, Genesee County, N. Y.,
Oct. 5, 1823, and died in Hamilton, Ohio, July 17, 1877, in his
fifty-fourth year. His family removed to Rochester, N. Y., when he was
seventeen years old; and he was a student in the Rochester Collegiate
Institute. His thoughts at an early age had been turned to the
ministry through the preaching of Rev. J. M. Cook. His studies
preparatory to the ministry were very meagre; a few months were spent
with Rev. Mr. Hammond of Rochester, and a few more with Rev. S. R.
Smith, then of Buffalo. He was licensed as a preacher in 1843, when he
was scarcely twenty years old. He was pastor in Essex, Canton,
Marblehead, and Lowell, Mass. Afterwards he resided in Rochester and
Leroy, N. Y., in Springfield, Marietta, and Hamilton, Ohio, in which
last-named place he died. He was credited, in the various places of
his residence, with a vigorous intellect, superior pulpit talents,
gentlemanly manners, and the conscientious and faithful performance of
his duties as a minister of the Gospel. His Christian faith grew
stronger and stronger as the outward man failed.
Thirty years since, there was a minister of the Universalist faith in
New Hampshire and Vermont, "a plain, blunt man," with no pretensions
to a classical education, but speaking in words of most expressive
English, with "the Bible at his tongue's end,"--Rev. ROBERT BARTLETT.
He was one of the pioneers, who preached the Gospel as opportunity
occurred, in any place--school-house, barn, parlor, kitchen, church,
or in the open field. He was always astir, and always full of his
theme, "the Gospel of Universal Grace and Salvation." In the country
places, rather than in cities, he seemed most at home. Once, it is
said, when appointed to preach an occasional Convention sermon, at the
yearly assembling, in a large and beautiful church, he seemed in his
simplicity and modesty so overpowered by the thought of the occasion
as to be able to make only a faint demonstration of his speaking
powers. But in his usual Sunday services in the rural places and with
plainest surroundings, he would preach the word of the primitive
Gospel "in demonstration of the spirit and with power." He is
remembered, by not a few who have heard him, as such a preacher.
In recent time Mr. Bartlett disappeared from public notice; his work
being done, and the infirmity of years resting upon him. He recently
departed this life in Boston, January, 1882, aged nearly ninety. The
funeral was attended by Dr. Miner, who in his youth had often listened
to his preaching. The remains were taken for burial to Laconia, N. H.