Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1818-10-20

The following extract from the Sermon
Of the Rev. DIR. JOHN MCDOWELL, preach
"a in this town on the last Sabbath, on
occasion of the mucll-lamented death OF
The Rev. BAcKUs WILBUR, will doubtless
be acceptable to many Of our readers.
The Rev. BAcKUs WILBUR was born
November 9th, 1898, in the town Of Rich
mond, county of Berkshire, and state oil
Massachusetts.
2 g When lie was about nine years old,
eur departed friend was brought by his
Iaiher to this place. From this age he
mas brought up among us. While 10 his
natural state, he was pleasant youth,
sober and moral 10 his department, and
BY his amiabIe disposition endeared him
self to those who knew him. Early III
Tic first revival which took place after the
settlement Of the speaker, sometime in the
autumn Of 1907, our deceased friend was
awakened to sense of his sinful and ruin
"a condition, and brought TO seek 10 earnest
for the one thing needful. He soon found
the pearl of great price. His season Of
convictions and distress until he found
peace and comfort, was of short duration.
He soou began TO rejoice in hope, that
God had changed bis heart, forgiven his
sins, and accepted him in Christ as one
Of his dear people. On the 9th day Of
March, 1908, he made public profess
sion of his attachment to Christ, and was
received into the communion Of this
church and his subsequent life has man.
Tested, that his change was genuine, and
his profession true.
s' After consulting with his minister and
some pious friends, who fondly believed
that he possessed talents, calcHlated, il
cultivated, to be useful in the Gospel
ministry, in the autumn of 1903, he en-
tered the grammar school in this town,
and commenced the study Of the languages.
He was then 20 years Of age. But al
though so far advanced, he was not dis
outraged. He never manifested dispo.
sittion 10 reiinquisii the arduous pursuit,
Of even to dispense with any branch OF
science, or in the least TO abridge the time
requisite to become thorough scholar.
His patience and perseverance at his time
Of life, are probably rarely seen, and are
worthy of commentator and imitation.
= After spending three years in the
grammar school, in the fall of 1871, he
catered the junior class in Princeton Col
lege. In September 1918, he graduated,
md left the College. He Immediately
entered the Theological Seminary in that
place, where he continued pursuing theo-
logical studies, for the space of three
years, the time requisite TO complete en-,
tireIy the whole course of instruction
given in that institution; and it is worthy
Of notice, that of class of sixteen, he
was the only one that continued TO the
close Of the three years, and received a
certificate of his having completed the
whole course prescribed by the constitu-
ton of that seminary.
+ In April, 1916, he was licensed by
the Presbytery of jersey TO preach the
Gospel. He continued in the seminary
until the fall, and then entered on mis-
sion, which had been given him by the
General Assembly. In prosecuting this
mission, he passed through Virginia, Ken
lucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. His
labours in this mission, were in many
places very acceptable, aud we have rea-
son to believe, have been productive Of
much good. On this mission he was alb
sent one year. Part of this time he
preached stately at Dayton 10 Ohio.
This was an important congregation, in a
growing town. This congregation had
been for years in divided state, and but
little hope was entertained that they would
for years to come have a settled minister
among them. This was their state when
they were visited by our deceased friend
The excellence Of his preaching, both as
to matter and manner, and his amiabe
and conciliatiug manners out of the pulpit
together with the influences of the Spirit,
which accompanied his labours, aud is.
sued in several instances of special seri-
business, soon 10 degree softened the as
periiy Of party, and a call was made by
q large majority, for him to become their
pastor. The high estimation in which he
was held by that people, and the great
anxiety which they felt that he might give
o Favourable answer to their call, were
abundantly evinced, by several letters
which were at that time written to minis
tiers and others in this part Of the country
g Our deceased friend, after his return
was engaged for some time, with very
great acceptance, in missionary labour:
in the suburbs of the city of Philadelphia
After this, for the space of three months
and half, You had the benefit Of hi
labours, in the absence of your pastor
The arduous duties OF this large congre
CATION. both in the pulpit and out Of it