New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-02-16
Rev. ]. PIERPoNr.
MIR pIERpOSTs ANSWER

BosToN, 25th Nov. lei5.
R.rsread and Dear Strs Your kind letter OF the 4th
instant addressed me In behalf Of the Boston Asso'
citation of Congregational Ministers was received ny me
the l4h Of the present month MY absence from inc
city and the Stse for the week Immediately following
the receipt of it. has prevented earlerrepy-aside
from some hesitation caused by doubt whether or not
reply expected by the Brethren whose vote your
favor communicates TO me. Butthe conviction is now
settled In my mind that ought not to let your Kindness
and that Of the Association to which am indebted tor
the unusual courtesy of vncdctory letter 10 retiring
member pass in silence that might be construed into
acon,emptuous disregard ofthe feelings OF my brethren
towards me-
Through you, then. Brethren thank the Association
for their valedc,ory vote and thank you too, for your
farewell letter and still for the fraternsl feeling
nat pervades it. lsee in it
The spirit that breAhe5
Full fresh of the oden time"
when the Association was indeed band of brothers,
whose hears were knit closely together when the
welfare OF eech matter Of interest TO ali. aud when
there no ebvyinss Jeaousies or divisions In the
body Pleasant, very pleasant were the evenings OF our
meeting then How freely did We speculate, and how
confdcn, each that no brother would misinterpret
him regard him the less kindly for his freedom or his
holiness Those nights and banquets of the sons OF
God -" pleasant they made by hearts that,
loved and trusted, sud by minds that respected one
another
Letme Brethren, in replying more particularly to your
letter enjoy and use for this once that old loved ber
iy Let me say Just what | feel and, believing that
there still, ia something lett in the Association OF that
sRd knowing that write in brothery spirit that
in the same spirit, what say will be received.
Your reference to what change and death have done.
within few years in depriving the Association o. many
distinguished and beloved members is deeply affecting
10 me -changes. o how mourntuil Within six years
Harris and Richmond, and Whitney. and Tuckerman
snd Chapninc and Ware, and Greenwood, have gone
from their labors to their heavenly reward They have
entered into their rest" lrevered and loved them all
But there is why the memory OF Charming and
Ware should be especially dear to me The last words
spoken 10 by Dr. Charming and the astno;e address
ed TO me by Henry Ware full OF apathy with
me my peculiar trials and OF encouragement to e on
in the peculiar that had brought me into them
Those spoken and written words of those sainted
locked up, in the depths of my heart, among
Is Fhest treasures. They are memorials OF the
fellowship that has been between us, and that be-
leve is again to be- Blessed be their memory for
,N.r broherly kindness to me And | rejoice 10
Sc .hs something of their spirit stlI! haunts and nov
er over the places that witnessed their labors For
learn that the letter that ! am now answering. was
prompted by the heart that beats in the pulpit
where Henry Ware stood and blessed his people and
Tho colleague and OF DR.. Charming. who mas
$50 signed the letter has opened 10 his pulpit since
ae has stood alone in it. as it had always been open to
me before.
You say. Brethren In immediate connection with your
notice Of the mournfu changes wrought in the Assoca-
uon oy time ard DEATH We regret the more that CIR
cusances have occurred which make it necessary tor
$40 lose, from social meetings The presence and
vnSersaon OF another of Oldest and most respect
associates truly thank the Brethren OF the Asso-
sAion at large. for their kindness in nmstne that my
sspaI'ure will be regarded loss And know how
lte IN unison with the Of your letter, or with the
Conventional couresies Of the OCCASION may appear any
Auson- in my reply TO any thing past that has been
noiu to But all OF the Brethren who regard truth
Iuness asa higher virtue than civity will pardon
wen saS[not feproachfu'lysut in btterness-but in
asaopees 'ne' aas thrown its shade the las. six
years Vi 'y netc"arse with the Association that as
believe mai uOc reth believe that in His sight the
course pursued n relation ueno, bv coun,ry br,th
fen--no' by majority Of the Associstjop-bui bv the
Greater part Of lis city members THE crcum.,ancc
but for which such loss would hay. heen ss,s.ad
or been felt To be necessary | Seli.v.n.,~ -
that the turning AWAY from me of the faces M 81, -
o. my city brethren-their Withholding from IN. nj ~
ersy erery fraerna expression OF sympathy or ir,.,
est and OF s bro,hery counsetyea, and OF even h-o
merry repropi-heir ce8slug 70 accord 10 those off
ces Of professional fellowship which 10 the last wer.
'sows me- by the lamensd dead. snd in former years
we're accorded 10 by themselves-thus tacdy. but
zoe less efectuay. throwing the weight Of their in
Ice 10 Tue community sgsnst me--encouraging those
1nso SET themselves aganst me in my Society, and
lying the taunt OF heir Committee in their las; com
ucshon to rre-,hat nearly all the pulpts in the city
e closed against mel know that tbs is the cir.
mSs'aace thai, more than any other all others has
,s me lee! that had lost caste with those who, By
o PVs'tor were nearest and should have been truest
,,S snd that Hts is the blow that mas severed and
IA soV'edly was meant TO me from my church
N,.OHi Inc BOSTON Association o. Congregational
ho.sts, May my successor in Hollis.street pulpit
lv,,Gn my brethren who stood eloof from while
sass.s now come WIKI such promptness and soici.
mat the pied &c OF counsel and sympathy that
aSpo,;a a'n In The Right Hand OF Fellowship on his
h,.ou INTO office, is tnore faithfully redeemed in
Iese soan Il Gas been ia mine
psrdo. Brethren OF the Committee that you will
M a., nave here said could not su opress il
eeeS ~. s' was true 10 Brethren who may be az
peasure - - W 70 myself II has given no other
clare say II than what always finds in the dis
eouryr - painful duty. Having said il cheerfuly
sn the past TO the repositories Of the past. /, i