Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-06-25
From the Now York Daily Tribune.
DEATH OF A GOOD MAN.

We see in the st. Johnsbury (Vt) Caledonian an
announcement OF the death at that place of Rev.
LEONARD WORCESTER, who, for nearly half a cen
tury, was Pastor Of the Congregational Church IN
Peacham, Caledonia Co. VT In repeatinr this in
telligence in The Tribune the writer cannot with
hold an expression Of the respect and generation
which, in common with all whose privilege it was
to be trained under his benignant and patriarchal
mnstrations, he feels for his character and memory.
He was man Of extraordinary qualities both of
head and heart, and the influence of his pious ex-
ample and earnest instructions, so potent while he
was living, VIII long be seen and felt by those a.
mong whom he labored.
He was native, we believe of Massachusetts,
and was for several years Editor of the Worcester
Spy, having first served an apprenticeship in the
office OF that paper while it conducted by the
venerable Isaiah Thomas. lie left the editorial
chair, for which he possessed eminent qualifications,
to become Minister of the Gospel. About The
beginning OF the present century he went to Peach
am, of which place he was the first and for long
time the only settled minister. At the period Of
settlement The town was new and the people gen
orally were quite poor; but his simplicity of man.
ners and devotion TO the duties Of his calling pre-
pared him 10 struggle through difficulties which
would have discouraged an ordinary man. From
early manhood to old age he remained with the
people as their minister, aud only relinqushed the
active duties Of his posi- when compelled TO do so
by accumulated bodily infrmitcs For several
years beste his death he resided with his son in
the neigborng town Of ST. Johnsbury, the church
in Peacham having settled colleague, who re-
eved him from all ministerial duty.
His funeral took place among the people to whom
he had so long and so faithfully minlstcrcl, and the
hrong that gathered on the occasion bore witness
to the aliectOnatc veneration felt for his character
and memory by those who best knew his WORTH
His funeral discourse was preached by Rev. David
Sutherland bf Bath ~ H. for many years his co.
al. 1t
region The text was indicated BY Mr.. Worces-
ter himself and the selection beautifully illustrates
"a prominent trait in his character; God be merci-
FIJI 10 me q sinner" How expressive of that hum
bic reliance on God so BETTING to the Christian
and which had sustained him through all the ylcs.
STUDIES of a long and eventful life.
Mr.. Worcester was brother of the late Rev.
Samuel Worcester, ID. d. Of Salem, Mass, first
Secretary of the American Board Of Commission
ers for Foreign Missions, and also of the lale Ia
mened Rev. Noah Worcester, D. ID. of Brighton,
Mass, whose lobors in the cause of Peace have
endeared his memory to thousands both in this
country and Europe and obtained for him touch
ing culogum from the pen OF the late DR.. Claiming.
For solid abilities he inferior to neither of his
eminent brothers, though from peculiar circunstan-
ces he was not so widely known us they. de was
the father of Rev. Samuel A. Worcester, Mission
AIRY 10 the Cherokees, whose imprisonment in the
Georgia Pententary fifteen years ago created so
much excitement. Two others of bis surviving
sons are also ministers and highly esteemed for
their usefulness and moral worth.
lie was man OF commanding presence and OK
ertcd an almost unbounded influence among his
people. In his department u man and minis
ter, 1ignity and urbanity were happily blended He
was emphatically pcacemaker, and, as such, his
memory Will live IN the hearts of all who knew him.
1t Is not too much to say that through his influence
mainly, the town of Peachaln is eminent for the
general intelligence and moral worth of its inhab-
ltans.
Although he never compromised the dignity be-
hitting his statlon he was man OF keen wit and
relished joke quite as well as any OF his parish
toner's. we could tell many pleasant anecdotes
illustrating this trait of his character. The people
OF the town we're in the practice for many wears of
turning out on given day at the beginning Of win
ter to provide from the parish farm his needed SUD-
ply of hrewood. Notice of this was ALWAYS owen
oy some member OF the congregation at the close
of the services on the preceding Sabbath On
these occasions the venerable clergyman used TO
work III company with his parishioners On, Sat
urday afternoon while thus engaged a war in the
company proposed that Mr. Worcester should be
excused rom farther labor, giving as a reason that
lie would Otherwise be compelled 10 preach an old
sermon on the ensuing Sabbath. The minister
Immediately retOrted that it could make little diff
terence whether the sermon were old or new. since
the man who had proposed 10 excuse him from labor
usually slept in Church! This vas a hard hit, for
the man was noted sleeper and the Joke was re-
celved with universal shout.
1t was the custom OF the town at the annual
March meeting to confer on all recently married
men Tie office Of hog-recve. After his second
marriage certain persons INDUCED their propensity
TOR joke so far as to confer this distinction upon
Mr. Worcester After his election had been duly
declared, he made speech in Acknowledgement
OF the honor, in which he said that, while they had
been sheep, he had endeavored to be TO them a
ial'llui shepherd; and IT they now insisted on
turning themselves into swine, he would not for
sake them but do the best he could 10 keep them
out of mischief
tribute 10 the memory of this good and ven-
Grated man will doubtless be prepared by some one
qualified for the task; but his best euogy is writ
ten In the hearts of those whom he led in paths of
righteousness and peace.
--'' Lovely the death of him
Whose life love-"