New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-08
~ Rev. HOSEA BALLoU, the Oldest

IY REV, I1OSEA DhLbOO' buC oiuOSO
and best known preacher of the Universalist faith
in the United States, died yesterday at Boston,
after an illness of week, in his Slst year, having
been an active missionary and preacher for more
than sixty years He was of Rhode Island fam
iy, but born in Richmond, Cheshire Co., n. H.,
on the Both of April, l77l His father was the
Baptist clergyman In that town, and the son Joined the
Baptist Church there In his nineteenth year lie soon
after became Universalist, was excluded from the bap
tst Church. and began toipreach in the fall oil I'9
His fellow believers being few, poor and thniy scat
tered be supported himself in good part by schooiteacn
ing for a number Of years. travelling ana preaching
intervals wherever sehoohouse or barn could be OBJ
famed for the PRONUNCIATION of views generally obnox
ious In 1926 he married Ruth Washburn who survives
him by whom he had several children, most OF whom
are still living He first settled Ia Dana, Mass, then
IN Barnard w., then in Portsmouth, N H., then in ga
lem Mass whence he removed in 1877 to Boston, and
became pastor of the Schoolst Church, 10 which he
has minisered for thirty years On account oil hs
sre and nfrmites, colleague was settled by the So
eety several years since leaving him most of his time
a, liberty to travel and preach as he did up to very
few months ago. During the late Anniversary week in
Boston he was repeatedly speaker in the meetings OF
his denomination.
Father Bslou was a man of great simplicity and
puritv Of character and doubtless owed much of his
enaciy Of life and yigor to early and consistent Tenn
perance His literary attainments were very moderate
but his controversial abilities were decided lie be-
onged the old school of sermonzers, believing de-
vouty In the literal and unqualified Inspiration OF the
Scriptures and making up his sermons largely of quota.
tons from their pages He had earnest distrust oil
modern Philosophy, characterization, German The
olOgy and Criticism which, in bis view tended strongly
ohe corruption ofthe popular faith In Christ and the sub
sttutlon therefor of Rational'tic Deism. He pub
shed several controversial works the most important
which is his Treatise Atonement,' insisting that
tbs grea, end thereof Is the reconciliation OF Man TO
God who never needed TO be reconciled to Man This
work was one of the first published in this country
which maintained the doctrine that Chris Is different
from and subordinate TO the God and Father Of ALI
from whom be derives his existence. Bsllou on the
A,onement Is still text book with the Universast de-
nomination He preached Vsledicory Discourse last
winter, which has been published with ife-Hke pOr-
trait by j. NJ Usher Boston, and msy be had al The En-
6sssadOr office, No. SS3 Broadway.
Mr. Balou leaves a wide circle Of admirers to lament
bis decesse He had for thirty years been most popu
lar preacher and aad probably been heard by more
persons than any other clergyman in the Union We
heard him at Unverssst General Convention, Akron,
Ohio in Sept 1919 where he preached to very large
gathering with tho ablest in the denomination pre-
eediDg and following him Many OF them delivered
elaborate and carefully studied discourses but
there wSs no other who ma ie the brown faces Of
the old farmers so fairly shine with admiration
snd delight as Father Ballou Many Of them
bad heard him in New Englsnd thirty or forty
yeen previous, and now, hearing that he was
to attend the Convention had come thirty forty miles
to listen TO him once again. and for the last time
earth Though then past Mans allotted period OF
threeicoie years and ten his distincness OF utter
sDee, eearpess of statement aptness OF Illustration and
to,ce Of argument might well have been taken as
model by young preacher and though he spoke more
nsn an hour, avery general regret was evident that
be closed 81 soon.-ln person Mr. Btlou was tall and
shght with bearing OF unaffected necklaces and hu-
mlitv