The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-04-20
Rev. Joshua Bates, d. D.

The lite OF a clergyman is public.
His time and labors have become the
property of the community. Conse-
qucntly all changes in his situation,
and events in his history are of inter
est to the people around him. But
when his labors are protracted for a
great series of years, or are unusually
important in their character, the inter.
est is heightened and extended. Hence
the property of scmi-centennial and
birthday sermons, and historical ami.
versary meetings.
The venerable man whose name is
written above, has lately-on Sunday,
March 20th,-gathered his people a.
round him, and recounted the events
of his labors, in his parish at Dudley,
and elsewhere. His eventful life is Of
interest to others than the people of
Dudley.
The preachers text was in / Sam.
l., u. "Then Samuel took a stone,
and set it between Mizpeh and Shen,
and called the name of it Ebenezer,
saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped
u.s."
After explaining how the text was
in itself, and in its occasion, adapted
to his purpose, he stated that within
one week of that day, there were four
anniversaries of peculiar interest to
him. "To-day is my birthday; and
if any one should address me in the
language Of Pharaoh to Jacob, Il should
not say as the afflicted Patriarch did,
Few and evil but rather, many and
good have been the days of the years
of my life have attained to the
days of the years of my fathers pill
grimage. l am today three-score and
seventeen years old, being born on the
20th Of March 1776.
son the 10th of March 1903, fifty
years ago last Wednesday, l was or
dained to the work of the gospel min.
istry, and constituted pastor of the
First Congregational Church in Ded-
ham.
"On the 18th of March 1918, thirty
five years ago, last Friday, my inau-
guration as the Presiding Officer of
Middlebury College took place. In
that position / remained more than
twenty one years; laboring substan.
TALLY in the same cause to which l had
been previously devoted preaching
and teaching in the pulpit and the lee
ture room assisting as | was able in
the training Of many precious young
men, Cor the service of Christ, of their
country and the world.
"Ihe fourth nameo anniversary will
occur on next Tuesday. For on the
22d of March 1913, ten years ago, at
the age of sixty seven, and forty years
from my first ordination, ! was install.
cd as pastor of this church and peo-
pie. Such an instance of late settle
ment in the ministry is. l believe, not
to be found in the ecclesiastical history
of New England. But it was in ac-
cordance with my earnest desire. For
when | took my dismission at Dedham,
it was with full determination, if per,
mitted to leave the business of college
instruction in season for a re-settle-
ment in the ministry, that l might
spend my last days altogether in the
work to which l had been devoted, with
the hope that l might finish my course
with JOY, close to the altar of God"
The preacher then stated the more
prominent events in his pastorate in
Dudley. lie said that when he was
settled there, he found a regularly or
ganized society, surrounded and inter-
mingled with two other societies, and |
many who never, or rarely ATTEND pub
lie worship on the Sabbath. But the |
church had been much discouraged,
and its walls were broken down. As
evidence of this fact the house of wor.
ship had been allowed to pass into the
hands of individuals, for the purpose
Of paying a former minister's salary
and the legal organization of the soci.
,ty had been lost, and SO it was inca
1able of holding any property, To re-
pair these errors, an act of the Gencr-
Il Court was procured, legalizing the
'ecords of the society and the relin-
lulshment of personal right in the
louse, was obtained for the newly or
,anizcd society.
The means which had been used for
the welfare of the society,
md the advancement Of religion, we're
hen recounted. The statistics of char
table contributions, and of additions
o the church, showed that, when the
mallness of the society, and tho dis
ouraging circumstances which have
xisted within and without, are consid-
red, very great work had been ac-
ompllshed, and the church, brought
rom the verge Of ruin to a condition of
prosperity.
The discourse was closed with some
arting advice by the pastor to his peo.
le in consulting for their spiritual
'eltare in securing new minister
nd with general exhortioD.
There are few men whose influence
ne axyfnnIa1 ,....s-..-.I Al