Litchfield enquirer., 1860-01-19
LITCHFIELD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 1860.

ing revival of religion, which extended ii
some degree, to the Indians, who resided il
that neighborhood, considerable number o
whom became hopefully pious. After preach
ing one afternoon, he had returned to tn
place where he stopped, and had just sa
down to supper, when he heard some of TIN
Indians in another room singing psalm tunes
He instantly left the table, and went into thu
room where they were to listen to their mu
sic. After thus RECALLING himself, for some
time, be returned, and resnming his place al
the table, said very pleasantly, "Do yor
think I can deny myself the pleasure of be
ing in Heaven for the sake of eating?"
DR.. Bellamy, notwithstanding his usually
lofty and independent manner, was subject
ito turns of great depression, and sometimes
his courage seemed singularly to fail him
In certain moods, he was likely to see lion
in the way as any other man often exagge.
rated the Importance of real evils, and as
frequently, perhaps, worried himself with
those witch had no existence but in his i'm,
agination. He sometimes stood unduly in
fear Of the influence of men, whom perhaps,
at other times, he would regard as Of little
account. Mrs. West used to say that it
often seemed to her that he expected to be
martyr, and to be burnt on Litchfeld Hill
He was a man Of very considerable adj
dress and management. At the time Of my
fathers ordination, he was the leading mem
Der Of the Council There was not perfect
unanimity in the parish, owing chiefly to the
influence of one old Mr. P. who was natu-
rally somewhat ambitious and unmanagea-
BILE. DR.. 3. was aware of the opposition,
and Of the source whence it originated. Ac-
cordingly, some time during the session Of
the Council, he contrived to get by the side
of the old gentleman, and remarked to him
that he felt deep interest in the welfare of
the parish, as we'll as Of the pastor elect,
whom he knew to be young man of great
promise, but that he was sorry to hear that
there was some little lack Of ulanimity in
respect to his settlement. "Now," said he,
" as you are an influential man here, and Of
coarse have the welfare Of the society much
at heart, would suggest to you the impor-
lance of bringing your influence to bear upon
this state of things, so as, if possible, to Sc
cure entire harmony" The old gentleman
was caught by the device, actually set HIM
self to the work of a peace-maker, and | be-
lieve my father never found him otherwise
than good parishioner
[ remember another anecdote that goes to
illustrate the same trait in his character A
Young minister who had more zeal than
knowledge, and who rendered himself very
offensive by the severity Of his preaching,
was complaining to the doctor that his mill
istrations seemed to produce so little effect,
and wondering why so few were converted
under his labors. "Why," said DR.. Bella
my, the reason is obvious enough; and if
you will correct your error, go and learn wis
dom Of the fisherman. He does not 90 bois-
terously to work, as if he expected to bring
the fish to his hook by giving them rcgu-
lar scourging beforehand; but he casts in
his line silently, and waits patiently for a
bite; and, whenever fish comes to his hook,
he is watchful to take advantage of the right
moment for drawing it up; and he is thank
ful if lie gets few, and perseveres in the
hope of getting more. If you would adopt
this same course as a fisher Of men, you
would have less reason to complain of the
want of success
DR.. Bellamy's preaching was generally
from short notes; was Of remarkably dis
eliminating character and was alike adapt
ed to awaken the careless, aud to keep be-
fore the minds Of his hearers, what he regard
ed as the Scriptural test of Christian expert
ence He was mortal enemy to Amino
mianism; and, in the pulpit, as we'll as from
the press, often made it the subject Of i'm
pressve and pungent remark. In his NAH
ner of preaching, he was to be reckoned
among the sons of thunder With prod-
gious voice, vivid imagination, great flow of
language, and deep sense of the import
ance of bis message, he spoke like one hay
ing authority, and rarely failed to secure an
earnest attention. On Fast days, be used
to say that he took his people to task
meaning by it, that he dealt with them in
great plainness in respect to their moral OBJ
legations and delinquencics.
| have heard my father describe with great
interest the last interview he ever had with
this everable man. 1t was after disease had
preyed for a considerable time upon his fac
ulties, and he was reduced to comparative
imbecility, while yet the striking character
istics of the man were still manifest. Ny ia
Their entered the room in which he was sit
ting in chair, constructed especially for his
accommodation. His locks which age had
rendered nearly white, hung down about his
shoulders, and everything about him seemed
fitted to inspire reverence. He slightly
bowed his head as my father approached
him, but said nothing. Ny father Their said,
Mr. Robbins of Norfolk" Said the Doc
tor, with the dignifed and magesterial air of
other days, Your name is Ammi Ruha-
mah." My father then remarked to him that
it was a dark dispensation that had thus ia
ken him off from his labors, when the church
es needed so much the benefit of his influ-
ence. With deep and solemn emphasis,
and seeming to dwell upon every letter of
each word, he replied, "hafmite Wssdom."
Thus closed the last interview of the revered
instructor and the admring pupil, previous
to their meeting to mngle in other scenes.