The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18
REV JONATHAN ALDRICH.

REV JONATHAN ALDRICH.
Rev Jonathan Aldrich was native Of St
Johnsbury, Vt. He was born September 3.
1899. During his minority he resided with
his father. When about eighteen years old
he was hopefully converted to God. Soon
he was led to think of the Christian ministry.
For time he attended the academy at Peach
am, where he commenced such studies a,
would help him to prepare for the work to
which his thoughts We're directed. As he
was chiefly dependent on himself he taught
common and singing schools to defray his
expenses. In the meantime he maintained
religion in his own soul, and did what he
could to promote religion in the minds of
others. In the spring of 1921 he made his
way to the house of his uncle, Rev Abel
Fisher, who then resided in Bellingham, and
had under his instruction several young men.
Mr. Aldrich began and pursued studies to
prepare him for college. In 1924 he Joined
the Sophomore class in Brown University
During this time he paid his expenses by
teaching, with a little help furnished by be-
Levolent society in the Worcester Associa-
ton. While he was in B,llinsham he was
greatly useful, by his singing, by taking part
in conferences, and by lis conversation. In
blessed revival Of religion while he was in
Bellingham, he was great blessing to church
and people there. In college he was the
same consistent, active, useful Chris
tian. After his graduation in lS26, he spent
several months in teaching, and in February,
1927, he entered the Newton Theological In
stitution, then newly formed, where he spent
most of a year. Before he left Newton he
was called to settle in West Dedham. where
he was ordained Jan ), 1928. In Dedham
he was highly esteemed and useful. The
Lord poured his Spiri: upon the people and
numbers were converted to God. In two
years he baptized thirty-four, who were add
ed to the church. In 1880 he was called by
the Baptist church in Beverly, to administer
to them. Here the Lord gave efficiency to
His Word, SO that during his ministry of two
or three years he baptized into that church
one hundred and forty-nine converts, and
fourteen for others. From Beverly he re-
moved to East Cambridge, where ne preach
ed about two years, and his ministry was not
in vain. The harvest of souls was not as
great as at Beverly, but the Lord did not
leave him fruitless. While there he baptized
twelve converts, and was useful in other re-
spects. Soon after he closed his ministry at
East Cambridge he was invited to preach at
Worcester, in August, 1885. About this
time he commenced a ministry here of nearly
three years. During this period their old
meeting house was burnt and their new one
erected. A blessed revival of religion was
enjoyed while he was in Worcester, in which
two hundred and eighteen were added to the
church, one hundred and thirty-two of them
by baptism. When he closed his ministry in
Worcester he spent about nine months in an
agency for the New England Baptist Sabbath
School Union, much to the satisfaction of his
employers. His next field of labor was as
pastor of the Baptist church in Newburyport.
Here he labored with his usual success till
his health entirely failed. While he was able
to labor Divine influence attended his eff
forts for the conversion of souls, so that he
baptized thirty-seven. He closed his work
here about the first of January, 1910. From
that time two years passed while he was una
bic to be pastor or to preach much. In
this time he removed to Philadelphia, where
he did what he could by his musical powers
and otherwise. At length his health became
better. and he became pastor of church in
central part of Philadelphia. He continued
with this people but about year, and did all
he could for them. In this year one hundred
and fourteen were added to the church, fifty
of them by baptism. But they being unable
to sustain him, he accepted a call from a
church in Baltimore, Md. In this city he
had much to try him, but the Lord gave him
to considerable extent the desire of his
heart in the conversion of souls, and he bap-
tized about fifty. In the summer of
1916 he left Baltimore and came back to
Massachusetts. He was soon called to settle
in birmingham, where the Rev C. Train was
living, though entirely disabled for work.