The Portland daily press., 1869-11-10

BarZii ai-Thcir sett emeni. and resi-
de.c.ia rOftiamd-Iscminis cen noes Of tie
Oiden sImp. ..-.
We notice that DR.. Bafzillai Streeter died
in Boston last Tuesday, at the aye OFF, years.
The survivors Of past generation viii we
recoect those three remarkable men of The
olden time" SEBASTIAN, RUSSELL and BAR
zILLAI SrREETER They were all Universal
ist preachers. They embraced that laith. and
became its ambassadors, when its was nc
holiday affair to be pre- cher of that sect
The believers in that theory were every where
spoken against-and its teachers were so des-
pissed that although the community were NOT
quite up to those apostolic days, where it was
thought no harm to kill certain public per-
sonages, yet to ill-treat them by annoyances
and open contempt was not thought a very
serious offence. 49,
SEBASTIAN STREETER was the Oldest OF
the trio. His talents and eloquence soon
drew the attention of the Boston Universal
lists towards him, and he was early invited to
that city. He took charge of the First Uni
versalst Society, the meeting house of which
they never let him so. For period of time
covering more than quarter of century, he
with Hosea Ballou, was "the cloud by day
and the pillar of fire by night" that led the
Universalist denomination up to the pinnacle
of responsibility and standing in the religious
communication handful of despised and
execrated religionists. Full of years, and
honors from his host of friends Sebastian at
last said, "Men and brethren, have seen the
cause advance till its numbers are told by
tens of thousands, and the voice of its able
defenders are heard in all the land. am an
old man, just on the verge of eternity. !
pray thee, let thy servant rest from his labors,
and place in his stead some defender of the
faith, young and learned, who shall go in and
out before thee without WEAKNESS. Thine
aged servant needs the rest that belongs to
those who have toled through the heat and
burden of the day." His devoted friends
heard him with respect, mingled with sorrow.
They needed his reasonable request, and it,
stalled another pastor. But Sebastian took
another charge. He lived in Boston among
his children and friends, for several years
after, and at an age of over eighty, passed to
his rest.
RUSSELL STREETER was the second Broth
er. He came to Portland, early in life. The
writer OF this article Ia mere boy listening to
u the speakers that came to town. we'll rec
lects the sabbath day he broke ground in
qence ofhis faith in this city, on trial for
2torship. The band was few and feeble in
firncial strength. But they had a. few men
am1g them, so firm and determined in all
tbeirelations in life, as to 'never say die"
whenhey undertook an enterprise. They
held teir meetings in the old Tow House,
which food opposite where Dr.. Dwisht's
church vas before the fire. He so put their
Iavorlte toctline to them, on that to him
eventfnl foenoon, that his destination was
sealed, ifhe chose to have it so. These Her
cules OF the cause here had been trying va
tious candidates ior moHthx--sueh as Fayette,
Mace, Kittredge Haven, Charles Hudson,
Eliphalet Case, and many others, without
being quite sure of their man. But when
Russell StIeeter-the youthful David OF Uni
versalism cast his sling at the Orthodox giant,
they thought it was surely dead. When the
meeting was through, and the godfathers
stood about the steps, it was plainly to be
.Se-, IL. 10 o,r,-eh edsn,sd r.-Alz9 p-S,f
them,-that they bad struck oil" in earnest
lie was soon engaged and under his auspices
the society grew and fourished. A meet
ing house was built on the cornar of
reafl and Congress street destroyed by the
great nre) and he remained with them for
many years. Then he said, 81 must denart
Peace be with you," and he went He uos
settled ID other places. One dav he rotnrnod
He said, Il have come to visit mn -
friends-the grave Of my wife-tba COO
my early days" The pulpit was vacant in<t
then. He preached for them. The same fire
ofthe flint was there. He ignted the mass
and they focked around him, as of old
'Streeter has come" was passed from mouth
to mouth of the faithful and all were jubilant.
he preached again. They urged him to settle
among them. No. He was on visit, and the
'ime OF his tarry was uncertain. He preached
on put never settled among the people her
hlS WISH continued secen gears. He the 'aid'
Brethren L must depart. Tbv servant is
getting old and feeble pray ace let me go to v
my children, who are pow stalwart men and n
end my da S. amid their adectionrte care ana u
love-" He wan. toT oodstock Vermont where g
he now resides at an age at least Of 81, loved u
and honored by all about him. =
Barzillai Streeter was the oungest OF these h
able men, He was pr-'cher also of the de- C
spised faith. Indeea Jas there ever a Street. fl
er in early days no was not? He died. as o,
we have said IA Boston, last Tuesday. lie
was settle "a several places, but was not 50
powe- as preacher as his elder hrothor ~ la
a ~oandoned the profession early, and Won ST
ITO trade. But this did not long suit his pa
no't'on' de would not have been Street
II 1t mad. He then studied medicine. and W;
ecame physician. He removed to Port, Of
md May years ago, and resided on Federal pr P,
treet, opposite the Baptist meeting bo,so a. ~
destroyed by fire. We never heard of ~ ,a