The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-05-03

to destroy the best constitution. Hence
he was obliged to leave for ycnr, enter
ing, on his return, the class of 1874 In
both classes were quito number of young
men who became distinguished in church
and state Among them was Sylvester
Learned, the eloquent preacher of New
Orleans l,cvi Parsons aud plny Flsk,
first missionaries to Palestine Carlos
Wilcox, the poet Silas Wright after.
wards Governor OF New York, aud Sam
acl Nelson now on the bench Of the Su.
prcmc Court of the United States.
DR.. Nkcn's first religious impressions
were occasicncd, it is said hy reading
Doddridgc's Rise and Progress of Rclig.
ion in the Soul. \ revival Of religion,
soon after he entered college, awakened
now and solemn purpose to devote HIM
self to the work of the Gospel ministry.
After three years study at Andovor, he
was called by the Young Mcn's Mission
airy Society of Now York, to labor in
that city. lie had but just entered the
field, however, when an urgent request
from the first Presbyterian church in t.
tea, took him TO that place, then only n
small village, where he was ordained, the
3D. of February, ISIS. Among the t.
vents of interest that occurred while he
was in Utica, may be noted the building
aud completion Of the Eric canal, also
that fatal epidemic, the cholera, which
made its first appearance in this country
at Utica in 1882. There were also, du-
ring his ministry there, several rcviyals
of religion of great power and interest.
About that time, also, the subject of An
ti-Slavery began to be Acknowledgements
ton and mobs began to gather, which, UNI
der the control Of the Almighty, have re-
suited in the emancipation Of the millions
then held in bondage.
After nineteen years of labor, with
very little relaxation, his health having
become impaired, he accepted a call from
the first Presbyterian church in this city.
The church had been organized fifteen
years before DR.. Aiken's installation, yet
he was their first regular pastor, the du-
ties of the Office having been performed
by supplies. Soon after his installation,
great financial revolution took place,
and for period of about ten years he
voluntarily rclinquishcd three hundred
dollars of his salary Of fifteen hundred,
lest it should prove burdensomc to the
church This low tide of financial mat
tiers was characterized by remarkable re-
ligious developments. Slavery, Miller
ism and temperance, became church ques-
tons and it was regarded the peculiar
mission of the pastor to distinguish truth
and error. His moderation, judicious adj
vice, devoted character were Just calcu-
lated to conduct his charge safely through
the distractions Of that period.
DR.. Aiken came to this city at the ri ght
time to lay the foundation Of its religious
soundness and prosperity broad and deep.
Twenty-Five years of active labor judi
ciously and wisely bestowed, has been
fruitful of important and permanent re-
suits. Having nearly reached the period
of four-scorc years, and in consequence Of
diminished strength and vigor, compelled
to give up the active duties Of the pastoral
office, he is yet permitted to see the fruits
of his previous labors in shaping the re-
ligious institutions of the city, while its
business and wealth have been constantly
increasing, and its population grown from
three thousand to ninety thousand. Three
Presbyterian and one or two Congrega-
tional churches have come up from men,
bers furnished, to Il greater or less de-
gree, from the first, or parent church.
And it is also to be regarded, that while
the position Of an active, faithful pastor
in such city, with everything in its
forming stage, is beset with difficulty on
every side, it is no small achievement
thus to retain his place both in the church
and in the respect and affection Of the
people. The doctor resigned his relation
as pastor, in 1853, into the hands Of DR..
Goodrich, who still holds the charge.
The whole extent Of his ministry from
the time of his license by Londonderry
Presbytery is about fifty-three years. He
still resides in Cleveland, the congrega-
ton continuing his annual salary, and he
moves still in the midst of people for
whom he has so long labored and prayed,
and by whom he is regarded with becom-
ing veneration and esteem.
During DR.. Aiken's pastorate, two
events occurred which | will briefly no.
tice. The one was the calamitous fire,
which entirely destroyed the interior OF
the new and beautiful stone church, just
as it was in readiness to accommodate the
n. School Gen. Assembly that was to
have held their annual meeting therein.
This to the pastor was very sorrowful
event, which he did not fail suitably to i'm
prove on the following Sabbath, when in
stead of meeting in the beautiful sanctu-
airy, they were again obliged to gather in
a public hall. This damage, however,
was soon repaired and the house rebuilt.
The other event, was that of the noto-
rious debate, which arose here in the Gen.
Assembly on the subject of Slavery, in
1857.
The southern members represented b.
Mr.. Ross, of Alabama, and other gentle
men, had counted upon what they called
conservative course on the part Of Dr.
Aiken. They wished simply to be let
alone. There were others from the Mid.
die states, of moderate views, who ex.
pected him to take their ground. Until
near the close of the debate, the men
from the Middle and Southern states wer,
quite hopeful of a moderate policy or ne
policy. DR.. Aiken sat near the pulpit
without any apparent interest in the dis
cussion. He then quietly arose and de
livered his sentiments in plain, firm, AM
patriarchal manner. lie spoke Of the diff
ferent phases which the question had as
sumed during his public ministry, sur
veyed the moral and religious aspects 0
the case and concluded by denouncin,
slavery as an evil SO monstrous that tn,