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

huences from outside were mingled with
a pastors work. The success of Mr..
Hoyt in meeting these altered circum-
stances was uncommonly good. A few
members we're disciplined and removed.
A few fell into cold morality and neglect
of religion. A few brief resolutions were
put on record, against the sin of slavery,
and one honest, good man left the church
because Mr.. Hoyt did not preach enough
against slavery, but the church continued
to grow and prosper. Few churches have
had a quieter life, or suffered less by the
detection of members, or by the various
"isms" that periodically sweep over them,
than the church in Hnesburgh. There
was powerful revival of religion in the
winter of lS39-40, which added forty-one
to the church, and another in 1S49, which
added twenty-one. A new house of wor-
ship was erected IN lS40,and vestry the
year before.
The second pastorate terminated by
dismission, April IA, 1855, having lasted
sixteen years and half, making twen-
ty-six and half in both periods. The
additions to the church during both pas
torates, were one hundred and eighty
nine; from the beginning of the first to
the close of the last, (all of which must
in large measure be accredited to his la
bors,) three hundred and eight.
After his dismission he removed at once
to New Haven and purchased the old
family home, where he passed the evening
of his days amid the scenes of his child.
hood and the friends of his youth. He
was Immediately desired to establish a
school, and within little time, an Aca-
deny building was erected and furnished.
Here he was fully and usefully occupied
for a few entering with great inter-
est upon the work of teaching, which he
loved next to preaching. He was able
also to supply various pulpits in the vi
cinity, preaching large part of the time
In August, 1859, he was stricken down
by paralysis while in the act of speaking
at meeting of the Corporation of Mid
dlebury College. He rallied after few
weeks, but was never able to preach
again. He lived ten years longer, yield
ing gradually to increasing infrmites. A
fall in the spring Of last year fastened
the wasting of his energies, till he fell
asleep, Nov, 13, 1869.
One or two items should be added to
this record of public services. Mr. Hoyt
was an active friend of the literary insti-
tutions of the State. During his earlier
ministry Hincsburgh Academy was in
corporatcd and put into successful opera
ton, largely by his labors A Literary
Society of singular power and efficiency
was sustained for more than the period of
a generation, which was a source of the
very best educating influences. He was
member of the Corporation of the Uni
versity of Vermont from 1926 to 1888,
and of Middlebury College from 1914 till
his death
He had large acquaintance among his
brethren in the ministry, and was fire.
quently selected to preach on occasion of
the ordination of ministers, and the dedi-
cation of churches. In lS4l he preached
at the opening of our General Convention
at Woodstock.
Mr.. Hoyt married, May llth, 1919,
Miss Laura Cove, daughter of Dr. Eben-
ezer Huntington, of Vergennes, They
had five children, two sons and three
daughters, all of whom, with their moth
er, survive him.
The following remarks are from the
pen of his successor in the pastorate at
Hinesburgh, Rev. C. +. Ferrin, from
whose manuscript indeed, the larger part
of the above sketch has been compiled
"Such was Mr.. Hoyt's prudence, and
the conviction Of honesty Of intention with
which he inspired every one, that have
never heard, in my ministry now of four
teen yeais following his, any citizen of
the place, church member. or other, speak
of him otherwise than with respect.
have heard his name spoken everywhere,
but always with kindly appreciation. |
have heard stories and anecdotes of him,
but never to his disparagement. To this
day his name is to this people the symbol
of the pastoral Office, and his ministra.
tions are referred to as the measures of
ministerial duty.
Rev. Joseph Torrey, D. D.. so long a
Professor in the University of Vermont
and also President, in letter written III
1861, and published in the Historical
Magazine, says of him;
There was something peculiarly win.
ming in the gentle devotedness ofhis man.
ner of appearance at all times 1t was
always pleasure to me to visit him in
his family, where his amiable character
appeared to the greatest advantage. lr
the more public walks of life, and partic'
ularly as minister of the gospel, Mr.
Hoyt held high place in the estimation
of all who knew him. An impressive
earnestness of manner characterized hi'
style of preaching His sermons, careful
y composed, were full Of good and soliG
Christian instruction. He was in doctrine
strictly evangelical, clear and concise il
his expositions of divine truth, close ant
pungent in his application of it. In hear
ing him, you felt that his whole heart wal
in the work. His preaching generally wa
of that kind which preserves constan
healthy state of religious feeling in
community. and the fruits Of which ar,
apt to be most abiding.
"Mr. Hoyt was greatly beloved by al
his brethren belonging to the circle o
ministers with whom he was accustome,
to associate. We always felt enlivene,
by his presence at our associational meet
ings, On all matters brought up 70
discussions, he argued soundly, advise,
judiciously, criticized modestly, but dis
criminatingly by his whole manner he Sc
an example of gravity and moderation
which was infectious, and gave tone t,
every deliberation.
1t would be hard to find more abl
or more discriminating limner than Dl
Torrey, or a finer picture of a Christia