Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-23
Rev. solomon Lyman.

When one of our citizens, who has oc-
cupied so prominent place as the Rev.
Solomon Lyman, dice, it seems desirable
that something more than the mere an
nouncement of his death, should be given
to the world, through the columns OF the
Gazette. The Lyman race are widely scat
tered in this country, and as MIR. Lyman
was connected with the first settlers of that
name, by lineal descent, it ia believed
that the address of the Rev. Mr.. Cotton
at the funeral, which was held in the
First church, last Thursday afternoon,
will be read with interest, wherever the
Gazette in it's wide circulation, shall reach
those connected with him by blood or
friendship. Mr.. Cotton has kindly placed
the manuscript at our disposal, and be-
low is portion Of it, leaving out the
reference to personal matters between
them. Though written with no thought
of its publication, we think it will well
repay perusal.
Solomon Lyman, only son of Solomon
and Lois Lyman was born in this town,
Jan. II, 1895. Was baptized by Rev.
Payson Williston on the 9Th of March
following. Was hopefully converted
under the ministry of Mr.. Williston, and
Joined his church by profession, Septem-
Der /, 1916, at the age of 21. He has
thus been a church member 90 years
grand space to prove all things and hold
fast that which is good. He labored on
farm till he was 81 years of age, giving
three of the winters to teaching school.
Upon his conversion he at once had his
thoughts turned to the Christian ministry.
OF those first warnings have no knowl-
edge, but can conjecture a something.
He became a member of Phillips Acade-
my, Andover, in the latter part of the
year 1916 entered Yale College in 1919,
and graduated from that college in 1892.
He then went to New York city, where
he spent two years in theological studies,
under the joint tuition Of Drs. Spring, Cox
and Baldwin and was then licensed to
preach. Spent three years in preaching
at Pittstown, N. Y, and was there or
dained by the Presbytery OF Troy. Was
married in 1926, to Mary Curtis, of New
York, daughter of Reuben and Silence
Curtis of Danbury, Conn. Was pastor of
the Congregational church in Keeseville,
N. Y, nearly eight years, commencing
his labors there in 1923; and for the same
number of years, from 1885 to 1S43, was
pastor of the Congregational church at
Poultney, Vermont. He then removed
to Easthampton, at the urgent desire of
his aged parents, who greatly needed his
presence and assistance. During seven
years he supplied the pulpit at West
Farms. He did not wholly cease from
preaching till he was past the age of 70.
The summing up gives us an active and
1 sa{r IS 10 To
the average ministerial term, gives US &
steady preaching service of 20 years,
gives US 45 years, during which, with
more or less engrossment of time and toll,
| he has been spared to hold forth the word
of life, and to testify the gospel of the
grace of God.
Such, in brief, are the main facts and
| figures. Let US be mindful that any such
reckonings must, in the nature of things,
be very superficial and imperfect. You
have scanned a little of the surface. You
have not fathomed the depths. You have
taken no measurement of the interior
and hidden life, the spiritual yearnings,
the days and nights given to patient
study, the Sabbath tolls, the prayer.
meeting, the visitings from house to house
the anxious waiting and watching for
signs of promise-the showers vouohssfed
and the bsrvests gathered home.
1t is fact, known to some among us
that Mr.. Lyman's ministry was marked
beyond the common measure, with re
vivals of neutrality-suspicious. seasons of re
freshipg. For these he earnestly toiled
and prayed, night and day. In these he
| was permitted to rejoice greatly. In these
| he was master workman. skilled in nc
ordinary degree. l am very free 10 say,
that in the two parishes of my ministerial
labors I have had no man the superior to
him, and no man the equal of him, in re.
| spect of a rare felicity in speaking just
the word in season to the ipquiring, the
anxious, the hoping, in scenes of revival
In those meetings of inquiry, of confer
ence and prayer, he was eminently al
home. He had natural aptitudes for thi:
work-he had been trained to it-he bad
had experiences in it. He was truly q
| friend of revivals. He was not afraid, as
some used to be of "extraordinary means
of grace"-feur days meetings, and the
like. He accepted any scriptural methods
and chiefly that the fruits should be good
A young man or maiden rising to express
| desire to become a Christian, and re-
questing prayers, expressing the Joy OF g
new found hope in Christ. Did you
notice Mr.. Lyman listening? Never did
one OF us look upon him in such u me
ment without seeing him tremble under
the power of his emotions.
Mr. Lyman was, by nature and advanc
ing age, conservative, and loved the old
paths But he had also a warm catholici
ty, welcoming all good signs of progress
in Christ's kingdom-the charity that re-
joiceth in the truth and hopoth all things
Too slow he may sometimes have seemed
to some of us of the more resolute and
progressive sort. But let Us imagine our.
selves as past the three score years and
ten, and as laid upon the shelf, and with
the physical infrmities he bore upon him
If we, any of us, shall then be as catholic
charitable, hopeful, cheerful, and as glad
to see good things go on prosperously, as
be was, we shall do we'll. Let us not cast
stones. We shall all of us be older-per.
| ~ oh 4