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

There was little positive spiritual life
ia the church. Public morals were lax.
It BECAME necessary for Mr.. Walker to lay
again the foundations--to set forth what
| are the first principles OF the Christian
i Faith. This he did, not so much by at
| lacking error as by plainly and boldly
preaching the truth as it is in Jesus. He
/ cloried in Christ and Him crucifed for
/ the sins of men. And more, he loved and
i lived out the truth. His character for
sincere, unquestioned, self-sacrifeing
goodness is with him, beaming from his
countenance, expressing itself in his daily
walk and introducing him favorably to
the hearts and minds of those hostile to
Evangelic sentiment and a high spiritual
and christian life. Like Paul, he plainly
renowned the hidden things Of dishon-
esty, not walking in craftiness, nor hand
ling the Word of God deceitfully, but by
manifestation of the truth, commended
himself to every mans conscience in the
sight of God. He was known somewhat
as doctrinal preacher, but his doctrine
| is all aglow with heart large and VAIN.
He proclaims the Divine Sovereignty and
mans utter dependence in Providence
and grace. He also enforces the freedom
and responsibility of the human will
while his often tremulous voice and
moistened eye. as he presses home the
claims of the Gospel upon dying men, I'M
press and melt the hearts of his hearers.
He seems full of the Holy Ghost and of
Faith-institutes meetings for prayer and
conference-goes into the out.districts-
visits from house to house. He believes
in revivals of religion-the fruit of the
Holy Spirit in the use of heaven-ordained
means. He gives himself wholly and in
Pauline enthusiasm to the work of the
ministry in the pulpit and out. When he
came to Rutland lhe had fifty we'll pre-
pared sermons he wrote but one a week
exchanged every four weeks. He is a
friend of the common school. He espouses
the temperance cause, as his father be-
fore him-reads DIR. Beeeher's six SER
mons at the third service, though some OF
his church would not hear them.
Times of refreshing from the presence
of the Lord and of great power occur. In
ten years he welcomes about 235 persons
to the communion and fellowship of the
Church. Rutland is a changed place.
His work survives him there. Though
dead, he yet speaketh in that large and
fourishing parish.
The "Three Days Meeting" effort began
in this region while he was ia Rutland.
He gave hiss whole heart to it and labored
abundantly at home and in sister churches,
and in brotherly love that he might save
| some.
Meanwhile, he is an earnest and pune
tuel member of this association never
neglecting his own, yet by reason of wise
method of study and habits of industry
and order he is able to be a constant at
tendant upon its meetings, and what is
| especially certified of him is this: he is
quite always prepared with well consider
ed papers on subjects assigned him. And
this, by the way, continued to be his habit
all through his ministerial life, until the
informities of age forbade. "He never
robbed his brethren of their time by
obliging them to wait for him"
As member of association, as of church
conferences he was ever kink, frand, cour-
teous and attractive, conscientious and
just in his opinions and criticisms, would
| rather command than censure. He mani
tested all the kindness of father to the
younger members of the ministry and
took a deep interest in their welfare
Moreover, he becomes intensely interested
in behalf of the destitute and feeble
churches of Vermont. The memories
of early years stir bis heart. The
anxiety of a father, and especially The
fearful solicitude of a mother, ring
their voices through his soul and ne can
not rest until the State ia evangelical and
the waste places built up. He is made
Director of tho Vermont Domestic Mis-
sionary Society and acts promptly in this
| capacity for twenty years, and for the two
years of 1912 he was its Corresponding
Secretary. Years of the right hand of
the Most High. The reports he made to
the General Convention are remembered
by living contemporaries replete with
lofty argument and pathetic appeal. His
interest never abated in this good cause,
though no one could plead for foreign
missions with more zeal than he. His
large heart loved all for whom Christ
died. To him the field was the world.
His voice failing, as | have said. through
over-exertion and exposure, although he
had laid by but $780, he resigns his pas
torate in Rutland, against the strong de-
sire of his people to remain. He deemed
it wrong for him to stand in the way of
an efficient laborer in the vineyard there.
He loved the welfare of the Church more
than his own private or worldly interest
"a popularity that marked his christian
life. A kind Providence-through the
suggestion of Rev. Mr.. Steele-opens for
him field of labor and livelihood at Cas-
Teton Seminary. AS student in this
village, remember we'll his coming here
the silent power of his walk and con-
versation, his gentle but firm urgency of
duty, and that his presence would hush
into quiet all disturbance. He brought
with him a character for firm decision,
for uprightness and tact in business mat
tiers and fair scholarship in the primary
branches of academic study. We saw
him weep over the funeral of his little
ones, and calm and submissive as he was,
we knew he loved children and all in the
morning of life. "The school felt his in
fuence and that of his wife" He was a
good and helpful parishioner. His work
was a success, but as his voice is restored
he longs to return to his fond and chosen
vocation. He yields all pecuniary con-
sideration to preach the everlasting gos-
pei. Now we find him at Brattleboro, at
work with his accustomed wisdom
and enthusiasm in that large and
important Parish. His preaching
commands the serious attention
of men of intellect and of influence. He
edifies the Church. He wins souls to
Christ. He is beloved and honored. His
counsel is often sought in cases of difficult
ty at home and abroad. One baptized by
him writes the results of his labors have
gone on steadily and will go on. Eighty
two were added to the Church in profess
sion of Faith. A new house of worship is
built. After twelve years as Pastor,
sense of duty led him to preach sermon
in which he plainly indicated tie guilt of
men of wealth that rented houses to those
engaged in the sale of Intoxicating drinks.
Anew of his Pensioners were offended, and
threatened to withdraw their sympathy
and support. The church was unit in
his favor, hat he deemed it wise and best,
for the sake of peace and the prosperity of
the society to retire from the field. He
did so in the spirit of christian self-sacri-