The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-28
from Vermont Chronicle.l
REV. NATHANIEL PORTER GILBERT
By Rov. A. D. Barber,

The Rev. Nathaniel Porter Gilbert, de-
ceased at Hubbardton, on the ist inst, be-
longed to family whose annals are instruc-
| tive-a family that is 10 less an honor to
| the state of Vermont, than an ornament to
the Christian church. lie was the fourth
/ of seven sons and three daughters of DeG-
con Simeon Gilbert end Margaret Inger-
| soil, of PittsfOrd, parents that first consc-
Grated themselves to Christ, and then made
it the great object OF theit family life to
train their soma and daughters for Christ,
and the highest usefulness in the church
land in the world. For this purpose they
lave each of their seven sono and two
lauEhters-onc daughter dyln2 in early life
"a collegiate and professional education.
p they enabled their so1s to take good
-four of ,heE rs ministers of the
es l5, thre2 as la"Ac-I ard associate
of cat % ouJra,s AMI tn laugh
n ua- rank as ceanels jAud leauers
- -. society on New Gnglard end
iacort states.
Y Our LeceGse, UIO,not Was f'orn at Pitts
ford hebruary 29, 1881, Were ne grew i,
to manhood. lie WAS early converted,
writes : istAer- and most Considerations
/ in the discharge Il inc duties Of bOyhOOl
and youth" L younger lrother adds TO
I this, $50 far as my ,ecO'lect'ga -oes, he
was absolutely saultless as d brother ANA
son. do not leleyc that any luember of
| the family can ~e-l5mtCr L unkiat sell
4 fish, or hardly ever even -n inconsderc ,
| word or Get from him "Thig statement, "
| says the l0tac-, "'s nat the eKtreynognCe Of
affection, but conscientious statement oi
an indubitable fact, which ali who knew
him n hia boylcod End youth mus, asseat
to. lie was singulariy guiieess man.
This son Of such duteous affection and
rare memory, prepared for college a Cas-
Teton Seminary, and was in due course
graduated ai the University Of Vermont Of
| Bur.lngton, IN 1854; ard at AndOver The
illogical Seminary, Mass, in 1853. Con-
| secrating himself to the work OF preaching
the gospel to the destitute IN foreign lands,
he was ordained q missionary at Rutland,
in SEPTEMBER, 1861, Rev. DR.. II. N. Kirk,
OF Boston, preaching the ordination ser
MOI.
In the fal u ,hig year, 1861, he married
Msry p, daughter Of Professor DR.. joseph
Perkins, % Castletop, and sailed for South
| America, under tue direction Of the Amer
lcan ana Foreign Christian Union, where
he labored Tor about ten years.
The following honorable testimonials Of
brother Gilberts lGbors In South America,
| from Rev. DR.. David ITumbull, and ether
| American missionaries in Cuba, are taken
I u.
"For ten consecutive years Mr.. Gilbert has
courageouslv laboTed in Santiago frs, in
English, and for the last six years "a Srcn.
! ish. He was tho fret to preach &c gospel
! in Spanish 10 the republic Of O. . IIo
| gathered o congregation and organ go. tlu
| first Gillian church. He vas enerrtl.e.
untiriDg and efficient in his effortn for 4e
| church, and secured funds for the erection
OF the church edihce for their worship.
| His couree was marked by constant self |
denial, hospitality and personal piety. He
| was also the first to visit Talce, and COM
| menced there the preaching of the gospel |
| opposition and personal danger. a sue
| cessful mission WAS established there. lie !
| left the church In Santiago in charge Of |
| native pastor.
cat bis OWE request Alr. Gilbert con- |
tinues Cagerleys History OF Pitisford, |
twas permitted 10 return 10 the United |
StNtes on visit. lie arrived in New York |
| NoTefober ii, 1871, and on the Goth OF the |
same meath, he was appointed Distric. !
| Secretary OF tho nerican Foreign Chris
tian Union for New England. This Office !
Le held until the wosll OF the Union was as
sGmed by the Amer.cGr Board Of Com.
mlssioners Tor foreign missions" /
A brother minister writes of him "HiB |
cation and reformation Of Chill, and his |
ministry will certain, he remembered with !
interest in .he places where he preached.
lie was an Israelite indeed End from his
earliest childhood evinced a simplicity and
sincerity Of ploty very interesting. His
choice OF fiel1 Of labor on leaving the
seminary AZ Andover illustrates his disn-
tereeteiness.'
Ceasiug 20 labor for the American and
Foreign Christian Union, Mr.. Gilbert spent
some time in miscellaneous labors, visiting
and lecturing in different cities Snd parts
OF the country upon the condition and pros
poets OF the South American republics, and
his experiences there. In the winter OF
1S71ho accepted the invitation of Tie church
and congregation in Clarendon to minister
TO them in the name of Christ, which mia
istry he continued little more than year,
closing it 70 return TO South America.
mainly Tor the health OF his family. Tic
spent now few months in Piura, Peru, in
the secular business OF a Boston firm, for
which his knowledge OF the country and
the Spanish language fitted him. Though
secularly employed, he did not forget his
holy calling but exercised il as opportun-
ity allowed Returning from Peru In Sep