The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-05-25
Rev. Rufus Spaulding Cnshman, ID. ID.

earthly labOrs after useful, christian
life of forty years in the service of the
Great Master. A man beloved and cs-
teemed by all who knew him. following
quickly his friend and co-laborer in the
ministry, Rev. DIR. Lord, of Montpelier.
and from the same diseasc-poisoninr
of the blood. We refer TO Rev. DR..
Cushman, of Manchester, who died at
his residence in that village, on Friday
morning, May l9, at 8 80 o'clock. at The
age of sixty-two years.
Rufus Spaulding Cushman. son of
Rev. Rufus Cushman, who graduated
at Williams college in 1908 and was the
first settled minister Of Fairhayen, and
Iheodosia (Stonc) Cushman. was born
at Fairhaven, August 81. 1915. lie be-
gan his education in the schools of his
native town, prepared for college at
Castlcton seminary, and graduated at
Middlebury college in 1897. Among
his classmates were Hon. Elias Il. Bur-
ton, one of his parishoncrs, Henry Page,
OF Rutland, Rev. A. j. Sampson, of st.
Albans, who was his college roommate
and life long friend, both entering the
ministry at the same time, and George
W. strong, of Rutland. Only ten of the
class numbering twenty-five are now
living Among his college associates
in the other classes were Rev. Byron
Slnderlin, ID. D., of Washington, Rev.
f. W. Olmsted, of Townsend, Rt. Rev.
=. L. Wadhams, Catholic bishop of the
diocese of Ogdensburgh, John G. Sake,
the distinguished poet, Rev. James Da-
vie Butler, ID. D., of Madison. Wiscon-
sin, and Rev. Zebulon Jones.
lie taught an academy in Pickens
county, Alabama, from 1858 to 1910, and
III Lowndcs county, Mississippi, from
January to November, 1910. lie studied
theology at Lane Theological Seminary
from l840 to lS41 and graduated at Au-
burn Theological Seminary in 1913. He
was ordained TO the ministry and in
stalled pastor of the CONGREGATIONAL
church in Orwell, in December, 1913.
where he remained for nineteen wears.
and served the people with great lcccp-
tance. Ii was with great reluctance
that his church consented to sever the
pastoral relation which had been so usc-
iui and pleasant for near score of
years. He removed to Manchester in
lS62, where he remained pastor of the
Congregational church until his death.
He at once entered into all the work be-
fore him i'll the church, society and ed
ucation, .exerting the same happy and
healthful influence which marked his
first pastorate. He received the degree
OF u. ID. from Middlebury College.
DIR. Cushman led quiet life as q
pastor. lie was good preacher, of the
sound, practical, rather than the sensa-
tional, character. In the pulpit he was
dignified, yet easy, always having great
command. II was in his influence upon
the communities in which he lived and
labored that he showed his greatest
power as minister and a man, ever
genial and kind,-with words of good
cheer and counsel. He drew around
him all classes, who delighted in his
presence. 1t was this happy spirit and
cordial manner that made his ministe-
rial life so successful. His influence
will be felt long years hence, in the
scenes of his labors, and fragrant
memory of him will remain with the
two churches and the people of the COM
munitics in which he spent the years of
his active life. His name was blessed
and household word, Sin all the country
round about" In the Congregational
churches in Vermont he was leading
spirit and wise counsellor,-a cola
borcr with Charles Walker, Aldacc
Walker, Joseph Steele, Harvey F. Lea
witt, and others. In western Vermont
he was held in high regard, anl may be
said to have been one of the strong links
in that band of strong men who served
the church and the people so long and
faithfully, and left such deep impress
sions of their work upon the several
communities TO which they ministered
in holy things.
DR.. Cushman was ever the friend of
sound learning and took great interest
In all that pertained to education and
the promotion of educational institu-
tions. He has been for more than
twenty years member of the corpora
ton of Middlebury College, and was
one of the most earnest and faithful
friends of his Alma Mater. To her best
interests he bent his fine executive abil-
ity, and gave freely of his substance and
his labor TO her promotion, and his place
In her counsels will be one difficult TO
I'LL. On his removal to Manchester, he
at once became an earnest associate i'm
the board of trustees of Burr and Bur-
ton Seminary, with Rev. DR.. Wickham,
Rev. James Anderson, Rev. A. B.
Lambert, Hon. A. L. Miner, and others.
in looking after the interests of that
honored Institution.
In all the relations of life DR.. Cush-
man may be said to have been a useful
man. The men of his stamp are rapid
ly passing away-but few are left Rev.
Aldace Walker, D. D., of Wallingford,
Rev. j. ID. Wickham, d. D., and Rev.
James Anderson of Manchester, alone
survive of his early contemporaries, all
of whom have retired from active work.
lie died in the midst of his labors, hon.
ored and beloved.
DIR. Cushman married Sarah +. Glib
son of, Sandy Hill, N. Y, August 10,
1916, who still survives him in feeble
health. He has three children who also
survive him.
The funeral was attended from the
Congregational church in Manchester
on Sunday. President Hubert, of
Middlcbury College, gave the funeral
address, Globe.