The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-01-11

=
useful as it was. His faithful and low
ing wife, who had been q Christian
years before him, felt that he was doing
so much good that he might well con-
tinue on serving God as a Christian
/ physician. But the desire to preach
grew stronger each year, and he decid-
ed at last to repair to New Haven
for study. There, under the inspiring
instructions of Dr. Taylor, who was
pretty much the whole of Yale Semi
nary at that time, he received his
theological training. DR.. Taylor never
failed to leave his mark on his students,
and those familiar with theological
distinctions could always see in DR..
Gridley's peculiar type of New School
ism the impress of his eminent teacher
Having received the courses of Dr..
Taylor, he returned to New York, and
was licensed and ordained by the Pres
bytery of Cayuga. His first minister
al labor was at the West as agent of
the American Tract Society, two years.
He was then pastor at Pompey, N. Y,
two years, at Oswego five years, at
Montpelier, Vt.,five years. On leaving
Montpelier, he preached few months
IN Montreal, and received a call there.
But preferring to live under his own
Government, he decided to look west
ward. He was on an exploring tour in
this State when he met Deacon Seymour
and Mr. Isaac George, then members of
this church, in neighboring town, and
accepted their suggestion to spend Sab
bath in KenOsha. He was called to the
passionate here and installed in 1947, and
for five and a half years he served
this church and congregation in the
work OF the gospel ministry His pas
torate here was one Of prosperity.
During the period covered by it there
were several seasons Of more than US
ual religious interest. It was period
Of growth in the town and of growth
in the church and congregation. His
health failing, he took employment
from the American Seamen's Fri6nd
Society in the Bay of Mobile, where he
spent two years. Shortly after his re-
turn here he accepted an invitation
from the church in Somers, and for II
years, period nearly equal to all the
rest Of his ministry, he dispersed to
them the message of salvation. To
this work in SOmers he gave himself
with all his characteristic fidelity, going
out in all sorts of weather, and seldom
missing an appointment. A large part
of the present membership of the
church in SOmerS which is to-day one
the most important and vigorous of our
rural churches, was received under his
!, ministry. This with a few added
} months of labor in Pleasant Prairie,
completes the history Of his active min
| istry. Meanwhile he continued always
actively identified with the work here
in this City. His home was here. He
was often present in our devotional
meetings. He sometimes preache in
our pulpits. He was often with us in
the week of prayer; on Thanksgiving
land other public occasions. He was
lever ready with word of counsel and
Iexhortation. He loved to speak, loved
to testify, loved to lend voice and labor
in the cause of the Master. You who
hear me do not need to be reminded
of his unfailing interest in the Bible
: Icause, in Temperance, in the work Of
Education and the Public Schools, as
: we'll as in the church, the Sabbath
School, and the more immediate con-
Germs of Christianity. He was not a
narrow man, but had a generous fellow
ship for all Christians. He loved the
truth, especially the truth called evan
gelical, those truths which he regarded
as containing the vital essence of the
|souls salvation. He was strict in his
views of Christian morality, and al
ways warned against those concessions
on the side worldly conformity which
lseemed to him to endanger the real pow
er and spirituality Of the church To
some he seemed Puritanic Yet he
was far from being a somber man.
How could he be, when he knew the
higher joys Of a divine communion.
AS a faithful friend of his hearers, he