Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-10-23

, | vi but JTuln, duu InuS tCONeItu HIS OWH
faith and before gradusiug, became a de
cidedly religious man both in conviction
aud experience. Havinl chosen the minis
try as his profession, he etered upon his theo-
logical studies at Andow Immediately after
his graduation and com leted the prescribed
course in 1916. In an ddress to the Prince
ton theological student in 1876 he gives
some "reminiscences of lis life at Andover
Thirty years ago" hesays, was in the
first half of my theoldical course at An
dover. The old theoloical light which had
ruled the day then fol forty years was just
touching the western horizon, slowly sink
ing to his evenings repose. The keen
critical exegete who nd been transferred
from pulpit in Nev Haven, and who
mingled in his instructions keen analysis
of Scripture with chili-like love for his
Saviour, was also unbukling his harness in
order to lay it aside. He had worn it so
long that when it vas taken off his life
went with it, Unde the tempered radiance
of their parting Instructions, | received
whatever ideas ha before entered upon
it, of the nature of he minister's work. They
were vague and din, it is true, for aside
from the fact tha Hebrew aud dogmatic
theology and the culture Of the rhetorical
art and ecclesiastical his ~ absorbed all
|
anticipate tie future as to be ready for all
its emergencies" | have inferred from the
testimony of his contemporaries at Andover
that he was not then quite tie marked man
that Professor Sanborn describes him as
being at Hanover. that Hebrew and dogma
tic theology did not absorb cutie all of his
thoughts. but that he then felt the charms
of those delicious invitations o mere liter
ary enjoyment against which he had to con-
tend all his life after. 1t is the testimony of
an intimate acquaintance tlat those who
| knew him there did not antripate for him
the brilliant career which wis before him,
though his occasional exhibitions of remark
able quickness and power of concentration
indicated to them that he might attain emf
nence if he cared to pay the pice for it, 1t
is easy. indeed for us to see tlat the quail
ties which afterwards distinguished him
were not those which would enable him to
shine in a theological seminiry. lie was
not sharp pathological critic he was not
subtle logician; he could state an opinion
with clearness and force, and present it
with luminous illustration and persuasive
appeal better than he could maintain it in
the lists against all comers.
Shortly after finishing his theological
studies, Mr.. Lord began to peach to the
Congregational church in Montpelier, and
receiving call from the chuIch to be its
pastor, was installed over it September Goth,
| lSi7. He was then only twenty-three years
old. 1t is quite safe to affirm that no young
man, however strong his constitution and
however decided his Abilities can undertake
such charge at such an age without suffer
ing for it. Abundant facts on all hands
show that the years of full professional labor
and anxiety which precede thirty are likely
to be avenged by twice their rumber sub
tracted from the working years beyond fifty
The young men of this generation will not
have learned all the lesson of DIR. Lords
life and death, if they continle to make
haste to get into their profession or their
business before body and mind have become
sufficiently compacted to endure the wear
and strain of our intense American life.
| In an anniversary sermon preached twenty
years from the date of his settlement, Mr..
Lord said to his people "On the first Sab
bath of 1917 | was allowed for the first
time to call your attention to the subjects
of our common faith. My discourse was
upon Christ as the true object of the sin
ner's regard, as the sole object of the be.
levers love. 1t was intended to be the
keynote of my ministry, and trust that
but little of my ministry has been out of
u.
spoke thus: "The place of a minister's in.
nuence, usefulness and power IS in the pul.
pit, and the pulpit was made to uphold,
defend and publish the Word of God. A
minister may waste his influence, impair his
usefulness, honeycomb his heart and soften
| his intellect, by giving his first care to what
are popularly termed the social duties of his
office but he NAV build a permanent par
ish, reach wide community, unveil the
great wisdom and wealth OF Christian
truth and feed and enrich the church OF
! God, only by close study OF the Scriptures, by
patient mastery of the revelation, and by a
determination to resist all importantly to be
a minister of popular deectation and devote
himself to the commission of Christ and
preach the gospel. No suavity of address,
no genial social grace, no sweetness of the
| hand in common intercourse can command
men, can help and save them like voice
that il inspired with the whole truth of
God, like a lip that trembles with love for
him of whom it speaks and for them to
whom it speaks" No words of mine could
so well describe DR.. Lords ministry of
thirty wears, what it was and what it was
not. as this simple statement of its theme.
this eloquent defence of its method. He
was emphaticaly a preacher this he
made the main work of his life to this
he gave his whole mind and heart. He
was not empnatically a pastor. He did not
belong to the very useful class of men who
are rather dull in the pulpit but active and
sympathetic in their house-to-honse and
hand-to-hand labors; nor to the still more
useful class of men who do both kinds of
service with a moderate and always accepta-
be ability. but to the smaller class who
make the pulpit a throne of benefcent