The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-06-19
REV. JAMES DoUcHERTY, D. D.

hGNs SHWGo OSSSNh
Owing to the fact that the Rev. DIR.
James Dougherty has been confined
almost wholly to his home since our
pastorate of the NJ. E. Church in John
son began, we have never formed that
acquaintance with him which seems to
have been entered into and appreciat-
ed by my predecessors as an acquain-
lance tending to great brotherly love
and fellowship and spiritual and intel
lectual inspiration. His own denom-
nation will of course pay their tribute
TO his memory, and as flower in the
garland we give the following, contrib
utcd to the Christian Messenger by
Rev. r. II. Howard, as expressive of
the high estimate in which the Rev.
Patriarch was held by his fellow la
borers of a different fold -
At noon on the 10th instant expired,
at johnson, Vt, one of the brightest
lights of the Congregational pulpit of
the last generation.
Rev. James Doughcrty, ID. D., was
born in Ireland. How manifold and
rich, indeed, have Eeen the contribu-
tions of Ireland to our American
Christianity And never did she make
a choicer one than when she gave us
James Dougherty. Reared in the
Roman Catholic church, he very early
became dissatisfied with that faith and
at length deliberately and utterly re-
pudiated it.
While yet comparatively young he
emigrated to this country, and short
" subsequent to his arrival, after ma
ture reflection, though not without
many and severe struggles, he con-
quered his doubts and embraced
Christ by simple faith and became a
hearty, happy, Evangelical Protestant
Christian.
Dependent upon the labor of his
own hands for his maintenance, he
nevertheless early determined to obtain
liberal education. Pounding out on
his shoe bench the means required to
enable him to do it, he fitted for col
lego, and entered the University of
Vermont. Here he made the best
improvement of his opportunities, and
in due time graduated with honor
Several years since his alma mater,
with unanimity and spontaneity on
the part of her corporators that gave
to the title its chiefvalue, conferred on
him the honorary degree of d. d.
Mr.. Dougherty studied at once for
the ministry. His first settlement
was in Milton, where he labored with
much success for several years. lie
then accepted call from the Con-
gregational church at johnson, with
which he remained as long as he con-
| tinued in the active work of the minis
try. His influence, not only in his
own society, but throughout the com.
munity was great, and as salutary as
great. He was emphatically the faith.
err of his people and the patriarch Of
J the town.
DR.. Dougherty was a preacher o.
rare and singularly attractive gifts -
of great originality, eloquence anG
power. Long will it be before We
shall see his like again, even if we ev
er do.
But gifted as he was as a preacher
he was even more remarkable as ;
! thinker. His was one of the mos
fruitful prolific minds / ever knew
His spiritual insight was a distin
: gushing endowment. He was an in
! nationalist of the first water. AS t.
theological views, he was peculiar il
some respects, and far in advance o
e his age in many particulars. Wha
: has now become popular as the "Scien
tifc Method" of inquiry respectin.
theology, was thought out and ex
pounded by DR.. Dougherty a who'll
Il generation ago. He was almost a
a original in his theological views, an,
S way of putting things, as though n,
n theological book had ever been writ
ten, and no system of divinity had ev
er been propagated. The cordial re
G ception and entertainment he ever ex
IL tended to the honest convictions of
It conscientious worker in the fields q
s religious inquiry was worth lon
journey to witness; while the singula
II freshness that characterized his ow
1t utterances rendered it always a grea
Of pleasure to be his listener.
If DR.. Dougherty had in him fin
= vein of humor, though it seldom wa
revealed in the pulpit. 1t is doubtft
d whether Sterne ever held more az
q, preciative reader, or one who coul
n appropriate his matter to better pun
IN pose. No man had finer genius fc
n 'tellinga little story" than DR.. Dougl
y erty, and Sterne was his favorite al
= thor for purposes of quotation.
en- DR.. Dougherty also had the ver
e. finest poetic sensibilities. He was ne
en- widely read perhaps, but his favo
4, ties were well read. He had Young
:, Night Thoughts almost by heart, "a
- author, by the way, who did much
he a certain particular crisis, to anchc
ok him in the Christian faith. Burn
tn however, was his most familiar frien,
All what more charming than to hei
~ him, so alphabetically, quote til
OF sweetest of bards, by way Of illustra
Id ing and garnishing his limpid discours
III Mr., Dougherty had an Irishmar
warm and innuIsiye heart No mar