Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-02-01
Obituary,
THE LATE REV. WILLARD CHILD, D. y.
Try Prof- G. N. Boarsmap.1

The LATE REV. WILLARD CHILD d. j.
by Prot. G. N. Boarsnan.l
Rev. Willard Child, D. D., died at the resi-
dence of his son in MOoers, y. Y, on Tues
day, Dec. 18th. lie had Just completed his
eighty-first year. He was q native OF Wood
stock CT, was graduated at Yale College IN
1917, in the last class that received the in
struction of President Dwight, and at Ando-
yer Theological Seminary in 1920. He was
engaged in teaching and occasional preaching
for few years after leaving Andover, but
was wholly employed in the ministry alter
the year 1925. For more than nifty years he
was the fav0Iite preacher wherever he was
known until he was eighty years of age he
was acceptable in the pulpit, and that for the
excellence of bis work, IN these years when
the demand upon the preacher is for some
thing new AMI entertaining
As a preacher be enjoyed many rare natu-
raj gifts. His physical appearance gave him
great advantage. He had an almost perfect
physical form, body of goodly stature with
great muscular strength, large head, no.
ticeable Tor breadth at the temples, a keen,
commanding but kindly eye, a most flscina-
ting smile in conversation, and deep, SON.
orous, powerful voice, His person seemed
literally to fill pulpit. His intellectual
powers were more than prOportioned to his
physical organization. Though be was known
in college as a hale. laughing. jolly student,
formidable in any physical rivalry, he was
faithful in his studies and highly respected
for his scholarship.
About forty years after he left colleg
he was on the examining commit
tee of Vermont college and showed
surprising familiarity with every department
of study, was perfectly ready for his work IN
mathematics, languages, or philosophy. He
said to one, who noticed the fac, that he had
not studied in these departments with any de-
sign OF keeping up his early requirements,
but that ''he got his lessons pretty we'll
when a student His intellectual culture
after entering the ministry was to good ex-
tent through reading. He loved books. He
enjoyed poetry, novels, history, philosophy.
HIS mind seized upon anything that had
thought in it, easily mastered the main ideas,
and found exquisite delight IN any fellcltles
of expression or argument.
His mental character Was shown by his
affinities as much as by his acquisitions He
was early an adnirer Of Coleridge, and an
intimate friend OF DR.. Marsh, president of
the University of Vermont II, however,
the philosophy which these men taught had
anything misty or vague about 1t, II never
impaired these qualities to the thinking of
D.. Child. He never attempted to write or
SPEAK upon luiLLS WHICH ne ull NOT uuutI-
stand clearly. lie was always understood
by those who listened to him. He was at
tracted by fresh, vigorous thought wherever
he found it. The chief impression DR..
Child made upon the world was by his preach
ing. His manner was impressive. His state
ments were clear and emphatic. His earnest
ness of manner carried the conviction that
he was seriously, solemnlv doing a work to
which his duty called him lis manifest
kindness and good will evidenced by the sub
jects he chose, as well as by his manner, won
the good will of all his hearers in response.
He had also the power of enforcing the great
fundamental doctrines OF Christianity by
rhetoric and elocutiOn that can be apprecia-
ted only by those who have heard him. He
probably never preached a poor sermon,
though he seldom set himsel! down to write
a great sermOn.-probably never. His mind
was full, his heart vas warmly in earnest in
religious work, and his sermons flowed forth
from his brain like water from Il mountain
spring. He was adequate to any occasion
which demanded his efforts.
DR.. Child's first settlement in the minis
try was in PittsfOrd, Vt. After about seven
teen years service at this place, he resigned
because Of ill health. He was installed over
a church in Norwich, Connecticut, after
years rest, and was subsequently settled in
Lowell, Massachusetts, and in Castleton,
Vermont. His labor at Pittslord WAS that
which he remembered with most pleasure,
where he specially exhibited his power. His
friends often asked the question, and it will
naturally suggest itself to any one, why
should man of such gifts and such acquire
msnts remain so long IN county town in
Vermont He did not remain because he
vas not desired elsewhere. One OF his fel-
L., r.,,,,,l-a1 Ill IL
no one would question that at the time he
left Vermont, in 1911, he was the first preach
er in the State. While at Pi.,sford he had
invitations to settle at Northampton and
Salem, Mass, and other large places. His
congregation came to consider all strangers
in church as spies, 4 familiar term applied
to those who had come TO get away their
minister" But DR.. Child would perhaps
have spent his fifty years Of the ministry in
Pittsford if his health had permitted. He
could not make changes, could not force him
self to carry out plans. He WAS Industrious,
and did well what clearly belonged to him,
but he dreaded new responsibilities. He
hesitated in matters demanding decision. He
entered the theological seminary at Andover
because of the desire of his father, not hav-
ing yet made profession of religion. He
would sit for hours in his room at Andover,
in silence, pondering the question of his
duty and his own fitness for the ministry.
He entered the ministry with hesitation, &C.
cupying himself mainly with teachiug for a
time after he began to preach. lie had also
a sensItiveness and shrinking abodt appear
ing before an audience and pressing his own
thoughts upon them. He said TO a friend
after he had been preacher for nearly thirty
years. that he had always been afflicted with
"a boyish timidity :" and about the same
I. / ]
from his trepidation on going into the pull
pit. He was also man of strong affections,
he loved the people OF Pittsford, loved its
hills and brooks, and could not tear himself
away. Few men have called out more hearty
of good Will. He had not
only friends, but admirers to the last-Cbi-
rdgo AdUapce.