The New York herald., 1879-11-30
OBITUARY..
WILLIAM IVES BURLINGTON, d. d.

osciated long that had he not been possessed of
almost angelic patience his Christian fortitude
must of necessity long since have failed him. The
terrible that thrived upon his very life left him
weak debilitated and physically nerveless. At times
he rallied but the apparent change for the better
delusve. and each relapse found him weaker and
fainter. Finally it evident that his departure
was question of days only. He calmly faced the
inevitable and occupied his closing hours i'll cheer
ing his family and friends and preparing Tor the
awful summons and the subsequent appearance in
which he firmly and joyfuliy believed. The death OF
DR.. Burlington takes from the City OF Churches one
of several clerical notablities who for sundry rea
sons known widely by name and work. DR..
Budington was a native of New Haven. Conn., where
he born April 81. 1875 His parents gave him
liberal education sending him first to Yale College.
whence he graduated i'll 1884. aud thence to An
dover. where he studied theology. supplementing
the New Haven course. and finishing in 1857
He gave in early life great promise
teacher ana disciplinarian, and ordained
at the age of Twenty-Five years with license to
preach the Gospel. He was a member of Congre-
gatonal Church. and i'll April 1910. accepted call
and was installed as pastor OF the First Congrega-
tional Church in Charlestown. Mass. He continued
his labors in that field more than fourteen years.
building up a reputation thinker and preacher
far above the average His congregation. though
small, influential, ana entertained Tor nlm the
greatest respect and regard that when he left
they mourned his loss. After few months work
in Philadephia DR.. Burlington accepted invitation
from the Clinton Avenue Church in Brooklyn. and
was installed as its pastor in April 1855. At that
time the church worshipped in an edifce corner
of Clinton and Gates avenues, but q building
was erected on the corner of Clinton and Lafayette
avenues. which, with chape. fronting on Lafayette
and finished in 1859, cost $4,000. Under the
guidance of Dr. Budington the organization rapidly
grew, and. although never very influential or
| OH tn.,k 70 rank and npA
to Plymouth Church and the Church OF the Pill
grims. In 1864 $4,000 were subscribed to pay
the pew resigned their proprietary interest
in the property. by which act the society was
general interest naturally attaching to any
substantial religious body the church and
marked attention until latter part of 1873. when
| Dr. Burlington became identified with contro-
versy in which Mr.. Beecher, Dr. Storrs and himself
participated. and made one of tripartite confer.
ence, which subsequently broke out III protracted
correspondence. 1t appears to be the unfortunate
fact that the unhappy scandal over which the re.
ligous community OF the nation has been exercised
for years the pole on which number of minis
terial controversonastsc climbed into notoriety The
action of Plymouth Church in dealing with an Of
Tending brother attracted the critical attention of
Drs. Storrs and Burlington. and confer
ence held in the study" of the
former to ascertain il it was possible
to effect private settlement or the difficulties be-
tween the two associated churches and Plymouth
| Church. The three pastors met. prayed and dis
cussed and finally reached the result that ii. ter a
full and frank correspondence. ground could be-
| found for agreement among themselves enough Of
! the CORRESPONDENCE might be published to make
known the reasons Of mutual satisfaction; if none
could be found certain questions should be prepared
aud laid before the next @ National Congregational
should be laid for calling mutual council. IL
generally understood that DR.. Budington was
the strong man of his side of the question.
and the voluminous correspondence that ensued
bears ample evidence of his authorship. In later
the cloth became wide aud deep. the following
tence from the letter Of January 7; 1874 was used
with effect. 1t occurs in the letter written by
DIR. Budington to Mr.. Beecher:-
Matters detail in administration of minor mpor-
Du, ,ns ~ IN ses
ing necessarily whole relations to Que another and
earnestly than to do nothing against the truth,
San
sna to n Ss So
SopS and service Of Christ wM IVES BUDfSGroN
The series concluded In the following abrupt way.
in letter dated February 25. 1S74:-
We regret that tho ree propositions submitted to you
in letter of the 2eth inst possible basis of
render them or modify them any important particular
gsgements ours, further protractng core
spondenee Very truly n the seEyes G TSe Master
X. S. STORRS.
Mr.. Beecher asked permission to publish the
respondence. and DR.. Budington consented, with
tho accompanying significant sentcnce:-
fyou wish to publish we shall n,erp0se no objection
proof beforehand. On these conditions. therefore we
comply wit" your WILLIAM fG IVES IBtplSGroS
In conjunction with DR.. Storrs and his charge DIR.
Burlington and his called an ecclesiastical council.
to which Plymouth Church was invited. Inasmuch
as Mr.. Beecher and his charge regarded this call
ing of EEK parte council" to consider the affairs
! of church that had not declined mutual
council the consum nation of course of irregular
aud unwarrantable proceedings against which it had
protested from the beginning the invitation was re-
| spectfully declined. The council was held. never
theess and debates of bitter and acrimonious ma
ture followed in due course Very naturally il-feel-
ing was generated and developed itself i'll summary
action by sundry members OF the congregations in
terested.
Meantime there developing in the body
of DR.. Budington q terrible scourge, which later
caused him intense mental and physical
distress. For nearly two years he suffered from
cancer, which first appeared the inside of his
lower lip II was cut out. but q few months later
the disease made its reappearance the outside of
the ill., and was removed again. In the spring of
1878 DR.. Budington visited Europe. where he placed
London physicians, who operated the cancer.
which had again become troublesome. Notwith-
feeling much improved in health he again de-
clined and malignant pustule presented itself on
the side OF his neck. which was operated on by Dr.
willard Parker and j. G. Hutchinson. On Sunday
December o. he resigned the active pastorate OF tue
church with which he had been for so long period
seek relief by the sooth treatment OF DIR. Hewson,
OF that city. But the fell disease made unmls-
taxable progress in spite OF all medicines
aud the utmost care. In June he visited Boston.
where he remained under the treatment of the most
skilful physica until the latter part of september,
when he returned reduced in strength. the cancer
having spread over his entire chin. He resigned
to all physical suhcrlngs, and his mind renamed
clear until the inconsistencies which precedes
death settled upon him on Friday night. He was
attended thro ughout his sickness by his devoted
wife, two OF his daughters and his son. John Bud
ington. DIR. Wilson. his brother-in-law, aud DR..
Hutchinson were with the members of the family at
his bedside when he expired.
DIR. Rudfngton deeply seated in the affections
OF his people; deeply IN fact. that those who dii
cred with the policy of his course toward Plymouth
Church constrained to overlook it and
tnue in fellowship with the church of their yoath.
He more of pastor than preacher. He knew
his congrega ton by name and visited every family
regularly and dconscientiously. His austerity
ticeable in the pulpit and in controversy only. In
private life. and especially in pastoral work, he
amiability personlfed. and his death removes u