The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-09-02
ROBERT COLLYBR.

BLACKSMITH preacher" having when q
young man spen. twelve wears at the
forge and anvil. It is said that gem
tleman once stopped his horse near
smithy 10 a Yorkshire village. On en-
tering it, he hardly arrested the atten-
tion Of a boy who seemed 10 he absorbed
in the work of blowing the bellows.
Closer observation revealed the presence
Of a book, placed on q shelf near the
lads bead, with its pages kept open by
two bits Of iron. Each time he brought
down the bellows or released it, he ap-
peared to catch a sentence from the book.
That boy was Robert Collyer, who was
born December s, 1923, al Keighiey, a
village in Yorkshire, England. His
| father was an uneducated blacksmith,
though regarded one Of the best work
men at the forge ia Yorkshire. Ia 1874,
while working at his trade, without
warming, he fell dead
/ Robert was sent to school quite early
I iu his childhood, aud remained four
/ years. aud this was all the schooling he
ever had He quickly learned to read,
aud soon became thoroughly conversaut
with the few books owned 10y his par
enis, viz the Bible, "rhe Young Mans
/ Companion" Pilgrims Progress, 4" and
"Robiusou Crusoe." His father was
then living at Fewstone Parish, where
the children of the poor worked in the
/ linen factories, and from eight or nine
to fourteen Roberts life was spent in
this way.
Then he left the linen factory, aud was
apprenticed to blacksmith of Ilkley
aud to the twelve years spent at the
/ Ilkley forge he doubtless owes a strength
of lungs and a robust frame exceedingly
rare in the clerical profession. In re-
cent address, he alluded 10 his health as
brutal" While at Ilkley, all the
money ne could save was Invested in
books, which he kept on shelf in the
smithy; and as he blew the bellows, he
kept an open volume before him, aud
snatched now and then a sentence, as
has been described. He made many a
good horseshoe, feat Of which he is
still proud, and during that apprentice
ship his future was decided.
In 1s47, Influenced by the Rev. H. H.
Bland, now Of Montreal, Canada, who at
that time made a deep impression on
the Yorkshire men, Mr.. Collyer was
converted to Methoiism, and in the fol-
lowing year, while still welding the
hammer at Iikley on week days, he at
tended the neighboring Methodist
chapels on Sundays. His first expert
euce i'm preaching was gained in this
manner. Atthe same lime he continued
his studies assiduously, aud gradually
prepared himself for his life-work as
minister
In 1850 he concluded to emigraie to
America, and it was on the llth day Of
May that me landed iu this country, ac-
compauied 10y his wife. aud q week later
went 60 work at his trade in Shoemaker
town, Pa. Having brought letters from
England Introducing him to the Phila-
delphiz Conference, ne was granted a
/ license a. a local preacher. Al Shoe
mabertowu, as st Iikiey, he pursued bis
trade as a smith on work-dsys, and on
Sundays exhpried in the little cbapels
wherever be could find an audience.
Il was customary then for local
preachers 70 support themselves mainly,
aud for the ten years Inc thus iabored.
what salary DE received from the Con
ference Amounted, a- h- bas himself
said. 90 "oue almanac. various ntle
household uec-s-sries. and ten dollars
in money "
During the latter part of his black
smith life be bee, u- ,cq.sur-I v fh
, Lucr-ua Mot sua D. Fela--. ..d
found that eeraiu si-e- -a ,src1s
which DE had acquired u-r- -imasr .o
theirs DIR Furne-. invited htm to
o,-aeb in his pu,pit. and bv doing -o
Mr. Cotlvar Incurred the charge OF
ba,ssv which WAS made in Jsunarv
1870 ,,af,st him and the Conference
refnsai IN renew his license "a a preacher
However in February of the same wear
> he was commended bv DR. Furne4s tc
the First Unitarian Society Of Chicago
which WAS vitbont minister n,
went to Chicago. and was invited I,
, supply the pulpit the first Sunday afte
~. -, IT,. at,,,.,t, ,,.o. e., az
tnrh.5 b., roI,,;o.l ,iieero,cas and son,