New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-06
"REMINISCENCES or DIR. BELLOWS.

EXTRACTS FROM SOME OF HIS LETTERS.
BITS OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY FROM TIE REV. DIR. I'D
WARD EyTRETT HALE.
The Rev. DR.. Edward Everett Hale. Of Bostcn,
preached yesterday morning in All Souls Church' AT
Fourthave. and Twcnteth-st., Of which the lac d.
Bellows Tas pastor The house was filed to oVeroWinS
The altar was drapcd in black which helped to heghten
the effect upon the audience OF Dr. Uac remarks on the
character and work of Dr. Believe. He took lis text
from Psalms XVI II: the secret Of the LORD - VIII
them that lesr Him"
This the speaker saia is the text of the fr-t sermon
preached by Dr. Bellows. and take It today because
illustrates go wen tie moving spirit Of his liiefah ana
trust in God He preached before great audience III
one OF the Boston theatres and its eject was Ahrfe'n
He had written a sermon for that occasion on an
entirely different subject but when he arcsc' as he
afterward SAID inspiration came 10 him to speak On
the words of the text. He gave himself ND to ms III
pulse and told the audience that lie would speak he'
entity froIa what he had intended to, that the
words Of his new text were, The secret
OF the Lord is with them that fear HIM.
bat that lie did rot know what Psalm they were IN
Hundreds OF his hearers were led by that address 10
lead more earnest lives from that day, and to acquire
sense Of Tod they had never before possessed Dr BEL
lows did any supcrstitops fear ort'rror OF cd
BY this text; but hc tEen always explained inc fear
81 he ord 10 lie respect reverence and obedience to the
Omnipotent Father TO give you clear insight INTO the
character of your well beloved pastor VIII read lew
extracts from letter that he wrote to me year ago
long friendly letter that is really short autobiography
1t was written to in the stIc confidence and Cpen
frankness of close personal friendship and
in it he said many thinGs that he would not
have said under any otler circumstances feel Justl
fed in reading these extracts 70 you, for know mat
Won who learned by long ana intimate acquaintance
with him deeply will receive them with
the most conSderate Kindness and that they Will come
to you as messages rom him beyond the grave. And,
l,fr mos
shall any boy girl who hears them conscious OF
the fact that goodness leads 10 greatness and that
good life will surely bear rich fruit
He was, he says. a child very delicate, his twin
brother having all the strength and vgor for them both
From early childhood and through youth 1t
was his aim to be good and he gained the repnta
tcn that he was Trustworthy and always to bc re
He'd men when only seven years old he resolved to be-
GENE a minister. and from Ills time on through early
Hf, he suffered much and struggled bard re
lie oua questions and experiences. lie gradually ac
Quircd the idea CT God From the time tiat hc gained
This seuse OF Gods presence, his future was written
lie could recall first time it cane 20 bun, and said 1t
wa9 Ike the feeling lie experienced when acr tryiLS
In vain for several years learn 20 swim. lie suddenly
found that he had that accomplishment and fcli the
buoyanCy of the wafer all about him. WITH God ~ hls
ally, he dared and did every that he iet called
mon 10 ATTEMPT He never inquired whether piece
OF work was his line ornot, but promptly replied
message was 10 be sent, Here an ) scnd me, lie
20 Harvard only too we'd prepared, for he could
pass bis rccauons without study. From The Divinity
School he went to HiobIc Ala, "hefe ne was remark
ably successful and greatly beloved Eut the shadow 81
8 So
intocrblc last for he coEd not fight he evil as he
Finally he mad the cal to New York although
he been candidate 'Or any situation OF ms
feelings about coming to New Ork and his work after
he he says III tlus letter;
WAS delicate and so opposed TO coming 10 New
York; besides disked ii. Claiming, are ana Walker
urged come, however, and At last consented,
though il went against my grain. i was
ectlcd with the promise OF -, 900 shall always CON
eider my experience rs preacher ana pastor ana my
Influence the congregation in the First Church in
New FORK, the Tca4 backbone U1 my carceIthc best,
the hardest the consistent part OF NY NE, and as
Thar which has cxacied the most rom mind ana
heart here in strange city, IN camp Vf hostile
secs that agreed IN little but dislike of and disgust at
Iircd IN those days, real courage To be
q Unitarian laynan Unitarian minister SORT of
| clerical outlaw ! mad to watch my own theology and
| to Amt tho WUrldlHc=s conformity, DlgOtTy,
ma eIialisln, and. in short, the Phlstluism Of
the city II nearly killed ne at the end OF ten years
tainted dead away IN tae pulpit and didn't recover my
| health for than year. Bat more and more the
irdi, duality which became known and felt. II
has twenty five years solid, self respecting
BODY and second TO none IN tie city Tor
uupEce and dignity, aud second to none where in
character and faith. The number of souls that
have been connected with ii has been Incredible and the
weight and effect members nave had on the lie OF
tnc city cl country have been truly exceptional To have
hclped H. tls result the glory aHd Joy OF my life. will
sneak q character preacher except 10
IL has been plain 0nd direct appeal 10 the religious
! turc a. man." OF his literary work he says:
'Wnlc have printed more than most men III perish
able form, VI spaptr articles ana pamphlets have
pnntod far less haI many men III The more durable
form have been too Intensely busy with the
| life u the iIjue 10 DC literary dronc'