Morning journal and courier., 1882-01-16
Memorial Discourse.


 ter rChurch-Fributeb by Rev. Dr. Walker
 to the Deceased Pastor, Rev Drs Leon-
 ard Bacon.
 Center church was filled to it's utmost ca pacity yesterday morning. the occasion being the delivery of the special tribute to the
 memory of the late Rev. Dr. Leonard Bacon
 by his former associate in the pastorate of
 Center church, Rev. George l.. Walker, D. D., of Hartford. The congregation included a large number of men of dignity and note
 in the city. The exercises were profoundly impressive The mourning drapery of the church added it's solemn testimony to the
 occasion. beautiful voluntary was given upon the organ by Mir. Shelley, closing with the doxology. Rev. Dr. Walker then invoked the divine blessing. The choir then rendered | another selection including fine solo, Fol
 lowing, Dr. Walker, addressing the assembly, l asked their indulgence if he sat during the delivery of the discourse, as he the preceding evening had, in descending some steps, re- ceived fall and serious injury thereby Dr. Walker then again invoked the throne of grace in prayer combining deep feeling and beautiful sentiment. The annual church meet ing for the evening, postponed from the pre- vious Sunday evening on account of stormy weather, was announced. Three stanzas of the 1,214th hymn were sung, the congregation largely joining with the choir in the singing. Dr. Walker then read the words of his text, viz., Numbers goth, 29th:
 "And when all the congregation that Aaron was dead, they mOurned for thirty days, all the house of Israeli
 Dr. Walke-, addressing the large and ex- pectant assemblage before him, stated that the work of the occasion before him was def nite. The fifty-seven years of such pas toral service as terminated in the death of Rev. Dr. Bacon, and the task as- signed the speaker, called from him, not
 a general and complete survey of his life and character, but retrospective view of Dr.
 Bacon's connection with the church which he loved so we'll and which so honored him. To
 others remained the former task. The press,
 seculas and religious, had borne it's loving appreciative testimony to the public life and
 usefulness of the deceased, but for the prop CT tribute and full rounded estimate a whole
 volume was required. A writer of note, 8
 historian and literary man, man of wide research and scope of thought, interested in the public welfare, strong pillar in the church, has gone from among us. He was poet also, whose sweet strains find frequent place in our verse. He master mind combining clements of mental power, any one of which would suffice for place of honor for an ordinary man. Only the biographer can properly set forth his life and character
 But Leonard Bacon is today our theme. This house of worship was about eleven years old when Dr. Bacon became pastor. That was at an October service in 1924. His ordination had taken place at Windsor: The youthful appearance of the preacher, who was then only 22 years old, awakened oriti- cism with congregation accustomed to the
 presence of Dr. Taylor. Many present
 on that occasion recalled the antique dignity
 of Dr. Dana, who had disappeared from the pulpit only ten years before. After having listened to fourteen sermons from him the
 society still debated the question of calling him. By vote of 66 to 20 the society ex-
 pressed the desire to have him settled and have the church coincide In January, 1925,
 he was formally called. The Rev. Dr. Hawes, then pastor of the First church in Hartford, preached the installing sermon,
 which reminded of the fraternal relations
 which have ever existed between these two ancient churches of Christ. President Day
 was moderator. Stephen w. Stebbins Dr.
 Taylor, Samuel Merwin and Eleazar T. Fitch participated-all noble men and we'll remembered, and most of them gone for many years from human sight. Dr. Walker feelingly referred to Dr. Bacon's early life, his birth where now is.Detroit and to his early career in the ministry. He came to the ministry following eminent men of special attractiyeness and power. I have myself, after Dr. Bacon's fl 1-2 years of ser vice as full rastor, met old men and women whose memories were aglow with recollec- tions of the sermons of Stuart and previous pastors. The old and the new light contro- versy was still remaining, and there were other differences existing at that period. Dr. Bacon was eminently marked for his nodes ty. Dr. Walker here gave an example of this phase of the character of the deceased-words of Dr. Bacon which he described as model words. Dr. Bacon had not the gift of impassioned oratory pre- cisely but had pulpit power of high order, and he had beside complex variety of gifts that contrasted him strikingly and favorably with his predecessors. He gave indications
 
 great man., Added to matchless facility of expression, he had great clearness of style. His mind expanded to the grandest themes. He rose fully to every important occasion. i In such occasions he always rose to the grandeur of eloquence. Dr. Walker now re- ferred to various revivals of religion which were experienced under this portion of Dr. Baeon's ministry, which, with his other gifts, established him as the peer of any of his predecessors Dr. Bacon's mental activity was great. It flowed out in all directions Beside his pull pit and ministerial work he added great use- fitness as writer. The speaker alluded here in passing to Dr. Bacon's life of Richard Baxter, and then to his famous thirteen his torical sermons. Never had church more graceful or valuable offering. This volume gained for the author place among the best writers of New England: They displayed charming viyacity to which was added the truest historical instinct and devoted loy- alty. His church now saw among them in its line of honored men none more worthy than he who at 36 years of age as their leader had conferred honor upon them Henceforth his life was among public men, and among men of national influence. But to re- count and speak of all his gifts and accom- plishments it is not for me to do I must keep to my purpose. Dr. Walker now spoke of Dr. Bacon as among the first to attack the evil of intsmperance, which he did with his accustomed vigor and fearlessness when it was far more difficult task of moral cour- age to undertake than it is today. At his installation there was wine, also more peril ous stuff. He braved obloquy and reproach He partly won, partly compelled the adher- enee of his congregation. His deep interest in and work for foreign missions and home missions was next alluded to in passing. In these fields of aggressive labor he had few if any equals in New England. Himself the child of 8 missionary, the interests of | missions was always dear to him and their l importance and necessities vivid. He was ! ardently devoted to the progress of the king l dom of God among men. He saw vividly l the importance of the mission work His l own church responded with large contribu- | tions. Dr. Walkers next branch of his sub- l iect was the importance of Dr. Bacon's labor 1 in the anti slavery cause his zeal and energy | in the work and the vast help he gave it with | pen and voice. Obloquy and rebuff were l counted by him as honor in such work for ] humanity. Dr. Bacon was Congregational l ist on principle. He studied it, thought upon l it, wrote upon it. The story of 1 it's pathetic heroism in England always | inspired him. The advocacy of the claims | of Episcopacy always excited his sarcasm 1 and wit in telling replies, but he retained ! the regard of his Episcopal friends as an 1 honest, kind opponent. In our church coun- cils his was ever prominent figure. He be- l came the typical Congregationalst of Ameri- ca In his position hs inclined rather to the | side of the individual independence of the |