Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-04-25
Rev. Ell BalIOu, ID, ID.

Liz iolloWlHo shelCu Vi III. baiIou in
from the pen of Rev. b. S. Lee. now Of
Canton. N. Y, and was published in the
Gospel Banner of April 7, 1888:
This eminent defender of our faith died
in Bethel, Vermont, March 18th, rs the
readers of the Ban.er have already
learned. He was born in lie Ray, Jeffer-
son county, New York, December 1,
1908, received an early education In the
common school, and served apprenticeship
at shoemakirg with Samuel Fields,
afterwards his brother-in- law. moved to
Malone and became q Universalist at the
age of eighteen years. He was sixth in
the line of descent from Maturin Ballou,
who came to Rhode Island about 1916,
and through him was distant relative of
Father Hosea Ballou. He was brought
up Quaker. His father was Chester
and died in 1919, and his mother was
Rachel Hayward, descendant of the
William Penn Quakers of Delaware
county, Pennsylvania. After he became a
Universalist he cherished great desire
to enter the ministry; studied two years
in Potsdam Academy. and fitted for the
ministry with Rev. Jonathan Wallace.
He preached his first sermon in school
house where he was teaching in West
Potsdam, New York, in the winter of
1901, was ordained at Canton, New
York, by the St. Lawrence Association,
June, 1882, and January l, 1888, he went
to Swanton Falls, Vermont, and for four
years was pastor of this society and that
of st. Adams, preaching also in other
towns in Vermont and Canada. He
purchased the UniuersdHst Waterman
and Christian Repository in January, 1910,
and moved to Montpelier, where he lived
and edited the paper for thirty years, until
its subscribers were transferred to the
UntuersaliSt, afterwards the Christian
Leader, in May, 1870. He became great
power and champion of Universalism in
Vermont through his paper and preaching.
He edited the paper with great ability, put
a great deal of thought into his editorials,
and most successfully combated the errors
of the popular faith. He frequently held
friendly discussions with Congregational
lists, Methodsts and Adventists, and
published q long debate which he held
with Luther Lee, the logical champion
of Methodism and also one held with his
cousin, John 4. Ballou, u Congregational
list clergyman of western New York.
Rev. A. c. Thomas once said that Eli
Ballou was the ablest defender of elemen-
tary Universalism in the denomination,
and as proofinstanced his triumphant sue.
cess in his debate with Luther and others.
He attended nearly all the conventions
and associations in the state. preached in
all parts of the state, attended many we'd
dings and funerals, and carried light and
consolation to thousands of souls yelled in
darkness and gloom. Few persons have
welded so wide and happy an influence
as he, in the state which he so long made
his home. Many were the believers who
owed their emancipation from sin and
error to him, and who heard of his death
with pangs of deep sorrow. He preached
the occasional sermon before the general
convention of Universalists in Boston,
September, 1851 He received the degree
of d. D., from college in Kentucky,
some twenty years ago. 1t came to him
in my sterious and unexpected way, but
he afterward learned that friend of his,
who had read his paper with admiration
and delight, requested the college to con-
fer the degree, and it did so. He was
loyal to our church, and did much to pro-
mote its interests and the cause of denom-
national education,
lie preached in Kansas and Marquoketa,
Iowa, year or two after he sold his
paper, and then resided and preached in
South Woodstock. Barnard and Bethel,
Vt, and at the time of his last sickness
and death, was pastor of East Montpelier
parish, to which he before ministered
fourteen consecutive years, from 1910 to
1854 He resided in Bethel, VT, where he
purchased house three years since for
himself and family. He preached his last
sermon February 4, at East Montpelier.
He had been troubled with an affection of
he heart for many years, but had no very
serious trouble with it, till four weeks
before his DEATH He passed away gently
and peacefully, at the ripe age of seventy |
our years. Ills funeral was attended in |
Bethel by Rev. S. A. Parker and Rev. j. |
3, Tabor. Mr., Parker pronounced an /
eloquent and fitting eulogy over him who |
lad done so much for our cause in Ver- |
mont. His body rests in the Montpelier |
cemetery, beside that of his idolzed and |
leeply lamented daughter, Mrs. G.. V.
Markham, whose sudden death in 1856
iled him with sorrow. His wife, to whom
ne was married October 25, 1881, survives
aim, also children and grandchildren.
The whole church mourns his death.
His works will be enduring. "Blessed are
he dead that die in the lord. They
'est from their labors, and their works do
'ollow them" According to his request,
write this notice of dear friend whom
owed and respected in life, and whom l
mourn in death.