Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-03-03
Ar mARoUaND CHApEte.

Rev. Dr. Parker, of Hartford, On the
Late Rev. Horace RushneIRn.Eafs Eiie
and Character.
The Marquand chapel was filed last even
ing with theological students and many 9th
ers who listened to an ieu1egy Of the life and
character of DIR, Horace Bushnell given by
Rev. E, 2. Parker, of Hartford. The speak
er made tender illusions to the mother of
DIR. Bushnell and indeed to his family,
though to his mother alone did DR.. Bushnell
owe his eminence as theologian and his
beautiful character. DIR Bushnell was born
on Feb. IA. 1eee, In Litchfeld. When their
Oldest child was about years old his par
ents moved to New Preston where Dr.. Bush
nell grew up surrounded with the beauties of
nature and a pure social atmosphere. His
mother was slender woman, modest and re-
firing, sublime in discretion and of natur-
al .ladyhood; she never did an ineensfderate
thing to be mended afterwards She bore
six children and provided for their clothing
and cared for them with her own hands;
she from the first dedicated her oldest son
to the ministry and watched the unfolding
of his character with great anxiety.
Under her influence his life broadened and
he termed righteous habits and mode of
thought that afterwards paved the way for
the reception of Gods holy spirit. One-half
of his school life had its springs at home.
He became eager in nature and of courage
Gus and manly heart. His father being q
Methodist and his mother an Episcopalian,
the religion of the household merged into
Congregasfonalism
The life of DIR. Bushnell was of the simple,
pure, industrious type developed by excur
sions in the woods and fields and work on
the farm.
In 1928 he entered Yale college and while
there he maintained high character though
his religious life did not visibly flourish. He
was not decided to enter the ministry, which
caused his mother great disappointment,
though she did not lose her faith. He was
offered an appointment as tutor at Yale
which he at first declined, but at his moth
ers eptreaty he reconsidered and finally
cepted. AS tutor his religious condition
vas negative. Meanwhile he studied law and
in 1881 was ready to enter the bar.
In that Year he was converted and he
bowed to the stronger power and entered the
Theological seminary. While there he
raised himself by leverage of thought and
lifted his mind from the mud of doubt and
skepticism. What this did for his thought
it did, too, for his character, which, though
not perfect, contained those elements which
glorify life and beautify thought
In 1889 he was called to the North church
in Hartford and acted as pastor there for
twenty-six years. During this time the
churches of New England were agitated with
theological controversies, in which men
thought all the interests of Gods kingdom
were involved
To the MIND of DR.. Bushnell his religious
experience came as q watt on his inspiration;
his powers doubled, he broke through the
prosaic treatment of subjects into the poetic,
and the wings of the air came under him
to lift him up when he spoke; he
talked with animation and vigor;
his eyes kindled and ''seened
to smlte intelligence into peoples" though
witty he is falsely judged to have been fond
of saying cutting remarks; though humorous,
he had humor subtoned with thoughtful
ness and which ''did not debase moral cur
rency."
His kindness and generosity was phenom-
email, especially to young men in the minis
try; he was possessed of a modest shame
which did not allow him to express the
depth of his affection; he had to stop lest
his poetry of tenderness be taken for some
thing else" Nothing ESCAPED his obserya-
ton and his practical and imaginative facul-
ties were exceptional. DR.. Bushnell was a
broad theological thinker of the type of ST.
John-a peculiar type which can be summed
up in no epithets.
He believed and therefore spake, opening
up new field of theological thought and
way into broader life and liberty. He left
no school, no party, and had no desire to do
so. He taught the Bible as poetical, not a
scientific book, as literary and not dogmatic. 4
His last letters and sayings were in keeping |
with his life-pure, simple and holy. |
Mr. Parker Par. ,S closed by quoting a passage
strength and nobility of the character and |
ife of DR. Bushnell