Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-03-23

Up to the year 1920 the life of my
brother differed in no essential par
tlcular from the common lot of the
young men of that time and place.
twas life of unremltting toll for
the benefit of the family. School
advantages were limited to the En-
glish branches. few months only
in the year; but they were so well
improved by him that he early be-
came a successful teacher of district
schools. About the time of reach
ing his majority he embraced re-
ilgion and united with the Metho-
dist church. A year or two only
elapsed before he began to be i'm
pressed that he must preach the
Gospel. OF course he felt an utter
shrinking al the thought of engag-
ing in a work of such monentous
Importance. and long kept his feel
ings profound secret. But the
struggle still went on till under a
pressure little short of compulsion
he revealed the secret and received
license to exhort. He commenced
holding meetings for prayer and ex-
hortation in various school houses
as he found opportunity. In the
spring of 1926 he was licensed to
preach at Local Preachers Confer
ence held at Bradford or Norwich, /
am not certain which, and was there
recommended as suitable person to
be admitted on trial in the Annual
Conference. The New England
Conference met that year at Cam
bridge Mass, where, with a large
class of other candidates he was re-
ceived on probation and appointed
to Newbury Circuit VT, and with
fear and trembling entered upon his
life work. The next year he was
stationed at Dorchester Mass. At
the end of two years he was admit
ted into full connection and ordained
deacon, and two years from that
time was ordained elder. From the
| annual examination of character
which was then much more search
ing than it is now, it was plain from
the hearty commentator of his Pre-
siding Elder and others, that he had
the fullest confidence of his brethren
as man of undoubted piety, good
preaching abilities, and promise of
usefulness to the church. The num-
Der of appointments he filled in the
regular work, / am not able to state.
There were several breaks in his
effective relation to the conference.
but in those years he supplied weak
charges in the vicinity and for very
small compensation. He had 8
warm place IN the affection and
confidence of his brethren and fol
years had charge of the funds OF
Conference as treasurer. As an ex-
pastor he was a good parishoner
always kindly, sympathizing and
helpful to the pastor, and generous
in contributing to all the church eX
penses. Always highly esteemed
among the people where he resided
during the intervals of his effective
relation to the conference. ne wa:
perhaps, even more so at Glove
where he has resided for man,
years. Scarcely anyone was more
welcome in the pulpits of Methods
and Congregational churches ant
for a series of years, he has proba
bly, attended more funerals. and sol
emnized more marriages than an
other clergyman in the place. Ant
this not by base self seeking on hi
part, but from sheer love, and re
spect, and confidence, the peopl
: would have it so. This service con
tinued till within few weeks of hi
death. Surely here was a case i
which prophet was not withou
r honor in his country, and in his oil
!. age. To characterize his preaching
| should say that it was not of tn
popular, oratorical, or sensations
style with more of sound and displa
: than either piety or sense. but intelli
e gent and replete with common sense
I experimental and practical. an
: fully evangelical in sentiment an
! spirit. Ii contained very little {
d what the eccentric E. Il. Taylor one
u denominated .sCrows Nest in Sc
n mons, but vas the pure gospel c
the blessed God The matter {
his sermons was neither stolen NJ
borrowed, but procured in an hol
I est legitimate way, the ore was mi,
ed By his own hand. smelted in Ii
a. own furnace. shaped in his on
: forge, matnred by his own prayerf
% thought. delivered IN his own wa
= for be initiated no one / belle
the general verdict mas been that
y was a good, faithful, useful preac
ID er. And will add, that when
= has had PASTORAL charge his pun
AZ labors were followed ap by diIigel
y fruitful PASTORAL labor. His min
< terial work is done. but the intiuen
9 for good resulting from it viii abb
to forever.
" The closing days of bis life We
Al, eminently peaceful. no fear. OF DIRE
=; or even reluctance. we're in any W
of indicated. but on the contrary /
NC utmost assurances that all was We
GEL 18th. less than month befs
bis decease, he wrote me for the /,
~ time a. faflowe. ssDaar Rratl