Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-02-26
THE LATE REV. G. l.. GoouELL.
some Recoliections of his College Life

lltcN. NodnCy Holland Howard, in the Con-
grcEatioualis.I
DR.. Goodcll's career in COLLEGE (he was
an alumnus of the University of Vermont,
was not specially marked or brilliant. He
was not apparently ambitious to shine as
scholar, in the technical sense of the
term, though always broad reader, and
diligent and critical student of the best
English literature. Nor did he seem in
the least DESTROYS of awakening, in col
lege, any such Juror by his public speak
ing rs he had done at the academy. In
stinctively he seemed to realize that II col
lege auditory is not one likely to be moved
ny tricks of oratory, or popular appeals.
Nevertheless, remember that his poem
Grafton on the occasion of his junior eX-
hibition was very greatly admired, and
has been embalmed in Miss A. NJ. liemen-
ways Poets and Poetry of Vermont His
theme was Ethan Allen. 1t opened with
the following stirring lines, evincl0 not
little genuine poetic fire:
What though our mountains and our lakes
ana laus
Nc'or woke to Norman songs nor classic
strains,
Nor MI the mind with grand old STORED act
Where funcy softly tnts the rugged fact
Yet shouts jOr freedom and for human hight
Have rung right roundly IN triumphant fight;
Ana men with hearts rs pure as mountain air,
with thoughts as pure as their bright fDun-
tans are,
With manly, StulWart forms, and nerves of
steel.
Have worked in earnest for their country's
veal,
Have put the forest and the foe to flight.
And trained alike the mind and soil Alright.
Meantime, though by no means striving
for the mastery, either as it regards class,
position or oratoric fame, yet there was a
no more popular, admired or influential
man III his class than Libertie GoOdell.
He was, as may he readily imagined, its
leader, its chief, u sort of universal favor
lite, a result to which his rare wit, kindly
chastened humOr, excellent sense, matur-
ty of judgment, manliness and wonder
ful insight into human nature, not less
than his brilliant and popular talent, natu-
rally contributed.
The period was rapidly approaching
when he was to graduate and to enter
upon the study of some profession. What
should 1t be- The decision must now
soon made. Should he become an Ortho-
doN divlne-a minister of the gospel
Probably no project or plan of lite, was
more remote from his thought. He doubt
less contemplated the law. But, while
man proposes, God dIeposes. Toward the
close of GoOdells last college year-lS5j-
Il remarkable work Of grace, beginning in
the Methodist church in the village below,
under the labors of DR.. Rednrld. Il pop
Il.
gradually spread up to the college. Good
ell. meantime, with several other college
students, mad become greatly interested
i'll Dr. Redfield and his meetings. not so
much ON any RELIGIOUS grounds as on the
score or ms eloquenCe and the marvellous
sweetness of his singing. The writer Will
never forget seeing Goodell and an init
mate and gifted classmate, by the name
OF Robinson, night after night Glowing
heir way to the front, and sitting flat ON
the carpet in front of the pulpit-the
house being too full to obtain seats-for
the sake OF listening to The wonderful ora
torical flights of that now long since de
| parted, but gifted, eVangellst-little
dreaming, meanwhile, that he WAS him
sell so soon successfully 10 engage in the
same glorious work of calling sinners to
| repentance. Ouce the revival had started
III college, Robinson, Just referred to- IL
young lnan of II superbly handsome per-
sonnet and Il natural born orator, yet
| hitherto reckless and sadly disslpated,
was one of the first to he converted.
| Guodell, his chum and iuscpurable com
panlon,, heretofore easy-going, careless,
and inclined to skeptlciSm touching the
matter of religion, soon followed.
The circumstances of GOodtll's CONVEX
sion were, To say the least, unique. The
immediate instrumentality in the case
WAS pious, devoted classmate, long since
deceased named Roberts. He was "A uuiet,
/
became, during this season of religious
! interest, a sort of college evangelist. One
afternoon, il is said, he entered Goodell' :
room, and asked if he had any objection
| to hearing him read Il Chapterin the Bible.
| Consent being granted the chapter was
read after which Roberts asked his friend
If he was willing to kneel while he prayed
with him. He consented. After u brief
and earnest petition. Roberts turned to
Goodell and asked him to pray. Not 10
be outdone, the latter offered prayer. He
used afterwards to say that that prayer
never went higher than the top of his
head. Roberts now quietly withdrew.
Lett thus alone to his reflections. Goodcll
began to feel annoyed, not to say angered,
to think he had thus humbled and com
mitted himself, He was III anything but
an amiable mood. However the hand of
goddess, worldly minded student now
strangely felt inclined to take up his long
neglected Bible and read it for himself.
AS he read, he became more and more
convicted of sin So deep, ut length, be-
came his conjunction that he finally fell
on his knees, and then and there, all alone
in his room, prayed for forgiveness God
at once spoke peace to his soul. He was
converted. few evenings after, at the
college prayer meeting, the writer, him
self IA recent convert, had the pleasure OF
listening to his first testimony. The late
Professor Calvin Pease was in the chair
George f. Herrick, ID. d., missionary, was
present and took part in that memorable
meeting. Goodell rose at length and very
quietly said Il see the light on the dis
tant mountains, and am expecting soor
the full glory of the sun of Righteous
ness" And that full glory came on apace
1t Is doubtful whether there is now &
speaker in the whole country so rarely
endowed in this respect-with so musical
magnetic, thrilling soul-flling voice, IA,
was Dr. GOodells. Under the stress o
strong emotion, its grandly swelling, or
gan-like tone, rolling forth certain richly
freighted syllables. would afterward e
sounding on down through the corridors o.
the hearers memory for many and man,
a day. Alas, that that voice should now
so soon be hushed forever in death
Good Results From Winter Flowing.
j. Il. Sunderlow, who lives two mile.
/ from u anlya n littla tou-n l,cotoJ 80, A..