Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-07-17

Rev. David Trumbull, d. D.-His Work
for south America-A Life of Useful
ness 10 Chili-All Obstacles Overcome
-Yale,s Great Son IL Highly Honored
in HIS Adopted state.
The statements SO often made by Yale
orators that the influence exerted by their
great alma mater is felt the world over, and
that in all quarters of the globe Yale men
are doing good, are receiving constant veri6-
cation. South America has felt this influence,
and of all the sons of Yale who have striven
to perform we'll their work, none has been
more highly honored than Rev. David Trum-
bull. D. D., whose death at Valparaiso last
February called out demonstration Of pop
ular respect which is not common anywhere;
but which, among an exclusively Spanish
speaking people, is certainly something ex-
tremely unusual.
Mr.. William Kingsley, in the last number
of the New Highlander, speaks at some
length of DR.. Trumbull and his work. From
this article We make some liberal excerpts
which will prove of interest:
DR.. Trumbull was the great-grandson of
Jonathan Trumbull, the patriotic governor of
Connecticut through all the years of the
Revolutionary war, to whom Washington so
often turned in the days of deepest darkness
and trouble for counsel and assistance, and of
whom he was in the habit of speaking in the
spirit of warm affection as "Brother Jona-
than" He was of "Mayfower" stock, his
first American ancestors being John Alden,
have been made immortal in American liter
ature by Mr.. Longfellow.
He had been intended for q mercantile
career but decided to devote himself to the
| work of the Christian ministry. He gradu-
| ated from Yale in 1842 and while here en-
joyed exceptional connection with the family
| of the elder Prof. Benjamin Silliman. The
"Foreign Evangelical Society" invited him to
/ 60 to Valparaiso, Chill, to preach to the En-
| glish and American merchants, sailors and
| other English-speaking people who were
| gathered there for commercial purposes. In
the near prospect of entering upon this field
of labor he made new and serious dedica-
| ton of himself to the service of God.
| He arrived in Valparaiso in 1916, when the
Chilsns were still suffering from the effects
of the long mis-government of Spain. But
its future prospects were more hopeful than
those of the other South American States.
The young New Highlander who had come to
labor in a land where the institutions and
popular habits were so different from any
thing of which he had before had expert
ence, showed his wisdom by the line of con-
QuCI Juht u6 hL OuCo udEk0u Oub IOT himself.
He had cast his lot among people of anoth-
err race, proverbial for the pride of birth;
| for their strong attachment to an exclusive
religious faith; for their readiness to take
ofense at even imaginary sights; for the sus-
picious jealousy with which they regarded
| strangers, and above all strangers who might
l be supposed to be seeking to interfere with
their established usages. Even the prevail
| ing style of speech, with its high sounding
II aratf Of oh roafar
likely to mislead and perplex one acoustom-
ed to the simplicity and directness of Anglo
Saxon forms of expression, to a SIM
| pie adherence to facts, and to say
| ing exactly what he meant. We
have heard that Mr.. Trumbull wrote at the
time to his friends, in his characteristic play
full manner, as the result of his first impress
sions, that nowhere on earth could there be
more need of the wisdom of the serpent and
the hGmlessness of the dove. The society
which had commissioned him had hoped that
he would be able to devote some of his time
to proselyting labors among the Roman
Catholics. But he abstained entirely from
anything of the kind. He devoted himself
strictly and with all earnestness to the special
work of laboring among the English speak
Ing population of the city; and although the
popular suspicious were at once aroused and
the very presence of Protestant clergyman
was considered Objectionable, yet he was not
actually interfered with, or forbidden to 90
on with his work. His life, however, was
repeatedly threatened, but he pursued his
task without moments hesitation.
His first religious services were con.
Quoted in an upper room of a private
house. In time his work had prospered to
such an extent that he was able to lay the
foundations of small chapel, but as the walls
rose the popular displeasure was so great that
the authorities directed him to surround the
building with a high fence that it might be
screened from public view. But at last, as
the result of his labors, he was successful in
completely disarming the prejudices of the
people, and before he died large and COM
modious church had been built at q cost ex-
ceeding 100000.
Throughout his life he advocated the cause
of the general education of the people as one
of the great needs of the country. More
than one free school owes its existence to his
own personal labors, and now everywhere In
Chill schools have been established and mod
ern methods of education have been adopted
No other State In South America
possesses 30 effective an educational
system. There are already more than
Eve hundred government schools, besides
municipal, private and monastic schools, with
an aggregate of 10000 pupils. A strong ef-
fort IL making to extend these privileges to
all classes. There are also two normal
schools-one for men and the other for wo-
men. There is q university at Santiago, in
struction in which is free. There is also a
naval academy and military academy.
Another means of exercising beneficial
| influence that Mr.. Trumbull reeorted to was
the use of the press. He founded and con-
Quoted newspapers in English and Spanish,
/ that valuable reading might be furnished,
| and that he might be able to act directly
through their columns upon the public
mind. He soon began to circulate copies of
the Scriptures; and, in 1861, he founded the
Valparaiso Bible society. At the time of his
death the society had circulated sixty
Thousand copies of the Bible, and
| more than double that number
| of other religious books. During the days of
the cholera Valparaiso saw DIR. Trumbull In
all parts of the city where the scourge resped
| its largest harvest. Offering to all words of