Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-08-19
REV. JOSEPH: CHANDLER.
Rev. Dr. stevens Pays Loving and
AppreciatIve Tribute to His Memory.

Appreciatlve Tribute to His Memory.
Mr.. Editor:-You noted recently the
death of Rev. Joseph Chandler, that oc-
CURED July ~ at St. Anthony Park, MINI.
Will you give me room for few lines ex-
pressve of my high appreciation of him as
a minister and a man? He came to Brat
tleboro. think, a student from Yale sem
mary, in 1915. He was called by the
church there to the pastorate, and was or
dained in 1916. For Is years of his min
isteral service there he was my contiIen-
tial friend and faithful ministerial brother.
Leaving BrattlebOro, he was called by the
church in SaXtons River, where he re-
manned three years, highly esteemed as an
able minister and a Christian beloved.
These 81 years of acquaintance gave time
and abundant opportunity for us to know
each other well. We were not always in
full accord in our philosophical opinions
and practical ways. If we had been, |
could not have known him as well as did.
He was a man of strong convictions. 1t
was not an easy matter to dislodge him
from any position he had taken. 1t was
always taken thoughtfully, and defended
with ability that commanded respect He
was a modest man and retiring in his hab-
it's and never had the full credit for his
worth as a thinker and a writer. What he
was in this respect those that waited on his
ministry the years he was in the county
can tell better than |. | can speak under
standingly for the association and county
conference. He entered heartily into all
movement in the county that promised
good to the church or society at large.
Few cergymen of the many that have
come and gone the 80 years last passed in
the county have eXcelled him in their infiu-
ence in keeping alive. healthy sentiment
in favor of every good work. He was not
a leader He was not finished off for that,
but he was a helper. The meetings of the
association were not dull or useless while
he was a member. They could not be.
His studiOus habits and deep interest in
the thinking of this progressive age al
ways brought live subject for discussion to
our meetings. / think of those meetings
with great pleasure. | shall always think
of Brother Chandler as one to whom all
the members were greatly indebted for
bringing to our meeting the fruit of his eX-
tensive reading and careful thinking on
subjects of common interest to the church
and the world. The records of the associ-
alton the years he was in the county are
mostly in his handwriting. The confer
ence of churches in the county always
found the church in West Bratteboro well
represented and heartily interested in all
movements for the good of the church and
the world. The faithful pastor had kept
them we'll informed and interested in every
Christian work. He was well and favora-
bly, known through the state. He was the
recording secretary of the general conven-
tion of Congregational ministers and
churches from 1870 to 1876. He furnish
ed the annual sermon for the meeting at
Burlington in 1865.
He went to Minnesota in 1876 with an
invalid son and was soon called to the
church in Glencoe, and entered enthusiast
ically into general mission work in the
neighboring towns for six years. In 1885,
he was settled in st. Cloud, Mimi, where
he was succeeded by his son, Rev. j. II
Chandler. After this he continued tC
preach as he was able and opportunity of
fered. He and his faithful wife were ex
tensively known as efficient workers among
the feeble but growing churches of the re-
gion. AS l read the notice of his death
said to myself, a faithful friend has passed
on before me, noble life has ended.
A. STEVENS.
Westminster West, Aug. IL, 1892.