Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-08-12
REV. JOSEPH CHANDLER
An Apprecinti,e sketch from "A Western
Religious Paper.

Rev. Joseph Chandler whose death oc-
CURED july -. AT ~. Anthony Park,
Mimi. was born on farm in Woodstock,
Conn. in 1919. With two of his brothers,
Rev. John L. Chandler OF the Madura mis-
sion India, and Rev Augustus Chandler
tdeceased). he was led, largely through his
mother, influence. who was a woman OF
strong character and devoted piety 10 be-
come a minister With this end IN view
he entered Monsoon academy and later ale
college. graduating from the latter with
the class of lS42. Before completing his
course al Yale seminary he was called to
the pastorate of the Congregational church
in West Brattleboro, VT, where he was
settled pastor for - years.
In 1876 he visited Minnesota with an in
valid son. and finding the climate helpful,
soon settled at Glencoe. Here he entered
enthusiastically into home mission work in
the town and county round about, preach
I'M al one time and another at SIX differ
ent stations In lSS3 ne gave up this
work to take charge of the church AT st.
Cloud, where he was succeeded by his son,
Rev Jos II. Chandler. At his son :
coming he thought for a time To retire
from the cares OF q paStorate: but the love
of the work was too strong, and in 1854 he
went 10 the church in Strawberry Point.
Iowa Removing from there in lsSt, he
took his last parish at Lakeland, Mimi.
which had become 10 him the home state.
He worked here until February, 1891,
when failing health led him 10 relinquish
pastoral duty and make his home with his
son in 81. Anthony Park, ST, Paul. His
last preaching was done in two former
Minnesota parishes, ST. Cloud and Glen
COc.
He was a man of retiring disposition,
who courted ohscuIity rather than promi-
nencc. but when summoned To action by a
sense of duty, was bold and aggressive in
speech or action. He was among the ear
Hest of those who championed the aboli-
ton OF slavery. and at the outbreak OF
the war. feeling the Union cause sacred
one. he enlisted as a private soldier. but
was rejected on account of physical dlsa-
biitv. He was cordial TO every reform in
tluence i'm church as well as state, and had
great hospitality of mind TO the very last
towards the good things in new theology
and better church work Without special
popular gifts as a preacher he was marked
IN earnest and thoughtful; and as pastor
he was much beloved He was very gen
orally known in late years among the Min
nesota churches as FEATHER Chandler
The last work. which he undertook but
was not able to finish was To write an ar
ticle on some of the present pcrpleNites
in the American Board. He believed the
special tests applied at the missionary
rooms wrong in theory and banetul in
practice. He believed that men who were
constrained by the love OF Christ TO 90
abroad and preach his gospel should be en-
trusted with that gospel 10y the churches
and missionary societies without any other
tests than those used for admission to the
ministry in the churches at home. Natur-
ally averse to partisan controversy, and
with spirit sobered by the knowledge that
death was near he desired To say some
word that would help that body of churches
which he most loved. and among whom he
ministered for AZ years 10 see that they
who are united in love and loyalty to
Christ have ground enough for any kind of
fellowship: and that mutual trust and con
tidence among Christian brethren makes
more for orthodoxy than suspicious exam
nations or elaborate creed tests. The
thoughts that We're in the last days in his
mind were not fully written down, and
that work was left unfinished, but the liv-
ing will carry il on.