Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-01-27
DEATH OF REV. DIR. STEVENS
The Peaceful End Of his Long and Use
ful Life.

sketch of Ills CRreer---Tributes from
Those who Knew Him Wen.
Rev. DIR. Alfred Stevens, for half cen
tury pastor of the church in Westminster
West, died on Friday afternoon, Jan. 20.
For several months he had felt less vigor-
Gus than heretofore, but nothing more
than the weakness attendant upon advanc-
ing years was apprehended by his friends
until the opening of. the year. He was
present at the services on New Years day
and performed his accustomed part at the
communion table and in the Sunday school.
He was seized soon after with an attack of
what seemed to be Indigestion, but after a
day or two rallied so as to be about the
house. He was not able to be present at
any of the services during the week of
prayer, the breaking of the bread at the
communion service being the last public
act of his long ministry. He was weak,
but cheerful with the family and friends
who called, sitting at the family board and
conducting worship in the household as
usual. After dinner on Friday he lay
down for an hours rest upon lounge, ac-
cording to his custom of late, and in an
hour or SO thereafter was found lifeless by
member of the family who entered the
room His spirit passed away evidently
without struggle, entering into the eter-
nal rest, fitting close to so long and busy
a ministry.
Alfred Stevens was born in Waterford,
this state, July 30, 1870 He labored upon
the farm until 21 years of age, soon after
which he began his preparation for college,
having decided to study for the ministry.
He accomplished his purpose mainly
through his own eXertions. He lived, as
he often used to say, for an entire week
while at college at the expense of 124
cents. His work of preparing for college
was done at Meriden and Peacham acade-
mics. He graduated at Dartmouth in 1889,
and at Andover seminary in 1912. He be-
gan preaching in the West parish in his
senior vacation in April, 1912, returning
at the close of his course in September,
and was ordained Feb. 22, 1913, Rev
Amos Foster of Putney preaching the ser
mon upon that occasion, and Rev. Frank
lin Butler of Windsor, a cassmate, giving
him the charge. He received the honorary
degree of ID. d. from Dartmouth college in
| 1874.
He continued in sole charge of the church
until 1887, when owing to advancing years
! he resigned the active duties, but upon the
settlement of colleague retained his con-
nection as senior pastor until the end. He
has since occasionally preached in the pull
! pit, has always taken the leading part at
the communion service, has had a class in
the Sunday school, and taken prominent
/ part in the out-district and prayer meet
| ingS. During his sole ministry 103 persons
were received into the church on profess
fession of faith and As by letters from 9TH
| er churches; los were dismissed and
| about $50 members of the church have
died. He attended all the funerals occur
ring in the parish, with four exceptions,
up to 1884, and nearly all since that date.
DR.. Stevens had four wives, all preced-
ing him to the better land He was married
in 1874 to Eliza W. Farrar of Troy, y. II. !;
to 1916 to Mary Ann Arnold of Westmins-
ster; in 1855 to Harriet n. Wood of Mil
bury, Mass. in 1876 to Catherine NJ.
Slate of Brattleboro. He leaves a sister,
Laura, who has resided with him for many
years, and an aged brother and sister in
Canada.
The funeral services were held in the
church on Tuesday afternoon. They
were very largely attended by his people OF
the parish, by friends from abroad, and
his associates in the ministry. Rev. Geo.
F. Chaplin of Saxtons River read scriptur-
al SelecuOnS ana oHefeu prayer; the pres
ent pastor spoke in behalf of the church
and community; Rev. Mr.. Devns of New
York, an intimate friend, read an affecting
letter, the last that Dr. Stevens wrote
Dea. B. A. Clark of Brattlehoro gave eX.
preston to his feeling as a West parish
boy, and read letter from II. A. Hall OF
Rutland appreciative of the aged pastor
Rev. c. o. Day of Brattleboro spoke in be
half of the brethren in the ministerial as
socation; Rev. j. ii. Babbitt of Wes
Bratteboro of DR.. Stevens's influence in
the state; and Rev. p. F. Barnard Offered
the concluding prayer. The singing OF
the hymns so well loved and so often giveI
out by DR.. Stevens, touchingly rendered a'
they We're, 'Rock of Ages" and "Nearel
my God to thee" and the beautiful solo suns
by Miss Helen Robertson, added much to tn,
impressiveness of the occasion. Touching
tribute was thus paid to the worth, tn,
fidelity, the earnest service, the fast friend
ship of this servant of God, thus laid ava!
in the tomb to await the resurrection o
the just. H. A. C.