Connecticut western news., 1893-03-23
VAR PARSON EDDY.
BY THE REV. H. N. KINNEY, TWISTED.

[The Rev Hiram Eddy, D. D., of Canaan, Lltchfield county, ex-chapIain of the Seventh Connecticut, and the first Union prisoner to enter Libby, was 80 years of age last Friday, March IT in his hand. He is brother of the late Zachary Eddy, D. D., of Detroit At the outbreak of the war he was pastor of the Second Congregational church, Winsted. His face, form and physique make him marked man in any assem- bly. At Canaan, Tuesday, March 14th. fifteen Methodist clergymen of that section passed the following resolutions congratulating the doctor on his eighti- eth birthday: "The members of the Housatonic Valley Methodist Ministers Association having heard that this week the Rev Hiram Eddy, D. D., of Canaan, Conn.,, attains the age of 80 years, hay ing been in the ministry of reconcilia- tion nearly three score years, desire to extend their hearty congratulations. and earnestly pray his life may be long spared to bless his family, the commu- nity and the church." At dinner of twenty Congregational clergymen at Dr Eddy's house on the same day, the Rev H. N. Kinney, of Winsted. read the following poem, which describes war incident at Winsted. It should also be stated that the poem was read by the Rev T. s. Bond at the ID eeting held in the Methodist church, at Canaan. on Sunday evening, March 18th. MT Bond read the poem in manner which elec- trifed the large audience, and then Dr Eddy delivered very unique and in- structive discourse, of over an hours duration. from the text recorded in Psalms XC-l0. his theme being, "An old man s view of old age."I
 Have you seen our old war parson Eddy. or the boulders and trees of Old Litchfield9 Six feet tall, and broad shouldered; Bushy white hair and wide foreneau; Eyes of the eagle or falcon,
 Skin like the tan of the tiger,
 Or is it the bronze of the Soutnlana' The sallow of starving and prlson They called him, when captured, "the negro The Yankees brought with them for chaplain . Have you heard what he did here m Wmanssea mns,es When rebellion broke loose down In CnarIes-
 ton?
 The parson sat in his study
 That Sunday in sixty-one,
 When the news came from Fort Sumter That fighting had begun.
 It was almost time for meeting;
 In an hour he would stand
 In his pulpit before his people.
 He held now in his hand
 He was turning it's pages over The sermon he meant to preach. It was written. and ribboned, and ready, He was practicing his speech
 When the news came from Fort Sumuer' The manuscript dropped like leadi He was stunned by that night bomoaromeh. And in prayer he bowed his head. In treason and consternation
 Would the Union likewise fall
 And a voice said: "To-day. trembling pastor, Preach only thy Country's call.
 What was>it, oh Patriot preacher,
 You had written to utter that dayP Though God gave you words to put in 1t, It was He bade you put 1t away.
 He set you to searching the Scriptures With only an hour to spare;
 He gave you a text from the Psalm1st, An opportune truth to declare;
 He likened your case to King David's; He sounded that note of alarm;
 He preached, in your stead, the new sermon, 'SNinth verse of the 44th Psalm"
 You have called the new sermon poor one, Deficient in argument, plan.
 But it isn't the style makes the sermon Iris the time and the truth. and the man. And 'twere well that great many sermons, Finely written, should never be read, And plain ringing word for the moment, From the heart, be delivered instead Every sitting that morning was taken In the roomy church under the hill.
 As the preacher ascended the pulpit
 The people sat silent and still.
 '.Thou goest not forth with our armies" Read the text of his glowing discourse. He depicted the duty and danger, And he said: Suppress Treason with Force.' As they went out of church, Deacon Beardsiey Called out in the porch. by the wall =
 Twas the only word said alter service. Public meeting tonight at Town Hall r Monday night fifty men had enlisted. When the company came to vote For captain My captain is Eddy" Rang out from each clamorous throat. He declined, but the Soldier was in him, The war fever burned in his veins; They made him the regiments chaplain, He shared all its glories and pains. The annals of war tell his story In garrison, hospital, field, First to enter-a prisoner-Libby.
 Last to sickness and to famine to yield.
 Long may live our brave war parson, Eddy Long survive all his comrades in famel He who serves both his God and his nation,
 He is worthy his country's acclaim.