Morning journal and courier., 1894-01-08
DEArH OF REv. DR. WILLARD.

The Pastor of Westville Congrega. tional Church for Nearly Forty | Years-A Sketch of His Life-A De- | voted Pastor and Able Preacher.
 Rev. Dr. J. L Willard, the beloved pas tor of the Westville Congregational church, died yesterday morning about 6 o'clock. For number of days past there was no hope for his recovery. He has passed away to join the silent majority, the innumera- ble caravan of those who have gone before. In his death Westville meets with great loss, and New Haven and the state, have lost one of its most gifted and devoted pastors and preachers. He was man of rare natural refinement and thorough student and scholarly in his tastes. Quiet and unassuming, he yet possessed Q rare culture that was evident in his eonversa- | ton and In his discourses. He was lover of nature and interpreted nature in . master ly way. Tho woods, the fields, the rocks ! and mountains brought to him their in- spiration. He was devoted pastor as his long pastorate of nearly forty years over the | church which mourns to-day so sincerely and 50 deeply his loss, testifes. His love | for his congregation and his church over- balanced the calls which ambition might prompt and despite repeated and fsttering invitations to other and larger fields in other cities, he remained loyal to his Vest vile charge and congregation.
 He was likewise devoted to Westvills's true interests and ever was solicitous and influential in behalf of its best welfare and prosperity.
 His boyhood days were spent in Msdt- son, where he was born in 1925. He pre- | pared for Yale under . private tutor and graduated from the scsdemical department of Yale in 1S49 and three years later from Yale theological seminary. While at the divinity school he was one of the corps of instructors at the famous Collegiate and Commercial institute conducted by the late General Russell. His first pastorate was in Seymour, and after three years there he came to the Westville church, around which his gentle and beautiful life has since centered. He will be deeply and sincerely mourned by his large circle of friends. Those who best know him most prized and loved him. His is memory beautiful and fra grant. Sensitive, sympathetic, hopeful, scholarly, strong for right and duty. true marked loss to the ministry and the com munity, and his memory will long be cherished. He leaves to deeply mourn his death his wife, the wife of his youth, who was Madison lady, Miss Victoria Hopson, one daughter, an only child, Mrs. 8. Ar thur Marsden of this city, and two brothers and two sisters. One of his brothers resides in Madison. The other Is one of the leading lawyers of Pennsylva- mia. residing in Scranton. One of the sisters resides in Providence, R. l.. the other in Helena, Mon. One brother of the | deceased was the lamented young patriot, Captain Willard of the old Fourteenth, O. V., who lost his life while bravely defend ing the old flag.
 The funeral services will take place to. morrow afternoon at o'clock in Westville Congregational church. Rev. Mr. Marvin. pastor of the Woodbridge church, will have charge, assisted by Rev. Dr. Munger and Rev. MT. Davies of this city and Rev. MT. AcNichol of Westville. The burial
 will be in Westville cemetery.