New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-17
A THIRTY-YEARS' MINISTRY.
THE REV. JOHN w. CHADWICK TO CELE-
BRATE HIS ANNIVERSARY
THIS WEEK.
WHAT THE PASTOR OF THE SECOND UNITARIAN
CHURCH OF BROOKLYN HAS ACCOM-
PLIsHED-A CLERGYMAN AND
NAN OF LETTER

ThN thirteth anniversary OF the ordination and
installation OF the Rev John W. Chadwick, In the
Second Unitarian Church in Brooklyn, Will occur
on Friday next. His ministry In the church act
ually BEGAN two or three months earlier. as MS
first sermon there was preached on oeptenipeI 49,
1854 The anniversary OF his installation Will be
celebrated in modest way, although not OH INC
exact date, Cor any exercises on that day would
come into conflict with the customary celebration
of Forefathers' Day. Next Sunday morning, how
ever Mr. Chadwick will deliver an anniversary
sermon and on the evening OF the preceding uay
his parshioners and friends vii gather at MS
house to offer their congrat ulations on what mas
been accomplished in his thirty years work In
Brooklyn and their good wishes for the future
ministry in one church extending over thirty
years Is of the exceptions nowadays ana
Is certainly deserving of special note
Mr. Chadwick's connection with his church came
about in an interesting way. When boy OF eish-
teen he school in Bridgewater. Mass. Ihls
was in 1858 While there. there fell into his hands
a pamphlet copy OF the sermon delivered by me
Rev. Samue. Longfellow at the dedication OF the
New Chapel as the Second Unitarian Church was
known for a number, OF years after it was built
Mr.. Longfelow the first pastor OF the society.
and under his direction the ediiice at clinton anu
Congress SITS. erected. The name New Chapei
always dear to him. and 1t was the desisha-
ton which he habitually used in referring 10 'his
church. His dedication sermon brought 10 young
Chadwick the first knowledge that such church
was in existence, and while reading 1t the pro-
phetic thought entered his mind that he would
some day become its minister. How strangely that
intin,ation of his schoolboy days. nearly forty
years ago. has been fulfilled!
The Second Unitarian Society was established In
1851 as an offshoot from the Church of the Saviour
in Perrepon-st.. the fifte,h anniversary OF which
was celebra ted few months ago. Mr.. Longieliow
the first minister OF the new society," "hich
has had only three in the forty-three years OF It's
existence. AS has been said, the church building
was erected during his ministry, but on account
OF the financial panic of 1857 he was unable 70
carry out his plans full The height of the build
ing suffered in consequence, but not us general
character. After his resignation In 1860 the Kew
Major Augustus Staples was called TO be It's pastor.
He was a young man OF much promise but his
ministry was cut snort oy MS unumeiy uea'n i"
1864
In that year Mr. Chadwick graduated from
the Divinity School in Cambridge II could not but
have been with sense OF surprise tha' ne re-
ceived an invitation TO preach for the SECOND Uni
tartan Society in Brooklyn for three months begin
ming In September The invitation was extended on
the advice Of DR.. Frederic ii. Hedge one OF the
professors in the Divinity School. who, however,
had never heard Mr.. Chadwick preach. The latter
had been one of his favorite students, ana had done
under his eye work of most promising character
That DR.. Hedges judgment was sound Mr.. Chad-
wick's career has abundantly proved
Mr. Chadwick had never been in Brooklyn untll
ne came 10 begin his three months ION trial. The
experiment proved eminenty satisfactory 10 the So
. ciety and it did not wait for the three months 10
. expire before inviting him TO become us ihii''S'e''
The invitation came on the Sunday before Election
Day-the election day when Lincoln was reelected
Mr. Chadwick had preached strong sermon on the
questions to be settled at the polls in tnat SURFING
and irving time The call which followed was prac-
,ically unanimous. Soon afterward he returned TO
Massachusetts for brief visit. and in December
came back TO Brooklyn. which has oeeh MS nome
~ Mr. Chadwick is now in his .hfty-hfth year but
the hand of time has as yet LETT rev d S'k d 1pp ion
herted from his seagoing father sturdy frame and
nerves not easily disturbed He is man OF mediq an
n %ssrs T fn beard ho"sh his upper lip
nd h ana dark haE is tree ganee Would
T q not Mr. nooSs iS Show
age after living five years beyond the haif-century
'' For he has been much more than the minister OF
his Brooklyn church. Mr.. Chadwick Is a poe as a,
v we an .. literary work omnyOTous
reader For the last twenty five years ne mas u1ie
written number several thousands, History, and
biography are favorites with him but none OF me
novels Of Importance escape his notice. he Is a
rapid reader but has great power OF assiInl'auon
and n@beT Between 1900 and $500 volumes
ii is literary mans rather than a ,cle5gyih an
iects are not wanting. With the higher criticism In
al its phases he . thoroughly ianilarh os f foT
sermon making books OF theology but MS
tories. Biographies works or notion ana scieh'"ic
By listening to Mr.. Chadwicks sermons and lect-
ures for the last thirty years one or quick per
ceptions could have acquired liberia! EDUCATION no
great man has passed away without iuInlsnnhs
Tho theme of a discourse. Notable novels nave been
made the texts of sermons OF far-reacnlnS power.
The poetcal selections which he has used Tor Illus
fraton and establishment would make a ValuaDIe
anthology. No noteworthy discovery III Science ha'
been pa ssed unnoticed If from IT lesson coud De
drawn to quicken mems thoughts ana enlarge tHer
conceptions OF the wonder and beauty OF the UNI
verse Nor is this all. In his SUNDAY evening Iect-
he has
historical political Biographical and religious Inc
Bible formed the subject or one OF these IecIuie
courses which contained, perhaps, the hrst pfeseh-
faton TO an American audience OF the results OF me
ship in Germany and Holland which has since found
general recognition even among CONSERVATIVE STU
dents These lectures were published with the tle,
1.-THE Bible Of To-day" and II Is Significant mat
years ago the author found scarcely anything TO
change In what he had written nearly twenty years
before thoroughly had ne caught the spirit OF
what has since be known as the higher crit
icisn1. and accurately had he anticipated the
course which further research would take the great
poets have furnished him the subjects OF more than
one course of lectures. American statesmen have
been considered by him In so comprehensive way
as 10 embrace a complete review OF the history OF
the United States. Various phases or Shakespeare's
work and art have been discussed The churches
of America have been considered with great fuIness
and care Other lectures have dealt with the great
men in the religious world, and with men and wom-
en- who have done noble and enduring Work IN
literature. ~ 1T. ,,,, ..,.
of sermons" He rarely speaks without commit
ting his thought TO paper. ana ~ the pulpit ne
uses his manuscript habitually His voice has
certain monotonOus quality which is likely to make
ar unfavorable impression on one VINO hears II Tor
the frst time but those accustomed to his man