The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-22
REV. ALONZO AMES MINER, DID,, L. D
His Great Career Outlined.

which he might not readily find at
his command in the orthodox ranks;
and he took the young hereto into
partnership with him in the control
and management of the school.
Young Miner remained in this con-
nection, however, only one year. He
was wanted elsewhere as the sole
principal and head.
It was then that some gentlemen
of Unity, proposing the establishment
of an academy at that place, discerned
in Mr.. Miner, now in his twenty first
year, the qualifications requisite for
its leadership, and made him offers
which he accepted. The institution
was named the Scientific and Mill
tary Academy" and was for both
sexes, except the military training,
which was (as now confined to the
boys. The school grew and -four
ished under his administration.
Young love also was blossoming in
the heart of the principal and in the
heart of fair maiden. whom he mar
ried in the second year of his stay
there, and who then entered the
school as preceptress.
DR.. Miners "call to the ministry" in
the Universalist Church was of true
and healthy kind, equally rational
and religious. He had a predisposi-
tion to the work. 1t accorded with
all his early thinking and training.
1t was consonant with his prevailing
spirit and character. 1t came as a
moral necessity with his proximate
mental maturity. He beheld in that
work lofty and sacred serviceable-
ness, with which even academic en-
ployment, however honorable, could
not compare; and neither his heart
nor conscience could be satisfied in
any lower sphere. In this compre-
hensive and philosophic significance
he felt that it was "woe unto me if
I preach not the Gospel"
What added to the strength of his
feeling and conviction on the subject,
was his denominational specially as a
Universalist. He was under deep
conviction that this doctrine, judi
ciously expounded and faithfully
urged upon mankind, would bring to
them an immense benefaction; that
it would relieve the divine character
from the odium of false representa-
tion, which made God appear dread
full and repulsive; that it would fos-
ter piety of disinterested love and
pure spirituality and moral purpose,
in place of religion of selfish fear
and hope, and bargain and barter;
that it would thence hasten the more
general acceptance and universal diff
fusion of the Gospel of Christ. I'm
der these convictions, he offered him.
self to the ministry, and was welcom-
ed to the work and rank of the sacred
order.
Mr.. Miner was ordained in the New
Hampshire Conference of Universal
lists, held at Nashua, June, 1889. In
the following November he became
pastor of the Universalist church at
Methuen, Mass. There he ministered
with great success until July, 1912
when he accepted a call to the Second
Universalist Church in Lowell, Mass,
and commenced his work as pastor
there the first Sunday of July. Here
an extraordinary success attended his
labors. The church grew in num-
bers and influence, and its pastor
soon became recognized as a man in
whom were united a manifold capac-
ity and disposition to be of service to
the public. Trusts and various Off
cial positions were rapidly laid upon
him. Though never robust, he
showed an extraordinary power of
work, combined with public spirit,
patience and kindliness of temper
a balance of judgment and hopeful
progressiveness of practical thought,
which made him tower of strength
to every good cause.
| During the ministry of DR.. Miner
at Lowell the powerful influence OF
Theodore Parker began to be felt in
the Universalist denomination, and
one of its ministers in that place
Rev. H. G. Smith, came under its
domination. This was strenuousIy
opposed by Rev. Messrs. Brooks and
Miner. DR.. Miner considered Theo.
dore Parker no better than a Deist
and his general teaching calculated
to destroy all reverence for the Bible
as an inspired revelation of God
Therefore, with others of like mind
he asssiled this doctrine with all bis
might, and with all the means and
res sources at his command. They az