The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-22
We are all familiar with Gray's re-
Election that the place where

WE are all Iamlllar With tray re-
Election that the place where
"The rude forefatbers of the hamlet Sleep"
contains the homes of undisclosed
genius, perhaps equal to Millions or
Cromwell's, or of a generous courage
equal to Hampden's; and we have
come to know that not few of the
legitimate descendants of the ancient
nobility of Europe freely share, like
true men and Americans, the peoples
lot, and hide their coats of-arms and
coronets in the ancient family chest.
To this class belongs the subject of
this sketch, Rev. A. A. MINER. Both
the family name and the coat-of arms
were conferred by Edward Ill. upon
his ancestor, Henry Bulman, of Men
dippe Hills, Somersetshire, for spe-
cial services rendered that monarch
in his war for the conquest of France.
From this Henry Bulman Miner was
descended Thomas Miner, who came
to Boston with Elder Winthrop in
1880; and Charles Miner, descen-
dant of his of the fifth generation,
was a Revolutionary soldier. A
grandchild of Thomas Miner was
Grace Miner. She married Samuel
Grant, Jr., of Windsor, Conn; and
from that union descended General
U. S. Grant.
Rev. Alonzo Ames Miner was the
grandson of Charles, the Revolution
ary soldier, and the son of Benajah
Ames Miner. His mothers maiden
name was Amanda Cary. He was
born at Lempster, Sullivan County,
N. H., August II, 1914.
DR.. Miner seems to have been
happily exempted from some of the
great mental conflicts through which
many of his thoughtful contempora-
ries have passed. There are no catas-
trophies apparent in the history of his
intellectual life. He seems to have
been born religious and Universal
ist. This doctrine, with the general
scheme of thought usually attached
to it, early commanded his deliberate
approval end whole hearted alle-
glance. In those days this was not
only unpopular as an heresy, but il
was generally deemed morally repre-
hensible as initiating against moral
principle. The common understand
ing and conscience of that time could
not clearly see how men could be
good and honest if they had no feal
of hell before their eyes; and in this
they judged others, for the most part
by themselves, and thus condemned
themselves; though the true saint
always knows that he loves righteous
ness and hates iniquity for it's OWL
sake. Young Miners character very
early proved its own vindication, in
spired respect and confidence, and
secured for him positions of respon-
sibility and trust.
Born with feeble constitution he
could not trough it" with the average
boy at school. The invalid's chair
was for the most part his bench and
desk, and there was much of his pri-
mary education attained which he
subsequently supplemented with spe-
cial academic training in the acade-
mics at Hopkinton, Lebanon, Frank
lin in New Hampshire, and at Caven-
dish, Vt. His proficiency was such
that he early became himself a sue
cessful teacher. His last place as a
pupil became, by invitation of the
principal, his first field of labor as an
instructor. His principal was a yea
lous Calyinist, and he was acquainted
with the religious convictions of his
pupil and chosen associate. But he
was able to discern the superior quail