The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-02-09
THE FATHER OF THE PULLMANs.

THE FATHER OF THE PULLMANS.
JAMES LEWIS PULLMAN was born in
the State of Rhode Island, July 18th,
1900. Soon after his birth his par
ents removed to central New York,
and established home on one of the
beautiful farms in Onondaga county.
Here his early youth was spent in
the quiet routine of farm life. Later
he became restless in this quiet, and
longed for more stirring scenes, and
determined to go out into the world
and to begin in another occupation,
the carving of his fortune" With
the parental blessing he left home
and established himself in the then
thriving village of Auburn, New
York. Here fair prosperity attended
him, and on September 4th, 1926, he
married with Miss EMILY CAROLINE
M1NToN. This marriage was exceed
ingly happy; it was the perfect blend
ing of the manliness of the man,
strong, vigorous and resolute, with
the womanliness of woman, sweet
trusting, refined and gracious.
Ten children were born OF this
union. Two passed away in infancy;
six sons and two daughters attained
maturity; and all but two, Frank W.
and Albert B., are now living. The
parents had perfect physical health,
and this, together with such traits OF
character and moral qualities as are
transmissible, furnished for the chill
dren the very best conditions for
success in life.
After the birth of the second SOB,
the home in Auburn was given up and
a new home was established in the
town of Portland, Chautauqua coun-
tY, New York, where seventeen event
full years were happily spent.
1t was during this period that Mr..
Pullman was most deeply and pro-
foundly impressed with the truths of
the Gospel. The life of the Lord
Jesus touched his life with its quick
ening energies, and lifted it into
higher and broader conceptions OF
life's divine meanings. The sense of
duty was lost in the glory of privi-
lege, and the service of God became
to him loving obedience, "a joy be-
yond measure" religious liberty,
love-born and love-inspired. His
worship of God was an uplift of soul
toward the infinite projections, and
his love for man was that of broth
or, deep, fervent and true. He was
a diligent student of the Bible, and
with this "Light upon his path" he
advanced to find the doctrines of the
Universalist Church clearly revealed
He united with the First Universalist
Church of Portland, and readily be-
came one of its leading members and
a most Jealous supporter of the great
principles for which it stands. He
had received by inheritance, especi-
ally from his maternal ancestry, the
priceless tendency to spirituality
devotion, reverence; this, quickened
by the love of God which he saw in
all things, grew into deep and ear
nest piety that graced every act of his
life. On the evening of the eventful
day in which he united with the
church, he gathered his family
around him, read lesson from the
Scriptures and offered prayer. The
words are all forgotten but the divine
influence of that prayer as the begin
ming of a new life in the family, lives
today in the heart of every child, and
will grow richer and stronger as the
years pass. AS it is remembered it
was one long, earnest, passionate cry
for help that he might bring up his
children in the nurture and admoni-
ton of the Lord" and that the home
might become a true Christian home.
1t was one of those events, simple in
itself considered, but which touches
as with an electric thrill all the forces
of life, changing all its currents and
directing all it's ways. 1t was touch
that sets eternal forces in action, and
is, in some wonderful way, connected
with the services of this day and with
the erection of this Memorial Church,
which shall itself become center of
the same influence TO spread out and
expand beyond all human power of
estimation.
Among the most precious memories
of the home life is this of the "sweet
hour of prayer" 1t exalts and lifts
up the fathers love, and makes sweet,
tender and holy the mothers love,
always in accord and always helpful
in the beautiful service.
Throu h all the subsequent years
Of Mr.. Pullman's life, there was no
faltering in his purpose, nor lapse