The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-04-13
REV. ROBERT COLLYER, D. D., OF
NEW YORK.


The readers of The UNIvERsALIsT,
must see that l have been enjoying
rich feast in the Lords House.
Drs. Eaton, Bolles, Heber Newton
and Robert Collyer = all these l
have heard preach within the last
few weeks. Robert Collyer, Sunday,
March "a, at the Church of the Mes
siah, corner of 34th St., and Park
Ave-, New York. This distinguished
Unitarian clergyman l saw for the
first time in Chicago, thirty-five years
ago. We were neighbors there for
awhile. We met often and exchanged
pulpits occasionally. On the day,
July 10, 1876, when my church
Church of the Redeemer-in Mime
apolis, was dedicated, we had three
excellent, more than excellent SER
mons; one dedication sermon in the
morning, by DIR. Miner, one in the af
ternoon by DIR. Collyer, and one in
the evening by DIR. Sumner Ellis, who
disappeared from his work and this
world too soon.
Robert Collyer was sent, or invited
by the Unitarians, to Chicago, in the
beginning. to serve as minister at
large" He had his ofice-room in
the central part of the city, which
was headquarters for his varied mis-
; sionary enterprises. Here the poor,
the unfortunate, the i'll starred classes
of people were tenderly invited to
come and counsel with him, seek ad-
vice and whatever aid, physical, NOR
al, mental and religious, he was able
to give them. He accomplished an
unnamed amount of good there. He
connected himself with all sorts of
charitable work, not exactly for the
sake of Unitarianism but more for the
sake of Christ. He possessed ro-
bust body-which he had developed
by years of labor at blacksmith's
forge-a strong, active mind and a
large, sympathetic nature. He won
friends rapidly. His name grew ia
miliar. When he walked the streets
persons whom he knew not would
point him out to their friends and say,
"That is Robert Collyer." If a cy-
clone, or some other calamity, had
left desolation and sorrow in the
country somewhere, Robert Collyer
was sure to be elected one of a COM
mittee to visit the stricken commun-
ity and offer the necessary assistance.
He was called upon to speak often
before charitable assemblies and as
sociations. His genial face was like
sunrise in the dark places where it
went. His theories and prophecies
were strikingly optimistic. The
spectres of despair fed at his ap-
proach. He rendered efficient SER
vice in various places and ways dur
ing the war. He was helpful friend
to the soldiers, stanch advocate for
the Union.
After time a handful of Unitari-
ans, on the North Side, built small
church for him, and where, without
relinquishing his other work, he
preached. His fame as a preacher
increased, and his followers multi
Piled. He was a little eccentric in
some things, and that augmented his
popularity. His Scotch or North of
England accent added interest to his
speech. He had been all his life a
man of the people; he addressed him
self to the people and the people I'm
derstood him. No other minister in
the city read his hymns so awkwardly
nor, Judging from their effect, 50 we'll
as he. His pulpit style was his own,
and az his own, attractive. His SER
mons were simple and unique in mat
ter and manner, full of poetry, ofevery
day incidents, homely and often start
ling SMILES, but they were also
thoughtful and instructive. He was
a diamond at the start; time, study
and experience polished him until he
shone with rare brilliancy. His ut
terances attracted wide attention.
The best pulpits in the land were
open to him.
Finally the handful of Unitarisns