The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-28

men. he is everyw here appreciated and the
value OF his services is acknowledged. AT
a recent conference IL was DIR. Peabody
himself who spoke in the most glowing
and eulogistic terms of Mr. Savage's
work, and now at the national assem- blies
ii is Mr.. Savage who is apt to have the
first and the last word.
Since 1874 he has preached at Boston,
refusing several calls from other cities.
Now he has been asked TO join Robert
Collyer in his pastorate at the church OF
the Messiah at Thirty-fourth street and
Park avenue. New York.
The New York papers at first took IL
for granted that he would accept the
call, but his New England parishionsrs
are confident that he will not ana upon
that assurance his society have already
secured magnificent site Tor a new
church edifice In the Back Bay district
OF Boston and have shown an almost
unprecedented interest In the matter OF
retaining pastor, They are not 10 be
disappointed.
Many OF Mr.. Ssvage's most ardent ad-
mirers among the clergy and laity are OF
the opinion, however. that IT would DO
for the best IL he should go to New YORK,
for this reason-the Unitarian move
msnt is very strong and progressive in
Boston, while in the larger city II needs
Just such a man as Minot j. Savage. And
what more effective com mbination can be
imagined than that of Collyer and Savage?
knowledge of the worth and ability OF
these two men Is by no means confined
20 the ranks of their denomination. Both
are known and admired through their
hooks and published sermons by thou
sands who have never seen New York
or Boston. Both came from English
stock, impoverished so far as nothing
but money was concerned. The story OF
Coliyers life is almost as familiar as the
\, toa A
statesmen.
Minot j. Savage was born In Norridge-
wock, Maine, June 10, 1S41. His family
was OF English blood and came direct
from London to Massachusetts and later
settled in Maine. Among the descend
ants Of the two branches OF this family
tuere are at the persent time fou, Uni
tartan clergymen by the name OF Savage.
and all are located in Massachusetts,
within thirty miles OF each other.
The boy Minot tells us in one OF his
writings that he was never stinted in OPP
portunities for astronomical research
the attic roof beneath which he slept per-
NIT" him TO stare at The heavens
through the numerous chinks between
the shingles, whereby too, In the harsh
storms OF winter, the snow sifted down 10
lay for him an additional coverlet.e The
few books to which he had access were
chiefly poetical. the works OF Dryden,
his reading, together with the natural
trend OF his mind, gave him an epthusi-
sstic fondness Tor poetry. as result OF
which he began as a boy the making OF
verses. a habit which has clung to him
throughout his life. In the sanotity OF
his garret chamber he welded facile pen
the productions of which, by the time he
was fifteen years OF age, were enough for
the formation of a volume OF large size, IL
not of unusually large merit.
The religious part OF his nature was
prominent in mis- early life. At the age
OF thirteen he was converted, although
the state OF his soul was by no means TO
his satisfaction for long time thereafter.
HIS parents were devout Methodists, but
for three Sundays In the month the fami-
ly attended Congregational church, as
their own pastor came only once i'm four
weeks. On account of this, combiued
with prediction, he grew up with pref
erence for the Congregational denomina-
tion. His determination TO become q
Clergyman was made at an early stage, and
70 II he steadily adhered. The failure OF
his health forbade his attempting 10
work his way through college, but he
was ena bled to take theological course
IN the Bangor Seminary from whiGn he
was graduated I'm 1864.
Immediately sfterwsrd be went TO Cali
fornia as home missionary. There he
preached in the mining camps in the
neighborhood OF San Francisco. leading.
IN ministerial way, life obock full
oil adventure. He preached In the cabins,
IN the groceries, wherever he could find a
place for the gathering ofa few together.
Ills good fellowship won him fnnumer-
able friends; the miners loved him for his
msniincss. despite the fact that he was q
psrso1.
Mr. Savage came East in 1867. After q
short pastorsts In the East he went 10
Missouri and afterward TO Chicago. In
tbst city ne was pastor Of the third Uni.
tartan Church, he having then changed
mis- denomination. In 1874 he accepted a
call 10 the Church oftbs Unity In Boston.
III was st this time that he excited the
ufngIed sstOnishmeat and admiration Of
the public by saying that he accepted the
church because be would receive iargsx