The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-10-31
REV. BENJAMIN F. FOSTER.

In our last issue we announced the
death of this we'll known and influential
clergyman of our faith in Indiana. after
lingering illness of dropsical nature,
followed by a stroke of appoplexy. which
ended his life On Monday morning, o.
tober 10. He died at the home of his
son in Indianapolis. after week of I'M
consciousness and an illness Of over
seven months. From the Indianapolis
papers we condense the following &C.
count of his life in that city and his
service in the Universalist ministry and
as Secretary of the Grand Lodge I. O.
o. F. of Indiana.
Benjamin Franklin Foster was born
January %, 1920, at Cincin ati. His
father died when he was twelve years
old. and his mother a short time after
ward. He was quiet, observing boy,
with keen desire to learn and with
great aptitude as scholar. He was
pupil of the old Woodwork High School
Of Cincinnati, and later went to Oxford,
O., where he studied theology and
entered the ministry of the Uuiversalist
Church. He preached in a number Of
towns and cities in southern Ohio and
afterward in several Ohio river towns
in Indiana. In 1843 he married Ellen
D. Reed, of Cincinnati a sister Of Mrs.
Willard Nichols, and of the late Enos
B. Reed.
After entering the ministry Mr.. Foster
went to Madison, Ind, where he was
pastor of church. 1t was while he
was in Madison that he became engaged
in the publication of the Gospel H erald,
which was afterward published at Indi-
annapolis. Rev. 1. D. Williamson being
one OF the editors. Mr.. Foster was
married July 80, 1845, to Miss Ellen
Douglass Reed. 1t is on record in the
family Bible that the ceremony was per-
formed by Rev. E. M. Pingree, assisted
by Rev. W. G. Brooks. Mr.. Fosters
only sister was an attendant at the we'd
ding. She died last week at her home
in the East. Mr.. and Mrs. Foster con-
tinued to reside in Madison until 1847 or
l949, when they came to Indianapolis
and Mr.. Foster became the pastor OF the
Universaist church on South Delaware
street. Mr.. Foster kept on with his
work here until 1861. He preached for
a short time in Terre Haute, but there
is no record extant of his work in that
field, as it wac brief.
1t was on the breaking out OF the war
that Mr.. Foster received and accepted
call to Richmond. Ind, where he re-
manned two years. He returned to In.
dianapolis in 1868 and was elected State
Librarian. He was re elected in 1865.
For time he resumed his ministerial
labors and travelled widely over the
State. A year later he went to the
Main-street Universalist church at Day
ton. o. He only preached there one
year. and came back to indianapolis, and
in October of 1870. with John Reynolds.
bought the Odd Fellows Talisman. Mr..
Foster became its editor, and held that
office until his death.
On Nov. %. 1871. Mr.. Foster was
elected grand secretary of the /. o. o. F.
and grand scribe of the encampment,
and he was reelected each year there
after. Next month he would have COM
pleted his quarter of a century in the
same office. One year he represented
the Grand Lodge of INDIANA at the Sow
ereign Grand Lodge of the United
States.
Mr.. Foster once had very Aattering
call to church in Philadelphia. but he
refused it, as he felt the field for Univer.
salism was greater in the West than in
the East. During his office as State
Librarian he was invited by the ministry
of Indianapolis to deliver the memorial
address on the assassination of Lincoln
in the old Wesley Chapel, where the
Sentinel building now stands. When
Mr.. Lincoln's body was brought here,
it was the duty of the Librarian to
attend to all arrangements, and he
had charge of all the ceremonies con.
nected with it while here. He was
not only Librarian, but he was Gus
todian of all the State buildings and
possessions during the Office of Govern.
or Morton. Mr.. Fosters last years have
been serene and quiet with his family in
this city. until the death of his wife,
August %, 1892. His was a long and
honorable career. At one time there
was compilation Of the deaths and
marriages attended by the leading min.
listers of the State. 1t was found that
Mr.. Foster had officisted for the two
events more times than any other min.
lister in Indiana. He was good news!
paper man. and the Talisman, which
had circulation OF little more than