Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-05-06

walking humbly with God, rather than in
and talking and taking so much
pains to know what others think on these
high points, of which we can know but lit
tie and what we do know is of small inn
portance
after the controversy about them has
been carried on 1900 years it is high time
to drop it. For us to copy after the exam
pie of Christ, he in this world as he was,
and have the same mind in us that was also |
in Christ Jesus would be more pleasing to |
our divine master, than to attempt to dive |
into the mysteries of his nature which are |
not revealed, and endeavoring to explain |
things altogether above our comprehension. |
As for myself shall leave these things to
those that are fond of them, and direct my
attention to the virtues and graces of the
Christian temper, in which all the sincere
followers of Christ agree. Cheer
fully waiting for the Happy time when that
which is perfect is come, and that which is
imperfect shall be done away. When we
come to be with Christ we shall see him as
he is, and know even as we are known
In issues of the Reporter subsequent to
the one in which this sermon is printed
Aug II and Sept. 2-there appear articles
from Mr.. Wells which were taken from
or relate to a pamph ct entitled:
"'Candid reflections on the different
manner in which the learned and the pious
have expressed their conceptions concern
ing the doctrine Of the trinity, by the Rev.
Benz. Fawcett, late dissenting minister at
kidderminster-a man eminenty useful
and pious-an old friend and a near neigh
bour of nine.
The sermon and these two contributions
were afterward printed in a pamphlet
which bears the imprint. "Brattleboro;
Printed by John Holbrook, 1916. -. Only
one copy of this pamphlet is now known TO
be in existence. If there are others it
would be interesting TO know in whose
possession they are.
The sermon did not pass unnoticed by
those who held severer theological views
than Mr.. Wells \ pamphlet of - pages
is in existence which Daniel Haskell issued
in reply to Mr.. Wells 1t bears date Bur
lngton, Jan. |, ISL There is other ev-
idence of warm controversy which was
stirred up by Mr.. Weiss views.
Mr. WeIIs's Life and Personality.
Mr. Wells was native of Biggleswade,
England, and was for % years a dissenting
minister in that country. He came to this
country, as stated by him in his dis
course, and was the second resident min
lister in Brattleboro, succeeding the Rev.
Abner Reeve in 1894 He lived in house
which stood near where the Summer Re-
treat now is One of his daughters, Mrs.
Freme, the widow of Liverpool merchant,
was burned to death in the destruction of
the house by fire one night % years after
her fathers death.
According to the well-established tradition
which has come down TO US Mr.. Wells was
a man of hign personal character, and of
becoming benignity of bearing, and warmly
beloved throughout the town. lie pos
sessed attractive social qualities and was
always welcome guest in the homes of
his people. He was, moreover, favorite
with the children-something that did not
always happen with the clergy of the oden
| time.
Mr.. Wells died on Sunday evening in
December 1927, aged 50 years In an
obituary notice printed the week following
his death, over the signature Commune
Gated " it is said of him that
although his mind was stored with those
rich treasures of theological information
which are the products of long and studi-
Gus life, he had none of the pride and
pomp of education; and although he was
blessed with ample powers of argument,
he did not feel it his duty to eXpstiate in
the thorny tracts of controversy, believing
that he could better serve the great cause
of truth and piety by preaching Christ and
him crucifed, by plain and practical illus
trations of the pure morality and perfect
purity of the Christian system. While his
capacious mind embraced, in its benevolent
wishes, and in its fervent aspirations, the
whole family of man, he ACKNOWLEDGED NJ
human master of the human mind anC
still less did he presume TO mark out th'
limits, of either the power, the Justice, OF
the mercy of the God and Father of oul
Lord Jesus Christ. The daily beauty anC
moral elevation of his character were o
course more peculiarly obvious to his fam
lily, his intimate friends and the circle o
his neighborhood But he had a name anC
a praise in many of the congregations Oh
both sides of the Atlantic. To the churcl
he was shining light, and to the world
bright example. 1t is known that man,
able and candid men, of different denomin
ations. regarded him as combining, in de
gree very unusual in this late age of tn
world, the primitive simplicity of the pa
triarchal, with the paternal dignity of tn
{ apostolical character
\ manuscript letter is in existence whic
was written by Mr., Wells to Stephen Green
leaf, probably in 1915, which relates to tn
} division of sentiment which was occasion
; ed by the proposition to establish ''ne'
meeting" in the east part of the town.
is evident from this letter that those VIII
lived in the extreme west part of the tow
S were hotly opposed to the proposed new d.
a parture, while there had been so niue
Q growth in the population in the east pal
that the $50 families" which it embrace
= felt that they ought not to be compelled
, 90 "24 to miles" to attend the Sunda
f services. Mr.. Wells, himself resident
= the east part of the town, took the side
his neighbors, and was undoubtedly rigl
+ in doing so. In one place in his letter
o tersely says; "The people in the westeI
> part of the town have nothing to do in th
IS business, it being well known they have
! connection with the society and none thu
J, wish to have The meeting house mig
g stand on the top of West River mounta
4, e., o,,x 3k;,,c, thau cara about IL thI