Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-04-10

Concerning his personal traits, we
have the following from Milo Bene-
dict:
A few thoughts upon my fathers
well known characteristics will, per-
haps, be appreciated by many who have
found in his manner of life something
real and consoling,
His parents died when he was mere
lad. In those days the forces that urge
a boy to the front and impress him with
the need of an academic, collegiate or
business education, were not operative
in marking the course Of his destiny.
My father, owing to the early death of
his parents, was brought up in the home
of his patsrnal grandparents. He in
herited his fathers farm, which he sold,
soon after his marriage, to his brother
! Charles, and purchased the Blake home
stead, which was the childhood home of
the "Blake boys Lyman, Leroy and
Clarence. of whom the two former be-
came eminent divines. Concord people
well remember the Rev. DR.. Leroy
Blake, who for nine years was pastor of
the South Congregational church. of
this city.
His interests were always agricultural,
though it remained for an almost fatal
illness, in his early married life, to ac-
quaint him with the real bent of his
mind. Being once aroused, he began
the study and emulation of Christianity
with a constant, warm, unwearled
anxious ZEAL that never lessened. Hav-
ing not the least faint of the world in
him. he could carry his prayers and his
honest pleadings into any home or circle
or church without the least tinge of
hypocrisy in his manner, and the hard
est hearts and most settled wills have
yielded to his persuasions, when other
pleaders of the cause, equally we'll
meaning, equally earnest perhaps, have
baked them.
The writer recalls an old blacksmith,
hard drinker and profane, who said
to him: You are the only mortal man
should ever allow to talk to me on
religion" And many others felt the
same toward him. He believed that
saving men was not vague pursuit,
bringing poor returns, but the most
practical work to be engaged in.
The mere message and sentiment of
| the Scriptures was not enough. He re-
vered their context. which he read daily
for fifty years.
His first and most noteworthy re-
, formatory work was accomplished on
board fishing schooner. ON which he
spent number of months for his health.
As he expected, he found the crew,
la lii a ~
I But within short time he reversed the
B. order of things, and without so much
as being laughed at or despsed. BY de
grees he stopped their profanity and
their gambling. He cured them of pri
vate quarrels. He convinced them that
a change in their programme would
prove for the better, and they ceased tC
work on Sunday. He brought them
good books and went ashore with them
TO attend the sailors mission. He wor
the friendship of the entire crew and the
skipper wept upon his shoulder when he
left them. Not only was his a mora
help, but by their increased industry anC
better order they gained financially anC
4 fsOon outcassed their comrades of the
sea.
In his native town he united split
church, conducting the meetings anC
Itdu lllt StIlilOllS lOl lIlitC NtdlS uNis
was he devoted with equal zeal to such
work wherever he happened TO be
Such was his candor and hold upor
spiritual truths that people would lister
with rapt attention to his remarks, VIII,
ordinarily cared little for anything
except the didactic utterances of Learned
divines.
never saw my father give way t.
{ anger never heard him use profan,
word or relate story unfit for all t.
hear. He used no tobacco or spirits
He never seemed to be in an uncomfort
able mood; and was almost uniformally
: cheerful. He enjoyed all that he heard
or read of Tolstoy, agreeing with him il
unfolding the dignity of toll. On tina
question he was very firm. Whatever
he did was in harmony with religious
convictions, and the world could no
disturb his opinions.
In the words of his pastor, Rev. Joe
b. Slocum of the First Baptist church
HE will be sadly missed as father