Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-05-21
Death of Rev. Or. Sylvester

Miss Jessica Stewart, of Middlebury on
the 10th October last, died at Wilton, n.
H, the 10Th day of May.
Mr.. Sylvester was born at Ashland,
Maine. Sept. Z, 1868. He was educated
at the East Maine Seminary, Bucksport,
and at Boston and Denver Universities.
His first settled pastorate was in the
historic second Presbyterian church at
Albany, n. Y, a pulpit made famous by
a line of unusually distinguished preach
ers. With this line of succession he en-
tered at the age of %, carrying ON the
larger interests and sustaining the best
traditions of the pulpit with signal abl-
ity and success. Besides doing the reg
ular work of a great church, he was In
| large demand as college preacher, lee
turer, and contributor to the religious
press The New York Observer the
official organ of the Presbyterian church,
in speaking of DR.. Sylvester, said, in its
issue of Jan. 10, 1906 THE Albany pull
pit has no occupant whose intellectually
is superior to his. His brotherlness,
sweet spirit and unusual powers of mind,
have won him friends everywhere"
DIR. Sylvester's next settlement was
over the Central Union church of Homo
lulu. Hawaii. OF this church a keen
observer has said: cit occupies in the
Island a unique position. Indeed, we
know of no single church anywhere
whose responsibilities and possibilities
are so great 1t is not too much to say
that the entire program of the historic
Christian movement in Hawaii is in
volved in the conduct of this great
church."
On the occasion of DR.. Sylvesters call
to this church, with a membership of
more than thousand, the leading daily
paper of Honolulu remarked editorially &:
"Dr. Sylvest er, if he accepts the pastor
ate, will find, perhaps, the opportunity
of his life The great work was most
auspiciously begun; keen interest was
aroused both among old and young.
But Just as the powers of the new min
lister began to be felt, the disease which
had already Swallowed his life laid its
final hold on him, and ended his career.
Leaving Hawaii and the people to whom
he had endeared himself, he returned to
this country, and after some stay in
Colorado resorted to South Lynde.
borough, salubrious town in southern
New Hampshire. His physicians held
out hopes of recovery, and for a time a
he appeared to improve; but in spite OF
the most assiduous care and devotion his
: life faded away.
5 1t was desired that DIR. Gordon, of the
5 Old South church of Boston, warn
t friend of DIR. Sylvester, should conduc
the funeral service. He was unable t.
e be present, but his letter was read, anC
it is here given.
f "Dear Mrs. Sylvester;
a | have heard the news. so inevitable
i yet so deplorable. 1t is all wrapped il
e mystery, this brilliant mind with all it
L.. .lN,1,x =
body. / need not tell you of my low
for your husband. He was. one of tn
y rarest natures | ever met, so rich il
power, so rich in affection, so fitted t
! make life beautiful and to share in a
high endeavor. l am sad to think
; shall see him no more in this world.
am distressed that | cannot be with yo
s. at the funeral, but it is impossible"
l. The service was conducted by Rev
2. Oliver p. Emerson of Cambridge, Mass
e Mr.. Emerson had passed many years il
J. Hawaii where he knew DR.. Sylvester
J. and by chance which might he d.
:. scribed as providential came to Wilto
in time to render the last service to hi
!. friend. We append the following e1
h tract from his address,
20 | cannot close without giving you
% glimpse of himself through his ow
e writings collected in small volume b
lie banv narish ii,stratino. N''7 - wv
as lay hTh, a si,1n,;citv and naturalness
IF his ralia;o,,s fa;tt,. "'''' '''''''' '''''N1
n '''9 "Ie vs." ibinI, reIioior s,,nernatur,
thina you Wit viii 1il,eIv wait for san1e .,
x n rm,S turai reraIatiHp ", manifestation
ne poar Rnt ,vhen Won Soc raiigon 70
as ~urelv natnrai as anv others fnrce
e. ones being simply the DEVELOPMENT
If thoso oh"; a' I,ist,,os tat r' ataot
"a erory eoml then are Won Gi"aI,, ~ a,
re every SOUL theh are you hkeiy 10 el
~ ",e 'rS,u Nth binh ILL., ''G
+ n 49, i,,o,nht 70 thoir mi n,o.rr;t,,
~ The s ~ Of loreS rbic
,,.ro,,,I,t i, hiI so,ii