Norwich bulletin., 1909-02-22

| ted himself for his profession. He
was ordained and preached his first
| sermon in Delaware, o., on November
| 8, 1841, on The Impossfbility of Endless
| Woe, of which doctrine he became
early convinced and concerning which
he never saw reason to change his
/ belief.
Three years spent in missionary
work in Ohio and one year in west
/ ern New York were followed by his
| first regular parish at Victor. N. Y,
where he remained four years.
| In April, 1850. he was called to
| Lynn, Mass, and from that time
\ good part of his active ministry was
| spent within the limits Of the Bay
| state. From Lynn he went to Law
renee, where his pastorate was very
successful. From 1866 to 1859 he was
settled in Milford.
Going to Baltimore just before the
| opening of the civil war, he began of
| Of his longest and certainly the most
eventful pastorate of his career. At
that time the Universalist church was
| very prosperous and one of the most
influential in the city Among his
parishioners was Johns Hopkins, WHO'D
later founded the university of which
the late DR.. Daniel C. Gilman of this
city became president.
But the clouds of conflict were gath
| was pretty nearly equally divided be-
tween the north and the south. DR..
Johnson was a staunch abolitionist and
so outspoken in his views that early
in the struggle he was compelled to
leave the city for his own safety and
spend several months in the north.
In November 1865, DR. Johnson
came to Norwich as pastor of the
First Universalist church and one of
his first duties was to assist in the
funeral services over the bodies of
the Norwich soldiers who died in An
Jacksonville prison. One Of them was
Sylvanus Downes. who had been su-
perintendent of the Universalist Sun
day school.
While in Norwich DR.. johnson took
an active interest in civic matters as
well as movements of a charitable
| nature and served on the school COM
mittee of the West Chelsea district.
His pastorate was a very successful
one and when he retired in November
1863. both the church and Sunday
school were Furnishing. Extensive al
terations were made to the church
during his pastorate.
Returning to his native state, DR..
johnson settled in Marietta, where
/ he remained five years, but he still
cherished love for Massachusetts, and
in 1874 accepted a call to Westheld
After spending seven busy years there
he went to Mt. Vernon, n Y, to re-
main five years, as he used to say, on
the border of New York city.
In June, 1886, he began his final pas
torate at Nyack which was closed
upon his resignation in December,
1901, after 60 years Of active work in
the cause Of humanity. Since then he
had lived quietly in Nyack, ooca-
sionally making an address or preach
ing. Each year on his birthday Rock
land lodge, f. and A NJ, of which he
was chaplain, gave him public re-
ception and he was known by general
consent as the Grand Old Man Of the
town.
DR.. Johnson combined in a marked
degree the qualities which go to make
up a successful Clergyman. Gifted
with rich and sonorous voice. he was
a most attractive preacher and during
his passionate in this city his Sunday
evening lectures were very popular
especially with young people. To the
last an optimist, his diseourses were
brimful Of hope and the promise Of
better things which but reflected q
nature sunny through all the trials of
long and busy life. Pastoral duties
which to many clergymen are irksome,
were pleasure to DR.. johnson and
he spread sunshine daily throughout
the various communities in which he
found himself, as we'll as discoursing
it weekly from the pulpit.
His was a remarkable life perfectly
rounded out and vet useful to the
last. His mental faculties he retain
ed unimpaired I'D to the end and his
naturally rugged constitution showed
few signs OF indrTnity until within a
year before his death
In June, 1907, Buchtel college at Ak
ron, o., which he helped to endow
during his pastorate in Marietta. gave
him the degree of Doctor of Divinity
He was one Of the Oldest living mem
bers Of the Massachusetts, legislature
having served in the house Of repre-
sentatives in 1855 from Lawrence.
He is survived by one daughter by
his first wife. Mrs. Charles H. Dillaby
OF Somerville, Mass, and by two chill
dren by his second wife, Hiss Alice
G. johnson and Walter S. Johnson.
botoh Of Nyack. Burial will be i'm
Westfield, Mass.
James w. Fitch.
The death is announced from New
York city Of James w Fitch. a ma
tive Of Montville. Mr.. Fitch was son
of the late Capt. william Fitch. He
spent his earlier years in MontvilIe.
taking UP the ministry and embracing
the Methodist faith. After a long ne
riod Of service he became unable to
officiate on account OF illness and then
returned to Montville After the death
Of his father he again removed to New
York
Mr.. Fitch is survived by his mother
who is almost 80 years of age. a son.
William L Fitch, an engineer. who
three weeks ago met with an accident
by falling from his engine, the mishan
necessitating amputation of one arm
A number Of cousins also survive
among these being Mrs. william Doty
of Norwich, Mrs. Vibber Of Palmer
town, Mrs. Pierce of New York CITY. a
summer resident at Gales Ferry. Mrs.
Harriet Crandall OF Gales Ferry Mrs
James F1ndlay and Christopher Gard
ner of Charleston, s.. c., and John
Gardner Of Jacksonville, Fla.
Walter S.. LoveIand.
The death of Walter S. Loveland
occurred Saturday morning at the
home Of his daughter Mrs. e. c. Fow
Ter on the West Side. He had been
sick but two weeks. Mr.. Loveland
came here from Hartford and had been
living here for the past two months.
He was So years of age. He is sur
viYed by three daughters, Mrs. e. c.
Fowler. Miss Lulu Loysland, Mics Ma
ron Loyeland and two sons, Earl and
Victor Loveland. The remains are to
be taken to Hartford for burial in