Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-12-08
WEST BRATTLEB0R0
Rev. E. j. Lewls's Call to Chicago.

REV. Z, D. LEWIS ; SdH " SHlCdSOs
Rev. Edwin j. Lewis, who is now leav-
ing the pastorate of the First Congre-
gational church of Brattleboro, to take
up the pastorate of the Woodlanwn Park
church of Chicago, was born on the
Welsh border ten miles back of New
port, Monmouthshire, and overlooking
the Channel toward Somerset and Devon,
the haunts of Lorna Doone." With the
children of his native village he would
often climb the hill back of the pa
ternal acres to watch the ships pass out
to sea, and once he was heard to shout
to his little comrades that when he
grew to be a man, he too would sail
away. Little did he know how true
the prophecy was to be fulfilled, or
how dark the days preceding 1T. At 10
both father and mother had been laid
in the sacred yard" In the care of
an elder brother he stayed three years,
then crossed the Atlantic to make his
home with his fathers brother in Ohio.
He prepared. for college at the Mari
eta academy and entered the college
in the class of 1891, in which year he
was graduated with the 'eumma cum
laude" honors and elected a member OF
the Phi Beta Kappa society.
In his senior year he was elected
president of the Ohio Inter collegiate
oratorical association. In the fall of 81
In September, 1892, he entered the
divinity school of Yale university and
was graduated with the class of "a,
cum laude" honors. Mr.. Lewis was
class poet of his college class, also OF
the university class.
In September 1894, he became in
structor of moral science and English
literature in the Connecticut Agricultural
college. The year after he moved tC
ha (Nhipapn
logical seminary, studying for the Phi
d. degree. His plan was interrupted
by the repeated urgent call of the church
in Shabona a suburb, where he wen
and labored for seven years, at which
time call came from Plymouth, Conn.
started by those who had been student:
under him in the State college. During
these years Mr. Lewis had declined two
urgent calls-one to North Dakota, thu
other to Chicago After three years il
Plymouth he accepted a call to FRS
church, Valley City, North Dakota
where the serious illness of their young
er daughter, compelled a change of eli
mate and return was made to New
England, and they settled in West Brat
tleboro Nov. l. 1908.
Mrs. Lewis, whose maiden name Il
unchanged and Mr.. Lewis were mar
red in July, 1896 and began their home
| life in Mansfield Conn, where Mr.
Lewis taught and preached in the col
| lege church. Mrs. Lewis is of ministerial
| stock, having two uncles in the Con
gregational ministry in England. He
| people live in Big Rock, Ill. Two daugh
| ters brighten the home of Mr.. and Mrs
| Lewis: Elizabeth Ellen, nearing her 14tl
| birthday and Marianne Edwna, nearing
her eleventh birthday. Both are mu
| steal.
Mr.. Lewis has never candidated, un
| less his coming to BrattlebOro be ac
counted such. Both he, and Mrs. Levi
have greatly enjoyed life here, an
leave only because duty seems to poin
the way.
Mr.. Lewiss pastorate here has bee
marked by cordial and harmonious re
| lations between minister and people. Hi
| sermons have been inspiring and hepfu
and in his parish work he has won tn
| esteem and affection of people generally
| Sincere regret will be felt in his depart
| ure, but this feeling is softened some
| what in the recognition of Mr. Lewis
eminent fitness to perform the duties i
the larger field to which he has bee
| called.