Norwich bulletin., 1913-06-16
LONG, USEFUL LIFE AT ITS CLOSE
Death of Leweyn Pratt D. D. Pastor Emeritus of Broadway Congregational Church Nineteen Years in Active Min isty Here President of Norwich Free Academy Loved and Revered in Pastoral Relatons-Honored in Eduea- tional Circles.

reason or the QOupie. Dufuen O1 re- sponsibility, was called to 8 church ia Oakland, Cal. and to the First Con-
 gregationaI church in North Adams, Mass Accepting the latter invitation, he entered upon an exceedingly happy. and fruitful paStorate of four years
 duration. In 1876 the teaching pro- fession again laid claim to him, though not to the exclusion of the ministry. While professor of rhetoric at Williams college (1876-1SS0) and then of homi- letics and pastoral care at Hartford Theological Seminary (1SS0- 1SSS), he was still much occupied with preach. ing particularly at Stockhridge, North Adams, the Second Congregational church in Holyoke. Mass. the Park church in Hartford. and the Seconi church in Meriden.
 Called in November 1887, to the pas- torate of the Broadway Congregational church in this city. he began his min istry here in the following May, on the completion of the academic year at Hartford. From that time forward to his retirement as pastor emeritus in 1906, and in no small measure since, his manifold and gracious activities have been such a source of help and inspiration as needs no description here. The life of the church and it's fullest development in spirituality and usefulness were always his chief con- cern, and to it he gave unweariea in terest to the fast.
 At the same time his skilled ac- quaintance with educational matters was again recognized by his election in 1893 to the presidency of the Nor : wieh Free Academy. in which office, as in the pastorate of the Broadway church, he was among the successors of his brother-in- Jaw, the Rev. John P. Gulliver. To the administration o1 the schools affairs. and especially ta the planning of the present new build nSlU of nd thought. Among other places of re- sponsibility in which his counsel was sought were the board of trustees of Northwestern (now Mccormick Theo- logical Seminary, Chicago (1866-1869)s Williams College 1S84-18S9), Atlanta University (18S9- -1s95), Hartford Theo- logical seminary. (1SSS-1913), and. the Eliza Huntington Memorial Home in Norwich (1892-1913, president since 1S99), corporate membership in the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (1S89-1913), and the executive committee of the American Missionary Association, in whose inter- estS he took more than one journey south He was also a member of tha Connecticut Historical society, the New London County Historical society. the Society of Biblical Literature, etc.
 It may be added that Dr. Pratt him self looked back with something of wonder and regret on the SsfrequenF changes that marked his middle nfeA These removals were not ofSllis seeking many similar calls indeed, he dis missed entirely-but each of them was in measure compelled by the urgency of others and the apparent claims of duty
 In 1893 Dr. and Mrs. Pratt weHe in & railroad wreck at Chester. Mass, being thrown against the end of a car which fell through a broken bridge into the Westfield river. Though superfcially Dr. Pratt was not much injured, this accident probably laid the foundation of much later weakness of the spine. A serious fall on the ice in January, 1912, affected the spine still more ded- nitely, and gradually brought on an entire failure of the powers of locomo-2 tion. He faced his increasing disabili ties, however with quiet courage, maintained his interest in all that went on about him, welcomed his friends or sent them messages of greeting, and surrendered only in the last few days to confinement in bed
 This external outline of a lifetimeS varied activities may serve at least to suggest to those who knew the man himself and his spirit how far the praisal In balance and clarity of judgment, in tact and wisdom as to methods in self-control and courtesy, and in hopefulness of outlook under whatever circumstances, pr. Pratt had few equals among us. Whether in ed ucation, music, worship, preaching or pastoral effort. he admitted no ideals but the highest. By the clearness and vigor of his presentation of truth he impressed men. and by the purity and radiance of his daily life they were yet more effectively persuaded. For He taught. but first he followed it
 himSelVe"