Norwich bulletin., 1913-03-27

WAS FAMOUS REVivALIsT
 IN THIS SECTION. Elder Swan. Native of Stcninaton,Was Preach of Power.
 Among eastern onnecticut people of the middle eighties there is still vivid recollection of the powerful preaching of Rev. Jabez Smith Swan, Elder Swan" as he was known, a native of Stonington and one of the old fashion ed type Of evangelists.
 Born at Stonineton.
 The famous evangelist was born in Stonington Feb. 23. 1s00. and he died ir. this city Nov. IA. 1884. The latter l,art of his life was clouded by mental trouble, but his splendid physique Withstood the ravages of time until he was nearly 85 years of age.
 Jabez Smith Swan was the son of Joshua and Esther Smith Swan. His father was a farmer and his early life was marked by the severe toll that was characteristic of those who titled the soil in those days in Connecticut.
 Converted at Lyme.
 In 1912 young Swans parents moved tu Lyme. and it was there. five years later, when he had attained his ma jority. that he joined the church m North Lyme, and on May F. 1923, he was licensed to preach Preaching the gospel was a source of pleasure to him and he went at the work with all oi the enthusiasm that he was cap4- ble of, For two years he worked at secular employInents and then, decid- ing to take up the ministry perma- nentIy, he went to Hamilton, N. Y, to attend the Literary and Theological seminary, which later became Madison univ ersity. Before going to the semi nary the young prea cher married Miss Griffin 3
 Every Sunday while he was in col lege he rode 20 miles to serve a small church, and received in return for his time and trouble the sum of 50 cents per sermon.
 Besides preaching, he used to spend several hours a day cutting timber, and he managed to pick up about 37 1-2 cents day in that way.
 Ordained in steninston Church.
 Elder Swan was ordained as pastor of the Stonington borough church on June 20, 1927. Very soon after he took up the pastorate the desire for evangellstic work began to take pos session of him. Those were the days of protracted meetings. and he very soon was making a reputation for himself as one of the most effective prea that had ever been heard in this part of the state. In the spring of 1880 he moved to Norwich. N Y, accepting the call to the church ther@ at the same salary he was receiving r Stonington. Money was of little con sequence to him in connection with his preaching. When it became known that, the Norwich church had called him the Stonington people offered I ) double his salary if he would stay, but he saw an. opportunity for effective service and declined to neglect to i'm prove 1t.
 He was very effective in Norwich, hundreds of conversions resulting from his preaching. He afterwards served  places building up the churches and making a deep impression on the com munfry. In 1S4O he resigned the OK ford pastorate to take up evangelistic work, and he had wonderful success il. that line of activity.
 In 1642 he returned to Stonington n and began a series of meetings. From there he went to Mystic and it is re- corded that 400 converts were bar tized.
 Work in New London.
 Elder Swan came to New London in October 1842. and began revival at the First Baptist church. which was then under the pastoral care of Rev awakening followed his efforts tte ! converts numbering about 300
 His next field of labor was Albany N Y. where he was wonderfully sue cessfuI He stirred the whole city by 1 his terrific arratgnment of sin and the result was about 5000 conversions and l the evangelist baptized 1.200 of that l number.
 In 1s4s Elder Swan came back to l New London and became pastor of the l First Baptist church. He went back | to. Albany In 1S4S and the following year accepted the call of the newly 1 organized Huntington street Baptist l church of that city and became it's first l pastor. He labored effectively with l that church, which he served twice as ] pastor. Hundreds were converted there i and frequently the meetings were fol- 1 lowed by midnight baptisms in the l river .------.----
 Later he served the Second church l as pastor and also the Waterford | church. His last days were spent in 1 retirement here and many recall his ! personal appearance after he had long i passed the allotted three score and i ten
 Reioiced in Revival Work.
 Elder Swan was never happier than | when engaged in a revival. He de- 1 lighted in bringing the necessity of re- 1 pentance to the people and it was l great satisfaction to him to mark the 1 effect of his burning words and wit l r ess scores at once in an agony of 1 conviction crying for mercy.
 He could preach in a manner that | was most effective. He was a man of 1 strong convictions and what he be- | lieVed he was not afraid or ashamed to state in the most public manner. He i was big man physically and he had l r4C fear of any consequences that might l come to him from the energetic way IT which he denounced wrongdoers of l every kind. |
 Elder swan was interested in tenn | perance well as religion and he was an ardent abolitionist. fie believed in | 3 personal devil and in the most ortho- J 1ox kind of hell and when he painted 4.s~-.s