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The Author has felt a hesitation in attempting this work, because of his intimate and dear relation to the subject of it. To avoid excessive praise on the one hand, and undue suppression of it on the other, is no easy task. Yet there was no other who was in circumstances to preserve a record, which by many was deemed worthy of remembrance. It was after much persuasion that Father Sabin consented to help in the work. In a letter of December 12, 1881, he wrote: "There are two things which I dread, viz: making my will and writing the biography you suggest. Yet it may be my duty to do both." At a later date he wrote : " If I have strength enough, I am willing to write to you a series of letters upon such topics as may seem best to me, or as you may suggest, * * * anj thjg letter may be the first of the series." From the letters which followed, and from memoranda in diaries, the personal items of this history have been gathered. Acknowl- edgement is here gratefully made to Mr. O. S. Bliss, of Georgia, Vt., for accurate chronological data; to Rev. Anson Titus, Amesbury, Mass., for facts in ronnection with the family record ; to Rev. J. G. Lorimer, for as- (5) )!i '!,! ':;1| 6 Preface. sistance in searching" tlic records of the church at Georgia The writer has attempted mainly to give to personal friends of its subject a memorial volume. Yet it is thought that, by putting it into the great book market, some young men and some ministers of the gospel may find useful lessons. T Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. he church at nly to give to volume. Yet :he great book misters of the CHAPTER I. RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. Rev. Alvah Sabin. the subject of this sketch, was born October 23, 1793, of Benjamin and Polly Sabin, in the town of Georgia, Vermont, on the farm which was afterward owned by him until about the time he left Georgia in 1876.* The following account of his early religious expe- riences is taken from his own notes, written by re- quest : "I do not remember when I did not believe the Bi- ble to be the Word of God. But in my earliest mem- ory there lies a confused idea of the condition of the dead. I had no clear conception of the existence of tlie soul in distinction from the body. When about nine or ten years old, my thoughts were gloomy and kept me awake many time.- in the night. As the sun declined at evening, a loneliness would steal over me which made me sick at heart. My mother noticed this, and asked me about the cause of it, and when I tried to tell her, she advised me to say the Lord's Prayer, and to commit some hymns to memory, and repeat them. She had not at this time made a public profession of religion, but I now think that ahe had a secret hope. Up to this time I had received no personal instruction * There is added to this work a chapter on the family history, to which the reader is referred for the account of his early influ- ences and surroundings. 8 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. I" I ...1. as to my duty toward God. I knew but vaguely whr.t I needed to relieve my mind from its gloomy state. I had never heard of a Christian experience, nor a re- vival of religion, nor had I ever attended a conference meeting. "After a number of years and without any consciousness of the process of my mind, I found myself resolved to live a Christian life, and to do the duties that are enjoined in the Bible. I was fixed in the purpose and habit of secret prayer. I had a time and place for it, and was punctual in the performance of what I considered to be my religious duties. I never was able, as many Christians are, to tell the time when my mind underwent a change, and to contrast my feelings before and after the change. Perhaps if I had been older, I should have been able to designate the time of my conversion more exactly. I then be- lieved, as now, that, if one is a Christian, he has been born again ; but there are thousands of truly Christian men and women who can not tell the day of their birth. I have often felt that it would be a great satisfaction, if I could fix the time of it, and be able to say, 'Draw near, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. ' I had no fixed determination that I would not make a public profession of religion ; but I shrank from it, and neglected to do it. But I found as I grew older that I was drawn into things which did not comport with a Christian life. I remem- ber an effort was made to establish a dancing school, and I opposed it, and set up a debating society to coun- teract it, and did thus prevent some from attending it. But by degrees, I was drawn, by my increasing circle of acquaintances, into the whirl of youthful folly. I now aguely whr.t ny state. I :, nor a re- a conference vithout any id, I found nd to do the was fixed in ad a time and rformance of 1 duties. I tell the time i to contrast Perhaps if I to designate I then be- , he has been ■uly Christian )f their birth, satisfaction, if 3 say, 'Draw clare what he determination 1 of religion ; lo it. But I n into things fe. I remem- ncing school, )ciety to coun- 1 attending it. :asing circle of folly. I now Religiotis Experience. g remember several times when I went out in the middle of the evening, and away from the house, so that I should not be heard, and cried aloud like a child ; and then returned to the company, chastened inheart, and praying God to keep me from utterly falling away, and resolving that I would not do anything inconsis- tent with what I thought was Christian duty. Thus things went on, not for the better, but for the worse, until about 1815 or 18 16. and I was 22 or 23 years old. About that time I attended a meeting on North Hero, and heard a Methodist preacher speak from the text, 'Quench not the Spirit.' He said, among other things, that we might quench the Spirit by smothering it, or letting it alone. This I took to myself I was doing nothing to keep myself in the love of God-. If I had a lively sense of the truth, it was not producing any fruit in the world. I thought of the process of hardening steel. They heat it and then plunge it into water, then heat it and plunge it into water again. Thus the har- dening process was going on in my heart. I hardly dared pray for.the enjoyment of religion, for it seemed to me it was a mercy in God not to let us be comfort- able so long as we are disobedient. I remember times when some of my companions would leave the singers' seats to go to the communion, and they seemed to me to be embarrassed in thus separating themselves from their fellow singers. And then I thought to myself O if I were in your place, I should be the happiest person in the world! About this time. Elder Roswell Mears, who had been preaching there for eight years, held a series of meetings, and seemingly without much result. He and Deacon Holmes were thinking to close them. I was pressed in spirit to tell them that I desired the ,0 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. continuance of them, but I had become so accustomed to stand against my convictions that I did not say any- thing. The meetings, however, were continued, and at a meeting in the house of Nathanael Bowker. my brother Daniel arose, and repeated a long passage found in Prov. i, 24-33. This was the beginning of a great work. In many of the meetings, it seemed as if the foundations were shaken, and almost every one seemed to be saying, 'What must I do to be saved ?' I was led to have a very debasing view of myself, because of my fearfulness of the world, and my unwillingness to suffer anything for Him who died on the cross for me 1 then made out to rise and confess that, for a long time, I had been trying to maintain a secret hope and in a blind way had been doing the duties of a Christian. I had several times before this been greatly moved by such passages as, 'Whosoever is ashamed of me, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he cometh m the glory of his Father with the holy angels ;' or, 'Men do not light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a stand and it giveth light to all that are jn the house. It seemed as if these stood out on the pages of the Bible in bold relief. I saw by these that it was not possible for me to enjoy a peace of mind, so long as I was unwilling to take up my cross and follow Jesus publicly. I saw that I ought not to desire what God could not consistently bestow. And that to protract my omission of public duties after all the light that had been beaming around me for three months past would be tenfold more criminal than the omission of the same duties before the revival of the past winter. I saw that it was life or death with me, and I resolved to propose myself as a candidate for baptism and admission to the customed t say any- ed, and at vker, my age found of a great as if the r»e seemed I was led use of my 3s to suffer or me 1 long time, ; and in a iristian. I moved by me, of him e Cometh in ;' or, 'Men hel, but on the house.' iges of the it was not o long as I )llow Jesus what God to protract jht that had past would of the same . I saw that i to propose ission to the Religious Experience. 11 church. In the month of February I offered myself.and prayed them to deal faithfully with me. After hearing an account of my long experience, and of my feelings during the late revival, and asking many questions, all but one brother, Paul Pratt, said that they thought it was my duty to go forward and be baptized. And accordingly with fourteen others, among whom were my mother and Anna Mears (my wife afterwards), and my brother Daniel, and Roswell Mears, Jr., and Joseph Bowker, and Paul Richards,* I went to the Lamoille river, at a place near Alvin Hydes, in the east part of the town, and there was baptized, the ice having been cut away for that purpose. "After this, conference meetings were held fre- quently and I availed myself of the opportunity to speak of what the Lord had done for my soul, and es pecially to exhort any, who were cherishing a secret hope, to come out into Christian liberty and not conceal their light under a bushel. In doing this, I felt a peace of mind which I had not before known ; but I had not thatecstacy which many others spoke of having. Several older Christians said to me, 'You do not seem to be as joyful as others.' I said, 'No, I have made and broken so many resolutions, that I fear that this last one will be like all the rest, and my fear of backsliding more than counterbalances the joy of my trembling hope.' "I remember at one time, in the month of April following my baptism, I was at work in the barn, and I indulged in meditation on what had taken place dur- ing the past few months. I considered how that I had now put on Christ by baptism ; I had joined the church ; *There were thus four ministers baptized at that time.— [Ed. *«««-?': 12 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. 1 had confessed my faith ; I had subscribed to the cove- nant • yet I had not the joys of which 1 heard others speak I finally came to the conclusion, that this state of mind was just what I had reason to expect, and that I had blunted my feelings by my long-continued neglect and I ought to be satisfied with the consciousness that I had done my duty, and ought to bless God for his grace and mercy. I said to my Heavenly Father on my knees, 'If thou wilt give me strength to do thy will, and grant me grace to discharge all the duties I owe to my Savior and the church and to the world, I will cheerfully dispense with the ecstacies which others enjoy and follow thee through evil report and good report.' At the close of the day I went to conference meeting, and, as I had opportunity, I spoke of the goodness and forbearance of God. I attempted, also, to lead the meeting in prayer, and this I enjoyed ; I also felt a cordial fellowship towards all the brethren. When the meeting was over, I went home alone. It was a beauti- ful evening. The sky was clear ; the stars shone with unusual brightness ; the air was balmy, and as I went along I fell into a train of reflection something like this : 'The Lord hath brought me through all my omis- sions of duty, through all my perversions of talent and abuse of blessings, to where I am." And at the close of these meditations, I found myself in as happy a state as I ever realized in my life. I felt as light as a feather, the very heavens smiled over my head. I could have walked on eggs and not broken them. When I reached home and retired to bed, I could not sleep, but praised God for' his wonderful works to the children of men. Afterwards, when this joy waned, I was able to trace it back to the covenant I made with God in the Religtous Experience. 13 the cove- rd others is state of ind that I d neglect, jess that I )d for his Father on o thy will, s I owe to •Id, I will ;hers enjoy d report.' e meeting, ; goodness to lead the also felt a When the as a beauti- shone with as I went ething like ill my omis- is of talent And at the ti as happy as light as a ad. I could I. When I 3t sleep, but : children of was able to God in the barn, namely, that I would do my duty and trust him to fully satisfy my heart with joy, when I should arrive in the other world." Such is the account of his beginning a Christian life. It is given quite fully, because of the light it throws on his after life. Observation shows that first experiences are the key notes to the religious activities. Luther was lighted into the kingdom by the text: "The just shall live by faith," and this text ever gave the drift to his preaching. He set it before the common people in all simplicity and earnestness, and thundered it in the ears of the Pope and his cardinals. It was the spur to his energies and the talisman to shield him from the bewitchments of the old habit of reverence to the Church of Rome. Charles Spurgeon met his Savior at the text : "Look unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved, " and that sentence sums up his preach- ing. In all the rich variety of his fertile mind and the pathos of his sincere and Christ like heart, he presents this one idea, "Full .salvation for every man or woman who will look to God for it through Jesus Christ." "Whom God set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood," Rom. iii, 25, was the greeting which met Wm. Cowper as in despair he opened his Bible for help, and in recognition of the influence of it on his mind and life, he wrote : There is a fountain filled with blood. Drawn from Emanuel's veins, And .sinners plunged beneath that flood Lose all their guilty stains. E'er since by faith I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply, Redeeming love has been my theme. And shall be till I die. StvSi;- J . Life of Ket>. Alvah Sabin. The same principle made the obligation of duty a liv ine and a lasting one with Alvah Sabin. Although h.s life was not by any means destitute of great joy. yet the predominant feature of it was duty to God and man. In the long pastorate of half a century, there were many things to try the patience of a good man-many things which some would have considered sufficient rea- son to warrant a change of pastorate ; but the ever re- curring memory of that contract with his master, to do the duty and do without the joy. kept him patient and faithful where others would have been discouraged. There were times in his life-many of them-when the fountain of his rejoicing filled and ran over ; and times when he was overwhelmed with a sense of his unfaith- fulness, and with tears confessed it before h.s church. But on the whole, his religious experience was more even than most men's. He never lost the love of life here He had nothing of the pessimist in his makeup. Even down to the last week of his pilgrimage he re- garded life as a joy. a great boon, wellworth the living He enjoyed seeing and hearing about the business of the large farm on which his son lived. His interest in all religious matters kept up to the last. There were no traces of that spirit akin to jealousy which is often with men who from the infirmities of old age are denied that prominence which they have formerly enjoyed. Although he was conscious that he was out of the no- tice of men. he had very little of the disposition to contrast unfavorably the present age with the past. He read in all his later years the leading newspapers ol the Baptist and Congregational denominations, includ- ing the missionary magazines, and for many years was a regular subscriber and interested reader of the Chm- ;• I I, Religious lixperience. »5 duty a liv hough his jy, yet the and man. here were an— many ficient rea- he ever re- ister, to do patient and scouraged. —when the and times his unfaith- lis church, e was more love of life kis makeup, lage he re- 1 the living, busine-ss of interest in There were lich is often e are denied •ly enjoyed, it of the no- isposition to ;h the past, jwspapers of tions, includ- ny years was of the Chris- Han Union. Thus he was informed about the new theology, and spoke his mind with freedom, but not a letter of March 26, 1883, he In with bitterness wrote : "1 have all the periodicals that I can read, on all the subjects that are occupying the public mind. On the subject of religion there are some strange no- tions advanced. One has to shut his eyes and stop his ears, and think back twenty years, to be sure of his identity. They hold the jargon of creeds so charitably that they do not ask you to embrace their views ; but, if you will e.xtcnd your hand of fellow.ship to them, all is well. Now, if it is no matter which of the various views of atonement we hold, then it is no matter whether we embrace any of them. Entire credulity is ignorant infidelity. A universal fellowship is just equal to no fellowship at all. One may as well have no doors to his house, as to have them all stand open night and day. It seems to me as if the modern improvement of the Christian creeds is designed to throw out the duty we owe to God, and to retain only the duties we owe to men, and these duties to have relation to the happiness of this life only, without regard to the future state. It has all a tendency to make one indifferent to the duties of religion. But I console myself with the thought that the Lord reigns, and He is able to over- rule these things for His glory, and the good of His children, and the advancement of His kingdom. I have myself all the comforts of this life which I am capable of enjoying. An old man is half dead while he is walking about, and all his enjoyments are limited as to number and degree. Like old Barzillai, we should be content to stay at home and be buried with our fore- ,r, Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. fathers in our native land. I can truly say. 'What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits to me ?' " He often said that he was willing to die and he was willing to stay here ; but he would be «!«''. 'f '^ w«.'re the will of God, that he should be well while he re- mained. It was a source of thankfulness for him that he retained his faculties so well. He said shortly before his death : " I am j,dad to believe that what sense I ever had I have now. " In another letter he wrote : ' 'I can say. 'I would not live alway.' and sometimes I hope I can say. 'I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ ;' but I can not say with Paul, ' for me to remain is better for you,' for my light is flickering in the socket and can not illuminate its own lampstand. I am not wearied with human life. I love God's beautiful, green, round earth as much as ever I did ; my friends are dear to me as ever they were ; my solicitation for the prosperity of Zion is unabated ; but still the fact that all the Christian community, ministers and brethren who were my companions have passed over the river detracts from personal enjoyment." There were those who thought that he was lacking in the emotional side of his nature. But this was not a just estimate; he was a man of usually tender emotion. He could not speak of his early faith without tears, and upon many of the deeper themes of the Gospel he could only talk with broken voice, and moist eye. The difference between him and others, was in the approach to his emotion. With many men, an illustration of truth, drawn from human life, moves more than the truth itself. With him this was not so. His habit of thinking abstractly made him so familiar with naked statements that he was beyond the need of the illustra- Kelif^ious Expirifuct . '7 What shall ?i 1 1 mcl he was , if it \v»:re liilc he re- r him that >rtly before hat sense I ; wrote: "I mes I hope ing a desire lot say with "or my light nate its own life. I love h as ever 1 y were ; my abated ; but ty, ministers have passed ment." as lacking in s was not a der emotion, ithout tears, he Gospel he ist eye. The the approach [lustration of ore than the His habit of • with naked f the illustra- tions. A man who loves children and is a favorite with tluin never laiks on the emotional side. A man with a ciuitk sympathy for the needy is never wanting there, and these were fharacteristics of his, lie was, as we have said, brought into the sense of adoption in connection with the word duty, and he early learned to kindle liis joy with obedience, not with illustrations. This was also in keeping with his home training'. His mother was not a professor of religion until he was a man grown, but no man hatl more thorough training in the ground principles of morality than was given in his home. If his early experience gave the flavor to his religious cliar.\cter, his home training and his mental inheritance were in turn the roots of his experience. God always works in us, and through us ; thus our experiences are varied as our mental traits and inheritances; thus also the church is not a body of men in spiritual uni- form, but, like society, or the state, has rich variety ; "diversities of operation, but the same spirit." The basis of fis life was laid in deep, strong convictions of right and wrong. As in the Bible the Mosaic code of morals is first mentioned and after this the gospel, and, as in all cases of .strong, well-balanced character, the moral training precedes the gospel activities, so in his case there was at the foundation a righteous purpose towards men. Those who knew him well remember how the impulses to fair dealing, and truth speaking, and frankne.ss, and generosity were from the depths. They did not feel that he was fighting down covetous ness, nor lying, nor stinginess. The writer silent the early years of his boyhood, when observation is keen- est, in the home of this pure man, and he does not ,g lift of Rro. Alvah Salnn r.-momber any occasion wlien there secnicl to W >von a momentary ^in^^^\^ with decepti..n. or covetouHness or evil purpose. The f.nnitain was *lr.p and ilowi-U cl.-ar. He was an Israelite, indeed, in whom there was no j^uile, I'he '5tli of Matthew was his standard of duty, nc was at otie time called upon by a stran^;er. wh.. stated that he was in i'rifni( 19 1 to bi' i-von n'ctoiiHncHS. I .iiul tV)w»d \vliom tluTo .r duty lie , will) slated )■ onnii^li to ('est anH down to ploiiNant dreainH. The influence of his personal life in Georgia, has been for half a century one of the silent, but mighty forces of good. It has been felt by all classes and all denomin- ations. One Al-son Witters, not a member of the church, used to say, that when Elder Sabin came, he always felt "as if God had made 'em a visit," and all the town said, Amen! His life influence is a recognized antidote to infidelity ; a witness to the truth which can not be im- peached. Without comparing it to any other type of Christian life, it may truly be said, that its fruits fully justify the wisdom of Him, who through his mother and the surroundings of childhood, led him in the path as he did, and made the way of his journey a way of duty and a way of peace. ■I, 11 li ! I' 20 /.//<• t;/ Rev. Aivah Sabiii. "Men die, but their words are left on record; their works remain, and their example survives." He who has made a record like that which we are now review- ing he who has achieved a character like that which we 'hold up to the youth of the da;/ may well say when the supreme hour arrives. "I ha^,^ fought the fight. I have finished the course: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the nc^ht- eous Judge will give me at that day." 1) 'I i I «t W.x\ Education. 21 record ; their s." He who now review- e that which well say when the fight, I ; is laid up for ,ord the ric'ht- CHAFIER II. EDUCATION. He had good home instruction. But the oppor- tunities for schools were meager. That he made good use of them is evident from the fact that he and his brother both became teachers in the district schools of their town, and he taught in one district seven sessions. It was a matter of frequent mention by him, that his early education was deficient. But a study of the rec- ords, which he, as clerk of the church, wrote, does not sustain the self-accusation. They are in good shape. But if this were so, he, by a life-long study, to a very large extent supplied the lack. His information was obtained under difficulties, but the mental discipline thus gained more than compensated for the lack of fin- ish which the schools might have afiforded him. He learned to read in the district schools of Georgia, taught by Archibald Hyde, the old collector of cus- toms at Burlington, Vt. The book used was, Morse's Geography. This was a book without illustrations or maps, and he read it through and through until he was familiar with every word, though he had dim ideas of the location of the countries or cities spoken of. He acquired the habit, however, of reading with ease and pleasure. In a facetious manner, he once described the schools of his boyhood : ' 'The school-houses were log or plank houses, with broad open fire pbces, the seats were made of slabs 22 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. from the sa^v mill, put in .vith the bark side do.^n. and held up by legs at the ends and one support m the cen- ter The tables were rough boards, rurn.nc along the side of the house, so that one could sit feeing the wall, and write, or face the fire place, and study h>s lesson^ The ruler, as it was called, was an .nd.spen.able thing. Why it was called the ruler. 1 do not know, unless it was because the ever ready ruler of the school, was used to enforce the rule of the schooL They ferruled the boy who had whispered, or stuck a pin into the side of his fellow, or pulled the hair of the boy who sat before him or threw paper balls at the girls on the opposite side of the room^ The only restraint in all the nameless offenses which boys can conjure up was the ever ready ruler. When a boy was detected in any of these tr.cks. he imme- diately showed great sorrow-that he was detected^ And when 'called up.' as the phrase was. he sn.velled and winced until the blows were ended and hen went back to his seat,shaking his head at the boy who told on him,' as much as to say. 'I will give you a l.ck.ng when we get out of school.' Yet they were very happy "^^^'in those times such a thing as a steel pen was never thought of. much less the beautiful pliant go^d pen with the ebony handle and gold trimmmgs. The native quill of the goose was the standing material, and, by the way. when it was made right, it was as as good a pen as was ever put on paper. But the slope of the sides, and the split of the point and the cut of the nib required a good knife and a mechanical eye But oftentimes the quill would be a most indifferent one You could hardly tell whether it was a quill or a Education. down, and t in the cen- [; alonp the njf the wall, his lesson, idispensable not know, ler of the the school, ed, or stuck pulled the :hrew paper f the room. Tenses which jler. When ks, he imme- ^'as detected. , he snivelled nd then went \f who 'told on licking when very happy steel pen was il pliant gold nmings. The ding material, ght, it was as But the slope nd the cut of lechanical eye. lost indifferent vas a quill or a feather. Sometimes a boy would have a turkey ([uill, or even a crow quill. Happy the boy who could get the royal quill of the eagle. Then the knife migiit be an old jack-knife — hardly sharp enough to cut cold butter. The hero of the quill would make all ])os sible preparation for the work, by honeiiig his knife on the toj) of iiis boot. Then the pen is made as perfect- ly as the best judge in the world could expect — under the circumstances — and the nib is cut off wide enough to write an advertisement on the side of a barn. When a he came to use it, he found that the hair stroke was not very fine, but he would atone for this by writing out the whole page as fast as he could, and then brag over his neighbor that he was through first. "Then the ink was not that perfect, uniform, limpid fluid of this day ; but was a decoction, gotten up by the scholars themselves, made of soft maple bark, and sumach berries, and logwood. Sometimes it was thick and muddy, anil sometimes it was too pale, and, as the word was, 'it won't shed good.' The inkstand was a manufacture of their own, made usually of pewter, but the odd and comical shapes were legion. These were filled with cotton or lint, to absorb the ink and prevent its spilling, if tipped over. The pen was put into the stand and drawn out by a side motion, so as to com- press the lint and get ink on the pen. Yet there were as many good writers then as now, in proportion to numbers. "There were not so many books as now. Few peo- ple took any kind of a periodical. The result was that they were very familiar with what they had. The scholars became good readers. And. as to spelling, '' t I H V 2^ Life of Rev. Alva/i Sabin they were far better informed than they are now. I'he 'spelling school' was an institution of that rc',non, and many schools boasted, that they had scholars who could spell every word in the spelling book. "In geography, Dwight's was used after Morse's. This was written with questions and answers, and with out maps. We had little idea of the places, but there were many who learned enough geography, to stay at home and mind their own business. "At that time they had no books of mental arithme- tic, but the lack was supplied by all sorts of mathemat- ical pu/zles.and by oral instruction. They did not go so far in arithmetic as they do now. but they thoroughly understood the four ground rules, and ' practice' and interest, and the 'rule of three. "Grammar was taught superficially, if at all. But we learned to communicate our ideas, so that all who wished to understand them could do so. and that is about as well as the learned can do in these days. One thing is certain, limited opportunities well im- proved are more beneficial to the individual than great opportunities unimproved. "As for the fine arts, they consisted in good voices and comely faces. These were good substitutes for water colors, and organs and pianos. Fine boys and girls well brought up are the best specimens of the fine arts that the country affords. -In Georgia as long ago as 1812-16. the schools were much larger than they are now and there was more zeal and competition than at present. The select schools that were kept up from about 1818 to 1830 were of the best character, and they told upon the minds of young men who have since then made their mark in the Education. 25 now. The region, and holars who :r Morse's. s, and with ;, but there , to stay at ital arithnie- f matheinat- lid not go so thoroughly ractice' and : all. But we hat all who and that is these days, ties well im- il than great good voices ibstitutes for ne boys and ns of the fine schools were tvas more zeal lelect schools (o were of the nds of young mark in the world, riio teachers were Mr. Rolph. Mr. Dodge. Mr. Calvin Pease, Mr. Wood. Mr. Blackm.ln, Mr. Robin- son, and several more of later date." It will be seen from these memories of his that though information was not so much imparted in his day, yet discipline of mind was in some good measure secured. But the schools of that town in 18 18- 1830 were not the schools of his boyhood. He was 23 years old in 1816. His common .school instruction was over. We shall see hereafter how the schools of the town were im- proved through his agency. He was his own instructor mainly. He read trigonometry and astronomy quite thor ■ oughly, and was familiar with the problems of geo- metry. In astronomy he found many terms that were Greek In order to understand them he secured a dictionary, and made it his fixed rule not to pass a word without understanding it. And even if it took a half day to read a page, nevertheless it was carefully read. This work without a teacher was laborious, yet he said of it that as late as 1856. forty years after, when he attended a course of lectures upon astronomy in Washington, by Professor Mitchell, of Cincinnati, he could recall his former study, and found himself so in the possession of the terminology and general principles, that he could follow the lecture with ease. When he was 14 years old, Rev. Roswell Mears be- came pastor of the Baptist church in Georgia (1807). He took a warm interest in the young lad, and, as they lived near together, the library of the pastor was often visited. The following years it was a habit of the young man to borrow a book and read it carefully, then make an analysis of it. and go down to the pastor, and try to I' If r 26 Lt/e of Rev. Ah ah Sahin. 1 1 I, "I fillip ropcat tlu' arj^ument of the book in his own words. At first it was rather unsatisfactory work to both parties, but after a Httle practice he learned to ^rasp the saUent ideas of a book, and his jiower of ex- pression ^rew until that he could with remarkable clear ness and accuracy give the substance of a volume. In this way he read "Burders' Oriental Customs," "Watt's Lojric," "Blair's Rhetoric/' "Edwards on the Will. " and other works. A Bible dictionary w^is also quite thoroughly read after that fashion. Thus before he was a member of the church he was interested with the study of the literature of the Bible. This habit of analyzing the books which he read went with him through life. When he was ninety-one years old, the writer heard him give the skeleton of a work on the public life of John Adams as clearly, as if he was in an examination in school, and yet it was brought up in the ordinary discussion of books as we were looking over his library one day. Undoubtedly the logical faculty was strong in him by nature, but this culture of it made it a source of strength to him. In conversation it was notable that he discussed all matters in a systematic way. If he was asked a question, his answer would be divided into parts. If asked for reasons of anything, they would be given in the order of their importance. And yet there was no apparent effort to so arrange them. It was an instinctive habit of his to think logically. After his mind was made up to enter the ministry, he at once became anxious about an education. But there were great difficulties in the way of his pursuing a course of theological training. He was 22 or 23 years old. He was not financially able to afiford it, ....,.,,^4a.-,.,^ji,,ir.:.-j^rj.«M-3-#;=i«r.v«k^^;'»««> .■»i«»-a3!SMJ>»»«!K!aiP»?»^ a«r._»iJH»«i«*i«i. hiiucation. 27 lis own work to irncd to cr of cx- jIc clear me. In "Watt's ic Will." so quite )cforc he with the habit of vith him old, the -k on the was in an up in the :ing over al faculty )f it made on it was ystcmatic 'er would anything, portance. o arrange to think ministry, ion. But > pursuing 22 or 23 afiford it, though his mother was in favor of it, and Klder Me.irs, although not a man of the schools himself, was yet fully in sympathy with them. Yet the prevailing sentiment of the time was that if a man thought him self called to preach, he ought to begin at once, and trust God to supply the wisdom and power. When it was found by the brethren that he was determined to go to the theological institution, several objected. and charged him with departure from the gospel rule, ami insisted that he ought to be suspended from church fellowship, until he abandoned the purpose. t3f this he wrote in the following words, which are given not only to show the facts in the case, but to show the fair and kind spirit w ith which he viewed the matter : "This was at a time when the prilicy of establishing theological institutions by Baptists was by no means settled. Brethren honestly differed in their opinions and the subject was discussed with warmth and earnest ness. One party claimed that devoting several years of time to study after professing to have had a call from God to preach, was practically denying the special call to preach ; that it was adopting the view of the Pedo- baptists ; and would lead to the practice of writing sermons, and reading them from the pulpit ; and would convert preaching into a worldly profession, on the same level as the law or medicine. I think that every minister in tlie Fairfield Associatii)n was opposed to the plan of sustaining theological schools.* ■'From the mention iiiaih! of tlu- encouragement which Elder Mears gave him to enter the ministry, and some seeming harniony of action between hiin and IVofessor Chase, I am convinced tliat exc(!ption siioiild be made to this statement in the case of Elder Mears. He had felt the same reluctance to enter the work un- prepared, and was the friend of Mr. Sabin through the whole time of the trial.— .[EuiTOR. B^— ^^'iR^S^-i*"'''*?*^ '"^ IT" M": 28 /jfr of Rev. Alvah Sabin. "The other part of the church took the view that a call to preach was a call to take a rational view of the whole subject. They said a young man or boy may be called to preach, but with his present age and knowledge of the scriptures, taking his whole life work into consideration, will he not do more good, and have more Christian influence, and be better able to meet sophistical arguments of infidels, if he devotes a portion of his time in his youth to the study of the Bible under the tuition of experienced, able and learned ministers, and the reading of the Bible in the tongues in which it was written, with all the light that can be thrown by oriental history upon the customs and peculiarities of the people to whom the revelation was made ? They did not think that every minister should attend an m- stitution. Like Paul, one may be learned in scripture before his call. If so, he is to sanctify his learning to Jesus, and devote himself immediately to preaching. Others may be converted later in life and in circum- stances which render it inexpedient to attempt such a course. And all theological students should in their judgment as far as practicable, preach Christ during the time of their study." Such was the opposition he met. Yet he was not convinced that he ought to aban- don either the ministry or the education. When he was deciding the question of his duty to enter the ministry, he said that the chief obstacle was the thought that a white-headed and unexperienced boy like himself was incompetent to teach men and women older than he the things of the gospel. And to think of attempting it without more education than he had was a thing he could not easily make up his mind to do. Yet the way did not open for some time. Education. 29 •w that a ;w of the y may be age and Hfe work and have to meet a portion ble under ministers, r> which it hrown by iarities of e ? They :nd an in- i scripture larning to ireaching. in circum- pt such a d in their ist during )osition he It to aban- is duty to jstacle was ienced boy ,nd women id to think lan he had nind to do. Meanwhile he was not wasting his time. I'-lclcr Mears proposed that the question of allowing him tn "exor- cise his gift" as the church might have need, should be submitted to them. This was done and they thought it wise to do so, as the record shows : March 27, 1817. — Voted to open a door for the im- provement of the gift of Alvah Sabin in public, that we may judge whether it will be suitable to license him to preach the gospel in the future. Hut a license to preach, in those days, was not granted without fair trial. We do not find any allusion to this case until the following record : January 9, 1819. — Discussed upon the past improve- ment of Bro. Alvah Sabin in public. Voted, that they had been perfectly satisfied, and manifested a desire that he should continue in his labors. Almost two years of "exercising his gifts," and then he fared better ^han his cousin. Joseph Ballard, who was remanded for a new trial. He was engaged to teach school the winter 1 8 16-17, in the " Ballard district." And he went to the St. Albans book store, kept by Judge Janes, and told the Judge if he would let him have a copy of Scott's Commentaries, he would pay him in the spring when he should have received his pay for teach- ing. This he readily consented to do. The price was twenty- five dollars, and he gladly took the books. For the kindness thus shown him he always retained a lively sense of gratitude. It was a snowy day in November 18 16, and he was on horseback. When the Judge handed the books up to him he .said. "Young man, you have a rich Hbrary that few enjoy." He carried them home on the pommel of the saddle, and his mother Mi'' t% ^^J U/f of licv. Alva/t Sabin. came out and took them from his hand and carried then, in. He used to recall the joy of that day He said that as tiie boks lay upon the table they looked like the richest treasure he had ever possessed, and he re solved to make the best use of thesr precious volumes that he could. At this time Elder Mears was preach ing one-half the time at Swanton. It was the custom to have a conference meetinfj on Sunday. And they asked Mr. Sabin to lead these meetin^js. He pursued his own course in doing it. He w.ni'.d select some narrative or parable from the scripture, read carefully the commentary on the passage, and look up the customs and figures that were connected with it. and then explain the meaning, adding such prac- tical exhortations as were suggested. This ht did for several months, and was so successful in it that th»; congregation did not fall off on those Sundays when the pastor was absent. But he was not satisfied to con- tinue this work without further stuc'v under teachers. The summer of 1817 he went to the meeting of the Fairfield Association at Morriston, and \\\v\~ there be- came acquainted with Ira Chase, a son of Dea. Isaac Chase of Westford. He was a graduate of Middlebury College and was at that time a student in Andover Theological Seminary. Through the influence of Mr. Chase (who. by the way. was afterwards Professor Chase, of Philadelphia, and first President of Newton Theological Seminary), he decided to attempt a thor- ough course of instruction. He was made acquamted with Peter Chase, a brother of Ira. and together they planned to go to Burlington College. This they did about the first of September. 1817. They rented a room and arranged to buy their provisions, and h.re T. v-^~K".:"i:'"^^^"=v»"'r'>?^'*-^"-*^ - itf>^»^ j y ;i yiB«a» jaftar-v. ra jSgscSt^yit^^-iw^V'''^^ Rducatton. 3 rictl tlieni lie said )ol. Alvalt Sahiii. bc-cn !). fore the whole dcnoinincition. At .i meeting,' of the "General Missionary Convention." held in Tliila delphia in 1H17. the matter was under discussion, and it is worthy of notice that the motive which was first in awakening an interest was the foreign missionary motive. Rev. Luther Rice, the contemporary of Dr Judson, and perhaps the ecpial benefactor of the heath en nations, was in tins country visiting the churches and exhortin;^ them to missionary effort. 1 le had lum- self been leil to accept liaptist views by the stud>' of the Bible in the ori'^inal lan^Hia{,'es. He was anxious to yet men to go as missionaries who could read in the original for their own instruction, and also translate from that into the languages of the iieathen ; but there was at this time only one school of higher learn- ing under Baptist control. Ihat was Brown Univer- sity, at Providence, which had been in existence since 1765, but was known as "Rhode Island College" until 1804', and this had no theological instructors. It was necessary therefore to have colleges and theological seminaries to train the men for che foreign work. The interest in this work was thus the means of quickening all activities. At this meeting of the convention Dr. Furman, the President, addressed the body on the subject of education. The board was authorized when the funds for that purpose became sufficient, for it "to mstitute a Classical and Theological Semi- nary." In July of the same year 1817. th- Education Society of Philadelphia offered to the board their co- operation in the work. In August. 1818. Dr. Wm. Stoughton was elected President of the proposed in- stitution, and Rev. Ira Chase. Profes,sor of Languages a r I r t t a t li c y o tl Ic w tl fa T h b( at re H Si w ar Cli gl^ Eiiiiiiition. :-ught the wo- )wer,' that is, le spies that lur liberty in lociety. The the Later Day r\y graduation 50ciation as a Vermont and sent our bag- iordentown to •m there send- We walked od horses, but oom, and the ced like an old »ay for a ride, a boat to Bur- ne. The first Ballard's. He d home, where d a son about a days. If they re nevertheless Education. ^g of great value and satisfaction to him. He was always a friend to schools, and a helper to young men de- sinng an education. His own children and his grand-children were encouraged to seek a liberal training, and if any of them failed, it was not through his want of sympathy, and as much aid as he could lurnish. There was one effect which his hurried course to- gether with the enforced habits of after life had upon him. He was a thinker, rather than a reader Very few quotations found place in his sermons or conversation. He read, but what he retained wa the substance, not the words. His library showed his Tec e ;"k r ' -^'^ '°''^ °' ^^^^'•-- --^ well se- lected but not m great abundance. One author on a subject was sufficient. From him he could get the facts ; the conclusions he made for himself. He knew men. He had a good memory of incidents, a clear con- ception of principles, and these furnished his tools for work. It may truly be said that he was not a learned man, but a wise and an educated man. ■a 36 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. \v CHAPTER III. ■ ENTRANCE TO THE MINISTRY. This embraces three steps : The revelation to him of the divine wish in the matter ; the acquiescence of the church ; and the formal ordination. The Call. He was one of whom it could be truly and without controversy, said, that "God separated him from his mother's womb" unto his service. And although he was not conscious of the direction in which the current of his life was bearing him, yet, to us at this day, its early movements are very easily traced. The eyes of his pastor saw the signs of a preacher in the tow-headed boy who took so much interest in the study of religious books. We have already noticed the fact that he had religious life several years before he was a member of the church. His reading was upon those topics which are associated with the scripture. When he was fifteen years old a man named Abel Laflin, who pro- fessed to be a Deist, boarded at the house of Mrs. Sa- bin. In the evenings at the fireside he was given to berating Christians, and asserting his deistical ideas. The boy took up the gauntlet against him, and spoke with earnestness of the Christian faith. He was able to silence his fellow workman, who was astonished to find so zealous a defender in one not professing to be a Christian, and said to him, "What business have you if er it lie h: in be he V^ dc th br to wc he th( no sai of tor kn( ser 1 wit ary 1 Isr; bo] woi on to him iescence of .nd without im from his )ugh he was irrent of his y, its early eyes of his tow-headed of religious that he had . member of topics which len he was n, who pro- of Mrs. Sa- tvas given to istical ideas. ^, and spoke He was able istonished to fessing to be iess have you Entrance to the Ministry. 37 with these arguments? You are not a church member." " Well," said the young man, "religion may be true if neither you nor I profess it. fhe world is wicked enough to need a revelation, and ought to appreciate it now that it has been given." At another time his brother Daniel, who had pub- licly confessed his faith, fell into darkness. One night his mother and his brother heard him weeping aloud m his room. Upon questioning him he said he had been self deceived, and was now sure there was no hope for him. His mother talked with him but to no purpose ; and finally told Alvah that he had better go down to Elder Hears, and see what he could do. So they went that night. Alvah stated the case of his brother to the pastor. And the good man attempted to show that the Spirit had not left him or he would not be troubled at his condition. This did not help any, so Alvah was moved to speak. He said, "Jesus came to save sinners and the chief of sinners'; the difficulty is all on your part. By your conduct in not believing, you are limiting the Savior. Jesus said that all who will come to him may have the water of life freely." His clear ideas about the matter as- tonished the pastor. " How came you," said he, "to know these things ? " "Why," said Alvah, "common sense would teach this to any man." He used to delight in arguing questions of religion with imaginary opponents, and in preaching to imagin- ary congregations. These things were treasured up by the fathers in Israel as signs which they understood better than the boy himself. And when at last the grace of God had won the mastery over pride, and the glad confession 38 Life of Rev. Alvah Sahin. was made in baptism, they began to suggest to h.m he duty of preaching the gospel. He then confessed that the matter had been on his mind. He sa,d the work had always appeared to him as a noble work, but the qualifications were so high that it seemed presumption for him to think of undertaking it. Some time after this the pastor broached the subject in a more formal way. To him he made the ansvver that he looked upon the work with longmg, but h.s circumstances were such that it seemed to be out ot the question for him. Not only did his want of edu- cation stand in the way, but he was unvoidably m- volved in the care of the family, his mother being a widow, and he being the oldest son. The pastor ad- mitted that these were formidable, but said that there were special promises for special cases, and that we have a right to hope for strength equal to our day, and urged him having submitted the matter to the church, to take its decision as final. This he consented to do. The License. It was customary in that day to hear a young man attempt to preach before licensing him. We remem- ber hearing of an instance which gives the spirit of the day. In the town of Westford a man asked for a li- cense. The church heard his request, and then the pastor said, " Has any one objection to our giving this young man hcense to preach?" After a pause an old man arose and leaning on his staff said, "I have some objection. I don't believe in sending out every little, illiterate, windy crittur into the world to preach the gospel." Whether the results were any better in those days than they are now, we will not here dis- Entrance to the Ministry. 39 Tgest to him the 1 confessed that c said the work J work, but the led presumption ched the subject lade the answer longing, but his med to be out of his want of edu- 5 unvoidably in- } mother being a The pastor ad- it said that there ses, and that we il to our day, and :er to the church, consented to do. liear a young man im. We remem- 2S the spirit of the in asked for a li- est, and then the to our giving this ^fter a pause an taff said, "I have sending out every le world to preach vere any better in will not here dis- cuss ; but they certainly went through the forms of de- liberation. Tlierefore Brother Sabin must be heard be- fore it could be said that he was called to preach. Though they nyiintained a strenuous insistence on the divine call, they felt in duty bound to examine the young men to see that God made no mistake. For whatever might be the impressions on the man himself, they insisted that the ability to preach to their satis- faction was the final test in the matter, and not only in the matter of the call, but in the matter of preparation as well. March 17, 18 17, the coveted privilege of "improving his gift" was granted and not long after a day was fixed for the beginning. The notice was given out. "Brother Alvah Sabin will preach at the house of Brother James Ballard on Wednesday evening of next week." We give his account of the matter. "My thought was turned to the text in Luke xxii, 67, 'Art thou the Christ ? Tell us ! And he said unto them, If I tell vou. you will not believe.' In my introduction I remarked that we have in the text a fair specimen of the spirit and manner in which worldly, and wicked, and hvpo- critical men investigate the subject of Christiamty. They prejudge, and precondemn. and then use all of their influence to have their decisions sustained. "Second, I remarked that it is not for want of evidence that sinners fail to believe the gospel. ' If I tell you, you will not believe.' The disposition of the heart has much to do with the belief of the mind. "Third, repentance is succeeded by faith. When the heart is changed it has a faith that purifies it and over- comes the world. 40 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. "I closed with an exhortation to examine their hearts by the Hght of the divine truth and in view of the final day of retribution. ' Such was the Hne of my thoughts as I intended to present them ; but before the day arrived, I cut my foot with an ax, and this, aggravated by my nervousness over the coming event, was so painful that I was unable to go at the time appointed. A fortnight after I did go how- cM'er. It was a dark stormy night ; but few came. For the first time I attempted anything in the form of a sermon from a text. In later years I preached from the same text, but not with a tithe of the excitement I felt at that time. "But few remarks were made on the sermon in my hearing. Deacon Egghiston remarked that he never heard the text preached from before; he thought the discourse grew out of the text ; and was all true. I had previously read the sermon to Elder Mears, and he had encouraged me to hope that it would be acceptable for a first effort. I did not read it to the people; but then, as for many years afterwards, I committed the leading arguments to memory and spoke freely. "About a month after this, Elder Mears proposed that I should preach the morning discourse on the Sabbath. It was a pleasant day in April, and the house was more than full. I took for my text Psalm cxvi, 12. 'What shall I icnder unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me?' In this sermon I used the word benefit in its most enlarged sense, including our cre- ation and endowment with faculties of body and mind ; the beauties of creation, and their adaptation to our wants and pleasures ; the exalted position we occupy over the animal creation ; the advantages of a civilized nine their hearts view of the final as I intended to cd, I cut n^y foot lervousness over ^vas unable to go er I did go how- jt few came. For in the form of a I preached from :he excitement I he sermon in my d that he never ; he thought the I was all true. I ler Mears, and he uld be acceptable ) the people; but I committed the oke freely, r Mears proposed discourse on the I April, and the r my text Psalm lie Lord for all his n I used the word including our cre- »f body and mind ; adaptation to our osition we occupy iges of a civilized Entrance to the Ministry. ^i land; the divine revelation that shows the mora! law of God, and the mode in which he may be acceptably vyorsh.pcd. Then I traced the growing clearness of the revelation after the fall of man, from the covenant with Abraliam, through the Prophets on to the Messiah. iMnally Jesus is the greatest benefit God had bestowed on the world, and that benefit is essential to the per- fection of all the others. It is now offered to all who will accept it. Through the sacrifice of himself he has made it practical to pardon repentant sinners and still leave the law of God in as full force to restrain the willful sinners as if no pardon had been granted, and the pardoned sinner has no temptation to laxncss be- cause he can be pdrdoned. "Many of the recently converted were there, and also of those who did not usually go to church. They were much pleased with the discourse, and all seemed to be edified. During the summer and winter following, ! was asked to preach at Swanton, East Fair- held, Westford, Fletcher, and Milton." Thus the principle which he used to believe in, viz: The best evidence of a man's call to preach is that he can preach," or, to put the same idea in another's words, "If God calls a man to preach he calls somebody to hear him. "did in his case con firm the decision of the church in granting him liberty to exercise his gift From that time he never lacked a congregation. If men heard him once they went again to hear, and took oth- ers with them. The outline of his first sermons here given show that his mind while it was not disciplined to cmg closely to one theme, but like all beginners gleaned from the whole field of doctrine, was neverthe- less a reasoning one. There was more than an earnest. 42 Life of Rei: Alvah Sabin. warmhearted exhortation. There was an effort to instruct as well ; to move the will through the sense of obli- gation. One can see here the reflection of his own thoughtful experience. This was in the spring of 1817. It was his inten- tion at that time to preach the gospel. To get as good an education as he could, but to preach. This was the cross upon which he needed to be crucified. Elder Hears told him that the church was a school, and that by close application he could approach to the edu- cation of others. This carried the cross for him a little ways, but he was obliged to be nailed to it at the last. He came where he said, "I will preach, edu- cated if I can be ; but uneducated if I find it to be the will of the master. He calls me, and he knows my talent better than I do, and I will go into the work, and crucify my pride and submit my judgment to his wish." Yet while he thus went to the cross, we think that he went as the Savior did, in a strong faith that there was to be in some way a deliverance from it. A death it may be, but a resurrection also. And the resurrection came. In the chapter on his education we have mentioned the fact that he met, at Fairfield Association, Ira Chase, who showed him the way to get his education. And that very year the school was begun from which he graduated. The two years intervening between this time and his going to Philadelphia, were spent between preparatory study and work on the farm. It was five years from the time that he became a member of the church until he gradu- ated from the seminary, and was ordained. And four of these years were filled with study and preaching. He was not therefore destitute of preparation. It is effort to iiistruct ic sense of obli- tion of his own It was his inten- To get as good ;ach. This was crucified. Elder school, and that ach to the edu- cross for him a tailed to it at the /ill preach, edu- find it to be the ,d he knows my o into the work, judgment to his e cross, we think strong faith that ance from it. A Iso. e chapter on his :t that he met, at 3 showed him the lat very year the duated. The two and his going to treparatory study ;ars from the time ch until he gradu- ained. And four dy and preaching, preparation. It is Entrance to the Ministry. 4, very doubtful-indeed, it is quite improbable-that the average young man now goes from the seminary with as good preparation for his work-that prep- aration in the knowledge of the word he is to'teach and the knowledge of men to whom he is to speak-as he had. His is in no sense a case of usefulness witho .t education which should encourage any young man who may chance to read this volume to be satisfied with any but the rest of preparation for this highest of all calhngs, the ministry of the gospel. Ordination. We have stated in the chapter on education that he received, upon leaving school, a commission from the Philadelphia Association to preach as a missionary in Northern Vermont and Lower Canada. He entered upon this at once and spent three months in it. Durinir this period the church at Georgia was considering the propriety of ordaining him. But this was not a wholly one-s.ded question. When he went away there were some who opposed his going, and in the two years that had elapsed the question of theological schools had been under constant discussion throughout the State. The lines were drawn sharper than before. Although he was not ordained he was recognized as so near to it that he was treated as a minister by many. Some of the brethren in the church thought that he ought to be disciplined. Even before he returned from Philadel- phia the Wiley opponents of the "preacher mills" began to prepare his reception. The records of the church contain the following item : December ; 1820. -After considerable conversation on the propriety of the institutions of the Education 44 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. Society established by the Baptists, voted that we do not consider it agreeable to scripture. We do not repeat this record as a censure of their intentions. They were men of independent thought, and outspoken loyalty to the scripture. At that time it was not a popular thing to be a Baptist. Many of those who were had come through great tribulation. They had blazed their own way through the Bible and found great satisfaction to their souls in its rugged doctrines of grace and sovereignty. The party of op- pression, the ruling order of the more Eastern States, from which many of them came, the defenders of infant baptism, the mutilators of the ordinance itself, were all associated in their minds with an educated ministry. In a later day a gre'at man whose noble soul was as well filled with the Spirit of the Kingdom of Heaven as any of whom we know, made the same mistake on another subject. The Hon. Gerrit Smith, noble advo- cate and defender of freedom, for a long time discarded the scriptures because he thought they were the bul- wark of slavery. Most of the ministers whom he knew said that slavery was taught in the Bible. He mistook the opinion of the ministers for the true one, and therefore he said, "Then the Bible is of the devil." But in later years he was an earnest lover and teacher of it. He came to a study of the book for himself, and was convinced that it was not of the devil, but of the God and Savior of slaves. When he was able to separate the thing from its associations his mind cleared. So these men associated the errors from which they had turned, and against which they felt bound to pro- test, with an educated ministry. It took years for them i.. n, oted thai \vc do censure of their )endcnt thought, . At that time iptist. Many of at tribulation, rough the Bible Duls in its rugged The party of op- ; Eastern States, efenders of infant ce itself, were all cated ministry, noble soul was as jdom of Heaven same mistake on mith, noble advo- ng time discarded liey were the bul- listers whom he 1 the Bible. He for the true one, le is of the devil." lover and teacher >k for himself, and ; devil, but of the he was able to iations his mind i from which they felt bound to pro- ook years for them Entrance to the Ministry. 45 to separate the one from the other. In an estimate of the men tins must be remembered. But the view they held .s an Ishmaelite against whom every man may raise his voice, and turn his ridicule. In July. I82I, aBrother A-~ brought the subject to he attention of the church in the follotving manner Is the record reads : rIp!?I';^''*'-M^ ^,"i''i"'"f^'stcd that his mind was bur- which they now hold fellowship. P""<^'P'e^ ^^ith „, ':^T:~ ''P'"^ <^''»"ed upon to substantiate the com plaint exhibited, then stated that the conduct of X church relative to Brethren Joseph BallTrd and Ilv.h Sabin, ,n his view of the subject, was indirect^v nr i m t^\ ^Jr^ f^'^r^'^'P ^° ^'^ theofogic 's" ^iJties es" ta^hshed by the Baptist denomination, and he PrS ine judgment of the churches to wh ch they belonrr nnH m their own judgment, are called to preach thf'.os pel. to give them other qualifications o? further preDa ra .on which principle and method the church 3 sidered contrary to scripture. iHee records of church meeting,, December 7, 1 820 1 The Church took under consideration its dol'n(?s as ft ?h?n tol?'°- y''''^' ^."^ decided agalns Br"5?IL'' Then took under consideration the doings of the tfni''S.'V/''P"'*'^'^ ^'■^- S''^'^'"' and solved It by put mac seminary? The church answered, "Yes " This seems, at the first glance, to be' quite decisive ; but there ,s on a second look another view to It There were brethren willing to admit that such fellow- 46 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. ship of the men was also a fellowship of the schools as well, and who were willing to have that fellowship. The next item of record shows that the flaw was dis- covered. The question was put in the following form at the meeting of December 7, 1821 : Is receiving one as a gospel minister who has been through a course of study after being called to preach, and still approving of the same, a breach of the divine rule? The church answered, "Yes." But with all this opposition there was no withdrawal of fellowship. He had discharged his mission for the Philadelphia Association with credit. He was preach- ing to the churches of the country with satisfaction. The people of his own church were not displcasei. with him in anything but this, as it seemed to them, dangerous heresy. The question was not a personal one, but a matter of doctrine. While the church was not willing to admit the principle, it did vote to ordain the man, and the council was called for the second Wednesday in September, 182 1. The churches of Colchester, Swanton, Hinesburgh, Johnson, Cam- bridge, Milton and Westford were invited to send dele- gates. This was a bitter pill for the opponents to swallow, and they complained so loudly that when the next covenant meeting came preparatory to the Lord's Sup- per, it was a question whether they were in the proper frame of mind to go to the table of brotherly love and fellowship. The pastor asked them if they thought the "difference of opinion was such that they ought to break fellowship." The question was put to each one individually, and the majority said, "No." tn. )f the schools as It fellowship, the flaw was dis- Mng form at the tcr who has been called to preach, ach of the divine as no withdrawal 5 mission for the He was preach- with satisfaction. re not displeased seemed to them, ,s not a personal 2 the church was iid vote to ordain d for the second The churches of Johnson, Cam- /ited to send dele- nents to swallow, t when the next to the Lord's Sup- vere in the proper irotheiiy love and if they thought 1 that they ought was put to each aid, "No." Entrance to the Ministry, A7 "Hro Joseph Hailard then moved that we i:o forwird to communion, and this was carried." ^ '^rvvard Wc arc passing by some items and gcttin- al.c.d our story, but we can not better relate th' outcome *::'f of th.s struggle than to do it in this connection. fr^Z "?''?•' '''■• ^^^''" '''"^^ '^ '^'■»-'-' taken entry ''' ' " '"'" '"''"'^ ''^"^' '''' ^^^' this January 4. i822._On motion read the records of some time past been a subject of alterca io in thl church, v.z: whether it may be proper or Zoner to continue church fellowship with those mnisersvlo have availed themselves of the advantages of a tfieolo g.cal institution after being called to pread^we are of I e opm.on that the vote passed December 7 8^o and tend to strife^STr'jh/^ god /Tdif^i /'''^Ti:= f^'::i:^^si:!z. ^'- ^°^^" be^^g-ec^^s; Afterwards five brethren were excluded from the church for stirring up strife about the matter, and again m the course of years received to fellowship. We return now to the ordination. It was sixty-four years ago. There were infrequent mails and no rail- roads. The delegation came on horseback, or on foot They stopped at the homes of brethren on the way They came not as a form, nor as a kind of holiday task but to seriously consider the propriety of ordaining a man to the ministry from which it would be considered a disgrace and an act of bad faith with his God ever to I 48 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. I withdraw while health and opportunity were his to con- tinue in it. They were not in possession of such prophetic sight that they could foresee the result of a council and have the programmes of ordination printed before hand. They were compelled to wait the slow process of an examination, and the decision of the brethren before the appointments could be made for the ordination ser- vices. The delegates met at the house of the pastor. A day was spent in personal conversation with the can- didate. We have not been able to find any account of the examination. But we may be sure that it was thorough. Those who thought that a man ought not to try to learn anything after he was called to preach, but should "plunge into the midst of things" at once; and were so severely conscientious about it that they were disposed to suspend him from church fellowship until he ceased to try, were not the men to let him off easily when they had a chance to question him. We may be morally certain that some of them asked him to explain that waste of two years of the Lord's time in the schools of men. Others would test the young man, "who had been to the preacher mill." upon the question of "limited atonement" or "man's free- dom." The man who had just learned something and wanted to show it was there. Equally sure are we that Alvah Sabin was respectful to all, and that the bulk of the council were men of warm hearts and clear heads, in sympathy with the great purposes of the gospel min- istry, rather than occupied with the defense of some cross- eyed or near-sighted view of scripture doctrine. They were satisfied with his experienceof grace.and explana- tion of doctrine. The next day, word having been sent ibin. ity were his to con- ch prophetic sight a council and have nted before hand, low process of an le brethren before the ordination ser- • use of the pastor, sation with the can- find any account of )e sure that it was it a man ought not IS called to preach, of things" at once; about it that they I church fellowship men to let him off question him. We of them asked him of the Lord's time luld test the young icher mill." upon nt" or "man's free- irned something and illy sure are we that and that the bulk of rts and clear heads, es of the gospel min- iefense of some cross- ;ure doctrine. They if grace, and explana- ard having been sent Entrance to the Ministry. 49 around to the church ..c.nbers and community, he was ordamed. The servic . .re in the old white meeting house at the.'Center. " Lider Phineas Culver preachel the sermon ; Roswell Mears offered the ordaining prayer- 17 ^;".'''' ^^r '"T '''"'■^' ""^ P"*^*- Chase the hand of fellowship. Thus h.s official life was begun. There was S.VH r''°".'°u"'P''' "'"'^^- "^"^^^' "°t him that g.rd^th on h.s harness boast himself as he that putteth 50 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. CHAPTER IV. PASTORAL RECORD. Fo,, convenience of reference this rf>»P.«;,."f .''" " short review of the previous record, and .s d,v,dcd mto decades. X793-I799- Unwritten history of boyhood. 1800-1809. At the opening of this decade he was a lad of seven^ In this he always claimed that he was converted ; and his common school life was mostly contained. 18x0-1819. This period was occupied with teaching school, and 1 ms penou « r relieious experience, rdTe'X oT'tLtectde^ound hin. at Phiiadeiphia in the theological seminary. 1820-1829. kj^} '1 Pastoral Record. 51 lapter includes a id is divided into ?as a lad of seven, as converted ; and ontained. aching school, and ligious experience, I rest of conscience evailed ; but in the ifession of his faith, id work for him in n license to preach, him at Philadelphia and completing his For a few months he then preached as he was wanted, in Cambridge, Under- bill, VVaterville, Craftsbury, North Troy, Richford, Sheldon, Fairfield, and several towns in Canada. Out of this acquaintance came an engagement to supply at Cambridge one-half the time, and at Underbill the other half. This continued for a year. "At Cambridge there was a church, but it had been at a standstill for several years. Good brethren were there, but a difference of opinion on some doc- trinal point marred their union. "They gave me a formal request to preach one-half the time for one year. This I accepted. Major Par- ker had a newly built tavern containing a large dancing hall which he proffered to the church on condition that I should preach there every other Sabbath. The offer was accepted, and we used it during the four years I was there, I do not know that he ever received a cent for it. In addition his family always gave me a dinner on Sunday and treated me very kindly. This was my first experience in preaching to a church statedly. "The congregation filled the hall on the first Sunday. They came from all parts of the town, and some from Underbill, and Waterville. This continued all the time I was there. Several were added by letter and by baptism. The last year of my stay they began to build a new house of worship, and it was a beautiful one for the time. I afterward preached at its dedication. The President of Burlington College was there and I found that I was not altogether above the fear of man. This period of my preaching life was among the hap- piest. "In the town of Underbill they had no preaching. There were a few Baptists, who had no house of wor- 5 2 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. ship The Congregationalists had an old shell of a house, but no preacher. Bro. Ward, the "no-legged man," circulated a subscription to raise money to pay me for preaching in the old house. The people, with- out distinction of sect, subscribed, and all attended. This was continued for one year only. "The second year I was at Cambridge, the church at Westford asked me to preach for them on<:-half the time. This I consented to do; and continued there for seven years— four in connection with Cambridge, and three in connection with Georgia. There were several influential brethren in this church, but it had been without a minister for some time, and was in a low state. They promised me $50 for half the time one year ; but as the congregation increased they doubled, and tripled, and quadrupled it of their own will. When I first went there the meetings were held in a lit- tle old school-house, southeast of the present meeting house. They made slab seats and set them around the house outside for the people who could not get in. These were covered over with a roof of boards. Then I stood at a window to preach, so that they could all hear. In winter the meetings were held in the south part of the town in the 'Stewart school-house ;' and at the 'Chase school-house' in the north part of town. «'In the spring of the second year (1823) the question of building a meeting-house was agitated. It was pro- posed to unite with the Methodists and each occupy it half the time. All subscribed ; a commendable zeal was manifested, and it was pushed to completion. It was so far advanced in the fall that on Sundays we swept back the shavings, and made rude seats, and held our meetings there. I would stand on a workman's bench, » old shell of a the "no-leggcd 2 money to pay le people, with- id all attended. Ige.thc church at :in one-half the ntinued there for Cambridge, and lere were several but it had been nd was in a low lalf the time one 3ed they doubled, ■ their own will, were held in a lit- ; present meeting t them around the ould not get in. of boards. Then lat they could all held in the south ool-house ;' and at . part of town. (1823) the question ated. It was pro- and each occupy it nmendable zeal was impletion. It was Sundays we swept Beats, and held our I workman's bench, Pastoral Record. 5, and all the people could see and hear. VVc had many yood meetings in this uay. Not long after the house was done I proposed to the congregation one Sunday morning that we have a conference meeting. The re- sult was that great freedom was taken, and before I was sensible of ,t the intermission was gone, and the time tor the afternoon service was expired. So I dismissed the congregation and did not preach myself. ' 'From this time a revival commenced, lasting throucrh the winter and spring (1824 and '25). I baptized between fifty and sixty. The Methodists as many more ; and the Congregationalists many ; but how many I do not know. The church became strong and a good society assisted in the support of worship. In this place I preached for seven years. My family lived in Georgia excepting a year at Cambridge and I rode to Westford every two weeks to my duty. I made it a point to stay at different places at different times, so I slept in almost every house occupied by members of the church or the society. The church had a commendable de- gree of Christian fellowship. The congregation was uni- lorml)' good. "One instance showing how anxious the people were to be at the church is worth mention. Deacon Jonas Hobart lived about four miles from the place of ^.or- ship, and the road lay over a small mountain. His fa- ther and mother lived in a house near him They were both over seventy years old, but were uniformly at meeting. They made the journey in this way : One of them would take the horse and ride to the top of the hill, while the other walked. Then the one who had ridden would hitch the horse and go down the hill on foot. The one who had walked up the' hill would 5 . Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. ride down. After church they reversed the order, and so went home. "During the last two years I was there the Baptists bought four acres of land adjoining the meeting-house, and built a good two-story brick house on it for a par- sonage. It was done a^ 1 suppose with the hope that 1 would move my family into it, and thus become the per- manent pastor. But circumstances arose which made it inexpedient for me to do so. In 1825 Elder Mears, of Georgia, was in so poor health that he could not preach all the time, and it was proposed that I should leave Cambridge and preach at Georgia one-half the time. There are some intimations scattered through his writings that he had from his first thought of the min- istry, a dim yet constant idea of being pastor there. It was never an ambition ; but one of those ever pre- sent tendencies which do not disturb any relations, but whenever there is a decision to make, enter into the scales to decide it. In the chapter on the ^' Gates Af- fair'' will be found the strongest expression of it. He said that the events of that time had been a sort of inducement to remain in that town and form whatever character he did form, in the face of those events. How well this was defined in his purposes we can not tell at this day; but it had its influence in leading him to leave Cambridge, where he was doing so well, and go to Georgia. From that time, therefore, he was at Georgia and VVestford. In 1828 the Georgia church gave him a call to become the pastor, in place of Elder Mears, who had been there since 1807. This was gladly ac- cepted, and henceforth his home, work, and heart were with that church. Tl e close of this decade found him there, as did that of four others. ijU»! d the order, and ere the Baptists 2 meeting-house, se on it for a par- 1 the hope that I 5 become the per- )se which made it 5 Elder Mears, of ; could not preach t "l should leave le-half the time." :red through his Dught of the min- ng pastor there. ■ those ever pre- any relations, but :e, enter into the .n the "Gates Af- ixpression of it. Iiad been a sort of ,nd form whatever lose events. How we can not tell at lading him to leave well, and go to he was at Georgia I church gave him ; of Elder Mears, lis was gladly ac- work, and heart 5e of this decade • others. Pastoral Recotd. 55 This brief narrative, like scripture records, only in- dicates with dotted lines the course of the history. There is much to be read between the lines. And to do this one must be more familiar with the surround- ings, than many of the present generation may hope to be. Yet some things can be seen. The church at Cambridge was in a weak condition when he went there. He gathered a large congregation, gained the ears of the unconverted, and the new hope kindled secured the building of the meeting-house. At Underbill the whole community was moved, and for the year were united in him. At Westford there were things which do not appear in his letters, which made his work difficult, and at the same time gave him opportunity to show his wisdom and prudence. There was, as in many towns of Ver- mont, a meeting-house built by the town, to be used by the denomination which was in the majority. This was the Congregationalist. The Baptists, if they used the house, must use it when they were permitted by the society. They asked permission to use it every other Sunday, when it was unoccupied. But just at that time there was some one among the Congregationalists who had not only a dislike to Baptists, but also the influ- ence to make his dislike felt. And it was voted through his manipulation of the meeting that the Baptists could have the house whenever it was not in use, except Sundays. This was the opportunity to make a bitter- ness not easily removed, but he simply said, "Let us go into the school-houses." Then he preached in all parts of the town week nights and Sundays. He made no allusion to the matter, but attended to his Master's work. The result was, he made the acquaint- 56 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. ance of the whole community, and by his wise and kindly spirit showed them that the Baptists were to be neither feared as heretics, nor despised as fools. This unkind act was the means, indirectly, of gaining for him a hearty support in building the meeting-house. When he left, instead of a church without a house of worship, and the town church closed against them ; there was a strong church, a large and appreciative so- ciety, a good house, a parsonage, and four acres of land. There are other evidences of the esteem in which he was held. In 1824, a senator was to be elected from Vermont, and the party lines were closely drawn. It was thought that Mr. Sabin, who, though he was of an- other party, would for friendship's sake vote for Mr. Van Ness ; and at the town meeting, without any consul- tation with him, and without even his knowledge and in his absence, he was elected to the assembly. But they were disappointed in his vote and he was dropped the next year. The year 1826 he received the honor- ary degree of A. M. from Burlington College. After 1827 the mysterious disappearance of Wm. Morgan made the question of Masonry a prominent one. And as there seemed to be a moral issue involved in the case he was at once identified with the movement against Masonry. His ability was such that he was called to lecture on the subject in behalf of the churches. All these things were giving him acquaintance and prom- inence. It would be an interesting and very profitable study to read, the sermons of those days. But the sermons which hold men together in school-houses and in unfin- ished meeting houses are not written beforehand, nor likely to be reported by stenographers. They come ki, Pastoral Record. n >y his wise and ptists were to be d as fools. This of gaining for meeting-house, hout a house of 1 against them ; appreciative so- bur acres of land, teem in which he be elected from losely drawn. It ugh he was of an- sake vote for Mr. ithout any consul- knowledge and ; assembly. But \ he was dropped eived the honor- 1 College. After of Wm. Morgan ninent one. And ivolved in the case novement against he was called to lie churches. All ntance and prom- ry profitable study But the sermons ouses and in unfin- n beforehand, nor hers. They come from the heavens like the dove of Bcthabara ; they ut- ter their voice and are gone. There is one thing noticeable in the records of this time. There is a conciliatory and kindly air about them. And church records are, like the Books of Chronicles in the Bible, more records of evil than of good. Only the eddies of trouble appear, while the quiet current of deep joyful piety goes by in silence and unrecorded. Yet there are lessons in church records. Before his pastorate there is a frequency and a sharpness to dis- cipline which suggests that they had not much to do but dig the motes out of their brethren's eyes. But in this decade a change appears. There is a recog- nition of personal rights, and personal weaknesses, and, marvelous enough, a spirit of confession on the part of the church towards others. Several brethren under the discussion incidi: tit to the education of ministers (see Chapter III) had been ex- cluded. One might not be surprised to find that a feel- ing of bitterness had remained in his heart towards those who had sought to exclude him from the church because he chose rather to cultivate his mind in a sem- inary and rank with preachers, than rank himself with Baalam's ass, by opening his mouth for the Lord to fill it, after the maxim of the times. In 1824 a resolution was recorded, acknowledging that the church was "too hasty in withdrawing the hand of fellowship." and later the following letter was sent to one of the excluded members : The Baptist Church in Georgia to Sister .• The difference which troubled the church sometime smce IS doubtless well remembered by you A sepa ration took place and the hand of fellowship was with- 58 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. drawn from you among others. But upon a more ma- ture deliberation the brethren considered that they were going too fast in withholding this hand. They have received others into fellowship who were in the same situation as yourself, and feel desirious to do all in their power to heal the breach that was made. And as regards yourself, we rescind the vote that laid you under admonition, and invite you to take your place in the church, 1 830- 1 839. This was a decade of great activity. There were questions in the public mind which caused much agita- tion. Churches were divided and sometimes broken up by them. The anti- Mason movement was in full strength. As the case presented itself to many of that day, it was evident that a large and influential associa- tion of men was to some extent involved in the kid- napping of one William Morgan, of Batavia, N. Y.. and his probable murder by drowning in the Niagara river. And those who did not have any hand in the foul crime were thought to be indifferent about hav- ing the real murderers brought to justice. A fuller account will be found in the chapter on his political record. It is enough for this place to note that the church in Georgia took the matter into consideration. The record reads : 1830. March; first Saturday.— Meeting opened by I St Voted to appoint a committee to draft resolu- tions on the subject of Masonry, to present for the consideration of the church at the next meetmg. 2d. Appointed Elder Mears, Elder Sabin and H. li. Hale committee. There is an air of deliberation about this, which shows wisdom. ■ki... poll a more ma- crcd that they s hand. They lo were in the sirious to do all ,ras made. And te that laid you take your place /. There were scd much agita- metimcs broken nent was in full to many of that fluential associa- Ivcd in the kid- Batavia, N. Y., ; in the Niagara my hand in the ircnt about hav- ustice. A fuller r on his political ; to note that the to consideration. :eting opened by to draft resolu- ) present for the ^his resolution is reported by a committee, of which he was chairman : 64 Life of Rev, Alvah Sabin. il Resolved, That we approve of the objects of the A. T S (American Temperance Society) and will second tlieir views by exerting our personal influence m carry- incf forward the reform. 2 Resolved, That we will refrain from the use of ar- dent spirits for ourselves and our families, except as a medicine. . . . . ,.,,;„ X Resolved, That in our opinion it is highly im- proper for a professor of religion at this time, with all the light we have on the subject of the practicability of entire abstinence and on what was once called a "temperate" use of ardent spirits, to use it, except as 3 medicine. . ,-^1.4.11 ^,.^ 4 Resolved, That it is our sincere desire that all our brethren and sisters would adopt the principle of entire abstinence with the above exception. Such work as this throughout the state prepared the way for legislation. The State Legislature at first attempted to restrict the trade by license ; but this was found, as it always is, to be only a legal defense for the better class of sa- loons, and to have no real efficiency in stopping the use of alcoholic drinks. After much effort, the Maine law, as it was called, was enacted and the sentiment of temperance— that is, the habit of total abstinence— was so generally cultivated, in response to the preaching and lecturing, that the law has had a good degree of efficiency ever since. It was his habit to preach on the subject. He always did it with fairness and kind. • ness to men, however he might hate the evil itself. In addition to this, he was very apt in bringing to notice the evils of the drinking habit by illustrations. It has been said of Dr. E. G. Robinson, that when he was pastor in Cincinnati, the question cf slavery was shut out from the pulpit by a vote of the church ; ■it ects of the A. md will second luence in carry- m the use of ar- iies, except as a it is highly im- lis time, with all le practicability s once called a jse it, except as esire that all our rinciple of entire ate prepared the tipted to restrict md, as it always setter class of sa- y in stopping the effort, the Maine the sentiment of [ abstinence — was to the preaching d a good degree labit to preach on airness and kind. • the evil itself, pt in bringing to t by illustrations, ison, that when he ion cf slavery was te of the church ; \ SwU«ia.««?<*»*a'**«** m 1 m aisig a s ffj 5» ^ «Kwai»gs*«w«<^^'" ' f I ( <: h I s! M o Pastoral Record. 65 but he used illustrations from the condition of the slave and told anecdotes of their religious experiences which were penetrating the minds of his hearers as the sun goes through the ice, melting all the way through, so that he was really a mjghty preacher of freedom. With a similar wisdom did Father Sabin fill his hearers with the terribleness of drink and blessings of sober- ness. When we consider that these political themes were not merely questions of governmental policy, but were subjects on which the conscience of every Christian ought to have a decided deliverance, we see that there was just occasion for him to preach on the topics of po- htical interest: and giving time to civil affairs, was not leaving his legitimate work as a teacher and preacher of that gospel which tells of the sacredness of human lite, of liberty, and of sobriety. In 1833 (January 20) his wife died, leaving him with SIX children, the oldest of whom was about 12 years The tenderness of his love for that wife and the sweet- ness of her memory to him we can not better record than by referring to the fragment of a record from his own pen, which is added in a chapter near the end of this book. He afterwards married Miss Sarah Marsh (November 14. 1833). with whom he lived until 1874, when she died childless at De Kalb, 111., with his daughter Anna She was an energetic woman, who added not a little to his help in supporting a family on a meager salary If at times she seemed severe in her judgments on him she had some reason; for by the scarcity of means the woman of the house is sorely tried. Her carefulness of his wants is well indicated by a remark of his after ill '-S* 66 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. her death: "I have never been without buttoni nor lacked a clean shirt." In the year 183^ he was called upon by the State Convention of the Baptists to go as its agent to all the churches and enlist them, in the missionary work. This was a service taking the greater part of a year. We cive his own account of the work : "I began my labor, on the 4th of December. My pay was to be one dollar a day and niy expenses^ There was no r.ilroad in the state. I furnished my own horse and saddle. My trips were arranged so that I could take a circle and begone about a month at a time Rev. Mr Downs (the maker afterwards of Downs' Elixir) was engaged to preach for me at Geor- gia. I visited every town that had a Baptist church in ft and preached as often as there was a chance At every place I stated my mission and gave opportuni y or people to contribute. The sums were usually small, but there were many of them, and the total was a"ge; than was generally received. I have never heard that the Board was not satisfied with my success I can say with great satisfaction that I was cordially re^ ceived by all the brethren upon whom I called, and my lectures were as well attended as I could expect And here I would say with emphasis that in the course of my travels I was often invited to share the hospital^ ity of brethren of other denominations, and I found them as kind and affectionate as they could be to one of their own ministers. In many cases they paid as liberally to my object as did my Baptist brethren. Their kind- ness left an impression on my mind that ^^as never been effaced. This was especially true of the Cong ega tional people. In October I closed my work. It has kid --*,.? M.?«SS>W.. .V .■.!(»**«/!!i*ac.lt-ii=- iSi:M-4*iS«?3"'-<«*9'^^'''''^^^'^'*'^*^*^"'**^** it buttonj nor by the State igent to all the sionary work, part of a year. )ecember. My my expenses. ; furnished my irranged so that lut a month at a afterwards of for me at Geor- iaptist church in 3 a chance. At ive opportunity js were usually nd the total was I have never with my success, was cordially re- am I called, and I could expect, that in the course liare the hospital- 3ns, and I found could be to one of 2y paid as liberally ren. Their kind- hat has never been of the Congrega- my work. It has Pastoral Record. «7 been pleasant to me and I thought was useful to the cause. I gave my account to the Treasurer, Mr John Conant, of Brandon, and surrendered my agency I had expended ten dollars in the year. My compensa- tion was small. My farm meanwhile was poorly culti- vated, and I was poorer at the end than at the beginning of the year : but it gave me a rich opportunity to get ac quamted with my brethren in the ministry, and other Christians whom I learned highly to respect." Among the incidents of this mission the following will reveal some traits of the man better than any at- tempt to state them : "At Brownington, when I arrived, there was a meet- mg of the Freewill Baptists in progress. I went to it in company with Bro. Baldwin. We found that there was to be an ordination. The services were in a barn A platform was built at one end for the preacher and the council to sit upon. I went up to my place by means of a ladder. The manner of preaching was a new one to me. It was the old New Light,, sing-song method, brought down from a hundred years before. When preaching the minister had a nasal twang to his voice which he never had in other conversations. His sen- tences seemed like measured ^blank verse ; and when the sentence lacked its measure, the deficency was made up by the words 'ah— hum, ah— hum.' The praying had the form and tone of chanting, and had to myear a pleasant music. * •! attended several meetings, one of them in a school house. The preacher asked me to sit with him and I consented. As he waxed warm in his discourse he became emphatic in his words and brought down his hand repeatedly on the top of my head. So for once I ^■s.'g^ji'ttffi^iMte'f^^*^-^"-'-*' i Hi I I li Ml gg life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. had the double privilege of having the truth poured Lto my ears and knocked into my skull. I preached for themTveral times, .nd was treated with brotherly '''"^At'another place was a Brother Michal. a colored „,an from the West Indies, who had b-n a slave. With him I held a meeting and w.th great Profit. At one Place we stopped for dinner, and the man of the rusfa:ked if he'c'ould be excused from attendmg. say^ ine that he had hired three yoke of oxen to plow and could not have them at any other time. Brother M.chal a;^thathe should need to take a little time to - sider the matter. 'But', said he. 'if jt had been five yoke, we could have decided It now. In 1837, came the great financial pamc By he concurrence of sundry causes, among wh.ch were the vast importation of foreign goods, the mcrease of trade upon wowed capital, unparalleled speculation m the "pSc lands, the failure of the wheat -P^^^^^^^^^^^^^ of the deposits of public moneys from the United btates Bank one of the most disastrous and wide-spread pan- Bank, one 01 X t Following this came a ics swept over the coumry. n «.Uo«. tv,pv had great revival of religion. As men saw all that they had fn this world's goods vanish, they turned with a new m teres'tlward the riches which "moth doth not currupt nor thieves break through and steal. I840-I849' A country parish like Georgia gives in its regular wo^k not much of the unusual to break the monotony Tff record like thi. The men who go ^^^^^Z^^t .« another and form new acquaintances, and meet new difficutes ha^e a record of trials and victories that .s m- - rt*aas«aieis*ir«>-'Mv- ^,,.,..^..*«.*>«1^-*i9«*«*«^^'''-«**«**'^^ truth poured I preached for vith brotherly chal, a colored been a slave. ;at profit. At the man of the attending, »ay- ;n to plow, and Brother Michal i time to con- t had been five panic. By the which were the increase of trade peculation in the rop, the removal he United States ivide-spread part- ing this came a all that they had ed with a new in- doth not currupt ives in its regular eak the monotony go from one field :es, and meet new victories that is in- Pastoral Record, (U tcresting to those who come after. But the man who stays in his field, who by dint of study, and patience; by the exercise of great forbearance overcomes troubles to whicli others yield, has a tame history to write. But it is not so tame to live. One of the oldest pastors in our day, in New York city, said to a young man who was congratulating him on his long pastorate: "To you it looks very easy, but there are times when we hang on with our teeth and nails." In those days the first flush of success was over : it was demonstrated that he was a man, not a boy. He had used up the delight with which a young preacher studies and presents the doctrines of the gospel for the first time. To use the term reverently, the "ro- mance" of the work was gone. It was now the daily duty of a "good soldier of Jesus." Long acquaintance with men was giving him new and not always delightful views of humanity. The true nature of his own heart was coming to his sight. Those deeper and subtler truths of men and of the Bible were being mastered. He was passing from the enthusiastic young man to the estate of the veteran, winning the confidence now of those cautious and conservative leaders of others who "lay hands suddenly on no man." Could we have his heart history we should find abundance of material for biography. But that was not written, and we are facing the even page of ten years' preaching— a decade of exhorting and persuading men to be recon- ciled with God. Not that its glory is dim. No year of preaching is without its glory. But there is no special glory. The evenness of his life was, however, broken by his political duties, but the pastoral work ^|itS^t;^S)^*:'.'i'«'*^-'"^' -■'' :;ii 70 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabtn. went smoothly on. Every year but one of this decade ho was in the legislature, or upon the bench as Assis- tant Judge of Franklin county. 1850-1859. Another decade of steady work, but broken by four years' absence from fiome. In 1852 he was elected as Representative in Congress from the Second District of Vermont, and on that duty he was absent four years, except during the summer months. In his absence the Rev. Eli B. Smith, D. D., then President of the New Hampton Literary and Theological Institution at Fairfax, was a most acceptable supply for the pulpit. Dnring the summer Mr. Sabin preached, and one sum- mer there was an extensive revival among his people. During this period there was a change in his habit of preaching. Hitherto he had been deterred from reading his sermons by the fact that he could not read writing as readily as was necessary for him to do in the use of a manuscript. But his experience in Washington, where he had an average of ten letters to read and answer for each work- ing day of the year overcame both the reluctance to write and the difficulty in reading. Added to this was the fact that his increasing years and experience had led him, as it does other men, to rely more on the truth presented than on the semi-mesmeric influence of extempore speaking. He accordingly began to write his sermons, and this became after awhile his habit. But up to that time he had never had a scrap of paper with him in the pulpit. His association with educated men at Washington, and his occasional opportunity to hear a cultured ministry had the effect of making him *A*Miar.;.S«^y!*sJrV'^-'i. A/«*^ ^!k'i;>*K;«»ipfr''-»*'*«*'»»**^'*~'" of this decade :nch as Assis- >rokcn by four was elected as :ond District of cnt four years, [n his absence esidcnt of the 1 Institution at for the pulpit. , and one sum- ng his people. ye in his habit deterred from could not read lim to do in the k^herc he had an ;r for each work- le reluctance to Jded to this was experience had nore on the truth ric influence of f began to write while his habit, a scrap of paper )n with educated al opportunity to t of making him Pastoral Recotd. more careful and systematic in his work. a more critical judge of his own efforts. i80o-iB0g. 71 He became After the return from Washington in 1857, his po- litical life was about ended. With the exception of '61 and '62 as senator from his county, his time was given to his pastoral work. But he was getting to be an old man. He was 6j years old at the beginning of the de- cade, and therefore Ty at its close. During this period his mind was most earnestly en- listed in the country's welfare. When he left Congress in '57 he was convinced that war must come, and when it had come, he preached and prayed as he had done all his life for freedom and the Union. But the best of his work was comforting the families of those who mourned the absence and too often the death of father or husband or friend on the field of battle. But while this was true, he was carefully in- structing his church. He had taken up the habit of preaching series of sermons on connected themes. One long series of this time reached from January until May, having the usual two sermons each Sunday,— one at half past ten A.M., and the other at one P. M. This series was upon different texts in the Sermon on the Mount. Following this was another on the texts in the 7th of Luke, lasting several months. A study of these sermons, which have been kept, is a feast of exposition. If the quality of the evangelist had fallen into the background, that of the practical expositor had come in its place. »i**»*a»*.rtSiW*'' -2 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabtn. But the years were telling. His children had all moved to the Far West. The warnings of nature and the ties of family united to impress upon him the duty of giving up the pastorate. It was a great sorrow to h.m, but it seemed a necessity. In 1867 the arrangement was completed, and August 13th the last trunk was loaded in, and he and his wife took their seats m the carriage. . . u 1 The flood of memory came rolhng m and broke the barriers of his control. He burst out with crying, and could not refrain it. As they were driven swiftly away there came back to the ears of the assembled neighbors the sobs that could not be smothered. He went to Sycamore, 111., to live with an only son, Benjamin. There he preached a year as a supply for a feeble Baptist church. But he was homesick and troubled. He was to them nothing but ' 'an old broken down horse," as he used to say. The respect and love that had been shown him in Vermont for fifty years could not be found among strangers. At Georgia they were as anxious to have him return as he was to do so. and after two years and nine months he gladly re- turned to them, in the month of May, 1870. So when the decade closed he was in the old field of labor. His wife was, however, in Illinois with the children, and he boarded with his brother-in-law Alban Mears, with whom and his excellent wife he found a mcst comfortable home and the tenderest care. 1 870- 1 876. In Georgia he continued to preach as a ''stated sup- ply" until October. 1876. when he gave up the work and went to lUinois to finish his Hfe in quiet, though he hildren had all of nature and n him the duty it sorrow to him, the arrangement last trunk was leir seats in the g in and broke out with crying, e driven swiftly f the assembled mothered, irith an only son, as a supply for a IS homesick and It ' 'an old broken : respect and love It for fifty years At Georgia they i he was to do so, hs he gladly re- , 1870. So when eld of labor. Nith the children, iw Alban Mears, he found a most care. as a "stated sup- jave up the work n quiet, though he Pastoral Recotd. .11 ~::r<,;ir' '™='. "«""-'>'■ or ,^^ sax .hae .Cere „' '':X 'l,le"i t'^ 7. '""■ '° the church R» u J , oiessed m buildmg up would, Thelovett" hT/f T- '°''"^^' '""^ ^ '>'= pleasure for IZT^t^V: """ "^"^ ■' ^' '""^'' =" ^^i it :;rpet2oVtr. "' -"'■•^ -^o-' church or partv Ar,7,h . ""• '•^8"'>less of he dwelt wr„t. * fT "''"P™"'>'<^h death. * Mt,sfact,on until the day of his loved the veryinds of that r'"^ '''"■''*"■ "^ Of the .eetin^hTut " O X" on"' h^'ha'd' '*"; w..h jj,ourni„g friends at the grave, ta he h'^"'^ ground, until thewhole place seemed h,n ! '^'"^ His friend, and early associrteTlTd bee ' Ctd'^^r'- in such numbers that- fh^.v . Juried there -de the <,uieT..pil^:„rdTd™r'' ^^'""'"'""^ cjt^n"r.rofririrr '■"•'''*"'' The firmament was quick with life. anlliLThlsrinTwaVrar; "T" "= '-="• body was weak. Added to this^^ '''*™' """ "^^ church. Who would co°e ^^hVr:-:*?'"";^ th.sgenem,ion who will take the piaceT """ '" 74 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. As early as October, 1873, he wrote to a grandson then studying for the ministry as follows : "I have had it on my mind to write you for a long time, though you have not answered my last letter, in which I made an informal proposition to you to come to Georgia as soon as you get through your studies. * * * I am of the opinion it might be as well for you to begin here as anywhere. You will have a friendly congregation, and one that will wish you well, and rejoice at your prosperity. You can form a character here as well as anywhere, and the people are not desirous of changing ministers often. Elder Mears came here in 1807 and preached until 1826; then I be- gan and have continued until now. If you should come and stay as long as I have, it would go some ways into the next century, and make a ministry of father, son, and grandson* of more than an hundred years. This would be quite an item in church history. "I know that it is difficult to make any definite en- gagement so far ahead. Still if your mind seems to lead that way, you could say so to me and there would be nothing irrevocable. But if you have ho such lead- ings say so, and I will say no more about it, as I have n o sposition to dictate in this matter. "This has seemed to me one way in which my long services might terminate with some pro^.pect of the prosperous continuation of the Baptist church in my native town. Give my love to C , and to the name- less one. I remain, "Affectionally yours, "Alvah Sabin." ♦Strictly it would be father, son-in-law, and great-grandson. —[Ed. e to a grandson ivs: e you for a long Tiy last letter, in to you to come gh your studies. ! it might be as 'here. You will hat will wish you You can form a id the people are en. Elder Mears 1 1826; then Ibe- you should come ;o some ways into ■y of father, son, dred years. This ory. : any definite en- ir mind seems to ; and there would lave ho such lead- bout it, as J have r. in which my long : pro^.pect of the tist church in my , and to the name- Alvah Sabin." , and great-grandson. , Pastoral Record. 75 There were "leadings" in the mind of this grandsdh toward that place. Indeed, it was his desire. But the Head of the church had other thoughts, so that the way was not yet opened for him to leave the work. April 6, 1876, he wrote again : "I received your last letter some time since. It has been of use to me in one respect. It has enabled me to come to one conclusion, namely, that it is my duty to go and live with my children next fall. I have sig- nified my determination to the brethren on several oc- casions, and have suggested that they should put the parsonage in order, so as to be ready to receive a man whenever there should one be found. They have made a commendable effort and have raised about $1400 for the purpose. * * * Deacon Hale. has been up to Derby to see Rev. Mr. Lorimer and wife. He thinks that they may be persuaded to come. If they A fnV'f '''^' ''"'""^^ stay a good many years, and I shall feel relieved of a great anxiety." This plan was perfected, and his pastorate ended. During all this time there was no weakening of his mind no diminution of his loving interest in men. and the affairs of men. It was a failure of physical strength simply. When he left the work finally he was eighty-three years old. He had been a preacher to that church since 1817, when he began to lead the meetings in the pastor's absence, and expound the word from his study of Scott's Commentaries. Thiswas a period of fifty-nine years. He was called to be "half-pastor" in 1825, or fifty- one yearsbefore; and full pastor in 1827, or forty-nine years. But out of this must be deducted the two g Ltfe of Rev. Alvah Sabin. v^ars and nine months when he was absent. The S Ume of service as pastor was forty-eight years, m a period of fifty-nine years, during which they were familiar with his voice as their preacher. These relations ended, but the sweeter ties go on unto eternity. The Farewell, 11 ; absent. The -eight years, in lich they were • ties go on unto CHAPTER V. THE FAREWELL. The years of an old man in a strange and busy western town are uneventful. It is at best a waiting for the sands of life to run out. Some one has beauti- fully compared it to Elijah waiting at the brook Che- rith, in the famine. Days and weeks go by and the hot sun sucks up the water in hill and valley ; the fields are parched ; the rills cease their music. Weeks run into months. The brook gets shallower and np rower. The stones put up their heads and seem to ask for rain. Then only the little pools appear, hidden away among the stones. All this time Elijah sits in the shade, daily the ravens bring his food. He knows the shrinking brook will soon fail him, and then how will he quench his thirst ? Yet we do not doubt, but Elijah's faith was fully equal to his needs. So an old man feels his strength wane, sees his hand tremble, grows dull of hearing, finds a mist gathering over the face of all things, and knows that these are signs of the coming end. Father Sabin, if he ever made the comparison, would not fail to think of the day when Elijah was taken to another place, and became a dependant no longer on brooks and ravens, but on the unfailing cruse of oil. He waited cheerfully. He was able to read to the last without any difficulty or weariness. To the last he remained among his books. In 1882 he wrote : h '■'■i I I 78 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. II An old man's books are about the only indication to the world of what he has been. They are the centers of associations pleasant to recall." During these years he wrote many letters to a la ge circle of correspondents, in which are embodied the memories and reflections of a clear mind, and a heart that had not a trace of acid in its feehngs. He sometimes had visits from mmisters of the vi- cinity, and these he prized very highly. He said he took ; new lease of life when he could have a good ho^ugh discussion of some political or theological topic His faculties and memory of men seemed scarcely to fail. Dates were treacherous, but facts ^^HisTnterest in national politics were as intense as if he were a part of them. He attended the Convention fn Chicago which nominated Garfield, and went to the city in -84 to attend the Convention, but was not able '° lut the strongest must fail as last. In the fall of '84 he was in feeble condition. His once straight and vigorous frame was bowed and trembling. For a long lime a catarrhal cough had prevented his lying down to sleep, and the constant half-sitting posture had made his shoulders to fall forward. December .2, in attempting to pick "P --^^^-S from the floor, he fell and broke the th-gh bone^u outside the hip joint. The surgeon gave it the most ■"I^factsin this unpleasant matter have been so misstated that^e venture to state them here. One J. Gregory Smith, of St^ Albans wITin the delegation from Vermont and to h,m Mr. &xbm appS thigh Mr. F. B. Wilkie, of Chicago, for a ticicet of ad- mission, but did not succeed in gettmg one. y indication to are the centers jtters to a large ! embodied the d, and a heart js. ■iters of the vi- ly. He said he Id have a good 1 or theological 3f men seemed ;rous, but facts e as intense as if i the Convention and went to the but was not able In the fall of '84 nee straight and ng. For a long his lying down to posture had made ck up something J thigh bone just gave it the most ve been so misstated Gregory Smith, of St. ; and to him Mr. Sabin ro, for a ticket of &d- Tlu Famvcll. 79 careful attention, but nature could not heal it. After five weeks, during which he lay on his back, the sum- mons came and he was free from earth. With the bro- ken leg there was no pain, but the confinement wearied him out. He settled his estate, giving notes to his heirs, and dividmg his books with judgment and clearness among his grandchildren. His mind was then at rest. "Now," said he "I have done what I ought to have done long ago." One said to him, "I am glad you are prepared for this journey." "Oh, " he replied, "It is the least of my thoughts." Another attempting to comfort him quoted the words of the Savior: "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." "Well," he replied, "It is no matter whether I ever know. It will be right." We, who stood by him, were for some days troubled at his silence upon the subject of his religious feelings as the. day drew nearer. So deep are the mysteries of the other world, and so human is our faith, that we listen to every word from those who go down to death that we may catch some expression from their lips as the doors of eternity open to their eyes. And we watched his lips to hear. But one day he spoke. The message had come. He called us around the bed, and told of his hope. "I go," said he, "very soon. I shall be with my wife and children. It seems hardly possible. I go as a sinner, but I have a good hope in Jesus." Then folding his hands as if in prayer he said, "Farewell, my friends, farewell 1 " gQ Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. After a few words of exhortation he turned to pray- er and plead with God for the family, that they m.ght have an'nterest in the atoning blood and a good hope *" FTm this time he was unable to talk much, but he often clasped his hands as in prayer, and h.s hps moved when no sound came. Our prayers that he nj.ght be free from pain were most graciously answered from the first He said, "l feel perfectly well from n,y throat down." His cough, which for ^Vear had never ceased atnight to trouble ^^^^^ ^f ^^nd "his f edoi f^om not what has become of it. And tnis ircc nain continued until the last, except occasional cramps from lying in one position. So he slept restfuUy. When awakened, his mind was clear. January 28, quietly, peacefully, the strong doors opined aL he lookelout. A sweet peace stole over his face. Twenty years of age left his features. Then God said: "Come up higher." and our father, pastor, friend was gone— but not forever. urned to pray- lat they might J a good hope much, but he hialips moved t he might be ivered from the om my throat id never ceased said: "I know 3 freedom from :asional cramps slept restfuUy. e strong doors aeace stole over features. Then ;r father, pastor, Characteristics. o* CHAPTER VI. CHARACTERISTICS. All faces have the same general features, yet no two look alike. Every man has a nose, but not every one has the large well formed nose of the Cromwcllian type. The distinction between faces is founded on the prominence of some part. So in character. There are certain lines of thought and feeling common to all ministers, without which they would be no ministers or at least only deformities, or freaks to be en- dured and pitied. But that which makes one man worth singling out from the rest ; that which makes up the personal equation, is the prominence of certain Of Alvah Sabin one must say that he was not odd either in good or bad sense. Mark Twain has written of his own conscience that there seemed to be no par- icular thing upon which you could put your finger and say: This is a deformity; yet it was universally a little out of shape." Reversing his very apt expression, we may say that there was no one trait upon which the mind can put its finger and say in this he greatly excelled; yet there was a certain fullness and balance to all which marked him- out from other men. One said at his funeral : "God never chooses a small T^i^Z \^''''* ^''''^' "" "°"'^ d« '"O'-e with Alvah Sabm, because he was of good timber. There was left out of his make-up that little meanness which g2 L':fe of Rev. Alvah Sabin. is in many men. Ik had no narrow jealousies, he was ^' A^Trt r ,l;rj;e'' .here . was nothing na^ow or bigoted about him. He was one of nature robieln. He took such broad, --d pract.a^^v.w. of all questions that his opinions and counsel were eniKTht for by all classes."t ,,, "?He was a person of generous impulses, ever ready to a^ the poor He possessed a great deal of sympathy to aid tne poor. v inclined to pra se than for all '^'--'•^"'', "^^„";,',;^:d,„vefo'aHChri ^ans'' Hr*in7ea in alU.:r "of society. Kven in Xnced a,e yfung peof^-te^-^^^-' ^^^^ him at their evenmg visits. He naa goou m powers and was fond of anecdote. ^ .'I was not a constant attendant upon his preach — ti rdisco^^e t,.„..s a^^^^^^^^^^^^ t^prdi r%tuM foUoTone train of thought Ter another and with great vigor I enpyed such full n well as his written discourses. I "hs was a steady, straight forward course The religton that he preached to-day was good for to-rno.^ 1^ the sa^e "- "aV^^^H-rX^f^Lred-hU ::™:L7r t mo. sTL^S. ChnstUns of «.e preacning ^^^^^ j ^j^^y^ had ro:«den"^:l"n.eth^od''of reasoning his hearts .n^^ a reform. Were I to advise a preacher, I would say "Tr^j. H.Woodward. . t Kev. Mr. Chase, t Rev. J. G. Lorimer. lousies, he was ; , was nothing one of nature's practical views i counsel were Ises, ever ready eal of sympathy ;d to praise than Dve for all Chris- .ciety. Even in t a treat to have 1 good coloquial apon his preach- ng revival. The ck of God. He apropriate to the i^hen called upon train of thought enjoyed such full ard course. The good for to-mor- vays urged men to who followed his Christians of the ,ys. I always had ig his hearers into icher, I would say 1 Characteristics. 83 preach sound doctrine and common sense, and risk the result. If any want more 'pressure,' let them get an engine and steam up until they burst, and that w.Il end fictitious religion. He was a sound thinker, and treated his themes in a very lucid, forcible manner, liberal ,n allowing others to hold their views, as freely as he held his own."* ^ Another said: ''He lived here in Georgia all his lue and left not an enemy, "f "His sermons were strong, logical presentations of gospel truth, marked by dear thought rather than wide reading. His style was peculiar. In the commence- ment of the discourse his thought seemed to move slow, and his introduction was often a little dry ■ but as he progressed it became more rapid, and he brought the whole strength of his giant mind to the handling of the subject ; and went through his discourse in a stately manner, touching every salient point, and presenting it m so new and vigorous a way, that every hearer gave undivided attention. He borrowed imagery from things most familiar, but rarely told a story, or related any in- cidents from his own history. For strength of mind and depth of intellect. Alvah Sabin had kvf equals "t ' "He once preached a series of sermons in a neighbor- hood where the Universalists had many followers, and at their request. He began with the character of God and spoke of his holiness and justice; his anger at sin- the necessity of a day of judgment; of the character of men- their sinful condition and consequent need of a Savior-' God^love; wisdom in the plan of salvation; his com- • Charles Hobart, in a letter to a young minister. T Henry Rankin. tKev. L. A. Dunn, D. D. I t 84 Life of Rev. Aivah Sabin, passion in Christ Jesus ; his broad invitation to the sm ncrs • then followed one on the hardness of heart tha marked those who refused so inuch love and rejected the Savior. At the close of the ser.cs he summed up in one discourse the whole matter and portrayed the condition of one who was still unwilling to yield to so liood a Savior. As he went on with his clean cut, forceful logic and m the earnestness of his own con- victions, one after another of the audience rose up, un- til they were all standing and leaning forward as »f to catch the words of doom that seemed about to fiill on those who rejected the Son cf Man. The series broke up the sentiment of Univen.alism in the place, and yet made >.> enemies. They had been met in a fair and kind spi,i£, and if not convinced, were silenced. From these opinions it will be seen that he impressed men with the honesty of his convictions and the sound- ness of his conclusions. He was well balanced intel- lectually, and emotionally. Could we give the testi- mony of the people of his town concerning the kind ness of his heart, we should add to his crown what would most please him. One of the most prominent things about him was the lack of ambitions in any direction, except to be a good and useful man. He studied to repress faults m his life and character more than to produce excellencies. He believed that the grace of God would produce good fruit if the weeds were kept down so that it had a fair chance And his work was to keep them down. He was a good answer to the divine requirement for a minister. * Rev. John Kyle. //. tation to the sin less of heart tluil love and rejected -, he summed up id portrayed the 1^ to yield to so th his clean cut, of his own con- encc rose up, un- g forward as if to 1 about to fall on The scries broke n the place, and een met in a fair , were silenced."* that he impressed )ns and the sound- ell balanced intel- wc give the testi- icerning the kind 3 his crown what about him was the xcept to be a good •ess faults in his life excellencies. He 3uld produce good o that it had a fair them down. ne requirement for '~ i3«ffaE5ffii<^sa5?5?a^«?'?'^'*'*'*-"'"**-^^^^^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 I.I 1.25 t*i 2.2 Hi, 1- ^ •uuu ■ffi 2£ 1.8 U il.6 k Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 \ iV [\^ ^\ Wk\ VV"^ ^•^' "^f^ V <©!• ^l^g^H^^^PllS^aW,*^*^*? Wu3WSV»Sfe«5^:»*i»*-*K«>»W.sSiKW^^ 1 ' > I 11 I 1 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Instltut Canadian de microreproductlons historiques , T-^.sai r.Jf a s' 35 ' ' '' 5'^ * g-^'i-' ' ''' ' ' '' ^--''-'-'t^'"--^^ ' --->'i^' ''^^ Characteristics. 85 "//I? xvas blameless as the steward of God.'' Whether this be applied to his earthly or his spiritual stewardship, it was true. The worldly minded called him generous to a fault. No man ever called on him for assistance who did not get it if he was able to give it. He was always poorly paid by the church, and un- til he was sixty years old did not know what it was to be free from the embarrassment of poverty. Yet, out of his poverty, he gave with a generous liberality. In the latter part of his life his public services were better paid for, and he was able to do more than formerly. Even then his willingness was greater than his purse. A young man in whom he was interested needed money to help him in school. Mr. Sabin sent him thirty dollars, and said in the letter that he would be glad to do more for him, "but the wishes of friends who are unable to carry them out are worth as much as a painted sun on. a garden fence to ripen water-mel- ons," Out of his public services he paid all his former debts, and when his farm was sold he had left a small sum for the easy support of himself and wife during their life, and a little to distribute among his family at death. He never complained at the meagerness of his salary, but used to say that the people of Georgia made up his salary by electing him to the places which did pay. If we apply the stewardship to the spiritual side of his life it finds an equally good fulfillment. We can find no better statement of his idea of it than words from one of his sermons upon the text : ' 'Give account of your stewardship." "We have remarked that a steward must be true to the interests of his employer. We must be loyal to God ; do our duty because God requires it, not solely because the civil law demands it, t i A\ rt * 86 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. or because others do it, or to avoid the speech of people; but because it is right and God requires it. Again we remark that a steward should know what duty is and the right way of doing it. Some excuse themselves, because they acted according to their knowledge when the criminality is that they ought to have known better. They should have been teachable, more observing, more reflecting; they should have read more, they should have heeded the counsel of friends and parents they should have learned wisdom from their own and others experience. We should acquaint ourselves with human nature; we should acquaint ourselves with the particular duties of our business, our trade, our calling, our profession, so that we may do well what is expected of us in our position. A man once said to Billy Gray, a millionaire, 'I knew you when you was nothing but a drummer boy.' Gray replied, 'Did I not drum well? It is everything to be able to do a laudable act well. Tallyrand speaks of blunders being worse than crimes Half the world blunder into it, blunder through it, and blunder out of it. "Every minister is a steward to whom is committed the bread and water of everlasting life. He is to dis- tribute the word aright, and give to to each his portion in due season. He is to show himself a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. "Then the church members have duties in their asso- ciated capacity. They are to maintain the public worship of God,the preaching of the word. the singing of the sanc- tuary, the ordiances of the church, and the discipline of God's house. It requires time, and money, and thought to sustain all these interests ; but like all other true and valuable interests, they are worth maintaining." Characteristics. 87 eech of people; it. Again we it duty is, and ase themselves, lowledge, when e known better, ore observing, ead more, they ids and parents, n their own and it ourselves with •selves with the ade, our calling, A'hat is expected id to Billy Gray, as nothing but a not drum well ? ' udable act well, orse than crimes, r through it, and om is committed e. He is to dis- ) each his portion f a workman that ities in their asso- the public worship inging of the sanc- d the discipline of oney, and thought all other true and intaining." Thus we see that he had a broad idea of his duty as a steward of God. And this idea was his daily guide. In his political life it was more manifest, because he was more manifestly accountable to some one. He never spent any time in getting himself re-elected. There was not a whisper that he was seeking to enrich himself either honorably or otherwise out of his office. He sought no popularity. But he was a faithful stew- ard and servant of the people who sent him as their representative. He attended to the private claims that had any place in his department ; he made the appoint- ments in good faith, and voted with a faithful spirit. ^*Hc %vas not self -willed. " He was firm in his purposes and opinions, yet in his dealings with others, he did not forget that other men had strong wills as dear to them as his was to him. He always took the ground that a man who had an opinion was in duty bound to hold it until he was convinced that another was better. If he could not be convinced, then he ought not to do more than to submit to a ma- jority. There were times in the half century of his work that a self-willed man would have run against a snag in that church or any other. But he accounted that they had as much interest there as himself, and if he could not make his way appear to be right, it was not a matter of vital importance, and could be yielded without loss of life or happiness. ' ' Not giveti to filthy lucre. ' ' It had no temptation for him. Many times in the early part of his life he could have gone to places which would have been more lucrative, but he did not con- sider them. It was the custom of the times to get a subscription from the members and hand it to him to -I I ^ ■^^&:^^rK>it|:*.r3-i:^ gg Ufe of Rev. Alvak Sabm. collect. The payment was made through the >.« in ^uchthlncs as were needed for the use of thi. family. Tht y which seems so strange to the younger mm- Ts, wTs not after all so bad for the times. It was co„^ ": :i;nt for him and them to have the P;P=' - -^ ° credit any payments that were made. No subscnpuon ;7tws soVeJer wen. beyond the f"" " *- '™" ad J 11 .,«f!l iSfin Yet he said in 1867 that ne nau dollars until isoQ. >cv ii«^ subscr P- never up to that time dunned a man for his subscnp Tn Se did not tell all the truth in that statement, o h woufd have added that some of the subscribers neve dunned themselves. After the manner of the place the." were "donations" and these --f/^-'r^'^^f^^^! IZ value to him. In the latter half of his hfe the whole town contributed to them. Itmay be said that he ought to have been mor ca„^ ful for the financial interests of h,s family. H.s wife wL: ten sorely tried by the scarcity of P'ovs.ons and he was mortified by his inability to pay h,s debts ToSenting on*isfeature heo t^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ irbiri^rnfar^i-""----^^^^^^^ judgment I have shown in the management of my ^em- Lral affairs; when I call to mind some of the busmess ^ lpt:i i have been engaged -.;"--<,»». "romptly. These embarrassments have tended to i Characteristics. 89 jgh the year in of the family, le younger min- es. It was con- aper on hand to No subscription )f three hundred I67 that he had for his subscrip- lat statement, or mbscribers never ler of the place ;re sometimes of alf of his life the ; been more care- family. His wife of provisions, and to pay his debts ; wrote: "When how hap-hazard it ; m.ade ; how little ement of my tem- tie of the business in connection with ;hem to success, it my private room. ■ my life supported and have given my e scarcely thanked :h I could not pay ; have tended to weaken my independenc*e of judgment, and compelled me to ask favors which humiliated me. It was not often that he allowed himself to speak thus. His usual feeling was one of gratefulness to the people, and of joy that he had been permitted to do something to help his fellow-men. From all wordly- wise standpoints, this judgment on his disregard for the money side of the pastoral office was a just one. There is no reason why the faithful pastor should be subjected to the embarrassments of debt or poverty, un- less the people to whom the ministers are in like cir- cumstances. And, if the poverty is due to a generos- ity which can not keep what has been paid to him, then a man may justly condemn his own management ; and younger men may take warning without going to the other extreme of loving money more than their fellow- men. "//I? %vas a lover of hospitality.'' All ministers of New England had the practice of it, but to some it was like the service of the temple to the Jews in the time of Malachi : "Behold what a weariness is it," Not so to him. The day was the brighter if it gave rest and food to some wayfaring man. He was a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temper- ate; holding fast tlie faithful tvord as he had been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convince the gainsayers. In respect to the general idea of the gospel work he wrote : "I have been in doubt whether my views of evangelical doctrine were in harmony with those of my brethren or not. I have years ago written articles for ministerial meetings that led men who were not ac- ;f •I ■ ■w tWW i A ''^- 3 ^ijg/iiT n"^;^ yi ^ go Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. quainted with me to say. 'You are opposed to revivals ?say to them, No; but I wish to teach that Chnst.ans should have so uniform and unremitting a performance of duty that it will remove the necessity of revivals. I hold that it is the duty of every Christian to so Uve that he will not decline, and need a revival to bring him to his duty. I believe that one great object of a stated ministry is to instruct men, and persuade them by sound reasoning to stand fast in the faith ; to act ac- cording to their convictions; to maintain a symmetrical character. I think that this ought to be Pleached as practical, revival or no revival. I would preach to the unconverted that it is their duty to be Christians, and to do Christian duty as much as if they were profess- ors of religion. The fact that they are unwilling to do duty does not excuse them from doing it. The duty is imposed because it is right, and necessary. Any aversion to it shows a dislike to what is right. «'I hear from many preachers the declaration made to the unconverted : ' You are totally helpless. You can do nothing that will be acceptable to God. You can never be a Christian till the Holy Spirit converts vou • These declarations, unexplained, may be con- strued into a reasonable excuse for the omission of duty It seems to be implied that until God has done his part the sinner can not do his. But the sinner can not throw his responsibility upon God, and Pl^^^ his ina- bility to do what is right and proper. The Edwards ' definition of free will is the right one. What we have not the physical ability to do, we are excused from doing; but moral inability is the want of dis- position to do what is right and that constitutes our criminality. Characteristics. 9« sed to revivals, that Christians r a performance iity of reviviils. Christian to so revival to bring eat object of a persuade them : faith ; to act ac- in a symmetrical be preached as Id preach to the ; Christians, and sy were profess- j unwilling to do g it. The duty necessary. Any is right. declaration made Y helpless. You le to God. You y Spirit converts led, may be con- ; omission of duty, has done his part, le sinner can not md plead his ina- er. The Edwards t one. What we ), we are excused the want of dis- lat constitutes our "Now that there have been revivals is not to be doubted. That they have done much good is not to be doubted. That a percentage of them has proved to be spurious is not to be doubted. An evangelist may be a good and instructive preacher who will bring the people together. He may concentrate his discourses upon themes that will bestir the minds of his hearers to see their situation as one of neglect of duty and rejection of Jesus, and of doing despite to the monitions of conscience and the Holy Spirit. He may impress the necessity of coming to a de- cision at this time ; and point out the hazard of de- laying it until the hereafter. Then, as we are all sympathetic beings, our minds are moved as the minds of others are moved. Stupor and inattention are awak- ened by the interest of those around us. Then the reanimation of those who have been sustaining the cause for years, expressing their joys, confessing their faults, exhorting the awakened, and assuring them that their strength shall be equal to their day — a combina- tion of all these influences may arouse the dormant minds of hundreds in a community in a short time. But this work is greatlj' advanced by the sound, steady, uniform preaching that precedes it. Ignorant persons may be moved, but their faith will be imbecile. Those who are weak in t"he faith are to be received, but they are to be taught the way of the Lord more perfectly. A disciple is a learner ; the church is a school ; the minister is, under Jesus, the teacher. " "Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus. " This was one of the positive rules under which he placed himself. No other would have held him so long without the attempt at least to change the ills he had, •If m m „2 Life of Rn>. Alvah Sabin. and fly to others he knew not of. When he was sad and discourat'ed. he consoled himself with th.- thought that the Lord rei^jns over his church, and will not suffer it to be permanently confounded. When men were slow to move as he thought they ought to, he remem- bered how slow he had been to move to his duty. He said- "The minister has his dark hours, and doubts as to his fatness for the work. When the minds of Christians are in a low state, he feels that if he were what he ought to be it would not be so. But these feelings are com- mon to all preachers at certain times. If the churches call us to preach for them, and the people are edi- fied by our preaching, we may come to the conclusion that we are in our place. If all who are at times dis- couraged should quit preaching, there would soon be no preachers. 'Be not weary in well doing for in due time ye shall reap if ye faint not." " In a letter to ,1 young minister who was just ordained, he wrote : Georgia Plain, July 13, 1875. r)„.R . ._I received your last with satisfaction. Your brief articles of belief I think were well ex- nressed They covered the whole ground ; they brought out the proper heads, and expressed them in language free from cant phrases and technical objections. It was a short way of getting over what is sometimesa tedious process, and saves an hundred questions. The paper a is worth preserving. It might be a good code ot articles of faith to be adopted at the organization °S^exoected you would come off respectably at your examination. But now will come the "-"bber^ to preach preach, preach, week after week and month after month -and sustain the congregation You will have your patience tried with the freaks and notions of the en he was sad ith th'.' thou[,'ht J will not suffer hen men were ; to, he remem- » his duty. He and doubts as to ids of Christians re what he ought clings are com- If the churches people are edi- ) the conclusion are at times dis- vould soon be no loing for in due v&s just ordained, July 13, J875- ; with satisfaction, ik were well ex- ind ; they brought them in language bjections. It was itietimes a tedious ions. The paper be a good code t the organization ;spectably at your rubber, to preach, and month after n. You will have nd notions of the 1 C/iaractiristifs, 93 old and young ; but you know that this is to be borne, be you where you may. Hut never show temper to any one ; never make tart replies to any one ; treat every one's opinion with respect ; and know that the opinion of some plain man, the suggestions of some motherly matron, may be the safest counsel to follow. Do not make up your mind to remove because of some difficulties, for they are found everywhere. The most that we can expect is to swap troubles — and we may find the boot on the wrong leg. In order to gain an established reputation, we must be able to sustain ourselves for some time in one place. A continued ministry among one people tends to enlarge one's mind, and to turn the wheel out of the rut into which itinerant preachers are so apt to fall. Very much depends on the cultivation of our preaching talent, but we xnunX also cultivate the pastoral gift. A minister .should be A ready man on every subject that is dis- cussed by the public mind. The Society should have the right to feel that their minister is every whit a whole man, and one they have no occasion to be ashamed of anywhere. He should have no spots nor wrinkles, nor any such thing in his character. His house, his car- riage, his dress should show that he is a man of good taste. "Trifles make perfection, but perfection is no trifle." You have my most sincere and earnest and honest prayer that you may succeed. And I have a good de- gree of confidence that you will. A. Sabin. At another time he wrote : " A minister, by remain- ing in one place, acquires an influence as a citizen and is esteemed as such. * * He should so hold him- self that he may have the confidence of both sides in any controversy which may arise in church or society. Still all questions must be decided justly. But with all the wisdom and discretion we can use, w° shall find those who can not be prevailed upon to submit to the best r mi Life "/ Rev. Alvah Sabin. common sense rules that can be devised. This wc " Thr^::;\hat he Wnew the duties of a soldier and did not flinch from them because they were sometmus 'IfThere was any place where he was -rUedly d. fie nt it was on tie pastoral side. It is not hkely that he ever visited his church systematically. He never ob^ tained the appointment of acommitee to do any chu ch work or had'any of the modern inventions for look n, Tfter strangers. But this is due to somethmg else than ^i;;::;::^ri:^:::::;^abiy never m n^embers. The meeting house was m ^ -"ntrLlrm- only from three to five houses near .t. ^"^^ ^»^ ^^ fj^^^^ HoLs. The P-^^^^^^^^^^ ronTorthe ;:;irre;ing:.'r<.s^t::;'^ havmg ceased to be in °7he pews were never rented, but free to all comers. If a Strang r should come, every one would know h.m I be a" tranger. and the hospitable ways of the Green SouJ:a:nState'do not wait to hear ^ow much bank stock a man owns, nor what sort of a house his fathe ites in, before giving him a hand and saymg^ I don't remember your name ? Be you hvmg down by the sawmill ? Working for anybody down there Go- ing Ssray ? Well, that's good. Now we have lots of room. Just make yourself at home. rr^irir U U .he habU or .he p.ce .o be civil to everybody. If any one doubts .t, let h.m n. vised. This wc of a soldier, and were sometimes as markedly dc- ; is not likely that y. He never ob- to do any church mtions for looking mething else than ircr more than 200 1 a country place, t, and these farm- d by his influence now in one of the r ceased to be in free to all comers, e would know him ways of the Green r how much bank a house his father I and saying: "I ou living down by / down there ? Go- low we have lots of on strangers there, most strange thing labit of the place to : doubts it, let him ■^ Characteristics. 95 ride from Burlington to St. Alban's Hay along the lake road. Kvery man he meets will salute him — unless it should be another city fellow out on the same errand. Had he been in a church where it was needed, he would have adapted himself to the field doubtless; as it was, every one in the town knew him, and knew that he was glad to see them. Yet there was a deficiency in the matter of personal conversation with the members of his congregation, and in urging them to public profession of their faith. The town has .scores of families who have been brought up under his preaching, and have a hope in the Savior, but have never made any further profession of it than their love for Alvah Sabin, and their attendance at church. They are honorable, kind, respectful to the word of God, keepers of the Sabbath, and doubtless maintain secret prayer ; but they never frankly avow their faith in Jesus. As a result, they are not as influential as they might be, and their hope is not as certain as it might be. In private conversation they confess their hope ; but, never having by public confession united with Christ's people, they are not so positive in their own minds as they would be if they fulfilled the com- mand to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Had he by private conversation pressed home this duty as he could, it would have added to the strength of the church and the joyfulness of those who were thus led to fuller duty. We should shrink from writing this censure on him, did we not know that Le was in some measure con- scious of it. In the spring of 1876 he wrote: '♦You allude to one fact in my ministry which I have been conscious of many years ; that of not visiting the i^it h r g Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. families of the church and congregation. In tlie first plT never had much talent that way. I always dreaded r Then I never believed in its utility as much as so. e do The way the time is generally spent is a mere waste '1 a^d i'one were to spend half his t.me n. th,s way. it would not satisfy one-half the people. •Then there has been one-third of the t.me hat I have had no promise from any one that they would pay me a d^lar. I have had a great family to suppor and had to look after the cultivation of a farm to supply my yearly wants. While schooling my children, I had to hire money at high rates and sometimes was m great straits and did -^\)l^-^ZftZ7ZTZ\.^.X. busi- ' 'Then some ol the time 1 nave oeen y ness and .hat has occupied my time. Si-e • c-e back in i86q I have been as free from care as 1 could ask to be but I have had no horse, and tl>e neigl,bor who l,as o^; has use for it, and I had as lief be whipped as to isk for one when he wants it. .And now I am so infirm I can not walk more than a mile or so. This is my apology for my neglect, yet it ^ by no means satisfactory. I look back on my long minLry with much mortification, and I often with t ar Sess to God my short-comings in duty, and pray that I m V share the grace that is bestowed on the chief of Li^rs: I hope L you may be able ^^^-^^^^^^^^ with a more single eye to your ministry than I have Ter been able to, and if possible keep yourself free from debt. We had better be parsimonious than to be n debT, and we had better be sharp and exacting wihou brethren than to owe bills we can not pay. ^f^^^^^ who can not pay his debts will always be called dishon- est by his creditors. " 'bin. ion. In tlie first r. I always dreaded y as much as soi.ie >nt is a mere waste ilf his time in this e people. 3f the time that I hat they would pay lily to support and farm to supply my children, I had to times was in great to turn, een in public busi- Since I came back •e as I could ask to le neighbor who has ef be whipped as to lot walk more than a r my neglect, yet it )k back on my long nd I often with tears 1 duty, and pray that owed on the chief of »le to devote yourself linistry than I have 2 keep yourself free monious than to be in nd exacting with our lot pay. A preacher rays be called dishon- Characteristics. 97 Such is his own lament. It can not be made to speak plainer by any additional words. To those that knew him well even this blemish was like a spot on the sun. So much real tenderness and friendship for all the towns-people needed not a formal expression. It is the critical eye alone that sees our faults. Let only those who have the excellencies that hide the deficiency venture to do without the pastoral element. % 98 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. CHAPTER VII. POLITICAL RECORD. IN early life he was interested in the affairs of the state and Ihe Nation. This led him to volunteer m the war of 1812-14. He had also a natural hk.ng fo the Trum The place of debate was a place of dehght. B^t his first election to any office was in the year 1826. At th"s time there was not any special prmciple m . - fue After the war of 1812 there came over the whole country a great calm. The administration of President Mon oe was without incident. Elections were made on "rounds of personal preference among candidate . The%erm of Hon. Horatio Seymour, senator from Vt. Lpied in 1826 and Ex-governor Van Ness was a can- d^I e against him in re-election. There was to be a close bait, and the friends of Van Ness in Georgia, knowing the personal friendship of Mr Sabin or hin^^ took th! liberty of nominating and electing the latter to the leg slature without any consultation, or even knowl- edge on his part of their intentions. But his political bia! was with Mr. Seymour, and when the election clr^e he voted for him. much to the disgust of the men who had elected him. The next year he was left out But 'hat year was the beginning of a new movemen whch lasted several years and gave scope to his mind Tnd hea't The murder of William Morgan by a smal b^nd of Masons for his attempt to divulge the secrets of the Order was a thing in itself not likely to make any w"de pead agitation, if the murderers were found and A' Political Record. 99 the affairs of the volunteer in the al liking for the place of delight. in the year 1826. al principle in is- ne over the whole •ation of President :tions were made imong candidates. senator from Vt. n Ness was a can- rhere was to be a Ness in Georgia, Mr. Sabin for him, lectins the latter to ion, or even knowl- 1. But his political when the election disgust of the men ear he was left out. of a new movement 2 scope to his mind 1 Morgan by a small iivulge the secrets of likely to make any ;rers were found and punished. But, as the investigation went on, it was believed that almost the whole body of Masons was determined to prevent the arrest and punishment of the parties. In the state of New York, where the murder was committed, many arrests were made of those who were concerned in the crime. But it was found that' courts and juries were almost powerless to do any thing like justice. So great was the indifference to the law of the land that a special Committee of which Mr. Thur- low Weed was the chairman was appointed to inquire into the matter and also to prosecute the cases. There were eight persons convicted of being helpers in the ab duction, and these were sentenced to short terms in the penitentiary. The report of the committee contained these words : "There seems to have been a determina- tion on the part of the fraternity not only to suppress all information in regard to the outrages but to repress all inquiries with regard to it. Individuals who ven- tured to make remarks which such an infraction of the law was calculated to elicit were made the subjects of unreasonable abuse and vindictive hostility by the lodge-going members of the fraternity. "The public press, which has in almost every other ' instance of great crimes been made the means of inves- tigation, or at least of making public the details of crime, was in this instance (with a single exception at first) awed into the most slavish silence by the influence of Free-Masonry. Public officers who acknowledged the value of the masonic obligation have been found want- ing in their duty as officers in relation to prosecutions connected with this outrage. With one exception no assistance has been given during the whole course of the investigation by any adhering member of the Ma- f pew: V Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. 100 • r ..rnitv On the contrary, individual Masons son.c fraternity. Un tn / interposed not directly imphcated »"J^; ^"^^J^^ the discovery T7 f r%':rtVarbU:«opened. exer- enable offenders to elude J-^'^'^^tinesse Though 1 ^r.A rnncealment of important witnesset.. u b ,noval and ^^"^^^'"^ " convicted by juries, and several persons have oeen ffU^m have even confessed thejr guut, yci some of them J^^^^^^"" .objected to a masonic asingleoneofthem^h^^^^^^^^^^ have had the r:rnanc?and support^f the Order, and have re- ceived its sympathy -"^ Patronage. ^^^^^ It is not the purpose of ^^e writer to e.n . or excuse the --"^^-^^"^'7;^^ L o show what of this report was the ^.^uth. It is gtven ^^^^ ^-^--nr^w£^"t:-a::::^;:^u becatne still more bitter, ^^^''"j^ .^^ its methods vate discussion, or even ^hu-h ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ l^,, it.self were at least honorable ; ^^t ^^^"^^^^^^^ ., J,^ nke the '^' r^ VT^IZ^ bttte English in the war employmen ^^ ^^.^J^^^^^^^^ but of the Revolu .on hey were J^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ they could not be cal eo aw y ^^.^^^ calumny, and of bitter P"^""^' »""^^j ,„ fi„d o,t the The men »h° «'\="''" ^^f^Tnly were accused lividual Masons ave interposed \t the discovery [y opened, exer- t convictions, to to aid in the re- itnesses. Though 1 by juries, and ;ir guilt, yet not ted to a masonic :m have had the er, and have re- 3 either condemn to say how much ven to show what :ount for the earn- pposed the Order. I arena the battle as a matter of pri- pline, its methods took upon its-self ns, it was like the English in the war set to fighting, but he fierceness of the calps of the whites. : the Indians. With ig the war club of ick. )Osed to find out the only, were accused em Morgans just for Political Record. lOI the sake of political effect And on the other hand the whole Masonic fraternity was branded as a body of murderers, or a band of conspirators against the law of the land. But then as now the voice of the political paper was no more the voice of the sober minded people, than the theological discussions of a country tavern represent the teachings of the churches. Yet, making all allowance for this exaggeration and unjust imputation, there was good cause for the public to turn attention to the matter. William Morgan was kidnapped, and was not found alive. His body was afterwards thrown up by the waters and identified by by his wife. While no one at this day thinks that the Masonic fraternity as a whole or in any large part were the murderers, yet it is evident that there was needed, for the welfare of the fraternity itself, a check upon those members who had the disposition to carry the authority of a secret organization so far as to prevent the fullest liberty of speech to its members, without danger to life or liberty. Unless there should be found some morally criminal conspiracy, a healthy public sentiment will always de* spise the man who reveals the secrets of an organization into which he has voluntarily entered. He is at liberty to oppose and condemn the society if he thinks best, and more than that he cannot do without losing the re- spect of good men. Yet if he does more, no set of men have right to lay violent hands on him. And when we see how the committees of investiga- tion reported that the officers of justice were so often members of the Order, it is not to be wondered at that the movement took a political direction. And we do not find any reason for censuring a minister of the gos- f B 102 ^'/^ ^/ ^^- "^'^"^^^ •'^'^^"'" pel who threw his strength into the cause In the state 'o New York committees from the le«|slature mv^st. gated the matter and reported several t'-s. In V r Lnt the Anti-masonic party was formed m 829 and for several years maintained the conflict. In October 838 when the legislature came together it was found that there had been no selection for gov-nor The Masonic candidate. S. C. Crafts, had received^ -4 ^ votes- W. A. Palmer, the Ant.-masomc cand date had To,l2S votes; while the Administration candidate had '' This state of things threw the selection of Gov-nor into the Assembly, where after 32 ballots the Mason candidate v-as chosen by a small majority In 1831 there was no choice by the vote of the people, but the mere was - Palmer was chosen Anti-masonic candidate. W. A. 1 aimer v in the legislature by a majority oi one In '832t ere was again no choice by the people and after 43 ballots The Inti-n^asons were able to choose the Governor. In 833 the Anti masons elected their candidate by a ma- orty of 3.117. In 1834. Mr. Seymour, a hird can^ SI of hose who were tired of the masonic war had uptrds of ro.ooo votes which threw the election into the assembly and the Anti-masons were successful. n i8,rthet was again no election and in the assembly iocho'e could be made, and the Lieutenant governor Mr TenTson acted as governor. But he with the Treas- fr r were both Anfi-masonic candidates and were electeroy large majorities. He was in the following eiectea uy m g re-elected yearly until ^;par chosen governor and was re cict.i.tu / / S i duding .840, Mr. Sabin was an act.ve .hough fair and honorable participant in this struggle. It was a question which entered into the national parfes, and J. se. In the state jislature investi- times. In Ver, din 1829 and for :t. In October, ler it was found governor. The received 13.4^^ lie candidate had on candidate had :tion of Governor illots the Masonic lajority. In 1831 e people, but the Imer, was chosen le. In 1832 there id after 43 ballots the Governor. In :andidate by a ma- nour, a third can- e masonic war had w the election into ere successful. In 1 in the assembly eutenant governor he with the Treas- ididates, and were as in the following lected yearly until. 3 an active though a s struggle. It was lational parties, and Political Record. 103 his attention was turned to the larger'fields of political activity. In 1832 William Wirt was a presidential candidate, and Vermont alone gave him a majority. In that year Mr. Sabin received 36 votes for member of congress. I" '35. '38 and '40 he was the representive of his town in the Assembly chosen on the Anti-mason's ticli to any office kne\v he would do so. He often spoke on the question in his own town and in other places. In 1833 he was en- gaged by the American Anti-.SIavery Society to lectuie in northern Vermont. Before beginning the work he went with many others to a meeting at Philadelphia, where he met Wm, Lloyd Garrison, Arthur and Lewis Tappan, Dr. Beeman and many other prominent work- ers in the cause of freedom. In the following winter he spoke on the subject in nearly every town in the counties of Franklin, Lamoille, Chittenden and Grand Isle. 'His known anti-slavery sentiments thus gave him a great influence in the Whig party of which he was an adherent. There were some who were not satisfied to have him there, and who insisted that he pulled down with one hand what he built up with the other. But he never regretted his course. He was not a radical. He was a prudent man who could not only see both sides and all the contingencies of a question but he deemed it a duty to do so and to act in the light of them. And he believed in controlling as far as possible when he could not have things all his own way. The slave power was not only a strong one but a thoroughly united one. It needed every man of the North to hold it in check ; and any weakening of the numbers was sure to increase the power of the South. He said, "It is better to keep with the party that is nearest right, and make the best anti-slavery platform that is practiccable. This will tend to convert the in- different ones and to sv/ell the ranks of the Abolition- ists." , lo Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. Whatever this prP.v...ple may do in some cases, in the W~t; in Ve,-.ont it was the -ans of good There were many anti-slavery men m it ^"^ U^^'^ ,o satisfy the most zealous Abolifomsts In 18^6 while other places throughout the country In 1836 «"« 1- f f ^j„„, Vern.ont was roTfreefromtleshte. A meeting was broken up m Mon p 1 "but the next day Mr. Sabin 'ntroduced a ^soTut n ecommending the legislature to pass some act making it a misdemeanor to disturb an assembly of ordeTy people, whatever the subject of their d.scuss.on ih be And in support of the resolution he made Tnt ntt speech for -he right of free discuss.cn^ Th,s wis t^e rst actof the Vermont legislature and h,s was better pleased to let them remam so. There was an ir renres^ble conflict coming. In what way it would be broult on no one knew ; but the merest tyro m history cou d see that two so difl-erent interests as slavery and freedom could not exist in the same government, '"n Alton. Illinois, there was a brutal attack on an earnest godly man. Rev. Owen Lovejoy. and he was fina'y murdered for pleading with his Christian friends to 2e up slavery. The cruelty of that town was such nThe whole proceeding as to make that town a J ome cases, in the means of good, in it, and their irty platforms in lent. Mr. Sabin e was invariably resolutions con- are strong enough its, dout the country in, Vermont was was broken up in ;abin introduced a ;ure to pass .some irb an assembly of of their discussion csolution he made ee discussion. This islature and his was the subject, an. It was getting th would not be sat- or the North any ). There was an ir- lat way it would be erest tyro in history erests as slavery and e government, brutal attack on an jvejoy, and he was his Christian friends f that town was such make that town a Political Record. Ill foul blot on the ?tate. Yet this was only one of the numberless and nameless crimes that were committed against men for expressing hostility to what was the condensation and crystalization of all crimes. Finally the sentiment was so strong that petitions began to be sent in great numbers to Congress to do something in mitigation of the evil. But the sensitive spirit of the Southern aristocrats could not endure such reminders of their guilt. A petition on the subject, like the ghost of Banquo to Macbeth, stirred the mem- ory of a crime for which there was a coming judgment. Congress passed resolutions not to notice any petitions of this sort. But at the next session they would be sent in, and a new act of treachery was needed to quiet them for the year. Finally, through the bravery of John Q. Adams who for seven full hours stood upon the floor of Congress, amid storms of abuse claiming his right to the floor, and to read the petition of his con- stituency, the dull sense of the South began to awake to the fact that some thing was to be done, and slavery was at last abolished in the District of Columbia. Stormy times followed for many years, until a mightier than man laid His hand onthe question and it was set- tied forever. But during all the struggle until 1857 Mr, Sabin was an active participant in behalf of freedom. In 1840 he was in the As/sembly ; in '41, '43, '44, '45, in the Senate from Franklin Co. ; again in the Assem- bly in '47, '48, '49,' '61, '62. In 1841 he was made Secretary of state. The following is the account he gave of this : "Chauncey L. Knapp had been Secretary for several years before, a.d did the work of oflice well. He was put out because he was an adherent of the third or anti- I I I .Hverv oartv' and I was put in because I was anti slav- tbutn^o^eofthe third party. The Whigs knew Tat I could carry more of the -tes o the^lurd party than any one whom they could select. They knew ha there was but a shade of difference be ween the iws o Mr. Knapp and myself. It was all planned Xknown to mefand Mr. KnapP was the rst .ve o inform me that 1 was to run agamst h.m^ I most smcerely declined the nomination. One of the dut.es of the Ice was to read the reports of the county conven,on in the joint sessions of the legislature. These were wrtten in the blindest manner, and I was not at al Teady^n reading the writing of others. And when I ound that I was elected in spite of my remonstrance. I was n exquisite pain day and night, for had reason L .ear that^ should ^Pe-^^^,^ the salary as if he were the Secretary, and I had no troubt about it. The Whigs who elected me never found any fault with this. As I had deemed the pos - "n at tJo meetings. 1 think they knew I was not sol. cLus for it. and perhaps they expected me to do ThlfaLTbe- -ti^ thathe received 36 votes for Congr s one year in the Anti-masonic convention TWs wa's not of much value, yet itwas a straw o-d. cate the possibilities of the future. About 1 848 he re ce ved 18 votes in the convention, from Frankhn Co^ o Congressman. This fairly brought h.s name to notice. In 1850 the state lost one Congressman, and ^1 Political Record. I was anti slav- le Whigs knew the third party They knew :e between the vas all planned the first one to I most sincerely ; duties of the nty conventions e. These were I was not at all 1. And when I y remonstrance, for I had reason i. I avoided ex- the Senate, who This he did for inted Mr. Knapp \c work and took y, and I had no [ected me never declined the posi- 2W I was not soli- tpected me to do received 36 votes isonic convention, as a straw to indi- A-bout 1848 he re- rom FrankUn Co. ight his name to Congressman, and "3 this made a new districting pecessary. The Whigs so divided it that two districts would surely have Whig majorities. The northern district was left doubtful. At a convention in Johnson, in 1852, he was nominated for Congress. He entered the canvass heartily. There was little hope of success for the Democrats but the ■third party were to be overcome. There was no choice by the people. A new election was called. Under the law of the state a plurality vote elects in a second election, and by such vote he was successful. He went to Congress in March, 1853. The Demo- crats had a majority in both houses and Franklin Pierce was not the man to veto anything they did for the ad- vancement of slavery, or the protection of its interests. But the reaction of wickedness was beginning to be felt. All law and all right had been made subservient to the one great wrong, slavery. But as Mr. Greely so forcefully said, "They who do wrong not only sin but blunder." So the blunder of their course was appearing. In the "Compromise" of 1850, in which Mr. Webster turned traitor to his own life record, the principle was conceded that fugitive slaves must be returned. Laws to that effect were passed, and the whole North became a field for slave hunting. Nothing could have been better planned to give the Northern people a just idea of what slavery was than this. To hear of slavery is one thing, and to see a fellow being chased like a dog, shot at like a robber, then hand-cuffed and taken back to life long bondage worse than deaths quite another thing. The pro-slavery men at the North became ashamed of themselves and thousands deserted their party and became at least neutrals in the contest. Many joined the anti-slavery party. si Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. Mr Sabin was in Congress at this time when the fear of "on one side and the growing confidence on the other made the contest most bitter He was tried beyond measure mh.s ^^^ ^ ^^ a Christian spirit toward men. He had a hatre -:r t::-;::trden^^^^^^^ ^a. Ttl "T'a aTperfecUy reconciled to his death." death he said, 1 f| pe"e y ^ ^^^^ ^^^ 1 Tal gUd to get away, it had been a constant wrangle ■ "*Ak:: teSng he was Senator from hU county t.o "The interest in such affairs was fresh until the last W?c:n:thett..osethUchap^«-^^^^^^^^ t ^\"Sr':l' tu'gVwtHt up on the unadulter- ated milk of the New York Trib««^: The Democrats who are really the South, have en- llwha. theycouldtoretrieve ">* fortunes and. o,.^ ';,"„ their forfer prestige whicK was annua^^^^^^^^^^^^ TconS: tz^^^^^i^-^ i-:-: tr;:^:rrara^t«ora-rrsitLof f' 'r; J. me when the fear confid';nce on the lis effort to keep id a hatred of the at he never over- ding Sumner car- ed until he could heard of Brooks' died to his death." t was humble ; but all that was pre- iouse. The votes jod of the country. 1 a constant wrangle rom his county two fresh until the last. :r than with a letter 1 who was disposed up on the unadulter- te: the South, have en- f the entire country, lefeat that they have leir fortunes and to re- /as annihilated by the ict of reconstruction, lendments. It shows iment lies, it shows to not a confederation of Political Record. 115 states, and that the government is dearer to the hearts of the people than all other blessings combined. The Republicans may congratulate themselves and the country that the party went through the ordeal of the Chicago Convention and came out as unscathed as it did. The several candidates stand as high in the party and in the country as they did before the Conven- tion and their harmony in support of the common cause has not been interrupted and all are in harmony with the President-elect. The political, financial and business affairs of the country were never more promising than at this time. The country is not only satisfied, but highly gratified with the man they have elected. They are proud of his talent, his morals, his discreetness, his affability, his statesmanship. Now as to the political state of our country. The Democrats of the South claim the right to manage their own election of President, Vice-President and members of Congress and Senators as they please ; and that Con- gress has no right, by its Marshals or Inspectors to supervise these elections at all. Now if the South con- ducted these elections according to law and justice there would be no occasion for Inspectors or Supervisors. An honest man has a right to go where he pleases, and the law is to protecthim. But suppose there are half a dozen indictments against him for arson, thefts and rape, and he claims the protection of the law, what does the court say to him. The protection of the honest man implies the apprehension and punishment of the dishonest. To treat them both alike is to neutralize all laws and all protection. The North is just as much interested in the elections of the South as to United States officers as they are in the elections of the North, and the South is as much Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. ,', l„e».ed in .he elections of the North - j'^e iou*^ TI.PV are one eovernment organized under tne one IonT.i.u"on. an'd acting under one law and vo -g for the sanje omcer, who a. 'ho- <- P -ae^-': theentre Union. One state can n"*^ t- ^^ 'Xpiacesofa t^ .at. ftrmerTTnl '^t .L Icnate. They have the pIweTto send for persons and papers to prove or * pSe the facts in any disputed case. Co„gres-s the . ^f lastaotjeal Then in adopting the three last rdln'tfortL constitution, '^"e "s a spe.al pr. vision that Congress shall have powe - P^- ^^^^ ^ carry out these provivis.ons. It was w.tn 5--srrof^--afoSc:^; democrats in Congress saddled the W-P^^^^^^'^ with the provision that caused Hayes veto and caused rte extra session. These Marshals were bound by the : : tuch as the Judges appointed by .»".^^-tW- ities, and there is no complaint that these Maj'^U^^^r decided any case wrongly or a«a.nst law. Bu the State Rtehts men claim that they have the sole nght to de TthSr questions, although *eir decjs.ons ma^ d ■ termine who shall be President of the Un.ted SUtes, atTght be the case in a very close and equal d.v- ^ihr:^i*ror^\?:"';:tr:- b.^ mto umon wa?a legiSe act the most difficult to be performed. ^i t^ ,,.,,..=s'.'?w':*t«a«M^-^""-*'^'^- «. I as in the South. under the one law, and voting to preside over ot supervise the le House of Re- of the election of nate. They have ipers to prove or e. Congress is the ting the three last re is a special pro- r to pass acts, to ; with reference to lassed the act ma- l their deputies to 1 cases and to su- ted States officers was with a view to lese duties that the : appropriation bill s veto and caused were bound by the by the state author- these Marshals ever : law. But the State he sole right to de- r decisions may de- the United States, :lose and equal divi- es. es back into Union ult to be performed. Political Record. 117 Instead of prosecution and condemnation, confiiication, and executions, the Rebels were pardoned by thou- sands and even their civil disabilities removed and they were made eligible to seats in Congress. The Vice President of the Confederacy comes back to his old seat in Congress and 40 Rebel Brigadiers step into vote measures to pay the debt of the government ; they fought four years to destroy, and to decide on the claims of the sick and wounded Union soldiers for pen- sions, and to decide on claims for damage done to citi- zens in the Southern states under the claim that they were Union men. While they had occasion to be thankful to their stars for the magnanimity of Congress they subdued, mortified, the object of the rebellion lost, having their war debt repudiated, and they them- selves bankrupt, they were in no state of mind to dis- charge the duties of members of Congress impartially. They have as much reason to be thankful for the pardon of their crimes against the government as the Blacks had for Emancipation. Instead of accepting the situation and coming back to sustain the new state of things they labour to thwart every government measure. The war was waged to confirm slavery in the Union. They appealed to arms for the decision. And by arms it was decided. They were bound by every principle of honor to abide by the decision and all that came in to Congress solemnly promised to do so. The Blacks had no agency in bringing about the war. But the government called them into the field to fighc the battles of the country with the implied promise that they should have freedom and the same civil rights as other Union soldiers. The Blacks understood the objects of J: I j^-r^. j-M;^^;»Sf*ia.-«-*-**«'''-*^ k llS Life of Rnu Alvah Sabtn. the war and they were all Union men and fought bvavely. Nortfie government is bound to protect them as .f Thev were white men. To leave them in the hand of *'ku kTux.- "White Leagues." .'Regulators." and law- lefs bands \o be striped, their houses burned the.r w.ves ravished their children thrown in the street and them resllgtotheUmbs of the trees, like sheep-th.e do", all this in time of peace, years after the close of the%;ar and they, the Blacks, free men and nommaUy under the protection of law. is h.gh-handed treachery , yet the murderers run at large and their cr.mes are com- r. ended as acts of patriotism ^X a majority of the w^^^^^^^ citizens and also by many Democrats m the northern sates And after killing more than three thousand r^en and utterly annihilating the civil rights of four m m^n of people, they still adhere to their helhsh pol- ^yAndLy' Leave the blacks in our hand we can take care of them to the satisfaction of both the blacks "1 ptesute Howel Cobb, of Georgia, thinks the blacks have been treated as tenderly as the case would admit of I think with Abraham Lincoln that if the govern- ment Indons the emancipated slave to the mercdess Cruelty of their old masters they deserve the hotest hell. Emancipation included the liberty and rights of c.t.zens before the law. Their freedom has hardly been sem.- nom nal I think that the Republicans had better ms.st upTn all that the law and the constitut on guarantees to the black man. When the South begins to respect the a^s made to protect the black man then the .overn- mint may rJ\t some of the care they have over them. S antrignanimity came after the battle ; not before Kt Sugar plums should not be given to children until =.-,...Lrii..v4y-'rt-*«»te''' ^^ .. ,^^,_^^^^,-„ i,5.3.;,:j,«<«s.Ssai^nn«""^-*^7 ^Sfij^^SSS^i^^^rf^ 1 fought bi avely. otect them as if in the hand of Lilators,"andlaw- irned, their wives street and them- Uke sheep-thief . after the close of ;n and nominally landed treachery; :ir crimes are com- jority of the white ts in the northern in three thousand ivil rights of four ;o their hellish pol- our hand, we can of both the blacks a, thinks the blacks 2 case would admit that if the govern- ,ve to the merciless jrve the hotest hell, nd rights of citizens s hardly been semi- ans had better insist tution guarantees to legins to respect the an then the -overn- ley have over them, e battle ; not before iven to children until Political Record. 119 they have done kicking and striking their mothers. The Democrats of the South are doing their utmost against the government as much as they were in 1862. Their opposition shows itself in the state laws that have driven more than 50,000 freed men out of their native states, who would have been glad to remain among their friends and homes. I hope General Garfield will make no concession until the South shows a disposition not to indulge in a political persecution that has driven hun- dreds of thousands from the polls and by tissue ballots and false counting has changed the political character of the state. As a consequence Piesidential electors and members of congress hold their offices that have no more right there, than you or I have. They have changed their tactics several times, but still no political party is allowed to exist but the Democratic party. And the bulldos- ing law is the strongest law of the land. It may be said that there are thousands in the South that are opposed to all this bulldosing-policy. If so why do they not unite and put it down ? Some say they dare not. Then let us help them by restricting their hellish influence_as best we can. The freedman in process of time will take care of his own right. And the South may find the harrow the other side up to their sorrow. The South has not yet atoned for starving twenty thousand prisoners to death. A. Sabin. IT 180 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. il CHAPTER VIII. GLEANINGS. Mr Sabin was accustomed to write out his meditations and opinions for the sake of fixing them m memory Many of these scraps of writing have been P^e-rved and some of them are inserted here as md.cat.ons of his thought, and forms of expression. In additiin some extracts from letters are g.ven and condensed notes on various topics. Better than any other way. can we thus draw the lines of h,s nonU pic- ture, and preserve some historic memories tr. the.r na- tive form. The following unfinished ac.o.ntof his first wife was ineiouow s y deemed worth found among his papers, it na. .^„Her- nreserving as an indication of the strength and tender TeW h' family traits. It bears the mark of having been written in 1877. To my Chlldren.-An account of your Mother. As you were children, Anna but ^^ ^^^^'}^' ^f. ""^ Dianthia but three and a half years old. she died. I have had it in my mind to pen a succinct history of your lovely and affectionate mother. Her particular hLt'ory can no' of course be recollected by either of you. lli, it -i^t*..- ■ r.lfi^J^L'ii**"- i_^ t T~ ' T;^''^^gtifc~ ' ^..f his first wife was >en deemed worth trength and tender- he mark of having your Mother. six months eld and 5 old, she died. I a succinct history ler. Her particular ted by either of you, even for the last year of her life, and all before that must be summed up in what you have heard remarked by me and other friends. As I am an old man tind have but a slender hold on life, and am in possession of some facts that it may be gratifying to the grandchildren to know, I have resolved that I would pen down some things at length, in such a form that if you should think them worth preserving you could do so. The penning of them will at least be gratifying to me. We doubly enjoy our friends, first, by associating with them, and second by our recollection of them ; and sometimes the second is equal to the first. I was associated with the mother of my children a little more than twelve years after our marriage. I have enjoyed the recollection of her amiableness a little more than thirty-eight years. There is at all times in mind the memory ot a young, sweet-tempered, affectionate mother of a little family of six children in whom her whole soul was bound up, and for whom she watched, labored and prayed incessantly. I love still to dream of her. I love still to think of her, and I often pray that hei daughters and grand-daughters may be like her. If she were now alive (1877) she would be an old woman of seventy-two years, but all my associations with her name are with a young woman several years the junior of my youngest daughter. Her father. Rive Roswell Mears was born at Poult- ney, Vt., April 16, 1772. Her mother was Annie Glines. Your mother was married in the twentieth year of her age, October 14, 18 19, and she died on the i8th day of January, 1833. My acquaintance with her was from the time her father moved into Georgia in 1808. siJSi^jVift-^- *A«5**-" '"'-''■ r ¥J^ ,2a Life of Rn>. Alvah Sabin. They lived at the foot of the hill below our old house. J,, I well recollect the first time I ever saw her. She came with her brother Roswell to the hill on an errand. She was a little chubby K'rl of about cit;ht years. She had on a brown home-wade woolen slip. Her skni was very white and her long brown hair hung over her shoulders contrasting beautifully with her large blue eyes and light complexion. She was of a light spirited happy turn of mind. The intercourse of the children of the two families was intimate and pleasant, and of long continuance. In process of time an intimacy between her and my- self of a somewhat particular character seemeci to have grown out of an every day intercourse, until it was taken for granted by all the youth, and by the people generally that it would culminate in a union for hfe ; but as she was only a child of twelve or fourteen, of course no propositions were made. I taught school in the Ballard district for seven winters in succession, and she attended school and boarded with some of the fa- milies of the district. There I learned that she had an unusual aptitude for acquiring a knowledge of what was taught in the school. I never saw a scholar who ob- tained so perfect a knowledge of all the steps in the so- lution of a problem in cube root in so short a time as she did. , , . ^ u She apprehended readily and retained what she learned indefinitely. Her progress in mathematics was unusually rapid. She went through Adams' Arithme- tic and also studied Geometry and Trigonometry and Astronomy as taught in Furgersons work on that sub- ject. it 'L i^„ -.^'lii'TiA-y^*.'-* ___, .., ^■. . ,;.,f;^^f^ .r^-' ^;^- ■= below our old r saw her. She U on an errand, ijjht years. She I. Her skin was hung over her I her large blue )f a light spirited of the children pleasant, and of /cen her and my- r seemed to have irse, until it was id by the people a union for life ; ■e or fourteen, of I taught school in in succession, and h some of the fa- ;d that she had an irledge of what wa? a scholar who ob- the steps in the so- so short a time as retained what she n mathematics was I Adams' Arithme- Trigonometry and i work on that sub- Cleanins^s. 123 As I Ix'f^'ii' to study with a view to the ministry we had sevcr.ii icct sch(M)ls in town that were very excel- lent ones ,1 now thittk. These were continued for several years and finally ended in an incorporated Aca- demy. I carried the bill for the charter through the Legis- lature after I was a member. I now think that I was the principal originator of this school, as I sftw nc other way by which I could school myself but to originate out. at my own door as it were. As I commenced the study of Liitin, I persuaded Father Mears to let her board at our house and commence the study with me, and she did so. Tliis she seemed to have a particular aptitude for acquiring. Her memory was much more retentive than my own, and the only af)ology I could make for myself, was that I had so many family cares and things to occupy my mind, that I could not give my undivided attention to the study as she could. When I began the study of Greek, she began also. In this she made rapid progress, and when I left for Philadelphia in December, 1817, she could read the Latin Reader, Virgil, Cicero'.s Orations, the Latin Testament, the Greek Reader and the Greek Testament, as well as most graduates that are not engaged in teaching. She read the Latin and Greek Testaments almost as readily as in the English. It used to be pleasureable to hear her read without translating, or translate without pronouncing the orig- inal. Pathenia had a somewhat like aptitude. She had a pleasant countenance, and knew how to express herself affectionately to all with whom she had to do. Her acquaintances were affectionate friends. Her conversation was always pleasing. I ever remem- ber the satisfaction it gave to hear her communicate her 124 ^^f^ "-^ ^^' ^'^'*'' Sahin. feelings in church meeting. Her mind ran in that ten- der sympathetic strain which never failed to touch the heart of those who heard. The girls that lived at our house became life long friends. 11, te Some Reflections on n.y ninety-first Birthday (October a3,«884). Not one in many thousands live to my great age. But few of those who do, retain their mental faculties so as to enjoy the society of their friends. Some loose their eye-sight and grope in darkness; others become deaf and look around on a mute and silent world ; others are confined to beds on which they are destined to die; others forget the names and number of their own chil- dren, and fain would believe themselves far from home and among strangers in a strange land. , ^ ^, , I have reason to be thankful to my Heavenly Father that my eye-sight is so good that with suitable glasses I read with pleasure several hours in a day. My hearing is so far impaired that I do not enjoy social conversa- tion as much as I formerly did. I do not hear the con- versation of the family not directed to me particularly. I can hear all public speaking by selecting a seat at a proper distance from the speaker, and one before his face More depends on the speakers distinct articula- tion than on the loudness of his voice as to his being heard I have not been able to attend the public wor- ship of God but about one half of the time for a year past I am obliged to have some one aid me m getting in and out of the carriage, and to drive the horses ; but but when I am in I can ride several miles with plea- sure. m %. i^-,.;)-i,-s-fe''«''"- Gleanings. 125 d ran in that ten- iled to touch the that lived at our y (October 13, 1884). my great age, mental faculties so ids. Some loose 5; others become lent world ; others re destined to die ; r of their own chil- i^es far from home J. ^ Heavenly Father h suitable glasses I day. My hearing ,y social conversa- o not hear the con- to me particularly, electing a seat at a and one before his rs distinct articula- »ice as to his being end the public wor- the time for a year ne aid me in getting rive the horses ; but ral miles with plea- As I was advanced in life before I came to Sycamore and past doing any business, I am a stranger in the state. The time has been when I knew men from every town in the state of Vermont ; but here I do not know my nearest neighbor, I have heard it remarked by several old men in the new states that if it was to be done again, they would never leave the place where they spent the active part of their life. They must form a new character among young, active, business men, under great disadvantages ; and a well earned re- putation is of little avail among strangers. But most of the old men are c'rawn to the new states by the re- moval of their children on whom they are dependent for support in the decline of life ; and as a choice be- tween two evils. But it is a happy thought that they come to a land of plenty and their children are pros- pered and become wealthy. Since the close of the past year my flesh and strength have been gradually failing, and the cough that has fol- lowed me much of the time has made me look like a walking skeleton. I have cause for gratitude that my temporal circum- stances are so good. I have no more concern about my living than a boy six years old. I am cared for as well as any one could desire : and I have confidence that it will be continued as long as I shall stand in need of it. I have cause for gratitude to my Heavenly Father that my sight is such that I readily recognize my friends. I am not troubled with dizziness or painful absent- mindedness. And, though my memory is more at fault than formerly, still facts, and names, and events, are ,J^'#ir2 IT i )-- IS: I I ,eaaay caUed » ^nd : so .Hat . enjo. .he c<,nve,sa«o„ ber of friends, and I hope no ^^^^^'^ j ^^^, „^^ What is before me in the year upon wh ch 1 "^^^ mind. I hope "^n^" ' Heavenly Father .hat .his ''"' h U be :;fsf Iho^ "^able.osay. "Lord ]Zt:l%ZT[ comLnd .y spiH." »Hen U.. hour shall come. Family History. ,. , i^^X when Cardinal Richeleu About the year 1628, wnen v. France ^ A fU^ Huffenot city of La Rochelle, trance, besieged the Hugenot cuy „ . .^nt kingdom r- trd/" Aro'nr.he nunitrC a young manof S:dt.er"cfnainedWmia.Sabi„ Whe.^^^ he married or no. we have no means of knowing. lit i.tti'JiJii^'*''^'^^'^'" Gleanings. 127 the conversation the preaching of that I can steady ind keep up so large family scat- friends as are left so kindly remem- not only my rela- ■egational friends, y young friends. Iso a limited num- I which I have now prolonged, I shall s pain of body and jvhat is in evitable. y Father that this able to say, "Lord y spirit" when that Cardinal Richeleu a Rochelle, France, Protestant kingdom )testant families left peace and safety to : was a young man of iamSabin. Whether means of knowing: but only that he stopped for a time in Wales, and after- wards came to this country. He was settled in Reho- both, Mass., in 1643. The records of the town show him to have been a leading spirit in church and school affairs. He had nine sons, and eleven daughters. He died in 1687, aged 6"/. His son Benjamin was born May 3, 1646. He re- mained in Rehoboth until 1675 when he removed to Roxbury, Mass. In 1686 he was one of thirteen who settled Woodstock ; and in the same year joined with others in buying a tract of land where now stands the town of Pomfret. And in 1705 he moved to the latter place where he died 1725, aged 79 years. Of his eleven children, Timothy, the youngest, was born in 1694 and lived in Pomfret until he died in 1780, aged 86. Of his nine children Ichabod was born 1726 and died in Pomfret 1783 aged 57. The children of Ichabod Sa- bin were as follows: Mary, born 1750 ; Sarah, 1753 ; Na- thanael, 1754; Patience, 1756; Parthenia, 1758; Tim- othy, 1761 ; Daniel, 1763 ; Anna, 1765 ; Benjamin, Nov. 21, 1767. Of these w have information showing that Timothy moved to near Cooperstown, N. Y. ; Patience died yong ; Anna married Henry Ballard afterwards of Georgia, Vt. ; Benjamin moved to Pownall, Vt.; and in 1790 or '91 to Georgia, Vt; where he died in 1796. This Benjamin Sabin was the father of Rev. A Ivah Sabin. His wife was Polly, daughter of Robert McMaster of Williamstown, Mass., a man of Scotch descent. Of the family history Rev. Anson Titus, of South Weymouth, Mass. , who has carefully searched the records and pub- lished his results, writes, ' ' The Sabin family is one of most excellent history. I have found few black sheep ,«,,**.«=*.■-'-'»««»--" Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. 128 .^. .,^A fhP trrpater oart of them have been pro- rrnVrjs'i .hfX/ch. For so .any who we. X "church I have found only a small P-P""'- »' mtlsJs : but of Deacon Sabins .here are a host wh,ch "Trrecr on'ihe mother. " "ollofg U taken from notes written by ^f "^ ^'^^ " 'cMasters' have known but little of my Grandfather McMasters r i , T Viavp heard of one brother. '^""S^y gLndmotrer's maiden name was Katie Young^ She was of Irish descent and one of a large fam, y^ She had one brother, Ruben Young, who was a we^*y to- " er in Williamstown, Mass.-One sister ma ried a Weeks Mrs Hawley Witters, Mrs. Betsey Bla,r, sec- Td t'lffof Young' Blair. Another 0^ JX g-^^ mother's sister married Stephen Davis. The'r children ::* M:ses Stephen and Young, PoUy, «' f "^^^^ ; rick Bliss -, wife ol Solomon Bliss, Patty, Robert wtgMman'swife,Anna,FredrickNewton'sw,fe, ^-rcHl'drof Grandfather McMaster uncles^and Olive Smedley and moved to Fairfax, V t. Aunt Rebecca married Edmund Lamb. Their child ren were Osmand, Heman, Horace, Re°^^«'' ' ^ife of .Robinson, Alantha, wife of Sidney Bliss Smantha. Ho;ghton Ballard's wife, Dana, afterwards a minister, and Nelson. ■■*'„.4ac„5ia.,w.»*«»*ri i?«B«a*«w«' ^-*.'«aM^«»=.*^««J*'*«*^»'^*^'******' .»i»*s»Sie!^^^iiS*fe>i-- s Gleanings. 139 I have been pro- many who were ill proportion of ire a host which the following is in in 1883. "I her McMasters' IS Katie Young. Lrge family. She as a wealthy far- iister married a arge family, sev- , namely: Fred- 1 Reuben. The Mrs. Sherwick Betsey Blair, sec- • of my grand- 5. Their children Uy, wife of Fred- is's, Patty, Robert ton's wife, , aster, uncles and oily, (my mother,) cle Moses married Vt. imb. Their child- Rebecca, > ife of Sidney Bliss, Dana, afterwards a Youn},' lived on his father's farm and died there. Betsy married Abel Johnson and came to live in Georgia. The children were Olive, Horace, Asahel, David, Adeline. Aunt Katie married Noble Clark and lived in Niagara Co., N. Y. Uncle John came to live with my widowed mother in the spring of 1807, being then 19 years old. He re- mained with us un,til 181 1 ; he then married Diadama Knight, who lived on North Hero, an island in Lake Champlain. I state these facts as they lie floating in my memory. They may be of little account to any but the relatives. I know that even my own children have but the slight- est knowledge of their relationship to this large and complicated family, and it is to satisfy any who may be inquisitive that I record these things ; and there is no other one living who can state them. If the statement is useless it has cost me but little. Some Facts in Relation to My Mother. My mother was Polly McMaster, born at Williams- town, Mass., June 18,1770, married Benjamin Sabin in Williamstown.Mass., Jan.,i792,being then 22 years old and was left a widow four years afterward. May 1 1, 1796. Her husband, my father, died suddenly with bilious colic, away from home. He went with some of his neighbors to catch fish in Lake Champlain, but before they reached the lake he was taken sick and stopped at Joshua Smedley's where he died before midnight, and was brought home the next day. Mother went on foot ffii©^«*i»' 1 30 I-ip of Rev. Alvah Sabin. to him through the woods in the night over rough paths and pole bridges. 1 was then two years and a half old. and my brother Daniel six months old. I think the farm my father left was paid for; at least I never heard of any debt afterwards. Mother was obliged to break up housekeeping, and went to live with Uncle Henry Ballard, who married my Aunt Anna Sabin. While she was living there she becanrie acquainted with Mr. Edmund Town.' Esq., of Fa«rfield a man of some note. He was the first town clerk of that town, and was for many years Justice of the Peace, and was chosen to represent the town in the state legisla- ture He was a widower with two sons. Edmund Brewer, and John. My mother was married to him November 7 I7Q7. and went to Fairfield to live on the farm of her husband. In the year i8oo my stepfather sold his farm and moved on to my mother's in Georgia. 1 he family then consisted of Grandmother Lewis, mother of his first wife, my mother. Edmund Brewer, and John. Town. Daniel (my brother), myself, and the baby. (Lvdia Town, afterwards Aunt Lydia Holmes). Aug. 24. I800. my stepfather died leaving my mother a wi- • dow the second time with the addition ofiourtothe family. And three months afterward a daughter was born who was named Polly. She married Cyrus Hotchk.ss^ The boy Edmund Brewer went to live with Fredrick Bliss, and afterwards to Boston where he married, raised a family and died. John lived with Uncle Henry Ballard, and afterwa ds learned the house-builders trade of Samuel Fairbanks. He married Anna Jackson, and raised four boys: Brewer, Franklin. Byron, and Henry ; and two girls : Mary Ann, and Caroline. ver rough paths s and a half old, )aid for ; at least 5. Mother was id went to live rried my Aunt ere she became ;sq., of Fairfield, 3wn clerk of that )f the Peace, and the state legisla- Edmund Brewer, o him November n the farm of her pfather sold his n Georgia. The •Lewis, mother of rewer, and John, r, and the baby, Holmes). Aug. my mother a wi- ion of four to the daughter was born Cyrus Hotchkiss. ive with Fredrick here he married, rd, and afterwards iamuel Fairbanks, aised four boys : ry ; and two girls : Gleanings. \ ^ ( The farm was managed at first by Uncle Ballard ; af- terwards by uncle Noble Clark who married mother's sister, Katie. But the management was not satisfactory, and mother assumed it herself. She made herself ac- quainted with the value of all the articles of trade or barter which a farmer of that time was likely to buy or sell. It was soon found that her judgment was as good as most men's. Some of the prices of that day I remember. A cow was rented for three years to be returned with a heifer, both with calves by their sides ; and the renter insured them against all accident except lightning or the fall of a green tree. Or a cash rent was paid of four dollars. A yoke of two year old steers was rented to be returned in three years well broke for service. Sheep were rented for one year for one pound of wool per head. At these rents mother usually kept an hundred sheep, and twenty cows, and occasionally a yoke of steers. In my long experience I have been acquainted with many widowed families and have seen much suffering in consequence of ignorance concerning the value of pro- perty and the ways of business. Some men do not let their wives know any thing about their business ; and if they are left widows they are mere children with a fam- ily to support and debts to pay with no help from any one. The shop is locked up, the business is closed and she, as if blindfolded, is left to do double duty. The better way is to do things by mutual consultation. In some cases the wife will be as good a financier as the husband. Mother used to spin wool and flax. She bought a patent wheel with two spindles and two distaffs, and could With that spin nearly two day's work in one. But rlrif ': 1! t i'O Mm •^i^*«%i*^^(»i!^l^fefe^)^.i£«^J^j^\^^^ •^'a(ii,i,V-"".^.>^ it squired so much strength to turn it that she broke Z: in health under the strain an - -^^ /;, ° -^ T oJ'lZ Z aC; hadtr tnsoiaUon . Te^'dder dellted to mlfe her happy and cheerfui. rwf ::x"S that we *ouM have .he adva.^^^^^^^ education ; but her means were ''"-''='^' ""° *t„ ^^^e tunities at home were not as good - ^J "^ ■^" ,, „,, TT\- '■■ and^ /..t'sirmS ■'""A.thotne Arithmetic, and J^'^^^J'. ._ .u^ ^ould solve had never studied tb.se books before ^^^ ^°"J^ she would use as little wood as P-f" " *= h^u^hold affairs, going without fire even for th.s pur ''Tn .82^ the 25th of May, Mrs. Town married Solo- J: C: Of tL Father Sabin u.d to say ha as He was at '"-..^^X^ra^d this enabled rrroTt°o hsgr ndchlldrenthat he married their pragrT^drothen^ndmother and their mo*^^ *^"r.'t2M?s^:tr°rof^«ton\l. ""r td SsTears emembeJed by all as a woman of ;t til ,' S.nt, thoughtful, fitted in mind and Gleanings. '33 : that she broke ras unable to do rte afterwards re- fer consolation : ith her and never e obedient, and ,py and cheerful, the advantages of i, and the oppor- hey are in these ing period it was lielp us solve the ium," "Adam's " Although she she would solve ident. With her our class, and our get in the schools as much as prac- detained to cut i possible in the even for this pur- own married Solo- sed to say that as vas called upon to id : and this enabled it he married their I their mother, and Sept. 5. i834- Mrs. jme of her son Al- f all as a woman of fitted in mind and heart to be intrusted with the training of sons called of God to be preachers of his word. Boyish Military Tastes. • The annual June training, held on first Tuesday in June, was a kind of State institution in Vermont from its organization until after the war of 1812. The mi- litary consisted of the militia (or flood wood compa- nies as they were called) ; light infantry, composed of volunteers enlisted from the militia; the horse troop; and the artillery companies. These all had to appear on the notable first day of June with musket, cartridge box, priming wire, and two flints. But a uniform dress was not required of the militia. The light infantry had a uniform. The artillery had a cannon found by the state, and the artillery man had a sword and uniform. Besides the June training the Brigadier General called out the regiment in the fall of each year for general training. Not many years ago a man who was a young major at the time related to me an ancedote that showed that the officers were not always the most perfect instructors in the tactics. He said that he went to the General on muster day and asked for instructions about forming the regiment and the various positions of the troop, the artillery, the light infantry, and the militia. The old General who had been Major and Colonel and Brigadier General and Inspecting Major for perhaps thirty years, assuming a pompous voice said, "Major —mount your horse— draw your sword — cut around— and make a great fuss— that is all there is of it." This 'A '^^i Sisi-^ '■■^3^S^^^iaii^t«££gi&j2>k* jWi-.*«i^ -^, - 'mmifi^.,m^jrJ it P'obably was no. The only one. Some use di«retion in coneeahng .her ""Ce were many strange oec»rrences. Bu, notwlth- .^re^f these the June trainings and general mus- fe r:r?Jna or hoUaay which -'VJ^— "^ '""i„°of ^fboyfto form themselves into military pos,t,on of f' boys ^^^^ ^^ ^^ _^.„^ companies. At least it n company of about ner with drag P ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^ ^e- cannon. t-acn ooy .i- m 1 tia board Bonaparte hat with a feather. When tn n»^ onfr 1 called out, my company also, wc were called out 1 caiiea o . unanimous chose officers in a legal manner. 1 haa tne -ra^aUthTrot^.^^^^^^^^^^^^ stood it as well as any man . the town^ of ^^^ _^g ^^ When»e«.me out on t«m mg y^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ attention and caused m ^^^^ „„^ ,hat companies of men. It was suggest , „e ought to have a new gun --«- ^J, t.'^ „m ""■'"'tu afyolraTd" orhXTu'gh to pay for Tw lar iL Ai^tl -">= "- save me the lower L^ of rX "Queen's arm," which made a very gtd gun IdriHed the boys until they were quite ex- sbably was not oncealing their s. But notwith- id general mus- ery community n later years the titute for them, spirit was culti- vident from dis- res into military ect on my mind, ompany of about 1 the rudest man- an old gun for a ord, and a paste- When the militia npany also. We lad the unanimous tactics containing [ practiced behind ow think, I under- town of Georgia, we attracted more ks than the three d by some one that e. So 1 started a presented it to old d enough to pay for gave me the lower which made a very they were quite ex- Gteantngs. '35 pert in the exercises. In i8n I became old enough to do military duty, and enlisted in Captain Solomon Bliss' Light Infantry Company. The first day we were called out after I enlisted, I was chosen fourth corporal and by the captain was called out as a "Fugleman," that is I stood in the front of the company with my back towards them, and all were to perform the exercise as I did. I was afterward appointed Sergeant, then success- ively Ensign and Captain. I held the latter office un- til I was licensed to preach, and that ended my little militaty career. An Old Subscription. I send you a copy of subscriptions circulated in the year 1848 for my support as a specimen of some others; and to show who were the men that then composed the society and about what they would pay. They are nearly all dead now. This is as large a sum as was ever found on any subcription. It reads as follows : We, the subscribers, wishing to obtain the service of Elder A. Sabin as preacher of the gospel statedly at the Baptist meeting house on the Sabbath, do severally promise to pay annually the sums annexed to our names : Provided, that any subscriber may alter his sub- scription at the close of the year by paying arrearages. Georgia, February 10, 1848. NAMES. SUM. Cyrus Hotchkiss |[20 00 John Bowker 20 00 H. H. Hale 20 00 f^\?S ■■fe*--fa^, ^fa , W. ataaaas-.^e^g,^i^&,^S'-^-,-fe^= /^■-Ta«\-^;,>4r.-W&SRfei=i;,.|i^',7;y^.;.,, ,36 Life of Rn: Alvah Sabin. SUM. NAMES. Alburn Mcars '^ oo Asaph Wood 5 oo EbenezerWood '^ °0 Alfred Ladd >5 oo Amos Ives \ G. H. Roice 5 oo Wm. A. Blake •• 5 oo George W. Blake 5 oo Jonathan Blake \ °° Joseph Bowker ^ oo Jonathan Hews ^ oo Jedediah Chritchet 200 . Enoch White ] °° Valmore Story » °° Emily M. Bowker 'O 00 B. L. Dinsmore ' °° Charles B. Wilson ' 00 Daniel Dinsmore 2 00 Martin Curtis \ °° Roswell Goodwin 5 00 Charles Williams 2 00 F. and B. Town 20 co Reuben B. Ayres 00 Bursis Hill ■ °° James B Dunton 2 ou Stephen Bliss I "O Hawley Witters 200 Thomas Pierce 2 00 A. M. Martin ' °° Wm. K. Warner 2 00 Charles I. Ladd - °° Horace Witters « °° . SolomonBliss ' °° Abel Bliss ; ^ Jefferson Fletcher ' 00 Samuel Barber 2 00 James Godfrey 4 00 Elijah Davis 5 00 SUM. 10 oo 5 oo lo oo 15 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 2 00 2 00 2 00 2 00 1 00 10 00 I 00 1 00 2 00 . 3 00 5 00 2 00 . 20 CO . I 00 . I 00 . 2 00 ,. 2 00 .. 2 00 ,. 2 00 ,. I 00 .. 2 00 .. c 00 .. 8 00 .. 5 00 .. "GO I 00 .. 2 00 .. 4 00 .. 5 00 (ileamngs. |j» NAMKS. SUM. Samuel Fargo i qq Elisha Hale 1 00 David Goodrich 2 00 Henry Bushnell | 00 Moses VVightman 3 00 Samuel Carr 5 00 Henry G. tJoodrich 2 00 Stephen Holmes 5 00 Douglass K. Holmes 3 00 Russel S. Hawkins 2 00 M. H. Torrey 2 00 Deni.son Waller 10 00 M. D. Waller . 00 John Hurlburt 200 Stillman Clark 1000 Betsy Bliss , q^ Rebecca Bliss i qo B. F. Sabin 2 00 Denis Gilmore 200 E. L. Ladd 2 00 Leonard Wheeler '\ 00 C. H, Morrill , 00 I- W. Burt ■; ,00 This was the last subscription gotten up for my sup- port. I think it amounted to about three hundred dol- lars, and for a year or two was punctually paid. But soon some moved away, some died, some forgot the dollar or two they had signed. And I could not tell how much I was to expect. Then in 1852 I was ap pointed to Congress, and after that I do not recollect that any subscription was ever circulated. After 1857 the people gave me several donation visits and remem- bered me at their Christmas festival and drew my fire wood to the door. and. most of the older members of the church and society paid what they had long been in the habit of paying^annually. II I' iB^.-a -^.^•-t^i±?ji:t,Sf.^ ^ 138 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. On his Entrance to Congress. In December. .853. I went to Washtngton for the first time. I felt as green as a boy. I ^^d ^^^ ^^^^ experience in the state legislature ; but th.s was aU new m a financial view it was an epoch m my affa.rs Thad all my life labored for a sum that barely paui my expenses. I had always felt like a poor man ; and ye :Tbeen obliged to keep up as good an appearance as I could so as not to shame my friends. But now I had he prospects of accumulating --^h-g/^^V^^^^^Hh of my family, and the payment of my debts, and the money I borrowed to go to Washington. In 1821 I had been on the road from Philadelphia to Georgia, and had travelled from Albany to Wh.teha U on foot, because I had not money to P^/^'- '"y P^ sace w th my feet so galled that I crippled like an old ^ndered hoarse, and walked in constant pa.n. Now I received eighty cents per ^^^'^ ''''^'''U:'Z^ ment to pay my expenses amounting to ^505 , ^nd $8.00 a day for service was a new --P--"";^;^"";; and I confess that I lost several hours of sleepjor .ev eral nights under the excitement caused by this new state of my affairs. I soon found myself able to pay all my d^b ^. ^nd J did so as fast as I could. It was gratifying o me to be able also to help some of my friends to small sums, and to betwe to contribute to several charitable a,.d benev- olen nstitutions. I can now say that ^-^ ^^at f^^^^^^^^ this I have kept myself clear from personal debts bu T have in a few cases been holden for others. I have for I have in a lew ^^^^ ^^^ ^^ twenty years past been aoie w f j pocket and pay every dollar I owed. ■jleamngs. 139 ihington for the had had some at this was all ch in my affairs. t barely paid my r man ; and yet m appearance as But now I had ig for the benefit r debts, and the on. n Philadelphia to any to Whitehall pay for my pas- ppled like an old 5tant pain. Now from the govern- ng to %%o% ; and cperience for me ; s of sleep for ?ev- Lused by this new 11 my debts, and I tifying to me to be to small sums, and aritable and benev- at from that day to personal debts, but others. I have for )ut my hand in my I confess that I ha. not always been discreet in dis- burseraent of moneys I have received. But I was sixty years old before I had a chance to make an ex- periment. I did not spend it in drinking, nor smok- ing, nor gambling, nor speculating, nor in dress, nor fine carriages, nor in luxuries. Concerning His Leaving Georgia. My reason for terminating my long pastorate in the Baptist church at Georgia is this : My age was one at which in almost every case pru- dent men have long before retired. I did not leave because of any opposition to myself in the church or society, or in the town. I have never had any diffi- culty with any one, and when I left town I do not know as there was a person in town who desired it. The Congregational Church had treated me as kindly as I could desire; the Methodists paid me all the respect that I deserved ; my intimacy with the young people was continued to the last, and was very gratifying to my aged heart. In many instances when the young people have got- ten together for a social visit they have sent a team and invited me to attend with them as if I was a kind of compliment to their social meetings. And often would make a little contribution, as if to pay me for my trouble of attending, when it was as gratifying to me as it was to them. J I \ ? *\? - 140 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. Relation to the New Hampton Institution. The following statement of views on the removal of the New Hampton Institution to Fairfax, Vt., was found among his papers. My opinion of the whole matter is about this: In the first place it was a great mistake to attempt the removal. I think all similar attempts have been fail- ures The effort to remove the Hamilton Seminary to Rochester failed ; the removal of the Theological Insti- tution from Philadelphia to Washington faikd; the at- tempt to consolidate Burlington and Middlebury Col- leges did not succeed, for neither would consent to a removal. It would have been much better to start anew It is doubtful whether the title to the rea estate is not alv.ays forfeited by the removal of an Institu- tion. Second : The people of the vicinity were bitterly op- posed to the removal. The books were spirited away by hundreds; but a sn-.all part of the apparatus was ever brought to Fairfax; and not a foot of the real es- tate was secured. Third: Another Institution started in the same place managed by the Free-WiU Baptists and was sus^ Gained by the same community which had supported the first school. Fourth: It was a mistake to appoint the teachers and bring them to Fairfax, and begin the school before the house was built. Fifth : It was not good policy to borrow money of the Endowment Fund to build or to defray the expenses of the school. Gleaning 141 tution. n the removal irfax, Vt., was is about this: to attempt the lave been fail- on Seminary to leological Insti- failed ; the at- [iddlebury Col- Id consent to a better to start o the real estate il of an Institu- Arere bitterly op- re spirited away : apparatus was t of the real es- d in the same lists, and wassus- ^1 had supported 3int the teachers the school before borrow money of ifray the expenses Sixth : The Institution should not have been started without at least six or eight thousand dollars on hand to meet its immediate wants, l/hc Board had not a dollar, nor the promise of a dollar to meet the bills which must be paid immediately. They sent out agents to solicit aid, but those who must give were the very ones who had just subscribed to the Endowment Fund. But little could therefore be obtained. The only alternative was to borrow money ; and the Board borrowed it. Some members paid a hundred dollars a year, and others less amounts ; and still the debt pressed heavily. Finally the disaffected members withdrew their counsel and aid. The acting Board resigned, and by common consent the disaffected members were elected to conduct the school in a better way if they could. At this time Dr. Upham was at the head of the school. In the transfer of the management to the new Board my name was carried over at their request ; and I con- tinued with them until Dr. Upham resigned his posi- tion. The new Board pursued the same policy in paying debts as was pursued by the old one ; and I had no need to change my views. I acted cheerfully in both Boards and made the best of the plans adopted that I could. I heartily believed in the honest intention of all. But the funds were never sufficient to warrant the begin- ning of a school of so great dimensions. I think the annual subscription to the general fund was estimated at too high a figure. It was subscribed in small amounts by men in moderate circumstances and scattered over a great territory. Many were slow in paying ; some died and the claim was not presented to the Commissioners who settled the estates ; some moved i;l ,^2 Life of Rei'. Alvah Sabin. to the far west ; some became disaffected and did not mean to pay. I think that all such subscriptions are worth not more than fifty cents on a dollar. An effort >vas made to have the subscribers give notes payable to the Treasurer of the school with annual interest. This partially succeeded. The Board had to appoint a general agent to collect the interest and pay the debts ; and this cost five or s.x hundred dollars a year which must be paid punctually. I can say for my part that I have suffered as much by our inability to pay the debts of the school, as I should in going through bankruptcy five times. I travelled hundreds of miles by night and day, through mud, and snow, and heat, and cold, to attend the meetings of the Board, and of the Executive Com- mittee ; for which I never received a cent a compensa- *'°But while the pecuniary interests of the Institution were disastrous and to me as to all painful, I was cheered by the character of the school. It was most satisfactory. It was a blessed thing for the community, and the churches, and individuals. If the school was a failure from a pecuniary point of view, nevertheless the blessing counterbalances the loss which any individuals may have sustained. A Figure, Showing the Folly of Criticizing the Purposes of God. The objection is. if God foreknows and predetermines what He will do, we are not free agents and are not ac- UL- d and dir' not jscriptions are lar. An effort otes payable to interest. This agent to collect ; cost five or six )aid punctually, red as much by lool, as I should light and day, cold, to attend Executive Com- ent a compensa- f the Institution painful, I was ol. It was most the community, the school was a nevertheless the 1 any individuals g the Purposes of nd predetermines its and are not ac- Gleanings. »43 countable for our conduct. The fact is none but God foreknows and none but God foreordains. As we have not the faculty to foresee, we can not see how it can com- port with our free agency, nor is it possible to explain this to us in the absence of this faculty of foreknowl- edge. To illustrate : Suppose two men were both born blind, but pos.sessed of all the other faculties common to mankind, as hearing, feeling, tasting, smelling. They hear a great deal about the beauty of the rain- bow, and of the flowers and that there are seven dis- tinct colors in the rainbow ; and that when all these are blendet it makes a perfect white; and that the ab- sence of all these is a perfect black. They feel the warmth of the sun; they hear others speak of its brightness; they hear of the beauty of the starry heavens. Now suppose these two men were compar- ing their views as to what was a scarlet color. That there was such a thing as color they could not doubt, for thousands testify to the fact. The first should give it as his opinion that a scarlet color resembles the .sound of a trumpet, the other should think it resembles the sound of a bass drum. Then they refer the question to a man who has the sense of sight. He says to them, "You are both as wrong as you can be." "Well," they say, "can you not set us right?" "No, I can not set you right. " They might say, "Have we not common sense to understand what is said to us?" "You have common sense, all but the sense of seeing, and that you have not; and can have •no conception of colors. And I can no more tell you what color is than you can tell a deaf mute what sound is." ?|- u it. ^ "1 Y' ,1-.* 'J?, ^'*-^'»y'^it.:;-^ -^:^%--JXje^.i, Lii^. f r' 144 Lt/e of Rev. Alvah Sabtn. The lower orders of animals have instincts that in the main dictate them as if they had the faculty of reasoning. But still we know they can not compare one thing with another; they never make a bargam with each other, and have no idea of the comparative value of things. The bird in building her nest may seem to use reason in its construction; but the fact is not so; she makes the first just as well as she does the last ; she does not improve by experience, nor by the example of others, and no human being can teach her. The beaver has a very strong and definite instinct as seen in his selecting the place on the stream to build his dam, and in his mode of constructing it he put. it at the lower extremity of a low, fiat plat of land, and where the stream is narrow. Then gnaws down small trees draws them to the place selected, and puts them in with the buts up the stream, and on these he de- posits leaves and mud and muck and makes a dam that will be strengthened by the deposits of the stream and will stand for a hundred years. The rules o their cor- poration are varied and complete as a railroad cor- poration. Still all this perfect planning and execution and co-operation was never taught them, and they never learned it any more than a tree was taught how to crow or an infant how to suck. This innumerable class of beings have not the faculty of reasoning, and we can not reason with them, nor can we tell them what reasoning faculties are any more than we can tell a blind man what colors are. or a deaf man what sounds are. If we had the power to fore- ■ know then we could criticize the providence of the omniscient God ; but not till ten. stincts thdt in the faculty of 1 not compare a bargain with parative value 1 to use reason so; she makes ; she does not uple of others,^ inite instinct as ;tream to build ,g it, he put . it at of land, and iws down small , and puts them on these he de- ikes a dam that the stream and lies of their cor- a railroad cor- g and execution them, and they was taught how 2 not the faculty with them, nor ies are any more irs are, or a deaf ; power to fore- ' evidence of the Gleanings. Relations with General O. E. Babcock. H5 When Mr. Sabin was in Congress, it was his pri- vilege to secure the appointment of O. E. Babcork- as cadet in West Point. In this young man he always maintained a lively interest. In later years an intimate acquaintance and correspondence sprang up which lasted until death. After Mr. Babcock came to positions of good pay, he uniformly sent a Christmas gift varying from 550 to ^100, and after the General's death Mrs. Babcock con- tinued the remembrance, sending one but a month be- fore the death of Mr. Sabin. When the General's children became old enough they were taught to love and venerate the old time friend of their father. They wrote letters and sent presents in their own name. When the family were in Chicago, Mr. Sabin visited them. He wrote their names in the family record of his Bible, and delighted to call them his grandchildren. He studied carefully the reports of light house work, which the General kindly sent him, and no one delighted more in the ac- curacy of his reports, and their full acceptance by the department than did this adopted father of his. During the years of political calumny, no heart was hurt more by the charges, and insinuations against the General than Father Sabin's. We give an account of a visit to the General in Washington in 1873 : •'Previous to the meeting at the Naval school I went to Washington, and put up at Willard's. The next morning I went to the White House and inquired for General Babcock, but found that he and the President I', i Mi M J' SI .P^f, A I g Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. were at Springfield. Mass., but would be at home the "'^athen went to the meeting-house built by Amos Kendl 1 for he Baptist church. N. W. of the Patent Office clUchur^ I found ^^ P-^;- -^^^^ study and had a pleasant interview with h.m The next morning I went to the Treasury and found Stephen A MUkLwith whom I boarded when in Congress, and treafaewell visit to him and his excellent w.f. Then I went again to see General Babcock. Gomg mo he office I found him engaged. So I -t down unu he was at liberty. He seemed g-atly -rpnsed^^^^^^^ h did not recognize me at first glance and attend to me at once He said he was looking for an older man. He sent for the President and introduced me as a spec.a Hend of his. Before I left Willard's that mormng I ound It the General had been there and pa.d my WU of Jiio.oo. and now he engaged a carnage and took 1 t« his house where I met his w.fe and son agam^ .q remained his guest while I was m the city He drove m^ through the streets which he had leveled as SreetCommissLer. and through the puWic places of fnterest. On Sunday we attended Dr. Parker's church and on Monday we parted for the last t.me probably. rWe think that this was written soon after the event JdThat he visited the General after tj- m O-a^^ The correspondence became more and more familiar Ifter that, and the growth of the children strengthened the ties of friendship.— Ed.] le at home the built by Amos . of the Patent . Parker in the vith him. The d found Stephen in Congress, and s excellent wife. ;ock. Going into I sat down until surprised that he [ attend to me at older man. He me as a special I that morning I re and paid my carriage and took : and son again, in the city. He he had leveled as le public places of ir. Parker's church Lst time probably." )on after the event r this in Chicago, and more familiar ildren strengthened The Gates Affair. i^^y CHAPTER IX. THE GATES AFFAIR. It would be pleasantcr for us to pass over the event of this chapter, and let a sad affair of long ago die out in the lapse of years. But there are reasons why we feel constrained to mention it in this work. It was a fact. It was a long and to some unmeasured extent an influence in his life. Not all have forgotten it. In re- ply to a letter of inquiry from the writer to a promi- nent man in Georgia in 1881, the following was re- ceived : "The public opinion of the shooting affair was drawn pretty closely to a political line. One side justified the shooting and the other did no: , I recently asked a man who lived here at that time atout the mat- ter and he flew all to pieces over it. " And in addition it seemed to be a desire of Mr. Sabin that his side of it should be known. It had never been talked of in his family; what we knew of it was gained from others. But in the last days of his life he seemed anxious to speak of it. The following account is based upon statements taken down from his lips a few days before he died : In the war of 18 12 the third brigade of the Vermont militia was called into the field and sent to the west side of Lake Champlain to keep back the British troops in any attempt to enter from Canada. There was much objection to this. It was not a militia man's duty to go beyond the state lines. The Governor ordered them J ,^j^ Ufe oj Kn^- ^^'^'«^' •^'''^'"• back ; but the brigade did not think best to <^<^-^rUh^ commanders as a body, and therefore -•---■'\ ^'^ ^^ ^^^^^ individuals went home. There were many who th< uRh that even if there was a necessity for Vernum troops t^ be called into the defense of the ,'reat state of New York, yet it was not wise to take the ent.re force from the county of Franklin and leave the forty m.les of its own Canadian border without defense. Added to these were many who were not in sympathy with the war Tnd they were ready, as the copperheads '" tj^ ,^- rebellion of 1861 were, to hinder the war and find fault ; th any measure of the war party. Nevertheless the Militia vvere called to New York, and among them went A vah Sabin, of Georgia, and Silas Gates, of St. Albans. tZ were mustered into service at Hurhngton. and that same night went to the lake, and waded across the .-sand-bar,- then in boats were conveyed to Cumberland Head, from there they went to Chazee. In the course of the journey these two young men met for the firs time, so there was no chance for the accusation that any former difficulty was involved .n the case The opposition to the service was so great that half the regiment of which these men were members de- serted, and went to their homes to care for the.r fani^s which were suffering by reason of their absence. The officers found it necessary to check the desertion and Alvah Sabin was sent with Sergeant Henry G.bbs to bring back one of them. They went to th. house ot Silas Gates, and told him their busn^ess. He submitted to the military arrest, but asked leave to go and get h,s horse. Gibbs went with him to do this and Sab.n awaited their return. It had been determined by both Gibbs and Sabin that it was not wise to take hnn through if Tlu Gates Affair. t to ilfscrl their [iviincd, though ny who thou^jht rinont troops to t state of New ntire force from )rty miles of its Added to these with the war, ds in the great ar and find fault Nevertheless the mong them went cs, of St. Albans. Burlington, and vaded across the jd to Cumberland .', In the course I met for the first ; accusation that :he case. JO great that half 'ere members de- ire for their farms eir absence. The he desertion, and it Henry Gibbs to t to the house ot ;ss. He submitted ; to go and get his io this and Sabin ietermined by both o take him through •49 St. .Albans, because there was a strong party hostility bttween Georgia and that town owing to the interests each had in the war. St. .Albans was profiting by the smuggling trade from Canada, while Georgia was dis- posed to collect the tluty. (iates wanted to escape, of course. He asked leave to get some things to take with him and as he must go into the house (iibbs said to Sabin, "1 will go in with him and do you stand here and see that there is no dodging." As the two went in Gates taking advantage of the darkness turned aside from the straight way through the hall, and. going through a bed room while Gibbs was fumbling about in a strange house, jumped out of a window and ran across the field. Sabin heard the window fall, and stepped around the corner in time to see his prisoner running twenty rods off. He did what was his first duty as a soldier, fired at him, alas ! with too true an aim. The ball went in at the side of the spine and came out in front. He died five days after, but not until he had expressed his forgiveness toward his unfortunate fellow soldier. The news spread like fire and soon there were seventy-five men gathered mostly of the opposite party and meditating violence. But the final decision was to let the law take its course. He was taken to the jail, and put into a dark cell and kept over night. It was a most wretched and terrible night. He knew that the wound was fatal, and that he had killed a fellow man. His heart was not used to crime nor the contemplation of it. He was not an old soldier accustomed to the sight of carnage. He had never been in battle. A case of manslaughter in that region would stir the whole community with horror, and him, tender hearted as he was, most of all. And he was face to face with his V J i,i i. I ■.ii , 50 lif' of Rtv. Alvah Sabin. deed all ni^ht. Added to this was the uncertainty .)f his own fate. He miyht be hunt;, his family be d.s- Braced, and moreover his future in the next l.fe was ni doubt. He was a Christian, but he had done a deed which had never been in his thought ; and whether he would lose his soul for it was a matter of ^rave cmv cern The terrible ni^ht made impression on him that he never overcame. He always feared to be alone m the dark. Often during his life did he say that he would not stay in a house alone over night for much money If there are or were any who held a grudge against him for the act. could they know how the ex- perience of that night stuck in his sensitive soul hke an arrow in a wounded deer and gave him pain that "ever ceased, they would say that he had "received double for all his sin." In the morning a number of men came up from Georgia to see him. They said at oncfi that he must be taken out of the cell and put in a debtors pnson. «'Thc facts," said they "are all known, and it is only a question of whether he was in the line of his duty or not Put him in a debtor's prison, and wc will not make any attempt to release him. But we will nut sub- mit to have him in that cell." It was well understood that the men of Georgia were resolute ; and with the feeling about the war it would have been any easy mat- ter to kindle a strife between the towns over this case. He was therefore put in a debtor's prison. He told his friends how he suffered that night, and the young men of Georgia arranged that one of their number should go up and stay with him each night that he was there. An incident occurred while he was awaiting his trial which shows the man. The jail caught fire in the night. The Gates Affair. iSi uncertainty of amily be dis- cxt life was in d done a deed nd whether ho of jjrave con- on on him that to be alone in lie say that he night for much held a grudge 3W how the ex- tive soul like an pain that never received double came up from :e that he must debtors jirison. , and it is only a e of his duty or and we will not t we will not sub- well understood ite ; and with the en any easy mat- is over this case, son. He told his d the young men ir number should at he was there. awaiting his trial t fire in the night. The jailer called for help and removed some of the prisoners to places of safety or put them uiuler guai\l in the yard. lUit to him he said, "Now Sabin you go and help us put this fire out; and when I call you come." So lie went and fought fire until it was out. Some of his friends said to him, "Now is your time! Come on." Ikit he said "No, I will not run away." Kinaily the jailer .stood up on the steps and called "Sabin, come !" "Here I am," and he went back to prison. We are not sure but this is as good an example of trust- worthiness as John Hunyan's going alone from jail to the town of his trial, and then returning to his prison again. Judge Whitmore came to a.sk him if he wanted any legal help and offered his services, Aldisand Gadcomb and Cornelius Van Ness were also engaged in his de- fence. An indictment for manslaughter was made by the grand jury and a prosecution was begun before Judge Hoyt. At the request of friends Judge Farnsworth, of Fairfax, was joined in the case, it being well known that Judge Hoyt was oppo.sed to the war. He himself magnanimously agreed to have an associate. By con- sent of coun.sel the case was taken to the Supreme Court and bail granted until that should set. In December, 1813, the case came to trial and the jury disagreed, three for "acquittal," and nine for "manslaughter." It was brought up again in Decem- ber, 18 14, and resulted in another disagreement; but the jury was now nine for acquittal and three for man- slaughter. In December, 1815, by mutual consent of counsel, the political feeling having subsided, a nolle prosequi wd^s I , -2 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. entered by the state and he was accordingly discharged. This was not fully satisfactory to him. He used to feel that the rceord of the court was not as clear as he would be glad to have it. Could he have had a trial and been acquitted it would in his judgment have been better. We do not think that this matter gave him any anx- iety about his future hope. He said that he not only had no malice, but that the people of St. Albans had seemed to think he was not censurable for it. They had been active in his support in all the political honors that had been given him. And yet he said there had been a feeling with him that he ought to stay in Georgia and make his record and establish his character among the very people who knew the case. And we do not doubt that this feeling had much to do with his refusal to leave there, although he might have done so to great temporal advantage. , . ^ To his family it has been a sad thing for his sake but with these statements we are content to leave the case in the hands of just public sentiment. Notes of a Funeral Sermon. 153 Tly dischaiged. J. He used to as clear as he ive had a trial nent have been ; him any anx- lat he not only 3t. Albans had for it. They political honors said there had stay in Georgia ;haracter among \nd we do not with his refusal done so to great for his sake but 9 leave the case CHAPTER X. NOTES OF A FUNERAL SERMON PREACHED AT GEORGIA, MAY 14, 1839. Text: Psalm 27: 10. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord ivill take {gather) me up. Confidence may be reposed in Divine Providence in times of our greatest extremity. As was said of Asher in the blessing of Moses (Deut. 33:25) so may it be said of the afflicted and forlorn. "Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days so shall thy strength be'." The adage is, "God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. ' God by the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah ex- horts dying fathers (Jer. 49:1), "Leave thy fatherless children, and let thy widows trust in me." By Divine Providence we understand ' 'the foresight, superintendence, and timely care of God over created beings." This care in all ordinary cases is exercised toward creatures through a system of well regulated means. For example : Parents must support their children ; brethren shall care for the members of their own community. God effects this superintendence in a way that calls for the exercise of all the good graces of the virtuous part of the community. It was not his design to make pronu^es of such a nature as to produce sloth, indo- lence and insensibility on the part of the creature ; but the contrary virtues, vigilance, activity and the liveliest >f I, if. r'^--»*irw^*-' ij^ Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. sympathy. God regards the happiness of good men too highly to rob them of the luxury of being the m- struments of effecting his benevolent designs. That is a false confidence which says, "be ye warm, and be ye filled," while it refrains from giving to the poor what is needful for their bodies. With all the means that have been provided for the needy and distressed, there is still occasion for strong faith to enable us to lay hold of that degree of conso- lation necessary to sustain us under the dark providences of God. . .J f Among all classes of men to whom the providence oi God extends, toward none is it more dark and mysteri- ous than toward the class brought to view in the text, namely: those forsaken of father and mother and cast forlorn upon the wide world. Such were called Or- phans Not all who nominally come under this head are entitled to an equal share of our sympathy. A knowl- edge of their relative conditions is necessary to deter- mine the strength of their claims. We inquire first who are Orphans? Those bereft of father, or mother, or both; by death, or removal, or some uncontrolable providence, such as war, or de- sertion. Those who are in their years of majority, and capable of providing for themselves have no claims on us. Childhood blessed with capable friends, disposed to ex- ercise paternal care need not so much exite our sympa- thy Such may be the subsequent relation formed by the surviving parent, if one there is, as may relieve us from our solicitations. But it is the parentless, friendless, penniless orphan in childhood that awakens in our breasts the full toned, and the whole round of sympathy that turns the head to waters, and the eyes ,:itf.f-rr -"-*"*'''"■'" Notes of a Funeral Sennon. 155 of good men being the in- ligns. That is ,rm, and be ye le poor what is ovided for the 5ion for strong :gree of conso- ark providences e providence of rk and mysteri- w in the text, lother and cast were called Dr- ier this head are thy. A knowl- :essary to deter- Those bereft of , or removal, or as war, or de- of majority, and 2 no claims on us, , disposed to ex- exite our sympa- lation formed by as may relieve s the parentless, 3od that awakens ; whole round of rs, and the eyes to fountains of tears. But even this li js are permitted to hope, and their friends for thenr. ?nay hope, that when \hft\x fathet and mother forsake them then the Lord will take them up. We now propose to point out some of the guards and protections provided by the Divine Providence as substitutes for those exercised by natural parents. Be- fore we discuss this it may be proper to preface a few things, lest more be expected from Providence than he has promised. (i.) God has not promised to make any orphan wealthy in the things of this life. (2.) He has not promised to make them all literary men. (3.) He has not promised to exempt them from the natural evils th-'t fall to the common lot of children blessed with parents. (4.) He has not promised that the wicked influences that parents may have exerted over their children while they were alive shall cease to produce their bad effect as soon as they are dead. (5.) He has not relieved the orphan from the obli- gation, binding upon all youth, to obey God and all the reasonable injunctions of those who have the rule over them. (6.) He has not promised the orphan sound friends and respectability in life on any other condition than that proposed to all other youth. (7.) He has not promised salvation to the orphan on any other terms than those proposed to all men. With this preface we propose to point out some of the guards and protections thrown around the orphan. itei. 156 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. I. God has solemnly enacted laivs, to which he has affixed awful penalties, which guarantee protection to the fatherless. God said to Israel, "Ye shall not af- flict any woman or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword ; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless." (f:x. 22:22.) Affliction includes several things. This command means, Thou shalt not afflict the fatherless by producing exaggerated and unjust accounts against their estate. Thou shalt not take advantage of their ignorance of business and the value of property. Thou shalt not entice them into by and forbidden paths because they have none to guide them in the path of duty. Thou shalt not vex them by circulating slanderous reports concerning them. Thou shalt not vex them by passing discouragmg opinions of them, such as, '^ \ey are spoiled children;' 'he will make nothing ; ' 'tl . viU come to ruin." II. God has sweetly pledg.d himself to protect them. (Deut. 10:18). God executeth the judgment of the fatherless and the widows and the stranger in giving him food and raiment. (Ps. 146:9.) God relieveth the fatherless and the widows. , . J t (Ps. 68:5.) A father of the fatherless and a judge of the widows is God in his holy habitation. (Ps. 10:15). (Hosea 14:3.) Thou art the helper of the fatherless. For in thee the fatherless find mercy. All these ex- press and implied promises are made by one who has • power, wisdom, goodness and truth. He has stayed - ;af ^'.'•■■•'Wft<=-'^*-= S^^j^^-t: ;-_3i.je.i»riatSLafc!.^ sV"- which he has c proUction to e shall not af- f thou afflict to me, I will 1 wax hot, and wives shall be Ex. 22:22.) rhis command ss by producing their estate, r ignorance of ' and forbidden le them in the iting slanderous ig discouraging loiled children ;' e to ruin.' ■ to protect them. idgment of the ranger in giving ;herless and the ;s and a judge of n. (Ps. 10:15). if the fatherless. r. All these ex- by one who has He has stayed Notes of a Funeral Sermon. 157 the vials of his wrath from being poured upon a people until the cup of their iniquity has been filled by tramp- ling on the rights of the fatherless. It was given by Isaiah as a reason for troubles; "they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them, therefore, saith the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries and avenge me of mine enemies. " Qer. ']:(^.) "If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless and the widow, * * then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever." Thus implying that op- pression of the needy would cause their expulsion from the land of their fathers. III. God has made compassion to the orphan an indis- pensiblc evidence of the genuineness of our piety. (James 1:27.) "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the father is this : To visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction and to keep himself un- spotted from the world." Job in the midst of his af- fliction was permitted to have hope because he delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. IV. God has implanted in the breast a sympathy thai guards ivith vigilance the tights of the orphan. (i.) It opens the doors of comfort and competency to their reception. (2.) It prepares an asylum for their comfort. (3.) It calls down the blessing of God. Who ever put his hand on the head of a little orphan boy and did not virtually say, 'God bless you, my son ?" Who ever kissed the cheek of a little orphan girl and did not pray the Lord to preserve the sweet child of sorrow ? 'If r i. II. ijg Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. (4.) It seems as if God designed good concerning them in giving them a name whose very sound is music. "The little orphan boy— the little orphan girl." The story entitled the children in the wood will live when the hills have grown old, because it awakens sympathy for the orphan. Oh, could the spirit of the departed mother whose re- mains' lie before us, be permitted to show itself, a smile would be on its countenance as it remembers the pro- tection that God has made for orphans, and hears a plea for justice and sympathy in behalf of these her lonely weeping children. The above is one of the few sermons of an early date whose notes were written and preserved. It is plain that he did not study "economy of material." It shows the habit of proving things by scripture ; a cautious logical mind; a practical application of truth; and a tender sympathy. We find no sermon of his which presents truthfully so many traits as this does. If the reader will remember that these notes were not with him in the pulpit, and think of a tall, well built man standing squarely on both feet behind the pulpit, with strong, pleasant voice seizing his topic with confidence at the first sentence ; speaking with a tone that revealed a certainty of conviction, without assuming dictatorial accents; depending on his words, not on gesture, or acting of any sort ; and filling up this analysis with a full flow of words chosen from the simple vocabulary of the farmers to whom he spoke, with the softening of tone, and moistening of eyes which was genuine, not cultivated, he will have a good conception of this preacher. ft''V I.; Si! .■--*«(tJWySMa«3£F**'*^*^'^'^''' L'i**iB^'**»»^^'*' ■*^ )od concerning sound is music, an girl." The will live when ikens sympathy other whose re- w itself, a smile ;mbers the pro- s, and hears a ilf of these her ns of an early erved. It is plain erial." It shows ture ; a cautious of truth ; and a ion of his which lis does. If the es were not with , well built man, the pulpit, with with confidence one that revealed uming dictatorial ot on gesture, or is analysis with a [iple vocabulary of the softening of was genuine, not onception of this Notes of a Funeral Sermon, 159 CHAPTER XI. FUNERAL SERVICES. The decision of the family was to have a service at Sycamore, at the residence of B, F. Sabin the son with whom he lived, and where he died ; but to bury the body among the friends who had loved him in Georgia. There being no pastor at the Baptist church it was his request that a grandson should preach. * When he pro- tested that he could not trust himself to attempt it, Father Sabin said, "You need not get up any thing new nor any thing about me but just preach a gospel sermon and comfort the friends. " The promise was made, and carried out. The pastors of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches were pre- sent, and assisted in the services. A quartette choir from the Presbyterian church sang most appropriately and sweetly several hymns of faith and trust in Jesus. The sermon was reported, and by the request of many friends is here published to complete the record. Sermon. My friends, I have a sad and yet a glad task, a diffi- cult and an easy task to day. Difficult because I must try to hold in check the emotions that come flooding my mind and heart. Easy because I learned when a small boy to have confidence in the judgment of this dear man. I learned that his requests were safe, and * Rev. Alvah Sabin Hobart, Cincinnati, O. r 1 60 Li/e of Rev. Alvah Sabin. purposes were kind. In obedience to the old habit, and with a desire to {jrant the last request of one who be- came a mother to me upon the death of my mother, and, in turn. ..- • teacher, my pastor and my example of a godly minister I attempt to speak to-day. It was his request, and therefore I repress the emotions which would lead me to sit \\n\\ these mourners, and mingle with my tears thanksgiving to God for such a grand-fa- ther, and for such a gospel of comfort as he taught me. I will try to forget for a brief time that I am a son, and remember only that I a minister of the gospel which he, our dear, dear, old pastor, loved so well ; and with which he comforted others. I desire to speak as if he were here to listen. The task is easier because so many of you came from our loved Vermont, and from Geor- gia as well. You heard him preach ; you love the hills and mountains that he loved: you are familiar with the roads he traveled : the old house where he lived, and the tall poplar beside it: the place where he preached: the burying ground of his fathers and yours are all dear to you as well as to me. When a little fellow it was my habit to sit in the pulpit with him and look out upon the congregation, and the faces are all photographed upon my memory. I ask myself how shall shall I comfort you ? There is but one who has the right to the name of "Com- forter ; " that is the Holy Spirit. And he comforts by taking the things of Jesus and showing them to us. It is the truth applied by the spirit that comforts. There is no help for the sorrowing hearts in an attempt to ex- plain the mysteries of affliction. I can not answer the question why so good a man should fall and suffer so much to die. I do not know enough of the causes nor i HBi ' WJtJWWAi^K 'SW^^' - ■•''-■^"' ^j^^^fStasTSBraJ:!^"! ^ja2K«5«pW»S^' w»^.s«««aai«s&*.ii£«i^^>^s'^*-*^^'*'*^'^'" >i f,\ tn. he old habit, and : of one who be- 1 of my mother, ind my example k to-day. It was c emotions which rners, and mingle r such a grand-fa- as he taught me. that I am a son, fthe gospel which so well ; and with to speak as if he r because so many t, and from Geor- you love the hills i familiar with the lere he lived, and lere he preached: yours are all dear ttle fellow it was and look out upon all photographed fort you? There e name of "Com- nd he comforts by ig them to us. It comforts. There an attempt to ex- an not answer the [ fall and suffer so I of the causes nor Funeral Services. i6i results of sorrow on human hearts to explain it at all and I will not try. There was a man once who was in great sorrow over the loss of family, and property, and health. His learned friends came in to comfort him by explaining to him the reasons of his misfortunes ; but he said, ' 'miserable comforters are ye all." Afterwards God appeared on the scene, but He did not explain any thmg to Job. So far as we know Job died in ignorance of the reasons of his trouble. But Jehovah called his attention to the signs of God's goodness, wisdom, and power in the heavens above and in the earth beneath. He seems to have called Job's attention to all that he could see ; and to have pointed out in all these the won- drous skill of the Creator. And Job was humbled. He cried out "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth Thee; therefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes, and I confess that I have spoken things I understood not." It was a lesson of faith. He saw that God was good enough, and wise enough, so that he could well afford to lie down as it were, in his arms : or give him the hand and let him lead, assured that He doeth all things well. So now we will not try to explain anything but seek to get our comfort from what is revealed in the gospel. In the fourth chapter of first Thessalonians, and the 13-18 verses are written these words, " I tvould not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them whtch are asleep, that ye sorroxv not, even as others which have no hope." Here we are taught that it is not only the privilege of Christians to have a consolation at the death of friends which the world does not have ; but it is their duty as well not to sorrow with that inconsolable, grief natural I, ^ 'i. V'i 3S5?».t.-3S*=aB9»5»'B>'?-^' 4i ■I rr-- if: w to those ^vho have no hope. Then the Lord by his apc^- Ue coes on to show why we have reason to be consoled. '/or if we believe that Jesm died and .ose agam, even so theZLo uM sleep in Jesus u^ill God bnng ^Uh /..« Tor this u. say unto you by the u.rd of the lord: hat^ u'hieh are alive and remain unto the eomngoj the Lord shall not go before then, u'hieh are asleep : for the Lord 1Z If shall deseendfron. heaven u^ith a ^hout.unth the Zee f the Arehangel, ana unth the tnjn,p of God: and the dead in am/"-(Mark the limit of the promise, the deadrChrist)-"./.«//m'- first. Then wewhuhareaHve tdnZt shall be eaught up together .iththen. ,n the Zds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we evef be tmZ Lord. Wherefore comfort one anot^^er wUh these Jords •• Here then is the very truth wh.ch our Lord has given for the comfort of his people in such t.mes as these. Let us see what it contams. First there is the truth : Qod's People Retain Their Identity. .'If we believe that Jesus rose again, even so.'* Mark this phrase, <• Even so.' Jesus is the pattern of what Godwin do for his own. In Romans, 8 11 it is written "if the Spirit that raised up Jesus dwell m you. He that raised up Christ will also quicken your mortal bodies.- Again it is written, (Romans 8: 29 ) -whom He did foreknow them He did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son. That he migh be the first born among many brethren. Here it is the declared purpose of God to people heaven with a mul- titude like His Son. In John's letter it is written it doth not^yet^ppear what we shall be, but when it does I ,;.H^„-jfc;e^-£---^-^'^>^'*^"^^ ■■:--^w>rS^a* 5,S?3W«fE'-ii ,5'(J^*4-'***S«^'''*'^ '-"^ ,:.:l-l&H't:^^^^%^'---'-^ v\'-u:^^':Mii.'-Vt i.i )rd by his apos- to be consoled. ;e again, nun so bring with htm. he Lord: that we ning of the Lord p : for the Lord a shout, tvith the nip of God : and the promise, the ve which are aiive with them in the 7 shall we ever be mother with these which our Lord in such times as entity. gain, even so." s is the pattern n Romans, 8 : 1 1 ap Jesus dwell in Iso quicken your (Romans 8: 29,) d predestinate to I. That he might ;n." Here it is the ;aven with a mul- r it is written, "it , but when it does 1 Funeral Services. 163 appear we shall be like Him for we shall sec Him aa He is." Again it is written in Philippians, 3 : 21 "who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body." Jesus himself is a book on the resurrection. Would you know anything of the power of God toward you, or his purposes, or willingness, look to see what he did with Jesus. He is the tvoe of all. ^P Now of him three things are true. {a) He was the same Jesus. He is the ".same yesterday, to-day and forever." When the wondering disciples saw him as- cending to heaven and stood gazing after him, angels said to them, "This same Jesus shall so come as ye see him go into heaven." When Paul was dazzled by the vision on his way to Damascus, and said who art thou Lord? the answer was, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutes!." When the beloved John, who had not seen his face nor heard his voice for sixty years, was permitted to open hi.-^[y'^^!^'^S^!^!S^-''^^^'- t. [le stains of sin nts of earth ex- then rejoice to- 1 and exaltation Lion, namely: d of Faith. to you. Your f him who is just )f tears has sub- mood has come, Christian bless- joys are not sel- imilies. Our fel- As we grow in liing out to more all the people of ^esight. We can lut if we be lifted lore and more as it we can see the istian experience, eople : and we en- At the meeting . Moody, this win- e listening to the days hundreds of the truths of salva- to each other yet ne woman said to nd friends to-day." Funeral Services. \6j We ar- told in the text that we shall meet all the be- lievers in our Lord. And we are glad. For one I want to see old grandmother Bliss, the mother of this father of ours, I want to know her as a mother in Israel who trained her boys to be so true to God. Father Sabin will want to meet old Dr. Stoughton, whom he rever- enced as a teacher, and Fuller, the theologian, by whose writings he profited. We all desire to meet the giants of Christian thought who wrought out the state- ments of doctrine for the world in the early centuries. We shall wish to sit and hear from the martyrs how the grace of God took the sting out of the fires of their martyrdom ; and from the early missionaries, the story of the triumphs of the truth over the hardness of heathen hearts. It seems as if all eternity will be too short to hear the story of redemption's work. Then we must talk with Paul who wrote these words of our text, and the epistles of our New Testament ; and with John, who gave us the words of Jesus in the 14th and 15th of his gospel, and told us of the city of God in his Revelation ; and there are the Prophets, and old Abra- ham, towering up in the grandeur of their faith, like pyramids of Egypt above the surrounding level. And back of them are Noah, and Methusaleh, and Enoch, and Abel. All that vast multitude of the household of faith, the church of the first-born, the company which no man can number, all they will be there, and we shall meet them. And, as our minds contemplate it in quiet, it w!l be seen to be a promise that is given to satisfy one of the deepest desires of the soul. And we shall meet them in the air, be caught up together with them to the company of the Savior. There is a question here which it is not well to pass by. -ii'^^MiKV^: >.:^*''' I i68 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabin. - r. 1^ ^ii 11 it Will These Earthly Relations Continue? Or, In Other Words, Will He Be Our Father And Grandfather Still ? We would be cautious in the answer, but we may say with confidence that nothing will be taken from us which adds to our comfort. If the joys of Heaven are more joy- ful by the dearer attachment to our own kin than to others, then we shall have that attachment. But it is possible to so outshine this love of kin in the flesh by the Christian kinship, that it is almost forgotten. He who is gone was almost more to us as a Christian than as a relative. Indeed it was the Christian spirit shm- ing through the relative which made him a prince, yea, a king of relatives. The moon has a glory of its own, and it is not taken away at sunrise ; yet the glory of the sun is so much greater that we do not see the moon m the day time. Paul said of the Old Testament that it was glorious, but it came to have no glory because of the glory of that which excelleth. Undoubtedly the love of Mary for her son was great. I do not wonder that the church of Rome exalts Mary. The angel said at the annunciation, "Blessed art thou among women." ,>at she give birth to the Christ, the Savior of the world, the King of Heaven, this was transcendent honor. And she knew it, and none could have more love than she for that boy. Yet, when she came to know that she like all others was saved by the cross, and that the pain she saw him suffer, that shame which she saw him bear on the tree, which nearly broke her heart to see, was endured in part for her sins that she might have a new and living way to the throne of grace, and accepted him as her Savior, it seems as if she would be occupied with thoughts of him as Savior more 1" Funeral Sennces. .69 n Other Words, ler Still P jt we may say 1 from us which 1 are more joy- n kin than to :nt. But it is the flesh by the ten. He who Christian than an spirit shin- 1 a prince, yea, )ry of its own, ;he glory of the ee the moon in stament that it lory because of ndoubtedly the do not wonder The angel said mong women." le Savior of the IS transcendent 3uid have more n she came to :d by the cross, lat shame which :h nearly broke or her sins that o the throne of it seems as if she n as Savior more than as son. Of this Jesus gave a kind intimation when he said to those who reported to him that his mother was without, and wished to see him. Looking around on his disciples, he said, "behold my mother and my brethren." This seems to teach,— not that he had left his love for his mother,— but th?it he had taken all his disciples in the .same close circle of his affections as his mother. At another time he said, "In heaven they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels." James and John were sons of Zedebee, and therefore brothers ; yet they were both apostles. And it would not seem strange if, as they came to realize the great honor and responsibility they had from our Lord in being the authoritative teachers of his gospel, the foundation builders of the church of the new covenant, that this fellowship of work, and the fellowship in Christ out-ranked all other relations, and John the fellow apostle was dearer to James than John the brother. But this we can leave to him who loved us and gave his life for us. Among the writings I have seen of late is this sentence, "God never does anything which a man would not do if he knew as much as God." There- suits will justify the ways of God. But let us consider another truth of the text. We shall be with the Lord forever. Brethren, we know what it is to get a glimpse of Christ by faith. We have sometimes been with a iew of his people when we ail had such a sense of his good- ness and glory that we felt like lengthening out the hours. Did nr t our heart burn within us while we f\ ,70 Life of Rev. Alvah Sabtn. talked of him and his grace? Yet that was only an^hour of faith in him. Looking over Father Sabin's writing I found an account of a time when he had a clear view of Christ's mercy, and he said it seemed as if he could ' 'walk on eggs and not break them. " But alas ! these times are to short and too seldom. Yet they are, we are told, the earnest of our inheritance. Now when a man buys a piece of property of a stranger he pays five dollars to bind the bargain. This is to show that he is in earnest. That money is called the "earnest money." It is just like the balance of what is to come. So the holy spirit which gives us these joyful seasons is said to be the "earnest of our inheritance." We have enough to make us long for more full knowledge of Jesus. But we shall be with him forever. Those lips which we have longed to hear speak will speak to us ; that face which we have longed to see will smile upon us, the tabernacle of God will be with men, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people. We have heard some say that when they reached the other side they should go at once to Jesus. To those of a few years in Christian life this seems strange. But as we grow older in his service it gets to be our own de- sire and expectation. Paul said, "I long to depart and to be with Christ. " And we may well believe that our father and friend has ere this seen Jesus, and is now, while we are studying with tearful eyes the truth about our Savior, sitting at his feet listening to the lips that had so often interceded with the Father for him. This hope it is that fills the soul with longing. It will be the joy of heaven to thus be with Jesus. The figure chosen to tell us of heavens joy is a marriage feast, and there the bridegroom is the center of attraction, and he is , l|Msftt»i*l!* . s L-> j»' »wii ^a^aeL-js pj«iSi«S«SW5»«'