joined the N. E. Conference, and was subsequently stationed, between 1845 and 1854, at North Malden, Gloucester, Lunenburg, Princeton, Blandford Center, and Williamsburg, Ms.

At the latter place, in 1853, he entered upon his journal the following: "Dec. 21. For a long time my views have been leaning toward Congregationalism." To this subject his journal afterwards makes frequent allusions. Jan. 24, 1854, among other reasons for becoming a Congregationalist, he assigns the following: "I am so much a Calvinist that I can preach with much more freedom in the Congregational pulpit than in the Methodist. That I am a Calvinist in the sense in which some define the term, is untrue. But that I am a Calvinist in the sense that such men as E. A. Park, E. N. Kirk, Lyman Beecher, J. B. Cleaveland, and other leading divines in the Congregational Church define and preach the doctrines, I firmly believe. But this I cannot be, and retain my present (Church) relations. That my native temperament and acquired talent are both more in unison with respect to what I understand to be demanded by Congregationalists, than with what I know to be demanded by Methodists, seems to me a clear case. I love to be earnest, but do not like to be required to stamp and thunder in order to make it manifest." Jan. 31. "If I am under a cloud, O let me know it. Among other things, I may set down the fact of our familiar friends acknowledging that I am more adapted to that system than to Methodism. One thing I think is certain-as I have not been a bigoted Methodist, no more can I be a bigoted Congretionalist. Shunning all rocks, may I be useful more and more."

February 4, 1854. He was regularly dismissed from the Methodist Conference, with a view of joining the Congregationalists, and on the 7th was received by the Hampshire Ass0ciation of Congregational Ministers. On the 13th, he received and accepted an invitation to supply the Church at Warwick, Ms. After about one year's labor, May 16th, he was installed pastor of that Church, and discharged its duties with great fidelity and acceptance though frequently interrupted by sickness -until May, 1859, when, in hopes of improvement in his health, he asked a dismission; but without waiting for the action of the Church, he left for Minnesota. There he passed some weeks, without experiencing the hoped-for benefit, and then returned to Warwick. Having in some degree recruited his powers, he was induced to withdraw his request, and for a time continue his very acceptable labors

with that beloved people. But finding the task, and especially his pulpit preparations, too great for his strength, he accepted a unanimous invitation from the Church in Colebrook, N. H.; was dismissed from Warwick, and removed to C. in January, 1860. Sickness, for months, was again his lot; but in April following, he was able to resume his labors. August 7th he was installed as pastor of that Church, and, occupying a new and very commodious parsonage, he entered upon his duties under very cheering and encouraging circumstances, with the exception of the previous condition of his health. The hopes fondly cherished in respect to that, proved abortive. Consumption had laid its relentless grasp upon him, and he fell its victim. Dec. 23. 1861, he departed this life, aged 38 years and 4 months. With reference to that Church and people, it is but justice to say that seldom, if ever, has a pastor been more cordially received, and his services more acceptable; and never has a warmer and more unfailing sympathy been manifested toward one going down under that lingering but fatal disease, unabating to the last.

One who knew him intimately from early youth to the close of life, a fellow-laborer in the gospel field, thus delineates his character: "As a preacher he was solemn and instructive; as a pastor, kind and sympathetic; as a Christian, his piety was deep, uniform and benevolent; as a husband, he was affectionate and faithful; and as a father, he evinced the deepest interest for the intellectual, moral, and religious improvement of his children."

February 15, 1846, he married Miss Elizabeth F. Cady, of Stafford, Ct., a worthy partner and fellow-laborer. Their children were three sons and two daughters-the eldest about fifteen, and the youngest two and a half years of age. These he left in indigent circumstances, commending them to the God of the fatherless and widow. Their condition weighed heavily on his spirits in view of death, but in the end he could say, "that struggle is over; I can leave them in the hands of God."

Many were the apparent fruits of his labors, particularly in revivals enjoyed under his ministry, especially in Malden, Blandford Center, and Warwick.

As death approached, his language was,— "Jesus can make a dying bed

Feel soft as downy pillows are."

When unable to speak, he was asked "if all was well; if Jesus was all to him, to lift his hand." That poor, emaciated hand was once more lifted in testimony for the Lord, and thus he fell asleep in Jesus. J. B. H.

Mrs. MARY CLARK died in South Plymouth, Feb. 2d, 1862, aged 99 years, 9 months, 16 days.

To have been fanned by the breezes of a hundred summers, and chilled by the frosts of a hundred winters; to have lived long enough to bury the entire population of the world, numerically, three times, is enough, of itself, to make the person who commenced life a century ago, an object of deep interest to all the living. When such an one dies, so distinguished by length of days, some suitable memorial should be preserved.

The character of Mrs. Clark was marked by those traits which were hid from public notice, by living in a retired spot, and still more by that abounding modesty which made her like Sarah, always in the tent. There, "she openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her own household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praiseth her."

The very able writer of the biography of Rev. Joseph S. Clark, D.D. has published to the world the character of a man of rare excellence and almost unparalleled usefulness. When we look upon the majestic river as it sweeps by us, we are apt to forget its origin in the mountains; so, in admiring the extensive usfulness of Dr. Clark, we are in danger of overlooking that agency by which the foundation of his character was laid

The prominent traits of Mrs. C.'s character were, I may say, perfect self-control, unwavering truth and integrity, system, which had a plan for the work of every day, and abounding kindness, that never thought evil of any

one.

None could see Mrs. C. long without being delighted with her native urbanity and Puritan wit. A single example only can be given. In celebrating her 99th birth-day, when seated in the most ample chair in the house, she quietly said to her daughter: "If any one comes in, older than I am, give them this chair." To the end of life these characteristics were shown.

These traits of character were kept in vigorous action, by a deep moral and religious principle that underlaid the whole fabric of her intellectual being. Like the ever to be remembered Evarts, she was never known to be in a hurry. The writer of this article knew her intimately for nearly sixty-six years, but never knew her step to be hastened, her voice to be raised, or her cheek to be flushed by excitement of any kind. She was the

same, apparently, under all the changing circumstances of life. This has had much to do in protracting her earthly pilgrimage, and made her the leading spirit in her family, and in all circles where she was best known.

Her yea was always yea, and her nay, nay. If all professing Christians were like her, there would be no occasion to give Paul's advice to our churches: "Brethren, lie not one to another." Her utterances were the simple truth, without the slightest tinge of variation. In the language of a son, "She never told any lies to her children. What she promised they were sure to have, even to a whipping."

Her principles of strict honesty will be best shown by an item of her history. She occupied the same room with Mrs. Coffin, the mother of her son Nathaniel's wife, 25 years. As Mrs. Clark had the best eye-sight, she always swept the room. The pins found were always divided by her, and if there was an odd one, it was always given to Mrs. Coffin.

Mrs. Clark's mother was a Blackmer-the daughter of Dea. John B., sister of Dea. Branch B., and aunt to Dea. John B., of the third generation. Here we find the surroundings of her childhood and youth, and a practical illustration of the assurance, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." As order and system abounded in the structure of her mind, she was able to accomplish much in her domestic concerns, without hurry or bustle. These traits of character, so much admired in the late Dr. Clark, were only the showings of his mother, on an enlarged and

elevated scale.

Other children of this "mother in Israel" have quite as much of this valuable quality as Dr. C. I heard one of them say "he could put his hand upon any tool he might want, in the darkness of night." With him, as with his mother, there was a place for everything, and everything in its place.

Mrs. Clark's heart seemed an embodiment of Paul's description of Charity. As she had a kind feeling for all, she had not an unkind word for any. She never had a part in any neighborhood misunderstanding. She always had a soft word to turn away wrath, but never a word to engender strife.

As might be supposed, she entered into the afflictions of all. She spent more nights over the sick and dying-her family cares notwithstanding-than any other woman in the community where she lived. Being fond of reading, and the Bible being her principal book, she exemplified the language of Paul, 2 Tim. iii 16. Until within a few months of her death, she read her bible without glasses. To

the end of her life she ever gladly joined in prayer, however great her pain; or listened to the reading of God's word by her son's wife, who watched over her own mother, Mrs. Coffin, and over this last mother, with all the untiring care of a loving mother for her infant children. No cloud darkened Mrs. C.'s spiritual horizon in the end of life. Her sun went down without an intervening shadow.

She has left but three male descendants of the third generation. One of these is the son of the late Dr. C., now settled in Yarmouth. While she leaves, in the person of her grandson, this public representative of her love to the Saviour, she leaves but one descendant, till the fourth generation, who is not connected with the visible church. If all mothers do not live as long as Mrs. C., let them strive to imitate her example.

S. H.

Rev. HENRY HUTCHENS died at Prairie du Sac, Sauk Co., Wis., February 11th, 1862, aged 49 years.

He was born in the city of Portsea, in the South of England, and lived there for about forty years. He was bred a mechanic, but became a merchant and importer, in which business he acquired a fortune. So successful was he, for years, that his friends often remarked that his hands were like the fabled Philosopher's stone-whatever they touched turned to gold.

He had a cottage on the Isle of Wight, as a summer residence for his family, and often spent his moonlight evenings roaming in meditation amidst the scenes described by Leigh Richmond in the Young Cottager and his African Servant.

During a period of great financial panic and distress in the year 1848, as a result of lenity and kindness to his debtors, he was reduced to bankruptcy. His creditors deeply sympathizing with him, held a meeting and voted him a sum sufficient for him to enter upon a small business again. This he continued untill 1854, when with his family he embarked for America-landed in New York, and in company with a few friends, at once came to Baraboo, where he settled.

The Christian life of Mr. H. was marked with unusual interest in its entire history. He was connected with a large family who had ever lived in utter neglect of even the forms of religion-observing no Sabbath and entering no sanctuary. At the age of 19, in passing a dissenting chapel one Sunday, he was attracted by the music-felt a desire to enter, and proposed to his companions to do so. They were unwilling, but promised to go with

him the next Sunday. On the next Lord's day he called for them, but they were not ready to go, and he went alone. There Jesus met him, and made him a monument of his grace. He at once entered with zeal into his service. His father being dead, he became a minister to his mother's household-preaching to them of Jesus. During the first year he had the happiness of seeing his parent and four other members of the family rejoicing with him in the Lord.

He soon began to labor in the work of the ministry, with the approbation of the church with which he was connected. His first labors were at the city alms-house; then in the destitute villages in the neighborhood of Portsea, sometimes travelling ten miles out and back, and preaching three times on the Sabbath. He went also into the neglected portions of the city and engaged in street preaching; many being attracted by the novelty to come out to hear; others raised their windows and sat and listened. He engaged much in open air preaching for years. His first Christian connection was with the Baptist denomination. He afterwards became acquainted with a devout people whose views of communion accorded with his own, -the Plymouth Brethren,-and he united with them, and by them, also, was recognized as a minister of Jesus. He built and furnished a chapel at his own expense, and continued to preach for them until he left England.

He came out from his native country much as Abram left his father's house,-going out under God's direction,-not knowing whither. When a few days from New York, their ship discovered a wreck. A tempest was prevailing. An effort was made to rescue the perishing. Volunteers went out in the life boat for that purpose; the boat was dashed in pieces. Mr. H. then called together his Christian fellow passengers for prayer. They besought the Lord for a calm, and His assistance in saving the wrecked ones. The wind soon lulled, and he had the happiness of assisting on board, one by one, each of the 500 emaciated beings, who for weeks had been driven at the mercy of the storm. Twenty minutes thereafter the wreck went down.

From New York he came at once to Baraboo, and found himself among strangers and nearly destitute of money. He found a rude and unfinished dwelling for his family, and obtained for them a scanty subsistence by daily labor, and selling a portion of his and their wardrobe. He preached in his own house and elsewhere as he had opportunity. During the following year he preached a few months at the Baptist

Church at Dellton, and from them he received the first money he had ever taken for preaching. He has since preached for Congregational Churches of Lyndon, Newport, Baraboo and Prairie du Sac, honored and beloved by the friends of Jesus who knew him.

In August, 1857, he united with the Madison Presbyterian and Congregational Convention, at their meeting in Baraboo, and has ever been regarded by his ministerial associates as a brother beloved.

His last sermon was preached at Mazomanie in November last, on the "Prodigal Son." He arose from a sick bed to make this last public effort. It was said by those who heard it to be one of overwhelming power.

Mr. H., as a man and a minister, was Godmade as a student, self-made; and yet well made. He was a diligent and thorough scholar. He had a natural impediment in his speech, painful at first to some of his hearers. This was entirely removed by a surgical operation performed by Dr. S. H. Bassinger, of Prairie du Sac, some two years since.

Few men possessed his acquaintance with the scriptures. It had been his practice for twenty-five years or more, to spend one hour at least each day in their critical study, and until within a few years, without the aid of commentaries. He compared scripture with scripture until he was mighty in his knowledge of them. There was no portion of the Bible, it is believed, which he had not carefully examined.

As a man of faith and prayer he was a kindred spirit with George Müller. A volume of incidents might be gathered to prove this. In his greatest straits, in years past, he never suffered from anxiety. "Jesus will take care of us, and all is well," was his constant feeling. And he was not disappointed. Lord did provide. On his dying bed, although leaving a large and dependent family in penury, he suffered not one anxiety for their future wants. He left them trustingly in the hands of his Master.

The

His last sickness was painful; at times he was in excruciating agony. His moans and groans were prayers for continued patience and trust, and that he might soon meet his Saviour. When his physicians pronounced his disease mortal, it produced an exhilaration and joy unbounded. For an entire day he was in ecstacies. He said that he felt like getting up from his couch and leaping for joy. Thinking that his joy might be mistakenconstrued into a want of interest in his family, he said to his physician, “Doctor, I hope you will not think that I do not love my dear wife VOL. IV.

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and children; I know that when I am taken away, Jesus will take better care of them than I can." When it was evident that he could not survive, he said to his wife, "Now, my dear, you must not restrain me any longer from talking to all who come in. I must work while the day lasts." At his request, a postmortem examination was made, which revealed a large tumor upon the liver, which had seriously diseased the digestive and assimilating organs. Thus in the midst of his days, a good man has passed away; one "of whom the world was not worthy."

"The memory of the just is blessed,
Ile being dead, yet speaketh."

S. A. D.

Rev. JOHN WHEELER, D.D., died at Burlington, Vt., April 16, 1862, aged 64 years, 1 month, and 5 days.

He was a son of John Brooks and Hannah (Hills) Wheeler, and was born in Grafton, Vt., March 11, 1798. At the age of six years, he removed with his parents to Orford, N. H., which was thereafter the family residence. He was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1816, the youngest member of his class, but taking rank as a scholar with such men as Charles B. Hadduck, Absalom Peters, George A. Simmons, and Joseph Torrey, who were among his classmates. He was graduated at Andover, in 1819, and received license from the Haverhill Association at Boxford, Ms., Aug. 4th, 1819.

He was ordained pastor of the Congregational Church in Windsor, Vt., Nov. 1, 1821. Rev. Roswell Shurtleff, D.D., of Hanover, N. H., preached the sermon. He immediately took high rank as a pulpit orator, and his services were in frequent demand on special occasions, such as ordinations, anniversaries, and the like. A most emphatic tribute to his talents was his election, at the age of twentysix years, to the Presidency of the University of Vermont. This he declined, being unwilling to leave the Church to which he had ministered only three years. On the resignation of Pres. Marsh, nine years afterwards, he was again called to preside over that institution, in such manner that he felt it his duty to accept. He was dismissed from the pastorate at Windsor, Oct. 16, 1833, and immediately entered upon the duties of the Presidency.

From that time forward, his best energies were devoted to the welfare of the University. He raised up friends for it; he secured large and generous subscriptions for it, and carried it through seasons of great trial and perplexity; he maintained and elevated the standard of scholarship. In August, 1848, the health

of his family induced him to resign his charge, but he remained a member of the corporation and a liberal donor as long as he lived. A few years ago, he gave $500 as a fund for the purchase of works in English literature; and only the week before he died, he deeded lands of the value of $1,500, the income of which should be devoted to the purchase of works in natural history.

Among his publications are a sermon at the ordination of Rev. Worthington Smith, at St. Albans, June 4, 1823; before the Vermont Do

mestic Missionary Society in 1826; before the Vermont Colonization Society in 1827; on occasion of the death of Pres. Harrison, Hon. John Smith, Rev. James Marsh; a discourse before the Porter Rhetorical Society, at Andover, in 1834; a historical discourse on occasion of the semi-centennial anniversary of the University of Vermont; and a valedictory address before the Medical Class in 1859. Of these the most valuable is the address before the Porter Rhetorical Society, which is well worthy a more enduring form than that of a pamphlet.

P. H. W.

The names of the Editors of this Quarterly are regularly printed upon its title-page. It has no others. Such as they are, they feel obliged to take the responsibility. It would be rather inconvenient for them to undertake to share that responsibility with the denomination at large; inasmuch as the denomination at large will not attend Editors' meetings. They therefore beg leave, in the kindest manner, to say to the denomination at large that they, most respectfully, are compelled to decline all strictly editorial assistance from the denomination at large, and they hope the denomination at large will not feel badly about it.

This remark is made with particular reference to certain votes, which we are informed, have been occasionally passed by Conferences, Associations, and the like, thanking certain of their members for Essays, Reviews, &c., &c., read by them, and "requesting a copy for publication in the Congregational Quarterly." We are, of course, very grateful for the receipt of any MSS., which any of our friends, and subscribers, may think it would be desirable to have published in our pages. But we must, of necessity, claim our editorial privilege (and duty) of free decision as to whether such MSS. are, on the whole, suitable for insertion, and, if generally suitable, whether they are worthiest of the mass of generally suitable matter on hand for admission. And when any of our brethren write to us by way of complaint because such MSS. so forwarded, are not speedily inserted; as if they considered that the fact that the majority of the members of an As

sociation are subscribers to the Quarterly, give them a claim to demand the gratuitous printing in its pages of all such essays that may be read before them-we must reserve the privilege of smiling benignantly over the thoughtlessness of some good men. When a man-clerical or lay-subscribes for the Quarterly and pays for it, he has a claim to receive its four numbers for the then current year [more matter, by the way, than he gets for any other invested dollar] punctually as the quarters come round. He does not acquire a claim, thereby, either to edit it, or to use it as his private and gratuitous printing press. This we beg may be distinctly understood.

As we said before, we are grateful for all MSS. deemed suitable for our columns, but we must always exercise our own best judgment as to its fitness for our use, and as to the time of its insertion, if we consider it fit.

We received a communication from our friend the "Old School" Physician, in reply to our comments upon his note published in the Editors' Table of our January number, in good season for insertion in our April issue; but-with several pages of obituaries, in type-it was crowded out by the unexpected length of the first and last articles in that number. We have since received a second note from him, in continuation of the subject. After some consideration, we have felt that we should pay better respect to the evident honesty and earnestness of his views, and do better justice to the important subject involved,—