THE LIBRARIES Bequest of Frederic Bancroft 1860-1945 ': V r( ^i', C^9 f f ..[%/ r r^-./ .V, ,?^. / " V V -^^ c^^yt^. c^^^^^ ^ V / / ^:^.^ /f/lJW..^ &. ,^4. /6 /CA-^^ AUTOBIOGRAPHY FIRST FORTY-ONE YEARS OF THE LIFE SYLVANUS COBB, D.D TO WHICH IS ADDED A MEMOIR, BY HIS ELDEST SON, SYLVANUS COBB, Jr. BOSTON: 7s O;. 37 CdRNHILL. 186 7. o-'X ' '' i CC3¥ Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1867, by EUNICE H. COBB, in the Clerk's Oflace of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts. ^a^^ t>C _ 8TE|BOTTP'Ei;fcAKDPRINT.EDET , 122 Washington St., Boston. TO AND TO THOSE WHO, IN TIMKS PAST, HAVE ENJOYED THE COMFORTS OF A HOME BENEATH THE ROOF OF THE '' Castle of Peace/* IN MEMORY OF HIM, WHOSE EVERY EARTHLY HOPE AND AIBI OF LIFE CENTERED IN THE ONE DESIRE TO 5IAKE THAT HOME PEACEFUL AND HAPPY, THIS VOLUME IS AmCTlONATfilY DEDICATED BY ONE OF THE PEIVILEaED NUMBER. THE MEMUIKIST. PREFACE BY THE MEMOIRIST. In presenting this autobiography to the public, it seems appropriate that I should, in this place, offer a few remarks touching the character of the work, and the circumstances under which it was written. The idea of writing his autobiography did not originate with Mr. Cobb. After he had retired from the editorial chair, and had rested awhile from the arduous and wearing labor of producing the," Commentary on the New Testa- ment," his twin sons, Cyrus and Darius, seeing that his strength was failing, and that he needed some healthful occupation of mind, suggested to him that he should write a history of his life, urging, in addition to its value as a biography, the important contribution it would afford to the history of Universalism in this country ; and that he might feel no delicacy in prosecuting the work, they pro- posed themselves to assume the responsibility of its publi- cation. The suggestion pleased him, and he forthwith set about the work ; not taking hold of it as a stated labor, but rather as a source of mental recreation. In the midst of the work, however, his health failed him to such an extent that the wielding of the pen, with the accompany- ing travail of thought, fatigued him ; and finally it came to pass that his physicians were obliged to limit his sea- 5 6 PREFACE BY THE MEMOIRIST. sons of labor ; towards the last allowing him to remain at his desk not more than ten or fifteen minutes at any one sitting. And his manuscript plainly bears evidence of the pain with which his hand, at times, must have dragged over the page. Of course Mr. Cobb had no opportunity for a general revision of his work, as he left it at a point where he fully expected to take it up again, — to take it up and carry it to a conclusion ; for, after that, he made important arrangements, looking for their consummation to a point almost a year beyond the day on which he put his pen for the last time to the manuscript of his autobiog- raphy. Still he must have revised somewhat, for I find many places where he has evidently turned back and made alterations and amendments, showing that his taste and judgment were still up to their old standard of beauty and strength. The autobiographer has confined himself mainly to facts, and those he has recorded so plainly and concisely that even a child may follow him with perfect understanding. To the Universalists of New England, and more es- pecially to those of Maine, this record will be invaluable. The story of Mr. Cobb's early life is, in fact, a history of Universalism in Maine. He was for some j^ears the chief pioneer of the faith in that State, and in his life-record we have an account of the birth and subsequent growth of many of the most flourishing of our societies in that sec- tion of the Master's heritage. And the same may be said in regard to other localities, as he performed much pioneer labor after he removed to Massachusetts. It seems almost an interposition of Divine Providence PREFACE BY THE MEMOIIilST. 7 that Mr. Cobb's life was spared to bring the record down to the establishment of his Christian Freeman; because from that date there was no difficulty in the taking up of the narrative by another, as the files of his weekly publi- cation afforded sufficient guide to one who had been closely associated with him in business during the greater portion of the time subsequent to the issue of the first number of the paper. Down to that point — the going forth of his Freeman — the good Lord held up his hand, and then the pen was dropped ! To be sure, Mr. Cobb had kept a journal from the earliest times of his ministerial labor, and he had fragmentary records extending back to his school- boy days ; but none other than himself could have filled in all that was necessary to the presenting of a true and faithful picture of his life therefrom ; or, at least, none other could have done it so well. Verily, the hand of God sustained him for a purpose ; and that purpose was accom- plished. Thus far Mr. Cobb had been battling with what he sin- cerely believed to be false and dangerous systems of relig- ion, and he had no delicacy in making a plain statement of what he conceived to be his successes and his victories ; but when he finally stepped forth into a new field, and set himself about the work of battling against errors that were winked at, if not directly upheld, by many of his own denomination, — when he started out upon the work of assisting to elevate the denomination itself, — I doubt if he would have done himself justice in the record. I doubt it, because I do not believe that he himself fully realized and appreciated the great work he had accomplished. As 8 PREFACE BY THE MEMOIRIST. he sat there at his desk, with his manhood's accumulated labors of half a century bearing the earthly tabernacle down to the grave, he did not know, he did not realize, how much he had accomplished. He had seen and gloried in the magnificent result to his denomination, and to his country, and to humanity everywhere ; but his modesty of feeling, and generous impulse of according to others their full due, prevented him from comprehending how much he had done towards the grand consummation. And so, since in the providence of God, it was not permitted to him to finish the record, does it not appear that he left it in just the right place ? And now, dear reader, the autobiography is before you ; and be sure, as you read it, that you are reading the record of one whose soul was fraught with desire for the good of his fellows, and whose highest hope in giving that record to the world was, that benefit might result from its perusal. And I do not think his hope will be without its fruition ; for of all the lessons of good that are given men to study, none can be studied with more profit than the life-lessons which are borne in the record of a truly great and good man. And such, in all faith and candor, I believe our autobiographer to have been. SYLVANUS COBB, Jr. Norway, Jan. 18, 1867. REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D HIS ANCESTRY. I AM able to trace my lineal descent from Elder Hemy Cobb as my immigrant ancestor. He is said to have come over from England to the " Old Colony" in America, by the second trip of the Mayflower, which was but a very few years after her first V03"age, with the Pilgrim Fathers, in 1620. Farmer's "Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England" says of him, "He came to Plymouth as early as 1629 ; was at Scituate in 1633 ; re- moved to Barnstable, where he died in 1679, leaving seven sons and four daughters. His descendants, says the antiquary of Plymouth (2 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc, IV. 247,) are as numerous, figuratively, " as the sands on the sea- shore." Nineteen of the name had graduated at the New England colleges in 1828. From a series of chapters on the " History of Barn- stable," by Amos Otis, Esq., published in the " Barnstable Patriot" in 1862, I extract the following statistics of the Cobb genealogy, which appear to have been collected with much painstaking research : — 9 10 REV. SYLVANUS COBB. D.D. ELDER HENRY COBB. Three of the name of Cobb came to New England, and if John of Plymouth and John of Taunton are not the same, four. The Cobbs of Georgia are a different family, though perhaps remotely related. Thomas R. R. Cobb, a brother of the rebel Gen. Howell Cobb, in aletter dated at Athens, Ga., April?, 1857. says: "I have but little information as to my remote ancestry. The tradition, as I have received it from my ftither, is, that seven brothers originally emigrated from England. Four settled in Vii-ginia, three went to Massachusetts. Their names or subse- quent history I never learned. I have heard my father say that his grandfather would frequently relate that the brother from whom he was descended, bought his wife from an emigrant ship for seven hundred pounds of tobacco. My father, grand- father, and great-grandfather were all named John." Traditions are usually worthless. Three of the name came to Massachusetts, as stated in the letter ; but there is no evi- dence that they were brothers. The presumption is they were not. Mr. Pratt, in his " History of Eastham," page 27, gives an account of the origin of the Cobb families, founded on a tradi- tion which is wholly unreliable. He says four of the name, sons of Sylvanus, came over, namely, Jonathan, from Harwich, England, settled in Eastham ; Eleazer, in Hingham ; Sylvanus, north of Boston ; and Benjamin, whose son Isaac was Port Ad- miral of Yarmouth, England. Jonathan was a descendant of Henry, and born in Barnstable. Respecting Benjamin, the doc- ument quoted by Mr. Pratt says, he settled near Rhode Island, which is very doubtful. Descendants of Augustine were in that vicinity. The Eleazer and Sylvanus he names were probably both descendants of Henry. No Eleazer settled in Hingham. The earliest of the name in that town was Richard, who is called of Boston. He had a son Thomas, born 28th March, 1693, probably the one of that name who settled in Eastham, and married Mary Freeman, before 1719. A Thomas Cobb, Sen'r, died in Hingham Jan. 4, 1707-8. Edward Cobb was of Taunton, in 1657, married at Plymouth, 28 Nov., 1660, Mary Haskins, and died 1G75, leaving a son Edward. His widow married Samuel Philips. HIS ANCESTRY. ' 11 Augustine Cobb was of Taunton in 1670, and had Elizabeth, bora 10 Feb., 1771; Morgan, 29 Dec., 1673; Samuel, 9 Nov., 1675 ; Bethia, 5 April, 1678 ; Mercy, 12 Aug., 1680 ; and Abigail, 1684. Gen. David Cobb, one of the aids of Washington in the army of the revolution, is a descendant from Augustine. John Cobb of Taunton from 1653 to 1777, Mr. Baylies says, came from Plymouth ; if so, he was a son of Henry of Barn- stable. A John Cobb, who appears to have been a resident in Taunton, administered on tiie estate of his brother Gershom, who was killed at Swanzey by the Indians, June 24, 1675. Mr. Savage thinks there were two John Cobbs; but I prefer the authority of Mr. Baylies. There is only one entry on the records that favors the supposition that there were two John Cobbs, and that, after careful examination, I think is an error of the town clerk of Taunton. Elder Henry Cobb married in 1631, Patience, daughter of Dea. James Hurst, of Plymouth. She Avas "bmyed May 4, 1648, the first that was buryed in our new burying-23lace by our meeting-house." (Lothrop's Church Rec.) He was married to his second wife, Sarah, daughter of Samuel Hinckley, by Mr. Prince, Dec. 12, 1649. He died in 1679, and his wife Sarah sur- vived him. In his will, dated April 4, 1678, proved June 3, 1679, and in the codicil thereto, dated February 28, 1678, he gives his gi-eat lot of land in Barnstable to his son James, the latter paying Elder Cobb's son John £5 for his interest therein. Names his sons John, James, Gershom, and Eleazer, to whom he had here- tofore given half his lands at Suckinesset, — gave his "new dwelling-house " * and all the rest of his uplands and meadows to his wife Sarah. In his will he gave his dwelling-house, after the decease of his wife, to his son Samuel ; but in the codicil, to *<'His new dwelling-house." I am inclined to the opinion that Elder Cobb sold his stone house to Nathaniel Bacon, in his lifetime, and that the house to which he refers was on his " great lot," and that it was afterwards owned by son James and grandson Gershom. In 1S23, Mr. Josiah Childs, a descendant in the female line, pointed out a post to me in his fence, and said, " Fifty years ago I mortised that post from a timber taken from the house of the first Gershom Cobb," and said that from information he had obtained from his ancestors the house was over one hundred years old, which consequently was built in the life- time of the Elder. That house stood on his "great lot," near the ancient pear- trees now standing. (See account of third Gershom Hall.) 12 BEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. his son Henry. lie also names his son Jonathan, and daugh- ters Mary, Hannah, Patience, and Sarah. ClIILDIlEN BORN IN PLYMOUTH. I. John, born 7 June, 1G32. Removed from Barnstable to Plymouth, and from thence, according to Mr. Baylies, to Taun- ton, and returned again to Plymouth about the year 1G78. He married twice; first, 28 Aug., 1658, Martha Nelson, of P.; second, June 13, 1676, Jane Woodward, of Taunton. His children were John, born 24 June, 1662, in P., died young; Samuel, Israel, and Elizabeth, the dates of whose bivths are not given, probably born in Taunton ; John, born in Taunton 31 March, 1678, according to the return, probably 1677 ; Elisha, in Plymouth, 3 April, 1678 ; and James, 20 July, 1682. Elisha, of this family, probably settled in Wellfleet, and had Col. Elisha and Thomas. Col. Elisha had five sons, and has descendants in the lower towns of this county. A Thomas Cobb married Mary Freeman of Eastham before 1719, and probably was not the Thomas above named. II. James, born 14 Jan., 1634. (See account of him and his family below.) Born in Scituate. III. Mary, 24 March, 1637. She married, 15 Oct., 1657, Jon- athan Dunham, then of Barnstable, andwas his second wife. His first wife was Mary, daughter of Philip Delano, whom he mar- ried 29 Nov., 1655. He removed to Middleboro', was some time minister to the Indians at the islands, but was in 1694 ordained at Edgartowm. IV. Hannah, 5 Oct., 1639, married, 9 May, 1661, Edward Lewis. She died Jan. 17, 1729-30, aged 90 years, 3 months, 12 days. Born in Barnstable. V. Patience, baptized 13 March, 1641-2; married Robert Parker Aug., 1667, his second wife. After his death in 1684, she probably married Dea. William Crocker. VI. Gershom, born 10, baptized 12 Jan., 1644-5. He removed to Middleboro', where he was constable in 1671, and on the grand jury in 1674. He was buried at Swanzey 24 June, 1675, HIS ANCESTRY. 13 having, with eight others, been killed that day by the forces of Philip. His brother John administered on his estate, which was divided in equal proportions to the children of Mr. Henry Cobb of Barnstable, only John, the older son, to have a double por- tion. Vn. Eleazer, born 30 March, 1648. He was admitted a townsman Dec, 1678, when he was 24, indicating that he was then unmarried. He was of Barnstable in 1703, andjis he had only twelve and a half shares in the common lands, the pre- sumption is that he was not then a householder. It does not appear that he had a family. His death is not recorded, and the settlement of his estate is not entered on the probate records. It may be, but it is not probable, that he was the Eleazer whom Mr. Pratt says settled in Hingham. VIII. Mehetabel, born 1 Sept., 1651, died 8 March, 1652. IX. Samuel, born Oct. 12, 1654. (See account below.) X. Sarah, born 15 Jan., 1658, died Jan. 25, 1658. XI. Jonathan, born 10 April, 1660. (See account below.) XII. Sarah, born 10 March, 1662-3, married, 27 Dec, 1686, Dea. Samuel Chipman of Barnstable. She had ten children. Her sons Thomas, Samuel, John, Seth, and Barnabas, were men who held a high rank in society. The late Chief Justice Nathaniel Chipman, LL.D., was her grandson. She died Jan. 8, 1742-3, aged nearly 80. XIII. Henry, born 3 Sept., 1665, inherited the paternal man- sion. He was married by Justice Thacher, 10 April, 1690, to Lois Hallet. Oct. 9, 1715, he was dismissed from the Barn- stable, to the church in Stonington, Conn. His children born in Barnstable w^ere Gideon, 11 April, 1691; Eunice, 18 Sept., 1693 ; Lois, 2 IVLarch, 1696 ; and Nathan, baptized June 1, 1700. Margaret, the wife of Gideon, of this family, was admitted July 31, 1726, to the church in Hampton, Conn. He afterwards removed from H. XIV. Mehetabel, born 15 Feb., 1667. XV. Experience, born 11 Sept., 1671. Neither of these two daughters being mentioned in the will of their father, the presumption is they died young. Sergeant James Cobb, son of Elder Henry Cobb, born in Plymouth, Jan. 14, 1634, resided in Barnstable. He mamed, 26 Dec, 1663, Sarah, daughter of George Lewis, Sen'r. He 2 14 REV, SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. died in 1G95, aged Gl. He left no will. His estate was settled Fel). 1, 1G95-G, and all his eleven children are named. His widow Sarah married, 23 Nov., 1698, Jonathan Sparrow of Eastham. Children born in Barnstable. I. Mary, 24 Nov., 16G4, married, INIay 31, 1G87, Capt. Caleb Williamson of Barnstable. The family removed to Hartford after 1700, where she died in 1737, aged 73. II. Sarah, 26 Jan., 1666, married, 27 Dec., 1686, Benjamin Hinckley of Barnstable. She had ten children, the first five all dying young. III. Patience, 12 Jan., 1668, married, 1694, James Coleman, and had eight children. She married, 10 Sept., 1715, Thomas Lombard of Barnstable. She died March 30, 1747, aged 79 years. Her second husband was 95 at his death. May 31, 1761. IV. Hannah, 28 March, 1671, married Joseph Davis, March, 1695, and died May 3, 1739, aged 68. She left a family of eight children. V. James, 8 July, 1673. (See account below.) VI. Gershom, 4 Aug., 1675. (See account below.) VII. John, 20 Dec, 1677. Mr. John Cobb, as he is called on the records, married, 25 Dec, 1707, Hannah Lothrop. He owned the house now the residence of Mr. David Bursley, and his son Ephraim resided there within the memory of persons now living. His children were Ephraim, born 5 Dec, 1708. He married Margaret Gardner of Yarmouth, Jan. 7, 1729-30. He had also John, born 1 July, 1711, died March 1, 1713, and John again, born Oct. 2, 1719, who died May 25, 1736. Mr. John Cobb died Aug. 24, 1754, aged 77 years, and his wife Hannah April 3, 1747, aged 66 years. VIII. Elizabeth, 6 Oct., 1680. IX. Martha, 6 Feb., 1682. X. Mercy, 9 April, 1685. XI. Thankful, 10 June, 1687. The four daughters last named had shares in the estate of their father at the settlement made in 1696. Their mother mar- ried, in 1698, Jonathan Sparrow, Esq., of Eastham, and these daughters probably removed to that town with her. Mercy was, May 24, 1701, a witness to the will of Miriam Wing of HIS ANCESTRY. 15 Harwich. At the proof of the will, Jan. 8, 1702-3, she is called ** now Mercy Sparrow." I have a copy of an original genealogical record, fur- nished me by my uncle Levi Cobb, my father's youngest brother, of Middleboro', Mass., who was by nature a phi- losopher, and had a rare taste for collecting biographical and historical facts. His record commences thus : — 1. Record of the family of James Cobb, one of the first set- tlers of Barnstable on Cape Cod, Mass. He married a Lewis, who, after his decease, married a Capt. Sparrow, of Eastham ; and after his decease returned to Barnstable to her son, James Cobb, 2d, and died 1731, "in the 93d year of her age. This description identifies the James 1st, of my uncle Le\i's record, with the Sergeant James Cobb of Mr. Otis's " History of Barnstable" above quoted, who was a son of the immigrant Henry Cobb. My uncle's record continues : — 2. The family of James Cobb, 2d, son of James Cobb, 1st. Eis children. — 1st. James, born in the town of Barnstable, July 1673, and died in Dec, 1756, aged 84 years. There were eight other children in this family : but it is sufficient that I give the name, and time, and term of life, of this who is in the direct line of my progenitors. 3. Record of James Cobb, 3d, son of James Cobb, 2d. He married Elizabeth Hallett. He had seven children, one of whom was Sylvanus, born Oct., 1701, and died Sept. 30, 1756. 4. Record of Sylvanus Cobb^ son of James, 3d. He was married to Mercia Baker, by the Rev. Joseph Green, ]^ov. 7, 1728. He had seven children, whose names were Mercia, Eben- ezer, Sylvanus, Binney, Rebecca, Thankful, Lydia. Ebenezer is in the direct line of my progenitors, being my father's father. 5. The family of Ebenezer Cobb, who was the son of Sylva- 16 JtEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. nus Cobb, who was the son of James Cobb, 3d. James, born Jan. 12, 175G ; Ebcnczer, born March 17, 1750 ; Rebecca, born June 5, 1761; Isaiah, born Feb. 11, 1764; Levi, born Feb. 13, 1767 ; Lydia, born Dec. 14, 1769 ; Mary, born March 18, 1772 ; Anna, born Feb. 28, 1777. Of these Ebenezer is my father. 6. The family of Ebenezer Cobb, who was the son of Eben- ezer, who was the son of S3lvanus, who was the son of the third James. He married Ehzabeth Cobb, daughter of Samuel Cobb, of Carver, Mass. She is in another line of descent from the same Elder Henry, who is my father's immigrant ancestor. So, then, I am all Cobb, of the old pilgrim stock ; the seventh generation from the immigrant Henry, by the line of descent embracing my father, and the sixth generation from the same on the side of my mother. 7. Genealogical record of the family of Ebenezer Cobb, son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth Cobb, daughter of Samuel. Elizabeth, born Feb. 19, 1784 ; Susanna, born March 22, 1788 ; Ebenezer, born April 13, 1790; Lucy, born Feb. 28, 1792; Cyrus, born June 20, 1793 ; Churchill, born Dec. 28, 1795 ; Syl- vanus, born July 17, 1798 ; Samuel, born Aug. 18, 1802. Of this family, my brother Ebenezer died Nov. 25, 1820, aged 30 years, 5 months ; my father. May 9, 1826, aged 67 ; Lucy, March 3, 1828, aged 36, leaving a small family by the name of Putnam ; my mother, June 22, 1843, aged 83 ; Cyrus, by a fall from a beam in his barn, was instantly killed, Nov. 18, 1847, aged 54 ; Churchill, also, came to his death by falling from the mow upon his barn floor, March 7, 1857, aged 62. They both left small families. The homestead, which had been considerably enlarged and improved by my brother Cyrus's energies and thrift, was, on his decease, left to his widow, two sons, Cyrus and Samuel, and two daughters, Lydia and Eliza. Lj^dia and HIS ANCESTRY. 17 Samuel died soon after; and the widow, in 1865. C3TUS, being of a fragile constitution, disposed of his share of the farm, so that the yenerable place has gone out of the family name. At the writing of this, my sister Elizabeth, widow of Samuel Putnam, is living in Rumford, Me., in good health, 82 years of age, having been the mother of ten children, most of whom are living. My sister Susanna is living in Oxford, Me., with her husband, Daniel Smith, aged 79. She has had no children. My youngest brother is also living in Norway, Me., 62 j^ears of age, in widowerhood, having buried his wife and three daughters, the eldest of whom was about 21, and the youngest 14. He has one son living, a worthy young man, with a small family, with whom he boards most of the time, whose name is Sylvanus Wait Cobb. MY MARRIAGE. September 10, 1822, 1 gave my hand and heart in mar- riage to Miss Eunice Hale Wait, of Hallowell, Me. The marriage was solemnized by Rev. Eliphalet Gillett, pastor of the Trinitarian Congregational Church in Hallowell. The ceremony was performed in the morning, and I forth- with took my lawful wife into my carriage, and set off for the General Convention of Universalists for the New Eng- land States and others, to be held in Warner, N. H., on the 18th and 19th of the same month. For a continuation of this historical narrative, see the account of my settle- ment in Waterville. 2* 18 ItEV. SYLVAMJS COllli^ D.D. RECORD OF THE FAMILY OF SYLVAXUS COBB AND EUNICE H. COBB. 1. S3^1vanus, born in Waterville, Me., June 5, 1823. 2. Samuel Tucker, June 11, 1825. 3. Eunice Hale, April 15, 1827. 4. Ebenezer, in Maiden, Mass., Jan. 17, 1829. 5. George Winslow, March 31, 1831. G. Sarah Wait, Dec. 1, 1832. She died in East Boston, of consumption, Jan. 17, 1853, aged 20 years, 1 month, and 17 daj^s. She passed away in the sweet serenity of Christian hope ; and the event hardly seemed like death. It seemed a development of heavenly life. 7 and 8. Cyrus and Darius, twins, born in Maiden, Aug. 6, 1834. 9. James Arthur, in East Boston, Dec. 22, 1842. He came to us, a beautiful and perfect child, as an unexpected gift from Heaven. He was remarkable, as he advanced, for common sense, scholarship, and the highest virtues, includ- ing those of Chi'istian faith and piety. When he had passed his eighth year there was discovered a degree of enlarge- ment of the heart. The disease grew upon him, and, after considerable suffering with wonderful patience, and even cheerfulness of heavenly hope, he passed sweetly away in the morning of Feb. 24, 1852, aged 9 3'ears and 2 months. An interesting memoir of him, written by his mother, was published in book form soon after his departure. Of my children, I will place on record here the following additional memoranda : — S3'lvanus married Mary Jane Head, of Waltham, Mass., June 29, 1845. They have, at this writing, 1866, two children, — Mary Hale, who is married to. Oscar R. Ford, and Ella, about 14 years of age. HIS ANCESTRY, 19 Samuel Tucker, who was named for and by Commodore Samuel Tucker, of revolutionary memory, whose latter years were spent in Bristol, Me., where our acquaintance with him was intimate, married Sophronia R. Tisdale, Oct* 16, 1847. They have three children, Lucy Holmes, Sam- uel Tucker, and Elizabeth Hale. They lost an infant daughter in 1865. Ebenezer married Mary Jane Booth, of Philadelphia, in May, 1853. They have two sons, Arthur and Clarence. George Winslow, who was named by Capt. George Winslow, a dear friend of ours, of Maiden, Mass., mar- ried Almeda Hall of East Boston, May 1, 1856, by whom he has two children, Albert Winslow and Margart^t White. They lost a daughter in infancy. He served as a volunteer in the army of the United States during the last year of the great southern slaveholders' rebellion ; and soon after his return, in the autumn of 1865, his wife died of con- sumption, having been very feeble several j^ears. He enlisted into the army as a private, and I'ose shortly to the rank of corporal, then to that of sergeant, and then to sergeant-major. He had severe service. Eunice Hale married Lafayette Culver, July 4, 1849, and they have ever continued, thus far, 1865, members of our household. Mr. Culver, also, served, for more than two years, in the army of the countr3\ Enlisting as a priA^ate, he was soon promoted to a lieutenancy, and then to the rank of quartermaster. A greater part of the time he was on Gen. Mott's staff, of the old 3d Corps, Army of the Potomac. He was engaged in severe conflicts of arms, but came out unharmed. Cyrus and Darius, the twins, married sisters, the former Emma, and the latter Laura Lillie. They were married at the same time, Jan. 1, 1866, in the Unitarian Church in 20 REV. SYLVANUS COJiB, I). I). East Boston, by Rev. W. H. Cudworth, the pastor, assisted by their father. Thej^, too, rendered military service to the country in the great civil war of 18G1 to 1865. They led the family in this line of the citizens' duty. They enlisted into the Massachusetts 44th Regiment, on a nine- months' term, in August, 1863. Most of their term was spent in Newbern, N. C. They were at Little Washing- ton when it w^as subjected to a seventeen days' siege by the enemy, and the access of Gen. Foster's main army was cut off for that time ; and they participated in several skir- mishes. But they received no injurj^ So all the soldier members of this family, though subjected to hard service and engaged in more or less severe conflicts of arms, re- turned home, after full service, safe and sound. In respect to military service in suppression of the great pro-slavery rebellion, Sylvanus, the elder brother, whose residence was in Norway, Me., had also a hand in it in another sphere. Being captain of the Oxford County Home Guards, a volunteer company organized to act, if necessary, in defence of that State against invasion, he was ordered by the Government, in April, 1864, to station his company, for a season, in Fort McClary, Kittery, Me., where they were mustered into the United States' service. Here, though he was not confronted by the enemy, he had a taste of military life and of the responsibilities of military command. OUR IMMIGRANT PROGENITOR AN ''INDEPENDENT." It will be seen by the foregoing that I trace my descent, on m}" father's side, by a direct and unbroken line, through reliable genealogical registrations, from the immigrant Elder Henry Cobb. And it appears that this revered ancestor was a genuine son of liberty, and member of the HIS ANCESTRY. 21 first Independent Congregational Cliurch by that name in the United States, or in the world. The following account of the Church and pastor to which he belonged, is in the Massachusetts Historical Societj^'s Records : — Rev. John Lothrop was first minister of Barnstable, Cape Cod. The Church at Scituate being in a broken condition, the Rev. John Lothrop of that place removed, with part of the Church (among whom was Henry Cobb), to Barnstable, in Oct., 1639, the same year the town was granted by the old colony. It appears from the records, which have been preserved, that all the south side of the town was amicably purchased of Wianno and several other sachems, about 1650. The West Barnstable Church is the first Independent Congregational Church of that name in the world. It was organized in 1616, in England, in the county of Kent, principally through the instrumentality of Rev. Henry Jacob, who was chosen and constituted its first pastor. The foundation of the church was laid in the following manner: After solemn fasting and prayer, each made open confession of his faith in Jesus Christ; and then, standing up together they joined hands, and solemnly covenanted with each other, in the presence of Almiglity God, to walk together in all his ways, ordinances, &c. On account of the violence of the persecution with which this Church was assailed, their pastor continued with them only eight years, and then fled to Virginia, in this country, where he soon after died. The Church then chose, as their second pastor. Rev. John Lothrop, from whom descended most of the numerous families of this name scattered through our country. In 1632, Mr. Lo- throp and the little band to whom he ministered, when assem- bled for worship in a private building, were surprised by their persecutors, and only eighteen of their number escaped, while forty-two were apprehended and cast into prison. After being confined for two years, all were released upon bail, excepting Mr. Lothrop, for whom no favor could be obtained. In the mean time his wife died, and his children were left in such needy and distressed circumstances, at length Mr. L., on condition of leaving the country, obtained his freedom. In 1634, with thir- 22 JtEV. SYLVAXUS COBB, D.D. t3--fonr of his church and coiigrr*gation, — all he could collect, — ho came to New England, and settled in Scituate. At that time the Churches at Plymouth, Duxbury, and Marshfield, were all that existed in this country. In 1G39, with a majority of his people and twenty-two male members of his church, he removed to Barnstable, and commenced its settlement. The first sermon was preached on a large rock, which may now be seen lying by the side of the road between East and West Parishes. HIS BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS. 23 HIS BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS. The subject of these sketches was born in Norway, Me., July 17, 1798. My parents, Ebenezer and Eliza- beth Cobb, of whom mention is made in the conclusion of the preceding chapter, moved from Middleboro', Mass., to Norway, Me., which was then a part of Massachusetts, in the autumn of 1797. Middleboro' is thirty-five miles south, and Norway one hundred and fifty miles north-east of Boston. Their medium of conveyance was an ox-wagon, drawn by a 3'oke of oxen, by which they shipped whatever of their household stuff they moved, and their six children, — Elizabeth, Ebenezer, Susanna, Cyrus, Lucy, and Church- ill. The roads much of the way were rough, and they were sixteen days on the passage, arriving in Norway, that part then called Rustfield, on the 8th of September. The township had been but a little while open to settlement, and was mostly in a wilderness state. My father visited the place in the summer of the preceding year, selected him a lot, and made a small opening upon it by felling the trees. In the spring of this year he went down and burned and cleared the opening, and planted it with corn and potatoes ; so that now, on moving hither with his family in the fall, he found in his field corn and potatoes ready for family use. He rented for his family a part of the small house of Mr. Zebedee Perry, on an adjoining lot, which he 24 REV, SYLVAN us COBB, D.D. occupied while building a house on his own. It was in Mr. Perry's house that I was born the next July. In the succeeding autumn the new house w^as so far advanced as to be suitable to receive the family, and we occupied it from four to five years. Aug. 18, 1802, when I was four years and one month old, I greeted a baby -brother, who received, and has ever borne, the name of Samuel ; my parents' last-born, a great blessing to their later years, and a pride and joy to the household always. He is, at this writing (1864), m}^ only surviving brother, — the three be- fore named, who were born in Middleboro', having passed away. About this time my father saw that the lot he bad pur- chased and built upon was not large enough for the devel- opment of his rising family of sons, and he sold it, and purchased a larger one about half a mile south on the same road, having on it a small clearing ; and forthwith he put upon it a small house and barn. I was about five 3^ears old vvhen we moved upon the new place, and can remember nothing in connection with the removal, except the rendering of a little assistance to my mother in carry- ing my baby-brother up " Great Hill." (The distance from the foot to the summit of the hill was not more than two hundred feet ; but it was called " Great Hill" because it was the steepest one in the neighborhood.) Nor have I any recollection of anything in my experience of the four years of infantile life on that first farm, except the event of a slip-down on the ice with an axe on my shoulder, which inflicted a severe cut upon the right temple, which my mother and sisters have since told me was so serious a wound, and caused so profuse a flow of blood, that fears were entertained of the loss of life. But the scar, at this HIS BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS. 25 day, is much more distinct than my recollection of tlie event. The new farm was variegated with hills, ridges, and dales, and meadow-brooks and gnshing side-hill springs. The regnlar rontine of country life, in scenes like these, presented but few incidents calculated to make a strong impression on the mind of childhood. Yet there were pro- gressive events which produced in me lively excitement of feelings. The sight of the tall trees falling before the woodman's axe, and the consequent enlargement of the clearing ; the burning of the felled trees when dried ; the sheep washing and shearing ; haying, reaping, and the huskings, were all exciting scenes to the boys ; and my memory of them extends back to ver}^ early days. I very early became expert in riding on horseback, and had devolved upon me the business of navigating the cereals to mill, a distance of about two and a half miles. The roads were new and rough, bridged over swampy grounds by logs rolled together, constituting what were called gridiron bridges; and no pleasure carriages, nor even horse-wagons, came into use for some time. The " going to mill," except in the sleighing season, was done on horseback. My father, or an elder brother, would place a bag of Indian corn, another of rye, and another of wheat, across the saddle, and I would mount a-top of the whole, and navigate the winding way up to the mill door, where I was wont to be promptly greeted by the faithful miller, Samuel Ames, who entered that first grist-mill in town on its completion in October, 1789, and ground the first grist in it, and tended it forty-five years. He would discharge my cargo, and replace it for my return voyage when all was ground. As my younger brother was four years my junior, and the older ones were capable of per- 26 liEV. SYLVAN us COBB, D.D. forming better labor on the fai-m, the milling and general choring business devolved upon me for several years. The first school-teacher, of whom I have any recollection, was Jonathan Woodman. Many years afterwards I had opportunity to know him familiarly as a good and noble hearted man. But my first im^Dressions of him are those which he imparted with the palms of his hands, presuming thus to beat knowledge into my cranium. I was reading and spelling in words of one and two S3'llables, and he would frequently box my ears for mistakes. This practice on his part induced in me the habit of dodging when I feared I was wrong. " Ah," he would exclaim, in such cases, " I know what you dodged for, j^ou knew what was coming." That i^hilosophy of teaching is not much in vogue now. However, Master Woodman lived to be an occasional respectful listener to the public discoursings of him w^hose boj^hood he essayed to educate with the aid of cujffs. Our school district, situated in the south-west part of the town, was large. It was settled principally by citizens of great moral worth, who reared large families. And as the town was always provident of its schools, and the school-money was apportioned to districts according to the numbers of scholars, ours drew a good share, and had long winter schools. There was but little attention given, how- ever, in those days, and in that backwoods region, to uny other branches of learning except reading, writing, and arithmetic- But now and then one advanced to the study of grammar. In the winter of 1811, when I was in the thirteenth year of my age, listening to the recitations of a small class in grammar, I became inspired with the purpose to enter upon that study. Upon entering into the presence of my parents on my return from school, one evening, I HIS BIRTH AND EARLY DATS. 27 said, "Father, I want a grammar-book. I am goiug to study grammar." " Poll ! " was the response of the con- siderate parent, " what good '11 that do 3'ou? If j^ou might ever be able to teach school, it would be of use to study grammar. But I don't suppose you think of that." " Well, I want to study grammar," was the emphatic reply. And the essential thing was furnished. The ele- mentary book for beginners in that stud}^, then and there in use, was Bingham's " Young Ladies' Accidence." I rushed into the work of committing to memory the defini- tions of parts of speech and the rules of syntax, and apply- ing the principles by the exercise of parsing. But the school-term was far spent when I commenced, and the rudi- ments were not thoroughl}" committed, nor was their prac- tical application well understood. But being determined to master this science the next winter, I bore the little grammar-book in my pocket when about the labors of the field the next fall, and while driv- ing the oxen at ploughing, and in teaming up firewood for the winter, I committed it all through, becoming as famil- iar with every word as with the alphabet. With this acquisition I went into the succeeding school-term, and found that the mj^stery of parsing was a simple and easy afi"air, requiring, with so perfect a knowledge of the prin- ciples, only a common-sense understanding of the sentence assigned as the lesson for exercise. I wondered at the blunders of the members of the senior class, and was soon advanced to their companionship. And the look and man- ner of Master Bethuel Carey are impressed with great dis- tinctness upon m}^ memor}^, as, when a word in Pope's " Essay on Man" had started below me, and passed through a series of blundering guesses to the foot, he would queerly turn his eye up to the head of the class, with the inquiry, 28 JJEV. SYLVANUS CODB^ D.D. "Well, Cobb, T\'bat bave 3-011 to say upon it?" (The reader will excuse the egotism of these recitals. As I am the 0UI3' living witness of these things, and have under- taken to record them, 1 know of no better way than to write trul}'. Autobiograph}" is necessarily egotism. The lesson which these incidents urge upon the reader is, the importance of giving attention each to his appropriate "work, and doing thoroughly what is undertaken.) As I advanced" in m}' teens, I took great delight in arith- metic. When I was in Equation and the Roots, pushing on in other studies at the same time, my mental labor was so earnest and continuous that my class-mates admon- ished me that I must restrict my studies somewhat, lest I should seriously injure m}^ health. I did, by my contin- uous mental application, lose flesh somewhat, as they per- ceived. But, with ni}^ strong constitution, and the inter- mingling of so much manual labor as entered into my farmer-boy life, there was no danger of injury to my health. I was equally earnest and industrious in the work of the farm in its season, as in the business of study in its time. I loved farming. I loved the changes of the seasons, which are more interesting to the farmer than to fmy other occupation. I delighted in planting and sowing in the spring ; I noted, with enthusiasm, the springing up and advancement of the tender blades of corn and grain. It was with a peculiar zest that I took up in due time, and swung the sharpened, well-balanced scj^the, and laid in magnifi- cent windrows the waving field of grass, cured the fragrant hay, and noted the gradual rising of the mow in the bay and on the scaffold. And then to reap, and at length thresh and winnow, the rich harvest of rye and wheat ; and to gather and husk the golden corn ; and to turn out from HIS BIRTH AND EABLT DAYS. 29 tbeir native hills, and cart into the cellar, the full-grown, mealy potatoes; — in all these progressive exercises, I found thrilling and rational enjoyment. I have spoken of swinging the sharpened, well-balanced sc3'the. I took great pride in mowing. In this polite accomplishment I became quite a proficient in the advanced stage of my teens. It was the only department of manual labor in which I would challenge a competitor. Being tall in stature, with broad shoulders and full chest, — and par- ticular to keep a keen edge upon my scythe, and all the gear symmetrical, — I maintained an erect posture, and acquired an easy swing and a drawing stroke, cut a wide swath, and j^ointed in and out, leaving the stubble so even that my swaths were scarcely distinguishable when the hay was raked off. I knew of no one who could outstrip me in mowing. And I performed the work with such ease to myself, that I often expressed m}^ feelings in the remark that I could mow from breakfast to dinner, in a tolerably smooth field of well-grown grass, with as little fatigue, or less,*than I could walk about the field the same length of time empty-handed. But I cannot brag of my exploits in any other branch of manual labor. In all departments I was diligent and faithful to my charge. But in chopping, especially in dealing horizontal blows with the axe in felling large trees, my muscles were not hard enough for a continuous exercise of the kind. I soon wearied. In hoeing corn and potatoes, I was so subservient to a taste for beauty and order, and I was so particular to root up every weed and to leave the hills nice and regular, and the rows handsome, that it was difficult for me to clip along and keep up with my companions. This predominant taste for beauty and order was once the occasion of a gentle reproof fi'om my 3* 30 JiEV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D,D, venerated ftither, the only one that I recollect having received from him. I was then about fourteen years of age. My father committed to me, in the spring, with the help of my younger brother, Samuel, the " picking up of the stones " on a field newly laid down to grass for mow- ing. When we had been at the work about long enough, in his estimation, to complete the job, he began to inquire with regard to our progress. At length he remarked, in a hesitating tone, as if he was reluctant to speak it, that it seemed to him as if I had been " lazy." This allegation grieved me sorely, and I earnestly requested him to go and examine my work. It "was a new clearing, some dis- tance from the portion of the farm on which he and my older brothers were at the same time laboring, and he had not visited it during the progress of my work upon it. He complied with my request. He walked all over the field, saw that we had picked up every stone, down almost to the i)ebble size, and, instead of tossing them into small and irregular heaps, had gathered them into large piles, distant apart, and laid them up into handsome pyramids ; and that we had picked up and thrown into separate heaps all the knots and sticks, and everything which, lying on the ground, could have interrupted the scythe in the process of mowing ; and he uttered hearty exclamations of delight and surprise. He wondered that we could have performed so much work in the time that we had spent upon it, and expressed regret for his words which accused me of indo- lence. I speak of myself as the subject of this allegation, as I was the only responsible partj^ in the case, — my younger brother being four j^ears my junior, a mere child. My father was able and faithful to furnish his family with all necessary phj^sical comforts, and the then common HIS BTRTH AND EARLY DAYS. 31 educational privileges. I do not remember that I ever presented him a request that he did not grant. But with a large family, on a new farm, what produce he could spare was of course exchanged for " necessaries," and for money to appropriate upon buildings, and paj-ments for the land. Spare change was scarce. And, either from delicacy or a sense of honor, or from pride, perhaps, I would not ask of him any special favors. Therefore, along in those years, the earl}^ j^ears of my teens, as I wanted some books and much stationery, beyond the common school supply, I took evening hours, when the farmers were at rest from their labors, running sometimes into the moonlight, and cut hoop-poles in the neighboring swamps, carried them on my shoulders to neighbor Sampson, the cooper, and sold them to him for one cent apiece, and thus kept an independ- ent purse of my own for the extra literary outfits. With regard to the " much stationery," I scribbled over a great deal of paper with politics. The Madisonian war with England was declared in June, 1812. I was then in my fourteenth year of age. The political parties were Federalists and Hepublicans. The Republicans were, in that juncture, the war party ; and the Federalists were in opposition, to a considerable degree of violence. I thought and talked and scribbled, both in poetry and prose, for the Republican cause. That war proceeded from a series of abuses on the part of the British Government. That Government had claimed and exercised the "right of search," ^. e., the right to search American merchant vessels for deserters from the British naval service. In the exercise of this assumed prerogative, many American citizen sailors were claimed by searching officers of British men-of-war, and dragged away into their naval service. This was, of course, cause 32 nEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. of earnest complaint. Furthermore, there was war be- tween England and France. England passed " Orders in Council," to make prizes of American vessels with clear- ances for a French port. Then France followed, with the " Berlin and Milan Decrees," forbidding American trade in English ports. At length, after repeated unavailing remonstrances, our President made proclamation that, after a given date, the interference with our merchant vessels by either of those parties would be taken by the American Government to be an act of war. France repealed her "Decrees," but England persisted in the execution of her " Orders in Council," and the American Congress declared the position of England to be that of a belligerent in a state of war. This act of the Government commended itself to my judgment ; and, child that I was, I could not vote, but my voice and my pen were active in the support of my Government, and the honor of my country ; and I cut hoop-poles, and backed them over to my neighbor Sampson, to purchase stationery for this and other uses. RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. In relation to the interests of religion, I was early educated into the doctrines of Calvinism, as propounded in the " Westminster Catechism." My mother exercised me in the lessons of that catechism, and the preaching which I heard in my childhood was mostly Calvinist Baptist, which was held forth in the school-house of my district. Sometimes I would go to the Congregationalist meeting at the centre of the town, a wallv of two miles. There was a Universalist societ}^ formed, and meeting- house built, in Norwa}^ Village, very soon after the settle- ment of the town. Henry Rust, Esq., from Salem, Mass., the proprietor of the south half of the township, called HIS BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS. 33 RiTstfield, and Ms sons Henry and Joseph, who moved with him npon his purchase here, were UniA'ersalists of the John Murray school. And they early led off in the forma- tion of a Universalist society, and in the erection of a small meeting-house near their mills, where soon there arose a village. Some of the principal of the early set- tlers of Paris joined in this organization. Rev. Thomas Barnes, whose residence was in Poland, about sixteen miles distant, by regular engagement preached for this society one Sunday in each month, from 1798 to near the time of his decease, which was in 1816. Rev. Isaac Root alternated with Father Barnes in the occu- pancy of this pulpit several seasons ; and other Univer- salist ministers preached there occasionally. Rev. William Farwell, of Vermont, visited Norway on occasional circuits made on horseback. Rev. Sebastian Streeter taught the district school in Norway Village in the winter of 1806-7, and preached there every other Sabbath during the school term. These meetings my father usually attended, riding horseback, for he had no carriage in those days of " grid- iron bridges ; " but, it being nearly three miles from the homestead to the Universalist meeting, I seldom attended it. As I have said above, I was exercised by my revered and morally faultless mother, in the lessons of the " West- minster Catechism," and usually attended the Baptist meeting at my district school-house. From these sources, and from the general religious conversation which I heard, my mind was thoroughly imbued with the doctrine of fu- ture endless torments. I believed in the hell of sulphu- reous flames, as averred by the popular creeds, as really and literally as I believed in the existence of any i:)lace whatever on historical evidence ; as, for instance, of Lon- don or Paris, or Boston, even, which then was to me but a 34 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. historical fact. And this belief, with my meditativo habits, inflicted more or less of torture upon m}^ sensitive nature dail}', from as earl}^ in childhood as I can remember an3'thing distinctly, to the influx into my soul of heavenly light, of which I shall speak shortly. It often rendered me very miserable. Frequentl}^, when I retired to bed at night, my mind would be agitated by as tremulous a fear as it could have been if we were living on the border of a wilderness swarming with savage tribes in an Indian war, likely to rush upon us anj^ night with murderous rage. I might die before morning, and then a plunge into hell would be my doom. And this fear of hell was not from the conviction of an}^ vicious habit. I meant to be a good boy. I thought I was a good boy. And this was the general opinion. But I had human nature, with which I was born. And for the reason of my having been born with human nature I was, according to the creed, primarily and legitimately an heir of hell, from which I could only be saved b}^ a change of nature. And this change was God's work.. While trembling in the agitation of the most horrible fear of hell, I had no re- course available for relief; for I was human; human nature was the source of my danger, and I could neither put human nature off nor change it. I could only worry myself asleep into troublous dreams. I was faintly hoping that, some time before I should die, the necessary " change of nature," or " experience of religion," would take place, not by the educational culture of the rational and moral nature, but, unaccountably, as one catches a contagious distemper. When I was twelve or thirteen years of age, as I well remember, I spent an autumnal evening at a juvenile social party at the house of Mr. Benjamin Herring, in HIS BIRTH AND EARLY DATS. 35 whose parlor was suspended a framed picture of hell. Mr. Herring was a Universalist ; but the picture belonged to his mother, to whom it was presented by a friar in Canada. It represented a deep pit filled with flame, in the sides of which were various chasms, in which lay human forms broiling in agonj^, with ugly serpents coiled around their bodies and thrusting their heads down their throats. On the brink of the fiery pit stood a form de- signed to represent the Supreme Judge, plunging men and women headforemost into the pit ; and at different stages below stood infuriated devils, God's workmen, with long, ugly pronged pitchforks, on which they were catching the victims as the}^ descended, and tossing them down to the next below. I examined the picture with intense emotion ; and, when I had turned from it, the very horrible in its influence would draw me back to another lingering gaze upon it. And what gave power to its influence on my feelings was the fact that, to my mind, that picture was as trul}^ a representation of a fact as any map in my school atlas was a representation of a real place. On my way home that hell filled my mind, and I knew not how I went. It hardly permitted sleep that night ; and what it did give place to was not balmy sleep to soothe the weary spirit. And now, with regard to the moral influence of this slavish fear, I am sure that it never restrained a wrong or improper act, nor inspired a good and noble thought, dis- position, or deed. The creeds did not impress me with the thought that it was by this or that course of conduct that I should expose myself to endless burnings ; but I was described as suspended over the fiery pit on a brittle hair, the slender thread of life, by reason of being an uncon- verted person, or, as before exiDressed, for having the birth- 36 BEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. gift of human nature. I am conscious that the influence of this doctrine upon me was evil, only evil, and that continually. While it never restrained a wrong, or an impropriety of conduct, it orphanized me of my Father in heaven. It disabled me of the power to exercise pleasant and grateful and ennobling views of God. I possessed a sensitive nature, tenderly susceptible ; and often the beauties of God's works and munificence of his providence would instinctively affect me with sentiments of gratitude and love. But whenever I would pass into religious contempla- tions, all was blackness and darkness and tempest. But my reason was not passive, nor was my moral sense buried in inertia. While the force of early education and of surrounding influences impressed my mind with the doctrine of endless torments in hell as unquestionably true, my intellect quarrelled with its absurdities, and my moral sense with its barbarity. My profound reverence for the Infinite name was greatly and painfully embar- rassed with the impossibility of harmonizing this doctrine with any just conception of honor and right in the self- existent and Almighty Creator and Governor of the uni- verse, and with the moral attributes which all agreed in ascribing to the Deity. The common effort for removing the difficulty, afforded no relief to my mind. It was this : not that God created any portion of mankind for the pur- pose of making their existence an endless curse to them- selves (this figment of Calvinism was generally repudi- ated by verbal protestation, however it might be logically involved in the doctrines yet adhered to) ; but that they should be infinitely happy or miserable, as they should make themselves by the use of the agency he gives them, in the midst of the counteracting circumstances upon which he throws them. This explanation, which was intended to HIS BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS. 37 vindicate the Divine character, seemed to me, first, if ad- mitted as valid, shamefully to dishonor God ; but, sec- ondl}", to be invalid from its assumption of an impossibility. First, the explanation, if admitted to be valid, involves the irreverent assumption, destructive of all human confi- dence and hope, that God created man without a purpose ; that the superior creation, the universe of created minds sharing God's own immortality, and crowned with his eternity, were thrown out into being by a sport of power, and tossed upon the eddying tide of time, with no great purpose, no Divine arrangement, as to what they should be, or in w^hat manner their wonderful capabilities should be ultimately employed, whether to the production of infinite good or infinite evil. This seemed to me to undeify Jehovah, by imputing to him a species of folly which would belittle even the least of men. For if a man were to be found expending great effort and labor, without a plan or purpose, he would be regarded as idiotic or insane. But, secondly, this explanation is invalid by rea- son of the impossibility of its main assumption. They who prefer the apologetic explanation, believe in the in- finite prescience of the Deity, — that, when he created man, all the results of human existence were present to his view. Of course, it was of his own choice that he called man forth from nonentity into being ; and, doing this in perfect knowledge of the' result, he intended that result. Accord- ingl}^, it appeared to me that the effort of Arminianism to harmonize with the infinite wisdom and goodness of God, a system of creation and government producing and immor- talizing a race of intelligent beings for unending torment, is only a mystification. I could find no rest there. In passing hither. and yonder from one modification of endless miserianism to another for rest and satisfaction, my case 4 38 UEV. STLVANUS COBB^ D.D. was as that described by the prophet, "As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him ; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him." My mind was exercised on these difficulties with inten- sive labor. The preachers called them mysteries. But it was not as mysteries that they troubled me ; for a mystery in divine truth is only that which is secret or unknown, which will commend itself to the reason and moral sense as fast as it becomes revealed. But the dogmas which so embarrassed and perplexed me involved moral principles, of which the mind of man is capable of judging ; and of which we must form an enlightened judgment if we would be capable of rendering to God acceptable praise. Praise signifies approval, commendation. In order to render such praise to God, we must be enlightened into such knowledge of God's character and of the principles and purposes of his government as shall commend the whole to our reason and conscience as just and good. But the creeds by which my sensitive mind was shackled, ascribed the Satanic principle to the Divine administration particu- larly in its judicial and executive departments, making punishment to be a final destiny of evil instead of a means of discipline to a beneficent end. The ministry of the churches all around me was a conglomeration of the irrec- oncilable principles of Calvinism and Arminianism. The former asserted that the Creator originally purposed the endless damnation of countless millions of his children. The latter denounced this as a blasphemous imputation of infinite malignity to the Deitj^, yet it ascribed to the Divine sj^stem of creation and government the same horrid result. And how, my anxious mind persistently inquired, how should it so eventuate? If God, as Arminianism HIS BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS. 39 insisted, was infinitely good and well-wishing, and the cre- ation of the human race was a motion of the Divine good- ness, w^ith the view to raise up a gi-eat family of children to be sharers with himself of infinite felicity and blessed- ness, how should the result be so fearfully different, in- stead of the divinely wished-for and intended scene of ultimate and universal moral beauty and blessedness, pre- senting the alleged remediless scene of moral desolation and ruin? Of course, it must involve the failure and disap- pointment of the Deit}^ in the interests of his superior creation. Then the knowledge of the Deity must be lim- ited ; for infinite prescience could not be disappointed. And the same view limits the ability of the Deity, repre- senting him as eternally unable to realize his highest wishes and intentions in the noblest department of his cre- ation. Verily, the ways of the churches were labyrinthian Avays. Often I would sit musing upon the mountain-top, and, surveying the broad expanse before me, recognizing the wisdom and power and purpose of God in the vast physical system of creation and government ; and then my soulVould refuse to acknowledge, as the truth of God, the theological dogmas which represented the superior creation as thrown out upon chaos without a purpose, and aban- doned of the government of the Creator. THE CONVERSION. I was now, in the autumn of 1813, in the IGth year of my age. My mind was in an agonj^ of travail for deliver- ance from the Jiadean darkness and tartarean perplexity of human theologies. On one Sunday afternoon a young Baptist preacher held a lecture in the house of our nearest neighbor, Willis Sampson, which I attended. His text 40 hev. sylvanus cobb, t>.d. was Mark xvi. 15, 16 : " Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believe th and is baptized shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned." The preacher, according to the usual custom, involved the subject in utter confusion, confounding the gospel, or subject of faith, and the fruit, or reward of faith, all together. When his regular services were concluded, while a portion of the audience yet remained, I, though naturally diffident, approached the preacher for inquiry, when the following colloquy ensued : — Sylvanus. Sir, I have listened to you with earnest attention, but am unable to understand you. You have said much about the gospel, and about believing and being saved, and the like. Now I desire you to inform me what I must believe in order to be saved. Minister. Believe the ti:uth. S. What is the truth? M. It is the gospel. iS. What is the gospel ? • M. Why, this is the gospel : " He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned." JS. He that believeth ivhat shall be saved ? M. The truth. JS. What is the truth? 3f. It is the gospel. JS. What is the gospel ? M. Wh}^ I have told you. *' He that believeth shall be saved," &c. JS. He that believeth what? And so we ran round and round in a circle, getting at no HIS BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS. 41 starting-point, no definite truth upon which for faith to take hold. The gospel itself, which is the truth revealed as the subject of faith, was made to consist in the an- nounced fruit of faith, which follows and cannot precede the exercise of faith. I needed what I could not obtain from that source, — a clear statement of the truth to be believed, which must exist and be revealed before faith, constituting the substance for faith to gTasp, and the basis upon which it shall rest. Soon afterwards I went over to my neighbor Sampson's, who was a Baptist exhorter, to obtain from him an expla- nation of some of the abounding difficulties. I pressed him with the disharmony of the parts of the popular creed with one another, and of all parts with the teachings of the New Testament. I had made myself familiar with the prominent doctrinal teachings of the New Testament ; and the obvious violence and futility of his efforts to force those divine teachings into harmony with his creed, opened to m}^ mind more and more clearly their true significance, spirit, and power. We continued in earnest discussion from early in the evening to two o'clock in the morning, during the process of which my mind took fast hold upon the great fundamental truths of the gospel, such as the universal Fatherhood of God, and his purpose of immortal life and good in Christ for the rational creation, to be con- summated " in the dispensation of the fulness of times."* I had no sectarian name for this frame of mind. It was a state of rest in the Lord through faith in his Word. Hav- ing been for 3'ears enveloped in the fog of mysticism and confusion, vainly striving to create a truth by believing without a truth, and to construct a foundation of faith by * Epla. i. 10. 4* 42 nEV. SYLVANUS COBBy D.D. a mock faith without foundation, how ehate w\as my soul and ecstatic mj jo}^ on coming into the light of God's own eternal truth, " not according to our works, but according .to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began ; but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abol- ished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."* Then, no longer agonizing in the futile effort to make my faith to rest upon itself, I could adopt, with a zest, the royal poet's strain : " I waited patiently for the Lord ; and he inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song into my mouth, even praise unto our God." t That was a clear autumnal night. And when I walked home, two hours past midnight, the starry heavens smiled down upon me, and the air seemed fragrant with the love of God. I had no conception of the " is7n" under which the world would class me, but I confided the government of the universe to the infinite Wisdom, and rested its immortal interests upon the arm of almighty Goodness. My soul was at rest, and the world seemed a new world, radiant with the infinite Father's presence. I ivas horn again. That night my sleep was sweet and refreshing, as I rested upon the guardianship of the great Father's love, as the confiding infant upon its mother's bosom. The troublous dreams of hideous devils grinning round my bed, which used to disturb my sleeping hours, annoyed me not that night, and since have annoyed me never. * 2 Tim, i. 9, 10. t Psalms xi. 1-3. HIS BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS. 43 The next morniDg mj neighbor Sampson's apprentice, John Millett, 3d, called upon me, and reported that his master regarded my part of the night's discussion as an earnest argument for Universalism. But he supposed that my object was, not to vindicate that doctrine, but to draw from him explanations of the difficult points and the Scrip- ture passages presented. I told my friend Millett that he might assure his master from me that whatever I affirmed on the preceding evening I religiously believed. I knew not what to call it but God's truth ; and if that was Universal- ism, I was tJiere^ there now and forever. Yes, on study and reflection I found myself there ; and it was, and is, and is to be, Universalism ; " Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God ; " * the peace of God in the soul. I w^as full of faith and love and zeal. I could not " silence bear." I must needs communicate my glorious discoveries to my J^oung associates, and share to them my fulness of joy. My sj^mpath}^ for fellow-beings was doubtless more aglow for my conception of the infinite fulness of the Saviour's love. Nevertheless, a marked characteristic of all Christian converts is a broad and lively sympathy for fellow-beings. Even when they bring with them the preju- dice of a false religious education, which robs the Father and the Son of the beauty of universal love, on first receiv- ing Christ as their Saviour they come into such a nearness to him as to receive the impress of his Spirit, which is impartial love. Accordingly all their hatred of man is gone, and they ardently desire that all others may see with them the beauty, and feel the joower of Heaven's love. This is the spirit of every babe in Christ, every subject of the new birth. It is the spirit of heaven. Accordingly 1 Cor. i. 24. 44 BEV. SYLVANUS COBB, B.D. the nngels of God in lieaA^en, in their ever-glowing sym- path}' for the whole moral creation, experience a thrill of jo}' from ever^^ step of human advancement in knowledge, purity, and blessedness. What an appalling decay of the spiritual life must the convert suffer when he shall essay to assure his soul of happiness in heaven, in view of the end- less sufferings of his friends and fellow-beings ; with the conception that he shall then and there be so like God, so free from the weaknesses of human nature, that he wdll be utterly indifferent to the allotment of others, and callous to sympathetic emotions ! Ah, he mistakes the satanic for the Godly spirit. " God is love," and " he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." The more we be- come like God the more perfectly shall we lose our selfish- ness and forget self in deathless love for our fellow-beings. And it is because of the contact of the new-born soul with this pervading spirit of Heaven, that he is filled with love to all mankind. How sad it is that this moral beauty of • the soul should, in numerous instances, become marred by the strivings of satanic theologies. It is a cruel training through which the new-born child of God is forced to pass when it adjusts itself to the stays and skewers and lacings and thumb-screws of endless miserian theologies. How grievously marred is its spiritual beauty by the distor- tions of this process. I was now in the light and liberty of "the glorious gos- pel of the blessed God." And from the day of my deliv- erance from the prison-house of darkness, there has never been an occasion which tempted me to deny the faith, or even to prevaricate with regard to the fulness of my con- victions of Christian truth. When I was in the company of the learned and fashionable of different sentiments, I should have been ashamed of myself, regarding it as JSIS DIETS AND EARLY DATS. 45 depreciative of my understanding, to have it understood that I entertained the contrary opinion. Universalism appeared to me to be so clearly the outspoken word of God, and commended itself so perfectly to m}^ rational nature and moral judgment, that, in all circles of societ}', I regarded it as most creditable to myself to be known as holding it. In the ingenuous profession of it I invested my respectability. This habit of thinking, feeling, and acting, on my part, brought me into very frequent contro- versial discussions with devotees to other doctrines — clergy and laity. Thus was I exercised from the beginning, in the Christian warfare, which necessitated a familiar and earnest study of the Scriptures, and comparative analysis of doctrines. During the ensuing winter, Dec, 1813, to March, 1814, advancing me the months from the preceding July in my sixteenth year, I attended, as usual, the district school, which, this term, was taught by Rev. Noah Cressey, the pastor of the- Congregational church of Norway. Mr. Cressey was an excellent teacher ; and I vigorously pushed on my studies in the English branches of literature and science under his instruction. At the close of the school term in the spring of 1814, I returned to the assistance of my father in the robust pro- fession of farming. The war with England continued. My oldest brother, Ebenezer, was a volunteer in the United States service, in the division of the armj^ stationed on Lake Champlain. My next younger brother, Cyrus, had passed into the era of legal freedom, and was at work out on his own account. One brother who was my senior in age, Churchill, then in his nineteenth year, was with us at 46 JtEV. SYLVANUS CODJi^ D.D. home, and also the youngest of the famil}^, Samuel, in his thirteenth 3'ear. My father took the "Eastern Argus," the first newspaper I ever saw, a weekly paper published in Portland, in the Republican interest. No daily paper was then published in Maine. We eagerly looked for the com- ing of the " Argus " every Saturday, for the war news. And as my father's sight had become somewhat dim, he usually seated himself the first leisure hour after the arrival of the paper (and that was generally to/je?! at once), and devolved upon me the service of reading all the war news aloud. By this means I'became very practically familiar with the art of reading. As autumn approached, we had reports of a large British war fleet lying off the Atlantic coast, in a position to pounce upon either of our Atlantic cities which its com- manders might choose. Gov. Caleb Strong, who had refused to call out the militia of the State, or a detachment thereof, upon the order of President Madison, now made a large draft of the Massachusetts militia, and ordered them to the defence of the sea-board. Maine was then a province of Massachusetts. In September, our entire regiment, of Oxford County, was mustered, and marched to Portland. After two weeks a draft was made, and both of my brothers who, besides Ebenezer, who was a volunteer in the armj^, were liable, b}^ age, to military duty, were drafted for an indefinite time to remain in the defence of Portland. This took away Churchill, who was with us on the farm, and left the " fall work," as circumstances were, to myself, in my seventeenth year, and Samuel in his thirteenth 3^ear of age. As circumstances were, I have said ; for father was confined to the house a considerable portion of the time, by a painful inflammation in one of his eyes. And Samuel also was disabled for labor a portion of the time, by a niS BIRTH AND E J ELY DAYS. 47 typhus fever, thus leaving me quite alone. But I suc- ceeded with what help Samuel was able to render me, to harvest two acres of corn and two acres of potatoes ; and to "break up" a lot of greensward for planting the next spring. Assistance for the latter job, the " breaking up," I obtained from a neighbor. Deacon Herring, upon the system w^ell known among farmers as " changing work." In October, we learned that my brother Churchill, in camp at Portland, w^as on the sick-list. I procured a light wagon of Mr. Levi Bartlett at the village (for not many farmers had that luxury in those days) , harnessed to it the old red mare, put in a bag each of corn and wheat, and ever-so-many packages of pies from the mothers of the neighborhood for their sons in camp, and away I w^ent to Portland (forty-five miles) to market said cereals, feed the boys with dainties, and put myself into the army as a sub- stitute for my sick brother, and send him home with the team. The first day's ride carried me to Major Cobb's tavern in Gray, within fifteen miles of Portland, where I put up for the night. In the morning the Major bade me welcome to the night's entertainment of self and horse, ascribing his liberality partly to his respect for my father, whom he knew, and partly to the public interest of my mission. And he sent a cash order by me to his grocer in Portland, for a few light articles of merchandise. On entering the strange and branching streets of Port- land, I felt a lonesomeness indeed. It was an embarrassing predicament for a bashful country-boy, pressed thus pre- maturely into the responsibilities of a man. But I was soon cheered up a little. I had driven but a short way down Main Street, when a gentleman beckoned me to stop ; and, looking into the wagon, and learning by inquiry what ' I had in those bags, he asked me my price for the wheat 48 ItEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. ami corn respectively. I told him I would ascertain tlie market price. He said he would pay me two dollars and a half a bushel for the wheat. This appeared to me to be an enormous price, and I let him take it at once, and the corn also at a proportionably high price, for which he paid me the cash. My marketable loading disposed of, I made my way to the encampment of the Oxford soldiers. It was on the handsome swell of land commanding a view of the harbor, which was the site of Fort Preble. I found Churchill able to return to duty ; and he would not hear a word of my taking his place as a substitute. And as the camps were not kept so neat and cleanly as to suit my taste, I was not inclined to press that arrangement at all. At the camp I met with Thompson Hall, of Falmouth, whose father. Major Isaiah Hall, resided in Norway. He proposed to take a seat with me in my wagon, and pilot me to his home in Falmouth, and entertain me over the night. I of course accepted the invitation, and thus passed another night without expense. The next day I drove deliberately on homeward, and reached the parental mansion about nine o'clock in the evening, relieving my solicitous parents from painful anxi- ety about my . safety. My report of m3'self to my father afforded him serene satisfaction. On delivering to Major Cobb, of Gray, on my return-route, the goods he had ordered by me, he paid me handsomely for the business and the transportation, — and Thompson Hall pressed upon me some money besides my entertainment, for carrying out some merchandise with and for him, so that, besides pay- ing over to my father an unexpected sum for the corn and wheat, I rendered in a balance of cash for truckage over HIS BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS. 49 all expenses. Such returns were peculiarly interesting at that time, when there was a great scarcity of mone3^ As winter approached, the British fleet withdrew from our coast, and m}' brothers, with the rest of the drafted militia, returned home. (The treaty of Ghent, which ter- minated that war, was concluded in the succeeding Decem- ber.) On the ensuing w^inter 1814-15, our district school was kept by Rev. Noah Cressey, before spoken of, who was a superior school-master, and afforded me all the advantages of an academic term. I attended through the long four months' term. Mr. Cressey used often to invite me to tarry a while with him for special exercises, after the close of the school at evening. Generally these extra attentions were devoted to exercises in reading in the different styles, particularly the "grand" and the "pathetic." This was altogether of his own volition, because he perceived, as he explained the reason, that I was destined to fill some place as a public speaker. Of his kindness I entertained, and shall alwaj^s cherish in memor}^, a high appreciation. At the close of the school term, I returned to my accus- tomed diversified labors on the paternal estate. On the succeeding winter 1815-16, 1 attended a long term of our district school again, under the tuition of the excellent Rev. Mr. Cressey. July 17th, 1816, I was eighteen years of age, and became subject to military duty under the militia law as it was. I attended the drills of the military trainings, armed and equipped as the law directed. Late in the autumn I went over into the south- east part of Waterford, but few miles from my paternal home-, and engaged for a short term in the winter to teach a small district school. But before the designated term commenced this little district merged itself into another, 6 50 REV. SYLVAXUS COBIi, D.D. the Temple Hill District, which had its teacher engaged : and thus m^'- debut in the profession of school teacher was postponed to another season. ARRANGEMENT AT THE HOMESTEAD. In December of this year (1816), my brother Cyrus, five years my senior in age, returned to the parental mansion, and took chars;e of the old homestead. The arrani^ement was entered upon by my suggestion. My father was in feeble health ; I was becoming engaged in literary pur- suits ; and I proposed that Cyi'us should have the w^hole estate deeded to him, subject to a small mortgage, provided he would make it his home, and nourish and sustain our parents during their lives. This arrangement was duly executed ; and it placed matters at home in a pleasant condition. 1817. On account of the before-mentioned disappoint- ment in regard to school-keeping, the opening winter months of this j^ear were not improved to great advantage. Our district school was kept by a j^oung man who was reared in an adjoining district, by the name of Nathan Noble. He was a worthy young man. But as he was not in advance of me in education, he could render me no assistance ; and my attendance at the school, and reciting in branches with the first class, which were already familiar, w^as nearly a waste of the time. I should have been more profitably emploj^ed in pursuing advanced studies, and his- torical reading, and diversified compositions, at home. The ensuing spring and summer months were devoted to farming ; provided alwaj^s that the rainy days or parts of days (when there was no work to be done in barn or cel- lar), and the evenings and the hour's nooning which my HIS BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS. 61 father's philosopli}" usually took, and gave the boj^s, were improved in reading, writing compositions, and advancing stndies. This autumn I attended, a term of three months, at a private academy of the before-mentioned Rev. Noah Cres- se}' , kept at his house, boarding in his family. Among my fellow-students was Hemy "W. Millett, of the same common school district with myself. It was, to me, a pleasant season. I said on page 44, that, " from the day of my deliver- ance from the prison-house of darkness, there has never been an occasion which tempted me to deny the faith, or even to prevaricate with regard to the fulness of my con- victions of Christian truth." My devotedness to the faith was well tested during this school term. I had no thought of purchasing the favor of my Rev. and learned Preceptor by feigning an agreement with him in religious opinion. One evening, at the supper table, in the presence of a dozen students, Mr. Cresse}" made a disrespectful remark of Rev. Tho. Barnes, of Poland, who preached Universal- ism in Norwa}^ once a month, and of the doctrine. I took him up on his remarks, and insisted on their injustice. An earnest doctrinal discussion ensued, which was adjourned from the table to the parlor, and continued through the night to 3 o'clock in the mioruing. The students remained as hearers ; but after midnight they dropped off for bed one by one, and but two or three of them were present when the discussion was closed. There was one " passage at arms" which greatly amused the students, and of which some of them have often spoken on our meeting in subsequent years. Mr. Cressey adduced Matt. XXV. 46, as proof of endless punishment. I com- menced at the besiinnino: of the discourse of Christ of 52 r.EV. SYLVANUS conn, d.d. which that verse is the close, and was reading along to show that the subject of the whole discourse was a judg- ment which should take place in the end of the Jewish age in that generation. Perceiving the force of this exegetical method, he interrupted me with the exclamation, " You are running off to something else. I must confine you to this single verse." " Well," said I, "then it means nothing. ' These shall go away into everlasting punishment.' Who are meant by these ? This pronoun has no meaning with- out an antecedent." " O," he replied, " you may go back into the connection to find the antecedent of these." Then I struck in again at the point where he interrupted me, and read along as before. Shortly he interrupted me in like manner again, saying, "I'm going to confine you to this verse : ' These shall go av>ay into everlasting punish- ment ; but the righteous into life eternal.' " " Then," I rejoined, "I give it up as unexplainable, and meaning nothing. If we may not seek an explanation of these words of the Master from the Master himself, by consult- ing the connections of his discourse for the general sub- ject, it will be useless to v/aste time in a jingle on a detached expression." And so my preceptor consented to leave that passage. We passed to the discussion of other Scripture texts ; and, in an hour or more subsequently, he found occasion to quote the words of Ezekiel, " The soul that sinneth, it shall die." I asked him what was meant by the death there referred to. "Eternal death," he replied. "And who are sinners?" I asked. "All men are sinners," he responded; "for 'all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.'" "Then," said I, "all men must suffer endless torment, and there is no hope either for j^ou or me." " Why ! why ! " he exclaimed, " what do you mean?" niS BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS. 53 " Wh}^, I mean what I say. The prophet sa3^s, ' The soul that sinneth, it shall die.' You say this means eternal death ; and that all have sinned. Then, by your own showing, all shall suffer eternal death." The following encounter ensued : Cressey. But there is an atonement Cohh. No, this passage says nothing about an atone- ment. It says ' The soul that sinneth, it shall die.' And you say the sinners are all men, and the death — endless misery. There is no hope Cressey. But Jesus Christ Cohh. No, no. This passage sa3^s nothing about Jesus Christ. I am going to confine 3'ou to this single verse. I insist that jow. shall show me, from this verse, that any man can escape final wo Cressey — (trembling with excitement, and elevating his voice). But lue must go to the general teachings of the Scriptures. Cohh. Good, good, my dear sir. Now that you have come to see that we must explain Scripture by Scripture, we Vy'ill return to the 25th of Matthew, and I will show you from the connections the meaning of the verse which you quoted. And he jdelded to this demand with respectful attention, and I finished up my exegetical commentary on the 24th and 25th chapters, which he permitted to pass without further opposition. We continued our discussion for some time yet, touching different points of doctrine and different texts of Scripture, until about 3 o'clock a.m., when he pro- posed an adjournment to bed, to w^hich I acceded. He came out late the next forenoon, saluting me jovially with 6* 54 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. reference to our night's theological contest. He gave me no occasion afterwards to encounter him in defence of my faith ; and, instead of withdrawing his attentions because of my ingenuousness in the maintenance of my religious principles, he manifestly held me in the higher estimation. I believe that young men will usually find it good policy as well as good principle, to be seriously and candidly faith- ful to their religious convictions, — faithful to their God as Avell as to their social relations. In due season I engaged to teach the Temple Hill School District in AYaterford the ensuing winter, for a term of two months, if I do not misremember. I believe, however, that private subscriptions extended the term to three months. Saturday, Dec. 10, — I went over to Waterford, to be on hand to commence my school Monday the 12th, according to engagement. My designated boarding house was Joel Atherton's. He was the District Agent who contracted with me as teacher. In the afternoon I called upon the Chairman of the School Committee, Rev. Lincoln Ripley, at the Centre of the Town, for Examination and Certificate. He was down in his well, assisting his hired man in cleans- ing it. Not willing to leave so rare a job, he told me that he would assume the responsibility to set me at work for the ensuing week, postponing the examination to the next Saturday. Monday, Dec. 12, 1817.— This morning at nine o'clock, 1 made my debut in the capacity of a school-master. The information I had received since coming into the place in relation to the past character of the school, had filled me with fear and trembling. The school had been for the last three winters in terrible disorder. The large scholars sometimes treated the master to threats of violence. I was HIS BiliTH AND EARLY DAYS. 55 naturally diffident ; and, being entirely without experience in this branch of business, I feared that I should fail, and wished myself out of the concern. However, I was there and would try. Saturday^ Dec. 18. — This was the day of trial at head- quarters. In the afternoon I went up to Parson Ripley's according to arrangement, for examination. After a brief trial of my proficiency in reading, spelling, grammar, and the rules of arithmetic, the parson turned his inquiries to the subject of religious doctrine. I answered his inquiries with the same directness with which I responded to his examinations in literature and science ; making the Holy Scriptures, instead of Murray's Grammar, Pike's Arithme- tic, and Johnson's Dictionary, my appeal for authority. This discussion was continued until an advanced hour in the evening, when my venerable inspector turned to his desk, and wrote the following : This may certify that Mr. Sylvanus Cobb appears, on exam- ination, to possess a competent knowledge of those branches of education which are usually taught in our common schools. He also has in his possession legal vouchers for his being a young man of good moral character. Agreeably to these testimonials he is hereby recommended as one qualified for an instructor of a common school. LINCOLN RIPLEY, Minister of Waterford. Waterford, Dec. 18, 1817. When he had passed this certificate into my hand, and I had placed it in my wallet, he pensively remarked that he reorretted that I was comina: into the town to disseminate Universalism among the children. I replied that, even if it were to be m}^ business to teach Theology in Waterford, 56 MEF. SYLVAN US COBB^ D.D. the impartation to the children of the principles of my reli- gion would be precisely adapted to their highest need. It would give them a Father in God, whom they could trust and love. " If, to produce reverence for family govern- ment at their homes, I should deliver to them a disserta- tion on parental discipline, alleging that, if they should dis- obey their parents, their parents would contrive and execute a mode of punishment designed to preclude their future improvement, and to compass their utter ruin, those parents would, and that with your approbation, drive me out of town as a defamer and a madman. And yet 3"ou are sad to think that I may inspire the children of my school with as adoring a conception of the principles of their heavenly Father's government, as you would have them entertain of the government of their earthly parents ; that I will not petrify their souls with the thought that God, in his judi- cial administration, will make punishment an instrument of final ruin to his children, instead of a means of correc- tion to a beneficent end. " But," I continued, " it is not my business to teach the- ology in the common school. The voters of Waterford appropriate money to you, sir, as their teacher in theology. And the purpose for which a portion of them have con- tracted with me, is that of imparting to their children in- struction in the rudiments of common learning. It will be my duty, of course, to inculcate, and practically exemplify, the morality of the gospel ; and incidentally, to inculcate those principles of religious veneration in which all Chris- tian denominations agree. But, if I were of your religious opinions^ for me to take the advantage of my position in the school, to intrude upon the children theological dogmas on which their parents are conscientiously at variance, would be a reprehensible wrong." HIS BIETH AND EARLY DAYS. 57 The parson did not find how to controvert this position ; but he said that with my leave, he wonkl add a Post Script to my Certificate. I handed it back to him, and he ap- pended the following : P. S. Notwithstanding Mr. Cobb appears legally qualified as above, I could not consistently commit a child to the care of one of his religious sentiments. LINCOLN RIPLEY. Waterford, Dec. 18, 1817. On receiving from his hand the amended Certificate, and reading the Post Script, I stood erect, full six feet and an inch, and assured him that he was doing me a favor which he did not intend, and inflicting on himself an injury, which I, as his friend, should regret ; that I would earn the confidence and respect of the people, who would condemn him for his attempt to injure me for my religious faith. There was I, a green country j^outh 19 years of age, on . my first endeavor out in the world, in a town in v,diich I had not been able to learn of a single person professing the faith which I cherished, knowing that the District Agent who engaged me as a teacher was a member of this Rev. gentleman's church, charged with the delivery to that Agent of credentials wdth the attache of an ecclesiastical anathama, which the clerical Committee-man, in his esti- mate of his own influence, probably believed would send me snivelling, back from whence I came. I wonder that I did not quail. But, in the integrity of my principle, I knew no fear. As I was about retiring, Mr. Ripley expressed the hope that I should show that writing to the Committee at once. I assured him that it would be my pleasure to do so. 58 REV. SYLVAXUS COBD. D.D. On reaching the house of the Agent, the Chairman of the District Committee, Joel Atherton, with whom I was then boarding, I informed him, before being seated, of the request of his minister, that I woukl at once exhibit to him my letters of approval and condemnation, at the same time placing in his hand my cherished Certificate and Post Script. He read, and squirmed, and scowled, and at length exclaimed, '* I did not think that Mr. Riplc}'' was so much of a fool." And the Bull of the " Minister of Waterford " met with a similar reception throughout the District. The week that I had been with the school by permission, before the Examination, had begotten a strong mutual attachment between me and all the school, and the parents of course, and Mr. Ripley's Post Script affected them with deep disgust. And forthwith the working of this matter full}^ verified the admonition which I delivered to the parson on the first reading of his "P. S." The report of it, in connection with the fact that there was a Uuiversalist teaching the Temple Hill District School, spread over the town like " wildfire." It brought up to the surface and exposed two or three confirmed Universalists who had not taken a public position as such ; and it brought to me inquirers from different parts of the town. It being a farming town, many of the people were in the habit of tarrying at and near the Church Sunday noon. Numbers would often gather around the Universalist School Master, some ap- proaching with inquiries concerning my views of religion, religious experience, &c. My custom was, to answer with reverent statements of the purpose of the Saviour's mission in general, and the spirit of his life, which was of course the spirit of his religion. And this was love. I would take them along with me in my estimate of this holy spirit niS BIRTH AND EARLY DATS. 59 of Christianity, its influence upon the soul, and the sj^m- pathies and aspirations which it enkindled in our hearts for our fellow-beings, which could never be satisfied but by a hope corresponding with these sympathies and aspira- tions. They would unhesitatingly express their acquies- cence in these views ; and when I would tell them that tliis is Universalism^ thej^ would appear delightfully astonished, and one and another would frankly confess, " Then I am a Universalist." These conversations would lead to fur- ther inquiries, and to the study of the Scriptures ; some- times to the loan of some of my theological books. THE SCPIOOL. But I was duly at work in the service of m}^ new calling, as a School Master. Monday morning, Dec. 12, 1817, as before stated, I entered the Temple Hill School House in Waterford, to begin this responsible mission. I felt my dependence, and opened the exercises with prayer. I then addressed the scholars, explaining the purpose for which we had come together ; the appropriation by their parents of money from their hard earnings for the support of the school, all for their (the children's) good ; the responsi- bility which rested upon me, whom they had placed there as the governor and teacher of the school, to be faithful in my endeavors that their reasonable expectations should be realized. I expressed also my confidence that the scholars would cheerfully co-operate with me in the pleasant and profitable work before us. And as system was essential to success in such a business, I propounded a code of laws for their government. I attached no penalties to my laws. I maintained a course of remark which did not admit of the suspicion that any one would be disposed to disobey,' 60 nEV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. and introduce disorder, to the injury of themselves with the whole school. I left all penal discipline to be called in requisition and adjusted as circumstances should require. But it was seldom, hardly at all, that I found corporeal punishment requisite. I conversed with all the older scholars individually, ascertaining their stage of progress in education, and their wishes and intentions for that term, that I might class them judiciously ; and I urged them to exercise the utmost freedom in the way of calling upon me for aid. The order of the school soon became perfect ; and the same large boys, young men I may say, who had been named to me as having been insubordinate to the man who had acted in the place of master the three preceding win- ters, became my most respectful associates, aiding me by their example in the maintenance of order. At the close of the term I had an " Examination," at which the Committee, including the before-mentioned Rev. Mr. Ripley, were present. Mr. Ripley spoke enthusiasti- cally of the order and progress of the school, and pro- nounced it the best in town. I will record the fact here, with reference to Rev. Mr. Ripley's " Post Script^'' that before the close of this term I was engaged to teach this school the next winter ; and was also engaged, by Abel Houghton, a member of Mr. Ripley's church, Agent of the District in the North-west corner of the town, called " Blackguard," to teach that school also the next winter. This I was able to do, as the terms were but two months each in the two districts. A. D. 1818. I have already run my narrative three months into this year, by the sketch of my Waterford school. During the HIS BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS. 61 spring and summer months I assisted my brother Cyrus on the Homestead, as I was obligated to do by the before-men- tioned arrangement which I initiated. In the autumn I took another Academic term of school- ing under the tuition of the aforesaid Eev. Noah Cressey, at his house. The school of 12 or 14, was composed mostly of the same young men that pursued their studies together here on the preceding autumn. In December, I returned to my school in Temple Hill District, Waterford. Starting with the mutual attach- ments, and the stage of progress, attained last winter, this was an exceedingl}^ pleasant and profitable term. In January, 1819, I entered upon my work in the North- west District of the same town, my engagement with which is noted on the preceding page. This school, too, had suf- fered from defective government in times past ; but it speedily came into order, and achieved advancement very satisfactory to the parents, and the Town Committee. I boarded a portion of the time with Abel Houghton, and a part with a Mr. Whitcomb. Before leaving town I was engaged to teach this North- west District again the next winter, and also the Temple Hill District. And the Committee of the " City District," in which Rev. Mr. Ripley resided, engaged me for that District also the next winter. A. D. 1819. Having closed my second school in Waterford, which ran three months into this j^ear, I returned to the Homestead, and assisted my brother Cjvus on the farm, as per agree- ment. 6 62 REV. SYLVAN us COBB, D.D, TWENTY-ONE YEARS OLD. JULY 17TII ; — I attained to the age 0/ Legal Freedom ; on which occasion I broke forth into song, as follows : — Now one and twenty years I've lived. With countless blessings crowned, And in my father's house received Supplies for needs I've found. His table, house, and fields were mine, Flow'rs and arborous shade: Oft have I there at ease reclined; Oft o'er the fields I've played. 3. When I would walk the blooming fields, Or pleasant verdant grove ; Or, for the beauties nature yields, Would o'er the mountains rove ; 4. The little birds have merry been, And cheered me with their song; And with their soft melodious strain, My voice I'd often join. 5. From ev'ry side, east, west, south, north, The laughing flow'rs would look, And send their lively fragrance forth, O'er mountain, field, and brook. 6. And when I thus abroad have strayed, No troubles would incline ; Of morrow's suif 'rings not afraid; — My father's house was mine. HIS BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS. 63 7. Whenever I should weary grow, Or should there storms arise; The furious winds tempestuous blow, Or thunders shake the skies : — Or should the darksome night advance, Or cold and chilling blast, Or hunger e'er my wants enhance, — I to my homo would haste. 9. There'd be a table richly spread. And there a fire-side free : I might recline on downy bed, Or eat, and rise to play. 10. But now another scene appears ! Let joy lie silent by. Awake, my cares; awake, my fears ! Fate raises now his cry. 11. Methinks he says, the day is come. When none is bound to me, To feed, or clothe, or find a home ; — There's nothing mine I see. 12. What I before have called my own Is now no longer mine. May I not sit and grieve alone ? To meagre want resign ? 13. May I not suffer m the field. As nothing I possess That can to me assistance yield, In huncrer or distress ? 64 JiEF. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. 14. Whenever I shall weary be, When winter's storms pervade, Where shall I then for shelter flee ? Or where recline my head? 15. Peace, peace, my soul ! an angel speaks In renovating strain ! What fiend with uncouth message seeks To give your spirit pain ? 16. Why now distrust your guardian Friend, Who rules in boundless love, — Who makes a wise and glorious end All dispensations prove ? 17. Your former home, delightful shade, Your gardens, flow'ry fields, Gay, pleasant pastures, where you've strayed. All beauties nature yields; 18. Your life, support, yea, all your joys. From that great Fountain came, Whose fulness no dire foe destroys, Eternally the same. 19. Your "heavenly Father," he commands That you shall him address; Your Friend at home, in distant lands. In health or in distress. 20. Yea, all mankind his offspring are, Their fortune he'll control ; They shall his grace and mercy share; — He's boundless love to all. HIS BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS. 65 21. Avjake, my joys ! away, my fears ! My great Protector lives ! His word, his name my spirit cheers, And hope and pleasure gives. 22. Now I can walk the blooming field, And bow'rs in endless green; Where flowers eternal fragrance yield, Which grace the shining scene. 23. My walks with richest fruits o'erhung, Are lined and paved with gold; Pure, living waters flow along, The vales of peace unfold. 24. Thus I in heavenly pleasures rove, Or joyful sit and sing, Beneath my heavenly Father's care. My Guardian and my King. 25. But, in my soul should darkness rise, And unbelief awake, And I against my king devise, — Will he not me forsake? 26. No : as a father, should his son. While under his command. In a destructive contract run. Lets not th' agreement stand; — 27. So should I covenant with death, Or e'er with hell agree, 6* 66 liEV. SYLVAN us COBB, D.D. My King — Almighty Father, saith, " Your contract void shall be." * 28. Is such thy faithfulness, dear Lord ? And such th}' tender caro ? Then I will trust thy steadfast word, Thy righteous law admire. 29. And while I breath and being have, In good or evil days, I'll joy in thine unbounded love, And try to live thy praise. I had now fulfilled my legal obligation to my father, which was the rendering to him of my labor during the age of legal minority, taking only reasonable time for schooling. And this service, when the arrangement, by my sugges- tion, was made with my brother Cj^rus, for his taking the Homestead, was, by my determined choice, transferred to him. The occupancy of the two preceding winters at school-keeping was but the use in my own way of the time to which I, in common with my brothers, was entitled for attendance upon the District school. But my terms, in the two preceding autumns, at Cressey's Academy, occupied time which my brothers, in their turns respectively, at the same age, devoted to the paternal farm. Therefore, to be even with them, at the close of my school-keeping terms, I asked my father what were the wages per month in the fall for a 3'oung man at farm work. On being informed, I counted out to him the money for the time absorbed by my Academic terms. He at first refused to accept it, and seemed grieved at my proposal to pay him for the time * Isa. xxviii. 15-18. HIS BIRTH AND EARLY DATS. 67 taken for schooling. I told him that my purpose was fixed. I appreciated his kind feelings, and those of Cyrus, who also objected to m^^ proposition, as it would accrue to his benefit. But I had taken to m3^self autumnal months which my brothers had devoted to farm work ; and I would not accept any partiality in my own favor. I would be even with the rest of the family. And I carried out my will in the premises, and made all satisfied with it. But now I was " Twenty-One." I hired myself to our neighbor, Benj. Herring, for a month, at haying, for twenty dollars^ which was considered, at the time, high wages. I had a great knack at mowing. It was the only branch of farm work at which I would engage in a race. I had a good and healthy constitution ; but for chopping my mus- cles were not hard enough to work continuously with ease ; and at hoeing and reaping my back would tire. But I have spoken of these things before. After this month at haying on hire, I let mj^self to Gen. Wm. Parsons for another month, at miscellaneous farm work ; at the close of which I entered upon an Academic school term on Paris Hill. Hebron Academy was burned some time before, and had not been rebuilt ; and this school was substituted for the time. Stephen Emerj^, who has since been a Judge of the Supreme Court of Maine, was our Preceptor the first part of the term, and Elijah Hamlin, an older brother of Hannibal Hamlin, since Vice- President of the United States j succeeded Mr. Emery in charge of the school. I boarded with Maj. Russell Hub- bard, son of Gen. Levi Hubbard. During this school term I formed some interesting acquaintances, Avhich were life-lasting ; and some of my fellow-students have risen to eminent stations. John Otis, who went into the practice of law, represented the District 68 JiEV. SYLVAN us COBB, D.D. of Kennebec in Congress for at least one term ; and Han- nibal Hamlin, another of my companions of that school term, after good service both in the House of Representa- tives and in the Senate of the United States, and as gov- ernor of Maine, was elected (in 18G0) Vice-President of the United States, in connection with the first four-j^ear term of the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln. In 1865, he was appointed by President Andrew Johnson to the Col- lectorship of the Port of Boston. But in all m}- positions and relations I was proud of my religious faith. I was never ashamed of my Lord and Master, the Saviour of the world. My love of the glorious faith of the gospel, conduced to a preparedness on the instant for its defence whenever occasion called. I will here note an incident illustrative of this remark. One morning I fell into company with several fellow-students on the Common, upon our way to the Academy. One of them was a candidate for the Orthodox Congregational ministry. We fell into conversation on- doctrines of the- ology. The discussion settled down upon the term aionion, as applied in the New Testament to punishment. I as- sumed that its primary signification is duration of time indefinite, and is used both in a limited and unlimited sense ; and of course that its sense in any given case must be determined by the nature of the subject to which it is applied. And as punishment is not an end, but a means to an end, it is of course limited in its nature, and the word aionion has no power to eternize it. My Orthodox com- panion conceded that the word is often used in a limited sense, being applied to things of time ; but insisted that its primary and proper meaning is endless. The other mem- bers of the accidental meeting gave their voices in his favor. HIS BIRTH AND HARLY DAYS. 69 At this juncture we saw Preceptor Hamlin coming, and agreed to submit the question to him. On his joining our company, the case was presented to him, and our positions respectively were stated. He unhesitatingly replied, that the primary and proper signification of aionion is endless. Isly companions were pleased ; and I was not displeased, for I knew where I stood, and was confident of victory, even through our Preceptor's judgment. I replied to him, that it might appear pedantic in me, a student in Latin, who had not then even learned the Greek alphabet, to con- trovert the position of my learned Preceptor on the sense of a Greek word. But you, I continued, with a general knowledge of Greek, have not had 3'our attention called to a critical examination of the derivation and use of this particular word. You merely float along in the common opinion concerning it. But what I know of it, I know certain. I have read most of the discussions of it, in which the learned of different religious sentiments have partici- pated, — and I know that the primary meaning of aionion is duration of time indefinite; and of course that its sense must be judged of in each case of its use, from the nature of the subject. And now, said I, Preceptor Hamlin, I propose that you improve your leisure time between this and to-morrow morning at this hour, in a critical review of this subject, when we will meet again on this spot, and hear your decision. To this he assented, and all agreed. The next morning we students were on the spot a little in advance of the hour ; but, in due time the Preceptor approached, showing the white of his ivory from as far as we could see him. When he had come near enough to be heard in a conversational tone, he exclaimed, " Cobb! You've got it. You are right, Cobb, perfectly right. It is," he continued, " as you said. I had a general knowl- 70 EEV. SYLVANUS COBBy D.D. edge of the Greek. I read the Greek of the New Testa- ment in m}' Academic and College course ; but my atten- tion was never before called to a critical notice of the derivation and common use of aionion^ even in the Classics. I am surprised on discovering how unquestionably the proper meaning of the word is indefinite duration of tiine, and how commonly the old Greek writers used it in con- nection with things and events of limited duration." None dissented from this decision, for it had the authority of a master upon examination of the record. It may be that I was somewhat pleased. This school term was to me a pleasant and profitable one. WATERFORD SCHOOLS— AGAIN. On page 61 mention is made of my having engaged the schools in three of the Districts in Waterford, including the two I had taught before, and the Centre District also, including the family of Rev. Mr. Ripley. Such was my success at school-keeping in that town, notwithstanding the counter-effort of Mr. Ripley's post script. I commenced the Temple Hill school the middle of November, and con- tinued six weeks, to the last of December ; then kept the North-west school January and February ; and the City or Centre school, March and April. During this winter a small Universalist society was organ- ized in the town, — not b}^ my suggestion, but by several ardent believers in the universal Saviour, who desired to make provision for at least occasional preaching of the word. This released them from liability of taxation for the support of Mr. Ripley. I was present at the April town meeting, when the question came up as to the grant- niS BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS, 71 ing of Mr. Eipley's salary for another j^ear. A member of the Board of Select Men, who was also a member of Mr. R.'s church, spoke against voting the salary, explaining that when Mr. R. was settled, it was by a vote of the town, and all the citizens were taxed for the payment of the salar}^ Subsequently a Baptist society was formed, taking off a portion of the tax-paj^ers from the Territorial Parish ; then a Methodist societ}^, taking away another portion ; — and now a Universalist Society had just been formed, releasing from the Parish tax another considerable number. And he protested against the annual imposition upon a third of the people of a burden which was originally assumed by the whole town. A majority of the voters appeared to be of the same opinion ; for the proposition to assess upon the town Rev. Mr. Ripley's salary, was voted down. This was virtually his dismissal from the pastorate. He was left without employment. And this was the fruit of his bigotry and folly, in attempting, by a condemnatory Post /Script, to turn the people of his Parish against a young candidate for the office of school-teacher, because of his religious sentiments. This act of would-be persecution by the parson raised and extended the j^oung man's popularity, and proved his own overthrow. The formation of that society, which reduced to a failure the paying forces to Mr. Ripley's salary, was not the result of my direct labors. But that unlucky Post Script became the cause of an ex- citement which stirred up a spirit of inquiry that conduced to this result. And the whole case is a testimony to the doctrine, that it is the true policy as well as religious duty of a Christian young man to be always faithful to his God and his religion. One may injure himself and his cause by being meddlesome, and querulous; but a firm, modest, respectful and devout avowal and maintenance of the en- 72 nr.v. sylvanus cobb, d.d. lightened faitli of the gospel, will gain rather than forfeit the confidence of the wise and good of all parties. It is with pleasnre that I am able to record the fact, that Rev. Mr. Ripley, after the discontinuance of his Parish salar}^ was taken into the patronage of the American Missionary Society. A. D. 1820. Having closed the third of my before mentioned Water- ford schools the last of April, and returned to the paternal home, I forthwith brought to a point my decision in rela- tion to the business of m}^ life, so far as to enter upon pre- liminar}^ arrangements for preparatory study for the Chris- tian ministry. I wrote Rev. Sebastian Streeter, who was then Pastor of the Universalist society in Portsmouth, N. H., asking leave to make his house my home during the ensuing season. He answered me in tones of fatherly affection, and bade me come along at once, and enter upon my proposed course of reading. From this point I have recourse to a regular daily journal, w^hich I commenced at this juncture, and will place the date of the years at the head of the succeeding pages of this work. 3Iay 23cZ. — I started from my father's, in Norwaj^, for Portsmouth, N. H. Arrived at Portland before sunset. 3fay 24,tJi. — In the morning, took passage by mail stage for Portsmouth, where I arrived about noon. I forthwith repaired to father Streeter's house, where I was cordially greeted by himself and wife, and inducted into the room which was to be my Study for the season. I immediately entered upon the reading of ecclesiastical and general his- tory ; and the re-perusal of the Scriptures for more critically noting the bearings and connections of the parts with each A. D. 1820. 73 other, and with the whole ; and the construction and writing out of sermons. As soon as the second Sabbath in June, I commenced my Master's work as a preacher of the gospel ; and that in Rev. Mr. Streeter's Church. I had it not in mind that I should commence preaching until I should have returned, in the ensuing autumn, to my native town. But in the next week after my arrival at his house, father Streeter said to me, " You must preach in my desk Sunday after next." "That," I replied, " is joking. I am incompetent to commence preaching so soon. And to make my debut in so large and popular a cit}^ congregation — it is out of the question." I spoke as I felt. I was naturally diffident and self-distrustful ; and had only been conversant with countrj^ society. I had attended meeting there one Sun- day, and viewed, as a child views wonders, the elegant and spacious temple, the far elevated pulpit, and the large and fashionably dressed congregation ; and the thought of so soon exhibiting myself in that pulpit, before that congrega- tion, in the capacity of a preacher, veriW appalled me. " It is of no use," said I, "to talk about it." " Well," said my imperturbable teacher, " I have en- gaged to preach on that Sunday in Guilford, N. H. ; and my people hold meetings when I am absent on a Sabbath, and Br. Drown, or some one, reads a printed sermon, and leads in prayer. And they will require these services of you ; and why may j^ou not as well read a sermon of your own?" vSure enough, why might I not? Yet the reading of a sermon of my own would be preaching. And that was the idea which embarrassed me. And this question pressed itself upon my mind the week through, — Shall I PREACH in father Streeter's desk Sunday after next 9 It was urged that I should give an answer before the then 7 74 nEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. ensuing Sabbath, that definite notice might be given from the desk with regard to the services in the pastor's absence. I at length came to the conclusion that, sink or swim, I would undertake the work proposed. The following record of that day's service I copy from my Diary : — ''June, Second Sahbatli. — I preached in Rev. Mr. Streeter's Meeting House; in the forenoon, from Acts xxvi. 22, 23; and in the afternoon, from Mark xvi. 15, 16. * * * In the morning I waited with trembling anxiety; — at length the Church bell called me forth. I entered the house of God, and, for the first time, ascended the pulpit stairs. I found myself seated before a large and enlightened audience, as a preacher of the gospel of the Lord Jesus. This is a new scene, and a time for serious reflections. Here am I, an inexperienced youth, about to arise and stand before the great congregation, composed of the aged, the middle aged, youth and children, to expatiate on themes divine. O, my God ! be thou my Guardian and Teacher, — my Confidence and my Strength. Trembling I arose, and com- menced the services of the occasion ; — and soon my fears Avere fled, and the divine subject alone occupied my mind. My trepidation turned into enthusiasm, and I felt that, in answer to my prayers, the spirit of God was with me." The last week in June Br. Streeter attended the East- ern Association, in Paris, Me. Having engaged to tarry over the succeeding Sabbath, the first in Jul}^, and preach in Norway, he left his pulpit services at home for that Sunday in my care. Br. De La Fayette Mace, of Maine, came along Saturday and tarried at Br. Streeter's over Sunday. By my invitation he preached in the forenoon and evening ; and I preached in the afternoon. The con- gregations were large and attentive. Juhj 28. — Having received an invitation to spend two or three weeks in Rochester, N. H., I took a Dover packet at Portsmouth at 12 J o'clock this day, and arrived at Mr. A. D. 1820. 75 Nathaniel Ela's, Inn-keeper in Dover, N. H., at 3 J p. m. There I was agreeabl}" entertained nntil the next afternoon, when I was called upon b}^ Mr. Joseph Cross of Eochester, and conveyed to his house. Rochester is a country town, 22 miles from Portsmouth, and 10 from Dover. It contains a small village, pleasantly situated. Mr. John Smith's house was my home in this place. I preached in the Vil- lage School House the last Sunday in July, to a crowded audience, among whom were some of my Portsmouth friends, who witnessed my first endeavor in that city. Here I had another severe trial, it being, in an impor- tant respect, another new beginning. When father Streeter informed me of the arrangement he had made for me at Rochester, he said, " Now, Br. Cobb, the Universalists in Rochester have come out from the Methodists and Baptists, and inherit their old prejudices against note preaching. Their ministers have told them that r-e-a-d don't spell lireacli. You must extemporize.'' It was a fearful undertak- ing ; but I did not hesitate. I had made it m}^ rule of action from earlj^ boyhood, to take hold, in earnest, of any good work assigned me, either by decisive circumstances or by my superiors, and that in faith ; — and I never utterly failed. In this case, having gone up to Rochester Friday, I had Saturday for preparation. Yv^ith my two manuscript ser- mons for the ensuing day, I spent most of Saturday among the tall elms in a recently mown interval, and committed them to memor}^ as well as might be in so short a time. With this preparation, not forgetting m}^ helper, God, I went into my appointed meeting at the ringing of the Sabbath morning bells, and entered upon the responsible duties of the day. In the forenoon, when I had proceeded some way in my discourse, having closed a sentence, the next my memory failed to grasp. I could not recall it, <6 HEV. SYLVAMIii COBD^ D.D. and was for a moment, '' out of my row," and my head commenced twirling. But instantl}' I bethought m3'self to repeat the last sentence with increased emphasis, as if to impress it more effectivel}^ upon the minds of my hearers. I say — said I ; and proceeded with the repetition of what was then so familiar that, while uttering it, I could be employing my mind in feeling after what was to follow. And I caught it, and proceeded with increased confidence and freedom. And I have never, since (and I write this with the experience of fort3"-six ^xars in the ministry), I haA'e never, since, run upon a hiatus, or lost the thread of my discourse, in public speaking. And the task which father Streeter enforced upon me at this early day, has proved of incalculable benefit to me, and much to the cause. If there had not been a necessity for it, I might not have put myself to the requisite effort to qualify for extempo- raneous preaching. B}^ being thus earty " broke in," I w^as the better qualified to adapt myself to the prejudices of the Universalists of Maine, whose primitive preachers were all extemporizers ; and also to occupy the positions in Avhich I have so often ])een placed, to speak in pri- vate houses, barns, gi'oves, and from the doors of School Houses, with a portion of the audience in the house, and a portion in the yard. For about five years, I wrote most of m}^ sermons in full, but took not even a "brief" with me in the delivery. I did not commit my. sermons verbatim ; but looked them over after writing, and gathered up the succession of points, and fixed these in my mind so that I could see the chain at a glance ; and then, standing before the people with the spirit of the gen- eral theme in the heart, and a desire to possess their minds of the truths in charge, in their spirit and power, the Ian- A. D. 1820. 77 guage in which I had written them came generally into familiar use. I have spoken of this method as running through the first five years of my ministry in my native State. When I had been preaching, half of the time, in Waterville, Me., about that number of years, I commenced a course of ex- pository sermons on the Bible in course, commencing at the beginning of Genesis, and treating on all the passages, in consecutive order, which seemed to me to have any con- siderable bearing upon doctrines, of faith or practice, through to the end of Revelation. The series was com- prised in nearly a hundred discourses, — which, as I preached but half the time in Waterville, and generally delivered these only in the forenoon, run through nearly four years. These discourses, in which conciseness, and extensive reference, and comparison, and accuracy of expression, were indispensable, I delivered from manu- script. So, during the ten years of my regular pastorate in Maiden, Mass., from 1828 to 1838, the difference in circumstances requiring an important difference in the style of sermonizing from that which was adapted to my itinerant and pioneer labors in Maine, more concise and classical, I usually delivered my newly arranged sermons from manu- script. To return to my debut in Rochester, N. H. The Sabbath of which I was speaking passed pleasantly, and its experience afforded me much assurance of the Divine approval of my choice of the Christian ministry as my life- labor. I tarried in the place over the week ; preached a lecture in the Court House Thursday evening ; and held forth again in the School House the next Sunday, which was Aug. 6. Aug. 1th. — I returned as far as Dover, and delivered a 7* 78 BEV. SYLVAN us COHB, D.D. lecture in the Court House in that place in the evening. I was called up at 1 o'clock the next morning to take the packet for Portsmouth, where I landed at sunrise. I went on a second visit to Rochester the last of this week, and preached in the same School House two more Sundays, and in the Court House on the intervening Thurs- day evening. On ni}^ return to Portsmouth, I preached another even- ing lecture in the Court House in Dover. A Dr. Dow attempted to disturb me in my discourse, by placing him- self erect before me, but a few feet distant, staring me in the face, and often making an audible remark. At length I said, " If the gentleman wishes to make a disturbance, I will give way to him now." With his face crimsoning with mortification, he sat down. At the close of the ser- vice I was informed that the Doctor was a distinguished gentleman when sober, and that he was then partially in- toxicated. Indeed he came to me the next morning with a handsome apology. At the close of my discourse, I gave liberty for remarks or exhortation. A Freewill Baptist preacher arose and harangued vociferously. When he had occupied four or five minutes, I, perceiving that he said nothing which bore with any force against my sentiments, while he doubtless imagined that he was taking me down, as he said, " We must have faith ; and faith is the gift of God." I shouted, " Amen." This embarrassed him ; and he sat down sim- ultaneously with the utterance of these words: "But I know by experience that unless we believe in this world we must be eternally miserable." I then arose and re- marked to the audience, that I could understand and receive all the gentleman's sayings except the last. How he could have experienced eternal, by which I took him to A. D. 1820. 79 mean endless misery, for not believing, in this world, I was unable to understand, and wished him to explain it. But he was silent — and I dismissed the meeting. Sunday^ Sept. lltJi. — Br. Streeter being indisposed, and this being the last Sabbath I was to tarry with him in my preparatory studies, he persuaded me to perform religious services in his desk, and he occupied his family pew as a hearer. MY EETUEN HOME. Saturday, Sept. 23cZ. — I went from Portsmouth, N. H., to Portland, Me., by stage. It was with saddened feelings that I left Portsmouth ; for several circumstances concurred strongly to attach me to my friends in that place. Br. Streeter was an instrument in the hand of God of clearing obstacles from my way, strengthening my hands, confirm- ing my heart, and moving me on in the work of the min- istry. His amiable family was bound to my heart by ties of strong and enduring friendship, and also a large circle of brethren and sisters in the faith, with whom I had spent many pleasant social hours, who listened respectfully to my first public performance in the Christian pulpit, and whose conduct towards me on that and all occasions, strengthened and encouraged me in my new and responsi- ble undertaking. However, I took the remembrance of them along with me, shook off the pressure of melanchol}", and cheerily rode again to my loved Maine, and to the scenes of my juvenile years. Here I have the nearest rela- tions and a host of the dearest of friends, and hither my Master's business calls me. 80 IlEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. THE STAY AT PORTLAND. But I must needs take Portland on my way ; and Br. Streeter had sent an appointment for me to preach in that city on the Sabbath. I arrived at Portland about sunset this (Saturday) eve, and, according to Br. Streeter's direction, called upon Br. Horatio G. Quincy, who intro- duced me into the family of Br. Abraham Beeman, my assigned home during my tarr\^ in town. But I found father Wm. Far^vell, of Vermont, at Port- land, who had arrived there on one of his preaching cir- cuits, and had given out an appointment for the coming Sabbath before the notice of my visit was received by the friends in that place. Of course I would not even divide the day with the old patriarch, but would hear his gospel messages in the regular services of the day. I consented, however, to preach in the evening. Having been long absent from home, I had calculated on hastening thither Monda}^ ; but was prevailed upon b}^ the solicitations of the Portland brethren to tarry with them over the week, and preach there the next Sunday, which was the first Sunday in October. We had happy meetings. THE INVITATION. Monday morning, before I left the city, a Committee called upon me, and informed me that they were deputed by an extemporaneous meeting of friends held on the pre- vious (Sunday) evening, to confer with me on the question of my coming to them on the ensuing Spring, when I should have closed my school term for which I was en- gaged in Norway Village, and becoming their Pastor. They were a voluntary association, had employed different A. D. 1820. 81 preachers transiently, but were then without any arrange- ment for preaching. I told them that their proposition distressed me ; that the thought of tying myself down so soon to the Pastoral charge of a city society produced a stifling sensation ; that I intended to evangelize over the hills and valle3's of Maine several years, making the acquaintance of mankind and their wants, and gaining exercise as a gospel minister, before I would settle myself down thus. I never have regi-etted this resolution and the keeping of it. Oct. 5th. — I arrived at the old homestead in Norway, again to meet with the kindest of parents, and affectionate brothers and sisters ; and to roam, in the town whose air was the first I breathed, over the fields, hills and dales which were my earliest range. On the following Sundaj^ I preached in Norway, in the first Universalist Meeting House ever built in Maine. It excited me with indescribable emotions, to stand there in the pulpit of the Barnses, the Roots, the Farwells, and the Streeters, and, in the capacity of a minister of the gospel, face and address those who had borne me in their arms ere I could walk alone ; neighbors who had been familiar with my wa3^s from earliest childhood, including the old severe school-master who taught me to read and spell my abs, and boxed my ears for mistakes ; my father, brothers, citizens of all religious denominations, and playmates of all grades. And, to add to my trepidation, there were seated before me the Preceptor of my previous autumn's Academic studies, and a party of his students, my schoolmates, with countenances indicating a disposition to listen as critics. I spoke without manuscript, and the Lord supported and blessed me. It was to me a great da}^ And I may as well record at this stage of progress in my 82 liEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. narrative, what I am in duty and lionor bound to place prom- inently on record, of my appreciation of the noble hearted kindness of the members, without exception, of the Uni- Tcrsalist society in my native town. Several of the elder members expressed to me their desire and expectation that I should make the ministry my calling, before I had enter- tained the thought of doing so myself. And after I entered upon the work, they all gave me their sympathy and God-speed. There was never, even with those who had been my playmates and school-fellows, the least man- ifestation' of emy, or spirit of detraction in any form. They all seemed to feel an interest in the honorable suc- cess of their own native townsman. Br. Ichabod Bartlett, one of the j^oung men of the society, being Agent of the Village District, engaged me, on excellent wages for the time, to teach that school three months in the winter ; the leading Universalist families in the Village gave me my board in rotation, permitting me to draw the board money from the Town Treasury in addition to m}^ salary. At the same time the societj' kept me at preaching nearly all the Sabbaths, rendering me what, for the time and the circum- stances, was a liberal compensation, three dollars a Sab- bath. This, I say, was, for the time and circumstances, a liberal compensation. For the regular stipend per week, in those days, for the veteran preachers, the Roots, Barnses, Farwells, &c., was but five dollars. At that price the Norway society had only been able to have preaching one Sunday in a month ; so that, to pay this stripling, who had come up among themselves, and was engaged, on good wages, in school keeping, three dollars a week regularly, was indeed generous. Altogether the funds which my friends here put me in the w^aiy of acquiring this winter, enabled me to pay up all arrearages of my A. D. 1820. 83 educational expenditures, and to start out into the world with an elastic step. God's blessing forever upon the UniA'ersalist society in Norway. Whatever of good may accrue to the world from my humble professional labors, is owing in a great measure, under God, to the early encour- agement and support to their child, of the Universalist society in Norway. I will now return to the point of my Journal from which I diverged for my panegyric upon the Norway society. I had described my debut in Norway in the capacity of a preacher, the second Sunday in October. I preached there also on the third and fourth Sundays in October ; delivered a lecture in Enoch Edwards' neighboi'hood in Otisfield on the 19th ; and a lecture in Fryeburg on the 27th. NOVEMBER, 1820. FIRST MISSIONARY TOUR. This month comprised my first missionary tour in the capacity of a Christian Evangelist. One of the primitive members of the Universalist society, Nathaniel Bennett, hearing that I purposed making such a tour, tendered me the use of a young horse, scarcely broken to the saddle, for the excursion in equestrian style. My purpose was to extend my tour eastward as far as Waterville, making calls on the way in Livermore and Winthrop, where I had been informed of the existence of Universalist societies. (I was in no danger of intruding upon any other preacher's charge, for there was not at the time a settled Universalist preacher in the State of Maine. Dr. Joseph Butterfield, who itinerated somewhat, was residing in Fryeburg ; Fay- 84 EEF. SYLVANVS COBB, D.D. ette Mace, of Strong, had preached a few times, but was doing nothing ; and Wm. A. Drew, then teacher of an Academy in Farmington, had conducted Sabbath services a few times in that town. Fathers Thomas Barnes and Isaac Eoot, who were energetic and efficient laborers in their time, had passed away from this field of labor. Thus nearly destitute of public servants was the Universalist Zion of the ^' Pine Tree State," when I entered upon my ministerial profession.) I started on my tour about the middle of the week, that I might have time to get up an appointment, with suitable notices, for the Sabbath. I had been furnished, by some Norway friend, with the name of Abijah Munroe, of Liv- ermore, as a leading Universalist. He kept a tavern, and a minister's home. The name of Israel Washburn, Esq., was also given me, as a working brother in the faith. He was the father of Israel Washburn, Jr., who has repre- sented his District in Congress several terms, and sustained the office of Governor of his State several years. Another of his sons has represented a District of Illinois in Con- gress a series of years. I called upon these gentlemen, and received a cordial welcome to the hospitalities of their homes. I found in them responsive spirits to the love of the gospel ; and they arranged and duly notified for a meeting on the Sabbath, when I preached to good congre- gations. Early in the week I proceeded on my way to Winthrop. Passing through Peadfield, I called upon John Smith, Esq., an intelligent, wealthy and zealous friend of the cause. He made me feel at home at his house, where I tarried by his invitation several days. In compliance with his arrangements I preached two evening lectures in the large School House of the Village, which w^as called " Readfield A. D. 1820. 85 Corner." The acqiiaintauce thus earl}^ formed with him contributed greatly to m}^ subsequent benefit. . The latter part of the week I rode down to "Winthrop, six miles, where I preached on the Sabbath. This was the second Sabbath in November, 1820. A snow storm pre- vailed through the day ; but we had pleasant meetings in a Brick School House. Jacob Nelson, John Morrill, E. Snell, Abial Pitts, Perley, Fairbanks and Fillebrown were leading members of this society. Nov. 14. — - 1 delivered an evening lecture in a School House in Winthrop, near Br. Elliot Snell's. Ibth. — I left Winthrop on my w^ay for Waterville, via Hallowell. Br. Glidden advised me to go by the back road through Sidney, and call upon Capt. Nathan Sawtell, who was a prominent Universalist, and attended the meet- ings of our order in Waterville, where I proposed to get up an appointment for the next Sabbath. The following I copy from my original Journal, which is a transcript of the life of the day as it was : — *' The badness of the roads made riding slow and tedious. The shoes of my borrowed colt were smooth ; the recently fallen snow and sleet had made the roads slippery; and the riding upon saddle was attended with some danger. I became uncom- monly weary before I reached Capt. Sawtelfs, and my sj^irits were sorely depressed. The prospect api^eared dark; and clouds of gloom hung over my mind. I saw no beings but strangers ; and none ahead knew that I was coming, — or even that such a person existed. (It was a new thing to go out into a strange country, and i7iirocluce myself as a preacher of the gospel. There was no denominational paper circulating in the State through which to notify apj)ointments or proi:)osed tours, or even to announce to the members of societies, and the behev- ers scattered abroad, the advent of the new preacher. ISTorwas there even an older preacher in the State who could be of ser- vice to me in the way of my introduction to a field of labor.) 86 nEv: sylvan us cobb^ d.d. "To return to my narrative: — I inquired impatiently and looked wistfully for the residence of Capt. Sawtell. But wlien I had turned up into the lane leading to liis house, I had sad misgivings ; and seeing the old gentleman withing up the stakes of his pigs' pen, with a stern countenance and a face unshaven for the week, I expected a rei)ulse. The following colloquy ensued : — " ♦ Is this Capt. Sawtell ? ' > " *My name is Sawtell.' "'My name is Sylvanus Cobb. I am on my way to Water- ville to spend the Sabbath, and Br. Glidden, of Winthrop, ad- vised me to call upon you.' " ' What ! are you a i)reacher ? ' " ' I have preached a little.' " ' Well, come, get off your horse and come in, and spend the night with me. You will find homel}^ fare. But it will hb good enough for you if you are a Universalist preacher.' " I can report nothing more that was said, in detail, for I was enchanted with the scenes of a new state of being. The un- studied, unpolished address of the old Saint, which was the out- gushing of the genuine spirit of confidence and love,' toned by emotions of joy at the appearance of a young minister of the universal and efl[icient Saviour, instantly dissipated the cloud from my mind, banished my distrust, and made me a lively child at home. It would be difiicult to decide which of us two was made most happy by our meeting together, and by the convev- sation of the evening. It was a pleasant occasion to me. " Nov. lQ>tli. — It was now Wednesday ; so that I had time to go up to Waterville, 3'et ten miles, and make the acquaint- ance there of several brethren, and get out good notice of the preaching, before the Sabbath. Capt. Sawtell furnished me with the names of several of the leading members of the W^aterville societj^, among whom, in the East Village, were Alpheus Lyon, Esq., Maj. Richard Montgomery Dorr, Maj. Ebenezer Balcomb, and Elah Esty ; and in the West part of the town, Thos. Cook, Mrs. Elizabeth McFarland, and Elisha Hallett. A. D. 1820. 87 Sunday, Nov. 20. — I preached in the East Village Meet- ing House in Waterville. Br. Thomas Cook, who lived about two miles out, took me home with him after the ser- vices, with whom I had a pleasant home for the night. Monday morning. — Maj. Balcomb rode out from the Vil- lage early, that he might see me before I should start on my homeward way, and proposed inquiries in relation to the probabilit}^ of my willingness to enter into a regular engagement with them on the ensuing season, after closing my Winter school in Norway. Capt. Sawtell did not allow the opportunity to slip, for having a message from the young preacher in his neighbor- hood. He had an appointment for me to preach in his District School House this Monday evening. When I had closed my services, a young Baptist preacher by the name of Samuel Dinsmore charged me with speaking peace when the Lord had not spoken peace. I asked him to inform us when and on what conditions the Lord had spoken peace. But his only reply was a furious rush out of doors. Tuesday evening, 2'2d. — I preached a lecture in Read- field. Thence I proceeded to the old home, terminating my first missionary tour, which furnished me with much work, an important quantity of experience, and valuable acquaintance v/hich opened to me a field of abundant and permanent labor to be forthwith entered, on the ensuing spring, at the close of my previously engaged term of school-keeping in Norwa}' Village. Dec. 11th. — I commenced teaching in the public school in Norway Village, for a three months' term. It was, to me, an interesting school. I had the attendance of several young gentlemen and ladies older than usually attended the Common Schools, who were advanced scholars in the higher English branches of education. Yet my charge was 88 IlEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. exceedingly laborious, — the number of scholars averaging about eight}^, and the School House being cold, and the benches ricket}', as it was about to be displaced by a new one, and therefore the Committee would not spend money to put it in decent repair. 1821. JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. I continued my school in Norway through these two months, and preached ever}^ Sabbath, and also some week evening lectures. Most of my ministerial labors were occupied Avith the Norwa}'' society ; but I preached a few times in Paris and Waterford. March Gth. — I closed mj^ school in Norway. And this terminated my mission, in which I had taken great pride, and not a little pleasure, in the capacity of the School Master. And here, I will record my speculative and practical theory of school government, as it regards the use of corporeal punisliment as a disciplinary instrumentalit3^ I never emphasized it as a prominent governing force, nor named it as a fixed penalty for the transgression of any standing law. But I held it as my right and dutj^ to em- ploy such punishment at my option, w^henever I judged it to be requisite to break down a stubborn and brutally insub- ordinate spirit. It was my dernier resort. And, in my four long winter seasons of school keeping, I administered corporeal punishment but in very few instances. I can now remember but two in all. And these were cases in wiiich I was necessitated to it by extreme perversity and insolence, when I had exhausted " moral suasion," and further forbearance on my part would have been tameness A. D. 1821. 89 and submission. But I did not strike a blow (the ferule was the instrument), until I had, by affecting conversation, softened my indignation into tenderness, explained to the subjects of the punishment that they had forced upon me this painful service for their good and that of the school. And then I made thorough work of it, continued the appli- cation to the attainment of humble submission. Thus was m}^ authority strengthened, and the school benefited. But the general absence of beating and threshing did not involve looseness of school government. I did not and could not go on with the exercises of the school in disorder. The scholars were trained to a feeling and habit of oneness with me in the love and choice of order. Thej^ were a little self-governing republic. Whenever I was called to the outer door to receive and answer the verbal communi - cation of a friend, the school would continue busied in their studies in the same beautiful order as when I stood in my desk with my e3'es upon them. It was my happiness to enjoy the mutual confidence and love of master and school. THE OPENING TO MINISTERIAL LABOR. Some time during my school term, I received a letter signed by John Smith, of Readfield, and John Morrill, of Winthrop, as Committee of the Universalist Societ}^ of Readfield and AYinthrop, informing me that the Eastern Association of Universalists was to meet in Winthrop the last Wednesday and Thursday in June proximo, and invit- ing me to visit them forthwith after closing my school, and preach with them regularly till the meeting of the Associa- tion. This call was an out-growth of ni}^ November tour eastward. March 9th. — This day I left Norway for m}^ new but 8* 90 REV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. temporar}^ field of labor, distinctively in the capacity of a Christian minister, in compliance with the call above noted. And, though I did not contemplate the movement in that light at the time, a recognition of which would have over- whelmed me with sadness, — it proved to be my final de- parture from my native town as my stated home. It fills me with indescribable emotions now, when I bring it be- fore me at this writing, 45 j^ears afterwards. Blessed home it was to my early years ! A noble community was that town. I have borne only pleasant memories of it.* On my way to my new field of labor, I preached an evening lecture at the house of Br. Joshua Whitman in Turner, and spent a Sabbath's labor in Livermore. * NOTE BY THE MEMOIRIST. Nearly half a century had elapsed when Mr. Cobb made his last visit to the scenes of those early days. He had, as often as was consistent with other du- ties, been in the habit of revisiting the old home, to draw inspiration from the hallowed influences that clustered about the place of that family altar where first he had been taught to raise his voice in prayer and praise to God, and where had been bestowed upon him the priceless inheritance of parental love. One after another of those wliom he had loved had fallen asleep upon the verge of the dark valley, to awaken in the brighter realm beyond; but still there were loved ones left to welcome him whenever he came to his native town. When he made this last visit I had my home in the town of Norway, and of course it was beneath my roof that he sought shelter and repose. The old burial-ground, where the mortal remains of his departed kindred had been placed in sepulchre, away on the summit of a distant hill, he had not visited since the death of his brother Cyrus, and he expressed to me the wish that I would walk up there with him. It was a calm, beautiful afternoon in October. The sun was sinking towards the toi>s of the White Mountains, that loomed up in the dim distance as though offering their bed of purple down to the departing monarch of the day, and the broad line of forest that flanked the adjacent fields was robed in its rich garnish- ment of beautifully varying and softly harmonizing autumnal tints. As we ap- proached the hallowed spot our conversation Avas dropped, and when we came to thread tlie grassy aisles that wound around among the clustering graves our steps were slow and solemn. I caught my cue from the manner of him who led the way. Other graves were noted before we came to the gentle mounds that arose above the mouldering remains of those to whose resting-places the sweet sentiment of filial love would incline us. Here rested all that was mortal of a school-mate whom my father had loved in those other years ; there reposed tlie remains of one who had been his friend and benefactor ; and anon we came to a stone which bore the name of one who had received benefit at his hands. And A. D. 1821. 91 From this time I devoted my Sabbath labors constantly to the united society of Winthrop and Eeadfield, to the last of June, when the annual meeting of the Eastern Association was held in Winthrop. May 8tJi. — By invitation of Samuel Locke, Esq., of Hallo well, I delivered an evening lecture in the " Reading Room " in that place, which was the first Universalist dis- course preached in Hallowell. My text was Ps. Ixii. 12 : "Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy : for thou ren- derest to every man according to his work/' On the suc- ceeding evening. May 9th, I preached a lecture in a School House at the Forks of the Roads in Hallowell. May 31st. — Journeying on the way to visit my parents so we moved on, until at length we reached the marble slab that bore the name of my father's honored brother. And here he told to me how true and faithful that brother had been ; and how, through all the days and years of their bjpyhood together there had not been one single passage of ill that could now give pain in the recollection. Near at hand were two grey, mossy stones, one marking where reposed the ashes of" A Soldier of the Revolution," and the other, the resting-place of the remains of the companion. Two graves hallowed and sanctified ! As my father slowly, and with reverent steps, approached them, I saw that his lips trembled, and that his eyes were flooded. His manner invited no mortal companionship, and I withdrew to a respectful distance to view the scene. A few moments he stood, with his head bowed, and his hand resting upon the stone that bore his father's name ; and then he moved on a pace and leaned upon the tablet where- on was inscribed the name of his mother. Then I saw him uncover his head, and sink upon his knees ; and, as even now while I write, the tears gather in my eyes, so they gathered then until my vision became dim and uncertain, and I bowed my head in silent sympathy with him whose soul was in sweet and holy communion with the spirits of another world I The sun had sunk to its rest when my father arose to his feet; and silently we wended our way from the consecrated ground. Away upon the distant moun- tains, where the lord of day had taken his departure, the heavens were batlied in richest effulgence, giving to us token that the bright orb had lost none of its glory; and though the night was coming, yet beyond the verge of our narrow ken, new-born splendors were rejoicing other eyes. In all the time to come I think there can be no memory of the past that shall throw around my father's form for me so much of simple grandeur and hallowed import, as shall the memory of that time when I saw him, with his head bare and bent, reverently kneel in prayer at the graves of his revered and ever hon- ored parents 1 S. C, Jr. 92 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. in Norway, in passing through Buckfield Village I was recognized by Dr. Bridgham, who prevailed upon me to tarr}' and preach in that village in the evening, and forth- with sent out notices of the meeting. We had a good gathering, in the Academy building. June. — On the Second Sunday in this month I preached in Waterville, being invited b}' the Committee of the soci- ety there to do so, for the attainment of a further acquaint- ance with reference to subsequent arrangements. On my wa}^ out I visited Hallowell again, and preached two suc- cessive evening lectures, one on each side of the river. THE EASTERN ASSOCIATION. The following I copy from my Journal : — " June 2QtJi. — The following brethren, viz., Russell Streeter, Wm. Frost, Fayette Mace, Wm. A. Drew, and Josei3h Butter- field, met me at the house of Br. Jacob Nelson, in Winthrop, and formed a constitution for the future regulation of the East- ern Association of Universalists. " 27tJi. The Association met as per adjournment of the last year. The public services were as follows : — *' In the forenoon, sermon by Br. Mace, from Rom. viii. 16, 17. '* In the afternoon Br. Streeter preached, from Isa. xxxv. 10. " In the evening a discourse w^as delivered by Br. Levi Briggs, a visiting clergyman from Orange, Mass., from Eph. vi. U. "MY ORDINATION. " Thursday the 2^tli. — In the forenoon, Br. Drew preached, from John xix. 30. "After the sermon Br. Fayette Mace and myself were pub- licly and in due form ordained to the work of the Gospel Min- istr}^ "The Ordaining Prayer was offered by our most worthy Brother, Wm. Frost, of Lisbon. A. D. 1821. 93 " Charge, by Br. J. Butterfield, of Farmington. " Kight Hand of Fellowship, by Br. Levi Briggs, of Orange, Mass." The following reflections I penned in my Journal at this point : — " How great is the responsibility which we have taken upon ourselves. How important the work to which we are thus formally ordained, and in which we have thus solemnly pledged ourselves to be faithful. May the God of all power and grace hold our hands and keep us, ' so that we may finish our course with joy, and the ministry that we have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify of the gospel of the grace of God.' " The following is my original Journal of the close of that Associational meeting : — "After service we retired to the Council Hall, closed the business of the session, and adjourned to meet in Turner the last Wednesday and Thursday of June 1822. The ministering brethren found it an affecting occasion when they took leave of each other. But we hope to meet again on earth : if not we shall meet in our Father's kingdom above. ' Our hearts were warm, our bosoms glowed, And tears of friendship freely flowed. But then we turned our thoughts above, And smiled for joy in Jesus' love." At this point of time I had closed my engagement with the Winthrop and Eeadfield society. The Committee originally asked for my services up to the meeting of the Association. By a new arrangement I continued to preach for them about once a month the rest of this and through the succeeding year. But from this time, after a few weeks spent in visiting the scenes of my childhood, and preaching to the beloved people there, I took up my abode in Waterville, and made that my home for about seven 94 hev. sylvanus cobd^ d.d. years. The Committee of the Waterville society came to the Association at Winthrop, instructed to engage me if practicable, to go and dwell with them, and preach for them one half of the time. Such an engagement was con- summated. But before passing on to the journal of the succeeding stage of my life labors, I must tarry and place on record m}^ grateful appreciation of the friendships here formed, and an incident or two of my experience, in this first field of m}' pastoral services. During this three months' term, in the responsible ministerial charge of a religious society, I shared the undeviating fraternal sympathy and kind regards of the people of my charge, and the respectful attentions of the citizens of all denominations. I was informed that Parson Thurston, the Trinitarian Congrega- tional clergj-man of Winthrop, Pastor of the " Town Parish," for what ultimate purpose it is not necessary for me to hint, wrote his brother in ecclesiastical fellowship, Dea. Benj. Herring, of Norway, and of the School District in which I was born and reared, asking in relation to the character of the 3'oung Universalist preacher then in his field of labor. The answer was such that it was not deemed politic b}^ the parson to make public report of it ; but he showed it to some of- his friends who reported to my friends, that Dea. Herring wrote in answer that the j^oung man in question had been noted in childhood for manliness and virtuous living, admonishing the Parson that he would never succeed in diminishing his ministerial influence by any overhauling of his moral character. That he regarded as invulnerable. The reader may be assured that I was caused by this incident to profoundly appreciate the value to m3'self, my religious friends, and the cause of which I was an ambassador, of the character of my childhood and A. D. 1821. 95 youth. If that determined enemy of the great and glori- ous faith which I preached, liad been able to pick up even a juvenile error or ^^outhful indiscretion in my then past life, he would undoubtedl}^ have reported it to my preju- dice. Verily the Universalist x^reacher should be sanctified from the womb. Another more important incident in the relation between me and Parson Thurston was the following : — I was spending an evening with Br. John Morrill, about a mile north-west of Winthrop Village. After supper he re- marked to me that Parson Thurston had an appointment for a lecture that evening in the School House of that Dis- trict, and proposed that we should go in and hear him. I cheerfull}^ accepted the proposition. Mr. Thurston extem- porized, and floundered about in the vain eflbrt to address to the understanding the idea of the ability of totally depraved mortals to perform all the moral requirements of their heavenly Father, and thus secure by obedience the title to eternal salvation ; while at the same time all self- reliance in relation to this great work is sin. After the benediction, Br. Morrill introduced me to Mr. Thurston. He seemed embarrassed by my presence, and apologized for his performance, saying that he came prepared with a sermon ; but, on account of the smallness of the number present, and not knowing that I was there, he substituted an extemporaneous discourse on a subject with which he was not familiar, and on which of course he could not speak with ease. I assured him that I understood how to make due allowance for such circumstances ; that I had no disposition to criticise his manner ; that my only difBculty was with the sentiment of his discourse. He respectfully inquired what were my objections to that. I replied that I knew not that I should have any objection to the matter 96 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. of his discourse if I could understand it : that he had told us that God had provided in Christ a way of salvation for all men ; and that way, the only way of salvation, was faith and repentance, which is altogether the gift of God, or the work of his grace, by the power of his spirit : 3^et he restricted final salvation to a small portion of our race. But if the way of salvation is provided in God's purpose of grace in Christ for all, and that way is the gift of faith and repentance, or of spiritual regeneration, through the effectual working of the Divine Spirit of grace, I could not understand how he could resist the faith of universal salva- tion. He rejoined that he would like to converse with me on that subject, and on religious doctrines in general. And he invited me to call and spend a day with him, at his house, in religious conversation. I respectfully accepted the invitation ; and we agreed upon the daj^ It was understood that I should have a friend accompany me, call in the forenoon early, dine with him, and spend the da3^ At the set time I was knocking at the parson's outer door, accompanied by a Br. Fairbanks, a most worthy member of my society, whose given name I do not remem- ber. Parson Thurston received us cordially, and soon we were seated in the Study, and engaged in theological dis- cussion. The first topic on the tapis was the doctrine of innate total depravity. This he held as an essential doctrine of Christian theology ; and he argued for it with much inge- nuit3^ We continued the discussion of this topic all the forenoon. As I perceived that dinner was being laid upon the table, I said to the Parson that we had well-nigh ex- hausted the arguments, pro and con., upon that subject; and I desired to advance to the discussion of other impor- tant points of doctrine in the afternoon ; and I would state A. D. 1821. 97 an illustrative case bearing upon this point, his decision of which should close this branch of the discussion. I pro- ceeded as follows : — Suppose a 3^oung man is passing by the garden of a neighbor, and his attention is attracted b}" the apparently delicious fruit with which a tree in that garden is loaded, and he desires to pluck and eat of it. But he is checked by the law in his mind, which has been imprinted there by education, forbidding theft as wrong. Now we will criti- cally inquire, wherein is the sin if the young man yields to his desire, and partakes of the fruit? Is there any sin in the fruit? None. Is the young man's taste for good fruit sinful? Surely not. Is the act of eating fruit sinful? All will answer, no. Where then is the sin, if sin ensues? It is in the unlawful manner of obtaining the fruit, taking the property of another without his leave. But before the youth jdelds to the temptation to partake of this fruit uulawfullj^, the law of the conscience yet hold- ing him back, suppose he turns and looks upon his father's garden upon the other side of the street, and sees there a tree loaded with fruit every way as strongly inviting, to which he has ffee access by the kind permission of his father, and he knows that it will be gratifying to his father for him to enjoy himself in feasting upon that fruit. So there is nothing now to turn the scale, and determine the youth from which tree to gratify his strong and lawful appetite, but the law which had been holding him back from his neighbor's tree. " Now to which," I questioned my venerable opponent, " to which tree will he go for his repast ? " " Why," he replied, " as you have stated the case, he will of course resort to his father's fruit tree." " Then where," I inquired, *' is your doctrine of innate total de- 9 98 HEF. SYLVANUS COBB, D.l). pravity? If he were radically depraved, if he were nat- urall}' and constitutionally disposed to wrong, and in love with sin, the very fact that it is wrong to steal the fruit from his neighbor's garden would determine him to that act." " Wh}'," rejoined the Parson, "we never meant to be understood as believing in any such thing as p^ire malevo- lence in man ; a choice of wrong for the sake of the wrong." " Very well," I replied ; " I am perfectly satisfied to leave our discussion of this point, as I promised, with your deci- sion on the case I would propose for trial. You do not believe in total innate depravit}^, or the natural love and preference for sin as sin. Man is induced by temptation, against his better nature, to violate the laws of God. As St. James sa3's, ' he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.' Much controversy results from the misuse of terms. Revise your theological formula on this point, and conform it to 3- our real views which you have now exposed, and you and I will have no occasion for controversy on the subject of human depravity." The afternoon was devoted to miscellaneous discussions. I put him up to hard efforts to harmonize* his Hopkinsian Calvinism with the Scriptures and with itself; and he gave me the usual running catalogue of fragmentary Scrip- ture quotations to explain in harmony with Universalism. Whatever of social intercourse subsequent opportunities afforded was mutually respectful and pleasant. MY HOME IN WATERVILLE. About the middle of July (1821), I took with me my team (horse and chaise), my little librar}^, and my change of raiment, which constituted the whole of my inheritance, A. D. 1821. yy and planted m3^self in Waterville as a citizen and a Pastor. I engaged to preach in Waterville one half of the time, two thirds of the half in the East Village, which is situated at the head of boat navigation on Kennebec River, and one third in the West Meeting House, four miles back, where there is a little business centre, sustained by grist and saw mills, and a few stores. The Meeting Houses were both owned by the town, and the worse for wear. That in the East Village was kept in a comfortable condition ; but that in the West w^as greatly out of repair. As no particular society had control of it, my friends would only spend enough upon it to keep out the storms. During this summer and autumn, what portion of the time I spent in Waterville, I received gratuitous board, by kind invitation, in the families of Maj. Richard M. Dorr, Maj. Ebenezer Balcomb, and others, in the East Village ; and of Elisha Hallett, Esq., and others, in the West part of the town. August. — On the first Sunday, after the usual public services in Waterville, I rode to Sidney, ten miles, and delivered an evening lecture in the Brick School House near Capt. Sawtell's. The Baptist Elder, Wilbur, his Dea- con, and several members of his church, attended. After public service I had some conversation with Elder Wilbur, chiefly on the relation of all men to God as their Creator, and on the creature or creation in Rom. viii. ; — subjects which I had touched upon in my discourse. Anxious to invalidate the force of this testimony in proof of the ulti- mate spiritual regeneration and gloiy of all of human kind, he first assumed that the creation, in that case, means all created things, animate and inanimate. I pressed him to say w^hether he believed the inanimate things are to become capable of enjoying the glorious liberty of the children 100 EEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. • of God, and tire to be raised into that dignity. He would not be so foolish as to say this ; and then he varied his position, and interpreted the " creature " or " whole crea- tion" of this chapter to mean the whole animate creation, human and brute. But he found it equally difficult, on reflection, to stand up to the folly of assuming that all hrute creatures are to be elevated to the estate of sons of God ; and he felt obliged to admit the view which I had taken of the passage referred to, viz., that the sub- ject of the apostle is the human creation, who are the prop- er subjects of the Christian ministry, v/hich proclaims this great emancipation as the purpose of God in Christ. On the second Sunday in August (1821), I preached in LiGONiA, wliich is about twelve miles east of Waterville. The name of the town has since been changed to Albion. I delivered a lecture in the same place Saturday evening. This lecture was understood to be the first Universalist sermon preached in that town. I shall make note of my ministerial labors more extensively than would otherwise be appropriate, for the reason that I performed much pioneer service, and the Journal of my ministerial labors will furnish much material for a history of Universalism and the Universalist denomination in Maine. THE OTHER PREACHERS. During a few of the early years of my ministry, there was no other laborious itinerant Universalist preacher in Maine. Rev. Tho. Barnes, commonly called " Father Barnes," who was the first resident regular preacher of this faith in that State, had passed away. He commenced his residence in Poland, Me., in 1799 ; and received ordina- tion in Gray, Me., Jan. Gth, 1802. For many j^ears he A. I). 1821. 101 preached in Norway, Falmouth, New Gloucester and Free- port, about a quarter of the time in each place. His daughter says in her Memoir of him, " At the earnest solicitation of the Eastern brethren, he paid several visits to Belgrade, "NYaterville and Farmington, but never jour- ne^^ed any farther eastward." He died Oct. 3d, 1816, aged 66 years. Rev. Russell Streeter came to Portland in the winter of 1821, while I was school keeping and preaching in Norway ; but his w^hole time was occupied there as settled Pastor, and he only went into the country occasionally, on a flying visit for a single appointment, by special arrangement. Dr. Joseph Butterfield, who came from the Baptists into our denomination, yet lived at Fryeburg, and preached a little, but was of no account in effective service. Fayette Mace, who was ordained with me at Winthrop, did nothing in Maine, nor much anywhere else. In a little while he became lost to our ministry, and buried in the society of Shakers. Rev. Wm. A. Drew, so well known as a long and faithful laborer in his Master's vineyard, com- menced holding and conducting meetings in Farmington in 1820 ; but he had charge of the Farmington Academy for some time, which confined him at home. And when he had disencumbered himself of that charge, his health was so feeble that he could not go out into the field of hard itinerant labor. This work in the State devolved mainly upon me, who, with humble abilities, possessed great physical endurance, and ardent zeal. EXTENSION OF MY FIELD OF LABOR. In October of this year (1821), I made a preaching tour east of the Kennebec, which was introductor}' to a bi- 9* 102 MEV. SYLVAN US COBB^ D.D. moiitlil}'' series of tours in this region, widening in their extent, for five j^ears. And soon these tours took in a line of lectures, outward bound, down the valley of the Kennebec, in Augusta, Ilallowell, Gardiner, Bowdoinham, Bath (sometimes in Brunswick) ; and in Wiscasset and Bristol on the wa}^ from the River towns into the eastern field. In my Journal I find the following entry, — which is a moderate specimen of the general run of my Diary, exhibiting the persistence and continuity of my labors during all the years of my ministry in Maine : — "OCTOBER, 1821. ^^ First Sunday.— 1 delivered two discourses in Livermore. " This week I visited Br. Wm. A. Drew in Farmington. He has charge of the Academy in that place, and preaches there on the Sabbath days. *' Second Sunday . — Preached two discourses in Readfield. "15th. — An evening discourse in Hallowell, South Reading Room. " 16th.— An evening lecture in Hallowell, east of the River. *' 17th.— Having received invitations from unknown friends in New Castle, Nobleborough, and Union, to visit those places and expound to them the word of Christian revelation, I now started out on a considerable tour east of the Kennebec. In these, as in all my subsequent and extended labors in this direction, I was acting the pioneer of our cause. Father Barnes, as his daughter saj-s, never extended his missionary tours farther east than Waterville. '' Third Sunday.— 1 preached in New Castle two discourses; and a third discourse in Nobleborough, at Damariscotta Bridge. " 22d.— A lecture in Back Meadow neighborhood, in Noble- borough. " 23d.— A lecture in Bristol. The venerable Commodore Samuel Tucker, of Revolutionary memory, whose residence was in that neighborhood, was an earnest and tearful listener to the discourse, and took me to his hospitable abode, where he A. D. 1821. 103 insisted on my abiding over the succeeding day and night, and entertained me delightfully with spirited and life-like rehearsals of his naval exploits in our Revolutionary war with England." From this time onward the several j^ears that I continued my tours in this region, I delivered one or two evening lectures in Bristol on nearly every tour. And Com. Tucker, and his grandson, Hines, were leading spirits in the procurement and support of those lectures. ^'Fourth Sunday. — Two discourses in Union. " 30tli.— An evening discourse in Union, in a School House east of the Common. " Here ends that October ; in which month I preached fourteen sermons, spread over a wide field, nearly all of which were addressed to congregations mostly composed of new inquirers, and in part of those who came out of curiosity to hear " strange things." And intervening, between the discourses, much private conversation de- volved upon me. But that tour extended a few days into November. So my Journal reports it. " November 2d. — A lecture in Sweetland's (Baptist) Meeting- House in Hope. First Sunday (that is, in November), preached in Union." " Though in this quarter they had heard false and evil reports of the doctrine of God's universal and efficient goodness and grace, and had heard but little of the truth of it, yet great num- bers flocked together to hear the word, and many were so happy as to receive it into believing hearts." The Diary adds, — "The remainder of this month I preached in Waterville.'* My friends in Waterville sympathized with me in my missionary work ; so that they cheerfully consented that I should so divide the time between them and the various 104 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. portions of my missionary field, as should best accommo- date my work in its wbolencss. They would have their half of the Sundays, of course ; but not always in regular order. The variations, however, were exceptional. Usu- ally I preached the first and second Sunda^^s in each month abroad, and the third and fourth at home. This method was generally more convenient than would have been the preaching at home and abroad on alternate Sabbaths. For often I had two Sabbath engagements near together, yet both far from home, where they could be embraced in one tour to the saving of much travel, and an opportunity be aflbrded for lecturing on the intervening week evenings, in the region round about. For instance, during about five 3'ears, from 1821 to 182G, I generally preached in Union the first Sunday, and in Hope the second Sundaj^, of every other month. And on the week evenings between these Sundaj^s I lectured more or less in East Thomaston, Cam- den, Lincolnville, Belfast, Castine, and other places. On my way to Union I would lecture, on each trip, in some of the towns of Augusta, Hallo well, Gardiner, Bowcloin- ham, Brunswick, Bath, Wiscasset, and Bristol. And on m}' wa}^ home, by a more direct country route from Hope, after the second Sunday, in Belmont, Searsmont, Mont- ville. Unity and Ligonia or Albion. INFANT DEDICATION. On the second Sunday of December following (1821), I performed for the first time the service of infant Dedica- tion, substituted by Rev. John Murray for infant Sprink- ling. It was in my meeting in Waterville ; and the subject of it was an infant son of Br. Levi Dow, an active member of my society, who a few j^ears before removed from A. D. 1822. 105 Boston, where he was a member of Father Ballou's Church, in School Street. He instructed me into the form of words as nearly as he could recollect it, employed by Father Murray, and adopted by Father Ballon, which is the fol-« lowing : I receive thee as a member of the m3^stical church of Christ, to be baptized with his own baptism, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit ; and I dedicate thee to Him to whom thou belongest, pro- nouncing upon thee the blessing which God commanded to be pronounced upon all the children of Israel. " The Lord bless thee and keep thee ; the Lord make his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee ; the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Amen. The name which Brother Dow spoke into my ear for his little son, when he passed him into my arms, was, George Sylvanus Cobb. An unexpected compliment to myself. A. D. 1822. January. — Having renewed m}^ engagement for preach- ing half of the time in Waterville, I took regular boarding with widow Elizabeth McFarland, an excellent Christian woman, living about half way between the main Village on the Kennebec and the West Meeting House, in which I preached one third of the Sabbaths devoted to Waterville. The arrangement furnished me with a pleasant home, which I retained until I entered into the estate of matrimony in the ensuing autumn. February. — On the first day of this month I started on a tour south and westward, which was extended to Boston, comprising my first visit to that city, which, in six 3'ears afterwards, was embraced in the neighborhood of my re si- 106 JREV. SYLVAXUS COJUl, U.D. dence, and in about nineteen years, became my permanent life abode. I went by way of Hallowell, and took aboard sleigh, as my companion on the route, 3Iiss Eunice Hale Wait, who was my affianced Bride. 1st— Went to Hallowell. 2d.— (Saturday) Took my travelling-companion aboard, and rode out (ten miles) to Winthrop, where I preached the next day, which was Sunday. Ath. — (Monday) We rode to Norway, where we remained until the 11th. While there I preached a lecture in Yag- ger ; and a lecture also in the Village, and two discourses on Sunday the 10th. 11th, — Went to Falmouth. 12th. — Delivered a lecture to Br. Russell Streeter's con- gregation in Portland. 13th. — We proceeded on our journey as far as Dover, N. H., where we found a pleasant home for the night at Br. N. Ela's Hotel, which was alwa3'S a welcome home to me when I was passing through Dover, and had occasion to make any tarry there. 14,th. — To Portsmouth, where we spent the night with the family of father Sebastian Streeter, wherein I spent so many happy days in preparatory study for the ministry, in 1820. 16th. — To Ipswich. Here dwell the principal relations of Miss Wait, my companion. Her birth-place is Kenne- bunk, Me. But her father died when she was about five years of age, and her grandfather, Capt. Isaac Stanwood, of Ipswich, her mother's father, took the principal parental and educational charge of her until she was twelve j^ears of age, when her mother married Samuel Locke, Esq., of Hallowell, Me., and gathered her children to herself. So A. D. 1822. 107 here, at Ipswich, I left Miss Wait, while I finished out my journey in its principal purpose, by extending it to Boston. l&th^ (Saturday), I left Ipswich with the intention of going directly to Boston, and spending the Sabbath in that city, hearing Rev. Hosea Ballon one part of the day, and Eev. Paul Dean the other part. But, in passing through Salem, I must needs make a short friendly call on Rev. Bar- zillia Streeter, then Pastor of the Universalist Church in that city, with whom I contracted an intimate acquaintance in Maine in 1819, when he preached equal portions of the time in Norway, Turner, Livermore, New Gloucester, and Waterville. Br. Streeter prevailed upon me to permit him to put up my horse, to tarry with him Saturday night, and preach for him Sunday. After the afternoon service, he accompanied me, as companion and guide, to Charles- town, and introduced me to Rev. Edward Turner, who cordially invited us to abide with him over Sunday night. At that time Mr. Turner was Pastor of the Universalist Society in Charlestown. This was my first acquaintance with him. I found him a pleasant combination of dignity and geniality. But my enjoyment of this evening's entertainment was somewhat abridged, by the matter and spirit of the princi- pal conversation between Brs. Turner and Streeter. They were continuously discussing, as parties interested in the movement, the project which I found to my regret to be afoot, for a division of the denomination on the question of a limited future or post mortem punishment. The believers in such punishment were to go out and organize a distinct denomination, under the name of Universal Re- storationists, or something similar. And these two brethren were very innocently ci^lculating that the most polished 108 ItEF. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. and literary of the denomination would go with them into the new organization. We in the State of Maine had been baptized into the Spirit of God as the universal Father, and of Christ as the universal Saviour, and of humanity as a universal brother- hood. We regarded sin as the shame and curse of man, wherever it is ; and labored to show our people this fact ; that they might hate and discard sin, not only as dishonor- ing the God they loved, but also as degrading and cursing their own being. But we felt neither authorized nor dis- posed to extend sin's reign into the " life and immortality " " brought to light through the gospel." And to whatever of private speculations individuals might sometimes in- dulge their genius upon in relation to temporary evil in the land of promise, we gave no importance by giving it marked consideration. Indeed the moral power of our ministry was the love of God in CJirist Jesus our Lord. Feb. 18th, {Monday). Br. Streeter, still remaining with me as my companion and guide, introduced me, in his own house, to Rev. Paul Dean, Pastor of the Bulfinch St. Church in Boston. This was to me another new acquaintance. I found Mr. Dean a man of much social affability. But his mind also, as well as Mr. Turner's, had been measurably alienated, and his denominational feel- ings unfavorably affected, by unwholesome influences. The conversation here was similar to that at Mr. Turner's. 19?7i, {Tuesday). We called at a modest mansion on Hancock, near Myrtle Street, where we found Rev. Ilosea Ballou at home. After the usual introduction, the venera- ble minister of the word placed me a chair by himself a little apart, and, with a fatherly interest, inquired into my labors, and encouragements, and the condition and pros- pects of the common cause, in the State of Maine. He had A. D. 1822. 109 been represented to me as more severe in his theological tone, and less polished in his manners, than the other Reverend Brethren whose acquaintance I had just made. But I found his soul mellow with the love of Christ, and his conversation to develop the tenderness and simplicity of a child. He regarded the faith of the fundamental prin- ciples of the gospel as an essential requisite to denomina- tional ministerial fellowship ; but on incidental matters of philosophizing he could tolerate individual freedom, and even smile at what he regarded as ludicrous blunders. Waiting in vain, through that afternoon and evening, for Mr. Ballon to arraign certain other Brethren's diflference of opinion on some of those incidentals, — or at least to introduce the subject of the disputations, disaffections, and threatened divisions of which others had said so much, I at length questioned him in relation to these things, directly. Said I, inquiringly, " I believe there is some difficulty between you and Br. Dean?" " None at all," he replied in a decisive but mellow tone ; "if there is any difficulty, it is all on his side. 1 have never interfered with his affairs, nor regarded him with other than feelings of kindness. I understand that Br. Dean believes in a limited punishment in the immortal world. He has a per- fect right to believe and preach it, if he has evidence of it satisfactory to himself. But when he requires of me the belief of it as essential to my claim of Chiistian fellowship, it is highly proper that I should demand the proof of it as a Christian doctrine. That is all. I see no occasion for any unkindness of spirit or alienation of feeling between us." So he spoke with apparent depth and sincerity of feeling ; and the spirit of these remarks was uniformly manifested by that great and good man through the many 10 ]10 7?;; J'. sYLrAxus codb, d.d. years of 1113' subsequent intimate social intercourse witli him. 20^/i, {February). I took leave of Father Ballou after breakfast, and returned to Ipswich, leaving Br. Barzillia Streeter at his home in Salem on the way. Here I met again with my chosen friend, Miss Wait, and tarried over night with her worthy uncle, Joseph Wait. 21st.— The weather was rainy, and the snow fast melting away, so that it was necessary that I should be hastening on m}^ return route, that my sleigh might serve as my vehicle of conveyance. In passing through Salisbury I recalled an appointment made on my way out, for a lecture there this evening, and proceeded on to Portsmouth. Un- pleasant as the weather was, I took the young lady whom I had in charge along with me, that I might deliver her to her parents in safet}^ on my return to Hallowell. With a large Buffalo Robe, and a good umbrella, I kept her housed from the rain. 23cZ, (Sunday). I preached three times in Br. Sebastian Streeter's desk to-day, he being at Salisbury. I delivered a lecture for him also Saturday evening. His arrange- ments, as usual in like cases, kept me pretty constantly at work. 25t7i, (Monday). This evening I lectured in the Court House in Dover. The ground was bare much of the way from Portsmouth to Dover, and we had to face a cold north wind which blew furiously. But we persevered, and laughed at our hardships. Notwithstanding my solicitude to be making progress homeward, both on account of the protracted term of my absence, and the rapid wasting away of snow for sleighing, yet, as I have it in my Diary, " the solicitations of the brethren prevailed upon me to stop and speak to them A. D. 1822. Ill again the next evening." I do not recollect the circum- stances which rendered the brethren so desirousHo receive, and which prevailed with me to tarry and give, another lec- ture. So far as I may judge from the subject of my second discourse, by reference to my text book, denoting Eph. i. 13, 14, as the text for the occasion, it was not the demand for an exposition of any particular passage of Scripture which the opposition had just been perverting in contradiction of our faith, which persuaded me to tarry, but an earnest and lively spirit of inquiry after truth in the love and joy of truth and righteousness. In four days more of rough sleighing I reached my home at Waterville. The first day brought us to Portland ; the second to Lisbon ; the third to HalloweH, where I left my pleasant ward with her parents ; and the fourth to Water- ville. I have introduced into this biographical sketch, notes of conversations, with me and in my presence, on the part of the prominent clerical brethren whom I visited in Boston and vicinity, because it is expedient that I should thus record my witness from behind the curtain, as to who were the prime operators in an historical movement in our de- nomination, which, in 1831, culminated in the secession of a party (iiot embraciug Hosea Ballou), which organized itself under the name of " TJie Massachusetts Association of Universal Hestorationists,'' which operated in a narrow sphere a little while, and in a few years was only to be found on record among the things that were. I have also encumbered this memorandum of my first visit to Boston, with notes of my labors by the way, on the Sabbaths and numbers of week evenings, to show to my posterity, for^whom I write these sketches, that my life was not that of a sinecure, but of a laborer ; that the 112 HEF. SYLVAXUS COBB, D.D. P^atbor conferred upon me the working man's mission. And in pursuing the Journal of my life, 3'ou will see that my labors and responsibilities multiplied and increased, until, in advanced age, my ph3'sical powers declined. During this 3- ear (1822), I continued my circuit labors in the wide field before described in this Journal, widening it somewhat, by progressive degrees ; — down the valley of the Kennebec, taking in Winthrop and some other towns west, and extending east over Lincoln, Knox, Hancock, Waldo and Penobscot counties ; retaining Waterville as the base of operations, and the field of half of my Sunday services. There are some incidents, however, of peculiar interest, to which I am inclined to give a passing notice. In April, having preached a lecture in Winthrop ; and a discourse on Fast Da3' in the Baptist Meeting House in Hallowell ; and a Sunday in Union ; and a lecture in Appleton ; and another Sunday in Union ; and a lecture in Searsmont ; I preached a Sunday in Ligonia (so the Diary has it, and this was nearing my home again), and here, in the evening, / solemnized marriage between Mr. George Smith and Miss Celia White, both of Readfield. This I note here for its being the first instance of my having been called upon to perform the service of marriage solemniza- tion. May. — Among my labors in this month I find the follow- ing entr3' : — *' May lUh. — Preached in a School House near Capt. Seth Wyman's, in Bloomfield. The CongregationaHsts, at a lecture in this house the Sabbath i^receding, voted to keep the door locked against me. But they did not see fit to put their vote into execution. On the succeeding evening I lectured in another School House in the same town, near a Mr. Bjgelow's." This brief memorandum recalls to my mind all the A. n. 1822. 113 interesting circumstances of that occasion. Capt. Wyman was a liighl}^ intellectual and enterprising man, about forty years of age, with a young family. He had been educated into Calvinism, which was the dominant, indeed almost the only theology in Bloomfield. He had never heard Univer- salism preached, nor had he heard or read of it but as a dangerous error, defiant of the teachings of the Bible. Early in this month he was executing an engagement in Waterville Village in his capacity as a Stone Mason, to finish a small fraction of which he tarried in the place over a Sabbath. On Sunday morning he suddenly willed to hear me preach in the forenoon. He took his seat in a wall pew alone, and my attention was particularly arrested by his remarkable appearance. He sat, during the sermon, with his hands grasping his knees, his strongly intellectual countenance elevated, his eyes fixed upon me, and, in the absorption of his mind with the subject, often rising par- tially from his seat. In the afternoon he appeared in the same pew, and went through with the same attitudes. None of my friends knew him of whom I inquired coming out of meeting. But on Monday, before he left town for home, he called at my study; introduced himself; ex- plained the manner of his religious education ; his entire misconception of Universalism ; how he happened to be tarrying in Waterville over Sunday ; his sudden determina- tion to go in and hear my morning's discourse ; his delight- ful surprise ; his wonder and admiration of the beauty and glory of the doctrine, and its harmony with the Scriptures as well as with reason. He felt irresistibly impelled by his spiritual wants to go in and hear me again in the after- noon, by which means he had become more deeply inter- ested in the faith that I promulgated ; and he must pursue his inquiries. He earnestly desired that his family also, 13* 114 liEF. SYLVANUS CODD^ D.D. and his neighbors, should enjoy the privilege of hearing the same gospel. To this end he engaged me to lecture in his District School House on the evening above noted. On the intervening Sunday he attended the Congregational lecture at the same School House, at the close of which he gave public notice of my lecture to be delivered there on the evening of the 14th. Objection being made to the opening of the School House, Capt. "Wyman enthusias- tically expatiated on the great light which he had received from hearing the preacher whom he had announced, and declared his desire to afford them all an opportunity to receive the same benefit. And he advised that their min- isters should attend the lecture, and, if Mr. Cobb was in error, expose him and put him down. A vote was carried, as above stated, to close the house ; but Capt. Wyman told them that he had as good a right as any of them to the use of the School House for a religious meeting ; but if they barred him out, he would open his own house. They were not able to shut the light out of town. And so the lecture came off; and it was fully attended. None of the clergy, however, saw fit to be present. Numbers received the word. The arrangement was extemporized after the sermon, and before the dismissal, and notice announced, for the lecture in the Bigelow School House the next evening. A few lectures followed in Bloomfield, and they drew attendants from Skowhegan, a flourishing village, which was near, who arranged for my lecturing frequently in that place ; which, from its convenience of location, and the number of men of influence and means there who came in with us, was soon made the place of meetings, as the com- mon centre, for the fraternity of Universalists of that vicinity, including those in Bloomfield, and other parts of A. D. 1822. 115 Canaan, of which Skowhegan was then a portion. A reg- ular society was soon organized, which has lived and prospered to the day of this writing, 1866, which is 44 years from the lecturing in Bloomfield of which I have just been speaking, which was the initiative of all this work of evan- gelization, and society and church construction, which will live and operate forever. That at Skowhegan is one of the Maine societies which are regularly represented by able and earnest men in the annual Universalist Convention of the State. June 26th and 27th.— The Eastern Association held its annual session in Turner. The clergymen present, besides myself, were, Sebastian Streeter, Russell Streeter, Wm. A. Drew, Wm. Frost, Jabez Woodman, Asa Barton, and Joseph Butterfield. I was persuaded to preach in the fore- noon of the first day. I was sincerely reluctant to do so. It was near the place of my nativity ; I was comparatively inexperienced in the ministr}^ ; had been^preaching more or less in all the societies round about which were represented in that Association ; and I believed that they ought to do the preaching on such an occasion, who were differently circumstanced in these respects. But the Council refused to receive my excuses, and I consented to preach. My text was Eph. i. 13, 14 : "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salva- tion : in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased pos- session, unto the praise of his glory." The exposition of the several parts of this text furnished quite a full system of religious doctrine. 1st. There was a " word of truth," called also the gospel of salvation, the hearing of which pre- ceded the act of believing and trustin": in Christ. Of 116 FiEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. coarse this word of truth was not the fruit of faith, for it preceded faith, and was the root and ground of it. It stands not in the will of man, but in the faithfulness and power of God. 2d. After believing in Christ, they were sealed, that is, confirmed and assured, by the holy Spirit of promise. 3d. This assurance was the earnest of their inheritance. Earnest is a part of the purchase money in a bargain paid in advance, as a pledge of the whole. So the believer in Christ enjo3^s, in his assurance, a foretaste of the immortal inheritance. — 4':h. "Until the redemption of the purchased possession." So then, in connection with their own realization of their promised inheritance, they looked for the redemption of the purchased possession ; even the purchased possession of Him who is "the head of every man," and " who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." That sublimely glorious consumma- tion, the deliverance of the human creation from the bond- age of corruption unto the glorious liberty of the children of God (Rom. viii. 21), will indeed redound to the praise of the glory of God. Br. Russell Streeter preached in the afternoon of this day ; and Br. Wm. Frost in the evening. On the second day of the meeting Br. Wm. A. Drew preached in the forenoon ; and Br. Sebastian Streeter in the afternoon. After the sermon ordination was conferred upon Br. Asa Barton; Brs. Butterfield, Frost, and S. Streeter, performing the usual parts of the service. July and August were devoted to my usual broad round of ministerial labors, adding Camden, which is six miles from Hope, to my Eastern circuit. Several of the citizens of Camden, including Dr. Hues, and several of the Dillinghams, had been attending my meetings in Hope. By their invitation I preached an evening lecture in their A. D. 1822. 117 Village June 1th. And on the second Sunday in August I preached there two discourses ; and in the evening, lectured at Ducktrap, in Lincolnville, which was still another new jjost of labor. I continued for 3^ears to share to these places, Camden and Lincolnville, a small portion of my labors, sometimes on the Sabbath, and at other times on week evenings. By a review of my Diary, I perceive that two other important and noteworthy additions were made to my field of labor in these two months, by the introduction of the New Testament Evangelism into Gardiner^ on the Ken- nebec, July 5th, and into Belfast, on Penobscot Bay, Aug. 16th. These pioneer visits to those thrifty villages, col- lected and put into action moral forces, which have pro- vided for the continuance of the preached word, erected in each place a Meeting House, and established permanent religious worship. The Universalist societies in Gardiner and Belfast, are living and working institutions. Septemher 1822. — Another step's advance as a pioneer. On the 4th inst., I delivered a lecture in Norridgewock, in the Court House. Norridgewock is the Shire Town of Somerset county. I was invited to preach in the place by Esq. Gould, who held a county office, the Registry of Deeds I believe. I was entertained by a famil}^ by the name of Townsend. THE NEW EPOCH. September lOth^ — at 8 o'clock a. m., I joined hands in Marriage with Miss Eunice Hale Wait, at the house of her father-in-law, Samuel Locke, Esq., in Ilallowell. Rev. Eliphalet Jillett, pastor of the Congregational church, officiated on the occasion. This important relation was entered into with a good understanding of its sacredness, 118 ItEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. interests and responsibilities, by both parties ; and she has added largely to the value of my life. I have shared her sj^mpathy and encouragement in m^'' arduous and responsi- ble labors ; and she has cheered me with her presence in much of my journeying abroad. Though, with the in- crease of the number of our children (See p. 18), her ck)- mestic cares and responsibilities increased, all of which she enjoj-ed and faithfullj' acquitted, for she never failed to look well to the wa3's of her household, yet she managed her affairs with such system and skill, that, with great frequency, she could, with home all right, gratify her own and my desires, b}^ taking a seat in my carriage, and accompanying me when I went out to spend the Sabbath from home, and in attendance upon our Associational and Conventional meetings. Of such a one there can be no doubt of Solomon's accurac}^ in the saying, " Whoso find- eth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord." After the ceremonj^ of Solemnization was duly executed, and we had become in law what we had become in affection and purpose, husband and wife, we forthwith started out on our journey for Warner, N. II., to attend " the General Convention of Universalists for the New England States and others." The first day's leisurely ride bore us to Lis- bon, where we were entertained over night, by Dr. Mace. The second day, Wednesda}^, brought us to Portland, where Br. Russell Streeter persuaded me to tarry and preach a lecture for him the next (Thursday) evening. The loth advanced us to Dover, where of course our welcome home was at Father Ela's Hotel. Saturday we rode to Roches- ter, N. H., where I preached three discourses on the Sab- bath. Remaining in Rochester over Monday, Tuesday the A. D. 1822. 119 ITth, we rode to Warner, where we w^ere put np, for the Conventional season, with the family of a Br. Courier. Septemher 17th and IStJi. — TJie great Convention. Here I met the following ministering brethren ; — H. Ballou, R. Streeter, S. Streeter, H. Ballou, 2d., M. B. Ballou, Elias' Smith, Joshua Flagg, Robert Bartlett, S. C. Loveland, J. Whitnall, H. H. Winchester, Benj. AYhittemore, K. Haven, Wm. Farwell, L. Willis, Dolphus Skinner, J. E. Palmer, T. F. King, L. S. Everett, J. Bradley, Parker. The first sermon, Wednesday a. m., was by Br. H. Bal- lou, 2d., from Rom. i. 25 : " Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever." The second sermon, Wednesday p. m., was by Br. Elias Smith, from Dan. vii. 13, 14 : "I saw in the night visions one like the Son of man," &c. The third discourse, AYednesday even- ing, devolved upon me. My text w?is John iii. 35, 36 : " The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life ; and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life ; but the wrath of God abideth on him." Br. Russell Street- er went into the desk with me and offered the prayer. Father Ballou also, being Moderator of the Convention, sat in the desk. When I raised some of the strong points involved in the text. Father Ballou, absorbed in his interest in the subject, and fearful that the 3^oung preacher had un- dertaken more than he would be able to accomplish satis- factorily, would occasionally whisper to Br. Streeter, or to himself more probably, with sufficient emphasis to be heard even in the pews which were near the desk, "Is it possible that he understands that now? Will he bring that out right ? " Then, after listening the due time with breathless attention, he would exclaim yet in a louder whisper, I may 120 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. s^y an under tone of voice, "Yes! j^es ! that's it. Who does not see that ? How plain it is ! " When the services were closed, the venerable patriarch and renowned theo- logian grasped the 3'oung preacher's hand, and bestowed upon his labor encouraging commendation. The fourth sermon, Thursday a. m., was b}" Br. Sebastian Streeter, from 1 John iii. 3 : "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." And the fifth and concluding sermon, Thursday p. m., was by Br. H. Ballon, from Ps. xlvi. 4 : " There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God." It was a powerful discourse. The large audience was overwhelmed with the abundant waters of the river of God. Father Ballon, and others of the elder laborers in the Master's vine^^ard who were present, were elated with unusual jo}'^, sanctified with thanksgiving, by prominent circumstances of this meeting. The Convention was largely attended, and a spirit of love, sympath}^, and Christian zeal prevailed ; good news of the advancement of the cause was reported from East, West, North and South ; and eleven candidates asked and received letters of Fellowship as ministers of the gospel: — viz., Thomas F. King, Linus S. Everett, Joseph Bradley, Lemuel Willis, Dolphus Skinner, Hiram B. Clark, Asa Wheaton, Massena B. Ballon, Hubbard H. Winchester, and George W. Brooks. On the adjournment of the Convention, we (self and wife) accompanied a Br. Eastman to his home in Concord, N. H., where we were cared for over the night. Thence we journeyed homeward, spending a Sunday in Dover, N. H., and another in Norway, Me., on our winding way. October^ 1822. — Deferring for another month our debut in the practice of house-keeping, we made it our home, A. D. 1822. 121 through October, at my wife's parents in Hallowell. Rather, my wife domiciled there ; and I kept up familiar acquaintance b}^ means of personal visits, repeated as often as my engagements in the Master's business admit- ted. I was very busy on my broad, and yet broadening circuit. Two or three incidents of this month I deem it expedient to minute. On the first Sunday, I preached in an old Meeting House at Boardman's Point, in Gardiner, — and had an appointment for an evening lecture in a westerly District School House in Gardiner, near Litchfield. The lecture had been appointed there by prominent citizens, who had no knowledge of any other engagement of the building for the same hour. But when we arrived at the place, we found a large congregation assembled, and were informed that it was the time and place of a semi-monthly Sabbath evening lecture of the Methodist Elder Hutchins. On entering the house I perceived that the Elder was sitting by the desk, prepared to commence his services. I intro- duced myself to him ; informed hiru that my friends had given out an appointment for me there without knowing of his arrangement ; and added, that, as his appointment had priority, and his friends had come expecting to hear him, and would sufi'er disappointment if an exchange of speak- ers were made, I deemed it expedient that he should pro- ceed with his services. "So," replied Elder Hutchins, "many have come expecting to hear you preach, and will be equally dissat- isfied if they are disappointed." " Then," I replied, " let them all be accommodated. We may both preach. As your appointment was prior to mine, and you are prepared to commence your services, proceed, make your preliminaries short, and your sermon 11 122 liEF. STLVANUS COBB, D.D. as brief as convenient ; and then, if there are some who desire to tarry and hear me, I, too, will preach." The proposition pleased the Elder ; he proceeded with his services ; the prayer and singing were short, and he preached with reasonable brevity from Rom. viii. 1 : " There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit." It was a good, truthful sermon, practically applying the doctrine of the text. At the close of his discourse, I arose and spoke as follows: " I propose to proceed forthwith, omitting the form of prayer and the singing, to the delivery of a discourse. All who are either disinclined to hear me, or who, having come to hear but one discourse, cannot conveniently tarry to hear another, may now retire, and that without even the appearance of incivilit3\" No one retired. Elder Hutchins and all his people remained. I took for my text the words of Jesus in John iii. 36 : " He that believeth on the Son hath ever- lasting life : and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life ; but the wrath of God abideth on him." There was a look of strange surprise and earnest inquiry when I read this text ; for it had generally been perverted to use as being contrary to Universalism. But I selected this text during the Elder's discourse, for its adaptedness to a valuable purpose. I explained it as a confirmation of the doctrine of my brother's text and excellent discourse, showing that the phrase, "he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life," expressed the same sentiment as the words, " There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus," denoting that justification and life which is now enjoj^ed by the believer as the fruit of faith ; and that of course the opposite deprivation of life and subjection to wrath or condemnation, is at the same time A. D. 1S22. 123 the fruit of unbelief and sin. But this is not i^ final state. Unbelief does not destroy the truth of God's purpose of grace which it discredits. Unbelief is not eternal. Un- belief is falsehood. Falsehood is not eternal. Truth is eternal. Unbelief is a dark cloud. Clouds and darkness are not eternal. Light is eternal, — and will prevail. Profound attention was given to the discourse. Not a word of disharmony was uttered. Mutual greetings passed around. And it was the general opinion of my friends that the two parts of the exercises working together would prove productive of greater good than either part alone could have accomplished. A little later in the month I went out again on my East- ern Circuit ; and on this tour planted the Gospel Banner in three other first-class villages, where the gospel which is effulgent with the light of God's universal Fatherhood had not been preached before. These were Bath, Wiscasset, and Thomaston. I took Bath on my way out. It was always by invita- tion that I entered new places with the ministry of Univer- salism. After my first ministerial tour in Nov. 1820 (see page 83), the hard necessity did not devolve upon me to seek opportunities to preach, or to " get up " the first. meet- ing in any new place. I would not have hesitated to do this, if I had not otherwise a suflScient quantity of labor always furnished me. But I was invited into new towns and villages, sometimes by letter from some one who had heard of my labors in the region round about ; and at other times by personal application at the close of a public service in another place, by one who was in attendance as a hearer there. The brethren who were among the original providers for my lectures in Bath, and one of whom had extended to me by letter the invitation to this visit, were, 124 JiEF. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. Capt. Samuel Winter, Joseph BUsb, Nathaniel Swazey, and Oliver Moses. This introductory lecture in Bath was on the 11th inst. (Oct. 1822). My friends had made application for the Baptist Meeting House. The Pastor, Rev. Mr. Stearns, a man of a genial spirit, and two of the parish Committee, one of whom was Dea. Swanton, readily acceded to the request ; and the appointment was published accordingly. But Dea. Low, another member of the Committee, on being informed of the arrangement, was so violent in his opposi- tion to it, that even my friends deemed it inexpedient to insist on its being carried out, and changed the appoint- ment to a large and commodious School House near the old Church on the hill ; Rev. Mr. Whittaker, a Unitarian clergyman of New Bedford, Mass., Avas present, and by my invitation offered the Prayer. The meeting was well attended ; and it initiated a continuous work, which pros- pered to the establishment of a permanent society of the first class of Universalist societies in the State. I contin- ued to preach lectures there on week evenings occasion all}?" until I removed to Maiden, Mass., in the spring of 1828. Within a few months of that removal I preached two Sun- days there ; when the brethren in Bath proposed to unite their endeavors with those in Brunswick, where I had also raised a society, to engage my constant services with the two societies. But my engagement at Maiden was too far advanced to admit of m}' compliance with these desires. The Bath society worked on, how^ever ; and, in December, 1839, it devolved upon me, then residing in Waltham, Mass., to deliver the sermon at the Dedication of a new Meeting House which they had builded. Since then the society has grown to the capacity to need and build another and larger Church, for which they abandoned the first. A. D. 1S22, 125 This second is one of the most magnificent Churches owned b}^ the Universalist denomination in Maine. On the second Sunday in this month (Oct. 1822), I preached in Hope. Monday^ the 14^7^,— delivered a lecture in Thomaston (the part called East Thomaston, and since incorporated into the town of Rockland), situated on the sea-shore, about a dozen miles south of Hope and Union. This is another of my advances upon new territory with "the glorious gospel of the blessed God." I went by invitation of Maj. Spear, who had frequently attended my meetings in Union and Hope. Here, too, a perpetual Universalist organization hence proceeded, which in due time provided itself with a Church and a regular pastor ; and, I trust, will abide throuojh the a^jes. The second day from this, Wednesday the 16th, I was lecturing away in Belfast, near the head of Penobscot Bay; and then, on the succeeding Sunday, preached in Union. I took Wiscasset on my return route this time, and preached there Tuesday evening, the 22d, in the Town Hall. This is the other " first-class village" into which I introduced the ministry of Universalism on this tour. The audience was crowded,' and interestedly attentive. J. W. Hoskins, who subsequently became a preacher, and Messrs. Damon and Hall, were among the originators of this movement ; and the work was continued somewhat as in the other places where it was inaugurated. Wiscasset is an important Port of Entry, and one of the Capitals of Lincoln county. 11* 126 liEV, SYLVAN us COBB, D,D. HOUSE KEEPING. November 5th, 1822. — We moved, self and wife, with our economical household stuff, to our accepted home, Water- ville. We boarded with Maj. R. M. Doit two days, for the arrival and putting up of our furniture ; and, on the 7th, entered as tenants into N. Oilman's little new " green house," on the lot near Ticonic Falls, called the Nursery. A new and happy mode of life, for the development of true man and w^omanhood, and the highest enjoyment of the most sacred relations. Of course, having been making this place my home, and the society my pastoral charge, between one and two years, I had formed a pretty familiar acquaintance with the people, and hence had learned to esteem them for their brotherly kindness. But now that I had settled down among them in the family gear, in the more completeness of manhood by the attachment to self of my " better half," which is the manhood constituted primaril}^ of God, who created man in his own image, male and female, — now I seemed to them more as a fixture in the pastoral relation ; and their fraternal affections and kind and respectful atten- tions were more fully developed and visibly drawn out. THE WIFE'S RELIGIOUSNESS. And then the enlightened faith and living religious zeal of the wife, combined with her naturally sympathetic and social habits, constituted her a help-mate indeed to me in my official Christian labors. Her whole soul was imbued with the love of Universalism, as the perfect form of Chris- tianity ; and her interest was not second to mine in the upbuilding and the honor of the Uuiversalist denomination, A. D. 18.:2. 127 for the glory of God and the good of mankind. In her childhood she had received a strictly Calvinistic education ; when sixteen years of age she was a subject of marked reli- gious influences, and was with consent proposed as a mem- ber of the Calvinist Baptist Church in Hallowell. But difficulties in the creed of that church presented themselves to her view on reflection, and increased in then* consequence as she examined them ; insomuch that she asked for a post- ponement of action on her case. Her father-in-law had, a little while before, been moved by circumstances to a cle novo study of the Scriptures, by which he had advanced into the light of Universalism. But, being alone in his faith in that town, and himself but a new-born babe in the light, he did not deem it expedient to interfere with the religious convictions of his step-daughter. Nevertheless his example doubtless had an important influence in encour- aging her to a like candid search of the Scriptures. By this process she soon became an enthusiastic convert to the faith of Christ as the impartial and efficient Saviour of the world. She withdrew her application for membership in the Baptist church, giving and vindicating her reasons for this change of purpose. It was not until two or three years after this that I made her acquaintance. And I did not misjudge, upon acquaintance, in my opinion that in her was a mind that would sympathize and co-operate with my own in the work of building Zion ; and which would be a life-long light and joy of my home. Our Home in Waterville, with regard to its social relations, was an eminently desirable one. I had had boarding places which I called my homes for the time being, because they were respectively my dwelling places. But, in the true sense of the word, this was my second Home, — the first after leaving the parental mansion. It 128 REV. SYLVA^US COUB, D.U. was ony home ; and it was in the midst of ni}^ people. Of our own society, the older members were as parents to us. At their houses and tables we were as children. And the 3'ounger members were as faithful and affectionate brothers and sisters. And with all the citizens, of the various reli- gious denominations, we maintained unvarying pleasant and mutually respectful relations. The same may be said of our standing with the Baptist College Faculty and Stu- dents. Waterville College was originated by the Baptist denomination ; and it was accordingly officered from mem- bers of their communion, and conducted in their interests. Puplic worship on the Sabbath was conducted by some member of the College Faculty. On the Sabbaths when my meeting was in the village, as I occupied the Meeting House, they occupied a School House ; and on the other Sabbaths they worshipped in the Meeting House, which was an old building belonging to the town ; and was, in those days, the onl}^ Meeting House in the Village. The Baptists, however, built them a commodious Church before I left the place ; and the Universalists a few years after. December, 1822. — This month I went again on my regular Eastern circuit, and extended it to the inclusion of Castine, a seaport in Hancock county, on a peninsula on the east side of Penobscot Bay, opposite Belfast. Lecturing in Belfast, and in Waldo also, a town near, in the week be- tween the first and second Sundays in Union, on Wednes- day, the 4th, I crossed the Bay by packet to Castine, where I preached in the Court House in the evening ; when an appointment was extemporized for another lecture, which I delivered, the next, which was Thanksgiving evening. The lectures were fully attended, and i3ut into operation working forces which iDrocured repeated visits from me, running through the remaining years during which I con- A. D. 1823. 129 tinued the charge of this circuit. My home, when here, was generally with the family of Esq. Howe. A. D. 1823. January. — At Skowhegan Falls, at a lecture on the 18th of this month, an incident occurred which it may be instructive to notice. On entering the desk, I found a slip of paper lying upon it, addressed to me, referring to Matt. XXV. 46 : "And these shall go away into everlasting pun- ishment : but the righteous into life eternal." I of course understood that this imported a desire that I should make that passage my text. When I came to the point of begin- ning the sermon, I read the billet, and remarked, — That I did not hold myself under obligation to comply with re- quests put in in that manner, because it did not imply in the originator of the movement an honorable desire to promote Scripture knowledge. For if he either desired instruction himself, or wished it imparted to the people, he would have addressed me a note some days before the meeting, communicating his wishes, that I might have opportunity to review the text and all its connections, to prepare m^^self for giving the most clear and profitable exposition of it. I thought it obvious that his design was to embarrass me. Nevertheless, as I was familiar with the subject, and the connections so fully explained the text, — and as there were many there (for there was a crowded assembly present) who might not be able to avail them- selves of so favorable an opportunity for hearing a fair and legitimate exposition of this much controverted portion of the sacred Eecord, I would proceed at once to the work placed before me. Commencing, at the beginning of the preceding chapter, 130 JiEV. SYLVAXUS COBB, D.D. with the opening of the discourse of Christ to his disciples which is closed with the words of the text, I showed, in a discourse of two hours, that it referred to the judgment of that age, which before that generation should haA'C passed away (xxiv. 34), would terminate the Jewish polity ; when the enemies of Christ, generally, would suffer the direct calamities, and the evils abide for ages, signified by the term aionion, rendered everlasting, — and the servants of Christ would be emancipated from the oppressions which had borne upon them, into an enlarged enjoyment of the everlasting life of the gospel. The great audience gave breathless attention throughout ; and my friends were im- pressed with the conviction that the labors of the evening would prove profitably promotive of Biblical knowledge. THE WIFE'S SYMPATHY, ZEAL, AND ENDUR- ANCE. In the last half of this month (Jan., 1823), and the first half of February, my wife accompanied me on my eastern circuit, which also I considerably extended up the Penob- scot Eiver. It will be borne in mind that those were not days of rail-roading. I drove my own team then ; and the vehicle on those winter tours was the open sleigh. To set forth the fortitude of the young wife, I will sketch this tour somewhat in detail, as follows : — Jan. 22d. — I started on an eastern tour, with Mrs. Cobb in company. Went as far as Sidney, and delivered an evening lecture in the Brick School House. 2M. — Went to Gardiner, and preached in the evening. 2At7i and 25th. — Reached Thomaston. Sunday the 2Qth. — Preached in Thomaston. A. D. 1823. 131 ZOth. — A lecture in Hope, at the house of Mr. George Bowley. February 1st. — An evening discourse in the Baptist Church in Union. Our meetings in Union are generally held in the Town Meeting House, at the Centre. Sunday^ the 2d. — Preached two discourses in Union; and after the second discourse we rode ten miles, to Sears- mont, where I delivered a lecture in the evening. Ath. — Took passage, by packet, across Penobscot Bay, from Belfast to Castine, where I preached a lecture in the Court House in the evening. bill. — Preached again in the Castine Court House. Were kindly entertained at Esq. Howe's. 6f/i. — Attempted to recross Penobscot Bay by the faith- ful little daily packet. But we had to face directly a cold heavy wind, which sometimes blew a gale. The Captain w^as anxious to make his trip ; and six hours he beat against the strong wind. The waves several times dashed over the deck, throwing some rather uncomfortable quan- tities of water down into the cabin. At length, night drawing nigh, the Captain relinquished his purpose, to the joy of us all, and set his course back to Castine, which he reached, running with the wind, in less than an hour. 'JtJi. — Wind and weather continued to be such that we kept comfortably housed with our kind host in Castine. Sth. — At half past 11 a. m. we again entered the packet for Belfast. The vessel was often taken and carried out of her way by large floats of ice, — so that we did not arrive at Belfast until 8 o'clock in the evening (Saturday). This put over to Sunday morning the ride which I would have taken this evening, to meet my Sunday's appointment at Hope. Sunday^ the dth. — I left Mrs. Cobb with our old friend, 132 REV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. Master Eclmands, in Belfast, and took out my team which he had kindly kept during my absence at Castine, and rode eighteen miles to Hope, where, notwithstanding the weather was very cold, I met with and addressed a full audience, in the Baptist Meeting House. lOtli^ Monday. — Returned to Belfast; and preached in the evening, at the " Head of the Tide." llth. — We rode up the Penobscot to Hampden, where I preached in the evening. Hampden is situated on the west side of the Penobscot, six miles below Bangor, a port of entry, with good educational provisions, and mechanical and commercial thrift. This was my first visit to the place ; and, if my information is correct, it was the first proclamation there of the gospel of Him, in whom, accord- ing to the pleasure of the Father, all fulness dwells. We were entertained by Capt. Grant, and called by invitation upon Gen. Jedidiah Herrick, who, I believe, was the cor- respondent whose note of solicitation procured this initia- tory visit. 12th. — Preached in Bangor, which is a city at the head of navigation on the Penobscot. We were kindly enter- tained by Br. Chick, Inn-keeper. I believe my invitation to this pioneer visit was received from Br. Burton, a printer. This I call a pioneer visit to that city. I have an impression that some travelling Universalist preacher had, some time before, stopped and given a discourse in this place ; but no abiding and working influence proceeded from it. Nor could I now add this place to my already over-expanded circuit, to give it any regular attention. I visited them again the next summer ; and, soon after, from some source, they obtained the preached word, and grew into a regular society, which, in a few years, became per- manently established with anew Church and settled pastor. A. I). 1823. 133 IStJi. — We journeyed from Bangor toLigonia, where we took lodgings with E. Farnuni, Esq. 14:th. — Returned, in health and happiness, to our home in Waterville. And now, I submit it to mj^ children, whether the quali- ties of mind in my young wife, which inspired her blithely to step into my sleigh for such a tour in the middle of a Maine winter, and to laugh at all its hardships, should not have been expected to develop their mothers energy of character, and extensive religious and social influence. Marcli^ 1823. — Besides the usual routine of labor, I this month introduced the ministry of Universalism into two other towns near each other. Newport and Palmyra, the former of which is in Penobscot, and the latter in Somerset county. To the former place I was called by Dr. Wright ; and to the latter by Esq. Lancy. Passing matters of common interest, I have to note an exciting and important event of June 5th, which was The Birth of Our First Child, a Son. All well. The Eastern Association of Universalists met in Water- ville also on the 25th and 26th of this month, June, 1823. The following ministering brethren were j^resent, besides myself: — Hosea Ballon, Russell Streeter, Wm. A.Drew, Fayette Mace, Jabez Woodman, Wm. Frost. Brs. Alvin Dinsmore of Winthrop, and Haskins of Wiscasset, received Letters of Fellowship as preachers of the word. Five dis- courses were delivered during the occasion, two by Father Ballou, and one each by Brs. Drew, Mace and Streeter. 12 134 liEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. THE BAPTISM. On the second day of the Association, Thursday, June 26th, our infant son was publicly dedicated by Father Hosea Ballon, by the name, Sylvanus. Mrs. Cobb's parents, and mine also, were with us during this term of the Association, which was to us a great occa- sion. Especially was the visit of my mother a rare treat to me ; as she had scarcely ever journeyed beyond the limits of her own immediate neighborhood, since she moved from Middleboro', Mass., to Norway, Me. For this visit she made a journey of about 50 miles. But she had good weather and good care, and suffered no harm. In July I made an extended Eastern tour ; preaching in Union, Hope, Lincolnville, Belfast, Castine, Eddington, Bangor, Hampden and Unity. On one of the Sabbaths embraced in this tour, I performed a severe day's work, — the first which seriously fatigued me. In the forenoon I preached in Eddington, in the house of Widow Sibley, com- mencing at 9 o'clock. I had preached two lectures there in the preceding week ; but now, on Sunday morning, a large concourse of people were assembled, some having come fifteen miles or more ; but few of them had ever heard Universalism preached, and they generally wanted the whole sj^stem of doctrine, and its harmony with the whole Bible. I preached from 9 o'clock to 11. Then I rode ten miles, to Bangor ; dined, and commenced service in the Court House at 2 o'clock p. m. Here, too, I must needs deliver somewhat more than a thirty minute essay. I did well in the line of brevity to get through all the services at 3 o'clock and 45 minutes : when I took my carriage again and hastened to Hampden, six miles from Bangor, to meet an appointment in the Congregational Meeting House A. D. 1823. 135 there at 5 p. m. I arrived just in time, and found a large conorreoration assembled. An amusing incident occurred here, which I will record. Professor Smith, of Bangor Theological Seminary, Calvin- ist, occupied the pulpit of this church in the day. Gen. Herrick sent him a note to be read from the desk, as fol- lows : " Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, of Waterville, will preach^a lecture in this house this afternoon, at 5 o'clock." The Professor, at the close of his afternoon service, held out the notice with his thumb and fingers, and spoke as follows : — " I have here a notice, signed by a respectable name, with the request that 1 should read it ; announcing that Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, of Waterville, will preach in this house this afternoon at 5 o'clock. Who this Mr. Cobb is, or what he is, I do not know. He is not a Congregationalist ; for we have no society in Waterville. Nor is he a Methodist ; for neither is there a Methodist society in that place. And I am acquainted with the Baptist clergymen connected with the Waterville College ; and there is no one of that denom- ination there by the name of Cobb. It must be that he is a Universalist ; and I will have you to know that I will not give out an appointment for a Universalist preacher ! " The dear man, it will be seen, announced the whole fact at the outset. And this queer and ludicrous method of getting out the notice produced much amusement for the people ; and it was doubtless instrumental in bringing out an increased number of hearers. At the close of this meet- ing I felt uncomfortably fatigued. For the remaining five months of this 3^ear (1823) my Diary is filled with the records of abundant labors ; — pa- rochial duties, examining candidates for school keeping, visiting schools, &c., at home ; and travelling through sun- shines and storms, and preaching on week evenings and 136 REV. SYLVANUS COBD^ D.D. Sundaj^s, over a wide area, East, West, North and South. These were my ordinary labors, in which nothing occurred which I deem important to note here, except the following incident : — M}' Eastern tour, embracing Belfast and Castine, was to be made in September. My friends in Belfast were inquir- ing for a place in which to hold their meeting. Dea. McCrillis, of the Baptist church, proposed that he would open to me their Meeting House, on condition that I would preach from a text which he would give me. I was forth- with written on the subject, and accepted the proposition of course. The text selected by the Deacon was, Gen. iii. 4 : " And the serpent said unto the woman. Ye shall not surely die." On the day set, Sept. 11, I was at hand, and in the Baptist Pulpit at the appointed minute. The house was crowded, and there were as manj^ hearers outside as in, clustered around the open doors and windows. The Deacon probably supposed that the text so precisely rep- resented the Universalist position, that I should either refuse to accept his challenge, or falter under the effort to speak upon it if I should undertake the business. But, to his disappointment and discomfort, he found the tables turned upon his own school. I stated the common opin- ion, that the death in that connection meant endless mis- ery as the punishment of sin ; and showed that, as Adam sinned, and " all have sinned," Adam and all men must suffer endless death to make the Divine threatening true with this construction. Then I showed that they who so interpret the term death in this connection and yet main- tain that millions of the human race will by some means escape endless death, do so far take the serpent's position, "ye shall not surely die." That is, they deny that Adam A. n. 1823. 137 and all men shall surely die the death which they them- selves assume was meant in the threatening. Then I showed what is really the death meant as the penalty of God's law, that is, the death which is the wages or fruit of sin, — viz., moral death, including all the inca- pabilities of happiness, and the positive evils, which are involved in a state of sin ; and that this death is surely and necessarily suffered by all who sin, while they are in that moral state. The apostles had suffered it when they were in sin ; for St. John says, " We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren." Again, " He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." And St. Paul, — "To be carnally minded is death." And all the church were in this death when they were in sin ; for St. Paul says again, " You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins." It was therefore plain, that our doctrinal opposers not only deny the truth of the word of God in the context, " In the day thou sinnest thou shalt surely die," in its general application, with their own defi- nition of the term death ; but that, by denying the doc- trine of a just retribution for sin in the state of sin, they are found also on the serpent's side in relation to the cer- tainty of the death threatened when incurred, when taken as that which was really meant, and is always in the Scrip- tures meant as the wages of sin. They say to sinners, " Li the day ye transgress," " ye shall not surely die." Univer- salists only maintain, with firmness and fidelity, the unde- viating truth of God's word, that whenever and wherever men will live in sin, they shall linger in death ; that " though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpun- ished ; " that it is vain to imagine that they may sin with impunity ; that in the day they transgress God's laws, 12* 13«S nEV. SYLVANUS CODJi^ D.D. they shall surely die. Of course we nail the lie to the Serpent tempter at every step. The discourse produced much excitement. In the even- ing, after the lecture, which was at 4 o'clock p. m., and the next morning, small gatherings of people were seen at various street corners discussing the lecture. I think I had not an invitation to occupy the Baptist pulpit afterwards. A. D. 1824. January. — In the opening month of this year I again perambulated my Eastern circuit. This being only in my usual line of labor, I refer to it here only for the purpose of taking occasion for the record of an incident which may involve profitable practical instruction. I had an appoint- ment to preach in the Unitarian Church in Belfast on the afternoon of the 5th inst. (January). I preached in that Church on my November tour, and the Pastor, Rev. Mr. Frothingham, accompanied me into the desk, and offered the long prayer. This January lecture was engaged by me to my friends at that time ; and subsequently the Unitarian Church was engaged by them for the lecture, of the proper authority. But after my arrival, and when the hour for the meeting was near, the house was not opened, and it was ascertained that a member of the parish Committee, who had the same day obtained the key, was out of town. My friends immediately sought entrance into a School House near by ; and they were informed that the same retired Committee-man had taken with him the key to that also. There was no other convenient room known for the meeting, and the people, large numbers of whom were wending their way along the streets towards the Church, learning that the Church was barred, and there would be A, D. 1824. 139 no meeting, were turning homeward. Then a man came to me with the word that a gentleman who had a large new store, not yet occupied, would, if I would preach in that, haA^e it furnished with settees and chairs in ten minutes. I declined the proposition, because there was great excite- ment among the people ; many of them had got beyond the reach of notice for the new arrangement ; and I did not believe that a meeting then and there would be useful. I believed that the affair as it had occurred and was coming off would be overruled of the good Lord for the advance- ment of his cause. Audit was so. The next day I went over to Castine ; and I lectured there the two succeeding ev^enings. While there I had my attention called to a notice in a Belfast paper published the day after the disappointment, calling a meeting of the Universalists of Belfast for the purpose of organizing a regular society. The society was organized, and has lived to this day (1866). In justice to the memory of the Unitarian society I will here put down the opinion that the action of the Committee- man who plotted and executed our exclusion from their Church, did not represent the spirit of the parish ; for so general and decisive was their disapprobation of the trick, that the Church was voluntarily offered for my use on my next bi-monthly visit, in March. But, for then existing reasons, my friends chose to decline the acceptance of it. They cherished none other than feelings of kindness towards that society ; but they had legally organized them- selves into " The Christian Society of Universalists in Belfast," — had arranged for the time being for the use of a hall for their meetings, for which they would be laid under no obligations, and chose to act independently. And they prospered to such a degree that, in one year from this 140 ItEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. time, January 1825, they were able to procure the pastoral services of Br. Wm. A. Drew for one half of the time. The other half of the Sabbaths he devoted to preaching in other towns in the region round about. February. — During the February of this year (1824), I visited for the first time Piscataquis County, and preached a Sunday in Guilford, and week evening lectures in Pal- myra, Dover, Sangerville and Parkman. This tour was made by arrangement with Br. Wm. Frost, who was labor- ing in that County. Br. Frost was a worthy Christian man, and a substantial and useful preacher, who, a few years before, came from the Baptist denomination into our faith and ministry. On my return from this visit I preached a lecture in Athens, Somerset County. In April there was also a rare occurrence in the course of my round of services, which it may comport with the interest of this work to record. I copy from my Diary. ** April — 3d Sunday. Preached at Tuttle's Mills in Canaan. Though I mailed a letter announcing my appointment a week before, yet on account of the absence of Br. Corson to whom it was addressed, it was not opened until Saturday afternoon. Rev. Jotham Sewell, Calvinist, of Chesterville, had given out an appointment for the occupancy of the same School House in which I had proposed to preach, at the same time, just before my letter was opened. But the date of the letter was so early, that it was agreed, by both Mr. Sewell's friends and mine, that my appointment had the priority. This School House was the only building in the village which would serve for a public meeting. Rev. Mr. Sewell called upon me Sunday morning, and with an air which indicated the presumption that I might relinquish my claim wholly to liim, asked me whether I expected to occupy the School House that day. A mutual explanation followed, when I proposed to him that we should all meet in the School House ; and that, in regard to the preaching, we should divide the day between us. He declined accepting my proposal, A. D. 1824. 141 and left me in the mood of assent to the prevaihng opinion that mine was the prior appointment. But shortly after he sent me word that he would accept my proposition. I forthwith called upon him, when he informed me that, though he had thought of preaching in a private house, he had concluded that, upon the whole, it would be best to have but one meeting, and that in the School House. If I would consent to it, he would preach in the forenoon, provided he should not be held under obHgation to attend my meeting in the afternoon. I replied that I was will- ing that he should preach in the forenoon, and I should of choice hear him ; and he should be held at liberty to act his pleasure about attending in the afternoon. His text was Lukexiv. 17: ' Come, for all things are now ready.' The nobleman's feast he regarded as a representation of the gospel provision, made for the whole family of man. The call upon those who were bidden to come to the great entertainment, was the call upon all men to repent and believe the gospel ; or, in other words, to accept the gospel provision. Their refusal represented the disposition and conduct of all men in a state of nature, in rejecting the offers of Divine mercy. And the declaration of the master of the house, * None of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper,' represents the final rejection and endless exclusion of all who reject the offers of the gospel. " In the afternoon I was in the desk in due time ; and, though Rev. Mr. Sewell was absent, I was informed by those who knew, that nearly all his friends, who heard him in the forenoon, were present in the afternoon. I spoke from Mark xvi. 15, 16. Having shown that the gospel is the revelation of the purpose of God's grace given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, making all men heirs of immortal life and good ; and that this purpose stands in the wisdom and power of God, and is neither made a verity by the belief of men, nor thwarted by their unbe- lief; and that men, by faith in the gospel, come into the enjoy- ment of its salvation as the legitimate fruit of faith, — and by unbelief and sin are self-excluded from this great good, and abide in condemnation while their unbelief continues; I then offered a brief review of the discourse to which we listened in the morning. *' I showed that, if, as the Rev. gentleman alleged, the first general invitation to the feast in the parable, were the offers of 142 nEV, SYLVANUS CODD^ D.D. the gospel to all men ; and the refusal of those bidden signified the conduct of all men in their state of nature to refuse the gos- pel oilers of grace : and the saying, ' None of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper,' signifies the final exclu- sion of the parties denoted ; the inevitable conclusion is, that none of the human race shall ever taste of salvation. " I then proceeded to offer my own exposition of the parable, as follows : — The first invitation of many to the supper, repre- sents the ministry of the gospel to the Jews, to whom it was first promulgated. The Jews' rejection of the gospel, is repre- sented by the treatment of the invitation of the householder by those who were first bidden to the feast. The sending of the servants into the highways and hedges to compel them to come in, denotes the sending of the gospel to the Gentiles, and their being gathered into the fold of Christ ; — as Jesus said to the Pharisees, ' The publicans and harlots shall go into the kingdom of God before you.' When Paul and Barnabas heard the con- tradiction and blasphemy of the Scribes and Pharisees, they waxed bold, and said, ' It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to yon. But seeing ye put it from you, and deem yourselves unworthy of aionion life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.' This exclusion of the Jews from the riches of the gospel feast for the lime, is what was signified by the words of the parable, ' None of those men which w^ere bidden shall taste of my supper.' But the interdiction was not final ; for St. Paul says, ' Blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And all Israel shall be saved.' " I had an audience attentive as it was large ; and my friends were of the opinion that the services of that day were rendered much more instructive and profitable by means of the confluence of the two clerical appointments." June '2d. — Against this date my Diary has the follow- ing entry : — " Commenced hewing timber for a house." I was encouraged to undertake this piece of work, the erec- tion of a dwelling house, by the offer of numbers of my parishioners to render me gratuitous aid in labor and rough materials. Br. Alexander McKeckney bade me welcome to cut all the timber from a large timber-lot of his. And A. D. 1824. 143 a good gang of hewers and choppers volunteered to prepare the timber; and it was hauled and mostly framed by vol- unteers also. But the stone work, sawn and rived lumber, carpentry and masonry, cost me considerable. I purchased a half acre lot of Timothy Bowtwell, Esq., on the most westerly long street in Waterville Village, since named High Street, a pleasant site, on which I built a convenient two-storied house, and a barn to house my horse, cow, and carriage, and made a fine productive garden. June 2od and 24:th. — I attended the Eastern Association in Farmington. The ministering brethren present, besides myself, were, "Wm. A. Drew, Russell Streeter, Jabez Wood- man, Faj^ette Mace, Wm. Frost, Alvin Dinsmore, George Bates, — Dolliff, and Henry Hawkins. Sermons were preached by S. Oobb, J. Woodman, G. Bates, Wm. Frost, and R. Streeter. Ordination was conferred on A. Dins- more, and Letters of Fellowship were granted to G. Bates, H. Hawkins, and Dolliff. Five new societies also were re- ceived into fellowship, organized in Eddington, Belfast, Palmyra, New Sharon and Canton. The first two named were reared, as the journal of preceding pages shows, by the writer's humble labors. On the Sunday following I extended my ministerial labor to another new village, Anson, pleasantly situated on Seven Mile Brook, about half a mile from its junction with the Kennebec, which is 27 miles above Waterville. July. — Being out on my Eastern circuit the first half of this month, and in Hope on the Fourth, I officiated as Chaplain at the public celebration of Independence in this town. July 13th. — I took a tramp, with several gentlemen, up the high mountain in Camden, which stands back of the estate of Mr. Lemuel Dillingham. From the top of 144 liEV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. this mountain it was pleasant to look down over the per- pendicular precipice upon the flat summit of the lower mountain on the south, which summit contained about 25 acres, level and well wooded. From the elevated peak we had also an extensive view of the Bay, and a portion of the Atlantic, and numerous islands south and east ; and of the country north and west. Under the inspiration of the occasion, I pencilled the following letter in rhyme to my wife, who, though often out with me on these mission- ary tours, was now at home. TO MY WIFE. "When on the tall mountain I stand, By the mouth of Penobscot's broad Bay, And yonder white sea-beaten strand. With the ai-my of islands survey; — You'll receive the assurance, ray dear, That then my fond thoughts embrace thee : Oh, that my companion were here. To share sublime pleasures with me. But though we are distant apart. Yet you, too, have pleasures, at home: And this moment perhaps your fond heart Sends your thoughts for your husband to roam. How unspeakably happy and blest ! Our hearts of true love the abode ; — Pure friendship aye warming the breast, And praises ascending to God. Oyi the Tliird Sunday in this month (July), after my two regular services in the Brick Meeting House in East Thomaston, since made a separate town by the name of Rockland, I delivered a lecture in the large School House at Mill River, the principal village in Thomaston. Rev. A. D. 1824. 145 Stephen Lovell, the Methodist preacher who had officiated that day in the same house, was present. My text was Eph. i. 13, 14 : " In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation : in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheri- tance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory." After the discourse I invited Rev. Mr. Lovell to offer the concluding prayer. He said he would do so provided he were permitted to offer a few remarks. I bade him speak freely. He expressed approval of the discourse in general, but said he differed from me in regard to the conclusion. All who had heard him could witness that he had been as explicit as I had been in main- taining the universality of the atonement, involving the idea that all men were the purchased possession of Him " who gave himself a ransom for all," and " tasted death for every man." But the atonement did not save men. It only placed them in a salvable state. It restored to them the opportunity for salvation which sin had forfeited. I asked him what he understood by the term redemption in the text. " Oh," he replied, " final salvation, to be sure." That is sufficient, I rejoined. You have expressed approval of my view that " the purchased possession," for whom Jesus gave himself a ransom, are all men. Now you agree that the term redemption here means final salvation. And the apostle gives us the result, the final salvation of the purchased possession, i. e. of the whole family of our great and beneficent Father. The seal of the Holy Spirit to the true believer is an earnest of our inheritance through the assurance of this result. The Rev. gentleman placed his hand upon his forehead in the attitude of a degree of confusion, and oflfered prayer 13 146 nEV. SYLVANUS COBBy D.D. as I had invited him. I pronounced the benediction and hastened away as I had twelve miles to ride that evening, and it was then growing dark. On returning home from this circuit, I entered the follow- ing memorandum in my journal : — "This was a pleasant tour. The meetings were all well attended, and profitable. I had the pleasure of conversation with several who had recently been redeemed from the bondage of partialism ; and it was gratefully affecting to hear them, with their hearts ovei-flowing with love and gratitude, testify of the w^onderful salvation and glorious rest which they have enjoyed, since, by the grace of God, they became believers in the Lord Jesus Christ as the impartial and efiicient Saviour of the world." August, — Under the date of August, I find in my Diary the following memorandum : — ** Second Sunday. — I delivered two discourses in Capt. Fow- ler's barn, in Unity. The audience was very numerous, said to be the largest that was ever collected in that region on any occasion. The whole audience appeared very serious and atten- tive. I rode five miles further after the second meeting, and delivered a 5 o'clock lecture in a School House near Dr. Burn- ham's. After the lecture I rode home, twenty miles; and arrived a little past midnight." I do not copy this memorandum to fill space here with multiplied demonstrations of my industrj'-, — for everybody who knew me knew that I was always at work. But I seek occasion for a description of that meeting, which was in some respects singular. Capt. Fowler's barn was new, capacious, and clean throughout. And it was nearly empty, not having been finished in season for the storage of all the July hay crop. There were a plenty of boards, and planks, and joists, on the premises, to construct seats throughout the broad barn floor, the lintels, the unoccupied A. D. 1824. 147 scaffold, and the large j^ard in front. My stand, with chair and table, was near the open " great doors." Thence I addressed the mass of people filling the yard, and those crowding the area of the broad floor, and of the lintels and the scaffold ; and the scattering individuals who sat astride the cross-beams. These were interesting occasions. I felt as proud to be preaching the gospel to that immense concourse of people in and around that magnificent barx, as ever an aspiring clergyman felt on addressing a fashion- able congregation in a costly and elegantly finished church, from a mahogany, gold-laced and tasselled pulpit. THE REVIVAL IN TURNER. On the Fifth Sunday in this montli (August, 1824), I preached for the first time in Turner ; and the meetings of this day were the commencement of a great revival in that ancient town. This town was favored with Universalist preaching nearly as early as any town in Maine. The Fathers, Barnes and Root, preached here in their day more or less ; and a society was early organized. There were a few noble members of the old circle of believers remaining ; but some had passed away ; others had become incapaci- tated for active service by old age ; and but little had been done for some time. But this day it seemed as if the Spirit of God moA^ed upon the hearts of the people, especially of the younger class. Our meeting was held in the forenoon in the large Bradford School House, and a much larger number flocked together to hear the word than could sit and stand in the house. The discomfort for the want of room in the house, and of sitting accommodations out in the yard was so great, that, obtaining leave to occupy the Congregational Meeting House after their afternoon serv- 148 J?EV. STLFAXUS COBB, D.D. ices, our afternoon meeting was put off to be held in that house at 4 o'clock. The large Meeting House was filled with attentive hearers. Agreeably to an engagement made this day at noon time, I appointed to preach again in the Bradford School House on the first Sunday in October suc- ceeding. At the time set I was in my place in the before described School House. And on this occasion likewise, the audience was so large that the female attendants nearly filled the house ; and we again adjourned to the Congrega- tionalist Meeting House for our second service. During this visit I entered into an engagement to preach in Turner one quarter of the time, apportioning my ap- pointments as would best comport with my other engage- ments, — sometimes preaching here one Sunday in each month ; and at other times two Sundays in succession, and then passing over the succeeding month. This engagement was for an indefinite term of time ; but it was extended through more than two 3^ ears. Though my time was all engaged before, and I had many invitations to preach which I could not comply with, I was able to carry out this arrangement with Turner, b}^ transferring a small part of my Eastern circuit to Br. Wm. A. Drew, who, as I antici- pated, as noted on page 140, was induced to remove to Belfast in the ensuing January, and take pastoral charge of our society there, and labor as he might have opportu- nit}^ in neighboring towns. Indeed he soon entered into regular engagements to preacli one fourth of the Sabbaths in Camden, and the other fourth in East Thomaston (pow Kockland), which were also embraced in my Eastern cir- cuit ; so that I was happily relieved also of the care of those societies. And as Br. Drew was now a resident in that region, he could convenientl}^ attend to transient lecturing in numbers of those places which I, by a zig-zag A. D. 1824. 149 course of travel, had embraced in my route through that portion of the Master's vineyard. Furthermore, a worthy young man by the name of Ras- kins, of Wiscasset, who commenced preaching in 1822, but, by reason of youth and modest}^, made himself but little known for some time, had now become strong and energetic through study and experience, and was at this time doing good and regular service in Castine, Frankfort, Hampden and Bangor ; which was a further relief to me. The interest in our meetings in Turner continued. My Diary sa3^s of the meeting on the 3d Sunday of February 1825, the fifth month after the commencement of my labors here : — "As there were nearly two hundred people who could not get into the School House in the forenoon, we lengthened our intermission again, till the Congregational afternoon meeting was out, and held our second service in their Church. There was extensively prevailing an earnest, living zeal for the cause of Christian truth in its purity and fulness. Great numbers of young men and women were intelligently and religiously inter- ested. One of these, Zenas Thompson, was moved in spirit to enter upon the responsible work of the gospel ministry, and in the ensuing spring (1825), commenced his preparatory studies with me at my home in Waterville. He remained with me during the season ; and in the meantime commenced the work in earnest, — and has continued to this writing (1866) , a zealous, devoted, and useful minister of the everlasting gosiDel." Though the crowds attending our meetings in Turner continued even to increase, in pleasant weather we were able to get along with tolerable comfort without adjourning to the Congregational Church, having preparations made for readily constructing seats to anj^ needed extent in the front School House yard, where, in such weather, hundreds could be decently accommodated. Even on pleasant win- 13* 150 r.EV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. ter Sabbaths, the out-cloor half of the audience, being gen- tlemen with thick boots and overcoats, sat very comfort- ably. In those cases I took my position in the outer door, whence I coiild directly address both divisions of my audi- ence. "When the weather was so unpleasant as to render sitting out-doors seriously uncomfortable, of course the attendants were not so numerous, and all could gain ingress into the house. In the spring of 1825, into which year I have now been reaching over with my memoranda of meetings in Turner as far as February^ the society in this town commenced preparations for the erection of a large Meeting House on an eligible site presented by Br. Asa Bradford, near his dwelling house. The work was conducted economically by a small gang of workmen, including some members of the society who turned their hands to this business when they could be spared from their usual employments ; so that the house with all its appurtenances was not completed for the dedication, to the last touch of varnish and the last stitch of upholstery, and the mounting upon the spire of the great image of the " angel fljang through the midst of heaven," until the passing of about two years. But we usually occupied the house with our monthly meetings, after the boarding, shingling and clap-boarding of the out- side. The workmen, on the Saturday evenings before the meetings, were in the habit of leaving the floor of the house in a condition to accommodate the audience. INTO MY NEW HOUSE. There is one important event in my domestic affairs, which, that I might carry through without interruption the journal of the " Revival in Turaer," I omitted to record A. D. 1824. 151 in its due order of time. On the 25tn of November in this year (1824), we removed from our little gi*een hired house near the head of Tyconic Falls, into our new house on High Street. This was an agreeable exchange. I always had a penchant for building, and a strong natural taste for living in a house of my own. Besides this in Waterville, I built a house in Waltham, and this in which I now live in East Boston. These are the only places in which I have made settled homes, except Maiden, where we must needs occupy the old Parsonage. IMPORTANCE OF A RULE OF WORK, WITH PUNCTUALITY AND PERSEVERANCE. December. — For the first Sunday, which was the 5th day, of this month, I had an appointment in Anson, which is nearly thirty miles from Waterville, in a northerly direc- tion. Saturda}^, the 4th, was ushered in with a severe northeast rain-storm, with appearances indicative of its continuance through the day at least. How should I get to my appointment ? The road was too muddy for the use of my chaise ; and I must either face that cold December northeast rain-storm horseback, my horse wallowing through the deep mud, or disappoint my friends in Anson. What should I do? At 11 o'clock a. m. I bridled and sad- dled my horse, hitched him in the shed which connected my house and barn, and went in, and buttoned up my over- coat for the start. But when I returned to the shed, the storm had increased in fury, and I had misgivings. And my weakness pleaded against my perseverance, that the journey would be too severe, and perhaps the people would not expect me to come through such a storm, or the storm might continue through the Sabbath and prevent the meet- 152 IlEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. ing. But I recalled my fixed rule, which was that I would meet all my engagements if possible, and that I would not regard the work impossible until my determined efibrts should fail. Then I forthwith sprang into the saddle, opened and braced under my right arm my sturdy umbrella, and with my left hand grasped the reins, and beat my way merrily along. It was not until near night that I accom- plished the first fifteen miles, to Norridgewock, w^here I called on my old friend Capt. Bodfish, warmed myself and took supper. Then, as there was a faint light from the moon behind the clouds, I mounted dobbin again, and rode on. When I had ridden about five miles, the storm had become sleety, and my umbrella soon became so coated with ice, that I could neither bear it up with my arm, nor shut it down. I rode up to a house, and called one of the inmates to the door, who took it in and thawed it by the fire, when I could clasp it in my hand. Reaching Weston's Ferry by which the Kennebec was to be crossed to Anson, ten miles above Norridgewock, I was obliged to put up with the accommodating ferry-man for the night, because the run of ice in the river rendered it impracticable for him to cross that evening. Sunday morning, though the boatman could not navigate his fei-ry across the river, he proposed to keep my horse in his stable to my return, and set me over by a canoe. After crossing I walked a mile and a half, to Mr. Joseph Sav- age's, who kindly gave me breakfast, and a ride the other mile into Anson Village, where my home was with James Collins, Esq. The weather soon became fair and mild ; a large concourse of people assembled, some riding ten miles and more ; and I realized truly the value of a fixed rule of work, and a will to honor it. What a serious disappoint- ment, and loss of good, would have been the consequence, A. D. 1825. 153 if I had yielded to the pleadings of my weakness to dodge my responsibility. A. D. 1825. January. — The bare recital, over and over, of the times and places of my appointments on my customary and rep- etitious missionary circuits, would be of no interest to my readers. But a man's industry is an important feature of his character ; and his performance of a vast amount of labor belongs to his history. Now it is impossible, by an abstract description, to give any just view of the continuity and severity of my labors. Such a view can only be im- parted by a simple matter-of-fact memorandum of the labors as they transpired, which shall conduct the reader's mind along as an attendant and a witness. "With this under- standing I will here, at the risk of incurring the charge of wearisome details, copy from my Diary the following jour- nal of another of my Eastern tours. And this journal will again, as that copied upon pages 130-133, exhibit some- what of the zeal, enterprise and endurance of Mrs. Cobb. She often accompanied me also on my routes in more pleas- ant seasons of the year ; but it happens that I copy here, as in the other case referred to, a memorandum which pre- sents her with me on a severe winter tour. The Journal of the tour commences with Dec. 30th, thus : — *' Started, Mrs. Cobb in company, to go eastward. Dined at Mr. Dyer's, in Sidney. We went on and took supper at father Locke's, in Hallowell. Then proceeded to Gardiner, where I preached in the evening. " 3l5^. — I had an appointment for this evening in Wiscasset ; but finding that the going was such that I could not get along in that direction with my sleigh, I went on the direct road to 154 nEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. Union, to meet my forthcoming Sunday's appointment. Put up at night with Mr. McKurdie, in Washington. *' January, 1825. 1st. — Went to Ca2)t. N. Bachelor's, in Union. *' First Sunday. — An uncommonly boisterous and driving snow-storm. We did not assemble at the Church to-day ; but by request I left an appointment for a meeting the next Friday evening, when I should be on the way from my appointments in Bristol and vicinity, to meet my next Sunday's engagement in Hope. *' 3c?. — We went to Bristol. It was uncomfortable riding, as the weather was cold, and the road much drifted, and in some places not broken out. *'4/^. — Held meeting in the new Meeting House at Broad Cove. We tarried in Bristol until the afternoon of Thursday, the 6th inst. Spent much of the time at Commodore Samuel Tucker's ; visited also at Mr. Turner's, Mr. Palmer's, and Mr. McLean's. *' 6 Committee:' " WILLIAM BENTON, J The next morning (Siinda}-), I went out to my second days' service in Maiden. During the intermission I read to a collection of my friends there the Hartford letter, and conferred with them on the question of their relinquishment to the Hartford society of their claim on my third Sabbath service with them. We deliberated in view of the following plan on the part of my Maiden friends : — The enlarged and discordant Parish Committee were in office for the balance of the fiscal year, to the next annual March meet- ing. My friends were confident that then the Parish would elect me as their pastor if I would come and preach a few Sunda3^s in the Hall, before the Parish meeting ; and they desired that I should hold mj-self in a situation which would admit of my doing so if I should then be so disposed. I, A. D. 1827. 189 on my part, stated to them that I was of the opinion that I should not be pleased to remove to Hartford, even if I were invited ; that I was not inclined to spend with them there the several Sundays which they asked on candidacy ; but I would like to visit that city, and thought it best that I should go and spend the next Sunday there, by which means I could probably dismiss the idea of further negoti- ations with that society. With these views consent was given to relinquish the next Sabbath's preaching by me in Maiden ; I forthwith wrote the Committee accordingly at Hartford ; and preached in the Universalist Church in that city on the Third Sunday in August. I had a pleas- ant visit, and left the Committee without any engagement for another visit ; but with the understanding that they would communicate to me on their affairs at a future time. Soon afterwards the Chairman of the Committee wrote me that Rev. Menzies Rayner, an Episcopal Clergyman of good order of talent, had just avowed himself a Universalist ; that he had been pastor of the Episcopal Church in Hart- ford, and had many warm friends in that city ; and that many members of the Universalist society were of the opinion that it would be greatl}^ to their advantage to set- tle him as their pastor. To this posture of affairs my heart responded, Amen. For though the Committee kindly sug- gested that I might, nevertheless, receive a call from the society, I was now happily free from all thoughts of negoti- ation in that direction. My renewed engagement with "Waterville, and the work on vay hands elsewhere in Maine, forbade my removal within that year, from the State of Maine, to any place. And the general understanding that I should again represent Waterville in the Legislature the ensuing winter, constituted a tie upon my pride and self- ishness to hold me back from a sudden removal. And I 190 REV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. entertained the opinion that, if I should be inclined to change my situation the next Spring, I should find accessi- ble to me the Parish in Maiden, a pleasant suburb of Bos- ton, to my mind the most desirable of all cities in the world. So I returned to my family in Waterville, and to my people there and everywhere else in Maine, cheerfully resuming my evangelical labors, and carrying out my assumed obligations. THE SERVICE I DID NOT PERFORM. On my return homeward from Hartford, I reached Po)t?a7i(^ about noon. On my arrival, I was at once informed that Rev. John Bisbee, the newly elected Pastor of the Univer- salist society in that city, was to be installed into that office at 3 o'clock p. M. of that day ; and that the Committee had assigned to me the delivery of the Installation Sermon. They had been informed of my absence, and had written to several places westward, but none of their letters had reached me. I learned that Br. Bisbee, having nearly given up all hope of my presence, not having heard from me, commenced, the day before, preparing himself for the part assigned me. He, nevertheless, was solicitous that I should preach. But as I had arrived at so late an hour with no knowledge of the arrangement, nor of the Instal- lation, and was of course, then, when the time of service was just at hand, without any preparation, I respectfully declined ; and Br. Bisbee preached a good sermon. Br. Edward Turner, then of Portsmouth, delivered the Charge ; and it devolved upon me to offer the Installation Prayer, and deliver the Right Hand of Fellowship. A. D. 1827. 191 THE DEDICATION AT FAEMINGTON. September Q>tli. — Agreeably to previous assignnient by the appropriate authority, I preached the Sermon on occa- sion of the Dedication of a new Universalist Meeting House in Farmington. Dedicatory Prayer by Br. Geo. Bates. INTRODUCTION TO MADAM ANN ROYAL. October, Second Sundciy. — The celebrated Madam Royal, stopping over the Sabbath at Dowe's Hotel in Waterville, attended our meeting in the forenoon, and was introduced to me after the services. She had travelled much, had spent much time in the City of Washington, and also in foreign Capitals, called much on professional men in the places which she visited ; and kept, and occasional!}' pub- lished a Journal, which she called her " Black Book." Her Black Books contained very pointed and pungent observa- tions on men and manners which she noted by the way. The following is an extract from her notes of her visit at Waterville, published in her next subsequent issue of her Black Book. It may seem indiscreet in me to copy it here : — but — pshaw, it belongs to the life-story : — let my posterity have it. ' "In the forenoon, on Sunday, went to hear the Universalist, one of the first orators of the State. He was a young man in the vigor of life ; very handsome person, and very engaging aspect. He spoke like one who set a just value on the indepen- dence and liberty of speech, and the freedom of religion. His voice was fine, and language pure and simple. He represented hj^ocrisy and empty show of rehgion in their tine colors, and in the most undaunted language." 192 HEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. THE DEDICATION AT READFIELD. By assignment agreeable to vote of the proprietors, of different sects, I preached the Dedicatory Sermon at the Consecration of a new Union Meeting House in Rcadfield, November 15th. Rev. Mr. Williams, Methodist, offered the Prayer of Dedication. THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR. I copy from my Journal : — *' December olst. — An evening lecture in Bath, "So another year has passed away; and its last evening I spent in the labor which is my pre-eminent delight, preaching the gospel to the wanting children of men. During the year just past, I and my family have been blessed with uniform health ; and happiness beyond the power of language to describe has been a constant inmate of our home. Love to one another is the element in which we live ; nor has it ever been darkened with clouds, or perturbed by storms from the pervasion of jar- ring elements. The highest glory of each has been the doing of something to promote the happiness of the other ; and tlius we have been under the government of what may be justly termed the perfect laic of liberty. And while mutual confidence and mutual love have yielded us a constant flow of purest pleas- ures, those pleasures have been exalted by a grateful remem- brance and constant veneration of the God of love, whom we trust and adore as the Author of all our blessings. So even those blessings which seem to be the fruit of our own virtues, we, without boasting, ascribe to God as their source, humbly confessing in the interrogatory strain of the apostle, ' For what have we that we did not receive ? ' " With regard to my public labors, I believe that their effects have been visible to a considerable extent, as tending to the improvement and happiness of mankind." A. D. 182S. 193 A. D. 1828. JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. Having been re-elected b}^ the citizens of Waterville as their RepresentatiA^e in the State Legislature for A. D. 1828, I spent most of these two months in Portland, where that body yet held its sessions. Enoch Lincoln was Gov- ernor, Robert P. Dunlap President of the Senate, and John Ruggles Speaker of the House, as last year. Our atten- tion was chiefly devoted to the ordinary affairs of legisla- tion in a new and growing State, relating mostly to local interests. I boarded with the same family as the previous winter, that of Capt. John M. Knight. During the session of the Legislature I preached the first Sunday in Brunswick; the second in Bath ; the third in Brunsivick ; the fourth in Bath; the fifth in Brunswick; and the sixth in Portland: — and delivered evening lectures in Freeport, Brunsivick^ Portland^ in Freeport again. New Gloucester, and Gray Corner. The Legislature adjourned Feb. 21st. On the morning of the 2 2d I started from Portland for my long ago prom- ised ministerial visit to Maiden, Mass. Mrs. Cobb, with our babe, Eunice Hale, then ten months old, ac- companied me. Being desirous that she should be with me on this important trial visit at Maiden, I had sent for her to join company with me in Portland two weeks previouslj^, at the same pleasant home where we boarded together during the whole Legislative session the previous winter. "We went to Maiden by stage, over an uncom- fortably muddy road, and reached the point of our destina- tion the 23d. Our regular boarding place during tliis visit 17 194 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. was Br. Uriah Chambcrlaiii's. Our calls, and evening social sittings, however, were very extensively distributed among the members of the Parish. ]\Iy special mission at this juncture was, by preaching in the Town Hall the four Sabbaths preceding the annual Parish Meeting, to educate a sufficient additional number of the members of the Parish into the light and love of the gospel in its fulness, to procure a vote at that meeting which should undo the wrong committed by a minority last Summer by the aid of foreign votes, and permanently commit the Parish to the interests of our cause. I preached in that Hall, to large and deeplj^ interested audiences, the last Sunday in February, and the first three Sundays in March. March 20t7i. — This was the day of trial between the two theological divisions of Maiden's First Religious Societj'. It was the day of the annual Parish Meeting. There had been much electioneering — probably on both sides. But there had been so much fairness and honor in the course of the Universalists, at the time of, and since, the strife of last Summer, when there was so much trick and injustice practised by their opposers, that the}^ had, to a great extent, the sympathy of the candid of diflferent religious societies ; and the opinion seemed to be prevalent that the better justice would take place, and the greater good accrue to the town, by the success of the Universalists in electing their officers, and obtaining possession of the Parish Church, Parsonage and funds. Late in the afternoon a messenger came to my room with the good tidings that my friends had succeeded in the election of their candidates to officer the Parish throughout, and had instructed their Committee to contract "vith me for a year if they could do so on reasonable terms. A. D. 1S28. 195 And the election and instruction of Committee were passed by votes of 30 majority over all the combined forces that could be mustered in the opposition. In the evening, the Committee called upon me, and com- municated the desire of the Parish to settle me as their regular Pastor. The question, however, of a permanent settlement, could not be legally determined, but by the action of the Parish at a meeting called with an article in the Warrant specifying that item of business. But, antic- ipating such subsequent legal action, the Committee, agreeably to instruction as above, proposed to me an engagement for one year, on a salary of $800, with the understanding that the same should be continued from year to j'car, until it should be changed by mutual agreement. I accepted the proposition, providing that my regular ser- vices under the engagement should commence on the third Sunday in April proximo. It cost me a painful effort to determine on a removal from my native State, over which I had labored so exten- sively, and in which I had contracted so numerous friend- ships. And, to add to vny embarrassments, as I was about leaving Portland, at the close of my Legislative term of service there, on this trial visit to Maiden, I received an official communication from the Committees, jointly, of the new Universalist societies which had been organized under my itinerant labors in Brunswick, Bath, and Bowdoinham, inviting my settlement with them, and proposing terms which, all things considered, were about as favorable pe- cuniarily as those now proposed by Maiden. It was con- templated that I should make Brunswick the place of my residence (a most pleasant locality indeed), and, preaching equal portions of the time in the three towns respectively, have but eight miles to ride to either of the other places. 196 EEV. SYLVAyrs conn^ d.d. But I bad for six months been under an engagement to make this visit to Maiden at this time, with the understand- ing that I would settle in the Pastorate over this Parish provided all things should be made acceptable as the result of the trial. Accordingly I was not at liberty to answer my friends in Maine, until I had made the prom- ised trial in Maiden ; and then, the result bound me to return a negative answer. Nevertheless, on receiving the commuuication of the Committees aforesaid, I did write my friends in Maiden, asking them to relinquish my prelimi- nary visit there, and of course my candidacy for settlement with them altogether. I expressed a preference, all things considered, for the new opportunity in my native State. But those Maiden friends tenaciously clung to their claim as per all agreement ; and the result I have recorded above. With regard to Watermlle^ while my friends there were desirous of continuing their arrangement of the previous year, for my services three fourths of the time, I saw that it brought too heavy a responsibility upon a few leading members. And then, I felt an ardent desire to be so sit- uated that I could be more generally at home with m}^ family, and free from the necessity which the countless calls imposed upon my susceptible and yielding nature, of performing so much extra labor, in the manner of lectures. How illy I succeeded in this latter respect, my readers will see in the perusal of the subsequent pages of these records. IN THE PARISH MEETING HOUSE. I tarried in Maiden over the next Sunday after the annual meeting aforesaid, and preached for the first time in the A. D. 1SC8. 197 substantial old "BRICK CHURCH." We had a full meeting, and an interesting occasion of course. Then we returned to Waterville, took home our two little boys, Sylvanus Jr. and Samuel Tucker, whom we found in good health and cheer at Br. Blackwell's, who had boarded them during Mrs. Cobb's absence of six weeks, since she left home to join company with me at Portland, preparatory to attending me on my mission to Maiden ; and busied our- selves in preparations for the purposed removal. April, First Sunday. — I 4elivered mj'' Valedictory to my congi'egation in Waterville, West Meeting House. April, Second Sunday. — The same painful service was performed in the East or Village congregation. These were affecting occasions. This was my first set- tled home after I left the Parental Mansion ; I had been here about seven years. And I was the first and only Pastor who had ever been with this society. The mutual attachments between us were exceedingly strong. I improved this week in removing my family and " ef- fects " to Maiden. My furniture, and cow, I sent by ship to Boston ; and went to Maiden with my family by stage. Sold my old chaise in Waterville, and committed my horse to the care of Barker Dingly — whom I had engaged to carry on the Parsonage farm for the season — who rode to Maiden upon his back the next week. April 20th, TJiird Sunday. — I occupied the Old Brick Church of the First Parish of Ifalden, Massachusetts, as the regular PASTOR. IN THE PARSONAGE HOUSE. April 22d. — Our furniture having arrived from Water- ville, we this day took up our abode, which proved to be a 17* 198 BEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. ten years abode, in the Parsonage House. It was a large house, and afforded us abundant and very convenient room. In connection with this house, the "Parsonage," so called, comprised a barn, and about twentj^ acres of land, for the care and cultivation of which I hired a young man six months in each 3^ear. At this point I will jot down a brief HISTORY OF THE PARISH. This Parish was organized, with the town of Maiden, in 1649. There are numbers of notable names in the line of my predecessors in the pastoral office here, among which is the famous Michael Wigglesworth. But the people, as it appears from the Records, were alwaj^s about equally divided between the two wings of the old Congregational order, the Calvinists and Arminians. Sometimes one of these parties would succeed in the election of a Pastor of its sympathies, and sometimes the other. This division occasioned frequent changes of Pastors. But my immedi- ate predecessor. Rev. Aaron Green, held the Pastorate a long while, thirty-six j^ears. When the split took place between the two wings, the Arminians taking the name Unitarian, Mr. Green kept himself quiet. He preached good morality, but not distinctive doctrines. His s^^mpa- thies, however, were commonly understood to preponderate in favor of the Unitarian School. Consequently the Trini- tarian portion of the church became dissatisfied, and given to fault-finding. This rendered Mr. Green's situation unpleasant, and induced his withdrawal. The Pastorate being thus made vacant, the majority of the Parishioners exercised the same legal and moral right in providing for the ministry of their faith and settling the Pastor of tlieir A. D. 1828. 199 choice, which had been exercised by their ancestors from the beginning. The property of the Parish was the Parsonage before described ; the Church, a substantial and commodious brick edifice, old-fashioned in its interior construction ; and a wood-lot, from which, per contract, the Committee sent me twenty cords of wood a year, reckoned as one hundred dollars of my salary. May 8tJi. — The members of the old church who remained with us, and other friends, met at my house, and initiated measures for a reorganization. THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION. June Uli. — The Southern Association met in Oxford, Mass., and continued in session two days. Sermons were preached on the occasion by M. Rayner, S. Cobb, J. P. Fuller, J. Wood, S. Streeter and B. Whittemore. LEGALIZATION OF THE SETTLEMENT. In my record of the action of the Parish meeting of March 20th, I noted the fact that the arrangement of the Committee with me pursuant to vote of that meeting must, to be rendered legal, be re-enacted, or ratified, by a subse- quent meeting called by a Warrant with an article provid- ing for this business. This meeting took place June 25th, having been delayed until the malcontents should have generally withdrawn from the Parish to avoid taxation, and a condition of comparative quiet should have obtained. This course of procedure was a happy conception. The meeting was harmonious, and the business was transacted in unity of spirit and purpose. A form of contract between 200 JiEV. SYLVAXUS COBB, D.D. me and the Parish was drawn up and unanimously passed, establishing the salary as formerly proposed, and providing that my relation as Pastor should be continued, until I should resign the charge ; or the Parish, b}' a two thirds vote, determine my dismissal ; and one year after notice by either party for the dissolution of the connection. The reason for provision requiring a two thirds vote, and a 3'ear's notice, was this ; It was understood that members of other societies in the town, by withdrawing therefrom, fell back as a matter of course into the Town Parish, hav- ing the right to vote in its business meetings. And it was known to be the purpose of the malcontents who withdrew from us on my settlement to avoid taxation, b}^ attaching themselves to other societies, to return in season to come in at our next annual Parish meeting, and bring with them a host of allies who were regular members of other socie- ties, and carry a strong vote to restore the Parish to Cal- vinist dominion. But, happily for us, the law had been misunderstood ; and, as construed by the Court, it proved our protector. Yes, verily; — At the March Meeting of 1829, the seceders came in, with their promiscuous allies, and offered their votes. Our Clerk, Charles Hill, the Iron Man, had his "Check List" of acknowledged legal voters; and he refused votes from all besides. They prosecuted our Clerk for deprivation of a legal right. But the Court decided that, in the spirit of Common Law, and of the improved Statutes of Massachusetts, the First religious society in a town, as well as others, had the power of self protection by the enactment of rules for constituting membership. It proved to be the fact, furthermore, that those whose votes were refused as above, had not Icgall}^ disconnected them- selves from the societies from which they claimed to have A. n. 1828. 201 withdrawn. But our enemies continued their warfare for about four years. During all this time they had something in Court in the process of this warfare ; in all they insti- tuted about twenty suits and complaints, and failed in them all ! Then they gave up. The Trinitarian seceders organized themselves into a separate society, built them a Church, and settled a pastor, and there was a settled state of peace. It was the general sentiment of that community, in which the defeated parties seemed to participate, that the Univer- salists had been manly and honorable in their course of procedure throughout, and that the permanent settlement of the Parish question was as it should be. During the half dozen years more, of my residence in Maiden, I en- joyed the most pleasant and happy relations with the people of all religious societies, and their ministers. THAT LECTURING BUSINESS. I have said that one of the considerations which in- duced me to remove from my old position in Maine, to Maiden, was my desire for freedom from tlie necessity of performing so much extra labor, in the manner of lectures, &c. But the same enticements soon began to beset my sympathetic and yielding nature. Early in this month (June), a gentleman from Stoneham, an adjoining town, called upon me with the request that I should preach a lecture in that place on the first convenient Sunday even- ing. I lectured there, in a large School House, on the evening of the Fourth Sunday in June ; and continued to lecture in that place, at 5 o'clock p. m. in the long da}- s, and by candle light in the season of short days, once 9 fortnight, for about seven years. Of course I provided 202 nEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. substitutes sometimes. In the succeeding summer I com- menced lecturing Sunday evenings in South Reading ; and for several years preached there on Sumla}^ evenings as often as I could find time besides my attention to Stone- ham ; and to delivering a third discourse to my Maiden congregation, who exacted such service about monthl3^ Indeed, to keep the work up with the demand as nearly as possible, I sometimes lectured in Stoneham at 5 o'clock p. M., and then in South Reading at candle-lighting, the same Sundays ; and at other times in Stoneham at 5, and in my own Church at Maiden at 8 in the evening ; making, with the regular service at home, four discourses in the day. Meanwhile Br. Charles Hill, our Sexton and Parish Clerk, who retailed fresh fish in Maiden w^hich he obtained at Swampscot Beach, was teasing me to go down with Mm and preach to his fishermen some week evening. This, he said, numbers of them desired. But the idea of preaching to the fishermen of Swampscot on a week evening seemed to me like " stumping it," and I gave no attentive consid- eration to the matter. But at length I instructed my friend Hill to say to his fishermen, that, if they really desired a lecture, and would appoint a week evening for its delivery, I would accompany him to the place, and accommodate them. May 12th, 1831, was appointed, and I was on hand, and addressed a numerous auditory in and around a large School House in Swampscot. A deep interest was excited ; the shoe makers in the village were said to keep the New Testament on their benches, for the familiar ref- erence which was called for by the religious inquiries which the new preaching had excited. I was engaged to preach there again at my earliest convenience, and continued my A. n. 1831. 203 lectures in that School House on every other Thursday evening till December. October V2th, 1831. — I lectured in the afternoon in Me- chanics' Hall, Wood-End, in Lynn, about a mile and a half from the Swampscot School House. This appointment was procured by Wood-End people who attended the Swampscot lectures. When I approached the Hall, I per- ceived that the stairs leading into the Hall, which were outside of the building, were crowded with people ; and quite a company were standing around the foot of the stairs. I supposed that the keeper of the Hall was late with his key, and that these people were waiting for the opening of the Hall door. But I found that the Hall was filled, and that there was lack of room inside for this crowd which had attracted my attention. Therefore I took my stand near the head of the stairs, that I might address both wings of my auditory. Arrangement was forthwith made for lectures in Mechanics' Hall Thursday evenings every other week, alternating with those in Swampscot ; so that they had between them a lecture every week. But in January, 1832, the meetings at Swampscot were discon- tinued, and our friends in that District joined in with those at Wood-End, where they were continued through another year, and generally on Sunday evenings. I arranged to give them Sunday CA-ening services, because it would greatly accommodate them, and the field was so promising of the yield of a strong and permanent society shortly. To effect this arrangement, I devolved the Stoneham lectures upon the Pastor at Woburn, Rev. D. D. Smith. January, 1833. — Our Lynn lectures were removed to the Town Hall, a commodious building near the Head of the Common. Many from the Common had attached them- selves to our meetings at Wood-End ; and this change of 204 nEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. location for tlie services both furnished a much more con- venient room, and better accommodated, as to distance, our friends in all parts of the town. And now, the ultimate purpose of this mission of mine was soon accomplished, in the organization of a strong permanent society of earnest working members, and the settlement of a resident Pastor. Early in March the society contracted with Rev. J. C. Waldo to labor with them in that capacity ; and he forthwith entered upon the work, and made Ljmn his family abode. Such is the history of the Origin of the First Universal- iST Society in Lynn. LYNN SECOND SOCIETY. The First Society prospered, and soon erected a commo- dious Church at Wood-End. This was a favorable local- ity for that Church, as the Swampscot people were thereby accommodated ; and there were then more Universalist families- in that District, than in West Lynn, or the Common. But, in process of time, that process being but three years, believers had so multiplied in the West part of Lynn, that they conceived the idea of a Second Society. They wrote me on the subject, soliciting from me a few lectures to give them a start. I yielded assent, of course, and preached the first discourse for the nursing into being a Second Universalist Society in Lynn, on the evening of the Second Sunday in February, 1836. The meeting was held in the building which was the former Baptist Meeting House, in a hall constructed by the putting in of a middle floor, and making a pleasant and convenient upper audience room. At the close of this service the brethren voted that A. D. 1828-36. 205 they would proceed forthwith to the organization of a Second Universalist Society in Lynn. THE SLIGHT BREAK-DOWN. February, 1836, Fourth Sunday. — On this evening I preached for the regularly organized Second Universalist Society in Lynn. We met in the Hall or audience room of the old Baptist Church, before described. The Hall was crowded. Every seat was occupied, and ever}^ square foot of standing room upon the floor ; and the door and stair- ways. As I was about to commence services, the floor of the centre of the Hall settled a foot or more, causing a general pressure of the people towards the doors for egress. I sprang to one of the doors, and raised my voice to hush the people, lest a general rush down the stairs should injure many. I succeeded in moderating their movement, so that all passed out safely. By invitation of a member of the First Society's Committee, we marched to their Meeting House, and conducted our services there. It was found by examination the next morning, that the settling of the Hall floor was from the giving way of a sill of the lower floor, which was about two feet from the ground, on which rested a pillar supporting the floor occu- pied by my audience. This new society forthwith provided itself with regular Sabbath services, and soon purchased a respectable Meet- ing House on the Common, nearly opposite the Lynn Hotel ; and it has prospered under a succession of worthy Pastors. It had, from the beginning, the good will of the First Society ; and the two bodies have ever worked in mutual harmony and brotherly love. Meanwhile the few Universalists in South Danvers were 18 206 nnv. sylvaxus coBDy d.d. indulging tlie thought of procuring a few lectures prepara- tor}^ to the gathering of a society and procuring regular religious instruction in the faith of " the glorious gospel of the blessed God." The Pastor of the Universalist Society in Salem, at that time, held such relations with the Unitarian minister of South Dan vers, that he declined giving his aid to the gathering of a Universalist Societ}^ in that place. Then my services were called for in aid of the noble design. " Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood," but 3'ielded to the call from this people also, that I might preach unto them the gospel of peace. February^ 1832, Fourth Sunday. — In the evening, I delivered a lecture in Dr. Shedd's Hall, South Danvers. The Hall was densely crowded. I held but few more meetings there, before a society was organized. And, in the beginning of 1833, Br. John Moore was settled with them in the regular Pastoral relation. Saugus, too, for several of these years, came in for often lectures ; — during 1833, for one every fortnight. And now that I am on the project of getting away from any considerable extra labor by moving from Maine to Massachusetts, I will add here, though it is spreading some- what, that, during these same j-ears, Epping, Kingston Plain, East Kingston, Southampton, Plaistow, Hampstead, Sandown, Danville and Amoskeag Falls (now Manchester), N. H., pressed upon me with requests for several Sundays' preaching, some more and others less, each season. So also did West Newbury, and Franklin, Mass. ; — and nu- merous other places far through the couutr}^, for occasion- ally a single Sabbath. And quite generally some lecturing, besides the regular Sabbath services, must needs be per- formed when out in those various fields of labor. My soul travailed for those numerous children of my A. D. 182S-1836. 207 Father, far and near, hungering and thirsting after righte- ousness. But here I was, a settled Pastor, in charge of an important Parish, whose interests I could not innocently neglect. What should 1 do ? This I did : — I made my direct exchanges with the able settled pastors within ordinary exchanging distance com- paratively far between ; and as they desired a Sabbath's appointment conveniently near, occasionally, that they might accommodate a favorite minister from abroad by giving him the supply of their pulpit at the same time, I was on the lookout for these opportunities, and thus fre- quently obtained the services of one of those pastors for my congregation, when I went out to some one of these tran- sient appointments. This was the same to my people at home as if I had provided the able preacher for the day by regular or direct exchange. And when this recourse failed me in the arrangement of mj^ supplies, I alwaj^s found good and acceptable preachers disengaged for the time, whom I could place in my pulpit to the edification of my people. But, notwithstanding I devoted so great amount of labor to the gathering of new societies, and the extension of the kingdom of Christ over a wide area, I so economized that, during the ten years of my pastoral relation in Maiden, I was at home with my society nearly two-thirds of the five hundred and twenty Sundays. I include in the list at home, several Sundays on which I exchanged with neighboring ministers half of the day ; in which cases I usually preached in my own desk an evening lecture, making two discourses at home. In the portion of Sundays absent I also include the three or four which I, as per fixed rule of duty, appro- priated each year to my summer vacation on a visit to my mother, and other friends, in Maine. On these Sundays I supplied my desk at home at my own expense, not having 208 liEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. a summer vacation voted me by the Parish, as our Pastors have in later j^ars. In the portion of my Sabbaths away, I also include those over -which I was necessarily kept away in attendance on distant Conventions and Associations. Furthermore, to the account of my home labors I will add, that I uniformly held a service and delivered a discourse, on Fast, Thanksgiving and Christmas days. None of these services should in later j^ears have been dispensed with in our congregations. Fast and Thanksgiving Days afford a faithful Pastor a signal opportunity for special and pointed labor on subjects which essentially concern the social and political interests, especiall}^ in their moral bearings, of the State and the Republic. THE INSTALLATION. July SOtJi, 1828. — This day I was publicly installed as Pastor of the Fli^st Religious ChurcJi and Society in 3fal- den^ Massaclmsetts. As the Parish meeting for the legal- ization of my settlement had been delaj^ed to June 25th, that the jarring elements might become comparatively quiet (see page 199), so the Installation was put off another month, that the senseless excitement produced b}' the former transaction among the Trinitarian seceders might have time to expend itself. The Installing Council met in the large parlor of Wm. Barrett, Esq., at 10 o'clock a. m., and elected Rev. Hosea Ballon Moderator. A request in writing was handed to the Moderator, signed by Charles Lewis, Esq., the lawyer who had led the opposition, Bernard Green, Esq., and Thomas Odiorne, asking permission to come before the Council, and state objections to their proceeding with the Installation. And they had hired a law^^er, Parker, of A. D. 1828. 209 Cliarlestown, who was waiting at the Inn to present him- self before the Council in aid of the petitioners. But the Moderator, in behalf of the Council, sent answer to the petitioners, that the Parish Records furnished them with all necessary information in the premises, and they had no occasion for their services. So these adversaries were foiled in their scheme for getting upon the floor of the Council, and occupying the time which was assigned for the public services of Installation. They went their way discomfited, and troubled us no more. When the Council had completed their arrangements, a procession was formed in front of Br. Barrett's house, and marched in due order to the Church, headed by a fine band of martial music. The air was serene, the music mellif- luous, and the scene beautiful. The church was filled, and the services were conducted in the following order : — 1. Voluntary by the choir, " TFAo can express the nohle acts of the Lord." 2. Original Plymn. 3. Introductory Praj-er by Rev. Hosea Ballou, of Boston. 4. Anthem, " Rejoice in the Lord.'' 5. Sermon b}^ Rev. Sebastian Streeter, of Boston, from 2 Tim. ii. 24, 25 : " And the ser- vant of the Lord must not strive; hut he gentle unto cdl 7aen, apt to teach, patient ; in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acJtnoicledging of the truth." 6. Installing Prayer by Rev. Thomas Whittemore, of Cambridgeport. 7. Charge by Rev. Hosea Ballou, of Boston. 8. Right Hand of Fel- lowship by Rev. Russell Streeter, of Watertown. 9. Con- cluding Prayer by Rev. Walter Balfour, of Charlestown. 10. Anthem, " The Great Jehovah is our awful theme." 11. Benediction by the Pastor elect. The following is the original Hymn, composed for the occasion by the Pastor elect ; — 18* 210 nEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. Tvi^E— Old Hundred. Great God, before thy throne we bow, To Thee we raise the fervent prayer; Do thou on us thy grace bestow, And make us all thy tender care. ^ Him thou dost place as Pastor here, Wilt thou, Saviour, deign to bless: "With firmness and with godly fear May he declare thy truth and grace. May no vain pride his heart possess, To wrest thy word, thy truth conceal ; Be thou his strength and righteousness. And with thy love his bosom fill. And on this people, gracious Lord, Pour down thy blessings from above ; Cause ev'ry heart to love thy word. And in thy paths their footsteps move. May mutual kindness live and reign. Meekness and faith, and holy zeal. Thy truth to spread, thy cause maintain, And ail the works of love fulfil. We pray, God — and we believe; We've seen thy kindness all our days. And long as we existence have. We'll celebrate thy wondrous praise. As this was one of the most interesting seasons of my life ; and as Father Ballon stands in history as one of the chief founders and pillars of the Universalist denomination ; and as I enjoyed the most happy relation and familiar in- tercourse with him during alf the remaining 24 years of his life ; and as the " Charge " is of peculiar value in itself; I copy it here, from the Trumpet and Universalist Magazine of August 2, 1828. A. D. 1828. 211 DELIVERY OF SCRIPTURES AND CHARGE. BY KEV. H. BALLOU. *'Br. Cobb,. — Agreeably to a usage, long established, and in compliance with the will of the ecclesiastical council, officiating on this occasion, I present you the holy scriptures. " By this act we signify to the world that we regard this vol- ume as our guide in the discharge of ministerial duties. In these writings we learn the doctrine which we are bound to preach. This volume also furnishes the best possible directions in which to communicate the divine truths which it contains, and how to combat and overthrow the errors of mankind, which array themselves against the wisdom of God, as revealed in these writings. Their usefulness also extends to the most valuable instructions regarding our duty to our God, as moral accountable beings, also our duty to each other, and our duty to ourselves ; and in this its utility can never be too highly appreciated. *' The divine goodness towards man is the foundation of the religion we profess. The goodness of God, of which so much is spoken in the scriiDtures of the Old Testament, in those of the New, is called grace. This goodness or grace is entirely free; requiring no merit in us as a condition by which we may secure it. It flows spontaneously from the unchangeable mind of our heavenly Father, and does not wait to be called forth by any act or duty required of us. The supposition that the kindness of God is turned towards us by our obedience to his requirements, is an error of most injurious tendency, as it entirely shuts from our sight the ample fulness of the divine goodness, of which these requirements are abundant proof. Our duty to God is founded on his goodness, and our obedience is the effect of his grace. "Impartiality is one of the distinguishing attributes of the goodness of God, and of the general theme of doctrine taught in the scriptures. ' The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works.' — ' The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypoc- risy.' Both the freeness and impartiality of the divine goodness 212 EEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. are most clearly set forth in the instructions given by the blessed Saviour in his Sermon on the Mount. ' Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy : but I say unto you, Love j'our enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that dcspitefully use you and persecute you ; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven ; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye ? Do not even the publicans the same ? And if ye salute j^our brethren only, what do ye more than others ? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.' That partiality which is a prominent characteristic of the creeds of men, which origi- nated in wisdom earthly and sensual, has no connection with the doctrine of the divine goodness ; but is its entire opposite. " The UNCHANGEABLENESS of the divinc goodness is another most important attribute of the doctrine which the scriptures teach. 'I am the Lord: I change not; therefore, ye sons of Jacob are not consumed — Every good gift, and every perfect gift, is from aboVe, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.' "That the blessed hope, which the gospel brings to the guilty, may be to the soul an anchor sure and steadfast, not to be shaken or weakened by the terrors with which a due punish- ment of our sins might justly alarm us, the scriptures furnish assurance that ' the Lord will not cast off forever ; but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multi- tude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. — For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.' "And, finally, that the fading beauties and short-lived enjoy- ments of this transitory existence, should not be succeeded by the gloom of despair, the blessed Saviour of man has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel; and given assurance, that ' As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.' In this blessed assurance the believer in Christ embraces his Father in heaven as his unchangeable friend ; he embraces the Lord Jesus as the first fruits of them who sleep, and all mankind as heirs with himself of that inheritance which A. D. 1828. 213 is incorruptible, and undefilecl, and which fadeth not away, re- served in heaven for us. — In this assurance, with deep humil- ity and gratitude, we ' bow the knee unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; ' and, in full survey of the desolations of mor- talit}^ are emboldened to sing the triumphant song : ' O death ! where is thy sting ? O grave ! where is thy victory ? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.' "By keeping these prominent attributes of the doctrine of the scriptures constantly in view, the minister of the word will be enabled to avoid running into dangerous errors, and to enjoy a light which will assist him in rightly dividing the word of truth ; in maintaining and defending it in opposition to those doctrines, by which it has been perverted, on the one hand ; and against the sophistry of open infidelity on the other. "You are, therefore, charged to regard the plain and clear testimony of the w^ritten word, which is always capable of being illustrated by the works of creation and providence, as your guide; carefully avoiding those metaphysical speculations, in which too many of our school-men have lost sight of all reality, and embraced the wildest and most extravagant chimeras which have ever dishonored the cause of religion, or blighted the plants of heavenly virtue. "My brother, you are charged to fix your eye directly on the Lord Jesus. Such doctrine as he preached, do you preach. Such methods as he used, to combat and overthrow the errors of his time, do you employ to disprove the same errors which abound at present, under the name of Christianity. Let him be your pattern. It would have been easy for the divine teacher, had he been disposed, to have accommodated his preaching to the prejudices of the Scribes and Pharisees, in such a manner as to have avoided their disi^leasure. And this he would unques- tionably have done, had he not known that it would have been at the expense of truth. He might just as well have espoused the doctrines by which the Jewish church was defiled, as to have preached anything else, in such a way as neither to disjDrove their errors on the one hand, nor establish better sentiments on the other. 214 liEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. "Constantly keep in mind the command of the Saviour to an apostle : ' Feed my sheep/ If the command had been to terrify and harass, to divide and scatter, the fearful and gloomy hor- rors, which were engendered in vitiated imaginations, in the dark ages, concerning the tortures which a God of wrath will inflict in a future state, would be suitable materials for perform- ing such cruel labors ; but if to feed the people with knowledge and understanding is the duty of the public servants of the great Shepherd, then let them carefully avoid those wild imagina- tions, and render themselves acquainted with those vast stores of the bread of life, which a bountiful God has, in infinite mercy, provided for mankind of every nation under heaven. " You are charged, my brother, to keep in mind the admoni- tions of the divine Master to the disciples, and carefully com- municate to the people of your care that light with which your own understanding has been and still may be illuminated ; that you may justly use the words of the apostle of the Gentiles : ' I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.' " In your sermons, treat on such subjects as may best suit the condition of your peoj^le. Let instruction in doctrine occupy a reasonable portion of your public labors. Use all due means to discover the boauty and excellency of truth, and contrast them with the contrary qualities of error. With a skilful hand remove the guise with which the craftsmen of the day clothe their impious doctrines, and present hypocrisy in its odious character. " The prevailing vices of the times are disorders which demand the attention of the moral physician. In compassion to man, with good-will to society, use all possible persuasion to draw the old and the young from those habits and indulgences which degrade human nature, and blast all the rational enjoyments of life. To do this, carefully shun the preposterous practice of allowing that the vicious are the most happy in the j^resent life. This is the only deception tliat gives force to temptation. The language of her who allures is, * Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant ; ' but did the tempted know, *that the dead are there, and that her guests are in the depths of hell,' he would resist the charm, and parry the dart aimed at his life. The history of centuries ^Droves, beyond controversy, that the unknown terrors of an unknown hell, in an unknown world, have never secured man from the allurements of sin, nor A. D. 1828. 215 inclined him to the love of holiness. In your persuasions to virtue, and in your dissuasions from vice, respect the sacred word, and confine yourself to known realities ; showing, that while the one flows with the milk and honey of peace and joy, the other yields the wormwood and the gall of vexation and woe. And to add weight, and to give effect to your arguments and precepts, stand forth yourself an example worthy of applause and imitation. ** To such as are afflicted and to those who mourn, give largely of your sympathies, and refuse not to taste the cup of your j)eople's sorrow ; nor yet forget to administer the consola- tions of the gospel, which make even the dying victors through him who loved us and gave himself for us. "That all the duties of your office maybe seasonably and properly discharged, it is indispensable, dear brother, that the whole cause and work, with which you are now charged, should engross the affections and love of your heart. Love to God, love to the Saviour's name, love to divine truth and all the vir- tues which adorn it, and love to mankind, will enable you to fight a good fight, to keep the faith, and to finish your course with triumphant joy." How far I may have succeeded to conform the matter and manner of my ministry, and the conduct of my life, to the wise injunctions of this able Charge of the venerable man of God, many thousands and tens of thousands of the Christian public have had opportunities for forming an opinion. In my conscious weakness I have looked to God for aid ; and have endeavored to promote the welfare of mankind. The Lord forgive my errors, and bless me abundantly with the breathings of his spirit in my further efforts to do what work remains for me to perform on earth. August^ 1828. — I spent nearly all of this month on a journey to Maine, and a route through AYaterville, where I spent some time at settling up old affairs ; and via Syd- ney, Readfield, Livermore, Turner, preaching by the way ; 216 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. Peru, Rumford, Norwii}', — visiting relatives, and preach- ing also, as it was m}^ wont to do. THE ROCKINGHAM ASSOCIATION. On niy way home I came to Kingston, N. H., just in time to be present at the Rockingham Association, which was organized mostly by Boston ministers as a missionary instrumentality, Aug. 25, 1824. This was to me an unexpected entertainment. Sermons were preached by Brs. H. Ballou, 2d, S. Cobb, T. Whittemore, J. Wood, and H. Ballou. Mrs. Cobb accompanied me on this tour. During the remainder of this eventful j'ear, I was occu- pied with the regular duties of my ministerial office, in their diversified bearings heretofore described. I will barel^^ note, as I pass, that my Thanksgiving Sermon, Nov. 27th, was, by general request, committed to print in pamphlet form. The text was Gal. v. 1 : " Stand fast, therefore^ in the liberty whereivith Christ hath made us free, atid be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage'* A. D. 1829. AND YET ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD. January 17th, 1829. — Our fourth child, and third son, was born unto us to-day. All well. On July 12th (Sun- daj'), we publicly dedicated this infant son by the name Ebenezer. INTRODUCTORY AT AMOSKEAG, N. H. February, 1829, — First Sunday.— 1 delivered three discourses in a new hall in Amoskeag, provided by the A. D. 1829. 217 Amoskeag manufacturing Company as a Chapel for relig- ious worship. This was the first occupancy of the Chapel b}^ a Universalist clergj-man ; and it was procured by the agency of Dr. Oliver Dean,* who was the Agent of the Manufacturing Corporation. The meetings were supported by subscriptions from the Overseers and Operatives gen- erally, each subscriber designating the denomination to w^hich his or her subscription should be appropriated. I preached there again the next September, and had the happiness to learn that the interest in our cause was stead- ily increasing. And the same favorable reports cheered me, as I took my turns with others of our ministering brethren subsequently, in the occupancy of this Chapel. In a few years the Amoskeag Co. erected a magnificent row of factories on the bank of the river (Merrimac), a mile and a half below the Falls, carrying down the water power by a canal from the Falls ; and another Corpora- tion, the JStarky built its factories on a contiguous site. The business of these Corporations built a populous city (Manchester), in which the Universalist interest which originated in Amoskeag village forthwith organized a large societ}^, and erected a commodious Church. A Sec- ond Universalist society was formed in Manchester in 1859 ; and both are in a flourishing condition, and in an ample field for gospel work. THE ADDRESS AT SALEM. MarcJi, 25th. — Rev. Lemuel Willis was installed over the Universalist Society in Salem, Mass. Rev. Thomas * This Dr. Oliver Dean, whose manly and honorable improvement of his opportunities as Agent of the Amoskeag jManufacturing Company, was the means of putting in motion the spiritual forces which have wrought such important results in Manchester, N. H., is the founder of the Dean Academy in Franklin, Mass. 19 218 liEV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. Jones, of Gloucester, preached the Sermon ; and it devolved upon me to read the Scriptures, and deliver the Address to the Society. THE BOSTON ASSOCIATION : AND BR. L. S. EVERETT'S INSTALLATION. June Uh^ 1829. — I assisted in the organization of The Boston Association^ in the Universalist Church in Charles- town ; and, in the evening, took part in the services of the Installation of Rev. Linus S. Everett, over the Universalist Society in the same place. THE DEDICATION OF CHILDREN. My Diary has the following entry in its order of time : — ''June, First Sunday (1829). — To-day, at the commencement of the afternoon services in our Maiden Church, we publicly dedicated our second son, Samuel Tucker, and Eunice Wait Putnam, my departed sister's child whom we had taken into our family, to our God and Father in heaven. Circumstances were such that it was not convenient to carry Samuel Tucker into meeting when he was an infant in Waterville, Me., nor since until this time. Br. Henry Crehore and wife also brought for- ward their children, and had them pubHcly dedicated to God at the same time ; viz., Henry, Susan, Joseph, and Julia Augusta," The residue of this month I spent on a journey to Maine, with my private carriage, Sylvanus, Jr., in com- pany ; and visiting relatives, and preaching in many towns which had shared of my labors in former years. A. D. 1829. 219 THE MAINE CONVENTION. I took the Maine Convention, formerly the Eastern Asso- ciation, on my route, which met in Readfield on the 24th and 25th.- The meeting was largely attended by ministers and laymen ; and sermons were preached by Brs. S. Cobb, R. Streeter, Samuel Brimblecom, S. Stetson and J. Wood. I knew Rev. Samuel Brimblecom as the Pastor of the Uni- tarian Church in Norridgewock, when I was in Waterville. Now he had entered into the full light and love of our faith ; and, after an affecting address to the Council, he offered himself for our denominational Fellowship, and was cordially received. THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF UNIVERSAL- TSTS. This body met in Winchester, N. H., September IQtJi and 11th, which I attended. Sermons were preached by Brs. A. Ballon, S. Streeter, P. Dean, M. Rayner, S. Cobb, H. Ballon, and E. Case. It was an interesting occasion. DEDICATION AT SANDY BAY. October 8th. — The new Universalist Meeting House at Sandy Bay, now Rockport, was dedicated. By invitation of the Committee I delivered a discourse in the afternoon. Father Jones, of Gloucester, preached the Sermon of Ded- ication in the forenoon. November. — This month I published, in pamphlet form, A Review of Dr. DwigMs Tract on Future Punishment. 220 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. CLOSE OF THE YEAR. The following is the manner in which my Journal closes its records of the year 1829 : — '' December Slst. — Another year passes away with this day. Many blessings have flowed upon us during the ye?lr which is now closing. Our family has been favored with almost uninter- rupted health ; the smile of Heaven has constantly shone upon us ; and our enjoyments have been great. The most perfect harmony has continued to subsist between the members of the society; and between them and me. Our seasons of worship have been happy seasons ; the members of the society seem to be generally sincere lovers of the gospel ; and important addi- tions have been made to our con^resfation." A. D. 1830. Though this year, as the former ^^ears of m}^ ministerial life, was full of labor, it was generally so much in the usual routine, at home and abroad, that there was but little of it that w^ould be interesting as matter of particular notice. I will barely make note of my presence and humble services ou special public occasions. INSTALLATION OF REV. J. P. ATKINSON, AT HINGHAM. April 2dth. — Rev. J. P. Atkinson was installed over the Universalist Society in Hingham. Rev. T. Whittemore preached the Sermon ; Rev. Hosea Ballon delivered the Charge ; Rev. H. Ballon, 2d, the Installation Prayer ; Rev. L. S. Everett the Right Hand of Fellowship ; and it de- volved upon me to deliver the Address or Charge to the Society. A. D. 1830. 221 INSTALLATION OF REV. WM. S. BALCH. May DtJi. — I attended the Installation of Rev. Wm, S. BalcJi over the Universalist Society of Newton and Water- town^ and offered the Introductory prayer. BOSTON ASSOCIATION. This body met in the first Universalist Church in Boston, June 2d. Sermons were preached by Brs. Wm. Morse, S. Cobb, and T. F. King. THE MAINE CONVENTION. June SOth. — This was the first day of the session of the Maine Convention of Universalists in Norway. As it was known that I was under the necessity of leaving for home this day at noon, it was assigned for me to preach this forenoon. As usual on these occasions in Maine, the meet- ing was large. It was affecting to receive the heart}^ greetings of my famil- iar friends and former associates meeting from various parts of m}^ native State, accompanying the warm grip of the hand with the exclamation, — " When will you come home again to your old friends, and to the land of your nativ- ity ? " And to separate from them at noon on the first day of the session was trying to my feelings. But I had spent the time I had to spare for this route, in visiting round about before the meeting of the Convention. ROCKINGHAM ASSOCIATION. August 26t7i and 26fJi. — This Association was in session at Atkinson, N. H. Sermons were preached, by Brs. L. Willis, S. Cobb, T. F. King, T. Whittemore, and S. Streeter. 19* 222 REV. SYLVAN us COBB, D.D. OLD COLONY ASSOCIATION. At the meeting of this Association in September 1st, sermons were preached by Brs. T. F.King, M. Rayner, and S. Cobb. THE GENERAL CONVENTION. The General Convention of Universalists of the New England States and others, held an annual session in Leb- anon, N. IL, September 15th and 16th. The preaching on this occasion was by Brs. T. F. King, S. Cobb, T. Whitte- more, S. Streeter, and Rosea Ballon. Mrs. Cobb accom- panied me to this meeting. CONFERENCE WITH DR. EMMONS. Monday^ December 27t7i. — Having preached in Frank- lin, Mass., on the preceding day (Sunday), I tarried over to-day, that 1 might discharge an obligation to the A'enera- ble Dr. Emmons, which he, in pleasantr}" at least, imputed to me. He had said to m}^ friend, Maj. Mann, " You must call on me with j^our minister when he visits j'ou again. He has been in town many times, preaching within the limits of my parish, and I feel slighted by his neglect to call upon me. Ministerial etiquette requires that, when a young minister comes preaching in a town where an old one is settled, the new comer shall call upon the old settler. Don't fail to introduce jour minister on his next visit here." Maj. Mann was an elder brother of Hon. Horace Mann ; and he was the agent of the Franklin City Factor}^ My first ministerial visit to that place, preaching in the A. D. 1830. - 223 "Franklin City School house," was procured by Maj. Mann on his own responsibility. And, though he had forthwith the co-operation of faithful and energetic asso- ciates, he was in the lead, and his house was mj^ home in that town. It was natural, tlierefore, that the doctor should, in address to the Major, denominate me Ms minister. With regard to the personality of the other party, he was the world renowned Nathaniel Emmons, D.D., an Orthodox divine of great celebrity ; one of their standard authors ; rather HopMnsian than Calvinistic ; bold and unreserved in the statement of his strong points ; and, as men of his calibre frequently are, with their peers, some- what facetious. He was popular as a teacher of teachers, insomuch that The New American C3^ciop8edia says, " He guided the studies of some 87 theological students." He was now 86 years of age. Well, on the Monday morning aforesaid, my friend in- troduced me into the studio of Dr. Emmons, and the pres- ence of its presiding genius. The doctor, though so far advanced in age, was in good health, and of brilliant mind. He was free and communicative ; and after repeating his conversation with Maj. Mann with regard to my obligation to give him a call, he i)ut me immediately upon the work of explaining and vindicating as accordant with the Scrip- tures, my theological sj^stem. Of course he soon presented me with Matt. xxv. 46 : " And these shall go away into everlasting punishment ; but the righteous into life eternal." I took him with me into a careful and critical reading of our Lord's discourse from the beginning, of which he had given me the concluding words. He went along with me, as friends walk arm in arm, giving his undivided attention. When we had reached thus the end of Chap, xxiv., he ad- mitted that the judgment, and the attendant tribulations, 224 EEV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. wbicn were the subject of that Chapter, involved the national destruction of the Jews, which was to take place, and did take place, before that generation 2')cissed away. I then called his attention to the fact, that Mark (Chap, xiii)., and Luke (Chap, xxi.), recording what they deemed most im- portant of that discourse of their Lord, have made record of only the portion of it which our translators have, by their division of it in Matthew's record, parted off into Chap, xxiv. ; and that Matthew connects with this, what follows in his record (Chap, xxv.), by the adverb then; — '•'then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins," &c. ; showing that the three parables which he records while the other Evangelists omit them, are but additional and figurative illustrations of the same events, of the same time, treated in Chap. xxiv. I also showed him that this view of the unity of subject in these two chapters is con- firmed by the constant reference which is made in the latter to the former, by repetition of its language in description of the coming of the Son of Man in his glory. I then put to the Doctor this question : — When a faith- ful reporter undertakes to publish a report of a speech of his revered teacher, if, for convenience, he curtails or abridges it, will he not be particular to publish in full such portions of the speech as he deems most important for the public, and for posterity? Does not the fact, therefore, that Mark and Luke omitted to report the three parables comprised in Matt, xxv., conclusively show that they did 7iot understand those parables to introduce a new and dis- tinct subject, and one infinitely more important to be handed down to all subsequent ages ? Dr. Emmons instantly replied, " I see the point. The argument is plausible." And then he facetiously added, — *' But I don't believe it ; and I don't believe you do." That A. D. 18:50. 225 great scholar and divine saw the force of the circumstances presented, and felt it. And his instantaneous impulse came to his relief with a jocular dismissal of the subject. Then it came to be my turn to ask questions. And in his answers, he was more frank and ingenuous than instruc- tive. He made no effort to dodge difficulties, or to relieve himself of embarrassments by amalgamations of Armin- ianism and Augustinianism. Indeed, he could not be embar- rassed. When I presented him a glaring absurdity in his theological doctrines, and the irreconcilable disharmony between their different parts, with all frankness and uncon- cern, without hesitation or prevarication, he would respond, ^^ I see it, I see it. I know there is a difficulty there. All theories have their difficulties. But I believe this notwith- standing." We occupied a considerable part of the day in our con- versation, dining together at his table. And it was, to me, upon the whole, a pleasant conference. I will note one circumstance here, for the benefit of my ministering brethren, in relation to the Doctor's Stud}'. It was his Sitting Room. He said he had, by this arrange- ment, improved a great many hours in most profitable work as a sermonizer and author, which would have been lost if his study were away by itself in an upper room. Often he came into the house from parochial calls or out-door choring, a fraction of an hour before dinner or supper, or an hour or two before bedtime ; and he would sit down directly to his literary labor, losing not a minute ; when, if he were required to go off to an upper room to his work, especially in the considerable portion of the year when the study would need warming, nothing would have been done. 22G nEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. The Doctor's theory in this economy has ever been my own. I have had a separate room to which I conkl retire when I pleased. But, usually, the family Sitting Room has been my principal Library Room and Study. When ladies have been in enjoying a social chat with the female members of my family, and I was at my writing, — and they have expressed the fear that they were disturbing me, — I have replied, that I could think and write as much more vigorously for their presence and conversation, the conversation not particularly concerning me, as a soldier can march better for good music. A. D. 1831. This j^ear too, as the preceding, was one of general quiet, and prosperity, and happiness, in m}^ home Paro- chial relations, and of \igilant attention to the legitimate duties of those relations. Posterity will understand my labors of the 3- ear in general, from the nature of my official position, without record, as well as the}^ could from de- tailed reports. A few incidents, however, and special services abroad, I will note as I pass. CHURCH RECOGNITION IN MARLBORO'. February 2od. — I took part in the services of Recognition of a Universalist Church in Marlboro', Mass., which had just been organized b}^ Rev. T. J. Greenwood, Pastor. To me was assigned the deliver}^ of the discourse on the occa- sion ; and then, after an Address to the Church by Rev. R. Streeter, and the Baptism of several of the members by the Pastor (in the form of sprinkling), the administration A. D. 1831. 227 of the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. (For notice of my subsequent labors in Marlboro', see page — *) ANOTHER ADDITION TO THE HOUSEHOLD. March ^\st. — This morning my wife presented unto me a fifth child, and fourth son. When he was two weeks old, Capt. George Winslow, a valuable member of my Society, having obtained our consent, conferred upon him his own name, — all but the Captain. And by this name we publicly Dedicated him to the great Father, as a member of the mystical body of Christ, Sunday^ July ^Ist. ' OUR TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT. April 1th. Fast-Day. — I delivered to my congregation a discourse on Temperance, taking a strong position for the total disuse of all intoxicating liquors as a beverage. I expected that I should give offence to some, as numbers of my parishioners were " moderate drinkers," and a few were more than that ; and none of them had attached themselves to the Temperance Society which had been organized in the town. But the lesson was well received, and effective in its operation. I forthwith borrowed the Constitution of the Maiden Temperance Society, and called with it on all the heads of families in my Parish, and obtained the signatures of nearly all of them to the Pledge. I encountered the objection from many, on the first pre- sentation of the subject, that this Temperance Society was an Orthodox movement ; and in proof of this I was re- * This notice the Autobiographer did not live to write ; but the reader will find an account of the labors referred to in Chapter XVII. of the Memoir. The Memoirist. 228 EEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. fcrred to the fact tlint most of the members were Orthodox people, and had all the management of its affairs among themselves. To be sure, I replied, and it must be so as long as we keep ourselves away. I showed ray friends that there was nothing in the Constitution of the Society to prevent our all becoming members, and in such numbers as to exert, ourselves, a controlling influence in the Soci- ety. And we did so. And the Universalist Society in Maiden has ever since occupied a prominent position and exerted an effective influence in the temperance cause. FATHER RAYNER'S PROJECT. April 25th. — I received a letter from Rev. Menzies Rayner, of Hartford, Ct., through Rev. Linus S.Everett as his intercessor, proposing that I should remove my abode to Hartford, preach one half of the time in that city, and the other half out (he doing the same), and take one half of the interest in his paper, " The Religious Inquirer.'' Father Rayner had of course conferred with his Parish Committee on this arrangement. It will be remembered that the Committee of that society were in correspondence with me in relation to my holding myself subject to a candidacy for settlement with them, at the time when Father Rayner came among them, over from the Episcopal communion. Now it was proposed that their two contemplated cotempo- rary Candidates should become Associate Pastors. This was the proflfer of an inviting position ; but I returned at once a negative answer. So pleasant and so settled had become my situation in Maiden, and so diversi- fied were the opportunities for useful labor round about, that I could not even debate the question of removing at that time. . A. D. 1831. 229 BOSTON ASSOCIATION. June 1 St. — The Boston Association of Universalists met in the School Street Church in Boston. Agreeably to appointment of the preceding 3^ear, it deyolved upon me to preach the " Occasional Sermon." My text was 1 Tim. iv. 16 : " Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrines ; continue in them : for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." The Council having, in accordance with its custom, voted a request for the publi- cation of the Sermon, this was published in the Trumpet and Universalist Magazine of July 2d, 1831. July Fourth. — Public Independence-Day exercises were held in the Brick Church ; and, by the Committee of Arrangements it devolved upon the reader's humble ser- vant to deliver the Oration. I treated the History of Lib- erty, and the means of its preservation, and of the diffusion of its principles and blessings into all the departments and ramifications of societ3^ Near the conclusion I pleasantly gave the subject such a turn that its application to the relations of contending parties in our own town was vis- ible. The effect was a happ}^ one. All the religious denominations united in this celebration ; and the influence of the exercises and the occasion completed the extermina- tion of animosity and contention, and inaugurated an era of general good feeling. ROCKINGHAM ASSOCIATION ; AND ORDINATION OF REV. OILMAN NOTES. Wednesday and Thursday^ August 31s^, and Sept. 1st, the Rockingham Association of Universalists held a session in New Market, N. H. On Thursday, Br. Oilman Noyes, 20 230 EEF. SYLVANUS COBB. D.D. one of my theological students, received Ordination. Ser- mons were preached on the occasion, by Brs. T. F. King, L. R. Paige, T. Whittemore, John Moore, S. Cobb (the Ordination Sermon), H. Ballon, Elias Smith, and Walter Balfour. KENNEBEC ASSOCIATION. September — Was principally appropriated to my annual Maine visitation, which must needs be made also a mission- ar}^ tour over much of the State. On the 21st I turned in at Wilton, where the Kennebec Association was in session, for that and the succeeding day. I must of course preach one sermon ; and that service came off on the afternoon of Thursday, the 22d. December 2>lst. — My Journal closes its record of the year in this happy strain : — " This day brings us to the close of another year. Our fam- ily have shared of the protecting care, and the constant blessings of Heaven, as in former years. We have had the addition of one, making the number of our children five. My relation with my Parish continues to be one of mutual satisfaction, and undis- turbed harmony and peace. The average congregation has increased ; there seems to be an increase of interest and atten- tion. I am at peace with the whole world so far as personality is concerned ; my only warfare being against error and vice, and against spiritual wickedness in high places. This warfare goes on " conquering and to conquer." " The Lord reigneth ; let the earth rejoice." • A. D. 1832. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. May^ Second Sunday. — At the close of the morning ser- vice, I requested those who felt an interest in the establish- ment of a Sunday School, to tarry after the Benediction, A. D. 1832. 231 and adopt measures for the organization of such a school. A goodly number tarried, discussed the subject in the right spirit, and appointed a Board of Directors for putting for- ward the business. We held these preliminary meetings often by adjournment, and shortly the school was put into operation, and forthwith became an interesting institution. This was among the first Sunday Schools formed in the Universalist denomination. The whole Sunday School system, as a religious educa- tional instrumentality, was comparatively new. And our people had, for a while, some prejudice against it, as a scheme by which the Orthodox were seeking to bring the young, generally, under their sectarian influence. I met with this objection from some of the heads of families in my societ}^, on my private calls and labors preparatory to the public movement just noted. But I found it not diflticult to aid all their understandings to a discernment of the fact, that the field was just as open, and the instrumen- tality for the religious education of the young just as available to us, as to other denominations ; and that the circumstance that others were improving this important means of good, constituted no reason why vve should neg- lect to do so. DISCUSSION WITH DR. BUCK. On the third Sunday in this month, May, Dr. Ephraim Buck, the oldest physician in Maiden, and the leader of the Trinitarian party in our Parish contests, delivered in my Church, at 5^- o'clock p. m., his part of a sort of Theological Discussion between him and me. It was his Reply to my Review of Dr. D wight's Tract on Future Punishment here- tofore noticed, which I addressed to Dr. Buck, because I 232 UEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. received the Tract at his hand, with his compliments. He had appointed to deliver his Reply in his own place of meet- ing, the School House Hall. But as that was not large enough to accommodate all who would probably want to hear the whole discussion, I invited him to deliver it in the First Parish Church ; and he accepted my invitation. I answered the Doctor at 5J- o'clock p. m. on the First Sunday in June. The house was densely crowded, and I oc- cupied an hour and thirty-five minutes. He made the basis of his argument, as did Dr. Dwight of his Tract, the 25th Chapter of St. Matthew. Of course my labor, except in the exposure of my opponent's mistakes and sophistries, was devoted to the explanation of that Chapter. I earnestly requested the Doctor to commit to me his manuscript for publication with my Rejoinder ; but he declined to do so. I, however, published my Rejoinder in the Trumpet and Universalist Magazine of June 30, and July 7, 1832, and had a large number of copies worked off in pamphlet form. But my exposition of that Chapter may be found, not only in my Commentary on the New Testament, but in my Re- view of Dr. Edw. Beecher's Conflict of Ages, and in my Discussion with Dr. Nehemiah Adams. My labors altogether, this day, were as enormous in bulk, as any one Sunday's labors which I performed in the State of Maine. I delivered two discourses of ordinary length in Woburn, at the regular morning and afternoon meetings, on exchange with Rev. D. D. Smith ; then, as I have said, spoke an hour and thirt3^-five minutes in Re- sponse to Dr. Buck, commencing at 5-J o'clock p. m. ; and then rode to Reading, and preached another hour by candle-light, by particular request, on the question, " What IS IT TO BE A Universalist ? " But God gave me strength equal to the labors of the day. A. D. 1832. 233 DEDICATION AND INSTALLATION IN TAUN- TON. The Universalist Society in Taunton, Mass., had pur- chased, moved, and fitted up, a large Meeting House which had been vacated by the Unitarian Society ; and, — June 27th, — They Dedicated the house, and Installed Rev. John B. Dods as their Pastor. It fell to my lot to preach the Dedication Sermon, in the forenoon ; and Rev. Hosea Ballon delivered the Sermon of Installation, in the afternoon. FATHER BALLOU'S VIEW OF WRITING SER- MONS. During the intermission, in the room which we occupied at the time by ourselves, Father Ballon, walking in the mood of intense stud}^, remarked to me, that the longer he lived, the more he came to be in favor of young preachers writing their sermons in full. This he had not done. And now that he was becoming advanced in years, and his memory was failing him, he found that he had lost, beyond recovery, some of his best thoughts and happiest illustra- tions. He could not reproduce the work of his life's prime, except what had been committed to print. And often, when mentall}^ preparing his sermon for the public, he suf- fered anxiety lest his memory should fail to take hold of some of his most important illustrations at the appropriate place. Sometimes he had passed the place where he had designed to introduce an illustration on which he hung the chief interest of his discourse ; and there was no other place for it, and he was dissatisfied with his performance. He believed that young preachers should cultivate the 20* 234 JIEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. habit of delivering discourses without manuscript, when they could do so ; and that they should discipline themselves to a free and natural manner of delivery, whether with or without the manuscript before them ; but he would advise them, as far as it was practicable, to write their sermons in full INSTALLATION OF EEV. L. R. PAIGE. July, Second Sunday. — After my two regular discourses at home, I attended, at 5 o'clock p. m., the services of In- stallation of Rev. L. R. Paige, over the Universalist Soci- ety in Cambridgeport, and preached the sermon on that occasion. DEDICATION AT MEDFORD. July 18th. — The new Universalist Society in Medford Dedicated their new Meeting House to its appropriate use as a temple of divine worship. It was assigned to me to preach the Dedicatory Sermon. This society was an offspring of our regenerated Parish in Maiden. Several Medford families attached themselves to our meeting after my settlement there ; and I gave them occasional lectures in their Village. The erection of this Society took these families from our meeting ; — but it served the greater good. THE GENERAL CONVENTION. September 19th and 20th. — The old "General Conven- tion of Universalists for the New England States and others," was in session at Concord, N. H. Forty minister- ing brethren were present. The public services were held in the Baptist Church. All the other Churches in the City J. D. 1833. 235 were likewise offered for our ficcommodation. Sermons were preached by Brs. S. Cobb, S. Streeter, M. Rayner, T. Jones, H. Ballon, and C. M. LeFevre. An advance was made towards the transformation of this Convention into a United States Convention., to be composed of Delegates from the State Conventions. The great growth of our cause and denomination in the United States demanded this improve- ment. ANOTHER NEWCOMER. December \st. — Our second daughter, which is our sixth child, was born this evening ; whom we named, Sarah Wait ; and in which name she was publicly Dedicated on i\iQ Fourth Sunday of the next June. A. D. 1833. In February., I published in Pamphlet form my Reply to a Dissertation on Future Punishment by Oliver Johnson, Editor of the Christian Soldier., — which Reply I delivered in the Town Plall in Lynn on the evening of the Second Sunday in January., he having delivered his Dissertation also in that Hall. Without multiplying notes of particulars, which were generally in the regular routine of ministerial, citizen, and literary duties, including due attention to Associational meetings, and the missionary labors which I referred to in my general exhibit of Extra Services, under the head of " That Lecturing Business" pp. 201-208, suffice it to remark in general of this year, — That it was a year of general health and undeviating peace and happiness at home, and of beautiful harmony and pleasing prosperity in our religious Society. It may be expedient, however, to 236 BEV. SYLVANUS COJJB, D.D. make record of one speciality ; that is, my consent to be put in nomination as a candidate for election as the town's Ilepresentative to the General Court. Sometime in October, the Chairman of the Parish Com- mittee called upon me, and, after the greeting and the seating, said to me, " I want to ask you a question." " Very well," I answered, "say on." He asked, "Are 5'ou a Jack- son man?" "No," said I, "not in the technical sense." " Well," he continued, " I thought so. Some of us were speaking of it the other evening, and it was said by one of the company that you were a Jackson man. But I thought not." "Well," 1 rejoined, "if this is a matter of discus- sion, let me not be misunderstood. In the days of the Federal and the Republican parties, I was a Republican. But at the close of the Madisonian war, and during the eight years of the Monroe administration, the parties were merged, and visible party lines were practically obliterated. We were all Federal Republicans. But when, in the suc- ceeding Presidential canvass, a contest arose, and Andrew Jackson and J. Q. Adams were opposing candidates, while I highly esteemed Jackson as a patriot and military com- mander, I preferred Adams as a Statesman, and gave him my vote. This explains what I mean by saying I am not a Jackson man. But I will do Gen. Jackson the justice to say, that he far exceeded my expectations as a statesman and the Chief Magistrate of the nation." " But what," I inquired, " does your questioning mean ?" "Oh," he replied, "we think of sending you to the General Court next winter, as our Representative." " Not if I am to be put up on political party ground," I rejoined emphat- ically. " No," he continued, " nothing of that. We want you to go on business principles. We want a new bridge across the Mystic, to Charlestown, to be self-paying, and A. D. i8r>4. 237 uUimately free. And we want your influence in the Legis- lature to aid us in the enterprise." I assured him that, notwithstanding the worthy motives of my friends, I would not consent to be a candidate for that office if it might unfavorably affect the feelings of any of my Parishioners. He assured me in return, that there would be no division there ; that all our members wished my election. " Then," said I, "go and act your own judgment of right and expe- diency, as my friend, and a friend of all the other interests concerned in the question." I was put in nomination, and, on November 11th, the State Election Day, was elected by nearly a unanimous vote to the aforesaid office. A. D. 1834. JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH. During these three months, my chief week-day business was that involved in my official position as a member of the Legislature. My first personal concern was that for which, in particular, I was elected, the procurement of a charter for a new bridge. I was successful. A charter was obtained for the bridge (Middlesex Bridge), to be completed within three j-ears, establishing given rates of toll, all over the payment of current expenses to be funded until the amount should be sufficient to pay the cost of the structure, and then it shoukl becom^e a free bridge. Another subject to which I gave some earnest attention in its place, was the proposed legislation against Free Masonry. It was the climax of the famous Anti-Masonic excitement. The Speaker's Table groaned beneath the burden of petitions praying for an Act to abolish Free 238 liEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. Masoniy, and to render Masonic Oaths unlawful. A large Special Committee was appointed as the reference for these petitions. But that Committee was practically superseded, and the work taken out of their hands, and political, Anti- Masonry killed out, in the following manner: An order was introduced, directing the Committee on the Judiciary to consider the expediency of passing a general law against " Extra-judicial Oaths," and to report a bill. That Com- mittee reported a bill, prohibitive of Extra Judicial Oaths. They said their design was to put a stop to the multiplying sea-serpent oaths, and other practices of running to a Justice of the Peace and making formal oath to the truth of this and that " cock and bull story," — all w^hich was cal- culated to depreciate the solemnity of an oath. Masonry was not named in the bill. Yet it was evident that, if this should pass, the political Anti-Masons could do nothing more ; for if the Masonic oath should be judged by the Courts a nuisance, coming within the legitimate province of law to suppress, this w^ould suppress it. An Anti-Mason moved to amend the bill, by inserting before the words extra-judicial, Masonic and other ; making it to prohibit " all masonic and other extra-judicial oaths." This amendment was carried. Then a Mason moved to further amend, by inserting anti-masonic before the word masonic; so that it should read, " all anti-masonic, masonic^ and other extra-judicial oaths." And this was adopted. The design was to encumber the bill with frivolities, and crush it out. At this point I deemed it my duty to come to the rescue. Having obtained the decision of the Speaker that such a motion w^ould be in order, I moved to amend by striking out all the party amendments, and restoring the bill to its original form. Addressing the Chair of course, I designed A. D. 18.34. 239 mj^ argument for the Masons, and others who desired to get rid of the political Anti-Masonic nuisance. I explained that I was a Mason, and knew that the principles of Ma- sonry were good, and that the influence of the institution had been extensively productive of good. But I was will- ing to risk the institution under the operation of such a law as was now proposed. Though such law might sup- jjress the public exhibitions of a class of dandy jack oaths which might be regarded as public nuisances, it would not probably touch the quiet exercise, in retirement, of any natural and inalienable right. Let the bill be restored to its original simplicity, as it came from the hands of the Committee, and be enacted into a law ; and Constitutional right will be preserved ; and the political Anti-Masonic agitation, by which men who have not substantial merits on which to rise, calculate to continue raising a whirlwind to bear them into office, will die out. My amendment was carried by a vote of 242 to 96. Then the bill as amended was passed, by 437 yeas to 37 nays. The leading Anti-Masons in the House saw that their game was played out, and raved against their minor asso- ciates for their want of sagacity and pluck. That was the end of political Anti-Masonry in Massachusetts. With regard to the law against extra-judicial oaths, I know not whether any case of sea-serpent swearing has been arraigned under it ; but it has never interfered with the peaceful operation of the ancient and honorable insti- tution of Masonry. I presume no case has been brought before the Supreme Court to call out a regular judicial decision on the law ; but the most eminent Jurists have, on inquiries proposed, expressed the opinion that the Legisla- ture has no Constitutional power to prohibit individuals 240 nEF. SYLVAXus conn, d.d. from binding themselves, in retirement, to solemn obliga- tions to each other, in the manner of an oath. I was busil}^ attentive to the business of the Legislature in general ; but no other subject engaged m}^ particular attention, in a manner to render it an appropriate matter of record here. THE TWIN SONS. August 6t7i. — This evening we were presented with two fine, healthy sons. All well. We named our twin sons Cyrus, and Darius ; and in these names they were publicly Dedicated on the First Sunday in Feb., 1835. INSTALLATION OF REV. WM. H. KNAPP. This Brother was installed over the First Universalist Society in Danvers, December 25tii. It devolved upon me to offer the Installing Prayer, and to deliver a discourse in the evening. In addition to my regular Parochial duties-; and the cus- tomary attention to Associational occasions ; and the con- tinued lecturing and evangelizing which I noted in the gross on pp. 201-208, my care, from year to j^ear, imposed upon me no little responsibility, sometimes as President of the Maiden Lyceum, wiiich I was active in originating, and generally as Chairman of the Superintending School Com- mittee. But labor has ever been my life. A. D. 1835. This winter I have done more extra service than usual in the form of lectures before Benevolent, Literary and Musical Societies. A. D. 1836. 241 PIONEER SERVICE IN BEVERLY, MASS. April 1st. — I preached a lecture in Beverly Town House, — the first Universalist discourse delivered in that ancient town. There was a crowded audience ; and the interest in the faith increased, unto the organization of a permanent societ}^ INSTALLATION OF BROS. NOTES AND AUSTIN. April 8t7i and dth. — The Union Association of Univer- salists was in session in Spencer, Mass. On the 9th Br. Oilman Noyes, one of my theological students, was in- stalled as Pastor of the Universalist Society in Spencer, and it naturally enough was assigned to me to preach the Installation Sermon. April 29th. — Rev. J. M. Austin was installed as Pastor of the Universalist Society in South Danvers, on which occasion Br. Cobb preached the Sermon of Installation. MASSACHUSETTS CONVENTION. This body held an annual session in Framingham, June 3d. My service on this occasion was, as per previous ap- pointment, the delivery of the " Occasional Sermon." My text was Matt. iv. 4 : "But he answered and said. It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." The object of the discourse was to show, that the whole of a man's life does not consist in the supply of his physical wants, but that it largely consists also in the inheritance of 21 242 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. the principles and graces of the gospel. It follows that our reasonable appropriations for the support of religious education, are as truly and really ministering to the con- stitutional wants of men, insomuch as to constitute an essential part of their living, as are our labors for ma- terial goods. The discourse was published in the Trum- pet and Universalist Magazine of July -ith, 1835. THE JUBILEE. The fiftieth meeting of the " General Convention of Universalists for the New England States and Others," was held in Hartford, Ct., on September IGth and 17th. From its being the fiftieth yearly meeting, we called it the Jubilee. Eighty preachers Avere present ; and it was a most interesting: meetinoj. It was here that I met for the first time that excellent and eminent minister of the word, Stephen R. Smith. He delivered a discourse on this occa- sion. Commencing in a natural and conversational, and, I must confess, rather unpromising manner, he warmed with his subject as he advanced, and the spirit inspired the language, and his strain became one of surpassing elo- quence. VISIT TO TROY. In compliance with an earnest invitation from the Com- mittee of the Universalist Society in Troy, N. Y., I jour- neyed on from Hartford, wife in company, to that young and beautiful city, and preached there the succeeding two Sundays. At the close of the afternoon services of the second Sunday, the Society held a brief meeting b}^ notice ■^rom the desk, and unanimously voted Br. Cobb a call for A. D. 1S35. 243 settlement as their Pastor, on a salary of $1,000.* I re- served my answer to be sent them by letter, on a subsequent day. Our ride home from Troy, two hundred miles, by our private carriage, through a great number of handsome villages, and in the range of much beautiful scenery, was very interesting. After my return home, my study was of course much devoted to the question of removal to Troy. It was a difficult question. I could not, but with painful emotions, think of leaving my people in Maiden, with whom I had been most pleasantly connected more than seven j^ears, and so pleasant, and in many respects most enviable vicinity as that of Boston. I had no occasion of dissatisfaction with my people, except in the circumstance that a portion of them (including none who had been leaders), were in the way of thinking that all the society interests would go along prosperousl}^, without their own constant personal attentions. Then, with regard to Troy^ it was a young, beautiful, and enterprising city ; our society there, with a beautiful new Church, was also young and enterprising, and I imagined that I should find there a pleasant home, and a profitable field of labor. At length I concluded to accept the invitation, and wrote accordingly. But daily contact with the feelings of my people on the subject, and further consideration of the proposed change of location, furnished me with the "blues." At length I received a private letter from a citizen of Troy, informing me that the Committee of that society, on receiving my ♦These, and other figixres which I have put down as indicating the salaries which were proposed to me by societies, will look small to city readers in these hiter times of high salaries adapted to greater expensiveness of living. But in those days, and those localities, they were respectable ijropositions. 244 nEV. SYLVAXUS cobb, d.d. affirmative answer, fixing on the next April for ray re- moval, engaged Rev. Menzies Ra^-ner, then out of employ- ment, to supply the desk until April. Bat they did not inform him that I was engaged to come unto them at that time ; and, after moving to Troy, and learning that fact, he complained of wrong and abuse, alleging that he understood his supply for the winter was to be in the capacity of a candidate for permanent settlement. My correspondent said that Mr. Rayner's course was exciting the sympathy of a few in his behalf; though none were opposed to me ; that it was creating some difficulty between members and the Committee, and he thought I ought to be made acquainted with the facts. I at once wTote the Com- mittee on the subject, and asked to be released from my engagement. They assured me that no change of feeling had taken place in relation to me ; that it would be of no benefit to Mr. Ra3'ner for me to withdraw ; for, if he should gain a settlement, it would be a very short one. And they declined to release me. But, after the inter- change of a few more letters, I positively revoked m}^ en- gagement ; alleging that it was with extreme difficulty that I brought my mind to the conclusion to move to Troj' , in view of all matters there as pleasant and harmonious as they were when I left that city in September ; and that there was evidently a change of circumstances in some respects affecting the social elements there, and I had deter- mined to remain in Maiden. Note. Mr. Rayner did obtain a settlement in Troy ; and it was a very short one, as the Committee predicted. And I believe that a kind Providence perpetuated my abode in a vicinage in which my best life mission should be served. A. D. 1836. 245 THE BOSTON ASSOCIATION Held a session in Stoughton November 4?/i, when Br. Cobb preached the Occasional Sermon. Br. Isaac Brown was ordained to the work of the ministry ; and Brs. J. W. Talbot, and Horace W. Morse, my theological students, — and also Br. Joseph B. Morse, — received Letters of Fel- lowship as preachers of the gospel. . My Diar}^ throughout closes each year with a paragraph of moralizing, and now and then I have copied one into this book of records. I will copy another here : — " Decemher ^\st. — This day closes another j^ear. My family, consisting of myself, wife, and nine children, including the adopted niece, have enjoyed almost uninterrupted health during the year ; and nothing has occurred to mar our haj^piness. We (myself and wife) have journeyed considerably, and enjoyed the intercourse of many friends, far and near. Our friends in our own society, remain united and steadfast ; and we have been overcoming the prejudice and gaining the personal friendship of the members of other religious societies. My movement towards the change of my pastoral relation from Maiden to Troy, N. Y., has called the attention of not a few here to a more serious study of their personal duties to society and the cause of truth, which is working out favorable results." A. D. 1836. THE COUNCIL ON THE TEMPERANCE LECTURE. I had an engagement to preach in a School House in "West Newbury on The First Sunday in January. A friend of the temperance cause in that place, being informed of my Sabbath engagement, conferred with me on the ques- tion of delivering a Temperance Address in the town Sat- urday evening. I consented to do so. He then laid the 21* 24G EEV. SYLVAXUS COBB, D.D. matter before the Temperance Society. The President, at a subsequent meeting of the society, where he presented the matter, together with a request that the lecture should be delivered in the Calvinist Church or Vestry, requested that all Universalists present might retire. Then, as report from among themselves discloses it, the question was raised, " What effect will it have upon our religious societ}^, to admit Mr. Cobb into our Meeting House to lec- ture on temperance ? " Some said that it would call in the more of their people ; and, if they should be pleased with the lecture, they might be induced to go and hear the lec- turer in his religious discourses on the Sabbath. But they deemed it not prudent to refuse their countenance to the Temperance Address ; the Church was opened on the occa- sion, and we had an interesting meeting ; as we had also in the School House on the Sabbath. INSTALLATION OF REV. J. GREGORY. January 21 til. — Rev. John Gregory was installed this evening, as Pastor of the Universalist Society in Woburn ; on which occasion it was assigned to Br. Cobb to deliver the Charge. PARISH ACTIVITY. I have spoken of the increased activity in our home society which was excited by the movement towards my change of location from Maiden to Troy, N. Y. So soon, I have the following minute in my Journal : — ''February 2d. — This evening several of the members of my society met at my house, to deliberate on the subject of making extensive alterations in the Meeting House. There is a prospect that the alteration will be effected." A. D, 1836. 247 ESSEX COUNTY CONFERENCE. April 20th. — I attended a meeting of this Conference at Danvers New Mills, and delivered a discourse. This con- ference was an ecclesiastical organization for Essex County, of the same grade with the County Associations. THE EDITORIAL OFFICE. May 16t7i. — By the solicitation of Rev. T. G. Farns- worth, of Haverhill, the proprietor of a religious and literary family newspaper, entitled The Gospel Sun, pub- lished in Haverhill, and edited by Rev. Otis A. Skinner of that place, I entered into an arrangement with him for a year, to act as Associate Editor, with Br. Skinner. This position involved an additional department of care and labor. DEDICATION IN SAUGUS. May 19i7i. — The remodelled Universalist Meeting House in Saugus was Dedicated to-da}^ Br. S. Cobb preached the Sermon ; Br. Hosea Ballon offered the Dedicatory Prayer ; and Br. T. Whittemore delivered the Address to the Society. THE MERRIMAC RIVER ASSOCIATION, Met in Goffstown, N. H., May 26th. On this occasion Br. T. J. Tenney was set apart to the work of the ministry by Ordination, — of the services of which it fell to my happy lot to preach the Sermon, and to offer the Ordination Prayer. I lectured on temperance in this place on the pre- ceding evening, and this evening, after the services of the Association, I rode over to Hollis, and delivered a religious lecture in that place. 248 nEV. SYLVANUS CODB^ D.D. MASSACHUSETTS CONVENTION. Jane '2d. — This bod}^ met in Wrcntbam. Br. Horace "SY. Morse, one of my theological students, and Br. James C. Burt, received Ordination, in the services of which it ■was my privilege to give the Charge. THE MALDEN CHURCH REMODELLED AND RE- DEDICATED. June 29tJi. — So soon after its inception.is this important reconstruction consummated. The interior of the old Brick Church was somewhat out of repair, and it was diffi- cult to warm it comfortably in cold weather. Now the galleries, tall pulpit, and old-fashioned square pews were all taken out ; a second floor was put in about twelve feet above the ground-floor, making a large hall and vestry, with anterooms, below, and a beautiful audience room for public worship, in the upper story. On this day, Jime 29t7i, it was rededicated, by appropriate religious services. Invocation by Rev. J. C. Waldo ; Scripture Lesson, by Rev. J. Banfield ; Sermon, by Rev. Tho. Whittemore ; Dedicatory Prayer, by Rev. H. Ballou ; Address to the Societ}^ by Rev. T. F. King ; and the Concluding Pra}- er by Rev. S. Streeter. The following paragraph in my private Journal is ap- pended to the record of these services : — " Tliis society appears to be in a more flourishing condition than ever before. It was upon my decision to give up moving to Troy, N. Y., last winter, that they undertook this plan of im- provement in the Church. Doubtless a wise Providence will overrule for good the circumstance to which I refer. I then thought that I might be more useful in Troy ; but now my labors A. B. 1S36. 249 seem to be abnndantly blessed in this jilace ; and I regard my situation as being in a wide field of useful labor. May the Lord continue to smile upon us in love." • THE TEMPERANCE AGENCY. About the middle of August, Rev. Mr. Wilder, the Orthodox clergyman of Concord, Mass., and Dr. Cutter, Deacon of the Orthodox church of Woburn, called at my house, and introduced themselves as a Sub-Committee from the General Committee of the Middlesex County Temper- ance Society, on the business of procuring a Lecturing Agent for that Society. They had heard much of my labors as a temperance lecturer on my own responsibility ; and they had called in the hope that they might engage me in the service of their Society. I answered them that I was not willing to enter into any engagement which would interfere with my regular minis- terial labors on the Sabbath; but I would consider any proposition they might make for week day and evening service for the Middlesex Society. We agreed on terms ; and I engaged, for a year, to devote an average of three days and evenings a week to the temperance cause, and to lecture frequently on Sunday evenings. And I was to have in my own hands the arrangement with regard to the par- ticular days and evenings which I should appropriate to this service, that I might adjust my labors in different spheres to the best advantage. And now, what thinks the reader of my success in reliev- ing myself of much lecturing, and extra service, b}^ remov- ing from Maine to Massachusetts ? * I went earnestly into * There is a point beyond which the most powerful physical frame cannot with safety be urged; and Mr. Cobb had reached that point years before this time; 250 PiEV. SYLVANUS COHn, D.D. the work ; lectured in the service of the Middlesex County Temperance Societ}^ a year as per contract. Then I was re-elected to the same office by the Society at its annual meeting, for another year ; and in the second year I per- formed as great an amount of labor. During this second year the public sentiment of the State, acting through the Legislature, enacted the prohibitive statute which was called the Fifteen Gallon Laio. It prohibited the sale of alcoholic liquors in less than fifteen gallon packages, which were the smallest packages in which liquors were allowed to be imported. Determined efforts were made~by the rum-sellers and their coadjutors to prevent the enforcement of the law ; wherefore the Middlesex Society appointed a Committee of legal gentlemen, of which Hon. Samuel Hoar was Chairman, to aid its enforcement in our count}^. As I had been two years laboring in the count}', lecturing over and over in all the towns and most of the school districts, this Legal Committee emplo3^ed me for another year, to continue my service as the Lecturing Agent, and to co-op- erate with them, and with the Temperance Societies, in the uniform enforcement of the law. And these efforts were attended with a good degree of success. Nevertheless, in about a year afterwards, a repeal of that statute resulted from political entanglements. The labors of these three years in the Agency of the Middlesex Temperance Society were enormous. The lec- tures were not little thirty minute essays. In that stage of the temperance reform, there were ignorance, and preju- and now he overstepped it. I can remember very well that he went often away to lecture on Temperance when he should have been at home recuperating his already exhausted energies ; and I can remember, also, how he used to make light of his sufferings from colds and fatigue, so that his wife might not be alarmed. I feel sure that the trouble which terminated his existence had its origin as far back as this. The Memoirist. A. D. 1836-38. 251 dice, and hostility to be encountered ; — and old customs of all classes, good, bad and indifferent, were to be revolu- tionized ; and the necessary argument could not be com- pressed within a shorter space of time than an hour. Gen- erally my lectures exceeded an hour, and were of necessity uttered in what I felt, an earnest spirit. I circulated the pledge, the " Teetotal" pledge, at the close of every lecture, and, in all, thousands of names were won, and manj^ new societies were organized. I worked over even the old tem- perance societies, advancing them from the partial pledge, discarding distilled spirits only, to the thorough pledge, discarding, as a beverage, all intoxicating liquors, distilled and fermented. And, besides my public lectures, I labored much in conversation with individuals at their homes. And I called upon most of the taverners, victuallers and grocers in the county, and labored with them on the sub- ject of their voluntar}^ abandonment of the liquor-traffic. They treated me respectfuU}^, and generally professed a desire to be rid of that branch of their business. "But," each one would say, " if I refuse to supply my customers with liquor, and others around me sell it, my customers will go to others, not only for their liquor, but with all their custom ; so that I shall suffer loss without any good result, as no less liquor will be sold. But prohibit the business by law, and it will be impartial ; and will relieve me from liability to complaint from my customers." But, when such just and impartial law obtained, it did not i^lease them. THE THREATENED MOB. There was quite a rowdy set of tippling hangers-on about the tavern in Bedford Village. One evening when I had a lecture in the Unitarian Church in that Village, as I was 252 hev. sylvanus cobb, d.d. about to commence the services, I observed the entrance into the vestibule of a company of rough-looking men, with shouldered canes, deploying in military style, and separat- ing into two parties, which took their stands at the two doors opening from the vestibule into the Church. It was obvious to ni}' perceptions that mischief was intended. I arose and offered a few introductory remarks, solemnly stating the purpose of the meeting, and recognizing the relations sustained by the people present, as husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, children, brothers, sisters, and members of societ}^, — and the duties and privileges which appertained to all those relations, with the due observance and improvement of which was associated peace, prosperity and happiness, — and from the disregard of which pro- ceeded wretchedness and ruin. These suspicious charac- ters looked, and looked, with raised faces and parted lips ; and one after another moved softl}^ in and took seat in a pew, until one was left standing alone, who turned and went away. I learned after the dismission of the meeting that my suspicions did the party no injustice. They agreed (about a dozen of them), in the tavern, to go into the Church and break up the meeting, by annoying me, and irritating me to some words or acts which they would make an occasion for dragging me out. But we had an exceed- ingly happy and profitable meeting. TEMPERANCE BETTER THAN FARMS. On a cold November evening, in the Baptist Meetings House in West Chelmsford, at the close of the lecture, while the pledge was being circulated, and many were signing it, I observed that a lady was earnestly entreating a gentle- man, whom I took to be her husband, to give the pledge his A, D. 1836-38. 253 signature. He was an amiable man, with a young familj^, fast wasting himself by intemperance. As I was about retiring, the lady besought me to call with them at their house, which was near the church. I endeavored to per- suade her husband to sign the pledge. I urged him for his own sake, and for the sake of his wife and lovely children, who were gathered imploring^ around him, and by other important considerations, to comply with their wishes. He oflfered several excuses, w^hich I disposed of, and at last he objected to signing so hastily, because whatever he pledged himself to, he calculated to fulfil. " That," I replied, " is the best of reasons why j^ou should sign the temperance pledge now. If I had no hope of j^our keeping the pledge I should not care to have j^ou sign it. But you have acknowledged that the pledge is good if kept : and now you say that if 3'ou sign it j^ou shall keep it ; therefore this is the very moment to sign it, and secure the good." He beckoned his wife for the pen, which was instantly passed ; when he as instantly signed the pledge, writing down his name with an emphasis. Then there was great joy in that house. The wife and children cried for joy. I vras happy to learn from time to time, that he was honoring that pledge, and the joy of his family was not turned to worm- wood. A year from the next March I was riding through the neighborhood ; and, coming within sight of the reformed man's house, I saw him at work in his door-yard, chopping and piling a liberal supply of firewood for the season. I rode into his yard, and, after a cordial greeting, I said to him, "Well, friend, C, how do 3'ou like the pledge?" '•''Like it!" he replied, "/ would not he hack luhere I ivas when you called upon me a year ago last fall, for the hest 22 254 REV. SYLVAXUS COBB, D.D. farm in Chelmsford. No ! not for two of the best farms in Chelmsford luoidd I be there again.'* This testimony to the value of temperance requires no comment. TO THE GENERAL COURT AGAIN. At the annual State Election, November lUh, 1836, 1 was again elected as Maiden's Representative to the Massachu- setts General Court. This election was without my consent and against my choice. When my friends had spoken with me on the sub- ject, I had declined the candidacy, and insisted that I must not be put in nomination. I had several reasons for my refusal, which I frankly stated. First, the duties which had devolved upon me by the two important offices which I held, that of Pastor of the First Parish in Maiden, and that of Lecturing Agent of the Middlesex Temperance Societj", were sufficient for me. I was unwilling to take upon myself, even for a few months, the additional respon- sibilities of the proposed political office. Li the second place, my known preference between the candidates for the Presidency in the election of the same da}^, would subject me to misrepresentation, and bring me into collision with the political party feelings of some of my choicest friends. This was my situation : A Republican from the begin- ning, I would not go with the majority of that party when, under the name of Democrats, they ran Gen. Jackson into the Presidency ; because I would never act as a mere party man, but guided m}^ course by ray views of the public weal. I regarded J. Q. Adams a more eminently qualified man to serve the national honor and interest in the Chief Magistracy. A. D. 1836. 255 But, as I explained to m}^ Maiden friends when tlie}^ con- ferred with me on the question of m}^ candidacj^ in 1832, Gen. Jackson exceeded my expectations. And though' I did not receive all his political doctrines, he had put in process of development some methods of national policy w^hich the advancement and complications of the business interests of the country forced upon our attention, which 1 wished to see further tested by Mr. Van I>uren as his suc- cessor. There was hot with me any change in regard to essential political doctrines ; but a desire to see further tested some important experiments on matters upon which the business machinerj^ of the country was getting settled down. But the technical politicians are incapable of com- prehending that an honest man ma}^ act for an idea^ inde- pendently of party considerations ; or that an advancement to new forms of action demanded by an advancement in the relations and interests of the country, is not identical with a change of political principles. Knowing this, it was my desire, at this juncture, to remain and act, politicall}^, in my capacity as a private citizen. On the Saturda}' before the election, which was Monda}", I went to Haverhill for an exchange of Sabbath services with Rev. T. G. Farnsworth. As I was starting out from home, with my private carriage, I was met by my friend, the Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, who earnestly inquired w^hether I would not consent to be nom- inated for the Legislature, I replied that I would not ; and charged him to let my name alone in that relation. Nev- ertheless, when I reached my home, Monday noon, just before the time for opening the town meeting, my family informed me that the Democratic caucus, at 11 o'clock Saturday evening, put me in nomination for the office of Representative. And I was elected. And my noble friend. 256 nEV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. Cliainnaii, I believe, of my Parish Committee, wlio called and persuaded me to accept the nomination in 1832, and who was now the candidate on the opposite ticket, all nn- known to me, conld not help being hurt b}' my election, and permitting his feelings to become alienated from me. I regretted it ; but I could not censure m3^self for aught that I had done or said in the premises. INSTALLATION AND DEDICATION, IN HYANNIS AND YARMOUTHPORT. Novemher 23cZ. — I preached the Sermon of the Installa- tion of Br. George Hastings, another of my theological students, over the Universalist Societ}^ in Ilyannis. And on the succeeding day, the 24th, a new Universalist Meeting House in Yarmouthport was Dedicated, Rev. T. Whitte- more preaching the Dedicatory Sermon. This service was held in the morning ; and the writer delivered a discourse in the afternoon. From this Dedicatory and Ordination mission to Cape Cod, I returned to my accustomed field of labor, and filled up the measure of the j^ear with continued work in the ofijces of Christian Pastor and Temperance Lecturing Agent. And in both these capacities I felt that I had the blessing of the Father, — whose injunction upon us, through his inspired servant is, " To do good, and to communicate, forget not ; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." A. D, 183?. 257 A. D. 1837. January, Febkuary, March, and April to the 20Tn. IN THE LEGISLATURE. Having been elected to represent Maiden in the Massa- chusetts Legislature the current year, the term of time above denoted was employed in that service. This was a somewhat severe extra service, as I did not neglect either my legitimate attentions to my Parish, or to the Middlesex Temperance Society, so far as the evening lectures were concerned. I did find it necessar}?-, however, to suspend the lecturing about a fortnight, when, as a member of the Committee on Prisons, I was on an investigation of affairs in the State Prison, which occupied afternoons and even- ings. There were several subjects of legislation, which were important at the time, on which I took an active part in debate ; but this matter of State Prison investigation im- posed upon me the greatest amount of labor. I being Chairman, on the part of the House, of the Joint Standing Committee on Prisons and Prison Discipline, sev- eral letters were addressed to me, some from persons in their own name, intimately conversant with the affairs of the State Prison, and others anonymous, representing that there were serious errors in the internal management of its affairs by the Prison Government. At length I moved in the House an Order, which was passed, and concurred in by the Sen- ate, instructing the aforesaid Committee to investigate those affairs. We spent nine afternoons and evenings in the Prison, on this business. But I found that there was quite a difference between reported miscellaneous conversations of men, and the testimon}^ of the same men under oath. 22* 258 nEV. SYLVAyus cobb, t>.d. Persons who had been oiTieers in the State Prison had furnished me in writing witli the names of officers then in subordinate departments who wonkl testify against the administration of the Warden, Mr. Lincoln, and with the substance of the testimonies they would give. But, when on the Witness Stand, they did not fuU}^ sustain the repre- sentations which were furnished me in advance, of their testimony. It was evident that there had been errors com- mitted in the government of the Prison. But, upon careful examination, it did not appear to me, who vv^as the most severe, in my judgment of the Warden, of all the members of the Committee, that there was sufficient cause for expul- sion from office ; and the Report of the Committee was in accordance with this view. The Report, was presented by Mr. Gurney, Chairman on the part of the Senate ; but it was probably drawn up by Mr. Adan, Chairman of the Board of Inspectors. It contained two or three statements to which I objected, and which Mr. Gurney crossed with pencil, and promised to strike out. But, when I subsequently saw the Report in print, I perceived that the objectionable sentences were there. I was not in my seat when the Report was read in the House ; or I should have moved the re-committal of it, for the making of the corrections. One of the objectionable sentences I repudiated in vindication of my own common sense. I mention it, because the Report is in various public and private Libraries, and some of my friends who will read this, may have occasion to run their eyes over that. In opposition to the charge against the Warden of furnishing to the prisoners inferior and unsuitable provis- ions, the Report says for the Committee, " We have visited the Prison, and eaten of the provisions," &c. Since the Order for this investigation had been published in time to A. n. 1837. 259 afford the Warden ample opportunity to prepare for our scrutiny, tliis official announcement, that we had eaten of the meats which were provided for our examination and found them good, as proof that the provisions furnished the prisoners had alwaj^s been up to the legal standard, is so utterly silly and senseless, that I was exceedingly mortified with seeing my own official signature attached to it in print, and in a permanent public document. But we often have our lessons of wisdom set to us in experience. This investigation, though it did not result in what was doubtless the wish of the prime movers in its pix)curement, viz., the removal of the Warden, had evidently a good effect in the way of correcting some descriptions of maladminis- tration in the government of the Prison. MIDDLESEX BRIDGE. The Charter of this bridge, for obtaining which I was elected to the General Court for 1834, expired this winter by its own limitation to three years for building ; and at this session I procured an extension of time for its construction. Then, in concurrence with the sentiments of my Maiden friends, and with the aid of a Committee of citizens, an arrangement was effected with the old Maiden Bridge proprietors, by which they adopted and forthwith procured, the Legislature to confirm unto them, a change of their charter to render it precisely like ours. Thus they constituted theirs a self-creating free bridge con- cern. This was well for them ; for the new bridge would have rendered theirs as a property worthless. And it was well for the public that was interested in this line of travel ; for, by securing all the custom to one bridge, it was the sooner bought up by the excess of tolls above 260 JREF. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. expenses. In a few j^ears the appraised value of Maiden Bridge was paid to the proprietors out of the tolls, and the bridge, all but the space for draws for navigation, was built anew of solid stone and gravel from the same re- source, — and made free. mainp: convention. This body held a session in Turner, June 28t7i and 20tJi. It was a great meeting. There w^ere twenty preachers in attendance ; and such a multitude of people gathered together, that only the females could be accommodated in our large Meeting House. Meetings were held simulta- neousl}^, some hours of the second day. On the 28th it was assigned to me to preach in the Baptist Meeting House at 5 o'clock p. m., while Br. Hawkins preached in the Town House. On Thursday, the 29th, I preached in our Meeting House in the afternoon, and delivered the then customary Valedictory Addresses. "THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME." THE DISAPPOINTMENT. After the Convention at Turner, I preached on the suc- ceeding Sunday in Norway ; and tarried for a few visits there, purposing to take a water passage from Portland to Boston on the night before Independence, and spend that consecrated day with my family. But I was sadly disap- pointed ; and how sadly I cannot so well describe as by inserting here the following scrip, all but the closing part of which I wrote in a secluded store chamber in Portland, on that consecrated day itself : — A. B. 1837. 261 •* Capt. Churchill's Counting Room, "Portland, July 4:th, 1837. " This is such a Fourth of Jidij as I never spent before. I am lonesome; I am afflicted. And why? My health is good ; the weather is fair ; and there are many friends in the city disj)osed to do anything in their power to make my time jDass agreeably. Yes ; but T am not with that friend with whom I expected to spend this Birth-Day of American INDEPENDENCE. I have it not in my power to aid and Avitness the enjoyment of that lovely brood of little ones, in whose veins my own blood flows, — and in whom, with their angel mother, is my earthly life bomid up. "I came here last evening, from my attendance on the Maine Convention, and my visit to relatives, in Oxford County, expect- ing to embark at 7 o'clock by the steamer Portland to arrive at Boston this morning. By previous arrangement, my wife was to come over to Br. T. F. King's, in Charlestown, this morning, with my horse and chaise to convey me home ; and I was to meet her there at ten o'clock. But on my arrival at tliis city (Portland), I was informed that the steamer Portland was under repair at Boston ; and there is no boat going until 7 o'clock this evening. I was stricken, and afflicted. I could not shake off the sadness of my disappointment. But I went, according to previous engagement, and took sujiper with my old friend and playmate, Lewis Crocket. Talking over the affairs of our juve- nile years whiled away an hour of time. And I called upon Br. D. D. Smith; and then went and took lodgings with Capt. Isaac Nutter, where I lost the suffering of my disappointment in a comfortable night's sleep. "I awoke, this Independence-Day morning, refreshed ; and, after breakfast, I walked to the barber's, on Fore Street, and ' there learned that the steamer Neio England had been gone for Boston but about twenty minutes, having put in last evening, contrary to her custom, and tarried until this morning. Then did my spirits fall again under jDainful 'regret that I had not known to avail myself of the opportunity of a day passage, and by the same means get to my dear companion and children this evening. I walked the streets a few minutes ; but I could not look up ; I could not seek the fiices of my friends in this city. 262 REV. SYLVANUS COBE, D.D. There is no company for me here, because my heart is else- where. And I retire to this secluded apartment, off on a silent and almost vacated wharf, to employ my time in lonely musing, and in miscellaneous scribbling, of which tliis is a specimen. " It is now half past 10 o'clock a. m. ; my wife is doubtless at Br. King's agreeably to arrangement for our meeting; and, unless he is able to inform her of tlie failure of the Portland to perform her trip, she is looking for me with painful anxiety, and wondering that I do not report myself. Oh, thou dearest of earthly beings, to thee I would come if I could, this very min- ute. What a vast portion of my large store of earthly happiness is in my family. "But I have it not in my heart to murmur. Surely God is good to us ; and this disappointment is for some good, to me as yet unseen. The feeling of disappointment I cannot sup- press ; but the assurance that the providence of God is right is an anodyne to my pained heart, a light in the midst of my darkness. I will endeavor to put on a cheerful air, hoping to be landed at Boston to-morrow morning at 5 or 6 o'clock ; thence to take the mail stage, and reach my longed for home at 8 A. M. "Boston Bay, July 5th, Steamer Bangor. " It is now 6 o'clock A. M., and we are just past ISTahant. The boat did not leave Portland last evening until an hour past its time, and the wind has been ahead. But we have had a pleas- ant night. I have slept considerably. It is a beautiful morning. Speed on, ye laboring wheels, that I may reach the presence of the loved ones of my heart. " At 7 o'clock the boat arrived at the wharf, and I met there one of my Theological Students, John Allen, with my team in charge for my conveyance home, where, in the brief space oi an hour, I met my loved ones in health and happiness." Note. The wife's Diary shows that, though not anxious in regard to ni}^ safet}^, having learned that the Portland Steamer was off its route at the time, she was obliged to seek various devices for wearing away the time in her lone- A. D. 1837. 263 someness and disappointment. But slie had a privilege ■which I had not, — that of being with the family, and assisting the children in their enjoyment of the day. THE SABBATH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION. Extract from my Diary : — '' July 2Qth. — In the forenoon I met with a Sabbath School Convention, for the organization of a Sabbath School Associa- tion. The Convention was holden in the Hanover Street Chnrch in Boston. I was appointed Chairman of a Committee for drafting a Constitution. We had but barely time to agree on a report, when I was unexpectedly called away to attend the fu- neral of Mr. Joel Tweed, in S. Reading. *' August 8th. — Having been elected as one of the Directors of the Sabbath School Association, organized on the 26th ult., I this day met with the Board of Managers in Boston, and was elected on the Committee for the examination and recommendation of books, and of manuscripts designed for publication, for the use of Sunday Schools." RESIGNATION OF MY PASTORSHIP IN MALDEN. On the Fifth Sunday in July^ at the close of the after- noon services, I read to my congregation a letter which I had previously sent to the Parish Committee, announcing and explaining my Resignation of the Pastoral office over that Society. The letter itself so fully explains the reasons of this important step, that but few w^ords need be added 4n that direction. Here is the letter : — '* To THE Chairman of the Prudential Committee of THE First Parish in Malden: "Dear Sir and Brother, — The object of this communica- tion is to inform you, and through you the religious Church and Society with which we stand connected, that I resign my Pas- 264 EEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. toral oflSce over the said Church and Society, such resignation to take effect after the expiration of three montlis from the date hereof. While, in taking this step, I act from a sense of duty, I 5'et confess emotions of pain in the thought of leaving a soci- ety with whom I have been associated in their conflicts and trials, unto such pleasing success and prosperity ; a society with whose interests my heart has so long been bound up ; and of tearing myself and family from so many long cherished and vakied friends, whose friendship being not a mere name, or expedient for a temporary purpose, but having its foundation in Christian fellowship and love, wears stronger and brighter by age. But I act upon mature deliberation. In pursuing the course that I have marked out for a limited time to come, the Lord willing, to pursue, I shall have the privilege of preaching the gospel wherever I may find an opening for my labors on the Sabbath ; and shall, in addition to this service, which I could not consent to relinquish for any other, labor on the week days in the cause of Temperance, of Freedom, and any moral enter- prise to the advancement of which I may be called. And I can, with more regularity and convenience, devote also the Sunday evenings to the work of my moral reform mission, particularly that involved in my agency of the Middlesex County Temper- ance Society. By this mission I hope to be able to do some addi- tional good in the community, co-operating with and aiding my Sabbath gospel labors, in promoting the temporal, and especially the moral and spiritual interests of my fellow creatures. *' But though I shall preach as heretofore on the Sabbath, my other services just mentioned will be incompatible with the full and convenient discharge of all the duties of a settled Pastor. "I would further explain, however, that as my Temperance Agency is a temporary engagement, I should not have viewed it agreeable with duty to withdraw from this Society for the renewal of that service, were it not, after much consideration, my decided opinion that, circumstanced as this society is, you may avail yourselves of an opportunity to obtain a successor no less worthy of your confidence and esteem, and upon such terms for a time, as shall afford you the means of certain neces- sary provisions for your future convenience and prosperity. "With these views I have come to the conclusion above expressed ; and accordingly my relation as Pastor of the First A. D. 1R37. 265 Religious Society in Maiden will cease on the 20th clay of Octo- ber next ; which will complete nine and a half years since my removal to this place. I shall never cease to pray for the pros- perity and happiness of this beloved Church and Society, and to hold in fond remembrance the many true and faithful friends, whose social and Christian intercourse I have so richly enjoyed. "Yours in the Everlasting Bonds of the Gospel, " SYLVANQS COBB. " Benj. G. Hill, Chairman, &c. " Malden, July 20th, 1837." The foregoing letter sets forth so distinctly the strong points in the argument for mj' resignation of the Pastor- ate, that I need add but a few words in further explanation. Suffice it to sa3^, that my salary from the Parish was con- siderably insufficient for the support of my famil}', with economical living. The house full of boarding and instructed theological students from year to year, and the much lecturing far and near, and the brief services in the Legislature, all must needs have gone into the account to keep us even with those who served us. I had eight } oung children, six of them sons, for whose continued support and education, I was responsible ; and whom I was bound to aid, at the appropriate age, in the procurement of busi- ness for a livelihood. And I did not deem it expedient that I should continue under the pressure of the responsi- bilities of a settled Pastor, when, partly from necessity for the maintenance of my family, and partly with a view to more extensive usefulness, I must perform so great an amount of outside labor. Having served the Middlesex Temperance Society, as well as I could in connection with my Pastoral care, and as much as I engaged, I was now re-elected ; and there was a general desire that I should place myself in a position in 23 266 REV. SYLVAKUS COBB, D.D, which I could tlcvotc to the work of this Agency the week days more excUisivcly, and Sunda}^ evenings more gen- erally. The second year of this Agency commenced with August. My Diary, against the date of August 21st, reads thus : — "During the last three Aveeks my services in the cause of Temperance have been mostly devoted to collecting facts, visit- ing different j^laces for that purj)ose, and for making arrange- ments for practical operations, and writing addresses. The evenings have now become so long, that I shall soon be busily engaged in lecturing." THE ROCKINGHAM ASSOCIATION. August 30th and 31st, this Association held a session in Haverhill, N. H. On this occasion Br. Joseph O. Skinner, one of my theological students, received Ordination. Br. S. Cobb preached the Ordination Sermon, from 1 John i. 4. VALEDICTORY AT MALDEN. On the afternoon of the Third Sunday in October, I delivered my Valedictory Discourse to the First Religious Church and Society in Maiden, it being the last Sunda}^ of the first half of my ninth year in the Pastoral relation with them ; and the time assigned by m}^ letter of Resigna- tion to the Committee, for the close of that relation. My feelings were strongly wrought upon by the occasion ; and there were manifested deep emotions generally in the large congregation. But there was, with me, a comfortable quiet in the reflection that I was not about to remove far away from this people, and from the familiar and loved scenery J. D. 1837. 267 of this pleasant and interesting locality. I intended to make Maiden my place of residence 3^et for a while, and the vicinity my permanent home. ADVANTAGES OF THE SITUATION. My withdrawal from the Pastoral charge did not involve a relinqnishment of the Christian Ministr}^, or a diminution of interest in its work as a religious educational instru- mentality. Nor did I resign my special charge of the Maiden Parish Avith the view to seek another Pastoral set- tlement. I intended to preach on all the Sabbaths for which my services might be called, expecting that this con- dition would furnish me with employment every Sabbath. And it was so. There were always openings enough for my Sunday services as a Christian Evangelist. But then and thenceforth these services did not involve, with me, an obligation to any particular societ}^, which would hamper me with regard to the employment of the week in those literary labors, and works of moral reform, to which my radical tastes and conceptions of duty much inclined me. These were prominent advantages of the situation. There is another advantage which this situation afforded me, having relation to the practical explicitness and faith- ful directness of my Sabbath discourses, in regard to the moral aspects of State and National administrations. The Christian teacher should always be faithful to his convic- tions of right and dut}^ in this regard. But wlien the set- tled Pastor knows that there are strong and influential members of his Parish, who are so enslaved to a political l^artisanship, which embraces, and sanctions, and nourishes a monstrous moral wrong, that if he should expose the enormity of the evil and rebuke its sinfulness, from the 268 nEV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. pulpit, they will gnash upon him with their teeth, and strive to eject him from his place, he is sorely tempted to deliberate the question, whether it may not be that "the better part of valor is discretion." But if he is above this skulking policy, and regards persecution for right-doing the lesser, and the punishment of wrong-doing the greater evil, nevertheless the trial is a painful one. But my new situation afforded me much freedom from the embarrassment above described. However much I may have been guided by conscience, and exercised free- dom of utterance on moral questions of national interest, in m}^ Pastoral relation, 1 subsequently enjoyed greater conscious freedom. While I was impressed with a sense of my responsibility as an ambassador of Christ, to speak at all times and places in a spirit and manner consistent with the sacred office, regarding alwaj^s the glory of God and the good of mankind, my position did not trouble me with the question as to the effect of my words upon my personal interest. At the close of a Sabbath's services, when I have been moved in spirit to treat pointedly on a ruinous national sin, or a vicious social custom, I have sometimes said to the congregation, that I had dealt faith- fully with some topics in relation to wdiich the community was divided ; but they would have no occasion to call a Parish meeting to act upon the question of my dismissal, for m}^ engagement with them was up at sun-down ; and we could do no better than take those subjects home with us respectively, and deliberate upon them in Christian soberness. A. D. 1S38. 269 A. D. 1838. A SPECI3IEN OF THE AGENCY. I had now gone thoroughly into the work of my Lectur- ing Agency for the Middlesex Temperance Society. As a specimen of the diligence devoted to it, I will transcribe here from my Diary the journal of the first nine dnjs of this new year : — "JANUARY. ** 1st. — Hail, thou new born year ! Benignant be thy reign. Under it may our improvements be great, and our blessings many. " 2d. — I delivered a temperance lecture in Stoneham. *' 4:tJi. — Temperance lecture in Woburn. '* 5tJi. — Lectured in Wihningtou. " 1st Sunday. — Preached in South Danvers, for Br. Austin; and returned to Maiden ; where I lectured on temperance in the evening, in the Baptist Church, to a large and attentive audi- ence. " ^th. — Temperance lecture in West Reading. " ^th. — Lectured in the Baptist Church in Newton Centre." THE PROVIDENCE SOCIETY. January 10th. — By invitation of a Committee of the Providence County Temperance " Convention, I lectured before their meeting this evening, preparatory to the organ- ization of a County Societ}''. This organization was effected at the time. On the next da}^ I attended the Annual Meeting of the Rhode Island State Temperance Society ; and, by invita- tion, took part in their debates. In the evening, in com- pliance v/ith an invitation from the Coramittce of the 23* 270 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. Pawtucket Society, I lectured in the Orthodox Church in Pawtucket. January^ Second Sunday. — I preached in Providence, for Br. Balch, to large and attentive congregations ; and in the evening lectured in the Universalist Chapel, to a crowded audience, for the new Providence County Tem- perance Societ}'. Such loan of a helping hand to the good cause in a neighboring State, as also in other Counties in our own State, was regarded by my employers in Middlesex County as legitimate and commendable. PAROCHIAL COMMOTION IN SOUTH WEY- MOUTH. "the morning light is breaking." On the First Sunday in February, I preached in the Old Parish Church in South Weymouth ; and under cir- cumstances of singular distinctiveness, and peculiar inter- est. The Parish was nominally Orthodox ; and a majority of the church, with the Pastor, had been of that tj-pe of Or- thodoxy distinguished as Hopkinsianism. But the scale, in the church, had turned in favor of a more mixed type of theology ; and the Hopkinsian Pastor resigned. Then the Parish elected a Committee of three to supply the pulpit from the first of February to the middle of April, the time of the annual Parish meeting. Of that Commit- tee Mr. Charles Pratt was made Chairman ; and he was a Universalist in sentiment ; and the only known Universal- ist in the Parish. Indeed, even he was known to be such to but few. It was not as such that he was placed at the A. D. 1S38. 271 head of the Committee ; but it was for the estimation in which he was held ; and his energy of character insuring attention to any matter committed to him. The Committee agreed that, for the first three Sundays, each of their number should, in rotation, select the preacher of his own individual choice, beginning with the Chairman, Mr. Pratt. He came forthwith in person, and engaged me to preach the first Sunda}^ Who would be the choice of the second member of the Committee, no one could guess. But at the close of the first Sunday's services, he came to me before leaving the Vestibule of the Church, and engaged me to preach for him on the next Sunday. This I did, of course. And the number and interest of the congregation increased. Numbers received the word with readiness of mind, and manifested a feeling which reminded me of the record of the effect of the gospel preached by Philip in Samaria, " And there was great joy in that city." Well, what next in this chapter of wonders ? The next was the act of the third Committee man, coming to me, contrary to all expectation, at the close of the second Sun- daj^'s services, and engaging me as Ms minister also, to fill the pulpit of the old Parish Church on the tliird Sunday of this new dispensation. And glorious meetings we had on that third Sunday. Most of the members of the Parish attended ; others came in ; and the interest in the gospel as expounded by the Universalist ministry increased. And yet, what next ? Why, this it was ; the Committee in its oflScial capacity, as a whole, engaged me to suppl}'' their pulpit during the balance of their term of office, to the annual Parish meeting the middle of April. Then, of course, as we expected, the two classes of Orthodox pro- fessors united in opposition to Universalism, and took con- 272 KEV. SYLVAXUS COLB^ J).D. trol of tlie pulpit. But a sullicieiit number had received the light of the gospel in its fulness, to organize a separate meeting in a convenient hall. INSTALLATION OF REV. J. G. ADAMS. Rev. John G. Adams was the man of my choice to be- come my successor in the Pastorate of the First Church and Society in Maiden. And he was the people's choice. He was duly Installed into this office February 28th. It devolved upon the Ex-Pastor to preach the Installation Sermon. Rev. T. F. King offered the Installing Prayer ; Rev. H. Ballon, 2d, delivered the Charge ; Rev. O. A. Skinner, the Right Hand of Fellowship ; and Rev. Thos. Whittemore, the Address to the Society. INVITATION TO WALTHAM. I preached in Waltham on the third /Sunday in March. There was a 3' oung and small Universalist Society there, worshipping in Bank Hall. A 3'oung brother by the name of Wm. C. Hanscom, had been preaching for them ; but he was now, by reason of disease, unable to preach. There- fore the Committee of the Society invited me to remove to that place, and supply their desk the year ensuing. I assented to their proposition ; not to assume the Pastoral relation, which it was understood that my other engage- ments would render inexpedient, — but to make that pleasant Village m}^ family home, and supply the 3'oung Society's preaching, b}^ the Sabbath. In coming to this conclusion I also took into consideration the location of Waltham in the County of Middlesex, so central as the base of operations in my Temperance Agency. With a A. D. 1838. 273 smart horse of my own, I could, in pleasant weather, return to my home in the evening, after the lecture, from a considerable portion of the towns in the County. REMOVAL TO WALTHAM. During the last week in April I removed, family and furniture, from Maiden to Waltham, which is ten miles west from Boston. The Village is one of the handsomest in this region, and the farms, back, are Avell husbanded and productive. It had at this time four churches, the Trinitarian Congregational, Unitarian, Baptist, and Meth- odist ; and several Cotton Factories, on Charles River. We took a large house on Main Street, near the Bank, which furnished ample room for our numerous family. THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS. At this point, having, with m}^ removal from Maiden, and the retirement from the position of settled Pastor, closed my charge of theological students, it may be appro- priate to make record of my doings in this department of labor. I had accommodated three young men with board in my family, and tuition, as students for the Christian ministry, in Waterville, Me. These were Zenas Thompson, Fred- eric A. Hodsdon and Alanson St. Clair. In Maiden, the necessity was laid upon me to run quite a Theological School. We had no public institution for the education of young men for the ministry at that time ; nor was it convenient for our Boston clergymen to take stu- dents into their families. The Parsonage which we occu- pied was a large house ; and I committed mj^self to the 274 J.'EV. SYLVANUS COBn, D.D. responsibility at once on commencing my residence in Mai- den, by permitting a stndent, N. C. Fletcher, to follow me directly from Maine, on m}' remoA'al thence. So it came to pass that, when any of our ncigliljoiing clergymen were called npon by a young man for accommodation in this line, forthwith he Avas directed to the Maiden Parsonage. The number who served terms of preparalor}- study for the ministry in that Parsonage during mj^ pastorate there was seventeen; — viz., N. C. Fletcher, Rufus K. Pope, Jolin Harriman, J. W. Talbot, Charles Gallagher, Theodore K. Taylor, George Hastings, Charles S. Hussey, Elbridge Trull, Asa P. Cleverl}^, Abraham Norwood, Joseph O. Skinner, John Allen, Gilman Noyes, Horace W. Morse, Erasmus Manford, Joseph Grammar. Some of those men, as should have been expected among so manj^, after a brief experience in the work of the minis- tr}'', went into other honorable branches of business ; others became able and popular, and most of them faithful and useful ministers of the gospel. THE WOPvK IN WALTHAM. As I have said, the meetings of the Universalist 'Society were held in the Bank Hall. Here I commenced my work in this new locality. We forthwith organized a Sunday School ; and the influx of scholars, and enlistment of teach- ers, at the very outset, afforded us cheering encouragement. FUNERAL OF BR. HANSCOM. I have spoken of Br. Hanscom, as having commenced the work of gathering a society here, and being disabled b}^ disease. I find the following memorandum in my Diary, in relation to his death, and funeral obsequies : — A. D. 18^.8. 275 ** 3Iay 2btli. — Returning home in the morning, from Bedford, I found that our Rev. Brother Wm. C. Hanscom died oji the pre- vious day in Cambridgeport ; and that his remains were removed to my house, to be interred to-day. He had suffered a long and severe sickness of consumption, through the whole of which he enjoyed a strong and living faith in the gospel of universal grace and salvation. When he felt that his departure was near, he made out a full programme for'the services at his funeral, which was as follows : — 1. The Scripture Lesson, 1 Cor. xv., beginning at verse 35th, to be read by Br. Lucius R. Paige. 2. The First Prayer, by Br. J. G. Adams. 3. The Sermon, by Br. T. Whittemore. 4. The Concluding Prayer, by Br. T. F. King. 5. Address at the grave, by Br. S. Cobb. He also selected all the hymns to be sung on the occasion. He died at 23 years of age, and his memory is affectionately and respectfully cherished by all who knew him, as an exem- plary Christian, and able and most zealous minister of the gospel." The Bank Hall was soon found to be of insufficient capacity for the accommodation of our meetings ; and, so soon as the Fourth Sunday in May, we commenced holding our Sabbath services in the Town Hall, a commodious room, pleasantly situated on Church Street. Here our congregations grew in numbers and interest. Nathaniel Prentice Banks, since Governor of Massa- chusetts, Member and Speaker of the House of Representa- tives of Congress, and Major General in the Army of the United States, a native of Waltham, was then a member of my congregation. He was then a youth, just budding into manhood ; was a Machinist, in the emploj-ment of the Waltham Manufacturing Company ; whence the appellation given him after his indomitable energies were developed in public life, — " The Iron Man." At this time he was an active and successful member of a " Young Men's Debat- 276 EEV. SYLVANUS COBB. D.D. ing Club," and a leader in many movements for the eleva- tion and education of his townsmen. DISCUSSION IN THE CONCORD FREEMAN. In June., I published in the Concord Freeman a series of articles in advocacy of the merits of the Prohibitive Liquor Law, and of the measures then being prosecuted by the friends of the Temperance cause, in reply to a letter by the Editor addressed to me, touching some remarks which I had made in a Temperance Convention. THE CHURCH ORGANIZED. July. — Early in this month we organized a church in connection with our society. Br. Ephraim Allen, of Wal- tham, and Br. James Francis, of Wayland, who had attached himself to our society, were elected Deacons. Mr. Francis was a brother of Mrs. L. Maria Childs, of literary celebrity. This church proved to be a happy fraternity, and the early membership of a goodly proportion of young men and women was an interesting circumstance. We num- bered thirty-three members at the outset. COLLECTION OF SALARY AT SO. WEYMOUTH. In relation to my two and a half months service for the Orthodox Parish in South Weymouth, from Feb. 1st to the middle of April (see pp. 270, 271), the Treasurer of the Parish had declined paying me the stipulated compensa- tion, on the ground that my ministry was not of the type of Orthodoxy which the Parish had patronized. I now. A. D. 1838. 277 August 1st, left the bill of service with Esq. Kingsbury for collection ; and in a few daj's he forwarded to me the money. And I deem the fact worthy of note, that, in all my business transactions, which in more than twenty years publication of a weekl}^ journal were multiplied and exten- sive, this is the only case of my having committed a demand to a lawj-er for collection. RECOGNITION OF THE CHURCH. September loth. — This evening we had a public Recog- nition, in due form, of the church the organization of which has just been noticed above. Rev. Messrs. C. C. Burr (of Maine), O. A. Skinner, L. R. Paige, and S. Streeter, per- formed parts in the services of the occasion. It was " a season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord." THE TEMPERANCE WORK. My private Journal exhibits me all along, while so atten- tive to the interests of Zion, as industriously at work in the business of my Agency of the Middlesex Temperance Society. During this autumn I was much engaged in pub- lic discussions, in controversy with selected opponents, of the law prohibiting the retail, except for medicines and use in the arts, of spirituous liquors in less quantities than fifteen gallons. On the evening of the First Sunday in October, I loaned my service to the Suffolk Comity Temperance Society, and lectured for that organization in Father Ballou's Church. My subject was " The Connection of the Temperance Cause with our Civil, Social and Religious Institutions." The audience was large. 24 278 IlEV. SYLVAN us COIJB, D.D. ERROR SELF-DESTRUCTIVE. On the evening of October 17th, when I had closed a. lecture in the Congregational Meeting House in Bedford, I stepped into the Bar Room of the Tavern to order my team, and found it filled with rum drinkers. A Mr. Web- ber, who withdrew from the Unitarian Society at the time of my previous lecture there, because it was in their Meet- ing House, seeing me, but pretending not to know me, thought to rub me by saying that this temperance business made it well for him, for he (being a Cooper), had increased calls now for rum-barrels. I said to him in reply, " Sir, I heard j^ou say recently on the Muster-field in Watertown, that 3^011 withdrew from 3'our religious society, because they opened their house to a temperance lecture ; and be- cause these temperance lectures touched your interest. The temperance cause, 3'OU said, was a damage to you of from fifty to a hundred dollars a year, by its effect on j^our busi- ness of making rum-barrels. But now 3^ou sa}^ it makes your business better by Increasing the demand for j^our barrels. How will you explain yourself? " He seemed confused ; and, after muttering a few words, was silent. A ring was formed around me by the rum-drinkers and their allies, and a very serious conversation went on between me and the Landlord, — others throwing in a word now and then. All were attentive ; and I believed that the conver- sation would be of some good service. This was the Bar Room in which the unsuccessful mob was plotted on the occasion of my former lecture in the same Church. See p. 251. On the evening of the First Sunday in November^ I again lent my service to the Suffolk County Temperance Society, A. D. 1838, 279 lecturing for tliem in Marlboro' Chapel. Had a large con- gregation. DEDICATION IN STERLING. November 2\st. — A new Union Meeting House was dedicated in Sterling. Father Ballon preached the Dedica- tory Sermon ; and Br. Cobb offered the Prayer of Dedica- tion, and preached a sermon in the evening. SUMMARY OF THE YEAR. The following conclusion of the record of the year I transfer from my Diary : — " December olst. — This day terminates the year 1838. It has been to ine a year of much labor, and much prosperity and hap- piness. My numerous family, including my wife with myself, eight children, and niece, have enjoyed almost uninterrupted health. We removed from Maiden to this place, Waltham, on the 27lh of April last. Here we have formed an interesting cir- cle of new acquaintances and friends, and the religious society with which I am connected as a present ministerial supply is highly prosperous. We have received acquisitions of numbers of valuable members, who have become very deeply interested in the cause of truth as it is in Jesus ; and our meetings have considerably increased. In addition to my ministerial labors, I have served the whole year in the Temperance Agency, except a month^s vacation in August. I have, during the year, preached 124 sermons, and delivered 141 Temperance Lectures, and 1 Lyceum lecture; attended 3 funerals, and solemnized 5 mar- riages. Besides, I have spoken much in Conventions, and in debating meetings. My Temperance Lectures, being mostly on the License Law, have averaged at least one hour and a quarter ; making for the 141, 17G| hours. My sermons, many of them having been in new places, and on special subjects, have aver- aged 40 minutes, making, for the 124, 82 hours and 40 minutes. Total, 259 hours speaking, in the sermons and lectures, besides 280 nEV. SYLVAXUS COBB, D.D. the other connected services ; — making the amount of 43 days constant speaking, at six hours to the day. Yet I have not been prevented by indisposition from fulfilling all my numerous and multifarious engagements. I have the satisfaction to know that my humble labors for the cause of Temperance, and protective legislation, and also those for Gospel truth, have been well received ; and successful, by the blessing of God, to the promo- tion of good. * Bless the Lord, O my soul.' " A. D. 1839. I continued my labors as in the past year. THE DEDICATION IN HOLLISTON. The Universalist Societ}" in Holliston, Mass., having finished their new Meeting House, it was Dedicated in appropriate form on January Oxn. Br. S. Cobb preached the sermon ; and Br. T. J. Greenwood offered the Dedica- tory Prayer. Br. Joseph O. Skinner, one of my theologi- cal students, was the Pastor of the society. BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE. In the last half of January, there was a protracted dis- cussion b}' adjournment from day to da}^, before a Special Joint Committee of the Legislature, of the Prohibitive Law for suppressing dram-shops. A Middlesex County Tem- perance convention, had appointed me as one of their Coun- sel to support the law before that Committee, to whom numerous petitions for the repeal of the law were referred. Benj. F. liallett, Esq., conducted the opposition to the law, and Peleg Sprague, Esq., its defence. It devolved upon me to assist in the cross-questioning of the witnesses of the opposition, and the exposure of their misrepresentations. A. D. 1839. 281 Hon. Samuel A. Elliot, Maj^or of Boston, was brought forward b}^ Mr. Hallett as a witness, and testified that, in his opinion, the prohibitive law could not be enforced in this city. He was in favor of a license law. I put to him this question, with its preliminary : If two thousand per- sons in Boston wish to retail liquor, and 3^ou license one thousand onl}", seeing that, by your license S3'stem, you pronounce the business to be right and good in itself, — will it not be more difficult to suppress the participation in it of the other thousand, than it would be to enforce an im- partial prohibitive law, suppressing the traffic alike with all ? He did not find it convenient to understand the ques- tion. With regard, however, to the fate of the prohibitive law in its then present form, through political entanglements its repeal was effected. THE LARGE ADDITION TO OUR WALTHAM SOCIETY. The old Territorial Parish in Waltham had been many years Unitarian. Their Meeting House was situated on a handsome green, a little back from the Village, north. A second Unitarian Society had been in operation several years, with a Meeting House centrally located on the Main Street. This February (1839), a majorit}- of the old Par- ish united with the new, and commenced public worship with them in a new house on Church Street. Upon this event about twenty families of the old Parish, residing in the north-east part of the town, proposed and effected a union with the Universalist Societ}', and assisted them in the building of a convenient Church in the north-east part of the Village, within a short distance of the site of the old 24* 282 JiEj\ SYLrA^us conn, d.d. Church. This location of the Church was made a condi- tion, by the Traffalo people (for that District of the town ^^•as called Traffalo), of their coming into this union ; and the gift of the site by Hon. Theodoi-e Lyman was an addi- tional temptation to the Universalists to consent to the arrangement. And it operated advantageousl}^ to our cause for a few years. The Traffalo families added much to the size, support and interest of our meetings. But sev- eral years afterwards, and after I had removed from the place, the growth of the Village sat off westward, and this Church was so inconveniently away from the centre of pop- ulation, that a removal of the building for a better locality resulted in its loss to the societj^, and their suspension of operation for a few years. MY OWN NEWSPAPER. This spring I commenced the publication of the religious and literary family newspaper, called " The Christian Freeman and Family Visiter." For me, undei' the cir- cumstances, it was a tremendous undertaking. I wonder that I had sufficient courage to undertake it. But the secret of the enterprise was faith. In my travels over the countrj^, and the familiar acquaintance I had formed Avitli the families of different denominations, I had observed the want of a weekl}^ paper in the patronage of the Universalist denomination, more considerably devoted, than any then in circulation, to interesting miscellany for the younger mem- bers of the families, and more decidedly committed to the moral reforms of the day, such as Anti-Slavery and Tem- perance. With this conviction, and the knowledge of the ardent wishes, in this direction, of numbers of influential lay brethren, I formed my purpose, laid my plan, purchased A. D. 1839. 283 the requisite printing apparatus, hired the chambers of Mr. Josiah Hastings' book store, installed Mr. George Jefts as the Foreman of the office ; and, on the 19th day of April, 1839, issued No. 1, Vol. 1, of The Christian Freeman AND Family Visiter. With no experience at all in this line ; with* no business associate or partnership ; and with but little capital ; to undertake the whole concern alone, as Proprietor and Editor, it was a hazardous adventure. But I believed that I had this mission assigned to me of God, and that he would sustain and prosper me in it. And more than my highest hopes in it were realized. The elder representatives of the denominational press. Rev. T. Whittemore, of the Trumpet and Universalist Mag- azine, Massachusetts ; Rev. Wm. A. Drew, of the Gos- pel Banner, Maine ; and P. Price, Esq., of the Union, New York, all noble brethren, gave my bantling the cold shoul- der. This was not from their want of personal regard for me ; but from their fearful apprehension of harm to my- self, from a costh^ and unsuccessful effort ; and harm to the Universalist denomination, from the introduction of the exciting topics of Slavery and Temperance. But these apprehensions were removed in due time. And now, when a quarter of a centur}^ has passed away, our denom- inational press is a unit in the bold and manly discussion of those then delicate subjects. MISS EDGARTON'S SALUTATION. Miss Sarah C. Edgarton, the popular author and poetess, afterwards Mrs. S. C. Mayo, on receiving my Prospectus, sent me for the first number of The Christian 284 IlEV. SYLVAXUS CODB^ i:>.D. Fkeeman and Family Visiter, the follo\\-ing moral and lit- erary gem : THE CHRISTIAN FREEMAN AND FAMILY VISITER. A Freeman! How the captive heart Throbs at the name o^ free ! How eagerly his chained feet start For home and Liberty ! He hears the sound of chainless fountains — The horn upon his native mountains ! He breathes the free untainted air, Then clanks his fetters in despair ! '' I must be free ! I will be free ! Oh give me, give me Liberty ! " A Freeman ! Ask the toiling slave, What meaning in that name ! And he will point you to the wave — The air — the chainless flame — The young fawn bounding thro' the wildwood — The merry feet of laughing childhood ! He'll point to these — then turn away To wipe the silent tears that stray O'er cheeks, long strangers to the bliss Of wife's or infant's holy kiss. A Christian Freeman ! Son of God ! Can mortals follow Thee, And tread the path where Thou hast trod, Yet be aught else than /rce? Alas that Priestcraft — hateful demon ! Should weld her chains on Christian Freeman! Alas ! that sons of God should be Doomed to the curse of slavery ! Awake, ye captives ! join the band That herald Freedom through the land ! Hail to thee, " Christian Freeman /" Hail ! Forth on thy mission speed ! A. I). 1839. 285 Dislodge the rivet and the nail, 'And heal the stripes that bleed ! Speed thee, ay speed thee on thy mission, To free the mind from base oppression ! Gird on thine armor for a fight. To bring the soul in robes of light Out from the dungeon of despair. To breathe the sweets of God's free air ! Nor this alone — 'Tis thine to steal, A " Visiter" to fireside groups — And, silently, to make them feel The worth of gospel hopes — To soothe the weary and afflicted — Restrain the youth to vice addicted, And gently lead him back to truth ; For beautiful and sweet to youth Should virtue bo — and fair the road That leadeth to the feet of God ! E. I made an arrangement with J. N. Bang, printer, on Cornbill, Boston, to act as my Boston agent ; and, in the heading of the paper, I denoted it as '' Published in Wal- tham and Boston." Soon after I embarked npon this laborious undertaking, which proved to be the distinctive business of twenty years of the prime of my life, I discontinued my Temperance Agency ; but continued, yet two j^ears, while I remained a resident of Waltham, to supply the preaching for the Uni- versalist Society in that town ; but I did this so much by way of exchanges and substitutes, as to be able to return to something like my old missionary labors over the coun- try, whicli afforded me the much needed opportunity of pa3'ing attention to the circulation of the Christian Free- man. end of autobiography. THE MEMOIR PREFACE I HAVE but little to say to the reader under this head^. My work is finished, and I turn to this page at the beginning, to entreat that the result of my labor may be judged in the spirit of kindness and forbearance. I realized, when I took up my pen, that I had a difiicult task before me — the task of writing of the life of one whom I so deeply loved, without allowing that love to exert an undue influence in my estimate of the subject I had in hand. I have held steadily in view the one aim to state the facts as they were, and to draw only such deductions as those facts would legitimately warrant. It would have been a thing impossible with me to write of my father without betraying the emotions of a son ; but I believe in no instance have those emo- tions led me astray from the path which, as a faithful memoirist, I was bound to follow. Because I have used the " first person singular" of the per- sonal pronoun the reader will not deem me egotistical. I found that style of presenting myself the most convenient. A sense of delicacy, over-nice, might have led me to follow the custom of many in using the editorial " 2^e," or such a phrase as ''the writer,'^'' when I meant myself; and, also, of speaking of " the 25 289 290 REV. SYLVAXUS COni), D.D. subject of oitr sJcetch^'' when I meant, MY father. But I have preferred to write as nearly as possible as I would have spoken, had I been telling the story of that life, by word of mouth, to a circle of listening friends. So I have used the pronoun "I," and written of " my father," moved by the feeling that I was, in truth, telling the story to my friends. Touching the subject matter of the work, I have no exten- uation to offer ; and the only fiivor I have to crave is, that you will read this Memoir with the faith that I have earnestly and prayeyfully sought to present the picture of a life worthy of being studied and copied 5 and that I have been cheered in my labor by the firm conviction that good would result from it. Trusting that I have not labored in vain, and that the lessons of life contained in these pages may be a source of blessing to my fellow men, I give the book to the public. SYLVANUS COBB, Jr. Norway, Me., January lUh, 1867. INTRODUCTION. Dear Header : — It is with mingled emotions of sadness and pleasure that I take my pen for the work before me. I would that it could have fallen to another hand to finish the life-storj^ of my father ; but since the labor has devolved upon me I enter upon it most willingly, and will do what I can towards giving to the world a faithful record of the later days of Sylvanus Cobb. O ! if he could but have fin- ished the work himself! There were years of labor — years of toilsome strife in the great battle of Reform — which none can now picture as he could have done it. He had just reached, in his stor^^, that epoch of his life where he stepped forth into a new field of labor, and armed him- self for a crusade to which he was to give the best energies of body and mind, when his strength failed him, and his pen dropped from his nerveless grasp never to be resumed again on earth. Vain wish ! He had written his last line ; the old familiar desk, where he had toiled so long, by day and by night, was closed upon the unfinished work, and it was told to me that I must finish it. But I do not sit down to the task unaided. She is with me who was my father's best earthly friend through life ; who watched all his in- goings and out-comings ; who bore with him and sustained him ; who shared all his labors ; and who held up his hands 291 292 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. and his heart in faith and love to the end. And then I have copious memoranda, in manuscript and in print, be- sides the minutes of those in various sections, who knew him well. I have felt, so far as my father's connection with the subject now in hand was concerned, that one of the sources of sad reflection in view of his death was, that he could not have been spared to finish the Autobiography ; or, that he had not commenced it at an earlier da}', so that more could have been accomplished by his pen. But, upon reflection, I am willing to coincide with others of the house- hold. He left his work just in the right place. With his own pen he brought it down to the event of the publication of the Christian Freeman, and from that date nearly the whole record of his after life is in print, and I have only to cull from the printed pages what is proper and necessary to finish the story. In this light it really seems as though his strength was spared to the proper limit — as though the Great Father upheld his hand to the point where another could step in and take hold of the work understand- ingl}'. And then so far as the summing up of his character is concerned, and the presenting of those more delicate matters which have to do with the idiosyncrasies that were the source of his distinsjuishinsj virtues and his human weaknesses, it is certainly more fitting that another than himself should tell of them. And so, with but a simple application to the case of the balm of our glorious faith, I can still sincerely say, — " God doeth all things well." It may be said by some that a child is not competent to write a fair and impartial memoir of a parent. I do not see it in that light. I believe that no man could write of my father more impartially than I am prepared and deter- mined to do. I knew all his failings, for no one has had more occasion to mark them than I have had : and I can ixTnoDUCTiox. 293 sa}^, as said Dr. Miner in his address on the occasion of the funeral. " His faults were manly faults." In short, I, who knew him well — who was closely connected with him in business during all those 3- ears when he was most sorely tried and perplexed — can truthfully declare that there was no act of his life which a proper respect for his memory would lead me to conceal. And I may say further, that his ftiults were such as brought him nearer to our hearts, in that they betrayed to us his need of sympatli}^ and aid and love. A being all pure, entirely free from earthly weaknesses — a man perfect in thought, word, and action — would be so entirely above and beyond the need of friendly counsel and consideration, that we could onlj^ regard him with awe and veneration, yielding to him our profoundest respect, while we kept our warmer love and aifection for those who were partakers with us in some of the imperfections to which humanity is heir. And, be it understood, I do not sit down to this work because I, as a child, wish to see the story of my father's life in print. Others have demanded that it should be written. The press, throughout the country, in noticing his death, has told to its readers that they would gain further knowledge of the -man from the biography which would probably be written, thus advancing the idea that there was not onty need, but expectation, of such a work. And the reader who has perused the Autobiograph}- will admit that the life-story of the earlier years of Mr. Cobb comprises a history of the rise and progress of Universal- ism in different parts of New England. I, who had known so much of his early labors, had forgotten, if I ever knew, how many of the now flourishing societies of our denomi- nation were brought into existence under his ministrations — societies not only in his native State, but here in the 25* 294 HEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. vicinity of Boston, where the light of Liberal Christianity- is so elTiilgent that many of the present generation seem inclined to think that it is a heritage derived from the Puritan Fathers, who, fleeing from the tyranny of the Old World, sought them a home upon these then inhospitable shores, counting physical comfort and convenience as naught if it must be held at the expense of liberty, — stern, righteous men, who — « * * * shook the depths of the desert's gloom With hymns of lofty cheer, Amidst the storm they sang, And the stars heard, and the sea, And the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang To the anthem of the Free. ******* "What sought they thus afar ? ******* They sought a Faith's pure shrine ; Ay, call it holy ground. The spot where first they trod, — They have left unstained what here they found — Freedom to worship God.'* I love to claim those bold, righteous, self-sacrificing men as the American Fathers ; and to them we are indebted for that stern fixedness to the principles of Right which has given tone and character to the noblest institutions of our country ; and to that love of liberty, and unswerving oppo- sition to tyranny and injustice, which they carefully im- planted and nurtured in the bosoms of their children, are we indebted for the progressive spirit that stamps the New England mind. And we cannot forget that the subject of our memoir was of that old stock. On both his father's and mother's side, as is shown in the opening chapter of the Autobiography, he was descended in a direct line from INTRODUCTION. 295 those Puritan ancestors who were among the first to seek these shores for the purpose of establishing a civil and religious liberty which could not be enjo3^ed in the Mother Country. But when he was born into the world that *' Religioics Liberty " had become an institution so fixed and bounded within a dark and narrow creed that it aflbrded but little scope to the cultivated, inquiring mind. From a principle of action it had come to consist of a set of dogmas and articles as binding upon the hearts and con- sciences of men as were ever the rules and fiats of the ecclesiastical power from which the early fathers had fled. The youth of that day did not enjoy the light that now floods the Christian field. Liberal Christianity, stepping forth upon the broad and comprehensive plane of " the Fatherhood of God, and the Brotherhood of Man," in those days shocked the Christian Church as with ague fits. The noble, loving heart, recognizing a brother in every human being, and hoping and praying for the final consummation foreshadowed in the mission of Christ, found no help or countenance in the creeds of the church. The philanthro- pist, laboring to raise men nearer to God and heaven through the natural impulses of their better natures, re- ceived the cold shoulder " of the Evangelical priesthood. And the influence of the State, even, so far as it was given in a theological direction, entirely ignored everything like progression in religious matters. No, no, my young friend of to-day. At the opening of this present century Liberal Christianity had little foothold in New England ; and it is well you should know to whom you are indebted for the grand flood of cheering light that now illumines the Christain household. I think I do not overstate the matter when I say, that no man has done more towards opening the hearts of men to the glorious 296 REV. SYLVAN us COUB^ D.D. truths of the gospel of Rcconcilitition than has Sylvanus Cobb. All over this section of our country are men now basking in the full light of a faith in Christ's redeeming plan and power who were led out from the darkness of Calvinism by his preaching ; and, as has been before stated, there are mau}^ flourishing societies and churches of our faith that owe their birth to him. Surely the life of such a man is worth recording ; and I have the faith to believe that the record will be extensively read. But the labors of Mr. Cobb in the field of theology, as the reader may have already discovered, were but a moiety of the work of his life. From his boyhood he had been an ardent and consistent advocate of Reform. When he first began to reason and reflect, he took note of the evils that lurked in social life, as well as of those evils that " cried aloud in public." He saw those whom he loved led into the w^ays of error and consequent disgrace and suffering, and he sought to do away with the one, and alleviate the other. He marked with unerring judgment those evils which the great majority of his fellows failed to perceive, and at an early period he gave himself to the labor of aid- ing humanity in this direction. As he grew in years, and increased in knowledge, he discovered that there were evils in the government of his country which needed reforming ; and when once he had made up his mind that a certain course was Right, he w^as quick to follow it. Intemperance he abhorred from the da}^ when first he knew what intem- perance was, and as his reason told him that dram- di'inking was the cause thereof he opposed the habit in toto. His premises were simple and comprehensive : Rum-drinking did no good ; Rum-drinking did an incalcu- lable amount of mischief; tliereforc, Rum-drinking was an evil that should be banished entirely. And at all proper INTRODUCTION. 297 times, and in all proper places, he was bold to raise his voice against it. By and by Mr. Cobb came to understand that the genius of our Democratic and Republican institutions was in direct opposition to the spirit of Chattel Slavery, and at an early day he identified himself with the then comparatively small, but intellectual and zealous, party in opposition to this national evil. He saw, and foretold, the dangers to the government in the upholding and spreading of Slavery, and he was bold to declare that the aegis of Liberty and Independence should rest upon all who trod American soil. But he went further than this. He believed that the pure spirit of Christianity was opposed to these evils, and that it became the duty of the Christian minister, devolving upon him by virtue of his office, to cry aloud against them. While Intemperance was a powerful instrumentality, work- ing to destroy both soul and bodj^, and tending directly to lead men awa}^ from the fold of Jesus, it surely belonged to the pulpit to do battle against it. And while Slavery was not only degrading the children of men, and leading to sins so corrupt that the heart of humanit}^ stood appalled thereat, but shutting up the word of God to millions of our fellow beings, it did seem to him to come within the legit- imate province of the Christian minister to speak out boldly and manfully against the sin ; and if the sin had become the heritage of a nation, then the more need was there for hon'est, liberty-loving teachers to set manfully about the work of reform. And, further still : Mr. Cobb believed that if any body of Christians owed it to their cause to identify themselves with the reform movements, surely the Universalist denom- ination rested under that obligation. Theirs was a doc- trine of Love and Good Will to all mankind. They 298 liEF. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. believed that all men, without regard to caste or color, Avere brethren, and all partakers of the rich inheritance vouchsafed through Christ the Saviour. How could a Uni- versalist uphold Slavery ? How could a Universalist min- ister, by his silence, appear to give countenance to the dreadful evil? It was at this point that Mr. Cobb commenced that labor which, after all, should be regarded as the triumph of his life. His early preaching of Universalism in local- ities where the light of the blessed faith had never been shed was a joy and a privilege, not only to himself, but to hundreds who heard ; and he was eagerly listened to by those who sought the truth. He there went into places of darkness with the effulgence of redeeming love and grace, and led people up out from ignorance and error into the possession and enjoyment of true religion. He encoun- tered no opposition from friends, and his labor was grate- ful and inspiring. His only opponents were those who openl}^ opposed his S3'stem of faith, and against them he was armed with the whole weight of gospel evidence. It was a pleasant task to meet in the battle of debate the enemies of God's loving kindness towards all his children ; and his soul thirsted for contact in argument with those who denied the power of Jesus Christ to consummate the work which the Father had given him to do. In that labor he had no half-way friends — none who were willing to admit the justice of his claims, but unwilling to hear them presented — none who acknowledged the truth of his prem- ises, but feared its promulgation. There were no divis- ions in the household of faith ; but all worked together for the upbuilding of the temple, acknowledging one Master, and making duty a pleasure, and labor a joy. But he found a vastly different state of things when he INTRODUCTION. 299 entered upon the new field of labor. He had planned that he would, so far as he was able, identify the Universalist denomination, as a great moral and religious power, with the needed reforms of the day, and more especially with the Temperance and Anti-Slavery reforms. As I have already stated, his own heart was given to the work, and he desired much to see the denomination which he loved, and to the upbuilding of which he had given so much of his time and energies, lend its influence in the same direc- tion. To this end he established "The Christian Free- man AND Family Visiter," and sent his prospectus forth to the world. How well do I remember the reception it met at the hands of the ministering brethren, and more partic- ularly at the hands of those who were already engaged in the work of publishing denominational periodicals. Direct opposition came from some quarters, while • nearly all turned the " cold shoulder upon his bantling." All pro- fessed to be his friends, and many who looked coldly upon his effort were his friends ; and those who most bitterly opposed him declared that they wished him all sorts of success, though they feared it would be otherwise. Some of the ministering brethren upon whom he had counted for cooperation and assistance were afraid to show their hands in the work. They were friendly to the cause of Tem- perance, and they believed that Slavery was a giant wrong that ought to be abolished ; and, furthermore, they appre- ciated the moral courage and devotion which led to the conception and establishment of the " Christian Freeman ; " but they feared that the - introduction of those exciting topics into the Universalist press and pulpit would work mischief to the denominational body. In vain did the intrepid publisher plead that Right must prosper, and that wrong must crumble and fall ; and in vain did he argue 300 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. that that body or Society which would have countenance of God must stand out in the world as champion of the Right and opposer of the Wrong. " The people are not prepared," said the timid ones. "Then let us prepar'e them," answered the editor through his Freeman. " But such an attempt will produce dissension in the church," plead the fearful friends. " Such dissension will be but as the working of the leaven," was the editor's answer. " Those who cannot put on the whole armor of Christ should not be allowed to hold the hands and seal the lips of the true Christian warrior," However, Mr. Cobb had laid his plans, and he was not the man to turn back in his work because some of his friends failed him in the hour of need. It had thus far been a rule of his life, as fixed as were the laws of the Medes and Per- sians, that what his hands found to do in the direction of Right and Justice, he would do at all hazards. This was one of the distinguishing traits of his character, about which I shall have more to say hereafter. He went on with his work, relying upon God for strength and support, and we have seen the end. One after another of the min- istering brethren stepped forth into the field, and the time came when the good man saw his highest anticipations more than realized. It came that other Universalist papers spoke out boldly in behalf of Temperance, though upon the subject of Anti-Slavery they were more reticent. This lat- ter reform chanced to tread somewhat heavily upon the corns and bunions of an old and egotistical political part}^, and few were the publishers of religious periodicals in those days who dared even to admit a discussion of the subject into their columns, much less to speak out publicly them- selves ; and it was a long time before even a respectable INTRODUCTION. 301 majority of our ministers dared to lift their voices in the pulpit in behalf of an enslaved and down-trodden race. In speaking of the establishment of his paper Mr. Cobb says, — "I believed that I had this mission assigned to me of God, and that he would sustain and prosper me in it. And," he adds, "more than my highest hopes in it were realized." Never were words more true if we count the success of the mission in its results to the world of humanity. But, so far as that success is concerned for which most men labor, we might term the result of the mission a failure. It impoverished him, and kept him poor and harassed all the rest of his days. It added not a penny of treasure to his purse, but swallowed up everything of money he could gain from other sources. His da^'s and nights of unremit- ting toil wore dow^i his powerful frame, and sapped the foundations of a constitution such as few men are blessed with. And what was his return for all this ? It was the return of a success more holy and precious than the pos- session of material wealth. He lived to see one after another of the religious papers wheel into the line of Re- form, and devote a part of their space to the promulgation of other moral and social truths than those of theolog}'. He lived to see the denomination to which he belonged identify itself so thoroughly with the cause of Temperance, and with the cause of Anti-Slavery, that a Universalist minister who did not plant himself squarely and openly upon the platform of God's Law in social and political affairs, would have been as much out of place as would be the commanding generals of an armj^, while a battle was raging, skulking in the hospital and commissary store. And what further did he live to see ? What further re- ward had he for the labors of the last quarter of a century 302 REV. SYLVAyrs ro/;//, />. />. of his life ? He lived to see it all developed as lie had foretold in the other j^ears. The giant wrong had strode on, permitted by the people to put its sacrilegious hand upon our most sacred institutions, and to point the mur- derous steel to the very heart of the nation. And he lived to see this monster wrong crushed out forever ; the shackles broken from the limbs of the slave cverj^where within our broad domain ; the infamous law of Might over Right stricken from the statute book ; and Liberty proclaimed throughout the length and breadth of the land ! Surely, he could with truth exclaim, when speaking of his noble mission, — "More than my highest hopes in it were realized." And it devolves upon me to lay before the reader the events of Mr. Cobb's life during the years of his labor in this field. I must needs tell the story briefly ; and I will be true and faithful to the record. THE MEMOIR. CHAPTER I. A. D. 1839. The New House, — Plans for the Future, — Business Perplexities, Characteristics, &c. The last pages of the Autobiography were written in the month of September, 1866. Mr. Cobb had been able, dur- ing the Summer, to take his pen once in a while and devote brief periods — say, from fifteen minutes to half an hour — to the work in hand ; but he could not do much. His nerves had become so shattered, and his general S3^stem so weak, that his phj'sician^ had forbidden an}^ extended men- tal effort ; but it was impossible for him to keep his mind from the subject of his life-story, and it came very hard for him to be shut away from his desk ; so he stole out into his study occasionally an4- grasped the old familiar pen ; but the hand and the head soon wearied, and his sittings were very short. On the first day of October, having business of impor- tance in that direction, and entertaining the hope that the trip might do him good, he went, with his wife, to New York. After his return home he went to his desk and put his pen to the work once more, — I believe only once. His manuscript was in small bound books, not much larger than the copy-books that are used in our common schools, 304 JIEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. and skipping several blank pages from where he had writ- ten the two paragraphs following Miss Edgarton's poem, and which were the last of his connected sentences, I find what he wrote on that occasion. It is in a cramped, trem- ulous hand, betraying pain and unrest, the chirography showing plainly that the body was weak, while its discon- nection from the rest of the work would seem to indicate that his mind could only grasp familiar fragments of the story, fixed in his memor}^ by the startling character of their associations. And this was what he wrote : — "THE NEW HOUSE. " In the spring of this year (1839) I purchased twelve acres of land of Jacob Farwell, on Church Street, for a kitchen garden, and pasturing and mowing for a horse and cow ; and during the year built upon it a pleasant house for my family residence, into which we moved in the Fall. I have said before that I had a penchant for building, and living in, a house of my own. I planned all my houses for myself, always giving special atten- tion to the women's great chemical laboratory, the kitchen — its structure, its location relative to the other rooms, and to a con- venient supply of wood and water ; and to the pleasantness and healthiness of sleeping-rooms." And there his pen was laid aside. What would have been his story of the " New House " I cannot tell ; but I am sure it would have been far different from the story I shall tell. He never would have referred to the painful and vexatious trials which that house cost him, while I shall make no secret of the truth. He built the house, as he did all things in his lifetime, for the good of others. For the sake of his large family he shouldered the burden, and bore it while he could. He had been living in a bulky, double house on the main street, w^hich he rented of the manufac- turing corporation ; the apartments of which were so abom- THE MEMOIR. 305 iuably arranged that the labor of the housewife was per- plexingly and painfully augmented ; and the situation of which directly in the centre of the busy village, was very unfavorable to the running at large of his younger children. For the sake of his family he wished a more comfortable and convenient home ; and he was determined that they should have it ; and to this end he purchased the land of Mr. Far well, and erected his dwelling. No man had a more clear and comprehensive view of the general principles and possibilities of business than had he ; and there were very few men, if any, who were better qualified to give advice to young men just starting out into the business world ; but when he came to do business for himself upon a more extended scale than he had been used to — when he entered upon business that required financial tact and judgment — he failed to grasp and prop- erly estimate a thousand-and-one minutiae upon the care and disposition of which the success of all business enter- prises must rest, from the highest to the lowest. His hope and faith were unbounded ; and as he started all his projects in a spirit of love and good will to others than himself, how natural it was that he should cherish the belief that " all would come out right in the end." He thought he could see this happy consummation of events in the very nature and necessity of the work he had laid out. Let it not be for a moment supposed that Mr. Cobb had ever a disposition to trust things of importance to chance. No, — he was always very particular in lading it down as a rule of life that men must labor diligently for those blessings, both temporal and spiritual, which they w^ould enjoy. What I mean is, that his great Hope led him to place too much reliance upon what ought to he; and he laid down grand plans in the abstract, sure that they 26* 306 REy\ SYLVAMJS conn^ u.o. were right n,nd proper, and went at work upon them with the faith that lie should be able to meet and successfully dispose of minor exigencies as they arose. Thus far in life, keeping himself within the bounds of the ordinary business transactions necessary to his profession as a religious and moral teacher, he had been blessed with a success equal to his most ardent desires ; for I know that it never entered into his heart to make money for the sake of seeing the golden pile grow in his coffers. Ilis desires were moderate ; and I am able to distinctly state what were the themes of his ambition : They were, Firsts — The peace and happiness and prosperity of those whom he loved, and who were dependent upon him ; and. Second. — That social, moral, and religious elevation of society which was to result from the perfect understanding of God's Gospel Purpose as revealed through Jesus Christ, and a spreading, and adoption by the people, of the principles of Temperance and Human Freedom. Upon these themes he contemplated, and by the dictates derived therefrom he regulated his life and actions. He gave the whole strength of soul and body to the work thus set for him to do ; and his labor was as tireless and faithful as his judgment had been right and just. This may seem like digression ; but I could not go on to speak of the " New House" without being prepared to tell the whole truth ; and I could not, in justice to the truly gi'eat and good man, make a plain statement of all the facts without first preparing the mind of the reader to receive them understandingly. The house in Waltham was the first venture of his life which involved the assumption of any considerable debt. "When he moved from Maiden he was the possessor of a sum of money which, in the light of his simple, unassum- THE MEMOIR. 307 ing habits, rendered him in a measure independent, — not independent of work, but independent of want and debt while his health was spared. The man of wealth would smile at the idea of importance given to that trivial sum ; and many a merchant in Boston derives of profit from his business every day a sum equal to that which made Sj^lva- nus Cobb feel rich and proud when it was entirely his, and he owed no man anything therefrom. When Mr. Cobb vStarted his paper he paid cash for every- thing he bought ; and let it be borne in mind that he had full faith that ere long the bread thus cast upon the waters would return to him. He expected to labor and to wait, and he was prepared for trial and tribulation. He knew that the paper-maker would have to be paid from week to week, and that those who worked in the office must have their daily bread ; and to meet these wants he travelled much over the country, lecturing and preaching, and at the same time getting subscribers to his paper. Of the money he had on hand at the beginning of his enterprise he set apart a few hundred dollars for the new house, so that he was called upon to feel a stringency in the financial depart- ment of his publishing business sooner than he might otherwise have done ; and when this came, of course it could not be long before the business of building was beset by the same evil. In justice to my father I ought here ta state that he would not probably have commenced his house as he did if his friend Farwell had not made him a present of the building-lot and garden spot. So much of land was given to him, and after that he purchased twelve acres, adjoining, of the same party. And, even now, when he began to feel the pressure at his publishing oflice, it is doubtful if he would have gone on with his building had he not supposed 308 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. tlhit he could make some turn of Ins extra land to ad- vantage. In fact, I am sure he had brought himself to believe that the land he had bought was going to pay all expenses, and leave him something beside. He knew that the towns round about Boston were destined to grow, and there was no town which at that time gave indications of more rapid growth than did Waltham. He had selected the twelve acres with this idea in mind, and he congratu- lated himself that he had secured a grand chance for help- ing himself and his family to a home without cramping him in another quarter. He made a critical survey of his newl}^ acquired territor^^, and traced a rough draught upon paper. There were streets to be opened through, and thus were to be developed some of the most eligible building- lots for dwellings in the town. There would be a choice lot for each of his children, with room for a house and a sufficient kitchen garden ; and be3^ond that there would be left enough for sale to other parties to return a snug little sum over and above all that he would be required to expend. How well I remember the proud and happy light that beamed upon the good man's face when he took Samuel T. and myself out, with his draught in his hand, to present to us the details of his plan, and discuss their merits. We stood upon an eminence overlooking the twelve-acre lot, and our father showed to us where our houses were to be erected, and where the other children were to have homes. He explained to us how desirable those building-lots would be as soon as he had laid out broad and commodious streets, with shade trees planted at proper intervals by the wayside, and we might depend upon it that ere long — perhaps in a very few years — there would be a pretty, thi'iving village upon his land. What a glorious thing it THE MEMOIR. 300 would be to have bis children grow up and settle around him, and be able to establish them in life ! He fondly hoped that his paper would eventually make business enough for all his sons ; and no patriarch of olden time ever realized a more peaceful and happy gathering in of children and of children's children to contiguous homes in the promised land, than was pictured at that time in the bright hopefulness of this provident and tender-hearted father. The house was built after designs furnished by Mr. Cobb, and when completed it was, as he had intended it should be, a model of convenience and simple architectural beauty. There was not a dollar expended for outside show, but all was appropriated to the comfort and well- being of the inmates. It was finished thoroughly through- out, and no expense was spared in making it such a home as he desired for himself and family. And for some time he held to the hopes which had made bright with promise his opening labors upon that home. After he had moved into the new dwelling he still for a season went on with a more thorough draughting of plans for the establishment of his colony, being very unwilling to give up the idea that the land was yet to yield him some return of the money he had expended. But his hopes were vain ; and his plans, if ever carried out, were left to others with their benefits. His paper, instead of jielding any in- come towards paj-ing for the house, required every dollar he could raise for its support, and ere long he began to feel the weight of troubles and perplexities that were to bear sorely upon him for many years. To meet his pecuniary liabilities, and at the same time to uphold and maintain the paper which he had determined to make an evangel to those who dwelt in darkness and in bonds, he commenced that 310 liEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. system of labor which was in the end to break down his herculean frame, and to make him old before his time. For, with such a constitution as he inherited, guarded as it was by a life-long total abstinence from all stimulants and narcotics, and with the natural tendency of the system to health and longevity,* he should haA^e "been still in his prime at the age of three-score-and-ten ; or, at all events, he should have been hale and hearty, and in the full enjoy- ment of all the faculties of life ; and so he would have been but for these needs and perplexities which led him to task himself with labor such as no mortal organization can bear. At the opening of this chapter I said that my father would have told the story of the " New House" differently from what I should tell it, — that he would never have referred to the painful and vexatious trials w^hich that house cost him. And he never was wont to refer to them at all. He never brought his trials home with him. In the bosom of his family he never told of his troubles. If there were clouds upon him, he suffered them not to cast gloom over the household ; so that one not associated with him in business might have been an inmate of his home for j^ears and never have, discovered that his business entailed upon him else than pleasure and satisfaction. He was always sure to bring home with him, and to tell it with beaming face, every scrap and item of cheering intelligence ; and so he was anxious to share with his family all the joys and comforts he could command; — but never, to my knowl- edge, did he knowingly give his loved ones to see that he * Longevity forms a characteristic chapter in the history of Mr. Cobb's ances- tors. Among others of his immediate relations who lived to an advanced age, was Ebenezer Cobb, born in Plymouth, in 1694, and died in Kingston, in 1801, at the age of one hundred and seven years. THE MEMOIR. 311 had any cause for pain and unrest, either in business dis- appointments, or in apprehensions for the future. I know that Mr. Cobb struck his first blow upon that twelve-acre lot with visions of bright promise opening be- fore him ; but I think I may safely say that never was a heavier burden cast from his shoulders than when he finally sold the " New House in Waltham." 312 PiEF. SYLJ'AXUS COBB, D.D. CHAPTER II. The Slave Power, — The Christian Freeman, — Its Prospectus, — Salutatory. People living in the enjoyment of blessings which thej'' have had no hand in bringing about are very apt to under- estimate the labors of those through whose instrumentality such blessings have been given to the world. People of the coming generation, basking in the full light of Human Libert}', will be slow to believe that even in the middle of the nineteenth century the press and pulpit of these Free States, with few exceptions, rested to such an extent be- neath the influence of the Slave Power that they dared not give utterance to anj- thing like denunciation of that giant wrong ; while most of our secular periodicals, and many of our Christian clergymen, dared not even breathe a word against the foul institution in any way or manner. Wh}'', even now, when the smoke of the conflict has hardly been lifted from the scene, there are thousands of honest, intelli- gent men in our land who do not fully comprehend how completely the spirit of Slavery had muzzled the sources of general information, and moral and social instruction, wliich they took to their homes for the entertainment and edification of themselves and families. Not only were the republications by American houses of foreign works sadly mutilated by expunging, or altering, passages that chanced to bear upon chattel Slavery ; but our own authors found THE MEMOIR. 313 themselves often painfully tripped by the fear on the part of publishers of offending pro-slavery patrons. So now, when nearly every newspaper in the North grows jubilant over the privilege of bestowing vigorous and hearty kicks upon the dead carcass of Slavery, we must not forget that less than ten years have passed since a majority of those same papers did not dare to look the monster in the face. Thus much by way of introduction to the subject of Mr. Cobb's labor in the publication of the " Christian Freeman AND Family Visiter." In the Prospectus for his paper, he states that it will be devoted to "Religion, Literature, News, and Universal Freedom," and after stating what will be the character of its religious teachings, &c., he proceeds, as follows, to give those features which will distinguish his paper from other denominational publications : — "Attention will also be given to the aid of the Temperance Reform, and the loosing of the bonds of our brethren in slavery. And the rule for conducting the whole, shall be that charity, which * suffereth long and is kind,' which ' rejoiceth not in in- iquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.' *• As to the need of such a paper, the public may be assured that I should not have undertaken its publication, but in the sober conviction that it is called for by the wants of the commu- nity. We have papers devoted to the dissemination of our relig- ious views, and ably conducted. But their editors choose so to conduct them as to gain and continae their admission, bearing our doctrines of faith, into those states and families whose preju- dices would exclude them if they devoted earnest and persever- ing labor to the causes of Temperance and Universal Freedom. I cast upon them no censures ; — I wish them God-speed in their Christian labors as far as they see fit to carry them. It is my purpose to supply a desideratum in our religious denomination, a public journal which, while it shall co-oi5erate with others in * contending earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to 27 314 REV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. the saints,' shall furthermore carry out the principles of this faith in their bearing upon the interests and duties of all our relations, in the fiimily, in society, in the state, and in the world. It is my design to contribute faithful endeav.ors to promote the cul- ture of that spirit in the Universalist fraternity, which shall more and more conform us to what we should be, as a body of Chris- tians, distinguished as believers in the God of universal active benevolence, and Jesus the efficient Saviour, who labored and suf- fered reproach, and laid down his life, for the cause of universal love, emancipation and peace." This Pi'ospectus was issued on the 24th of February, nearly two months before the appearance of the first num- ber of the paper, and it was widely circulated, and vari- ously commented upon ; and some of the brethren, before they had seen the Freeman itself, began to " throw cold water " upon the concern ; while others, who had long felt the need of a denominational publication, in the columns of which could be discussed all the great reform movements of the age, hailed its prospective advent with joy ; and these words of cheer, coming from men of refinement and moral worth, gave strength to the workman as he pursued his great and arduous undertaking. But he had some true and tried friends — friends who had stood by him in the years that were passed, and who continued to stand by him while he lived, — who opposed the introduction of " tliose exciting topics " into his paper. One man — one who was held very near to his heart, and upon whom he had depended much for encouragement and support, — wrote to him a letter on the occasion. He meant to take the paper, and he would do what he could to circulate it among his neighbors ; "For," he wrote, " I am satisfied that you are the man to print Universalism, as you have been the man to preach it. But," he adds, "lam sorry you could not make up your mind to give us a good THE MEMOIR. 815 Universalist paper imtliout meddling with Rum and Nig- gers ! " Upon such a missive from some men Mr. Cobb would simply have smiled ; but in the morning of his enterprise, when, if ever, he needed the sympathy of his friends as well as their cooperation, such things, from such a source, gave him pain ; and yet, at the same time, they gave him strength ; for they called into exercise that spirit of perse- verance and energy without which success is not to be at- tained. To such men he meant to show that he was on the side of Right, trusting that in due time they would see and acknowledge the justness of his position. The first number of the Qhristian Freeman was issued on the 19th of April, 1839, and as the " Editorial Saluta- tory^^' presents in a clear and concise form the motives which actuated him in the publication, and the principles upon which he proposed to pursue the work, I will give it entire : — *♦ EDITORIAL SALUTATORY. *' We salute the Christian pubhc with good wishes, and proffer them fraternal counsel, and kind instruction. We present them with a new weekly periodical, which shall stand forth among them a true Christian Freeman^ and a good Family Visiter. May God aid and bless us in our long contemplated and arduous undertaking. *' Yes, reader, this is a long contemplated undertaking. In the service of a public Temperance Agency for the last twc^ years and a half, we have been led to observe and ponder many circumstances which have impressed us strongly with the need of such a publication as this is designed to be ; a publication working in the same gospel field with many others, yet differing in its plan of operation from all other periodicals, and especially from all that are published in this part of New England. " When we engaged as a public lecturer for the Middlesex County Temperance Society, it was predicted by some of our 316 REV. SYLVANUS COBJi, D.D. kind and well beloved brethren, that this service would diminish our interest in the gospel, and in the work of the Christian min- istry. We then felt that they knew not what tliey said ; and now we know it. The more the servant of Christ imitates his Master in going about, observing the blindness, the wants, and the suf- ferings of mankind, and doing good as opportunity offers, the more he will feel engaged in all those great and good principles of truth, which shall promote virtue and happiness. " Of these principles the gospel stands pre-eminent. Indeed the Christian religion comprises all that is excellent in faith and IDractice. Its faith, the faith which rests in the infinite wisdom, goodness, and power of God, and nourishes the hope, sweet, soul-satisfying hope, of the universal emancipation and glory of the human race through Jesus Christ, is peculiarly fitted to elevate and reconcile the mind to God, and to produce the love of God and holiness. If we forget this faith, or neglect to propagate and defend it, let our right hand forget its cunning. It shall be borne by this Family Visiter to the abodes of all our readers, and applied in its adaptedness to work the reconcilia- tion and comfort of the mind under every earthly circumstance. "But the Christian religion does not alone apply to our hope for ourselves, and others, beyond the grave. It applies to the infinite variety of duties and interests of our present diversified relations. And to the nature of some of these relations, and the manner of some of these interests, and the verity of some of these duties, the prejudices, passions, and supposed interests of many may blind them, while they can stoutly argue, and may even quite feelingly believe, the leading doctrines of the Chris- tian faith. And in respect to this point, our travels and labors have brought us in the way of such observation, as has often told us of the need of a public journal, which should go forth as a Christian Freeman, laboring not only to convert unbelievers, but also to remove remaining darkness from the minds of believers, in any and every case where they are blindly or inconsiderately giving their influence to perpetuate the causes of reigning evils. " ' Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,' is the language of the Saviour. It will make us not only free from the slavish fear of human creeds, but free also to do good. ' To do good and to communicate, forget not,' is the admonition of the Christian apostle. If we may excuse ourselves from this * THE MEMOIR. 3^17 duty in one plain obvious case, we may in another, and have no fixed principle of moral right. If we see a custom, a mode of action prevailing, which is spreading crime, poverty and wretch- edness around, and stands as a cruel Tysiplione, threatening to be the tormentor of our own children, and we may withhold all effort to reform such custom, because the prejudices of some of our brethren are against the discussion of the subject, then we may see false religious doctrines crushing and stretching thou- sands of minds upon the torture rack, and withhold all effort to remove the cause of this misery by the ministry of truth, because the prejudices of some will cling to their errors. The Univer- salist who will neglect, in any obvious case, * to do good and to communicate,' because certain others see not eye to eye with him, gives practical sanction to the precise principle of action which he so loudly denounces in others, who make it their rule in matters of religious faith to ask, not 'what is truth?' but ' what will secure me favor with the popular voice ? ' "But our brother tells us that he should like the plan of our Family Visiter, if we would exclude all matter touching the subject of slavery. Then he would have us doff our caption, ' Christian Freeman.'' God forbid that we should do it. For us to preach, and pray, and sing praises to God, upon the theme of that blessed gospel which we prize above earthly riches, the gospel of Him who lived, and labored, and died, and reigns on high for all, — for Jews and barbarians, bond and free ; the gos- pel which teaches us that God is the Father of all, and that all we are brethren ; and yet for us at the same time to look upon a portion of our brethren, in our own country, held as cattle, as goods and chattels, the property of others, where knowledge is danger, and ignorance is tlie only hope of safety, — and here to insist that not a word must be spoken, not a thought indulged, not an inquiry breathed, whether some means may not be devised, some moral influence put in motion, which shall melior- ate the condition of these poor, unfortunate, unhumanized fel- low beings, — this does indeed to us seem monstrous. If our brother can persevere in his efforts to smother investigation, and to foster slavery as an undisturbed institution, until it shall break forth in horrible destruction upon its proprietors, with their wives and innocent little ones, — and yet feel that he can lift up holy 27* 318 JiEF. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. hands, and pray God to prosper him in tliesc efforts, he is to us an in solvable enigma. *' But when we speak of Christian freedom, none will take us to mean by freedom , licentiousness or raslmess. We look with no favor upon the habit of one's rushing forth like Jehu to show his zeal for the Lord. We would not hastily catch up any spec- ulation which might come at hand in this age of invention, and blaze out in censoriousness and denunciation against those who run not so fast, nor so heedlessly. Nor would we be regardless of time, and occasion, and means, for promoting what we con- scientiously deem it our duty to promote as truth, upon long and mature investigation. But we would, and we must, calmly, dispassionately, and fearlessly investigate, — 'prove all things, and hold fast that which is good.' And while we would delib- erately inquire for the best mode of communication, we must ' not forget to do good, and to communicate.' And he who would deprive us of the privilege of devoting kind, faithful labor to the elevation of public sentiment on the subject of the rights of man on the one side, and the duty of man on the other, is about the same work that certain in all ages have been engaged in, who have striven to suppress inquiry, and stay the progress of light. Will he say that the investigation of this subject will do harm, by creating divisions, and breaking friendships ? They who, b}^ any means, by menace, denunciation, excommunication, prison or gibbet, have opposed inquir}^, have urged the same plea. The obnoxious investigation will break up order, and injure society, and therefore it must be put down. " If we and our brother agree on the leading principles of the Christian faith, and yet differ on the propriety of endeavoring to bring all classes of our brethren into a condition in which they may become sharers in the liberty of the children of God — then on this latter subject we are already divided in opinion. Shall we, therefore, be divided in respect to those matters wherein w^e agree? If so, the division must be by him. We will go with him as a faithful workfellow, in all those good matters where- upon we can work together, and if he will turn off, let him not charge us with making division. But it would be pleasant to be agreed in all things. How then shall this agreement be brought about .f' By either brother's requiring the other to suppress investigation, sacrifice his conscience, and hide his light, or his THE MEMOIR. 319 supposed light, under a bushel ? Never. We must be kindly- disposed towards each other, respect each other's right of con- science, and reason together. If we are right, and our brother is wrong, we want candid investigation, that he may agree with us. If he is right, and we are wrong, we need investigation, that his better reasons may bring us into agreement with him. Come, let us be, not lawless disorganizers, but Christian free- men. "But our brother asks us what we in the non-slaveholding States can do to promote the abolition of slavery in the South. We are glad that he has put this question ; for hitherto he has objected to our meddling with this subject. But now, as he would not be so unfair as to ask us a question he would not per- mit us to answer, we must conclude that he has come to regard and treat this subject as worthy of consideration. And if he will read our humble sheet from weektoweek, we will endeavor to give him some light on this, together with other important topics. "In concluding this protracted Address, we will add, in respect to the need of a paper on the plan here presented, that we have believed that it will be useful, in the present advanced state of our denomination, to issue a family pa^^er which shall present from week to week, with a portion of religious reading, the most essential news of the day, and interesting and instruc- tive matter on a variety of important subjects. We will en- deavor, by our faithful diligence and attention, to deserve a reasonable share of the i)ubiic patronage." And after the plan here laid down Mr. Cobb pursued his labors. He had started his paper with especial objects in view ; he had carefully considered the end he aimed at ; and in his after course there was no deviation. There is no need that I should burden these pages with reproduc- tions of what he wrote and printed upon the various topics that claimed his particular attention ; but before closing this chapter I must give one extract which shows in a brief space how he was inclined to treat the subject of Slavery ; and at this late day, when the positions which he then 320 JIEV. STLVANUS COBB. D.D. assumed are conceded b}" every right-thinking man and true lover of his country, it seems surprising that enlightened Christian teachers could then have taken exceptions to them. This is the article to which I refer, published in the sec- ond number of his paper : *' WHAT CAN WE DO? ** The question is often gravely asked, * What can we, in the Korth, do towards the abolition of Slavery in the South ? ' I will answer so far, at the present time, as to mention two things which we can and ought to do, by a candid and manly discus- sion ; the first relating to the North, and the second to the South. The first thing to be done, and that relating to the North, is, to vindicate and establish the principle of free discussion, and de- liver a large portion of the community from the slavish fear of looking at a great moral subject. When I look at an evil in our country, in view of which one of the greatest of southern patriots has been moved by the spirit of prophecy to exclaim, ' I tremble for my country, wdien I reflect that God is just,' — and when, npon some good citizens proposing to deliberate ways and means to save the country, ere it be too late, from a judgment more intolerable than that of Sodom and Gomorrah, I see the commu- nity up in arms to suppress all investigation touching the sub- ject, I feel ashamed for my native and beloved New England. And I view the restoration to the people, of this one principle — the principle of free, open, frank, ingenuous, fearless, manly, Christian investigation, of this, and all subjects involving the rights, duties, interests and privileges of mankind, — worth a firm persevering labor to attain it. Let this great principle be, by all, conceded, — and then, though there may yet be difference of opinion on the question of ways and means, there will be that general good feeling, that harmony of spirit in the commu- nity, which can never be brought about by the childish cries of those who are feeding the feverish spirit of division, by essaying to stop discussion with forever sounding upon the/ear of divisions ! Divisions ! No Christian should ever speak, write, or print a word, which shall express the thought of a possibility of division THE MEMOIR. 321 among Christians, (a division as to Christian union, I mean) by the free candid discussion of any subject touching moral j^rinci- ples. If it be said that all discussion on the subject of slavery has not been candid, I answer, neither has all discussion on relig- ion, or any other subject, been candid. We are never to con- demn a good cause for the errors of some of its friends. "In the second place, I will say a word on the good which we, in the North, may do for the South. We may exert a good healthful moral influence. The community of mind is like the congregated waters ; one part bears, and unceasingly bears upon another. Moral corruption cannot always hold its place in the midst of surrounding moral light, and pure elevated moral sen- timent. "The owners of slaves are objects of our commiseration; their case demands the exercise of charity. They are blinded by supposed, but mistaken interest, as keepers of dram-shops have been, in this section. But, after all, if we will be their true friends, wliile we exercise that charity wiiich ' suffereth long and is kind,' we must remember that the same charity ' rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.' And if such were the elevated tone of moral sentiment in the non-slave- holding States, that when their southern brethren step within their borders, they should feel that they breathe an atmosj^here in which the very principles of slavery must blight and die, as the accursed fig-tree by the word of Jesus, this state of public sentiment with us would, in spite of all menacing and scoldino-, gradually move upon them to pass the inquiry around, * What shall we do to raise ourselves to our proper moral elevation ? What shall we do to be saved ! ' But when they feel that the institution of slavery is approved and cherished by the popular sentiment of the whole country, this circumstance constitutes an additional bond to hold the slave in his chains, and the iliaster in his error. " Will it be said that no reasonable man approves the princi- 13le of slavery, — that all regard it a moral and political evil, but we must let it alone — we can do nothing for the removal of the evil? This is not the language of the enlightened Christian philanthropist. When Jesus came into the world, and saw that darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people, that all were as lost sheep, did he say, * Let them alone ; nothing 322 EEV. SJLVANUS COBB, D.D. can be tlone ? ' No ; he went at work, overcoming darkness with liglit, and evil witli good, lie preaclied deliverance to the eaiJtives, and the recovery of sight to the blind. Will it be said that the captives whom the gospel of Jesus delivers, are captives in spiritual darkness and death ? Be it so : and cannot Christ's disciples, in a country called a Christian country, making their own laws, and managing their own institutions — can they not do something by the way of reforming an institution of their own, which must, as long as it continues, hold locked in dark- ness the minds of millions, while it robs them of all that- belongs to the moral intellectual man ? But what can we do ? We can do our part towards keeping in motion a kindly, yet mighty moral influence, which shall by and by move the whole South to inquire. What shall loe do? Then, the work will be done — America shall stand redeemed, saved, glorified.'" Such were his ideas of Freedom, and such his concep- tions of the duty of the true Christian teacher ; and the reader can now understand why he chose to denominate his hebdomadal Family Visiter a " Christian Freeman." THE MEMOIR, 323 CHAPTER III. Opposition, — " Uniyersalist Union," — " Trumpet," — A Pair of Letters. An old writer once said, — "If yon never tell the truth, and are carefnl that yowv falsehood falls upon nobody's head, you will never make an enemy." Another writer, with something more of justness, says, — " He who would make no enemies must never seek to lead society out from old beaten tracks." It is a fact, apparent in the life of every man who has sought to work great reforms in Society, that he who steps on in advance of his companions as a pioneer will be denounced by those who have not the cour- age or the will to walk b}^ his side. In the first place, men do not like that another should discover and point out to them lines of duty ; and still less do thej^ like to follow in another's lead. And then men do not like to be disturbed from quiet repose upon the downy beds of old established customs. And, furthermore, if some one of their number, more bold and uncompromising than his fellows, arises and girds on his armor, and calls upon them to join him in a crusade which is to them distasteful, the spirit of their op- position will be toned by the nature of the thing aimed at. If the proposed crusade is simply chimerical, they will rest perfectly easy to let their friend push on, and see his cru- sade fail from its own inertia ; but if tliere is justness and right in the cause, and a spirit of conservatism holds them 324 JREr. SYLVAN us COBB, D.D. back, they will be eager and bitter in their opposition just as their brother's purpose takes to itself power and signifi- cance from its heaven-born truth and equitableness. The man w^ho, in writing a book, should allow the fear of what critics might say to hold back his pen, would be doing injustice to his subject, and treating the public un- fairly. All right-thinking men can understand and appre- ciate the many delicate points which the biographer is called upon to handle, and they would prefer that those things which properly belong to the life-record should be presented in the most direct and straightforward manner. First we are to decide what ought to be made known — what would be interesting and instructive to the public — and then determine how the matter can be best communicated. Mr. Cobb was most emphatically a Reformer, — and an ardent and zealous one, — but I think I may safely say that he made no enemies. That is, — between him and his opponents there never arose anything approaching in the least to personal enmity. This result was due to two causes : First, — He was so generous and true-hearted in his friendships, and his love and esteem for his brethren everywhere were so independent of " small personalities," that he was very slow to recognize ill-feeling in those whom he counted among his friends. Second, — In his sentences of utmost severity he never descended to anything like slang, and never made use of opprobrious epithets ; always distinguishing between a wrong principle and the person who advocated it, and ever ready to make the amende hon- or able if he had inadvertantly done a wrong to any oppo- nent. In fact, Mr. Cobb's bitterest opponents — those who gave him the most trouble of thought and reflection — were warm personal friends — friends who gave him the warm grasp when they met him, and who loved to labor with him THE MEMOIR. 325 in the work of spreading abroad a knowledge of the cliar- acter and purposes of God as he and they understood them. We have now to deal with Mr. Cobb's labor in carrying- on the Christian Freeman, and have come to that point where it is necessary to present some of the opposition he met with ; and in doing this let it be understood that I do not select these as individual cases, but as cases represent- ative of the general tone and character of the opposition that came from all quarters. God forbid that I should rake up old "hatchets that had been long buried," or that I should present to the public " old stories of strife long- forgotten." I simply turn to the files of the early numbers of the paper to find out how the publisher progressed with his work ; how his friends in like business received his " bantling ; " and how he met their words of commenda- tion and of opposition. The first notice which we find of the new paper was in the " Universalist Union,'' published in New York, by Rev. P. Price. In his issue of March 9th, before the appearance of the Freeman, he offers some strictures on the Prospectus, and after expressing regret to find that a paper is coming forth on the i^lan proposed, he says, — " Again, the spirit and manner in which this new candidate for jjublic favor puts forth its claims, is exceptionable — in one respect, at least, if we do not greatly misapprehend its language, it is deserving of direct rebuke." Br. Price then proceeds to quote from the Prospectus Mr. Cobb's remarks touching the need of such a paper as he proposed to publish, and goes on to remark, — " It bids the periodicals already in the field, it is true, * God- speed in their Christian labors, as far as they see Jit to carry them /' But this is designed to ' supply a desideratum ' in the denomina- tion ! It will not only contend * earnestly for the faith once 28 326 nEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. delivered to the saints,' but it * shall furthermore earry out [and by implication, others do not,] the principles of this faith in their bearing upon the interests and duties of all our relations, in the family, in society, in the state, and in the world ! ! ' We had fondly thought that our periodicals had long and faithfully labored to this end — that they had earnestly and perseveringly * carried out ' the principles of our faith, and that they were still so engaged. But either the above is an unjust insinuation, or we have been sadly mistaken." As Mr. Cobb's reply to these strictures makes answer to a large number of correspondents who opposed his plan in the same spirit, I have thought proper to copy the most important portions of it here. It is as follows : — *' Surely Br. Price forgets himself. He had just said, ' Make men good Universalists, and we shall have little to fear from slavery.' This is as much as to say tliat the spirit of Universal- ism is oj^posed to slavery, and must exert an influence to the doing away of the evil. This, then, is one of the practical ♦ bearings ' of the principles of our faith, according to Br. P.'s own showing. And does he carry out these principles in this practical bearing ? He knows that he does not. And more than this, he would strangle in its birth our Christian Freeman, to pre- vent any attempt in ' our denomination ' to show and carry out our religious principles in this acknowledged bearing. Yet we have not cast upon Br. P. any censure for his not carrying out the principles of our faith, and urging them in this i^ractical bearing. We bade him, and others, ' God-speed in their Chris- tian labors, as far as they see fit to carry them.' But he tells us that he cannot ' return the compliment.' He even pays us with ' direct rebuke,' for presuming ourself to go the step which he has not seen fit to take, that we may promote and cultivate the spirit of our faith, to have it felt and understood in the form in which he acknowledges it must exert itself in order to make a good Universalist ! " Br. P. proceeds to comment on the clause in our Prospectus where we say, ' We have papers devoted to the dissemination of our religious views, and ably conducted. But their editors THE MEMOIR. 327 choose so to conduct them as to gam and continue their admis- sion, bearing our doctrines of faith, into those States and fami- ilies whose prejudices would exclude them if they devoted earnest and persevering labor to the causes of Temperance and Universal Freedom.' This he construes as ' plainly insinuating, that the conductors of our periodicals adopt a temporizing pol- icy,"* — and that they are governed by interest rather than their convictions of duty.' "But we hope our brother has by this time gotten so well over his bewildering affright, that he may bear the inquiry, * Understandest thou what thou readest.^' We expressly gave it as the motive of our editors, to ' hear our doctrines of faith into those States and families,' &c. We know not but some of those editors are pro-slavery men. But we did not deem it important in a Prospectus, to discriminate. But we thought, and still think, that some of our editors who are anti-slavery men, choose to exclude from their columns the discussion of this question,- believing that it would exclude them from many fiimilies, who would thus be deprived, not only of the discussions on this moral cause, but also of all the gosjDcl instructions which they might otherwise have received. If our view, which is definitely expressed in the Prospectus, is correct, they ' choose ' the course wiiich they adopt, because they believe they may thus accom- plish the most good. With this view we could not censure them. But we believed that we could do the most good, in the present state of our denomination, and of the country, by means of a publication on the plan we have adopted, — and that the wants of the community require one such paper, to co-operate, in Christian love, with those before in the field. *' And here too our brother commits himself. He would have it imderstood that he cares not for the prejudices of States or families, nor for the exclusion or rejection of our journals from them, so as to be influenced thereby in his conduct. Yet he is moved to express regret that a certain great moral question should be introduced into our denomination; — and why.?* If all States and families were in a mood kindly to receive and con- sider this question, would he have this fearful apprehension from its being discussed, and show such determined opposition to it ? We think not. What does he fear ? Does he fear that they who have a sufiiciency of the right spirit to make them 328 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. ' good Universalists,' will be induced to abandon our faith and our fellowship, should some of us now and then say a word about ' undoing the heavy burdens, and letting the oppressed go free ? ' No ; his fear is, that we have some among us whose love of the gospel is so weak, and whose prejudiee against this moral cause is so strong, that if we broach this subject, not only will our papers be excluded from their houses, but we too from their fellowship, and thus we shall have ' dissensions within.' " But he will say that he deems it his duty, with reference to the greatest good, to thus regard the prejudice of a portion of the community. Very well. All this good motive we have accorded to him, and to others, from the beginning; nor can any language we have used be so distorted as to speak a different sentiment. Go on, brother, doing good as seemeth thee best, and accord to thy brethren the same great privilege. *'In closing these remarks, we beg leave to assure the pro- prietor of the ' Union,' that the investigation of any question touching the improvement and welfare of mankind, is not to the gospel as a coal of fire to a cask of powder. The gospel is a great system of universal benevolence, whose spirit is truth, and investigation the food of it. Fear not, neither be dismayed. Christians should have no dread of light." Mr. Cobb made it a point, and rule of action, to avoid as far as possible all collision and fault-finding with his brother editors ; he was desirous to interchange with them kind oflSces, and to " encourage them in well-doing." lie re- solved that he would not suffer himself to be drawn into any rencounter, " except," as he expressed it in his paper, on the occasion of a notice of an attack which had been made upon him, " we feel called upon, by a sense of duty to ourself, and to the community whose good we hope to serve, to act in self-defence. And," he adds, " even this duty is to us so unpleasant that we hope to be seldom obliged to discharge it." "We know that many men make it a point thus to express sorrow on the eve of a personal rencounter who do not feel THE MEMOIR. 329 what they speak ; but I know that Mr. Cobb instiuctively shrank from the notice of things that were spoken and written against him ; and unless a direct attack was made upon him, involving some of those principles of action which he had made his rule in the conducting of his publi- cation, he chose to let them pass unnoticed. Words from Mr. Cobb's pen, as from his lips, meant all they uttered. He was never flowery in his style, so he used no redundant words in that manner ; he never descended to tergiversa- tion, so he found no need of useless language here ; but what he had to say he said in the most direct manner pos- sible, resting always under the solemn conviction that duty should guide his pen as it should guide his steps in his daily walks before his God and his fellowmen. The article which has been noticed from the " Univer- salist Union " was written upon the appearance of the Pros- pectus ; but upon the appearance of the first number of the paper the expression of opinion concerning the merits of the publication was more general. The " Trumpet^'' published by Br. Thomas Whittemore, in Boston, was at that time the leading paper in the denomination, and wielded vast influence. It was a firm and staunch sup- porter of the Universalist faith, and its editor was one of the most able and industrious theological writers that ever graced the editorial chair. Not only did Mr. Whittemore gain respectful attention to his paper by his own well- earned popularity as a writer and preacher, and by his un- surpassed qualities as a warm-hearted friend and genial companion ; but the ablest of our clergymen throughout the country had made his paper the vehicle through which to communicate their best thoughts to the public ; all of which had tended to give that paper a wider circulation 28* 330 HEF. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. than was enjoyed by any other of our denominational pub- lications. It was natural that Mr. Cobb should look somewhat anxiously to see what the " Trumpet'' would have to say concerning his new paper ; and when he had seen, he was stirred to make a candid repl}-. The " Trumpet " was a representative paper, and as its article upon the " Free- man " reflected the opinions and feelings of a large class of the denomination, both ministers and laymen, of course Mr. Cobb's reply thereto was a fitting response to that whole school of opposition ; and as such I shall give it here in connexion with the remarks which called it forth. In the first place Mr. Whittemore expresses some aston- ishment at the appearance of this new paper, in Massachu- setts. There were " already four'' Universalist periodicals published in the State, and where could be the room or the need of the fifth? To this Mr. Cobb simply replies, — " If there had been ten times four, and there are moral subjects that a portion of our fraternity believe ought to be pro- moted among us, and by us, the discussion of which does not come within the design of either of these publications, there is place for another." After making the enumeration above alluded to the editor of the " Trumpet " proceeds as follows : — *' Br. Cobb has judged that these papers do not supply all the wants of the denomination, and he has therefore struck out a plan entirely new. He intends that his paper shall be, 1st a Univeksalist paper, 2d a Temperance paper, on the principle of total abstinence, and 3d an Abolition paper. We have not one word to say about his plan ; the j^ublic will judge of that ; and they will be impartial judges, too. The course pursued by the Trumpet is very well known. It has been under trial for eleven years, and we are more convinced than ever of the pro- priety of our course. The Trumpet is designed to be a Univer- THE MEMOIR. 331 SALIST paper. Its editor has no desire, and certainly no design, to mingle in any of the party strifes of the day. All these excit- ing topics, on which the community is now becoming more and more divided, we let alone ; being perfectly willing to be a peace-maker between the parties, doing all in our power to heal their divisions. We believe Universalism to be the doctrine of the Bible, beautiful in theory, equally beautiful in practice. We established the Trumpet to defend that doctrine, — and such, with God's blessing, we are determined to do ; exerting all our power to preserve the denomination from intestine divisions and war." I well remember Mr. Cobb's surprise upon reading the above, and how deeply his feelings were stirred as he com- mented upon it. There was no unkindness of expression in his remarks — only grief and wonder. But his reply in his own columns gives it about as he spoke it. Here it is : — "These remarks, put into this notice of the Christian Free- man, we understand to be designed to excite the apprehension that this paper will be a promoter of ' divisions ' among us, even of ' intestine divisions and war.' Speaking of the subjects of Temperance and Universal Freedom, the editor says he has ' no desire, and certainly no design, to mingle in any of the party strifes of the day.' And is it possible that Br. W. is willing to take advantage of the too popular and extremely hurtful preju- dice, and to confirm and deepen that prejudice, against the dis- cussion of a great moral question which involves the dearest interests of the community, by branding such discussion as * mingling in the party strifes of the day ' ? He further says — • All these exciting topics, on which the community is now be- coming more and more divided, we let alone.' Is this our old ardent co-worker in the Temperance cause ? He has lectured, boldly and ably, up and down our land, in Universalist meeting- houses, and others, in promotion of the Temperance cause ; he has been punctual in his attendance, and forward and interest- ing in the debates of Temperance Conventions. When Univer-" salists have been accused, as a denomination, of hostility to the 332 REV. SYLVAXUS COBB, D.D. Temperance reform, and other great and good moral enter- prises of the day, he has stepped forth, time and again, in defence of the order, mentioning the fact that the General Con- vention of Universalists was the first ecclesiastical body that passed a resolution in favor of the Temperance cause, and that most of our clergymen, and a large portion of the members of our societies, were the open active friends of this cause. And now will he calculate to prevent divisions, and promote the rep- utation and prosperity of our order, by having it understood that we will take no further part or lot in the great and glorious Temperance enterprise, nor in any other moral cause upon which there may, for a time, be difference of opinion ? And is this the way to be * a peace-maker between the parties,' and to *heal divisions' — to let the subject alone'? A difference of opinion has obtained in our community on several moral sub- jects, which all acknowledge to be important subjects. But we desire to have the difference removed, and all to be of one mind. And how shall this be effected ? By a refusal to speak, on the part of those who should exert an influence to give a healthful tone to public sentiment ? and by crying out, disturber of the peace! maker of divisions! against every one who kindly and re- spectfully calls for a hearing on the subject? This, with the power to burn and hang, was once the way to presei-ve union. But now, this will not suffice. When we see the community divided in opinion, we must go forth with the affectionate en- treaty, ' Come, now, and let us reason together.' Let us kindly and fraternally investigate — ' prove all things,' and shortly we shall see ' eye to eye.' In the mean time, we will * keep the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace.' "Will our friend say that he is not opposed to the free and candid discussion of these moral subjects, only he does not think it would be judicious for him to admit such discussion into his paper? Well, we have no controversy with him as to this. We have cast no censure upon any of our editors for the plans they have adopted for their res]3ective papers. One, as the Expositor, may be devoted to heavy religious essays and scrip- ture expositions, excluding the light and controversial reading. Another, as the Ladies' Repository, may be specially devoted to the wants of the female class of the community ; and another, like the Trumpet, may be devoted to the doctrines of Universal- THE MEMOIR. 333 ism, and the affairs of our societies, without extending the practical bearings of those doctrines to any of the great moral enterprises for the reform of injurious popular customs or institutions in the country. Another, like our own humble sheet, may undertake to be a general family paper, giving religious essays, doctrinal and practical, — literary articles, and foreign and domestic news, — and furthermore laboring to show the agency which the gospel should and must have, in reforming the evil customs^ and the institutions founded in wrong, in our country and the world. And why may we not all pursue our respective plans, without endeavoring to excite unjust prejudice against each other ? " But as to the making of divisions by discussing those moral questions, if our brother objects not to the discussion, but to the mode we adopt, it being in a public journal, rather than by lecturing and verbal debate, we must confess surprise at his opinion. We are sure that what is suitable to be publicly lec- tured and debated, is suitable to be printed and read. And men are more likely to write deliberately and calmly, than to s]Deak thus in extemporaneous address, or in the warmth of oral de- bate. We are prone to take a second look at what we write for the press, to go out to the public on a disputed matter. And persons of the opposite opinion, when they sit retired, their natural pride of opinion free from the fear of detection by the gazing crowd on the first flash of conviction in the countenance, can read and weigh argument more calmly than they can hear debate. The fear of harm from writing on a subject which we would fearlessly discuss in public addresses and debates, is groundless fear indeed. But we find no fault with another, be- cause he does not choose to discuss all the subjects which we discuss, in a public journal. * Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same spirit. And there are differences of ad- ministration, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to PROFIT WITHAL. * * And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.' *' We have proti-acted these remarks to a greater length than we intended, and will close by assuring Br. Whittemore, and 334 BEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. the whole community, that our deliberately fixed and determined purpose is, to do all we can to promote union and good feeling among Christians, and to bring into the Christian fraternity the ignorant and those who are out of the way — doing these things by the gentle, yet mighty force of truth. We are sensible of our weakness ; — in a consciousness of pure motive, our reli- ance is on the God and Father of all, for success in our feeble labors and efforts. If we receive any unkind thrusts in the house of our friends, we shall be grieved ; but, the Lord help- ing us, we shall not be discouraged, nor swerved from the path by which we think duty calls us." I thank God that I am able to present these difficulties that beset the path of Mr. Cobb as he entered upon his new field of labor, and am at the same time able to assure the reader that never a ripple, even, came to ruffie the tide of friendship that had so long borne these brethren upon its bosom. Had it been otherwise I should not have brought these reminiscences out from their resting-places. There ■were no troubles in the social field ; in the great work of promulgating a knowledge of the doctrine of God's glorious purpose of the final triumph of good over evil thej^ worked shoulder to shoulder, and hand in hand, as they had done before ; and at the altar of the Risen Saviour they met as though no word save of kindness and good cheer had ever passed between them. And in the after years, when the Christian Freeman had become a power in the denomina- tion, and in the world, there was no contention between them, " save that noble contention, or rather, emulation, of who could best work and best agree." Before closing this chapter I must give the reader two letters which I find among some old files, as showing the diflerent stand-points from which different individuals can view the same subject. Of course I omit names, as the missives were not intended for the public eye ; and I will THE MEMOIR. 335 acid that the writer of the first, the last time I heard from him, was one of the most zealous and ardent Republicans in the country, going in for the utter destruction of slavery, root and branch, as a means of saving the country from ruin and disgrace. Here is letter number one : — *' Lowell, Mass., Nov. 3d, 1839. *'Rev. S. Cobb,— *' Dear Sir, — When I subscribed for your paper I supposed I was going to have a real good Universahst paper, as I knew that you were one of the best preachers in the country, and that you knew how to write for the press, as Iliad read many of your articles in the old Ti-am'pd. But I find that I was sadly mistaken. I could stand your Temperance stuff, ^s I am not a drinking man, though I think a Universalist paper is not exactly the place to print it in, as a good many first-rate Universalists are men who make use of spirituous beverages. But I cannot stand your stuff about Niggers ! You have no business to introduce that kind of politics into a paper that is meant for circulation in our families. I don't want mi/ family to read it. What have we, as Universalists, to do with the Niggers ? They are well enough off as they are. I should say, enough sight better off than many of the poor girls that work in our cotton factories. Such kind of stuft' won't go down with me, and I won't have it ; so you may stop your paper as soon as you please. In your last paper was an article headed ' How shall Slavery be abolished ; ' and you say you shall have more to say about it in your next. But I don't want to see it ; so you may stop my paper. I have paid up to next May, but you may send the rest of the papers that I should get to somebody that loves the Niggers better than does Yours truly. Mr. Cobb did not stop the paper, however ; and it may be that the Freeman itself did something towards bringing this brother from darkness to light. The next letter is as follows : — 336 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. "New Bedfokd, Dec. 7th, 1839. "Rev. S. Cobb,— " Dear Sir and Friend, — I know not how to thank you for the jDleasure and profit I have derived in the perusal of jour truly excellent paper. I was led to subscribe for it in the first place on account of its devotion to Human Freedom. I had lived in the South, having spent three years in Alabama, at work on a large sugar plantation at my trade as a cooper, and I knew something of the terrible sin of slavery. I do not see how a man can be a Christian, and at the same time an upholder of slavery ; nor can I see how a man can be an anti-slavery man if he is afraid to preach it. When I have heard men declare that the subject of slavery was not fit to be carried into the pulpit I could not help thinking what Christ would do could he to-day be sent on earth to redeem America as he was once sent to redeem Judea, and, with it, the world. I think he would not hesitate to sj^eak out against a sin so enormous. The man who says that Christ would have remained silent on such a subject is not a fit follower of the Blessed Lamb whose blood was shed to wash away the sins of the world. " God bless you, sir, in your noble work ; and I have a double reason for blessing you. Before taking your paper my mind had not become settled upon any particular religious faith, though I was rather inclined to the Methodist persuasion. But I have no doubts now. I first thought that the religion which could lead you to speak so boldly for the liberty of a downtrodden and en- slaved race must be a good one, and I have become more than satisfied. As I have read your Scripture expositions from week to week, my eyes have been opened, and I now see my way clearly. If Christ shall, in the end, see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied, what have I to fear ? I know the work he was sent to do, and you have led me to see that he will accomplish it. " I herewith send you two new subscribers for your paper, and the money to pay for the same for one year. May your shadow never be less. " Yours for the oppressed everywhere. THE MEMOIR. 337 And so the work went on. There were some head-flaws, and some sources of vexation ; but there were many gleams of sunshine cast upon the pathway of the bold and devoted defender of the Rights of Humanity ; and he grew strong in the work as he became more and more convinced of the need thereof. 838 JIEV. SYLVANUS COBBy D.D, CHAPTEE IV. Mr. Cobb's position as a Eeformer, — " Between two FIRES," — Br. Greenwood's Acrostic, — Commenda- tory. An obscure man of tbe olden time, desiring to make a noise in tlie world, and to have his name handed down to posterit}^, set fire to the magnificent Temple of Diana, thus in a few hours reducing to a heap of ruins a pile that had occupied the genius of the most celebrated artists, and the time of thousands of workmen, for years. And he gained what he sought. He became at once famed, and his name stands recorded in history among the notables of his day and generation. So at the present time there are men who seek to m.ake a noise in the world simply through convul- sion — who seek to make themselves notorious, caring little what the result to others may be so that they gain the end of personal notoriet}^ There are men calling themselves Reformers whose only object seems to be, to destroy. They have a great penchant for tearing down old institutions ; but they do not burden their minds with thoughts of build- ing up anything. Such men are apt to inscribe upon their banners one or two legends which will enlist the sympathies of those who desire healthy reform ; but these are after all only baits thrown out to draw the unsuspecting and unwary to their standards. For instance : Men have professed great devotion to the principles of Temperance and Human Freedom, while the direct tendency of their eflbrts has THE MEMOIR. 339 been, to break down the sacred institutions of the Sabbath and the Christian Religion. At the time when Mr. Cobb commenced his labors as an apostle of Temperance and Human Freedom there were a class of men in the country, travelling about from place to place, ostensibly to educate the people up to a true stand- ard of opinion on those subjects, but the practical result of whose ministration was, to alienate the people from some of the best and most sacred institutions of the land. Now Mr. Cobb was a reformer, in the strictest and high- est sense of that term ; but he looked to reform for the ac- complishment of something more than simply uprooting old prejudices, and tearing down old institutions. He pro- posed to BUILD UP. If he applied the besom, it was only to sweep away dirt and rubbish ; and if he put his hands to an}^ of the parts of old structures, it was only for the pur- pose of making such alterations as would conduce to the comfort and well-being of society. So, as he went on with his work, he found two classes of opponents whom he was forced to meet and engage. On one hand were those who were entirely satisfied to let things remain as they were ; while on the other were those extreme come-outers who went in for a general system of social devastation. Those men who make the most noise are not the men who do the most work ; and those who make the greatest show of grand preparation are not those who accomplish most. Few men are aware how much Mr. Cobb really ac- complished in the work of Reform, for very few know, or have any idea of, how much labor in that direction he per- formed. There was nothing spasmodic in his movements ; but from the time when first he put his hand to the work to the failing of his strength, his life was one continuous cur- rent of action — action wisely considered, and well-directed, 340 BEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D, bearing him surel}^ on to victory. He had to labor with those who needed instruction in the great principles of moral and social truth ; and he had to hold off those who objected to the dissemination of such knowledge ; and all the while there were not wanting those who were ready on frequent occasions to denounce him because he would not join in all the wild and fantastic isms of the day. He had worked out his course ; he had faith that it was right ; and he would not depart from it ; and I know that he sought God upon his knees very often for guidance and strength. There were those in the Universalist denomina- tion who were inclined to be over-zealous in their opposi- tion to slavery, — who would make that evil a " hobby," to be ridden at all times, and into all places, to the detri- ment of other good and needed reforms. Some few there were who would even go so far as to give the subject of Abolitionism precedence over the legitimate work of dis- seminating the principles of our faith. Such men, in Mr. Cobb's estimation, " put the cart before the horse." He regarded Christianity as the grand motive power, and he who would take to himself a fii*m and sure foundation upon which to erect his superstructure of reform, must be strong in the faith of God's unending love and unswerving justice. It was his religion that led him to labor for the good of the unfortunate children of sin and sorrow, and he would join in no movement which was calculated to detract from the merits of that religion, or to hinder its progress of develop- ment in the minds of his fellow-men. As might have been expected, some of the more ardent and zealous of those Abolitionists who had embraced the Universalist faith sought to make the Freeman the vehicle of their peculiar opinions and ideas, and in the disposition THE MEMOIR. 341 of such matters the editor was called upon to exercise nice judgment. At the close of the previous chapter I remarked that many gleams of sunshine were cast upon the pathway of the editor ; and I have a mind to give one or two of them in this place. He who has never occupied the chair edito- rial cannot fully appreciate the value of kind words of com- mendation from friends and patrons. The product of an editor's labor is cast before the eyes of thousands of critics every week, and if he has the soul in him fit for the work he will be childish enough to wish to know what people say about him. Editors are human, and though they are obliged to bear before the world an appearance of impene- trability, yet they have feelings like other men, and words of praise make them glad. In fact, show me the man who does not experience a thrill of pleasure and satisfaction when a word in praise of some effort which he has made reaches his ear, and I will show you a man who knows not what it is to feel a kindly wish for others. The following was written, as the reader will see by the date, during the third 3^ear of the Freeman's existence, and the words with which the editor introduces it will show how he estimated it. He says, at the introduction, — The following beautiful, sentimental, poetic effusion of Br. Greenwood, is as refreshing as the dews of heaven : — For the Freeman and Visiter. ACROSTIC. T-hou hast come, " Christian Freeman/' a thrice welcome guest, H-aving power to impart of thy spirit to me, E-ver since thy first tones to my ears were address'd, C-onveying the heart-stirring notes of the Free ! H-owbeit, thou stand'st on position unmated, R-elying alone on the strength of thy Cause; 29* 342 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. I-n thy thu3 far career thou hast many elated, S-weet Freedom to hope for, yea, " Freedom with Laws." T-hy foes had foreboded abundance of evil, I-n broaching a subject on which thou hast dwelt, A-nd regarding thy spirit scarce else than the Devil, N-ought but harshness and hatred against thee were dealt : F-or thou walked'st in a path which man's fears had forbidden, R-elying on Riget to conduct thee safe through, E-ven tho' in thy footpath small vipers were hidden ; E-ven tho' they should spit out their venoms at you. Man's Rights, e'en as man, thou hast well vindicated, A-nd nobly contended that all should be free; N-otwithstanding the skin-hues which God hath created, A SOUL, not the color, the standard should be ! N-ow God speed thee onward, on pinions of love, D-ripping balm to the bruised and the bleeding of earth, F-illing those held in thraldom with hope from above, A-nd the hearts of the mourning with gladness and mirth. M-ay thy voice in sweet gospel strains always resounding, I-n behalf of a world having claims upon thee; L-ike the Saviour's voice speak, in true wisdom abounding, Y-e shall all know the Truth, — and the Truth shall make Free ! V-iewing man as the brother of man, the world over, I-n the image of God once created, and bless'd S-ince the Saviour appeared, this great truth to discover, I-n Jesus, the Lord, shall all nations find rest, — T-hy voice lift thou up, without fearing or doubting, E-'en with strength lift it up, and be not afraid; R-elying on God, and still LIBERTY shouting, The blessings of millions shall rest on thy head. T. J. G. Marlboro', Dec, 1841. After I had commenced this chapter, while looking over the third volume of the FREE]yiAN, I came across an article of commendation which I think will fit in here exactly, as it goes to help sustain the position I assumed touching Mr. Cobb's judicious and healthful management of reformatory matters in connection with the affairs of our denomination. THE MEMOIR. 343 It is from the pen of a gentleman of refinement and cul- ture, and occupying a high position in the social and moral world : — For the Christian Freeman. COMJVIENDATORY. " Mr. Editor — I have for some time been furnished with the Christian Freeman and Family Visiter. I have endeav- ored to examine its contents with the care and candor to which works of the kind are entitled ; and a very acceptable visiter, I can assure you, it has proved. *' From the commencement of the publication, a number had occasionally fallen under my eye ; and, from the favorable im- pression thus made, I concluded to take the work, long enough, at least, to make myself somewhat thoroughly acquainted with its general character, and the claims it might have upon the reading portion of our community. *' As I was already pretty amply supplied with periodicals of different descriptions, I know not that I should have thought of adding yours to the number, had it not been for the fact, that some of my most valued friends, those in whose judgment I have found reason to place more than ordinary confidence, had ex- pressed some scruples with respect to the propriety of giving it their countenance and support. " Their scruples arose from an apprehension that some of the topics, the free and full discussion of which you allow in your columns, ought not to be admitted into a religious periodical ; and especially at a time of such high popular excitement in re- gard to them, as the present. ** To some extent, I was myself, perhaps, the subject of a sim- ilar apprehension. This difficulty, however, so far as I am con- cerned, has been wholly surmounted. Not a vestige of it re- mains. By a careful, and, I hope, candid perusal of the Chris- tian Freeman, I have become fully convinced that it is not the topics themselves, to which I have alluded, that are unsuitable for discussion in a religious periodical ; but the unkind, harsh and abusive style in which such discussions have too frequently been carried on. " That the great questions of slavery or no slavery; intem- 344 JiEF. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. perance or no intemperance, are proper subjects of human inquiry, no one can, for a moment, entertain a doubt. The hapless slave whom a most barbarous custom has cruelly abused, and the miserable inebriate who abuses himself, have just de- mands for the fearless and full examination of their respective cases. They have a right to know, and they ought to know, whether the great interests of civilized and Christian society, absolutely require the perpetuation of the unnatural and enor- mous evils of human bondage, and of drunkenness. " The ill-fated and much-to-be-pitied possessor of slaves, and the dishonored and deeply afflicted relatives and friends of the poor, self-degraded, and self-tormented, inebriate, have power- ful claims upon their fellow-men, for a generous and searching investigation of the grounds upon which the dreadful scourges of slavery and inebriation are continued among men. On this account, therefore, no less than on that of the lorn slave and the drunkard themselves, ought these matters to be thoroughly and dispassionately inquired into. " The house of God, moreover, and the common dictates of humanity ; ay, and the spirit of that holy and compassionate religion, professed by the great mass of our community, call aloud and incessantly for such an inquiry. And it is not, I repeat, the subjects themselves, which are fraught with danger; but an indiscreet manner of handling them. '* From the peculiar state of the times ; the position which one section of our common countrymen sustain towards the other ; and, especially, from the intense sensitiveness which pervades our whole land, upon these subjects, the discussion of them calls for a very guarded foresight and discretion. " A hasty and impetuous spirit; a head-strong enthusiasm; a tongue unbridled and habitually denunciatory, hung upon the pivot of a rash and extravagant censoriousness — these ought never to meddle with this grave and benevolent work. It is too high and holy for their habits. They will do it no good, ad- vance it onward not a hair's breadth. No ; they will do it harm ; heap dishonor upon it ; lamentably retard its jDrogress. They have already, and often, done these things, though, I am will- ing to believe, with other and the best intentions. ** In the conductor of the Freeman, however, I am happy to meet with a mind, and a spirit, eminently qualified to do justice THE MEMOIR. 345 to these exciting and difficult subjects, and to all who are in any- way affected by them. I have been much gratified by the cool self-possession, the candor, the tenderness, and, above all, the high-minded and generous regard to the feelings of the parties, deemed by many to be criminally involved, which have hitherto marked your course. They bear the signature of a genuine magnanimity ; and I beg to assure all under whose eye these remarks may fall, that they need not hesitate about subscribing for the Freeman, from an apprehension that they may meet with something offensive in its columns, on the controverted questions to which I have alluded. From what I have seen of the paper, there are, I am confident, no just grounds for the indulgence of any such fears. *' The abolitionist and anti-abolitionist; the temperance man, and he who is not, unless under the dominion of unreasonable prejudices, may read it with equal pleasure and advantage. There is much in every number which I have seen, to instruct, to edify, and to comfort every individual, and every family, desirous of knowing the truth, and of growing ' in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.' " The leading editorial articles, in particular, I deem to be exceedingly valuable. They discuss, in a very plain and thor- ough manner, subjects of general and thrilling interest, and with which all whose minds are exercised, as they ought to be, upon the great question respecting the true meaning of the holy Scriptures, must feel deeply anxious to become acquainted. "The tales, also, which occasionally meet with an insertion, will be found entertaining and profitable, as each one carries along with it a moral, rich in spiritual and practical influences. *' In a word, without any intention to flatter, I can truly say, that, in my own opinion, for general, family use, if on no other account, the Christian Freeman and Family Visiter justly deserves a rank among the very best of the religious periodicals of the age." This book will fall under the eyes of many who never saw the Christian Freeman, and I have devoted thus much space to these commendatory articles in order to 346 nEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. show in what light the paper was held by good and true men. When I was j'ounger than I am now, and when the pub- lication of a hebdomadal devoted to the interests of a dis- tinctive organization had flattened down my pocket-book to a degree of thinness truly alarming, I aspired to an office in the Boston Custom House. The first name upon my petition was that of ex-Governor Briggs, and the sec- ond, Dea. Moses Grant. '' Never mind the rest," said Mr. Greeley, the collector, when he had cast his eyes upon those two autographs ; " if you had a thousand more signa- tures they would not lead me to give your petition a more favorable consideration than will those two." And so it is in all departments of life. So far as gen- eral principles are concerned, the evidence of one or two intelligent witnesses is sufficient to establish the truth. It is a fact that Mr. Cobb gave to the public an excellent famil}^ paper, and he spared no pains of time, labor, or money, to make the Freeman a welcome and entertaining Visiter to the thousands of families that had given it a place at their firesides. THE MEMOIR, 347 CHAPTEE V. Mr. Cobb's Temperance, — His first Glass, — Uproot- ing OLD Customs, — A return of Bread cast upon THE WATERS, AnECDOTE. Mr. Cobb was a Temperance man from inclination as well as principle. Except when prescribed by a medical practitioner, he never but once in his life tasted of distilled spirit. Upon his father's farm, as itpon all other farms in those days, alcoholic beverages were furnished for such of the workmen as desired them, especially during the sea- sons of sheep-washing and haying ; and the spirit most generally in use was " pure old New-England Rum." One warm, sweltering day in July, when the hands came in from the haj^-field to their dinner, the brown jug was taken from the closet and placed upon a side table, and those who felt the need thereof " took a drop " before sitting down to the meal. One tough old fellow, who had done work enough to entitle him to the privilege of an " extra drop," poured out nearly half a tumbler full, and having drank it off, without addition of water or sugar, he smacked his lips as though he loved it. The subject of our memoir, then a boy of some ten years, had conceived quite a liking for this old Trojan, and he fancied that there must be something re- markabl}^ good in the beverage that had given him such apparent satisfaction. It was not often that such an op- portunity was presented, as the host seldom brought that 348 liEV. STLVANUS COBB^ D.D. jug out from its place of rest save when others than mem- bers of his family were at work for him, and on the present occasion the lad thought he would try a taste of the liquor. So he poured some out into a tumbler, and put it to his lips as the Trojan had done before him, in its pure and un- diluted state. He took one swallow, and, with a smothered gasp of agony, he dropped the glass, and started for the water-pail. His sensitive palate was on fire ; tears started from his eyes ; and a shudder ran through his frame as though he had received a shock from an electric battery. As soon as he had regained his breath, and rinsed out his mouth, he looked back upon the brown jug and wondered how a man could drink that stuff and love it. He had re- ceived it upon its first introduction in its pure and natural state, and that once suflSced. He never tried it again. The reader who has perused the Autobiography has seen at what an early date Mr. Cobb commenced his labors as a Temperance Reformer. There are men who have made vastly more noise in the Temperance world, and who have become more popular upon the Temperance rostrum ; but I know there are none w^ho have labored more faithfully, and I doubt if there are any who have labored more suc- cessfully. He commenced when it was unpopular to be a temperance man. He urged total abstinence upon his friends when he stood almost alone upon that platform. He did not open his career surrounded by a sympathizing multitude ; he did not have, in those pioneer times, meet- ings appointed for him by the leading citizens of a town, and find himself applauded and cheered by the solid men of the community. He did not find himself backed up by public opinion, with all the wives and daughters on his side. No, — he had to go at work and make that public opinion, and the wives and daughters of leading citizens THE MEMOIR. 349 were among those whom he had to educate up to a ?>ym- pathy with his cause. Occupjing a position which, far more than most positions of life, required that, for his own comfort, he should draw the hearts of men unto him, he had the manly courage to take the Temperance Pledge in his hand and go forth among his parishioners for signa- tures. And what was it that he asked his friends and neighbors to do ? It was to make a radical change in their habits of social life — to uproot and cast out one of the most general and significant of all social customs. At that time the decanter was upon nearly QXQvy sideboard, and the host who suffered a visiter to come and go without offering a glass of spirits was considered to have committed a gross impropriet}' . The minister, and the doctor, calling either in a social or professional capacity, must be presented with the " generous stimulant," and even an ecclesiastical coun- cil was not considered perfect in its appurtenances if the decanters and glasses were wanting. And then let it be particularly borne in mind that the women were the m.ost unwilling of all to listen to the proposition for a change in this custom. To them was entrusted the charge of the hospitalities of the house, and theirs was the privilege of extending the " spirit " welcome. The matron was proud of her glittering array of decanters and finely cut and pol- ished goblets, and if these were removed it seemed to her that she should be forsaken by her friends. I will not say that women are more slaves to custom than are the men ; but it is true that they are more strongly attached to social and domestic habits and institutions ; and though the women now — God bless them ! — are foremost in the good work, yet in those times they were ver}^ loath to have their china-closets and side-boards stripped of their prettiest ware. 30 350 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. Such was the state of things when Mr. Cobb devoted himself to the temperance work. He had no hope of pecuniary return ; and, in fact, he sought no return save such return of happy reflection as might be his to enjoy consequent upon good done to his fellow-men. In these later days temperance workmen have been reaping where he sowed. Many and many a glorious temperance crop has been gathered by true-hearted, zealous laborers, which came from seed that he sowed in those other 3'ears. And he lived to see his work prosper ; and his heart was often made glad upon beholding the rich returns of moral fruit in those places where he had " cast his bread upon the waters." During the month of April, 1842, Mr. Cobb's eye caught the following item in the " Mercantile Journal,'' of Bos- ton: — " Three cheers for Malden. — At a public meeting of the citizens of Maiden, on Monday last, the question came before the town, Avhether the Selectmen should be instructed to grant any licenses for the sale of intoxicating drinks. NO ! was the UNANIMOUS answer. What town will beat this ? " Such items as this brought gleams of comfort to the pioneer, and called up pleasing reflections in his mind. Upon the foregoing scrap of intelligence Mr. Cobb, in his paper of April 22d, remarks as follows : — "This intelligence is j^leasing to us, particularly so, as the inhabitants of Maiden are our old neighbors and associates, and as that is the field of our early temperance labors. For ten years we ofliciated as Pastor of the First Parish in that town. When the Temperance Society had been in operation there a short time, and we had prepared the way by occasional private conversation, and by a public discourse on it in our own desk, on a fast day, we borrowed the Temperance Constitution, and THE MEMOIR. 351 went from house to house among the members of our society, solicitmg then* names. This was no small undertaking. We had a great variety of objections to encounter, and generally a considerable discussion at each house. Some said, ' It is a sec- tarian thing ; the society has conducted the matter in a sectarian sjiirit; and when we have been in to hear a temperance lecture, we have been paid off with a sectarian sermon.' Upon this we would endeavor to show them that they must consider the merits of the temperance cause, independently of the management of its professed friends; that if the cause was good, they were morally bound to give it their support ; that they ought not to leave so good a cause in what they called sectarian hands, but should go forward and do their own duty, &c., &c. Ojjiers would urge that they knew best what was good for themselves ; and others, that they would not sign away tlieir liberty. All these objections, too, had to be talked over. We succeeded, however, to obtain the signatures of nearly fifty heads of families in our society, in the first tour through, which required about a week's time. "One case in particular we will mention, as an example of good principle. We called upon a gentleman who had long been a sea Captain in the East India trade. We presented the case before him, and he cheerfully responded, ' I have been in the habit of taking a social glass of spirits with a friend occasionally ; but if I can do any good by signing the pledge, and dispensing with the habit, I will do so.' His lady remarked that she had no desire to take spirit except when she came in chilly on a cold evening, and felt that there was danger of taking a cold. Then she found that a little hot drink, with a mixture of some kind of spirit, was warming — Our 'help-meet,' who happened to be with us on this call, re^Dlied, that doubtless she found the hot toddy more conducive to warmth than nothing, but there were substitutes which would answer as good a purpose, or probably better. For one of the substitutes she gave to the lady a recipe for a pleasantginger tea. ' AVell,' said she, * add my name with my husband's to the Temperance pledge.' Since then, this gen- tleman and lady have done more good to society, by their tem- perance influence, than they could have done by bequeathing their whole estate, to endow literary and benevolent institu- tions. 352 EEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. "But there were some who became unfriendly towards us, because of our interest in the Temperance reform, and especially for our once signing a memorial to the County Commissioners, expressing the opinion that the licensing of dramselling would not subserve the public good. But we have never regretted the part taken by us in the Temperance reform ; and we now rejoice in the blessed consummation in said town, in that, though there are doubtless a few individuals dissenting from this position, it has already come to pass that the town meeting has unanimously voted the truth of the same doctrine to which we subscribed our name some number of years ago. Brethren in Maiden, ' hold fast that which is good.' " In his speeches upon Temperance Mr. Cobb seldom, if ever, sought to amuse his hearers ; and he never essaj^ed to create smiles by presenting the subject of intemperance in any of its fmmy lights. He always treated the subject in solemn seriousness, and made his appeals directly to the heart and understanding. He never attempted to set an audience agape with wonder by drawing f)ictures that never had foundation in fact ; and he never allowed him- self to barst forth into wild, senseless tirade against any class of his misguided fellow-men; but he spoke calmly and deliberately, sometimes warming into zealous invective against the giant wrong, and severely denouncing those who sought to fasten that wrong upon the community. There was one quality in Mr. Cobb as a reformatory speaker which peculiarly fitted him for the work. Under no circumstances could language be drawn from him in the heat of debate which he would wish to toi\e down upon after reflection ; and the result of this was, that he could never be moved from positions once assumed. He pos- sessed qualities which would have constituted him a most excellent Judge. He never expressed a decided opinion until he had given the subject in hand a critical investiga- THE MEMOIR. 353 tion ; and, moreover, his intuition was constitutional!}^ healthy and reliable. The very ponderosity and calm truth- fulness of his arguments rendered it impossible for him to produce one of those pretty, poetical, flowery speeches which delight an audience for the time being, but which im- press upon the mind no ideas that can be carried home for after stud}^ and profit. He aimed not so much to elicit present response of applause as to fasten upon the mind wise and serious maxims of life that should grow and bear fruit in the time to come. Even in ordinary conversation he was guarded by this same principle. He seemed to regard spoken words as so many indices of the mind by which a man is liable at an 3^ time, and under an}- circum- stances, to be judged. The duties and labors consequent upon the publication of his paper did not prevent Mr. Cobb from laboring in the Temperance field as before. He was of course obliged to relinquish his agency of the Middlesex County Society ; but instead of his usefulness being diminished it was rather augmented, for not only did his paper, with its healthy Temperance doctrines, find its way into families all over the land, but he was able to extend his circuit. He did not confine his labors to the rostrum. It was his custom, and his pleasure, to visit families where he thought his words of warning or of cheer would be productive of good ; and he also visited those engaged in the traffic in spirit- uous beverages, endeavoring to win them over to a better life by reason and argument ; and I know that in several instances he was the direct means of the quiet closing of bars where the death-dealing poison had been sold. Dur- ing his long term of service in the Temperance field he was more than once threatened with personal violence by those who fancied he was infringing upon their liberties ; but 30* 354 JiEV. SYLVAXirS COBB, D.D. never a hand was laid upon him, and never a successful attempt made to interrupt him while speaking. "When there chanced to be any show of unmannerly obtrusion by the rum influence through its unfortunate devotees, as was sometimes the case, he generally managed to turn the bat- tery a'gainst those who had brought it upon the field. One instance of the kind which occurred about tliirt}^- three years ago, I will relate. Mr. Cobb had been announced to deliver a lecture on Temperance in a town not far from Lowell, and as it was known that he was a strong pleader for the establishment of such laws as were needed to protect society against the evil, the rummies had reason to fear his influence. They did not object to the lecturing of those who were content to let the rum-traffic have the protection of the statutes ; but they liked not the idea of having their business branded by legal enactments, so they thought it would be good policy to " choke oflf" this lecturer. One of their number made his boast that he would " shut Mr. Cobb's mouth so that he could not speak," and a number of his friends were pres- ent to witness the fun. Now it so happened that the man who had made this boast was one who, when free from rum, was industrious and kind-hearted, and who, moreover, had a respectable share of pride in his composition. On the evening in ques- tion he entered the meeting-house, where the lecture was to be given, and took his position in one of the side aisles, about midway between the door and the pulpit. He was well-dressed, and would have had the appearance of a gen- tleman had it not been for the flushed face and unsteady mien which betrayed the domination of the old tyrant al- cohol. Mr. Cobb, as was his habit, swept his eye over his audi- THE MEMOIR, 355 ence as he arose, to mark the spirit with which he was to be received. He had been so long in the field, and had had so much experience in reading the character of an assembly at a glance, that he seldom failed to discover the where- abouts and intent of enemies, if any such were present. Almost the first thing that attracted his attention was the man standing in the aisle, and in a moment more he dis- covered a pew full of red-faced men who seemed to be look- ing to this individual as though for approaching sport. He saw it all while yet he was making his introductory re- marks, and with shrewd judgment he calculated about what sort of force he had better hold in reserve to meet the exi- gency if it should arise. The lecturer commenced, and ere he had proceeded far the man in the aisle raised his voice to dispute one of the speaker's statements, upon which Mr. Cobb simply repeat- ed the statement, and went on. Again, and again, did the intruder interrupt the lecture, finally using language vulgar and abusive, whereat the red-faced men in the pew were greatly delighted. At length two gentlemen arose, and started towards the abusive interloper for the purpose of removing him, and as this movement was made there was considerable excitement among the female portion of the audience in anticipation of trouble. At this juncture Mr. Cobb, with one of those efforts which never failed, commanded silence, and in a moment all eyes were turned upon him to see what he would do ; and while the audience, rummies and all, were on the qui mve to know what would be the result, he raised his hand towards the gentlemen who had started to put the annoy- ance out, and, with a pleasant smile, and in a tone of hu- morous honesty, he said, — " Gentlemen, I hope you will not deprive us of the help BoG JtEF. SYLVAN us COBB, D.D. which our opposing friends have inadvertently lent us. The surgeon, when lecturing to his class on the science of anatomy, finds it very convenient to have a subject upon which to demonstrate the lessons he would enforce. So we have before us a living subject, and if 3'ou will give j^our attention you will see it practically demonstrated how rum can abuse those who use it as a beverage." At the close of these remarks all eyes were turned from the speaker to the *' living subject," and that misguided in- dividual, totally unable to bear the gaze of so man}^ and feeling that he had suffered himself to be led into a position of disgrace and humiliation, shrank down as far out of sight as possible, and during the remainder of the lecture was one of the most attentive listeners. The demonstrative " subject " was withdrawn, but the episode proved a happy one to both the lecturer and his audience, and much good resulted from it. And it is safe to conclude that the hero of that occasion never afterwards attempted to " shut up the mouth " of a temperance lec- turer. "What Mr. Cobb might have done if an opponent had attempted to lay violent hands upon him I cannot say. I saw him once, when he was in his prime, and his muscles all in tune, cast a vicious horse upon the ground as I would have shaken off a troublesome child. But I can say that the man who thought to overcome him by any strategy of debate or indecent interruption, assumed a task not easy of accomplishment. In taking a survey of the results of Mr. Cobb's labors in the Temperance field we shall find that there are men who have induced more signers to the Pledge than has he ; and so there are men who have created more enthusiasm for the hour, and called more hearers to hang upon the elo- THE MEMOIR. 357 quence of their lips, and listen to their quaint sayings and startling anecdotes. There are men who, coming up them- selves from the dreadful pit, ha,ve been able to picture the evil as he could not picture it, and lead old companions up from their slough by a bond of sympathy which he could not reach. But I think no man has done more towards educating the people up to a proper understanding of the great principles involved, and in leading them to a safe and healthy stand-point. In short, for the blessing of that mighty power which bears down upon Intemperance through the ballot-box society is indebted to no man more than to Sylvanus Cobb. 358 r^EV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. CHAPTER VI. Mr. Cobb in his Sanctum, — Visit to a Great-great Uncle, — Retrospective. Mr. Cobb was now fairly at work as a publisher and editor, and from the issuing of his Prospectus, in 1839, to the close of his editorial labors, he left no stone unturned beneath which could be found anything that might be worked up for the moral, social, religious, or intellectual benefit of his patrons. He had not only travelled exten- sively over the country, and seen the wants of our denom- ination touching information upon the stirring topics of the day ; but he had also made himself acquainted with the tastes and desires of the youthful members of the commu- nity, as well as with the likes and fancies of the children. So, in making up his paper, he took under consideration all these various needs, and governed himself accordingly. The result was that the Christian Freeman soon became a pleasant and cherished visiter to the family ; and there were cases where the head of a family would propose to stop it on account of its Temperance or Anti-Slavery fea- tures, when the wife and children stepped in to oppose the giving up of so pleasant and entertaining a companion. Many of those friends who professed, and probably felt, a deep interest in Mr. Cobb's pecuniary welfare, advised him to give up his advocacy of these peculiar reforms ; but he had no disposition to profit by such counsel. His posi- THE MEMOIR. 359 tion had been taken ; with humble recognition of his (\\xiy to God and to his fellowmen, he firmly believed that he was right ; and no consideration of self-interest could be presented strong enough to swerve him from the course which his sense of Right and Justice had dictated, and to which the holiest instincts of his heart gave sanction. During the year 1840, and the first months of the suc- ceeding 3'ear, Mr. Cobb labored zealously for his paper, travelling much over the countrj^, lecturing and preaching, and obtaining subscribers. I can remember that he was upon the move continually, and by reference to his Journal I find that he was hard at work all the time. He knew not what it was to be idle, for both his natural inclinations and his necessities kept him busy. His paper, though its cir- culation was quite extensive, was not 3'et self-sustaining ; or, at all events, it yielded yet not a penny for the support of himself and family, so he was forced to work early and late — to work wherever and whenever he could. He pub- lished his paper upon the credit plan, and he was furnish- ing hundreds of papers every week for which he had re- ceived no pay. As he entered upon the second year he found numerous patrons neglecting him — taking his paper to their families, and enjoying its freight of good things, but forgetting to pay up. Mr. Careless, of Notown, knew that he had entered upon an unpaid term ; but the amount due from him was only two dollars, and that could not amount to much either way, — paid, or unpaid. But the pub- lisher had to pay the paper-maker every week ; or, at least, every month ; and also the help in the office had to be paid. He wanted five hundred dollars which he did not possess ; he needed it, and have it he must. Now by referring to his books he finds that there are, even in this second year, five or six hundred of these Messrs. Careless, owing him, in 360 REV. STLVANUS COBB, D.D. the aggregate, over a thousand doHars. AVhat shall he do? They are scattered all over New England, and he can reach them only through his paper. AVh}- — he must do the best he can. He must not offend his patrons by too frequent duns ; so be must borrow to meet an emergency, and then drive off upon a lecturing tour ; and he must remain out, too, until he has earned money enough to help him over the trouble. In the Autumn of 1840 Mr. Cobb visited the place where his ancestors first found a home upon this side of the ocean, and as the visit was one of peculiar interest to him, and cannot fail of interesting the reader, I copy his account thereof from the Freeman of Nov. 20th, 1840 : — "Last Sunda,y I had the privilege of jDreaching in Kingston, Mass., the land of my forefathers. Here I met with a goodly number of intelligent and practical believers in the great salva- tion; and Ave had happy meetings. After the afternoon meet- ing, I called at the ancient mansion, which was the residence of my great-great-uncle, Ebenezer Cobb, who lived to be nearly a hundred and eight years old. I had heard, from my parents and others, so much said of the old patriarch, that my visit to the mansion he- inhabited was attended with sensations similar to what would be excited in Christian pilgrims on visiting the scenes celebrated in Scripture history. " The old gentleman was celebrated for his cheerful piety ; and several anecdotes of him illustrate his cheerfulness of disposi- tion. On his hundredth birthday, he had a sermon preached at his house, called his Century Sermon. Mr. Willis, who, I believe, is yet living, was minister in Kingston at the time, — but he being quite young, it was thought by the sons, some of whom were nearly eighty years old, that it would be more suitable to get Parson Robbins, of Plymouth, the old gentleman's former minister, to preach the Century Sermon. This they did. After- wards the young parson Willis gave some intimation that he had expected to be called upon for that service. ' Well, well,' said the old man, 'it was my boys' doing. But never mind; when I THE MEMOIR. 361 have my next Centur}' Sermon preached, yon shall be called upon.' "He had been blind for some time, thongh his bodily health was good. He walked out with the company after the services, and remarked with much sang froid, ' I cannot see an honest man among you all.' *' It was common in these days to associate much gloom with religion, and religionists were prone to put on a melancholy tone in conversing with old people, who were nigh the tomb. A young preacher called upon the old man, and in a doleful pitch of voice asked him what he thought of dying. He, not well relishing such airs, familiarly rejplied, ' It is seldom that a man of my age dies.' *' When the minister of the place was, on a Lord's day, cat- echising the children after the meeting, and had made progress in the old Primer lesson which begins with, ' Who is the first man ? ' as he came at length to a little girl with the question, ' Who was the oldest man.f^' she j^ertly answered, ' Gran'ther Cobb.' The risibles of the minister were so excited by the answer, that he could not correct her, and he let it pass. " I was happy to find the old homestead in the hand and occu- pancy of the direct descendants, being grandchildren, one of whom was thirty years of age when the old saint died, which was about forty years ago. They conducted me into ' the great room ' in which the Century Sermon was preached, pointed out the spot where the Parson stood, and the way in which the com- pany with the patriarch took their walk. I was interested also with examining a relic of antiquity, a large chest, with much panel and carved work, brought from England by m3^ forefather, six generations back, who came over in the next vessel that came after the Mayflower. *'I find in Kingston much of that true politeness which is found in the simple and friendl}^ j)uritanic manners. And the gospel of God's boundless love, so congenial with the friendly and peaceable mind, is making advances among them to do them good." Among the sources of satisfaction and comfort which were Mr. Cobb's to enjoy in the midst of his arduous labors, none were more inspiring than were the items of 31 362 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. intelligence that came to him from various quarters, of the growth and prosperity of the denomination which he so fondly loved, and to the upbuilding of Avhich he had devoted so much of his time and strength. In the month of March, 1841, looking back over the years he had spent in Massachusetts, he made the following entry in his Journal : — "When we came into this State, and settled in Maiden, thir- teen years ago next month, the old Orthodox parish in that town, being at that time converted to a Universalist society, there was hardly another Universalist society in the Common- wealth, having a Meeting-house and constant preaching, except- ing one in Haverhill, two in Gloucester, one in Salem, one in Charlestown, three in Boston, one in Cambridgeport, one in Roxbury, and one in Lowell. Since then there have been Meeting-houses built, and constant worshi^^ established, as fol- lows: one in Woburn, one in Medford, one in South Reading, one in Andover, one in Marblehead, one in Essex, one in New- buryport, two in Danvers, two in Lynn, two in Boston, one in Quincy, one in Weymouth, one in Hingham, one in Hyannis, one in Brewster, one in New Bedford, one in Waltham, one in Holliston, one inFramingham, one in Marlborough, one in West Cambridge, one in East Cambridge, one in Methuen, one in East Lexington, one in Concord, one in Spencer, one in Barre, one in Petersham, one in Stoneham, one in Lowell, one in Wrentham. These we have put down upon a hasty run of the mind over the State, doubtless missing some new houses where constant worship is supported. Then there are many places where, within the above-mentioned time. Meeting-houses formerly occu- pied by other sects, have fallen into the persuasion of Univer- salists, where constant preaching is enjoyed, and where new Meeting-houses have been built by newly gathered societies, who have the preached word a portion of the time, and where societies have been raised, who have not a Meeting-house, but worship a portion or all of the time in some place temporarily engaged for the purpose. Besides, two of the old societies first named have torn down their old Meeting-houses, and built new ones, several have remodelled their places of worship at con- siderable expense. And our societies are generaliv in a moj-^ THE MEMOIR. 363 active and flourishiug condition than the few, even, were for- merly in. " Yet there are some whose ears are very pleasiirably tickled by hearing statements from certain pulpit declaimers, of what nobody believes, that Universalism is fast declining ! ! When will they cease to ' glory in their own shame ? ' " Surely his labor was bearing fruit, not only in the denominational field, but in other fields upon the soil of which he had cast good seed. And so he labored on, cheerfully and hopefully. The times were coming, he thought, when he should be able to sit down and rest. It was bard then ; but it could not be always so. He saw gleams in the horizon which told to him of the coming of a brighter day — a day in which he should be called to toil onl}^ for the love he bore his fellowmen — when the toil- ings of the other years should have yielded him a compe- tence, enabling him to render cheerful and inviting the patriarchal home where his loved ones should find always sweet rest and refuge while thej^ lived. Home was to him ****** tiig sphere of harmony and peace, The spot where angels find a resting-place, When, bearing blessings, they descend to earth." A blessing to him, in those days of labor and trial, was the hope that sustained and led him on ; and I doubt if there are man}^ men who enjoy more in the realization of hope's full fruition than was his to enjoy in the anticipa- tion. It made him buoyant and strong, for every blow he struck was towards a cherished purpose. " Hope, of all passions, most befriends us here; Passions of prouder name befriend us less. Joy has her tears; and transport has her death; Hope, like a cordial, innocent though strong, 364 JtEF. SYLVAXiTs conn, d.d. Man's heart at onco inspirits, and serenes; Nor makes bim pay bis wisdom for bis joys; 'Tis all our present state can safely bear, Health to the frame, and vigor to the mind ! A joy attcmper'd ! — a cbastis'd delight ! Like the fair summer ev'ning, mild and sweet ! 'Tis man's full cup; his paradise below ! " THE MEMOIR. 365 CHAPTER Vn. Removal to East Boston, — The "Castle of Peace," — The Bath-Hotjse, — Its Story, — Ups and Downs of the Society, — Sunday School, — A Glance at the Inner Man. In the early part of the year 1841, and towards the close of the second volume of the Christian Freesian, Mr. Cobb made up his miud that it would be for his interest to re- move from Waltham, and take up his abode in Boston, where, in the time to come, must of necessity be the centre of his business area as a publisher. That " New House " had never been wholly paid for, and the thought that such a debt hung upon him, the payment of which must swallow up money that ought to be used for the advancement of the interest of his paper, w^orried him more than he was ever willing to confess. In fact, he never confessed to any- thing's worrjing him ; but those who loved him, and sym- pathized with him, could plainl}^ see w^hen these unpleasant burdens weighed upon him ; for there are certain involun- tary muscles underlying the delicate integument of the face which will respond to the action of care upon the mind in spitQ of all a man may do to conceal it. The human face may well be termed " a mirror of the soul," for every man possessing a living soul, in which great emotions find birth, must, to a greater or less degree, look the things he feels. The Freeman prospered — perhaps as much as its pub- 81* 366 REV. SYLVANUS CGBB, D.D. lisber had anticipated ; but in another quarter his antici- pations were not realized, of which I will speak presently. In his issue of March 19th, 1841, Mr. Cobb speaks to his patrons as follows : — ^ *♦ We have concluded to remove our Printing Office into Bos- ton, and to take up our residence in that city, about the time of the commencement of the third volume of the Christian Free- man, which will be the first of May next. *' Several considerations have concurred to determine us to this step. 1. As the list of our patrons, and consequently the business of publication, is increased, we find a growing incon- venience in having our residence, and our press, so far from our city office. 2. We are quite sure that we can increase the value of the paper by having it published in the city, and residing there. 3. Many of our esteemed friends who feel an interest for the prosperity of our enterprise, for the sake of the common cause, have expressed a desire for such an arrangement. 4. The new, and the present growing Society in East Boston, de- sire us to five and labor with them in word and doctrine. * * " The change here announced will include an entirely new con- tract for the publication, and it hereby becomes indispensably necessary that we should settle up all old affairs, to be able to do "vvhich we must receive all arreages on our paper. It is earnest- ly requested that all subscribers who owe for the past or current volume, or both, should send in their due immediately. Breth- ren, do not wait to have your bills sent; you know what is due. Send it on, and it shall be faithfully put in order on our books. If you have not an oiDportunity to send by private hand, get your Postmaster to forward it. Where it is more convenient, pay to our Agent in your respective towns. Agents will prompt- ly forward this business of collection, &c. " ^^ Let us be able to say to the world in a few weeks, that all the Subscribers to the Christian Freeman and Family Visiter, are PAYING SUBSCRIBERS." I have reproduced this appeal of Mr. Cobb to his sub- scribers, in connection with the notice of his intended re- moval, for the purpose of offering a few remarks upon the THE MEMOIR. 367 subject of those anticipations of his which had not been realized. This was the first instance, I believe, in which he had made an earnest appeal to his subscribers to pay up. In arranging his business, and making his expendi- tures, he had based his calculations upon the supposition that those who took his paper would pay him for it. In taking a careful survey of the field, and comparing his ex- penses with his resources, he found that, if his subscribers exercised towards him an}i;hing of the spirit of the Golden Eule, he should come out all square at the end of the year. He could sell his comfortable house in TValtham, together with the twelve-acre lot, for just about enough to make him square with the world, leaving him the possessor of his household furniture and clothing, and just material enough of books, and types, and cases, and presses, to enable him to get out his paper. He had paid in part for his house ; but more than that had been swallowed up by the publica- tion of the Fkeeman, so that when he came to receive the price for his real estate, and had paid his debts, he had not a penny left which he could appropriate to the building or purchase of another habitation. In fact, a combination of circumstances conspired to render his pecuniary situation at that time anything but pleasant. And now, ye delinquent subscribers — men of means and of ability — whom Mr. Cobb so earnestly entreated to come up to the line of simple duty and justice, and pay the pal- try sums 'you owed, do yoM know that the only real cloud that ever settled down, dark and chilling, over his life, arose from your neglect ? Do you know how many da3^s, and weeks, and months, of anxiety and unrest you gave him ? If you do not, I can tell you. First, I tell you truly, had you paid him promptly for the papers he sent you he would have been relieved from all trouble in the management of 368 liEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. his business. Had the money from his subscribers, when due, been forwarded through the mail, or by the hand of some friend coming to Boston, he could have sat quietly and peacefully at his desk, throwing all his energy into his paper ; but you did not so bless him ; you neglected him, and he suffered. When he should have been resting from labor, he was at work the hardest. Here comes a note, in bank, due to-day. He borrows of a friend, hoping that ere the week is out remittances enough will come in to enable him to meet it. The week passes, and the remittances do not come. Then he goes to a broker and hires the money to refund what he had borrowed of his friend ; and then he drives away over the country to collect of his subscribers, — two dollars here, and two dollars there, and elsewhere two more, — and so on, over a wide territory, to scrape to- gether the needed sum. Sometimes luck would be against him. Stopping at L , or at S , he looks at his pocket memorandum, and finds that on the second or third da}^ from that another note in bank becomes due. To col- lect the amount is impossible ; protest he must not allow. promises to return in one or two weeks. And in the end, worn and weary, he reaches his home, and the prospect before him has not grown much brighter. The friend in L must be paid, and the money coming in by mail will not more than paj^ the help. One more appeal to the de- linquents ! " O ! if my subscribers would but pay me what they owe, how happy I should be ! " So utters the perplexed editor, in travail of soul ; and he wonders how it would seem to have those who were indebted to him, all pay him. But he has no time, nor has he the disposition to repine. He must down at his desk, and write his editorials ; and THE MEMOIM. 369 in order that this maybe done well, all perplexing thoughts must be driven from his mind. And here we have a glimpse at the only source whence ever arose even a whisper of just complaint against any thought or act of Mr. Cobb's life. Why may I not speak of it, and speak of it frankly and freel}^, now that we have it directly before us ? Bills that must be paid come crowding in, and the friend in L does not get his money until a month has passed, and perhaps a longer time. And the friend in L is not the only case of the kind. His is a representative case. — Had it been an ordinary business-man who had neglected thus to pay a debt — especially of borrowed money — not so much would have been thought of it ; but for a clergy- man — a preacher of the gospel — thus to do, is deemed very strange, and various remarks are made thereon. Ministers are never judged by the world upon a plane with other men. They are held in a " cross light," as it were, and specks are discovered and marked which would have remained unnoticed in the character of another. And, moreover, in this unfair light not only are these tiny motes rendered palpable to sight, but small errors seem large, while large ones become distorted into monstrous propor- tions. But enough of this. The good man has gone, and on all the earth he has not left a man unpaid to whom he justly owed anything. Judge him ye who will, in what light pleasethyqubest, and ye shall find nothing laid up against him. But O, ye delinquent subscribers ! How shall ye be judged? What balm of healing can reach your souls? — what excuse have yo, to offer ? How can you undo what you have done ? — how do that which ye neglected to do in the 370 REV. SYLVANUS CODB^ D.I). day Avhcn sore need pressed hard upon him whom you owed, and whose heart might have been made to leap with joy had ye but given to him of your abundance the simple sums that were your dues ? Mr. Cobb moved with his family to East Boston early in Ma}^, renting a house in " Locke's Block," on Sumner St., which he occupied three years, when he removed to a large, new house, on the corner of Webster St. and Belmont Square, which he had erected for himself. The location was one of the finest on the Island, commanding a view of the harbor, with its islands and distant shores, and also overlooking most of the territory of the Island itself. In this enterprise he was more fortunate than he had been with the building enterprise at Waltham. He obtained the land at a very cheap rate, having two good house-lots left after he had erected his own dwelling, which in time he sold at an advance of some two hundred per cent, over the price he had paid. And this was his home ; and when he had become settled in it, and had fully assured himself that it was his own, only to be taken from him by some event beyond his power to control, he planted here his vines, and set up his household gods, being determined that upon this pleasant and attractive spot his " hours at home " should be spent for the remainder of his life. And his plan was realized. In this " Castle of Peace "* he * The dwelling of Mr. Cobb received this appellation at an early day, and dur- ing the later years of his life, when his children had grown up, and were often gathered beneath the old roof-tree with their children, there came to be some- thing of solemn and happy significance in the name, and by such it was generally known and designated among a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. It originated as follows : One bright, moonlight evening, while residing in Mai- den, Mr. Cobb's theological students held a meeting under the giant Sycamore in the door-yard, and dedicated the dwelling of their teacher, consecrating it to the Genius of the Domestic Virtues, and bestowing upon it the title — " Castle of Peace." As this testimonial name was a tribute to the household rather than to the mere house which had been built with hands, Mr. Cobb bore it with him THE MEMOIR. 371 found a home during twenty-two years ; and they were years crowded with the most stu'ring and eventful labors of his long and useful career. The Society at East Boston was young and small ; but there were warm hearts and willing hands, and Mr. Cobb took hold with them, willing to labor, and share with them the work of building up. There were some genial spirits in the gathering, and the seasons of social intercourse were refreshing in the extreme. When the Island was hardly yet thought of as a place of settlement for business men, a large and commodious hotel, called the" Maverick House," had been erected as a summer resort, and a healthful board- ing-place for those who might wish to avail themselves of a transient home of the kind so near to the city. Connected with this hotel had been constructed a house for bathing purposes ; but as the business of the establishment did not long require the bathing-house, this latter building was appropriated to other uses, and w^as finally hired by the Universalist Society as a place for worship. It was a neat, pretty building, centrally located, and though of humble proportions when compared with the costly churches that now surround the spot where once it stood, 3'et it was sufficient in every respect, and I opine that never was God more devoutly worshipped than he has been by the children of his grace who have assembled there, with united hearts and tongues, to do him reverence. Mr. Cobb preached for the Society several times during the winter of 1840-41, and in the spring of the latter year, by the unanimous request of the members, he became their settled pastor. Under his ministration the society grew to his new habitation ; and no one could have spent a day, or a year, beneath that roof without being willing to acknowledge that never was a title more fitly bestowed upon a family mansion. 372 REV. SYLVAN us COBB^ D.D. and flourished, and during the succeeding year, deeming the hall too small to accommodate the increasing numbers, the societ}^ erected a new and commodious house of worship on the First Section. In the spring of 1844 Mr. Cobb re- signed his charge. His other duties pressed so heavilj^ upon him that he felt he could not give to the socict}^ the time and attention they needed, so he took this step, not only that he might find more time for the improvement of his paper, but that the societ}^ might find a pastor who could devote all his time to their interest. The Society engaged a pastor ; but, from various causes, the interest died out, and finally the house was given up, and the meetings were discontinued. Mr. Cobb could not bear to see this ; so he set himself about the work of gath- ering together the scattered flock, and himself assumed the responsibility of hiring Ritchie Hall, and preaching for whatever the friends could contribute. It was in the spring of 1846 that he took this step, and once more the Univer- salists of East Boston were blessed with stated meetings. Ritchie Hall was thus occupied about eleven months, when the place became unpleasant from the uses to which it was put during the week, and while the friends of our cause were considering what they should do, another religious society, that had been holding meetings in the Old Bath House, moved out from that place, and the Universalists secured it, and in the spring of 1847 returned to the scene of their earlier life. And in that old Bath House were held some of the most glorious meetings ever enjo3'ed by the professed followers of Christ. The writer of these pages was at that time Superintendent of the Sabbath-school, and also Leader of the Choir, and he well remembers the soul-inspiring pas- sages of social and religious interest that must ever sane- THE MEMOIR. 373 tify the memories of that humble place iu pur hearts. The noble preacher in his homely desk, surrounded by earnest and inquiring listeners, who had come to gain gospel food , — the grand sermon, preached with a spirit of warm and ar- dent love of the subject, and with a patriarchal regard for the hearers ; — the prayer, solemn, sincere, and impressive, and responded to by every heart ; — the singing, tuneful and prompt, but with no attempt at flourish or grandilo- quence of style ; — and then the benediction, followed by a scene of hand-shaking, congratulation, and outpouring of fraternal love and good-feeling ; — and this scene of social re-union was generally enlivened by an impromptu passage of music in that corner where the choir was located. The writer, with his violin, striking up the good old '^ Ode on jScience" or ^' Majesty'' ov '■' Northjlelcl," which was an unfailing call to the patriarchs of song — those who had been singers in da3^s Iang-S3me — and gathering around the dais they would raise their voices in jubilant strains till the old structure seemed one vast organ, with its grand diapason in full blast. " Father Pettengill," — " Uncle Waters," — and many others of silvered locks and furrowed brow. Where are they now? O, for one more meeting of the good old sort in that humble Bath House ! But the wish is vain. Its hallowed walls were long since swept away by the resistless hand of progress, and an imposing structure of massive stone now occupies the place where our loved Bethel stood ! And here I must speak of the Sabbath- School ; for not man}^, I ween, even in East Boston, are aware of the amount of influence for good which has been wielded by that School. Mr. Cobb established it very shortly after he moved upon the Island, and with the assistance of his own family, and those of the friends who felt an interest in the 32 374 EEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. matter, it was very soon put into good working order ; and from that time to the 2yresent, the East Boston Universalist Sabbath School has never ceased to live and labor; and it has ever ranked one of the highest in point of faithfulness and interest, among the schools in the cit}^ ; and I believe that there has never been a time, from the date of its inception, when some member of Mr. Cobb's family has not been connected with it. Through all the trials and troubles of the Society, the Sabbath-School has kept evenly and qui- etly on its way, affording opportunity for all who desired, to meet on the Sabbath, and listen to the breathings of that faith w^hich holds God as the Universal Father and Friend. In seasons when the Society has been entirely dormant for months at a time, this band of Universalist Christians has been awake to the needs of the people, and the mem- bers thereof have never fallen short of their duty. So we may regard the Sabbath-School as the vital centre of our denominational system upon the Island, to which the present Society, with all its prosperity and promise, is indebted for its existence. Mr. Cobb continued to preach in the Bath House through the Spring and Summer of 1848 ; and he did it at a pecu- niary sacrifice to himself, as the writer well knows. The Society was small and weak, rich in gospel faith, but poor in this world's possessions. It had not jet recovered from the sad blow given by the mismanagement of those who had built the Meeting-house, nor was it likely to recover therefrom for some time to come. Mr. Cobb, when he commenced this second term of enoraojeraent with them, had been actuated solely by a desire to subserve the good of his own family, as well as the good of the few tried and faithful ones who were anxious to listen to the word of the Universal God. He assumed the responsibil- THE MEMOIR. 375 ity himself, and preached for just what could be saved tt him after all other expenses had been paid. But in Au- gust the owners of the land upon which the Bath House stood had planned to move it away, and erect another building upon the site. There was no other room which could be obtained upon terms that came within reach of the means of the Society, and Mr. Cobb found it necessary to dissolve his connection with them once more. In the Freeman of August 11th, 1848, after speaking of the matter as above, annnouncing that the Bath House was to be moved away, Mr. Cobb adds, — "Yet there are lovers of the gospel here, who, when the pres- ent pressure is removed from the business of the country, will provide a convenient place of worship, and build up a good society. We shall obtain the services of some worthy young man, who can devote his whole attention to the wants and inter- ests of our cause here, as it is meet. As our responsibihties are in the care of our paper, we have only been able to suj^ply them on the Sabbath, devoting to the society here no pastoral care in the week. This we have done at a pecuniary sacrifice, for the sake of having meetings. But on a new start, upon the work already done, and in better times, they must and will support a laborer in the work." And in this connection I must give a letter which Mr. Cobb wrote to his wife at the time this suspension of his relations as pastor was under consideration. I give the letter for several reasons. In the first place, it will show the feelings which actuated him in his proposed movement, and demonstrate how his heart was in the subject, and how carefully he weighed such matters before determining upon his course of action. And then the letter gives a glimpse at the inner man ; it reveals the spirit — the soul — of the workman, and opens up some of those traits of character that made him what he was — pure in thought and honest 376 EEF. SYLVANUS COBB, D.I). in purpose. And it shows, too, why such a man is loved by his famil3^ Those things which a man does to be seen of the world may not be a truthful index to his character ; nor can we alwa\^s accept what a man writes for the world to read as a true impress of his inner thoughts and motives. If we would know a man for what he is, we must see him at home, where his native spirit has full play, and where the restraint of society is removed ; and if we would get at his innermost thoughts and emotions, we must find access to his private letters — letters which were never meant for the eyes of the world, but which the writer believed would never be perused b}^ another than the loved and trusted one to whom they were penned. I shall have occasion to present several of these private morceaux of correspondence, not" for anj literary merit, nor as indices of his style of composition, either in prose or verse ; but simply as mirrors of his mind and heart ; and as such the reader will take them ; and, when read in that light, I am sure they will be grateful and refreshing to all who have hearts to feel, and souls that can be led to sj^m- pathize with that which is pure and true and good. Here is the letter to which I have referred, and I give the first part of it entire, that the reader ma}^ gain an idea of Mr. Cobb's manner of doing business. Be assured, he never spent many idle moments when away from home : — '* North Scituate, R. l.,Aug. 12, 1848. "Mine Estimable Wife, — " You have already learned that I am to preach in Phenix, or rather in the Arkwright School-House, to-morrow. I hired a team at Arkwright this morning, and took a ride to this place, nine miles, to fill out the week. It is a small factory settlement. My faithful Agent, Br. Cowee, said he did not think I could get another subscriber, as he had tried quite thoroughly, and there THE MEMOIU. ^11 were not more than one or two Universalists in the place who were not already taking the Freeman. However, I told my story, and he went through the mill with me ; and I got three new subscribers, who paid me ; and I sold four of my Compends, and six Family Singing Boohs, making ten dollars and fifty cents. So much cash I have received here, besides one dollar for a Compend sold on the way this morning. It is now eleven o'clock, and I am going to write here in Br. Cowee's house until dinner-time, and after dinner I shall ride out two miles to a man who owes for the Freeman, — and perhaps to find one or two new subscribers, — and then I shall return to Phenix. •' And now to the subject of my letter : I was greatly cheered by that little note which you placed in the bundle you sent me. It contained but a few words, and yet those words are of great value to me. To get, warm from your hand — * We are all well and happy,'' and that inspiring ' Woi^k on,'' and ' Hope on, liope ever,'' — is a cordial to my soul, and strength to my bones. And to learn, too, that you had got over tliat little nervous affection, gives me much pleasure. *' And now, my love, I see clearly that we have great reason for thankfulness and peace. My matters, to be sure, are in a situation to require some six months of continued attention to my out-door business ; but then I do not make it laborious nor unpleasant. I am constantly among excellent friends, and am prospered, and take such methods of getting about as render it comfortable on my part, — much more so than running about the city to borrow money. And when I can feel that you are happy at home, I am certainly one of the happiest of men. I am im- pressed with the idea that the Lord has much good for you and me yet to do in this world, and we can afford to devote a few months to the persevering mission I have planned, which is not even unpleasant in itself, for getting into a situation still more desirable. " I perceive that it is well that I am to terminate my regular supply at East Boston, for there seems to be a prospect of as much preaching out as I shall wish, upon better compensation, and perhaps to do more good. All right. It will be quite a re- lief to you, too, and give you more time to devote to your de- partment of the Freeman. ** The Freeman is the favorite paper all through this region. 32* 378 JIEV. SYLVANUS COB/}, D.D. Let ns keep np its interest. Look well to short unci instructive Physiological articles. "My whole-souled wife, how should I have known certain noble traits in your character, if we liad not been brought through circumstances requiring us, together, to ' Work on ? ' Would those traits have even been developed ? — traits which will ever be more valuable to me than silver and gold. And you, too, have a sphere in which to ' work on.' Well — * work on,' * keep cool,' ' hasten slowly,' and HE who has always been with us will not forsake us. You will enjoy the satisfaction of reflecting that even the coming upon the stage of that ' little fretting Eu- nice Hale Wait ' will effect not a little for turning the world over. True, you find human nature among mankind, and that is just what it is our province to cultivate. We shall not at once make it over anew, but we are to keep on cultivating, cultivating, and making some spots of it a little, and yet a little better. " But now the foctory bell rings for dinner, and I will suspend my scrawling to you till after meeting to-morrow. ''Sunday morning. — Good morning. Wife! I have just shaved, and put on that dicky with the wife's rich salutation. It makes me feel at home.* I went out yesterday afternoon as I said. That man paid me two dollars, and two others paid me two each, making $16.50 at that place. Then on my return to Arkwright one paid me two dollars who subscribed on Wednes- day, and two others bought Compends, making $20.50 taken on Saturday, besides the Compends sold in the morning, which went on horse-hire. It is a pleasant morning. The Lord bless us to-day ! " Monday morning. — Good morning, my dear wife. We had good meetings yesterday. I preached at Appanaug, where I now am, at five-and-a-half o'clock. Am well this morning. Going to East Greenwich to get a few subscribers to-day. Shall get home, I think, about Wednesday, just to stop over night. All right. Kiss Jimmy for me. Love to Sarah. "Yours ever, S.Cobb." * It was Mrs. Cobb's custom, -when packing up her husband's change of linen on the eve of his departure from home, to imprint a kiss upon the clean dicky, remarking as she did so, " There, hubby, you'll find wify's kiss when you put that on." To some such things may appear light and frivolous in print; but to such the most holy and soul-cheering of all the domestic virtues would be but as the senseless breathing of the passing wind. THE MEMOIU. 379 The Bath House was no more ; the Univei'salists of East Boston lay back awhile from their labors, waiting for the spirit to move them ; while their relieved pastor, as we have seen, had no. lack of work, and no disposition to be idle. 380 BEV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D,D, CHAPTER Yin, James Arthur, — Getting Subscribers, — Virtues of EvERY-DAY Life, — Death of Mr. Cobb's Mother. Mr. Cobb was not disappointed in the result of the re- moval of his office to Boston. He was more easily accessi- ble to those of his subscribers who wished to see him, and in every way he found the conducting of his business more convenient ; also, being thus located in the great social and commercial centre of New England, he was enabled to gather more fully and readily such items of news as would be of interest to his patrons. And, furthermore, the name of Boston as the hailing-point of his paper, bore a prestige which was of no small benefit to him in the labor of intro- ducing the Freeman into new localities. It was pleasant to be able to introduce the suppliant for popular favor as a " Boston Paper ^'' for people are more apt to give respectful attention to a missive emanating from " head-quarters," than to one hailing from some out-post. Where local inter- est is the chief feature, a paper may well be located at the most accessible point within the area whose interests are to be subserved ; but when a publication claims to repre- sent an interest of a large section of country, it seems emi- nentl}^ proper that its head-quarters should be established at the general emporium of said section. In this removal the publisher took a wise step, and he never had occasion to regret it. THE MEMOIR. ' 381 In the preceding chapter I carried to its close Mr. Cobb's connection, in his capacity as pastor, with the Universalist Society of East Boston ; but it will be borne in mind that there were warm and ardent connections of friendship with the " tried and true " of the old society that could be sev- ered only by the hand of death. During his pastorship there were many social gatherings — Levees, Picnics, Tea- Parties, and the like — gotten up for the benefit of the soci- ety, which gave birth to fraternal feelings that were not to be extinguished by any unfavorable breeze that might drive said " Society " out of its proper course. Through all the remaining years of his life he regarded that society as a child of his own, and though, upon gaining its legal majority, and starting out into the world to act for itself, it did not always meet with success, yet he loved it, and was never backward in extending a helping hand in its seasons of need. Once, as we have already seen, when it had " set up for itself," and had expended all its substance, he took it back, and carried it through a season of social and religious enjoyment and profit as pure and inspiring as ever fell to the lot of any body of Christians. And there is no telling how long he might have continued to bear the burden had not solemn duty to himself and family required him to drop it. I have heard of children who did not know their own parents, and have not wondered thereat ; but I should marvel greatly if the Universalist Society of East Boston should ever forget the faithful patriarch who led them up out of the wilderness, and set their feet upon the promised land, giving to them the heritage of the glorious Truth of God's Universal Fatherhood, and his plan of Uni- versal Redemption through Christ Jesus his Son. The reader of the Autobiography has had the account of the birth of eight children to Mr. Cobb, the last — twins — 382 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. having been born on the sixth of August, 1834. On the 22d of December, 1842, another — a boy — the ninth child — was added to the number of the household, and he was christened James Arthur. Since writing the preceding paragraph I have been over- hauling some old letters to see what the parents said about this child at the time. I was then in the U. S. Navy, cruising along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, and, as a matter of course, was kept duly informed of all that transpired at home. I have found the letters, and have read them over. I find much about the " sweet babe," but I will not put it in print. I will simply say that the father's heart swells with pride and gratitude, and that he grows jubilant over this new addition to the flock he has to care for and to love. The impress of the mother's soul in written words is too sacred to be transcribed here. The treasure to her was be3'ond all price — a gift of Heaven, so pure and lovely, that words could not tell her emotions. She tried to tell to her first-born, who was separated from her by the trackless waste of a broad ocean, something of the ecstatic joy that thrilled her soul as she held to her bosom that new-born pledge — her youngest, and, in its utter dependence, her dearest. It was a precious gift, highly prized, and most carefull}' nursed. And now, with the light of subsequent events illumining the page, I am able to say that that youngest child was given to be the most precious of all the treasures of the household. His it was to perform a mission of love on earth — his to lead the way to Heaven ! His it was to form the last link of love in the family — his to form the first link in the bright chain of heavenly birth that lifts us towards our God ! The boy James Arthur grew and thrived, and when I reached the old home in the Spring of 1844, I found him THE MEMOIR. 383 (there is no fraternal prejudice in this) one of the bright- est, best, and most attractive boys I ever saw. He was most emphatically " a light and a joy in the household." In looking over Mr. Cobb's record of events for the year 1842, I notice that during the month of January of that year he had a fit of sickness which lasted him about two weeks. He was in Waltham on the last Sunday of December, and was taken quite unwell there ; but he came home strong in the faith that it was owly a slight cold, which a single dose of Thompson's medicine, and a night's nursing, would drive away. He was mistaken, however. On Tuesday he took his bed, and remained there nearly a fortnight. But let it be understood that the sickness did not tie his hands. His pulpit was filled by another ; but his editorial labors were not set aside, save for one or two days when he was the sickest. A number of articles came from his pencil^ written while bolstered up by pillows. I have given this event particular notice because sickness was something so unusual with him. In a note, appended to an article pencilled for his paper while thus confined, he says, — '* We will here add, that during the twenty-one years, and over, that we have been in the ministry, this is the second Sunday on which we have been prevented by sickness from preaching. We have more to be thankful for than we gratefully realize." During the year 1842 Mr. Cobb labored hard to increase the circulation of his paper ; and he did not labor in vain. The year 1843 opened with prospects fair, and to him very promising. His paper was becoming popular, and its circulation was on the increase. He received a sharp punch now and then, accompanied by a distressed growl, from 384 nEV. SYLVAN us COJSB, D.D, brother editors and publishers who fancied he was tres- passing upon their territory. Occasional!}- he took a trip into a neighboring State where there might chance to be located a Universalist publication ; and as it was a passion with him — the getting of new subscribers — he never failed, on such occasions, to make additions to his list ; whereupon the local editor would read him a severe lecture upon the impropriety of such trespass. But this never troubled Mr. Cobb, farther than to give him an unpleasant conception of his brother's character for Avhining and fault-finding. He made it a point — and one from which I believe he never deviated — never to present the claim of his paper to patronage at the expense of another. He never sought to obtain a subscriber when by so doing he would lead a man to stop an}' other Universalist publication. But he claimed that each paper should stand upon its merits, and that every man should have the privilege of taking and reading just that paper which suited him best. For himself he claimed no exclusive field. It was his earnest desire to spread a knowledge of the Truth, both Social and Relig- ious, Civil and Political, and wherever man dwelt in igno- rance or in need, there was his field. He cared not how many canvassers tramped over the ground in Massachu- setts. If they could present a better Universalist paper than the Freeman, then they had the advantage ; if they could not, then his subscribers would not be lik2ly to for- sake him. He was honorable in all his transactions, and he would have spurned as an act unworthy of him an underhanded deal of any kind, and much more a deal which could militate against the interests of an honorable competitor. Here is a heart-throb, the tuneful echo of which reached THE MEMOIR. 385 his wife by mail about this time. He was at Wellfleet when he wrote : — " My dear Wife, — A pleasant morning this. I am in fine health ; meet with many good friends, and with a variety of in- teresting scenery ; but I am, in the midst of ail tliese tilings, get- ting to be somewhat lonesome, — and I may as well out with the truth of it as not. I want to meet the beaming countenance of that wife, and of those blithe and happy children, and to mingle in the loved and loving domestic group. I can go out, and work, and get along very well for two or three days ; but soon the world becomes uninteresting, a lonesomeness of spirit comes over me, and I long for home. And home never tires. There is the living, gushing spring of the real, genuine, unfailing pleasures of life." So much, with a few items of business, was written at Wellfleet ; but as no mail went from that place on the day of writing, he took the letter with him, and finished it in Provincetown, in part as follows : — "My mind has been a little less troubled with lonesomeness since I commenced my letter, the scenery becoming more and more interesting as I neared the end of the Cape. And this morning What a treat ! As I was sitting down to breakfast a young lady handed me a letter which a boy had just brought from the Post Office — a letter from the Castle of Peace. I opened it, but found that I could not, with propriety of appear- ance, read it before folks, and so "laid it on the table." After finishing my breakfast I went away by myself and perused the precious document. How rich am I in such affection, of such a wife and such children ! And that blessed boy out upon the sea! God be praised that our prayers for his safety and weal are being answered. May the good seed which we ever en- deavored to implant in his youthful mind bear abundantly of heavenly fruit. How I long for his return ! But I will patient- ly wait." And now a peep at the close of the letter just to sec how 33 386 nEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. he is keeping np that old S3'stem of work. Look at his correspondence where you will ; pick up his diaiy, and open to any page ; refer to any week, or day, of these 3^ears, and we shall find the same note of preparation, and always in the midst of labors being performed. No rest ; no respite ; no recreation, save such as he could gain upon his traA'els ; his one source of comfort and recompense through it all being " Home, Sweet Home." Thus he closes the letter : — ** Sunday Noon. — We have had a fine meeting this forenoon. This afternoon I am to deliver a funeral discourse on occasion of the death of Br. Stull; and a lecture in the evening. I intend, to start at about five o'clock to-morrow morning, that I may get over the beach to Truro before high water, and breakfast at Esquire Small's of that place. To-morrow evening I am to lec- ture on Temperance at Orleans ; Tuesday evening, preach in Yarmouth ; and Wednesday evening, lecture on Temperance in Sandwich. Then, on Thursday, I will hie me home. " I have more ink, and a little more time for writing; but I must devote it to editorials for the Freeman. ♦ * * "Your devoted husband, "S. Cobb." If I could only hold the wrist of my reader in my hand, and feel when the pulses began to weaken and flutter from a surfeit of any particular kind of food, I might know just when to change the course ; but as such a source of dem- onstration is beyond my reach, I must be governed by my own feelings and instincts ; and I am thus admonished to give an extract from another letter. There is something to me peculiarly refreshing and invigorating in these out- pourings of devotional sentiment from the heart of a pub- lic man. I claim that Mr. Cobb was emphatically a Good Man, and the reader who calml}^ and candidly peruses these pen-prints of the soul will not fail to see where we base THE MEMOIR. ob / our claim. And, furthermore, the young man, just taking upon himself the duties and responsibilities of husband and father, and who is preparing to step forth into the world for the battle of life, cannot fail to be benefited by these things. Mark not only the cherished love of family and of home, but also mark the child-like trust in God, and the devout reliance upon His almighty power and goodness. They spring to life as naturally in his soul as spring to life the fragrant flowers beneath the warm sunshine and dewy kisses of June. The spirit which thus finds expression in the most retired and common-place passages of life — which thus mirrors itself in a correspondence meant only for the eye of one who knew him as well as he knew himself, — could not be else than pure and humble. There could be no deceit, no hollow sounding of words ; but only frank and honest expression of real feeling ; — no parade of language and fine sentiment, meant for the conference or prayer meeting, introduced to fill up a place in the set services of a Sabbath evening's exercises, to be forgotten on the morrow when the busy din of secular life comes on ; but living, operating, and ever-present emotions, forming com- ponent parts of the every-day life of the man. "Wrentham, April 16, 1843. "My very dear Wife, — "Rising in good spirits on this blessed Sabbath morn, after lifting up my soul in devotion to the Lord of the Universe, I next sit down to commune with that being whom I honor most in this lower world. In this ' lower world,'' I say ; for we live in a world so named, but * our citizenship is in heaven.' Our minds, in a measure, grasp the beauties and the joys of the two worlds. *' Wife, will you indulge me with an occasional expression of what passes in my mind every day ? I query every day whether I sufiiciently appreciate the value of her who is strewing my path of life with flowers; in my absence conducting the 'dHH REV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. affairs of so large a family with judgment and propriety ; and on my return, and in my presence, cheerful and happy — no reflec- tions ; no complainings ; no envying of other people's estates ; pleased and satisfied with a numerous, healthy, and happy ftmiily around you ; the bounties of a munificent Providence ; valued friends with whom to interchange the civilities of life ; and a plenty for us all to do, to keep us out of mischief and mel- ancholy ; making the great good of life to consist in the cultiva- tion of pure sentiments and afiections, and the exercise of high and enlightened principles, rather than in the vapory gew-gaws of st3'le and hollow etiquette, never failing to sympathize with, and to cheer and encourage, a devoted husband, in his many, but pleasant, cares and duties, public and private. Yes, — I do think that I form some just estimate of the value of such a life- companion. And you will pardon this free expression of senti- ment from me, w^hich I make for you, and not for the world. ******** " Ever your devoted husband, "S. COBB.^' And had Mr. Cobb lived to finish his Autobiography, the world would never have seen " this free expression of sen- timent." He would never have opened those old budgets to expose their heart-gems ; and the most tuneful and tender of all his written epistles might have passed from remembrance when the " life-companion " for whom they were penned, had gone to join him in the Better World. It is a fq^t in human nature that those virtues which are born in a man — which are a part of his very being, and which remain by him as do the features that mark his coun- tenance, or the form that distinguishes his physical frame, are very apt to be held b}^ him in light esteem when com- pared with virtues which are his through trial and victor}^ He seems to forget that the common virtues of domestic life are not so universally exercised as they ought to be. Those little proprieties and courtesies of every-day life, which go THE MEMOIR. 389 to make np the joy of the household, are so slight and un- obtrusive in their blessed office, that they seem to be held as matters of course, which every man will gather for him- self, and which no man, professing the religion of the meek and lowly Nazarine, would neglect. Mr. Cobb, with all his travel, and consequent opportunities for observation, never fully realized how far above the ordinary level of mankind he stood as regards the social and domestic vir- tues. Always ready and willing himself to recognize the blessings which had been bestowed upon him, and to render proper gratitude therefor, he was inclined to think that others did the same ; and if he found a man unmindful of the joys of home he fancied that that man's home had no elements of brightness in it. O, how few seem to fully appreciate these little things of the Home Life that go to make up so vast a sum of -weal or woe ! What tiny motes they are, and j^et how freighted with momentous consequence ! A man with a pebble no larger than the half of a poor little pea in his closely-fitting boot is as surely deprived of comfort as though he had a mill-stone hanged about his neck. And so a tiny mote, of no more import than a single harsh, ungrateful word, or a frown, or even a chilling look, may make the whole day as dark and uncomfortable as though a blow had been struck, or a volley of curses had been poured out upon the home altar. Not many men were as free from these little vices and improprieties of home life as was Mr. Cobb ; and I claim that this freedom from those much too common evils, with a possession of the virtues of purity and propriety in his domestic relations, was the chief corner-stone, or starting- point, if I may so speak, of his whole character as a man. He would have felt like blushing had he ha^ided one of 390 JiEV. SYLVANUS COBB^ T>,D. those old familiar, lover-like epistles to the printer ; but not so his son. I honored and revered my father in that he was good and kind ; and in all the traces of character he has left behind him, none speak so directly, and so forcibly and unmistakably, of his native purity and goodness of heart as do those messages of love and blessing, coming warm and impulsive from the husband and father to the wife and children. In the month of June of this year (1843) Mr. Cobb received intelligence of the death of his mother. The fol- lowing is an extract of the letter from his brother inform- ing him of the event ; — ♦♦ Norway, June 23, 1843. *« Dear Brother, — " It has become my duty to inform you that our justly-ven- erated mother is no more. She departed this life yesterday at 30 minutes past 4 P. M. "She has been quite calm, patient, and resigned during her illness, which at times has been very distressing. She seemed desirous to have all her children with her, and mentioned that she should have been glad to have seen you, but observed that she supposed that your engagements were such that you could not leave home. *' During a few of her last days, she was unable to speak much owing to canker in her mouth ; she spoke of the Saviour, as the one altogether lovely, and was heard reciting, 'Fly swifter round, ye wheels of time, and bring the welcome day,' &c. In the fore part of the day (yesterday) she appeared to be in great pain and distress for some time, but became to appearance quite easy, and her desire that she might gently fall asleep in Jesus, seemed to be granted. Her exit appeared like falling into a quiet and peaceful sleep ; there was not a struggle, nor a groan, nor anything that indicated distress. To-morrow at one o'clock p. M. is the time appointed for her funeral." In this bereavement Mr. Cobb did not experience a sense THE MEMOIR. 391 of horror, nor of painful tribulation. There was no rend- ing of the heart-strings, as is the case with those who have educated themselves to look upon death as the " King of Terrors," and upon the grave as "a gulf of dark uncer- tainty." That glorious faith which he had been preaching so many years for the guidance of others in affliction, he found equal to his own wants on this sad occasion. The following remarks he penned for the Freeman, and they accompanied the letter from his brother in publication : — ** It was the same in this case as on the death of my father, — we received the letter bearing the tidings of the event, on the day of the burial. Could I have been informed of the event, or of the probabihty of it, in season, how speedily would I have gone to mingle tears of sincere affection with the other mourn- ing children, and to devote the last offices of respect to the remains of a most worthy and venerated parent. Yes, and how gladly would I have responded to her wish to see me with her other children, that I might there have received a dying mother's blessing, and there with a child's gi-atitude and love, I might have added a glow of comfort to the last hour of a mother in whose life I have never known a wrong feeling, word or deed. But I knew not to be there. All her other surviving children were there ; and more than all, the blessed Saviour was there. *' Her age was 83 years, 6 months, and 6 days. She attained to a good old age, — and her memory is blessed. Much of the good which her children find in life, they may justly ascribe to a mother's influence." During the month of September following Mr. Cobb visited the old homestead in Norway, then in possession of Cyrus, the oldest living brother, and while there he wrote to his familj^ a letter from which I make the follow- ing extract : — *'I arrived at this place last evening, and sit now in the room where I have always hitherto, on my annual visits to the pater- 392 nEV. SYLVANUS COBB, n.D. nal mansion, met my worthy and venerated mother. How lonesome it now appears. O that spirit of maternal love, dig- nity, sweetness of disposition, kindness and affection, which has always lived and presided here. May its mantle be cast upon me. "But though that pleasant countenance I see not, and that voice which rocked the cradle of my infancy, and by the law of kindness guided my juvenile steps in the way of peace, I hear not now, yet I seem to feel her presence here. Her gentle spirit seems to whisper, ' I have only gone to a higher, a better abode, to greet thy father, and brother, and sisters, who had gone before ; — and we will greet you in due time, where mor- tality shall be swallowed up of life.' " All things around here, except the vacancy just mentioned, appear as usual. The genial suns and refreshing rains have blessed the peasants' toil, and are crowning them with abun- dance. The fields are loaded with profusiou, and the wide- spread scene is clothed with beauty." THE MEMOIR, 393 CHAPTEK IX. Transfer of the "Gospel Messenger," — Progress of THE Denomination, — Anti-Slavery Resolutions, — A Domestic Morceau, — Compend of Christian Di- vinity. During the month of August, 1843, Mr. Cobb purchased the subscription list of the '-^Gospel Messenger" a weekly denominational paper which had been published in Provi- dence, R. I., by Rev. A. A. Davis. By this transfer the Freeman found its way into hundreds of families where it had not before been known, and those who had thus become subscribers to that paper by a business arrangement with which they had had nothing to do, were sure to find an honest and earnest expression of the Editor's views upon all the great and important topics of the day ; and if any of them disliked his course upon the subjects of Temper- ance and Slavery, they were at liberty to withdraw their patronage. There had come a change, however, over the disposition of the denomination touching these reformatory matters since the establishment of the Christian Freeman ; and the editor thereof was beginning to see the fruits of his labors in rich abundance. It was a source of glorious sat- isfaction to him that he had opportunity to show to his timid brethren and co-workers that his original stand, so firmly adhered to, had been the right one. 394 liEF. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. Dear Reader, at this stage of my work I find that in order to bring these memoirs within the compass of a book such as would meet the taste and wants of the publi(?, I must study and practise the art of condensation. In showing how the denomination graduall}^ lifted itself up towards his stand-point I would like to present in full the proceed- ings of the councils and conventions, giving the Anti- Slavery resolutions adopted, and quoting the remarks of other editors thereon. But I cannot do it. The documents and extracts are before me, and the most I can do is, to take a cursory glance at them as we pass on. On the 21st of September, 1843, the United States Con- vention of Universalists, in session at Akron, Ohio, consid- ered and discussed, calmly and candidly, a series of Reso- lutions declaring that the enslavement of the African race in this country was wrong, "pernicious alike to the en- slaved and the enslaver," and " contrary to the plainest dictates of natural justice and Christian love ; " and, further- more, that " in the light of the doctrines of Christ we feel constrained to bear testimony against the institution of Slavery as maintained in a portion of our country." These resolutions were adopted without one dissenting vote. Upon the passage of these resolutions, and the publica- tion of the fact to the world, Mr. Cobb took occasion to compare them with a series of resolutions which he had presented to the Massachusetts State Convention of Uni- versalists, at New Bedford, in 1840, and which " were rejected on the ground that it would peril the peace and pros- perity of the denomination to adopt them ; and an interest was made to get a vote that i\iQy should not even go upon the published minutes of the convention ! " And 3'et these resolutions presented by Mr. Cobb, in 1840, were not a whit more outspoken against Slavery than were these which THE MEMOIR, 395 the United States Convention had adopted. And in this connection Mr. Cobb reproduces the objections which were made by some of his brother editors to his purpose when he started his paper, and contrasts them with the spirit which those same editors now manifest in support of the doings of the General Convention. Only a few years be- fore they had denounced his course as " dangerous to the peace and prosperity of the denomination," and now they not only publish these Anti-Slavery resolutions, but appear proud of the fact that the denomination is openly and publicly committed to such sentiments. Furthermore, Mr. Cobb quotes from a secular paper an article in which the Universalist denomination is highly praised for the noble stand it has taken upon the subject of Human Liberty and Justice ; and he has the satisfaction of seeing our denominational journals copy this same article with various comments of pleasure and satisfaction. One of those editors, after quoting the article in question, saj^s, — " The secular presses are beginning to do justice to the much belied and abused Universalists." " Dear man," answers Mr. Cobb, '' that is because we have just gone about doing justice to ourselves." And then he goes on to show how long and earnestly he has been laboring to bring the denomination up to the work of '' put- ting forth its moral strength, and developing the beauty and glory of its principles." Surely the editor of the Christian Freeman had cause for rejoicing ; and by these bright gleams of sunshine upon his path was he lighted on in his course of duty, feeling that while he was right he must conquer. Most men would have faltered beneath the load he bore upon his shoulders ; but when he beheld the glorious results of those labors which had been put forth in behalf of Human Freedom, 396 nEV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. how could he let fall his end of the beam? Ilis paper had become a power in the denomination, and a power in the land ; and though he was forced to struggle with all his might to meet the demands that were made upon his purse, he chose to do it rather than fall back just when the first notes of victory were sounding over the land. O, if his subscribers had onl}^ paid him what they owed, how happy, how blessed, would have been his lot ! But they were many of them thoughtless, and left him to struggle on while they reaped the benefits. But let it be understood that there were some grand good men and women who took the Freeman — men and women who made it a rule to pay promptly in advance. Their names are on record, and I know they must be a happy and prosperous set. As a parent Mr. Cobb was most indulgent and most gen- erous, — indulgent in all things that could conduce to the real happiness of his children, and generous to the extent of his means ; and there have been times when his great love has led him to do more than those means could war- rant. He never made an aimless present to any of his loved ones, nor did he ever give merely to satisfy a craving for some new thing. His gifts were always chosen with an e^^e to some real benefit, and he sought, as far as possi- ble, to combine improvement with pleasure ; and I am sure that no mortal was ever happier than was he when he had succeeded in giving a real joy to his household. As I have had occasion to remark before, these little gems of domes- tic life — these gleams of light that flash upon the atmos- phere of home, leaving a genial warmth in their train, — give most surely the spirit of the inner man. A mass of great, gaudy flowers cannot make such a bouquet as a lover of floral beauty would contemplate with satisfaction. The regal peon}', the double-dyed dahlia, and the gorgeous, THE MEMOIR. 397 fragrant rose, are beautifal in their places, and have their appropriate sphere in the bouquet ; but after all you shall find that the delicate violet ; the unassuming pansy ; the tiny forget-me-not ; and the sin-inking bud, just open enough to reveal the beauties of the hidden petals, are the features that will require the most delicate arrangement, and upon the proper distribution and exhibition of which the whole thing will depend for its consummation of grace and perfection. And so it is with the human character. Great deeds, such as are generally published to the world, and are caught up and passed from lip to lip, show very much of what stutT a man is made ; but if you would look down into the soul, and find those graces of disposition and gems of the heart that lift the man heavenward, you must take note of these delicate, unassuming, tiny flowers that bloom in the secret places of home, without pride, and with- out thought of being seen of men. My thoughts have been turned in this direction by the following poetical morceaux. The first is from Mr. Cobb to his daughter on the eighteenth anniversary of her birth- day, accompanied by six golden half-eagles : IMPROMPTU ACCOMPANIMENT. My Daughter ! What a name to write ! It fills me with a proud delight. Respectful, intellectual, pure, Nought shall thy soul from virtue lure. Herewith a little gift you'll find, — Emblem, instructive, of your mind. More rich, be sure, than gold by weight. The mind, uprising, good and great. To Miss E. H. Cobb, from her father — Sylvands Cobb. E. Boston, April 15, 1845. 34 398 nEF. SYLVAXi'S C'OBB^ D.D. To this the affectionate daughter thus replied : — "Lines addressed to my Father on receiving prom him six gold pieces As^A Freedom Present." "With heartfelt pleasure I receive This token of thy kind esteem; Highly I'll prize this gift of thine, And may I not ungrateful seem. But richer far those words to me Which speak such confidence and love ; — My utmost aim — my prayer — shall be, Deserving of such love to prove. As thus through life I travel on, In virtue's path, with nought to fear, To God my voice shall be attuned In blessing for such parents dear. From your daughter, Eunice H. Cobb. CoMPEND OF Divinity. — In the old Parsonage Library at Maiden Mr. Cobb found a musty volume, written by some follower of John Calvin, the title of which contained the word " Compend." It was a Compend of some kind of religious tenets ; but at this day I am unable to give more explicit information, as my onl}^ knowledge of the book has been derived from remarks I have heard my father make. AVhen Mr. Cobb had looked the work over he thought Avhat a good thing it would be for the Student of Universalism to have a book, something after the same st3de, giving a thorough and concise epitome of the principles of our faith. There was no such work in the denomination, nor was there anything in the least approximating thereto. He felt this need the more directl}^ as he had maii}^ students under his charge, fitting for the ministry ; and in explain- ing to them the various parts of our system of theology THE MEMOIR. 399 such a book would not onl}^ have saved him much labor, but the student could more readily and clearly have grasped a knowledge of the principles sought after from a concise and comprehensive work which he could have studied at his leisure. From that time Mr. Cobb resolved that if he ever wrote a book, it should be a Comjjerid of Christian Divinity as he understood it, and as the leading Univer- salists had taught it ; and thenceforth, when sermonizing, and when writing theological articles for the press, he held this thought in view, so that when he finally came to the work of preparing the manuscript for the book, he had much of the material already at hand.* In the Spring of 1845 Mr. Cobb went at the work in earnest, and by the close of the j^ear the book was in press. It made a handsome duodecimo volume of more than four hundred pages, and was read}^ for delivery on the first of Januarj^, 1846. The work met with a reception which could not be otherwise than flattering to the author. Those Universalists who had occasion for a book of reference in argument with their Trinitarian opponents, found it just what they needed ; while the student and the preacher * While residing in Waterville, Me., Mr. Cobb conceived some such plan as was perfected in this work. He took for his motto the words of Isaiah : " To the law and to the testimony .- if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no li'liole spirit was in perfect harmony with the desires and needs of the people, and he launched forth upon one of those orrand themes which he knew so well how to handle. In short, it was a Universalist speech — Universalist at the beginning, in the middle, and at the close. It was a picture of the power, the majesty, the goodness, and the fatherhood of God, with a consideration of the mission of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Son, through the Father, to accomplish the work which had been given him to do. He spoke over half an hour — spoke to an audience that listened with almost breathless attention, — and when he had concluded, and the jDCople wended their way from the church, they felt that it had been good for them that they had been there. While we have Mr. Cobb here in the town of Norway I am reminded of an anecdote, or, rather of a simile, which he has often used, and which was drawn from one of the sports of his boyhood. On a certain occasion, when Mr. Cobb was present with a number of ministering brethren, the conversation turned upon the subject of the Rationalis- tic tendency of some of our clergymen, and the fear was expressed that it might bring the whole denomination into discredit. If so many of those claiming our fellowship are inclined to treat certain portions of the Sacred Scriptures as of no authority as words of inspiration, may not we who are free from such stain be implicated ? But Mr. Cobb had no fears. He said that a bad man might pass himself at 41 482 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D, times for a good man ; but socict}' seldom mistook a true and devout Christian for a rascal. And so a man who claimed that he was not called upon to place full reliance in all parts of the Sacred Record might pass himself off upon society as a safe Christian teacher ; but there was no danger that society would ever mistake the earnest, sincere, and devout believer in the Inspired Volume for an infidel ; and in illustration he related the following : — '*A brook runs through the homestead farm, called Sucker Brook. Early in the spring, just after the ice breaks up in the pond into which the brook flows, the fish called suckers run up the stream, and in the night they come out from their hiding places and lie about on the bottom of the open stream. In the days of our boyhood we used to go out upon the banks of the stream, with birch bark torch in one hand and spear in the other, and catch tliis species offish. Sometimes we would get our eye on a hemlock knot or a club lying upon the bottom of the stream, which somewhat resembled in shape a fish. As Ave would look upon it, the rippling motion of the water would cause the object to appear as if slightl}^ moving its extremities, and we would almost believe it was a fish, but always with doubt. But at length we would thrust the spear, and lo, up came a club. But we never committed a mistake the other way, nor had occasion to stop and query. We never mistook a real fish to be a club. "Just so with our comet-riding philosophers who choose to w^ear the Christian name. They say so many complimentary things of the Bible, and Christ, and inspiration, and miracles, that we are oft inclined to believe that they are really Christian in faith ; and yet we see so much of their equivocal definings that we are at best in doubt. But we never had doubt on the other hand. When the true enlightened Christian believer plants him- self upon the foundation of the" prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, he is ingenuous, un- hesitating, open, bold, and seen and known of all men as what he is, a believer in the prophets of the Old and the Christ of the New Testament, as reliable in their respective missions as or- dained and attested of God." THE MEMOIR. 483 During the month of July, 1855, Mr. Cobb made another visit to New York, preaching two Sabbaths in Rev. Mr. Balch's pulpit ; and also visiting Newark, N. J. It was the first time he was ever in the latter place, and he expressed himself as much pleased with what he saw in that " Cit}^ of Churches." Rev. A. St. John Chambre, between whom and himself there had existed a warm and enduring friendship, was settled in Newark at the time, and he did what he could to make "Father Cobb's" visit pleasant and profitable ; and here Mr. Cobb formed other friendships which I know were mutually warm and true. In the Summer of 1860, Mr. Cobb, in company with his wife, made his first visit to the "great West," and it proved to him one of the most pleasant and agreeable trips in his long and varied experience of travel. He went by the way of New York and Philadelphia, preaching on Sunday, Au- gust 26th, for the Eighth Street Universalist Societ}^ in the latter city. From Philadelphia he rode 336 miles, to Altoona, where he found a kind and hospitable friend in Mr. D. R. Miller, of the " Logan House." From Altoona a ride of 117 miles brought him to Pittsburg, where he had occasion for gratitude to Bros. Alfred P. Anshutz, and J. C. Buffam for the many acts of kindness they did for the comfort of himself and wife. From Pittsburg a night ride of 188 miles brought him to Crestline, where he took break- fast ; and thence, 206 miles, to Indianapolis, where he found a pleasant home with Bro. M. G. Lee, of the ^'•Herald and Era.'" August 30th, Mr. and Mrs. C. pursued their course 110 miles, to Cincinnati, where they were indebted to the kindness of Br. John E. Jones and his estimable lady for the comforts of home. Sunday, Sept. 2d, Mr. Cobb preached in Cincinnati in the forenoon, and in the afternoon he preached four miles 484 EEV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. distant, at a small agricultural settlement called Delhi. While stopping in C. his old friend Arad Gerrj', Esq., of Stoneham, Mass., gave himself and wife a pleasant carriage- ride through the principal portions of the city and its sub- urbs. And from here Mr. Cobb crossed over into Kentuck}-, his lirst ingress into a Slave State. From Cincinnati he went to Muncie, Ind., to attend the Indiana State Convention, in the proceedings of which he took several important parts. His liome while in Muncie was v/ith Br. Charles F. Willard, whose kindness, together with that of his wife, Mr. Cobb declared would "constitute a bright memory in his life's pathway.'* At the close of the Convention he returned to Pittsburg, where he spent three days, preaching there on Sunday, Sept. 16th. " The Everlasting Smoke " afforded him a theme for an extended paragraph in his Journal, though he found many things in that smoky eit}^ of more than passing interest. From Pittsburg he travelled homeward by the outward-bound route, reaching the " Castle" safe and sound, feeling that he had gained much by the journe}', and that his deepest gratitude was due to the Father of all Mercies for the manifold blessings that had been showered upon him. Early in the Summer of 1861 Mr. Cobb made a visit to another section of the countr}^ which his feet had never before trod, this time turning his steps towards Canada West. He had long been desirous of meeting with the Universalist brethren of the Queen's dominions, and when he saw a notice of their Association, to be holden on the 14th, 15th, and 16th days of June, at Port Dover, he determined to be there. He took the cars at the Boston Depot of the Norwich and Worcester route on Saturda}^, June 8th. He went by the way of New York, spending the Sabbath in Brooklyn, and preaching in that city for THE MEMOin. 485 Br. N. M. Gaylord. On Wednesday, the 12th, he reached Port Dover, C. W., where he found warm friends, and which place he liked ; and here he remained during the sessions of the Association. There were a goodly number present, but man^^ of them had come from great distances, some having travelled two hundred miles to be present at the meeting. On the 18th he preached a lecture in Sel- kirk, sixteen miles distant from Port Dover ; and at the close of the services a Rev. Mr. Warner, of a sect yclept the " Disciples" had some questions to ask, which led to quite a discussion upon the subject of the " Last Judg- ment;"' and those who are acquainted with Mr. Cobb's powers in that direction can easily imagine how the discus- sion ended. One lady, kind-hearted and intelligent, who had listened with deepest interest, after the controversy had been brought to a close, expressed herself as having been brought, by the teachings of the evening, to really love Universalism ; but she had one important question she would like to ask concerning the Final Judgment, and that was : What is meant by that passage of Scripture which says, — " As death leaves us, so judgment ivill find us." She was somewhat mortified when she was brought to understand that there was no such passage in the Bible. After various peregrinations Mr. Cobb returned by the way of New York, preaching on Sunday, the 23d, in New- ark, and reaching home on Tuesday morning. In early autumn of this same year Mr. Cobb made a second mission into Canada. During his first visit, after the brethren of the household of faith had heard him preach, and had become convinced that he was just the man to give gospel light to those who dwelt in darkness, they urged him to tarry with them, and preach in places where there was need of his services ; but he could not do 41* ^S6 REV. SYLVAXUS COJIB, D.D. it. He promised them, however, that at some future time, if he could make it convenient, he would make them an- other visit ; and this he did in September. And on this occasion he worked as of old. We need not follow him on his peregrinations. Read the following closing paragraph of his Journal, and you will be able to form some concep- tion of the work he performed : — "AT HOME AGAIN. *' 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.' Oct. 23d, we are brought in safety to our waiting family and business charge, finding all in health, peace and gladness. We trust that we are not insensible to our obligations to our Father in heaven, for his protecting care over us through this tour of nearly seven hundred miles out, occupying four weeks, preserv- ing us in perfect health, and sustaining our health to preach, without fatigue, almost every evening after reaching Canada, and twice each on two of the Saturda3^s and three of the Sun- days. And, as it is well known to those who have experience in such work, in these missionary, and, in some instances, pioneer labors, it is not practicable to contract any sermon to a measure of time less than an hour." During this tour he preached twenty-two sermons. In June, 1862, Mr. Cobb made yet another visit to Can- ada, and attended again the annual session of the Univer- salist Association at Smithville. On the way he stopped at Niagara, where, with his wife, he found a welcome and comfortable home with his friend, T. G. Hulett, Esq., who had exacted from them a promise that they would make his house their home whenever they might find themselves in that region. Concerning this third mission into Canada w^e will only add that old bonds of friendship were newly cemented ; new bonds formed ; and impressions left upon many hearts that will ever hold Mr. Cobb and his estima- THE MEMOIR. 487 ble companion in honored and grateful remembrance. And our Canada friends may take to themselves the assurance, which may be to them pleasing, that the last missionary labors of him who had labored so long and so extensively in that field, were performed with and for them. And they can judge how faithfully he served them, and how produc- tive of good among them his labors were. And thus, in the evening of his life, was he engaged as in the early morning. In those other times the sun had shone not more brightly than in these of which we now write ; only then it was in the Eastern horizon, arising for the journey of the day ; while now it was in the West, its beams soft and mellow, but none the less effulgent. — In the West — slowly sinking — its disc almost touching the everlasting hills behind which, ere long, its glorious face was to be hidden from mortal sight. — Hidden, but not lost. No, no, — the sun of such a life cannot go out. When its course is run, and its evening rest is found, it still gives of its light to the fair-faced planets, thus smiling back upon the earth it has left, even in the hour of deepest night. And so the good works of such a man, set in the heaven of grateful memory, must continue to reflect back upon earth the enduring light of his life ! 488 liEF. SYLVANUS COBJi, D.D. CHAPTER XVI. Visit to Washington, — Old Fkiends and New, — A CASE OF " Mutual Admiration," — Marlboro', — His Labors and vSuccess in that Place, — Other Labors, — PIis last Preached Sermon. During the month of January, previous to the third Canada mission, Mr. Cobb, for the first time in his life, made a visit to the Capital of the nation. He started from home January 24th, 1862, stopping over Sunday in Phila- delphia, where he preached, in the morning in the Church of the Messiah, and in the Eighth Street Church in the evening. On arriving at the depot in Washington he was met at the cars by his friend, Austin Fowler, Esq., of Worcester, Mass., at that time holding an important position in the Treasur}^ Department, and who had corresponded with him in relation to this visit. Mr. Cobb in his Journal speaks of Mr. Fowler as a noble, whole-souled man, expressing for him a love such as only can endure between congenial hearts. His friend Fowler (" Just like him ! ". says Mr. Cobb,) had a carriage in waiting, and conveyed him to the mansion of Br. Vassall, where he was to find a home while at the Capital. Although this was Mr. Cobb's first visit to Washington, he was far from being among strangers ; and it was his good fortune not only to have been long known to many of the dignitaries by reputation, but with quite a number of THE MEJICirc. 489 the most important of them he was intimately acquainted. When he called upon the Vice-President he met an old schoolmate, between whom and himself existed a warm and enduring friendship, and whose friendship was of much service at that particular time. And so in both houses of Congress, and in all the Departments, Mr. C. met those with whom he had been on terms of intimacy at other times, and in other places, and hence his visit was rendered ex- ceedingly pleasant and profitable, as these old friends all seemed willing and anxious to extend to him and his wife every courtesy within their power. On Tuesday, January 28th, he visited several of the departments, and also called in upon the Senate and the House of Representatives. In the Senate the Vice-Presi- dent greeted him cordially ; and at the other wing of the Capitol he gained a seat upon the floor of the House. In the evening he attended the President's Levee, where he and his wife were introduced to Abraham Lincoln. As Mrs. Cobb was introduced she said to him, — "Mr. Lin- coln, before I left my home I resolved, if I gained an opportunity to speak with you, I would say that I consid- ered it a sufficient introduction to the President that I had cast seven votes towards his election — through my hus- band and six sons." President Lincoln grasped her hand a second time, and jocosely remarked, — "That reminds me of an incident over at a review across the Potomac the other day. As I was leaving the ground a man whom I was passing exclaimed, — ' There goes Old Abe. I'm glad I cast two votes for him ! ' I turned," continued the Presi- dent, " and asked him if he cast them both at once." By particular invitation of the President Mr. Cobb and his lady were seated in a commodious ante-room, where they enjoyed an opportunit}^ of reviewing the vast proces- 490 nEV. SYLVAXUS conn, d.d. sion that thronged the Reception Room, taking the hand of the Chief Executive, and bowing as they passed. Saj^s Mr. Cobb, in his Journal, — "Among the worthies whom we had the pleasure of meeting and greeting here, who also tarried some time in this cozy ajDartment, were Gen. Banks and his lady, and Mrs. Pierponl, as old acquaintances ; and, by introduction, Gen. Jas. W. Rij)- ley ; Hon. Mr. Crittenden of Kentucky ; Judge Wilkins, Secre- tary of War under President Tyler ; and last, not least, the new and live Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton. Him, in the vigorous emotions of our soul, we strongly clasped about the shoulders in our arms, told him of the earnest look of the country towards him, and bade him God-speed. With a beaming and lively countenance he evinced a recij^rocal emotion, and, as he passed on, said, 'You must pray for me.' Then, turning to pass out, he again took the hand of our companion, to whom he had of course been introduced, repeating, ' I said to your husband that he must pray for me.'' Noble public servant, — we do remember him personally, in our prayers for our government in all its departments." On Friday Mr. Cobb entered the House of Representa- tives just as Judge Kelly, of Philadelphia, was commenc- ing his powerful speech in answer to a member who had been opposing the policy of confiscating the slave property of Rebels. The chair in front of the Judge happened to be vacant, and upon that Mr. C. seated himself. He lis- tened earnestly until the speech was concluded, and then, in the fulness of his heart, and the ardor of the moment, he started to his feet, and grasping Mr. Kelly by the hand, he warmly expressed, in his blunt, free-hearted way, the gratitude he felt in having been permitted to hear that speech. The Judge was far from being displeased by the compliment, as w^e shall see anon. On Sunday Mr. Cobb preached in Rev. Wm. Henry Channing's Church, and he had good attendance, both in THE MEMOIR. 491 the morning and in the evening. Quite a number of Sen- ators and Representatives were present, and the preacher gave them one of his old-fashioned Universalist sermons. At the close of the morning'>s services one of the first to greet Mr. Cobb as he descended from the pulpit, was Judge Kelly. " Mr. Cobb," said he, grasping the preacher by the hand, " allow me to return the compliment you be- stowed upon me. I can truly say that I thank you for that sermon." It was a pleasant little episode, and it formed and cemented a friendship based upon mutual esteem and respect. On the following day Mr. Cobb left the Capital for home, entirely satisfied with his visit, and shortl}- after his arrival at the " Castle " he received the following letter from the friend through whose influence he had been induced to make the visit : — " Washington City, Feb. 10th, 1862. "My Brother, — Your visit in every respect appears, as I view it on my return, to have been what I predicted it would be — A DECIDED SUCCESS. Very intelligent men speak in hearty praise of your labors in the pulpit here. Some, being choice friends of mine, have gladdened my heart by such cordial and faithful credit to you ; while others, beariug the ' representative' character, and being gentlemen of high mental attainments, in speaking so highly of your services, do fairly stamp the pro- ceedings with peculiar and lasting interest. "I hope nothing went amiss with you after I left for Boston, from whence I am just returned. A line from you, or dear Mrs. Cobb, will be thankfully received. " Truly and kindly yours, "Austin Fowler. "ToKev. S. Cobb." During the month of May, 1863, Mr. Cobb received a re- quest from Mr. Chipman, of Marlboro', to preach in that town, it being understood that he (Chipman) was to pay 492 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. him for his services. He went on the first Sabbath in June, and fulfilled the appointment. It then appeared that three gentlemen had agreed to furnish each a Sunday's preaching in Marlboro' by a Universalist minister ; and when the other two had heard Mr. Cobb preach for their companion the}^, in turn, engaged him to preach for them. When this third service had been performed a subscription was raised, and Mr. Cobb was engaged to preach for them every other Sab- bath, for three months. At the expiration of the three months he was engaged for six months. And from that time Mr. Cobb was the stated preacher of the Word in Marlboro', and under his care a large society grew into life and flourished exceedingly. He loved the society as he had loved all societies that had grown up under his charge, and all that lay in his power to do for them he did. In October, with the assistance of his wife, who accompanied him much of the time, he organized and set in effective operation a Sabbath-School, which, for com- parative numbers and interest was not to be excelled by any in the State. And the children of that Sabbath-School conceived a deep and ardent love for their kind preacher ; and on the 17th of July, 1864 — Mr. Cobb's 66th birth-" day — they presented him with a beautiful album, contain- ing the photographs of a large number of the teachers and children, as a token of their affection and esteem. He continued to preach for this Society until February of 1865, when, feeling that the interests of the growing society de- manded that they should have a settled minister with them, and being unable to longer bear the burden of the labor his love for them had led him to impose upon himself, he sought and obtained for them the services of Rev. Wm. A. Start, a 3'oung man of superior attainments, and of much promise. Mr. Start had been serving in the army as THE MEMOIR. 493 Chaplain, and as the Marlboro' brethren had expressed a preference for him, Mr. Cobb obtained his release from his military position ; or, at least, was instrumental in obtain- ing it, and saw him in due time installed over the important charge. Mr. Start was installed as Pastor of the Universalist Society in Marlboro' on the 9th of May, 1865, and on that occasion it devolved upon Mr. Cobb to make the Charge upon the Delivery of the Scriptures to the Pastor elect. And that charge, the last service of the kind ever performed by the faithful father in Israel, and prepared expressly for the occasion, was deemed by those who heard it one of the best efforts of the kind ever made. I may add here that in Mr. Cobb the good people of Marlboro' found just the man to lift them up to an under- standing and appreciation of the value of the Gospel in its fulness of Love and Blessing, and that they fully estimated and acknowledged his services. They regarded him, while he lived, as the father of their Society ; while he, in turn, loved them, and prayed for them continually. But he could not have served them when they came to need a settled pas- tor ; and I know that Mr. Cobb felt in his heart to bless God for the fortune that had secured to them in that capacity the services of Bro. W. A. Start. After being relieved of his responsibility in Marlboro' Mr. Cobb preached in various places, averaging about half the time, during the succeeding year. But he ought not to have done it. There were times when he almost fainted in the pulpit, and when, even in prayer, his voice utterly failed him, as though there were some mighty convulsion within that for the moment paralyzed his vocal powers. And yet he talked of " colds," and of " accidental fatigues," just such as he might have met in the other years when there 42 494 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. had been no jar in the system, and such as would disappear upon rest and simple medication. And he loved to talk of how strong and well he was, flattering himself all the while that he was in perfect health. But he could not give up. His mind was never stronger, nor were his reasoning pow- ers ever more clear and ready for use. The Scriptures had become as a book thoroughly mastered unto him, and his soul yearned, as in other times, to break the bread of life to his fellow-men. On Sunday, the 28th day of April, 1866, he preached in Newark, N. J., and on the 20th of May following he preached in Canton, Mass. He came home from Canton suflfering from one of his " colds." In fact, he had been suffering from it for some time ; so that his wife, when she saw him depart, entered in her diary, ere she retired to her rest on that Saturday night: " O Lord, do thou give him strength for the duties of the day, and return him to me in health and peace ! " And when, on Monda}^, she saw him return, apparently no worse for his labors, she was led to exclaim, in the ful- ness of her heart: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, that my darling husband has been returned to me so well ! " And that was the last of Mr. Cobb's preaching. Never again was his voice to be lifted up in the sacred pulpit in behalf of the glorious cause of the Redeemer he had so long and so faithfully served. His physicians — the best in the city — placed their edict upon him, and his ministerial labors were at an end. They pointed out to him that his only hope of a longer hold upon life lay in a strict and en- tire abstinence from public speaking. He yielded for the present ; but he was not entirely despondent. His pen was left him yet, and with that he might still speak to a world whose good was an object that lay ver}^ near to his heart. TEE MEMOIR, 495 CHAPTEE XYII. Back with the Editor, — Sells to Usher and Quinby, — Merging of Two Papers into One, — " Trumpet and Freeman," — Another Move, — The " Publishing House," — A New Name, — " Theological Editor," — " Doctor of Divinity," — The old Veteran ill at ease — " Farewell, Old Chair ! " — Lecturing and Speak- ing, — Characteristics as a Lecturer, — His last Lit- erary Effort, — Repose. We will now take up, and cany to its dose, Mr. Cobb's career as an Editor ; and I am inclined to the opinion that this was, after all, his most important mission, as we must include therein the production of his books. Through the medium of the pulpit and the rostrum he did much ; but it was through the medium of his printed thoughts that he stamped his mind upon the denomination and upon the country, putting forth a power that was to be felt and ac- knowledged, and bending circumstances so far to his will as to be able to see every one of his earnest desii-es literally accomplished. At the commencement of the twenty-second volume, in the Spring of 1854, Mr. Cobb made new outlays of money for the purpose of enhancing the value of his paper ; and it is safe to say that he left nothing undone that lay within his wisdom to contrive, and power to accomplish, towards that end. He had been publishing the Freeman twenty- one years, and he was willing to turn all the results of his 496 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. long experience over to the benefit of his patrons. He told them what he had done in times past ; and he told them what he would do in the time to come ; and then he begged them to come up and help him. He stated to them plainly his wants, and he hoped they would lend an attentive ear to his appeal. Many of his subscribers answered promptly, and to such he extended his warmest gratitude ; but many others neglected him, and gave him cause for sorrow. At this time the weekly expenses of his office were $150.00 in ad- dition to the expense for the support of his family. Said he to his subscribers, — "We pay rent, but receive none. We pay interest, but re- ceive none. Our expenses must be paid promptly, or our busi- ness must stop. But the resources for such j^aj^ment lie scat- tered over thousands of miles of territory. If, therefore, our patrons do not remit promptly, what shall we do ? If we are compelled to hire on extra interest, that extra will by and by eat us up. To send out collectors is ruinously expensive, espe- cially through regions where subscribers are scattering. What then shall be done? What? Why, a very simple and easy thing may be clone. Each one who owes us may enclose his due to us immediately, or very soon. There is enough clue us to make our pecuniary circumstances agreeable and pleasant." Again he says, — ** Our editorial and other labors are great, and only an iron constitution could bear them. But a failure to meet our pecu- niary obligation wears our mind and nervous system more than all the labor of both the Adams and Hudson Discussions." Mr. Cobb struggled on, abating not one whit of his old energy and perseverance ; laboring early and late ; writing his editorials upon the wing, in railway cars, and on board steamboats ; travelling hither and thither, far and near ; collecting the dues of his delinquent subscribers ; preach- THE MEMOIR. 497 ing on the Sabbath, and lecturing before Lyceums, and other public assemblies, on week daj^s, — working, work- ing, working, as though work were life, and rest a state not necessary to the recuperation of wasted powers. But this was not to continue much longer. He had borne about all he could bear, and tired nature demanded repose. He strove on until he became satisfied that while he continued to publish his paper he must hold strength to bear up under the old load of trial and perplexity ; and, being at length convinced that he could not safely bear the burden longer, he made up his mind that he would throw it off as soon as he had opportunity. And that opportunity was at hand. In the Spring of 1861 (March 21st) Eev. Thomas Whit- temore, the publisher of the Trumpet, passed from this life to the higher sphere, and shortly after that his paper was purchased by Rev. James M. Usher, who had for some time previous had charge of the book and publishing establishment connected therewith. Early in the spring of 1862 arrangements were made for uniting the Christian Freeman and the Trumpet into one paper. Rev. George W. Quinby, then of Middletown, Conn., who had formerly published and edited the " Star in the West" and who was a thorough editorial manager in every respect, entered into a copartnership with Mr. Usher, and the two together bought out Mr. Cobb's pecuniary interest in the Freeman, thus consolidating the whole Uni- versalist publishing interest of Boston, so far as weekly papers were concerned, into one establishment ; and the ofispring of this union was named " The Trumpet and Christian Freeman." Mr. Cobb was retained as Editor- in-Chief of the paper, Brs. Usher and Quinby acting as Associate Editors. 42* 498 ItEV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. And here allow me to remark that from that time, while Mr. Cobb remained upon earth, the friendship between himself and those two brothers was never broken — never shaken. It was warm, true, and enduring. Br. Usher he had known from early j^outh, and j^ears before, while resid- ing in Maiden, the said brother had been a member of his famil3\ Both loved Mr, Cobb for his many good qualities of head and heart, and I think they never withheld a favor which was in their power to grant. The union was a har- monious and happy one, and Mr. Cobb still continued to throw his whole soul into his editorial work. But this arrangement was not long to continue. For some years there had been a desire on the part of a number of the ministering brethren that steps should be taken towards the establishment of a paper to be published and controlled by the Denomination ; and even before the death of Mr. TVhittemore some of these brethren had ap- proached Mr. Cobb to ascertain on what terms he would dispose of the Freeman ; but at that time he was not anxious to sell, and the price which he set put a bar to further negotiations. Many able men among our ministers were opposed to the project, feeling that a paper so owned and conducted could have no individuality of sentiment and purpose ; but as they were not directl}^ interested they offered no serious objection, and placed no obstacles in the way of its accomplishment. The men who had charge of the movement were industrious and i^ersistent, and at length the desire of their souls was gratified. An association was formed, called " The Neio England Universalist Publishing House" and to that association Messrs. Usher and Quinby sold their entire establishment — Books, Papers, Plates, and all. So the Trumpet and Christian Freeman, in the month of November, 1862, became the property of the THE MEMOIR. 499 <' Publishing House," Mr. Cobb being retained as Theologi- cal Editor. The following letter tells its own story : — *' Tufts College, July 8, 1863. " To Rev. Sylvaxus Cobb, D. D. *' My dear Sir, — I take pleasure in informing you that the Government of the College have this day conferred ujion you the degree of Doctor of Divinity, in recognition of youv high Christian character, sound Biblical Learning, and eminent ser- vices on behalf of the Church of Christ. *' I am, with great respect, yours truly, "A. A. '^h^^u. Presidents This honorable and revered title, if we can believe the best and most observing men of our times, was never more worthily bestowed, nor more eminently merited. Surely the recipient of the degree in this case had most emphat- ically and unmistakably been proving to the world for long and laborious years that he was a complete master of the whole entire sj^stem of Di\inity. Mr. Cobb accepted the gift with gratitude because he knew that it had been be- stowed as no empty title, but as a mark which he had won, and which he could now wear, legitimately. And his nu- merous friends were pleased because the conferring of the degree upon the old and faithful pioneer was a response to their most earnest and devout vrishes. And so the Theological Editor was now " Rev. Sylva- Nus Cobb, D. D." As I approach the closing scenes of my father's life, of which I am to make a record that shall go down to poster- it}^, I feel, resting solemnly upon me, the duty I owe to the memory of the departed, as well as to those who are to read what I write. I take counsel of my own heart, trust- 500 REV. SYLVANVS COBB, D.D. ing that God lias placed therein a desire and a will to deal justly, and to bear witness to the truth. Mr. Cobb, in his salutatory, adduced evidence to show that he " ought to have some experience even in the new position in which he was placed." But he was to find that no such experience had beep his. Never before had he sat in the chair editorial with a cen- sorship above him other than his own conscience and his God. That old chair had lost its sublimity of entire inde- pendence, and in it now he began to feel cramped and out of place. He was no longer master of the situation, and in deploying his forces he was obliged to consult the movements of others, so that there might be no clashing. But in this result there could be no blame attached to any one. The very nature of the circumstances rendered it impossible that his position could have been else than it was. He was only " Theologica.l Editor," During nearly quarter of a century he had been general-in-chief of all the forces in the field ; and every movement, from the throwing out of a picket to guard against surprise from some wandering guerilla in the shape of a rum-seller or a slave-catcher, to an advance of the grand army against the main body of the enemy, had been directly under his supervision. No matter where he was, nor what was the occasion, his fancies went upon paper as they found birth in his brain, and thence into the columns of his Freeman ; and all his readers, j^oung and old, grave and gay, conservative and progressive, knew just where to find him, and to whom to look for the thoughts that marked the character of the paper. Then he had been able to meet the old enemy of Orthodoxy in this quarter ; the foul fiend of Intemperance in that quarter ; the dark shadow of Infidelity in another quarter ; while other evils, THE MEMOIR. 501 great and small, he could attack at will. But noiu all was changed. He had his department assigned him, and he had the privilege of writing theology to his heart's con- tent. No, no, — it was not to him a pleasant position, even though at times he may have tried to make himself think to the contrary. I know how he felt, and I know that he did not feel at home. The Directors of the Establishment did all they could to make his position a pleasant one ; but — the very fact that there were Directors to whom he was to look was in itself sufficient to annoy him. It was not his Old Chair of the other years ; and it laid not in the power of the Directors to make it so. It was not his old " Christian Freeman ; Sylvanus Cobb, Editor and Pro- prietor" — and all the Directors in the world could not have made it so, without giving up all that they had so long striven for. It is hard to take an old general, who has led the hosts in a thousand battles, marching and fighting under his own colors, and place him upon the staff of a confederation of commanders, expecting him to throw heart into the work as he did of old ! And more especially when the veteran has grown gray in the service, and has reached a stage of life when, if ever, he must feel naturally restive under restraint. But there was no trouble — no heart-burnings nor jeal- ousies that ruffled the waters upon the surface. AYhat there may have been of under-currents — occasional meet- ing of waters setting in different directions deeper down in the flood — I am unable to say. All I can say is, Mr. Cobb retained his place as Theological Editor of the Trum- pet AND Freeman until the Spring of 1864, and then he gave it up. The duties had come to wear upon him j other 502 nEV. SYLVANUS CGBB^ D.D. matters of business were upon his hands ; his Commentaiy of the New Testament was in press ; and he felt that he had better take a short respite from continuous, pressing, obligatory toil. The labors of the year just past — the 3'ear of the writing of the Commentary — as the reader already knows, had been of the most wearing and exhaust- ive kind, and at length his own good judgment told him that there was a limit to his powers of endurance ; and that limit had been reached. He left the chair editorial bearing with him the best wishes of all with whom he had been associated ; and I know that he treasured up a just appreciation of the uniform kindness of his associates towards himself. Farewell, Old Chair ! In all the years to come there shall never sit within thy waiting arms another that can bring to thee a truer heart, a more genial spirit, or a pur- pose made more blessed in its aim for Universal Good, than was thine to bear in the honored person of him whose Memoirs I write ! After leaving the editorial chair Mr. Cobb continued to furnish theological matter for the first page of the paper, which had come to be called " The Universalist." He also WTote quite extensively for the secular press upon the cur- rent topics of the day. How could a man who had for so many years been a constant observer and faithful chroni- cler of passing events, lay himself away upon the shelf of oblivion while the nation was engaged in a mighty struggle for the salvation of its very life ? — while on every hand were transpiring events of surpassing moment ? He could not do it. As well might he have thought to live without nourishment for the body as without this outlet to the THE MEMOIR. 503 crowding impressions and conceptions of his busy brain ; and so, after leaving the editorial office, he passed the lighter results of his literary labors over to the secular press ; and many an old friend and admirer gained enter- tainment and profit from his articles in the Boston daily papers without knowing whence they came. In fact, he was in the habit of contributing occasionally to those same columns while engaged as Theological Editor of the *' Uni- versalist," for there were many subjects connected with the political affairs of the country which he could not " let alone," and which, at the same time, he could not with propriety assume to publish in a periodical of which only a stated and limited department was his to occupy. And in this connection it will not be deemed out of place for me to record the fact that for his labors in this latter field he received the personal thanks of such men as Governor Andrew, Senator Wilson, Gen. Banks, and others of like high standing. And I also find among his papers an auto- graph letter from Abraham Lincoln, warmly thanking him for an able and masterly defence which he had made of the then contemplated Presidential policy of Emancipation. Hon. Henry Wilson once remarked to the writer, — "It does me good to meet Mr. Cobb when I come home on a visit from Washington. I love to feel his warm grasp, and receive his cheering words of congratulation and God- speed." In addition to his literary labors, Mr. Cobb was engaged to some extent in the Lecturing field ; but he could not in these later days, do justice to himself in that department. A Lj^ceum lecture must be necessarily long, as the speaker generally has the whole burden of entertainment upon his own shoulders. And then speaking in the evening, and in cold weather, — for the lecture season is during the late 504 REV. SYLVAXUS COBB. D.D, Autumnal and Winter season, — was bad for him. Those who have never tried the experiment ma}^ not understand it. But when a man has been using his voice for an hour, or more, in a heated, crowded room, perhaps not properly ventilated, it may be supposed that liis lungs and bron- chial tubes are somewhat excited when he gets through ; and it may be readily understood how liable a man is, under such circumstances, to take cold if he is not very careful when he comes out into the cold, fresh air. And Mr. Co\)b found difficulty in this tiresome lecturing on "Winter even- ings, — so much so that he was forced to refuse many calls for his services. And here I may as well speak of what was not known until after his death. I have spoken of those " colds" that had troubled him ; and bethought they were simple colds that broke him down so completely in voice on different occasions. But the autopsy revealed that there was an old adhesion of the right lung to the wall of the thorax, in the region of the inferior angle of the scapula. This adhesion was so positive that over a super- ficies of some twenty-four square inches the substance of the lung was so firmly grown to the ribs that the point of adhesion was far stronger than the lung itself. So the reader can now understand what had troubled the man so much in other years, for it was \QYy evident that the diffi- culty had commenced when he used to complain of those " stitches " in that region even while preaching in the Bath House. Still Mr. Cobb lectured considerabl}^, and to good accept- ance. I speak now of course, of lectures before literary bodies and societies. And he also made it in his way to address political assemblies whenever he had opportunity, and his services were required. Says the MiJford Journal^ at the close of a lengthy report of one of his lectures on THE MEMOIR. 505 " The Duty of the Citizen to the Country in the (then) Pres- ent Emergency " — *'The lecture throughout, was a sound, logical, philosophical, patriotic production, evincing a clear historical and moral view of the cause, and treatment, of our present national difficulties." But, after all, Mr. Cobb was not what would be denom- inated a popular lecturer. He was not mentally constitu- ted for such an office. His thoughts were too ponderous, and his ideas too plainly practical and utilitarian. At times he could relate an anecdote with extreme gusto, and descend to light by-play and flashes of wit ; but it was not natural with him. When he found himself before an audi- ence, prepared to speak to them, he had some subject upon his mind, and be sure it was an important one ; and when he arose he had but one aim in view, and that was, to im- press upon the minds of his hearers the same sentiments and convictions that dwelt upon his own ; and to this end he used the plainest kind of language, moving straight on towards the end — never stopping to pluck flowers here ; to peep into a beautiful grotto there ; to pick a few berries from this bush ; and knock an apple or a peach from yonder tree. Mr. Cobb had his province, and no man could have filled it better. When people were hungering and thirsting for light and truth, he could satisfy them. When they needed to be led upward to higher and nobler walks of life, he could lead them ; and when they failed to perceive the duties that devolved upon them as children of God and constituent members of a Christian government, he was the man, fully warranted by his own practical observance of those duties, to " stir up their pure minds by way of remembrance." But when it came to catering to those 43 506 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. appetites which craved fun and excitement, he was not the man to serve them. The last literary labor in which Mr. Cobb was engaged was the preparation of his Autobiography. He had no periodical upon his hands in which to feel an interest ; he did not feel like throwing a new theological book into the market, — though he had the plan and groundwork for one all laid out,* — and he could not remain idle. What should he do? His youngest sons — the Twin Brothers — said to him, " Write your Autobiography, and we will buy it and pay you a handsome sum for it." And straightway he went at the work ; and how much he accomplished the reader has seen. He was a long while in writing those pages. Dear Reader, could you have seen him, towards the end, after he had become so weak that he could with difficulty move from his chamber to his study, and had been admonished by his ph3^sicians that he must not write over ten minutes at any one time, you would have bowed your head in sadness and sorrow. You would have seen him, the mere shadow of his former self, struggle up from his chair by the window of his chamber that overlooked the busy harbor, and toil slowly and painfally away to his study, where he would sink down at his desk. A few mo- ments of rest, and then you would have seen him grasp his pen and write ; but he did not write as had been his wont. The pen that erst had moved so glibly over the page, now labored heavily on, in slow, tedious, uncertain measure ; the marks tremulous and cramped, and the lines varying sadly in their course. But not long, — you would * Among Mr. Cobb's papers I find a somewhat elaborate arrangement made for a book on the " Nature of Christ." He had collated a series of his pub- lished articles on that subject, and I can see how he had left the connections to be made for bringing them properly together. It would liave been a valuable work had he lived to perfect it. THE MEMOIR. 507 not liixve seen him labor thus a great while. Poor, tired nature soon became exhausted, aud, with looks so sad that even a C3'nic would have gazed upon the scene in pity, he allowed the loved pen to drop from his fingers ; and then back to his chamber he slowly made his toilsome way. It was very hard for him to give up ; but the end was at hand. As the ripening breath of Autumn had perfected the blushing fruit and the golden grain for the garners of the husbandmen ; and as nature, in token of coming rest, had donned the sere and yellow leaf for its garb, he laid the implements of his toil aside, and sat down to quiet repose. 508 r,EV. SYLVANUS COBBf D.D. CHAPTER XVIII. Influence of the Wife, — Her Characteristics, — Cor- respondence, — More Heart-Treasures, — The Moth ER, — Mr. Cobb's Universalism, — The Purpose and Power of God, — The Saviour, — Relative Degrees OF Happiness in the Future State. I NOW approach a subject which lies so near to the very centre of my heart that I must needs draw forth from their sacred repository some of the holiest sentiments and emo- tions of my soul for the gaze of the world. Mr. Cobb's life-story could not be complete without some allusion to that Companion who was the sharer of his joys and his sorrows ; the one cherished being in whom all his earthly love was centered ; the one who had been with him, to support, to cheer, to aid, and to reverence, for four-and- forty years. A man of Mr. Cobb's temperament, with loves so strong, and so strongly bound to his home, must have depended much for his success in life upon the character and disposi- tion of his wife. Had fortune, in the morning of his man- hood, bound him to a woman who could not have won and ever retained the whole of his confidence and esteem, he could not have been the man he was. Or, had he even taken a wife who could have failed to sympathize with him in all his undertakings, he could never have given to the world the rich results that have flowed from his labors. THE 3IEM0IR. 509 Mrs. Cobb, like himself, had been educated during child- hood in the strictest school of Calvinistic Orthodoxy ; and, like himself, she had come forth into the glorious light of the Universalist faith through her own instincts and re- searches. Mr. Cobb could not have found a companion better suited to his heart and his head. In those years he had gained little polish, and he found in Eunice one who could prize him for his worth ; and while he gave to her the support of a stout heart, a firm will, and a strong arm, she rendered in return not only the priceless love of a pure and devoted heart, but she did much by her own native gentleness and delicacy of character and feeling to smooth off the rough edges of habit acquired upon the farm and in the rural school-room, and to bend his attention a little more care- fully to the adornments of the outer man. The world has seen Mr. Cobb at his work, and it has seen what he has accomplished ; but the world may never know how much of his success he owed to the influence of that gentle, faith- ful, true-hearted being whose every thought and aim of life centered in the one purpose and desire to make home pleas- ant and attractive to her husband and to her children. What would Mr. Cobb have been without the Home of love and true affection ? I, who know how keenly sensitive he was, am able to understand that "Clouds at Home" would have made him the most miserable of men. But God had blessed him, and ever in his Home, let the world without darken as it would, he was sure to find peace and joy. And no man could more fully appreciate the blessing than did Mr. Cobb. The reader has already seen some of the out pourings of his soul in this direction, and I will present a few more of them. The following I do not tran- 43* 510 EEF. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. scribe as a gem of poetical excellence and beauty, but as a heart-treasure, beautiful from its reflected light. If it is not a diamond, it is at least a mirror upon which diamond flashes are reflected. Mr. Cobb had bidden adieu to his wife preparatory to starting on a journey. As was her custom, founded upon a determination that, so far as la}^ in her power, he should never bear away from his home else than the memory of sunny smiles, slie had borne up bravely through the parting — had kissed him and blessed him with a smile upon her face — and had seen him depart. And then, when she fully believed he had gone, she bowed her head and wept. But the husband had forgotten some im- portant matter which called him back, and he found his wife in tears, upon which circumstance he wrote the fol- lowing, — TO MY WIFE. 1. What was tbat crystal fountain, Which, on that parting day, In those blue eyes was gushing, As I had turned away ? It was the wife's affection ; It was the fount of love ; Pure as the love of Heaven, The fount of bliss above. 2. What were the drops then trembling, Upon those lashes hung, Soft drops of dew resembling. The sunlit boughs among ? Bright pearls they were, most precious — More precious far to me Than gems of Orient fountains. And treasures of the sea. THE MEMOIR. 511 What was the light soon gleaming — The light which grief beguiles — The light whose radiant beaming Soon changed thy tears to smiles ? It was the cultured spirit^ The philosophic mind, Resolved that I, when absent, Should mem'ry's pleasure find. Resolved the image to impress Of pleasant, smiling cheerfulness. Sylvanus Cobb. Malden, Jan. 27, 1838. The following is an extract of a letter written by Mr. Cobb from the " Castle of Peace" to his wife who was at that time — September, 1841 — visiting their friends in his native town of Norway. Read it, and see into what trains of thought and reflection he was led by the absence of his beloved. Mark the deep, pure love of his heart, and, at the same time, the instinctive religiousness of his nature. Such words are a sacred treasure to the lonely wife now in her hour of bereavement. He writes how affairs are going on at home — how the daughters are revealing marvellous powers of housewifery, and how the boys are rugged as usual, and how he tries to enjoy himself and feel content with his children : and then he goes on, — "But much, very much, of life is gone, when my mind's com- panion is gone. I want no corporeal presence without the mind, and there is no other mind in the universe that can take the place of that one which has so fully mingled and assimilated itself with mine own. I do not mean to dethrone the blessed Son of Mary. The place you occupy has the smile of his appro- bation. Our souls are united, not by a legal ceremony, or by the policy o'f temporal convenience, but by a spiritual union for eternity. When God shall have kept us together here as long 512 BEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. as he has any good for our united labors to accomplish on earth, should you be taken hence, and raised before me to the building of God on high, I would still hold communion of spirit with you there, — I would be cheered by the smiles of your angelic love, and in prayerful meditation I would be often partaking of your joy, as you should be witnessing increasing developments of the Creator's wisdom, power, and goodness. Or, if I should be called to leave you here behind me, I would in yonder home commune back with your believing, hoping spirit, and have a special pleasure in the thought of being permitted by the Master to welcome you and lead you in that field of glories, when you should come and join me." " God bring you in safety to your devoted husband and loving children, "S. Cobb." Even then Mr. Cobb was a Christian spiritualist, as the reader can plainly see ; and though he lived more than quarter of a century after that letter was written, yet I believe he never made an advance in that direction beyond what he then professed. He early imbibed the glorious hopes of the gospel, and thej^ were full to overflowing in their richness of spiritual gifts. It would be impossible to over-estimate the love which Mr. Cobb bore his wife ; and never did he fail to come up in practice to what his lips and his pen professed. As I have said often enough, Mr. Cobb was not a poet ; but there were times when he had a strong penchant for rhyming; and this desire generally manifested itself in connection with his sentiments of con- nubial and paternal love. I can say that Mr. Cobb not only fully realized the duties required at the hands of the husband towards making home all that it should be, but that he also per- formed those duties trul}^ and faithfully. And I know that his wife did all in her power to make his home all that he THE MEMOIR. 513 would have it. Yes ; to his wife he owed the heaven that was his to enjoy upon earth. Sometimes a sense of edito- rial pro])riety may lead a man to express sentiments of esteem that he could not well account for in fact ; but when we come to his private letters, we are pretty sure to find his heart laid bare, especially if he be writing to one who possesses his entire confidence. As it is my desire to show how Mr. Cobb's life was influenced by the circum- stances of his home, I cannot do better than to quote his own convictions, put upon paper, at times when the emo- tions that stirred his soul were his only guide. And I do this not more to open up to view the circumstances that in- fluenced him, than to present a domestic picture which may be studied and copied with profit by others. The following extract of a letter from Mr. Cobb to his wife presents another of those heart-pictures which reveal the inborn goodness and native grandeur of the man. Mrs. Cobb was at that time on a visit to her friends in Hallowell, and little Jimmy, then seven years of age, was with her. She had taken the trip not so much for her own pleasure as for recuperating the failing health of her boy : " Tlie Consecrated Castle^ *' Sunday evening. ** Precious Wife, — I have been to meeting this afternoon, and heard Br. Sebastian Streeter. Since meeting I have been reading Prof. Stuart on " Conscience and the Constitution,'''' * * ! — and now, for a little genuine pleasure, I must turn and converse a while with you. " Well, it is lonely without you, but, after all, it is blessed to be AT HOME. Some how or other there is a peculiar charm in this spot. It seems like a paradise ; — all is peace and serenity. It is truly the " Castle of Peace," and the Angel of Peace has taken her abode here. *• True, there is a lack just now. When I come over from my 514 ItEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. oiiice, I cannot look up and ken from the window, or at the door, that countenance of countenances, beaming with the light of intelligence and love ; and the light tread and affectionate greeting and converse of that little boy Jimmy, I miss exceed- ingly. But I do not indulge melancholy on this account, because it is all calculated upon as a duty and privilege all around. I enjoy your company in spirit, and think how happy you are, with that little star of hope by your side, greeting your old friends, and renewing pleasant acquaintance. " Wife, I have thought with a great deal of pleasure on the chief subject and expression of your letter you closed for me before you left home. Your appreciation of your own im- provements, privileges, and blessings, is to me, observant of the same facts, a rich source of enjoyment. But in regard to the few words you say of my harder lot, and the non-reception of deserved consideration, I take pleasure in assuring you that I enjoy a Christian and philosophical view of this matter. So far as it relates to the public in general, there is no lack of as much honor as my merits can claim. And with regard to cer- tain trials to which you refer, I decidedly feel that they were necessary to qualify me for a work I have to do. I clearly see that I have acquired qualifications by my business difficulties and hardships, and by the use made thereof by certain persons, which I could not otherwise have acquired, for a work yet before me. You and I shall yet see and know it. And then my bur- dens have all along been made light by the consciousness of rectitude of intention ; by a firm faith in the wisdom of God's designs ; by the noble sentiments and kind sympathies of such an help meet as few, if any, other men are blessed with ; and also by the love and sympathy of the whole numerous home circle. Yes, — lam more than blessed, and doubt not that I shall yet be able to do more than I have yet done to render blessed the valued companion of my joys and sorrows. ******* " I miss you very much here — more than I can tell ; but yet 1 would not have you hurry home on that account. I would have you feel perfectly contented, and fill out the time of your contemplated visits. But it will be a great treat to receive you when 3'ou come. All the children send love to you and Jimmy. Squeeze him for me — the darling boy ! " Forever thine, " Sylvanxjs." THE MEMOIR. 515 Such was the Home of Sj^lvanns Cobb — made so, in a great measure, by the gentle spirit of her whom he called Wife. AViFE ! — Mother ! — How sweet, how pure, how blessed her influence ! To her husband she never spoke a word unbecoming her station ; and if, in the other j^ears, she may have been weak and at fault at times, her faults were only such as bound her more closely to the heart of him whom she loved, in that they brought her to his stout bosom for strength and support. When he went forth from his home she gave him the memory of smiles to be his on his journej^ ; and when he returned he was sure to meet that same blessed smile to warm and cheer his heart. O, wives, what a crown of life is this ! Show me the hus- band who knoivs that when he returns to his home the arms of his wife will be open to receive him, with the warmth of smiles upon her face, and I will show to you a man who has a blessing above all the material wealth of earth. And I know that such a blessing was his whose Memoirs I write. Can I leave this subject here? Is the story of the wife's influence complete until we know how she performed the duties of mother to his children ? Mother ! I can write it in a sentence. Three-and-forty j'ears have I borne the blessed privilege of calling her by that hal- lowed name ; and I can look back over all the past of my life, and find not in my memory one single look, word, or deed of hers that ever gave me pain. During all the years of my life she never spoke to me a harsh word ; she never did to me a pain-imparting deed ; and she never gave me to feel that she had a fault laid up in her memory against me. And yet God knows her heart has ached many a time and oft. Did I say she had never 516 REV. STLVANUS COBB, D.D. in deed given me pain? O, when I remember how she has taken me to her bosom and imprinted a tearful kiss where many another would have placed a blow, I can call to mind pangs of most exquisite pain. But they were such pangs as the redeemed may feel when they remember how they have crucified their Saviour. And in all those years I can remember well how she has sought to lead my mind and my affections np to Christ and God. To my father I owe much, — as much as mortal child ever owed to an earthly parent, — but to my mother I owe more than life. But enough. Within the depths of my own heart let my most sacred memories of my mother rest. They are mine, — not the world's. Mine to bless and cheer with emotions akin to heavenly bliss while life shall last ! Such a Mother could not but make a happy home for her husband. Such a mother could not but command the con- fidence of the father ; and so was the man doubly blessed in the possession. Not only to her could he look for all the joys the blessed love and constancy and purity of a wife can give, but to her could he also with unwavering confidence look for that mild and gentle influence made up of all the Christian graces, which should be safe and healthful guidance for his children. He realized it all ; and he was happ}^ ! At the commencement of these memoirs I had thought of giving a full chapter to a consideration of the subject of Mr. Cobb's Universalism ; that is, its kind and character. But no such space will be necessary. The reader who has read thus far must have gathered alreadj^ a pretty thorough idea of the character of the Universalism which Mr. Cobb professed. But I will say a few words, to give in brief, the essential points of his doctrine. THE MEMOIR. 517 He believed that God had a Plan in view when he created the world, and placed upon it children of his own, after his own image ; and he believed that that Plan, per- fected, was to redound to God's glory and honor. He believed, furthermore, that God entered upon the work with the intent and purpose of securing his own happiness in the grand consummation. And, further still, he believed that God intended, when he created man, to make this mortal immortal in joy and bliss, to partake with himself of perfection. He believed that God had the Power to accomplish that which he had planned. He did not believe that in the very outset, — that in the very first stroke of labor upon the highest object of his creation — God made a woful blunder which was to convulse the whole creation with disorder and confoundment. He did not believe that the Power to create was put in operation without the Wisdom so to con- trive that the original Plan should be perfected. No, — he believed that God had not only the wisdom to plan, and the power to create, but also the power to accomplish all that he undertook. He believed that, in time, as had been appointed from the beginning, God sent his Son Jesus Christ upon the earth to be a teacher unto his people, and, literally, a Saviour, — a Saviour from sin. And he believed that the coming of Christ was a part of the great original Plan, — one of the instrumentalities by which man was to be led to the Father. He believed that Christ was sent to do a certain share of the work ; that he was sent by One who knew the work he should do, and who endowed him with full power to consummate it. So God was in Christ, re- deeming the world to himself. He believed that now, upon the coming of Christ, the 44 518 BEV. SYLVANUS COBJi, D.D. whole Gospel Scheme was revealed in its beauty and gran- deur. That Scheme did not contemplate a partial doing of the work of redemption ; but it contemplated an entire and thorough consummation. Upon the professed Chris- tian who should have declared that the Father only con- templated the saving of a part of his children through the mission of his Son Mr. Cobb would have looked with pity and commiseration ; and upon the professed Christian who should have declared that God and Christ combined could not accomplish all they desired he would have gazed with sorrow and amazement. Mr. Cobb believed that all would be accomplished just exactly as God had planned that it should be accomplished, when, in the morning of creation, he stretched forth his hand to commence the work. And since a Being of Infinite Wisdom and Love had laid the plan, he believed that that plan must look to a consummation of Universal joy and blessedness, so that the Father himself might be blessed in the perfection of his works. And since a Being of Infinite Power had taken the plan in hand, he believed the end would be accomplished. And so Mr. Cobb was a Universalist. There is an important point upon which there is diversity of opinion among even the clergymen of the Universalist denomination. That is : How shall men be raised ? With what sort of spirits shall they enter upon the higher life ? Or, how far may the circumstances of the earthly life aflfect the entrance upon the heavenly ? In the first place, Mr. Cobb could not believe in any- thing like punishment in the higher state, because that would involve the necessity of sin there ; since a just and merciful God would not inflict punishment after the child had lost the desire and capacity to sin. In the second THE MEMOIR. 519 place, he did not believe that there could be any degrees of nearness to the Father established by the Father himself, whatever might result from the various abilities of individ- uals to comprehend the value and glory of Godlike charac- ter. In short, he believed that all would be raised in a state of happiness — of happiness to them perfect in itself, and as refined and extensive as they were capable of enjoy- ing ; but, as he believed in eternal progression, of course he admitted that there were grades of bliss-imparting knowl- edge to be gained, and still gained, by the wisest and the best. For instance : The poor inebriate, sunk in the very low- est depths of vice and debauchery — his lips profane, and his every word a curse — his frame shattered, and his soul a wreck — his home dark, drear, and desolate, and his wife and children crushed and broken-hearted. See that man, at midnight, reeling forth from the tavern, so beastly drunk that his senses are gone, and his limbs refuse their office. Out into the stormy night he staggers, and after struggling a while in his uncertain way, he sinks by the wayside — sinks, he knows not where — and his stupor holds him there upon the cold, wet earth until morning. Suppose that poor wretch had died during that night of storm and exposure — suppose in that drunken state he had passed from earth to another world — what would have been his condition there ? Here is opportunity for difference of opinion. What would God have done with that poor, wayward, misguided soul ? Different clergymen might give 3'ou different answers. But mark ! In the morning the wretched man awakens from bis stupor, and at length he sits up and gazes around. Behold where his struggling instinct — perhaps some kind guardian spirit — had led him. In the dim grey light of morning he sees a white slab of marble, and upon it the 620 REV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. name of her who first on earth had pressed him to her bosom and loved him. H^ had slept his drunken sleep upon his mother's grave ! Who shall picture the emotions that stirred that suifering soul ? There is no need. Suffice it to say that he arose from that spot, after prayer and supplication, with the solemn vow sent up to God, through the spirit of his sainted mother, that he would henceforth be all that a true man, as husband and father and citizen, should be. And then he went to his home, and told to his wife and his children the story of his night's adventure, and told to them what he had done. And he asked them to be kind to him, and to trust him once more, and love him.* What was the wife's answer to that appeal ? Did she hold her husband off, and tell him that his joy must not com- mence quite yet ? Or was heaven opened upon that house- hold in that hour, and joy ecstatic their portion? How long was it before that man sent forth from his deepest soul a prayer of praise and blessing ? And would God have been less kind than was this poor stricken wife, who had sufiered so much at the husband's cruel hand ? And would Heaven have been less fraught with blessed influence than was that man's earthly home of poverty and want ? So much from my own pen by way of showing how Mr. Cobb regarded the sinner's entrance into Heaven. But how is it with the sentient Scofl'er and Atheist? Here is an extract from one of Mr. Cobb's " Rambling Cogita- tions" which is to the point : — •'Imagine, now, that our philosopher, whom, for the sake of convenience, we will call Cyrus, having jDassed from earth into the spirit land, witnesses the entrance there of one who, on * An actual occurrence within the writer's own knowledge. And the man thus saved was instrumental in saving many others. THE MEMOIR, 521 earth, and to the close of life, was an Atheist, and a sensualist. Cyrus is astounded to see that once atheistic sinner glowing with the inspiration of sublime and elevating thought, as he knows the blessed truth of life from the dead, and the being and glory of God, and most of those glorious truths which the gos- pel reveals to the believing soul on earth. And as he looks, and beholds, and meditates, and admires, he breaks out into a sono* 7 7 7 Q of praise and prayer, — * O God, from whose love I have been alienated through the ignorance that was in me, thy wonderful working has dissipated that darkness, and I know ih^thou art! And life immortal, which my dark soul could not anticipate, O, gracious God, thou hast given it to me, and I shall congratulate the loved of earth, whom I had supposed to be lost in utter death. I am full of humble thankfulness ! Father, accept the humble gift, myself to thee, through Jesus Christ my Lord. O, guide me evermore, in this boundless field of glories.' "'Hold, hold! exclaims the critical philosopher in heaven. You, Mr. Atheist, are making naught of my philosoph3^ Visible to you as is the being of God, and thrilling to you as is the fact of immortal life, and the infinite grace of your Father in heaven, you must be an atheist, and a sensualist, and a scoffer, for a season, here in this world of spirit life, and heavenly glory.' And he lifts up his voice in supplication, ' Lord, if thou wilt vindicate thine own honor, and my j)hilosophy, exert thine ''arbitrary'''' force upon this repentant and loving soul, and quench his joy, and silence his praise, and compel him to remain a decent term of years, in the darkness of atheism, and the hell of sensualism.' " Then appears the Son of God, and he kindly instincts the upbraiding philosopher. 'Cyrus,' says the Master, 'I have somewhat to say to thee.' And he said. Master, say on. • There was a certain creditor which had two debtors ; the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most?' And Cyrus answered and said, ' I suppose that he to whom he forgave most.' And he said unto him, ' Thou hast rightly judged.' And then the philosopher bowed with reverence to the Master, and cheerfully joined with the converted atheist, born into the spirit 44* 522 EEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. life, mingling souls in praise to God who giveth such gifts to men." To sum up the whole in a very few words, Mr. Cobb was entirely and practically a Universalist ; and the hopes which he held for himself he held for every son and daugh- ter of Adam. Prayer he held to be a solemn duty and a blessed privilege ; and through all his life ; for himself and for others ; in weal, or in woe ; when the heavens opened with brightest promise, or when clouds and storm were upon him ; he could look trustingly and confidingly up to his Father in Heaven, and devoutly pray — " Thy will be DONE 1 " THE MEMOIR, 523 CHAPTER XIX. Concluding Summary op Character, — His Powers as a Writer and as a Speaker, — His Position in the Denomination, — His Closing Hours, — Sickness and Struggles, — "I have tried to be a Faithful Ser- vant OF the Lord ! " — The New Life. Dear Reader, — Surely there can be need that I should say but little more concerning Mr. Cobb's general charac- teristics and habits. It has been my aim in the foregoing pages to present the various features and points of his character as the course of his active life has developed them. It is sometimes the custom of the biographer to devote a large space towards the close of the work to an estimate of the various qualities — intellectual, social, moral, and religious — of his subject ; but I trust the reader, who has travelled with me thus far, is able, at this stage, to make the full estimate ^or himself. In fact, I stated in the commencement much that I intended to show in the Memok ; and now the question is, Have I shown it ? I can only answer, — I have so striven. As I desire to present in these pages a few of the esti- mates which others have expressed concerning Mr. Cobb's peculiar traits and powers, there is no need that I should occupy space with any further analysis of those points. I think it has been most conclusively shown that the subject of our Memoir was a man of wondrous power, and with tongue or pen he was equally able to impress his thoughts 524 EEV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. upon the minds of others. lie never arose to speak, nor did he sit down to write, until he had mastered his sub- ject, and as he never uttered a word of support save in behalf of what he sincerely believed to be right, nor a word of condemnation save against that which in the very depth of his moral sentiment he believed to be wrong, it was not an easy matter to overcome him in argument. No man could have possessed more fully the confidence and esteem of a denomination than did Mr. Cobb. Wher- ever he had preached, and was known, he was looked up to as a teacher and a father ; and from him his friends were alwaj^s willing to receive counsel and instruction. His words were not only eagerly listened to, but they were treasured up for use and application. And especially was this the case towards the close of his life, after he had left the Chair Editorial. Then, when his thoughts came no longer forth from week to week, the brethren of the house- hold of faith were glad when they had opportunity to gain lessons of wisdom from his lips. And this is the boy we have seen sitting by the old kitchen fire-place, away off in a new and wild country, studying his lessons by the light of the blazing logs. This is the boy who asked his father for a grammar, and was told in reply that such a thing would be of no use to liim! This is the boy who had the will to improve ; who had the courage ever to do right ; who never shrank from maintain- ing that right, let the opposition come from what source it might ; who commenced life with the determination, set foremost in every thought and plan, to be a Man ; and who pursued his purpose boldly, steadily, and industri- ously^, to the end. All that he was he owed to his God and his own endeavors ; and his life is well worth the studying and imitating by the youth of our land. THE MEMOIR, 525 After leaving the editorial cliair he became engaged in a somewhat extensive and important business which required his occasional attendance at the office of the company in New York, and he continued to attend to the publishing and sale of his bo9ks, and to the business of the compan}^, with- out experiencing any difficulty which he was willing to ac- knowledge as such, until the Spring of 1866. On the last of April he went, alone, on business to Pennsylvania ; and I find entered in my mother's diary the following, under date of '■''Sunday^ May Qth, — My dear husband returned this morning safe and happy. He came from New York last evening in the Stonington boat. He stood his journey well, and appears very well and strong." On the 20th he preached in Canton, as the reader has already been informed, and returned rather better, he thought, " of a cold that had been troubling him for some time " ! But on the next day after his return — the 22d — his wife's diary bears record that the i^reaching must have been bad for him, for his " cold is worse." On the last day of the month was held the Uni- versalist " Conference and Prayer Meeting," which Mr. Cobb was very anxious to attend, but his weakness forbade. On the following day he sent a note to Rev. A. A. Miner, bearing words of cheer and blessing to the brethren ; and at the close thereof he writes : " By God's favor my health is improving. I trust he has yet some good for me to do in co-operation with you all." He could not believe that his health was failing ; and yet at that very season his wife was continually praying — and I read the prayers in her diary — " O God ! in mercy spare him unto me ! " After the first of June Dr. Cobb sank rapidly, and very low ; and it was now that Dr. Thorndike, a physician whose judg- ment and skill are of the very highest standard, and whose diagnosis based upon external symptoms, is about as sure 526 REV, SYLVANVS COBB, D.D. as are the facts revealed by an autopsy, came in and made a critical and thorough examination. He decided th^ there was a most emphatic hypertrophy of the heart! He not only found symptoms of an enlargement of the heart, but he also decided that there must be trouble with one, or more, of the valves. It was hard to believe this — very hard. Might there not be some mistake? But the doctor shook his head. The disease was there, and the most that could be done was, if possible, to lift the system over it for a while longer. And to that end such medications and invig- orating agents were given as would be likely to overcome the tendency to inefficient nutrition ; and after a time Mr. Cobb rallied. Other medical counsel was sought to consult with Dr. Thorndike, and the opinion was \}\xt forth by one who stands high in the profession, that there was no organic disease of the heart. This gave the sufferer great hope ; but it could not save him. His regularly attending physi- cian. Dr. T., knew very well what was the matter, and pre- scribed accordingl3^ During the months of August and September Mr. Cobb visited the city-proper several times, not only attending to business at his office, but visiting the Publishing House and conversing with the brethren there assembled ; and occasionally on these visits, some theme would be brought into discussion that served to draw a little of the old fire from his soul. Towards the latter part of September he had so far regained his strength that He planned a visit to New York, and then he was coming down to visit the home of the writer, in his native town of Nor- way ; and he wrote to me, making me acquainted with his plan. On the first day of October, in company with his wife, and with the consent of his physician, but with many ad- monitions from this latter personage, he went to New York, THE MEMOIR. 527 transacting some business there, and also visiting his twin sons in Newark. He reached home on the fifth of the month, trying to make himself believe that he had sustained no great fatigue ; and on the following day he wrote to me that he should be with me on the next Wednesday. But when I received his letter, and marked the tremulousness of the hand in the straying, straggling, struggling words, I said to my wife : " My father will not come ! " And so it proved. The frame was shattered and sinking, and its strength was once more departing. On the 9th of this month of October he bade his wife to write that he could not come then ; but that he would come next June, when all was beautiful and fresh in our pleasant country abode. On the morning of the 12th he went over to the city ; but the effort was exhausting ; and he went not from his home again in the flesh ! After that, he complained of sleepless nights, and of painful unrest. Opiates were resorted to, but with little effect. Mr. Cobb held them in horror, dreading the result of their continuance to the forming of habit. From this time he grew w^orse, and the symptoms were alarming. It was evident to his medical attendants that he could not again revive. His distress increased ; he gained no rest in recuperative sleep ; and the system was slowly and surely sinking. On the 21st, he was assisted to the dining- room, where he sat down to dinner with the famil}^ This was on Sunday. In his old accustomed seat at the board, in accents grown weak and faltering, but with spirit as strong in hope and faith as ever, he raised his voice in prayer and supplication, not forgetting to return thanks to the Giver of all good for the manifold blessings . he had so long enjoyed. That old familiar custom of prayer ! He never omitted it for a day at his home whei: he was there. 528 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. The custom of almost half a century. His praj^er ascended from the old place on that holy Sabbath day, and he never sat at that board again ! How fondly we cherish the memory of the incidents of those last da3^s ! Adjoining his chamber was the apart- ment of his daughter Haley, where, when able, he would go for social converse with those who might be assembled there. He bent his tottering steps to her room on the 25th, and gazed once more out upon the green carpet that yet covered the beautiful inclosure of Belmont, gazed off upon the distant walls and spires of the great city, and then returned to his chamber, — returned to come not forth again until the angel should come to give him conduct to that sphere where pain and unrest are known no more for- ever. After this, he became aware that his end was approach- ing, though he refrained from speaking of dying. There was something peculiar in his course in this respect. In all his conversation upon the subject he avoided the least allusion to death as an earthly change, and would listen to no remarks bent in that direction. Thoughts upon what the world calls Death, with its accompaniment of " dark rivers," and " silent tombs," did not seem to occupy his mind ; but, all the while, fully conscious that the end was approaching, and calmly willing to prepare his business therefor, his every expression gave token of coming from one who saw only the gates of Eternal Day invitingly open before him. To him there may have been no such thing as d3dng. I have thought that he did not so regard the change which he knew was at hand. He had seen his darling Jimmy, and he promised that he would tell what he had said to him ; but he was weak then, and put it off to another time. THE MEMOIR, 529 Yes, he had thought only of passing out from that weak, broken body into the realm of the bright Unseen. He may have wondered if there would be much pain in the rending of soul and body ; and he may have shrank from talking of that event which men call death, but which to him was only an approaching severing of bonds that had become weighty and burdensome. That such were Mr. Cobb's ideas of death may be seen by the following beautiful poem, clipped from a periodical, and placed by him in his wife's diary but a few days before his departure, and which she found, as he probably in- tended she should, after he had walked "That starry stairway Leading to Jehovah's throne : " "I SHALL NOT DIE, BUT LIVE. " Tell me not, ye cold-eyed mortals. Tell me not, ye souls of gloom, That Death comes a midnight monster, Blasting every earthly bloom; Though the clasp of death be icy, Willingly this frame I'll give, For a Saviour's voice hath told mo That ' I shall not die, but live.' " No, I will not dress in mourning All the golden gifts of God, Hope shall shed her sunbeams o'er me, Faith shall be my staff and rod. Death shall be a beauteous angel, And thrice blest this earthly goal ; Death but buries up the body. Life entombs the living soul. *' When my days on earth are numbered. Weep not where my dust is sown, I shall walk the starry stairway Leading to Jehovah's throne. Have I not the glorious promise ? Christ arose, and I believe ; 45 530 liEV. SYLVAKUS COBB^ D.D. Oh, I thank thco, Holy Father, That ' I shall not die, but live. ' " Never, in all his pulpit exercises, did more beautiful and inspiring prayers ascend from his lips than were uttered by him while he la}^ upon that djang bed. On one occasion he prayed with a fervor and power that seemed the offspring of more than ordinary strength of body and mind. In giving an account of the closing scenes, I cannot do better than cop3^ the following extracts of a letter from my sister Haley, who, through all her father's sickness, ^was as an attendant angel of mercy by his side, ever ready to answer his slightest wish ; anticipating his graver needs ; and takino; no thouo-ht of comfort to self while she could render the slightest service to the sufferer. These offices she shared with her mother ; and to that dear mother, also, in .her seasons of greatest alarm and fear, she was a messen- ger of peace and hope. God will bless that faithful child for all she has done of good in that household. Little Jimmy fell asleep upon Haley's bosom ; and our precious Sarah, during all her long sickness, found an attending angel in that same sweet sister ! Ah, Haley, are not the richest rewards that earth can give, or that Heaven can bestow upon the child of earth, already thine ! As will be seen by these extracts, even while the strug- gling spirit was bursting its bonds of earth, the loving daughter fancied the earth-life was gaining new hold upon its shattered tabernacle of clay. The letter was written somewhat in the form of a diary, and to me it was the bearer of blessed lessons : — "Castle of Peace, "October 29, 1866. *'My Darling Brother, — Knowing how anxiously you must Avatch for tidings of our precious father, I steal ffOm his room to talk a while with you." THE MEMOIR. 531 " Since Saturday father's mind has wandered much of the time. He has had brief intervals of consciousness, but his senses are mostly prone to this wandering state, caused, the doctor says, by the water having reached the brain. *' Yesterday was a blessed day to us all, and I would that you could have been with us. Father seemed in much closer com- munion with Heaven than with earth. Peaceful, trustful, and happy, he converted his bed of suffering into an altar of prayer and praise. Now he would be engaged in prayer — then preach- ing to a congregation from the text : — ' O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men ; ' and, in tones of pathetic sweetness, he repeated nearly the whole of Psalm CVII. At night, when I took his tea to him, he thought himself surrounded by the Breth- ren, and would not taste his tea until I had assured him that the Brethren were all provided for ; and, then, not a sip would he take until he had lifted up his voice in prayer and thankfulness to God for mercies received ; as you and I, Vaney, have been wont to hear him for so many years when seated at that old family table, '* Last night, for the first time since father's illness, we per- suaded mother to leave him to take her rest. We insisted upon this, knowing that she could not endure constant watching ; and father needs the bright and cheerful face of his ' Guardian Angel,' as he terms her, and which she truly is to him. So La Fay watched with our dear one, who passed a restless night, sleeping but little, so great was his labor for breath. " This afternoon, as I stood by father's bedside, he looked up with a light upon his countenance that seemed almost divine, and, with yearning earnestness he said, — ♦♦ ' I HAVE TRIED TO BE A FAITHFUL SERVANT OF THE LORD ! ' " Eben and Jennie have been over to-day. Father's face lighted up when he saw Jennie ; and when Eben went to the bedside, father took both his hands in his, and held them for two or three moments in perfect silence, his eyes hfted Heaven- ward, as though giving a father's last blessing to his boy. It was a touching scene upon which we all looked with tear-filled eyes. 532 liEV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. *' Tuesday eve., oOih. 'Last night George watehed with our precious father, who passed quite a comfortable night. To-day the labor for breath has been more severe, but the dear one is easier to-night. We thought this noon of telegraphing for you and the twins ; but he seems much better again. The doctor says he is no worse ; and though he gives us no hope of his re- covery, we cannot heli^ thinking that the Supreme Father may spare him to us yet a while longer. "This morning when Tucker came in before leaving for the city, father, for the first time, failed to recognize him ; but he soon rallied from this state, and when, towards noon, Uncle Samuel Locke, who came over to see him, entered his room, he knew him at once, and greeted him with his accustomed cor- diality. Br. White also called this noon ; he recognized him at once, and after greeting him, said, * You remember what I said to you last spring, when you called on me, Br. White ? ' (This was an exhortation for him to be faithful to his trust as a minis- ter of the blessed Gospel.) This afternoon his mind has been wandering most of the time, but always on pleasant themes. Now he was back in the pulpit, with an audience before him, preaching as of old; anon he was holding argument with a doubter of his faith ; then gradually he seemed to come nearer and nearer to his Lord, and his voice was tuned to prayer and praise. 'All-Wise and merciful Father!^ 'Most Beneficent and kind ! ' And then — * All-Loving Father ! ' ' Thou loho ever shieldest thij feeble flocks upon thy Loving Boso^n!'' Tlien a pause, and — * So Lnjinite in goodness and ' *' Here his yoice failed him, and he sank into a short slumber. When he next aroused himself he was back amid the scenes of his boyhood; now upon the farm; now felling trees; then at school spelling h-u-t, hut, t-e-r, ter, buttery — n-u-t, nut, — butter- nut; and then he took up his Latin conjugation. After this he sank once more into unconsciousness, and when he next spoke, his words were all of one accord, betraying nearness to God. There was really no Avandering, and yet no sense of earthly things. His mind seemed already soaring away from the body, and grasping Heavenly beauties. O, Vaney, sweet and inspiring were these disconnected utterances, welling up from our father's soul ; a soul filled with spiritual power. " But I must leave you now and go to father. George will THE MEMOIR. 533 sleep iu the Green Room, within call. I am to sit with father until twelve, when La Fay will take my place. I will close this in the morning. God grant I may come with cheering tidings of our father. Good-night. God bless and keep you. ^^Wednesday morning, 31sf — Father labored much for breath during the first part of the night ; but when I left him, at Twelve, he seemed rather more comfortable. Between Three and Four, mother, who could not sleep, joined La Fay in his watching; and, as she sat by the side of the loved one, his hand in hers, his struggles for breath gradually grew less, and she deemed him better. When I went in at six o'clock, he looked up and sweetly smiled, but could not speak. I noticed a cold sweat upon his brow, but dreamed not that the end was so nigh. When the others went down to breakfast I had some warm water sent up, thinking that bathing his head might soothe him, as this was something he had enjoyed all through his sickness ; and it had never failed to quiet him. For nearly a half hour I bathed that noble brow ; rejoicing that it was soothing him into so sweet and peaceful a sleep, little thinking it was to be that sleep that knows no waking upon earth. And when George came up for me to go to breakfast, I joined our mother with a lighter heart ; and told her that father had fallen into a sweet sleep and seemed really better. At this intelligence the anxious clouds were lifted from her dear face, and with a bright, hopeful smile she left me to go back to him, who was so much more to her than all tlie world beside. ******* " With love, as ever, " Thine affectionate sister, * " Haley." And so once again the wife's hopes were raised, and the cloud of anxiety was lifted from her brow by the thought that she might enjoy the blessed companionship of the ioved one j-et a while longer upon earth. She hastened back to her precious charge, the new-born hope whispering sweet music to her soul ; but, alas ! those notes of promise were to faint and fail in mournful cadence. As she entered 46* 534 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. tlie chamber she found the dear one lying as if in quiet, peaceful repose, and before taking her seat again in the old place, where he could rest his weakening hand in her tender grasp, she bent over and imprinted a kiss upon his lips, — but there was no response. No response ! — the first time in all those years he had failed to return that tender token. But he must have recognized the presence of that beloved companion ; for a sweet, trustful smile came over his features — a smile which left its holy impress there while that mortal form was exposed to human gaze. And that smile was the only token of recognition. The wife gazed a few moments, and then sent her son, George Winslow, to call Haley, for she knew that the end was at hand. Haley came into the chamber, and she and George stood by their mother's side. A solemn stillness dwelt upon the air, and they broke it not even by a whisper. They recog- nized, as from the impress of the presence itself, that a Messenger from the Unseen was with them, and the thought filled them with an emotion so overpowering and ineffable, that they could not have spoken if they would. He who had suffered so much lay now so quiet and so calm that it seemed like the falling to sleep of an infant upon its mother's bosom. There was no motion — no movement of any feature ; but the eyes were lightly closed, and the lips fixed as though with some purpose of will, — only the light of that smile still lingered around them. The breath- ing was low and faint, — lower and fainter yet, — until at length the soft, sighing cadence died away upon the quiet air, and a shadow flitted over the calm and tranquil face, as of angel wings that had come in between that face and the light. I love to think that on that October morning Jimmy and Sarah tpok our father by the hand, and led him forth to the New and Better Life ! THE MEMOIR, 535 CHAPTER XX. Obituaries of the Press, — The Funeral, — Memorial Services, — A Tribute from A. St. John Chambre, — Letter of Dr. J. V. C. Smith, — Conclusion. Notice of the death of Dr. Cobb was taken by the press generally throughout the country, and the spirit which marked the obituaries was of one character. There is no need that I should occup}- space here in transcribing them. I will only give a few, to show the general tone of feeling. The following is from Rev. Dr. I. D. Williamson, of the " Star in the West " ; — ''DEATH OF DR. COBB. ♦' It is our painful duty to announce that our old and beloved friend and brother, Kev. Sylvanus Cobb, D.D., died at his resi- dence in Boston, on Wednesday morning, Oct. 31st. Thus, another of the fathers in our Israel has fallen, and we that remain, are warned that the time of our deiDarture is at hand. We first met Br. Cobb in 1828, and from that time to the day of his death we have known and loved him. He was then in the strength and prime of his manhood. With a herculean frame, and a massive brain to match, he was a man of commanding presence, and one who looked upon him would be apt to think that he was as well able as any man to defy the assaults of time. The last time we met him was in Boston, in 1864. Thirty and six years had passed since we first met, and though the marks of age were apparent, yet ' his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated,' and w"e thought he had a good chance for a quar- ter of a century more of life upon the earth. But he has gone 536 r.EV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. the way of all the earth, and it is a comfort to know that he lived not in vain. He fought a good fight and kept the faith, and served his day and generation well and truly. lie was a man of great kindness of heart and spotless purity of life. He has left his testimony behind him in several able and valuable works, among which his Notes on the New Testament is most promi- nent. If he had done nothing but produce that work, his fame as a clear thinker and sound theological writer would have been secured. He was characterized rather by strength and solidity of thought, than by elegance of style or brilliancy of rhetoric. His logic was compact and strong as iron, and it behooved the man who engaged in controversy with him, to look well to his premises and conclusions. His life from his earliest manhood was consecrated to the cause he so much loved, and for it he labored with tireless industry through a long series of years. Few men, we think, have done more good, and few would be more widely or deeply mourned." The next is from the " Bostori Daily Transcript," as fol- lows : — "Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, D. D., well known as a distinguished clergyman of the Universalist denomination, died this morning at his residence in Webster Street, East Boston, in the sixty- ninth year of his age. Dr. Cobb was a man of vigorous powers, which age did not impair. His mind remained always fresh, because his heart was in everything he did. He was widely known for his polemical earnestness and ability, holding the posi- tion of a champion as well as confessor of the Universalist faith. In politics and reform his place was among the most advanced liberals. His acquirements were as solid as his nature was ardent, and his earnest expressions of feeling and opinion always carried with them an intellectual weight. He will be mourned b}^ thousands in New England, to whom his resolute yet kindly face, his intrepid bearing, and his resounding tones have for years been familiar." The following is from the '' Saturday Evening Gazette" of Boston : — THE MEMOIR. 537 '* Liberal Christianity has lost a zealous and able defender by the death of Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, which occurred at his resi- dence in East Boston on Wednesday, Oct. 31, at the age of sixty-eight. As preacher, author, and editor, he labored sedu- lously and intelligently for the advancement of his denomination, and was rewarded by seeing it arise out of its persecution and weakness to be a power in the land. As a polemic he was a man to be feared by a contestant ; for, armed with the simple truth of the gospel he loved and preached, and aided by the strength of a vigorous intellect, there were none who could con- trovert his positions. This was proved in the celebrated Hudson and Adams discussions, which are printed, and form most excellent volumes of his printed works. He never, however, forfeited the respect of opponents by any departure from the rules of fair controversy, though there were cases where they were less kind to him. Though a zealous contestant, he was kind and generous, and manifested towards all the charity he professed. His ability as a theologian is evinced in his Com- mentary on the New Testament, his last and grandest work, a monument to his erudition and his industry. As a preacher, he was earnest and impressive, holding his hearers in the deepest interest, and, though not what the world calls eloquent, while he had the fervor of youth and in his matured intellect, he stood in the foremost ranks of his denomination. Styles changed ; he was no longer wanted as a controvertist, where,* indeed, the denomination itself had advanced farther than he, and he left the field to others, doing little latterly beyond literary labors. He was a zealous Temperance man, and was interested in most of the Reform movements of the day, busying himself in all good works, which will miss his support. We have known him long as a kind friend, always ready with a pleasant word of encouragement ; and though the death of a good man at a ripe age is no cause for grief, we heard of his departure with sincere regret." I have many more notices at hand, but there is no need of giving them here. Dr. Saywer, of the " Ambassador^'' gave an extended obituary, worthy alike of his subject and of his own great heart ; and he may take to himself the 538 REV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.B. assurance that his kind words of respect for the dead, and sympathy for the living, have called upon him blessings from the bereaved. And so of the others who have offered their generous tributes of consolation. They will be remembered and blessed. The funeral services were held on Monday, November 5th. As on the occasions of the burial of Jimmy and Sarah, there were no badges of mourning worn by an}^ of the family. It had been Mr. Cobb's earnest desire that no .such dark and, to him, unpleasant regalia should ever come in to add external gloom and shadow to the occasion of the passing away of any member of the household. lie held it as the relic of times when Death was regarded as the most awful and calamitous fate that could befall human- ity, and as a custom which the glorious light of the Blessed Gospel should banish from the Christian World. But he urged nothing of this upon others. He respected the feel- ings of all who honestly felt the need of outward trappings of mourning ; but for himself he wanted them not. The following, from the " Universalist" gives a full ac- count of the funeral services : — FUNERAL OF DR. COBB. ' ' The funeral services of our late brother in the ministry, and honored Father in our Israel, Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, D.D., were held, agreeably to the announcement made in our last, in the School Street church on Monday. At 12 o'clock, there were brief services at the house of the deceased in East Boston, a prayer being offered by Rev. A. St. John Chambre. " The church was promptly filled at the hour of 1, save the seats kept in reservation for the family, the relatives and the clergy. At 1^ o'clock the coffin containing the body was brought in and placed on a bier in front of the pulpit; the seats tliat had been reserved were occupied ; and, in every part, the THE MEMOIR. 539 house was filled. The plaintive notes of the organ, breaking the solenm stillness, were a fitting prelude to the rites that were to follow. " Rev. J. Boyden oflered a fervent Invocation ; after which, the pastor of the East Boston Society, Rev. C. J. White, read a selection of Scripture. A part of this selection w^as the 107th Psalm, and was read at the request of the bereaved widow. This Psalm contains the passages which our late brother so frequently repeated, in his half-unconscious state, the Sunday before his death. This circumstance was stated in explanation of the request that this Psalm should be included in The Selection. "Rev. T. J. Greenwood next read the very appropriate hj^mn, beginning, — " I looked upon the righteous man, And saw his parting breath, Without a struggle or a sigh, Serenely yield to death." " The hymn was sung by the choir of the church, conducted by Mr. Ball. Following the hymn came Dr. Miner's Address. " The address was highly eulogistic; but every point of ex- cellence, as it was named, instantl}^ commanded the assent of all who had known the departed. Dr. Miner's opening remark was, that the current of human life is flowing on to bear us to our rest. We cannot note every rill that goes to swell the cur- rent. Occasionally, one of larger magnitude commands especial attention. When, in the providence of God, one passes away who was gifted with extraordinary powers of mind, with an unusual degree of the Christian qualities, and who has faithfully used the opportunities for great influence, we are compelled to pause, and ]pass in review the gifts that have wrought with such effect. The late Sylvauus Cobb was such a man. Born in the town of l!>I'orway, in the State of Maine, he breathed in his early youth the atmosphere that nurtures a noble ambition. From the first, he felt the call to be of service to others ; and his first l^ublic career was that of instructing j'outh. The next step was to him a natural one — into the Christian ministry. His settle- 540 REV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. ment in Maiden, in 1828, was at a time of peculiar trial for a minister of the Reconciliation. The ten years of his pastoral labor there arc especially noted as a controversial era. The current hostility to the doctrines of Universalism, always strong, then raged with especial vigor. The Maiden pastor did not find, and he had not sought, a position of ease. But he was equal to the conflict, and he did his duty valiantly. Allusion was made to his brief settlement at Walthani, and also in East Boston. He did not long continue in the pastoral oflice. He had undertaken the herculean task of estabiishi"ng a weekly journal in a field in some measure pre-occupied. For years he labored against dis- couragements of no ordinary magnitude. His financial resour- ces were small. His investments in real estate were not such as practical business men pronounced wise. What means he pos- sessed were not at his command ; and financial revolutions brought him unlooked-for embarrassments. But he never failed to pay an obligation when the means for so doing were in his possession. Nor did he, while claims were resting upon him, squander in reckless luxury. He was never guilty of any in- difference in regard to his obligations, nor of any conduct which Christian criticism would condemn. Under all circumstances, he retained the confidence and the respect of the community. "What was the style of Dr. Cobb's faith? What was the quality of his thought ? AVhat was it that gave him peculiar power as a teacher of Christian truth ? He recognized in God a Father ; and interpreting the character of the Divine paternity, in the light of the paternal affection which was so strong and so noticeable in his own heart, he saw in the Divine administration a Paternal Government. He could not believe anything possible in the administration of the Divine Ruler that did not accord with this fundamental conviction. Hence his mind saw Divine justice always tempered with mercy. He could not fail to see that such a government embraced the world. And he lived to see a great change wrought in public sentiment by the patri- archal ministers, of whom he was one. And with them, he saw in prospect the coming world accomplishing for human souls what cannot be accomplished under the shadows of the present. He saw in the life beyond the grave the soul relieved of many burdens, and the veil removed that now hides the Divine pres- ence. But he did not trouble himself with any question of in- THE MEMOIR. 541 stantaneous change. In reality, he saw but one world, having indeed its various phases. "Dr. Cobb's faith at once assumed the most practical form. It was not in his nature to cherish a cold faith. It warmed into practical application, and made him active in doing good. It shone forth in the cause of temperance ; and he did a large share of the work that established the great principles which have since got embodied into law. He was early among the earnest men who worked in the anti-slavery movement. Wherever he preached, he assailed the wrong. In the pulpit, and through the columns of his paper, he was the steady defender of liberty. And the older he grew, the more earnest and the more uncom- promising was his devotion to freedom. " Though not what is technically called a learned man, in all that pertained to his professional labors he was truly and pro- foundly learned. He was always thorough and persevering in mastering all the jDoints involved in any work he undertook. His profound and accurate researches were exhibited in his * Dis- cussions.' In his controversy with one of the ablest and most cultured divines of Boston, we never had occasion to fear the result. We all knew that the w^ork was in safe hands. All the points were handled with care. And if an impartial jury could sit upon the Calvinistic dogmas that were tested in that discus- sion, the verdict would be, ' Died of the hard blows dealt by the hands of Sylvanus Cobb.' To the young who would get a knowledge of the essentials of Christian doctrine, Dr. Miner said he could commend no book with more confidence than Cobb's ' Compend of Divinity.' His most valuable work was his last — his ' Commentary on the ISTew Testament,' which was pronounced philosophical, clear, comprehensive. Dr. Cobb's mind was always massive ; it moved with a weight that would not admit of resistance. Such a character must be iiersevering. His spirit was as indomitable as truth itself. If difficulties came, he bore himself above them. Nothing could crush him. *' Dr. Cobb was the friend of young men. He could criticise the young preacher with great severity ; and yet treat him with the greatest magnanimity, and make him feel that he was his friend. It is not strange that such a man has the confidence and the sympathy of his seniors — Ballou, Streeter, and Balfour. " It was not claimed that Dr. Cobb was faultless. Faults he 46 542 liEV. STLVANUS COBB, D.D. doubtless had. But the great purpose of his life rose above them, and it was never tarnished by them. *' The central principle in the character of Dr. Cobb was his deep religiousness. No worldly difficulties ever impaired this. Under any and all circumstances, if there were occasion to elicit his thoughts, his uppermost thought was sure to have regard for the honor and the glory of God. While his mind wandered, his lips repeated the words ' O that men Avould praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful -works to the children of men.' Not many in health and comfort and prosperity feel like saying this. How few, in the hour of adversity, of weakness, and of pain, are ready to utter the words ! But here was one broken in body, prostrate on the bed of disease, and only wait- ing for his dejDarture ; and Tie sees this truth, and he testifies to the infinite goodness of God ! *' Dr. Miner concluded with a feeling address to the mourners, and also to the ministers. Could we compare the present with the future, as we can the present with the i)ast, the great work accomplished by Dr. Cobb and his co-laborers would be full of encouragement ; and would exhort us to persevere in confidence and in hope. -ORIGINAL HYMN. *• Following the address, Dr. Paige read, and the choir sang, the following hymn, written for the occasion by Mrs. P. A. Hanaford : — " Go to thy rest, man of God ! on high, With those who bore the burden and the heat Of bygone days, when Truth, that could not die, Burned on your lips and guided all your feet. " We mourn thine absence from familiar ways, But high and pure the paths which thou hast trod; We hope to follow till we meet and praise With thee and thine before the throne of God. " Long will thy name be cherished 'mid the ranks Of those who teach our God's undying love, While evermore we bow with rev'rent thanks, And ask for grace to follow thee above. THE MEMOIR. 543 " Go to thy place amid the radiant host, — We mourn thy loss from earth with tears to-day, Yet they who knew thee best and loved thee most Say not, ' Return,' but ' Speed thee on thy way ! ' " Rise to thy place beside the valiant few Who boundless grace proclaimed in days gone by ; The crown is thine; the victor's palm thy due. And thine the welcome where no more we die. " A prayer was then offered by the former pastor in East Boston — KeT. A. St. John Chambre. This part of the service seems hardly a proper one for comment. We may say that while it was comj)rehensive, it appeared to be an inspiration of the solemn scene. *' The anthem, ' Kest, Spirit, Rest,' sung by the choir, con- cluded the service. All who desired to take a last view of the face that in life was so familiar, had the privilege granted ; and nearly all felt the invitation to be a privilege. Then all that was mortal of Sylvanus Cobb was borne to the last resting-place. The remains were conveyed to Woodlawn Cemetery, the follow- ing gentlemen acting as pall-bearers: Rev. R. H. Neale, D.D., Hon. Richard Frothingham, Rev. J. M. Usher, Rev. J. G. Adams, Deacon Caverly of the Shawmut Avenue Church, and Deacon Kendall of East Boston. At the grave a solemn prayer was offered by Rev. A. J. Patterson ; and the last respects to the earthly remains of a faithful minister of the New Testament, were paid. Peace to the ashes of the worthy dead! " Memorial services were held in many places. In Maiden, Rev. T. J. Greenwood preached an eloquent sermon on the subject of Dr. Cobb's life and death. In Lynn a sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Biddle. In the town of Nor- waj^, Mr. Cobb's native place, Rev. N. Gunnison preached an able and truthful discourse in memory of the deceased. In Marlboro' a memorial discourse was preached by Rev. W. A. Start ; and one in Waltham by Rev. Benton Smith. 544 liEV. SYLVAN us COBB, D.D. There were other memorial services ; but I have not been sufliciently informed to make a note of them. The following, from the pen of one who was long a mem- ber of Mr. Cobb's family, I present with emotions of deep- est love and gratitude. Passing over the few words spoken of myself, which I know were dictated by a brother's love for one who always loved and honored him, I have to thanlv him for the generous, and yet, I firmly believe, true and just, estimate of my father's character : "Stoughton, Mass., "Dec. 8, 1866. " My dear Bro. Cobb : — I have been informed that you are to complete the memoir of your father. I rejoice to hear this, for I know the work will be done well and lovingly. "When your father died, one of my first thoughts was, who will write his life ? I remembered that he had been for some time engaged in the preparation of his autobiography. But had he completed it? If not, who would ? My mind turned to you, for I felt sure that you, better than could any other person, would accomplish the labor of love. I hope you will be eminently suc- cessfid, and that we may have the result at an early day. I am very anxious to read the events connected with his early life, and to know more of the circumstances and conditions that com- bined to produce the noble, Christian character I loved so well. Many others are equally anxious. I believe the volume you will give us will be highly prized, not only by the ministry, but also the laity of our denomination. Our whole 'Household of Faith' looked up to the doctor as to a ' father in Israel,' and mourned when he was stricken from the ranks of the living. A sadness fell upon us all when his soul passed on to God. But he went up higher. He rests from his labors, and his works abide after him. "Very few have I known so strong of intellect, so finn of faith, so warm of heart, and so faithful to Christian truth and duty, as was he. But he has finished his course ! He kept the THE MEMOIR, 545 faith. And now he has been taken to receive the crown of righteousness reserved for him. " Some thirteen years I have known your father intimately — probably as intimately as any one not a member of his own family circle. Of this you are well aware. I was his Pastor for a time. During a year of my early ministry I lived with him ; and again was of his family another year after leaving the army. I think I may say I was one of his friends ; I know he was one of mine. During all the years I have known him my esteem and love for him strengthened ; for, always he was the same, — always the gentle-hearted Christian, the affectionate husband and father, the true and sound theologian, the earnest servant of Jesus Christ. ** It has often been said that what a man is, will be most fully shown in his own family. There is much truth in this statement. In the privacy of home, if anywhere, a man's real character will stand revealed. If we judge Dr. Cobb accordingly, the very highest eulogium may be pronounced upon his life. In his family he was all that could possibly be desired. A stranger meeting him upon the street, and beholding his large physical frame, and mark- ing his deeply-thoughtful countenance, might perhaps wonder if he could be social and genial. But no one could be long in his home, and not discover that none could be more so. There, what he actually was did really make itself manifest. He was always genial and social — always happy. I never knew him to be otherwise. No one in his house was made uncomfortable or unhappy by him. At morning, at noon, and at night, he was the same good, pleasant. Christian gentleman. " In this connection I recall what I consider an evidence of high Christian attainment and rare kindness of heart — that I never heard him speak an uncharitable word of any one. Nor was this because he was indifferent to wrong. None could be more severe than he sometimes was in the condemnation and denun- ciation of evil, no matter by whom committed. And his indig- nation against wrong was freely expressed in the presence of the wrong-doer. But for individuals he had a large charity. Of them he always spoke in words of affectionate tenderness, or, at the most, refrained from speaking at all. *' Of his sympathy with, and active interest in, young ministers, many can bear warm and grateful testimony. He seemed to 546 REV. SYLVANUS COBB^ D.D. know how to meet them, and how to treat them. He was peculiarly happy in this regard. So far as my own experience is concerned, he was the first and only ' father ' in the ministry, who, when I entered, a very young man, into the Denomina- tion, somewhat physically enfeebled and exceedingly weary in mind from having passed through the shadow of a great trial, took me by the hand, treated me withi^erfect confidence, inxited me to his house, and interested himself in my behalf. The friendship then formed lasted always, and was as fresh and hearty at the day of his death as when we first became ac- quainted. What he was to me he was also to many others. *' As a Theologian, the Doctor is to be ranked among the very ablest. With his strong and comprehensive intellectual powers he swept the whole field of Bible truths, apprehended clearly the relations of Christian doctrines and ethics, and resolved them into a Compend of Divinity, which for clearness and con- sistency stands unrivalled. But he was not merely a cold critic of the Sacred Scriptures. He accepted them as the oracles of God, undoubtingly, and from strong conviction, and he felt the power of the truths they enunciated. He had a warm religious feeling that bathed all his theological opinions and efforts as with the light and love of the world's Redeemer. As a Universalist, all his powers were for long years consecrated to his faith. He loved it, and was willing always to labor to the utmost for its triumph. How well and successfully he labored, you will undoubtedly fully unfold to us. Nor was his faith simply the- oretical ; it was practical and devotional. He was religious in his family, not less than in his public ministrations. The morn- ing and evening prayer went ever up to the throne of the Father ; and it was a prayer that embraced not only the near, but also the far-off. He was truly Catholic. "And yet intensely denominational. He was jealous for the good name and fame of our Zion. He desired its foundations to be laid deep and broad, and was anxious that upon them should be reared a glorious superstructure. Other foundation than Jesus Christ he would not acknowledge, and upon the cap-stone of our Temple he would inscribe only ' Grace, grace unto it!' Nor was he willing that we should enter into any entangling alliance or association with others. He felt that the Universal- ist Denomination had earned, through sharp trials and manifold THE MEMOIR. 547 tribulations, the right to be ; that it had accomplished, under God, of itself, a great work, and had still a greater before it, which, if faithful to itself, it would surely consummate. To his mind, the world was large enough, and the opportunities suffi- cient, for the existence and labors of all branches of the general church. He would bid them all ' God speed ' so far as they worked righteousness, and held aloft the cross of Calvary. But he would not jield our name, nor tarnish our glory, nor lower our banner. He thought, and acted upon the thought, that our Denomination should do its own work in its own way. Pres- tige, popularity, fashion, were nothing to him — only the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, the faith of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, that in the fulness of time all souls should be redeemed, and the Lord God be all in all. " I can at least speak for myself of the Doctor as a sermon- izer. I delighted to hear him preach. To say that his sermons were sound and logical, would not be enough. They were com- plete in form and detail. They shone with the brightness of the truth of the Gospel, and glowed with the warmth of religious emotion. They compelled thought ; and if they did not always convince the opposer, they certainly made him feel that the sjDeaker was eminently sincere and earnest. "He was indefatigable in his literary labors. In the year 1863-4, which I spent at his house, he was engaged in his last and best work, the Commentary on the Kew Testament. Day after da}-, and far into the nights, and in the mornings before breakfast, he labored upon that book, during the entire year. I am sure that that ceaseless labor hastened his end. But as though he felt that his years were few on the earth, and that he must work while the day lasted, he would listen to no objec- tions, and persevered until it was completed. He wrote that book with his life. He literally coined his physical and mental powers into its pages. "But! must not weary you longer. Indeed, I fear I have written at too great length already. Much more, however, might be truthfully said of the Doctor. But you will gather it all. " I remember that to err is human. Perfection belongs only to Divinity. Your father would not claim perfection for himself. Nevertheless, his Christian attainments were great; and few 548 BEF. SYLVAN-US COBB, D.D. have been more thoroughly and steadily devoted to the religion of our Lord and Saviour. " His family and his friends grieve for him, for he is not on earth. God has taken him ! The Denomination will cherisli his memory with kindliest feelings. **Let me assure you of our profoundest symj^athy in the great affliction which has fiillen upon you. My prayer is, that the father's mantle may fall upon the ' first-born.' " As ever, truly your friend, "A. St. Joiin Chambr^. ** Sylvanus Cobb, Jr., ^'Norway, Maine. *' Our kindest love to yourself, your family, and your mother. *' C." The following, from one whose warm and enduring friendship the family are proud to own, was received by the stricken wife with feelings of peculiar joy and grati- tude. It shows not only the ready and impulsive sympa- thy of the writer, but it serves to give further proof of the general respect and esteem in which the memory of the departed is held : — '♦New York, I^ov. 4th, 1866. "My dear Mrs. Cobb: — "The death of your excellent husband, which has been an- nounced in the papers of this city, really gave me a shock, as the intelligence was a melancholy surprise. But he was an eminently good man, and the influence of his disciplined and cultivated mind will long be remembered by those who had the honor of his acquaintance, or enjoyed his special friendship. "In expressing my heartfelt sympathy for you and your family in this sad bereavement, I know so well your strong I)reparations for meeting all the contingencies of life, I have no doubt of the calmness of your expression, and the dignity of your thoughts, in this domestic woe and mental agony. "It is a great source of comfort to have entire confidence in THE MEMOIR. 549 the arrangements of Divine Providence ; and in believing that our ultimate happiness is designed, however difficult it may be for us to understand XhQ laws by which such results are ulti- mately accomplished. "In the active, comprehensive, thinking life whicli the Rev. Mr. Cobb invariably led, I have no idea he was conscious of the high place he held in the public mind. But the press eveiy- where speaks out of the purity of his character, and deplores his loss. "A reputation like his, so pure, unsullied, and open-hearted, is a better legacy to his children, and a far richer dowry for you, than houses or lands. No one can rob you of his good name. Allow me, therefore, to congratulate you and your family, in knowing the fact, as you must, that Mr. Cobb commanded the respect of all good people while living, and his death is consid- ered a public misfortune. What a treasure ! "Some one of the sons should at once commence a prepara- tion of a full memoir of their father. It would not only be a lasting monument of their affection for one whose very name, unconnected with his authoritative writings, is an honor to them ; but it would subserve the interests of virtue, temperance, religion, and humanity. "My heart is full of sorrow in regard to this painful event; and yet I see very clearly how his biographer may vastly enlarge the sphere in which the jDrinciples of our deceased friend ma}^ reach thousands upon thousands who never heard the sound of liis voice. " Accept for yourself and your children my sympathies, my affectionate regards, and continue to believe me your friend in adversity as well as in prosperity, " J. V. C. Smith. "Mrs. Stlvanus Cobb, ^^ East Boston, Mass.'''' And thus we close the record of a, good man's life. If we count that life by years, we shall find that he lived very near to the allotted age of man ; but if we count it by its labors, then we shall admit that he lived to a ripe old age. 550 REV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. What more I have to say cannot be better said than in the words which I addressed to my sister in a familiar letter shortly after our dear father had been born into the higher life. The following is a part of the letter referred to : — *' Sister Mine, — Death has some valuable lessons for those children of earth who are willing to study for improvement. My father living never had such influence over me as he has had since he burst the bonds of earth. Living, my father never looked to me so grand and noble as he looked to me in his last sleep. My pen cannot picture the emotions with which I looked upon that placid brow. The stern warrior reposed upon his laurels, and the seal of the true life was set even upon that emblem of mortality. There lay the form we had called Father, and about it, with a radiance almost divine, were clus- tered the results of his life-long labors, — results dwelling in our knowledge, and manifest to thousands upon thousands of his fellow-beings. I gazed upon the lips that had been first to utter the blessed words of God's glorious Truth to hosts of the anxious, doubting children of men — lips that never knowingly uttered falsehood — never wittingly bore upon their breath words of ill to any human being! — lips that could thunder invective against sin, or whisper the soft, sweet music of love to the listening ear of friends and companions. I gazed upon the once stalwart frame that had borne so much of toil and labor ; I saw it worn and wasted in the strife until its strength was gone, and its energies departed forever. And I asked myself. For whom had he labored ? Never for self — never, never ! On all the earth there never lived and died a man who had more truly and practically performed an unselfish work of love and good-will, seeking for self only such reward as he could lay up in heaven. It is no stretch of truth to say that our father never gave room to a coldly selfish thought in his soul. Of how many men, in his position, can this be said.f* I thought of this as I stood and gazed upon that shattered and tenantless tabernacle. " At first I could have wished that our father might have been able to leave more of this world's goods behind him. But for what should he have left them ? Not for his children, surely. The best energies of his life had been given to them, and great to them has been the benefit — a benefit which must continue to THE MEMOIR. 551 work to them for good while they live. To his children he had given while he lived, and, dying, he has left to them such treas- ures of mental and moral worth as all the gold of a Croesus could not purchase. By his kindness and tender care, and by his energy and well-directed efforts, he had seen them all started upon the voyage of life — started with an hundredfold more advantages than were his when he launched his bark for that same voyage. No, no, — we could not surely wish that he had done more for his children. God knows he has done enough ; and to-day those children have reason to bless God for the rich inheritance derived from their father. For my part, with grate- ful heart, and voice attuned to blessing, I thank him for the priceless wealth he has bestowed upon me, — a wealth which is mine forever, and which the courts of men cannot wrest from me. " Should he have left more for our mother ? God forbid ! Has he not stamped his image upon his children, and left them all to her ? O, my soul ! how many mothers are left so well provided for as is she who blesses us with her love ? Ah, not many. Could our own dear mother be now in want, then might we say that our father had labored and toiled without just reward ; but it is not so. The old "Castle " is hers — that glorious old roof- tree where our loves have been centered so long. But, had she even been left without a farthing of this world's wealth in her own right, she would still have found herself rich in all that can make life pleasant and comfortable. My sister, I think our mother need not fear to gather up her jewels and compare them with the treasures of earth's most favored children. "No, no, — there is nothing to regret; but everything to be thankful for. There is nothing to be added to the sum of the good man's life, and there is nothing in his record that I would expunge. Once more, moved thereto from the depths of my innermost heart, I join hands with you, my darling sister, and give promise that, so far as God shall give me strength, I will be to our mother a joy and a blessing while her dear life is spared to us. Kiss her for me, and say to her — ' God bless my Mother ! ' " Sylvanus, Jr." And so I might have written to every member of that 552 ItEV. SYLVANUS COBB, D.D. family circle. The faith wlTich sustained the father, and which he had labored to extend to others, he had not failed to bestow upon his children ; and, in this season of bereavement, it is sufficient for them. They all love it, and hold it very near to their hearts. Over the household, when gathered together in sweet communion, the angel of peace holds watch and ward ; for, into that union of souls in faith, the creeds of men can intrude no discordant ele- ments. Dear Reader, one word with you before I lay aside my pen. These pages have cost me many a waking, toiling hour that should have been given to sleep ; for they have been written with other duties crowding hard upon me ; but it has been to me, nevertheless, a work of joy and profit. I have enjoyed a nearness to the loved one that has kept warm my heart ; and there has been rich profit in the val- uable lessons presented, as I have dwelt upon the record of his useful life. And if, in addition to this, I have in these pages set down anything that shall interest and instruct my readers, so that they shall thank me for the work I have done, then I shall be doubly blessed. And in the hope that this rich reward may be mine, I leave this book with you. I have tried to tell the simple truth — no more — no less. Farewell, each and all. If we meet never more on earth, we may, in God's own time, meet in that better world, where he whose memory we honor has found sweet rest from his toil. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY mm 0035521856 938.91 C634-