History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog

212 History of Swansea
scientious and thorough work on every lesson and sermon. In the country
community in which he lived the Sunday School library was largely
patronized and of great importance. For this he selected the books, and
thus, and in other ways, gave the community the benefit of his pure
literary taste and his wide reading. A community of young people exceptionally
intelligent and well-read grew up as a result. A generation was
stamped with his moral and intellectual impress—an impress for which it,
its children and children's children can only be profoundly grateful.
It is a thought that should be sufficiently inspiring to ensure fidelity
in every humble sphere, that good seed perpetuates itself as well as bad,
and that man is endowed with an earthly immortality. Bro. Osborn's
personality has become incarnate in the community in which he lived so
long, and the fruit of those twenty-five years shall grow and bless, it may
be for centuries. Many a heart, in the ages to come, shall thank him,
many a little rill of blessed influence shall broaden and sweep on until it
finds its way to the ocean of eternity, and " he shall see of the travail of his
soul and be satisfied. " One hundred and forty were added to the church
during his pastorate.
For eleven years and a half, from October, 1866, to the spring of 1878,
he was pastor of the Christian Church in South Rehoboth, preaching there
every Sabbath afternoon, after preaching at Swansea in the morning.
Considerable revival interest was manifested there in 1870 and in 1874, and
several were added to the church.
In the spring of 1879 he took charge of the church at Steep Brook
(North Fall River), in connection with the church at Swansea, and retained
it until his death, wanting three months of ten years. Twenty-two were
added to the church during this time. Here, as at Swansea and Rehoboth,
he acquired wide influence and was held in profound respect.
No one was more thoroughly interested in all kinds of educational
work than he. Deprived as he was of the advantages of early school
facilities, he seemed all the more anxious that others should have better
opportunities. For eleven years he was Superintendent of the Public
Schools of Swansea and labored earnestly to elevate them to a higher
standard of excellence. Here as elsewhere his intelligent, practical, masterful
mind, made itself felt, and teachers and pupils throughout the town
felt the inspiring influence of his presence and oversight. Methods of
work were more carefully systematised, a higher grade of teachers demanded,
fuller and more accurate returns secured, and a more careful and
searching supervision exercised. This work was done thoroughly, conscientiously,
laboriously—done, at times, when the pressure of his pastoral
work made it exceedingly taxing—done, at times, during his vacation, the
time, always all too short, which he had dedicated to rest, but which was
thus robbed of its beneficent results.
The man who had almost continuously for twenty years the care of
two churches on his hands, the general oversight of about forty churches
in their Conference relations, and nearly all the time some special work in
connection with our ministerial associations. New England Convention,
American Christian Convention, Christian Biblical Institute or Christian
Camp Meeting Association, and besides all this was constantly pursuing a
systematic course of study—doing the full work of a student in college
could hardly be expected to have much time or strength to devote to the
public schools. Yet somehow he did find time and strength to do for them
that which made his superintendency a marked era in their history, and
that for which the citizens of the town wiU ever be grateful. It reveals the
profound interest he felt in everything pertaining to the public welfare, the
prodigious intellectual abilities which he possessed, and alas! it reveals
also, the fatal overtaxation,—the overstrain that snapped so suddenly the
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