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

Personal Sketches 213
cord, and took him from us in the meridian of his manhood.
For fifteen years, from 1873 to the time of his death, he was president
of the Rhode Island and Massachiisetls Christian Conference. His knowledge
of parhamentary law was accurate, and as a presiding officer he was
singularly cool and impartial, and had a way of preserving order and good
nature during heated debates that was exceedingly rare and valuable.
His care of the churches was fatherly, and his interest in the ministers,
especially the young, was sincere and profound. His counsels and suggestions
were wise and original, always commanding attention and respect.
In cases of difficulties to be settled, in exigencies requiring delicate handling
to avoid suspicion or jealousy, in the examination of candidates for ordination,
in all the important work of the body, all looked to him to take the
lead, and followed in the consciousness of a wise and safe leadership. His
wisdom, his impartiality, his entire freedom from selfish motives were never
questioned. Through all these years he had been trusted with growing
confidence, followed with increasing faith and respect, loved with a deepening
affection.
He was President of the American Christian Convention from 1882
to 1886, doing much hard work, and helping materially in the perfecting of
plans for a more complete organization of our methods of work, which are
producing beneficent results. It was during this quadrennium that the
question of uniting our people and the Free Baptists was agitated. This
union he urged with more than his wonted zeal, writing hundreds of letters
to men of both bodies in all parts of the country. The failure of the project
at the Convention in New Bedford was a bitter disappointment, and
disturbed him greatly.
He was President of the Christian Camp Meeting Association, having
been elected at the annual session of 1888. For many years he was a
member of its Board of Trustees. He was also a member of the Board of
Trustees of the Christian Biblical Institute.
As a student he was indefatigable and thorough. He loved knowledge
and never was so happy as when in its pursuit. Most of his time at home
was spent in his study among his books. Possessed of a good memory and
great caution, his information was not only full but very accurate. Quick
to perceive and easy to grasp, he learned rapidly. What, to many, would
have been dark enigmas, to be comprehended only by long and tedious
study, were to him intuitious—self-evident—taken at a glance. The
abstruse metaphysical speculations of a Kant, a Fichte, a Hegel, he read
with the ease with which many would read an ordinary novel. His favorite
studies were theology, history, philosophy, language £ind literature. In all
these he acquired no little proficiency. His knowledge of ecclesiastical history
was especially noteworthy, and he became a recognized authority in all questions
pertaining to the history, polity, belief, etc., of religious denominations.
Nearly all of his studies were pursued alone. To give direction to
them, as an inducement to be thorough and careful, and as a test of attainment,
he conceived the idea of taking a college course and subjecting himself
to examination. As a result of this determination he entered the
graduating class of 1874 of Lebanon College, Lebanon, Pa., passed his
examination successfully and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
In 1875 he went to Union College, Mt. Union, Ohio, and after examination,
was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. In 1877 he
again went to Lebanon College and received the degree of Master of Arts.
These three degrees were taken inside of four years. He went to these
colleges a stranger; they were in no way connected with our people, they
had no incentive to grant him any honor which he had not fully earned,
and so he secured, what he desired, an impartial and trustworthy test of
his intellectual attainments.