The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

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a generosity of nature which manifested itself not only in ceaseless devotion to her family, but
overflowed for the good of all with whom she came in contact. She had an unusual capacity
for distinguishing between the false and the true, between the substantial and the superficial.
Her mind w^as vigorous and well-balanced, and she was educated in the best schools of her day.
In the varied duties which devolved upon her, as the mother of ten children, and as a parish min-
ister's w-ife, in the impulse she gave to the best social, benevolent and religious enterprises, in the
free and almost unbounded hospitality she exercised, as the head of the President's household, as
the friend of poor divinity students, whose raiment she often repaired with her own fingers while
she encouraged them in their efforts to secure an education, in every act of her life she manifested
her desire to honor God, and to be of use to all whom she could reach. No wife was ever loved
more truly; no children ever more revered a mother, before whom it was a delight to rise up
and call her blessed.
During the period of Mr. Humphrey's ministry in Fairfield special attention was awakened
in New England to the danger arising from the tide of intemperance which was sweeping over
the land. It was at this time that he assisted in the organization of what was called the "Connecticut
Moral Society." Its object was to secure a better observance of the Sabbath, to check
intemperance and to encourage whatever would promote good morals. Mr. Humphrey's biographer*
says of him : " He was one of the earliest and most vigorous pioneers of the temperance movement.
He assailed the evil with his wonted fearlessness, and, in the winter of 1811-12, preached several
sermons to his congregation on the subject, filled with strong arguments and glowing appeals.
His fervid words were not without effect. They were repeated in other places. The subject was
brought before the Fairfield West Association, with which I\Ir. H"umphrey's church was connected.
Resolutions were adopted by which the use of spirituous liquors was prohibited at meetings of
the ministerial association, and pledges were made to discourage, by word and by example, both
the use and the sale of ardent spirits." In referring to this movement, Mr. Humphrey says: "The
reports of ministers and delegates at the next annual meeting were exceedingly encouraging. It
appeared that a great change had been produced in the views and habits of all the more enlight-
ened classes throughout the district. In some churches and congregations the consumption of
ardent spirits had been reduced one third, in others, one half, and in others, more than half. In
nearly all the respectable families within our limits, the decanters and glasses had been swept
from the sideboards; a great many of our church members and others had adopted the principle
of total abstinence ; some of our largest farmers carried the principle successfully through haying
and harvesting; all our ministers had entered heartily into the reformation; and I am confident
that from that day to this, embracing a period of twenty-two years, no ardent spirits have been
provided at their stated meetings."
At the end of ten years of happy and successful labor in Fairfield, the health of Mr.
Humphrey yielded under the pressure of his work. His salary, also, of six hundred dollars,
which was at first sufficient, became inadequate for the support of a growing family, as the war
of 1 8 1 2 occasioned a rapid advance in the prices of the necessaries of life. At length he felt
forced to request a dismission, and in the face of many protests from his people a meeting of the
Consociation was called, and after a "full hearing" he was dismissed in May, 18 17. So great was the
attachment of the people to him that, a few months after his removal, while he was considering
invitations to serve other churches, he was strongly solicited to return and be resettled over the
parish in Fairfield. In November of the same year he accepted a call from the Congregational
church in Pittsfield, Mass., and was installed in his new ministry during that munth. "By the
then existing laws of Massachusetts the whole population of each inwn was taxable for the sujijioit
of the pastor excepting such as filed certificates setting forth lliat they belungeil ti) scmic uther
» Rev. Z. M Humphrey, D. D.
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