USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > History of the churches and ministers, and of Franklin association, in Franklin County, Mass., and an appendix respecting the county > Part 28
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doubtless were, riper scholars-many who had drank deeper from the wells of science; instances are rare in which a human mind so judiciously and accurately appropriated to itself the measure of knowledge accumulated. * In * his pulpit discourses Dr. Fisk followed no particular sys- tem closely. He would address indiscriminately the under- standing and the feelings, the reason and the passions of men. His sermons, however, in most instances, were strictly practical, and nicely adapted to the varied capacities of his hearers. With the force and energy of a disciplined mind he would first assault the citadel of their understand- ings, and then, sensible that logical deduction and acute reasoning were singly inadequate to move the hearts and consciences of many, conclude, in imitation of the French School of Divinity, by affecting the passions, and melting into contrition and penitence the flinty heart. For twenty years he resided in the midst of us without un- necessarily giving offence to any, and departed for a new sphere of usefulness, accompanied by the universal regret of the church and community. And how could it be other- wise ? To a dignity and nobleness of manner and deport- ment, he added a mildness and sweetness of temper, and benignity of heart, irresistibly fascinating. In imitation of his heavenly Master, while on earth, "he went about doing good." His sincerity no one ever had cause to doubt ; and his deep, fervent piety was indelibly impressed on his life and conversation. In the prime of life ; in the midst of honors and usefulness ; in the full enjoyment of the confi- dence of the church, to which he was zealously attached, he has been called to wrestle with the last great enemy, death."
From another obituary account of him, the following ex- tracts are taken : " He expressed at all times an entire resig- nation to the will of God, whatever the event of his sick- ness might be ; and felt no reluctance at dying, but what arose from the lonely situation in which his beloved wife
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would be left. Frequently he said : "O, how sweet to be with Jesus !" and when questioned on the subject, said re- peatedly, that he was perfectly happy in the state of his mind, and had not a doubt of his acceptance with God through Jesus Christ. * He died, as he had lived, a calm, firm, humble believer in the precious gospel."
Rev. Dr. W. D. Snodgrass, his successor at Goshen, N. Y., says of him, in a letter to the author : "He was regarded here as an eminently pious, discreet and faithful pastor. There were added to the church during his pastorate 539 members, including the fruits of two interesting revivals. And during the same period 829 adults and infants were baptized." Mr. John S. Crane, a trustee of his church, says of him : "He was a faithful, laborious and useful pastor. He was the instrument in saving a large number of souls ; and was universally beloved."
Rev. Dr. Archibald Alexander, late Professor in the Theo- logical Seminary at Princeton, N. J., once related the follow- ing anecdote in reference to Dr. Fisk : "In attending Commencement at Dartmouth College, in 1801, I became acquainted with Rev. Dr. Packard of Shelburne, Mass. ; and in travelling with him on horseback down the Connecticut river, my horse becoming lame, he invited me to go and spend a few weeks with him in his parish, so that my horse might recruit. I did so. During my stay in Shelburne there was an interesting work of grace. Many of the children and youth were subjects of the work. As Dr. Packard and my- self were one morning walking along by a house, he said to me : "There, I wish you would go and talk with that chunk of a boy, who stands by the fence yonder." I did so, as faithfully as I could. I of course did not suppose that I should see or hear of the boy again. Some years ago, a stranger passed through Princeton, and called at my study. He said : "You are Dr. Alexander-do you remember that you spent a few weeks in Shelburne, Mass., many years ago ?" "I do," said I. "Do you remember that Dr. Packard
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asked you one morning to talk with a chunk of a boy, that stood by the fence ?" " Why," said I, " the circumstance had long been forgotten, but I now recall it to mind." He then said : " That chunk of a boy was myself. The words which you spake to me were blessed to my spiritual good. I date my conversion back to that time. My name is Ezra Fisk. I am pastor of a church in Goshen, N. Y."
Dr. Fisk was moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church in 1833, and was long a Director of the Princeton Theological Seminary, and from 1823 to 1833 was a Trustee of Williams College. He received his doc- torate from Hamilton College in 1825. He was licensed by Franklin Association, April 19, 1810. He published several sermons, and a series of valuable articles on Mental Science in the Philadelphia "Christian Advocate " for 1832. He had no children. His widow resides in the city of New York. His remains were removed by a committee of his former charge in Goshen, N. Y., from Philadelphia to that place.
5 .* Rev. Pliny Fisk was born in Shelburne, June 24, 1792; graduated at Middlebury in 1814; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Packard of Shelburne; was licensed by Franklin Association, Jan. 18, 1815; after preaching in Wil- mington, Vt., about eight months, acceptably and usefully, he entered Andover Theological Seminary in November, 1815, and completed the theological course in 1818; was appointed a missionary to Palestine by the American Board, Sept. 23, 1818 ; and was ordained for that purpose in Salem, Nov. 5, 1818 ; then spent about a year in Georgia and South Carolina, and in October, 1819, preached an affecting fare- well sermon in his native place, from Acts xx. 22 : " And now, behold, I go up bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there." With Rev. Levi Parsons, his missionary colleague, he received his in- structions, Oct. 31, 1819, at Boston, and embarked Nov. 3, and arrived at Smyrna, Jan. 15, 1820. He resided for a
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time in Smyrna, and in Scio, and visited the "Seven Churches in Asia ;" went to Egypt several times, and visited the pyramids ; attended upon Mr. Parsons in his sickness, and witnessed his death at Alexandria, Feb. 10, 1822; re- sided for a time in Malta; in 1823 visited Jerusalem, and again in 1825; visited various places in Syria, and resided at Beyroot and died there, Oct. 23, 1825, aged 33.
The following is an extract from the account he gave of his first visit to Jerusalem, April 25, 1823: "With feelings not easily described, about four o'clock, we entered JERU- SALEM. The scenes and events of four thousand years rushed upon our minds ; events, in which heaven and earth, and hell, have felt the deepest interest. This was the place selected by the Almighty for his dwelling, and here his glory was rendered visible. This was the perfection of beauty, and the glory of all lands. Here David sat and tuned his harp, and sang the praises of Jehovah. Hither the tribes came up to worship. Here enraptured prophets saw bright visions of the world above, and received mes- sages from on high for guilty man. Here our Lord and Saviour came in the form of a servant, and groaned, and wept, and poured out his soul unto death, to redeem us from sin and save us from hell."
A Memoir of Mr. Fisk, by Rev. Dr. Alvan Bond, was published in 1828, from which the following extracts are taken : " A prominent trait in his early character, and one that was distinct in his subsequent life, was persevering ap- plication. Whatever the business might be, to which his attention was called, he did not shrink from it on account of difficulty or labor, but promptly applied himself to it, and persevered till his work was done. * The following account of his religious experience was written by himself about two years after he began to hope that he was a chris- tian : 'I consider the whole of my life till my sixteenth year, as having been one continued course of rebellion against God. Not one holy affection can I find by examina-
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tion during that whole period. On the first day of January, 1808, I met an intimate associate, with whom I had spent much time in sin, and he thus addressed me : 'Re- member, you have an immortal soul that must exist beyond the grave, either in happiness or wo.' I knew not till then of any change in his feelings. His address took hold of my heart, and, after much reluctance, and many hard struggles for a few days, I determined to forsake the vanities of youth and seek religion. I endeavored carefully to keep my mind on religious subjects ; I read much, prayed often, and frequently attended religious meetings. * *
* I now realized, in some measure, the power of the doctrines of grace. I found myself to be dead in trespasses and sins. I had no heart to love God. I was vexed that a just God possessed all power and would do his pleasure without regard to the dictates of his creatures. During all this time, though wearisome days and nights were appointed to me, I con- tinued in rebellion against God, and refused to accept of mercy on the terms of the gospel. And I am fully persuaded that I should have continued in my sins, and rejected the Saviour and grieved away the Spirit, had not God, of his own good pleasure, applied to my heart ' the washing of re- generation and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.'' * * ' Beyroot, Oct. 20,1825. My beloved aged father : I compose a few lines for you upon a sick, probably a dying bed. When you gave me up for this mission, you gave me up for life and death. You know to whom to look for consolation and support. The same God who has comforted you so many years under so many troubles, will comfort you under this. You know his consolations are neither few nor small. I leave these lines as a pledge to you and my brothers and sisters, my nephews and nieces, that I love you all most dearly, though so long separated from you. I hope all, or nearly all our number have been enabled to give themselves to Christ, and that we shall meet with our departed mother in heaven.' * The letter which he addressed to his
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father was accompanied by one from Mr. Goodell, giving some account of the afflictive event. *
* ' But why need I offer a word of consolation, or endeavor to prepare your mind to receive the intelligence of what God has done ; God your father, who loves you, who does nothing wantonly, but always for some wise purpose, some benevolent design ? ' He'll bear it,' said your dear son, our brother, in his last hours. Be not troubled, dear sir, for his end was peace. We sat by his pillow ; we wiped away the cold sweat that again and again gathered upon his brow ; we caught the last words that trembled upon his tongue. Jesus was precious to his soul ; heaven itself was present ; all was peace.' * * The American Board of Missions held Mr. Fisk in high es- timation, and deeply felt his loss, regarding it as occasioning a breach, which it would take a long time to fill. As the result of intimate acquaintance with his missionary opera- tions and acquisitions, they have left on the pages of one of their Annual Reports a respectful testimonial of his worth : ' The character and attainments of Mr. Fisk,' says the Re- port, ' were such as to attract the respect and confidence of men to a very extraordinary degree. During the six years of his missionary life, he was indefatigable as a christian traveler, and as a preacher of the gospel in four languages, besides his native tongue. He saw and conversed with men of different nations, of various habits, and diversified acquire- ments, from the accomplished merchant and scientific traveler, to the prowling Arab, the ferocious Turk, and the ignorant devotee of superstition under the name of a chris- tian. Individuals of all these classes, as they became ac- quainted with him, felt and acknowledged that he was a man of distinguished worth, whose conduct adorned his pro- fession, and whose influence must be perceived by its salu- tary effects on any community in which he should reside. In private conversation he accomplished much ; and the last weeks of his life were rendered happy by his learning that some labors of this kind, performed two or three years be-
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fore, had been materially instrumental in converting souls to God.' * Says the Rev. Lewis Way, who became ac- quainted with him at Antoura : ' I found in him a man of a truly catholic and christian spirit. His simple piety, solid sense, amiable temper, and strong constitution, had eminently predisposed him for his calling ; and the experience he ob- tained by travelling amply qualified him to be the guide and director of others, who may follow him in this most interest- ing and arduous mission.' His piety, 'unlike a summer's brook,' was as the stream issuing from the perennial foun- tain, permanent and uniform, being sustained by constant supplies from ' the wells of salvation.' In his character there was a combination of qualities which, under the direction of enlightened and active piety, must render a person eminent- ly useful. Decision, perseverance, intrepidity, judgment, modesty, patience, and benevolence, are traits which have been developed in the preceding pages-traits which were harmoniously combined in him, forming a well proportioned and truly consistent character. * * * Such was the man, who, at the age of thirty-three years, was dismissed from the labors and trials of his stewardship. It is not the first time that the church has been called to weep over the early death of her most promising and devoted sons. Brainard, Martyn, Mills, Parsons, Hall and others of kindred spirit, have been arrested in the noontide of life, while successfully employed in the service of their Lord, and removed to the employments and rewards of the heavenly Jerusalem."
6. Mr. Samuel Fisk was born in Shelburne, July 23, 1828 ; graduated at Amherst in 1848 ; finished his theologi- cal studies at Andover in 1853; has officiated as tutor in Amherst College for some time past ; was licensed by Frank- lin Association, May 4, 1853. He is a son of Mr. David Fisk 2d of Shelburne Falls, and, with his father's family, resided in early life a few years in Strongsville, Ohio. One of his sisters married Rev. Henry Seymour of Hawley ; and another of them married Rev. Burdett Hart of Fair Haven,
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Ct. He has supplied in West Charlemont, and some other places for brief periods.
7 .* Rev. Robert Hubbard, Jr., was born in Shelburne, Dec. 7, 1782 ; was the son of Rev. Robert Hubbard, the first pastor in Shelburne ; graduated at Williams in 1803 ; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Packard of Shelburne ; was licensed by Franklin Association, Aug. 10, 1809; in 1810 he went as a Home Missionary into Western New York ; was settled as pastor of the churches in Angelica and Alfred, N. Y., Aug. 20, 1812, where he remained about seventeen years ; he then preached several years as a stated supply at Dansville, N. Y. ; afterwards preached at Fowlerville, N.Y., and various other places in that state till his last sickness. He died at Canisteo, N. Y., May 24, 1840, aged 57.
He has a son, Rev. John Niles Hubbard, now preach- ing at Dansville, N. Y., who has kindly communicated to the author the following interesting sketches of his father's history : " In going from one appointment to another, in the performance of his missionary and ministerial labors, when this part of the country was new and almost entirely desti- tute of preaching, he studied many of his sermons on horse- back. He was in the habit of studying, reading, and praying on horseback. The woods echoed the songs of praise to God which he sung, and were the witnesses of many prayers which he offered, as he rode a solitary wan- derer through them. The Rev. John Niles was one day visiting a family in the vicinity of Bath, N. Y., when the lady of the house inquired of him, 'If he thought that angels ever visited people now-a-days;' stating that at such a time it seemed to her that she received a visit from an angel. She was at the time in very feeble health, when a stranger called, who wore a most heavenly countenance, and who conversed and prayed with her in a most kind and heavenly manner, and who, when he was going away, left her a little wine in a bottle ; that since then she had been growing better ; that she had never seen the man before or since ;
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but it seemed to her as though she had received a visit from an angel. By her account of the person and the time of the visit, Mr. Niles knew it must have been Mr. Hubbard. He often carried a flask of wine with him in his portmanteau, not for his own use, for he was never in the habit of drink- ing it, but for such sick persons as he thought it might benefit. He has been known to carry for miles sacks of flour, and other articles of necessity and comfort, to the lonely dwellings of the sick and sorrowful.
" At one time, when he was visiting his relations in Mid- dletown, Ct., he brought in an ear trumpet which he had purchased for one of his parishioners who was deaf. His uncle, Nehemiah Hubbard, taking it up, remarked, ' Well, cousin Robert will go out West and preach to the people for nothing, and find them in ear trumpets in the bargain.'
" His known liberality exposed him now and then to be drawn into the bestowment of unworthy charities, which led him, in the latter part of his life, to exercise more caution. He at one time lost a horse by rendering assistance to a rogue. Rev. William Clark has given the following account of the affair. Mr. Hubbard, in company with Mr. Clark and some others, was on his way to attend a meeting of Presbytery in the county of Ontario, N. Y. They had almost reached the place, when they came across a man on foot, who appeared to be lame. It was in the spring of the year, when the roads were very muddy. Mr. Hubbard fell behind the rest of the company, and entered into conversation with this poor limp- ing traveler. He gathered from him something in regard to his history ; and, as he related a sorrowful story, Mr. Hub- bard's heart was drawn out in sympathy towards him. He represented that he was a poor man, and had a place he was trying to pay for, and was obliged to make out a payment by such a time or he would lose it ; that he was on his way to Geneva for the money, but he did not see how he would be able to get back by the time appointed, for he had already traveled quite a distance, and his shoes hurt his feet, so that
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he was so lame he could hardly go, and he did not know but he should be obliged to give out altogether. Mr. Hubbard told him he was designing to stop at Bloomfield, and would probably be there a few days, and that if he would return the next day he might take his horse and go on to Geneva. This arrangement was accordingly made ; but Mr. Hubbard never saw the horse or the man afterward.
" When he preached at Geneseo, on a certain occasion, a collection was taken up and given him for his services. Learning that a poor widow, who had children, had lost her cow, he gave her this collection, and then raised the balance of a sum sufficient to buy the poor widow another cow.
" When Mr. Hubbard was about going out from his theo- logical instructor to preach, the latter said to him, ' There, Robert, is your pocket Bible. You are going where you will find a great many destitutions, but you had better retain your Bible for your own use ; you will need that yourself ; and you had better not give it away.'
" A Methodist minister has related a little incident respect- ing Mr. Hubbard, mentioned to him by one of his charge. The Methodist parishioner was in great want, and his situa- tion was known to Mr. Hubbard, who gave him six or seven dollars, and enjoined secrecy upon him, saying, 'My people often object to paying me money, upon the ground that I never keep it.'
" The more prudent and calculating thought that he was too liberal. They not unfrequently remonstrated with him and endeavored to convince him that he was carrying his benevolence too far. But he always assured them that this was the way in which he wished to invest his money. He would in turn show them the way in which they were accustomed to deny themselves and their families, and endure many hardships, that they might be able to pay for their farms, and having paid for them, then to lay by a little money for a rainy day. We differ, he would say, only in the way in which we seek to invest our means. You prefer
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to have your money invested in a farm, or in mortgage se- curites ; I prefer to have my money, if I have any, invested in doing good. This he maintained as his solemn conviction was the safest way to invest money-to do good with it. If any man has money to put out at interest, let him do good with it. He will thus have the largest income and the safest capital. He looked upon money given for doing good as a real investment ; and the treasury of the Lord as a bank of deposit,-a bank that would never fail,-where principal and interest were both safe. Hence he never thought himself poorer for giving, but richer. The idea of his impoverishing himself or family in this way never entered his mind. He had as little concern about this as a man would have who goes with a thousand dollars to make a deposit in the saving's bank.
" Upon one occasion he began to be in want of a new suit of clothes. He was without the means of getting them. His wife said to him, 'What are you going to do for clothes ?' He answered, ' I know not, unless the Lord sends them. 'If God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith.'' Not many days afterwards a friend brought them a present of some cloth, the very thing needed. This friend lived at a distance, and knew not their particular necessity. He wished to bring a gift, and brought this."
Hotchkiss' History of Western New York thus speaks of Mr. Hubbard : "During the period in which he resided in the county of Alleghany, his labors were by no means con- fined to the congregations from which he received his sup- port, but were extended through all parts of that county, and the western part of the county of Steuben. He was the only minister of the Presbyterian denomination in the region. He was unwearied in his labors ; and in attending to his ministerial appointments was utterly regardless of the vicissitudes of the weather. Mr. Hubbard was
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through life distinguished for a devotional spirit. He evi- dently lived near to God. He was remarkable for his indifference to the things of the world, and for his extensive charity. At any time he was ready to divide the last loaf with any destitute person."
Major Moses Van Camper, an acquaintance of Mr. Hub- bard, thus speaks of him : "Robert Hubbard was persevering in his efforts to increase in piety and knowledge of the word of God, and deserves to be remembered and imitated. In his intercourse with his fellow-creatures he was always affa- ble and obliging, noted for a deportment which was the result of enlarged and active benevolence. He was exceed- ingly social in his feelings, polite and graceful in his man- ners. He conscientiously avoided an intimacy with those whose society neither promised nor afforded opportunities of usefulness. With the saints, the excellent ones of the earth, was his delight. The more spiritual any one appeared to be, the more did he seek and enjoy communion with them. It mattered not to him, what was the condition or color; every one who showed the heart of a true disciple he recognized as a brother or sister. He rejoiced to be an instrument to minister to the edification and consolation of all those who loved the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. To this end he visited the sick and afflicted, conversed, wrote letters, held meetings, &c. He was faithful in exhortation and prayer, and in all the means he could use to build up the kingdom of Christ in the hearts of the saints. While he thus labored to promote a growth of grace in the church, the burden of his prayer and labors was for the conversion of souls. He consecrated himself to the service of the Lord, the glory of his name, and the advancement of his cause."
Rev. Abiel Parmele preached his funeral sermon, and in it thus speaks of him : " The history of Rev. Robert Hubbard, whose mortal remains now lie before us, seems to be a com- mentary on my text : 'But to him that soweth righteous- ness, shall be a sure reward.' Probably no one can be found
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among saints or sinners, personally acquainted with his man- ner of life, who will be disposed to question the fact, that his days have been passed in sowing to the Spirit. And who can entertain a doubt, that he has sowed prayerfully, tearfully, perseveringly, bountifully, successfully. His piety was of that amiable, devout, sincere, high and holy charac- ter, that it led even his enemies to be at peace with him. His unsuspecting, generous, benevolent, charitable heart, seemed an almost perfect compound of whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, and whatsoever things are of good report. We may truly say, a father in Israel has fallen; and that death has seldom triumphed over a richer or holier trophy. The churches have few, very few such under-shepherds to lose. It is doing no injustice either to the living or the dead, to pronounce him the father not of one but of many of the churches in Western New York. Something like thirty years since, when in the morning of his days, he selected as the theatre of his anticipated and future labors, a central position in Alleghany County, and was rather the shepherd of the county, than of one particular flock. His field was a field of incredible and unprecedented hardship. It was a field of infant settlements, a sparse population, a widely ex- tended territory, and much of it a waste, howling wilder- ness. The inhabitants were poor, and many of them in want of the bread that perisheth, as well as of that which endureth to everlasting life. I have yet to learn, if he ever uttered a complaining word in relation to the hardships of the field, or the perils of the wilderness. The great and good Shepherd seems to have raised him up, and qualified him, and directed him to the field, and to have given him a heart supremely delighted with the work of feeding the flock, over which the Holy Ghost had made him overseer. In him was com- bined the rare quality to look after the temporal as well as the spiritual necessities of his people. By his benevolent
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