Memoir of Rev. David Millard; with selections from his writings

Front matter

o

V -t^

7^ ^ «' ^ - . \^

CHAPTER I. Birth, Ancestry, and Education

Family Annals— Incidents of his youth— School-days— Religious Impressions 13

CHAPTER ir.

Taste for Books— Conversion, Commences to Teach School— Writes Poetry— Lines to Spring— Converted under the Labors of Nancy G. Cram— Settlement of His Religious Views 23

CHAPTER nr.

Call to the JMinutry,

Temptations— Iiiipressions of duty— Improvement of his Gift — Visits Greene County— First Sermon 3i

CHAPTER IV.

Firist JPi-eaching 'Jour— Ordination. Lines on Farting with Friends— Again Visits Albany and Greene Counties— Labors in connection with Elders Martin andPeavey— Successful Labor in Delaware County— Ordination— Visits Central New York 43

CHAPTER V.

SMleracnt— Marriage— Public Labors.

Leaves Delaware County— Settles in West Bloom field— Organizes a Church— Marriage— Controversial Writings— General Labors — Tour to New England 57

CHAPTER VI.

Visits Virginia— First Issue of the " Luminary. ^^ Extends His Tour from New England to Virginia— Lines on Leaving Norfolk— On His Return Preaches in Various Places in New England— Visits His Native Place— Revivals in West Bloom-

tield— Publishes the Gospel Luminary 70

CONTENTS. 5

CHAPTER VII.

Editorial and Pastoral Work—Fuhlic Debate.

Page.

Prosperity of the Cause under His Labors — Another Visit to Canada- Dedication of the ( hurch in West Bloomfield— Debate witli Mr. Reese— The Second and Tliird Volumes of the Luminary— An Editorial i>i

CHAPTER VIII.

United States Covfei ence— Delate with Wilber Hoag.

Conference Meets in West Bloomfield— Change in the Luminary- Visit to New York— Tour to Kew England— Resigns the Editorial Chair— Debate with Rev. Mr. Hoag 96

CHAPTER IX.

Entei's upon the Work of an Evangelist.

Extended Tours among the Churches— Lines to the Susquehanna River— Tribute to Elder William Kinkade — General Success in His Ministerial Work -... 108

CHAPTER X.

Labors of an Evangelist Continued.

Journey to Kentucky— Letters— Lines on the death of Rev. John Blodgett— Objects of the Tour 125

CHAPTER XI.

Public Labors in (he 3Iiddle States.

Labors in Kew York— Visit to Pennsylvania— "The Evangelists' Farewell "—Again Visits Canada— Other Lahore 145

CHAPTER XII.

Visits the West and East.

Michigan— General Labors — Revisits His Native Place— Tour Through New England — Closes His Lahore as an Evangelist ,. 159

CHAPTER XHI.

Locates in New England.

Settlement at Portsmouth, New Hampshire— Revivals— The Anti- Slavery Cause— Editorial Work— Lett ere— Failing Health— Labors in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and Portland, Maine— Returns to New York— Decides on a Foreign Voyage 172 b CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIV.

Voyage to Malta— Thence to Egypt.

Page.

Embarkation— Arrival at Malta— Departure for Egypt— Arrival at Alexandria— Trip up the Nile— Cairo— The Pyramids— Arrangements for a Journey Through Arabia Petra— The Start 187

CHAPTER XV.

From Cairo to Mount Hot.

Course from Cairo— Suez— Passage of the Red Sea— Well of Howara— Arrival at Mount Sinai— Departure— Akabah— Mount Hci-— Aaron's Tomb lliD

CHAPTER XVI.

From Mount Hor to Beyrout.

Departure from Mount Hor— Ruins of Petra— The Khasne, or Treasury of Pharaoh— Other Ruins— Departure— Hebron— Bethlehem —Jerusalem— Nazareth— Beyrout 20S

CHAPTER XVII.

Voyage Home.

From Beyrout to Smyrna — Cyprus— Rhodes — Patmos— Turkish Ruins— Samos— Arrival at Smyrna— The Lazaretto— Departure — Foui'th of July at Sea— Arrival at Boston 21^

CHAPTER XVIII. •

Again Settles in West Bloomficld

Publishes his Journal of Travels— Revival— Death of his Wife- Pastoral Work— Second Marriage— Articles on Reform.s— Appointment to a Professorship— Intei-est in the College Movement—Lines to the Alploss 231

CHAPTER XIX.

Lecturing Tours— other labors from 1850 to 1868

Lectures in Different Places— Tribute to his Daughter— Convention at Cincinnati— Interest in the National Struggle— Lines on the Death of Lincoln— Last Years in Bloomfleld 219

CHAPTER XX.

Life in Michigan.

Moves to Jackson, Michigan— Various Calls to Preach— "Last Lines" —Interesting Correspondence— Advocates Womali's Siaffrage— Last Entry in his Journal— Failing Health 2G1

CONTENTS. /

CHAPTER XXr.

Lifc''s Close.

Page.

Last Sickness— Death— Fuueral Obsequies— Extract Ironi Rev. C. i. Doyo's Sermon 2Si

CHAPTER XXII.

" What made Elder Millard a Marked Man and Preacher "— By Rev. I. C. Goff 293

SELECTIONS FROM HIS WRITINGS.

INFIDELITY REFUTED.

Evidences of an Omnipotent Powei'— That Power one God— Genuineness of the Scriptures— Prophecies Relating to Clirist— The Resurrection 308

THE GENERAL JUDGMENT.

Human Accountability a Doctrine oi Reason and Revelation— A Judgment-day— Retribution 374

CHURCH ORGANIZATION.

The Church an Organiz d Body — Its Officers and their Duties— Its True Position Concerning Reforms 3.96

THE EMBASSADOR, AND OTHER POETRY.

Descrip^ ion of a True IMinister— God is Good— Hymn for Saturday Evening— Tlie African Chief— The Dead Sea— Death of My Mother— To My Muse 412

THOUGHTS ON BAPTISM.

The Mode— The Subjects— The Duty 426

COVETOUSNESS.

The Sin Denounced— Liberality Enjoined..,.. 4.50

CALL FOR LABORERS.

The Gospel Field— Laborers Needed— The Call Given— Who Will Obey? ; 451

Preface

Biography is a species of composition mucli admired and sought after. It is therefore highly important that the characters of those persons whose lives are deliDeated in this form of written narrative, should either possess many points of excellence worthy of study and imitation, or, if descriptive of vicious persons, their vices should be set forth in such a way as to lead the young to detest and shun them.

He whose life is sketched in this volume has said : ''The faithful biography of a good man, in every sense, confers a benefit upon society. It holds up an example of the past as a burning and shining light to the future. It presents a mirror into which others may look, and there see their true character reflected, admire, and resolve to imitate."

The subject of this Memoir was a man who possessed at least some of the elements of true greatness ; and it is thought that his valuable services in society, and especially in the denomination to which he belonged, should not be "suffered to live merely in the recollection of the j^assing generation." Hence this volume has been written.

As evidence of a demand for its publication, we give the following statements from emiitfnt "Christian" ministers. Sajs Dr. N. Suoamerbell: "Your father's life was long, active, and honored He was faithful over a few cities, and will be ruler over many. Concerning his biography and writings, there can be but one voice: Publish them! The echo seems to come up from every quarter, ' Publish them ! ' " "We lost a great and good man in Father Millard," says Rev. H. Y. Rush. "I should like to see a volume compiled

X PREFACE.

from his posthumous manuscripts. 1 think it would meet with ready sale among our people." Rev. J. Maple says: "Your dear father is gone, but he filled his mission nobly. I am glad his biography is to be published " "I am glad to know," says Bro. B. F. Summer bell, "that you have your father's manuscripts, and hope jou will prepare them for the press. There ought to ba a large demand for such a hookas you can make with them." Many similar expressions have been received from other brethren in the ministry whose opinions we value. But aside from these, there is a large circle of friends who are anxiously desiring that some " tribute of memorial" should exist of the departed through succeeding days.

In anticipation that his biography might sometime be published, the subject of this Memoir kept for many years a journal of his life. For about twenty years this journal contained quite a full history of his eventful carter. Subsequently it was much condensed, and during the last six or eight years contained only the brief entries made on each returning birthday.

At his death, his journal and other manuscripts were left in the hands of the writer to be used, if deemed best, in the publication of a volume to contain his Memoir aud Selections from his Writings. These, together with pubhshed letters running through many volumes of the Christian PalliADiUM, and our own personal knowledge and observation, have been the chief sources from whence the materials for .this book have been derived.

The chief difficulty which presented itself in the compilation of this work was to determine, not what to publish, but what to omit. To publish all that seemed to be of interest in the life of our subject, and all that is of value in his writings, would make several volumes of considerable size. This was not deemed expedient. On the contrary, it was thought best to make but one volume, and that not too large. "In the hurry and flutter of these days," says an emiaent and judicious friend, "there is little opportunity for reading, and a large book repels people."

We have in these pages aimed to give a connected history

PREFACE. 11

of one whose life has been eminently active and useful, sometimes in his and sometimes in our own language. Of his writings w^e have, in accordance with his request, given preference to those that have never before appeared in print. We have likewise given an abstract of his foreign travels, and made some selections from his poetry. The chaptei written hy his esteemed friend and "son in the gospel," Eev. I. C. Goft*, will well repay perusal.

Under a sense of duty, and with a sort of mournful pleasure, this work has been undertaken. Such as it is, it is now presented to the public, with the hope that it will be acceptable to those who have been looking for its appearance, and be especially useful to ail who shall examine its pages.

D. E. M.

Marshall, Michigan, 1874.

MEMOIR

CHAPTER I.

BIRTH, ANCESTRY, AND EDUCATION.

The subject of these pages was a firm believer in the doctrine that "all men are created free and equal." He considered the question of family descent, especially when raised by those who founded upon it their only or chief claim to elevation in the scale of being as of very small value, and was wont to say, " I expect to derive no merit or demerit from my parentage. " It is, however, natural for us to desire to know something of the ancestry of one whose biography is deemed of sufficient importance to be written and published to the world. Nor is it idle curiosity alone which prompts the desire. All men possess it to some extent, and many nations and tribes pay divine honors to their ancestors. True, as societies become more democratic, the ancestral tie weakens, but it does not wholly leave us. Hence, in giving a particular record of the character and labors of a person of marked usefulness in the world, the subject of ancestry can not be entirely overlooked.

Two brothers by the name of Eobert and E"athaniel Millard emigrated from England and settled in the town of Rehobeth, Massachusetts, about the middle of the seventeenth century. They were both members of the Baptist denomination, and fled from their native land on account of persecution. Robert was a minister of the gospel. Both lived to be aged men, and died in the town where they first settled. Rev. Robert Millard had a son who bore his name, and he likewise had a son Robert, who was born in Rehobeth, in the year 1700. This third Robert was also a Baptist minister. He lived to an advanced age, and died respected by all who knew him. He married twice, and was the father of a large family. Among the children of his second wife (whose maiden name was King) was Eleazar Millard, grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Eleazar Millard, soon after his second marriage, removed from Rehobeth, Massachusetts, into Dutchess County, 'New York, and subsequently to Stillwater, Saratoga County, in the same state. At the latter place, on the 13th of December, 1764, I^athaniel, the father of David Millard, was born.* The Millard homestead was in the immediate vicinity where, in the revolutionary war, the battle was fought which resulted iu the capture of the British army under General Burgoyne. In this battle his step-son, Issachar Robinson, was engaged, and by him the subject of these pages had heard

* Abiathar Millard, brother of the grandfather of David Millard, was a physician who lived and died in Rutland County, Vermont. He was grandfather of Millard Fillmore, Ex-president of the United States.

related the details of the battle. Others of the family saw service in the revolutioiiarj war, among whom, notwithstanding his tender years, was the father of the subject of this memoir. An older brother had been drafted, and stationed at Fort Ann, in Washington Coanty, Ts ew York. He had served out his time within about four weeks, when he was taken ill. Having an opportunity to send a request that one of his brothers should come and relieve him, he did so. J^athaniel, then not quite sixteen years old, volunteered to go, expecting to be home again in a few days. He was accepted, and his brother was permitted to return home.

Weeks passed, and the young volunteer had nearly served out his time, when a force of British and Indians invested the fort and demanded its surrender. At that time there were but eighty men in the garrison, poorly provided with ammunition, and with a small amount of provisions. The enemy were about twelve hundred strong. Resistance was useless, and the garrison capitulated. By the articles of capitulation, they were to surrender as prisoners of war, with the promise that none of them should be given to the Indians. But how false the promise ! Two days after the surrender, thirty of the prisoners were given over to them; and of this number Nathaniel Millard ^was one. The history of his captivity, though quite interesting, would be too long to give in detail. It will suliice to say that for several months he was held -a prisoner among the Indians in Canada. From them he was retaken by the British, and, with others, placed in prison at Quebec, where, through sickness and starvation, he nearly ended his days. Thence he was taken to England, and was held in confinement for several months in Mill Prison in Marblehead. After a series of hardships and deprivations he was at length restored to the free shores of his native land.

In the year 1787, I^athaniel Millard and Mary Hunter were united in marriage. The latter was born in Eannelstown, County of Antrim, in Ireland, August 27, 1767, of Scottish parents. Her parents belonged to the denomination called Cameronians, and were rigid adherents to the Protestant faith. Her father had been wealthy, but lost tbe principal part of his property by being security for a brother. G-athering up the wreck of his fortune, he emigrated to this country in 1774, and settled in Ballston, 'New York, near what is known as the Mineral Springs. At that time the entire region was new. Four years after this he died, and was followed in four years more by his wife. Mary was thus left an orphan at the age of sixteen. Of her four brothers, two continually followed the seas, and both became masters of vessels. One of the remaining two emigrated to Canada, and the other continued on the homestead. With him Mary Hunter chiefly resided till she was married. Virtue guided ber footsteps, gained her valuable friends, and was ever the ornament of her life.

The fruits of this marriage were eleven children — five sons and six daughters. The oldest son died at the age of three years, and bore the same name as that given to th^ subject of this memoir. Both parents were exemplary Christians, and aimed to so guide the steps of their children in "wisdom'sways " that all the virtues of social and religious life might grow with their growth and strengthen with their strength . Neither did they labor in vain. Few have succeeded better in guiding in the right path so large a family.

ISTathaniel Millard died on the 6th of August, 1829. His death was occasioned by a fall from a load of hay. He lived but thirteen hours afterwards, but died, as he had lived, a Christian. His wife survived him a number of years. She died in the city of Eochester, E'ew York, at the residence of her son-in-law, Edmund Lyon, Esq., on the 8th of July, 1850, at the advanced age of nearly eightythree years. While living, she walked with God, and at death fell asleep in Jesus.

David Millard, the subject of this memoir, was born in Glenville, Schenectady County, New York, November 24, 1794. In a note appended to his written journal, we find the following statement : " As my birthplace was but half a mile from the line of Ballston, and subsequently my father's residence only a few rods from that line, it has often been published as my native town. The error is here corrected." His father was not in easy circumstances, and, as we have seen, had a large family to provide for. Hence, the son was brought up to habits of industry, and,so soon as able to labor, his task was assigned him according to his ability. *'This," he savs, "excluded me much from the world, as well as from many vices attendant on idleness, and taught me a lesson of industry much to my benefit. " Hearing his father pray in the family first led him to think of God, and the duties he owed to him. And the religious counsels of his mother made impressions upon his mind which were never forgotten.

He began to attend school at the early age of four years, and, even at that time, evinced a more than ordinar}^ , genius for education. His youth exhibited a vigorous mind; but, after he became able to use any kind of farm implement, his school ■opportunities never exceeded three months in each year.

At eleven years of age, having been run over by a frightened team, he narrowly escaped death. This event seems to have given quite a religious turn to his thoughts. Referring to those early days, he says: " During this part of my life I was not without religious impressions. Sensible that I was born to die and bound to judgment, my mind was filled with awful fear of 'a hereafter.' Frequently something would seem to say, 'If you experience religion you will have to preach.' This I did not like, as I was much opposed to the thought of being a preacher, believing it would debar me from social enjoyments, and sink me to a life of gloomy sobriety." Will not some who read these pages, here read their own experience ? How many living ministers can recall similar impressions of early childhood I And how natural to the ' children of this world' is this mistaken view of religion. They have yet to learn

*' It never was designed

To make our pleasures less. "

" Ahont this time, " he writes, " a rich gentleman and his wife, residing in the city of Schenectady, ]^ew York, having no child of their own, made the proposal to my parents to adopt me as their son, give me a classical education, and make me their sole heir. My father, probahly, would have consented ; but my mother struggled under all the tenderness of a mother's heart. Although at that time she had nine living children, looking round upon them she could not be made to think she had one to spare. But for years it would come up to my mind, while laboring hard from day to day in the field, how much better might have been my fortune had my mother only willingly permitted me to become the adopted son of this man of wealth. But in later years I thought difi:*erently. And when I consider how God has led me on, I feel reconciled to the fortune allotted me. Had I been placed in the midst of wealth it might have been my ruin. I was brought up to practice industry and frugality. This has been of more value to me than wealth, conferred as a gift, might have been, with all its snares and exposures. I now think God overruled and led me in the right path. " Let those who are inclined to murmur, because they were not born into a more favored earthly lot, learn wisdom from this statement of one who had himself learned that God's ways are "better than man's, and that he ordereth all things wisely and well.

During the days of his youih, the mind of the subject of these pages was often exercised by religious thoughts. Much of this no doubt was due to his Christian instruction and the force of parental example. But the fact that he possessed, by nature, a mind of strong religious cast, should not be overlooked. In his thirteenth year he was awakened in an especial manner to a sense of his duty as an accountable being, chiefly through the preaching of a Methodist minister, by the name of Miller, who was then holding meetings in the neighborhood. The preaching of this minister seems to have taken strong hold upon the minds of the young, and quite a number of the associates of our youthful subject were among the converts. He was also in the habit of attending the social meetings they had instituted. At one of these meetings he was deeply affected by the warm exhortations of his young companions. " Several times, " he says, " I had nearly risen to my seat to tell them I was willing to be a Christian, and to ask them to pray for me. I returned from this meeting laden with a burden of sin; all my former life appeared disclosed to me, and my sins, in the blackest dye, stared me in the face."

He at once resolved to commence a life of prayer. But his temptations were strong, and, at times, almost overwhelming. ''When I attended meeting," he writes, "it appeared as though thepreachine: was all to me ; sometimes mv character and feelings were pointed out exactly, and even my thoughts were told me. Often I was so affected that I would tremble like Belshazzar when he saw the writing on the wall. My tears would flow in torrents, while I was mortified as others saw me weep." His exercises of mind continued variously for three or four months, when they gradually wore away. For this a cause is assigned, which, alas! has two often effected similar results — namely, a contentious and sectarian spirit among those who were "counted leaders." As a result, the converts were soon divided into parties, and the love they first manifested grew fainter and fainter in the midst of controversy. Many who had felt powerfully impressed, himself among the number, turned again into the world, and gratified their pride and love of pleasure more than ever before. Of this turn of affairs he writes: "I then felt astonished at the conduct of professors of religion, but have since, to my sorrow, witnessed much of a similar nature. How little do man}^ who profess religion realize the iujury they inflict upon the cause of God, by introducing contention and controversy in the time of revival. Many for this, I fear, will have the blood of souls to account for, in the day of eternity."

After these impressions had worn away, the subject of these pages entered with all his heart into the pleasures and amusements of the world. His chief study was how best to appear in company, and to render himself attractive, and his society pleasing to his young associates. In this he was eminently successful, and soon became a recognized leader among them. But the "pleasures of sin," as the sequel will show, though enjoyed for a season, failed to satisfy the demands of his religious nature, and, in time, were abandoned for higher and nobler pursuits.

Chapter II. • Taste For Books — Conversion

The winter following his sixteenth birthday closed the school-days and privileges of David Millard. He was then deemed qualified to teach a com.mon school, and before he was quite seventeen years of age commenced teaching near the home of his childhood. During this year he met with two more narrow escapes from death : One from the falling of a large stone over a bank near where he was standing; the other, from the premature falling of a building at which he was assisting in taking down the frame. Viewing these to be calls of Providence, he was again led to reflect seriously upon the subject of religion. He went to meeting more frequentl}^, and was a more attentive ' hearer of the word." The preaching of Rev. Samuel Draper, a Methodist minister, appears to have stirred his feelings, but, for some reason, was attended with no permanent results.

He was much given to speculating on religious subjects, and early evinced that fondness for argument which afterward made him so able a defender of what he believed to have been the primitive faith of the church. The doctrine of unconditional election and reprobation was then attracting much, attention, and, as it appeared to him fraught with horrid consequences, and based upon grounds repugnant to reason and Scripture, he took a decided position against it. ''To believe," he says, "that God should bring millions of beings into existence from senseless nothing, 'on purpose (as I could not think he acted without a purpose) to consign them to excruciating pains forever, appeared too horrid for me. " As, in those days, this doctrine prevailed to quite an extent, it seems to have nearly carried him over, as it has many before and since, to Universalism. He writes, " When about eighteen years old I came near embracing the doctrine of universal salvation, but was afraid of it. Something seemed to whisper to me that the foundation was sandy."

His love for reading was intense, and he devoured about every thing that came in his way. For awhile he was strongly attached to novel reading ; but at a certain time, in reading a fiction entitled "The Midnight Bell," he became disgusted with the foolish inconsistencies of novels, and read but few of them during the remainder of his life. Histories, journals of travels, and poetical works were chiefly sought and became favorite studies with him. He early evinced a talent for poetry, and in his eighteenth year began to write verses for the newspapers over the signature of " Edmund." He continued, " even down to old age, " occasionally to indulge a poetic fancy, and though he assures us that he

REV. DAVID MILLAUD. 25

" never could make mucli pretension to poetic ability, " yet many of his pieces have been published, and quite a number have been thought, by competent judges, to possess no small degree of merit. Among his earliest productions, written in his sixteenth year, we find the verses we shall here insert :

SPEING.

Hail ! all ye vocal woodlands, hail !

And liail the glad return of spring ; Let every woodland, marsh, and dale,

With notes of joy respondent ring.

See Phoebus sheds a warmer ray;

Reviving nature smiles again ; Stern winter blasts to spring give way,

And vegetation plants the plain.

l:>fo more hoarse, chilly blasts resound. Nor gloomy clouds hurl round my head ;

No more hoar snows pervade the ground, Nor Avinter's devastation spread.

"Where autumn's frosts have borne the sway, Of clothing stripped the lofty trees,

Reviving leaves on branches play, As wafted in the balmy breeze.

* Where fleecy snows of late were seen,

And chilly blasts with sternness blew, Now herbage clothes the plain in green. And blooming flowers ope to view.

While on with devious steps I rove. O'er fields with vegetation crowned,

Soft notes come warbling from the grove, To cheer me with enchanting sound.

Around in mirth, from spray to spray, Tlie feathered choir in concert sing ;

Each pouring forth his vocal lay, The fields and groves with music ring.

With fragrant scent the opening flower, While raised by Phoebus' warmer ray,

Distilling sweets each shining hour. Invites the bee t' improve the day.

The flocks along the flow'ry mead, With transport view return of spring ;

The plowman spurns his lazy steed, And thus, methinks, I hear him sing :

Hail ! all ye vocal woodlands, hail !

And hail the glad return of spring; Let every woodland, marsh, and dale,

With notes of joy respondent ring.

The Lord m'akes use of various instrumentalities in accomplishing his designs. In the summer of 1814 a lady by the name of N"ancy G. Cram came into Ballston, and commenced holding meetings in that vicinity; curiosity was aroused, and, of course, multitudes flocked to hear her preach. Among those whom curiosity drew to her meetings was the then youthful subject of our memoir. The service, as was not unusual in those days, was held in a barn. Before going, fancy had painted a not very pleasing picture of the person he was to see and hear. But the picture proved more fanciful than real. He writes : " Instead of finding her, as I had expected, a woman of masculine appearance, she evinced distinguishing marks of modesty, and her deportment indicated a woman of refined manners.

After sitting awhile, she arose and sang a hymn commencing thus:

" *Oh, that poor sinners did but know

What I for them do undergo, I who am called to bear the news To gentile nations and the Jews !'

I thought her prayer the most able and powerful I had ever heard, and her exhortation was very afiecting. "

ISTancy Cram continued, for some months, to exercise her gifts as a speaker in that vicinity, and a reformation was the result. A small church was gathered, and a number were baptized by Elder Jabez King, who occasionally visited and preached in the place.