Life in earnest; or, Memoirs and remains of Rev. Zenas Caldwell, A. B., first principal of the Maine Wesleyan Seminary

Front matter

1 1BRARY OF CONGRESS

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Preface

Nearly thirty years ago the subject of this memoir closed his earthly career. The friends of Mr. Z. Caldwell have for a long time felt that a brief record of his life would not only be a work of justice to his memory, but would also be acceptable and profitable to the living. Through a train of providences which it is not necessary here to relate, the duty of accomplishing this work has fallen to my hands. I am aware that those who knew Mr. Caldwell will judge that much more might have been written to advantage concerning him; but I have done the best I could with the scanty materials which have come into my hands.

The subject of the memoir was a young man of fine talents and of earnest piety. His desire to be useful was an absorbing feeling. His life gave 1 * (5)

G

PREFACE.

good evidence that he loved his God with all his heart, and his fellow-men as himself. Hence his life was earnest. It was devout. It was full of labor, and all that he had was freely offered for the purpose of doing good.

The title I have chosen for the work — " Life in Earnest " — well expresses the character of its subject. The memoir of the late lamented Professor M. Caldwell, may be expected to follow this in the course of another year.

May the divine blessing accompany this little volume, and make it especially useful to such young men as may peruse its pages.

Stephen M. Yail.

Concord, November 24, 1854.

Chapter I

Feelings of the Writer. — Early Methodist Preachers in New England.

— William and Nancy Caldwell. — Zenas, their first Child. — His early Love of Books, especially the Bible. — Anecdote Page

Chapter II

Mrs. Nancy Caldwell. — Her Conversion and Desire for a clean Heart

— Obtains the Blessing. — Considers herself responsible for the Conversion of her Children. — Conversion of Zenas. — A Family Class

Meeting Sickness of Zenas. — Answer to Prayer. — Resolves on

obtaining an Education. — Regard for his Mother. — Family Religion.

— Incidents. — Parental Influence

Chapter III

Zenas resolves on an Education. — Commences the Study of Latin. — Pecuniary Difficulties. — How removed. — Teaches a Public School. — Letter to a Friend. — Teaches another Public School, in Waterford. — Goes to Monmouth Academy. — "Desire of Eminence." — Virtue alone is Happiness below. — Teaches a School in Hebron

Chapter IV

Life in College. — His Diary. — Religious State. — The Theological Society. — Essay on " Whether Volition be free, and not determined by Motives." — Inclined to Metaphysics and Poetry. — " Does Personal Identity consist in Consciousness ? " — Latin Oration on the Eloquence of the Romans

Chapter V

Mr. Caldwell's College Class. — Professor Stowe and President Pierce Members of it. — Description of it by Mr. Hawthorne. — Pierce and Caldwell became Roommates. — Regard for each other. — Pierce takes s

CONTEXTS.

a Public School, and boards in the Caldwell Family.— Caldwell teaches a Winter School in Paris. — Letters to Mr. Eliphalet Clark. — Caldwell and Pierce return to College. — Their senior Studies.— Caldwell President of the Theological Society. — Pronounces its Anniversary Address. — His Graduation. — His religious Habits in College. 56

Chapter VI

Life as a Teacher. — Takes Charge of the Hallowell Academy. — Reasons for this Step. — Reflections. — Enters upon his Duties. — Correspondence with his Friend Pierce ; with Mr. J. M. Merrick ; with his Mother. — First Efforts at Preaching. — Letter to W. C. Larrabee. — Licensed to preach. — Supplies the Congregation at Winthrop 74

Chapter VII

Methodistical Education in New England. — Maine Wesleyan Seminary established. — Mr. Caldwell chosen first Principal. — Congratulations of his Friend Pierce. — Enters upon his Labors at the Seminary. —

Opinion on the Randall Controversy. — Greatly beloved by his Pupils.

— Waning Health 88

Chapter VIII

Mr. Caldwell enters upon the Duties of a new Term. — Becomes too feeble to attend to his Duties. — Returns Home. — Feelings in View of Death. — Address to his Pupils. — Rev. D. Kilburn's Visit and Account of his Death. — His triumphant Departure. — Reflections. — Tributes to his Memory 101

His Prose Remains.. 155

LIFE IN EARNEST.

Chapter I

Feelings of the Writer. — Early Methodist Preachers in New England. — William and Nancy Caldwell. — Zenas, their first Child. — His early Love of Books, especially the Bible. — Jlnecdote.

In sitting down to write the life of a young man highly distinguished for his talents and his piety, whose example in all respects is worthy of the highest commendation, I feel the need of the special aid of that Spirit "which searcheth all things.' 7 So elevated an example of earnest Christian devotion cannot be properly described but by one of a similar spirit. With a trembling hand, therefore, but with a confiding heart, the write! would humbly, yet earnestly, invoke the presence and aid of the divine Spirit in the accomplishment of his work.

EARLY METHODIST PREACHERS.

In the latter part of the last century, the pioneers of Methodism penetrated into the forests of Maine, preaching the gospel to the early and scattered settlers. The names of Jesse Lee, Enoch Mudge, Philip Wager, Joshua Taylor, John Brodhead, Timothy Merritt, and George Pickering are still held sacred in the memories of the veteran members of the Methodist Episcopal church in New England. They sounded out the gospel, from 1792 and onward, in various parts of this land, and nowhere with greater success than in the remote wilderness of the Province of Maine. Many received their testimony, and were made glad, having received forgiveness of sin through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Many others were awakened, and were induced to reform their lives ; and a general seriousness spread through the neighborhoods where these men preached.

Among others, William and Nancy Caldwell, the parents of the lamented young man whose history we are about to trace, became awakened to their lost condition. For many long months, and even years, did Miss Woodward, afterwards Mrs. Caldwell, continue under the most powerful convictions for sin, till finally, under the teaching of the early pioneers of Methodism, she was enabled to rejoice in Christ as her Savior, and has ever since lived a remarkable example of faithfulness and of deep religious experience.

BIRTH OF ZENAS.

She is still living at the advanced age of seventy-three years, laboring under many bodily infirmities ; but her spirit is young, trusting, hopeful, and happy, waiting for its release, and, like the apostle, "desiring to depart and be with Christ.' 7

In the spring of 1799, she was united in marriage to Mr. William Caldwell, then a young man twenty-four years of age. When he was yet quite young, his parents left their ancestral home in Ipswich, Massachusetts, to try their fortunes in the new country then called the District of Maine.

Like his pious companion, he was religiously educated, and at this early period had become attached to the Methodist people and the Methodist ministry — a people then every where spoken against. They settled in Hebron, in the county of Oxford, Maine ; and reared their tabernacle in the wilderness, not only as the place of their sojourn, but also as the place where the servants of God might have a home ; and so it has continued to be for upwards of half a century.

In the following spring, on the 31st day of March, 1800, Zenas Caldwell, their first child, was born. He was called Zenas after the good old Puritan custom of appropriating Scripture names, so common among the people of New England. From his infancy he was a delicate child, of nervous temperament, and of a very susceptible nature. He was a child of more than ordinary beauty,

THE PKESENT OF A BIBLE.

with a light skin, auburn hair, and bright hazel eyes. At an early age he became the idol of his parents and of the neighborhood, and displayed great aptitude for learning, and never was more delighted than when his mother taught him or read to him out of the Holy Scriptures concerning the holy men of old, as Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and others. He had a passion for books and for reading. His Bible, especially, early became his companion during his leisure hours ; and even in the lone watches of the night he was known often to take his Bible with him, and peruse it sitting up in his bed. Mr. Caldwell, his father, was a farmer, and the son was necessarily occupied, as soon as his age was sufficient, in the labors and toils of a New England farmer's boy. But he redeemed the time. In the intervals of his duties his book was in his hand. His mind was quick in its movements, and his memory was tenacious. At the age of fourteen he committed forty-one chapters of the Gospels to memory in six weeks. His schoolmates used to laugh at him, and say he would certainly become a minister, he read and committed to memory so much of the Scriptures. He was stimulated in this effort by his teacher in the district school, who proposed to give a Bible to that one of his scholars who would commit to memory the greatest number of verses of Scripture. Zenas Caldwell gained the prize, and the

AN INCIDENT.

Bible * was given to him, and ever after remained a precious treasure to him both at home and abroad. It is still preserved in the family, and has witnessed many prayers and tears of its devoted owner ; and the precious truths it contains have a thousand times given him joy and triumph in his moral and spiritual conflicts. It should also be added that, while committing these scriptures to memory, he attended to his studies as usual, and had many other cares and duties that occupied his time at home.

Another incident which occurred when he was a child deserves to be mentioned. When quite young, the Methodist minister of the circuit boarded at the house of his father, and on one occasion took the little boy Zenas with him to church.

* This Bible is of the same size and quality, as to printing, paper, and binding, as the present issues of the American Bible Society for twenty-five cents. It has the appearance of having been well used, and has an autograph of Zenas, dated Brunswick, April 10, 1823. This was while Zenas was a member of the junior class in Bowdoin College, and it shows that he used this copy of the Bible while a student in college.

On the back of the title page is the following inscription.

The Property of ZENAS CALDWELL, March 1, 1814.

LOYE OF STUDY.

The little fellow trotted along up the pulpit steps after the man of God. As the attention of the preacher was attracted by the child, he remarked, with much solemnity and confidence, " This child will yet enter the pulpit as a minister of Christ." So the result proved, though his race was short, alas ! too short, speaking after the manner of men.

Young Zenas continued to improve his mind. The studies of the district school were thoroughly mastered, and he read with great avidity such good books as he was able to obtain. After the labors of the farm were over for the day, he would not waste his time in idleness or in boyish play, but made his books his companions, and stored his mind with useful knowledge, and thus attained, at an early age, a very high degree of mental discipline and mental wealth. We now pass to present, in the next chapter, an account of his early religious character.

Chapter II

Mrs. Nancy Caldwell. — Her Conversion and Desire for a clean Heart. — Obtains the Blessing. — Considers herself responsible for the Conversion of her Children. — Conversion of Zenas. — A Family Class Meeting. — Sickness of Zenas. — Answer to Prayer. — Resolves on obtaining an Education. — Regard for his Mother. — Family Religion. — Incidents. — Parental Influence.

We purpose, in this chapter, to speak more particularly of the early religious history of young Zenas ; but, in order to give a true impression of the piety of the son, it will be necessary to go back and speak a little more at length of the religious history of his excellent mother.

Mrs. Nancy Caldwell was serious from her early years ; and when the first Methodist ministers travelled in Maine, she heard them with joy, and became more than ever anxious about her salvation. In 1796, in her fifteenth year, she was converted, and joined the Methodists. About the same time, also, her father and mother, sisters and brothers, all became members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In her nineteenth year she

HER DESIRE FOR A CLEAN HEART.

entered into the double cares of her own and the family of her father-in-law. This heavy charge proved too much for her delicate constitution and highly-susceptible mind. In about two years her health was greatly impaired ; and, in connection with this, great spiritual darkness rested on her mind.

About this time one of the Methodist ministers called to see her, and told her that she must be sanctified. She now read the Scriptures with a new understanding, and was especially instructed and profited by the Memoirs of the pious Hester Ann Rogers. The next year she was much afflicted with sickness, having now two children, and one of them in feeble health. The thoughts of leaving these children were worse than death ; and she saw the need more than ever of a clean heart. After many sore conflicts with the adversary, she attained the blessing of full salvation. She felt immediately that she must bear a public testimony of what the Lord had done for her soul. These three questions were distinctly impressed upon her mind : 1. Will you bear this testimony ? 2. Will you pray in your family ? (Mr. Caldwell, her husband, was a professor of religion, but had not yet entered upon this duty.) 3. Will you fall on your face and make the sacrifice ? Through grace she was enabled to say, I will ; and gave herself to God, soul and body. This was on the first day of March, 1806 — a day long to be re-

CONVERSION OF HER CHILDREN.

membered, and ever afterwards held sacred, by her as one of the days her God had blessed. She felt perfectly free from the defilement of sin, and rejoiced in God as the rock of her full salvation. She at once entered upon every duty, and felt it to be sweet to run in the way of God's commandments. She asked her husband to observe with her a day of fasting and prayer in reference to the duty of family worship. He united with her, and proposed to lead these devotions in the morning, while Mrs. Caldwell, at his request, led those of the evening. Thus these truly pious persons set up the family altar in the early part of their married life, and for more than half a century it has continued to stand, and the fires of devotion have continued to burn thereon without going out.

By the enjoyment of perfect love the excellent mother of Zenas was better prepared to train up her children. As she had obtained this great blessing by faith, so she believed it must be retained by faith, and that nothing could deprive her of this blessing but unbelief or voluntary transgression. A burning desire took hold of her mind for the salvation of others. She exhorted her unconverted physician and neighbors to turn unto God.

A few years after this she remarks in her journal, " As a mother, I considered myself wholly responsible for the conversion of my children." 2*

18 SOLICITUDE IN THEIR RELIGIOUS TRAINING.

" Having four precious immortals committed to my trust, I was aware that their final destiny might turn on their early training. 0, how inadequate to such a task ! What would I not have given to have had the advantages which many have now, while the best means that can be desired for training children are issuing from the press in various forms !

" Thank God," she continues, " he took the will for the deed. I commenced weeding my garden in the spring, at the same time sowing the good seed ; and when I could not extract the wild plants of nature by the roots, I plucked them off until the good seed gained the ascendency."

Again she remarks, " My children have been heard to say they knew not the time when they began to pray, they were so young. Though for their health and happiness I spared no pains, yet the welfare of their souls was my greatest concern."

Mrs. Caldwell's health continued poor for many years. Hence she says, " I had long been expecting to leave them, [her children,] not knowing what things would befall them in this world of danger. None but a mother's heart can tell what my feelings have been."

When Zenas was thirteen years old, his mother was lying very sick, and was not expected to recover. He came into the room, and the nurse said, " Zenas, you had better go out, as the doctor said the room must be kept still." His mother

CONVERSION OP ZENAS.

answered, " Let him stay ; and if he has any thing to say, let him say it." He hastened to her bedside, and, with the deepest emotions, said, " Mother, can you forgive me ? I have been a disobedient child." His mother replied, " Yes ; I can forgive you wherein you have done wrong, for God has forgiven me, though I have erred much." I presume no one thought he was a disobedient child. He continued, with overflowing tears, " How can I have you taken away before I have religion? I shall be left like a sheep without a shepherd. Do beg of father to keep me out of bad company." His mother exhorted him to seek his salvation ; and he then decided that he would seek for it at the loss of all things.

He prayed earnestly to God, and the Lord hearkened and heard this little child's prayer ; bowed the highest heavens, and came down, and spoke peace to his troubled heart. The work of grace, however, was not sudden, but gradual.

" In the fall of 1813," his mother says, " I became exceedingly anxious for him, as he was in very feeble health, as well as myself. One Sabbath I was walking the room, praying earnestly that he might know the joys of salvation, and that, if I were taken from him, the Lord would raise up some sympathizing friend in my stead, when these words came to me: 'He is mine, and I will take care of him. 7 They were so impressive that I called him into the room, expecting that

HIS SICKNESS.

his peace was made with God ; for I believed those words were from the Lord. I found on inquiry that he had no evidence. I questioned him closely whether there had not been a time when there was a change in his mind, when his burden was removed, and he was blessed. He said there was, when engaged in prayer in the grove. He felt to rejoice, but did not know it was religion, and consequently said nothing about it. I told him that I believed that God had blessed him, and that if he had spoken of it his joy might have continued.

" While conversing, his countenance was lit up, and he was blessed indeed ; and we prayed and praised God together ; and I know not that he ever had a doubt after that but his soul was converted to God. At that time our religious privileges were limited, and Zenas had no youngassociate who was pious. I thought it advisable to hold meetings with my children, when opportunity offered, conducted as class meetings. I think they were a benefit to him, as he was ready to sustain them ; also a stimulus to the others to act more in reference to their future well being ; and it was surely a blessing to me, for I could not otherwise feel that I was doing what I could for their salvation."

At the age of sixteen he caught a violent cold, which settled on his lungs. His symptoms gave his parents much alarm, as he discharged abun-

ANSWER TO PRAYER.

dantly from the lungs, and had profuse night sweats. His friends greatly feared it would result in quick consumption. His mother, especially, felt the importance of his being made every whit whole and prepared for joys immortal. He soon became deeply interested in the subject of full salvation. His zeal had abated, probably on account of his close application to study, and the irreligious influences by which he was surrounded. After many strong cries and tears, God in mercy restored to him the joys of his salvation. He gave himself entirely to God in a new and lasting covenant, never to be broken, and never to be forgotten. His mother believed from this time that he would recover, and live to be useful in the church and in the world.

At this time, also, his father engaged in fasting and prayer for him, and he seemed to have an answer as in an audible voice, " Thy prayer is heard." From that time his father felt confident of his recovery from this sickness, and that his son would yet live to be useful in the church of God ; though he did not know or feel fully settled that tin's usefulness would be in the work of the ministry. It is probable that in the consecration which Zenas was now enabled to make of himself, in surrendering himself entirely to the service of his divine Master, that the work of the ministry was before his mind ; for he immediately set about the matter of getting an education, and pursued

FAMILY RELIGION.

his course for this object with a steady purpose from this period.

The religious education of young Zenas depended almost altogether on his father and mother. They were both deeply pious, and sought to train up their children in the ways of piety and religion. His mother, especially, was solicitous, and spared no labor to train up her children religiously. She could not rest while any one of them was out of the ark of safety. She taught them, she prayed with and for them, and closely pressed upon them their need of salvation. She held prayer meetings and class meetings with them, and sought to keep them from bad companions. She secured a boundless influence over them.' They early conceived a great respect for her judgment and understanding, and loved her fervently, and always consulted their mother on such important subjects as interested them — and particularly upon those points connected with theoretical or practical religion.

The days of Sunday schools had not yet come in that distant and sparsely-settled part of the country. Religious meetings also, especially the public service of the Sabbath and the preached word, could be enjoyed on the Sabbath only a part of the time. This was supplied mostly by the persevering and devoted itinerant ministers of the Methodist Episcopal church. The house of Father Caldwell was their home, and the neighboring school house was the chapel for divine ser-

INFLUENCE OF RELIGIOUS MEETINGS. 23 vice. Under such circumstances family religion was felt to be both a privilege and a necessity ; and well was it improved in the Caldwell family.

A large upper room was consecrated as a place of sacred convocation. Every Sabbath when there was no public religious service in the school house in the neighborhood, the little family circle, and sometimes a few of the neighbors, used to come together, and read, and sing, and pray, and talk of the dealings of God with them. Thus this house, from its earliest history, was like the house of Obed Edom, where the ark of God rested. All were blessed that pertained to the household. Yery few, who have been members of this family for any considerable length of time, have gone away from it unconverted.

The frequent religious gatherings at the house of this devout family aided greatly in keeping alive the flame of devotion among the children. A large chamber was kept fitted up with benches for meetings ; and even quarterly meetings, the great meetings of early Methodism, were sometimes held at this house or in the adjoining grove ; and here the way-worn itinerant sounded out the gospel, and found a comfortable home when his labors were over.

Many evil-disposed persons prophesied that the Caldwell family would be eaten out of house and home, so many of the people were in the habit of congregating there. But they had enough and

PAKENTAL INFLUENCE.

to spare, and have come down to old age fully satisfied that their " steps were ordered of God." God has not left the righteous to be forsaken, nor his seed to beg bread. By the blessing of God, especially on the mother's faithfulness in reasoning with her children, and showing them the evil of their going with the multitude, they were kept from bad associations and practices, and were trained to habits of industry and devotion from early life. The children were always mild and yielding to their parents. A beautiful illustration of this fact is remembered in the following instance : A husking was held in the neighborhood, and Zenas and the other young people were pleased with the idea of going ; but his mother said she was fearful of the consequences. Young Zenas, on hearing his mother express her fears, in a very noble and manly way said, " Mother, I will not go if you do not think it best," and quietly staid at home.

Thus did the influence of his excellent and faithful mother, like a protecting angel, go with' him in every place. He never was out of the circle of her influence. Her constant prayers, and loving, faithful admonitions were ever present with him. She loved her children, and because she loved them with a true and rational affection, she faithfully persisted in keeping them from improper associates, and in urging upon them the duty of serving God and doing good in their day

PARENTAL INFLUENCE.

and generation. " The eternal salvation of my children, 7 ' said she once to me, " outweighed every thing else" And according to her faith it was done unto her. She had the satisfaction of seeing her children and all her grandchildren early converted to God.

Chapter III

Zenas resolves on an Education. — Commences trie Study of Latin. — Pecuniary Difficulties. — How removed. — Teaches a Public School. — Letter to a Friend. — Teaches another Public School, in Waterford. — Goes to Monmouth Academy. — " Desire of Eminence." — Virtue alone is Happiness below. — Teaches a School in Hebron.

After young Zenas recovered from his long and severe sickness referred to in the previous chapter, his religious character continued greatly to improve. He began to settle his plans for life. He began to feel that God was calling him to work in his vineyard. God had raised him up from a bed of sickness, and had given to him talents and a burning love for souls, and he heard the voice of God, like the sound of a trumpet, "Son, go work in my vineyard.'-' In order to be a successful laborer, he saw the necessity of a good education, and immediately commenced to use the means for its attainment.

Our heavenly Father never commands us to do any thing impossible. If it be beyond our natural strength, he will in some way afford the

PECUNIARY DIFFICULTIES.

needful means and facilities for accomplishing the work to which we are called. In the providence of God Mr. E. L. Hamlin, now Hon. E. L. Hamlin, of Bangor, Maine, was engaged as a teacher in the public school of Mr. Caldwell's district. He appears to have been deeply interested in the progress of his school. He was not only a good teacher, but a good classical scholar. This gentleman boarded in the Caldwell family, and under him young Zenas was well initiated in the study of Latin. Mr. Hamlin graduated at Brown University, in 1819. It should be said further, that young Zenas was first instructed in his classical studies by a gentleman in Hebron, who resided in the neighborhood of his father, by the name of Keith, now of Craig's Mills, Maine. These gentlemen have the credit of having given the start in classical learning to the ardent mind of this young man ; and, though more than thirty years have elapsed, they richly merit the gratitude of the numerous friends and admirers of the Caldwell brothers for their kind services to them.

But the occasional aid of individuals could not be relied on for any great length of time ; and, from the nature of the case, when these persons had other business, it must also be much interrupted. Young Zenas, therefore, began to look around for some school where he could gain the instruction needful for preparation for college. But a new difficulty now presented itself. How

HOW REMOVED.

could lie go away from home without expense ? Tuition and board bills could not be avoided. As for clothing, this could be principally supplied by the kindness and industry of his parents ; but more than this could not be spared from the frugal means of the family.