An instance in illustration of Mr. Fuller's aptness in emergencies is given in the "Companion and Register" of 1858. Entering the stage-coach for Utica one day, he found it full of passengers, among whom was a somewhat noted "revivalist" of that time, and his friend, a deacon. Mr. Fuller soon became disgusted with the coarse, brow-beating dogmatism of the revivalist toward the unassuming passengers, and took up the argument against him. Enraged at being foiled in controversy and overmatched in wit, the elder poured out a torrent of abusive language, when Mr. Fuller arrested his vulgar tirade by saying in a dignified and authoritative tone, "Stop, sir! Not another word from your lips! Why, sir, you are making a mere blackguard of yourself. Not another word, sir!" (arresting the reply before it could be commenced). "Not another word, I tell you! Why, you have already disgraced yourself and your profession, and, if allowed to continue, would disgrace the company you are in and the very horses that draw you along!" The mortified man shrunk into his corner, cowed by an imperiousness as much excelling his own in energy and power as it towered above him in dignity and truth.
But his deacon was determined not to be put down thus, and spoke up with much spirit, "Sir, this is a free country, and others have a right to speak as well as yourself." "Most certainly, my dear sir," said Mr. Fuller, with one of his beaming looks and in his blandest tones, "most certainly, sir; and I hope you will exercise your right." "Yes, sir; and I mean to exercise it, sir; I'll let you know, sir, that I shall speak as much as I please, sir," said the now enraged deacon. "That's right," replied the very courteous Fuller, "speak on, my dear sir; we wish to hear you speak." "Yes, sir," continued the choking deacon, "and I'll let you know that you can't shut my mouth, sir." "Oh, no, sir,—Heaven forbid that I should attempt it—I want you to speak—so, speak on, sir—we like to hear you." "Yes, sir, and I won't ask your permission, neither! I'll let you know, sir, that you are not my keeper, sir!" said the deacon, now almost bursting with rage. "Certainly not, sir," was the very quiet but smiling reply, "certainly not, sir,—I am a pastor, not a keeper of swine." A prolonged, hearty laugh from the passengers finally died away, and "there was a great calm." The deacon reclined in sullen silence, and the remainder of the journey was enlivened by pleasant and profitable conversation between Mr. Fuller and the other passengers.
Rev. William Allen Drew, most of whose life was passed in Maine, was born in Kingston, Mass., Dec. 11, 1798. He fitted for college in early life, but adverse circumstances compelled him to abandon his studies and go to Bath, Me., in 1813, where he was employed as a clerk for two years. He then spent four years at work on a farm in Hallowell. In 1819 he accepted an invitation to take charge of Farmington Academy, and remained in that position five years. He preached his first sermon in Farmington, Oct. 1, 1821, and was fellowshipped the same year. He remained in Farmington as teacher and preacher until 1824, when he began preaching in Belfast, and removed there Jan. 1, 1825. He remained there two years, preaching also in Camden, in Thomaston, and in other towns in the vicinity. In December, 1825, he began the publication of a religious paper called "The Christian Visitant," which was afterwards merged in "The Christian Intelligencer," published at Portland by Rev. Russell Streeter, and Mr. Drew was associated with him in the editorial work. In January, 1827, he removed to Augusta, in which place he had his home during the remainder of his life. The "Intelligencer" was removed to Gardiner at the same time, and he became its sole editor. From 1831 to 1833 he published "The Christian Preacher," a monthly journal of sermons. He established the "Gospel Banner" in 1835, and edited it with marked ability until 1857. After his connection ceased with the "Banner," he was editor of the "Rural Intelligencer" for a few years, and was at different times connected with the "Maine Cultivator," the "Augusta Courier," and perhaps some other papers. He was a contributor to the "Gospel Banner" even after the burden of years and infirmities pressed heavily upon him. He was eminently fitted for the editorship of a public journal.
Mr. Drew organized the First Universalist Church in Augusta in 1833. He was ordained its pastor when the meeting-house was dedicated, Nov. 26, 1835, preached to it constantly, and performed pastoral labors until 1848. Rev. Dr. Quinby, who published a biographical sketch of him after his decease, writes:—
"As a writer and editor he had few equals. His pen was ever ready, he never tired. Many of his productions bore the marks of great research and deep thought, though evidently written in the midst of a pressure of other occupations. His theology was plain and straightforward. All could understand him. His descriptions of scenes and places were vivid, natural, and generally true to the life. He had many admirers as a controversialist. Possessing a wide range of thought, good knowledge of the Bible, a well-balanced and discerning intellect, a ready wit, and naturally exceedingly sarcastic, he was a stalwart defender of Universalism in Maine, and proved himself competent to any emergency."
Rev. Isaac Dowd Williamson was one of the ablest advocates of the Universalist faith. He was born in Pomfret, Vt., April 4, 1807, and died in Cincinnati, Ohio, Nov. 26, 1876. In early life he learned the clothier's trade, and had no other schooling than that of the common district school; but his ardent thirst for knowledge, his force of character and enthusiasm made amends for lack of external aid. He was troubled with many doubts in his thoughts about religion until, at about the age of fifteen, Ballou's "Treatise on the Atonement" was put into his hands. He read it with avidity, and was greatly enlightened and encouraged. He had hitherto thought that all sorrow and suffering were inflicted by God in anger upon his children for their sins. The first sermon from a Universalist to which he listened was delivered by Rev. Kittredge Haven, from the text, "Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Heb. xii. 6). It lifted him out of his doubts and sent him away rejoicing. He went into a solitary place and wept for joy, and upon his knees vowed that if God would spare his life, and he could ever be qualified, he would enter upon the work of the ministry, a purpose which he followed out most faithfully. He preached his first sermon Oct. 1, 1827, in Springfield, Vt. After supplying the pulpit a short time in Langdon, N. H., he settled in 1828 in Jaffrey, N. H., and was ordained by the Franklin Association, at Townsend, Vt., Sept. 10, 1829. In June of the same year he removed to Albany, N. Y., where he lived seven years. From 1837 to 1851 he resided as pastor in Poughkeepsie a year and a half, in Baltimore two years, in New York city three, in Philadelphia three, in Mobile two winters, in Memphis, Ky., in Lowell, Mass., one year. From Lowell he removed to Louisville, Ky., remaining there two years, from there to Philadelphia, where he spent three years, which was his last regular pastorate, although he supplied in Cincinnati after his return from Philadelphia. He was with Rev. C. F. Lefevre, editor of the "Gospel Anchor" at Troy, N. Y., about 1830, a paper afterwards merged in the "Religious Inquirer," published at Hartford, Conn., Mr. Williamson continuing to edit it. He was one of the editors of the "Herald and Era," published at Louisville, Ky., and was for about ten years connected with the "Star in the West" as joint proprietor and editor, though for several of his last years performing no editorial labor.
Dr. Williamson, through most of his life, was afflicted with asthma in its severest form, but his vigorous will enabled him, in spite of it, to perform much labor. He delivered nearly 4,000 sermons, published nine volumes, beside many pamphlets, and for forty years was connected with our periodicals. He once crossed the Atlantic, and preached the Gospel of Impartial Grace in Great Britain. He took seven voyages of 2,000 miles coastwise by sea on the same errand. In his voyage to Europe, one of his fellow passengers was Washington Irving, then on his way to Spain. Mr. Williamson conducted the religious services on board the vessel, one Sunday morning, discoursing on the Paternal character, purposes and requirements of God, in accordance with Christian Universalism. After the service, Mr. Irving, who had been an attentive listener, cordially thanked the preacher for his sermon, adding emphatically, "These, sir, are my views, and I am trying to live in agreement with them."
Mr. Williamson was a prominent and highly respected member of the Society of Odd Fellows, lectured far and wide in exposition and defence of their principles, and went to England mainly in their service. He was for many years Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of the United States, and the ritual now in use by the Order was largely from his pen. He received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Norwich, Vt., University, in 1850. The writer of this sketch first heard Dr. Williamson preach at the session of the Universalist General Convention held in Strafford, Vt., in 1832. The subject was "Lukewarmness rebuked;" the text, Rev. iii. 15: "I would thou wert cold or hot." No noisy, declamatory appeal was it, no clap-trap effort reminding the audience of the "smartness" of the one to whom they are listening; but a clear, strong, earnest statement of the greatness of the Truth of God and of its pre-eminent claims upon the attention, love, and consecrated zeal of every believer in its unsearchable riches. In illustration (not profuse), in persuasiveness and application, it could not have been improved. The large old church was filled, the audience were in closest attention to the end, and many were the silent, sympathetic "amens" in response when his words were ended. The discourse afterwards appeared in the "Gospel Preacher," a monthly publication issued at Augusta, Me.
The "Rudiments of Theological and Moral Science" may be considered the summing up of Mr. Williamson's theological thinking during his ministry. It is a notable vindication of the Divine Sovereignty, a sovereignty infinitely glorified in the Divine Paternity. Although some of its reasonings savor too much of what is called fatalism to be accepted as practically healthful when men are called upon to "work out their own salvation with fear and trembling," it is in the highest degree helpful and hopeful to all of weak faith who need to realize that God has will and purpose of his own, and works within his children "to will and to do of his own good pleasure." God's beneficent sovereignty was to him the adamantine foundation of the Gospel. As strong and effective by voice and pen as the ministry of this good man has been, there were those at the beginning of it who were inclined to wonder at his attempt to enter this profession. Light-minded critics uttered their innocent witticisms, and sober well-wishers of our denomination very plainly hinted to him that he might possibly do quite as much service to it in some other line of effort than that of preaching! But all this to the pure-minded young soldier of the Cross was but an incentive to renewed exertion. They who doubted knew not that the Lord had called him, and had purposed for him a life of honorable labor in his holy service. Father Ballou used to say, "When the Lord undertakes to make a minister, he always makes a good one." Dr. Williamson was thus made. He has given "full proof" of his ministry, and now having gone "up higher," his works will follow him.
One of the ministers of a long pastorate in Vermont was Rev. Kittredge Haven. He was of a family of nine sons and two daughters, and was born in Framingham, Mass., Feb. 24, 1793, and died in Shoreham, Vt., May 4, 1877, aged 84. His father removed in 1802 to Cambridge, and in 1810 to Boston, where he established himself in a crockery store. The subject of this notice was providentially drawn to attend the ministry of Rev. Paul Dean, under whose preaching he was converted to Universalism, sang in his choir at his installation as colleague with Rev. John Murray in 1813, studied for the ministry with Mr. Dean, and in his pulpit preached his first sermon in July, 1819. In the spring of 1820 Mr. Haven made a preaching tour into Maine, spending one Sabbath in each of the towns of Waterville, Brunswick, Livermore, Winthrop and Turner, and in Portland three Sundays. After returning to Boston he received a letter from Turner, inviting him to become a pastor there, but he declined the call. Soon afterwards he took a journey into Vermont, and in Dec. 1820 settled in Bethel, on a salary of $5 per Sunday, which was the customary pay of a young preacher in those days. He was ordained at Kingsbury, N. Y., Oct. 14, 1821, by the Northern Association, embracing Vermont, a part of Canada, and all that part of New York which bordered on Lake Champlain. Two ministers only besides himself were present on that occasion, Rev. S. C. Loveland and Rev. Robert Bartlett. In 1829 Mr. Haven moved to Shoreham, and there he remained until death, preaching there regularly thirty-seven years, and occasionally, every year, from Jan. 1, 1825, to Jan. 1, 1870,—in all forty-five years.