Biography of Rev. Hosea Ballou

by Maturin M. Ballou

"Immediately after my first visit to Philadelphia," says Mr. Ballou, "a second society was formed, and a large meeting-house was built in Callowhill. From this society I received a very urgent invitation to become their pastor; but, as my Boston friends felt desirous to have me stay with them, I could not think it my duty, for a few hundred dollars more remuneration for my services annually, to leave them, as my salary was at that time sufficient for my wants. So late as the year 1844, by invitation from the Callowhill society, I visited and preached for them for four weeks. While I was there, my friends proposed sending to Boston for Mrs. Ballou, with a desire that I would continue with them for an indefinite period. But my age admonished me not to undertake too much."

We may add here the following memorandum from notes which he gave the author of these pages relative to a subject before alluded to, concerning the matter of a larger pecuniary offer for his professional services:

"At one time, while I tarried in New York, the Pine-street Society presented me with a pressing invitation to settle with them, offering me some hundreds of dollars more than I was then receiving for my professional services, to induce me to remove to New York city. This official invitation, together with a very brotherly letter from the society in New York to my own in Boston, in which they endeavored to assign good reasons for my removal, I took with me to the Second Universalist Society, in School-street. I had previously given my friends in New York to understand that I would not be persuaded to leave Boston, unless my society would give their cordial consent to such a measure. After submitting this letter to my society, I was given to understand, in an official manner, that, by a unanimous vote, my society had resolved that I must remain with them. This of course ended the matter, as their wish was my guide."

We have related these circumstances more particularly to show the reader that Mr. Ballou was actuated by no mercenary motive in this matter, and indeed to prove that it was a principle altogether foreign to his character. We see that the offer of a greater pecuniary emolument (we believe the New York society offered him eight hundred dollars more than he was then receiving per annum, and also to bear the incidental expenses attendant upon his removal) had no influence upon his mind. If his society no longer desired his services, he was ready to leave them at once. If they were still attached to him, and preferred his ministration to that of any other individual, no pecuniary inducement should part them. We may use his own words, and say that the evidence of the unabated regard of the people of his charge, of their undiminished attachment to him and his services, rendered him far happier than any amount of silver and gold could possibly have done. Indeed, there was not one spark of mercenary feeling existing in his heart; it was contrary to his very nature.

Those who knew Mr. Ballou best were well aware of his punctilious notions as it concerned money affairs. He would not himself owe any man, and he liked "short settlements," believing in the old adage that they "make long friends." He was scrupulously exact in his dealings, and would be careful not to be overpaid or underpaid in a money transaction; and these peculiarities may have, with some, led to a belief that he was penurious in his disposition, though this was by no means the case. Could we with propriety refer to his numerous private deeds of charity, to the open-handed dealing that evinced the generous nature of his disposition and the liberality of his heart, we could exhibit a list of facts that would disabuse the mind of any one of such an unfavorable impression. We feel tenacious upon this point, realizing as we do the untruth of any such deduction; and for any one to make such a remark or inference, would be at once to expose his own personal ignorance of the man.

Mr. Ballou was not one to give injudiciously; he was not lavish in his bestowals; but what he gave to charitable purposes, more or less, he was careful to know would be productive of real benefit. Once satisfied of the worthiness of the purpose, he always gave in accordance with his means. His generosity was unostentatious, and sought such channels as run beneath the shades of domestic necessities, rather than those exhibited on hilltops, or that advertise themselves in open places. The author of these pages has witnessed from childhood a most liberal and charitable spirit as exercised by the subject of this memoir.

When he was solicited for assistance, he always listened attentively to every appeal, and carefully examined the case and its merits, when, being satisfied of its claims for aid, he not only gave himself, but took pains to interest others for the same end. At times he would call on his society, either collectively or individually, and thus do a great good by affording timely pecuniary aid, in many cases. He never asked of a person his religion before he gave him in charity; all were considered as members of the same great family, and "where want resided, he knew the door." The needy found in him a firm and judicious friend; one who was careful not to do them a harm, in the spirit of kindness, by encouraging a slothful or idle spirit, but who sent them away wiser and happier than they came to his door.

"Among the many moral duties," says Mr. Ballou, "which contribute to the mitigation of the misfortunes of human life, and to administer to the enjoyments of social beings, that of charitably bestowing a part of what a liberal Providence has put into our hands, on those who have been unfortunate in the loss of property, or by sickness, or other unavoidable visitations, should claim our earnest attention. This virtue at once combines many moral excellences, and seems to call into action some of the best qualities of our social nature. It is that, too, which seems to resemble the bountiful conduct of the Giver of every good and perfect gift; and in some degree compares with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, though he was rich, for our sake became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich, and greatly ornaments the gospel professions of brotherly love. This, too, is a virtue which never loses sight of the good of its agent, who, being blessed with the genuine spirit of heaven-born charity, realizes that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Nor is there anything more acceptable to the Divine mind of universal goodness, than to see rational beings exerting themselves to assist one another. 'To do good and communicate, forget not, for with such sacrifice God is well pleased.'"

While Mr. Ballou was in Philadelphia during the year 1834, he preached nine sermons, which, like those delivered in the same city at the close of 1821 and the commencement of '22, were taken down by a stenographer in short-hand, and published in a volume of two hundred pages. In the preface to this volume, which, having been, like its predecessor, obtained through the reporter, was never seen by the author until in print, Rev. Abel C. Thomas, the publisher, makes the following remarks; valuable as coming from a discriminating and intelligent mind, and one which would scorn flattery as it would falsehood.

"Mr. Ballou is in the sixty-fourth year of his age, yet his eye is not dim, nor his natural force abated. His public communications are distinguished by extraordinary penetration, perfect knowledge of human nature, aptness of illustration, and closeness of reasoning. In private intercourse he manifests the feelings of a heart baptized into the spirit of the living God. It is impossible to listen to his public exhibitions of love divine without according to him the meed of sincerity and intellectual power, and it is equally impossible to mingle with him in the walks of social life without loving him from the heart."