. A historical sketch of the Independent congregational church . d a thinker of markedintellectual power; an author of several booksof repute in their time, and withal one of theablest and most distinguished men in his reli-gious body during his generation. After leav-ing Meadville he ministered to some of theleading Christian churches in the country, es-pecially in New York and New Jersey, and en-joyed fame as a popular lecturer, both at homeand in Europe. He died December 13, 1878,at Canandaigua, N. Y., aged sixty-one years. It was considered important to obtain for thepresident of the new s
. A historical sketch of the Independent congregational church . d a thinker of markedintellectual power; an author of several booksof repute in their time, and withal one of theablest and most distinguished men in his reli-gious body during his generation. After leav-ing Meadville he ministered to some of theleading Christian churches in the country, es-pecially in New York and New Jersey, and en-joyed fame as a popular lecturer, both at homeand in Europe. He died December 13, 1878,at Canandaigua, N. Y., aged sixty-one years. It was considered important to obtain for thepresident of the new school an abler man thancould be secured for the meager salary that theresources at hand allowed. It was arranged,therefore, that a salary of $1000 per annumshould be offered, to be paid half by the schooland half by the church, and that the incumbentshould be at once minister of the church andpresident of the school. The Rev. RufusPhineas Stebbins of Leominster, Mass., whohad been most highly recommended for thepurpose, was called to fill the double office for. RUFUS P. STEBBINS, D. D. HISTORICAL SKETCH 45 the term of five years. Mr. Stebbins arrivedat Meadville early in October, 1844, and hisgreat energy and organizing powers immediatelymade themselves felt, not only in the church,but throughout the whole community. He wasbeyond question the most powerful and eloquentpreacher whose ministry this church has everenjoyed; a controversialist, upon occasion, ofgreat ability, as the local newspapers of thetime bear ample witness, he did much to com-mend the Unitarian faith to the people of thecommunity. His congregations doubled withinthe first year; and his Sunday evening lectureson Unitarianism were delivered to audiencesthat taxed the capacity of the church to the ut-most. He devoted himself without reserve toevery social or humanitarian reform, was a boldleader in the cause of temperance, and was out-spoken in the anti-slavery cause, at the cost ofsome antagonism and friction wi
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