usual solemnities of an ordination, yet this, in which I am now appointed to bear a part, is to me, in many respects, the most solemn and interesting one that I ever attended in the long course of my protracted life. I never read of but one man who was placed in a situation similar, or more striking and impressive than mine at this present moment; and 1 hope I do feel, in some measure, as Aaron felt when Moses, at the divine command, took him and Eleazar his son up to Mount Ilor, in the sight of all the congregation of Israel on the day of his death ; and there ■tripped off his sacerdotal robes, and put them upon Eleazar his son and ■accessor in the most holy and sacred office on earth. This instance, dear Sir, is instructive to us both. It tells me that I must soon die, but it supposes that you may yet live many years; and in that case, admonishes you to fill my place properly, and supply my deficiencies in the great work which I have forever relinquished."

' He entertained tfao council,' continues Dr. Ide, ' with a great number of other guests- at his own house and at his own expense. There was a glow of health upon hit cheek, his form was erect, his step was firm, and his movements wero quick and regular. The excitement of the occasion served, no doubt, to bring all his powers both of bod/ and mind into more vigorous action than usual. But it was remarked by > number who wero present at that time, that his mental activity, his social power*, and the zest with which ho participated in the enjoyments of the day, were more than equal to what young men aro accustomed to manifest on similar occasions.'

Dr. Smalley has thus described his relation to Emmons:

" It was not without trembling solicitude, that I entered upon that intimate and solemn relation with him, in the year 1829. I had serious apprehensions, that I should not be able to meet tho demands of a people who had enjoyed his services for more than half a century; and knowing what collisions of opinion and feeling had often arisen between colleagues of different temperaments and habits of thought, I trre»tlv feared that it would be impossible for me, in preaching and pastoral deportment, to secure his approbation in any tolerable degree. But after an experience of more than nine years, I can truly say, that it is practicable for associate pastors of the same church to live in perfect harmony and peace, though differing greatly in age, in temperament, in stylo of communicating thought, and in many of the modes of pastoral supervision. From the first, ho won my affection and confidence, and taught me to trust in him as a friend and father, lie only asked that I would yield to him his place and rights, and most cheerfully ho accorded to me all that I could reasonably desire. It was my privilege to seek his advice on all occasions of interest and solicitude ; and it was his pleasure to select from his rich and varied experience those maxims of practical wisdom, and those opportune suggestions, which at once removed apparent difficulties and pointed out a path of light. In his criticisms on my public performances, he was uniformly kind and candid. The stated seasons in which I used to go and sit at his feet to listen to his timely and varied instructions ; to suggest my doubts and difficulties; and have them removed by bis pithy and sententious sayings, his luminous and ready statements, hare a degree of sacredness in my mind, are among the most hallowed, the greenest spots on my memory of past years. With no mind have I been permitted to hold more intimate communion on the great truths of our holy religion than his; from no one hare I ever received more unequivocal testimonials of disinterested friendship; and I seriously doubt whether the minister now lives, with whom I could spend nine years of such uninterrupted harmony and perfect good will, as I did when associated with him. Numerous and strong were my attachments to the church and peoplo of Franklin ; to break the ties that bound me to them was indeed painful; but it was long before I could f«l willing to leave that father in Israel, with whom I had spent so many delightful and profitable hours. Tet, when at last I frankly told him my views, and confidingly asked him what I should do, he touchingly replied, 'Though I had hoped to be spared this trial, yet I do not see but you ought to go.' Now that he is dead, I mourn for him as a father; and yet I rejoice in the strong assurance that he is in inhabitant of that city which he was accustomed to speak of with glowing energy, and is holding communion with those sainted spirits which entered upon their reward before him."

"We have seen that the characteristic plan of Dr. Emmons was to retire wholly, when he retired at all, from his parochial duties. " No ship can have two captains," was his motto. He determined to avoid, as far as he could, all possibility of invidious comparisons between himself and his successor, and of apparent as well as real interference between the purposes of the aged and those of the youthful clergyman. He uniformly refused to take any part in the public services of the Sabbath, after be had resigned his pastorate. He did mingle, however, in the spiritual efforts of his church after he became a private member of it, and during the revival of religion which occurred soon after the ordination of his successor, be was eminently useful in guiding the minds and hearts of many inquirers who came to his house for his counsel and prayers.

The health of Mr. Smalley's household rendered it necessary for him to resign his Franklin pastorate in 1838. His removal though painful to Dr. Emmons, gave a new exhibition of the Doctor's glowing attachment to his people. He again united his efforts with theirs to procure the resettlement of a pastor. These efforts were successful; and on the 23d of January, 1839, Rev. Tertius D. South worth, was installed at Franklin. Dr. Emmons was requested, on this occasion, to give the charge, but he declined on account of his great age. Almost ten years had gone over his head since the ordination of his first colleague, and brought with them the debilitating influence of ninety-three years. He was able, however, to attend the exercises of the occasion, and to enjoy in a good degree the visit which he then received from a large number of his clerical and other friends. — Mr. Southworth has borne the following testimony to the virtues of a man who was surrounded with all the temptations of an ex-pastor, and died without yielding to them.

" I had received the impression that Dr. Emmons was austere, and arrogant; and of coarse, the legitimate conclusion was, that he would be a most uncomfortable colleague. But at my first introduction to him, his complaisance, and the kind and affable reception which he offered me, at once dispelled my false and groundless impression, so contrary to his nature and dishonorable to his character. From that time to the present, there has been no occasion to alter my farorable opinion of him. He never manifested the least inclination to dictate to mo in my course, leaving me entirely unshackled and free. But his counsel he was ever ready to impart. This was always wise, disinterested, and seasonable. Gratitude to his memory demands of mo an acknowledgment of many instances of advice peculiarly timely and very advantageous to me. As a counsellor he was to me inestimable. In this respect, I sensibly feel my need of him, and therefore sincerely and continually lament his death. He never gave mo the slightest trouble by interfering with my arrangements. As be venerated the sacerdotal office, he always treated me with the greatest respect on account of it. He uniformly manifested towards me, the sincerest affection, kindness, and friendship. During my connection with him, his conduct was such as to command my highest respect, my deepest veneration, my sincere and ardent love. I never saw the man, — my own reverend father excepted, — whom I so much revered and loved. In fine, Dr. Emmons was such an one as a modest, bumble man, who is willing to be outshone by the brightness of a sun of almost unrivalled glory, would wish for a senior colleague. At the feet of 6uch an one, it was delightful to sit and listen to the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth, to the great things of God's law which he unfolded."

In a sermon preached on the Sabbath after the interment of Dr. Emmons, Mr. Southworth adds:

" Hit idol, if be had one, was his parish. It was the object of his greatest care, and teaderest solicitude. Even to his last days, ho manifested the greatest concern for your welfare, watching for you with godly jealousy; often repeating, ' I do lovo Franklin,' and offering up for you some of his latest prayers."

§ 3. His TTiird Marriage.

When the subject of this Memoir was ordained, one of his clerical neighbors was Rev. David Hall, D. D., of Sutton, a personal and an intimate friend of President Edwards. Emmons enjoyed a protitable intercourse with this eminent revivalist for the period of sixteen years. He afterwards derived much enjoyment from the society of Rev. Edmund Mills, the brother of his old friend Samuel J. Mills of Torringford, Conn., and the successor of Dr. Hall at Sutton. For thirty-five years Emmons and Mills were members of the same (Mendon) Association. Sir. Mills died in 1825 ; and on the eighteenth of September, 1S31, his widow, Mrs. Abigail Moore Mills, was married to Dr. Emmons. She was the sister of Rev. Zephiiniah Swift Moore, D. D., President of Williams and afterward of Amherst College, who was an admirer of the Franklin divine. She was a lady of an attractive and commanding aspect, great amenity of manners, a sagacious mind and a pious heart. She was admirably fitted to cheer the veteran student as he persevered in his inquiries after truth, and she was not called to rejoin him in his higher life, until she had witnessed the success of his posthumous Works, and rejoiced in the indications that his successors would award to him the justice which was withheld by his contemporaries.

§ 4. The Renewal of his Public Activity.

The light is often re-illumined after it has flickered in the socket. We read of one who regained his strength as soon as his body touched the ground. Emmons descended to a private station, but at once rose again into public activity. As in his earlier, so in his later years, he illustrated his favorite principle, that the Christians of the United States are summoned, first of all, to the Home Enterprise (see pp. 194-200). and to the removal of those barbarous usages which at once disgrace and endanger their land.

A. — His Services in the Cause of Anti-Masonry.

It had been his lifelong tendency to prize individual thought, to rely on such truth as could stand in the light of day, to oppose factitious influence, especially if it be secret. Accordingly he frowned upon all Institutions that aimed to hide their light under a bushel. He knew that many eminent divines were Free Masons; and that many, — among them, even Dr. Charles Backus, while they did not unite with the Lodge, consented to preach before it. But the open-hearted Emmons had long predicted mischief from the clandestine Union. He uttered, eighty years ago, the very complaints against the structure of Free Masonry, which its political opponents began to utter, about thirty years ago. When the political opposition rose against the Masonic Brotherhood, about the year 1830, he had no change to make in his opinions. He then expressed before the world, what he had been wont to utter before his pupils and parishioners. He was then eighty-five years old, but letters from fresh Anti-Masons poured in upon him in profusion, soliciting his presence at their Conventions, and urging him to say in public assemblies what he had always declared in social circles, that the Masonic Lodge is " an imposition on the world," by means of its gaudy displays and "pompous titles "and allurements to vice. The services which he then rendered to the cause of Anti-Masonry, have been acknowledged by the most eminent Anti-Masons of that day. One of the Conventions chose a Committee to express their gratitude for the letter which they received from him, and to which they listened "with sentiments of high consideration," and with a " deep feeling of joy."

B. — His Services in the Cause of Anti-Slavery.

Calvinism has been stigmatized by its foes as a barbarous creed. Emmons esteemed it as, in its essence, humane. He was grieved that any of its friends should hesitate to condemn the system of American Slavery. lie had condemned it in his earlier and in his later sermons. He had spent his life not only in " making joints," but also in breaking chains. His Congregationalism was Anti-Slavery. When the modern excitement against the chattel-system sprang up more than a quarter of a century ago, it found him where he had been for three quarters of a century before. " I am ready for it," was his characteristic word.

Ministers have degraded themselves by their political action, when that action has played into the service of their opulent parishioners. Emmons rose up in his old age against the rich, and for the poor; against the judgment of idolized civilians, nnd for the down-trodden and despised. For a long time he stood well nigh alone among the eminent clergymen of the land, in advocating immediate measures for the emancipation of Africans " whom God has endued with powers of free moral agency," who illustrate " the dignity of such men as Jesus came to redeem." The Sketches of his Pupils afford a symbol of his influence in this once unpopular cause. Another symbol is suggested by the following episode in his life:

Tlis Visit to Xew York, and to Uallowen.

The interest of a Memoir is often heightened by the journal which the subject of it wrote, while on a tour through the cities and deserts of Asia. Dr. Emmons once made a visit to the city of New York ! The journey from his native town to that metropolis, u now performed in a few hours. He never looked upon the city until the Spring of 1835, when he had just entered his ninety-first year. He had then begun a new IJV.-, and having received an urgent invitation from Ucorge Douglas, Esq. and Edward A. Russell, Esq., to moke their houses his home during his sojourn in the metropolis, — the nonagenarian started forth on the longest tour which he had ever made. While he remained in the city, these hospitable friends did not spare cither pains or expense to render his visit agreeable to himself and his companions. Many individuals and families of distinction were introduced to him, and he was treated everywhere with marked coplulity and reverence. ' His great age, bis extraordinary activity both of body and mind, and especially his antiquated costume, would naturally excite the attention and cariosity of the multitude. But his eminence as a divine, waa the great source both of die cariosity and respect with which he was beheld.

VOL. I. NN