| Notes |
- Notes of Henry Wyles Cushman: The first 11 years of his life
were spent in his native city, where he attended school, first
in the "Centre District," and afterwards at the Hartford Grammar
School, then taught by Mr. Holland, who subsequently became
Professor of Languages in Trinity College, in that city. In
1824, he removed with his father's family to Philadelphia, where
he pursued his studies for a time at a academy, kept by
the Rev. Mr. Ballantyne. For a short period he was there
employed as a sort of clerk in the depositary of the Baptist
General Tract Society, and afterwards in a mercantile house in
Market street. In 1829, his employee (sic) having relinquished
his business, he returned to Connecticut (whither his father had
removed a few months previously), and was employed for a time in
the store of a merchant in Bridgeport. Feeling a desire,
however, to become acquainted with the printing business, early
in the year 1831, he went to Hartford and entered the service of
Mr. Philemon Canfield, then publisher of the "Christian
Secretary," and proprietor of an extensive book-printing
establishment.
In 1834 he attained the age of 21, but remained in the employ of
Mr. Canfield until the Spring of 1836. In March of that year, in
company with Mr. Isaac N. Bolles, he commenced the publishing
and editing of the "Northern Courier," afterwards called the
"Hartford Courier," a political newspaper. In this business he
continued, enlarging the paper with each successive year of its
existence, until the autumn of 1839. Previous to his however (in
March 1838), at the request of a large number of the Baptists of
Conn., he had recommenced the publication of the "Christian
Secretary," the Baptist paper of that State, which had been
discontinued a few months before by the transfer of its
subscription list to another paper in New York. This arrangement
was unsatisfactory to the Baptist denomination in Conn., and Mr.
Cushman was induced to revive the "Secretary," arranging at the
same time for his father to remove from Plymouth to Hartford,
for the purpose of taking the editorial charge. His father's
declining health, however, soon threw the care of the paper upon
his own hands, and after the death of his father (in Oct. 1838),
he continued the publication of both papers, with the assistance
of the Rev. Robert Turnbull, then pastor of the South Baptist
Church, Hartford, in the editorial department of the Secretary.
In the autumn of 1839, Mr. Cushman became converted to God, and
united with the First Baptist Church in Hartford. Finding the
editorial charge of the Courier no longer congenial with his
feelings, he relinquished his connection with that paper, and
devoted himself for a few months to the publishing and editing
of the "Secretary" alone. But he soon had his thoughts turned
towards the work of the gospel ministry. The views of his
brethren in the church coincided with his own feelings in this
respect, and in April, 1840, he was licensed by the church to
preach the gospel. During most of the following summer he
supplied the pulpit of the Baptist church in Willington, Conn.,
residing, however, in Hartford, and continuing the publication
of the "Secretary." But in Sept. of that year, having received
and accepted the unanimous invitation of the church in
Willington to assume the pastoral office with him, he
transferred the paper to other hands, and removed to that town.
His ordination as pastor of the Willington church took place 30
Sept. 1840; the Rev. J. S. Eaton, of Hartford, preaching the
sermon, and Rev. Robert Turnbull, then of Boston, giving the
charge. Here Mr. Cushman remained for nearly five years,
receiving constant and abundant tokens of affectionate regard
from his people, and enjoying much prosperity in his work.
Seventy-one members were added to the church during this period.
In April 1845, having suffered from declining health, and
finding his strength inadequate to the labor required in so
widely extended a parish, he resigned his pastorate in
Willington, and in August following took up a temporary
residence in Hartford. Upon the occasion of his resignation the
following action was taken by the church:
"Willington, April 19, 1845.
"Whereas, This church have with emotions of sorrow and deep
regret received from your beloved pastor, Rev. Elisha Cushman,
his resignation of the pastoral office; and whereas, it appears
from his communication and from other evidences, that his health
is so much impaired as to render it necessary for him to suspend
his ministerial labors to a great extent for the present, and
that he feels that his bodily health in future will not be
sufficient to perform so much labor as is necessary amongst us,
therefore,
"Resolved, That we accept the resignation of Mr. Cushman. And
now that he is about to leave us, we can truly say that we most
earnestly and affectionately commend him to the Christian
sympathy and fellowship of the Christian community, and
especially to such church and people as he may be hereafter
connected with; humbly and devoutly praying that the Great Head
of the Church may restore to him his wonted health and strength,
and direct his steps to some field of usefulness in the gospel
ministry, and that he may yet be made the happy instrument of
turning many more from sin to righteousness.
"Resolved, That we feel constrained to bear testimony, that
since Mr. Cushman has been with us (about five years), his
faithful and able ministrations as a gospel minister, his meek
and amiable deportment, and his untiring efforts to promote pure
and undefiled religion, to make peace, and build up the
Redeemer's cause in our midst, have greatly endeared him to us,
and we part with him with reluctance, but with entire confidence
that he has been governed, in taking the course he has, by a
strict sense of duty to his divine Master and to us.
"Resolved, That the foregoing be entered upon the records of
this church, and that the clerk be directed to present Mr.
Cushman with a copy of the same. By order of the church.
"S. D. MERRICK, Chh. Clerk."
After residing in Hartford for a few months, Mr. Cushman's
health became much recruited, and he was able to supply churches
in that vicinity during most of the following winter. In June,
1846, he went to the village of New Britain, about nine miles
from Hartford, rather as an experiment, to test his ability for
constant preaching, and continued to minister to the Baptist
church in that place until the following spring. In April 1847,
he was called by the Baptist church in Deep River, Conn., to
become their pastor, which call he accepted and has continued
his ministry in that place up to the present (1854-55) time.
Since his connection with the Deep River church, about 80 have
been added to its membership by baptism. For a number of years
past he has been elected to the Secretaryship of the Connecticut
Baptist Convention, which office he still holds.
As a preacher of the gospel, Mr. Cushman is uncommonly
successful and popular; one of the best evidences of which is
the large number that have "taken up the cross"--have been
baptized and united with the church under his ministry. He loves
the work in which he is engaged. He is devoted to its cause. He
feels that the highest interests of humanity are, to a
considerable extent, dependent on the zeal and enthusiasm of
faithful and true ministers of "Jesus the Saviour." Hence he is
willing to "work on, work ever" in the service of his master,
and hence the abundant success that has crowned his labors.
But one of his sermons has been printed. As that is on a subject
which he considers of the highest interest and importance, and
one which has been too much neglected--and as we consider it an
eloquent and ably written discourse--we give a few extracts
which will show, not merely the sentiments of the author, but
also his ethical and logical powers, and his zeal, eloquence and
ability as a writer.
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Old Dead Relatives
1813 - ?
